Pigot & Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835

“Tissington, Bentley, Thorpe and neighbourhoods”

Transcriptions by Rosemary Lockie, © Copyright 1996

TISSINGTON is a small parish, in the hundred of Wirksworth. In the village, which is situate about 4 miles N. from Ashbourn, are five springs of the purest water, in connexion with which, a curious ancient custom, termed the 'Floralia', or 'well-dressing', prevails among the villagers, annually upon Ascension day, when these fountains are decorated with the choicest flowers, as offerings to the Naiads, which is thus executed - Blocks of wood are obtained (in) the required form, which are coated over with wet clay, into which the flowers are stuck, in various devices and inscriptions, so as completely to cover the bed and present a beautiful mass of flowers.

It is worthy or remark that in this simple and rural parish there is not a single tavern or public house. 'Tissington Hall', is the ancient seat of the Fitzherberts, who have resided here ever since the end of the fifteenth century. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, and stands on an eminence overlooking the village, is partly in the Norman style of architecture at and partly in that of a later date: the living is perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Sir Henry Fitzherbert, Bart.

The parish contained, in 1831, 459 inhabitants: being fewer by 37 than were returned in 1821, and only four more than it contained in 1801.

BENTLEY is a small agricultural parish, in the same hundred as Tissington, about a mile and a half, south, from that village. Part of the old Manor house is still standing, and is occupied as a farm house. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is a small structure with a low tower: the living is a discharged rectory, in the patronage of the Dean of Lincoln. The parish contained, at the last census, 308 inhabitants.

THORPE is likewise a small parish, in the same hundred as the two before-mentioned villages, about three miles and a half N.W. from Ashbourn. A little northward of the village, at the entrance of the romantic Dovedale, is a remarkable conical hill, called ‘Thorpe Cloud’, steeply ascending three hundred feet above the bed of the river Dove, which flows at its base. The church, which is dedicated to St. Leonard, is a neat edifice, situate on the brow of a hill, and so surrounded by trees as to be highly picturesque: the living is a discharged rectory, in the patronage of the Dean of Lincoln. Population, by the census taken in 1821, 203, and by the returns in 1831, the number was 189.

[Ed: there was apparently no POST, or POST OFFICE service]

GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Blackden Rev. Benj. Geo. Thorpe
Edensor Mr. John, Tissington
Fitzherbert Sir Henry, bart. Tissington hall
Goodwin Miss Elizabeth, Tissington
Johnson Mr. Goodwin, Bentley
Nadin Mrs. Lea, Thorpe

ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS.
Blackden Rev. Benj. Geo. Thorpe
Millwood Hannah, Bentley
Smith John, Tissington
Smith Margaret, Tissington

PUBLIC HOUSES.
Blue Bell, John Redfern, Bentley
Coach & Horses, Thomas Wright, Bentley
Dog and Partridge, James Yates, Thorpe
Isaack Walton, Wm. Walton, Dovedale
Wheat Sheaf, Jas. Wright, Bentley

SHOPKEEPERS & TRADERS.
Adams Eliza, shopkeeper, Thorpe
Barlow Jos. shopkeeper, Bentley
Beardsley Jno. boot, &c. mkr. Thorpe
Beardsley Samuel, boot, &c. maker, Thorpe
Beardsley William, boot, &c. maker, Bentley
Bridden John, butcher, Tissington
Ditchfield Wm. shopkeeper, Bentley
Fielding Thos. nail maker Bentley
Fletcher Susannh. milliner, Bentley
Forster Thomas, joiner, Thorpe
Hardy Thomas, stone mason, &c. Tissington
Harrison Charles, boot, &c. maker, Bentley
Hodgkinson Edward, shopkeeper, Thorpe
Hodgkinson John & Son, tailors, Thorpe
Millwood Hannah, milliner, Bentley
Redfern John, shopkeeper & tailor, Tissington
Rowland James, boot, &c. maker, Thorpe
Rowland Wm. boot, &c. mkr. Thorpe
Slater Adam, boot, &c. mkr. Bentley
Smith Samuel, carpenter & wheelwright, Tissington
Smith Saml. whitesmith, Tissington
Smith William, boot, &c. maker, Tissington
Smith William, cattle dealer, Tissington
Spencer Mary, blacksmith, Tissington
Willatt Hannah, milliner, Bentley
Willow Thomas, tailor, Bentley
Wright Hannah, straw hat maker, Bentley

Description(s) from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835.
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie in May 1996.

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