Contents Chairman’sreport

Chairman's report 1 2008

'A dozen of oysters and rice pudding for one…' The account book of Charles WilliamPacke Robin Jenkins 3 Welcome to the fourth issue of The Wolds Historian. During 2007 the WHO celebrated its Wysall's'Wise Boy' 6 twentieth birthday with a series of special meetings and events. The major event was the Samuel and his daughters launch of the quiz booklet, The WHO’sWhat, JoanShaw 7 When and Where, at the April meeting. The restoration of StMary’s, 1955–9 The birthday year began with the AGM followed Bob Trubshaw 14 by a presentation of maps by Joanand Peter Shaw. In February Bob Payneposed the question ‘ The Rev Henry Alfordwhile at 17 Meltonnavigation – a typical PhilipBrown – Wymeswold’scricket legend17 canal?’ followed in March with FredaRaphael’s ‘Upwardly mobile’ talk on one branch of a The planning of Wymeswold Nottingham family. Bob Trubshaw 19 Saturday April 14th was the first of the special GeorgeKendallof : 22 twentieth birthday events in the Memorial Hall with the launch of the quiz booklet at the showing WysallLane, Wymeswold 23 of the slides taken by PhilipBrown around 1900. These slides were shown at one of the first The PackeArms at Hoton 24 meetings of the WHO. The demand for tickets was Feedback on 'The Airfield in our Midst' 24 such that a second showing was organised for the next evening. My thanks go to Chris, John and Joy The Greyhound Inn at Burtonon the Wolds Brown and family for allowing the slides to be Joanand Peter Shaw 25 transferred to computer for the presentation and for information regarding the slide contents. 'Well leaped, Lumley!' 28 Thanks also to Bob Trubshawfor all the work digitising the original photographs.

The WoldsHistorian is edited by JoanShawand ‘Shock Horror! The radical restoration of Bob Trubshawand published by the Wymeswoldchurch’, very well presented by Bob WoldsHistorical Organisation. Trubshaw, was the second of the special events. May 14th saw Wymeswoldchurch full to hear how Contents copyright individual authors and illustrators Pugin’srestoration was regarded at the time and to © 2008. have the features pointed out as the talk Uncreditedcontributions by the editors. progressed. The moral rights of the authors and illustrators have Bob Trubshawled a large number of members been asserted. and visitors on the summer walk to Thorpein the No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission Glebe deserted village followed by his from the WoldsHistorical Organisation except for presentation ‘The Wolds: What, When and brief passages quoted in reviews. Where’ at the final special birthday meeting at BurtonVillage Hall. HellenJarviswas the outright Contact: 2 Cross Hill Close, Wymeswold, winner of the quiz, with the Thomasfamily the , LE126UJ winners of the Wymeswoldsection. Prizes of telephone: 01509 880725 hand-crafted Nine-MensMorris sets, specially email: [email protected] commissioned from Loughborough craftsman

1 slides given by DavidWhitt.The March 18th speaker was unavailable and at very short notice Bob Trubshawgave members more food for thought when he presented ‘The Wolds... part 2’ America during the civil war era was the context of a talk by AnthonyJarramon April 15th with ‘Fire Steam and Gunsmoke’. An account of Tollerton Airfield given by Bob Hammondin May which particularly delighted the aircraft buffs. Although rain threatened for a few minutes, the walk around Grace DieuPriory in June was dry and most interesting but no ghosts were seen, although camera batteries flattened themselves very quickly. The meetings resume in September with a talk on ‘Ashfordbyand its environs’ by RichardKnox The Nine Men's Morris board specially followed in October by AnneTarverabout life in commissioned by the WHO from ErnieMiller and the eighteenth century Leicestershire based on her awarded in September 2007 to HellenJarvis, the new book subtitled ‘Woolleybacks and bean overall winner of the WHO's'What, When and bellies’! WHO member DebbieBilhamwill give a Where' twentieth anniversary competition. talk on the history of audio recording in November, the year ending with the Christmas Ernie Miller, were presented along with dinner. certificates at the September meeting. The prizes to the winners of the quiz were presented at the Anyone with an interest in local and wider history meeting by the well-known local personality Nick is welcome to attend the WHO meetings which Shaw. are held on the third Tuesday in the month in the back room of The Windmill Inn commencing at I wish to thank Bob Trubshawfor his sterling work 7.45 pm. As last year I make a plea for all ‘at risk’ in making the special events so memorable, the features of local villages threatened by village committee for all their hard work in attending growth to be photographed and recorded so that numerous meetings to produce the quiz booklet information of use to future generations will not and deliver flyers, and to everyone who helped be lost. celebrate the WHO twentieth birthday. As Chairman I thank , on behalf on myself and After the special events the meetings resumed in members, Joanand Bob Trubshawfor producing the normal venue of the Windmill Inn with The WoldsHistorian, Bob Trubshawfor his major RodneyCousins explaining the technology of contributions to the birthday meetings and for his willow basket weaving on October 16th, followed invaluable support as Vice-Chairman, David by RichardBuckleyon November 20th and his Marshallfor his good work as treasurer keeping interesting talk on the archaeology of Leicester the WHO solvent, DavidKeenefor his secretarial Abbey. The Christmas meal was once again an skills and DebbieBilham, ColinLines, Viv excellent repast provided by ‘Fred’ and staff at the Marshalland AlbertSleigh for all their hard work Windmill Inn. and efforts as committee members. This year began with the AGM and by a brief The final thanks are to all members and visitors for history of Bulwellgiven by myself, followed in continued support and attending meetings. February by a talk on Grace Dieuillustrated with Without you there would be no WHO. PatriciaBaker

2 'A dozen of oysters and rice pudding for one… ' The account book of Charles WilliamPacke Robin Jenkins

Charles WilliamPacke(1792–1867) was the Tory ‘music book for the flute’clearly being one of his MP for South Leicestershire and a chum of wisest investments. Certainly it was money better Shelley’sat Eton. He was a patron of the arts and spent than the half crown for ‘Bull bait’and certainly did much to bring international music to probably stood him in better stead than the few provincial Leicestershire. Locally he is perhaps shillings devoted to billiards about once a week. best known now as the man who had Whether the £1/14/9dcharged by ‘Miss Lynefor Hall rebuilt in its present Italianatestyle. Now, as et ceterasin term’ proved to be money well spent a result of a newly acquired account book we have no means of judging. (DE7340/1) we can say rather more about this intriguing character. The accounts cease in 1811, to begin again with the New Year of 1816. From then on the record The book is a small, vellum-bound volume, gives so complete a picture of our young fellow’s inscribed on the inside of the front cover: 'Charles expenditure that it is possible to follow in his br th WilliamPackeAccomptBook Dec 15 1810'.It wake, as he pays for lunch here, a haircut there, has some 180 paper pages, lined faintly in red for and sets off across country, paying his way the pounds, shillings and pence. It is written through toll bars and putting up at inns. We can throughout in a small, careful, round hand; follow Charles William’sfads as they come and go varying only slightly in appearance with the effect and we can see those interests that remained of newly-cut quills and different inks. constant, throughout his life. The accounts begin on 15 December 1810 with, Packedashes back and forth across Regency appropriately, the expenditure of three shillings , closely pursued, SanchoPanza-like, by and sixpence on an 'AccomptBook' and a further his servant, RichardWade. This image is rendered sixpence on a haircut. From then on, we are even more vivid by the fact that we can picture launched into the intimate world of Charles ‘Richard’ so well too – in his hat from Manby’s WilliamPacke– who had just emerged from (18/-) blue livery cloth coat (£1/11/6d) scarlet school, with £30 from his father and 11/6 waistcoat (10/7½d) dressed with buff nankeen 'remaining in my purse from Eton'. (6/8d) cord breeches (8/3d) and boots (£1/12/0); The first few pages record Packe’sexpenditure in his pockets jingling with his £10 wages per preparation for and at University in Oxford. He annum. sets himself up with all the necessaries of an Packe’smode of travelling is almost as interesting undergraduate: the'Tea, Sugar, Soap, & candles', as the reasons for his trips. Take the races and 'Inkstand' and 'Paper, pens, sealing wax, & Ink' balls around Stamfordin the first week of July, that we might expect, as well as candlesticks, 1817. There is the cost of two balls, wine, a box at snuffers, egg cups and spoons, corkscrew, the theatre and hat cleaning but the entries for decanters and a wealth of glasses, jugs, slop pail, ‘logistics’ easily outnumber those for ‘fun’. There etc., etc. We should notice too the fee for tuition, was the chaiseback to Burghley(7/6d) the stable the cap and two gowns and the regular man there (3/-) turnpikes (1/-) three nights’ bed at appearance of set texts; such as ‘Murphy’s MrsPriest’s(7/6d) tips to the chambermaid and Tacitus’, ‘Beloe’sHerodotus’ and ‘D’Anville’s ostler (1/- apiece) horse feed (7/6d) sandwiches Ancient Geography’. (1/-) stabling at the George, Stamford(7/-) more turnpikes (6d) Richard’sexpenses (7/-) and three It is at Oxford too that Packe’slove of music items for the horses: a pair of horse girths (3/-) becomes apparent, the four pence laid out on a sponge (2/9d) and mane comb (2d). 3 PrestwoldHall in the late eighteenth century as depicted in John Nichols' History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester.

