Cromford in Derbyshire: History

CROMFORD VILLAGE in DERBYSHIRE
A TIME LINE OF THE HISTORY OF CROMFORD & EVENTS IN THE WIDER WORLD
The address of this website has changed. The latest version of this page is www.cromfordvillage.co.uk/crom_his.html

The Waterwheel at Arkwright's First Mill 1878 - Ford Madox Brown

Latest entries - Extracts from the notebook of Charles Burling, signalman
1937 - fatal accident on High Peak Railway

Some of the many topics on this page

Cromford Bridge Chapel
Cromford Bridge Inscription
Cromford Canal

R Angerstein - Swedish spy
SIR RICHARD ARKWRIGHT
Daniel Defoe
Leonard Jenyns - naturalist
Florence Nightingale
Thomas Oldham - a dark deed
Alison Uttley
Sir Cornelius Vermuyden
The Wigley Family

Lead Mining - follow the trail Prehistory
Roman Conquest
1651 Almshouses endowed
1670 Hearth Tax
1832 Reform Act
1924 Sale of Willersley estates
1956 Survey of Cromford

War Memorials
Great War World War ll

Time Line	Local History
Earth is at least 4,500 million years old, its history measured in geological eras. The Carboniferous period began some 345 million years ago during the Palaeozoic era and lasted about 65 million years. The Dinantian limestones and Namurian shales and sandstones were formed during this period. The Permian-Triassic periods from 280 million years ago lasted 88 million years. The landscape south of Ashbourne was developed during these periods.	For millions of years the surface of our planet was nothing but bare rock without soil or sand, swept by hot winds and drenched by torrential downpours. The limestones of this part Derbyshire were formed as sediments on the floor of the sea in the Carboniferous period. The sea was clear and shallow and was inhabited by numerous shell-fish, coral,sea lilies and tiny sea weeds. When these died their remains accumulated as layer upon layer of shell debris which became hardened with time into limestone. The most common fossils found today are brachiopods, corals and crinoid fragments. Hoptonwood Quarry has limestone beds of high fossil content; when highly polished it is used as decorative "marble". Fossils, sharks' teeth and a coral atoll can be seen at the National Stone Centre, located in a quarry in Wirksworth. The shallow seas had small volcanoes which poured out lava and ashes (called toadstones) on to the sea floor from time to time. Traces of such a lava flow can be seen high on both sides of the limestone cliffs of Via Gellia. There is evidence of two volcanic vents at Grangemill, appearing as dome shaped hills with steep grassy slopes. The limestone cliffs of Scarthin mark the end of Matlock Dale. Here the river bends sharply to the east emerging at a wide flood plain (Cromford Meadows). Millstone Grit or Namurian, a hard type of sandstone and shale, was also laid down in the Carboniferous period. Black Rocks is an outcrop of this material displaced by the Bonsall Fault which passes through Cromford. Millstone Grit shale forms the slopes to the east of the limestone cliffs of Matlock Dale, ascending to Riber Castle which stands on a sandstone outcrop.
The Jurassic period was 180 million years ago during the Mesozoic era and lasted about 45 million years.	During this period hot fluids emanated from within the earth and crystallised to form minerals. The mineralising fluids flowed through the limestones cooling as they went, and deposited the minerals on the walls of fractures, or in ancient cave systems to form the veins. Different types of veins became known as rakes, scrins, flats and pipes. The main minerals in this area are galena (lead sulphide), dolomite, fluorspar, barytes and calcite. In some areas lead carbonate and zinc carbonate, known as calamine, is found. These natural resources have been mined and quarried for hundreds of years by the people of Cromford and the surrounding areas. Glossary
The Quaternary period dates from about 2 million years ago and includes the Pleistone and Recent epochs.	A sequence of extreme cold followed by temperate phases occurred, during which sheets of ice advanced southwards and then receded, leaving in their wake deposits of boulder clays, sands and gravels. About half a million years ago, a sheet of ice flowed down as far as Matlock, where rocks from the Lake District have been found. Perhaps 400,000 years ago another ice flow came up the Trent valley meeting another one from the north along a line just north of Derby. During this period hill features were smoothed and river valleys broadened. ^Back to the top
The Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age. From 250,000 years ago. Middle Paleolithic. From 70,000 years ago. Upper Paleolithic. From 36,000 years ago. circa 14,000 to 18,000 years ago. The last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago.	For much of this phase Britain was joined to the Continent of Europe, which was in the grip of the Quaternary Ice Age. Glaciations were separated by milder interglacial periods when the ice melted and flora and fauna moved north. Bones of hippos, elephant, rhinos, brown bear, hyena, red deer and bison have been found in Derbyshire. During one of the earliest interglacials man first appeared in this region. The people were "homo erectus". Small migrant groups followed herds of wild animals, using handaxes and scrapers fashioned from flint. Neanderthal people appeared. There is evidence of their presence at a number of cave sites and rock shelters in Derbyshire such as Creswell Crags and Cressbrook Dale. They occupied the caves intermittently in periods of temperate climate, moving south during cold periods. They had simple tools of flint such as handaxes and scrapers. They wore skins and furs and made necklaces of bone. The tundra landscape was cold and treeless. The Neanderthal people died out. They could not survive the increasing cold and were now in competition with homo sapiens who had been moving westwards across Europe, where they first appeared about 100,000 years ago. The new arrivals had more efficient tools for hunting, using bone and ivory, and fixing handles to flint blades to make spears and harpoons. They had needles so could make better clothes, and had jewellry made of teeth and shells. They carved pictures on reindeer bone. Examples found at Creswell Crags are of an engraving of a horse's head, and another of a man holding a bow and apparently wearing an animal mask. During this period ice once more advanced over the region and people were pushed south, returning when the ice retreated. In post glacial times migrant hunters spread across to the limestone uplands and occupied caves at Harborough near Brassington. The caves may have been used as base camps from which to intercept migrating herds of horses and reindeer. Animal bones found include wild horses, reindeer, woolly rhinos, hyena, bison, red deer and wild boar.
The Mesolithic Age or Middle Stone Age. 8500 - 3750 BC Boreal climatic period. circa 7500 - 5500 BC About 6000 BC Separation of British Isles from the continent of Europe. Atlantic phase. Long period of colder, wet weather.	The end of the last glacial period led to the gradual flooding of the North Sea Basin and the separation of the British Isles from the Continent. As the glaciers receded northwards and the planet warmed, the tundra landscape became forested with pine, oak and ash. The loss of hunting and settlement areas forced people to move westward. New settlers arrived inhabiting the upland regions. These Mesolithic people set fire to the forests to encourage re-growth of hazel and bracken. Finds on the limestone plateau around Hopton and Brassington include heavy flint axes, barbed spears, arrows and harpoons fashioned from bone and stag antlers. The barbs were technically improved and were secured to handles with birch pitch. Domestic tools such as knives, harvesting knives and sickles have been found over a wide area, indicating a large population. Derbyshire Black chert from the Wye valley was widely used for tools. People ate edible acorns, bracken roots, nuts, fungi and berries. Animals such as red and roe deer, elk and wild horse were hunted. Wolves and bears were still around but cold climate animals such as bison and reindeer had died out. Clothing was made of animal skins and vessels of wood and basketwork. The Boreal climate phased out as rainfall increased. Open woodland of the gritstone uplands began to be replaced by blanket peat. Hunting grounds disappeared and occupation sites were abandoned. Lower down denser, wetter woodland of oak, alder, elm and lime became widespead, suppressing the shrubs and roots which had fed the people. This was a transitional period from hunter gatherer to farming brought about by environmental changes. Cereal and seed crops began to be cultivated.
