MEMOIRS 



OF THE 



LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 

 OF MANCHESTER. 



I. A Descent into El den Hole, Derbyshire. 

 By RooKE Pennington, LL,B. 



Read January 26th, 1875. 



Near the road from Buxton to Castleton, and about four 

 miles from the latter place^ stands Elden Hill. It is a 

 bleak, bare mountain, one of the highest of the grassy 

 eminences of the Derbyshire limestone district, and, though 

 uninviting itself, commands a most extensive and fine view. 

 Its summit was, long ago in the prehistoric past, chosen as 

 a resting-place for the bones of some savage chief; and in 

 its side is Elden Hole. 



Elden Hole is a perpendicular chasm in the rock, and, 

 like many such apertures, is reputed to be bottomless : and, 

 indeed, the sound of a stone falling into the gulf is almost 

 enough to justify the reputation; for, bounding from side to 

 side and smashing as it bounds, the noise of each leap 

 gradually diminishes, but the stone is never heard to stop. 

 Though still famous, it is not so famous as it once was. It 

 was once reckoned one of the seven wonders of the Peak. 



SER. III. VOL. VI. B 



