Places of Interest
Local Melbourne
Further Afield
Parish church
The parish church dedicated to St. Michael with St. Mary is one of the finest in England. It has been described as a cathedral in miniature and perhaps this is hardly surprising as Melbourne was the southern refuge in the Middle Ages for the Bishops of Carlisle. There has been a church in Melbourne for many centuries. The Domesday Book records a church and priest here in 1086. The present church was built about 1120 and most of the original masonry is intact except for the east end which has been reduced and mutilated. The roofs and naves and aisles and the aisle windows date from the restoration of the 1630s. The restoration of 1859-62 by Gilbert Scott was sensitively done for the time. Well worth a visit.
A web site for the church is here.
Hall
This was originally the rectory house for the Bishops of Carlisle. It was substantially rebuilt by Thomas and George Coke in the early 18th century. The first Coke to live in Melbourne was Sir John Coke, Secretary of State to King Charles 1. He rebuilt the medieval house in 1629-31. Some of his work still remains. Lord Melbourne, Prime Minister to Queen Victoria, inherited the house and estate in 1828. His name was given to Melbourne, Australia. The present owner is descended from the Cokes. The Hall is open to the public in August only.
Visit the excellent tea-rooms in the grounds. They are open all year at weekends and most days except Mondays in the summer.
Hall gardens and Pool
The Hall gardens are of great interest and historic importance being laid out with the assistance of Royal gardeners in 1704. They contain fine examples of ironwork by Derby ironsmith, Robert Bakewell.
They are open from April to September. Contact 01332 862502 for exact times of opening of the Hall and Gardens.
The Pool, originally the mill pool for the Hall's mill, is a favourite spot in summer with families with children. There is a really pleasant walk around the pool, partly on permissive paths. The Pool is open to the public during daylight hours.
Castle
Originally a royal manor house the castle was rebuilt and fortified in 1311-1322 by Robert de Holand. It was never completed and eventually demolished in the early 17th century. Some remains can be viewed in Castle Farm by arrangement with the owner. (Note: new owner 2003 - Access may be more restricted)
Castle Farm, about 2000.
Market Place
It is dominated by the Co-op Building and monument (refurbished in 1998). The main shops are found here and is the busy hub of Melbourne life.
Co-op building, Market Place, cherub.
Thomas Cook Memorial Cottages, High St.
Built by Thomas Cook who started popular travel in England. Cook was born in Melbourne in 1808 though his birth-place was demolished in 1968! The cottages built 1890-91 include fourteen cottages, a bakehouse, a laundry and Mission Hall. They still provide accommodation for some of Melbourne's senior citizens.
Tour
An excellent leaflet produced by the Melbourne Civic Society is available from the church, the newsagent (Market Place) and Print Shop (opposite the Spar Grocery) that guides you around the town - cost 0.50 pence. A quick tour from the Market Place should include Church St. (passing by the old Brewery) the Parish Church, Hall and Pool, Castle St. and Potter St. If you have more time Penn Lane and Blanch Croft are worth exploring along with Derby Road up to Blanch Croft.
Kings Newton
Kings Newton is a hamlet within the parish of Melbourne. The "Kings" prefix appears about 1300 in order to distinguish the place from other Newtons in the area. It has one main street with an interesting collection of houses and two pubs, the Packhorse and the Hardinge Arms. The village cross is a modern replacement but unusual since it is dedicated to the uncrowned Edward VIII (1936). Kings Newton Hall is mainly a modern structure (1909) built on 17th century foundations.
The medieval Holy Well was restored by Melbourne Civic Society in 1984/5 and is located down Ward's Lane which runs from the Packhorse roundabout to Swarkestone Bridge. (A very enjoyable stroll with good views). Much of the prosperity of the hamlet originally stemmed from the considerable number of market gardens in the locality. Jawbone Lane is one of the roads that links Melbourne to Kings Newton.
Howard Usher's book on Kings Newton (1997) is an excellent account of the history and features of this very pleasant place. It is available in the village (see parish notice board) and at the newsagents in Melbourne Market Place.
More Kings Newton photographs are here.
Photographs of the Holy Well are here.
Calke
Calke village barely exists but the main focus of interest here is the hall known as Calke Abbey. It is now owned by the National Trust and stands in 750 acres of parkland. It was the home of the Harpur family since 1662. The present structure dates from 1701-3. Some members of the family were noted for their eccentricity and reclusiveness. They also had a tendency to not throw things away. When the NT acquired the property in 1985 a treasure trove of relics was uncovered since the house had changed little since the 1880s. There is the usual NT shop and restaurant. The park is open all year round during daylight hours but the house keeps normal NT opening times (April to October).
The National Trust's Calke Abbey
Staunton Harold
Just over the border in Leicestershire lies Staunton Harold Hall with its magnificent church. The Hall was built in the 17th century though most of the outer shell dates from 1763 onwards. It was until recently a Sue Ryder Home but is now owned by Mr John Blunt. The church (NT) was re-built during the English Commonwealth (begun 1653) and is therefore a rarity. The Ferrers Craft Centre next door is well worth a visit and contains an excellent cafe/tea shop. One of the shops there helps to finance Ticknall Primary School.
Breedon-on-the-Hill
Also in Leicestershire, Breedon is worth visiting to view its fine parish church (12th cent. dedicated to St. Mary and St. Hardulph) which was once part of an Augustinian priory. The priory was built within a strongly defended Iron Age hill-fort. The priory buildings have gone but the remaining church is worthy of inspection with its remarkable Saxon carved friezes, 18th century box-pews and three 16th century alabaster tombs.
Breedon Church
Park your car at the bottom of the hill (only 200 feet high) and walk up, it's the only way to appreciate the views over the Trent Valley to the north and Charnwood Forest to the south-east. Breedon is much quieter these days since the building of the new A42 and there are some interesting spots to visit such as the 18th century circular stone village lock-up and unusual 20th century war memorial. However the quarrying of the hill on which the church stands detracts from general look of the place.
Foremark Reservoir
This Severn Trent owned reservoir is about four miles west of Melbourne and is close to Milton and Repton. Try this link.
