Wirksworth

The Wirksworth Library at the Town Hall on Coldwell Street is normally open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and they have a Local Studies and Family History section to help you in your search. The Library typially closes for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.

Neil THEASBY has a photograph of the Town Hall (and Library) on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2015.

Alternatively, the Library at Belper is an excellent resource for you.

• DOXEY, Jack - O'er Back and on the Hillock. Wirksworth & District Historical Society, 2002. ISBN 0-906753-15-5.
   
• DVDReview - Wirksworth: A Town of Stone and Steam. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, 2006.
   
• INCE, Thomas Norris "Pedigrees", 484 pgs. Between 1824-1846 he wrote 1,000 pedigrees from the Wirksworth Area with details of 20,000 people. Available at John PALMER's website.
   
• JONES, Brian - Beyond The Copper Beech. Published by the Author, 2008. ASIN: B009AI07CY
   
• PRIESTLEY, Frank - The Wirksworth Saga. Pipers Ash (Chippenham), 2003. No ISBN.
   
• Wirksworth in Old Picture Postcards. European Library, 2000. ISBN 90 288 2200 3.

A cemetery of three acres was opened here in 1854 in the north end of the town with two small mortuary chapels and consecrated in 1856. It has always been under the management and control of the Urban District (Town) Council.

Alan HEARDMAN has a photograph of Wirksworth Cemetery on Cemetery Lane on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2009.

Bill BOADEN also has a photograph of Wirksworth Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2021.

There was also a small Baptist cemetery in North End prior to 1912.

• The parish was in the Wirksworth sub-district of the Belper Registration District.
   
• Census transcripts are online at Wirksworth.Org.
   
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
   

• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin.
   
• The first Christian church built here is recorded in 653 AD.
   
• The Anglican parish church was built in the 13th century on the site of earlier Saxon churches. The style is termed English Gothic.
   
• In 1702 it was decided Wirksworth church should have a new ring of bells. The old bells were taken down, weighed, and transported to the Bell Foundry on the Thames at London via Gainsborough and the sea. The old ring was recast into a new ring (a bit more metal being added). The cost and weight can be followed in the Churchwardens Accounts.
   
• A clock was added to the church tower in 1848.
   
• The church chancel was restored in 1855.
   
• A sketch of St. Mary's Church in 1908 is on the Andrews Pages website.
   
• The church seats about 700.
   
• Chris GUNNS has a photograph of The Church of St. Mary on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2017.
   
• Gordon GRIFFITHS has a photograph of the Church Interior on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2013.
   

• The parish register entries for baptisms date from 1610 and for marriages and burials from 1608.
   
• The parish register for 1600 through 1900 is online at Wirksworth Org.
   
• The church was in the Wirksworth Deanery.
   
• The Congregationalist Chapel in Caldwell Street was founded in 1700 and restored in 1868.
   
• This Independent chapel was formally used by the Presbyterians, but was re-opened in 1703 by the Independents. It is now the United Reform Church,
   
• The baptisms at the Free Methodist Church are available at the London Family History Centre covering 1888-1891 and 1912-1914.
   
• Gordon GRIFFITHS has a photograph of the Methodist Chapel on Warmbrook Street on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2013.
   
• And John M. has a photograph of Dale Chapel founded in 1856 on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2011.
   
• David HALLAM-JONES has a photograph of the United Reformed Church building on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2014.
   
• The first Baptist Chapel opened here in 1816.
   
• The Baptist Chapel on Coldwell Street was erected in 1885 and could seat 300 people.
   
• Peter BARR has a photograph of the Baptist Church on Coldwell Street on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2010.
   
• Graham HOGG has a photograph of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Theresa of Lisieux on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2020. Note the small graveyard in front of the church. This church is in Gorseybank Conservation Area on the southeast end of Wirksworth village.

• Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
   
• The parish was in the Wirksworth sub-district of the Belper Registration District.

Records of incarcerations are unlikely to be found. Your best place to look for information is in the local newspapers.

John PALMER quotes the following from the 7th October, 1813, issue of the Derby Mercury newspaper:

"At the general quarter sessions of the peace for this county, which commenced yesterday... Jacob DOXEY, John CLAYTON, Job BATEMAN, and William GRATTON, convicted of being rogues and vagabonds, having been discovered in an inclosed piece of land in the night using gate nets for the purpose of destroying game, were severally ordered to be imprisoned six months in the House of Correction at Wirksworth."

