(A) In 1817 a group of workers’, houses were built upon this road, which opened up into the footpath between Alfreton and Swanwick. This was the site of the Queen's Head, a public house run by John and William Peach, a meeting place of miners and framework knitters. This public house was to play an important part in the rebellion of 1817. In 1812 framework knitters from Swanwick joined the Luddite attacks on frames that were being used to undercut the established rate for work. 12 attacks are recorded. By 1816 other local workers, especially miners, were facing growing poverty and wanted reform. Job Walker, a local framework knitter, called a meeting to set up a Hampden Club and was in contact with Thomas Bacon, the radical leader from Pentrich.
Bacon sent him a letter when he was present at a national meeting of the Hampden Clubs at the Anchor Inn in London in April 1817. Government reports named local ‘committee men’; Thomas Goose, Edward Haslam and James Barnes from Alfreton. Early in 1817, William Benbow, the radical leader, came to speak at the Peach's pub. Benbow, a Manchester shoemaker, non-conformist preacher, associate of William Cobbett, another leading political reformer among ‘labouring classes’. He was arrested in May 1817 and held, without charge, until early in 1818. He would later become famous for promoting the tactic of the general strike among the Chartists in the 1830s, which he called ‘The Grand National Holiday’. It would have been from here that the Alfreton men would
have set out to join others from Swanwick on the 9th June 1817. 20 to 30 in total would join the main Pentrich rebels’ march at Codnor, on the route towards Nottingham.
(B) Built in 1820, this was the town's ‘lock-up’ for many years until the opening of the town's police station in the 1840s. See the information board here.
(C) The information board gives an interesting account of the town's history and points to places of historical interest around the Market Place, especially the eighteenth century coaching inn, The George, at the corner with Chesterfield Road.
(D) In St Martin’s Church, dating from 1200s, many of those from this area who took part in the rebellion were married and baptised. In 1804 Francis Hill and Jemima Truman married here.Francis was cousin to John Hill who was transported. Thomas Bacon of Pentrich, a leading figure in the rising, was a signatory witness. If you take the path just past the church you will come to a lovely view of the upper Amber Valley towards South Wingfield and Wessington, with Crich Stand on your left.
(E) The Alfreton Manor dates from Norman times but the present Alfreton Hall dates from 1725, when Rowland Morewood pulled down the old hall.
The Morewood family built its wealth on growing local industry, especially coal mining. In April 1818 the Duke of Devonshire stayed here when visiting Pentrich following the rebellion. Accompanied by Colonel Wingfield Halton of South Wingfeld and Mr Lockett, the prosecutor at the Derby Trial, he was shown the route the rebels took, met those who had been ‘victims of the ferocity of Brandreth’ and those who had shown their loyalty. He also made arrangements ‘for the general improvement’ of Pentrich, which would have included the eviction and destruction of the homes of the rebels. He then ‘proceeded directly to Alfreton Hall, highly pleased with his excursion’.
(F) The church was built for the Primitive Methodists with donations from Alfreton born Robert Watchorn. Born on Long Meadow Road, he emigrated to U.S.A. and made his fortune, becoming U.S. Commissioner for Ellis Island from 1905-1909. Not forgetting his roots, he became a benefactor for Alfreton. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Library, further down Derby Road, was built with a donation from Watchorn.
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