Derbyshire has a number of interesting churches, but few escaped the attentions of the Victorians, who saw it as their duty to improve what was already there. However, near Ashbourne, there is a fascinating church that escaped their attentions, and it is well worth a visit especially if you are planning a walk to the south of Ashbourne.

The Church of St Mary and St Barlock at Norbury is a wonderful example of medieval architecture. There was a church here at the time of Doomsday Book in 1086, but the current church is almost entirely medieval. Its glory is the early 14th C Chancel, accurately described as a “lantern in stone”. The east window is of the perpendicular style (late 14th C), and is very similar to the east window in St Oswald’s Church at Ashbourne; but the real treasures are the earlier windows (late 13th or early 14th C) on the north and south walls of the Chancel. These windows contain their original grisaille and heraldic glass, recently cleaned to give a good indication of what it would have looked like when first built. Interestingly, the heraldic glass contains the arms of the King of England, along with the French Royal Family and Robert the Bruce, who later became enemies of the English. This unusual combination has allowed experts to date the glass to the early years of the 1300s. (The Grisaille and Heraldic Glass in the Chancel at Norbury, Derbyshire written and published by John E Titterton, FSA)

The Chancel also contains 2 alabaster tombs of the Fitzherbert family, possibly some of the best examples of such work in the country. The alabaster may have come from the mines at Fauld, the site of a massive explosion in 1944, heard as far away as London, when part of an underground bomb store exploded – but that is for another article.

Returning to Norbury, the Nave was built after the Chancel in the 15th C. It contains some Saxon cross shafts, found during works in 1899 to prevent subsidence, along with an early English font circa 1200, which must have come from an early church. There are good guide books describing the Church and the medieval glass for sale in the Church.

In addition to the Fitzherbert family, the church has connections with Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the pen name of George Eliot. Her father Robert, a carpenter, sang in Norbury Church Choir and may have made the altar in the north aisle. George Eliot’s first novel, Adam Bede, was set in the Dove valley during the Methodist revival. In the novel Norbury is probably Norbourne and Ashbourne Oakbourne.

There is another possible connection with a great workman, although one who is little known now. Henry Yeveley came from the nearby village of Yeaveley. He started work as a tomb carver in his father’s business, but later moved down to London. By 1353, he was a Freeman of the City of London and, soon after, was engaged by the Royal family to build a palace. The Royal family obviously liked his work as he went onto build churches, colleges, abbeys, castles, palaces, bridges and royal monuments; the knave of Canterbury Cathedral is a fine example of his work. Interestingly, at the time Henry was chief architect for the King, one Geoffrey Chaucer – now better known for his writing - was the Royal Clerk of Works. Henry pioneered the perpendicular design of churches. Did he build the east windows in that style at Norbury and Ashbourne Churches, both close to his birth place? (See Richard Stone’s Book Exploring History in an around DERBYSHIRE published by Breedon Books).

theI hope that has inspired you to do a walk in this area, and to include a visit to this fascinating church.

Geof Cole