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Clay Cross

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CLAYCROSS, (or Claylane) a township in the parish of North Wingfield, in the hundred of Scarsdale, in the county of Derby, 5 miles S. of Chesterfield, its post town. It is a station on the Midland railway. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Lichfield, value £60, to which the Claycross Coal Company make a grant of £50, in the patronage of the Rector of North Wingfield. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, was erected by subscription in 1851. It is a handsome stone edifice in the early English style.

The Wesleyans, New Connexion, and Primitive Methodists have places of worship. There are National schools and schools erected by the Claycross Company in 1854, for boys, girls, and infants, to which is attached a large library. These schools are supported by the Company's servants, who subscribe 1d. per week towards them. The coal stratum, of which the mines here form part, extends over an area of 65 miles from N. to S., and its greatest width is about 24 miles. This place is greatly improved since the opening of the Midland railway.”

from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

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Archives & Libraries

The Clay Cross Library in Kenning Park on Holmgate Road near Peters Avenue is open six days a week. They have a Local Studies and Family History section to help you with your search.

John SLATER has a photograph of the Clay Cross Library on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2016.

Clay Cross Holmgate is also served by the Mobile Library on route N, which makes a stop here near the Sunflower Nursery every fourth Wednesday in the late morning.

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Bibliography

  • WOMBWELL, Margaret - I Remember Clay Cross. DCC Cultural & Community Services, 2008. No ISBN. Added 7 Nov 2008.
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Cemeteries

  • Clay Cross Cemetery opened as 4 acres with two mortuary chapels. It must have opened around 1878, but the date in not reported. It was run by a burial board within the Parish Council.
     
  • Andrew HILL has a photograph of the Cemetery and chapel on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2011.
     
  • In 2010, the North East Derbyshire District Council adopted responsibility for Clay Cross Cemetery. All enquiries must now go through the NEDDC.
     
  • Alan HEARDMAN has a photograph of the Parkhouse Pit Explosion Monument at the Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2000.
     
  • Michael SPENCER and Jon CANTRILL provide a partial extract of Parish Register burials in a file for your review. Your additions and corrections are welcomed.
     
  • A small Cemetery of 1/2 acre opened in Stretton township's Handley hamlet prior to 1911 with two mortuary chapels.
     
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Census

  • The parish was in the Ashover sub-district of the Chesterfield Registration District.
     
  • The parish is listed as Clay Lane on some census returns.
     
  • There are good records at Neil WILSON's website on Clay Cross on Rootsweb.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1851H.O. 107 / 2147
1861R.G. 9 / 2525 and 2526
1891R.G. 12 / 2757 and 2758
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew.
     
  • David BEVIS has a photograph of St. Bartholomew's Church on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2013.
     
  • David BEVIS also has a photograph of the Clock and Base of the Church Spire on Geo-graph, taken in November, 2013.
     
  • The church was built in 1849-51.
     
  • The church could seat 450.
     
  • The churchyard was closed for internment in 1878-79.
     
  • The church of Saint Barnabas was built in Danesmoor in 1883 as a chapel of ease.
     
  • The chapel of ease could seat 220.
     
  • St. Barnabas closed around 2006 and was demolished early the following year.
     
  • A Chapel of Ease was built in Stretton in 1899.
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1851. Entries prior to that date are in the North Wingfield church register.
     
  • A CD containing a transcription of the Parish Registers of St Lawrence's Church North Wingfield also includes Marriages 1852 - 1860 and Burials 1852 - 1891 for Clay Cross. These are on a CD once produced by Valerie Neal.
     
  • We also have a partial extract of Parish Register baptisms in a pop-up window text file for your review. Your additions are welcomed.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of Chesterfield.
     
  • A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built here in 1848.
     
  • A Primitive Methodist chapel was built here in 1849.
     
  • A Baptist chapel was built here in 1862.
     
  • Alan HEARDMAN has a photograph of the Baptist Church on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2009.
     
  • The Catholic church is dedicated to Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget and was built in 1862. It was enlarged in 1882.
     
  • David BEVIS has a photograph of the Catholic Church on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2013.
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • The parish was in the Ashover sub-district of the Chesterfield Registration District.
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Description & Travel

"CLAYCROSS, (or Claylane) a township in the parish of North Wingfield, in the hundred of Scarsdale, in the county of Derby, 5 miles S. of Chesterfield, its post town. It is a station on the Midland railway. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £60, to which the Claycross Coal Company make a grant of £50, in the patronage of the Rector of North Wingfield. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, was erected by subscription in 1851. It is a handsome stone edifice in the early English style."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin HINSON ©2003]

Claycross is 139 miles north of the City of London and 5 miles south of Chesterfield. Danesmoor is a hamlet just on the eastern edge of Claycross.

