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ART. III. Notes on the Caverns in the North-Eastern District of 

 the High Peak of Derbyshire, with an Account of a Descent 

 into Eldon Hole. By the Editors. 



Caverns have been met with in different spots over almost the 

 whole of the carboniferous limestone district of Derbyshire. Their 

 direction is found to vary with that of the vallies ; and their cha- 

 racters are regular with respect to the minor details of the varied 

 operation of the same causes which produced the vaUies,— of the 

 differences of structure, and of the accidents of stratification ; and 

 are also constant with regard to the physical geography of the en- 

 tire tract. 



In no part of this country do we find the caverns at once so ex- 

 tensive, presenting features of so much magnificence, and combin- 

 ing in their phenomena so many illustrations of their natural his- 

 tory, as in a small district, of a few miles in extent, in the north- 

 eastern part of the Hundred of the High Peak. 



Here, terminating to the north by lofty hills which receal the 

 greatest subterranean beauties, the mountain limestone is separated 

 from the superincumbent millstone grit, by two vallies of different 

 elevation, and of very different aspect and magnitude ; the most 

 easterly is called Hope Vale. The westerly valley, little cultivat- 

 ed and not many thousand yards wide, is terminated to the north 

 by a range of millstone grit and shale hiUs, of a rounded outline, 

 which itself terminates above Hope Vale, in the culminating point 

 of Mam Tor, to which the latter presents an abrupt and precipi- 

 tous bare acclivity. 



To the north originates another range, which, coursing round to 

 the east, forms a series of distinct summits, joined by their bases 

 and acclivities, forming the northern boundary of Hope Vale, and 

 extending beyond the eastern termination of the limestone range. 

 These hills, pretty lofty in the east, attain their maximum of ele- 

 vation at the hill above Peak Castle, becoming gradually lower to- 

 wards the west. 



One or two small hills extend towards the southern foot of Mam 

 Tor, separating the western and eastern vallies, but joined to the 

 latter by a beautiful rocky pass called the Winnats, (Wind-gates.) 



Between these ridges of limestone hills and the eastern range of 

 millstone grit which stretches out from Mam Tor, lies the low fer- 

 tile plain of Hope Vale, ornamented with towns and villages, wa- 

 tered by streams curling from the adjacent hills, and smiling with 

 the products of a rich and luxuriant soil. 



Above Castleton, at the foot of Peak Castle, is the extensive ca- 

 vern known by the name of Peak Cavern. Not many hundred 

 yards to the west is the entry to Speedwell Mine, leading to an- 

 other large subterranean cavity. At the foot of the hills between 

 Mam Tor and the main limestone ridge, are the mines of Odin, &c. 

 communicating also with subterranean cavities : and in the western 



