Seek out the hidden gems in Derbyshire’s rich history

Climb the 100+ steps to the top of the 14th century tower of St John the Evangelist Church at Tideswell on September 11 and you will be rewarded with samples of confections associated with the village.

Tours of the church take place at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30am, 2pm and 3pm and run alongside the Makers’ Market inside the church. Book at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-open-day-tideswell-saint-john-the-baptist-church-tickets-158953424973

Wingfield Station is one of Derbyshire’s top ten most important ‘at risk’ buildings. Find out the efforts being undertaken by Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust to restore it. Urgent work is due to start later this year so this will be the last time to see it in its dilapidated state. Members of the public are invited to look around the building on September 12, from 11am to 3pm. Tours must be pre-booked.Go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wingfield-station-tours-heritage-open-days-tickets-166766618445

St John the Baptist Chapel at Matlock Bath is a treasure house cut into a cliff-face and overlooking a world heritage site. It was built just over 100 years ago to the designs of leading Arts and Crafts architect Sir Guy Dawber. The chapel will be open for self-guided tours from September 10 to 12 and on September 15, from 11am until 3pm. No booking required.

On September 11 St Peter and St Paul’s Church at Eckington will host an exhibition of old photos and records relating to the church and to other churches which were once active in the parish, many now converted or demolished. Children’s activities, tower tours and displays by the bell-ringing team feature in the event running from noon until 4pm. No booking required.

Look around the burial place of the 17th century philosopher and scientist Thomas Hobbes in the church of England’s smallest village. St John the Baptist Church at Ault Hucknall has Norman carvings and medieval glass. The church will be open from September 10 to 12, 2pm to 4pm. No booking required.

The woods that cloak Grinlow Hill above Poole’s Cavern were planted by the 5th Duke of Devonshire to hide the scars and piles of waste by lime burning and quarrying industry. On September 17 at 11am Alyson Phillips, a director of Buxton Civic Association, will lead a guided walk through the woods, telling of the tough lives that people had working and living among the slag heaps and lime kilns. Pre-booking required by September 1, email: [email protected]

The Sacheverell-Bateman Mausoleum in Morley Parish Church, near Ilkeston, was built in 1897 in memory of Sir Hugh Alleyne Sachevell-Bateman who died in a riding accident at the age of 36. The church is noted for its medieval stained glass windows and memorial brasses. The public can visit the church on September 18 from 10am to 4pm. No booking required.

St Leonard’s Parish Church at Scarcliffe is the site of a national important monument – a 13th century effigy of Lady Constantia and her child. The church will be open on September 10, 11 and 12 from 2pm to 4pm. No booking required.

Discover the stories connected with Spital Cemetery using information boards, specially erected for Heritage Open Days, which give \an insight into the people buried there. The cemetery is open throughout the year, no booking required.