The High Peak by-election was held on 16 March 1961. It was held due to the incumbent Conservative, Hugh Molson, being granted a Life Peerage. It was won by the Conservative David Walder.
The local Liberal association selected 31-year-old Dennis Wrigley as their candidate. He was an architect.[1] He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester Regional School of Architecture. He was President of the Lancashire, Cheshire and North Western Young Liberal Federation. He had contested Oldham East at the 1959 general election[2] where he polled 15% of the vote and came third.