Despite the hectic pace of life today - or perhaps because of it - the age-old pastime known as 'a Sunday stroll' seems as popular as ever. Here Peter Seddon considers one particularly well-worn circuit, and throws some light on a group of houses which have sometimes proved puzzling to passing walkers.

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A very popular Sunday stroll for Derbeians is the one which begins in the village of Darley Abbey on one side of the River Derwent, crosses the river by the weir and Darleys Restaurant, continues through the old mill complex, then proceeds right down the curiously-named Folly Road and on to the Darley Playing Fields.

At the bottom of Folly Road - as the route enters Darley Fields - are two old cottages on the right. Walkers often wonder why these two houses stand alone there, aloof from the rest of Darley Abbey. So for those who have pondered that very question, or might take this walk in future, here is a potted history.

The two properties that stand there now have long been known locally as 'Folly Cottages' or 'Folly Houses' - they were at one time a uniform row of three, and of some antiquity.

The site on which they were erected was acquired in 1778 by the wealthy local mill-owner Thomas Evans (1723-1814). Darley Abbey historians believe Evans had a notion that he would use the adjoining stream of water to power another mill there. The properties were erected, but the scheme proved unviable - so when the cottages were added to the Evans' estate, they acquired the 'Folly' name which endures to this day.

At least that is how the story goes - unless anyone has an alternative theory.

As the old postcard here shows, walks past 'Folly Houses' are nothing new - indeed this particular Sunday stroll must have been popular for at least a century.

The spot was certainly quite well-known in the 1930s, for in 1937 the Yorkshire-born artist Rowland Suddaby (1912-72) executed a striking picture of Folly Houses.

It was used to adorn a poster published by the Shell Oil Company, as part of a campaign to encourage people to drive from the towns out into the 'countryside'. The poster carried a pithy message - 'To Visit Britain's Landmarks, You Can Be Sure of Shell'.

At about that time - 1930s to 1940s - one of the 'Folly Houses' occupants catered to walkers by serving refreshments. She was Mrs. Ethel Copestake, who made her own ice-cream to sell to visitors. She also served light teas, a facility which she extended to cricketers playing on Darley Fields.

Nor were those enjoying the river itself forgotten, for Mrs. Copestake's husband built a landing stage to cater for boaters who had navigated the channel close to the cottages. Children who played and swam in the river were also some of her best ice-cream customers.

And thereby hangs a tragic tale, for accidents were by no means uncommon. In August 1940 Mrs. Copestake heard the cries of 8-year-old Margaret Downing - of Poplar Row, Darley Abbey - who had got into difficulty. Both Mrs. Copestake and a passing schoolboy - 12-year-old William Mayze - rushed to the girl's aid.

After they had dragged her to the bank, Mrs. Copestake gave the girl artificial respiration, but to no avail. By the time the police arrived, Margaret Downing had died.

In recognition of their heroic efforts, both Ethel Copestake and William Mayze were awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate for Bravery.

Exactly when the 'Teas and Ices' signs were last displayed is not known, but in due course the houses received new occupants. In time the memories of those days, and the tragedy too, became ever distant. Few of today's Sunday strollers would ever imagine what long-forgotten secrets rest with 'Folly Houses'.

Perhaps someone can remember 'Folly Houses' from the thirties or forties? It's even possible that the 'brave schoolboy' William Mayze could still be alive in 2007. If you can add anything to this short piece, why not share your memories and add to the growing Bygone Derbyshire 'knowledge bank'. Just click on the 'edit' link at the top of this page and write your contribution below this final paragraph.

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There were 29 Follies featured in the Shell Poster series in the 1930's but whereas 28 are easily identifidable and refer to known follies and curiosities in the UK, Darley Abbey is the exception. Two out of the three cottages still stand at the far end of Folly Road but their origins remain obscure. If they are part of a mill complex that never got completed due to competion down the river then how come the site is annotated ' folly ' on a map that PRE-DATES the building of the mill ?

I'm intrigued by the stone bridge or loggia that peers out from the back of the left hand side of the cottages, as you face them on the poster. Was that the earlier folly ? I guess it's too far away from the site of the Abbey but could it just be possible that it is a remaining fragment of the old abbey that got re-used elsewhere in the village ? Although I'm investigating this as a Folly Fellowship member based right down in Bristol I would welcome any views from locals on my theory or whether you have ideas of your own as to why this was seen worthy of a near-top 30 Follies In The UK Shell Advertising campaign in the 30's.

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