Darley Abbey has one of the oldest buildings in Derby in the form of the Abbey on Darley street. It dates from the mid 12th Century and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Most of the old buildings from this time have been demolished around the time of the Dissolution in 1538.
The boar's head cotton mill, founded by Thomas Evans in 1782 was built here, four out of the five mills still remain today.The mills were used for the preparation of paper, Corn, Leather and for Fulling (treatment of cloth). The Evans family created housing for it's mill workforce at Flat Square, Hill square,Brick Row and Mile ash lane. The workforce were well looked after, The houses were served by one of England's first sewage disposal systems.
They built Saint Mathews church in 1819 and Saint Mathews School in 1826. The mills were sold by the Evans family in 1903, The paper mill on the village side of the river was demolished in 1934 but all other buildings remain. They are now used by businesses.
DarleyAbbey village in Derbyshire, is haven of peace and tranquility, a short distance from the busy A6 just north of Derby.
The Abbey Pub, is the only remaining building, thought to have been used as the Abbeys guest house for travellers and pilgrims during the 13th century.
Darley park, which borders the village, was landscaped by William Evans and has attractive flower beds, shrubberies and lawns running down to a stretch of the river Derwent, which is used for boating and has an annual regatta.
The Darley chartulary, though unfortunately incomplete, is full of interest as to the ecclesiastical affairs of the county at large, and of other religious foundations of Derbyshire with which the abbey was connected.
Pandulph, the papal legate, was at Darley 17 July, 1220, and dated from there a letter to the bishop of Winchester and Hubert de Burgh, inclosing a petition of the men of Nottingham and Derbyshire for the release of their corn which had been seized by the crown.
The old composition between the abbey and the vicar of Wirksworth respecting the tithes of Wigwell was renewed in 1359 by Vicar Robert Ireton in the church of Wirksworth before William Wryght of Hopton, 'notary public by apostolical and imperial authority.' (fn.
Feeds |
Contact