See also Winster, Cumbria.

Winster is a former lead-mining village in the Derbyshire Dales about from Matlock and from Bakewell at an altitude of approx 250 m. The village, which lies within the Peak District National Park, has a large number of listed buildings, including the Market House open daily as a National Trust information point. Its current population is about 630; the village has a primary school, two churches, two pubs, a Post Office and a Village Shop owned by the community. Winster was mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086 when it was owned by Henry de Ferrers.

A workhouse at Bank Top ( ) was opened in 1744. It had a rule that forbade any relief outside of the workhouse. By the 1770s it could house 40 inmates.

Winster Market House was the National Trust's first property in the Peak District and was acquired in 1906.

Winster Wakes

Winster's Parish Church is the Church of St John The Baptist, and a week-long annual carnival called Winster Wakes starts on the first Sunday on or after June 24 (the patronal day of St John The Baptist). The Main Street is closed briefly on the Sunday for the Wakes Parade, and for much of the following Saturday afternoon, when there are stalls and entertainment (including Morris Dancing) in the street.

Death of the Doctor

In May 1821 a young surgeon, William Cuddie was killed in one of the last duels to take place in England. Cuddie was aged 31 and had fallen in love with Mary, the daughter of the wealthy Brittlebank family of Oddo House. For some reason one of her brothers, William Brittlebank, tried to keep them apart. One evening the two men quarrelled. The doctor later received a note asking;

“Sir, I expect satisfaction for the insult you dared to offer me at a time when you knew that my situation with a helpless Woman prevented my chastising you. Name your time and place, the bearer will wait for an answer. Yours William Brittlebank, Junior. I shall be attended by a friend and prepared with pistols, and if you don’t meet I shall post you as a coward.”

Cuddie refused to reply to the letter and the following afternoon the three Brittlebank brothers turned up in his garden with two loaded pistols. Cuddie reluctantly accepted one of the weapons. William Brittlebank walked away, turned and fired. Two shots were heard but only Cuddie was hit. He died a few hours later.

Two of the Brittlebanks were tried in Derby to be found not guilty of murder, while their brother William fled to Australia with a £100 reward on his head, never to return to England.

References

External links

• Winster village website