Description: The original Earls of Derby were the de Ferrers, who were descended from Henry de Ferrers who built Tutbury and Duffield Castles. The de Ferrers also founded Darley Abbey. Robert was created 1st Earl of Derby by Charter in 1138 (Craven, M Derbeians of Distinction p84) as he was one of the leaders of the Battle of the Standard.
William de Ferrers, as mentioned on this engraving, was the 5th Earl whose son, Robert, rebelled against Henry III and thus forfeited the original Earldom and lands associated with the title when he was captured and imprisoned in 1266.
The lands were given to Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III and then to his son Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (top right shield). Edmund's grandson was created Earl of Derby in 1337 and the title then passed to Edward III's son, John of Gaunt (bottom left shield). His son and successor was Henry Bolingbroke, who acceded to the throne as Henry IV in 1399. Thus, the title Earl of Derby merged into the Crown and lay dormant until it was recreated for the Stanley family in 1485 (bottom right shield).
The Stanley family was descended from Ligulf of Aldithley, who was also the ancestor of the Audleys (see Audley-Stanley family - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audley-Stanley_family). Alison Plowde writes in 'Lords of the Land' (pp69-101) that the earliest Stanley ancestor is Liulf or Lydulph of Aldithley, Aldelegh or Audley who lived in the mid 12th century and this is confirmed by BurkeÆs Peerage which says Adam de Stanley brother of Lydulph had a son William who was granted Stanley and half of Balterley in Staffordshire by LydulphÆs son Adam de Audley. It is likely that he took the name Stanley from that place. (With thanks to Sue Hulse for the information and clarification on the Stanley family).
There is no connection to Derbyshire with this line of the Earls of Derby and it is wrongly reported that Stoneleigh is in Derbyshire. The Stoneleigh mentioned is most likely in Staffordshire* and the Stanley family's seat, at least from the 8th Earl of Derby onwards, is actually Knowsley in West Derby, near Liverpool.
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.
* It has been suggested that in fact the reference is to Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.