Understand
Glossop is situated at the North Western extremity of Derbyshire and the Peak District, close to the borders with Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. It also lies at the start of two of the most infamous Pennine passes—the Snake and Woodhead passes. Its main development is owed to the nineteenth century cotton industry which generated the wealth to build much of the town we see today, although the cotton industry has since declined and almost disappeared from the region. Despite this, the historic mill buildings still dominate the town, such as those at Wren Nest and Howardtown, both of which are undergoing major transformations into new multi-use buildings including retail, leisure and residential properties. Glossop is now a vibrant modern town with great connections to surrounding places; however, it is predominantly a 'commuter town' for the nearby city region of Greater Manchester, where quite often people have moved to enjoy a more relaxed and laid-back quality of life whilst enjoying the same benefits as living near a city. Glossop is mainly a shopping and tourist town as it has a regular market and a wide range of both high street and independent stores. It attracts tourists mainly due to the surrounding Peak District National Park and its stunning countryside, but also for the heritage and attractions the town itself. It is not of any administrative significance due to its geographic location and local government structures. The population of the town 2001 Census is 32,428.
