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Alfreton - by Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 1817

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Transcription by Barbarann Ayars © 2001
[Lyson's Magna Britannia Vol 5: Derbyshire, page 3]

ALFRETON, a small market-town in the hundred of Scaresale, and in the deanery of Chesterfield, is situated 14 miles from Derby, about 12 from Chesterfield, and 142 from London.

This town has been supposed to have derived its name from King Alfred, and tradition has assigned its building to that monarch. Camden has been quoted as concurring in this opinion, but he merely observes that such tradition was current. There is no doubt that some noble Saxon of the name of Alfred (a name not uncommon among the Saxons) was the possessor of Alfreton at a remote period, and that from him it was denominated Aelfredingtune, as it is spelt in Ethelred's charter to Burton abbey. There is nothing to appropriate it to King Alfred. In the Domesday Survey the Norman scribes have corrupted the name to Elstretune.

Somercotes and Riddings, two hamlets or townships in this parish, maintain their own poor, and have separate highway rates. At Riddings there was formerly a chapel, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen.

The market at Alfreton was granted, in 1251, to Robert de Latham and Thomas de Chaworth, to be held on Monday, together with a fair for three days at the festival of St. Margaret. This charter was renewed to Thomas Babington of Dethick in 1551. The market was changed from Monday to Friday in 1756, in consequence of the inhabitants of Higham having then revived an ancient market at that place. It is still held on Friday, as formerly, for corn, butchers' meat, and so forth. The fair is now held on the 31st of July, for horses, horned cattle, and etc.

The manor of Alfreton was given by Wulfric, a noble Saxon, and confirmed by Ethelred II to Burton abbey. It had again passed into lay hands before the compilation of the Domesday Survey; in which it is described as held by Ingram, under Roger de Busli. This Ingram was the immediate ancestor of Robert Fitz-Ranulph or Fits-Ralph, Lord of Alfreton, who founded Beauchief abbey in the reign of Henry II. His descendants were denominated de Alfreton. On the death of Thomas de Alfreton, his great grandson, in 1269, this manor descended to Thomas de Chaworth, his nephew, and Robert de Latham, who had married one of his sisters and co-heiresses. Chaworth purchased Latham's moiety. Dugdale says that this Thomas de Chaworth was summoned to Parliament as a baron in 1296; but that none of his descendants ever received a like summons. William Chaworth, Esq., the last of this branch of the family, left an only daughter and heir in the reign of Hen. VII, married to John Ormond, Esq. whose heiress brought this manor to Sir Anthony Babington of Dethick. Henry Babington, Esq., the grandson, sold it in or about the year 1565 to John Zouch, Esq., of Codnor. The son of the latter conveyed it, in 1618 to Robert Sutton, Esq., of Aram, in Nottinghamshire, by whom it was sold, in 1629 to Anthony Morewood,and Rowland, his son. The manor of Alfreton continued in the Morewood family and the manor house was their residence til the death of George Morewood, Esq. the last male heir, in 1792. His widow, who enjoys this estate under his bequest, married the Rev. Henry Chase, who in 1793, previously to his marriage, took the name of Morewood, by the King's sign manual.

It appears that in the reign of Edward III, Thomas Chaworth claimed a park and right of free-warren at Alfreton, with the privilege of having a gallows, tumbrell, and pillory for the manor. Dr. Pegge says that Alfreton was in ancient times esteemed a barony or honor.

The manor or manor-farm of Ryddings, or Rydinge (now Riddings) was held, with Alfreton, by the Chaworth family: it is now the property of Lancelot Rolleston, Esq., of Watnall, in Nottinghamshire.

In the parish church of Alfreton is a brass tablet in memory of John Ormond, Esq., who died in 1503, and Joan his wife (the heiress of Chaworth) who died in 1507. It appears by the inscription, that the daughters and co-heiresses of Joan Ormaond, one of whom married Babington, had a right to quarter the arms of Chaworth, Caltoft, Brett, Aylesbury, Engayne, and Bassett of Weldon. There are the monuments also of Anthony Morewood, Esq., the purchaser of the estate, who died in 1636, and of George Morewood, Esq., the last of the family, who died in 1792.

The church of Alfreton was given to Beauchief abbey by Robert Fitzralph, the founder, and became appropriated to that monastery. The rectory of Alfreton, with the advowson of the vicarage, was granted by Henry VIII, to Francis Leake, Esq., whose descendant, Nicholas, Earl of Scarsdale, sold them, in 1673, to John Turner of Swanwick, Gent. The rectorial tithes were sold by auction about the year 1779, chiefly to the severl landowners, by the trustees of the late Geore Turner, Esq. The advowson of the vicarage was purchased by the late George Morewood, Esq, and now belongs to Mrs. Morewood.

There was a chantry in the church of Alfreton, dedicated to the Virgin Mary; the lands belonging to which being then valued at 8 pounds 4 shillings 8d per annum, were granted by King Edw. VI, to Thomas Babington.

What was formerly a Presbytrian meeting house at Alfreton, is now occupied by the Independents. The particular Baptists have meeting houses at Swanwick and Riddings. The Wesleyan Methodists have a meeting house at Alfreton.

At Swanwick, is a school for 24 poor hildren, built 1740, at the expense of Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, widow, who endowed it with the sum of 500 pounds. George Turner, Esq., of London, sold lands to this school, then valued at 700 pounds for the sum of 400 pounds, The endowment is now worth about 60 pounds per annum.

 

[From Lysons Topographical and Historical Account of Derbyshire, 1817.
Transcription kindly donated by Barbarann AYARS, 9th December 2001]