Gedling Borough

Brought Alive

The history and heritage of Gedling Borough

Gedling Borough

Brought Alive

The history and heritage of Gedling Borough

Compiled and edited by Stephen Walker

Abstract: The Borough of Gedling, formed in 1974, is an administrative district in Nottinghamshire. The area has a long history of human occupation. During the industrial revolution, in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was an important centre for textiles, brickmaking and coal mining. In the 20th century it became one of the suburbs of Nottingham. Since the decline of manufacturing and mining in the late 20th century the district has become important as a residential area, with a thriving economy based increasingly on tourism and the service sector. Historically the borough was within the medieval Sherwood Forest and the partially wooded farmland, containing several country parks, still provides an attractive location for leisure and recreation.

First published 2019

ISBN 978-1-5272-3774-2

3 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Acknowledgements

Gedling Borough Council acknowledge the research and input into the project of the following contributors:

Mike Chapman (Woodborough Local History Group) Denis Hill (Heritage consultant) Philip Jones Bob Massey (Arnold Local History Group) Nick Molyneux (Nottingham CAMRA) Christopher Peck (Calverton Preservation Society) Mary Rose Hatcliffe John Smith (Lambley Historical Society) Keith Stone (Friends of Bestwood Country Park) Stephen Walker (Heritage consultant) Ann Whitfield Richard Wilson (Gedling Village Preservation Society) Steve Wright (Burton Joyce & Bulcote Local Heritage Society)

The Heritage Lottery Fund The staff at Gedling Borough Council … and other volunteers who assisted in the production of this book.

Illustrations The maps and images are copyright to Dr Stephen Walker, except image 4: © Trustees of the British Museum image 7: Copyright and permission of Phillip Orme image 16: Reproduced by permission of Arnold Local History Group images 18, 52 & 80: Reproduced by permission of the National Portrait Gallery images 60 & 64a: Copyright and permission of Mrs E. S. Yardley image 65: Reproduced by permission of Keith Stone image 67: Copyright and permission of Dr David Amos image 68: Copyright and permission of Mr S. E. Taylor image 69: Reproduced by permission of Denis Hill images 70 & 73: Reproduced by permission of Inspire Culture image 72: Reproduced by permission of Historic England images 78 & 79: Reproduced by permission of Chris & Teresa Shaw

Publication Date: March 2019 copyright © Gedling Borough Council 2019

4 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Index

Themes Mining Welfare Textiles Water & Water Religion changes & supply Post-war Windmills Landscape Settlement Rebellion & Rebellion World Wars World Chruches & Green Space Green Early History Early Brick making Metal working Beer & brewing Water treatment Water Transport: Water, Roads & Railways Roads

Places Page Numbers

Arnold 64, 80 45, 47 12 14 8 76, 77 74 20, 28 59 50 75 71 65

Bestwood 63 60 46, 47 12 15, 56 8, 9 59 56 77 74 20, 30 59 53 75 70 65

20, 24 Burton Joyce 80 46, 47 12 8 76 50, 72 75 30 31, 57, 20, 25 Calverton 81 60, 75 46, 47 12 15 8, 9 76, 77 59 53 75 58 31 20, 25 Carlton 64, 81 61, 62 46, 47 12 75 8 76, 77 50, 52 75 32 37, 50, Colwick 12 9 76, 77 33 52

Daybrook 63,64 46, 48 8 77 24, 33 60 50, 52

Gedling 81 47 12 16, 77 8 34, 58 77 20, 34 51, 52 Village

Lambley 81 46, 47 10 10 20, 35 75 65

Linby 64, 80 60 47 12 16 9 57 77 74 20, 35 59 52, 53 76 65, 68

Netherfield 48 12 17 10 76 36 60 52 75

Newstead 80 44 12 17, 18 8 59 56, 57 77 74 20, 37 52

Papplewick 64, 80 46, 47 12 17 9 57 74 20, 37 59 75 38, 70 65

Porchester & 24, 32, Mapperley 61, 62 9 76 74 50, 53 75 65 Top 39

Ravenshead 80 46, 48 12 9 76, 77 25, 39

Redhill 64, 80 14 74 29 50 65

Stoke 81 46 12 18 10 20, 40 50 72 Bardolph

41, 46, 20, 24, Woodborough 64, 81 60 12 9 75 48 40 24, 29, Woodthorpe 46, 47 76 53 42

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 5

Introduction

For several decades diligent local historians and dedicated societies across Gedling Borough in Nottinghamshire have been researching the history of their communities and have consequently produced fascinating works, including books, films, websites and leaflets. Some have created and led heritage walks, given talks, held exhibitions and installed plaques to help us remember the people and events of our borough. However, in recent times it was realised that nowhere could we find a collective history of the Borough of Gedling, which was formed in 1974. To this end Gedling Borough Council, working with local history groups, developed a project and successfully applied for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to produce that collective history.

From the commencement of The purpose of this book is redeveloped, demolished or the project, in January 2018, to introduce the reader to disappeared are not generally volunteers from across the the historical features and discussed. However, a visit borough have worked hard, exciting heritage of Gedling to our extensive local studies alongside council officers, Borough, which is not just libraries would soon provide to celebrate our heritage another corner of England the reader with more in- through a variety of ways, but possesses a wealth of depth information. Scattered such as the borough’s first world-class heritage and throughoout the text are ever heritage festival, writing takes the visitor from city postcodes and website and producing interpretation suburbs into the iconic details that will allow you to boards, mosaics, a large English countryside. Gedling find the attractions. wall mural depicting a Borough has previously been thousand years of history, little known outside its own As the Leader of Gedling guide leaflets, a web site and community, but this book Borough Council I am proud heritage films designed to will bring it out of obscurity of our heritage and invite you immortalise our heritage and and into the limelight; we to read this book and then encourage people to become have a great story to tell. This enjoy many exciting days more engaged with our book will whet your appetite discovering our heritage and fascinating past. Residents to learn more about our our natural beauty. You will have been engaged by borough and its personalities. not be disappointed. entering several heritage- based competitions, joining The book concentrates on Councillor John Clarke walks or attending a talk providing the framework of Leader of Gedling or local heritage film show. a general history, and only Borough Council However, this book has discusses places in more become its flagship project, detail if they can be visited available for decades to and seen, thus enabling come, to enthral its readers it to be a guide to tourists with our exciting past. visiting the area, or indeed to our own residents. Features which have been

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 7 Map 1 - Position of Gedling within Nottinghamshire

The Borough of Gedling is one of seven districts in the county of Nottinghamshire. The city of Nottingham is a separate unitary authority. (see map 1 )

8 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 1. Geology and Landscape

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk1. | 9 Map 2 - Geology

10 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Over the years, the rocks and the landscape have influenced the lives of people in the borough. The underlying geology is shown on map 2. The oldest surface rock, the Magnesian Limestone strata (also known as the Cadeby Formation), occurs around the village of Linby. This honey-coloured, sandy limestone has been widely used as a building stone in the north-west of the borough. (1) The clay-rich Permian Red Marl (also known as the 1: Stone cottages in Papplewick Edlington Formation) is found in the Leen valley between Papplewick and Bestwood and was once used to make bricks and tiles. After the 18th century Mercian Mudstone (formerly known as Keuper Marl), which forms the ridge between Mapperley and Dorket Head, was also used for brick-making. The highest point in the borough of Gedling is on the ridge close to Dorket Head, in Ramsdale hunting forest was created. Sherwood Sandstone is also Park near Calverton, where The land here was so dry quarried near Ravenshead to the surface is 157m above that it was traditionally used provide builders’ sand. sea-level. The clay soils and only for rough grazing. In the One of the main influences open valleys in the east last century, these dry, sandy of geology after the middle of the borough provided soils have increasingly been of the 19th century was fertile farmland. (2) The used for growing root crops the development of coal villages here are traditionally such as potatoes and carrots. mining. In the west of characterised by buildings However, a more important Nottinghamshire coal constructed of brick. use of the porous Sherwood occurred near the surface, Sandstone beds was as an so the earliest mines were The dry soil developed on underground source of water. located west of Nottingham the soft red sandstones in Bestwood and Papplewick and along the border with the north of the borough pumping stations were both Derbyshire, where the coal naturally supports heath and constructed over deep wells was easy to extract. Within open oak woodland. This which collected pure water the borough of Gedling, was the area where the royal from under the ground. coal occurs in seams deep

2: The landscape at Woodborough

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 11 beneath the surface, so the elsewhere in the borough. reserve developed from old mines here all had deep In the south-east, the gravel pits and colliery slurry shafts. borough boundary follows lagoons. the river Trent from Colwick The presence of glacial sands to Burton Joyce. The land With the enlargement of over the higher parts of the on the valley floor is only Nottingham and its suburbs borough is evidence that ice 20m above sea-level. This onto the flood plain of the sheets directly affected the major waterway was used river, the impact of flooding area. At the end of the Ice for transport and influenced became more severe. Age, the Trent valley was human occupation of the The record floods of 1947 an important route for the area from before Roman highlighted the need for passage of flood water from times. Saxon and Viking improved flood defence. the melting glaciers, and settlers travelled up the The old Colwick Weir was powerful flows of meltwater Trent Valley and developed replaced by the massive carved deep valleys into the farming communities. The floodgates known as the soft rocks. These valleys are bank of the river Trent Holme Sluices. This allowed known locally as dumbles; has become a valued a sharp bend in the river the Lambley Dumbles are an recreation zone for anglers, at Colwick to be removed. example. The meltwater also bird watchers, walkers Colwick Country Park, on left deep layers of sediment and cyclists. (3) Stoke Lock the border of the borough, on the floor of the Trent Woods is an attractive occupies the reclaimed site valley. This has become a small reserve while a mile of the former loop. source of sand and gravel, upstream there is access to quarried at Netherfield and Netherfield Lagoons, a nature

3: Stoke Lock on the river Trent

12 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 2 . Early History

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk2 . | 13 The area we call Gedling Borough is known to have been occupied for several thousand years. Bronze Age defensive works have been identified in Arnold (constructed between 3,000 to 4,000 years ago) and tools from the Bronze Age were also discovered at Bestwood. Earthworks at Fox Wood in Woodborough and Lodge Farm in Burton Joyce are thought to be the remains of small Iron Age forts (The Iron Age is generally considered to be 2,000 to 2,500 years ago) and Iron Age pottery was found near Dorket Head, together with the remains of a Roman military camp. A second Roman camp was located near Calverton, on a low spur of land between Lodge Farm and Dover Beck. Investigations revealed a large 26 acre (10.5ha) temporary marching camp, with a smaller (later) four acre (1.7ha) camp positioned within the boundary of the earlier fort. Although no earthworks survive above ground level, the camps are clearly visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. Two hoards of Roman coins were found in Calverton some sixty years ago. Roman coins were also discovered in Newstead in 1990.

In the years after Roman Ragnarson and Ivar Gedling, Lambley, Linby, rule, what is now England the Boneless captured Papplewick, Stoke Bardolph reverted to a series of British Nottingham. The town and Woodborough. The Royal kingdoms. Very little is became one of the Five Hunting Forest of Shirewood, known of these political Boroughs of the Danelaw, Sherwood Forest, was entities in Nottinghamshire, an area which was under created around this time, to but some surviving British Viking control for the next 50 provide a space for sporting place-names in north years. Danes settled in the pursuits. Nottingham, as well Nottinghamshire and the area, creating a hybrid Anglo- as Gedling borough, lay at survival of British inheritance Scandinavian society. Within the southern fringe of the customs into the medieval the borough this has left us Forest. In 1966 more than period suggest a significant with place-name elements 1,200 coins and a collection British survival in the post- such as ‘-by’ (farm) and of jewellery were discovered Roman period. At the same ‘thorpe’ (outlying settlement) in Ravenshead, becoming time, groups of Angles and and words such as ‘beck’ known as the Fishpool Saxons, originally from North for stream. The Vikings Hoard. (4) The coinage, Germany, were settling along in Nottingham submitted dating from the 15th century, the north bank of the Trent. to Edward the Elder in is thought to have been In time these Germanic 918, returning the area to hidden there during the Wars peoples became politically a combined Mercia and of the Roses. and culturally dominant, Wessex, which formed the with the area that is now basis for the development the Borough becoming a of a single, united English part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom. kingdom of Mercia by around the year 600. The old name At the time of the Norman for Arnold, ‘Ernehale’, was invasion in the 11th given to an Anglo-Saxon century, several places in settlement, while an Anglo- the borough were already Saxon cemetery has been thriving population centres, discovered in Netherfield. listed and described in the Domesday Book. These were In 868, the army of Danish at Arnold, Burton Joyce, warlords of Halfdan Calverton, Carlton, Colwick, 4: A brooch from the Fishpool Hoard

14 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 3. Green Heritage

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk3. | 15 The Royal Forest of Sherwood, created by the Norman kings to provide an area for hunting, and extending northwards from Nottingham through central Nottinghamshire, included most of the borough of Gedling. In the Middle Ages, the legend of Robin Hood and his Gang grew up, based on this part of the county. Several places in the borough have links to the legend, with St James’ church in Papplewick reputedly where Alan A’Dale, a minstrel with the Outlaws, was married.

As late as the eighteenth returning home from the century, the roads north of market in Mansfield. Nottingham crossed wild, unpopulated forest areas and Nowadays the wooded areas were considered unsafe for are less forbidding. Across travellers. Road travel was the borough, what remains so dangerous that groups of of the ancient Sherwood soldiers were stationed at Forest still makes up the Redhill and at the Hutt, near countryside, used for farming Newstead Abbey, to protect and nature conservation, a travellers. The highwayman network of footpaths and Dick Turpin, executed at bridleways providing access. York in 1739, is said to have (5) In other areas there are been active in the region. urban parks, nature reserves The Sheppard Stone, which and woodland where lies on the borough boundary access to the countryside beside the A60 at Thieves can be enjoyed. (Map 7 Wood, commemorates the shows the main rural sites murder and robbery in 1817 accessible to the public of Bessie Sheppard from for leisure and recreation.) 5: Moor Pond Woods Papplewick, killed while

Arnot Hill Park 6: Arnot Hill Park Arnot Hill Park in Arnold [NG5 6LU] was originally the grounds of the mansion home of an 18th century industrialist, John Hawksley. (6) The ornamental lake in the park is the remnants of the pond which provided water for a worsted mill, until 1810. The park, maintained by Gedling Borough Council, is laid out with paths and now houses the Lake View Café, a bowling green and a children’s play area.