Christine JOHNSTONE has a photograph of The Old Lock Up on the north side of Wirksworth on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2016. It was built in 1842 and contained four cells.

"WIRKSWORTH is a market-town, in the parish of its name, which is partly in the hundred of Wirksworth, and extending into those of Appletree and High Peak; 139 miles from London, 48 S.S.E. from Manchester, 20 S.E. from Buxton, 14 S. by W. from Chesterfield, the like distance N.N.W. from Derby, 6 N.W. from Belper, and 3 S. from Matlock Bath; situate near to the direct road from the metropolis to Manchester. In Domesday survey it is called Werchesvorde, but, according to vulgar tradition, it took its derivation from the circumstance of malefactors being condemned to work in the lead-mines here, and their labours proving valuable, it was said their work is worth, hence the easy transition to its present mode of spelling."

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835]

In 1857, Wirksworth contained 11 townships. Ashleyhay is a hamlet and former township just south of Wirksworth. Hopton  is a township in the union of Ashbourne, 2 miles west-by-south from Wirksworth station. Callow  is also a township in the union of Ashbourne, 2 miles south-west of Wirksworth.

Passenger rail service ended in 1947 but started up again in 2014.

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Rosemary LOCKIE provides a transcription of the Wirksworth entry from Pigot & Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire (1835).

• Mel LOCKIE provides a transcription of the Wirksworth entry from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England, 1831.
   
• We have the transcription of the section for Wirksworth from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin HINSON.

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Wirksworth to another place.

You may find ancestors listed at the HIGTON one-name study website which includes the Wirksworth surnames of HIGTON, DOXEY, GELL, HALLAM, WALKER, PEAT, and GREGORY.

A Middle Paleolithic Acheulean (200,000 years ago) hand axe was found near Hopton.

There is evidence that lead was mined in this area as early as the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (2nd century AD).

The town was granted a market charter by Edward I in 1306 and still holds a market on Tuesdays in the Memorial Gardens.

In 1811 a group of notable citizens in Wirksworth formed an Association which offered a reward for Information leading to the successful prosecution of Felons.

Jane TAYLOR provides this notice from the Derby Mercury of 16 Feb 1904: "INTENDED TURNPIKE ROAD: Whereas it is intended to apply to Parliament in the present Session, for Act of Repair, Widen, Alter, and Amend the Road leading from Cromford, in the parish of Wirksworth, in the county of Derby, along the Via Gellia, to Hopton, in the said county; and also to set out and make a New Road branching from the said Road, up the valley, between the Grisse and Hole by Grange Mill, to or near to Newhaven House, in the parish of Hartington, in the said county; and also to set out and make another New Road branching from the first mentioned road near the said valley, to the town of Wirksworth aforesaid."

Brian WESTLAKE has a photograph of the Red Lion Hotel on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2016.

Graham HOGG has a photograph of the Royal Oak on Geo-graph, taken in December, 2012.

David BEVIS has a photograph of the The Lime Kiln pub. on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2009.

Graham HOGG has a photograph of the Hope and Anchor restaurant and public house in St. John Street on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2020.

There was a Temperance Hall on Chapel Lane, erected in 1860 and managed in 1912 by H. B. SNOW.

Rose KELLAND provides this announcement from the Derby Mercury of 1 February 1865: STORM: "A correspondent, writing from Wirksworth, says:- “On Thursday night, about half past twelve o’clock, a man named NAYLOR, of Godfreyhole Wirksworth, was found asleep in the snow near the Green Man public house, Wirksworth. He was worse for liquour, and was found with his face to the ground; he must have been suffocated before morning had he remained undiscovered. Fortunately a neighbour, who was passing, noticed him, and took him home."

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK287539 (Lat/Lon: 53.081557, -1.573002), Wirksworth which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

• The Wirksworth Cottage Hospital was established in 1867 and had 7 beds.
   
• There was no requirement for archiving patient records. Administrative and financial records will be found in the local Archives office.
   
• There are Board of Management minutes at the National Archives.
   
• In 1912, Miss Clara WOODCOCK was the matron of the hospital.
   
• In 1947 the hospital was taken over and managed as part of the National Health System.

