Dethick Gibbet Stone

There were only 3 of us this week, Geoff was having a short holiday down at Reading. Rob was telling a neighbour we had been to the Shuckstone Cross and she mentioned she had seen some gallows on a walk near Dethick. We thought we would see if we could find them.

The track leading from the parked car.

I looked up info on the net, but could only find reference to the Dethick Gibbet Stone. Apparently this stone once supported some hangman's gallows or a cross back in the 18th century. The locals claim its cursed because of the many executions carried out there. The stone was noticed to be missing in February 2011 but was later found not far from its original site about a month later. Its about 3 feet in diameter and therefore very heavy and it would have taken a JCB or tractor to move it.
Well i put the coordinates into my GPS and set off, we parked up in a gateway right on the co ords and had a look around with nothing visible so we decided to do a small circular walk around the area.
It was a lovely bright morning and a nice gentle stroll up the track from the car, when we got to the top of this track there were some outstanding views over towards Dethick Church and around the countryside.

Rob snapping Dethick Church

 When we got to a bridleway we met this lady taking her dogs for a walk and asked do you know anything about the Stone, She replied back along the track we had come along and there is a silver car parked there (mine) She said its on the other side of the road in the grass, but never seen the gallows. (BUGGER BUGGER).

The Towers of Riber Castle

Ike on the style

Heading down the track with Dethick Church straight ahead.

What a cracking specimen of a foxglove

Small pond leading into Manor Farm

We walked to see Manor Farm which is the home of Simon Groom (Ex Blue Peter Presenter). Its a lovely 16th century grade 11 listed building. When Robert Dethick died in 1403 the original Manor House built in the 15th Century passed over to the Babingtons. Sir Anthony Babington, born at the manor house in 1561, was attained and executed for High Treason for his part in the Babington Plot. 
Simon Groom and his wife now run the 170 acre farm.

Part of Manor farm

Hows that for a garden shed

This was our breakfast stop with a view of Dethick Church

 The church of St John the Baptist was granted a licence for worship in 1229 and constructed over the next 50 years for private use by the Dethick family who lived here for 500 years. The estate then went to the Babington family upon the marriage of Isobel Dethick to Thomas Babington who fought at Agincourt. The church tower was added in 1530. 

St. John the Baptist Church Dethick with Manor farm .

A view looking towards the tower of St. John's Church, Dethick. This church dates back to C13 and was once the private chapel of Dethick Manor. It was enlarged in 1530 by the Babington family. Anthony Babington was beheaded in 1586 after trying to free Mary Queen of Scots in an unsuccessful plot against Queen Elizabeth I.

If you go down into the woods today

Lea Hall was the childhood home of Florence Nightingale, before her family moved to Lea Hurst in the same village. The hall was owned by Florence’s grandfather, Peter Nightingale, who went into business with John Smedley in 1784, producing muslin and spinning cotton.

 After we had our breakfast we set off back to the car to find the STONE. Well we had a look at where the lady suggested and there it was, so very disappointing.

The Dethick Gibbet Stone

After a few curses we had some spare time so we decided to go and have an amble along part of the Cromford Canal from Whatstandwell bridge to Gregory's tunnel. 

Mother & Chic's in Cromford Canal

A nuthatch is rooting around for grubs.

Tow path with Crich Stand in the background

Idyllic stretch of the canal.

Well that's it for this week, we'll be back up to full strength next week and hopefully the summer will have arrived.
Cheers
Jim