Duffield

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DUFFIELD - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

DUFFIELD is a large and pleasant village, in the populous parish of its name, in the hundred of Appletree: the village is situate on a fine plain, over which the main road passes, leading from Derby to Belper, Matlock, and Sheffield; about four and a half miles north from Derby, and three and a half south from Belper. It has long been esteemed a favourite residence of persons enjoying a respectable competence, who prefer retirement and quiet to the bustle of larger towns.

In Domesday book it is called Dunelle, and was formerly celebrated for its castle, and formed part of the demesne of Henry de Ferars, who, in 1096, held the fortress, which stood on an eminence north-west of the village, on the site now called 'Castle-orchard'. In the reign of Elizabeth frequent mention is made of the extent and importance of the royal possessions at Duffield, and of the appointment of stewards, rangers, and other officers, together with great leets and courts held there, at which period it was a portion of the duchy of Lancaster, and so it continued till the reign of Charles I. The manufacture of lace is carried on to a limited extent; many of the working class are employed in frame-work knitting, and others in the collieries and stone quarries in the immediate neighbourhood.

The places of worship are, the parish church, and chapels for baptists, methodists, and unitarians. The church, which is dedicated to St. Alkmund, is a large and handsome edifice, with a spire, and contains some curious monuments, particularly one to the memory of Sir Roger Mynours, of Windley; the living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. The principal charities are, the free grammar school, originally founded by William Gilbert, in the reign of Elizabeth; and an alms-house, erected by Anthony Bradshaw, who died in 1614. There are two annual fairs for cattle, - one on the Thursday following New Year's day, and the other on the 1st of March. The parish of Duffield contained, in 1821, 13,896 inhabitants, and in 1831, 14,683, of which last number 1,653 were returned for the township.

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

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