DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE HISTORY OF THE PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofparishp01godf Lextojnt Lodge to AVollatox Park THE HISTORY H OF THE Parish and Priory LENTON, THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM. JOHN THOMAS GODFREY, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. % o n o n: BE M ROSE & SONS, 23, OLD BAILEY; AND DERBY. MDCCCLXXXIV. G5Z3H PREFACE. HE legitimate functions of a preface in works of a topographical description appear to be two¬ fold ; the progress of the work should be briefly traced from its inception to its completion, and due ac¬ knowledgments made to those persons who have assisted the author in his labours. Early in the year 1880, materials were collected by the author for a paper on Lenton Priory, to be read at a meeting of a newly-founded society in Nottingham. Before the paper was completed, the society in question, after a brief career, had ceased to exist; but the materials already collected were added to from time to time, with the idea of eventually publishing a short history of the Priory. This has now expanded into a history of the whole Parish. The task has been one of some magnitude, involving no light amount of labour, and requiring not a little persever¬ ance. It is no egotism to say that only those engaged in similar pursuits can form a just idea of the time and re¬ search requisite in collecting and digesting materials for a work of this description. The burden and responsi¬ bility would have pressed still heavier, but for the kindly assistance of those friends to whom it is my pleasing duty VI PREFACE. to return my acknowledgments. I am principally indebted to Major A. E. Lawson Lowe, J.P., F.S.A. (whose knowledge of the history of the county of Nottingham is, perhaps, unequalled), for his hearty and friendly co-operation through¬ out the progress of the work. Not only has Major Lowe communicated from time to time numerous genealogical and historical notes, and rendered other valuable assistance, but he has most kindly permitted me to make unrestricted use of his MS. History of the Hundred of Broxtow. I must also express my obligations to the Rev. J. Charles Cox, author of “ The Churches of Derbyshire,” for his courteous permission to extract what was applicable to my purpose from his valuable work. I am also indebted to M. Leopold Delisle, Director of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, for furnishing me with interesting extracts from the Clugny MSS. recently deposited in that library; to Sir Henry E. L. Dryden, Bart., M.A., F.S.A., of Canons Ashby, for the loan of his sketches of the tiles found at Lenton Priory, and described on pages 226 and 227 ; to IV. H. St. John Hope, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., for the loan of casts of the seals from which the engravings on pages 231 and 232 have been made; to Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq., D.L., F.R.S., for the valuable meteorological table; and also to Mr. W. Henry Stevenson (Editor of “ The Nottingham Borough Records”) for several valuable suggestions. The Rev. George Browne, M.A., Vicar of Lenton, has rendered material assistance by allowing me ready access to the parish registers and other parochial documents in his custody; and the value of the service has been increased by the urbanity and kindness with which it has been rendered. I would also thank the Rev. Percy E. Smith, B.A., Curate PREFACE. vii of Lenton, for the cordial assistance he has always been ready to afford. To Mr. James Shipman, of Nottingham, who has con¬ tributed a valuable account of the geology of the parish, I beg to return my sincere thanks. Mr. Shipman’s intimate acquaintance with the geology of the neighbourhood of Nottingham has been recognised and appreciated by the officers of H.M. Geological Survey of Great Britain. I am also indebted to the owner of the Stretton MSS. for placing that interesting collection of notes relating to the antiquities of the county at my disposal. The MSS. had been lost for several years, and only came to light when this work was ready for the press. They are some¬ what mutilated, but contain a mass of valuable information of sufficient interest to justify their future publication. The MSS., which consist principally of notes on the churches of Nottinghamshire, made at the commencement of this century contain a large number of interesting sketches, fac-similes of three of which appear in my pamphlet on The Market Crosses of Nottingham. With regard to the illustrations, I am indebted to Mr. Frank Johnson, A.R.I.B.A., Mr. Lawrence G. Summers, A.R.I.B.A., and Mr. John A. Stamp, who have kindly con¬ tributed the drawings for the photo-lithographic plates; to Mr. Llewellynn Jewitt, F.S.A., who has lent me the wood- cuts on pages u, 227, and 406; and to Messrs. Blackie and Sons for the use of the woodcut on page 166. I cannot close my list of acknowledgments without a grateful word of thanks to the Librarian of Bromley House Library, Nottingham, and to the Principal Librarian of the Nottingham Free Library, for the facilities afforded me in PREFACE. viii consulting the works of reference in their respective libraries. I would also thank the subscribers to this work for their financial support. To conclude. This history of my native place has not been written with the idea of satisfying any literary ambition. It pretends to be nothing more than a parochial history, but if it should be deemed worthy of forming a chapter in a much-needed history of the County, I shall be amply re¬ warded for the labour involved in its preparation. “ I have taken this pains, not for the present age, but a future ; many things which were known to our grandsires are lost to us, and our grandchildren will search in vain for many facts which to us are most familiar.” Radcliffe-on- Trent, No/ting/iani. JOHN T. GODFREY. CONTENTS. SECTION PAGE I. Geography, Etymology, and Early Anti¬ quities ------- i II. Manorial and Early History - - - 18 HI. Area, Population, etc. - - - - 44 IV. The Priory ------ 53 V. The Vicarage ------ 235 VI. The Churches ------ 245 VII. The Parish Registers ; Churchwardens’ Accounts ; and Parochial Charity- - 272 VIII. Hyson Green Church ----- 292 IX. The Schools ------- 295 X. Tpie Nonconforming Congregations- - 298 XI. The Fairs ------- 303 XII. The Inclosures ------ 316 XIII. Local Government.334 XIV. Manufactures ------ 355 XV. Bestwood Park ------ 362 XVI. The Peverel Court ----- 386 XVII. Geology 408 XVIII. Miscellaneous ------ 459 I . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PEDIGREES. PAGE Lenton Lodge to Wollaton Park - To face Title. Stone Axe from Wollaton Park .- - 11 Roman Sword from PIighfield Park . 15 Arms and Pedigree of Peverel of Nottingham ----- 22 Arms and Pedigree of Gregory, of Nottingham To face 34 Arms of Babington .38 Arms of Burun, or Byron . 102 Rock PIoles in Nottingham Park . 166 Fac-simile of portion of MS. of St. John’s Gospel, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge . 184 Signature of John Ilkeston, Prior of Lenton .... jgg Arms and Pedigree of Lowe, of Highfield House - - To face 200 Arms and Pedigree of Wright, of Lenton - - ,, 202 Arms of Adams, of Lenton . 203 Arms of Stretton, of Lenton Priory .209 Arms and Pedigree of Garland, of Lenton To face 212 Tlan of Site of Lenton Priory . ,, 222 Masonry from Lenton Priory (two plates) - ,, 224 Stone Coffin from Lenton Priory .225 Inscription on Dish from Lenton Priory .225 Arms of Morley, of Morley .227 Tiles Found at Lenton Priory . To face 228 Carved Masonry from Lenton Priory .228 Ancient Keys Found at Lenton Arms of Lenton Priory - To face 230 - 231 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PEDIGREES. PAGE Seal of Lenton Priory.231 Counterseal of Lenton Priory.232 Seal of Alan, Sub-Prior of Lenton.232 Arms at West End of Old Church .247 Incised Sepulchral Slab in Old Church.256 Font from Lenton Priory. To face 270 Portrait of Charles, First Duke of St. Albans.377 Arms and Pedigree of Beauclerk, Dukes of St. Albans - To face 378 Emmanuel Church, Bestwood.,, 382 Seals of the Peverel Court ........ 406 Geological Sections. To face 412 Interglacial Alluvium of the Trent, Spring Close - - - 447 Section of the Alluvium of the Leen at Old Radford - - - 453 Section of the Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Leen at Basford 456 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. His Grace Tiie Duke of St. Albans, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, (2 copies). His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, K.G., Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London. The Right Hon. The Lord Middleton, Birdsall House, Yorkshire. Adams, Miss - - - - Bailey, John E., F.S.A. Ball, Frederick - Bardsley, George - - - - Bingham, Richard F. - Bloodworth, Charles - Bloodworth, Miss Booker, William H., F.R.H.S. - Bradley, Frederick J. - Bright, Joseph - Brown, Cornelius, F. R. S.L. Browne, Rev. George, M.A. Browne, Rev. Henry Joy, M.A. - Burton, Francis C. Burton, Alderman John Buttrum, George H. Carter, H. H. - Charlton, Thomas W. Chiosso, Antonio M. - Christie, Lorenzo Clark, Thomas - Clayton, William Cleaver, F. F. - Clements, S. W. Cooper, James - Cropper, Alderman Henry Smith • The Park, Nottingham. - Stretford, Manchester. - New Lenton, Nottingham. Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. - Old Lenton, Nottingham. - Priory Cottage, Old Lenton. - Old Lenton. - Nottingham. - Beeston, Nottinghamshire. - The Park, Nottingham. - Newark-on-Trent. - Lenton Vicarage, Nottingham. - Christ Church Vicarage, Barnet. - Corporation Oaks, Nottingham. - New Radford, Nottingham. - Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire. - The Park, Nottingham. - Chilwell Hall, near Nottingham. - Norfolk Terrace, Bayswater, W. - Carholme, Stackhouse, near Settle. - Old Lenton, Nottingham. - Old Lenton, Nottingham. - Sheriff of Nottingham. - 1, Castle Terrace, Nottingham. - Old Lenton. - The Park, Nottingham. XIV LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Daft, Richard . Dawson, Alfred. Dennett, Alderman Robert - Derry, Joseph. Dobson, Samuel H. Dobson, William E., J.P. - Dyson, W. Colbeck, F.S.A., Scot. Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. - The Park, Nottingham. - The Park, Nottingham. - Chestnut Cottage, Old Lenton. Nottingham. - The Park, Nottingham. - Rock House, Batley, Yorkshire. Ellis, John E., J.P. .... Evans, Robert, J. P. - The Park, Nottingham. - The Park, Nottingham. Farmer, Henry. Fearfield, Joseph .... Fellows, George, J.P. - - - - Fletcher, James. Fletcher, Joseph E. Foljambe, Cecil G. S., M.P., F.S.A. - Old Lenton. - Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. - Beeston Fields, near Nottingham. - Larkdale Street, Nottingham. - Long Eaton Hall, Derbyshire. - Care of Messrs. Hatchard, 187, Pic¬ cadilly, London, W. Ford, Alderman William Froggatt, John. Froggatt, Samuel .... - Mapperley Road, Nottingham. - Lenton Poplars,Nottingham (5copies), - Old Lenton, Nottingham (2 copies). Gell, Samuel H.. Gerring, Charles. Gill, John A.. Gordon, Edwin H. Gray, Henry ..... Gregory, Mrs. Catherine Sherwin Clumber Street, Nottingham. - Melbourne Street, Nottingham. - Nottingham. - Bilbie Street, Nottingham. - 25, Cathedral Yard, Manchester. - Harlaxton Manor, Grantham. Harwood, Alfred .... Hatherly, Henry R., M.R.C.S., Eng. Hill, Thomas, J.P. .... Hine, George T,, F.R.I.B.A. Hine, Thomas C., F.S.A. - Nottingham. : - Arundel Street, Lenton. - The Park, Nottingham. - Nottingham. - Nottingham. Jennison, Frederick .... Johnson, Frank, A.R.I.B.A. Johnson, Samuel George Johnson, William G. - Nottingham. - London. - Town Clerk of Nottingham (2 copies). Park Hill, Lenton. Kirkland, William .... - Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Lamb, Richard .... Lewis, Chris. J. . Lewis, Frank B. .... - Nottingham. - Forest Road, Nottingham. - The Park, Nottingham. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. xv Library, Corporation of London - -Cheetham’s -Free Public .... -Nottingham Subscription - -Free Public .... -Mechanics’ Institution Lindley, Alderman Leonard Lowe, Major A. E. Lawson, J.P., F.S.A. Lowe, Colonel Arthur S. H., J.P. Lowe, Edward Joseph, D.L., J.P., F.R.S. Maples, Samuel . Nevill, John B. . Newell, James . Peat, Edward ..... Peat, Edward, jun. .... Pegg, H. Carter .... Percy, Edmund, J.P. - Preston, Martin I. - - - - Renals, John . Sampson, Thomas .... Scattergood, Peter, jun., F.R.H.S. Seely, Lieut. Colonel Charles, M.P. Shepperson, Thomas - - - - Simpson, Henry .... Smith, Rev. Percy E., B.A. Spybey, F. G. . Stamp, John A. . Sulley, William . Summers, L. G., A.R.I.B.A. Tate, Clement . Taylor, A. Claude, M.D. Tew, William T. .... Thorpe, Henry R. Thorpe, John . Tollinton, Joseph - Toplis, John . Truswell, Walter . Turney, F. N. . Turney, John, J.P. .... Turney, William J., J.P. Turpin, Stephen W. . Guildhall, London, E.C. Hunt’s Bank, Manchester. Manchester. Bromley House, Nottingham. Nottingham. Nottingham. Ex-Mayor of Nottingham. Shirenewton Hall, near Chepstow. Gosfield Hall, near Halstead, Essex. Shirenewton Hall, near Chepstow. Wolseley House, Nottingham. Burns Street, Nottingham. Nottingham. Lenton Sands, Nottingham. Park Hill, Lenton. Nottingham. Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Arundel House, Nottingham. The Park, Nottingham. New Lenton, Nottingham. Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire. The Park, Nottingham. Highfield House, Lenton. Old Lenton. Mapperley Park Drive, Nottingham, Nottingham. Balmoral Road, Nottingham. Greenfield House, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham (2 copies). Nottingham. Long Row, Nottingham. Park Terrace, Nottingham. Park Road, Lenton. Radford Road, Nottingham. Arthur Street, Nottingham. Exchange Walk, Nottingham. New Basford, Nottingham. Alexandra Park, Nottingham. Park Hill, Stourbridge. Nottingham. XVI LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Walker, William H. - Windle, William Wright, Colonel C. I. - Wright, Frederick Wright, Henry Smith - Wright, William York, The Dean and Chapter of Lenton Fields, (2 copies). Low Pavement, Nottingham. Stapleford Hall, near Nottingham Lenton Hall, near Nottingham. Park Hill, Lyndhurst, Hants. The Park, Nottingham. York. The impression of this work is limited to 250 copies. THE HISTORY OF THE PARISH AND PRIORY OF FENTON. SECTION I. GEOGRAPHY, ETYMOLOGY, AND EARLY ANTIQUITIES. “ Describe the Borough — though our idle tiibe May love description, can we so describe, That you shall fairly streets and buildings trace, And all that gives distinction to a place? This cannot be ; yet moved by your request A part I paint—let Fancy form the rest.” Crabbe. HE parish of Lenton is situated in the southern division of the hundred of Broxtow, on the batiks of the river Leen, near its confluence with the river Trent. It is bounded on the north by the parish of Radford, on the east by the parish of Standard Hill and limits of the Castle of Nottingham, and by the town and county of the town of Nottingham ; on the south by the river Trent ; and on the west by the parishes of Beeston and Wollaton. THE HISTORY OF THE The name of this parish is undoubtedly derived from the river Len or Lcen, on which, as previously stated, it is situated. Mr. Flavell Edmunds, in his “ Traces of History in the names of Places,” derives the name thus, “ Len, Lena, Leen, E., land held in fee (Spclman) or farmed out,” and as an example he gives “ Lenton (Notts.), the town on the farm,” but this derivation is as inappropriate as it is improbable, so that it may be passed by without further comment. “Tun,” or town, as the word is now generally understood, may appear at first sight a pre¬ sumptuous title to apply to the handful of huts which made up the Lenton of Saxon days. But, it must be borne in mind that the original meaning of the affix tun was no more than a piece of ground surrounded, for purposes of defence, by a hedge, and might comprise but few homesteads. “ The English town,” remarks one, “ was in its beginning simply a piece of the general country, organised and governed precisely in the same manner as the townships around it. Its existence witnessed, indeed, to the need which men felt, in those early times, of mutual help and protection. The burh or borough was probably a more defen¬ sible place than the common village ; it may have had a ditch or mound about it instead of the quick-set hedge or “ tun,” from which the township took its name.” The river Leen, from whence the parish derives its name, rises in Sherwood Forest, not far from the Robin Hood Hills, between Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Newstead, and in conjunction with several other streamlets, flows on to Newstead Abbey, where, being arrested by an embankment opposite the Abbey, it spreads out into a large and beautiful lake. Wending its way therefrom, through the grounds of Newstead, 1 it is again impounded, and forms the large lower lake, from which, after receiving several accessories, it directs its course to Papplewick ; leaving that place a little on the west, it descends southwardly to Bulwell, and collects from the west some important brooks from the higher ground round Linby and Hucknall Torkard, and from the Annesley Hills, as well as some minor ones on the east. (i) “By this Ncivslede rennith Line Ryver, that cummeth after to Lineton- Abbay, and thens to Nolingham , and a litle beneth Notingham ynto Trent." —Leland’s Itinerary, v ol. i. fo. no. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LF.NTON. 3 Passing through Bulwell it takes a meandering course to Basford, of which place it makes nearly a circuit, and receiving on the east a stream known as the Daybrook, which rises beyond Arnold, and passes through that village and the hamlet of Day- brook, to which it gives its name. Lower down other streams from Nuthall and Hempshill, together with the Whitemoor springs, flow into the Leen from the west. Leaving New Basford to the eastward, the Leen flows on southwardly through Radford, past the great Lodge to Wollaton Park, and on to Old Lenton, 1 2 which it almost encircles, and then diverges suddenly to the east on its way to Nottingham. “ Nearing the town, the Leen flows to the east, On the left hand, beneath the western sun, Climbing with lofty ridge towards the sky The rock appears ; its huge mass honey-combed By countless caverns, the delightful home Of fair chaonian doves.” 2 It should be remarked that the ancient Leen is said to have originally flowed on direct to the south on leaving Lenton, and to have emptied itself into the Trent nearly opposite Wilford Church ; for, in the perambulation of Sherwood Forest, in the sixteenth year of King Henry III., it is stated, “That the boundaries of the Forest came down according to the course of the Leen to Lenton, and from thence as the same zvater zvas zvont of old time to run into the zvater of Trentl' showing that the course of the Leen was diverted long before the reign of Henry III., and there is good reason to believe that the alteration took place when Nottingham Castle was built by the Normans soon after the Conquest, “to which the bringing of the river Leen must have been of great service.” An examination of the course of the river, the outlet opposite Wilford Church, and the banks from Lenton to Nottingham, will confirm the statement as to the artificial deviation of the course of the stream beyond Lenton. (1) “There runnith it [the river Leen] by Linton or Lenton , much frequented and famous in old time for the Abbay there of the Holy Trinity, founded by William Tevcrell, the base sonne of King William the Conqueror ; but now all the fame is onely for a Faire there kept.”— Camden’s Britain , trans. by Philemon Holland, 1610, p. 547. (2) Translation of Latin verses by Huntingdon Plumptre, M.D. 4 THE HISTORY OF THE Subsequently to the formation of the Nottingham and Cromford canal, the Leen, from Nottingham Castle, through the town as far as the Cork Hole, has been covered over and made the cloaca maxima of Nottingham. 