Melbourne

This small town, which gave its name to the rather better-known city in Australia, is a fascinating little place. A famous son of Melbourne, who started his working life in one of the market gardens, was Thomas Cook, who was born here in 1808. He went on to pioneer personally-conducted tours and gave his name to the famous travel company.

Full of Georgian charm, Melbourne has a wealth of historic buildings which includes one of the finest examples of Norman ecclesiastical architecture in the country, the Parish Church of St Michael and St Mary. It sits on the site of an earlier Saxon church, and seems rather a grand church for this modest place. It is a large, very lavish mid-12th century cruciform building, often described as a “miniature cathedral”. In the 12th century, when the Bishopric of Carlisle was formed, the bishops needed a place of safety for the clergy when Carlisle was being raided by the Scots. This church was therefore built many miles south at Melbourne and, while Carlisle was subjected to raids and violence, the Bishop retired to Melbourne and continued to carry out his duties. The church was built between 1133 and 1229 and, in 1299, the then Bishop built a palace on land that is now home to Melbourne Hall, which is another fine building in this area. Originally a rectory for the Norman Parish Church, it became the home of Sir John Coke in 1628 and has been inherited by subsequent members of the family till the present day, and is now home to Lord and Lady Ralph Kerr and their young family. Melbourne Hall gardens are the place to visit if you are seeking a relaxing thoughtful stroll. The walks, vistas and statuary, much favoured in the early 18th century, have been restored in the influential, Dutch/French formal style of the time. The most notable feature is a beautiful wrought-iron birdcage pergola, built in the early 1700s by Robert Bakewell, a local blacksmith from Derby. Bakewell lived in Melbourne for a time at the house of a widow named Fisher and her daughters. However when one daughter became pregnant, he moved hurriedly to Derby. Unfortunately the house is only open to the public in August (except for the first three Mondays), but the splendid and famous formal gardens are open from April through to September, and are well worth a visit.

There was also once a substantial castle in the town, but it fell into disrepair in the 17th century. Melbourne Castle, located in the village centre, was built by the Earl of Lancaster in the early 14th century, and later became a royal castle when it came into the possession of Henry IV. The castle was bought from the crown by the Earl of Huntingdon, who demolished it in 1637. Remnants of it can be seen in Castle Farm by prior appointment.