October 10th 7.30pm at Bradbourne Church Hall.
A Talk entitled
The Met Office and The D Day Landings
by Jean Yates Of Dunstable.
Entrance £4 to include Refreshments.
Posted in History on Wednesday September 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »
October 10th 7.30pm at Bradbourne Church Hall.
A Talk entitled
The Met Office and The D Day Landings
by Jean Yates Of Dunstable.
Entrance £4 to include Refreshments.
Posted in History on Saturday May 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Thank you to Richard K-M for sending this polecam photo of the work the excavation group at last Sunday’s Archaeology Day.

Posted in History on Saturday April 27, 2019| 3 Comments »
Although the Day has been postponed to tomorrow Sunday 28 April, preparations were underway on Friday. Two areas have been marked out for the geophys team, one in Chris and Ruth’s orchard and one in the field at Nethergreen Farm. The geophys scanner cannot work in wet conditions so fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow.
Friday also saw the removal of turf and loose stones from what will become the large excavation trench. With only an inch or so of top soil removed interesting stones were starting to be revealed which indicate an earlier construction. The trench is now ready for a full excavation.

Everyone is welcome to come along and have a go at the geophys survey and excavating the trench. There will be a few archaeological activities for children. Please bring along any interesting finds you may have from the village and also your knowledge about local water sources. We are hoping to start a major project on the importance of water to the village, this Archaeology Day is our first step towards this project.
Fiona H. History Society
Posted in Events, History on Friday April 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Bring along any interesting finds that have appeared in your gardens or elsewhere and find out what they are. We have our very own finds expert Ian Pitts on hand to identify what you bring along.
The bits of pottery or metal work we find in our gardens can tell us a surprising amount. In my garden bits of late nineteenth or early twentieth century pottery at the bottom of the well tell us when it was likely to have gone out of use and been filled in, and two bits of pottery, one above and one below, suggest a yard surface, two feet or so below the current garden, was in use around the 1500s. (An advantage of having Ian doing your walling is the additional finds identification.)

Some random pottery finds in a Parwich flower bed
The piece on the right is Medieval perhaps indicating a Medieval house was nearby
Also we have a display of some of the late Brian Foden’s finds in and around Parwich from his many years of field walking. This includes some very fine Neolithic flints and arrowheads.
Note, this event has been delayed a day, because of the imminent arrival of Storm Hannah. Come for all or part of the day, 10am to 4pm Sunday 28th April, Nethergreen Farm.
Posted in History on Friday April 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Due to the imminent arrival of Storm Hannah the decision has been made to postpone the Archaeology Day to Sunday 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Fiona H
Posted in Environment, Events, Farming, History, Services, Utilities on Wednesday April 24, 2019| 4 Comments »
Before mains water, local water sources and water management were essential for successful farming and ultimately survival. For example Parwich had an ‘ancient’ water meadow system designed to get grass growing as early as possible in the Spring to feed livestock as early as possible before the Winter feed stores were used up and the beasts had to be slaughtered.
The History Society hopes to undertake an archeology project investigating aspects of water management in our area. At this stage we are gathering what information we can about water usage in our area and also trying to find out what people are most interested in.
A lot of houses had their own water supply and there was a system of wells and springs serving the community as a whole.
The communal sources we know about are
There may have been other sources used communally such as the covered well behind West View or the step down well by Brook Cottage but we need confirmation of this.
Given mains water arrived here with in living memory, there is potential to gather what information and stories people have, in addition to studying the evidence of remaining features and of old maps.
Nether Green Farm itself has at least two wells, one of which a very unusual design for Derbyshire (so far the only parallels identified are in Cornwall), but also there are seasonal springs that fed the water meadow system and interesting but not yet understood underground water channels and sluices.
Come along on Sunday to perhaps find out where your house used to get its water from, help us map the water sources in Parwich and the surrounding area, share any information you might have, have a look around Nethergreen Farm or even participate in archeological investigations there.
Updated 26/4/19 Come for all or part of the day, 10am to 4pm Sunday 28th April, Nethergreen Farm.
Posted in History on Tuesday April 23, 2019| Leave a Comment »

