Derbyshire’s barmote courts are unique and ancient. To find out more, take a look at this great blog by Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.
Here at Buxton Museum, we display many aspects of Derbyshire’s mining history, whether it be our unique Blue John window, mining artifacts or our mineral collection. Due to its long mining history, Derbyshire is also the home of the Barmote Court, a mining court which is the oldest surviving court in England, having been created by the Duke of Lancaster in the 13th Century.
To understand why the Duchy of Lancaster has a say in the courts of Derbyshire, we must look back to the Second Barons War (1262-7) in which King Henry III’s favourite, Simon De Montefort, rebelled against the King, aided by other English nobles. One of these nobles was Robert Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby, whose Derbyshire lands had been held since the Conquest. Ferrers was married to Henry III’s half-niece and used the political turmoil and his position during the war to lay claim…
View original post 950 more words