About Wirksworth Town Council

The Wirksworth Town Council was established in 1972 to provide the town with a “local” authority upon the introduction of the West Derbyshire District Council in 1974 (later renamed the Derbyshire Dales District Council). The West Derbyshire District Council encompassed the former Urban and Rural District Councils at Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth, and provided a centralised district authority based at Matlock. The Town Council was granted powers to deal with parish issues, and were appointed consultees on both parish and district matters.

Wirksworth Town Council consists of 11 Councillors from two wards – (9 from Wirksworth Town and 2 from Bolehill), with an electorate of approximately 4020. The Town Council’s assets consist of:

• The Town Hall
• The Memorial Hall
• Stoney Wood
• Councillors' contact page
• Model Code
• Standing Orders
• Committee Membership

THE TOWN HALL - WIRKSWORTH

Built by the Freemasons in 1871, the Town Hall was designed by the architect A B Bradby. In common with most Victorian buildings, styles were "borrowed" from previous periods in history. The Main Hall leans heavily towards the Jacobean period and has been decorated to emphasise the beamed ceiling. The Italianate facade conceals a number of offices and is also the home of the public library and a charity shop.

THE MEMORIAL HALL - WIRKSWORTH

Built in the 1930's, the Memorial Hall has had a chequered career. Attached to the old cinema, it started life as a "country club", went on to become a transport cafe and currently offers office space to several local organisations and Derbyshire County Council.

TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATION ON EXTERNAL BODIES 2011/12: