We  Arrive

Hartington is in the wilds of Derbyshire, thanks to Beeching. So, some came by car directly from the Capital. Many of the carless among us came by train on a round-about trip via Stockport (almost in Manchester) and then Buxton, transferring to a rare bus to Hartington. Others came via Derby and two rare buses from thence, changing rare buses in Ashbourne. Others came from Matlock. Wasn't Beeching fun! But we all got to Hartington!

Hartington Hall

Hartington Hall is Grade II* listed and simply oozes history. It is believed that the original hall was a convent built around 1350. In 1611 a certain Hugh Bateman rebuilt and enlarged the old Hartington Hall. In 1675, his great grandson married Elizabeth Osborne, whose crest appears in one of the leaded windows. Bonnie Prince Charlie, on his journey London, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, may have stayed at Hartington Hall. Major changes were made by in 1859 by Thomas Osborne Bateman, while "sympathetically restoring" the Hall, including the Jacobean-style plaster ceilings on the ground floor. In 1934 Hartington Hall opened as a YHA, whose property it became in 1948. So, there! We have a potted history!

For the carless, (no, not careless), arriving by rare bus,
this is often their first view of Hartington Hall.





Closer view of Hartington Hall from the south front.




Another closer view of Hartington Hall from the south front.




View of Hartington Hall from the west side.




Main ground floor entrance room cum lounge with Victorian mock-Jacobean ceiling.




Ground floor lounge next door, without Victorian mock-Jacobean ceiling.




Main ground floor entrance room cum lounge with Victorian mock-Jacobean ceiling.




Panelled door leading from main ground floor entrance room.




Dining Area - Fireplace.




Dining Area - another room. Mullioned windows.




Here is the Crest of Osborne Family.
It was inserted to celebrate the marriage of Elizabeth Osborne into the Bateman family.




Here you see the Crest of Osborne Family again.




Here is some of the pre-YHA history of Hartington Hall.

On the Hall's Walls

The ground floor walls bear further witness to the interesting history of Hartington Hall. Bonnie Prince Charlie, on his journey London, during the Jacobite rising of 1745, may have stayed at Hartington Hall. There are only three Victorian steel picture prints. These have been "framed" by me, courtesy of HTML5. Steel printing came from the USA where is was used for producing Dollar Bills. There is also a Victorian "poster" advertising the merits of staying at Hartington Hall. Postcards from 30s and a YHA plaque from 1934 complete the list.

This carved oak panel dates to the mid-1600s and is from Bedroom Number One, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie's Room.
The said prince "may have stayed" in Hartington on his way to London.

View on the RIVER WYE From the Foot of Priestcliff, Derbyshire

View of HADDON HALL Derbyshire

View in the VILLAGE of EYAM Derbyshire

This Victorian "poster" extolls the merits of staying at Hartington Hall.




This postcard of Hartington Hall is probably from the 30s.




This photograph of downtown Hartington probably dates to the 30s,
as suggested by the van and telephone kiosk.




Hartington Hall became a YHA in 1934.

Hartington Church

Saint Giles is the 13th century parish church of Hartington. This is the only known church in the country to have a set of wall-mounted painted boards representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The church is also known for its ring of eight bells, which we did not get to hear!

Hartington's Parish Church is dedicated to Saint Giles.




The nave.




Two of the twelve tribes of Israel.




Levi




Reuben




This stone head appears on one of the church walls.
Who was it? A mediaeval craftsman who organized the building of the church?
We shall probably never know!




Ann Edensor (neé Mills (of Leek)) died on 10 September 1762 aged 49, and was buried at Hartington 4 days later. She was the wife of one Richard Edensor (1700-1776),
a wealthy property owner, who - as you see - outlived his wife.

Downtown Hartington

In the evening, after our repast at the hostel, we also had the chance to explore other parts of downtown Hartington in addition to the church. We were soon made aware of the connection with the Dukes of Devonshire, whose influence spread far beyond Chatsworth, to reach, among other places, Hartington.

Here is Downtown Hartington. "Saint Giles" is straight ahead. "The Devonshire Arms" is to the right, next to blue robot. The bus shelter for the rare buses is centre left.
Robot, bus shelter and the vehicular flotsam and jetsam, serve to add a touch of the modern age to what was a village steeped in history.




"The Devonshire Arms" was having a makeover when we arrived, so, their gastronomical business had become that of the nearby Charles Cotton Hotel for the duration of the said makeover. "Cavendo Tutus" (safe by being cautious) is the motto of the Dukes of Devonshire and might just explain why their lineage has lasted so long. I photographed the crest through the temporary fence surrounding the renovation activities next to the blue robot.




Charles Cotton (1630-1687) was a poet and playwright and a "fellow angler" of Izaak Walton (ca 1593-1683). Charles contributed to Izaak's famous "The Compleat Angler".