Eckington, Derbyshire
Encyclopedia
Eckington is a town in North East Derbyshire
, 7 miles (11 km) north of Chesterfield
and 8.5 miles (14 km) south of Sheffield
on the border with South Yorkshire
.
Eckington has a population of 11,152.
It lies on the B6052 and B6056 roads close to the A6135 for Sheffield and Junction 30 of the M1
.
coins were discovered in December 2008, at a site alongside Eckington cemetery, which may be evidence of a Roman settlement or thoroughfare in the area. The oldest of the silver and copper coins dates from the reign of the emperor Domitian
(AD 81 to 96) while the others are from the reigns of Trajan
(AD 98 to 117) and Hadrian
(AD 117 to 138).
Eckington features in the Domesday Book
in 1086 (as Echintune) a manor that had been given to Ralph Fitzhubert. Some parts of the parish church of St Peter and St Paul date back as far as 1100.
George Sitwell was baptised in 1601 by his parents George and Mary of Eckington. George's father died whilst he was still a child. However when an adult he was able to acquire the freehold of land in the area of Eckington and exploited this by mining iron ore. In 1625, he built the Renishaw Hall
estate, which is now owned by Sir Reresby Sitwell's
daughter, Alexandra and her family.
After mining the ore, Sitwell vertically integrated the business by constructing a blast furnace
at Plumbley in partnership with his stepfather. (His mother had remarried locally to Henry Wigfall). By 1652, Sitwell had built his own furnace at Foxbrooke near Renishaw
. Over the next twenty years Sitwell built a furnace at North Wingfield
, forges at Pleasley
, Clipstone
and Cuckney
; and at Pleasley
he built a furnace, a forge and power saws. However the novelty was the East Midlands' first rolling and slitting mill near Renishaw.
Sitwell moved to Eastcote
in 1668 to live with his new wife Elizabeth Hawtrey in Haydon Hall
.
Eckington also had a small coal
mine in the eastern part of the town, one of the very few in the country which still operated. There used to be a railway station
between the town and Renishaw.
The town also has a history of the Sickle and Scythe trade. Several Dams dedicated to using waterpower to grind the blades can be found in the area- Chapelwheel, Carlton Wheel and Feilds Wheel.
Local attractions include Renishaw Hall
, a 400 year old Manor House.
The only secondary school in Eckington is Eckington School
, a very large comprehensive school, with pupils going there from surrounding areas such as Killamarsh
, Renishaw
, Beighton
, Ridgeway
and Mosborough
. Despite the school being closer to several Sheffield residential areas (including Beighton
and Mosborough
) than other Derbyshire ones, the admissions policy is set in such a way to favour pupils coming from the Derbyshire feeder schools in areas such as Killamarsh and Renishaw. Eckington Comprehensive is designated a specialist engineering college. Eckington Grammar School in Halfway
became Derbyshire's first comprehensive school in 1957, changing its name to the Westfield School (Sheffield)
, and since 1967 has been controlled by the borough of Sheffield.
and Derbyshire
, Eckington and other border towns such as Killamarsh
, Mosborough
and Ridgeway
have their own local accent, a cross between the Sheffield
(as opposed to Yorkshire) and Chesterfield
accent. The influence of the Sheffield accent is the more strong.
(halt).
Eckington Woods to the west of the town form part of the Moss Valley
conservation area. They are also known locally as the Bluebell Wood, the latter being a local term coined because of the quantity of bluebell
s which cover the woods in the springtime. The area used to be known for sickle
and scythe
production, with the remains of an old forge in the valley.
North East Derbyshire
North East Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. It borders the districts of Chesterfield, Bolsover, Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales in Derbyshire, and Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire....
, 7 miles (11 km) north of Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
and 8.5 miles (14 km) south of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
on the border with South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
.
Eckington has a population of 11,152.
It lies on the B6052 and B6056 roads close to the A6135 for Sheffield and Junction 30 of the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
.
History
10 RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
coins were discovered in December 2008, at a site alongside Eckington cemetery, which may be evidence of a Roman settlement or thoroughfare in the area. The oldest of the silver and copper coins dates from the reign of the emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
(AD 81 to 96) while the others are from the reigns of Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
(AD 98 to 117) and Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
(AD 117 to 138).
Eckington features in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
in 1086 (as Echintune) a manor that had been given to Ralph Fitzhubert. Some parts of the parish church of St Peter and St Paul date back as far as 1100.
George Sitwell was baptised in 1601 by his parents George and Mary of Eckington. George's father died whilst he was still a child. However when an adult he was able to acquire the freehold of land in the area of Eckington and exploited this by mining iron ore. In 1625, he built the Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall is a stately home in Derbyshire, England which dates from the 17th century. It is a Grade I listed building. It has been the home of the Sitwell family for over 350 years....
estate, which is now owned by Sir Reresby Sitwell's
Sir Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet
Sir Sacheverell Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet was the head of the Sitwell family, and owner of Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire....
daughter, Alexandra and her family.
