Tutbury Riverside and castle

Tutbury may be small, but it has played a major role in England's history. The castle, standing proudly above the River Dove, housed Mary Queen of Scots from 1559 until shortly before her execution in 1587. Intrigue and plotting were constant features of her captivity, resulting in steadily increasing restrictions on her life. Towards the end, she was even confined to one room, and her servants were prevented from leaving the castle or walking on the battlements in case they should signal to spies outside. The earliest fortifications are thought to date from the Iron Age, and it takes little imagination to see what a commanding site the castle occupies. It controlled a key crossing point over the River Dove, and in 1831, 100,000 coins were discovered in the river by workmen. It is generally believed that they were lost in 1323, when they must have had an enormous value. Many of the town's street names reflect its past, while the imposing Georgian High Street would not disgrace many a larger town. Tutbury had a corn mill for many years, followed by silk, cotton and plaster mills, while today the long-established crystal glass industry still survives. The plaster mill used gypsum from the nearby Fauld mine at Hanbury, where on 27th. November, 1944, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history occurred. 4,000 tons of bombs and 500 million rounds of rifle ammunition blew up, killing 75 people and leaving a crater three quarters of a mile across and 400 feet deep. The explosion was heard as far away as London and Bristol; incredibly, the old gypsum mine was still used to store munitions until 1973. Today, there is no public access as large numbers of bombs are still buried beneath the ground. Back in the town, the church has some very important Norman features that date from its heyday as a Priory. Together with the castle and the bridge, it illustrates what an important place Tutbury was in the Middle Ages. On a more modern theme, the large factory beside the river is one of only two in the U.K. producing instant coffee! The Trail does not take in the castle, but it makes a wonderful day out to combine the two. Please note that the castle is not open from October to April, other than for special events such as the Medieval Christmas Market when everyone dresses up and makes merry.

The Trail has two distinct sections to it; the first mile is across flat river meadows, often amongst the grazing cattle. Choose good weather and remember that it can be very muddy after rain, so wear suitable footwear. Several stiles and a short, but steep, climb up a grassy bank and a flight of steps mean that the Trail is best suited to the able-bodied, although a group could split up and let some walk, whilst those who may find it arduous go around and meet up again at the church. The town has numerous places providing food and drink, and there is a playground for the young and a fitness playground for the adults at the end of the Trail - assuming that they still have any energy left, of course!