Posted in History on Sunday June 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »
We have received the following notice from the Bradbourne Local History Group:
The Duffield Frith was, in medieval times, an area of Royal Forest which extended from Duffield to Wirksworth and from Hulland to Heage. It was bestowed upon Henry de Ferrers by King William and controlled from his seat at Duffield Castle.
The Talk will given by Sue Woore and held on July 9th at 7.30pm Bradbourne Church Hall, entrance fee will be £3 (including refreshments) and all are most welcome
Posted in Environment, Gardens, History, Local government, Parish Council on Monday May 12, 2014| 28 Comments »
This post has been created at the request of a reader who was concerned the Parish Council land making up part of The Square off Pump Hill in the centre of Parwich village is to be sold without any public consultation. At the March Parwich Parish Council meeting Item 14 “it was agreed to sell Pump Hill back to the previous owner for the sum of £1“. (This “previous owner” is not named in the minutes, but it is presumed this reference in the minutes is an error as the previous owners have no current connection to the village, see below.) The minutes make no mention of any conditions as to the future use of this land being specified as part of the sale.
This land, in front of Parwich Hall, was originally part of the Parwich Estate. Some time around the 1820s it was made into allotments for use by villagers. The 1843 Tithe Map refers to it as ‘gardens’. The estate was bought by Sir John Crompton-Inglefield in the 1930s. After World War II the allotments went out of use, and Lady Crompton-Inglefield had trees planted here to hide the separately owned garden at the south end of the land, in front of the former Shop, which was then being used to cure deer hides amongst other things.
After the sale of the bulk of the Parwich Estate in the 1970s, this land remained in the hands of Sir John’s heirs, one suspects on the speculation that restrictions on building here might someday be removed. Over a number of years Dorothy L gardened this land on a voluntary basis, and created a very attractive woodland garden, much enhancing this part of the village.
When it came up for auction in the early 2000s, the Village Action Group raised buying it with the then Parish Council. There was strong local support for protecting this land in the heart of the village against any future development. In the light of this a number of potential buyers agreed not to bid at the auction and the land was purchased by the Parish Council.
A number of options then were considered for this land, but local opinion was strongly in favour of Dorothy continuing to garden it for as long as she wished. She has now left the village.
What are your views on the future of this land?
Posted in Events, History on Monday April 14, 2014| 1 Comment »
Two of Derbyshire’s steam beam engines are being opened to the public for the first-time this year.
Middleton Top engine house and Leawood Pump steam beam engine are being opened on the Easter weekend of Sunday 20 April and Monday 21 April.
Middleton Top engine house based on the High Peak Trail is the world’s oldest original working rotative beam engine and will be operating from noon until around 5pm. And the nearby Leawood Pump steam beam engine on the Cromford Canal will also be operating from 12pm until about 5pm.
Admission to Middleton Top engine house is £2.70 and £1.30 for concessions and entry to Leawood Pump House is free.
Visitor centres at High Peak Junction and Middleton Top will also be open seven days a week from Easter until September, where visitors can find out more about heritage and wildlife and what to see and do. Attractions include an audio tour at High Peak Junction workshops visitor centre, bringing the history of Cromford Canal and one of the oldest surviving railway workshops alive. There is a £2.70 charge for the tour (Concessions £1.30). Or why not hire a bike from Middleton Top and follow the path taken by the railway wagons until 1967 down the high peak trail towards Hopton tunnel & beyond?
The centres also provide information, maps, books and light refreshments.
For more information call 08456 058 058 or visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside (opens in a new window)
Posted in History, Out & About on Wednesday March 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Only just outside our area, Prof John Moreland is always worth listening to:
Posted in History, Out & About on Saturday March 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Photography on Thursday March 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Following on from last week’s Memory Lane the Ashbourne News Telegraph again features historic photographs of Parwich. The photographs featured this week include one looking over the village to Lenscliffe – Parwich Hall can be seen poking through the trees, a view of Parwich school and the final photo is of a snowy scene.
You can read the full article on the Ashbourne News Telegraph website.
