Leicestershire Historian No 41 (2005) Contents Editorial Joyce Lee 2 Lubberly Leicestershire? Robin P. Jenkins 3 Grace Dieu Priory Kenneth Hillier 5 The Rabbit in Leicestershire Anthony Squires 8 Leicestershire’s Oldest Gravestone? Kay E. Gowland 11 Early Days on “The Saff” Kate Hancock 12 Cockshaw’s Diorama of Leicester Market Place 14 Swithland Wood – “secured as a National Heritage” by Rotary in 1925 Patrick J. Boylan 15 1905 … A Year to Remember J.D. Bennett 19 Joseph Wood: Preacher of “Sweetness and Light” Gerald T. Rimmington 22 A Handbill for the old Great Central 25 Beaumanor Park and its role in World War II and beyond Mike Coleman 26 Medieval grave-slabs from Leicester Cathedral Terry Y. Cocks 29 The Location Puzzle of the Old Groby Mill David Ramsey 30 Online Sources for Historians – Treasure at your fingertips – Leicestershire Museums “Open Doors” Project Debbie Richards 34 Did Enderby become a Manor in order to settle a debt? Mark Carne 36 150 years and still going! Alan McWhirr 37 Recent Publications Ed John Hinks 39 Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Research Fund - Guidance notes for those applying for grants 48 Cover picture: The old Groby water mill by G. Harley see pages 30-33 Editor: Joyce Lee Published by the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, The Guildhall, Leicester, LE1 5FQ 2005 Leicestershire Historian 2005 Editorial As the new editor of the Leicestershire Historian I am grateful to my predecessors, especially Helen Edwards, for having got the publication into such good shape. I am keen to carry on the good work, and hope that the articles included in this edition will appeal both to members of the Society and to a wider audience. The Leicestershire Historian has an important role to play in promoting the study of the county©s history by providing a platform for established and new authors, and through encouraging the pursuit of research and project work. It also aims to publicise the work of local groups and organisations, and seeks to raise the awareness of research sources such as collections and resources in the county©s museums, libraries, and archives, and of the growing number of digital and online sources. Contributions for future editions are welcome from individuals, local groups, museums and other organisations and should be sent to the Editor for consideration. Articles can be short half-page items or longer in-depth pieces. The deadline for the next edition is 30th April 2006. Although this may sound a long way off, it©s not too soon to start getting material ready now! I©m grateful to Alan McWhirr for his support in putting this edition together and for his splendid work on its production. Thanks also to Alan for his article on the 150th Anniversary of the Society from its formation to date. This year©s bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar has Robin Jenkins unearthing a fascinating number of Leicestershire©s maritime connections. Carrying on the anniversary theme, J. D. Bennett writes about three notable events which occurred in Leicester in 1905 and which link Leicester with the wider world. 2005 is also the Centenary Year of Rotary International, and the 80th anniversary of the completion of the purchase of Swithland Wood. Patrick Boylan, Vice-President of the Society and Archivist to the Rotary Club of Leicester, draws together the links between the acquisitions of Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood. Today, in addition to the hard work of many individuals, it is often sources of funding such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, and the local authorities that help make possible the restoration of heritage sites, and it is encouraging to look forward to the opening of the renovated ruins of Grace Dieu Priory later this year. In anticipation, Kenneth Hillier provides an illuminating insight into the lives of the Priory©s nuns and the history of the site. Anthony Squires gives us a lively account of the rabbit and the development of warrens and warrening, whilst David Ramsey uses the Grey family archives and detective landscape field work to re-think the locations of the Groby Mills. Kay Gowland continues the debate about Leicestershire©s oldest surviving gravestone whilst Terry Cocks tracks down some of the medieval grave-slabs from Leicester cathedral. The intriguing and once secretive intercept work which took place at Beaumanor during its role as a ¶Yß station is brought to life by Mike Coleman. Gerald Rimmington writes on the enigmatic Joseph Wood, the founding minister of the Wycliffe Congregational Church. Kate Hancock delves into the development of Leicester©s Saffron Estate encouraging others to use the resources at the Record Office for their own research, whilst Mark Carne gives an insight into the creation of Enderby Manor. Debbie Richards describes Leicestershire County Council©s newly launched web site ¶Open Doorsß, a welcome addition