BARLOW (or Great Barlow) is a village, township and
parish on a bold eminence, commanding a very extensive
view of a finely cultivated country, 3½ miles from
Sheepbridge station and 5 miles from Staveley station, both on
the London, Midland and Scottish railway, 4 miles north-west
from Chesterfield and 10 south from Sheffield, in the
Chesterfield division of the county, hundred of Scarsdale,
rural district, petty sessional division, count court
district and rural deanery and archdeaconry of Chesterfield,
and diocese of Derby.
The church of St. Lawrence
is a small Norman building, consisting of chancel (added
in 1867), nave and lady chapel, south porch and turret
containing one bell. There are four stained windows, placed
hero in 1874; an inscribed marble slab to Robert Barley
and his wife, Margaret dated 1467, and an ancient coffin
lid with inscription, of the 13th century. There are 201
sittings. The register dates from the year 1573. The living is
a perpetual curacy, net yearly value £350, including 16 acres
of glebe and residence, in the gift of the rector of Staveley,
and held since 1923 by the Rev. Edward Wm. Lumley, of St.
Chad's Hostel, Hooton Pagnell.
There is a Primitive Methodist
chapel here, erected in 1892. The United Methodist
chapel here was acquired in 1902 by the Order of Oddfellows,
and is now used for their meetings. The charities for
distribution amount to £22 8s. yearly. Woodseat Hall,
now a farm house, is the property of William H. Fanshawe
Thorold esq. J.P. The Duke of Rutland is lord of the manor.
The land is mainly owned by the farmers. The soil is
medium; subsoil mixed. The chief crops are wheat and
oats. The acreage is 3,916 of land and 16 of water; the
population in 1921 was 964.
Post, M.O. and Tel. Call Office. Letters through Sheffield.
The nearest T. office is at Holmesfield.
Police Station at Commonside.
Carriers.-Stanley Staton & Benjamin Booker to Chesterfield
daily.