BRASSINGTON

 A tiny mining village, lying not far from Cromford, Brassington is small and quaint. St. James' church stands on the highest point of the village, and is the oldest building in the village, dating back to Norman times. But a carved figure on a stone inside the clock chamber indicates that worship may have been carried out here in Saxon times, or earlier. There are some interesting gravestones in the churchyard one of which bears the inscription: 

‘Remember this as you pass by

As you are now so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

Therefore prepare to follow me.’ 

The village has two public houses; the Miner's Arms, which dates from the mid- 18th. Century, (A surprising number of the present day houses are over 300 years old, with the whole village seeming to be dominated by its Norman Church.),

and the Gate, built in 1616, and which is reputed to be haunted. The Gate was on a turnpike road and provided stabling for horses and refreshment for coachmen. On the opposite side of the road, was the last tollhouse before the limestone uplands. The gate across the road probably gave its name to the public house. The Inn is supposed to have been the haunt of highwaymen when coaches to Manchester passed through the village, the hilly countryside affording good cover for the robbers. The interior is remarkably well-preserved with a wealth of period features - and the food is superb! Brassington prospered when lead mining was at its height and it stood on the main London to Manchester road. There were 14 public houses in the village at the time, serving both travellers and thirsty lead miners.