Description: St Wystan's Church was originally built in the Anglo-Saxon period and is the burial place of two kings of Mercia, Aethelbald (d. 757) and Wiglaf (d. 840). The church is dedicated to Wystan, the grandson of the Mercian King Wiglaf, who was brutally murdered in AD849. Wystan was buried in the church alongside his grandfather, but was later removed to Evesham by King Cnut (1016-35).
The church stands at the lower part of the village, pleasantly elevated above the meadows; it is a large and handsome structure, principally of Norman architecture, with an elegant, lofty spire.
This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.