The film uses extensive inter-titles to highlight the historical significance of the various places visited. The audio track is classical music apart from one short section towards the end. We open with a shot of film-maker Geoffrey Morton taking a book from his shelf. It is ‘The History and Topography of Ashbourne’ which was published in 1839. Throughout the film we return to Morton leafing through the book which is the inspiration for the film.
We see a road sign for Ashbourne followed by views of the Derbyshire town followed by exterior shots of St Oswald church and the Free Grammar School. Next we visit the ruins of Croxden Abbey in Staffordshire followed by exterior shots of Tutbury Castle in the same county. This is followed by views of the Manifold Valley including the river and shots of Thor’s Cave. We then see Ilam Hall and further views of the River Manifold including boys paddling in the water.
Next we have a brief establishing shot of Bentley Hall at Fenny Bentley followed by views of the mansion house at Okeover with shots of highland cattle in the grounds. We see a road sign for Mayfield followed by shots of the River Dove, the Hanging Mill Bridge and the house where the poet Thomas Moore once lived, also at Mayfield in Staffordshire.
We continue the tour with shots of Sudbury Hall followed by Beresford Dale and the River Dove including fishing areas associated with Izaak Walton. There are also shots of the fishing cottage built by Charles Cotton. After shots of a boy running through woods picking flowers we visit Norbury in Derbyshire for views of St Mary and St Barlock church. The next section shows Tissington village, church and establishing shots of Tissington Hall. The film-maker is then see meeting the owner of Tissington Hall, Sir William and Lady Fitzherbert. We return to Tissington village for shots of the annual well dressing. After scenic views of Dovedale we next see Wootton Lodge in Staffordshire where the film-maker is seen meeting the owner Major Alan Rook.
Next we have a sign for Hopton and views of Hopton Hall in Derbyshire and the gardens. Geoffrey Morton sits outside the hall looking at old documents with the owner of the hall Lieutenant Colonel Philip Gell.
The following section shows the annual Shrovetide football match in Ashbourne (likely to be the 1953 event) beginning with views of shops boarded up for protection. The ball is ‘turned up’ by Lord John Manners and there are various views of the scrum and melee including the players battling in the River Henmore and across snow covered fields. The goal scorer, Don Lowndes is also seen. The final sections show Morton climbing up a rocky outcrop (this is the only point film with speech on the soundtrack - a list of historical figures who have an association with the region).
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