| Description | Title deeds, estate and family papers
The records reflect the steady acquisition of property with 12th - 19th century title deeds and estate papers for Atlow, Bradbourne, Snelston, Mapleton, Kniveton, Norbury, Fenny Bentley and Findern in Derbyshire and Okeover, Swinscoe, Mayfield, Ilam, Blore, Denstone and Calton in Staffordshire, including an early 17th century sketch map of Ilam. There are deeds for properties in Norfolk, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire. There are also manorial court records for Okeover 1422-1670, Atlow 1345-1670, Wymeswold, Leicestershire 1656-1728, Little Ellingham, Norfolk 1662-1627 and Boylands and Chediston, Suffolk 1593-1666.
For the most part it has been possible to divide the Staffordshire and Derbyshire title deeds and estate papers into individual estates although not individual properties. The Okeover and Atlow estates were acquired almost in their entirety in the Mediaeval period so that the title deeds consist almost entirely of Mediaeval deeds, with later deeds relating only to mortgages and family settlements. The principal acquisitions of property in recent times have taken place in Swinscoe and Mapleton where Leeke Okeover in particular was consolidating his estates in the 18th century. The Mapleton title deeds include a large number of deeds of exchange relating to the private enclosure of Mapleton open fields in 1730-1731 of which Leeke Okeover appears to have been the principal instigator.
Although the principal estate is the Staffordshire/Derbyshire estate large accumulations of title deeds also relate to the Leicestershire and Norfolk estates which were in the family's possession for less than a hundred years in each case. The Norfolk estate centred on Hardwick and was acquired by the 17th century marriage of Rowland Okeover to Dame Elizabeth Pettus, the widow and sole heir of Sir Thomas Pettus who owned extensive estates in Norfolk and Suffolk. The Norfolk title deeds include a very fine run of 15th and 16th century deeds relating to property in Kings Lynn, throwing considerable light on the activities of the port in Tudor times. The Norfolk estate remained Okeover property only until 1751 when Leeke Okeover, in deep financial trouble, had to sell the estate to help pay off his debts.
The large accumulations of Leicestershire title deeds relate to the Wymeswold estate acquired by the 1700 marriage of Thomas Okeover to Catherine Leeke, daughter and sole heir of William Leeke of Wymeswold, serjeant-at-law. The two manors of Wymeswold (Wymeswold and Crackhole alias Crowhole) changed hands several times over the 1530-1670 period and with the continued acquisition of property by the Leekes a considerable body of title deeds has resulted. The Leicestershire estate was again sold by Leeke Okeover in 1751-1752 to help clear his debts.
There is only a relatively small quantity of material relating to the Warwickshire estate in Oldbury and Mancetter, acquired by another 17th century marriage, that of Thomas Okeover (brother of Rowland Okeover, husband of Dame Elizabeth Pettus) to Elizabeth Farmer, daughter of John Farmer of Oldbury.
The main sequence of title deeds is joined by a considerable volume of miscellaneous title deeds, some relating to families into which the Okeovers married but others having no obvious connection.
Many of the miscellaneous Staffordshire deeds relate to the Hollinshead family, with whom the Okeovers were related as a result of the marriage of Elizabeth Okeover, sister of Leeke Okeover, to Thomas Hollinshead of Ashenhurst. The Hollinsheads were solicitors and estate agents in Leek and Bradnop and many of the miscellaneous Staffordshire deeds may have been derived from this source.
The estate papers can again be divided into individual estates in the same sequence as the title deeds. The Staffordshire and Derbyshire estate papers include some very early leases dating from the 13th century. There is also a fine 1633(?) survey of Atlow by Senior and some very interesting 17th century material relating to the regulation of the open fields and pastures at Mapleton, as well as estate papers relating to the 1730-1731 enclosure. There is also a large collection of standard tenancy agreements for the Staffordshire/Derbyshire estate. The Wymeswold estate papers contain a considerable amount of material relating to the open fields there together with several immensely detailed terriers. The Norfolk estate papers are few in number but contain several bills and accounts for work carried out on the farms at Hardwick and also contain a certain amount of material relating to the Court of Sewers and the general problems of drainage in the area around Kings Lynn. The outstanding item is a 17th century survey of the manor of South Elmham, Suffolk when it was in the possession of Sir John Pettus.
