A TO Z HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH DERBYSHIRE - PART 7
RADBOURNE
Radbourne is a tiny village in the heart of the countryside despite only being a short distance from Mickleover. It has an ancient church, St Andrew’s, as well as Radbourne Hall and several cottages. The Manor of Radbourne has been held by the Chandos family since the time of the Norman Conquest. It is one of only a handful of estates that have been passed on by inheritance and marriage since the Conquest. In 1807, Edward Sacheverell Pole adopted the additional surname of Chandos to commemorate his descent from Sir John Chandos. Since then the family surname has been Chandos-Pole. The present house was built in about 1739. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, lived there for two years after his marriage to Elizabeth Pole in 1781. The location proved to be inconvenient and led to a move into Derby. The 600-acre park was originally laid out in 1790 by William Emes, a distinguished Derbyshire landscaper. It was the subject of a ten-year restoration plan earlier this century.
REPTON
Situated on the B5008 Willington to Burton road, south of Derby. It is difficult to realise when visiting the village that in the 7th century, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia. In 653, King Penda’s son returning to Repton from Northumbria, with a Christian bride and four priests, set about establishing a monastery as a base to spread Christianity across the Midlands. The Danes destroyed the monastery over 200 years later.
At the entrance to Repton School is the Priory Arch, a survivor from the old Priory Gatehouse that dates back to the mid-13th century. From here, a vast array of architectural styles can be seen covering most centuries from the eighth upwards. Down the slope is the cricket ground where county cricket has been played in the recent past. The late Guy Willatt who was a master at the school captained Derbyshire in the 1950s and later became the Chairman of the Cricket Committee, during a relatively peaceful and successful period in the club’s somewhat turbulent history.
The classic film ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’ was shot at the school in 1938 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is recorded that during a break in shooting, the boys playing cricket at the school were somewhat surprised to find themselves watched and applauded by a large band of costumed spectators. The markets are no more but the medieval cross remains.
REPTON – C. B. FRY
One of the most notable sportsmen in this country’s history, C B Fry, went to school at Repton and is buried in the churchyard. Repton can also claim to have supplied three Archbishops of Canterbury, Dr William Temple and Dr Geoffrey Fisher who were both former headmasters and Dr Michael Ramsey who was a pupil at the school.
REPTON – ST WYASTON’S CHURCH
The parish church of St Wystan has existed, in some form or other, since the 8th century. Underneath the chancel is the Saxon mausoleum and crypt that was the burial place of Mercian kings. For many years the crypt had lain forgotten, until in 1779 a worker, making a grave below the chancel fell through the floor into space below and it was re-discovered!
The Priory founded about 1172, was dissolved at the time of the Reformation. Now Repton School occupies part of what remains of it, but most of the premises are 19th and 20th- century
ROSLISTON
Rosliston, four miles south of Burton, is a pretty well-maintained village, which in 2013 celebrated winning six prestigious awards at the East Midlands in Bloom awards ceremony. The village has been winning awards at this event for many years.
St Mary’s Church at Rosliston was largely rebuilt and extended in 1819, but the west tower and spire were preserved. In the 19th century when the Reverend John Vallancy was the vicar, he was said to sometimes threaten his parishioners with a stick. On one occasion he went even further and produced a revolver and made menacing gestures. After villagers made an effigy of him, which was hung outside the vicarage and burnt, he was banished from the parish for 18 months by his Bishop.
ROSLISTON FORESTRY CENTRE
There is a gift shop, café/restaurant, cycle hire centre and fishing points. Also, there are educational facilities, archery and Rosliston Forestry Centre with woodland walks and indoor and outdoor play areas making it a popular venue to visit for people of all ages. Games and numerous other events are arranged at busy times. If you want to stay longer you can hire a self-catering lodge.
