Description: Robert Fitz-Walters was married to Eleanor de Ferrers, daughter of the 6th Earl of Derby and for some two hundred years, one of the most powerful families in England. They owned large parts of Derbyshire and the family tombs are at Merevale Abbey.
This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.