Stanton Moor facts for kids
Stanton Moor is a small, high area of land in the Derbyshire Peak District in England. It sits between the towns of Matlock and Bakewell, close to the villages of Birchover and Stanton-in-Peak. This special place is famous for its ancient stone structures, especially the Nine Ladies stone circle. It also has amazing natural stone pillars shaped by the wind. A walking path called the Peak District Boundary Walk goes right across the moor.
What is Stanton Moor Made Of?
Stanton Moor is mostly made of a type of rock called Ashover Grit. This rock is a coarse-grained sandstone, which means it's made of rough sand particles stuck together. When this sandstone breaks down, it creates sandy soil.
Below the sandstone, there's a layer of shale, which is a soft, layered rock. Underneath the shale is Carboniferous Limestone, a type of rock formed from ancient sea creatures. The whole moor is interesting to geologists because it forms a "syncline." This means the rock layers dip down in the middle, like a bowl.
You can see several large, natural stone pillars around the edge of Stanton Moor. These pillars have been shaped by the wind over many years. They include the Duke of York Stone, the Cat Stone, the Duchess of Sutherland Stone, the Gorse Stone, the Heart Stone (which is 9 meters tall!), the Cork Stone (5 meters tall), and the Andle Stone.
People have quarried (dug up) sandstone from the moor for a long time. This has left several old, unused quarries. In 2009, there was a big effort to stop some old quarries from being reopened. Local people and groups across the country protested for over ten years, and they succeeded.
A large part of Stanton Moor is a special area called a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). This is because its sandstones are very unusual. Much of the moor is covered in upland heathland plants. This type of habitat is important for wildlife, both locally and across the UK.
Ancient History and Stone Circles
Stanton Moor has more than 70 ancient burial mounds, called barrows. Most of these are on the southern side and can be hard to spot. An archaeologist named J.C. Heathcote and his son, J.P. Heathcote, dug up many of these mounds between 1927 and the early 1950s. They showed their discoveries in a private museum nearby.
The moor is also home to four Bronze Age stone circles. The most famous one is the Nine Ladies stone circle. To its north is "Stanton Moor I," also known as the "North Circle." To the south are "Stanton Moor III" (the "Central Circle") and "Stanton Moor IV" (the "South Circle"). These other circles are mostly covered by plants, and not many stones are left. Another stone circle, Doll Tor, is a short distance west of the moor. You can also find some modern stone piles, called cairns, on the moor.
Stanton Moor is officially a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a very important historical site protected by law. English Heritage, a group that looks after historical places, has asked the Peak District National Park Authority to create a plan to help protect Stanton Moor.
Other Interesting Buildings
On the eastern edge of the moor, you'll find the Reform or Earl Grey Tower. A person named William Pole Thornhill built this tower. It was built to celebrate the Reform Act 1832, a law that changed how people could vote in Britain.
On the north side of the moor, there's a large TV transmitter. This tall structure sends TV signals from another station to Bakewell and other parts of the Peak District. It has also been updated with a new antenna for police radios.