16 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Bestwood is ‘dog-friendly’. Activities a hotel, volunteers maintain Country Park include walking, horse riding, the original Japanese Water running, Nordic walking, Gardens which adjoin the Bestwood Country Park, field crafts, cycling, as well building. These gardens once part of the 3,700 acre as, on Saturdays, children’s were created for the then (1500ha) Royal Deer Park of crafts in the Dynamo House Duke of St Albans around Bestwood, is accessed on community café run by the the end of the nineteenth its north side via Bestwood Friends group. [To find century. [For more detail Village [NG6 8ZA] and on out more, see their website about this historic garden its south side via Bestwood www.fbcp.org.uk ]. see http://www.fbcp.org.uk/ Lodge Drive in Arnold japanese-garden.html ] [NG5 8NE]. There are also On the colliery site is the several points for entering unique Bestwood Colliery Burnt Stump the park on foot. Almost 700 Winding Engine House, its acres (282ha) of woodland, vertical steam winder and Country Park meadows, reclaimed colliery headstocks still in working The thirty-seven acres (15ha) ground, a river and lakes order. Restored and Grade of parkland [NG5 8PQ] is are all managed by a small II-listed, it is cared for by a what remains of the estate on-site staff. Bestwood group of ex-miners, who on formerly surrounding the Lodge, now the Best Saturdays offer free guided large house built in 1790 by Western Bestwood Lodge tours of the building and Henry Coape, later occupied Hotel, replaced the original machinery. by Sir Charles Seely. a local centuries-old Bestwood mine-owner and MP. The Hall when the latter was Bestwood Lodge house was subsequently demolished in the mid-1850s. demolished and the site now Nearby, Alexandra Lodge, Bestwood Lodge stands in Bestwood Country Park includes the headquarters in the centre of the park and of Nottinghamshire Police spanning the north access [NG5 8NE]. The site was for many years a royal retreat and the site of The Park road, was named in honour Hospital. The playing fields of Queen Alexandra when and in 1485 Richard III was in residence there when he and woodland walks, close to she visited the house with the A60 and maintained by King Edward VII. received the news that Henry Tudor had invaded England. Gedling Borough Council, are Richard went from the lodge accessible to the public all In the Middle Ages, the year round. woodlands were mainly of via Nottingham to give battle English oak but there are at Bosworth Field, where he now numerous varieties perished. In the 17th century Fox Covert which are listed in the the lodge and deer park Plantation were given to the Duke of ‘Trees of Bestwood’ booklet. Fox Covert Plantation Wherever possible, the St Albans, son of Charles II and Nell Gwyn. The current near Calverton [NG5 8PQ] meadows are managed by is a mixed deciduous means of sheep- and cattle- lodge, in the Gothic Revival style was completed in 1865 woodland managed by grazing, to preserve the Nottinghamshire Wildlife native flora. by the 10th Duke, to replace the medieval royal hunting Trust. Believed to be on the lodge dating back to the site of part of the ancient Various wildlife species make Sherwood Forest, the main their homes in the park, 1100s. The architect of the rebuild, Samuel Sanders wood covers more than including hares, rabbits, seventeen acres (7ha), with foxes and fallow deer; 130 Teulon, also designed St. Pancras station in London. oak and birch the principal species of birds have also species, as well as several been recorded. The Friends The Lodge is a Grade II*- listed building. During World others, including sycamore, of Bestwood Country Park sweet chestnut, rowan and have developed a rolling War 2 the lodge became the headquarters of the coppiced lime. The wood is programme of studying and linked by a grassy ride to recording the plants and Northern Command army. Although the lodge is now two open areas of sycamore wildlife there. The park and acid grassland, with

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 17 over thirty common species centre and café, as well as of ground flora. In winter, marked trails, footpaths and goldcrest, redpoll and wildlife habitat. Opened in long-tailed tit can be seen, 2015, the park (7) is managed with occasional sightings by Gedling Borough Council of woodpecker. [For more with the assistance of the information see www. Friends of Gedling Country nottinghamshirewildlife.org/ Park. [For more information nature-reserves/foxcovert- plantation ] see https://www. gedlingcountrypark.org.uk ] Gedling and café, as well as marked trails, footpaths and wildlife Country Park habitat. Gedling Country Park [NG4 4PE] covers 580 acres (235ha) of open space, created since 2000 through reclamation of the spoil heap from Gedling Colliery. With outstanding views over the surrounding 7: Gedling Country Park area, the park has a visitors’

Linby Trail and Wood at Newstead (a the trail is an important Freckland Wood landscaped colliery tip), a geological reserve showing multi-user trail providing the strata and is also home The Linby Trail is a linear access to horseriders, to limestone flora and fauna. nature reserve along the cyclists and walkers. (8) Freckland Wood provides an line of the former Great The railway cuttings were excellent viewpoint over the Northern Railway. It links excavated through the surrounding countryside. Linby village to Freckland Magnesian limestone;

8: Linby trail

18 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Moor Pond Woods 18th century to store and and plants, is maintained transport water to cotton by a partnership between The seventeen acres (7ha) mills and the preserved Nottinghamshire County of woodland are a publicly remains of stone sluices Council and the Friends accessible space between are visible there. The site, of Moor Pond Woods. (9) Linby and Papplewick [NG15 which includes woodland, [See http://moorpond. 8FB], with paths laid out by wetland and meadows papplewick.org for more Papplewick Parish Council providing important habitats information.] as its Millennium project. for a variety of animals The site was used in the

9: Moor Pond at Papplewick

Netherfield Lagoons [For more detail see with a tea-room as well their website - www. as regular events held on Netherfield Lagoons Local gedlingconservationtrust. site. [For details, see www. Nature Reserve is situated org ] newsteadabbey.org.uk/visit ] on the flood plain of the river Trent [Ordnance Survey The poet Lord Byron (1788- grid reference SK638402]. Newstead Abbey 1824) inherited the house Part of the site was used as After the priory at Newstead and grounds from his great- a dump for coal slurry, but was closed by Henry VIII in uncle in 1798, when he was there are two remaining 1539, the site was converted only ten years old. After gravel ponds. A causeway, into a country home for his 21st birthday in 1809, raised around fifteen metres the Byron family, and was he lived intermittently at (50 feet) above the pits, gives renamed Newstead Abbey, Newstead until the estate a commanding view of the remaining as a private was sold in 1817. During three main compartments; residence throughout the this period some of his the Slurry Lagoon, the Deep 19th century. (10, 12) The most famous poetry was Pit and the Gravel Pits. The house, park and gardens written. After moving from larger tank, virtually full [NG15 9HJ], are now owned Newstead, Byron spent most but still able to retain some by Nottingham City Council of his time travelling abroad. water, provides muddy edges and are open to visitors, attractive to waders, roosting gulls and terns. The smaller tank is mainly of deep water, attracting large numbers of wildfowl, with smaller birds, especially warblers, feeding and breeding around the edges. The reserve is managed by Gedling Conservation Trust.

10: Newstead Abbey gardens

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 19 12: Newstead Abbey, west front

Newstead and Stoke Lock Woods Annesley Stoke Lock and Woods on Country Park the River Trent near Stoke Newstead and Annesley Bardolph [NG14 5HX] Country Park [NG15 0BS], a provide an area of peace beautiful, eco-friendly park, and tranquillity. The mature is five minutes’ walk from woodland around Stoke Newstead railway station Lock was planted just after and less than ten minutes’ the lock was built in 1927, drive from Junction 27 of creating an excellent site for the M1. The park, covering walkers and nature lovers. an area of 220 acres (89ha), There are also fascinating is situated on the site of conservation projects taking former colliery spoil tips and place nearby, for instance, lagoons. The whole area is at Netherfield Lagoons. of significant interest for its [For further details see the wildlife, (11) a number of interpretation panel and volunteers working on the listening posts on site.] site to protect and enhance this. [For more details, see www.ruralcommunityaction nottinghamshire/newstead- 11: Orchid at Newstead annesley-country-park ] and Annesley CP

20 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 4 . Urban Growth & Settlement

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk4 . | 21 Today 80% of the population of the borough of Gedling live in the urban areas clustered in the south around Arnold and Carlton. This has not always been the case; until about 1800 most of the land now occupied by the borough was farm- land, woodland and grazing, with scattered villages, much as it had been in the Middle Ages.

From the reign of Elizabeth I During the late 19th as pubs, general shops (1558-1603) the Church of century local government and a post office for their England parishes became in Britain was re-organised. inhabitants. The urban more important in the Nottinghamshire County districts developed as small administration of peoples’ Council was created in 1889, towns, with their own lives. Parish officials were with elected councillors suburbs. The population responsible for registering taking over decision making. was served by a variety of births and deaths, for relief Arnold Urban District specialist shops in addition of the sick and poor, for road Council and Carlton Urban to services such as banks, mending and for enforcing District Council were created cinemas and libraries. The the law. The parishes within in 1894, also administered construction of deep mines the area now occupied by elected councillors. This brought additional urban by the borough remained second tier of government development to Bestwood, unchanged for the next recognised the fact that the Linby and Newstead in the 400 years. (13) The boom new town-dwellers needed 19th century, and later to in framework knitting a different style of localised Calverton and Gedling. after 1770 encouraged administration. Map 3 shows new building in Arnold, the council areas that were Building which took place Burton Joyce, Calverton, defined locally. Nottingham in both the borough and Lambley and Woodborough, became a City Borough in in nearby Nottingham while the development of 1897, the year of Queen during the 19th century spinning mills in Linby, Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. was dominated by the use Papplewick and Arnold Elsewhere the area was of brick. The complexes also attracted workers to administered by Basford of mills and factories early factories. The ancient Rural District Council provided opportunities for parish of Gedling stretched but Civil Parish Councils mass production. Large from Mapperley ridge to the remained in place as a numbers of brick houses river Trent, and included localised tier of government. were built, to cope with the hamlets at Stoke Bardolph The new County and influx of people coming to and Carlton as well as the District councils were given live and work there. These village of Gedling. During responsibility for building schemes, developed on a the 19th century some control, town planning and scale never before seen in of these centres grew to for regulating the provision the country, also required become settlements in their of public facilities such as huge civil engineering own right. By the mid-19th waste collection, schools, projects to provide access century, housing and the cemeteries and libraries. to clean water and effective population from Nottingham sewage disposal, as well spread towards the Map 3 also shows the as fast, reliable transport surrounding villages. Arnold, extent of building by 1900, links. Although a local canal Carlton and Netherfield by which time the centres network had operated for expanded with the addition of Arnold, Carlton and many years, Nottingham of rows of terraced houses, Netherfield had become gained the benefit of built to house newly arrived built up and the present-day being connected to the industrial workers for the street patterns established. national railway network, textile factories, brickyards During the late 19th century providing access to both and railways. the villages within the rural freight and passenger parishes grew slowly, and services across the country. developed facilities such

22 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Map 3 - 1900 Population

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 23 Map 4 - 1920 Population

24 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Map 5 - 1950 Population

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 25 In the 1890s the Government empowered local councils to improve housing quality by demolishing slums and adopting by-laws setting minimum standards of drainage, ventilation and paving for new homes. The so-called ‘by-law housing’ took the form of rows of terraced houses which became home for ordinary workers. Many examples of such housing have 13: Woodborough traditional farm buildings survived. (Map 4 shows that considerable amounts of recreation grounds (green Outside the urban areas, construction had occurred play areas). Houses were to along several of the main before World War 1.) The be a mixture of detached, roads there were ribbon greenfield sites known as semi-detached and short developments of suburban Porchester Gardens and terraces, each featuring an houses, taking advantage Thorneywood Gardens, interior toilet and bathroom. of easier access to private situated between Mapperley Many of the houses were cars and of improvements in Plains Road, Porchester Road built in the fashionable public transport. Examples and Westdale Lane, had been Arts and Crafts style with of these houses are seen divided into smallholdings a mock-Tudor timbered along the road between in the 1880s, with some frontage and bay windows. Gedling and Burton Joyce, developed for housing. Public These estates were intended and along the roads transport was improved with to become self-contained leading into Papplewick. In the arrival of railways and and were provided with some of the villages new electric trams in the borough, shops and schools. Another development took the form encouraging speculators to feature of the interwar of smallholder plots, each build houses for commuters. period was the requirement with a small detached house The industrial suburbs by the Government for the standing in a large garden. gradually became linked into construction of estates of (14) a continuous conurbation Local Authority housing. with the development of housing in Daybrook, Mapperley and Woodthorpe. Those districts built before 1920 are characterised by straight roads in a grid pattern.

After World War 1, the Government recognised the need for new housing and encouraged local councils to provide this. Planned suburban estates were to be laid out around urban centres. Contemporary thinking was that these estates should have closes of houses around a green space, with access to 14: 1920s smallholding at Burton Joyce

26 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 15: Council housing from 1930s and 1960s in Carlton Valley

In the 1930s Carlton Urban Arnold and Carlton Urban Local government in District was enlarged by District Councils followed Nottinghamshire was re- absorbing Gedling parish the example set by organised once again in and part of Colwick parish, Nottingham and developed 1974. Gedling Borough both previously included Council estates. Some was created through the within Basford Rural building had occurred before amalgamation of Arnold and District. At the same time, 1939 and in the late 1940s Carlton Urban Districts with Papplewick and Linby this recommenced. (Map 5 parts of the former Basford parishes were reduced in shows the extent of the built- Rural District. Elected Parish size by the enlargement up area in 1950.) Councils were retained at of Hucknall Urban District Bestwood, Burton Joyce, (see Map 3). The City of Throughout the 1950s and Calverton, Lambley, Linby, Nottingham was expanded 60s, additional estates Newstead, Papplewick, with model estates of were added to the urban Ravenshead, Stoke Bardolph Council-owned houses areas. (15) At this time, the and Woodborough. The around the outskirts. Parts bigger villages also received contrast between the urban of Bestwood and Colwick small housing estates. A areas within the south-west parishes were transferred small town was gradually of the borough and the rural into the city to allow for constructed at Ravenshead, north-eastern flank has additional building. In the and a new Ravenshead become very marked. (Map late 1930s and immediately Civil Parish was created 6 shows the borough in the after World War 2 there from portions of Blidworth 1990s.) was considerable building and Newstead parishes. activity to provide both Calverton and Gedling saw privately-owned and council- considerable development of owned housing. housing for mineworkers.

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 27 Map 6 - 1990 Population

28 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Map 7 - Gedling Places

The principal places in the borough of Gedling are shown on map 7:

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 29 Arnold the first mass employment. Children were brought Arnold, like other places in from workhouses, including the borough, was settled by from London and Bristol, groups of both Angles and to work as apprentices at Vikings. It was referred to as the factory and the thread ‘Ernehale’ in the Domesday from the mill was used by Book of 1086, when it had local knitters. Although this some 150 residents, mostly early factory closed and was agricultural workers. It has subsequently demolished, been suggested that the Arnold continued to be an 16: Home Brewery in the 1960s name ‘Ernehale’ might mean important textile centre ‘Place frequented by eagles’ throughout the 19th century. Howitt, has a decorative or ‘Valley of eagles’. However, One of the larger companies frieze on the front depicting it may also refer to herons, was I.& R. Morley, whose brewing processes. Now which occur locally, rather original factory still stands officially known as Sir than to eagles. near Daybrook Square, now John Robinson House, the converted into housing. building provides office Arnold, a centre for space for Nottinghamshire framework knitting in the The offices of the former County Council. Close by, 18th and 19th centuries, Home Brewery on Mansfield on Mansfield Road, are the was the location of frame- Road form a long, brown alms houses built by John breaking incidents during the brick building of three Robinson for poor people Luddite riots, including on storeys, with a tall central in Arnold; these twelve 11th March 1811, when sixty- square tower providing a cottages were opened three frames were smashed. fourth storey. (16) The Grade in 1899 as a memorial to Between 1792 and 1810 II-listed building, designed Robinson’s son, killed in a a large worsted spinning by a local architect, T. Cecil horse-racing accident. factory in Arnold provided

Map 8 - Arnold Development

30 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk The earliest settlement 17: Former Methodist chapel in Arnold north and east of Arnold in Arnold was around St town centre, starting with Mary’s church, with outlying the Killisick estate in 1947. hamlets at Daybrook and Redhill. The arrival of hosiery Arnold is the largest service factories around Arnot Hill centre in the borough, with led to additional housing a wide choice of shops and and in the second half of a range of restaurants, pubs the 19th century Daybrook and bars. The Carnegie and Redhill merged. By 1854 Library opened in 1906, the when the Local Board of houses surrounding Arnold first cinema in 1911, a theatre Health was formed, Arnold town centre, as well as the still had no piped water, in 1929 and a fire station in development of roadside 1935. Arnold Market opened gas or sewers in the town. housing along the main in the town centre in 1968, Following the creation of routes. The first council- with market days three Arnold Urban District in owned houses on Brookfield 1894, and with improved estate were built in 1929, the times a week. Since 2018 the transport provided by the Arno Vale estate was started market has been managed railways and trams, the in 1933, and Coppice Road by Gedling Borough Council. Arnold conurbation began development commenced Arnold also has a leisure to expand more rapidly. (17) in 1938. Since World War 2 centre with sports and (Map 8 shows the gradual there has been considerable swimming facilities, located growth of the built-up expansion of the built-up next to the Bonington area.) The inter-war period area, with the development theatre and the library. saw the development of of housing estates, schools streets of private houses in and play areas in the area Woodthorpe and of council

Richard Parkes Bonington (1802-1828), an artist born in Arnold, moved to France when he was 15, living in Paris. He specialised in both watercolour painting and oil-painting, and is recognised as one of the most important landscape painters of his generation, depicting atmosphere and light very effectively. His work is exhibited in the Tate Britain and the National Gallery in London.

18: Richard Parkes Bonington

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 31 Bestwood the village is an entrance were framework knitters. A to Bestwood Country Park, number of interesting old Until the late 19th century where the Winding House buildings such as the manor Bestwood was an enclosed and Dynamo House are house and stockingers’ deer park, with few located [NG6 8TQ]. Both cottages have survived from residents. The estate had survive as remnants of the that period. been given to Nell Gwyn colliery and are frequently by the King, and Bestwood opened for visitors. In the The Earl of Carnarvon’s Lodge was passed down last forty years Bestwood family became prominent through the family of Village has expanded and landowners in the area. their son, the Duke of St is now a commuter suburb, The 5th Earl discovered the Albans. Huge changes linked to Nottingham by tomb of King Tutankhamen occurred after 1870, when bus and tram services. The and in his honour there a colliery was established. oldest part of the village is a Carnarvon Drive in Bestwood Colliery Village is a conservation area, the village, as well as a is the planned industrial preserving its historical Carnarvon reading room, community built in the 1870s features. used by the Local History by the Lancaster family for Society and housing the their workers. The streets are Burton Joyce Parish Church office. After set at right angles, with short the railway was constructed brick terraces; each house The village of Burton Joyce is in 1846, the population was built with a tiled porch, situated on the banks of the increased as businessmen a slate roof, and decorated river Trent, approximately from Nottingham built large with the colliery company’s five miles from Nottingham. houses in the village. Many crest. In the 1880s the During the Middle Ages of the villagers used the train colliery company provided several ways of spelling to travel to work in factories a church and a school. In Burton were used, such as and warehouses in the city. 1894, the civil parish of Byrton and Birten. For some In the 1960s large numbers Bestwood was created 200 years after the Norman of new houses were built on within Basford Rural District. Conquest, the lords of the green spaces in and around Half of the land in the parish manor were members of the the village, followed by a was transferred to the city Jorz family, from which the range of shops and services. of Nottingham in 1933, to village acquired the second Today Burton Joyce is a allow the Bestwood Park part of its name. thriving commuter village, housing estate to be built, well served by buses and a the borough boundary now The village grew slowly, railway station. A heritage following the ridgeline above with outlying farms being trail and riverside walks Top Valley. built after the enclosure attract visitors to the village of the open fields in 1769. and surrounding area. The mine at Bestwood Traditionally, a large was enlarged in the 1920s proportion of the male The well-known cricketer, and 1930s and the original population worked on the Alfred Shaw was born village was extended with land while others worked in Burton Joyce in 1842, additional mineworkers’ as framework knitters. The becoming an apprentice houses. Although the knitters’ wives worked framework knitter before ironworks closed in 1928 as seamers, shaping the embarking on his cricketing and mining ceased in 1969, stockings. These were career. Shaw had the the former offices of the then taken to Lambley for distinction of bowling the Bestwood Iron and Coal ‘finishing’ and from there first ball at Melbourne in Company, with its prominent on to Nottingham. By the first ever Test match clock tower, have survived. 1841, a quarter of the 450 in Australia, in 1877. At the end of Park Road in residents of Burton Joyce

32 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 19: Calverton from the south

Calverton basis of an important cottage as well as to agriculture. industry for several hundred A hosiery factory was The village of Calverton, years afterwards. Lee’s built in the 1890s. In 1952 seven miles north-east of invention is still at the core Calverton Colliery opened, Nottingham, is situated on of the computer-controlled the first new mine under the one of the small tributaries machinery used in the nationalisation scheme. of the Dover Beck. There worldwide hosiery industry is evidence of settlement today. In 1950 Basford Rural District in the area going back Council published a plan for several thousand years, A famous Calvertonian, Sir the development of a New including during the Iron John Sherbrooke, a hero of Town at Calverton, with Age. Evidence of Roman the Napoleonic Peninsular development of industrial occupation includes the site Wars and later Governor- estates alongside housing of a military camp and two General of Canada, is buried for miners and the factory hoards of coins found in the in the family tomb at nearby workers attracted to the area. In 1086, mention was Oxton. A somewhat unusual new town. Calverton began made in the Domesday Book character was John Roe. to assume its present of a church in Calverton, Roe founded a religious identity, with new housing while in medieval times sect known as ‘Roeites’ and a marked growth in Calverton was the location or Reformed Quakers in population. A shopping for one of the Forest Courts Calverton in the 18th century precinct opened at St administering the Royal and members of the sect Wilfred’s Square in 1963. Forest of Sherwood. were baptised in the pond in Although the colliery closed his garden. John Roe is also 20: Calverton, former in 1994, population numbers textile workshops remembered for developing continue to rise as Calverton a fine species of plum tree, acquires the characteristics grown locally to this day. 21: Modern infill housing in Calverton There are a number of buildings surviving from the early 19th century. (20) Most of them are former farm buildings. A former hosiery factory, (recently used as a printing works) dating from about 1830 Over 400 years ago, during still stands on Main Street. the Elizabethan era, William Until the 20th century the Lee of Calverton invented existence of Calverton the framework knitting continued to be linked to the machine, which became the domestic knitting industry

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 33 of a large commuter village. (21) District Council began to build Calverton Folk Museum new housing close to the centre showcases the history and of Carlton, along Westdale Lane heritage of the community and in Carlton Valley. (23) In [NG14 6FG]. It is open on 1935 the parishes of Colwick Sundays in summer [For and Gedling were absorbed more information, see www. into Carlton Urban District. In nottsheritage.co.uk/directory_ the late 1930s the Bakers Field listing/calverton-folk-museum ]. area of Carlton (newly absorbed from Colwick parish) was Carlton 22: Edwardian cottages on Carlton Hill developed as an extension of new estates of Nottingham City For many years Carlton was Council housing stretching from a township of a few houses The Carnegie library and fire Sneinton. In the post-war period within the manor and parish of station were both opened in new estates were laid out in Gedling, home to farmers and 1902. By 1914 the tram route Gedling, stretching up the valley framework knitters. From the from the centre of Nottingham to Mapperley Plains. 1840s, owing to its position on to Carlton was completed, the edge of Nottingham and ensuring Carlton’s role as a lying close to the railways, the dormitory settlement where population of Carlton steadily people lived, and from which increased to become an urban they travelled to work. (22) settlement in its own right, and Porchester Gardens in Carlton developed housing, churches, were slowly developed for schools, workplaces and housing. facilities. Carlton Urban District Council was created in 1894, (Map 9 shows the development recognising the status of the of the Carlton built-up area.) 23: Housing of mixed ages in new township. After 1930 Carlton Urban Porchester valley, Carlton

Map 9 - Carlton Development

25: 1930s Art-deco shopping parade, Daybrook

34 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Colwick storage facilities, engineering works and concrete Colwick was listed as a manufacturing. Later community in the Domesday additions included a soap survey. For centuries, it was a factory, a sugar beet factory farming hamlet on the banks and pet food production. of the river Trent, where the Byron and Manvers families The parish of Colwick was were the major landowners. included as a detached part Until World War 1 Colwick of Basford Rural District in was still a small farming 1894. In 1933 the parish was community clustered around divided; the western half a manor house. was transferred to the city In 1917, construction of a of Nottingham and, in 1935, new light industrial estate the remaining portion of the was begun on the flood parish merged into Carlton 24: Daybrook meadows and the former Urban District. Colwick gravel pits between Colwick Village is the name now replace horses, The Old and Netherfield. At the time, given to the settlement lying Spot public house (recently a planned estate of industrial between the railway and the renamed The Cooper’s Brook) units was a new initiative of river Trent. Since the mid- is a surviving example of a the government. 1980s new housing has been coaching inn. The Davison located on land formerly and Hawksley worsted The site became the location occupied by the industrial mill first brought industry of a petroleum depot, estate. to the area, the growth of established to distribute Morley’s textile factory, fuel for motor vehicles and Daybrook Home Brewery and Daybrook served by barges along laundry bringing further Daybrook was a hamlet on the river Trent. The estate industrialisation. Daybrook the Nottingham to Mansfield was serviced by a light subsequently became an road, which became a toll railway connected to the industrial and residential road in 1787. It had places Great Northern Railway suburb within Arnold Urban where travellers could stay marshalling yard, and by District. (25) 1924 was occupied by oil and the coaches could

25: 1930s Art-deco shopping parade, Daybrook

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 35 Gedling Village 26: Modern housing surrounds the ancient church in Gedling Although Gedling Village has become part of the suburban area radiating out from Nottingham city, it still has the nucleus of its original village setting. The location of an Anglo-Saxon settlement gave a safe area just above the Trent valley banks, offering a fertile area for farming as well as a supply of fresh water from numerous springs. At the time of the Domesday Book (1086), this settlement included Stoke Bardolph, Carlton and Colwick, with at that time households of fifteen villagers, twenty-one still be seen in the present The civil parish of Gedling smallholders, six slaves and a street plan. The industrial was created in 1894, but priest and four plough-hands, revolution started to have in 1935 was merged into two lord’s plough teams and an impact and in the 18th Carlton Urban District. Map eight men’s plough teams. century there were workers 9 shows the development Other entries describe land in silk and cotton hosiery, of the built-up area. The use, and include thirty acres framework knitters, lace old village of Gedling is of meadows, three furlongs makers and a large number clustered around All Hallows of woodland, two mills, a of basket makers. Some Church, dating back to fishery and a church. frame workshops still existed the mid-13th century, (26) in the village at the end of the Drinking Fountain of Most of the early farm the 19th century. 1874, (27) a War Memorial, buildings fell into decay, the WW1 Memorial Hall replaced in the 18th century Further development was and the Gedling Miners’ by farmhouses set at right triggered by the building of Memorial Lamp. (28) There is angles to the main roads, the Great Northern Railway a Heritage Walk around the such as Manor Farm, Church line in 1874 and by the traffic parish, based on the church. Farm and Duncroft Farm. that developed from the [This can be viewed at www. Early field systems can enormous increase in the allhallowsgedling.co.uk ] Colwick railway sidings. Farm workers’ cottages became railway workers’ homes and more cottages were built. Gedling Colliery opened in 1902, with a workforce of 1,400 men and boys and a capacity to handle 3,000 tons of coal per day. This resulted in the Phoenix Farm housing development. The Hardstaff Almshouses opened in 1936, designed by local architect T. Cecil Howitt, for the use of widows and orphans of former miners. 28: Gedling miners’memorial 27: Gedling drinking foutain

36 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Lambley The village of Lambley, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, is situated in the south-east of the borough, close to Cocker Beck, a tributary of the river Trent. The villagers were predominantly engaged in agriculture until the development of framework knitting in the 18th century. Today agriculture, horticulture and market gardening are the prime occupations. 29: Landscape at Lambley

The church in Lambley, post-war period additional meadows. Lambley is originating in the 12th housing has been built. surrounded by countryside century, was described A bus service links the with nature trails and also by Pevsner as “one of the village to Nottingham. (29) has historical buildings few entirely Perpendicular of interest [A heritage village churches in trail around Lambley can Nottinghamshire”. (30) A be downloaded at www. legacy left by Lord Ralph lambleyheritage.co.uk ]. Cromwell financed the Gedling Country Park is rebuilding of the church, within walking distance of rededicated in 1480 as the the village, using footpaths church of the Holy and which in part run alongside Undivided Trinity. Ralph Top Dumble. Cromwell (1393 - 1456) was born in Lambley and Linby became a great statesman The village of Linby is of the period, having fought nine miles north-west of with King Henry V at Nottingham. The name is Agincourt and becoming said to originate from the two Lord Treasurer to Henry streams alongside the main VI. Cromwell’s badge of street, known as ‘the Docks’, office, a bulging purse, which run into the river can be seen on the stone 30: Lambley church, Leen. A local tale recounts perpendicular style window. panels on both sides of the that the humble pancake window in the east wall. was invented by the women The influence of framework of Linby to celebrate the Lambley is also known for knitting can still be seen defeat of Danish invaders. its dumbles, a local term for in some of the cottages The church, dedicated to small, steep-sided valleys. on Main Street and Green St. Michael, originates from These are thought to have Lane, where long windows the 13th century. Stone been created when the allowed as much light as cottages border a long green meltwater streams from possible onto the knitting with two stone crosses. glaciers crossed the area ten machines. An account from The cross at the top of the thousand years ago, carving 1844 reports that there were village, with a seven-sided out twisting gullies. Today 381 stocking frames in the base, is of medieval origin these areas are valuable village. In the 1920s there and is thought to be unique for wildlife and visitors can was some development of in Britain. It was damaged walk along the dumbles smallholdings, and in the by the Puritans in 1650 and and through picturesque

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 37 Area. (31, 32, 33) The main source of employment since the colliery closed in 1988 is agriculture. Linby once had two railway stations, the Midland and the Great Northern, both of which were closed by the 1960s. The Great Northern Goods Weigh Office has been converted to form Linby Heritage Centre while the Great Northern trackbed forms a multi-user route to Newstead Abbey.

