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THE AUTHOR.
BRADWELL :
Ancient and Modern.
HISTORY OF THE PARISH .
AND
INCIDENTS IN THE HOPE VALLEY & DISTRICT.
BEING
collectldns and recollections in a
peakland village.
By SETH EVANS,
MEMBER OF THE DERBYSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY,
AUTHOR OF
"METHODISM IN BRADWELL," ETC.
I912.
PA
PREFACE.
This little Yolume has been issued in
response to a desire expressed by many
that the articles should not remain " buried
in the files" of a newspaper. Hence, the
subject matter has undergone revision, and
with additions, and many illustrations, it
makes its appearance in book form.
In the work of love in which he has been
engaged it has been the author's desire to
place on permanent record information col-
lected diiring many j'ears, so as to place
this matter in the hands of those who care
to interest themselves in these " collections
and recollections of a Peakland village,"
and it is to the kind encouragement and
assistance of the proprietors of the " Derby-
shire Courier" that this has been made
possible.
It has, of course, been necessary to con-
sult many publications in order to procure
reliable information^, and to these the
author has laid himself under tribute, es-
pecially the journals of the Derbyshire
Archaeological Society. And there are
others to whom he desires to tender his
sincere thanks. To W. H. G. Bagshawe,
Esq.. J.P., D.L., of Ford Hall, he is in-
debted for a great deal of valuable infor-
mation relating to the Apostle of the Peak
and farly Nonccnformity ; to Edward G.
Bagshawe, Esq., solicitor, Sheffield, for the
loan of M.S. of his late father, Benjamin
Bagshawe; to Sydney Taylor, Esq., B.A.,
of Buxton; to N. J. Hughes-Hallett. Esq.,
Clerk of the Peace, for his courtesy in
allowing the inspection of county records;
to the Vicars of Hope and Bradwell, and
to the authorities of the Wesleyan and
Primitive Methodist Chapels, for their
kindness in placing their registers at his
disposals to the Eev. R. S. Eedfern, for
information relating to the old chapel ; and
to Mr. Walter Morton, for the loan of the
precious letters of his distinguished
ancestor.
There are many others the author desires
to thank for assistance rendered, including
those who have so kindly granted him the
loan of photographs, and in this connection
he tenders his warmest thanks to Chas. E.
Bradshaw Bowles, Esq., J.P., lord of the
manor of Abney, and editor of the Derby-
shire Archaeological Journal, for the loan
of valuable plates. The old houses, church,
chapels, etc., are from the camera of Mr.
H. V. Tanfield.
But especially does he desire gratefully
to acknowledge the kindness and encourage-
ment received from the noblemen, ladies,
and gentlemen, whose names are in the
List of Subscribers.
To those who may say that the author
has overstepped the bounds of the village,
it may be said that to toe a strict topo-
graphical line in these things is difficult,
and he has related incidents in the sur-
rounding villages that will cause a wider
interest to be taken in the book.
With these remarks he craves the indul-
gence of the public for the imperfections
of these "collections and recollections in a
Peakland village."
February. 1912.
1C194SS
CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.— IN PEE-HISTORIC TIMES— WHEN MEN LIVED IN
CAVES.
Discoveries in Hartle Dale Caves— Stone Circles Explored— Deposits
of the Flood found in a Lead Mine — Ancient Barrows Explored—
—Grey Ditch, a Monnment of the First Oenttiry ... ... ... 1
CHAP. II.— THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF BRADWELL.
The Boman Eoad, Batham G<ate — Discoveries at the Eoman Station
Anavio — Boman Pig of Lead — Ancient Baking Ovens — ^The Battle
of Edwin Tree ... ... ... ... ... ... 4
CHAP. III.— IN THE TIMES OF THE FORESTERS.
Earliest Foresters and First Settlers— Breaking the Bad Old Lawe
—Those who first Enclosed the Land— The First Houses and who
bnilt them— At the old Oourt Leet ... ... ... ... ... 6
CHAP. IV.— WHEN THE FOREST WAS CLEARING.
Landowners at Loggerheads ... ... ... ... ... ... t
CHAP, v.— OLD CHARTERS FOR FIVE HUNDRED YEARS.
Landowners and Inhabitants in the Middle Ages and after— Seven-
teenth Century Residents— When Voting was open ... ... ..( 10
CHAP. VI.— WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD.
Curious Tenure of Brough Mill— Hazlebadge Hall and the Vernon« 14
CHAP. VII.— IN THE OLD FIGHTING DAYS.
PetitioHs for Pensions— When Militia Service was Compulsory—
—Drawing Lots in Church— When the Miners Rebelled ... ... 16
CHAP. VIII.— BRADWELL'S RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS.
The earliest Nonconformists — Chapel of the Apostle of the Peak-
First Nonconformist Chapel wrecked— An Eccentric Parson ... 19
CHAP. IX.— METHODISM'S EARLY STRUGGLES.
John Wesley and his Pioneers— Some Curious Items — Rise and Pro-
gress of Primitive Methodism— The Baptists— Dipping in the Holmes 22
CHAP. X.— EARLY CHURCHWARDENS.
How St. Barnabas' Church was built— Educational History— First
Bradwell Schools— School Board History ... ... ... ... 26
CHAP. XL— IN THE PARISH WORKHOUSE DAYS.
How the Poor Existed— Overseers' Old Records ... ... ... Sd
CHAP. XII.— INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST.
Lead Mining Vicissitudes— Miners' Liberties and Customs— A Pre-
carious Occupation— Calamine— Sulphur and Petroleum— Barytus—
Fluor Spar— Lead Smelting— White Lead making ... ... ... 33
CHAP. XIII.-SOME TRAGEDIES OF THE LEAD MINES.
Rescued from a Living Tomb— The Magpie Mine Tragedy— Weaving
— Cotton Spinning— The Hat Trade— Opticians— Lime Burning ... 39
VIL
CHAP. XIV.— SOME ANCIENT CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
Funeral Customs—" Chicking " at Easter— Christmas Eve Mischief—
An Old Wedding Custom— The " Lumb Boggart "—The Lady on
Horseback— Well Dressing and Garland Day — Bull Baiting ... 43
CHAP XV.— FAMILIES OF THE PAST.
Creswell- Trickett— Greaves— PadLey— Wagstaffe— Worsley — Oliver —
Millward— Pearson— Pickford— The Dudden or G'oodwin Family- An
Interesting Romance — The Parish Clerk's BeooUeotions ... ... 46
CHAP. XVI.— BRADWELL'S BENEFACTORS.
Outram's Charity— Thomas Middleton— An old Weaver's Bequest—
—Thomas Hallam's Charity— A Friend to Poor Children— Mary
Hall's Charity— Built a School House for Po-or Children— Endowed
and Buried in the Old Chapel— Samuel Fox— Bradwell Lad's Dis-
tinguished Career- A World-wide Celebrity— Benefactor and Bene-
factress ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 50
CHAP. XVII.— ANCIENT FAMILIES AND NOTABLE PEOPLE.
Distinguished Sons and Daughters— Jacob Morton— Joseph Hibbs—
John Hallam — George Birley— John Morton— Ealph Benjamin Somer-
set—George Middleton— Robert Middleton— Joseph Middleton— Adam
Morton— Edward Townson Churton— Jonn Child Becking— John
Edwy Bradwell -Adam Hill Cooper, a witty rhymester— Poems :
" My Little Son"—" Man "— " The Royal Wedding "— " The Free
Rangers " — " A Journey to Eyam and Back "— " To His In-
digent Cobbler "— " Shank Steaks "— " To an Abstainer from Drink
but an Inveterate Smoker " — " The Bradwell Convert " — Samuel
Cooper — George Bird— Horace E. Middleton— Thomas Fanshaw Mid-
dleton, first Bishop of Calcutta ... ... ... ... ... ... 54
CHAP. XVIII.— FAMOUS SOLDIERS.
Thomas Mortoa -Charles Castle, Barnsley Family— William Bock-
ing— Benjamin Barber— Captain Benjamin Barber— John Barbei^-
Sir John Winfleld Bonser— Family of Bradwell— John Bradwell-
Henry Bradwell— Damlcy and others— Family of Marshall— Middle-
ton — Morton — Somerset ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
CHAP. XIX.— SOME REMARKABLE CHARACTERS.
Left his Bride to follow the Hounds— An Eccentric Worthy— Done
as many as had ever done him— Strange Character's Money Buys
Church Clock— Money all over the House— Putting the "Axins" in-
Little Martin Middleton, the Duke's Favourite... ... ... 69
CHAP. XX.— SOME REMARKABLE ENTRIES.
Curious Epitaphs and Gretna Green Weddings— Body Snatching-
Some Curious Epitaphs of Bradwell Folk— Gretna Green Weddings 71
CHAP. XXI.— EIGHTY ODD YEARS AGO.
Leading Inhabitants in 1829— When the Rivet was Forded— A Com-
munity of Eighty Years ago— A Musical Community— When a Cattle
Fair was held— The Wakes 75
CHAP. XXII— LONGEVITY AND TRAGICAL DEATHS. 77
CHAP. XXIIL— A TRAGIC VISITATION OF FORTY YEARS AGO.
Seventy Persons mysteriously cut off ... ... ... ... . . 80
CHAP. XXIV.— SOME PLACES OF INTEREST.
Robin Hood's Cross- The Batham Gate and Roman Camp— The
Bagshawe or Crystallized Cavern— Bradwell Dale — Medicinal Waters
of the Bath— The Echo 81
VIII.
CHAP. XXV.— FAMOUS SOLDIEE IN THIRTV-SIX BATTLES.
Career of Thomas Morton— Through the Afghjin War— In the Cri-
mean War and Indian Mutiny— Marked for Promotion ... ... 85
CHAP. XXVI.— THEEE HFNDEED YEARS AGO AT HAZLE-
BADGE HALL.
Family Litigation of the Vernons ... ... ... ... ... 92
CHAP. XXVII.— HOW PROTESTANT NONCONFORMITY ROSE
IN THE PEAK.
The Ejected Clergymen of 1662— Queen Parsons in Olden Times—
Bradwell Men Fight in Church— The Nonconforming Parsons— Bake-
well, Hope, Castleton, Edale, Tideswell, Hathersage, Eyam, The
Apostle of the Peak— Brad well Churchwardens ... ... ... 95
CHAP XXVIII.— WESLEYANISM^S ESTABLISHMENT IN
BRADWELL CIRCUIT.
Early Looal Preachers, Tideswell Methodists rforse-whipped— First
Chapel in a Farm »^use— Bradwell Preachers Mobbed at Castleton
—Hope Vicar's Wife at Wesleyan Class Meetings— Prayer Meetings
in the Snake Inn— A Bamford Centenarian Methodist— Persecuted
at Hiathersage— Pelting the Methodists at Eyam— A Century's
Ministers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 101
CHAP. XXIX.— EARLY PRIMITIVE METHODISM.
The Bradwell Pioneers— Travelling Preachers on Fourteen Shillings
a week — John Verity the Stonemason Preacher— Female Preachers
—Refractory Members— Some Comical Preachers— The First Pioneers
—Complete List of Ministers ... ... ... ... ... ... 105
CHAP. XXX.— FAMOT'S VISITORS OF A CENTURY AGO.
Author's Amusing Experience — Historian on Early Marriages-
" Sterling Worth and Integrity" — James Montgomery's EQuestrian
Feat— Hope Vicar's Wife at Wesleyan Class Meetings ... ... 109
CHAP. XXXI.— FRIENDLY SOCIETIES OF THE PAST AND
PRESENT.
Some Curious Records—" Charitable and Brotherly "—Those Pints
of Ale— Bridling the Tongue— Football Unlawful— The Whitsuntide
Jollification— The United Society Disunited— Nutting Forbidden-
Beer and the Bible— Oddfellows 110
CHAP. XXXII.-vSOME TRAGIC DEATHS— A REMARKABLE
CHRONOLOGY. 114
CHAP. XXXIII.-SOME MEMORABLE SNOWSTORMS.
The Lost Lad— Starved to Death on Winhill— Perished on Sir
William— Starved to Death on Eyam Moor— Perished in the Snow
on Tideswell Moor— A Hathersage Hero— Houses Buried in Snow-
storms—Buried by an Avalanche— Skeltons Found on the Moors—
Edale People washed away in Floods— Present Day Freeholders ... 120
ADDENDA: Roman Brough 125
IX
ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Author ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3
£roagh Mill and Approach to Boman Camp ... ... ... ... ... 13
Hazlebadge Hall 14
Ancient Chapel of the Apostle of the Peak ... ... ... ... ... 19
William Middleton. a Presbyterian of 80 years ago ... ... ... ... 21
First Primitive Methodist Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... 23
Old Baptist Chapel 23
Primitive Methodist Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23
Wesleyan Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23
First Wesleyan Preaching Boom ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24
Portion of the First Wesleyan Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... 24
Old Sunday School at Brookside ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
Saint Barnabas' Church ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27
Bev. W. J. Webb, First Vicar of Bradwell 28
Group of Old Lead Miners ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 34
Job Middleton, the Last of the Hatters ... ... ... ... ... ... 43
The Old Hall. SmaUdale 47
Cottage where Samuel Fox was bom ... ... ... ... ... ... 52
Eamuel Fox, Inventor of the Umbrella Frame ... ... ... ... ... 53
Bev. Joseph Hibbs, Primitive Methodist P'oneer ... ... ... ... 54
Bev. George Birley, Wesleyan Minister ... ... ... ... ... ... 54
Bev. Jacob Morton, Famous Wesleyan Minister ... ... ... ... 55
Bev. John Morton, Primitive Methodist Minister ... ... ... ... 55
Bev. Balph Benjamin Somerset, Dean of Cambridge ... ... ... ... 55
Bev. George Middleton, Primitive Methodist Minister ... ... ... ... 56
Bev. Joseph Middleton, Primitive Methodist Pioneer ... ... ... ... 56
Bev. Bobert Middleton. Primitive Methodist Minister... ... ... ... 56
Adam Hill Cooper, a Witty Bhymester ... ... ... ... ... ... 58
Thomas Fanshaw Middleton, First Bishop of Calcutta ... ... ... 61
Charles Castle, J. P., an Indian Mutiny Veteran ... ... ... ... 63
William &:)oking, 60 years a Sunday School Teacher ... ... ... ... 64
John Barber, a Famous Local Preacher ... ... ... ... ... ... 64
Mrs. Violet Hall, a Pioneer Lady Preacher ... ... ... ... ... 65
Chief Inspector Oliver Morton ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 67
Robert Somerset, well-known Local Preacher ... ... ... ... ... 67
Thomas Somerset, 20 years Poor Law Guardian ... ... ... ... 67
A Group of Old Time Worthies 68
Obadiah Stafford, 60 years Sunday Sch-ool Teacher ... ... ... ... 69
Dr. Joseph Henry Taylor, "The Old Doctor" ... ... ... ... ... 69
Gretna Green of the Peak ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 74
Joseph Hibberson, Famous Singer of 19th Century ... ... ... ... 77
Clement Morton, Famous Singer of Last Century ... ... ... ... 77
Bobin Hood's Cross ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 82
X.
Stile made from Bobin Hood's Cross ... ... ... ... ... ... 82
Bradwell Dale, where Margaret Vemon's Ghost appears ... ... ... 84
Historical House in Nether Side ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 86
Thomas Morton, a Famous Soldier ... ... ... ... ... ... 88
Wilfred Piske, South African Hero, killed on Railway ... ... ... 92
William John Bradwell, a Churchwarden ... ... ... ... ... 101
Thomas Bradwell, a Churchwarden ... ... ... ... ... ... 101
John Dakin, a Churchwarden ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 101
Bradwell Wesleyan Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 102
James Ingham, the Pioneer Primitive Methodist ... ... ... ... 105
John Hallam, a Pioneer Primitive Preacher ... ... ... ... ... 10&
Eobert Shenton, Unitarian Preacher 63 years ... ... ... ... ... 106
Map of Roman Brough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 126
Plan of Excavations ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ■•■ 127
West Corner of Main Wall .- 12*
North-West Corner of Praetorium ... ... ... ... ... ... 129
Underground Chamber or Well ... ... ... ... ... ... 13ft
Another View of Underground Chamber ... ... ... ... -.■ 131
Boman Workings in Stone at Brough ... ... ... ... ... 132
Inscribed Tablet of the Second Century ... ... .,. ... ... ■•• 133-
Key to Inscription on Tablet ... ... ... -. ... .• ••• 134
Remains of Ancient Oven in Charlotte Lane, Bradwell ... ... ... 13&
XI.
List of Subscribers.
Adams, Samuel. Dialstone Villas, Bradwell.
Allen, Francis, Hugh Lane, Bradwell.
Andrew, Abraham, Hollow Gate, Bradwell.
Andrew, John S., Hilltop Farm, Unstone
Andrew, Robert, Victoria Villa, Totley Rise.
Andrew, Thomas, Brook View, Horner
House, Stocksbridge.
Andrew, Thos. 8., The Hall Farm, Totley.
Ash, Joseph, " Heatherfleld," Bradwell.
Ashton, Ellis. The Kennels, Hope.
Ashton, James, Clitheroe Road, Longsigh;.
Ashton, Robert How, J.P,. Losehill Hall.
Castleton (2 copies).
Ashford, 8. J., 57, Surrey Street. Sheffield.
Athorpe, Colonel R., J.P., Learn Hall, Grindle-
ford.
Austin, John, High Street, Sheffield.
Bagley, Mrs. Ella Victoria Norris, ex-
Mayoress of Penzance, The Cliff, Pen-
zance, Cornwall (2 copies).
Bagshaw, Dennis, Little Hayfield.
Bagshaw, W., Providence Road, Walkley,
Sheffield.
Bagshawe, Edwd. G., 63, Norfolk Street,
Sheffield.
Bagshawe. W. H. G., J.P., D.L., Ford Hall,
Chapel-en-le-Frith (4 copies).
Bamford, Thos. 8., Lord Street, Elton, Bury.
Bancroft, John, Fulham Palace Road,
Hammersmith, London.
Barber, Arthur, Sherwood Street, Notting-
ham.
Barber, Ellis 8., Manchester Road, Hadfleld.
Barker, Wm. Ward, Quoit Green House,
Dronfleld.
Bateman, Mrs. Hannah Birley, Mildred
Avenue, Watford, Herts.
Battersby, Mrs. R., Burlington Street, \sli-
ton-under-Lyne (2 copies).
Beard, Raymond, Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Beaumont, Thomas, High Street House, New
Mills.
Beeston, Rev. A. T., St. James", New Mills.
Bennett, "Wm. Fox, Edmund Road, Sheffield.
Bird, Rev. George, M.A., The Vicarage, Brad-
well.
Bingley. J., Grimesthorpe Road, Sheffield.
Black,* W., Grimesthorpe Road, Sheffield.
Bland, George. The Hills. Bradwell.
Boardman, Joseph, Brooklands, Hope.
Bocking, Rev. John Child, M.A., Gnosall
Vicarage, Staffordshire.
Bolton, H., Frickley Road. Sheffield.
Booker, H. H., Albert Road, Heeley, Sheffield
(2 copies).
Booth, Mrs., Station House, Broughton Lane,
Sheffield.
Boothby, Mrs. Mary Hannah, Kettleshulme.
Bonser, Right Hon. Sir John, 3, Eaton Place.
London, S.W.
Boswell. Wm., Market Street, Chapel-en-le-
Frith.
Bowles. Chas., Dover Road, Sheffield (2
copies).
Bowles. C. E. B., J.P., Nether House, Wirks-
worth.
Boycott, John Burton, Welby Croft, Chapel-
en-le-Frith.
Bradbury, J. L., Attercliffe Road, Sheffield.
Bradbury, E., Attercliffe Common, Sheffield.
Bradbury, John, Stocksbridge.
Bradley, Luke, Bowden Lane, Chapel-en-le-
Frith.
Bradwell, Abner, Corporation Buildings,
Sheffield.
Bradwell, Alan, Netherside, Bradwell.
Bradwell, Edwin, " Netherside," Hale,
Cheshire (4 copies).
Bradwell, Harvey, Kirk Oswald, Cumberland.
Bradwell, Edmund, Glenooe Road, Pariv,
Sheffield.
Bradwell, Horace, Norfolk Road, Sheffield
(3 copies).
Bradwell, John Edwy, Malton Street, Pits
moor, Sheffield (2 copies).
Bradwell, Sidney A., Vicarage Road, Totten-
ham, London.
Bradwell, 8. J., " Brownsville," Heaton
Moor, Stockport (2 copies).
Bradwell, Mrs. Nancy, Church Street, Brad-
well.
Bradwell, Mrs. Hannah, Reddish Green
House, Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Bradwell, Valentine, Catherine Street, Ash-
bon-under-Lyne (2 copies).
Bradwell, Walter, Hayfield.
Bradwell, Mrs. Sarah E., Dobbin Hill, Shef-
field.
Bramall, William. Old Hall, Shatton.
Bramwell, Thos., Stocksbridge (2 copies).
Bramwell, E. C, J.P., " Ivy Dene," Grindle-
ford.
Bramwell, Mrs. W.. Windmill, Hucklow.
Brady. Chas. R., C. E., Town Hall, Chapel-
en-le-Frith.
Bridge, Charles. Crookhill, Woodlands.
Brierley, Wm., J.P., Sterndale House, Litton.
Broadbent, Major John, Castleton.
Broadhurst, J. W., J.P., The Haugh, Bugs-
worth.
Brownhill. George Henry, White Hart Hotel,
New Mills.
Buckstone, Rev. Henry, J.P., The Hall.
8utton-on-the-Hill.
Bunting, W. Braylesford, Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Burton, J. E., Main Road, Handsworth, Shef-
field.
Caterer, Mrs. Florence, Newburgh Arms
Hotel, Bradwell.
Chambers, Wilfred, St. Mary's Road. Glossop.
Chambers, William, Main Road, Hadfleld.
Chapman, Fredk., Stanley House, Tideswell.
Chapman, Wm., Great Hucklow.
Chapman. Dr. Wm., The Rocks, New Mills
(2 copies).
Clarke. Mrs. Allan. St. John's Road, Long-
sight, Manchester (3 copies).
Clegg, Leonard, J., Figtree Lane, Sheffield.
Clegg. John Charles, J.P., Figtree Lane, Shef-
field.
Clegg, Dr. Joseph, J. P., Edentree House,
Bradwell (2 copies).
Clegg, Sir W. E., J.P., Figtree Lane, Sheffield.
Cooper, Abram., Upper End Farm, Peak
Dale.
XII.
Cooper. Jun., George. Nether Padley. Grindle-
ford.
Cooper. John, The Hills, Bradwell.
Cooper. Thomas, Ford Bank. Buxton.
Corker. George, Atterclifle Common, Shef-
field.
Cox. G. W.. Langham. Rutland.
Cresswell. John T., Chinley.
Craig. Robert. " Kockside." Bradwell.
Cramond, James Hy., Atterclifle Eoad,
Sheffield (2 copies).
Cutler. T. T.. The Bank. Hathersage.
Dakin, Mrs. Jane, Ashopton (3 copies).
Darnley, Edwy. Maltby, Dale End Cottage,
Br*£Ld.W6ll>
Darrand, J. C, Hawthorne House, Hope.
Dearden, Dr. V. S. G.. Beech House. Car-
brook. Sheffield. .
Derby Free Library (Sir E. T. Ann, chair-
man).
Devonshire, His Grace the Duke of. Lord
Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Chatsworth.
Dicken, Captain, Great Hucklow.
Dickie, Matthew, " Ravenstor," Miller's
Dale.
Dickinson, Edward, Woodbank Cre30i3iit,
Sheffield.
Diver H. H., Middlewood Road, Hillsboro ,
Sheffield. . ,
Dixon, John, The Hills, Bradwell (2 copies).
Dixon, Robert, Brookside, Bradwell (4 copies).
Dodds, Henry, The Hills, Bradwell (2 copies).
Dormand, W., Shiregreen Lane, Sheffield.
Dyall, Jas., Carfleld Avenue, MeersbroDk.
Sheffield. , „ ,
Eagle, George, Barmaster for High Peak,
Brown Street, Manchester.
Earwaker, Robt. P., J. P., Fern Lawn, Chelten-
ham.
Elliott, Alfred, Lord Street, Glossop.
Elliott, Allen. Smalldale, Bradwell.
Elliott, Ernest. Nether Side, Bradwell.
Elliott, Joel, Storrs, Stannington.
EUiott, Marshall, The Hills, Bradwell.
Elliott. Mrs. Martha, Ashton Road, Newton,
Hyde.
Elliott, Robert, Oscar Street, Moston, Man-
Chester.
Ellis, Jun., Joseph, Lord Street, Elton, Bury.
Evans, Alwyn, Geraldine Road, Yardley, Bi»--
mingham.
Evans, Cyril, Town Gate, Bradwell.
Evans, Dennis, Town Gate, Bradwell.
Evans, Fred, Town Gate, Bradwell.
Evans, Maurice, Atterclifle Common, Shef-
field, and Upland Cottage, Bradwell (2
copies).
Evans, Josiah Barber, Horner House, Stocks-
bridge.
Evans. John, Peak Dale.
Evans, Samuel, Great Hucklow.
Eyre, Rev. Daniel, " Homeleigh," Devoran.
Cornwall (2 copies).
Eyre. Percy. Hill Head. Bradwell.
Eyre, Jesse. Church Gates, Bradwell.
Eyre, Robert, Primrose Lane, Glossop.
Eyre. William, New Bath Hotel. Bradwell.
Eyre, V. H., Cavendish House. Castleton.
Firth, Ambrose, The Knoll, Bamford.
Firth, E. WiUoughby, J. P.. Birchfleld, Hope
' (4 copies).
Fiske, Samuel, Dialstone Villas, Bradwell
(2 copies).
Fleicher. Mr«. Annie. The Knoll. Bradwell.
Ford. Miss Hannah. The Hills. Bradwell.
Ford. George. Now Zealand.
Ford. John. Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, and
The Hills, Bradwell.
Ford, Joseph, Fitzwilliam Street. Sheffield.
Ford. J. J.. Hayfleld Road. Chapel-en-le-Frith
Fox. Thomas. Hazlebadge Hall. Bradwell.
Fryer. C. W.. J.P., " Brookdene." Thornhill,
Hope.
Furness, Richard. Whirlow Hall. Totley.
Fuzzard. B. J.. Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Garside, Luke.. High Street, Hayfield.
Gee, John T., The Ashes, Kinder, Hayfield.
Gent, Mrs. Amanda, Idaho Falls, Idaho,
U.S.A.
Gilbert, Herbert. Marple.
Gilbert. W.. Mauldeth Road. W. WithingtoB.
Goddard. Joel. Lower Lane. Chinley.
Goddard. Ernest. Ollerbrook, Edale.
Goddard. Joseph. Buxton Road, Chinley.
Goodman. Major G. D., V.D.. Manchester
Road. Buxton.
Goodyer, Rev. Samuel. Redland Villa. Mill-
houses, Sheffield.
Green, Charles, Shrewsbury Road, Park,
Sheffield.
Gregory, John, The Briers, Saltergate. Bam-
ford.
Gregory. Wilton, Post Office, Chinley.
Hagger, R. H., Newtown, New Mills.
Hall, C. W. G., Dean Street, Ashton-under-
Lyne (2 copies).
Hall. Colonel Edward, J. P., V.D., Horwicb
Park, Whaley Bridge.
Hall, Mrs. Hannah, Bridge End, Bradwell.
Hall, Mrs. J., Gladstone Road, Ranmoor..
Sheffield.
Hall. Rev. John. Swan Street. Congleton.
Hall. Michael. Greenheys Lane, Manchester
(2 copies).
Hall, Jacob. Granby Road, Bradwell.
Hall, Joseph, New Terrace, Peak Dale.
Hall, Isaac. The Steep, Bradwell
Hallam, Colour Sergeant Absalom, Little
Eaton, Derby.
Hallam, Alfred, Bradwell.
Hallam, Cheetham W., The Knoll, Bradwell.
Hallam. Miss Edith, Hill Head, Bradwell.
Hallam, Ethelbert. Paradise Farm, Bradwell.
Hallam, Harvey, Hugh Lane, Bradwell.
Hallam. Harold, ' Blytheswood," Sylvan
Avenue, Levenshulme (2 copies).
Hallam, Mrs. Jason, Hill Head, Bradwell.
Hallam, Rev. John W., Bradford.
Hallam. Rev. Samuel Henry, Finsbury Park,
London.
Hallam, William, Goosehill, Castleton.
Hampson, John, Horwich End. Whaley
Bridge.
Hancock. J. 8.. 57. Surrey Street, Sheffield.
Harrison, Francis. " Westward Ho," Ryde,
Isle of Wight.
Hattersley, Mrs., Great Hucklow (2 copies).
Haws, Frank, Freestone Plao-e, Attercliffe,
Sheffield.
Hawkins, Harold B.. Stocksbridge.
Hayes, Mrs. John, Longlands Road, New
Mills.
Hayward. Rev. F. M.. Dervvent.
Heaps, Edward Knowles, The Nook, Bradwell
(8 copies)
Heathcott. Joseph, J. P., West Horderns,
Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Hewitt, Mrs. John. Hayfield Road, Chapel-en-
le-Frith.
Hewsoll. Geo. H.. Burnside Avenue, Meers-
brook. Sheffield.
Hibbs, Clarence, Paracamby, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
Hibbs, Horatio, Kipple Road, Chorlton-cum-
Hardy.
Hibbs. Jabez. Higher Openshaw. Manchester
(2 copies).
Hibbs, John, Leam, Grindleford.
Hibbs, Joseph, Yard Head. Bradwell.
Hibbs, Joseph, Olun Road. Sheffield.
Hibbs, T. Andrew, Oak Bank. New Mills.
Hibbs, Mrs. Francis. Union Road, New Mills.
Hibbert. Edwin, Market Place, Chapel-en-le
Frith.
XIII.
Hick. J. W., Dove Holes.
Hilton, Henry, Tunstead, Wormhill.
Hipkins, Rev. F. C, M.A., The Rectory, Bam-
ford (2 copies).
HiH, Abraham, Manchester Road, Stocks-
bridge.
Hill, Henry, Norfolk Road, Sheffield.
Hill, Winfield, Norfolk Road. Sheffield.
Hill. Mrs. M. E., Shirebrook Road, Sheffield
(2 copies).
Hill, Isaac. Church Street, Bradwell.
Hill, Thomas, Smalldale, Bradwell.
Hill, Rev. William Henry, Soutbbourne Road,
Sheffield.
Hobson, John T., Main Road, Bamford.
Hobson, Walter, Bank Chambers, Chapel-en-
le-Frith.
Hodkin. Edgar, Norfolk Road, Sheffield.
Hodkin, Walter, Osborne Road, Brincliffe,
Sheffield.
Horobin, Thomas, Tunstead, Wormhill.
Houlbrook, Dr. W., Nether Side, Bradwell.
How, Rev. John Hall, M.A., North Bailey,
Durham.
Howe, George. M.R.C.V.S.. Buxton.
Hoyle. J. Rossiter, J. P., Grange Cliffe, Eccles-
hall, Sheffield.
Hubbersty, H. A., J. P., Burbage Hall, Buxton.
Hunstone, Advent (sculptor), Tideswell.
Hudson, W. A., Post Office, Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Hunter, E. L., " Keleliffe," Fulwood, Sheffield.
Huss, H. P., Bank House. Chapel-en-le-Frith
(4 copies).
Hyde Public Library, John Chorlton,
librarian.
Hyde, Joseph, The Greggs. Chapel en-le-Frith.
Ingham, James Anthony, Union Road. New
Mills.
Ingham, Walter Gilbert, Tideswell.
Inman H., Foxglove Road, Shiregreen, Shef-
field.
Jackson, Ed., Wheat Sheaf Hotel, Dove Holes.
Jackson. Henry, Windmill, near Bradwell.
Jackson, Isaac G., Union Road, New Mills.
Jackson. Rev. J. C., Tideswell.
JefFery, Joshua G , Town End, Stocksbrid;ce,
(8 copies).
JefFery, Robert, Hill Head, Bradwell.
Jennings, Thomas, Hartle Moor, Bradwell.
Johnson, George, Randall Street, Sheffield.
Johnson, William. Rose Cottage, Smalldale,
Bradwell (2 copies).
Johnson, Miss, Rose Cottage, Smalldale.
Bradwell.
Jodrell, Sir Edward Cotton, K.C.B., Rease-
heath Hall and Shallcross Manor (2 copies).
Jowett, William, The Manor House, Mellor.
Kay. Mrs. John Thomas, Bradwell.
Kenworthy, Joseph. Stretton Villa, Deepcar.
Knowles, Rev. J. Lionel, R.D.. New Mills.
Lacey, J., Brunswick Street, Sheffield.
Lamb, James. Steade Road. Sheffield.
Lander, Dr. H. W. Graham, Hathersage and
Bradwell (2 copies).
Leighton, H. B., Mount View, Heeley, Shef-
field.
Littler, Mrs. Josephine, Higher Tranmere,
Birkenhead.
Littlewood, Mrs. F. L., Idaho Falls, Idaho,
U.S.A.
Lloyd, Rev. G. E., Lairgato, Beverley.
Lomas. J. E.. Harley Grange. Buxton.
Longden, Wm.. White Knowle Farm, Chinley.
Mabbott. H. E. D., The White Hou?e, Chapel-
en-le-Frith.
Macrone, A., Club Garden Road. Shefifield.
McLcod, Mrs. Fanny, ' Holly Bank,"
Cadishead.
Maltby, Arthur, The Old Hall, Great Huck-
low.
Maltby, Mrs. Olars. Chippingham Street,
Attercliffe, Sheffield. .
Manchester Free Public Libraries, C. W-
Sutton. librarian.
Maples, Charles, Graham Road. Sheffield.
Mason, Miss, " Beaconsfleld." Wrexham.
Mason, Rev. W. H., Llydan House. Welshpool,
Montgomeryshire.
Maw. J., Broomhall Street, Sheffield.
Melland. Mrs.. Longsight. Manchester.
Mellor. Wm., Sunny Lea. Fernilee. Whaley
Bridge.
Miller. J. T.. Smalldale. Bradwell (2 copies).
Middleton, Arthur Somerset. Buxton Road,
New Mills.
Middleton. Archie C. Moston. Manchester.
Middleton, Miss, Chester Street, Birkenhead.
Middleton, Miss Ruth, Mill Street, Bakewell.
Middleton, Charles. Hylton Cliffe. Broomhall
Park, Sheffield.
Middleton, Martin, Greenway, Hyde.
Middleton, Robert, Oakbrook Road, Ranmoor.
Sheffield.
Middleton, James A.. Manchester Roa^d,
Denton (8 copies).
Middleton, John, Town Clerk of Chesterfield
(4 copies).
Middleton, Miss Lucyj Hawksworth Road,
Sheffield.
Middleton, Thomas, The Old Post Office,
Bradwell.
Middleton. Thomas, Manchester Road. Hyde.
Middleton, William. Smalldale, Bradwell.
Morris, • Samuel, Minchester Road, Denton,
Moore, Colonel J. H., J. P., Castleton.
Morton, Miss Alice Maud, Town Gate. Brad-
well.
Morton, Fredk. J. H.. Capetown. South
Africa.
Morton, Gladstone. Manchester.
Morton, Jabez, Cheetham Hill Road. Man-
chester (2 copies).
Morton. Leonard, Manchester.
Morton, Miles, Ellesmere Place. Longsight,
Manchester (2 copies).
Morton. Miss M. H., New Mills.
Morton, Thos. M.. J. P., Lister Lane, Halifax
(2 copies).
Morton, Vernon, Manchester.
Morton, Walter. Pulman Street, Rochdale.
Moseley, J. E., Church Street, Hayfield.
Mosscrop, Rev. Thomas Gilbert, Pool, near
Leeds.
Mower, Thomas. Torr Street, New Mills.
MuUiner, George. Albert Terrace, New Mills.
Murray, J., Burngreave Street, Sheffield.
Nadin, Dr. Joseph, Bradwell.
Naish, Frank E., Manor View. Handsworth,
Sheffield.
Newbold. T. E., Grange Road, Buxton (2
copies).
Nicholson, Edward, C.C, Brough House,
Bradwell.
Norfolk, His Grace the Duke of. Derwent
Hall (2 copies).
Oldfleld, Edward, " Ashford," Rusholme.
Manchester (4 copies).
Oldham, Robert, Spring Villas, Birch Vale.
Padmore. T. H., Stanley Road, Meersbrook,
Sheffield.
Palfreyman, Frank C, Horwich End, Whaley
Bridge.
Palfreyman. Mrs. George, Litton.
Palfreyman, John, Horwich End. Whaley
Bridge.
Palfreyman, William, Bollinjrton.
Palmer, John, Union Road, New Mills.
Parke. Dr. T. H.. Poxlowe House, Tideswell.
Partington, Oswald, J.P.. Cadogan Square,
London, and Easton, Glossop.
Paton, R. A.. The Moor, Sheffield.
Peacock, J. W., Station Road. Hathersage.
Pearson, Robert, The Lumb, Bradwell.
XIV.
Pearson, 'William, Myrtle Cottage, Stocks-
bridge.
Pearson, Vincent, Stocksbridje.
Pinder, J. T., The Hills, Bradwell.
Plant, B., Guest Boad, Hunter's Bar, Shef-
field.
PoUitt, J. Sumner. "Holker Lea." New Mil! 3.
Porter, Dr. W. S., Phoebe Croft. Hope.
Proctor, Frank, The Hall, Bugsworth.
Puttrell, J. W. Derbyshire Pennine Club, 94,
The Moor, Sheffield (4 copies).
Pursglove, Samuel, Hope.
Pye Smith and Barker, solicitors, 5, East
Parade, Sheffield, and Bradwell (2 copies).
Eawson, Mrs. John, Hurtley Cottages, Wil-
mington, Hull.
Eedfern, Rev. R. Stuart. Leigh, Lancashire.
Reynolds, Predk. T., J.P., Mayor of South-
port.
Robinson, George, Brookfield, Edale.
Robinson. John W., Firth Park Road, Shef-
field (2 copies).
Robinson, Joseph, Brooklands, Hope (2
copies).
Robinson, R. H., Heanor.
Rogerson, Rev. Thomas, The Vicarage, Tides-
well.
Ross, John, Station House, Hope.
Rowarth, Miss Elsie, Freebirch, Cutthorpe,
Chesterfield.
Rowarth, Harry, Freebirch, Cutthorpe, Ches-
terfield.
Rowarth, Mrs. Hannah, Freebirch, Cutthorpe,
Chesterfield.
Rutland, His Grace the Duke of, Belvoir
Castle (2 copies).
Sandeman, Edward, C. E., Bamford.
Sanderson, Mrs. Violet, Mona Road, Cro-^kes,
Sheffield (2 copies).
Scarsdale, The Rev. Lord, Kedleston Hall,
Derby.
Sellars, Joseph, High Lea Road, New Mills.
Shaw, A. P., J.P.. Whitehall, Buxton.
Sheffield Free Public Libraries (10 copies).
8. Smith, F.R.H.S., F.8.A., Librarian.
Sheard, W. C, New Mills.
Shepley, Eli., The Rocks, New Mills.
Shepley. Thos., Market Place, Chapel-en-le-
Frith.
Shepherd, Dr. H. R., Peveril House, Castleton.
Shipton, W. Louis, Spring Gardens, Buxton.
Shirt. Jabez, Slack Hall. Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Sidebotham, John, Market Street, Cbapel-en-
le-Frith.
Sidebotham, Joseph, Spring Gardens, Buxton.
Sidebotham, Joseph, Cross Street, Castleton.
Simpkin, W. F., Hyde Road, Gorton, Man-
chester.
Sidebottom, Major R. Bennett, J.P., Red-
court, Olossop (2 copies).
Sidebottom, Colonel Wm., J.P., V.D., Hare-
wood Lodge, Broadbottom.
Slack, Mrs. Hannah Lax, Harvest Lane, Shef-
field.
Slack, Jabcz, Lawson Cottage, Tideswell.
Slack, James Handel, The Mount, Saughall,
Chester.
Black, Vandyke, Tideswell.
Slater, Thomas, Hague Bar, New Mills.
Smith, Mrs. Joseph, Stockabridge.
Smith, Mrs. Harry, Stocksbridge.
Smith, Mrs. Rachel, Hornsea, London.
Somerset, Miss S. M., Broomhead Institute,
I>incoln (2 copies).
Routhall, Rev. Albert, Carbrook Vicarage,
Sheffield.
StaHord. Mrs. Matilda, Whitle Farm, New
Mills.
Stockport Free Library (2 copies), R. Har-
greavew. Librarian.
Stevenson, John, Eden Tree Lodge, Bradwell.
Stone, Durham, Porter Street, Staveley.
Stone, Mrs. S., High Street, Staveley.
Stubbs. Philip, Sheffield.
Swain, W. H., " Ivy Lea," Roslyn Crescent,
Hatherrage.
Taylor, F. H., Overdale, Bakewell.
Taylor, Colonel H. Brooke, The HaH, Bake-
well.
Taylor, John, J.P., Crossings West, Chapel-
en-le-Frith (2 copies).
Taylor, Sydney, B.A., Buxton.
Taylor, Dr. T., Portchester House, Bourne-
mouth
Thornley, Mrs. M. A., Union Road, New
Mills.
Toler, T. C, J.P., C.C, Taxal Lodge, Whaley
Bridge (2 copies).
Travis, W., Burnside Avenue, Meersbrook,
Sheffield.
Tym, Nathan, Edale.
Unwin, Joseph, Laneside, Hope.
Wainwright, J. W., Wincobank Avenue,
Shiregreen Sheffield (2 copies).
Walker, Aaron, Station House, Nuneaton.
Walker, Henry, Dale View, Bradwell.
Walker, John, Small Dale, Peak Dale.
Walker, Mrs. Olive, The Hill, Bradwell.
Walker, Saml., Carbrook, Sheffield.
Walker, Z., Da,le View, Bradwell.
Wallworth, Mrs., Angler's Hotel, Bamford
(2 copies).
Walton, H., Windmill, near Bradwell.
Waterhouse, B., Greenwood, Hope.
Waterhouse, William, Great Hucklow.
Watts, James, J. P., Abney Hall, Cheadle
and Kinder (2 copies).
Watts, Samuel, Edale House, Edale (4 copies).
Watts, Henry T.. Harcourt Road, Sheffield.
Ward, F., St. Mary's Road, Sheffield.
Ward, George, High Peak Hospital, Chinley.
Ward, G. H. B., Park Farm, Cricket Road,
Sheffield.
Welby, E. M. E., J.P., Stipendiary Magistrate
of Sheffield, Norton House, Norton.
Wells, Barton, Croft House. Aston, Hope.
Whiteway, Rev. R. W. B., " Elmfleld," Lymm,
Cheshire.
White, Wm. Edward, Turf Lea, Marple.
Whitehead, Robert, J.P., Hargate Hall,
Wormhill.
Whitney, W. H., Deakin's Walk, Ranmoor,
Sheffield.
Whittam. Mrs. Elizabeth, Walkley Road,
Sheffield.
Wharmby, J. T., Longlands, New Mills.
Wilde, H. E., London City and Midland Bank,
Atterclifle, Sheffield.
Williamson, Walter, Duckworth Road, Brad-
ford.
Wilson. Henry J., M.P., Osgathorpe, Shef-
field.
Wilson, Joseph, Chapel-en-le-Frith.
, Wilson, Mrs.. East View, Smalldale, Bradwell.
Winnard, Mrs. Bertha, Fitzwalter Road,
Park, Sheffield.
Wolfenden, James, H., Manchester Road,
Denton.
Wood, Mrs. Sarah Ann, New Street, New
Mills.
Wood. S. Hill, M.P.. Park Hall, Hayfleld.
Woodroofe, Mrs. Jane, Stanley Road, Wake-
field.
Wragg, Albert E., Edensor, Bakewell.
Wragg, Durham, Glen View, Bradwell.
Wragg. John, The Lumb, Bradwell.
Wrench, E. M., M.D., J.P., V.S.O., Park
Lodge Baslow.
Yates, Abraham, Stoneyford, Chapel-en-le-
Frith.
Young, Albert, London City and Midland
Bank, Attercliffe, Sheffield.
Young, Mr. and Mrs. A., Water Gjrove, Eyam
(2 copies).
BradwcU. Ancient and Modern.
A History of the Parish and of Incidents in the
Hope Valley.
INTRODUCTION.
The old-world Peakland village of Brad-
well has a history, and a most interesting
history too. Its steep winding streets — if
streets they can be called — and all sorts of
^ueer little out of the way places running
in and out in all directions, break neck,
obliqxie, skew-tilted, beginning everywhere,
leading nowhere, make the stranger feel
that he is living iu mediaeval times. Oc-
cupied by the Eomans, who left their
traces everywhere, recognised as one of the
boundams of the Forest of the Peak this
romantic spot was never troubled with a
surveyor. Every man was his own archi-
tect. He built what he liked where he
liked, and as he liked, with the result that
in the twentieth century there remains one
of the most comical looking, beautiful, and
picturesque old towns even in picturesque
Peakland.
But its very name has been deplorably
corrupted. The statement made in the
middle of the last century that its name
was derived from " a well on the
verge of the village" is errone-
ous. It is one of those place-names
which indicates the occupation and mili-
tary organization of its people — Brad,
from broad or spacious, and Wall, indicat-
ing a site at or near a Roman fortification.
The original name was, therefore. Broad-
wall, or Bradwall, for a portion of the
Roman fortification still exists, and upon a
portion of the wall of the ancient Forest of
the Peak the town is built. Its very ear-
liest settlers, too, who took their name
from the place itself, retained its original
spelling of Bradwall iu the Hope Church
registers right down to the year 1843, and,
at least, one of these oldest of local fami-
lies, now resident in Sheffield, very pro-
perly retains its name, Bradwall. Fur-
ther, the death comparatively recently, of
a resident of Bradwell, inscribed on the
family gravestone, describes her as of Brad-
wall.
CHAPTER I.
"I will show you caves and barrows,
Of a world before the flood.
When the bison and hyaena,
Rang'd over moor and wood;
Where races of men lie buried,
Who fought with weapons of stone.
And sew'd their deer-skins together
With implements of bone."
J. H. J.
IN PRE-HISTORIC TIMES.
WHEN MEN LIVED IN CAVES.
Discoveries in Hartle Dale Caves.
A place with distinct evidence of its occu-
pancy by the Early Britons, Romans,
Saxons, Danes, and Normans cannot fail to
be interesting. The district abounds in
caves, and in many of these there are dis-
tinct traces of Pre-historic man. There
are several small caves in Hartle Dale, and
exploring one of these in 1872, the late
Rooke Pennington, of Castleton, says that
the floor consisted principally of blackish
mould containing a few limestone frag-
ments, and pieces of chert. It contained
bones of the goat and pig, fox and rabbit.
Two pieces of pre-historic pottery were
also turned out. The ornamentations were
unusually rude for such a remote period,
being simply punctures made in the clay
before baking, with a sharpened stick,
without any regard to regularity.
In 1877 Mr. Pennington, the late Mr.
John Tym, and Professor Boyd Dawkins,
whilst examining other small caves and
rock shelters in Hartle Dale, picked up a
milk-molar of a young woolly rhinoceros,
which had been thrown up to the surface
by rabbits burrowing in the floor of the
small cave at the mouth of which it was
found. In an adjoining cavern there lay on
the rock the tooth of a bear, evidently
washed out of some fissure within. The
first mentioned cave they dug out thorough-
ly, finding bones of the rhinoceros and
bison, which Mr. Pennington thought had
2
been carried to their last resting place by
water. About tlae same time a fine arrow
head was Iciiiid on the Bradwell Moors.
These discoveries take us back to the
daj's of pre-historic man who dwelt in the
caves, and an examination of the many bar-
* rows, or " lov.s " has shown them to be
burial-places of long forgotten races who
once lived in Britain.
Stone Circles Explored.
The author of the same work says that
one of the most interesting barrows ever
explored was on Abufy Moor, near Brad-
well, but it was destroyed to build a wall.
Upon a rampart of earth, by which it was
surrounded were ten upright blocks of
stone each about three feet high, and placed
at equal distances round the barrow.
When the mound was dug into, Mr. Pen-
nington and his party found in the centre
of the tumulus a large flat piece of sand-
stone upon which was a mass of burnt
human bones, deposited with considerable
care. There were also flint flakes,
some jet beads, some amber beads,
and an arrow head. The beads had
evidently formed portions of necklaces.
There were pieces of burnt gritvstone and
sandstone, found, evidence that the funeral
fire had been lit upon the spot.
Two other barrows on the same moor had
been previously explored and human
bones, urns, heads of flint, etc.,
found in them. In the immedate
vicinity were a number of pit dwellings
which Mr. Pennington says were no doubt
once covered with some sort of thatch such
as heather would supply.
About a mile distant, in the direction of
Hope, is The Folly. This is a small circular
entrenchment, aboiit 75 feet in diameter,
with a slight elevation in the centre. On
one occasion a cell was found here, and it
is probable that this circular rampart ori-
ginally had a stone circle.
Travelling along that portion of Batham-
gate, which is best preserved, separating
the Bradwell and Tideswell Moors, will be
seen on the Tideswell moor side of the road
an almost perfectly circular enclosure or
camp within a now verj' low rampart, the
whole having a diameter of 300 feet. A
small part of the north-west arc of the
circle has been cut off by the old Roman
road, which is a proof of the early or pre-
Roman origin of this circular camp.
Deposits of the Flood Found in a Lead
Mine.
In a book on "Darbyshire," printed in 1660,
there is the following record of a curious
discovery : —
"Near firadewalle were dug up in sinking a
lead-grove, a piece of a bone, and tooth of
wonderful proportions, namely, the tooth
(though a quarter of an inch of it was
broken off) was 1.3 inches and a half in com-
pas-s, and weighed three pounds ten ounces
and three quarters; and with this, among
other pieces of bones, a very large skull
which held seven pecks of corn. The con-
jectures of the learned upon them are vari-
ous, some supposing the tooth and bones
to be a man's (and why not when a skull
so monstrous was found with them); but
others have thought it the den molaris of
an elephant, and for this opinion they pro-
duce some elephants" bones found near
Castleton. ,The most probable conjectures
about the:e phenomena are that they are
the exuvie of thofe creatures brought
hither by the general deluge, and deposited
by specific gravitation in the earth, then
rendered as fluid as mud." This strange
discovery was made in the Virgin Mine at
Hazelbadge, which was worked for lead at
least five hundred years.
Ancient Barrows Explored: Human
Remains Found.
About the year 1867 a great deal of inter-
est was taken in discoveries of pre-historic
man on Hazlebadge Hills, about midway
between the Hall and Bradwell. On this
field, close to Hill's Rake there is a large
barrow, which was explored by Mr. Ben-
jamin Bagshawe, solicitor, Sheffield, a gen-
tleman well versed in local lore, and an
antiquarian, and local archgeologist of re-
pute, whose ancestors had for many genera-
tions been located in the Grindlow and
Foolow district.
Having obtained permission from the
Duke of Rutland's agent, Mr. Bagshawe
seciired the services of two reliable miners,
Robert Evans and John Bancroft, who
went about their work with the greatest
care. They had not been at work long,
when only about a foot beneath the sod
they came upon a stone cist, which on being
opened was found to contairithe skeleton of
a man, not lying down, but seated upright,
with his elbows on his knees, and his head
on his hands as if he had been shut up in
the tomb and buried alive. By the side of
another man was the skeleton of a horse,
and altogether fourteen skeletons of both
sexes were found, in addition to many burnt
bones, and a number of flint arrow heads.
Only about half the barrow was explored,
and the explorers believe that if the other
portion was searched many interesting dis-
coveries would be made. There does not seem
to be any doubt that these bodies had lain
there two thousand years, having been de-
posited by the ancient Britons long before
the Romans came to the Island.
In the winter of 1891 some' workmen get-
ting out the foundations for a kitchen at
the rear of a house belonging to Mr. John
Ford, on Bradwell Hills, facing what is
known as " The Green," made a discovery
which went to prove that the house itself
was built upon an ancient barrow. Only
about two feet below the surface of the
ground, three skeletons were discovered.
Two were lying on their sides, with the
knees tucked under the chin, and were
within a wall of flat stones placed on edge,
which formed three sides of a square. The
third skeleton was found lying at full
length on its back with a square stone
standing at the head and another at the
feet. Near the two skeletons within the
small cist a very rough flint flake was
found. Ihe skeletons were terribly broken
by the v^crkmen. and an official of the
British Archieological Association who
visited the place and took away the flint,
aiid as many of the bones as he could get,
tried to put together the fragments of two
of the skulls, but was not very successful.
One skull seemed to be ot a very low type
of man, the forehead was very shallow, the
bone projected over the eye, and at the top
of the nose the bone was very wide and
thick. The remaining part of the barrow
had quantities of human bones mixed up
with it, which were supposed to be early
burials disturbed for the later interments.
Probably if a search was made there would
be many similar " finds " in the immediate
locality. In 1897 Avorkmen excavating foun-
dations of new houses for Mr. T. Cooper, in
" Nether Side,'' opposite the Newburgh
Arms Inn, discovered a sepulchral cist of
gritstone slabs containing male adult
bones (supposed to be pre-Roman), leaden
" spindle whorl," iron spearhead, about
seven inches long, copper button, and a
Roman coin. The spearhead and whorl
were placed in the Buxton Museum. A
week or two later the workmen found a
copper coin of 1738, and a three shilling
bank token of the reign of George III., 1815.
The spindle whorl was one inch diameter
and about quarter of an inch thick, and its
upper surface was decorated with five raised
fillets, and the button consisted of a disc of
copper about quarter of an inch in diameter
with a small ring attached to the back. It
was decorated with small hollows, inlaid
with gold.
Grey Ditch, a Monument of the First
Century.
One of the most interesting features of
Bradwell is thie long strip of defensive
earthwork known as Grey Ditch, which
one authori'y declared is " the mcst import-
ant remaining fragment of the Limes Brit-
tannicus of the first century, in its third
stage between Templeborough and
Brough."
Grey Ditch shows itself plainly, telling
without doubt of early tribal resistance to
onslaughts up this valley. Standing on the
high road at " Eden Tree," near the New
Bath Hotel it may be seen stretchiiig along
to Micklow on one side, and to the summit
of Bradwell Edge on the other, right away
up " Rebellion Knoll " to the mountain
road leading to Abaey and Brough 1,100
feet high. One writer of the 17th century
(Mr. Bray) said it was carried from the
camp on Mam Tor, and was a fore fence of
the Romans, crossing Bathamgate and
Bradwell water, but subsequent authorities
doubt whether it ever was connected with
Mam Tor. Its elevation is about 10 feet,
and its total average width about 35 feet.
It is a rampart thrown up to resist attack
from the Brough side, and well known
archaeologists are of opinion that it was
possibly once a boundary, of the ancient
kingdom of Northumbria or Brigantees.
There is no doubt that it was for some
military cr defensive purpose, and probably
there is a rich reward for the future ex-
plorer of such an interesting spot. More
than a century ago pieces of swords, spears,
spurs, and bridle-bits were found on both
sides and very near it, between Batham
Gate and Bradwell water.
WKKKKKIt^^^^"
•
j
GENERAL VIEW OF BRADWELL.
CHAPTER II.
THE ROMAN OCCUPATION
BRADWELL.
OF
THE ROMAN ROAD, BATHAM GATE.
Discoveries at the Roman Station Anavio
f Brough.)
Bradvvell is built on the Eoman Eoad
from Buxton baths to Brough Fort, the
most famous of the Roman roads in Derby-
shire, Bathgate, or as the natives call it,
Bathamgate, which ran from Buxton over
Fairfield Common, crossing Peak Dale,
Small Dale, and over Bradwell Moor, where
it is in a splendid state of preservation, in
fact, almost in its original condition, to-
day. Passing through the gateway at the
bottom of " Bathamgate," the road crosses
the Moss Rake between the Upper and
Nether Cross Mines, again enters the moor-
land and stretches along right down Small
dale (a portion of Bradwell), Gore Lane, and
"Streetfield" (so called from the Roman
street) where it entered the military camp
at Brough, or Anavio. From thence it con-
tinued along through Hope, over the ridge
which divides Edale from the Woodland
Valley, along the Doctor's Gate to Cold
Harbour and so on to Glossop and the Roman
Fort of Melandra, where interesting ex-
cavations have been made within recent
years. Built on this important road, and
being also on one of the recognised bound-
aries of the King's Forest of the Peak, Brad-
well was a place in the very earliest times,
of considerable importance. These were de-
clared to be the" bounds of the Forest at an
inquisition in 1274. " Beginning at the south
end of the River Goyt, and so along that
river to the River Ederowe, and so by the
River Ederowe to Langley Croft near Long-
dendale Head, and so by a certain bye-way
to the head of the Derwente, and from the
head of the Derwente as far as Mittenforde
(Mytham Bridge) and from Mittenforde to
the River of Bradwall, and from the River
of Bradwall to a place called Rotherlawe
("Ralley Road ") ; and from Rotherlawe to
the Great Cave of Hazelbache, and from the
Great Cave to Little Hucklowe, and from
Hucklow to Tideswell, and so to the River
Wye, ascending to Buxton and to the
Springs of Goyt."
In the Record Office there are some old
maps showing the " Forest Wall," so con-
striicted that it would keep cattle off the
great tract specially reserved for the deer,
whilst the deer themselves could leap it to
wander at their pleasure over the rest of the
forest. In ancient records the name of the
place is spelt " Broadwall," a name that
occurs on many Roman sites, and " Brad-
wall," and one part of the village is still
known as " Wall Head," a continuation of
the ancient forest wall from the head of the
Bradwell Brook. That access was gained
from every side through gates, is evident.
for — in addition to the great military road
of Batham Gate — Moor Gate, Hollow Gate,
Town Gate, Hall Gate, and Over Gate, all
remain to-day, entrances to the town from
all sides.
Built, partly, on the old Roman Road,
Bathamgate, it would be of considerable im-
portance 1700 years ago, because of its close
proximity to the Roman station, Anavio, at
Brough, just a mile distant. It was in the
upper of two fields called the Hallsteads,
where the fort was planted, close to the
Bradwell Brook, low enough to be near the
water, " high enough to command an out-
look all over the valley, and guarded by
nature on three of its four sides."
The excavations made in 1903 by Mr. John
Garstang, on behalf of the Derbyshire
Archaeological Society, were most interest-
ing.
The fort was a rectangular oblong with
rounded corners, about 285 feet by 340 feet,
and its internal area, exclusive of the de-
fences, amounted to about 2j acres. The
fort was defended by a stone wall six feet
thick. There were four gateways, and each
corner contained a turret. There was a
central building, or headquarters, and a
well built edifice close by, but other edifices
in the fort were not then excavated, though
there are indications of the bath-house near
Brough Mill and the union of the Noe and
Bradwell Brook.
But the most important discovery was a
pit or vault, nearly rectangular in
shape, eight feet long, by five to seven feet
wide, and eight feet deep, walled with eleven
courses of good masonry, floored with
cement, and entered by eight steps.
The writer was present when this dis-
covery was made, and during the greater
part of the time the treasure-house was
emptied. The walling contained a frag-
ment of an inscribed slab dated about
A.D. 158, which had been broken up and
used as building material. Lower down
were three othe» fragments of the inscribed
slab, a drum of a column, a stone trousrh,
a few f>orroded coins of the fourth century,
Roman Dottery and bones. The regimental
standards and military chest were kept in the
headquarters building close by, and this pit
was a strong room where the valuables were
kept. The fact of there being a big flow of
water into the pit led some to believe it to
be a Roman bath, but experts consider this
to be owing to the defective drains of the
fort. When the pieces of' the inscribed
slab were put together and the slab restored
it was found to contain an inscription,
which being interpreted, read : " In honoui
of the emperor, Titus Aelius Hadrianus
Antoninus Pius, pater patrial (erected by)
the First Cohort of Acquitani, under lulins
Verus, legatus Aiigusti pro praetore (Gov-
ernor of Britain), and under the superin-
tendence of Capitonius Fuscus, praefect of
the Cohort." The emperor is Pius, who
reigned A.D. 138-161. The Cohors I Acqur-
anorium presumably garrisoned Brough
when the slab was erected.
There was also found a square block 20
inches high and 12 inches square. On the
front Avas rudely carved in low relief a
wreath or garland, with tassels, which en-
closes an inscription. It was placed in the
Buxton museum.
Two other Roman altars were found, and
were evidently once inscribed. The larger,
28 inches high with a panel for lettering,
stood for many years in the village of
Hope, and the other was found among the
debris in the vault. There were also num-
erous tiles inscribed with the name of the
regiments in garrison at Brough when they
were manufactured.
When the excavations were suspended in
1903, the walls were covered up, but the
vault, complete, was left open, being railed
round for the protection of cattle.
But there had been occasional " finds " at
the Hallsteads for centuries past, and it was
well known to archaeologists as the site of
a Roman camp. Some authorities have de-
clared that a town stood on the site, which
is not unlikely, considering that the locality
stretching right away to Eccles House is
known as " The Breach," i.e., a gap, par-
ticularly in a fortification made by a
battery. Some masons getting out the
foundations of a barn on " The Breach,"
nearly half a mile from the camp, bared
ancient walls of immense thickness.
In the year 1747 a bust of Apollo and of
another deity, in stone, were pi > i^hod up
on the Hallsteads. Some years later two
large urns containing ashes, were taken out
of the ground in a fine state of preservation.
They were found on a tongue of land be-
tween the camp and Bradwell Brook, which
was doubtless a cemetery. Xo doubt when
this comes to be explored there will be
more interesting discoveries. At a still
later period — about 1767 — a half-length
figure of a woman was found, with her arms
folded across her breast and wearing a large
peaked bonnet on her head. One valuable
find in 1783 was a gold coin of Vespasian,
and foiindations of buildings have been
tiirned up by the plough on every side, also
loads of tiles, bricks, broken swords, spears,
and bridle bits, and during the excavations
of 1903, there were found pieces of lead ore
and spar, evidently from the Bradwell
mines, some of which were worked by the
Romans.
A double row of gritstone pillars, between
which three men could walk abreast, for-
merly crossed the field where the Bradwell
Brook and the Noe have their confluence.
It is said that the original church of Hope
was built of .stone from the fort. It is
certain that the village of Brough was so
built, in fact, it aboiinds with inscribed
stones, and the capital of a Roman pillar
is built on the wall of a field in the centre
of the village by the roaidside. About the
year 1790. Mr. Samuel Sidebottom, a farmer,
found in the Hallsteads a gold coin of
Agustus Csesar. •
A Roman Pig of Lead.
When foundations were being dug for new
Bradwell B.nrd Schools in 1894,
the workmen found an ancient pig
of lead, which is now in the
Sheffield museum. It \.eighed 112 lbs, was
20 inches long, 5^ wide, auJ 3 high. It was
considerably worn, and the part which
might have borne the inscription had per-
ished. It was unquestionably Roman, and
being found close to the Roman road, with
so many ancient lead workings all round,
it was probably smelted at the place.
Ancient Baking Ovens.
About the same time highly interesting
discoveries were made in Nether Side on
property belonging to Mr. John Hall, and
at the foot of Charlotte Lane, just behind
the old chapel. When Mr. R. Barker was
taking down some old property at the latter
place some curious buildings were exposed,
which were, by some, supposed to be Roman
ovens, used when the garrison was at
Brough. It Avas a circiilar building of
dressed sandstone blocks, turned red by the
heat, and the top, almost flat, was held by
a massive keystone of rectangular shape.
The floor was composed of blocks of dressed
grey sandstone, and the structure was
most elaborate and skilfully constructed.
It was hoped by some, that these interest-
ing relics would remain uninjured, so as to
add to the many antiquarian attractions of
the locality, but they were destroyed. There
is, however, very good reason for believing
that they were not Roman at all, but that
they were public bakehouses, of which there
were many in Bradwell centuries before,
when the inhabitants sent their meal to be
baked, before the modern ovens came into
use. As a matter of fact octogenarians could
remember the one near the old chapel be-
ing used. On the top sides of the stone-
work was a great thickness of lime ashes,
in fact, the building was covered with it.
It was first heated by burning chafp which
was withdrawn before the bread was put in,
and the accumulated heat of the chamber
would be retained for weeks. It is, per-
haps, a pity that this splendid object lesson
of our forefathers was not preserved.
The Battle of Edwin Tree.
The very ground which the Roman
soldiers occupied was later the
scene of fierce conflicts during the Hep-
tarchy, when England was under the gov-
ernment of the seven Saxon kings. Derb.v-
shire was included in the kingdom of
Mercia, founded by Crida in the year 582,and
ended in 874. After Crida it was in every
way enlarged by Penda, and afterwards
converted to Christianity by Peada. Having
long endured the miseries of the Danish
wars, it was, after a duration of 250 years,
subjected to the dominion of the West
Saxons.
Standing on the old Batham Gate, and
close by the Gre.y Ditch is " Eden Tree."
This is statfd to be the site of a battle
during the heptarchy, and at the close of
the engagement a king named Edwin was
captured and hanged on a tree near the
f,pot. This tree was afterwards called
" Edwin's Tree/' long since corrupted to
" Eden Tree," and after the tree had per-
ished the spot where it stood bore the same
designation as it does at the present day.
There must have been an habitation here
at the time of the battle, for tradition says
that the King was captured in a garden.
About 1850 Mr. John Maltby, a local
worthy who was the owner and occupier of
the " Eden Tree " when making some ex-
cavations there found ancient places of
interment in which were many human bones.
Indeed, Bradwell is built on a battlefield,
and ever.ywhere there are names of places
strongl.y indicative of human carnage —
Grey Ditch, Rebellion Knoll, Gore Lane,
Deadmen's <^"lough, and many others. Gore
Lane is close to Eden Tree, on the line of
Batham Gate, the Roman road.
CHAPTER III.
IN THE TIMES OF THE FORESTERS.
The Earliest Foresters and the First
Settlers.
" Beshrew his horn, beshrew his heart.
In my forest he may not ride;
If he kills a deer, by the conqueror's bow,
By forest law he shall bide.
Eide on. Sir Payne, and tell the churl
Ho must cease his hunting cheer,
And come to the knee of the Suzeraine lord
Awaiting his presence here.
Hide with him, sirs, some two or three,
And bring him hither straight;
'Twere best for him to come at once.
Than cause his lord to wait.
There are trees in the forest strong enow.
To bear the madman's corse.
And he shall han? on the highest bough
If thither he comes perforce."
Wm. Bennett.
It has already been stated that a
thousand years ago Bradwell was a recog-
ni.sed boundary of the Forest; in fact, the
river was the boundary line to its source,
the forest wall running parallel. Conse-
quently that part on the east side of the
river was outside the forest. There was no
coal in those days; the people burned turf,
hence they were very jealous of their rights
of turbary. In the time of Henry the
Third (121C), Castleton, Bradwell, and
Hazlei)adge had extensive rights to tur-
J)ory, and Sampson de Arcel, "lord of the
town which is outside the forest," although
he had common of pasture, was not satis-
fied, and he was fined for digging turf. The
following places also look turbary without
license: Ilocklowe, Tideswell, Wormhill,
Buckstone, Bowdeu, Estou (Aston), and
Thornhill.
'Ihe ancient records contain numerous
entries relating to the " waste of woods "
in the Peak, and cue of these reads : " Wood
cf Nunueley, wasted by vill of Bradwall,
bail, Ricliard Danifl, and Rcberl- io Archer,
of Thornhill and Aston." The district was
formerly well wooded, but it has been com-
pletely cleared, and most of the timber used
up in the lead mines.
Whfn the Don:esday Book was compiled
in the reign of William the Conqueror
(1086) — the first account we possess of the
tenurfs of English estates — we find that:
■ 111 Bradewelle Leving and Sprot and
Owine had i.i. carucates of land hidable.
Land for i.i. ploughs. There now in
demesne i.i. ploughs, and VIII villeines
having i.i. ploughs. T.R.E. value xx
shillings; now xxx shillings."
A carucata was as much land as one man
cculd manage and till with a team of oxen
in a year. Thcrc^ could be no certain
quantity, for an industrious man would
plough a great deal more than an idle man.
In the time of Edward II. (the martyr), 975,
it contained about 100 acres. The tax was
called hidc-.ge, which meant a payment of
money to the King. The villeines were
farmers, such as had goods and stock of
their oAvn, and paid rent to their lords, part
in money, at this time very scarce and
dear, and part in labour. They were
obliged to till and plough the land, sow and
carry the corn and hay, etc., for the use
of the lord and his famil.y. They took
their name from Villa, a hamlet, small
town, or village, where they generally
dwelt, and in process of time they became
copyholders.
j Breaking the Bad Old Laws.
j It should be mentioned that many of the
offenders against the forest laws were men
I of position themselves. They were not
passive, but very active resisters of those
bad old laws, and seemed to unite in
. breaking them so as to bring about a better
j state of things, and were invariably bail for
I each other. As long as 35 years passed be-
tween courts of eyre being held, when sons
were called upon to answer and receive
punishment for something done by their
fathers, long ago deceased. To kill any
animal of the forest was more heinous than
murder, and was visited with inexecrable
torture.
If the Foresters, who were olticers sworn
to preserve the vert and venison in the
forest, found a man trespassing on the vert,
they might "attach" him by the body,
and cause him to find two pledges, or bail,
to appear at the next attachment court,
when he was set at liberty under bail (or
mainprized) until the next e.yre of the
justices. If offending a second time foxir
pledges were necessary, for a third time
I eight pledges, and for a fourth time he
had to be imprisoned until the eyre. One
of the offenders within the king's demesne
in the year 1242 was Galf de Bradwall. In
1272, the first year of Edward I. (Long-
shanks), John Gooring of Tychill was con-
senter to the crimes of John de Oke and
Peter de Ospring, who took one doe, and
one of his six bondsmen was Elias de
Bradwall. The same Elias de Bradwall
was bail for Roger Woodrove (probably of
Hope), who harboured all night Allcock de
Stones, who took one doe in Edale, in the
year 1282, and in the morning took the
venison to the house of William Foljanibe
at Wormhill.
In the year 1275 it was presented that
when the King hunted at Campana in the
Forest, on the Feast of the Assumption,
William, son of Rankelle of Hocklow,
came, and where the King's hounds had
t)ut at bay a certain stag in the park
teyond the bounds of the forest, hunted and
killed the .said stag, together with the
hounds, and when the King's huntsmen
came and cried him, that he fled, and the
huntsmen carried that venison to the
King's larder. Those who became bail for
him were William Fabre de Bradwall,
Eichard le Nuke (? Newwall Nook), Robert
de Abeny, Alan de Wormhill, Richard de
Duffield, and Henry Coteril. How this
Hucklow worthy was dealt with we are not
told, but if ever he was caught, doubtless
he would have the most severe punishment
the cruel forest laws could inflict upon him,
seeing that he had not been content with
shooting a stag, but actually .shot the King's
hounds as well.
Those Who First Enclosed the Land.
At Forest pleas the assart rolls were
always presented. The word "assart"
signifies the reduction of waste or woodland
to a state of cultivation, and for thus
cultivating the land our forefathers were
fined for trespass, and always had to pay
so much per acre for the crops sown on it,
generally Is. per acre for every crop of
winter corn and 6d. per acre for spring
corn. In a list of assarts allowed by
Warner Engaine (the Bailiff) in the year
1237 at 4d. per acre, Gregory de Bradwall
had enclosed 2 acres, and Galf de Bradwall
was his bail. Matthew de Bradwall had
also enclosed 6 acres. In another roll a
few years later, there is an entry of in-
terest showing that there must have been
camps or soldiers' quarters in Bradwell, for
in the list of assarts there is : "Fratees
Hospital de Villa Castra at Bradwall,
Thomas Bante la, bail Galf de Bradwall.
Robert Sergeant Prior of Lenton i a, bail
Gregory de Bradwall and Galf Quental."
Another offender was Nicholas, son of
William de Bradwall, who had enclosed an
acre, and William, son of William de Brad-
wall (evidently the offender's brother), be-
came bail for him. In the time of John de
Grey (1242) William de Bradwall gets
another acre.
The First Houses and Who Built Them.
Another form of forest encroachment was
purpresture, which meant building a house
or homestead within the forest bounds.
During the first 35 years of Henry III.'s
reign there was an average of eight houses
a year built in the Forest, and as a fine
had to be paid for each, it was a source of
considerable revenue. In 1283 Galf de
Bradwall was called to account for having
raised three houses in the forest without
warrant, and Clement do la Ford (Ford
Hall) became his bail. Another offender
was Magister John de Derby, Dean, the
Prior of Lenton in Bradwall. In the same
year the following were proceeded against,
before Roger L'Estrange, for breaking the
forest laws in a similar fashion : Richard
Millward de Bradwall, William ad Fontein
de Bradwall (twice), Richard Cnizer de
Bradwall, Elias de Bradwall (three times),
Nicholas the Clerk of Bradwall (twice).
Galf, son of Faber de Bradwall, again turns
up for building a house to the injury of the
forest, and this time has to find two bonds-
men, his friends Clement de la Ford and
Adam, son of Thomas of Castleton, again
coming forward.
At*the Pleas of 1286 it was presented that
" The Queen Consort of the King had a
horsefold in the forest with 115 mares and
young, to the great hurt of the forest, and
It is found that many had horses and mares
in the same campana under cover of the
aforesaid horsefold. who when required to
answer say that they are the Queen's."
Four of these belonged to Nicholas de Brad-
wall.
In the Pleas, in the time of Henry IV.
(1399), there is the entry: "Arthur Eyre,
for demesne of Bradwall, £4 16s. 4d.," and
on a subsequent roll are the following:
Bradwall, Robert Eyre for Strylly's londe,
Robert for Hucklow land, Robert for his
land, Robert for land of John Howe, Robert
for land of John Kocke, William Townsend,
Thomas Woodroffe for land of R. Hunt,
Elias Marshall, John Kirke, John Medalton,
Roger Howe for an intacke, Roger
Townsend, Robert Myddleton for an in-
tacke, John Kocke for land of R. Greene,
Johis Wryght, Ric. Kocke, Thurston Eyre,
Hugh Bradwall, Henry Forness for land of
John Tyme, Johis Burton, Wm. Elott,
Thomas Eyre for land of R. Slacke, Thomas
Wodroffe, Thomas Barley. Total villa for
turbary. Total villa for pinfold. Robert
Eyre for demeyne de Bradwall £6 16s. 8d.,
Robert Halom for one Cantabulo.
