Church Gresley

This former mining village has a distinguished history dating back to the time of the Augustinian monks who settled here in the 12th century and founded a priory. The village’s name, like that of nearby Castle Gresley, recalls the great Gresley family, said to have been the only Derbyshire family to have retained their lands from the time of the Domesday Book up until the 20th century.

The Parish Church of St Mary and St George has a link with this illustrious past, as the tower and two internal arches are all that remain of the priory church. It became run-down after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and remained in a sad state of disrepair up until 1872, when a new chancel was built. Remains of the priory have been found, including fragments of painted glass, stone coffins and medieval tiles. An impressive alabaster monument of 1699 depicts Sir Thomas Gresley, surrounded by arms showing the marriages of his ancestors dating back to the time of William the Conqueror. The church’s treasures, though, are the ten large and wonderfully carved 17th-century stalls.

In around 1800 the pottery Mason Cash was established here. Mason Cash has become a much-loved English pottery, producing traditional ceramic mixing and baking ware.