Holmesfield is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 971. The name "Holmesfield" means "raised pasture-land" and is of Norse and Anglo-Saxon origin. Viking influences are also evident with many road names suffixed by "gate", the old Norse word for "way".
History
Holmesfield is mentioned in the Domesday Book as one of the manors belonging to Walter D'Aincourt. John Frescheville, 1st Baron Frescheville, was in 1645 ordered to pay an annuity to the Vicar of Holmesfield Church, as part his fine, for being on the losing side in the civil war. St Swithins parish church can be seen from much of the surrounding area. The main church was built in 1826 but has seen further work in recent years with the vicarage being added in 1999. Still visible in the grounds are the remains of a stone cross from around 641 AD, which would have replaced an original wooden cross erected by monks to mark the place where they would preach. The base of the stone cross now holds a sundial.
Geography
Holmesfield is sited at approximately above sea level on the edge of the Peak District National Park, with extensive views from the village over the surrounding hilly terrain. The parish includes a number of farming hamlets such as Millthorpe situated in the neighbouring Cordwell Valley.
Notable buildings
Within Holmesfield civil parish are 43 structures that are listed by Historic England for their historic or architectural interest. None is listed as Grade I but there are five structures that are listed as Grade II*. The other structures, including Woodthorpe Hall, Cartledge Grange and the parish church, are listed as Grade II.
Notable residents
Notable people who live or have lived in Holmesfield parish include:
Edward Carpenter, socialist and poet, lived at Millthorpe.
Robert Murray Gilchrist, novelist, lived and died at Cartledge Hall, buried in the parish churchyard.
George Merrill, lived at Millthorpe as Edward Carpenter's partner, and on whom the character Alec Scudder in E.M.Forster's novel Maurice is based.
G.H.B. Ward, activist for ramblers' rights, co-founder of the Clarion Ramblers in Sheffield and Labour Party politician.
Mark Roe, professional golfer.
Amenities
Holmesfield has a village hall, a riding school, and Victorian-built primary school A Thai restaurant closed in 2018. There are three pubs within the village and a further three elsewhere within the parish. The village no longer has a shop or post office. There is a regular farmers and artisan market held in the village on various dates throughout the year. These are normally situated at the Angel Inn and St. Swithin's Church Hall. The markets for 2020 will be held on July 4, October 10 and December 5th between 10am and 2pm
