I02 COURT ROLLS OF THE MANOR OF LITTLE CHESTER. 



(a.d. 1495), it appears that "The Bayley & Burgesses of 

 Derby were presented for inclosing Chester Greene, and were 

 under a payne of Ct. {court) to throw it open." The same Roil 

 records a presentment dealing with " the keeper of Eyton Parke 

 for cutting downe & selling the wood." It does not appear when 

 the Little Eaton demesne was disparked ; possibly when the 

 lords lost their rights of warren. Over the adjoining lands the 

 privileges of a buck-leap still prevail. 



In 1548, a presentment was made that John Hey had entered 

 upon two cottages, and a close known as " milne Ey " " belonging 

 to the Capell of Quarne." One of these cottages is described as 

 "the Chapell house «& chapell yard." The same circumstance 

 is no doubt referred to in the following entry : — 



" Chapell of Quarne 



'* A Roll proving 2 cottages & the lands to them are pt. of the 

 man' & ought to pay 4^ & S'' per ann. 



" 3 E. 6. John Hey entered into the chappel, & chapell yard, 

 & 2 cottages, the milne Ey, & ' Little More,' & the 4 pt of 

 a oxgang, & pasture for a cow in Heymore." 



" 7 April 1630. A license to Thomas Saunders to erect a 

 Cottage & enclose 40 virgates at the damme's head in little 

 Eaton: 12*^ rent for 21 yeares." 



Tliis was the dam belonging to the lord's mill (now the Bleach 

 Mill), and was formed of the widened brook course. It has been 

 replaced by a pond fed from the brook above Stanley's mill. 

 Some old cottages lately belonging to the lords still stand on 

 Mill-green below the dam. 



" The plague was in Derby 1637." 



There is nothing to explain this entry. As the Derby Assizes 

 were kept in Fryer's close on one occasion, it is possible that 

 the Customary Court was not held at Little Chester. 



In the particulars of a Court held on 25th April, 1642, the 

 following presentments are recorded : — 



" Wee present Sir John Harpur ^' who doth owe suit «Sc service 

 to this Court, & did not appeare, & thereupon amerce him iiii"* 



