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The Roman Presence in Derbyshire

by JoAnn Alberstat

With its central location, the region had a military presence that included forts, smaller fortified outposts and temporary camps for legions on the move. Civilian settlements were located in places like Chesterfield and Derby (Derventio to the Romans) to support this soldierly work. Villas or farmsteads were also built in the countryside.

The occupiers made use of the area’s natural resources, including mineral deposits in caves throughout the Peak District, and thermal springs at Buxton. Industry included potteries that made earthenware vessels.

Of particular interest to Hardcastle were the underground mines, with those dating from the Roman era providing lead or silver for metalwork and coins. Large cast bars of lead, or “pigs,” now housed in the British Museum and other collections bear Latin stamps that say: “from the mines at Lutudarum.”

No evidence has been found that the Romans mined blue john in the province of Britannia, despite the ailing doctor’s description of the cavern where his adventures occurred. Like the dog in the nighttime, what the experts haven’t found is suggestive.

The two known sites where the rare variety of fluorspar is found in Britain are still mined today and continue to be tourist attractions. Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern are both located near Castleton – the town where Hardcastle almost called on the mad doctor, Mr. Picton. Although Blue John Cavern has similarities to Blue John Gap, the exact location of the latter has sparked debate among Doyleans and geologists.

The Blue John Cavern website credits the Romans for discovering what Hardcastle called “a particular mineral of a beautiful purple shade.” Treak Cliff Cavern’s website states that mining is believed to have started between 1745 and 1750. This aligns with records related to mine leases in the area.

William Adam, who was a local craftsman and entrepreneur in Matlock, gets credit for being the source of the link between the Romans and blue john. He mentioned it in his 1843 book, Gem of the Peak, and cited Pliny the Elder’s classical writings about a mineral called murrhine as proof. However, geologists say the reference was about Roman provinces that were in southwestern Iran.

While Adam was seeking to promote local tourism and sales of decorative objects, local lore continues to have a role in some sites being mislabelled as Roman. For example, a trail atop Treak Cliff is known as Roman Hollow although it’s believed to be a medieval route.

While it wasn’t Arthur Conan Doyle who started the myth about the origin of blue john mining in the Peak District, his writing has helped perpetuate it.

Sources:

A-Z of Places of Roman Britain.

“About Us.” Blue John Cavern.

“A History of Blue John and Treak Cliff Cavern.” Teak Cliff Cavern.

Adam, William. The Gem of the Peak, Derby and London. UK: John and Charles Mozley, 1851. Internet Access: The Gem of the Peak.

Ford, Trevor David. Derbyshire Blue John. Ashbourne, UK: Landmark Publishing, 2000. Internet Access: Derbyshire Blue John.

Martin Batory, Dana and William A.S. Sarjeant. “The Terror of Blue John Gap – A Geological and Literary Study.” A.C.D. – The Journal of the Arthur Conan Doyle Society, Vol 5, 1994). Internet Access: The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia.

Sarjeant, William A.S. “Concerning ‘The Terror and Mr Weller.: A Study in Attitudes.” A.C.D. – The Journal of the Arthur Conan Doyle Society, Vol 8, 1998. Internet Access: The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia.

WHO IS JOANN?

JoAnn Alberstat is co-editor of Canadian Holmes, and lives in Dartmouth, Canada. A former newspaper reporter and editor, she now works in communications. JoAnn is a member of the local Sherlock Holmes society, The Spence Munros, and several other societies in Canada and internationally.