Old Duffield Village, Church, and Castle.

Further Reading

Papers in the Derbyshire Archaeological Journal.

Cox, J.C., Duffield Castle; its history, site, and recently found remains; with some account of the seven Earl Ferrers who held it. geneal. tab., DAJ, vol. 9, 1887.Summary

Strutt, F.and J.C.Cox., Duffield forest in the sixteenth century., DAJ, vol. 25, 1903.

Cox, J.C., The registers and churchwardens' accounts of the parish of Duffield., DAJ, vol. 39, 1917.

Lawrance, H.and T.E.Routh., Derbyshire military effigies III., DAJ, vol. 48/49, 1926/27.

Williamson, F., Roman and other remains found at Duffield., DAJ, vol. 52, 1931.

Charlton, J., Some Roman pottery from Duffield., DAJ, vol. 53, 1932.

Mynors, H.C.B., Sir Roger Mynours of Duffield., DAJ, vol. 73, 1953.

Hughes, R.G., A Medieval Pottery Kiln Site at Burley Hill, Duffield., DAJ, vol. 77, 1957.

Manby, T.G., Duffield Castle Excavations 1957., DAJ, vol. 79, 1959.

Bonsall, J., Gimson, H. and Schmidt, A. (2001) "Duffield Castle, Derbyshire: Report on Geophysical Survey 2001," University of Bradford, Dept. Of Archaeological Science

General Accounts.

In surveying the wealth of written records of various kinds from Norman times, each author, having different interests, has made his own selection. As far as the early history of Duffield, before Norman times, is concerned, there is much that is open to question. The feeling one gets is that there is too much speculation based on too little evidence.

Duffield, Derbyshire, Past and Present.
Anon (2000)

This is the only book currently in publication about the history of Duffield. Most of its information is gleaned from earlier publications. The author cites a number of these, including my grandfather's book, and, rather unecessarily I feel, "a factual account of the ancient village of Duffield by G.Hickling." (My emphasis) Why Hickling's book is considered more factual than others is unclear, especially since the anonymous author reiterates those conclusions to which Hickling takes issue. The book is most useful for the last few decades of the twentieth century, but has accounts of the histories of a number of Duffield's amenities.

Duffield in Appletree,
G. Hickling (circa 1950)

This book was written at a time when popular interest had grown in local history, in fact, all things old. It is the only one sold in quantity, being reprinted around 1958, and is thus, rightly or wrongly, regarded as the seminal work on the village. The author begins with a general history of the country and the area in pre-Norman times, following with a review of the Domesday Book. In his account of the castle he is dismissive of any idea that there might have been either Celtic or Roman habitation. He is, however, strongly in favour of an Anglo Saxon encampment. As regards the Norman keep, it should be noted that the book was written before the second excavations of Manby in 1957.

An Illustrated History of Duffield,
W.R.Watson (1986)

The two books by Watson were produced as limited editions,and are best found by a visit to the library. He begins with a general account of Derbyshire history up to Iron Age, using it to speculate why there might have been a settlement at Duffield. Similarly he supports the idea of a Roman presence, possibly on an occasional basis.

The Derbyshire Village of Duffield Past and Present.
W.R.Watson (1991)

Written to supplement his earlier book, the author confines his discussion of Duffield pre-history to a brief introductory chapter. Taken together, the two books must form the most comprehensive account of Duffield from medieval times onward.

New Light on Duffield Church and its Ancient Parish.
T.L.Tudor (1939)

Tudor's book is specifically about the Church, but has a chapter about the Frith. He makes two points particularly worth noting . Firstly he feels that its origins must predate St. Alkmund by some hundreds of years, soon after the arrival of Christianity in Repton around 653 AD. Secondly he suggests that its location was determined by its purpose, the baptism of converts rather than its proximity to a community.