Ashbourne in Derbyshire is known as the gateway to Dovedale, Izaak Walton country, and the Peak District National Park. However, Ashbourne has much to offer the visitor in its own right.
Ashbourne is a market centre for the surrounding for the surrounding area and has been since it was first granted a charter to allow stalls in its market place in 1257 and being made a royal borough in 1276. There were fairs selling sheep and cattle, horse fairs 3 times a year, cheese fairs 4 times a year, and today Ashbourne still has a market in its market place on thursdays and saturdays. Ashbourne market place is used as a car park the rest of the week. On Ashbourne market place there is a statue, erected in 1874, to Francis Wright, a wealthy local indusrialist who owned Butterley Ironworks, and lived at Osmaston Manor.
The main place of interest in Ashbourne, and perhaps its glory is Church Street, with its fine Georgian houses, old grammar school, almshouses and St Oswalds Church. The church is one of the glories of Derbyshire, its tower and spire dominating the small town, the spire rising to 212ft. St Oswald was a popular Anglo Saxon saint. He became king of Northumbra(635-642) and brought St Aiden from Iona to Lindisfarne; their efforts were largely responsible for the conversion of that kingdom and the foundation of the Northumbrian church.
The transepts contain 2 chapels dedicated to 2 leading local families, the Bradbournes and the Cockaynes, later the Boothbys. The Boothby chapel is full of monuments, amongst them a memorial to Joan and Edmund Cockayne(1404), Sir Humphrey and Lady Bradbourne(1581) and Sir John and Lady Cockayne(1447), but these are all outshone by the memorial to Penelope Boothby, a six year old who died in 1791. During life, Penelope had been painted by Joshua Reynolds and in death immortalized by Thomas Banks, best known for his memorials to Burgess and Westcott in St Pauls Catherdral. The white currara marble figure of the child is so lifelike that she still appears to be only sleeping. Her epitaph reads `She was in form and intellect exquisite, the unfortunate parents ventured their all on this frail bark, and the wreck was total`.
The church consists of a nave and south aisle, crossing with crossing tower and spire, transepts with aisles as wide as the transepts and a long chancel. A church has stood here, possibly of the same size since Saxon times. A norman crypt was found during excavations in 1913.
It has a 13th century font and there are many fine examples of stained glass to be seen throughout.
Ashbourne`s grammer school, known as the Queen Elizabeth Grammer School, was founded by Sir Thomas Cockayne, whose family`s coat of arms formed the school badge. Building started in 1585 and continued until 1603. The front is symmetrical with 4 small gables in the middle over the school room and 2 larger ones on the sides over the master`s and usher`s houses. There are 2 main doorways.
There have been Cockaynes here, in this region, since the 12th century, at first acquiring a rather dubious reputation as gang leaders who were involved in local warfare with rival families, but by the 16th century they were eminently respectable. Sir Thomas Cockayne (1479-1537) was knighted by Henry the eighth at the siege of Tournai and accompanied the king on the field of the Cloth of Gold, whilst his grandson, also, Thomas(1520-92) was also knighted and served as high sheriff of Derbyshire, 4 times.
Adjacent to the grammer school is Grey House built in the mid 18th century, with its large Doric porch and Venetia windows. This is now used as a girls boarding school. Across the road is 17th century Mansion House where Dr Samuel Johnson, noted lexicographer and traveller, frequently stayed with his friend Dr John Taylor.
There are several blocks of Almshouses. Owfields Almshouses were built around 1640 with an upper storey added in 1840. Adjacent is Peggies Almshouses, built from local sandstone in 1669. Also, there are the Clergy Widows Almshouse, a mid Georgian, 3 storeyed building, around the 3 sides of a courtyard, built in 1733 for `the entertaining of widows of four clergymen of the church of England`. These are all now private flats.
At the town end of church st is Victoria Square, also known as the butchery. Just along the road, crossing the road, is an inn sign for the Green Man and Black Head Hotel. The sign commemorates the amalgamation of 2 coaching inns in 1825.
Behind the Green man is Shaw Croft car park where the `kick-off` takes place for the annual shrove tide football game, played over 2 days, on Shrove tuesday and Ash wednesday. A cork filled leather ball is thrown up by a visiting personality and the 2 sides, the Up`ards and the Down`ards battle it through the streets, through the stream, and across open country between the goals at Sturston and Clifton, which are 3 miles apart. It is pretty much a free for all, with anyone joining in. Shop windows are boarded up, car parks are emptied, and the pubs are filled with visitors and locals alike.
