Nine Ladies Stone Circle Walk Including The Earl Grey Tower

Where to park for The Nine Ladies Stone Circle

You can park for free on Lees Road, Stanton in Peak, Matlock, DE4 2LS. You can park on the grass verge as there aren’t any restrictions.

Short out and back walk to The Nine Ladies Stone Circle

From here go through the small gate and walk across a field following the footpath. There are lovely views on the left as you walk along the path. Continue to another small gate.

Having crossed the field go through another small gate and you’ll continue into a small wood. On your right you’ll pass a stone trough like structure which I haven’t a clue what it was for – anyone know?

There are ferns, wildflowers, Silver Birch and Oak trees plus lots of Rhododendron bushes with their lush dark green leaves and huge purple flowers.

Not So Fun Fact

Rhododendron plants were introduced to Britain in the late 18^th Century. They may look pretty in flower but if allowed to spread they will displace all ground flora, destroying the rich diversity of our natural habitats. Under their dark canopy the heavy leaf litter acidifies and degrades the soil. A single bush disperses a million seeds into the surrounding area. A Rhododendron will out compete many native trees and plants and some become diseased. DEFRA (The Department for Food and Rural Affairs) said it is illegal to plant them in the wild and they have already spent £360,000 removing invasive plants over the past year!

The Nine Ladies

After a short 15-minute stroll you’ll come to a large open clearing and there you’ll see a nine stone circle. It’s incredible to think that this small stone circle was created by Bronze Age people 4000 years ago. It’s believed that this was either a burial, ceremonial site or a meeting place and it’s one of several small cairns (mounds of stones) in the area.

Despite its name there were originally ten stones but only nine are remaining, with the fallen stone discovered in the 1970’s.

Interestingly, it’s one of the first monuments to be protected by The Ancient Monument Protection Act of 1882.

A Folk Story

There’s a folk story that the Nine Ladies got their name from the nine ladies who danced on a Sunday and were turned to stone as punishment. The music was played by a fiddler called Bill Stumps who became the Kingstone just 30 metres south of the stone circle! Apparently, his name is carved in the stone. Well, I had a good look, and I could only just make out letters M and T.

Bill Stumps is also mentioned in Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

Quirky Stuff Hanging in the Nearby Tree

Next to the Stone Circle is a lovely tree and if you look carefully up into its branches, you’ll see various strange looking things hanging down, including a black feather with bells and a minuscule apothecary jar containing I don’t know what! We also spotted a pink knitted bell, a white ribbon and even a fairy doll, the more you look the more you’ll see these things. Who put them up there and why, and did they use a ladder to get that high? The place certainly has an awe of mystery about it.

The Reform Tower

From the Nine Ladies continue left down the path and after a very short walk you’ll reach a tall square tower made from large blocks of Gritstone. This is The Reform or Earl Grey Tower built by the Thornhill family in 1833 to commemorate the Reform Act of Parliament of 1832, which allowed middle class men the vote, leaving working class men disappointed.

This created a division between the middle classes and the working classes. Only men who owned £10.00 worth of property were allowed to vote which was about 1in 5 men. This property criteria was abolished in 1918, and by 1928 women were allowed to vote too.

The tower has a lovely arched doorway which has been blocked up, and just above the door is a niche, which used to have a plaque with a coronet and Earl Grey the prime minister of the time. Earl Grey was responsible for the Reform Act. Originally there was a staircase to the top so folks could enjoy the view.

It was granted Grade 1 listing in 1967.

Retrace your steps back to your car

Having seen the Reform Tower, you can simply retrace your steps back to your car at Lees Road.