IT is more than 800 years old and shows how some of the land at Rufford Abbey was divided up in the 12th century.

The medieval charter dates from the 1180s and confirms transfer of land at the Abbey.

The parchment shows Henry II gave away some of the site to Osbert de Capella and his wife Emma.

And now the charter has come home to Notts.

It was bought by the county council's archives section at auction in London from a private collector for about £3,000.

Mark Dorrington, assistant head archive, heritage and record manager, said it was rare for a document so old to come on to the market.

He said: "It shows nine bovates of land in Eakring being granted to Osbert of Capella, and his wife Emma.

"Osbert was one of Henry II's sergeants. It looks like it is confirmation of an even earlier granting of the land. The land belonged to Rufford Abbey but ended up back with the Abbey at some point."

A bovate is the area of land that could be ploughed by an ox in a day.

Mr Dorrington said the purchase of the charter would mean historians in Notts would have a chance to examine it.

He said: "Almost all the records that we have were part of the Savile family's archives.

"They took over the land in the 17th century and then sold the estate in the 20th century.

"We have one or two bits and pieces that aren't but its rare. It's in medieval Latin and the handwriting is very nice."

He added: "It's part of our role to ensure that the document is preserved and then to make it available for people to come for research.

"It was of sufficient significance for us to try to get grant to buy it. It's the earliest document that I have been involved with in seven and a half years here. It's another piece of the county's history back in Notts."

Made from parchment and animal skin, the document a wax seal.

Witnesses included Alan, clerk of Neuweye, Paulinus, son of William of Kyrlington, William of the Abbey, and John, son of Osbert.

Rufford Abbey was founded in 1146.

The charter was paid for using grants from the Victoria and Albert Museum purchase grant fund and Friends of the National Libraries.