The Neolithic or New Stone Age. 3500 - 2000 BC The Bronze Age. 2000 - 800 BC The Iron Age. 800 BC - circa 50 AD 55 & 54 BC Julius Caesar made two raids into Britain. 3 BC Birth of Jesus Christ AD 30 Jesus Christ crucified. Beginning of Christianity.	Farming culture gradually spread westwards. Sheep and goats were introduced and a more sophisticated life slowly emerged with the use of polished stone axes, pottery and arable farming with wheat and barley. The people lived in stone pits and made pottery by hand. They buried their dead in chambered tombs, known as barrows. Minninglow is a local example. Henges at Arbor Low and Dove Holes were begun at this time. From about 2300 BC food vessels and urns were placed in burial chambers so they are known as "Beaker people". They knew about copper and gold and later learnt to add tin to copper to make bronze. Bronze Age is the term used to denote the period when bronze replaced flint and stone as the chief material for weapons and tools. Change came slowly and the periods overlapped. The first stage saw the Beaker people who lived in wooden huts. Then the Middle Bronze Age when the smaller stone circles were made and cremation of the dead began. Finds from this period include jet necklaces and socketed axe heads. The Late Bronze Age saw wool and flax being spun with bronze now in widespread use. There is evidence of more than 350 barrows in Derbyshire, two henges and over 30 surviving stone circles. An example is the Nine Ladies circle on Stanton Moor above Matlock. This was the period when iron came into common use for tools and weapons. Iron ore requires smelting with limestone and charcoal, a technique which spread westwards to Britain. People lived in round wooden thatched houses. Agriculture improved with the more durable iron for use in ploughing and other implements. The people wore coarse woollen clothing. Evidence of early man has been found in the area of Cromford . An arrowhead, an iron dagger, three iron spear heads and a marble flint were found during the cutting of Via Gellia. An urn was found in a large barrow at Abbot's Low, near Hopton. Hill forts were built to afford protection and keep animals from wandering. Some, such as Mam Tor, were started in the Bronze Age, but were mostly used and built during the Iron Age. The forts acted as a defence from raiding neighbours and at the end of the period, as a defence against the Roman invasion.
AD 43 Emperor Claudius sent Aulus Plautius to conquer Britain with 40,000 troops. AD 61 Revolt of Boadicea AD 78 Julius Agricola became governor of Britain. AD 121 - 139 Emperor Hadrian built a wall across northern Britain. AD 212 Emperor Caracalla gave Roman citizenship to all free born in the empire. Soldiers allowed to marry. AD 216 Britain divided into 2 provinces, Upper and Lower. AD 220 - Saxons began raiding the south east coast. Raids by the Picts and Scots and rebellion in Britain itself were putting the Romans under pressure. AD 313 Persecution of Christians ended. British bishops appointed. AD 325 Christianity made religion of the empire. AD 401 Troop withdrawal from Briton for defence against Goths begins. AD 410 Sack of Rome. Roman administration ceases in Britain. Emperor Honorius tells British towns to defend themselves.	"The Brigantes with the blue painted shields, he compelled to bear on their necks the fetters of Rome." Seneca This part of Derbyshire was on the borders of two Celtic tribes, the peaceful Coritani to the south, and the rebellious Brigantes to the north. The Brigantian queen, Cartimandua, agreed a treaty with Rome, and handed over the rebel hero Caratacus in AD 51. But unrest in her kingdom led to the takeover of Brigantes territory. Agricola brought the Romans in strength to Derbyshire as part of the advance into the far north. Here they found the gravel and stone to provide materials for roadmaking - good roads were needed for rapid movement of soldiers and goods. Forts were placed along the roads at a distance of a day's march. Local roads were Rykneld Street which passed close to the camp at Pentrich, and The Street which went through Carsington on its way to Buxton. The theory that Hereward Street passed through Cromford is now disputed. The Romans probably took advantage of ancient tracks to move goods. But the main attraction of this area to the Romans lay in the plentiful supply of lead ore, one of the "rewards of victory". Lead had many uses including water pipes, cisterns, roofing, bath buildings, and cooking pots. Extraction was mainly from open workings along the outcrops of major veins, sometimes between 40 and 60 feet wide at the surface. The deep narrow opencuts at High Tor in Matlock Bath are believed to be Roman mines. The actual mining was often done by convict labour or slaves. Pigs (ingots) of smelted lead have been found which can be traced to Derbyshire. Many bear the letters LVT or LVTVD, believed to refer to Lutudarum, the Roman name for the lead mining area. Local finds include a pig of lead found on Cromford Moor inscribed "IMP CAES HADRIANI AVG MET LVT", translated as "Emperor Caesar Hadrian Augustus (from the) mines of Lutudarum." Buried a foot below the surface of the ground and weighing 126 lbs, it is thought to have been cast about AD130. Two pigs of lead found in St Mary's churchyard are inscribed XXX and XV. Perhaps they were lost near the ford across the River Derwent on their way to be shipped from the Humber. Smelting sites have been found at Carsington near Wirksworth and at Duffield. Lead Mining - next. Other evidence of the presence of Romans in the neighbourhood of Cromford came with the unearthing of over 60 Roman coins during the cutting of Scarthin Nick. The small copper coins dated from the time of Constantine in the 4th century AD. Burial urns have been found at Matlock. The Celtic people living in this sparsely populated part of what is now Derbyshire, with its rocky outcrops, towering cliffs and fast flowing river, were principally farmers. They were probably not involved in the uprisings of the Brigantes which took place in the second century. During the Roman occupation their way of life changed dramatically. Some would have been put to work as slaves in the mining of lead ore, or in quarrying limestone and road building. They would have paid tributes in the form of animals to supply the Romans with meat, milk, wool and hides. Some would have been recruited to serve in the army as auxiliaries. Outside Roman forts such as Derventio and Anavio civilian settlements called vici developed. Some Britons became Romanised and intermarriage took place. Many soldiers chose to settle here after retiring from the army. After the Romans withdrew the Romano-British and Celtic British were left to face the approaching invaders. Notes on Roman Derbyshire ^Back to the top
585 Kingdom of Mercia established in valley of the River Trent. 653 St Cedd began to convert Mercia to Christianity. 657 St Hilda founded Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire 664 Synod of Whitby settled dispute over date of Easter in favour of Roman tradition as opposed to the Celtic. 716 Ethelbald became King of Mercia. 825 King Egbert of Wessex defeated Mercians. 835 Vikings (Danes) raided Sheppey in Kent.	Lead mining declined after the Romans retreated from Briton when the demand for lead dropped to almost nothing. Derbyshire was part of the kingdom of Mercia. The pagan king Penda of Mercia was succeeded in 655 by his son Peada, who married a princess from Christian Northumbria. With her came four missionary priests - Cedd, Adda, Betti and Diuma. An abbey was established at Repton, the most important settlement in Mercia, which was ruled over by an abbess. It is thought that Betti centred his missionary work at Wirksworth and founded the church there. A stone, found buried in front of the altar, was lying over a grave containing a skeleton which some believe may have been Betti's. The stone is carved with scenes from the life of Christ and symbols, still not fully understood, of the Church's teachings. Christ is depicted as a lamb on the cross - this symbol was banned in AD 692 at the Trullan Council of Constantinople. Betti's role in founding Wirksworth church is now disputed, but it seems likely that the stone was carved at the end of the 7th century within living memory of the missionary priest. 671. "This year was the great destruction among birds." - Anglo Saxon Chronicle. The rights to the lead mines around Wirksworth were granted to the abbesses of Repton and held by them for almost two centuries. In the year 714 a lead coffin was sent by the Abbess Eadburgha of Repton to Crowland Abbey in Lincolnshire for the remains of Saint Guthlac. Guthlac had begun his monastic life at Repton in the 690s after a period in the Mercian army. In 835 the Wirksworth mines were leased by the Abbess Kenewara to Duke Humbert, a Mercian nobleman, on condition that he gave 300 shillings worth of lead to Christ Church, Canterbury, in the county of Kent. 874 - Repton Abbey was destroyed by the Danes. Lead Mining - next.

