Old Whittington is mentioned in the Domesday Book on the first folio for Derbyshire where it is then spelt Witintune. The book says[3] under the title of 'The lands of the King': "In Newbold with six berewicks - Old Whittington, Brimington, Tapton, Chesterfield, Boythorpe, Eckington - there are six carucates and one bovate to the geld. There is land for six ploughs. There the king has 16 villeins and one slave having four ploughs. To this manor belong eight acres of meadow. There is woodland pasture three leagues long and three leagues broad. TRE[5] worth £6 now £10“. A free school was founded there in 1674 which was endowed with lands which created an income of thirty two pounds and ten shillings. The school had about twenty pupils which included both boys and girls.
Revolution House is a small stone cottage which is now a museum. This was the meeting-place of the Earl of Danby, Mr. John D'Arcy and the Earl of Devonshire when poor weather caused them to move their secret meeting inside. William Cavendish, the fourth Earl and later Duke of Devonshire lived nearby at Chatsworth House, which is still the home to the Cavendish family. John D'Arcy (or Darcy) was the fourth son of the Earl of Holderness. This group devised the plans to extend the invitation to William of Orange in 1688, so that the Whig party brought about the fall of James II and the succession of the Protestant William III. This change in the monarchy came to be known as the Glorious Revolution. The house was then a hostelry, known as the "Cock and Pynot". The museum today features period furnishings and an exhibition of local interest. There is a public house in Old Whittington which is called the Cock and Magpie. This public house was founded in 1790 when the old 'Cock and Pynot' was converted into a cottage.
The local vicar, Samuel Pegge, was amongst about fifty dignitaries who met at Revolution House in 1788 on the centennial of the "Glorious Revolution", while it was still an alehouse. The procession was led by the Duke of Devonshire, the Duchess and the Mayor of Chesterfield. There are public toilets, including a disabled toilet, at the Museum. There is a baby changing unit at the Museum. Parking for disabled badge holders is situated on Corporation Street outside of the museum. The museum has wheelchair access. Please speak to museum staff for details. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Location : Old Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 9JZ
Transport: Chesterfield (National Rail) then bus (99). Bus Routes : 25, 50, 50A, 50B and 99 stop nearby.
Opening Times : Monday, Thursday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:00
Tickets : Free
Tel: 01246 345727
