Wormhill

Contents & Site Map

Description of Wormhill & St Margaret's Church

The village of Wormhill was until 1859, a chapelry of Tideswell and lies just over 2 miles south-east of that Peakland town. The chapelry was founded about 1273 when Ralph de Semprinham, Dean of Lichfield was rector of Tideswell. He gave permission for the inhabitants of Wormhill to erect a chapel and appoint their own chaplain. The church of St. Margaret was completely restored in 1864, when all trace, except for the lower part of the tower, of the ancient church was obliterated. The church was enlarged in 1906.

The village is surrounded by varied scenery of rocks known as Chee Tor and the beautiful dale through which runs the River Wye. The Bagshawes have been chief land owners in this village for several generations.

Within the parish of Wormhill are the hamlets of Hargate Wall, Great Rocks, Peak Dale, Millers Dale and Tunstead. The registers, beginning in 1674 are deposited at the County Record Office and have been filmed up to 189O.

By the wayside is a drinking fountain erected in 1875 to the memory of James Bridley, who was born at Tunstead in 1716. He became a civil engineer and the greatest canal builder of his time. He died at Turnhurst, Staffordshire in 1772. This fountain is the scene of the village well-dressing each year.

Within the churchyard which was enlarged by the gift of Mrs. B. Isherwood-Bagshawe in 1925 is a large unusual tomb, a resting place for some members of the Needham family.

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