Francis Rodes

Sir Francis Rodes (c. 1530–1588) was an English judge, the son of John Rodes of Staveley, Derbyshire, by his first wife, Attelina Hewett of the West Riding of Yorkshire. He took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, built Barlborough Hall, and he was one of the founders of Netherthorpe School.

Biography

The family traced its descent from Gerard de Rodes, a prominent baron in the reign of Henry II. Francis was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, but did not graduate. In 1549, he was entered at Gray's Inn, and in 1552, he was called to the bar. He was Lent Reader at his inn in 1566, and double reader in 1576, and seems to have derived a considerable fortune from this practice. In 1577, Rodes had bought the manor of Hanley (in Steveley) from Edmund West.

In 1578, he was raised to the degree of the coif, and on 21 August 1582 he was made queen's Serjeant. On 29 June 1585, he was raised to the bench as justice of the common pleas, and in October 1586, he took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay, thought not as one of the main judges. He died towards the end of 1588 at Staveley Woodthorpe. His will, dated 7 June 1587, was proved on 28 April 1591; among numerous other benefactions he made bequests to St. John's College, Cambridge, and the newly founded the grammar school Netherthorpe School. His 'Reports' were among the manuscript collections of Sir John Maynard (1602–1690), and are now in the Lincoln's Inn library His principal seat was at Barlborough, Derbyshire, where he built Barlborough Hall, which is still standing; he also purchased extensive estates at Billingsley, Darfield, Great and Little Houghton, all in Yorkshire.