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English Topography Part III : Derbyshire - Dorsetshire
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74 Derbyshire. |
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Wirksworth.
[1821, Part II., pp. 401-403.]
During an excursion, in the summer of 1820, through various
parts of the romantic county of Derby, I arrived at the town
of Wirkswoth, where I slept. On the following morning, Sept.
16, I visited the parish church, which was then undergoing
a complete repair. This church is built in the cathedral manner,
consisting of a nave, with north and south aisles, having
small transepts attached, and also aisles adjoining the choir.
After taking a survey of the whole, I went into the chancel,
and found, fixed in the north wall, a specimen
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Wirksworth. 75 |
of rude and ancient
sculpture in basso-relievo, representing various circumstances
in the history of our blessed Saviour (see Plate II.). This
stone, which is of grit quality, measuring 5 feet long and 2
feet 10 inches wide, has, under the very judicious directions
of the vicar and churchwardens, been placed where it now is.
This relic of primeval piety was discovered on removing the
old pavement before the altar railing (the sculpture being downwards),
and it was not without considerable time bestowed, and great
care used, that it was safely presented to public view. It was
doubtless much longer, as is evident from its broken and mutilated
extremities ; and it is with a design that it should be further
preserved in your valuable magazine, that I am induced to send
you the accompanying drawing, taken from a sketch I made the
morning I first viewed it. The following description is what
I apprehend to be nearly the true one. (The small figures above
and below my drawing are intended for reference to the different
subjects.)
I. The washing the disciples' feet. ...The towel lies at the
foot of the basin.
2. The cross, on which is the Lamb, emblematical of our Saviour.
I incline to think that the figures above the cross are intended
for those of St. John and St. Peter; St. John on the left, from
the head leaning towards the cross; that disciple being the
beloved one, is represented reclining on Christ. St. Peter on
the right, alluding to that incident in his life, the denial
of his Master. Beneath the cross are two birds, cocks.
3. The entombing of Christ, wherein He is represented lying
on a bier, as in the act of being carried by Joseph of Arimathea
and his attendants to the sepulchre. The figure beneath, in
a recumbentposture, is descriptive of the conquest obtained
over the monster death and the grave, by Christ's Passion. The
foot of the bier seems to retain Satan captive, as being placed
directly through his body. The faces in the centre over the
body of Christ, are intended for the guard, the chief priests
and Pharisees placed at the sepulchre, to prevent the body being
stolen by his disciples. (St. Matt. xxvii. 62-66)…
4. The presentation in the temple. The figure with a palm-branch
in the hand, denotes the Christian's joy on being rescued from
sin and misery, by the appearance of Christ upon earth, and
offering himself a willing sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
5. The Nativity. The busts beneath, and the person who is pointing
towards the Infant, signify the wise men from the east.
6. The Ascension. Our Redeemer is here attended in His ascent
by angels who are supporting and bearing Him triumphant in their
hands, towards the blessed abode of His heavenly Father. Christ
carries His cross in His hands, the trophy of His having subdued
the powers of darkness and death ; and by that means restoring
to life |
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76 Derbyshire. |
and immortality
the sons of men; made subject to bondage by Adam's transgression.
(I Cor. xv. 21, 22.)
7. The return of the disciples to Jerusalem after the Ascension.
(St. Luke xxiv. 50-52.)
Yours; etc., R.R. RAWLINS.
We have been favoured with another drawing of the same subject
from Mr. Hunt, who thus communicates some additional information
:
The stone was found during the late repairs, about two feet
below the surface of the pavement, over a stone-built vault
or grave; indeed over the proper covering of the said grave,
which contained a perfect human skeleton of rather large stature
than otherwise. Nothing very remarkable besides was discovered
; a few tiles were found different parts of the church under
the floor; two of which had on them, one the arms of Beauchamp,
the other those of John Gaunt's father-in-law, Henry the good,
Duke of Lancaster, according to Froissart, who died of the
plague in 1360, and was buried on the south side of the high
altar of the collegiate church at Leicester, founded by his
father. In the Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem we read
at page 14, vol. i., that it appeared in 39 Henry III, that
Margaret de Ferrars, Countess of Derby, had, amongst other
property ("pro dote sua"), Asleiorhaye and
Arlewashele, both of them places in this parish. After the
battle of Chesterfield, in 1266, Robert de Ferrars, for rebelling
against his sovereign, was divested of the Earldom of Derby
with its large possessions, which were given to Edmund, Earl
of Lancaster, and eventually formed a considerable part of
the revenues of the Duchy.