The routes taken are instructive too. Often Packe and filberds’ washed down with porter. And then and Richardtravel locally by gig or chaise, paying there is the ‘Damson tart for dinner for two’ that for stabling and ‘baiting’ enroute. There are cost a shilling in March 1817! I shall say nothing hackney carriages in London – such as the one of the dozen of oysters and ‘Rice pudding for one’ shilling ride from the Blue Boar in Holbornto the following month and the two lobsters, two Lincoln’sInn, with an additional shilling for dozen oysters and a cucumber (for which C.W.P. ‘dirtying cushion’! Just as often they resort to the appears to have paid half) will remain an coaches: the ‘Union’ to Leicester from London (£1 unspoken reproach as far as I am concerned. I can each outside), the ‘Express’ to Leeds, the ‘Hope’ to sympathise with the one and nine penny ‘pot of Leicester and Loughborough, the ‘Lord Nelson’ PiccalillaPickle’ and the ‘ounce of scotch snuff at from York to Newarkand by ‘Perseverance’ to Loughborough’ but ‘a bottle of French olives’ ? I ‘Deeping’. On several occasions the pair make don’tknow. It surely was an age of indulgence: ‘3 their way across country, via Uppingham, to pick ounces of refined Liquorice at Bells, Oxford St’ up the London coach at Conningtonon the Great indeed! And don’ttell me it was medicinal! North Road. Nor was Packeone to neglect his appearance. Young MrPacke(as has been said) seems Probably the two most regular items of something of a faddist. Some fads were so long expenditure are ‘haircutting…6d’ (later this lasting and all-consuming that they might better becomes ‘hair curling’ anda shilling – or 2/6 if it be termed passions. We’llleave those for now. was ‘haircuttingand dressing’) and new watch Others however, were passing and typical of a ribbons. Young Charles had at least two watches young chap making his way in the world. (as he specifies a silver watch, for cleaning by King and a new main-spring by Palmer, both at For a start there is food. We have already Loughborough, and later pays ‘MrGrignonfor encountered the sandwiches at Stamfordbut for a cleaning gold watch &c’) but even so, the wear time there are regular helpings of honey (2 lbsfor and tear on ribbons was shocking. It must have 4 shillings, plus four pence for the jar!) or ‘apples been a sound investment when, in 1821, Mr

4 A different view of PrestwoldHall at a similar time to the Nicholsillustration, from John Throsby's Selected Views of Leicestershire.

Garrardwas paid £13 for a ‘Gold and Platina to Jacksonfor learning flute’and, regularly, watchchain’. purchases of flute music. On one day, 18 June 1817, Packerecords £8/8/6 spent on ‘MrLaust17 By the end of the account book there are frequent lessons on Flute’, followed by Laust’s ‘Study for entries for dentifrice, bears’ grease, Naples soap Flute’, and five sets of flute and piano music. It is and bottles of rose and violet essence. The by no means unusual, though there was, perhaps, purchase and repair of clothing and footwear is a an element of consolation as the very next item is constant presence too; sometimes suggesting the for £31/10/0 to a MrWadd, ‘for surgical pursuit of fashion but at times indicating other attendance’. interests – such as cricket outfits or the purchase of items of Yeomanry uniform. I could go on – there is no shortage of amusing, quaint and revealing expenditure. The strength of Packe’sgreatest love however, without a doubt, the accounts, more than anything, is in their was music. He appreciated the Arts generally, depiction of ordinary life. However, there are visiting galleries and historic buildings but music – occasional references that tantalise and I shall end both as listener and player – is a constant theme. with a few of those. Some crave further His accounts reveal many trips to DruryLane, investigation, others will remain curios. There is, CoventGarden or to unspecified theatres, music for example, the 2 guinea trip to MrThompson, rooms and operas, as well as expenses at a the dentist, on 5 May 1818, ‘cleaning and Birm[ingham?] music meeting’. His early stopping teeth’; followed the next day by purchase of flute music paid off too, as the flute ‘Camphorated tincture of opium at Savory’s’for a was to became an abiding passion. There are shilling. Our sympathy, MrPacke! payments for repairs to the flute, ‘entrance money

5 In August 1817 there was a trip along the south coast, buying a guide book at Portsmouth, ‘ice’ at Chichester, and gaiter straps at Worthing – not to mention ‘Taken in by smugglers for 8 yds& ½ of East India muslin for neckcloths’. The year before there had been a shilling spent on ‘seeing Wild Beasts’ at Huntingdonand, to cap it all, perhaps my favourite; half a crown on 10 November 1811, for a ‘Medal of Sadlerthe Aeronaut’. Don’ttake my word for it though – have a look yourself, order up DE7430/1 and spend an hour or so in the company of Charles WilliamPacke.He is an agreeable companion!

This article was previously published in the Spring 2008 edition of The Dustsheet (No 38), the newsletter of the Friends of the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.Our thanks to the editors of The Dustsheet for permission to reprint.

‘Sadlerthe Aeronaut’

Wysall's'Wise Boy'

In November 1623 fifteen people from five Presumably people from north Leicestershire also different parishes in (Upper visited – or at least were aware of – the Wise Boy Broughton, Lenton, Trowell, West Bridgfordand but the jurisdiction of the Nottinghamshire church Wollaton) were brought before the church court court did not extend over the county boundary. accused of visiting the 'Wise Boy', also known as the 'Stroking Boy', of Wysall.He seems to have All the accused pleaded guilty and were been a young healer. dismissed. Although such prosecutions were prevalent in the reign of JamesI the authorities Interestingly the churchwardens at East Leake were reluctant to formally punish such activities. ‘present the following: that concerning the child at Wysall, they have none in their parish that went to Information from DrMartynBennett's him.’ The Costockchurchwardens also claimed Society, Religion and Culture In not to be able to find any ‘that were supposed to Seventeenth Century Nottinghamshire go to the child at Wysall.’ Whether this is accurate (EdwinMellenPress 2006). The source or disingenuous cannot now be established! document is onlineat: www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/services/ Unfortunately, nothing further is known of the mss/online/online-mss-catalogues/ Wise Boy despite the fact that his reputation must cats/an_presentment_bills_297-314.html have been widespread judging by the distance people were prepared to travel to visit him. Thanks to Mark Orridgefor drawing the editors’ attention to the Wise Boy.

