the savage family are believed to have held astwith among other local lands until 1593, when bess of hardwick purchased them from the lord chancellor and auditor for the sum of £9,500. following her death, her son william 1st lord cavendish, had a survey of all his lands carried out by william senior in 1609/1610. at this time astwith is recorded with a total acreage of and seven named residents. these were matthewe foxe, richard carman, henrie frithe, john tacie, john turner, robert wainwrighte, humphrie fretwell. these residents had holdings varying in size from to just over . the common extended to , and the cunygre to a further . unlike other local villages which were built along a main street with tofts on either side, astwith was ranged along the edge of the common.