1 The Leen probably derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon hlynna, a brook, or rivulet. The chief physical feature of the parish is the Leen Valley. This is a somewhat wide but shallow depression with a north and southerly trend, and enters the valley of the Trent between Spring Close on one side and New Lenton on the other. The Leen itself meanders through a level tract of meadow land, comparatively dry in some parts, but marshy in others, of an average width of nearly 500 yards throughout this parish, though much narrower in places higher up the stream. The Trent Valley crosses the southern part of the parish in a direction from south-west towards the north-east, while the river Trent itself forms the natural boundary of the parish along its southern side. A large area in the southern part of the parish thus lies within the valley of the Trent, and is low-lying meadow land drained by natural brooks and streamlets, and by numerous artificial water-courses. That portion of the northern escarpment or natural boundary of the alluvial plain of the Trent which comes within the parish boundary, is marked by a steep grassy bank or cliff which runs through the middle of Highfield Park and round by Spring Close, where it is broken by the gap through which the Leen enters the valley of the Trent. The line of escarpment re-appears on the opposite side of the Leen, however, in the low sandstone cliff at the back of the bleach works at New Lenton, and continues on by the “Rock Holes” in Nottingham Park to a more lofty eminence, crowned by Nottingham Castle. Receding from the banks of the Leen, either to the east or to the west, the ground gradually rises to the most elevated parts of the parish. The highest point is at Sion Hill, on the Derby Road, which is the extreme eastern limit of the parish. This is 257 feet above the sea-level, (1) Since the above was written the Leen has been again diverted, and now empties its waters into the canal, passing through a field known as Boot’s Close, in Lenton parish, on the western side of the Midland Railway line, and the bed of the river has been filled up from that point to Nottingham Castle. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 5 or about 150 feet above the level of the river Leen near Lenton Station. On the west a gently swelling ridge, picturesquely wooded here and there with plantations or clumps of trees, stretches from the edge of the Trent escarpment in Highfield Park on the south, to Wollaton Hall near the extreme north¬ west corner of the parish. The charming views of the country for miles round to be obtained from almost any part of this ridge, has caused it to be selected as the sites for such country seats as Lenton Hall, Lenton Firs, Lenton House, and Highfield House. From the grounds of the latter residence a singularly beautiful and extensive view across the valley of the Trent is obtained. To the east, Belvior Castle is plainly visible ; more to the south lies Clifton Grove, backed by the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Wolds; whilst further southward is Thrumpton Park and Red Hill, with the wooded eminence of Donington Park beyond, and Charnwood Forest forming a bold back¬ ground ; and to the south-west appear Breedon Bulwarks and Church. The parish, formerly included within the boundaries of the once famous Forest of Sherwood, likewise comprised in earlier days the now extinct villages of Morton and Keighton ; and until 1878 the large out-lying tract of land, known as Bestwood Park, was also in the parish of Lenton. Until recent years the modest aspect of the village, with its retired villas and gentlemen’s seats, possessed an air of peaceful repose, of which few other places in this busy neighbourhood could boast. For ecclesiastical purposes the parish is included (as part of the county of Nottingham 1 ) in the diocese of Southwell, and in the archdeaconry and rural deanery of Nottingham. P'or civil purposes it forms part of the borough of Nottingham, and is also included in the Poor Law Union, and County Court District, of Nottingham; but for Parliamentary purposes, it forms part of the Northern Division of the county of Nottingham. (1) Previous to the year 1837 the entire county, with the exception of a portion of two parishes, formed part of the diocese of York, hut in that year it was severed from York and united with Lincoln. In February, 1884, the county of Nottingham was severed from the diocese of Lincoln and united to the adjoining county' of Derby’, to form the new diocese of Southwell. 6 THE HISTORY OF THE The high roads from Nottingham to Derby, 1 and from Nottingham to Birmingham, run through the parish, the latter road branching off from the former opposite to the second entrance lodge to YVollaton Park. The Derby Road appears to have formerly left the line of the present road near to the “ Rose and Crown ” Inn, and to have followed the line of the carriage drive in Wollaton Park as far as the bend (which forms the corner boundary of Wollaton parish), and along the boundary of the parishes of Lenton and Wollaton; near the entrance lodge to Lenton Hall 2 it crossed the line of the present road and ran along by the row of old elms in the park belonging to Lenton Hall, joining the present road near the small pond at the corner of the park. The course of the road was diverted when Lord Middleton purchased the land between the old and present lines of road and enclosed it in his park. The Cromford and Nottingham canal also crosses the parish, being joined below Old Lenton by the Beeston canal, commonly known as “ Beeston Cut,” and passing out of the parish on the northern side of the King’s Meadows at Nottingham. The main line of the Midland Railway, from London to York, divides the villages of Old and New Lenton, the railway station being on the Derby Road, near to the end of Gregory Street, formerly the principal street of the parish ; whilst the Derby, Nottingham, and Lincoln branch intersects another part of the parish, running along the Trent valley, almost parallel with the river. In making a perambulation of the parish, the following itinerary will be found the most convenient. On quitting Not¬ tingham by the Derby Road, a little beyond Sion Hill, already spoken of as the highest point of the parish, we come to what was formerly known as the “ Sand Hill,” down which the road (1) This road was known as “ Derbigate” as early as the year 1301. See “ Records of the Borough of Nottingham,” i. 371. In 1335 it is referred to as “ regiam viam quae ducit versus ‘ Lenton,’ ” Ibid. i. 122. In the year 1759 an Act was passed “ for repairing and widening the roads from . . . Chappel Bar, near the West End of the town of Nottingham, to Saint Mary’s Bridge in the town of Derby, and from the Guide Post in the parish of Lenton to Sawley Ferry.” This Act was amended by four subsequent Acts, passed 20 George III., 39 George III., 59 George III., and 7-8 George IV. (2) See the Lenton and Radford Inclosure Award, 1768. PARISH AND PRIORY OF RENTON. 