The Disney Connections
Norton Disney is well known for it’s connection with the Disney family. It is also not widely known that in 1949 Walt Disney visited the village whilst the filming of the Disney film “Treasure island” was taking place in the West Country (Devon/Cornwall). In a 1949 copy of ”Illustrated” magazine, the visit to Norton Disney was described as “Walt was on the trail of his ancestors”. “He was on a flesh and blood quest and here lay clues”.
Norton Disney has plenty of evidence of the links with the Disney family within the mortuary chapel of the village church, St Peter’s. There are several tombs there from the Middle Ages of Disney family members. Also a plaque dedicated to the family with a section removed for Disney family members who had fallen foul of the rest of the family.
Both inside and outside the church in Norton Disney there are many signs of the influence of the family. The family adopted a crest containing three lions. Lions are seen on family tombs. There are also lions on the external walls of the church. It is now believed that the three lions on William D’Iseny’s (Disney) tomb may have inspired Walt Disney on his visit to Norton Disney to subsequently adopt these lions into the modern Disney crest that appears in Disneyland and on Disney film titles.
Church records at the Lincolnshire Archives also contain the the names of family members who lived in Norton Disney from the 1500s onwards.
The use of the surname “Disney” is not documented until 84 years after the Norton Conquest in 1066. In the Doomsday Book of 1086, there is no mention of the D’Iseny (Disney) family. In 1150 there is a reference in the Harleian Charter, now in the British Library to a “Disney”. Robert, son of Tuketin. This reference to a Disney is on the inscription of a seal. The use of surnames was only just beginning at this point and would continue from this period onwards. In this document Robert make a gift of land to between Bassingham and “Norton” at a place called “Raudemilne” (the name of a water mill) to Newhouse Abbey. There is also a reference to a now missing St James Chapel between Norton and “Raudemilne”. What is very clear from the seal that the Disneys viewed themselves as warriors, with the image of a typical mounted Norman knight.
The origins of the name can be traced back to Normandy in France. According to the Normandy tourist board website
“It was in 1066 William gave the title ‘Lords of Isigny’ to a man called Hugues Suhard and his son Robert, who hailed from the town, in recognition of their loyalty. Hugues and Robert d’Isigny, as they were now known, accepted William’s offer of land and settled in Lincolnshire, England.
Over the years, the family’s French surname ‘d’Isigny’ was anglicised, becoming ‘D’Isney’ then ‘Disney’, and the village where they settled was named Norton Disney after them.
Hugh Disney in his book “A Story of Disneys” documents in the 17th century, a branch of the Disney family moved to Ireland. Then in 1834 a certain Arundel Elias Disney immigrated from County Kilkenny to the New World with his family. This was Walt Disney’s great-grandfather, and the beginning of the Disney family’s story in North America.”
If you want to read more about the family history then there are two definitive books to read. Both by the late Hugh Disney.
A story of Disneys – some myths exploded : being a chronicle of the early Disneys of Lincolnshire, of those who crossed over to Ireland and of those who subsequently emigrated from there to the United States and Canada
A copy of this books can be read online at
The other Hugh Disney book: ‘The Disneys of Norton Disney 1150 – 1461″ had a very limited print run and can be found in a small number of libraries. Details of these libraries here:
At Flintham church in Nottinghamshire there exists an entire window that was found in Flintham Hall. It contains the Disney family coat of arms as well as the coats of arms of the many families connected with the Disneys. Details about the window can be read here:
A John Disney owned Flintham Hall and was related to the Swinderby branch of the family. This branch of the family eventually settled in a grand country house called “The Hyde” Ingatestone, in Essex.
The Disney family within Lincolnshire were a well known and occupied positions of authority and status for several hundred years. Attending court, becoming MPs and High Sheriffs at various times.
One of the other definitive works on the family history within Norton Disney was by the 19th century vicar of Norton Disney, Rev George Roberts in his book published in 1893.
“Parish memorials relating to Norton Disney”.
It is possible to obtain copies of this book on Amazon and Ebay.
William Disney I married Joan Dive of Kingerby, a member of the Amundevill family around 1300 and it was by this connection that the family became Lords of the Manor of Kingerby. It was through this marriage that the Disney family then adopted the now famous 3 lions “passant gardant”. This was originally the family crest of the Amundevill family of Kingerby according to Rev George Roberts, the vicar of Norton Disney in his 1893 book, “Parish memorials relating to Norton Disney. Walt Disney in 1949 is believed to have seen the three lions “passant gardant” on Sir William Disney’s I tomb in St Peter’s church, Norton Disney. Was he inspired subsequently to use the same crest at Disneyland? The three lions “passant gardant” also appear on the flag on top of the Disney castle in the opening titles of Disney films since 2006.
