Welcome to Genuki, ENG, Derbyshire From: Sonia W Addis-Smith ------------------------------------- From: Bulmer's History and Directory of Derbyshire, 1895, pp.386-9:- HATHERSAGE, formerly a parish of considerable extent, now consists of the townships of Hathersage and Outseats, containing 7,570 acres of land in the High Peak hundred, county council division of Baslow, petty sessional division, county court district, union, and rural district of Bakewell and deanery of Eyam. In carrying out the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1894, seven parish councillors and one district councillor have been assigned to Hathersage. The TOWNSHIP embraces 3,120 acres, its ratable value is UKP3,298, and its population in 1891 was 1,210, showing an increase of 382 in ten years. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE is lord of the manor, and the principal landowners are:- - Mrs E. BROOMHEAD; - G.H. CAMMELL, Esq, JP, CC; - G. COOPER, Padley; - B. FIRTH, Esq; - Richard JENNISON, Esq, Longsight; - Mrs H. RIGGALL; - His Grace the Duke of RUTLAND; - J.S.A. SHUTTLEWORTH, Esq, JP, DL, Hathersage. The surface is covered with steep gritstone hills, enclosing between them deep narrow valleys, presenting an aspect of romantic beauty. The river Derwent flows through a deep valley, forming the western boundary of the parish. The MANOR of Hathersage was held by Ralph FITZHUBERT at the time of the Domesday Survey [1086]. it is probable that the next owners were the BASSETS, as Richard de BASET, in conjunction with his wife Maud, about the year 1130, gave the church of Hathersage to the Priory of Launde, in Leicestershire. In the reign of Henry III, the lord of the manor was named DE HATHERSAGE, and the co-heiresses of this family married GOUSHILL and LONGFORD, who held the manor in moieties. The moiety of the LONGFORDS remained in the same family for more than two centuries, but there is some doubt as to the descent of the other portion. Lysons thinks it belonged to the family of THORP in the reign of Henry VI, with remainder to Robert EYRE and his heirs. The manor subsequently belonged to the PEGGE family, from whom it was purchased by an ancestor of the present owner in 1705. The VILLAGE of Hathersage occupies a commanding position on the front of a rocky eminence overlooking the valley of the Derwent, and surrounded by lofty hills. It is on the Sheffield and Chapel-en-le-Frith road, 11 miles from the former and 12 from the latter. The nearest railway station hitherto has been Hassop, seven miles distant; but this inconvenience has been removed by the construction of the Dore and Chinley branch of the Midland system, which was formerly opened for passenger traffic in July 1894. The line passes close to the village, where there is a station, and will doubtless increase the prosperity of the place by developing and extending local trade. Hathersage has long been a little hive of INDUSTRY. The manufacture of needles was introduced here by Messrs Robert and David COOK in 1811, and later several works of the same kind were opened by other firms; but as the grinding was detrimental to the health of those employed in that part of the work, the matter was taken up by Government and very stringent regulations were enforced. The only firm now engaged in the industry is Messrs Robert COOK & Co, who, by the introduction of the most improved machinery and appliances, have reduced the unhealthiness of the occupation to a minimum. The firm manufacture hackle pins of extreme fineness for combing wool and raising the nap on cloth, there being only three firms in the world producing this kind of work. Gritstone is also extensively quarried, and manufactured into millstones. The CHURCH, which is dedicated to St Michael, is justly considered one of the handsomest ecclesiastical edifices in the county. The general style is that of the Decorated Gothic which prevailed in the early part of the 14th century, but some of the windows show a later restoration in the Perpendicular style. The plan comprises chancel with north aisle or chapel, nave with side aisles, south porch and an embattled tower surmounted by a lofty octagonal spire. In 1851-2 the church underwent thorough restoration, at a cost of upwards of UKP1,700, exclusive of the cost of the stained-glass windows, which were special gifts. A good deal of the exterior masonry was carefully restored, the chancel and nave re-roofed and seated with open benches. The nave is separated from the aisles on each side by four pointed arches, which rest on octagonal columns with deeply moulded capitals; and exteriorly, both nave and aisles are surmounted by battlements, as also is the porch. On the latter are four shields of arms carved in stone. The chancel window, illustrating in its three lights the Nativity and the Crucifixion, was contributed by public subscription, and the handsome west window was given by George EYRE, Esq, and his three sisters. On the south wall of the chancel are three elegant sedilia with carved canopies, and a piscina. MONUMENTS. On the opposite wall, under a crocketed [decorated with carved foliage] canopy, is the altar tomb of Robert EYRE, who died in 1459, and Johanna his wife, daughter and sole heiress of Robert PADLEY, who died in 1463. On the tomb, incised in brass, are the effigies of a knight in plate armour and a long sword by his side, and a lady habited in the dress of the period. At the head is a shield charged with the arms of PADLEY, and beneath the Latin inscription are the effigies of their fourteen children. There are several other memorials of this ancient and once powerful family. There are also some monuments to the ASHTON family, whose lands here have descended to the SHUTTLEWORTHS. There are six bells in the tower, chiefly of 17th century date. The old sanctus bell is still preserved. On it is inscribed a prayer for the souls of Robert EYRE and Johanna his wife. The registers date from 1627. The living was a Rectory till the beginning of the 15th century, when the tithes were appropriated to the Priory of Launde, and a vicarage