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

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

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

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

DL4/84/3

Attorney General by the relation of Thomas Gilbert v Hollingworth, Carrington, Taylor and Norton: Spondon

Derby 9 Charles I

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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

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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

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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

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

DL4/11/15

Stanhope v Dethicke: Spondon and Chaddesden

Derbyshire 11 Elizabeth

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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

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

DL44-938

Survey of lands in Chaddesden and Spondon held by Robert Newton from the King

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The documents are direct transcriptions of the originals.

DL44/937

Rentals of Spondon and Chaddesden, Derbyshire

11 Jas I. 1613-1614

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

DL4/44/65

Redhead v Newton.Plaintiffs: Redheade. Defendants: Newton. Documents: examinations concerning unspecified lands

44 Eliz. Date:1601-1602

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

D5336/1/13/4/2

The Title Deeds Relating to Land in Derby Field, Spondon

Carrington-Knowles-Carrington 1611 [1614]

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The links show the transcribed depositions.

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

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The links show a general amalgamation of the answers to the questions.

1633 Spondon Document Table DL4/84/3

All Answers to DL4/84/3 In One Table

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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

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Details of the claims from the Drury-Lowe Collection at Nottingham University.

Dr-E-73-7

1795

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Details of the claims from the Drury-Lowe Collection at Nottingham University.

DL1 125

Richard Dale lands and Tennements particularly Byflatte

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Details of the claims from Richard Dale.

DL1 129

Richard Dale v. John Maddock Right of Way and Common of Pasture

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Details of the claims from Richard Dale vs. John Maddock

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