Stanage Pole replaced on Peak District’s 65th anniversary

Stanage Pole has been replaced in a ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Peak District National Park.

Environment Minister Rory Stewart said the decision to replace the pole was a symbol of the National Park’s work to protect the natural heritage, and described the Peak District as a ‘national treasure’.

A wooden marker has stood on Hallam Moors on an ancient packhorse route known as Long Causeway, close to Stanage Edge, for several hundred years at the border of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The previous pole had to be removed for safety reasons last year after some of the wood rotted and around 500 people turned out to see the replacement larch tree trunk, sourced from Stanage-North Lees, hoisted into place with help from the British Mountaineering Council.

Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park, said: “It was a delight to see so many people celebrate the replacement of Stanage Pole on Sunday. The replacement of such an important landmark in the Peak District National Park was a fitting way to mark our 65th birthday, as the first National Park in the UK. To celebrate with so many partners who have helped us design and put the pole back, and with so many people who came along to be part of history, shows that the pole, and the National Park, are still important to people today.’’

Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: “Our National Parks are the soul of Britain, beautiful and enticing landscapes, of which we should all be very proud. The Peak District is particularly special as our very first National Park, and its 65th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate its inspiring work and encourage more people to explore the history of this national treasure. The Peak District’s replacement of Stanage Pole on reaching this milestone is a real symbol of the park’s valuable work protecting our precious natural heritage, so it can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Among the people who have supported the National Park team in delivering the project are designer Chris Wells, who worked on the larch trunk in the early stages and designed the base, decorative cage and method of installation, with input from Carl Baxby of the Sheffield Clarion Ramblers.

Apprentices from Hope Construction Materials built the steel socket and decorative cage for the pole. Industrial Director Ashley Bryan said: “We already work with the Peak District National Park Authority on a range of educational and conservation projects. Working on Stanage Pole has been a really enjoyable project and a great opportunity for Hope to be involved in a practical way. Our apprentices have applied their skills and also learned new ones to build the steel socket and decorative cage, which will continue to be an iconic part of the Peak District landscape.”

Sheffield’s Durham Foundry produced the cast iron base and Managing Director Mike Naylor said: “We were delighted to be involved in the project. The pole is an iconic landmark and I can remember walking past it as a boy with my dad. We also saw it as a way of highlighting the value of craft apprentices and Josh Sutton, supervised by Simon Parr, did a great job.’’

Further support came from the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, Clarion Ramblers and public donations.