If you have any good memories or photographs you would like to share please let us know.
Posted in History, Photography on Monday March 3, 2014| 1 Comment »
The Ashbourne News Telegraph featured a great historic piece on Parwich. The feature includes a collection of photos taken by Vernon Webster, an Ashbourne News Telegraph reader from Chellaston whose wife – formerly Brenda Brownlee – used to live in Parwich. The article describes Parwich as having “one of the strongest feelings of community spirit of any location in the Derbyshire Dales” – three cheers to that!
Posted in History on Monday February 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Parwich and District History Society is keen to undertake a project about Parwich in the period of the First World War. We are hoping that this will be a community project with as many people involved as possible. We are also hoping to link in with other groups in the village which are interested in a particular aspect. Maybe other groups might want to pick up an idea to work on or maybe individuals would like to be involved in some of the ideas we have thought about.
We have come up with a list of possible areas for inclusion in the project. This is by no means prescriptive nor exhaustive. All ideas are welcome! These are our thoughts:
If you have any thoughts about the project, would like to be involved or your group/society are planning to commemorate WW1, please either make a comment or contact Fiona on 191, Peter T on 287 or Ian P on 362.
Posted in History, News, People on Wednesday February 19, 2014| 2 Comments »
Alan Wood is awarded the Arctic Star
Massive congratulations to Alan Wood who after nearly 70 years has now received the Arctic Star to acknowledge the vital role he, and many like him, played in World War Two.
The medal is awarded for any length of service above the Arctic Circle by members of the British armed forces and the merchant navy. Alan served in the merchant navy during World War Two on board the S.S. Fort Yukon in the Arctic convoys to Murmansk, Russia.
The Ashbourne News Telegraph included a quote from Alan:
I was only 17 when I joined the merchant navy in 1944. I spent three months on a training course for Lifeboat and Seamanship on the T.S. Vindicatrix, in Sharpness, Gloucestershire.
After this I joined the S.S. Demeatation in Grangemouth on the Forth, and we proceeded to London to take troops and supplies to the Normandy beaches.
On the second trip to the beaches, the ship was damaged by an inland shore battery with a number of casualties. We returned to North Shields for repairs.
The next ship I was on was the S.S. Fort Yukon, which was loaded with supplies bound for Murmansk, Russia. We went from Manchester up the Clyde, where we met with other vessels and formed a convoy.
I can tell you it was bitterly cold in the Arctic Circle, but I wasn’t frightened by it, I didn’t really feel it. After discharging the cargo in Murmansk we loaded the ship with phosphate bound for London.
Whilst we were sheltering in the north of Scotland overnight we heard that peace had been declared. My next trip as on the S.S. Llandaff, which went empty from Newport, Wales to Philadelphia to fetch supplies for American forces in the Pacific, but then the atomic bomb was dropped and the Japanese surrendered. So we boarded coal in Philadelphia for northern Norway instead.
I’m delighted to have been given this medal, but it’s a shame it took so long because many of my colleagues and friends who were also involved have long since died.”
Posted in Events, History, Societies on Thursday February 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Parwich & District Local History Society
AGM
7.30pm Thursday 13th Fenruary
in the Meeting Room
Parwich Memorial Hall
All welcome, discussion will include possible plans for marking the 100th anniversary of WWI.
Posted in Classified adverts, History, People on Saturday December 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Pub, Quiz on Friday December 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Pub, Quiz, Societies on Saturday December 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in 2013, History, People, Posts of Note, School, Young people on Monday December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Can you help the School with their a World War II ‘Evacuation Day’ in January. Were you an evacuee, did your family host evacuees, or are you a Veteran?
Hi Parwich Blog,
I wonder if you can help me find someone to come in and help Parwich School with our latest Topic on World War 2. I am the Key Stage 2 teacher (ages 7-11) and the children have been having lots of fun learning about the last world war. Lots of parents have sent in war relics such as ration books and helmets and we are now planning an Evacuation Day on Tuesday 14th January 2014.
