周辺の天然記念物・トップ8

In the Memorial gardens, on the corner of Cokayne Avenue and Park Road, you will find the impressive sandstone gateway to the park, comprising a classical arch with pillars and fluted columns, welcoming visitors to the ornate formal gardens planted in memory of Ashbourne’s war casualties. Pass the bandstand site and in the other corner of the gardens is a statue of the Salvation Army co-founder, Catherine Booth, who was born in Ashbourne. The Henmore Brook flows just beyond the playground, giving lots of opportunities to spot wildlife on Fishpond Meadow.

At 11:11 am on 27 November 1944 a huge explosion occurred at the RAF Fauld underground munitions facility. The accident caused over 3,500 tonnes of bomb and ammunition to explode, which resulted in this massive crater. The site is still considered dangerous with possible unexploded ordnance, so please obey the signs and stay on the path.

This was erected in 1900 as a memorial to Sir Thomas Percival Haywood. The fountain is still fed by a spring and reservoir!

The village cross and drinking fountain are in stone. They are on two steps, and have an octagonal pedestal with an inscription, containing a spring in a recess with a shaped head and a semicircular projecting trough. On the pedestal is an octagonal base carrying an octagonal shaft and a foliated cross. Grade II listed, 1900

"On an autumn night, the Earl of Shrewsbury was returning to his home at Alton Towers when an old woman suddenly appeared in the road ahead of his horse and coach. The coach stopped to find why she was there at which point the old woman begged for a coin. The Earl cruelly dismissed her, so the old woman stated that she would place a curse on him. The old woman told the Earl that for every branch on the Old Oak Tree that fell, a member of the Earl’s family would die. The Earl dismissed this and carried on his way. That the same night, a violent storm caused a single branch from the old oak tree to break and fall. Later that evening, a member of the Earl’s family suddenly and mysteriously died. Now firmly believing the power of the curse, the Earl is said to have ordered his servants to chain every branch together to prevent other branches from falling." The Oak tree remains chained up.

This is one of seven great rocks for bouldering in this locality. You can include it in a tour of all of them in an hour and a half should you choose. This one is easy to find as it is directly on the footpath through Toothill Wood. There is a great section under the rock that would make a ideal shelter if you needed to make use of it in a fix. Or the kids may like to use it as a den.