Calton Pastures

A view from the graves of the Devonshire family, down towards St Peter's Church.

A snowy scene across the churchyard from the church

A view from the path leading up past the church towards the Cavendish graves

A pheasant searching between the headstones in early spring

A bank of daffodils in the churchyard spilling down towards the perimeter wall

Sheep grazing in the churchyard of St Peter's, Edensor. The very oldest part of the churchyard is fenced off - this is where the sheep are allowed to wander without eating the flowers from more recent graves!

Sheep grazing their way around St Peter's Churchyard. In the background are the Cavendish graves of the Dukes of Devonshire from Chatsworth House.

A view down the path from the Cavendish graves back towards St Peter's Church.

A pheasant passing by the grave of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in St Peter's Churchyard, Edensor.

Derby Mercury, Wednesday 21st June 1865: BURIAL OF SIR JOSEPH PAXTON The last tribute of respect which mortals can pay to the departed was on Thursday rendered to the remains of the late Sir Joseph Paxton. The neighbourhood which he had known familiarly for nearly 40 years and which his genius had largely contributed to ornament, had given a place of sepulture to the renowned architect of the Crystal Palace of 1851; and the quiet rural churchyard of Edensor, Derbyshire, will henceforth be pointed at as the final resting place of Sir Joseph Paxton. The ancient church, long crumbling under the weight of years, was removed about a year ago, and the new edifice which the present Duke of Devonshire is about to erect at a cost of £10,000 is just rising above the foundations. To those who had not previously experienced a deep interest, or any interest at all, in the place where 'the forefathers of the hamlet sleep' the event of Thursday awakened both interest and curiosity. More than one tombstone records the mortality of the House of Cavendish; and of late the workman's spade had been busy turning up relics of the past, among which is a lead coffin said to have contained the remains of John Betonii, steward to Mary Queen of Scots, who died in 1570, the year in which that lady was confined in the bower in Chatsworth, now known as Queen Mary's Bower. The interment was in accordance with the wishes of the family of a quiet character, but owing to the circle of the late Sir Joseph's acquaintance being so numerous, not such as could be denominated strictly private. The day was most lovely; nature wore her most charming dress and but for the muffled bell of Baslow Church pealing out its minute strokes and the presence of the sable hearse it would have been difficult for the stranger to recognise in the earlier part of the day anything out of the ordinary course of events. The procession started at 3 o'clock. The hearse was drawn by 4 horses and followed by 6 mourning coaches. Leaving the residence of the deceased by the front entrance the cortege advanced westward by the carriage drive leading to Chatsworth House, before reaching which it made a detour to the right, crossed the stone bridge which spans the Derwent, and so on to Edensor Churchyard. At the gates of the churchyard the Rev Joseph Hall met the procession and led the way to the grave. The coffin was placed by the side of the open vault during the reading of the first part of the service, and then having been lowered into its final resting place, the minister concluded his duties. IN MEMORY OF SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, BORN AT MILTON BRYANT BEFORDSHIRE, AUGUST III MDCCCIII, DIED AT ROCKHILLS HOUSE SYDENHAM, JUNE VIII MDCCCLXV IN MEMORY OF SARAH WIFE OF SIR JOSEPH PAXTON KNT AND DAUGHTER OF THOMAS BROWN, OF HUNTBRIDGE HOUSE, MATLOCK, BORN JANUARY XIV MDCCC DIED SEPTEMBER XII MDCCLXXI IN LOVING MEMORY OF WRAY WILLIAM MILLS HUNT, RECTOR OF TROWELL NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, WHO PASSED BEYOND THE VEIL WHERE ALL LIVE UNTO GOD JUNE XXX MDCCCXCVII ALSO OF ANNIE HIS BELOVED WIFE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF SIR JOSEPH AND LADY PAXTON, BORN MARCH VII MDCCCXLII DIED JUNE III MCMXIX IN MEMORY OF LAURA, FOURTH DAUGHTER OF SIR JOSEPH AND LADY PAXTON, WHO DIED ABROAD AGED XVI YEARS. LAID TO REST JANUARY XV MDCCCIV IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM, SON OF SIR JOSEPH AND LADY PAXTON, WHO DIED DECEMBER MDCCCXXXV AGED VII YEARS

The path running past the church and then up through the churchyard towards the Cavendish graves (the Dukes and Duchesses of Chatsworth House).

Springtime in St Peter's Churchyard. In the background are the graves of the Cavendish family, of Chatsworth House.