This is the ninth event in a series to highlight some of the pinfolds that are found within Derbyshire, with this one taking us to a well-maintained example in Curbar.
Pinfold is derived from the Saxon Old English pundfald meaning an enclosure & the term was used largely in the north & east of the country. These enclosures were used specifically to house stray cattle or sheep which had wandered from their owners' land or which had been found grazing on common land without common rights. These would be rounded up & kept in the pinfold until they were claimed. To retrieve the animals, a fine would have to be paid to the pinder, who was an officer of the Lord of the Manor. It was a serious offence to break your animals out of the pinfold, punishable by a further fine or imprisonment! Occasionally the pinfold might be rented as a temporary holding pen overnight by drovers on their way to market. Although they date from much earlier, it is thought that by the 16th century, almost every settlement would have had its own pinfold & pinder. Sadly, most of these have been lost over the years, but some survive almost intact whilst others have been restored.
Found at the bottom of Pinfold Hill, Curbar pinfold is round & approximately 3m in diameter. It was restored in 2010 & is constructed from pointed gritstone, with a large metal gate onto the roadside. Originally, this opening was square, with a doorway entrance overlooking the private driveway which has since been blocked up. Parking nearby is difficult due to the narrow lanes, so I have provided a parking waypoint opposite the school, from where it is a short walk to the pinfold.
This short event will give us an opportunity to meet up safely outside for some geochat & to swap trackables in hopefully peaceful & beautiful surroundings. There are several traditional caches in the area. There may even be a new cache published for the occasion...