BOLSOVER, a parish (formerly a market-town)
in the hundred of SCARSDALE, county of DERBY, 28
miles (N. N. B.) from Derby, and 145 (N. by W.) from
London, containing, with part of the township of Glapwell,
1355 inhabitants. This place, prior to the Conquest
called Belesoure, was, soon after the Norman survey,
noted for a castle erected by William Peveril, which
having been forfeited by his son, in 1153, became the
occasional residence of King John; but in a few years,
together with the castle of the Peak, was garrisoned by
the barons against that monarch. In 1215, William,
Earl Ferrars, retook both these castles from the barons,
and was made governor of them, as a reward for his
fidelity. That part of Bolsover castle which is now
habitable was built by Sir Charles Cavendish, in 1613,
in which his eldest son William, afterwards Duke of
Newcastle, thrice entertained Charles I. and his court,
and upon one occasion, when the queen was present,
expended £15,000. In the reign of Charles II. the
duke erected the splendid pile of building near it, which
is now in a state of ruin. During the civil war, while
the duke was abroad, the parliament having seized and
sold this mansion, it was about to be pulled down, but
Sir Charles, the duke's younger brother, recovered it by
purchase, and restored it to the family: it occupies a
lofty eminence commanding an extensive prospect. The
town is large and well built, and is pleasantly situated
on rising ground, environed on every side, except where
the ground forms a natural rampart, with a deep intrenchment.
It is within the jurisdiction of the court
for the honour of Peverel, which is held at Lenton,
near Nottingham: a court leet belonging to the lord of
the manor is held every third week, for the recovery
of debts under 40s, There is a fair on Midsummerday.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry
of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry,
rated in the king's books at £5. 19. 4., endowed
with £200 and £10 per annum private benefaction,
£400 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant, and
in the patronage of the Duke of Portland. The church,
dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious structure, having
portions in the Norman style intermixed with later
English architecture, and many modern insertions:
within is a sepulchral chapel belonging to the Cavendish
family, in which are some splendid monuments. There
are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan
Methodists. A small endowed school was erected in
1756; and in 1761, Mrs. Smithson bequeathed £200
for portioning young women with £25 each, directing
the overplus to be given to the poor.