Belper DerbyshireHistorical & Genealogical Records

The tiny hamlet of King Sterndale lies about two miles south east of Buxton, near to the entrance of Ashwood Dale and high above the rugged gorge of Deep Dale. The two hamlets of Cowdale and Stadon also lie within the parish.

King Sterndale is the Derbyshire seat of the Pickford family, the founders of the world famous carrier service. It was here that the horses drawing the early covered wagons were changed on the route between London and the north.

The Pickfords, who lived at the Hall, known as 'The Cottage', demolished the limestone walls, burnt the stone and distributed the powdered limestone to be ploughed into the earth, thus turning the previously barren area into good fertile farm land.

The church, standing in what was the Park of the Hall, was erected in 1847 by the efforts of Miss Ellen Hawkins. A little before 1847, Ellen, daughter of Admiral Hawkins, of "Rock Head", Cowdale, and sister of Mrs Thomas Pickford of King Sterndale, raised a sum of over £1034 towards the building of the church.

She also raised another £1000 for an Endowment Fund, and £937 for a Parsonage House. Contributors to the Church included the Queen Dowager, and the Duke of Devonshire.

Weblink   Kingsterndale Church Information

A MEMORIAL OF THE WAR 1914 – 1919

From this Parish there fell fighting for their Country:
WALTER BENNETT M.M. Sergeant Royal Field Artillery
JOHN DUGDALE, Driver, M.T. Royal Army Service Corps
ERNEST MOSS, Trooper, Derbyshire Yeomanry
JOHN ROBERT RILEY, Private, The Welsh Regiment.

MEMORIALS IN THE CHURCH

1. HARRIET dau of THOMAS PICKFORD & wife of WILLIAM HOMBERSLEY born 1820 1898. (Stained glass window)
2. CHARLES HAMPDEN PICKFORD of King Sterndale. Born 29th June 1816. 18th January 1882. (Stained glass window).
3. COLONEL HARRY SOWLER, T.D. D.L.  J.P. 15th January 1962
4. HONOURABLE EIRENE SOWLER his wife 28th November 1947
5. EDWARD TODD PICKFORD 3rd .Jun 1878, 35. (Stained glass window)
6. KEZIA CHARLOTTE wife of WALTER HENRY PERKINS A.D. 1936. (Pulpit)
7. ROBERT HALL MAIN from1868 1953. Vicar of this parish. 1928 1943 Erected by his niece DOROTHY HENRY. (Stained glass window)
8. ELLEN HAWKINS Foundress of this church Born 2nd Jan. 1783   18th Sep: 1864. (Brass plaque on marble base.)
9. MARY ADA PICKFORD M.P. (Stained glass East window.)
10. EVELYN FARRER 1891 1974.(Brass Altar Cross)
11. FRANK HALLEY SLOMAN Priest November 11th 1927.(Small brass plaque on prayer stool)
12. KEZIA CHARLOTTE wife of WALTER.HENRY PERKINS. (Lectern)
13. IVY DAWSON. (Board)
14. THOMAS EDWARD PICKFORD 19th. October 1859. Aged 50.(Stained glass window)
15. DOROTHY PICKFORD 0BE. Born 1881. 1971. (Brass Tablet)
16. WILLIAM LORD STERNDALE P.C. .Master of the Rolls 1919 1923. Younger son of THOMAS EDWARD PICKFORD Born Oct. 1848. Aug. 17 1923. (Stained glass window)
17. Honourable MARY PICKFORD C.B.E. M.P. for NORTH HAMMERSMITH from Oct. 1931 to March 1934 (Brass tablet)
18. MARY ADA PICKFORD O.B.E. Member of Parliament 1931 1934 Younger dau of WILLIAM. LORD STERNDALE Born July 5 1884. Died March 6 1934 (Stained glass window)
19. MARY JANE DORRANS Died Sept. 17th 1924. (Brass Jug at Font)

These Memorial Inscriptions appear by kind permission of the Derbyshire Family History Society. Their website is located HERE. Books, fiches and other materials on Belper, as well as other Derbyshire districts, may be obtained from the Society.