History of the Wirksworth Area

Wirksworth has a long and fascinating history. Here are some articles about the story of Wirksworth that will wet your appetite for more. Additions or enqiries contact the author:

An Introduction to Wirksworth: HISTORY of Wirksworth containing: An outline -- In 1848 -- Major John Conradt Molanus, British Civil War Hero -- John Conradt Molanus, the Dutchman's Mine -- In 1802 Local History of other places in the Wirksworth Area: Descriptions from 1715, 1802, 1829, 1833, 1846, 1848, and 1991: Alderwasley -- Ashleyhay -- Biggin -- Bolehill -- Bonsall -- Brassington -- Callow -- Carsington -- Cromford -- Griffe-Grange -- Hopton -- Hulland Ward -- Ible -- Idridghay -- Ireton-Wood -- Ironbrooke -- Kirk-Ireton -- Matlock -- Matlock Bath -- Middleton -- Shottle -- Tansley WHITE's 1857 Directory of Derbyshire description of: Alderwasley -- Ashlehay -- Biggin -- Blackwall -- Bolehill -- Bonsall -- Brassington -- Callow -- Carsington -- Cromford -- Grange Mill -- Griffe Grange -- Hopton -- Hulland Ward -- Hulland Ward Intakes -- Ible -- Idridghay -- Ireton Wood -- Ironbrook -- Kirk Ireton -- Longway Bank -- Matlock -- Matlock Baths -- Middleton -- Riber -- Shottle & Postern -- Slaley -- Tansley -- Wigwell Grange -- Wirksworth -- Wirksworth Hundred and a List of Notables and Tradesmen and the same list indexed From: "A History of Derbyshire" by John Pendleton, published 1886. A description of Wirksworth and Matlock in 1886 Local History and how things look today from Denis Eardley's excellent booklet: Around Wirksworth containing: Lead Mining -- Quarrying -- The Wirksworth Project -- The Heritage Centre -- The Cromford and High Peak Railway -- Middleton Top -- High Peak Trail -- Steeple Grange Light Railway -- The National Stone Centre -- Cromford Canal -- High Peak Junction -- The Cromford Mills -- The Dale and Green Hill -- Around the Market Place -- North End and Chapel Lane -- The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin -- Carsington Water -- D H Lawrence Connection -- Adam Bede -- Haarlam Mill -- Recreation Road Ground -- Stafford's Dream -- The Wigwell Grange Murder -- Well Dressings -- Wirksworth Festival The surrounding villages containing: Alderwasley -- Aldwark -- Ashley Hay/Alport Heights -- Bonsall -- Brassington -- Callow -- Carsington -- Cromford -- Grangemill -- Hognaston -- Hopton -- Ible -- Idridgehay -- Kirk Ireton -- Middleton -- Via Gellia Walks in the area containing: Wirksworth and High Peak Trail -- Cromford Village - Canal and High Peak Trail -- Cromford canal - High Peak Junction and Birch Wood Section -- Bonsall Village Walk -- Carsington, Brassington and Harborough Rocks -- Hognaston Village From Ron Slack's fine booklet about the one-time main industry of the area: Lead Miner's Heyday containing: Miner's art -- Technical change -- Barmasters -- Free miners -- Smelting -- Smelting Mill workers -- Draining the Dovegang -- Driving the Dovegang sough -- Post-war soughs -- Cromford sough -- Big new mines -- Small mines survive -- Mine drainage -- Daniel Defoe and the miners also:Brassington, a history. Description of the Matlock Area from "The Peak" by Baddeley 1894 Whatstandwell -- Cromford -- Matlock Bath -- Matlock Bridge -- Matlock -- Matlock Bath -- Caves -- Heights of Abraham -- High Tor -- Lover's Walk -- Bonsall -- Cromford -- Matlock Bath -- Slaley -- Via Gellia -- Cromford -- Black Rocks -- Willersley Castle -- Wirksworth -- Wirksworth Church -- Some other aspects of Wirksworth Area History: Framework Knitters -- Hydropathy -- Hopton Wood Quarries -- Hopton Hall -- Hopton House -- Life in Matlock 1886 -- Accident 1797 -- Accident 1880 -- Death of William WORTHY -- Workhouses -- The Wirksworth Stone -- Willersley Castle -- Cotton Manufacture -- Sir Richard Arkwright -- Alderwasley Sheela-Na-Gig -- Memories of Middleton -- Rev.Abraham BENNET FRS

Compiled, formatted, hyperlinked, encoded, and copyright © 2001, John Palmer, All Rights Reserved.