6 Samuel and his daughters JoanShaw

The name of Samuel Shalcrosseappears but three children: Samuel baptised in 1643, An[n] in fleetingly in the records of Burtonon the Wolds, 1645 and Elizabeth in 1648. yet no one person played a greater part in shaping our modern village. BurtonHall was not built until A Shalcrossewho at one time was living very late in the eighteenth century, but Samuel had laid close to Burtonwas WilliamShalcrosseBA, who the foundation for the BurtonEstate over a matriculated from Trinity College Cambridge in hundred years earlier. 1638 and took up the post of usher at Loughborough Grammar School and priest at the The Shalcrossebackground parish church. The Shalcrossefamily originates in Derbyshire Samuel Shalcrosseof Burton and takes its name from the ‘shall’ or ‘shackel’ cross close to Taxal.The form of the name is In 1676 Samuel Shalcrossenegotiated with the remarkably varied; Shalcrossegenealogists have family of Sir Henry Hudson to buy land at Burton recorded almost a hundred different spellings. on the Wolds.He paid £300 for 90 acres of One version only is used here in the interests of meadow and 250 acres of pasture. clarity. Four years later, he paid John and JosephEarl of The name appears in parish registers around Quorn£160 for a house and two cottages, three north-east Leicestershire from the mid-sixteenth gardens, three orchards, 70 acres of land, 24 acres century. Entries in the registers of Melton of meadow, 60 acres of pasture, and common of Mowbrayparish church confirm the marriage of pasture, in Quorn, Woodhouse, Mountsorreland WilliamShalcrosseto JohanRichardsonin 1549 the Forest of Charnwood. and his second marriage to AgnesMasserin 1561, Quornwas still working the old open field system the baptism of SimonShalcrosse’sdaughter and some of Samuel’sland there would have been Agnetain 1552, and the marriage of Joan in small scattered plots and strips. Enclosure of Shalcrosseto JamesGuilsonin 1564. Burtonparish had been progressive over several In 1599, one SimonShalcrosseof Twyford years, and by 1676 the open fields had gone. emerges. He is obviously from the same family Samuel’sBurtonland would have been in ‘closes’ because in 1622 he represented his aunt, Joan or enclosed fields and this may have influenced Guilson, at the trial of BartholomewBrooksbyfor his decision to make his home at Burton.In the high treason. Simonis described as a gentleman year 1687 he was described as ‘Samuel Shalcrosse and in 1628 his son Jameswas the richest man in of London, gent’, but by that time he had probably Twyford. been settled in Burtonfor several years. Jameswas probably the parish priest since the Samuel was educated and well read. He was one family held the rectory and rights to the tithes. of several men of standing and influence to be Jamesand his son, Jamesthe younger, along with appointed trustees of the QuornCharity Fund, his mother, Elizabeth, sold these, with several following misappropriation of moneys, and he is acres of land and their rights to the common listed among some of the most prominent men in pasture, in 1630. He may be the JamesShalcrosse the County who raised money to support William who graduated from Trinity College, Oxford, in IIIin 1701. (Leicestershire raised 25,674 pounds, 1625. 5 shillings, 4 pence and 1/8 of a penny; the Borough of Leicester raised 479 pounds and 14 JamesShalcrossethe younger married and made shillings.) his home at Hoby.The Hobyparish registers list

7 further 42 acres of land in Quorn, Brink’sClose, LandlandClose, and Lea Close in Woodhouse. The settlement was made on the condition that Williamand Roe were not contributing to the support of William’sparents or his sister’sfamily – a seemingly odd stipulation because on the face of it Williamwas an eligible young man from a respectable family. His father was a London gentleman and a Member of the Common Council. Samuel continued to invest. In August 1700 he paid £300 to ThomasFarnhamof Quorn, plus £30 in silver, and five guineas in gold to Martha The White House, Quornin 2008. Farnhamhis mother, for another thirty acres of Photograph by TimRodgers. land in Quorn.The following November he paid £50 to CliftonPackeof Prestwoldfor a cottage in Samuel had two wives. In 1663 he married Burtonon the Woldsin the tenure of a lady called Elizabeth Chisholme, and their daughter Hannah SarahNoone, and two cow pastures ‘to be had was born in 1670. At the time of her death in 1683 and taken in a place called the Twenty Acres and Hannahwas their only child. Elizabeth died in other commonable places of Burton’. Some of the early August 1689 and was buried at Prestwold. old houses in Burtonstill retain their grazing Three weeks later Samuel married AnnBushnellat rights, usually called cow or beast gates. Twenty StMary’sMarylebone.She was a widow, and Acres is close to Six Hills. brought with her two daughters: Roe Bonfoy, then about nine years old, and little AnnBushnell.Ann Samuel found himself playing a new role – that of had married John Bushnellat StMary’s grandfather to three boys: Shalcrosse, Samuel and Marylebonein July 1683; the assumption must be William.Roe and WilliamStevenswere destined that Samuel was her third husband. Her first to have a large family and these three were husband may have been NicholasBonfoyas Jewit followed by Thomas, Elizabeth, Charles, Morton, Franciscus, son of ‘NicholaiBonofoyand Annae’, Hannah, Ann, Juliana, Robert, George, Hannah- was baptised at StMartins in the Fields on 16th Shalcrosseand Roe. There was a good measure of April 1676. Roe was born around 1680. grief – as in many families at that time – little Mortondied of convulsions when he was just A possible clue to AnnBushnell’sidentity could ‘three-quarters’, and Hannah, Juliana, Georgeand lie in the name given to her daughter, Roe. Ann Hannah-Shalcrosseall died when they were was about 57 years old when she died in 1713, young. But most of Roe’schildren survived, which fits the date of baptism given in the succeeded and multiplied. Prestwoldregisters for AnnRoe. Roe’shalf-sister, AnnBushnell, was married at St In Autumn 1698 Samuel Shalcrosseproudly Mary’s, Leicester, on 29th August 1707, to walked arm in arm with Roe Bonfoyto Prestwold NicholasMason of Walton.They too knew church, and gave her in marriage to William sadness. Little Mariadied in 1712 and their Stevens.Williamwas a citizen of London and a precious son Shalcrossein 1718, but they had four gentleman, but he was also described as a healthy daughters and in 1720 they were blessed clothworker.He was in his early twenties, Roe with another son, WilliamShalcrosse. was about eighteen. WilliamShalcrosseMason grew up in the Samuel made a generous marriage settlement. Roe company of Hannah, Ann, Elizabeth and Lucretia, and Williambenefited from the house and first at Barrow, later at Burtonon the Wolds. homestead that he had bought all those years ago from the Earles– the White House on the north Samuel Shalcrossedied in 1729. He was said to side of Meeting Street. He also included the two be in his ninetieth year, and John Nichols, in his cottages, 96 acres of land in the Quornfields, a History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, records his monument as a flat stone on the south

8 side of PrestwoldChurch but it is no longer there. Several stones removed from the church now stand, half buried, in front of the south wall of the churchyard. Most are no longer readable but they include one that appears to have been the cover to the Mason family vault. Evidence suggests that the vault was beneath the nave and there is an old ventilation shaft by the south door that could be associated with it. Samuel, his daughter Hannah, and his second wife, along with Nicholasand AnnMason, are commemorated by simple brass plates on the south wall of the nave. There are three similar Memorial to Samuel Shallcrosseand his daughter plates, probably made in 1890 when the church Hannahin PrestwoldChurch was restored. The wording on one may have been taken from the actual coffin: Samuel’sroots could really have been in London, or he might have been from Derbyshire where the Here lyethinterred the body of Hannah main branch of the Shalcrossefamily lived, but it only child of Samuel Shalcrossegent and is far more likely that he was a local man retiring Elizabeth his wife who departed this life to a part of the country he knew and loved. 15th August in the year of Our Lord 1763 aged 13 years 3 months 5 days. Samuel’slegacy Nowhere else is Hannah’sprecise age given. Samuel left his personal and real estate to ‘my According to John Nichols, the original stone daughter’ AnnMason, and in the event that Ann monument stated simply that she died August 19th and her husband predecease him, leaving no 1683, aged 13. There is no obvious explanation children, to sons of Roe Stevens, by then all for the incorrect year. London businessmen: Samuel the distiller, Williamthe cheesemonger, Thomasthe grocer. Who was Samuel? He left several legacies, and to his godson John Jameshe gave ‘ye house which JacobBaradail Known facts suggest that Samuel Shalcrossewas dothnow inhabit or dwell in’. It probably stood in born around 1639. He may have been Samuel the the middle of the new David Wilson son of JamesShalcrosseof Hoby, however, development. according to Nicholsthere was a second Samuel Shalcrosseburied at Prestwoldwhose age at death The hasty marriage of Ann’smother and stepfather – 70 years in 1713 – makes him more likely to be does suggest they had a close relationship prior to Samuel from Hoby.He was doubtless related to the death of Elizabeth Chisholme, and is bound to the older Samuel, perhaps a cousin. prompt questions about Ann’sparentage. Was Samuel her natural father? The fact that he made There is no solid information about Samuel’s his younger stepdaughter his heir does reinforce origins and nothing to link him for certain with the theory. However, there is no evidence that other Leicestershire Shalcrosses, but it is probable Annever used the name Shalcrosse.Samuel had that he was related to WilliamShalcrossethe already provided very well for Roe Bonfoyand priest. William was intruding vicar at Annwas doubtless the support and comfort of his Whissendineduring the Commonwealth period old age. and NicholasMason Snrof Walton– ‘alias Castledine’ as he styled himself – the father-in-law WilliamShalcrosseMason was seven years old of AnnMason (néeBushnell), belonged to the when Samuel wrote his will. At the age of Mason family of Whissendine.His kinsmen there seventeen he was a very wealthy young man, served William Shalcrosse the priest as having inherited the Shalcrosseestate from his churchwardens. Perhaps NicholasMason Snrof mother and Mason property from his father. He Waltonand Samuel Shalcrosseof Burtonwere old married well. His wife was JudithJenkinson, friends.

