|
|
Wirksworth Bringing you information on Peak District Holiday Accommodation , Peak District Holiday Cottages, Campsites and Caravan sites in the Peak District, Pubs In The Peak District, Peak District B&B , Peak District Hotels , Tourist Attractions or Town & Village Business of any kind in the Peak District and Derbyshire.
 | Peak District
Village Guides |
WIRKSWORTH
Nestling in a bowl of hills at the northern end of the beautiful Ecclesbourne Valley about six miles south of Matlock and bisected by the Cromford to Ashbourne road, Wirksworth is one of the oldest settlements in the county, having been almost continuously occupied for at least two thousand years.
It has a long and fluctuating history, recorded from early Saxon times. The Romans mined lead here, but when they arrived around 55 - 60 AD, the Iron Age Celts already had an established local economy, with two ancient trading routes, later used by the Anglo-Saxon's as `Portwegs' or Portways, intersecting at a place occupied today by Wirksworth's enchanting, crazily- tilted Market Place.
The Saxons gave it it's name, `Woerc's -worth' - an enclosure belonging to Woerc - and built it's first church, on the site of the present parish church of St. Mary. The pagan Danes tore part of it down when they sacked the nearby Mercian capital at Repton in 873 AD, and the rule of Danelaw created the Soke & Wapentake of Wirksworth, or `Werchesvorde' , as it was later referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The Normans mined both lead and silver here during the 11th and 12th centuries, and commenced the rebuilding of the church in 1272. Lead mining continued to provide prosperity to Wirksworth, which reached it's peak of prominence in Tudor times, being the second largest town (next to Derby) in the whole of the county.
Much of it's delightful early Georgian architecture is a product of the prosperous lead-mining years of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when it was a veritable boom town of the Industrial Revolution.
The coming of the railways and the corresponding rise in the manufacture of goods for the commercial market offset the demise of lead mining from the mid-nineteenth century. But when the lead mining all but ceased in the late Victorian era, and small scale limestone quarrying began, there was a mass exodus as Wirksworth's population plumetted, along with it's importance and social status.
By 1901 it had fallen from being the 2nd most populous place to 33rd on the list, and throughout the 20th century, modern quarrying methods made hundreds of local men redundant. When the railway finally closed it's passenger service in 1947, it signalled a decline which, by the end of the 1950's had rendered Wirksworth a virtual ghost town.
As Frank Priestley says in his excellent book, `The Wirksworth Saga', "As quarrying intensified, noise and dust invaded the very heart of the town. Not surprisingly, those who were able to do so, left the town. As businesses moved away, jobs were lost. Fine old houses were either left empty or they were occupied by people who could not afford to keep them in good repair.
The town, which over many centuries had been one of the finest in Derbyshire, was sinking fast. Many of it's building were now literally falling down. However, in 1978 the town was selected by the Monument Trust for regeneration and the Wirksworth Project, administered by the Civic Trust, was born"¯.
Nowadays a revitalised Wirksworth is fast becoming an important tourist centre, and rewards it's visitors with much of interest and fascination, from the enchanting narrow streets and alleyways, with views of surrounding roof-scapes and distant green hills, to the rich architectural heritage of it's restored Georgian splendour.
The magnificent cruciform parish church of St. Mary, founded in 653 AD by an Anglo-Saxon monk named Betti, stands sedately in the centre of a charming cathedral-type circular close, and is itself encircled by the paved and cobbled Church Walk, with entrances leading from it through a variety of alleyways into the surrounding town streets.
The ancient ceremony of `Clypping the Church' - which is thought to pre-date the Christian era - takes place annually on the Sunday following the Festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8th, when the congregation encircle the church and link hands, thus symbolically and literally `embracing' the church.
St.Mary's has been much restored over the centuries and successive restorations have unearthed many ancient relics, including fragments of the early Saxon church and one of Britain's most important pieces of Anglo-Saxon sculpture - an elaborately carved coffin lid known as the Wirksworth Stone, believed to be from the grave of the church's founder, the Saxon Monk Betti.
Outside the church stand two open medieval stone coffins, whilst inside is a rare Geneva Bible from 1602, and some fine alabaster tombs of the Gell family, including the significant tomb chest of Anthony Gell (d1583), who founded the Free Grammar School in 1576 and endowed the quaint Almshouses on Church Walk.