An 1832 Directory mentions a Captain William CARLTON but gives no unit or other information. It also notes a Captain Francis Green GOODWIN and a Captain PHOBAY.

In 1912, the Territorial force stationed here was E Company of the 6th Btln. of the Sherwood Foresters; Lieut. William Ernest V. TOMPKINS, commanding; srgt-instructor John TURNER, drill instructor. Lieut. TOMPKINS was the manager of the Capital Counties Bank Ltd. in St. John Street.

In 1912 in the hamlet of Hopton resided Lieut.-Col. Harry Anthony CHANDOS-POLL-GELL. He would die in 1934 at age 62 after rising to the rank of Brigadier-General. His father had been the High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1885-86.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the War Memorial and garden on St John's Street on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2011.

Eirian EVANS has a photograph of the Wirksworth War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2021.

• Serjeant Thomas HALLUM, a Carpenter, of the parish of Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was discharged from the army (Third Regiment of Foot Guards) on 28th November 1818. He had enlisted aged 23 at Birmingham on 31 July 1805 and would have seen service during the Napoleonic Wars.
   
• There is a grey stone plaque War Memorial for World War I and a brass plaque for World War II, both in St. Mary's Church. The names are listed below and are found at Wirksworth War Memorial.

1. HAROLD ABELL
2. GEORGE Frederick ALLSOP
3. WILLIAM J. AULT
4. THOMAS AUSTIN
5. CHARLES E. BARKER
6. THOMAS BEASTALL
7. CYRIL E. BEESTON
8. JOHN C. BENYON
9. ABSOLOM BOOTH
10. MATTHEW BOOTH
11. ARTHUR BOUSFIELD
12. JOSEPH B. BOWLER
13. JAMES BOWYER
14. SAMUEL BREWELL
15. EDGAR L. BREWER
16. J. HAROLD BREWER
17. JOSEPH A. BRINDLEY
18. JACOB BROOKS
19. JACOB BROOKS
20. WILLIAM BROOKS
21. WILLIAM BROOKS
22. PERCY BROWN
23. FRANCIS W. BROWN
24. JOHN A. BUNTING
25. THOMAS BYARD
26. SAMUEL CARLINE
27. JOHN W. CLOUGH
28. PHILIP DAKIN
29. FRANCIS J. DRANFIELD
30. ARTHUR S. DUROE
31. DAVID ELLIOTT
32. JOHN W. ELLIOTT
33. ALFRED ELSE
34. EDWARD FIELD
35. MARK FLINT
36. MARK FLINT
37. WILLIE FRASER
38. GEORGE S. FRITCHLEY
39. J. BERTRAM FRITCHLEY
40. GEORGE FRITH
41. ERNEST G. GOODWIN
42. GEORGE H. GOULD
43. HENRY GOULD
44. LUTHER GOULD
45. HERBERT GRATTON
46. WILLIAM GRATTON
47. ERNEST GREATOREX
48. GEORGE E. HALL
49. J. NORMAN HALL
50. PHILIP J. R. HARRISON
51. JOHN F. HIGTON
52. JOHN H. HIGTON
53. CYRIL S. HINDLE
54. A. DAWSON HODGSON
55. WILLIAM HOLMES
56. F. CECIL HOOLEY
57. SAMUEL R. JOHNSON
58. WILLIAM KIRKBY
59. WILFRED LAND
60. CHARLES McCREERY
61. HARRY MARSDEN
62. JOB C. MARSH
63. JOHN W. MELBOURNE
64. ROBT G. MELBOURNE
65. ALBERT E. MILLER
66. FREDERIC NIXON
67. JOSHUA OLDFIELD
68. ALBERT OXSPRING
69. STEPHEN PICKERING
70. SAMUEL POWELL
71. ERNEST G. RADFORD
72. GEORGE REPTON
73. BENJN RHODES
74. HENRY E. SEVERNE
75. LEONARD B. SHAW
76. GEORGE SLATER
77. ALBERT SMITH
78. JOHN SMITH
79. JOSEPH G. SMITH
80. BENJN SOWTER
81. CHARLES W. SPENCER
82. JOHN G. SPENDLOVE
83. JOSEPH STATHAM
84. T. HENRY STIRZAKER
85. GEORGE SWIFT
86. BERNARD A. TAYLOR
87. CHARLES W. TAYLOR
88. GEORGE THOMPSON
89. WILFRED THOMPSON
90. CYRIL THURMAN
91. FRANK TWIGGE
92. GEORGE WAIN
93. TOM WALKER
94. FREDK WARDMAN
95. GEORGE WARDMAN
96. SAMUEL WARDMAN
97. JACK WATERFIELD
98. GEO. H. WHEATCROFT
99. RONALD D. WHEATCROFT
100. WILLIAM WINSON
101. NOEL YEOMANS

In the 1086 Domesday Book the name appears as Werchefourde.