9 Above: The Mason family's vault cover, now half-buried in Prestwoldchurchyard.

Top right: The Mason coat of arms as depicted in Nichols.

Right: The ventilation grille, supposedly for the Mason vault, by the south door of Prestwold church. whose mother was the daughter and sole heiress continued only thanks to Williamwho created a of WilliamFiennesand granddaughter of Viscount fund and left money to support it. The charity was Sayeand Sele, and he was related by marriage to set up to provide £4 for a schoolmaster at the Packefamily of Prestwoldand the Pochinsof Prestwold, £4 to buy coals for the poor, £4 to .Sadly, Williamand Judith’sonly child, a clothe six poor boys with caps, coats, stockings daughter, died within a few hours of birth. and shoes, and additional money to bind them apprentice. However, in 1836, the Charity William’schildhood home in Burtonwas Commissioners reported that ‘a great deal of probably a small manor house, part of – or on the evidence was gone into on this subject, but it was site of – the row of cottages to the east of the old found impossible to trace the charity’. Methodist chapel. He set about building a new house at the top of the hill, south of the village. It WilliamStevensof Quorndid adopt the name was known as the Manor House and is now Shalcrossefor several years and his eldest son Manor Farm though Williamnever held the became ShalcrosseStevensShalcrosse, perhaps to manor of Burton, nor did his parents or Samuel please Roe’sstepfather to begin with but the Shalcrosse. practice continued for some years following Samuel’sdemise. Despite their London business BurtonHall was built in the final decades of the interests the Stevensfamily retained their eighteenth century by his nephew, John Noon, association with Quorn.Following Roe’sdeath in son of his sister Lucretia.Only two of Lucretia’s 1738 Williammarried Ann, the daughter of thirteen children survived beyond childhood: Captain Henry and MarthaFarnham, and Samuel John and his brother Edward. Stevens, his son, married HannahSophia, sister in When WilliamShalcrosseMason came to write law to SevileHyde. In 1740 Samuel purchased his own will in 1788, one of the charities that QuornPlace (now the QuorndonFox Hotel). helped Burton’spoor – Kirk’scharity – had failed. By 1763 the Stevenswere considerable owners of The charity’sname remained but its work property in the area and they received one of the

10 Family tree showing children of Roe Stevensand AnnBushnell Bold denotes owners of the Burtonestate

Elizabeth Chisholm(1) Samuel Shalcrosse mar (2) AnnBushnell (1) ?Bonfoy (2) John Bushnell died August 1689 circa 1639–1729 1656–1713

Hannah no known children Roe Bonfoy AnnBushnell 1670–1683 c. 1680–1738 c. 1687–1737 married married AnnFarnham(2) WmStevens NicholasMason c. 1676–1755 c. 1686–1733

ShalcrosseSamuel Will'm Thos Charles Ann Eliz. Rob't Roe five children c.1699 1702 1703 1706 1708 1711 1713 1716 1718 died young

Hannah Ann Maria Elizabeth Lucretia Shalcrosse William c. 1708 1710 1811– 1813 1816 died 1818 Shalcrosse married married 1812 married married Mason WmHenton (1) ?Fuller (1)Thos* Thomas 1720–1788 (2) Thos* Greasley Noon married Greasley (2) ?Loe JudithJenkinson

John Noon Edward eleven other children 1741–1811 1756 all died young married married AnnTyler MaryWellbourn

John Noon had no children and left BurtonHall and the BurtonEstate to Charles GodfreyMundy of Markeaton. From 1838 to 1920 the Hall and the Estate were owned by the Dukes of Somerset. From 1920 to 1954 they were the property of the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon.

* John Nicholssays that ThomasGreasleythe second husband of AnnMason and ThomasGreasleythe first husband of Elizabeth Mason were cousins.

11 Upper Mill on the River Soar close to Cotes. There were reserves of alabaster and limestone, osier beds, woods and plantations, a fox covert, arable land, meadow and pasture. BurtonHall had been transformed from a country gentleman’shome into a fashionable mansion with conservatories, hot-houses, pineries, walled gardens, hot walls, grottoes, fishponds, flower gardens, shrubberies, coach houses, stabling and an ice house. John Noon’soriginal house had been on the village street, but Charles Mundycompletely changed the appearance of Burton, closing and re-routing roads, so that his much grander establishment stood in its own park with impressive gates and a sweeping drive. The Manor House, Burton, now Manor Farm. The prominent cross-wing was added in the late It was Charles Mundythat laid out the plantations nineteenth century by the Duke of Somerset. around the village and built the lion’smouth Photograph loaned by MargaretMarshall. fountain. Also included in the sale was the Manor ‘or largest allotments under the QuorndonEnclosure reputed Manor’ of Burton, with all its rights and Award. privileges. Charles Mundyhad purchased the Manor of Burtonfrom the Hastings family, though In his account of Quornwritten at the end of the its extent and status must be questioned. At eighteenth century, John Nicholslists the Rev Domesday, Burtonwas split between three of ThomasStevensDD among the principal King William’sbarons and its subsequent landowners and says he owned a good house manorial history is far from clear. within the village. He also mentions MrsPeach who was the daughter of Samuel Stevensand The last remnants of the BurtonEstate were sold granddaughter of Williamand Roe. In writing off in 1954, two hundred and seventy-eight years about the Stevensfamily, John Nicholshad the after Samuel bought his first land from Sir Henry. help of RobertStevens, the son of Williamand Roe, then in his eighties. Houses and bungalows have been built on the park and gardens of the Hall, and the house itself In 1811 John Noon died, leaving BurtonHall to has been divided into apartments to suit modern the son of a friend. By this date the name Stevens living. Charles Mundy’sFishpond Plantation has no longer appears among the freeholdersof become Burton’snewest amenity: the community Quorn. wood. The BurtonEstate Samuel left no descendants and the Mason line from Nicholasand Anndied with their grandson. It had been WilliamShalcrosseMason’swish that John Noon had no children but did have several the estate that Samuel founded should remain nephews and nieces. His reasons for disposing of within the family. Instead John Noon chose as his the estate outside the family remain a mystery. heir Charles GodfreyMundyof Markeatonin Derbyshire. There are still Stevensin the Charnwoodarea, and Roe Stevensand her sister had several daughters. There is no way of monitoring the prosperity and Genealogists researching their ancestors among growth of the estate while it remained in the hands the Hentons, Greasleys, Fullers, Loes, Kings, of Samuel Shalcrosse’sheirs, but in 1834 Charles Warwicks, Peaches, Bostocks, Hydes, Norths, Mundywas forced to put it on the market. By that Orams, Simpsons, Wrightsand many other north time, Samuel’soriginal 340 acres had grown to Leicestershire families can expect to come across 1,200 with several farms and cottages and the the odd Shalcrossehiding in the branches.

