In 1835 the Peak Forest Canal conveyed some unusual passengers to Bugsworth.  This story is from The Sheffield Iris of December 1835.

HUNTING EXTRAORDINARY

On Friday week a deer and a bear gave no little trouble to some of the inhabitants of Chapel-En-Le-Frith and Stoney Middleton.  The deer had arrived at Bugsworth per Wheatcroft's boat and was to be forwarded by their waggon to the owner, Mr Butcher of Sheffield who intended it for the menagery now collecting in the Botanic Garden.  He was duly deposited in that conveyance but at Stoney Middleton the waggoners must needs have a peep at him and raised the covering for that purpose; the animal, probably not liking so tedious a mode of travelling, instantly seized the opportunity, sprang out of the waggon and was out of sight in an instant.  He was not seen again until Sunday, when he was discovered by a party of men who had been employed to search for him,  in a wood close by Middleton.  After many efforts they succeeded in enticing him into a sheep pen and rushing in after him, they fully expected to seize him, but with one bound the deer sprung over the heads of five or six of his escort and knocked down the remainder. The chase was however, commenced anew and with better success and the animal was at length secured and sent to the owner.

On the same day, and by the same conveyance, a bear was a part of the loading of Messrs. Wheatcroft's boat and which gave the luckless waggoners even more trouble than the deer.  The efforts of four or five men were directed to the object of introducing Mr. Bruin into a hogshead, for the purpose of placing him in the waggon, but his violent resistance made it a difficult matter, and in the struggle his collar (to which the chain was attched) broke, and the bear finding himself at liberty, knocked down three of his persecutors, and departed at the top of his speed.  He luckily ran into Hibberson's warehouse, where a grand hunt immediately commenced; the doors were closed, lights brought (for it was after dark), and dogs turned in.  Bruin behaved very gallantly, and repeatedly put to the rout his human pursuers, to whom he was a formidable object, having no muzzle or chain on him; he was, however, secured at last, and forwarded to his destination at Sheffield, but not before he had severely scratched, bitten and torn the clothes of his assailants.

The Bear & Hogshead - Now there's a good name for a pub.

A FEW MORE CURIOUS TALES FROM BUGSWORTH

A BUGSWORTH ROMANCE

A man visited the Chapel Union workhouse in 1843 asking to be allowed to enter. He gave his name as Ford, residing in Bugsworth which was within  the same Union.  He was not seeking to become a burden on the parish but wanted to meet a young woman, an inmate. He was asked whether he knew the woman to which he replied that he had never seen her before in his life.
Mr Ford explained that he hoped to emigrate to Australia but having been married before, he could not travel as an emigrant with his family unless he re-married. He had heard that the young woman he was anxious to see would be likely to make him a good wife if he could persuade her to accompany him.
The clerk granted him admittance to the workhouse and it seems that his charms won the woman over and she was allowed to leave the workhouse.  A public rate payers meeting was called at which it was agreed to grant the young woman £10 when aboard ship.  The minister was called in and he kindly offered to forgo his fee.  That same day they were made man and wife and were very soon on their way to Australia.


A MYSTERY SOLVED

Workmen at Crist quarry were faced with a mystery in 1837.  They were in the habit of standing a horn upright in the ground and filling it with oil for lubricating the axles of their waggons.  Each day they found the horn full to the brim with small stones and the oil almost gone. Puzzled, they decided to find the cause so next day they filled the horn with oil as usual and covered the ground around it with very soft clay.  When they returned they found that as usual the horn was filled with stones but all around, the clay was imprinted with the impressions of rats paws.