With the kind permission of Chris and Ruth L, there will be some geophysical surveying of the lumps and bumps in their orchard as well as at Nethergreen Farm. A geophys survey enables archaeological images to be mapped without disturbing the ground. Come and see how it works and have a go!
Fancy your hand at excavation? A couple of trenches will be opened under the guidance of an archaeologist. Small trowels and sieves will be provided for you to see what we can learn about the previous use and occupation of the area. One of the trenches will be where we believe there is a small chamber, found a couple of years ago using a small camera (and nearly losing Ian P)!

Posted in History on Wednesday April 17, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History on Friday April 12, 2019| 2 Comments »
Posted in History on Monday March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Environment, History on Tuesday February 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Just outside our immediate area, this series of lectures by the South West Peak Landscape Partnership covers features which are found locally:
Cultural Heritage Spring Lecture Series brought to you by the South West Peak Landscape Partnership
What better way to spend an evening than learning about fire, foxholes, bullets and barrows? Or how about hearing tales of Anglo Saxons in the Staffordshire Moorlands?
You can learn about these topics – and many others – during a spring lecture series on cultural heritage, from renowned speakers, at Buxton’s Devonshire Dome. Tickets cost £5 and all proceeds go towards South West Peak Landscape Partnership’s Small Heritage Adoption and Barns & Buildings projects.
The Small Heritage Adoption Project is working to protect little-known pieces of history that are sometimes overlooked and ranges from boundary markers to lime kilns to Bronze Age burial mounds.
The Barns & Buildings project is focusing on field barns throughout the South West Peak and is working to record and in some cases restore these iconic features of the landscape.
Both projects rely on a group of dedicated volunteers who have the opportunity to train with and learn from local experts in cultural heritage and help protect the South West Peak’s unique history.
The lecture series will include:
12th March – There’s More to Walls by Master Craftsman Trevor Wragg;
19th March – Fire, Foxholes, Bullets and Barrows by SWP cultural heritage officer Dr Catherine Parker Heath;
26th March – Anglo Saxons in The Staffordshire Moorlands and the South West Peak by Harry Ball;
2nd April – Highways and Waymarkers by Jan Scrine of The Milestone Society;
9th April – Historic Mining in the South West Peak by Dr John Barnatt.
Posted in Events, History on Thursday February 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History on Wednesday November 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »
One space only left for a day’s volunteering on Tuesday 27 November
The History Society has been told of an interesting find which has taken place in the parish of Parwich. At the moment the nature of the find and it’s location have not been disclosed. The Peak District National Park Authority is organising a 5 day excavation of a trench in the vicinity of the find at the end of the month and have offered 10 day spaces to the History Society / village (2 for each of the 5 days). 6 of these have already been filled at our AGM leaving 4 day spaces for other volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering for a day’s excavation you will need to be reasonably fit and healthy, able to do a full day and walk to the site carrying tools as well as have suitable footwear and clothing. If you are interested contact me on 191 by the end of Thursday 15 November. If we are oversubscribed, priority will be given to History Society members.
Fiona H
Posted in British Legion, Church, Events, History on Monday November 12, 2018| 1 Comment »
Posted in History on Friday November 9, 2018| Leave a Comment »
