Folklore, Fiction and The Devil’s Elbow

Nanny Greenteeth and Nell Nettlespike, Baron de Morland and Sir Mottram De Mossland…some of the characters presented in the myths and legends about the Longdendale Valley. In particular, they feature in many of the explanations of how a hairpin along Woodhead Head earned the title ‘devil’s elbow’.

Walking from The Peels Arms in Padfield to Peak Naze, Clare Savory is joined by Glossop-based science-fiction writer Matt Hill (M. T. Hill). Together they talk about how the landscape inspires their work, and savour a precious moment to welcome the lapwings back to fields surrounding Padfield.

Links to buy The Breach and Zero Bomb are available via Matt’s website: mthill.co.uk 

The Longdendale Tales project was supported by Glossop Creates as part of their Pairings programme, matched with Matt Ross at the Peak District National Park’s Longdendale Environmental Centre in Tintwistle. 

Visit LongdendaleTales.co.uk to see our digital interactive map. 

Special thanks to Holly Close (assistant producer), Harry Heart (series theme music ‘Begging’), Owain Paciuszko (videos and visuals), Lauren Riley (logos and artwork) and Kate Raine (Glossop Heritage Trust research library).