The History and Gazetteer of the County of Derby: drawn up from actual observation, and the best authorities; containing a variety of geological, mineralogical, commercial and statistical information. Illustrated by a map of the county, and numerous copper-plate and wood engravings by the first...

Front matter

THE HISTORY AND GAZETTEER OF THE COUNTY OF DERBY. VOLUME I. [Henry Mozley and Son, Printers, Derby.] PLATE street; THE HISTORY AND GAZETTEER OF THE COUNTY OF DERBY : DRAAVN UP FROM ACTUAL OBSERVATION, AND FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES ; CONTAINING A VARIETY OF GEOLOGICAL, MINERALOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION. ILLUSTRATED BY A MAP OF THE COUNTY, AND NUMEROUS COPPER- AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS BY THE FIRST ARTISTS. THE MATERIALS COLLECTED BY THE PUBLISHER, STEPHEN GLOVER. EDITED BY THOMAS NOBLE, Esq. VOLUME I. DERBY : Printed for the Publisher BY HENRY MOZLEY AND SON ; AND SOLD IN LONDON BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER ROW; CHARLES TILT, FLEET- AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 1831. DEDICATION. TO THE MOST NOBLE WILLIAM SPENCER CAVENDISH, Mukt of Sttatttfftitrt, 3IARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, EARL OF DEVONSHIRE, BARON CLIFFORD, AND BARON CAVENDISH OF HARDWICK, K. Gr.

K. A. LORD HIGH CHAMBERLAIN TO WILLIAM IV. LORD LIEUTENANT AND HIGH STEWARD OF THE COUNTY OF DERBY, STEWARD OF THE CORPORATION OF DERBY, D.C.L. &c. &c. HIGH Vll My Lord Duke, j \. A History of Derbyshire has necessarily a claim upon the patronage of your Grace ; because that extensive influence, with which philanthropy, munificence, patriotism and love of the liberal arts, endow rank and opulence, is, my Lord Duke, your own ; and this County is happily the seat of its power. Its benefi cent spirit is felt in Ireland ; and wherever your Grace possesses domains, there, as from a centre, it expands — does good within its immediate sphere, and spreads wide around it the ascendant impulse of example. A History of Derbyshire will be, for the most part, a record of such examples : it cannot but narrate the patriotism of your Grace's ancestors, to whose public spirit we owe the preserva tion of the British Constitution ; and it must endeavour to speak, although in inadequate terms, of that munificence by which your Grace preserves and increases to your tenantry, and to every place politically or personally connected with you, my Lord Duke, the blessings that emanate from the British Constitution.

When we look around us through the County which these Volumes describe, we see the benignant effects of liberality in its greatest Landowner ; and when a general agricultural calamity of the nation has, at times, checked any of those effects, we have had here the gratification of observing, that over the Derbyshire domains of your Grace, those calamities passed with mitigated, if not with forceless, injury. The personal friendship of the Sovereign, and the anxiety of your Grace to introduce the energy of liberality into the councils of the State, are the necessary results of that beneficence of heart, which induces you, my Lord Duke, to regard the poor with charity ; to extend your care to the progress of education and to the increase of know ledge ; to afford your patronage on every occasion to the cultivation of the Arts and Sciences ; to enrich your splendid mansions with paintings and statuary ; — in a word, at once to dispense comforts to the industrious labourer, and to stimulate and invigorate the intel lectual energies of the aspiring.

Chapter I

Page Crystallized Cavern . .17 Caverns at Matlock . .18 Kinderlow Cavern . .19 List of natural caverns . . 20 AVater swallows, &c. . . .21 Springs (with alphabetical list) . 21 Mineral waters . . . .22 Ebbing ancl flowing well . . 27 Rivers Trent .... 28

