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MELBOURNE - Description from Pigot's 1835 Directory

MELBOURN is a parish, in the hundred of Repton and Gresley. The village, which is a considerable one, and of some antiquity, is situate seven miles and a half S.S.E. from Derby, and about six N.N.E. from Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Camden notices this place as having a castle, wherein John Duke of Bourbon, of the blood royal of France, was incarcerated nine years, having been taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt.

The only vestige now remaining of this edifice is a wall of considerable thickness and height, about twenty yards in length. Lord Melbourn, who derives his title from this place, has a seat here, the gardens of which are laid out with exquisite taste, and are accessible to the inhabitants and strangers: the tourist will derive ample gratification from visiting this delightful spot. The inhabitants, many of whom were formerly employed in combing and spinning wool and working upon the stocking-frame, are now principally engaged in the manufacture of blonde lace. Melbourn is one of the stations named in the new Boundary Act, for receiving votes at the election of knights of the shire to represent its southern division.

The places of worship are, the parish church, and chapels for presbyterians, methodists, calvinists and general baptists. The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, is one of the oldest in the kingdom, as well as one of the finest specimens of Saxon architecture: it is said to have been founded by Ethelred, King of Mercia, who came to the throne A. D. 675. During the same year his Queen was murdered at which crime he was supposed to have connived; and, to atone for his guilt, began to found churches.

This church, one of the first which he erected, was built in the year 677. St. John's church, at Chester, is in the same style of architecture, and was completed by him in between the years 682 and 689. Upon the capital of one of the pillars may be recognised similar characters to those seen on the coins of Ethelred. The living of Mebourn is a vicarage, in the patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. A school for infants, and one conducted upon the national plan, are in the village.

The parish (which has no dependent township) contained, at the census taken in 1821, 2,027 inhabitants, and by that for 1831, 2,301.

[Description from Pigot and Co's Commercial Directory for Derbyshire, 1835
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie ©1999]

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