Ashbourne

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Description of Ashbourne & St Oswald's Church

The earliest known reference to Ashbourne is on a Dark Age map (410-870) of the county in the possession of the Ordnance Survey, when it is given as 'Aescburna'. It was quite a considerable settlement even at that period.

The present church is mainly Early English with later additions of the Decorated and Perpendicular periods. The chancel and transepts were built about 1220 and the church consecrated and dedicated to St. Oswald in 1241. The spire which measures 215 feet to the weathercock was badly damaged by a gale in 1698 and has had to be repaired twice in the 18th century and again in the 19th. On this last occasion, in 1873, the vicar, the Rev. E.M. Moore, placed the weathercock in position himself, being drawn up by a pulley. The main entrance gates adorned with skulls date from 1700 and were set back a few feet from their original position in 1958, during road-widening. Many gravestones were also removed at this time. The details from them were recorded by the workmen and are listed amongst those given here.

The peal of eight bells was cast in 1815 by William Dobson of Downham, Norfolk. There is a tradition that they are 'Those Evening Bells' of the poet Thomas Moore, who lived at nearby Mayfield 1813-17. The Registers begin in 1538, but those prior to 1604 are early 17th century copies, and many years are missing before 1655.

Ashbourne suffered Plague epidemics in 1594 and 1605. There were 62 deaths on the latter occasion, and special sermons were preached. The vicar's sermon book survives in the British Museum (Harleian Ms. 663). Those who died are said to have been buried between the E. end of the chancel and the almshouses, and the ground never reopened for further burials.

Notable families of the area whose memorials are within the church are the Cokaynes, Bradbournes and Boothbys. Thomas Banks carved the marble figure of Penelope Boothby who died aged 5 years in 1791. She is said to have been able to speak in four languages which are inscribed on her tomb. Her monument has become famous, and Francis Chantrey is said to have made sketches of it when designing his Sleeping Children, now in Lichfield Cathedral.

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