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Derbyshire

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Derbyshire Towns & Parishes

BONSALL, Derbyshire

"BONSALL is a parish, containing a village which was once a market town, and the market cross, consisting of a pillar, bearing the date of 1687, resting on a base formed by an ascent of fifteen steps, still remains. The houses which form the village are scattered over a considerable plot of ground, the centre of which is between three and four miles N.W. from Wirksworth, and about one mile and a half from Cromford; the approach to it from the latter place being by the Via Gellia, a singularly romantic ravine." [There is further information for Bonsall]

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835]

Bibliography Church History Census Description and Travel Directories

Early 20thC Map Click to view larger area.

History Gazetteers Maps Names, Personal

Bibliography

• Bonsall - A Village and its History. The Bonsall History Project, 2006.
  Read more in this Review of ‘Bonsall - A Village and its History’ (Peak Advertiser, November 2006)

  Chapters are on: 1 Geology of the Bonsall Area; 2 Archaeology, Prehistory and Early History of Bonsall and its Region; 3 A Thousand Years of Growth; 4 Running Bonsall; 5 Bonsall at School; 6 Bonsall at Prayer; 7 Roads and Transport; 8 Architecture and Building; 9 Farming; 10 Lead mining, fluorspar and opencast mining; 11 Other Extractive Industries; 12 Working with Renewable Materials; 13 Food and Drink; 14 Textiles; 15 Bonsall at War; 16 Bonsall at Play; 17 The Bonsall Factor; Index of family names.

  This is by far the best of the many village histories I've read. The lists of family names in Chapter 3 - 'A Thousand Years of Growth' are a real treat for any Family Historian, but the accompanying analyses really bring the past to life in a way that no simple lists can. For instance, I was made aware that the 17th century Inventories - the accounts of goods owned by the deceased, which we are so familiar with from our own research - were of real people, and I could well imagine walking into the shop belonging to the ABELL family in the 17th century, and seeing some of the Inventory goods for sale. A bargain for £10 + post and package, but please see the Bonsall History Project website for how to order.

• Bonsall - A Portrait of a Village and its Church. The Bonsall History Project, 2000.
  Read more in this Review of ‘Bonsall - A Portrait of a Village and its Church’ (Peak Advertiser, March 2000)

Church History

• Photograph of St. James' Church, Bonsall.

Census

• Bonsall was, during the early 19th century, a centre of tortoiseshell comb manufacture. Here is a list of all the Comb Makers recorded on the Bonsall, 1841 Census, transcribed by Rosemary Lockie.

• Transcriptions of the Wirksworth Area Census covering Bonsall for the whole of 1841, 1851 and 1881 (other years to follow) are available on John Palmer's Wirksworth site. This site also features Histories of Bonsall, from various sources.

Description and Travel

• There is a photograph and description of Bonsall and its Cross, in Ann Andrews' picture gallery.

Directories

• A Description of Bonsall has been transcribed by Heather Faulkes from Pigot's Directory of 1828-9.

• Matlock and Matlock Bath, with the village of Bonsall and neighbourhoods, transcribed from Pigot's Directory, 1831, by Ann Andrews.

• A Description of Bonsall and Directory for Matlock and Matlock Bath, with the village of Bonsall and neighbourhoods transcribed from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835 by Rosemary Lockie.

• Transcription of section of Kelly's Directory (1891) for Bonsall by Ann Andrews.

Gazetteers

• The transcription of the section for Bonsall from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

History

• The Bonsall History Project - members of the project are writing a history of Bonsall, due to be published in Autumn 2004. This site devoted to publicising the project and also provides a way for members and others to share information.

Maps

• The Bonsall Map Project - "Created by its people, the Bonsall map celebrates the unique village of Bonsall in Derbyshire. It uses lively text and full-colour illustrations to portray this community and its history". Copies are also available for purchase via Scarthin Books of Cromford.

Names, Personal

• A List of Rectors in Bonsall 1304-1874 (on The Bonsall History Project site).

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