England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Wormhill St Margaret

The Parish

The parish of Wormhill, formerly a chapelry in the wider parish of Tideswell, lies in northwestern Derbyshire, not too far from its border with neighbouring Cheshire. Wormhill is located about 4 miles east of the spa town of Buxton and sits in picturesque limestone dales of the Derbyshire Peak District. Wormhill is a long, linear village which sits, in lanes, about 2 miles north of the busy A6. The economy of the area would have been largely dominated by pastoral farming, the thin shallow soils limiting arable possibilities, the limestone was excellent quality, too, and quarrying of this stone was an important economic activity. Today the area is a magnet for hikers and tourists drawn to its impressive scenery and walking opportunities, the beautiful dale of Chee Dale with its iconic stepping stoned pathway through the river encourage hikers galore and the local trail of the Limestone Way passes through the village. The Derbyshire Wye drains the parish eastwards, joining the Derwent just south of Chatsworth and thence through Matlock & Derby to meet the Trent near Long Eaton, here matters turn north to eventually reach the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. Wormhill sits on the crest of a hill, its sloping site rising from around 300 to 360 metres above the sea in dramatically incised and mountainous countryside; despite the height of the village land continues to rise northwards to reach just over 400 metres on Dole Hill. Just over 4,300 acres of land was annexed from Tideswell parish to form Wormhill, the parish so created supporting a population of just over 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Wormhill, ambiguously described as "waste" was held by Henry de Ferrers and could offer just 4 ploughs and a meadow.

The Church

St Margaret's church sits just east of the main village street, close to the hall and accessed by a short dead-end lane. Created as a chapel of ease the building has its origins in the 13th century, a documented date of 1273 is mentioned as a possible foundation date. Only the western half of the church retains much of that period, however. The western tower is 13th century, evidenced by its lancet window of the Early English Gothic period, its spire, however derives from a rebuilding of 1864. That rebuilding incorporated most of the remainder of the church and added a sanctuary too. Further work between 1904 & 1910 added transepts to created today's building. The lane which runs to the church is narrow and only has a wide verge at its entrance so perhaps a church best approached on foot, a lengthy path leads from gates through a shady spot to the churchyard which is only open to most southern angles but these are the better for photography.