St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne

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St Oswald's Church is located in Ashbourne, in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is named after Oswald of Northumbria.

Architecturally, it dominates the small town with its 212-foot spire. It was built in the 13th and early 14th centuries on the site of an earlier Saxon church. A Norman crypt was also discovered during excavations in 1913. In 1837 to 1840, it was restored by George Gilbert Scott. [ [http://www.ashbourne-town.com/villages/ashbourne/st_oswalds/st_oswalds.html Ashbourne-Town.com] accessed 25 May 2008]

Each of its transepts houses a chapel dedicated to leading local families. In the north transept, the Cockaynes and the Boothbys who bought their home Ashbourne Hall in the early 18th century. In the south transept is the Bradbourne's chapel. These chapels contain funerary monuments which have contributed greatly to the church's renown.

One in particular stands out: the Boothby monument to Penelope Boothby is an exquisite and highly realistic sculpture made from Carrara marble(Italian)in the form of a sleeping child. [http://www.derbyshireuk.net/ashbourne_church.html DerbyshireUK] ] It is considered to be the masterpiece of the artist Thomas Banks, and was commissioned by Penelope's father, Sir Brooke Boothby Other monuments and inscriptions in the church recall the Boothbys of generations prior to that of Penelope. Generations of Boothbys are buried here.

The 6th baronet Boothby was a minor poet, now known mainly for the sonnets which he wrote after his daughter's death - "Sorrows Sacred to the Memory of Penelope".

As for his own literary efforts Boothby is best remembered for his collection of poems Sorrows sacred to the memory of Penelope which was illustrated with engravings of pictures by Fuseli and Glover.

During his life he several times published on the church's inscriptions. It was said that he never recovered from the loss of his daughter and he died in poverty in Boulogne in 1824.

Until Ashbourne Hall was partially demolished, it and St. Oswald's were the town's major monuments, standing at either end of the main street. The entrance to the hall's grounds continued the main street through high gates. What remains of the hall houses the local lending library and some unrelated offices. Now, as they were before the 18th. century when the Boothby's rebuilt and refurbished their home, St.Oswald's and its tower are the major landmark. The church is the town's main attraction.

References

External links

* [http://www.derbyshireuk.net/ashbourne_church.html Information about the church from derbyshire.uk, a guide to Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park.]