At the Old Court Leet.
The rolls of the various courts, or views
of Frankpledge held throughout the reign
of Henry \'I., are interesting as con-
taining the old names. A court was held
at Castleton on Wednesday after the feast
of St. Edmund, king and martyr (1472),
when Nicholas Howe attached Nicholas
Eyre, who acknowledged that he owed " one
lode of ore and five dishes; "Wm. Gervis
attached Wm. Morten, in plea of debt 23s.
4d., acknowledged 4d. Eichard Slacke de
Burgh attached Nicholas Eyre in plea of 3
lodes of lead ore. Wm. Middleton attached
Thurston Hall. Eobert and Wm. Elott
attached William Townsend. Wm. Morton
attached Matilda Wragg, because he is not
responsible for distress of corn. John
Donne attached Nicholas Eyre because he
killed one ewe price 2s. 6d. John Gervis
admitted owing Nicholas Eyre 6 lode of
lead ore. Hugh Howe was fined because he
did not prosecute his claim against Ernest
Cooke and others in four pleas of trespass.
In the same year, at a court held Wednes-
day, on the feast of St. Leonard, John
Middleton attached Eobert Elott of Brad-
wall, who admitted debt and " is in mercy."
There was another item of interest at a
view of Frank Pledge at Castleton on
Wednesday after the Feast of St. Edmund
king and martyr (13th Oct., 1472), when
Nicholas Eyre, Thos. Howe, Nich. Seward,
Wm. Bagshawe, Eoger and Wm. Townsend
took of the Lord the demesne lands of Brad-
wall for 10 years, paying four marcs
annually, and they did fidelity. Wm.
Morten, son of Eich. Morten, Johanna, wife
of Jo. Barbour, and Thos. Glover, were
offenders at this court.
In the following year, at a great Court
Leet, John Middleton attached Nicholas
Halle of Cotes, and John Howe attached
Eobert Middleton. At another court held
the same year on the Vigil of the Apostles
Simon arid Jude (28th October), Wm.
Townsend, Thos. Bradwall, Jo. and Wm.
Hall, Wm. Forness, Eoger Townsend, and
Nich. Howe were on the jury. At this
court Wm. Forness surrendered a cottage
in Bradwall near the tenement of Thomas
Woodruff, to Eobert Elott, fine 4d., and
"did fidelity." Wm. and Thomas Middle-
ton assaulted Nicholas Eyre. Alexander
Walker assaulted Jo. Crosby. Jo. Halum,
Thos. Donne, and Eoger Marshall fined for
offences. When the tenants of these
assarts died their heirs paid double rent
for the first year, and the King had also
the second best beast, the first going to the
Church.
For many of these extracts we are in-
debted to Mr. Yeatman's "Feudal
History."
There are interesting references to several
of the leading people of Brad well in the
Lichfield Mortuary List for the year 1399.
These dues were payable, on the death of a
householder or his wife, to the official re-
ceiver for the Dean and Chapter. The
custom in the l*eak was that the second
best beast was taken (horses and cattle),
and when no beasts were kept the best
wearing apparel of the deceased was
claimed. But it was a merciful provision
that no l)east was taken except where there
were three, so that the survivor of the
deceased had always a beast left.
In the list the vahie of a tunic (clothing)
varies from 2d. to 3s., a cow 4s. to 8s , and
an ox from 6s. to 15s. But in order to
arrive at the relative value to-day these
sums should be multiplied by twenty.
On the death of Margarite, wife of Thos.
de Bradewalle, the Church claimed her
tunic, valued at 4d. On the death of
Alicia, widow of Eichard, son of Galf de
Bradewalle, an ox, value lis., was claimed,
and after the death of Arabella, wife of
Thos. de Bradewalle, her husband had to
forfeit a cow worth 6s.
CHAPTEE IV.
WHEN THE FOREST WAS CLEARING.
Landowners at Loggerheads.
About the year 1400 the forest was
gradually getting cleared of trees, and the
beasts of the forest were being thinned.
The lands were getting into the possession
of many small owners, and in Bradwell
their descendants still remain on the spot.
The Wirksworth Hundred Eolls relate how,
in the reign of Henry VI. (1438), Eobert
Eyre and Eichard Walkden, vicar of Hope,
gave £20 to John Birmingham and Alice his
wife; John Woodhouse, Margery his wife,
9 a. in Little Hucklowe, and the same in 26
Henry VI. gave 100 un. to Thomas Padley
and Eose his wife for J of 3 messuages and
50 a. land, and 10 a. meadow in Hope and
Bradwell.
At an Inquisition taken at Ashbourne in
the 10th year of Henry the Sixth, to
ascertain the Knight's fee, etc., within the
County of Derby, for the purpose of ascer-
taining the subsidy for the defence of the
realm, one of the entries reads thus:
" Eichard Coke, of Bradwell, 20s. in Brad-
well," and another : " Edmund de Ashen-
hurst, of Eyton, Notts., 13s. 4d. in Brad-
well." There is a list of all the great
landowners in the Peak on whom levies
were made, from which it would appear
that the two named were landowners here.
On the 2nd of March, 1486, in the first
year of his reign, Henry VII. leased to Sir
John Savage, junior, of Castleton, for seven
years, tlie following at the undermentioned
yearly rents:— The herbage or agistment in
Campana in the High Peak called le
Champaigne in le High Peak £40; for the
herbage of Crokhill and the pasture called
Eowley and Asishope, and the herbage of
Westendene and the pasture Birchendever-
both, and the pasture called Alport, in
Crokhill £30 7s. 6d., for the messuage called
Crokhill, in the parish of Hope, in Crokhill,
25s. lOd. ; for the vacarry of Eydale £38; for
the demesne land called le Castel Flattes,
in the field of Castelton, £4; for the lands,
meadows, and pastxires of Bradlowe with
the herbage of Bradlowe. £10; for all the
demesne lands and meadows of Bradwell,
in the High Peak, £5 6s. 8d. ; for the herb-
age of Maynstonfeld, or otherwise called
Chyneley, £10 13s. 4d. ; for the herbage of
9
Shelf and Combes, £4 7s. 8d. ; for the mill of
Maynstonfeld, 36s. 8d. ; for the mill of
Tynstide, 36s. 8d. ; for the water-mill of
Newmyll, with the meadow called Erles
Medew, in Ashbourne, £6 13s. 4d. ; for "lotte
and cope " arising from the lead mines
within the King's lordship of the High
Peak, £6 13s. 4d. ; for the fishery of the
water of Wey, with all rivulets and waters
within the precinct of the forest of the High
Peak, 5s.; for passage, stallages and
advowson of the toll of the market of la
Frith 33s. 4d. The said John Savage is to
keep all the said premises in repair, the
King finding sufficient timber for the said
repairs, but the said John to be at the cost
of carrj'ing the same.
. The calendar to the Pleadings in the
Duchy of Lancaster contains many interest-
ing entries relating to the litigation cen-
turies ago. In the 41st year of Queen
Elizabeth's reign (1599) the Attorney-Gen-
eral was plaintiff and Rowland Eyre, other-
wise called Ayer, the defendant, the pre-
mises and matters in dispute being, " in-
trusion on the Grange called Howfeilde,
grounds called Hobholmes and Fearn-
holmes, the demesne of Bradwall, fishing
of the river, and lott and cope of the lead
mines."
In the same year there was another ac-
tion concerning exactly the same proper-
ties, the parties being Rowland Eyre and
Jarvis Eyre, on behalf of the said Row-
land, plaintiffs, and John Millward and
Robert Millward defendants.
But there had been actions at law prior
to this, for in 1594 the Attorney-General,
on behalf of the tenants and inhabitants of
the Manor as plaintiffs took action against
"Andrew Eyre. Hugh Bradwall, and EUys
Marshall, the defendants, the premises and
matters in dispiite being common of pas-
ture for beasts and cattle on divers specified
lands in Bradwall Town."
There was another suit in 1597, when
Alexandra Eire, Walter Marshall, Richard
Middeton, Ellis Ashton, Robert Bowman.
Hugh Marshall, and William Marshall
were the plaintiffs, and they contended that
Thomas Eire, the defendant, was in illegal
possession of demesne lands in Bradwall,
and fishing in the Wye water.
There was, in fact litigation extending
over many years between the Eyres and the
rest of the freeholders.
Being completely sick of the forest laws,
and anxious to be freed from them, as well
as from deer lying and feeding in their
corn and grass, and have the wastes im-
proved, the freeholders petitioned King
Charles about 1639 to improve the wastes.
In the following year the forest was dis-
forested and the deer destroyed, and
Charles II. granted his share to the Earl
of Chesterfield in trust for Queen Catherine.
But in 1684 Thomas Eyre, of Highlow, by
some grant from the Queen, obtained the
lands at a yearly rent, including waste
lands in Bradwell, Hope, Castleton, Aston,
Thornhill, Wormhill, Chapel-en-le-F; ith,
Shallcross, Fairfield, Fernilee, and Mellor.
In Vol. xi. of the "Historical Manu-
scripts Commission," relating to the docu-
ments of the House of Lords, there are
some interesting particulars of a case heard
before the Chancellor and three Barons of
the Exchequer in the year 1685, when
Thomas Eyre, of Hassop, accused his rela-
tive, Thomas Eyre, of Highlow Hall, of
land grabbing. It is the petition of Eyre,
Henry Balguy, "and divers others, free-
holders and inhabitants of the towns of
Hope, Bradwell, and Wormhill, in the
County of Derby." The document is dated
May 26, 1685, and reads:—
"Charles I., in sight of the Duchy of
Lancaster, was seized of the Manor and
Forest of High Peak, in the County of
Derby, and several waste grounds parcel
whereof, wherein are the towns of Bowden-
Middlecale, and Chappell-en-le-Frith, and
divers others, besides the towns of Hope^
Bradwell, and Wormhill, in which last
three towns the freeholders and tenants
have time out of mind had common pas-
ture and turbary, and other profits upon
the waste thereof. Thomas Eyre, of Gray's
Inn and Highlow, the Relator, Respondent,
upon a pretended discovery that a moiety
of the waste in the said forest belonged to
the Crown, obtained a lease or grant
thereof, at fifty pound per annum, during
the Queen Dowager's term, and interest
therein (of which nothing has been paid),
and one hundred yearly in reversion, and
thereon exhibited two informations against
the tenants of Bowden-Middlecale, and
Chappell-en-le-Frith and other hamlets,
and obtained decree allotting him several
thousand acres, far beyond the value of the
rent reserved, pretending that enough
would be left for those entitled to the
rights of common. Not content with that,
he exhibited a distinct information at the
suit of Sir John Heath, late Attorney-
General for the Duchy, on behalf of the
late King and the Queen Dowager, and Sir
James Butler, Her Majesty's Attorney-
General, and others, against Petitioner and
others. Freeholders in the towns of Hope,
Bradwell, and Wormhill, suggesting that
in 1639 or 1640 the latter petitioned the
late King to disforest the Forest of High
Peak, for which he was to have a moiety of
the waste there, and that the same was
accordingly disforested and divided between
the Crown and the Commoners by certain
agreements made forty or fifty years ago,
and praying to have a moiety of the waste
of those three towns, containing over three
thousand statute acres, and to have an
execution of the said pretended agreement
by decree of the Duchy Court."
The names attached to the petitions are
of considerable interest at this day, because
we get at the local men of note so very
long ago. Those from Bradwell are in
small capitals. They were :— Thomas
Eyre, William Inge, Henry Balguy,
10
Thomas Balguy, Nicholas Thornhill, Jo.
HuBLEE, Jo. Wagstaffe, Eobert Hallam,
John Booking, Anthony Hall, Gkorge
Hallam, Adam Bagshawe, Nicholas Stones,
Anthony Longsdon, George Bagshawe,
Richard Bower, Humphry Thornhill,
Thomas Fletcher. There is a long report
of the case in the Government records,
from which it appears that Eyre, of High-
low, somehow got possession of lands which
belonged to Rowland Eyre, cf Hassop, but
when later on, there was redistribution,
fresh fences a:ound Bradwell. Hope, and
Wormhill, and when there had been pur-
chases made, then Rowland Eyre, of
Ha.ssop, about 1687. got a fresh order from
the Chancellor of the Duchy, and the peti-
tioners won their case. "In the tenth year
of Queen Anne, 1711, the Chancellor de-
creed that the Plaintiff and all other the
'iaid tenants, freeholders, and copyholders
of these several townships may for ever
hereafter peacefully enjoy their moiety of
the said common."*, etc., and the soyle
thereof."
CHAPTER V.
SOME OLD CHARTERS FOR FIVE
HUNDRED YEARS.
LANDOWNERS AND INHABITANTS IN
THE MIDDLE AGES AND AFTER.
Here are a number of charters showing
grants and conveyances of properties and
curious tenures, dating back more than 600
years.
In the 151h vear of the reign of Edward
I. (1287), William de Bradwall was on the
jury at an inquisition, and Clement de-la-
Ford was a contemporary.
On May 6th, 1298, a grant was made from
Robert, son of Ellis de Bradewall, and
Alice his wife, to Thomas Foljaumbe, of
Teddeswell, of a yearly rent of 12d. secured
upon their lands in Schatton.
On March 25th, 1305, William, son of
Willhelmini Blaunchard, of Castiltone,
made a grant to Peter de Shattone, forester,
of a rent of 2s., with a day's reaping in
autumn, price 2d., from a tenement in
Burgh. Witnesses, Clement de la Ford,
Ballious de Pecco, William Hally, Robert
le Eyr, etc.
On August 24th, 1405, power of attorney
was given by Richard de Rouworth, of
Hope, to John Dean, chaplain, and
Ricnard Bocking, to give seisin to Ana-
bella his sister of a piece of land under
Nunley.
On August 15th, 1411, William Horderon
and Aiiabella his wife granted to John de
Staveley a piece of arable land lying
))etween " Le Greensyde " and " Le Nunn-
ley."
In the tifth year of the reign of Edward
III. (1332), John de Bradwall was witness
to a Shatton deed.
In the 19th vear of the reign of Henry
VII. (1504), Robert Eyre, of Padley, died,
seized of lands at Broadwall, 6 messuages
and 124 acres, held of the King as parcel
of the Duchy of Lancaster. A service twice
a year at the court of Peak Castle.
In the first year of the reign of Richard
III. (1483), Nicholas Eyre, of Redseats,
Castleton, had lands in Bradwall.
In October, 1657, William Fitzherbert
and his son Basill, his heir apparent, owned
the Farcotes, in Bradwell — probably
alienated about this time by them.
In 1711, Thomas How, husbandman, of
Youlgrave, and Mary How, his wife, in
consideration of forty pounds and one
shilling, conveyed to Thomas Middleton. of
Bradwall, butcher, a barn adjoining " Ye
Hollowgate and Ye Gutter." The witnesses
to the deed were Laurans Marshall, Hugh
Bradwall, and Chr. Marshall.
In 1715, John Derneley, of the Mountains,
in Bradwall, is mentioned in a Duchy deed,
and Mark Furness in the same document.
In the reign of Henry III. or Edward I.,
Robert de Bradewell, son of Will, son of
Fabiana de Bradewell, granted to Richard,
his brother, half a bovate of land in Brade-
well, the rent being a rose on the Feast
of St. Peter and Paul (29th June). The
witnesses to the deed were John Flemink,
bailiff of the Peak, Will Hally, Robert
Balgy, etc.
On the Wednesday before the Feast of
St. John (24th June), 1376, a final concord
was made in the Court of John, King of
Castile and Leon, Duke of Lancaster, at
Castelton, whereby .John de Wetton and
Elena, his wife, relea.se to Walter de Brad-
walle a messuage and nine acres of land in
Bradwalle.
Under date 15th July, 1.532, there is a
lease for five years from James Denton.
Dean, and the Chapter of Lichfield, to
Nicholas Bagshawe, of Capella de by Fryth,
of the tithes of hay and corn at Bradwall,
and of the null of Brugh.
Under date 1430, there is a lease from the
Prior and Convent " des Preez," of Derby,
to Walter Halley, of Blakebrook, Henry
Joye, Hugh, son of the said Walter Halley,
and William del Kyrke, of Chapel, of the
Sasture of Byrstalle<jh (Berristal Lodge,
Iradwell), in the parish of Hope.
On October 5th, 1551, Henry Wyllyaves,
Dean, and the Chapter of Lichfield, leased
for 99 years the tithes of Bradwall, Brugh-
mill, Ofi'reton, Abney and Abney Grange,
Upper and Lower Shatton, Overton and
Hvlowe, to Nicholas Bagshawe, of Farewell,
CO. Staff.
On November 11th, 1483, Nicholas Eyre,
of Redseats, Castleton, executed a feoffment
to Richard Vernon, of Hasyl Badge. Henry
Columbell, of Darley, Walter Halley and
Hugh NPedham, of all his lands in Red-
seats, Castylton, Bradwall, Herdikwall.
11
and Sterndale, iu High Peak, in trust for
the said Nicholas, with remainder to his
sous, Nicholas and Martin.
In 1714, Thomas Eyre, gentleman, leased
to Thomas Middleton, Bradwall, clothier,
his one-sixth part of a farm in Bradwall,
called Lif^tle Martin's farm, namely, 3
closes of land in Stretfield, and a little
Pingle iindfr Eden Tree, one-fourth part of
pasture under Eden Tree, one Bastard Rood
in Grey Ditch, one Butt under Micklow,
and one-sixth part cf all commons to the
same, on payment rf £4 lis. 8d., and one
fat hen yearly, and the keeping of a hound
or spaniel fvery sixth year.
In 1742. Martin Middleton, yeoman, and
Thomas Middleton, of Smalldale, weaver,
granted to Thomas Middleton, for £20, a
close called The Hassocks, subject to the
pavment of 5s. a year to the ooor of Brad-
well as charged by the wifl of Thomas
Middleton, father of Martin Middleton, on
the Feast Day of St. Thomas the Apostle
for ever.
In 1766, Elizabeth Middleton, widow, and
her son Martin Middleton, husbandman, of
Bradwall, for £32, conveyed to Isaac
Maltby, blacksmith, " all that housing and
backside known by the name of Gutter
Barn," on payment to His Majesty King
George fourpence a year. The deed was
signed by the vendors, and also by Thomas
Middleton. ciergynian, brother and heir to
Martin Middleton, and witnessed by Robert
Hall and Elias Marshall.
In Calendar of Deeds at Derby is : 14
July. 14 George III. (a.d. 1774), John
Wagstaff, then late of Glossop, in the
County of Derby, farmer, but then of
Youldgreave, in the same county, of the
first part; Edward Timperley, of Yould-
greave, aforesaid, gentleman of the second
part; and Samuel Hadfield, of Newton
Heath, in the Parish of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster.
Bargain and sale in fee of a messuage in
Bradwell, in the County of Derby, a parcel
of land thereunto belonging, one other
messuage and one croft called Whortley
Yard in Broadwall. another messuage there,
a bam and a little building in Bradwell
aforesaid, and a barn called the Cock Barn,
and the several hereditaments within Brad-
well aforesaid, subject to a life estate
therein of Olive Wagstafi.
In 1784 Adam Hallam, butcher, con-
veyed to John Bradwall, yeoman, a house
and butcher's shop in Bradwall. In 1794
William Jacson, of Smalldale, miner, in
consideration of thft upper part of a croft
called Ofierton Croft, and five shillings in
money, conveyed to Charles Andrew, of
Smalldale, farmer and lime burner, a croft
at Eden Tree. The witnesses to the deed
were Robert Whitley and John Ellis.
In 1798 Charles Andrew, late of Eden
Tree, near Bradwall, but now of Chester-
field, labourer, and Mary, his wife, for £83
12s. 6d., conveyed to George Ibberson. of
Bradwall, labourer, the croft at Eden
Tree, on which he had built a house and
barn. This deed was witnessed by
Benjamin Barber and Robert Middleton.
Even in the 16th Century the working
classes were little better than slaves, for
an Act of 1562 compelled all persons be-
tween the ages of fifteen and sixty not
otherwise employed or apprenticed to serve
in husbandry; if they left their employ-
ment unlawfully they were sent to p*;ison,
and servants leaving a parish without a
testimonial were liable to imprisonment.
The magistrates in Quarter Sessions fixed
both the hours of work and the rate of
wages, and any labourer who did not obey
was liable to be fined £5 and serve a month
in gaol. And no employer was allowed to
give higher wages; if he did so he was
liable to a fine and imprisonment. Single
women between twelve and fo:ty were com-
pelled to work, and a workman who as-
saulted his master must be imprisoned for
not less than a year. And in 1597 the Act
was extended to weavers.
The condition of the working classes in
Bradwell may be gathered when it is men-
tioned that in the year 1634 farm lads
under twenty had to work for ten shillings
a year, and a female of that age a pound,
while the wages of a harvestman varied
f!X)m eightpence to a shilling a day, and
a woman haymaker sixpence a day, while a
day labourer had sixpence a day in winter
and sevenpence in summer. Those receiv-
ing these sums had to find their own food.
Carpenters, joiners, plumbers, glaziers,
masons, bricklayers, slaters, and plasterers
had only a shilling a day, reduced by 2d. a
day dunng winter, and the law compelled
all tradesmen to work for the farmers dur-
ing harvest, or be punished by being put
in the stocks. In twelve years the wages
had been raised about 4d. a day. No
wonder that the Bradwell men preferred
to work in the mines, where they had their
liberty rather than be under such servitude.
And at a time when wheat was 41s. 8d. a
quarter.
In the 16th Century subsidies or ^ aids
were granted by Parliament to the Crown
on varioiis occasions for Royal or Imperial
purposes, and were levied upon landowners
in respect of the annual value of their
lands at the rate of 4s. in the £, and upon
other persons in respect of their movable
goods, including crops on the gross value
at the rate of 2s. 8d. in the £. In 1599
those who were assessed and paid this tax
on their lands in Bradwell were Elliz
Marshall. George Howe, and Mark Trickett,
and in 1634 the freeholders were John
Hallam. William Marshall, and Miles
Marshall.
Seventeenth Century Residents.
From the Easter Roll for the Parish of
Hope for the year 1658 we get a very fair
glimpse of the condition of the people of
Bradwell in the middle of the seventeenth
12
century. These Easter dues were quite dis-
tinct from the tithing of animals. In Hope
parish it was the custom to pay 2d. upon
each cow. Id. on each calf, an acknowledge-
ment of Id. from every keeper of sheep, and
2d. from every bee-keeper. These ecclesi-
astical dues were rigidly enforced.
As showing that Bradwell must have
been a populous village even so long ago,
the list is of value, there being over 150
who had Easter dues to pay on their live
stock. Here again, many of the old family
names will be found, some of whom have
long ago left the soil, while others remain.
The "Bradwall" list is as follows: —
s. d.
Adam Slack 11
Adam Wright ... 9
Adam Kirk 1 4
Adam Thornehill 1 1
Adam Padley ... 10
Adam Balgay,
gent 9
Adam Hallam ... 9
Adam Marshall 9
Allen Bower 9
Andrew Smith ... 9
Andrew Hallam 10
Baggot Hadfleld 10
Eliz. Wood ...
Edw. Slacke ...
Edw. Marshall
Edw. Wright ... 1
Ellis Middleton 1
Ellis Ashton 1
Ellis Lyderland 1
Ellis Mellor
Ellis Morten ...
Francis Yellot
George Morten
Georsre E.vre ... ,
Geo. Doodin ...
Geo. Slacke ...
Geo. Wilson ...
Geo. Bridocke -
Geo. Worseley
10
Geo. Hunter
Geo. Bradwall
Geo. Andrewes ...
Geo. Burrowes ...
Gilbert Charles-
worth alias
Marshall 9
Godfrey Hallam 1
Godfrey Marshall 11
Godfrey Morten 1
Godfrey Chap-
man 9
Henry Slaoke ... 7
Hen. Tricket 10
Hen. Bromehead 9
Hen. How 9
Hugh Taylor
alias Hall ... 9
Hugh Hill. sen.
Hugh Bradwall...
Humphrey Mid-
dleton ...
Humphrey Mar-
shall
John Downing
John Wyld ...
John Hurler...
Jo. Case, sen.
Jo. Case, jun.
James Bagshawc
John Wood
Jo. Yellott .
Jo. Bradwall
1 2
10
9
9
10
9
9
9
10
1
Jo. Hambleton
Jo. Hallowe ...
Jo. Wright ...
Jo. Ogden
Jo. Swinscow
John Bullock ...
James Middleton
Jo. Lingard and
his mother-in-
3. d.
11
1
11
9
law
Jo. How
Jo. Morten ...
Jo. Wilson ...
Jo. Middleton
..
..
9
6 Joseph Burrowes
11 Lawrence Balgay,
10
9
9
9
Mar-
gent
Lawrence
shall
Matthew Thorn-
hill 1
Mark WoodrifFe
Martin Marshall,
BaylifiFe
Martin Middleton 1
Martin How
Martin Marshall
Martin Furnesse
Matthew Brome-
head
Michael Hill
Nicolas Sykes ... 1
Richard Millward
Rob. Offerton ... 1
Rob. Middleton,
sen 1
Richard Middle-
ton
Robt. Clowes
Rbt. Marshall ...
Rbt. Burrowes ...
Ro. Bradwall
Ro. Hallam,
10
fil.
9
1 4
9
9
10
6
9
9
9
9
1
9
1 4
1 1
10
9
Ellis 9
Rob. Heyward ... 9
Roger How 9
Richard Ragg ... 10
Rob. Leech 8
Rob. Hall, jun. ... 9
Ralph Cowper ...
Robt. Eyre 9
Rich. Frost 9
Rob. Palfreyman 9
Rob. Hallam 1 1
Rob. Hall 11
Rob. Middleton,
jun 9
Roger Smyth ... 1 6
Steven Jackson ... 9
Tho. Slacke 11
Tho. Armefleld ... 7
Tho. How, ye
Sonne of Mich. 1
B. d. I. i.
Tho. Ashton, alias Uxor, John Chap-
Quimby 10 man 6
Tho. Dower 10 Uxor, Tho.,
Tho. Morten 10 Padley 6
Tho. Brownell ... 9 Uxor, Wm. Eyre 6
Tho. Padley ... 9 Uxor, Wm. Wilson 6
Tho. Hall 1 Uxor, Bradwall
Tho. Bromehead, cum Alio
jun 9 Dennis 1
Tho. Marshall ... 1 1 Uxor, Low 7
Tho. Dolphin ... 9 Uxor, Francis
Tho. Bradwall ... 1 10 Heyward 7
Tho. Eyre 11 Uxor, Tho. Jack-
Tho. Bromehead son, sen 7
sen 6 Uxor, Miles Mar-
Tho. Hallom. shall 1
Sonne of Uxor, Dernelly ... 9
Humph 11 Wm. Midleton,
Tho. Bray 1 6 alias Wilson... 9
Tho. How, fil Wm. Hunter ... 10
John 10 Wm. Jackson 1 6
Tho. Doodin 9 Wm. Nelson 9
Tho. Marshall, Wm. How. fil
sen 9 Jo 9
Tho Hallom, Wm. How, fil
Outland 1 Mich , 1 3
Uxor, Jo.: Wm. Burgesse ... 9
Barbor 9 Wm. Hartle 1
Uxor Jo.: Nowell Wm. Hill 1 2
Uxor Jo.: Doodin Wm. Hall 10
Uxor, Tho.: Wm. Smith 9
Midleton 1 2 Wm. Case 9
Uxor, Wm., Wm. Hugill 9
Bramhall 7 Wm. Downing ... 9
Uxor, Noden ... 7 Wm. Hall, sen.... 1
Uxor, Heath, Wm. Charles-
Anderton ... 7 worth 10
Uxor, Rich.,
Hallom 10
" Uxor," of course, means "widow."
The enclosure of the common lands was
made in the year 1806, and the award exe-
cuted in 1819. The lands thus awarded to
various owners measured 718 acres 17
perches.
In "a particular account of the rents due
and payable to her present Majesty Queen
Anne within the Manner of High Peak for
tho year 1709," wo have : —
" BRADWALL."
Rowland Eyre, Esq., for Brough
Mill 00. ..07. ..00
Ditto for Nether Hall 00. ..09. ..00
Ditto for Thornhill 00. ..06. ..00
Ellis Middleton for Land near
Brough 00...00...01J
Ellis Middleton, of Brough 00...02...00i
Hugh Bradwell, son of George ... 00...02...00i
William Bradwell 00. ..01. ..00
Edmund Greaves, for part of
Ellis Bradbury - ... 00...00...08J
Wm. Ragg for part of the same 00...00...09J
Godfrey King, for Land there... 00. ..02.. .00
Mr. Richard Bagshawo and John
Hurler for part of Mr. Eyre's 00. ..02.. .00
Hugh Bradwall, for part of Mr.
Eyre's 00. ..00. ..03
George Lingard for an Intack for
Coppy 00. ..00. ..01
George Bagshawe for Land 00. ..00. ..01
Ditto for Land, late Revels 00. ..00.. .02
John Middleton for fallow land... 00. ..00. ..06
Libertys of Bradwall 00. ..10. ..00
Edward Eyre for Land, late Old-
fleld's 00. ..00. ..04
Turbcry 00.. .04. ..00
Pinfold 00. ..00. ..06
13
Isaao Morton for Land late
Marshall's 00...00...01J
Martin Middleton for Gregory's
Eevil's 00...01...01i
Ditto for Land, late Ward's ... 00...00...07J
Ditto for more late Middleton's 00. ..00. ..03
John Morewood, Esq.. for Land
late James Middleton's 00. ..00. ..04
Edwd. Bradwell, son of Hugh, for
Geo. Bradwell 00 00 01
Ditto for more, late Eevill's 00.. .00.. .02
Humphrey Blackwell for oopp.... 00. ..00. ..01
Rowland Eyre, Esq 00...00...11i
Thomas Toft for Land 00. ..00. ..02
John Crooks 00.. .00.. .04
William Middleton 00. ..00. ..04
Thomas Howe 00. ..00. ..04
Do. for Derneley's 00. ..00. ..02
Thomas Thornhill 00. ..00. ..04
Mr. John Wagstafl 00...04...u0
Thos. Silvester 00. ..01. ..04
John Howe for Ooppy 00. ..00. ..01
The Heires of John Hurlor for
part of Stephen Marshall's... 00. ..00. ..04
Ditto for more late Heathqot's 00. ..00. ..04
Jolin Roe for Land late Mr.
Eyre's 00. ..05. ..04
Mr. Ward for Land late R^vil's 00. ..00. ..04
Joseph Ibbotson, for ooppy 00...00...01i
When Voting was "Open."
At the Parliamentary election of 1734 the
candidates for Derbyshire were the Eight
Hon. Charles Cavendish, Liberal; Sir
Nathaniel Curzon, Bart. ; and Henry
Harper, Esq.. Tories. The following were
the electors of Bradwell at that time : —
Name. Place of Abode.
John Bradwell Bradwall.
Robt. Burrows, sen.... Bradwall.
Robt. Burrows, jun.... Bradwall.
Joseph Burrows Great Hucklow.
Thom,as Chapman... Bradwall.
Thomas Duddin Bradwall.
Robert French Smalldale.
John Greaves Bradwall.
Godfrey Hall Bradwall.
Robert Hallam Bradwall.
Thomas Hallam Bradwall.
— . Ibbotson Smalldale.
Benjamin Kirk Bradwall.
Elliss Marshall Bradwall.
Martin Middleton Bradwall.
Martin Middleton Bradwall.
Richard Middleton ... Bradwall.
Richard Middleton,
jun Bradwall.
Thomas Middleton Bradwall.
Isaac Morton Hognaston.
Monk Morgan Ashover.
Philemon Pickford... Bradwall.
Daniel Roe Smalldale.
John Salt Bradwall.
Georoe Trickett Smalldale.
Joseph Vernon Ohinley.
Richard Wragg Bradwall.
William Wragg Bradwall.
Richard Worsley Bradwall.
All these voted for Cavendish with the
exception of Daniel Eoe, who voted for
Curzon. The result was: Cavendish, 2,077;
Curzon, 2,038; Harper, 1,800. Cavendish
and Curzon were elected the members for
Derbyshire. At the election of 1868, the
following were the votes of the Bradwell
electors : — Lord George Henry Cavendish
(L.), 120; Sir William Jackson (L.), 124;
Captain A. P. Arkwright (C), 28.
BROUCH MILL AND APPROACH TO ROMAN CAMP.
1^
CHAPTER VI
WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD.
THE STRELLEYS OF HAZLEBADGE
AND BROUGH.
CURIOUS TENURE OF BROUGH MILL.
" I come to where the old Corn Mill
Cast its long shadows down the hill;
Through the rent sails the wind did moan.
The battered top returned a groan ;
The canvas flapped — each creaking sail
Bore to my ear a mournful tale;
And, listening as the breezes stir'd.
This strange soliloquy I heard."
— Platts, Eyani.
What historian, or archaeologist, or anti-
quarian, can pass through the Roman
station of Brough and look at the old corn
mill, built of the stone from the Roman
camp, without thinking of the once power-
inl family of Strelley.'^ They were original
owners oif the place near Nottingham, from
whence they derived their name, and
possessed lands there Icng before the Nor-
man. conquest. And they were amongst the
first in antiquity and prestige in De'-' by-
shire.
In or about the first year of Henry II.,
A.D. 1154, Hazlebach, with the rest of the
Peveril estates, was forfeited by its owner
for poisoning the Earl of Chester, and it
came into the hands of the Strelleys.
But what about Brough? It is certain
that Philip de Strelley was in possession of
Brough Mill before King John began to
reign in 1199, because in the Pipe Rolls
there is a list of those assessed for the
Coronation of King John, among them
being "Philip de Strelley, £4 for the M'll
of Burgh." And in the Hundred Rolls of
1275 it is recorded that "the Mill of the
Burgh was in the hands of the said King
John, and he gave it to Philip de Strelley
for the service of finding a valet for carry-
ing a falcon trained to tako herons in the
season, and so it was held from King to
King, by heir to heir, and Hugo Strelley
now holds it." It was indeed a curious
tenure, but a great honour to attend the
K'ug on horseback whenever he should
come into Derbyshire carrying a heroner.
"If his horse should die on the joxirney,
the King was to buy him another, and to
provide two robes and bouche of court."
But the office was no sinecure, because the
King was often in Derbyshire, and some-
times on the very threshold of Brough and
Ifazlebadge. King John was often in the
county, Henry III. stayed at the castle of
the Peake in 1264, ana Edward I. visited
Derbyshire in 1275, and stayed both at
Tideswell and Ashbourne, while Edward II.
was often here. Henry IV. was frequently
in the I'eak. and in 1402 tarried for a tinn-
at Tideswell, from which town he issued
o'ders an to niilitar.y preparations against
the Welsh, and the Strelleys were horsemen
under Henry V. at the Battle of Agincourt.
There were strange doings in those day>,
for we are told that Philip de Strelley paid
to the King ten marks and a palfrey (i.e.,
a small horse fit for ladies) for the privilege
of marrying Avicia, the posthumous daugh-
ter and heiress of Richard FitzRogers.
Sampson, son and heir of Philip, i)aid two
marks for his relief of the mill at BrougU
in 1247, and in 1250 he held the manor of
Hazlebach. In 1252, Adam de Langesdone
and Albredo, his wife, gave to Sampson de
Strelley, for a sparrow hawk, 3 oxgangs of
land in Haslebach, in iee, performing all
serv'ces pertaining to the same land. In
1250 William Burdett granted to Robert
"Molendarins" (the miller), of Haselbache,
half a vigate of land in the fields of Hasel-
bache. and there are other charters of
HAZLEBADGE HALL,
where the kingly Vernons held their courts
and Sir Richard Vernon lived.
about the same date confirming to Sampson
two "tofts" of land in Haselbache, " pay-
yearly one pair of white gloves as one
farthing." Hugh de Strelley died in 1292,
and in a transcript of the original inquist-
tion, held at Hazlebadge in the 20th year
of King Edward I., when "Nicholas, Clerk
of Bradwall, and Robert, son of William or
Bradwall," we:e on the jury, they "say
15
that the said Hugh on the day of his death
held a certain water mill at Brough, in
chief of our Lord the King, by the service
of carrying a heron falcon to the court of
our lord the King in the season, at th&
King's charge, whilst he shall dwell there,
except that he shall have his own proper
horse when be come to otfer his service,
which horse, if he die, shall be made good
to him by the King. And the mill is worth
£9 6s. 8d. per annum. Item, they say that the
said Hugh on the day of his death had a cer-
tain manor at Hasseibach with edifices and
enclosure.s, and it is worth eleven and a
half marks per annum. Item, he had in
demesne five bovates of land worth six shil-
lings the bovate yearly. Item, he had lu
bondage sixteen bovates of ploughland,
worth six shillings the bovate yearly. Item,
in iree tenants, six shillings. Item,
"Loth Minerie," worth 10 shillings." (A
tenure of lead-mining upon which the King
claimed evey thirteenth dish.) Item, pro-
fits of Court, worth half a mark. Item>
herbage in a certain wood they value at 40
pence. Ihere is a certain mill at Hasel-
Bach enclosed worth 20 shillings per
anniim. Item, the said Hugo had from a
certain freehold in Wardlow six shillings.
Item, they say that the said Hugh held
the manor of Haselbach of Mr. Robert de
Strelley, by homage, and the service of the
fou:-th part of a knighf s fee. Item, they
say that Philip, son of the said Hugo, is
his next heir, and is of the age of twenty
years on Michaelmas next."
The Strelleys held Brough and Hazle-
badge until 1421, when Joan, widow of Sir
John Strelley, Knight, granted to Richard
Vernon and his heirs all their estates in
Castleton, Hathersage, Brough, Haselbach,
AUestree, etc., on payment to her of ten
marks annually during her life, and so the
estates passed into the hands of the Vernons
of Haddon. The Hazlebadge mill was in
what is now known as "Mill Meadow."
Bishop Littleton was here 11th August,
1743. He says : "A Roman road is very
conspicuous near Braddall in this (Hope)
parish, being about 6 feet in breadth, and
rising about 2 feet above the line of ihe
meadow where he first observed it. The
course of this road, he thinks is from
Castleton westward up the ridge of the hill
called Waller Edge eastward on the sum-
mit of which I hea:d there were entrench-
ments. The road is called the Bullwark.
Query if it has not a communication witli
tlie Batham Gate leading ironi Buxton to
Burgh. At Burgh, vulgarly called Brough,
the ruins of round buildings are daily dis-
covered, and just by the town in a rough
stone enclosure I met with a carved stone
representing a man's head, which, though
not very well executed, yet was undoubtedly
dug out of the adjacent mines, and a work
of the Romans. I also purchased of one
of the inhabitants a fine vase, somewhat
broken, with the following letters :
V T A R. Between Braddal and Brough
are certain grounds called the Stead Fields,
where they say a battle hath been fought,
and I was told that sword blades, rings,
and coins were sometimes discovered by the
plough. The inhabitants have a tradition
that a great town was overwhelmed by an
earthquake, that one King Peveril had a
palace here and one King Aiding, of
Hathersage, the next adjoining par.sh. and
they have the following saying : —
"When King Peveril reigned at LJroagh,
Then there was gold and silver enough.
King Peveril was Robert Peveril. the great
Norman Baron. As to King Aiding, I can
say nothing, but by the name I should
guess he was a Saxon thane."
HAZLEBADGE HALL AND THE
VERNONS.
A Portion of Dorothy Vernon's Dower.
"I'll show j'ou ancient :uins,
Oi castle, camp and hall.
Where feudal chiefs and barons
Once held high festival."
—J. H. J.
Bradwell has reason to be proud
of one of the most historical and
finest manor houses in the county, in
Hazlebadge Hall, at the head of Brad-
well Dale, an old home of the Strel-
leys. What history is there in everv stone
of the building! But the Hall of the
Strelleys has long ago been demolished, and
the material used up in the erection of farm
buildings, the present being a wing built
by the Vernons in 1549. What a grand
Elizabethan gable is that which fronts the
road, with its magnificent .nuUion
windows and how bold in the apex stands
out the Vernon crest, a boar's head ducally
gorged, and the quartered arms with the
Vernon frett, ana the bwynnerton cross
fleury! And the initials 'H.V and the
three strokes are no longer a puzzle to tlie
wondering beholder, for they are doubtless
the initials of Henry Vernon, the son or
Sir John, who rebuilt this part of the
Manor House, just about the time of the
birth of his second son, -Henry, ana
signalised the birth by terming tne new
comer Henry Vernon the Third.
And the fine old Hall has played a pro-
minent part in the history of the di.strict
for not only did it shelter the Vernons for
many generations, but was a residence ot
the Tamily, and a shooting box for the lords
of Haddon. But it was more. "It was
dignified as a vice-regal lodge. It was the
seat of judgment, for here Sir Richard
Vernon, as High Steward of the Forest and
Constable of the Castle, held his Courts."
Tie records of these courts of this high
and mighty man go to show that he car-
ried things with a high hand. On one
occasion, Roger Clark, one of Sir Richard's
servants, went with seven men armed with
Jacks and Sfilets, and hauled Robert Bag-
shawe, one of the King's tenants off to tbe
Castle of the Peak, and imprisoned him
there for three days without any cause.
16
And he was oppressed by various amerce-
ments being made upon him. Well might
poor Bagshawe complain to the Earl of
Suffolk. On another occasion William
Hadfield. a tenant of the King in Edale,
complained to the King's Council of the
Duchj' of Lancaster that Sir Richard had
sued him in the King's Court for trespass-
ing with his cattle. And Hadfield was so
terrified that he declared "the said Richard
is so mighty in the said county that the
said ' besecher' may not abide the danger of
his suit."
The mighty Sir Richard was evidently
very fond of throwing his neighbours into
prison, for there are many such complaints.
One day in 1440, the notorious Roger Clark,
with his seven armed men, collared Robert
Woderofe, of Hope, one of the foresters of
fee of the High Peak, hurried him off and
imprisoned him in the Castle without any
cause. And he did this, in spite of the
fact that Woderofe and his fellow foresters
had had liberty since the time of King
John, Duke of Lancaster, either to occupy
their claim with cattle of their own, or to
agiste the cattle of other people.
In 1480, at the Court of Henry Vernon,
Esq., held at Hazlebach, a large niimber
were fined for various offences, among
whom were Elias Furness, Wm. Poynton,
Thos. Bytley, Hugh Howe. Robert Eyre,
Uxor (widow) Thurston Eyre, Hy. Staf-
ford, Thos. Middleton, Thomas Bradwall,
Hy. EUott, Elias Marshall, and Denis
Marshall, of Bradwall. At a great Court
held at Hazelbach on the 4th August, 1488,
there seems to have been a regular raid on
offenders against the laws, as the records
contain the following : — Jo. Bradwall of
Bradwall, trespassed with 20 sheep; Wm.
Bradwall the like, with 20 sheep and cattle ;
Hugh Johnson 12; Robt. Middleton 40:
Elias Marshall 40; Edwd. Bradwell 16;
Hugh Howe 1 cattle 60 sheep; Richard Cox
20 ; Thos. Howe, 1 mare and 12 ; Roger Eyre,
1 mare and 3; Richard Thompson, 1 mare
14 beasts; John I)onne, 1 mare 20 beasts;
John Elliott the same; Wm. Elott, 1 maie
4; John Miadleton 20 sheep; Richard Elott
the same; Robert Halom 30 beasts; Chris-
topher Stafford, 1 colt 30 sheep; Nicholas
Seward, 4 beasts and sheep. There were
about a score others fined for similar
offences, those from Bradwell being Wm.
Poynton, Elys Furness, Roger Bradwall,
John del Hall, Robert del Hall, Denis
Marshall, Henry Hawksworth, Thurston
del Hall, Nicholas Marshall de Butts, and
Jo. Halom, of Overtown.
But more interesting still is the old Hall
as having been the property of the famous
Dorothy Vernon, who brought it to the
Manners family, in whose possession it still
remains. It is a pity that a score years
ago the fine old building was disfigured with
a roof of blue slate, when it might just as
easily have been roofed with grey slate in
conformity with the structure. Well
might the late Duchess of Rutland con-
demn such disfigurement the first time she
beheld it.
Under date 1630, there is the following
entry in Hope Church Register :—" John
Manners, of Haddon, Esquire, grants liberty
to install a seat in the place belonging to
the House of Hazlebadge, in Hope Church,
during the pleasure of Thomas Eyre, or
Southwinefield, gentleman."
This is interesting as showing how the
famous Dorothy Vernon brought Hazle-
badge to John Manners.
CHAPTER VII.
IN THE OLD FIGHTING DAYS.
Petitions for Pensions.
" Can you to the battle march away.
And leave me here complaining;
I'm sure 'twill break my heart to stay.
When you are there campaigning."
Under the Anglo-Saxons all men were
required to bear arms as a sort of rent for
the land they held. By the Laws of Assize,
in the year 1511, every holder of land was
bound to produce one or more men fully
equipped or capable of fighting in national
defence. In 1558 an Act was passed by
which all gentlemen having estate of in-
heritance to the value of £1000 had to keep
and maintain at their own cost and charges
six horses and requisite weapons, ten light
horses and weapons, 40 suits of plate
armour, 40 coats of plate corselets, 40 pikes,
30 long bows, 30 sheafs of arrows, 30 steel
caps or skulls, 20 blackbills or halberts, 20
acquebuts, a kind of hand gun with a
carved stock, and 20 morions or sellets.
Those who had land worth less than £1000
had to find fewer, and all in proportion to
their income, while those who had goods
value £10 to £20 had to find certain weapons.
In the year 1574, Vid. Vernon de Hazel-
batch presented one light horse, and the
freeholders of the parish of Hope, in which
Bradwell was situate, had harness and
weapon in readiness for four men — two
archers and two bill-men, in addition to
foiir archers and 16 bill-men without
harness.
The old Parliamentary pensioners were
discarded after the Restoration, and those
who had fought on the other side were put
in their place. There were very large
numbers of .such pensioners, and for many
years the Royalists had to petition the
justices in Quarter Sessions. There was a
petition at the Quarter Sessions, held at
Bakewell in 1689, from Thomas Heathcote,
of Hope, and as there are Bradwell names
among the petitioners, it will not be out of
place here. It reads : —
"Whereas you said petitioner Haveing
formerly beene a Souldier for the late King
Charles the First from the year 1642 for the
17
Terme of six yeares untill the end of the late
Civill Warr under the Command of Sr.
William Sevvile for the two years or there-
abouts untill Collonell Rowland E^yre late
of Hassopp, Esqr. tooke up Arms for his
said Late Matie King Charles the First who
then was Released from the said Sevvile
and went under the Command of the said
Collonell Rowland Eyre for about foure
yeares longer And whereas your said
Petitioner having severall wounds at diverse
and severall Battells and Sieges, and beene
severall times Imprisoned And now being
very Aged poore and Indigent Most Humbly
Craves yor Worships favour to Admitt him
into p'sent pay as a Maimed Souldier within
this County there being a vaccancy upon the
death of Francis Rippon late of Pilsley."
"Wherefore wee his Neighbours duely
Consider the truth or the premises doe
hereby Certifie in behalf of yor said petition
that it is an object of Charity to entertain
him into the said pay And in soe doeing you
will much oblige your worshipps Servants
WILL : BROWNE
JO : HALL
ANTHONY HALL
JOHN DOCKING
MATHEW BERLEY
RICH: THORNHILL
HENERY ASHTON."
" I am crediby informed the contents of
this petition is true
THO: LEAGH; SAM: CRYER, RICH:
TERRY."
"Will: Browne" was the Rev. W'm.
Browne, who was Vicar of Hope from 1685
to 1690, and " Sam : Cryer " was the Rev.
Samuel Cryer, who was Vicar of Castleton
from. 1644 to 1697.
'Poor old Heathcote's petition was at last
granted, for we read that it was " ordered
upon a Certificate read in Cort that Thomas
Heathcote of Hope bee Admitted a maymed
Soldier in this County in Roome of Robert
Bramwall and that hee receive his Pention
and due this Mich's and soe to bee con-
tinued and paid quarterly till further
Order."
In 1703 the constables were, by Act of
Parliament, ordered to bring before the
Justices all able bodied men within their
township who had not ai),y lawful calling
or employment, or visible means of liveli-
hood, and who had no vote for a member
of Parliament and these were forcibly en-
listed in the army. Large numbers of men
from all parts of the county were compelled
to serve against their will, not only un-
employed, but debtors. The latter were
liberated from prison when they consented
to enlist, but they might obtain a substitute
to serve. There is an entry relating to one
such debtor from here, — William Wragge,
who although he only owed 12 li, at the
suit of George White, John Wragge was
listed in his room with Captain Nicholas
Revell in Lord Pasten's Regiment of Foot.
When Militia Service Was Compulsory.
In the year 1638 we have " A List or Rolle
of the names of all such persons as are
betwixt the age of sixteen and three score
yeares within every such all Townshippes
of the said Hundred of High Peak as the
same were delivered to the hands of Richard
Greaves Chiefe Constable of the said
Hundred of the Pettie Constables of every
of the aforesaid Townshippes as hereafter
particularly foUoweth."
BRADWALL.
Gilbert Charlesworth, Will. Charlsworth,
Thomas Garlick, Edward Newton, Thos.
Hallam, Myles Marshall, Robert Walker,
Adam Marshall, George Burrowes, Robert
Overton, Thos. Chippingdale, Will. Wilson,
Gy. Hallam, Robert Eyre, Mark Woodrowe,
Roger Howe, Thomas Braie, John Dudden,
George Dudden, Thomas Dudden, Richard^
Brailsford, Robert Morton, Humphrey Mar-
shall, Martin Marshall, Will Cocfcey
Richard Cocke, Robert Hall, Ffrancis Key-
ward, Thos. Howe, Robt. Morton, John
Overton, Roger Smithe, Jervis Hallam,
Robt. Bradwall, Ellis Bradwall, Will Brad-
wall, Ffrancis Eyre, Robt. Eyre, George
Bradwall, Job Swinscowe, John Cave, Robt.
Eyre, George Hunter, Stephen Marshall,
Martin Marshall, Ellis Morton, Matthew
Thornhill, Deonise Bradwall. Thomas l/owe,
George Bradwall, Thomas Bradwall, Will
Derneyley, Matthew Broomhead, James
Broomhead, Matthew Johnson, Richani
Tymme, Thomas Spencer, Richard Philips,
Thomas Philips, Adam Balgie, Jonn
Heathe, Anthony Walker, James Ogdeo,
John Ogden, John Chapman, John Brad-
wall Richard Ragge, Robt. Leech. 'Ihos,
Hall, Will Hall, Thos. Eyre. Thos. -^ag-e,
John Hallam, Nicholas Howe, Thomas
Hallam, Thos. Rogers, Ricb«rd Kirkman,
Richard Hallam, Thos. Dove, Hobt. Dove,
John Bradwall, Will H^M, Will J^raye,
George Mellor, Richard Morten, .Atlara
Hallam, Leonard Taxli^. Tkojuaa Brad-
wall, John Hadfield, Ad«ixu MAr&hall. Hugh
Hill, Nicholas Sykes. Ge(Wg« ;\Iorten,
Godfrey Morten^ Anthony Woade. Roger
Overton, John Marshall. Qodftey Marshall,
Robert Barber* ThonwkS ^^rber, John
Ffurness, Will Bramhe^ll, TrvftTOer Arnfleld,
Thos. Marshall^ Walter Marshfil, Humohrey
Hallam. John Ashnxore, Rabert MidletoBu
Will Middleton, Thomas Jackaon.
Drawing Lots in OKur«h.
Parish Churches have be^i p«t to strange
uses, and it is interesting to lr»ow that in
some of the churches lots were drawn for
those supplying the military contingent de-
manded from the township for the local
forces.
On the second of February, 1782, the lots
for the Militia were drawn in Hope
Church "at a table in the ile in front of
the screen." The identical copy of the
Bradwell list affixed on the door of Hope
Church 130 years ago, is the property of the
author. It is of interest as showing various
18
occupations followed by the inhabitants of
that time. Here is the copy with the
exception of the number of names.
"A true List of all the Men now dwelling
or usually residing in the Hamlet of Brad-
well in the Township of Hope, Between the
Age of 18 and 45. Taken June 8th. 1782."
First Class Men Liable to Serve :
Thos. Hall, ffarmer.
Thos. Andrew, miner.
Geo. Andrew, jun.,
miner.
Bobt. Morton, miner.
Eobert Middleton,
miner.
Samuel Duding,
labourer.
Geo Andrew, sen.,
miner.
Thos. Brad well.miner.
Geo. Bradwell, miner.
Itobt. Middleton, sen.,
miner.
Isaac Bradwell,
miner.
John Jackson, miner.
•Christopher Jackson,
miner.
■Ohristopher Broad-
bent, mason.
*John Broadbent,
mason.
John Hall, mason.
Bobt. Middleton,
weaver.
Elias Burrows, miner.
Geo. Marshall,
labourer.
Geo. Ibbotson,
labourer.
Wm. Ashmore,
ffarmer.
John Birley, cooper.
Josiah Birley. cooper.
John Andrew,
"'•r- labourer.
Jacob Hyre, baker.
Robert ^Bradbury,
't •■;_%,-■-•' sjrinner.
Denpid;^ l^a^^eU,<
■ ,.^'' '" ■^' ifliiler.
JosGBji', JTifbbe,- - ijiin'er.
Eich\fi4 BeB»btt',
■ ^?^._ -'..itjner^
Thurd^toi^.'Jaeks&av' • ;
„^ '•-;'■"•>/• mJBJei.-
Thoftiaa Howe, -nii|ie)r,
Husrh Pearsohjl^riiiiier,.
Joseph BarberJ'itiiftjEtk'.
John Elliott. mi}i_er.
Ilobt.-Mi3I.eton, Tjivfior..
Wm. ; Wr»fj{f.,'njincf;.
Rami. Barht»r-. nxip/fer.
EichWd 'wfri^gg, / ^j
:.■!":: '■ *; , fliihaF. .
Thorf.i-Wratf«; rtlherV
Robt. Bocking^iner.
carpenter.
Wm. Bocking, miner.
Eobt. Bocking, miner.
Josiah Cheetham.
miner.
George Barnsley,
ffarmer.
Eobt. Elliott, miner.
Thos. Cheetham,
miner.
George Hall, miner.
Mark Ashton, miner.
Thos. Walker, miner.
Solomon Barber,
miner.
Wm. Ibbotson, miner.
Eobt. Marshall,
cordwainer.
Andrew Barber,
miner.
John Hatfield,
blacksmith.
Francis Fox, baker.
Thos. Marshall,
miner.
Thos. Bocking,
cordwainer.
Eobert Whitle, miner.
Rowland Middleton,
wheelwright.
Wm. Hobson, weaver.
Abram Dakin, grocer.
Thos. Marshall.
miner.
Adam Hallam, miner.
*Robt. Hallam, miner.
Thos. Morton, miner.
Henry Hill, miner.
Robt. Hill, grocer.
Anthony Wright,
miner.
Geo. Palfreyman.
miner.
Martin Middleton,
miner.
George Maltby. miner.
£Phos. Hallam. miner.
Jflhfl H^ll^i^' miner.
*Ebbt. Hall, miner.
Bobt. . Hawksworth,
miner.
:^ed'. >Iiddleton, miner.
Abram Walker,
miner,
yios. Ward, taylor.
:^os. Hallam, miner.
Rob.t. Burrows, miner.
"Charles Middleton,
miner.
Robt. Bocking, miner.
Wm. Cheetham, miner
*Robt. Barber, miner.
m
Second Class i
Wm<^Ryalls, three
v. children.
Wm. Hill. do.
Johnson Evans, do.
Bobt. Marshall, do.
Isaac BradweM, do.
Geo. Barber, do.
Emmanuel Downing,
three children.
Thos. Cheetham, do.
Joseph Bradwell, do.
Miles Marshall, do.
John Cheetham, do.
Ellis Cheetham, do.
Third Class ;
James Morton,
Christopher
Morton,
Miles Marshall,
do.
do.
do.
Adam Bunting,
apprentice.
John Noel, infirm
Wm. Bennett, do.
John Cooper, do.
Thos. Hilton, do.
Wm.Palfreyman. do.
Balloted Before :
Daniel Stafford. Isaac Furnace.
Wm. Howe. Eobt. Poynton.
Elias Hall. John Bradwell.
Elias Middleton. Thos. Greaves.
George Furnace. Isaac Walker.
Fourth Class. — Exempted by Law.
George Fox,
Headborough.
John Jennings,
apprentice.
" Any man who Finds himself agreevd
must Make His apeal on Tuesday the 18th
inst at the sighn of the White Horse in
Bakewell."
On the back of the document is written :
"This list was wrote by Mr. Edwd. Fox,
Schoolmaster." Those names preceded by a
star (*) were evidently those whose fate the
next ballot had decided.
When the Miners Rebelled.
The dread of an invasion, in 1796, brought
about a more stringent Statute for the
raising of extra local forces of Militia. The
public rebelled against it, and in the Peak
•district there were riots. There was a
serious riot at Bakewell when the Militia
lists such as the one given above were burnt
before the faces of the Justices. On the day
the magistrates met, the lead miners of
Bradwell, Castleton, Eyam, Tideswell,
Longstone, ond other places, marched into
the town armed with clubs, picks, miners*
spades, and other weapons. The mob took
all the Militia papers from the officers, being
lists (such as the above) of men liable to
serve in the Militia, went into the room
where the magistrates were sitting, seized
Dr. Denman, the chairman, and turned out
his pockets to see that no papers were left.
They then made a bonfire of the whole of
their booty in front of the White Horse,
and destroyed all the papers. So serious
was this riot that the Cavalry attended the
next meeting of the magistrates when a
large mob again assembled, but were dis-
persed, and a number of them taken
prisoners and conveyed to Chesterfield gaol.
There were no Bradwell men taken
prisoners.
The first Volunteer Corps in Derbyshire,
was founded in 1803. The North High Peak
Corps wore scarlet coat with blue collar and
cuffs, and white trousers. One company was
called the Bradwell, Peak Forest, Great
Hucklow and Grindlow Volunteers, but
nearl.y all the men were from Bradwell.
There were 66 effective rank and file, and
the officers were Benjamin Barber, captain;
Robert Needhamj lieutenant; and Benjamin
Pearson, ensign ; all gentlemen of position
in Bradwell. Curious enough, Benjamin
Barber was a well known Wesleyan local
preacher, known as Captain Barber. He
19
was a lead mine owner, and Benjamin
Pearson (a cotton mill owner) was a church-
warden at Hope. The company formed part
of the Chatsworth Eegiment of Volunteer
Infantry, and Benjamin Barber was ooe of
the captains.
About 1796 there were many Peakland
men who were by the Act of Parliament at
that time compelled or " impressed " to
enter the army, a number of lead iriucrs of
Bradwell being among the number. Each
parish had to find men, and some ( f there
were married with children. One of these
was Hugh Hill who became a sergeant in
the 65th Regiment of Foot, who on October
30th, 1800, when his regiment was stationed
at Sandown Fort, Isle of Wight, wrote a
long letter to his children. It is addressed
CHAPTER VIM.
BRADWELL'S RELIGIOUS
MOVEMENTS.
THE EARLIEST NONCONFORMISTS.'
CHAPEL OF THE APOSTLE OJ?i)Kl&H[i
PEAK. '■■'■' "-^s*'''
.no «4c;''<'
Nonconformity existed among^t^ J^-I'f
miners of Bradwell in the very darnfest
times of dissension from the Church. ''As
already stated there was no church here.th©
inhabitants being compelled to attend the
Church at Hope or take the consequences of
The ancient Chapel of the Apostle of the Peak.
to " Mr. Henry Hill to be Left at Mr. Thos.
Willson's across Smith Field, Sheffield,
Yorkshire," and after mentioning various
family affairs he says : " We expect the
French to invade England very shortly,
there is a camp of the French opposite Deal.
It makes duty go very strict with us. When
the sky is clear we can see their camp,
which is upwards of 4000 men, but they have
a good dea'lto do before they pass our wooden
walls of old England. Our batteries and
forts and castles which we have three
castles and two forts to do duty at. We
have a* No. 1 and 2 forts 12 thirty-six
pounders, four long nine-pounders, besides
Howitzers and other implements of war."
In a postcript he says : " Pray God send a
speedy peace, for everything keeps rising
now as fast as ever." Hugh Hill returned
to his native place, and was always known
as "The Sergeant," down to his death in
1824, at the age of 54.
their neglect. Early in the 17th century
the constables had to make presentmc nts at
Quartpr Sessions of all those persons who
had not attended church. Some of tliese
we'*e Catholic-^:, some Quakers, and others
Presbyterians. These recusants or Non-
conformists Avere very numerous in Derby-
shire, especially in the High Peak, and at
the Sessions of 1634, Francis Eyre, the con-
stable of Hope, presented these recusants for
absence from church for two months past :
"Robert Jackson, of Bradwall. niyndr;
Gartrude Jackson, wife of William^ 'ack-
son of the same, mynor; Gartrude YeUntt,
wife of Thomas Yellott. of Aston, hu'-'i nd-
man; and .Joan Wilks. of Hope, w d w."
These, then, may be considered some f ^^he
earliest Nonconformists in Bradwell How
many more there were it would be ii't'* e t"
ing to know.
But in spite of the penalties, N "con-
formity continued to spread, and '"'2
20
over 450 persons in Derbyshire were hauled
up at the Assizes on warrant either to
show some reasonable excuse for absent-
ing themselves from church for twenty-one
Sundays past or to pay a shilling for every
Sundav they had been absent, the fines to
go to the poo:- of the several parishes where
the offenders resided. Many of the offenders
lived in the parishes of Hathersage, Tides-
well, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Ashfo:d, Mony-
a«b, and Hope. The t^radwell names on
thjd Hop© list were Andrew Hallam, Robert
MiddleiDB. Margaret Middleton, Laurence
Trickett (Sinalldale), and Hugh Fox. From
this time the penal laws against Noncon-
foraafsts were gradually relaxed. At this
very time the Apostle of the Peak was
spreading the Gospel in the Peak district,
and before long he had established con-
gregations and built chapels in about a
dozen villages, the old chapel at Bradwell
being one of the number.
The First Nonconformist Chapel Wrecked.
Tho old Presbyter-'an Chapel, which
stands in a secluded situation hemmed in
by cottages, is one of the most interesting
and historical religious edifices in the
county. The eld building, which with its
walls a yard thick, appears as if intended
to last a thousand years, was bn'lt f c r the
Apostle of the Peak, the Rev. William Bag-
shawe, the ejected Vicar of Glossop, in 1662.
and was the first edifice erected for public
worshin in Bradwell. Its his'ory would
make up a thrilling story, for it sheltered
the men and women of two centuries ago,
who were persecuted and suffo'ed martyr-
dc<m for freedom .to worship God according
to their conscience. The saintl.y Bagshawe
visited Bradwell, and was received with
open arms by the miners, in whose cottages
he held meetings for worship with closed
doors and windows, so as not to expose his
auditors to the lash of the severe laws in
force against them. But the seed was
sown to such an extent that soon after the
repeal of the Five Mile Act (in 1689) meet-
ings for public worship were held, and the
Presbyterian congregation formed. Mr.
Bagshawp's diary contains interesting
entries giving glimpses of the religious life
of Bradwell at that time. Under date
January. 1695, he observes : "On the 25th. 1
was at Bradwell, had many hearers, and
divers appeared much affected." In April
he wrote. "On the 7th my labours lay at
Bradwell, when I spoke on the soul and on
coming to Christ without money. The
people continue willing, and J. Turner by
presents obligeth my dear wife." The next
entry is instructive as being the first to
mention the old chapel. It is in August of
the same year 0695). and reads : "On the
25th, I preached and played in the new
meeting place a*^ Bradwell, where very
many heard, and I was assisted." Again
on Aug. 29, 1695: "One fruit of my poor
labours t» last year is ye poor people of
Bradwall have prepared a more meet place
to oleet in, and they are more than willing
that my younger brethren should take their
turns in preaching there." " August ye
25th. Flocked in." A New Year's Da.y
visit of the fine old man is thus
recorded: "1696. January 1st. After
praying" in secret, and with those of the
family who could bo got together, God
favoured me this daj as he had done yes-
terday, in that there was little wind or
wi-eglass. Though T. Barber and I were
lost in a close mist as we went to-
wards Castleton and Bradwell we
got thither in due time. Many
were heeding hearers; I hope they were
more. For the main mine heart was
right. On April 8th the same year he
writes : "I laboured at Bradwell with some
help Jo. Hadfield was hurt by my mad
horse, and fainted, to our affrighting, yet
recovered through mercy." There are other
interesting entries relating to Mr. Bag-
shawe's visits to Bradwell down to his
death on April 5th, 1702, and it was when
regularly visiting and exhorting the people
of Bradwell that he wrote a lit^^le work,
"The Miner's Monitor," in fact, the
Apostle of the Peak was the principal
religions factor in Bradwell in those days
of trial.
It was a memorable time for Bradwell
when the sanctuary cf the Nonconformists
was wrecked. Pr. James Clegg, who suc-
ceeded the Apostle of the Peak as the
minister at Chinley Chapel, has this entr.y
in his diary : 'August, 1715. A Ponish mob
demolished the meeting house of the Dis-
sente-g at Bradwell." Previous to this, on
October 1st, 1714, the doctor writes : "I set
out for Bradwell to view ye old Meeting
House. It's a good building. Son Middle-
ton and Wm. Eva<t were with me. We
dined at Martin Middleton's."
During the year 1715 the hopes of the
Romish party were much excited by the
prospects of a French invasion in support
of the Pretender, and they fomented riotous
assaults upon Nonconformist places of
worship throughout the kingdom. The
weight of the storm foil elsewhere, but the
skirts of it extended as far as the Peak of
Derbyshire, and the chapel erected for the
Apostle of the Peak was wrecked by a mob
from Hope, who smashed the windows,
, pulnit, and seats to pieces, and left the
building in ruins. It is stated that the
mob entered Bradwell during the night,
otherwise there would have been Hjcdshed,
as the minors of Bradwell were mostly dis-
senters.
From the death of Mr. Bagshawe in 1702
the chapel was in charge of his grandson,
the Rev. John Ashe, who wrote a memoir
of the Apostle of the Peak, and Dr. Clegg,
down to 1720, when Rev. Robert Kelsall, a
young man of just over twenty-four, took
charge.
In the year 1893, Mr. C. D. Heathcott,
of Exeter, a native of Derbyshire, was
transacting business at a bookseller's shop
in London, when he eaw offered for sale a
21
mahogany reading-stand bearing the fol-
lowing inscription : "This reading-stand
belonged to that excellent minister, the
Rev. Robert Kelsall, who was for nearly
50 years pastor of the old Presbyterian con-
gregations at Great Hucklow and Bradwell
in Derbyshire. He died 23rd of June, 1772,
aged 73." Mr. Heathcott purchased this
valuable article, and ieeliug that either
Great Hucklow or Bradwell was the proper
resting place for so interesting a relic, he
very considerately made his way to Derby-
shire, called upon the pastor — Rev. R. &'.
Redfern — and kindly placed it in his keep-
ing as the representative of the congrega-
tions for the time being.
On a tombstone in Tidrswell Churchyard
there is the following inscription :—
"To the memory if the Reverend Robert
Kelsall, who originally came from Pool
Bank, near Altrincham, in Cheshire, and
was Minister of the Gospel at Great Huck-
low and Bradwell. which charge he fulfilled
with great zeal and integrity near the space
of 50 years. His life was spent in the
practice of most virtues that can adorn and
digniiy the human mind. Of gentle man-
ners and ingenious conversation, he was
agreeable to all who had the opportunity of
his acquaintance. But these were only
secondary qualities; he had an unfeigned
piety towards God, and was charitable and
benevolent to his fellow creatures. He was
a .sound scholar, well skilled in the writings
of the Ancients, yet free from ostentation
and the love of praise. As a Minister of
the Gospel he had great talents, and was,
as St. Paul says, an example to his flock, in
conversaticn, charity, faith, and purity. He
has left an example not easy to be equalled,
but must ever he admired, and we hope,
imitated. He died June 23, 1772, aged 75
years."
WILLIAM MIDDLETON.
a Presbyterian of 80 years ago.
The Chapel was destroyed by fire during
Mr. Kelsall's pastorate, and the date 1754
"ver the door, probably denotes its restora-
t'ln in that year.
The Rev. John Boult was appointed
minister at Mr. Kelsall's death, and
laboured here about twenty years, when he
was succeeded by the Rev. Ebenezer Aldred.
An Eccentric Parson.
An eccentric man was Mr. Ebenezer Aid-
red, the minister of the old Chapel here, at
Hucklow, and other places more than a
hundred years ago, after the congrega-
tion had become Unitarian, and he had a
curious history. He was the son of a
minister at Wakefield, and was brought up
to business there, but was unsuccessful.
Hunter, the historian of Hallamshire, says:
"When I fi:.st knew him. which was about
1796, he was living in Sheffield with a
brother-in-law without employment. He
got some commission to America from the
Sheffield merchants, but this did not suc-
ceed At la.st, when more, perhaps, than
fifty years of age, he became a minister, and
had the care of a chapel in the Peak of
Derbyshire. There he lived in a kind of
solitude, became dreamy and wild ; laid
hold on the prophecies; saw Napoleon in
the Bock of Revelation; at last fancied him-
self the Prophet who. standing neither on
land nor water, was to proclaim the destruc-
tion of a great city; came up to London;
drove through the streets fully laden with
copies of a book, of which I have a copy,
and, himself dressed in a long white robe,
got into a boat on the Thames, and i^o
claimed his commission. Thi,s, I believe,
is merely a literal account of the afiair.
He lived some years after. He had two
sons, clever youths. One was a school-
fellow of mine. The other (father of the
Rev. J. T. F. Aldred, Vicar of Dore) was a
partner with his brother-in-law. Dr. War-
wick, and now lives at Rotherham."
The late Thomas Asline Wa-d, in Ms
diary under date August 18, 1812, mention-
ing a walking tour in Derbyshire with
Messrs. Nanson, Ebenezer Rhodes, the his-
torian, and Wood, alludes to this remark-
able man. He says : "We sauntered over
the mcors to Hathersage, dined, crossed
the country to Tideswell, supped, and
slept. Passing through Hucklow. saw
and conversed with Mr. Aldred, a I'ni-
tarian minister who has the care of three
or four chapels in the Peak. He is u tall
venerable looking man with grey hair
floating over his shoulder, and is the same
who. several months ago, sailed in a boat
on the Thames clothed in a white garment,
denouncing woe to the Metropolis. He has
also published a book of prophetic conjec-
tures, which are so extravagant as, com-
bined with his eccentric conduct, to induce
a supposition that he is beside himself."
For these quotations we are indebted to
Mr. R. E. Leader's article on Mr. Ward's
diary. The eccentric parson's wife was a
daughter of the Rev. Samuel Moult, who
was minister at Rotherham from 1743 to
1776. Dr. Warwick, who married one of
22
their daughters, was a physician and minis-
ter of the Unitarian Chapel, Eotherham,
and another daughter was the wife of the
Kev. John Williams, who was some time
minister at Norton and Halifax.
The old Chapel used to be designated
"The Naylor's Chapel," after the Rev.
Robert Naylor, who was Aldred's successor
in the pastorate about 1814. Naylor's term
was a long one, for he laboured here until
1840, when he retired.
Another who occupied the pulpit regu-
larly for 33 years, and occasionally for
twenty years longer was the Rev. Robert
Shentou, who came into Bradwell
a mere stripling of a youth to do missionary
work for the Primitive Methodists, quite a
new organisation. He preached the open-
ing sermons of the Primitive Methodist
Chapel at Little Hucklow in 1826, but be-
came pastor of the Unitarian Chapel at
Flagg, and on Naylor's retirement was ap-
pointed to Bradwell and Hucklow. For
many years he was a powerful influence in
every progressive movement in the Peak,
and his body lies in the tiny graveyard
close to the chapel door. On the headstone
is inscribed : "In memory of the Rev.
Robert Shenton, of Bradwell, who died
January 5th, 1889, aged 83 years. His
earnestness as a preacher and devotion as
a worker in every good cause won him
many friends and admirers by whom this
stone and the tablet in the adjoining chapel
were erected as a memorial to his work.
Selina, his wife, born September 18th, 1819,
died on Christmas Day, 1881."
And a handsome marble scroll inside the
Chapel reads : "Sacred to the memory of
the Rev. Robert Shenton, of Bradwell,
minister of the Old Chapel at Great Huck-
low and Bradwell for upyards of 33 years,
and for half a century a devoted and
eloquent preacher in this district. An
earnest advocate and faithful worker in any
cause having for its object the welfare of
the people. His labours in the interest of
education were recognised by his election
as the first chairman of the Bradwell School
Board, which office he held till a short time
before his dea,th. This tablet, together
with the stone in the adjoining gravej'ard,
are intended as a testimony to the esteem
in which he was held by Peer and Com-
moner alike, by whose united efforts these
memorials were erected. Died January 5th,
1889, aged 83 years."
Robert Shenton retired from active
minis.terial work in 1871, and took as the
text of his farewell sermon the words "Call
to remembrance the foi'mer times," his ser-
mon extending over an hour, being reminis-
cent of events during the period of his long
ministry.
The other ministers of the Old Chapel
have been : 1871 to ]87.'5. R. Cowley Smith;
1876 to 1885, Henrv Webb-Ellis; 1886 to
1895. R. Stuart Redfern ; 1895 to 1897, W. F.
Turland; 1897 to 190n W. H. Rose; 1901 to
1903, Sydney H. Street; 1903 to 1911,
Charles .\. Smith.
