http://www.ashbourne-town.com/villages/osmaston/index.html.

See also http://www.osmastonpark.com/about.aspx.

Completed in 1849, but demolished in 1964. It was previously the family home of Francis Wright (1806-1873) and his family. Rev. John Barton of Cambridge (1836-1908) was heavily influenced by the Wrights, became good friends with the son Francis Beresford Wright (d.1911), and mentioned the Manor several times in his memoirs:


I left Highgate in the summer of 1854 and spent some weeks of that vacation with my brother Joseph at his curacy at Upham only three miles from Bishop’s Waltham the scene of my and his earlier schooldays though by that time the school had ceased to sexist. From Upham I went with Aunt Rick on a visit to Gateshead Rectory where we were the guests of Dr and Mrs Davies [John Davies and Mary Hopkinson; their daughter Emily Davies (1830-1921) co-founded Girton College, Cambridge in 1869], some old Sussex friends, after which we went together to see Mr and Mrs Gerard Smith at Osmaston, near Ashbourne to which they had lately removed. To this visit I feel I owe much of the blessing which came to me later on, for I then first made the acquaintance of some dear friends whose influence, direct and indirect, had more effect than anything else in leading me to Christ, I refer to Mr and Mrs Wright of Osmaston Manor and the friendship especially of their two elder children Henry and Agnes. Henry, who was then at Oxford in his 2nd or 3rd year was extremely good to me and made me feel that I had at last met with a friend whom I could entirely trust and look up to. He seemed to me even then, almost perfect as a Christian gentleman and further subsequent knowledge only confirmed my first impressions."

In October 1855 I returned to Cambridge and commenced to keep my terms of residence as an undergraduate, for though as a special favour I had been allowed to go for the previous term and a half I had not matriculated or entered the University. Among the undergraduates who came up that year were Tom Causton and Frank Beresford Wright, a younger brother of Henry whom I had met at Osmaston the autumn before. His father brought him to me to introduce him and we soon became great friends, our tastes agreeing in many respects, as we were both fond of botany and other similar pursuits.

The following Easter vacation (1856) I went home with him to spend a fortnight at Osmaston Manor and a very happy time it was. It was the first time in my life I had been thrown into the intimate society of those who not merely bore the name of Christians but who lived out in all its details the Christian life. The simplicity and reality of the religion which I there witnessed impressed me deeply and, if I was not then altogether persuaded to live for Christ myself, I was certainly greatly helped forward in the path of Christian decision.

Osmaston Manor was also the beau ideal of a place in its outward surroundings. Everything that ingenuity could devise and taste suggest or money purchase had been laid out upon it, while everything about it, even to the parapet which crowned its long stretch of roof, seemed to bear the motto “Holiness to the Lord” – the balustrade being itself composed from stone letters three or four feet high, visible half a mile off, representing that verse in Ecclesiastes – “The works of our hands are vanity but whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever.” On the clock tower there were four other bible motives two of which I remember were “Redeeming the time” and “Watch and pray”.

Then there was a large room, almost as long as the dining room which was called the Prayer Room and in which twice every day all that large household were gathered together – some 24 servants and often as many more visitors and friends. Nothing could have been more impressive that the way in which Mr. Wright, or as it often was, Mrs Wright, conducted that service, there was such a reality about it all. Then there would be a run on The Cake, or a ramble through the Derbyshire lanes, or an expedition to Dovedale seven miles distant, or a ramble through the woods. Nothing was lacking and made up a life of the most thorough enjoyment, all sanctified by the feeling that the Master and Lord of all was present as the chief and honoured guest to help all with His presence. Then on another day during my visit that Easter came a great gathering of friends and neighbours from all the countryside to hear of the work of some Irish Society for maintaining missionary work among Roman Catholics. The Great Hall was that day the pace of meeting and friends assembled must have numbered some 130, all of whom remained afterwards to lunch. I remember going down with Frank through the kitchens and larders the day before and seeing the provision made for entertainment and hearing that besides the 130 visitors to be provided for, upstairs there would be 80 coachmen and footmen also to have lunch in the servants’ hall. Such is a specimen of the way in which these dear people used their influence and wealth for Christ.


I may further mention here that when Mr. Wright first came into the property by the death of an elder brother, the first thing he did was to rebuild the church at a cost of, I believe, £8000; then the schools, all in the best style, of rough-hewn mountain limestone with white freestone facings, and then set to work to build his own dwelling house. And as he and his dear wife thus ever sought to serve their divine Master and Lord with the wealth that He had given him and to be good stewards for Him. So their riches seem to grow larger and larger. He recognised their faithfulness as stewards by placing at their disposal more and more os this world’s goods to lay out for Him. It was indeed a living sermon that life at Osmaston Manor that one would be dull indeed not to understand."


