Peak District

The Peak District, Britain's first National Park, is famous for its outstanding natural beauty. At the heart of the region, on the limestone plateau of the White Peak, features of different periods are often found cheek by jowl, where the land has been in constant use over the centuries. In contrast, the gritstone moorland of the Dark Peak was only cultivated in prehistoric times; the many ancient farms and fields that have survived until today give a clear view back to its earliest settlers. From prehistoric barrows and Romano-British settlements to medieval fields and 19th-century lead mines, this work explores these varied landscapes and introduces the people who created them. It looks at the prehistoric sacred and ritual landscapes and how the ancient inhabitants viewed their world. Photographs, illustrations and plans reveal how the Peak District has changed through the ages.