The History Society has been told of an interesting find which has taken place in the parish of Parwich. At the moment the nature of the find and it’s location have not been disclosed. The Peak District National Park Authority is organising a 5 day excavation of a trench in the vicinity of the find at the end of the month and have offered 10 day spaces to the History Society / village (2 for each of the 5 days). 6 of these have already been filled at our AGM leaving 4 day spaces for other volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering for a day’s excavation you will need to be reasonably fit and healthy, able to do a full day and walk to the site carrying tools as well as have suitable footwear and clothing. If you are interested contact me on 191 by the end of Thursday 15 November. If we are oversubscribed, priority will be given to History Society members.
Fiona H
Posted in History, People on Tuesday August 21, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Jo (Joshua) Potter and his wife are staying in Parwich this week. He is a former evacuee who came here from Manchester when he was 7 in 1939. He and his younger brother were billetted with the Websters at Blanche Meadow Farm for some six years.
Catering 4 Parwich and Parwich Local History Society hosted a tea party this afternoon for people who attended Parwich School during WW2 to meet them and share memories. Despite several people being away the fifteen able to come had a very enjoyable time.
Peter T
Posted in History on Wednesday August 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »
WW2 Child evacuee staying in Parwich (again)
Were you a child living in the Parwich area during WW2 and can you remember a child evacuee (?from M/C) called Joshua (Joe) Potter who was staying with Mr Kramer & Mrs Annie Webster and their sons Ronnie & Stanley at Blanche Meadow Farm from 1939-1944? Mr Potter would have been approx. 7-12 yrs old during his years in Parwich. Mr Potter sang in the choir at St. Peter’s Church.
Mr Joshua Potter and his wife Linda, are coming to stay in Croft Cottage for the week of 18-25 August. Mr Potter would be interested to meet up with anyone who may remember him.
I have already received some information from a few local residents, but please let me know if you know of anyone who may like to meet Mr and Mrs Potter.
Saskia Tallis, 440 or saskia@croftcottage.co.uk
Posted in History, Uncategorized on Wednesday June 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »
A talk by Jean Yates on Bradbourne’s Lord of the Manor and Norman Knight Si Gaefridos de Cauceis
Bradbourne Church Hall
Wednesday 13th June 7.30 pm
Entrance £3 including refreshments
Posted in History on Wednesday May 23, 2018| Leave a Comment »
A talk by Jean Yates on Bradbourne’s Lord of the Manor and Norman Knight Si Gaefridos de Cauceis
Bradbourne Church Hall
Wednesday 13th June 7.30 pm
Entrance £3 including refreshments
Posted in History, People on Monday April 30, 2018| 1 Comment »
Copies of the Dr Williams Memoir mentioned on this site on 19 April can be obtained locally from Saskia Tallis at The Croft, Creamery Lane, tel. 440. Dr Williams was one of the GPs based at Hartington from the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s. He has recorded a variety of early memories from his time in the area, which the Hartington History Group has re-produced in pamphlet form for sale at £1, with the proceeds going to Hartington Community Group funds.
It can also be purchased at the Hartington History Day event in the Village Hall this coming Saturday, May 5 from 1100 to 1600, which is primarily focused on Alan Salt’s exhibition of of cheese-making [see www.hartingtonvillage.com/hartington-history-day-5th-may-2018 for further details].
Richard G, Hartington History Group
Posted in History on Thursday April 19, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Many older residents in the area will remember Dr Williams, who was one of the GPs based at Hartington from the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s. He has recorded a variety of early memories from his time in the area, which the Hartington History Group has re-produced in pamphlet form for sale at £1, with the proceeds going to Hartington Community Group funds. Copies can be obtained directly from Sue Bruce at Hartington Post Office, or if anyone in Parwich would like a supply of, say, 10 copies to distribute locally please contact me, Richard Gregory, on rg3390717@gmail.com or 01298 84368.
Posted in Eating Out, Food Corner, History, Planning, Services, Walks & Rides on Sunday April 1, 2018| 4 Comments »

