THE CHURCHYARD
THE ROMAN BATHS
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| History of the Village of Stoney Middleton | THE CHURCHYARD |
THE CHURCHYARD.
In the churchyard there is part of an ancient stone font
carved in good Gothic style. This was removed from the
Church in 1861, and placed in a corner of the churchyard
overshadowed by some light trees. From an accurate drawing
of it taken some years before it was evidently octagonal in
shape, "three sides of which are ornamented with shields -
two shields are plain and the other has a chevron, the arms of
the Eyres of Hassop", It is of excellent design. It was
doubtless given to the Church by Robert Eyre, who married
the heiress, Joan Padley. The Padleys inherited property in
the township through marriage with the Bernakes, and it is
very possible that Robert Eyre on his alliance with Padley
not only gave the font to the Church, but built the present
tower, as well as the body of the Church that was swept away
in 1759. Robert Eyre died in 1459, and his wife in 1463. A
mural monument erected to the memory of a famous Equestrian,
William Capps, gentleman, of Stoney Middleton, dated
1703, was also fastened to the wall of the Church. Near the
east window stood the tomb of Hannah Baddeley, dated 1764. `
It would appear that these memorials were removed in 1861
at the restoration of the Church.
The old Churchyard adjoining the Church was closed for
interments in 1878, and land was obtained from Mr. Michael
Hunter, of Stoke, and a new Cemetery, with Lych Gate,
north-east of the Church, was consecrated. This was drained
in 1908, the cost of which was defrayed by public subscription.
The churchyard is not infrequently visited by the tourist,
who will recall the lines from Gray's immortal Elegy:
"Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?"
Here, too, are recorded the "short and simple annals of
the poor", and we read the uncertainty of human life.
The work of writing suitable epitaphs was divided
between the village schoolmaster and the parish clerk.
A tombstone, of a chorister, stands in a south aspect of
the Church -
In Memory of George, the son
of George and Margaret Swift of
Stoney Middleton who departed
this life, August 21st 1759 on the
20th Year of his age.
We the Quior of Singers of the
Church erected this Stone.
(The lower part is indecipherable.)
An epitaph, somewhat peculiar in these modern days,
shows the limitation of medical skill -
Here
lieth the body of
Sarah the Wife of
Philip Hill
of Grindeford Bridge
who departed this life
March 30th 1801 Aged 33 Years
"With patience to the laft fhe did submit
And murmur'd not at what the Lord thought fit
After a lingering illness, grief and pain
When Doctors fkill and phyfsic prov'd in vain
She with a Chriftian courage did refign
Her foul to God at his appointed time."
On the right of the Church is the grave of the village
carpenter, with some of the implements of his calling
carved on the tombstone -
To the Memory of
Anthony Buxton
who died May 28th 1821
Aged 44 years.
"A loving husband, a tender parent dear
A faithful friend, and honest man lies here".
Near the Church door is the tombstone of Joseph Sellers.*
He was doubtless a member of the choir, and the "Old
Hundred" tune cut on the stone would substantiate this-
To the Memory of
Joseph Sellers
son of John and Elizabeth Sellers
who died May 16th, 1828.
THE VILLAGE STOCKS once stood near the Church
gates towards the right. These were removed about the year
1849.
*
The office of parish clerk has been held in this family
for many years. In 1813 John Sellers, clerk and schoolmaster -
(he would doubtless have a small private school) -
made "A Copey from the Monement of Mr. William Capps",
which monument was destroyed in 1861.
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THE ROMAN BATHS
THE HALL
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| History of the Village of Stoney Middleton | THE ROMAN BATHS |
THE ROMAN BATHS.
ROMAN BATHS. Antiquaries have been able to prove
that the Romans had a Bath here at the time that they
occupied the station at Brough. Roman coins found in the
vicinity of the Baths is an important circumstance.
In the summer of 1814, whilst some workmen were removing
the soil from the limestone rock near the place where
the road branches out of Middleton Dale to Eyam, they
discovered some Roman coins, chiefly copper, but some were
covered with a thin silvery coating. They bear an inscription
of the Emperor Probus, Gallienus, etc., and of Victorinus
(a usurper).
It is very probable that these Baths were held in high
esteem in the early Church and Middle Ages, and were
dedicated like the Church to St. Martin.
Short, writing in 1734 in his treatise on "Mineral Waters", says:
"The bath is 8 yards S.W. of the Spring and is enclosed
with a wall 4 yards high, 4 yards square, 6 yards every way.
The thermometer rose to 6 1-8 ins., and the water comes
bubbling up continually with great force as in Buxton. Foreign
substances placed in it appear very blue, but white when
taken out into the air. Then we have three perpetual warm
springs close by the west side of the Churchyard, each of
which raised the spirit in the tube to six inches. This water
in Frost or Cold Weather is 1-28th part warmer than in Summer.