12 Sources History & Antiquities of the County of Leicester, Vol3, Part 1, 1800, John Nichols Parish registers and transcripts of monumental History & Antiquities of the County of Leicester, inscriptions in the Record Office for Vol3, Part 2, 1804, John Nichols Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland(ROLLR) and local libraries History of Loughborough Endowed Schools, 1969, Alfred White Leicestershire wills, ROLLR Select Views in Leicestershire, Vol2,1790, John Leicestershire marriage bonds, ROLLR Throsby Papers relating to the Herrickfamily of Rambles Around Loughborough, 1868, Thomas Beaumanor, ROLLR RosselPotter Papers relating to the Pochinfamily of Barkby WoldsReflections, 1997, the WoldsHistorical Hall, ROLLR Organisation Maps and sales catalogues, ROLLR 2000 Years of the Wolds, 2003, the Wolds QuorndonRecords, 1912, GeorgeF. Farnham Historical Organisation Leicestershire Medieval VillageNotes, GeorgeF. WHO Newsletter 2000, the WoldsHistorical Farnham Organisation

This picture of the Hall family at Gorse Farm hangs in the Local Studies Room of Loughborough Library. Gorse Farm was built by the Packefamily in 1887, and was sited on WymeswoldRoad in Hoton.It was demolished to make way for the runways of RAF Wymeswold.The house had four-bedrooms and was of brick with a Welsh slate roof. Behind was a complete range of farm buildings. The photograph appears to have been taken when the farm was new and although the people are not named they are probably John Hall senior and his wife Elizabeth with their granddaughter Maria(Mariamarried John Harrisonfrom Barrow).

13 The restoration of StMary’s, Wymeswold, 1955–9 Bob Trubshaw

On 14 May 2007 I gave a talk at StMary’s, a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Because of the Wymeswold, about Pugin’s1840srestoration. decayed state of the roofs, water had poured The day before this talk AnthonyWheldonvery down between the plaster and the rubble, kindly allowed me to copy two letters from Rev and in many cases the plaster was standing 6 Lawrence Jacksondescribing the restoration of St inches proud of the wall! Damp rot, fungus, Mary’sthat Jacksonsupervised between 1955–9. grew riotously and huge fungoid growths The letters are addressed to R. Innes-Smith(who hung on the interior of the clerestorywall. around the time of these letters, 1966–7, Again, the repair of this was a major converted the Baptist Chapel on WysallLane into undertaking. The plaster was stripped down a house). on the apices of the arches, and after keying the rubble with gravel and cement, the whole MrInnes-Smithcontacted Rev Jacksonas part of was floated out level with the remainder and his research to prepare a booklet about StMary’s. skimmed with LeightonBuzzard sand. The Rev Jacksonreplied to the first of MrInnes-Smith’s evidence of this work can be seen if you look letters on 2 March 1966. He wrote a subsequent at the clerestoryand the chancel and the aisle letter on 5 April the next year, and the opening walls with an expert eye! The stonework of paragraphs make it clear that he is responding to a the arches and pillars was in such a parlous draft of Innes-Smith’sbooklet. By this time Rev state that it would have resisted any attempt Jacksonwas vicar of Holy Trinity church in to wash it and clean it effectively. We Coventry. decided, therefore, to treat the arcades and The relevant passages of the letter dated 2 March the walls as a unity, in the same way as many 1966 read: East Anglianchurches have been treated, and to whiten the whole of the interior. This, of Concerning the major restoration of course, was very useful in covering the old Wymeswoldchurch between the years of and new plaster surfaces. 1955–59, the following work was done: 3: The remaining work was re-setting of 1: The whole of the nave roof was stripped of decaying stonework, in particular the its lead, and the wooden gutter supports, castellationson the nave roof, and re- which had decayed with damp rot and death pointing some of a limestone and soft Liasin watch attack, were replaced with cement the exterior of the walls. The woodwork was steppings.The whole of the lead was re-cast all treated against beetle attack and various and re-laid, according to medieval bits of colouring work done where it was procedure, with long water chutes replacing thought appropriate. the old Victorian stone headers which were responsible for most of the structural damage. The installation of the new altar with its This, as you will readily appreciate, was the riddellposts and scarlet dorsal curtain was major undertaking. the first move to do what our forebears had done in the Middle Ages; that was to use a 2: Henry Alford’sgreat restoration of the pure white background to set forth primary 1840s, which some people describe as colours. vandalistic, had meant that A.W.Pugin, his architect, according to his usual custom, had If you look at Nikolaus Pevsner's ‘trued’ the walls by floating on to the rubble, Leicestershire and Rutland you will find an Roman Plaster, i.e. lime and sand with article on the church, which I wrote for him ground ashes and cow hair, in many places to while this restoration was in progress.

14 Unfortunately I left before my work was complete. The very poor Victorian chancel screen by Pugin, which replaced a superb but decayed oak screen of the Middle Ages, I intended to remove and replace at the base of the tower arch (Pevsnersays that this has been done!). The nave was to have been widened and heating system rearranged to give great dignity to the east-facing aspect. The church was to be re-floored and coloured sconces placed on the aisle walls. Alas, I left before this was done, and no further progress has to date been made. You ask me concerning my part in all this. My endeavour sprang from a great interest in things architectural and archaeological, and also in raising the money, some £6,000, which the village worked like fun to raise – you will realise this was quite a large sum for a village the size of Wymeswoldto raise quickly. Rev Jackson’ssecond latter, dated 5 April 1967 starts: Thank you for your kind letter and for The start of Rev Jackson'sfirst letter to enclosing draft of the brochure you are MrInnes-Smith preparing for Wymeswoldchurch, I have had a look through this and think it is very good ago. Obviously water is getting in the nave for the purpose intended. gutters on the North side and should be attended to without delay. If you can I think on page 3 of the copy if I were you I stimulate him to take some action, without would find another word for the word you saying I have written to you also, it will be a have used ‘amusing’, with regard to the texts good thing. which Puginpainted all over the church! I would also not regard their disappearance as I particularly like your reference to the North being at all unfortunate as it was entirely a Porch, which is perhaps one of the best things Victorian foible to paint texts all over the that Pugindid, and immediately ‘belongs’ to interior of Gothic buildings, ruining the lines the building. of the arcades and breaking up the unity of wall surfaces, which were part of the Gothic AnthonyWeldonreports that water ingress from builders’ genius. the roof into the nave has continued to be a problem over the years. And the curiously-worded If you want to leave this sentence in I would phrase ‘the village worked like fun to raise’ the suggest changing the word ‘amusing’ for the £6,000 also reflects the spirit of fundraisingwhich word ‘biblical’, for whatever else those texts has continued during the last twenty years. were they were certainly not amusing! Whether or not we can share Rev Jackson’s On another tack I ought to tell you that I have opinion about the ‘amusing’ – or otherwise – written to the Vicar of Wymeswoldwarning biblical texts, clearly the plaster of the nave him of the reappearance of fungal growths on needed major restorations so some of Pugin’stexts the third roof truss of the north clerestoryand above the nave arches would have been lost. suggesting that immediate action is taken to However the biblical texts behind the altar in the prevent what I had to deal with some years chancel were only painted over to meet Jackson’s

15 1950s taste in ecclesiastical fashions, notwithstanding his claims of medieval precedents. Jacksonis correct that the Victorians favoured biblical texts, but omits to mention that what he describes as the ‘Gothic builders’ genius’ would originally have been decorated with figurative painted decoration. Pugin’swritings roundly condemned painting the interiors of churches uniformly white, so – perhaps understandably – Rev Jacksonwas no fan of Pugin’spreference for the austerity of bare stone (which certainly did not have medieval precedents, as whitewashed and painted interiors were then typical). As ever, ecclesiastical fashions have largely dictated the changes to parish churches, and these letters provide an unusual insight into how the 1950ssaw the 1840s.

Two photographs by PhilipBrown taken between 1896 and the 1920sshowing Pugin’s biblical texts behind the altar and around the chancel arch.

