Rev Dean Langton

On the wall of the north aisle of St Oswald's Church, near the transept, is a small memorial to the Rev Dean Langton who died on 28 July 1761.

Could this story be the basis for the legend of the lady who jumped from Lovers’ Leap in Dovedale but was saved by her flowing dresses catching in the bushes?

On the wall of the north aisle, near the transept, is a small memorial to the Rev Dean Langton who died on 28 July 1761. The Parish Registers record that the Dean was killed by a fall from his horse upon the rocks in Dovedale.  An account published in 1842 says that:

"....a party was formed to make an excursion into Dovedale. As they were proceeding along the bottom of the valley, Mr. Longton proposed to ascend, on horseback, a hill near Reynard's Hole, rising with a very dangerous degree of steepness, between three and four hundred feet; and Miss La Roche, a young lady of the party, agreed to accompany him on the same horse. When they had reached a considerable height in their ascent, the poor animal, unable to sustain the fatigue of the task imposed upon it, lost its footing, and rolled down the steep. The Dean was precipitated to the bottom, where he was taken up so bruised and mangled by the fall that he expired in a few days; but the young lady, whose descent had been retarded by her hair becoming entangled in a bramble, slowly recovered; though when disengaged she was insensible, and continued so for two days. The horse, more fortunate than its riders, was but very slightly injured."

Could this story be the basis for the legend of the lady who jumped from Lovers’ Leap in Dovedale but was saved by her flowing dresses catching in the bushes?

One of the grandest churches in Derbyshire, with a slender spire of 212 feet. Referred to in the Doomsday book, the present church building dates from the mid 1200's and contains fine stained glass and monuments.

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