40 



tJTfit Ancient paiutctr a^amtioUj, fl^ault 



By Rev. C. Kerry. 



|N comparison with other counties, Derbyshire possesses 

 a very fair proportion of ancient painted glass in 

 the windows of its churches. Much was undoubtedly 

 battered down during the lawlessness of the Civil 

 Wars, as at Ashover, but very much more has perished from 

 the apathy and ignorance of the last, and beginning of the 

 present century. A reparation of a window involving reglazing 

 was (may I not say, is ?) always certain to be fatal to any 

 relics of old glass which might or may adorn it. A few years 

 ago, there were six fragments (viz., four quarries, and two 

 elegant leafy designs for tracery openings) in the windows of 

 Horsley Church, Derbyshire. On my last visit a few months 

 ago, I found that the whole of the aisle windows had been 

 reglazed with staring white glass, and the ancient fragments 

 had altogether disappeared. Happily, I made copies of the 

 old designs on a former visit. Thus little by little are our 

 old churches denuded of all indications of their former 

 magnificence, and the relics of the past are swept away, regardless 

 of their worth or interest. 



Besides the churches of Norbury and Morley, and the 

 chapel of Haddon, where we have whole windows glowing still 

 in their pristine beauty, there is one in very fair preservation 



