S55 
66 EARLY HISTORY OF WIRKSWORTH AND ITS LEAD MINING. 
which monastic institution the lead mines of Wirksworth appear — 
to have belonged at this time), sent from Wirksworth, A.D. 714, 
a leaden coffin in which to bury St. Guthlac, Prior of Croyland 
Abbey, and formerly a monk at Repton. — 
3. Kenewara, also Abbess of Repton, gave the estate at Wirks- 
worth, a.D. 835, to Humbert, the Alderman, on the condition that 
he gave lead to the value of three hundred shillings, to Archbishop 
Colenoth, for the use of Christ’s Church, Canterbury. 
4. From the name Bergmote (A. S.) being applied to the Court 
for the trial of mineral disputes. 
That the mines were worked after the Norman Conquest is 
proved by a survey, still, I believe, in the possession of the Duchy 
of Lancaster, of Peveril Castle, made in the reign of Queen Eliza- 
beth, who greatly encouraged mining operations by inviting skilled 
workmen from abroad ; and this survey describes the castle as 
being covered with lead. As it was built in the reign of the 
Conqueror, it is more than probable that the lead used in its con- 
struction was obtained from Derbyshire mines ; in fact, Domesday 
Book mentions the working of three lead mines at Wirksworth, one 
at Crich, one at Ashford, one at Bakewell, and one at Metesford, 
a manor in the neighbourhood of Matlock. 
Perhaps you will not consider it out of place if I refer to 
important discoveries, although not connected in any way with 
lead mining, during the cutting of the road called Via Gellia 
through the estate of the Gells, of Hopton. This road was made 
in 1791-2. 
There were found :—(Plate III.) 1. An iron head of a 
spear. 2. Theheadofanarrow. 3. Aniron dagger. 4,5. Two 
iron spear heads. (Plate IV.) 6. A marble spear-shaped instru- 
ment supposed to have been used for examination of the victims 
sacrificed by the Druids. All these six ancient implements 
or weapons were found between Hopton Moor and Ible, but 
the most remarkable discovery of all during the making of this 
road was (7). Anurn found ina large barrow at Abbot’s Low, near 
Hopton. The inscription upon the stone which covered this urn* 
* € Aycheeologia,” vol. xii., p. 2. 
