Shardlow

The best place to do research is in the Derby Local Studies Library.

Alternatively, use the Long Eaton Library with its excellent resource withof a Local History section and a Family History section.

Michael SPENCER has done a partial extract of Parish Register Burials to assist you. Your corrections and additions are welcomed.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the churchyard gate and railings on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2018.

• The parish was in the Shardlow sub-district of the Shardlow Registration District.
   
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
   

• The Anglican parish church was built in 1838.
   
• The church is dedicated to Saint James.
   
• Andy JAMIESON has a photograph of Shardlow Church on Geo-graph, taken in 2009.
   
• Tim GLOVER also has a photograph of the St. James Church on Geo-graph, taken in May, 1999.

• The Anglican parish register dates from 1839.
   
• The Anglican church was in the rural deanery of Ilkeston.
   
• The Wesleyan Methodists built a chapel here in 1829.
   
• The Baptists built a chapel here before 1853.

• Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
   
• The parish was in the Shardlow sub-district of the Shardlow Registration District.

"SHARDLOW is a village, in the parish of Wiln and Shardlow, in the hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, seven miles S.E. from Derby; situate upon the banks of the river Trent, over which is a good stone bridge, forming the communication with Leicestershire; it was built by the Cavendish family, from which it takes its name. This place derives considerable importance from being a station for the trans-shipment of goods upon the Trent and Mersey canal, on the banks of which are erected warehouses. At Wiln mills is manufactured a particular sort of cotton yarn, known by the name of 'Wiln yarn', for which there is generally a considerable demand: at this place is a large poor-house. In 1821 the parish contained 993 inhabitants, and in 1831, 1,091."

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835]

Current Shardlow information is at the Derbyshire villages website.

Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of the Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2015.

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Rosemary LOCKIE provides a transcription of the Shardlow entry from Pigot & Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire (1835).
   
• Ann ANDREWS provides a transcription of the Shardlow entry from Kelly's Directory of the Counties of Derby, Notts, Leicester and Rutland (1891).

• The transcription of the section for Shardlow from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin HINSON.
   
• In John Marius WILSON's "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, 1870-72" he describes:

"SHARDLOW, a village, a parish, a sub-district, and a district, in Derbyshire. The village stands near the river Trent, 2 miles S of Draycott r. station, and 6½ E S E of Derby; and has a post-office under Derby. The parish contains also the village of Great Wilne, and comprises 1, 580 acres. Real property, £3, 848. Pop. in 1851, 1, 121; in 1861, 945, of whom 136 were in the workhouse. Houses, 191. The property is subdivided. S. Hall is the seat of J. Sutton, Esq. Cavendish Bridgeover the Trent, near the village, was built in 1771, at a cost of £3, 333. The Trent and Mersey canal joins the Trent about ½ a mile below the village, and has here timber and coal wharves. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield. Value, £300. Patron, J. Sutton, Esq. The church is good, and has a pinnacled tower. There are chapels for Wesleyans and New Connexion Methodists, and a parochial school."

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Shardlow to another place.

In Phillimore's marriages at Taxal, CHS: "13 Aug 1828 John RADCLIFF of Shardlow, Aston upon Trent p & Martha Ann BRADLEY." Thank you, Marjorie Ward.

Dave BRAILSFORD, British cycling coach, was born in the village in February 1964.

Charles INGRAM, convicted of cheating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2001 was born in the village in August 1963.

Hugh Trevor LAMRICK, archaeologist, historian and administrator was born in the village in April 1904.

William Arthur ROBOTHAM of Rolls-Royce was born in the village in November 1899. He died in 1980.

Elizabeth Marian Frances SCOTT (nee KERR), Duchess of Buccleuch, Scottish noblewoman, was born in the village.

• Archaelogists have found a 1300 BC Hanson Log Boat (now in Derby Museum and Art Gallery).
   
