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PHOTOS

VILLAGE HALL

The name “Holymoorside” is thought by some to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “Holy” meaning hill clearing and “Moorside” as the expanse of moorland at Beeley Moor once extended into the area of the village. The village of Holymoorside has only been in existence for around 200 years, it developed during the late 1700’s when the entrepreneurs of the day, saw that the rapidly falling river Hipper (which went on to form the centre of the village), created the ideal conditions for siting water mills to facilitate the spinning and dyeing of cotton. In 1871 the cotton mill employed some 209 people but in 1928 the mill was demolished, by then the village was made up of around 95 residences.

Before the industrial revolution brought about the development of the village, the area, which consisited of a handful of residences - mainly lodges and farms, fell within the parish of Brampton.

Walton (or Waltune) the other hand, has an ancient history and was mentioned in the Domesday book as being in the King’s ownership at that time. Records show that from then on, the estate passed through the hands of various families including, during the 17th century, the Foljambes and later the Woodyears of Crookhill near Doncaster. When the estate was offered for sale in 1812, the sale catalogue shows that Holymoorside cotton mill, dam, and adjacent fields were part of the Walton estate. The grater part of the estate was purchased by Sir Thomas Windsor Hunloke of Wingerworth though by 1849 only 550 acres of the Walton estate belonged to the Hunloke family.

Today, we know Walton as a large suburb falling mostly within the Borough of Chesterfield, only the southern most part is in the parish of Holymoorside and Walton. Click on “map” on the right to see the parish boundaries.  

One of the earliest records of any kind of habitation in the parish is at Chander Hill, a country residence, where, when it was being restored in 1931, a stone from the window of a chantry built in 1400 was discovered under the old kitchen. The stone has been built into the garden wall and can be seen from the road.

The land around the Cathole and Loads localities has been mined over the last two centuries for its clay, ganister  and brick shale.

If you would like to know more about the history of the area and places of interest, why not contact the Holymoorside and District History Society  - new members are always welcome!