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| The Cross, Bonsall - three postcards |
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This lovely coloured postcard, from a photo
by C.F. Hartle of Bonsall, was sent by Hilda Margaretta May
Walker, Ann's great aunt[1],
in 1908 to her mother Margaret Jane (Jennie) Walker (nee Swain[1]).
The Walker family lived in the village for years before moving
to Manchester and the Cross stands in front of the grocer's
shop they ran.
Another relative was very much involved in the village life
of Bonsall during the last century. Robert Clay (1799 -1874)[2] was the Bonsall miller. He was responsible for taking water
into the village and on the well outside the church yard in
Church Street there is a memorial to him from the grateful people
of Bonsall. He was also one of the churchwardens involved with
the restoration of St. James' Church that was completed in 1863;
the work was paid for by public subscription. Robert Clay gave
the church a new pulpit. His tomb in the churchyard has recently
been relatively restored. |
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Bonsall Cross is the tallest cross in Derbyshire
and the first date on it is 1620 - which may be the date that it was
first repaired. It was here that, during the Napoleonic Wars, the
French prisoners-of-war were allocated to the local farms. Farming
apprentices were also hired here at the village's annual 'Wakes'.
The street's unmade road (probably of crushed limestone) is clearly
visible in the reproduction.
Glover, in 1833, describes Bonsall as being "set in a romantic
valley amidst abrupt limestone rocks, and watered by a beautiful trout
stream"[3]. He doesn't
mention the Cross but Adam, writing a few years later, says "There
is an old Cross in the centre of the Village which is a curious object"[4]. |
This picture of the Cross was taken from the bottom of Church Street
and was sent by Hilda to her mother, possibly around 1925 - the postmark
cannot be read - as she refers to two nieces who were with her. Hilda
owned a cottage at Slaley. The card was sent with instructions that
it had to be kept and also that Mrs. Slack had provided "some
lettuce, 2 boilings (?chicken), some beans and some cress".
I have both the coloured (above) and sepia versions of this card.
Also taken from the bottom of Church Street, this picture shows the
King's Head public house. On the back is an extract of the message
from Sarah & A to one of the webmistress's relatives:
"We have managed to make a move to Rose Cottage, Town End, Bonsall,
which is about 4 minutes from the subject of this view".
The King's Head, according to Pevner, "was established in 1677.
The house has traditional low three-light mullioned windows, and two
irregular gables"[5].
Elsewhere on this website:
 Bonsall
in 1891
Pigot's
1831 Directory, with Matlock, includes Bonsall names
Pigot's
Directory, 1842, also with Matlock, includes Bonsall names
Our Genealogy
Help Needed
Matlock
Charities |
Postcards in the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews Intended for personal use only
Top postcard: "Canterbury" Series J. H. S. D. Photo by C.F.
Hartle, Bonsall. Posted 1908 (rescanned Aug 2007)
Other two cards, no obvious publisher
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References and notes:
[1] Both born at Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales.
Seven Walker children were born at Bonsall, including the webmistress's
grandmother. Richard Arnold Walker, the eldest son, was killed at
Gallipolli. He is unfortunately not named on Bonsall's War Memorial, despite having been born there.
Instead, he is commemorated with on his parents' headstone in a quiet
Salford churchyard.
[2] Robert Clay was born at Bonsall and died
there
[3] Glover, Stephen [of Derby] (1830) "The
Peak Guide; containing the topographical, statistical, and general
history of Buxton, Chatsworth, Edensor, Castleton, Bakewell, Haddon,
Matlock, and Cromford; with an introduction" ... Edited by
T. Noble. pub. Derby
[4] Adam, W. (1840) "The Gem of the
Peak" London; Longman & Co., Paternoster Row MDCCCXL
[5] Pevsner, Nikolaus (1953), "The Buildings
of England, Derbyshire", Penguin Books
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