Starbucks?
Many residents will be familiar with the Limestone Way that traverses through Parwich but few will realise that 2020 will mark the 50th anniversary of its formal adoption as a long distance walking route. Much of the path has been used for 100s of years but it was only in 1970 that the route gained recognition as a long distance path. The trend to recognise such paths gave rise to the formation of the LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) in 1972. To mark the 50th anniversary of the path the LDWA have been looking for ways improve the walker experience and facilities along the route. As you are no doubt aware the recent activity by OpenReach around the area has resulted in upgrades to cabling into the village with fibre optics, FTTC and FTTP technologies and the new GFast making the old telephone exchange obsolete. BT and OpenReach estimate that the exchange will no longer be needed from late 2019. This has presented the LDWA in partnership with the National Park, Derby Dales and Staffordshire Moorlands councils the opportunity to provide a much needed new facility along the Limestone Way without the need for new building work in a conservation area. According to information on display in the National Park office in Bakewell the telephone exchange will be converted into an information centre providing an exhibition of the history of the limestone way, a small franchised coffee shop and ladies/gents toilet facilities. The latter particularly important for the large number of young families and older ramblers passing through the village since the closure of the public facilities on Creamery Lane.
There are also plans to involve villages along the route in celebratory events throughout 2020.
Posted in History, People on Sunday November 12, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Many thanks to Karen Watson who brought this article from the ANT to our attention.


Posted in Arts, Environment, History, Peak Park on Tuesday September 5, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Derbyshire County Council has sent the following information:
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery launches Wonders of the Peak
A brand new gallery and digital experience is set to open at our Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.
Wonders of the Peak − a journey through time and place − houses the museum’s collection of 1,200 Peak District artefacts collected over 125 years. The Wonder of the Peak website (opens in a new window) allows people to explore the collection digitally while visiting the Peak District, or from the comfort of their own home, or the library, using their smartphone, tablet or computer.
More than 75 volunteers were instrumental in the project. Their contribution included testing the digital content, collecting oral histories, laying out new displays and conserving and documenting artefacts. (more…)
Posted in History on Saturday July 29, 2017| 1 Comment »
125 Years Ago
22 July 1892 Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal

23 July 1892 Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald

There isn’t a Dakin living in the Parwich part of Pikehall in 1891. Does anyone recognise the property from the description of the lake?
30 July 1892 Liverpool Mercury

Advertised in the Country and Seaside Apartments section of the paper. Judging by the number of servants in the Smith household in 1891 I suspect they may have lived in Alsop Hall. Could this then be Manor Farm house?
Not in the News……. Parwich Cricket Team 30 years Ago. July 1987
Can you name these stalwart players?

Posted in History on Saturday July 15, 2017| Leave a Comment »
100 Years Ago
Derbyshire Advertiser 22 June 1917

Although no-one would want to see cruelty to a duck it does seem surreal that while many young men were being slaughtered in France, a case of cruelty to a duck is being taken to court back home. Although James Twigge is not an uncommon name at that time, it is likely to be the James Twigge who later farmed with his brother Ernest at Station Road Farm. George Slater was the postman (with one arm) who was living in Shaw Lane in 1911 and then lived in the one up one down house in The Square . Frank Gibbs is likely to be the uncle to Len Gibbs of Lenscliffe and Mary Ellen Rodgers the wife of George Herbert Rodgers who many will know kept the greengrocers at Mount Pleasant.
For more news (more…)
Posted in History, Wakes on Friday July 7, 2017| 1 Comment »
Posted in Church, History on Friday June 9, 2017| 5 Comments »
Thank you to Martin C for this photograph of the old Parwich Church which was demolished and replaced by the existing church in 1872/73.

Posted in History on Monday May 22, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Wednesday, 24 May 2017 – Local History Group
Jean Yates will be coming up from Dunstable to give a talk on the medieval connection Bradbourne and local villages had with Dunstable Priory.
Begin at 7.30pm at Bradbourne Church Hall
Posted in History, People, School on Sunday May 21, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Thank you to Karen Watson (nee Steeples) who has shared this newspaper cutting with us. It is from the Ashbourne Telegraph December 1970 and records the retirement of Mr Fearn. Karen is on the photo and is easily identified! Can anyone identify the other children? I think I have spotted Janet Bainbridge (nee Goldstraw).