to the increasing online sources available to local historians and others. Also included in this edition are guidance notes for those applying to the Society©s Research Fund. As always, John Hinks and his team of reviewers have done an excellent job on identifying and reviewing a comprehensive range of new local publications, and my thanks go to John and the team for producing what is an invaluable part of the ¶Leicestershire Historianß. Joyce Lee, Editor Leicestershire Historian 2005 Lubberly Leicestershire? Robin P. Jenkins lthough land-locked Leicestershire may not seem an obvious repository of nautical associations, in Afact the county has played its part in our maritime history. Admiral Beatty, commander of those “bloody ships” at Jutland and “Black Dick” Howe, whose victory on the “Glorious First of June”1794 was the first of many against Revolutionary France, both acquired local ties. Moreover, monuments such as those to Captain Thomas Noel at Kirkby Mallory, Admiral Beaumont at Stoughton, or at Ratby to Engineer Artificer John Richardson, who went down with the Good Hope at Coronel in November 1914, prove (if proof were required) that Leicestershire has played its part in ruling the waves. This year’s bicentenary of Britain’s greatest naval triumph, at Trafalgar, however has sent researchers scurrying throughout the land to seek out local men who served with Nelson on that memorable day in 1805. Recently the Leicester Mercury, no doubt aided by one of the many ‘websites’ devoted to muster-rolls or Naval General Service Medal-winners (I commend: www.ageofnelson.org/TrafalgarRoll/index.htm Kirkby Mallory. Detail from the monument to or Captain Thomas Noel d. 1756. www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Trafalgar) identified sixty-nine Leicestershire men who served with Molton, in place of one of their own and Thurmaston and the fleet, either as sailors or marines. Even then they Humberstone did well to find the Jamaican, Thomas forgot the officers, who included Sir Alexander Dixie, first Ockley for the same amount. In truth, the places of lieutenant aboard the frigate Phoebe; Midshipman John settlement revealed by the records (Manchester, Sheffield, Drake, son of the rector of Oadby, aboard Defiance 74, Liverpool, Warwick, Durham, Colchester, etc. as well as and Midshipman Alexander Arbuthnot, of Shenton Hall, two Jamaicans and a New Yorker) suggest not only a on the Mars 74 (74 denoting the number of guns carried). desire not to serve but also a well organised system to facilitate substitution. Only one man was rejected; sad We shouldn’t really be too surprised to find Midlanders little John Bruin, a 17 year-old framework-knitter from afloat. In 1795 the need to find men for the rapidly Sileby, whom Captain Losack, the Regulating Officer, expanding navy had led to the passing of an Act of considered (even after the parish had appealed against the Parliament (35 George III cap. 5) requiring each county to decision) ‘unfit to serve his Majesty’. provide men. Leicestershire’s quota, based upon her population was set at 183. The returns survive amongst the The most luxuriant laurels must descend therefore upon Quarter Sessions papers at the Record Office for the brows of the (possibly) four Leicestershire men who Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (QS69/1) and make served at Trafalgar aboard Nelson’s own ship, Victory. interesting reading. For each parish, or group of parishes Those four were Able Seaman Thomas Simpson, of where the population was small, is recorded the name of Leicester; Royal Marines James Green and William Smith, the ‘volunteer’, his place of birth or settlement, age, and and, rather less certainly, Landsman James Chapman, who ‘calling’. is said to have served as a shipwright aboard the flagship. Some of Leicestershire’s contingents were local men. Thomas Simpson’s origins remain obscure, though his Market Harborough and Great Bowden for example found status aboard the Victory is clear. As an able seaman he George Webb, a ‘waterman’ from Kegworth, who would was rated as skilful enough to work aloft, handling sails serve for a bounty of 25 guineas. John Burkitts, a Stathern and rigging, or to cope with boats and the anchors. He blacksmith, did better. He was paid a bounty of £30 by probably earned a pound a month or thereabouts, Croxton Kerrial and Braunstone. Elsewhere comparable with the wages of a labourer at home – though Leicestershire’s net was cast wider. Waltham and its no labourer had such opportunities for prize money. The neighbouring parishes laid out 25 guineas to find the Ayshford Complete Trafalgar Roll CD (details of which labourer Thomas Trevesick, a Devonian from South are available on the first of the websites given above) tells 3 Leicestershire Historian 2005 us that Simpson had joined Victory in May 1803 having A mariner’s will. Detail from the will of “marriner” George Orton been pressed for the Navy.