In the thirteenth century, a vast area of the Peak District bordered by the rivers Goyt, Etherow, Derwent and Wye, was covered by a Royal Forest that served as a hunting ground for the Norman Kings.  In 1225, the Earl of Derby gave permission for the forester's to build a chapel in the forest (a Chapel-en-le-Frith).  The foresters' chapel was constructed on a spur of the land below Eccles Pike, in a wide valley sheltered by the long, high, ridge of the Combs Moss.

The settlement that grew up around the new Church quickly became a centre of government for the Royal Forest of the Peak and an important stopping point on the trade routes which ran between Cheshire and Yorkshire.

The modern parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith is home to more than 9000 people.  As one would expect in town with a history that stretches across seven centuries, there is a substantial "Old Town" at it's core.  Old stone houses cling to the hillside below the parish Church, which occupies the site of the original thirteenth century Chapel, and there is a cluster of ancient inns on the perimeter of the Market Place - clear evidence of the town's historic role as a staging post on coaching routes.

The Old Town area of Chapel-en-le-Frith is one of the Peak District's best kept secrets, for it stands on rising land behind the façade of the main street and is largely hidden from view of passing motorists.  Even the Market Place is raised above street level.

On your next visit to the Peak District, pause in Chapel-en-le-Frith and follow the Old Town Trail, which will unlock the secrets of the Old Town and guide you along picturesque streets and alleyways, where you will discover fascinating old buildings.  

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ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT for this website

This website is run by Chapel en le Frith Parish Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

-zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen

-navigate most of the website using just a keyboard

-navigate most of the website using speech recognition software

-listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible: we are intending to upgrade the website during 2024.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please email clerk@chapel pc.org or call 01298 813320  We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 7 days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact Sue Stockdale, Clerk to the Council - clerk@chapelpc.org 

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The Parish Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard.

Preparation of this accessibility statement This statement was prepared on 17 November 2023. It was last reviewed on 17 November 2023.