With its back against Parwich Hill, the lovely limestone village of Parwich spreads around the old pond and spacious green and contains a number of pretty cottages and gardens, overlooked by its fine and striking brick-built hall, which itself boasts beautifully terraced gardens.
Situated remotely in the scenic hill country of the White Peak with both the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail close by, Parwich is an idyllic and unspoiled Derbyshire gem which lies close to the southern edge of the Peak District National Park boundary and around seven miles north of the town of Ashbourne.
Generally regarded as a very peaceful and quiet place to live – the nearest main road between Ashbourne and Bakewell is over a mile from Parwich – this lovely village nevertheless came to the attention of the masses back in 2015 when it was named by the Sunday Times as being ‘one of the best places to live in Britain’ as it profiled Britain’s finest rural communities.
‘You know somewhere’s worth a good look when families move in and stay for decades,’ proclaimed the Sunday Times.
‘That’s what happens in Parwich, a welcoming village in the Peak District National Park, with old houses built in the pale local limestone amid the bright green hills and dry-stone walls. It’s definitely rural – the nearest town is Ashbourne, seven miles away – and it does not attract many visitors in winter, but it is pretty enough for the residents not to mind. Heck, that’s what country life is about, isn’t it?’ High praise indeed.
Full of charm, character and the feeling of stepping back in time but in the best possible way, Parwich is a dream if you’re looking for a slower pace of life.
The village has many characterful properties Photo: Gary Wallis PROPERTIES
Parwich’s location in the heart of beautiful countryside makes it an ideal and popular base for visiting and exploring but, given its rural qualities and the fact the village comprises just 434 residents according to the 2021 Census (down from 472 in the 2011 Census), it’s no surprise opportunities to purchase here can be few and far between.
According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), a total of 12 properties in Parwich have been sold over the past five years, two-thirds of which were detached homes. Other sales in this period include three terrace properties and one semi-detached dwelling.
As you may expect given Parwich’s many plus-points – including its beautiful houses – prices on average in the village (£356,195), are above the average for the county as a whole, with seven of the 12 most recent sales fetching in excess of £500,000, with the most recent sale recorded as over £1.2m.
Overall, according to Rightmove, the historical sold prices around Parwich over the past year were marginally up (one per cent) on the previous year and six per cent down on the 2022 peak of £377,946.
The obvious thing Parwich offers is a feeling of peace and tranquillity in what otherwise can feel a fast and at times chaotic world and as such it has a great deal of appeal if that’s what you’re looking for.
As alluded to, Parwich also offers the perfect base from which to explore some of Derbyshire and the Peak District’s most famed and scenic countryside.
You may imagine such a village off the beaten track to feel a touch antiquated but on the contrary, you’ll find a close-knit community here that both looks after each other and also provides a friendly atmosphere for visitors passing through, particularly in the summer months.
The Sycamore is a real asset to the local community, a traditional country pub serving food and drink and which also serves as the village shop!
Parwich has a small primary school which caters for children aged four to 11, with the school achieving a ‘Good’ from Ofsted at its last inspection in May 2022.
A focal point of the village, the Grade II listed 18th century Parwich Hall, is a private residence which occasionally opens to the public on specified dates.
St Peter’s Church at Parwich, built in 1874, is Grade II listed and is open for private prayer all day, every day, unless there is a funeral or wedding taking place.
Hower, it is by no means the only building of historical significance in the parish.
In total, there are 38 listed buildings recorded in the National Heritage List for England, with St Peter’s Church and Parwich Hall both designated as ‘particularly important buildings of more than special interest’.
According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), house prices in Baslow have an overall average of £683,333 over the past year.
The majority of properties sold in Baslow during the past year (12 in total) were detached properties, selling for an average price of £1,097,000.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £481,667, with terraced properties fetching £432,500.
Overall, the historical sold prices in Baslow over the past year were seven per cent up on the previous year and seven per cent down on the 2021 peak of £735,183.
Close by are both the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail, which follow the routes of former railway lines, now converted for recreational use by walkers and cyclists, and the Limestone Way passes through the village. The Royston Grange Archaeology Trail is just north of the village, with remains of Roman field systems and house and later medieval buildings.
. The Hall and gardens are private but open occasionally. There is a small village shop and pub and there is some holiday accommodation. For other facilities see Ashbourne.
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