After mining the ore, Sitwell vertically integrated the business by constructing a blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
at Plumbley in partnership with his stepfather. (His mother had remarried locally to Henry Wigfall). By 1652, Sitwell had built his own furnace at Foxbrooke near Renishaw
Renishaw, Derbyshire
Renishaw is a village in the district of North East Derbyshire in England.Renishaw lies on the A6135 between the villages of Eckington and Barlborough. To the west of the village is a section of the Trans Pennine Trail long distance footpath which runs along a former railway line. Adjacent to this...
. Over the next twenty years Sitwell built a furnace at North Wingfield
North Wingfield
North Wingfield is a large village in the English county of Derbyshire, located approximately 4½ miles south-east of Chesterfield, and 1 mile north-east of Clay Cross. It is in the North East Derbyshire district...
, forges at Pleasley
Pleasley
Pleasley is a small village in between the nearby towns of Chesterfield and Mansfield, it is 8 km south east of Bolsover, Derbyshire, England and 4 km north west of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire...
, Clipstone
Clipstone
Clipstone in north Nottinghamshire is a small working class ex-coal mining village built on an old army base.-History:George Sitwell, Ironmaster mined iron locally and built a furnace here in the seventeenth century.- General description :...
and Cuckney
Cuckney
Cuckney is a small village in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, between Worksop and Market Warsop.The A60 road connects Market Warsop and Cuckney via Cuckney Hill.-History:...
; and at Pleasley
Pleasley
Pleasley is a small village in between the nearby towns of Chesterfield and Mansfield, it is 8 km south east of Bolsover, Derbyshire, England and 4 km north west of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire...
he built a furnace, a forge and power saws. However the novelty was the East Midlands' first rolling and slitting mill near Renishaw.
Sitwell moved to Eastcote
Eastcote
Eastcote is a suburban area established around an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.In the Middle Ages, Eastcote was one of the three areas that made up the parish of Ruislip, under the name of Ascot...
in 1668 to live with his new wife Elizabeth Hawtrey in Haydon Hall
Haydon Hall
Haydon Hall was one of the three main houses of Eastcote, within what is now the London Borough of Hillingdon. The house was built in 1630 as a home for Lady Alice, Dowager Countess of Derby who had been living in Harefield. The house remained in the ownership of Lady Alice's descendants for...
.
Eckington also had a small coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mine in the eastern part of the town, one of the very few in the country which still operated. There used to be a railway station
Eckington railway station
Eckington railway station was a railway station to serve Eckington, Derbyshire.The station was opened by the North Midland Railway on the "old road" between Chesterfield and Masborough....
between the town and Renishaw.
The town also has a history of the Sickle and Scythe trade. Several Dams dedicated to using waterpower to grind the blades can be found in the area- Chapelwheel, Carlton Wheel and Feilds Wheel.
Local attractions include Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall is a stately home in Derbyshire, England which dates from the 17th century. It is a Grade I listed building. It has been the home of the Sitwell family for over 350 years....
, a 400 year old Manor House.
Schools
The oldest school in Eckington is Camms CE Primary School. In 1702, Thomas Camm gave an endowment to be used to build a schoolhouse and to employ a schoolmaster to teach 24 poor children in the parish of Eckington. In 1832, Robert Harrison moved the school to its second building, which cost £600, and it was moved again to its current location on Castle Hill in 1975.The only secondary school in Eckington is Eckington School
Eckington School (Derbyshire)
Eckington School is a very large comprehensive school in Eckington, Derbyshire in England, next to the B6056 road. It has around 1600 pupils.-History:...
, a very large comprehensive school, with pupils going there from surrounding areas such as Killamarsh
Killamarsh
Killamarsh is a town in North East Derbyshire. It borders South Yorkshire to its north and west. It lies between Halfway and Mosborough to the west, Renishaw to the south, Beighton and Sothall to the northwest, Wales to the northeast, Harthill to its east and the Rother Valley Country Park to its...
, Renishaw
Renishaw, Derbyshire
Renishaw is a village in the district of North East Derbyshire in England.Renishaw lies on the A6135 between the villages of Eckington and Barlborough. To the west of the village is a section of the Trans Pennine Trail long distance footpath which runs along a former railway line. Adjacent to this...
, Beighton
Beighton
Beighton ward —which includes the districts of Beighton, Hackenthorpe, Owlthorpe, and Sothall—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham and covers an area of 5.7 km2...
, Ridgeway
Ridgeway, Derbyshire
Ridgeway is a district of North East Derbyshire in the county of Derbyshire in England.-Location:Ridgeway lies just south of the South Yorkshire border, around 5 miles south-east of Sheffield City Centre.-History:...
and Mosborough
Mosborough
Mosborough ward — which includes the districts of Halfway, Mosborough village, Waterthorpe, and Westfield — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham, and covers an area of 8.9 km2....
. Despite the school being closer to several Sheffield residential areas (including Beighton
Beighton
Beighton ward —which includes the districts of Beighton, Hackenthorpe, Owlthorpe, and Sothall—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham and covers an area of 5.7 km2...
and Mosborough
Mosborough
Mosborough ward — which includes the districts of Halfway, Mosborough village, Waterthorpe, and Westfield — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham, and covers an area of 8.9 km2....
) than other Derbyshire ones, the admissions policy is set in such a way to favour pupils coming from the Derbyshire feeder schools in areas such as Killamarsh and Renishaw. Eckington Comprehensive is designated a specialist engineering college. Eckington Grammar School in Halfway
Mosborough
Mosborough ward — which includes the districts of Halfway, Mosborough village, Waterthorpe, and Westfield — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham, and covers an area of 8.9 km2....
became Derbyshire's first comprehensive school in 1957, changing its name to the Westfield School (Sheffield)
Westfield School (Sheffield)
Westfield Sports College, is a non-denominational secondary school in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The school is a specialist Sports College...
, and since 1967 has been controlled by the borough of Sheffield.
Traditions
On the border between South YorkshireSouth Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, Eckington and other border towns such as Killamarsh
Killamarsh
Killamarsh is a town in North East Derbyshire. It borders South Yorkshire to its north and west. It lies between Halfway and Mosborough to the west, Renishaw to the south, Beighton and Sothall to the northwest, Wales to the northeast, Harthill to its east and the Rother Valley Country Park to its...
, Mosborough
Mosborough
Mosborough ward — which includes the districts of Halfway, Mosborough village, Waterthorpe, and Westfield — is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham, and covers an area of 8.9 km2....
and Ridgeway
Ridgeway, Derbyshire
Ridgeway is a district of North East Derbyshire in the county of Derbyshire in England.-Location:Ridgeway lies just south of the South Yorkshire border, around 5 miles south-east of Sheffield City Centre.-History:...
have their own local accent, a cross between the Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
(as opposed to Yorkshire) and Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
accent. The influence of the Sheffield accent is the more strong.
Amenities
There is the Eckington Swimming baths near the library built in the 1970s as part of town centre improvement plan. Latter followed by a bypassing of the High street, and building a bus stationEckington bus station
Eckington bus station serves the small town of Eckington, Derbyshire, England.The bus station is situated on Pinfold Street, has four stands and is served by Stagecoach East Midlands and Stagecoach Sheffield....
(halt).
Eckington Woods to the west of the town form part of the Moss Valley
Moss Valley, Derbyshire
The Moss is a brook in North East Derbyshire, England.When Rother Valley Country Park was built in 1980s, they used water from The Moss to fill the lakes.-Name:The name of the river derives from Moss Beck, which means 'stream through marshy ground'....
conservation area. They are also known locally as the Bluebell Wood, the latter being a local term coined because of the quantity of bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
s which cover the woods in the springtime. The area used to be known for sickle
Sickle
A sickle is a hand-held agricultural tool with a variously curved blade typically used for harvesting grain crops or cutting succulent forage chiefly for feeding livestock . Sickles have also been used as weapons, either in their original form or in various derivations.The diversity of sickles that...
and scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
production, with the remains of an old forge in the valley.
People
Notable people from Eckington include:- Walter BusseyWalter BusseyWalter Bussey was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Blackpool, Exeter City, Swansea Town and Stoke City. He made one hundred and eighty five appearances for Stoke.-Stoke City:...
, footballer - Herbert Henry ElvinHerbert Henry ElvinHerbert Henry Elvin was a British trade unionist.Born in Eckington, Derbyshire, Elvin left school at the age of 14, although he later studied with the People's Palace, Birkbeck College and the City of London College...
, trade union leader - Joseph Gales, Sr.Joseph Gales, Sr.Joseph Gales was a journalist, newspaper publisher and political figure. He was the father of the younger Joseph Gales.-Life in Britain:...
, politician and journalist - Joseph Gales, Jr., journalist and Mayor of Washington, D.C.
- Joan HindeJoan HindeJoan Hinde is a British trumpeter and entertainer.- Life :Joan Hinde was born in Eckington, Derbyshire. At the age of six she began receiving cornet lessons from her uncle, who was the conductor of a local brass band. Joan took to the instrument almost immediately and needed no coaxing to...
, trumpeter - George SitwellGeorge Sitwell (Sheriff)George Sitwell was the leading ironmaster in North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire in the seventeenth century.. He built Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire in 1626. He mined, forged, and rolled iron for use in Britain and overseas...
, IronmasterIronmasterAn ironmaster is the manager – and usually owner – of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain....
was born here in 1601 - Paul WestPaul West (poet)Paul West is a novelist and poet. He was born in Eckington, Derbyshire in England to Alfred and Mildred West. Currently, he resides in upstate New York with his wife Diane Ackerman, a writer, poet, and naturalist. West is the author of twenty-four novels...
, poet