1066 Oct 14 Battle of Hastings 1066 Dec 25 William The Conqueror crowned King of England	At the time of the Norman invasion Cromford was in the Wirksworth Wapentake, or Hundred, which was a Royal Manor held by Edward the Confessor. William retained Wirksworth with its outlying estates, including Cromford. In 1086 The Domesday Book showed Cromford had two carucata of land, about 240 acres. ^Back to the top
1199 April 6 King John succeeded his brother Richard. 1216 October 19 King John died at Newark during the first "Barons' War". 1216 October 28 John's son Henry III crowned at Gloucester, aged 9. 1236 December First reference to "parliament", summoned for 20th January, 1237. Henry's ineffectual rule provoked opposition amongst the barons. 1258 June 12 Simon de Montfort and other barons issued "Provisions of Oxford" limiting Henry's power, after he demanded exorbitant taxes to finance papal wars. 1261 June 12 A papal bull absolved Henry from his oath to maintain reforms. 1264 February Second Barons' War. 1264 May 14 De Montfort defeated royalists at the battle of Lewes. Henry III forced to accept peace terms. 1265 August 4 De Montfort killed at battle of Evesham. 1272 November 16 Death of Henry III. Succeeded by his son Edward I. 1275 April 25 First Parliament of Edwards's reign. Customs duty imposed on exports of wool and leather.	1200 - the first mention of Wirksworth as a "borough". This status was earned by Wirksworth's importance as a lead trading centre, and gave the town a degree of self government as well as the right to hold markets. In about 1200 Hugh was the chaplain at Cromford. At Wirksworth, Victor Braund was the vicar and his brother Henry was chaplain. Ralph, son of Walter, was the priest around 1250. The use of surnames was not yet established except in some rich landowning families. There are mentions of people "of", or "de" Cromford in the 13th century in the calendar of fines for the county of Derby, and in charters. 1240, June 24 to July 15, at York. Henry de Crumford and his wife Sibilla, tenants, were involved in a dispute with Robert de Aldewerke and his wife Isabella, plaintiffs, concerning the tenancy of a toft in Fentone. (A toft was a homestead with adjoining land.) Under an assize of mort d'ancestor the toft was granted to Henry and Sibilla and to the heirs of Sibilla at the yearly rent of 18 pence. The case appears to have been between Sibilla and Isabella, as Henry and Robert were both acting as attorneys for their wives. By law the assizes could only take place in the county in which the disputed land lay. The location of Fentone is not known but was presumably in Yorkshire. The purpose of the assize was to reinstate claimants whose lands had been wrongfully taken after the death of the claimant's ancestor. 1249 - A grant of land at Wigwell to the church of St Mary of Darley was made. One of the three grantors named in the deed was Henry, son of Ranulph de Crumforde. 1258, January 14, at Derby. A case between Henry le Clerk of Crumford, Plaintiff, and Henry Le Eyr of Crumford, Tenant, was settled by the payment of 40 shillings (�2) to Le Clerk. He then released a messuage and one oxgang of land in Cromford to Le Eyr. Le Eyr was described as a tenant in fee, which meant he had a hereditary title to the land. John de Crumphord was a witness to a deed, probably in the time of Henry III (1216-72) 1269. The assize court was held in Derby for two weeks after Easter before Gilbert de Preston and his fellow "Justices Itinerant". A case they considered was about the ownership of a messuage and five roods of land in Wirksworth. It was held by Henry, son of Robert de Cromford. Henry also claimed title to the property for his son Roger, a minor. They produced a charter from Robert de Ashbourne granting the tenement to Henry. Contesting the case was Robert de Camera, father of Robert Henry, who claimed an hereditary right to the land. The case was suspended "until Roger should attain his majority." 1275. The vicar of Wirksworth was in dispute regarding tithes due from Wigwell. Involved were Henry de Cromford and Richard de Cromford. 1287, November 1st. Henry de Crumforde was named as a witness in charters of the Fitz-herbert family. In 1287 a jury met at Over Haddon to hear complaints by William de Hamilton against Simon and Nicholas de Cromford. They all seem to have been lead merchants. Glossary
1279 December New coinage, all silver: grout (fourpenny piece), round farthing and halfpenny. 1282 December 11 First recorded use of archers with longbows in English army during Welsh campaign.	1287. An increase in cases of land owners taking actions for trespass against lead miners led to the Derbyshire miners petitioning King Edward I to set down their customs and rights. These had been handed down by word of mouth but were now being challenged. Edward ordered that an Inquisition, or Quo Warranto, should be held at Ashbourne on the Saturday after Trinity Sunday of the next year. On 29 May 1288 the Inquistion was held and the traditional rights were set out for the first time to form the basis of lead mining laws. Fourteen customs, used "time out of the memorie of man", were written down. The laws confirmed the right of any man to search for lead ore without hindrance from the landowner. The only exceptions were in churchyards, gardens, orchards and the highway. Every third meer (32 yards) of a vein of lead ore belonged to the King, who also received every 13th dish of ore. Barmote courts were held every 3 weeks and the Barmaster dealt with new claims and any disputes. Barmote courts and the position of Barmaster were already established. They were probably of Anglo Saxon origin and a branch of the Hundred Court held in the open air where local pleas were heard by the kings's reeve. Lead Mining - next.
1290 Mappa Mundi drawn by Richard of Haldingham at Hereford Cathedral. Edward's reign was troubled by war in Wales and Scotland. However the importance of Parliament grew and there were legal and administrative reforms. 1307 July 7 King Edward II succeeded his father. 1308 May 9 King Edward appointed his cousin Thomas, earl of Lancaster, Steward of England. 1327 January 7 Edward II abdicated and was later murdered. Succeeded by his son Edward III.	On 27 January 1288 King Edward's brother Edmund, earl of Lancaster, was discharged by "a mandate to barons of the Exchequer of the issues of an unspecified number of markets and fairs pertaining to the manor and wapentake of Wirksworth." These markets and fairs had no charter but were held by custom. Probably Edmund had set up the markets and was being excused payment of tax on his profits. 31 August 1297 a market was held by "Sir Edmund, the king's brother". Markets and fairs which do not appear to have been set up by a grant or charter are described as "prescriptive", that is they were held by custom. Markets were usually held weekly and fairs annually. On 2 February 1306 two charters were granted by King Edward I to his nephew, Thomas, earl of Lancaster. Thomas was the son of Edmund, the king's brother. The first charter was for a market to be held every Tuesday at Wirksworth. The second charter was for a fair to be held yearly at Wirksworth on the Nativity of Mary (8 September). The fair was to be held over three days -the vigil, feast and morrow of the day of the Blessed Virgin Mary to whom the parish church was dedicated. It would also have been a time of entertainment and trading. Itinerant merchants and pedlars travelled around the fairs, which were usually held in the church grounds. In 1330, the market and fair at Wirksworth were being held by Henry, earl of Lancaster, brother of Thomas to whom the charter was originally granted. Under the Lay Subsidy of 1334 the town of Wirksworth was assessed as liable to pay a subsidy (tax) of �39 to the crown. The tax levied in 1334 replaced the previous system of direct tax on the wealth of individuals by a �fixed quota� system in which every community agreed upon the sum it was to pay. Boroughs paid a tenth of their assessed wealth.
1348 Black Death reached England from France.	In 1348 the Easter tithes due to the cathedral church included payments from Isabella de Cromford of 3 pennies and from Emma de Cromford of 2 pennies. The Bakewell Easter Roll
1509 April 21 Accession of King Henry VIII 1509 June 11 Henry married Catherine of Aragon.	Glossary
1530 November Arrest and death of Cardinal Wolsey.	William TAGG, yeoman of Matlock, owned land and properties in Cromford. He had borrowed �30 from Richard WIGLEY of Wirksworth, but not being able to repay this, in 1530 he sold 2 messuages, a cottage and 30 acres of land to Richard in settlement. This land was tenanted by Roger WALKER. In 1532 William Tagg contracted another sale to the Wigley family for the remainder of his houses, lands, tenements, pastures and services. A close on this land was called Senior Field.