The Chapel was endowed with certain
lands by William Evans, of Smalldale,
Bradwell, who died on April 13th, 1844, at
the age of 72, and was buried in the chapel
at the foot of the pulpit. On the wall over
his grave there is a marble tablet to his
memory, and at the foot of the inscription
we read : "He being dead yet speaketh."
In 1879 most of the old high box-like pews
were removed, and modern seats substi-
tuted, but one or two were left, and remain
an interesting relic of former days.
It is, perhaps, the tiniest burial ground
in England, for in the whole of its two
hundred years' history there have been but
three interments therein.
CHAPTER IX.
METHODISM'S EARLY STRUGGLES.
John Wesley and His Pioneers.
The story of the introduction of Wes-
leyanism in Bradwell has already been told
in Evans' " Methodism in Bradwell." It
dates back to the very beginning, for in
1738 David Taylor, the earliest preacher of
Methodism in Sheffield, missioned the
Peak, Bradwell included.
In 1747 John Wesley himself visited
Bradwell and preached in the Town Gate,
close to the stocks, and in his journal for
1765 he wrote : " March 23rd, Saturday, we
took horse from Sheffield in a furious wind
which was ready to bear us away. About
10 I preached at Bradwell in the High
Peak, where, notwithstanding the storm,
abundance of people were got together. I
had now an opportunity of inquiring con-
cerning Mr. B y. He did run well till
one offence after another swallowed him
up. But he scarce enjoyed himself after.
First, his eldest daughter Avas snatched
away, then his only son, then himself.
And now only two or three of that large
family now remain." But twenty years be-
fore Wesley came, earnest men and women
were daring to carry on the work and wor-
ship God in their own fashion at the risk
of their lives. The first to open their
houses for the reception of the Methodists
were Isabella Furness and Margaret Howe
— names that yet survive — and in their
homes Sarah Moore, a young woman from
Sheffield, used to hold prayer meetings, and
walk from Sheffield to Bradwell and back.
But the first society class here was formed
by William Allwood. a young butcher, of
liotherham, about 1750.
The work was carried on in those days
by devoted men and women, upon whom
insult and assault were heaped regardless
of the consequencfs, and so much did Ben-
jamin Barber suffer for his religion that
he went to his grave as " the Methodist
martyr." A story concerning him is well
29
(1) First Primitive Methodist Chapel in Bradwell. Built 1823; now a cottage.
(2) Old Baptist Chapel ; now the Primitive Methodist Sunday School.
(3) Primitive Methodist Chapel. Built 1845.
(4) Wesleyan Chapel. Built 1807.
worth repeating. Mr. Joseph Clay, of
Sheffield, who was interested in lead mines
here, and was the principal proprietor of
Water Grove Mine, which then employed
between 200 and 300 men, interviewed Ben-
jamin with a view to engaging him as his
agent, but as though he had received some
previous intimation, he asked " What is
your religious profession ?" " A Methodist,
sir," was the reply. " Well, now," said
Mr. Clay, " if you engage in this work I
shall expect you to renounce all connection
with the Methodists, and attend the ser-
vices of the Church of England." " Sir,"
said Benjamin, " 1 am a poor man, and
have a large family to support, but if that
be one of the conditions of my engagement,
I must say that from the good I have re-
ceived from the Methodists, rather than re-
nounce them I will beg my bread from
door to door." Benjamin was engaged, and
ever after Mr. Clay spoke of him as " my
trusty servant Benjamin," and when he
died he bequeathed to him his old-
fashioned silver watch.
In 1760. when accompanying William
Green, of Rotherham, from Castleton,
where they had been endeavouring to hold
a meeting, but were prevented by a mob,
they were followed on the road to Brad-
well and almost stoned to death, Benjamin
being almost murdered, and the marks of
the wounds he carried to his grave.
From a barn the Methodists removed to
the upper room of a house on Smithy Hall,
belonging to Wm. Cheetham, and on one
of the old window-panes there still re-
mains, cut with a diamond, the verse:
" If any ask the reason why
We here together meet.
To such inquiries we reply,
' To bow at Jesus' feet.' "
William Cheetham, 1768.
On another pane there is the following :
" Would you credit Jesus' cause,
Walk uprightly in His laws;
Would your soul to Jesus win.
Let your life be free from sin."
William Cheetham. June 14, 1770.
" I wish, William, your name was written
in the Book of Life."
24
First Wesleyan Preaching Room, In William
Cheethim's House, Smithy Hill ; it is now a
Bedroom marked X.
Portion of the First Wesleyan Chapel In
Treacle Street (now Fern Bank), at the
top of Smithy Hill.
The first cliapel was built in 1768, in what
was known as " Treacle Street," now Fern
Bank. Benjamin Barber was the principal
factor in the work. In 1807 the present
chapel was erected at a cost of £877 3s. Sid.,
on land sold by Thomas Somerset, carpen-
ter, the first trustees being: John Middle-
ton, miner; George Maltby, miner; Ben-
jamin Barber, shopkeeper; Thomas Hill,
miner; PhiTp Biu-brr, miner: .Trsioli Bar-
ber, mineT.l agent; Jorcph Earucr, miner;
Edward Somerset, carpenter ; Nathaniel
Somerset, caiTJCnter; Thomas Cheetham,
minor, ail of Bradwell ; and Ralph Penis-
tone, of Baslow, farmer.
The chapel was renovated in 1891 at a cost
of £1.358 3s. Id., including a new organ,
and the cemetery has been enlarged from
time to time. Many of Methodism's most
famous preachers have held forth in this
chapel, with which all the old families in
the village have been prominently con-
nected at one time or other. Bradwell was
constituted the head of an important circuit
in 1812, but in 1905 was, much against its
will, included in the North Derbyshire
Mission.
Some Curious Items.
There are some curious and amusing en-
tries in the well-preserved accoxint-books
of the Wesleyan body. A hundred years
ago teetotallers were unknown, and ale
drinking was apparently the proper thing
to do. At any rate, even a chapel could
not be built without it. Some of William
Marsh's (the contractor's) men were thirsty
Bouls, and the Bull's Head and White Hart
were handy then as now. At Mrs. Ellen
Bradwell's, the Bull's Head, they put
on a shot of £7 Os. 6d. " for ale,"
and £2 lis. 6d. at Richard Bennett's
the White Hart, and the trustees
paid the bills. And seven years later
even the scaffold holes could not be filled
up without a wet. for we "paid Ellen
T^radwell frr ale that William Marsh had
7s. 6d." Twenty years later the chapel
could not he painted without " ale for the
workmen 5s. 9d.," and we have "ale for
the workmen 4s." when the gates were
erected at the entrance to the chapel yard.
Musicians were famous for having to wet
their whistb s, and it was feared that if the
tap stopped the music would cease to have
charms. Ileiice, when the harmonium was
opened one Sunday in 1818, Clement Mor-
ton, himself a musician, and landlord of
the "Rose and Crown," was paid "for re-
freshments to the Hayfield singers £2 Is.
4.1d." It would be interesting to know how
these Hayfield singers reached home.
And at ffstivities for children, here and
elsewhere, ale was often given to children,
and on (^ueen Victoria's Coronation Day
in 1837 the scholars partook of "currant
cake and ale " in the chapel. We have
improved on those times.
The first Sunday School was established
by Benjamn Barber about 1780, and at one
time was conducted in an old silk mill,
now Brook Buildings. In 1826 the school
over the lirook was built, now the Con-
servative Club; in 1814 the one at Bridge
End, now the Liberal Club; and in 1878 the
25
present school was built in Town Gate at
a cost of £700.
Rise and Progress of Primitive
Methodism.
As with the parent body, so with Primi-
tive Methodism, to Bradwell belongs the
distinction where it first gained foothold
among the mountain villages of Derby-
shire. In fact, it was one of the fruits of
the Sheffield mission, begun by Jeremiah
Gilbert, who was imprisoned in Bolsover
Round House for preaching there m the
year 1819.
Another of these pioneers was James
Ingham, one of the first itinerant
preachers, who afterwards left the itiner-
ancy and settled in business at New Mills.
Ingham wrote : " Six of us, including Gil-
bert, went from Sheffield, October 7th,
1821, to Bradwell, to hold the first camp
meeting there, and I believe we had not a
member in the town. Well might we say
'What are these among so many?' Many
expected it would be a wet day, but God
can answer prayer. It was a fine day, and
the wicked were heard to say, ' See, they
can change the weather.' As the result of
that Michaelmas camp meeting there were
quite a score of converts reaay to be en-
rolled as members."
Thus began Primitive Methodism. Then
it was that George Morton allowed the new
sect to hold their services in his barn, next
to his house in Netherside. That barn is
now the property of the trustees.
In 1822 a chapel was opened by the
famous Hugh Bourne, and in 1823 Bradwell
became the head of a circuit, and had as
its first minster the Bev. Jeremiah Gilbert.
The old chapel was plain to the last de-
gree; no porch, no vestibule, no pews, but
loose forms without backs ; no stove or
heating apparatus; no boarded floor, nor
even flagged, but the ground covered with
what was called ".small feith " or spar
from the lead niiiifs, which sparkled and
glistened with little pnrticles of lead ore;
this was renewed every year. The Rev.
John Ver'ty, one of the m^st notable
pioneers rf the movement, who was ap-
pointed to this circuit in the year 1831.
gave an excfedingly quaint description of
this time-honoured sanctuary to those who
had never seen it. He would say : " My
chapel is floored with sparkling gems and
diamonds ; the people make no noise tread-
ing upon it. coming in or going out; if a
baby cries the mother quietens it by put-
ting it down on the ilobr to play with the
diamonds. If I want anyone to engage in
prayer two or three forms from me, I get
up a handful of gfms and throw them at
the person's back." Yet from this humble
place of worship such gifted ministers were
sent forth as Joseph Hibbs. John Hallam,
Joseph Middleton, George Middleton, John
Morton, and others. It is now a dwelling-
house on Farther Hill.
From Bradwell the seed was sown
throughout the villages of the Hi^h Peak,
and the circuit extended over a radius even
to Marple and Disley, in Cheshire, and
included what is now Bradwell, Buxton,
New Mills, and Glossop circuits.
Fancy that little tabernacle, now a cot-
tage, the principal chapel in the Peak m
Derby-shire ! But so it was. Many amusing
stories could be told of the early Primitive
Methodists, both men and women. Amon^
their women preachers were Violet Hill
and Ann Maltby, and Violet Hill (Mrs.
Violet Hall) lived and died in the Chape]
House after the new chapel was built.
In 184.T the new body extended their boi-
ilers by erecting the jiresent chapel at a,
cost of £700, and in 1878 i'was enlarged at
a cost of £700, other improvements, in-
cluding a new organ, having been carried
out since.
The Sunday School is an enlargemen*- of
the old Baptist Chapel, and the old grave-
stone with an undecipherable inscription,
in the lower part of the graveyard, close
to the school, was in the old Baptist grave-
yard before the Primitive Methodists ac-
quired the premises.
The chapel contains several memorial
tablets to the Eyres, Hallams, Halls, and
Mortons, one of these being to George and
Hannah Morton, who first opened a dojr
for the reception of the Primitive Method-
ists ; one to Thomas Morton Moore, a
famous soldier, whose career is noticed else-
where; one to the Rev. Jacob Morton, Wes-
leyan minister; one to the Rev. John M .r-
ton. Primitive Methodist minister ; one to
the Rev. John Hallam ; to Isaac ani
Catherine Eyre; and to the late John Hall,
of New Wall Nook.
The Baptists—" Dipping " in the Holmes.
The Baptists had a cause here in the
latter part of the. 18th century, and built
a chapel. But the adherents were never
very numerous, although there was a regu-
lar minister. Those who joined the cause
were immcrsrd in the waters of Bradwell
Brook down the Holmes, and not long ag'i
there were persons living who could well
remember witnessing these "dippings," a.s
they were termed. But the cause never
prospered, and about the year 1841 services
ceased and the chanel was abandoned. By
this time the Primitive Methodists had es-
tablished a Sunday School, and occupied
the old Baptist Chapel, which they ac-
quired, improved, and enlarged as it is seen
to-day. There was a small burial ground
attached to the Baptist Chapel, containing
a few graves, ovfr one of which is an old
headstone still remaining. The chapel was
all on the ground floor, which was com-
posed of lime ashes, with an old stove in
the rentre and the nipes through the roof
of the building. The ground floor, with
the stove and the pulpit of the Baptists,
was in its original condition down to forty-
five vears ago.
CHAPTEE X.
EARLY CHURCHWARDENS.
How St. Barnabas' Church was Built.
There being no church here until the year
1868, the adherents of the Church of Eng-
land had to attend service at the Parish
Church of Hope, but there were not many
after the Wesleyan Chapel was built. But
prior to that time those who attended a
place of worship — and it was compulsory
to go to church — had to go to Hope. The
the Poyntons from Bradwell and Little
Hucklow; the Bookings from Hope and
Bradwell ; the Halls from Hope and Brad-
well ; and so on. Therefore, in the under-
mentioned list is to be found the name of
the warden or wardens, bearing a Brad-
well name, though some of the Greaves,
Middletons, Halls, Poyntons, Bockings,
Bradwalls, and Andrews lived in other
places.
1686, William Bradwall ; 1688, Dennis
Bocking; 1689, John Booking, Henry Ibut-
son, Smalldale; 1690, George Tricket,
Smalldale, Henry Ibutson ; 1692, John Poyn-
ton, John Hall; 1693, Edward Dernelly,
The Old Sunday School at Brookside, where the first Church
Services were held.
list of churchwardens of Hope for nearly
300 years contains many old Bradwell
names. There were generally three war-
dens, and very often one was from Brad-
well, and a strange thing about it is that
sometimes a Bradwell Dissenter would be
filling the office. In the year 1529 Thomas
Lowe, vicar of Hope, was inducted by
Thomas Bradwell, chaplain of Hope.
As there are so many bearing the same
surname, but resident in diff'erent places
in the ancient parish of Hope, it is difficult,
yea impossible, in some cases to distinguish
the Bradwell wardens from others, so that
accuracy in this respect is out of the ques-
tion. For instance, there were the Middle-
tons of Hope. Bradwell, and Woodlands;
the Greaves from all thoee three places;
William Poynton ; 1694, John Hall, William
Poynton ; 1695, John Hall, Joseph Ibber-
son ; 1697-H, John Ibbutson ; 1699, Isaac
Morten, Joseph Ibbutson; 1700, Thomas
Middleton; 1702, John Hall{ 1703-4, John
(Jreaves, Wm. Greaves; 1705, Robert
Middleton; 1707, Ralph Bocking, Nathaniel
Greaves; 1708, George Burrows; 1710, Wm.
Greaves; 1711, Thomas Morton; 1714,
Christopher Bocking; 1715, Philemon Pick-
ford, Smalldale; 1718, Robert Burrs; 1719,
Christopher Bocking, Robert Poynton,
Robert Marshall; 1720, Thomas Morton;
1723, Robert Middleton ; 1724, Godfrey Hall,
Bradwall, Thomas Morton; 172.5, Benjamin
Andrew ; 1727, Ellis Needham, Robert
Middleton; 1730-1, Hugh Bradwall; 1730-1,
Robert French, Smalldale; 1733, Robert
87
Booking ; 1734, John Greaves, Bradwall;
1735-6, Isaac Morton, Bradwall; 1738-9,
Charles Greaves, Thomas Booking; 1740-1,
Robert Marshall; 1743, Thomas Gleadhill;
1744, Isaac Hamilton, for Mr. Oliver, of
Smalldale, William Oliver; 1745, John
Elliott, Joshua Needham; 1746, Ealph
Booking, John Yellott; 1747, Martin
Middleton; 1750, Thomas Fox, Thomas
Marshall; 1751, John Greaves; 1752, Joseph
Ibbotson, John Greaves ; 1754, Robert
Needham; 1755, Samuel Oliver; 1756, Ellis
Marshall; 1757, John Middleton, Thos. Fox;
1759, Ellis Marshall; 1761, Abraham Ibbot-
son; 1764, John Bocking, Zaccheus Middle-
ton, Robert Middleton; 1765, Anthony
"Wright; 1766, Francis Ashmore; 1767,
George Hall; 1768, John Wright, John
Bocking; 1769, Thomas Greaves; 1770,
Christopher Bocking; 1774, George Barns-
lev, Francis Ashmore, Thomas Bradwall ;
1775, John Middleton ; 1778, Thomas Glead-
hill, Samuel Oliver ; 1780, Robert Hill ; 1781,
Godfrev Fox ; 17S3, Robert Poynton, George
Fox; 1784, Benjamin Elliott; 1785, Hugh
Bradwall ; 1786, Thomas Fox ; 1789, Thomas
Cresswell, Joshua Needham ; 1792, William
Ashmore ; 1794. John Middleton, Thos.
Greaves ; 1795, Robert Hill ; 1796, John Ash-
more, Hugh Bradwall; 1797-8-9. Robert
Middleton; 1801-2, Edmund Ashmore; 1803,
John Gleadhill; 1804, Joseph Ashmore;
1806, Benjamin Pearson (Brough); 1807,
Isaac Hill, Isaac Middleton, John Brad-
wall; 1808. Isaac Hill, Thomas Jennings;
1811, Hugh Hill.
From this date the residences of the war-
dens are given, and down to the year 1842
the name of the place is spelt Bradwall.
Henceforward the wardens from Bradwell
were : 1814. Robert Middleton ; 1817. Thomas
Jeffery; 1823, William Bramall; 1826,
William Ashmore; 18.30. Thomas Hill,
George Bingham, Hazlebadge; 1833,
William Bramall ; 1834. Robert Middleton,
Brough; 1836, Robert Middleton, Bradwall;
1839. William Ashmore; 1841, George Fox,
Hazlebadge: 1842, William Kenvon; 1845-6,
Elias Needham; 1849-50-51, Robert Hill;
1853, Durham Wragg, Hazlebadge; 1856,
Thomas Bradwell.
For this valuable information we are in-
debted to Dr. Porter's " Notes on a Peak-
land Parish."
Building of the Church.
It was not until the year 1868 that the
present church was built and dedicated to
St. Barnabas. Bradwell was then in the
extensive parish of Hope, and those of the
inhabitants who professed to belong to the
Established Church were obliged to attend
service at Hope Church, although for some
twenty years occasional services had been
held in the town's day school, which was
licensed by the Bishop of the diocese. In
1862 the Rev. Alfred Harrison was curate.
At this time the Rev. Chas. John Daniel
was vicar of Hope, and his curates were
the Revs. Ridley Daniel Tyssen and Edwd.
T. Churton, and it was through their efforts
that the church was built as a chapel-of-
ease to the mother church of Hope. It was
a small building of local limestone, in the
perpendicular style, consisting of chancel,
nave, vestry, organ chamber, and a small
turret containing one bell.
St. Barnabas' Church.
The contractors for the building were
Messrs. Ash and Clayton, of Sheffield,
whose tender for the work was £1,117, and
"extras" amounted to £145 15s., making
the total paid to the builders £1,262 158.
The exact sum paid to Colonel Leslie, of
Hassop Hall, for the ground on which the
church was built, was £76 17s. 6d., the wall
round the churchyard cost £60, and other
expenses connected with the building and
furnishing brought up the total cost to
about £1,800. which was raised by local
efforts, the largest subscribers being : The
Rev. C. J. Daniel, £152 10s.; Samuel Fox,
Esq., £100; Robt. How-Ashton, Esq., £100;
Lichfield Diocesan Society, £100; Rev.
Ralph B. Somerset, £100 ; the Duke of Rut-
land, £75; the Duke of Devonshire, £50;
Mr. Thos. Somerset and his sisters, £50;
Miss Kawson. £50; J. R. D. Tyssen, Esq.,
£53 15s.; Rev. R. D. Tvssen, £37; Lichfield
Dean and Chapter, £35; W. A. Tyssen-
Amherst. Esq., £25; Rev. E. T. Churton,
£25; T. B. Cocker, Esq., £25; John Fair-
burn, Esq., £25; William Pole Thornhill,
Esq., £25; Rev. Chas. Bradshaw Bowles,
£20; Thos. Brocklehurst, Esq., £20; Joseph
Hall, Esq.. £20; Wm. Jackson, Esq., M.P.
for INortli Derbyshire, £20; Martin Middle-
ton, Esq., £20; and many smaller sums,
amountinf>: to a total of £1.800. Many local
people gave team work and labour. Samuel
Eox, Esq., gave land to enlarge the church-
yard, and also a site for the vicarage. The
fine organ was the present of Wm. Jack-
son, Esq., M.P., at a cost of £200; it was
built by Mr. Brindley, of Sheffield. The
Rev. Chas. John Daniel presented the beau-
tiful window in the east end, representing
the Fall and Redemption of Man, and also
the silver communion service. The Rev. R.
B. Somerset was the donor of the com-
munion rails, chancel screen, and pulpit,
made partlv from two desks given by
Trinity College, Cambridge, a book-desk
and light for the nulpit, and a sedilia ; Rev.
R. D. Tysseu, tiles for the chancel ; Mr.
Daniel-Tyssen, a corona; and Miss Daniel-
Tyssen, a silk altar cloth. On the day of
con.>-ecration the sum of £26 was collected
in church. Subsequently, various improve-
ments were effected in the grounds, the
paths formed, trees planted round the
churchyard, and the tine avenue leading
from the gates to the church door con-
structed.
When the church was erected it was in-
tended that ere long a separate parish
shonld be formed, and with this end in
view some handsome subscriptions were
promised towards its endowment, including
-— Siunuel Fox, Esq., £100; Wm. Jackson,
Esq.. £100; Duke of Rutland, £75; Rev. C.
J. Daniel, £25; W. .-V. Tyssen-Amherst.
Esq.. £25; Rev. E. T. Churton, £20; and W.
C. Moore, Esq., J.P., of Bamford, £20. For
some years subscriptions continued, and in
1875, during the curacy of the Rev. Wm.
James Webb, an intimation was received
from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for
England that thev had granted an applica-
tion made to them to separate certain
townships from the very extensive parish
of Hope, and form them into a distinct
parish. Tlie townships referred to were
Bradwcll. Ilazlebadge, Great Hucklow,
Little Tlucklow, Abney, Grindlow, and
Wardlow. and from the first of May in that
year those townships constituted a separate
parish, with St. Barnabas' as the Parish
Ch\irch. As an endowment for the new dis-
trict, the Vicar of Hope (the Rev. Henry
Buckston) gave xip £60 r^er annum from the
income of the mother church, and the capi-
tal sum of £1.200 was raised by the contri-
butions of landowners and inhabitants, and
other friends of the church and parish.
This the Ecclesiastical Commissioners met
witli a grant of £1 .'jOO from the Consoli-
dated Fund Of the Church Revenue at their
disposal, and the patronage of the new
parish was vested in the Dean and Chapter
of liichfield, the patrpns of the parish of
Hope.
The first vicar of *he new parish was the
Rev. Wm. Jas. Webb, who laboured here
thirteen years as curate and vicar respec-
tively, when he removed to Alrewas in 1881.
In that year the vicarage was built — one of
Rev. W. J. WEBB,
First Vicar of Bradwel
the handsomest and best-appointed parson-
ages in the country. In August, 1881, the
Rev. Henry Thornton Dudley, M.A., of
Queen's College, Oxfoi-d, was ordained to
the living, and during his vicariate (in
1889) a square embattled tower in the
Decorated style was added at the south-
west angle of the church, at a cost of nearly
£700. The tower clock has a curious his-
tory, given on another page.
The east window represents "the Fall and
Redemption of Man. There is a very fine
window by Burlisson and Gryll to the
memory of the Rev. Wm. James AVebb,
curate-in-charge 1868 to 1875, and vicar 1875
to 1881. .An alabaster monument in the
chancel commemorates Kalph Benjamin
Somerset. Fellow and Dean of Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge, who died in 1891.
The Rev. George Bird has held the living
since 1893.
The church schools were built in 1873, at
a cost of £1,150. including a Government
grant of £236 18s. Id.
29
Educational History.
A perusal of the original trust deed of
the ancient school of Hope makes it clear
that Bradwell had an interest in that
school even at the time it was founded, for
in 1688 Adam Kirk and Godfrey Kirk, of
Bradwell, were trustees of the school. The
premises consisted of school-house and mas-
ter's residence combined, and a small gar-
den, in fact the very plot of land on which
the present school at Hope is built. When
a new trust was constituted, in 1742, Isaac
Morton, of Bradwell, Richard Oliver, of
Smalldale, and George Bagshawe, of Hazel-
badge, were trustees.
First Bradwell Schools.
The first provision for elementary educa-
tion was made by Elias Marshall, who in
1762 (as is noticed elsewhere) left land
worth £3 per year, the rents to be paid to
a schoolmaster or mistress to teach five of
the poorest children in Bradwell to read.
Those who availed themselves of it were
described as " charity scholars." Edward
Fox was a schoolmaster so long ago as 1782.
In 1825 John Birley built a school-house in
Hugh Lane, where the two houses now
stand next to the Primitive Methodist
Sunday School, and in this building John
Darnley, a famous schoolmaster of that
day, taught these poor children. From
time to time trustees of the charity were
appointed. But reading, writing, and
arithmetic were then taught in the Sunday
Schools. Subsequently a National School
was opened in the public schoolroom over
the brook (now the Conservative Club).
The National School was built in 1871 at
a cost of £1.200.
School Board History.
Bradwell was one of the first places in
England to take advantage of the Educa-
tion Act of 1870. for at four o'clock in the
afternoon of February 25th, 1871, a public
meeting of the ratepayers was held in the
schoolroom to consider the expediency of a
School Bo*rd for Bradwell. A great deal
of feeling was shown, and excitement was
high. Mr. Thomas Shaw Ashton. of Whes-
ton, Tideswell, presided. Mr. John Barber
proposed " That in the opinion of this
meeting it is expedient that a School Board
be formed for the parish of Bradwell." Mr.
John Hall seconded. Mr. Thomas Somer-
set proposed an amendment " That it is
not expedient," and Mr. Joab Hallam
seconded. Among the speakers in favour
of a Board was Alderman Fairburn, of
Sheffield ; against it the vicar of Hope, the
curate of Bradwell, and Mr. Robert Somer-
set. The result of the show of hands was :
For the B^^ard 72. against 52. Of course a
poll was demanded on the question, and
was fixed for the following Saturday.
The Saturday following, March 4th, was
a memorable day. Polling went on from
10 o'clock to 5, the result being: For a
Board 128, against 115, majority in favour
13.
After this steps were taken to form a
School Board, and Auga.st 19th, 1871, wa»
the polling day for the first members of
the Board. Five members had to be
elected, and, as at almost every election for
30 years, the struggle was to get th©
majority, generally three members on each
side being nominated. Here is the result
of the first poll : —
Elected.
Rev. Walter Graham, Primitive
Methodist minister 227
John Barber, grocer, Wesleyan.. 221
Rev. Robert Shenton, Unitarian
minister 213
Thomas Somerset, farmer,
Eccles House. Churchman .... 211
Rev. Wm. James Webb, curate
of Bradwell 190
Not elected.
Joshua Jeffery, farmer 173
The first five were elected, and consti-
tuted the first Board.
There were remarkable scenes at the first
meeting of the Board, which was held on
September 7th at the house of the Rev.
W^alter Graham. Mr. Shenton was elected
chairman, and Mr. Webb vice-chairman.
The opening of a Board School in th&
Primitive Methodist Sunday School was
celebrated with a tea and concert in a
marquee, but a good deal of stiife was en-
gendered between those for and against a
School Board.
In 1893 the premises were condemned as
unsuitable, and new schools were built,
and have long required extension, the
Wesleyan Sunday School being used as an
Infants' School in order to relieve the
main building.
Subsequent triennial elections of School
Board resulted as follows : —
1874 (Uncontested).
Rev. Robert Shenton, Nonconformist.
John Barber, Nonconformist.
Robert Tanfield, Nonconformist.
Dr. Joseph Henry Taylor, Churchman.
Robert Hallam, Churchman.
1877 (Uncontested).
Mr. Robert Somerset and Mr. Thomas
Bradwell withdrew, leaving the following
elected :
Rev. R. Shenton, Nonconformist.
John Barber, Nonconformist.
Robert Tanfield, Nonconformist.
Thomps Elliott. Churchman.
Joab Hallam, Churchman.
1880 (Uncontested).
Rev. Robert Shenton, Nonconformist.
John Barber, Nonconformist.
Robert Tanfield. Nonconformist.
Joab Hallam. Churchman.
Wm. B. Prisk, Churchman.
3d
1883 (Contested).
Elected.
John Barber, Nonconformist ... 211
Robert Tanfield, Nonconformist 191
Eev. Eobert Shenton. Noncon-
formist 188
Robert Hallam, Churchman 179
William Bramall, Churchman... 170
Not elected.
Joab Hallam, Churchman 150
1886 (Uncontested).
Rev. Robert Stuart Redfern, Unitarian
minister.
Stephen Dakin. Wesleyan.
Robert Tanfield, Primitive Methodist.
Robert Hallam. Churchman.
William Bramall, Churchman.
1889 (Contested).
Elected.
William Bramall, Churchman... 198
Zachariah Walker, Noncon-
formist 195
Robert Hallam, Churchman ... 171
Rev. R. S. Redfern, Noncon-
formist 157
Stephen Dakin, Nonconformist.. 155
Not elected.
Robert Tanfield, Nonconformist... 144
1892 (Uncontested).
Rev. R. S. Redfern, Nonconformist.
Stephen Dakin, Nonconformist.
Z. Walker, Nonconformist.
Robert Hallam, Churchman.
Wm. Bramall, Churchman.
1895 (Contested).
Elected.
Zachariah Walker, Noncon-
formist 311
Charles Castle, Nonconformist.. 295
Seth Evans, Nonconformist 274
Joseoh Allen Middleton,
Churchman 239
Charles Maples, Churchman .... 212
Not elected.
Wm. BramalJ, Churchman 183
_ 1898 (Contested).
Seth Evans, Nonconformist 272
Z. Walker, Nonconformist ....'..'267 .
Chas. Castle. Nonconformist ... 261
Wm. Bramall, Churchman ...... 254
Stei'*^^on Thos. Hallam, Church-
man 190
Not elected.
Jos. A. Middleton, Churchman 99
1901 (Uncontested).
Z. W; Iker, Nonconformist.
Seth Kvans, Nonconformist.
Chas. (Jastlo, Nonconformist.
Wm. Hrickwood Prisk, Churchman.
Harvf V Hallam, Churchman.
How the schools passed to the County
Council under the Education Act of 1902
is a nuiter of recent history.
CHAPTER XI.
IN THE PARISH WORKHOUSE DAYS.
HOW THE POOR EXISTED.
OVERSEERS' OLD RECORDS.
The old accounts and records of a parish
are always interesting and instructive, but
in our case we have not those of a parish
but of one township within a parish. The
accounts of the overseers of the poor, con-
tained in an old book known as " William
Evans' Book," covering a period from 1818
to 1850. are eloquent as shewing the life of
the village poor in the first half of last
century.
Before making any allusion to the con-
tents of this book it ought tO' be said
that the author is in possession of the
ancient Deeds for a century and a half,
showing that a century ago, when Bradwell
kept its own poor, the workhouse was at
Edentree, — the very house that was en-
larged and is now the " residence of Dr.
Clegg. And real workhouses they were in
those days, for the inmates were compelled
to work, and our Bradwell workhouse was
fitted up with weavers' looms. A Deed
dated 29th October, 1812, sets forth that
John Hibberson, of Sickleholme, innholder,
a member of one of the oldest Bradwell
families, variously spelt Ibbutson, Ibbot-
son, Ibberson, and lastly Hibberson, sold
for £125 to Thomas Hill, shopkeeper, and
Robert Middleton, of Smalldale, miner, the
overseers, at the request and by the pro-
per order and direction of the inhabitants
of Bradwall, the dwelling-house, cow-house,
barn, loomshop, and garden at Edentree.
But in 1819, having an eye to business, the
overseers removed the paupers and their
looms to other premises at Yard Head, now
two houses belonging to Mr. Albert Brad-
well, which was the workhouse down to
the Bakewell Union being formed.
In those days the overseers expended
something like £500 a year, and collected a
rate once a quarter, and their accounts give
us a glim.pse, not only of the primitive
kind of workhouse, but of the lives of the
inmates, the out-door poor, and most other
things in the parish.
For instance, in 1818 we had "oile for the
house 5 weeks at Id., 5d." — probably to oil
the looms of the paupers, and at the same
time they were sui)])lied with "thread.
bid.," and when the flitting had taken place
we "paid Is. 4d. for a pair of spindles,' and
"William Kenyon for a beam 8s." Then
wo have "Adam Hill for a pair of looms
£1 10s.," and being short of money we paid
"Adam Morton on account of looms 10s.,"
giving him the other half-sovereign next
year when we gave "John Smith towards
looms 18s. 6d." In 1825 we have "setting
up looms 8s. Gd.," and the following year,
determined not to allow old Webster to eat
any idle bread, they bought "a five dozen
31
bobbins, new pickers, cording, etc., for
Webster " and paid " William Ollerenshaw
6d. for setting up Webster's looms."
In food and cooking, the inmates of this
institution, and the out-door paupers as
well, appear to have had a fairly good time
in those days of small things. Their
supplies of potatoes, butter, meat, candles,
etc., were liberal, but they appear to have
baked their own oatcake with the meal
provided by the overseers. There was "paid
for setting up Backstone 2s. 9d." — that
"backstone" was in the house not long ago,
— and there was also "paid to Jacob Eyre
for two troughs 16s." Old Jacob Eyre
was a baker in Nether Side, and when he
got too old to carry on his business he
sold his mixing troughs to the overseers for
the paupers to mix their dough in.
In 1819 we "relieved old Nanny" at a
cost of lis. 9d., and soon afterwards we
"paid William Revill for old Nany's shoes
2s. 3d.," and "relieved old Nany and
Hannah instead of milk 12s. 8d." We
also "paid for baking old Martha's bread
6d.," and later "bought flannel for old
Martha." ' Not long after this the old
lady was taken to her long home.
"Richard Kay for Townend's breeches
3s. 2|d." shows that the personal appear-
ance of the paupers was not neglected, and
Is. lid. was "paid for I yard of fustian to
mend William Hibbs' breeches." It is to
be feared that William had rheumatism,
for there is an entry "To William Hibbs,
oil of Pigma to rub his thigh, i^d."
The ladies had a touch of pride in them,
which the overseers encouraged, for they
spent 2s. 8d. on "Hannah Gee's bonnet,"
and sundry fineries for others. They
"bought Mary Hall, Castleton, two shifts
5s. Id.," and also a "bedgown for Mary
Hall, Castleton, 2s. 6d." This lady was
doubtless fond of a dance at Castleton
Wakes, like most people in that famous
village, and so they "relieved Mary Hall at
Castleton Wakes 2s."; indeed, the entries
show that Mary was often "set up" with
cash to visit Castletoin at a "good time."
And the inmates had generally a spree at
these "good times," especially at Bradwell
Wakes, on the second Sunday in July, for
there are numerous entries. Here is one,
in the handwriting of William Evans, over-
seer, "1831. July 9, To cash to the House
for the Wakes 7s. 6d."
Unfortunately, the records disclosed
many lai>ses from the strict path of
morality, for a great deal of money was
spent in tracing runaway fathers of illegiti-
mate children. The custom seemed to be
to outrun the constable, who had to follow
them all over the country with a warrant
in his possession. The expense was
enormous. And when magisterial business
had to be transacted journeys had to be
made to Chesterfield, Bakewell. Hathersage,
Hayfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Tideswell,
Glossop, Low Leighton, or anywhere else
where a magistrate lived.
The sick poor were well looked after,
judging from the quantity of intoxicants
that found its way into the "House," for
there are hundreds of such items. On one
occasion there had b^en a new arrival at
the workhouse, inci-easing the population
by one, when there seems to have been a
very nice feast over the job at the rate-
payers' expense, for they paid for "goods to
the House for the merry meal 3s.," and
"Ale for Charlotte Palfrey 4s." It is the
first time we have come across a merry
meal in a workhouse on such an occasion,
and paid for out of the rates too ! In 1824
we "relieved Isaac Furness when going to
the doctor Is.," and when a man was in
Chapel Gaol we " gave his wife Sukey 4s.
6d." We can imagine the wry faces that
would be pulled after half-a-crown had been
"paid fo'r saults and pills for Mary Wragg's
child," and five shillings was given "to
Robert Hawksworth's wife having a bad
leg."
Behind these entries there may be many
a tragedy. For instance, in 1831, "To
Alice Smith, for wine, being poorly, 2s."
Poor Alice evidently got worse, for she
lingered on more than a year, when we read
"To Alice Smith for a peck of malt, being
poorly, 2s. 5d." The end was fast ap-
pi-oaching, for the next entry mentions old
Doctor Lowe, "To James Lowe attending
Alice Smith, 5s.," followed by "Alice Smith,
extra, being poorly, 2s.," the story closing
with the items, "Alice Smith's coflSn 18s.,
fees 8s., shroiid Is. 3d."
The wayfarer was not turned empty away
— the overseer had at least a copper for
him. He gave a shilling "to relieve a
woman in distress from America," and
another shilling "to a man in distress
through loss at sea," and he paid "to a
poor woman in distress to pay her lodgings
3d."
And the overseer interested himself in
getting employment for those who would
otherwise be on his hands, and an entry
tells u% that we paid "expenses to Bam-
ford getting Deborah Walker a place Is."
He got a good many others a "place" so as
to keep them off the rates, and there is an
item, "To Elizabeth and Jane Marshall to
prevent thenl being excluded from the club
at Bakewell 5s. 6d." One man, although
wanting bread, had great expectations, for
the overseers gave "Robert Hobson for
bread, and promised to return it on the
receipt of his fortune, 5s. 6d." Amongst
the hundreds of curious entries are : "To
two chamber potts to House 6d.," and
"Idleback Id." — an almost obsolete name
for potmould.
How poor lads were rigged up and placed
out as parish apprentices is shown by
numerous payments. In 1818 we have a
payment "for Isaac Eyre's hat," and five
years later there was "paid with Isaac
Eyre to his master £2 2s." "paid for his
new cloaths 14s. 6d." "for his new hat 2s.
6d.," "expenses at binding him 6s. 6d.,"
"expenses going to Whetstone about Isaac
32
Eyre Is." One poor lad who wanted to
make his way in the world is mentioned
where there was "given to John Middleton
going to seek a situation 6s." He was suc-
cessful at Bollington, twenty miles distant,
and the next item we come across reads :
"To Joseph Wright taking John Middle-
ton to liollington 13s." That lad became a
prosperous tradesman at Bollington. Why
a docT-tenter w&s necessaiy at the work-
hc'use is a puzzle, but there was paid "to
Will am Smith for door-tenting two years
5s. 3d."
There are numerous payments of good
stifi sums for law costs, mainly cases of
settlement that had been taken to Quarter
Sessions. In 1818 there was "Pade Mr.
Cheek and Counselors £8 17s." This was
old Lawyer Cheek, of Wheston, near Tides-
well, who was cften "pade" to unravel legal
problems. There is "Expenses to Ponte-
fract Sessions £22 16s. 8d.," and a payment
of £40 14s. "Parker and Brown's law till."
It would be interesting to know where
were the rights of turbary, and what led
to half a guinea being paid tor "Parker and
Brown's opinion on tu;f," and 12s. 6d. to
Benjamin Barbe:- fcr drawing up the above
case."
It would appear that teetotalism was
then unknown, for everything had to
be washed down with liquor. All the
meetings were held and the bus'ness trans-
acted in public-houses — good old injis of the
olden times. The Bull's Head was kept
by Ellen Bradwell ; the Green Dragon by
Joseph Booking ; the Eose Tree by William
Bradwell; the Rose and Crcwn by Robert
Morton ; the Newburgh Arms by William
Kenyon ; the Whito Ha: t by Elias Need-
ham; the Miners' Arms by Robert Howe;
and the Lord Nelson at Brough by Joseph
Sidebottom. These appear to have reaped
a rich harvest, for nothing could be done,
without something being "spent," and the
amounts per meeting varied from five to ten
shillings; indeed, there are hundreds of
these items.
About a dozen of the solons of the village
attended when there was "spent at the
accompts 5s.." and c<ften more. Even
Outram's Dole of 15s. could not be paid
without those who doled it out spending 5s.
at the Bull's Head.
The Headborough was an important func-
tionary, who was resp9nsible for the town-
ship list of Militia ndeini, and there appears
to have been a good deal " spent " when he
was appointed. In 1818 there was " paid
to William Revill for serving Headboroiigh
£1," and in the following year "William
Fox for serving Headborough £2 4s. 8d."
Revell was a shoemaker and kept a beer-
house in Nether Side, where the bank now
stands, and Wm. Fox was a .shuttle maker.
Considerable sums were paid to " Militia
men, 19s. 4d."; and Given Militia
men Ss." A meeting respecting the
militia resulted in 6s. 6d. being
" spent." and it is followed by some curious
entries. Here they are : " expenses of three
Militia men over the subscriptions, £6 28.
6d. ;" "Paid for 737 parts of two Militia
men, 19s. 4^d. ;" and "Given Militia men, 3s.
The second item is a mathematical problem
that will bear solution. Of course we
"spent at Headborough meeting 5s." The
next year we " expended at two Militia
meetings 7s. 7d.," and "paid for Militia
men £5 5s. 4d." In 1824 we "spent at
choosing a new Headborough 3s. 6d." and
at " marking a Militia list 5s," while
"George Elliott headborough's bill" was
£1 9s. 3d., and "Thomas Booking do."
£1 6s. 7d. Next year we have " To a Militia
man £3 12s. 4^d." and so on ad lib, and in
1829 we have " To soldiers red coats 2s. 6d."
We are also given an insight of the old
Church rates, a rate levied on the
parishioners for the support of the Parish
Church. In this township it was unpopular,
because most of the people were Dissenters.
The amount appears to have varied, for
while the " Church score " in 1819 was six
guineas without any information as to how
the amount was arrived at, we have next
year " Church rate 7 penny lay £6," while
in 1823 " Church score " had gone up to .<'9.
Of course, something had to be " spent ''
at the inn where these men were paid as
well as where the overseers were appoiiiied.
indeed there appears to have ben a jovial
time when William Evans and William
Ashmore were appointed overseers, for
15s. 6d. was "spent." and later, "me"^t'ng
at William Bradwell's, nominating overseer,
15s." In 1823 there apears to have been •*
good deal spent m ale and tobacco over 'ho
tithes for we have " Tobacco and pipes at
Tythe meeting. 6d." " spent at Joseph Side-
bottom's on Tythe business Is.," " spent at
Elias Needham's on Tythe business 5s," and
" spent at Robert Morton's on Tythe
business 8s. 8d."
There appears to have been a "Town's
Box" in those days. We wish it was in
existence now, and all its former contents
in evidence. It would tell a strange tale.
Whether or not its contents had been tam-
pered with is not said, but in 1824 we " paid
for a key for the Town's Box 7d." After
this there appears to have been a systematic
inspection of the box. for in the early part
of 1826 we " .spent at a meeting at Robert
Morton's 5s.." and the very next day " a
meeting at Ellen Bradwell's 3s. 6d."
Another important functionary, the con-
stable, had plenty to do, and a rate was
levied to recompense him, for in 1821 we
read " Constable rate 3 penny lay £2 14s.,"
and in the previous year the " constable's
score " was £1 10s. There was " paid for ale
on the appointment of constable at Robert
Morton's 5s," and Henry Hill was paid £11
for serving the office. Who the poor
creature was, who was hustled off to the
asylum is not stated, but there was " paid to
Constable and John Bradwell going to
Bedlam, together with Glossop constable
expenses 13s." The constable's accounts
would be still more interesting reading.
53
The mole-catcher was quite an institution I
in the place. In 1819 we " paid mole-catcher |
half a year's wage £4," and the payment is j
continued from year to year. And the same \
year we " paid for a lock for the pinfold
8d.," and "paid John Cooper for pinning
10s," but both mole-catcher and pinner are
functionaries of the past, and the pinfold
in Hungry Lane was thrown into the road
widening a few years ago.
How or by what means King George was
' proclaimed" we are not told, but in the
accounts of 1820 we have "expenses at pro-
claiming King George the Fourth 10s."
There was no "penny post " in those
days, but the overseers had occasional
letters for which they had to pay. Here
are a few of the items : " Paid for a letter
for Micah Wright 2s. 5d." "a letter from
Manchester 9d," " letter to Oldham lOd."
And they were occasionally worried with
communications from London, thus " letter
from Parliament 2d." " paid for a letter
from the House of Commons 3d." " a letter
from London respecting a petitioner 2d.,"
" making a return to the House of
Commons and expenses 5s."
We have an entry " To a letter from
London to take the population Is. Id." This
relates to the census of 1831, when the
population of Bradwell was found to be 1153.
Another entry reads : " To expenses at
justice meeting with population 3s. 6d."
We don't suppose that William Evans, the
overseer, took " the population " to the
justice meeting, or he would have his hands
full. The stormy period of the Reform Bill
was just over, and so under date July 16th,
1832, we read "To the Reform Act from
London 2d." Two years afterwards we
have " To instructions respecting voting
from London 2d." and " To a second in-
struction respecting voting from London
2d." In 1837 there is the entry "To a
parcil from Bakewell respecting the Polling
Places 3d." A complete change came over
the scene when Poor Law IJnions were
formed, and so we came across the entry in
1838, "To an order from London to join the
Union 2d." And this joining the union
caused ructions. The Workhouse was
closed, and the few paupers removed to
Bakewell. But that was not all. The ac-
counts of the overseers had to come under
the lynx-eyed Government auditor, and at
the end of the accounts for 1841 we have the
ominous entry: "The accounts of Thomas
Middleton and Henry Hill of items which
the auditor will not allow." And these
items totalled £50 .5s. lOd. But our over-
seers cared not for auditors, for they kept
strictly to the old path. They "paid for
ale at a meeting 5s," " paid for ale and
tobacco at a meeting with John Hall
5s. Ud." and "to ale, gin, and tobacco at
meeting William Butcher 6s. 6d." In fact,
thev had a separate list of " the items
which the auditors will not allow," for they
never "allowed " him to see them, but paid
them out of the rates all the same.
Our book ends with 1852 when George Fox
and Robert Evans were the overseers, and
from that date the accounts are not such
as to call for special mention.
A deed dated 17th June, 1831, in the
author's possession, is interesting as show-
ing how and when the old Workhouse at
historical Edentree passed into other hands
and became private property. The parties
to the deed are Thomas Hill, shopkeeper,
Isaac Somerset and William Evans, over-
seers of the poor, and the several persons —
principal inhabitants of the township of
Bradwell. Those " principal persons " are
Thomas Hill, Isaac Somerset, William
Evans, Robert Middleton, Josiah Barber,
Abraham Dakin, George Bradwell, Thomas
Middleton, Thomas Jeffrey, Thomas An-
drew, Thomas Somerset, Abraham Ashmore,
Joseph Wright, William Burrows, and
Robert Morton.
The deed goes on to recite that at a vestry
meeting of the inhabitants held in the
Sunday School house in Bradwell, on the
15th of April last, convened by public
notice for the purpose, it was unanimously
agreed by all the said inhabitants then
present who were the major part in value
of the inhabitants of the township, that the
property should be forthwith sold by
auction to the best bidder, the purchase
money to be paid to Isaac Somerset and
William Evans, and applied by them as the
inhabitants should direct.
Accordingly the overseers offered for sale
the two dwelling-houses (forming one house
called Edentree House), barn, cowhouse,
loomshed and garden, also a croft adjoining
the said garden, and an allotment late part
of the waste which was allotted to the
devises of George Ibberson, by an Act of
Parliament enclosing the Commons in Brad-
well, the properties being in the occuoation
of William Burrows, Benjamin Hill and
Thomas Elliott. The sale took place on
May 15th. 1831, when Mr. John Maltby was
declared the purchaser for £110.
CHAPTER XII.
INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST.
Lead Mining Vicissitudes.
The oldest industry in this locality is that
of lead mining, and it is known that some
of the mines here were worked by the
Romans, %vhose pigs of lead have been
found. Pieces of ore have been found
during the explorations of the military
camp at Brough, doubtless from the Brad-
well mines. It is asserted by ancient
authors that the lead, tin and copper mines
of Great Britain were known to the Bel-
gians, Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Nor-
mans, who invaded the Kings of this Isle
to rob them of their mineral possessions.
34
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That the inhabitants of this isle were
anciently very careful in defending and se-
curing their mines is evident from the
speech of King Canutus to his army when
drawing them up against the Romans. He
called upon his soldiers to defend his rich
mines, which would be to show themselves
Englishmen, truly valiant, tenacious of
their rights, and inspired with a due sense
of the price of their country and its pro-
ductions.
A few mines were left by the Romans at
the conquest of this isle, under the com-
mand of Julius Caesar, whose descendants
continued their work in the lead mines of
the High Peak. The Kings of England
were always jealous of the mines and
minerals, several of whom, after the con-
quest, woul'd not allow their mines to be
worked. In 1246, Henry the Third executed
a writ of inquiry at Ashbourne, when it
was given for the King that the mines in
the High Peak were the royal prerogative of
the Crown, and not the property of those
who had by long custom worked them, but
he permitted the miners to proceed till fur-
ther order, paying to him the thirteenth dish,
cope and lot.
A volume could be written on the history
of Peakland lead mining. At an inquisition
taken at Ashbourne in the year 1288, one
of the jury was "William, son of the smith
of Bradwcll." Their findings are highly in-
teresting. A miner could, and still can. dig
where he likes in search of lead ore (gar-
dens, orchards, burial grounds, and high-
ways excepted), and having found a vein he
can call in the Barmaster and have staked
out to him a meer of ground, sufficient to
work and dress and prepare his ore and gen-
erally carry on his workings. And he can
go to the nearest water and conduct it to his
mine for use in dressing the ore, and can
also make o read across anyone's land to the
nearest highway for the purpose of convey-
iusr his ore from the mine. .\nd the miners
still govern themselves through their
ancient Barmote Court, though many of
their ancient laws have been very much
modified. Formerly wh'en convicted of
stealing the ore of another miner he was
fined the first and second times, but for the
third offence he was taken to the top of the
shaft where are the " stowses," a contriv-
ance for winding the biickets of ore up the
shaft, and a knife sent through the palm of
his right hand up to the haft in the stowse.
where he was left either to tear himself
loose or die on the spot. And the miner
could have as much timber as he chose for
working his mine withoiit paying for it.
Coroners had no juri.sdiction whatever
over the miner, and fatal accidents in the
mine were inquired into by the Barmaster
only, and a jury of miners themselves.
The Bradwell mines are in the King's
Field, and formerly belonged mostly to the
working miners and held in shares fre-
quently very small, as 48ths, 96th8, and
even 384ths and 768ths. The verv smallest
mines often had many partners concerned
in them.
For hundreds of years lead mining was
the principal employment of the inhabit-
ants. Both men and boys worked therein,
while women were employed on the surface
dressing the ore. The whole district is
completely undermined, and scores of shafts
have been covered over, and their exact
locale not now known. Veins of ore run
east to west for miles and cross veins in all
directions, as well as " pipe " mines. There
are several main " rakes," such as Moss
Rake, Hills Rake, Shuttle Rake, and
Dirtlow, and among the mines that have
been extensively worked for centuries on
Moss Rake are Yeld. Mule Spinner, Butts,
Outland Head, Windy, Bank Top, Hartle
Dale, Sykes, Bennetts, Nether Cross, Upper
Cross, Raddlepits, Rake Head, Hills Grove,
Broctor, Providence, and New York. There
were also Peveril. Dirtlow. Bird, Hazard,
Holland Twine, Nunley, Smalldale Head,
Picture End, Tanner's Venture, Virgin,
Wet Rake, Moor Furlong, Cronstadt,
Maiden Rake, Nail Hole, Chance, Gateside,
Neverfear, Pack of Meal, Hunsrv Knoll,
Dore, Bradwell Edge, Water Shaft, Pal-
frey's, Cobbler's, Frog Hole, Burrows,
Eyre's, Ripper, God Speed, and many others.
Miners wages were always exceedingly
low, and 15s. a week was the top price to
the one who was foreman. Here is the
exact copy of "A Reckoning. at Naw Hole,
ending May 15th. 1806." This was at " Nail
Hole," at the top of Hill's Rake, in Hartlo
Dale.
" Jacob Maltby wages £3 5s. Od., Robert
Maltby £3 5s. Od., Edwd. Bennett £3
10s. Od., Godfrey Walker £3 Os. Od., John
Cheetham £1 12s. 8d.. Pegv Maltbv £1 2s.
Od., Bettv Maltby £1 3s. Od.. Sarah Malt-
by £1 2s. Od., Mary Palfrey £1 3s. Od.. Ann
Walker £1 3s. Od., drawing to Jacob Malt-
by Hi, drites £1 3s. Od., driving to do.
.5s. 9d., To Robert Maltbv ax and spade
shafts 5s. 6d., John Ellis' bill 4s. 2d..
Thomas Somerset Bill 12s. 6d., for ale 8s.
9d., total £23 6s. Od."
"Ore. 8 load, at £4 4s. Od.. comes to £33
12s. Od. Calamy £4 2s. Od.. total £37 14s.
Od.. profit £14 8s. Od."
This was a five week's " reckoning," and
from the accounts before us. extending over
a period of three years at this small mine,
it is plain that the men's wages varied from
lOs. to 15s. per week, and the women Is. per
day.
But however low the wages, or small the
ouantity of ore raised, there was no diminu-
tion in the quantity of " ale " at the reckon-
ing. The old lead miner is known to his-
tory as having loved good ale as well as
good music, for
" On takin'-days when wit and ale were-
free.
He join'd the light duet and merry glee.
Sang such a powerful bass, the story goes.
As shook the optics on his ample nose."
36
And Philip Kinder in the preface to his
intended History of Derbyshire, written
about the middle of the seventeenth cen-
tury, tells us that " They love their cards.
The miners at Christmas tyme will carry
ten or twenty pounds about them, game
freely, return home again, all the year after
good husbands."
Right away down for years, at every
" reckoning " the item for ale is in evidence,
varying anywhere from 4s. to 25s., and at
one reckoning extending over a period of
four months, the sum paid to " Eichard
Bennett for ale " was £5 4s. Od. The hos^
at the " White Hart " evidently had good
times, judging from the patronage extended
to him from Nail Hole, where not more
than eight persons were employed, some of
whom were women. Two of these men.
both named George Maltby were killed at
this mine. And at many of the larger
mines where large numbers were employed,
the workmen — and women too — were, ex-
pected to buy a quantity of malt every pay
dav to brew their own beer at home.
We came across an item in 1780, " given
men when rearins? coes 2s." and " spent at
Windmill Is." There was formerly a public
house at Windmill. The " coe " was a
small building over the climbing shaft by
which the miners descended the mine, and
in which they divested themselves of their
clothing for the ordinary attire of the
miner. On every mine there was another
and larger " coe " in which the ore was de-
posited when dressed, and on the 13th of
Mav the miners used to dress their " cr.es"
with oak branches, garlands, etc. The day
was always kept as a general holiday, and
a dinner of beef, pudding, and ale provided
in the open air, music and singing at the
inns concluding the carousals of the day.
Miners' Liberties and Customs in Rhyme.
In the year 1746 there was found in the
office of the Duchy of Lancaster the fol-
lowing relating to " the Liberties and
Customs of the Lead Mines within the
Wapentake of Wirksworth, in the County
of Derby, part thereof appearing by ex-
tracts from the bundles of the Exchequer,
and inqui.sitions taken in the 16th year of
the reign of King Edward the First, and in
other kings' reigns, and continuPd ever
since." "Composed in meter by Edward
Manlove, Esq., heretofore steward of the
Baruhmnot Cr.iirt, for the loud ■ inos
within the Wapentake. T,ondon. Printed
Anno Dom. 1653." It should be remPm-
hered that this is exactly applicable to the
" King's Field," of which the Bradwell dis-
trict iforms a part: —
By custom old in Wirksworth wapentake,
rf any of this nation find a rake.
Or sign, leading to the same, may set,
In any irround, and there lead oar may get;
They may make crosse-s, holes, and set their
stowes,
Sink «hafts, .build lodges, cottages, or coes;
But churches, houses, gardens, all are free
Prom this strange custom of the minery.
A cross and hole a gqod possession is
But for three days, and then the custom's
this :
To set down stowes, timbered in all men's
sight.
Then such possession stands for three week's
right,
If that the stowes, bossinned, and well
wrought
With yokings, sole-trees, else they stand for
nought ;
Or if a spindle wanting to be nick,
'Tis not possession, no not for a week.
But may be lost, and by another taken.
As any grove that's left, quit or forsaken;
For the Barghmaster (by the custom) ought
To walk the field to see that works be
wrought,
And on the spindle ought to let a nick.
If that the grove unworked be three week.
According to the custom of the mines.
Then the Barghmaster may the stowes
remove.
And he that set them loseth the same grove ;
Unless the work by water hindered be.
From losing any meer of ground or grove.
For then such stowes none ought to remove.
And the Barghmaster ought to make arrest.
Upon complaint, if mines be in contest.
Receiving four pound for his lawful! fee.
Or else by wind, the miner then is free
That the next court the wrong redressed may
be.
The vulgar term is, setting for a mine.
For th' grace of God, and what I there can
find.
And tiien at him some other miners take.
And gain possession in the selfsame rake;
Another miner for a cross-vein sets.
Some take at him, and then possession gets.
Some take for one thing, some for other free.
As new thing, old thing, cross-vein, tee, or
pee;
But yet a difference may be taken clear.
Betwixt a founder and a taker meer,
Because the finder that do find a rake
May have two meers met, and set out by
stake.
Which is in length twice eighty-seven feet,
And so is to be measured and laid out.
But first the finder his two meers must free
With oar there found for the Barghmaster's
fee.
Which is one dish for one meer of the
ground;
The other's free, because the miner found ;
But by encroachment they do two demand.
And wrong the miner which they might
withstand;
Then one half mere at either end is due.
And to the lord or farmers doth accrue ;
And if two founders in one rake be set,
Perchance the farmers may a prime-gapp
get.
To nick the miners' spindles that offend;
And when the spindle nicked is three times.
And every three weeks, until nine weeks' end.
Then must the miners chase the stole to th*
stake.
From mere to mere, and one at other take;
Each taker gains a mere, no more he can
Have that finds oar in working an old man.
And he (by custom) that his mine doth free,
A good estate thereby doth gain in fee,
And if he die and leave behind a wife.
The custom doth endow her for her life;
But if the grovo be lost for want of stowes.
Or forfeited, her dower she doth lose.
By word of mouth eke any miner may
Such fee and freehold freely give away.
Egress and regress to the King's highway
The miners have, and lot and cope they pay.
37
The thirteenth dish of oar within their mine,
To th' lord for lot they pay at measuring
time,
Sixpence a load for cope the lord demands,
And that is paid to the Barghmaster's hands.
Against good times the lord ought to provide
A lawful measure, equal for both sides.
Both for the buyer's and the seller's use,
And forfeits forty pence if he refuse;
And he that sells by any other dish.
His oar so sold thereby forfeited is;
Small parcels yet poor men may sell for need.
If they cannot procure the dish with speed;
Provided always that to church and lord
They pay all duties custom doth afford.
For which the vicar daily ought to pray
For all the miners that such duties pay.
And reason good, they venture lives full dear
In dangers great, the vicar's tythe comes
clear ;
If miners lose their lives, or limbs, or
strength,
He loseth not, but looketh for a tenth ;
But yet methinks if he a tenth part claim.
It ought to be but a tenth of clear gain.
For miners spend much money, pains and
time.
In sinking shafts before lead oar they find.
And one in ten scarce finds, and then to pay
One out of ten, poor miners would dismay ;
But use them well, they are laborious men.
And work for you, you ought to pray for
them.
And suit for oar must be in Barghmoot
Court.
For justice thither miners must resort;
If they such suits in other courts commence.
They lose their due oar debt for such
offence.
And must pay costs, because they did
proceed
Against the custom; miners all take heed.
No man may sell his grove that's in contest.
Till suit be ended after the arrest;
The seller's grove is lost by such offence.
The buyer fined for such maintenance.
And two great courts of Barghmoot ought
to be.
In every year, upon the minery;
To punish miners that transgress the law.
To curb offenders and to keep in awe
Such as be cavers, or do rob men's coes.
Such as be pilferers, or do steal mens' stowes.
To order grovers, make them pay their part.
Join with their fellows, or their grove desert.
To fine such miners as men's groves abuse.
And such as orders to observe refuse;
Or work their meers beyond their length and
stake.
Or otherwise abuse the mine and rake.
Or set their stowes upon their neighbour's
ground.
Against the custom, or exceed their bound :
Or purchasers, that miners from their way
To their wash-troughs do either stop or stay;
Or dig or delve in ajiy man's bing-place.
Or do his stowes throw off, break or reface:
To fine offenders that do break the peace.
Or shed men's blood, or any tumults raise.
Or weapons bear upon the mine or rake,
Or that possessions forcibly do take.
Or that disturb the court, the court may fine
For their contempt (by the custom of the
mine).
And likewise such as dispossessed be.
And yet set stowes against authority.
And open leave their shafts, or groves, or
holes.
By which men lose their cattle, sheep, or
foals ;
And to lay pains, that grievance be
redressed.
To ease the burdens of poor men oppressed.
To swear Barghmasters, that they faithfully
Perform their duties on the minery ;
And make arrest, and eke, impartially,
Impannell jurors, causes for to try.
And see that right be done from time to
time.
Both to the lord, and farmers, on the mine;
To swear a jury for a half year's time,
(By custom called) the body of the mine.
Who miners are. and custom understand.
And by the custom they have some
command :
They may view groves when miners do
complain :
Believe the wronged, wrong-doers restrain.
They may view trespass done in any grove.
Value the trespasser, the trespassers remove
They may lay pains that workmanship be
made:
And fines impose if they be not obey'd.
They may cause opens, drifts, or sumps, to
see.
If anyone by other wronged be.
When strife doth rise in groves, the miners
all
These four and twenty miners use to call.
To make inquiry and to view the rake.
To plum and dial (if beyond the stake)
(A mere bewrought and miners wronged be;.
For by that art they made discovery.
The steward ought a three weeks court
withal.
To keep at Wirksworth in the Barghmoot
Hall,
For hearing causes (after the arrests)
And doing right to them that be opprest.
And if the Barghmaster make an arrest.
The steward may (at the plaintiff's request)
Appoint a court for tryal on the rake.
Within ten days, that th' jury view may
take.
And for attendance there, the steward be
By mineral custom, hath a noble fee.
Four shillings to the jury must be paid.
Who for that cause were summoned and
arrayd.
And if the verdict be for the plaintiff found.
The Barghmaster delivers him the ground;
And if the adverse party him resist.
The four and tweuty ought him to assist.
Then may he work (by custom) without let.
Till the defendant do a verdict get.
Then the Barghmaster ought to do him right.
Him to restore unto his ancient plight;
But if three verdicts for the plaintiff's found.
By custom the defendants all are bound;
So if three verdicts with defendants go.
The plaintiffs are (by custom) bound also.
And neither side may make a new arrest.
For the same title that was in contest ;
And yet the Duchy Court (if just cause oe;
May yield relief against these verdicts three :
Or by injunction parties all injoin
From getting oar in such a meer or mine.
Tint '1 the cause be heard, and here urinar
A title just for them that worked thore.
Or may appoint a steward that may try
The cause again upon the minery.
Or may sequester any such lead-mine
tJntill the title shall be tryd again.
And if the plaintiff chance non-suit to be.
He pays a noble for a penalty;
For which (by custom) Barghmasters dis-
train.
The party non-suited must pay the pain.
No miner's timber, pick, or lawfull stowes.
May be removed from their ground or coes ;
If by mischance a miner damped be.
Or on the mine be slain by chance-medley.
The Barghmaster or else his deputie.
Must view the corpse before it buried be,
38
And take the inqtiest by Jury who shall try
By what mischance the miner there did die;
No coroner or escheator ought may do,
Nor of dead bodies may not take their view.
For stealing oar twice from the minery,
The thief that's taken fined twice shall be.
But the third time that he commits such
theft,
Shall have a knife stuck through his hand to
th^ haft.
Into the stow, and there till death shall
stand.
Or loose himself by cutting loose his hand ;
And shall forswear the franchise of the mine.
And always lose his freedom from that time.
No miner ought of an old man to set
To seek a lead mine, or lead oar to get,
Untill the Barghmaster a view hath taken.
And find such work an old work quite
forsaken ;
With him two of the body of the mine
To take such view (by custom) ought to join;
Which being done the miner may go on
To sink and free his mere (the lord hath
none)
If oar be found, the fruit of his desire.
And woughs he strete the miner then may
fire.
Yet not at all times of his own accord.
But at such times as custom doth afford,
I' th' afternoon, and after four o'clock,
He may make fire on the ragged rock;
But first he must give notice, lest the smoke
(In other groves) his fellow miners choke;
And after notice if they careless be
And lose their lives, the firers shall go free.
If miners' groves arrested be, yet they
Go on and work, the arrest must make no
stay.
But for oar got before the tryal be,
The Barghmaster must take security.
And at next court all parties do appear.
And the arrest must be returned there,
And then and there the cause must tryed be
Before the steward of the minery.
Most of the customs of the lead mines here
I have describ'd, as they are used there;
But many words of art you still may seek.
The miners' term are like' to heathen Greek,
Both strange and uncouth, if you some would
see.
Read these rough verses here compos'd by me.
Bunnings, polings, stemples, forks, and
slyder.
Rtoprice, yokings, soletrees, roath, and rider,
Water-holes, wind-holes, veins, coe-shafts,
and woughs,
Main-rakes, cross-rakes, brown-henns,
buddies, and soughs,
Breakoffs. and buokers. randum of the rake
Freeing, and chasing of the stole to th' stake.
Starting of oar, smelting, and driving drifts,
Primgaps. roof-works, flat-works, pipe-works,
and shifts,
Cauke, spar, lid-stones, twitches, danlings,
and pees.
Fell, bous, and knock-bark, forstid-oar and
tees,
Bing-place, Barmoot Court, Barghmaster,
and Btowes,
Crosses, holes, hange-benches, turntree, and
coes,
Founder-meers, taker-meers, lot. cope, and
sump,
Stickings, and strings of oar, wash-oar, and
pump,
Corfes, clivies, deads, meres, groves, rake-soil,
the guage,
Bing-oar, a spindle, a lamp-turn, a fauge.
Fleaks. knookings, coestis. trunks, and sparks
of oar.
Sole of the rake, smithara, and many more.
This have I written for the miner's sake.
That miners are in Wirksworth wappentake;
Perchance if these few lines accepted be.
An exposition may be made by me,
Of mineral terms, to most men now obstruse.
Which by expounding may be of more use;
But for the present I commit to view
This little book, the mineral law to shew;
Which ancient custom hath confirmed to
them
That miners are, and poor laborious men.
And much desire this custom to present.
Unto the worthies of the Parliament,
And humbly pray, that they for justice sake,
Will them confirm in Wirksworth wappen-
take.
Good reader spare me if I thee offend
With this strange custom, which I have here
penn'd;
But miner read me, take me for thy friend.
Stand to thy custom, thus my poems end.
A Precarious Occupation.
In 1830, before the passing of the Reform
Bill, there must have been a great deal of
poverty owing to the depression in lead-
mining, when the "Sun," an influential
paper published in London, wrote thus :
" A numerous and respectable meeting of
the inhabitants of the village of Bradwell,
held on Wednesday the 29th ult., for the
purpose of considering the best means of
administering relief to the suffering fami-
lies in the neighbourhood^ especially those
who are in indigent circumstances, in con-
sequence of the low rate of wages afforded
to those employed in the above trades, who,
it is well known, cannot by the most diffi-
cult exertion earn more than three to four
shillings per week. It is impossible to
conceive the vast depth of misery which
exists. It appeared, from the statements of
some of the speakers that many of these
poor sufferers had their children in bed
when visited, whose bedclothes had not a
vestige of either linen or flannel about
them, but was composed of wrappers and
old clothes ; others had not a little of fire.
The respectable inhabitants of the village
and neighbourhood subscribed nearly £50,
which sums they are actively distributing
in coals, meats, and blankets. Several
resolutions were unanimously adopted, ap-
pointing a committee, and earnestly recom-
mending a subscription from all who could
afford it." The working miners gradually
abandoned the small workings, for they had
no capital to work in a scientific way and
put down machinery to cope with the
water, and the larger mines folloAved suit
when the low price of lead made them no
longer profitable.
But doubtless there is yet much more
ore in the bowels of the earth than has ever
been got out, and a rich harvest awaits
those capitalists who acquire the miles of
mines and work them on up-to-date
methods.
Calamine.
Calamine was formerly found in large
quantities in most of the Bradwell mines,
and was separated from the lead in the or-
dinary process of dressing the ore. It is an
39
ore of zinc, and was much used in the
manufacture of brass, and was formerly
raised in considerable quantities from the
Nail Hole Mine.
Sulphur and Petroleum.
Sulphur has been found in layers, and
in very great purity in the Virgin Mine,
also on Tideswell Moor, and at the Odin
Mine, Castleton. It is generally combined
with lead, barytus, and fiuor spar. Sulphur
was formerly met with in the cellural parts
of baroselenite, and also in galena. It was
found in a layer four inches thick in the
mines at Hazlebadge, Bradwell, and in a
layer of one inch thick in the toadstone
at Tideswell Moor. It was in a state of
such purity in these places that it would
flame with a candle. " Petroleum, or rock
oil, was found in veins of the black marble
at Ashford, and when the sun shone upon
the stone it gently exuded. Stones contain-
ing a considerable quantity of rock oil were
formerly met with near Stoney Middleton,
and were so common that the miners used
to burn the oil they produced in lamps."
Barytus.
From the lead mines barytus was raised
in very large quantities, especially in the
New York vein and in the Moor Furlong
mines. Millions of tons of this mineral
have been got. It is known as cauk, and
was converted into a material which is used
for many of the purposes for which white
lead was formerly applied.
Fluor Spar.
This mineral has become exceedingly
valuable during recent years, and as many
of the Bradwell mines abound with it — yea,
there are thousands of tons ready got in
the mines, and left there by the miners of
former days as refuse — these mines have
been acquired by capitalists, who have sent
large quantities of the mineral abroad.
But it should be explained that in the
mineral laws of the Peak only the lead ore
belongs to the miner, every other mineral,
cauk. spar, feigh, etc., being the property
of the landowner.
Lead Smelting.
When the ore is dressed and sold it is
conveyed to the smelting furnaces. The
cupola furnace was introduced into Derby-
shire nearly 200 years ago, and several of
them were erected at Bradwell. One of
these was at the bottom of the Dale, and
was worked by Thomas Burgoyne, of Eden-
sor, seventy years ago, and afterwards down
to its closing by John Fairburn, of Shef-
field. It was known as the " Slag Works,"
from the slag made by smelting. The only
vestige of these once extensive works is the
base of the once tall chimney, and the
dilapidated old flues along which the
poisonous fumes passed and deposited most
of their poison before reaching the
chimney.
There were other cupolas for the smelting
of lead on Bradwell Hills, one where Over-
dale houses now stand, and the other, " th'
owd cupola," on the site now occupied by
Mr. Z. Walker's houses. Nearly a century
ago these were worked by James Furness
and Company, and Jeremy Eoyse, of Castle-
ton. A fourth cupola was in the meadow
below Edentree. It belonged to Messrs.
John, Thomas, and Edward Middleton,
three brothers, who were mineowners as
well. The cupola has long been used as
farm buildings.
Many elderly people remember that
awful calamity on the night of the 19th of
April, 1854, when there was a fearful catas-
trophe at the Slag Works. Two workmen,
William Mitchell and Joseph Hallam, were
suffocated by the poisonous fumes, and-
other two, highly respected young men of
the village, John Edwy Darnley and Jonah
Elliott, met with a similar fate by ven-
turing too near the spot in their eagerness
to lend a helping hand in the work of
rescue
White Lead Making.
The importance of Bradwell as a centre
of the lead industry may be gathered also
by the fact that on this very spot the
article is not only raised from the mines,
but smelted into lead, and actually manu-
factured into the genuine article, white
lead. The late Mr. Robert How Ashton, of
Castleton, erected the works at Brough, or
rather enlarged a disused cotton mill, about
1860, and there commenced the manufacture
of white, grey, and red lead. Subsequently
the works were extended by his son, Mr.
R. H. Ashton, J. P., who built smelting
mills and a refinery, and these industries
are still carried on successfully by Colonel
Joseph Hall Moore-, J. P.
CHAPTER XIM.
Some Tragedies of the Lead Mines.
" B.y Death, who suddenly overwhelmed
them there.
Where the.y themselves had digged a
Sepulcher."
" Before our feet, a Corps digged up we see.
Which minds us what we are, or ought
to be."
To compile anything like a complete list
of tragedies of the lead mines in this part
of the Peak district is an impossible task.
Thousands of men and boys must have lost
their lives in pursuit of this dangerous
occupation. Formerly the Coroner had no
jurisdiction over the fatalities in lead
mines, the Barmaster being the coroner
for such inquiries down to about sixty
years ago. Every effort has been made to
trace the old books of the Barmaster for
40
this district without success. The ap-
pended list has been compiled from various
sources, but it represents only a compara-
tive few that must have occurred during
the period covered. It will be seen that
the cases are taken from mines not only in
Bradwell, but in Castleton, Eyam, Huck-
low, and other places in the locality.
1637— April 27th, William Grooves, Eyam,
killed in a mine at Eyam.
1658— January 24th, John Syddall, Eyam,
killed in a mine at Eyam.
1690— May 11th, John Daniel and Eobert
Berry, killed in a mine at Eyam.
1697— January 6th, Francis Gregory, killed in
Eyam mine.
1699- June 30th, Edward Torre, Eyam, killed
in mine.
1708— November 27th, Arthur Skidmore, killed
in mine at Eyam.
1721— May 12th, George Knowles, Eyam,
killed in Haycliif mine.
