Our Visit

A Memory of Mouldridge Grange.

We traveled from Missouri U.S.A. in 2015. Having reached Bonsall, Derbyshire, a kind, elderly resident told us she used to deliver meat to Mouldridge Grange for her uncle the butcher, as she pointed across the rooftops to his building. Upon asking for directions, she said it had been a long time but she thought it was in the vicinity of Brassington. We headed for Brassington where the only sign of life was in a pub. I entered and announced that I was in pursuit of Moundridge Grange whereupon a lady sitting in a nearby booth pulled up a photo on her phone, asking if this was the place. Having seen pictures of the house, I told her it was and those at her table began giving me directions. We promptly headed in the direction they said and came upon the place in the distance off the highway. The sign said "private driveway" but we had come so far. We slowly advanced toward the house where a young boy greeted us. I ask if this was Mouldridge Grange whereupon he assured me it was. He went into the house to summon his mother. Ms. Vicki Edwards, came out to receive us. I told her my Quaker family had left here in 1683 to travel to America with William Penn's Holy Experiment and landed in Pennsylvania. Ms. Vicki was so gracious and showed us around the farmstead and even the outlying grounds. I wondered if my ancestors had helped build those stone fences 600 years prior. It was a wonderful experience, almost spiritual, as we trod in the footsteps of those who had gone before us. After taking a few photos, we went on to Hartington to spend the night. I'm so grateful for the kindnesses we encountered in our search for my English roots. I'll probably never see it again but Mouldridge Grange was the highlight of our trip.

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