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Edale

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EDALE, a township and chapelry in the parish of Castleton, hundred of High Peak, county Derby, 2 miles N.W. of Castleton. It is situated on a small tributary of the river Noe, which rises in the Peak, near Edale rocks, and from which the place derives its name. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of lace, thread, and cotton. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £126, in the patronage of trustees. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. There are charities producing about £33 per annum, £14 of which is an endowment for Turie's school.”

from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

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Archives & Libraries

Edale is served by the Mobile Library on route N, which makes a stop at the Car Park every fourth Thursday in the mid-afternoon.

The Chapel-en-le-Frith Library is an excellent resource with a Local History section and a Family History section.

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Bibliography

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

Bill BOADEN has a photograph of the Churchyard in Edale on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2015.

Graham HOGG also has a photograph of the Church of the Holy Trinity churchyard on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2019.

We have a pop-up window of a partial extract of Parish Register burials in a file for your review. Your additions are welcomed.

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Census

  • 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.
1851H.O. 107 / 2151
1861R.G. 9 / 2548
1881R.G. 11 / 3457
1891R.G. 12 / 2781
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Church History

  • 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 as the Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity.
     
  • The site of the old church was retained as a burial ground.
     
  • Andrew ABBOTT has a photograph of The Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2015.
     
  • Martin CLARK has a photograph of Edale Church on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2002.
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1633.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of Eyam.
     
  • A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built here in 1847.  The chapel does have a burial yard and burials can be found on Ancestry's database.
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • Remember that prior to 1867, Edale was part of Castleton parish.
     
  • The parish was in the Chapel en le Frith sub-district of the Chapel en le Frith Registration District.
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Description & Travel

"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 acres and the River Noe runs through the valley.

Don CLOAD has a photograph of the Noe River as it runs thru Edale on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2019.

Michael ELY shows us that Hope is not lost while in Edale. Photo on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2012.

Nigel THOMPSON has a photograph of Edale railway station on Geo-graph, taken in December, 2011.

Andrew HILL has a photograph of the Village Hall on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2012. Check in and ask for a schedule of forth-coming events. Or hire the hall for your family re-union!

Steve FAREHAM has a photograph warning you to Slow Down in Edale on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2008. The tourists wandering about the parish are not always mindful of where they are walking!

You can see pictures of Edale which are provided by:

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Directories

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Dwellings

  • 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]
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Gazetteers

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History

John WELFORD has a photograph of The Old Nag's Head Pub. on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2016.

The Pennine Way Trail starts or ends in Edale (Depends!). Graham HOGG has a photograph of a Signpost regarding the trail on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2014.

Chris DOWNER has a photograph of the Rambler Inn beer garden on a busy bank holiday on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2014.

Jeff BUCK has a photograph of the Old Nags Head Inn on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2021.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK119858 (Lat/Lon: 53.368953, -1.821939), Edale which are provided by:

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient Chapelry of Castleton in Derby county.
     
  • This place was incorporated as a separate, modern Civil Parish in December, 1866.
     
  • This parish was in the ancient High Peak Hundred (or Wapentake).
     
  • You may contact the Edale Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to help you with family history searches.
     
  • District governance is provided by the High Peak Borough Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Chapel-en-le-Frith petty session hearings once each month.
     
  • There is an index of a single Edale Bastardy Paper held at the DRO on the Yesterdays Journey website. Select "Bastardy Papers" on the left side, then "Edale" from the list of parishes displayed.
     
  • As a result of the Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms of 1834, the parish became a member of the Chapel-en-le-Frith Poorlaw Union.
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Probate Records

The Will of William CARRINGTON of Edale was probated on 18 Feb 1885 in Derby.

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Schools

A Public Elementary School (mixed) was built in 1868 and enlarged in 1912 for 53 children. Average attendance in 1911 was 57.