• Due to the discovery in 1720 of heated flint being able to turn the North Staffordshire reddish-clay into a lustrous white-sheen ware, from the 18th Century volumes of cargo shipped through Shardlow accelerated, supplying product and shipping ware internationally from the Stoke-on-Trent potteries.
   
• The Cavendish Bridge over the River Trent was built in 1771.
   
• Shardlow was an important late 18th-century river port for the trans-shipment of goods to and from the River Trent to the Trent and Mersey Canal, during its heyday from the 1770s to the 1840s it became referred to as "Rural Rotterdam" and "Little Liverpool".
   
• The railways came in 1840 and quickly transformed the the movement of goods and people.
   
• There is a history of the village at the Shardlow Heritage Centre.
   
• As a reminder of Shardlow's past as a shipping port, David MARTIN has a photograph of Moored narrowboats on the Trent and Mersey Canal taken in March, 2013.
   
• Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of The Dog and Duck Inn on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2018. The Dog and Duck may be the oldest Inn still standing in Shardlow.
   
• Graham HOGG has a photograph of the Shakespeare Inn on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2011.
   
• These are the names associated with the Shakespeare Inn in various directories:

Shardlow Hall was a mansion of stone built in 1684 for Edward SUTTON. Shardlow House was also the property of Edward SUTTON and was built for him in 1726.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of Shardlow Hall near the eastern end of the village on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2018.

John SLATER also has a photograph of Shardlow Hall on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2013.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of Shardlow House on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2018.

Alan also has a photograph of the Manor House on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2018.

And Alan also has a photograph of the Gateway to Shardlow Hall on the eastern edge of the village, taken in January, 2018.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK442307 (Lat/Lon: 52.871735, -1.344379), Shardlow which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

Grove Hospital stood in Shardlow. The main hospital buildings were constructed in 1816 as a workhouse. It was converted into a hospital in 1970 and closed for the last time at the end of 2005.

David LALLY has a photograph of the "Site of the Grove Hospital" on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2009.

Chris DIXON has a photograph of another part of Grove Hospital on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2005.

Hospitals were not required to archive patient records, but the Archives may hold photographs and management records.

• Alf BEARD has a photograph of the War Memorial outside the church on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2006.
   
• The hospital (former Workhouse) had an operating theatre which was hit by a bomb in WW2.
   
• Part of the hospital was sectioned off as a convalescent home for wounded servicemen.

The War Memorial in the Churchyard is a sandstone monument comprising a tapered octagonal pillar supporting a rectangular carved lantern-head with a figure of Christ in relief within a recessed panel on the 6 o'clock face. The inscription names on the panels (15 from WWI and 1 from WWII, all deceased) read:

1914 - 1918 A.D. REMEMBER

1. JOSEPH MOORE
2. WILLIAM MUGGLESTONE
3. FRANCIS J. SANDERS
4. JOHN WILLIAM SHAW
5. GEORGE TAYLOR
6. ALBERT TWELLS
7. CHARLES WEBSTER
8. FREDERICK W. S. WELLS
9. HENRY JAMES SWAIN
10. FRANK V. COWLISHAW
11. JOHN HENSHALL
12. REGINALD HARRY FORD
13. ARTHUR WILLIAM PEGG
14. JOHN THOMAS STONE
15. DANIEL CLAYTON
16. STANLEY ADKIN - 1939 - 45

There is a carved oaken board monument inside St. James' Church to World War One:

"Eternal Peace and fulness of 
life, grant unto them O Lord 

George Taylor. Charles Webster 
Francis Jas. Sanders, John Wm. Shaw 
William Mugglestone, Frederick S. Wells 
Joseph Moore, Albert Twells 
Henry Jas Swain, Frank Victor Cowlishaw. 
John Henshall, Reginald Harry Ford 
Arthur Wm. Pegg John Thos. Stone 
Daniel Clayton"

Just inside the churchyard gate is a WW2 war memorial vase to Stanley ADKIN.

