Darley Abbey

Archaeologist shoping to solve mystery of the missing Abbey
12 April 2008
Derby Evening Telegraph


For years, mystery has surrounded the whereabouts of the Augustinian abbey which gave Derby suburb Darley Abbey its name. It is known that it was in existence in the mid-12th century but was closed down following Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in October 1538. Large parts of the buildings appear to have stood in the village for many years after that.

But in a kind of 18th-century recycling scheme, the stone was probably removed and used to create other buildings, leaving little or no obvious trace of the mediaeval abbey. Records are sketchy and no specific maps exist of the era when the abbey was a flourishing community.

Local people have argued for years over where the abbey might have stood, with potential stones, walls, culverts and even skulls popping up all over the village from time to time. The Abbey pub, which is a scheduled monument, appears to have had some part to play in the original abbey but what that is remains a mystery.

However, following the discovery of sandstone walls during excavations for a new outdoor education centre in late 2006, some of those questions are nearer to being answered. Although no further archaeological excavation has taken place on the city-council owned land since then, members of Darley Abbey Historical Group and Derbyshire Archaeological Society have not been idle.

As well as carrying out extensive archive work to examine records and subsequent maps of the area, they also raised a 350-name petition asking for support from the city council. This is due to be discussed on May 27, and although permission is needed from the council to work on its land, the two groups are confident they will be able to return to digging in August.

Joan D'Arcy, chairman of Derbyshire Archaeological Society, estimates that up to 30 volunteers will be available to work on the site over two weekends in August. "We are also hoping that we can either obtain in the region of £5,000 to £10,000 in funding from the council or National Lottery to be able to bring in a professional unit to help us as well, said Mrs D'Arcy. "I think the people of Darley Abbey want to know if they are living on top of or near to the former abbey. After all, in some ways it does affect everyone because at the moment every time a resident wants to build an extension they have to have an archaeology check first."

More than anything, Mrs D'Arcy wants to bring in geophysics equipment. This sends signals into the ground that create an image according to the resistance they meet, from foundations, for example. She said: "This will give us a better idea of where any concentrations of buildings might lie buried. Certainly, the walls that have been discovered will give us more information if we can link them together and see how far they extend. The last time any excavation work took place in the village was in the 1960s, when a new building was put up, but it revealed nothing and until 2006 we had little idea where to dig."

A typical Augustinian abbey settlement would have contained a church, believed in this case to be about 200 feet long, a central square courtyard and cloisters, usually to the south but not in all cases. The refectory and dormitories would have been built around the square and the toilets would be some way off. Burials of patrons and abbots would be in the church and the canons would be in a cemetery nearby.

Plenty of reminders of the abbey's existence have emerged over the years. It has been recorded that, in the 1920s, children in Darley Abbey were kicking skulls around the village until a stop was put to the practice. It is thought the remains could have come from a burial ground.

Recent work at a shop in Darley Street indicates that the basement dates from the 17th century and could have formerly been part of a monastic building. Rumours also abound that some years ago a lead coffin was discovered sealed under houses in Hill Square. It is the watercourses - streams, river and artificially created culverts - that are of particular interest in offering clues to the whereabouts of the abbey.

A clean source of water to drink and a river to wash away debris would have been crucial to the abbey residents and also later to the mills that sprang up in the area. A stone-lined culvert behind houses in Lavender Row could be a clue and even land near the River Derwent, formerly the site of paper mills, could be a missing link because of its proximity to the Abbey pub.

Roy Hartle is chairman of the Darley Abbey Historical Group, which was formed about four years ago. "Questions have been asked for much longer than that," said Mr Hartle, "The difference is we now have about 40 people who are able to work on projects in an organised way."

Mr Hartle is originally from Derby and has lived in Darley Abbey for 33 years. "Everyone wants to know where the abbey stood," he said. "It's often a topic of conversation in the pubs. We have been putting together all the known evidence to create a better idea but the discovery of the walls has been the catalyst to enable more physical work to be done. The bottom line is that we know the abbey existed and so the evidence is there waiting to be uncovered. We probably are better placed than at any other time to take this forward and the enthusiasm of everyone concerned will make it happen."