DESCRIPTION

The market town of Wirksworth is situated 13 miles north-west of Derby and about 9 miles north-east of Ashbourne. The town lies in the Ecclesbourne valley and is almost surrounded by hills.

Wirksworth is well-known for its lead mining history and there are lead mines in the area which appear, from an inscription on a 'pig of lead' found in 1777, to have been worked at the time of the Emporer Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D. For many centuries the main occupation of the area was lead mining and farming, than came the textile mills and later the limestone quarrying.

The Moot Hall on the front of which are depicted the lead miners' scales, pick and trough, was built in 1814 on Chapel Lane to replace the original one which stood in the Market Place. Here the courts were held where lead was measured in a special dish (which still exists), disputes settled and taxes collected. Although very little lead is mined in the area today, the tradition is still held.

Wirksworth is an extensive parish including, in 1847, the surrounding hamlets of Alderwasley, Cromford, Idridgehay and Middleton. Alderwasley still remains a Chapel of Ease for Wirksworth, but the other three later became separate parishes.

The cemetery was open in 1870 and is situated at the north end of the town. The church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century. Although several restorations have taken place some of the early stonework can still be seen. Many gravestones in the churchyard have been laid flat and are now covered with turf.

LIST of SURNAMES from the Inscriptions

ABBOTT	ABELL	ABRAHAM	ADAMS	ALDERSON
ALES(O)BROOK	ALKIN	ALLEN	ALLSOP(P)	ANTHONY
ANWYL	APPLEBY	ARCHER	ARKWRIGHT	ARMITT
ARNOLD	ASKEY	ATKINSON	AULT	AUSTIN
AYRE	BACON	BAGGALEY	BAGSHAW	BAILEY
BAINBRIDGE	BANKS	BARKER	BARRON	BARTLETT
BASSINGTHWAIGHTE	BATEMAN	BATTERLEY	BAUSER	BEAN
BEARDMORE	BEARDSLEY	BEBBINGTON	BEECH	BEES(T)ON
BENNETT	BENYON	BER(R)ESFORD	BEVAN	BIRCH
BIRKIN	BLACKBURN	BLACKWELL	BLANEY	BLASTOCK
BLORE	BODEN	BOND	BOOT	BOOTH
BOTHAM	BOWER	BOWLER	BOWMER	BOWYER
BRACE	BRADLEY	BRAILSFORD	BRANSON	BRATBY
BRAY	BREWELL	BREWER	BRIDDON	BRIDGE
BRIDGWOOD	BRIGHOUSE	BRISTOL	BRITTAIN	BROCKLEHURST
BROCKSOP	BROOK/ES	BROOME	BROUGH	BROUGHTON
BROWN	BUCKLEY	BUCKNALL	BUDWORTH	BULLOUGH
BUNTING	BURKITT	BURTON	BUTLER	BUTLIN
BUTTERY	BUXTON	BYARD	CALDECOTE	CALLADINE
CAPPENDELL	CARLIN(E)	CARR	CARTER	CARTLEDGE
CAULDWELL	CAVERLY	CAWTHORNE	CHADWICK	CHAMBERLAIN
CHEETHAM	CHIP(P)	CIRRY	CLAPHAM	CLARK(E)
CLAY	CLOUGH	COATES	COLEBOURNE	COLLEDGE
COLLIER	COLLINS	COLVILLE	CONWAY	COOKE
COOPER	CORDIN	COULSON	COWLISHAW	COX
CRADDOCK	CRESSWELL	CROSS	CUMMINGS	CUNNINGHAM
CURZON	DAKIN	DANN	DARWENT	DAVIES
DAWSON	DAY	DEACON	DEAKIN	DEAN
DEXTER	DICK	DICKEN(S)	DIDSBURY	DIXON
DOE	DONSON	DOWNEY	DOWSON	DOXEY
DRABBLE	DRANFIELD	DUMELOW	DYER	EAGLE