The name appears in the 1086 Domesday Book as Serdelau. It is from the Old English Sceard + hlaw, meaning "mound with a notch or indentation" or, more loosly, "mound with scar".

In earlier times this place gained the moniker of "Shardlow as a 'hub' of water transport."

Jane TAYLOR in Redcar provides this announcement from the Derby Mercury of 27 January, 1803: DIED: "Yesterday, Alphens BURGIN, Gent. of Shardlow, in this county, aged 83 years."

Because of its history as an inland port, you may want to join one of the mailing lists for people researching families that lived on river vessels. The POTTS family spent several generations working the river trade out of Shardlow.

• This place was a Township in Wilne parish in county Derby and it was incorporated as a separate, modern Civil Parish in December, 1866.
   
• This parish was in the ancient Morleston and Litchurch Hundred (or Wapentake).
   
• You may contact the joint Shardlow and Great Wilne Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT funded to assist with family history searches.
   
• District governance is provided by the South Derbyshire District Council.

• Bastardy cases would be heard in the Derby petty session hearings, held on alternate Tuesdays.
   
• In 1816 a group of parishes erected a joint workhouse in Shardlow near the west end of the town. It was called "The Grove" for many years. This was later to become "Grove Hospital". Some of the parishes were in Nottingham, so this required parliamentary approval for the "Shardlow and Wilne Poor Relief Act".
   
• As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, the parish became the centre of the Shardlow Poorlaw Union.
   
• The children of the Workhouse inmates and staff attended the village school.
   
• A number of extensions and improvements were made to the old Workhouse buildings over the early years of the Union.
   
• The Shardlow Poorlaw Union workhouse was a red brick structure, built in 1857, to hold 148 inmates on the London road.
   
• Dr. Charles HARWOOD, a local G.P., was the medical officer to the workhouse in the 1880's and 1890's.
   
• After 1945 it became an old people's residential home with hospital facilities for people needing 24 hour care.

For more information on Wills and Probate, see our county Probate page.

Thank you, Michael SPENCER, for the following:

In an 1858 Will by Wm. JOHNSON of Derby, he mentions Wm. Johnson CLARKE of Shardlow.

In an 1858 Will by George BUTTERY of Shardlow mentions:

1. wife Sarah
2. Geo. BURTON of Heanor
3. un-named children
4. Philip BURTON
5. John HINKLEY
    

Another 1858 Will (made in 1849), by Ann DICKENSON of Shardlow mentions:

1. Elizabeth HINKLEY
2. John HINKLEY
3. James CLIFFORD
4. John Hinnkley WILLIAMS
    

In an 1861 Will, Jane SMEDLEY Shardlow spinster, mentions:

1. brother William
2. niece Mary BIRKIN
3. niece Jane BIRKIN
4. niece Sarah Ann SMEDLEY
5. niece Levivia DICKINSON
6. niece Mary Ann STOKES
7. Elizabeth Jane SORESBY Shardlow spinster witness
8. Jeanette SORESBY Shardlow spinster witness
9. John James SIMPSON District Registrar
    

In an 1862 Will (made in 1858, codicil 1860), Thomas COWLISHAW Shardlow Gent., mentions:

1. wife Sarah
2. dau. Sarah wife of Henry John RADFORD
3. occ. Wm. STATHAM prop in Shardlow
4. prop in Hugglescote Leics
5. Tho. HARRISON Risley
6. Rich. HALL Wilne Gent.
7. dau. Mary latetly widow of Henry RADFORD of Derby butcher but now wife of Tho. BRIGGS
8. Gelscoe Farm Breedon in occ. of Tho. WYLDE
9. Sharlow prop in occ. of Saml. LEE
10. Aston on Trent prop in occ of Wm BATES
11. dau. Eliza STATHAM
12. Shardlow prop in occ. of Wm. SNUTCH and Wm. STEER
13. J. CURZON witness
14. Wm. WHEATCROFT witness
15. prop in Ibstock in occ. of Geo. BURTON
16. grandchildren ie John, Henry, Thomas, Adelaide RADFORD
17. Richard POTTER son of my late wife
18. Mary KING sister of my late wife
19. Elizabeth TEBBUTT late Elizabeth BULLOCK a grand dau. of my late wife
     