1533 January 25 Henry VIII secretly married Anne Boleyn 1533 May 23 Henry's marriage to Catherine declared void. 1534 Nov Act of Supremacy confirmed Henry VIII as Supreme Head of Church. 1536 April 14 Act to dissolve smaller monasteries passed. 1536 May 19 Anne Boleyn beheaded after accusation of adultery. 1536 May 30 Henry VIII married Jane Seymour 1537 October 12 Death of Jane Seymour 1539 April Dissolution of the greater monasteries began. 1540 January 6 Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves 1540 Marriage annulled 1540 July 28 Henry VIII married Catherine Howard.	Senior Field Close and the surrounding land was to become an important part of the Wigley estate. It was situated on the bank of the River Derwent by Cromford Bridge, probably on the site of the present Cromford Bridge House (now Hall). The Wigleys often left money and gifts to the bridge chapel in their wills. It became the custom of the Wigley families of Wirksworth and Middleton for their widows to move into a small house in Senior Field where there were several cottages. In this way they left the way clear for their daughters-in-law to take over in the family house. Unmarried children would also be given a cottage and put in charge of farming the land. The Wigley family were yeomen farmers, growing wheat, barley and oats, and pasturing sheep and goats. Wool commanded good prices. They also had a bole for smelting lead from the local lead mines. The money this raised was reinvested partly in land for tree planting as the bole required large amounts of firewood. In 1533 Alice Wigley died. She was the widow of John Wigley of Wirksworth who was a cousin of Richard. She asked to be buried in the chancel of Wirksworth church, and among her many bequests to the church she left money for the enlargement of a chantry dedicated to St Catherine and silver to be made into a chalice. She also requested prayers to be said for her and her husband's souls. Cromford chapel was remembered: "I bequeath to Crumford Chapel one heyffer of two years of age." (ie a young cow) ^Back to the top The closure of the monasteries led to a temporary lull in the lead trade. In 1540 Richard Wigley died. He had lived at Middleton since buying land there from Roger More. The house was to become known as the Hall. In his will he requested to be buried in Wirksworth church before the St Catherine Quire, a chantry which had been founded by the Wigley family. He left money for prayers and masses to be said for him. Also "I bequeath to ye chapel of Crumford 11s." (two shillings) Richard also left to his wife Isabel, during her life "a close called Senyor Fyld with all the houses longing thereto with all ye rights and heyreditaments." Glossary
1542 February 13 Catherine Howard beheaded for adultery. 1542 July 12 Henry VIII married Catherine Parr. 1547 January 28 Death of Henry VIII. Edward V1 became King. 1548 Nov Act for dissolution of chantries. 1553 July 6 Death of Edward V1. 1553 July 10 Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen. 1553 July 19 Princess Mary daughter of Henry VIII proclaimed Queen. 1554 February 12 Lady Jane Grey executed. 1558 November 17 Queen Mary died. Elizabeth 1 became Queen.	This was a difficult time for ordinary people, when England was passing from being a Catholic to a Protestant country. The roots of religious faith were under attack. John Wigley, Richard and Isabel's son, profited from the dissolution of chantries by buying chantry lands near Ivonbrook Grange. Catholic Queen Mary began the reversal of the Reformation. Those who had profited from the sales in monastic property and lands feared they would have to return them, but this did not happen. The real difficulty lay in the return to the old religion. Isabel Wigley, Richard's widow, had moved to Senior Field in Cromford where she died in September 1558. She wanted to be buried in "my parish church of Matlok before ye image of oure lady (if my son John will be so pleased)." She did not choose to be buried with her husband, who eighteen years previously had been buried before the chantry of St Catherine in Wirksworth church. Included in the inventory of her goods were 4 "fodders" of lead, a measure worth at that time �5. These would be used as security against cash or goods. Two of them she left to her granddaughter Elizabeth Gell. The witnesses to the will were William Flint, priest, who wrote the will, John Lane, Thomas Woodwyse and Roger Walker - who still tenanted part of the lands. Among the appraisers of her estate were William Woodwyse, Edward Hygton and Henry Rag. Senior Field Close was left to Isabel for her lifetime so now reverted to her son John, who lived at The Hall, Middleton with his wife Elizabeth. Protestant Elizabeth I set about re-establishing the reformed religion more firmly. But her accession brought fears of an invasion from Spain.
1561 Mary Queen of Scots returned to Scotland from France. 1563 Statute of Artificers - regulations concerning apprentices. 1565 Tobacco introduced to England after explorer Hawkin's second voyage to South America.	About 1566, Henry Wigley, son of John and Elizabeth, married Elizabeth, daughter of Ralph Gell, and the couple started their married life in a house in Senior Field, Cromford. Henry's brother John Wigley farmed Senior Field in Cromford. The land supported 30 sheep and a dozen or so oxen and cows, and poultry. ^Back to the top
1569 Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned in Tutbury Castle after fleeing from Scotland. 1572 Francis Drake led privateering expedition against the Spanish in Panama. 1572 February 11 Francis Drake is first Englishman to see the Pacific Ocean. 1580 Francis Drake returned to Plymouth in the Golden Hind after sailing around the world.	In 1579 John Wigley of Middleton died and his widow Elizabeth moved to Senior Field, Cromford. Their son Henry took possession of The Hall in Middleton.
1584 Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned in Wingfield Manor, Derbyshire. 1586 September 20 Anthony Babington and 2 fellow conspirators executed at Tyburn. 1586 First potatoes brought into England from Colombia. 1587 February 8 Mary Queen of Scots executed at Fotheringay. 1588 Spanish Armada defeated. 1590 First production of plays by William Shakespeare. 1593 May 30 Christopher Marlowe killed in tavern brawl in Deptford. 1595 July 23 Spaniards raid Cornwall, burning Penzance and Mousehole.	1583 - a frost continued 13 weeks. The Babington family of Dethick, near Cromford, was known to the Wigleys. Henry Wigley had purchased the Wigwell estate and manor house from them, and his brother John had acted as an appraiser of the will of Thomas Babington who died in 1560. Anthony Babington had served as one of Mary's pages when she was imprisoned in Sheffield Castle, and met her again when she was held at Wingfield Manor. He became involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Elizabeth 1, rescue Mary from Chartley manor in Staffordshire where she then was, and make her queen, thus restoring catholicism to England. The plot was discovered and he was executed. Mary's implication in the plot led to her trial and execution. 1591 - Henry Wigley's brother John died at Senior Field, Cromford. John was a yeoman farmer and weaver. In his cottage he had 3 looms. He had 4 cows, sheep, pigs and poultry. He also owned two books. Henry and Elizabeth had eight sons who all had to be provided for. The Statute of Artificers ruled that no one could engage in trade unless he had served an apprenticeship. The only business interest of Henry to be affected by this was tanning. So he bound his fifth son Ralph to George Tatum, a tanner of Leicester. Ralph eventually carried out his trade in Cromford. 31 October 1595. Henry Wigley of Middleton settled premises in Middleton, Wirksworth, Matlock, Winster and Cromford, particularly mentioning a messuage (a house with outbuildings) at Cromford bridge and two cottages at Willersley Lane Head and one at the bridge end. ^Back to the top
1598 March Poor Relief Act - local poor rate, workhouses set up.	1600. A cottage and 9 acres of land in Wirksworth were granted to John Wooddis of Cromford.
	Ralph Wigley was associated with his father Henry in some of his business deals, and in other activities which are difficult to explain. About 1600 Henry sent his son Ralph with William Dethick to abduct Edward Lowe from his guardian at Chellaston. After spending a few hours in Henry's house Edward Lowe was taken to Mr Bentley's house at Newton Grange. In 1601 The Gatehouse in Wirksworth and a house in its grounds which belonged to the Leicester branch of the Wigley family were conveyed to Henry and Ralph in settlement of a debt of �600 owing to Henry. The Gatehouse became the home of Henry's eldest son Thomas and his wife Faith.
1603 March 24 Elizabeth 1 died. Succeeded by James V1 of Scotland as James 1. 1605 November 5 Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament discovered. Guy Fawkes arrested. 1606 April 12 King James proclaimed a national flag with the crosses of St George and St Andrew.	On 28 January 1603 Henry WOODDIS of Cromford, yeoman, made his will. He was of the parish of Wirksworth which meant that he lived on the Cromford side of Cromford Bridge. His wife Dorothy was a daughter of Henry Wigley of Middleton. They had a son, also called Henry, and Dorothy was pregnant. Henry settled money on his family, and left his wife the lease of a messuage in Matlock Bridge End. The baby was born before her father's death and named Millicent. Probate of Henry's will was granted on 12 May 1604. The executors were his wife and son, and the supervisors were his uncle William WALKER and his brothers-in-law Richard WIGLEY and Anthony CADMAN. Richard Wigley held a bond to the value of �250 which was to be paid to his nephew Henry Wooddis when he reached age 21. If Henry died before then, the money was to go to his sister Millicent.
	Henry Wigley of Middleton died in 1610, and his widow Elizabeth went to live at Senior Field, Cromford, where she died in 1626. Her granddaughter Millicent Wooddis was living with her. (see above)
1610 July 9 Arbella Stuart, grand daughter of Bess of Hardwick and a claimant to the throne, imprisoned in the Tower. 1610 First production of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline".	In 1610 King James granted two Indentures under the Duchy Seal by which the profits of two annual fairs and the weekly market at Wirksworth were granted to George Whitmore and Thomas Whitmore, merchants. The profits were leased for a period of 60 years and the Whitmores paid an annual rent of 12 pence payable half yearly at the Annunciation of Our Lady, ie March 25, and at Michaelmas, ie September 29. The fairs were held on the feasts of Philip and Jacob, ie May 1st, and the Nativity of Our Lady, ie September 8th. The weekly market was held every Tuesday. Notes: Charters were granted in 1306 for a weekly Tuesday market and a fair on the 8 September, but had been held by custom for many years before that. Jacob - the original Saxon form of James was Jacob, so the Jacob referred to here is St James the Less, whose feast day is on May 1st. This is also the feast day of St Philip. Many churches are dedicated jointly to St Philip and St James. Annunciation of Our Lady - more usually known as Lady Day, and with Michaelmas one of the Quarter Days.
1610 Henry Hudson, attempting to find a northwest passage to China, discovered Hudson Bay. 1611 Authorised (or King James) Version of the Bible published.	In 1610 the third bell in the tower of Wirksworth church was recast by Godfrey Heathcote, bellfounder, of Chesterfield. An agreement dated 10 October between Heathcote and churchwardens John Noton, Edward Moore, William Hill and John Bradshaw included a guarantee that Heathcote would: "uphold the said bell solemn, sound, sweet and tunable for a year and a day next after the delivery of the same bell or else to reform the same bell to become tunable and sound and to agree in good music with the rest of the bells." On 28th July 1611 a court was held in the church to arrange the raising of a lea (a tax) of �20 from the parishioners of Wirksworth to pay for the bell. As the raising of previous leas had led to disagreements it was decided to set a rate for each village in the parish for this and all future church and parish leas ... "and the same mighte continewe firme & forceable for ever." The agreement was registered by Richard Brandreth, a Proctor of Lichfield, and witnessed by the Sessors (assessors). Cromford was taxed at the rate of 18 pence in the pound, the agreement being signed by Sessor Thomas Lane on behalf of Cromford. It was also requested of the Sessors that the Sidesmen of every hamlet should be allowed 2 shillings in the pound of the leas which they collected on behalf of the Churchwardens. This was agreed by Mr Robert Bamford, an official of the court. Before then the Sidesmen had received no payment.
1615 September 27 Arbella Stuart starved herself to death in the Tower. 1618 Nov/December A comet appeared, tail extending 104 degrees.	1614 March 12. "The great snowe broke which had continewed ffrom Ffriday seaven weekes before." 1615 - This yeare after the great Snowe followed a great Drought which continued the most part of Somer." The comet was seen in Derbyshire and was taken to be an ill omen. 1618 "Memorand. that this yeare Novemb the 25th and for three weekes after, the blazing starre appeared in the East and did retrograde..."
1625 March 27 King James 1 died. Succeeded by Charles 1 1626 June 15 King Charles I dissolved Parliament and ordered a forced loan. The conflicts between King and Parliament were constitutional and religious. Parliament refused to grant taxes in order to limit the King's power; and the Puritans feared that Charles would reinstate catholicism.	^Back to the top Robert Wilmot, gentleman, of Chaddesden, was given the task of collecting the 'loan' from the Wapentake (or Hundred) of Wirksworth. In 1627 the payments had been received and were recorded on a Roll labelled "Ayd to his Majesty King Charles I" which was signed and sealed by eleven local commissioners including the Duke of Devonshire. Cromford and Middleton are listed together: Thomas Wigley esq ....... paid �6. John Spencer jun ....... paid 4 shillings and 4 pence Thomas Wooddiwis ....... paid �3 - 6 shillings and 8 pence Only the better off were required to pay, but payment was extracted with threats if necessary, causing resentment amongst the most powerful people in the country.
1628 January 2 King Charles freed 76 opponents of forced loan. 1628 March 17 Parliament recalled. King accepted "Petition of Right" which forbade forced loans, imprisonment without trial & martial law.	Anthony Wigley, another son of Henry Wigley of Middleton, was a general farmer at Senior Field, Cromford. He may have taken over his uncle John's cottage as the inventory of goods at his death was similar to John's, although he had no looms. Anthony Wigley of Cromford died in 1629, leaving a widow Elizabeth and a daughter Anne. Some idea of Ralph Wigley's character can be had from a petition presented by Margrett Coates of Cromford to the Justices of Peace. Margrett was a poor widow who was struggling to provide for herself and her children. In the petition she is described as the oratrix, ie plaintiff. Her complaint concerned the behaviour of "*Raphe Wigley of the same town and county, Tanner, being a very disordered & unruly person and havinge a greate & spytfull Emulacon & hatred att your said oratrix" The grounds of her case were that on about the 6 June last, Ralph Wigley had shot and killed a dog which she kept for her and her household's protection. Also she alleged he had on several occasions struck and beaten her cattle. His continual threats and malicious behaviour frightened Margrett so much that "she dare not stirr or goe abroade oute of her owne howse to followe her necesary occasions for the mayntenance of her self and children.*" The petition ends with a request for a warrant of good behaviour to be issued against Wigley and a promise that she would pray daily for the Justices' good health and prosperity. The petition is not dated and the outcome is not known. Glossary
1629 Parliament passed resolutions against changes in religious practice and unauthorised taxes.	The lead mining area under royal control was called the King's Field, with two separate divisions, the High and Low Peaks, each further divided into "liberties" based on villages. Cromford Liberty fell in the Low Peak area known as Wirksworth Wapentake. The rights to the lead mine duties were purchased leasehold from the Duchy of Lancaster, and were coupled with the office of chief barmaster. The lease of the profitable mineral rights was often resold for more than the price asked by the Duchy. There were many disputes in the lead mining industry. The gentry, landowners and employers resented the rights of the independent miners and tried to overthrow them. Disputes were usually settled by the Barmote Court, but cases were also heard at the Court of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Chancery in London, the Ecclesiastical Courts and the County Assizes. Sir Robert Heath, in his role as Attorney General, had become involved in a long running dispute, which was being investigated by the Star Chamber in London, between the miners of Wirksworth and their vicar, Robert Carrier. The owner of the lease of the rights to the mineral duties was Thomas Parker, Carrier's father-in-law, who lived in Yorkshire. Carrier and his wife Jennet took over the management of the lease, and were accused of collecting lead ore tithes unlawfully using coercion and violence. The miners eventually won the case and Carrier was forbidden to attend Barmote Court meetings.
1629 March 10 Charles I dissolved Parliament. Charles ruled without Parliament for the next eleven years.	Heath saw an opportunity to make money for himself from the situation. He convinced King Charles that he could increase his income from the lead mines by pre-empting the ore, that is instructing the miners to sell it to him at a fixed price. This was contrary to the mining laws and in September 1627 at Bakewell thirteen miners were chosen to attend a meeting with the Lord of Devonshire and the King's Commissioners to put forward the miners' case. Richard Semor, William Hopkinson, Thomas Hardinge and George Addam were the representatives for the miners in the Wirksworth Wapentake. On 25 September the meeting took place at Chatsworth and the miners' views were written down. They invoked the 1288 Inquisition in support of their right to sell lead ore to the king at the market price, and gave their reasons for maintaining the old customs. They described the miners as being mainly poor men who relied on payment being made to them by the buyers of ore before the ore was mined. The buyers likewise received credit from the merchants. The inconsistent quality of the ore also affected its price and meant one rate could not be paid for all grades. Finally many of the ore veins had been worked out or were under water and mines which had at one time supported two or three miners could now barely support seven, eight or ten. The authorities put pressure on the miners to accept a fixed rate of payment and threatened them with the return of Robert Carrier to office. The miners stood firm and in 1628 petitioned the Duchy Court which found in their favour - that the mining customs should continue in force.
