Ballidon is a shrunken Medieval village. The original village was made up of houses along two main streets, one on the route of the present road and the other by the Church, which is now left stranded in the middle of a field. The parish dominated by the large Tarmac quarry, is made up of spread out farms.
MP for West Derbyshire – Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin (Con)
District Councillor for Carsington Water -Lewis Rose
County Councillor for Wirksworth – Garry Purdy
All Saints is a chapelry of Bradbourne, and although it was used for weddings and christenings, burials have always taken place at the mother church in Bradbourne. Ballidon Church is no longer in use and has an uncertain future. Of particular interest in the church is the fine carved font which puzzlingly has the carving upside down.
See also: A history of Ballidon church (2003).
See also: Ballidon on Wikipedia.
See also: Ballidon-related blog posts on PARWICH.ORG.
All Saints Church stands alone in the middle of a field
The Tudor or earlier font in Ballidon Church
PARWICH.ORG 
It’s so sad that this beautiful little church has an uncertain future… Is there no fund to try and save it? It’s so old and traditional, it’d be a shame to lose something like this.
As a note to my last reply, I mean the All Saints Church at Ballidon.
This beautiful little medieval chapel was left standing by itself in the fields when the previously much larger village of Ballidon shrank to its present size.
It is several years since I have been inside All Saints. Last time was not long after the decision to discontinue services was made. Even then the condition of the roof was worrying.
All Saints is a chapelry of Bradbourne Church and is therefore the responsibility of Bradbourne Church Council. They also have the up keep of the main church in Bradbourne to worry about. This is in turn part of the Wirksworth Team Ministry which covers a large number of churches.
A big problem the Church Council have in seeking funding for restoration (over and above the time and effort needed) is justifying the expenditure with such a small community.
What would be ideal would be to find an alternative use that would preserve the building and still allow public access and services.
THE FONT
Has anyone looked underneath , or is there a piece missing to allow it to be stood the other way up.
I lived in Ballidon from 1947 to 1953. I knew nothing of its previous history but now, at 71, I can begin to appreciate where I lived as a boy. The world WILL move on but the past WILL prevail.
Small world! I’m Dave’s (above)brother and I too have many happy memories of life in Ballidon. We lived in a cottage which had originally been three tiny cottages. They appeared on the first Ordnance Survey map as “Gravel Pit Cottages” I suppose the gravel pit was the fore runner of Ballidon Quarry. After the war (WW2) we used to walk over the fields to Parwich to watch 16 mm films which were shown in the original village hall.
Hello Dave and Mike. I was taken by my Mother to Live at Ballidon Farm when I was two and a half. I don’t know exactly where it is, although I have tried to find out, Is it where the gravel pit is now? Could someone be good enough to send me a few pictures. My Father was John Benjamin Brownson and before living at Ballidon Farm, he lived at Town Head House with his Mother and Brother, Anyone who can help me with the family history would be very much appricated Eileen Brownson
Hello Eileen – Email me at mfdu2002@yahoo.com.au
My great great grandfather Stephen Page lived in Ballidon in the 1930’s, he is orginally from Deptford, Kent, I am trying to work out why he moved to Ballidon and where he would be buried? My grandfather was born in Hallcliffe Cottage in Parwich, he is Stephen Atkinson, any information would be appreciated.
Helen
The name Page rings a bell. Being 10 when I first moved to Ballidon I was kept in the dark of most happenings but I do recall Dad mentiond the name Page (also the name of a cousin from London!) There was some reference to a body being laid out in the front room I believe this was made by a Mr Brownlee that lived in a small cottage on the left as you came into Ballidon.
Please email me on mfdu2002@yahoo.com.au
I lived in Ballidon from 1950 -1967 in the council houses.My mother who lives with me is Joan Weston and recalls Mike & Dave. She says Stephen Page would have lived at gravel Pit Cottages as this was a pub before the second world war.For the Brownson family there are pictures in a book called Spirit of Parwich written by I.A.H.Combes published by Landmark publishing Ltd Email landmark@clara.net .I remember a Godfrey Brownson living in a cottage as you enter Parwich with his mother.
Knew your Mum in a way. I left Ballidon in 1953 to join the Navy. But met your Mum several times. Email me at mfdu2002@yahoo.com.au
Hello Janet, My Father was John Benjamin Brownson, who lived at Town Head House with his Mother, brother and sister, when my Dad came back from Australia, he lived at Ballidon farm, now a gravel pit, Do you know why my Dad’s family disowned him? Godfrey Brownson was my Dad’s cousin, who would have nothing to do with any of us??? Do you have any pictures or any further information? Thank you so very much. Eileen
Dave tried to send an email but came back, mine is janet.baker2@ntlworld.com
hi Eileen
Can’t really give any more info there are pictures in the book that I referred to previously, try the Parwich census plus the chap who does the web page is the historian for Parwich and the area, happy hunting Janet
Hi All, I have been reading all of the above and have found it really interesting. I lived in Ballidon for 20 years up until last month!! We lived first of all at Ballidon Hall Farm then I moved into ‘The Cottage’ next door (right on the road side) on the left as you pass the ex council houses. We rented the cottage for 12 years and it is now being sold so we had to leave otherwise we still would have still been there. I would be interested to hear about the history of our old house and who lived before us.
Thank you,
Hannah Young
That would be the Brownlee’s old place. There were “arrow slots” in the wall facing the road. There were Ronnie, Jean and Unice and Mum and Dad living there in the 1950’s
Hi I remember the Brownlees plus in my day it was the Wibberleys, mum & dad plus three boys. My mum said that previous it had been two cottages a one up and one down,many years ago, mum remembers Hannah and Pat and hopes all is well
Does anyone know if there are any publications with reference to the old Roman settlement of Ballidon or Ballidene? not sure on the spelling
Dear all
I’m delighted to say that the church at Ballidon has now been saved and repaired by a tiny charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches. We own nearly 50 churches which we have saved from demolition and decay, and there is now a page on our website about All Saints Ballidon:
http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/ballidon/
Please do get in touch if you want to help at the church as a keyholder or to keep an eye on it for us – we are a very small charity relying on local people to help us look after these important buildings. And we need local contacts at Ballidon.
We also welcome new members – so if you are no longer local but want to support us, please consider joining us as a member!
Best wishes
Caroline Welch, Web Manager at Friends of Friendless Churches .
Fantastic news, it is a wonderful building that so desperately needed saving.