Review of ‘Bonsall - A Portrait of a Village and its Church’, by Various Authors

This review is by Julie Bunting, and was published originally in The Peak Advertiser, the Peak District's local free newspaper, on 27th March 2000, and is reproduced with Julie's kind permission.

Written, edited and published in Bonsall by local people.

This is the second edition of this interesting little book, fully produced by local people. The first edition was published to coincide with the first Bonsall Flower Festival, which has since become a yearly event.

The first edition was so popular, there was a need to re-print, incorporating a few changes. In recent times; much work has been done to the church as a result of large grants from various sources plus a large amount raised by the village itself. Alongside the Bonsall Map Project, this has deepened roots and renewed village pride.

As well as the church, the book covers the past and present of Bonsall School and shops and trades in the village, some still. there and some long-gone, all described in a walk around. Some older residents have contributed to the walk through the village of yesterday and also the recollections and reflections on Bonsall memories. The history of Bonsall near this interesting village is summarised, along with all the clubs, societies and services available today.

The original historical contents of the book were the work of Stella Lindup, but it is obvious that so many people in this village have contributed. Jennie Hayward, Team Vicar, wrote in the foreword about the book, "besides giving me some valuable information, it also gave a wonderful sense of the history and tradition at the core of the village" and in summary we would all agree with her sentiments when she said "Bonsall, as I have discovered, is a village that grows on you. It is moving forward, but not losing its sense of the past. Long may it continue to do so."

Review by Julie Bunting