life in a derbyshire village

Pentrich and its surrounding Parish were, until the revolution of 1817, of great significance to the local area. There is evidence that Pentrich was already settled when the Romans came through on their way to Chesterfield and the north in 200AD.

A Roman encampment at what is now Coney Grey Farm was named after the village; place name specialists believe that the name Pentrich may be of Celtic origin. Various suggestions are that the name means Boars Hill, the end of the ridge or behind the pound.

The Parish of Pentrich was an important centre, more important than nearby Ripley. The Church of St. Matthew was built in c.1150, close to the site of a Saxon cross, which stood in what is now the junction of Asher Lane and Main Road. Carved Saxon stones can still be seen in the church.

For more information please visit the excellent site of the Historical Society by using the link on the right of this page.

Hunting dead people! Why are we interested in family history? For me it was the as much to do with the social history of the area of my birth. I was born in Peel Street, Nottingham in 1964 and even though I have since moved across the border into Derbyshire. I have remained intensely proud of my City and its people.

Nottingham is a city that has changed beyond all recognition over the past 200 years. Even over the last few decades the trades for which the City was once famous have disappeared as new technologies and cheaper labour markets compete for the workforce. I know this from first hand experience having been an apprentice and Millwright at the Royal Ordnance Factory which once stood in the Meadows area.

Moving to Derbyshire seemed to be taking me away from my ancestral roots but as I found out later during my research I was not the first member of the Matthews family to settle in the area.

Were my ancestors from Nottingham? If not why did they move here? What part did they play in making it the place it was and is today and have they left any lasting legacy?

Favourite Quotes: William Shakespeare, 1599

“But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother”