| Administrative History | The Revell family of Carnfield can be traced back to the Thomas Revell of Higham sergeant at law who made his will in 1474. He had 4 sons of whom John the eldest founded the Revell family of Ogston (See D37) and Hugh the third son (died 1504) was the ancestor of the Carnfield family. Thomas Revell had purchased houses and land in Chesterfield and the surrounding area in 1468, property which passed to Hugh and remained in the family's possession until the 18th cent. Hugh Revell was involved in lead smelting and it may have been profits from the lead industry which enabled him to establish himself at Carnfield with a large purchase of land there in 1501. The first reference to the house at Carnfield is in the time of Hugh's grandson Thomas in the mid - 16th cent. This Thomas's grandson George (1561 - 1627) held the estate for 43 years, during which time he considerably extended it, particularly in South Normanton. His purchases included half South Normanton manor in 1592. His brother Edward purchased property on his own account, including half Pinxton manor, and later succeeded the childless George. He in turn was succeeded by his illegitimate son Francis Revell I. The family was probably at the height of its prosperity in the time of Francis Revell I's grandson Robert Revell I (died 1714) but the latter's son Robert II incurred heavy debts, resulting in the mortgage of the whole estate by 1729. It then mortgage of the whole estate by 1729. It then consisted of over 1,200 acres, valued at £20,000. After Robert II's death almost half the estate (by value) had to be sold. His daughter died childless in 1736 and the estate passed to Robert's brother the Reverend Francis Revell. He sold further property before his death in 1748 and what remained of the Revell estate passed to his cousin Edward. Meanwhile, the Reverend Francis Revell's illegitimate son Tristram made a career for himself in the Army and, later, the Derbyshire Militia of which he became a Lieutenant Colonel. On the death of Edward Revell in 1770, his property passed to a relative Sir John Eardley Wilmot, Lord Chief Justice, who had purchased the reversion some years before. He conveyed it in trust for Tristram Revell who lived at Carnfield until his death in 1797. When his widow died in the following year, the Revell family of Carnfield came to an end. |
| Custodial History | These documents were found amongst the papers of a descendant of the Wilson family and transferred to Derbyshire County Council in April 1953. They became part of the holdings of the Record Office in 1962. Further records of the Revells of Carnfield form part of D37 and two other groups of their documents are thought to be in private hands. |