Monday, August 26, 2013

Visiting the View

This was the view of Bakewell we saw in the slightly sun-gilded mist of a warm early afternoon  as we walked along a public footpath just off the Monsal Trail close to Hassop Station.  We weren't looking down on where we were going though - we were looking down on where we had spent the morning just mooching around - as you do.


We'd parked in the usual place over the river near the cattle market and instead of setting off into the town centre as we usually do we wandered up the hill towards the church and museum with the intention of visiting them both.

We'd been up here before and walked through the churchyard to the museum but had never been inside the church.  I have to say it was fascinating!

In the entrance are loads of wonderful carved stones.  The stones above are the Norse/Anglian stones some with the Northumbrian vine scroll pattern.  The stones below are from the later medieval period dating from the 12th and 13th centuries.  Many are coffin tops but with no inscriptions some having symbols of their profession carved on them.

Inside there are several items of interest including a 14th century font declared 'The finest of its kind in the county' by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner.

Below is the Pre-Raphaelite window of the 'Adoration of the Lamb' designed in 1893 by Henry Holiday.


What interested me most were the tombs and monuments of the Vernon and Manners family from nearby Haddon Hall.  We almost missed them as they are in what is known as the Newark or 'new work' an area which was added to the church during the 13th and 14th centuries.  It now houses a small shop and cafe but beyond the tables and behind a 14th century oak screen we found them.

Above is the monument to Sir George Manners and his wife Grace who was founder of the Lady Manners School in the town.  Below is a detail of one of the carvings from the monument above.

The tombs are of members of the Vernon family.  The nearest to the front of the photo is the tomb of  John Vernon who died in 1477 and behind are the tombs of Sir George Vernon who was known as 'King of the Peak' and his two wives.

On the far wall is the monument to Sir John Manners (d. 1611) and his wife Lady Dorothy Vernon (d. 1584).  Of course the name of  Dorothy Vernon is always linked with her alleged elopement with Sir John Manners and the bridge at Haddon Hall over which she escaped is known as Dorothy's bridge. 

Apparently, according to the information leaflet,  two of the figures of their four children were stolen, I don't know when.

 Below some graffiti from the Vernon tombs - they were covered with initials and dates

 I was fascinated by the details in the carvings showing the patterns on headdresses and ruffs.

 Also in the colour still to be seen in the garments and furnishings.

 Further details from the Vernon tombs - a little pet dog amongst the folds of the skirts of one of the wives


Outside leaning on the west wall are five sarcophagi found inside the church, some in the walls and some under the floor.

 Below is a view of the church from the road up to the Old House Museum which I'll tell you about in my next post.

22 comments:

  1. If I had a £1 for every time Ive been to Bakewell, I would be a millionairess - but I have never been it the church or seen these!!! Fascinating Rosie, I'll make the trip up the hill next time xxxx

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    1. Me too - we could go on quite a spree! I'm sure you'd love the church and the museum:)

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  2. A great post and I have to agree with Diane - if only I'd had £1 for every time I'd been there too, though I have visited the church a few times! Great photos of all the features - I'm familiar with the outside things and the porch but I've never been inside the church before.

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    1. It is quite fascinating. Perhaps next time you go up that way you'll pop inside and take a look:)

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  3. Certainly an interesting church with an unusual approach to displaying old gravestone, which I approve of greatly (and the sarcophagi outside). I shouldn't approve of graffiti but I do if it's done well or in this case, very old.
    Henry Holiday window - good find.

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    1. In one way it is a shame about the grafitti but some of it is quite old so is interesting in its own right much like the carved initials on castle walls and etc:)

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  4. I've been up the hill and in the museum and the churchyard but never in the church. An error I shall rectify in the near future at which point I shall probably do a post very reminiscent of this one:)

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    1. I'm sure you will add far more information in your post as I missed quite a few of the things of interest in there:)

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  5. There are so many interesting places that you visit - love your posts.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth - glad you enjoy
      reading about my travels and visits:)

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  6. We were in Bakewell last Monday as the family wanted to go to the Monday market. (I haven't posted about the trip yet). Bakewell is a place we often meet up with family and friends, but as yet we've never managed to get up the hill to the church because we usually stay in town and walk by the river. One day we will return - just the two of us - and see what must be a very interesting part of town.

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    1. I like that side of the town and the view over the town and countryside beyond is wonderful from up in the churchyard it is worth the climb up the steep hill:)

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  7. Fantastic photos. We've only ever been to Bakewell for well dressing, so we've not been in the church because it's always heaving!

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    1. It was quite quiet when we visited - even in the town centre. There were a few tourists up around the church and museum - I heard several differing accents:)

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  8. That's a fascinating church - worth a visit for the carvings in the porch alone! Glad you had a good day. Jx

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    1. I was surprised and quite pleased by what we found inside:)

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  9. I bet you were glad to have gone in the church! I love all the carvings and seeing the detail close up. I wonder if the little dog on one of the Vernon tombs ever had a name? x

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    1. I wonder what people used to call their dogs then? It looks like a little lap dog:)

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  10. So - they even had vandals in 1691 - interesting post Rosie.

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    1. Indeed they did! We think it is a modern thing but not so:)

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  11. I love the view - and the church is fascinating. I love the old carved stones and the font. The details of the carvings are remarkable, too Thank you for sharing.

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    1. The carved stones were wonderful - so many of them too! All in one place they were quite smething:)

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