1732— June 23rd, Richard Turner, Foolow,
kil.\3d at Stoke Sough.
1734— April 20th, Robert Andrew, killed at
Middleton Pasture Mine.
1734— November 18th, Joseph Marsden and
John Taylor, killed at Stoke Sough.
1734— September 20th, Richard Holmes, the
Bridge, killed at Stoke Sough.
1734— February 28th, Benjamin Pidcock,
killed in a mine at Eyam.
1736— Ottiwell Bramall, Castleton, killed in
the mine.
1736— John Barber, junior, Castleton, killed
in the mine.
1741— February 13th, John Barber, Richard
Wlnterbotham, and Henry Merrill,
killed in Haycliff Mine, Eyam.
1742— John Bennett, Castleton, killed in the
mine.
1744— John Dakin, killed in a mine at Castle-
ton.
1744— March 4th, Edward Cooper, Foolow,
killed in a mine.
1746— November 5th, Wm. Townsend, Bretton,
killed in Haycliff mine.
1746— Robert Allen, Castleton, killed in a
mine.
1747— Godfrey Morton, killed in the mine.
1751— June 16th, Francis Mower, killed in
Haycliff Mine, Eyam.
1763— October 15th, William Fox, killed in
Show Enirine. Eyam.
1766— Philip Hinch, killed in Shaw Engine
Mine.
1773- December 19th, James Drabble, killed
at Watergrove.
1777— February 14th. Wm. Hancock, killed in
Watergrove Mine.
1778— December 21st, William Syddall, Eyam,
drowned in Stoke Sough Mine.
1782— William Bradshaw, Castleton, drowned
in a mine.
1782— Joseph Frost, Castleton, killed in the
mine.
1784— .John Nail.. Castleton. died in the mine.
1786— William Cheetham. Bradwell, killed in
a Moss Rake mine.
1790— James How, Castleton, killed in the
mine.
1791- May 10th, Edward Dooley, killed in
Haycliff Mine, Eyam.
1795, January 19th, Robert Unwin, Eyam,
killed in Haycliff Mine.
1800 (about), Michael Walker. — . Bramwell.
and — . Simpson, of Hucklow, killed in
Twelve Meers Mine; J. Bennett, killed
in New Engine; — . Fearest, killed at
Sfoke Sough; and — . Staley, killed in
Twelve Meers.
1804— Samuel Heyward, killed at Water
Grove, Eyam.
1805— George Benson, Eyam, killed in Pasture
Grove, Eyam.
1805 — Thomas Middleton, killed in Morewood
Engine, Eyam.
1805— Robert Middleton, killed in Slater's
Engine, Eyam.
1808— George Broadbent, Castleton, killed in
Odin Mine.
1810— James Clayton, killed in a mine on
Oxlow.
1811 — Isaac Royse, Castleton, killed by light-
ning in a coe at the top of Linacre
Mine.
1812 — February 3rd, Humphrey Rowland,
Eyam, killed in Black Hole Mine.
1827— George Maltby (64), killed in Nail Hole
Mine, Bradwell.
1830— Francis Taylor, Tom J. Water, — . Long-
stone, and Isaac Bagshaw, Sheldon,
suffocated with sulphur in Maypits
Mine, Sheldon.
1830 (about)— Robert Elliott, killed in South-
field Mine, Bradwell.
1833— April 27th, Thomas Wildgoose (11)
killed at a mine in Bradwell.
1833— July 11th, Joseph Middleton (28), killed
in a mine at Bradwell.
1836 (about)— Benjamin Bennett, killed at
Bennett's Mine, Bradwell.
1838 — John Evans, Bradwell, killed in Hazard
Mine.
1840 (about)— Benjamin Barber, Bradwell,
killed in Town End Mine, Great Huck-
low.
1840 (about)— Robert Maltby, killed at Syke's
Mine, Bradwell.
1840 (about)— John Cheetham, killed at Red
Rake Mine, Bradwell.
1841— Edwin Barber (23), killed in Bank Top
Mine, Bradwell.
1841— September 2nd, George Maltby (45).
killed in Nail Mine, Hartle Dale, Brad-
well.
1842— Jacob Furness (10). killed by falling
down a mine shaft in Wortley, Brad-
well, whilst birdnesting.
1844— Samuel Wright (29). killed by a stone
at Outland Head Mine. Bradwell.
1845— Henry Jackson (18), killed in Nether
Liberty Mine. Great Hucklow.
1845 (about)— Thomas Middleton, killed in
Raddlepits Mine, Bradwell.
1845 (about), Samuel Bradwell, of Bradwfell,
killed by falling down shaft at Water
Grove.
1854— February 16th— Isaac Morton (21). killed
by falling down shaft of Ripper Mine,
Bradwell.
18.54— A nr'l 19th. William Mitchell,
Joseph Hallam, John Edwy Darnley (30),
and Jonah Elliott (27), suffocated by sul-
phurous fumes at Slag Works, Dale End,
Bradwell. This catastrophe caused great
consternation in the place more than half
a century ago. The pump engine not
acting properly, William Mitchell, the
manager, had occasion to let out air by
opening a valve fixed on a stage that
covered a well six feet six inches deep and
five feet diameter. He went down by
means of a ladder, but as he did not re-
turn Joseph Ilallam went to his assistance,
and he, too, remained in the pit. Men ran
for assistance, and the first to arrive at the
spot were John Edwy Darnley, a school-
ma.ster, who lived with his widowed mother
at Dale End, and Jonah Elliott (also the
41
son of a widow), who had only just re-
turned from Australia. These two young
men, whose names have been handed down
as heroes, were returning from a prayer
meeting at the Primitive Methodist Chapel.
Elliott went down the pit regardless of
danger, but on getting one of the men part
way up the ladder he, too, was over-
powered by the fumes, and let him go,
while Darnley, who tried to save his friend,
shared a similar fate, and all four men
were suffocated in the pit. Mitchell left a
widow and two children, Hallam a widow
and four children, and the other two were
unmarried.
1855— William Bagshaw, Huoklow, killed by
falling down a mine.
1855^Benjamin Barber (39), Bradwell, killed
in a mine.
1857— November 20th, Abraham Middleton
(36), killed in Serin Rake Mine, Brad-
well.
1857 (about)— John Evans (8), when at play
fell down shaft at Shuttle Rake Mine,
Bradwell.
1857 (about)— Richard Andrew, killed at Bird
Mine, Bradwell
1858— May 3rd, Abram Marshall (16), crushed
to death by a grinder at a mine at
Hazlebadge
1858— March 2nd, James Gilbert, Tideswell,
killed at Dusty Pit Mine, Eyam.
1858— John Alsop, Wardlow, killed in Cross-
low Head Mine.
1859— April 18th. John Barker, Foolow, killed
in Back Dale Mine.
1859— Wm. Bradshaw, killed in Pippin Mine,
Eyam.
1861— September 8th, Aaron Hallam (26), of
Bradwell, and Martin Chapman, sen.,
of Little Hucklow, fell to the bottom of
shaft whilst being lowered down at Mill
Dam Mine, Great Hucklow.
1862— George Mitchell, killed in Calver Sough
Mine.
1863— May 29th, Samuel Andrew (19), killed
at Hill Top Mine.
1864— September 6th, Benjamin Barber (19),
killed by a fall of gravel at Gateside
Mine, Great Hucklow.
1864— John Dale, Tideswell, killed in Dusty
Pita Mine.
1764— September 10th, William Wragg (15),
killed at Outland Head Mine. Bradwell.
He was drawn up the engine shaft by
the thumb. When near the top his
thumb came off, and he fell to the
bottom.
1866.— October 3rd. Isaac Andrew, Bradwell,
killed by a stone at Dirtlow Mine.
1867.— Benjamin Bagshaw, Bradwell (35),
killed in Seedlow Mine.
1867.— William Oldfleld, Hucklow, killed in
Mill Dam Mine.
1868.— June 9th. Matthew Hodgkinson, shot in
a mine at Magclough, Eyam.
1869.— Jan. 26th. Francis Hodgkinson (43),
killed by a fall at CliS-stile Mine, Eyam.
1870.— Thomas Elliott, Bradwell, killed in
Seedlow Mine, Wardlow.
1870.- March 24th. Isaac Middleton (49), Small-
dale, killed in "Co-op" Mine, Moss
Bake, Bradwell.
1871.— February 24th. Isaac Middleton (43),
Smalldale, killed in Shuttle Rake Mine.
Bradwell.
1872.— April 5th. Robert Elliott and George
Watson, killed by a shot in Glebe Mine,
Eyam.
1874.— August 21st, William Unwin, killed in
a mine at Eyam.
1877.— October 8th, George Ashmore (48),
killed in Wortley Mine shaft, Bradwell,
by bar of iron falling down shaft.
1882.— September 11th, Aaron Maltby (22),
Bradwell, killed by fall of roof in
Silence Mine, Hucklow.
1889.— July 20th, Joseph Middleton (51), hung
himself in Outland Head Mine, Brad-
well.
Rescued from a Living Tomb.
There have been many hairbreadth es-
capes from death in the lead mines, and
some have been rescued from a living
grave. One or two such cases may be
noticed.
In the winter of 1815, John Frost, a
young local preacher in the Wesleyan body,
who was engaged in one of the mines at
Hucklow, had a miraculous escape from a
most perilous situation, in which he was
involved by the falling in of the earth
where he was at work. A scribe of that
day remarks that " his voice was heard
from beneath the ground in which he was
entombed, and it was ascertained that his
head and body remained unhiirt, the prin-
cipal weight having fallen upon and bruised
his thighs and legs. Great care was re-
quired to accomplish his release, and some
of the most experienced miners were em-
ployed. A mass of earth was strangely and
almost miraculously suspended over his
head, where it hung like an avalanche,
ready at the slightest touch to crush him
to pieces with its fall. The miners, aware
that his situation was one of infinite peril,
durst not attempt the attainment of their
object by the most direct and expeditious
means; slower operations were, in their
opinion, essential, even though they
dreaded the consequences that might at-
tend their protracted efforts. Had that
impetuosity of feeling, which, however
honourable to our nature, sometimes de-
feats its most benevolent purposes, been
alone consulted on this occasion, the poor
man must inevitably have perished. They
therefore proceeded with great caution and
the most unwearied perseverance from
Monday, the day when the accident took
place, until the evening of the following
Thursday, at which time they had the
satisfaction of witnessing the complete suc-
cess of their exertions, and the restoration
of a fellow creature to his family and the
world. The man was extricated from his
dreadful situation with only a few slight
bruises and a broken leg, after a temporary
burial of upwards of seventy-five hours.
A drop of water that fell near his head,
which he contrived to catch in the bottom
of his hand, allayed his thirst that other-
wise would, probably, have become ex-
cessive; this fortunate occurrence, no
doubt, contributed to the preservation of
his existence. He was a Wesleyan Method-
ist, and his strong religious feeling supplied
him with fortitude. Neither pain nor ap-
prehension destroyed his composure, and
42
he employed many of the hours of his
premature interment in singing those
psalms and hymns he was previously ac-
quainted with. Under any circumstances
this man would have been a hero." So
runs the account of the premature burial
of John Frost, who lived to be an old man,
remained a local preacher to the end of his
days, and is still remembered by many.
The hero of another memorable incident
is still living. In 1879 Dennis Bagshaw, of
Hucklow, was working with others in
Black Engine Mine, on Eyam Edge, when
the roof fell in. Bagshaw's workmates
were on the engine shaft side, and could
get out, but he was on the other side of
the subsidence, and so was imprisoned iv
the workings from Monday morning until
the following Sunday at noon. Miners
from Bradwell, Tideswell, Hucklov "^lyam,
and other places bravely worked in i-elays
day and night, not lagging a single
moment. At one time the work ^" Tescue
became dangerous owing to fou^ /, and
the candles of the workmen wuald not
burn, but ventilation in the mine was re-
stored by the opening of a " gate." Some
of the workmen were on duty continuously
all the time, never changing their clothes,
and having their food brought to the mine,
and after nearly a week they opened the
tomb of Dennis Bagshaw, completely ex-
hausted, but living, having kept himself
alive by sipping water that had dripped
from the roof, having caught the drops in
a cup which he made of clay. Dennis
Bagshaw removed to Hayfield some time
afterwards, and still lives there.
The Magpie Mine Tragedy.
About the year 1830 two lead mines were
being worked at Sheldon, the "Magpie"
and the " Maypits." For some time the
owners of the two mines were " cutting
things very fine " in their workings, and
considerable animosity existed between
them as to their limits. The Maypits lay
to the south of the Magpie, and their
borings were continued until the workings
met or cros.sed, and at this stage a fearful
tragedy was said to have been perpetrated
by the Magpie party.
It was alleged that on the Magpie side —
one of the Maypits men having " turned
coat" and given them all the information
they desired — straw, saturated with coal
tar or impregnated with sulphur, was taken
down the mine and placed at their
boundary, then lighted, and the fumes
driven into the Maypits workings during
the time the miners were busy there. As
may be supposed, whether the effects were
intended to cause death or not, they did so.
Three of the workmen, Francis Taylor and
Tom J. Wager, of Longstone, and Isaac
Bagshawe, oi Sheldon, were overcome by
the fumes and succumbed, about twenty
others being rendered insensible and taken
up for dead, but eventually were restored.
Several of the Magpie men were arrested
and tried at Derby for murder, but the
whole were acquitted, the evidence being"
purely circumstantial, for, of course, the
Magpie party declined to give an;^ infor-
mation that would tend to incriminate
their associates.
Weaving.
Weaving of silk and cotton by the hand-
loom process was extensively carried on
more than a century ago. The block of
buildings at the bottom of Water Lane
now known as Brook Buildings, was for-
merly a silk mill worked by a Mr. Street,
and a considerable number of hands were
employed there. There were other small
weaving establishments, and many of the
cottages had their pairs of looms from 150
down to 80 years ago. Indeed, there was
also a manufactory of weavers' shuttles, the
Fox family carrying on this business. But
the last of the weavers has long ago passed
away.
Cotton Spinning.
For quite 200 years cotton spinning was
carried on at various small mills in the
locality. The most ancient of these, now
a ruin, is the old " Bump Mill," by the
brookside just below Edentree, which de-
rived its name from the " bump," or coarse
kind of cotton, which was manufactured
there. This mill was working in the latter
part of the 18th century, as appears from
an Indenture of Assignment (in the posses-
sion of the author), in which James Hyde,
cotton spinner, of Bradwall, on June 25th,
1798, assigned to Benjamin Barber, shop-
keeper, and Wm. Palfreyman, shopkeeper,
as trustees for the benefit of his creditors,
all his " household goods and furniture,
stock-in-trade, working tools, machines and
implements of his trade or calling, goods,
wares, merchandise^ book debts," etc. The
creditors were Messrs. Hugh and Isaac
Hill, Benjamin Barber, Wm. Palfreyman,
James Ramsden, and Catherine Dakin, and
the witnesses to the deed were Thomas
Morton, Joseph Barber, and Kitty Booking.
The mill then appears to have got into the
hands of Hugh Hill, but it has been dis-
used since the Hills gave up the business
about 1830.
The next oldest cotton mill was the one
which now forms part of the lead works at
Brough. This was extensive. It was
worked by Messrs. Pearson a century ago,
and the same firm had two other mills,
one at the bottom of Stretfield, now con-
verted into farm buildings and a house for
the farm bailiff, and the other what is
known as the " New Mill," in Stretfield.
The latter was in later years worked by
the late Mr. Thomas Somerset.
The Hat Trade.
Another industry, now extinct, was the
manufacture of felt hats, which was car-
ried on for quite a hundred years. There
were some half-dozen of these hatting
shops on the Hills, and others in Smalldale.
43
As showing the importance of this industry
nearly a century ago, it may be mentioned
that in the year 1820 the" following had
manufactories of hats here: William
Evans, James Evans, Robert Jackson,
Charles Middleton, Joseph Middleton,
Robert Middleton, George Middleton, and
Obadiah Stafford. Twenty years later
those carrying on the business were Job
Middleton, Wm. Middleton, Robert Middle-
ton, and Thomas Howe, but as these manu-
facturers retired or died, the trade gradu-
ally declined, the old hat shops were de-
serted, and all have long ago been de-
molished, and hoiises erected on the ground.
JOB MIDDLETON,
The last of many generations of Hatters.
Player of the" Serpent." Died 1899.
with one exception, that of the " shop "
of the Evans family, which still stands at
the bottom of Smalldale, a detached build-
ing of three storeys, now used as a ware-
house.
Opticians.
Another industry of which the village
could boast for many years was that of
optician. The business was established
about 1850 by the late Isaac Barber, and
here, at the top of Smithy Hill, was the
manufactory of telescopes, opera glasses,
etc., where a number of young men served
their apprenticeship. About 1862 another
establishment was started by Evans
Brothers (Stephen, Isaac, and Joshua), in
Smalldale, in the building formerly the hat
manufactory, and later still the late John
Dakin carried on the business in the old
Sunday School, now the Conservative Club.
But this trade is now extinct.
Lime Burning.
A considerable trade in lime burning was
carried on here more than a century ago.
There were small lime kilns along one side
of Bradwell Dale, and many in Smalldale.
Some place names, as " Kiln Lane," denote
the extensive trade formerly carried on in
lime burning, and there are many disused
quarries where the stone for burning was
got. Here is a description of a night scene
in Smalldale close on a century back.
Rhodes, in his "Peak Scenery" (1818), and
his friend Chantry, the famous sculptor,
found themselves when darkness set in on
the road overlooking Smalldale, and he
writes thus:
" The burning of lime is here a consider-
able trade, and the kilns used for the pur-
pose are situate at the bottom of the dell,
one side of which was formed by the rocks
where we stood; of the other, aided by a
transient light emitted from the fires of the
lime kilns, we caught occasionally an un-
certain glimpse; all beneath was a gloomy
vacuity, which the eye could not penetrate.
The whole dale, indeed, was one immense
cauldron steaming with smoke, that at in-
tervals was partly illuminated by momen-
tary gleams and flashes from the fires below
— then curling into mid-air, it rolled over
our heads in murky volumes, forming a
canopy as dark as Erebus. The obscurity
that pervaded this nocturnal scene, to-
gether with the short and feeble emana-
tions of light shot from the kilns in the
deep dale beneath, only made darkness
more palpable, and powerfully assisted the
impressions it produced. We stood to con-
template the picture before us until some
heavy drops of rain and the hoarse mur-
murs of distant thunder warned us to de-
part."
Such was a night scene among the Brad-
well lime kilns a hundred years ago.
CHAPTER XIV.
Some Ancient Customs and Superstitions.
Funeral Customs.
In common with other Peakland villages,
Bradwell had its own funeral customs.
People in very poor circumstances had what
was known as " pay buryings," which
meant that those who attended the funeral
would be expected to pay something —
generally a shilling or sixpence — towards
defraying the expenses of the funeral.
When the person went round to " bid to
th' burying " he was generally asked
whether it was to be a " pay burying."
Many of the old inhabitants can well re-
member the custom, which has become ob-
solete within the last forty years.
" Burying-cakes " — a large round spice
cake of excellent quality — iised to be given,
one to each person at the funeral, so large
that it was tied in a handkerchief and
carried home. That custom has given way
to the biscuit and wine.
A century ago, when flour bread was the
luxury of the well-to-do, the children of the
poor tasted it only at funerals. In those
44
days old Jacob Eyre, the baker in Nether
Side, whose descendants in Bradwell are
numerous, used to stand at the door of the
deceased's home with a basketful of small
pieces of white bread about two inches
square. There would be quite a crowd of
village children round the door to get a
piece of the bread.
Formerly all the singers and music people
in the place were invited to the funeral of
an old resident, and the oldest of them used
to chant a solemn dirge all the way to the
cemetery, the rest of the company joining
in the responses. For many years old
Daniel Booking, a well-known resident, was
the leader on these solemn occasions. The
last time this was done it was so impressive
that those who were present will never
forget it. It was at the funeral, in 1900, of
Mr. Job Middleton, aged 85, a notable
native, a leading Wesleyan, who sixty years
before was a well-known performer at
Sunday-school anniversaries in many of the
surrounding villages, with a curious in-
striiment callfd " The Serpent."
One ancient funeral custom still survives.
In the Bradwell Oddfellows' Lodge there
is what is known as "The Twelve." A
dozen members are chosen every year to
attend the funerals of members during the
year. Attired in black sashes and white
gloves, they walk in front of the colhn, and
drop sprigs of thyme xipon the coifin of
their dead brother before they leave the
graveside.
" Cucking " at Easter.
An Easter custom in which scores now
living have taken part was that of
" cucking." On Easter Monday morning
girls who refused to kiss young men had
to be cucked, or tossed iip, and on Easter
Tuesday the girls returned the compliment.
But the practice was not only vulgar, but
sometimes positively indecent, and very
properly died a natural death.
Another Easter Monday, but confined to
the children, was "Shaking," or " Shak-
king." Even this has almost "gone out."
" Shakking " is a mixture of peppermints,
Spanish juice, and other sweets placed in a
bottle, which is filled with water from a
well and then shaked up, and sippetl by
the children, the youngest of whom had the
bottle fastened round their necks by a piece
of string. There was a superstitious belief
that unless the children put pins into a
well on Palm Smulay they would break
their bottles at Easter, and that the lady
of the well would not let them have any
clean water. There were many of these
wells where children used to deposit their
pins—behind Micklow, in a field called
"Daniel's Garden," on the slope of Brad-
well Edge; in Charlotte Lane; in New
Eoad, leading up to the Bradwell Edge
Hoad to Abney; and inan.y others where
children might be seen merrily trooping to
depf)sit their pins. The writer remembers,
when a child, with other children, deposit-
ing his pin in a well in Nev/ Road, and
finding whole handfuls of pins in the sand
at the bottom of the well, the deposits of
the village children for many generations.
Nearly all these wells are now disused,
filled up, and no longer exist.
Christmas Eve Mischief.
Many are the stories that could be re-
lated anent the old ciastom of doing mis-
chief on Christmas Eve. It was formerly
quite a common thing for gates to be lifted
off their hinges, and with carts, barrows,
etc., found in the brook next morning. On
one occasion a wheel was taken off a cart
at Hill Head, started off down Town Gate,
and gaining in velocity all the way down
the hill, it crashed into a grocer's shop at
the bottom.
One Christinas Eve a number of young
men were bringing a cart down Smalldale,
and taking it to the brook, when they were
met by a farmer named Wright, who was
eager to join in the mischief. He did so,
and assisted them with the cart until, when
about to pitch it into the brook, he found
out that it was his own cart. " How'd on,
chaps, it's mine !" he shouted, but the cart
went into the water all the same.
But the cvistom was attended with loss
of cattle and sheep through gates being
removed, and damage to property, that
after the advent of the police it gradually
fell ofF, and is now observed only to a very
small extent as compared with former days.
A much pleasanter ("hristmas Eve custom
was the giving of a candle, called a "Yule
candle," by the shopkeepers to their cus-
tomers, and a " Yule log " by the carpen-
ters to the children who fetched it. And
with the candle burning on the table, and
the log on the fire on the cold Christmas
Eve, the family would sit round the table
joining in the big mug of "posset," made
of hot ale and milk, spiced with sugar and
nutmeg. But the Yule log and the candle
are no more, though some of the older in-
habitants cling to the posset.
An Old Wedding Custom.
Down to within a few years ago it was
the custom to exact toll from wedding
parties before they would allow them to get
married. The method was to stretch a rope
across the road to prevent them passing to
church or chapel, and not to allow the bride
and bridegroom to pass until the latter had
paid toll. Often the church or chapel gates
were fastened while the ceremony was going
on, and only unfastened when the toll was
paid. The inoney was generally spent at
the nearest })ublic-ho\ise.
The " Lumb Boggart."
"Woman and fish, so strangely blent in one.
So fables tell, and so old legends run.
Now on the wave greeting the newborn day;
Now on the velvet ))ank in sportive play;
And when prevailed the part of woman fair.
Into long flowing locks it curled its hair.
45
Breathes the swift zephyrs as they gently
rise.
And its fair bosom heaves with human
sighs;
But when the fish prevails beneath the
tides.
Like lightning it a scaly monster glides;
And in its wat'ry cavern must remain
Till Easter Sunday morning comes again."
Eedfem, Hayfield.
Like all other mountain villages. Brad-
well has its superstitions, and they would
not be complete without the ghost story.
Many a time have we crouched and run
past " The Lumb," on a dark night, and
oftener still has the hair on many heads
stood straight when passing " Lumbly
Pool," between Brough and Bamford.
It used to be said that about a century
and a half ago the body of a young girl,
who was supposed to have been murdered
was found buried under the staircase of a
house at Hill Head. The ghost of the girl
appeared every night until everybody iv
the neighbourhood were terrified and
thrown into a cold sweat. Unable to bear
it any longer the people got a well known
individual who belonged to the Baptists,
then called " the new-fangled body," to
undertake the task of " laying " the ghost.
As this individual professed to be able to
rtile the planets, of course no one doubted
his power of getting rid of the ghost.
The time came, and the haunted house
was filled with affrighted spectators when
the exorcist appeared among them with hi^
paraphernalia, and when he prayed until
streams of sweat poured from his face as he
knelt within a ring he had chalked on the
chamber floor, the lookers-on kneeling
around, and later afterwards declared that
they " felt the floor move for yards up and
down in quick succession." Then the
magician arose and exclaimed, " Arise !
arise ! I charge and command thee," when
the spirit appeared, and the man ordered it
to depart and assume the bodv of a fish,
and to locate itself in the Liimb Mouth.
He also ordered that every Christmas eve
the ghost should assiime the form of ?.
wliite ou.sel, and fly to Lumbly Pool.
Such is the story of the " Lumb Boggart,"
an absurd tale which everybady believed
even down to half a century ago.
The Lady on Horseback.
It would never do for the romantic Brad-
well Dale, the dell of the fairies, with such
an ancient hall as that of the Vernons at
Hazlebadge, to be without its ghost story,
hence we are told that, " On any wild night,
when the winds howl furiously and the rain
falls in torrents, there can be seen in the
gorge between Bradwell and Hazlebadsre
the spirit of a l{\dy on horseback, the steed
rushing madly in the direction of the old
Hnll. Thev say it is the ehost of Margaret
Vernon, the last of that line of the Vernr.ns
who were living at Hazlebadge for three
centuries. She had given her heart, with
its fulness of afiection, into the keeping of
one who had plighted his troth with an-
other, and when she discovered his
treachery she had braced up her nerves to
witness his union in Hope Church. But at
the fini,sh of the ceremony she had ridden
to her home as if pursued by fiends, with
eyeballs starting from their sockets, and
her brain seized with a fever from which
she would never have recovered only from
the tender nursing of those around her.
Her spirit, they say, on a spectre steed,
still rushes madly between Hope and
Hazlebadge at midnight."
Well Dressing and Garland Day.
Bradwell had formerly its Garland Day
and Well Dressing, as also had Hope. The
garland was similar to that at Castleton,
a man riding round the village with a huge
garland of flowers on his head, the band
heading a procession, and dancing taking
place in the Town Gate. On the same day
was the well dressing, several wells, not-
ably the one with a pump affixed, in Water
Lane, opposite the Shoulder of Mutton,
being beautifully decorated with flowers.
But the custom has been discontinued
nearly half a century.
Bull Baiting.
" The wisdom of our ancestors
(A well known fact I'm stating).
Thought Bulls and Bears, as well as Hooks,
Were suitable for baiting.
But now this most degenerate age
Destroys half our resources —
We've nothing but our hooks to bait.
Unless we bait our horses."
Ward.
Bull and bear baiting were very popular
in Derbyshire at one time, and Bradwell
Wakes never passed without one or the
other of them, often both. The villagers,
or those who delighted in such a brutal
sport, gathered in some open space, either
the Town Gate or the Town Bottom, where
the bull was tied to a post securely fixed
in a stone let into the ground. At a given
signal dogs were let loose on the bull, and
betting was made on the dogs, the one that
could pin the bull by the nose being de-
j clared the winner. The dogs were trained
1 CO avoid the bull's rushes, but now and
then he woiild toss the animal into the air.
I There have been some strange scenes at
Town Bottom diiring the<«e baitings. Some-
times the bull w"uld break loose, when the
sne^tators lyould take to their heels helter
skelter for their l^fe to elude him. But one
of the most excitin? scenes was witnessed
at one of the=e bull by>itines. ab^tit the
vear 1820. There was the bull, the dosrs,
anfl the crown, but no post. .Among the
snecta*^nrs was old Frnnk Baershaw, r^f
Hfi^le^adtre. who stepped into the bre»rh.
and runinsr into the rine cripd "Tev him
to mev; tey him to mev" They tied the
Hill bv the tail to ponr Basrshaw, and when
the dogs were set at the brute it darted off.
46
dragging Bagshaw at its tail up BradweLl
Brook— a deplorable spectacle. Fortunately
this cruel amusement has long been a thing
of the past.
CHAPTER XV.
■" Yes, I will leave my father's halls,
To roam along with thee ;
Adieu, adieu, my native walls !
To other scenes I flee."
Families of the Past.
Although many of the oldest families re-
main, having tenaciously clung to the
homes of their forefathers, a few have
completely disappeared, among them being
those mentioned below :
In a previous chapter those voted from
Bradwell at the election of 1734 were men-
tioned. But we have been favoured with an
extract from the Poll Book of the Election
at Derby on the 11th, 12th, and 13th Decem-
ber, 1701, when the candidates were the
Right Hon. William, Karquis of Harting-
ton, Right Hon. Lord John Roos, John
Curzon, Esq., and Thomas Coke, Esq. The
following electors from " Bradwall " voted :
.At the Crown Barr, Thursday, 11th
December, George Trickett voted for Har-
tington and Roos.
At the Nisi Prius Barr, same day, Robert
Balguy, Edmund Greaves, and Ellis Middle-
ton voted for Curzon and Coke.
At the Town Hall, 12 December, there
voted from "Bradwall" the following:
Thomas Hallam, Thomas Toft, and Ellis
Slack voted for Hartington and Roos;
Godfrey Webster, Godfrey Kirk, and Joseph
Ward for Curzon and Coke; and Ellis
Middleton for Roos and Coke.
The total number of voters in the county
who polled at this election was 3057, and
the candidates polled as follows : Coke 1659,
Curzon 1581 elected, Hartington 1562, Roos
1289.
Cressweil.
.V history of this once notable family
would be highly interesting. Their seat
was at "The Old Hall," at Smalldale Head,
a fine old house that ought not to be al-
lowed to suffer any further disfigurement.
This spacious hail, now in two tenements,
has over its main entrance "I. H. 1670," so
that it is clear the CrfsswoUs did not build
it. But it was not long their seat for they
^id not live here a century. The lands
above were allotted to them when the Com-
mons were enclosed, hence their name
^' Cressweil Part." The splendid fences
round the gardens, and some of the fine old
yew trees still remain. It is said that the
carriage drive to the Hall was from Granby,
along what is now known as " Boggart
Lane," and forward through the lands
(since enclosed) to the Hall. There are
still distinct traces of the drive. The Rev.
Jacob Cressweil was vicar of Hope 200 years
ago, and Thomas Cressweil, of the old Hall
was a churchwarden in 1789. It is said
the last of the Cresswell's to reside at the
Hall, a famous sportsman, was killed whilst
hunting.
The Cresswells were an ancient Derbyshire
family from Malcalf, Chapel-en-le-Frith,
and Ralph Cressweil bought lands in Edale
in 1630. Thomas Cressweil, of BlakeloAv,
Edale, afterwards of Smalldale Hall,
yeoman, was baptised on the 27th of March,
1726, an-d died on the 12th August, 1808,
and was buried at Hope. He married
Betty, daughter and heriess of Mr. Oliver,
and niece of Daniel Roe, of the Hall, Small-
dale, at Hope Church, on the 12th July,
1749, and she died on May 17th, 1801. From
this short pedigree it will be seen that the
heiress of these brought the estate to the
Cresswells.
Tricl<ett.
The Tricketts were a family of wealth
and influence here and in other parts of the
Peak for many generations, but they have
long ago completely disappeared, and no one
knows where their Bradwell residence was.
But they had land and residence in other
places. One of their old homes was in
Smalldale. In 1599 Mark Trickett had a
tax levied upon his land for imperial pur-
pose, and in 1658 Henry Trickett resided at
the old home and occupied the lands of his
ancestors. A member of the next genera-
tion. George Trickett, was a churchwarden
of Hope, in 1690. A George Trickett was
the owner of the Smalldale estate in 1701
and 1734, and went to Derby to record his
vote. The Trickett lands have long passed
into other hands.
Greaves.
The Greaves family, long ago extant so
Car as Bradwell is concerned, has left its
name as a place name in the village. They
were a family of influence, position, and
substance, and although no trace of their
old homestead remains, we have the well
known " Greaves Croft," a portion of their
estate through which a public footpath
runs. Edmund Greaves was here in 1701
and voted at Derby in that year. John
Greaves was the owner of the family estate
at the beginning of the 18th century, for
he voted at Derby in 1734.- and in the same
year was a churchwarden for Hope. The
importance of this family may be gathered
from the fact that their vaults are inside
Hope Church, and beneath their tomb-
stones in the central aisle lie many genera^
tions of the family.
Padley.
The ancient family of Padley held lands
here for several centuries, biit they have
long ago disappeared. In 1448 Thomas
Padley and Rose, his wife, sold some of
their property, but several members of the
family were here more than 200 years later.
47
for in 1658 there was Adam Padley, two
Thomas Padleys, and the widow of a
Thomas Padley. all holding lands in Brad-
well.
Wagstaff.
One branch of this old Glossop family
appears to have long been settled at Brad-
well, and were considerable landowners
here. Their estate was at " Wortley Fold,"
near the Bridge, at the bottom of Church
Street. That John Wagstaff was one of the
leading lights centuries back may be
imagined from the fact that he was one
Worsley.
Certainly far more than two hundred,
years the family of Worsley were settled
here, and for more than a century it was
a family of considerable property and some
influence. When this ancient family first
settled here is not known, but George
Worsley was a landowner, farming his own
lands in the year 1658, when his " Easter
due " to the vicar of Hope was one of the
largest in the parish. And nearly a cen-
tury later — in 1734 — Eichard Worsley was
owner of the lands. The family appear to
THE OLD HALL. SMALLDALE.
For long the residence of the family of Oliver.
who, in 1685. dared to proceed against the
sreat lyvre, of Highlow, which resulted in
his having to give up certain lands belong-
ing to the Bradwell Commnns, wlj'ch he
had enclosed. The last of the family of
which we have any record, is another John
Wagstaff. in 1774. then late of Glosson.
farmer, who sold "a messuage in Bradwell,
a parcel of land thereunto belonging, one
other messuage and one croft called
Whortley Tard, in Bradwall, another
messuage there, and a little building in
Bradwall aforesaid, and a barn called the
■Cock Barn, and the several hereditaments
s\ibject to a life estate therein of Oliver
Wagstaff."
have fallen on evil days, for the last of the
Worsley s is remembered to have been in
humble circumstances.
Oliver.
For nianv vfars the family of Oliver re-
sided at the Old Hall, in Snialldale. They
were people of substance, and strong
Churchmen, but the members of the
family were not numerous. In 1744 "Mr.
Oliver, of Smalldale," and William Oliver
too, were churchwardens of Hope, an office
which in those days was held only by
prominent people. More than thirty years
later Samuel Oliver was one of the wardens,
but these are the only records we have of
48
the family, other than that the heiress took
the estate to the Creswells.
Millward.
A family of ancient lineage and substance
was that of Millward. Nearly seven
hundred years ago, to be exact, in the year
1284, Eictard Millward de Bradwall, with
other notabilities of those times, were pro-
ceeded against for breaking the forest laws.
That they held lands here for several cen-
turies is proved by the fact that in 1599
John Millward and Robert Millward were
defendants in an action brought against
them by Rowland and Jarvis Eyre, some of
the properties, etc., in dispute being the
demesne of Bradwall, fishing of the river,
and lott and cope of the lead mines. They
were still here in 1658, when Richard Mill-
ward paid Easter dues to the parson of
Hope, but the name is afterwards lost. It
would be interesting to know whether the
family had any connections with the
famous Millwards of Snitterton Hall. We
suspect they were, as their shield contains
the heraldic quarterings of the families of
Savage of Hope, Balguy of Hope, and
Daniel of Tideswell.
Pearson.
The Pearsons were an old family. In the
eighteenth century they were in business
as cotton spinners with the Arkwright
family, at Cromford, when the Preston
banker, afterwards Sir Richard Arkwright,
was laying the foundation of the family's
fortunes. From Cromford they removed to
Brough, where they erected three cotton
mills, one of which was afterwards con-
verted into white lead works, another
transformed into farm buildings and a
house for the farm bailiff, at the bottom
of Stretfield Road, and the third was the
large mill between Bradwell and Brough.
These three mills were kept running by the
family for over half a century, during
which time they were the largest employers
of labour in the district. They built and
resided at Brnugh House, and were owners
of considerable property in the neighboiir-
h'^^'l Bnt *^hey r><ust not be confounded
with the still older family of Pearson,
many of whom still remain.
In the 12th year of the reign of Elizabeth
(1570), there was a great case in which the
plni'i'^'PTs were Roljcrt Perfson and .\nthony
Marshall, tenants of the Town of Bradwell.
anfl the defendants were John Marshall and
\\"ll = "'M SiriA'tbe. fl-'imi"g by conveyance
from Thurstran Townsende as seized in fee.
The premises and matters in dispute were
" divers specified lands, parcel of the waste
of the Manor of Castleton, particularly
Snifil'lnlo and Edwentrie, and Lands in
Bradwall Field."
Pickford.
The old family of Pickford has long ago
been forgotten by those who remain on the
soil. They were landowners and residents
here centuries ago, and became famous
folks in the world. Few are there who
know that their old home was here. They
were a family of substance and importance,
and Philemon Pickford was a church-
warden of Hope, in 1715. He voted as a
freeholder of Bradwell at the Parliamentary
election of 1734, and died in 1749. Thomas
Pickford, probably his son, was a church-
warden in 1753.
Other Families that have Disappeared.
Other old families of note that have long
ago removed are those of Hamilton, Charles-
worth, and others mentioned in variou.?
parts of this work.
The Dudden or Goodwin Family.
An Interesting Romance.
One of the most ancient families is that
of Goodwin. It may not be generally
known to this generation that Goodwin
(locally pronounced " Guddin ") is merely
a corruption of the name " Dudden " or
" Dudding." The Duddens will be seen
throughout this work in various capacities,
down to about the middle of the eighteenth
century, when the name is spelt " Good-
win." They were prominent people here
at least three hundred years ago. In the
year 1658, George Doodin, Thomas Doodin,
and the widow of John Doodin, all paid
Easter dues to the vicar of Hope, and in
1638 among the inhabitants of Bradwell
between 16 and 60 years of age were John
Dudden, George Dudden, and Thomas
Dudden. Thomas Dudden was the owner
of a freehold estate in Bradwell in 1734,
and voted at Derby at the election of mem-
bers of Parliament for the county. And so
late as 1782 Samuel Duding was one of those
liable to be called upon to serve in the
Militia. A member of this family was
connected with what may be described as
one of the most interesting romances of
modern times, and revealed a claim to the
earldom and estate forty years ago.
This, indeed, is a highly interesting
romance, contained in the documents put
forward at that time. In these it was
stated that :
The Honourable Charlotte Radcliffe,
eldest daughter of Charlotte Maria.
Countess of Newburgh, -and Charles Rad-
clyffe. Earl of Derwentwater, was born in
France in 1729. In the year 1743, when a
girl of, foiirteen, she was brought to Scot-
land by Sir Archibald Primrose, a Jacobite
onfederate of her father in the caxise of
the ' Prince Charles Edward, and placed
with Mrs. Murray, of Perth, a relation of
James Murray, the Prince's secretary, with
whom she resided till 1747, suffering in con-
sequence of hpr father's attainder and
ignominious death.
It is at this time that the Bradwell lad
comes on the scene, for on the second of
April, 1747, the Hon. Charlotte Radcliffe,
49
when 18 years of age, was married in Scot-
land, it is said at the house of Mrs.
Murray, to George Goodwin (or Dudding),
who 'descended from an old Derbyshire
family, and was a native of Bradwell, in
the parish of Hope. This marriage at
Perth was solemnised in accordance with
Scotch law.
Here the trouble began. George Goodwin
was a Protestant, apd his wife a Catholic,
but they were devoted to each other, and
so they journeyed over to England, landed
at Bradwell. and on the 25th of the same
month, it is said, that the marriage was
again solemnised according to the rites of
the Church of England, at Hope Church,
by the Eev. Thomas Worniald, who was
vicar of Hope at that time.
The course of true love did not run
smooth, and so the aristocratic young
bride, having married a Protestant, became
alienated from her family, and wa^s
anathematised. The couple made their
home at Bradwell, where the husband's an-
cestors had lived for generations, and there
in a cottage in Hugh Lane, dwelt those
who had contracted a wedding under such
romantic circumstances.
But tragedy followed comedy. On the
l4th of February, 1749, they had bom to
them a son — her only child. This son was
named George, after the father. But
Goodwin lived only eight years after his
child was bom, for he died in the year 1757.
As often follows such marriages, differences
arose as to the religious training of the
child, and at the father's death the child
was adopted by its uncle, who resided in
Bradwell, the mother returning to Lisle in
France, where she re-entered the Roman
Catholic Church, and lived at Lisle.
" suflering great mental and pecuniary dis-
tress," until 1790 when she removed to
London, where she died on March 11th,
1800. She lived under her maiden name.
But what about the child— the Hon.
George Goodwin? As time goes on the
story grows in interest. His un-^le Birley
was his Protestant guardian. The. father
had desired that his son should be brnuarht
up in the Protestant faith, and therqf'^re
the mother, under the influence of the
giiardian. had not been allowed to interfere
with the religious training of her son, who
was received into and broueht up in his
uncle's family. When a young man he
went Barnsley wav. and at the ase of 27
married Margaret Senior, of Dodworth. but
he had to fieht the ^attle of life, "in
obscuritv and novertv." and when thrive
score years and ten. Georse' Goodwin and
his wife entpr^rl tji© Shrewsb\irv Alms-
houses at Sh<^'=ol'd: where he died in 1835 at
the asre of eisiitt six.
Thereon han;j<! a tr-le* that has 'often
been tvild, in which, the 'fe«nsters
of Ho-oe Church a-e concernf^d. for
it being alle'^'ed that certain en-
tries therein were ' tampered with ' a
centurv asm. The Bishop of T,if>hfield held
a Court of Inqm-y into the matter- in the
year 1870. Evidence was heard at great
leiigth, and here is the aflBdavit of the
Parish Clerk of that day, or rather that
portion of it relating to the romantic
wedding, omitting all reference to the
registers :
The Parish Clerk's Recollections.
1. I, Nathan Woodroofe Ashton, of
Hope, in the County of Derby, deceased,
make oath and say that I am the sexton
of the parish of Hope aforesaid; and that
I am tne grandson of Nathan Woodroofe,
the parish clerk of the said parish of Hope,
deceased; and that I was brought up with
my said grandfather and lived in his
house until I was about seven years of
age, when I went to live with my said
father, and lived with him until he died
in 1837, when I again went and lived with
my grandfather, the said Nathan Wood-
roofe, again, I being then nearly 13 years
old, and I lived with him till October,
1844, I being then over twenty years old.
2. And I further say that I first heard,
in February, 1838, about the marriage of
George Goodwin, of Bradwell, and Lady
Charlotte Radclyfie (the daughter of the
Earl of Derwentwater) when my grand-
father, the said Nathan Woodroofe, and
William Evans, of Smalldale, deceased,
were talking about it at my said grand-
father's public-house, and were wondering
if the Goodwin family would ever get any-
thing from the Eadclyfie family; and that
whilst my grandfather and William Evans
were talking about the said marriage and
the families, Thomas Elliott, of Eden Tree,
deceased, came into my said grandfather's
house to order a grave to be made for his
father, and the same subject was talked
over again, and thereupon the said Thomas
Elliott told my said grandfather that the
said George Goodwin and Charlotte (for-
merly Radclyfie) his wife, lived at Brad-
well in a house in Hugh Lane; and I
declare that I know that such talk as
aforesaid took place in the month of Feb-
ruary, 1838, because it was at the end of
a long and very severe frost, and just after
my said grandfather and I had to dig a
grave in the cross-roads for Thomas Bag-
shawe, of Hazlebadge, who had hung him-
self, and we found great difficulty in dig-
ging the grave on account of the frost hav-
ing struck upwards of a foot into the
ground; and I further say that my said
grandfather frequently afterwards during
his life told me of the sad marriage of the
said George Goodwin and Charlotte Rad-
clyfie, the daughter of the Earl of Derwent-
water.
3. And I further say that up to some
years after eighteen hundred there is only
one book for the entry of the register of
baptisms, deaths, and marriages for the
said parish of Hope. And I further say
that my said grandfather. Nathan Wood-
roofe, was parish clerk from about the
year 1798 until the time of his death in
1855, and that the said Nathan Woodroofe
60
had access to the registers from the time
he commenced clerking, which was in
March, 1798 (when his father, who was
Sarish clerk up to the time of his death,
ied), until the death of the Eev. John
Ibbotson, the vicar, which took place in
December, 1828, as is shown by the entries
of baptisms, deaths, and marriaees. in the
said registers made in my grandfather's
handwriting; and that after that time the
said Nathan Woodroofe, my said grand-
father, had the sole charge of the said
registers until May, 1843, when they were
taken possession of bjr the Eev. W. C. B.
Cave, the then new vicar; and I say that
the said registers were generally kept in
an old oak chest in the church, but if any
person wanted to see them the said Nathan
Woodroofe would often fetch them to his
own house and get what was required from
the said book of registers there while sit-
ting over their glasses, the parish clerk's
house being a public-house. And I fur-
ther say that I have seen the said book
of parish registers lying on the table in the
garlour of my said grandfather's public-
ouse for weeks and months together, in
fact, until it was taken back into the
church, so that any person who went into
the room might have access to them. And
I say that I often stayed away from
Church on Sunday afternoons to look at
the said book of registers, to find out how
old different people were whom I knew.
* * * # •
4. And T further say that from what I
have heard from my said grandfather and
others talking about the said George Good-
win and Charlotte his wife (formerly Lady
Charlotte EadclySe, the daughter of the
Earl of Derwentwater), I firmly believp
that thev, the said George and Charlott#»
Goodwin, were man and wife.
5. And I say that I have always heard,
and I believe, that George Goodwin, the
son of the said George and Lady Charlotte
Goodwin, lived with his relatives at Brad-
well village, in the parish of Hope, in the
County 01 Derby aforesaid, from the time
of his father's death till he was old
enough to go to work for himself, when he
went to and settled at Sheffield.
Such is a romance of the Duddefls.
CHAPTER XVI.
Bradwell's Benefactors.
The parish has not many charities, but
thos? bequests it does enjoy have been left
by natives of the place, other than the
charity of Gishorne. which was common to
n hundred Derbyshire parishes.
Outram's Charity.
The Outran family were settled in Brad-
well several hundred years ago, and their
burials are recorded in Hope Church regis-
ters. It is recorded on a board in Hope
Church that " Mr. Artram " left to the
poor of Bradwall 12s. to be paid every St.
Thomas' Day. The family had extensive
possessions at Grindleford, where they were
settled for centuries, and still remain. It
would seem as if the money came from that
district, for in the account book of the
overseers of the Lordship of Stoke, near
Grindleford, for the years 1794 and 95,. we
have the item — " Paid to the poor of
Bradda 7s. 6d." The charity is still dis-
tributed.
THOMAS MIDDLETON. Nearly two
centuries have gone by since Thomas
Middleton died in 1729. He owned a field
called the Bank Close, in the meadow on
the road to Hope, and left a rent charge of
five shillings a year to be paid out of it for
ever to the poor of his native place. And
it is paid yet.
An Old Weaver's Bequest.
THOMAS MIDDLETON. He was one of
the old weavers when most of the cottages
contained hand looms, and he was son of
the above, and came into possession of his
father^ land. When be died in 1786 he
followed in the footsteps of his father, and
doubled the rent charge on Bank Close, and
the 10s. is paid to the poor to this day.
Thomas Hallam's Charity.
THOMAS HALLAM, by will 1729, gave to
the poor of Bradwell half an acre of land
in a place called the Moor Hall, for ever,
the rents thereof to be distributed to poor
widows and fatherless children on St.
Thomas' Day. George Barnsley, who for
many years occupied this land at the rent
of 12s. 6d., sold it about the year 1806 as his
own property, subject to the above rent for
the poor. About 1811 an allotment of seven
perches on Bradwell Edge was awarded in
respect of it, the whole of which was for-
merly let for £2 17s. per annum. A Com-
mission of Inquiry reported that he had
no title to the premises, and that the
charity was entitled to the land, with the
allotment set out in respect of it. The
owner, at the time of the inquiry about
1830, paid 12s. 6d. to the overseer, who dis-
tributed it on St. Thomas' Day.
A Friend to Poor Children.
ELI AS MAESHALL, a churchwarden of
Hope in 1759. This worthy, who died in
1765, gave a piece of land beneath the Long
Meadow causeway, containing half an acre:
another parcel of enclosed land in the town
furious;, with a barnstead at the east end,
nrion trust, but of the r«>rtts, to cause five
of the poorest children in Bradwell to read.
The property now consists of a close called
the Molly Pingle. in Town Lane, containing
2r. 34p., and an allotment set out at the
enclosure of Ir. 22p. in the Butts. Another
small allotment, too trifling to enclose, waff
sold for £5. The land lets for £3 per
51
annum, and since the abolition of school
fees the trustees of the charity have divided
the money between the Council School and
the Church School for the purchase of
prizes for the scholars.
Mary Hall's Charity.
MARY HALL, by will 1762, bequeathed
to poor widows and fatherless children of
Bradwell 15s. yearly, to be paid on St.
Thomas' Day by her executor, George
Barnsley, chargeable on a piece of land
callpd " The Moor Law." By an agreement
with the overseers d^ted 16th December,
1799, the said George Barnsley gave to the
poor of Bradwell two cottage houses on
Bradwell Hills, each of them let at the rent
of 18s. a year, on the payment of £5 to the
said George Barnsley, and 15s. yearly on
St. Thomas' Day. When the Charity Com-
missioners held an inquiry about 1830, the
overseers of the township were in possession
of the cottages, and the yearly sum of 158.
was paid out of the poor rates and dis-
tributed according to the donor's intention.
It would appear that George Barnsley was
grandson of the lady who left this charity —
at least such may be surmised fronx the
inscription on an ancient but very hand-
some tombstone near the Bradwell entrance
to Hope churchyard, as follows:
"Godfrey Hall, died September the 26th,
17.55, aged 78. Also Mary, his wife, died
May the 11th, 1762, aged 77."
" Their lives exemplar were.
In death to heaven resigned.
May all survivors keep with care
Eternity in mind."
" George Barnsley, of Hasslebadge, died the
3rd day of February, 1825, aged 82 years."
" Also Mary, his wife, died the 25th of
^ovemlj^r, 1810, .aggd 67 years."
We have the will of Mrs. Mary Hall. It
reads : — .—
" In the Name of God. Amen.
" I Mary Hall of Bradwall. in the Parish
of Hope, in the County of Darby, Widow
and Executrix of Godfrey Hall, late of
Bradwall, aforesaid., being Sick and Weak
in Body, but of Sound Mind and Memory
(Blessed be God for his Mercies), do hereby
make, and Ordain this my Last Will and
Testament, in Manner and form following:
(That is to say) first and principally I com-
mend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty
God who gave it. and my Body to the earth
to be decently Interred, at the discretion
of my Executor herein after Named. And
as touching my worldlv Estate, I give and
dispose thereof as foUoweth. Imprimis I
will that all my just Depts, funeral ex-
penses and Probat of this ray last Will and
Testament be Paid out of my Personal
Estate; then I give, defise, and bedueath
all my Real and Personal Estate whatso-
ever, to my Grandson Georee Barnsley, he
paying such legacies as shall be herein
after mentioned : vix.. first I give and be-
queath to ray Granddaughter Mary the
! Wife of William Steeple of Aldwark and
1 her Heirs the Sum of Seventy Pounds of
Good and lawful Money of great Britain
to paid in twelve Months after my de-
cease : Item, I givje and bequeath to my
Granddaughter Catherine Barnsley and
her Heirs the Sum of Seventy Pound of
Good and lawful Money, of Great Britaiu
to Paid likewise in twelve Months. Item,
I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Barnsley
the Sum of Seventy Pounds of Good and
lawfull Money of fire|it Britain, to paid
to her when She attains to the Age of
twenty one Years, or to her Heirs or
Assigns:
Item, I give and bequeath to Joshua the
Son of John Barnsley late of Aldwark
Grange, the Sum of forty Pounds, of good
and lawfull Money of great Britain to be
paid to him when he comes to the age of
twenty one Years, if he so long live. Item,
I give and bequeath to my Godson Martin
Middleton the sum of five Pound, of good
and lawful Money of great Britain, to be
Paid in twelve Months after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath to the Poor
Widows or Fatherless Children of the
Town of Bradwall the Sum of fifteen
Shillings Yearly, to be paid out of the
Rents and Profits of a certain Piece of land
Moorlow Torr, and distributed by the over-
seer and Principal Inhabitants on St.
Thomas Day for ever.
Item, I will that whatever Charge or
Loss shall attend getting or receiving a
certain Sum of Money due to me upon
Bond from John Barnsley his Executors,
Adnirs. or Assigns : the aforesaid George
Catherine and Elizabeth Barnsley shall
Bear or pay out of their fore mentioned
Legacies each an equal share: Lastly I
do hereby Nominate and apoint George
Barnsley Sole Executor of this my Last
Will and Testament. auA I do hereby re-
voke all former Will and Wills made by
me at any time heretofore: In Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and
Seal this fifth Day of May. in the Year
of our Lord one Thousand Seven ^Jlp4^ed
and Sixtv Two.
MARY HALL, her X mark.
Signed, Sealed. Published, and De-
clared by the within Named Mary
Hall as and for her Last Will and
Testament, in the presence of us
who have hereunto Subscribed our
names as witness to the Same,
THOMAS FANSHAW.
ROBT. HILL,
MARGEET MIDDLETON."
The charity is paid to the poor out of Moor-
low Torr.
Built a School House for Poor Children.
JOHN BIBLKY was an old worthy of
the early days of the last centnry, and a
meinljer of an old Presbyterian family. He
was a Baptist, and owned the land on which
the chapel w.a8 built. It was he who built
,the firj^.-day school. It stood on the lower
52
side ot the Baptist Chapel, and here the
" free scholars " were taught by a school-
mistress who received the rent from Mar-
shall's Charity land. But after the Bap-
tists left and John Birley died the school
fell into decay, and it waai pulled down
about 18G4.
Endowed and Buried in the Old Chapel.
William Evans' name will be handed
down to posterity as having endowed the
old chapel of the Apostle^pf the Peak. A
man of considerable means, derived from
the business of hat making, he resided in
Samuel Fox.
Bradwell Lad's Distinguished Career.
A World-Wide Celebrity.
One of Bradwell's most distinguished sons
was Samiiel Fox, the founder of the exten-
sive works at Stocksbridge, in Yorkshire,
who died in February, 1887. This lad, born
of humble parents, attained not merely
local, but a world-wide reputation. He was
the son of William Fox, a weaver's shuttle
maker, who carried on his humble avoca-
tion and lived in a cottage in Water Lane.
He was born in June, 1815, and served part
>I-./M.
CdAage in Water Lane' (now Church Street) where Samuel Fox was born.
, This is on6 of the most interesting cottages in Derbyshire.
Smalldale, and sA%i9 c\^&iii In 1844, at the
age of 72, hf> left t^rtalil latnds the rents
of which were to bo paid .^ the .preacher
at the Old < hapel. He is buried inside the
chapel at the foot of the pulpit, and a,t
th« funeral, there was. .^irQDbiwfehlQ inci-
dent. There was a crowd. rjound thp open
gray? while "the funeral 'servibip^ was goi'ng
rtn,' and a Ifidv was accideiitally"mMlM ihto
t^e pi-aVe. from which she'«-jls%Vi'}.|Ji 'diffl-
dulty V-xtricated. ' The 'dr;cidfetit'';;(Au!i|^d
,'qtiiP(e a'fienRatifln among the cWwd.- "'uii liis
hiohuitienf inside the chnpel is the l)yfes&fge
"Ho being dead yet speaketh."
of his apprenticeship to the wire trade at
Hathersage and the remainder near ' Shef-
field. Being an fexceed'ingly sharp lad, he
allowed no oppot-tuMity for advancement to
escape him, ahd'ori attaini>ig manhood com-
nienced bitsines*' on his owi<'aCco\int in an
6ld mill in a secluded Valley with but few
houses in 'the neighbourhood. For som"e
yeal's his operatiMia Wei-Q cm -a limited scale,
but his enel'gy'and persevtfi*ahce soon told,
and one development succeeded another
with" such rapidity that his workmen were
soon to be iiumbei^ed by hundreds, and
afterwards by thousands. This big concern
53
was converted into a linii;:ed company, with
Samuel Fox as chairman and managing
director, and the name of this Bradwell lad
is known the world oyer as the inventor
of Fox's Paragon Umbrellas."
A humorous scribe once wrote : " I should
say that Mr. Fox had the Peak to thank
for some of his commercial success. He
was born in the Peak. There the rain-
clouds are always gathering. What more
natural than that Mr. Fox should turn his
attention to umbrellas? He was not one
of the umbrella-making chiefs of Thibet,
THE LATE SAMUEL FOX.
Inventor of the Umbrella Frame, a native of
Bradwell and benefactor of the place.
but he was the umbrella-making chief of
the world — he was the world's friend, for
his paragon frames have and do still shield
people of all nations from the wet. They
have served other useful purposes too — they
have stopped mad bulls, beat dogs, and
thrashed eiring husbands; and an old
Quakeress had ^uch faith in them that,
when one of her servants was emigrating,
she gave the girl one of Fox's paragon
frame umbrellas and a pair of thick boots,
saying ' Now, Martha, if thou must emi-
grate thou had better take these. Cling to
thy umbrella. It will be a comfort to thee
when it's wet, and when it's dry thou may
want it to drive off spme man.' "
With the anxiety attendant on the
management of one of the biggest manufac-
turing concerns in England, Mr. Fox al-
ways took a kindly iaterest in his native
place, and assisted many of the natives to
good positions in life. A more hardworking
couple than Mr. and Mrs. Fox in their
early days it would be impossible to find.
He was a frequent visitor to his native
place, took interest in most things con-
nected with it, and for many years he
regularly sent large sums of money which
were expended at midwinter in household
requisites for the poor. These charities
were sent anonymously, and it was only a
few years before his death the actual
donor, though long suspected, became
known to the people. In many ways he
exhibited his attachment to the village un-
der the shadow of the hills where he first
saw the light, and at last bequeathed
£1,000, the interest to be given to the poor
of Bradwell for ever.
There are many memorials of several
generations of the family in their old burial
place at Hope, one of which this famous
man erected to the memory of his parents.
He also erected a memorial to his sister,
Mrs. Adam Hill, in the Bradwell Wesleyan
Cemetery. His only son, William Henry
Fox, Esq., J.P., D.L., of Bradwell Grove,
Oxfordshire, was High Sheriff of that
county in 1883-4.
Benefactor and Benefactress.
Horatio Bradwell was a worthy son of the
oldest family. He was one of three brothers
— John, Edwin, and Horatio, sons of George
Biadwell-— who were all in business as
grocers in Sheffield at one time. He took
considerable interest in the lead mines of
his native place, and invested a great deal
of money in undertakings without, much
recompense. Mr. Bradwell died on the 5th
of July, 1887, and his will proved that he
never forgot the place of his nativity. He
gave his wife a life interest in his property,
and at her death bequeathed certain
charitable legacies. He bequeathed £500 to
the National Lifeboat Institution, as a
donation towards the cost of building a
lifeboat, with its necessary house, boat
fittings, carriage, and rocket apparatus, to
be named " Ann Fox," and fixed on the
coast between Lynn in Norfolk, and
Berwick-on-Tweed. A legacy of £150 he
gave to each of the following institutions :
Sheffield Public Hospital, Sheffield General
Infirmary, Jessop Hospital for Women, and
the Totley Orphanage, with these con-
ditions to the gifts — That each of these in-
stitiitions should give to a committee repre-
senting the village of Bradwell, and con-
sisting of the vicar for the time being, the
Wesleyan minister and the Primitive
Methodist minister for the time being, and
of four parishioners to be appointed at the
annual vestry meeting to be held at Brad-
well, a certain number of tickets of ad-
mission to each of the before-mentioned in-
stitutions, corresponding to the annual
54
Talue of the sum Off £150, such tickets to
be distributed by the committee as they
may think fit; and if any of those institu-
tions refuse to accept the legacy under the
conditions named, such legacy was to fall
in the residue of the estate. Among other
legacies were £50 to the Eedhill Sundav
School, Sheffield, £200 to the Wesleyan
Foreign Missionary Society, and £50 to the
Wesleyan Worn-out Ministers' Fund.
Ann Bradwell, widow of the above gentle-
man, who survived him many years, also
place are to be found in every quarter of the
globe. It is impossible in this twentieth
century to locate the ancient home or homes
of the family, but in all probability they
formerly were seated at a mansion or large
hall just at the entrance to the town of
Brough, where a large block of buildings
now used as farm buildings, still occupy the
site. And the road here is to this day
known as " Hall Gate," and the fields about
a;5 "Hall Gate Fields," and the large plot
of table land immediately adjoining the
REV. JOSEPH HIBBS.
REV. CEO. BIRLEY.
remembered her native place. She be-
queathed £600 on mortgage to found " The
Anne Fox Memorial Sick Poor Nursing
Society for Bradwell." She also bequeathed
the following sums: Sheffield Royal Hos-
pital £250, Sheffield Royal Infirmary £250,
Children's Hospital £250, and Jessop's
Hospital for Women £250.
CHAPTER XVII.
ANCIENT FAMILIES AND NOTABLE
PEOPLE.
It goes without saying that the family
of Bradwell is the most ancient on the soil.
They took their name from the place itself,
and thev are as numerous as ever to dav,
while tne sons and daughters of the old
buildings is called " Beggar Pleck," or
Place, a spot where the wayfaring poor
waited for charity at the gates of the Hall.
Rowland Eyre was assessed for " Nether
Hall " in 1709. Nether Side is the name of
the road leading fi"om the old Hall. There
have been many distinguished sons and
daughters of the old families, concerning
whom a volume might be written, but brier
notices of some, in alphabetical order, must
suffice, in addition to the references
throughout this work.
DISTINGUISHED SONS AND
DAUGHTERS
As Clergymen and Ministers.
Bradwell has contributed to the ranks of
the Clergy and Ministers of various denom-
inations. The following may be mentioned :
The Rev. Thomas Middleton, clergyman,
was witness to a deed in 1766.
65
JOSEPH HIBBS.
The Rev. Joseph Hibbs, who was born
here on February 8th, 1801, joined the
Primitive Methodists when they first com-
menced services in a barn in 1821. When
he was only 22 years of age he was employed
as a hired local preacher in his native cir-
cuit, entered the ministry in 1829, and in
1867 was superannuated after an active
ministry of 38 years. The greater part of
his ministerial life was spent in South
Wales, and he was often spoken of as " The
Bishop of South Wales." For 14 years he
was a supernumerary minister, and died in
December, 1881, at the age of eighty.
JOHN HALLAM.
Rev. John Hallam, Primitive Methodist
minister. From a lead miner he entered
the ministry, being one of the pioneer
preachers, and associated with the famous
Hugh Bourne. He was engaged a great deal
at the Connexional Book Room in London,
and was called upon to preach in all parts
«f the country in the early days of the move-
ment. He was a victim to overwork and
came to his native place to die at the early
age of 44. His death took place on Septem-
ber 18th, 1845. and he was buried inside the
walls of the chapel, which was then in
course of erection, underneath where the
pulpit was to be placed.
GEORGE BIRLEY.
The Rev. George Birley. He entered the
Wesleyan Ministry in 1812, became one of
the best known ministers in the Connexion,
and died about 1870.
JACOB MORTON.
Rev. Jacob Morton, a well known Wes-
leyan Minister, and was a Fellow of the
Royal Astronomical Society. He was dis-
tinguished by Christian sympathy and sin-
cerity, possessed of a vigorous mind,
familiar with a wide range of theological
and general study, and was an earnest and
successful preacher. He entered the
ministry in 1840. and died at Exeter in 1873.
JOHN MORTON.
Rev. John Morton, another brother, en-
tered the Primitive Methodist ministry,
and had a distinguished career. He was an
author of several popular works. He died
at West Bromwich in 1862.
RALPH BENJAMIN SOMERSET.
The eldest son of Benjamin Somerset. He
was born in 1834. He became Fellow of
56
Trinity College, Cambridge, took his B.A.
Degree in 1857, was wrangler, and 2nd Class
Classical Tripos, took his M.A. degree in
1860, became Dean of his College, and first
censor of non collegiate students in that
University from 1869 to 1881. He died in
1891.
ADAM MORTON.
Rev. Adam Morton (living), a well known
Primitive Methodist minister, a popular
preacher, well known throughout the Con-
nexion. Son of the late Thomas Morton,
lead miner.
REV. CEORCE MIDDLETON.
REV. JOSEPH MIDDLETON.
On the north wall of the Chancel there
is a splendid tablet to the memory of this
gentleman, surmounted with a bust, in bas-
relief, of the fleceased. In deep black letters
there is the inscription : — " In memory of
the Reverend Ralph Benjamin Somerset,
M.A., son of Benjamin and Fanny Somerset,
of this place; Fellow and Dean of Trinity
College Cambridge; First Censor of Non-
Collegiate students in that University;
honoured and beloved. The righteous shall
be had in everlasting remembrance. Born
February 20, 1834; died March 23, 1891."
GEORGE MIDDLETON.
Rev. George Middleton, one of the most
distinguished of Bradwell lads, as a boy
worked in the lead mines, but when a young
man he became a local preacher among the
Primitive Methodists, entered the itiner-
ancy and became a regular minister. He
became one of the most famous men in the
denomination, gave up circuit work and was
appointed Governor of Bourne College, Bir-
mingham, which post he held down to his
death in 1908, at the age of 77.
ROBERT MIDDLETON.
Rev. Robert Middleton was a nephew of
the Revs. George and Joseph Middleton.
67
He was for half a century a Primitive
Methodist minister, but when a young man
was a lead miner. He died in 1901, and
lies in the Primitive Methodist burial
ground.
EDWARD TOWNSON CHURTON
(living).
From being curate at Bradwell when
preaching service was held in the old
schoolroom, before the church was built,
had a distinguished career in the church.
In the year 1896 the Eight Rev. Edward
Townson Churton became Bishop of
Neissau. He is a prolific writer on ecclesias-
tical subjects, and the author of a number
of works, including "First Island Missionary
of the Bahamas,^' "The Missionary's
Foundation of Christian Doctrine," " Re-
treat Addresses," " The Sanctuary of
Missions," " Foreign Missions," and " The
Use of Penitence." He married a daughter
of the Rev. C. J. Daniel, Vicar of Hope,
and the lady died when on the voyage out
to Nassau.
JOHN C. BOOKING.
Rev. John Child Booking (living). Vicar
of Gnosall, Staffordshire, to which living
he was preferred in 1906. He was educated
at St. Peter's College, Cambridge, took his
B.A. degree in 1889, and was ordained
deacon the following year. He is a surro-
gate of Lichfield diocese, and formerly held
curacies at Tipton and Fenton.
POETS AND MINSTRELS.
JOHN E. BRADWELL.
John Edwy Bradwell. The son of a
miner, and himself a miner in his early
days. He has long been a prominent per-
sonage in the friendly society world, and is
editor of the magazine of the SheflBeld
Equalised Independent Druids. He is the
writer of a number of poems of considerable
merit, including " A Coronation Ode,"
which was dedicated to King Edward and
Queen Alexandra. A copy of the Ode was
sent to Queen Alexandra, which she
graciously accepted, and sent a letter of
thanks to the author.
ADAM HILL COOPER.
A Witty Rhymster of Half a Century Ago.
Interesting Local Ditties.
One who was famous as a poet in the
middle of the last century was Adam Hill
Cooper, who was a son of Samuel Cooper.
This gentleman had five sons, all of whom
bore scriptural names — Adam, Job, Ben-
jamin, Elias. and Jabez. Adam was a born
rhymster. He was manager of Mr. Ashton's
white lead works, at Brough, and died in
1879. His ditties would fill a volume, but
they were never issued to the world in that
form. They were, mainly, humorous
rhymes on local men and things, just a
few of which will be interesting to the
present generation. But he produced pieces
other than humorous. One of his first pro-
ductions about 1860, was dedicated to his
infant son, who, however, died young. Here
it is :
Dear little stranger thou art come.
Not knowing where, nor yet to whom;
But still thou art a welcome guest,
With such a prize I feel I'm blest—
My little son.
Thy home is not a stately hall.
With servants to attend each call;
'Mid parks and shrubberies sublime.
But yet it stands unstained with crime—
My little son.
Our best endeavour we will try
Thy little comforts to supply;
When we divide our humble fare
It's sweets and bitters thou must share —
My little son.
I love to see those coral lips
As from its father's cup it sips;
Thou little sprightly busy bee.
Pray, who could harm a lamb like thee? —
My little son.
May thou be spared, and learn to grow
In knowledge, and true wisdom know;
And never cause they parents shame.
But be an honour to their name—
My little son.
Those dimpled cheeks and sparkling eyes
They make a father realise
Pleasures that never can be got
In mansion nor in humble cot—
My little son.
That manly arm, that chubby fist,
That doubled chin, that wrinkled wrist.
Those mottled limbs that glow with health.
Are treasured more than earthly wealth—
My little son.
Those little pegs are peeping out.
That little tongue, it rolls about.
It cannot yet articulate.
Though it must guide thy future state —
My little son.
About the same time Mr. Cooper's pen
produced the following on ^
MAN.
Man ! what art thou ? I meekly ask.
Reveal thyself to me;
Hard labour seems an endless task
Allotted unto thee.
I'm bone and sinew, born of earth.
Composed of living clay;
With breath infused, there starts my birtn.
At least the scriptures say.
I'm very old and cannot give
To you my exact age;
The eve I began to live
Stands a disputed page.
The changes that you daily see.
Display my busy hand;
I must continue faithfully.
I'm not allowed to stand.
Each morning brings a special task
That tries both wit and skill.
Which to avoid I must not ask.
But willingly fulfil.
Stern competition creeps behind.
And keeps me on the move.
And gently whispers to the mind
" Continually improve."
58
What difBculties I have wrought
With wire, and steam, and rails.
The new inventions I have wrought.
Throughout the world prevails.
The scythe, the sickle, and the flail.
I've left them by the way;
They find their power of slight avail
While steam and engine play.
Proud Theodore did little know.
When he refused my claims.
That to his country I should go
And snap his monstrous chains.
The heights of Magdala to me.
My freedom to defend,
Was thought too big a job to be
Successful in the end.
The heathen now may plainly see
Through our Creator's plan;
It's hard to say what cannot be
Performed by thinking man.
THE LATE ADAM HILL COOPER.
But those of greatest local interest were
his humorous ditties. These were legion,
and in them he hit off local characters ad-
mirably, regardless of offence either to
friend or foe. Here is his poetical descrip-
tion showing how the people of the Peak
celebrated tne wedding of the Prince of
Wales (afterwards King Edward VII.), in
1863:—
The folks in large towns have long cut it
fine.
Telling all country villages that they'd take
the shine,
But the men in the Peak have true English
blood.
And thought opposition would perhaps do
good.
So the clergy, the gentry, and farmers
combined
Their gold in abundance some pleasure to
find;
Old veterans were there with their tottering
hand.
Seated side by side with the lords of the
land,
Tho' appearance denoted their race almost
run
They drank health to our Queen and her
newly-married son.
Young maidens were dancing in ribbon so
gay
And all seemed to enjoy the memorable
day.
Hathersage people, regardless of cost.
Determined their loyalty should not be lost;
Miss Bamford, their neighbour, seemed
rather dejected.
For more wanted dinners than what she
expected.
Hope is a village without any trade.
Though tea and spice buns for the children
were made.
The Castleton people were happily blest.
For they could not get through without a
night's rest.
At Bramall's, in Smalldale, we now take a
glance,
Where youth is engaged in a country dance,.
One hundred and twenty were seated at tea.
And all seemed as happy as happy can be.
O'er Granby to Bradwell we now must
adjourn.
And see the great bonfire brilliantly burn.
Sack racing, and jumping, and all sorts of
fun.
Besides Mr. Elliott with his Armstrong gun;
The Wesleyans and Primitives by this had
shook hands.
Were parading the town with both Bradwell
bands,
Thus showing the world that in friendship
they meet
After giving their scholars an excellent
treat.
The conclusion presented a beautiful scene.
For teachers and scholars sang " God Save
the Queen."
THE FREE RANGERS.
One Sunday night in 1868 three young men
from Bamford visited the Rose and Crown
Inn, a public house — now cottages — at the
top of Smithy Hill, Bradwell. After
patronising the landlord, Anthony Middle-
ton, they left at closing time, groped by the
wall in the dark, until, reaching the corner
of the building at the top of the Gutter, the
first of the trio. John Robinson, for many
years the mechanic at Bamford Mills, fell
over a low wall into a heap of manure be-
low. The incident was admirably hit off by
Cooper in these lines : —
On a late Sunday night.
Just after daylight.
There came into Bradwell three strangers;
To mention a name
I should be much to blame.
So I think I will call them free-rangers.
Some beer did they want.
So they went up to " Tant,"
At a house called the Rose and the Grown;
To have just a sup
They went right enough up,
The misfortune was as they came down.
59
They reel'd to and fro.
As they did not well know
The guides of the place in the dark;
It was too rough a street
For to stand on their feet.
And to fall would be more than a lark.
They groped for the wall.
For fear they might fall.
And one of them started to grumble;
For want of the moon
He turned rather too soon.
And into a dirt hole did tumble.
What a pity he fell
For be caused such a smell.
As he rolled himself o'er on his back;
And his face and his shirt
Were both covered with dirt.
In what a sad plight was poor Jack.
I am told in the end
That he met with a friend.
Who assisted him with an immersion;
He emphatically says
He will see longer days
Before he's another excursion.
At this time Bradwell Church was being
built, and one of the contractors, a Shef-
field gentleman, wished to visit the grit-
stone quarries at Eyam, but not knowing
the way he took Charles Gledhill, one of
the workmen, with him as his guide. Their
experiences were hit off in this ditty : —
A JOURNEY TO EYAM AND BACK.
On Saturday last,
A tradesman was fast
To find his way over to Eyam ;
O'er hedges and stiles.
About seven miles,
Required considerable steam.
One Charles he employed
To act as his guide.
The rest of his name I'll keep back;
It's the very same man.
Find him out if you can.
Who laughed at the fall of poor Jack.
After two hours chase
They got to the place
Where at first they intended to go;
They measured some stone.
Then turned towards home
And agreed they should dine at Foolow.
They did not go far
After passing the bar.
Before they turned in to their right.
At a house kept by Jerry
They made themselves merry
With something that baffled their sight.
Now, whiskey's a thing
That should make a chap sing.
But Charles would do nought but take snuff;
Sometimes he would talk,
But he would not walk,
So the tradesman became rather gmS.
" I engaged you to-day
To show me the way.
If we're lost it may cost me my life ;"
" Don't be in a sweat.
There is time enough yet.
We must shake hands with Jer. and his
wife."
I am sorry to say
They turned the wrong way.
So the tradesman politely enquires;
What gave him a shock.
It was past ten o'clock
When they landed at Wardlow Mines.
With uplifted hands
He implicitly stands.
And wished he'd never been born ;
They both out of breath.
Almost frightened to death
Got to Bradwell at two the next morn.
"THE GOOSE FROM CALLOW,"
told its own tale. It was about half a
century ago. The goose was procured from
Callow Farm, near Hathersage, and cooked
at the Green Dragon Inn, at that time
kept by Michael and Ann Hall. The license
has long since lapsed. Here is the lively
ditty :—
Dear reader, it is by request
That I enclose this simple jest;
To tell the truth I'll do my best.
About a goose at Callow.
One person said he dare be bound
This goose would weigh full fifteen pound;
He'd warrant it both fat and sound.
Because it came from Callow.
This person could not make a sale.
For very few believed his tale;
His mates, to have a drop of ale.
Raffled the goose from Callow.
When we the public-house did reach.
It cost all five shillings each.
And many a very wicked speech.
Did this goose that came from Callow.
To make all previous matters right.
We had it cooked for Monday night;
This caused a very funny sight
While plucking the goose from Callow.
There was Mike, and Ann, and Harry, too;
Joe " Bradda " pulled his fingers through;
Like snowflakes down and feathers flew
As they plucked this goose from Callow.
Six pounds was just the weight of it!
Six hours it hung upon the spit;
But all the coal from Staveley pit
Would not cook this goose from Callow.
Both cook and stoker in despair.
Exhausted sat upon a chair;
It proved a serious affair
To cook a goose from Callow.
At last the cloth and plates came in.
We got the signal to begin.
And Mike cried out, " Now lads, walk in.
And eat this goose from Callow."
We all tried hard to pick his bones.
But might as well have tried at stones;
So off we toddled to our homes.
And left the goose from Callow.
In the sixties the Bradwell Moss Rake
Mining Company was formed on the co-
operative principle, to drive a level and
open out the mines, but after some years
of unprofitable working the project was
abandoned. But here is
"AN ODE,"
written by Cooper in encouragement:
Ye sons of toil, allow a friend
To make an observation.
And my opinion I will spend
About Co-operation.
To benefit the working-class
The project was begun.
But many years of toil must pass
Before the work is done.
60
What gives an impulse to a cause?
Intelligent directors,
Not men that's looking for applause ;
Such are not your protectors.
'Twas time the miners made a move,
Turned over some nevr leaf;
Co-operation it may prove
A permanent relief.
To get an honest livelihood.
No doubt was their ambition.
But this could never be achieved
Without an alteration.
Month after month they used il'elr lo<^'&
At jobs that never paid;
For want of some established rules
It's been a wretched trade.
But men of patience .hey must find.
And perseverance too.
To guide the prejudiced and blind
And lead the project through.
The men who care for others well
Must stimulate the scheme.
Who for their fellow men can feel.
Without regard to fame.
The men who have their cash to wear,
And never seem to doubt it,
But cheerfully support their share
And think no more about it.
■ The moment you the treasure find,
Yoxir shares begin to rise;
Don't follow every change of wind.
Stick firmly to your prize.
Encouragement may seem but small
And things appear perplexed.
But never let a sing'e call
On your part be neglected.
Your ancestors have often said
That there was lead in store;
If there could be a level made
That you'd get lots of ore.
Then work like men as you've begun,
May no one e'er repent,
And let what ever may be done.
Be done with good intent.
Cooper was no respecter of persons. He
had a dig at everybody he thought deserved
it. Here is one : —
TO HIS INDIGENT COBBLER.
I sent you my order to Sparrow pit.
Expecting good boots and a capital fit;
You said you would send them in course of
a week,
A pair well adapted for Derbyshire Peak,
After such a firm promise I'm filled with
surprise
To think you should send me such thunder-
ing lies,
I need not remind you— you know It quite
well
That liars must all have their portion in
hell.
I cannot imagine you waiting of leather
And other odd matters to put them
together.
Such as wax, or hemp, or any such stuff.
And Ihe order I'm sure you've had that
long enough.
Do you mean to make them ? I fancy you .
don't.
Then it write back and tell me you
won't.
Cooper's butcher shared the same fate as
his cobbler, for here is his
SHANK STEAKS.
I wish the country all to know.
In Bradwell we are not so slow;
A cow was killed for Hucklow wakes.
The shanks were pared and sold for steaks.
There's no deception in this case.
The trick was done before my face.
Now, had he cut them off the round.
And charged a market price per pound,
I'd then adopt the proper plan.
And pay the butcher like a man.
But steaks from shanks are " all my eye;"
No cook on earth can make them fry.
They are both tasteless, dry, and tough,
For such there's no demand at Brough.
Cooper was at a loss to know how a total
abstainer could be such an inveterate
smoker, and after a wordy warfare with
some of these, this is how he lectured and
exposed them in rhyme : —
TO AN ABSTAINER FROM DRINK, BUT
AN INVETERATE SMOKER.
Lights of the world without a doubt
They never ought to be put out.
And certainly I look upon
A temperance advocate as one.
Why not annihilate the pipe
If for improvements they are ripe.
And benefit their fellow men
By all the legal means they can?
But don't presume to be a light
Except your lajmp be burning bright.
Free from tobacco smoke and snuff,
And all such superfluous stuff.
For if by taking snuff or smoking.
The atmosphere is almost choking.
Such lights as those pray never handle.
They are not worth a farthing candle.
Give up the pipe, and not till then
Can they set up as model men.
The following is the last piece composed
by this local celebrity, on the occasion of
the occasion of the renovation of the Prim-
itive Methodist Chapel, in 1878 :—
THE BRADWELL CONVERT.
Ye followers of the firm old faith.
Come, hear what *Billy Longden saith
About the chapel in Hugh Lane,
Which lately hath been born again.
The inner part hath been renewed,
Be-organised and nicely pewed,
With alterations here and there.
And one additional gallery stair.
The heart hath undergone a change.
So wonderful and passing strange;
The system of the inner man
Is formed upon the gospel plan.
The outer man, the entire frame,
(Except the vestry) is the same.
And to complete the whole attire
There stands a chimney for a spire.
Now, chapels, they like man's estate.
Grow old and sadly out of date.
And this was charged with many crimes,
And ill adapted to the times.
Anterior to this changing state,
The structure was degenerate
In all its aspects, out and in.
Conceived in error, formed in sin
•William Longden. familifirly known as
Billy Longden, was the chapel keepeor.
61
The under bearings ill arranged.
The upper gearings quite deranged.
The organ too, did rant and roar
In a corner on the floor.
The music of the sacred lyre
Was sadly mangled by the choir.
The ventilation and the light
Were never altogether right.
The air was dense, the place was dull.
And, should the chapel chance be full.
How frequently it's been my lot
To gasp for breath when reeking hot.
The windows, I'm ashamed to own.
Were seldom opened up or down ;
And further more confess I must.
The seats were covered o'er with dust.
At times there was a brimstone smell.
From whence it came I dare not tell.
But then, you see, as I've asserted.
The chapel then was not converted,
And all their evils were, of course,
The outcome of an evil source.
Long it withstood the Gospel blast.
But *Mr. Smith arrived at last,
Who, by his faith and great exertion
Became the means of its conversion.
From hidden treasures manifold
He gathered silver, pence, and gold;
The wind was raised, the fabric stormed.
And now the Chapel is transformed
Into a noble, bright example
Of a real converted tempie.
Renewed within, improved without.
A true conversion none need doubt.
Long may its past and present state
To sinful man illustrate
That self improvement is not vain—
That men must all be born again.
If ^iiey would see or realise
God's kingdom here or in the skies.
•The Rev. William Smith, Primitive
Methodist minister.
SAMUEL COOPER.
He was fath^? of the ab6v6. &Tld like his
son, he aspired to poetic fame. Such a hatred
had ho of smoking, and so pained was he
to see the habit growing among both youii^
and old that he composed and published a
poem, his object being to induce the
habitual smoker to throw away his pipe,
and "to prevent the inititiated from learning
a habit which will make unlawful demands
upon his purse, injure h's health, and'^give
him much vexation." As the author Rlitli-
self frankly admitted, "in point of liibetical
beauty there is nothing to admire,' and
therefore poetry in the verses which foljow,
must not be soughrt for." but if hi^ ehd was
accomplishied he should "reap more heart-
felt satisfaction than if my brow we«*, to
be wreathed with poetical iaiiiels Trathe'ried
from the top of Parnassus' mountain.'"; ^Tt
is a remarkable pi-ece of comi^o?:iti6n. put
together. when its author wgs nearlv seventy
vears old: He -died in 1872; aged 73;' and is
buried in the Primitive Cemetery. ■
REV. GEORGE BtRq.
The Rev. George Bird, the Vicar df'Brad'-
well, has from a youth been a lover or verse,
and gifted with thespirit of lioetry. "Hi's
masterpiece is, perhaps, " Ronald's Fare-
well," issued to the world in 1892.
HORACE E. MIDDLETON.
Horace E. Middleton, a distinguished and
talented musican, appointed in 190S
Musical Director of the Kings' Theatre,
Hammersmith, London.
THOMAS FANSHAW MIDDLETON.
First Bishop of Calcutta, a Middleton of
Bradwell.
Thomas Fanshaw Middleton, the first
Bishop of Calcutta, was the only son of the
Rev. Thomas Middleton, one r.f the oldest
of the family of Bradwell Middletons, who
was born in a cottage in Nether Side, now
used as a lock-up shop, and still the pro-
perty of the Middleton family. Thomas
Middleton became rector of Kedlf ston,
near Derby, and he was allied by marpiage
with the family of Fanshaw of Bmugh.
It was whilst he was rector of Kedlpston
that his son Thomas Fan=hawp Middleton
was born on January 26th. 1769. He en-
tered Christ's Hospitfil on 21st April, 1779,
and he became a "Grecian." Among" his
schoolfello" s were S. T. /"oleridge and
Charles Lamb, who desbril^es him as a,
scholar and Bi gentleman in his teejisf'
whose manner at school^ was " f\tm,~hvit
mild and •un-s.suming." ' Middlet-on Was
always gratefyl ;to Christ's Hospital, and
shortly before his death" gave' a donation
of £400, and was elected a trovernor of the
institution. Entering Pembroke College,
Cambridge, he graduated B.A., January,
1792, as fourth in the list of senior optimes.
He became M.A. in 1795, and D.D. 1808. In
March, 1792, he was ordained deacon by
Dr. Pretyman, Bishop of Lincoln, and be-
came curate of Gainsborough, Lincoln-
shire, where he edited, and in great part
wrote, a weekly periodical called "The
<3ountry Spectator." This periodical — an
echo of Addison and Steele — attracted the
attention of Dr. John Pretyman, arch-
deacon of Lincoln, and brother of Bishop
Pretyman, and he made Middleton tutor
to his sons, first at Lincoln, then at Nor-
wich. In 1795 Middleton was presented by
Dr. Pretyman to the rectory of Tansor,
Northamptonshire, and in 1802 to the coji-
solidated rectory of Little and Castle
Bytham, Lincolnshire. At this time he
began his well-known work on the Greek
article, being incited by a controversy of
this subject in which Granville Sharp,
Wordsworth, Master of Trinity, and Calvin
Winstanley engaged. The volume ap-
peared in 1808 as " The Doctrine of the
Greek Article applied to the Criticism and
the Illustration of the New Testament."
It was praised in the " Quarterly Review "
as a learned and useful work, and went
through five editions. In 1809 Middleton
obtained a Prebendal stall at Lincoln, and
in 1811 exchanged Tansor and Bytham for
the vicarage of St. Pancras, London, and
the rectory of Pultenham, Hertfordshire.
In 1812 he became archdeacon of Hunting-
don. On his removal to London in 1811 he
undertook the editorship of the " British
Critic," and took an active pait in the
proceedings of the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge. He endeavoured, un-
successfully, to raise funds for a new
church in St. Pancras' parish.
The Act of 1813, which renewed the
charter of the East India Company, erected
their territories into one vast diocese with
a bishop (of Calcutta) and three arch-
deacons. The number of Anglican clergy
in India was very small. The bishopric,
the salary of which was £5,000, was offered
to Middleton. He was consecrated at Lam-
beth Palace on May 8th, 1814, and reached
Calcutta on November 28th, 1814. Difficul-
ties had been prophesied with the natives
on religious grounds, but the Bishop's ar-
rival and subsequent visitations created no
alarm or disturbance He found the Bible
Society established at Calcutta, but de-
clined an invitation to join it. He had a
difficulty with the Presbyterian ministers,
who were maintained by the court of direc-
tors of the East India Company. In 1815
he organised the Free School and the
Orphan School at Calcutta, and in May of
the same year formed a diooesan committee
of the Society for Promoting Christian
ii^owledge, a society which, when he left
England, had placed £1,000 at his disposal
in furtherance of its views. On December
ISth, 181.5, he left Calcutta to make his
primary visitation, attended by a party of
about 450 people. The whole journey was
one of abojit S,000 miles. He had an inter-
view with the Nabob of the Carnatic at
Madras, traversed Southern India, visited
Bombay, Goa, Ceylon, and the Syrian
Chri\^ians at Cochin. During this visita-
tion, which ended in 1816, the Bishop made
no heathen converts. His view, frequently
expressed, was that the " fabric of idola-
try " in India would never be shaken
merely by the preaching of missionaries.
He trusted rather to the general diffusion
of knowledge and the arts to pave the way
for Christianity. The first duty of the
Anglican Church was to bring the Euro-
pean inhabitants under its influence, and to
set up a high standard of moral and re-
ligious life. About September, 1820, the
Bishop's house was struck by lightning
while the family were at dinner, but no one
was injured.
On December 15th, 1820, Middleton laid
the foundation stone of Bishop's Mission
College, on a site within three miles of
Calcutta. The establishment of this col-
lege was the Bishop's favourite scheme.
The institution was to consist of a prin-
cipal and professors, and of students who
were afterwards to be provided for as
missionaries and schoolmasters in India.
In 1821 he again visited Cochin to ascertain
the cxjndition of the Syrian Church there,
and in December held his third visitation
at Calcutta. He died on July 8th, 1822,
of a fever, in the 54th year of his age and
the ninth of his episcopate. He was buried
in Calcutta Cathedral.
The Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel, to which Jie left £50p jind five hun-
dred volumes from his library, joined the
Society for Promoting Christian Know-
ledge, in subscribing for a monument to
him in the nave of St. Paul's Cathedral.
This memorial — a marble group, by J. G.
Lough — represents Bishop Middleton bless-
Hig two Indian children -k}Keeling Jbefore
him. In accordance with Middleton's will,
nil h's writings in manuscript were des-
troyed, including a memoir on the Syrian
Church. While in India he collected
Syrian manuscripts and learnt Hindustani,
but gave up the study of Greek. His
■' Sermons and Charges " were published
with a memoir, in 1824, b.y Archdeacon
Bonne.v. Middleton was a Fellow of the
Royal Society and a Vice-1'resident of the
Asiatic Society.
Middleton's life was written in 1831 b/
his friend the Rev. C. W. Le Bas, and it
contains a portrait of the Bishop in his
robes. He was a man of handsome and
vigorous appearance, his voice was clear
and sonorous, and his preaching im-
pressive. In Kay's " Christianity in In-
dia" he is called "a cold and stately
formalist," who had " an over-weening
spjif^e of the dignity of the episcopal office, '
(hough she admits that the Bishop was not
actuated by personal vanit.y, and that the
fxternals of religion had been too much
neglected in India before his arrival.
Other, friends of Middleton found him stiff
and proud in his manner, though, as
a
Charles Lamb expressed it, the newly and
imperfectly defined position of the first
Anglican Bishop of India, perhaps, justified
his high carriage. As an organiser he was
cautious, able, and active, and his suc-
cessor. Bishop Heber, was not a little in-
debted to him.
Middleton married, in 1797, Elizabeth,
eldest daughter of John Maddison, of
Alvingham, Lincolnshire. His wife sur-
vived him, but there were no children of
the marriage.
CHAPTER XVIII.
FAMOUS SOLDIERS.
THOMAS MORTON.
Thomas Morton (who took the name of
Thomas Morton Moore), who was a son of
George Morton, was a distinguished son of
his native place. Although only 44 when
he died at Parkhurst Barracks, Isle of
Wight, in March, 1860, he had probably
seen as much active service as any man of
that age. He was a Quartermaster of the 5th
Depot. Batt., and served in India with the
31st Regiment throughout the Afghan and
Sutlej campaign, and with the 68th Regi-
ment during the whole of the Crimean
War. in which he was wounded. In the
course of his career he was present in
thirty-six engagements, and for his services
he received four medals and six clasps. He
was honoured by the Turkish Order of the
Medjidie being oonf erred upon him. His
widow erected a handsome memorial of him
in the Primitive Methodist Chapel.
CUABUES CASTLE. J.P.
CHARLES CASTLE.
Although not a native of Bradwell, he
resided here many years, loved the place
and its people, took interest in all its
affairs, and was for many years chairman
of the School Board. He was a fine fellow,
a member of the SheflBeld Corporation, and
a magistrate. In 1856, when only 18, he
enlisted in the 7th Hussars, and by the end
of November in the following year he was
out in India. The Indian Mutiny was
going on, and Charles Castle was in the
thick of the fighting. He was present at
the repulse of the enemy's attack on the
Alumbagh, and through the siege and opera-
tions against Lucknow. He was with Hod-
son, the dashing Colonel of "Hodson's
Horse," when he fell. He was continually
engaged throughout the years 1858 and 1859,
and for his bravery received promotion.
When in hot pursuit of the enemy, a shell
burst over him and brought the horse down
dead, hit in seven places, and the horse fell
heavily on him. and crushing him into the
land.
Mr. Castle passed through the campaign
with only one wound, although of 78 men
who belonged to his troop when they rode
to Lucknow, only 13 were left at the end of
the operations. After the war was over.
Mr. Castle who had become Acting Troop
Sergeant-Major, and Assistant Instructor
in Musketry, accompanied Lord and Lady
Canning and Sir Colin Campbell on their
tour through the Punjab and North-West
Provinces as sergeant in the escort. He
had always belonged to the "select side" of
his regiment, and had in this country
again and again ridden in the escort of
Queen Victoria. He purchased hig dis-
charge in 1862, and joined his brother-in-
law, Mr. Batty Langley (afterwards M.P.)
in business in Sheffield. He died in 1904,
and his funeral, one of the largest ever seen
in SheflBeld. wa« attended by 45 Indian
Mutiny veterans.
HARRY FISKE (Living).
Eldest son of Mr. S. Fiske. Studied for
the army under the late Mark H. Wild, of
SheflBeld. Determined to be a soldier he
enlisted in the 2nd Devon Regiment with a
view of obtaining a commission through the
ranks. He was, as a sergeant, in all the
fighta on the banks of the Tugela. in the
South African War. and assisted in the
relief of Ladysmith, when he was invalided
home.
WILFRED FISKE.
Another son of Mr. S. Fiske. He went
through the South African campaign with
'distinction, remained th that country. He
was killed when walking over a railway
crossing in 1904.
LUTHER BRADWELL (Living).
Served in the South African War.
64
OTHER CHRONOLOGY.
BARNSLEY.
For 400 years the Barnsley family re-
sided at Nether Water Farm, an old house
nestling in a hollow just above Hazlebadge
Hall, from whence different branches of
the family have gone out and settled at
Peak Forest, Aldwark Grange, and other
places. One of the Peak Forest family
was blessed with six children — four sons
and two daughters — all of whom early in
life agreed that they would never marry,
that they would leave their estate to the
survivors, and that they would all find a
Testing place in the same vault at Peak
Forest Church. Five of them were faith-
ful to their vow, and rest in the vault, but
the erring one, who tasted matrimonial
bliss, to some extent "made up" for his
brothers and sisters, for he had no fewer
than three wives, and, well, the Peak
Forest vault does not contain his ashes.
Miss Mary Barnsley, the last of the five
who remained unmarried, and died a few
years ago, left £500 to Peak Forest Church
and School in augmentation of the stipend
of the vicar; £250 to increase the salary of
the day schoolmaster connected with the
church, and £250 for maintaining and im-
E roving the choir; and in order that her
equests might not be lost sight of and that
the parishioners might ever be reminded of
them, she directed her executors to have
such bequests recorded by a suitable in-
scription on a brass plate aflBxed against
the wall inside the church.
John Barnsley, the Peak centenarian,
was born in 1689, and died in 1787.
". WILLIAM BOOKING,
^ho'died in 1869, aged 87. w&s a Wesleykh
Sunday School teacher over 60 yea?8.
BENJAMIN BARBER.
Oue of the pioneers of Methodism, a lead
mine manager, known as "the Methodist
Martyr," owing to the persecutions he suf-
fered in the early ages of Methodism. He
was the principal stay of Methodism here
from 1760 to 1800, and about 1780 estab-
lished the first Sunday School; He was
buried at Hope Church.
CAPTAIN BENJAMIN BARBER.
He was son of the above, and was a local
preacher and a captain in the Militia, the
first company formed in 1803. This re-
markable individual was part owner of
many lead mines in the district 100 years
ago. He built and resided in the house
known as the Old Post Office, at the bottom
of Smithy Hill.
JOHN BARBER.
Another member of the same family, who
died in 1910. He worthily upheld the tra-
ditions of his greatgfrandfather, the Metho>-
dist martyr, for he was a talented and
hardworking local pieacher 51 years, and
filled every office, tjpen to a layman. He
was one of the first members of the School
Board, and held^tis seat -many years.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN
WINFIEL^.fiONSER.
This gentleman Ooij-fers honour upon
Bradwell, wher<i he livefl for several years
when a boy. ,-; He was' thei only son of the
Rev. John Bonjs^r, B-A., whb.'was stationed
as the Wesleyen, itii»ister at Bradwell from
1851 to 18.54^ Tafldjesided in the house im-
mediately bftrow, and opposite the chapel.
Born in 184,7'J!e 1^9 tducatedr.at Ashby-de-
la-Zouch, LojjglifertJBsh. -and Heath Gram-
mar Schools'-i^'l'aiMJiftfd student in Common
Law at Liricdln's TTiin, 1869; and Senior
Classics, 1870. In 1883 he was appointed
Attorney-General of the Straits Settle-
ments, and retained that position for ten
years, when he was appointed Chief Justice
65
of the same, and ret? red iu 1902. In the
previous year he had been appointed Privy
Counsellor, and in 1902 he was appointed a
member of the Judicial Committee of Privy
Council.
FAMILY OF BRADWELL.
Walter de Braddewall sat on a jury at
the Assizes of the Fcrest, in the year 1216.
Gregory de Bradwall, bail for the Prior
of Lenton, for an offence against the forest
laws iu 1237.
Galf de Bradwall, an ofiender against the
forest laws in 1272.
Elias de Bradwall, often bail for offenders
against the torest laws about 1280.
William Fabre de Bradwall, Uregory de
Bradwall, Matthew de Bradwall and
Nicholas, son of William de Bradwall, wtre
amonp the first to enclose land in Bradwall,
iu the year 1237.
Galf de Bradwall, in 1283. was called to
account for having raised three houses in
the forest without warrant ; and Clement
De-la Ford (l-ord Hall) became bail for
iiim-
Nicholas, the Clerk of Bradwall, in 1283.
William, son of the Smith of Bradwall,
sat on an Inquisition re lead mining at
.Vshbourne, 1288.
Thomas Bradwall, Chaplain of Hope, in
1.529.
JOHN BRADWELL.
Although landlord of the Bull's Head,
where h.s parents lived before him, he was
a popular local preacher in the Wesleyan
body, and a iriend of William Wood, the
histo:ian, of Eyam. Here is what a news-
paper said about him after his death in
1853: — "Ihe deceased for upwards of forty
years had generously officiated as village
scribe; as counsellor and confidential
adviser to the whole village and its im-
mediate locality. To the counsel and judg-
ment of the deceased were referred all
matters of dispute occurring around him,
and il is some praise to his deeply ; evered
memory to add that but i-arely indeed did
lie fail to bring matters to a satisfactory
and peaceful termination. In tne political
world he was an ardent and acute observer;
as a literary character he was at least
locally consp.cucus; as a wit and racy
humcrist he had, in his own locale, few
equals; as a general reader his great
variety of book knowledge amply testified ;
and as a kind and open-hearted neighbour
and friend his loss will be long experienced
and deeply lamented. To the provincial
press the deceased was an occasional con-
tributor, while his correspcudt nee with
many eminent characters of the present day
is all sufficient testimony of the apprecia-
tion of high mental qualities. As a hus-
band and parent he was truly exemplary;
as an advocate of Liberal principles he was
courageous and unflinching ; and as a Chris-
tian he bore up under a long and severe
aflliction, and finally passed from this stage
of life in a happy state of blissful peace
and sweet serenity. His end was peace."
HENRY BRADWELL,
who died at Bradwell, for the greater part
of his life held an impcrtant post with the
famous firm of Fcx, at their Stocksbridg*
works. During his connection with the
business he worked out several ideas he
evolved for improving various machines
used in the factories. He invented machines
with certain labour-saving devices of an
entirely new and intricate character, and
which, Avhen tested, proved to be of im-
mense value to the industry.
Bradwell Ebenezer (living). — Been a
Iccal preacher in the Wesleyan body 51
years, and held various offices in Wesleyan-
ism.
DARNLEY.
A very old family, who still retain one of
their old homesteads at Dale End, and pro-
perties in other parts of the village. Thev
have always been a family of education and
refinement, and repute. Edward Derneley
was a churchwarden of Hope, in 1693, but
no other member of the family ever held
that office, as they were prominently con-
nected with Nonconformity, but their old
burial place is still at Hope Church. John
Darnley was a famous schoolmaster nearly
a century ago.
Dakin Stephen (living). — Been a Wes-
leyan local preacher, and a most active
Nonconformist 51 years.
MRS. VIOLET HALL.
66
Evaus William. — In a large way of busi-
ness as hat manufacturer nearly a century
ago. Endowed the Chapel of the Apostle
of the Peak, and is buried under the pulpit.
Evans Seth (living). — Author of the "His-
tory of Wesleyanism in Bradwell/' "Brad-
well Ancient and Modern/' etc.
Furness Isabella. — In 1740 one of the
first to open her hovise for Methodist prayer
meetings when the very earliest Methodist
pioneer ventured to Bradwell.
Goodwin George, son of Geoi-ge Goodwin
and the Hon. Charlotte Radclvffe, born at
Bradwell in 1749, died at Sheffield, in
poverty, in 1835.
Hall Mary. — Benefactress. Died 1V62.
Hall Violet.— Forty years a Primitive
Methodist local preacher. Died 1S81.
Hallam .Vbsolom (living). — ('oloui-s?r-
geant 21 years in Sherwood I'oresters.
Medals: I'imjaub Frontier (India), l«!)7-8;
long service and goad conduct, 1900.
Howe Margaret.— One of the first Metho-
dists who opened her house for prayer meet-
ings about 1740.
FAMILY OF MARSHALL.
Next to the Bradwells, the Marshalls are
the oldest family in the locality, and they
can beast an unbroken descent of at least
600 years. They were among the first
Foresters; thev rebelled against the bad old
forest laws, cleared the first patches of
land, built some of the first houses; for
several centuries ranked amongst the prin-
cipal families of the Peak; and they were
often involved in litigation with people of
greater power than themselves, who were
attempting to take the comnun lands to
which the people were entitled. The
principal seat of this distinguished family
was at "The Bwtts," between the Bagshawe
Cavern and Outland Head. Here they had
a large hall, not a vestige of vihich now re-
mains, but there are traces oji every hand
of the former splendour of the home of the
family. The houses clc-so by are known
as "Jlall IJarn," indeed the lands were in
the hands of Elias Marshall wlien he died
in 1768, and left an enclosure, <Jie rent of
which was to pay for the education of poor
children. The family were very numerous,
and had several residences. One of these
was at the foot of Smithy Hill. It was in
their occupation 200 years ago, but was s; on
afterwards converted into farm buildings,
and aboiit ten years ago these were, de-
molished and ii new house, "North View,"
built on the site. To mention the vaiifiis
members of th's distinguished faihily
through six hundred years v.oiihl be^ impos-
sible, but in the fifteenth oiv sixteenth
centuries, they ranked among tffe principal
familiesNuf tfie I'eak, ami their ilaughtevs
married into other famous families of tlie
Peak. 'I*heii- armoury is amn^ig-that of
the High Peak gentry, anil their crest was
a man in anmiur i)roj)er ludding in his
hand a t rnncheon.
Elias Marshall de Butts, in the Forest
Pleas for land in 1399.
Elias Marshall and Dennis Marshall, at
a great Court Leet of He nry Vernon, Esq.,
at Hazlebadge, in 1480.
Nicholas Marshall, at a great Court at
Hazlebadge, 1488.
Walter Marshall and Hugh Marshall pro-
ceec'od (with others) against Thomas Eyre
for dlegal possession of demesne lands in
bradwall, 1594.
Willelmus Marshall and Milo Marshall,
among the vills and freeholders of Bradwall
in 1633.
Elias Marshall, a large landowner at
Derbyshire election of 1734.
Adam, Edward, Godfrey, Humphrey,
Tjawrence, Martin, Robert, Thomas, and
Miles Marshall, all landowners in 1658.
Robert Marshall, churchwarden of Hope,
in 17 ij.
Thomas Marshall, churchwarden of Hope
in 1750.
MIDDLETON.
The Middleton family ranks among the
very oldest in the district!^ For 600 years
they have been located here, and are here
still, in various branches. To give any-
thing like a history of this family is an
impossible task. John Myddleton and
Robe;-'t Myddleton were farming lands in
iiradwell, as shown in the Forest Pleas, m
the year 1399, and they liave been on the
soil ever since, taking active i)art in the
affairs of their native place. There is not
a single Court Leet record right through all
these centuries without the names of some
of this yeoman stock. Two Martin Middle-
tons, two Richard Middletons, and a
Thomas Middleton were freeholders in 1734.
Thomas Middleton, benefact.;r, died 1729.
Robert Middleton, Town (liite, died 185'*,
aesd 94.
jlartin Middleton, native of Bradwell,
w;>s a member of the Mancliester Corpora-
tuju 1849 to 18.58.
•Tohn Middleton, member of Manchester
Curporation 1848 to 1851.
.'ob Middleton, the last of tlie hat manu-
f£.aurers. died 1899, aged 84
MORTON.
A famous family whose sons have gone
out into all parts of the world, nmny of
■vhom have distinguished themselves,
especially in tlie .Vrmy, and the Noncon-
Ij'rmist ministry. They were for centuries
connected with lead-mining, and tliey were
prominent people here in the year 1472, and
Lave taken active part in the life of their
r.itive place through all these centuries,
a id their names are frequently met with
throughout this work. They have l)eeu
freeholders for centuries.
67
George Morton was the first to open his
building for the reception of the Primitive
Methodists, in 1821. He died in 1852.
Morton, Eev. Jacob. — Famous Wosleyan
minister. Died 1870
Morton, Rev. John.— Primitive Metho-
dist minister. Died 1862.
OLIVER MORTON.
Morton Oliver, who died in 1910. ;•. niiiui-,
joined the liiverpool police force At-hen a
young man, voiuntemed fcr service abroad,
and for the long period of 18 years occupied
the position of <.'hicf Iii.si)ector of th?
Penang and Singapore (Straits Settlements)
Police, retiring to his native place in 1801.
He lies in the family grave in the Wes-
leyaii Cemetery, where there is a handsome
monument to his memory.
Morton Thomr.s. — A famous soldier. Died
at Parkhnrst Harracks.
SOMERSET.
A family of repute and substance who
were among the leading Wesleyans more
than a century ago. They were in business
as joiners, wheelwrights, fellmongers, and
general shopkeepers, and while some of
their sons have gone out and become distin-
guished divines, others have remained pro-
m'nent laymen at home, and the ))resent
g-.'ueration of the family are prominently
connected with Wesleyanism.
Somerset Benjamin. — He was a Wesleyau
local preacher forty years, and a promin-
ent layman all that time.
Somerset Jabez Birley.— A prominent
Wesleyan leader and official. Died in 1864.
ROBERT SOMERSET.
Somerset Robert. — Ho was a Wesleyan
local preacher, class leader, and trustee
more than forty years, and died in 1897.
f
THOMAS SOMERSET.
Somerset Thonia-.— 20 years
t;i-' poor for Hradwcll.
niardian of
68
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69
Somerset. Rev. Ralph Benjamin. — Dean
of Trinity College, Cambridge. Died '8H-
OBAOIAH STAFFORD.
Stafford Obadiah. — Wesleyaii S.uiday
School teacher over 60 years. ))ied ihM.
Strelley Robert. — Hazlebadge, Al.l'.
Derbyshire in 1407.
for
Strelle_v John.
Derbyshire 1420.
Hazlebadge. M.l\ fc<r
DR. J. H. TAYLOR.
Taylor, Dr. Joseph Henry. — One of the
best-known medical practitioners in the
P*ak. Practised in the district more than
half a century. Died in lS97.
Taylor, Dr. Thomas (living).— Barn a(
Bradwell. f-an of Dr. Joseph Henry Tayl ir.
Resides at Bourne raaiith.
Tanfield Robert (living). — One of the liest-
known Primitive Methodists in the Con-
nexion. Been a local preacher and active
official 60 years. .Vn r.verseer of the poor
for 40 years.
Vernon. Sir Richard.— RosicUd at Hazle-
badge Hall in tlxe fifteenth century.
Walker, Zachariah (living). — Been assist-
ant overseer for Biadwell, and secretary of
the Welcome Traveller of the Peak Jiodgo
of Oddfellows nearly 40 years. The family
have for centuries been interested in lead
mining.
CH.'VFTER XIX.
SOME REMARKABLE CHARACTERS.
Left His Bride to Follow the Hounds.
.\ century ago there lived on Hunter's
Green, an old worthy named .Vdam Morton,
who was so much devoted to hunting that
at one time ho kept a small pack himself.
\ good story is told of this individual, who
on the most momeiitcus occasion of his
life, preferred the hounds to his bride. He
had such a love and passion for liunting that
it showed itself at the altar, lie was in the
Hope Church just about t > be married.
Just as the ceremony was commencing he
heard the h'lmds pass throu^jh. when out
of the church he bounded in (|uest of the
pack, regardless of the feelings even of his
liride. and the marriage had to be solenui-
ized on a subsequent day.
AN ECCENTRIC WORTHY.
A curious make-up of eccentricity, a
strange picture, but an honest worthy, was
Richard Jeffery.
"Dick," as he was generally called, was
the character of the village. He had al-
ways a cheery word both for young and old,
and by hi • eccentric manner of dress and gen-
eral character was quite a noted individiial.
especially with visitors. His clever reciting
of " Death and th(> I.ady " was a treat. On
one occasion hf> turned up at the Sheffield
pantomime, which he enjoyed amazingl.v.
With mouth agape, eyes filltd with wonder,
and constantly lifting up his hands in
amazement, he kept exclaiming " GoW
upon gold; there can I'e nothing grander
70
in Heaven than this; if Queen Victoria wat
only here it would be complete." Alluding
to the stage girls, he shouted out that he
" should just like to take half a dozen of
them to Bradda, just to let them see." He
was a tall, big-boned man, with a ruddy
complexion, high cheek bones, and a pro-
minent nose, and, despite his penurious
habits Avas the picture of health. His
general appearance Avas most grotesque. A
hat of enormous proportions, tied on his
head with twine, Avas painted red and blue.
His shoulders were coA'ered Avith rough
sacking, and a piece of the same material
serAed as an apron. His troiisers were so
patched that in their mosaic appearance
they resemblejl Sir John Cutler's silken
hose that had been darned by his maid Avith
diverse materials so frequently that none
of the original fabric remained. At one
time he played the driim in the Bradwell
band, and he Avould sometimes illustrate
his proficiency on that instrument by im-
itating A-ocally a cornet solo, Avith dru'.a ac-
companiment exectited Avith his fist en a
door. But he Avas most effective as an
elocutionist. On inspired occasions he
would recite a dithery dialogue of some
twenty or thirty dismal verses in length
entitled " Death and the Lady," in which
the striiggle of a Avealthy Avoman to Av^rd
off the fatal summonses Avith coaxes aiid
bribes Avas graphically and gruesomely set
forth. He was carried to his last resting
place in the churchyard on Good Friday in
1885, in the presence of hundreds of spec-
tators.
DONE AS MANY AS HAD EVER DONE
HIM.
One of the characters in the middle of the
last century was George Goodwin — " Owd
Goodin" as he was knoAvn to every child
in the place. He lived in the Avhitewashed
cottage at the top of Farther Hill, almost
opposite Dialstone Villas, and Avas a small
farmer. Many there are who can Avell
remember the old man fetch Avater from the
brook Avith a yoke and chains and two big
milking cans. Stories concerning him
would fill a pamphlet.
He never attended a place of Avorship, and
studiously avoided religious people. When
he lay on his de,ath bed in 1868, the Rev.
Thomas Meredith, Avho Avas the Primitive
Methodist minister at that time, visited him,
and Avhen he inquired about his state the
old man retorted " Have you seen my fat
pig? It's good meat; best in the country."
The rev. gentleman told him that he wished
to talk to him about his soul, but still the
old man persisted in talking about his fat
pigs. Mr. Meredith spoke to him about
the stoi-y of the Cross, of the sufferings,
death and resurrection of Christ, and when
he spoke of Christ leaving the tomb the old
man exclaimed "He Avas never likely to
stop there if he could get out." This cir-
cumstance is lolnted in "The Hook of
Marvels."
It is related of the same eccentric char-
acter that Avhen a local preacher asked him
if his niind was easy, he replied "Ah, I think
•t is." "Why?" "What makes it easy?" ho
■vas asked. " Well," Avas his reply, " I
think I've done as many as have ivA^er done
me."
STRANGE CHARACTER'S MONEY
BUYS CHURCH CLOCK.
rjenjamin Giles, known throughout the
Peak as " Old Benny," for the greater part
of his lifetime traA-elled the country as a
haAvker of small articles which he dragged
about up hill and down dale on a handcart.
The old gentleman's life Avas a mystery,
but it was said that Avhen a young man he
Avas a London merchant, and lost every
penny by misfortime, and the rest of his
life Avas spent in the manner indicated. His
home — if home it coxild be called — Avas in a
small chamber behind some lead smelting
Avorks on BradAvell Hills, Avhere " Overdale
Houses" now stand, and Avhen on his
rounds he never lodged at houses, but was
allowed tt) sleep in outhouses at lead smelt-
ing Avorks belonging to Mr. E. M. Wass,
a Avealthy mine owner near Matlock. He
lived to be more than eighty years of age,
and Avhen he died in 1883 he left a large
sum of money — £150 or £200 — to Mr. Wass,
Avho returned it to Bradwell in the shape
of a public clock, Avhich he placed in the
church tower at a cost of £150, and erected
a monument over the grave of this strange
character, Avhich is noticed elsewhere.
MONEY ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
The curious habits of a Avell-known
character, Mr. .Joseph AVright, a farmer, of
Smalldale, Avere revealed Avhen his furniture
came to be sold after bis death in the year
1893. He was a highly respected man, a
member of a very eld familj- Avho had been
on the spot at least 300 years. His wife
having long predeceased him, he lived alone
many years. During the sale of furniture
the auc^tioneer observed that there was a
secret drawer in an old box he was offering,
and a secret drawer there proved to be.
It Avas opened before the box was sold, and
yielded a rich reAvard, for it Avas found to
contain a bank note, a bag of gold, and a
large quantity of silver coins. There were
small sums of money all over the house,
including fifty shillings in copper coins in
a jng.
PUTTING THE " AXINS" IN.
A good story used to be told of a Brad-
wellite Avho Avas en the point of entering
into conjugal relations. He Avent to the
clerk of the parish church at Hope and
ordered the banns to be published anent his
forthcoming espoiisal, but he strictly
charged the clerk to tell nobodv about it so
as to keep it as secret as possible. The
clerk acting strictly on his injunctions.
71
never told Hie Viear. and the consequence
was that on the following Sunday the banns
were not published in the church. On the
Sunday he was very eager to hear who had
been " called out " in church, and on ascer-
taining that his own name had not been
called he was very wroth. Eushing off to
the clerk in a great rage he demanded to
know why he had not been " spurred,"
when the clerk naively replied, "Why
you charged me not to tell any-
Ijody, and consequently I did not
tell the Vicar." This was an in-
terpretation of the secrecy which the worthy
fellow had never contemplated and he
thereupon ordered the clerk to let the pro-
ceedings take the usual course. The banns
were published on the following S^inday.
LITTLE MARTIN MIDDLETON, THE
DUKE'S FAVOURITE.
A comical character was Martin Middle-
ton, known as " Little Martin." But he
was such a trusted and faithful retainer of
several successive Dukes of Rutland of that
period that one of them had his portrait
painted life size, and it hung in Haddon
Hall until a few years back. And over his
grave in Hope Churchyard there is a midget
of a headstone, no doubt corresprnding with
the stature of the character it commemor-
ates, and it informs the passers by that
" Here lyeth the body cf Little Martin
Middleton, of Hasslebatch, who died 181.5.
aged 90."
REUBEN HALLAM, AUTHOR AND
PUBLICAN.
Reuben Hallam, although not a native of
Bradwell, lived here for several years in the
early seventies. when he kept the
"Shoulder of Mutton." A clever and
widely read man, full of knowledge of men
and things, and possessed of considerable
talent, his life was one of strange vicissi-
tudes and unusual experiences. He was
l)orn in Sheffield in 1819, and died there in
1909, aged 90. He was a roving spirit, and
wrote a serial story " Wadsley Jack, the
humours and adventiires of a travelling
cutler." "Lilia Nightingale," and " T'ups
and Dahns o' Sheffield life," were among
his productions. It was really an account
of his own experiences in early life. F;ir
some years he learnt carving, afterwards
forged knife blades ; he was a talented
violinist, for some time performed in a
travelling theatre, became proprietor of a
boxing saloon and a professor of pugilism,
and was at one time double bass singer,
scenic artist and assistant manager at the
Theatre Royal, Sheffield. He was f(vr many
years choirmaster at St. John's Church,
Sheffield, and published "An introduction
to the Art of Singing," and in his early
days he was a famous cricketer. He was,
indeed a most entertaining person, and
many a time has he related his reminis-
cences in the "Shoulder of Mutton."
CHAPTER XX.
SOME REMARKABLE ENTRIES.
Curious Epitaphs and Gretna Green
Weddings.
The Hope Church Registers, which date
from the year 1599, have been well kept,
and are in a good state of preservation.
But the cler|;ymen have contented them-
selves with the bare entry of the Lurial of
the deceased without any, remarks, except
in a few instances, and where men have
been "killed in the mine." But hund:cds
of these latter could doubtless have been
shown.
Under date, March 10th, 1688. we read:
"William, son of Robert Marshall de Brad-
wall, biiried. Memorandum, no affidavit
brought within 8 days and same certified
to ye overseers of ye poor for Bradwall."
The very next entry is the burial on
March 15th, of "Alicia, til Thomas Padley
de liradwall," and there is a similar mem-
orandum to the above.
"1778, July 31. Buried the body of a man
found upon the moors in the Woodlands,
and ijlace of abode unknown."
But this was not the only body buried in
the Churchyard that had been found upon
the moors. In the Philosophical Tran-
sactions : —
"The moors of Hope parish afford an
extraordinary instance of the preservation
of human bodies inte'red in (hem. One
Barbe:-, :i grazitr, and his maid ser-
vant, goiiHv to Ireland in the year 1764,
were lo-t in the snow, and remained
covered wjili it from January to May,
when they were so offensive tl^at the Cor-
oner onhi'cd tlifm to b;» burifd on the spot.
About twenty-nine years afterwards, some
countrymen, probably having observed the
extraordinary properties of this '^oil in pre-
serving dead bodies, had the curiosity to
open the ground, and found them in no way
altered, the colour of the skin bring fair
and natural, and their flesh as soft as that
of persons newly dead. They we:e exposed
for a sight during the course of twenty
years following, though they were much
changed in that time by being so often un-
covered. In 1716, Mr. Henry Brown, M.B.,
of Chesterfield, saw the man perfect, his
beard strong and about a quarter of an
inch long ; the hair of his head short ; his
skin hard, and of a tanned leathe • colour,
pretty much the same as the liquor and
e^rth they lay in. He had on a broad
cloth coat, oi which the doctor in vain
tried to tear off the skirt. The woman was
more decayed, having been taken
out of the ground and rudely handled;
her flesh, partially decayed, her
hair long and sPongy like that of a living
person. Mr. Barber, of Rotherham. the
72
man's graudson, had both bodies buried iu
Hope Church, and upon lo -king into the
graves some time afterwards it was found
they were entirely consumed. Mr.
Wormald, the minister of Hope, was pre-
sent at their removal. He observed that
they lay about a yard deep in moist fo 1
or moss, but no water stood in ' e place.
He saw their stockings drawn off, and the
man's legs, which had not been uncovered
before, were quite fair. The fle^h, when
pressed by his finger, pitted a little, and
the joint;; played freely, and without the
least stiffness. The other pa ts were much
decayed. What was left of *^heir clothes,
not cut off for curiosity, was firm and good,
and the woman had a piece of new serge,
which seemed never the worse."
Body snatching \vould appear tn have
been a considea" le trade a century- ago,
and there are still people living who can
relate strange tales about the "I'fsnrrec-
tion Carts" coming from Manchettor and
Sheffield, gliding silenth' in the nrddle of
the night, and returning with h.Klies out
of the churchyard. There are tw) entries
to this effect in the register, and singu-
larly enough, both relate to JJradwell
people. Here they are: —
"1831. October 26, agfd 28, William
Bradwell, Smalldale. The body stolen
same night."
"1834. October 2iid. aged 21, Benjamin
Wi'agg, Bradwall. This body •stolen."
Evideiitly those who trafficked in this
ghoulish busine?s carried on their nefari-
ous job when ilie dark .nij:hts of October
came.
"1C36. Began the great death of many
children and others by a contagious
disease called the children pock and
purple pock."
This relates to the small-pox that was for-
nierly very prevalent in this country. I c car-
ried on its ravages f;)r at least two hundred
years, and killed many. There is the
entry, "ia34. Dec. 16th. Hannah Cheetham,
Bradwall, small-pox."
"1819. Buried Widow Hannah Rose,
Woodland, aged 100."
")8."{5. Nancy Furuess, 26, child birth,
married only 6 weeks."
;'1K3«. Robert Bird, 80, Bradwall.
sojourner."
There are many of these "sojourners" in
the register, probably wayfarers.
"1837. Ellis Poynlon, suddenlv at mar-
ket."
"1837, July 3rd. Rachel Chfetham,
perished on the way.
This wa, the first burial iii the pa ish to
bo registered under the new .Act by wh ch
tl:e leturns wore to be sent to the Registrar
General.
"1837. James Oldfield. Little Hucklow.
Killed by a cart."
"18:)8, February 2nd. Thomas B igshaw,
Hazlebadge, found hanged."
"1851, June 29th. A youth unknown
found in the River .Ashop. About 17 years
old."
Baptisms. — "1835, April 8. Nancy, daugh-
ter of John and Nancy Furness, Bradwall.
Mother buried same time."
"1835, IVIarch 8. Isaac, son of Robert and
Rachel Shirt, Hope. Born with one finger
and thumb only on right hand."
"1868, October 22. The new church at
Bradwell was consecrated. Thanks be to
God for permitting me to see the accom-
plishment of this good and important
work." C. J. Daniel.
In Wesleyan Chapel Registers:
1854. "Buried Hannah Cheetham, sister
to little Isaac Cheetham."
181.7. "Paid Mr. George Fox £5 borrowed
money from Mr. Abraham Hill in part for
h'is croft as burying ground. Marriage
gifts i>aid towards burying croft £2 Os. 6d. ;
balance paid to Benjamin Somerset, who
lent it, £1 7s. 6d."
1847. "Donation towards obta'ning mar-
riage license fo" the chapel, handed towards
this trust account and towards paying
for the croft l)ought for burying
ground if the parties do not object and re-
qu're their money to le retu: ned, £2 Os.
6d."
1864. " Buried Hannah Hawksworth.
This grave belongs to the township of
Bradwell."
1864. "Buried Benjamin Barber, 19,
miner, killed in the mine at Great Huck-
low."
Some Curious Epitaphs of Bradwell Folk.
There is a good deal of originalit.y in the
epitaphs to l>e found on the gravestone.s of
Bradwell folk. Here are a few : —
In Hope Churchyard.
To Benjamin Kirk, of Brough, who died
in 1789, aged 37:
"Reader, whoe'fr thou act, remember
that the common lit of all mank'nd is the
grave. Yet know tVat tlie Meek, the
Charitable, and Religious sliall triumph
over Death, secure in a blissful Immor-
tality."
To AV^illiam i\liddlet;>n, JJradv.ill ■. IS"4),
and several children:
"Kind Reader stop and contempla*^o
The natni-e !)f a futile Sta^e.
If Christ in judgiufiit shou'd appear.
Are you jirepared to meet Him there.'"
To Mary, wife of Ellis Middleton, of
Bradwall, 1810:
" My husband dear and children seven.
Prepare to follow me to Heaven."
On a table tomb of (-evrral young chil-
dren of John and Marv Fox, of Smalldal",
1754:
73
•■ The blast which nips our youth will
conquer thee.
It strikes the bud, the blossom, and the
tree.
Since life is short, and Death is always
nigh.
On many years to come do not rely ;
The present time learn wisely to employ
That thoii mayest gain eternal life and
joy."
To Mary, wife of I'rederick Morton, 1845,
aged 25:
" Grace was in all her steps.
In all her gestures dignity and lo\e.'"
Here is a curious inscription on the stone
of a former churchwarden:
" Abraham Hibljerson lyeth here.
And so he must till Christ appear.
Though flesh and bones consume away
He must appear at Judgment Dav "
"He departed this life Feb. 15, 1771'., aged
87 years."
" Smalldale."
On the stone of John Cheetham Bnid-
wall, 1768, we read :
" Man, know thyself !
All wisdom centres there."
On the monument of James and Mary
Hibbs. 1779, and nine children, the: s^ is I ho
fellowing :
"Wi*h deepest thoughts, spectator view
thy Fate,
Thus Mortals pass to an Immortal. State.
Through Death's dark vale we hope
they've found the ^Vav
To the bright Regions of eternal Day.
Life's but a Moment, Death that Moment
ends,
Happy, thrice happy he that Moment
wisely spends.
For on that dreadful Point, Eternity
depends."
On the stone of Isaac and Ma'y Maltby
(1802), aged 72 and 73 respectively, there is
the line:
"An unspotted life is old age."
There would appear to be doubts and
fears concerning a future state, expressed
in some lines on the stone of Benjamin
Bagshaw, of Coplowdale, whj died in ISOt.
At the head of the sh)ne there is : "In hope of
a joyfuU Resurrection to Enter into Life
and Glory," but beneath we read :
"Let no su:viving mortal man ijrosume.
To state my I'resent or my future Doom.
Let that a part for Ever to remain.
To Him who knows our. hearts to be but
vain.
So let my Ashes and this brittle Stone
Rest till i rise and be disturbed by none "
Hero is another:
" Behould !
this stone .stands near
upon the bones of
Martin Middleton
who Brad well Town
Inhabited of late
and dved near Aged
fifty E ght.
November 16, 17.53."
In Wesleyan Cemetery.
A new marble monument to Isaac Baii-
croft (1908), aged 79, erected by his daugh-
ter, says:
"Farewell vain world, I've had enough of
thee.
And now I care not what thou say'st of
mo;
Thy smiles I court not, nor thy frowns
I fear,
Mv cares are o'er; mv head lies easy
here."
(In a monument to John Bradwell (39),
who died in 1896, it is stated that:
"This stone was subscribed for by the
staff and fellow cabmen at Hope Railway
Station, in loving memory of a departed
friend, as a memento of the respect and
esteem in which he was held in the dis-
trict."
In Bradwell Churchyard.
On the flagstone at the entrance to the
tower doorway : " Jane Maltby Bi'adwell,
6, and George Edward Bradwell, 18, who
were buried on February 18, and March 6,
1889. They were the first to be buried in
this churchyard."
On headstone near entrance to vestry :
"In memory of Benjamin Giles, a native
of South Wales, but for 40 years a hawker
in this district, and resident at Bradwell,
who died February 16th, 1883, and was
buried beneath this stone February 19th,
1883, aged 81 years. Lay not up for your-
selves treasures upon earth .... but
lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.
For where jour treasure is there will your
heart be also."
Gretna Green Weddings.
It is well known that at Peak Forest,
often termed "The Gretna Grefn of the
Midlands," which was extra parochial, the
parson had formerly unique powers. He
could legally perform the marriage cere-
mony withotit previous publication of the
banns at any hour of the day or night. It
was exceedingly convenient lor Bradwell
couples who were desirous of doing it on
the sly, and doubtless many patronised the
parson of Peak Forest.
Extracted from the registry of " Foreign
Marriages " are the following Bradwell
names :—
1727.
Joseph Bridbury and Lydia Wilson,
.iugust 1st.
John Greavs and Hannah Bridbury,
License. October 18th.
Abraham Hall and Sarah Longley. March
the 9th.
74
1728.
Edward Dernly and Elizabeth Bray, July
the 4th.
Geofrey Pearson, Ann Burroughs, Septem-
ber 2.5th.
1729.
Joseph and Elizabeth Hall, May 11th.
Thomas Elliot and Ann Eyre, December
7th.
Daniel Pearson and Elizabeth Kei
December 17th.
1730.
Francis Bridbury, Mary Longden, April
6th.
Joseph Dennis, Mary Key, October 11th,
Samuel Spooner, Marv Bridbury, October
12th.
1734.
John Bramhal. Sarah Tattlewood, Jiiue
4th.
1735.
Samuel Edenzor, Elizabeth Greavs,
September 2Gth.
1736.
Thcmas Walker, Elizabeth Pearson,
July 22nd.
Benjamin Thorp, Mary Bramhal, July
25th.
George Fox, Esther Barber, December
16th,
Abraham Ibberson, Sarah Waiuwright,
February 2nd.
"GRETNA GREEN" OF THE PEAK.
The Ancient Church of Peak Forest. Demolished in 1876.
1731.
Joseph Bramhal, Hannah .Mien, June
15th.
Matthew Furnico, .Ann Hallam, Jul,y 20lh.
John Cowper, Alico Green, August .'jth.
Thomas Bridbury, Mary Adsit, .August
29th.
1733.
John Beiinit, Martha Morten, April 1st.
Edward Bennit, Ann Needham, July 9tli.
Hugh Hill. Bradwall, Sarah Clayton.
l*cak Forest.
1737.
John Tricket, Mary Greavs, May 3ith.
John Andrew, Marv Goodwin, May Ist.
Henry Gelly, Ruth" Slack, August 31st.
John Taylor, Alice Walker, Octo'er 7th.
Benjamin Fox, Mary Elliott, October
18th.
John Onyon, Ann Elliot, February 5th.
1738.
Robert Hill, Mary llallani, April 26th.
Benjamin Hallam, Jano Froggatt. Decem-
ber 31st.
73
1739.
Robert Barber, Sarah Morten, July 8th.
Wm. Daltoii, Elizabeth Greavs, Febru-
ary Uth.
Robt. Hall, Betty Fox, February 21st.
Thomas Kowson, Mary Fox, March 24th.
1740.
Robert Hall, Auu Bradwell, October 26th.
Paul Andrew, Ruth Deykin, October 26th.
1743.
Wm. Deykin, Ann Bradbury, May 20th.
Thomas Morten, Elizabeth Edenzor, May
82nd.
Nicholas Devkin, Dorothy Hall, October
15th.
1744.
Benjaniiu Hall, Ann Hall, July 8th.
1747.
Thomas Burrows, aged 26, and Margaret
Dakin, aged 25, Castletou, June ye 11.
Robt. Hill and Mary Longden, of Castle-
tou, Juno ye 12th.
Thomas Andrew and Eliz. Hall (Castle-
ton). July the 12th.
Robt. Bradwell and Margaret Hall, Nov-
ember the 21st.
1748.
William Longden and Hannah Needhani,
September ye 1st.
1752.
William Eyri> and Ellen Furnace, Nov-
ember 2ud.
1753.
Benjamin Walker and Mary Hallam,
October 19th.
John Maltby and Ann Palfryman, Nov-
ember 26th.
1754.
Godfrey Elliott and Susanna Barb.r,
February 25th.
Robert Palmer and ^Jin Marshall, March
iUt.
CHAPTER XXI.
EIGHTY ODD YEARS AGO.
Leading Inhabitants in 1829.
The population of Bradwell has varied
with its vicii^situdes. In the year 1801
there were 955 inhabitants, and in 1811 the
iwpulatiou had increased to 1,074. When
the census of 1821 was taken a further in-
crease was proved, the number being
1,130. Ten years later (1831), when lead
mining was very bad, the number of in-
habitants was shown to be 1,153 — still a
slight increase— but in 1841 it was 1,273. In
1851 the population was returned as 1,334,
viz., 650 males, and 684 females, this being
the highest ever known. But f: om thi>
period there was « gradual declino owing
to depression in lead mining, and the clos-
ing of cotton mills, for in 1861 a slight
decrease was shown, the figiires being 1,304,
but in 1871 it had further decreased to
1,141, the low price of lead having caused
some of the mines to be abandoned. lu
1881 there was another big decrease, the
returns showing only 1,019, but in 1891
there were so many empty houses that the
total number of inhabitants was but 837.
But during the next decade the tide
turned, mainly owing to the construction
of the Dore and Chinley Railway, and the
popularity of Bradwell as a resort for
health and pleasure, and the census of 1901
returned 1,033 inhabitants. The returns
of 1911 showed by far the greatest increase
in the historv of the place, the number of
inhabitants then being 1,.330.
When the River was Forded.
A century ago such a convenience as a
bridge was not known in Bradwell, al-
though the Brook flowed right through the
centre of the place. As a matter of fact,
the water had to be forded at a spot now
known as Biidge End; at Town End, Town
Bottom, The Hills, and other places, every
water-coui-se, whether brook or rivulet,
being open. Water Lane, now Church
Street, was an open stream, with a footpath
))y the side.
The date of the erection of Causeway
Bridge, near the Roman causeway in Hope
Lane, is not known, but it is the oldest
! structure of the kind in the district. Nor
i is it known by whom it was built, but it
I is repaired by the townsiiips of Bradwell
■ and Hope. In 1814 the Bridge over the
j brook at Bridge End was built, and in the
same year two culverts were constructed
over small rivulets. In 1817 the Com-
i nilssioners of Common Lands built another
bridge over the brook in the Holmes; in
1818 and 1829 other bridges were con-
structed. In 1823 three bridges were built
over the Sitch rivulet on tlie Hills.
A Community of Eighty Years Ago.
A glance at the old town and its people
eighty odd years ago— in the year 1829 —
cannot fail to be interesting. In those
days they were a community to themselves,
isolated from the rest of the world, with
the carrier's cart to Sheffield the only
means of communication with the outer
world, a contra-st to the growing, stirring
place of to-day, with half the number of
its inhabitants not natives. But even so
far back the population of miners and
weavers was almost as great as now.
The miners — men, women and children
— were daily sending their Ipad ore to tho
smelting mills, of which there were several,
with their tall chimneys belching forth
volumes of black smoke. James Furniss
and Company were the principal firm of
lead smelters, and their works were es
tensive. Another smelting mill was worked
by Isaac and Jeremy Royse, of Castletou.
75
Jeremy was born during >ome excitement
at Speedwell Miiu^ Castleton, and became
pi-oprietor of that remarkable ))lace. The
smelting works and cupolas of the Furnisses
and Royses have long been demolished, but
that of the Middletjns in the Meadow, is
now used as farm buildings.
And this colony of miners found employ-
ment for a good inimber of tradesmen. As
blacksmiths there were Thomas Bradbury,
in Hollow-gate; Wm. ]}ennett. (Teorge San-
derson, Thomas Bradwell, ^^eorge Holme,
in Netherside, anci Richard Walker, who
came to an nntimely end. The only smithy
remaining is that of George Holme, bnt his
son is at Hope.
And as with Ijlacksmiths, so with wheel-
wrights. The miners found them plenty
of work. There were Benjamin and Isaac
Somerset, with their big timber yard full
of stacks of timber for mining piir poses;
Jacob Marshall, at ya:d Head; and George
Bradwell, biit their workshops have long
ago disappeared.
The hatters, too, were a force to be
reckoned with, for hats were made here for
the London markets, and the rough felt
hats were fetched to all parts of Derbyshire.
The big hatters were William and James
Evans, who were people of means, indeed,
William endowed the old chapel ; Robert
Jackson ; and there was a whole family of
Middletons in the same business, George,
Charles, Joseph, and Robert, all in business
on their own account. Bnt the industry
has long been defunct, and houses now
occupy the sites of the old hat manufac-
tor'es.
Handloom weaving, too, was yet in vogue,
though not to the same extent as at a
more : emote period. But the weavers s'ill
found employment for a shuttle-maker,
William Fox, whose lad, Samuel, then just
ai)prenticed at Hathersage, was destined to
become one of the greatest manufacturers
England has ever known, and the founder
of the famous firm of Samuel Fox and
Company. The house in which the cele-
brity was born is still there in Water Lane,
now dignified by the name of Church
Street. 'J'he Pearsons, too. were finding
employment for many at Ihe'r cotton mills,
one wherp the whito lead works now s'^ands
— indeed, the cotton mill itself remains in-
tact — another at the bottom of Stretfield,
a T'ortion of it converted into the farm
bailiff's houso, and the third, thp new mill
in Stretfield.
Such (if the rising generation whose par-
ents could afford to give them a little
.schooling were being taught by John Darn-
ley a famous scho.ilma.ster in those da.ys,
and he was teaching the "free scholars"
under 101 las Marshall's Charity in a school-
room in Hugh Tiane that had just been
built at the expense of John Birlev, who
fltni resided in the village. .And tlie Wes-
leyans were conducting the only Sunday
School in the place, with 300 scholars, in a
schoolroom built by public subscription,
now the Conservative Club.
]']qually interesting it is to know who
were catering for the wants of the people
in those days. There was Thomas H'U,
the great shopkeeper and "lead ore buyer,
whose shop is still thei'e at the top of
Water fjane. But there was no such thing
as the 'J'ruck Act. There was also John
Somerset, who did a big trade, in fact it was
John Somerset who built the bridge over the
brook at Town Bottom, sr) that carts could
ge'. to and from his shop, which is now
known as "Brook House." There was
Joseph Barlier, who lived and carried on
business in Town Gate, in the property
above the White Hart, now enclosed by
palisadings. One night Joseph Barber and
his wife returned from a prayer meeting at
the We.sleyan Chapel to find that their
house had been entered ond robbed, and the
marauders had written with chalk across th©
front of the mantelpiece, "Watch, as well ag
pi'ay." There was also George Middletun,
Isaac Hill, Thomas Gleadhill, and Thomas
Bnrrows, of Smalldale, who v.as the Shef-
field carrier.
Whether or not butchers did a roaring
trade is a question, but there were plenty
of them, and their old shops still remain.
There were John ]5radwell and his son John
in Tow^n Gate; Elias Needham, next to
the White Hart; and Alexander Chectham,
in Water Lane. The tailors were Joseph
IClliott and his son Thomas, and Richard
Kay; and the shoemakers — there were no
niacliine-made boots then — were Rol>ert
Middleton, in Town Gate, Anthony Mar-
shall, Thomas Elliott, William Rovill (who
lived in Nether Side), and 01)adiah Staf-
ford. The stonemasons w-ere John Broad-
bent, George Downing, and Gforge Walker.
But the miners were proverbial for wet-
ing tlieir Vihistles, and on their reckoning
days the place resounded with th(ir merri-
ment. No wonder then, that there should
be a good number of "houses with the pic-
ture over the door." Which is, or where
was the oldest of these old inns, is not
known, but certain it is that in the year
1577, Godfrey Morton and Ottiwell Yellolt
kept inns in" Bradwell. Eghty odd years
ago the White Hart w;-,s kept by Elias
Needham, the Bull's Head by Ellen Brad-
well, and the Green Dragon (now cottages)
by Jose))h Bocking. These three lived in
tiie old Town Gate, and right in the centre,
as if placed there ready to catch their vic-
tims, were the stocks, where the t pplers
were made fast. At the top of Smithy
Hill Robert Morton, an auctioneer, kept
the R<)!-o and ('rown, while the Newburgh
Anus, wlrch had only just been bu'lt, was
kept by William Kenyon, and the Bramalls
were at the Bowl'n"; Green in Smalldale.
William Bradwell kept the Rose Tree, a
hou^e that lost its license seventy years
back, and in Nether Side there was the Old
Ship kept by Thomas Gleadhill, now ol(t
cottages clo'-e to the Wesleyan Manse, and
the New Ship kept by William Revill,
where Crompton and Evans' Bank now
stands. The Shoulder of Mutton, the
77
Bath Inn, and the Bridge Inn came into
existence as public-houses some years after-
wards.
In religions work the Wesleyans were
providing accommodation for most of the
Ijcoplo in their present chapel ; the Primi-
tive Methodists had not long built their
first chapel, now a cottage; the Baptists
were struggling along in their old chapel,
now the Primitive School, dipping their
converts in the waters of the brook, and
the congregation of the old Presbyterian
Chapel had by this time become Unitar an.
And there were three F:iendly Societies
(one a Women's Club), with a total mem-
l)ership of 280.
the community the latter felt under fiom«
kind of obligation to keep their instruments
in tune. Jacob Hallam was fiddler at the
Wesleyan Chapel, and in an account book,
iinder date 1833, there is the following
entry : —
"Jacob Hallam's Fiddle Repaired, cost
with strings 15s."
"Robe: t Middleton Is.. Josiah Barber I3.,
John Maltby Is., John Middleton, shoe-
maker. Is., Joseph Barber, sen.. Is., Thomas
Hill Is. Johnson Evans 6d., George Fox Is.,
Hugh Booking Is., Thos. Bradwell 6d.,
Robert Booking, sen., 6d., Wm. Booking 6d.,
Robt. Booking, jun.. Is., John Bradwell
Is., Messrs. Pearson 3s."
TWO FAMOUS SINGERS OF THE MIDDLE OF THE 19th CENTURY.
JOSEPH HIBBERSON and CLEMENT MORTON.
A Musical Community.
Most of the people in the Peak district
are strongly attached t.o musical pursuits,
the inhab tants of Bradwell. Castleton,
Tideswell, Litton, Eyam, Hucklow, and
othe:' places in particular. Very often
the whole family cultivate the taste for
music, and the villages contain their choir:;
nf singers and bands of instrumental per-
formers. To mention those who were
famous as musicians in the olden days is
impossible, but it is close on a hiindred
years since the old Bradwell Band was
rormed. a m-xture of brass and reed instru-
ments, one of which, a curious inst~unient
known as the seri>ent, belonging to the la*"e
Job Middleton, being still in existence, as
also is the fiddle of the late Jacob Hallam,
another local worthy. These musicians
were looked upoli as institutions in the
locality, and as they rendered service to
And a glimpse at the Hope Churchwar-
den's accounts serves to show that Bradwell
instrumentalists were to the fore quite
a century and a half ago, at
the old Parish Church. In 1759,
"the inhabitants of the parish of
Hope in vestry assembled agree to pa.y the
sum of sixteen shillings and sixpence to-
wards paying for a Bassoon and Hautboia
to be used in the Parish Church." And
no doubt William Jeffery, of Bradwell,
found playing that Bassoon thirsty
work, for in the accounts there are numer
ous entries of payments for ale and dinners
for William at the Woodroofe Arms. Pre-
sumably, he spent the Sunday at Hope,
having his dinner provided by the war-
dens between morning and afternoon ser-
vices.
Other notqble folk in the musical wo"ld
in the early part of last century were
78
Joseph Hibber&on, a famous bass singer j
Ambrose Gleadhill, one of the finest fiddlers
in Derbyshire; and Clement Morton.
When a Cattle Fair was Held.
Formerly a cattle fair was held at IJrad-
well. A century ago it was well attenaed
the old Town " Gate being the Market
Place. There was also all the usual para-
phernalia of a pleasure fair. But half a
century ago it declined until it ceased al-
together. Hero are its latter years: —
1859, two cows, one sheep, and one stirk;
1860, two cows and one sheep; 1861, not a
single thing of any description; 1862. seven
cows, one sow, three pigs, and one donkey.
In 1863, six buyers turned up, but not a
beast of any description was offered for
sale, and this was the last fair.
The Wakes.
The date of the establishment of the
Wakes is a mystei-y. For centuries it has
been held on the second Sunday in July,
and continued through the following week,
but the bull-baiting, bear-baiting, cock-
fighting, ralibit coursing, badger-baiting,
and drinking which characterised the festi-
val generations back have long ago ceased
and given way t-o a holiday for health and
pleasure.
CHAPTER XXII.
LONGEVITY AND TRAGICAL DEATHS.
Peaklandt rs are noted for their longevity,
and none more so than those in this dis-
trict. Here are those over fourscore during
the last 100 years. These indicate the
long-lived families: —
1787.~John Barnsley, Netherwater, 101.
1813.— Widow Hannah Wragg, New Wall
Nook. 81; Widow Hannah Elliott, 95; Widow
Ann Middleton, Hazlebadge, 87.
1814.— Ann Bradshaw, 84; Widow May
Burrows, 86; Martin Middleton, Hazleb^i^e,
9).
1818.— Widow Jane P-vans, Smalldale. 82;
Jcieph Hibbs, 83.
1819.— Thomas Middleton, 91.
1824.— John Ellis, 84.
1825.— George Barn.sley, Netherwater, 82;
Rebecca Hallam, 89; George Bramall, 8mall-
daie. 90.
1826.— Mary Morton, 84.
1828.— Widow Hannah Ashmore, 83.
1829.— Widow Ann Hill, 81.
1831— Daniel Stafford, Smalldale, 82.
1832.— Nancy Hall, Cotes, 80.
1836.— Christopher Jackson, Smalldale, 82;
Sarah Sidebottom, Brough, 92.
1837.— Mary Middleton, 81.
1838.— Robert Middleton. 80.
1839.— John Eyre, 81.
1842.— Robert Bradbury, 83, died at Marple.
1845.— Robert Middleton, 85; Elizabeth
Elliott. Smalldale. 83.
1846.— Robert Hawksworth, 84; Betty Jack-
son, Rmalldale, 88.
1848.— Maria Barber, 80; Ann Taylor, 87.
1849.— Thomas Middleton, 92; Edward
Middleton, Smalldale, 82.
1850.— Ellen Cheetham, 89.
1855.— Robert Middleton, 94; George Little-
wood, 82; Thomas Hill, 83.
1856.— Sarah Hallam. 80; Robert Maltbv.
8*.
1857.— William Bramall. Smalldale, 83.
1858.— William Kenyon, 81 ; Adam MoJton,
88; Ann Palfreyman, 80.
I860.— Ann Eyre, 84.
1861.— Edward Hartle, 94.
1862. — Jane Sidebottom, Brough, 86;
Hannah Kenyon, 82 ; Joseph Elliott, 83.
1863.— Durham Wragg. 83.
1866.— Isaac Middleton, 84; Robert Hall, 87.
1868.— George Goodwin, 88; Martha Elliott,
80.
1869.— George Elliott, 82; William Bycking,
87.
1871.- Charles Middleton, hatter, 83;
Richard Middleton, 88.
1872.- Betty Hall. 85; Mary Bennett, 80;
William Stafford, Smalldale, 88.
1874.— Mary Bradwell. £0; Charity Maltbv.
83.
1875.— George Fox. Hazlebadge Hall, EO ;
Martha Booking, 81; Ellis Eyre. 88.
1876.— Robert Middleton. hatter, £2.
1877.— Betty Barber. 88.
1878.— Fanny Somerset. 81; Mary Elliott.
The Hills. 80.
1879.— John Middleton, Town Bottom. 82;
Olive Burrows, Smalldale. 85.
1881.— Rev. Joseph Hibbs. 80.
1882.— George Middleton (pinner), 83.
1883.— Nancy Dakin. 83; Mary Maltby, 87;
Robert Furness. 81 : Joan Stafford. 85.
1884.— Obadiah Stafford. 87; Charlotte
HaHam. 81. ;
1885.— John Hallam, farmer, 81 ; Jacob
Hallam. 82; Ruth Booking, 82.