It weighed 50 grains in a pint lighter in Winter than
common water. It will keep ten days without smelling.
It can be drank more freely and safer than at Buxton,
as it is cooler. It has more sulphur in it than Matlock, so it
should be beneficial to Rheumatism.
These waters may be drank for 14 days without intermission,
following a rest of 4, or 5, or even 7 days. Four pints a
day is sufficient and not too much. Alcohol should not be
taken with it. It is beneficial for any unnatural sharpness
and saltness of blood, heartburn, too great heat, contraction
of stomach, shortness of breath and stuffiness of the lungs."
Pilkington's "A View of the present state of Derbyshire
and its Antiquities" (1789), contains the following mention of
the water and bath at Stoney Middleton
"Dr. Bullock informed me that the warm water at Stoney
Middleton in its chemical properties and medicinal virtues
very much resembles that at Matlock. He also said that in
the bath the thermometer stands at 63 degrees, but in two
other springs at a small distance from it, it rises only to 60.
"Dr. Pearson says that a pint of this water weighs 6
grains heavier than distilled and 2 grains heavier than
Matlock water.
"Stoney Middleton has hitherto been little visited or
frequented on account of its warm springs. Perhaps if the
bath, which is only enclosed by a high wall and exposed to the
open air, was covered in and a convenient room built adjoining
it, such an improvement might induce a greater number
of persons to try of what efficacy the water is possessed."
Bray, writing in 1771 says "the Bath is nearly as hot as
that of Buxton, and was used with great success by those affected
with rheumatism". Their source is near a great fault ranging
to Great Hucklow. These springs are of a tepid character,
slightly warmer than those of Matlock (about 63 degrees),
and are reputed efficacious in certain diseases, such
as rheumatism, scrofula, and bad eyes. People in the neighbouring
villages used to fetch this water in bottles. The two
neat stone buildings for the accommodation of bathers are of
modern construction. A great boon would accrue to Stoney
Middleton if the Baths could be opened to the public and its
virtues demonstrated.
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THE HALL
THE ANCIENT MANOR OF MIDDLETUNE
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| History of the Village of Stoney Middleton | THE HALL |
THE HALL.
MIDDLETON HALL, on the right of the road from Bakewell
at the entrance to the village, is an ancient stone mansion
with pointed gables, delightfully situated in the meadows
a little to the east of the Church. In former times this
residence, then much smaller, was a farmhouse, occupied by
Squire Radford.
The Denman family came originally from Bevercoats,
Nottingham, and Thomas Denman, Esq., of Bakewell, dying
in 1752, left two sons, Joseph and Thomas, who afterwards
became distinguished doctors.
In 1761 (March 22) Dr. Joseph Denman (great-uncle of
the first Lord Denman) married Elizabeth, the heiress of
Richard Finney, Esq., at St. Giles', Great Longsdon, and so
possessed the estates that belonged to that family. He was
a very eminent doctor, who wrote a "Treatise on Buxton
Water". On one of the tablets in the Church we find that
Elizabeth Denman died on the 5th March, 1803, at the age
of 63.
His brother, Dr. Thomas Denman, of Mount Street,
Grosvenor Square, London, was a well-known physician
attached to the Court. Upon the death of Dr. Joseph Denman,
in 1812, at the age of 82, the estates were bequeathed to his
nephew, Thomas Denman, the eminent King's
Counsel. He was created Baron Denman of Dovedale, and
became Lord Chief Justice of England in 1832, a position he
held for 18 years. He was ennobled in 1834, and shared
with Brougham the defence of Queen Caroline against the
charge of George IV. His speech and cross-examination on
behalf of the Queen gained for him enormous popularity at
a time when hostility to the Court was the passport to favour
with the people. He was the ablest of the lawyer politicians
of the time of the Reform Bill, and took a leading part in
suppressing the slave trade and capital punishment for forgery
and minor offences. His poetical taste is shown in his
translation of the famous song of "Harmodious and Aristogiton."
The first Baron Denman died in 1854 at the age of 75,
and was succeeded by his son, Thomas Denman, the amiable
and accomplished, though eccentric, peer, whose special hobby
was the raising of a certain breed of black pigs. He died on
the 9th August, 1894, at the age of 89. Thomas Denman
became the third baron, by succession from his great-uncle.
He served in the South African campaign in 1900, and married
Gertrude Mary, only daughter of Sir Weetman Pearson,
the great contractor, on November 26th, 1903. There is a
son and daughter of this marriage. Lord Denman is now
Liberal Whip in the House of Lords.