Embedded in the wall of the south transept is the Saxon carving of a lead miner, complete with pick and kibble which was brought from nearby Bonsall in 1876. Affectionately known as `t'owd man', it has become synonymous with Wirksworth and is regarded by most as an emblem of the town, which has been called `the Lead-Mining Capital of England'.
The Barmote Court, the oldest industrial court in the world with much of its terminology and regulations dating from Saxon times, still meets twice annually at the Moot Hall in Chapel Lane as it is known to have done since 1266, and probably for much longer. A standard bronze measuring dish holding 14 pints of ore and presented by Henry V111 in 1512 hangs on the wall. By tradition the twelve jurymen are provided with bread, cheese and beer, and afterwards long clay pipes are smoked, and have become greatly prized collector's items.
The ancient custom of well dressing takes place here with nine wells being dressed annually on late spring bank holiday Saturday, which is also the time of the town's annual carnival, and modern Wirksworth also boasts an annual Arts Festival in September.
The town has several literary connections, being the `Snowfield' in the novel, `Adam Bede' by George Eliot and the home of Eliot's aunt, Elizabeth Evans, whose cottage home still stands on the Derby Road.
Baroness Orczy (1865-1947), author of `The Scarlet Pimpernel' featured the Crown Inn, a former coaching inn which overlooks the market place, in her novel, `Beau Brocade', and D H Lawrence's mother's family, the Beardsall's were natives of the town. Lawrence and his German born wife Freida lived at nearby Mountain Cottage from May 1918 for a year, and were frequently seen in the town.
Wirksworth's fascinating history is wonderfully well documented and displayed at the excellent Heritage Centre, a converted former silk and velvet mill in Crown Yard just off the market place. Here visitors will find visual displays telling the Wirksworth Story, lots of interesting local literature and souvineers, and an excellent cafƩ serving food and refreshments.
Another valuable resource is the National Stone Centre situated alongside the High Peak Trail, just off Porter Lane, which has a permanent indoor exhibition, `The Story of Stone', and mineral specimens from around the world can be purchased at The Rock Shop. Outside there are trails over ancient fossil reefs, including one of the finest examples in England of a coral reef from the carboniferous period.
Daniel Defoe, visiting in 1725, wrote, "The town of Wirksworth is a kind of Market for Lead, the like not known anywhere else that I know of."¯. He described the lead miners as, " a rude, boorish kind of people...they are a bold, daring and even desparate kind of fellows in their search into the bowels of the earth; for no people in the world outdo them"¯.
Defoe, Eliot, Lawrence, the Arkwrights, the Gells - and the lead miners, are long since gone and remain only as memories, along with the cotton, silk and velvet mills, the hat factory, china works, the railway and many other vestiges of Wirksworth's long and colourful history. But the legacy left behind is perhaps best described by Frank Priestley in the conclusion to his Wirksworth Saga:
"During the past two millennia Wirksworth has been swept by waves of invaders. It has seen great industries rise and fall. Some of its inhabitants have gained wealth, many have known poverty. Fine houses have been built, and the town has been almost brought to its knees. But it has survived. Not only survived, but prospered. How did this happen?
It was not because of lead, limestone, or Arwright's mills, nor was it due to those who left the town.
Wirksworth is what it is today because of the character of those who stayed and lived in the town and demonstrated such qualities as perseverance. Adaptability and ambition. Surely these were the qualities recognised by defoe when he said `No people in the world out-do them"¯.
The Wirksworth Project has literally worked wonders for Wirksworth, and in recent years it has risen magnificently like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes of it's own decline. The project's success was recognised in 1983 by the European Community when the town was awarded the prestigious Europa Nostra Medal. Its wealth of architectural and historical heritage having been saved by a well coordinated series of restoration projects incorporating the Civic Trust, Sainsbury's Wirksworth Project and the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust - who together with the townspeople, have restored Wirksworth's civic pride.
