2 HISTORY OF NORTON. 



I need not derive the name, Norton, for it is obvious enough, 

 nor need I, to be consistent with my general intention to 

 produce entirely new matter, insert that very usual extract from 

 Doomsday, which so often introduces a topographical essay. 



The first known mention of the place occurs in the will of 

 Wulfric Spott (a.d. 1002), who appears to have been an officer 

 attached to the court of King Ethelred. The bequest is to one 

 Ufegeat, and probably includes the whole township. "Item do 

 Ufegeato terras illas apud Northtune, ea lege, ut is amicus et 

 adjutor eo propensior sit erga ilium locum." * That the Norton 

 mentioned here is the Derbyshire Norton is shown by the 

 schedule affixed to the will. Why the testator wished Ufegeat to 

 become the "friend and champion" of the place does not appear. 



The manor, along with that of Alfreton, was held of the honour 

 of Tickhill, a once famous castle in South Yorkshire, and had to 

 render suit and service to the court there every three weeks. This 

 is a fact which, I believe, has not been noticed before.} 



" 'Escaet' et inquisicio tempore E. i. vz. 



Calendar' Thomas de Chaworth pro abbate de Bello. . . . 



Inquisicio capta apud Eckinton inter regem et abbatem de Bello. . . . 

 Qui dicunt &c. quod non est dampnum si dominus Rex concedat Thome de 



Chaworth potest dare abbati de Bello Capite ad sustentacionem 



cujusdam Canonici in eadem abbatia pro predicto Thoma et Johanna uxore 

 ejus x toft' xj m bona (? bovatas) terr', xlviij acras terre, xvj acras bosci, lviij s 

 et sex denarios redditus cum pertin' in Alfreton, Norton, Grenhill, Bradway, 

 et Woodseth. Dicunt. . . omnia predicta tofta, terras, et redditus simul 

 cum maneriis de Alfreton et Nor. . tenentur de honore de Tykhill per 

 sectam curie de tribus septianis in tres septianas ibidem faciend' &c. &c. 



[Ex m per me Richardum Coke.] 



[This last record was written in paper and y e ends of y e lynes worne out 

 w ch w th ye 2 copyes of y e 2 deeds supra remayne w th Rich. Coke of Cold 

 Aston and were lent by hym to mee primo Junii anno R.R. Caroli p mo 1634. 

 /<?. Bullock] 



* Dugdale Monast. ; see also the Chronicles of Abingdon Monastery. 



•f My information is derived from a copy of an ancient document, now in the 

 custody of Messrs. Marples & Marples, solicitors, Sheffield, who kindly let me 

 peruse it. The lacunae are not distinguished, so I cannot be quite certain 

 where to put them. I give the document at length. It is not quite accurately 

 copied. 



