Tissington, Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales, North-Central England, British Isles

Thomas Bateman 1845. The afternoon of the same day was occupied in opening a much larger barrow [Map] [Bassett Wood Barrow [Map]] at Basset Wood, near Tissington, which (though seldom found to be the case in this county) was entirely formed of earth, and was as compact as though it had been a mound formed by nature, instead of a tumulus raised by the hands of the early inhabitants of these parts; owing to this appearance of the soil, attributable doubtless to the high antiquity of the structure, it was for some time considered doubtful whether it had ever been before disturbed, until the discovery of a regular floor of large limestones neatly jointed, set the question at rest. This floor was found to have been placed upon the level of the natural soil, to have been strewed with charcoal, and then to have been covered to a depth of six feet with the sepulchral mound, in the centre of which it was entombed. No remains being apparent upon the upper side of the floor, it was removed, and was found to cover a small round cist, about a foot in diameter, of the most primitive description, being nothing more than an excavation in the earth; it contained burnt bones, the remains of one person, and a good deal of charcoal. There were a few traces of animal remains a few inches above the limestone floor, but of such an indefinite nature, that it would have puzzled even Cuvier to have made anything intelligible of them, being no more than a lights coloured earth, amongst which the cellular structure of the interior of bones was apparent.

Ten Years' Digging. On the 6th of July the remainder of a mutilated barrow near Tissington, called Crake Low [Map], were explored, attention having been directed towards it by human bones being dug up by persons destroying the mound for the sake of the limestone to be found in it. Upon making a section across the presumed centre of the barrow, which had long sinqe been levelled with the ground, we met with two interments which had escaped the general ruin; but which, owing to their nearness to the surface, were in an advanced state of decay. They consisted of the skeleton of a young person, accompanied by two calcined flints; and a deposit of burnt human bones, with one burnt flint, both placed within a rough cist formed of limestones set on edge; between the two was a small vase of coarse clay, 5½ inches high, perfectly devoid of ornament.

A further discovery of two skeletons and a very small plain rase, which was placed at the head of one of them, was made by some labourers opening a stone quarry near the edge of the mound in December, 1850. The vase and part of the skulls are preserved at Lomberdale House [Map].

Ten Years' Digging. On the 15th of July we made an excavation, four yards long by three wide, in a barrow in the garden at Newton Grange, near Tissington, Derbyshire. The mound measured fifteen yards diameter and four feet high, and is composed of stiff earth, mixed with chert, amongst which we observed charcoal and a few chippings of flint at intervals from the surface to the natural level, where there were some pieces of calcined bone, a piece of coal, and an iron nail, the two last shovring that the barrow had been previously opened. On the same day we dug a hole in the middle of another barrow [Crake Low Barrow [Map]?], on a hill at Newton Grrange, looking towards Parwich, the dimensions of which were twenty-eight yards diameter by two feet six inches in height, finding it composed of earth and gravel, but making no discovery.

On the 18 th October we turned over a space of about twelve square yards in the centre, for the most of which we found the natural level strewed with charcoal and burnt earth, where were also a few rude flints, but no trace of interment. We likewise tried other parts of the barrow without success.

Thomas Bateman 1845. On the 26th of June, 1845 was opened a small barrow [Map] [Hollington Barn Barrow [Map]] situate upon Hollington pasture near Tissington. Its appearance was deceptive, owing to its being raised upon a natural elevation, and gave every indication on the outside of having been never disturbed, but, on removing the turf, it became apparent that most of the artificial part of the mound had been removed, and that the natural soil came to within a few inches of the surface; this being the case, it was evident that very little could be expected; indeed nothing was found more than a few pieces of human bones, one small bit of an urn, and various chippings of flint, sufficient, however, to prove the original funereal intention of the structure.

