91300111111,

SLATE QUARRYING AT AND

(With reference to the Groby granite quarries during the 19th century) DAVID A. RAMSEY

In the spring of 2001 a slate sales book was able to reach via the for the period April 1st 1852 to March canal system. However as surviving 31st 1853, was found at the former slate sale details have been mainly for home of the Earls of Stamford, Enville roofing slates, in receipt form, or Hall, Staffordshire. Marked in sections jottings on scraps of papers within the simply, Swithland Traffic and Groby Stamford Estate annual rental books, Traffic. It was at first inspection just a the details which follow give a far record of goods being transported clearer picture of just how parochial along roads in both those villages. On the sales of Swithland and Groby slates closer perusal however, it proved to be had become by 1852/53. the only record found so far of orders fulfilled at both the Swithland and From other documents in the Groby Slate Quarries, Leicestershire archive it is known that Thomas over a complete twelve-month period Rudkin was leasing both Swithland (the sales are summarised below). and Groby quarries at the time of the records. Rudkin had dissolved his The sales recorded can best be partnership of less than two years with described as modest compared to the Fielding Moore of Glenfield in January years prior to 1795, for after the latter 1852. date, cheaper and lighter Welsh slate

19 What did become obvious £3,589. 3s 11d made by the eight immediately was that the recorded groups working the Earl's lime-kilns, yearly slate sales represented the total the Earl received £897. sales for each quarry and not just the amounts paid to the 's Robert Wyatt during his survey land agent. Previous sales figures and estimation of the value of the found on slips of paper within the Swithland slate quarries in 1809, had Bradgate Estate rental books with no suggested that a figure of £508.10.0 explanatory information added by the might be expected by the Earl each then Estate agent are shown below: year on estimated sales of £1,017.0.0. from the Swithland quarries alone. We Groby Slate Quarries must assume from this that the sales 1837 £104. 11. 0d figures for 1800 - 1809, were made 1838 £236. 11. 6d available to Wyatt by the Estate, and 1839 £139. 08. 9d 1840 £95. 00. 9d these indicated average sales above 1841 £118. 19. 0d £1,000 and, if the principal lessee's 1842 £125. 04. 0d own sales figures were to be believed 1843 £107. 08. 0d (Henry Hind) the average was 1847 75. 01. 9d £1,141.3.6d. 1852/3 £325. 16. 6d Swithland Slate Quarries Wyatt's valuation made 1837 No figures without true factual information from 1838 No figures the then lessees, Hind and Johnson, 1839 No figures placed far too high a value on the 1840 £39. 17. 5d future potential of both the Swithland 1841 £18. 12. 6d 1842 £19. 15. 0d and Groby quarries (1). The estimate 1843 £107. 08. 0d (Error?) that the total sales from both Groby 1847 £11. 06.5d and Swithland quarries together would 1852/3 £254. 12.4d amount to £1,000 during the year The Earl of Stamford's 1809 does in retrospect seem rather Leicestershire agent was known to take high. Hind's offer of no more than royalties and an additional percentage £100.00.0 per annum in rent can now on total sales. For instance it is known be viewed as generous. Wyatt had from the Breedon lime-burning estimated a wage bill of £1,248.0.0 per accounts c.1774, that 25% was taken annum at Swithland alone yet the value by the Earl on all sales made at his of slate sales must have been falling lime quarries at Breedon, Cloud Hill close to this figure at the time (Groby and Barrow Hill, in the north west of quarry sales were minimal in 1809). the County. On cash sales totalling

20 By the 1850s sales of slate declined from a sales peak close to were well into their decline and the 1795 - the year the canal system gamble taken by the Estate of building reached and allowed a new slate works, weighbridge and Welsh slate to reach Leicestershire. housing near Groby Lodge Farm (Bradgate Hill, Groby) in 1833 had not proved successful in increasing sales or gaining new markets. Trade had

The Hind family had purchased Steward from both Swithland and a farm called Whetstone Lodge, now Groby quarries. The levy on sales may known as Whetstone Pastures, around well have been renegotiated several the year 1800. Slate headstones times between Robert Wyatt's visit in engraved, 'Hind of Whetstone' can be 1809 and 1852 as the industry went found from 1728 until the early 19th into decline. Much later, when another century so the family link with this report was made on both quarries by south Leicestershire area was John Wilson of Aston Hall, Claverley, established at an early date. The Shropshire, in March 1858, he acquisition of Whetstone Lodge may suggested that a specific charge per have been the first sign that the family cubic foot or foot lineal should be realised that sales would continue to fixed and levied on all sawn, worked fall and it was time to switch to or block slate. As far as can be farming. ascertained from the rent books this levy, in addition to the percentage on Later in 1852/53 it would sales, was never introduced (2). appear that a percentage of 8% on total sales was required by the Estate

21 The rear of Whetstone Pastures, a former Hind family house c1800 pictured in 1985. Slate steps, gateposts, wall capping and slabs still very evident.

Where did the Leicestershire slate products travel to?

