Welcome To Derby Ghost
Capital Of England --Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral Derby Cathedral, All Saints Church.
Derby Cathedral
The rapid increase in the
population of England in the late 19th and early 20th century resulted
in the creation of new bishoprics and several hitherto 'ordinary'
churches becoming cathedrals. There was neither the time nor the money
to build the sort of grand new cathedrals which had risen in Norman
times, and new bishops were designated existing churches as their
seats. Thus, in 1927 All Saints' Church in Derby became Derby Cathedral.
Thought to have been
founded by King Edmund in 943AD, All Saints' has
been altered considerably over the centuries. At the beginning of the
18th century, the only thing that could have been said to have been
striking about this church was its
tower, 212ft tall - the second
highest parish church tower
in England - and built in
the time of Henry VIII.
In 1723 the church was
deemed unsafe and it seems
that no one was prepared to
do anything about it until a
particularly courageous
churchman, Revd Dr Michael Hutchinson, ordered
that the entire structure -
except the tower - should be
demolished
The decision
was unpopular with local
people but shortly afterwards plans for the rebuilding were submitted
by James Gibbs, who became famous for many of his churches including St
Mary-le-Strand and perhaps his most famous work, St Martin-in-the
Fields, in London. The designs for a new All Saints, were accepted and
work soon began, resulting in the magnificent church which we know
today as Derby Cathedral.
Working in association
with Gibbs was Robert Bakewell, an ironsmith
whose striking wrought-iron screen remains one of the most notable
features of the Cathedral's interior. Other notable features include
the remarkable baldachino; several memorial carvings, many to notable
Derbyshire families, one of which is Bess of Hardwick's monument which
was built and completed within her own lifetime.
Another interesting
memorial is a
tablet on the south wall near the steps to St Katherine's Chapel, which
commemorates an historic visit from Prince Charles Edward Stuart, who
visited All Saints' in December 1745. The Young Pretender had marched
with his army virtually unchallenged from Carlisle. On reaching Derby
his troops were stationed about the town and the prince is said to have
ordered the bells of All Saints' to be rung and, with his officers
accompanying him, he attended a service at the church.
Several ghosts are said to
haunt the vicinity of Derby
Cathedral including that of
Charles Edward Stuart, seen
by a lady who lived in a
building, now a shop, across
the road. She told me her
story of how she often sees a
man in Jacobite dress walk
into the Cathedral: "On
many occasions I had seen
the vague ghostly shape of a
man in Jacobite costume
walking near the Cathedral.
Being familiar with the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his visit to
Derby I presumed that it was the prince recounting his footsteps,
perhaps trying to understand how it had all gone wrong for him. My
mother once saw this figure and she too was convinced that it had been
the ghost of Bonnie Prince Charlie."
It is interesting to note
that a ghostly figure in 'Cavalier' style
dress has also been spotted not too far from this spot at the Silk Mill
public house.
Many other ghosts have
been seen about Derby Cathedral including a
'white lady' seen walking down the steps at the back of the church, a
young woman seen crying and a small boy.
Also said to wander the
grounds is the unhappy ghost of John Crossland,
a former executioner, originally himself a criminal, who was granted a
pardon on the understanding that he become the
executioner for the sentence of death
passed on his father and brother. This
he agreed to do and from then on
became the busiest executioner in the
county, frequently being used by
several other shires. His ghost is said
to be seen often wandering the
grounds, at the side of the Cathedral,
seeking to find peace for his
tormented and guilty soul.
