Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Thimble Hall and All Saints' Parish Church, Youlgreave, Derbyshire

There is a small car park at the top of the hill as you enter the village of Youlgreave in Derbyshire and we decided to park there and walk down the hill into the centre as the road is quite narrow and traffic is sometimes heavy as drivers weave their way around parked cars and other obstructions.  Locals were waiting at bus stops along the way for the bus to Bakewell.  The people we passed had a ready smile and a 'Good Morning' for visitors.

We could see the tower of All Saints' Parish Church as we walked down into the village.  We did eventually walk as far as the church but first we had a smaller building to find.

 Opposite the old Co-operative Grocery shop which is now a Youth Hostel stands The Conduit or Water Fountain.

Almost hidden by the Conduit Head or water fountain was the building we were looking for....

Thimble Hall

Thimble Hall was built in the 18th Century.  It was a one up one down home with a ladder to the upper room.  It was thought that a family of eight lived there at one time.  It was last lived in as a family home in the 1930s and has been used since then as an Antiques shop, a Butcher's shop and also as a Cobbler's shop.  It is a Grade II listed building.

 Apparently, according to one source I read on line, Thimble Hall is in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the smallest detached house at 11ft 10ins by 10ft 3ins and 12ft 2ins high.  It was sold at auction in 1999 with a guide price of £15,000 but it sold for £39,500 apparently bought by an ice cream maker from Chesterfield.  Sadly it seems to stand empty at the moment although a lady was watering the plants on the side.

The Conduit Head is also a Grade II listed building made of  grit stone ashlar and erected in 1829 by the Youlgreave Friendly Society of Women.  Before this water reservoir was built families had to draw water from the nearby River Bradford.

From Thimble Hall and Conduit Head we walked along Church Street, past The Old Bakery, now a B&B establishment towards the church.


The Parish Church of All Saints' is, according to their guide book, one of the oldest and largest medieval churches in the Peak District.  We had visited the churchyard before, a few years ago, looking for some of Paul's ancestors but hadn't been inside.  Luckily we found the building open.

The interior is mostly Norman with the oldest parts in the nave dating from between 1150 and 1170. There is a Tudor roof and the usual Victorian restoration done between 1869 and 1871,  the stained glass in the east window dates from this time. The Gothic style chancel dates from the 14th century with 15th century additions. 

The glass in the east window was designed by Edward Burne Jones and made in the William Morris workshops.  The table tomb in the centre of the chancel is a memorial to Thomas Cockayne a member of a prominent local family of the time.


 He died in 1488 in a fight with Thomas Burdett of Pooley Park in Warwickshire  as they were one their way to Polesworth church.  The fight was apparently about a family marriage settlement.  It is quite a small effigy, even though he was a grown man,  done this way because he predeceased his father.

Above is the effigy from the 14th century which is thought to be of Sir John Rossington, he lies with his head on a pillow with a dog at his feet. He holds a heart in his hands.

Looking back from the chancel to the nave.

In the north aisle is a Jacobean memorial to Roger Rooe of nearby Alport who died in 1613 and also to his wife and their eight children.

The Norman font which belonged originally to Elton church and was moved to its present place in the 19th century.

Thought to be a 17th century burial slab this figure was moved inside the church for safe keeping.

 A little part of the village school at the edge of the churchyard.

We liked the look of this old shop front opposite the church.  The property is up for sale by auction, just like Thimble Hall was.  I wonder who will buy it and what they will do with the building perhaps a family home, an art and craft gallery or a tea shop?  Who knows.

26 comments:

  1. What a lovely post and photos. Thimble Hall is delightful - what a shame it is empty at the moment. Thanks so much for all the fascinating history. The church looks superb - I particularly like the unusual font and the 17th century burial slab. The memorials and tombs are interesting too. Churches are great to explore - there is always so much history and items of interest.

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    1. Thank you RR glad you enjoyed the post, I wonder what will happen to Thimble Hall, it doesn't seem to be used for anything at the moment. The church is lovely inside and there are some interesting features - they are great places for discovering the local and social history of a village and its surroundings:)

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  2. I loved reading this post Rosie. Full of interesting photos and facts. The church looks fascinating as does that wonderful conduit head. I must get back to Derbyshire soon. B x

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    1. Thank you Barbara, Derbyshire is a very special county and I'm always happy to get back there:)

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  3. It's always good, to have the locals, "in" on being welcoming, to visitors.