EARNSHAW	EATON	EL(L)SE	ELLICOCK	ELLIOTT
ELLIS	EMERSON	EVANS	EVERITT	EXLEY
FARNSWORTH	FE(A)RN	FELL	FENNELL	FERNIOUGH
FISHER	FLETCHER	FLINT	FORD	FOULKS
FOWLER	FOX	FREAKE	FREEMAN	FRETWELL
FRITCHLEY	FRITH	FROST	GADSBY	GALLIMORE
GAMBLE	GANDY	GARDINER	GARDOM	GAWTHORNE
GELL	GIBBON(S)	GIBBS	GILLETT	GISBORN
GLEESON	GLOW	GODBER	GOLDING	GOODALL
GOODFELLOW	GOODWIN	GOUGH	GOULD	GOULDING
GRAIG	GRASSBY	GRATION	GRATTON	GREATOREX
GREAVES	GREEN(E)	GREENHOUGH	GREGORY	GUISE
HADDECAN	HALKSWORTH	HALL	HALLAM	HALLOWS
HAMES	HANSON	HARDY	HARLEY	HARPER
HARRISON	HARVEY	HARWOOD	HASLAM	HASLOCK
HATFIELD	HAWLEY	HAWORTH	HAWTIN	HAYNES
HAYWOOD	HEAP	HEATHCOTE	HENDERSON	HERSON
HEYWARD	HEYWELL	HICKS	HIGTON	HILDITCH
HILL	HILLIER	HINDLE	HITCHCOCK	HOADES
HOD(G)KINSON	HOLGATE	HOLLIS	HOLMES	HOLROYD
HOLT	HOLTAM	HOMER	HOUGH	HOUGHTON
HOUSLEY	HOWE	HUBBERSTY	HUDDLESTONE	HUGHES
HUNT	HURT	HUSBANDS	INGRAM	INSLEY
JACKSON	JAMES	JEDSON	JEFFS	JELLYMAN
JEPSON	JOHN	JOHNSON	JOHNSTONE	JONES
KAY	KEELING	KIDD	KILLER	KINDER
KINGDOM	KIRK	KIRKBY	KIRKLAND	KNIVETON
LAMB	LANCASHIRE	LAND	LANGLEY	LANGTON
LATHAM	LAWSON	LEA	LEAR	LEES
LEGG	LIMB	LITTLE	LIVINGSTONE	LOBLEY
LOMAS	LONGDEN	LOVEGROVE	LOWE	LOWNDES
LUCAS	MACBETH	MACLEOD	MACNAUGHTON	MAINPRICE
MALPASS	MANATON	MARCHINGTON	MARPLE(S)	MARSDEN
MARSH	MARSHALL	MARSON	MART	MASKREY
MATHER	MATKIN	MATTHEWS	MCCREERY	MCKENZIE
MELLER/OR	MIDDLETON	MIL(L)WARD	MILLER	MILLINGTON
MITCHEL(L)	MOATE	MOFFAT	MONKHOUSE	MOORE
MORLEY	MORRIS	MOSS	MOULD	MUNCASTER
MURISON	MYCOCK	NEEDHAM	NEWMAN	NEWTON
NIXON	NOBLE	NORTON	OAKLEY	OATES
OGDEN/ON	OLDFIELD	OTTOWELL	OUTRAM	OWEN
OXSPRING	PALEN	PARKER	PARSONS	PASS
PATTIN	PAYNE	PEAL	PEARCY	PEARSON
PEASE	PEAT	PEGG	PENNY	PERKINS
PETTIT	PETTS	PHILLIPS	PHOEBE	PICKARD
PIDCOCK	PILKINGTON	PIMBLOTT	PINCHIN	PORTER
POTTER	POYSER	PRESTON	PRICE	PRINCE
PRITCHARD	RADFORD	RAINS	RAPP	RATCLIFFE
READ	REDFERN	REDSHAW	REYNOLDS	RHODES
RICHARDSON	RILEY	RIMMER	ROBINS	ROBINSON
ROLLIN	ROPER	ROSWARNE	ROWLAND	SABINE
SAFFORD	SAINT	SALT	SANDALL	SANDERS
SAVAGE	SCHEERMANN	SEALY	SEEDS	SENIOR
SHARDLOW	SHAW	SHELDON	SHENTON	SHEPPARD
SHIMWELL	SHOLTO	SIMPSON	SIMS	SLACK
SLATER	SMART	SMEDLEY	SMITH	SNEAD/EYD
SNOW	SOUTHAM	SPARHAM	SPENCE	SPENCER
SPENDLOVE	SPRAY	SQUIRES	STAFFORD	STALEY
STANLEY	STATHAM	STEEPLES	STEER	STERLAND
STEVENS	STEVENSON	STONE	STORER	STREET
STUBBS	STURTON	SUMMERFORD	SURTEES	SUTTON
SWIFT	SWINDELL/LE	TALBOT	TATLOW	TAYLOR
TEMPEST	THOMPSON	THORNTON	THORPE	TILL
TIPPER	TIVEY	TOMLINSON	TOWE	TUNSTALL
TURNER	TWIGGE	TYRELL	ULRICH	UNDERWOOD
UPTON	VALE	VALLENCE	VAN	WAGER
WAIN	WAINWRIGHT	WALDRON	WALKER	WALL
WALLIS	WALTERS	WALTON	WANFORD	WARD
WARDMAN	WASS	WATERFIELD	WATSON	WATTERSON
WATTS	WAYWELL	WEBB	WEBSTER	WEEKS
WESTON	WETTON	WHEATCROFT	WHEELDON	WHEELER
WHITE	WHITTAKER	WHYMAN	WIGLEY	WILBRAHAM
WILD(E)	WILDGOOSE	WILKINSON	WILLETTS	WILLIAMS
WILSON	WINSON	WISTON	WITHAM	WOOD
WOODFORD	WOODHOUSE	WOODLIFFE	WOOLNOTH	WRIGHT
YATES	YEOMANS