1886.— Joshua Jaffrey. 82; Barbara Middle-
ton. 87.
1887.— Joseph Bradwell, Town Gate. 83;
1 Deborah Elliott. 100. died at New Mills;
: William Jeffery. Hill Head. 85; Wm. Long-
I den. 80.
1888.— Mary Hallam. Smithy Hill. 88; Ben-
jamin Giles. 81.
1 18£9.— Rev. Robert Shenton. 83; Isaac Eyre.
i 87; Hannah Palfreyman. 86; Betty Hall, 83;
i William Hill, 82.
1690.— Daniel Bocking. £0.
! 1891.— Rebecca Hall, 84; Hannah Middleton.
83.
' 1892.— William Jeffrey. 82: Abraham Ash-
more, Smalldale, 88.
I 1893.— Ann Eyre, £0; Hannah Cheetham. 83.
1894.— Hannah Howe. Overgate. 81.
1895.— Hannah Pearson, died in Sheffield, 91;
Susan Cockerton. 81.
1896.- Joseph Bradwell. 80.
1P97.— Joab Hallam. 82; Thomas Walker.
Hills. 87.
1899.— Job Middleton. 85; Nancy Morton, G7;
Abram Wilson. 90.
1900.— Hannah Andrew, 85.
1901.- Elizabeth Humphrey, 82; Elizabeth
Byre, 80; Samuel Bradbury, blacksmith, 61.
1902.— Isaac Cooper. 82.
1901— Harriett Middleton. Smalldale. 84.
1904.— Harriett Sarah Oldfield. 84; Harriott
Middleton, 80.
1905.- Robert Bradwell. 91; William Barber.
81.
1906.— Thomas Ford, The Hills. 90; Mary
Ford, his wife. 88; John Cheetham, Small-
dale, 80 ; Mary Middleton, Gervase. 87.
1907.- Rachel Hallam, Within Housi-. 80;
Ellen Cooper, 81.
79
1908.— Robert Middleton, Town Gate. 85;
Caroline Brookes, 85; George Needham, Wind-
mill, 88; Samuel Longden, 83.
1911.— Mrs. Charlotte Hill, Sheffield, 81;
Joseph Bradwell, died at Longstone, 83;
Charity Middleton, Smalldale, 82.
Some Tragic Deaths.
Helow will he found, in something like
chronological order, some deaths of a
tragic character during the last century:—
1820 (about).— Wharton, found killed in a
field near Eccles; supposed to have been
murdered.
1838.— Thomas Bagshaw, Hazlebadge, hanged
himself in a btirn.
Rev. John Wright, Wesleyan minister.
Bradwell, died suddenly whilst preach-
ing at Peak Forest.
1846.— August 9th, Joseph Wright (70), killed
by a horse on his farm in Smalldale.
1853.— Robert Middleton (freehold), a pron;-
inent Wesleyan. died through excite-
ment after result of general ejection.
1854.— November 8th, Edwin Fox. thrown out
of his cart and killed near New Wall
Nook.
1858.— Mary Ann Booking, Shoulder of Mut-
ton Inn, died under tragic circum-
stances through loss of blood.
1859.— Sept. 9th, Richard Walker (62), black-
smith, cut his throat in a barn.
I860.— Martin Middleton Bland, Abney, killed
and disembowelled in a horriblo
manner in a hayfield.
186C.— William Howe, Bradwell. both legs
blown off and killed when blasting
at Peak Forest.
1861.— William Hallam, Brough, drowned in
River Noe.
1862.— Sarah Maltby (51), died suddenly from
paralysis of the heart.
Sept. 19th, Joshua Hallam. killed by
being thrown from a load of coal in
Cave Dale, Bradwell. Cart overturned
and killed the horse and driver.
1864.— John Kirkby (49), ruptured blaod ves-
sel and died immediately.
1865.— Dec. 2nd, William Bennett (56), miner,
fell dead in Thomas Bradwell's grocer's
shop. Town Gate.
1866.— Martha Middleton (73), died suddenly
from fatty heart.
1867.— Oct. 10th, Charles Pearson (79). of
Brough House, fell doad in the New-
burgh Arms Inn, when attending n
property sale.
1869.— October. Samuel Howe (63), miji: ,
died suddenly in hi.'? chair after re!-.- -n
ing from work.
1872.— Thomas Middleton. farmer. Abney
Grange, killed by lightning.
1875.-May 18th. Edward Middleton (62).
Hugh Ijane. died suddenly after attend-
ing a miners' meetinir at ths " Bull's
Head."
1879.— Mary Hallam. Hill Head, died sud-
denly from heart disease.
1880.— May 11th. Elkanah Morton (65), Hun-
P'y Lane, died suddenly in his chair.
1881.— May. Mrs. Margaret Fox (56). Ha2.>;-
badgo Hall, found dead in bed.
1882.— Sept 7th. John Andrew (67) Hollow
Gate, killed by falling from a load o*
hay.
1883.-Oct 20th, John Hall (42). killed in c
stone quarry at Dove Holes.
1884.- March 19;h Francis Palfreyman (6),
died suddenly on his father's knee.
March 31st, Robert, Middleton (75),
hatter. The Hills, died instantaneously.
. 85.— May 29th. Matthew James Buttery (47),
Smalldale, hung himself in his house
when the polic* were searching for the
body of his wife. Mrs. Buttery was
never found, and what became of her
still remains a mystery.
Dec. 27th, Elizabeth Middleton (4).
daughter of Samuel Middleton, Hollow
Gate, burnt to death.
1886.— May 3rd, George Barnsley (23), Nether-
water Farm, found dead in his house.
1886.— November 25th, Ann Walker (70). wife
of Thos. Walker. The Hills, fell dead
on the floor.
1887.— October 7th. Elizabeth Cooper (40), wife
of George Henry Cooper, died from
fright.
1888.— Dec. 3rd. Joseph Bland (30). killed at
Abney. by his horse and cart.
1889.— Ellen Wilson (64). found dead in bed
May 27th. John Broadbent. blacksmith,
and his wife Louie, both died and were
buried on the sdme day.
,890.- March 17th, Abraham Cooper, 36.
Church Street, killed by falling from a
plank into a deep cutting at Peak
Forest.
1891.— February 17th. Roger Hall (54), Little
Hucklow. killed by a shot on Dore and
Chinley Railway.
June 27th, Elizabeth Bennett (69>.
Ivilled by horse and trap at Town End.
./Lugust 29th, Thomas Harrison (69).
Smalldale. killed by a cart at Peak
iOrest.
Oct. 10th. Miss Harriett Middleton (64).
killed by falling down cellar steps at
Sheffield.
Nov. 15th. Mary Middleton (70). Farther
Hill, found dead in bed.
l&i?,. -Dec. 20th. Joseph Hall (61). blacksmith
Vether Side, and Esther, his wife (63).
loth buried on one day.
1893 April 7th, Mary Walker (45). wife of
reorge Walker. The Hills, left her bed
in the night and fell down Bradwell
Dale rocks.
August 16th, Theresa Marsh (43). Little
Hucklow. died from intemperate habits,
probably accelerated by drinking laud-
anum.
1094.— February 28th, Mary Ann Cooper (18),
found drowned in the River Wye, at
Buxton.
.\pril 4th. William Henry Drayoott,
late master of Bradwell Church School,
and organist at church, died from al-
coholic poisoning and exposure on
Clifton Downs.
I. J5.— January 7th, Thomas Middleton (26), a
native of Bradwell. fell dead when on
his way to work at Peak Forest.
Dec. 25th, Benjamin Middleton (50),
miner, found dead in his house in Hugh
Lane
189(^..— June 12th, Hannah Bocking (63). fell
dead in tho kitchen whilst at work.
June 17th, George Walker (47), miner,-
fell dead whilst at work in Ins ta'doR.
Tune 25th, Joseph Noble Dixon (67),.
\Voodcroft, retired Inspectar of Light-
nouses, found dead in his chair with a
newspaper in his hand. ■ '
John Bradwell (39), Church Street, fell
dead from the seat of his wagonette
in the railway station yard.
lH'-': -Sept. 11th. William Hayward (70). far-
mer, Coplowdale, run over by his horse
and cart in Bradwell Dale and killed.
-February 11th. George B. Hawksworth'
;39). Dialst^ne Villas, died after break-
ing his leg. comin? from Outland Head;..
l£:'i
.oT
' A-/
80
1899,
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1907
Aug. 28th. Isaac Daniel Hill (62), Station
Eoad, killed by falling out of a trap.
Sept. 25th, Emma Alice Ashton (47),
Little Hucklow,, died from heart
disease.
Nov. 25th, Harriett Bradwell (75), Yard
Head, died very suddenly in bed.
— July 13th, John Christopher Hancock
(18), son of the Rev. John Hancock,
Primitive Methodist, lost at sea.
Nov. 9th, Sarah Cramond (77), wife of
James A. Cramond, tailor, killed by
falling downstairs.
—August 23rd, George Bancroft (65),
Btone mason, killed by falling from a
new house in Stretfield.
May 12th, Eobert Morton Palfreyman
(12), run over by a traction engine and
killed.
November 5th, Abraham Furness (75),
killed by a fall of stone in Pindale
Quarry.
—February 23rd, Frederic Cyril True-
love (20), died suddenly.
—Samuel Howe (58), killed in Bradwell
Dale quarry.
—February 25th, Ruth Hallam (four
months). Little Hucklow, accidentally
euffocated in bed.
November 4th, William H. Hallam,
killed by a locomotive at Barnsley.
July 11th, Amariah Cooper (59), Little
Hucklow, hung himself.
—August 7th, Maria Burrows (49), died
suddenly.
—January 27th, Caroline Bradwell (one
year), scalded to dea'h.
February 21st, Oswald John Hill (48),
" Hill Stile." died suddenly in his sleep.
June 5th, George Edward Johnson (28),
butcher, hung himself.
Aaron Hallam, engine driver, killed in
railway accident.
CHAPTER XXIIl.
A TRAGIC VISITATION
YEARS AGO.
OF FORTY
Seventy Persons Mysteriously Cut Off.
A visitation of the town by a terrible
fever forty years ago is considered the most
terrible calamity that ever happened in
the place. At the latter end of the year
1868 a fever of the most virulent type made
its appearance, and in a few weeks cut off
several per.sons, young and middle-aged.
For a long time it completely baffled the
skill of the medical men, and for the space
of more than a year the whole place was in
mourning. With the advent of 1869 the
malady seemed to increase in virulence,
and, in February of that year, of six per-
sons attack d five sup'cumbed to the disease.
One of the-e victims was Thomas Middle-
ton, who had served in the army and sur-
vived the climate of India, but returned
to his nat.ve place to be cut off by this
terrible pestilence. The .same month a
young married woman, Mrs. Levi Brad-
well, was among the victims, and the
enemy entered a house and snatched away
brother and sister, George Edward and
Jane Bradwell. The church had just been
built, and the churchyard had to receive
the last two victims, who were the first to
be buried there. Their graves are indi-
cated by a flagstone at the foot of the tower.
This month claimed another victim, a son
of Mr. John Dakin, who carried on the
business of optician.
There were not many cases in the month
of March, but all, with one exception,
proved fatal. While it cut off Mrs.
William Stafford, of Smalldale, her hus-
band and sister-in-law recovered. Another
whom it snatched away was Miss Frances
Hallam, a popular singer, who was to have
been married shortly. Another estimable
young lady. Miss Mary Barber, and Chris-
tina M;ddleton were numbered with the
slain. llie malady showing no sign of
abatement, the whole populace was almost
panic-stricken, and at this time the entire
town was fumigated with tar, and the
mouths of all the sewers with copperas.
As summer approached the disease con-
tinued its ravages, and in April, out of
twelve persons attacked, fiv? succumbed,
while those who did recover were cases of a.
most serious character. Strange to say, the
five victims this month were all in one
family, four being in one house. The angel
of death located itself at Yard Head, and
in three weeks had snatched away Mrs.
John Hallam, her daughter Alice Ann, her
two s'^ns James and William, and her sis-
ter, Mrs. Thomas Hallam. It was a
pathetic sight to see the funerals of
mother, daughter, and sister, all taking
place at one time on the same day. The
schools and places of worship were now
closed so as to lessen the risk of infection,
and death appeared to reign supreme.
Although there w-ere many cases m the
month of May, the rate of mortality was
the lowest, for there was only one death,
that of George Maltby, a fine young lead-
miner, but in .Tune the percentage of deaths
was much higher, and a dreadful summer
was threatened. There were several deaths
this month, and no class of person seemed
to escape. One of the victims was the Rev.
Thomas Meredith, who then resided at
Town End. He was faithful in the dis-
charge of his nastoral duties to his suffer-
ing flock until he himself was laid low
and quickly snatched away. And even the
itinerant showman's household did not
escape. He had pitched his tent for the
coming wakes festival, and his child was
snatched away.
July brought a big crop of cases, in-
cluding several fatal. Thomas Meredith,
junr., son of the deceased minister, was
borne to his father's grave, so that the
sorrowing lady had been bereft of both
husband and .son, and among other victims
were Ann Burrows, a young woman in
Smalldale, and Ada, daughter of Joshua
Evans. Another pathetic case was that of
Mts. Alfred Middjeton. of The Hijls, who
left husband and two little children, but
81
the husband followed his wife to the grave
a ffiw weeks later, and the children were
left orphans.
All the cases in August recovered, but
the malady appeared with increased viru-
lence in September, when there were four
deaths— Mr. Alfred Mrddleton, P. Bland.
Miss Dinah Ashmore. and a daughter of
John Kennett, who at that time was pro-
prietor of the Tanyard. The month of
October brought sixteen fresh cases, death
visiting half a dozen houses, taking away
both breadwinners, their wives, and chil-
dren. Those numbered with the d(!ad this
month were Michael Cheetham, a lead-
miner, who lived on The Hills; William
Palfreyman, a fine-looking young fellow, iu
Smalldale; George Morton and Charlotte
Booking, who lived opposite each other on
The Hills; John Frisk, who lived only a
stone's throw away; and Marina Middle-
ton. The health authorities were power-
less to arrest the ravages of the disease,
and a deputation from the Bakewell Sani-
tary Authority now visited the place and
held an inquiry, consisting of Lord Den-
man, Dr. Fentem. and Dr. Taylor.
The inhabitants were almost panic-
stricken by the virulence of the scourge,
and as it continued its ravages great dis-
tress provailetl in many homes- In Novem-
ber there were 20 freslii cases, but only four
deaths — Mrs. Slack, Miss Euth Bramall,
Smalldale, Mrs. George Bradwell, and Mr.
Joseph Middleton, a v.ell-known tradesman
who carried on business in two shops.
Town Bottom and top of Water Lane. The
malady now appeared to be of a somewhat
milder type, for although December pro-
duced another score cases there were but
three deaths — Miss Hannah Hill, a son of
Thomas Jennings, and Miss Elizabeth
Somerset. It was a Christmas of mourn-
ing and distress, for death had stalked
through the village all through the year,
and continued some time during the fol-
lowing year.
There were several fatal cases at the
latter end of 1868, Frances Taylor and Her-
bert Taylor succumbing to the disease ;
there were also a number in the early part
of 1870, but the following is a list for the
year 1869. from the diary of a' gentleman
at that time : —
January.— Kecovered : Samuel Howard,
Anne Howard, Alicia Evans.
February. — Recovered: John Broadbent;
died : Thomas Middleton. George Edward
Bradwell. Jane Bradwell, Mrs. Levi Bradwell,
John Dakin's son.
March.— Recovered : William Bradwell ;
died : Frances Hallam, Mrs. William Stafford,
Christiana Middleton, Mary Barber.
April.— Recovered: William Stafford, Nancy
Stafford, Phyllis Hallam, Seth Evans, Sarah
Ann Pearson, Martha Marshall, John Mar-
shall; died: Mrs. John Hallam (mother),
James Hallam (son), William Hallam (son).
Alice Hallam (daughter), Mrs. Thomas
Hallam (aunt).
May.— Recovered : Mrs. Charles Middleton,
Dennis Evans, Maurice Evans, Richard Tay-
lor, Thomas Bingham, Thomas Hallam's
daughter, Mrs. Joseph Hibbs, Fanny Hallam,
Sydney Bradwell, Samuel Dakin, Mrs.
Jacob Hallam, Mary Kay, Hannah Boyes,
Sarah Middleton; died: George Maltby.
June. — Recovered : Nancy Morton, Olive
Walker, Humphrey Hallam, Mrs. Jason
Hallam, Josephine Middleton, Rachel Hal-
lam ; died : Rev. Thomas Meredith (Primi-
tive Minister), Nancy Maltby's son. Travel-
ling Showman's child.
July.— Recovered : Charlotte Middleton,
Abraham Andrew, Elizabeth Andrew. Mrs.
Benjamin Hall, Maggie Cramond, George
Middletons daughter, Isaac Bancroft's four
children, Joseph Pearson's two children,
Stephen Middletons two children, Delia Brad-
well, Thomas Hilton. Isabella Cramond;
died: Mrs. Alfred Middleton, Ann Burrows,
Thomas Meredith, jun., Ada Evans.
August.— Recovered : Joseph Cramond,
James Henry Cramond, Thomas Burrows,
Reuben Middleton, Mary Jane Marshall.
September. — Recovered : John Hallam, Mrs
John Jennings, Mrs. Samuel Longden and
three children, Stephen Middleton, Mrs.
George Middleton, Thomas Morton, Joseph
Pearson, Hugh Morton, Robert Evans' thre&
children; died: P. Bland, Dinah Ashmore,
Alfred Middleton, John Kennett's daughter.
October— Recovered: Aquilla Marshall, Reu-
ben Bingham, Mary Jane Marshall, Samuel
Bramall. Oliver Morton, Elias Palfreyman,
Mrs. Jabez Morton, Ann Bramall. Betty
Elliot. Betty Walker; died: Michael Cheet-
ham, Charlotte Bocking. William Palfreyman,
Jehu Frisk, Marina Middleton, George Mor-
ton.
November. — Recovered : Mrs. Hallam, Mrs.
Joseph Bramall. Mrs. Isaac Hall, Delia
Middleton. Laxj» Middleton. Joseph Pearson,
Alice Ann Hall, Mrs. Zillah Hill. Samuel Hill,
Mrs. Aaron Howe, Charlotte Hallam. Mrs.
Elias Jeffrey. Emma Elliott. John Elliott,
George Bancroft, Hannah Bradwell ; died :
Mrs. Slack, Mrs. George Bradwell, Ruth
Bramall, Josenh Middleton.
December.- Recovered : Samuel Hallam,
Hannah Evans, Joseph Booking. Frank Mor-
ton, Lydia Thorpe. Hannah Booking. Hannah
Cheetham. Ann Revill. Ann Marsden, Mar-
garet Middleton, Eliza Jeffrey, Samuel
Jeffrey, John Marshall, Jane Marshall,
Caroline Booking, Frederick Archer; died:
Hannah Hill. Thomas Jennings' son, Eliza-
beth Somerset.
Although more than forty years have
passed, 55 of the above still survive. Alto-
gether bot'.veen 200 and 300 persons were
attacked, and about seventy succumbed to
the malady, the whole making a tragic and
sorrowful chapter of local history.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SOME PLACES OF INTEREST.
A situation more delightfully romantic
it would be difficult to find. Surrounded on
three sides by mountains of great altitude,
open on the other side to the delightful
vale of Hope, with Winhill and Losehill
reminders of the terrible slaughter during
the Heptarchy, the situation of Bradwell is
ideal for health and pleasure alike, while
its curiously winding lanes are lined by
82
the cottages that have been there for cen-
turies, and the summit of Bradwell Edge,
to which access may be gained by a gradu-
ally ascending path from the Abney Road,
affords one of the most extensive and de-
lightful views t^ be found on any moun-
tain in England. One or two of the most
interesting spots may be mentioned.
Robin Hood's Cross.
■" I think of ages long since gone.
Of those who wrought with tools of stone ;
I think of hunters free and bold,
Who dwelt up here in days of old."
—J. E. Bradwell.
Peak, one of which is of immense interest.
It was prepared in the time of Queen
Elizabeth, alxjut 1590, and has small pic-
tures or sketches outlining the churches and
buildings of the principal places in the dis-
trict of the forest — Glossop, Hayfield, Mel-
lor, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Castleton, Hope,
Tideswell, Wormhill, and Fairfield. There
are also outlines of the various crosses, in-
cluding a sketch of "Robin Hood's Cross,"
which is shown to be in Bradwell, but just
at a point where the township of Bradwell.
Hazlebadge, and Abney converge.
The remains of this monument, which has
weathered the storms of a thousand years.
.-Ju—
S^vj^ ROBIN HOOD'S CROSS
(from an Old Drawing); also a Stile made from the Cross.
The numerous crosses and remains of
crosses met with in the Peak provide inter-
esting study. The base and a portion of
the shaft of one of these is in a field be-
tween Bradwell and Hope, but much nearer
to the latter place. It is the last field
before descending the hill above Eccles to
Hope, and is only separated from the road
by a stone wall. It is a most interesting
object of antiquity that ought to be care-
fully preservea.
There are but few, however, who have the
least idea that Bradwell ])ossesses the re-
mains of one of these pr&-Norman crosses,
for such the learned Dr. Cox concludes
them to be.
In the Public Record Office there are
many plans of the ancient Forest of the
may be found by following the Abney foot-
path up Bradwell Edge as far as the stile
leading into the roadway at Abney Moor
Gate. As already stated, the cross stood
on the boundary line of these townships,
and when the commons were enclosed the
boundary wall was built over the rough
base stone of the cross, which with half the
squared socket may be seen in the bottom
of the wall. The drawing shows the cross
to have had a double base, with a shaft of
considerable height.
The base of the cross is visible from the
Abney Road side of the wall close to the
gate, and is rendered easy of inspection by
a kind of arch having been formed over
it. The stone is about twenty inches
square, but has been broken completely in
83
two across the centre, probably when the
shaft was wrenched* from the socket.
There appears to be no doubt whatever
that the massive stones forming the stile
leading from the first to the second field
in the direction of Bradwell are the re-
mains of the cross itself. One of these
pieces is 3 feet 6 inches long, and another
three feet long above the ground, but they
are doubtless a great depth below the sur-
face, while a third piece 3 feet 6 inches long
lies on the ground. These would make a
shaft about ten feet high. One of the
pieces in use as a stump of the stile is
clearly a portion of the cross, as it is L
shape, showing a portion of a Latin cross.
As an interesting relic of antiquity the
cross ought to be restored and erected on
the old base in its original position.
The Batham Gate and Roman Camp.
These two highly interesting spots have
been described in the earlier part of this
work.
The Bagshawe or Crystallized Cavern.
This cavern, one of the most magnificent
of England's famous caves, is the property
of Mr. W. H. G. Bagshawe, J.P., D.L., of
Ford Hall, Chapel-en-le-Frith. It was dis-
covered in the year 1807 by miners who,
when working in the Mulespinner Mine,
broke in on this splendid suite of caves.
It takes its name from Lady Bagshawe,
who was one of the first to visit the place,
and whose husband. Sir William Chambers
Bagshawe, was one of the proprietors when
it was discovered.
A small building on the hillside close to
the town is over the entrance to this beau-
tiful place. The cavern is approached by
126 steps, hewn out of the rock. Here is
Hutchinson's account of it when he toured
the Peak in 1808, the year after the cavern
had been discovered:
"There is no grandeur in its first ap-
pearance; it is rather terrific than other-
wise, and is as much like going down into
a deep dungeon as anything I can compare
with. After de.scending about 300 steps,
very perpendicular, you then walk, or more
properly creep, on an inclined way for near
a quarter of a mile, the opening being so
low that it is impossible at times to get
forward without going on all fours, though
the road, if it be so called, is considerably
improved of late; for it is not long since a
gentleman of my acquaintance actually
stuck fast between the rocks and was ten
minutes before he could extricate himself,
and then not without severely bruising his
back. The different crystallizations which
now attract the attention on every side, and
above and below the passage, cause you to
forget the irksomeness of the road and to
drive away every idea of fatigue. New ob-
jects of curiosity begin to crowd one upon
another. Here there is the appearance of
the pipes of an organ called "The Music
Chamber"; in other places the stalactites
are formed into elegant small collonades,
with as exact a symmetry as if they had
been chiselled by the greatest aitist.
Candles judiciously disposed in the inside
of them gave an idea of the palaces of
fairies, or the sylphs and genii, who have
chosen this magnificent abode. In a recess
on the left there appears the resemblance
of a set of crystallized surgical instru-
ments."
"But still you have seen nothing in com-
parison with what you are to expect; for
in the course of 100 yards further, creeping
at times, and passing down rugged places,
you enter the Grotto of Paradise. This
heavenly spot, for it cannot be compared
with anything terrestrial, is of itself a
beautiful crystallized cave about 12 feet
high and 12 feet long, pointed at the top
similar to a Gothic arch, with a countless
number of large stalactites hanging pen-
dant from its roof. Candles placed amongst
them give some idea of its being lighted up
with elegant glass chandeliers, while the
sides are entirely incrusted and brilliant in
the extreme. The floor is chequered with
black and white spar, and altogether it has
the most novel and elegant appearance of
any cavern I ever beheld. This paradaisical
apartment would be left with a kind of
regret should you not expect to see it again
on returning back."
"Still continuing a similar road to what
hag been passed, and entertained at vari-
ous times with the curiosities of the place,
and the gentle patterings of the water,
which scarcely break the solemn silence of
the scene, at length you arrive at the Grotto
of Calypso, and the extremity of the cavern,
above 2,000 feet from the first entrance. In
order to see this to advantage it is necess-
ary to rise into a recess about a yard high.
There, indeed, from the beautiful appear-
ance of the different crystallizations, some
of them of an azure cast, from the echoes
reverberating from side to side, you fancy
yourself to be arrived at the secluded re-
treat of some fabled Deity. The water
also running near this cavern brings a cool
refreshing air which, from the exertion
used and the closeness of the place, is very
acceptable. The size of this grotto is some-
thing similar to that of the last, and indeed
it is difficult to determine which is the most
intenesting. I could not restrain my
imagination from composing the following
little sonnet to the titular goddess of the
place : —
SONNET TO CALYPSO.
Ah! Tell m© Goddess, whither wilt thou fly.
To shun the anguish of a love-sick mind;
The mockine echoes here will only sigh,
With baffling breath. " Telemachus un-
kind!"
Thy grotto's sweet cirul'an hue in vain.
To the© its dazzling lustre will impart;
Amidst thy sorrows here, thou must com-
plain.
And pensive wreck thy deep desponding
heart.
Alas! the sportive nymphs in vain allare!
The Ood-like youth distains the beauteons
form;
8;
True to himself, and to his purpose sure.
Though shipwrecked— bold, again he t raves
the storm.
Ah! Fly to Lethe's stream. Calypso, fly!
In sweet oblivion let thy anguish die.
"After returning by the same path for a
considerable distance, there is another
cavern to be investigated, which branches
in a south-westerly direction from the one
already explored. The roads here are still
more difficult of access, but certainly the
stalactites are more beautiful. A gy^eat
many of them are pendant from tho roof
more tlian a yard long, and almost as small
as tho smallest reed. The top and sides
has been expended to make the explora-
tion of this cavern easier.
There is a curious hole in the rock called
"The Elephant's Throat," and in the roof
a band of chert appears like the sole of a
foot, with stalactites hanging on to the toes.
From its enormous size, about five feet
long, it is called "The Giant's Foot." In
the rcof of the "Bell House" are a num-
ber of holes looking like bells hanging in a
church tower. In a compartment which
has been named "The Bursting of the
Tomb," the crystallizations are so magni-
ficent that a visitor was once so incredu-
lous as to apply the lighted candle to see if
THE DALE— ONE OF BRADWELLS BEAUTY SPOTS.
It is here that the Ghost of Margaret Vernon is said to appear.
of this second cavern in many places are re-
markably smooth, particularly the part
called the amphitheatre. In general this
place is of a very dark stone, to Avhich the
transparent appearances before-mentioned,
with each a drop of water hanging at the
bottom, form a nne contrast, and indeed
this cavern is in some degree a contrast to
the one before examined.
" Returning liack we still admire the
curiosities before noticed, and with regret
leave this beautiful crystallized cavern, its
representation in idea still continuing
before the mind's eye, where it will remain
as long as memory holds her seat."
Many additional chambers have been ex-
plored during the century, and much money
he could not detect what he thought was a
fraud and not the work of nature.
"The Chamber of Worms" exactly de-
scribes the appearance of the small curling
stalactites on the roof and sides, looking
like worms wriggling out of the rock, ana
in "Tom of Lincoln's Bell Hall," a drop
of water falls from the roof, which fre-
quently changes colour from white to red,
giving a beautiful variegated api>earance to
the stalagmite forming underneath. FiUm
"The Duiig(on" other spacious openings
have been found, and could a road from
the valley be made into this magnificent
suite of caves there is no doubt the cavera
would be much more extensively visited.
The guide resides in the village.
85
Bradwell Dale.
This ix)mantic ravine is considered one of
the most beautiful of Derbyshire Dales.
With high rocks and precipitous cliffs on
each side extending about three-quarters oi
a mile to Hazlebadge Hall, it is a delight-
ful walk. The rocks are of immense
height, and the extensive blasting of stone
of late j'ears whilst accomplishing the
widening of the road through the dale, has
not spoiled the scenery. A lead vein
crosses the ravine and here the old work-
ings may be plainly seen. There are also
public footpaths on the very summit of the
rocks on one side, from which persons on
the road in the bottom of the dale look like
midgets, such are the dizzv heights above.
From top to bottom the dale is a delightful
spot.
Medicinal Waters of the Bath.
" But those hot waters were known in old
time.
The portway or High paved street named
Bathgate
Beaching for seven miles together from
hence unto
Burgh a little village doth manifestly
shew.'
—Camden, 1610.
An object of considerable interest and
one that might be made a great asset to
the district is the Bath at Edentree, from
which "The New Bath Hotel" takes its
name, but all that can be seen of a once
famous medicinal spring is now a building
in ruins in the Bath field at the rear of
the hotel. The author of the "English
Traveller" (1794), speaking of Burgh (or
Brough) as "a village where there are some
remains of an ancient Roman Causeway,"
adds. "And it is the opinion of most of
the learned that those adventurers fre-
quented the place on account of its baths."
Pilkington, in 1789, says: "I have heard
of only one salt spring in Derbyshire. It
is situate in the High Peak, betwixt the
villages of Hope and Bradwell, and near a
rock called Edintree. I have not seen it
myself, though I took some pains to dis-
cover it, but am credibly informed that the
impregnation is considerably strong. It is
said to be useful in ulcerou^: and scorbutic
complaints." The "Gentleman's Maga-
zine" for 1819 mentions the "sulphurous
spring" at Bradwell, and later Glovei-, the
historian, mentions "the salt spring at
Bradwell. which is worthy the attention of
the faculty." About 1830 the waters were
collected by Mr. Robert Middleton, of
Smalldale, the proprietor, the building
erected, and the bath constructed. For
many years the waters were sought by
many on account of their healing nature,
and conveyed in barrels and vessels long
distances, and thousands have derived
benefit from the baths, the waters being
ver.v few degrees lower in temperature than
the Buxton waters. But for the last
forty years the place has been neglected.
The bath itself is about five feet deep, and
is approached by a descent of six stone
steps, the water being conducted from the
springs into the bath itself. This is
doubtless a very valuable spring.
The Echo.
Although there are some notable echoes
among the Peaklancf hills, the most strik-
ingly curious echo ever heard, even by
;hose who have travelled extensively, is
ound in Bradwell, and visitors have
ravelled miles to hear it. Fortunately,
t is on a public path, and any child knows
'The Echo Field." Taking the field path
o Castleton, it is about half a mile out of
Bradwell, just before reaching Messrs. Had-
fteld's asphalt works. Such is the echo fi-om
the "Folly" that to describe it is difficult.
The sounds produced are most uncanny in
the night time, many voices responding to
your own, almost close to your ear. A good
story is told about a clergyman being
taken along this path in the dark by a
farmer. The cleric w as unaware of the
echo. When they were approaching the
place, the farmer said, as if in feai", "There
is only one spot on this lonely road where I
grasp my stick a bit tighter, and we are
just coming to it." The parson laughed
at his dread. Presently a rough hand was
placed on the preacher's collar, and a score
of voices yelled, "We've got you now." It
was only the farmer's joke, but the parson
confessed that the sensation was not an
agreeable one.
CHAPTER XXV.
FAMOUS SOLDIER IN THIRTY-SIX
BATTLES.
CAREER OF THOMAS MORTON.
In a house on Nether Side, on the 12th
of June, 1816. Thomas Morton first saw the
light. Ho was a son of George and
Hannah Morton, a good Christian couple,
who, although Wesleyans, first opened a
door for the reception of the Primitive
Methodists, who held their first services in
Morton's barn, which is still standing near
to the house. George Morton allied him-
self with the new sect, but his sons, with
one exception, remained with the parent
body, and all their lives were prominent
Wesleyans. Jacob Morton became a famous
W'esleyan minister and Fellow of the Royal
Astronomical Society; John Morton became
a pioneer minister of the Primitive Metho-
di.sts and in the early days was thrown into
prison for preaching ; Frederick and Jabez
Morton were prominent Wesleyan laymen
all their lives, and for twenty years
Thomas Morton saw more active service in
the army than is given to most men in that
period of time.
Thomas Morton left his home and en-
listed in the 29th Kegiment at Sheffield in
the early part of 1838. Here is what he
wrote to his distressed mother — a note
scratched in pencil on a scrap of rough
paper :—
■' Dear Mother, it is to comfort you
that I write at this time. I am quite
comfortable of myself, and am fully per-
suaded it is for the best. Be not uneasy,
for I will write at Liverpool, and every
month after. I am pleased with your letter
and shall be steady and look at my Bible.
My respects to you all.
THOMAS MORTON."
"At Cork I met with Thomas Hibbs, and
among Sheffielders in the 82nd Regiment,
and at Dublin 1 met with Ephraim Lloyd
that opened Bradwell Chapel. He has been
a soldier, and hc^n bought off."
■ This is interesting as having reference to
the opening of the first Primitive Metho-
dist Chapel in Bradwell (now a cottage).
In the next letter in July, in reply to one
from his parents, he remarks : "You said
you could not understand that Ephraim
Lloyd. He told me that he had been a
travelling preacher in the Primitives, and
that he opened Bradwell Chapel, and had
slept many times with you. He had been
HISTORICAL HOUSE IN NETHER SIDE,
Where lived George Morton, who first opened his door to the Primitive Methodists.
And the Bible was his guide throughout
one of the most strenuous lives even of a
soldier.
In June, whtn he was sailing with about
forty other recruits from Dublin to Ply-
mouth, at midnight the mast-head smashed
down on the boat, tlie engine and tlie
compass broke dawn, and in this condition
the boat was tossed aliout all night uniil
they were picked up by anoth; r vessel and
taken on to Cork, 85 miles, where they :e-
maiiH'd a week leforo the voyage could l)e
rtsumed. In his own words, "it was a
miserable scene to see, men, women and
children expecting to meet with a watery
grave every moment. T1k> sailors them-
selves never tJiought of landing any more."
In his final letter from Plymouth he says:
in the 99th Regiment, end was bought off.
You told mo to inquire about William
Cheetham. He is in the same with me, and
is my compani,)!!, bui I am torry to inform
his uncle that he is in hospital very ill."
In the same letter he giv.s lai account of
the army discipline of that day, and says:
"I have sfen (lefertcrs punished in a very
ciuel maniipr. I havo seen one flogged and
others sent to the treadmill, and many are
marching up and down the bricks with a
pack on iheii- backs. One deserted out of
our company, servant to the captain, and
stole £170 from him. He has s'ncei been
taken to Chatham, having committed an-
other robbery (^f £500. I should not like
to see hini punished: I should not wonder
but he will g.t shot."
87
But before he had been in the army a year
he was tired of a soldier's life, for on
Christmas Eve, 1838, the following official
letter was sent to his father : —
Horse Guards, 24th Dec, 1838.
"The Adjutant General has now to ac-
quaint George Morton with reference to his
application of the 15th instant that tho
General Commanding in Chief has been
pleased to authorise the discharge of Pri-
vate Thomas Morton of the 29th Foot, on
payment of the regulated Compensation of
Twenty Pounds, which must be lodged with
the Paymaster of the Eegiment at Deven-
port within one month from the date hereof,
or the authority will be cancelled.
George Morton, Bradwell.
But in less than a year, he again joined
the Army, for Nov. 21st, 1839, saw him en-
listed in the 31st Foot, where he was
destined to make his mark, for his Regi-
ment was soon called out to the East Indies.
THROUGH THE AFGHAN WAR.
Morton had an evtntful six years in the
East Indies. His regiment landed at
Calcutta on October 26th, 1840, and sailed
up the Ganges to Chinsurah, arriving at
Agra on March 3rd, lb41. In a letter at
this time he mentions that he had received
a letter from another Bradwell soldier, Wil-
liam Cheetham, who had been reduced
from the rank of Corporal. Four years
later he reports the death of William Cheet-
ham.
For about a year he was in Cabul in
General Elphinstone's army, when there
was fearful massacre, — "thousands of
human skeletons strewn all over the road,
it was heart-rending to hear their bones
cracking under the wheels of the guns."
They had to fight all the way to Cabul,
where the road for six or seven days' march
was "strewn over with skeletons shocking
to relate." The Massena battle was fought
against the tribes that had never before
been conquered, and this with the sun at
126 degrees. They destroyed 40 forts.
The letters written by Morton to his par-
ents at Bradwell would fill a volume, and
would certainly provide material for a his-
tory of the campaign in Afghanistan. He
was in the East Indies frcm 26th October,
1840, to Decembtn", 184G. and went through
the Afghanistan campaign in 1842 includ-
ing the actions of Mazcena, Tezeen, and
Jundallah. He was in the Battle of Dubba-
in 1843. when the Indians, under Shere |
Mohammed, were defeated by the British,
under &ii' Charles Napier ; also at Hydrabad
when tlie Belochees Wv re defeated by the
British, under Sir Charles. Tho Belochees
numbered 35,003, and tho Brit sh only 2,600,
and this led to the surrender of Hydrabad.
He also served throughoiit the Sutlej
Campaign of 1845-6, and was present at the
Battle of Moddkee on December I8th. when
the Sikhs wer,^ defeated by the Hritish
under Sir Hugh Gough and Sir John
Littler, and was there when Sir Robert Sale
fell. This was on the 18th December, and
three days later he was in the Battle of
Ferozeshah. when 16,700 British, under Sir
Hugh Gough, defeated 50,000 Sikhs under
Tej Sing. Six days later he was in action
at Maharajapore, under Sir Hugh, when
18,000 Mahrattas were defeated by 14,000
British. He was also in the great battle
at Aliwal, on January 28th, 1846, when the
Sikhs (19,000) were defeated by the British
(12,000), under Sir Harry Smith, and he
foiight in the still greater Battle of S'obraon
on February 10th, under Sir Hugh Gough,
when the Sikhs lost 13,000 and the British
loss of killed and wounded was 2,338.
IN THE CRIMEAN WAR AND INDIAN
MUTINY.
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES.
But the most eventful period of Morton's
life was that of the Crimean War and the
Indian Mutiny. England and France de-
clared war against Russia on March 28th,
1854, and his regiment, then stationed at
Preston Barracks, being ordered out to
active service, he made his will, sent his
gold watch and other belongings to his
brother Jacob, and embarked from Liver-
pool on the first Tuesday in April.
AT SCUTARI.
Writing from Camp Scutari opposite
Constantinople, on May 21st —he had pro-
mised to write once a month — he says how
glad the soldiers were to leave barracks,
as they were "nearly eaten alive with fleas."
There were fearful thunderstorms that
flooded the tents, and two of the oflicers of
the 93rd Regiment returning from town to
camp after the storm, were washed away
to sea. In his highly interesting descrip-
tive letter, he enclosed to his Bradwell rela-
tives some i"ose leaves from the Sultan's
garden. Ho says: "Ix)rcl Raglan is gone
up to Varna with the other bigwigs, French
and English, to hold a Council of War, so
that in a few days we expect to move to-
wards the enemy. Tho steamers are all
ready to take in the cavalry and artillery
are just arriving." In his description of
life in the camp he observes: "Tho men
drink hard, wine and spirits are so cheap.
A good many men have lieen flogged — one
of our regiment, the first for a number of
years — it is the only i:uuisliment that wilt
answer for insubordination." Again, "the
Turkish women are very virtu:,us, eith:r by
choice or force; if they are known to ga
astray they aro sure cf death instantly.
They go aboxit in groups more like Egyptian
mumniies than anything els:." He con-
cludes by wishing his friends "good health,
a good spring, and a prospect of a good har-
vest with plenty of Hools and a good price
for lead." Hools, it may be explained, i3
the miner's te: m for the lumps of lead or©
got from the mine.
/
A month later— June 19th— writing from
Camp Slojin, he tells how cholera is affec-
ting the soldiers. Already some have diid
of the malady, and two were drowned while
bathing. He says, "You will begin to
think in England that we are a long time
before we commence to fight the Russians,
but I assure you that our generals, officers,
and soldiers are all as anxious to be at the
enemy as you are to ht ar of the success of our
Arms, but they have to take care that they
are prepared in everv respect to meet the
enemy. However, five or six days will
bring us to the seat of war, and before an-
other month passes we shall have measured
swords with the Russians. I believe the
Turks are giving them plenty to do, and
when we get up there we shall bring
Nicholas to his senses. '^
THOMAS MORTON.
With just a touch of humour the brave
soldier remarks: "I don't think I shall be
at Bradwell Wakes this year, bvit^ I shall
think of you all if I am alive, and will
drink a glass to all your very good health,
and think that I am amongst you."
IN "THE VALLEY OF DEATIE."
A letter of July 2Rth from Camp Marrar-
tine, shows that the cholera made its ap-
pearance among the troops at Deona, and
the Division lost 42 men and two women in
two days, but since removing there had
been only six or seven deaths. He re-
marks pathetically : "Poor Hogan, Quarter-
master of the Seventh Regiment, was Duried
to-day. I think Jacob saw him at Chat-
ham, a littlci man. He only lasted about
18 hours after he was taken ill. Five of
our strongest Grenadiers died in a few
hours. While I am writing I hear that we
have two more deaths in our regiment,
and if wo stop at this place long I am
afraid we shall have it very bad. The
country is beautiful to all appearance, but
it is the Valley of Death. The Russians
lost 40,000 men in 1828-9 by plague and
cholera, the French have had it at Varna, so
have our other Divisions. It is very hot.
This is worse than fighting, losing cur fine
men for nothing." He adds : "I drank all
your healths at the Wakes, and wished I
was with you for a few days."
Singularly enough, the very next day he
writes a doleful letter anent the disease in
the camp. The weather was boiling hot.
He says : "We have lost two men by cholera
up to 12 a.m., the 19th Regiment
next to us lost two also. One bad case in
hospital. We are to get a dram of rum to-
day, which I think will do the men good.
It is better than wine. When we left our
last camp we left our cases of cholera with
two doctors, and 21 men on guard behind.
Three or four of the men died. When I
wrote last I was not well, and thought it
might be my last letter to you." 2nd
August: "Yesterday four men died, and the
officer 77th. My groom took sick last night.
I have just been to hospital to see him.
The tents are full, a melancholy night. Two
men appear to be dying, and a number
more bad cases." 3rd: "We have had no
deaths yesterday or to-day, and I think this
ground is much healthier than our last. All
cf us that are well are as jolly as possible.
We want nothing but work, and it is a pity
to see such a fine army sent out from Eng-
land to fight the common enemy and to
bo left to elie in such a country as this with-
out a sight of the Russians." "A doctor of
the 23rci Regiment dead to-day."
A letter covering events from the 4th to
the 8th of August is pregnant with interest.
The eloctors are compelling each man to
take one eighth of a pint of rum daily.
Largo numbers of men continiie to die
daily in hospital, and the doctor told Mor-
ton that he had over 150 under his treat-
ment. One of his pioneers died after an
hour or two's illness. He says: "There is
a visible change at divine service now.
Everyone seems to take a part. I hope our
united prayers will be heard, and that the
sickness may leave as. It is very dreadful
to see fine men cut off in a few hours. Oh
that we may all be ready for the great
change.
7th inst. : "Yesterday we got the English
Mail. I got no letters and was much dis-
appointed. I got the illustrated and also
the "Daily News" with the Bradwell post-
mark oiv it. which did me good. When I
saw it I called it my "Brada Wakesing."
89
We have one man dead to-day in our regi-
men. We have lost now in our Division
one Paymaster, one Quartermaster, one
Doctor, and one Ensign, and about 30 men
per Regiment."
8th inst. : "We had one man died last
night. A captain of the artillery is dead."
The Regiment frequently removed their
camp a few miles in the hope of finding a
healthier site, and every day Morton dotted
down a few events on a sheet of paper, and
posted it to Bradwell with every mail. His
next letter, which begun on August 91 li,
reports further deaths. Writing from a
strong Turkish post, where the Turks had
fortifications, garrisoned with 10,001) moii,
and where he had been digging wells and
opening fountains to get water for the
troops, he says : "I found Roman tiles
■cemented together with Roman cement,
which must have been in the ground for
ages. We have four men dead in hospital
now. A captain of the 77th died the other
day. Our army stores have been burned
downed at Varna by Greeks, and 15,000
Sairs of boots sent out for the troops were
estroyed, besides biscuit and other sto'.es.
Two of the Greeks were killed on the sjxjt,
and others arrested. I don't think we shall
fire a shot this year. What a miserable
prospect before us for the winter."
In a hurriedly-written letter of August
29th, Morton info:ms his relatives at Brad-
well that the cholera was still hanging
about, that the assistant-surgeon was taken
ill that morning and died at noon. They
"brought him "home" in a cart and buried
Tiim at night. Major Mackie and the pay-
master were both very ill. He adds: "It
took 30 native carts with two bullocks each
to move our regimental sick, and 112 horses
to carry the mc-n's knapsacks, so by that
yoii may judge in what state this country
has left our men. They are not like the
same men that you saw at Liverpool on the
4th of Apr:l." At the close he adds: "I
was very sorr.v to hear of Sister Mary's
death, but the will of the Lord must be
done. I hope to be spared to write to vou
again, but if not I hope we shall all nieet
in Heaven."
Morton's regiment. 27 officers, 16 women,
and 780 men, embarked on August 30Mi on
the ship Orient. Major Mackie had died
on the march a few days before, and one
man died on board ship.
AT SEBASTOPOL.
Morton's first letter from the battlefield
is a curious document. It was written
"lying before Sebastopol, 3rd October,
1854." and is scribbled with pencil on narrow
strips from the margin of a newspaper.
At his own request he was allowed to do
the duty of an officer with the men in
action. Alluding to the great Battle of
Alma, when the Russian army (46,000). un-
der Prince Menchikoff, were defeated by
the British. French, and Turkish forces
(57,000), under Lord Raglan and Marshal
St. Arnaud, he says : " On the 20th we
fought a bloody battle. ... I was
i^lightly wounded in the right leg, but
was able to continue the action till it was
over. . . . We put the fear of the Eng-
lish and French in their hearts, but at a
great loss of life on our side. I was the
only officer in our regiment touched, and
we were always in front of the battle. The
Colonel got a ball through his pistol
bolster, and it lodged in his prayer-book."
On this narrow strip of newspaper he goes
on to tell how they have now surrounded
Sebastopol. He said: "It is tremendously
strong to look at, and we must expect to
lose a great number of men in taking it,
but take it we shall. They keep throwing
shot and shell at anyone approaching too
near, and they are working like bees,
throwing up fresh works. We have not
fired a gun at them yet, but if any one of
them come near us we try the range of our
mine rifles at them. It will be four or five
da.ys before we are ready to open fire on
them. What destruction of life will then
commence! Thousands upon thousands
must fall on both sides." " My trust is in
God, the God of Battles, who is able to
preserve me. I know you all pray for me;
continue to do, and if we are not spared to
meet again on this side the grave I hope
we shall meet in Heaven."
AT BALACLAVA.
Morton was at the Battle of Balaclava
on October 25th, when the Russian armv
(12,000) were defeated by the British and
Turkish army, under Lords Raglan and
Lucan. In this battle occurred the famous
charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade, under
the gallant Earl of Cardigan. Here the
Bradwell soldier distinguished himself. In
view of the historical importance attached
to this famous battle, Morton's letter to
Bradwell, written on November 12th, is of
the greatest interest. He says : " Since I
wrote last we have had some rough work
to do, without mentioning the continued
fire in the trenches, which causes us a
great deal of loss at times. The enemy
have attacked us once at Balaclava, and
got nearly into the town. To drive them
back we lest most of our light cavalry.
. . . I got a good view of the charge of
the Dragoons. They did their work in
grand style, but they were outnumbered
and overpowered, and, poor fellows, they
had to retire under a heavy fire of artillery
and musketry. I went over the field after-
wards, and it was a fearful sight to see
men and horses strewn in all directions.
I went to the Balaclava two days after-
wards with Colonel Jefferys. and we saw
two horses which appeared to have been
blown to pieces with a shell. They were
at a French post, so the Colonel asked the
French officer how it happened, and to our
surprise the officer told us that the horses
had only been shot with musket balls, but
his soldiers had cut them up for beef
90
steaks. ... A few days after this they
made a determined attempt to turn off
right flank. I mounted and rode to the
place, but the balls and shell began to fall
pretty thick about me, so drew back out
of range of their guns, and the enemy were
beaten back with a great deal of loss on
their side. Our loss was trifling."
AT INKEEMAN.
In the same letter Morton goes on to give
his experiences at the historic battle of
Inkerman on November 5th, when the
British and French allied forces (14,000),
under Lord Raglan and General Canrobert,
were victorious over the Russians (46,000),
under Liprandi, the British loss being 2,612
against a Russian loss of over 9,000- He
continues : —
" On the morning of the 5th (this day
week) they made a most determined attack
at the same point, namely, the Heights of
Inkerman, and the slaughter on both sides
was tremendous. We beat them back, and
their loss is estimated at 16,000 killed — I
think myself about 9,000 or 10,000. I went
twice over the ground after the battle, and
never saw such a sight. The Russians were
lying in heaps, hundreds of wounded lying
with the dead, and lots of our poor fellows
lying head to head with them just as they
fell in defence cf our camp and position.
A more determined attack was never made.
Our regiment went into action 346 men, and
lost 131 killed and wounded, including two
ofiicers wounded, both through the left
thigh. The regiment was in a most criti-
cal position. Being so weak in numbers,
and having a large body of the enemy op-
posed to them, they fired all their am-
munition away and still showed a front.
When I saw them firing so much I loaded
6,000 rounds on three ponies, and went
myself to the front with it, and it was very
welcome. The regiment had greatcoats on,
and I had not, so I was conspicuous, and
I drew a heavy fire on them, so I left them
when I had given them the ammunition.
Our sergeant-major was killed, and the two
majors both lost their horses. Colonel
Shirley, with the remainder of the regi-
ment, was on duty in the trenches and
outposts. On my way to the regiment I
met Sir George Brown, and he told me, if
1 saw any of his staff, to say that he wanted
them. I answered, ' Yes, Sir George,' but
turned round on my horse and saw that
he was wounded, so I galloped back and
asked him if he would have a doctor. He
thanked me and said he would do so. I
soon found one. and we got him off his
horse and placed him in my greatcoat on
the ground, lie is wounded throtigh the
left arm. He was very cool and in good
spirits, but he only just got off his horse in
time. He was quite weak from loss of
blood. When his arm was dressed he was
taken to his tent on a stretcher, which he
first refus?d. saying that the stretchers
were more wanted for the poor men. but
he found that he was too weak, and sub-
mitted. Now we are blazing away at each
other from morning till night. We have
batteried the town very well, but the
houses are built of stone, and I think the
wood and shipping in the place is fireproof,
for they won't burn anv length of time ; be-
sides, they have two guns for our one, and
they are excellent gunners. Don't be in a
hurry to hear of the fall, for we understand
that we are to winter here. God help us,
for we shall be miserable if any of us sur-
vive. We have now had six days' rain,
men and officers drenched to the skin and
no change of clothing, so how can any con-
stitution stand it? The regiment is never
in their tents more than sixteen hours out
of the forty-eight. Just returned from
divine service. Our numbers get weaker
every Sunday. . . . Continue to write to
me and pray for me. My thanks to Mrs.
John for wishing to dress my wound ; thank
God, it does not want dressing, as it is
quite well. I have only slept one night
without my clothes since we have been in
the Crimea, and then I got cold. We are
in a sad state for want of clean linen. I
paid 50 shillings for three old shirts at an
auction. Our adjutant lost his arm in the
trenches ten or twelve days ago. The
Colonel asked me if I should like to be
adjutant. I thanked him, but declined."
Three days before Christmas (December
22nd) Morton wrote home, giving a graphic
description of the hardships the men were
undergoing. " I don't think we have more
than 400 men doing duty, and most of them
would not be able to put their bayonets
through a Russian's greatcoat We are
getting lots of reinforcements, but lots of
them are not able to stand the climate,
being too young to endure the hardships,
so they die in dozens, or are sent on board-
ship. The French assist us in removing
them, and they took 1,100 sick one day
from our arm5% 700 another day, and so
on."
Other Bradwell ni3n were in this war,
and Morton says: "I inquired about the
armour-sergeant of the 68th ; he was well,
r have not seen anyone that could give any
record of Hill. If his friends write to him
and tell him to call on me, 1 will give him
a glass of grog and be glad to see him."
He goes on to say that everything is very
dear, flour Is. a pound, a small loaf that
would not be enough for brother Fred's
breakfast 2s., and everything in propor-
tion."
Giving his relatives accounts of the pro-
gress made from time to time during this
terrible war in the camp before Sebastopol,
Morton concludes a letter of March 19th
with: "I hope you all continue to pray to
God to preserve me and bring me safe back
to Bradwell to lay my bones beside my
parents, there to slumber till the great
day."
in a letter a week later he says: "Last
night about midnight the Russians attacked
the French, also our advance post, and a
91
dreadful conflict ensued. The French were
driven out of their works with a loss of
about 500 killed and wounded, together
with some of their best officers. The
Russians attacked our works at the same
time, but they were repulsed in grand
style, but not without serious loss. Colonel
Kelly^ of the 34th regiment, who was in
command, was killed, also two captains,
one of the 7th, the other of the 97th regi-
ment, and a lieutenant of the 34th killed,
besides a number wounded. We did not
lose many men in proportion to officers.
. . . Colonel Brownrigg came into our
camp early this morning, and said that our
men had behaved nobly. A Greek officer
in the Russian service rushed into our
8-gun battery, followed by some desperate
fellows, but they were cut down instantly.
The officer had a sword in one hand and
a dagger in the other. The dagger was
taken by one of our officers, and it is now
in my tent. Neither party dare go to
collect their dead till dark."
In a further letter he says: "We opened
fire on the town on Easter Monday, and
we have kept it up ever since. The
Russians return the fire faintly at times,
but if we attempt to encroach upon them
they are most vigorous, and it is with diffi-
culty and loss that we gain any advantage
over them. We have had an officer and
several men killed since we opened fire,
and eight or ten men wounded. My head
is completely bothered with the din of guns
and mortars going off every moment." In
the same letter there is a reference to the
kindly interest which the wife of the Vicar
of Hope took in the soldiers at the front,
for he says : " I received a parcel from the
Colonel the other day which had been sent
to the regiment from Mrs. Cave, of Hope,
to be. distributed to the officers and men
of the regiment, and I distributed the
articles. I think, in the spirit in which
they were sent, and from the Colonel to
the private all were most thankful for the
kind feeling which prompted the gift from
our native village ladies. The tracts were
very nice, and I read many of them. I
write to Mrs. Cave by this mail to acknow-
ledge the receipt of parcel."
"Another Bloody Day's Work."
In a letter dated June he says : " The day
before yesterday wn opened fire from our
trenches, which is tremendous, and yester-
day, between five and six o'clock, the
French went out to attack the Mamolong,
which they carried in grand style, after
which they attempted the Malacoff Tower,
but they found it too strong, and they went
back with great loss. At the same time
they lost the Mamolong, and oh ! what a
fearful loss of life. The French did not
lose less than 3.000 men. killed and
wounded. However, they went at it again,
and were successful, and this morning they
are in possession of the Mamolong, and
are reversing the works so as to cpen r.n
the shipping in the harbour, which keeps
a continual fire upon them. At the same
time yesterday we attacked another out-
work of the Russians in front of our works.
This attacking party was commanded by
(Lionel Shirley, and the greater part of the
men and officers belonged to our regiment.
They have done their work well, but at
what cost! Major Bailey killed; Captains
Corbett and Wray and Lieut. Webb killt«d;
Captain Maynard, and Lieuts. Grice, Pear-
son, and Remy wounded. The number of
killed we do not know. Other regiments
lost a great many too. We are going to
attack them again to day. so that I am too
much excited to write a letter. . . . You
must all continue to pray for me, and I
have great faith that the Almighty will
spare me to return once more to my native
village."
In a further letter of the 18th he says:
" We have had another bloody day's work,"
and goes on to speak of the " fearful loss
of life, some thousands and a great many
senior officers " ; and a week later he says
that they have more than 1,000 " serious
praying officers in the army; they are not
the unthinking people that they are taken
for."
Marked for Promotion.
With the strenuous work Morton's health
suffered, but he was marked for promo-
tion, and soon had offer as quartermaster-
sergeant at Parkhurst. In a letter in De-
cember he says he heard from Colonel
Jefferys lately, and he should be in the
" Gazette " in Januarj-. As usual, he re-
members everybody at Bradwell, and
writing to his brother, the Rev. Jacob Mor-
ton, he says : " Will you be good enough to
send them all £1 each to make them merry
at Christmas — John, Louisa, and yourself
included, that will be to Bradwell, Fred,
Jabez, Alice. Hannah Ashmore, and
Fanny, and if there is no chance of my
being at home soon I will send you a
cheque."
Briefly, here is the career of this dis-
tinguished man : —
Private 31st Foot, 1839; corporal, 1843;
sergeant, 1844; colour-sergeant, 1845;
quartermaster-sergeant, 1851 ; quarter-
master of the 88th Regiment. 1852; quarter-
master Depot Battalion, 1855.
Service: East Indies from 26th October,
1840, to 6th December. 1846; I'nited King-
dom from 6th December. 1846. to 4th April,
1851: embarked for Scutari 4th April, 1854,
and landed in th^ Crimea 14th September,
1854. Was in Bulgaria awhile.
Engagements: Campaign in Afghanistan
in 1842, including the actions of Mazeena,
Tc.een. Jungdallurk : served through the
Sutlej campaign of 184.5-6; was present at
the battles of Mookee. Ferozeeshah, Buddi-
wall. and Sobraon; served through the
whole of the Crimean campaign of 1854 and
18.55, and was engaged at the Battle of the
Alma (where he was wounded), Inkerman^
and the Siege of Seba.stopol.
92
Medal for Cabul; medal and three clasps
for Moodkee, Ferozeeshah, Aliwal, and
Sobraon ; medal and three clasps for Alma,
Inkerman, and Siege of Sebastopol; also
5th class Order of the Medfidi for distin-
guished conduct during tbo Crimean cam-
paign.
And this distinguished soldier entered
into rest at Parkhurst Barracks on tho
2itli of March, 1860, aged d3 yearn,
LATE WILFRED FISKE.
(See page 63.)
CHAPTER XXVI.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO AT
HAZELBADGE HALL.
Family Litigation of the Vernons.
An Old Time Rhyme.
Concerning Ilazelbadge Hall, in Bradwell
Dale, the fine seat of the Vernons centuries
ago, a volume might be written. As an
addenda to the reference to the old mansion
in a former chapter, a portion of a rhyme
of three hundred years ago may be con-
sidered fitting for these pages.
For fifty years, at the latter end of the
sixteenth and the first four decades of the
seventeenth century, John Harstaff was the
trusted agent and confidential clerk of the
family of Vernon, and lived at Sudbury.
Carefully preserved at Sudbury Hall, there
is a book of paper with a parchment coyer,
endorsed " John Harstaff's Poetry whilst
he lived at Sudbury, 1635, of the Vernon
family and concerns." They are most in-
teresting annals, showing litigation that ex-
tended over many j-ears, dealing with vari-
ous estates of the family. The first part,
written in 1615, has particular reference lo
Hazel badge Hall and estate, and is as
follows : —
I here intend to make a true Belation,
According to my plaine and simple fashion.
Of maine troubles and incumbrances,
With sundrie suites and other grievances
Which hapt to Maister Vernon in his lyffe.
And after his decease unto his wyfle;
Which I (their servant) better can declare,
Because therein I had noe little share;
'Tis nowe noe lesse than foure and twentie
years
Since first I had to doe in those ailaires;
About the whiche (I truelie may afiirme)
For twelve or thirtene yeares I mist noe
terme.
Herein I purpose alsoe to relate.
In what great danger stood his whole estate ;
And lykewyse make particular narration,
Howe he disposed his lands by declaration ;
And howe his friends and servants he re-
garded.
Not leaving anie of them unrewarded.
First then to shewe his name and pedegree.
This worthie Esquire was Lord of Sudburie,
John Vernon called, whose father Henry
Wight,
The Sonne and heire of Sir John Vernon,
Knight,
Of Haddon House a younger sonne was he.
And married Ellen, second of the three
Coheires unto St. John Mongomorie.
By her came Sudburie with other landes
And manie faire possessions to his handes;
Whereof to treate I do not here intend.
But onely shew they linealye descend,
From her to Henry, and from him to John,
Who being yonge did enter thereupon.
He was by suites of lawe encumb'red long.
And by his mother's meanes endured much
wrong,
Who practized by all the wayes she might
To injure him, and take away his right;
Not only in such things his father left him.
But also of his birthright she bereft him.
And gave her landes unto his younger
brother ;
Who can speak well of so unkynd a mother?
She was coheire unto an anncient squier
High Thomas Swinnerton, of Staffordshire;
Whose landes^ she with a sister did devyde ;
Both Hilton, 'Swinnerton and much besyde
In Sharshill, Saredon, and in Essington,
In Hampton, Penkridge, and in Huntington,
Aspley and Sugnell, and in others moe.
Which I have heard of, but never did
knowe.
Hilton, an ancient house, fell to her share,
A park and faire demaines belonginge are
IJnto the same of which and all the rest
she John depryved, young Henry to invest,
Who after her decease the same possest.
But Henry did not long enjoy the same;
For being wedded to a gallant dame.
He leaving her with chyld did end his lyffe.
Committing goods and landes all to his
wyffe.
Who shortly after had a daughter faire.
Unto her father's landes the onelie heire.
Young Henry's match did verie much dis-
please
His elder brother John, who for to raise
Their house end name did formerlie intend,
That all his lands should after him descend
On Henry. But that marriage changed his
mynd,
Soe much that afterwards he was unkynd
Both to his brother's infant, and his wyffe,
Soe that amongst them soone befell greate
stryfle
93
And suites in lawe; All which I could de-
For theiin I sustained much toyle and care
And therfore nowe yt labour meane to
spare.
By these he was exasperated more.
And (which did also discontent him sore),
One Justice Townsend from ye Marches
came, . , ,^. -r.
And did espouse the young and loftie Dame.
They sell and cut downe woods, great waste
they make, » * ,
But then, whether it was redresse to take.
Or for his owne avayle, or else of grudge.
To them, it fltts not me thereof to judge
He went about, and by all meanes prepar d
To fynde his brother's heire the Prince s
Warde ^ ,
And to that end he quicklie set to worke.
One Wakoringe then, who for such praies
did lurke, ^ _ ,
And was as faythfuU as a Jewe or Turke.
Betweene theim two I think it was agreed.
That if in this affaire they hapt to speede.
The Wardship should to Vernon granted be.
And Wakeringe should in money have his
fee.
All their proceedings here for to repeate.
Would be but little worth (thought labour
great)
Short tale to make (which was of all ye
ground)
She was prov'd Ward a tenure there was
found.
How truly, here I list not to decyde
Theirs be yt change by whom yt poynt
was tryed.
The Wardship Maister Vernon looked *o
have.
But Wakeringe (since made knight) proved
then a , . , ,
AUedgingc that it lay not in his nandes.
Unto their first accord as then to stand;
And good cause why, for Justice Towns-
end's purse
Bid ipen wyder, and more crownes dis-
burse;
He therefore got ye wardship of the chylde.
And Vernon by Sir Gilbert was beguyled :
Who made himself the Farmer of her
landes.
And during nonage kept them in his
handes.
And here might Maister Vernon well repeat
His labours ill-employ'd and money spent.
But oftentymes we see it come to passe
When men. of malice, seeke their neigh-
bour's losse.
Or Worke their owne revenge* It pleaseth
God.
To beate themselves, they make a smart-
inge rod;
As in this case it afterwards befell.
Both to himself, and those he lov'd right
well.
For nowe forthwith newe suites they doe
commence,
I'th Court of Wardes against him with pre-
To right the Ward, whose tytle in such
sort
Was favour'd be ye friendship of that
Court, ,^. ,. J
That they recover'd there out of his handes,
A manie parcells of his mother's landes;
Which for some yeares before he had
onjoy'd
As copi-holde, nor sought they to avoyd
Him from ye same, nor doe I thinke they
could.
Had not ye Court of Wardes therein con-
troul'd.
Besydes they sued him in the Channcerie,
For certaine summes of money formerlie
Recover'd by him for landes which by his
mother
Had beene convey'd unto his younger
brother
In sale wher of they joy'd the one with th'
other.
Which sumes amountinge to nyne hundred
pounde
As debte yet due to Henrye's will were
founde.
They charged him further with sixe hun-
dred more.
Which they alledg'd he had receav'd before
His brother's death, who mortgag'd for ye
same,
A farme he held called Haselbach by name.
Concerninge which gith thus it comes i' th'
way,
I thinke it not amisse something to say;
This farme of Hazleba«h whereof I speake.
Is situate nere Castleton i'th' Peake;
And worth (as by ye rentall did appeare)
But little less than seavin score pounde a
yeare ;
Part of the Vernons landes long had it
beene.
As in their anncient Deedes is to be seane.
Sir George who of ye Vernons was ye last,
That helde those goodlie landes, from whom
they past
By two Coheires out of the Vernons name
(For which great Talbott was ye more to
blame)
Sir George I say of whom yet manie speake
(For great houskeepinge termed King o' th'
Peake),
Was much directed in his younger yeares.
In all his causes and his greate affaires,
By's uncle. Sir John Vernon's, good advyse.
Who was a learned man, discreete and
wyse;
Wherfore Sir George to shew yt he was
kynd.
And to his uncle have a thankfuU mynd.
Of Haselbach he granted then a lease.
To him and his assignes which should not
cease,
Untill ye terme of four score yeares were
spent,
Eeserving thereupon a pennie rent.
Sir John until his death possess't ye same;
And afterwards this farme to Henry came
His onlie sonne who held it during liffe
But after his disease there fell great stryffo
About it, through yo practise of his wyffe.
This Henry Vernon was of great esteeme
A man both wyse and learned (as may
seeme).
Who in his cuntrie also bore great sway,
And kept a worthie house, as old men say.
Who often talke of him even to this day.
It chanced fmanie yeares before his death)
He went and served in the Warres at Leath-
In Scotland, where he was a Captaine then^
Ore some three hundred of his cuntrimen
But he had thought it meete before he
went.
For to ordaine his will and testament;
Wherein to John, his sonne, he did be-
queath.
The farme of Haslebach after his death
When eyighteene yeares of age he did
attaine
94
The one tyme ith mother's handes ^1
should remaine
And after yt as seemeth true and plame,
He never altered it, but left it see ;
But what's soe foule yt mallice will not
doe?
He sicke or deade his wyffe found out ye
will, ,. .„,
(And to her elder sonne intendinge ill)
She secreatlye ye name of John did race.
And put ye name of Henry in ye place;
That this is true I know not who will
sweare,
Tet strong presumptions make ye case too
For It was knowne not long before he dyed.
His will did in ye former state abyde.
Which was by oath of witnesse testifyed ;
Besydes it was too manyfestlye knowne.
She used means to get herself alone,
Into his Studie, when she did desyne.
And for that purpose had a crooked wyer,
Wherwith she easlie could unlock ye door.
And leave it in such order as before ;
And when in private she resorted thither
Both pen and inke some tymes she did
take with her, , ^ ^ . ,
And set a maid to watch whyle she staid
Where both his will and other wrytings
were, • ^ j
Some servants too who were acquainted
best , . ^,
With both their hands did on their oath
protest, , , , ^ ^ ,
They thought it not his hand, but her s
much rather.
As by the forme oth' letters they did
gather.
These things and manie other being
brought
In evidence on John's behalf, who sought
To right himself herein against his
mother .
Who holde ye Farme, and also gainst his
brother
(Whom she defended) gave such satisfaction
Unto a jury (charged to try the Action)
(Ith' Court of Comon Pleas) that they had
greed
On John's behalf their verdict should pro-
ceede.
But too much cunninge all the cause did
marre;
For as the Jury unto to the Barre,
A juror (by a compact underhand)
In private lett a servant understand
Gainst Vernon would their present Verdict
passe ;
But Goodman Blockhead, lyke a drunken
asse.
Forgetting that his Maister's right was
tryed
Ith' name of Buck against Vernon forth-
with hyed.
And tould his Maister yt the truth was soe
A present Verdict would against him goe;
Who caused Buck be non-suite thereupon;
And lost the cause which else with him had
gone.
This suite as by ye copies doth appeare.
Did happen in the two and twentyth yeare
Of our late soveraigne Queene Elizabeth :
About tenn yeares after ye father's death;
In all which tyme and two or three yeares
after,
Continewed suits twixt mother, sonne and
daughter.
For she did practize lykewyse to defeate
Her elder daughter called Margarett,
Of some fyve hundred marks left by her
father.
Which she by changinge of ye names, had
rather
Should come unto her yonger daughter
Mary,
About which point oth' Will they long did
varie,
I dare not say, that it was verie sooth.
Though manie did beleeve it for a truth;
For she was cunninge, could both read and
wryte.
And to her elder children had much spyte.
But on ye yonger sett her chiefe delight.
This farme of Haslebach did still remayne
Ith' mother's handes till Henry did
attayne,
To eighteen yeares and thenceforth he
possest it.
For soe (they say) his father's will exprost it.
But after it once came to Henrye's handes.
In that he had noe other state or landes.
Nor other Lyvelihood did as then enjoy.
His elder brother would not him annoy;
But shortlie to atonement with him grewe.
And then good friendship twixt them did
ensewe ;
Soe that young Henry held it without
stryffe.
From thenceforth duringe all his term of
lyffe.
And by his will he left it to his Wyfe
And Chylde unborn; Whereon this suite
they ground.
Gainst Maister Vernon for six hundred
pounde.
From which I have digressed somewhat
longe
Onely to shewe in part his mother's
wronge.
But now I will returne unto the same.
And here declare what end thereof became.
The several sumes demanded did amount
To flfteene hundred pounds, by their ac-
count ;
To wit, for sale of Aspley and Sugnell, nine.
And sixe for Haselbach, which made
. flfteene.
Gainst which then Maister Vernon went
aTjout
For to declare and sett his tytles out.
Both to ye landes were sould, and to ye
lease
Of Haselbach ; and how he did in place,
Permitt his brother to enjoy them still.
During his lyffe of friendship and goodwill.
Intending to have beene to him more
kynde.
If hee had matched accordinge to his mynd.
Even soe frfrre forth as to have made him
heire
To all his landes. Besydes it myght appeare
That Henry's state was not so absolute.
But verie manye had ye same in doubt,
Soe much that he to whom those lands
were sould.
To deal with them would not have been so
bould.
Had John not joyned with his yonger
brother.
And given securitie as well as th' other.
For Haselbach himself did mortgage it.
With whom his brother joyned (as was fitt)
And both had equal power it to redeeme
But be best right (if conscience they
esteeme).
Thus eyther partie laboured for to prove
Their causes good, as it did theim behoove;
Yet by the labour of some frendes at last.
93
Some motion of agreement mongst them
past,
To put this matter to arbitrement,
Where to ith' end both parties gave con-
sent.
The arbitrators at th' appoynted day
Awarded Maister Vernon for to pay
To Justice Townsend there demannds to
clear,
Upon's owne bonds, one hundred markes a
yeare, , , „
TJntill one thousand marks were fuUye
paid;
Which was not hard (one thought) all
things were maid.
Yet Maister Vernon thought it was too
much.
But nothwithstanding since th award was
such.
He gave ye poundes and soe did end ye
stryfe . , . , _
And made one payment onely in his lyne.
For ere ye second payment did ensewe,
It pleased God, he yealded nature's due.
The "rhyme" goes on at great length, but
this is the part of it having particular re-
ference to Hazelbadge Hall.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HOW PROTESTANT NONCONFORMITY
ROSE IN THE PEAK.
The Ejected Clergymen of 1662.
The light of the gospel had penetrated to
this remote and at that time wild region
long before the ejection of the two thous-
and. Churches are said to have been
built in various parts of the Peak which
dated from the first century of the Con-
quest. The chosen parishes of the High
Peak were Glossop, Eyam, Castleton, Hope,
Hathersage, Tideswell, Bakewell, and Youl-
greave, to which were afterwards added
Chapel-en-le-Frith, Edensor, and Darley.
In addition to these there were about
twenty-three chapels, but these were built
during the time which covers the period
between the Reformation and the passing of
the Act of Toleration in 1689. To the
people of to-day it seems strange that
clergymen of the Church of England at the
period now spoken of were not necessarily
preachers, indeed, some of them never at-
tempted to preach, but only read the homi-
lies insisted upon by authority. This called
into existence a body of itinerant or temp-
orary abiding ministers, men of great zeal,
and doubtless possessed of an eloquence
adapted to the times, who went about from
parish to parish, and soon obtained great
influence in the country. The labours of
these lecturers were one principal origin
which led to the prevalence of dissent.
