Mappleton (or Mapleton - the road signs show two spellings) is situated 2 miles from Ashbourne. It is a village that has existed in some form or other since before 1086 - when it gets a mention in the Doomsday Book. Mappleton's claim to fame is its annual New Years Day charity bridge jump, and its unusual mini-doomed church - St Mary's. Although the village is perhaps not as picturesque as Ilam, Osmaston or Parwich, Mappleton does have its charms. It is a popular point for walkers and cyclists during the Spring and Summer. Mappleton is on many a route in various walker's guide books.
Mappleton is best reached from Ashbourne past the Tissington Trail cycle hire and Callow Hall .
Just across from the river Dove in Mappleton lies the Okeover Estate.
St Mary's Parish Church
The village church, St Mary's, is quite small, 50 people can easily fill it.
Its unusual in that it has a dome rather then a tower or a steeple. The church
is first mentioned in records in the reign of Edward I. It was then made into
a Rectory, to be held invariably by the Vicor of Ashbourne. This was by way
of compensating the latter, as his tithes from Ashbourne had been allocatted
to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln. He was instead entitled to the greater tithes
from the small parish of Mappleton.
Nothing more is heard until 1547, when a survey in the reign of Edward VI showed
Mappleton to possess 13 bells - presumably hand-bells - and property worth £
5 .14. 4d .
By the time of the Commonwealth, in 1650, the Parliamentary Commissioners declared that Mapleton Church was 'fit to be disused', but it appears to have been some one hundred years later before that decaying structure was replaced with the present edifice. To date the eighteenth century building with any precision is very difficult in the absence of definite records. Some evidence for the early 1700's comes from a Terrier (a book recording the site, boundaries, etc., of property) of 1887, which says that the new church was built in 1710. This is supported by the date of 1717 on the Communion Table. A date nearer 1750 is suggested by the Nottinghamshire Archives, which say that the church was ruinous in 1718. The communion plate and oak box, the gifts of Thomas Austin are dated 1752. J.C.Cox in "Churches of Derbyshire", comes down in favour of the later date. The architect, James Gibbs, who also designed the nave of Derby Cathedral, was a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren. Of the present furnishings, the pulpit came from Ashbourne in 1906. The east window was a memorial installed in the 1920's. The organ was a gift in 1976. In 1974 Mappleton was brought into a United Benefice with Ashbourne, and the title of Rector disappeared.
Annual Bridge Jump
This consists of 10 teams of 3 people who paddle down 1/2 a mile of the
river Dove and then jump off a bridge. It doesn't sound much - but the Dove
is one of the coldest rivers in the UK - especially on New Years Day ! Also
the river is not exactly navigable in all parts of the course - lastly the bridge
is 30 feet high and after the swim the contestants still have to run 500 yards
to the pub. Hundreds come to watch - what better way to spend the day sobering
up!
Click here to see 2006 photos!
Okeover Arms
The only village pub, the Okeover, has had a checkered history. It was originally
a farm, then became a pub and then in 1923, due - allegedly - to its "popularity"
with one of the sons of the local estate who owned it, closed and re-opened
as a Temperance hotel. Now thankfully it is again a pub, and has been since
1962.
The Post Office
The village shop is alas no more, however it is still open as a post office
from 9 - 10 and 4 - 5 each day.
The Okeover Estate
This is a private estate with a grand hall, gardens and its own church - non
of which are open to the public - however a public road and some public footpaths
do cut through the estate. As you approach the estate from Mappleton, on the
right there is a splendid old mill. This used to be the saw mill for the estate.
 Okeover Park 41.52 Kb |
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 Manor Farm 16.00 Kb |
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 Callow Hall 23.75 Kb |
 Arial View of village 10.21 Kb |
 Arial View of North end of village 65.55 Kb |
 Arial View of South End of Village 67.36 Kb |
 St Mary's 23.81 Kb |
 St Mary's 18.01 Kb |
 St Mary's 45.69 Kb |
 St Mary's 41.04 Kb |
 Millenium Tree Planting 12.13 Kb |
 Night in The Okeover Arms 2000 44.02 Kb |
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 Okeover Hall 24.35 Kb |
 Raft Race 19.71 Kb |
 Bridge Jump 24.84 Kb |
Accommodation is available in the village at the following places :-
 |
St
Mary's Church Yard - Memorial Inscriptions of all grave stones in
the churchyard up until July 2003. |
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