1631 Poor harvest for second year running caused social distress. 1632 April Charles I issued a charter for colony of Maryland with Lord Baltimore as first governor. 1633 Collected Poems of John Donne published.	Heath was not deterred, and persuaded King Charles to lease him the ore-rich Dovegang mines, so contravening the miners' right to sell the ore wherever they wished. In 1629 King Charles leased the Dovegang mines to Sir Robert Heath for an annual rent of �1000. The Dovegang mines extended for about one mile from near Black Rocks, across Cromford Moor to Middleton Moor and covered 200 acres. The mines were the richest in the Wapentake, but many of the veins in the mine complex had become unworkable because of flooding. When Heath took over, there were over 300 mines and 28 owners. A group of owners, led by the engineer John Bartholomewe, was trying to drain the mines using pumps powered by men and horses to draw water out through pipes. Heath's men used threats and violence to remove the existing owners. In October 1631 Heath was made Lord Chief Justice and at that time he entered into partnership with Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, a Dutch drainage expert. The agreement gave Heath a third of the profits and Vermuyden two thirds. In July 1632 King Charles confirmed their rights to the Dovegang mines and instructed all previous owners to allow full possession or be fined �500. Sir Robert Heath was one of the Gentlemen Adventurers who financed a project to drain the Fens in Cambridgeshire. They hired Sir Cornelius Vermuyden to plan and oversee the project. Vermuyden drained the Dovegang mines by means of soughs, (drainage tunnels), and the work, employing over 1000 miners and tradesmen, was finally completed in 1651, although the benefits were felt before then. Vermuyden's Sough ran downhill from the drowned veins of lead and emerged in Dene fields, an area now lost to quarrying. More about Sir Cornelius Vermuyden Lead Mining - next.
1634 October 20 Ship money levied on coastal ports to meet naval expenses. Extended to inland towns the following year.	1633 - A jury list of vills and freeholders has Thomas WOODIWIS of Crumforde, and Henricus WIGLEY of Workesworth. On 21 February 1641 Henry WIGLEY married Millicent WOODDIS, the daughter of Thomas Woddys.
1634 Cornelius Vermuyden began work to reclaim the East Anglian Fens.	A list of emigrants to New England between 1620 and 1650 gives the names of 24 men who emigranted from 13 Derbyshire parishes during that period. The 8 men from Matlock parish were Anthony and Obadiah Ludlow, who settled in Hempstead, Long Island, Reverend Henry Flynt (Braintree, Massachusetts), Thomas Bourne or Bowne (Charleston & Boston, Mass), Thomas Flint (Concord), Clarence and William Ludlam (Southampton, Long Island) and William Woodis (Concord). There was only one emigrant from Wirksworth, William Storer, who settled in Dover, New Hampshire. It is not clear whether the men took their families with them. Rev Henry Flynt was not the vicar of Matlock. William Woodis may have been from that part of Cromford lying in Matlock parish.
1637 April 30 Royal proclamation to check emigration to America. 1642 January 4 Charles 1 entered House of Commons to arrest 5 MPs for alleged treason. 1642 August 22 Civil War began when Charles 1 raised his standard at Nottingham.	Lead mining was a lucrative industry and outside interests had become involved. Anthony Coates was a defendant in a suit respecting lead mines with Sir Robert Heath, Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, John Molanus and the Earl of Dover, plaintiffs. A decree was made on 16 February 1637. In 1638 the mineral rights were all held by Thomas Coke. He sold the lease on to John Gell of Hopton and John Milward of Snitterton after again separating off the mines of the Dovegang area in Cromford. Coke sold the Dovegang lease to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden for �200. King Charles I was so pleased with the work Vermuyden was doing in bringing the lead mines back into use that in April 1638 when the River Derwent had become unnavigable through Derby he wrote to Derby corporation asking them to employ Sir Cornelius Vermuyden " Who, with his partners, has undertaken a work very acceptable to the King about the lead works at Wirksworth ... to make the river of Derwent to be navigable till it fall into the Trent." By 1693 the Derwent was navigable to Derby from Darley (Dale) to the north, but how much this was due to Vermuyden is not known. On 10 May 1642 Henry Coates of Cromford wrote to Sir Robert Heath concerning the Dovegang Lead mine. Coates was Heath's agent. The letter concerns the accounts and dealings concerning the mine in the time before Anthony Coates and Henry Coates became involved, and assured Lord Heath that the water had now gone from the mine, work had begun and it should be a good year. He mentions Mr Molanus, servant to Sir Cornelius Vermuyden. Sir Robert Heath, born 1575, died in 1649. Lead Mining - next. ^Back to the top
1649 January 30 King Charles 1 beheaded. 1649 May 29 England proclaimed a "Commonwealth". Soon afterwards the Commissioners began to make a survey and valuation of the lands belonging to the Crown and the Duchy of Lancashire. 1649 August 15 Cromwell landed in Ireland to suppress Royalist rebellion. Drogheda was occupied by English and Irish royalists who refused to surrender. Cromwell ordered the killing of the 2500 strong garrison on 11 September. A month later the town of Wexford was sacked. 1650 April 16 Scottish rising suppressed with defeat of Montrose. 1650 September 3 Cromwell defeated Scots at Dunbar. Edinburgh Castle under siege, surrendered December 14. In England Cromwell suppressed the Levellers and Diggers, extreme groups wanting social reform.	After the execution of Charles I and the proclamation of a Commonwealth, a survey and rental valuation of lands belonging to the late King, the Queen and Prince (Charles) was undertaken, with the intention of the lands being sold to provide money for the new government. On 24 November 1649, the Trustees appointed to conduct the survey produced their report on the Crown lands in Wirksworth: "A Survey of the Soake and Manor of Wirksworth". The survey gives the total amount of rents due from freeholders in free socage and from copyholders, listing them and giving the amount of rent each paid. A further category was "An exact valuation of certain cottages erected and encroached in the wastes of the said manor of Wirksworth, and the names of several tenants of the same who have no right lease or estate therein." The places where the cottages were situated and the names of the tenants are given: eg "One cottage at Warmbrook in the possession of Dorothy Tomlinson, widow, worth per annum 4 shillings." Another source of income for the Crown was the leasing, in return for an annual rent, of the profits from fairs and markets; from Casualties ie waifs and estrayes and felons' goods; and from fines paid in the Court Leet and Court Baron. These leases were often granted for a period of many years and would be sold on by the lessees. The profits from the fairs and markets were granted on a 60 year lease in 1610 to George and Thomas Whitmore but in 1649 were held by Ralph Allsopp. A leaseholder could be a wealthy man from another area who owned leases in various places - Thomas Brograve of Rowlston in Staffordshire had the lease for the profits from Casualties. Most of the rents were revalued at a higher rate by the Trustees. Cromford, along with the other villages and hamlets in the manor of Wirksworth, except for Ireton Wood, had by then been sold away from the Crown although still rendering service to the manor. Longway Bank, however, was in Cromford parish but included in the survey as it was part of the common land or waste of Wirksworth and still belonged to the Crown. There were three cottages at Longway Bank, those in the possession of John Gregory and Francis Brearly were worth 4 shillings rent per annum, while Robert Roper paid only 4 pennies for his cottage. There was also "one coal delf wherein two pits are at work upon Longway Bank in Cromford. Now in the possession of Mrs Elizabeth Ferne widow under the rent of 40 shillings per annum." The survey goes on to say that Mrs Ferne was paying the rent to Sir Edward Mosley who claimed to have a lease under the Duchy Seal with five years yet to run. But Sir Edward failed to produce any documents to back up his claim, moreover the Trustees had received information that the lease had already expired, so they concluded that the coal delf must have reverted to the State. The value of the coal delf was deemed to be �7 10 shillings per annum. The Survey was sent to the Surveyor General and received by him on 5 December 1649.