This question can now be answered Groby slate quarries sold and with respect to both quarries using the delivered to: Ansley, , 1852/53 slate sales records. The Bagworth, Bardon, , Barle- distance the goods are taken for stone, Barton, Barwell, Battle Flat, delivery is almost entirely within the Birstall, Blaby, Botcheston, Braun- counties of Leicestershire and Rutland, stone, Breedon, Broughton, with the cheese press and small cattle Countesthorpe, Caldecott Hall, trough for Calverton, Notts. being the Rutland, Calverton Notts, Coleorton, exception. Cosby Lodge, Desford, Dunton Bassett, Earl Shilton, Gaulby, Glenfield, Grafton

22 Place in , Groby, Hinckley, , Hungarton, Ibstock, Kirby Lodge, , Leicester, Glenfield, Groby, Hungarton, Ibstock, Leicester Forest, Leicester Frith, Knighton, Leicester, Littlethorpe, Loughborough, Lubbesthorpe, Market Loughborough, , Newtown Bosworth, , Narborough Linford, Ratcliffe, Rotherby, , Woods, , Newbold Verdon, Stoughton, Swithland, , Newtown Unthank, Normanton, , , Walton, Oadby, Osbaston, Peckleton, Peggs , Welford Road, & Green, , Rose Rest(?), Stapleton, Whetstone. Swannington, Swithland, Syston, Thornton, Thorpe Satchville, The word, 'industry' cannot Thurcaston, , West Bridge, really be applied to slate working in an Whetstone Grange, , Wood- habitual or continual sense, at either gate and York Street in Leicester. the Groby, Swithland, or Woodhouse quarries until the late 17th century Swithland slate quarries sold simply because new orders for slate and delivered to: Anstey, Anstey Leys, were so infrequent and roofing slates Barkby, , Belgrave, in particular were not used in any Birstall, Birstall Lodge, Blaby, Burton quantity for housing the ordinary Overy, , Desford, Gaddesby, working family.

The Swithland Millennium plaque. The slow take up of slate quarry prior to 1818 for a nominal products was later to be mirrored in £5.00 per annum but all found few those of granite sales from Groby. John sales. Slate waste and fieldstone, piles Hardy, Joshua Burgess, Thomas Hayes of which could be found in the corners and even Henry Hind from the slate of local arable fields being adequate quarries all took out short term leases, for most build and repair requirements at different times on the Groby granite in the local area.

23 There was little point in stock tiles, incur additional costs due to the piling large amounts of worked additional time, materials (wooden materials such as roofing slates if pegs for hanging the slates, or copper orders taken. later required differing nails in addition to the lead mentioned sizes . From what is already known above) and labour in fixing same, well about the Parish of in excess of what would be required (3) - and there is no reason to believe for thatching. Roofing with straw, or that housing conditions varied greatly reed from Groby Pool, on the other in the other Stamford Estate villages - hand could usually be completed using the majority of the local working materials gathered close by. population built their own crude dwellings and used their farming skills (iv) Transporting the slates from to build, secure and thatch their quarry to building site, required heavy dwellings. The roofing structure of horses and carts, equipment not readily these dwellings would have been available to the average worker. incapable o f supporting the considerable weight of a slate roof The lease held by Thomas With thatch, a simple wooden structure Heath, George Daft, William Hitch and to support it was all that was required. Peter Bellamy in 1646 (LLRRO: DE Furthermore it was possible to work 1982/16) which allowed the extraction alone and at a later date make of slate in all areas of and improvements to the main structure of Charley on the Earl of Stamford's the dwelling, be it patching, building Estate seems to be the first indication an extension, or complete re-thatching. that this might be an attempt by four Using Swithland and Groby slate men to extract and stockpile goods, raised numerous problems for even the such as slabs for flagging and most experienced builder and in gravestones as well as roofing slates; particular: - items which might sell over a period of time. However the flat rate of £5.0.0 (i) The lie of individual roofing slates per annum as rental, which seems the and those in close proximity had to be uniform charge on any of the Estate carefully selected to lessen the amount stone quarries for a considerable period of draught and rainwater that intruded of time, appears to be the only charge under the slates. made. The rent books show no extra charges levied on sales, and this can be (ii) It was possible to force a mixture taken as a sure indication that very few of mortar and horsehair under the sales have been made. slates (torching) but this practice increased both the amount of labour Prior to 1646 teams of men involved, time taken to complete the were assembled to undertake the work and substantially increased the building of a specific structure. An amount of weight on the roof structure. agent working for the commissioner of Lead sheeting was also required in the structure would then negotiate the addition to the slates at points where sale o f slate required for the ridges and valleys had to be catered construction of same. When Henry for. Hind, Stephen Hind and John Bennett were granted 'that area of Brand Hill (iii) Swithland slates on a roof for getting of slates in Charnwood for although pleasing to the eye and 99 years' (LLRRO: 3D42/62/1) in a offering a longevity which surpasses the expected life of modern roofing

24 lease granted by William Palmer of Castro, St Nicholas, All Wanlip in 1688, it was to lead to a Saints, St Margarets, St Martin, the gradual take over of the fledgling latter a parish church until 1927 when industry by Henry Hind and his family it became the City Cathedral, - John Bennet's share of the lease was Breedon, Temple and purchased in 1706. When Henry died other early religious buildings in 1732 his will (LLRRO: 73/390/1) within the Shire would also have specified that, 'all the slates that are employed a team of skilled men to clove and stones that are worked, I cleave and later lay the slates drawn give to my wife Mary'. Giving from the quarries at Groby and confirmation that the anticipation of Swithland. In the between times, there market requirements is already part of would be periods of little or no activity the Hind working practice. at the various quarries. This would explain why in 1474 the Manor of It would seem likely that Barrow records report that they: ‘in Ulverscroft Priory founded in 1134, this year had nothing from the slate c.1143, the small pits.' Although it also needs to be Augustinian Friary in Leicester c.1250, emphasised that the Barrow quarry was along with the larger buildings but a small corner of an early shallow belonging to the orders of Dominican quarry close to what is now known as Blackfriars and Franciscan Greyfriars the Swithland Triangle. The greater c.1224 also in the City close to the part of this quarry actually lay in the river Soar were constructed using in- parish of Woodhouse, marked on house building teams. The great the map below. The Brand Hill estate hospital in the Newarke c.1331 and the lies across the road in the area marked substantial churches of St Mary-de- '1394' on the map.

