Biggin is not named in the 1086 Domesday Survey and was first found recorded as Newbigginge in the early 13th century, the name meaning ‘new building’, which may have been sited in the moated area at Duncourt Farm. It lay within the Forest area known as Duffield Frith. In 1251, Newbigginge was a manor in its own right, included among the de Ferrers’ holdings in the Honor of Tutbury. After their rebellion in 1266, the de Ferrers’ lands were forfeited to Henry III, who passed the Honor of Tutbury, including Biggin, to Edmund of Lancaster. From 1298 Biggin was consistently included in the group of manors known as Duffield Fee, and shares the Fee’s history from then on. It remained in the Duchy of Lancaster, which passed to the Crown in 1399, until Charles I granted the Fee to the Corporation of the City of London in 1628. The following year, the Corporation sold the Fee (except Heage and Holbrook) to Sir Edward Leche whose son Sir William Leech inherited in 1652.

The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be Called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns. Located at the intersection of High Holborn and Gray's Inn Road in Central London, the Inn is both a professional body and a provider of office accommodation (chambers) for many barristers. It is ruled by a governing council called "Pension", made up of the Masters of the Bench (or "Benchers"), and led by the Treasurer, who is elected to serve a one-year term.

The Inn is known for its gardens, or Walks, which have existed since at least 1597.

Gray's Inn does not claim a specific foundation date; there is a tradition that none of the Inns of Court claims to be any older than the others. Law clerks and their apprentices have been established on the present site since at least 1370, with records dating from 1381. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Inn grew steadily with great prestige, reaching its pinnacle during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Inn was home to many important barristers and politicians, most notably Francis Bacon, and counted Elizabeth herself as a patron. Thanks to the efforts of prominent members such as William Cecil and Gilbert Gerard, Gray's Inn became the largest of the four by number, with over 200 barristers recorded as members. During this period, the Inn became noted for the masques and revels that it threw, and William Shakespeare is believed to have first performed the Comedy of Errors play there.

Copy of will of William Leche of 'Squerries', Kent, knight, dated 18 August 1673:

Reference: D 779B/T 483
Description: Copy of will of William Leche of 'Squerries', Kent, knight, dated 18 August 1673: to wife Jane her jewels and cabinets, his plate hangings, beddings, pewter and furniture belonging to the manor house of 'Squirries' [Squerryes], her coach with coach horses and harnesses, carts, wagons, with materials belonging (excepting breeding mares, saddle horses and colts); to son Edward, library, bason and ewer, of £25 price, besides which the Rectory of Duffield will descend to him at father's death, and the lordship of Shipley at his mother's death, for it is settled on her for her jointure; to son John, manor house and manor of Squerryes, farms called Gasham or Gaisham and coverts in Kent, saddle horses (except Edward's mare); to son William, £3,000 at 21, out of manors, lands etc, prebend or rectories of Sawley and Wilne; to son Philip, land near 'Beaureper' [Belper] called Bradley land, and £1,000 at 21, out of lands to be sold; if John, William or Philip die before 21, the survivor(s) of them are to have his estate equally between them; to daughters Thomazin £500, Jane £1,000, Elizabeth £2,000 and necklace of pearls which was her mother's, Hester £1,000, at their marriages, to daughters Rose, Dorothy, Anne and Mary, £500 apiece at 21 or marriage; if a daughter dies before 21 or marriage, her portion is to be divided between sons John, William and Philip; small bequests to parson who preaches Leche 's final sermon, poor of Westerham [Kent], servants. Overseers, George Evelyn esquire of Wootton [?Kent] the elder, 'my brother' , George Evelyn esquire of Nutfield [Surrey], Edward Smith esquire, his brother in law, Thomas Dauling of Westerham [Kent] esquire, to have £50 each, £100 to friend Geo Combes as an assistant to children. The manors etc of Duffield, 'Beaureper' [Belper], Southwood, 'Holland' [Hulland] , 'Edrichey' [Idridgehay] and 'Biggen' , together with prebend or Rectories of Sawley and Wilne, may be sold to pay legacies, and children may enter these premises to receive rents etc. if they are not sold and the legacies are unpaid. Whereas on 15 August last Leche enfeoffed George Combes of lands in Derbyshire for the payment of debts and to the uses of his will, Combes is to give an account of his trust to overseers of will.

Residuary legatees: sons John, William and Philip also executors.

Not dated

Date: [17th c];(1673) Held by: Derbyshire Record Office, not available at The National Archives Language: English

• https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/e92a322b-8c99-4...

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Leche (Sir William), of Squerries. Letters to Major Audley, 1659. 33,924. f. 53; 33,929, f.l.

Catalogue description:

Mortgage (and copy) made between 1. Sir Philip Leche son of Sir William Leche late of... This record is held by Derbyshire Record Office See contact details Reference: D 779B/T 487-T 488

Description:
Mortgage (and copy) made between 1. Sir Philip Leche son of Sir William Leche late of Squerryes, Kent, deceased 2. Rose Leche, Sir William's daughter and 3. Paul Jodrell of Chancery Lane, esquire, reciting in part the will of Sir William Leche, dated 28 August 1673, which made inter alia the lease of Sawley or Sallow and Wilne prebend subject to the payment of legacies; that the lease was renewed in the name of Edward Smith, an overseer of the will, for the lives of John, Hester and Rose Leche; that William Leche the younger after reaching his majority, in 1687 granted to Paul Jodrell £1,350 out of his legacy of £3,000 and all his interest in legacies of brothers and sisters after their deaths; Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William is dead; Philip (party 1. above) reached his majority; William Leche the younger died; Philip Leche wishing to settle his £1,000 legacy, so that he should receive the interest for life and his sister Rose the principal at his death, by indenture dated 8 July 1697 gave her his £1,000 and his claim to the prebend and leased premises by virtue of his father's will, but the interest was to go to Philip during his life; Jane Leche daughter of Sir William has not married and witnessing that for £150 paid by Jodrell and for money lent before to Philip Leche by Jodrell, Leche assigned to Jodrell his share of the £1,000 given to Jane Leche which he may be entitled to on her death before marriage, and in the leased premises by virtue of the £1,000, and, if Jane marries, the £1,000 assigned to Rose and the premises charged with its payment, will stand charged as security for the £150.

Dated 25 June

Date: 1700 Held by: Derbyshire Record Office, not available at The National Archives Language: English [1] Will- Miscellanea Genealogica Et Heraldica, p258