Folly Cottages

I live in a very old house. (Well, part of it is very old the other half is 2 years old.) My house is older than the US constitution. Many people in American can't say they have lived in a house that was built in the 1700s. I live in a fun little area. Up the road is an old factory and so many old houses like mine that were built for the worker and their families. It's always fun to go digging around and find out what the history of a place you live in. So I thought I would share with you a small history of my cottage.

Folly Cottages

"A very popular Sunday stroll for Derbeians is the one which begins in the village of Darley Abbey on one side of the River Derwent, crosses the river by the weir and Darleys Restaurant, continues through the old mill complex, then proceeds right down the curiously-named Folly Road and on to the Darley Playing Fields.

At the bottom of Folly Road - as the route enters Darley Fields - are two old cottages on the right. Walkers often wonder why these two houses stand alone there, aloof from the rest of Darley Abbey. So for those who have pondered that very question, or might take this walk in future, here is a potted history.

The two properties that stand there now have long been known locally as 'Folly Cottages' or 'Folly Houses' - they were at one time a uniform row of three, and of some antiquity.

An early 20th century view of figures crossing the wooden bridge adjacent Folly houses on the fringe of Darley Fields.

At least that is how the story goes - unless anyone has an alternative theory.The site on which they were erected was acquired in 1778 by the wealthy local mill-owner Thomas Evans (1723-1814). Darley Abbey historians believe Evans had a notion that he would use the adjoining stream of water to power another mill there. The properties were erected, but the scheme proved unviable - so when the cottages were added to the Evans' estate, they acquired the 'Folly' name which endures to this day.

As the old postcard here shows, walks past 'Folly Houses' are nothing new - indeed this particular Sunday stroll must have been popular for at least a century.

In - 1930s to 1940s - one of the 'Folly Houses' occupants catered to walkers by serving refreshments. She was Mrs. Ethel Copestake, who made her own ice-cream to sell to visitors. She also served light teas, a facility which she extended to cricketers playing on Darley Fields.

Nor were those enjoying the river itself forgotten, for Mrs. Copestake's husband built a landing stage to cater for boaters who had navigated the channel close to the cottages. Children who played and swam in the river were also some of her best ice-cream customers.

And thereby hangs a tragic tale, for accidents were by no means uncommon. In August 1940 Mrs. Copestake heard the cries of 8-year-old Margaret Downing - of Poplar Row, Darley Abbey - who had got into difficulty. Both Mrs. Copestake and a passing schoolboy - 12-year-old William Mayze - rushed to the girl's aid.

After they had dragged her to the bank, Mrs. Copestake gave the girl artificial respiration, but to no avail. By the time the police arrived, Margaret Downing had died.

In recognition of their heroic efforts, both Ethel Copestake and William Mayze were awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate for Bravery."  Go to website......

The house on the far right was torn down for being condemned in about 1940ish. The new addition onto the cottage was built two years ago. The walk is still very popular I see lots of people and dogs too.