Honour of Peverel facts for kids
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The Honour of Peverel was a large area of land in northern England during medieval times. It was also known as the Feudal Barony of the Peak. This land was controlled by the powerful Peverel family, who were Norman lords.
An "Honour" was like a huge estate or collection of lands given by the king to a loyal noble. It gave the noble great power and wealth. The Honour of Peverel was first given to a knight named William Peverel (who lived from about 1050 to 1115). He received it from William the Conqueror, the King of England, around the time of the Norman Conquest.
Lands of the Honour
The Honour of Peverel was very important and was even written down in the famous Domesday Book of 1086. This book was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record all the land and property in England.
The Honour of Peverel included a huge amount of land, with 162 different manors. A manor was a large country estate with a village, farms, and a lord's house. Some of the important places that were part of the Honour included:
- Bolsover Castle - This castle became the main home for the Peverel family.
- Nottingham Castle
- Codnor Castle
- Pinxton
- Duston
- Peveril Castle in Castleton, Derbyshire
- Glapwell
- Eastwood, Nottinghamshire
- Langar Hall
Changes in Ownership
After William Peverel passed away, his son, William Peverel the Younger, took over the Honour. However, he later lost these lands. King Henry II took the Honour back from him.
The king then planned to give the Honour to Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester. But Ranulph de Gernon died before he could officially take control of the lands.
The Peverels in Stories
The history of the Peverel family and their Honour became the inspiration for a famous book. Sir Walter Scott wrote a historical novel called Peveril of the Peak. This story is set in the 17th century and was published in 1823. It shows how historical events can inspire great works of literature.
