Bolsover and Long Duckmanton – June 2013

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Bolsover is mentioned in Domesday Book, named as Belesovre, where it is described as the property of William Peverel (or “Peveril”). The description refers to the villans, the ploughs, 8 acres (32,000 m2) of meadow, and woodland pasture, which is given as two leagues by a league.

William was possibly an illegitimate son of William the Conqueror. Bolsover became the seat of the Peverel family, and in the twelfth century a keep was built.  The present castle was erected in 1613.

In 1657 William Cavendish produced the book ‘La Methode et Invention nouvelle de Dresser les Chevaux’ which he produced in exile in Antwerp during the Cromwellian Protectorate. This was translated in 1743 to ‘A General System of Horsemanship in All Its Branches’ this covered the dressage of horses, at his ‘Bolsouer’, Welbeck and Antwerp stables and there are etched prints existing showing the ‘Monsieur le Marquis a Cheval’ amongst many other views of the town. The etches are attributed to Abraham van Diepenbeeck a pupil of Van Dyck.

The district of Bolsover is notable for three sites of historical importance: Bolsover CastleCreswell Crags (home to Britain’s only known Palaeolithic cave art)  and Creswell Model Village, an example of early twentieth century design from the Model village movement.

Bolsover Castle was founded in the 12th century by the Peverel family, who also owned Peveril Castle in Derbyshire, and it came under royal control in 1155. The site is now in the care of English Heritage and is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Long Duckmanton is a village in the civil parish of Sutton-cum-Duckmanton, in North East Derbyshire, located between Bolsover and Chesterfield. It is located 3km west of Bolsover and about 18km south-east of the city of Sheffield.