I was foolish last week when I was walking in Derbyshire. Because, initially, the plan had been to carry our kit I travelled light and left something indispensable at home, namely Pevsner’s The Buildings of England DERBYSHIRE.
There is nothing more annoying than reading that Peveril Castle, which we passed without visiting on our first morning, is “by far the most important castle in the county – in fact the only one of importance”. It is 11th century, built by William Peveril, bailiff of the Royal Manors. “Early Norman herringbone masonry can easily be detected” though I expect I’d have missed it.
Likewise in Youlgrave I didn’t think to take a look inside the Norman church, “one of the most important churches in Derbyshire”, with windows by Burne Jones and monuments such as a cross-legged knight holding his heart in his hands and dated 1325. (This must be one of the earliest references to Bridge in ecclesiastical statuary.)
I think he looks rather debonair. Two Irish architectural bloggers, The Irish Aesthete and Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland, all too often post about Irish country houses that have been lost. They sometimes seem almost to take pride in the expertise the Irish display destroying their country’s heritage but I think England can claim some credit too. In Derbyshire, not an especially large county, sixteen big houses were destroyed between 1920 and 1978. Furthermore, in Derby large numbers of 18th century houses in the city centre were pulled down to create a dual carriageway. As a traffic scheme it was a success…
Now how about Nikolaus Pevsner, born in Leipzig in 1902, the son of a Russian-Jewish fur haulier. Yes, his father transported furs I suppose but don’t let’s get bogged down in detail. He came to England in 1933 but it is only fair to point out that he, at least to begin with, admired Hitler and his regime. “I want this movement to succeed. There is no alternative but chaos…. There are things worse than Hitlerism”.
Well, we all make mistakes. Some of you in the UK may be contemplating voting to leave the EU.
I greatly lament the loss of our stately country houses, especially those that suffered so catastrophically by arson.
They provided much needed employment before they were destroyed.
Shane’s Castle and Antrim Castle, County Antrim, homes to the O’Neills and the Massereenes respectively; and Roxborough Castle, County Armagh, seat of Lord Charlemont, we’re all spitefully and maliciously burned, a gross and heinous act of despicable arson.