Via_Gellia
A5012 road
Road in Derbyshire
The A5012 road is a main road in the south of the English county of Derbyshire.
| A5012 | |
|---|---|
The A5012, Via Gellia, passing through Griffe Grange Valley | |
| Major junctions | |
| From | Newhaven |
| To | Cromford |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Road network | |
_-_Passing_through_Griffe_Grange_Valley_in_the_direction_of_Grangemill_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1000635.jpg){kind=link}
Around 9 miles (14 km) in length, it connects two primary north–south routes; the A6 at Cromford and the A515 between Buxton and Ashbourne. It passes through Pikehall and Grangemill and alongside Ible.
The eastern part (Grangemill to Cromford, set in a deep valley) is known as the Via Gellia – a steep-sided wooded dry valley and road.
It is probably named after (or by) Philip Eyre Gell in a mock-Latin style; he was responsible for building the road through the valley, the name being a link to the Gell family's claim of Roman descent. They held lead-mining interests in and around Wirksworth.[1] At its lower (eastern) end is the village of Cromford and its Georgian mill, built by inventor and entrepreneur Richard Arkwright. At the western end is the hamlet of Grangemill.
The road appears to have been constructed about 1790 to connect the Gells' extensive lead-mining interests around Wirksworth with a new smelter at Cromford. However, some sources say that the route was in use as early as 1720 for transporting stone from the family's quarries in the Hopton area.
Modern history
In modern times the Via Gellia developed a reputation as being a dangerous road with a disproportionately high casualty rate, particularly among motorcyclists. This was due in part to its relative narrowness, the number of large goods vehicles using it to access the quarries, and its canopy of overhanging trees resulting in a persistently damp surface. Remedial measures, including resurfacing, were carried out by Derbyshire County Council in 2006.
World War I
In World War I, the name Via Gellia was assigned to a communication trench between Kemmel village and the British and Canadian front lines facing the German front lines before Wijtschate in Belgium.
The road has a poor safety record and is ranked the third-worst in Britain by EuroRAP.[2]
The fabric Viyella, a wool and cotton mix, is named after the Via Gellia, the location of W. Hollins & Company's textile mill where it was originally produced.
- EuroRAP press release Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
 | This England road or road transport-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |