Above: Rowtor Rocks stand behind Birchover’s Druid Inn.
The longest walk featured on this website – 14 miles from Bakewell to Robin Hood’s Stride – passes a number of historical sites, including Rowtor Rocks on the outskirts of Birchover, next to the aptly-named Druid Inn.
The bizarre shapes carved into this gritstone outcrop include thrones, altars, steps and prehistoric-style symbols, and are said to be the work of an eccentric local Rector (and Druid), Thomas Eyre.
I haven’t been able to discover much about Thomas, beyond that he lived in Birchover Rectory (which is now a private house), next to the small church he built around 1700. And that he died in 1717.
He’s supposed to have composed many of his sermons regally perched on one of his stone thrones, serenely gazing out across this glorious White Peak landscape towards the Grey Ladies Stone Circle in the distance.
Above: Thomas’s Birchover Church was rebuilt in 1864 (click to enlarge). (See Wikipedia entry.)
Above: Click any image to enlarge and scroll through the variuous views of Rowtor Rocks.
There are two routes up to the Rocks – from either end of the track from the Druid Inn to Birchover Church. The easiest way is through a stile next to the pub, following the narrow path up the slope to the right, until it winds around to the left. From here you can climb the various levels to explore this wonderfully bizarre, natural stone playground.
A page on the ‘Let’s Go Peak District’ website includes this information about Thomas:
Despite being a man of the cloth, Thomas Eyre was a Druid who reputedly practised witchcraft. It is believed that he used Rowtor Rocks in his Druid ceremonies, and also wrote his village sermons sitting on the seats he had carved, looking out over the landscape. Two of the caves were reputedly created by Thomas Eyre in which to entertain his friends.
I’m trying to discover more about the intriguing Rector/Druid, and will update this page if I manage to find anything.
Above: The plaque to Thomas Eyre inside Birchover Church (click to enlarge). I’d be interested to know why a line of text has been removed, and what it said.
Page update: 12.8.24
Doh! – just shows that you can’t trust anything you read on the internet! Corrynne very kindly unlocked Birchover Church for me and knows about its history. She told me that Thomas Eyre was neither a Druid nor a Rector. He was a Lincoln’s Inn Barrister who inherited Rowtor Hall in 1681 and created a personal chapel in around 1700 – where the church stands today.
Rowtor Hall was completely rebuilt in 1870, some 150 years after Thomas had died in 1717. The chapel was extended around the same time with the addition of a chancel and porch. And presumably opened for public worship at around the same time.
Christian ceremonies
It’s thought that Thomas carved the shapes on Rowtor Rocks to create a place to entertain his friends, as well as possibly share religious ceremonies. Many of the shapes held Christian meanings, including an altar, chalice and a font. It’s also thought that some square sockets may have supported crosses.
Carroynne explained that the Druid connection originated from when the Druid Inn was used as a meeting place by the Ancient Order of Druids, a friendly society founded in 1781. They may well have conducted ceremonies on Rowtor Rocks, or at the nearby Grey Ladies Stone Circle. But not within Thomas’s lifetime.
I’ll update the incorrect information about Thomas when I get a chance. In many ways it’s a great shame that he wasn’t a Druid as it made a far more interesting story!