Vernacular Architecture in Old Brampton

Terraced houses on Main Road

During my investigation of mediaeval churches and their associated villages, although I don’t very often come across natural rock outcrops as at Bolsover or old quarries like in Harthill, a good indication of the physical characteristics of the underlying bedrock is usually provided by the building stones found in dry stone walls and simple vernacular buildings. 

A cottage on Main Road

At Old Brampton, the church is set on one of the unnamed sandstones of the Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formation, which generally don’t produce significant landforms but are very often quarried for very local building needs, with better quality stone brought in from elsewhere when required for more prestigious buildings. 

Dry stone walling on Main Road

With only one or two exceptions, all of the historic stone buildings in the village are found within 200 metres of the church and, getting off the Hulleys No. 170 bus from Chesterfield, the dry stone boundary walls to the churchyard and Brampton Manor opposite provide an extensive display of flaggy sandstone. 

Brampton Manor

Brampton Manor itself, the only listed building in the village apart from the church, has had its stonework rendered, but iron rich blocks of stone can still be seen in the neighbouring farmhouse and its outbuildings and it still has its original stone slate roof – probably sourced from the outcrop of Wingfield Flags to the west. 

The farmhouse and outbuildings at Hall Farm

The walls on either side of the thatched lych gate, opposite the manor house, are built of well squared larger blocks of sandstone that were no doubt used for deliberate effect – to please the lord of the manor. 

The west lychgate and associated boundary walls

Similarly, the approach from Main Road has been surfaced with edge bedded setts; however, although these were probably also quarried from the Wingfield Flags – the geological equivalent of the Brincliffe Edge Rock in Sheffield – the differential weathering here clearly demonstrates that not every rock formation produces good durable building stone. 

Sandstone road setts

Moving on to the Old School Room next to the church, better quality sandstone is used here, with moderately high content, and traditional stone slates are used in the roof. Heading out of the village, a couple of rows of terrace houses and a few small detached cottages show a similar pattern of materials. 

The Old School Room

After exploring the church, I still had a few more minutes before catching the bus back to Chesterfield. The War Memorial, in the form of a simple cross, is made of medium grained gritstone, but it has not been considered to be worth protecting with Grade II Listed status, as is usual with such monuments as these.

Old Brampton War Memorial

The former George and Dragon public house, now converted to residential use, is built of buff/brown medium grained Carboniferous sandstone, with a rock faced finish, gritstone dressings and with a Welsh slate roof. 

The former George and Dragon public house

It is not of great architectural merit but plays a part in the history of the church opposite, albeit as a matter of conjecture, in that over indulgence here by the painter of the church clock provides an explanation of it having 63 minutes!

The clock to the church of St. Peter and St. Paul