In an 1865 Will (made in 1861), Philip BURTON Shardlow late plumber, mentions:

1. friend Wm. SMITH Langley Mill, Tonnage Collector
2. friend Geo. GREGORY farmer Heanor
3. son George
4. J. SMITH jnr. Aston on Trent witness
5. H. MINTON jnr. Aston on Trent witness
6. Henry DICKINSON Shardlow agent
7. Henry SOAR Sharlow book keper (sic)
    

Testator died at Harby, Leics on 29 Sep 1864.

In an 1865 Will, Sarah WILD, Shardlow, mentions Charlotte COPE, Nottingham.

In an 1865 Will, Jacob SMITH of Shardlow, mentions:

1. wife Ann
2. son Joseph Botham SMITH
3. son James Hardy SMITH
4. son Jacob Botham SMITH
5. dau. Elizabeth Botham SMITH
6. Josh SALE Solr. Derby witness
7. Henry MILLS Clerk to Mr. SALE
    

An 1866 Will by Henry CROSSLEY,Shardlow, died 1849, mentions Mary CROSSLEY, Saxby, LIN.

An 1869 Will by William DERBYSHIRE Shardlow died 1862 mentions Anne DERBYSHIRE.

An 1870 Will by William ROBERTS Shardlow mentions William ROBERTS.

In an 1871 Will, John COWLISHAW, Shardlow innkeeper, mentions:

1. friend James FOX Shardlow grocer
2. William Crossley BEESTON Wilne, farmer
3. dau. Mary Cope COWLISHAW
4. son John George
5. son Charles Edwin
6. Landlord G. J. EATON
7. John BUTON miller ? witness
8. William STENSON schoolmaster. witness
    

An 1872 Administration of a Will by Thomas SIMPKINS mentions John SIMPKINS.

An 1874 Administration of Ann SMITH Shardlow mentions Joseph Botham SMITH (See the 1865 Will).

An 1874 Administration of George CLARKE Shardlow mentions Mary Ann CLARKE.

In an 1876 Will (made in 1864), Thomas MOORE Shardlow, farmer, mentions:

1. friend Ralph COWLEY Breadsall farmer
2. friend Tho. COCKAYNE Quarndon butcher
3. dau. Sarah MOORE
4. dau. Jane MOORE
5. Jno. MOODY Solr. Derby witness
6. Frederick ROBINSON Clerk to Mr. MOODY witness
7. John Hardy SMITH Shardlow Gent.
8. Thomas Moore COWLEY Breadsall farmer neph
9. Noah TAYLOR farm lab. Shardlow witness
10. James McCOWEN Clerk with Mr. Jno. MOODY Solr Derby
     

Also in an 1876 Will (made in 1867), John IRONMONGER innkeeper, Shardlow, mentions:

1. wife Elizabeth Jane
2. son John
3. John H. WILLIAMS, Estate Agent, Shardlow, witness
4. Wm. Chatterley PORTER, Shardlow. witness
    

In 1876, Jane IRONMONGER left a Will.

In 1876, Thomas MOORE left a Will.

In 1885, Ellen DRAPER left a Will.

In 1887, Arthur BARKER left a Will.

In 1887, Elizabeth Jane SORESBY left a Will.

In 1887, Jeanette SORESBY left a Will.

In 1888, John BROWN left a Will.

In 1891, Francis HOLDEN left a Will.

These are the Wills and Administrations for Shardlow Residents (some are noted above):

Sources differ on when the first school was opened here.

A Parochial School was erected here in 1843, for 100 boys & 100 girls & infants.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the Shardlow School on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2018.

Alan MURRAY-RUST has another photograph of Shardlow School showing the entire building on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2018.