There are two main groups of accounts, the principal one being the very extensive accounts of Leeke Okeover between 1723 and 1762 and the second one covering the years 1850-1860 under H.C. Okeover and Reverend R.R. Vaughton. Each consists of loose bills, receipts and vouchers relating to estate, personal, household and legal matters. The accounts of Leeke Okeover are particularly full; all his bills, receipts and vouchers had to be kept because of his accumulated debts which eventually led to his exile in France and Belgium in 1751-1752.
Of particular interest are the papers of Leeke Okeover which include his notebook and correspondence when he lived as `Mr Scrimpshaw' in exile in northern France and Belgium to escape his creditors 1751-1752. The correspondence series D231/M/E/1744-4764 also includes material about the rebuilding of Foremark Hall for which there are plans including unexecuted projects. There are also papers relating to the Chancery court case brought by his wife's niece Margaret Nicoll relating to his guardianship 1751-1754. The family papers include some business papers 1676-1685 of his father-in-law, William Leeke, serjeant-at-law.
Leeke Okeover's estate correspondence includes irregular correspondence with the Leicestershire and Norfolk estate agents, with the staff at Okeover when at his London home, with Trinity College, Cambridge over the lease of tithes. There is also an interesting series of letters from the 1740s (with accompanying plans) with Sanderson, the architect, regarding the rebuilding of Okeover Hall. Many of the letters written in exile concern the sale of the Norfolk and Leicestershire estates.
Among the miscellaneous estate papers is a fine set of papers relating to the enclosure at Bradnop in the 1680s in which T. Hollinshead acted as an enclosure commissioner. There are also several interesting items relating to the Howe estate in South Nottinghamshire, including a grant of free warren in Langar and Barnstone by Edward I. The small amount of Warwickshire material includes some 18th century coal-mining material relating to Ansley.
The family material consists largely of 17th and 18th century settlements, wills and associated papers. They also include diaries of Mary Ann Ward, daughter of General Sir George Anson and mother of H.C. Okeover 1846-1874, of Elizabeth Jane, Lady Waterpark, mother-in-law of H.C. Okeover 1852-1893 and of H.C. Okeover 1859-1909. There are several legal papers, such as the case papers in the case regarding the treatment of Mary Nicoll by her guardian Leeke Okeover and his wife Margaret in 1751.
The personal correspondence largely consists of that between Leeke Okeover and his wife while in exile (including a rough notebook describing his travels in France and Belgium) and letters from Haughton Charles Okeover at Eton in the 1830s. The first Okeover charity was set up in 1669 by Rowland Okeover to provide organists and choirboys for Okeover Church from income derived from land in Atlow. A second charity was set up by H.F. Okeover to provide a house for clergymen's widows at Mapleton. As in the case of title deeds and estate papers there is again miscellaneous material in considerable quantities largely consisting of wills and associated papers. There are also several culinary and medicinal recipes dating from the 18th and 19th centuries in the records.
The business papers relate almost entirely to the Hollinsheads' legal practice and consist chiefly of bills and receipts together with two early 18th century letter books.
There are also a few papers relating to the legal business of William Leeke, father of Catherine Leeke, the wife of Thomas Okeover.
The papers relating to office consist mainly of the working papers of Rowland Farmer Okeover in his term of office as Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1782-1783. There are also several earlier writs to other members of the family serving chiefly as sheriffs of Staffordshire.
CONTENTS
Title deeds
D231/M/T/1-385 Title deeds relating to the Derbyshire and Staffordshire Estates of the Okeover family
D231/M/T/1-33 Okeover Estate (Okeover, Okeover Woodhouse and Coldwall)
D231/M/T/34-130 Swinscoe and Woodhouse estate
D231/M/T/131-158 Atlow and Bradbourne estate
D231/M/T/159-161 Snelston estate
D231/M/T/162-272 Mapleton estate
D231/M/T/273-294 Snelsdale and Mayfield estate
D231/M/T/295-298 Stretton (near Burton on Trent) estate
D231/M/T/299-308 Ashbourne estate
D231/M/T/309-316 Stanton (near Mayfield) estate
D231/M/T/317-318 Broadlow Ash estate
D231/M/T/319-325 Calton estate
D231/M/T/326 Denstone estate
D231/M/T/327-329 Sheen estate
D231/M/T/330-344 Musden Grange estate (Ilam and Calton)
D231/M/T/345-367 Blore estate
D231/M/T/368-376 Various small estates (Staffordshire and Derbyshire)
D231/M/T/377-385 Staffordshire and Derbyshire estates combined
D231/M/T/386-519 Title deeds relating to the Norfolk and Suffolk estates of the Okeover family
D231/M/T/386-416 Hardwick estate (Hardwick, North Runton, Rackheath, etc.)
