The Andrews Pages Picture Gallery> Derbyshire> The Andrews Pages Picture Gallery : Derbyshire A selection of our own photographs and postcards that have personal or family connections Picture Gallery Index Next page Previous page Also see Our Genealogy Images of Matlock & Matlock Bath   The Cross, Bonsall - three postcards     This lovely coloured postcard, from a photo by C.F. Hartle of Bonsall, was sent by Hilda Margaretta May Walker, Ann's great aunt1, in 1908 to her mother Margaret Jane (Jennie) Walker (nee Swain1). The Walker family lived in the village for years before moving to Manchester and the Cross stands in front of the grocer's shop they ran. Another relative was very much involved in the village life of Bonsall during the last century. Robert Clay (1799 -1874)2 was the Bonsall miller. He was responsible for taking water into the village and on the well outside the church yard in Church Street there is a memorial to him from the grateful people of Bonsall. He was also one of the churchwardens involved with the restoration of St. James' Church that was completed in 1863; the work was paid for by public subscription. Robert Clay gave the church a new pulpit. His tomb in the churchyard has recently been relatively restored. Bonsall Cross is the tallest cross in Derbyshire and the first date on it is 1620 - which may be the date that it was first repaired. It was here that, during the Napoleonic Wars, the French prisoners-of-war were allocated to the local farms. Farming apprentices were also hired here at the village's annual 'Wakes'. The street's unmade road (probably of crushed limestone) is clearly visible in the reproduction. Glover, in 1833, describes Bonsall as being "set in a romantic valley amidst abrupt limestone rocks, and watered by a beautiful trout stream"3. He doesn't mention the Cross but Adam, writing a few years later, says "There is an old Cross in the centre of the Village which is a curious object"4. This picture of the Cross was taken from the bottom of Church Street and was sent by Hilda to her mother, possibly around 1925 - the postmark cannot be read - as she refers to two nieces who were with her. Hilda owned a cottage at Slaley. The card was sent with instructions that it had to be kept and also that Mrs. Slack had provided "some lettuce, 2 boilings (?chicken), some beans and some cress". I have both the coloured (above) and sepia versions of this card. Also taken from the bottom of Church Street, this picture shows the King's Head public house. On the back is an extract of the message from Sarah & A to one of the webmistress's relatives: "We have managed to make a move to Rose Cottage, Town End, Bonsall, which is about 4 minutes from the subject of this view". The King's Head, according to Pevner, "was established in 1677. The house has traditional low three-light mullioned windows, and two irregular gables"5. Elsewhere on this website: Bonsall in 1891 Pigot's 1831 Directory, with Matlock, includes Bonsall names Pigot's Directory, 1842, also with Matlock, includes Bonsall names Our Genealogy Help Needed Matlock Charities Postcards in the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews Intended for personal use only Top postcard: "Canterbury" Series J. H. S. D. Photo by C.F. Hartle, Bonsall. Posted 1908 (rescanned Aug 2007) Other two cards, no obvious publisher References and notes: 1 Both born at Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Seven Walker children were born at Bonsall, including the webmistress's grandmother. Richard Arnold Walker, the eldest son, was killed at Gallipolli. He is unfortunately not named on Bonsall's War Memorial. Instead, he is commemorated with on his parents' headstone in a quiet Salford churchyard. 2 Robert Clay was born at Bonsall and died there 3 Glover, Stephen [of Derby] (1830) "The Peak Guide; containing the topographical, statistical, and general history of Buxton, Chatsworth, Edensor, Castleton, Bakewell, Haddon, Matlock, and Cromford; with an introduction" ... Edited by T. Noble. pub. Derby 4 Adam, W. (1840) "The Gem of the Peak" London; Longman & Co., Paternoster Row MDCCCXL 5 Pevsner, Nikolaus (1953), "The Buildings of England, Derbyshire", Penguin Books © 1996 - Ann Andrews (click link to contact). All Rights Reserved. Last Update: 29 September, 2007 The first image and the adjacent text was originally part of derbys.htm which was previously on this website About and Conditions of Use | Site Map, Genealogy and Local History | Links | Part of The Andrews Pages - www.andrewspages.dial.pipex.com