| Administrative History | Manorial courts dealt with minor crimes and land transactions. Most of these manors had a connection with the Ferrers family, Earls of Derby, at some time.
MANOR OF BRADBOURNE
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 Bradbourne was part of the lands of Henry de Ferrers. In c1100 it was given to the Cauceis family. During the reign of King John it was given by Sir Geoffrey de Cauceis to Godard de Bradbourne. It remained with the Bradbourne family down into the late 16th century, when it passed to Jane, the heiress of Sir Humphrey Bradbourne (died 1581) who married Sir Humphrey Ferrers in 1584.It remained with the Ferrers family until the death of another Sir Humphrey Ferrers in1684, when it passed to his daughter Jane, who married Robert Shirley, later Earl Ferrers. It passed via the marriage of his grand-daughter to James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton, whose daughter married George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. In 1809 George Ferrers Townshend, 3rd Marquess Townshend, sold the manor to Philip Gell. The manor was put up for sale in 1836, after which William Eaton Mousley would seem to have become lord. By 1876 Sir William Fitzherbert held the lordship, and it remained with the Fitzherberts until at least 1928.
MANOR OF HOGNASTON
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Hognaston was originally a berewick of Ashbourne, part of the King’s royal demesne. Not long afterwards it was granted to William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby. It was forfeited by the attainder after the defeat of Robert de Ferrers at the battle of Chesterfield in 1266. It was part of the lands granted by King Edward I to Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, becoming later part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Stephen de Segreave is believed to have been lord during the reign of Edward II. Its subsequent history is unclear, with several sources saying that it passed through several hands. It would seem that much of Hognaston became intermixed with the Duchy manor of Wirksworth, although part of Hognaston was in the manor of Holland alias Richmond, which later belonged to the Gell family. In 1546 King Henry VIII granted a messuage and lands which had been part of the estates of Rocester Abbey to Ralph Gell. In the 18th century there are court records for the manor of Hognaston, the lords being members of the Gell family. The Gells, later the Chandos-Pole-Gells, remained lords there from then on, with H.A. Chandos-Pole-Gell being recorded as lord in 1932.
MANOR OF STAPENHILL
At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Stapenhill belonged to the Abbey of Burton, although there was another manor there belonging to Nigel de Stafford. The Burton Abbey manor remained as such until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s. It was briefly with the collegiate church founded on the site of the dissolved abbey, but when that it was itself dissolved, the manor was granted by King Henry VIII in 1545 to his advisor, Sir William Paget. The manor remained with the Pagets, later Marquesses of Anglesey. In 1895 the Marquess of Anglesey was still said to be lord of the manor.
MANOR OF WALTON ON TRENT
At the time of Domesday survey in 1086 Walton was held directly by the King as part of his lands. It was soon granted to Hugh d’Avranches, Earl of Chester (died 1101). In 1235 it belonged to Clementia, widow of Ralph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester. In 1273 it was possessed by Robert de Montalt. Its subsequent history is unclear, but it would seem that the manor had come into the possession of the Ferrers family by the end of the 14th century. It seems to have passed in the early 18th century through the female line to the Earls of Northampton, then to the Viscounts Townsend. On the death of the 3rd Marquess Townsend in 1855, it was probably sold to James Ridgeway, then by his son to Richard Ratcliff. In 1895 he was said to hold the manorial rights with Miss Disbrowe. |
| Custodial History | The records were purchased by Derbyshire Record Office at a Sotheby's auction in June 1971. Nothing is known of their provenance. |