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de Ferrers Earls of Derby, Founders of Darley Abbey and Keepers of Duffield Castle, Article by Andrew Thurman.
de Ferrers Earls of Derby, Founders of Darley Abbey and Keepers of Duffield Castle
The de Ferrers Family History & Pedigree:
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Watcheline de Ferrers was a Norman Lord in Gastenois, a district renowned for iron mines. Hugh, Lord Montford, Constable of Normandy, fought and died there on the same day as Watcheline de Ferrers in 1045.
Henry de Ferrers came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and is thought to have been in charge of the Norman armories.
Henry De Ferrers was rewarded by King William with *210 lordships granted to him, scattered around 14 counties in England; his chief seat was Tutbury, Stafford. In 1080 he founded a house of Clunic monks at Tutbury and his example was followed by successive decedents of the de Ferrers family.
FIG 01 Ferrers Family Tree from Journal of Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 – 1960), page 01 *Redrawn from an old damaged copy.
FIG 02 J Charles Cox – Duffield Castle: Henry de Ferrers,“Some Account of the seven Earl Ferrers who held it”
In 1080, Henry was appointed a commissioner by King William and he made the Doomsday Survey, completed in 1086
Henry and wife Bertha had 3 sons and 3 daughters
1. Engenulph was given Duffield Castle, Derby by his father
2. William, who is thought to have accompanied Robert duke of Normandy to the Holy Land
3. Robert succeeded his father4. Amicia, wife of Nigel d’Albini5. Emmeline
6. Gundrenda, wife of Sir Robert de Blount the first feudal Baron of Ixworth Suffolk
FIG 03:
Tabulated by author from various sources
The Six Earl de Ferrers Of Derby
1st Earl of Derby Robert i de Ferrers, son of Boron Henry de Ferrers. Year of Earldom From - To 1138 - 1139 Year Born C. 1068 Year Died 1139
2nd Earl of Derby Robert ii de Ferrers, son of Earl Robert de Ferrers Year of Earldom From - To 1139 - 1162 Year Born C. 1100, Year Died 1162
3rd Earl William de Ferrers i, 3rd Earl of Derby. Son of Earl Robert de Ferrers 2nd Earl of Derby. Wife Sybil de Braose. Year of Earldom From - To 1162 - *1173 *King Henry ii removed his titles in 1173, Year Born C. 1140 at Tutbury Castle Year Died 1190.
4th Sir William de Ferrers ii, 4th Earl of Derby. Wife Agnes de Kevellioc. Year of Earldom From - To 1190 - 1247, Year Born C. 1162 Derbys Year Died 1247.
5th William de Ferrers iii, 5th Earl of Derby. Married twice; Firstly wife Sibyl Marshall, second wife, Margaret de Quincey.Year of Earldom From - To 1247 - 1254 .Year Born C.1193 year Died 1254.
6th Robert de Ferrers iii, 6th Earl of Derby(the last de Ferrers Earl of Derby). Wife Mary de Lusignan, when he was age 10. Secondly, he married Eleanor de Bohun in 1269. Year of Earldom From - To 1254 - *1269 *King Henry iii, removed Robert’s land and titles after he rebelled against him and demolished Duffield Castle. Year Born C. 1239 Year Died 1279.
They were all descended from Henry de Ferrers, who was made a Baron, by William The Conqueror. Henry was the armorer of the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings, 1066.
FIG 04: Coat of Alms (Courtesy Wikipedia no copyright infringement intended):
Robert de Ferrers, the first Earl of Derby succeeded his father, Baron Henry de Ferrers but only a little is recorded about him:
He married Hawisia de Vitry, she may have been a daughter of Andre de Vitre who was a companion of William the conqueror.
In 1125 the Earl of Ferrers, his wife Hawisia and their two sons Robert and William, attested a charter by which, Prior William of Tutbury granted the Manor of Norbury to William Fitzherbert. Robert de Ferrers was created Earl of Derby by King Stephen in 1138 after the Battle of The Standard but he died the following year leaving issue (meaning a complication over inheritance of property and titles).
Robert his heir, became 2nd Earl of Derby 1139 and founded Augustine house of St Helen, Derby and Darley Abbey circa *1148. He died in 1162.
