Newsletter number 20 (May 2005)

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Glossary

Barmaster, Barghmaster, Bergma(e)ister, Barmer:  The executive officer of the Barmote Court appointed by the Crown in the Queensfield, or by the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Rutland and others as Lords of their own liberties.  The owners of smaller private liberties such as Litton, Grindlow and Griffe Grange have, or had, the power to appoint their own Barmaster.  The position existed before 1288, but its origin is unknown.  Traditionally the Barmaster was elected by the miners and in 1650 it was stated that: “… the cheife Barrmr is made by Letters Pattents under the Duchy Seal and the under Barrmrs are appointed by him or ellected by ye Myners” [Slack, 1988].  Hopkinson [1644] asserted the privilege of election had been taken from the miners during the reign of Elizabeth I, however in 1665 the Low Peak articles began by reiterating the miners’ right to elect their Barmaster.  These contradictory statements can be resolved by two 15^th century references, the first in 1415 when it was said that: “the Barmaster is made by the King”, the latter dating from 1482 at which time the Barmastership of Wirksworth was appointed by the Crown.  The conclusion must be that the Head Barmaster was appointed by the Crown, Deputy Barmasters were then either chosen by him or elected by miners.  The Barmaster was and is yet, assisted in his duties by a jury of miners who formed ‘the Body of the Mine’.  Until the decline of lead mining there were several Deputy Barmsters, in larger liberties there were sometimes three of them. The principle responsibilities of a Barmaster were: to summon the Court; regularly walk through his liberty to inspect mines and ‘nick’ the stows when required; attend freeings and transfers of title; layout the meers; provide a dish for ore measurement and perform such measurements at each mine; ensure that the lot and cope were collected and collect other duties such as meer dishes on behalf of the Lord of the Field; lay out mineral roads to the mine and to water.  He assisted the jury when Bills of Complaint were preferred and     arrested mines in dispute.  Before the Parliamentary Acts of 1851 and 1852 he acted as coroner in cases of death at or in a mine.

Barmote Court [Great and Small]: The legal administrative unit governing the Derbyshire lead mining.  The Court is presided over by the Steward, assisted by the Barmaster and a jury of twelve [formerly twenty four] miners or maintainers of mines for the Great Court, but only twelve for the Small Court.  The origin of the Court is obscure, but it probably evolved during the Anglo-Saxon period.  Traditionally it originated in the ‘Germanic’ mines of  Central Europe, hence Bergmote and Bergmeister, the alternative spellings in early documents [Reiuwerts, 1988].  The ‘Barmasters Court’ recorded in the Quo Warranto of 1288 met every three weeks at the mining sites.  The later Small Barmote Court also met on the mines every three weeks or when required.  The Great Court was in existence by 1415 though no founding date is known.  The duties of these mineral courts were many and varied and included giving decisions on the ownership of disputed mining titles, payment of mineral debts and forfeiture of shares, verdicts on deaths in mines, ‘sizing’ [calibrating] wooden measuring dishes against the Standard Dish and assisting the Barmaster at freeings and ore measurement [Willies. 1988].  The geographical location of the Courts within the orefield and their frequency was complex and not uniform.  The principle courts were those held for the Low Peak, the High Peak and those belonging to the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Rutland.  Barmote Courts for smaller liberties have been held from time to time, such as those for Stanton, Grindlow, Litton and elsewhere, but most were short lived and were defunct before 1750.  The Litton Court was an exception and survived well into this century.

Barmo[o]te Hall, Moot Hall: The building in which sittings of the Barmote Court are held.  The present structure in Chapel Lane, Wirksworth, houses the Court for the Low Peak or Soke and Wapentake of Wirksworth.  At least three and possibly four halls have existed, the earliest being built about 1498.  Beneath the courtroom were various shops.  Some claim that this hall was built at the expense of Roger son of Sir Henry Vernon, whilst others deposed that the King had borne the cost [Duchy of Lancaster].  By 1608 the Moot Hall was ‘much decayed’.  A description of the Moot Hall in 1649, stated that it was built of timber and the courtroom was on the first floor above open bays which served as butchers stalls.  This description appears to fit the original late 15^th century hall.  Its appearance was  probably similar to the Market Hall in Winster.  Nothing is known about its later history or whether another building was erected.  In 1773 the ‘old Moot Hall’ was demolished and a most imposing structure was then erected on the same site at the northeastern corner of the Market Place.  It was demolished when the square was extended.  The present plain, one storey building was constructed in 1814 [Rieuwerts, 1988].  Barmote Courts held elsewhere in Derbyshire do not appear to have had a purpose made Moot Hall like the Wirksworth  example.  During the 19^th century, at least, sittings of the High Peak Court were held at various public houses, such as the Angel in Winster and the Bulls Head, Monyash.

