Nottinghamshire Archives: Portland of Welbeck: Cavendish deeds

This collection of property charters, deeds, leases and related material formed an original archive bundle labelled 'Cavendish deeds'. It consists primarily of mediaeval and post-mediaeval deeds of properties in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and other counties. Noteable items include: Agreement over common pasturage of sheep from Darley Abbey's grange, Litchurch (Derby), 1255 (67); manumission of a serf, Calton, Staffs., 1323 (152); detailed provisions for the singing of masses, etc., in Axbridge church, Somerset, 1361 (155); fragment of a document regarding wool export (from Lincs.?), mentioning Bruges and an Italian merchant, c.1372 (213); the presentment of an acolyte by Beauchief Abbey, (near Sheffield), 1460 (110, 130); coal pits operated by Beauvale Priory at Selston, Notts., 1489-90, (13, 186); 'plaster' (gypsum) pits at Bunny, Notts., 1489 (28); deeds of urban property in Beverley, Yorks., 1340-1443, (202-4), Cambridge, 1385 (195), and Nottingham, 1464, 1490, (9, 13);

Content Summary:

Cambridgeshire

Cambridge

DD/P/CD/ 195 1385

Derbyshire

Barlow, Dunston, Dronfield, etc., (including Barley family property)

DD/P/CD/ 110-117 1460-1589

Brampton, Linacre, 'Causehall', Cutthorpe, Hasland, Hackenthorpe

DD/P/CD/ 118-128, 133-135, 147 13th C-1547

Bubnell [Baslow]

DD/P/CD 129 1436

Buxton

DD/P/CD/ 105-109 1483-1616

Dronfield, Stubley, Unstone, Chesterfield (including Dronfield Guild property)

DD/P/CD/ 58-66, 71-81, 130-132. 136, 141-143 1310-1589

Hope, etc.

DD/P/CD/ 139-140 1512, 1525

Litchurch, Osmaston [by Derby], (including Darley Abbey property)

DD/P/CD/ 67-69 1255-1458

Mosborough

DD/P/CD/ 146 1317

Newbold, etc.

DD/P/CD/ 82-89, 137-138 13th C - 1499

Phoside, Birch Hall [Hayfield]

DD/P/CD/ 144-145 1546, 1552

Staveley, Staveley Woodthorpe, Inkersall, Romeley [Clowne], Bolsover, Shuttlewood, (including Rodes family property)

DD/P/CD/ 52-57, 90-104 12th C -- 1588

'The Hill' [Brampton or Birchover?]

DD/P/CD/ 121 13th C

Dorset

Stoke Abbott

DD/P/CD/ 196 c.1336

Leicestershire

Breedon on the Hill, 'Anderchurch'

DD/P/CD/ 208-209 1317-1318

Nottinghamshire

Kirkby in Ashfield, Kirkby Woodhouse, Kirkby Hardwick, Annesley, Annesley Woodhouse, Nottingham, Bunny, (including Beauvale Priory and Samon Family property)

DDP/CD/ 1-32, 41, 43, 46, 50, 163, 181-189 c.1290-1581

Flawborough, Cotham, 'Dallington' (including Markham family property)

DD/P/CD/ 44-45, 47-49, 51, 164, 210 1391-1608

Norton [Welbeck]

DD/P/CD/ 165 1571

Shelton

DD/P/CD/ 190 1420

Sookholme, Warsop

DD/P/CD/ 33-40, 42, 166, 192-194 1422-1676

Walesby, Willoughby, Kirton, Boughton,

DD/P/CD/ 167-180 13th C - 1631

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire

Babington family estates

DD/P/CD/ 191 1501

Nottinghamshire & Yorkshire

[Blyth area]

DD/P/CD 205 1550

Somerset

Axbridge

DD/P/CD/ 155-157 1361-1431

Chew Magna, Chew Stoke (including St Loe family property)

DD/P/CD/ 197-200 c.1442-1487

Doulting, Camerton

DD/P/CD/ 158-161 1401-1472

Wrington

DD/P/CD/ 162 1457

Staffordshire

Calton

DD/P/CD/ 148-154 pre 1272-1394

Newborough [Needwood Forest]

DD/P/CD/ 201 1467

Yorkshire

Beverley

DD/P/CD/ 202-204 1340, 1443

Pontefract

DD/P/CD/ 206-207 1554

Unidentified

DD/P/CD/ 211-213 c.1275-c.1372

<span class="wrapper"><p>Related Collections also at Nottinghamshire archives:</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/2P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/3P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/4P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/5P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/6P)</p> <p>Portland of Welbeck (DD/7P)</p> <p>Related Collections elsewhere:</p> <p>Further records of the Dukes of Portland can be found in the University of Nottingham Library, the British Library, and other repositories listed in the National Register of Archives.</p></span>

Conditions of Access: Accessible to all holders of a reader's ticket

Most of these documents relate to properties amassed by Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury ('Bess of Hardwick') in the late 16th century and subsequently passed down to Sir Charles Cavendish (her son by her third husband), and then to his son Sir William Cavendish, subsequently Earl and 1st Duke of Newcastle. Charles acquired the former Welbeck Abbey and its estates in 1597. The records descended through the female line to the Dukes of Portland and were held in the Estate Office at Welbeck until their deposit in the Nottinghamshire Records Office (now Nottinghamshire Archives) in 1950 and 1953 (Accessions 12 and 147).