Church Oddities A lead font The font in Ashover church is a great rarity. It is one of very few Norman lead fonts in the country. The bowl is cast with a circle of figures facing outwards. Many lead fonts were melted down for bullets in the Civil War but this one was buried in a garden for safekeeping. Bells Ashover also has the only bell in the country to bear the name of Napoleon. It cracked while ringing news of his defeat and had to be recast. Wormhill church has a peal of six bells which are believed to be the smallest anywhere. They were cast by Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, as craftsmens’ samples. The heaviest bell only weighs one hundredweight (50 kg), compared with the heaviest at Youlgreave which is 27 times heavier. Dog whip A dog whip is displayed in Baslow church. It is a very business-like instrument with a leather-bound handle and a hide thong. People used to take their dogs into church during services and many parishes had an official dog whipper to keep them in order. Read More >> More Pictures Curiosities