Crosses and Holes: When a vein was newly discovered the miner could mark his find with a cross and hole cut into the turf or soil.  This mark was lawful for only as long as the miner could go home and make himself possession stows, or for a maximum of three days. … …

Liberty, Mineral Liberty: The district in which the miner works, governed by a set of laws and customs.  The boundaries of a liberty usually coincide with those of the same parish, for example Castleton parish and Castleton Liberty are identical.  Anomalies exist, for instance parts of Tideswell parish lie within the liberty of Bradwell, whilst the position of the boundary between Cromford and Middleton liberties has changed since the early 18^th century.  The principle mining liberties are those groups belonging to the Crown, comprising the High Peak and the Low Peak, those belonging to the Duke of Devonshire and some belonging to the Duke of Rutland.  Smaller liberties belong to Lord Scarsdale and others.

Meer: A linear measurement along a vein, irrespective of its width or depth.  The title to all mines was laid out by the Barmaster’s chain, a miniature stows, known as possession stows, marking the extent of each meer and signifying ownership.  The length of the meer varied, in Youlgreave and Haddon Liberties it was 28 yards, in the Soke and Wapentake of Wirksworth 29 yards and in the High Peak it was 32 yards.  The origin of the system is not known, it is popularly assumed that it originated during Anglo-Saxon times and was derived from the Saxon mining codes.  The earliest reference so far located relates to ‘le findemeres’ in the Over Haddon-Taddington area in 1287 [Rieuwerts, 1988].

Ochre: A miner’s name for a variety of earthy minerals, being oxides of iron and  manganese.  These minerals exhibit colours ranging from black, through brown, orange to red.  They were also known as raddle, umber and wad or black-wad.

Old Man, T’owd Man, Old Man’s Work: There are three different meanings:-

[i] Former miners, or the miners of previous centuries.  The rich ribs of ore had been largely removed from the upper parts of the veins by about 1600 and it was then said that the miners “must be glad to glean after the ould mans harveste”.  [Also] The spirits or ghosts of long dead miners.

[ii] Waste rock packed into old stopes.  The Barmote jury, when called to view a mine, often found such waste obstructed their inspection.  At a mine on Harborough Rakes, Brassington the jury “viewed where Moses White struck to old man or rubbish, but we cannot tell what old man it is unless the ground was bared and more laid open”, September 27^th, 1718 [Rieuwerts, private collection].

[iii] Places in a mine worked out by former miners.  Sleigh [1865-66] defined Old Man’s Work as the workings in a mine of which there is no record.  He also called these ancient workings Carls-work or Carls-wark.  An undated account refers to a miner investigating old workings on Brassington Moor: “Carl’s Work or Old Man’s Work as these old workings are called” [Youlgrave, 1931].

Rake: One of the principal forms of mineral deposit found in Derbyshire.  Essentially a vertical, or sub-vertical fissure, formed as a fault structure during earth movements and subsequently filled with lead ore and associated gangue minerals.  Most rakes consist of a series of parallel fractures occupying a zone which might be as much as fifty yards in width; they are characterised by their considerable length, generally between two and five miles.  No rake has ever been bottomed, but the payable mineralisation is usually confined to the upper four to six hundred feet.

Historically, before the advent of the ore-hearth furnace in the latter part of the 16^th century, the word must have had a different meaning because the entire width of a rake, as presently revealed, would not have been worked.  Only rich ribs of ore were economically viable and workings along the rakes would have been by opencast trenches, or as narrow slits excavated into the rich ribs of ore.  Along the rakes development of the slits reached depths in excess of 200 feet.  The remainder of the rake was left in-situ as being worthless.  The introduction of the ore-hearth furnace allowed extraction of ore disseminated within the remainder of the rake, largely by opencast methods c. 1600-1700.

Therefore rakes such as Nestalls Rake, recorded in 1470; Dirtlow Rake, Castleton, 1538; Dun Rake, Cromford, 1542; and Strawberry Rake, Longstone Edge, 1572, cannot refer to the full width workings eventually developed and currently visible.

In 1633 Dovegang Rake, now identified as a large vein complex, was described as being only 5 or 6 feet in width, but 240 feet in depth and about quarter of a mile in length.

This little book, written by George H. Hope, was presented to Sarah Ann Lowe ‘For Good  Attendance At the Wesleyan Sunday School, at Gillowshaw-Brook’ on March 8th 1874, an age in which medicine was rudimentary, antibiotics unknown, and operations undertaken with or without chloroform. The book was lent by Florence Harris.