Chapter II

Flatworks . . . .54 Rights of miners in the king's field 55 Lessees of mineral duties . . 55 Origin of the laws . . .56 Sorts of ore . . . . .56 Smelting furnaces . . .56 Miners' standard dish . .57 Annual produce . . .57 Veins of lead ore, antiquity of lead mines and Roman pigs of lead . 58 Mineral laws . . .60 Barmaster gives possession . . 60 Method of working the mines . 61 Ancient laws injurious to improvement 61 List of lead mines . . .64 Cupolas 67 Average produce of lead ore . 67 Slickensides . . . .68 Ironstone and mode of getting . 68 Iron furnaces and founderies . 69 Ores of iron . . . .69 Bloodstone . . . .69 Copper, zinc, sulphuret of zinc, manganese and silver . . 70 Grey ore of antimony . .71 Limestone and list of quarries . 7 1 Marble . . . .71 Page Derwent . . . .30 Dove . . . .31 Erewash, Mease, Amber, Bootle, AVye . . 33 Bradford, Lathkil, &c. . 34 Cascades and waterfalls . . 35 Ponds and reservoirs . . .35 Scenic character . . .35 Climate, winds and rain . . 36 Temperature and longevity . . 37 Marble quarries . . .72 Chert . . . .72 Freestone (with fist of quarries) . 73 Building stone and list of saw miUs 74 Shale, freestone, paviers, flags, slate stone and list of quarries . 75 Prices of slate . ' . .75 Grindstone, whetstone and scythestone quarries . . .76 Scythe sticks . . .76 Cauk stones, quartz crystals and Derbyshire diamonds . . 76 Calcarious concretions . . 76 Fluor spar and fluate of lime . 77 Stalactites, stalagmites and coraUoids 78 Animals, insects and vegetable impressions . . . .79 List of fossils . . .79 Earths, shale, bind, china clay, pipe clay and potters' clay . . 81 List of potteries, chimney pots, fire clay, fire bricks, tile and brick clay and Ust of fire clay pits . 82 Marl, tufa and gypsum . . 83 Heavy earth and sand . . 84 Fullers' earth, bitumen, sulphur, peat and turf . . .84 Page Preliminary observations . . 1 Situation, extent, &c. ... 2 Form, surface, mountain ridges . 3 Great alpine ridge and minor ridges 4 List of mountains, hills, &c. . 5 A'alleys 8 List of narrow rocky valleys . . 9 Caverns Peak Hole Cavern . .11 Poole's Hole . . .13 EldenHole . . .14 Geology 38 Primary rocks, transition or intermediate rocks . . .38 MiUstone grit . . . .39 Shale or shiver . . . .39 Limestone and toadstone . . 40 Principal strata . . .41 Red marl . . . .42 Magnesian limestone . . 42 Coal 43 List of coUieries . . .45 History and mode of working the coal mines . . .47 Measures of strata Shipley deep field, AVest Hallam, Ilkeston, Alfreton common, Pinxton, Stubley, Adelphi and Hady . 50 Damps 51 Nature of Derbyshire coal . .51 Gritstone and shale . . 52 First grit rock . . .52 Great shale or schistus . . 52 Mineral limestone . . .53 Veins of lead ore . . .54 Rake veins . . . .54 Hillcar, Cromford and AVirksworth soughs . . . .54

Chapter III

Natural productions of Derbyshire, observations . . .86 Botany Class 1. Monandria . . 87 Class 2. Diandria . . 88 3. Triandria . . 88 4. Tetrandria . . 91 5. Pentandria . . 92 Class 6. Hexandria . . 94 7. Heptandria . . 95 8. Octandria . . 95 9. Enneandria . . Class 10. Decandria . . 96 11. Dodecandria . . 97 12. Icosandria . . 97 13. Polyandria . . 98 14. Didynamia . . 99 15. Tetradynamia . 101 16. Monadelphia . .102 17. Diadelphia . . 102 18. Polyadelphia . 103 19. Syngenesia . .104 20. Gynandria . . 106 21. Monoecia . . 106 22. Dioecia . .108 23. Polygamia . . 108 24. Cryptogamia . 108 Zoology of Derbyshire . .112 class 1. Horse 112 Ass, ox and sheep . . .113 Goat and stag . . • .114 FaUow deer and hog . . .115 Dog, several varieties . .116 AVolf, fox, wild cat, badger and otter 118 Polecat, marten, ferret, weasel, stoat, hedgehog and mole . .119 Hare, rabbit, rat (varieties of) mouse (varieties of) and squirrel 120 Bat 121 class 2.

Birds.

