Peak Forest

Rather remote, and sparsely populated, Peak Forest has many a good tale to tell. It was once a stronghold in the Royal Forest of the Peak, where poachers could be horribly maimed or killed if they were caught stealing the king’s deer or game. Because the village stood on royal land, its church and vicar answered to no bishop. The vicar could conduct marriages on the spot: no banns, no delay and few questions. Peak Forest became a veritable Gretna Green with hundreds of runaway and clandestine marriages to its credit - until the law put a stop to it. A mile from the village is Eldon Hole, the legendary entrance to hell itself!