    Thimble Hall, how precious. Not so precious, for the family of 8 though, I'm sure.

    Thank you for the tour...

    I do hope both buildings will be purchased soon, and used well.

    Oh, and as always, I wonder what Pagan holy site, was there, before the cathedral???? ,-)



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    1. Thank you glad you enjoyed the tour. There is a Neolithic Henge at nearby Arbor Low that would have been around way before any of the places of worship in the nearby villages I've added a couple of links for you:)

      http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/arbor-low-stone-circle-and-gib-hill-barrow/

      http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/arborlow.htm

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  4. I enjoyed that visit back to somewhere I used to go fairly regularly when I led walks for HF Holidays. On one occasion we were invited in to where they were preparing the display for the well-dressing.

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    1. It's that time of year for the well-dressings it must have been interesting to see them being made:)

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  5. You found some little gems there Rosie. Thimble Hall sounds such a grand name for such a small building, beautiful though it is. 😊

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    1. I guess it became called that locally in humour, the cottage next door was called thimble cottage:)

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  6. We stayed in a B & B on a nearby farm before we moved to the neighbouring county. We never got to look around Youlgreave itself so thank you for the tour around. The Conduit Head water facility must have been welcomed when it was installed. I hope that Thimble Hall is soon in use. Also the other property for sale. It's sad to see buildings in a village standing empty. It's good that a villager is looking after the plants by Thimble Hall and that there are friendly locals.

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    1. I can't imagine what it must have been like to fetch water each day from the river, we are so lucky to live now and have clean, running water. I hope both buildings find new owners who will treasure them:)

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  7. Thimble Hall, you expect some grand mansion but instead get a much nicer cute little house. Do hope it doesn't deteriorate any more, that someone looks after it. Surely it belongs to someone? Nice photos, thanks for sharing your day out.

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    1. Indeed, I expect the name is given from a sense of humour, although next door is Thimble Cottage so it could have been something to do with the work that was done in the little cottages. It does seem to have been repaired at the back so perhaps someone is still working on it:)

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  8. June 21, 2018

    Happy Midsummer’s Eve...!!!

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  9. Lovely 17 century burial slab. Such a primitive design -looks almost like an alien depicted! I would love to look inside Thimble Hall. I can understand why it is called Thimble as in thimble sized but why Hall? The last photo of the shop front has beautiful ornate decoration. I hope it stays that way! x

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    1. The burial slab was identified as being similar to 17th century slabs in Scotland - with all the foliage around the edges. I think the Hall bit is from someone's sense of humour - next door is thimble cottage so that could be something to do with sewing, perhaps the home industry was sewing or tailoring? I guess the answer is found way back in time:)

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  10. Lovely Rosie & what a beautiful day out. Thanks for sharing. I've noticed a couple of things that would make lovely quilt patterns & maybe a craft/quilt shop in the building up for auction (giggle). Take care.

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    1. Thank you Susan, the old shop would be a lovely place to sell quilting items or to even sit and make one:)

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  11. I always want to have a look inside Thimble Hall! Lovely post.

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    1. I guess the interior is even smaller than the outer dimensions. It would be lovely to see inside:)

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  12. Saturday, June 23rd

    Must tell you, I am looking for reading suggestions, on _your_ Sidebar. Recently, I've been getting reading suggestions, from young people, on book lover's IG's. They seem to be into books written "right now."

    I am so very, very tired, of books written 'right now.'

    "Right now" books, seem to be on a Political Correctness Crusade! It is very frustrating to be subjected to authors personal crusades, while trying to enjoy a book.

    So, my old wisdom finally kicked in. Back I go, to rather "tried and true" series. With a nice mystery to follow. And without childish P.C. tantrums, thrown in.

    Thank you for your suggestions!

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    1. Hope you find something you enjoy reading, there are more books listed in the links at the top of the blog, I record all the books I've read there and only put a few on my sidebar. I know you like Elly Griffiths's Ruth Galloway books but her Stevens and Mephisto ones are just as entertaining in a different way - set in 1950s Brighton UK. Kate Ellis is also a writer who combines present day mystery with old mystery you might enjoy her books too:)

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