After the English Civil War the Bullock Family who had taken over the Manor of Norton found themselves in financial straits. The Bullocks had supported the Royalist cause and had expended a lot of money in that cause. The Bullocks sold up to a substantial part of the estates to Cornellius Clarke in 1666. He… [Read more…]
February 17, 2012
There are 3 coats of arms in Bishops House but none are connected to the occupants directly. The Blythe coat of arms can be seen on the Blythe monument at St James Church Norton. William Blythe is dressed in a long gown. It is suggested that he was a merchant due to his purse but… [Read more…]
December 10, 2011
I have often wondered whether the radicalism and independent way of thinking in Sheffield stemmed from its proximity to Derbyshire and the Lead mining areas. Reasons for the cutlery industry being in Sheffield are cited as Geographical ie. good source of fuel from woodlands, power from water mills, and iron ore available Also due to… [Read more…]
November 8, 2011
On the 11th October 1642 Sir John Gell took over Sheffield Castle for the Parliamentary Army. Before the Civil War began in 1642, the King sent out orders for all arms that could be spared to be collected and sent to Doncaster. As a result, four brass cannon were sent from Sheffield Castle. These cannon… [Read more…]
September 7, 2011
This is my criticism of previous statements (not by me) but supposively by experts. The expert’s quotes are in itallics. In the mid 1500s the west wing was rebuilt with a second storey with oak flooring. Will of 1562 John Blythe It does not list rooms but it is obvious from the possessions list… [Read more…]
June 28, 2011
In the beginning there was the Smith. He would smelt the iron possibly in a bolehill or small bloomery. Then he would work the iron into any tool his customer specified. He would produce anything from a horseshoe to an arrowhead. He was not as such independent. He most probably worked for the local… [Read more…]
May 2, 2011
Although it is impossible at all times to prove a particular piece of history happened, it is still necessary to use as many original sources as you can to prove what you say is not purely interpretation but has some basis in fact. In early history besides archaeology the best original sources are legal documents.… [Read more…]
April 22, 2011
In 1666 Henry Blythe of Dronfield, son of Charles Blythe the armiger (he inherited the coat of arms), a cousin of the Blythe’s of Norton Lees. is listed in documents as an Apothecary. He appears to have been both an apothecary in Dronfield (tokens advertising him) and of Nottingham (on deeds of sale of Dronfield… [Read more…]
April 19, 2011
John Blythe was said to be Thomas Blythe’s son, but a document when he was a clerk in Stafford, clearly states he was the son of Richard Blythe of Norton. He can be seen also in a document in 1500 as dean of York buying land with a Richard of Norton in Dinnington from a… [Read more…]
April 8, 2011
Interestingly William Blythe was awarded a coat of Arms in 1485 before Henry Tudor won the Battle of Bosworth but the coat of arms was still confirmed. After Henry married Elisabeth of York in 1486, his second action was to declare himself king retroactively from the day before Bosworth Field. This meant that anyone who… [Read more…]
March 22, 2012
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