Dethick Manor
Encyclopedia
Dethick Manor is a 16th century manor house, situated at Dethick, Amber Valley
, Derbyshire
, much altered in the 18th century and converted to use as a farmhouse. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The manor of Dethick was anciently owned by the eponymous family. On the death in 1403 of Robert Dethick , the heir to the family's property at Dethick (though not the last Dethick male - the family owned land in Breadsall
and Newhall
in Derbyshire), the property passed to Thomas Babington who had married Isabel, the elder of Robert's two daughters. Babington was the son of Sir John Babington and nephew of Sir William Babington, Chief Justice in 1423.
The son of Isabel and Thomas, Sir John Babington of Dethick (High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1479) died in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field
. His son Thomas and his grandson Anthony both served as High Sheriff.
The manor house, dating from the 15th century, was rebuilt by the Babingtons in the 16th century. Sir Anthony Babington
, born at the manor house in 1561, was attained and executed for High Treason for his part in the Babington Plot
. As a result of his earlier transfer of ownership to his younger brother the sequestration of the estate was avoided.
In the 17th century the Babingtons sold the property. Later owners included Blackwell and Hallowes. The house was eventually used as a farmhouse and was substantially altered and extended for that purpose in the 18th century. Substantial elements of the 15th century manor house remain incorporated into the present structure.
The manor farm was supplemented by the adjoining church farm, which an 1891 source describes as follows: "The church of St. John the Baptist is a small edifice of stone, dating from 1220, and consists of chancel, nave and a lofty western tower, dated 1535, containing one small bell: there are three memorial windows, and 60 sittings. ... The soil is sandy; subsoil, gritstone. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and about one-half the land is in pasture. The acreage is 1,826; rateable value, £4,748; the population in 1881 was 1,036." In 1530-32, Anthony Babington raised the original 13th C roof by means of clerestory windows and added the unusual tower, distinctive of Dethick.
In 2008, the present day, Dethick Manor Farm is owned by the television presenter Simon Groom
. He and his wife run the 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) farm.
Amber Valley
Amber Valley is a local government district and borough in Derbyshire, England. It takes its name from the River Amber and covers a semi-rural area with a number of small towns formerly based around coal mining and engineering...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, much altered in the 18th century and converted to use as a farmhouse. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The manor of Dethick was anciently owned by the eponymous family. On the death in 1403 of Robert Dethick , the heir to the family's property at Dethick (though not the last Dethick male - the family owned land in Breadsall
Breadsall
Breadsall is a village in the English county of Derbyshire, . Breadsall Priory is nearby.-History:Breadsall was mentioned in the Domesday book as belonging to Henry de Ferrers and being worth four pounds...
and Newhall
Newhall, Derbyshire
Newhall is a town located in South Derbyshire, England. The village of Stanton is nearby and in the same parish.-Newhall village:The village lies between the A444 to its south and the A511 to its north. To its east is the market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, very close to the M42 linking Nottingham ...
in Derbyshire), the property passed to Thomas Babington who had married Isabel, the elder of Robert's two daughters. Babington was the son of Sir John Babington and nephew of Sir William Babington, Chief Justice in 1423.
The son of Isabel and Thomas, Sir John Babington of Dethick (High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1479) died in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
. His son Thomas and his grandson Anthony both served as High Sheriff.
The manor house, dating from the 15th century, was rebuilt by the Babingtons in the 16th century. Sir Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
, born at the manor house in 1561, was attained and executed for High Treason for his part in the Babington Plot
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
. As a result of his earlier transfer of ownership to his younger brother the sequestration of the estate was avoided.
In the 17th century the Babingtons sold the property. Later owners included Blackwell and Hallowes. The house was eventually used as a farmhouse and was substantially altered and extended for that purpose in the 18th century. Substantial elements of the 15th century manor house remain incorporated into the present structure.
The manor farm was supplemented by the adjoining church farm, which an 1891 source describes as follows: "The church of St. John the Baptist is a small edifice of stone, dating from 1220, and consists of chancel, nave and a lofty western tower, dated 1535, containing one small bell: there are three memorial windows, and 60 sittings. ... The soil is sandy; subsoil, gritstone. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and about one-half the land is in pasture. The acreage is 1,826; rateable value, £4,748; the population in 1881 was 1,036." In 1530-32, Anthony Babington raised the original 13th C roof by means of clerestory windows and added the unusual tower, distinctive of Dethick.
In 2008, the present day, Dethick Manor Farm is owned by the television presenter Simon Groom
Simon Groom
Simon Groom is a British Producer & Director, best known as a former presenter of Blue Peter.Groom was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and was brought up on a farm in Dethick, which he often visited for Blue Peter reports...
. He and his wife run the 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) farm.