The estate

Barton Hall, Barton Court and Parkswood Stud.

A multi-year restoration of the estate was completed in 2026 to maintain both the heritage and unique setting of Barton Park.

The medieval village of Barton Blount and its components are a registered Scheduled Monument.

It is a nationally important archaeological site with historic structures and strict legal protection.

This type of protection enables future generations to engage with and understand the role these buildings and their landscape played in the history of our country.

History of Barton Blount

History of Barton Blount.

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.

Wildlife

Wildlife at Barton Park.

A guide to the birds likely to be seen across the estate — over the gallops and arable fields, along Longford Brook and the historic decoy pond, and around the woodland, gardens and farm buildings.

Birds of prey

  • Kestrel – common over the gallops and arable fields, hovering for voles
  • Sparrowhawk – woodland edges and around the estate cottages
  • Hobby – summer visitor, hunts dragonflies over Longford Brook
  • Peregrine Falcon – occasional, especially near open farmland
  • Marsh Harrier / Hen Harrier – rarer, but recorded across Derbyshire
  • Red Kite – increasingly seen across Derbyshire and open estate farmland

Image credits & sources

Owls

  • Barn Owl – classic for estate barns and stud-farm outbuildings
  • Tawny Owl – the resident woodland owl
  • Little Owl – often on fence posts in pasture
  • Long-eared Owl – occasional in conifer stands

Image credits & sources

Waterbirds (around Longford Brook, the historic decoy pond and any estate ponds)

  • Mallard, Teal, Wigeon – dabbling ducks
  • Mute Swan
  • Canada Goose – seen on the estate ponds and grazing nearby pasture
  • Grey Heron and possibly Little Egret
  • Moorhen and Coot
  • Kingfisher along the brook
  • Grey Wagtail on the watercourses

Image credits & sources

Corvids and gamebirds

  • Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Raven – ravens are increasingly common in the Peak fringe
  • Pheasant and Red-legged Partridge – expected given the small estate shoot from October to January
  • Grey Partridge – declining but possible

Image credits & sources

Woodland and garden birds

  • Tits: Blue, Great, Coal, Long-tailed, Marsh
  • Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest
  • Thrushes: Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, plus winter Fieldfare and Redwing
  • Finches: Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer
  • Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail
  • Woodpeckers: Great Spotted, Green, and occasionally Lesser Spotted

Image credits & sources

Summer migrants

  • Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift (note: swallows breed in the estate buildings)
  • Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat
  • Cuckoo – declining but still present in this part of Derbyshire
  • Spotted Flycatcher – traditional parkland species

Image credits & sources

Other notables

  • Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe on damp pasture
  • Skylark and Meadow Pipit over the arable
  • Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove

Image credits & sources

Grey Heron is much more commonly seen than the white storks spotted locally. Those white storks are likely wandering birds from reintroduction populations; this is a notable record worth reporting to BirdTrack and the Derbyshire Ornithological Society.

Blount family

Former occupants and the Blount line.

Barton Blount is closely associated with members of the Blount family, including the Mountjoy line and the later Earls of Devonshire and Newport.

Linked family line

Before the Blounts

Before the manor passed to the Blounts in 1381 it was held by an earlier Norman line, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Contact

Contact for more information.

For cottage, estate, stud, honey or historical enquiries, please send a message and the appropriate contact will respond.