Exploring historic Wirksworth

There are few more ancient and historic towns in Derbyshire than Wirksworth, with its handsome period houses and shop fronts and a network of narrow walkways (known as jitties or ginnels). However, the real story of Wirksworth is in its rock. On this walk you will not only see how mining generated wealth and power, and how dressed stone fashioned the elegant town centre, but also the way in which the local community is transforming redundant quarries with new public woodland and innovative sculptures and artwork.

Heritage Centre

The town trail begins at Market Place in the centre of town, off which is the excellent Wirksworth Heritage Centre, open from Friday to Sunday and on bank holidays between April and September. Housed in a former silk mill and run by volunteers, it’s a great introduction to the town.

Weaving between the buildings, you work your way up to the top edge of town to inspect the now redundant Middlepeak Quarry, a massive hole in the hillside that for many years provided roadstone for motorways. But is was lead, not limestone, on which the town’s prosperity was built. The Romans first came here in search of lead ore, and in the late Middle Ages the Wirksworth ‘liberty’ or ore field was one of the most important in the Peak District.

Community woodland

A little further on is the former Stoneycroft Quarry, now given a new lease of life as Stoney Wood Community Woodland, with paths and outdoor art installations. Look out for the Star Disc, a 39ft (12m) wide star chart designed by a local artist and fashioned out of black granite; and six Solar Calendar Stones that show where the sun rises and sets. Further down the path is the wooden Peace Pole, in the shape of a giant flame. Nearby is a new community orchard, where 45 Derbyshire heritage fruit trees have been planted on another part of the restored former mine. The mining theme is continued on the eastern side of town as you pass the historic Moot Hall. It was the seat of the miners’ special Barmote Court that adjudicated specifically on mining matters.

Many of the older houses in the town centre, especially on Greenhill and The Dale, were founded on the wealth of local lead merchants. Off Coldwell Street is Wirksworth Station, home to the community-run Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, which puts on events throughout the year, including steam train rides. The walk finishes at St Mary’s Church, where each September an ancient ceremony takes place when the congregation holds hands around the outside of the building. Quirky but certainly community-minded – just like Wirksworth really.

From Market Place in the centre of town, opposite the Heritage Centre, walk up West End past the Blacks Head pub. Turn right into Bowling Green Lane (a paved walkway between buildings), forking left twice until you drop down to reach The Dale. 

Turn left and walk up the road, eventually leaving the houses behind, until you get to a hairpin bend. Go up the wooden steps and through the gate ahead to inspect the chasm of the now dormant Middlepeak Quarry.  

Return to the road and continue uphill. After 150yds (137m) go through the gap in the wall on the left and turn right for the grassy ridge path above Stoney Wood and an old quarry. Go past the Star Disc and Solar Calendar Stones and drop down to reach the Peace Pole sculpture. Join a gravel path past an orchard and branch right on a narrow walled path that brings you out to Greenhill, a steep road. Turn left and immediately left again for another path between buildings. Go down steps, then a rough drive, and at the bottom cross the footbridge above the road.

Follow the narrow path left then right to emerge on Chapel Lane. Turn left, past the Moot Hall, all the way to the end. Turn right and walk along North End until the junction with Coldwell Street. Turn left and walk down this as far as the railway bridge, with Ecclesbourne Valley Railway on the left.

Go right at the signposted public footpath and follow this surfaced route alongside playing fields, with the railway to your left. At the end fork right on a concession path past the school and medical centre to reach Water Lane. Turn right and cross over to walk up Water Lane as far as the main road.

Turn right, back towards the centre of town, then just after the pedestrian lights go right along St Mary’s Gate. This swings left and emerges on Church Walk. Turn right and follow the path almost all the way around the church until you arrive at the restored lychgate. Turn right to slip through between the shops to St John’s Street, then right again to return to Market Place.