ordained. The patronage has been invested in the CAVENDISH family since the reign of Edward VI. The present net value is UKP320; the Rev C.S. CUTLER, BA, is Vicar. At the inclosure of the common, in 1808, land was awarded [to the Vicar] in lieu of all the tithes. In the churchyard is the grave of "LITTLE JOHN", Robin Hood's giant henchman. it is marked by four upright blocks of gritstone, 10 feet from head to foot, but it is doubtful whether these occupy their original positions. The green cap and bow of Little John were formerly suspended in the church by a chain. They were removed long ago, and the bow of spliced yew, six feet in length, now hangs in Cannon Hall, near Barnsley, whither it was brought by Mr John SPENCER, who inherited the Hathersage estate from his mother, nee Miss ASHTON. The grave was opened by Captain James SHUTTLEWORTH about the year 1780, when a thigh-bone was found which measured 28 1/2 inches. an old thatched cottage taken down a few years ago is said to have been the place of his birth, and also his abode in the latter years of his life. LITTLE JOHN fought in the battle of Evesham in 1265; it does not, therefore, appear probable that the old cottage recently removed could have been the one in which he was born upwards of 600 years ago, but this does not weaken the claim of Hathersage to be the depository of his ashes. Other places have also claimed this honour, but the weight of evidence favours Hathersage, whose claim has come down through successive generations of inhabitants. Elias ASHMOLE, the antiquarian, writing in 1652, states that Little John's bow was then hanging in the church. The soil of the GRAVEYARD, in common with that of some other places in the north of Derbyshire, seems to possess the property of preserving, for some time at least, dead bodies from corruption. On the 31st of May 1781, the grave of Mr Benjamin ASHTON, who had been buried fifty-six years before, was opened for the interment of a female, when the corpse, instead of returning to dust, had become "congealed as hard as flint". At the end of the village, in a retired spot, is the CATHOLIC CHURCH of St Michael. It is a neat structure, in the Italian style, built in 1806. The presbytery stands within the grounds. In connection with the church is a substantially built school, attended by about 40 children. The WESLEYAN CHAPEL, built in 1807, was restored and enlarged at an expense of about UKP1,000, defrayed by R. SMITH, Esq, Bacup, and S. COCKER, Esq, Sheffield. A new and elegant front was added, in the pediment of which is a handsome clock. The interior arrangements are all that can be desired for comfort and utility. There is a good National SCHOOL in the village, built in 1858 at a cost of UKP750; accommodation 181; average attendance 142. A FAIR is held on the first Friday after Old Michaelmas day, and if the latter fall on a Friday, the Fair is held on the Friday following, and the Feast is held on the Sunday before the Fair. The HALL, the seat of Colonel John Ashton SHUTTLEWORTH, was rebuilt in 1844; and BROOKFIELD MANOR, another handsome residence standing in park-like grounds, is the seat of G.H. CAMMELL, Esq, JP, CC. LONGSHAW, near the Yorkshire border, is a shooting box of the Earl of RUTLAND, and near here, on the Sheffield road, is FOX HOUSE INN, a noted hostelry still, and yet more famous in the old coaching days. The surrounding scenery is extremely beautiful, and one view called The Surprise, is surpassed by few in the county. The house contains a very fine oak cabinet, 8 1/2 ft high by 9 ft wide, with elaborately carved front. The subjects represented are the principal scenes in the life of Christ. There are also an old oak table, from Haddon Hall, and other relics and curiosities. Hathersage has a claim to the notice of visitors from the numerous ANTIQUITIES existing in the immediate neighbourhood. A little east of the Church is CAMP GREEN, an earthwork believed to be of Danish origin, and on the moors are rocking stones, rock basins, and other works attributed to our Celtic forefathers. One of these is HIGGAR ROCKS, a huge mass of gritstone blocks piled confusedly together, where it is said the ancient Druids performed their sacrificial rights. At a little distance is CARL'S WORK, an ancient British fort, still fairly perfect. One of the rocking stones, as measured by Mr Hayman ROOKE, is 29 feet in circumference, another 13ft 6ins in length, and near this is a hollow in the rock, called in the traditions of the country CAIR'S CHAIR. BOOTHS is a small village half-a-miles east of Hathersage. OUTSEATS is a township containing 4,450 acres of land, and 186 inhabitants who reside in scattered farmhouses. The rateable value is UKP1,977. The soil is light, lying on gritstone, and is chiefly in pasture. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE is lord of the manor and one of the landowners; the other proprietors are:- - Executors of C.F. BROOMHEAD - G.H. CAMMELL, Esq, JP, CC - B.A. FIRTH, Esq - the Duke of NORFOLK - the Duke of RUTLAND - H.C. SHAW - Col John Ashton SHUTTLEWORTH, Hathersage - A. WHITEMAN - F.W. WILSON - Executors of G.W. WILSON The township was enclosed about 70 years ago, but a considerable portion is moorland. On the eastern border, separating it from the adjoining moors of Yorkshire, is STANAGE (Stone Edge), a ridge of high rocks, one of which bears the name of STANAGE POLE. The old packhorse road from Manchester to Sheffield passes over the moors. A branch of the EYRE family was settled in NORTH LEES in this township, and their quaint old hall, now a farmhouse, remains in a fair state of preservation. In a small plantation near it is the picturesque ruin of a Catholic chapel which the EYRES obtained permission to build in the first year of King James II, but three years later when the last Stuart King was driven from the throne on account of his religion, a mob of neighbouring Protestants assembled and wrecked the building. For the election of a district councillor, as provided by the Parish and District Councils Act, Outseats is united with Offerton.