Carsington is a village in the middle of the
Derbyshire Dales,
England; it adjoins the hamlet of
Hopton, and is close to the historic town of
Wirksworth and village of
Brassington.
According to the 1991 Census, the population was 111, increasing to 251 at the 2011 Census.
History
Carsington has a long history, including Roman occupation (an old Roman settlement now lies beneath the
reservoir). In prehistoric times,
woolly rhino
The woolly rhinoceros (''Coelodonta antiquitatis'') is an extinct species of rhinoceros that was common throughout Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch and survived until the end of the last glacial period. The woolly rhinoceros was a me ...
s lived in the area; the remains of one such animal were discovered nearby in the "Dream Cave" adjacent to the Callow and Hopton end of Summer Lane in the late 20th century.
Carsington is recorded in Domesday Book of 1086 as one of the berewicks (supporting farms) of the town and manor of Wirksworth. During the Middle Ages and right up until about 1800 it was a major location for lead mining and the lead obtained in the many Brassington and Carsington mines was usually smelted in
Wirksworth.
The
Channel 4 archaeology series ''
Time Team'' once visited Carsington to investigate the archaeology and ancient remains in the pastures, where they visited a
cave, discovered by the Pegasus Caving Club, full of ancient human bones.
British
aurochs
The aurochs (''Bos primigenius'') ( or ) is an extinct cattle species, considered to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. With a shoulder height of up to in bulls and in cows, it was one of the largest herbivores in the Holocen ...
specimen CPC98 was retrieved in 1998 from
Carsington Pasture Cave
Carsington is a village in the middle of the Derbyshire Dales, England; it adjoins the hamlet of Hopton, and is close to the historic town of Wirksworth and village of Brassington.
According to the 1991 Census, the population was 111, increasing ...
, possess P mtDNA haplogroup sequences and radiocarbon dated to 6,738 ± 68 calibrated years BP.
An aurochs is a kind of wild cattle.
Carsington today
Today, Carsington has one pub, the Miner's Arms, and a primary school. The community is primarily composed of a strong commuter and retiree contingent to replace the traditional agricultural, mining and quarrying community.
Carsington Reservoir
Carsington Water is a reservoir operated by Severn Trent Water located between Wirksworth and Kniveton in Derbyshire, England. The reservoir takes water from the River Derwent at Ambergate during winter months, pumping up to the reservoir by l ...
, opened in 1992, stores water from the
River Derwent and is operated by
Severn Trent Water. It is open all year for recreation, with an extensive cycle path, several bird hides, a water sports and sailing centre. Inside the visitor centre are a trail, several specialist shops including an excellent and informative RSPB shop, and a café/restaurant.
The nearest railway station to Carsington is Wirksworth on the
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is a long heritage railway in Derbyshire. The headquarters of the railway centre on Wirksworth station, and services operate in both directions between Wirksworth and Duffield and from Wirksworth to Rave ...
See also
*
Listed buildings in Carsington
Carsington is a civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England. The parish contains 18 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is Englan ...
References
External links
"History of Wirksworth" Lutudarum.com – It is thought that Wirksworth is the site of the lost Roman town of
Lutudarum
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Villages in Derbyshire
Towns and villages of the Peak District
Derbyshire Dales