Wirksworth

Wirksworth is a market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England. Its population of 4,904 in the 2011 census was estimated at 5,180 in 2019. Wirksworth contains the source of the River Ecclesbourne. The town was granted a market charter by Edward I in 1306 and still holds a market on Tuesdays in the Memorial Gardens. The parish church of St Mary's is thought to date from 653. The town developed as a centre for lead mining and stone quarrying. Many lead mines were owned by the Gell family of nearby Hopton Hall. The name was recorded as " Werchesworde " in the Domesday Book of 1086 A.D. Outlying farms (berewicks) were Cromford, Middleton, Hopton, Wellesdene [sic], Carsington, Kirk Ireton and Callow. It gave its name to the earlier Wirksworth wapentake or hundred. Survey of English Place-Names: Wyrcesuuyrthe 835. Werchesworde 1086. Wirksworth(e) 1536. The toponym might be: Weorc's enclosure. Wyrc's enclosure. Fortified enclosure. Examples of place names that might have a similar etymology: Chisworth – " Cissa's enclosure ". Hurworth-on-Tees – " Enclosure made with hurdles ". Hollingworth – " Holly hedged enclosure ". The origins of Wirksworth are thought to have related to the presence of thermal warm water springs nearby, coupled with a sheltered site at the head of a glaciated valley, able to yield cereals such as oats and provide timber suitable for building. The Wirksworth area in the White Peak is known for Neolithic and Bronze Age remains. Woolly rhino bones were found by lead miners in 1822 in Dream Cave, on private land between Wirksworth and present-day Carsington Water. A nearby cave at Carsington Pasture yielded prehistoric finds in the late 20th century. In Roman Britain, the limestone area of today's Derbyshire yielded lead, the prime site probably being Lutudarum in the hills south and west of present-day Matlock. Wirksworth is a candidate for the site of Lutudarum. Roman roads from Wirksworth lead to Buxton (The Street) and to Brough-on-Noe (The Portway).