For many of the following facts we are
indebted to an express treatise written by
one of the fathers of Derbyshire Noncon-
formity, the Rev. William Bagshawe, the
Apostle of the Peak, who in his old age
set down to recall to his memory those who
had been his fathers and bretlaren in the
ministry, and who had been, like himself,
zealous preachers of the word among the
people of the Peak. The title of this little
volume is "De Spiritualibus Pecci, notes
(or notices) concerning the Word of God and
some of those who have been workers to-
gether with God in the Hundred of the
High Peak in Derbyshire." Tho date is
1702. We have also had the privilege of
perusal of Hunter's M.S. in the British
Museum on "The Rise of the old Dissent in
the Peak of Derbyshire," which was in-
tended as a specimen of a new Nonconform-
ists' memorial, 1851. We have also con-
sulted Mr. Greaves-Bagshawe's "Memoir"
of his distinguished and saintly ancestor,
and various other works, and have also had
the opportunity, by the kindness of Mr.
Bagshawe, of perusing the diary of the Rev.
James Cleg
With this additional and
reliable information, no apology is needed
for a supplementary chapter to the some-
what meagre sketch given earlier in these
pages.
In the reign of James the First, two of
these itinerant preachers, Mr. Dyke and
Mr. Tyler, were sent into the Peak by Lady
Bowes, who lived at Walton, near Chester-
field, an old seat of the Foljambes, to one
of whom she had been united in her first
nuptials. She outlived S,ir William Bowes,
her second husband, and at last became
Lady D'Arcy, by her marriage with John,
Lord D'Arcy, a nobleman of the same reli-
gious spirit with herself. They were mar-
ried at Chesterfield, on May 7th."^ 1617. which
serves to fix the era of this lady, who may
be regarded as having been, more than any
other, the nursing mother of the Noncon-
formity of these parts.
Queer Parsons in the Olden Times.
It was Lady Bowes' rule not to intrude
these lecturers into any parish where there
was no call for them, but some idea may be
formed as to the necessity for some such
agency as this from a description of the
character of some of the clergy. It is
particularly interesting, inasmuch as the
letter was written to Lady Bowes by Adam
Slack, on October 12th, 1609. This Adam
Slack was a Peakland notability of that day.
He was a man of considerable property,
was a wealthy yeoman of Tideswell, a land-
owner in Bradwell, and at that time was
Lord of the Manor of Thornhill, which he
had ten years previously purchased from
the Eyres of Hassop, but which he sold to
them again a few years later. His influ-
ence, therefore, counted for something.
Ralph Clayton, of Burton, then a chapel of
ease to Bakewell, is described as "a clergy-
man of the worst sort, who had dipped his
finger both in manslaughter and perjury."
In the same letter he alludes to "the Bad
Vicar of Hope," and states how one of the
justices would have licensed the "vicar to
sell ale in the vicarage, and a special rule
was made to prohibit him from either
96
brewing or selling beer on his premises,"
and he is further charged with some "of
the most contemptible and loathsome
crimes." At that time William Leadbeater
was the vicar of Hope, for he succeeded
Eowland Meyrick in 1604. But whatever
might be' Vicar Leadbeater's character his
signature as vicar appears in the flop:'
Eegister as late as 1634.
But unfortunately this was not the only
"bad" vicar of Hope, for Meyrick^s prede-
cessor, Edmund Eyre, appears to have died
under Church censure, as may be inferred
from the following entry in the parish
register: "1602, April 15, buried Edmund
Eyre, Vicar of Hope, without servico or
bell in the night."
These were strange tim;s, but they were
still more strange at an earlier period, judg-
ing from another Vicar of Hope, John
Dean, who was appointed to the sacred
office in the year 139.5. At that time Sir
Thomas Wendesley was knight of the shire
in Parliament, and on the Eolls of Parlia-
ment there is recorded of him a strange
incident, about the year 1403. Godfrey
Eowland, Esq., was living at I.ongstone
Hall, when Wendesley, only a few weeks
before he was slain at Shrewsbury, together
with John Dean, Vicar of Hope, and others,
made a raid upon his homestead with force
and arms, aucl carrieel off goods and stock
to the value of two hundred marks. They
took Eowland prisoner, carrying him to the
Castle of the Peak at Castleton (which at
that time had become a prison for the deten-
tion of criminals), where they kept him for
six days without food, beside which they
cut off the vile outrage of cutting his right
hand off. Eowland petitioned the Com-
mons for redress, but no light seems to' be
thrown upon so dastardly an act by a brave
soldier and a reverend gentleman.
Bradwell Men Fight in Church.
Any bloodshed in or about a church in
former times was regarded in a very grave
light, even when accidental. There is on
record a case where a man was killed by an
accidental fall from the summit of the
tower and the blood from his nostrils
flowetl under the west door of the church.
Service was not allowed to be resumed
until the Bi.shop had held an inquiry.
There are records where blood has been
shed violently within Derbyshire Churches
and one of these comes within the scope
of this work.
It is evident that then, as now,
folks were occasionally in anything but a
prayerful mood, even when at churcn. But
whatever their feelings they were com-
felled by law to be present at the services,
t was in the beginning part of the year
1530 — probably in February — when a couple
of Bradwell men created a most unseemly
scene in the parish church at Hope, and
even before the altar of St. Nicholas. One^
would have thought that the.se two Brad-
well kinsmen would hnve settled their
difference's at any rate on the road to or
from church, but we are told that "Eobert
Elott maliciously struck Edmund Elott-
on the nose, before the altar of St. Nicholas,,
and that blood was effused upon the altar.'*
No time was lost in certifying suth a.
terribly thing to the Chapter, the three who-
took the oath as having witnessed the out-
rage being Otwell Bamtord, Curate of Hope,.
Nicholas Smyth, and Helia Staley. Hav-
ing had his revenge, Eobert Elott confessed,
whereupon the Chapter appointee! Canon.
Edmund Stretehay to act as their com-
missary, and Eobert was brought to his;
knees in more ways than one, for the Canon
ordered him to submit to corporal punish-
ment, kneelin" before him. When blood,
hael be^n shecl in the church there was a
great to do — the sacred eelifice having been,
defiled service was not alloweel until that
defilement had been wip.d out— and in this
case the church was closed for somethin^
like two months. The Bishop^s Chancel^
lor was informed of the circumstance, and
he inhibited the curato from celebrating in
the church until episcopal "reconciliation"
had been obtained. And sa matters went
on — the Bishop caused an inquisition to be
held as to the circumstances, and on the
4th of the following May he removed the
interdict, and the services were resumed.
The Nonconforming Parsons.
BAKEWELL PAEISH.
But to return to the subject. Amongst
the clergy who, in the reign of Charles the
First, held livings in the Peak, were Isaac
Ambrose and Charles Broxholmc. Am-
rose lived to be ejected, but in another
county, anel Bi'oxholme died before the Act
of Uniformity was passed. There were
also two Eowlandsons, father and son, who
were Puritan ministers in the time before
Puritanism became Nonconformity. Mr.
Bagshawe bears honourable testimony to
the Eowlandsons, who were in succession
vicars of Bakewell, but when the great
day of trial came the father conformed and
remained in the church although he is said
to have benefited largely in his income by
the propert,y confiscated from the Eoyalists.
In the neighbouring Church of Edensor,
the incumbent, Eichard Archer, was re-
turned by the Parliamentary Commis-
sioners in 1650, as "reputed eiisaffected,"
and as having been formerly in Prince
Eui^ert's army. The two incumbents at
Darley. John Pott and Edward Payne, are
passed over with the remark concerning Mr.
Payne, that he was "a hopeful man." He
had been recently placed there. In 1651,
Samuel Coates was the minister of Youl-
grave, described as "a godly minister." Mr.
Cantrell, the minister at Elton was re-
ported by the Commissioners ' scandalous
anel insufficient." Eobert Craven, of Long,
stone, and Anthony Mellor, of Taddington,
were among tho best-known and highly re-
snct'liMl ministers of that day. Mr. Bag-
sha\st« fipeaks very highly of Parson Mel-
S7
lor, and relates how he was dragged to the
sessions at Baktwell for his Puritanism, his
offence being "his strict observance of the
Sabbath, and the holding of prayer among
his fiunily." John Jackson who was at
Baslow in 1650, but went to Buxton on ac-
count of his health, remained here till he
was turned out on Bartholomew's Day. At
Fairfield, Thomas Nicholson, who had a
wife and five children, occupied the living,
and was content to leave all for conscience
sake, and suffer with the rest. Mr. Payne,
one of the most remarkable of the minis-
ters ejected, when he was assistant minister
of Sheffield Parish Church, continued a
non-conforming minister in that parish till
his death in 1708. He was born at Whes-
ton, near Tideswell.
HOPE.
Coming nearer home, in connection with
Hope parish there is not much more re-
corded, only that a Thomas Bocking was
vicar in 1650, that he was a Eoyalist who
had borne arms on the side of the King, and
that he was reported "a scandalous minis-
ter" bj' the Parliamentary Commission.
His name is carved on the front of the
handsome oak pulpit in Hope Church.
CASTLETON.
In the neighbouring Church of Castle-
ton, Samuel Cryer was the minister when
Mr. Bagshawe wrote on the spiritual things
of the Peak. He had then been more than
forty years the vicar, and "is now most
a father of any minister in the High
Peak." He was the son of an elder Cryer,
one of Mr. Bagshawe's i r -decessors in "the
living of Glossop. Mr. Bagshawe appears
to have had great esteem for Mr. Crver,
of Castleton— "May they who have heard
his elaborate and eloquent discourses, evi-
dence that thty have heard God speaking
through and by him." Mr. Crver was here
as early as 1650. and he was a conformist in
1Q62.
"It wa.s a privilege," said Mr. Bagshawe,
to Mr. Cryer, that he was, though not im-
mediately, the successor of the thrice j
worthy Mr. Isaac Ambrose, a star of the
first magnitude, for a time fixed at Castle- |
ton. I had not the time to converse with I
or indeed see this saint of the Lord, save I
once at Manchester. At that time his love i
to Castleton at the mention of it revived, '
tears shot into his e.ves, and from his mouth
fell the ingenious acknowledgment, "It was
my sin and is my sorrow that I left that
place when the Lord was blessing my min-
istry in it." Mr. Ambrose was a Non-
conformist in 1662, ref^iring from the vicar-
age of Garstang, in Lancashire. At Castle-
ton. he succeeded Ralph Cantrell, was
buried at Hope in October. 1626.
EDALE.
There was a very learned and godly mii.-
ister of Puritan sjmpathies at the chapel at
i-^dale, then a chapelry in the parish of
Castleton. Of him, Mr. Bagshawe says,
"I have not only heard of, but in my child-
hood heard worthy Mr. Cresswell, one who
drew as his first, so his last breath in our
Earts. He was some time chaplain at
yrae Hall, and preached at Disley, not far
from it The Lord called this.
His servant, from his work when that
black night was come or coming. Surely
Edale was a dale or valley of vision in his
days. May their posterity show their pro-
fiting by others, as many did that were
profited by him."
Mr. Cresswell was succeeded by Mr.
Robert Wright, a very earnest and sincere,
though a less learned man than Mr. Cress-
well. He refused to conform, and was,
therefore, turned out of the Church. It is
said that ho afterwards conformed, but he
was a Nonconformist when he died. He
appears to have been a warener. However,
he was silenced by the persecuting Acts,
and he never took out a license to preach
after the declaration of indulgence, and
died between the year 1672 and 1675. The
chapel in Edale was founded b.y the devo-.
tion of the Protestant people' inhabiting-
that "valley of vision," the names of fifteen'
of the chief of whom ar? preserved in the.
Deed of Consecration, which bears dato^
August 3rd, 1634,
TIDESWELL.
At Tideswell the parson at this time was
William Greaves, "a man whose very plain
words were directed against the vices of hig
hearers, and he used that unusual exercise
of catechising." What the folk of Tides-
well thought about him, especially the
catechising part of his ministrations, is
not stated, but he was there many years,
while his successors, Christopher Fulnetby
and Nicholas Cross, were there for a few
months only. In 1636, Ralph Heathcote
was given the living, and held it for twenty-
six years. Mr. Bagshawe says he "could
not be charged with falling short as to
conformity oefore the war, whatever is
chargeel on him for siding with the two
Houses of Parliament in it."
In Mr. Fletcher's "Guide to Tideswell,"
Isaac Sympson is given as the vicar in
1662, but Mr. Bagshawe mentions others,
and his notes on them are as follows : "After
some vacancy that followed that minister's
(Heathcote's) death, followed for a time
(alas ! a short time), reckoned not by years,
but by months, and tho.se not many, the
labouring of one whose attainments" were
far above his years, with an eye to the pre-
serving of whose memory, as" well as that
of others, this piece is penned, to wit, ex-
cellent Mr. Anthony Buxton, of him take
the following account :
"This person derived from parents, well-
esteemed at Chelmorton, where the water
that serves it springs at the upper end and
sinks at the lower end, so in other parts of
the country. His noted studiousness and
seriousness when a school bo.y were as hope-
ful buddings of a fruitful tree."
98
After giving an account of his college
career, Bagshawe says of Buxton that "not
long after his commencement he was pre-
vailed with to preach at Hayfield, a paro-
chial chapel within my beloved parish of
Glossop, where he showed that none were
to despise his youth, and to my knowledge
some to this day bear impressions of the pre-
cious truths wnich with much exactness he
delivered." . . . "He was, through the
importunity of friends, and, I believe,
through hopes of being a more useful
instrument of furthering the work of the
Lord, prevailed with to remove to Tides-
well but, alas, he saw little more, if so
much, as a quarter of a year there." Mr.
Bagshawe relates how "grave, reverend and
tender Mr. Stanley," tlie ejected minister
of Eyani, attended Mr. Buxton on his death
bed, how he (Bagshawe) was a bearer at
his funeral, and preached his funeral ser-
mon.
After him came Mr. Beeby. "He was
here and elsewhere," says Mr. Bagshawe,
"particularly in the latter end of his time
at Cirencester; industrious, apt to teach,
and well esteemed. One thing was less
satisfactory to his brethren, that he mar-
ried his brother's widow, and defended his
so doing from an order which did. as they
believed, concern the Jewish nation and
Church only." Dr. Calamy says that he
left Tideswell at the Eestoration, and took
charge of the chapel at Sheldon, when he
was ejected. After him were Mr. Bryerly,
and Mr. Creswick, a native of Sheffield,
both Nonconformists.
HATHERSAGE.
The living at Hathersage was held by
Robert Clarke, who was presented by the
Earl of Devonshire, in 1627. He must have
professed himself a Puritan, because in
1646 he had his living augmented by the
' Committee for Plundered Ministei-s, with
£30 a year out of the rectories of Duckman-
ton and Normanton, sequestered from
Francis Lord Denicourt, and £9 from the
tithes of Abney and Abney Grange, seques?-
itered from Rowland Eyre, papist and delin-
guent farmer thereof, under the Dean and
Ihapter of Lichfield, also £5 from the tithe
of Litton, and the glebe there. We have
no evidence that he lived to the critical
year, 1662 but though he had largely par-
taken of the spoils of the suffering Royal-
ists, he did not abandon his churcn at the
Jast.
The chapel at Derwent lies far remote
Jrom the parish church of Hathersage, and
the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1650
recommended that Derwent should Imj con-
etituted an independent parish. A Mr.
Burgess was then the minister, of whom
nothing more appears to have been handed
down.
They also recommended that Stoney
Middleton should be made a district par-
ish. There waa a chapel, 400 communi-
cants, and not above £10 maintenance for
the minister. Richard Thorpe, the minis-
ter, is reported to be "scandalous for drink-
ing," and when the Committee voted an
augmentation of £40 out of the tithe of
Glossop, sequestered from the Earl of
Arundel and Surrey, and the Countess of
Arundel, his mother, a Recusant, they
voted it for "such minister as they shall
approve." Mr. Thorpe, however, received
at least a portion of it in 1650, and there is
no account of his resignation of the bene-
fice.
But though Mr. Bagshawe has nothing
to say of the ministers who lived in the
Puritan times in the parish of Hathersage,
he speaks with great respect of a gentleman
who lived at Highlow Hall, who belonged to
the class so often spoken of as the Moderate
Conformists. This was Mr. Robert
Eyre, who was a mao;istrate for the county,
a man of considerable estate in this dis-
trict, as well as of very ancient descent. He
had been left a minor by his father, and
considered that he had suffered something
in his wand-time "yet God in wisdom and
favour ordered that he should match into
the family of Mr. Bernard Wells," by which
his estate was so much advanced. This
Mr. Eyre was a good man, and notwith-
standing the satisfaction he had as to the
point of conformity, he was far from per-
secuting Nonconformists. As before stated,
he was a magistrate, and he so highly
esteemed the Apostle of the Peak that in-
formations were not given against him,
and "in times of bondage precious liber-
ties for labour were indulged in by me."
This Mr. Eyre was the head of one of the
principal families of the name and stock
of Eyre, that very old and widely ramified
family in the Peak. His mother was a
Jessop, of Broomhall, Sheffield, who, like
himself, belonged to the class of moderate
Conformists.
EYAM.
The living at Eyam was held by Thomas
Stanley. He succeeded Shoreland Adams,
who held two livings, and was dispossessed
at Eyam for his strong sympathy with the
Royalist cause. He was of a very turbu-
lent and selfish disposition. He was re-
stored to his living in 1660, and Stanley
acted as his curate till the ejection in 1662.
It is said that Adams, when speaking of a
clergyman who had left his living in Shef-
field said: "Fowler is a fool, for before I
would have sacrificed my living for a cause
like that I would have sworn that a black
cow was white." This contrasts greatly
with the disposition of Stanley, of whom
Mr. Bagshawe writes at length.
Stanley was removed from Ashford to
Eyam in 1644, from which place he was
ejected in 1662. After his e]ection he con-
tinued to reside at Eyam, and was a worthy
helper to the Rev. WiUiam Mompesson
during the terrible visitation of the Plague
in 1666. After his ejection some of liis
bitterest enemies tried, but failed, to in-
duce the Earl of Devonshire to remove him
out of the village, and in reference to this
a witness of that time says: "It was more
99
reasonable that the whole country should in
more than words, testify their thankful-
ness to him who, together with the care of
the town, had taken such care as no one
else did to prevent the infection of the
towns adjacent." It would seem from this
statement that to Thomas Stanley is due no
small share of the honour which history
pays to the people of Eyam for their
heroism and self-sacrifice during that dread-
ful visitation.
In the year 1670 Thomas Stanley was
seized with the sickness that ; suited in
his death. William Bagshawe -vas called
from his bed to visit him. Stanley had
suffered very greatly from his Nonconform-
ity, but he rejoiced on his death bed that
he had been permitted to suffer in such a
cause, and within three days, on the anni-
versary of his ejection, viz., on "Black Bar-
tholomew's Day," he went to his reward.
He had been supported by the voluntary
contributions of two-thirds of the inhabi-
tants of Eyam. He died and was buried at
Eyam, but there was no monument raised
to" this remarkable man until nearly 120
years afterwards, when it was done by a
private individual. '
The Apostle of the Peak.
In the year 1662, good William Bagshawe
was quietly and effectively ministering to
\iis parishioners of Glossop, reverenced ana
loved by all. He was content to remain
there, doing his duty without any noise or
oetentation, proof against all temptati-'ns
to worldly advancement which would in-
volve his severance from his beloved people.
Such was his condition when that eventful
24th of August arrived, which taught 'o
many ministers and congregations what u
bitter thing it was to part who had lived
and toiled and worshipped together.
William Bagshawe was born at Litton,
on Jaauary 17th, 1627-8. He received his
education at several country schools, flhero
his diligence enabled him to attain to
greater proficiency than many of his con-
temporaries. Under Mr. Eowland^on.
minister at Bakewell, and Mr. Bourne, of
Ashover, he imbibed very deep religious im-
pressions. He subsequently went to CajU-
bridge University, where he took his .'? A.
degree in 1646. He possessed a strong der ire
for the ministry, but his wish was opp.-^sed
by some of his friends, who desired him to
follow some other pursuit, but he carried
his point, and preached his first sermon at
Wormhill, where he remained for three
months. Being desirous of finding a wider
field of labour he went to Attercliffe, Shef-
field, and became an assistant minister to
Mr. James Fisher. On New Year's day,
16,51, he was ordained by the presbytery at
Chesterfield by the laying-on of hands, and
the confession of faith he them made, and
the sermon ho preached on Christ's pur-
chase, was afterwards published.
In the following summer he married
Agnes, daughter of Peter Barker, of Darley.
Early in the year 1652, he was appointed to
the living of Glossop. Here he laboured
with very great effect for 10| years; he was
happy and contenteel in his work, he re-
fused all offers of preferment, and was con-
tented to live in the heart and affections of
his people. But when he was called npon
to make a sacrifice for truth he freely gave
up for conscience sake what all the ofiersof
worldly advancement could not tempt him
to part with. For this he was will'ug to
srcrifice friends, and to sever the ties of 1 ve
and sympathy that bound him to his pe iple
8'i.ci his people to him. When he prea' hei
tj them the last time before ais ejectxncnt
the tears of sorrow that fell from the oves
of his people testified to the affectionate re-
gird in which he was held, more eloqu-nt ly
tha-' woi-ds. On being comiielJed to I mv
down his work at Glossop, his father pla.ed
Ford Hall, Chapel-en-le-Frith, entirely at
his service, and he made "his his i ovular
residence until his death, nearly forty
year* later.
But although Mr. Bagshawe was no
longer allowed to minister to people inside
the Church, he still continued to be a
minister of the Church of Christ. He went
from village to village, and even from house
to house preaching the word to such as
would listen, and his labours were crowned
with abundant success. It is recorded that
through his ministrations a spirit of ser-
iousness, repentance, and faith pervaded
these wild regions that had never been wit-
nessed before, and his energy in preaching,
and in all Christian work was such that he
was called by his contemporaries "The
Apostle of the Peak," by which name he
is known to history to this day. Through
his untiring and self-denying labours he
established Presbyterian congregations at
Malcalf, near to his own home (who after-
wards built the chapel at Chinley), at Great
Hucklow, Bradwell,,Charlesworth, Ashford,
Middleton, Chelmorton. Bank End, and
some accounts add Marple Bridge and Edale.
He was called upon to suffer much and
severe persecutions, but in all his trials
his faith in God never wavered, and there
are many stories on record which give an
account of the very remarkable way in
which he was delivered from the plots of
his enemies.
For a considerable time after his removal
to Ford Hall, he was compelled to act with
very great caution. Every Sunday morning
and afternoon, accompanied by his family,
he attended the church at Chapel-en-le-
Frith, but in the evening he held service
privately in his own house and elsewhere,
and he also delivered an address to a few
friends on the Thursday evening. In this
way there passed another ten years, but
after the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672
he entered upon a more active public
work. He went to his beloved people at
Glossop once a month on a week evening,
where the people flocked to hear him. He
preached at Ashford once a fortnight, and
very great caution being necessary in order
not' to expose his hearers to the severity
103
of the persecuting laws then in force, he used
to change" the scene of his labours almost
everv Sunday morning so as to baffle the
enemies of Nonconformity and the various
bands of informers who were ever ready to
give information to the authorities. His
whole ministerial life was one continued act
of suffering for conscience sake. Because of
his choice of the Christian ministry as his
profession in opposition to his friends' wish
he was partially disinherited, and after the
ejection he was for years in constant danger
of fine and imprisonment.
Concerning his private life, he kept a con-
stant guard upon his heart at all times, and
he is said to have attained to such a degree
of grace that few arrived at. The hearts
of the poor were by him made glad, and
with his readiness to give of his substance,
he combined a rare faculty for giving wise
counsel to those to whom he gave temporal
aid. As a son he was most dutiful to his
parents even after he had a family of his
own ; as a master he was kind and consider-
ate; as a husband he was loving and affec-
tionate, and as a father he was anxious for
the moral and spiritual welfare of his chil-
dren.
The bulk of the Apostle's journeys were
made on horseback — a difPcult task at cer-
tain seasons of the year— in fact, there are
frequent references to th^se difficulties and
dangers in his diary, and he states how on
one occasion he and T. Barber were l^^st in
a mist between Castleton and Bra. I well. In
this diary, too. are very many alhisions to
Bradwell and Great PTucklow. which are
very interesting. Some of these are given
in the chapter on the old chapel, Bradwell.
The entries in his diary also prove how-
thorough was the self-examination which
the Apostle of the Peak continually applied
and how dissatisfied he was with his own
efforts. Referring to his preaching he
writes : — " I cannot get my eyes down to
the people, nor preach as though I were
talking with them." Of a petition that was
being sent round by the Bishops soliciting
STibscriptions for the poore^r clergymen, Mr.
Bagshawe writes: — " Is it of good aspect
that bishops take this course?" He replies
to his own query by saying : — " It does not
appear so to me, they themselves going
away with so large a part of the Church's
1 avenue. What kind of creatures in their
eyes are the poor nonconformists, for whose
relief no motion was made these 33 years."
And he adds : — " O, the meanness of mean
measures."
There is the entry :— 169.5, August ye 25th.
" One fruit of my poor labours ye last year
is ye poor people of Bradwell have prepared
a more meet place to meet in, and they are
more than willing that my younger
brethren should take their turns in preach-
ing there."
August ye 2r)th " Flocked in."
Another entry reads : " T preached and
prayed in ye new meeting-house at Brad-
well, where very many heard and I was
assisted."
Again he writes : — 169.5, Sept. ye 11th.
"It was said at Bradwell, where ye people
hear me and ethers attending yt my poor
endeavours in ye evening of one Sabbath on
ye 4th had this good effect, that since then
every Sao bath has been less profaned."
169.5-6. "When on February the 23rd I
preached at Hucklow on meekness (1), and
on the blood of the covenant (2), many per-
sons seemed much affected, and when, on
the Tuesday following I preached at Brad-
well, in the former discourse (1), relating to
the diligent keeping of the soul, tears shot
into many eyes, and I hope the following
one (2), concerning coming, and recourse
to the waters, or ordinances, especially as
dispensed publicly, was not unaffecting."
" Divers and those whose judgments I
most value, say that my taking so much
time in preaching is best for writers and
for those who desire to be edifyers. It is
said and hoped that there is some reforma-
tion wrought by the word at Bradwell."
1697, July 19th. " My preaching at Brad-
well hath, through mercy, had this effect
and influence, that many nocked to hear Mr.
I'arkfr on the last Lord's Day save one, and
Mr. Haywood is thereby encouraged to go
and preach to them, and I shall wait to
hear what effect my sermon the last Sab^
bath, which was about sanctifying the Sab-
bath, had amongst them."
In the year 1697 and 8 are several entries
in his diary which tell how acutely he felt
the infirmities of age weakening his body
anrl i'lterfering with his labours. On the
30th January in the former year he wrote :
" I Avas carried through the cold to Hucklow
and thei'e led others in mourning and
prayer." It was his custom at this time
to preach at Hucklow every Siinday morn-
ing ;mk1 at Malcalf in the evening. On
March 20th, 1698, he wrote: "I went to
Hucklow, taking in a sort, my leave there."
Speaking thirty-five years after his ejec-
tion, he said " I have now been an ejected
minister for so many years, and have had
much time to review my position and weigh
the reasons of my nonconformity, and upon
an impartial and serioxis consideration of
my case, I see no caxise to change my mind.
But. some of you may perhaps say, but
others have better eyes than you. I readily
grant that, but I must see with my own. '
So long as physical strength would permit
this faithful son of God and earnest disciple
of Christ continued to labour incessantly in
God's vineyard but at last his growing in-
firmities compelled him to shorten his
journej's and lessen his toils. For a time
ho liad to confine his ministrations to Mal-
caJf, and for the last winter of his life he
was confined to his own house, but even
then he did not cense his ministry, for he
conducted service there, and only for a
single Sunday before his death was he un-
able to deliver God's message to the people.
He died on April 1st, 1702.
The care of his Peak congregations, and
the work that was so dear to his heart, fell
into the hands of John Ashe, his nephew.
101
of Ashford, and James Clegg, who succeeded
him at Malcalf. Both these men lived
very near to the Apostle's heart, and their
names appear in the Trust Deed as the
joint ministers of Bradwell Chapel.
Churchwardens since opening of St.
Barnabas' Church, Bradwell, in October,
1868 :—
1868 & 1870.— Dr. Joseph- Henry Taylor.
1870 & 71.— Robert Hill, Benjamin James Eyre
(Brough).
1872 & 3.-ltobert Hill, Thomas Bradwell.
1874 -6.— John Dakin, Thomas Bradwell. -
earlj' days. On one occasion a young man
in Bradwell had committed suicide, and &3
his mental condition was laid at the doors
of the Methodists, William Green, of
Rotherham, one of the earliest preachers,
was prevented from entering the town by
friendly outposts at the various entrances,
fearing he would be killed as the enemies
of the cause had vowed vengence on the
next Methodist preacher who should visit
the place.
It has already been said that the first
chapel— now a cottage— was built in 1768.
At the conference the following year a grant
THREE NOTABLE CHURCHWARDENS.
WM. J. BRADWELL.
1881-9?.
THOS. BRADWELL,
1872-77.
JOHN DAKIN.
1874-93.
1877-8.— John Dakin, Thomas Bradwell, Caleb
Higginbottom (Great Hucklow) and
Henry Eyre (Abney).
1778-80.— John Dakin, Thomas Elliott.
1881-93.— John Dakin. Wm. John Bradwell.
1894-5.— C. E. B. Bowles (Abney), Francis Har-
rison.
1896-7.— Joseph A. Middleton, Abram Morton.
1898-1905.— Abram Morton, William Eyre.
1906.— Abram Morton, Harvey Hallam.
1907.— Harvev Hallam. Wm. B. Prisk.
1908-10.— Harvey Hallam. Durham Wragrg.
1911.— Durham Wragg, Wm. John Harrison.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WESLEYANISM'S ESTABLISHMENT IN
THE BRADWELL CIRCUIT.
Early Local Preachers.
In the previous chapter the introduction
of Wesleyanism is briefly touched upon.
There were many exciting times in those
of £9 wa3 made (owards the building, and
in 1772 there is the record " Brada £5," and
a similar amount the iollowiug year. When
the pi^isent chapel was built in 1807, Brad-
well was in Bakewell circuit, with the Rev.
William Midgley, a famous man in those
days, as the minister, but in 1812 Bradwell
became the head of a circuit with a mem-
bership of 450. The first superintendent
was the Rdv. Wm. Bird who had Joseph
Lewis as his colleauuc. At the end of ten
years the memloership had fallen to 388.
Later, even a lower ebb was reached, but
in the thirties there was wonderful activity
and growth. Chapels were built in the
smaller villages, and in 1834 the membership
had reached 580. In 1851 the membership
had reached 600, the highest ever recorded.
At this stormy period of the " Reform "
agitation, John Bonsor and Henry Cattle
were in the circuit, and it is a remarkable
fact that although the neighbouring cir-
cuit of Bakewell suffered very seriously,
r>nly two local preachers remaining on the
Wesleyan plan, such was the loyalty and
102
devotion of the Methodists of the Bradwell
circuit that there is not, nor ever has been,
a single " Reform " cause within its
boundaries. Owing, in a great measure,
to the gradual decline in the lead mining
industrv the membershp declined during
the fifties to 409, but during the ministry
of Richard Smailes in 1860-1 it increased 157
in one y(!ar. On the first Bradwell circuit
plan iu'lS13 there were nine local preachers
— Barber, Shaw, Robinson, S. Cocker, Brad-
well, rielcher, Walker, John Longden, and
been added to the preaching places.
William Blundell was the minister and the
other preachers were Booth, Bennett, Wil-
son, Chapman, Frost, Longden, Cocker,
Bradwell, Handley, Somerset, John Frost,
Middleton, J. Tyongden. Eyre, W^heater,
Dakin, Clayton, Goodwin, and M. Goodwin,
with H. Eyre, J. Harrop, and W. Birchell
" on trial."
By 1862 Derwent Dale and Litton Slack
bad been added as preaching places and the
local preachers were : John Longden, Snake
BRADW£LL WiSI.EYAN CHAPEL
Crook. These nine Iccal preachers wore
fully employed, as the preaching places
were Bradwell. Hathc-rsage. Hope, Abney,
Hucklow, Tideswell. Kdale, Castleton,
Thornhill, Gillot Hay, Hag Lee, Peak
Forest, Sparrownit. Litton, Wardlow,
Rider House and Fair Holmes.
By the year 1837 Cressbrook, Cockbridge
(now known as Ashopton), and Brough had
Inn; Jonathan Longden, Hope; Ralph
Handley, Tideswell ; Benjamin Somerset,
Bradwell; John Frost, Grindlow; Thos.
Middleton, Brough ; Janif s Dakin, Castle-
ton; Matthew Goodwin, Peak Forest;
Francis Hall, A,shopton ; John Eyre, Castle-
ton; Thos. Royles, Litton; Thomas Bram-
well. Tideswell; John Darvil, Hathersage;
Wm. Roscoe, Priestcliffe; Joseph Robert
103
Cocker, Hathersage ; Henry Fletcher, Spar-
rowpit; Wm. Oldfield, Hucklow; George
Eobinson, Thornhill; John Andrew, Bani-
ford; Thos. Hancock. Hucklow; Edward
Howard, Tideswell; Jonathan Eyre, Alport;
John Barber, Bradwell; Joshua Evans,
Bradwell; Ebenezer Bradwell, Bradwell;
with Stephen Dakin, Bradwell; Eobert
Somerset, Bradwell; and Benjamin Brad-
well, Bradwell, "on trial." Only Mr.
Stephen Dakin and Mr. E. Bradwell are
now living of these local preachers of half
a century ago.
Tideswell Methodists Horsewhipped.
These were trying times at Tideswell for
early Methodists there. Such was the feel-
ing there that on one occasion they were
publicly horsewhipped by a local niagnate
named Captain Wyatt. 13ut the cause grew
and the first chapel was built in 1810, and
served nearly eighty years until the
present chapel was built on the site. The
chapel at Litton was built in 1834. The
chapel at Hucklow was built in 1806.
First Chapel in a Farm House.
But the mother church of the circuit was
that at Sparrowpit, where the seed of
Methodism was first sown about 1738 by
David Taylor, who, when crossing the wilds
of the Peak, called at the house of Mrs.
Amy Taylor, and there preached. From
that day a barn on the farm was thrown
open for the Methodist services and the
first class meeting in the Peak was thus
formed. For more than fifty years the
house was thrown open for the public ser-
vice of the Methodists until a small chapel
was built in the adjoining little hamlet of
Sparrowpit. The historical farm house is
still there. Peak Forest built its chapel in
1852 and it gave to the Methodist ministry
Edward White, who died in harness in the
United States.
Pioneer's Adventure in Edaie.
The story of how Methodism got a foot-
hold in Edale is interesting. Quite a
century and a half ago, when David Taylor
was travelling late at night through these
wills in a blinding snowstorm, fatigued and
almost perishing, he and a companion
reached a solitary hoiise, knocked at the
door, walked in, and began to shake the
snow off their clothes. Thinking the
strangers were influenced by evil intentions,
the good man of the house. Joseph Hatlfield,
reached down his sword which hung oyer
the mantlepiece with other armour whicn
had been used by him as a soldier in the
Battle of Preston Pars a few years before.
But his fears were soon dispelled when
David Taylcr. s'^epping up to him. ex-
claimed "Peace be to this house." Method-
ist services were commenced in that house
forthwith, j'nd a society formed, of which
.Joseph Hadfield was the first member. In
that house, at Barber Booth. James Ridal,
a travelling i)reacher, wos bom. and a
farmstead across the valley is tlic birth
place of Daniel Eyre and Peter Eyre, both
Wesleyan ministers. The house has since
been pulled down, but the chapel, built in
1811, stands close by.
Bradwell Preachers Mobbed at Castleton.
The first Wesleyan service at Castleton,
in 1765, was held in a house there, by
Matthew Mayer, of Stockport, and Ben-
jamin Barber, of Bradwell. It was dis-
turbed by a mob, one of whom beat a
drum. After service the preachers and
their friends from Bradwell retired for re-
freshments to the liouse of Mrs. Slack, but
the mob burst into her house, making
hideous noises, and as they refused to go
when requested, the lady cut their drum
end with a large knife. They climbed on
the roof of the house, threw offensive mat-
ter down the chimney of the parlour where
the preachers were at supper, and finally
waited on the road leading to Bradwell,
and in the dead of the night made such a
furious attack with stones on the preachers
as to place their lives in danger; indeed,
Benjamin Barber was stoned almost to
death, and carried the marks of his wounds
to the grave. It is remarkable that two
days afterwards the leader of the mob,
who broke in his master's young horses
and trained them to the use of firearms,
placed a loaded pistol in his pocket, which
by some unknown means went off in the
.stable and killed him on the spot. Such
was the dismay caused by this sad occur-
rence, and it was so regarded as a judgment
from God. that the Wesleyans were never
again subjected to such brutal usage. The
first chapel at Castleton was built in 1809.
Hope Vicar's Wife at Wesleyan
Class Meetings.
Although the Wesleyans had a society
at Hope from their earliest days, it was
not until 1837 that the chapel was built.
From 1843 to 1856 the Eev. Wilmot Cave-
Browre-Cave was Vicar of Hope, and his
wife. Mrs. Cave, was a regular worshipper
at the Methodist Chapel, and freciuently
sat on one of the forms in the bottom of
tlie building. Inde?d. the lady often took
au active part in the services, and some-
i inies attended the class-meeting. Hope
gave to tlie We-levan ministry one of its
nalives. John Kirk.
Prayer Meetings in the Snake '. ..
The famous loveft-ast at .\lport in the
Woodlands has been connected with Brad-
well Wesleyanism for a century and a half.
.John L<>ngd«'n, a leal preacher, kept the
Snake Inn, and held prayer meetings in
the public-house. One Sunday in 1815 he
went ti preaf h at Tideswell, fourteen miles
distant. bu( )in:ling en his arrival there
that nearlv jill his congregation had gone
to sec .-Vn'^bony Tinyard hrng in the gibbet
at Wardlow Miers. he followed and
preachfil to the multitude beneath the
gibbet |i(sf When Cockbridge collapsed
104
and killed several men, their bodies were
removed to the nearest farmhouse, which
was the Wesleyan Preaching House, and
as thev lay there John Longden preached
from Christ's words in reference to the
Tower of Siloani— " Think ye that these
men were sinners above all men ?" Its
powerful effect was marked by converting
power in the crowded company gathered
together under such solemn circumstances.
Woodlands Chapel was built in 18C2 by the
Duke of Devonshire, a monument of the
goo(1 work done by the Methodists of his
territories. The first chapel at Ashopton
was built in 1840, and the new chapel in
1897.
A Bamford Centenarian Methodist.
One of the pioneers of Methodism at
Bamford was George Wainwright. When
100 years old he worked at his trade — a
weaver — at Dore. At the Jubilee of George
the Third fifty old men were gathered out
pf the town and neighbourhood of Sheffield,
whose separate ages exceeded that of His
Majesty, and to these coats and hats were
given as a memorial of the day. George
Wainwright was the oldest, and a sub-
scription was opened to have his portrait
painted for the Cutlers' Hall, but though
the picture was executed it never reached
its intended destination. The Methodists
of Bamford built their first chapel in 1821,
and the new chapel came twenty years ago.
Persecuted at Hathersage.
Hathersage was the place which was first
stirred into active opposition to the ad-
vances of the Methodist movement in this
direction, and it is on record that "a
preacher, through violence of persecution,
was driven out of Hathersage," but b" and
by the seed took root, and in 1807 the
chapel was built in the centre of the main
street, followed by a Sunday school. The
Cocker and Darvill families were among
the principal Wesleyans here for more
than a century. It was mainly through
the liberalit.y of the Cockers that the
chapel at Thornhill was built.
Pelting the Methodists at Eyam.
After Mr. Matthew Mayer, of Stockport,
had preached at Bradwell one night in 1765,
he was invited to preach at Eyam. He
went there, and stood by the side of a
barn in the presence of a multitude of
people who had gathered from different
motives. The ringleader of the mob, who
had sworn to his coin|janions that he would
fiull the preacher down, was so struck with
he sermon that, as he confessed after-
wards, " he had not the power to stir hand
«)r foot," and Mr. Mayer got off scot free.
But there were stirring times when, the
following Sunday, Mr. John Allen, of
Chapel-en-le-Frith, attempted to preach at
the same spot. Joseph Benson, who was
nicknamed by his neighbours " Bishop
Benson," was the first to receive the
preacher into his house, as an outrageous
mob had assembled to have some fun with
the Methodists. Stones were hurled
through the windows into the midst of the
little congregation, and the preacher
narrowly escaped serious injury. Mr.
Allen and his friends applied to a magis-
trate for redress and protection, but with-
oiit avail, and, ,encouraged by their attack,
the mob again congregated the following
week. A narrator of that time says that
when the preaching was over "the crowd
.'ioemed like lions and tigers let loose," and
as the Methodists dispersed they were
pelted with dirt and mud along the
streets. "The preacher particularly was
the target for mud, stones, and brick hats,
hut he was stoutly defended by a brave
little bodyguard, and providentially es-
caped unhurt." Next morning it was re-
solved, if possible, to punish some of the
ringleaders, and the Methodists went to a
magistrate who resided at Stoke Hall. But
he was a clergyman, and all the advice he
covild tender to John Allen was " to get or-
dained and enter the Church." Joseph
Benson was ejected from his cottage for
harbouring the new sect, but it was there
to stay, for when John Wesley visited the
village the year following he wrote: "The
eagerness with which the poor people of
]!]yani devoured the Word made me amends
for the cold ride over the snowy moun-
tains."
There was still opposition from the
olergj'man, or rather from the Rev. Peter
Cunningham, who was curate of P]yam,
who succeeded for a time in driving the
Methodists out of the place to Grindleford.
Ho went round the parish and prevailed
upon many to sign an agreement " not to
hear the Methodists any more," and in a
letter to the Vicar of Eyam, the Rev.
Thomas Seward, at Lichfield, in 1776, he
said: "No more Methodist preachers ap-
pear in the chapel at Eyam; the few that
resort to them at Grindleford Bridge are
such as an angel from heaven would have
no influence with. And as I suppose you do
not expect me to work miracles, since
nothing less will convert them, the.y must
even be Ipft to prey upon garbage, and
follow the wandering fires of their own
vapourish imaginations."
There are now two Methodist Chapels at
Eyam, and one at Grindleford. Wesley
visited the latter itlace and preached there.
The house is still standing.
A Century's Ministers.
The circuit is now in the North Derby-
shire mission. Here are tlie Bradwell cir-
cuit ministers from its formation to the
present time : —
1812-13.— William Bird, Joseph Lewis.
1814-15.— James Johnson, Thomas Hall, John
Smith.
1816-17.— Isaac Keeling, Christopher Newton,
James Mortimer.
1818.— Thomas Gill, Joseph Brougham.
1819.— James Hopewell.
105
(re-
1820-1— William Brooklehurst.
1822-3.— Benjamiu Barrett.
1824-5.— John Poolo, George Chambers
signed), Thos. Heushall.
1826.— William Rennison, Joseph T. Milner.
1827-8.— Isaac Muff, James J. Topham.
1829.— John Leigh. Henry Wilkinson.
1830-1.— William Scholefleld.
1832.— John Gill.
1833.-John Eoadhouse.
1834.— Thomas Rought, Hugh Jones
1835.— Henry Tuck.
1836-7. -William Blundell.
1838.— John Wright, died suddenly whilst
preaching at Peak Forest.
1859-40.— Robert iTotheriok, John B. Dyson.
James Emery.
1841-2.— John Felvus, James Emery.
1843-4.— Thomas Catterick, Joseph Garrett.
Thomas H. Hill.
1845-6.— Richard Greenwood, E. R. Talbot (re-
signed).
1847-8-9.— Moses Rayner, John Nowell (2 yearsi
Joseph Sutton.
1850.— David Cornforth, Henry Cattle.
1851-2-3.— John Bonser, Henry Cattle (2 years),
S. T. Greathead.
1854-6.— Thomas Brown, S. T. Greathead (2
years).
1857.— William Exton.
1858-9-60.— Thomas Burrows.
1861-2-3.— Richard Smailes.
1864-5.— John Archer. George Chambers
1866-7.— John E. Doubleday.
1868-9.— Henry M. Eatcliffe.
1870-1.— Jonathan Barrowclough.
1872 3-4.— Edward Russell.
1875-6.— Joseph Hirst
1877-8-9.— Cornelius Wood.
1880-1-2.— George S. Meek.
1883-4-5.— William R. Dalby.
1886-7-8.— James Clegg.
1889-90-1.— William Henry Hill.
1892-3-4.— William Dawson Watson.
1895-6-7.— William Wandless.
1898-9-1900 -Samuel Goodyer.
1901-2-3.— James Foster.
1904-9.— Marmaduke Riggall.
1910-ll.-William Fiddian Moultou. M.A.
CHAPTER XXIX.
EARLY PRIMITIVE METHODISM.
The Bradwell Pioneers.
In a previous chapter the iutrotluct ion of
Primitive Methodism is touched upon very
briefly. Since that was written the first
account lx)ok of the newry-formed body has
been placed at the disposal of the writer,
and is highly interesting as showing the
work of the pioneers, under the most try-
ing circumstances.
The very first entry is one of eighteen-
pence "for small rules given to members
by Brother Ingham," under date January
12th, 1822. This shows that James Ing-
ham was the pioneer. During the first
three months the town was invaded by
preachers wlio were paid small sums for
their work. The chief of these was Slisan
Berry, who, ou arrival in Bradwell, was
given three shillings, and during the quar-
ter was paid lis. Sd. for her work. Messrs.
Beeley, Fletcher, and Barber were also
pioneers this quart., r. Ihey were paid a
few shillings each. These first preachers
wei'e fed and lodged by William Evans, in
Smalldale. The only other items of ex-
penditure were for glazing the windows of
JAMES INCHAM
The Pioneer Primitive MethiJIst.
George Morton's barn so as to make it suit-
able for a chapel, and numerous payments
for candles, in addition to 16s. 8d. for
sacramental wine. The total expenditure
for the quarter was £7 Is. 11. id., but such
was the succiss that attended the mission-
aries' work that the receipts were £16 8s.
6|d. from the classes that were formed at
Bradwell (£8 15s. ed.). Little Hucklow,
Castleton Tideswell, Curbar. Calvcr Eyam,
Bamford, Hoiie, ICnale, Wardlow, Foolow,
Taddington, Flagg, I'eak Forest, Chinley,
Wash, and Chapel Milton.
The movement spread, and during the
second quarter, Abney and Rowarth were
added to the list of societies, then Grindle-
ford Bridge, Bugsworth, Mellor, Stoney
Middleton Great Hucklow, Bagshaw, Pin-
dale, Chapel-en-lc-Frith, Monyash, Chei-
morton, Thornsett, New Mills, Aspinshaw,
Derwent, Furness Vale, Litton Slack,
Bretton, Sheldon, Buxton, Simmondley,
Whitfield, Kettleshulme, Stone Htad-s
(Whaley Bridge) Marple, Longstone, Hay-
field, Glossop. Brooknouses, Birch Hall
Houses, Xllompstall, Mottram, Tintwistle,
and Marple Bridge. When, in 1826, this
big circuit had a membership of 430, it was
divided, and New Mills (with Glossop, etc.)
constituted a separate circuit, for on June
26th there is the entry: "New Mills was
made into a circuit, and Bradwell took the
household furniture and the debt which
was £6 14s. Od., New Mills one half of the
books."
106
TIIAVELLING PREACHEES AT FOUR-
TEEN SHILLINGS A WEEK.
Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield was rich
on forty pounds a year, but these early
travelling preachers were oblige d to fancy
tlieni selves rich on much less. Amos
Ogden and Joseph Hibbs (who became the
Rev. Joseph Hibbs and was known as the
I^rimitivo Methodist Bishop of South
Wales) had to be content with a shilling a
day, while Thomas Fletcher, Samuel
Beeley, Humfroy Goddard and Elias Old-
field had two shillings a day. The first
regular minister was Jeremiah Gilbert, who
had chai'ge of this big circuit at the
princely salary of foiir^^een shillings a week,
and he had as his assistant, John Hallam
at seven shillings a week. Hallam was a
Bradwell lad, who went out into the regu-
lar ministry, as also did Joseph Middleton,
<:■
REV. JOHN HALLAM.
another native. No wonder that with such
salarioH there was occasionally a "present"
of a few shillings to the preachers. But
as tilings improved, and the cause made its
way thcf-e regular preacliers were employed
at 14-s. a vve( k each, and they were assisted
by a number of locnl pr aelicrs, who were
Eaid two shillings a day while the Peak was
eing missioned. But when the New Mills
circuit was formed in 1H26. Bradwell had to
be c.intent with one minister — Josiah Par-
tington — at 14s. a week, and Rob rt Shen-
ton a young man, who.so quarterly wage
was £3 10s., and £1 10s. was paid "for
Robert, Shenton's ir.eals." Robert Shenton
was only here one year, for he entered
the Unitarian ministry, and remained
a minister here half a century, as noticed
in a previous chapter.
. As ther.' was a rapid'y increasing adverse
balance every quarter, it was found necess-
ary to reduce the expenses, and so Robert
Hewson became the preacher in 1827, at the
magnificent wage of twelve shillings a week,
and he lived in a house at £3 a year rent.
But things improved, for his successor.
REV. ROBERT SHENTON.
Who left the Primit.ves and was Unitarian
Preacher 63 Years.
George Tindal, was pu^ up to the fourteen
shillings standard, but in order to pay him
up when he left, the hat was sent round,
private collections made, and the accounts
squared up by selling blankets and bolsters
out of the house. John Graham was tha
next preacher, and he had to be content
with being paid on account each quarter
until there was £11 due to him as arrears,
and in order to clear it off wh n he left the
circuit, £8 3s. 3d. was "collected in New
Mills circuit."
JOHN VERITY. THE STONEMASON
PREACHER.
When the famous John Verity made his
appearance in 1831, he stirred things up
There was a great revival, and th inci'eased
membership meant an improvement in the
finances, so that the deficiency i (came a
thing of tho jiast, but only" lor a tijn.\ fot
when two preachers w(re engi-gcd, finan
cial troubles re-appeared.
John Verity was a most popuk r pieacher.
By tradj ho was a s(onema-o i, and he
carved the inscription stone over the old
chapel at Castlet:)n. He also ])ri ached the
opening sermons of that chapel. Here is
an interesting entry we came across:
"Castleton Chapel was opened Ca.srleton
Wakes Sunday, 1833. There are nine
Trustees. The debt upon the chapel is £1.2
10s. Th;i names of the Trustees, and th*
sum eucb finds on interest of 5 per cen*^. is
to be received at Christmas are as follow:
107
Anthony Gilbert, Tideswell, £5; Wm. Ben-
nett, Tideswdl £5 lOs. ; Geo. Bennett.
Tideswell, £5; John Kitchen, Calver, £5;
Mary Andrew. Hathersage, £5; Francis*
Ayre, Abuey, £4; George Eo?e. jun., Ahney.
£4; William Dorw.nt, jun., Thornhill £4;
Thos. Hadfield, la^e of Sittinglow, £5; £42
10s. Od. The deed is kept at George Ben-
nett's, of Tideswell."
FEMALE PREACHERS.
In 1834 there is a minute "That we try
to get a female preacher to travel in this
circuit as a Second Preacher." The appli-
cation was successful for Sister Ann Noble
mado her advent into the circuit, and re-
mained a year at 3s. a week and her "meat
bill," and she was succeeded by Sister
Robotham, who was paid £2 10s. a quarter.
There were, in the early days of the move-
ment, manj' women amongst tho local
preachers of Primi^^ive Methodism, and an
occasional glimpse is got at the earliest of
these, who tramped over the Peak in hail,
rain, wind or snow. In 18"'3 there is the
entry "that Sister E. Bradshaw's name
come off the plan, she having left the
circuit."
1834. "That Mary Hawkins fce upon the
plan, and be rejjr.sented by a star."
"That R. Swift and wife have their cre-
dentials sent to Macclesfield circuit they
having removed thither."
"That a star be upon the plan for th3
young females, and they have an appoint-
ment or two."
"That Mary Hawkins have a few appoint-
ments on the nlan, signified bv a star."
1835. "That we pledge Sis''-er NobJ^ at
the ensuing District Meeting."
"That Sister Noble stop till Christmas,
1835, and that wc. have a female the last
six months."
"That Hannah Howe b:- exalted to a fnll
and Credi'^ed Local Preacher."
"That Ann Bradwell's initials come on
the plan."
"That Mary Hawkins Do."
"That Ann Bradwell's full name come on
the plan."
"That Elizabeth Handford be received
upon the plan."
"That S-s'^er M. Potter have a note of
liberty from this meeting to preach
amongst us."
"That the initials rf Violet Hill come
upon the plan."
These are snfficient as showing some of
those women who rccuped the pulpits in
the early days of the movement;
REFRACTORY MEMBERS.
The new body was jealous of the conduct
of its members and did not hr stita'^e to call
them to account at the Quarter Dav for
any breach of discipline. Thus,"^ the
minutes for the "Full Quarter Dav,"
March. ia33, contain an entry, "That
George Maltby's name be left off the plan,
he having voluntarily declared that he, the
said George Maltby, had left the bodv, and
immediately on his own accord Lft the
Quarter Day." And the same minutes,
which are signed by lliomas Jennings and
John Hallam, go on to say : "This is to
certify that wo have now laid before us
every Class paper in tho Circuit, and after
the most strict examination find them to
contain, according to Rule, 206 Full Mem-
bers and 20 on Trial."
There seems to liavo been trouble with
another, who had for some years done a
great d ' of preaching, for at the Decem-
ber meev.iig in the same year it was de-
termined "that Richard Hamilton be no
longer a m;<mber nor preacher in our
Society in consequence of professing and
preaching Antinomist Doctrines, and doom-
ing all to misery who dissent from him."
Evidently Richard had joined the Anti-
nomians, who thought that the law was of
no uso or obligation, that virtue and good
woi'ks wei'e unnecessary, and that faith
alone was sufficient to insure salvation. It
is easy to imagine what a flutter he would
create, and how promptly he would be ex-
pelled. But everybody were under the
strictest obligation to keep the proceedings
of these meetings a profound secret, and
a.s somebody had been letting ttio cat out
of the bag — perhaps Richard the delinquent
— it was resolved "that every member of
this me ting keep secret the business of
this and all other officigJ meetings on pain
of censure." Some of the members, how-
ever, had no dread of censure, for at the
very next meeting there is another resolu-
tion that if anyone diviilge to others the
business of the meeting or any part thereof
his case should forthwith be placed before
tho General Committee.
SOME COMICAL PREACHERS.
There were no college men among these
early pioneers, they were jiun who had to
earn their daily bread by the sweat of
their brow, hence they had to bear with
th'j gibes of fastidious people. But they
v.ere urged to improve themselves, and in
1834 the Quarterly Meeting decided "that
it be the standing rule of this Society that
Local Preachers on Tr'al preach trial sei'-
mons at their Exaltation," and "that all
our Local Pr.^achers be affectionately re-
quested to improv.. themselves by reading,
study, &c., so that there may bo no com-
plaints again.st them, and that tlieir pro-
fiting and usefulness may appear unto all."
One of the local preachers William Wag-
.s^aff. caused a deal of trouble at this time.
Whether he had preached Antinomianism
or how" he had kicked over the traces is
not stated, but he did not wait for expul-
sion, for "as Will'am Wagstaff has with-
drawn himself from our Society we there-
fore cannot enter into the charges alleged
against him." There had been trouble also
with John Hawkswor^h, for we have it
"that J. Hawksworth's name come off the
plan in consequencp of NEGLECT of PLAN
and CLASS." This is written in capitals,
underlined, as if to serve as a warning to
posterttf.
108
One of the brethren appears to have been
rather long-winded in his sermons. Of
all religious bodies the Primitive Metho-
dists tried to avoid this, hence in 1835 it
was decided "that Joseph Taylor have a
note sent to him from this meeting, re-
questing not to exceed 20 minutes in his
exhortations." At the same meeting one
or two pr:achers who did not exactly come
up to the standard were taken to task, for
we read "that James Howe have a note
sent to him caution:'ng him in the regard of
his future conduct." It is not said what
his past conduct had been, but that a Cal-
ver worthy was not strictly teetotal is evi-
dent from the entry, "That Nathan Cocker,
of Calver. have a note sent to him, inform-
ing him that in consequence of his re-
peated acts of drunkenness wc cannot allow
him to meet as a member in our Society. This
entry clearly shoA\s the attitude of the de-
nomination in relation to intemperance 80
years ago.
THE FIRST nONEEES.
Among those who were local preachers,
prayer leaders and officers in this circuit
during the first fourteen years of the exis-
tence of the donominat'on in this district,
from 1821 to 1835, were Susan Berry, Thos.
Fletcher, J. Barber, Joshua Beeley, Hum-
frey Goddard, Elias Oldfield, Joseph Hibbs,
John Hallam, James Oven, Samuel Silves-
ter, Richard Hamilton, John Oldfield,
Samuel Beeley, Henry Ellis, Thomas
Stocks, Israel Brown, Robert Marshall,
Thomas Jennings, George Morton, Robert
Morton, Ruth Morton, George Holme,
George Maltby, Thomas Jennings, William
Cocker, J. Howson, George Bennitt (Tides-
well), Anthony Jennings, Henry Middle-
ton, Christopher Broadhent. J. Andrew,
J. Howe, Thos. Middleton, Robert Calvert.
George Gyte (Hope), Benjamin Hill, Joseph
Wilson, Mary Hawkins. William Bennett
(Tideswell), William Parrett, Thomag Had
field, Elizabeth Kirk (Castleton), Anthonv
Gilbert, J. Slack (Tideswell), Joseph Ash-
ton, Wm. W.agstaif, J. Hawksworth, John
Cheetham, John Hall, Hannah Howe, Ann
Bradwell, Joseph Taylor, Thomas Ashton,
Edward Howard (Tideswell). Nathan
Cocker, Mary Potter Violet Hill, Eliza-
beth Handford. John Clayton, Elias Row-
arth, John Booking Derwent, Wm. Cheet-
ham, Thomas Palfrey man, and Thomas
Mosscrop.
John Morton, wlio entered the ministry,
■was thrown into prison for preaching at
Hereford. He was the author of "The
wife^ that will suit .aou, and how to win
her"; "The Husband that will suit you and
how to treat him"; and "Lectures to the
Young Men."
COMPLETE LIST OF MINISTERS.
Here is a complete list of fiiinisters to the
present time: —
1822— James Ingham, formed first Society.
1822 A 1823— Jeremiah Gilbert, Jas. Inirham,
Joseph Brook.
1823 & 1824- Thomas Holloday. John Hopkin-
son, Joseph Hibbs, John Hallam.
1824 & 1825— Andrew Robshaw, Paul Sugden,
Abram Harrison.
1825 & 1826— John Britain, Joseph Buckle.
James Bilson, Joseph Middleton, Robt
Shenton.
1826 & 1827— Josiah Partington. Henry Step-
ney.
1827 & 1828— Robert Hewson.
1828 & 1827— George Tindal, Ruth Morton.
1829. 1830 & 1831— John Graham.
1831. 1852. & 1833— John Verity.
1833. 1834 & 1835— Jonathan Clewer, Ann Noble,
John Hallam.
1835 & 1836— Joseph Hutchinson. Miss Ro-
botham.
1836— Robert Hill. Jesse Ashworth.
1837— Robert Hill. Thomas Moscrop.
1838— G. W. Armitage, Thomas Moscrop.
1839— G. W. Armitage, J. Cheetham.
1840— S. Atterby. J. Cheetham.
1841— Thomas Charlton. James Oponshaw.
1842— Thomas King( James Openshaw.
1843— Thomas King. David Holdcroft.
1844— David Tuton. James Bottomley.
1845— David Tuton, James Bottomley & John
Eastwood.
1846— S. Smith. J. Davy, J. Taylor.
1847— J. Lawley, T. Aspinshaw, Obadiah O.
Britain.
1848— J. Lawley, J. Unsworth.
1849— John Judson. John Standrin.
1851— John Judson. John Standrin.
1851— John Judson. William Wilkinson.
1852— W. Inman. George Smith.
1854— James Peet, Joseph Graham.
1855— James Peet, James Openshaw.
1856-David Tuton, James Openshaw.
1857-David Tuton. — Sutcliffe.
1858— David Tuton. William Harris.
1859— Thomas Doody, Edward Kershaw.
1861— Thomas I>oody, John Turner.
1862— Thomas Doody. John Turner and David
Thomas Maylott.
1862— Thomas Parr, John Turner and David
Thomas Maylott.
1863— Thomas Parr. David Thomas Maylott.
1864— Thomas Bennett, Thomas Wilshaw.
1865— Thomas Bennett, R. B. Howcroft.
1866— Thomas Bennett, Robert Middleton.
1867— Thomas Meredith. Robert Middleton.
1868— Thomas Meredith. 8. Kelly.
1869— Thomas S. Bateman, John Glass.
ISJO— Walter Graham. George Morris.
1873— Walter Graham. John Glass.
1874— Walter Graham.
1875— James Hall.
1876— William Smith.
1878— William Smith and J. Cleaver (Special
Missioner).
1879-John Hancock.
1880— John Hancock.
1881— John Hancock.
1882-3-4 & 5— George Smith.
1886-7-8 & 9— William Henry Mason.
1890 & 1— Robert W. B. Whiteway.
1892-3 & 4— John Edmund Jones.
1895-6 & 7— John Prince.
1898— John Hancock.
1899— John Hancock.
1900-John Hancock.
1901— John Hancock.
1902-John Hall.
1903— John Hall.
1904— John Hall.
1905— Edward Quine.
1906— Edward Quine. John Hancock (superna-
merary).
1907— Edward Quine. John Hancock (superna-
merary).
1908— Ralph H. Gent, John Hancock.
1909— Ralph H. Gent. John Hancock (supernn-
merary), Mr. Hillard. H.L.P.
109
1910— Ralph H. Gent, John Hancock (supernu-
merary). John T. Pratt, H.L.P.
1911— John T. Goodacre, John Hancock (super-
numerary), Luke Stafford (supernu-
merary).
CHAPTER XXX.
FAMOUS VISITORS OF A CENTURY
AGO
And Their Impressions.
Bradwell has often been honoured with
the visits of men of letters, who have given
their impressions of the place and its
people. Some of these are curious reading
in these days,
AUTHOR'S AMUSING EXPERIENCE.
When Hutchinson made his tour of the
Peak a hundred years ago the Bagshawe
Cavern had just been discovered in 1807.
Going down Bradwell Dale he inquired for
the newly discovered cavern, and here is
his own version of his experience : — Several
of the country people answered that they
knew nothing of it; and it was some time
before I tound that they did not iindcrstand
the meaning of the word cavern ; for upon
changing my question to that of a place
underground, information was immediately
given ; observing one person more simple
than the rest I could not help asking him
a few further questions.
" Is it two miles, my good fellow, to
Hope.'" said I.
" Aye," answered he.
' Is it twelve o'clock .'"
" Aye," answered he.
"Is that Bradwell before me?"
" Aye, mester."
"These ayes being still answered to sev-
eral other inteiTogations, I asked him, as
he seemed between forty and fifty years of
age, whether to the best of his knowledge
and belief he had ever said yes in his life."
" The simpleton immediately scratched
his head, produced the following candid
and ingenious answer : ' Why mester, to tell
yo th' truth, for its now use telling a lie,
I believe I ne'er did.' "
HISTORIAN ON EARLY MARRIAGES.
Glover, the Derbyshire historian, who
visited Bradwell (1829), appeared to be par-
ticularly impressed with the early mar-
riages here, and handed down to future gen-
erations the information that "The young
people here of both .sexes generally marry
at the age of 18." With these few words
he dismisses the subject.
William Wood, the historian of Eyam,
with whom Bradwell was a favourite spot,
said (1862) that "Like all other mountain-
hid villages, it contains a population
strongly marked by peculiarities of custom.
retaining notions of a highly superstitious
nature, and most pugnaciously tenacious of
their numerous time-honoured, antique
usages. Here, to a deplorably excessive de-
gree, inter-marriage exists, and have existed
for ages."
"STERLING WORTH AND
INTEGRITY."
Bernard Bird, in his " Perambulations of
Barney, the Irishman " (1850), alludes to
this trait of character, for he observes :
" The attachment of the inhabitants of
Bradwell to their own people is very strong ;
they seldom or never inter-marry with,
strangers, and are a community of relations,
consisting of about 300 families, or 1,500
inhabitants. ... I have traded with
the inhabitants for 38 years, and in justice
to them must say that I have always found
them (without exception) of sterling worth
and integrity."
JAMES MONTGOMERY'S EQUESTRIAN
FEAT.
James Montgomery, " The Christian
poet," his friends Ebenezer Rhodes, author
of " Peak Scenery," Sir Francis Chantry,
the eminent sculptor, James Everett, the
Wesleyan historian, and John Holland,
were frequent visitors to Bradwell in the
early part of last century, and in the life
of the poet, written by Holland and Everitt,
there is an interesting and curious refer-
ence to Bradwell.
On April 26th, 1823, Montgomery being
then 51 years of age. he took tea Avith Mr.
Holland and Mr. Molineaux, of Macclesfield,
at the house of Mr. Cowley, a SheflSeld
manufacturer, whose place of business was
in Pinstone Street. In the course of the
evening the conversation turned on the
writing of epitaphs for tombstones. Mont-
gomery spoke of the reluctance he felt in
composing them, though they were often
extorted from him. " I have an order to
write an epitaph on a good woman at Brad-
well by next Tuesday," said the poet. " If
Mr. Holland pleases, he shall write it."
Holland's reply was " I might surely ven-
ture to do it for an obscure burying-ground
in the High Peak. Did you ever visit Brad-
well?" asked Holland.
" Yes," replied Montgomery, " on one oc-
casion many years ago, and I have good
occasion to remember the visit. The en-
trance into the village amidst the rocks is
by a very steep descent. When my horse
reached a certain part of the road he sud-
denly went down upon his knees, pitching
me as suddenly over his head upon the
stones. I was not, however, much hurt,
and got up again as well as I could, un-
assisted by any one of half a dozen petri-
faction of men who stood and witnessed the
accident apparently with as little emotion
as the limestone crags around us."
" Then they offered neither assistance nor
commiseration?" observed Holland.
110
" Not they," replied Montgomery.
" Such an occurrence appeared to be not
strange to them; for I heard one of the
fellows say 'Aye, that's where everybody
falls/ "
The lines of the epitaph sent to Bradwell
on this occasion were as follows :—
" The wicked cease from troubling here.
And here the weary are at rest ;
Henceforth, till Christ their life appear,
The slumbers of the just are blest.
The saint who in this silent bed
Waits the last trumpet from the skies.
Shall then with joy lift up her head.
And like her risen Saviour rise."
HOPE VICAR'S WIFE AT WESLEYAN
CLASS MEETINGS.
Nearly quarter of a century afterwards —
on July 31st, 1847— the two poets, Mont-
gomerv and Holland, had the following con-
versation on Holland's return home after
spending a few days at Hope.
" I am glad to find you have escaped safely
from the caverns and all the other perils
of the Peak," said Montgomery.
" I shall not soon forget the alarm of one
of my nieces on being ferried over the little
lake in the celebrated Castleton cavern,"
observed Holland.
" Nor shall I ever forget my sensations
under similar circumstances," said Mont-
gomery. Indeed I never felt so powerfully the
combined impression of awe and sublimity
as when I lay in the shallow boat on my
back, and my breast nearly in contact with
the under surface of a mass of thousands of
tons of rock that only appeared suspended,
as it were, by a hair, while the number of
immense blocks lying about me reminded
m.^ that these portions of the roots of the
mountains had at some period been actually
detached. When I used to visit that neigh-
bourhood on the annual recurrence of Bible
Society and missionary anniversaries. Dr.
Orton was vicar of Hope, and the Method-
ists, placed as they were, between the noted
preaching-stead of Bradwell and the famous
love-feast locality of Woodlands, were ex-
ceedingly zealous and flourishing. Did you
you go to the church or to the chapel?"
" We went to both," replied Holland, " to
the church in the morning and afternoon,
and to the Wesleyan Chapel in the evening.
The present worthy vicar of Hope is the
Kev. W. C. B. Cave, and I was equally sur-
prised and gratified to recognise his ex-
cellent wife sitting on the lowest form
among the poor women in the Methodist
Chapel. Indeed, I was more struck with
the rare fact — for rare it is now-a-days — of
a lady in her position affording such evi-
dence that her religion raised her above
mere church or chapel prejudices than I
was by the magnificent mountain masses of
Mam Tor. Winhill, Losehill, and the Win-
nats, which I could see from the chapel
windows. I have mentioned to two or thrj^
clergymen, since I came home, the fact of
the frequent attendance of good Mrs. Cave
at this little hill-side conventicle,, with all
the circumstantial aggravations of the case
— such as the vehemence of the rustic
preacher, the loud and indecorous responses
of the humble mountaineers, the great
number of them present, the hearty sing-
ing of Wesley's hymns, with which the lady
in question was evidently provided — nay,
that she had been known to go into a class
meeting ! and, above all, the consideration
that she is, in all other respects, an active,
intelligent and excellent woman. And my
good clerical friends not only expreesed
their surprise at my statement, but re-
garded such conduct in a vicar's wife as
highly scandalous — the morning attendance
of those Peak Methodists at church not-
withstanding !"
' The more shame for them," exclaimed
Montgomery. " Her conduct as a Christian
woman is highly to her credit. Why should
she not join in social worship with her
Methodist neighbours when there is no ser-
vice at the church? And why should she
not make herself personally acquainted
with, and even encourage those good men
who are engaged in preaching the gospel to
scores of persons in the parish who might
not come to hear her husband? I warrant
she is not on that account less active in the
discharge of her other position and proper
duties."
'Not she, indeed," replied Holland, "if
I may judge from the reports of the vil-
lagers as to the way in which she labours
among them, and from what I saw of her
activity in shepherding up all the boys and
girls who were old enough, to be examined
and insti'ucted preparatory to their con-
firmation by the Bishop."
CHAPTER XXXI.
FRIENDLY SOCIETrES OF THE PAST
AND PRESENT,
Some Curious Records.
When a complete history of the
Friendly Society movement in this
countr.v comes to be written — not
the history of one particular Order,
but covering the whole ground right back
to the days and doings of the ancient
Guilds — it will form a highly interesting
contribution to the literature of the coun-
try. And not the least interesting portion
of it will be that relating to the many
small, self-contained, and independent
societies established for mutual help in the
towns and villages during the eighteenth
century, before the establishment of the
big incorporated Orders, such as the Odd-
fellows, Foresters, Druids, Shepherds, etc.
Certain it is that the men — and women too
— of Bradwell, then an isolated but popu-
Ill
lous place in the Peak, consisting mainly
of lead miners and weavers, and tradesmen
dependent on those workers, were among
the first to set up those organisations,
which served their day and generation ex-
ceedingly well. In the latter part of the
18th century there was an "Old Men's
Club " and an " Old Women's Club." Un-
fortunately, the interesting records and
chronicles of the oldest of these societies
are not to hand, but it is a fact that one
called "The Old Club Friendly Society"
was established in Bradwell very early in
the eighteenth century. This is clear, be-
cause there appears to have been some de-
fection of members in 1789, when the dis-
affected brethren formed a society of their
own, which they designated "The New
Club Friendly Society." But the weakest
went to the wall, and that happened to be
the "New Club," which after a struggling
existence for thirty-four years decided to
dissolve itself and again unite with the
parent body. Hence it was that " The
United Society " was established on the
3rd of July, 1813, " in consequence of the
New Club Friendly Society in Bradwell
(which commenced the seventh day of
March, 1789) having agreed to dissolve the
same, and unite with the Old Club Friendly
Society, for the better benefiting and as-
sisting each member in the time of sick-
ness and infirmity, and for the further aid
and improvement of the stock."
"CHARITABLE AND BEOTHEELY."
To members of present-day Friendly
Societies, at any rate, the " articles to be
observed by the charitable and brotherly
members of the United Society in Brad-
well " will be both interesting, instructive,
and amusing, as showing how their fore-
fathers conducted their business. The
governing body consisted of a master, two
stewards, and twelve assistants. The first
master was Joseph Hallam; the first
stewards were Eobert Middlet^n and
Obadiah Stafford; and the assistants were
Robert Middleton (Dale End), Isaac Pal-
freyman, junr., Philip Barber, junr., Ben-
jamin Morton, Eobert Bradwell, Isaac
Palfreyman, senr., Benjamin Somerset,
Thomas Morton, Isaac Furniss, William
Bradwell, Charles Middleton, and William
Jeffery. The "articles" had to be
"perused and approved" by two magis-
trates—Samuel Frith, the famous "Squire
Frith of Bank Hall." the popular sporting
squire, and Marmaduke Middleton Middle-
ton, of Leam Hall; and after these two
dignitaries were satisfied with them they
were "exhibited to and confirmed by the
Court" at the Michaelmas Quarter Ses-
sions, 1813. and signed by A. L. Maynard,
clerk of the peace.
The society, curiously enough, had two
classes of members, and each class was
dealt with differently both as regards pay-
ments and benefits ; the entrance fee varied
from Is. 8d. to 3s., according to age, which
varied from 15 to 30 years; the subscrip-
tion was a shilling a month for the first
class and 6d. a month for the second class,
the rate of sick pay being proportionate to
the subscription. And the funeral benefit,
too, was on a sliding scale; for instance, a
member of the first class dying after
having been in the society two years, his
representatives received £2, for four years
£4, and for seven years £5, the benefit of
the second-class member being exactly half
those sums.