It is going to be a very authentic day with dressing up and rations for lunch (well not too authentic!) It would be wonderful if we could invite someone locally to visit during the day who experienced World War 2, either as an actual evacuee or who was a child in a host family or even a war veteran. The children could interview the guest and then write about their experiences. This would be a fantastic opportunity for the children and I really hope there is someone in the locality who can help!
Please can you ask everyone on the blog if they know anyone?
Thank you so much and looking forward to seeing if we get any responses.
Very best wishes,
Kim Peatfield
KS2 Teacher
Parwich Primary School
This looks like being a fantastic day for the children. If you are able to help either contact the School directly or email parwich@hotmail.co.uk and we will forward your message. Also feel free to share any relevant experiences as a comment below or email them to us to create a separate post.
Posted in History, Pub, Quiz, Societies on Saturday November 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Classified adverts, History on Thursday November 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History on Wednesday November 13, 2013| 1 Comment »
Lottery cash will help commemorate First World War
Derbyshire County Council has been awarded £84,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project to commemorate the First World War across the county.
Led by Derbyshire Record Office, the Derbyshire Lives in the First World War project will help groups learn about and commemorate the impact of the war on their community.
Support could be anything from advice on getting funding to learning how to research and record the First World War history of their town or village. At the end, stories collected by communities across Derbyshire will be brought together in a travelling exhibition.
The project will begin in January and runs until December 2015.
Councillor Ellie Wilcox, our Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said:
“The record office has already begun digitising its First World War records to make it easier for people to find out information.”This grant will help us provide the practical support to help people with their own projects.
“Many know about the experiences of soldiers in the trenches, but we also want to remember what life was like for the people left behind in Derbyshire.
“There are many fascinating topics to explore − from the treatment of wounded soldiers in the spas of Matlock and Buxton, to what happened in local farming communities when the men and horses left for war.”
Vanessa Harbar, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said:
“The First World War changed the face of global history, and within its history are countless stories to uncover and remember.
“This is a fantastic project that allows communities within Derbyshire to share their experiences and contribute to the national commemoration of First World War centenary.”
A website will be set up in the coming months where people can find out more about the project and how to get involved.
In the meantime call the record office, in New Street, Matlock, on 01629 538347 or email record.office@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.
Posted in 2013, History, People, Posts of Note on Tuesday November 12, 2013| 5 Comments »
We have received the following email from someone researching the Parwich Webster families:
Hello,
(Updated 25th Nov 2013)
I am doing genealogy research for my friend who is directly related to the Webster families from Parwich area.
If any of your readers could assist me in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.
At this time, I have gone back many generations, including finding Joseph Webster who was a farmer working the Ball Croft Farm with his son Thomas, but who also was shown on the 1901 Census as being the Publican of The Sycamore Inn, Parwich and living there.
There are also references to members of the Webster family at Dam Farm, Dale End and 3, Gotham Farm, Parwich. There are references to the members of the earlier Webster families being farmers, cattle dealers and a butcher; presumably in the Parwich area.
I am particularlly interested in George Webster, born in 1919 and who served in WW2 [Welch Regiment], then returning to the UK from Klagenfurt, Austria in 1947/1948 with his Austrian wife Hermenegilde (more…)
Posted in History, Housing on Thursday October 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »
As part of the Local History Society’s evening of short talks tonight at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall:
Posted in Farming, History, Housing, Societies on Tuesday October 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Housing on Thursday October 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »
As part of the Local History Society’s evening of short talks at 7.30pm on Thursday 17th October in the Memorial Hall:
Posted in Farming, History, Housing, Societies on Saturday October 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in 2013, Alsop, History, Posts of Note, Transport, Walks & Rides on Sunday September 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The book ‘Rails to Ashbourne’ by Howard Sprenger is now published by Kestrel Railway books (click here for details). It contrasts the older Uttoxeter to Ashbourne line with the relatively more recent Ashbourne to Buxton line, now the Tissington Trail. Obviously this latter had a major local impact and much of the information and pictures in the book relate to our area. (If any of our readers get a copy we would be pleased to post a review of the book focusing on the nearby sections.)