You can see pictures of Clay Cross which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Historical Geography

  • Egstow, formerly a parish in its own right was incorporated in the civil parish of Clay Cross in 1935.
    (Ref: The Place-Names of Derbyshire, K. Cameron, Cambridge University Press, 1959)
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History

Jon CANTRILL provides this report from the Derbyshire Times of 26th March 1927:

The treat given each year to the old folk of the Clay Cross Urban District by Mrs. F. SPENCER, wife of Councillor Fred SPENCER, Holmgate, Clay Cross, is always much appreciated, and the function which took place in the Clay Cross Drill Hall on Wednesday was acclaimed to be the most successful yet held. It gets better every time seemed to be the unanimous verdict of the guests (in the region of 800) and judging from the substantial meat team that was provided and done ample justice to by the residents of the locality over 60 years of age, the verdict was earned. To those who through sickness and infirmity were unable to attend, Mrs. SPENCER sent a generous ration to their respective homes.

The Drill Hall, packed to its utmost capacity, was a scene of animation throughout the afternoon and evening, the tea being followed by a capital programme of music provided by the Clay Cross Pom Poms, under the able direction of Mr Gladstone CLARKE. Police Inspector TIPPER contributed a reading of poetry, and his youngest son gave a violin selection. Councillor Fred SPENCER, who acted as chairman, had the support of Mr. Joe FLAVELL, Mr. G. KENNING J.P., C.C., and Mr. A. J. TUCKLEY (Danesmoor), on behalf of the guests, expressed sincere thanks to Mrs SPENCER for her kindly hospitality, and the hostess suitably responded. A similar compliment was paid to the voluntary workers for the assistance they had rendered, and this was responded to by Mr Harry REED.
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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK392633 (Lat/Lon: 53.165383, -1.415115), Clay Cross which are provided by:

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Military History

  • Lieut.-Colonel Jeffrey M. JACKSON of the Sherwood Foresters resided in the parish in 1911. He would latter reach the rank of Brigadier General. His wife was Jessie C. C. JACKSON. Their son, Geoffrey Laird JACKSON, an active Cricket player, would die of wounds in World War I.
     
  • In 1912, G Company of the 6th Territorial Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters were headquartered here at the Drill Hall. Sergt.-Major John SHEPPARD was the drill instructor.
     
  • There is a photograph of the War Memorial at the Traces of War website.
     
  • Alan HEARDMAN's original photograph of the War Memorial is on the Geo-graph website, taken in April, 2000.
     
  • Alan HEARDMAN also has a photograph of the Danesmoor War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2007.
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Military Records

  • Steve Morse provides us with this Roll of Honour from Tupton School.
     
  • Also a casualty of war was: Bernard CLARK, a gunner in the Royal Artillery's 200 Battery, who died 1 April 1944 while serving in Italy. He was the son of David and Charlotte CLARK.
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Obituaries

Stephen KIMBERLEY reports that the Derbyshire Times of 19th August 1999 has an obituary for: BARKER Nancy 76 Clay Cross.

Stephen KIMBERLEY reports in that same edition is an obituary for: BERRESFORD Ruby 86 Clay Cross.

Stephen KIMBERLEY reports in that same edition is an obituary for: GREEN Jessie 81 Holmgate.

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient township in Derbyshire.
     
  • This parish was in the ancient Scarsdale Hundred (or Wapentake).
     
  • This township was incorporated as a separate Civil Parish in December, 1866, under the name "Clay Lane Civil Parish".
     
  • This parish in 1875 adopted an Urban District Council status to manage a slightly wider area.
     
  • You may contact the Clay Cross Parish Council regarding civic or political matters, but they are NOT available to do family history searches for you.
     
  • District governance is provided by the North East Derbyshire District Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Clay Cross petty session hearings held every other Wednesday at 11:30am in the Public Hall.
     
  • There is a single Clay Cross Bastardy Paper held at the DRO on the Yesterdays Journey website. Select "Bastardy Papers" on the left side, then "Clay Cross" from the list of parishes displayed.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, this parish became a member of the Chesterfield Poorlaw Union.
     
  • Jon CANTRILL provides this snippet from the Derby Telegraph of 24 September 1914:
    "Matlock Petty Sessions

    Wednesday - Before Messrs Tom WRIGHT, W. LENNOX, J. BUNTING and F. B. WILDGOOSE

    Elizabeth HARRISON, of Clay Cross, a hawker, was charged with having a dog without a collar at Matlock on Sept 3rd. Ordered to pay 2s 6d and the costs, 7s."
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Probate Records

See Chesterfield Probate Records.

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Schools

  • In 1855, the Clay Cross (Coal) Company built a number of schools for their workers' children. These were purchased by the local School Board in 1892 and fitted up as a science school. They were designed to hold 1,433 boys and girls and 662 infants.
     
  • A Public Elementary School (mixed) was built in Handley in 1870 for up to 115 children as St. Mark's Church School.
     
  • Michael SPENCER provides us with this school admissions lists.