Saint Giles is the parish church for Matlock but you won't find it in the centre of the present day town. It stands in a part of town that was the original old centre of Matlock. Matlock has developed over the years from a series of smaller settlements which have joined together to become one community. Even so places like Matlock Bath and Starkholmes still retain their separate village identity.
The church stands on a hill overlooking what is now the centre of Matlock. There are wonderful views from the churchyard across some parts of the town.
The two church clocks - the one on the church tower and the older sundial in front - you can see what time we visited!
The church was open so we popped inside to see what it was like and to take a couple of photos, the font dates from the 12th century. Apparently it was removed and buried in the rectory garden in the 18th century and replaced with a marble basin. This was replaced in 1871 by a Victorian 'Gothic' font, the original 12th century one was recovered and placed back in the church in 1924.
The church has undergone much restoration in its time. The chancel was restored in 1859 using the designs of G. H. Stokes son-in-law of Sir Joseph Paxton who was head gardener at Chatsworth House and designer of the Crystal Palace in London which was used for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The church itself is surrounded by some very interesting old buildings which tell the story of the older village of Matlock.
From the churchyard you can see across to the newer buildings spreading from today's centre up the hills on the other side of the town. Both the town council buildings and the Derbyshire County Council headquarters as well as the Derbyshire Archives offices are to be found there.
Looking in the opposite direction across the older buildings surrounding the church you can see Riber Castle on the hill in the distance. The castle was built in the 1860s by local industrialist John Smedley as a family home. It has been empty for several years now but I remember visiting, probably in the 1980s, when there was a small zoo there and seeing otters and wolves. At the time I remember not really liking the way the animals were looked after.
Across the road from the church is the Duke William public house. Built in 1759 and named after the then Duke of Cumberland whose name is familiar from the accounts of the Battle of Culloden. You can also see the old school buildings in the background.
The house above stands next to the church and from its appearance is quite old. It has a date of 1681 on it but some parts are even older. The house is called The Wheatsheaf and up to one hundred years ago it was a public house of that name.
As we left the church and churchyard the light was beginning to fade and it was time to start our journey home. It is an area of Matlock we don't usually see when we visit or pass through so it was wonderful to have seen both the church and the old part of the town it stands in.
I love Matlock. I also love Matlock Bath, though it can be hectic on a sunny weekend afternoon! I personally think the best view of Matlock is from up at Riber Castle. Nice visit. I enjoyed the photos.
ReplyDeleteI like both but prefer Matlock. Matlock Bath is sometimes very busy with bikers when we pass through. I also love Cromford as well - we pass through all three quite often on our way to Chesterfield from here:)
DeleteAnother place that I have never been to Rosie! I feel as though I have missed nearly all of this country when I am off reading people's blogs and seeing lovely sights such as those you show us. Interesting about the history of the font in the church - certainly different from that in most churches I would think! xx
ReplyDeleteI think that is what's great about reading other blogs - we get to see lovely places we've never visited. Sometimes we get to see those places ourselves but other places are visited through they eyes and words of others:)
DeleteWe camped in that area years ago - and I have a memory of seeing Well dressing. Would that be right for that area, or am I getting mixed up?
ReplyDeleteYou are right Abby, Derbyshire is famous for its Well Dressings and most towns and villages have them in Spring and Summer:)
DeleteAs you know, I love Matlock - and Matlock Bath. There is always something to see and I think I have only seen a tiny fraction of the town . I've never explored this bit. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's worth exploring, Diane as there are some lovely and interesting old buildings. I love finding new bits of town - like Old Glossop a couple of posts ago - we'd been to the main town lots of times but then found that new area - same at Matlock:)
DeleteI've been around that area so many times without ever really exploring Matlock. That's a splendid little church.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely church! One day I'd like to ride on the Peak Railway which runs between Rowsley and Matlock - so much to see along the way:)
DeleteSuch a beautiful church. It really is what you picture when you think of an English parish church. Matlock always makes me think of a line in a Carol Ann Duffy poem that we studied in Sixth Form. I don't recall the poem at all but do remember looking Matlock up on the map! x
ReplyDeleteThe poem must have aroused your interest in Matlock for you to look where it was. I must see if I can find it on line:)
DeleteLovely photos Rosie especially the one with the church and the castle up on the distant hill. It looks like a photo from yesteryear and not 2014! x
ReplyDeleteThe whole area near the church does make you feel like you are taking a step back in time inspite of the modern traffic on the road nearby:)
DeleteLovely church Rosie, as were your photos. Lots of history there too. I didn't realise there were two Matlocks so to speak, I've been to Matlock Bath - which was very very busy one hot summer's day, but thought that was Matlock in its own right. Thanks for sharing this piece of history.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Matlock Bath and Matlock are quite different. The first is quite a tourist hot spot - almost like a seaside town but without the beach and sea whereras the latter is a pretty market town with lots of signs of former industry there too:)
DeleteI love Matlock, I actually prefer it to Matlock Bath. We've walked past the church a few times on our travels but have never looked inside so I enjoyed having a peek here!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to open everyday which is surprising but good! I too prefer Matlock to Matlock Bath:)
DeleteA lovely wander around Matlock. I'm always fascinated to see where the church is in a settlement and how a settlement has developed over the years. It really tells the story of a community.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child, a wealthy neighbour of mine kept lions in a cage. I remember when I went by on the school bus feeling really upset by the sight of them kept like that. It seems incredible now that someone was allowed to keep such animals in that way,
Times have changed - I felt like that when I was taken to a circus as a child, I was upset by the animals in their cages behind the big top - you could then go and look at them before the performance:)
DeleteSomewhere else to visit methinks:)
ReplyDeleteI guess rather like mine that your list of places to visit is getting longer and longer - so many lovely places to find:)
DeleteThe church and all the buildings are beautiful! Such history.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda - glad you enjoyed visiting with me:)
DeleteThank you for featuring Matlock and the area around the church. I was interested to hear who did the restoration designs for the chancel and Stokes's relationship with Joseph Paxton. Matlock is another town I want to explore in depth some time.
ReplyDeleteI love finding out those little snippets of information that link people together. Matlock is a fascinating little town:)
DeleteThis was a great tour Rosie. I have never been here but have heard of it so many times. So much fantastic history to learn about. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chel , glad you enjoyed the tour:)
DeleteI seem to be saying this a lot these days but we rarely go to Derbyshire, must get there soon! Thank you for sharing this and giving me a prompt! Xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lyn. Perhaps you will make it this year? I know that if you do we'll have some super photos to see after your visit:)
DeleteI've been to Matlock a good many times to do research in the Record Office but have never seen the church or the old part of the town. Next time I go I must take a look at them.
ReplyDeleteIt's on the opposite side of town to the record office but still the same side of the river - up the road from the roundabout with the park on your right as if you are going to go up the hill to Tansley and out to clay Cross but turn right opposite the Chesterfield road - it says Starkholmes that way - it's a lovely area:)
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