  duffield is a village, situated next to the river derwent, at its junction with the river ecclesbourne in derbyshire at the lower end of the pennines around five miles north of derby, england. ==early history== there have been humans in the area, probably, from the iron age. a paleolithic hand axe has been discovered near the head of the river ecclesbourne at hopton.cockerton, r. w. p. (1954) a palaeolith from hopton, derbyshire archaeological journal 79. pp. 153â155 in the duffield area itself, settlement by the celts occurred in 400bce.cook, d., (2011) welcome to duffield, duffield parish council although it has been suggested that, once farming began, they would have inhabited the plains of the derwent and ecclesbourne, they would most likely have retreated to higher ground during the winter floods. the romans arrived in the area in 43ce. it has been suggested that they built a fort to protect the ford across which the caravans of lead from wirksworth joined rykneld street at derby, en route for the north sea ports, though this is disputed. ==anglo saxon settlement== a few remains have, however, been found of anglo-saxon occupation by a person, or persons, of some substance. the domesday survey records "duvelle"" as being within the wapentake or hundred of morleystone. in norman times, duffield castle was built to protect the hunting grounds of duffield frith, awarded to henry de ferrers (or de ferrars) by william i. most of this became the ancient parish of duffield, which contained the townships of hazlewood, holbrook, makeney, milford, shottle, and windley, and the chapelries of belper, heage, and turnditch. meanwhile st alkmunds church was built some quarter of a mile to south. its position, so far from the village, it is thought, arose from its purpose, in anglo-saxon times, of serving travellers crossing the river on their way from ashbourne to nottingham.tudor, t.l., (1939) new light on duffield church and its ancient parish. the original part of the present building, however, is norman. duffield bridge was built across the river, next to th
Civil_parishes_in_Derbyshire Villages_in_Derbyshire