Observations .... 121 Golden eagle, osprey, kite, buzzard, goshawk, hen harier and ring tail 126 Kestrel, sparrow hawk, little buzzard, merlin, white owl, horned owl, short-eared owl, screech owl, brown owl and Uttle owl . . 127 t> _. ■ Page Butcher bird, raven, crow, rook, Royston crow, jackdaw and jay . 128 Magpie, cuckoo, wryneck and woodpecker 129 Kingfisher, nuthatch, creeper, star- Ung and thrush . . . 130 Song and heath thrush, redwing, fieldfare, blackbird, ring ouzel, water ouzel, rose coloured ouzel, waxen chatterer, crossbiU and grosbeak 131 Greenfinch, bullfinch, bunting, yellow hammer, reed, house and tree sparrow, chaffinch, brambUng and goldfinch .... 132 Common linnet, greater and lesser red-headed linnet, siskin, flycatcher, sky, tit, wood and pipet lark, white and grey wagtail . 133 Yellow wagtail, nightingale, hedge sparrow, redstart, wood wren, lesser pettichaps and golden-crested wren ..... 134 Lesser white-throat, sedge warbler, robin redbreast, wheatear, willow wren, wren, whinchat, stonechat and white-throat . . 135 Blackcap, greater, cole, marsh, blue and longtailed titmouse . .136 Swallow, martin and sand martin . 137 Swift and goatsucker . . .138 Stockdove, ringdove and cock . 138 Peacock, turkey, guinea fowl, pheasant, wood grouse and black game 139 Moor-game, partridge, quail and stone curlew . . .140 Page Crane, bittern, heron, curlew, woodcock, snipe and jacksnipe . 141 Godwit, redshank, ruff and reeve, lapwing, common and spotted sandpiper, dunlin, knot, golden plover, sanderling and ringed plover . 142 Dotterel, seapie, water rail, water hen, corncrake, grey phalarope, bald coot and lesser grebe . 1 43 Greater and lesser crested grebe, great northern and speckled diver, common, lesser and black tern, black-capped, black and white and common gull, kittiwake, goosander and dundiver . . .144 Red headed smew, wUd, tame and black swan, grey lag, white fronted, bernacle and brent goose, wild duck, sheldrake, widgeon, pochard and long-tailed duck . 145 Goldeneye, moriUon, garganey, teal, cormorant and gannet . .146 Fish 148 Eel, burbot, bullhead, river bullhead, flatfish, flounder, perch and strickleback . . . .149 Loach, salmon, trout and grayling . 150 Pike, carp, bream and roach . 151 Tench, barbel, chub, dace, bleak, gudgeon, minnow, lamprey, lampern, nine-eyed eel and sturgeon . 152 Reptiles Toad, frog, lizard, newt and viper .... 153 Snake and blindwcrm . 154 Insects . . . .154

Chapter IV

Carrots, potatoes and alternate husbandry . . . . .175 Pasture and meadow land, diversity of soil . . . .176 Grasses and meadows . . 177 Pasture land, farming stock, and description of stock . . .178 Short horned bull, Charles the Second 179 Short horned heifer, Daffodil, short horned cow, Lady, and Dishley steer 180 Bretby heifer . . . .182 Cheese . . . .182 Sheep, varieties of . . .184 Shepherds' societies . . .185 Ram, Carcass, new Leicester breed 186 Swine and horses . . .187 Asses, rabbits, poultry, and increase of animals and vegetables . 189 Farm buUdings . . .190 Gardens and orchards . . 1 93 Park wood and forest timber . 1 94 Chamomile . . . .194 Agricultural societies . . 194 Inclosures . . . .195 Agriculture — preliminary observations 161 Estates, value and leases . .164 Farms, rents and cottages . .165 Tithes 166 Rates, implements, ploughs, harrows and rollers . . • .166 Carriage of produce and inclosures . 167 Fences and hedge-row timber . 168 Gates and tillage . . .169 Wheat 172 Rye, barley and oats . .173 Pease, tares, turnips, mangel wurzel and cabbage . . . .174

