OS grid reference SK370578 Region East Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Monday 7:50 AM District North East Derbyshire Population 576 (2011) | Civil parish Wessington Country England Post town ALFRETON Shire county Derbyshire UK parliament constituency North East Derbyshire | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind NW at 16 km/h, 78% Humidity | ||
Wessington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 576. It is in the North East Derbyshire district of the county. It is near to the towns of Matlock, Alfreton and the village of Brackenfield.
Contents
Map of Wessington, UK
The civil parish of Wessington is, along with Shirland and Higham, the most southerly parish in the district. It stands on the west side of the Amber Valley on the Alfreton to Matlock Road. The settlement is centered on a large village green, a fish and chip shop and an old pub, "The Horse and Jockey".
When the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, the village was known as Wistanestune, which may have been derived from the Anglo-Saxon words for 'water' and 'town', meaning "wet place". The village was then called Washington before acquiring its present name. The parish was separated from Crich in 1859. At the time, the village had a fairly large stocking frame knitting industry, with the majority of the inhabitants being employed in it.
Economy
Businesses in Wessington include a fish and chip shop, a public house (the Horse and Jockey) and a car mechanic.
Former businesses included a garden centre which has been redeveloped for housing, a post office, a Co-Op store on Back Lane, Abbotts shop opposite the Horse and Jockey, George Phillips the greengrocer opposite the Three Horse Shoes, Cecil Brown the hardware dealer in Friday yard and in a new shop below the post office, and Stan Lamb's blacksmith whose hovel was further below the post office.
Parish Council
The Parish Council is within the ward of Shirland which is within the District of North East Derbyshire. The Parish Council website is www.wessingtonparishcouncil.co.uk
The Greens
Wessington has land deemed as "village greens" and others which are "common Land". There is also a nature reserve area.