That they were kept up to the scratch
in their payments is evident, for a first-
class member had to forfeit twopence, and
a second-class member a penny, if he
neglected to pay; the amount was doubled
for a second neglect, and for neglecting to
pay a third time the member was publicly
exposed by notice being given in the club-
room, and excluded from the societv — a
rough-and-ready way of doing things. Evi-
dently there was no such thing as suspen-
sion in those days; rigorous expulsion was
the penalty for those who neglected to pay
This old society existed before the davs
of banks in this district. It is not said
whether the officer who held the cash was
accompanied by a bulldog, armed with a
revolver, and guarded home by the con-
stable, but certain it is that he was pro-
vided with a box— a big, strong chest with
three locks and three keys to it, one for
the Master and one each for the stewards.
In this box the " cash, deeds, bonds, notes,
\ books," etc., were kept.
The Master continued in office one year
only, when the head steward was promoted
to the position, "provided he behave him-
self as he ought to do." By this we are
led to infer that they were not exactly
perfect a century ago. Who were to l)e the
judges as to whether he " behaved himself
I as he ought to do" we are not'told. This
: "Master" was an important individual,
! something approaching a little god in the
; place — at any rate in the society. For in-
stance, he had two votes on every question
that came before the meetings, while the
stewards and assistants had only " single
I votes." And the whole of the business was
I conducted by these fifteen important per-
' sonages, who " shall sit together in one
room on all occasions, neither shall any
interrupt them nor enter therein, but upon
business of their own. If any offend here-
in, shall forfeit sixpence, or be excluded."
Eather a wide difference between " forfeit-
, ing " sixpence and being expelled.
' THOSE PINTS OF ALE.
This rociety of " charitable and brotherly
j members " flourished in the days long be-
I fore the temperance movement took nold.
! Those were the times when most folk
I brewed their own peck o* - malt, when
j brewers' drays were unknown, when every
publican was his own brewer, and when
it was thought the proper thing to give
112
"ale" to children at Sunday School festi-
vals. The officers of this society loved
their pint pot, or its contents, because
while a " forfeit " of sixpence had to be
made by any one of them who dared to be
absent from any business meeting, "every-
one who attends shall have a pint of ale
allowed him, to be paid for out of the
box."
BRIDLING THE TONGUE.
That there were occasional " scenes " at
the meetings is not to be wondered at, and
some of the language used was not too
choice. When drink was in wit was out,
and the calling of " nicknames " was quite
the order of the day. In the days of the
old society there had been many a lively
time in the club-Toom, so that when the
amalgamation came these " charitable and
brotherly " folk agreed to put the bridle
on themselves by declaring : —
" That there shall be strictly observed
the following orders in the club-room
during club hours, viz. : First, if any mem-
ber of this society shall come in disordered
with liquor, so as to be a disturber, and
incapable of discharging his office or duty
as a mem'er, shall curse, swear, talk pro-
fanely, or call anyone present by any other
name than to whi"h he answers, he shall
forfeit twopence, but if he continue to
offend he shall forfeit sixpence or be ex-
cluded. Secondly, after the Master or
stewards shall demand silence, if anyone
speak, until liberty be given him by the
Master, he shall forfeit twopence, and no
more than one to speak at once on matters
of business. Thirdly, if any member plays
or promotes playing at any game or games,
he shall forfeit twoience or be excluded.
Fourthly, every member shall keep his seat
during club hours, except he change to
oblige his brother; in default thereof he
shall forfeit twopence."
FOOTBALL UNLAWFUL.
IJere is another curious "article." show-
ing that football was among the "unlaw-
ful exercises" in those days: " If any mem-
ber of this society has received pay from
the stock, and sufficient proof be given
that he has caught the venereal, or has
been working at any trade or calling,
drinking to excess., wrestling, fighting,
football pliying, cv any unlawful exercise
whatever, he shall be e.xcluded."
THE WHITSUNTIDE JOLLIFICATION.
The members had a right good jollifica-
tion every Whit Tuesday, when they held
their annual feast, when beer and the Bible
appeared to be the order of the day. Un-
der pain of exclusion all the forfeits and
arrears had to bo paid off on the club night
before the feast, and for iK'glect to do this
there was a further forfeit of a shilling,
to be paid on the feast day. And at the
same time honorary members paid what
they jdeased, all the money being thrown
into the feast, which was held at the
public-house after the members had at-
tended service at the Wesleyan Chapel.
Sometimes, however, John Barleycorn had
got hold of some of the members before
they went to chapel, and in order to pre-
serve some sort of decorum a rule was
made to the effect that " every member that
resides within two miles shall attend whei-e
it (the feast) is held ; the master, stewards,
and assistants at ten o'clock, or forfeit
threepence each, and the members at
eleven in the forenoon, or forfeit twopence;
they shall attend in good order to hear
divine service, and every person who quits
his ranks, either going or coming, shall
forfeit threepence. If any member shall
fight, challenge to fight, strike, threaten to
strike, or in any wise disturb the harmony
of the society, he shall forfeit two shillings
and sixpence or be excluded." But ap-
parently a good many kicked over the
traces when the tans were turned on later
in the day and the fine was no longer
operative. " Likewise if the master, or
some member appointed by him, does not
wear the club hat girdle at the funeral of
a member, and unon the Sunday preceding
every club night, he shall forfeit sixpence.
And a member of this society could not
even be buried without ale, for when a
member died whose residence was within
two miles from the place of meeting, " the
master, stewards, and assistants shall at-
tend at the house of the deceased, and
thence attend their brother's corpse to the
grave, for which they shall receive five
shillings for ale." The custom survives
to-day, for in the Bradwell Friendly Socie-
ties there are what is known as "The
Twelve " — a dozen members who are ap-
pointed every year to attend the funeral
of a brother, but, of course, the " ale " is
missing.
After all, the members of this old-time
Friendly Society were very jealous of each
other's honour and integrity. If a mem-
ber was proved to have " upbraided "
another without cause, for having received
money out of the box, he had to forfeit
half-a-crown or be excluded, and anyone
convicted of felony was expelled from the
society " for ever." As will bo seen in a
former chapter, these were the days when
every man between 18 and 45 years old was
liable to be called upon to serve in the
Militia, and in Bradwell a certain number
were ballotted every year. Even this was
provided for in the articles of this society,
for —
"If any member shall voluntarily enter
intaHis Majesty's regular forces, and con-
tinue therein three months, he shall be
excluded from this society. But if a mem-
ber be impressed into His Majesty's ser-
vice, or be obliged to serve in the Militia,
and be maimed and incapable of work, he
shall receive such allowance as the club
shall think fit, but if he be entitled to any
pay or pension from the Government, then
he shall receive nothing from our stock."
113
By way of closing the notice of this
society of bygone days, it may be stated
that, by rule, " every member shall use his
endeavour, both by example and admoni-
tion, to suppress and discourage vice and
profaueness in general, to promote the
faith and practice of our true religion in
particular, with good neighbours, to culti-
vate the peace and happiness of this
society to the glory of God and the honour
of our country."
With the advent of the Oddfellows, and
the establishment of other benefit societies,
this club gradually dwindled in member-
ship and funds, but it struggled on until
about 1880, when the few remaining mem-
bers, all aged men divided the funds and
dissolved the society.
THE UNITED SOCIETY DISUNITED.
NAMES OF THE SECEDERS.
The first defection from the ranks of this
I'nited Society was in the year 1821. Ap-
parently they were neither so "united"
nor so " charitable and brotherly " as their
name seemed to imply, for there were ruc-
tions in their ranks. In those days young
children and old people earned just a trifle
at "winding bobbins "for the weavers,
and when old John Wragg's pay was
.^topped because he earned eighteenpence a
week at this job there was a big rumpus.
The section who sympathised with old John
formed a club of their own, and were joined
by many young men, who constituted
themselves " The Independent Union Sick
Society." Those who met and constituted
themselves a new society were Thomas
Jeffery, Thomas Fox, George Fox, George
Elliott, Thos. Andrew, John Bradwell,
junr.. John Pearson, John Hallam, John
Middleton (smith), George Bradwell, and
Thomas Middleton ("meadow). And al-
though nearly a century has passed since
then, the descendants of these men remain
as members to-day. Here are the members
of the new club who joined the first day,
December 8th, 1821 :—
Mark Ashton. Bobt. Hallam, iunr.
Ellis Ashton. Edward Hallam.
Thomas Ashton. Samuel Hallam.
John Ashmore. Jacob Hallam. junr.
George Ashmore. William Howe.
Benjamin Barber. Thomas Howe.
John Barber. Robert Howe.
Wm. Bradwell, senr. Samuel Howe.
Edward Bennett. Eobert Hilton.
Eobt. BockinK (Hills). Henry Hill.
William Burrows. Adam Hill.
William Cooper. John Hall, senr.
John Cooper. John Hall, .iunr.
John Cheetham. Micah Hall.
William Cheetham. Wm. Hibbs, junr.
Bichard Cheetham. Robt. Jackson.
Emanuei Downing, Thos. JeflFrey, junr.
senr. Richard Kav.
Emanuel Downing, Geo. Maltby. senr.
„junr. Geo. Maltby, junr.
George Downing. Thomas Middleton
Abraham Dakin. (Smith).
Johnson Evans. Thos. Middleton, jun
Edward Evans. John Middleton
Wilham Evans. (Asters).
James Evans. George Middleton
Eobt. Elliott, senr. (Hatter).
Eobt. Elliott, junr.
William Elliott.
John Elliott.
Isaac Furness.
Robert Furness.
William Fox.
Jeremiah Gilbert.
Thos. Hallam (Hills).
Richard Hallam.
John Hallam (New-
Nook).
Adam Hallam.
George Middleton
(Hill Top).
Robert Middleton
(Meadow).
Robt. Morton, junr.
Robt. Pearson.
Isaac Pearson.
Joseph R-evell.
Thomas Revell.
William Revell.
Kichard Walker.
Jacob Worsley.
I Thus the United Society was shaken,
! and the present Independent Union Sick
i Society formed. Jeremiah Gilbert was the
! pioneer of Primitive Methodism, and his
membership of this club fixes the date of
his first appearance to mission for the new
sect.
The rules of this new club would doubt-
less be curious composition, but the earliest
copy we have is dated 1849, when they were
registered by Act of Parliament, and
signed by Joseph Hall, George Bradwell,
Frederick Morton, and Robert Howe.
There is nothing mentioned about prose-
cuting members who might embezzle money
belonging to the society, but if he refused
to make the same good the club night after
his fraud was found out he was to be ex,-
cluded from the society.
NUTTING FORBIDDEN..
The reference to " nutting " in the fol-
lowing rule is interesting: "If any mem-
ber of this societ.y, having received pay
from the stock, and proof be given that he
had, at the time, caught the venereal, or
had been working at an.y trade or calling,
drinking to excess, fighting, football play-
ing, nutting, making bargains, etc., or any
other unlawful exercise whatever, he shall
be excluded."
Provision was also made for cases where
members enlisted in the army or were
balloted in the Militia. If he was balloted
into the Militia, and happened to be called
out, he received no pay during the time of
his "servitude," but on his return he was
re-admitted, but if a member either en-
listed into the army or into the Militia as
a substitute he was expelled.
In those days imprisonment for debt was
common, but in such a case the unfortu-
nate member was excused payment of his
contribution, nor did he receive any benefit
whilst in prison, but when he was liberated
he was received into membership.
A rule of interest to present-day societies
was, doubtless, made after a good deal of
trouble. A sick or infirm member who was
so reduced in circumstances that he could
not subsist on the society's allowance was
permitted to apply for parish relief, but
if he entered the poorhouse his benefit
ceased, and if he died there funeral ex-
penses were not allowed, but if he was re-
moved from the poorhouse and paid off all
arrears due he was again received into the
society.
('onviction of murder, felony, perjury, or
larcenj' was attended with exclusion from
114
the society, and if he was convicted of any
other offence on account of which he was
subject to imprisonment or corporal
punishment, he had to pay ten shillings or
be excluded.
BEER AND THE BIBLE.
Of course, the members had to have their
feast day, when there was a good deal of
festivity, in which ale played a prominent
part. This " general feast day," " to com-
memorate our brotherly love and affection
towards each other," was held on the 16th
of May every year. The members " walked
in rank " to hear divine service, and any
member refusing to walk, or goin" out of
the rank, was fined. The declaration,
" every member shall pay one shilling per
ale if he partake thereof," seems to imply
that teetotalism was just taking root.
That some of those who did "partake"
did so freely may be gathered from the
fact that for fighting or challenging
another to fight on the feast day a fine of
five shillings, or expulsion, was inflicted.
The expenses of the feast had to be paid
by those who partook of it, as the funds
were not allowed to be drawn upon for that
purpose.
Beer and the Bible again seem to be
mixed up, for " every member shall en-
deavour, as well by admonition as example,
to discourage and suppress all vice and
profaneness, to promote the faith and prac-
tice of our true and holy religion, together
with good neighbourhood in general, and
to cultivate the peace and happiness of
this society in particular, to the glory of
God and the honour of our village, that it
may be said unto us at the last day —
' Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world, for I was sick
and ye visited me.' "
The society appointed arbitrators to
-settle all disputes that might arise among
the members. These arbitrators were men
who were not interested in the funds.
' They were seven in number, but only three
acted in each case of dispute, and they
were appointed in a somewhat extraor-
dinary way. The first arbitrators ap-
pointed were Robert Hill, Robert Hallam,
George Fox, Robert Hill, senr., John Hal-
lam, Samuel Becking, and Jabez Birley
Somerset. When a case of dispiite arose
the names of the arbitrators were written
'On separate pieces of paper, and placed in
■A box or glass, and the three whose names
were drawn out liy the complaining party
decided the matter in difference.
This old society was in the meridian of
its days in 1881, when it had 168 members
and a capital of £1,760. Since then it has
gradually declined in numbers, for there
has not been a member initiated for the
last thirty years, the roll now containing
39 names, with some £900 in the funds.
THE ODDFELLOWS.
The "Welcome Traveller" of the Peak
Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Odd-
fellows was established on July 20th, 1829.
In the box there remains to-day an in-
teresting relic of the past in the shape of a
couple of swords that were held over the
heads of the newly initiated, when the
ceremony took place in a darkened room,
but the skull and cross-bones have long
ago disappeared. Here is a complete list of
those who have held the office of Noble
Grand since the formation of the lodge:—
Thomas Bockinsr. Joshua Walker.
William Burrows. Zachariah Walker.
George Downinsr. George Walker.
Thomas Broadbent. Philip Bradwell.
Benjamin Hallam. John Fox.
William Taylor. Jas. Allan Cramond.
Charles Howe. Abram Morton.
Thomas Barber. John Wragg.
William Cheetham. Arthur John Bak«r.
Edwin Bradwell. Thos. Hy. Middleton.
Robert Hallam. Jabez Bradwell.
Joseph Hy. Taylor. John E. Jennings.
Samuel Howe. Arthur Burrows.
Ernest Morton. Samuel Hibbs.
Charles Bradwell. Walter Howe.
John Kay. Benjamin Hallam.
Benjamin Walker. Isaac Andrew.
Robert Burrows. Willoughbv Bradwell.
Isaac Bancroft. John Dakin.
Christopher Broad- Albert Elliott.
bent. Anthony Middleton.
John Bancroft. Isaac Palfreyman.
George Ashmore. Albert H. Walker.
George Middleton. James Middleton.
George Bancroft. Ernest Hilton.
Philip Middleton. Ralph Middleton.
John Hall. Charles A. Bancroft.
The lodge is No. 373 vn the Unity. For
many years the meetings were held at Ellis
Needham's, the White Hart; then at the
Bull's Head, afterwards at the Primitive
Methodist School, and now at the Board
School. There are 132 members, and £2,185
in the funds.
Within recent years a Rechabites* Tent
and a Druids' Lodge have been established.
CHAPTER XXXII.
SOME TRAGIC DEATHS.
A Remarkable Chronology.
There will be found compiled below from
various sources^ in something like chrono-
logical order, tragic events that 1 ave oc-
curred in towns and villages within a feAV
miles of Bradwell. Though far from com^
plete, the list will, so far as it goes, doubt-
less be interesting to the inhabitants of the
places which they concern. It will be
noticed that a large proportion of the
fatalities during the last half century have
been in the quarries and limeworks of Dove
Holes, Peak Forest, and Millers Dale, and
a considerable number of other casualties
were during the construction of the Mid-
land main line in the early sixties, and th&i
Dore and Chinley line thirty years later.
115
1£8j— Feb. 28tli. Thomas Carnal, killed by
falling from the Terrs, Eyam Dale.
1689 -Sept. 12th. Samuel RatclifFe, shot in
Highlow Wood by Martin Eobinson, of
Olferton.
1692.— Feb. 4th. Elizabeth Trout, starved to
death in snow on Sir William.
1694.— Feb. 18th. John White, found dead in
Eyam Dale.
1711— Deo. Woman starved to death near
Edale End.
1711— Dec. Old man at Hope crushed into the
fire by a falling beam in his house and
roasted to death.
1729-July 10. William Hibbert, killed by a
cart at Eyam.
1730. Man and woman starved to death in
snowstorm on Ronksley Moor, Derwent.
1736— Jan. 26th. William Ainsworth, killed
in Litton Dale.
1744— William Bradshaw, Castleton. drowned.
1748— Feb. 5th. Stephen Broomhead, starved
to death in the snow on Eyam Moor.
1748- May 16th. Hannah Millward, killed by
falling down Eyam Dale Eocks.
750— Nicholas Dakin, drowned at Castleton.
1752— July 12th. Edward Mortin, drowned in
a well on Eyam Edge.
1758— May. Lady and gentleman murdered
in the Winnatts, Castleton.
1759— Rebecca Cock, drowned at Castleton.
1762— Joseph Flinders, run over by a cart and
killed at Castleton.
1764— Samuel Blackwell. killed by fall down
a rock in Eyam Dale.
1767— June 27th. Thomas Brettener, burnt to
death in a lime kiln in Middleton Dale.
1768— James Blackwell, killed by a horse at
Eyam.
1771— Ellen Hall, killed by fall from a horse
at Castleton.
1773— Cct. 12th. Joseph Bradshaw, killed by
a cart at Eyam.
1775— Aug. 21st. Sarah' Mills, drowned her-
self at Eyam.
Aug. 30th. Wm. Furness, drowned in
a well at Eyam.
Dec. 30th. John Hadfield, found dead
in a field at Eyam.
1778— Joseph Staveley, killed by falling from
a hay-loft at Ca.stleton.
1780— June 16th. William Beeley, killed by a
horse at Eyam.
1784— Oct. 14th. Joseph Archer drowned in
Middleton Mill Dam.
1785— Jan. 26th. Joseph Vernon drowned in
the Derwent near Hathersage.
1787— May 24th. Mary Hall, Bretton, killed
by lightning.
1788— Thomas Dain, carrier, of Castleton,
killed.
1790— Sent. 8th. George Froggatt, died in a
ditch at Eyam.
1791— Oct. 30th. Kirk's Cotton Mill, Bamford,
burnt down, damages £5,000.
1792— July 14th. James Ridgeway, cut his
throat in Bretton Clough.
Aug. 2nd. Thomas Bagshaw, a child,
killed from some steps at Eyam.
1794— John Hall, Castleton, committed sui-
cide.
1796— Dec. 1st. Edmund Cocker, died suddenly
in Eyam Church.
1802— July. John Ridgway, killed at Eyam.
Aug. 28th. Edward Dooley, musician,
died suddenly on Eyam Edge.
1804— April 28th. Mary Brittlebank, Eyam.
burnt to death.
,. Joseph Mar risen drowned at Castleton.
1806— Feb. 1st. George Sheldon (47). Tides-
well prison keeper and tax collector,
starved to death In a snowstorm on
Tideswell Moors.
1808-
1809-
1810-
1811-
1812-
1815-
1807— June 11th. Jonathan Fullweed, dropped
dead in Eyam Dale.
Longsden, found dead in Magclough.
-Samuel Slack, Castleton, committed sui-
cide. Not read ever at graveside.
-William Shaw, killed by a bull at Eyam.
-James Hall, found dead in a field at
Castleton.
-June 26th. John Wildgeose found dead
at Green Leo Barn, Eyam.
-Anthony Lingard, Tideswell, executed
for the murder of Hannah Oliver, at
Wardlow Miers, and gibbetted at
Wardlow.
1819— Hannah Becking (16), executed for poi-
soning her cousin, Jane Grant, at Lit-
ton Lane End.
1820— Three workmen killed by collapse of
Cock Bridge, Ashopton.
1823— July. William Wood, of Eyam, mur-
dered near Whaley Bridge.
1854— Mary Unwin, Eyam, fell dead while
dancing at a public house.
„ July 20th. Wm. L. G. Bagshawe, Esq.,
Wormhill Hall, murdered by poachers
in the river Wye.
1855— Alice Webster, Derwent, killed by horse
taking fright when crossing the river
Derwent and throwing her into the
river.
Joseph Wya.tt, killed by falling out of
his cart at Eyam.
,. Sarah Handley, drowned in a well at
Peak Forest.
Mary Ann Howe, burnt to death at
Tideswell.
1857— Mytham Bridge washed down by a great
flood ; present bridge built.
1858— William Colman, 'Castleton. died sud-
denly from apoplexy.
„ Mary Needham, Litton, found dead in
bed.
„ John Drabble. Foolow. burnt to death.
„ Samuel Priestley, Hathersage, found
dead en the Moors.
„ John Froggatt. Hope, whilst in drink
and Quarrelling, get into a rage and
fell dead.
Ann Hadfield, Edale. bled to death.
Thomas Gregory. Wardlow, fell dead.
John Henry Morten. Dove Holes, killed
by a cart.
„ John Vernon, Sparrowpit, killed on the
Peak Forest tramway.
1859— William Furness, of Hathersage. killed
by an overdose of poison.
„ John Dakin, Castleton, run over and
killed by horse and cart.
„ William Darwent, Thernhill, found
dead in the road.
„ Polycarpe King, Derwent, fell dead.
,, Thomas Taylor, Wormhill, killed by a
horse and cart.
,, John Dakin, Castleton, run over and
killed b.v a horse and cart.
1860— Wm. Howe, Bradwell, killed by a shot
in New Line Quarry, Dove Holes.
1861— Thomas Fox. hung himself at Ashop-
ton.
„ Frances Hall. Hathersage. committed
suicide by hanging to bedpost.
„ Selina Skidmore. killed by a cart at
Wormhill.
1862— William Farmer. Litton, killed en Mid-
land Railway construction.
„ Ann Wild, Tideswell, found dead in
bed.
,, Joseph Warhurst, Litton, hung him-
self in a plantation on Tideswell Moor.
,, • Richard Robinson, found drowned in
the River Vi'^ye nt Cressbrook.
•Tohn Fo\ (62), killed in a quarry at
Dove Holes.
116
1863— Sarah Garlick, Grindleford Bridee
burnt to death. '
Sarah Ellen Hudson, Tideswell, found
dead m bed.
„ Samuel Stone, Litton, killed in Dove
Holes Tunnel making.
John White, Eyam, drowned in a tub
of water.
„ William Dakin (42). Tideswell. ruptured
blood vessel and died.
Henry Knowles, Litton, killed on Mid-
land Railway construction.
William Sutton, Tideswell, killed on
Midland Eailway construction
Thomas Birchenough, killed by a shot
m Warhurst's Quarry, Dove Holes
" "^t"?® ^*^- Sarah Beeson, Ann Bees'on,
John Beeson, and Ann Hampton, who
lived in a hut formed in the lime ashes
hillock in Dove Holes Dale, were killed
by the hut falling in. Owing to the
swelling of the hillock the sides closed
together, the roof fell in and all four
were buried alive and sufiFocated.
1864— Richard Turner (62), Wardlow Miers
fell dead.
George Wilson (66), Tideswell, died in-
stantaneously.
„ John Charles Robinson, TidesweU, ac-
cidentally suffocated.
„ Jonathan Wall, killed in a stone
quarry at Calver Sough.
Thomas Hibbert, Litton, accidentally
shot himself.
„ Mary Blackwell, Eyam, found dead in
bed.
„ Thomas Hibbert, accidentally drowned
in the Derwent at Calver Bridge
Thomas Kirk (68), Hope, died through
excessive drinking.
Thomas Somerset (45), Wardlow Miers,
killed by falling through the floor of
his hay-loft.
Jeremiah Brown (36), killed on the Mid-
land Eailway works at Dove Holes.
James Jodrell (18). killed on the Mid-
land Railway works by a wagon at
Dove Holes.
John Wildgoose (37), killed on the Mid-
land Eailway works at Dove Holes.
John Daffin (19), killed on the Midland
Railway works at Dove Holes.
1865— John Wright (59). Thornhill Moor, died
through excessive drinking.
„ Richard Hartley (45), Dove Holes, killed
by excessive drinking.
.. Thoaaas Brough (59). Dove Holes, killed
by a fall of stone on Midland Railway
1866— Edith Barber (13). Castleton, thrown
out of cart and killed.
Henry Kay (18), Hathersage, killed by
a fall from a horse.
George Hall (60). Castleton, hung him-
self whilst insane.
John Murphy (25). killed by a fall of
stone on the Midland Railway works,
Dove Holes.
Elizabeth Barnes (1), Dove Holes, died
from exposure and want.
1867— Abraham Frude (55), Hather-sage, fell
dead.
George Fisher (22), killed in a stone
quarry at Hathersage.
William Ashmore (58), killed by falling
out of a cart at Thornhill Moor.
James Taylor (77). Eyam, found dead
in bed.
Catherine Hobson (66), Hathersage. died
by the visitation of God.
,, Hannah Dakin (3), Tideswell, found
drowned.
Luke Needham (69), Wormhill. fell dead
through over-exertion
1867-Mary Robinson (44). Foolow, died by
the visitation of G-od.
,. Martha Vaines (12), killed on the rail-
way at Peak Forest Station.
„ Alfred Fletcher (16), killed in a quarry
m Dove Holes Dale.
„ George Garlick (24), killed in a stone
,„^„ quarry in Dove Holes Dale.
1868— John Slinn (62), Grindleford Bridge,
died by the visitation of God.
Peter Unwin (66), Eyam, found dead in
bed.
1869— Thomas Holme (56), Bamford, hung him-
self whilst insane.
John Garlick (12), Grindleford Bridge.
(drowned when bathing).
Dinah Marsden (6), Grindleford Bridge,
burnt to death.
Thomas Drabble (75), Hathersage, died
in a fit of apoplexy.
William Swindell (70), Windmill, died
by the visitation of God.
Francis Palfreyman (84), Litton, when
returning home from prayer meeting
at Wesleyan Chapel, fell into a quarry
and was killed.
Sarah Ann Schofleld (38), Hathersage
Booths, died instantaneously.
„ Elizabeth Elliott (81), Hathersage,
killed by falling downstairs.
1870— Francis Millward (30), killed by falling
down rock at Millers Dale.
George Broomhead (13), Foolow, killed
by horse and cart.
„ Ann Shakespeare, Hathersage, found
dead in bed.
George Hibbs (50), Little Hucklow.
.„_, killed crossing railway at Peak Forest.
1873— Joseph Fox, killed in stone quarry at
Dove Holes.
John Frith, killed in a stone quarry at
Dove Holes.
1875— August 7th, Henry Vines, fell down rock
at Blackwell MiU Junction.
Nov. 5th, James Garside. killed in a
lime kiln at Potts and Jackson's. Dove
Holes.
1876— March 31st, John Hayward. killed in a
lead mine at Peaks Hill. Peak Forest.
April 26th, John Storer, fell into a
lime kiln at Potts and Jackson's, Dove
Holes, and was burnt to ashes. Noth-
ing was found but his knife blade, a
few buttons, and one or two small
bones, and these were interred in a
cigar box in the Primitive Methodist
burial ground. Dove Holes.
June 7th. Edwin Taylor, killed in Chee
Tor Tunnel, Wormhill.
August 8th, Robert Potts fell dead in
the street at Dove Holes.
Nov. 24th, Sarah Fletcher died instan-
taneousl,y at Peak Forest.
1877- January 22nd, Rachel Harrott died sud-
denly at Dove Holes.
„ March 13th. Thomas Cartwright killed
whilst shunting at Millers Dale.
May 12th. Ellen Mullins, fell dead in
Dove Holes Dale.
„ Nov. 28th. an unknown man found
drowned in Barmoor Clough.
1878— January 11th. Henry Lomas killed
whilst shunting at Bibbington, Dove
Holes.
„ May 3rd, William Catlin cut his throat
at Hargate Wall, Wormhil.
June 12th, Dr. Alfred Cottrill fell dead
in the road at Millers Dale.
1879— March 22nd, George Clayton, killed in
Great Rocks Quarry, Peak Forest.
„ March 27th, Samuel Barber killed by
falling from a plank at Wainwright
Works. Peak Forest.
117
1879— June 6th, Moses Sheldon found drowned
in Barmoor Clough.
Nov. 8th, Joseph Heath, killed by the
explosion of a pistol in Bibbington's
Smithy, Dove Holes.
1880— January 12th, George Pearson killed
by a stone at Wainwright's Works,
Peak Forest.
„ April 1st, John Mosley shot himself in
a railway carriage near Millers Dale.
„ June 16th, Owen Evans hanged himself
in a bam at Perry Foot, Peak Forest.
July 27th. Thomas Derbyshire fell dead
at work at Dove Holes.
„ Sept. 10th, Benjamin Mycock, crushed
to death by waggons on the tramway
at Dove Holes.
1881— March 11th, John Brown killed by a
train in Dove Holes Tunnel.
Oct. 8th, George Mellor killed by a
horse and cart in Barmoor Clough.
1882— June 6th, Francis Garlick killed by fall-
ing down cellar steps at Upper End.
.. June 6th, James Lomas crushed to
death by wagg>ons at Beswick's, Peak
Forest Station.
„ August 4th, Thomas Hawley found dead
in a lane at Upper End.
,, Nov. 6th, Ada Dicken drowned in a
reservoir at Upper End.
1883— In July, Robert Clayton (28), killed by
falling down Wainwright's quarry.
Peak Forest.
August 16th, John Kenyon (56), Grindle-
ford Bridge, fell dead in Marquis of
Granby, Bamford.
„ Sept. 8th, George Berrisford, run over
by a waggon at Bibbington's Works,
Dove Holes.
„ Oct. 22nd. John Hall, of Bradwell,
killed in M.S. and L. Quarries, Peak
Forest Station.
„ Nov. 23rd, James Dakin (57), Castleton,
died from hydrophobia caused by a
dog bite.
„ Dec. 1st, Annie Wheeldon, died sud-
denly in bed at Higher Bibbington,
Dove Holes.
Dec. 12th. Mary Ball, found dead in
bed at Dove Holes.
1884— Jan. 2nd, Martin Mullins (50). Dove
Holes, killed by falling down Bibbing-
ton's Quarry, Dove Holes.
May 24th. John Bower, found dead in
bed at Laneside Farm, Peak Forest.
June 23rd, John Brough. killed by a
railway train at Dove Holes.
Oct. 5th. Walter Gould, Spring House.
Hope, killed by fall from his horse at
Hathersage.
1885— Dec. 27th. George Piatt, Bamford, found
dead in a cowhouse.
Dec. 27th, Samuel Austin (53), killed
by falling down Bibbington's quarry,
Dove Holes.
1886— Jan. 1st, Isaac Wilson (40), killed by
falling over a wall at Hather.sage
Booths, when " letting the new year
in."
„ Jan. 4th, Joseph Longden (30), killed by
a fall of stone at Great Eocks quar-
ries. Peak Forest.
Jan. 5th, John Bagshawe (10), Worm-
hill, fell when crossing a bridge over
the River Wye, and was drowned.
„ Jan. 12th, John Lomas (16), killed by
machinery in Beswick's blacksmith's
shop. Peak Dale.
„ Feb. 10th. John Bocking Darwent (74),
Thornhill. a well-known Primitive
Methodist l-ocal preacher, found dead
on the sofa.
„ Feb. 12th. James Goddard (36), killed
by a fall of stone in the Great Central
Quarries, Dove Holes.
1886-April 9th, Robert Howe (54), Litton.
killed by a runaway horse at Millers
Dale.
„ May 26th, Thomas Fox (45). killed by
falling down the rock in Furness's
Quarry, Eyam Dale.
„ June 12th, Allen Walker ((35), Tideswell.
accidentally thrown down the shaft
at Norwood Colliery and killed
1887-SamueI Cock (40), found dead in bed at
Castleton.
„ July 26th, Hannah Longden, found dead
m her chair at the Clown Inn, Dove
Holes.
Aug. 17th, Sissie Gaunt, Yorkshire
Bridge Inn, Bamford, accidentally
poisoned by sucking lucifer matches.
Aug. 31st, William Boothby (14), Higher
Bibbington, Dove Holes, killed by
lightning whilst reading the Bible.
Five other persons injured.
December, Charles Hodkin (74), starved
to death on Froggatt Edge Moors.
1888— Jan. 6th, William Hall (59), postmaster,
Castleton, died suddenly.
„ July 26th. Walter Hall WalJcer (17),
Riding House Farm, Derwent, killed
by an avalanche of snow falling upon
him whilst shepherding.
Oct. 15th. William Webb. Bamford,
found dead in bed.
Oct. 31st. John Hibbert (32), killed by a
waggon at Heathcott's quarry. Dove
Holes.
Nov. 26th, Rev. Charles Smith (56),
rector of Bamford, fell unconscious in
the Post Ofifioe, and died in a few
hours.
Deo. 2nd, Hugh Isaac Cooper (7), died
as a result of swallowing a halfpenny
1889— Feb. 4th, Joseph. Harrott (20), shot in
Bibbington's quarry. Dove Holes.
May 18th, Samuel Simpson (11), killed
by a fall whilst bird nesting, at Dale
Head Farm. Tideswell.
May 14th, Eyre, of Great Hucklow,
killed on new railway works at Dore.
„ July 24th, Thomas Millward, Litton
Mill, killed on the railway at Millers
Dale.
„ Aug. 12th, Benjamin Clayton, acciden-
tally shot with his own gun in his
house on Tideswell Moor.
Nov. 5th, Richard Green, killed in
Grindleford Tunnel.
1890— Jrtn. 31st. John Wm. Bradbury (13),
Tideswell. killed by falling down the
face of a quarry at Millers Dale.
March 7th, John Thomas Cooper (3i),
of Eyam. burnt to death.
March 8th, John Marsden, killed by a
fall of rock in a quarry at Peak Dale.
March 19th, Abraham Cooper, killed by
fall at a Peak Dale lime kiln.
March 26th. Wm. Bland, Farnley
Eyam, died suddenly.
„ March, Jonathan R. Hall, killed on
the L. and N.W. Railway, Dove Holes.
May 28th, John Daniel Hodson (31),
poisoned himself at the Snake Inn,
Woodlands.
June 18th, Sidney John Rosewell (28).
killed in Edale railway cutting.
July 8th, George Chappell (8). killed
by falling down rocks at Peak Forest.
Aug. 11th. William Slinn. killed by
machinery on Dore and Chinley Rail-
way works. Edale.
„ Sept 5th. John Higginson. water
bailiff. Mytham Bridge, fell dead on
the banks of the Derwent.
113
1890— Oct. 29th. Thomas Hartle (34), Dove
Holes, killed on the railway at Man-
1891— Jan 10th, Walter Mosby (28), killed in
Edale Tunnel on railway works.
„ Jan 24th, Mary Pickford, Litton, died
from exposure, consequential on a fall
duriner a fit.
„ Feb. 4th, Job Hodgkinson (67), run over
and killed in Peak Forest Tunnel.
„ February 22nd, Samuel Eyre, Great
Hucklow, burnt to death.
„ April 30th, John Marriner (32), cut his
throat at Hathersage.
„ Aug. 15th, James Storer fell into a
lime kiln and was burnt to death at
Dove Holes.
Sept. 17th, Thomas Smith (26), killed
by a shot in Great Kocks quarry.
Peak Forest.
, Oct. 4th, Rev. A. B. Camm, Blackpool,
fell from a train in Peak Forest
Tunnel.
, Nov. 19th, Martha Dawson, Cressbrook,
drowned herself.
' „ Dec. 1st, Albert Schofleld, killed by a
fall of clay from the side of the cutt-
ing on the Dore and Chinley Eailway
works at Padley Wood, Hathersage.
„ Dec. 3rd, Herbert Twiner crushed to
death between two waggons on rail-
way works at Padley Wood.
Dec. 8th, Ethelbert Swindell (23), Bam-
ford, killed at Oughtibridge Kailway
Station.
1892— January 13th, Joseph King, killed by a
waggon at the railway works at Pad-
le.v Wood.
„ Feb. 24th, John Moulson, Peak Forest.
killed by an explosion in Ashwood
Dale Quarries.
Walter Gilbert. Tideswell, killed at
Edgeley Station. Stockport.
„ April 11th, Roger Barber (37), found
killed in Bibbington's Quarries, Dove
Holes.
„ April 22nd. Charles Ronksley (21). Ha-
thersage. killed on Dore and Chinley
Railway works.
„ May 2l9t. James Millward (60), Stoney
Hiddleton. cut his throat.
„ May 30th. Anthony Potter (27). Oastl»-
ton. killed in Cowburn Tunnel. Edale.
„ June 3rd. Bernard Robinson. Tides-
well, fatally injured in Buxton Lim©
Firm's quarries at Millers Dale.
„ June 16th. an unknown man, tatooed
"E.J. P., found drownc'd at Peak For-
est.
June 16th. Whitfield Watson (30). run
over and killed by waggons on the new
railway works. Edale.
„ Nov. 8th. Isaac Watts, drowned whilst
crossing over stones in River Derwent,
Hathersage.
„ Nov. 10th. Mary Ann Hunstone (64),
Tideswell, committed suicide with a
ra^or.
„ Nov. 1st, James Fletcher. Peak Forest,
burnt to death at Beswick's Lime
Kilns.
1893-Jan. 18th. William Tym, Hope, killed
by fall from a cart.
„ Jan. 22nd. Henry Jones, Hathersage,
killed by falling into a culvert at Pad-
ley Raw Mills.
„ Jan. 22nd, John William Gerrard (14),
killed by a fall of refuse from a lime
kiln at Small Dale Lime Works, Peak
Forest.
May 18th. William Wainwright, killed
by wagonette at Hathersage.
„ May 27th. Harriett Townsend. drowned
in the river Wye at Litton.
1893— June 16th. — Edwards, killed by a run-
away horse on railway works at Edale.
at Dove Holes Station.
July 1st, William Barker (70), fell dead
„ July 8th, Reuben Leech. Tideswell,
killed by a train on the railway at
Peak Forest.
„ Sept. 9th. Ben.iamin Mansbridge. killed
by a locomotive in Midland cutting
near Peak Forest.
Sept. 16th. Percival James Wallington,
drowned at Hill Farm. Wormhill.
Sept. 21st, Mary Alice Porter (2),
scalded to death in a bucket of hot
water at Great Rocks Farm, Worm-
hill.
„ Sept. 26th, Gertrude Howe. Brook Bot-
tom. Tideswell. burnt to death through
dress catching fire at a candle.
1894— Jan. 22nd. Joseph Eley (48), MiUers
Dale, died suddenly.
Feb. 6th. Reginald Broom, accidentally
killed b.v a fall at Taddington.
March 7th, Mary Ann Cooper (18), Peak
Dale, drowned in Wye, Buxton.
March 21st, Jonathan Howe (34). shot
himself at Castleton.
May 26th. Mary Walker, a native of
Castleton. died very suddenly at Bake-
well.
June 14th. John Oag. killed on railway
at Edale.
July 5th. Henry Lawton (43), run over
and killed at Hope.
Oct. 24th, Martha XJnwin. Stoney Mid-
dleton, accidentally suffocated.
Dec. 20th. Dr. George Sibley Hicks, of
Eyam. died from an overdose of lau-
danum.
1895— March 17th. George Hardy (56), Castle^
ton, ruptured a blood vessel when fight-
ing with another man and died.
„ April J6th, John Cheetham (82), form-
erly chemist, found dead on his house
floor at Hope.
„ July 18th, Eliaabeth Roebuck, found
killed in Dove Holes tunnel, having
fallen from a train.
July 25th. John Wilson (65), Thornhill.
cut his throat whilst temporarily in-
sane.
„ Aug. 5th, William Tingle, found dead
in Burbage Brook. Hathersage.
„ Sept. 23rd. George Maltby (35), crushed
to death by dray at Monsal Dale.
.. Oct. 7th, Fredk. Slack (26). Tideswell.
killed by iumping out of a trap when
horse was running away.
„ Nov. 18th. Mrs. Pears'on. widow of Jos.
Pearson, of Little Hucklow, fell dead
at Upper End. Peak Dale.
„ Nov. 25th, Ann Wain, Eyam, burnt to
death.
1896— July 2nd, Elizabeth Cooper (23), a visi-
tor from Manchester, killed by falling
from Peveril Castle into Cave Dale,
Castleton.
„ July 3rd, John Power, found dead on
the railway at Peak Forest.
October 11th. Mary Ellen Johnson,
drowned at Upper End. Peak Dale.
October 12th. Charles Neath, killed on
the L. & N.W. Railway at Dove Holes.
Nov. 5th. John Woollen found drowned
in the river Derwent near Hathersage.
1897— Jan. 16th. Robert James Hallam. Stoney
Middleton. hung himself.
Jan. 31st. John Fletcher (43), Ivy House
Farm. Peak Forest, hung himself in a
barn.
Feb. 10th. James Bennett. Dove Holes,
killed by a fall of stone in "Victory"
Qnarry.
119
1897— March 9th. Thomas Wm. Ludlow (36).
sigmalman. Peak Forest, when knock-
ing twigs from telegraph wires, wall
collapsed and he was killed.
„ March 30th. James Shallcross (32).
found drowned in Litton Mill dam.
., April 19th. John Ward West (66). Bam-
ford. died from heart disease after a
fall.
July 29th. Herbert Oilman (17). Litton
Mill, shot himself in Marple Hall Park.
Aug. 27th, Harry Leech, Tideswell,
killed by a fall of stone in Millers
Dale quarry.
„ Sept. 8th, fiichard Brown Berry, a Bol-
ton visitor to Castleton. died very sud-
denly.
Oct. 27th, Samuel Hodgkinson (48).
Tideswell. killed on the railway at
Millers Dale.
Nov. 19th. Abraham Yeomans. killed
by falling downstairs at Stoney Mid-
dleton.
1898— March 18th. James Ashmore, Tideswell,
killed by a fall of clay at Great Rocks
quarries. Peak Forest.
April 23rd, John Henry Mosley, killed
by being thrown from a cart at Millers
Dale.
July 5th, William Hoyle. Peak Forest,
died in Holding's quarry. Dov© Holes.
July 5th. Edmund Bennett (29), shot in
Great Kocks quarry. Peak Forest.
., Nov. 5th. Mary Hannah Vernon (39).
killed by falling downstairs at Dove
Holes.
1899— April 14th. Elizabeth Grace Broome, suf-
focated in bed with her parents, at
Poynton Cross Farm, Hucklow.
., April 15th. George William Goodwin,
killed by fall of stone in a quarry at
Dove Holes.
„ June 15th, Mrs. James Carrington,
Edale, found dead in bed.
Aug. 25th. Mr.s. Lily Middleton (25).
Bamford. found dead in bed.
., Sept. 30th. Chas. Wm. Bowden, drowned
in Litton Mill dam.
Oct. 20th, James Lewis (62). fell dead at
Great Rocks kiln. Peak Forest.
Dec. 29th, William E. D. Palmer, killed
by an engine at Millers Dale.
Nov. 8th, Hugh Stafford (32), killed by
an explosion in Holderness quarry.
Dove Holes.
1900— March 18th, funeral at Stocksbridge,
both on one day, of Charlotte Evans
and Wilfred Evans, mother and son,
formerly of Bradwell.
Mar. 26th, Esther Ellen Lee (3), scalded
to death in a bucket of hot water at
Dove Holes.
,. Sept. 6th. Esther Mycock, bnmt to
death at Taddington.
Oct 15th. Martha Green, killed by a
fall at Wormhill.
Dec. 23rd. Gladys Broome (1'). crushed
to death by a cow at Hucklow.
1901— Jan. 9th. George Jackson, Peak Dale,
found hanged.
Mar. 15th. Samuel Booth. Hathersage.
found hanged.
,, May Wh, Samuel Gibson, Litton, found
hanged.
May 22nd. George Jacks-on. Tideswell,
drowned himself at Peak Forest.
Aug. 13th, George Hodkin (58), fell dead
in a quarry at Peak Forest.
Oct. 12th. Emily Sellars. and her daugh-
ter, Emily, found drowned on the Hall
Farm, Litton.
1902— Jan. 10th. Joseph Walton (fO). Tideswell,
fell back in his cha<r and died.
1902— Jan. 13th. John Jackson, John Flint
and Henry Swindells, of Tideswell,
knocked down and killed by an engine
when walking on the railway at Mil-
lers Dale.
Jan. 13th, John Samuel Berrisford (18),
killed by a wagon at Bibbington's
Works, Dove Holes.
Mar. 12th, Isaac Hadfield, killed by an
engine at Great Central Railway Co.'s
quarry. Peak Dale.
„ May 12th. Annie Gertrude Hepworth,
Tideswell, strangled herself.
„ July 17th, Charles Smith Herrington,
killed bv a fall at Eyam.
„ Aug. 20th, AViUiam Greenhalgh, killed
by a pole falling on his head at Tides-
well Gas Works.
1903— Feb. 12th, William Brewster, killed by
a wagon running down an incline at
Bole Hill Quarries, Hathersage.
April 23rd, A child, named Robinson,
suffocated in bed with its parents at
Stone.y Middleton.
May 1st. George Furnes«, drowned in
t^le Delph. at Eyam.
„ May 4th. John Webster, killed by a
train, at Peak Forest Station.
Aug. 31st. John Marsh Robinson (45).
tlirown from his horse and killed at
Bamford.
Sept. 6th. John Hill, killed by a fall in
New Lime quarry. Peak Forest.
Oct. 14th. Henry Watson (47), killed by
fall from a hay-loft at Castleton.
1904— May 17th. John Robinson Gregory hung
himself at Hathersage.
May 20th, Matilda Rawles (26), found
dead on the house floor at Hope.
June 25th, John Evans killed by a fall
at Derwent Valley Water Board's
quarry. Hathersage.
July 4th. Charles Henry Bullard. killed
by a crane balance weight falling upon
him at the quarries, Hathersage.
July 13th. William Allen Guthrie, found
drowned in the river Derwent at Ha-
till &T S 2L. SG
July 8th, Frederick Garlick, killed by
an explosion of cheddite in Bibbing-
ton's quarry. Dove Holes.
Oct. 19th, Sarah Dean, Tideswell, died
suddenly during an operation under
chloroform.
Nov. 22nd, John Brown (55), found
starved to death at Bamford.
1905— Jan. 2nd, An unknown man found
starved to death on Hathersage Moors.
Jan. 24th, Jane Ann Blackwell, killed
by a fall at Tideswell.
June 23rd, Herbert Lomas, Litton,
drowned himself.
July 4th. James Sheldon, hang himself
at Hathersage.
Aug. 26th. Mary Elizabeth Jones (21).
drowned herselif at Bamford.
Dec. 9th. an unknown man hung him-
self at Bamford.
1906— June 12th. Thomas Barker (37),
drowned himself at Bamford.
Sept. 10th. Andrew Henry Dungworth,
poisoned himself at Hathersage.
Dec. 4th. James Allcock (3), burnt to
death at Dove Holes.
1907— Jan. 2nd. William Wilson, hung him-
self at Peak Dale.
Mar. 6th. Edward Kirk, killed by being
thrown from a cart at Dove Holes.
Aug. 12'h. Joseph Vernon (54), Sparrow-
pit, killed by an explosion in the
quarr.y at Peak Forest.
Sent 4th. John Thomas Heath and
Wirir.ni Fle'chcr. blo.vn to pieces by
120
an explosion of gunpowder whils'
bla/Stingr in Great Eocks quarries. Peak
Dale.
1907— Nov. 4th, Thomas Gibson, killed by a
fall of stone in Great Bocks quarry.
Peak Dale.
„ Nov. 12th, Joseph Martin, killed by a
train on the railway at Peak Forest.
1908— March 11th. Reggie Walker (2), burnt
to death at Tideswell.
„ April 21st, Eobert How (81), barmaster,
of Castleton, died from an accidental
fall.
„ July 20th, Thomas G'ould. drowned
whilst fishing in the river Derwent at
Hathersage.
,, Aug. 7th. an unknown man jumped in
front of a train at Thornhill and was
cut to pieces.
Aug. 27th, Kathleen Mary Revill (3),
drowned in the Hay Brook, Hather-
sage.
,, Nov. 26th, Arthur Bingham (2), burnt
to death at Peak Dale.
1909 — Jan. 1st, Samuel Blaokwell, died from
concussion of the brain at Eyam.
„ Jan. 5th, Tom Peel, was felling a tree
at Hathersage, when a branch fell up-
on him and he was killed.
„ Jan. 18th, M. Strickland accidentally
suffocated at Hathersage.
Feb. 12th, John Iredale, killed by fall-
ing downstairs at Tideswell.
,, March 13th, Isaac Makinson strangled
himself at Hathersage.
,, April 7th, Edith Annie Rowbotham (3),
drowned at Bamford.
„ April 20th, Hannah Bramwell, death
accelerated by a fall at Tideswell.
„ Aug. 12th, Archibald Jerram drowned
whilst bathing ' in the river Derwent
at Froggatt.
„ Aug. 9th, John Wells, killed in a colli-
sion of a bogey and engine at Bole
Hill quarry. Hathersage.
1910— Mar. 11th, Teresa Biggin (11), killed by
a fall at Hathersage.
April 21st, William Garlick, killed by
a fall of stone in the Buxton Lime
quarries. Peak Dale.
,/ „ April 27th, Fred Vernon, shot in an ex-
plosion whilst blasting at Dove Holes.
„ June 11th, Annie Furness, strangled
herself whilst not responsible for her
actions at Tideswell.
Sept. 29th, Robert Bingham, Peak Dale,
died from blood poisoning from an in-
jury to his fingers whilst quarrying.
Oct. 22nd, Robert Cotterill (58), fell
dead from his chair at Bamford.
Dec. 23rd, Mary Jackson cut her throat
at Eyam.
1911-Feb. 20th. Thomas Beverley. Castleton,
cut his throat in a stable during tem-
porary insanity.
„ May 1st, Hamlet Tattersall, electro-
cuted at Great Rocks Siding, Peak
Dale.
„ June 23rd, Blanche Wilkin cut her
throat during insanity at Hathersage.
In Juno. William HuUey (60). killed by
a waggon at Holdernesa lime works.
Dove Holes
„ June 14th, William Hawley Mycock,
killed at Calton Hill quarry, Tadding-
ton.
„ Aug. 25th, Herbert Brjoks killed by a
waggon at Perseverance Lime Works,
Peak Dale. Dove Holes.
„ Oct. 16th. Andrew John Roche (63),
steward for the Duke of Norfolk, fell
into the River Derwont and died from
exposure.
1911— Deo.. Mrs. Amelia Seaman (83). Tides-
well, died from shock after accidental
burns.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
SOME MEMORABLE SNOWSTORMS.
Tragediets of the Snow.
Although Bradwell is situate in a deep
valley, sheltered from the stormy blasts,
the hills that surround it on all sides are
of such an altitude that snow will remain
there for several months, and these severe
storms that visit this part of the Peak in
the winter, have been responsible for many
tragedies, a few of which may be mentioned
here
"THE LOST LAD."
Tradition has handed down through four
hundred years the story of the lost lad of
the Woodlands, a few miles from Bradwell,
which gave the name to the mountain still
known as " The Lost Lad." A lad of 13,
who lived with his parents in one of the
neighbouring villages, ventured too far
from home one winter's day, and when
darkness approached, he was terrified to
find himself on the moorlands — lost, ah and
lost in the snow ! He shrieked until he
lay down to sleep, completely exhausted,
and his father searched all night in vain.
Living on wild berries from the bushes for
several days, the father searching for him
miles away on the severest night, the poor
lad, on the summit of one of the highest
hills, far away from any dwelling, had just
sufficient strength left to pile up a few
stones and inscribe his fate thereon. Here
marked with the aid of a sharp stone, were
particulars of his fate, and on another he
wrote in. J>ig characters " LOST LAD,"
sank beside his own self-erected monument,
and on this lonely eminence slept his last
sleep.
Many years the remains of the poor lad
lay on these heights undiscovered, until
some sportsmen, seeing the pile of stones,
went thither and foixnd the skeleton, which
was removed and interred. With difficulty
they deciphered some inscriptions on the
stones, but very plain, in big capitals, was
" LOST LAD." For many generations the
heap of stones remained entire, and the
hill is still known as "The Lost Lad."
STARVED TO DEATH ON WINHILL.
Svich was the severity of a snowstorm
in the winter of 1674, that a man named
Barber, a grazier, and his maid-servant,
crossing the shoulder of Winhill, a little
over two miles from Bradwell, were lost
in the snow, and remained covered with
it from January to May, when they were
121
found, and the bodies being too oBensive,
they were buried on the spot in their cloth-
ing.
In his "Additions to the Brittania," as
detailed from the Philosophical Transac-
tions. Gough alludes to this, and says :
"About twenty-nine years afterwards some
country men, probably having observed the
extraordinary properties of this soil in pre-
serving dead bodies, had the curiosity to
open the ground, and found them in no
way altered, the colour of the skin being
fair and natural, and their flesh as soft
as that of persons newly -dead. They were
exposed for a sight during the course of
twenty years following, though they were
so much changed in that time by being so
often uncovered. In 1716, Mr. Henry i
Brown, M.B., of Chesterfield, saw the man
perfect, his beard strong and about a
quarter of an inch long; the hair of his
head short, his skin hard and of a tanned
leather colour, pretty much the same as
the liquor and earth they lay in. He had
on a broad cloth ooat, of which the doctor
in vain tried to tear off a skirt. Thj
wcman was more decayed, having been
taken out of the ground and rudely
handled; her flesh particularly decayed,
her hair long and spongy, like 'hat ot a
living i)erson. Mr. Barber, of Rotherhum,
the man's grandson, had both bodies buried
ii Hope Churchyard, and upon looking
in: J the graves some time afterwards, it
was found that they were entirely con-
sumed. Mr. Wormald, the minister of
Hope, was present at their removal. He
observed that they laj' about a yard deep
in moist soil or moss, but no water stood
in the place. He saw their stockings
drawn off, and the man's legs, which had
not been uncovered before, were quite fair.
The flesh, when pressed by his finger, pitted
a little, and the joints played freely, and
without the least stiffness. The other parts
were much decayed. What was left of
their clothes not cut off for curiosity, was
firm and good, and the woman had a piece
of new serge, which seemed never the
worse."
PERISHED ON SIR WILLIAM.
The winter of 1692-3 was notable for very
heavy snowstorms in these parts. A
woman named Elizabeth Trout was over-
talcen in one of these storms crossing Sir
William, and was starved to death.
FROZEN TO DEATH AT EDALE END.
The winter of 1711 was most severe.
There was a big snowstorm in December,
and a woman walking over the hills from
the Woodlands, perished in the storm near
Edale End, and was found starved to death.
STARVED TO DEATH ON EYAM MOOR
In the early part of 1748 there was an-
other big storm, and many people perished
in different parts of the country. On the
5th of February, a man named Stephen
Broomhead, was found starved to death ia
the snow on Eyam Moor.
PERISHED IN THE SNOW ON
TIDESWELL MOOR.
It was on Tideswell Moor, on the verge
of Bradwell Moor, where more than a
hundred years ago George Sheldon, of
Tideswell, lost his life in a snowstorm. He
was the keeper of the prison at Tideswell,
as well as tax collector, and it was in the
exercise of the duties connected with this
office that he lost his life. The Bradwell
and Tideswell moors were not then en-
closed, and when Sheldon was returning
from Peak Forest on the night of February
1st, 1805, he was overtaken by a terrible
snowstorm, lost his way, fell into a snow-
drift, and perished. And on his memorial
tablet on the outside wall of Tideswell
Church we read :
" By depth of snow and stormy day.
He was bewildered in his way;
No mortal aid did him come nigh.
Upon the snow he there did lie
Helpless, being worn out with strife.
Death coon deprived him of his life;
But hope he found a better way
To the regions of Eternal Day."
A HATHERSAGE HERO.
Occasionally snow accumulated in im-
mense drifts on the hills above Hathersage,
obliterating all traces of the road, render-
ing it not only dangerous but impassable.
In the old coaching days, when the journey
from Bradwell to Sheffield had to be made
by " 'bus," the passengers had exciting ex-
periences, as many can well remember.
In the winter of 1813 the carriages that
attempted to cross this bleak part of the
moors either returned, or were left buried
in the snow. A young man from Brook-
field, near Hathersage, was the means of
saving several persons from perishing in
this severe winter. Near Burbage Brook
he found a sailor and his wife who were
exhausted with fatigue, and unable to pro-
ceed on their journey. The poor man had
fallen under his exertions to support his
wife, and was nearly dead, but the young
man carried him on his back to the only
house he could find, nearly a mile distant and
then returned and carried the woman in
the like manner, as she was laid starving
•to death in the snow. At this time the
coach from Manchester was overturned and
nearly buried in the snow, where it re-
mained for several days. All the passen-
gers were females, and among them was a
woman with her two-year-old child. The
young man carried the child to Hathersage,
and the woman, in attempting to follow,
fell into a snowdrift and was almost
starved to death, when the young man
extricated her and restored her to ter
child. The remaining two ladies he re-
leased from their perilous situation.
122
HOUSES BURIED IN RECENT SNOW-
STORMS.
Remarkable Experiences.
The great snowstorm of 1888 was con-
sidered to be the. most furious that had
raged over the district for at least half a
century. Edward Hall, who drove the
mails from Castleton to Sheffield, had
some remarkable experiences. He "was
accompanied on the journey by William
Eyre, and it was a case of cutting through
the huge drifts for thirteen miles, but when
Brough Lane Head was reached, about a
mile below Bradwell, they were fairly
beaten. The roads were completely
blocked by huge drifts, and one, 150 yards
long and six feet high, it was imjjossible to
get through, so the cart had to be left
fast in the snow, and 21 men engaged to
cut a track just wide enough to let the
horses pass, when, taking out the mail
bags. Hall and Eyre put them on the
horses' backs, and left the cart embedded
in the snow. The Bradwell convey-
ances remained at home, the whole place
being completely snowed up with 'drifts,
in some places twelve feet high. Old in-
habitants declared that they never knew
so much snow as there was at that t'me
on the roads around Bradwell, extending
several weeks in Februai-y and March.
In the old toll-bar house at Slack Hall,
on the Castleton Road, near Chapel-e,n-ic-
Frith, there resided Mr. and Mrs. Sam^.e!
Revill, an elderly couple, natives of Brad-
well. On the Sunday night the old couple
retired to rest, little thinking what a ter-
rible experience was in store for them.
About 1 o'clock the husband was awakened
by a suffocating sensation. Feeling very
ill, and not knowing what to do, he wan-
dered about for some t'me in oenrr ji (if
an inlet for air. But in vain. tie en-
deavoured to procure a J'ght, bat the can-
dle burned only with grjat difficulty owing
to the want of air. Both husband and
wife feeling they were suffocating, and
naturally expecting an outlet at the chim-
ney, they proceeded to light a fire, when the
house was filled with smoke, almost to
suffocation, and in this terrible situation
they passed the night.
The house was buried ; their cries were
unheard and unavailing, but a band of
workmen cut a road to the door, and at
nine o'clock the imprisoned couple were
released, almost suffocated, but thankful
indeed that they had been rescued from the
jaws of death.
At Sparrowpit there was a remarkable
scene. The Devonshire Arms public house
was snowed up to such a degree that to
cut through the snow was considered an
impossible task, and a tunnel was driven
underneath as an approach to the house.
But even this appears to have been
equalled, for in thje old coaching days this
house was completely buried in a snow-
storm, and for some time the coaches lan
over the top of the building.
BURIED BY AN AVALANCHE.
It was in this storm that a sad fatality
occurred at Ashopton. Some of the sheep
belonging to Mr. Mark Walker, of Kid'n;»
House Farm, were out in the snow, and
two youths, sons of the farmer, set out to
look for them. Knowing how sagaciously
the sheep seek for what shelter is avail-
able, they went to look behind a mass of
rock, which overhung a portion of the hill-
side pasture, being accompanied by tha
dog.
Time passed by, and when the dog re-
turned alone alarm was occasioned. I'heir
mother went out to look for them, and to
her horror found that they were
buried under the snow near the rock. The
heavy avalanche of snow which lay iipon
its upper surface suddenly slid down upon
them and buried them. The terrified
mother at once sought for help, and one
of the young men was rescued, but the
other, Walter Hall Walkter, a youth of 17,
was dug out a corpse.
There were snowstorms of unusual
severity in 1889 and 1892.
In January and February, 1895, there was
a long and very severe storm, when the
roads were blocked for weeks. Leaving
Bradwell at seven o'clock one night, Mr.
Bramwell, a Tideswell greengrocer,
reached Collins Farm, a mile distant, after
three hours' snow cutting. Here the
cart was left behind, and home was reached
after midnight. Even the snow plough,
although drawn by five horses, was Unable
to get through the drifts near Tideswell
Lane Head, and Mr. Slack, another Tides-
well greengrocer, had to leave his cart
stuck in the snow, although drawn by
three horses. All the villages in the dis-
trict were snowed up, and all the working
men available were employed cutting
tracks through the snow.
This district was visited by another ter-
rible storm in December, 1901, when many
persons were dug out of the snow in an
exhausted condition. A farmer named
Webb, who had died at Abney Grange,
was to have been buried at Bradwell, but
the whole district was snowed up, and the
funeral had to be postponed for some days.
In fact, the coffin could not be got to the
place, and 42 men were engaged all week-
end cutting a road so that the funeral
could take place at Bradwell on the
Monday. A Peak Dale man fell exhausted
in the snow, and was there 17 hours before
being rescued. A Sheffield traveller, with
his boy and horse, stuck fast in a drift
near Tideswell, and were out in the storm
all the night. They were dug out of
the snow next morning by a .young man
from a neighbouring farm, who found
them nearly dead.
SKELETONS FOUND ON THE MOORS.
In some instances people have been lost
1S3
m snowstorms after wandering far off the
beaten track, and their skeletons found
years afterwards. Many such cases could
be cited.
On the 3rd of July, 1778, the skeleton of
an unknown man was found on the moors
in Hope parish, and buried in the church-
yard. On Monday, the 17th of February,
1886. Charles Hodkin, a medical botanist,
of Pyebank, Sheffield, set out to visit his
sister, who lived at Froggatt Edge. Al-
though 74 years of age, he was in the
habit of taking long walks into Derbyshire
in search of herbs, and on this morning
it was his intention to walk all the way.
Soon after he had left his home, snow be-
gan to fall, and hopes were entertained
that he would turn back and defer his visit,
but he seemed to have no fear of continu-
ing the journey. He reache-d the " Pea-
cock " at Owler Bar in safety, and asked
the landlord to direct him the nearest
route to Froggatt Edge. He called for no
refreshment, and the landlord, noticing
that one of his shoes was unlaced and the
tongue hanging down, that he looked tired,
and that there was everj' prospect of a wild
and stormy night, suggested that he had
better not attempt the journey, but he
thanked him for his advice and walked on.
But as he neither reached his sister nor
returned home, the terrible suspicions
came to the family that he had lost his
way, and had by that time perished in the
snow, which on the night he travelled had
fallen heavily, and in places on the roads
and moors had drifted several feet deep.
Search parties were organised, including
the police, the Duke of Rutland's keepers,
with their dogs, and others, and for several
days a diligent and exhausting search was
made everywhere about the moors where
he was likely to have strayed, but not a
trace of him could be found. It was then
decided to abandon the search until the
snow had disappeared, when it could be
prosecuted more thornughly — for by this
time all hope had been abandoned of find-
ing him alive. The snow melted away
but slowly, and when it was gone, search
parties went out again, but not a trace of
poor Hodkin could be found, and what
had become of him remained a mystery.
And it was not until the 3rd of December,
1887, nearly two years afterwards, that the
mystery was unravelled, and in a remark-
able way, by a dog. John Slack, a shep-
herd in the employ of the Duke of Rut-
land, was walking across the moor with his
two dogs, when one of the dogs began to
" wind." He rebuked the dog, which, in-
.stead of noticing him, started off towards
the centre of the moors. The shepherd
followed, and after walking about a mila,
he came upon the skeleton remains of a
man. He was lying on his back, with his
right hand across his chest. His hal was
a little distance away, and near it was the
skull, almost covered with green moss. The
legs were literally bare of flesh, and the
body was considerably mutilated. Horri-
fied at the shocking spectacle, the shepherd
fetched the police.
The remains were those of poor old Mr.
Hodkin There was no doubt of it, for one
of the boots was in precisely the same state
as described by the landlord of -the "Pea-
cock," and the relatives could say that the
hat and clothing were his. Besides, in one
of the pockets of the coat was a portion of
a Wesleyan preacher's plan, and Mr. Hod-
kin had himself been a preacher on the
same plan. The place where the skeleton
was found was far from any highwaj', and
to reach it the poor man must have waded
through bog and brook, and at length,
worn out with exhaustion, had lain him
down in the snow, and had slept the sleep
of death. It was then that Mr. Peate, a
gamekeeper, remembered that on the wild
night of February 17th, 1886. he thought
he heard cries of distress, and saw practi-
cally obliterated footmarks, but was unable
to trace them, and next day they were all
snowetl up.
These instances are sufficient to show
with what severity the wintry blasts come
over this part of the Peak.
In times of rapid thaw, when the snow
has been washed down from the hills by
heavy rains, the lower parts of Bradwell
have often been flooded, but there are no
fatalities to record on that account. Not
so, however, in the surrounding district,
when the Derwent, the Noe, and the
Ashop have been in flood.
EDALE PEOPLE WASHED AWAY IN
FLOODS.
About the year 1830 William Wigley, of
Otterbi'ook. Edale, and Elias Kinder, of
Cotefield, Edale, were fetching with horses
dragloads of timber out of the Woodlands,
and when crossing the river, where there
was a ford at that time. Just below Hay
Lee, to get on the road leading to Hope
Brink and Edale, there was a terrible cat-
astrophe. A great flood came rushing
down the Woodlands, both horses, timber,
and men being overpowered and washed
completely away. The bodies of both men
were found some time afterwards at
Grindleford, ten miles distant. One of
them was quite void of clothing with the
exception of a leathern belt round his body,
containing seventy sovereigns. The money
was found intact.
A few years later a young woman named
Elliott was one night going to Hollins
Farm, Edale. She had to cross Hollins
Bridge, near the Cotton Mill. It was a
dark night, the river was in flood, but the
young woman never arrived at the farm,
and was never seen again. It is supposed
as her body was never recovered, it was
that she was washed down the river, and
expected it was washed down the river,
right through the country, and away to
sea.
PRESENT-DAY FREEHOLDERS.
For centuries Bradwell has been noted
124
for its many owners of freehold propertjjr.
Indeed, in the olden times, when only
owners of property voted at Parliamentary
elections, it was looked upon as a little
community of freeholders. Consequently
it received from candidates the attention
commensurate with its importance. There
have been some lively times when candi-
dates for Parliamentary honours have ad-
dressed the electors from the hustings in
the old Town Gate.
Throughout this work the names of
voters at various periods are mentioned,
and in closing it may not be out of place
to give the names of the property owners
at the present day. Now, of course, every
householder is a voter, but the following
list of property owners — male and female
— will serve to show how the lands and
houses, for the most part, remain with
descendants of the old families, although
some have been acquired by others who
have made their abode here since the rail-
way opened out the district.
Here are the property owners of to-day
in alphabetical order: —
Samuel Adams. 4idward Knowles
Francis Allen. Heaps.
John Smith Andrew. George Harry
Thoma-s Andrew.
Joseph Ash.
Elizabeth Ashmore.
Thos. Shaw Ashton.
Charles Alfred
Bancroft.
Alicia Barker.
Robert Barker.
Mary Bamford.
Sarah Bennett.
George Bird.
Herbert Booking.
Aar-on Bradbury.
Abner Bradwell.
Albert Edwin
Bradwell.
Ebenezer Bradwell.
Herbert Bradwell.
Fanny Bradwell.
Hannah Bradwell.
Harriett Bradwell.
John Bradwell.
Mary Bradwell.
Spenc/or Joshua
Bradwell.
Walter Isaac
Bradwell.
William Bradwell,
Wm. Bradwell. iunr.
Hannah Bradbury.
Charles Bramall.
Samuel Bramall.
William Bramall.
John Hy Bramley.
William Brierley.
Georsre Wm. Broad-
bent.
Hemsoll.
Joseph Hibbs.
Samuel Hibbs.
Henry Hill.
Isaac Hill.
Maria Hill.
Mary Hill.
Thomas Hill.
Herbert Hodkin.
Walter Hodkin.
Harriett Howe.
Mary Jackson.
Arthur Jeffery.
Ben.iamin Barber
Jeffery.
Jeshua Jeffery.
Joshua Geo. Jeffrey.
Samuel Fox Jeffery.
William Johnson.
Frances Kiddy.
Henry Birkett
Leighton.
Elizabeth Lindsay.
John Longden.
Martha Longden.
Ann Maltby.
Isaac Maltby.
Seth Maltby.
Sir Frank Mappin.
Abigail Marshall.
Hannah Marshall.
Alfred Middleton.
Allen Middleton.
Charles Middleton.
Clarinda Middleton.
Daniel Middleton.
Elijah Middleton.
Frederick Walter
Burnand.
Arthur William
Burrows.
Cheetham Cooper.
Horatio Wyatt
Cooper.
George Cooper, .iun.
John Cooper.
Luther Ben.iamin
Co-oper.
Thomas Cooper.
Robt. W. Coupland.
Eobert Craig.
James Hy Cramond.
John Edwin Dakin.
Samuel Dakin.
Stephen Dakin.
Thos. Percy Dakin.
Joseph Dalton.
William DarviU.
Edwy Maltby
Darneley.
Arthur Drabble.
Bertram Elliott.
George Hy. Elliott.
Joel Elliott.
John Elliott.
Samuel Elliott.
Mary Ann Elliott.
William Elliott.
Wm. Albert Elliott.
Hannah Eyre.
Marmaduke Hallam
Eyre.
Percy Robt. Hallam
Eyre.
William Eyre
Dennis Evans.
Seth Evans.
George J. Fisher.
Delia Fiske.
Samuel Fiske.
John Ford.
Joseph Ford.
William Hy. Fox.
Armanda Gent.
William Gyte.
Arthur James
Hadfield.
Francis Hall.
Isaac Hall.
Jacob Hall.
John Hall.
Hannah Hall.
Rachel Hall.
Harriett Hall.
Cheetham William
Hallam.
Ethelbert Hallam.
Alice Hallam.
George Hallam.
Hannah Hallam,
Harvey Hallam.
Montague Hallam.
Samuel Hallam.
Stenton Thomas
Hallam.
Thomas Hallam.
George Hague.
Wm. H. Harrison
George Middleton.
Hibberson Middleton
James Alfred
Middleton.
John Middleton.
John Middleton.
John Bennett
Middleton.
Mary Middleton.
Philip Middleton.
Samuel Middleton.
Thomas Middleton.
Thomas Henry
Howe Middleton.
William Middleton
(Smalldale).
William Middleton.
Louisa Miller.
Alfred Morton.
Abram Morton.
Ann Stafford Morton
Hannah Morton.
Luther Morton.
Sarah Allen Morton.
Walter John Morton.
Hannah M. 'Need-
ham.
Robert Needham.
Edmund Nicholson.
James Nuttall.
Allen Gates.
Elias Palfreyman.
John Palfre.yman.
Wilfred Palfreyman.
Ann Pearson.
Mortimer Petty.
Richard Mortimer
Petty.
John Thos. Finder.
Benjamin Plant.
Hannah Randall.
John Robinson.
Mary Shallcross.
Thos. Frith Sheldon.
Ada shirt.
Benjamin S-omerset
Shirt.
George Wm. Shirt.
Nathaniel Somerset.
Walter John
Somerset.
Ashton John
Shuttleworth.
Frederick Stedman.
John Stevenson.
Durham Stone.
Robt. Tanfleld.
Robt. Tanfleld. iun.
Thos. Hy. Tanfleld.
Nicholas Tym.
Henry Walker.
George Walker.
John Walker.
Olive Walker.
Mary Walker.
Mary Alice Walker.
Zechariah Walker.
Alice M. Wragg.
Durham Wragg.
Wright.
Thurlow Joseph
125
ADDENDA.
Roman Brough.
Through the kindness of C. E.
Bradshaw Bowles, Esq., J.P., editor
of the Derbyshire Archaeological
Journal, the following plates of
Roman Brough, and also the Ancient
Oven, have been lent to the Author.
In this connection reference may be
made to the explorations of Brough
(Chapter II).
126
MAP OF THE SITUATION.
127
PLAN OF EXCAVATIONS.
123
WEST CORNER OF MAIK WALL
aa9
NORTH-WEST WALL OF PRAETORIUM.
130
UNDERCRQUNP CHAMBER OR WELL.
351
ANOTHER VIEW OF UNDERGROUND CHAMBER.
152
rr^\
f
(
Y
STONE DISH
PLAN
4 SMALL AI-TAR
l imiiii;»|»iJ
tnofve^
I »„l ,.,.1 h,iJ mill ..mI
5 4 3 2 I i
BASE OF COLUMN
(from farm.)
V
D
I"-
SQUARE ALTAR ALTAR FROM HOPE
ROMAN WORKINGS IN STONE AT BROUGH.
133
134
135
REMAINS OF ANCIENT OVEN DISCOVERED IN CHARLOTTE LANE.
BRADWELL.
"Now of the Peak I've said all I intend.
May health and pleasure wait on — every friend
At Tideswell, Grindlow, Grange and Abneylow,
Wardlow and WindmilL Hiicklow and Foolow;
At Brettou, Bradwell, Middleton, and Leam,
Castleton, Baslow, Hathersage, and Eyam."
(Furness.)
Finis.
CHESTERFIELD :
Broad Oaks Press,
1912.
(r;:22i^c^^
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