31: Linby, church at night 32: Linby, top cross not renovated until 1869. framework knitting industry The lower cross dates from in the village, a target in 1660 and is thought to 1812 for Luddite frame- celebrate the restoration of wreckers. There is still a the monarchy. The village row of stone-built knitters’ stream runs underneath cottages near the village this cross. Until 1853 there pub, and the village has been was a thriving if turbulent designated as a Conservation 33: Linby, heritage centre

Netherfield The construction of engine and families. Unfortunately, sheds and sidings in 1875 none of these developments Netherfield was not officially followed the construction has survived. a township until 1885, when of the Derbyshire Extension it became a separate parish. Line, and required the By 1881 the population of Before that the land was expansion of housing to Netherfield had risen to 735; common pasture known as accommodate railway in 1891 it was 2,648 and by the Nether Field, enclosed workers. The GNR built a 1901 had nearly doubled, to in 1792 and lying in the row of twelve houses, called 4,646. In 1885 St. George’s parish of Carlton. A central Traffic Terrace in 1874, and church and vicarage were trackway divided these by 1881 had built a second built and by 1900 several non- enclosed fields, a route still row, called Locomotive conformist chapels were also followed by the main street Terrace. Eventually, another in existence. (35) A number of Netherfield, Victoria terrace of thirty-nine houses of large factories were Road, with many other was built by the London and built, taking advantage of streets following the lines North Western Railway to cheap land and of a railway of old field edges. Building accommodate their workers line that brought workers in Netherfield (34) began in about 1840; however, as late as 1871 the population was still only sixty-seven, with a few additional houses and one or two farms having been built.

The Grantham to Nottingham railway line was built in 1850, and was operated by the Great Northern Railway 34: Netherfield, Victoria Road Company (GNR) after 1855.

38 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk from Nottingham. A ready three schools closed, several villagers used the chapel at supply of water from the of the non-conformist chapels nearby Newstead Abbey. Sherwood sandstone beds, shut, and by the early 21st The mine owners eventually only a short distance below century Netherfield was made provision within the ground, was used to supply becoming a dormitory colliery premises and by the factory boilers. The town, with few shops. The 1889 services alternated factories included Britannia site of the old marshalling between the colliery and cotton mill (Bourne’s mill), yard became Victoria the abbey. Later there were Lawrence’s furniture factory, Retail Park, with an array also Wesleyan and Primitive Shaws’ printing works and of supermarkets, shopping Methodist chapels. St. Mary’s several smaller businesses. outlets, eateries, and a large church was built in 1928, car auction site. with two acres (0.8ha) set 35: Netherfield, Methodist aside for the graveyard. chapel The colliery at Newstead of 1886 closed in 1987 and a country park is now being created on the former site of the mine and spoil tips. Mining has been replaced by light industry and commerce, and with the advantages By 1910 Netherfield had for commuters of good become a township. Large road access and a station 36: Netherfield, New community centre numbers of women worked on the Robin Hood railway in the factories, notably in line, Newstead is a thriving Bourne’s mill, where they Newstead community. were known as Bourne’s Newstead village is situated Angels. Three schools in the north of the borough, Papplewick had opened, and Victoria nine miles north-east of The village of Papplewick Road became a modern Nottingham, and close to the lies seven miles north shopping street, shoppers A611 Hucknall to Mansfield of Nottingham, with an coming by train even from road. The original village estimated population Nottingham to purchase consisted of rows of terraced within the parish of around goods from shops such as brick houses built by seven hundred. Since Bessy Harlock’s Ceylon Newstead Colliery Company 1812, a pub known as the Tea Store. A large area of to house workers at the mine, Griffin’s Head has stood land was opened up for which was sunk in 1873 at the crossroads in the allotments, some of which and 1874. Commentators at centre of the village. Main still exist. A large number the time remarked that the Street retains two terraces of Netherfield children and housing and its layout were of 18th century cottages their parents turned out in functional and basic. With and many of its old stone- 1928 when King George V the success of the mine and built agricultural buildings, visited the area, which by the consequent demand most now converted into then had become a place of for greater manpower, the housing. Papplewick employment for many local mine owners built additional Hall was built in 1785 by workers. housing from 1923 to 1925. Frederick Montagu, an MP These houses were of an and government minister. The decline in railway traffic improved design, with The Palladian-style mansion, resulted in the closure of the gardens and a more generous visible from the road to the marshalling yard in 1970 and layout. Most of the new north of Papplewick village, by 1985 all the large factories miners came from outside is still surrounded by the in Netherfield had closed. Nottinghamshire. remnants of the original Colwick Light Railway also parkland. (38) Although it is closed at this time, and Initially there was no place a privately owned residence modern housing was built on of worship in Newstead and the gardens [NG15 8FE] their former sites. Two of the

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 39 fenced tomb is close to the private dwelling. Meanwhile, south door. However, the the mill water-system church tower dates back to became overgrown and now the 14th century and there forms the Moor Pond Woods is a very old yew tree in the churchyard.

In the 1920s the Hall and estate were bought by the Co-operative movement, which retained the farms, although land was sold off for housing and for smallholdings. Suburban development took place along Moor Road, Mansfield Road, Forest Lane and Linby Lane. The historic core of the village centre, consisting of several listed buildings, and hall grounds has been designated a Conservation Area. [For more information see www.papplewick.org ]

Along the Papplewick to Linby road there is a 37: The river Leen in building known as Castle Moor Pond Woods Mill. Standing in the parish of Linby, the building owes form part of a registered its name to the castle-like 39: Papplewick Pumping station parkland and are regularly decoration on the front. opened for charity. The A purpose-built, water- nature reserve. (37) church, dedicated to St. powered cotton mill (built A steam-driven pumping James and accessed via in 1782), after closure in station was built in the Church Lane, was rebuilt in 1828 was converted to grind 1880s to supply water to 1795 by Montagu, whose corn. After 1950 it became a Nottingham. Although remote from the village, 38: Papplewick Hall it is nevertheless called Papplewick Pumping Station (39) as it lies within the parish of Papplewick. Both the ornate buildings and the wooded grounds are listed by English Heritage (see, below, the section on water supply). The pumping station, managed in working order by a charitable trust, is a well maintained piece of Victorian heritage with frequent ‘steaming days’. [for more information see http://www. papplewickpumpingstation. org.uk ]

40 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Porchester are small, standing within Hill, now Robin Hood the original plot. (41) Terrace, in about 1833. Porchester is a residential suburb lying in the valley The names of the principal Most housing development between Mapperley Top streets, for example occurred after World War 1. and Carlton. In 1887, the Bennett Road, Robinson Initially, in the 1920s and Porchester Freehold Garden Road, Whittingham Road 1930s, houses were built in Estate was established by a and Haywood Road, the Abbey Gates and Larch consortium of businessmen, commemorate the original Farm areas, on Nottingham including Charles Bennett trustees. Road, Main Road, Sheepwalk (see ‘brickmaking’ below) Lane, Vernon Avenue and and Sir John Robinson (see Ravenshead Longdale Lane. Large-scale building commenced after ‘brewing’ below). The land Ravenshead developed in 1952, with the greatest acquired was divided into the 20th century from several increase in housing in the 400 plots to be used as distinct suburban residential 1960s and 1970s, when allotment gardens. areas, including Fishpool, estates on the north side 40: 1920s villa development Larch Farm, Abbey Gates of Longdale Lane were at Mapperley Top and Kighill, all of which developed. With the rising used to form parts of the population, the original parish of Blidworth and the village store and post Liberty of Newstead. The office of Fishpool became names Ravenshead and inadequate and Milton Court Kighill for parts of the area Precinct was built. (42) can be traced back to at least the 12th century. Much 42: Shopping precinct of this part of the borough at Ravenshead was originally covered The road junction at by tracts of sandy heath, Mapperley Top became the consisting of gorse and tram terminus early in 1902, heather, interspersed with prompting housebuilding. (40) deciduous mixed woodland Around World War 1 some of oak, beech, silver birch and of the plots were used for sweet chestnut. With land building, and by 1925 four enclosure and improvements in agriculture in the late 18th hundred houses had been In 1968 Princess Alice, and early 19th centuries, built. The result is an area Countess of Athlone, laid new farms were built and where hedgerows and trees the foundation stone for the the hamlet of Fishpool was have survived, and houses village hall. The population established, with sixteen are a mixture of different soon outgrew this social cottages erected on Fishpool styles and ages. Most houses amenity and Cornwater Barn on Longdale Lane then became the site of a leisure centre. Ravenshead now has health and social services and primary schools. In 1966, when the area became known officially as Ravenshead, there were approximately 3,000 inhabitants. A new ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1971 and a Civil Parish in 1987; by 2011 the population had increased to 5,629. 41: Porchester Gardens

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 41 and smaller finds of pottery, There are no shops nor a knives and coins from the post office in Stoke Bardolph. 12th to the 15th centuries. The Ferry Boat Inn has been The Manor House appears to a popular public house for have been abandoned in the at least 200 years, although early 15th century. considerably altered during that time. The ferry to In the late 19th century Shelford, which crossed land in the parish was the river Trent at this mainly owned by the Earl point, dated back for about of Carnarvon and the Earl 700 years until it ceased Manvers and most of the operating some forty years inhabitants were tenant ago. The locks and weir farmers. When it was were built in 1923 and the decided that Stoke Bardolph attractions of the lock, the would be the site of the river wildlife and the Ferry sewage works and farm, Boat pub make the village Nottingham Corporation first a popular place for visitors, leased, then bought all the especially in the summer. land in the village as well as at Bulcote to form the Stoke Woodborough Bardolph Estate. In addition Woodborough is an ancient to the sewage treatment settlement, known in early works, the Corporation times as Udesburg, or Udes farmed cattle and extensive Fort. In nearby Fox Wood arable crops, employing a there is evidence of an Iron large workforce. Although Age earthwork and hill fort, the farm and sewage works as well as of later Roman still exist, they have been occupation. modernised and are now owned by Severn Trent For centuries the village Water. The village no longer was notable for farming consists of estate workers in and framework knitting. tied cottages but of privately The importance of knitting 43: Ravenshead, St Peter’s church owned houses, occupied declined during the 19th mainly by commuters. century as textile factories Stoke Bardolph developed, although there The church, dedicated to The earliest known recording were still 191 knitting frames St Luke, dates from 1844; of the village name, in 1086, recorded here in 1844. Many built of plain brick, it was is Stoches, later written of the old knitters’ cottages altered and extended in as ‘Stokes’. Rosa Alselin or are still recognisable from 1910. In 1883 Nottingham Hanselin, who had inherited the typically large windows. Corporation contributed the lands her grandfather As it declined, employment towards the cost of building Ralph had been given after in the cottage knitting a school opposite the church the Norman Conquest, industry was replaced by to accommodate workers’ married Thomas Bardolf market gardening, to provide children. The school played in the 12th century. It is fruit and vegetables for an important part in village believed that the couple had the growing population life until in 1983 it was closed the Bardolph Manor House of Nottingham and the and sold for residential built, in the field behind what surrounding settlements. use. The Corporation also is now Stanhope Crescent. The village church in converted one of the farm Excavation in the 1950s Woodborough, dedicated to buildings to provide a village and 1960s revealed the St. Swithun, has a Norman hall, later extended by Severn foundations of a substantial north porch and font; (46) Trent as its social club. hall with a large open hearth, the tower was built in the

42 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Monday, when ploughboys traditionally used to enact a Mummers’ play.

Numerous heritage agricultural buildings have survived. (44, 45) Hall Farmhouse was built from brick in 1710. The Manor stables are a Grade II-listed structure on Main Street, built in 1878 to house racehorses. The stables fell into disuse in 1986 and the site has since been converted for housing, (47, 48) in 1832 there were four ale houses in Woodborough. Although the village has grown 44: Woodborough, 18th century Hall Farm considerably, there are now just two pubs. The Four 1200s, with additions made the first Sunday after July Bells was rebuilt by Home in the 1400s. In the 1300s 2nd. The festival takes the Brewery in the Arts and the chancel was funded by form of a special service, Crafts style in 1927. Farming Sir Richard de Strelley, who followed by sports and teas and market gardening are represented Nottinghamshire for the children as well as still prominent occupations, in Parliament from 1331 to by a small fair and by steam although most residents now 1336. A well-known villager, engines. Another celebration are commuters. born in 1759 and buried in takes place on Plough the churchyard in 1833, was the Reverend George Brown, son of a local framework knitter, who became an itinerant preacher and was known as the ‘Walking Concordance’ because of his deep knowledge of the Bible. The old vicarage on Lingwood Lane has a bell tower; by tradition, the bell is rung at 11am on Shrove Tuesday to tell the housewives of the village to prepare the pancake batter. The Woodborough Festival, originating from the Frumenty Feast, is held on

45: Woodborough, traditional brick built cottages 46: Woodborough, St Swinthun’s church

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 43 48: Woodborough new homes blend 47: Woodborough Manor Stables with old, Manor stable development.

Woodthorpe Woodthorpe is a residential suburb that evolved on the boundary of Nottingham. It lies on the sloping ground between Arnold and Sherwood, in the low-lying area known as Arno Vale. (50)

50: Woodthorpe, inter-war suburban 49: Woodborough, entering the village

44 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 5. Churches & Religion

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk5. | 45 Newstead Priory was developed in the 12th and 13th centuries by Augustinian priors. It was closed during the Reformation in 1539, with the land and buildings sold to Sir John Byron of Colwick Hall the following year. He converted the priory into a grand residence, which was passed down through his family and became known as Newstead Abbey. (51)

51: Boatswains monument, Newstead Abbey 52: Lord Byron

46 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Lord George Gordon Byron, (1788-1824), the famous romantic poet and a champion of liberty throughout Europe, lived from the age of 10 at his ancestral home of Newstead Abbey, sold to the Byron family by Henry VIII. Byron was the father of Ada Lovelace, the world-famous mathematician. They are buried together in the family vault at St Mary’s Church, Hucknall.

