Sturston, Derbyshire
Sturston is a small area of settlement in Derbyshire, England. It is located on the A517 road, east of Ashbourne. It is in the civil parish of Offcote and Underwood.
Sturston Hall is mentioned in the Domesday Book as one of two manors held by Ulfkell and Wodi, each manor being of half a carucate each. The two manors were given to Henry de Ferrers after the Norman Conquest. By 1348 Sir Ralf Rochfort had inherited Sturston, with Grendon and Shenstone. He died childless, and in 1386 the estates passed to Sir William Chetwynd, 1st Lord Grendon of Ingestre in Staffordshire. Chetwynd sold the manor of Sturston to John Kniveton of Bradley, son of Sir John Kniveton and the hall stayed in the ownership of the Kniveton family for several hundred years. By 1630 Sir Gilbert Kniveton, 2nd Baronet High Sheriff of Derbyshire had inherited the Bradley and Sturston estates which were sold by 1655 to Francis Meynell a citizen and goldsmith of London. The estates passed to Hugh Charles Meynell who sold Sturston to a Stoddart in about 1847. Mrs Elizabeth Stoddart was Lady of the Manor in 1857 with around. During most of its time the Hall was let to tenants, who farmed the land.
