Chrome Hill

Chrome Hill /ˈkruːm/ is a limestone reef knoll[1] in Derbyshire, England, in the upper Dove valley beside the border with Staffordshire. It is adjacent to Parkhouse Hill, another reef knoll.

Chrome Hill
Chrome Hill viewed from the southwest
Highest point
Elevation	c. 425 m (c. 1394 ft)
Geography
Location	Peak District, England
OS grid	SK070673
Topo map	OS Landranger 119

Chrome Hill was declared open access land[2] under the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. However, the only access from the north west remains along a concessionary footpath. Chrome Hill contains good exposures of Gigantoproductus fossils; it is part of a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest[3] which makes it an offence for visitors to remove geological samples.

First sunset

Re-emergence a few minutes later

The sun setting and re-emerging behind Chrome Hill, part of the location's midsummer double sunset. The second setting occurs in the dip to the right.

In 1997 the writer Jeff Kent discovered that a double sunset could be seen against Chrome Hill from the southern flank of Parkhouse Hill. Two years later he discovered that a similar event took place from nearby Glutton Bridge, on the upper valley of the River Dove, which was more easily accessible.[4] The phenomenon is visible from Glutton Bridge in good weather for a short period around the summer solstice, when the sun sets just to the southwest of the summit of Chrome Hill, begins to re-emerge almost immediately afterwards from its steep northeastern slope before fully reappearing and later sets for a second and final time at the foot of the hill. The precise event and its location are described in Kent's book The Mysterious Double Sunset.[5]

Chrome Hill has had songs written in its honour by the Norwegian musicians Sigurd Hole (Chrome Hill[6]) and Jonas Howden Sjøvaag (Up on Chrome Hill[7]). In 2008 the Norwegian jazz quartet Damp changed its name to Chrome Hill.

References

1. Wolverson Cope, F. (1999). The Peak District. Geologist' Association Guide No. 26 (3rd revised ed.). The Geologists' Association. ISBN 0-900717-11-4.
2. Townroe, P.M. (2003). Appeal Decision (PDF). The Planning Inspectorate. CROW/2/M/03/735. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2011.
3. "SSSI Citation" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
4. The Mysterious Double Sunset, pages 102, 110, 111 and 113–114, Jeff Kent, ISBN 0-9529152-5-1, Witan Books, 2001.
5. The Mysterious Double Sunset, especially photographs 23 (i)-(iv) and page 200, Jeff Kent, ISBN 0-9529152-5-1, Witan Books, 2001.
6. Eple Trio (2007). Made This. NORCD. Catalog NORCD0766.
7. Navyelectre (2008). The Mourning. Shipwreckords. ASIN B000YB6VG2.