NAMES APPEARING IN THE CHURCH MEMORIALS, BUT NOT IN THE CEMETERY

ANABLE	ARMSTRONG	ATKIN	BALDWIN	BARLOW
BARRATT	BAXTER	BEASTALL	BEDFORD	BEEDHAM
BEESLEY	BENTON	BERESFORTHE	BLOUNT	BOUSFIELD
BRADBOURN	BRADSHAW	BRITLAND	BROADWAY	BROOKER
BROSTER	BROUGH	BUSBY	CADMAN	CAIGER
CALTON	CANEY	CANTRELL	CARYER	CHALONER
CHANDOS-POLE	CHARLESWORTH	CHASTLETON	COCKAYNE	COLLINSON
CORBETT	COTTERILL	CRAPPER	CROME	DALE
DALRYMPLE	DRAKES	DRAYCOTT	DRUMMOND-HAY	DUROE
EDGE	EDWARDS	ELEY	EYTON	FAGG
FARRAND	FAWTHROP	FIELD	FRASER	FROBISHER
GARRATT	GEM	GODMAN	GORDON	GRAYSON
GRESLEY	GRIFFIN	GRUNDY	HALE	HAM
HARRINGTON	HARRIS	HAWKINS	HAY	HIGGOTT
HODGSON	HODNETT	HOLBROOK	HOOLEY	HOULGATE
HOWSLEY	HUMPHREYS	HYRON	INCE	INETT
IRTON	JEBB	JESSOP	JOWITT	JOYNSON
LAKIN	LANGRISH	LEICESTER	LEVY	LEWTAS
LIGGINS	LONG	LYBURGH	MASON	MASSON
MCCREERY	MELBOURNE	MOIR	MOLESWORTH	MOUNTNEY
MUNDAY	MYTTON	NIETTOLSON	NORMAN	NUTTALL
NYILASSY	PACKER	PAGE	PICKERING	POWELL
PRAT	REPTON	RICHARDS	ROLF	ROSSELL
ROUTLEDGE	SATTERFIELD	SEVERNE	SHALLCROSS	SHELLEY
SHERRIN	SHIPLEY	SHUTTLEWORTH	SKINNER	SMYHTH
SOTHERN	SOWDEN	SOWTER	SPATEMAN	SPONDAI
STIRZAKER	STORRS	STOYTE	STRUTT	STUFFIN
SWEETING	SWINBANK	THOMAS	THORNHILL	THURMAN
TILLARD	TOPHAM	TOPLIS	TORR	TRAVIS
UPDALE	VENABLES	WALSER	WATERHOUSE	WHITEHEAD
WILLUGHBY	WILMOT	WRAGG

Contacting Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group

• DARG's records are not for sale, nor available on computer, but we are very happy to answer enquiries by post. No charges are levied, but donations are always welcome, either from fellow enthusiasts, or from those who benefit from our services.

• We can supply full details of specific memorial inscriptions in churchyards and cemeteries or from parish registers, etc. by post, provided they are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Overseas enquirers please note that foreign stamps cannot be used as return postage, therefore please include a donation (in sterling) to cover - at least - the cost of return postage.

• We do not have an email address. All communications MUST be by post or by telephone; however as indicated above, we cannot answer queries by post without the cost of return postage. A list of current UK postal charges is available on the Royal Mail website.
  • For postal enquiries please write to Winifred Waterall, 86 High Street, Loscoe, Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7LF, UK. We are unable to accept foreign cheques, so all donations must be in sterling. Please make cheques payable to "Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group" ("DARG" alone in not acceptable at our Bank) - thank you.

  • For telephone enquiries on Library holdings please call Margaret Brooksbank, telephone 01773 604916.

• Note: our offer of searches is restricted to our own transcripts and other material in our own Library (as listed on these pages). It does NOT extend to collections elsewhere.