| Administrative History | Ashover is one of the ancient parishes of the county. It was divided into the quarters of Alton, Ashover, Milltown and Upper End; these included the villages and hamlets of Alton, Butterley, Kelstedge, Littlemoor, Milltown and Northedge.
The Domesday Survey of Derbyshire, 1087, states that a church and a priest were being then extant at Ashover. During the reign of King Stephen, it was given by Robert, Earl Ferrers, to the Abbey of St. Helens, at Darley. The manor of Ashover was divided into four portions near the end of 13th cent. The lord of one of these purchased the advowson from the Abbey. In 1302 the Newhall Manor, together with the advowson of the church, was given by Margaret de Reresby to her youndest son, Adam. This family came from Lincolnshire, and obtained a footing in Derbyshire by marriage with a co-heiress of Deincourt in the reign of Henry III. A family who on several occassions filled the office of High Sheriff. The Manor and Advowson were sold in 1623 by Sir Thomas Reresby to the then rector of Ashover, Revd. Emmanuel Bourne. By intermarriage with the Bournes, the advowson subsequently became vested in the Nodder family. (D5458/11/5)
The church was built in 1419. (D5458/11/2) Its spire was erected by the Babington family. (D5458/11/6) The church contains a memorial stone to its founder, Robert Hare. (Kelly's Directory, 1887, p.24) In 1886 the church underwent renovation work, and was re-opened in that October. (D5458/11/6)
There was a chapelry at Dethick - in 1663, F Allyn bequested 40s a year to maintain a minister at the Chapel. A separate parish of Dethick, Lea and Holloway was created in 1899. |