THE CHURCH OF ST. HELEN S, DARLEY DALE. 1 9 



it was purchased by Mr. Richard Arkwright in 1790, and 

 the very ancient manor house of Nether Hall was pulled down 

 some six years later, and the materials used in building a house a 

 little lower down the hill. It had not been inhabited for 

 several years, and was incapable of repair.* 



The oldest monument within the church is that which tradi- 

 tion assigns to John de Darley. This tradition was current 

 more than a hundred years ago, when Mr. Reynolds visited 

 the church (1772), and we see no reason to doubt its accuracy, 

 although the monument is uninscribed, for it exactly corres- 

 ponds in style with the era in which John de Darley flourished, 

 and there was no one at this period in the history of the Dale 

 of greater eminence than this knight — Castellan of the Peak 

 Castle and lord of the whole manor — whose effigy we should 

 expect to meet with in the church of Darley. The effigy of 

 Sir John now lies in a hollow, which has been cut out for its 

 reception, immediately below the south window of the south 

 transept. This is, of course, not its original position, but it 

 has been there for a long period, probably from the date when 

 pews were first placed in the church. Previous to the 1854 

 restoration of the church it was difficult to obtain a view of this 

 monument, as it was concealed behind the back of a high pew, 

 and could only be seen by looking down upon it from the 

 gallery, which then occupied the south transept. The knight 

 is represented clad in a surcoat over the suit of mail, with his 

 legs crossed below the knee, a sword before him on the left 

 thigh, and holding a heart between his hands, which are 

 elevated on his breast. The sword is broken, and the figure 

 otherwise mutilated, but, fortunately, the head is perfect and 

 the features quite distinct. The head is uncovered, and has 

 long curled hair and a short beard. The feet rest on a 

 cushion.! 



* Full references to the authorities for this outline sketch of manorial descent 

 are given in the Churches of Derbyshire ; this descent is necessary for a right 

 understanding of the monuments. 



t More information could be given about Sir John Darley, but it would be 

 foreign to the purpose of this article. 



