1 8 CODNOR CASTLE, AND ITS ANCIENT OWNERS. 



to the west of the ruins are also of good freestone of unmis- 

 takable origin. The dovecote is of no great age, but has been 

 derived from the same quarry of hewn stones, and has been 

 constructed by some tenant of the farm long after the glories of 

 the castle had passed away. From an observation made by 

 Glover, it seems that about 150 years ago, the outer walls of the 

 castle were then tolerably perfect It may be that this information 

 was derived from Buck's view of the structure, which, by the 

 kindness and generosity of Sir Alfred Seale Haslam, the worthy 

 mayor of Derby, has been re-engraved for this article by 

 Mr. George Bailey. 



About forty years ago, the ground within the northern or inner 

 court was completely turned over in search of ironstone ; so that 

 no excavations here in quest of original levels or foundations 

 would be likely to lead to satisfactory results. This disturbance 

 fully accounts for the great discrepancy between the levels of the 

 two courts and the blocking of the inner gateway. 



Traces of gardens are still visible in the field to the north-west, 

 from which point of observation Buck seems to have taken his view, 

 and a double row of trees formerly grew on the eastern bank of 

 the moat. The park connected with the castle has long been 

 under cultivation ; it is said to have contained about 3,000 

 acres. 



The name "Codnor" (Domesday Cotenoure) signifies the cot, 

 cote, or home of cottars, on the " over" or crest of the hill. On 

 the same stretch of high ground stands Heanor from Heah, 

 Heane, = high, lofty, and the same ovre from "ufa" = high — A.S. 

 We find the same termination, but less changed, in Bolsover (in 

 Domesday Belesovre), an eminence obviously dedicated in pre- 

 historic times to the worship of the sun, i.e., Bal, or Baal. Other 

 place-names in Derbyshire with this termination occurring in 

 Domesday are Ashover, "Barcouere," " Calver " (Caluoure), 

 " Ednesoure," " Hennesoure," and " Oure." 



Codnor with its dependencies, Shirland, Ufton, Heanor, 

 Langley, and Smithcote, formed a portion of the large estates 

 assigned to AVilliani Peverell by the Conqueror, soon after the 