I now return to the summer of 1857. That long vacation Frank Wright and I had agreed to spend together at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, inviting Beddine and Roger E. Clark, both of Trinity, to join us. On my way northwards at the end of June I was to spend a few days with him at Osmaston Hall [He means Osmaston Manor, which is different from Osmaston Hall]. When I arrived there I found them all in deep anxiety on account of the very serious illness of the eldest daughter, Agnes, a most beloved daughter and sister, and one whom it was indeed a privilege to have known and loved, her whole countenance betokening as it did the peace that reigned within and he unselfish thoughtfulness for the comfort of everyone making her the greatest help to her dear shy retiring mother and her somewhat over suppressed father.

I shall never forget those three or four days spent in that house – the solemn hush that fell upon us all as we realized that she was soon to enter the Better Land, and the calm cheerfulness which seemed to spread from that sick-room on all around, as if it would be wronging her and the dear Master whom she loved to wish for her aught else than He had appointed. I remember one afternoon going for a walk Henry Wright and we were talking of her when he suddenly exclaimed “Oh, Barton, I have been thinking so much today what a glorious thing it is to be a Christian!” And so indeed it was. It was in truth death swallowed up in victory. Dear Agnes had been ill ever since the early spring with some internal ailment. I had last seen her for a few minutes at St. Leonards at Easter. She looked then very frail and bore traces of much suffering but her face was peace. I would have like to see her once more if only for a moment but it was not to be and early in the morning of July 1st Henry came and told me that all was over. I had already arranged with Mr and Mrs. Gerard Smith who lived at the Parsonage close by to go to them so I quietly slipped out of the house and went over at once to them and remained there till the day of the funeral and a few days later I set out by way of Dovedale and Matlock on my way to Liverpool to catch the Glasgow steamer. There I met Beddune and Clark and we went on together to Braemar via Dunkeld and Blairgowrie, meeting Tom Causton who had agreed to come with us for the first fortnight till Frank Wright could join us."

Double Wedding, 1859

John's memoir also describes a double wedding at Osmaston Manor:

"Our wedding day was accordingly fixed for May 5th [1859] and a most happy occasion it was. We were married at St. John’s, Paddington and afterwards drove down to Purley [Purley Hall, Berkshire?], the pretty country residence of my Cathie’s uncle, Mr. John Henry Smith. There we spent a fortnight in the most approved fashion. Our house, a charming bachelor’s snuggery was embowered in trees with a lovely bright garden to ramble about in a green meadow beyond stretching on to the foot of the chalk downs. From Purley we went to Osmaston to be present at the double wedding of two further Wright girls, the elder to Mr. Bridges Plumpton [actually 'Plumptre'] of Fredville, Kent and the younger, Fanny, to our dear brother Frederic Wigram. He had won her heart during the previous summer while detained at the manor by dear Cathie’s illness and the marriage was a subject of great rejoicing to both families as it was to ourselves individually. The wedding was without exception the prettiest and most perfect in all respects that I was ever present at or can expect to be again.

There is a practice in that part of Derbyshire known as the Tissington Well-dressing, consisting in the ornamentation of a board covered with a thick coat of wet clay with a tapestry formed out of the heads of freshly culled flowers, these being dibbed into the wet clay by means of a slate pencil and thus kept in position when the board is placed upright, while the moisture of the clay keeps them fresh. All sorts of coloured devices are made in this way – the different colours being represented by flowers of a corresponding hue. Such devices were introduced into the wedding festival decorations with great effect, the most striking being a huge shield suspended over Mr. Wright’s chair at the luncheon table which was served in the racket court, on which were again quartered, also in colours, the arms of the two bridegrooms. Along the gallery at the end of the racket court ran a band of golden gauze on which stood out in purple daisies, looking like the richest gold and purple velvet, “Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb”.

There was a very large party of guests staying at the manor for the weddings. I think there were fifty-five who were actually guests in the house and entertained at meals, though of course a large number of these had to sleep out. At the wedding breakfast I believe we sat down eighty in all. Dear Mr. Wright seemed overflowing with thankfulness and there was a holy calm of peace and rest dispersed through the whole household which gave me a feeling wholly indescribable of the presence of the Lord in our midst. Out of the eighty guests present nine out of ten were earnest Christians and when, after the marriage service, we assembled in the prayer room for a few words of special prayer on behalf of the two dear couples and the parents whose happy home they were leaving, there could scarcely have been one unmoved heart among us. The Sunday before Mr. Wright had preached in the dear little church and I remember now his text and some of his words. He took as his subject John 10. “When He putteth forth His own sheep He goeth before them and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice.”"


