Melbourne
Melbourne is a charming market town in the county of Derbyshire. The town is located in the East Midlands area of the country. It is particularly well known for its Georgian architecture.
Melbourne was listed in the Domesday Book in the 11th century under the name of Mileburne. This name is held to mean the ‘Mill on the Brook’. At this point the area was part of a Royal Manor under the control of the crown rather than a site that was managed by one of the nobles in the country as is the case with much of the rest of the county. It is thought that the town’s current parish church was built in the 12th century here although an earlier church and priest were recorded in the town in the Domesday Book entry.
In the 14th century the manor house that stood in the town was fortified by Robert de Holand with the aim of turning it in a castle (Melbourne Castle). One of the most famous residents of the castle here was the Duc de Bourbon who was imprisoned on this site for nearly 20 years after being taken prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt. Another famous resident as a prisoner was Mary, Queen of Scots who spent some time here. Even by this period the castle was falling down and it was ultimately pulled down so that only a few ruins still exist today.
From an industrial perspective Melbourne was best known as a centre for framework knitting and for shoe and boot manufacture. The town has also had an agricultural bias over the years. Visitors to Melbourne can visit the town’s Arts Festival which takes place in the town every September. This festival is popular with residents and tourists alike. Many people will also particularly enjoy a visit to the parish church where they can see much of the original 12th century building and some restoration work that dates back to the 17th century.
Melbourne Hall is also popular with visitors - the Hall itself is open at specific times during the summer so it is worth checking opening times before you make a visit. The gardens are open for longer periods throughout the year. This was once the Bishop of Carlisle’s rectory and underwent a lot of renovation in the 18th century. The town also has a variety of interesting Georgian buildings so even a casual walk around is worth while.