Litton village in the Peak District National Park

Litton is a small but spacious attractive village, situated in Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park, at 1000ft above sea level, 4 miles North West of Bakewell.

Litton has an attractive village green with its ancient cross and village stocks, surrounded by an equally attractive collection of stone built cottages dating mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries.

There are many scattered remains of lead mining and small limestone workings near the village. Some of these have been adapted as picnic sites by the Peak District National Park as part of their extensive operations to return eyesores in the dale to a state of natural beauty and provide public amenities there.

William Bagshawe (1628-1702) was born in Litton. He was a non-conformist minister who later became the vicar of Glossop and earned the title 'Apostle of the Peak'. After the Restoration of Charles 11 as king, Bagshawe, and others like him were forced from their living, and despite having several warrants issued against him, he continued his ministry from the houses of his supporters. He is buried in the chancel of Chapel -en-le Frith Church.

The combined school, church and library was built by Canon Samuel Andrews, Vicar of nearby Tideswell, in 1865, and Christ Church, designed by W.H.R Blacking, standing aloof from the main street, is a modern construction, built in 1929.

Litton Mill, some distance away was founded as a cotton mill in 1782 and has an infamous history of mis treatment of its young apprentices, many of whom died, especially when under the cruel direction of Ellis Needham & Co. It is now a derelict building still standing by the River Wye.

Litton has an annual Well Dressing festival, which incorporates a Wakes festival. The Red Lion public house is a popular pub in the centre of the village.

Please also visit Derbyshire and Peak District Photographs for photographs from Litton village