1651 September 3 Cromwell defeated Charles II at Battle of Worcester. 1651 October 9 First Navigation Act gave monopoly in foreign trade to English shipping, antagonising the Dutch. 1651 October 15 Charles II smuggled to Normandy. 1652 June 30 England declared war on the Netherlands. First Dutch war.	In 1651 Mary Talbot, the Lady Armine, founded a row of six bedehouses, (almshouses), on the hillside below Black Rocks. There was an inscription on the east end wall, now completely gone. It read: "DAME MARY TALBOTT, WIDOW OF SIR WILLIAM ARNAYNE, BART., DAUGHTER AND COHEIR OF HENRY TALBOTT, ESQ., THE 4TH SONNE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS GEORGE LORD TALBOTT, EARL OF SHREWSBURY BY ELIZABETH THE DAUGHTER AND HEIRE OF SIR WILLIAM RAYNOR, KNT., WHICH OUT OF HER CHARITIE HATH ERECTED THIS HOUSE FOR THE RELIEFE OF SIX POORE WIDDOWES OF THE TOWNE OF CROMFORDE, WITH THE ALLOWANCE OF 40s APEECE & A GOWNE EVERY YEARE. ANNO 1651." "SOLI LAUS DEO." The manors of Cromford and Willersley had been partitioned between Mary Talbot and her sister, the daughters and co-heiresses of Henry Talbot, in 1615. Mary Talbot's parents were Henry Talbot and Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir William Reyner of Overton Longville, Huntingdonshire. They married on 2 June 1578, and Henry died in January 1596. Henry Talbot was the son of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife Gertrude Manners, the daughter of Thomas, 1st Earl of Rutland. They married on 28 April 1539. Gertrude died in 1566, and the Earl went on to marry Bess of Hardwick. He was the custodian of Mary Queen of Scots during her long imprisonment in Derbyshire, and died in 1590. The Earls of Shrewsbury owned large estates in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire, the main seat being in Sheffield. Some of their wealth was derived from interests in lead mining in the Wirksworth wapentake. Mary was obviously proud of her connection with the family. The almshouses are now divided into four homes. Glossary
1653 April 20 Cromwell dissolved the "Rump" or remnants of the Long Parliament. 1653 Dec 16 Oliver Cromwell became Protector. 1653 Izaak Walton published first edition of "The Compleat Angler".	On 19 November 1653 Lionel Tynley, a wealthy lead mine owner and lead merchant, died. He lived at Holmesfield, near Chesterfield, and with his partners employed 300 workmen and their families on Cromford Moor Groves. His long and detailed will lists many small bequests including some to his partners: "... unto Anthony Wood of Wakebridge being one of my Partners at Cromford Moor Groves and to his wife and children twenty shillings for a remembrance of my love to buy them Gloves withall ... unto Lawrence Tyas of Crich being our Clerk at Cromford Moor Groves aforesaid twenty shillings for a remembrance of my love ... unto every one of my other partners now at Cromford Moor Groves five shillings apiece for a remembrance of my love ... unto every one that shall be our servants there at my decease two shillings apiece ..." Tynley also left money to be given to the local poor including: "... unto the poor people of Cromford twenty shillings of lawful money of England which I will shall be paid by my Executors within twelve months next after my decease to Henry Coates, William Debanke and Thomas Godbeare of Cromford that they may distribute the same to the poor people of Cromford aforesaid as they in their discretion shall think fit and convenient ..." Lead Mining - next.
1658 April Stagecoach services started - from London to Exeter, York and Chester, each in 4 days. 1658 September 3 Oliver Cromwell died. His son Richard named as his successor. 1659 May 25 Richard Cromwell resigned. "Rump Parliament" recalled. Growing anarchy in the country. 1660 January 1 Samuel Pepys began his diary. 1660 May 1 Parliament voted for restoration of the monarchy. 1660 May 29 Charles II, son of the executed Charles I, entered London in triumph. 1661 April 23 Charles II crowned at Westminster.	The duties of the Churchwardens in the 17th century were many and various. Their responsibilities included upholding canon law, making sure the fabric of the church was in good order, washing of the surplice and maintaining the bells and font etc. Wirksworth was a large parish with nine outlying "hamlets". There were four Churchwardens who were appointed yearly. Each hamlet was represented by a "sidesman". The hamlets were Alderwasley, Ashlehay, Hopton, Idridgehay, Biggin, Cromford, Middleton, Ible and Callow. The Churchwardens collected the levies (taxes) due to the church from the parish and hamlets. When more money was needed a levy was raised, the rate calculated on land values and personal wealth. Some of the hamlets were slow to pay and the Churchwardens had to take out warrants to enforce the levy. In 1658 income and outgoings were balanced at �83 7s 4d, the people of Cromford paying their share of �6 19s 6d. The Church also received 3s 4d for each burial inside the church. There were 21 such burials from 1659 to 1661, including on 23 May 1661 that of John Molanus, the Dutchman who had come to Wirksworth as Vermuyden's agent in the Dovegang leadmine. Much of the money went on maintenance of the church which provided work for many craftsmen and labourers - glaziers, carpenters, plumbers, roof tilers, masons and carvers were all paid for work done and for materials. The church bells needed regular attention and on August 20 1658 a payment was made "for carrying and bringing of the bells to Nottingham". The following year a new bell was cast and payments were made to George Holdfield and Mr. Ford totalling over �26. This was the fifth bell in the peal. Outgoings included payments to bellringers. On 24 May 1660 the Ringers received ten shillings "upon a thanksgiving day for restoring a kinge & continueing ye Gospell and in order thereunto the lord hath wrought great things." Every 5th of November on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 the bellringers were paid 10 shillings when they pealed the bells in celebration. Another expense was wine for Communion - Henry Wigley of the Three Swans received regular payments for five quarts of wine or claret. Ale was also provided for workmen employed in the Church and sack (white wine) to visiting ministers. The Churchwardens also paid out one shilling for every fox's head brought to them and 2 pennies for a hedgehog. Hedgehogs were thought to drink milk from cows lying in the fields, and to take windfalls from orchards by rolling over and impaling them on their prickles! Now that the monarchy was restored the King's Arms had to be put back in the Church. Mr Johnson, a painter who lived in Brailsford, struck a hard bargain and after "earnest lamentations" an amount of �9 17s 6d was agreed upon for the work. Further payments went to Manners for making a frame for the Arms and Shutt for setting up the Arms in October 1661. Charity payments seem to have been made from money collected at the Church specifically for that purpose. In 1658 over seventy payments are listed for poor people of the parish. Money was also given to people passing through the parish who had a Letter of Request entitling them to relief. In 1658, 3 shillings was paid to two Irishmen and their wives and seven children. The same amount went to a gentlewoman with a letter of request certifying losses by sea and two shillings to a gentlewoman with a petition for "one in Turkee". Money was also paid to parishes in other parts of the country. Scarborough, Bolingbrooke, Ripon, Pontefract and Milton Abbas received payments for building work to their churches which had been damaged during the Civil War. Mountsorrel in Leicestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire were helped with town repairs. The highest payment went to Solbay in Suffolk, where most of the town was destroyed by fire in 1659. Cromford and Middleton jointly contributed 4 shillings to the appeal, which raised �1 14s 6d. In November 1661 fifteen shillings was paid to the exotic sounding John de Kraino Kramsky in the great dukedome of Julhuamia. Glossary
1661 July 8 Act of Parliament for a "Free and Voluntary Present" The Civil War had left the government with no money and in debt.	1661 December 16 - The county of Derbyshire raised �2,299 12s 0d. Subscriptions from the Wirksworth Hundred, which included Cromford, were listed by the King's Commissioners and amounted to �371 4s 4d. Thirty three men of Cromford contributed. Most gave 2 shillings, except where indicated. This would be �10 today (allowing for inflation). Only one man's occupation was given - Thomas Spencer, a smith. George AMOTT Anthony HIGTON Thomas STEWARD Edward BANKS Thomas HIGTON John TOPLIS Francis BRACKFIELD George KILLER Thomas WAGSTAFFE Anthony COATES Edward MORT Anthony WESTON Henry COATES - 8sh Roger MORT Raph WIGLEY Anthony DEBANCKES Edward ROPER Joseph WILSON Richard GARNELL John ROPER Henry WOODISSE William GARNELL Thomas ROPER John WOODISSE Richard GODBEER William ROPER - 3sh Thomas WOODISSE Thomas GODBEER Jnr Richard ROUSE George WOODYSE Joseph GREGORY Thomas SPENCER Edward WOOLLAY ^Back to the top
1662 April The Hearth Tax (or Chimney Money) was introduced.	The Hearth Tax was at the rate of 2 shillings a year for each hearth. It was to be paid in two equal instalments at Ladyday (25 March), and Michaelmas (29 September). See 1670 for a list of people taxed in Cromford.