This article has been brought to you by our resident peak district writer Tom Bates
|
|
|
| Latest News |
|---|
|
30th July
4 star rated Sheldon Barn is offering a week from Friday 13th August, including a fully cooked breakfast, delivered to your door. For more information give us a call on 01629 813067/07976 965092... |
|
30th July
Eastview Cottage, Eyam Sleeps 5, Available 4 nights commencing Monday throughout August ; 2nd / 9th / 16th /and 23rd. Two people £280 parties of 4 and 5 £350. Contact Andrew on 07900 192838 or ... |
|
30th July
When the sun is shining, the sights, sounds and smells of outdoor dining on a balmy English summer evening are pretty hard to beat. For a limited time, multi award-winning East Lodge hotel and restaur... |
|
27th July
Set in stunning countryside, Meadow Suite offers a unique bed and breakfast experience for two people. The suite has four ground floor rooms with an added feature of having a well equipped kitchen. Y... |
|
26th July
Get up close to a range of owls, falcons, hawks as well as the awesome Golden Eagle, Cuddles. Flying displays will take place at 1pm and again at 3pm enabling visitors to see these beautiful birds in ... |
|
26th July
Gingerbread Cottage, Bakewell - late availability for w/c 7 August and 14 August. Delightful 4* cottage in the heart of Bakewell, sleeps 4 people. £540 per week. Short breaks available. ... |
|
26th July
Peaceful edge of village location, sleeps 5, ideal base for exploring the Peak District. Reduced rates throughout September for smaller groups: 4 people - 10% discount; 3 people - 15% discount; 2 peop... |
|
23rd July
See one of our fantastic reviews from a group of 20 University friends who rented all 3 properties for exclusive use. [li... |
|
22nd July
Toad Cottage 17th Century Two Bedroom, Two Bathroom cottage lots of character is available from 3.00pm on Tuesday 17th August until 10.00am on Friday 20th August now only £230.00 was £295.00. If you a... |
|
22nd July
The Lodge @ Dale End House - Sleeps 2, is now unexpectedly available from Friday 23rd until Tuesday 27th July 2010. Found on a quiet lane between Elton and Youlgreave, the Lodge enjoys unspoilt count... |
|
20th July
Located in the beautiful village of Winster where you can discover little lanes and alleyways on leisurely walks. The accommodation provides two double rooms with kingsize beds and one twin bedded ro... |
|
20th July
FRI 30TH JULY - FRI 6TH AUGUST 20% OFF!! 3 nights (Fri - Mon) 4 nights (Mon - Fri) or go wild and stay for the 7 nights!! Luxurious accommodation for 2 in quiet village location 10 mins drive fro... |
|
20th July
Albertine Barn (sleeps 8)- Fri. 20th August 2010 - 7 nights £1060 Fri. 27th August 2010 - 7 nights £1060 Maigold Cottage (sleeps 4) - Fri. 27th August 2010 - 7 nights £496 [link=http://www.pe... |
|
20th July
It's lights, camera and action as multi award-winning Peak District hotel and restaurant East Lodge launches its all new Exclusively Yours wedding DVD. ... |
|
15th July
AVAILABILITY Fri 23rd JULY (first week school holidays) - NOW £600. HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN CENTRE OF BAKEWELL. Beautifully furnished cottage for up to 6 adults right in the centre of Bakewell with court... |
|
15th July
A small taste of heaven in the popular village of Castleton is opening for business on Saturday. The Food Angel Coffee Shop offers freshly made sandwiches, fresh paninis, jacket potatoes, Salad boxes... |
|
15th July
Fed up of going away with the family and going to bed with the children. Brand new family Suite comprising of separate double and bunk bed room with private bathroom. All self contained. Call for fu... |
|
14th July
A wonderfully romantic cottage for two (ETB 5 star grading). Fantastic location (Manifold Valley and Dovedale), stunning views and great walking straight from the door! 25% late availability dis... |
|
13th July
Matchcroft Well equipped barn conversion in an ideal location for the Hope Valley ; Friday and Saturday 2 people £140 , 4 people £200. Eastview , Eyam sleeps 5 , 2 people £140, 4 people £200. See ww... |
|
13th July
Shamble Cottage, Ashford in the Water. Four star rated, Grade 2 listed ex stocking mill reduced 33% for 2 people staying 7 days to £400. If required for 4 people cost is £450. Contact Andrew on 07900 ... |
|
Newsletter |
Please enter your email address below to receive our newsletter emails
|
|
|
|
