PALMER MANUSCRIPTS

Title deeds and papers of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Carlton Curlieu, Leicestershire

The collection consists for the most part of deeds of title to properties owned by the Palmers, amongst which are a good series of marriage settlements, showing the continued consolidation of the family's position. Close connections were always maintained with the Watsons, Earls of Rockingham, and later, Barons Sondes, who were their immediate neighbours at Rockingham, approximately 3½ miles from East Carlton.

The volume of personal papers is small, but interesting; perhaps the most extensive of these being the accounts for the building of East Carlton Hall [1777-1782] which enter into the artistic details of the colours of architraves and cornices, the embellishments of pillars, and the provision of paintings to furnish the interior.

INTRODUCTION

TITLE DEEDS:

Leicestershire

Carlton Curlieu DE1110/1 - 86

Burton Overy DE1110/87 - 102

Foxton DE1110/103 - 127

Glooston, Cranoe, Kelmarsh (Northants.), Ashwell (Rut.) DE1110/128 - 144

Ilston DE1110/145 - 146

Owston & Greetham (Rut.) DE1110/147 - 186

Shangton & Hardwick DE1110/187 - 217

Tur Langton DE1110/218 - 236

Lincolnshire

Fishtoft and Boston DE1110/237 - 247

London

St. Giles in the Field DE1110/248 - 255

Northamptonshire

Ashley and Medbourne (Leics.) DE1110/256 - 334

Carlton DE1110/335 - 353

Cottingham and Middleton DE1110/354 - 523

Wilbarston, Pipewell, Oakley Magna, Knuston DE1110/524 - 567

Miscellaneous title deeds DE1110/568 - 589

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION DE1110/590 - 607

OFFICIAL DE1110/608 - 616

PERSONAL DE1110/617 - 620

LEGAL DE1110/621 - 684

CHARITIES

Tobias Rustat (Withcote, St. Mary de Castro Leicester etc) DE1110/685 - 91

Sarah Cart (Wigston Magna, Syston and St. Nicholas' Leicester) DE1110/692 - 727

Catherine Palmer DE1110/728

Kibworth Beauchamp Free Grammar School DE1110/729

East Carlton DE1110/730 - 732

PARISH DE1110/733 - 736

<p>See also DE 4742</p>

deposited on indefinite loan in the Leicestershire County Record Office

During the period covered by this collection (late 16th - early 20th century) the Palmer family's main territorial holdings lay on either side of the river Welland which is the south-eastern boundary of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. The family originates from Carlton in Northamptonshire where there were two medieval manors, known as East Hall and West Hall respectively, but before the end of the 15th century the family had acquired both manors and the Hall at East Carlton, rebuilt in the eighteenth century, became the principal family seat. In 1933, however, East Carlton Hall and its adjoining park were sold to Stewarts and Lloyds and since then the family seat. In 1933, however, East Carlton Hall and its adjoining park were sold to Stewarts and Lloyds and since then the family seat has been at Carlton Curlieu, the centre of the family's Leicestershire estate. Carlton Curlieu is roughly mid-way between Leicester and the Welland Valley and in the later medieval period it comprised at least two estates, both of which seem to have been described from time to time as manors, in addition to the "principal" manor. One of the minor manors was acquired by the Palmers at the end of the 16th century and the principal manor was purchased by Sir Geoffrey Palmer in 1664.

National importance was attained in the career of Geoffrey Palmer [1598-1670], Attorney General of Charles II, who spent two terms of imprisonment in the Tower of London and was knighted at the Restoration.