Updated 30 Jan 2009

WIRKSWORTH Parish Records 1600-1900

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Middleton Top Winding Engine
is the sole survivor of eight such engines built for the Cromford and High Peak Railway. The CHPR was authorised in 1825, opened in stages from 1830 to 1831 and connected the Cromford Canal with Peak Forest Canal, a distance of 33 miles, over which there were 9 inclined plains connecting level sections. Middleton Top pulled wagons up the 708 yard, 1 in 8¼ Middleton Incline. It is now an Ancient Monument. Middleton Top was closed to traffic in 1963 and the whole line closed in 1967. See More....
The ENGINE consists of a pair of single cylinder rotative beam engines driving on to a common crank shaft. The two engines are identical, with 23 inch bore and 61 inch stroke working at 5 psi, rated at 20 horse power and a maximum speed of 40 rpm. The engines were installed on site in 1829.
The BOILERS in the boiler house next to the engine house are of the Cornish pattern having a single centre furnace tube. These boilers were installed in the 1870's to replace original boilers of the 'wagon' type. The Cornish boilers supplied saturated steam at 5 psi and were wood fired. The boiler house was originally without a roof, which was added later. The brick built chimney is 80 feet high.

[Taken 2003 by Colin Watson]

Taken 1940s by E R Morten.
Enlargement. The gent on the right has his foot on the cable running on a pulley between the rails to haul wagons up Middleton Incline.
From Colin Watson, Southampton

Hello John,

Regarding the Middleton Top photograph:
William Hallows, 4 Sept 1836 / 28 Oct 1913 (Son of Samuel Hallows born 1806 + Hannah Young) + Mary Sheldon, were married in 1856 at Matlock. They lived for many years at the Middleton Top Engine House.

In the 1861 Census, William Hallows (Shown as Hollows) was living at the Engine House alone, and was described as head of household and married. His two year old son Ralph was living with his Grandparents, John and Sarah Sheldon at, 2 Chapel Hill, Matlock. I did not find his wife Mary and their baby daughter Hannah.

In the 1871 Census, William and Mary were living at the Engine House with their five children: Ralph 12, Hannah 10, Mary 5, William 3, (My Mother's Father, re photo: William Hallows + Mary Goodwin.) and John 10 months.

In the 1881 Census, William and Mary were living at the Engine House with their eight children: As before plus: Sarah Ann 8, Elizabeth 6, and Emma 4. There was also a lodger living there. William lost a leg in an accident at work and when he recovered he worked in the High Peak Junction Workshops until retirement.

In the 1891 Census, William's youngest brother Samuel Hallows and his wife Elizabeth Parker were living at the Engine House with their five children: Samuel James 22, George 20, Albert 17, Ralph 14 and Herbert 13. In the 1881 Census they lived at Hopton Engine House.

I hope this is enough info for you to get an interesting write up to go with the photograph. When I get more information on the Hallows Pedigree I will be pleased to send you an updated .txt file.

Best Wishes,

Colin Watson, Southampton.

Middleton Top Engine House

The first stationary engine house on the Cromford and High Peak Railway (CHPR) from Middleton to Whaley Bridge. Inhabitants of the house at Middleton Top can be followed on these links to the Census: 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901. Colin Watson sent me the email below about this photo of Middleton Top.

Engine House on left, Boiler House on right.
[Taken 2006 by Keith Repton]

Engine House built 1829 with 80 ft chimney.
[Taken 2006 by Keith Repton]

Taken 1940s by E R Morten. LMS 0-6-0T 58862 at Middleton Top.

Dates:
Photo taken: c 2003
Size:
Source: Colin Watson of Southampton.
Click on photo for enlargement (on CD only)
Have any more information about this photo? Please e-mail
the author on:


The HALLOWS family, who worked at Middleton Top for 100 years

Data largely taken from HALLOWS pedigree by Colin Watson
and email from Glennis Smith of Wirksworth, grandaughter of Alec Hallows who worked on the CHPR for many years. See also GOULD pedigree


                                               1806            1806            1826
                                               Hannah  1828    Samuel   1858   Celia
                                               YOUNG=====v=====HALLOWS====v====BRAILSFORD
                                               1854      |     1863       |
                                                         |                |
 |-----|----|------|-------|-----|-------------|------|--|---|      |-----|---|-----|
 |     |    |      |       |     |             |      |      |      |         |     |
1829  1831 1833   1837    1840  1842          1845   1847   1849   1860      1863  1864
Ralph John Mary   William Sarah Joseph        Samuel Alfred James  Elizabeth Sarah Francis
1854  1887 1840   1913    1842  1880          1925   1848   1875   
                   |                           |
                  1837              1835      1845              1839
                  William   1858    Mary      Samuel    1863    Elizabeth                        (unmarried)  X
                  HALLOWS=====v=====SHELDON   HALLOWS=====v=====BARKER==================================v=====PARKER
                  1913        |               1925        |                                             |
                              |                           |                                             |
 |-----|------|----|-------|--|--|-----|---------|     |--|----|----|------|------|------|-----|        |
 |     |      |    |       |     |     |         |     |       |    |      |      |      |     |        |
1859  1860   1866 1868    1871  1873  1875      1877  1864    1866 1869   1871   1874   1877  1878     1859
Ralph Hannah Mary William John  Sarah Elizabeth Emma  William John Samuel George Albert Ralph Herbert  Joseph
                   |                                                                           |       PARKER
                   |                                                                           |
                   |                                                          1876             |
                  1868              1870                                      Anne            1878
                  William   1889    Mary                                      Jane    1897    Herbert
                  HALLOWS=====v=====GOODWIN                                   KIRKE=====v=====HALLOWS
                  1934        |     1928                                                |
                              |                                                         |
 |-------|------|------|----|-|--|------|------|         |-------|-------|-----|-----|--|-|--------|------|-----|
 |       |      |      |    |    |      |      |         |       |       |     |     |    |        |      |     |
1891    1893   1894   1897 1899        1904   1911      1897    1899    1900  1901  1902 1905     1906   1908   |
William George Sidney Mary Fred Ernest Albert Florence  William Frances Alec  Mary  Ivy  Stanley  Ethel  Olive  |
                                                                         |    Ellen      1905                   |
                                                                         |                                      |
                                                                         |            |----|-------|-----|------|
                                                                         |            |    |       |     |      |
                                                                         |            1909 1911    1912  1915   1917
                                                                         |            Jane Herbert Norah Gladys Alice
                                                        1897            1900
                                                        Drucilla 1922   Alec
                                                        GOULD=====v=====HALLOWS
                                                        1993      |     1963
                                                                  |
                                                      |-------|---|---|-----------|
                                                      |       |       |           |
                                                     1923    1926    1932        1934
                                                     Albert  Maisie  Alec  twin  Ruby
                                                              |           (died)
                                                              |
                                                              |                1923
                                                             Maisie    1945    William
                                                             HALLOWS=====v=====CUMMINGS
                                                             1975        |
                                                                         |
                                                                         |
                                                        1954            1957
                                                        Jerry   1996    Glenis
                                                        SMITH=====v=====CUMMINGS
                                                                        (informant)

The people in the Census living at the Engine House, Middleton are:
1841 Thomas DOXEY
1851 Henry ROPER
1861 William HOLLOWS
1871 William HALLOWS
1881 William HALLOWS
1891 Samuel HALLOWS
1901 Samuel HALLOWS

Compiled, formatted, hyperlinked, encoded, and copyright © 2004, John Palmer, All Rights Reserved.