Strange stone wall on The Chevin nr. Belper?

User21

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Oct 1, 2003, 12:14:33 PM10/1/03

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On the east side of The Chevin is a large stone wall about 20 feet
high and maybe 30 feet wide set at an angle (facing south west approx
near the main path along the top). Anyone any idea of what this is /
was or why it was built?

I wondered if it was some war-time practice target or something?

Thanks for any light you can throw on this - it has intrigued me for
years!

Chris Morriss

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Oct 1, 2003, 3:09:31 PM10/1/03

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In message <79vlnvo80ab69osjh...@4ax.com>, User21
<nospam...@nochance.com> writes

Was this another of the sighting platforms built when the
Derby-Sheffield railway line was originally being surveyed? I believe
there is a sighting platform/tower north of Duffield that was built for
this purpose.
--
Chris Morriss

Peter Lander

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Oct 1, 2003, 7:28:30 PM10/1/03

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> On the east side of The Chevin is a large stone wall about 20 feet

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

> was or why it was built?
>
> I wondered if it was some war-time practice target or something?

I saw that a few years ago and came to the same conclusion as yourself.

Pete
(Looking north towards the Crooked Spire)
http://www.mountainactivitysection.org.uk

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Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

User21

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Oct 2, 2003, 2:47:01 PM10/2/03

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>
>Was this another of the sighting platforms built when the
>Derby-Sheffield railway line was originally being surveyed? I believe
>there is a sighting platform/tower north of Duffield that was built for
>this purpose.

That's one I hadn't thought of - why would they need a sighting
platform? Do surveyors still use them?

BTW: Do you mean something to 'site at', or something to stand on
while siting?

Chris Morriss

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Oct 2, 2003, 3:59:48 PM10/2/03

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In message <pjsonv0cq0ugkk4dd...@4ax.com>, User21
<nospam...@nochance.com> writes

I don't know! I read it in an industrial archaeology book. I'll see
what it says, but I remember that it claimed that a stone structure on
the Chevin was built to define an accurately located place from which
the course of the railway could be seen, and that it was used as the
reference point for all the surveying off the line through the valley.

I don't know if that stretch of the Derby-Sheffield line can be seen
from your structure.

Is Brian Dominic still reading this newsgroup? He knows a lot about
railways.
--
Chris Morriss

Andy Savage

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Oct 3, 2003, 2:11:20 AM10/3/03

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Hi,
The wall was built around 1800 as a rifle practice range. See my Milford
page under "Railway sighting tower" for info.

See my Milford page here :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/areas_i_o/milford.htm

Hope this answers your question.

Best wishes
Andy
www.derbyphotos.co.uk

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iantheengineer

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Oct 8, 2003, 2:38:59 PM10/8/03

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Surveyors use triangulation points that have a symbol like the middle of a
Merc badge on them, or bench marks which are an up arrow under a horizontal
line (purely for level surveys) If it is a triangulation point it should be
shown on the OS map, I believe you can look at maps on the OS site, which
may answer your question.

Hope that helps

"Chris Morriss" <cr...@oroboros.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
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iantheengineer

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Oct 8, 2003, 2:40:49 PM10/8/03

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Okay having seen it it isnt a triangulation point!

"Andy Savage" <no.w...@home.co.uk> wrote in message
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