7 runs into the Leen Valley. The “ Sand Hill,” 1 or “ Lenton Sands,” as it is generally called, derives its name from the deep sandy nature of the soil in this part, owing to which the Derby Road was, until a comparative recent period, almost impassable at certain seasons, 2 and there is little doubt but that for many years the want of a more convenient means of access between Lenton and Nottingham materially retarded the increase and prosperity of the former place. Except for pedestrians, who have acquired a right to cross Nottingham Park, the Derby Road forms the only direct communication between Lenton and Nottingham, but a low-level road, to be named the “ Lenton Boulevard,” running directly from the new parish church to the foot of the Castle Rock at Nottingham, is now in course of construction. At the top of the Sand Hills, from which a splendid view of Wollaton Hall and Park is obtained, a place was reserved under the Inclosure Act of 1768 for holding Lenton Fair, but this site has long been relinquished, and the fairs are now held about half-a-mile down the road at the bottom of the hill, close to the railway station. Passing down the Sand Hill, having first gardens and a football ground, and then a considerable tract of arable land on the right, lying between the Derby Road and the road leading from Nottingham to Ilkeston, we come first to New Lenton, a thickly populated and thriving, but most unlovely modern manufacturing district, lying to the left of the road, and extending on each side of Willoughby Street as far as Lenton Boulevard, already mentioned. Lower down the hill, on the same side of the road, and at some distance from it, 3 stands the new parish Church, and near it the Vicarage house and National Schools, and close by, but nearer to New Lenton, a mansion known as Lenton Lodge, the residence of the Misses Wright. At the bottom of the hill the road crosses (1) In speaking of the maiden pink, John Ray says, “ I find this to be the same pink which groweth so plentifully by the road side on the sandy hill you ascend going from Lenton to Nottingham.” Catalogus Plan tar uni , 2 ed., 1677. p. 57. (2) Until the year 1740, the road from Chapel Bar, Nottingham, to the top of the Sand Hills, was a deep hollow way ; at that time Lord Middleton obtained permis¬ sion from the Corporation of Nottingham to raise the road by casting into it the hills which lay on both sides. Blackners Nottingham , p. 57. (3) The Nottinghamshire Agricultural Show was held in the intervening fields in the years 1S80 and 18S3. 8 THE HISTORY OF THE over the Midland Railway, close by the station, and just beyond we come to a road crossing the Derby Road, and running almost parallel with the railway. To the right, this road, known as Radford Marsh, leads into the squalid district of Old Radford, whilst to the left it forms what in modern days has been dignified, or rather “ townified,” with the name of “Gregory Street.” This road, having detached villas on either side, leads direct into Old Lenton, of which, in fact, it constitutes a part. Turning down this “ street,” we come to another road which turns to the left, and then, branching off, leads on the left hand past a plain square red brick farm-house, known as the Manor House, and so past the new Church to New Lenton, and on the right crosses the Lenton Boulevard, and runs by the southern end of New Lenton, and across the Park direct into Nottingham. Just where this road, formerly known as Birch Lane, but now designated “ Sherwin Road,” branches off, stands a large square brick house, built by the late Mr. William Surplice, and beyond that is Flora Cottage, the residence of Mr. Henry Farmer. Following Gregory Street, we come to a road leading to the right past Messrs. Bayley and Company’s extensive fellmonger’s establishment, over the Leen and the canal, through Spring Close, and, leaving the site of Keighton to the left hand, by way of “ Cut-throat Lane ” to Beeston. On the opposite side of Gregory Street 1 stands the White Hart Inn, and the remains of the debtors’ prison attached to the old Peverel Court, while a little further on, to the right, is Abbey Street, which, passing a large steam flour-mill, and the entrance to a modern house, known as “ Lenton Priory,” crosses the Leen, and terminates (in name) at the canal bridge. The road (which leads to several outlying farm houses at what is known as Dunkirk) continues on, however, past a number of recently erected houses, and, near what are known as the Barn Houses, 2 it runs into an old road (1) The road from the White Hart Inn past the old church to the Leen Fridge was formerly known as Wilford Road, but in 1878 the Corporation of Nottingham altired its name, and called the whole length of the road from the Derby Road to the Leen Biidge, Gregory Street; the road from the canal bridge near to Lenton Poplars down to the Trent is stdl known as Trent Lane. (2) The Barn Houses originally formed a huge barn, having some initials, now concealed by colour wash, and the date 1698 in brick work at the gable end. The barn itself remains intact, but has been divided and converted into dwelling houses. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 9 which we shall refer to later on. Returning to Gregory Street we next come to the Old Church, near to which in bygone days stood the Priory, with its great conventual church and other buildings. The road, on leaving the village, crosses first the Leen (by the side of which is an old footway leading direct to the new Lenton Boulevard), then crosses the canal, and after passing Lenton Poplars, erected by Mr. William Surplice in 1821, and the railway, and, joining the old road already mentioned, which will be more fully noticed presently, runs on to the Trent, the southern boundary of the parish, which it crosses by an ancient ford, now seldom used. Returning to the Derby Road, where it passes the end of Gregory Street, and continuing along it, we cross the Leen by a bridge, built by the commissioners of the Nottingham and Derby Road in 182—, previous to which time there was merely a ford here, with a small wooden bridge for foot passengers. The corn mill on the right, disfigured by modern improvements , occupies the site of Ingram’s Mill, which is several times referred to in ancient documents relating to the parish. Immediately beyond the mill is the canal, and beyond the canal bridge, on the right hand, stands the magnificent archway, forming the principal entrance to Wollaton Park. This splendid structure, which was erected at a vast expense by the sixth Lord Middleton, whose arms appear above the gateway, is in the Elizabethan style of architecture, some of the details being copied from Wollaton Hall, and is said to be one of the finest buildings of the kind in England. Beyond here, the country is reached, the road running along the side of Wollaton Park wall for more than a mile, whilst on the opposite side are fields interspersed with fine timber trees. Leaving the valley of the Leen, and