Back in January 2024, HistoryFare started a regular column in the Melton Times, called ‘Historic Melton’.
The history of Melton Mowbray can be traced back hundreds of years and the first Historic Melton article published in January 2024 looked at the origins of the name ‘Melton Mowbray’.
Melton’s history can be traced back thousands of years and there are several theories on where the name ‘Melton Mowbray’ comes from, and we need to consider each part in its own context.
The first theory is that ‘Melton’ is a derivation of ‘Milltown’ due to the two water mills that existed for several centuries and were mentioned in the Domesday Book. These were sited at Beck Mill Holm at the end of Chatterbox Lane off Kings Street and Corn Mill Holm where the River Eye meets the Scalford Brook at the back of Mars/Petfoods.
The second theory again relates to the Domesday Book of 1086. In this great survey, the town is listed as ‘Medeltun’. ‘Medeltun’ or ‘Middleton’/‘Middletown’ descends from the town being a central township with a Mother Church (St Mary’s) surrounded by 5 hamlets: Burton Lazars, Eye Kettleby; Sysonby, Welby & Freeby.
Over the years, the name Milltown, or even Medletun has morphed into what we today now know as Melton.
The first Norman Lord of the Manor was Godfredus or Geoffrey de Wirce who was originally from France, around the Anjou/Brittany border area. Geoffrey had fought alongside William the Conqueror and continued to be the King’s advisor. He married a Saxon Lady named Alviva who was a niece of Lady Godiva from Coventry in Warwickshire.
Alviva, a Saxon heiress, was a noiece of the Earl of Leofric of Coventry and his legendary wofe, Lady Godiva. During the 11th Century, Lady Godiva held lands across Leiocestershire, namely the manors of East Norton, Billesdon and Appleby. Alveva was also a landowner being the Lady of the Manor of Castle Donington and Manor of Aylestone.
This marriage brought about the signing of a document in 1077 proving that back then, Melton was a thriving market town.
It would appear that Alveva and Geoffrey had no children, or no surviving children as after his death in 1088, his vast estates including the manor of Melton reverted to the Crown and were then divided between Nigel de Albini and Robert de Mowbray (Molbrai) Earl of Northumberland with the Melton lands being passed to Albini.
Nigel was the Bowbearer to William Rufus (King William II) and was ‘girt with the sword of knighthood’ (knighted) by King Henry I, with whom he was a great favourite.
Robert de Mowbray marched against King Malcolm of Scotland, contrary to the orders of King William Rufus. As part of his punishment, his lands were given over to Nigel de Albini who by all accounts was a favourite of the King.
Nigel had two sons Roger and Hamo, by his second wife Gundreda and Roger assumed the name of Mowbray by Royal Decree. It is therefore from the Mowbray family name that the latter part of the towns name originates.
The Mowbray family crest can still be seen in various places around town such as stained glass windows in St Mary’s Parish Church and on the porch of Egerton Lodge. The family crest also forms the basis of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate crest.
