In 1291, when the Taxation Roll of Pope Nicholas IV was compiled, the rectory of Matlock was valued at £10. Charles Cox mentions Matlock church being in the Dean of Lincoln's patronage in 1310. It was not built at the same time as Wirksworth Church, "but it was both built and presented to Lincoln in the reign of Stephen"^[1].

We can see the east end of the parish church on edge of the hill, above the rocks. On the left is the chancel, which shows a there had been a three-lighted traceried window at the time. Cox believed this to be of Decorated design^[1]. It is not know when or why the window's stonework was removed, but by 1850 it had gone from the building^[2].
St. Giles' Church Interior, 1898-1969 (second image down)

Bentley Brook is in the foreground with the stepping stones, later replaced by a footbridge, leading to what is today the Hall Leys. The beginnings of Knowlston Place is at the bottom of the hill and a path, later known as Stoney Way, meanders up the hill towards Old Matlock.

On 1 April 1760 Peter Nightingale (junior), George Evans, John Wilkinson, John Wall, Adam Wolley, Edmund Hodgkinson, John Sowter and John Kirkland obtained a faculty to rebuilt the wall of the south aisle^[3]. This is the side of the church facing the house on the left, which we cannot see here.

Richard Arkwright purchased the manor of Willersley in 1782; he took down the north aisle the following year and rebuilt it, as he held some manorial rights because he had bought the manor. He also built a gallery over the aisle, which contained eighteen pews or seats. Arkwright seems to have undertaken his alterations without the necessary permissions, but on 16 March 1784 he had to obtain a faculty to confirm this^[1]. There were no battlements on the north side, but there is an external stone staircase leading up to a gallery he had constructed over the north aisle.

This view of St. Giles' in the early years of the nineteenth century is rather charming, possibly because we cannot see the external staircases on the other side of the building. Many of the contemporary guide books were more concerned with the romantic nature of the place, and ignored the reality of the appearance of its church.

The square, factory like windows, which later came came in for considerable criticism from the historians Stephen Glover^[4], Charles Cox^[1] and Benjamin Bryan^[5], are rather muted here. However, later images show why these writers were so critical.
See the next web page.

Rectors of St Giles' from 1300

Matlock Parish Church Baptisms, Marriages & Burials

Memorial Inscriptions - a Surnames Index

Matlock St Giles', MIs in the Church

Matlock & Matlock Bath: Inspiration of Poets

View even more about the church by clicking on the images below:

Garlands	1870 & before	1890s	About 1903	Before 1908	Before 1908	Lych Gate
	Church & Old Matlock	Church & Green 1914	Interior	Canon Kewley	Rectory party

References:

^[1] Cox, J Charles (1877) "Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire Vol II" Chesterfield: Palmer and Edmunds, London: Bemrose and Sons, 10 Paternoster Buildings; and Derby.

^[2] Statham, W. N. (1925) "History of Matlock Parish Church", Geo. Hodgkinson: Matlock.

^[3] See, elswhere on this site, Wolley Manuscripts Vol.6667 fo.139

^[4] Glover, Stephen (1830) "The Peak Guide; containing the topographical, statistical, and general history of Buxton, Chatsworth, Edensor, Castleton [sic], Bakewell, Haddon, Matlock, and Cromford" ... Edited by T. Noble, pub. Derby

^[5] Bryan, Benjamin (1903) "History of Matlock - Matlock, Manor and Parish" London by Bemrose & Sons, Limited.