[1821, Part II., p. 501.]
A short dissertation upon the singular figure above mentioned,
in the words of a learned antiquary, who has investigated
with great skill and judgment the early architecture of this
country, may perhaps, not be foreign to the subject :
"There is reason to believe," says Mr. Kerrich,*
"that this figure was held in particular veneration by
Christians from very early times"; and he supposes "it
might have some reference to the symbolical representation
of Christ under the figure of a fish, an this is the more
probable, because we are told it was called 'Vesica Piscis.'
But however this may be, and whatever ideas of sanctity might
be attached to the thing itself, we may remark that in painting
as well as sculptures of the lower ages, we find it almost
constantly used to circumscribe the figure of our Saviour,
whenever He is represented as judging the world, and in His
glorified state, particularly
* "Observations on Gothic Buildings
and Architecture," Archæologia, vol, xvi"
p.306
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Wirksworth. 77 |
| over the doors of
Saxon and Norman churches. Episcopal and conventual seals, and
those of religious societies, and of all ecclesiastical officers,
were universally of this form, and continue to be made so to
this day."
Yours, etc., E. I. C.
Old Road at Ashbourn.
[1792, Part II., p.1O73.]
The view which accompanies this (Plate I.) exhibits part of
the old road at Ashbourn, in Derbyshire. It is not now in
use, one infinitely better having been made at some little
distance from it. It is, indeed, rather a wonder that they
who planned the old one should prefer cutting their way through
a bed of rock to levelling inequalities in the slope of the
same hill. However, the remains of this road are exceedingly
pleasant, for from most parts of it the church and Dovedale
hills are visible; while the sides of the rock throughout
produce an astonishing variety of beautiful foliage, vines,
etc., that hang luxuriant down. The rock is not of the hardest
kind, as there are strata of yellowish sand, intermixed with
others inclining to red, that are continually crumbling. The
whole neighbourhood of Ashbourn affords prospects seldom equalled.
The continued series of hills, which rise one beyond another,
remind one of a calm at sea, where huge undulating waves follow
on each other in endless succession. By-the-bye, I cannot
think it is ever calm at sea, for at no time (except during
violent gales) is the motion of a vessel more disagreeably
felt than when the surface of the waves is as polished as
a mirror.
J. P. MALCOLM.
The following articles are omitted :-
1772, pp. 515, 552, 573, Observations on the Ashbourne inscription.
1773, p. 8, The same.
1793, part ii., pp. 792.793. Dishley Farm, near Bakewell.
1802, part ii., pp. 1085-1086, Buxton described in the Johnsonian
style.
1802, part ii.. pp. 706-707. Midsummer Tour [commencing at
Derby].
References to previous volumes of the Gentleman's
Magazine Library:
Prehistoric Antiquities: Stone implements found at Brimington
; cave at Castletown ; skeleton of rhinoceros at Wirksworth
- Archæology, part i., pp. 16, 60-61, 307-308.
Roman Remains: Pig of lead at Matlock Moor - Romano-British
Remains, part ii., p. 583.
Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian: Scandinavian place.names ; Saxon
graves at Winster - Archæology. part ii.. pp.
175, 292.
Dialect : Local words in Derbyshire - Dialect and Wordlore.
pp. 169, 170, 335.
Fo1k Lore : Decorating wells at Tissington ; memorials of
Robin Hood - Popular Superstitions, pp. 143-143 ; English
Traditions, p. 87.
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