| Documents
Relating to Matlock & Matlock Bath |
| Documents from the Middle Ages to
the Reign of Charles I |
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14th Century Leases (1376-1377)
An insight into what was happening in Matlock
over 630 years ago. |
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Between 30 September 1376 and September 29 1377 various leases were
made by Henry de Haddon, who was the Reeve of Matlock. At this
date Matlock was part of the Honour of Tutbury which was also part
of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Lord of the Manor was John of Gaunt,
Duke of Lancaster.
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- A piece of waste land was let to John SMERT for 6d. It was
14ft [feet] long.
- For the ninth year a piece of land, owned by the Lord of the
Manor lying upon Okflat was let to John ASSHOVERE for 8d.
- Again for the ninth year William MAYSON let land adjacent to
his house 6ft by 21ft it cost him one penny.
- John DRAPER let, for the same amount, land 10ft by 8 ft.
- John DRAPER also wanted to enlarge his corn storage and as such
for another penny was allowed to let more waste land.
- The Water Mill, which previously was let for 10 Marks (a mark
was 13/4d), could not be let because it stood idle for nearly
parts of six months while undergoing repairs. It did make 40/-
but this was low on account of the poor price of corn and the
repair work.
- John de HOKENASTON took on the fishing rights for the five years
previously and this was the last year of his lease. He paid the
equivalent of a shilling a year to fish the Derwent.
- The fishing rights of the Kyrkebrok was 6d.
[Michael comments:
The Kyrkebrok, most likely Bentley Brook lying at the foot
of the Church and crossing today Stoney Way. 1376 was obviously
a much better time to go fishing. For the first time this year
[2005], in all my years of living in Matlock, I actually saw two
large fish in the brook. This brook has been altered over the
centuries and the mills up Lumsdale used to pour dye and bleach
into it to carry it away to the Derwent.]
- Twenty five acres of meadow were let to the tenants of Matlock,
together with grazing on the meadows after haymaking. One sheepfold,
which the tenants were to repair, although the Lord of the Manor
would supply the timber. Let for 12 years, it cost 50 shillings.
This was the third year of the lease.
- Brokwalleclif Quarry was let to John DENE and Richard BROUN
for three years for 10 shillings.
[Michael comments:
This quarry may have been near Knowleston Place as this is
the only area where a quarry could have been, bearing in mind
the name Brookwall. John DENE is interesting in that Dene Fields
may have been his or his ancestors' property. The Council in its
wisdom have erected public footpath notices calling it Dean Fields.
In my lifetime it was always spelled DENE. Thus an association
with a person in Matlock's past is slowly being lost through error.]
See details of 1544 Will of
Robert DEANE and arms of DEANE.
- Thomas BRUNTON had a Licence to burn one Bole at Harstenegg
(Hearthstone Edge).
[Michael notes:
Situated right on the tops above Riber this place was a perfect
place for smelting ore, most likely lead.]
He paid 10d
[Michael comments:
So in 1376-1377 Matlock is alive and kicking with quarrying,
fishing, hay making, grazing, sheepfolds being built, lead being
smelted, bigger barns being built and the mill being renovated.]
- In 1376-77 Henry of Haddon also leased out other property on
behalf of John [of Gaunt]. For fourteen shillings he leased a
little place he called Bonshall!!
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Information provided by © Michael Spencer.
From Duchy of Lancaster papers at The National Archive ;
Duchy of Lancaster documents are catalogued using the abbreviation
DL.
Michael Spencer's information was originally circulated to the Derbysgen
Mailing List
and is reproduced here with kind permission.
Intended for personal
use only.
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