Bradbourne

“I have travelled in many lands, but never seen a more beautiful place”; so wrote author Nat Gould of Bradbourne, which is indeed a ‘beautiful place’ set in sylvan surroundings just beyond the south-eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park. Gould was born in 1857, and was a journalist who emigrated to Australia. There he worked on the Brisbane Telegraph, where his first fiction appeared.  Eventually he returned to England and by the time of his death in 1919 had written 130 horse racing novels. That Nat Gould chose this as his final resting place speaks volumes: his grave is in the Parish Church of All Saints churchyard.

The pastoral beauty of Bradbourne is enhanced by its elevated position on a ridge between the valleys of Bradbourne Brook and Havenhill Dale, and this hill-top village of just over 100 inhabitants enjoys some fine views over the surrounding countryside.

Bradbourne may be a small village but it has a large and straggling parish. The church is essentially Norman, but with some fragments of Saxon work , especially on the north side of the nave where typical long-and-short work is visible. The church’s large, unbuttressed west tower is Norman and has an elegantly decorated south door. Most of the rest of this appealing little church dates from the 14th century, but there are some fine modern furnishings which owe much to William Morris’ Arts and Crafts movement. Some of the wall paintings date from the 17th and 18th centuries.  The church is surrounded by its hilltop churchyard which contains not only the remains of a Saxon cross, dated approx AD 800, but also a scene of the crucifixion. The Bradbourne Stone, dating from ancient times, stands well north of the church.

While in the village it is also worth taking a look at the fine grey-stone Elizabethan manor house, Bradbourne Hall (private), with its three gables and beautiful terraced gardens. The Old Parsonage, which has a rather peculiar appearance as it was built in three completely different styles and materials, is also worthy of note.