12 DENBY OLD HALL AND ITS OWNERS. 



The latter manor contained a park* in the time of Henry III., 

 and apparently this park, or some portion of it, is the estate 

 now known as the " Old Hall " estate. The Robeys usually 

 described themselves as of " Denby Park " ; and the " mes- 

 suage house " mentioned in a Chancery action about the year 

 1666 "was undoubtedly within the park and was formerly the 

 Keeper s Lodge." 



The Owners. 



From the Domesday Survey it appears that Osmund held 

 the manor of Denby in Saxon times, when the value was one 

 hundred shillings. In the course of the Norman invasion, the 

 manor suffered severely, decreasing in value to twenty shillings. 

 It was then given, together with the neighbouring manor of 

 Horsley, and other manors in Derbyshire and Nottingham- 

 shire, to a Norman, Ralph de Burun, under whom it was held 

 by " a knight of Ralph's." The name of this knight is not 

 given; but in or about the reign of Henry I. the estate was 

 held under the de Burun family by Patrick de Rossel. Taking 

 into consideration the very limited space of time between the 

 Domesday Survey and the reign of Henry I., it seems probable 

 that the " knight of Ralph's "t was a member of the de Rossel 

 family. But as evidence is lacking, this suggestion remains 

 merely a conjecture. From this period onwards to the reign 

 of Henry VI., the de Rossel family held the manor. In 

 19 Edward II., William de Rossel held the right of free-warren; 

 and in the same reign Richard, Lord Grey, of Codnor, acquired 

 a small manor in Denby known, later, as Park Hall (part of 

 the ancient manor) in right of gift from William de Rossel 

 and William Bernack, who were styled kinsmen and co-heirs 

 uf John de Denby. In the reign of Henry VI. the family 

 became extinct in the male line. 



*A park was a place of privilege for wild beasts of venery and other 

 wild beasts of the forest and chase. It differs from a forest in that a 

 subject may hold a park by prescription or royal grant. It differs from 

 a chase because a park must be enclosed. — Wharton. 



t Miles Radulfi. 



