Dronfield

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DRONFIELD - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

DRONFIELD, once a market-town, in the parish of its name, in the hundred of Scarsdale, is 156 miles from London, 38 S.E. from Manchester, 23 E. by N. from Buxton. 6 N. from Chesterfield, and the like distances from Sheffield. The town is pleasantly situate in a valley, and remarkable for its salubrity, which has occasioned it to become a place of residence for many respectable inhabitants. Edge-tools, scythes, sickles, and other agricultural implements, together with nails, are manufactured here and in the neighbourhood, to a very considerable extent; there are also iron and chymical works, and several corn mills in the vicinity.

The places of worship are the parish church, and chapels for independents, Wesleyan methodists, and the society of friends. The church, which is dedicated to John the Baptist, is a handsome building, having a tower at the west end, terminated by a spire. Opposite the west end of the church was formerly a chantry, now the Dragon public-house. The living of Dronfield is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the crown. A well endowed free grammar school, founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by Henry Fanshawe, Esq. and another free school, are the principal charities. The market, which was formerly held on Thursday, has been discontinued; the proximity of Sheffield and Chesterfield markets having long caused it to decline. A fair is still held on the 25th April, principally for cattle and cheese.

The entire parish of Dronfield contained, in 1821, 3,680 inhabitants, and in 1831, 3,974, of which last number 1,653 were returned for the town.

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie ©1999]

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