Estate records The estate section includes only one document which may be pre-17th century, a survey of land in Aston possibly of late 16th century date. There are, however, some 16th century leases amongst the title deeds to Weston manor. The 17th century documents include two rentals of Weston desmesnes 1623 and 1624, but no other rentals, and no accounts or leases. The three main groups of 17th century estate papers comprise a miscellaneous group of bonds, releases, receipts and legal papers 1648-1670, a small number of documents relating to the Holden family's purchases of cloth and clothing in London 1658-1664 and bonds for the repayment of money borrowed by Robert Holden and his sons 1654-1663, subsequently repaid by Samuel Holden. It is amongst the first group that references to cattle and the cattle trade are found. There is little 18th century estate material. The few leases include a fishing lease 1709, Shardlow leases referring to a warehouse, sawmill and wharf 1765-1792 (a salt warehouse is also mentioned in a lease 1817) and leases of Breaston tithes and tithe barn 1778. There are agreements relating to small-scale enclosure in Shardlow 1728-1730 and to rights of common in Aston and Shardlow 1735 and 1747, as well as an agreement to build a bridge over the River Derwent near Wilne Hall 1793. There are only three plans for this but they are of some importance. One, possibly dateable to the 1770s, is a sketch map of the intended 'pen' and new cut near Wilne Mills. The other two maps are of land belonging to the Revd Charles Holden 1795 and 1798, and, although not showing a large proportion of Aston, are the only large scale maps of the area to pre-date the Ordnance Survey maps of the later 19th century. The 1795 map notes the position of plaster pits. Estate rentals survive for three periods, 1797-1814 (with accounts of receipts and payments), 1847-1877 and 1911-1920. The accounts include references to the plaster pits and the railway from them to the canal 1808-1812. There are also later documents concerning the plaster pits: leases of 1818 and 1919, a plan 1866 and an entry in the sale catalogue 1924 (see below). Other notable documents from the end of the 18th century are an undated survey of Revd C Holden's estate, an account of titheable land at Breaston 1800, plans of part of Aston village 1827 (perhaps relating to water supply) and of the Halstead (Leicestershire) estate together with a 19th century survey, an undated plan and designs dated 1833 for Aston Hall. The estate section is completed with the sale catalogues for the disposal of the Aston estate in 1924. The greater part of Aston village and 1561 acres of land, mostly in Aston, are included and the catalogues are illustrated with photographs, particularly of Aston Hall, and accompanied by maps. 1623-1924