Four Shires History

18/10/2026

I couldn't claim that a talk about ghosts is 'history' but people's beliefs, for and against, are present in Victorian sources. I find their beliefs fascinating. Anyone who'd like to come will be welcome.

08/10/2026

07/08/2026

I walked round Bretby, South Derbyshire, last week where the core of the village is on the side of a gentle hill. To the left of the cluster of buildings was a castle or moated manor house - I don't see how its position can ever have been strategic. To the right of the buildings are some lumps and bumps in a field which suggest removal of housing by a previous landlord, probably one of the Earls of Chesterfield. I've included a photo of the castle site, though there's not much to see. I then walked to Bretby Hall - it's private and not easy to get a good picture. The final picture shows something of the park's landscape.

16/07/2026

Sir Roger Gresley of Drakelow Hall, South Derbyshire, proved a dynamic Regency character who became an MP and fell out with his mother. Anyone can access their dramas in an article here; this will take about half an hour to read in full.

Sir Roger Gresley (1799-1837) fell out with his mother over his education, marriage and political ambitions, plus her high spending.

18/12/2025

I've re-written the ghost talk I gave in the autumn as an article. I find people's beliefs, both in favour of and against ghosts, fascinating. I hope others enjoy the stories and the way people thought about spirits of the dead. The link is here:

Opposed by materialists, and sometimes victims of fraud, many continued to be disturbed or comforted by ghosts.