Catherine Roth meets the couple whose new book reveals how a Derbyshire valley has worldwide significance as a ‘microcosm of the industrial revolution’.
ONCE an almost secret valley, known only to locals and occasionally stumbled across by walkers, Lumsdale now attracts thousands of visitors each year. The valley on the edge of Matlock is dotted with ruined stone buildings creating a backdrop of romantic decay, yet many who visit are unaware of its significance: for the valley is both a conservation area and site of national importance. Now local residents Christine and Alan Piper have written a book that brings the valley to life so that people can discover its rich industrial history. Carefully researched, Lumsdale – The Industrial Revolution in a Derbyshire Valley, is published by Bannister Publications and draws on a wealth of archive material to produce the most definitive guide to Lumsdale to date…