The larger, and more interesting, portion are the grave-stones or coffin-lids, with crosses of different devices cut upon them. They had evidently been used indiscriminately with other materials for the outer facing, as well as for the internal filling up, of the walls, and especially in the foundations of the tower-piers, and north transept. One had been cut to suit the outline of a half pillar, and mouldings of windows had been worked on the reverse side of others. Some time elapsed before these ancient grave-stones attracted notice, and many had in consequence been used again in the foundations of the new walls. Fortunately a considerable number have been saved, and are placed, for the present, in the church porch; several smaller ones also have been at different times preserved by a gentleman living in the neighbourhood, and are deposited in his very valuable museum of local antiquities. Mr. Bateman has liberally allowed drawings to be taken of such in his possession as were required to make up the series of different designs, and has kindly furnished much useful information respecting them.
The collection, now to be seen in Bakewell church, consists of parts of fifty-seven grave-stones, several of which are nearly entire, and of considerable size, together with five head-stones. About eighteen, I believe, including several head-stones, are in Mr. Bateman's possession. A few others of less importance are to be seen in the pavement of the church; thus making altogether upwards of seventy examples. It is believed to be by far the largest and most varied collection existing in any church in England; indeed, not a third part of this number can probably be seen elsewhere; some of them being probably unique examples, and very few moreover duplicates of the same design. But large as this number is, I was assured by the workmen that at least four times as many had been used again in building the new walls. It will be borne in mind, that it has been shewn that all these are probably prior to c. 1260, and a considerable number prior to c. 1110. A selection only of the more remarkable of these crosses can here be given.
