Kniveton - by Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 1817

Transcription by Barbarann Ayars © 2001
[Lyson's Magna Britannia Vol 5: Derbyshire, page 196]

KNIVETON: The Cheniveton of the Domeday Survey, lies three miles from Ashborne, in the wapentake of Wirksworth and the deanery of Ashborne.

The manor was from a very early period the property, and Kniveton was the original residence, of the ancient family to which it gave name: this family spread into two branches, settled at Bradley and Mercaston: Kniveton the original patrimony of the family, was sold by Sir Andrew Kniveton, Bart., in the reign of Charles II, to Lowe, from whom it passed to the Pegges. In the reign of Queen Anne, it was sold by Thomas Pegge. Esq. to Mrs. Meynell, of Bradley, and is now the property of her descendant Godfrey Meynell, Esq.

The rectory of Kniveton was anciently appropriated as parcel of Ashborne, (to which, in remote times, it was a chapel), to the Deans of Lincoln, one of whom conveyed it to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield. In 1548 the Dean and Chapter granted the rectory-house, glebe, tithes, etc., (reserving only the eccliastical jurisdiction), to Ralph Gell, Esq., of Hopton (Eyre-Gell). In 1796, this estate was sold by the devisees, in trust, of the late Philip Gell Esq., to Mr. Edmund Evans, of Derby, and others: the tithes have been since sold to the several land owners; Mr. Evans is patron of the perpetual curacy.

In the year 1715, Mr. John Hurd gave lands for the endowment of a school at Kniveton which, in 1787, when the return of charitable donations was made to the House of Commons, were let at 9 £ per annum, 8 £ of which were given to a master, and 15s. per annum for coals. We have not been able to ascertain the present income of this endowment.

[From Lysons Topographical and Historical Account of Derbyshire, 1817.
Transcription kindly donated by Barbarann AYARS, 10th Jan 2001]