Hungry Bentley
Encyclopedia
Hungry Bentley is an abandoned village and civil parish
in the Derbyshire Dales
district between Uttoxeter
and Derby. The site is a scheduled monument and has been called the best "depopulated settlement" in Derbyshire. The name Bentley is said to mean a clearing with bent grass. The more unusual appellation of "Hungry" is said to refer to the poor quality of the land and the local inhabitants' poor food.
as belonging to Henry de Ferrers
and was worth eleven shillings
In Domesday, the place was just called Bentley which is said to mean a place where there is bent grass. The added word "Hungry" is considered to refer to the poor quality of the land and the local inhabitants' poor food. "Hungry" makes sure that this Bentley is not confused with other villages called Bentley, such as Fenny Bentley
, which is very close.
After the Ferrers the place was owned by the Blounts, then Lord Mountjoy and then the Browne family. At some point the manor came to be owned by the Bentley family. Edward Bentley of Hungry Bentley was tried at the Old Bailey
on a charge of high treason
(being a catholic) and convicted in 1586. In 1801 the settlement had about 80 residents living in ten dwellings. Edward Wilmot had purchased the manor
from the Bentley family. In 1817 it was the property of Sir Robert Wilmot
Bart of Chaddesden
and Bentley Hall had become Bentley Hall farmhouse. By 1857, the whole of the manor had been transferred to Sir Sacheveral Wilmot, although it was noted that a small portion of land was excluded. That land was owned by the Rev. German Buckston of Bradbourne Hall
. This land known as Boothey Hay Flats had been rented in 1686 for 1000 years at ten pounds a year. This rent had been converted to a freehold in 1829 for the payment of £67 and ten shillings.
In 1872 the village was included in a description of the parish of Longford
. The "liberty" of Hungry Bentley was said to be in the possession of Lord Vernon and it was noted that there "used to be a chapel here".
It is unknown as to why the village lost its population but the poor agriculture, a move away from arable farming, a change in climate and the black death
have been all been considered as possible reasons. The site was identified by the County of Derbyshire in 1956 as a scheduled monument. It is now scheduled as of national importance (Ref No. 29935). The similar village of Wharram Percy
in Yorkshire is now thought to have been abandoned for economic reasons.
of Long Lane.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire Dales is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. Much of the district is situated in the Peak District, although most of its population lies along the River Derwent....
district between Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter is a historic market town in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. The current population is approximately 13,711, though new developments in the town will increase this figure. Uttoxeter lies close to the River Dove and is near the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and...
and Derby. The site is a scheduled monument and has been called the best "depopulated settlement" in Derbyshire. The name Bentley is said to mean a clearing with bent grass. The more unusual appellation of "Hungry" is said to refer to the poor quality of the land and the local inhabitants' poor food.
History
Hungry Bently was mentioned in the Domesday bookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as belonging to Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
and was worth eleven shillings
Wulfgeat and Ulfkil have one carucates of land to the geld. There is land for 1 plough. It is waste. TRE worth 20s now 11s. Ralph holds it.
In Domesday, the place was just called Bentley which is said to mean a place where there is bent grass. The added word "Hungry" is considered to refer to the poor quality of the land and the local inhabitants' poor food. "Hungry" makes sure that this Bentley is not confused with other villages called Bentley, such as Fenny Bentley
Fenny Bentley
Fenny Bentley is a village close to Dovedale, Derbyshire, England. It lies two north of Ashbourne, on the A515 Buxton to Ashbourne Road.The Church of St Edmund at Fenny Bentley probably dates back to the 14th century but it was very heavily restored in the 19th century when the spire was added to...
, which is very close.
After the Ferrers the place was owned by the Blounts, then Lord Mountjoy and then the Browne family. At some point the manor came to be owned by the Bentley family. Edward Bentley of Hungry Bentley was tried at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
on a charge of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
(being a catholic) and convicted in 1586. In 1801 the settlement had about 80 residents living in ten dwellings. Edward Wilmot had purchased the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
from the Bentley family. In 1817 it was the property of Sir Robert Wilmot
Wilmot Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Wilmot, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and two in the Baronetage of Great Britain. One creation is extant as of 2008....
Bart of Chaddesden
Chaddesden
Chaddesden, also known locally as Chad, is a large suburb of Derby, United Kingdom, formerly known as Cedesdene.-Cedesene village:The old village of Cedesene is situated two and a half miles east of the city...
and Bentley Hall had become Bentley Hall farmhouse. By 1857, the whole of the manor had been transferred to Sir Sacheveral Wilmot, although it was noted that a small portion of land was excluded. That land was owned by the Rev. German Buckston of Bradbourne Hall
Bradbourne Hall
Bradbourne Hall is a privately owned 17th century country house at Bradbourne, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.The church of All Saints at Bradbourne was in the ownership of the Priory of Dunstable from 1278 until it was forfeited to the Crown in the 16th century at...
. This land known as Boothey Hay Flats had been rented in 1686 for 1000 years at ten pounds a year. This rent had been converted to a freehold in 1829 for the payment of £67 and ten shillings.
In 1872 the village was included in a description of the parish of Longford
Longford, Derbyshire
Longford is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is six miles from Ashbourne and eleven miles west of Derby.-History:In 1872 the parish of Longford was described as having just over 1150 people and 220 dwellings. This parish took in the settlements of Alkmonton, Rodsley, Hollington and the...
. The "liberty" of Hungry Bentley was said to be in the possession of Lord Vernon and it was noted that there "used to be a chapel here".
It is unknown as to why the village lost its population but the poor agriculture, a move away from arable farming, a change in climate and the black death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
have been all been considered as possible reasons. The site was identified by the County of Derbyshire in 1956 as a scheduled monument. It is now scheduled as of national importance (Ref No. 29935). The similar village of Wharram Percy
Wharram Percy
Wharram Percy is a deserted medieval village site on the western edge of the chalk Wolds in North Yorkshire, England. The site is about one mile south of Wharram-le-Street and is clearly signposted from the B1248 Beverley to Malton road...
in Yorkshire is now thought to have been abandoned for economic reasons.
Today
Hungry Bentley has been called the best "depopulated settlement" in Derbyshire. Inspection of the site shows clear evidence of where the main throroughfares were and where many of the actual buildings were located. The most substantial building still standing is Bentley Hall which lines up well with the supposed thoroughfares of the abandoned village and the nearby Roman RoadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
of Long Lane.