ANCHOR CHURCH, Hermitage, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND

ANCHOR CHURCH, INGLEBY, DERBYSHIRE

Anchor Church and Black Pool near Ingleby.

Situated on the edge of Anchor Pool on the River Trent, this "church" is actually a cave dwelling which is part natural and part man made. The limestone outcrop once formed part of the banks of the River Trent and the caves were formed by the action of the river water on the soft rock. The course of the river has altered and left the caves opening onto a backwater pool which is still linked to the river.
The caves have been extended into the hillside by early occupants, and holes cut into the rock surface to form "windows". It has been occupied several times since the 14th century. Its name came from the first occupant who was an anchoress or hermit who withdrew from the world to live a solitary life of prayer, hardship and silence. It is a beautiful, peaceful place with nothing but the gurgle of the nearby River Trent to disturb ones thoughts.
(The fishing used to be good there when I was a lad!)

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