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Derwent (Darwent)

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From: John BARTHOLOMEW's Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887):

"Derwent -- township and hamlet, Hathenage par., N. Derbyshire, on r. Derwent, 5 m. NE. of Castleton, 3,533 ac., pop. 187; P.O.; contains D. Hall."

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Archives & Libraries

The Chapel-en-le-Frith Library is an excellent resource with a Local History section and a Family History section.

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Bibliography

  • HALLAM, V.J. - Silent Valley - A History of the Derbyshire Villages of Ashopton and Derwent, now submerged beneath Ladybower Dam. Sheaf Publishing, 1983. ISBN 0-9505458-9-9.
     
  • ROBINSON, Brian - Howden and Derwent: The Building of the Upper Dams of the Derwent Valley Water Board. Northend of Sheffield, 2004. ISBN 0-901100-49-8.
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Cemeteries

In the churchyard, near the south entrance, stood a sun-dial, the work of Daniel ROSE, clerk of Derwent in the 18th century.

Bodies from the graveyard were exhumed in 1940 and were reburied in Bamford.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Chapel en le Frith sub-district of the Chapel en le Frith Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1851H.O. 107 / 2151
1861R.G. 9 / 2548
1891R.G. 12 / 2781
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saints James and John.
     
  • The church seated 140.
     
  • The church belonged, in an early period, to the Abbey at Welbeck.
     
  • The church was rebuilt in 1757, and again in 1867.
     
  • The church was consecrated August 18th, 1869.
     
  • The church held its last service on 17 March 1943.
     
  • Bodies from the graveyard were exhumed in 1940 and were reburied in Bamford.
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1813 for baptisms and 1869 for marriages and burials.
     
  • Michael SPENCER provides a partial extract of Parish Register burials for your review. Your additions and corrections are welcomed.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of Eyam.
     
  • There was a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Ashopton, built in 1840, with seating for 60
     
  • The Catholic chapel was built in 1877 and is dedicated to Saint Henry.
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • The parish was in the Chapel en le Frith sub-district of the Chapel en le Frith Registration District.
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Description & Travel

"One gets some charming glimpses of the valley scenery, and especially of the pretty village of DERWENT, with its ancient hall, stone packhorse bridge, and picturesque cottages. The Water Board have, this year, taken possession of the estate with a view to future requirements. But before we consider ourselves to have really reached Ashopton, let us set back to the Snake Inn."

[From The High Peak to Sherwood, by Thomas L. TUDOR, pub. (London) R. Scott, 1925-6.
Transcription from an original copy kindly donated by Barbarann AYARS, 11th Jan 2001]

Most of the village and parish have been "drowned" by the Ladybower Reservoir, built between 1935 and 1943. Only the war memorial remains above the water level. Ashopton was a hamlet at the foot of the Derwent where it entered the Ladybower Reservoir.

Tim HALLAM has a photograph of the village at low-water in the Reservoir, taken in December, 1995.

You can see pictures of Derwent (Darwent) which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

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Historical Geography

The River Derwent is a tributary of the River Trent, which it joins south of Derby city. The upper reaches pass through the Peak District National Park, and the middle reaches around the old spa town of Matlock Bath.

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History

  • Most of the parish land has been used for pasturage in recent centuries.
     
  • Most buildings in the village were demolished before the reservoir filled, with the exception of the church.
     
  • David HALLAM-JONES has a photograph of the Snake Pass area on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2012.
     
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Manors

Derwent Hall was a fine old gabled mansion of rough tooled stone, built in 1672. It was one of the seats of the Duke of Norfolk.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK267807 (Lat/Lon: 53.32288, -1.600913), Derwent (Darwent) which are provided by:

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Military History

  • The Derwent Reservoir was used by the RAF as one of the test sites for the bombs used in the Dambusters attack during WWII.
     
  • Vic RICHARDS has a photograph of the Dambusters' Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2006.
     
  • Peter McDERMOTT has a photograph of the Derwent War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2014.
     
  • Neil THEASBY has a photograph of the Derwent Woodlands War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in November, 2015.
     
  • Steve FAREHAM has a closer shot of the Woodlands War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2009.
     
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Military Records

  • Lorna WILSON gives us these names off the War Memorial:
  1. George Squire COTTRILL, 12 Btln. King's Royal Rifle Corps, age 25, died 2 Apr 1918.  Son of William and Mary Emma COTTRILL.
  2. Arthur DEAKIN, private, 6th Alexandra (Yorkshire) Regt., died 22 Aug 1915, Gallipoli.
  3. George J. DUNN, born Derwent 1894, corporal, 1st Btln. York & Lancs regt., age 25, died 11 Oct 1916, son of John and Emma DUNN.
  4. Wilfred EYRE, born Derwent, 2nd Btln. York & Lancs regt., died 21 Apr 1916, brother to Ruth EYRE.
  5. Walter HEATHCOTE, 2nd Btln. York & Lancs regt., born Sheffield in 1895, age 18, died 21 Sep 1914.
  6. David KENNEDY, unknown.
  7. Jason PRIESTLEY, 2/6th Btln. Sherwood Foresters, age 21, died 19 Apr 1918, son of David and Elizabeth PRIESTLEY.
  8. Gregory THORPE, (Actually: William Alexander Gregory THORP), 3rd Grenadier Guards, brother to John Joseph THORPE age 25, died 20 Dec 1916.
  9. John Joseph THORPE, driver RFA, age 25, died 29 July 1928, brother to William Alexander Gregory THORP, son of John Henry and Mary Thorp.
  10. John WILSON, unknown.

If you know any of these men, please let the site maintainer know any additional details.

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient Chapelry in Hathersage parish and it was incorporated as a separate, modern Civil Parish in December, 1866. The parish was formed from the townships of Derwent and Hope Woodside,
     
  • This parish was in the High Peak Hundred.
     
  • This Civil Parish of Derwent survived the reservoir flooding and serves a small population who live above the highwater mark. You may contact the Derwent Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to assist with family history searches.
     
  • District governance is provided by the High Peak Borough Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Chapel-en-le-Frith petty session hearings once each month.
     
  • There is an index of Derwent Bastardy Papers held at the DRO on the Yesterdays Journey website. Select "Bastardy Papers" on the left side, then "Derwent" from the list of parishes displayed.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, this parish became a member of the Chapel-en-le-Frith Poorlaw Union.
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Population

Census
Year
Inhabitants
1871165
1881187
1891191
1901202
1911273
1921174
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Schools

A School was built here in 1877 to hold 80 children.

A Catholic School was erected here in 1881, also for 80 children.