Site-Search
Coming Soon
|
Site-Search |
|
Page and site |
|
Ashbourne in Derby County England History and GeographyASHBOURNE, a parish partly in the hundred of APPLETREE, partly in the hundred of MORLESTON and LITCHURCH, but chiefly in the hundred of WIRKSWORTH, county of DERBY. That part which is in the hundred of Appletree, comprising the townships of Hulland and Hulland-ward-Intacks, and the hamlets of Sturston, Hulland-ward, and Yellesley, contains 1312 inhabitants; that part which is in the hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, consisting of the township of Clifton with Compton, 768; and that part which is in the hundred of Wirksworth, comprising the town of Ashbourne, the chapelry of Alsop le dale with Eaton, and the liberties of Newton-Grange, and Offcoat with Underwood, 2628: the entire population being 4708, of which number 2188 are in the town of Ashbourne, 13½ miles (N.W. by W.) from Derby, and 140 (N.W.N.) from London, on the road to Manchester. This place, which at the time of the Conquest was held in royal demesne, is in Domesday book called Esseburn. In 1644, a battle was fought here between the royalists and parliamentarians, in which the former were defeated with considerable loss. Charles I. visited Ashbourne in 1645, on his way to Doncaster, when he attended divine service at the church. Charles Edward Stuart, accompanied by the dukes of Athol and Perth, on their return from Derby in 1745, remained for one night in the town, taking forcible possession of the manor house, from which they expelled Sir Brooke Boothby and family; on Sir Brooke's return, he found the names of the officers written in chalk upon the doors of the apartments which they severally occupied; these inscriptions were overlaid with white paint, and several of them are preserved, and the bed-room in which the Pretender slept is still exhibited. The town is beautifully situated in a deep vale on the eastern bank of the river Dove, over which there is a bridge of stone: the houses are principally built of red brick, and roofed with slate; the streets are partly paved, and the inhabitants are well supplied with water. The entrance from London is highly picturesque, commanding a fine view of the beautiful vale on the right, and of Ashbourne-hall, the seat of Sir William Boothby on the left: the vicinity abounds with pleasing and richly varied scenery. The reading and news-rooms and the libraries are respectably supported. The manufacture of cotton and tambour lace is carried on to a considerable extent, and a great quantity of cheese and malt is sent to the metropolis and other towns; but the principal support of the town is derived from its markets and numerous fairs. The market is held on Saturday; the fairs are on the first Tuesday in January, and February the 13th, for horses and cattle, the second Monday in March, for horses cattle and cheese, April 3rd, May 21st, and July 5th, for horses, cattle and wool, August 16th, and September 20th for horses and cattle, the third Monday in September, for horses cattle and cheese, and November the 29th, for horses. Ashbourne is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, and in the honour of Tutbury, at which place a court is held every third Tuesday for the recovery of debts under 40s. Courts lect and baron are held annually under the lord of the manor, when constables and other officers are appointed for the internal regulation of the town. The house of correction is capable of containing 40 prisoners, but as it will not admit of their classification, they have, since the enlargement of the county gaol, been generally sent to Derby. The living is a discharged vicarage with the rectory of Mapleton St. Mary, in the archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, rated in the king's books at £5. 4. 7., augmented with £600 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Dean of Lincoln. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, is a spacious cruciform edifice, having a central tower surmounted by a lofty and highly ornamented octagonal spire: it was erected in 1240, by Hugh de Patishull, Bishop of Coventry, and displays the early English style, intermixed with decorations of a later period: the northern part of the chancel, appropriated as a sepulchral chapel to the Boothby family, contains, among others, an exquisitely finished monument from the chisel of Banks to the memory of Penelope, only child of Sir Brook Boothby, who died at the age of five years. There are places of worship for Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, and Lady Huntingdon's connexion, which last was built by Mr. John Cooper, in 1800, who endowed it with £42 per annum. The free grammar school was founded in 1585, under a charter of Elizabeth, and endowed with estates purchased by the inhabitants, now producing £210 per annum, two-thirds of which, with a house and garden, are given to the head master, and the remainder, with a house, to the usher: the management is vested in three governors and twelve assistants. The English school was founded in 1710, and endowed with £10 per annum by Mr. Spalden, for the instruction of thirty boys till they should be fit to enter the grammar school. He also endowed a school for thirty girls under twelve years of age, the mistress of which has £10 per annum. Alms houses for four widows of Protestant clergymen, and ten alms houses in the church-yard for poor persons of the parish, were founded and endowed by the same benevolent individual. Eight alms houses were founded by Mr. R. Owfield, in 1610, the completion and endowment of which was effected by the subsequent benefactions of various individuals; six by Mr. Pegg, in 1668, to which Mr. Jeremiah Pole bequeathed an estate; and six by Mr. John Cooper, which he endowed with £63 per annum, for poor people attending Lady Huntingdon's chapel, all which have received subsequent benefactions. In the neighbourhood formerly stood a chapel dedicated to St. Mary, which, previously to its diruition several years ago, was used as a malt house. Dovedale abounds with pleasingly picturesque and strikingly romantic scenery: the entrance is progressively marked with features of simple beauty, impressive grandeur, and terrific awe. Thorpe Cloud on the right, and a towering pile of massive rocks on the left, form natural ramparts of majestic elevation; and rude masses, of grotesque form, which have been fancifully denominated my Lady's Chair, Dovedale Castle, the Church, the Twelve Apostles, the Lion's Head, the Sugar Loaves, and the Lover's Leap, rise in varied succession throughout this enchanting dale, in which the beauties of nature in all their variety are richly and strikingly combined. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
Readers of this page were also interested in: Agnes in Cornwall County England History and Geography AGNES, ST., a parish and market town in the hundred of PYDER, county of CORNWALL, 8½ miles (N.W. by W.) from Truro, containing 5762 inhabitants. This place, formerly named Breanick or Bryanick, is situated in an extensive mining district on the northern coast, and consists principally of cottages, chiefly inhabited by miners Freshwater in Southampton County England History and Geography FRESHWATER, a parish in the liberty of WEST MEDINA, Isle of Wight division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 1¾ mile (S.S.W.) from Yarmouth, containing 876 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's books at £9. 8. 4., and in the patronage of the Master and Fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge Morpeth in Northumberland County England History and Geography Nayland in Suffolk County England History and Geography NAYLAND, a parish (formerly a market town) in the hundred of BABERGH, county of SUFFOLK, 17 miles (S.W. by W.) from Ipswich, and 57 (N.E.) from London, containing 1019 inhabitants Thrapston in Northampton County England History and Geography THRAPSTON, or THRAPSTONE, a market town and parish in the hundred of NAVISFORD, county of NORTHAMPTON, 21 miles (N.E. by E.) from Northampton, and 74 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 854 inhabitants Wantage in Berks County England History and Geography WANTAGE, a parish in the hundred of WANTAGE, county of BERKS, comprising the market town of Wantage, and the hamlets of Charlton, Grove, and West Lockinge, and containing 3256 inhabitants, of which number, 2560 are in the town of Wantage, 24 miles (W.N.W.) from Reading, and 60 (W.) from London |
