A few weeks ago I found this amusing
piece of folklore in a book in Matlock Local Studies Library called “ Eckington
Memories 1938 to 1942” by Rev. Nugee
“ Renishaw was of course the family
seat of the Sitwell Family, and had been theirs for a hundred years or more,
though previous to their purchase of it, Renishaw had been a Royal Manor even
from Norman days. There were many stories of the eccentric goings on there in
previous generations, which may perhaps be exaggerated or completely apocryphal.
There is the story of the tiger that escaped from a travelling menagerie and ran
into the Renishaw woods. The then Sitwell, turned out his packs of hounds to
scent it out and bring it to bay, which the hounds successfully did. Or again
the story of the Zulu servant brought home by a former Sitwell and settled down
with his master at Renishaw apparently happily. Then as the Sitwell`s often did
the master went abroad for some months leaving the Zulu with the rest of the
household behind. Before long the Zulu disappeared and no trace of him could be
found. The farmers in the country round began to report the loss of sheep, here
one and there another. Then one still day a column of smoke was seen rising from
the innermost recesses of the woods, where no one was thought to be. Search was
made and the Zulu was found, returned to his native simplicity, clothed in
sheepskins and roasting a joint of mutton over his fire in front of his hut.”
(1)
1. Rev Nugee Eckington Memories
1938 to 1942 p. 1
