Wilne (St. Chad)

WILNE (St. Chad), a parish, in the union of Shardlow, hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, S. division of the county of Derby, 7¾ miles (S. E.) from Derby; containing 2057 inhabitants. It includes the liberties of Draycott and Church Wilne, the hamlet of Hopwell, the parochial chapelry of Breaston, and part of Risley; and comprises 1380 acres, whereof a third is arable, and the remainder pasture: the surface is level, and the soil alluvial. The river Derwent bounds the parish on the south for three miles, and propels the machinery of an extensive cotton concern erected half a century ago, now conducted by Thomas Draper, Esq., and employing 200 persons. The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Sawley: the tithes were commuted for land in 1763. The church is an ancient edifice with a tower, and contains a private chapel built by the Willoughby family, in the windows of which is some stained glass.