AN IMPERSONATION

In March 1844 a person of gentlemanly appearance stopped at a small inn at Calton near Ashbourne and was unable to continue on his journey through illness.  He had no money and was unable to give good account of himself.  The parish priest visited him and he confessed that he ran away from home for a trivial offence.  He gave the address of his mother in order that the clergyman might tell her of his plight and desire to return home.  His sickness increased and with death approaching, he told a lady who visited him that the previous story was untrue.  A blister on the chest revealed that this was in fact a young woman in disguise.  She would not disclose the reason for pretending to be a boy and would not disclose her name for fear of disgracing her family.  She was probably about 19 years of age with auburn hair, pale complexion, of medium height and familiar with the scriptures.
A few days later, after the death of the young person, the story unfolded.  Her name was Ellen Hatfield, daughter of a Bugsworth tailor.  Her father had died some years previously and her mother had married a boatman also residing in Bugsworth. Ellen had received an ordinary education at the village school. She displayed higher educational accomplishments that must have been obtained through living in service with several families. On the death of her father about five years previously she had gone to live with a lady in Scotland where she remained for some months.  On leaving this position she dressed as a man assuming different roles including that of the mate of a merchant ship, holding that post until her sex was discovered.  She figured as the son of a nobleman in various parts of the country and supported herself by obtaining the sympathy of those whom she approached.
Her mother seemed unaware of her way of life although receiving letters from time to time.
Ellen Hatfield was about twenty two years of age but in her male attire would have passed for a youth of about nineteen.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN BUGSWORTH

William Kirk, aged 18 pleaded guilty to stealing some clothing from Thomas Taylor at Bugsworth.  As he had two previous convictions the court was not lenient.  Sentenced to transportation for seven years.

LAWLESS BUGSWORTH

In 1896 Mr Peter Green, landlord of the Crown & Mitre at Chinley and a well known member of the volunteers, boarded the Derby to Manchester train at Chinley.  The other occupant of the compartment was Mr Bald Schofield, a tinplate worker from Chapel who had recently been discharged from the county asylum.  On arrival at Bugsworth, Green appeared at the window screaming "murder".  Green was covered in blood as was the floor of the
train.  His face was severely cut and bruised, one eye and one ear "completely made up".  The guard and several passengers joined the two men until the train arrived at New Mills where the stationmaster attended to the injuries.  Green preferred to return home by the next train rather than see a doctor at New Mills. He stated that Schofield, without provocation had attacked him with a stick but the latter claimed that Green struck the first blow.
In October the Petty Sessions at Chapel heard the case but dismissed it with the expectation that it would come up in another court.

In 1900, Henry Lowder,a Bugsworth tailor was caught by Ambrose Cook, landlord of the Rose and Crown, hiding in his hen house. One of the chickens was missing and Lowder was facing court proceedings.

In 1896, George Pearson's shop was broken into. A small window had been forced and a number of boxes of boots were removed.  Four pairs of boots were found abandoned on the road near the shop.

In 1861 Thomas Fowler and Robert Johnson, boatmen were charged with breaking into the house of Mr.W.Hodson and stealing property.  Mr Hodson kept a general dealers shop and small public house and the accused were at his house on the morning of 14th July. Next morning some items of clothing had been stolen and these were found aboard Johnson's boat.  No evidence was offered in court against Fowler and he was acquitted. Johnson however, was of a bad character and was found guilty.  He was sentenced to six years penal servitude.

In 1861 a load of cotton was destined for Tinker's mill in Bugsworth aboard the narrowboat Fame and for Alice Bennett & Co of Chapel aboard the Sophia.  192lb of the cargo went missing during the voyage. Watching the lock at Phillips Park, a detective observed some boatmen carry a bale of cotton into a stable where the remainder of the stolen goods were found.  Five boatmen were remanded for trial charged with the offence of stealing.

In 1899, women living alone feared the "Bugsworth Nick Club". This consisted of a large number of men whose custom was to go around the village begging for money for beer.  They would call at the homes of lone women and if refused, would damage the premises. One victim was Mrs Sarah Rowley, a widow, who seeing the gang approaching, armed with spades, shovels and hammers, locked her door. William Martin smashed the door with a hammer and when the men were asked to go away, they refused.  Martin threatened his victim with the hammer which she grasped from him only to be seized by the throat and knocked down.  The Reverend Bowers was passing and took the hammer from Martin who  threatened to give the vicar a good hiding.  Superintendent Gill, giving evidence in court said that Martin was an idle fellow and a terror to the neighbourhood.  Martin was jailed for 28 days with hard labour and a fine of 5 shillings.  His accomplice James Dale was fined 5 shillings

