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Crumbling main road on Mam Tor, Castleton, c 1940s ?
Image ref
PTPD300284
Credit
From collection of F H Brindley
photographer
Brindley, F H (Sheffield News Pictures, 973 Abbeydale Road, Millhouses)
ImageDate
c 1940s ?
Location
Mam Tor
Town
Castleton
About this image
The photographer's original caption for this view reads: 'Mam Tor Hill. The Main Road down Hope Valley from Manchester to Sheffield. The most dangerous main Road in Britain. Slipping into a Ravine over 150ft deep. Where Lorries should miss it by taking Bakewell road.'
Mam Tor is a 517m (1,696ft) hill. Landslips, caused by unstable lower layers of shale, have been a characteristic feature over many years and have prompted its alternative name of the Shivering Mountain. Although this view shows subsidence problems before in the 1940s, it was not until 1979 that the on-going battle to maintain the A625 road (Sheffield to Chapel en le Frith) on the crumbling eastern side of the hill was lost and the road officially closed as a through-route. Traffic now uses the nearby steep and narrow Winnats Pass.
This view is looking north and shows a steam roller in attendance. The road itself can be seen continuing towards Castleton in the right middle distance, having descended by a hairpin bend.
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