I knew the church at Chaddesden in Derby would be open for the Sunday service so I planned a bus trip there for that day. At least several generations of ancestors are known to have lived and died there so I was keen to see the church and churchyard. Chaddesden used to be a rural area with 18th and 19th century ancestors having farms in Chaddesden and nearby. It is now a suburb of Derby with the big hall owned by the local notables, the Wilmots, and with whom 2 generations had close relations as surveyors and land agents having been demolished in 1926.
St Mary’s Church Chaddesden
Same side of church but from the back
Side of church with plantings and attractive ironwork on door
Four generations of family in the 6 tombstones in the centre
The last male ancestor of the line to die in England with his three wives and two of their children
Parents of two of the wives who were sisters
Two earlier generations of the White family
I was able to photograph inside the church when the service was completed. This is ceiling in the central section of the church
The wooden rood screen is considered a fine piece of work and for some reason escaped the depredations of the Reformation period
Cheerful flowers. I have found flowers in country churches to be rustic but cheerful and attractive.
Looks like remnants of gas lighting
While I was wandering around looking, photographing and trying unsuccessfully to appear inconspicuous among a congregation enjoying a post service cuppa and chat I was approached by one of them. After chatting for a while and after consultation with his wife he offered me a lift to their home for roast pork dinner with promise of a return to my hotel afterwards. They also threw in a copy of a booklet written by an absent parishioner about the history and fabric of the church.
We enjoyed a yummy roast pork dinner with all the trimmings and I learnt a bit about the life of a kind and generous retired couple busy contributing to their church and family with time to collect the odd stray for Sunday dinner. It reminded me somewhat of a family which “adopted” my brother and later myself many years ago. I remember being fascinated when told that in earlier times they always had a spare meal for anyone who might drop by. I guess it was part of the ethos of hospitality found in rural areas in earlier times which extended back into the past where travel was long and hard and accommodation frequently provided by private individuals as nothing was available comercially.
I was asked my plans for the rest of the day and when I said I’d been considering a bus trip to Breadsall to visit the church and churchyard they immediately offered to detour there on the way to my hotel. The church was closed but we wandered the churchyard looking for tombstones with the names of some of my ancestors. We didn’t find anyone I know of but there were quite a few from the 1800s with the same surname as one I’m interested in which research is likely to show to be related in terms of cousins several times removed.
All Saints Church Breadsall
One of the few seats I’ve seen in churchyards
Higgledy piggledy graves with some lovely blue flowers
Breadsall old hall. Opposite the church. Can’t find any information about it.
Remains of an old water pump beside the old hall.