Beech Tree, Burbage Brook, Derbyshire, England, Environmental, Everyday Life, Landscape, November, OAK TREE, Padley Gorge, Photography, SUNSET GLOW, TREES, Woodland

When does a Brook….. become a Torrent?

The weather centre predicted a short sunny break in between the heavy rains and storms we have been ‘enjoying’ this week.  So this afternoon I headed off to the Peak District on the off chance that the forecasters would be accurate….and they were.

Burbage Moor positively glows, the bracken and dead heather a rich golden brown.  Higger Tor and Carl Wark clear and bold against a blue evening sky.  In the valley you can just make out the slim channel of Burbage Brook….here only a narrow and more often than not slow and sluggish in its flow….

Padley-Gorge-01662

But soon the babbling Brook becomes a little more ferocious as it descends into Padley Gorge….

Padley-Gorge-01615

Padley Gorge is a wonderful Nature Reserve.  Deciduous woodland of mainly Oak and Beech. The water tumbles over the Gritstone boulders that are so characteristic of the Gorge, become more turbulent at each stage of its decent….that babbling brook now a full blown torrent of brown peat stained water..

Padley-Gorge-01625

Noisy as the cascades are it is possibly still much quieter than in days gone by.  A Nature Reserve it may be but over the centuries this was a busy Quarry.  In the recent past the Gritstone was quarried for building blocks for the major Dam network in the Derwent valley.  But much earlier it was quarried for Milestones to grind corn, wheat and even minerals.  It was a major industry till the French invented a split stone mill stone, much cheaper to produce.  The English quarries ceased production virtually overnight abandoning near complete millstones where they were being quarried and shaped…….as here beneath a now majestic Beech tree above the brook.

Padley-Gorge-01654

I guess the weather forecast is accurate and our brief spell of sunshine will soon be over…..the journey home was graced by a fire red stormy sky…….

Padley-Gorge-01665

Somehow I don’t think the old adage of “Red Sky at Night  – Sailors Delight” will run true.

23rd NOVEMBER

14 thoughts on “When does a Brook….. become a Torrent?”

    1. When you think about it most of what we think of wild countryside in Derbyshire was a hive of industry…..hard to imagine some of the favourite tourist/walkers areas we think so tranquil today had another life.

      Like

  8. Just, simply beautiful, David. What a fascinating story about the millstone, too. I’m happy for you that you were able to take advantage of the dry break in your wet weather. Now if only we could have a wet break in ours…!

    Like

Comments are closed.