| Administrative History | The Friends of the Peak is a charity which campaigns to safeguard the Peak District from excessive development. It is an autonomous part of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.
The organisation was founded principally by Ethel Gallimore (later Haythornthwaite) who was a strong proponent of nature conservation. Along with likeminded friends Gallimore formed the 'Sheffield Association for the Protection of Local Scenery'. The group met at Endcliffe Vale House, Sheffield, and Ethel was appointed Honorary Secretary.
In 1927, following an invitation from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England to represent the Peak District the organisation became the Sheffield and Peak District Committee of the CPRE.
The organisation developed during a period in which there was no National Park, green belt, or strict development controls. With this in mind its campaigns were often the only measure to stop excessive industrial or residential development.
One of the major successes of the organisation came in 1945 when the Government appointed a National Parks Committee - the Hobhouse Committee - to report on the establishment of National Parks in England and Wales. Three members of the Branch were appointed: Lord Chorley, Mrs. Ethel Haythornthwaite (formerly Ethel Gallimore) and Mr. R.B. Graham. This resulted, in 1951, in the Peak District being the first national park to be recognised.
Today the organisation employs trained staff and volunteers in their role of monitoring and scrutinising proposed developments to prevent destructive development. |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited in Derbyshire Record Office in October 2007. A further deposit was received in June 2011. |