Holmesfield

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Holmesfield
Derbyshire
Pub and church, Holmesfield - 275826.jpg
The church and The Angel, Holmesfield
Location
Grid reference: SK322776
Location: 53°17’42"N, 1°31’5"W
Data
Population: 971  (2011)
Post town: Dronfield
Postcode: S18
Local Government
Council: North East Derbyshire
Parliamentary
constituency:
North East Derbyshire

Holmesfield is a village in Derbyshire. Its name means "raised pasture-land" and is of Norse and Anglo-Saxon origin. Viking influences are also evident with many road names suffixed by "gate", the old Norse word for "way".

The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 971.

History

Holmesfield is mentioned in the Domesday Book as one of the manors belonging to Walter D'Aincourt.

John Frescheville, 1st Baron Frescheville, was in 1645 ordered to pay an annuity to the Vicar of Holmesfield Church, as part his fine, for being on the losing side in the civil war.

St Swithin's parish church can be seen from much of the surrounding area. The main church was built in 1826 but has seen further work in recent years with the vicarage being added in 1999. Still visible in the grounds are the remains of a stone cross from around 641, which would have replaced an original wooden cross erected by monks to mark the place where they would preach. The base of the stone cross now holds a sundial.[1]

Geography

Holmesfield is on the edge of the Peak District National Park, with extensive views from the village over the surrounding hilly terrain. The parish includes a number of farming hamlets such as Millthorpe situated in the neighbouring Cordwell Valley.

The Peak District Boundary Walk runs through Millthorpe.[2]

About the village

Holmesfield has a village hall, a riding school, and Victorian-built primary school[3] A Thai restaurant closed in 2018.

There are three pubs within the village (The Rutland Arms, The George and Dragon, and The Angel Inn) and a further two elsewhere within the parish (The Royal Oak at Millthorpe, and The Peacock and The Moorlands at Owler Bar). The village no longer has a shop or post office.

There is a regular farmers and artisan market held in the village on various dates throughout the year, normally held at the Angel Inn and St. Swithin's Church Hall.

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Holmesfield)

References

  1. Holmesfield Church: History
  2. McCloy, Andrew (2017). Peak District Boundary Walk: 190 Miles Around the Edge of the National Park. Friends of the Peak District. ISBN 978-1909461536. 
  3. Pennyacres