South Wingfield, Derbyshire

Description
Wingfield, South, a parish in Derbyshire, on the M.R., 2 miles W of Alfreton, 10 S from Chesterfield, and 142 from London. It has a railway station, and a post and money order office under Alfreton; telegraph office, Wingfield railway station. The parish comprises Oakerthorpe and part of Parkhead. Acreage, 3364; population, 1319. There is a parish council consisting of five members. Wingfield Manor belonged to the Haltons, and passed to the Tristrams; Oakerthorpe Manor to the Duke of Devonshire. The manor house was built in the time of Henry VI. by Lord Cromwell, passed to the Earls of Shrewsbury, was for several months in 1569 the prison of Mary Queen of Scots, was held alternately by both parties in the Civil Wars of Charles I., was dismantled in 1646 by order of Parliament, and was partly used as a quarry in 1774 for the erection of a neighbouring mansion. Cotton-spinning and twist manufacture are carried on, and there are collieries and corn mills. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Southwell; net value, £180 with residence. Patron, the Duke of Devonshire. The church is at Oakerthorpe, and was rebuilt in 1803 and restored in 1877 and 1885. It consists of a chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, S porch, and embattled tower with pinnacles. There are Particular Baptist, Free Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels. There are two sepulchral stones of the 13th century in the churchyard.