Find out more about your PEARSON ancestors from Wirksworth at James PALMER's website.

Jane TAYLOR in Redcar contributes this snippet from the Derby Mercury of 28 October, 1802, "MARRIED: On Monday the 18th inst. at Mappleton, near Ashborne, Mr. C. H. HOLLAND, of Manchester, to Miss SIMPSON, of Wirksworth, in this county."

Jane TAYLOR provides this announcement from the Derby Mercury of 2 December, 1802: "MARRIED: This morning, at Wirksworth, in this county, Mr Withnall CLARK, of this place, to Miss DEBANKE, of Cromford."

Jane TAYLOR provides this clipping from the Derby Mercury of 29 March 1804: "MARRIED: On the 15th ult. Mr. John HAWTHORN, of Wirksworth, to Miss WEBSTER, daughter of Mr. John WEBSTER, an eminent farmer and grazier, of Smirrill Grange, both in this county."

Jane TAYLOR provides this clipping from the Derby Mercury of 27 September 1804: "MARRIED: On Thursday, the 20th inst. at Bluntisham, by the Master of St John's College, Cambridge, The Rev. J. SMITH, Fellow of that Society, and Rector of Holt in Norfolk, to Miss TILLARD, daughter of the Rev. R. TILLARD, late Vicar of Wirksworth."

"Ruth J" provides this clipping from the Derby Mercury of Wednesday 14 August 1872:

"WIRKSWORTH

"MARRIAGE OF MISS HUBBERSTY. On Wednesday last, the marriage of Miss Hubbersty, daughter of Philip Hubbersty, Esq. of Wirksworth, to her cousin, H. A. Hubbersty, Esq., of Burbage House, Buxton, took place. The day opened in a very promising manner, and the neighbours were astir early in the morning, erecting garlands and other floral decorations at various places over the road leading from Mr. Hubbersty's house to the church. The hour fixed for the ceremony to take place was half-past eleven, and about eleven o' clock the streets were filled with spectators. The church was also densely crowded, every available seat being taken up immediately the doors were thrown open. The guests, who were numerous, began to arrive at the church soon after eleven o' clock, and were provided with seats in the chancel by the churchwardens. The service was performed by the father of the bridegroom, the Rev. Nathan Hubbersty, assisted by the Rev. W.H. Cantrell, rector of Bulwell, near Nottingham, and cousin to the bride. Mr. Birch presided at the organ, and played the "Marche aux Flambeaux" during the passage of the bride to the altar, and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" as the happy couple left the church. When the bridal party passed from the church into the open air, and the organ could no longer be heard, the fine toned bells of the church burst forth with a merry peal, and continued their joyous sounds at intervals during the day.

Six young ladies kindly attended with small baskets of flowers, and strewed them in the path of the bride to and from the altar. The altar itself was beautifully decorated with flowers of all kinds and colours, presenting a most lovely appearance as well as filling the church with their sweet odour. The dress of the bride was exceedingly rich, consisting of white satin, trimmed with flounces of Brussels lace, and bonques [sic] of Jasmine and orange blossom. The veil was of Brussels lace, with a wreath of orange blossom. The bridesmaids were Miss Wood, Miss Hubbersty (sister of the bridegroom), Miss Ada Hubbersty, and Miss Constance Hubbersty, all of whom wore dresses of white grenadine over blue tarlatan, and tunics looped with wide blue ribbon, tulle veils with wreaths of blue and white primulas, and gold lockets, set with turquoise, the gifts of the bride and bridegroom.

The groomsmen were Mr. J. Hutchinson (Hull), best man, Mr. W. P. Hubbersty, Mr. A. C. Hubbersty, and Mr. E. M. Wass. When the ceremony was over, the bridal party returned to Mr. Hubbersty's where an excellent breakfast was prepared in a spacious marquee erected for the occasion on the lawn. About a quarter to two the happy couple left for Chester, thence to North Wales, and finally to Ireland, to spend the honeymoon. The presents were very numerous and costly, consisting of jewelry, plate, articles of vertu, and other useful and ornamental gifts. In the evening a ball was given in the marquee, at which a large and fashionable party were present. Our want of space compels us to omit the list of presents, and the names of the guests present, both at the breakfast and ball, otherwise we should have been pleased to mention them. We can only add our heartfelt wishes for their future welfare to those already numerously expressed, and say "May they be happy."

Jane TAYLOR of Redcar gives us this announcement from the Derby Mercury of 13 January 1803: "DIED: On Monday the 3rd inst at Wirksworth, in this county, Mr. NUTTALL, of the Crown Inn; sincerely regretted by his relatives and acquaintance."

Jane TAYLOR of Redcar offers this notice from the Derby Mercury of 3 February 1803: "DIED: Saturday last, Mr. George POTTER, of Wirksworth, in this county."

Jane TAYLOR in Redcar provides this snippet from the Derby Mercury of December 8, 1803: "DIED: At Wirksworth, on Wednesday last, aged 80, Mrs. BLACKWALL, relict of the late Rev. Thomas BLACKWALL, rector of Muggington (SIC), in this county."

Jane TAYLOR in Redcar contributes this snippet from the Derby Mercury of 29 March 1804: "DIED: On Tuesday se'nnight, of a decline, Miss MATHER, daughter of Mr. Edward MATHER, of Wirksworth, in this county."

Jane TAYLOR in Redcar contributes this snippet from the Derby Mercury of 6 December, 1804: "DIED: On the 30th ult. Mr Wm. SMEDLEY, of Cliff Hill Lane, near Wirksworth, in this county, aged 76."

• This place was an ancient parish in Derbyshire and became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
   
• This parish of Wirksworth also contained a township called "Wirksworth".
   
• This parish was the heart of the ancient Wirksworth Hundred (or Wapentake).
   
• Ashleyhay township was in the Appletree Hundred. This township was incorporated as a separate, modern Civil Parish in December, 1866.
   
• Neil THEASBY has a photograph of Wirksworth Town Hall on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2015. This Town Hall was built in 1871 and purchased by the Town Council for its use in 1902.
   
• In 1894, under the "Local Government Act" of that year, the parish formed an Urban District Council. In 1972, this was organized as a Town Council. You may contact the Town Council on civic and political matters, but they are NOT staffed to do family history work for you.
   
• District governance is provided by the Derbyshire Dales District Council.

• In 1719 Sir Philip GELL, baronet, endowed four almshouses in Hopton for poor persons. The first was occupied in 1722.
   
• Humphrey BOLTON has a photograph of Gell's Bedehouses on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2014.
   
• Humphrey BOLTON also provides a photograph of the Plaque on Gell's Bedehouses on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2014.
   
• As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, this parish became part of the Belper Poorlaw Union. Hopton township and Callow township both became part of the Ashbourne Poorlaw Union.
   
• Bastardy cases had been heard at the Red Lion Inn until around 1890.
   
• Hopton township Bastardy cases would be heard at the Wirksworth petty session hearings at the Town Hall every other Tuesday at 11am.
   
• Bastardy cases for Ashleyhay would be heard in the Belper petty session hearings every other Thursday.
   
• A good example of a Bastardy hearing can be found at the Wirksworth Petty Sessions web page.

• A grammar school at Wirksworth was founded in 1584 by Anthony GELL and others.
  (Ref: A History of Derbyshire, Gladwyn TURBUTT, 1999)
   
• Neil THEASBY has a photograph of Old Grammar School which opened in 1576 on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2015. This building is the replacement building, erected in 1827/28.
   
• Nathan HUBBERSTY Junior became a schoolmaster at Wirksworth Free Grammar School in 1829, and was Headmaster 1832-51.
   
• Wirksworth Junior School has a website, but no school history or student records are online.
   
• A National School was opened in North End in 1851.
   
• John M. has a photograph of Wirksworth C of E Infant School on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2011.
   
• School log books are held at the Matlock record office.