Chapter V

Chesterfield, Derby, Dronfield, Millford, Renishaw, &c. . 201 Iron forges, iron implements and nails 201 Iron screws, needles, tin-plate workers, calamine, brass founderies and coals 202 Copperas, marble, china stone, lime-works, freestone and grindstone . 203 Gritstone, slate, plaster stone, spar works, bricks, tUes, tobacco pipes, Derbyshire diamonds and jewelry 204 Antiquity of the Derbyshire manufactories and lead ore . .198 Manufactories : . .199 Cauk, ironstone and furnaces . 1 99 Butterley iron works . . . 200 Iron works — Alfreton, Brampton, Ferries, fords ancl Cromford and High Peak railway . • 223 Early railways and canals . . 224 Grand trunk canal . . • 225 Chesterfield canal . • .226 Erewash and Nutbrook canals . 227 Peak Forest canal and Marple aqueduct 228 Cromford canal . • . 229 Pinxton railway and tonnage, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Derby canals 230 Adelphi and Woodheaves canals and Trent navigation . . . 231 Conveyance, fairs and markets . 232 Auctions ancl circulating medium . 233 List of tradesmen's copper tokens . 233 Agriculture benefited by commerce 234 Page China works, earthenware, malt, ale and wool .... 205 Fulling mills, woollen cloth and worsted spinning . . . 206 Flax, Unen, hemp and stockings . 207 Framework-knitting and Derby rib 207 Improvements in the stocking frame, hosiers, knitting of various articles 208 Lace and point net machines . 209 Bobbin net machine, Brown's net machine, bobbins and carriages and Heathcote's machine . 209 Traverse warp machine, Morley 's straight bolt and circular bolt machine 210 Leaver's machine and improvements in lace machines . . 211 Page Lace manufactories, siU. and Lomb's silk miU .... 212 Silk trade and weaving of silk . 213 Cotton manufacture, Hargrave's and Peel's machines and Arkwright's spinning frame . . . 213 Cotton manufactories, Crompton's mule, jenny, Cartwright's power loom cotton trade and cotton mills 215 AVeaving muslin, calico printing, bleaching, dyeing, tape, clocks and watches and general manufactures 216 Paper manufactories, trade of the county, exports and imports and ancient trade . . .217 Roads, turnpike and private . 218 County bridges . . . 221

Chapter VI

Antiquities — castle hill barrows, wolf's cote hiU barrow, mining low and arbor low . . 236 End low, human bodies discovered in barrows at Clielmorton, ccc. . 237 Staden low, barrows, Swarkstone lows, Priestcliff low, amulet, beads and Druids' altar . . . 238 Stanton moor barrows and Roo tor rocks 239 Thomas Eyre's chair, Bradley tor, Cardiff rocks, hermitage and graned tor 240 Durwood tor, queen's nine stone close, castle ring, Calton inscription, and nine ladies . . 241 Cat's stone, gorse stone, heart stone, andle stone, Hirst stone, Robin Hood's mark and turning stone . 242 Rock basin, Robin Hood's picking rods, rocking stone, Cair's chair and Pitstead celts . . 243 Roman altar, caers or cails work . 244 British and Roman roads . . 245 Roman station at Little Chester and coins .... 250 Male skeleton found at Little Chester 252 Roman coins, Brough a Roman station, and Melandra castle . . 253 Mouselow castle, Parwich and Pentrich ..... 254 Comb's moss and silver dish . 255 Saxon camps and ancient church architecture .... 256 Melboum, Steetley, &c. . . 357 Church architecture of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries . 257 Painted glass, rood lofts, screens, stone staUs and fonts . . 258

Chapter VII

Customs, &-C. — Rush bearing and well flowering . . . 259 Sugar clipping, kit dressing, funeral garlands and invitations . .261 Wakes, AVhitsun ales and football . 262 Squirrel hunting and lifting . 263 Games, fairs, races, theatricals, arcbery, superstitions, stocks and mole catching . . . 264 Parish pounds and general manners 265

Chapter VIII

General History. — First inhabitants, Coritani and Romans . . 267 Saxons and kingdom of Mercia . 268 Crida, AVibba and Edwin of Deira 269 Penda 271 Peada and AVulfer . . .273 Ethelred, Ker.red, Ceolred and Ethelbald .... 274 Beornred and Offa . . . 278 Egfrid, Kenulph and Kenelm . 279 Ceolwulph, Bernuiph, Ludican and Wichtlaf .... 280 Bertulph . . . .281 Boerred ..... 282 Danish devastations . . . 283 Dissensicns amongst tbe Saxons . 862 Buhred .... 286 Ceolwulph .... 287 Alfred 287 Retrospect ofthe Mercian government 287 Introduction of Christianity, dissensions between the clergy and thanes 288 Mercian church .... 289

