Heage

Heage, from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘heegge’, meaning ‘high’, was on the ancient packhorse route from Derby to Chesterfield, and the old turnpike road passed through here. The village has no obvious centre and is scattered along the roads and lanes. The village is still split into two main parts, High Heage and Low or Nether Heage. The main occupations for centuries were farming and coal mining. In fact, Morley Park has been worked for coal and ironstone since 1372, and the remains of bell-pits were discovered during recent open cast mining. On Morley Park are the remains of two cold blast coke iron furnaces built by Francis Hurt in 1780 and the Mold Brothers in 1818. The older furnace was probably the first of its kind in Derbyshire. Other local industries included framework knitting and weaving.

The oldest domestic building in the village is Heage Hall Farm, once the home of a branch of the Pole family. Crowtrees Farm was built in 1450 with three good cruck beams and was refurbished in 1712. An interesting feature of the village is its postbox, in the wall of the post office. It is one of the few in the country bearing the name of Edward VII, who abdicated in 1936.

The Parish Church of St Luke was originally constructed of wood, and during a great storm in June 1545 it was destroyed. It was then rebuilt in stone in 1661, and subsequently enlarged in 1836.

Heage Windmill is situated west of the village between High Heage and Nether Heage. It is a Grade II listed tower mill and the only one in Derbyshire to retain its six sails, fan tail and machinery. Standing on the brow of a hill, overlooking Nether Heage, it is built of local sandstone and is over two hundred years old. It has been restored to full working order and is open to the public at weekends and bank holidays. There was a small stone building, built some years after the mill itself, alongside the mill which was used as the kiln. This kiln has been rebuilt and provides the Visitor Centre and shop selling souvenirs, flour and light refreshments.