D231/M/T/417-460 Little Ellingham estate
D231/M/T/461-517 Kings Lynn estate
D231/M/T/518-519 Huntingfield (Suffolk) estate
D231/M/T/520-678 Title deeds relating to the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire estates of the Okeover family
D231/M/T/520-660 Wymeswold (Leicestershire) estate
D231/M/T/661-669 Nottinghamshire estate
D231/M/T/670-678 Small Leicestershire estates
D231/M/T/679-686 Title deeds relating to the Warwickshire estates of the Okeover family
D231/M/T/679-680 Mancetter
D231/M/T/681-683 Oldbury
D231/M/T/684-686 Weddington
D231/M/T/687-695 Title deeds relating to the London property of the Okeover family
D231/M/T/687-695 London property
D231/M/T/696-877 Miscellaneous title deeds
D231/M/T/696-706 Miscellaneous Staffordshire deeds
D231/M/T/707-709 Miscellaneous Cheshire deeds
D231/M/T/710-711 Miscellaneous Lancashire deeds
D231/M/T/712-774 Miscellaneous Staffordshire deeds
D231/M/T/775-788 Miscellaneous Derbyshire deeds
D231/M/T/789-793 Miscellaneous Norfolk deeds
D231/M/T/794-818 Miscellaneous Leicestershire deeds
D231/M/T/819-821 Miscellaneous Warwickshire deeds
D231/M/T/822-836 Miscellaneous Nottinghamshire deeds
D231/M/T/837-841 Miscellaneous London deeds
D231/M/T/842-845 Miscellaneous Essex deeds
D231/M/T/846-858 Miscellaneous Gloucester deeds
D231/M/T/859-862 Miscellaneous Cheshire deeds
D231/M/T/863-864 Miscellaneous Lincolnshire deeds
D231/M/T/865 Miscellaneous Northamptonshire deeds
D231/M/T/866 Miscellaneous Shropshire deeds
D231/M/T/867-872 Numbers not used
D231/M/T/873-877 Swinscoe and Woodhouse estate deeds
Manorial records
D231/M/M/1-45 Derbyshire and Staffordshire
D231/M/M/1-33 Okeover Manor Court
D231/M/M/34-43 Atlow Manor Court
D231/M/M/44-45 Okeover/ Atlow Manor Courts
D231/M/M/46-65 Norfolk and Suffolk
D231/M/M/46-47 Little Ellingham Manorial
D231/M/M/48-65 Boylands and Chediston Manorial
D231/M/M/66-78 Leicestershire
D231/M/M/66-78 Wymeswold Manor Court
D231/M/M/79-83 Miscellaneous
Estate papers
D231/M/E/1-498 Staffordshire and Derbyshire estates
D231/M/E/1-178 Okeover estate
D231/M/E/179-235 Swinscoe and Woodhouse estates
D231/M/E/236-318 Atlow and Bradbourne estates
D231/M/E/319-321 Snelston estate
D231/M/E/322-383 Mapleton estate
D231/M/E/384-401 Mayfield and Snelsdale estate
D231/M/E/402 Stanton estate
D231/M/E/403 Stretton estate
D231/M/E/404-425 Ilam estate
D231/M/E/426-447 Blore estate
D231/M/E/448-449 Broadlow Ash estate
D231/M/E/450 Kniveton estate
D231/M/E/451 Norbury estate
D231/M/E/452 Duffield Church
D231/M/E/453 Derbyshire estate
D231/M/E/454-456 Fenny Bentley estate
D231/M/E/457 Findern estate
D231/M/E/458-498 Derbyshire and Staffordshire estates combined
D231/M/E/499-583 Norfolk estates
D231/M/E/499-538 Norfolk estate
D231/M/E/539-552 Little Ellingham estate
D231/M/E/553-564 Kings Lynn estate
D231/M/E/565-583 Suffolk estate
D231/M/E/584-660 Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire
D231/M/E/584-657 Leicestershire estate
D231/M/E/658-660 Thorp, Wysall and Willoughby, Nottinghamshire
D231/M/E/661-674 Warwickshire
D231/M/E/675-687 London
D231/M/E/688-5009 Other Okeover family estate papers
D231/M/E/688 Unidentified estate
D231/M/E/689 Manchester
D231/M/E/690 Cotham Wolds
D231/M/E/691-5009 Okeover estate in general in counties
D231/M/E/5010-5211 Other families' estate papers
D231/M/E/5010-5118 Miscellaneous Staffordshire estate papers
D231/M/E/5119-5135 Miscellaneous Derbyshire estate papers
D231/M/E/5136-5144 Miscellaneous Norfolk estate papers
