Buildings of delight

Mike Smith unearths past tales and present trails around the intriguing village of Hassop - a perfect post-social distancing destination

Motorists would be wise to take particular care when driving through Hassop on the bendy B6001 because they are likely to be distracted by the unexpected sight of some remarkable buildings, which appear, one at a time, at each twist and turn in the road as it passes through the village.

The first building to catch the eye of passing motorists is a large, 17th-century roadside house, comprising three gabled bays lit by an array of surprisingly small twin-light windows. Originally built as a Dower House, it was split into three properties many years ago, with one section being reserved for the chauffeur of Hassop Hall, a second unit being earmarked for the estate forester, whilst the third portion accommodated the village post office and shop. All three parts of this beautiful building are now private residences.

Although Hassop Hall is partially hidden behind the high perimeter wall of its estate, drivers could well be tempted to take their eyes off the road by some tantalizing glimpses of the hall’s grand frontage, which was remodeled in the third decade of the 19th century. This large country house was the ancestral home of the Eyres, a powerful Catholic family that owned 20,000 acres of Derbyshire countryside. Legend has it that their surname originated when a soldier called Truelove removed William the Conqueror’s helmet to help him breathe after he had been knocked off his horse in battle, prompting the king to say, ‘I shall call you Air for you have given me air to breathe’.