| Administrative History | The Needhams were a long established family in the Peak District of Derbyshire. The family had been foresters of the Peak in the Middle Ages but had sold out in the Elizabethan period. In the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century the family had interests in farming, the sale of lead and the manufacture of textiles. From the deeds in this collection, it can be seen that Robert Needham of Perryfoot, Peak Forest (died 1772) and his son Robert were largely responsible for building up the family's estates in Chapel en le Frith, Ashford, Peak Forest and Tideswell.
Information about the Needham family and, in particular, Ellis Needham, the founder of Litton Mill, can be found in the article by M H Mackenzie on "Cressbrook and Litton Mills 1779-1835", Derbyshire Archaeological Journal, volume LXXX VIII, 1968. |
| Custodial History | The collection was deposited in the Derbyshire Record Office in September 1982. |