This Place of Worship was founded in the 14th century, and we understand it is still open.
The following information about the Chapel has been provided to accompany the photographs on the right. A list of people who have supplied the information
is included in the Acknowledgements, below.
[Image 1] This is the west side of the chapel, formerly a gatehouse to the 14th century Padley Hall.
Another photograph showing Padley Chapel from
the east is also available, and also showing it from a
Gable end. The latter also includes a description and information about the Chapel.[1]
[Image 2] This is a view from the ruins of Padley Hall showing the west side of the chapel. It
was formerly the gatehouse for the Hall before it became a chapel. Another photograph showing
Padley Chapel from the opposite side is also available,
and also showing it from a Gable end. The
latter also includes a description and information about the Chapel.[1]
[Image 3] This is a first view of Padley Chapel approaching from the track past
Padley Mill. This building is now all that remains of
Padley Hall, a medieval manor house built during the 14th century, c.1350-1400 and
occupied by the PADLEYS, and their descendants, the EYRES and FITZHERBERTS.
This part of it was formerly the gatehouse, one of the upper chambers then serving
as a small chapel.
There were originally 4 upper chambers, separated by wooden partitions. Access to
the upper storey was by a flight of exterior wooden stairs; the entrance doorway (at
the opposite end to this photograph) is however now blocked up, and filled in with
stained glass. On this face can be seen the access holes and stone perches
for a former dovecote in the gable apex.
Sidney D Addy, writing in 'The Evolution of the English House' regarded
Padley Hall as an ideal mediaeval Manor House. Six acres of manorial grounds were
recorded in 1499, with terraced gardens, fishponds and a reservoir. However the
estate became impoverished after the traumatic events of Elizabethan times, and
was lost to the Fitzherbert family in 1657, being sold to Rowland MOREWOOD of
Norton. After about 20 years he sold it to Robert ASHTON of Stoney Middleton, whose
granddaughter Christiana married William SPENCER of Barnsley at Hathersage,
5 Jan 1715/6 (ex.IGI). Their daughter Christiana SPENCER married William
SHUTTLEWORTH at Cawthorne by Barnsley, 2 Dec 1748 (ex.IGI) and her marriage
settlement included the Manors of Padley and Hathersage. During this time, the
Hall gradually fell into ruins; although the gatehouse continued to be in use as a
haystore and cowshed.The final indignity was when southern and eastern parts of
the ruins were removed when the railway was built - although parts of the surrounding
stone wall on the north side still survive.
So that is, apparently, how the SHUTTLEWORTHs came to Hathersage.
Major Ashton Shuttleworth, lineal descendant of William and Christiana Shuttleworth,
sold Padley in 1931 to the Right Reverend Monsignor Charles PAYNE, Vicar-General
of St Mary's, Derby. It was restored, following 2 years of excavations, as a memorial
to the Padley Martyrs, and reconsecrated in 1934. However, the first organised
pilgrimage, which now takes place annually on St Swithun's Day, July 15th, took
place earlier than this, in 1898.
The special events which led up to the execution, and subsequent martyrdom of
the two Catholic priests who were captured at Padley have been recorded many
times, but briefly the main protagonists in the saga were:-
Sir Thomas FITZHERBERT, who married Anne, daughter of Sir Arthur EYRE.
Inherited Padley through his marriage to Anne. Lived at Norbury, having
handed over the tenancy of Padley to John, his younger brother. A staunch
Catholic, he had been imprisoned in 1559 at Derby for his recusancy.
Although he was later released, he was ultimately denounced by his nephew,
imprisoned again and died in the Tower of London on 2nd October 1591.
John FITZHERBERT, Thomas's brother. Captured by George, Earl of
Shrewsbury at Padley on 12th July 1588, with his son Anthony, three of
his daughters, Matilda, Jane and Mary (married respectively to - Thomas BARLOW,
Thomas EYRE and - DRAYCOTT), and ten serving men from the estate. Jane and
Mary were placed in the custody of the Anglican Rectors of Aston, and
Weston upon Trent. The others were taken to the county Gaol at Derby.
John was reprieved of the death sentence, by an alleged payment of
£10,000 in bribes; kept 2 years in Derby Gaol and then sent to
Fleet Prison in London where he died on 8th November 1590.
Thomas FITZHERBERT, John's traitorous son, who betrayed his uncle Thomas.
Had Norbury estate after his uncle died, but was refused Padley by arch-villain
Richard TOPCLIFFE.
Richard TOPCLIFFE, a spy for the Privy Council, who persuaded Thomas to
betray his uncle. Sir Thomas made a will whilst he was in the Tower, disinheriting
his nephew, but Topcliffe managed to get hold of it, and destroyed it. He
obtained Padley for himself after Sir Thomas and John's deaths,
but lost it again after 1603 (when Elizabeth I died) to Anthony FITZHERBERT,
Thomas's brother (who although captured in 1588 apparently survived!).
Anthony FITZHERBERT, died 1613; succeeded by his only son Sir John,
who died at Lichfield on 13th January 1649 while commanding a regiment
in the Royalist Army. Padley then passed to his cousin William FITZHERBERT
of Swynnerton, great grandson of William, the youngest brother of Sir Thomas.
