| Administrative History | The Burdett family was formerly of Bramcote in Warwickshire and first became involved with Foremark through the marriage of Sir Thomas Burdett of Bramcote (1585-1647) with Jane Fraunces of Foremark in 1602. Jane was daughter and heiress of William Fraunces of Foremark and niece and heiress (through her mother) of John Fraunces of Ticknall. Sir Thomas and Jane Burdett's descendants succeeded therefore to both the Fraunces of Foremark and Fraunces of Ticknall estates. Thomas was created 1st Baronet of Bramcote and the family continued to hold property and serve as local officers in Warwickshire. Sir Thomas' son, Sir Francis (1608-1696) became the 2nd Baronet, and his son Sir Robert (1640-1716) became the 3rd Baronet.
Sir Robert Burdett, the 4th Baronet (1716-1797), inherited the title from his grandfather aged 4 months. In 1738 he was High Sheriff of Derbyshire, and from 1748-1768 he was a Member of Parliament for Tamworth. He rebuilt Foremark Hall in the 1762, following extensive alterations to the grounds in the 1730s. Foremark Hall ceased to be the main family seat when Ramsbury, Wiltshire was preferred in the early nineteenth century, the family having inherited estates there in 1800.
Sir Francis Burdett, the 5th Baronet (1770-1844), inherited the title from his grandfather, and was a prominent politician associated with prison reform, Catholic Emancipation and the Reform Act of 1832. His marriage to Sophia Coutts allied the family to the London banking family with extensive properties in Wiltshire. His son Sir Robert became the 6th Baronet in 1844 and died unmarried in 1880. His cousin Sir Francis Burdett (1813-1892) became the 7th Baronet, and his son Sir Francis (1869-1951) became the 8th Baronet. The baronetcy became extinct in 1951 upon Sir Francis' death. During WWI Foremarke Hall was used as an army military hospital, and in WWII it became an officer training centre. In 1947 Repton Preparatory School moved into Foremarke Hall, where they currently remain. |
| Custodial History | This document was transferred from Derby local studies library in 2002. Box-listed by volunteer Roger Jennens |