Hardstoft combines a long history of land use with historic buildings and a remarkably early oil well. The landscape on the sandstone ridge is also part of the picture. As you explore Hardstoft, you will encounter a range of traces: from the enclosure of open fields to the remains of a 1919 oil well.
Understanding Hardstoft and Its Landscape
The Hardstoft Conservation Area covers 23 hectares. It includes the hamlet of Hardstoft, built-up areas in the northwest on Hardstoft Common, and The Fields. The conservation area lies on both sides of the junction of Deep Lane and the B6039. This road was once the turnpike road between Chesterfield and Tibshelf. The junction provides a clear reference point for the area’s boundaries.
The development of the land can also be traced over time: land in and around Hardstoft has been managed as part of the Hardwick Estate since 1593. By 1610, the enclosure of the open fields in Hardstoft was well advanced. Farming and land management are therefore part of a long local history that can be traced back to a time before the surviving buildings and industrial remains described here.
The eastern slope of the Hardstoft sandstone ridge looks across farmland towards Hardwick. These fields are part of the Hardwick Estate, managed by the National Trust. The sandstone ridge, agricultural use and direction towards Hardwick form a connected spatial picture of the landscape.
Buildings and Industrial History
Toll Bar Cottage is an early 19th-century toll house. It was built from local sandstone and has a slate roof. Its type and materials give the building a specific place in Hardstoft’s history: it is a toll house whose construction reflects both the use of local sandstone and its roofing material.
Yew Tree Farmhouse on Deep Lane in Hardstoft dates from the mid-18th century and is a Grade II listed building. The former Sunday School, meanwhile, has a tall, gabled bellcote on its north gable. Their dates, listing status and architectural details are distinct features that help distinguish the historic buildings in the village.
The Hardstoft oil well tells a different kind of story: in May 1919, oil was struck at a depth of 3,075 feet. The remains of the well are near Hardstoft, behind the Oilwell Garden Centre. Only the collecting tank and associated pipes have survived. The dated oil discovery and the few surviving parts thus represent two specific aspects of the area’s industrial history.
Explore Hardstoft on Foot
The five-mile Astwith circular walk passes through the villages of Astwith and Hardstoft. It offers another way to connect the two place names—not only through individual historic buildings, but also as stops along a circular walking route. If you plan to include the route, check the route details before setting out, as they can change locally.
Hardstoft therefore offers two distinct focal points: the buildings and remains that mark individual chapters in the area’s history, and the walking route through Astwith and Hardstoft. Which one takes centre stage depends on whether you are more interested in historic architecture and land use or in a longer walk.
Discover more destinations: Coton In The Elms, Duffield, Alfreton, Duckmanton, Peak Forest, Castleton, Sutton On The Hill, Shottle.
For the main travel overview: Derbyshire.
