Description: St James' Church, Smisby (Originally Smithsby - the village of the Smiths).
The first building was a Chapel of ease, built by the Repton Monks in 1068. This now forms the South Aisle. Joanne Comyn, who married William Shepy in 1300 and became the owner of Smisby and its Manor when he died, added the nave and chancel. She died in 1350 and her memorial is next to the font. The tower was added in the late 15 century. It contains two bells which are inscribed 'God Save The King 1617' (Charles I) and 'God Save King Charles II 1662'. The linen-fold panelling behind the main altar, came originally from Ashby Castle and was brought to Smisby in the 1850's. The Squint - or to give it its correct name, the Hagioscope, was widened in the 1890's to give a view of the altar from the South Aisle. The carved wooden war memorial on the wall of the South Aisle was the work of a Smisby craftsman, William Bailey. The windows are of varying types and ages. The three light East window of the Chancel is an example of decorated work of around 1350, but the centre was filled with masonry before 1850. The East window behind the side altar is an early English Lancet window. The other windows are of a much later date. Sir Walter Scott decided to write 'Ivanhoe' after a visit to this church when he went to the top of the tower and saw the tournament field in the valley between Smisby and Ashby castle.
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.