Astwith
Encyclopedia
Astwith is a village in Derbyshire
, England
.
Astwith is in the parish of Ault Hucknall
. For many decades it was a part of the manor of Stainsby
, which was known as Steinesbei in the Domesday survey (1087).
Apparently there is no mention of Astwith, otherwise spelt Estewayt, Est(th)wayt, Estweit and Eswheyt, by name until the 13th century.
This extract was taken from a small book found in the Chesterfield
library written by J.E.Milner a local schoolmaster:
"There is no mention of it (Astwith) until the 1200’s when Adeluga, widow of Robert le Sauvage, released among other bequests, one messauge and one bovate of land at Estewyte to John de Sauvage and his heirs. It would also suggest that between the two claims for the name’s meaning:
a. the ford by the ash trees
b. The East ford
the latter seems the more likely. The ford, now a bridge, is on the lane from Stainsby, but east of where, remains a puzzle."
The Savage family are believed to have held Astwith among other local lands until 1593, when Bess of Hardwick
purchased them from the Lord Chancellor and Auditor for the sum of £9,500. Following her death, her son William 1st Lord Cavendish, had a survey of all his lands carried out by William Senior in 1609/1610. At this time Astwith is recorded with a total acreage of 508 acres (2.1 km²) and seven named residents. These were Matthewe Foxe, Richard Carman, Henrie Frithe, John Tacie, John Turner, Robert Wainwrighte, Humphrie Fretwell. These residents had holdings varying in size from 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) to just over 1 acres (4,046.9 m²). The common extended to 169 acre (0.68391934 km²), and the cunygre to a further 24 acres (97,124.6 m²). Unlike other local villages which were built along a main street with tofts on either side, Astwith was ranged along the edge of the common.
By the time of the 1839 Tithe Awards, the village had grown to 17 households, although the acreage farmed had remained the same in total. Communications to local towns had been improved by the development of the turnpike road between Tibshelf
and Temple Normanton
in the 1820s. Access roads into the village from the turnpike were improved and the housing centre of the village moved to this access road.
The village remained in the ownership of the Dukes of Devonshire until 1959, when it was passed to the National Trust
as part of the death duty settlement of the 10th Duke.
Most of the village is now in private ownership, after the National Trust began to dispose of its holding of residential buildings in the 1970s. The Trust retains much of the land which is farmed by the one working farm in the village or by the farm at Hardwick Park within the grounds of Hardwick Hall
which they run in partnership with the farmer. Many of the properties in the village remain under building covenants held by the Trust.
The photograph looks east and shows Manor Farm Cottage on the right and parts of Manor Farm and The Swallows on the left. There are around 20 homes in Astwith today.
Astwith is one of 27 conservation areas within the council area of Bolsover District Council. In October 2010 the Local Conservation Plan for Astwith was approved by Bolsover District Council and a copy of the report can be viewed on their website www.bolsover.gov.uk.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Astwith is in the parish of Ault Hucknall
Ault Hucknall
Ault Hucknall is a small village, which gives its name to the surrounding civil parish, in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, England.Local residents describe the settlement as the "smallest village in England", although as a village is not legally defined in England, this is not a provable claim...
. For many decades it was a part of the manor of Stainsby
Stainsby
Stainsby is a small village in Derbyshire, England. It is near to the towns of Chesterfield and Bolsover, and the villages of Heath and Doe Lea. The M1 motorway skirts past the village....
, which was known as Steinesbei in the Domesday survey (1087).
Apparently there is no mention of Astwith, otherwise spelt Estewayt, Est(th)wayt, Estweit and Eswheyt, by name until the 13th century.
This extract was taken from a small book found in the Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
library written by J.E.Milner a local schoolmaster:
"There is no mention of it (Astwith) until the 1200’s when Adeluga, widow of Robert le Sauvage, released among other bequests, one messauge and one bovate of land at Estewyte to John de Sauvage and his heirs. It would also suggest that between the two claims for the name’s meaning:
a. the ford by the ash trees
b. The East ford
the latter seems the more likely. The ford, now a bridge, is on the lane from Stainsby, but east of where, remains a puzzle."
The Savage family are believed to have held Astwith among other local lands until 1593, when Bess of Hardwick
Bess of Hardwick
Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (c. 1521 – 13 February 1608, known as Bess of Hardwick, was the daughter of John Hardwick, of Derbyshire and Elizabeth Leeke, daughter of Thomas Leeke and Margaret Fox...
purchased them from the Lord Chancellor and Auditor for the sum of £9,500. Following her death, her son William 1st Lord Cavendish, had a survey of all his lands carried out by William Senior in 1609/1610. At this time Astwith is recorded with a total acreage of 508 acres (2.1 km²) and seven named residents. These were Matthewe Foxe, Richard Carman, Henrie Frithe, John Tacie, John Turner, Robert Wainwrighte, Humphrie Fretwell. These residents had holdings varying in size from 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) to just over 1 acres (4,046.9 m²). The common extended to 169 acre (0.68391934 km²), and the cunygre to a further 24 acres (97,124.6 m²). Unlike other local villages which were built along a main street with tofts on either side, Astwith was ranged along the edge of the common.
By the time of the 1839 Tithe Awards, the village had grown to 17 households, although the acreage farmed had remained the same in total. Communications to local towns had been improved by the development of the turnpike road between Tibshelf
Tibshelf
Tibshelf is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England. It is in the Bolsover district of the county. Its population at the 2001 UK census was 3,548....
and Temple Normanton
Temple Normanton
Temple Normanton is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is in the North East Derbyshire district of the county.The village sits on a prominent hill top three miles south of Chesterfield. It comprises two villages formerly known as North Normanton and Little Normanton. It is close to the villages...
in the 1820s. Access roads into the village from the turnpike were improved and the housing centre of the village moved to this access road.
The village remained in the ownership of the Dukes of Devonshire until 1959, when it was passed to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
as part of the death duty settlement of the 10th Duke.
Most of the village is now in private ownership, after the National Trust began to dispose of its holding of residential buildings in the 1970s. The Trust retains much of the land which is farmed by the one working farm in the village or by the farm at Hardwick Park within the grounds of Hardwick Hall
Hardwick Hall
Hardwick Hall , in Derbyshire, is one of the most significant Elizabethan country houses in England. In common with its architect Robert Smythson's other works at both Longleat House and Wollaton Hall, Hardwick Hall is one of the earliest examples of the English interpretation of the Renaissance...
which they run in partnership with the farmer. Many of the properties in the village remain under building covenants held by the Trust.
The photograph looks east and shows Manor Farm Cottage on the right and parts of Manor Farm and The Swallows on the left. There are around 20 homes in Astwith today.
Astwith is one of 27 conservation areas within the council area of Bolsover District Council. In October 2010 the Local Conservation Plan for Astwith was approved by Bolsover District Council and a copy of the report can be viewed on their website www.bolsover.gov.uk.