52: Lord Byron

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 47 The Newstead Abbey estate, sold by the poet Lord Byron to the Wildman family, was occupied as a house until the 1930s, since when it has been owned by Nottingham City Council. The West Front of Newstead Abbey is the most extensive part remaining of the religious buildings. (51) The chapel is still used for services. In the years after the Reformation in the 16th century, the only places of 53: Carlton, Methodist Free Church worship were the parish churches of the Church brick chapel for the United The first Catholic church in of England. In the 18th Methodist Free Church Carlton was built in 1884 century, however, several was built on Carlton Hill in and then replaced with a non-conformist groups 1888, and is still used as a new church in 1931. Other outside the ‘established’ Christian meeting place. (53) Catholic churches followed, church were founded. In in Woodthorpe in 1964 and what is now the Gedling The increase in the Calverton in 1993. Other borough area, the strongest population after 1820 led former churches in the of these were the Methodist to new Anglican churches borough can still be seen, Societies, although several being built. Examples of although now converted to Baptist chapels were also small parish churches are alternative uses. built. Non-conformist found in Netherfield and religions appealed to Bestwood, each built in working people because they 1887, while in Carlton and appeared more democratic. Daybrook larger churches Initially, congregations were constructed, the former met in private houses but in 1885 and the latter in eventually chapels were 1895. The process of building built in most villages, new churches continued though few have survived in the 20th century, with in their original condition. additional parish churches A survey in 1829 listed five opening in Carlton in non-conformist chapels in 1956 and Ravenshead in Arnold, one in Burton Joyce, 1972. Many of the non- four in Calverton, two in conformist chapels were replaced early in the 20th 54: Carlton, Main Street Carlton, one in Lambley, Methodist chapel one in Papplewick, one in century. The most striking Stoke Bardolph and one in survivors include Main Woodborough. The chapels Street Methodist chapel on in several of the villages Carlton Hill, (54) opened in were rebuilt in the 19th 1903 on the site of the 1854 55: Good Shepherd church, Woodthorpe century. Woodborough and chapel, Cross Street Baptist Calverton both have Baptist chapel in Arnold in 1909, chapels dating from 1832; the and Daybrook Baptist chapel Methodist chapel in Lambley in 1912, all three designed dates from 1849, though it by W.H. Higginbottom, a is now occupied as a house, local architect. Front Street and Woodborough chapel Methodist chapel in Arnold was rebuilt in 1887. A simple was built in 1968.

48 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Historic churches Linby, St Michael: most of the fabric of the church was in the borough: constructed between the Arnold, St Mary: a 14th 12th and 15th centuries. century building remodelled by George Gilbert Scott in Papplewick, St James: the mid-19th century. probably originated in the 12th century, the tower Burton Joyce, St Helen: dating from the 14th century; dating from the 13th century; the church was extensively extensively rebuilt in the late re-modelled by Frederick 19th century due to severe Montagu in the 1790s. 56: Burton Joyce, former disrepair. Congregational chapel Calverton, St Wilfred: Woodborough, St Swithun: Calverton, former Baptist a 13th century church built in the 14th century on chapel: built in 1832, the old containing stonework the site of a smaller 11th chapel is now used as the surviving from the 12th century Norman building. Baptist church hall. century, extensively rebuilt in the 18th and `19th centuries. Other notable Calverton, St Anthony: a modern Catholic church, Gedling, All Hallows: churches: built in the 13th century, in opened in 1993, with a Early English and Decorated Arnold, Methodist chapel: triangular floor plan. styles. The tower was added a modern building, opened in Carlton, Sacred Heart in the 14th century, with 1968 on Front Street, with an church: a small church the second highest spire in unusual circular floor plan. opened in 1884 after Carlton Nottinghamshire. Bestwood, Emmanuel was made a Catholic parish Lambley, Holy Trinity: church: a small stone church in 1877. In 1931, a new dates from the 12th century. close to Bestwood Lodge, church was consecrated; The present structure was built in 1869 for the Duke of this is a large brick structure rebuilt in the 15th century St Albans. The church is now in Romanesque style, with with a bequest from Lord surrounded by new houses. overhanging cornices on the Ralph Cromwell, a statesman front elevation. (57, 59) for Plantagenet kings. This Bestwood Village, St is the most complete church Mark: a small brick church in the Perpendicular style consecrated in 1887, to serve in Nottinghamshire, with its the industrial community medieval glass surviving. (58) settled around the mine and ironworks.

Burton Joyce, Methodist chapel: the existing building replaced an old chapel in 57: Carlton, Sacred Heart church 1907. Carlton, St John: built Burton Joyce, in 1956, one of the large Congregational (United modern Anglican churches Reform) chapel: the chapel in the borough. was built in 1896, was closed in 2016 and has been Carlton, St Paul: the parish converted into a house. (56) church, built in the style of a Roman Basilica, was Calverton, Baptist church: consecrated in 1885, funded a brick-built chapel, opened entirely by the 4th Earl of in 1907, formerly used as the Carnarvon, who also gave Primitive Methodist chapel. the land on which it stands. 58: Lambley parish church

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 49 Daybrook, St Paul: Ravenshead, St Peter: 1970s. The last service was completed in 1895 with the completed in 1972, with an held in 2017 and in 2019 the expansion of the urban area unusual circular floor plan building is vacant. in the 19th century, replacing and a sweeping curved roof. a small missionary chapel; Woodborough, Baptist Woodthorpe, Good the imposing spire was chapel: a small, brick-built Shepherd church: opened added in 1897. chapel dating from 1831. in 1964. The architect was Gerard Goalen, with stained Netherfield, St George: Woodborough, Wesleyan glass by Patrick Reyntiens. a small brick-built church Methodist chapel: built on The modern design won opened in 1887 to serve Roe Lane in Woodborough an award from the Royal the needs of the growing in 1887 to replace an earlier Institute of British Architects community of railway smaller chapel, it was in 1966. Unusually for a workers. extensively rebuilt following modern building, the church subsidence damage in the is Grade-II listed.

59: Carlton, interior of Sacred Heart church

50 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 6 . Transport

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk6 . | 51 In the Middle Ages the river Trent was used for transport, with flat-bottomed cargo boats hauled through the shallow water by teams of up to twelve men, who would have slept rough at night on the river banks. The boats would have had to be shallow to negotiate the many shoals and rapids. Owing to the limitations of these boats, in 1782 merchants in Nottingham commissioned a renowned canal engineer, William Jessop, to make improvements allowing larger boats to be used. Jessop surveyed the river bed from Nottingham to Gainsborough to identify the problems, then set out to rectify them by digging channels and narrowing the stream. He also created a towpath to allow the use of horses for pulling the boats.

By 1787 the Trent Ketch Norman times, the road from 1929 other alternatives were had been developed, with Nottingham to Mansfield tried. Motorbuses replaced a sail in addition to being was recognised as one of the tram service to Arnold horse-drawn and could the King’s Highways; a road in 1930, and along the route carry up to 100 tons, ten of national significance. By to Mapperley in 1936. Trams times more than any earlier the 18th century, the road to Carlton were replaced by boat. Inns such as the Ferry was in a poor a state and electric trolleybuses in 1932, Boat at Stoke and the Lord its care and maintenance but these gave way to motor Nelson (now The Nelson) were privatised. It was taken buses in 1962. The borough at Burton Joyce were built over by a Turnpike trust in of Gedling is still well served to accommodate stabling, 1787, travellers paying for by buses radiating from the as well as the needs of the using it when they passed city centre, though journeys boatmen. the tollgates installed at from north to south of the Daybrook and Redhill. This is borough are less direct. In the 20th century, the now the A60; all other roads river Trent was deepened in the borough were classed In the 20th century several by means of dredging. Stoke as local roads. Responsibility of the roads were becoming Lock was rebuilt in 1924 for the turnpike was congested and sections have to accommodate much transferred to a Local Board been rebuilt or replaced. larger vessels, including in 1877 and the tollbooths Main Street in Burton Joyce petrol barges coming to the were removed. Maintenance was bypassed by a new sizeable new storage depot of all roads passed to the road in the 1930s. After at Colwick. These barges County Council in 1888. the railway workshoops became obsolete in the and sidings at Colwick and 1970s, when an oil pipeline Road transport was Netherfield closed in 1970. was laid from the Humber. improved in the 20th century. road was constructed to Today nearly all the river The first development was bypass Carlton Hill and traffic is leisure craft. the linking of the borough remove through traffic from to Nottingham by electric Netherfield, Carlton and Roads trams. From the city centre, Gedling. This is known as passengers could catch a the Colwick Loop Road The roads of the district tram to Mapperley Top from and was planned to allow evolved to serve local people 1902 (extended to Westdale derelict land to be opened up travelling between the Lane from 1926), to Arnold for redevelopment. places where they lived, via Daybrook from 1913, worked and traded. Until or to Carlton Square from the late 19th century, roads 1914. The tram network were maintained by the was expensive to run and people of the parish through maintain, however, and in which the road passed. From the financial crisis following

52 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Map 10 - Rail & Industry

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 53 Railways in 1993 and is now known as these developments led GNR the Robin Hood Line, linking to construct a locomotive The earliest railways were Nottingham to Worksop via maintenance depot and built following the low Newstead. marshalling yards at Colwick ground along the river in 1875. The sidings, sheds, In 1855, the Great Northern valleys. (Map 10 shows and workshops on the site Railway (GNR) adopted a the pattern of railways were continually expanded branch line along the Trent constructed in the borough.) during the following fifty valley, from Grantham to In 1846 the Midland Railway years. LNWR built its own Nottingham. The site of the (MR) opened a line along shed and housing after 1881. GNR station at Netherfield is the Trent valley, between Colwick yards and engine still used, although without Nottingham and Lincoln. sheds closed in 1970 and the any of the original buildings. The stations at Carlton and site has since been cleared GNR constructed a line Burton Joyce are still in for redevelopment. The westward from Colwick, use, although the original Derbyshire Extension line through the hilly countryside buildings have gone. MR fell into disuse after 1960, north of Nottingham towards built its Leen Valley line due to the poor state of the Derby. This line, known as between Nottingham and Mapperley tunnel; most of the Derbyshire Extension, Mansfield in 1849. The the route has since been opened in 1875. Heading station at Linby closed in redeveloped. The site of westwards, there were 1964 and was demolished Daybrook station is now a stations at Gedling and soon afterwards. The retail park. A section of the Daybrook. In 1878 GNR station site at Newstead is trackbed bordering Arnot reached an agreement still in use, but the original Hill Park has been preserved with the London and North buildings have gone. The as a green walkway. (61) Western Railway (LNWR) Leen Valley line closed to However, Gedling station allowing LNWR to share passengers in 1964 but was buildings and the short Colwick yards and access to retained for coal traffic. After length of trackbed which Nottingham station. the mines closed, this route served Gedling colliery have The substantial volume of was reopened for passengers all survived. coal traffic generated by

60: Railway yards at Colwick

54 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 61: Arnold, railway trail

62: Woodthorpe tunnel In 1882 GNR opened an additional branch line to link Daybrook station, house on Porchester Road through the Leen valley, in via Thorneywood station, and the preserved remains an attempt to capture where bricks were the main of the short tunnel under some of the coal traffic. The goods to be dispatched, Woodthorpe Drive, which station building constructed to the GNR terminus on can be seen in Woodthorpe in Bestwood Village has London Road in Nottingham. Grange Park. (62) survived, as a private Although this was a shorter house. In Linby the station route from Daybrook The final railway building has gone, but the to Nottingham, it was construction project in the goods weigh-house is used expensive to maintain with borough was the goods as Linby Heritage Centre, deep cuttings and tunnels. line linking Bestwood Park open to visitors in summer. After the early years of the junction (Moorbridge) in the The trackbed northwards to 20th century it competed Leen valley to the colliery at Newstead forms the Linby for passengers with electric Calverton. This line opened Trail for walkers, cyclists tram services. Closed to in 1952 when the first coal and horse riders heading to passengers in 1916, it was was brought to the surface, Newstead Abbey. (63) abandoned altogether in and the track was lifted in 1951. The railway has since 2016. The trackbed has been In 1889, the Nottingham been totally demolished reserved as a possible route Suburban Railway was built except for the former station for a cycleway.

63: Linby trail

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 55 64a: Colwick locomotive shed

64b: The GNR bridge over the Trent dating from 1850

56 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 7. Industry

> www.gedlingheritage.co.uk7. | 57 In Nottinghamshire the oldest mining activity took place further west than Gedling, starting in the 12th century in the Bramcote, Strelley and Wollaton areas. This was carried out where the coal seams emerged at the surface and the coal could be extracted from shallow pits. In the 19th century the discovery and working of deeply buried coal transformed employment and living standards in the borough. With the development of mining there was a need for railways to transport the coal.

65: Bestwood Colliery Coal Mining in near Nottingham was sold afterwards, at Bestwood locally and also transported in 1871, Linby in 1871 and the Borough down the river Trent to Newstead in1873. In the Although coal gave out more Newark, Gainsborough and 20th century deep mines heat than charcoal or wood, elsewhere. were constructed at Gedling it was not immediately Coal mining near Gedling in 1901 and at Calverton in popular, owing to the fumes first took place in 1630, 1952. given off. Nottingham gained when the Common Council a reputation for air pollution, of Nottingham sank a shaft Bestwood Colliery as illustrated by the recorded in the town’s woods, where (1871 to 1967) Ransom Road, Mapperley is departure in 1257 from Bestwood was the first now. As there is no further Nottingham Castle of Queen major coal mine sunk in the mention of this venture, it is Eleanor, wife of Henry III, borough. Two shafts 5.5m likely that it failed. The use complaining about the foul (13¼ feet) in diameter and of steam power and other atmosphere. London also 55m (60 yards) apart were advances in engineering suffered from coal smoke sunk to a depth of 378.5m enabled great progress to be and in 1306 the burning of (1,242 feet), reaching the made. A national pioneer in coal there was banned by Top Hard seam, which deep mining was Thomas Royal Proclamation. The ban averaged 1.8m (6 feet) thick. North, who sank shafts was short lived, however, The instigators were the at Whitemoor, Broxtowe, owing to the scarcity of Lancaster family, mining Cinderhill, Kimberley, wood for fires. Accounts entrepreneurs from Scotland. Hempshill Vale and Bulwell for Nottingham Castle in Shaft-winding used steam in the 1840s and 1850s. the following year still engines with 36-inch These were the models for show a charge, of 5s 4d, diameter cylinders; the the three mines sunk in the for coal. Records from the ventilation fan, also steam- 1640s show that coal mined borough of Gedling soon

