PREFACE.

 

    In submitting to their numerous subscribers, and public generally, a popular History and complete Topography of Derbyshire, with a comprehensive Directory of its principal Inhabitants, the Authors have to tender their grateful acknowledgements to the various literary, scientific, and official Gentlemen of the County, for the valuable and interesting information with which they have furnished them, in answer to their numerous inquiries, and also to an unprecedented List of Subscribers who have so liberally supported them in their arduous undertaking.  This prompt and muniflcent patronage shews clearly, that Works of this description, (when faithfully complied) are highly interesting and useful both in the Office and Library,- not only to the man of business, but also to the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy; especially in such exensive and important Mineral Districts as Derbyshire, where they are found invaluable as books of local and commercial refernce. Authenticity being the great desideratum of Topography, the publishers attention has been unremittingly directed to the attainment of that object, in the present work, - every town, parish, township, hamlet, and almost every house in the County has been visited, and the information either obtained or verified on the spot.  And though it would be presumptuous to expect that a volume containing such a large amoun of information, and such a great variety of subjects, could be entirely free from errors, yet it is hoped, that any which may occur in the following pages, will not deteriorate from its general utility.

 

    The Plan of the Work embraces a General History and Description of Derbyshire, shewing its Extent, Populaion, Agriculture, Manufactures, Mineral Productions, Springs, Baths, Roads, Canals, Railways, Abbeys, Castles, Civil and Ecclesiastical Divisions, Antiquities, and Historical events, Seats of Nobility and Gentry, Magistrates, and Public Officers; together with separate Histories and Directories of all the Towns, Parishes, Townships, Villages, and Hamlets, in the six Hundreds of the High Peak, Scarsdale, and part of Wirksworth, in the Northern Division of the County; and Appletree, Morleston and Litchurch, Repton and Gresley, and part of Wirksworth, in the Southern Division, arranged under the heads of their respective Parishes, in each Hundred, and preceded by a general description and statistical summary of every Hundred, shewing its Parishes, Townships &c., and the Divisions and Unions to which they belong, subjoined to which is a copious Index of Places and Subjects, which gives to the volume all the advantages of an Alphabetical Gazetteer.  The Parish Histories shew the situation, extent, and population of each Borough, Town, Township, Village, Hamlet, and extra parochial liberty- the owners of the soil, and lords of the manors; the value of the Church Livings, with their Petrons and Incumbents, the Churches, Chapels, Charities, and Public Institutions, Trade, Commerce, objects of interest, curiosty, &c., - comprising the substance of all that has been written on the various subjects, by ancient and modern authors; the whole followed by a Directory of each place, presenting in an easy classification for reference the addresses and occupations of the principal inhabitants, the post office regulations, and the departure of railway trains, coaches, omnibuses, and carriers.  To which is added a Directory of the Borough of Sheffield.

 

 

F. WHITE & CO.

 

Broomhall Terrace, Ecclesall New Road,

                  Sheffield, April, 1857.