Peak Forest

Contents & Site Map

Description of Peak Forest & St Charles King and Martyr Church

Peak Forest is situated about 5 miles north-east of Buxton and 4 miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith. It is easy to picture the small village of Peak Forest nestling amidst trees, but this is not so. The Royal Forest of the Peak from which the village takes its name, was founded in Norman times as a hunting ground for visiting royalty. Eventually, a 'park' was established and a house built for a ranger. Meetings of the Forest Court were held at the house which still survives and is now Chamber Farm. It is around the house that the village grew.

Lead mining, limestone quarrying and farming gave employment to the villagers. Some limestone quarrying still survives and farming remains the main occupation. However, the village is becoming a dormitory for workers from Buxton, Manchester and Sheffield and the busy A623 disturbes the peace.

The first church, dedicated to King Charles, King and Martyr was built in 1657 on land which remained part of the Royal forest. This meant that it was without any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and became a Peculiar where couples who were not residents in the parish could marry without Banns being read. A separate register was kept for such marriages but was closed in 1804.

The present church was built between 1872 and 1876 by the 7th Duke of Devonshire. The registers of Baptisms and Marriages from 1698 and Burials from 1678 have been deposited at the County Record Office, Matlock and can be viewed on film. DARG has a copy of a transcript of the Marriages 1722-1815.

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