25 The best surviving example of making was guarded by the travelling workmen coming together for a large- team of brick makers who burned the scale building is the employment of clay bricks at Kirby and in the local men by Lord Hastings when the four years of construction, 1480 to construction of 1484 none of the skills of proper clay began in 1480 (3). The brick making, preparation were transmitted or brick laying and mortar making teams absorbed by the Marquis of Dorset's were craftsmen from outside men. The majority of the Kirby work Leicestershire and they appear to have force however were local men excluded the local men from gaining labouring and carrying stone, this can knowledge of their trade skills. This be clearly seen from the pay roll can be deduced by the poor quality surnames of those employed. Many of brick making, which took place in the the recorded stone collecting fields close to Bradgate House later (c. excursions took the men into Groby 1520). The number of pebbles to be Parks, which is a slate area and must found in the majority of the Bradgate not be confused with the granite House bricks showing that little if any outcrops at Groby, which are located clay preparation took place before much closer to the village. moulding. The mystery of brick

26 Another slate headstone close to that of Richard Dexter at Quorn, St Bartholomew is almost certainly by the same hand. Marked, Here lieth the body of George Gresley, it has the main inscription contained within a shield and with the semi-circular design, used on the upper edge of the Richard Dexter stone, now space filling the lower inner area of the shield. Although badly damaged in the two upper quarters it can still be seen that the large figures for the year 1682 have been placed above the body of text rather than within the shield. The quality of engraving and embellishment on Leicestershire slate headstones improved very significantly between the years 1680 and 1720. Initially headstones were woodwork as heretofore. crudely decorated with overlapping semi circular designs but by the 1720s Until the Hind family took over many were (especially those in the the business around 1700 slate sales Vale of Belvoir) so well designed and had been far from regular. Whilst roofing slates were sold to more executed that wood carvers must have affluent customers there had been a transferred their skills to hard stone noticeable increase in the number of and with appreciable success. Henry slate memorial or headstones being Hind and his sons had by this date sold to those less well off during the begun to solicit orders by standing at period 1680 - 1700. Whereas this side local markets with their wares and of the business had been slow to start further promotions would be in the late 17th century, it was to advertised in the local newspapers: become a fashion within the county Leicester & Nottingham Journal, th throughout the 18th century to mark a August 25 1781. H Hind & Son person's burial site with a Think it their duty to return thanks to Leicestershire slate headstone. noblemen, gentlemen and others of their numerous customers, for past The Hinds had been aware favours, which they hope to merit in from the beginning of their tenure at future. They continue to do, at their Swithland that the quality of lettering regular stated prices, engraving on needed to be improved and maintained monumental and gravestone work, once a high standard of embellishment marble and stone masonry, in all its had been reached, so there were various branches, ornamented and frequent notices advertising for embellished by enrichments in original carvers. designs, from the Grecian, Antique, and most fashionable methods: with the like tasty decorations upon

27 The following being typical of used to work in Marble or Hard Stone. many in the Leicester & Nottingham A Good Hand in either of the above Journal, July 22nd 1775: Wanted: A Branches, may have constant Employ Carver, that can work in stone and with HENRY HIND of SWITHLAND. Wood; and a MASON, that has been

The 1683 headstone (left) at Newtown Linford shows the crude lettering so evident in the early Bradgate area pre 1700. The 1719 Hickling, Notts, headstone (right) shows the skills of a wood carver transferred to stone. The control of the high relief lettering being very marked, though both masons have obvious difficulty with spacing and layout.

The high quality of lettering, in To many living in Leicester- both high and low relief can still be shire farms and smallholdings, th seen on many of the 18 century especially the housewives, the end headstones within Leicestershire results were life changing. Rickety churchyards and beyond. tables and general purpose benches The sales of slabbing for floors, were replaced with solid spacious working surfaces, troughs, milk-stones working surfaces. The coolness of the and hearthstones also increased during slate helped to preserve food in the the period 1700 —1790. Hind was in summer and the level surfaces enabled fact offering to the general public, far higher standards of cleanliness, as wherever he or his family stood the washing down of the waist high market, a fitted kitchen and offices surfaces was easily and effectively which would include a meat salting done. Slate channelling and troughs area, working surfaces, sinks, troughs below work areas were arranged to and sawn level flooring. His masons would manufacture and fit products to customers' requirements, in the sizes and quantity required.

28 duct liquids away from the working It was only when Welsh slate areas. Milk, fruit, meat, eggs and bread became available after 1795 at cheaper could now be kept in the peak of prices and in a more lightweight form condition far longer. Fresh bread baked — it would cleave to a much thinner on a Monday and placed on a cool thickness than the Leicestershire slate - slate surface would still be in peak that the local slate industry began to condition on the following Friday. The feel the effects of competition and very quality of life within many households slowly declined ( Welsh slate was changed over night and by word of headstones are evident i n mouth the demand for slate products Leicestershire churchyards from 1830 grew. onwards).

GrobyGranite1832—1857 This brief history of the beginnings of widespread once the schemes the Groby Granite Company is were copied. If the London orders were included to show how dependent both lost and other authorities had not the slate and granite quarries were on started on similar road building building and maintaining substantial schemes life would be extremely orders. Whereas the Swithland and difficult as there would be few other Groby slate works lost orders to the substantial orders in the County of Welsh competition offering a lighter Leicestershire. This is particularly product at cheaper prices, the fledgling noticeable where the parishes like Groby Granite Company after a Anstey, Beaumont Leys, Birstall, promising start based on orders from Braunstone, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, the London area enjoyed only 71/2 years Leicester Frith, New Parks and of good trade before losing all their Thurcaston, lay close to the slate orders/sales to the Mountsorrel granite quarries. Slate waste could be bought quarries. The latter were by the mid- cheaply and was useful in that it could 1840s able to use a superior railway fill holes in the highway quickly. The system and offer the same quality road 1555 Highway act had shifted the stone processed for a cheaper price, in responsibility of the King's Highway far less time. from the manors to the parishes. Each parishioner owning a plough or a draught animal, or land in tillage was Groby granite sales were at first liable to give four days a year to the successful once a market had been parish - increased to six in 1691. found in London. In the local shires however there was little interest in what would become a major business The office of road surveyor, in the 20th century. Local roads were usually for one year, was not a popular largely unmetalled until the 1880s and one and much of the work done would sales for crushed stone had to be found have consisted of quickly patching where metalled roads were being holes in the road surface. In so doing, constructed. The man whose ear was The Surveyor' and all those from the sought was John Macadam, as he was Parish seconded to the work under him in charge of road building in the would then be able return to tend to London area. Most important perhaps their own homes, family and livestock for entrepreneurs was the wish that with the minimum of effort expended. road building would become

