The Origins and History of Calke Abbey
Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house located near Ticknall, Derbyshire, in England. The site's history begins with an Augustinian priory, which functioned from the 12th century until the dissolution by Henry VIII. This priory was founded by Richard d'Avranches, the 2nd Earl of Chester, between 1115 and 1120. Originally an independent community, the priory was dedicated to St Giles.
The status of the site changed following the death of Ranulf de Gernon, the 4th Earl of Chester, in 1153. His widow, Maud of Gloucester, took control of the estate as part of her dowry. During her tenure, she initially granted St Wystan's Church, Repton, to the canons at Calke Priory. Later, she commissioned the construction of a new priory, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, at Repton.
The Architecture and Building of the Estate
The present Baroque mansion was constructed between 1701 and 1704. This structure replaced a Tudor house that occupied the site during the time of John Preste. While the current building is a product of the early eighteenth century, the estate was officially named Calke Abbey in 1808.
The local geology informs the character of the landscape. The settlement name Calke derives from the Anglian word "calc," meaning chalk, lime, or limestone. On the eastern side of the Main Street, the ground consists of Sandstone Sedimentary bedrock formed between 322 and 321.5 million years ago. The western side of the road sits upon a different composition, consisting largely of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone Sedimentary bedrock from the Carboniferous period, dating between 329 and 320 million years ago.
The estate is situated on the Derbyshire side of the county border with Leicestershire. The architectural evolution of the site reflects the transition from the earlier Tudor manor to the formal Baroque style seen in the current house.
The History of the Calke Estate
The history of the estate is marked by significant shifts in religious and secular ownership. In 1172, the Canons were moved from Calke to the new Repton Priory. Following the dissolution of the monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, John Preste relocated from London to Calke with his family seeking safety. Preste remained at the site until his death in October 1546.
The transition of the property involved complex legal arrangements. In his will, John Preste left the remainder of the 99-year lease for Calke to his youngest daughter, Frances, who was approximately four years old at the time. In 1557, Frances married William Bradbourne. During this period of political and religious change, the freehold of Calke was granted by King Edward VI to John Dudley.
