Chapel-en-le-Frith facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Chapel-en-le-Frith
View of the town from Cowlow Lane
Chapel-en-le-Frith parish highlighted within Derbyshire
Population	8,635 (Parish, 2011)
OS grid reference	SK055806
Civil parish	Chapel-en-le-Frith
District	High Peak
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HIGH PEAK
Postcode district	SK23
Dialling code	01298

Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands

EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	High Peak
List of places UK England Derbyshire

Chapel-en-le-Frith is a town in Derbyshire, England. It is often called the "Capital of the Peak." This name comes from the Peak District, a beautiful highland area nearby.

The town was started by the Normans in the 1100s. It began as a hunting lodge in a large forest. This is why its name means "chapel in the forest" in an old French language. In 2011, about 8,635 people lived here.

What is Chapel-en-le-Frith like?

Chapel-en-le-Frith is in the western part of the Peak District. Even though most of the town is outside the main park, it's surrounded by amazing landscapes.

Mountains and Moors

To the north and south, you'll find the Dark Peak. These are high, rugged areas with heather plants. They are made of a tough rock called millstone grit. You can see big hills like Chinley Churn and South Head. Kinder Scout, a very famous peak, also stands tall nearby.

Valleys and Hills

To the east is the White Peak. This area is greener and has lots of limestone grasslands. It also has cool cliffs and deep valleys called gorges. Combs Moss is a gritstone 'edge' that looks over the valley where Chapel is. Eccles Pike is another hill right next to the town. It offers amazing 360-degree views!

The Church of St Thomas Becket

The first church in Chapel-en-le-Frith was built by the Normans. It was later replaced with a bigger building. The church you see today is mostly from the 1700s. It stands on the highest point in town.

A Sad Story from History

Many years ago, in 1648, soldiers from Scotland were kept prisoner in this church. They were fighting for King Charles I. After losing a battle, they were marched to Chapel. They stayed in the church for 16 days in very bad conditions. Forty soldiers died there, and ten more died on their way to Cheshire.

The Eccles Pike Cross

In the churchyard, there is an old stone cross called the Eccles Pike Cross. It was moved there in 1925. People think it's from the Anglo-Saxon times, which was a very long time ago! It has old, worn-out carvings on it.

Church Brow in the town centre

Church of Thomas Becket

John Wesley's Visits

John Wesley was a famous preacher. He visited Chapel-en-le-Frith four times between 1740 and 1786. On his first visit in 1745, he preached in a small village called Chapel Milton. It's said that the local miller tried to make noise with his watermill to stop people from hearing Wesley!

Later, in 1782, a chapel was built for his followers. Today, only an archway from that first chapel remains. It has "1780" carved on it.

Local Businesses and Market

Chapel-en-le-Frith has a long history of industry. Many businesses still operate here today.

Famous Companies

The company Ferodo, which makes brake linings, started here. It was a family business for over 100 years. Now, it's part of a big international company called Federal-Mogul. Other businesses in the area include science research companies and manufacturing firms.

The Market Place

The town has a regular market place. It's on a raised area above the High Street. Every Thursday, a local market is held there. You can also see an old market cross. It might have the date 1636 on it, but the cross itself is much older.

Community Life

Chapel-en-le-Frith has several important places for the community.

Old Workhouse Site

A building called a "workhouse" used to be here. It was built around 1840. Workhouses were places where poor people could live and work. This building was later used as a home for older people. It was taken down in the 1980s.

Radio and Theatre

The town used to have its own local radio station, Greatest Hits Radio Derbyshire. It broadcast from studios near the High Street. Chapel-en-le-Frith also has its own theatre group, the Chapel Players. They perform plays just off Market Place.

How to Get Around

Chapel-en-le-Frith has good transport links.

Train Stations

Chapel-en-le-Frith railway station is about a mile from the town centre. You can catch a train here to Buxton or Manchester Piccadilly. Many people use this line to travel for work or school.

There was another train line that went through the town. It was part of a main route from London to Manchester. Chapel-en-le-Frith Central railway station was on this line. It closed to passengers in 1967. Now, it's only used for freight trains that carry materials from quarries.

A train at Chapel-en-le-Frith station, on the Buxton line

A train near the former Chapel-en-le-Frith Central station in 1957

Buses

The town also has a bus service called the 199 skyline. Buses run every 30 minutes between Buxton, Stockport, and Manchester Airport.

Sports and Education

Chapel-en-le-Frith has facilities for sports and learning.

Sports

The town has a football team called Chapel Town F.C.. There's also a golf course on the edge of town. A leisure centre is located near the High School. It has tennis courts and offers many fitness classes and sports activities.

Schools

Chapel-en-le-Frith has two schools: Chapel-en-le-Frith High School and Chapel-en-le-Frith Primary School.

Chapel-en-le-Frith on TV

Market square, Chapel-en-le-Frith

Some TV shows have filmed scenes in and around Chapel-en-le-Frith. These include The Village and The Secret of Crickley Hall. In 2015, the company Halfords even filmed their Christmas advert on a road here!

Local News and Media

You can get local news and TV from BBC North West and ITV Granada. Radio stations like BBC Radio Manchester and Greatest Hits Radio Derbyshire also serve the area. The local newspaper is the Buxton Advertiser.

Interesting Places to See

Chapel-en-le-Frith has many landmarks and interesting spots.

Town Centre Landmarks

Near the old town stocks, which were used to punish minor crimes, there's a square of cobbles. Legend says that Will Scarlet, a friend of Robin Hood, died here in 1283. The Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall was finished in 1851 and stands in Market Street.

Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall

The town stocks on Chapel's Market Place

Historic Houses

Ford Hall: This was the home of Reverend William Bagshaw, known as the 'Apostle of the Peak'.
Bennetston Hall: This building is being turned into a hotel.
Stodhart Lodge: This used to be a care home. It has a cool old part from the 1800s with a fancy style.
Ollerenshaw Hall: This house dates back to around 1800 and is located below Eccles Pike.

Ford Hall and surrounding buildings, with South Head in the background

Nearby Villages

Combs: West of Chapel-en-le-Frith, this village is next to Combs Reservoir. You can see old buildings like the Old Brook House here.
Dove Holes: In the southeast, Dove Holes has its own train station. It's also home to an ancient site called the Bull Ring. This is a Neolithic henge, which is a very old circular earthwork.

Famous People from Chapel-en-le-Frith

Many notable people have connections to Chapel-en-le-Frith:

Neville Buswell (1943–2019), an actor known for Coronation Street.
Lloyd Cole (born 1961), a singer and songwriter, grew up here.
John Hartle (1933–1968), a professional motorcycle racer.
Peter Kirk (1840–1916), who founded the US city of Kirkland, Washington.
Jack Massey (born 1993), an English boxer.
Matilda Simon, 3rd Baroness Simon of Wythenshawe (born 1955), the first transgender peer.

Neighbouring Areas

**Neighbouring settlements and landmarks**
New Mills, Chinley	Glossop, Hayfield	Kinder Scout, Edale
Whaley Bridge		Sparrowpit, Bradwell
	Chapel-en-le-Frith

Combs, Errwood Reservoir, Shining Tor	Dove Holes, Buxton	Tideswell, Bakewell