GENUKI: Edale, Derbyshire

The Edale Society - The Book of Edale. Halsgrove, 2003. ISBN 1-84114-245-X.

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.
1861	R.G. 9 / 2548
1891	R.G. 12 / 2781

This place was long a Chapelry in Castleton parish.
The Anglican parish church is dedicated to the Holy Cross.
The church was built in 1812 and was demolished in March, 1885.
A new church of the same name was built about 100 yards away using stones from the old church in 1885-86. The new church was consecrated on 23 June 1886.
The site of the old church was retained as a burial ground.

The Anglican parish register dates from 1633.
We have a pop-up window of a partial extract of Parish Register burials in a text file for your review. Your additions are welcomed.
The church was in the rural deanery of Eyam.
A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built here in 1847.

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.

"The parish of Castleton, including the chapelry of EDALE, contained, in 1821, 1,428 inhabitants, & in 1831, 1,329."

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

The parish covers just over 7,000 acfres and the River Noe runs through the valley.

The Vale of Edale, a 'U' shaped valley between Kinder Scout to the north, and Mam Tor and Lose Hill to the south, has no major settlement. It is populated by 'booths' - originally shelters used in the 15th and 16th century by herdsmen tending cattle. These 'cattle ranches', or 'vaccaries' were sited on the north side of the valley to get most sun; Grindsbrook Booth is the major hamlet sited overlooking the Grinds Brook near to where it joins the River Noe, and has the church, post office, two inns, and railway station.

Other settlements are named Nether (Lower) Booth, Ollerbrook Booth, Barber Booth and Upper Booth. Upper Booth's first farmstead is known as Crowdenlea; hence Crowdenlee ('Crowdenlie') Booth is an alternative name found in some records. Nether, or Lower Booth has the alternative name of Lady Booth.

Crowdenlea's property can be dated to as early as 1587; it is a 'long' house - three rooms side by side. Apparently, some fascinating 17th and 18th century account books also survive for this property, possibly in the owner's possession. It was formerly the home of Miss Greta Shirt. [Ref: Redfern, Roger - A Reminder of Domesday. Article published in Peak District Magazine (a Dalesman Publication), August 1998, pp19-22]

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