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| Medieval bridge on
western parish boundary |
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Darley Dale is first recorded in the
Domesday Book of 1086 as Dereleie, part of the Wirksworth Hundred. However,
evidence suggests that an Anglian settlement may have been established at
Darley Dale as early as 800AD and that 'Darley' is derived from the Anglo Saxon
deor-lean meaning 'clearing frequented by animals'. 'dale' is a later
nineteenth century addition to the placename.
The original settlement
developed in the vicinity of the parish church and in the Domesday survey, a
population of seven villagers and a priest was recorded in the Manor of Darley,
which included the settlements of Farley, Cotes and Burley.
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