My son, Daniel, not being able to make Father’s Day, suggested a bit of family history outing to Wirksworth, Derbyshire. This would give me an “excuse” for a ride out on my Burgman and Daniel could celebrate his Father’s Day and we could do some family “digging” into our relative Eliza Ann Moore (My great grandmother).
We arranged to meet up at the retail park at Ashbourne, roughly half way between Macclesfield and Kegworth on Tuesday, 23 June 2009. So at nine forty five, in fairly good weather I set out for Ashbourne. With not too much traffic on the road I made fair progress through Leek, Bradnop, Winkhill, and Waterhouses, on the A523 to Ashbourne. The road has rider problems with the so called “safety” cameras between Leek and Ashbourne. They seem to be sited in each village, safety or revenue raising?
Arrived in Ashbourne about 10:30. Daniel had already arrived, his trip included thirty odd miles along the A50, a two lane “motorway”.
After a brief “confab” we decided to head for Green Hill, Wirksworth, following the B5035, passing by Carsington Waters. Green Hill is one of the locations, we found out from the census information on the t’internet, where our ancestor had lived. Setting our satnavs off we went in sunny, warm weather. Glad I was on my bike, nice and cool. Shortly we arrived at Wirksworth and Green Hill. Riding along Green Hill was like riding to heaven, steep, oh so steep! Probably the steepest road I had ever ridden on. A single lane road with old cottages and new builds. After about half a mile we decided to turn round and return to more level country. Daniel performed twenty three-point turn, so tight and narrow. I climbed into someone’s drive, less steep and slowly paddled the bike round. Then a very slow descent into the middle of Wirksworth. Reminder: must check my brake pads. We managed to find parking spaces quite close to St. Mary the Virgin’s church.
We arranged to meet up at the retail park at Ashbourne, roughly half way between Macclesfield and Kegworth on Tuesday, 23 June 2009. So at nine forty five, in fairly good weather I set out for Ashbourne. With not too much traffic on the road I made fair progress through Leek, Bradnop, Winkhill, and Waterhouses, on the A523 to Ashbourne. The road has rider problems with the so called “safety” cameras between Leek and Ashbourne. They seem to be sited in each village, safety or revenue raising?
Arrived in Ashbourne about 10:30. Daniel had already arrived, his trip included thirty odd miles along the A50, a two lane “motorway”.
After a brief “confab” we decided to head for Green Hill, Wirksworth, following the B5035, passing by Carsington Waters. Green Hill is one of the locations, we found out from the census information on the t’internet, where our ancestor had lived. Setting our satnavs off we went in sunny, warm weather. Glad I was on my bike, nice and cool. Shortly we arrived at Wirksworth and Green Hill. Riding along Green Hill was like riding to heaven, steep, oh so steep! Probably the steepest road I had ever ridden on. A single lane road with old cottages and new builds. After about half a mile we decided to turn round and return to more level country. Daniel performed twenty three-point turn, so tight and narrow. I climbed into someone’s drive, less steep and slowly paddled the bike round. Then a very slow descent into the middle of Wirksworth. Reminder: must check my brake pads. We managed to find parking spaces quite close to St. Mary the Virgin’s church.
Daniel at the remains of a medieval wall, Wirksworth.
By now the weather was really fine, bright sunshine and hot. We walked round to St. Mary’s. A very peaceful setting, with neat gardens surrounding the church. There is welcome to enter note on the church’s door. Inside the church it was cool but not too well lit – all the windows were leaded with coloured glass scenes, extremely clean, after the fashion of churches in France. We looked all over the church but didn’t find anything connected to our ancestors. The same result with the church graveyard but this was expected.
We returned to our vehicles and then to a the local Spencers cake shop and tea rooms. After a cup of tea and a snack, Daniel presented me with a Father’s Day card and present. A beautiful card and a mini vidcam/voice recorder. Much appreciated present from Daniel and his wife Sara.
St. Mary the Virgin Church, Wirksworth
Daniel outside St. Mary's Church, Wigglesworth
Back on the street we decided to visit Gorsey Bank, another home site of our ancestors. Easy to find and we arrived at the end of the tarmac with a signpost informing us that the road/track was “Unsuitable for motor vehicles”. Just then a cross country motorcycle zoomed out of the brush up the gravel track.
Turning round we headed for the local cemetery. Quite close, about a five minute ride. A small but neat cemetery. We walked round looking for the headstones we had inscriptions for. Well, Daniel did most of the walking while recuperated on a park bench. We had reference numbers, from the parish records, but there were no references on the ground. We found some headstones with names we recognised from the parish records but were not too sure.
We then left Wirksworth, stopping at a pub in Knockersdown. Pub welcomes bikers by the way. Also has camping facilities. We had a little debrief and concluded maybe we needed a little more research, especially on the monumental inscriptions.
After spending a good day with Daniel, we went our separate ways. Mine a ride through the Peak District Park, along the A5012, A512 to Buxton then up to the Cat and Fiddle and down to Macclesfield on the A537.
Though not a great mileage – eighty miles, I arrived home at four o’clock.
A good day, good weather and good company.
