What is "stainsby"

Stainsby is a small village in Derbyshire, England. It is near to the towns of Chesterfield and Bolsover, and the villages of Heath and Doe Lea. The village population is included in the civil parish of Ault Hucknall. The M1 motorway skirts past the village.

The village is located near to the National Trust property of Hardwick Hall. In the hall's estate is Stainsby Mill, a fully working 19th century water mill.

The village was known as Steinesbei in the Domesday survey where it was listed together with several manors including Beighton and Sutton Scarsdale under the lands of Roger de Poitou. It was surrounded to the north by a semi-circular moat with banks and ramparts, approximately eight feet in depth. Some of this still remains visible, although in a much reduced form. This is known as "The Earthwork".

The manor of Stainsby was owned by the Savage family, whose members played prolific roles in the Kings' armies and in society. John Savage was knighted, probably by Henry V, at Agincourt on 15 October 1415, and became a Knight of the Garter. Sir John commanded the left wing at the Battle of Bosworth. Thomas Savage was consecrated Bishop of Rochester, then London and York. One of the Savages was involved in the Babington Plot to kill Queen Elizabeth I and put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Along with the Babington family of Dethick, their deeds resulted in many of them being executed. Around 1580, the manor passed from the hands of the family, eventually being sold on to William Cavendish.

Stainsby is host to the Stainsby Festival, a folk festival which takes place in the summer. The festival celebrated its 40th year in 2008.