Fritchley, Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution walk
This walk visits sites associated with the story of Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution. After leaving South Wingfield, on the night of the 9th June 1817, the rebels passed through the Fritchley area, visiting farms to demand weapons and men as they marched towards Nottingham. Retrace some of their steps on this walk and discover some anecdotes about that period. This is Walk 3 Fritchley from the Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution Group.
A
Crich CP walk
posted on 27/04/22 by Pentrich Revolution Group. Last update : 21/06/22
Description
(S/E) From the Congregational Church, O.S. Ref. 358 529. Facing the church, walk up Front Street on the right, past the Red Lion public house, to the end of the village. (A) Follow the road, Bobbin Mill Hill. (B) Continue along the road, until you reach Barn Close Farm (C) on your right.
(1) Opposite the farm, on the left, take the footpath up Mill Green Hill, marked on the sign as towards Park Head. Walk between two farm buildings then uphill across the field, with woodland on your right.
When you reach the brow of the hill there is a good view of Crich and Fritchley. Turn right onto the footpath into the wood (D), through the squeeze stile, follow the path through the wood.
(2) As you leave the trees you go through another squeeze stile with the letters W and P carved into them for ‘Wingfield Park’. Continue across the hill. On the right, you will pass the ruin of a windmill. Continue on the path, crossing the stile into the next field.
Keep to the left when it joins a track, continue to Tithe Farm (E), walk between the farmhouse and barn, through the gate past the barn down the field keeping the wall on your right. Find the path behind the oak tree right of the stonewall at the bottom of the field. Step down, go towards the right through the trees down the bank being careful not to slip if wet across the field to the road (Lynam Road).
(3) Turn right onto the road walk back towards Fritchley for 200 yards or so.
(4) Take the first metaled farm track on the left as the road bends right. Walk down the track crossing the railway tunnel, up a small hill through trees, towards Lodge Hill Farm (F). Walk through the farmyard in front of the house, through the gate facing, take the track to the left.
Take the track down the hill, keeping the hedge on your left. (G) The track turns to the right, here, on your left, opposite the driveway to the farm buildings, cross the step-stile in the electric fence. Continue down the field towards the Amber River. Stop at the river.
(5) Retrace your steps back up the hill, through the farm. Return along the track to the road. (4) Turn left at the road, towards Fritchley, passing the entrance to Beech Hill Farm (H) until you reach the turning to Wingfield Park Farm.
(6) At the turning to Wingfield Park Farm turn onto the footpath going in the same direction as the road. Cross the field at the squeeze stile mid-way down the prickly holly hedge facing you, take care. Continue on the footpath into the next field, follow the path to the right through a gap in the hedge, cross the field, behind Barnclose Farm, down the hill to the bottom of Bobbin Mill Hill.
(7) Turn left, walk back into Fritchley at the Congregational Church. (S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 133 m - Congregational Church
- 1 : km 0.65 - alt. 123 m - Barn Close Farm
- 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 163 m - Wood
- 3 : km 2.27 - alt. 107 m - Lynam Road
- 4 : km 2.57 - alt. 120 m - Railway tunnel
- 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 77 m - Amber River
- 6 : km 5.72 - alt. 134 m - Wingfield Park Farm
- 7 : km 6.25 - alt. 102 m - Bobbin Mill Hill
- S/E : km 6.69 - alt. 133 m - Congregational Church
Useful Information
Undulating, footpaths, tracks, roads, ‘squeeze stiles’ and stiles. Care is needed when crossing roads.
Car Park: On street, limited parking at Bobbin Mill Lane.
Start: The Congregational Church, O.S. Ref. 358 529
More information at the Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution group here.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
After leaving South Wingfield, on the night of the 9th June 1817, the rebels passed through the Fritchley area, visiting farms to demand weapons and men as they marched towards Nottingham.
(A) A board on your left gives details of Butterley Gangroad, an historic railway built to carry limestone from quarries at Crich via Cromford Canal to the Butterley Works at Ripley.
(B) On your left is Mill Cottage, on the right is Mill Farm, reminding us of the mills in this area. The first corn mill built in 1760 by Enoch Harrison, Bower's Corn Mill built between 1810 - 1820 and the cotton spinning mill built 1805. The pond behind Mill Cottage, in Dimple Valley was the water supply for these mills. On this hill was a woodturning factory, built in 1805 and run by the Weightman family, employing 40 men and boys.
(C) This farm, one of the oldest recorded in the area, dating from at least the 16th century, was the home of Elijah Hall, farmer and miller. The rebels visited his house, made him hand over a gun. He and his two sons were forced to join the march.
(D) This was Thorp Hill Wood where wood was gathered to make pikes, to be hidden before the rising. The rebels would have passed this way as they went from Mr Tomlinson's house towards Barn Close Farm. The corn mill, a ruin since around 1860's, belonged to Elijah Hall
(E) As you pass Yew Tree farm you will see across the valley to your left, Wingfield Manor. Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner here and it was site of Civil War battles but in ruins in 1817. To its right is Coalburn Hill. A group of rebels, led by George Weightman went here to collect hidden pikes in the quarry here before going through the valley to collect men and guns.
(F) Lodge Hill Farm was Samuel Hunt's farm, the marchers were welcomed and given bread, cheese and beer. Samuel, and ‘his man’ Daniel Hunt, joined the march. Samuel was to be transported. In Australia he was convicted of poaching sheep and given a second life sentence and transported to Tasmania.
(G) Looking back up the hill you see Wingfield Park Hall. On this site in 1817 was the house of Mrs Hepworth, on the site of today’s stables. The marchers demanded weapons but were refused entry. As the rebels sought to enter the house, Robert Walters, a servant, was fatally shot. The shot was fired by Jeremiah Brandreth although he was never charged with murder, though others were accused at the trial. Across the river is Pentrich Lane End where the two groups of marchers rejoined as they marched towards Butterley works and Nottingham.
(H) This is the route taken by the rebels as they visited the homes of Mr Bestwick, now Beech Hill Farm, where a gun was taken and Mr Walker, at Wingfield Park Farm, where a gun and pistol were taken.