58 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk driven, used an engine charge from 10 to 12 every of operation. The Linby recovered on the bed of the Saturday morning as well as winding engines were the Mediterranean Sea from the on Sundays in the summer last in the Midlands to Royal Sovereign steamship. months. The restored spoil be electrified; one of the (65) tips from the colliery now steam winders can still be form part of Bestwood seen working, preserved at Bestwood was always Country Park. (66) Papplewick pumping station. profitable and miners there The official closure date of earned good wages. It was Linby Colliery Linby colliery was March the first coal mine in the (1871 to 1988) 1988, with no remains to be world to produce a million seen on the site. tons of saleable coal in a The Linby Colliery Company single year. This was at a sank two shafts 54.9m (60 Newstead Colliery cost of more than a hundred yards) apart, each 4.27m (14 (1873 to 1987) lives, commemorated on a feet) in diameter, extending plaque in the engine house. 395m (1,296 feet) and 427m Newstead colliery was sunk By the 1930s, the Top Hard (1,400 feet) respectively, in by the Newstead Colliery workings extended so far order to reach the Top Hard Company. (67) The two from the shaft that it was seam. The first coal was 3.96m (13 feet) diameter decided to sink another at produced in 1873. Uniquely shafts were 457m (almost Calverton, for ventilation in the area, Linby colliery 1,500 feet) deep. The and to transport men to mined coal from eight unusual winding engines their work more easily. This different seams. When first were vertical steam engines second shaft was completed built, the surface buildings with 40-inch diameter and operational in 1939. were in Linby parish, cylinders and a 72-inch though transferred into stroke, replaced in 1961 After a drift was constructed Hucknall in 1935. Between by electric winders. The from Bestwood to the 1947 and 1988, a total of number one (up-cast) shaft High Main Seam in 1946, approximately twenty-nine had a unique copper-lid air- efficiency improved. Mining million tons of saleable locking system to maintain finished at the colliery in coal was produced, with mine ventilation during 1967, although coal was its highest output in 1963, coal winding. By 1880, the brought underground from when 1,113 men produced colliery workshops and nearby Linby colliery for a 1,300,000 tons of coal, the nucleus of the miners’ further two years. A winding earning them the title of housing were complete, house, headstocks and the most efficient miners in the housing in the village engine are all preserved in Europe. expanding to 1,200 dwellings working order at the site Linby was considered a by 1923. Between 1947 and of the mine [NG6 8TQ]. safe mine, with fifty-five Visits are available free of fatal accidents in 115 years

66: Bestwood winding house 67: Newstead headstocks

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 59 mine closure in 1987, a total million tons of saleable coal in June 1950. This was the of 30,200,000 tons of saleable from four seams, at a cost first new colliery opened by coal was produced from of 128 miners’ lives. Peak the recently formed National seven seams. Forty-one lives production was in 1958, Coal Board. During forty- were lost during the 104 when a workforce of 2,485 one years of operation, the years of operation. Although produced 1,100,000 tons colliery produced more than nothing of the colliery of coal. The colliery closed 31,500,000 tons of saleable itself remains, the original in November 1991 after a coal, with nineteen miners colliers’ housing forms a working life of eighty-nine killed during the same conservation area within years. The spoil heap has period. Peak production Gedling borough, while since been redeveloped to occurred in 1963-1964, when the spoil heaps are being create Gedling Country Park, 1,487 workers produced transformed into a country but all the buildings have 1,200,000 tons of saleable park. been cleared from the site. coal. Calverton colliery finally closed in 1995 and the Gedling Colliery Calverton Colliery site was cleared. (1901 to 1991) (1952 to 1995) Pit Ponies Digby Coal Company sank To allow access to the Top two shafts 5.5m (18 feet Hard workings of Bestwood Any account of coal mining 2 inches) in diameter at colliery, a downcast shaft would be incomplete Gedling colliery to reach the was sunk between 1936 without the mention of pit Top Hard seam 428m (1,404 and 1938 at Calverton, for ponies. Although referred feet) below the surface. ventilation, man-riding and to as ponies, some of the Gedling colliery did not materials. The 5.5m (18.2 breeds of these ‘equine produce only coal as there feet) diameter shaft was miners’ were, in fact, was also a bakery attached 378.5m (1,241 feet) deep. Clydesdale and Shire horses. to the pit canteen, supplying No further development During the time before bread, pies and other occurred until after 1945. mechanisation took over bakery goods to over 11,000 most of the load, there customers. The colliery In 1946 Colonel Lancaster, would have been hundreds became known as the United chairman of B.A. Collieries, of ponies operating in the Nations Pit, with more performed the ceremony of mines of Gedling borough. than thirty-one different Breaking the First Sod to Contrary to popular nationalities employed there. begin sinking a second shaft. imagination, the ponies were Gedling colliery (68) The ground was frozen to well looked after, loved by produced more than seventy allow the sinking, completed their handlers almost as much as the miners’ own wives or girlfriends. There were a great number of ‘characters’ within the ranks of the pit ponies, too many to mention individually. One pony, OXO, is worthy of singling out, however. OXO worked at Bestwood colliery and was then transferred to Gedling before being retired through injury. After this he was adopted, going on to become very popular at local shows as well as at the Horse of the Year show, where he met the Queen Elizabeth 68: Gedling colliery on several occasions.

60 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk There is a permanent Lee, curate of Calverton, first cotton spinning exhibition devoted to OXO invented a knitting machine factory, between Linby at the National Coal Mining for making long stockings, and Papplewick, to make Museum for England. or ‘hose’. The machine cotton thread. During the became known as a stocking next 15 years they opened Metalworking 5 more mills along the river Leen between Papplewick, Bestwood Ironworks Bestwood and Bulwell. George Robinson & Sons The friars from Newstead was, famously, in 1785 the Priory developed a water- first company in the world powered ironworks near to use a steam engine for Bestwood in the 16th powering a textile factory. century. Known in the 18th Although by 1790 the century as Bulwell Forge, company had installed two it was recorded as using steam engines, it relied water-powered tilt-hammers on waterwheels to power to shape the iron. The its factories. The cotton ironworks was closed in 1780 mills were some of the and the site was converted first factories in the area, into a water-powered cotton attracting workers from mill by the Robinson family. 69: Framework knitting machine the surrounding villages. In The present Forge Mill, close the 1790s the mill-owners to Bestwood Mill Lakes frame and the workers were brought children from the Country Park, was built on called framework knitters or workhouses in Marylebone, the foundations of the cotton ‘stockingers’. (69) London, and in Birmingham mill after this was gutted by By the 18th century, to boost their labour force. fire in 1842. framework knitting was The cotton mills closed in Following the success of the used for making gloves as 1828, but the remains of the coal mine at Bestwood, the well as long stockings or storage ponds and channels development of Bestwood hosiery. It was known as a supplying the mills with ironworks was the next step ‘cottage industry’ as workers water have been excavated in industrial progress. The had a frame installed in and are preserved in Moor ironworks opened in 1881 their home or in a nearby Pond Woods. with two furnaces, a further workshop. The framework two added in 1890. knitters were supplied with In 1794, John Hawksley and The lads of Bestwood Village cotton, linen or worsted Robert Davison built a mill were said to have made (woollen) thread (known in Arnold to make worsted good use of the flames of as ‘yarn’) by merchants or yarn from long fibres of wool. the furnaces, using the light ‘hosiers’, who also collected (70) They also installed an to play football late into and sold the knitters’ wares. early steam engine, using the evening. During World Most villages in the borough it to pump water onto their War 1, with the threat of had framework knitters waterwheel. Davison & German Zeppelin raids, the living and working there. Hawksley did not confine manager of the ironworks The women and children themselves to thread would receive a warning in the family would usually production, also employing from the military to dowse do the work of preparing framework knitters to make the furnaces. Bestwood the yarn or ‘finishing’ the clothing. The firm brought ironworks was, in the end, completed work. In other more than 600 poor children, short-lived, closing in 1928. parts of Nottinghamshire, from as far away as London similar knitting frames were and Bristol, as apprentice Textiles later adapted for making workers, and by 1803 bobbin-net lace. employed 2,000 people. To The Gedling area has a long meet the enormous number association with textiles. In In 1778, George Robinson of orders, especially for cloth the 16th century, William and his sons built their Image: FWK Machine

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 61 a major supplier of doubled a good supply of local coal, yarn. which was essential for firing the bricks to transform I. & R. Morley, a family firm, the clay into a durable began trading in Nottingham building material. in the 1790s. They were ‘merchant hosiers’ who Prior to the Industrial employed large numbers Revolution, brickmaking

70: Hawksley and of framework knitters to was well established, though Davison’s Arnold works make clothes they sold based on small family- from their warehouses and owned businesses supplying for army uniforms, the firm from a London showroom. local needs, in many cases introduced shift working so In the 1860s, I. & R. Morley working only through the that the mill could operate began to develop and use spring and summer seasons. 24 hours a day. The factory hosiery machinery in its All these businesses were closed in 1810 and was steam-powered factories. reliant on the horse and quickly demolished. John The firm expanded in the cart for either local delivery, Hawksley lived at Arnot Hill 1870s, buying a small hosiery carrying about 250 bricks, House and Robert Davison factory in Daybrook and or for onward travel to a at Bonington House on rebuilding it in 1883. The canal wharf for loading onto Arnold High Street. Both premises were extended a barge capable of carrying houses still exist, Bonington in 1911 and although the approximately 10,000 House now the Labour factory closed in 1963, the bricks. There are known to Club. The remains of the imposing building has been have been pre-industrial factory millpond can still conserved and converted brickyards at Wighay (in be seen in Arnot Hill Park, into homes, still visible on Linby), on Bonner Hill at now transformed into an Nottingham Road, near Calverton and on Bank Hill ornamental lake. Daybrook Square. (71) at Woodborough. After 1830 cotton and worsted spinning were Brickworks Like many local collieries, uneconomic, owing to Bestwood had a dedicated the high cost of importing In the 19th century brick brickworks, shown on raw cotton to this inland became the building material several maps dated between location. Some companies of choice, with advantages 1886 and 1908, but which still supplied cotton yarn, of versatility, supply and by 1913 was disused. The using imported spun cotton cost over other materials brickworks was located in which was doubled to such as stone and timber. the Leen valley about a mile produce thicker thread. In Supply and cost were, as to the north of Bestwood Netherfield, Bourne’s steam- today, major considerations Village, beside the B683 powered Britannia Mill was in any building project. Vast road (Moor Road), between numbers of bricks needed Westhouse and Goosedale 71: Daybrook, to be available from local Morley’s farms. Using the clays of textile mill manufacturers. The area the Edlington Formation now covered by Gedling (Bunter Marl), the yard was borough had a significant the source of the bricks used advantage for the large- to build the original sixty- scale production of high- four dwellings and colliery quality bricks. The basic raw buildings in Bestwood material in the brickmaking Village. The bricks were process is clay and the brought to the site on a geology of the area offered tramway, the route of which large deposits of clay that is still forms a water-filled ditch reasonably easy to extract. beside Moor Road south of Other attractions were the Goosedale. availability of large numbers of hard-working people and With the demand of the

62 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk numerous building projects bricks at low cost, to satisfy sixty million bricks to the throughout the area, the the needs of the market, Midland Railway (MR) for its capacity of the local brick and to provide secure St Pancras Station terminus. industry needed to be vastly employment as well as a The company acquired the increased. Responding to good return on investment patent for a revolutionary the opportunities available, made by the company’s type of kiln for firing the businessmen established shareholders. bricks, named a Hoffmann new, large-scale brickmaking kiln after its inventor. The companies to replace a The Nottingham Patent kiln had a circular floor plan collection of small family Brick Company (NPBC) which enabled continuous businesses. Several such was established in 1867 firing, resulting in marked companies were formed after by William Burgass, a improvements in brick the 1850s, financed by local local brickmaker and coal quality and cheaper cost of investors, enabling large merchant from Carlton, in production. The kiln had a areas of clay-bearing land to partnership with Edward considerable advantage over be purchased. Revolutionary Gripper, originally an Essex the previous ‘intermittent’ techniques in brick-making farmer. The latter had type of kiln as the were introduced by the already established a large ‘continuous’ operation of the companies, enabling mass works at Mapperley. NPBC Hoffmann kiln enabled the production of high-quality ultimately supplied some entire brick-making process

Map 11 - Gedling Claypits

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 63 Large-scale brickmaking Head works of Messrs. 19th century, at a time when took place along both sides Robinson & Sykes in 1897, child labour was common of Carlton Hill, alongside continuing to invest by in the brickyards, Charles Woodborough Road (as far securing further supplies of Bennett joined NPBC at as Mapperley Plains), and clay and updating the brick- the age of 9 and gradually on to Dorket Head, using making process. London worked his way up to the easily worked supplies was a prime market for become the Works Manager of the Keuper marl (Mercian the company’s products, of the Mapperley brickyards. Mudstone). (Map 11 shows using large quantities of The family connection the extent of the major bricks to construct the continued with C. Lawrence brickyards around Carlton capital’s sewer system, all Bennett and C. Leslie in the 20th century.) The of it still in use today. Brick Bennett, both of whom largest, between Porchester making was also helped became Managing Directors Road and Standhill Road, by the construction of the of the company, the latter was the Thorneywood Nottingham Suburban responsible for introducing Works of NPBC, which Railway in 1889, with further mechanisation into operated until the 1960s. sidings serving the works the manufacturing process. The former access road of NPBC at Thorneywood Charles Bennett also became from Porchester Road is and Mapperley and also the a councillor, a trustee of named Burgass Road, works of NBBC on Carlton the Porchester Garden after the original owner Road. Coal for firing the kilns estate, and a benefactor of of the brickyard. (The as well as the finished bricks the Mapperley Methodist aerial photograph (72) of could now be transported Church. Thorneywood brickpit was more easily and cheaply to taken in 1938.) Nearby, the markets around the country. By the 1960s clay supplies Nottingham Builders Brick for the works at Carlton and Company (NBBC) occupied The continued success of Mapperley were exhausted a site located south of the NPBC throughout the early and NPBC focused on its junction of Porchester Road and middle years of the 20th operations at Dorket Head, and Carlton Hill (which is Century was firmly linked still the site of a significant also shown on map 11, but to another local family, the brick factory. Additional not shaded). This brickworks Bennetts, who had already clay supplies were acquired closed in the late 1950s. established several works and a new factory was NPBC acquired the Dorket around Derby. In the late constructed, based on a continuous ‘tunnel kiln’,

72: Thorneywood brickworks in the 1950s which was at the forefront of technology. Following further expansion during the 1970s and 1980s, the company is now owned by Ibstock PLC, the largest brick manufacturer in the UK. The factory is one of the most modern and highly productive plants in the country, providing local employment across the borough and supplying bricks for both local and national housebuilding schemes. A distinctly local enterprise meeting a national need, the company represents a notable success for Gedling borough.

