DIALECT OF THE PEAK.

TUN, TON; A.S. A fence or fenced place. It was originally applied to a plot of ground fenced round or enclosed by a hedge - a fortified place. Later it was the name of a town, farm or dwelling. In Scotland a farmhouse is still spoken of as the toun. In some parts of England the rickyard is still called the barton, i.e., the enclosure for the crops which the lane bears,

Middleton would appear to be a town with other towns on each side of it. Dr. Wrench, of Baslow, however, thinks Middleton takes its name from the township being in two parishes with a boundary in the middle.

SHIPPEN is a shortened form of Sheep-pen. This is a small barn, and is used in connection with a cowhouse or ox-stall.

PUND is the Anglo-Saxon form derived from the Latin pondus, weight, and, pondo, to pound. The word punch denotes the use of the fists, but not infrequently it is applied to a 'kick in the ribs'.

PINFOLD is a contracted form of Pen-fold. It is a place in which cattle are enclosed or penned. Another name for it was the Pound, which was kept by the Pound-keeper or Pinder. This is doubtless the origin of the surname Pinder.

TOR is a Phœnician word for a rocky hill, Raven Tor, High Tor, and Steeple Tor occur in Middleton Dale.

LOMB implies a fall of water. Part of what was once the Lomb is included in the New Road, and the Waterfall is close at hand.

LOWE, bleau or law Gothic, a hill, heap, tomb or barrow. This occurs in Blakelow or Bleaklow. In the Ordnance Survey of 1878 the sites of tumuli, human remains, cist and cup are marked.

LOWE. A flame. A "Lilly lowe" is a flame or blaze.

CUPEL; Latin, cups, a tub; is a melting pot.

CUPOLA or CUPEL-LOWE. Lord Denman thought it ought still to be written in the latter form.

Cupel-lows was a Saxon word for a wind furnace for smelting ore, i.e., a smelting house. There were formerly two such furnaces in Middleton Dale.

'As they came from the moorlands, from heath and bent, The Jagger and horses half frozen and spent; Hit hard, and their loadings all covered with snow, 'Twixt the wild mountain crags by the old Cupel-lowe.'

Jagger was the name of a pack-horse driver.

BELLAND was the complaint caused by imbibing vapour or particles of lead on grass or in water. The animals were said to be bellanded.

CALC (Latin, calx lime) was the name of chalk or limestone. Calc spar is obtained in Middleton.

CROZZIL means to harden. When it is used as a noun it means a coke or cinder. People frequently say, "The coal crozzils well". A gnarled stick is said to be crozzled.

NESH (Saxon, nasc, tender) means to make tender.

WHO is constantly used in place of she, as the Feminine Personal Pronoun, e.g.:-"Who is a good lady, who gives food and clothing to the poor, and who visits them at their homes".

[Ed: I can't let this one go! The sound is more like 'owr' than 'who', and from its sound, and my understanding, I believe it derives (in this context) from 'her' - in other words, 'Her is a good lady'.]

"FETCH BAG is often used for "If you please fetch the bag". "Had dinner, and at after walked" is employed instead of "I had my dinner and afterwards walked".

HOW ART TH' is used for How art thou? Lord Denman thinks "people in the cold North pronounce their words

CANNA, SHANNA, WUNNA, SHOULDNA, HANNA is constantly used for Cannot, Shall not, Will not, Should not, and Have not.

BOWN is a contracted form of bound.

NOUGHT occurs in the sentence, 'It means nought' I (it matters little).

WELLY means well-nigh, nearly, almost. This is a common word in Staffordshire.

OSSE implies to offer, to aim to do. It occurs in the following, "The landlord talked of repairs, but did not osse to do them".

TIT (Icelandic titte, a little bird) is applied also to a small horse. It occurs in compound words, as in Titmouse, Titlark, Titling (the hedge sparrow), and also in phrases. e.g., 'Tit for tat' (an equivalent in return), 'Tit-bit', 'Tittle tattle' (idle trifling talk).

SUP, to drink little by little; e.g., "Let's sup".

GIMMER is a young sheep.

WHOKE, WHOTES are merely broadened forms of Oak and Oats.

POTTER, doing something to kill time, such as "What are you doing?" On pottering about.

OWN is colloquial form of oven.

CLAM, to starve, occurs in the following, "She was welly clammed to death".

THRONG, very busy. "I am very throng just now".

SAM UP, to finish. This is applied to collecting tools, etc., e.g., "You 'ad better sam up your tools and go".

CAWK or Sulphate of Baryates is a heavy white mineral.

JENNEL (Latin, Janua, a door) is a channel, passage, or doorway, A porter or door-keeper was called a janitor.

JAMB (French, jambe, a leg) is the side-post or side of a doorway.

AGATE means doing, or "in the act of". This occurs in the sentences, "He is agate of mending a road"; "What are you agate of ?"

GAINER, nearer, such as "Which is the gainer road?"

PLACE NAMES.

