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©ttmelti Castle; its ^istovg, Site, an& recently 

 founlr Sttmatng; tottt) some account of ttjc 

 scneu Carl jfevrevs toljo IjcUr ft. 



By J. Charles Cox, LL.D. 



I. — The Seven Lords of Duffield Castle. 



ENRY DE FERRERS, the son of Walkelyn de Ferrers, 

 Lord of Ferrieres St. Hilaire, near Bernia, where he had 

 great ironworks, accompanied the Conqueror on his 

 triumphant expedition to England. He was one of the chief 

 favourites of his sovereign, and his ability and integrity caused 

 great trust to be reposed in him. The Conqueror at once made him 

 master over a considerable section of the subdued territory, a very 

 large share of Derbyshire falling to his lot. In the fourteenth 

 year of his reign, Henry de Ferrers was appointed one of the 

 Commissioners to make a general survey of the kingdom, an ap- 

 pointment of the greatest importance. From this survey, known 

 as the Domesday Book, it appears that he at that time (1086-7) 

 held 114 manors or lordships in Derbyshire, 35 in Leicestershire, 

 20 in Berkshire, 3 in Wiltshire, 5 in Essex, 7 in Oxfordshire, 6 in 

 Warwickshire, 2 each in Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, and Buck- 

 inghamshire, 1 in Gloucestershire, 3 each in Hampshire and Not- 

 tinghamshire, and 7 in Staffordshire, besides the castle and borough 

 of Tutbury. Having thus become possessed of a great territory in 

 the Midlands, that had just previously been in the hands of a large 

 number of semi-independent Saxon lords,it was only natural that De 

 Ferrers should require some central residence wherein his power 

 might be focussed, and from whence the territory, that had been won 

 by the sword, might be retained for himself and his royal master. 



