Yesterday, I decided to nip out to Stanage Edge for a walk to the Millstones. I post about this location a few times a year. The last time I went was 8th Feb when I was Fog chasing.
Yesterday, 2nd April, was a beautiful crisp cold day in the city and when the sun started to rise, I new I needed to take my knitting, beat the tourist cars in the car park and revisit the stones.
Apparently, throughout the Peak District, there are more than a thousand abandoned millstones, covered with lichen and moss, weather-worn and often hidden to all that pass by. I remember going to a quarry near the base of Stanage and the place was full of them – all hand made, all abandoned dating back to the 18th and 19th Centuries and were once used to grind grain into flour for use in the mills in the area. I don’t know of any mills except Baily’s grain Mill in Matlock that now houses some very elegant flats. All of this history lying around on the ground that we all take for granted as being part of something that we don’t really have the curiosity enough to check out.
The stones are huge – about 1.8m in diameter and lie where they were left. I will start to research them and bring to life some local history – for me, for you, if you are interested.
But for now, these are my favourites and I have many happy memories going back over 40 years, just at these very millstones and old stone trough that face towards Hathersage and Hope Valley. I take my knitting, a flask, and time.
This summer, I think I will go on small millstone tours in the Peak District which borders Sheffield – starting just 6 miles from my flat and is a place I grew up in but I haven’t seen as many of the stones as I would like. This is the year will be my year of the round stones.
Oh, yes, as an Easter offer, I would like to thank everyone and have offered 10% off all of my knitting patterns, which doesn’t seem much on a £4 pattern but when Ravelry and Paypal take their cut, it is, indeed a small gift – Even the Kaleidoscope Jumper, the alternative sleeve pattern and Fair Isle long hat and the Chunky knit Vest are included in the offer for the first time. Happy Easter break. Maybe go look for your stones.
Thank you for your support over the last year and if you are interested in checking out my patterns – there is a 10% discount until Midnight UK time, tomorrow night – 4th April
Link to Ravelry patterns is here Ravelry: Designs by Tracey Doxey
See the many ways in which people have used their own stash to knit the Chunky Knit vest Pattern. Ravelry: Chunky Knit Vest pattern by Tracey Doxey
Some of the times that I have visited these stones over the last year
tracey doxey 