I have been looking back at some of the main landowners of Whittington. From 1204 when King John granted land to William Brewer. Through marriage arrangements and bequests via wills the various pieces of land changed hands many times through the history of the village. Some of the names include Lord Hugh Bourne, Peter of Bridlington, Hugh Wake, Sir Thomas Wake, Sir John Lowdham, Thomas Foljambe, Geoffrey of Dethick, William le Bret, Sir Thomas Gresley, Sir Henry Pierrepont, Peter de la Pole, Henry Pole of Radbourne, Samuel Hinde.
These are just some of the names and much more detail can be found on the Derbyshire Victoria County History website where Philip Riden has written a draft parish history for Whittington
An interesting story I have come across involves two of those named. Thomas Foljambe and Sir Henry Pierrepont. It appears that both were keen to accumulate land around Chesterfield and were aggressive in their dealings. There is a record of plead rolls in the Collections for a History of Staffordshire (Staffordshire Record Society, 1900) New Series Vol. 3, Page 130 which records an indictment against Thomas Foljambe of Walton and others for a rout and riot in Chesterfield. On Christmas Day 1434 they entered the Parish Church in Chesterfield (assuming the Crooked Spire) with the intent of killing Henry Pierrepont and his men. It is said they entered on hearing the sanctuary bell being rung as the Priest elevated the Bread in preparation for Holy Communion. They fired an arrow into the Altar and attacked Henry who lost a thumb and a number of fingers and was hit by an arrow in his leg. Two of Henry’s men, Henry Longford and William Bradshaw were killed.
I understand that when the case eventually came to court the blame was apportioned to Henry Pierrepont.
