Wirksworth and Derbyshire Dales

We lived in this small town in the Derbyshire Dales District for 27 years, until March 2006. Town website, Wikipedia article Wirksworth is twinned with Die in south-east France, and with the German town of Frankenau-Louisendorf.  For more details of these twinning links see the twinning website. Our sons all attended Anthony Gell School, one of the earliest comprehensive schools in the country.

Wirksworth has recently become well-known for its September performing arts Festival and Art & Architecture Trail.  Click here for website.

The town, like many in Derbyshire, is also celebrated for its Well Dressings at the end of May.  This involves designing and creating pictures with flower petals and other natural materials set in clay in wooden frames.  Originally they were intended to celebrate and bless the availability of water (from wells...) - there are various sites which describe this tradition of floral decoration, and some of Jon's photographs from Wirksworth recently are here.

For more on other local organisations in which we took an interest see the voluntary sector page on this site.