Click on image to read the promotional flier as a pdf.
Posted in History on Friday August 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Volunteers are needed to help develop a digital media project at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.
Derbyshire County Council are looking for pioneering individuals, groups and organisations to test out a new approach to sharing access to the museum’s exhibits and artefacts.
The project, called ‘Collections in the Landscape’, is being funded with an £81,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will enable visitors to walk in the footsteps of archaeologists and geologists to view artefacts in places where they were either made or found.
As visitors stand next to archaeological sites and famous landmarks they will be prompted to use their smart phones or tablets to download extra information such as images of what people in previous centuries would have seen when they visited.
Pilot projects will focus on three areas − Dovedale, Arbor Low stone circle and the town of Buxton itself. Users will be able to interact with these landscapes in exciting new ways such as exploring Arbor Low to see what ancient stone tools were buried below the earth, strolling through Dovedale using the museum’s fossils to reconstruct a shallow sea floor from 350 million years ago or standing in the centre of Buxton to see what traces generations of visitors have left behind – from the Romans to the Beatles.
Now ‘collections ambassadors’ are needed to help the museum test and develop the technology as well as share news in their local communities.
Councillor Ellie Wilcox, our Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:
“We need local volunteers to help make this exciting project happen. This is a truly unique opportunity to be part of something that will transform the way collections at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery are displayed and experienced.”
Volunteers will be involved in the pilot stage 1 of the project. The results will form part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund in May 2014 for an additional £449,000 to fund the project for another three years.
Ellie Wilcox added:
“Although we’re exploring the potential of digital technology, this project will still be rooted in people power. The knowledge and support of the local community will be a key factor in taking the concept of Collections in the Landscape forward.”
As part of the project the museum is also conducting an online visitor survey.
To take part in the survey or to volunteer as a collections ambassador visit http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum (opens in a new window) email citl@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 533540.
Posted in History, Out & About on Friday August 16, 2013| 1 Comment »
Thank to John FS for sending us photos of this little bit of Croatia in the Peak District.
Posted in 2013, Environment, Farming, History, Photography, Posts of Note on Sunday August 11, 2013| 3 Comments »
Field barns are an important feature of the White Peak landscape that surrounds our villages. As patterns of land holdings have changed (the village farm houses serving scattered fields are now gone, replaced by larger farms with houses and farm buildings on the land being farmed) and farming methods have improved, these fine buildings have become redundant, with many falling into disrepair. Here are some of the field barns that can be seen around Parwich Hill (just these local photos by Peter T):
A new book entitled “Field Barns of the Peak District” by Sheila Haines celebrates these buildings and challenges us to find new uses for them before they are irreparable ruins. Parwich.org would welcome any further photographs of the barns in our local parishes, perhaps to created a gazetteer and photographic record of those in Parwich, Eaton & Alsop and Ballidon.
For more information on Sheila Haines’ book (more…)
Posted in Events, History, Parwich Panoramic 5, Sport on Sunday August 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The Parwich Panoramic 5 fell race started in 2009. Initially set up as a fund raiser towards the redevelopment of the Memorial Hall, our village hall, it has become an annual fixture in the fell runner’s calendar.
Further down the post is an outline of the Senior Race route, and information on the history of what you might see when taking it at a more leisurely pace than the PP5 competitors do. Please walk the route and send in any photographs to parwich@hotmail.co.uk, as we hope eventually to produce a leaflet for both locals and visitors.
But first, here are the race results and photographs from previous years posted at parwich.org:
Posted in History, Out & About, Societies on Saturday August 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Out & About, Societies on Sunday July 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Click on links below for more information on the Magpie Mine:
Posted in Events, History, Peak Park on Monday June 24, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Chance to step back to the time of Henry VIII
Families can step back from the 21st century to the time of Henry VIII by joining the Great Tudor Farming Day in the tranquil Dove Valley on Saturday July 6.The outdoor event, from 11am to 4.30pm at the Dove Valley Environmental Centre, Under Whitle Farm near Longnor, will take people back to 1537 to share the daily lives of the Horobin family.
