Old DuffieldVillage, Church and CastleWITH SOME PERSONAL REMINISCENCESBy JOHN BLANDA Lecture given before the Duffield Branch of First published in Derby by Harpur and Sons, 1922 | |
Introduction Celtic Occupation Roman Occupation Anglo-Saxon Occupation The Church Norman Occupation- The Castle Duffield Frith The Living The Church Monuments Parish Register and Churchwardens Books Reminiscences Duffield Floods Duffield in the late 19th. Century Map of Duffield in 1787 Duffield People Appendix - List of Incumbents, St. Alkmund's Church, Duffield. |
Preface by Jed Bland, his grandson. Duffield is situated next to the River Derwent in Derbyshire at the lower end of the Pennines. There have been humans in the area, probably, from the stone age. It is controversial whether the Romans maintained a military presence to protect the ford across which the convoys of lead from Wirksworth joined Rykneld Way en route for the North Sea ports. However, in Anglo Saxon times it would seem to have been occupied by persons of some position, and in Norman times, Henry de Ferrars built a substantial castle. During this period, it was the centre of Duffield Frith, which extended over many miles radius. This site archives a book written by my grandfather in 1922, of which few copies remain, and the work on the castle initiated by my great grandfather. The photographs were taken by my great uncle. The quality is poor at present because I have had to copy them from the halftones in the book. The originals, I imagine, have disappeared long ago. Derbyshire Archaeological Journal ![]() Duffield Church from the North-West Photo by W.R.Bland |
Other Duffield Links: Duffield Parish Council Duffieldderbyshire.co.uk Wikipedia also has extensive histories of Duffield, its castle, the De Ferrars family and also the railway |
Also: Derbyshire Archaeological Society Landmark Information Group (Historic Maps) Other Local Sites: Picture The Past |
Comments and communications about this site, please, to webmanager@jjb.uk.com First published 1922, Derby, Harpur and Son. Website copyright 2001 Jed Bland. 27.09.01 last amended 25.07.03, 05.04.08, 01.07.15 |