Tansley

Cox (1875-1877) notes that the font was a gift from the Balguy family to a chapel adjacent the Hall [i.e., Derwent Hall]: "The font, wich is of simple but good octagon design, bears the date 1670, the Balguy arms, and the name 'Henery Bauegey' phonetically spelt. It now stands in the new church, but up to a recent date it served as a geranium-pot in the Hall gardens." [NB: the date on the font is actually 1672]. Bunting (2001) writes: "Safe now in Tansley church is a font bowl carved with the Balguy arms and '1672 Henery Baveguy [sic]. Originally given to the church of Derwent village -- lost beneath the Derwent reservoir -- the font spent time as a geranium pot in the gardens of Derwent Hall during the last century." [source: transcription of Bunting's article in www.genuki.org.uk]. [NB: note however that Pevsner (1978), under entry for HOPE, has: "Font [...] of 1662 from Derwent church]. The Derbyshire Churches and Chapels site [http://www.derbyshirechurches.org.uk/MATLOCK.HTM] [accessed 1 July 2008] notes: "The bowl of the font came from the village church of Derwent, now submerged under Ladybower Reservoir". The Tansley Villgae web site [http://freespace.virgin.net/denys.gaskell/photo7.html] [accessed 1 November 2009] illustrates the font being inspected by the vicar and notes: "The Revd Joe Hurst inspecting the font bowl before its installation in our church in 1978. The bowl was removed from Sts John and James Church in Derwent village in 1943 prior to demolition and flooding of the valley to make the Derwent Dam. The font was “lost” for some years, found eventually in the basement of Eyre’s furniture shop in Chesterfield, erected in Hathersage Church and finally given to Tansley Church in 1977. The inscription round the bowl reads “HENERY BAVEGY 1672”. Henry Balguy (spelling varies) was the Patron of the church in the village of Derwent and presented the font to the church in 1672. The new font pedestal can be seen in the background, the site of the new baptistry which was formed in the North aisle by the removal of some pews. The present baptistry is now at the eastern end of the North aisle." [NB: Tansley has a later font, also octagonal; dates from 1840]