Church, bridge chapel, ancient, St Mary, DERBY, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND

ST MARY'S on the BRIDGE, DERBY

St Mary on the Bridge
From a postcard dated 1907

Situated on the banks of the River Derwent, this bridge chapel is one of only six remaining in England. The bridge was replaced in the 18th century by the present bridge. The chapel charged a toll for people and animals to cross, and at the time St Mary's Bridge was the only crossing point of the Derwent into Derby.
The bridge would have been a wooden structure in Saxon times, and in 1230 it was known to be made of stone. The bridge chapel has had a chequered history, being abandoned and falling into disrepair on more than one occasion.
25th July 1588 saw an horrific act committed at the chapel. Three Roman Catholic priests were hanged, drawn and quartered and their remains were draped over the chapel entrance. The three were Nicholas Garlick, Robert Ludlam and Richard Simpson. They were arrested at Padley Manor near Hathersage and brought to Derby for trial. They bacame known as the Padley Martyrs.
In the 1960s the chapel and its adjoining priest house was the home of Canon Paul Miller. In 1985 the priest house became the Padley Day Centre providing a sanctuary for homeless and distressed people. Late 1995, the Padley Day Centre moved to more suitable premises elsewhere in the city.
The chapel is still used today, by amongst others a Lutheran congregation who were about to hold their service at the time I took the photograph.

Bridge Chapel House (April 1996)

The chapel interior (April 1996)

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