ECKINGTON, a parish in the hundred of SCARSDALE,
county of DERBY, comprising the townships of
Eckington, Mosborough, Renishaw,andTroway, andcontaining
3598 inhabitants, of which number, 1013 are in
the township of Eckington, 7 miles (N.E.byN.) from Chesterfield.
The living is a rectory with Killamarsh in the
archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry,
rated in the king's books at £40. 13. 4., and in
the patronage of the Crown. The church is dedicated to
St. Peter and St. Paul. There is a chapel of ease at Killmarsh.
The Wesleyan Methodists have two places of
worship, and there is a Roman Catholic chapel within the
parish. Here are several manufactories for scythes and
sickles, the produce of which, besides being transmitted
to all parts of England, is exported to America, Russia,
Poland, Scotland, Ireland, &c.: a considerable quantity
of nails is made.in the parish. A statute fair for the
hiring of servants is held on the 5th of November. The
Chesterfield canal passes through the parish. Thomas
Cam, in 1704, gave lands for the endowment of a free
school; in 1717, George Sitwell gave a school-house;
and in 1719, Lady Trechville bequeathed £100 in furtherance
of this charity, the present annual income of
which is about £70; the school is partly conducted
on the National plan. A school for girls, which is also
a Sunday school, is supported entirely by Lady Sitwell.
There are also endowed schools at Mosborough, Renishaw,
and Ridgeway. There are several benefactions
for the relief of the poor.