Darby to Lincoln

A frustrating and difficult drive into Derby. The Sat Nav just doesn't cope well with large city roundabouts. Finally found our way in.

Long visit to the main museum as it had an excellent collection of paleolithic and Neolithic finds from the area. Also had great Bonnie Prince Charlie exhibition.

We got separated yet again in the museum and this took a bit of time to rectify. Now we have an understanding that next time we are separated meet in the cafe!

On our way out of Derby we went over the Swarkestone bridge.

Swarkestone Bridge is an ancient bridge crossing the River Trent between the villages of Swarkestone and Stanton by Bridge, about 6 miles south of Derby. It is an amazingly long medieval bridge.

The bridge was built in the 13th century to cross the river and the surrounding marshes. The first mention of the bridge was in 1204 (known as “Ponte de Cordy”), but in part has been modified, repaired and rebuilt; the majority of the existing bridge dates from the late 13th and early 14th century.

Swarkestone bridge is, in total, just under a mile long and has 17 arches (six of which have been unaltered since medieval times); it is built primarily of local sandstone. It is the longest stone bridge in England, and the longest inland bridge in England.

The original bridge is thought to have been made of wood, and was then rebuilt in stone at the end of the 13th century.

The bridge has proved itself of strategic importance throughout the ages. It was for about 300 years the Midlands' main crossing of the Trent, and the only crossing between Burton-on-Trent and Nottingham. The road over the bridge was the main road into Derby from the South until the 18th century. In January 1643, it was the location of the minor battle during the English Civil War. In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge the bridge was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Royalists lost the day.

In 1745, Swarkestone Bridge was the southernmost point of Bonny Prince Charlie's advance on London, in his attempt to reclaim the British throne. Finding no reports of support from the south, they turned back to Derby and then retreated to Scotland and their final defeat at the Battle of Culloden.[2] During the Second World War, it was defended by gun emplacements and tank traps in case of a German invasion.

Village of Melbourne

Melbourne has a beautiful Norman parish church. Very, very old and mostly original

There is evidence of a church on the site in the Domesday Book, but the present church originates from about 1133, and was not completed until the 13th century. There were alterations in the 15th century, and the tower was heightened in 1602. George Gilbert Scott restored the church between 1859 and 1862.

 

Melbourne Castle was a medieval castle in Melbourne, Derbyshire. It was built on the site of an earlier royal manor house that had provided accommodation for noblemen hunting in a nearby royal park in the reign of King John. Construction of the castle was started in 1311 by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, and continued until 1322, shortly before his execution, but the work was never fully completed.

From the early fourteenth century, Melbourne Castle was mainly in the possession of the Earls and Dukes of Lancaster or the crown. Improvements and repairs were made, notably by John of Gaunt, and the building was in generally good condition throughout the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. John I, Duke of Bourbon, was kept at Melbourne for 19 years after his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, and the castle was considered as a possible prison for Mary Queen of Scots, although events led to her incarceration elsewhere.

Melbourne Hall is also here which was the home of Lord Melbourne, Prime Minister to Queen Victoria and for whom the city of Melbourne was named at home.

He created an artificial lake in front of his house and the level was regulated mechanically.

We were running late by now so shared a packet of chips on the way to Cousin Steve's place at Cherry Willingham. Geoff had never met this cousins but Steve and Hazel welcomed us warmly and we had a lovely evening getting to know them a bit.