I was out today doing a delivery and I came across a old stately house called Sutton Scarsdales Hall, What a fantastic place totally derelict. But what got me was the church next door had the gate to the grounds locked, its the first church I have ever visited that I couldn't look around the outside. I know churches are normally locked but come on locking the gate to the grave yard I believe is totally out of order.:rant:

Isn't this a common thing now with the "danger" of gravestones falling on youngsters?

Isn't this a common thing now with the "danger" of gravestones falling on youngsters?You have to be kidding arn't you. If your not the worlds gone bloody barmy.:loopy:

or maybe to reduce the risk of vandalism?? :confused:

vandalism isn't something new. This was at 3pm in the afternoon I could understand it at night.

vandalism isn't something new. This was at 3pm in the afternoon I could understand it at night.

That is strange-why lock the place so early? Where is it anyway? :)

Believe it or not Bikertec, if just one gravestone or memorial in the graveyard is deemed to be unsteady, or off balance, then the place would probably have to be locked so as not to bring a damages claim down on the council.

The world has gone mad, you are right.

I live near that hall, and the reason its locked is because the people who owned the hall are buried there. There isn't always someone in the church, and people see famous remains as a way to make money, therefore they may try to break in and steal things. I think anyway :suspect:

You know what maybe we should chop all the trees down you never know they might fall down on someone. Crazy isn't it.:thumbsup:

Believe it or not Bikertec, if just one gravestone or memorial in the graveyard is deemed to be unsteady, or off balance, then the place would probably have to be locked so as not to bring a damages claim down on the council.

The world has gone mad, you are right.
I'd prefer that it is locked up while they fix the gravestones rather than knock the gravestones down and leave them lying on the floor though, wouldn't you? It is a crazy world we live in, so you have to do what you think is right in the circumstances.

I'm not certain I'm right as to why the graveyard is locked up, it was just a suggestion. I hope I am wrong in this case.
EDIT: See BobbyBunny's post above for probably a better explanation than mine.

You have to be kidding arn't you. If your not the worlds gone bloody barmy.:loopy:

I think its true, I remember readin about some kid who fell from a tree onto a headstone and was either killed or brain damaged. The parents sued the church in question and I think this is where this has come from. .

It ain't that bigger deal, as if you look around, the entire city is turning into a nanny state.

I think its true, I remember readin about some kid who fell from a tree onto a headstone and was either killed or brain damaged. The parents sued the church in question and I think this is where this has come from. .

It ain't that bigger deal, as if you look around, the entire city is turning into a nanny state.True. Very true.:(

That is strange-why lock the place so early? Where is it anyway? :)

Sutton Scarsdale Hall is a Listed Grage I building owned by English Heritage. The haunting ruins of the old hall are located in the village of the same name, and overlook the M1 in north Derbyshire. They are sign-posted off the main Chesterfield-Bolsover Road, and from junction 29 on the M1.

If you are travelling southbound on the M1, the ruined hall is visible on the brow of a hill on your right-hand side approx 1-2 miles before you reach Junction 29. (Please don't try and observe the ruins travelling northbound, as you would have to crane your neck and look backwards to view them - which is not a safe thing to do on the motorway!).

Both the church and graveyard have been accessible to visitors whenever I have visited.

Maybe on the day Biketrtec was there, it had been locked overnight as usual, but the person with the keys was off sick, or someone forgot to do the honours, or thought someone else was going to do it. Cock-ups do happen!

There's an old grave yard at Wentworth that is always locked and to enter you need to get permission from the estate. Would love to look around it, but to be honest, I can't be bothered making phonecalls and what-nots. Anyway, I totally agree that these sites should be open for public access etc.

Is it the one with the derelict church, DD?

If so, I've been in there & had a nosey around - it's fascinating, and it wasn't locked.

This was about last year time I think :huh:

I have been to Sutton Scarsdales Hall and its a great and interesting place, it was sunday when i was there and the church was in use, never looked round the graveyard though.... perhaps next time.

Is it the one with the derelict church, DD?

If so, I've been in there & had a nosey around - it's fascinating, and it wasn't locked.

This was about last year time I think :huh:

Thats the one. I cycled past there last week and was going to go in, but it was locked and there was a sign next to the gate asking people to contact the estate if they wanted to look around. Saying that, a tractor had crashed and demolished part of the wall to the grave yard so I wasn't so much of a chicken, I would have gained access through the massive hole lol.

Was Sutton Scarsdale owned by the family that own Renishaw? I seem to remember a programme a few months ago that said one of the previous owner's wives wanted to build a one-storey house inside the ruins as a kind of second home/folly, but they never got round to it.

Then again, I may be completely wrong! It wouldn't be the first time.:rolleyes:

Renishaw was the seat of the Sitwells, - Arkwright owned Sutton Scarsdale.

Or was it Ronnie Barker ? :hihi: