Population 1,184 District High Peak Region East Midlands | OS grid reference SK207835 Shire county Derbyshire Country England | |
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Bamford is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, close to the River Derwent. To the north-east is Bamford Edge, and to the south-east the location of the water treatment works covering the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Though locally Bamford is described as being in the Hope Valley, it is technically in the Upper Derwent Valley. According to the 2011 census it had a population (including Yorkshire Bridge) of 1,241.
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History
Its name is recorded in the Domesday Book as Banford, and likely came from Anglo-Saxon Bēamford = "tree-trunk ford".
The parish church of St John the Baptist was built c. 1860. There are also Methodist and Catholic churches in the village.
The village graveyard also contains some re-interred graves from the nearly villages of Derwent and Ashopton which were drowned following the creation of Ladybower Reservoir.
Bamford water mill has been turned into flats but some of the original machinery still remains.
Recreation
The village has a sculpture trail and, in mid-July, there is a well-dressing festival. Bamford has four public houses, the Derwent Hotel (now a self-catering venue), the Anglers Rest, the Ladybower Inn and the Yorkshire Bridge Inn, the latter once home to former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves. The village also had a weekly Youth Club held in the Memorial Hall until September 2010.
In October 2013 The Anglers Rest was jointly purchased from the pubco owners Admiral Taverns by over 300 people from the local area as Derbyshire's first community-owned pub. The Bamford Community Society raised the money needed to buy the Angler's, which will be run as a community hub, listed as an Asset of Community Value under the Government's Localism Act, which also offers a daytime café and houses the local post office.
Carnival
Bamford hosts a village carnival, normally on the third week of July. The carnival takes place throughout the week, with the Committee arranging various events for each day, including the whole family. The carnival is centred on the well dressing. The blessing of the well takes places on the Sunday and is followed by the crowning of the Queen, Princess and Rosebud in the church. The following Wednesday hosts the Senior fell race which many runners attend, including running groups from Yorkshire. Other events include the junior fell race, teen group challenge, car treasure hunt, village history fair and pub quiz. The Saturday hosts the actual carnival day. The procession travels from "the old road" and parades through the village and ending at the recreation ground, where games and entertainment for the whole family are arranged. The queens arena is a huge event that many come to watch. The carnival parade encourages children to dress up and floats to be made, fitting with the theme of the year. Two bands take part in the procession: Castleton Brass Band is invited every year, along with a visiting band that changes each year. There is also a tradition of making a scarecrow and dressing it up and leaving it in your front garden to be admired during the carnival.
Transport
The village is served by Bamford railway station on the Hope Valley Line and by a regular bus service from Sheffield to Castleton.
Bamford is known as the Gateway to the Hope Valley from Manchester and the north-west as it provides the only road through to the Hope Valley from the A57 Glossop–Sheffield road over the Snake Pass.
Surroundings
Across the valley is Thornhill Hall, once the seat of the Eyres who were a large family of landed gentry in this part of Derbyshire.
Further up the valley are the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden dams.
Nearby are the villages of Shatton, Bradwell (well known for its ice cream), Hope, Hathersage, Eyam and Castleton, famous for its Blue John stone. A place of notable significance near Bamford would be Buxton.
The nearest urban centre is Sheffield and is a very popular place to visit for the youth of Bamford.