Alderwasley

ALDERWASLEY, a chapelry, in the parish of Wirksworth, union of Belper, hundred of Appletree, S. division of the county of Derby, 2¼ miles (E. by S.) from Wirksworth; containing 398 inhabitants. The manor anciently belonged to the Ferrars family, and was afterwards annexed to the earldom and duchy of Lancaster. The Le Foune or Fawne family held lands here in the reign of Henry III., and their heiress intermarried with the Lowes, who obtained a grant of the manor from Henry VIII.: the Hurt family afterwards became possessed of the manor, through an heiress of the Lowes. The township comprises 3054 acres, of which 32 are common or waste. There are iron-works and furnaces for smelting lead-ore in the neighbourhood. The chapel belongs to F. Hurt, Esq., who appoints the chaplain.