64 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Brewing, Food forms Gedling borough, including, in his case, farmer, surviving records show that wool merchant, maltster & Drink there were twenty-eight and brickmaker. When licensed victuallers in 1823. commercial opportunities By the start of the 19th arose, maltsters were century, the area which Many of the borough’s well placed to take over is now the borough of publicans in the early 19th breweries and public houses. Gedling had alehouses and century would have brewed coaching inns serving the their own beer and ale. At William Robinson’s son, needs of local people and that time, ale was a hop-free John Daniel Robinson (1839- of travellers. However, the malt liquor quite distinct 1929), was an entrepreneur largely rural nature of the from hopped beer. The with several successful area at the time meant that ingredients for brewing businesses to his name. these establishments were were usually locally sourced; In 1875, he founded the comparatively few and far hops were grown within Daybrook Brewery, which between. the borough. There was, for was developed by the example, a large hop garden construction of an up-to-date Between 1552 and 1828, where Waverley Avenue brewery complex. Urban anyone wishing to operate now is in Gedling village. growth in the mid-19th an inn or an alehouse had to Similarly, local farmers century created a growing become a licensed victualler and specialist merchants market for low-cost beers of in a system administered provided the malted consistent quality delivered by the local magistrates. barley which was the key directly to local public As a guarantee of good ingredient for both ale and houses and off-licences. behaviour, the licensed beer. In 1890, John Robinson victualler paid a financial transferred the business to bond to ensure compliance The trade of maltster often the Home Brewery Company with the conditions of the seems to have prospered Limited, which retained the licence. Two local citizens regardless of the economic original connection to Home also had to vouch for the fluctuations of the area. One Farm in Bestwood. Robinson victualler by making similar such trader was William went on to establish the commitments. Any breach Robinson of Home Farm, on Daybook Laundry and of the licensing conditions Oxclose Lane in Bestwood. was also involved in the could lead to the forfeiture Like many businessmen at tobacco trade and in cement of both the money and the the time, he derived income production. licence. In the area that now from different occupations,

73: Home brewery in the 1890s

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 65 Home Brewery at Daybrook Nottinghamshire in 1901, as a design by noted local used water from a deep receiving a knighthood in architect Watson Fothergill. well under the site. By 1905 for his work with the The brewery was short-lived, 1986, when the business allotment garden movement. and the premises were sold was sold to Scottish and A keen country sportsman, in 1909, to later be used Newcastle Breweries, the in 1890 Robinson purchased as a laundry, dye factory Home Brewery Company the stud farm at Worksop and printing works. The served its beer in 450 tied Manor, where he bred race Grade II-listed building has public houses, mainly in horses. His horses would go since been converted for the Nottingham area. The on to win the Derby, the 2000 residential use. (75) unique identity of Home Guineas, the Ascot Gold Cup Ales was gradually phased and the Kentucky Derby. A out. The Art Deco office horse racing accident led to building on Mansfield Road the death of Sir John’s son, in Daybrook, designed John Sandford Robinson, in by local architect T. Cecil 1898. The John Robinson Howitt and completed almshouses on Mansfield in 1936, has a Grade-II Road in Daybrook were built listing. Brewing ceased on in his memory. this site in 1996 and the 74: Horse and Groom at Linby administration building was subsequently adapted by Of the twenty-eight public Nottinghamshire County houses recorded in the Council for use as office borough in 1823, sixteen space. Howitt also designed are still trading on the same the Vale Hotel at Daybrook site, (74, 77) including such for Home Brewery. The Art well-known institutions as Deco pub, which opened the Horse and Groom at in 1937, has survived the Linby, the Griffin’s Head at closure and sale of the 75: Carlton Brewery building Papplewick, the Robin Hood brewery, and is also a listed and Little John at Arnold, building. A less well-known part the Ram at Redhill, the of the Borough’s brewing Volunteer and the Royal Oak In addition to his brewing history sits at the junction of in Carlton and the Four Bells and other business activities, Marhill Road and Primrose in Woodborough. (The list of John Robinson was a Street in Carlton. Built as pubs licensed in 1823 can be Justice of the Peace and the Carlton Brewery in 1899, found in Appendix C.) was also High Sheriff of the building is unmistakable

77: Woodborough, Four Bells inn

Although several others have recently closed, the fact that more than half of the pubs noted in 1823 still exist almost two hundred years later is a remarkable example of continuity in the 76: Daybrook, Vale Hotel of 1937 heritage of the borough.

66 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Windmills cemetery. In Arnold there and Bestwood. Walk Mill in were two post mills recorded Linby, now a private house, In former years, windmills during the 19th century. In was the site of a medieval were used to grind cereals Lambley visible evidence corn mill. Castle Mill, also such as wheat and barley for survives of the foundations in Linby, was one of six flour, brewing and animal of two windmills: Smith’s purpose-built water-powered feed. The simplest windmills mill stood at the top of Mill cotton-spinning factories. were temporary structures Lane and to the east of the After Castle Mill closed in known as post mills, which church a grassy mound in 1828, it was converted in could be moved from site the field marks the site of a about 1850 for grinding corn, to site. More permanent second mill. last working in the 1930s. structures, on a brick or (78, 79) The building still stone base, were called Watermills stands and is now residential tower mills. Typically, accommodation, beside windmills would be erected Water-powered mills were Linby Lane, on the outskirts on the highest ground, also used to grind grain of Papplewick. Three of the ridgelines for example. There and prepare fodder and farms in Linby also have were tower mills at Redhill flour. A watermill needed a surviving waterwheels, and on Mapperley Plains, as constant supply of flowing formerly used to power shown on Chapman’s map water and within Gedling machinery for grinding of 1776. Redhill windmill borough there were water- cereals for fodder as well as survived until 1903, when driven corn mills on the river for chopping straw. the site was taken for the Leen in Linby, Papplewick

78: Old view of the waterwheel at Linby Castle mill

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 67 79: Linby Castle mill before the reservoir was drained

68 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 8. Water Supply & Treatment

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8.www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 69 Until the 1840s, the people of Nottingham suffered from the effects of polluted water. Most inhabitants were forced to use water from the rivers or from surface ponds, which led to frequent outbreaks of disease. After 1845, the chief engineer of the Nottingham Waterworks Company was Thomas Hawksley (1807-1893), born at Arnold, where his father owned the worsted mill. In 1844 he gave evidence to a government enquiry into public health, where he argued that there was a link between living conditions, water supply and water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Hawksley designed a network of pumping stations with steam engines, to bring the water to the surface from deep wells in the porous Sherwood sandstone. The water was stored in reservoirs on the higher ground, before being supplied to homes and businesses through a network of pipes. Hawksley also helped to design the valves which regulated flow and went on to design water supply systems in several other cities including Leicester, Liverpool and Leeds.

Hawksley’s scheme for the Nottingham Borough well as the buildings and supplying clean water used Engineer, Marriott Ogle grounds, are frequently a network of linked sites in Tarbotton, was completed opened to the public. [For the landscape northwards in 1884. The ornate engine more information, see the from Nottingham. Two of house and buildings, in Pumping Station Trust the pumping stations were Gothic style, are Grade II- website: http://www. in the borough of Gedling. listed structures while the papplewickpumpingstation. Bestwood pumping station, wooded grounds are listed org.uk ] visible alongside the A60, parkland. The interior of opened in 1874 and was taken out of use in 1964. The 81: Papplewick pumping ornate Gothic building and station, window detail lodge, are Grade II-listed. All the original machinery has been removed , and the wooded grounds have been used recently as a health club and restaurant. Papplewick pumping station [NG15 9AJ], designed by

83: Papplewick pumping station, decoration

the engine house is richly decorated, following a theme of fresh water. (81, 82, 83) The steam pumping engines were replaced by electric pumps in 1969. Conserved in working 82: Papplewick pumping order by a charitable trust, station, engine hall the steam engines, as

70 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Thomas Hawksley (1807-1893) was born at Arnold. He famously argued that living conditions, water supply and water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid were linked. He designed a network of pumping stations with steam engines, to bring water to the surface into reservoirs on higher ground, before being piped to homes and businesses.

80: Thomas Hawksley

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 71 Water Treatment dairy, pigsties, cart sheds, by the injection of the sludge granaries and hay lofts were directly into the ground, and Sewage added and a school was thus releasing more land for Disposal built in the village. By 1900, growing crops. The legacy so much land was being of more than a hundred The population in flooded with sewage that it years of depositing sewage Nottingham increased was decided to extend the and effluents on the land rapidly in the 19th century. farm. Additional land was meant that the ground was Large numbers of terraced leased and a new ‘model’ contaminated and rendered houses and tenement courts farm was built at Bulcote, unsuitable for growing were built with shared together with additional crops intended for human privies or outdoor closets, cottages. consumption. Wheat was the contents of which were sent to be converted into bio- removed by ‘night-soil’ men. It was recorded that in 1910 fuel, and rapeseed was sent When water closets were the estate was home to 777 to be made into plastic bags. introduced after about 1850, cattle, 724 sheep and 649 The maize grown could be these effectively drained pigs, 141 horses and some processed for fodder for effluents into the river Leen, 100 men. Steam tractors the dairy herd as the milk already contaminated by and ploughing engines was not affected by any discharges from tanning were in use and crops were contamination. works and from local dyeing grown for animal feed, with and bleaching factories. additional amounts brought In 2012 the dairy herd in by river and train. The was sold and all the land In an effort to control large labour force, together has since been devoted to the situation, the Leen with their families, formed energy crops such as maize, Valley Sewage Board close-knit communities, rye and energy beet. The was established in very much involved in social processed crops are fed into 1872 and Marriott Ogle functions such as dances a digester which generates Tarbotton was appointed and major events like methane gas. This, together to devise a scheme to Harvest Home. with the gas from the sludge dispose of sewage. In digester, is either burnt to 1874 the Nottingham As the years passed, the produce electricity or fed Corporation leased land growth of Nottingham into the gas-grid. Together at Stoke Bardolph for use increased the volume of with the electricity produced as a ‘sewage farm’. Open sewage arriving at the site, from the wind turbine built channels were dug from the necessitating improvements in 2015, more than sufficient city and in June 1880 raw in sewage processing. In energy is generated to run sewage started to flow, to the 1930s screens were the entire plant, the excess be spread on the land at installed to remove solids, being fed into the electricity Stoke Bardolph. The liquid with pumping facilities grid. percolated through the soil distributing the sludge to and gravel into pre-dug prepared lagoons through Nowadays, few workers are drains, finding its way into buried pipes. Sludge directly employed on the the river Trent. Solid matter digesters were incorporated farms as work is carried out remained on the surface, by 1960 and the resulting by contractors. The sewage was allowed to dry and was sludge gas was used to works is an impressive later ploughed in, creating generate electricity. modern plant, the farm fertile land on which a wide In 1974 responsibility buildings reminders of a variety of crops could be for sewage disposal was bygone age. grown. transferred from local authorities to the newly Workers’ cottages were built formed Severn Trent Water at the sewage farm in the Authority, later Severn Trent 1880s, together with stabling PLC. Major changes were for the horses working introduced and in 1983 the on the farm. Cowsheds, a lagoon system was replaced

72 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 9. Social History

9.www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 73 Much of the social history of the residents of the borough of Gedling has not been researched. So often the lives of ordinary people go unrecorded. It is recognised, however, that over the years people in the district have struggled to improve their living standards and that local people have sometimes been caught up in national events.

Welfare & 1811, a mob of protestors Nottingham, towards the assembled in Nottingham prison, crowds attacking the Rebellion and walked to Arnold, where column of prisoners along they destroyed 63 frames. the way. Eventually most During the Civil War in the The Nottingham Journal of the rioters were either 17th century, troops loyal to reported in November 1811 released without charge or Charles I were stationed in that more than a thousand acquitted at trial, although Newark, while Nottingham rioters had met at Seven a few were sentenced to was taken by Parliament. On Mile House, between imprisonment with hard one occasion it was recorded Papplewick and Arnold, labour for their role in the that Royalist soldiers were before marching to Sutton disturbance. engaged by a group of to break up machinery. Parliamentary Dragoons at In January 1812, Charles Early in the 19th century Redhill, coming off second Shipley’s workshop in Linby, there was a high level of best. which had twelve frames, poverty and hardship in the was attacked by a mob of borough parishes, because In the 1770s there was a Luddites. The government of economic reliance on round of rioting and frame- viewed the activity of the framework knitting. The breaking in the area, in Luddites as a serious threat, Poor Law was altered in protest against the hosiers amending the law in order 1834 to reduce the cost who controlled the trade. to make the punishment for of looking after the poor Between 1795 and 1815 convicted frame-breakers and create a system which several more episodes of transportation or execution. would be the same all over crowd violence occurred, the country. Under the workers reacting to The Chartist movement New Poor Law, parishes decreasing pay, increasing arose in the 1830s. This were grouped into unions, prices, shortages of food, was a national campaign with each union required poor standards of living and to introduce voting rights to build a workhouse if it to conditions of employment for ordinary people and did not already have one. in the textile trades. The to reform the Houses of The parishes in this part of sustained rebellion was Parliament. In and around Nottinghamshire contributed also prompted by reduced Nottingham, the Chartist to the workhouse at Basford. employment opportunities in cause was strong and in Basford Union workhouse, the economic slumps during August 1842 there were the source of welfare and the wars with France. At demonstrations and relief for local people at the same time, changing meetings across the area. that time, later became fashions decreased demand A crowd estimated to have Highbury Hospital. The for the style of hosiery been of about five thousand City of Nottingham used produced in the borough. met on Mapperley Hills, part of their Newstead just outside the boundary Abbey estate to build a The Luddite riots which of Nottingham. Although new hospital for the care of took place between 1811 the meeting was peaceful, children with tuberculosis. and 1817 were one phase of the local magistrate called Newstead sanatorium the civil agitation. Arnold on the police and soldiers opened in 1942. The hospital became a hot-spot for to disperse the crowd. finally closed in 1992, and trouble, which then spread Four hundred people were the site was reused for a to the surrounding villages arrested in violent scenes housing development. where framework-knitting and were marched into was carried out. In March

74 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Wartime in the wounded servicemen. (84) facility which served cheap, The stables at Woodborough nourishing hot meals. 20th Century Manor were used to house Nottingham was attacked German prisoners of war. in air-raids on 8th/9th May All the towns and villages in 1942. Most of the damage the borough of Gedling were In 1919, a landing strip was was in the city centre, the affected in some way by the constructed at Papplewick Meadows and Sneinton. two World Wars. as a training base for the However, it is known that emerging Royal Air Force. within Arnold and Carlton During World War 1, men in The original aim was to Urban Districts one family the borough, as elsewhere, create a full-scale aerodrome were killed, when their were exhorted to enlist but the water-logged soils of house on Morley Road and many were killed or the chosen area made this (Porchester) was destroyed maimed in the fighting. More unsuitable. The development by a bomb. than 550 names recorded was relocated to nearby on war memorials across Hucknall, though the original Some local estates and the borough are testimony site on Papplewick Moor businesses were taken over to the heavy losses felt was briefly reactivated to assist the war effort. In by local communities. At during World War 2 as an Netherfield, Lawrence’s home, shortages of food emergency landing site. furniture factory was and supplies affected In October 1940, a ‘Fairey converted to assemble the population. On 25th Battle’ flown by Polish aircraft and Bourne’s Mill September 1916, civilians airmen based near Lincoln was used to manufacture living in the borough were crashed into the fields near parts for aero-engines. directly affected by the Calverton, killing all three Bestwood Lodge was conflict when six houses in occupants. The memorial requisitioned by the army in Dunstan Street, Netherfield erected in Watchwood 1939, becoming the Northern were demolished by an Plantation is accessible Command headquarters, and exploding bomb dropped by footpaths through the remaining in military hands from a Zeppelin airship. woodland (Ordnance until 1976. Woodborough The same raid damaged Survey grid reference SK Hall, requisitioned as the houses on Hickling Road in 605 517) and a ceremony of home of the commander Porchester. commemoration is held at of 12th Fighter Group in Also during World War 1, the site each year. charge of air defence in Arnot Hill House, built by In 1941, the schoolroom at the Midlands, was later the Hawksley family and the Ebenezer Chapel on transferred to the use of later owned by Arnold Front Street in Arnold was the commander of the 49th Urban District Council, was converted into a ‘British Infantry Division. used by the Red Cross as a Restaurant’ – a community convalescence hospital for On the hilltop between Lambley and Burton Joyce was a base used by Royal Observer Corps spotters. Another hilltop site, Arnold Lodge (near Dorket Head and on the boundary of the parish of Lambley), became the location for a heavy anti- aircraft battery. A hexagonal concrete and brick pillbox still stands here, next to the junction of Woodborough Lane with Nottingham Road. The site was later used as a camp for Italian (and later 84: Arnot Hill House German) prisoners of war.

