ATHERSTON, (Warwickshire) near the r. Anker, in the road from London to Derby, was, in the R. of Hen. III. granted by
Hugh, E. of Chester, to the monks of Bee in Normandy, who obtained a Fair September 6, 7, 8, and a Mt. on Tu. since
discontinued. K. Hen. IV. seized it, and gave it to his son John, D. of Bedford, and after his death to Humphry, E. of
Stafford for life; after whom, Hen. VI. gave it to his half-brother, Edmund, E. of Richmond, and his heirs; but Edw. IV.
took it from him, and gave it to the Carthusians of Mont-Grace in Yorkshire. K. Hen. VIII. after the ref. gave it to
Henry, Marq. of Dorset, who being attainted in the R. of Q. Mary, she gave it to William Devereux, Esq; who founded and
endowed a fr. s. here, but his heirs sold it to Sir John Repington of Amington, who enjoyed it in the last century.
Michael Drayton, the famous poet, was born here.