Building record MDR5349 - Revolution House, Old Whittington

In 1688 the Earl of Devonshire rode from Hardwick to Whittington Moor to meet the Earl of Danby, Mr John Darcy, and possibly other gentlemen, to consider how they could defend the civil and religious liberties of England. Bad weather is said to have caused them to adjourn to a small inn, the Cock and Pynot (the local name for Magpie) on the outskirts of the village of Whittington. The inn was later deserted and fell into decay; however, in the 18th century it was repaired, new rooms were added in 1769 and, though considerably altered in appearance, the old inn still stands as a valuable memento of the past. A centenary festival was organised on November 4 and 5, 1788, reported in the Gentlemen's Magazine of that date, and a subscription was opened to erect a monumental column. A similar festival was held in 1888, although considerably less grandiose. What remains of the old "Revolution House" is now carefully preserved, and a bronze tablet has been affixed to it, on which is the following inscription: "A.D. 1688. In a room which formerly existed at the end of this cottage (what is left of the old Cock and Pynot) the Earl of Danby, the Earl of Devonshire and Mr. John D'Arcy (eldest son of the Earl of Holderness) met some time in 1688 to concert measures which resulted in the Revolution of that year". The monumental column was never erected, although two rooms were pulled down for the purpose. (1) Single-storeyed building with an attic, of rubble stone walling with modern mullioned windows and stone detail. The roof is thatched. The building has been almost completely rebuilt in 17th century style. It is now a museum, with period furniture, commemorating the meeting, at the Cock and Pynot (Magpie) Inn, between the Earl of Devonshire, the Earl of Danby and Mr John D'Arcy, to plot the Revolution of 1688. Since then, rooms have been added and demolished. Mr Micklewhite, librarian, Chesterfield Public Library, maintained in 1952 that 75% of the building was a sham, and that little remained of the original medieval house or inn. (2) The Revolution House - a single-storied building with attic, of rubble stone walling with modern mullioned windows and stone detail. The roof is thatched. A plaque on the south wall repeats the account of the 1688 meeting. As indicated by previous authorities the building has been almost completely rebuilt in 17th c. style. See G.P. : AO/60/32/3: The Revolution House from the east. (3) Revolution House is a one-and-a-half storey building of stone rubble with stone coped gable ends with kneelers. Grade 2*. (4)