| Administrative History | The manor of Horsley and Hoarston (or Horeston) included Horsley Woodhouse, Kilburn and Horsley. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Horsley belonged to Ralph de Burun, who built a castle at Horeston, which was the seat for his barony. The castle was still held by the Burun (or Byron) family in c.1200, but was soon afterwards granted to William de Briuwere and then reverted to the Crown.
The governorship of Horeston Castle with the soke of Horsley was granted to several people over the next couple of centuries. In 1392 John de Holland, son of Thomas, Earl of Kent, was granted Horeston Castle for life. In 1453 the castle and lordship was granted by King Henry VI to Edmund, Earl of Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke. It passed to Edmund's son, later King Henry VII. In 1514 King Henry VIII granted the manor of Horsley and castle of Horeston to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. In c.1530 they were conveyed to Sir Michael Stanhope, from whom they descended to the Earls of Chesterfield. The castle still existed in the reign of Elizabeth I, but was demolished at some unknown date.
In 1820 the manor was sold by George Shanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to Edward Sacheverell Sitwell. It remained with the Sitwell family, with Edward Sacheverell Wilmot-Sitwell being recorded as lord of the manor in 1936. |
| Custodial History | The records were transferred to the Record Office in August 1999. |