Kingerby was a separate estate in owned by the family in this village. The church in Kingerby is also called St Peter’s, just like Norton Disney’s. Just as with Norton Disney there was a moated manor house which the family lived in. Kingerby Church also has Disney family tombs. These are tombs for Sir William Disney II and his son Sir William Disney II
The first use of the term “Disnayland” is in 1386. In the Lincolnshire Archives there exists a type of medieval property deed written in Latin. A “Deed poll of feoffment. This reference is not related to Norton Disney, but the village of Usselby near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, which is adjacent to Kingerby where the Disney family lived. The document is witnessed by Thomas Dysenay and John Dysenay, both of Kingerby.
Deed poll of feoffment,
Parties:
1) John Alington of Osgogby
2) John Turnay of Cauenby
Property 26 pence of rents of assize from osilby a croft called Bayilgarth
There then follows a list of properties including:
One selion (a strip of land in the open field system) on Hauscho between Disnayland and land of William of Coxton.
Witnesses:
John Wildebore of Ouresby,
Thomas Dysenay and John Dysenay both of Kynerdeby,
John of Thorneton of Osgodby
Date” Usselby, Tuesday in Whitsun week, 9 Richard II (12th June 1386
The family remained as Lords of the Manor in Norton Disney and Kingerby for several hundred years. Then acquiring further lands and became Lords of the Manor in the adjacent parishes of Carlton le Moorland and Swinderby in Tudor times as a consequence of the dissolution of the monasteries. These lands and titles seem to have been given following the family’s support to Henry VIII in putting down the “Lincolnshire Uprising (1536).
Later in the 1600s Sir Henry Disney brought a series of unsuccessful legal cases against other family members, (Francis Molineaux, David Harby, Hester Disney and Cyrus (Syriacus) Disney to challenge the will of his grandfather, Sir Richard Disney about the family estate at Kingerby. The lasting legacy of this family dispute was that the names seven sons of Richard Disney were removed from a brass plaque in the church In Norton Disney, leaving a hole in it. This plaque can still be seen in the church.
Henry Disney has an anecdote about him on the occasion when James VI of Scotland and James 1 of England was journeying south to London to claim the English throne. King James stopped in Newark at the castle. It seems Henry Disney and his wife were also in the castle at the time. The King, on seeing Eleanor his wife ina pretty dress is reported to have said in broad Scots: “Wha be that lady with a lordship on her bock”? Later at the coronation a few months later Henry Disney was knighted by the King to become Sir Henry Disney.
There have been two Disney family manor houses in Norton Disney. One was a moated manor house south west of the church and was pulled down in the 17th century. You can read details about it here: A replacement using material from the original manor house was built nearby and still stands. Details about the later manor house can be read here:
The will of William Disney from 1540 gives details of the original Norton Disney family manor house. William Disney was also Lord of the Manor of Swinderby having acquired former monastic lands there. His brother, John Disney was Lord of the Manor in Carlton le Moorland.
The Norton Disney manor house had a particularly large moat.
An inventory for the will of William Disney states there was at the Norton Disney Manor House:
A hall, a great chamber, an inner chamber, a middle chamber, the great parlour, the nursery, the green hamber. As well as barns, stables and numberous outbuildings.
The rooms were well furnished with carpets and tapestries. William Disney owned plate, goblets and a bowl worth £9, 12s.
The Disney family within Lincolnshire were a well known and occupied positions of authority and status for several hundred years. Attending court, becoming MPs and High Sheriffs at various times.
The Carlton le Moorland branch lived in the manor house in the village that used to stand opposite the church. The family subsequently left the village, having renovated nearby Somerton Castle in the early 17th century. They remained there for a few decades until moving on again. So it could be argued that the first “Disney castle” was Somerton Castle. There is also a Disney memorial in Carlton le Moorland church.
John Disney of Carlton le Moorland married Elizabeth Walcott and lived in the “L” shaped manor house at “West Hall Garth”, Carlton le Moorland in the Tudor period. Now where Trinity Close is.
His elder brother William became Lord of the Manor at Swinderby in the same period through the acquisition of former monastic lands. he was also Lord of the Manor in Norton Disney.
The brass plaque in Latin in Carlton le Moorland church which provides details of the descendants of John Disney states his three sons were Thomas, James and Anthony.
