ECKINGTON, which is in north-east Derbyshire, is seven miles north of Chesterfield. The name Eckington is of Saxon origin, meaning the township of Ecca.

In medieval times it was a small but important settlement, which was later engulfed by development when coal deposits were extensively worked throughout the area. It is a long sprawling village, with typical picture postcard scenes of its manor houses and cottages built of the local Derbyshire stone. The main street through the village is just over a mile in length. There are eleven public houses, some dating back many years.

The main occupations were farming and mining, but since the closing of the local colliery, although some miners still work at nearby colleries, several light industries have become established and a lot of farming-land has been lost to building development.

The parish church of St Peter and St Paul dates from the year 1100 and is of exceptional architectural interest, still retaining the original Norman doorway. In a field at the back of the church, near the river Moss stands the Priest's Well where the parish priest used to draw water for the needs of the church. Up to the 1930s gipsies used the field as a winter camp, drawing water from the well for all their needs. Close to the church is the rectory, a late Georgian house with Venetian windows.

Sir Reresby and Lady Sitwell live at Renishaw Hall, which is surrounded by parkland and a golf course on the outskirts of Eckington. The Hall has been the family home of the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years and has become famous through the writing of Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell, father of the present owner. A novel feature at the hall is the vineyard begun in 1972.

Compiled by Jayne McHugh. Reproduced with kind permission.