A plaque on the front of a small terraced house in Sturston St, indicates the birthplace of Catherine Booth, wife of the founder member of the Salvation Army, William Booth. A memorial also stands to her in the memorial gardens near the playing fields.
Ashbourne has seen many art galleries come and go over the last couple of decades but its reputation as an arts town has grown considerably through the the annual Arts Festival which has grown from a 10 day event in 2000 to an event which now embraces more than 40 events and exhibitions over 17 days which include poetry, drama, open air opera, jazz and classical concerts, workshops in writing and much more.
In 2004 a new leisure centre was opened offering more amenities for both young and old. Though the Nestle factory closed in 2003 with a loss of over 100 jobs, many new industries have been created largely located within the old airfield on the outskirts of the town.
Looking for work in the Ashbourne area see Jobs in Ashbourne
Events for 2009
19 June - 5 July 2009 - Ashbourne Festival
Ashbourne photographs Ashbourne Photographs
Shrovetide photographs Derbyshire and Peak District Photographs
For more Peak District information try Peak District Holiday Guide
Accommodation in Ashbourne
Sandybrook Country Park offers luxury self-catering Pinelodges (ETC 4 star) to sleep 2 to 8 people. Each lodge is beautifully furnished and fully equipped with fitted kitchen, microwave, CD player, satellite TV, DVD player, verandah with outdoor furniture. More information at Sandybrook Country Park
Award wining Culland Mount Holiday Cottage at Brailsford near Ashbourne is a convenient place from which to explore the renowned Peak District National Park with its extensive tracts of beautiful, open countryside, ancient woodland, and historic towns and villages. There are numerous scenic footpaths to follow as well as the opportunity to walk amongst our own fields and meet the animals.
More information at Culland Mount Holiday Cottage
Holly Meadow Farm is an award winning Bed and Breakfast, which lies in one of the most picturesque parts of Derbyshire. Located a few miles from Dove Dale and the Peak District National Park, the stunning surrounding countryside affords our guests an ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the many attractions that are on our doorstep.
Read more at Holly Meadow Farm Bed & Breakfast
Sleeping 2 people, Alstonefield Cottage is a traditional, comfortably furnished, semi detached stone Derbyshire holiday cottage located in the heart of the village and provides a cosy retreat for a couple wanting to get away from it all for a break.
Dovedale is about 10 minutes walk down the lane and there are so many wonderful and varied circular walks from the door you could quite happily abandon your car for the week upon arrival. The holiday cottage is about 200 yards from ‘The George’ which is a popular pub with walkers and is now establishing itself as a fine dining venue as well, so again, no need to wander too far! Read more at Alstonefield Cottage
Gateham Grange - Farm Holiday in the heart of the Peak District. Our farm consists of 200 acres and is situated nr. the Manifold Valley and Dovedale and lies about one and a half miles north west of the pretty village of Alstonefield in the beautiful Peak District National Park.
Framed by ancient copper beeches our farmstead nestles at the foot of Wetton Hill surrounded by miles of rolling countryside. With dale walks from the door and major visitor attractions from stately homes (Chatsworth) to theme parks (Alton Towers) all within easy reach, Gateham Grange is truly a unique holiday retreat. At the end of a busy or relaxing day the cottages on our cattle and sheep farm are most welcoming. They are tastefully decorated, well equipped and very well cared for. Read more at Gateham Grange Farm Holidays
Yeldersley Old Hall Farm b&b and Cottages offer first class accommodation for the tourist and business visitor alike. Stay in one of our three self-catering cottages, or enjoy bed and breakfast in our Grade II Listed 17th century farmhouse. Yeldersley Old Hall Farm and Cottages are listed as buildings of historical interest.
The Farm and Cottages are situated in the quiet and peaceful countryside, just outside the village of Bradley and three miles from the market town of Ashbourne.
Read more at Yeldersley Old Hall Farm B&B and self catering cottages
For more accommodation see
Derbyshire and Peak District Accommodation and Peak District Accommodation
For more local information on Ashbourne, visit Ashbourne Town