Chapter IX

Edgar sole monarch of Mercia . 296 Edward 296 Alfer, duke of Mercia . \ 296 Dissensions between the regular and secular priests . , .297 Political history of Mercia continued 291 Ethelred duke of Mercia and Ethelfleda 291 Edward the Elder . . ' . 291 AtheLtan and Edmund . . 294 Seculars and monks . . . 294 Dissensions of seculars and monks 295 Turketul's visit to Croyland . 295 St. Dunstan .... 295 Edwy Alfer, duke of Mercia ' . -297 Alfric, duke of Mercia . ■ 297 Edric Streon, duke of Mercia . 297 Invasion of the Danes . . 298 Sweyn, king of Denmark ' . . 299 Siege of London . • • 299 Canute 299 Ethelred restored . . . 299 Edmund Ironside . . . 299 Battle of Ashdon . . .299 Page Death of Alfric . . .299 England divided between Edmund and Canute .... 300 Canute sole monarch . . 300 Death of Edric Streon . . 300 Leofwine, duke of Mercia . . 300 Leofric, duke of Mercia . . 300 Edward the Confessor . . 301 Death of Leofric . . .301 Godiva, benefactress to Coventry . 301 Page Story of Godiva . . . 302 Algar, duke of Mercia . . . 302 Edwin, duke of Mercia . . 302 Battle of Hastings . . . 303 AVUliam, duke of Normandy . 303 AViUiam the Conqueror . . 303 Siege of Ely .... 306 Morcar made prisoner . . 307 Expedition and fate of Edgar . 307

Chapter X

Historical incidents Derbyshire under the dukes of Mercia 308 Divided at the Conquest . . 308 Inhabitants . • • .308 Derbyshire under the Normans . 308 AViUiam Rufus . . .309 Services of WiUiam de Peverel . 309 King Stephen .... 309 Battie of the standard . .310 Lucia of Mercia . . .310 Siege of Lincoln . . .311 AViUiam cle Peverel . . .311 Ranulph de Gernon . . .311 BarOns take part with king Henry 313 Revolt of young Henry . .313 Earl Ferrers . . . .313 Family of Briwere . . .314 Barons confederated against king John 314 AViUiam de Albini . . .314 Confederated barons . . .314 Magna Charta signed . .316 John repents signing the Charter .317 Siege of Rochester . . .317 Dauphin of France, invited by tbe barons . • • * • 317 Henry the Third . . .318 Siege of Mount Sorrel . .318 Siege of Lincoln . . .319 Death of the Earl of Pembroke . 320 Confederacy of the barons . . 320 Confederacy dissolved . . 320 Disgrace of Hugh de Burg . 320 Another confederacy of the barons 321 Simon de Montfort . . .321 Articles of Oxford . . .321 Commission of barons . . 321 Robert de Ferrers . . . 322 Civil war . . . .322 Battle of Lewis . . .323 Henry taken prisoner . . 323 Knights of tbe shire summoned . 323 Escape of prince Edward . . 323 Battle of Evesham . . .323 Ferrers, earl of Derby . . 324 Prince Henry ravages Derbyshire . 324 Battle of Chesterfield . . 324 Earl of Derby . . .325 Gloucester's insurrection . . 325 Earl Ferrer's brings an action of restitution .... 326 Segrave .... 326 Segrave justiciary and his disgrace 326 Nicholas de Segrave . . . 327 Family of Bardolf . . .328 AViUiam de Briwere . . . 328 Grey, of Codnor . . . 329 Ranulph de BlondeviUe . . 330 Edward the First . . .331 Llewellyn, of AVales, refuses to do homage to Edward . . 331 First expedition into AVales . 331 Legislative enactments . . 332 Coin rectified .... 332 Jews seized and hanged . . 332 Statute of mortmain . . . 332 Statute of quo warranto . . 333 Revolt of the Welsh . . 333 Second expedition against AVales . 333 AVilliam de Ferrers . . . 333 AViUiam de Bardolf . . .333 Henry de Grey . . . 333 Ralph de CromweU . . . 333 Lacy, earl of Lincoln . . 334 Sir Nicholas de Stafford . . 334 Norman d'Arcy . . . 334 Nicholas de Segrave . . . 334 John de Musard . . . 334 WiUiam de Audley . . . 335 Ralph de Pipard . . .335 Edward the First enters AVales . 335 Conflict on the Menai . . 335 Llewellyn's descent from Snowdon . 335 Birth of Edward of Caernarvon . 335 Edward visits the continent . . 336 Affairs of Scotland . . .336 Claimants of the crown of Scotland 336 Scotland a fief of the crown of England 337 Baliol declared king of Scotland . 337 Edward irritates the Scots . .337 Edward invades Scotland . . 337 Battle of Dunbar . . .337 Baliol in England . . . 338 Affairs in Guienne . . . 338 Edmund of Lancaster . . 338 Edward forms a confederacy against France . . . . 339 Barons refuse to pay taxes . 339 Edward confirms the great charter 340 Edward deceived by his allies . 340 Renewed troubles

