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Alderwasley

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ALDERWASLEY, a chapelry in the parish of Wirksworth, hundred of Appletree, in the county of Derby, 2 miles to the E. of Wirksworth. It is situated near the river Derwent and the Cromford canal. The population is chiefly employed in the colliery, and the iron and lead works. The living is a donative in the diocese of Lichfield, value £120, in the gift of F. Hurst, Esq., who resides at Alderwasley Hall.”

from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

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Archives & Libraries

Plan a visit to the Wirksworth Library to assist your search. Also, there is a Northern Route Mobile which passes thru the village every fourth week.

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Biography

Wain, Derek: "The Hurts of Derbyshire", published by Landmark Publishing Ltd in 2002, ISBN 1-84306-042-6. It includes some of Alice HURT's photographs around the parish between 1845 and 1860.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Wirksworth sub-district of the Belper Registration District.
     
  • The Alderwasley 1851, 1861 and 1871 census is Online at the Wirksworth site.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1851H.O. 107 / 2145
1861R.G. 9 / 2518
1871R.G. 10 / 3595
1891R.G. 12 / 2750
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Church History

  • There was a small chapel built here during the reign of Henry VIII, but it was disused in 1857. By 1891 it was back in use as a mortuary chapel and the burial ground was still active.
     
  • The chapel was consecrated to Saint Margaret.
     
  • The chapel was restored in 1884.
     
  • The chapel is a Grade II listed building with British Heritage.
     
  • Nikki MAHADEVAN has a photograph of St. Margaret's Chapel on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2006.
     
  • The chapel is currently used as the Village Hall.
     
  • The Anglican church was built in 1850.
     
  • The church was consecrated to All Saints.
     
  • The church seats 300 (this number varies widely depending on source).
     
  • Robert HOWL has a photograph of All Saints Church on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2012.
     
  • Eirian EVANS also has a photograph of All Saints Church on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2012.
     
  • Humphrey BOLTON also has a photograph of All Saints Church on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2014.
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Church Records

  • For information only - the "Parish Chest" for Alderwasley contains no Settlement Certificates. My grateful thanks to Janet KIRK for this information.
     
  • Mike SPENCER has provided a partial extract of burials found in the parish register. Your additions and corrections are welcomed.
     
  • The church was in the Wirksworth Deanery.
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837. But, remember that this place wasn't a separate Civil Parish until late 1866.
     
  • The parish was in the Wirksworth sub-district of the Belper Registration District.
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Description & Travel

"ALDERWASLEY is a township, in the parish of Wirksworth, about two miles E. by S. from that town. The mansion of Francis Hurt, Esq. is pleasantly situate near the church, and commands an extensive prospect. Population 424."

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

The parish covers just over 3,100 acres.

You can see pictures of Alderwasley which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

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History

Stephen E. RODDICK has a photograph of the Bear Inn on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2005. The Inn is south of Alderwasley village.

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Manors

John PALMER has these notes from the 1851 census of Alderwasley Hall.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK326523 (Lat/Lon: 53.0669, -1.514767), Alderwasley which are provided by:

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Military History

  • Lt.-Col. Albert Frederic HURT of the 3rd Btln., Derbyshire Regt. had fought in the Crimea and resided in this parish in 1891.
     
  • The Traces of War website shows us the parish has one Commonwealth War Grave from World War II. This information is incorrect. There are none. Nearly all the military casualties are buried overseas.
     
  • Colin PARK has a photograph of the War Memorial Cross on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2001.
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Military Records

These are the names on the War Memorial Cross:

  1. Birch Thorpe, W. W.
  2. Brailsford, W. G.
  3. Hurt, S. F. A. A.
  4. Petts, H.
  5. Pickering, S., pte. 1st Btn. Sherwood Foresters
  6. Shaw, F.
  7. Shepherd-Cross, C. H. S. (Cecil Herbert Stephen?)
  8. Taylor, J.
  9. Wain, C.
  10. White, F.


 World War II

  1. Bowmer, Robert
  2. Leutus, Vaughan
  3. Pickering, Francis Rex, srgt. 107 Sqdn. RAFVR
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Occupations

The parish had several works that produced Brick, Tile and Drainage Pipe, and furnaces for smelting lead ore. Also a wire factory.

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient Chapelry and Township in Wirksworth parish in Derby county. It was incorporated as a separate, modern Civil Parish in December, 1866.
     
  • This parish was in the ancient Appletree Hundred (or Wapentake) in the Mid division of the county.
     
  • You may contact the Alderwasley Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to assist with family history searches.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Amber Valley Borough Council.
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Belper petty session hearings.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, this parish became part of the Belper Poorlaw Union.
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Probate Records

In an 1875 Will, William BROCKLEHURST, a local farmer, mentions:

  1. wife Ellen
  2. neph. Thomas BROWN
  3. house called Ansons Farm in occupation of German SIMS
  4. Docksey Close adjacent to Summer Lane in occ. of Richard WALL
  5. John Stephen HALL Executor, Middleton
  6. niece Elizabeth TRUMAN
  7. niece Alice WRAGG
  8. niece Mary BATEMAN
  9. niece Ann STEEPLE
  10. niece Ellen SPENCER
  11. German SIMS Longway Bank, Executor (see above)
  12. George WHEATCROFT grocer, Whatstandwell Bridge. witness
  13. James KNIVETON Wirksworth, lab. witness
  14. Edward HARLEY witness Wirksworth
  15. Henry DAKIN witness, Wirksworth
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Schools

A Public Elementary School was built here in 1841 and enlarged in 1897 to hold 100 children.

School log books are held at the Matlock record office.