Kirk Ireton is a pretty village, nestling in the hills between Wirksworth and Ashbourne. It contains a wealth of charming cottages and houses laid out around a main street from which little ginnels and country lanes head off in all directions. Church Farmhouse is 17th century and has tiny mullioned windows, whilst Northfield Farmhouse and the Manor House are 18th century and very Georgian in appearance. Kirk Ireton is surrounded by many lovely walks through fields, stiles and along old tracks and trails.
A couple of hundred years ago the area around Kirk Ireton was exploited for its rich veins of lead ore, reminders of this can be found in place names such as Wapentake Lane as well as seeing occasional dips and hollows in fields.
Centuries ago the main road north from Derby headed straight past the village along narrow country lanes. In a manuscript of 1502 there is reference to ‘the gate at the end of the vill of Kyrkreton through which runs the way from le Peak to Derbye’. Kirk Ireton is now a sleepy little village quite some distance from the A6 and A515 which later became the major routes from the city.
The unusual name Kirk Ireton is thought to mean ‘Church of the Irish Enclosure’ and could possibly have connections with Celtic missionaries. The Church of the Holy Trinity is said to have a church register which dates back to 1572. The local pub is the impressive ball-topped Barley Mow Inn which was built in 1683.
Kirk Ireton is conveniently close to Carsington Water which provides excellent walking and cycling paths and trails as well as water sports and fishing facilities, whilst nearby the old market towns of Wirksworth and Ashbourne have character properties and a good selection of shops.