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THE MANOR
CASTLE HILL
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| History of the Village of Stoney Middleton | THE ANCIENT MANOR OF MIDDLETUNE |
THE ANCIENT MANOR OF MIDDLETUNE.
THE ANCIENT† MANOR OF MIDDLETUNE. The
Wapentake* or Hundred of Hammestan comprised the
modern High Peak and Wirksworth. Here there were 5
churches, 6 priests, and 5 lead mines. In the Domesday Book
for Derby we read: "In Middletvne Goded had iv bovates‡
of land available. Land for iv oxen, viii Villanes, and 1 bordar
(i.e., copy holder), with ii ploughs and iv acres of meadow and
little underwood. valued at vi shillings." (In the time of King
Edward the Confessor.)
The adjunct Stoney or Stony is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
stœn, Stan, a stone, hence Stoney Middleton implies
the stoney or paved middle town. Dr. Wrench thinks that
Middleton takes its name from the township being in
two parishes, with a boundary in the middle. The following.
is taken from Wood's "History of Eyam":-
"Thomas, the son of Gerard and Matilda Furnival, mentions
at the instance of the Statute Quo Warranto of Edward
the First, his being possessed at that time of the Manors of
Stoney Middleton and Eyam. Elizabeth, the widow of
Thomas de Furnival, who died in 1332, seized of Eyam and
Stoney Middleton, had for her dowry, inter alia, Eyam, Stoney
Middleton, Bamford, and Hathersage, Derbyshire, and Treeton,
Todwick, Ullay, Brampton, Catcliffe, Orgrave, and
Whiston, Yorkshire; she died on Tuesday next ensuing the
Feast of the Blessed Virgin 28th Edward the Third after
enjoying her, splendid dowry a great many years. It then
reverted to her husband's grandson by his first wife. Thomas,
Lord Furnival, called the Hasty (Lord of Hallamshire)."
In the "Journals of the Derbyshire Archæological and
Natural History Society" the following occur:-
"At the Great Court of Baslow on Wednesday morrow,
St. Andrew A.D. 37. Edward III. 1363, John de Ruyle, John
and Richard Mulner of Midleton, Walter Bosan of Midleton,
and Walter Wareyn were summoned for fishing in the
preserved water. Again in the same Court on Wednesday next
before S.S. Simon Jude's Day 42 Edward III. A.D. 1368, the
tenants of Midleton and Eyam were ordered to be distrained
for pasturing their cattle on the moors."
The following has been given in the Reliquary, 1860-70
(edited by Llewellynn Jewitt. Esq., F.S.A.): "In the 16th
year of the Reign of Richard II., 1393, two messuages of land
and 9½ acres in Eyam were transferred from John de Stafford
of Eyam and Thomas Amott of Midleton to John Rankell Chaplain.
Again in the 19th year of the reign of Richard II., 1395,
King John or possibly his eldest son attested his grant of
land in Calver and Midleton Cliff from Godfrey de Roland
to Thomas and Richard Gomfray. On the 2nd February, 1421,
in the reign of Henry V. a piece of land at Eyam called
'Rylye' was transferred to John Martyn and Nicholas Martyn.
In connection with this transfer the name of John de Stafford
Squyer was followed by that of Henry de Stafford of Mydleton
Clyff".
"In the 12th year of the reign of Elizabeth the Manor
of Stoke, with its appurtenances and diverse lands, tenements,
and hereditaments in Hope, Great Hucklowe, Little Hucklow,
Folowe, Eyme, Tyddeswall, Litton, Abney, Alfreton,
Teddepole, Baslowe, Howmefield, Middleton, Dronfield,
Egginton and Bradwell were acquired by Humphrey Barley,
generous for himself and his heirs. He held in capite 1 May,
12 Eliz. lib., 25 f0l. 107." "Derbyshire 16 May 1601 the names
of those gentlemen with theire severall stores of money, they
are to paye towards setting forthe of three horsemen into
Ireland vizt : Henry Wigly of Mydleton gent xvs."
Franciscus Sharpe of Stoney Middleton" occurs in a list of
vills and freeholders of Derbyshire dated 1633, and the sign
alloc implies he possesses a writ or certificate of excuse.
"Whereas Alathea Countess of Arundell and Surrey was
heretofore seized of Certaine Farmes or rents of farmes issuing
out of farmes and of Certaine Tythes of Corne, Hay, Wooll,
and lamb and other tythes Coming, growing, and renewing
forth of the Parish of Glossop, in the county of Derby, etc.,
for the recusancy of the said Countess are sequestered. These
they grant, lease, lett and farm lett unto William Couse, of
Stuffnall, in the county of Salop gent. and Robert Ashton of
Stony Middleton in the county of Derby gent. two parts in
three for one whole yeare from the five and twentyeth day
of March 1650 for Three Hundred and Eighty three pounds.
