Dronfield was in existence before the 1086
Domesday Book, though little is known about its early history. It suffered after the
Norman Conquest when
William the Conqueror sought to
bring the North of England under control. Its name derives from the
Old English drān and
feld, meaning open land infested with drones (male bees). The Church of
St John the Baptist was built by 1135 when Oscot was rector and the
parish of Dronfield covered
Little Barlow,
Coal Aston, Povey,
Holmesfield,
Apperknowle,
Dore and
Totley. The Guild of the
Blessed Virgin Mary was established in 1349 in the hall of the chantry priests. However, due to the
Dissolution of the Monasteries and the subsequent suppression of the guilds and chantries in 1547, it became a local inn which still operates today as the Green Dragon Inn. During the 16th century Dronfield with its sheep farmers had a significant number of families working in the wool trade, engaged in spinning and weaving and also the production and selling of cloth. Soaper Lane, being next to the river, was the centre of the soap-making and tanning industry in the town, with a dye works also situated there. In 1662 Dronfield was granted a market by
Charles II, but in the 18th century, due to the proximity of
Sheffield and
Chesterfield, the market went into decline, however it is still held every Thursday in the rear car park of the civic centre on Farwater Lane. Between the 16th and 19th centuries Dronfield grew around various industries, the most widespread of which was
coal mining, with pits at Stubley being mentioned in the 16th century and a map of Hill Top in the 17th century showing some workings. Further mines were opened at Coal Aston in 1785 and Carr Lane in Dronfield Woodhouse in 1795. The town also benefited from trade with the
lead mining and grindstone industries in the Peak District. The wealth of the Rotheram family, who became the
Lords of the Manor of Dronfield, was based on the lead trade. The Wilson-Cammell steelworks was built in the town in 1872–3, following the completion of the
Midland Main Line through the town in April 1869.
Bessemer steel was first blown at the site in March 1873 and the plant was soon capable of producing 700 tons - mostly as rails - every week. Dronfield became a boom town, but its prosperity was short-lived; although more efficient and profitable than other works in the Sheffield area, its site had limitations that could not compete with low-cost coastal locations, and in 1883 production moved from Dronfield to
Workington in
Cumberland (now Cumbria). Steelworkers and their families moved too. It is estimated that 1,500 townspeople made the trip to Workington. 'Dronnies', as the people of Workington called the newcomers, formed
Workington AFC in 1888. In 1993
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School (formerly the 'Dronfield School' and previously 'Dronfield Grammar School') suffered major damage when its 1960s system-built blocks were completely gutted by fire, requiring all firefighting resources from all nearby towns and Sheffield to control the blaze. The historic Victorian quadrangle and library, as well as the sixth-form block, survived. The remains of the modern school were subsequently demolished and mobile cabins were used as classrooms until 1996 when the school was rebuilt.
Dronfield Civic Hall was completely rebuilt in 1999. ==Geography==