The March Route

1. The Gathering at Hunt's Barn

The Pentrich revolutionaries started their march on the 9th June 1817 from Hunt's Barn, which was situated on the north side of Garner Lane, South Wingfield.

Around fifty men left Garner Lane by 10pm, setting off through Wingfield Park, seeking arms and more men. They eventually split into two groups, to cover the scattered houses more quickly, meeting back up at Pentrich Lane End.

One group was led by Jeremiah Brandreth, Isaac Ludlam and William Turner, while the other group was lead by George Weightman and Edward Turner.

2. Wingfield Manor

The vast and immensely impressive ruins of a palatial medieval manor house arranged round a pair of courtyards, with a huge under crofted Great Hall and a defensible High Tower 22 metres (72 feet) tall. This monument to late medieval 'conspicuous consumption' was built in the 1440s for the wealthy Ralph, Lord Cromwell, Treasurer of England.

Later the home of Bess of Hardwick's husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, who imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots here in 1569, 1584 and 1585.

3. Widow Hepworth's Plaque

Widow Hepworth's Farm.

At one house a widow, Mary Hepworth, lived with her two sons. When she refused to open up, the rioters broke a window and Brandreth fired a shot through it, killing a servant. Some of the party were appalled at this wanton act, but Brandreth threatened to shoot them also if they did not remain.

4. St Matthew's Church

The church dates from the 12th century. It comprises a nave, north and south aisles, a porch, chancel and short embattled tower. It was restored between 1859 and 1860. It reopened on 28 March 1860.

The font stands on a pedestal dated 1662 but the bowl has decoration typical of the Norman period. During the 19th century the bowl was absent and was used for the salting of beef.

On the exterior of the south chancel wall is a scratch dial or mass clock.

5. Pentrich Lane End Plaque

At Pentrich Lane End junction, site of the Devonshire Arms, (removed for development) the plaque is now set into the new wall, the rebels continued to Pentrich, then Butterley.

Opposite the junction see the Mile Marker dating from the 1760's, the arrival of the Turnpike Road.

6. The White Horse Inn

Within two weeks of the event it was announced that: "Ann Weightman, widow, who has kept the White Horse public house at Pentridge for several years, was convicted...of having permitted seditious meetings and, in particular, a meeting on Sunday, 8th instant", when Brandreth had called upon the men to join the rising.

In consequence, her license to sell ale was revoked, thus depriving her of her livelihood.

7. Asherfield's Barn Plaque

Asherfield's Farm and Barn; Asherfield's Barn was used as a meeting place by the Pentrich Revolutionaries - a group of political activists in the early 19th century.

The plaque on the gatepost reads "On this site stood Asherfields barn, here the rebels met to plan their march - June 9th 1817". The protest was short lived and most of the rebels were captured and hung.

8. Butterley Ironworks Plaque

The Pentrich Riots/Pentrich Revolution – a skirmish of the post-Napoleonic depression, involving rioters invading the ironworks in a search for weapons; they were confronted by the factory agent and a few constables, three senior were killed during the uprising.

A plaque above the door on the gatehouse commemorates the revolution.

9. The Rebels arrive in Ripley

The Rebels arrive in Ripley near the Cock Inn.

Recruits from Heage and Belper reinforced the march at Ripley and, by the time it arrived at Codnor with another 70 men from Swanwick, there were well over 400 insurgents. On their way to Nottingham, they called at nine or ten houses to collect arms and in one or two cases press-ganged men to join the rebellion.