All repairing and maintaining of houses and outhouses to be
carried out."
In 1665 Robert Ashton Esqr. of Stoney Middleton High
Sheriff* of Derbyshire owned land to the extent of 44 acres
i rood 24 poles.
In 1670 Dennis Ragg of Stoney Middleton Bank had a
farm under the Morewood of Alfreton. He issued a trade
token for a half penny in 1670, and may have been either
Grocer, Tallow Chandler or Miller as the Raggs and Furnesses
followed all three businesses
A grant was made by Sir John Benet Knight to Pembroke
College, dated Nov. l0th, 1676, and contains the following:-
"And also all the annual rent of eighteen pence of like
lawful money reserved and issuing out of, or for lands in
Stoney Middleton in the said county of Derby now or late
paid by Roger Ashton Esquier."
In 1703 Wm. Capps, wrestler and equestrian, died. It
would appear that he was a gentleman of note of that age,
for there is Capps Barn, Capps Close, and Capps Big Close
even to-day.
In 1747 the Quakers from Wales introduced cupolas for
smelting lead in Derbyshire. Two of these were to be found
in Stoney Middleton. One owned by the Duke of Devonshire
found work for poor miners, and the other belonged to John
Barker, Esq., was situated in Middleton Dale.
The Manor belonged at an early date to the Bernakes,
of Upper Padley. Richard de Bernake sold it in the reign
of Edward I. to Thomas de Furnival. From the Furnivals it
passed by marriage to John, First Earl of Shrewsbury.
Gilbert, the seventh Earl, died without issue, and the
Manor passed to the Countess of Pembroke, one of his
co-heiresses; thence to the Savilles. It again fell to an heiress,
the Countess of Burlington, and thus came to the Cavendish
family.
The old Manor House is reputed to have been situated
at the corner of Vicarage Lane, and there is a gable end still
standing. Roger Sellars was the last resident.
†
Manor was the whole extent of land under a Norman
baron, over the inhabitants of which he had jurisdiction in
criminal and civil suits.
*
Wapentake (A.S. wœpan arms, and tac to touch) was
equivalent to the Hundred in Anglian districts, so-called
because when the overlord appeared for justice, the men touched
his spear in token of fealty.
‡
Bovate, ploughland, varying from 8 to 24 acres.
*
Sheriff (Shire-reeve) looked after the affairs of the
shire, and girded a sword upon him when elected.
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CASTLE HILL
THE SCHOOLS
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| History of the Village of Stoney Middleton | CASTLE HILL |
CASTLE HILL, KESTER DALE, and KESTER BANK.
CASTLE HILL, an elevated oval-shaped eminence on the
bank at Stoney Middleton, is supposed to be situated on an
ancient earthwork, and was formerly called a Castle, similar
to the Castle Hill, Bakewell. Roman coins have been found
in the vicinity at varous times, but they were in some degree
current with the Saxons. From an examination of the remaining
wall and ditch, it would appear that a Watch Tower
once stood here. Whether it was really a castle or the name
of the residence of some great man in the county is still
doubtful. About the year 1806, in the vicinity of Castle Hill,
an old barn belonging to the Raggs, of Stoney Middleton
Bank, was being demolished. An iron battle axe about 4ft.
long was found in one of the side walls between the incised
stones. The head of the axe was a barb made of iron. The
shaft was 3ft. long, and to this was attached a horn handle
7 inches long.
The first Lord Denman, writing from Stoney Middleton
about a visit to Derbyshire in 1798, says:- "The morning we
walked towards the extremity of my uncle's estate, near -
which is a small eminence surrounded by much higher hills,
supposed to have been artificially thrown up for the purpose
of defence. It is related that on this spot some persons headed
by a woman resisted the attack of an enemy, but who was
attacked or who defended is a profound mystery, but that the
bank was used for some military purposes seems probable
from its name."
KESTER DALE is derived from the Lat. Castra, a camp,
Kester is another form of Cester (a softened form of Castra).
In 1880, whilst workmen were cutting a sough, some warlike
weapons, including spear head, halberd, etc., were found in
the vicinity.
Kester Dale lies S. by S.W. of the village, in a field
belonging to Lord Denman. The letter of Lord Denman
continues: "At about a miles distance behind the village of Stoney
Middleton is a small hill called Kester Bank, and between
these two places some connection has been fancied which I
could not perceive."
The site is behind Nook House, occupied by Mrs W.
Mason. It occurs as "Castra Bank", and is numbered 178 on
the plan accompanying the lease executed in 1892.
Next Chapter: THE SCHOOLS
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[Created 19 Feb 2003. Last updated 27 Oct 2008 - 09:44 by Rosemary Lockie]