Thomas Bateman 1845. On the 23d of December, 1845, a barrow, in the neighbourhood of Thorpe (called Lid Lowe [Map],) was opened by Mr. Price, of that village; it had been disturbed in the previous summer by some of the neighbouring villagers, who found three human skeletons, one of them of a female; all which they destroyed, with the exception of the jaws and teeth, which were distributed as great curiosities. The result of Mr. Price's labours was the discovery of the skeleton of a man, accompanied by the bones of a dog, and a small urn, of the usual coarse material, about four inches in diameter at the mouth. It would seem that this was the principal and earliest interment in the tumulus, as the skeleton and urn were inclosed in a cist formed of three upright stones, exactly in the centre of the barrow; the space within the cist was not more than three feet each way, consequently the body at the time of interment must have been placed in a sitting or contracted position. As is usual in the Derbyshire barrows, the bones of the deceased were mingled with those of the rat, and a few casual remains, unconnected with the preceding, were found in the progress of excavation; namely, a few teeth of a young person, one of an adult, and a horse's tooth. The tumulus appears to be of the form of the long barrows, described by Sir Richard Hoare as being generally unproductive of relics of any interest; its dimensions being twenty-four feet wide and thirty-six in length; in this respect it differs from the great proportion of the Derbyshire barrows, almost all of which are of the circular or bowl-shaped form.

Thomas Bateman 1845. On the 5th of July, 1845, a large barrow [Map] [Newton Grange Barrow [Map]], about nine feet in height and forty yards in diameter, was examined; it is situated in a field called Gorsey Close, at Newton Grange, near Tissington, and is a conspicuous object on the left hand side of the road from Buxton to Ashbourne. The tumulus was found to consist of a mass of solid earthy without any admixture of stones and in this respect it closely resembled one opened at Bassett Wood [Map] on the 26th of June. The excavation was continued without success until the surface of the natural soil appeared nothing being discovered, save a few bits of oxydized iron of indefinite form, which were picked up about a yard below the surface of the tumulus. Notwithstanding this discouraging termination to the day's labour, the curious and entirely novel manner in which the barrow was constructed repaid the trouble of opening it. To the height of about four feet from the bottom the soil was interspersed with alternate layers of moss and grass, both of which in a great measure retained their original colour and texture; the number of these alternations was twelve, and upon the lowest one, which was upon the undisturbed surface of the ground, were many pieces of wood, hazlesticks still retaining their glossy bark, fungi, and "mirabile dictu" beetles, whose elytræ still shone with the metallic lustre usual to these insects. The proofs of ancient occupation were also found upon this level; these were several rude instruments of flint, one small piece of a coarse urn, and several pieces of charcoal; the imperishability of which was, in this case, rivalled by substances of the most fragile and evanescent nature.

Ten Years' Digging. On the 27th of March [1848], was opened a low flat barrow, called Sharp Low [Map], situated on the summit of a hill to the left of the road to Dovedale, from the New Inns toll-bar. In no part did the elevation exceed 18 inches. In the first place, an excavation was made from the south side to the centre; it was then continued at right angles to the west; in each of these cuttings was found a skeleton; and in the middle of the barrow was a stone, beneath which lay the horn of a bull, accompanied by another bone. The body in the south trench, first discovered, was apparently that of a young person, and was laid upon its right side in a contracted position, without the least protection or accompaniment by cist or weapon. The other in the western cutting was equally unprotected, but was accompanied by an iron knife of the usual form, which lay at the left side of the skeleton, which, from the impression retained by the rust on the knife, must have been swathed in fine woollen cloth. It is worthy of remark that this body, although evidently interred at a comparatively late epoch, was laid on the left side in the contracted posture so uniformly observed by the earlier Celtic population. In illustration of this remark, it may be stated, that we do not remember having previously met with an instance of an interment of the iron period, otherwise than at full length; nor, on the other hand, have we seen any skeleton accompanied by relics of the earlier ages, fully extended. In the vicinity of the latter skeleton were a few animal bones, and two pieces of well baked earthenware; but the usual layer of rats' bones was absent.

Around 1609. Tissington Hall Well [Map].

Tissington Hall, Derbyshire [Map] is an early 17th-century Jacobean house in Tissington, Derbyshire. The FitzHerbert family of Norbury acquired Tissington Hall, Derbyshire [Map] by marriage sometime around 1465.

The current Tissington Hall, Derbyshire [Map] was commissioned by Francis Fitzherbert (age 70) around 1609.

On 25th April 1853 Henrietta Fitzherbert (age 3) died at Tissington Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. Memorial at St Mary's Church, Tissington [Map].

Henrietta Fitzherbert: On 18th August 1849 she was born to William Fitzherbert 4th Baronet and Ann Alleyne Lady Fitzherbert.