"A short time since a man met with an accident, having his wrist cut with a piece of broken jug. This man, residing in one of the largest cities of the world, surrounded by thousands of people, the largest hospitals, and the best doctors, was allowed to bleed to death, and his wife had to stand her trial for murder, all for the want of a little knowledge, a little common sense, used at the proper time.

The occurrence much impressed my mind with the need of a few hints and instructions as to what is best to be done in the case of accident or sudden illness, especially by those who reside at a distance from the nearest surgeon...  But no one can always foretell whether a matter will prove serious or not. What I may write, therefore, is not to take the place of  advice or care of a doctor, but merely that people may employ the time profitably while they are waiting TILL THE DOCTOR COMES.

... Of all the miserable hindering nuisances, there is nothing worse than persons who, just at the time when their services are most required, begin to scream, run wildly about, put themselves in everyone's way, hinder other people, not able to give a sensible answer, perhaps faint, or go into hysterics, or pretend to do so.

Every one knows that all have not the same strength of nerve. Most people have naturally a feeling of dread and of nervous horror at the sight of blood; ...Still, much can be done by mere force of will, determination, facing the thing bravely... Some ignorant people will tell you that a doctor has no feeling for his patient, but they know little of the truth. Ask those who live with them, and hear their remarks about the painful operation they have had to perform, and how nobly the poor patient bore it. Ask Florence Nightingale and the noble women who without pay or reward attend in our hospitals, and in the dwellings of the poorest of the poor, who witness and dress every description of wound or accident... Do they not suffer when others are in pain? Yes, truly, but they have taught themselves to bear it, so they can overcome their feelings. Let us strive to conquer ourselves, to be calm when accidents happen or sudden illness comes, so that we may be useful to others in our distress.

A curious instance, but a very instructive one, occurred to me some years ago, before chloroform was invented. A large, well-made, healthy seaman was brought into the hospital with his leg so terribly crushed that it was necessary to take it off some distance above the knee. I said to him, "Jack, I am very sorry to have to tell you, that the only thing which can be done with this unfortunate leg is to take it off; we cannot save it, you know we cannot splice it or fish it like a mast."

"No," he replied, "I can see that; well, it must be done, it 'ill never be seaworthy any more; how long will it take doing it?" So I told him only a very short time. "Oh well," he said, "cut the wreck adrift, and fit a timber one, I'll bear it."

So the limb was taken off without one groan or one word of complaint. But as the house surgeon was putting on a bandage, he accidentally pricked him with a pin, when he immediately cried out, "Hallo, Mr. Surgeon, the point of that marling-spike's rather sharp, that's too bad."

So I said, "Why Jack how is this? - you bore having your leg taken off like a brave fellow as you are, without speaking one word, and now when only the point of a pin touches you, you call out?"

"Ah, sir," he said, "don't you see, I made up my mind to have my leg cut off? I told you I'd bear it, but I made no bargain about the pin-sticking business."

Charles Tongue contacted the Society last year in relation to his genealogical research into a number of Parwich families.  He is descended from the Ellis family who lived at Brook House in the early nineteenth century, but has extended his research into connected families, including the Balls, Beresfords, Dales, Dakyns and Roes.  We hope to be able to include more of his research in future Newsletters.  In Issue 16 Feb 2004 p.5 we had list of the entries in the Parish Register relating to the Ball family, including, somewhat embarrassingly, an error: John Ball was baptised in 1701 and not in 1706 as appeared in my article.  The name ‘Ball’ is preserved in a field name ‘Ball Croft’, which for a number of years was used during Wakes for the carnival.  It is next to the bowling green and tennis court, on Creamery Lane, though the three modern detached housesnow  occupy what was the front part of this field.  As a result of his contact with the Society Charles Tongue is now working with Glynn Roe, also descended from the Parwich Roes (see Newsletter No. 14 Sept 2003 p.17).  Opposite are Christopher Tongue’s and Glynn Roe’s combined genealogy for the Ball family drawing on wills as well as the parish registers.  The family seemed to move back and forth between Parwich and Tissington.  They then seemed to abandon Parwich, though Roe, Kirkham and Keeling descendants remained in Parwich on into the nineteenth century and beyond.

Most of the events in the Parish Register seem to be related to individuals in this pedigree, with the possible exception of one death and two marriages.  The death is that of William Ball in 1742, aged 100 years.  He would have been born around 1642.  The Parwich parish registers only survive from 1640 and the first registers are incomplete and not always easy to read.  So it is possible he was a son of the first Thomas shown below.  The first marriage is Elizabeth Ball to Thomas Sellars of Parwich in 1709, though she could be the Elizabeth born in Tissington in 1690.  The second is Mary Ball to Thomas Doncaster of Parwich in 1758.