South Wingfield, Derbyshire Genealogy

England Derbyshire

Parish History
WINGFIELD, SOUTH (All Saints), a parish, in the union of Belper, hundred of Scarsdale, N. division of the county of Derby, 2¼ miles (W.) from Alfreton; containing 1188 inhabitants. It comprises 3268a. 3r. 19p. of land; and although the scenery is not so romantic as in many other parts of the county, yet from some of the high grounds the views are very extensive, and both bold and beautiful. The Amber, a small stream, runs through the parish, which is also intersected by the Derby and Chesterfield road; and the Midland railway here passes through a tunnel 250 yards in length. The manor-house, now an interesting ruin, was a splendid edifice, erected by Ralph, Lord Cromwell, in the reign of Henry VI., and afterwards, for several generations, one of the principal seats of the earls of Shrewsbury. Mary, Queen of Scots, while in the custody of George, the sixth earl, passed some months here in 1569, and was also here in Nov. and Dec. 1584. At the commencement of the civil war, it was garrisoned for the parliament, but being taken by the Earl of Newcastle, towards the close of the year 1643, was then made a royal garrison; in 1644 it surrendered to the parliamentarians, and in 1646 was dismantled. The principal part of Okerthorpe, in the parish, belongs to the ancient family of Strelley. The village is large, and possesses a considerable and increasing trade in the weaving of stockings, for which about 200 frames are in operation; there is also a small cotton-factory, and part of the population is employed in obtaining coal. The living is a discharged vicarage, endowed with a portion of the rectorial tithes, and valued in the king's books at £6. 13. 4.; net income, £324; patron, the Duke of Devonshire. The tithes of a portion of the parish were commuted for land in 1776: the glebe consists of 20a. 3r. 15p., with a vicarage-house. The church, which stands at Okerthorpe, is a neat structure with a tower. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans. Samuel Newton in 1683 gave £200 for charitable uses, with which some lands were purchased now producing £33 per annum; of this, £17 are applied in teaching children. £20 from an estate at Okerthorpe were directed by the donor to be applied yearly in setting up two young persons in their trade, having served seven years' apprenticeship; and £10 in exhibitions for two scholars at the university. The Roman road leading from Little Chester, near Derby, towards Chesterfield, passed through the parish.

From: 'Winestead - Winmarleigh', A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 613-618. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51413 Date accessed: 14 March 2011.

Civil Registration
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Church records
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Census records
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Poor Law Unions
Belper Poor Law Union, Derbyshire

Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to Derbyshire Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

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Web sites
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