HOPTON, a township in that part of the parish of
WIRKSWORTH which is in the hundred of WIRKSWORTH
county of DERBY, 1 mile (W. by S.) from Wirksworth,
containing. H6.inhabitantSj manyof whom are employed
in working the lead mines here. Hopton was the property
and residence of the zealous parliamentarian officer,
Sir John,Gell, who, when Charles I. had raised the
royal standard at Nottingham, proceeded to Derby, as>-
sembled a strong body of troops for the parliament, and
performed a conspicuous part throughout the war. Almshouses
consisting of two rooms each,, for four poor
persons, were erected, in 1710, by Sir Philip Gell, Bart.,
and endowed by him with a rent-charge of £22. .6.-,
which is paid to the inmates by weekly instalments of
two shillings each. Military weapons and some other
relics of antiquity have been discovered here.