Bonsall, Derbyshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bonsall |
|
|---|---|
 Bonsall village |
|
 Bonsall parish highlighted within Derbyshire |
|
| Population | 775 (2001 census) |
| OS grid reference | SK279582 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Matlock |
| Postcode district | DE4 |
| Dialling code | 01629 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Website | Bonsall Village |
Bonsall is a small village in a beautiful area called the Derbyshire Dales in England. It's right on the edge of the amazing Peak District National Park. In 2011, about 803 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Bonsall's Location and History
Bonsall is located about 5 miles (8 km) from Matlock and 18 miles (29 km) from Derby. This village has a very long history, especially with lead mining. People have been mining here since at least Roman times. Bonsall is even mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England from over 900 years ago.
Natural Wonders Near Bonsall
- Bonsall Leys: To the west of the village, you'll find Bonsall Leys. This area is a special grassland known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's protected because it has important plants and wildlife.
- The Clatterway: Getting to Bonsall often means driving up a very steep road called the Clatterway. It leads up from the Via Gellia and nearby Cromford.
- Peak District Gateway: Bonsall sits right on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The park's boundary actually cuts through a part of the village called 'Uppertown'.
- Walking Trails: The village is also on two popular long-distance walking paths. These are the Limestone Way and the Peak District Boundary Walk.
Historic Buildings in Bonsall
- St James the Apostle's Church: Parts of this church are very old, dating back to the 1200s. The church has been rebuilt and changed over many centuries.
- The Market Cross: In the middle of the village, there's an old market cross. It might be from the Middle Ages. The round ball on top was added in 1671.
- Manor House and Kings Head Pub: The Manor House was built around 1670. The Kings Head public house (a type of pub) opened its doors in 1677.
Bonsall's Past: Textiles and Lead Mining
For a long time, people in Bonsall worked in the textile industry. This was even before and after Richard Arkwright changed how cotton was made. Around 1850, Bonsall was a farming village. It was surrounded by lead mines and busy workshops where people knitted clothes by hand. Some of these old knitting workshops from the 1700s and 1800s can still be seen today. Many villagers also worked in cotton mills in Cromford and the Via Gellia. In earlier times, Bonsall was an important stop on a route used to transport salt between Derby and Manchester.
Life in Bonsall Today
Bonsall is still an active village. People here work in farming, transport, and even modern technology jobs. However, many residents travel to bigger cities like Derby, Nottingham, and Sheffield for work. The village has two pubs, the Barley Mow and the Kings Head. There is also a primary school for younger children.
Bonsall Camp: A Place for Young People
Bonsall Camp is a Christian youth camp located in Uppertown. A charity called the Christian Youth Foundation owns it. They run fun residential camps for children and young people during the summer holidays. These camps have been happening for over 60 years.
Fun Events in Bonsall
One of the most unique attractions is the Annual "World Championship Hen Race." This funny event takes place every August at the Barley Mow pub. It first started in 1992.
Unusual Discoveries in Bonsall
Mystery of the Horse Skulls
In 1866, builders were working on a house in 'Uppertown'. When they lifted the floorboards on the ground floor, they found something very strange. There were 29 horse skulls, but all of them were missing their lower jaws! People thought these might be remains from a legendary battle that supposedly happened on Bonsall Moor.
UFO Sightings in the Area
Between October 2000 and October 2002, there were 19 reports of UFOs seen in the Bonsall area. On October 5, 2000, a woman named Sharon Rowlands even took a photo of a circular object. This object looked similar to something seen during a Space Shuttle mission in 1996.