in Scotland . 340 Sir AViUiam AVaUace . . 340 Edward concludes a truce with France 340 Earl of Surrey defeated by AVaUace 340 Edward prepares to enter Scotland . 340 Anthony Bee, bishop of Durham . 341 Thomas, earl of Lancaster . 341 De Furnival, D'Arcy, De AVake and De Segrave . . . 341 De Bardolph, Grey de AVilton, Grey de Codnor, De Frescheville, Ralph de CromweU and Nicholas cle Segrave .... 342 Other barons of Derbyshire . 343 Battle of Falkirk . . .343 Revolt of the Scots . . . 343 John de Segrave . . . 343 Edward I. again enters Scotland . 343 Robert de Bruce proclaimed king of Scotland .... 344 Bruce defeated . . . 344 Edward's preparations for the complete reduction of Scotland . 344 His death and character . . 344 Derbyshire during the 13th century 341

Chapter XI

Historical incidents connected with Derbyshire Edward the Second . . 346 Piers Gaveston . . 346 Marriage of the King . . 346 Favours to Gaveston and his conduct 346 Admonition and death of the earl of Lincoln .... 347 c Earl of AVarwick . . .347 Confedraey of the barons joined by the earl of Lancaster . , . 347 Capture and death of Gaveston .

Thomas le Blond . . .360 Henry Fitz Hugh . . .360 AViUiam d'Eincourt . . .360 D'Arcy 360 Henry, earl of Derby • .361 Battle of HaUidon biU . .361 Various expeditions of Edward into Scotland . . • .361 Campaigns in Flanders . . 361 Naval victory . • .361 Siege of Tournay . . . 361 Imprisonment of statesmen . . 362 John de Montford . . .362 Affairs of Scotland . . . 362 Siege of AVerke Castle . . .362 The Fair Maid of Kent . . 362 Thomas de Holand . . . 362 Truce with Scotland . . 363 Great charter confirmed . . 363 Tournaments .... 363 Treachery of Philip . . . 363 Henry, earl of Lancaster . . 363 Sir AValter de Manny . . 364 Expedition to Guienne . . 364 Siege of Bergerac . . , 364 Success in Guienne . . . 365 Defeat of the French at Auberoque 365 Death of the earl of Lancaster . 365 Page Page Spencer the elder taken and hanged 354 The King escapes to AVales with the younger Spencer . . • 354 Taken by Beaumont . . . 354 Edward I. deposed . . . 354 Death of Edward I. 354 Disgraceful administration of IsabeUa and Mortimer . . . 354 Robert de Holand seized and beheaded by the earl of Lancaster . 355 Fate of Edmund, earl of Kent . 356 Edward's claims to Scotland and France .... 356 Edward resolves to overthrow the favourite .... 356 ParUament at Nottingham . . 356 Mortimer seized . . . 357 Mortimer condemned and executed 357 Conspiracy of the Scottish claimants 358 Thomas de AVake . . .358 Henry de Beaumont . . 358 Confederates embark and place BaUol on the Scottish throne . . 359 Dissimulation of Edward . . 359 John de Segrave . . . 359 Nicholas de CantUupe . . 359 John de Bardolph . . . 359 Grey de Codnor . . . 359 Grey de AVilton . . . 360 FUght of the king . . . 348 Enmity of the king and barons . 348 AVars in Scotland . . . 348 Edward driven out of Scotland . 348 Famine .... 348 Obsequies of Gaveston . . 348 Countess of Lancaster and Derby seized .... 348 Deposition of the countess . . 348 Hugh de Spencer . . . 349 Confederacy of the barons . . 349 Earl of Lancaster deserted by his party 349 Robert de Holand sent to raise troops 349 The king takes Tutbury . . 350 Earl of Lancaster arrives at Pontefract 350 Earl of Lancaster marches northward 350 Conflict at Boroughbridge . . 350 The earl taken prisoner and executed 350 Robert de Holand . . . 351 Roger de Mortimer . . . 351 Roger de Mortimer's escape . 351 Queen foUows him to France . 352 Henry de Beaumont . . 352 Plot against the Spencers . . 352 Arrival of prince Edward in Paris . 353 Prince Edward affianced to PhiUppa of Hainault . . . 353 The queen and prince invade England 353 FUght of the King and the Spencers OF THE COUNTY OF DERBY.

