Youlgrave village sign

Welcome to Youlgrave

Village News

For all the news from the village see the Bugle, Youlgrave’s monthly community magazine. Read the latest issue here March 24. To access past and special issues, as well as other local news features, go to the News page.

2024/25 – Diary Dates:

  • Pommie Panter Fell Race, Sunday 19th May, details from Youlgrave Harriers
  • Youlgrave Welldressing, 22nd-28th June, see Youlgrave Welldressers
  • Youlgrave Show, Saturday 14th September, Youlgrave Village Hall (more information to follow)
  • Youlgrave Panto, Jan/Feb 2025

For other regular events, including Church services, Youlgrave W.I. talks, Youlgrave Cinema screenings, Youlgrave Band concerts, plus craft fairs and events put on at Youlgrave Village Hall, check out the latest issue of the Bugle. 

 

To read about the Pommie Pilgrimage, a community initiative to raise funds for new facilities at Youlgrave Church through pilgrim walks to each of the 42 Anglican cathedrals in England, go to All Saints Parish Church page.

 

 

For first-time visitors, welcome to Youlgrave!

 

Youlgrave Questions and Answers by Bill Shimwell: Newly extended and edited booklet featuring a biography of the author by his sons, new colour photographs and additional questions and answers and editorial notes. An interesting and entertaining read and an invaluable source of fascinating and quirky information about Youlgrave. On sale from Youlgrave Post Office or via yhgenquiries2@gmail.com

 

Peak District pub history book by Youlgrave author

Youlgrave author Andrew McCloy has written a book celebrating the heritage of local pubs. Peak District Pubs – a pint-sized social history traces the evolution of ‘the local’ from humble alehouse to modern roadhouse and along the way takes in everything from haunted pubs and theme pubs through to new community-owned pubs and micropubs.

The book costs £11.99 and is available from Youlgrave Post Office or via https://gritst

The cover of a book with a picture of a country pub and the title 'Peak District Pubs - a pint sized social history'.
View of village from a hill with normal church

Youlgrave is a village in Derbyshire, England, located in the south of the Peak District a few miles from Bakewell. It sits on the hillside just above the River Bradford, near its confluence with the River Lathkill. Youlgrave is one of the largest villages within the Peak District National Park and is a thriving community that takes pride in its resourcefulness and rural character.

Due to its scenic Peak District location, Youlgrave has become a popular tourist destination. Visitors to the area are able to enjoy a range of activities including walking and cycling with tremendous sightseeing opportunities in the beautiful surrounding countryside. There are many trails to follow that suit all abilities, from novice through to the more experienced. Visitors staying in the area have a good choice of accommodation options and there are several places serving food and drink for the long-term holidaymaker or casual day visitor to enjoy. For those not wishing to use their own motor transport to explore the area there are local bus routes and a private hire tour service.

What's in a name?

Welcome to Pommie (or Pommy...)

The origin of Youlgrave’s curious nickname has nothing to do with lead mining or welldressing but is in fact musical. The village has its own band – originally brass and now silver – established over a century ago when the local Co-operative store (then based in the present-day youth hostel building) purchased the first instruments. One account has it that since few members knew any music early parades involved not so much a medley of tunes but rather a “pom, pom, pom” sort of sound. Another, rather more fanciful explanation involves a pig resting on a wall and serenading the band with a “tiddly pom, pom, pom” – hence the village nickname!

Youlgrave or Youlgreave?

Youlgrave was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Giolgrave and research by the late Bill Shimwell has shown that it has been spelt in over 60 different ways. In the Middle Ages it was variously written as Jalgrave, Iolgrave, Yelgreve and even Hyolegrave. Although the name is sometimes translated as grove of Iola (or Geola) the clearest connection is with lead mining, which has been carried out in the limestone hills of the Peak District since Roman times. A grove or groove is an old term for a mine or open workings (miners were often known as groovers); and it is likely that the village name derives from ‘yellow grove’, the yellow probably referring to a colour found in the local rock (possibly baryte or barium sulphate).

However, even today the spelling of the village’s name is a matter of contention and confusion. On Ordnance Survey maps and most road signs you will see it spelt Youlgreave, but many villagers drop the ‘e’ and use the more traditional Youlgrave. Indeed, the sign at the Village Hall does away with the ‘e’, as does Youlgrave Waterworks and the village garage. The road signs at either end of the village go with Youlgrave (the Parish Council spelling) while the sign at the A6 turning says Youlgreave (County Council spelling). Then there’s the road sign at Newhaven, off the A515 south west of the village, that actually says Youlegreave. Confused?

Here follows a list of spellings of the name of ‘the most miss-spelt village’ as compiled by local historian and former teacher at Youlgrave school, Mr J W Shimwell. (The most common are highlighted in bold with the earliest known date in brackets after the name).

  • Giolgrave
  • Yolgrave
  • Jalgrave
  • Hyolgrave
  • Hyolegrave
  • Yolgreff
  • Yoleg
  • Yolegreve
  • Yolegrave
  • Youlgraue
  • Welegreve
  • Yoelgreve
  • Oelgreve
  • Yelegreve
  • Yeolegreve
  • Yolgreave
  • Yolgreve
  • Yollegreve
  • Jol’ve
  • Zolgrelf
  • Yollgreve
  • Yoligrewe
  • Yollegrewe
  • Youlgreve
  • Zolgreff
  • Youlgrave (1492)
  • Yolgreyva
  • Yolgreyve
  • Yeolgreave
  • Youlgreave (1595)
  • Yellegrave
  • Yollogreve
  • Yollograve
  • Yeollgreave
  • Youldgreave
  • Yograve
  • Isgrave
  • Yalgrove
  • Yolegreue
  • Jolegreue
  • lolegrave
  • Jholegreve
  • Yelegrave
  • Yellegrave
  • Iolgrave
  • Yholgreve
  • Yelgreve
  • Zolgreve