16 Rev Henry Alford PhilipBrown – while at Wymeswold Wymeswold’scricket legend Among PhillipBrown's negatives are several copies of exisitingphotographs. One of these This article is based on an article published in the shows the distinctive features of Rev Henry A. Loughborough Echo on 29thJune 1934 under the Alford. He was Vicar of Wymeswoldbetween pseudonym Heywood. 1835 and 1853, during which time he The origins of Wymeswoldcricket club are not commissioned A.W.N.Puginto restore St recorded but seem to be around the 1850s.A Mary's.Alfordwas born in 1810 so would have second club, the WymeswoldUnited Cricket been 43 when he moved to London to take up Club, was founded in 1922 in conjunction with the Incumbency of Quebec Chapel, London, the Weslyanchapel. For a few years there was an and subsequently the Deanery of Canterbury. annual match between the two sides – quickly Was this photograph taken in his early forties, nicknamed the wets’ and the ‘drys’ because of the shortly before he left Wymeswold? We may Methodists’ teetotal principles – but these had never know for certain but nevertheless this been discontinued some time before 1934. would have been more or less how many According to Haywood, ‘One of the best Wymeswold people remembered him after cricketers Wymeswoldhas ever produced is the he left. present post-master, MrPhilBrown, an old Loughborough Grammar School boy, who, years

17 ago, was a familiar figure at the old boys’ match. continue to hold a prominent position in the local For many years he was the most consistent bat, cricketingworld.’ Well it might be stretching it to and for fifteen seasons was top of the club thing of their twenty-first century descendants as a averages, an inspiring record which gives a clear ‘young side’ but Haywoodwas correct in idea of the excellent service he rendered to the predicting a prominent place for the team in local club. In his younger days there is little doubt that competitions. he was worthy of a trial in more representative cricket. He was always exceptionally keen on the game, and it was a great blow to him when, at the Below: Photograph of the Wymeswoldcricket age of fifty-five, he was compelled to retire owing team taken in 1911 on the occasion of the to recurring attacks of sciatica. In his last match, opening of a new pavilion (this was on the against Coalville, he played an excellent innings previous cricket pitch at the back of the Three of 55, and had the satisfaction of carrying out his Crowns). bat’ (i.e. was ‘not out’ at the end of the innings). Standing: C. Mills (umpire), C. Morris, J. Richardson, F. Jalland, W. Handley, F. Kirkby, The suggestion that PhilipBrown might have P.E.Brown played at county level is borne out by Haywood’s Sitting: J.Peel, A. Morris, J.Burrows account of another Wymeswoldbatsman, J. On ground: G. Morris, T.Hall. Wright, who was a ‘hard’ and ‘prolific’ hitter who PhilipBrown is on the right of the back row. went to play professionally at Skegness, and one GeorgeMorris (on left, front row) was a of the Jallands(the unnamed son of F. Jalland ‘successful bowler’. His brother Albert(middle depicted in the 1911 photograph) whose ‘many of seated second row) was a ‘fine stumper’ fine performances have attracted the notice of the (wicket keeper). F. Jalland(middle of back powers that be at AylestoneRoad’ (i.e. the home row) was a ‘terrific hitter’. of Leicestershire county cricket). Tom Hall (on right, front row) was a slow right-arm bowler. ‘One of his best Haywoodconcludes by noting that the 1934 club performances was against East Leakewhen, was ‘a young side with plenty of promising although suffering from a slight attack of gout, material and there is every reason that they will he took six wickets for 24.’

18 The planning of Wymeswold Bob Trubshaw

Although it may seem odd, the name the earliest phase of the nucleated village must ‘Wymeswold’ is many centuries older than the have clustered around the base of the mound on village itself. The place-name is usually thought to which StMary’schurch now sits. derive from ‘Wymund’swald’, with the Old English word wald meaning ‘high woodland’. MercianEngland was Christian, although splendid Who Wymundwas is lost in the proverbial mists, parish churches were still a couple of hundred of but he was likely to have been living around the years in the future. Instead priests were based at sixth or early seventh century.1 ‘Wymund’swald’ minsters, which looked after the spiritual needs of originally referred not to a settlement but an area an area equivalent to about sixty modern parishes. of land – perhaps the whole extent of the eight Instead of an impressive stone-built church, parishes we now think of as the Wolds(i.e. Wymeswoldchurchyard would have had a wood Willoughby, Burton, Walton, , or stone ‘preaching cross’ and, maybe, a simple , Ragdaleand Old Dalby) with the wooden church no bigger than the domestic different parishes becoming progressively defined houses. so that, presumably before Domesday, something Key to all life in the village was the reliable source similar to the current parish boundaries were in of water which we know as the Stockwell– now place. culvertedover but still rising up near to the bus Although seemingly Wymundgave his name to an shelter at the side of the churchyard. In medieval area of waldin the sixth century, people at this times this was probably thought of as a holy well. time were living in dispersed farmsteads. On the There is a twelfth century mention of a basis of archaeological evidence in south ‘Wulstanwelle’ at Wymeswold, although how the Leicestershire, these settlements were probably eleventh century StWulstanof Worcester came to spaced about one to two kilometres apart. About be linked with Wymeswoldis unknown. three hundred years later there was a radical Presumably the well was holy before the change to what geographers call ‘nucleated dedication to Wulstan.The word ‘stockwell’ most settlements’ – in other words the typical English probably referred originally to a stream (Old village, usually centred on the parish church. English wella) crossed by a log (Old English stock) Without these villages we would not have much (see Cox 2004). Before culverting, such a simple of the ‘modern’ road system, so we have to thank bridge would have been desirable at the Brook the Anglo-Saxons for giving England some of its Street end of The Stockwell. After the most characteristic geographical and social Reformation, when saints' wells were largely features. forgotten, and as the sense of Modern English ‘well’ changed to denoting a water source rather Earliest Wymeswold than a stream, then presumably the word ‘Stockwell’ transferred from the bridged stream to Why go to all the effort to create villages the well itself. throughout most of England? Historians are still perplexed and there were probably various So Wymeswoldhad reliable pure water and a factors. Perhaps the best guess is that it was stream – the River Mantle – to take waste water associated with the re-introduction of the so- away. The soils in this part of the village are free- called ‘heavy plough’, which required eight draining sands and gravels over a thin layer of powerful oxen to pull it (see Williamson2003 for Blue Lias– all very ‘des-res’ for Anglo-Saxon details). This radical social change probably took house builders. place in the eighth or ninth centuries, the heyday of the Merciankingdom. Wymeswoldwas However a look at any reasonably large-scale certainly part of this revolution in agriculture and map of Wymeswoldshows something much more

19 5.

2.

1.

4.

3.

Wymeswoldin 2008. The original 'toftand croft' plan is still discernible, especially to the south of Brook Street (bottom right of photograph). 1: The Stockwelland Church Street – the initial 'pre-planning' nucleated village? 2: Manor Farm. 3: The other known manor site, Hall Field. 4: The site of a possible third manor at the bottom of Clay Street. 5: Was there ever a fourth manor in the 'empty' north-east quadrant? striking than a ‘typical’ nucleated village. Many of both Narboroughand Market Harboroughare late the houses with their long thin gardens line up examples in Leicestershire. They were neatly – I think of them as like slices of toast in a intentionally set up by a landowner hoping to toast rack. Academic historians call this ‘toftand make a fortune from taxes on the goods brought in croft’ – the toftwas the house and associated barn, to trade. The homes would have mostly been and the croft was where vegetables were grown occupied by tradespeople and craftsmen. These and a cow, pigs and poultry kept. There may have artisans would have bought most of their basic been a small area of orchard too in the croft. food, apart from the ‘luxuries’ raised on their toft. This ‘toast rack’ of toftand croft is not the way that Four to three small ninth century nucleated settlements were planned. But is the way that small ‘towns’ were We will never know who thought it would be a planned from the tenth to thirteenth century. Yet good idea to make Wymeswoldinto what, at the there was probably a village of some sort at time, would have been thought of as a new town. Wymeswoldfrom around the ninth century – well However there is some evidence that it happened before the later planned town. Indeed, if we look soon after 1066. The reasoning goes like this: at closely at a map of Wymeswold, we can see that the time of the Domedaysurvey in 1086 there Church Street and The Stockwelldo not fit neatly were three lords of the manor but, the survey notes, shortly before the Norman Conquest, there into the ‘toast rack’ – so these presumably are the 2 oldest parts of the settlement. had been four lordships. And, although Wymeswoldseems to have a ‘four-fold’ symmetry Such planned towns were usually intended as around the churchyard, one of the quarters seems trading places – York is a classic example, and not have developed as the other three did.