1865 and the house of James Waterhouse, stonemason was burgled.  Some items of his clothing and a silver watch were stolen.  A ladder from the yard was used to reach an upstairs window.  The culprits had been seen about the village and the police traced them to a lodging house in Buxton.  Stanley, Holdsworth and Woodward were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

1877 and "The man from the pru" was caught defrauding the Midland Railway.  Thomas Foster, insurance agent on numerous occasions had taken single tickets to and from Bugsworth, travelling well beyond his destination.  At his final  station, he would hand in return tickets which were valid 6 months, obtained in advance for short journeys, travelling for the most part without paying.  Fined £5 4s 2d

In 1876 Thomas Handley was already bailed for a previous offence, when with John Madden,a boatmen, he assaulted, beat and abused John Thomas Goddard at Bugsworth.  At the Crown Court, it was stated that Mr Goddard was unable to be present due to amputation of a leg following his injuries. Mr Edward Allen, a surgeon had examined him and declared him unable to travel. Goddard worked for Mr Sampsom Maden, a boat owner and his job was unloading boats.  Having emptied his boat and wishing to go up the canal, he pushed his boat off and in doing so the stern got in the way of Handley and Madden's boat.  "I will pull thy ears" called Handley to which Goddard replied "Thee cannot do it" and went forward and left the canal. Nothing more ocurred until two days later when he again encountered Handley who once more said "I will pull thy ears".  "Will thee" replied Goddard as Handley went towards Bugsworth. In a little while he returned and said "I told thee I would pull thy ears"; "Well I am here" replied Goddard who guarded the first blow.  The second struck him in the face however, and they fought until Goddard thought Handley beaten.  Madden then sprang out of his boat and said to Handley "Art thou going to be beat by a thing like that ?"; "No" said Handley who then squared up again to Goddard.  Again they fought and as they both fell to the ground Goddard was kicked behind the ear and became senseless. On coming round he found hiss nose to be bleeding, picked up a stone and said to Madden "It is you, I had a good mind to throw this at you". Madden then struck him in the face after which he got up and went off towards Bugsworth.  He was followed by Handley ang again they fought. Madden then came up and struck him several times so  that he became dizzy.  Goddard's brother James and Horatio Bennett then came to his assistance but Handley again rushed in. Handley was induced to go away but by now Goddards leg had been hurt as he fell.  
A police officer apprehended Handley and Madden and Dr Allen was called to examine Goddard.  He found an abrasion to the cheek, a black eye and bruising to the head. Goddard complained of great pain in the chest, hean and knees.  Two days later Dr. Allen found that the knee joint was inflamed and amputated the leg at the hip. Goddard also seemed to be suffering from "An affection of the brain".
The jury found both men guilty but recommended mercy.  Madden was sentenced to six months hard labour and Handley to one month.

William Price, a boat captain was seen by the canal agent at Bugsworth with a bowl of sugar in his hand and who noted that a bag in the cargo was opened.  This was seen as a serious crime in 1875 for it resulted in a sentence of one month of hard labour.

From the Guardian of 1908

Bugswoth, the little Derbyshire village near Chinley, which is entrenced behind a toll bar - said to be the only remaining toll bar in this part of the country - affords a striking example of how obscurity may be preserved in spite of much advertisement.  Bugsworth has been much advertised.  For years the Midland Railway Company's tickets between Manchester and London have been printed "via Bugsworth" and regular travellers on  the line are quite wearied by the speculations of strangers about this place with the strange name that nobody seems to have heard about. Bugsworth did enjoy a little individuality before it's neighbour Chinley was developed as an important junction station, but even in those days the expresses always dashed through it unheedingly, and travellers were always puzzled to know why "via Bugsworth".  When Chinley assumed a place of some prominence on the railway map travellers knowing of Bugsworth expected to see the word disappear from their tickets, but it is still there.