Chaddesden is now almost entirely swallowed up by Derby's large new housing estates, but it retains its very interesting old church. The great house once lending beauty to this scene has gone, but the name of the Wilmots, an old family with a thane at the court of Edward the Confessor, will not soon be forgotten.
Robert Wilmot founded almshouses here, now demolished. Sir Edward Wilmot, who was 93 years old when they buried him at Monkton, was physician to two of the Georges; his wife was Sarah Mead, daughter of a famous physician through whom inoculation came to be adopted in England. He spent his last years giving his service to the poor of Derbyshire.
The linenfold panelling of the sanctuary and the oak and alabaster reredos are in memory of Sir Henry Wilmot who won the VC with two of his men for a shining deed at Lucknow. He and four others found themselves opposed to a great number, and one of the men was shot through both legs. He was lifted up and carried away under fire, while Captain Wilmot covered the retreat of the party by firing with the mens' rifles. By what was like a miracle he managed to keep a clear course for his companions and the four men with their wounded comrade were able to get back.
The old church was rebuilt about 1357 by Henry Chaddesden, Archdeacon of Leicester, and from that time come the nave and aisles, the chancel, fine sedilia and piscinae, and a stone lectern of the unique Derbyshire type. A great treasure of the church is the 15th century chancel screen, which has modern vaulting on the western side and beautiful tracery in the bays. Two massive stall-ends at the entrance are richly carved, their enormous crockets climbing to the tracery in the screen and having two charming figures as poppyheads.