20 The evidence is still to be seen as the sites of two four lordships and hence a four-fold village plan of the manors are known – one is still called centred around the already-historic village core Manor Farm (the Georgian house next to the and the churchyard. One quarter remained almost Country Pine workshop on Far Street) and another empty, presumably when the number of lordships stood in Hall Field (on the south side of Brook shrank to three after the Conquest. It may be that Street) until the eighteenth century. Intriguingly, there never was a fourth manor house. both these manors are situated near the extreme corners of the planned village (ignore London Wymeswoldwas not alone Lane as this was only fully developed in the We only have to look to an adjacent parish for twentieth century). We know the manorial lords another example of a planned village set up were absent landowners so these manors would around a previously-nucleated core – Willoughby have been occupied primarily by their ‘reeves’ or on the Wolds.I have not looked at the history of stewards. Could the manors have been sited as far Willoughbyin detail, but my first thoughts are that away as possible because the rival stewards did the planning of Willoughbyis likely to be not want to bump into each other too often when contemporary with the creation of Thorpein the going about their business? Or were the manors Glebe (which involved significant restructuring of located to give the stewards the best chance to Willoughbyand Wysallparish boundaries). Dates keep an eye on the workers going to and from the are purely speculative but tenth or early eleventh fields? Whatever, the placing of these two manors century seems most likely (Cameronand O’Brien is distinctive. So does this distinctive siting enable 1981) – the same timescaleas for the planning of some guesses as to where might the other two Wymeswold.Was one so successful that a manors have been? competitor could thrive in the next parish? Or was Well the corresponding part of the south-western there an element of competitiveness between corner of the village is the kink at the bottom of adjoining landowners? We will probably never Clay Street where the pharmacy now stands. Take know. But clearly the pre-Conquestperiod was away that kink and Clay Street points more or less key to the planning of these two villages. directly at BurtonLane. Was there a manor here? If Furthermore, sometime during the tenth or so, perhaps it became disused before the Hall eleventh centuries Waltonon the Woldswas also Field manor so, when brickmakingbecame being ‘promoted’ as a market town (Clarke2008) fashionable, the land was available for use as a – although clearly the layout of the village has clay pit and kiln – hence Clay Street and the none of the toftand croft planning of Wymeswold parcel of land there known as ‘Kiln Close’ before and Willougby.So did Walton’srole as a market development. As the clay was dig out the pit predate the substantial development of the other would need to expand sideways, forcing the road two places, but then get ‘sidelined’ as the other to take a longer way round. There may be other two succeeded? reasons for the ‘kink’ but this seems the most probable. So many questions, so few clear answers. Not for nothing is this era known as the Dark Ages. Yet for So where was the fourth manor? If the deduction all the obscurity, the ‘evidence’ of ninth to about a manor in the south-west is correct then eleventh century changes is all around us as they clearly the fourth one should have been in the created the English landscape of villages and north-east corner of the village. But take away roads that has largely been sustained for over a houses built in the last two centuries or so and – thousand years. well there’snothing much there in the north-east quadrant of Wymeswold.Even today this is Notes something of an ‘empty quarter’ as, although 1. S.P.Potter in his History of Wymeswold houses on Brook Street continue well past The (1913) suggested that Wymundwas the son of Civic, when you walk up The Civic to the main Wichtlaf, the Duke of Wicco, who was married to road you are facing allotments and fields. Alfleda, daughter of Ceowulf, king of the Mercians My best guess is that Wymeswoldwas planned until 883. Wymunddied of dysentery and was before the Norman Conquest, when there were buried at CroylandAbbey, Lincolnshire. This is

21 based on information about Wymundgiven by the 2. The Domesday Book states that in 1086 monastic scholar Ingulphusin about 870. Wymeswoldwas divided into four parts. The chief However there was more than one Wymund landholderwas HughdeGrantemesnil.Durant (several people with that name enter the records Maletand Roger deBuslialso held land, while the in the twelfth to fifteenth centuries) so land of the king’sservants was held under Robert Wymeswoldmay have been named after a person deJorz. living well before the ninth century, when historical records are almost entirely absent. References Cameron, Alanand ColmO'Brien, 1981, 'The Furthermore, Wymeswolddoes not necessarily deserted medieval village of Thorpe-in-the-Glebe, derive from Wymund’swaldbut might be from Nottinghamshire', Transactions of the Thoroton weohmundswaldi.e. the ‘waldof the weoh Society of Nottinghamshire, p56–67. (pagan shrine) mounds’, conceivably referring to now-lost mounds at or near to Six Hills (known to Clarke, Richard, 2008, ‘Medieval market towns of be a heargor ‘harrow’ – another Old English term Leicestershire and Rutland’, lecture at Medieval for a pagan ritual site). The Old English word Leicestershire conference, 5 and 6 April, County weohalso gives Wysall, the next village to the Hall, Glenfield. north of Wymeswold, and other place-names such as Wyfordby(the settlement at the ford with Cox, Barrie, 2004, The Place-Names of a pagan shrine) to the east of MeltonMowbray. Leicestershire: Part 3: East GoscoteHundred, Weohmundswaldis clearly contemporary with English Place-Name Society. the time when the area was likely to have been Williamson, Tom, 2003, Shaping medieval heavily wooded and fits in well with my landscapes: settlement, society, environment, suggestion that all eight parishes of the Wolds WindgatherPress. were once known as ‘Wymeswold’, as the eponymous mounds would have been at the centre.

GeorgeKendallof Hoton: Chartist and trade unionist GeorgeKendallwas born in Hotonin 1811. He GeorgeKendallbecame the champion of the was the son of GeorgeKendall, a Hoton Suttonknitters. He pursued a relentless campaign framework knitter, and SarahFell of Bulwell.He to rid the industry of the despised truck system started work at the age of five, probably winding whereby the workers were paid in goods or in the yarn for his father, and moved to Suttonin tokens, he was secretary of the local framework Ashfieldin Nottinghamshire when he was a knitters’ trade society and helped to set up The young man. Like most of his neighbours there, he Hosiery Board of Arbitration. He was an active worked on a stocking frame; in 1850 Suttonhad supporter of the 1870 Education Act, using his 1,800 stocking frames. Life was grim, and “as influence to get fees waived for poorer families poor as a stockinger” was a common saying. and encouraging parents to keep their children in Hosiers controlled the work and rented out the school. frames, and the knitters had to rely on middle- men – “putters out”, “bagmen” and “undertakers” Georgemarried twice and had two sons and two – to provide the yarn and collect the finished daughters. He died at Suttonin 1886 and was product. They had to accept the rates offered, buried at StMary’sChurch. He was a true son of however low, and frame rents always had to be Hoton.His yeoman ancestors were living in paid even though there was no guarantee of Hotonprior to 1600 and at one time owned the wages. largest house in the village.

22 WysallLane, Wymeswold

Before GeorgeWimpeyEast Midlands Ltdbegan of more recent topsoil. These layers overlay older work on the houses either side of WysallLane, soils and can quite easily ‘mask’ archaeological Wymeswold, an archaeological evaluation was features and artefacts. In one trench a pit carried out by members of University of Leicester containing traces of charcoal and a single sherd of Archaeological Services (ULAS) in the summer of twelfth century pottery was discovered beneath 2006. This article is based on a report prepared by the top soil and colluviumlayers, confirming that GerwynRichardsof ULAS. the colluviumhad developed since the twelfth century. As the foundations of the new houses do Before development the land still showed not cut below the colluviumit may be that evidence of ridge and furrow, the tell-tale undisturbed archaeological evidence still survives evidence of medieval ploughing for arable crops. underneath the buildings and gardens along the Two filled-in old ponds were discovered (one to southern part of the development. the extreme north-east of the development and one near the south-west corner) and these suggest The archaeologists noted that the western side of that livestock were kept here, at least during some WysallLane in the vicinity of the development of the time after the land stopped being ploughed. was marked by a substantial ditch and bank, The ponds are shown on the 1900 Ordnance surmounted by a hedge (subsequently partially Survey 1:25,000 map and may date back to the removed as part of the development). There is no seventeenth century enclosure or even earlier. similar bank and ditch on the eastern side, suggesting that at some time lane was widened Although a total of eighteen trenches were dug and shifted to the east. Prior to this widening the (with a total area of about 1,020 square metres), lane would have been quite a deep ‘hollow way’, finds were minimal and comprised of a few as might be expected to develop where livestock fragments of twelfth century pottery (mostly made and horse-drawn vehicles make their way up a at Potters Marsden, where the majority of pottery fairly steep slope over rather soft soils. of this age found in Leicestershire was manufactured). This near-absence of finds is As with Manor Gardens, developed in 2003 to the hardly surprising as the land would almost east of Wymeswold, these pre-development certainly have never been built on previously. archaeological evaluations do not reveal anything exciting about the history of the village, although Interestingly, the soil in the southern-most parts of they confirm that there has never been any the development is ‘colluvium’, which is soil settlement there previously. washed down the slope by rain. The deepest layers of colluviumwere 500 to 600 mm thick, Bob Trubshaw and were themselves overlainby 200 to 300mm

The Wimpeydevelopment to the west of WysallLane photographed early June 2008. Note that the vista is aligned to the tower of StMary's church.