CAPS CLOSE AND BIG CAPS CLOSE (Nos. 217 and 214 on the Ordnance Map) is named from William Capps, a celebrated wrestler and equestrian, who died on Jan. 24th, 1703. A mural monument once stood in the nave of the Church, but it was afterwards removed outside the Church, and eventually destroyed at the Restoration(?) of 1861.

BOWER CLOSE, near the Moon Inn, belonged to William Bower, who died on the 24th November, 1788, at the age of 76. He doubtless lived at a private house since licensed. A tablet to his memory is to be seen in the Church.

HEATON FOLD (Fold, a place fenced in by felled trees) is in close proximity to Vicarage Lane. According to an old record James Heaton was a singer in the choir of Middleton Church in 1717.

BUXTON CLOSE lies near the Vicarage. In the Churchyard there is a tombstone erected to the memory of Anthony Buxton, carpenter, who died May 28th, 1821.

CHAPMAN CROFT stands near the top of the Dale Mouth. Here at one time stood a house belonging to Cornelius Chapman, the village Pounder. His widow, becoming somewhat reduced, was obliged to dispose of this property.

The 'PINFOLD' is still to be seen near the Stag's Read Inn.

BLACK HARRY or Blagden Farm. The latter name is derived from the mine to be found in the vicinity.

JANE CLOSE, JINNY SIDE is close to the Vicarage. It owes its name to the mother of Mr. Henry Goddard, lime burner, whose Christian name was 'Jane'.

It would appear that other place-names are derived from objects in close proximity, thus:

MILL LANE was the old road from Eyam to Calver through Stoney Middleton, probably before the road through Middleton Dale was fit for vehicular traffic. Doubtless this was the way to the Corn Mill, which stood on the Bank. Carters traversed this road so as to avoid the toll bar near the Grouse Inn. At one time large quantities of grain were stored at the MALTHOUSE, which borders on MILL STREET.

SCOTCH BANK is the name of one side of Coombe's Dale (Coombe, a valley). It is probably named from the Scotch Firs which grow in the plantation on the summit.

FARNLEY LANE (Fern-lea). A Lea is the name of meadow or sward-land. The fern grows in profusion in the shady lane. This road leads to the top of Middleton.

OAKEN-EDGE. As a rule the Oak does not grow on limestone soil, yet a few oaks are to be found in this neighbourhood.

THE FRITH (Frith, a woody place, a forest, a small field taken out of a common). It is situated on the right-hand of Coombe's Dale.

CRAGSTEAD. A crag is a rough, broken, steep rock; a stead or stad is a dwelling or homestead. Hence a Cragstead is a dwelling on a steep rock.

Shape or Size has sometimes a bearing on the name of a place.

THE DIAL (Latin dies, a day) is the name of a crooked passage leading to the top of the Dale Mouth. A Dial is the name of anything similar to a sundial. Standing at a point half-way up The Dial, the crossways have the appearance of the graduated face of a Sundial. Whether there has been a

TRINKEY LANE leads from the Frith or hollow into Calver Lane. Trinkey may be derived from O.F., trencher, to cut; and may have been applied to a bye-lane. Dr. Wrench says this is probably a corruption of 'Tinker Lane', so-called because gipsies encamped there.

FIVE ACRES is situated at Highfields. On the Ordnance Map its extent is given as 5 acres 3 roods 39 perches.

Some places have been named from the character of the land.

BLAKELOW or 'Bleak low'. Lowe (Gothic) was a hill heap, tomb, or barrow. Hence Blakelow means the bleak hill.

Sites of Tumuli, Human Remains, Cist and Cup have been discovered in the vicinity (vide Ordnance Survey, 1878).

MOSTYN KNOLL. A Knoll or Knowl (A.S., cnoll) was the top of a hill or rounded hillock. This is supposed to be the old coach road to Manchester.

THE NOOK. This is a Celtic word for a secluded place, a corner, or a narrow place formed by an angle. This road leads to the Roman Baths.

HALFWAY HOUSE stood between Stoney Middleton and Calver. It is supposed to have been a public-bouse, and the walls are still standing. This marked the limit of the Parish of Stoney Middleton.

BLIND LANE leads to Eyam New Road. Formerly a wood lay on one side of the road, rarely frequented before the Chinley Line was opened, and the stony road would be less inviting than it is at present.

HIGHFIELDS (or High Fields) is reached by way of High Street, and is situated at the 'top of Middleton'.

TOWN GATE (A.S., geat a way) was the passage leading into the "tun" or enclosure. The way lead past the Village Cross up High Street, and was the venue of the old stage coach. The new road was only made in 1840.

BLAKEDON DUN (A.S., a mound). Among the Ancient Britons this was the name of a circular tower or a small fortress erected on the summit of a hill.

Shining Cliffe is in Middleton Dale.

There is also Hay Cliffe Nook in the neighbouring village of Eyam.

OVARY BUTT (French boter, to push, strike) is the name of a field in Middleton Avenue.

