The Lumsdale Valley.
The Lumsdale Valley is a hidden gem located in the Peak District, near the town of Matlock in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is a place of natural beauty and historical significance. You could in fact imagine yourself travelling through a Tolkein like landscape complete with waterfalls and ancient pathways even though it is located just outside the town of Matlock.
The Lumsdale Valley is a designated scheduled ancient monument because of its historic importance. It was once a bustling centre of industry, with a collection of mills all powered by water from the Bentley Brook. The brook rises on Matlock Moor and has never been known to dry up, providing a constant source of energy for the mills.
The Lumsdale Valley was used for industrial purposes from as far back as the 17th century, although it reached the height of its production in the mid 19th century. Some mills were used for spinning cotton and bleaching, and some for grinding corn, bone and minerals. The site was used until the 1930s. The Lumsdale Valley is now one of the best examples of water powered industrial archaeological sites in Britain, unique in such an extensive use of water power over such a small area.
The origin of the name Lumsdale is open to debate, but it is most likely to be derived from the Scottish word ‘Lum’, meaning chimney, with Lumsdale therefore being the valley of the chimneys.
There are many myths and legends connected to this unusual area, what follows are a number of these stories:
One legend says that the Lumsdale valley was once the home of a powerful witch named Lumsa, who could control the water and weather. She was feared and respected by the people who lived nearby, and they would often bring her gifts and offerings to appease her. One day, a young man named Dale fell in love with Lumsa’s daughter, who was also a witch but much kinder and gentler than her mother. They decided to elope, but Lumsa found out and was furious. She cursed Dale and turned him into a stone bridge over the Bentley Brook, where he would remain forever unless someone could break the spell. Lumsa’s daughter was heartbroken and ran away, never to be seen again. Some say that on moonlit nights you can still hear her crying by the bridge calling out for Dale.
Another legend tells of a ghostly miller who haunts the ruins of the Paint Mill. He was a greedy and dishonest man who cheated his customers and workers. He also had a secret stash of hidden gold in the mill, which he guarded jealously. One night, a group of robbers broke into the mill and tried to steal his gold. The miller fought back, but he was outnumbered and was killed. The robbers escaped with some of the gold, but they were soon caught and hanged by the authorities. The miller’s ghost, however, remained in the mill, angry and vengeful. He would scare away anyone who came near the mill, especially at night. He would also make loud noises and throw stones at anyone who dared to cross his bridge. Some say that he is still looking for his gold, which was never found.
A third legend relates to the upper pond, which is now a nature reserve. It says that the pond was once inhabited by a beautiful water nymph named Lumina, who had long golden hair and blue eyes. She was friendly and playful, and she loved to swim in the pond and sing to the birds and animals. She also like to watch the people who worked in the cotton mill nearby, especially a young man named Watts, who was handsome and kind. Watts noticed Lumina one day and was enchanted by her beauty and voice. He started to visit her every day after work, bringing her flowers and gifts. They soon fell in love, but they knew that their relationship was forbidden by both their worlds.
They decided to run away together, but they were discovered by Lumina’s father, who was king of the water nymphs. He was furious and ordered his soldiers to capture Watts and drown him in the pond. Lumina begged for mercy, but her father refused to listen. He also banished Lumina from the pond, telling her that she could never return or see Watts again. Lumina was devastated and ran away into the woods, where she died of grief. Some say that her spirit still haunts the pond, waiting for Watts to come back to her.
The Lumsdale walk is a circular route of about 2.5 miles that starts and ends at Highfield School on the outskirts of Matlock (DE4 5NA).
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