Sarah Chubb, Archives and Local Studies Manager, writes: The records of the Manor of Duffield Fee consist of 55 volumes of court rolls (1597-1935), two volumes of manor customs and duties (c1596-18th century), enfranchisements, deeds and other papers (18th century-1936). The archive had been on deposit at Derbyshire Record Office since the 1970s, and when the owner notified us that he wished to sell the records, he was keen to arrange a private sale so that we could retain the archive in the county for the benefit of the people of Duffield. We are delighted that, with the generous support of the Friends of the National Library and the ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, we were able permanently to secure the collection for Derbyshire.
The Manor of Duffield Fee was a unique institution in the county. It was in effect a collection of manors under the ownership of one lord, which were managed as one administrative unit (the Fee); the manors or sub-manors lying within the Fee were Alderwasley, Belper, Biggin, Duffield, Heage, Holbrook, Hulland, Idridgehay, Southwood, Turnditch and Windley. The Lords of the Manor of Duffield Fee have included the Duchy of Lancaster (1399-1628), the Corporation of London (1628-1629), the Leche/Leech family (1629-1673), Sir Ambrose Phillips (1674-1678), the Jodrell family (1678-1891) and the White family of Salle Park, Norfolk (from 1891).
A substantial portion of the Duffield Fee lies within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, where Sir Richard Arkwright established the first water-powered cotton mills along the river. Predating the establishment of the mills by 175 years, the Duffield Fee manorial records therefore document land ownership and use in the pre- and post-industrial landscape. The archive is of particular relevance today, as climate change and environmental concerns drive research about water management, landscape changes, agriculture and river pollution in the Derwent Valley.
The records are not just about land use, however, but bring a human dimension to the story of the area. They contain unique information about local society and peace-keeping before the industrial communities grew up with the mills along the valley. Examples include John Harrison being fined for making an assault on Richard Duffield and drawing blood in 1604, and Mary Webster being fined for being a scold to her neighbours in 1626.
There is an active research community within the Derwent Valley, and the purchase has spurred new interest in the research possibilities of the Manor of Duffield Fee archive. We are extremely grateful for FNL’s support, which has enabled us to keep this archive publicly accessible in Derbyshire.