William, son of Robert became the 3rd Earl of Derby and was said by historian Stephen Glover, to have been the eldest son and he became Earl of Tutbury, which was his seat. When in Derby he stayed at Duffield Castle. William was a Knight Templar and joined King Richard the Lion Heart in a crusade and died during the Siege of Acre, Jerusalem in 1190.
Saladin recaptured the mount of Jerusalem from the crusaders in 1189 and the coastal region of Acre was fought for between 1189 – 1191. After taking Acre, in 1191, it became the new base of the Crusaders in Jerusalem.
The Foundation of Darley Abbey:
* The first pages of the Cartulary of Darley Abbey, held by the British Museum, are missing, so the exact date the Augustine House of Darley Abbey was founded, is uncertain. Many eminent historians have come to varying conclusions ranging between, 1120 to 1160.
Robert Ferrers founded a house of Augustine canons in Derby dedicated to St. Helen, circa 1146. There was a mother church of St. Mary, thought to be on or close to St. Mary’s Gate. This was one of Derby’s six churches known to have existed in Derby during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042 – 1065) and the location of this church was lost until 1925, when the burial ground was found.
The Derby Daily Telegraph report mentioned a baker who lived nearby on St. Mary’s Gate and he was mentioned in “The chronicles of Dale Abbey”. The pious baker regularly bestowed alms, food and clothing for the poor of the parish of St. Mary at this church.
FIG 05: Derby Daily Telegraph, 7 January 1925 Lost Church of St. Mary, A cemetery discovered on Queen Street, Derby in 1925
In a dream he had before 1155, the baker was told to go to Deepdale and live in solitude. He became a hermit, living in a cave and he was an inspiration to the founders of Dale Abbey.
In 1155, the St. Mary’s Gate, Derby church was still in existence and the reason for it falling into disuse in not known. Perhaps the founding of another St. Mary’s Church in Darley Abbey and the majority of the St. Helen’s Augustine canons, relocating to Darley, contributed to its decline?
Of the site of the priory at Darley Abbey, eminent historians have debated about the year of its foundation. John Charles Cox and Stephen Glover have claimed that the original site intended for the church, chapels and ancillary buildings associated with an abbey was found to be unsuitable. My conjecture is that a church was built and other temporary buildings settled into on the area known as Darley Hill somewhere along the edge of the old Roman road that ran from Derby, through Darley Park and onto New Road, cutting though where Church Lane is now and into the woods whose small remnants are now known as “the Dell”. Somewhere close to Duffield Road.
The St. Mary’s Gate church of St. Mary predated any built by the house of the Augustine canons of Darley Abbey and predates the Norman Conquest. In “Bishop Durdent and the Foundation of Derby School”, the author, B. Tacchella wrote in this Derbyshire Archaeological Journal article:
Tacchella goes on to say that in the proceeding centuries, the monks were little hampered by bishops who were largely of their own choosing.
Tacchella identified and highlighted the dilemma and difficulties that English priests and monks suffered in post Norman England. More eminent historians of medieval English churches than Tacchella, missed this point and the importance of it. Dugdale, Glover and the Rev. Cox miss this point when they wrote that Robert de Ferrers, albeit with endorsements of his monarchs of Norman decent, was the founder of Darley Abbey and not Hugh Dean of Derby, who gave his lands at “little Darley”, on the banks of the river Derwent, for the house of Augustine canons. It is true that, in law, Robert de Ferrers was the founder of St Helen’s and later the founder of Darley Abbey. This was the law of his Norman kings from whom his family was given their wealth and power and granted earldoms in several English counties. I think that the abbot of Darley Abbey and other abbeys and churches would accept tithes, hay, corn and a portion of rents from messuages and in return, the de Ferrers would receive absolution for their sins and those of their ancestors and their decedents. I get a sense of the difficulties and tensions described by Tacchella, when I read a rough transcription of a de Ferrers, Darley Abbey charter and by contrast affection, not tension in the writing of Hugh’s charter for the gift of land given to Darley Abbey. I get a sense of indifference to de Ferrers and a sense of love for the dean, and a sense that the canons and abbot of Darley regarded Hugh as their founder, even if he wasn’t in the eyes of Norman law. I transcribed three charters from Latin with “Google Translate”.
FIG 06: Charters 1, 2, 3 as numbered in Sir William Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum Vol. 6 part 1.
NUM. I Charter of Hugo, said Priest, Dean of Derby, the foundation of the same:
[Fleas presence of the Term. Easter 7 Rio. 2. Ret. 28. Derby.
To her beloved father, the king of England and Richard of Chester, all of Holy Mother Church sons, Hugh the priest said Dean of Derby, and so forth. Albinus had fallen, and that I am, I have given the captain of the sciad with him, from the canons of the holy St. Helena, near Derby, with the whole of my tenure as evidence of a little girl of Derby, the church has come to dwell in it to do, the God of those who are serving in the same place for ever, to him and to the canons. I have given of my patrimony of Derby, in addition to the same, and the patronage of the church of St. Peter and of Derby, and all the appurtenances of their fathers, for the free will set forth my good deed, for the salvation of mine and what is yours, and of all who believe in God of the living and of the dead. This woman, being a gift of God, devolved, they shall serve, have made, and have established the in the place of what has been said Albinus had *fallen, and the foresaid beloved kinsman Robert of Derby to the canons who, with the consent of Henry, the son of my people, and voluntate, both for himself and for me, forever: And I beseech you, for the salvation of the souls of the vestrarura nature as to firmetis it, and I in no way be to them on that molesdam, or the harm that a man does to support in perpetuity. Scien¬ While it is true that praenominatus Albinus and his brothers did me in writing and faithfully admitted that they never fail to help my son said Henry. He predicted that because I want my donation to charity lifelong this present document that I have given them a sealed, before fRogerus archidiácono Derby, Peter Sandy- air, Roberto de Duyn, Henry Tuschet. Witnesses Herewardus Ponte Gylaf, Agemund Godewyne, Robertum son ULSer and lettered and Ingermund le Palmer, and others burghers, on a meadow near the Derwent, etc.
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
* A fallen cleric could be very similar to a fallen paladin: They need to atone for a bit in order to regain their powers, and show true remorse about what they did in a way that won’t just make them do it all over again later. ... And the gods don’t have the power to make infinite clerics and priests.
I am intrigued by the “fallen” description of abbot Albinus, who was the first abbot of Darley Abbey. He was described as being very pious by many eminent early historians.
Could it be that he was required to be more cooperative with the Norman appointed Bishops as described by B. Tacchella in his account of Bishop Durdent And The Foundation of Derby School Journal of Derbyshire Archeological Society Vol. 33, 1911?
No. 2.
Charter of King Henry II
Henry, by the king of England and the Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, archbishops, & c. health. Know that I have granted and by this my présent charter hâve con him as upholding the church of Saint Mary of the Derlega, and the canons there serving God, they are all the subscribed items that can reasonably given to them by and granted to, as the charters of donors are the same: From the gift of *Ralf son of Stephen, and grant of, the chamberlain of the house, and have children of Hubert of Ralph, the land out of Pencric, and from the Rip- Peleus, and of the Wechiltho; and the land of it out of the Childwella this is connected with the manor of Mares Pencric, and the part of the woods Cruche, than the aforesaid Hubert gave them leave, to be had by means of goals in the charter of the said determined direction, with quittance pannage of swine, the dominion of the abbey by means of the whole grove of the manor of Cruche, of whom I adgistare they wish, of the aforesaid canō, liquefying, on the side with that; and the right of advowson, the same Hu¬ Herbert for that which he hath in the In its fields of Derby, as noted by the boundaries of the Charter, and the service will de- terminated by the gift of William Andrew Aubre wife, and their son Richard, Robert and the whole territory in the fields of Derby, the boundaries of the Charter as striking as his own, and by the service in it is enclosed. From the gift of Sewalli In its fields of Derby, as noted by the boundaries of the Charter, and the service will de- terminated by the gift of William Andrew Aubre wife, and their son Richard, Robert and the whole territory in the fields of Derby, the boundaries of the Charter as striking as his own, and by the service in it is enclosed. From the gift of Sewalli Fulcheri, and Robert Piro, and William’s son, half of the Aldewerh as their charters tes¬ again. The gift of Henry de Braylesford as its charter testifies. Wherefore I will and firmly command to confirm the foregoing, and the canons of the Church of St. Mary of the Derlega serving God are in him, shall have and keep all of the above, well and in peace, freely, & c. In churches on earth and revenues, Sec. as the of the aforesaid do the hawkers of them, they have conceded, and they have given, and charters, have based their confirmation¬.
Witnesses Geoffrey, the son of my master, William de Humez constable of.
Reginald curten, Richard Aufrere, Guy de Saint Walerico, Willielmode Curtmorlemer, in Wodestochiam. Who, indeed, of the place of the aforesaid state of Albinus and his successors, in the previously abbot of the abbey church in free alms, have continued in the whole in the same time the aforesaid ; king’s seer; have.
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
This charter confirms many other charters already made by nobels and the clergy.
*Ralph son of Stephen was probably Ralph FitzStephen, an illegitimate son of the late King Stephen and a Royal Chamberlain of King Henry ii. Ralph probably represented King Henry ii and signed the charter on the king’s behalf.
NUM. 3.
Charter Robert, Count of Ferrers. [From Cartulario of Darley Abbey.]
Count Robert de Ferrers, Walter, bishop of Coventry, and all sons of the Holy Church and especially om¬ meat barons and all men of honor and so forth. I have laid the foundation of a religion in the Derby was the royal treasury, with the consent and confirmation of King Stephen, and with the consent of King Henry, and I earn canons and the Abbot. Of course, the king, however, presented the previously abbot of; I put them on my lands and rents. First of all, the church of Uttokishais a cunning player, and Cruche, with all its appurtenances, and the tithes of my people, from shillings’ worth of rent, of Derby was made, and a third part of the meadow, to which there are the two ends of one side of the Oddabroc, which I am, and my father is hold by hereditary right, said of the heirs of Stephen, the count, and then the king; and six shillings’ worth of land within a Osemun- deston, and the chapel with the cimeterio, and six acres in the Horde- wica with Aldwerk; and the amount of the one God for ever may Carratt de at- pull with wood of Duffield, or of the Chad- desden.
All these things which I have given to them, I accept this, and I confirm prae¬-called the church of God, and the holy garments of Mary, for me and my, both living and dead; and maintain the same church with the my om¬ hands of their tenures in the custody of, and a remand, both in wood and on a level surface, and in every place, without detriment to the dignity of the king is in the church itself. And I grant to them all the liberties which I have in the aforesaid tenements; namely, the toll, and the early season, and soc and sac, and *infangëthef, and confirmed by his charter which he granted the king of all things, & c.
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
* When used as nouns, infangenthef means, whereas soc and sac means the right of a lord to hear and decide legal cases on his estate without recourse to other courts. diffsense.com/diff/infangenthef/soc%20 and%20sac
The three charters I translated here from Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum don’t give us the exact year when Darley Abbey was founded, just that king Henry ii and Robert Ferrers 2nd Earl of Derby founded the abbey. De Ferrers became the 2ND Earl of Derby in 1139 and died 1162, so his foundation of the abbey was within this time-frame. De Ferrers had the consent and confirmation of the deceased King Stephen and the consent of Henry ii. To me this suggests that Henry ii was recently king, making the date from 1154 and his reign was 1154 to 1189, but Robert de Ferrers ii, Earl ii Derby died in 1162. Walter Durdent was Bishop of Coventry 2, Oct 1149 to 7 Dec 1159 catholic-hierarchy.org
So the legal foundation date by Robert de Ferrers ii was likely 1154 – 1159.
The translation of these charters from Latin to English is approximate and rough and place names may be in ancient English and the overall meaning of the translations is understandable, albeit not perfect.
FIG 07:
Tabulated by the author from knowledge & research
Glossary of place names in Charters 1, 2 and 3: Numbered By Sir William Dugdale - Monasticon Anglicanum Vol. 6 part 1.
Old Place Name In Charters
1.) Derlega
2.)Pencric, and from the Rip- Peleus
3.) Wechiltho land out of Childwella
4.) Cruche
5.) Sewalli “in its fields of Derby”
6.) Aldewerh Or Aldwerk
7.) "Henry de Braylesford”
8.) Uttokisha
9.) Osemun - deston
10.) Oddabroc
11.) the Chad- desden
Possible Place Names Today
1.) Darley Abbey, Derby
2.) Pentrich and Ripley, Derbys
3.) West Chilwell and Chilwell, Notts?
4.) Crich, Derbys
5.) Sawley?
6.) Aldwark
7.) Henry of Brailsford
8.) Utoxetter, Staffs
9.) Osmaston, near Litchurch, Derby
10.) Ockbrook? OR Odd Brook “rughedyche” now named Rowditch? (I am guessing this one)
11.) Chaddesden
However Sir William Dugdale sent a “swerveball” on the date of the foundation of Darley Abbey, with the following assertion Darley Abbey existed before 1121:
Fig 08:
FIG 09: Robert de Ferrers, also founded Merevale Abbey, where he is interred with his wife Margaret Peverel (photo Courtesy Wikipedia no copyright infringement intended):
A Roman Road Ran between Duffield And Darley Abbey:
FIG 10: Map of Roman roads and a short Extract Roman roads in Britain Vol. 2 North of the Foss way Bristol channel by Ivan D. Margary published 1955
On the side of the road from Derby marked 71a “THE STREET” and the dotted line is “inferred” from Derby and Duffield to Wirksworth. 18c and 18d show “Riknild Street” Derby. Some historians from Derbyshire Archaeological Journal have variously contested if the dotted line on “The Street” should run through Duffield or Kedleston. The Rev. Jon Charles Cox, clearly believed it passed by Duffield Castle.
FIG 11:
Extract Duffield Castle; It’s History, Site and recently found remains; With some Account of the Seven Earl Ferrers Who Held it. J.C. Cox From Journal of Derbyshire Archaeological Society and Natural History Society, Vol. 09 (1888)
I imagine that the successive members of the de Ferrers family in Duffield, used the old Roman road , “The Street” and on horseback in good weather, just a few minutes journey time from Duffield Castle to Darley Abbey and Derby.
According to historians, including Stephen Glover and the Rev John Charles Cox, the first location chosen for Darley Abbey, proved to be unsuitable for the abbey complex.
I think a mother church placed along “The Street”, would have been convenient for the Earls de Ferrers, if not completely convenient for the canons and the abbot, who found the land belonging to Dean Hugh to be more suitable for the ancillary buildings of the abbey. A mother church was already built off the Roman road?
Successive Earls of Derby signed charters for the same tithes, rents and advowsons to abbots and canons in the same location. This may be explained by B. Tacchella in “Bishop Durdent and the Foundation of Derby School” Published By Derbyshire Archaeological Society Volume 33, 1911.
B. Tacchella gave an example of a charter made for the same property in Bolsover, by successive generations of a family, it was explained thus:
FIG 12:
So successive de Ferrers, earls of Derby repeatedly signed charters for the same lands at Litchurch, Osmaston, Duffield, Ashbourne, Cich, Aldwark and Wirksworth Etc., and successive abbots and canons of Darley Abbey prayed for the souls of that earl, his ancestors and his decedents. It is likely that the mother Church of Darley Abbey, St. Mary had memorials and statues of the de Ferrers earls and their family.
Some small monastic heads, a Roman stone head and another of one looking like a Knight Templar were found in Darley Abbey.
FIG 13: Darley Abbey Stone Heads – Extracted from Darley Abbey Historical Group Research Report “SIX STONE HEADS FROM DARLEY ABBEY.”
Duffield Castle & Duffield Frith:
The seat of Henry de Ferrers was Tutbury Castle, a Saxon fortification that Henry rebuilt and strengthened. He also founded a priory at Tutbury. This place was on the edge of his Mercian domain, whereas Duffield was at the center and a more suitable base for the most powerful Baron in Mercia.
William the Conqueror gifted “Duffield Frith” to Henry as part of his reward for his services, including being a successful armorer in the 1066 Battle of Hastings and the conquest of England. Henry was a Commissioner and recorded parts of the Doomsday Survey taken between, 1080 to 1086 and subsequently was the master of considerable areas of subdued territories. (See FIG 02).
“Duffield Frith” in Derbyshire, extended from Duffield to Wirksworth and from Hulland to Heage. Townships within the frith, included Hazelwood, Holbrook, Makeney, Milford, Shottle and Windley.
Duffield Castle was erected by Henry de Ferrers circa 1088 and the excavated remains uncovered in 1886 showed that Tutbury was almost insignificant, compared to the stronghold made at *Duffield. The walls were found to be thicker than any other castle, excepting Dover Castle. The tower was the second largest in the kingdom in the 11th century, The White Tower of London being the only one taller than the tower at Duffield Castle.
*Seen page 119 Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society VOL 09-10 1879-1960
Henry de Ferrers died between the dates 1093 to 1100 and he gave Duffield Caste to his son Engenulph, and Duffield was primarily, his seat. Engenulph was the only member of the de Ferrers family to be permanently based at Duffield Castle, although I surmise that after he died the six de Ferrers, Earls of Derby would have stationed themselves at Duffield for shorter periods to perform civic duties in Derby or to garrison there and command their army and militia during sieges and battles. The seats or bases of the six de Ferrers Earls of Derby variously includes, Tutbury and Chesterfield Castles.
As mentioned, Duffield Castle was strategically placed at the center of the de Ferrers Mercian estates and the Roman road named Rykneld Street was literally on the castle’s doorstep (according to John Charles Cox). The Roman Road from Duffield to the South was convenient for Derby, passing through Quarndon and Darley Abbey. The Northern road led to Wirksworth and its lead mines and the High Peak beyond. The River Derwent at Duffield had a ford over it to the start of the road to Wirksworth. See FIG 11 and notes underneath.
Robert de Ferrers born circa 1068 was born in Derbyshire and later when he was in his 60s, he lived at Duffield Castle. He succeeded to his father Henry’s estates in 1088, the same
year his eldest brother Engenulph died. Robert became the first de Ferrers Earl of Derby in 1138. His tenure of Duffield Frith was from 1129 – 1130 which was convenient for his lead mines interest at Wirksworth. He was married to Hawise de Vitré and they had two sons, Walkelyn and William, who joined Robert Curthose the eldest son of William the Conqueror in France and he was captured and imprisoned after the Battle of Tinchebray. Robert and Hawise also had two daughters, Agnes and Isabel.
So Robert (the youngest) inherited his father’s estates and titles and he was a leading supporter of King Stephen. He took a large body of Derbyshire men northwards to repel Scottish invading forces. King David i, of Scotland was a supporter of King Stephen’s rival Matilda, for the English throne. There was fighting at The Battle of The Standard, near to Northallerton, on 22, August 1138. The Scotts army was defeated by the English led by Thurstan, Archbishop of York.
Robert de Ferrers was rewarded by King Stephen by giving him the title Earl of Derby i, and this title was hereditary. Charters signed by Robert, at this time showed he had three titles; Earl of Derby, Earl of Nottingham and Earl of Ferrers. He died the following year in 1139.
His youngest son, also named Robert de Ferrers inherited the title Earl of Derby ii in 1139 along with his father’s estates, including Tutbury and Duffield Frith. His two elder brothers, Engenulph and William were deceased at this time.
Robert ii, the same as his father, before him, supported King Stephen in the civil war, known as the “Anarchy”, against Matilda, who rivaled Stephen for the English throne and she was a claimant, being a daughter of King Henry i of England.
King Stephen rewarded Robert with the revenues of the Borough of Derby in 1139 and then in 1149 granted the Borough to the Earl of Chester. In 1153 Matilda’s son Henry of Anjoi, besieged Tutbury Castle because of de Ferrers allegiances to Stephen. King Stephen died in October 1154 and Henry of Anjou became Henry ii of England and Robert de
Ferrers pledged his allegiance to the new king. Despite this Henry ii, withdrew Robert’s title of Earl and took away his “third-penny” on the profits of the county of Derby.
Robert ii, died in 1162 and was succeeded by his son William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby iii. William held a grudge against King Henry ii because in 1155, he confiscated lands of Peveril Castle, held by his mother’s family that William had expected he might inherit.
Tutbury Castle was besieged again in 1173 by Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Dehebbarth acting in support of the Crown, when William de Ferrers was in occupation. William had joined the rebellion of the king’s sons, led by Henry the younger, against King Henry ii. The historian Sir William Dugdale wrote:
The rebellion was defeated but William was pardoned by the king but he didn’t trust William and stripped him of his earldoms of Derby and Nottingham and imposed the “Forrest Fine” of 200 marks.
Tutbury Castle was one of twenty castles damaged or demolished following the rebellion on the King’s orders. King Henry ordered the demolition of Tutbury and Duffield castles, but somehow Duffield escaped demolition for almost another century until circa 1266.
Later, William became a Knight Templar, regained the trust of King Henry ii. William was loyal to the next monarch, King Richard i, known as Richard the Lionheart, accompanying King Richard on a crusade to The Holy Land. William died at the Siege of Acre in 1190.
Following him, came Sir William de Ferrers who was favored by King Richard i who restored his earldom, along with the manors of Wirksworth, Ashbourn and Horston Castle (Horsley). During Sir William’s long tenure the de Ferrers castles of Duffield and Tutbury, were rebuilt from stone. He became 4th Earl of Derby in 1190 and enjoyed 57 relatively peaceful and uneventful years of Earldom until he died in 1247 after suffering from gout for many years.
William iii de Ferrers became 5th Earl of Derby in 1247 until 1254, when he died, following another peaceful and uneventful period in de Ferrers Duffield and Derby History. He probably enjoyed a Nobel and indulgent lifestyle as he also suffered severely from gout as did his father before him.
Another Robert de Ferrers (iii) became Earl of Derby vi in 1254. He rebelled against King Henry iii, resulting in the destruction of Tutbury Castle. The king pardoned Robert, but he rebelled again and was defeated in a battle at Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He was dispossessed of his lands and titles by the king and Duffield Castle was destroyed in 1266. It was raised to the ground and many stones were robbed out and used for other buildings. His lands were removed and given to Prince Edmund, who later became Earl of Lancaster. Robert de Ferrers died in 1279.
There is a constant theme in the de Ferrers history; one Lord or Earl rebels against a monarch and becomes dispossessed, losing his titles and land, only for the next king to reinstate confiscated lands and titles. In the case of Robert, the 6th and final de Ferrers Earl of Derby, two sons from different marriages both received titles. John de Ferrers, son of Robert’s child bride was made Baron of Chartley. Another son William, from Robert’s second marriage became Baron of Groby. See Fig 01, Ferrers Family Tree at the last entries near bottom of the chart. Interestingly, an entry shows Ferrers Barons of Groby were extinct by 1450. The Groby de Ferrers owned land at Staunton Harold, near Ashby, De La Zouch. There was a branch of the Ashby De La Zouch Ferrers, still living at a manor house in the 18th century. Infamously Lawrence, 3rd Earl Ferrers born 1720, was executed for the murder of his steward, Mr. Johnson, in 1760. He was hanged at Tyburn on 5th May, 1760. He was the last English nobleman to be executed for a felony. He was succeeded by his nephew, also named Lawrence de Ferrers. See FIG 14, engraving of his nephew who succeeded as the 4th Earl Ferrers:
FIG 14: Engraving 1810 of Lawrence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (image Courtesy Wikipedia no copyright infringement intended):
Excavations on the Site of Duffield Castle
Some archeological excavations of Caste Hill, Duffield in 1886, the 1930s and in 1957 found fragments of burial urns, domestic pottery, knives and other metal tools. This revealed Celtic, Romano British and Saxon occupation before the castle was erected.
The Excavation of 1886:
The 1886 excavations revealed more information about the plan and construction of Duffield Castle, those later excavations, finding more Romano British and Saxon finds that predate the castle.
FIG 15: Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960) Shows “plate vii)” Earthworks Plan from 1886 Excavation and my notes adjacent.
FIG 16: Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960) Shows “plate viii)” Ground Plan of Duffield Castle from 1886 Excavation and my notes adjacent.
Henry de Ferrers built Duffield Castle in the late 11th, century some of the early construction was probably wooden, although I am not aware that the excavations of 1886 and 1957 found post-holes, confirming a substantial wooden structure. The Rev. John Charles Cox, in his account of “Duffield Castle and some account the seven Earls of Derby who lived there”, described a solid stone fortress built to deter any thoughts of rebellion by the conquered English.
FIG 17: (photo Courtesy Wikipedia no copyright infringement intended) Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960) Drawings of Window & Door Jambs and photo of same door Jamb.
The castle was severely damaged after it was besieged in 1173, when William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby, sided against King Henry ii. The King ordered Tutbury and Duffield castles to be destroyed but Duffield escaped total destruction at this time. William lost his land and his earldoms of Derby and Nottingham in 1173.
The de Ferrers regained their titles and land after 1190, when King Richard i made Sir William de Ferrers, the 4th earl of Derby. During the long tenure of Sir William, Earl of Derby (1190 – 1247), Duffield Castle was rebuilt from stone.
The abbey of Darley owned a quarry in the “Abbey Fields”, Darley Abbey, adjacent to Abbey Hill Nook and in between Long Furlong and Ash Furlong fields. Henry Tuschet and his son Simon received rights to quarry and draw water for the “augmentation of Darley”.
The augmentation, I take to mean the expansion and further developing the buildings of the abbey. I think it is likely that the stone from the same Darley quarry also built Duffield Castle. See Fig 18.
FIG 18:
Extract English Episcopal Acta 1980: David Michael Smith, M. J. Franklin, B. R. Kemp giving Henry Tuchet and Son Simon Augmentation (Building of Darley Abbey) and the Right to Quarry Stone and draw water from Abbey Owned Land.
FIG 19: Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960) Numbered Masons Marks from Duffield Castle Stones Compared to Same Masons Marks Showing Other Buildings Where The Same Masons Worked.
Many of the same masons marks found on stones from Duffield Castle were seen on many historic buildings including Litchfield Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Strasbourg Cathedral, Scarborough Castle, Killwinning Abbey (North Ayrshire) and Dale Abbey.
FIG 20:
Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960). Some Drawings of Metalwork Excavated in 1886.
History repeated when Robert iii de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby, rebelled in an uprising against King Henry iii and there was another siege of Duffield Castle after Robert was caught and imprisoned following “The Battle of Chesterfield”. Between the years 1266 to 1269 when Robert was imprisoned, the king removed Robert’s land and titles and Duffield Castle was razed to the ground and many of the stones, used for other buildings.
Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960). A Deep Well Was Excavated And A Damaged Medieval Bucket Was Found And Restored. Drawings From DAJ and Photo of Same Bucket At Derby Museum.
FIG 21: (photo Courtesy Wikipedia no copyright infringement intended)
There were more excavations carried out at Castle Hill in the 1920’s and 1930s and another major excavation was carried out by The Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in 1957. The main purpose of these digs was to look for further evidence of early settlements and especially from the Romano- British period.
FIG 23: Excavations By Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 1957 By T.G. Manby. Discoveries of Pottery Fragments And Other Items Showed That Castle Hill was Occupied in Ancient Times Before the Medieval Castle Fortress was erected.
In Fig 23, we see a plan drawing of the castle keep and a summary table of the timeline of the site of Castle Hill. The assertion by the DAJ in 1957, that the “peasant building” was erected after 1266, meaning farm buildings and perhaps houses from robbed stones from the castle. The destruction of the stone castle came about after “The Battle of Chesterfield” 15th May, 1266, during the tenure of Robert iii de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby after he rebelled against King Henry iii and history was repeated.
John Charles Cox said in DAJ “Duffield Castle; its history, site, and recently found remains; with some account of the seven Earl Ferrers who held it”:
“Meanwhile, what became of Duffield Castle on the forfeiture of the last Earl Ferrers?
Tradition says it was demolished and though as yet we have failed to find any order for its demolition, there is little or no doubt that tradition is in this respect accurate. We believe the work of demolition was carried out by royal forces, immediately after the battle of Chesterfield, so as to leave no strong centre for future disaffection in the country.”
King Henry iii stripped Robert iii, of his titles and took land and destroyed Duffield Castle, imprisoning Robert for three years until 1269. Robert iii de Ferrers died without titles in 1279 and he was the 6th and last de Ferrers Earl of Derby.
References Relevant to This Article:
Baddesley Clinton It’s Manor Church and Hall with some account of Ferrers from the Norman Conquest to the present day by Rev. Henry Norris (of Tamworth) London and Leamington Art and Book Company, 1897
Sir William Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum Volume 6 part 1
Bishop Durdent and the Foundation of Derby School – Derbyshire Archaeological Society Vol. 33 1911 By B. Tacchella
Journal Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Vol. 9 & 10 (1879 to 1960) “Duffield Castle; its history, site, and recently found remains; with some account of the seven Earl Ferrers who held it”
Excavations by Derbyshire Archeological Society in 1957 By T.G. Manby
The Leicestershire Gleaner (Leicester Chronicle) by Robert Hazelwood published Saturday, 27 September, 1884
English Episcopal Acta 1980 edition: David Michael Smith, M. J. Franklin, B. R. Kemp
The Roman Roads of Darley Abbey, Darley Abbey Historical Group Booklet #3
Darley Abbey Historical Group Research Report No 6 / 2012 “SIX STONE HEADS FROM DARLEY ABBEY.” By Keith Dodds and Alan Bradwell
Roman roads in Britain Vol. 2 North of the Foss way Bristol channel by Ivan D. Margary. Published 1955
Wikipedia
Acknowledgement: I am grateful to Alan Bradwell and Tony Lintott of Darley Abbey Historical Group, for their kind advice and mentoring for my research of Darley Abbey and the de Ferrers family.
Article by Andrew Thurman.
