All Saints, Dale Abbey, DERBY

From a drawing by John Ward 1890 The Church of All Saints and Church House, Dale Abbey, Derby The village of Dale Abbey lies about six miles east of Derby, near Stanton by Dale. The abbey was originally known as Depedale. The hermitage there dates from about 1135. The church was founded close to the hermitage where a baker from Derby became a hermit there after seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary. The Lord of the area was so taken with the hermits piety that he bestowed upon him deeds which allowed the hermit to build a place of worship upon the site of the present church. It is possible that the existing church was the Infirmary to the Abbey. A painting on the north wall has been dated thirteenth century. The present church shares its roof with a farm, which used to be an inn called The Bluebell. The church font is from the abbey and is from the fifteenth century. Tradition has it that Alan a Dale, one of Robin Hoods' merry men, was married in the church.

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