There has been a village at Barton Blount since before the Norman Conquest when it was recorded as "Barctune" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The Manor was held by the Norman Bakepuis family under Henry de Ferrers and called Barton Bakepuis.

In 1380 the soldier and courtier Sir Walter Blount, who was a key supporter of John of Gaunt, bought Barton renaming it Barton Blount.

He was later immortalized by Shakespeare in Henry IV Part I where he epitomises selfless loyalty and chivalry for giving his life at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 disguised as the King.

The Blount family remained highly influencal in politics for the next 200 years and links to their individual profiles are shown below.

Sir Walter Blount 1416-1474 was created Baron Mountjoy.

William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, who was born, baptised and buried at Barton, led a celebrated life and was considered the most educated noble in Europe by Erasmus (inter nobiles doctissimus).

He was one of the most influential and perhaps the wealthiest English noble courtier of his time. He was tutor to Prince Henry (later Henry VIII), Chamberlain to the Queen, Catherine of Aragon, and Master of the Mint. Mountjoy was never disgraced, nor out of royal favour.

The 8th Baron became Earl of Devonshire and his son the Earl of Newport. During the Civil War the estate was garrisoned by Parliamentary forces to counter the Royalist stronghold at Tutbury Castle 3 miles away.