Children can dress in Tudor outfits and try their skills at spinning, weaving, farming, gathering vegetables and herbs, cooking and making reed lights as our 16th century ancestors would have done. Families can watch a re-enactment of skulduggery at Upper Whitle Farm, meet a Tudor quack (doctor), discover how to research local history, write with a quill and learn the secrets of the Tudor landscape and wildlife.
Peak District National Park ranger Lynn Burrow, who helped organise the event, said: “We want to open up a different world and show people what life was like for a Peak District farming family during the time of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
“Children can become part of an oxen plough team, and everyone can try their hand at dry hedging, archaeological exploration and Tudor dancing.”
The event is co-ordinated by Elspeth Walker of the Dove Valley Environmental Centre and run mainly by volunteers. Although free, donations are invited to help cover costs.People should bring a packed lunch (drinks will be available), and clothing suitable for a day outdoors including wellies in case of wet ground.
The postcode for the Dove Valley Centre is SK17 0PR, or ordnance survey map reference SK107 305 (between Longnor and Sheen), tel: 01298 83282.
Posted in Events, History, Out & About, Societies on Friday June 14, 2013| 1 Comment »
STOP PRESS: This trip has regrettably been postponed, as the museum is temporarily unable to open.
Gentlemen Welcome
Posted in History on Thursday June 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Thanks to Jill L for the following information:
There is a talk at Bradbourne Church Hall on Sat 15th June at 2.30 by Jean Yates from Dunstable on ‘ How Bradbourne and surrounding villages where connected to Dunstable Priory in Medieval times’
All Welcome £2 each including refreshments.
Posted in Events, History, Out & About, Societies on Sunday June 2, 2013| 1 Comment »
Gentlemen welcome on this visit,
but phone Marion on tel. 519, as only a few places left.
Posted in History, Societies on Monday February 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in History, Societies on Sunday February 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Events, History, Peak Park on Thursday December 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »
| Catch up with the past at 2013 Archaeology Day |
| People can find out what archaeologists have been discovering in Derbyshire and the Peak District over the past year at Archaeology Day 2013.
Taking place at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre on Saturday January 19, the day will include presentations on: (more…) |
Posted in 2012, History, People, Posts of Note on Monday October 8, 2012| 3 Comments »
Thank you to Nancy C who sent us these fascinating photographs of Harry Trager, an American soldier who spent time in Parwich, at the then Red Cross Hospital (also known locally as the Care Centre) after breaking his leg in a fall from a train in October 1942. These pictures are shown with the permission of Harry Trager’s granddaughter, and more information and photographs can be see at the Blog US Army Railway Units of the Past.
Sgt. Roby Bradshaw, Pfc. Harry R Trager and Commander Diana Hardy
for more photos (more…)
Posted in 2012, History, Posts of Note on Wednesday June 6, 2012| 11 Comments »
We have been contacted by Scott Lomax, who is the author of a recently published local history book: Deadly Derbyshire: Tales of Murder & Manslaughter c. 1700-1900.
It features more than 50 cases of murder and manslaughter to have taken place in Derbyshire during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The book includes a case from Parwich. In 1807 William Webster committed murder by poisoning. I have obtained a reasonably large amount of information about the case and presented it in the book.
Other cases from across the entire county are also featured, including cases never before written about. I have uncovered many cases which had been lost in the archives.
The book is available from all good bookshops and there are also copies in some of the county’s libraries.
More details can be found on Scott’s website, and the book can also be purchased from Amazon.
Posted in History, Housing, Parish Council on Tuesday May 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
If you are interested in the history of any local houses come and visit the Parwich & District Local History Society table at tomorrow evening’s Parish Council Open Meeting in the Memorial Hall.
A group within the History Society are collecting information on who lived where and when in the village. Please come and share what you know about the history of your home, or look at the 1843 Tithe Map and the nineteenth century censuses.
Posted in History, Societies on Wednesday February 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Annual General Meeting of the Parwich & District Local History Society will be held at
7.30pm on Thursday 16th February 2012
in Parwich Memorial Hall
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