Froggatt Village
Derwent Valley, Derbyshire

Froggatt Village is a small knot of houses beside Froggatt Wood, nestled beside the Derwent River in the north-east of Derbyshire, a few miles southwest of Sheffield. It lies below the imposing skyline of Froggatt Edge.

Froggatt is an ancient place, and the name dates back hundreds of years. Early records show the name in the following forms (assuming they all refer to the same location):

  • 1203     Froggegate
  • 1225     Froggecot
  • 1319     Froggot
  • 1330     Froggecot
  • 1339     Froggat
  • 1348     Frogcot
  • 1355     Froggot
  • 1392     Froggot
  • 1423     Froggecoate
  • 1424     Froggecot
  • 1553     Froggott
  • 1662     Froggatt.

A common, but probably wrong, explanation for the surname FROGGATT is along these lines:

"During the Middle Ages a family group became established in country close to the left bank of the Derwent River. It was low-lying and damp and known for it abundance of frogs. With the passage of time this family group became known as those who lived at Frog Gate and later, those at Frog Cot, a shortened version of Frog Cottage. Those early names persisted but passed through numerous changes over the centuries. From the Middle Ages and with continued human habitation, the locality was improved and a village grew up on the site."

More likely, the name derives from the Viking "gatta'" meaning road, and the location where the Derwent River was fordable close to a gap (e.g. the Curbar Gap) in the gritstone edges.

The name is not listed in the Domesday Book.

It is probably at this village that the FROGGATT roots were established, and from here the name has spread world-wide. It is a name quite common in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, but relatively uncommon elsewhere.

The small, isolated village of Eyam (the "Plague Village") lies across the valley from Froggatt and Froggatt Edge and from Eyam you get a good view of how the gritstone "edges" dominate the skyline in the area and would have impeded travel out of the Derwent valley without the Curbar Gap. Froggatt is a small village now largely obscured by trees and the forest that is rapidly regenerating on the Edge.
The view from Eyam across the Derwent River to Froggatt Village with the Edge behind
(Click on any photo for a larger version)

Froggatt Village

Froggatt Village is a collection of houses built beside the Derwent River and accessed by a bridge across the Derwent. The bridge is notable for the different widths of the spans, the bridge having been altered and extended at some time in its life.
Welcome to Froggatt
Frog Hall in Froggatt village
Froggatt Wood
The bridge over the Derwent River at Froggatt

Froggatt Village nestled below Froggatt Edge
Local road sign
Bridge over the Derwent just south of Froggatt
Bridge over the Derwent at Froggatt. Note the different sized arches.
Well worn steps of local gritstone (quartzite) in the wall beside the bridge
Froggatts in Froggatt Wood beside the NT sign (now destroyed)
Two Froggatts at Froggatt
Wesleyan Chapel in Froggatt

A while ago I was sent a newspaper clipping from a colleague who had just arrived at Sheffield University

Chequers Inn at Froggatt Edge

Above the village the A625 runs south from Sheffield and drops off the high Edge into the Derwent valley. Part way down is the old Chequers Inn. The Inn is a wonderful old building, well maintained and with rooms, food and beer of high standard. We have thoroughly enjoyed our several stays at the Chequers Inn and recommend it to any traveller.

Chequers Inn today
Chequers Inn postcard
Chequers Inn postcard
Looking east towards the Edge. Chequers Inn very top left of photo.
The road to Sheffield above Chequers Inn.

Froggatt Wood

Froggatt village today is surrounded by forest, managed by the National Trust. Much of this forest was farmland gifted to the NT and has reverted to forest.

Froggatt Village nestled below the Edge today. Compare to next photo
Page from The Times recording the gift of land below Froggatt Edge - click on photo for enlargement and caption

Froggatt Edge

Froggatt Edge is accessible North and South by short walks from the road. We drove through Curbar and up to the Curbar Gap where there is a small carpark and wide track south right to the edge of the sandstone bluff. From here you get extensive views across the Derwent Valley. There are the remnants of numerous quarries in the sandstone and partly formed mill stones. In earlier times, most of the men in the nearby villages must have worked in these quarries, as the 1861 census lists their occupations as stonemason or similar.
Looking over Froggatt Edge up the Derwent Valley
The remnants of stone workings in the quarries on Froggatt Edge
Looking down on Curbar and the "New" Bridge
Looking back along White Edge

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Last updated: 16 July 2025