Roger COLUMBELL, a local magistrate from Darley Dale, who raided
North Lees Hall at Hathersage on 2 Feb 1588 in an attempt to capture John
FITZHERBERT, and his kinsman Richard FENTEN, living at North Lees.
He was successful in capturing only Richard; it is believed John had been
forewarned of the raid by Robert EYRE, a relative who was also a magistrate.
Richard FENTEN of North Lees, related by marriage to John FITZHERBERT's
wife Catherine. Richard was taken away to Mercaston, and the home of
Thomas KNYVETON - who turned out to be an "unwilling host". By
1592 he had somehow managed to escape to his Yorkshire property at
Burghwallis; he is last known of in 1599 when his name appears on a list of
prisoners held for recusancy in the prison of York Castle.
George TALBOT, Earl of Shrewsbury. After Roger Columbell's expedition failed to
find both recusants, he went himself to discover John FITZHERBERT and
his retinue, together with two priests, Nicholas GARLICK and Robert
LUDLAM, who were found hiding in a chimney. Note that George had been Mary
Queen of Scots' gaoler, and is believed to have treated her fairly during her
imprisonment, so he wasn't wholly bad! Mary had been executed the previous year.
Nicholas GARLICK, born at Dinting, near Glossop, about 1555; entered
Gloucester Hall (now Worcester College), Oxford, 10 Jan 1774/5 aged 20.
Trained as a Roman Catholic Priest at Rheims, entering on 22 June 1581,
and was formerly a school teacher in Tideswell. Hung, drawn and
quartered at Derby on 24th July 1588.
Robert LUDLAM, born according to one source at Whirlow, Sheffield, and according to another
at Radbourne near Derby, about 1551; entered St John's College Oxford 1575
aged 24. Also trained at the English College in Rheims, entering there November
1580, and was ordained as a Deacon in 1581. Hung, drawn and quartered at Derby
on 24th July 1588.
Richard SIMPSON, another priest who was incarcerated in Derby gaol already when
GARLICK and LUDLAM arrived. As Simpson is such a common name, there is some
confusion as to who he actually was; however he was ordained in 1577, so could have
been born sometime in the mid 1550s. He was also hung, drawn and quartered at
Derby on 24th July 1588.
The south wall of Padley chapel has a one-light window in the most easterly bay.
It depicts Richard Simpson holding an executioner's knife in his right hand, and the
branch of a palm tree (a symbol of martyrdom) in his left. The window has the
legend ‘Ven. Richard Sympson’. There are inscriptions also in the Chapel
to Richard FENTEN and Monsignor Charles PAYNE, the restorer of Padley Chapel,
who died in 1944.
References
Smith, Barbara M - Padley Chapel. A short history of
Padley from the 14th century to the present day. Published by Bessacarr Prints
Publications, Doncaster. ISBN 0 86384 208 9.
Jacques, Alan - Pilgrimage to Padley.
Article published in Peak District Magazine
(Dalesman Publications), July 1998, pp39-41.[1]
[Image 4] The following reproduces the content of a plaque within the Chapel
Padley Manor
Through the Ages
Owners and Tenants of the Manor.
Robert Eyre of Highlow....
died 20 March 1459
Buried at Hathersage | married.... | Joan Padley (heiress of Padley Manor)
died 9 March 1468
Buried at Hathersage |
| Robert Eyre.... | married.... | Elizabeth Fitzwilliam (of Mabelthorpe) |
| Robert Eyre.... | married.... | Cecily Wortley (of Derby) |
| Arthur Eyre.... | married.... | Margaret Plompton (of Plompton) |
| Anne Eyre..... | married.... | Sir Thomas Fitzherbert
(of Norbury and Hampstall Ridware) |
| | No children | |
John
(Brother of Sir Thomas Fitzherbert, tenant of Padley) |
Thomas
(Nephew and heir
of Sir Thomas Fitzherbert) | | Anthony
(Imprisoned at Derby
with his father in 1588) |
| 1588 12 July | | Earl of Shewsbury (George Talbot) in possession of Padley. |
| c1592 | | Topcliffe granted the Manor of Padley by Queen Elizabeth. |
| 1603 | | Anthony, second son of John Fitzherbert in possession of Padley. |
| 1613 | | John Fitzherbert Royalist, died 13 January 1649 at Lichfield. |
| | | William Fitzherbert of Swinnerton, second cousin, great grandson
of William, youngest brother of Thomas Fitzherbert. |
| 1657 | | William sold Padley to Rowland Morewood of Norton near Sheffield. |
| c1680 | | Rowland Morewood sold the Manor to Robert Ashton of Stoney Middleton. |
| | | The great grand daughter of Robert Ashton, Christiana, married
William Shuttleworth. |
| | | Major Ashton Shuttleworth son of Christiana and William Shuttlewoth
sold the Manor to Rt. Rev. Monsignor Payne. |
| | | Cost of requisition and restoration £2,000 |
| | | Padley re-opened July 1933. |
A fuller account of the history of
Padley Chapel is provided on a separate web page.[1]
[Image 5] This magnificent stained glass window, inside
Padley Chapel depicts the two Catholic Priests, Robert
Ludlam and Nicholas Garlick, being captured at Padley Hall in 1588.[1]
Information last updated on 28 Oct 2010 at 00:00.