John Disney’s son Thomas, born 1510 married Katherine Porter of Belton. They had three sons. Thomas died in 1568. His son Edward, born circa 1550 married Jane Thorold of Harmston. The brass plaque states Edward died in 1595.
Edward Disney left a will with a description of his wealth, including the rooms at the manor house in Carlton le Moorland. These being:
A kitchen
A kitchen chamber
A brewing house
A peas chamber
A serving members chamber
A green chamber
The “perse” chamber
The mylche house
The wool house
The gelding stable
Malt chambers
A ‘towe” house
Two stables
An ox and cow house\Maids parlour
The Darney parlour
The buttery
The hall
The store house
The study with £30 of books
A cheese chamber
A maids chamber
Edward had his own chamber and a childrens chamber
The house had an inventory of silver goods too.
Thomas Disney, seems to have acquired an interest in Somerton castle just before his death in 1568 when it was in ruins. The castle was owned by the Duchy of Lancaster at this point.
Thomas’s son Edward, was involved in long protracted legal cases over the family’s possession of the castle. Edward’s widow Jane also was involved in these legal cases. There were a series of disputes between Francis Thompson of Wellingore and the Disney family over boundaries and rental of land within the parish of Boothby Graffoe where the castle is.
Eventually the disputes was taken to the Duchy of Lancaster in 1598 and the Disneys were eventually granted possession of lands and the castle.
Queen Elizabeth I towards the end of her reign in 1601 ordered a survey on the castle and it was described as a ruin. The moats being full of sedge and mud.
By 1616 the Carlton le Moorland Disneys had built a house inside the inner bailey incorporating the south east tower. Edward’s son, Thomas had left Carlton le Moorland by 1616. The evidence for this is in a relative’s will, William Thorold’s, who refers to Thomas as “My loving nephew Thomas Disney of Somerton castle).
Thomas’s sons John and William were baptised at Boothby church in 1617 and 1620.
Thomas Disney then sold his house and lands in Carlton le Moorland in January 1625. Thomas Disney seems to have bought Somerton Castle in 1628.
Thomas Disney had no heirs, with the deaths of his two sons, John and William, possibly in the English Civil war. (1642 – 1651). The castle was then sold to Sir Edward Hussey of Honnington
The family association with Norton Disney ended when the last Lord of the Manor, Molineux Disney sold the manor to the Duke of Albemarle in 1674. After this the direct family male line also died out when the only son William, was executed in 1685 for his part in the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion. He was however survived by seven daughters who did not continue the family name.
It is known that the Swinderby branch survived longer into the 18th century and beyond. Moving first to Flintham Hall in Nottinghamshire, then to Essex. One member of this branch was Daniel Disney, a famous non conformist who built the non conformist chapel on Monson Street in Lincoln. There are also Disney memorials in Swinderby church. This branch of the family also became Lords of the Manor for a time in Kirkstead, Lincolnshire by acquiring lands through a marriage by Danial Disney. John Disney became vicar in Swinderby in 1769.
The museum in nearby Newark, Nottinghamshire, The National Civil War Centre” also has Disney graffiti in the Tudor loft. An “R Disney 1704” has his name recorded there.
Throughout Lincolnshire and to a degree in Nottinghamshire there are visible traces of the heritage of the Disney family. Norton Disney does have important and obvious evidence of the family. But so does Swinderby, Carlton le Moorland and Somerton Castle. Walt Disney had he had more time in 1949 could have seen many other reminders of his family’s heritage beyond the village of Norton Disney. The current evidence documented by Hugh Disney points to Walt being descended via the Anglo Irish Disney branches of the family. It is believed through those branches a link back to Norton Disney is most likely.
Help Us By Making a Donation
If you have enjoyed reading about the Disney family then why not support the work of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group by making a small donation? Either visit our donation page or send us a message through our contact page so we can send you our bank details to make a bank transfer, our preferred method of donation as no charges apply. We are a small group, entirely funded by donations.
Our work, carried out by volunteers over the last five years has established Norton Disney as having some most important history and archaeology in the East Midlands.
Our group made a successful application to Historic England to extend the boundaries of the scheduled ancient monument of our Roman Villa. Documented the work locally of the well known antiquarian William Stukeley who both described the Potter Hill area of the parish, as well as drawing the historic landscape in 1722. We have also carried out geophysical surveys and archaeological excavations. Conducted research into archaeological finds made locally and got them recorded on Lincolnshire’s Historic Environment Records.
Please help us to continue the work to record and protect the heritage of Norton Disney.