Chapter I

Preliminary observations. Situation, extent and boundaries of Derbyshire. Surface and natural appearance. Ridges of mountains; valleys; caverns; springs ; rivers, brooks and standing maters. Particular descriptions ofthe most remarkable natural features of the county. Notices of interesting scenery. Climate; winds; rain; peculiar diseases ; health; longevity. .DERBYSHIRE is an inland county of England ; and, whether we consider its agricultural and mineral productions, or its rising importance in manufactures and commerce, we shall find it entitled to be ranked high among the wealthy and industrious districts of our island. Perhaps its central position and its numerous natural advantages ought to have claimed for it, long since, a pre-eminence in the home-trade ofthe kingdom, but it must be recollected that the facilities of internal navigation are of modern invention, and that, in their infancy, they could not be expected to encounter the difficulties presented by a mountainous region.

Sheffield and Nottingham, at the very borders of this county, and Birmingham, at a short distance from its western confines, were more open to those improved means of communication. But while the manufactures of these neighbouring towns found their way to the seaports, and became branches of our foreign commerce, the natural energies of Derbyshire were not inactive. There were found in this district those inventive faculties which create the highest manufacturing powers, and then go on to perfect the powers they create. The fabrics of silk and cotton are indebted to Derbyshire for the most simple, yet most prolific combinations of machinery ; and, we may add, that in the prudence and humanity which nourish manufactures into real strength, and render them blessings to both the capitalist and the operative, Derbyshire is not exceeded by any other part of the British Empire.

The rising and increasing trade and manufactures of this county do not, however, constitute its most prominent objects of interest. Nature here incites the topographer to scientific investigations, and calls upon him for picturesque descriptions. She, here, unfolds much of her own antiquities, in comparison with which the crumbling fragments left by the earlier generations of mankind as intimations of their existence, their pride and their superstitions, are recent and trivial. In those subjects of awful admiration, which elevate at times the apparently humble science of Geology to poetic sublimity, there is scarcely a district of the globe more abundant. The Peak of Derbyshire with its surrounding region, distinguished by limestone and basaltic'* " The limestone of Derbyshire is divided into four beds, by intervening beds of basaltic amygdaloid.

Bakewell's Geology. B strata, enriched with mineral veins and characterised by determinate formations, affords the scientific student a series of instructive facts, while it astonishes him with the mighty order and regularity of stratification which the disorderly and irregular disruptions around him have brought to view. The simple yet bold sketch of the origin of the earth which Whitehurst has delineated, and which subsequent geologists have endeavoured to fill up and perfect rather than to remodel, had its conception in his study of the stratification of Derbyshire.— With respect to the picturesque or scenic interest of the northern portion of the county, we may, with Mr. Rhodes,* justly extol "the graceful and long-continued outline," and " the breadth of light and shadow" presented by the mountainous ridges, while in the dales and valleys, "especially those through which the Derwent, the Dove, and the Wye meander, the eye is enchanted with brilliant streams, well cultivated meadows, luxuriant foliage, steep heathy hills and craggy rocks."

In the rank and influence of its landed proprietors and aristocracy, Derbyshire equals the proudest county in the realm. The histories of their families connect themselves frequently with the wars, the feuds, the public or patriotic counsels, and all the transactions, whether foreign or domestic, of the kingdom. This portion of the labours of the topographer embraces much of the antiquities of the county. The actions of illustrious individuals are sometimes alluded to in their armorial bearings, sometimes intimated by their monuments, and are some times to be sought for in ancient records : but our oldest histories are unconnected chronicles of monasteries, and it is seldom that, in these documents, the affairs of either the barons or the citizens form more than a doubtful line or two of detail.

The spirit of research has indeed been well directed during the last sixty or seventy years. It has done much towards the eluci dation of the least luminous of former ages, and the studies of the antiquary are daily extending and correcting the pages of the historian. The population of every portion of the civilized world is necessarily divided into classes, diversified by condition, situation, pursuits and occupation, but with interests more or less blended with the interests of each other. In Derbyshire this diversity may be considered more than usually great in proportion to the number of inhabitants and extent of territory. Labour is here as varied as the aspect of the county. The lead, the iron, the coal and other mines, together with the marble and stone quarries, employ a part of the people in pursuits which have, again, their subdivisions : some of these are even distinguished from the rest by peculiar customs and long established laws, and each of them imparts some variety of character to its neighbourhood.