Taken 0930, 20 Aug 1859 by Alice Hurt
showing castellations on the Nave, chancel and north transept;
and upper windows of the north transept, all removed by
Scott's 1870 restoration. Traces on the tower wall of the
steep pre-1500 Nave roof can be seen. This is one of the earliest
photos of St Mary's Church existing.
Taken about 1865 by J.W.Beeson,
local schoolmaster, 5pm on a windy day.
about 137 graves can be counted, (all removed today).
Posted 1906
Posted 1909. Photo by James Watterson. Addressed to:
Miss G Wood, 2 Rob Roy Av, off Gregory Av, New Linton, Nottm.
Message:"How are you blowing old girl, are you tired, we have had a
good walk it is very hot even Mam took off her jacket. Hope you sell
a lot of papier mache things, don't do too much. I have been boozing
all morn, had some ginger ale at
Adam Bede's cottage.
It is the one
we passed on our Sunday morn walk, the one with --- & beer in the
window."[unsigned].
Taken c1910, showing the effects of Scott's 1870 restoration
Taken c1920, still showing steep-pitch Nave roof.
The old Grammar School can be seen on the left.
The Saxon cross near the North Transept has been moved.
Taken c1930, showing the 1926 return to shallow-pitch Nave roof,
and the widened West door.
Taken 2003
St Mary's Church and Churchyard Headstones 1910
St Mary's is the Parish Church of the once very large parish of
Wirksworth, and the home of the
Wirksworth Parish Registers,
surviving back to 1608. Refer to the Plan of the Church.
Views of the church looking SE show the nave,
north transept, west-window and west door. The great restoration of
Sir Gilbert Scott in 1870 put a very high-pitched roof over the nave.
In 1926 his roof was lowered to it present level, leaving traces of its
former steepness on the tower wall. The churchyard was closed for
burials in 1856, since then the headstones have gradually been moved.
Postcard dated 30 Sep 1906. Addressed to Miss A Steeples, c/o Mrs Barker,
2 Renals St, Normanton Rd, Derby.
From Marie Steeples, Waterlane, [Wirksworth]. Dear Annie, You will be
pleased to hear I am coming to live with Mrs Jerram, 72 Osmaston Rd,
[Derby] on Monday by the Dinner train. I shall be pleased to see you.
[It looks like
Maria Steeples is moving to be near her daughter
Annie Steeples in Derby after the death of her husband James Steeples.]
Drawn 1989, from Irene Bate's print of
Wirksworth Centre, looking NW, showing the church
inside its cathedral-like keep.
Posted 1903, view from the South East
An unusual view of the church, looking North down St Mary's Gate
at the South Transept window and door. On the right is a former
hosiery factory, which later became the Parish rooms. On the left
is No 12 St Mary's Gate.
Posted 1910
Posted 1916. Looking North-West.
Dates:
Photo taken:c1910
Size:5x3
Source:Chris Mordey, Chris Mordey's Emporium
Click on photo for enlargement (on CD only)
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