29 This 1757 pre enclosure map shows the position of the later (1832) Groby granite quarry site. The quarry was started to the right of the windmill and behind the houses which lined the Ashby to Leicester Road. This was former common land and by 1885 the quarry was unable to expand further due to allotments to the south and the houses to the north.

The 1835 Highway Act 1832. From this year until around 1844 abolished statutory labour and granite road stone was taken from the empowered the levy of a local rate and centre of Groby village and sold to the allowed for the payment of a district London area through the Earl of surveyor but local roads other than Stamford's contacts and his early main roads did not become the dealings with John Macadam. responsibility of local councils until Macadam it seems was, at the time the 1894. The village of Groby did not see Earl became acquainted with him, its first bitumen-sealed road surface importing Guernsey granite for road until c.1900 according to the making, receiving the stone via the recollections of veteran quarryman river Thames. The Earl of Stamford Victor Geary when interviewed in the and William Martin both attended the 1970s. The newly surfaced road being opening of the Liverpool and part of the Newtown Lane (from Sheet Manchester Railway where they met Hedges granite quarry, entrance Macadam and suggested to him that opposite Groby Pool) to the village they could supply regular amounts of a close to the Stamford Arms. hard-wearing road stone from Leicestershire. Plans formed at this and Groby's oldest granite quarry, subsequent meetings with Macadam which was established on former led to orders for thousands of tons of common land in the village, had been crushed stone with the deliveries made leased out on a yearly basis prior to the to various wharf areas around London. formation of the Groby Granite Co in

30 Macadam and his manager at wagons up hill to the top of the Ratby the Metropolis Roads Office estimated Road, Groby had still not arrived, even they would require 60,000 tons of road though a Mr Arrowsmith from the stone annually. Groby could expect an Bilston Iron Works had been on site in order of 20,000 tons in stages if they the village for a week in the could deliver at the precise rates expectation of the engine's arrival via required (The London wharf areas had the canal system! limited holding capacities). Although forced to use the Leicester & The Midland Counties Railway Swannington Railway and having to connection from Rugby to London and transfer the stone into canal barges at its later extension to Derby enabled West Bridge, Leicester, the 5,000 ton Mountsorrel Granite Quarry - located deliveries to wharf areas in the London only 7 miles from Groby as the crow areas of Brentford, Marylebone and flies - from 1840 onwards to supply Paddington commenced as the crushed granite to London entirely by Leicester and Swannington opened for rail and usually within days of business in July 1832. Letters mention receiving an order; and larger blocks the last thousand tons of a 5,000 ton via canal within three weeks. Groby order leaving for Brentford in July Granite's order book fell to almost nil 1833. John Martin (William Martin's for there were few granite orders son) was later reported to be preparing locally, the village road authorities of some of Groby Granite's own boats Anstey, Birstall, Braunstone, (twelve pairs with more on order) to Glenfield, Thurcaston etc., preferring take slate flagging to Leamington. An to buy slate waste from Groby or order for a further 5,000 tons of granite Swithland slate quarries for road delivered to Marylebone was received repairs. The Groby Granite Company as the previous order was cleared - actually lost money, £289. 14s 1 Id business was increasing at a pace. between February 1854 and January 1857 and to recover some of their losses the railway track was lifted and Of prices paid we know from sold in its entirety between the Groby the Groby Estate Steward William village and the Leicester and Martin's letters that the Brentford Swannington Railway in this same deliveries were worth 13/3d a ton, period (5). Paddington 13/6 a ton and Marylebone 11/3d. The granite quarry horses must have been working extremely hard for The Midland Railway link with in the September of 1833 as the the Leicester and Swannington stationary steam engine, which had Railway was made in August 1849 been planned to draw the loaded when the Desford to Knighton spur

31 was added and the Leicester to Burton The 1865 Fir Tee Lane quarry line opened. However Groby Granite at Groby had by 1 8 8 5 b e e n Co. still could not match the lower pronounced 'worked out' due to the operating costs of the Mountsorrel close proximity of the dwellings on the quarries and the London orders were south side of the Markfield Road and not regained. gardens to the south. The village granite quarry was then replaced by the The fresh start made by the present granite quarry close to Sheet new Groby Granite Company in 1865 Hedges Wood (east side of Groby reflects the slow improvement of local Pool) in the 1880s. roads and the equally slow demand for a hard stone to improve the road surfaces in Leicestershire and the bordering counties.

Early slate working at Groby

The slate quarry which is referred to in further west in Groby Parks are sites Groby documents of the 18th century marking where the Kirby Castle is shown as a small copse of trees on labourers gathered and worked surface the estate map of Groby in 1757 so it stone prior to the opening of a single must be assumed that the numerous quarry close to the Ashby/Leicester slate outcrops and attendant waste or road. spoil layers in the same area and

32 There are advantages and the outcrops found there and labour disadvantages in this type of working. and time was expended unnecessarily The stone does not have to be drawn in chasing same (This may explain from deep holes in the ground, which why the Groby quarries were preferred requires much more effort, and rather than the older Swithland manufacturing items at the quarry site quarries from c.1780 onwards and the avoids carting unnecessary weight. The sale of the water gin in 1781, see disadvantages are that within a short below). The alternative was to period of time water will invariably fill continuously draw off the water from the shallow workings and it is then the working area which was proving necessary to find a new working face, the most fruitful. The horses, and in which offers good lengthy cleaving. particular the gin apparatus, does From the numerous unproductive however require a considerable flat probes within Swithland Woods it is working area in which to perform with obvious that the good cleaving any effectiveness. characteristics were lacking in many of

Henry Hind & Son advertised a high value will not be put upon it, it small diameter gin for sale at their may be an inducement to some Swithland Slate quarry in August gentlemen of that Business in 1781. The Leicester & Nottingham Leicestershire, or Derbyshire to attend Journal carried the following notice: it. The wheel is 12 feet in diameter, To be sold at the above works. A and the other work proportionable (see water gin now out of use there but in above for W.H. Pyne's sketch of a very good condition for that purpose two-horse gin.) or others in the Colliery Business. As a

William Hind's white metal tobacco box and lid marked W H 1847 which is still retained, at the time of writing, by a resident in the village of Swithland. William was managing the Swithland slate quarries for the Hind family 1817 -1841

33 Acknowledgements

My thanks to Mrs Sandy Haynes who newspaper searches which proved very has recently undertaken the daunting successful and revealed some very task of sorting and referencing the very useful information. Thanks to the artist large archive of Bradgate Estate William Henry Pyne for the series of material (1740-1858) held at Enville sketches he made which capture life as Hall, Staffordshire from which the it was in the closing years of the 18th majority of my work since the late century first published in 1970s has been drawn (Enville - MICROCOSM in 1808. Some of the G/3/5/3 Groby/Swithland Traffic sketches from MICROCOSM have document.). been used in both this paper and Newtown Linford Notes & The Thanks to Michael Ball and Leicestershire Slate Industry, Anthony Squires for sharing their published December 2000 by David A. knowledge of the landscape and their Ramsey. Copies of which can be own documents with me and not obtained from the author: Tel Leicester forgetting Mark Gamble for his 0116 2875241 or e-mail [email protected]

References and Notes

3. Leicestershire Industrial History a village called Bradgate?, by D.A. Society Bulletin Number 9 of 1986. In Ramsey, 1998. ISBN 0 9534753 0 1. compiling the above I have assumed Surprisingly, the greater portion of the that this earlier paper is at hand for men came from the Marquis of reference or a copy of ref 2. Dorset's estate. 4. The 1858 Reports and Valuations of 6. Ramsey, ref 2. the Groby Granite and Slate quarries 7. Newtown Linford, Notes & The are to be found in Groby & its Leicestershire Slate Industry, by Railways by D.A. Ramsey (T.E.E. David A. Ramsey (2000). Book Four Publishing, 1982). in the Bradgate and its Villages series. 5. The composition of the Kirby Castle building team is outlined in Was there

Further reading

Monumental Journal, a monthly Library has a complete set if local magazine published between 1945 and sources fail.) 1960. The articles by M.W. Barley, FSA, later a Professor at Nottingham Frederick Burgess ARCA, English University, on 'Swithland Slate Churchyard Memorials (Lutterworth Headstones', beginning July 1948 Press, 1965) and in paperback (SPCK, mentioning the work of slate engravers 1979). Excellent for its notes on the George Sparrow of Grantham and Leicestershire slate engravers, Stamford, William Charles and son in symbolism, sources of imagery, types law John Winfield of of lettering, inscriptions and epitaphs. amongst others. (Birmingham Central Frederick Burgess also wrote in the Monumental Journal mentioned above.

34 Scribers in Slate, a collection of The Rocks of Bradgate, by Trevor D. documents concerning the Harborough Ford ( Trust, 1975). This stone masons William Walker (1716- contains an excellent overview of the 1793) and Samuel Turner (1717-1784). area geology and a The Market Harborough Museum. bibliography of works on the geology (Gravestone rubbings now in the of Charnwood Forest. Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office at Wigston). `Teichichnus Seilacher 1955 and other trace fossils from the Charnian of `The Roman Swithland Slate Industry', Central ', by Benjamin H. by Alan Mc Whirr, in Leicestershire Bland and Roland Goldring, pages 5- Archaeological and Historical Society 23 in Festschrift (Stuttgart, Germany, Transactions, LXII 1988, 1-7. 1995). Contains sketches of primitive animal and plant life observed on the Swithland Slate Headstones', by face side of some Swithland slate Albert Herbert, in Leicestershire headstones. Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions XXII, 215-240.

QUARRY ACCOUNTS (April 1st 1852 to March 31st 1853)

GROBY SLATE QUARRY SALES

to June 30th 1852 £50 18s 3d to Sept 30th 1852 £58 2s 5d s1 1 to Dec 31 1852 £116 9s 4 /4d s1 1 to March 31 1853 £96 7s 6 /2d

SWITHLAND QUARRY SALES

to June 30th 1852 £46 14s 2d th 1 to Sept 30 1852 £82 9s 1 /2d to Dec 31s1 1852 £94 8s 11d to March 31s1 1853 £31 0s 2d 1 Totalsales £576 9s 11 /4d less 8% £72 1s 3d

+Ayearsrentoffields £815s0d

Deductincometax £2 7s0d £6 8s 0d

T o p a y £78 9s 3d

35 ANALYSIS OF GROBY QUARRY SALES BY TYPE AND CUSTOMERS

SECTION I — Single orders unless shown CHIPPINGS

(lots of chippings sold ranged in Normanton) price from 6d for Gimson of Braunstone to 15s for Spencer of Arkwright, Broughton (10) Arkwright, Jos, Grant, Dunton Bassett Pochin Esq., Barkby Normanton Hallam, Earl Shilton Reynolds, Lubbesthorpe Baldwin, Stapleton Hind, Whetstone Grange Robinson, Barwell Bingley, Barkby Hitchcock, Lubbesthorpe Simpson, Thornton Brewin, Blaby Holloway, Desford Spencer, Normanton Bunney, Oadby Holyland, Earl Shilton Spencer, Earl Shilton Chamberlain, Desford Joe, Thurlaston Stokes Esq., New Parks Christian, Thornton Johnson, Newtown (2) Everard, Thurlaston (7) Linford Sutton, Dunton Bassett Everard, Narborough Johnson, Glenn Townshend Woods Lewin, Great Glen Tilley, Braunstone - Everard, Ratby Meltham, Revd, Barwell WaterWorksCompany Everard, Thurcaston Mudford, Desford (7) (2) Ganall, Mynard, Lord Gimson, Braunstone (2) Pagett, E A, C/thorpe? Pickford, Glenfield DOOR AND WINDOW SILLS

(sills sold range from 1s 1d for 1ft 8in door sill to Pochin of Barkby to 23ft of window sill for 15s 4d to Rudkin of Groby) Fewkes, Whitwick Rudkin, Groby Pochin Esq., Barkby (4) Webster, Desford FLAGGING

(lots of flagging sold ranged in p mason, of Leicester) rice from 1s 6d for Blanchard? of Groby to £2 2s 10d for Hull, Blanchard ??, Groby Bostock, Breedon FLAGGING continued Price, Peggs Green Bosworth, Dishley Hull, mason, Leicester Priestnall, engraver, Bramley, Swithland Johnson, N'town Linford Leicester (2) Johnson, Thornton Roby, Battle Flat Broadbent & Hawley, Jordan, Ratby Rudkin, T, Groby (8) Leicester Kelham, Bardon Shaw, Newtown Linford Cocks, Hungerton Martin, John Esq., Pool Shuttlewood, Bagworth Everard, Normanton (4) House, Groby (2) Morgan, Rev E, Syston Sibson, Anstey Fenton, K, Esq, Caldecott Moss, Loughborough Stamford, Earl of (3) Hall, Rutland Neale, Ibstock (3) Swingler, Leicester Harold, builder, Hinckley Parrott, Wm., Mason, Thirlby, B, Ibstock. Hayes, Glenfield Leicester Thurlby, Leicester (2) Pickering, Anstey Warren, Stanton Platts, Newtown Linford Worthington, Peckleton GATE POSTS

(gate posts range from 3s for 4ft 6in post to Pochin of Barkby to 16s for 24ft gate posts to Pagett of Birstall) Draycott, Cosby Lodge (2) Pagett Esq., Birstall Pochin, Barkby (5)

36 ROADSTONES

(lots of roadstone sold ranged from 6d to many purchasers to 4s to Norman, of Leicester) Astill J, Anstey Ellis, Glenfield Norman, Leicester Beaumont, Kirby Gimson, Braunstone Pickford, Glenfield (4) Cambers, Ratby, Greene, Braunstone (17) Roberts, Botcheston Bondman Hay Hinks, Groby Lodge Farm Spencer, Normanton Carver, Leicester Forest (2) Stokes Esq., New Parks Cramp, Glenfield (2) Hitchcock, Glenfield (2) Surveyors, Botcheston Davenport, Old Hays, Hook, Kirby Muxloe (7) (30) Ratby (3) Matts, Anstey (4) Whattoff, Leicester Frith Ellis, Kirby Lodge (11) Mowsley, Braunstone (4)

SLABS

(lots of slabs sold ranged from 6d to Brown of Barlestone to £ 3. 10s 0d to Tomlinson & Harpur) Arkwright, Broughton (4) Hick, timber dlr, Leicester Smith, builder, Lctr (3) Bailey, Humberstone Hickman, Leicester Spencer, Leicester Baker, Kirkby, Old Parks Holland & Son, Licstr (3) Spencer, Earl Shilton Beck, Kirkby Holland, bldr, Leicester (4) Stamford, Earl of (5) Beck, bldr, Bosworth (3) Holmes, Grafton Place (5) Stanis, Barton Bland, builder, Lcstr (21) Holmes, bldr, Leicester (2) Stirk, timber dealer (3) Bond, Leicester Hopkinson, Desford Stokes Esq., New Parks Booth, bldr, Leicester (5) Janson, Leicester (4) Surveyors, Anstey Brown, Barlestone Martin, John, Pool Hse (2) Surveyors, Aylestone Carrington, Leicester Martin, Revd Robert, Surveyors, Braunstone Cocks, bldr, Leicester (5) Marvin, Leicester Swain, Leicester (2) Coleman, bldr, Lcstr (4) Mason, Ratby (3) Swan, builder, Leicester Collins, bldr, Leicester (5) McCracken, Leicester Thurlby, builder, Lcstr (4) Cufflin, T, Glenfield Miles, Leicester Tilley, Braunstone Dormer, Desford (2) Mowbray, H, Leicester Tomlinson & Harpur (18) Everard, B, Groby (4) Neale, builder, Licstr (5) Townsend, Stanton Exton, Narborough Norman, bldr, Lcstr (17) Waterfield, bldr, Lcstr (2) Faux, Calverton (2) Orton, Coleorton Wesley, Desford Fielding Moore, Lcstr (4) Pickford, Glenfield Wilkinson, Leicester (3) Gilbert, Porter, builder, Lcstr (10) Winstanley, Goodacre, bldr , Licstr (5) Richardson, West Bridge Wooliore, builder, Lcstr Grocock, builder, Lcstr (5) Ride, Iron Fdry, Lcstr (21) Wooton, builder, Leicester Groves, Leicester (3) Rudkin, T, Groby (21) Worthington, Peckleton Harris, Rukmaw, Bagworth(2) Wragg, Leicester Harrison, J Esq., Lcstr (5) Russell, Carp'ter, Lcstr (3) Wykes, builder, Lcstr (2) Herbert, Wm, builder, Shepherd, Ibstock (2) Leicester (22) Shilcock, builder, Lcstr

SAWN FLAGGING & STONE

(lots of sawn stone and flagging sold ranged from 2s 6d for Wright of Loughborough to 17s 6d for the Earl of Stamford) Bott, Thornton (2) Lawrence, Bagworth Shaw, R, N'town Linford Brewin, Thornton (3) Lovell, Anstey Shuttlewood, Bagworth Chamberlain, Desford Martin, John, Groby Sketchley, Surgeon, Dormer, Desford (2) Paget, Countesthorpe (2) Anstey Harold, Hinckley Pochin, Barkby (5) Stamford, Earl of (3) Hayes, Glenfield Priestnall, engraver, Lcstr Swain, Leicester Hull, Leicester Ride, Leicester Webster, Desford (2) Hunt, Leicester (4) Rudkin, T, Groby (7) Wright, Loughborough

37 SINKS

(sinks sold from 1s 10d [2ft of 9in sink] to Dormer of Desford to £1. 1 2s 0d [seven sinks 47ft of 10in sink] to Wm Herbert, builder, of Leicester) Archer, Barlestone Harold, bldr, Hinckley (2) Read, Markfield Barsby, Breedon Herbert, Wm, Lcstr (2) Ride, Iron fdry, Lcstr (2) Beck, Bosworth Hull, mason, Leicester Stamford, Earl of, Collins, builder, Leicester Neale, Ibstock (2) Stinson, Whitwick Dormer, Desford Norman, Leicester Swain, Leicester (2) Freeman, butcher, Groby Parrott, mason, Webster, Desford (2) Greene, lbstock Colliery Humberstone Gte,

SPEELINGS/SPALLINGS

(loads sold for 1s or 2s and one for 2s 3d) Beaumont, Kirby Hinks, Groby Lodge Stanis, Barton Birchnall, T, Anstey (2) Oldham, Lcstr Frith (4) Stokes, New Parks (4) Bott, Markfield Pares, Ulverscroft Surveyors of Highways, Collins, builder, Leicester Pares, Thos., Markfield Groby Compton, Kirby Muxloe Pickford, Glenfield Everard, Ratby Simpson, Glenfield STEPS

(steps sold ranged from 3ft to 5ft 4in, costing is per ft) Bott, Thornton Lawrance, Bagworth Pochin Esq., Barkby Brewin, Thornton, Norman Rudkin, Groby SOUGHINGSTONES

(lots of soughingstones sold ranged from 1s 6d to Geary of Markfield and Hey of Woodgate, Leicester to 6s to Hook of Kirby Muxloe) Carver, Leic. Forest (2) Hey, Woodgate, Lcstr (2) West, Desford Geary, Markfield (5) Hook, Kirby Muxloe WALLING STONES

(lots of walling stones sold Tomlinson and Harpur) ranged from 7d to Cowlishaw/Broadbent of Ratby to 12s 10d to Bates, Anstey (2) Booth, Newtown Unthank Goodacre, Rose Rest Rudkin, T, Groby Broadbent & Hawley (50) Grocock, Leicester Smith, Leicester (6) Cowlishaw/Broadbent, Hitchcock, Glenfield (5) Stamford, Earl of (16) Ratby Lee, builder, Kirby Muxloe Surveyors, Anstey Geary, H, Groby (3) Pares, T, Esq., Markfield Tomlinson & Harpur (18) Pickering, Anstey (6)

SECTION II - Special orders

CHEESE PRESSES Burton Swannington 18ft cheese press 18s. Cocks Hungerton 20ft x two cheese presses 13s 4d Faux Calverton 6ft cheese press 4s Roby Battle Flat 5ft cheese press 3s 4d CHIMNEY PIECES Faux Coleorton Chimney piece 10s Rudkin, T, Groby 3 chimney pieces £1.10s T Rudkin Groby 1 chimney piece 15s

38 GRAVESTONES Freeman, J Groby, 18ft Headstone 18s Priestnall, engraver Leicester 13ft 6in Gravestone 13s 6d Priestnall, mason York St, Lcstr. 15ft 6in Headstone 15s 6d Priestnall, mason York St, Lcstr. 9ft 5in Headstone 9s 5d Priestnall, Engraver 16ft Headstone 16s Rudkin, W Newtown 8ft Headstone 8s

HOVEL CAPS Adcock Gaulby 12 Hovel Caps 9s Brown Barlestone 22 Hovel Caps £1 2s Hook Osbastone HovelCaps 3s

MILK SLATES Burton Swannington3ftmilkslate 2s. Fenton, K Esq Caldecott Hall 7ft milk slates £1 4s 8d Hull, mason Leicester 2ft milk slate 1s 4d Ratcliffe Esq., Norton House? 5ft 9in milk slate 3s 10d Yates,masonLeicester Milkslate 3s 6d

TROUGHS 1ft 6in Pump Trough 1s. _ Brown Barlestone 2ft Pump Trough 1s 4d Dormer Desford 2ft Pump trough 1s 4d Faux Coleorton 1ft 4in Pump Trough 1s Goodacre Rose Rest Pig&Pumptrough 1s9d Martin, Mrs Groby Pump trough 1s Spencer, Leicester 3 small cattle troughs 7s 6d Chaplin Ratby 1ft small cattle trough 8d Faux Calverton 10ft 6in Cattle Trough 7s Roby Battle Flat 6ft 6in Salt Trough 6s 6d Brown Barlestone Salting troughs 2s Mrs Martin Groby Cottage 14ft Troughs 9s 4d Faux Calverton 3ft 2in trough 2s Hook Osbaston 4 small troughs 2s 8d Spencer Earl Shilton 12fttrough 6s Stamford, Earl of 4ft Trough 2s 8d 6ft 9in trough 4s 6d Walker & Sons Coleorton 1ft 6in Trough 1s Wilkins Barlestone

VERMIN TRAPS Stamford, Earl of Vermin trap stones £1.3s. Stamford/Howe, Earl of Vermin traps £5

MISCELLANEOUS COPINGS Pochin, Barkby Ridged coping Pochin Esq., Barkby Flat Copings 4in thick £4. Os 6d Pochin Esq., Barkby 103ft of slate coping £1 8s 6d WINDOWHEAD Pochin Esq., Barkby. 8ft Window Heads 17s 2d CURBING Hunt,Ironmonger,LcstrCurbing 5s 4d CONDUCTORS Burton, Swannington 3 Swill Conductors 12s 6d. CLOCK DIAL Wildman, Newbold Verdon 10ft6inClockDial 2s PLINTH Rudkin, Thos, Groby 1 plinth 10s 6d. £2 1s 6d Source: Enville Hall Collection, Document G/3/5/3 ANALYSIS OF SWITHLAND QUARRY SALES BY TYPE AND CUSTOMER

SECTION I - Single orders unless shown

CHIPPINGS

(lots of chippings sold ranged from 9d for Porter of Birstall to 15s for Hind of Whetstone) Beeson, Stoughton Glenfield ?, Thrussington Moore, F, Barkby Bingley, Barkby (2) Goode, Barkby Pochin Esq., Barkby (7) Bryan, Hardy, Gadsby Porter, Birstall (2) Cherry Esq., Gadsby Higgingson (2) Ward, Barkby Clarke, Battle Flat Hind,Whetstone(2) Wayte, Stoughton Daniel, Blaby (2) Hinks, maltster, Leicester Whiles, Birstall (5) French Johnson, Withers, Welford Road

ORNAMENTAL STONE

(lots of ornamental stone ranged in price from 2s for Daniels to 12s for the Earl of Lanesborough) Daniels, Heygate, Lady, Stamford, Earl of (2) Ellis Esq., Belgrave Lanesborough, Earl of (2)

ROADSTONES

(lots of roadstones sold ranged in price from 6d for Marshal of Beaumont Leys, Whiles and the Surveyors, both of Birstall, to 8s for Burgess of Beaumont Leys) Astill, Anstey Leys (5) (24) Surveyors, Birstall (16) Bingley, Anstey Pagetts, Birstall (4) Surveyors, Thurcaston Burgess, Beaumont Leys Pickering, Anstey (8) (.16) (13) Porter(3) West, builder, Birstall (14) Clarke, Birstall (2) Roby, Anstey Weston, Thurcaston (2) Fowkes, Cropston (4) Simpson,Swithland Whiles, Birstall Marshall, Beaumont Leys Surveyors, Anstey (3)

SLABS

(lots of slabs sold ranged in price from 9d for Harris of Westcoats to £1 18s 4d for Robey of Anstey) Barker, bldr, L'boro' (16) Heygate, Sir F, Scott, Broadbent & Hawley Jacksons, J & N, Lstr (10) Sharp, Burgess, Beaumont Leys James Esq., Rotherby Simpkin, Leicester Chapman, Mountsorrel Jarman, Leicester Stamford, Earl of, Collins, Leicester Moss, bldr, L'borough (12) Surveyors, Birstall Ellis & Sons (3) Neale, Ibstock Ward & Thorpe (2) Harris Esq., Westcoats (3) Pochin, W.A., Barkby (2) Weston, Thurcaston Henson, Priestley, Mountsorrel (2) Whiles, Birstall Herbert, builder, Leicester Robey, Messrs, Anstey Wykes, Leicester SLATES

(lots of slates sold ranged in price from 1 s 4d for Pochin of Barkby and Sketchley of Anstey to £13 13s 4d for the Rev Dudley of Sileby) Bales, Anstey Harris Esq., Westcoats Linford (3) Bott, Desford Harrison, J, Leicester (3) Johnson, Mountsorrel (7) Carter, Belgrave Herbert, W, Leicester (12) Main, Burton Overy Chapman, Mountsorrel (4) Heygate, S F (3) Moss, Loughborough (2) Cherry Esq., Gadsby Jackson, Leicester Neale Dudley, Sileby (2) Jackson, Ms J & W (3) North, Ratcliffe Ellis, Everard & Co (3) James Esq., Rotherby Penford, Thrussington (3) Gardiner Johnson, Newtown Pickford, Glenfield

40 SLATES continued Pochin, Barkby (14) Rudkin, Groby (14) Sketchley, Anstey (3) Priestley, Mountsorrel (3) Rudkin, Newtown Linford Spittles, Hungarton Ratcliffe, Glenfield Sheffield, Syston (2) Stamford, Earl of (9) Reed (2) Shuttlewoods, Walton WelIs, J, Anstey Roby, Anstey Sibson, Anstey Wright, Wanlip

SOUGHINGSTONES

(lots of soughingstones sold ranged in price from 1s for Pickering of Anstey to 12s for Simpson of Swithland) Astill, Anstey Simpson, Swithland (7) Weston, Thurcaston Pickering, Anstey West, Birstall (2)

WALLINGSTONES

(lots of wallingstones sold ranged in price from 1s for Smith of Leicester and Marshall of Beaumont Leys to 9s [superior] for Smith of Leicester) Birchnall, Cropston Marshall, Beaumont Leys Pickering, Anstey (7) Birchnall, T, Anstey (3) Matts, Cropston Porter (3) Bishop (2) Paget, Birstall Smith, bldr, Leicester (10)

SECTION II — Special orders MISCELLANEOUS CAPS Jackson, Leicester: 3s HOVEL CAPS Ward, Littlethorpe: 18s. ONE FOOT TROUGH Morris, Swithland: 8d VERMIN TRAPS Stamford, Earl of: 6s. (2)

Source: Enville Hall Collection, Document G/3/5/3

41