Stoney Middleton Heritage

Stoney Middleton was first settled by Ancient Britons around 4,000 BC who may have been drawn by the thermal waters which still flow through the village today.

The thermal springs provided water to the Roman bath house, where bathing in the mineral rich water was thought to have the power to heal.

The Romans established lead mining and lead smelting in Middleton Dale. Other important industrial activities were introduced at a later date such as limestone quarrying, mineral extraction and heavy duty boot manufacturing.

During WWII Stoney Middleton’s quarries were bombed by the Luftwaffe in an attempt to disrupt production of tarmac. There was a prisoner of war camp in the village (listen as an Italian PoW tells his story).

We at Stoney Middleton Heritage think you would be hard pressed to find another village so steeped in history.

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Our village has some beautiful listed buildings such as St. Martin’s church, the Bathhouse and the locally famous octagonal Toll House.

We have legends and folklore aplenty including Black Harry the highwayman, a murder at the Old Moon Inn and a jilted lover who survived her cliff top leap.

In 1665 our villagers aided their quarantined neighbours in the plague village of Eyam by providing food and supplies.

The inventor of the steel toe cap boot lived in Stoney Middleton, the village was an important centre for the manufacture of safety boots.

Each year we perform the ancient tradition of well dressing as thanksgiving for our thermal springs.

Stoney Middleton Heritage has established signposted trails around the village so you can explore lots more of our heritage and history.

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