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DARLEY (DALE), Derbyshire

"DARLEY DALE is a hamlet, in the parish of Darley, which is partly in the hundred of Wirksworth, but chiefly in the hundred of High Peak, lying on the road between Matlock Bath and Bakewell, about five miles from either place. The situation of this hamlet is one of great beauty, being seated in a lovely valley, upon the banks of the Derwent." [There is further information for Darley (Dale)]

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

Bibliography Cemeteries Church History Church Records

Early 20thC Map Click to view larger area.

Description and Travel Directories Gazetteers Manors

Bibliography

• Jackson, Lewis - My Darley and Beyond : The Journey of a Lifetime, 2006.
  Read more in this Review of ‘My Darley and Beyond : The Journey of a Lifetime’ (Peak Advertiser, 4th December 2006)

• Kilburn, Terence - Darley's 'Lady Bountiful' and The Whitworth Trail, 2005.
  Read more in this Review of ‘Darley's 'Lady Bountiful' and The Whitworth Trail’ (Peak Advertiser, 23rd May 2005)

• Taylor, Keith - Darley Dale Remembered: Through 50 Years of War and Peace, 2002.
  Read more in this Review of ‘Darley Dale Remembered’ (Peak Advertiser 18th November 2002)

• Kilburn, Terence - Joseph Whitworth: Toolmaker, 2002.
  Read more in this Review of ‘Joseph Whitworth: Toolmaker’ (Peak Advertiser 4th November 2002)

Cemeteries

• A list of Surnames from the Memorial Inscriptions of the Church of St Helen, Darley published originally in Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group (DARG) Newsletter, October 2004.
  Full details of inscriptions are available from DARG by postal application. See their How to Contact details for how to get in touch with them.

• Inscriptions on the War Memorial, compiled by Ann Andrews.

Church History

• Here is an early twentieth century postcard of St Helen's Church, Darley, showing the Yew tree, said to be 2000 years old.

  In medieval times wood was an important commodity in the defence of the realm. For instance at the Battle of Agincourt the skill of the English Longbow Archers was the deciding factor in bringing victory to Henry V, and following his success, the King, having decided he was onto a winner, decreed that each parish should be responsible for providing the raw material for making Longbows, and for providing a quota of archers with the necessary skills for using them.

  Wood from yew trees was particularly suited for this purpose, and churchyards were a convenient place for planting them. Many churchyards even today contain a yew tree which may have been planted for this purpose, as they do seem to be particularly long lived. The Archers practised, and were trained in areas known as Archery Butts and some villages and towns still have areas, or streets, called "The Butts" as relics of this time.

  The training of Archers was decreed by law, and as a result the English Longbowman was second to none. A skilled archer could develop a speed of 15 arrows a minute, and an arrow was lethal at 300 yards - a firepower and range which wasn't equalled until the 19th Century with firearms. Indeed, some battles were decided on a shoot-out between the opposing archers! Archers comprised 10 percent of an Army, with 10 percent Knights in Armour, with the remainder Infantrymen.

  Nevertheless, somewhat ironically, shortly after Henry V's decree, the Longbow was superseded by the Crossbow, which required less skill, and its effects were more incapacitating.

  Although the postcard referred to above is now 80-plus years old, the church still looks very much the same, even today (see below).

• Photograph of St Helen's Church, Darley (Dale), from Paul Slater.

• Photograph of Disused Church at Two Dales, Darley Dale, from Alf Beard.

Church Records

• A CD containing a transcription of The Parish Registers of St Helen's Church is available for purchase from Valerie Neal.

Description and Travel

• A short Description of Darley and St Helen's Church, published originally in Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group (DARG) Newsletter, October 2004, to accompany the MIs (see above, Cemeteries).

• The Darley Dale Town Council Official Website has a good deal of interesting information about Darley, including its History, from 1086 until the present day, and some attractive photographs in the Photo Gallery.

Directories

• A Description of Darley has been transcribed by Heather Faulkes from Pigot's Directory of 1828-9.

• A Description of Darley Dale and Directory for Darley Dale and neighbourhood transcribed from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835 by Rosemary Lockie.

• Transcription of section of Kelly's Directory (1891) for Darley (North Darley i.e. Darley Dale) by Ann Andrews.

Gazetteers

• The transcription of the section for Darley from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

Manors

• An account of Cowley Hall, taken from Old Halls, Manors and Families of Derbyshire, Volume I 1892 (The High Peak) by Joseph Tilley, transcribed/OCR'd by Rosemary Lockie. Added 3 Mar 2008.

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