23 The PackeArms at Hoton

This photograph of the PackeArms was loaned to the WHO by Bob Terry of Bingham.His covering letter states: The picture shows my grandfather MrGeorgeTerry of West Bridgfordon a Sunday out with two friends to the left of the picture. He was the manager of BurroughsAdding Machines in the Meadows area and [the] two friends worked with him. The photograph was probably taken in the late 1920s.Note the 'PRHA' sign – this shows the pub was affiliated to the Peoples Refreshment House Association. The BurroughsAdding and Registering Company was founded in America. The Nottingham subsidiary was founded in 1895 and began manufacturing there in 1898. It later changed its name to BurroughsAdding Machine Company.

Feedback on 'The Airfield in our Midst' in The WoldsHistorian 2006

EdwardPacke-Drury-Lowequestioned the statement John Bantick, one of our members, recalled a from GeoffWilkes’ book that he took aircrews to use conversation with JoeFellows who lived at the corner the swimming pool at Prestwoldand thought it more of WymeswoldLane in Burton.Because the lane was likely that they used the pool at Stanford.This is quite so narrow and there was no footway it was considered possible, MrWilkesconfused Wymeswoldand Burton hazardous for the men walking back to camp, when talking about The Greyhound – with no signposts particularly at night. The Council requisitioned a piece it was difficult to know exactly where you were. Mr of MrFellows’ garden (an unnecessarily large piece in Packe-Drury-Lowealso told us that there had been his opinion) and constructed a path to the West of his occasional flying of commercial aircraft since 1995, hedge – there is still a hedge ‘twixtpavement and road the year we gave for the last flights, and he confirmed at the Burtonend of WymeswoldLane. that the airfield land is of poor quality. He wages a constant battle with drainage and with cables and Though not strictly related to the airfield, MrKowalski lumps of concrete. of Loughborough told us about a Polish pilot whose mother lived at Burtonand who used to fly low over the ColinBettsfrom Burtonconfirmed a story we had village until she complained that he was frightening her heard before. He said his old boss was stationed at hens. Wymeswoldand that social trips to Castle Donington were made by plane. Your comments are always welcome – the editors.

24 The Greyhound Inn at Burtonon the Wolds Joanand Peter Shaw

The Greyhound Inn was once part of the Burton against his father’swishes, he buried it in the Hall Estate. It was probably named during the time garden.) John Noon was at the Hall (1788–1811). John was The landlords that followed WilliamTuckwood an enthusiastic breeder of greyhounds. were Samuel Stenson, John ThomasToon, LeonardCharles Potter, WilliamEdwardKirby The earliest known landlord was JosephBrown. and John Wilkinsonwho were all tenants of the Josephdidn’tobtain his first licence to sell ale Duke of Somerset, but in 1922 the Duke sold the until 1812 but he could have been running the Greyhound to Samuel ErnestWard who had just Greyhound for some years by then. He may have retired from the busy "Trip to Jerusalem" in been forced into making formal application Nottingham (the Wards had long held the licence because Charles GodfreyMundy, the new owner of the "Trip to Jerusalem" and it is said that the of the Estate, was a magistrate and noted upholder ghost of Samuel's father still haunts the cellar of the law. caves).

AnthonyHart, who was landlord of the MrWard sold it on to Shipstones, the Nottingham Greyhound from 1841 to 1854 supported his wife brewers in 1941, though the Ward family retained and three children from farming 180 acres of land the licence until 1945. It now belongs to the plus and what he made from the inn. He kept two Everardchain of licensed houses. servants and employed a labourer. During World War IIit was a popular rendezvous RichardDavisGrundyobtained the licence in for the men and women from RAF Wymeswold 1861 but only stayed for a couple of years. He was and affectionately known as “The Dog”. a farm labourer from Stanleyin Derbyshire, and there is no evidence that he had any experience of It remained a small village pub catering mainly for the licensed trade at all, but he shared the local people – though attracting a few walkers and premises with his brother, James, who had been a cyclists and the occasional coach outing – until publican in Loughborough. It seems probable that the 1980s, when it was extended and modernised, Jameswas really the landlord but for some reason and became the smart eating place we know could not get a licence. After their short time in today. Burton, Richardreturned to the land and James On the following pages are pictures of the took an inn at Smalley. Greyhound from the time of Samuel Ward to the 1980s. The Tuckwoodfamily kept the Greyhound for well over thirty years. WilliamTuckwoodSnr The previous (2006) edition of The Wolds came some time before 1871, when he was Historian included two photographs taken in the already in his sixties with grown-up summer of 1945, one showing a group of service grandchildren. He died in 1877 and his wife held men and women from the airfield with their chaplain, the other a group of officers with Ralph the licence for a few years before handing over to Ward, the landlord, and his wife and staff. their son, also William, who remained there until Overleaf is another photograph from the same 1904. (There is a family story that John, son of the collection, probably taken on the same occasion. younger WilliamTuckwood, refused to allow the Were these the cars belonging to the officers? We body of his favourite horse to be taken to the note that some of them still have light deflectors knacker’syard, and with the help of friends, on their headlamps.

25 26 Opposite top and centre: Landlord Samuel Ward and his dog in front of the Greyhound Inn circa 1930. The Greyhound Inn kept by JosephBrown in 1812 may not have been very different though when viewed without the rendering does it perhaps look as if that top floor could have been a later addition?

Top right: Probably taken summer 1945. The sign on the front still says the inn is a 'free house' although by this time it had belonged to Shipstonesfor four years.

Centre right: Taken on a snowy day in the 1970s.

Opposite bottom: From a series of postcards published in the 1960s.

Bottom right: An aerial photograph taken around 1980. A fairly large car park has been constructed but modernisation of the inn itself is still in the future.

27 'Well leaped, Lumley!'

Cotes has a wealth of stories to tell, though the Cotes bridge in the late eighteenth century from one related below is not so well known as some of John Nichols' History and Antiquities. the others. It was published in John Nichols’ History and Antiquities of Leicestershire. of settlement, and the last will and testament of the said lord Lumley.He was At Cotes Bridge, near Loughborough, in created Baron Lumley1681. Leicestershire, some boys were leaping off the bridge. Amongst the rest was one (The date given by Nicholsfor the revival of the Lumley, upon whose performance all the barony is wrong and should probably be 1623.) boys cried out ‘Well leaped, Lumley!’ At the According to Burke’sPeerage, the only break in same time a gentleman riding by, whose the direct line came in 1609, when John, the 7th name was Lumley, called for the boy, asked Lord Lumley, died, leaving no children. (John him diligently about his name, made him Lumleywas one of the peers who sat in judgement spell it and write it, when he found it was of MaryQueen of Scots and the Earl of Essex.) His the very same with his own. He took him estates devolved upon his kinsman, Richard, home, bred him up carefully, made him his grandson of the 5th Lord Lumley, who was made heir; and from him comes the present family Viscount Lumleyof Waterford in 1628. of the lord Lumley, made noble by King Charles IIin 1681, and earl of Scarborough The Lumleyfamily seat was in County Durham. by King WilliamIII1690. Richard, Viscount Lumley, supported the King during the Civil Wars, made LumleyCastle a The notes at the foot of John Nichols’ page do not garrison, and was one of Prince Rupert’sprincipal say when the above event is supposed to have commanders at the Siege of Bristol. He was taken place. He quotes a Mr Cross of succeeded by his grandson who had a chief Loughborough who said it ‘was a tradition in that command at the Battle of Sedgemoor, held several town’, and there follows a brief account of the royal and national appointments, and was made Lumleyfamily: Earl of Scarboroughin 1690. The ancient barony of Lumleyhad The family went on to spawn several more become extinct in 1609, and was revived distinguished sons, and it would be good to think (1723) in Richardlord viscount Lumley, that Cotes did play a part in its history. Doubtless father of Richardearl of Scarborough; the Nicholstale has some substance, but if the which Richardwas chief heir-male of the leaping boy really was the grandson of the 5 th Lord family after the decease of John lord Lumleyhe was probably only visiting or passing Lumley1609, and inherited the greatest through and we are unlikely to find local part of the estate of his ancestors by deed information that would give the tale credibility.

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