Dale Abbey

The village takes its name from the now-ruined abbey that was founded here by Augustinian monks in the 13th century. Beginning life in a very humble manner, local legend has it that a Derbyshire baker had a vision of the Virgin Mary, which told him to come to Dale Abbey and live the life of a hermit. He accordingly came to the area in 1130, carved himself a niche in the sandstone and devoted himself to the way of the hermit. The owner of the land, Ralph FitzGeremunde, discovered the baker and was so impressed by the man’s devotion that he bestowed on him the land and tithe rights to his mill in Borrowash. In about 1200 the Augustinian canons founded Dale Abbey on the site, which lasted until the Dissolution of the monasteries in 1538.

The sandstone cave and the romantic ruined 40-feet-high window archway (all that now remains of the original Dale Abbey) are popular attractions locally and a walk around the village is both an interesting and pleasurable experience. Nearby Hermit’s Wood is an ancient area of woodland with beech, ash, oak and lime trees. It is wonderful at any time of year, but particularly in the spring when the woodland floor is covered with a carpet of bluebells.