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 75 The relative safety of the those in Colwick and refurbished, while there area allowed the government Netherfield. are now modern libraries to evacuate civilians from Calverton has expanded in Arnold, Burton Joyce, other parts of the country significantly since Calverton, Calverton, to local villages. Linby, for 1950. Ravenshead is a Gedling, Mapperley, example, became home to comparatively modern Ravenshead and evacuated school children, development, large-scale Woodthorpe, all now the Woodborough to children building not commencing responsibility of Inspire from northern cities, mainly until the early 1950s, with Culture. Sheffield, and Burton Joyce the greatest increase in to children from Leeds. housing occurring during the Film-going was a popular 1960s and 1970s. recreation between the Post-war wars. Four cinemas survived Industry and employment in the Borough in 1950. development. Since 1970 the closure These were the Bonington Since 1945 Britain has of the mines and railway Cinema in Arnold, which undergone a gradual process yards and the decline of had been rebuilt in 1929, the of change. The borough of manufacturing industry, Cozy Cinema in Netherfield Gedling, created in 1974, such as textiles, have (rebuilt in 1930) and the typifies many of these affected employment in the Regal (rebuilt in 1930) and developments. borough. The service sector, Ritz (purpose-built in 1936) including retail, transport in Carlton. The Cozy closed Housing and population and IT services, has become in 1955 and was thereafter The population of the a more important source of used as a workshop space. borough has continued employment. Development The Bonington closed in to expand in the post- of smaller industrial units 1957 and was demolished war period. Housing has provided employment in 1963. The Regal closed in development has been locally, although many of the 1959 and was re-used for particularly marked in the residents now work from several purposes before Arnold-Carlton conurbation, home, are self-employed or being converted into a where the borough borders travel out of the borough for church in 1980. The Ritz the city of Nottingham, work. survived as a cinema until but each of the other 1968, when it was converted settlements has also seen Leisure and recreation into a bingo hall . It finally some expansion. In the early After 1945 there was a closed and was demolished 1950s, a shortage of housing movement to create spaces in the 1990s. The present prompted the erection of pre- for outdoor play. Playing Bonington Theatre in Arnold fabricated concrete homes fields were laid out in the is part of a modern complex in Arnold. By 1955 Arnold major towns as well as in which includes the leisure Urban District Council had most villages. A swimming centre and library, built in celebrated building the pool was opened in Arnold 1979. The Bonington is used 1000th council house, and in the inter-war period, for music events and stage in 1963 the 2000th. In the and more recently modern shows as well as being used period between 1894 and pools have been provided as a cinema, and it is now 1974 more than 10,000 at Arnold, Carlton and the responsibility of Gedling private houses were built Calverton. A late 20th Borough Council. in Arnold, as well as 2,500 century trend was the council-owned homes. creating of leisure centres, Shopping The enlargement of the such as those built at Arnold, Victorian and Edwardian conurbation has continued Carlton Forum, Calverton housing developments since 1974, with the building and Ravenshead. Libraries included general shops, of large numbers of new were opened in Arnold and usually located at street homes to replace sub- Carlton in the Edwardian corners. Estates built after standard older properties period, becoming the the 1930s included parades and to regenerate former responsibility of the County of shops in accessible industrial sites, such as Council after 1945. Carlton roadside locations. Since library was expanded and the 1960s, shopping in

76 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk the borough of Gedling ownership of road vehicles access. Numerous nature has been transformed. In has greatly increased. Roads reserves with open access Arnold shopping streets have become noticeably have been created, as well as in the town centre were busier with both cars the country parks mentioned rebuilt in the 1970s and 80s, and goods vehicles. An earlier. Many of the nature and part of Front Street important road improvement reserves and country parks was pedestrianised in of the post-war period has have Friends, groups of 1975. Pedestrian precincts been the construction of volunteers who maintain including shops, libraries the Colwick Loop Road to them. and healthcare facilities remove through traffic from were built in Carlton (1965), Carlton, Gedling Village and Heritage Calverton (1963) and Netherfield. Since the advent of the Ravenshead (1969). By the 21st century, there has 1980s supermarket chains Environment been a greater awareness had expanded. Fine Fare Throughout the borough of heritage in the borough (later Asda) moved onto the post-war period has of Gedling, as elsewhere. Front Street in Arnold in brought greater emphasis on The present project is one 1973 and in 1985 Tesco was environmental improvement outcome of this, with further built next to Carlton Square. of derelict sites. The claypits scope still for detailed work The redevelopment of former formerly serving brickyards to be carried out on oral industrial sites in the 1990s on Carlton Hill and Standhill history, recording the history presented opportunities Road in Carlton and at and heritage of everyday for the development of Thorneywood fell into life and lives. Increased retail superstores such as disuse in the late 1950s. The awareness of the importance those found at Daybrook, Thorneywood brickworks of heritage is accompanied on the site of the railway was subsequently in the borough by an station, Arnold, on the Home landscaped for housing, increase in re-purposing Brewery site, and Victoria while the Standhill Road historic buildings. Within Retail Park, on the site of and Carlton Hill sites have the borough, noteworthy Colwick railway yards. (85) been reclaimed as playing examples are the conversion fields. The spoil heaps of the Home Brewery Transport bordering former collieries building to offices, and the The decline of the railway at Bestwood and Gedling adapting of the Bestwood system has been a feature have been transformed into Hotel, Morley’s factory at of the borough during the country parks, while sites Daybrook and the former period since World War 2, at Newstead and Calverton Carlton Brewery as housing including the closure of are in the process of schemes. the former Great Northern reclamation. At Burntstump suburban lines. The Hill and Dorket Head former 85: Victoria Retail Park surviving passenger stations, quarries have been used Burton Joyce, Carlton, for landfill and the gravel Netherfield and Newstead pits and sludge lagoons at lost their original buildings Netherfield have become but still provide commuter wetland habitat. At Linby services to Nottingham. and Arnold derelict railway There are no goods stations lines have been transformed remaining. Public road into linear nature reserves. transport has also been remodelled. Although trolley Throughout this period buses no longer travel to and there has been increasing from Carlton, an extensive emphasis on using the network of motor bus routes countryside for recreation. in the south of the borough Since 1948 the network has been developed by of rights-of-way has been Nottingham City Transport. defined and improved, Since 1945 private with signage and improved

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 77 For More Information Keyworth, T., 2018. The Nottingham Works of Thomas Hawksley, London. Appendix A: Printed publications King, R.W. & Russell, J. eds., 1913. A History of The following books and publications provide Arnold, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham. further information about various strands of the history and heritage of the borough of Marshall, J.D., 1956. Early Applications of Gedling. Steam Power: The Cotton Mills of the Upper Leen, Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 60, Adamson, D. & Dewar P., 1974. The House pp.34–43 of Nell Gwyn: The Fortunes of the Beauclerk Family 1670-1974, London. Massey, Bob, 2015. Snippets from History, vol 1: Arnold and Mapperley, Leamington Spa. Beckett, J. V., 2002. Byron and Newstead: The Aristocrat and the Abbey, Newark, Delaware. Massey, Bob, 2016. Snippets from History, vol 2: Arnold, Mapperley and the Villages, Brecknock, A. 1926. Byron: A Study of the Poet Leamington Spa. in the Light of New Discoveries, London. Massey, Bob, 2017. Snippets from History, Buckland, W.E., 1897. The History of vol 3: Arnold, Mapperley and the Villages, Woodborough, Nottingham Leamington Spa.

Chambers, J.D., 1932. Nottinghamshire in the Mastoris, S. & Groves, S. eds., 1997. Sherwood Eighteenth Century, 2nd ed Nottingham. Forest in 1609: A Crown survey by Richard Bankes, Nottingham. Coope, R. & Smith J., 2014. Newstead Abbey, A Nottinghamshire Country House: Its Mellors, R., 1913. The Old North Road. in R.W. Owners and Architectural History 1540 -1931, King & J. Russell, eds. A history of Arnold, Nottingham. Nottinghamshire, Nottingham: pp.21-24.

Doona, E. & Torell, P., 2007. Turning Back the Mellors, R., The Arnold Mill, In R. King Pages of Old Carlton, Nottingham. & J. Russell, eds. A history of Arnold, Nottinghamshire. Nottingham: pp. 87-90. Doubleday, W.E., 1942. Notts villages: Bestwood, Nottingham Guardian. Negus, K. 1993. Arnold on Old Picture Postcards, Vol 2, Keyworth. Gerring, C., 1908. A History of the Parish of Gedling in the County of Nottingham, Parr, A., 1987. Bestwood, the story of a village, Nottingham. Chorley.

Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A. & Stenton, F.M., Spick, M.W., 2000. Images of England: Arnold, 1940. The Place-names of Nottinghamshire, Stoud. Nottingham. Swift, R.C., 1982. Lively People, Methodism in Guilford, E., 1924. Nottinghamshire in 1676, Nottingham 1749-1979, Nottingham. Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 28, pp.106–113. Tann, J. ed., 1981. The Collected Papers of Boulton and Watt, London. Illingworth Butler, L. 1953. Linby and Papplewick Notebook, Nottingham. Throsby, J., 1796. Thoroton’s History of Nottinghamshire, Nottingham. Jennings, G., 1992. Carlton, Netherfield and Colwick, Keyworth. Waite, P.B., 2007. Loco village, The birth and growth of Netherfield, 2nd edn, Nottingham. Jones, P., 2009. Turning Back the Pages in Ravenshead, Nottingham.

78 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Walker, S.J., 2015. The Leen valley cotton Weir, C. ed., 1986. From village to town, Arnold mills of George Robinson and Sons, 1778-1830. 1800-1900, Nottingham. In C. Wrigley, ed. The Industrial Revolution: Cromford, The Derwent Valley and the Wider White, W., 1832. History, Gazetteer and World. Cromford: pp.72-107. Directory of Nottinghamshire, Nottingham.

Walker, S.J., 2017. A review of the Womble, C.J., 1998. A place called Papplewick archaeological remains of the Robinson mills in volume 4, Privately published. the Leen valley, Nottinghamshire. Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 121, pp.117-148.

Walker, V., 1940. Newstead Priory Cartulary 1344 and other archives, Thoroton Society record series, 8.

Appendix B: Web-based resources http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org Foxcovert plantation nature site These webpages are particularly useful. The list only covers specific sites, rather than those http://www.papplewick.org which might be revealed by a general search Papplewick conservation area for places. (sites accessed in January 2019) http://www.papplewickpumpingstation. http://moorpond.papplewick.org org.uk Moor Pond Woods nature & archaeology site Papplewick pumping station http://nottsheritage.co.uk/directory_ http://www. listing/calverton-folk-museum ruralcommunityactionnottinghamshire. Calverton folk museum co.uk Newstead-Annesley Country Park http://www.allhallowsgedling.co.uk Gedling village trail https://www.woodborough-heritage.org. uk http://www.fbcp.org.uk Woodborough village history group Friends of Bestwood Country Park https://www.youtube.com/ http://www.gedlingconservationtrust.org watch?v=HycVeagmFdA Netherfield Lagoons nature site Pit ponies https://www.gedlingcountrypark.org.uk Gedling Country Park http://www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Gedling Borough heritage digital gateway http://www.lambleyheritage.co.uk Lambley village trail http://www.newsteadabbey.org.uk Newstead Abbey house and gardens

www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 79 Appendix C: Licensed Victuallers in the Borough of Gedling in 1823

1823 Licensed Pub Still No. Alehouse Settlement Trades Notes Victualler 2018

1 Black Swan John Cokayne Arnold Arnold

2 Cross Keys William Dickenson Arnold Arnold

3 Horse & Jockey John Rhodes Arnold Now named Eagles Corner

4 Joiners Arms Thomas Rhodes Arnold Arnold

Now named Old Spot Peter Bramley Arnold 5 The Coopers Brook

6 Ram Robert Atkins Arnold Arnold

Robin Hood & Elizabeth Rimmer Arnold Arnold 7 Little John Closed and demolished Seven Stars John Robinson Arnold 8 in 1969

9 Three Crowns Peter Bramley Arnold Arnold

Replaced in 1964; the new White Hart Sarah Hickling Arnold 10 pub also now demolished.

11 Horse & Groom Elizabeth Merrill Linby Linby

Martha Mealey The Hut Newstead Now named The Hutt 12 William Palin

13 Griffin’s Head William Bell Papplewick Grade II-listed building

14 Swan & Salmon John Blatherwick Burton Joyce Burton Joyce

86: Redhill, The Ram 87: Calverton, The Admiral Rodney

80 | www.gedlingheritage.co.uk 1823 Licensed Pub Still No. Alehouse Settlement Trades Notes Victualler 2018 Replaced earlier pub Wheatsheaf Samual Taylor Burton Joyce 15 building in the 1930s

16 Rodney Christopher Beckett Calverton Now named Admiral Rodney

17 White Lion Joseph Brunt Calverton Now named Oscars

18 Blacks Head George Savidge Carlton Carlton

Rebuilt in the 1930s, now Royal Oak Thomas Cave Carlton 19 named Inn for a Penny

20 Volunteer George Savidge Carlton Now named Old Volunteer

21 Windsor Castle Elizabeth Rowe Carlton Carlton Chesterfield 22 Arms Thomas Brierley Gedling Now named Gedling Inn

23 Chequers Samuel Kirk Lambley

24 Free Masons Arms Mordecai Brownley Lambley Elizabeth Bosworth/ 25 Boat William Cupit Stoke Bardolph Now named The Ferry Boat

26 Cock & Falcon Thomas Wood Woodborough

Replaced earlier pub Four Bells John Gadsby Woodborough 27 building in the 1920s

28 Punch Bowl William Hogg Woodborough

88: Gedling, The Inn for a Penny, formerly The Royal Oak 89: Stoke Bardolph, The Ferry Boat www.gedlingheritage.co.uk | 81 Other heritage buildings in the borough

The offices of the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company (1881) are now part of the Bestwood Business Centre.

The Carnegie Free Library (1902) and caretaker’s house in Carlton, combined in use as the enlarged The former Regal Cinema (1930) in Carlton, now used Carlton Library. as a church. www.gedlingheritage.co.uk Gedling Borough

Brought Alive

ISBN 978-1-5272-3774-2