Description: "Laurence, Earl Ferrers succeeded to his title on the death of his uncle. His uncle had been confined as a lunatic, and Ferrers suffered from periods when he became disturbed and paranoid. His wife separated from him on grounds of cruelty and Ferrers shot his steward dead after becoming suspicious of him. On trial for murder, Ferrers tried to avoid the death sentence by claiming that he was insane at the time of the shooting. Dr. John Monro, who worked at Bethlem Hospital for mentally ill patients, gave evidence in his favour. However, Ferrers was found guilty of murder and hanged at Tyburn. His remains were dissected by anatomists before burial." (Taken from http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/)
The Shirley famiy were predominantly from Staunton Harold in Leicestershire, but were Lords of the Manor in a number of Derbyshire towns and villages including Shirley, Brailsford and Ednaston. There are monuments to the family at Brailsford Church.
See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=056-26d53&cid=-1#-1 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Shirley,_1st_Earl_Ferrers
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.