
The Duchy of Lancaster is a royal duchy in England, held in trust for the Sovereign and used to provide income for the British monarch.
The duchy comprises 18,700 ha (46,000 acres), including key urban developments, historic buildings, and farm land in many parts of England and Wales, as well as large holdings in Lancashire.
The Duchy of Lancaster depositions are the answers given in court at the palace of Westminster. The documents in our case are dated between circa. 1500 and 1650.
The Duchy of Lancaster were the lords of the manor and between these dates there were a lot of land disputes that finished around the time of the Civil War.
"Rights of common were one of the few incidents of copyhold that worked often to the advantage of the tenant. Usually the tenant was allowed rights of common for his stock in woods, waste, and meadow and on open arable between harvest and sowing time, the extent of the privilege being ordinarily determined by the amount of the land he held and the rent paid. This was a matter of special importance to the sheep farmer whose animals needed a wide range for pasturage. For this right the owner of a small flock had advantages that he could not possibly enjoy if dependant on his own lands for pasturage. But as land became more valuable and enclosures increased, the rights of common were continually encroached upon, which, together with the problem of overstocking the common, resulted in many difficulties among copyholders."
Richard Brownlow and John Goldsborough, reports of cases in law arising in the Courts of the realm. 1650-52 p.232; Add. MSS. 5705, fol. 134 ff.; D.L. Special Com. 44/901; Northants MSS. FH. 410.
This website publishes the Spondon depositions in entirety and further summarises and analyses the details.
The icons that represent the document types on this site.
The depositions are published in 4 formats. Word for further editing. Web page for online convenience. E-pub for best performance on an e-reader and PDF/A for long term preservation
DL4/107/16
Attorney-General by relation of Henry Gilbert v Brecknocke, Carrington, Hollingworth, Heale, Piggin, Soare, Walker, Radford, Bradcocke, Foxe, Bowes, Ollernshawe, Hudson, Locke alias Johnson, Crosse, Hollingsworth and others: Spondon Waste, Spondon
Derbyshire 1663
DL4/84/3
Attorney General by the relation of Thomas Gilbert v Hollingworth, Carrington, Taylor and Norton: Spondon
Derby 9 Charles I
More Info
The links show the transcribed depositions. Analysis of this document can be found in the '1633 Spondon Document Table' and '20 Questions Amalgamated' sections below.
DL4/84/3 Modern English
Attorney General by the relation of Thomas Gilbert v Hollingworth, Carrington, Taylor and Norton: Spondon
Derby 9 Charles I
More Info
The links show the depositions in modern english. Analysis of this document can be found in the '1633 Spondon Document Table' and '20 Questions Amalgamated' sections below.
DL4/59/6
Willimott and others v Gilbert and Newton: Chaddesden and Spondon
Derby 10 James I
More Info
The deposition have been transcribed. There is an unreadable section and several highlighted sections.
DL4/67/75
Gilbert v Willimott: “Holme Mouth” Spondon and Chaddesden
Derbyshire 15 James I
DL4/11/15
Stanhope v Dethicke: Spondon and Chaddesden
Derbyshire 11 Elizabeth
More Info
The links show the transcribed depositions. There are some missing lines and highlighted sections.
DL4/25/47
Regina v Babington and others: Spondon, Osmaston, Chaddesden, Melbourne
Derbyshire 25 Elizabeth
DL44-938
Survey of lands in Chaddesden and Spondon held by Robert Newton from the King
DL44/937
Rentals of Spondon and Chaddesden, Derbyshire
11 Jas I. 1613-1614
DL4/44/65
Redhead v Newton.Plaintiffs: Redheade. Defendants: Newton. Documents: examinations concerning unspecified lands
44 Eliz. Date:1601-1602
D5336/1/13/4/2
The Title Deeds Relating to Land in Derby Field, Spondon
Carrington-Knowles-Carrington 1611 [1614]
20 Questions Amalgamated DL4/84/3
This is a concensus summary of all the answers to the questions in DL4/84/3
Thomas Hollingworth, John Carrington, John Taylor and Thomas Norton, defendants
1633 Spondon Document Table DL4/84/3
All Answers to DL4/84/3 In One Table
More Info
All the questions and answers in one table. In this format, you can easily compare each response to the same question.
Claim of the Executive Trustees
Of Richd Lowe Esq to the Beast Gates
Dr-E-73-7
1795
DL1 125
Richard Dale lands and Tennements particularly Byflatte
DL1 129
Richard Dale v. John Maddock Right of Way and Common of Pasture