A Topographical
Dictionary of England,

by Samuel Lewis,
7th Edition, 1848, Vol 4, p.197 :-

Courtesy of Sonia W Addis-Smith

STAVELEY (St John the Baptist), a parish in the union of Chesterfield, hundred of Scarsdale, northern division of the county of Derby, 4 3/4 miles north-east-by-east from Chesterfield; containing, with the chapelry of Barlow, 3,315 inhabitants [in 1848], of whom 2,688 are in Staveley township.

This place was for many generations the seat of the FRECHEVILLE family, of whom Sir John, an active Royalist in the reign of Charles I, strongly fortified his mansion, and, having raised a battery of twelve pieces of cannon, held it against the Parliamentarian forces for a considerable time, but in August 1644 was obliged to surrender by capitulation. The parish comprises 6,827 acres. The soil is chiefly a loamy clay, with some earth of lighter quality in the higher land; the substratum abounds with ironstone and coal, of the former of which much is smelted. The village is pleasantly situated on the east bank of the river Rother; the Chesterfield canal runs through the village, and several tramroads have been formed in connection with the various collieries in the parish. The Staveley station of the Midland railway is 3 1/2 miles from the Chesterfield station, and 2 3/4 from that of Eckington.

The living is a rectory, valued in the King's Books at 12 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence, and in the patronage of the duke of DEVONSHIRE; the tithes have been commuted for two rent-charges each of 605 pounds 9 shillings and 7 pence, payable respectively to the Rector and the Duke of DEVONSHIRE; the glebe consists of about 90 acres, and there is a good glebe-house.

The Church is an ancient structure, containing monuments of the FRECHEVILLE family; the east window exhibits some stained glass, presented by Lord FRECHEVILLE in 1676. The Wesleyans have a place of worship.

A free grammar school was founded at Netherthorpe, in 1537, by Judge RODES; in support of which, and of two scholarships in St John's College, Cambridge, he bequeathed 20 pounds per annum, since augmented to 30 pounds. Excellent schools have been lately built at a considerable expense by the Duke; and a chapel of ease and school-house have been erected at Handley, in the parish, about three miles distant from the village.

An hospital for four aged persons of each sex was erected at Woodthorpe, in 1632, by Sir Peter FRECHEVILLE, who assigned 4 pounds per annum to each inmate; and Richard ROBINSON, in 1777, augmented the endowment with 18 pounds per annum.