St Mary's Church, Tissington

Tissington is a quintessential English village located in the Derbyshire Dales, on the southern edge of the Peak District National Park. Renowned for its picturesque stone cottages, Tissington is clustered around the impressive Jacobean Tissington Hall, which has been home to the FitzHerbert family since 1609.

The village features a charming duck pond, six ancient wells, and the beautiful St. Mary’s Church, which dates back to the early 12th century.  The chancel arch and south porch are original Norman features, with the doorway displaying a tympanum featuring two sculpted figures. Other Norman architectural elements include the font, which is cylindrical and decorated with incised figures of humans and beasts. The church also contains monuments to the FitzHerbert family.

The church is open every day during the hours of daylight.

Getting here
Tissington is located on the A515, some five miles north of the market town of Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales. The village is served by the 442 bus route, which runs Monday-Saturday and connects Ashbourne with Buxton.

What’s nearby to see and do
Tissington is particularly famous for its annual well dressing festival, a tradition believed to have originated here, where wells are decorated with intricate floral designs. These beautiful displays are blessed on Ascension Day (the Thursday 40 days after Easter Day) and can be seen for the next week.

The village is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists, with the 13-mile Tissington Trail and the 46-mile Limestone Way both passing through. Visitors can enjoy tea rooms, gift shops, and the tranquil countryside setting. Tissington’s timeless charm, historic buildings, and welcoming atmosphere make it a perfect spot to experience the beauty and heritage of rural Derbyshire.

Did you know?
The churchyard includes a headstone commemorating Frank Richard Allsop, a Tissington man who perished in the Titanic disaster, with an inscription to his memory.