552 HIGH PEAK HUNDRED. Greatest Diversity of Architectural Proportions, No Two Being Exactly Alike
552 HIGH PEAK HUNDRED. greatest diversity of architectural proportions, no two being exactly alike. The well arranged gardens attached, give an additional charm to this interesting village of rural beauty; every thing tends to show his Grace’s taste, good feeling, and liberal disposition towards those in humble circumstances. The township contains 2255A. 3R. 25P. of land, and in 1851 had 60 houses and 346 inhabitants, of whom 160 were males and 186 females; rateable value £2598 2s. 6d. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire is sole owner. The Church, dedicated to St. Peter, is situated in the centre of the village on elevated ground, and is approached by a flight of steps. It is a venerable stone edifice, with nave, chancel. side aisles, and square tower containing 4 bells. It was given at an early period by Fulcher, ancestor of the Shirleys, to the monastery of Rochester, in Staffordshire. In the chancel is a very elegant monument to the first Earl of Devonshire, which is composed of several figures the size of life sculptured in relief, and of the most elaborate workmanship. A table monument has two recumbent figures, one clothed in the dress of the times, the other representing a skeleton. “ There is something,” says Mr. Rhodes, “strikingly impressive in this representation of a man who appears to have just passed from time into eternity, with all the habiliments of life about him, and the bare ribbed image of Death, which lies at his side, awfully intimating the transition that must soon be made. The sculptor has here bodied forth a lesson of mortality which is extremely simple, yet full of pathos and instruction.” The following is a monumental inscription to Henry, son of Wm.
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