A HISTORY OF DO RE AND TOTLEY fro m th e GILPIN 981 ABBEYDALE ROAD MILLHOUSES SHEFFIELD S7 2QD SOUTH YORKSHIRE TEL: 351322 HISTORY OF DORE AND TOTLEY from the NINTH TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CONTENTS. Ch a p t e r I ntroduction . 1 Dore and Totley : Place Names 2 Early H istory of D o r e ............................. 3 Old Buildings and Monuments in Dore 4 Schools ............................. 5 Early History of Totley ................ 6 Old Buildings in Totley ... 7 Schools ....................................................... 8 Ecclesiastical History of Dore and Totley 9 Boundaries and Beating the Bounds 10 Dore and Totley Inclosure Awards 11 Field Names and Bridle Paths ................ 12 Old Industries .......................................... 13 Charities and Sports 14 Notable Residents of Dore and Totley 15 Natural History of Dore and Totley ... Appendix A :—Folklore of Dore and Totley Appendix B :— Glossary INTRODUCTION. Dore ancl Totley are situated between five and six miles south and south-west of the centre of the city of Sheffield.. These respective manors were in existence prior to the Norman Conquest 1066 A.D. hence, it is not difficult to find justification for writing a book about a residential area which has been occupied for an unknown number of centuries and which under modern conditions is now rapidly losing its ancient rural individuality and rustic charm through the extensive building schemes which are being carried out in the area. The miscellaneous types of houses which are rapidly enclosing the old stone mansions, farms and cottages, are giving a new appearance to these old time rural areas .... The only redeeming feature is that their southern and south-western boundaries are on what is known as “ The Green Belt," so called, because of its hilly surroundings of moors, woodlands and agricultural land. Even parts of this area are being threatened with seizure for housing, etc. ; such unrestricted methods tend to make old time villagesamere unit ina spreading uniformity. One of the most significant features to be noted in the history of Dore and Totley is, that for many centuries they have been interlinked with each other. The Lord’s of these two manors' at various times, rented or owned land in each others’ areas and were frequently allied by the intermarriage of members of their respective families. Certain names have been associated with both places for centuries .... Finally, both Dore and Totley were absorbed into the city of Sheffield at the same time in the year 1935. It must be borne in mind that this book makes no claim to completeness, the scale is too vast over so long a period, and many documents and charters have vani­ shed during the centuries. The object of the writer, has been to constitute, a brief record of some of the chief literary references which have been made to Dore and Totley from the 9th to the 20th century, including the names and actions of some old-time inhabitants, and some of the local oral history, now in danger of being forgotten unless im­ mediately placed on written record. It is hoped that the information presented will be of use and interest to both young and old inhabitants of the area, as well as to the rapidly increasing number of new residents. VERNON BRELSFORI). 15th October., 1,953 . I > ! References. " Domesday Survey,” Yeatman’s " Feudal History of Derbyshire,” etc., Pipe Rolls, Subsidy Rolls, Assize Rolls, and Calendar of Fines for the County of Derby. Jeayes and Woolleys Collections of Charters. Lyson's and Glover's Histories of Derbyshire, Cox’s “Churches of Derbyshire,” Vol. 1. Journal’s of Derbyshire Archae­ ological Society, Dore and Totley Parish Council Minute Books, and their respective Inclosure Awards. Much oral information and references have been given to me by old inhabitants ; in addition, personal knowledge of the district for upwards of forty years as well as residence, and visits to all places and buildings to check dates, etc., have been of value in compiling these notes. C h a p t e r I. Place Names. In the majority of cases "place names” are usually derived from the name of the earliest dweller on the site, or from its geographical position. Sometimes we have a combination of the personal name and the physical features supplying the name. English names which suggest the idea of stability or enclosure are : ton, ham, worth, bury, field, etc. The word "ton” (O.E. tun) is one of the commonest of place- name endings, and wherever it occurs it indicates a regular settlement. Another, is the frequent occurrence of the syllable "ing.’’ It has been computed that more than one-tenth of English villages and towns contain this syllable, either as a simple suffix, or as the middle syllable of a name. In defining a place-name, therefore, how it is spelt in the earliest documentary form is very valuable. Failing this we have to try and interpret its present form on the analogy of other similar names whose origin is known, paying at the same time, due regard to the phonetic changes which frequently have taken place through the course of centuries. The name "Dore” seems to have preserved its present spelling for centuries. It is considered by various authorities to be associated with the Cymric (Welsh) "dwr” (Dur) for water, which is found almost in its pure form in the river name of Dour, in Fife, Aberdeen and Kent. Dorchester : the city on the "dur.” Dore- soeta :—Dorset. Dur-otergies :—dwellers by the water. There are other names connected with this root. Doro, in Ireland ; Durra, in Cornwall ; the "Bdora,” of the Ravenna geographer. The name "Dore,” therefore, in Derbyshire, apparently got its name because of the many streams of water in its area :—two of them constituting boundaries between 1 Dorc and Ecclesall and .Dore and Totley, the Limb Brook for the former, on the north, and Old Hay Brook for the latter, on the south. The Red Car Brook, flows into the Old Hay Brook ; there are also various dykes and to the west Burbage Brook ; on the east flows the river Sheaf. If we include Totley Brook and the streams which flow into it from the Holmesfield, Woodthorpe and Totley area, as well as Needham’s Dyke, Blacka Dyke, Eagles Cliff Dyke, Cow Sick, Stoney Dyke Sick, etc. ; we have a total of 5,000 acres of land drained by these streams into the river Sheaf. As Dorc and Totley have frequently been linked to­ gether throughout the centuries it may be as well to deal here, with Totley's Place-Name and so associate it with the introductory' remarks we have given on this phase of the subject. TOTLEY :—Witli regard to Totinglei, Totenley, Totingley and later Totley, we have to consider the spelling :—Tot- ing- lei. ‘Tot’ means 'something small' (a human being) ; a small drink (dram, or a tot of liquor), “Ing,’’ this syllabic in a name means “Son of”, or “descendant,” and in many cases denotes the personal possession of land by one .man. It is considered as a true patronymic if it occurs in a name which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. “ Ley ” denotes pasture-land, open forest . glades or clearings. Tothill:—a small eminence ; Toothill :—a “Lookout,” a hill on which a watch was kept ; names of this derivation are to be found in many English counties : Tothill, in Lincoln­ shire ; Totenhill, Nottinghamshire ; Toternhoe, in Bedfordshire, denotes : the “lookout on the hill”,; Totnes, in Devonshire : “the toft on the ness” (headland). Totncs, is a very ancient name in British traditions ; when Brutus sails for Albion he arrives at Totnes ; Merlin, prophecies the arrival of the Saxons at Totnes, and tradition records them doing so in the reign of King Arthur. A green knoll was called “Toft” by the Scandinavians, and was used later for a homestead, (Lowestoft, etc.) The name Totley, therefore, indicates the settlement of “Tot” or “Toft” on the hill amidst the open clearings. This is a fitting description of its geographical position. As a “Look-out,” it provides glorious views extending for miles, when one stands on Totley Hill Top, Bolehill, or the top of Totley Moss, etc., views from 1,000 feet or more may be had in the area. After this brief summary of '‘place-names,” which in many cases have to be traced in the words we now use, which are not all of English origin, but also include Celtic, Latin, Scandinavian and elements of a Pre-Celtic lan­ guage, etc, we will turn to what are considered to be the earliest literary references to the manors of Dore and Totley and also give a brief account of some of the owners from the time of the Norman Conquest. C h a p t e r II. Dore Manor. At the time of the Domesday Survey 1086 A.D. the Manor of Dore was held by Roger de Busli. It is described in the Domesday Book as follows :—"In Dore, Edwin, 11 bovates of land hidable. There is land for plough." "In the same place Leuuin, 11 bovates of land hidable. There is land for 1 plough. Formerly XX shillings ; now LXIV pence.” Between the reigns of Henry II and Henry III the Wapentake of Scaresdale records "Ryeus de Draycot and Matilda de Wellwyke, his wife, held the vill of Dore by sergeanty of the king in chief." In the Calendar of Fines for the County of Derby 1246 in the 30th Henry III, June 25th, a case is recorded "Between Hugh de Holbek and Isabella his wife, Plaintiffs, and Richard Draycote, Tenant, in fee, of a third part of a moiety of the manor of Dore, claimed by Plaintiffs as the dower of Plaintiff Isabella which accrued to her out of the freehold of Adam de Cridelinge her late husband in same vill.” In the latter period of the reign of Henry III.