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Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam replied on: 6/18/2004 8:05:24 AM Ken Hope you don't mind, but I have moved your post to Langley rather than Heanor, in view of its content. (If it gets much response regarding the family history, I may move it to that section, but since there is quite a lot of historical items in it, I have left it in the main section for the time being.) I've checked the History Society newsletters and found a couple of references which may be of interest. In Issue 126, there was an article taken from the Heanor Sunday School Union Magazine of April 1890, regarding Primitive Methodism in Langley. It reads: "The cause at Langley first came into existence about the year 1825, when meetings were first held at the top house of the row at the back of the present chapel, occupied by a Newthorpe family named Purdy, and with this family the cause commenced. Mr Frank Purdy, a Newthorpe man, grandfather to Messrs Paling Baker and John Baker, at present workers in the school, was the first man to come to the village to preach a sermon. Mr Frank Purdy was a member of the family where the services were held. The old farmhouse in Langley was then taken by Mr George Purdy and Mr Edward Clifford, where meetings were held until 1836, when the first chapel was built at the railway crossing. This chapel was opened by the Rev. Mr Herod, and there in that year Mr Clifford and Mr Purdy started the first school in Langley, Mr Clifford being superintendent. That place was used until 1852 when the present chapel was erected." In Issue 130, there is reference to a book entitled "An essay on Colliery Explosions and Safety Lamps" written by William Purdy of Newthorpe. It is stated that the author of this book was a founder member of the Primitive Chapel at Langley. The book included a drawing and description of a miner's safety lamp invented by the author, but it is not thought that this invention was progressed. Hope some of that fits in with your research.

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