Set in the beautiful Amber Valley, and surrounded by tree clad hillsides, this is one of the prettiest villages in all Derbyshire. The focal point of the village is the ancient parish church, bordered by many old cottages and houses. A notable annual event is the Ashover Show, held in August. One end of the Ashover Light Railway.
Barlow
This pleasant little village has a Norman church and extensive views over surrounding farmland. It is known for its well dressings held in August.
Brackenfield
A charming rural village, with stone cottages set around a striking village green.
Forms part of the pleasant parish of Old Brampton and has two historic halls. The Old Manor House, once the property of the Sitwell family, was built in 1625 by Robert Clarke, the first Mayor of Chesterfield, and Cutthorpe Hall c1675 is a former residence of the Heathcote family. Nearby Linacre reservoirs offer casual countryside pursuits.
Dronfield
A market town before the industrial revolution. Later industry developed along the valley, encouraged by Midland Railway route in 1870.
A progressive township, the largest in North East Derbyshire, Dronfield is situated mid-way between Chesterfield and Sheffield, standing amidst hills and moorlands and within easy reach of the Peak District.
It possesses an interesting blend of old and modern buildings within a town centre Conservation Area. The attractive 18th-century manor house is now used as the town library; nearby is the 14th-century parish church and many beautiful 17th and 18th-century listed buildings.
The Peel monument on the site of the former cross and stocks stands as a tribute to Sir Robert Peel's efforts in repealing the Corn Laws in 1846.
Town centre shopping is well served by car parking, and a bustling weekly market is held on Thursdays. The main shops, civic amenities and sports centre with swimming pool lie conveniently in the upper town around the civic centre.
Eckington
A small town standing between the valleys of the Moss and the Rother. This is Sitwell country; their family seat is Renishaw Hall, standing in a pleasant parkland setting, only one mile from the town centre.
Eckington, first mentioned in 1002, was once an agricultural settlement, but as a result of coal beneath and around it was transformed into a village dependent on the collieries. Close to the town centre and within the Conservation Area is the attractive parish church, the centre of the historic core of the old village. The area has taken on an new lease of life with town centre modernisation, projects aimed at revitalising the surrounding countryside, restoration of old buildings and the revival of the town market.
Killamarsh
This rapidly expanding small town lies 10 miles NW of Chesterfield on the border with South Yorkshire. The focal point of the town is the Parkside shopping centre, with its bustling weekly Thursday market and the nearby leisure centre. To the north lies the 750 acre Rother Valley Country Park, offering a wide range of watersports and recreational facilities. Close by, the old Chesterfield Canal provides interest for the rambler, naturalist and angler.
Heath
Two settlements, Lunt and Le Hethe, combined during the 12th and 13th-centuries to form a single charming little village. Of special architectural and historic interest are the remains of the original 12th century church and a thatched cottage that is timber-framed with crucks, which is also the site of the annual well dressing held in July.
Higham
Straggling the old Roman road, Rykneld Street, this 18th century estate village stands on high ground overlooking the beautiful Amber Valley, Ogston reservoir and Ogston Hall. Along its main street stand many fine 17th-century houses, two old inns, a hotel and the restored market cross that sits on the original steps.
Holmesfield
An ancient manor, Holmesfield is situated amidst fine moorland scenery south-west of Sheffield.
Holymoorside
Prior to the 19th-century, this was a hamlet of scattered farms, a few cottages and mills. Nestling in the valley of the River Hipper amid beautiful moorland surroundings, it has now become a much sought after place to live. The annual show is held in August.
Morton
The historic core of the village is to be found around the old church. Morton's recorded history goes back to 1002.
North Wingfield
On the road from Clay Cross to Heath, the village has a lovely church which dominates the landscape for miles around. The 15th-century Blue Bell Inn was once the Chantry House.
Old Brampton
On the road between Chesterfield and Baslow, the village well merits a visit. Opposite the Norman church is Brampton Hall, a 12th-century building of immense historic interest with cruck oak beams reputed to have come from the earlier village.
Ridgeway
The main road on which this attractive straggling village is set falls steeply down to the Moss Valley. Once known for its local sickle and scythe industry, it is now mainly a residential area. A 300-year-old restored farm in the upper part of the village, known as Ridgeway Cottage Industry Centre, now houses craft workshops.
Renishaw
A large industrial village, whose indutry long predates the Industrial Revolution, the Sitwell family having founded an ironworks in about 1640. To the east lies Renishaw Hall, overlooking the pleasantly situated Renishaw Park Golf Club.
Shirland
Standing astride the A61 Sheffield to Derby road, this ancient settlement shows little sign of its mining history. Mainly a late Victorian village, it has an attractive church and a splendidly reclaimed site, now home to Shirland Golf Club.
Sutton Scarsdale
Near to Heath, it is a pretty little village with fine old stone houses. Nearby is Sutton Scarsdale Hall, once a magnificent 18th-century residence, now an English Heritage proprty, the ruin can be visited at any reasonable time during the year.
Unstone
The seven arched viaduct above the Drone Valley presents the traveller with the most pleasing view of this old rural village set in beautiful countryside between Dronfield and Chesterfield.
Wessington
Is a small village clustering around the dominant village green or clinging to the main road, once the Nottingham to Newhaven turnpike road. The village has two ancient inns, both renowned for their food.
A former estate village close to Chesterfield, it is today an attractive residential area in a rural setting. The parish church and the remains of Wingerworth Hall stand at one of the highest points of the village.Return to North East Derbyshire homepage.
This A to Z guide is provided as a service to the community by Jon Rouse