A Butt is a mark to shoot at, so whether this the site of a Buttery is merely a matter of conjecture.

A FRITH is a woody place, a small field taken out of a common.

THE FRITH stands on the right of Coombe's Dale.

FRITH GREEN lies near Middleton Avenue.

NETHER FRITH or Far Frith is used to distinguish it from Lower Frith.

THE PRAIRIE (Latin pratum, a meadow) is an extensive tract of fiat or rolling land, covered with tall grass, but destitute of trees.

This is the name of a field at the top of Middleton.

BOOTH HOLE, doubtless named from Booths, of Highfield Farm, is situated opposite Coombe's Dale. It is reached via the Frith. A fine view of the Dale is obtained from this position.

A STUDY OF SURNAMES.

Bennett (Little Ben). Norman names still occur in Robinson (Robert's or Robin's son). Richardson (Richard's son). Hodgkinson (Hodges's son). Jackson (John's son). Harrison (Harry's son). Simpson (Sim's son or Simon's son). Wilson (William's son). Eidson (Eades' son). Jones from John.

Goddard or Goded is derived from Goat-herd, one who tends goats.

Sharman or Shearman, one whose occupation was to shear cloth.

Mason, Slater, Barber, Carter.

Palfreyman (Fr. palefroi, a small horse fit for ladies), hence a groom.

Pinder (pounder), the Keeper of the village pound.

Bailey (Fr. bailli : a bailiff, an officer of justice, an officer of the sheriff, who serves writs and executes arrests; a land steward.

Wall may be derived from "wealhas" (Teutonic), foreigners or from Waller (one who could build a wall).

Millward, A.S. weardian, to fend off, repel, to guard. He was doubtless caretaker of the corn mill.

Moseley or Mosley means land, and for generations the family have been occupied in agriculture. Motto on Crest is "Mos Legem Regit" (Custom governs law).

Surnames are sometimes derived from a place-name, e.g.:

Furness came from Barrow-in-Furness. It is supposed that a branch came over with William the Conquerer, and settled in that part of Lancashire called Furness.

The coat-of-arms is as follows: Ar. A talbot sejant sa in chief three crescents gu. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet a lion's paw holding a lance ppr. Motto: Animo et Fide (By Courage and Faith).

Heginbotham or Heginbottom. They were all a Cheshire family, who lived at the bottom of a hill, The crest is a dexter and a sinisterarm shooting a bow all ppr. Motto: "By Aim and Effort".

Hallam may be formed from Hallamshire.

Buxton (Buck's Town), Morton, Mellor, Bonsall, Froggatt, Beeley.

Names of Persons sometimes suggest some peculiarity, as Larkin (or Larkey), Swift, Sharp, Young.

CHARITIES.

Benjamin Ashton, of Hathersage, Gent.
William Fynney, of Little Longstone, Yeoman
James Fynney (his son and heir apparent).
Thomas Fynney (another son).

At the enclosure of 1808, nine acres were added.

Out of rents the trustees were to pay:-

1. - £6 yearly to the Curate of Stoney Middleton, providing that he came into "the cure" with the consent of Benj. Ashton and the majority of the trustees; otherwise it was to be applied to charitable purposes. This is paid in equal portions on St. Thomas's Day and the Day of Pentecost.

2. - 10s yearly "to the Clerk of the Church or Chapel of Stoney Middleton" on St, Thomas's Day.

3. - A Sixpenny Brown Loaf and a shillingsworth of Flesh meat to each of twenty poor people, resident in the chappelry of Stony Middleton, on the feast of St. Thomas and the Day of Pentecost.

4. - 10s. yearly, to the persons who distribute the Charity.

5. - With the exception of some private bequests, the remainder of the rent and profits were to be divided equally amongst the trustees.

A wealthy gentleman of this name lived in " Nook House" 50 or 60 years ago, but whether he was a relative of this benefactor is not known. The well outside is still designated "White's Well."

ROBERT TRURIE by will in 1720 left a rent charge of £3 issuing out of two messuages in Derwent Dale, to be paid by the Vicar of Derwent for the education of poor children. This is the only school that receives it.

BENJAMIN ASHTON, great grandfather of the late Major Shuttleworth, left an annual sum of £10 to be paid by John Spencer Ashton Shuttleworth, Esq., of Hathersage,

"REV. FRANCIS GISBORNE, Rector of Staveley, gave and bequeathed on trust (in 1818) certain sums of 3 per cent. Bank Annuities, the dividends whereof are to be laid out in the purchase of coarse Yorkshire Cloth and Flannel, which are to be given to the Poor of the several Rectories, Vicarages, and Curacies in Derbyshire nominated in the Trust Deed. The Minister or (should he be prevented) the churchwarden, who respectively are requested to take upon themselves that trouble, is to make the distribution at his discretion. The sum of £6 12s. 11d. is received annually, and the Flannel is distributed on St. Thomas's day.

Next Chapter: INDUSTRIES