| History | At the time of the Domesday survey Melbourne was part of the King’s ancient demesnes. In the reign of King Edward I the manor of Melbourne belonged to his brother, Edmund, Earl of Lancaster. His son, Thomas granted it to his adherent, Robert de Holland, who may have built a castle there. After Robert rebelled against King Edward II, the manor was taken away from him and restored to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. It later became part of the Duchy of Lancaster, when Henry was created Duke of Lancaster in 1345, and it remained so until 1604, when King James I granted it to Charles, Earl of Nottingham, who soon conveyed it to Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, with whose descendants it remained. On the death of the 10th Earl in 1789, the manor passed by his sister, Elizabeth, to John Rawdon, 1st Earl Moira. His son, Francis Rawdon-Hastings (created Marquess of Hastings in 1816) succeeded as lord in 1789. In 1893 and 1895 Lord Donington was lord of the manor. In 1929 J.G. Shields became lord of the manor, and he was still said to be lord in 1942.
Geographic Extent
The manor and lordship was bounded by the lordships of Donington, Breedon, Wilson, Staunton, Calke, Derby Hills, Stanton, Swarkestone and Weston, and extended into Swarkestone, Chellaston, Osmaston and Normanton
Nature of Jurisdiction
Court leet and baron. The last court leet was held in 1893. |