1664 August 18 English seized New Amsterdam from the Dutch - renamed New York. 1665 April to December Great Plague of London. 70,000 deaths.	1664. On 6th March Henry Coates of Cromford, yeoman, signed his will. He died a year later, the will being proved on 11 April 1665. Henry had been involved with lead mining at Dovegang Mine. He left legacies to his wife Emma and his grandchildren Rebecca, John, Ann and Henry. The right of tenancy of his house and land at Cromford passed to his son John. Other relatives mentioned were William Coates of Cromford and his children Anthony, William and Mary. Also his kinswoman Dorothy. Henry made his friend Mr Henry WIGLEY of Seniorfield and his cousin John ABELL Supervisors of the will. Lead Mining - next.
1665 September The plague travelled to Eyam, Derbyshire. Over 300 people died.	1666 August 19th. "Collected then in the Parish Church of Wirksworth for the inhabitants of Eyam being visited with the sickness the sum of �2 10s.6d"
1666 September 2 to 6 Great Fire of London. 13,300 buildings destroyed.
1669 May 31 Samuel Pepys ceased writing his diary because of failing eyesight. 1670 Hudson's Bay Company chartered to trade in parts of North America. 1671 Irish adventurer Colonel Thomas Blood caught stealing the crown jewels from the Tower.	The Hearth Tax was at the rate of 2 shillings a year for each hearth. It was to be paid in two equal instalments at Ladyday (25 March), and Michaelmas (29 September). 1670 September 29. Householders in Cromford who were liable for payment of Hearth Tax. John Wheeldon was responsible for collecting the Hearth Tax in the Wirksworth Hundred or Wappentake. The return for Michaelmass 1670 includes names of many who contributed towards the Free and Voluntary Present nine years earlier. Most had one hearth unless shown otherwise. John Annable had an empty house in Wirksworth with one hearth as well as his house in Cromford with 3 hearths. John ANNABLE (3) James HALL Widd ROWSE Widd BANCKS Anthony HIGHTON Mary SCHEDNES Edward BANKS Tho HIGHTON Tho SPENCER (3) Will CARMELL Jesper HOLMES John TOPLIS John CATES (2) George KILLAR Tho WAGSTAFFE Jun Widd COTTRELL Edw MORT Anthony WESTON (2) Antho DEBANCKS (3) Edward ROPER Edw WOOLLANCE Antho GODBEHEARE (2) John ROPER George WOODHOUSE Tho GODBEHERE Will ROPER (2) John WOODHOUSE Tho GODBEHERE Richard ROWSE Notes: The 1661 list has "Woodhouse" as Woodisse, "Cates" as Coates and "Carmell" appears as Garnell. Widd = widow. The number of hearths indicates the size of the house and the status and wealth of the householder. One hearth would imply a husbandman, 2 to 3 hearths a yeoman, craftsman or tradesman. Those too poor to pay the usual taxes were exempt. ^Back to the top
1672 March 17 Third Anglo-Dutch War after England's support for French invasion of the Dutch Republic. 1672 John Bunyan released from Bedford gaol after serving 12 years for Baptist preaching.	1672 May 16. The marriage took place at Darley Dale between Adam WOOLLEY, of Allen-hill (Matlock), and Millisent, daughter of Mr Henery WIGGLEY, of Cromford. "A Note what things are in Mrs Woollis hands for my cousin Millicent's wedding. "One silver bowl, six silver spoons whereof one spoon gilt, five pair of flaxen sheets, and one pair of harden. Three pair of pillowberes whereof one pair is holland, one christening sheet of holland, two dozen of table napkins, two long towels, one lawn face cloth, one bearing cloth of stammel and cradle sheet wrought with black, one swaddle bed of holland, one long hard cloth of flaxen." The above note is from The Wolley Manuscripts. (In modern spelling) It is not certain if this is the Millicent referred to, but the list shows the type of things deemed necessary for a bride in the 17th century. Millicent died in February 1673, nine months after marriage. Glossary
1673 March 29 Parliament dismissed after granting subsidy and passing Test Act requiring all office- holders to declare their rejection of Catholic doctrines of the mass.	There were many disagreements and even court cases concerning rights and wrongs in the leadmines. In 1673 a complaint was made by John, Earl of Rutland against John ABELL of Bonsall, John WIGLEY of Cromford and Samuel SWANNE of Hurdlowe, all yeomen, concerning the Earl's 1/ 6th part of Nestus Groves mine in Matlock (Bath). A defendant Samuel SWAN, formerly the earl's bailiff, and John WARD and his brother to whom the 1/ 6th part of the mine was let 3 years before, answered the complaint. Outcome not known. Lead Mining - next.
1675 John Flamstead, born Denby in Derbyshire, appointed first Astronomer Royal.	1676 - "A great ffrost which Began at Martinmas, was continued till Jany 3 1677. Derwent was accordingly frozen, and att ye dissolving of the ffrost was a great ffloood."
1678 Titus Oates's fictitious "popish plot" to kill the king and restore Catholicism resulted in arrests of priests.	1678 - The Churchwardens' Accounts at Wirksworth included expenses for going to Derby to disclose the names of "papists" in the parish. Collections were made for the aid of other churches - St Steven in Glosset(?), the church of Oswestry in Salop which had been damaged by fire, and for Northampton. The sidesman of Cromford was paid 1 shilling for a fox head. Expenses were also claimed for time spent with the chimneyman certifying those who were too poor to pay the Hearth Tax.
	1683. John Coates of Cromford, the son of Henry Coates, died. The Inventory of his estate was made on 22 March 1683, and his wife Ann was the administratix.
1685 February 6 Charles 11 died. Succeeded by his brother, James 11	On 22 October 1685 Benjamin Hayward and Elizabeth Wigley were married at Matlock parish church.
James's pro-Catholic policies caused anxiety about the future of the Protestant church. The Earl of Devonshire and others met at Old Whittington in Derbys to plan his removal. 1688 November 5 The Glorious Revolution - William of Orange landed with an army after being invited to take over as ruler. 1689 February 13 William III and Mary II proclaimed joint sovereigns. William was the grandson of Charles I, Mary was the daughter of James II. April 11 - Coronation.	From the Churchwardens' Accounts: 1688 - For Ale to ye Ringers at ye birth of ye Prince of Wales - 9 shillings Prince James Francis Edward was born on June 10 and was to become "The Old Pretender". The peaceful transition from King James II to William and Mary was accepted by the people. Many would have memories of the turmoil of the Civil War. 1689 Feb 16 & 19 - pd to ye Ringers when King Willm & Queene Mary was proclaimed - 7 shillings 1689 April 11 - pd ye Ringers at King William & Queen Mary their Coronation - 5 shillings.
1694 May First mainly Whig government. 1694 July 27 The Bank of England founded. 1694 December 28 Queen Mary II died of smallpox.	On 27 June 1693 a terrier of all the tithes and rights belonging to the vicarage and church of Wirksworth was presented to the Bishop of Lichfield, on the occasion of his Visitation at the church of All Saints in Derby. The tithes, or "duties", were payable at Easter. For Cromford Mill one shilling was payable. "Every person of the age of 16 pays one penny for his offering - for every house three pence - For a cow one penny - for every calf three half pence - For every foal a penny - for every swarm of bees a penny, from every person for his trade four pence, For every man servant sixpence & maid servant four pence for their wages." The tithes of wool and lamb, pigs, geese and hens were paid in kind. Every tenth dish of lead ore had to be given. The vicar was responsible for collecting the tithes, and it must have been difficult to extract them from any unwilling parishioners. The "surplesse" fees would have been easier to collect ... ... "for every Buriall sixpence, for every Churching sixpence ... for every grave made in the chancell six shillings eight pence to the vicar." Burials and churchings outside the parish led to a fine of one shilling. A marriage with banns was one shilling or with a licence two shillings. These payments "are paid according to the statute." Glossary
1696 April Window tax introduced.	In 1696 the warm waters flowing from the hillsides near Cromford were commercialised by Mr Fern of Matlock and Mr Hayward of Cromford. The first bath, made of wood and lined with lead, was fed water from a thermal spring with a constant temperature of 68 deg F. In 1698 the Bath and rights were sold to Messrs Smith and Pennell of Nottingham.The area became known as Matlock Bath.