I'd read about the hare sculptures that could be found during the last week of August in the churchyard of St Peter's Church, Ellastone, Staffordshire.
We often pass through the village on the way to Ashbourne but had never stopped there. We were able to park quite easily at the village hall and walk across the road to the church.
You can spot the little hare by the WWI soldier. We counted twenty three hares as we walked around, all painted by local community organisations or businesses.
My photos aren't great as it was raining, the air was misty and I was trying to hold up an umbrella as well. I've chosen a few of the entries to show you. the last one was in the church porch. The church itself was closed when we visited but it looks an interesting building and the views across the countryside from where it stands on a hill are lovely.
The village has an interesting history, standing as it does, on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border. It has a literary connection with the Evans family. Mary Ann Evans visited family here and when she wrote her first novel, as George Eliot, she used the village as a setting. In Adam Bede, published in 1859, the village of Hayslope is based on Ellastone.
St Peter's Church is a Grade 2* listed building which dates from about 1163. The church tower was added in 1582 but two of the church bells sited in the tower are earlier in date. It is believed they may have come from nearby Calwich Priory.
Oh gosh Rosie what a super idea. Thanks so much for all the hare photos - they really are lovely. Sorry about the weather though and the fact the church was closed. It was so interesting to read about the Mary Ann Evans connection - it looks a super village.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, the hares were lovely. It was a shame the church was closed, perhaps we might visit again instead of just passing though and see if it is open:)
DeleteIs metal detecting permitted there?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you mean the churchyard or the village. I expect the answer for the churchyard would be a firm no. As to any of the fields around the village I expect you would have to obtain permission from landowners.
DeleteThe hares are lovely and it's good they are all in one place. When the Hospices here do a similar idea of fundraising, the creatures painted (it varies year to year) are all huge and spread around a town and then auctioned off afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI spotted headstones looking like slate? definitely different to Suffolk.
Thank you Sue, I thought the hares were charming, I don't know what happens to them afterwards. The sculptures large and small are a great way to raise money and hospices certainly need all the help they can get. Yes, slate headstones as well as stone ones, craftsmen using local resources and materials for their work. So different to now:)
DeleteWhat a significant place, tucked away from view! How fun to have the hares hidden around with all the pretty views. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK. Yes, lots of history for a small village, I hope the hares have lovely homes to go to:)
DeleteLove this old church, so much atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you Amalia, I would have liked to have looked inside the church:)
DeleteThose hares are just delightful. They look like they are snifffing the fresh air and sunshine and simply enjoying life. Thank you for sharing photos of the church and village of Ellastone and the connections with the writer Mary Ann Evans. It looks a lovely place to visit and maybe next time you will be able to see inside the church.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverley. The Hares do look smiley and happy don't they? I would like to see inside the church one day, perhaps there is a flower festival at some time during the year:)
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