D231/M/E/5145-5151 Miscellaneous Leicestershire estate papers
D231/M/E/5152-5161 Miscellaneous Warwickshire estate papers
D231/M/E/5162-5174 Papers relating to Arley when R.R. Vaughton was Rector
D231/M/E/5175-5188 Miscellaneous Nottinghamshire estate papers
D231/M/E/5189-5207 Miscellaneous London estate papers
D231/M/E/5208 Miscellaneous Gloucestershire estate papers
D231/M/E/5209-5210 Miscellaneous Cheshire estate papers
D231/M/E/5211 Miscellaneous Shropshire estate papers
Maps and plans
D231/M/P/1-9 Maps and plans
Family papers
D231/M/F/1-349 Okeover family
D231/M/F/1 Pardons
D231/M/F/2-14 Wills and associated papers
D231/M/F/15-37 Family settlements
D231/M/F/38-63 Legal papers
D231/M/F/64-306 Correspondence
D231/M/F/307-349 Okeover charities
D231/M/F/350-438 Other families
D231/M/F/350-352 Pardons and religious privileges
D231/M/F/353-417 Wills and associated papers
D231/M/F/418-420 Inventories
D231/M/F/421-426 Settlements
D231/M/F/427-438 Other papers
D231/M/F/439-442 Okeover family
D231/M/F/439-441 Diaries
D231/M/F/442 Family history
Business
D231/M/B/1-7 William Leeke
D231/M/B/8-240 Hollinshead family legal practice
Public Office
D231/M/O/1-9 Appointments
D231/M/O/10-20 Other papers
D231/M/O/21-144 R.F. Okeover as Sheriff of Warwickshire
D231/M/O/145-151 Miscellaneous papers
Miscellaneous
D231/M/Z/1-17 Miscellaneous deeds and estate papers
D231/M/Z/18-27 Verse
D231/M/Z/28-290 Recipes
D231/M/Z/291-307 Prints and photographs
D231/M/Z/308-315 Miscellaneous family items
D231/M/Z/316-340 Manuscript notes and correspondence
D231/M/Z/341-352 Printed books, articles and catalogues
D231/M/Z/353-408 Miscellaneous |
| Administrative History | The Okeover family traced their family to Akeover (later Okeover) on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border in the tenth century. They take their name from this small parish that lies just to the west of Ashbourne. The family stayed in Okeover developing their estates in Staffordshire and Derbyshire by purchase and marriage into local families.
The manor of Okeover has been in the family's possession since the early Middle Ages and the permanent estate of the family is concentrated in this part of Staffordshire and Derbyshire with Okeover as the nucleus, but including also land in Mapleton, Swinscoe, Woodhouse, Blore, Atlow and Snelston.
Thomas Okeover (1679-1710) married Katherine (or Catherine) Leeke (or Leek or Leake) of Wymeswold, Leicestershire. Under the will of their son, Leake Okeover (1745-1793), the estate passed to Rowland farmer Okeover whose main residence was at Oldbury Hall in Warwickshire. He was succeeded by his grandson, Haughton Charles Okeover (born 1825). The estate eventually passed to Sir Ian Walker, baronet Walker of Gateacre who added the surname Okeover in 1956. See D1849.
Okeover Hall was rebuilt in the period after 1686. It was enlarged and to a great extent rebuilt by Leeke Okeover in the 1740s but his planned work was never completed. When the Okeover estate passed to the Warwickshire branch Okeover Hall was not used as the main residence. In 1961 Okeover Hall became the main seat of the Walker-Okeover family. |
| Custodial History | The records were deposited at Derbyshire Record Office at various dates between 1963 and 1984. D231/M/Z/409 was found in the Conservation Studio in what was believed to be an empty box in September 2024. There was a small note with the volume reading "Okerover [sic] of Okeover". |