| Administrative History | The Sitwell family were established in Derbyshire from the fourteenth century. They were early exploiters of mineral resources in the Eckington area, especially iron. By the time of his death in 1599, Robert Sitwell owned land not only in North East Derbyshire, but also in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Further lands in Yorkshire were acquired by the marriage in 1693 of William Sitwell to Mary Reresby.
George Sitwell (1601-1667) began to build Renishaw Hall in about 1625. He and his eldest son Francis were both successful ironmasters and nail makers. Francis married Catherine Sacheverell of Barton in the Beans, Nottinghamshire, and Morley, Derbyshire. The Sitwells continued for a time to manage their industrial enterprises directly, but the last Sitwell ironmaster, another Francis, died unmarried in 1753. Eventually, the estate passed to Francis Hurt (1728-1793) who changed his surname to Sitwell. His son, christened Sitwell (1769-1811), was created a baronet in 1808. He enlarged Renishaw Hall, but financial constraints forced his heir, Sir George Sitwell, to shut up the house and live first in Scotland and later in Wiesbaden in Germany. The estate then passed successively to his son Sir (Sitwell) Reresby (d 1862) and to Reresby's son Sir George Reresby Sitwell (1860-1943), the father of Edith (1887-1964), (Francis) Osbert (1892-1969) and Sacheverell (1897-1988). Famous for his restoration of the gardens at Renishaw in an Italianate style, Sir George also wrote extensively on local and family history.
On the death in 1988 of Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, he was succeeded by his elder son (Sacheverell) Reresby Sitwell (b.1927), 7th baronet.
These papers relate chiefly to the time of Sir George R Sitwell and his son Osbert (often referred to in these papers as Captain Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell), though there are a few late 18th century accounts and other papers of the time of Francis Sitwell (d 1793).
Early papers relating to the family's iron and coal interests are to be found in collection D1000.
This series comprises chiefly estate rentals and accounts, 19th to mid 20th century, and plans, mostly of collieries and other properties in North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, late 19th to mid 20th century.
Personal and family papers have been retained at Renishaw Hall. |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited with Derbyshire Record Office by the Renishaw Estate Trustees in February 2006. |