Beauchief-Abbey

BEAUCHIEF-ABBEY, an extra-parochial liberty, formerly part of the parish of Norton, in the union of Ecclesall-Bierlow, hundred of Scarsdale, N. division of the county of Derby, 3½ miles (N. W. by N.) from Dronfield; containing 74 inhabitants. The living of this place is a donative; patron, P. Pegge Burnell, Esq. The chapel is a small edifice, erected about 1660, with the exception of the tower, which formed part of a monastery of Præmonstratensian canons founded here in 1183 by Robert Fitz-Ranulph, and dedicated to St. Thomas à Becket, the revenue of which at the Dissolution was £157. 10. 2. The liberty, comprising about 1000 acres, was exempted from assessment for taxes, by a deed executed at a court held at Richmond, March 14th, 1601.