| Administrative History | The core of the Hognaston estate referred to in these title deeds was the property of Ralph Melland of Derby, who had purchased the lands from Thomas Buxton. Ralph died in around 1779 and left his house on St Mary's Gate in Derby and the Hognaston property to his nephew Thomas Melland of Derby. After Thomas's death the estate was divided between his three daughters Elizabeth, Sarah and Catherine. Sarah and Catherine's shares were purchased by their sister Elizabeth's husband Richard Thompson in 1818.
Richard Thompson had already bought the Riddings Farm in Hognaston from the Melland family in the late 1790s, and continued to buy small properties in Hognaston until 1828. He died in 1832 and the estate passed to his son Richard Thompson, who died in 1871. Richard Thompson the son had begun to style himself as Richard Melland Thompson in the mid-19th century. He married twice and had eight children, amongst whom the estate was divided after his death. The second son from his second marriage, John Ralph Melland Thompson, bought the shares of his five half-siblings. John R M Thompson lived in Ilkeston and sold the Hognaston property in 1920. His wife Alice was the daughter of John Melland of Matlock. |
| Custodial History | The documents were deposited in Derbyshire Record Office by a private individual in 1954. A further deposit was received in 1965. |