51G 
Report of the Judges on the 
Derby and Chesterfield road ; the Midland Railway runs up 
the valley through a portion of the land on the west. About 
half a mile from Stretton station, on the Derby turnpike road, 
on the top of the hill to the east, is one of the finest landscape 
views in Derbyshire. It is between Stretton and Higham, and 
includes in the area visible from this spot many places of 
historical interest. The best view is obtained from " Stubbina: 
Hill." The scenery from this hill on a bright summer day is 
really magnificent. To the north-east, about five miles distant, 
Hardwick Hall, the seat of the Marquis of Hartington, may be 
seen. Alfreton, to the south-east, is four miles distant, but appears 
much nearer. Tradition says that Alfred the Great here con- 
cealed himself under a peasant's habit, and was rated by the wife 
of a neat-herd for allowing her cakes to be burnt ; hence Alfreton 
from Alfred's-town. To the south, three miles away, stand the 
massive ruins of Wingfield Manor, where Mary Queen of Scots 
was confined at intervals for nine years. Crich Stand, a little 
more to the west, may be plainly seen ; it is 955 feet above the 
level of the sea, and about two miles from the residence of one of 
England's noblest daughters, Miss Florence Nightingale. Mat- 
lock and Matlock Bath are only six miles from Stubbing Hill, 
but they are hidden behind a hill. Six miles to the north can 
be seen the town of Chesterfield, with its noted crooked church 
spire. At Stubbing Hill, as at Stretton, the Derby and Chester- 
field turnpike road extends from south to north on the summit 
of the hill, whilst the Midland Railway extends in the same 
direction along the valley beneath. Beyond the railway, on 
the slope of the opposite hill, stands Ogston Hall, the beautiful 
residence of William Gladwin Turbutt, Esq., J. P. 
The land in this district varies much in quality and fertility, 
one class being a dry and somewhat sandy soil, with gravelly 
subsoil ; the other a heavy clay soil with clay subsoil and some 
blocks of grit-stone. The land in this locality, inclining towards 
the east from the top of the hill, consists of the better class of 
soil, as it lies in the same direction as the measures ; this is 
much easier to work as arable land and much more productive 
than that of the heavy clay soil. That which inclines contrary 
to the measures, and especially that on the basset edge of the 
coal and ironstone beds, which abound in that neighbourhood, 
is of the poorest description of clay soil. It is most difficult to 
work as arable land, and only applicable to the growth of a 
certain class of crops. Unsuitable for the growth of roots, — 
wheat, oats, vetches, and seeds are the chief produce, but the 
greater portion is down in permanent pasture, for which it 
appears the best adapted. The uneven nature of the land and 
other evidences indicate that, at some time past, at least the top 