Posted in History on Sunday May 14, 2017| 2 Comments »
Posted in History on Monday May 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Wednesday, 24 May 2017 – Bradbourne Local History Group
Jean Yates will be coming up from Dunstable to give a talk on the medieval connection Bradbourne and local villages had with Dunstable Priory.
Begin at 7.30pm at Bradbourne Church Hall
Entry £3 per person (include Refreshments)
Posted in Ballidon, History, People on Thursday May 4, 2017| 2 Comments »
We’ve been living at the Vicarage for the last few months, but sadly we’ll be moving out in June (the Diocese want to sell).
But we just wanted to say how welcome lots of people in the village have made us feel.
And to tell you (though you all knew it anyway) just what a fantastic place Parwich is.
We’re not going just yet – but whilst we’ve been here we’ve been busy setting up a travel company.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a sales pitch – it’s aimed at people from abroad travelling to the UK.
But here’s a little blog that I’ve written that you might want to point people to.
I suppose it’s a bit of a love-letter to some of the land here-abouts.
Hope you like (but don’t worry if you don’t’).
With best wishes
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Posted in History on Thursday April 13, 2017| 2 Comments »
Posted in History on Saturday March 25, 2017| 3 Comments »
Posted in History on Tuesday March 21, 2017| 2 Comments »
75 Years Ago – 7 March 1942 Derby Daily Telegraph

125 Years Ago – 2 March 1892 Derby Mercury

This seems to be a family wrangle. The defendant is named in other reports as James Beresford. The cottage in dispute in which Joseph Beresford, his wife and children were living was Orchard View. Joseph’s wife was Louisa Twigge. Louisa’s aunt was Hannah Calladine (nee Twigge). (more…)
Posted in History, Uncategorized on Thursday March 16, 2017| Leave a Comment »


Sheffield Independent 2 February 1867

As well as William Webster from Parwich , there is William Dakin whose death was reported in 1892, originally from Elton but from at least 1881 was living at Slate House.
Posted in History on Saturday March 11, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 15 January 1892



The Dakins lived at Slate House. William Dakin’s eldest daughter referred to in this newspaper announcement, was Mary Elizabeth Dakin 20 Feb 1860 – 3 Jan 1892. She married William Webster on 27 Mar 1890 in Parwich. During her short married life she lived at Littlewood. She died following confinement of her second child, Ernest. Ernest was christened the day before they were buried, the note in the parish register stating “these persons, Mother and Child, were buried in the same coffin. The mother died after confinement” (more…)
Posted in History, Uncategorized on Wednesday March 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 12 January 1917

Douglas Twigge lived at Flaxdale in 1911. In the 1910 Valuation, Flaxdale had 37 acres. These 32 acres for rent are likely to be the part of Flaxdale off Dam Lane ( that is now known as Flaxdale Holdings) with the other 3 acres being adjacent to the house. In 1910 Ernest Webster owned Flaxdale. Did Mr Allsopp own it in 1917 or was he the agent?
Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 27 January 1917
DERBYSHIRE APPEALS TRIBUNAL
Local Military Service Tribunals heard applications for exemption for military service. These applications could be made on grounds of doing work of national importance, business or domestic hardship, medical unfitness and conscientious objection. County Appeals Tribunals heard appeals against decision made by local Military Service Tribunals.


Who was this Parwich farmer? The 1910 survey and 1911 census would indicate that the most likely candidate was William Bunting from Low Moor. However a member of the Bunting family has told me that by 1917 William was living at Middle Hills. Has anyone any idea who this farmer was from the description of his family and the acreage farmed?
A typical advert of the time

Posted in History on Tuesday March 7, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Manchester Evening News 16 January 1942

Derby Daily Telegraph 18 February 1942

The print is not very clear but the last paragraph tells us that since September 1939, the work party, the hon.secretary of which is Mrs Brownson of Brentwood, has sent 1,030 garments to the county clearing house, and the sum of £696 6s 3 1/2d, has been raised by the Red Cross local committee.