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Category: Derbyshire

September 11, 2019

Crich, Derbyshire – St Mary the Virgin

Last summer my blog readers will remember that I did a lot of work on The Carriage of Mail on Trams for an exhibition at the Tramway Museum at Crich. Over the winter they made it into an exhibition. I went over on Wednesday 17 July – and was given a tour. I was impressed with what they have done. It’s well worth a visit. I stopped at the parish church on my way home – SK348546. I have driven past it many times. It is a church with a permanent Easter Garden – that’s class. I am going...
Categories Derbyshire/Trams/World War 1 Comments: 2
September 2, 2019

Dronfield, Derbyshire – St Andrew’s Community Church

My evening engagement on Thursday 20 June was at St Andrew’s Community church in Dronfield where I was to be at the licensing of the Reverend Paul Mellars as Team Vicar. This is a church which includes the grid reference on the invitation – respect! SK 337783 (they must have known they would be on Northernvicar’s blog). They have a website, http://staccd.org.uk/, and you can read their full parish profile. The Local Ecumenical Project was founded in 1971, originally meeting in people’s homes, the church was built in 1973, and is physically connected to the school. We got a...
Categories Derbyshire Comments: 0
September 2, 2019

Edensor, Derbyshire – St Peter

On Thursday 20 June I had to drive north for a licensing at Dronfield, and had supper with Hannah en route at the Fox Inn. On the way there I pulled in opposite Chatsworth to visit the church of St Peter, Edensor – SK 251698. They have a guide page on their website – http://stpetersedensor.org/page5.html  – and a page about the monuments. At the front of the church there are ferocious steps. There is no sign (or anything on the website) which tells you there is flatter access round the back (but they are an “inclusive congregation” … anyone...
Categories Derbyshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
August 23, 2019

Breadsall, Derbyshire – All Saints

The Churchwardens were sworn in at a service at All Saints church, Breadsall, on Tuesday 18 June. It’s a church close to home, with a lovely spire that looks down on the Derwent valley. SK 371398. They have a website – https://www.breadsallchurch.org.uk/  – which has a section on disabled access, but it makes nothing of the history of this Grade 1 church, and has no comments as to when it is unlocked. The two noticeboards in the churchyard have no contact details at all. There are details of the church at https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101328833-church-of-all-saints-breadsall. I went back on another occasion to...
Categories Derbyshire/World War 1 Comment: 1
May 27, 2019

Wirksworth, Derbyshire – St Mary the Virgin

Wirksworth is a nearby town, but it is not very Julie-friendly (too many slopes and cobbles). On Tuesday 21 May I caught the yellow bus there (the lovely TrentBarton Sixes that run up and down the A6) and had an explore. St Mary the Virgin is in the middle of the village at SK287539. It is now part of a 10 church team – I still need to blog Alderwasley, Bonsall, Brassington, Idridgehay and Middleton – and there is a website at http://wirksworthteamministry.co.uk/. At last I have found a church website which welcomes tourists: We care for the historic...
Categories Derbyshire/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 0
May 13, 2019

Langley Mill, Derbyshire – St Andrew

On Tuesday 7 May I went over to St Andrew’s Langley Mill where a new Pioneer Minister was being licensed. Langley Mill is a local ecumenical project, and I am the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer. Archdeacon Chris led it, and he was the only person properly addressed – shall we just say it’s not that sort of church! I mustn’t criticise too much – they are working in a church, in a community, where I could never cope. I’ve just read the noticesheet (on their website) and wonder what happens at the “Local preacher straining morning at Marehay”. Chris preached...
Categories Derbyshire/World War 1 Comments: 2
December 30, 2018

Derwent Valley Heritage Way 7 – Matlock to Whatstandwell

On Thursday 13 December I caught the 1259 from Duffield to Matlock to set off and do the next bit of the Derwent Valley Mills Trail. I avoided the railway bookshop at Matlock station, crossed the river, and walked through the park. A display board reminded me that this was the bottom of the Matlock Cable Tramway – this is an 1891 set of pictures licensed by Commons.wikimedia. It was opened up Matlock Bank in 1893 and lasted until 1927 – there was a continuously moving cable under the road and the trams had a speed of 5 mph....
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Derwent Walk/Railway History/Trams Comments: 0
December 11, 2018

Derwent Valley Heritage Way 6, Rowsley to Matlock

On Friday 16 November I got up early and caught the first Transpeak bus north to Rowsley. Why is it taking me so long to walk this Derwent Valley Mills Trail? It’s only 5.5 miles from Rowsley to Matlock and as it was a damp, grey morning, that would probably be far enough. I cut through the industrial estate on the side of the old station, then headed south on a footpath along the east bank of the river. Then you come to the northern end of Peak Rail – http://www.peakrail.co.uk/. I haven’t had a ride on the line...
Categories Derbyshire/Derwent Walk Comment: 1
November 21, 2018

Cromford, Derbyshire – St Mary’s

On Saturday 3 November we drove up to Cromford and parked by the Mills. The girls went for a wander round the shops, I went to visit St Mary’s church. Here is a website – Cromford in Prose and Poetry  – and here is the church website. The church is next to the Mill, SK 299571 – just by the bridge and across from Willersley Castle. In 1792 Sir Richard Arkwright, the owner of the Mills, built himself a mansion, now known as Willersley Castle. He then started work on the church, but sadly died before it was completed....
Categories Derbyshire/World War 1 Comments: 0