Owlerton

in the Parish of Sheffield

The Lordship and Manor of Overton lies partly within the northern boundary of the City. From extent Court Rolls it appears that the outlying lands and houses held of the manor lay as far away as Bradfield, Hartshead, Sheffield and Attercliffe Hill Top. The greater part of the Lordship appears to have occupied the tongue of land formed by the juncture of the River Loxley and the river Don, but it is known that it extended for some distance up the Loxley Valley beyond Wisewood to Little Matlock to the lower reaches of the River Rivelin, and also north into Wadsley towards Ecclesfield.

The earliest reference to the Manor is in an undated charter, temp Edward I, which confirms a grant from Thomas de Schefeld to Henry de Bradeslay for his homage and service of certain lands and tenements in the territory of Wadesley. The grant makes it clear that Thomas was Lord of the Manor. Thomas was the son of Ralph de Schefeld, by his wife Dionysia. Ralph was also Lord of the Manor of Owlerton and on his death pre-1293 was possessed of lands in Owlerton and elsewhere.

By his wife he had two sons, Thomas and William. The Lordship was held by his descendants for a number of generations. From 1419 until 1534 all trace of the Lordship is lost but it is assumed that it passed from father to son or, failing sons, to daughters and co-heirs. By 1534 it was in possession of William Power of Braithwell, who leased it in that year to Thomas Crestwyke. Thomas Creswick of Owlerton Hall is recorded as having been Lord of Owlerton in 1601 and 1607. By the end of the 17th Century it had passed via Robert Stacie (1652) and Robert Bosville (1691) to George Bamforth exclusively in 1724. He owned Owlerton and the adjoining Manor of Wadsley. After his death in 1739 Owlerton Manor passed to Catherine Burton, wife of John Burton, daughter of John Law and niece of the last male heir of the Bamforths. She later married Sir Richard Cope Bart. circa 1787.

Her only daughter, Catherine, was born posthumously in 1773 as her father, John Burton, had died in 1772 aged 32. She became entitled to the Manor of Owlerton when she was 21, on the 21st February 1794. In 1777 General John Burgoyne (1722-1792), "Gentleman Johnny", 2nd grandson of Sir John Burgoyne, 3rd Baronet of Sutton, Bedfordshire, surrendered British and Canadian Indian forces to General Gates and to George Washington after the Battle of Saratoga. The later Major General Burgoyne, 8th Baronet of Sutton, (1773-1817) son of the cousin of Gentleman Johnny) married Catherine.

On the 1st November 1794 Catherine had mortgaged the Manor of Owlerton to Lord Grimston in order to purchase her husband's commission in H. M. Army. By a deed of 1853 Catherine gave the Lordship to her second son Montagu George Burgoyne who first married Louisa Theodosia Francis Vernon but upon her death re-married to Sarah Lounds. He died without issue on the 6th March 1836. After his death, a member of the Burgoyne family by marriage, Cecil Gilbert Charles Montagu Ireland Blackburne became the owner of Owlerton Manor. Within the manor estate and Lordship, the owners held a number of watermills in the Don, Loxley and Rivelin Valleys and were entitled to "all waters and fishings". However Owlerton was soon to be devastated.

At midnight on the 11th/12th March 1864 Dale Dyke and Bradfield reservoir, containing 91 million gallons of water, burst its banks. It engulfed Owlerton, Sheffield, and parts of Rotherham and Doncaster in its flood, resulting in substantial damage to houses, factories, farms and buildings and the loss of 240 lives. The manorial documents include "Complete History of the Great Flood at Sheffield" by Samuel Harrison, illustrated with 20 views taken from photographs.

The destruction was extensive but in the absence of satisfactory arrangements to repair, compensation or for the future, the millowners joined with the Lord of the Manor to form the River Don Millowners Association. This was the fighting fund set up to contest and settle future arrangements for reservoirs, to secure and distribute compensation to cover the losses sustained.

The Lordship of Owlerton may include an entitlement to a portion of undistributed funds held by the River Don Millowners Association. Further details are set out in the attached appendix. The situation regarding these funds is uncertain and any claim is based solely upon the researches and documents held by the present Lord of the Manor. The Vendor's agents make no warranty or claim in respect of these funds.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Court Rolls 1706-44 (Exts) South Yorkshire Historical Studies (Printed)
• Court Rolls & Papers c1316-1936 Wakefield District archives
• Court Rolls 1711, 1724, 1728 Sheffield City Library.
• Chief Rental 1761
• Draft Court Rolls,
• Particulars of Rents and
• Memoranda 1706-66
• Map 1777
• Court Rolls 1366-1607 Wakefield District Archives
• Further Deeds and documents associated with this Manor - available to purchaser
• These documents are principally the original ancient documents of the Manor of Owlerton.
• 1699 Perambulation of boundaries by the Lords of Owlerton, Wadsley and Sheffield Wadsley Manor - Transcript.
• 1709 The extent of the Manor of Owlerton - extract from recital in 1838 deed.
• 1787 Release Assignment & Settlement by Mrs Burton and her trustees upon her marriage to Sir Richard Cope Bart. - various lands Yorks and Derbys (10 skins).
• 1794 Articles on the marriage of Sir Montagu Roger Burgoyne Bart. with Miss Burton (2 docs. each of 1 skin plus appended certificate)
• 1794 Lease of Manor for 1 year. Sir Montagu Roger Burgoyne Bart. to Richard Debarry.
• 1794 Settlement Sir Montagu and Lady Burgoyne to the Hon. W. M. Harcourt and others plus several supplementary endorsed deeds (7 skins.)
• 1795 Mortgage. Sir M. G. Burgoyne Bart. & Dame Catherina his wife with the consent of their trustees to Lord Viscount Grimston of the Manor of Owlerton in pursuance of a power for purchasing a Majority in the Army for Sir Montagu Roger (6 skins).
• 1795 Deed of Appointment to receive rents. Sir Montagu Roger Burgoyne Bart. and Dame Catherina his wife (by the direction of Lord Viscount Grimston) to Mr Joseph Walker (3 skins).
• 1795 Deed of Common Recovery re: Owlerton Manor-Hull Debay and Cope with Kings Seal - transcript with explanatory extract This impressive document is currently on loan for display purposes to Dixon Coles & Gill Solicitors, Wakefield and the frame in which it is enclosed is their property.
• 1825 Assignment of Mortgage Sophia Elizabeth Bucknall by direction of Earl of Veulam and Lady Burgoyne to Thomas Metcalfe to secure £3518 and interest (7 skins).
• 1832 Appointment Lady Burgoyne to Miss C. C. F. Burgoyne of £2000 and interest (1 skin)
• 1838 Conveyance. Sir John M. Burgoyne Bart. to Thos Metcalfe for barring Estate tail male in Manor of Owlerton and settlement to uses of Marriage Settlement of Sir M. R. Burgoyne and Lady Catherine Burgoyne (6 skins).
• 1843 Appointment Lady Burgoyne to Miss M. E. Burgoyne of £4,000 and interest (1 skin).
• 1838 Assignment Miss Marianne Catherine Burgoyne to Trustees of the Settlement on the intended marriage between Henry Bowden and Miss M. E. Burgoyne of £4,000 Consols (3 skins).
• 1844 Linen plan of 119 described properties of Lady Catherina Burgoyne in Ecclesfield
• 1847 Conveyance. Trustees of Duke of Norfolk's Settlement to Lady Burgoyne's Settlement. Additional lands adjacent to River Don at Owlerton (7 skins).
• 1847 Deed of Covenants. Duke of Norfolk to Montagu George Burgoyne (2 skins).
• 1849 Appointment by Dowager Lady Burgoyne in favour of second son Montagu George Burgoyne in respect of certain properties at Nether Hallam being part of the Manor of Owlerton (2 skins with endorsed plans).
• 1853 Appointment by Lady Burgoyne in favour of Montagu George Burgoyne of her Owlerton Estate (11 skins with endorsed plans).
• 1855 Conveyance M. G. Burgoyne and George Hawksley to Henry Loxley of land at Owlerton adjacent to River Loxley (1 skin with plan endorsed).
• 1855 Marriage Settlement Montagu George Burgoyne and Louisa Theodosia Frances Vernon (13 skins with endorsed plans).
• 1856 Release Henry Bowden and Catherine his wife & their trustees to Montagu George Burgoyne in respect of £4000 (3 skins).
• 1856 Release. Rev. Rodbard Blackburne and Charlotte Catherine Frances his wife and their trustees to Montagu George Burgoyne in respect of sum of £2000 and interest (3 skins).
• 1871 Release. M. G. Burgoyne to Rev. H. J. Vernon & T. Foljambe - Indemnity in respect of trusts of Marriage Settlement of M. G. and Mrs Burgoyne (2 skins).
• 1876 Marriage Settlement. Montagu George Burgoyne with Sarah Lounds with endorsements (17 skins and plans endorsed).
• 1876 Certificate of Marriage of M. G. Burgoyne and Sarah Lounds
• 1877 Grant of easement M. G. Burgoyne & Others to Sheffield Water Works Company for pipeline in lands at Loxley (3 skins with endorsed plan).
• 1892 Appointment of New Trustee M. G. Burgoyne John Henry Dixon and William Vibart Dixon.
• 1895 Probate of Will of M. G. Burgoyne (1 skin).
• 1896 Estate Deputy papers and account re M. G. Burgoyne dec'd.
• 1908 Release Sir John Burgoyne 10th Bart. to The Exors. of M. G. Burgoyne dec'd.
• Additional Manorial Documents
• Burgoyne Estate Register A. 1851-1872
• Burgoyne Estate Register B. 1872-1880
• These 2 large books contain full hand-written details of leases, conveyances etc. executed by the Burgoynes during the periods stated
• Photocopy of 14th Cent. ? Owlerton Hall, demolished circa 1930
• Research papers, and family trees; photocopies pages 384-388 and 464-468
• Sheffield & Hallamshire historical survey
• Book. "The Great Flood of Sheffield" by Samuel Harrison
• Book. "The Burgoyne Saga" by The Lord of the Manor of Owlerton (R. Swinden J. P.)
• NB Most of the important documents affecting the Lordship of the Manor of Owlerton were registered under the Yorkshire Registries Act and were duly registered at the West Riding Registry of Deeds, Wakefield. They are still accessible at West Yorkshire Archives, Wakefield.
• One such document was an Assignment of Mortgage dated 24th March 1825 under the name of Dame Catherina Burgoyne Registered on the 2nd April 1825 in Book I. F. Page 534 No 472 which records the Manor as "including all FISHINGS" other documents refer to "All Waters"
• Appendix 1
• River Don Millowners Association Undistributed Funds
• This Association was formed in 1875 by Millowners in the Don, Rivelin and Loxley valleys to contest and settle further arrangements for making of Statutory controls of reservoirs by Sheffield Water Company subsequent to an Act of 1853 which made arrangements for the impounding of reservoirs and the first provision of water in Sheffield for domestic and other purposes.
• Contributors to the fighting fund were the Lord and other millowner's. In October 1979, solicitors managing the same, approached solicitors for the Lord, then being C. G. C. M. I Blackburne and revealed that they had substantial funds and were taking steps to distribute the same amongst those eligible and that they had made a list in 1951 in which C. G. C. M. I Blackburne was listed amongst the owners.
• Efforts were made by his solicitors to confirm the right a portion and a claim was made for 25% based upon his ownership of his properties (mills) but also because as Lord he had been entitled to "ALL WATERS AND FISHINGS" (as is indicated in manorial documents).
• Subsequently it was revealed that the funds in 1986 were valued at £154,000. Circa 1982 the Fundholders were informed the funds were not registerable as a Charity as they were private funds and should be dealt with accordingly.
• It was also revealed that in 1986 Anthony Swift, a solicitor, as Fundholder, had with Philip Harold Dixon sworn a Statutory Declaration relative to their holding those funds. The present Lord has carried out detailed researches into all aspects of the Statutory Declaration and the establishment of their authority over the funds and has found the same to be more than questionable. Attempts have been made to prove the Lord's interest but the same have been regarded as unacceptable to the fundholders (pseudo trustees) and cannot easily be resolved in Court. The present Lord has obtained evidence which is in conflict with the Statutory Declaration but is currently too ill to proceed. The papers being handed over on sale include all the correspondence and a satchel of ancient supporting documents. It may be that the only way to resolve the impasse is for the Lord to hold Court under manorial custom.

Historical holder / succession information

1. grant makes it clear that Thomas [source claim requiring identity review]
   lord_of_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: The grant makes it clear that Thomas was Lord of the Manor.
2. Catherine Burton [source claim requiring identity review]
   1739 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: After his death in 1739 Owlerton Manor passed to Catherine Burton, wife of John Burton, daughter of John Law and niece of the last male heir of the Bamforths.