Charles Wright, a modern descendant of the Osmaston Wrights, has kindly provided a listing, written by John's friend Frank Wright of the guests at the meal after this wedding:

"Party at the breakfast on the occasion of the double wedding at Osmaston, June 1st, 1859,
viz. of my sister Bessie to J. Bridges Plumptre of Goodnestone, Kent and of my sister Fanny to Frederick E. Wigram

Mrs HW Plumptre

Revd HW Plumptre

Mrs Wright

Mr JB Plumptre

Mrs Plumptre

Mr Wright

Mrs FE Wigram

Mr FE Wigram

Mrs Wigram

Mr Barton

Mrs Barton

Western Plumptre			Revd Filmer Sulivan
Miss Wright			Mary Wright
FB Wright			Charles Melville
Mary Plumptre			Louisa Wigram
Revd Wm Fremantle			Revd Chas Oldfield
Lucy Wright			Judith Wright
Hilton Bothamley			FitzHerbert Wright
Fanny Plumptre	Mrs Johnson		Adeline FitzHerbert [future wife of FB Wright]
Aug Vernon Harcourt	Mr Routledge [Estate Bailiff]	Mrs Stringer	Revd Colin Campbell
Miss FitzHerbert		Mr Stringer [Estate Steward]	Caroline Melville
Revd Wm Jones	Miss Charlotte Plumptre		Charles J Plumptre
Miss Dolby	Miss Katharine FitzHerbert	Miss Dennis [Governess to Wigrams]	Florence Deedes
Sir Wm FitzHerbert	Miss Jowett [Governess]	Harriet FitzHerbert	Sir Brook Bridges
Lady Bridges	Miss Bull	Philip Wright	Lady FitzHerbert
Mr Alleyne	Mary FitzHerbert	Matilda Plumptre	Mr Plumptre
Mrs Plumptre	Ellen FitzHerbert		Mrs Alleyne
Mr Marcus Wright	Mrs Gerard Smith	Wilhelmina FitzHerbert	Col FitzHerbert
Mrs FitzHerbert	Miss Alice Wigram	Miss Charlotte Wright	Mrs Marcus Wright
Revd Henry Wright	Mr John K FitzHerbert	Revd Alleyne FitzHerbert	Mr John Bridges
Mrs John Wright	Miss Anne Wright	Miss Plumptre	Mrs Alleyne FitzHerbert

Revd Gerard Smith [Vicar of Osmaston]

John Wright

"

Mentions in Emily's Memoir:

"Later in the spring and summer I was introduced to the Wigrams, parents of Father's first wife 'Cattie', who at once received me as a daughter for his sake "who had given their daughter one year of such complete happiness" as Mrs. Wigram once said to me. In June we went to Osmaston Manor together, near Derby, the home of the Wright family described by Father on pp. 27 and 28 of his story [above]. It was a rare pleasure and privilege to breathe so Christ-like an atmosphere in so palatial a residence. Our kind host himself took me all over the place, shewing how everything (even to the mashing of potatoes!) was worked by machinery, turned by a stream! also the dairy where cheeses were made.

One day we both had a narrow escape from a serious accident - the Miss Wrights having lent us their pony carriage to save me fatigue in going over the Park, without warning us that the high-mettled creature was given to running away! which he did on this occasion. Father, who jumped out to go to his head, was thrown down and laid up for a day or two with bruises etc. But God 'gave His angels charge over us', and we were kept from any great harm.

Thence we went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wright, second son of the family at Osmaston; and one who had 5 or 6 years previously become a very close friend of Father's. Henry Wright was then Chaplain to his father's 500 workmen at the great Iron Works at Butterley — and much beloved by them. He told me during that visit that for 12 years. he had wished to devote himself to missionary work but since he had not done it before his marriage, he saw it was not God's will that he should go now. Nevertheless - eight years later he did give himself wholly to the work - by becoming Honorary Secretary to the C.M.S. in London - which office he held until translated to a higher sphere by drowning in Coniston Lake in 1880. I never saw a face which reflected so much peace and quiet joy as did that of this most holy and gentle man of God. His Missionary spirit has descended to his children - and one son and two daughters are already in the field - and two others have followed." pp43-44


"We named our new Home on Wimbledon Hill 'Castelnau' [Footnote by JEBB: Now Junior House of Wimbledon High School for Girls], after the Boileau ancestors' Chateau near Nismes, South France; and found several old friends settled there before us. Col. Henry S. Clarke, and family, my brother Arthur's Addiscombe College friend, owned a house at Wimbledon, and happened to be Treasurer to the C.P.A.S. and he went daily to Town, and worked in the same office in Falcon Court, Fleet Street, E.C. The Francis Foxes, she née Selina Wright of Osmaston Manor, invited us to spend our first week with them, until our furniture was settled in. The Douglas Foxes, brother of Francis, who had married Mary Wright, lived at Coombe Springs two miles off. And we attended the ministry of an old friend, Mr. Edward Moore, at Emmanuel Church." p105