ascending the hill, we pass on the left what is now a narrow sandy lane, hardly passable by any but pedestrians. This seems, however, to have been once a road of some importance, running across what is now Wollaton Park, past the extinct village of Sutton Passeys, and into the valley where it is joined by two roads leading through Old Lenton, and eventually crossed the Trent by the ancient ford already spoken of. Beyond this old road, near the top of the hill, stands Lenton Firs, now occupied by Edward 10 THE HISTORY OF THE Cope, Esq., and a little beyond that mansion is the entrance lodge to Lenton Hall. Looking back from this point, a fine view down the valley of the Trent is obtained, whilst nearer at hand Nottingham Castle forms a striking object. Nottingham Park (now entirely built over) is exactly opposite, with Lenton in the foreground, whilst more to the left are the populous manufacturing districts ol Radford and New Basford, forming a marked contrast to the quiet rural beauty of 'the landscape, which stretches for many miles on the right. Further on we come to several large new houses recently built on the outskirts of the park attached to Lenton Hall, and beyond them the high road to Birmingham turns suddenly to the left. Immediately opposite to the Bir¬ mingham Road is the castellated lodge to Wollaton Park, commonly known as Beeston Tower, erected by the seventh Lord Middleton. Further on we come to Lenton Abbey, the residence of Mrs. Bayley, which stands embowered in trees at a short distance from the road, on the left hand. The road then runs down another hill, “And at the foot thereof a gentle flud His silver waves did softly tumble downe,” and crossing the “gentle flud”—the Tottle Brook—it passes out of the parish. Proceeding along the Birmingham Road and passing a modern residence known as Lenton Eaves, erected a few years ago by Mr. Benjamin Walker, and which is situated just within the angle formed by the two roads, we come to Lenton Fields, on the right, whilst a little further beyond, upon a wooded eminence on the opposite side of the road, stands Lenton House. Beyond, and much nearer to the road, on the right, is Lenton Grove, at present occupied by Francis George Rawson, Esq., and a little further on the road sweeps round to the right on its way to Beeston, and running down a hill crosses the Tottle Brook, and so passes out of the parish. Just at the turn of the road stands the entrance lodge to Highfield House, but the mansion itself being situated upon the higher ground to the left and thickly shrouded in trees, is not seen from this part of the road. Just at the bend of the road it is joined by the foot-road known as “Cut-throat Lane,” already mentioned, PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. II which, passing between the grounds of Highfield House and Lenton Hall, runs through Spring Close, and, crossing the canal and the Leen, joins Gregory Street in Old Lenton. Continuing our course up Gregory Street, crossing the Derby Road, we enter Radford Marsh, and pass to the left a water corn mill, known as the Prior’s Mill. Crossing the railway, we pass the new populous district of Cobden Park on the right, and the great gas works belonging to the Corporation of Nottingham on the left, and turn up the Ilkeston Road on our way to Nottingham. About two- thirds of the way up this road (which forms the division be¬ tween the parishes of Lenton and Radford, Lenton lying to the right hand, and Radford to the left) we pass the new Board Schools, and the Len¬ ton — or, as it is erroneously called, the Radford—police station, and ascending the hill we reach the Derby Road near our starting point on Sion Hill. The early antiquities of this parish are exceedingly meagre. A fine perforated stone axe was found some years ago on the Sand Hills in YVollaton Park, on the borders of I.en- ton parish, and is reported to have been the largest of the kind that had been found in Great Britain up to that time. 1 (i) In 1S75, a stone axe of somewhat larger dimensions was found at Canonbie, in Dumfriesshire. 12 THE HISTORY OF THE It is formed of a very fine grained, hard, and slightly micaceous grit, and its weight exceeds 7f lbs. It is some¬ what rounded at the hammer end, which appears to have lost some splinters by use, though the broken surface has since been partially reground. The blade is slightly curved longitudinally, and both the outer and inner face have been hollowed from the point as far as the perforation. The sides have each four parallel grooves worked in them, so that they are, as it were, corrugated into five ribs, extending from near the edge to near the centre of the hole. The hollows on the face also show two slight ribs parallel with the sides of the blade, the angles of which are rounded. The shaft hole tapers from each face towards the centre, where it is about if inches in diameter. The grooves seem to have been produced by picking, but have subsequently been made smooth by grinding. 1 This is, so far as we are aware, the sole relic of the stone period that has been found within the parish. The late Alfred Lowe, Esq., had in his possession several antiquities, chiefly of the Celtic period, which had been found, at various times, in the parish of Lenton, but, so far as we can learn, no particulars of their discovery appear to have been preserved. Amongst these was a good socketted bronze celt of the ordinary type, three small arrow-heads of iron, each measuring about three-and-a-half inches in length, a bronze key, and several bronze ornaments. It has been stated that Lenton was once a Roman station, and Robert Talbot, “an Oxford student, and Canon of Norwich under Henry VIII., a man well skilled in the antiquities of this island,” has maintained that it was the noted Lindum. For this opinion he is severely censured by a later writer 2 —“ Not far from Nottingham lies Lenton, which Mr. Talbot for some reasons was inclined to believe the ancient Lindum of Antoninus. I take it for granted it was the affinity of the two names which first led him to this conjecture, and that drew him to other fancies which might seem in any wise to confirm his (1) Jewilt’s Grave Mounds and their Contents , p. 111. This axe is now in the pos¬ session of Mr. Jewitt, to whom we are indebted for the engraving of it. (2) Gibson’s Camden, 1695. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 13 opinion, as that the river which runs through Nottingham into the Trent, is at this day called Lin, or rather, Lind ; but then, Lenton lying at a pretty distance from it, he is forced to back it with this groundless imagination, that Lenton might be some¬ time part of Nottingham ; though they be a mile asunder one from the other. What he says in defence of Lenton, why the old town might possibly be there, is very true; that it is a thing frequently observed ’ that famous towns have degenerated into little villages , and that, therefore, its present meanness is no objection against it ; but then it can derive no authority from the river Lin or Lind. Besides, the obscurity of a place is really a prejudice to its antiquity, unless the discovery of camps, coins, bricks, or some such remains, demonstrate its former eminence. Nothing that he has said in favour of this opinion, taken from distances and such like, is of force enough to draw it from Lincoln.” From this it is evident that neither Talbot nor Gibson were well acquainted with the situation of Lenton, for in Talbot’s time the village was situated on the banks of the Leen, as it is at the present day. It is, however, more than doubtful whether the Romans ever had a station here of any importance, but some traces of Roman occupation appear, nevertheless, to have been met with. The ancient road, locally known as “ Coventry Lane,” crossed the Trent near Attenborough, at a spot where, in times of unusual drought, vestiges of wooden piles, denoting a passage across the river, may yet be traced. The line of the road in question appears to have been northward from the Trent, and may be supposed to have had a branch road turning off from it near the bank of the river, taking a more easterly direction ; and, after passing below the villages of Chilwell and Beeston, intersecting the parish of Lenton. This supposed branch road has been lost in places, but an ancient road apparently connecting it with the passage across the river at Attenborough may be traced on the Ordnance maps, from point to point, without much difficulty. On the eastern side of the parish of Beeston the road still exists, under the name of Hassock Lane. This lane terminates beyond Hassock Farm, but the line of the old road may yet be distinctly 14 THE HISTORY OF THE traced on across several fields on the High field estate. Accord¬ ing to some local antiquaries, the road crossed the Lcen at a point a little below the site of Lenton Priory, passed across Nottingham Park, and went on from thence northward over Nottingham Forest. This latter statement must, however, be received with some reserve, for the depression, or hollow, where this road is supposed to have entered the Park on the south side, is stated on the other hand to have been formed about the year 1829, when a portion of the rock holes close by, fell in, and the removal of the debris having made a convenient approach to the river Leen, the cattle in the Park came there to drink, from which circumstance the hollow became known as the “ cow drinks.” The next portion of this supposed continuation of the road in question was a cutting on the north side of the Park, which appears to have been made as a ready access to the barracks, which until recent years stood on the north-west side of the Park. Another supposed remnant of the road was said to be seen on the Forest, running for about a hundred yards in length from the top of what is now Southey Street, in a north¬ easterly direction towards Mount Hooton road, but even this is of doubtful antiquity. It is therefore probable that a continuous road from the river Leen crossing Nottingham Park to the Forest did not exist until a somewhat recent date. Coventry Lane itself is believed to have been a British trackway, but was probably utilised, as was so often the case, by the Romans. Whether the old road running through the valley in the direction of Lenton was a branch from Coventry Lane constructed by the Romans, must remain a matter of conjecture, as nothing of distinct Roman character in connection with the road itself has been met with ; but within a short distance from the line of this road, undeniable evidence of Roman occupation has been found. About fifty years ago, a portion of the foundation of the walls of what would appear to be a villa urbana was discovered on the Bath Hill, near Highfield House, but these remains were, unfortunately, never investigated. 1 Several fragments of tiles (1) It is somewhat singular that a Roman villa should have been discovered, in the year 1862, under almost similar circumstances, in the neighbourhood of Oxford. A Roman way ran from north to south, about three miles east of Oxford, uniting the PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 15 and pottery, found on the spot, together with some small bronze ornaments, the latter of which arc of undoubted Roman origin, have fortunately been preserved. 1 It is, however, much to be regretted that no more satisfactory details as to what was believed to have been the remains of the villa are obtainable. In the early part of the present century, it is said, a tessellated pavement was found in one of the “ Keighton meadows,” just beyond the Bath Hill, but definite information as to this discovery is also wanting. A small bronze coin, much defaced, of Constantine the Second (A.D. 340), was dug up in the gardens at Highfield House six or seven years ago, and in the year 1877 a fine bronze coin of the reign of Tacitus was found on the other side of the parish, in a garden occupied by Mr. John Place, on Park Road, New Lenton. The old inhabitants of Lenton had a tradition, now nearly forgotten, that a fierce battle was fought between the Britons and the Romans in the valley to the south-west of Old Lenton, and that the former were victorious, although they suffered severe losses. The skulls of horses as well as human remains two great Roman roads which, starting from the neighbourhood of Tring, diverged, the one towards the south-west, and the other to the north-west, but united again at Cirencester, inclosing a large oval space of country between them. The cross-road ran over high ground, and is now lost on Headington Hill amongst extensive quarries. In the neighbourhood of Stow Wood, to the north of Headington, it is very distinct, but in the neighbourhood of Beckley it is again imperfectly visible, and a portion, which was formerly considered as part of the main way, appeared to be rather a side branch of it. The correctness of this observation was fully proved by the discovery of a Roman villa at Beckley, about six miles to the north-east of Oxford. Roman coins had often been found in the neighbourhood. The villa was built on the northern slope of the hill, and must have commanded a very wide expanse of country to the north and east, of not less than 20 miles. The villa consisted of four oblong rooms, the walls of which, when discovered, were scarcely higher than the floor. The rooms were nearly of equal size, and together they formed a building of a regular oblong form, about 30 feet long by 20 feet wide, the floors of which were level, and covered with a tessellated pavement of very rude character. The tesserae of the floors arc about an inch square. Numerous fragments of rough Roman pottery have been found scattered about, and amongst the debris a single coin of Constantine, and several fragments of bone have been discovered. — The Archaological Journal , xx. 73. (1) The articles are now in possession of Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq., F.R.S. The most noticeable is a figure of a dolphin, about 2^ inches in length. There are also figures of a cock, and of some kind of fish, or serpent, and several which cannot be so readily identified. I c THE HISTORY OF THE have ocasionally been met with in the Keighton meadows, which appear to confirm the tradition, but, so far as can be ascertained, the only weapon that has been discovered, and of which we give an illustration, is a fine bronze sword, 1 evidently of the Roman period. This was found by some workmen employed in en¬ larging the lake at Highfield House, about the year 1830, lying near the remains of a human skeleton. The bones of the skeleton quickly perished on being exposed to the atmosphere, and the handle of the sword, which was either bone or wood, and which had been attached to the bronze hilt by four rivets, fell to pieces on being touched. The length of the weapon is about 24 inches, the blade is leaf-shaped and is 19J- inches long, and if inches in width at the broadest part, whilst the hilt is 4 \ inches long. About the same time that this was found, several other articles were also discovered and appropriated by the labourers, one of whom is said to have sold for a trifling sum a small silver cup or vessel, 2 which was quickly melted down and beyond recovery. We have already remarked that the parish of Lenton comprised the villages of Morton and Keighton. The manor of Morton is supposed to have formed the southern portion of the parish lying between the river Leen and the river Trent, and the village is conjectured to have been situated somewhere near where Dunkirk Farm now stands. The village of Keigh¬ ton, or Kirkton, appears to have occupied the site between Spring Close and Highfield Park, on the slope of the hill on the south side of the foot road to Beeston, locally known as “ Cut¬ throat” 3 Lane. This place, which formed part of the posses¬ sions of Lenton Priory, is not mentioned in the Domesday survey, and apparently had no manorial rights attached to it. The village seems to have fallen into decay as early as the year 1387, when the houses at this place belonging to the Prior of (1) This is also in the possession of Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq., F.R.S., of Shire- newton Hall, Monmouthshire. (2) One of the workmen, who subsequently confessed to having been a party to the theft, described it as a silver bell, but it is more likely to have been a bell-shaped cup or vessel. (3) Properly “ Cut-through ” Lane, a portion of a small sandstone cliff having been cut through to make way for the road. Recent improvements have sadly disfigured this once picturesque spot. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 17 Lenton were stated to be “ as much in want of repairs as of tenants.” The meadows on the hill side, still known as “ The Keightons,” present extraordinary and unnatural undulations, the origin of which has been the subject of considerable conjec¬ ture. Near to one of these hollows there was, within the memory of man, a subterranean passage hewn out of the sand¬ stone rock, the entrance to which was sheltered by an old thorn bush. There was a tradition amongst the villagers that this passage had originally led to Lenton Priory. 1 The passage, undoubtedly, ran for some considerable distance under the ground, but owing to the dangerous entrance, and the presence of water, it was never thoroughly explored. It was filled up some years ago, and the old thorn bush has since disappeared, but the entrance is still plainly indicated by a visible depression in the bank, and by the difference in the vegetation growing upon the spot. In excavating for clay on the side of the Bath Hill, at Highfield, a short distance to the eastward of the spot where what is believed to have been the remains of a Roman habitation were found, large quantities of broken pottery were met with about eight years ago. These were all of the earlier mediaeval type, and from the fact that most of the pieces were evidently the fragments of utensils which had been distorted, or otherwise damaged, in the process of baking, it seems evident that there must have been a kiln near here, probably belonging to the monks of Lenton, and that these were the damaged articles which had been discarded as worthless. (1) Similar and equally improbable traditions of subterranean passages in connection with monasteries and castles are to be found in all parts of the country. Of the existence of this particular passage there can be no doubt whatever, but its alleged connection with Lenton Priory must obviously be fallacious. 0 SECTION II. MANORIAL AND EARLY HISTORY. HE manorial history of Lenton may be said to commence with the Domesday Book. From this survey, completed in the year 1086, we find that certain lands were in the hands of the king, while the greater portion had been granted to, and formed part of the vast possessions of, William Peverel. The king’s land is thus described :— S. In Lentone 1111 . bov. t’rse ad gld. Soca in Ernehale. Wasta e’. Translation :— Soke. In Lentone (Lenton) four oxgangs of land to be taxed. Soke in Ernehale (Arnold). It is waste. The lands held by William Peverel are thus enumerated :— M. In LENTVNE. lib Vnlof. 11 II. bou’ t’rae ad gld. Tra dim’ car’. Modo in custodia Willi. Ibi. isd Vlnod ht. I. car’. 7 I. uill’ 7 I. bord’ h’ntes. I. car’. 7 I. molin’ X. solid. 7 X ac’ p’ti. 7 acs siluae min’. T.R.E. ual’ X. sol’ m° XV. S. In Lentune. II. car t’re ad gld. Soca in Neubold. Tra II. car’. Ibi. 1111 . soch’ 7 1111 , bord h’nt. II. car’ 7 I molin’. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 19 Translation :— Manor. In Lentune (Lenton) Unlof had four oxgangs of land to be taxed. Land to half a plough. It is now in the wardship of William (Peverel). The same Unlof has there one plough and one villane and one bordar having one plough, and one mill of ten shillings, and ten acres of meadow, and ten acres of coppice wood. Value in King Edward’s time ten shillings, now fifteen (shillings). Soke. In Lentune (Lenton) two carucates of land to be taxed, soke in Newbold. Land to two ploughs. Four soke- men and four bordars have there two ploughs and one mill. The origin of William Peverel, the first Norman lord of Lenton, is enveloped in mystery. He is commonly reputed to have been a natural son of Duke William of Normandy, by a daughter of Ingelric, an Anglo-Saxon thane, who was a benefactor, if not the founder, of the collegiate church of St. Martin-le-Grand, in London. This lady’s name is doubtful ; by Morant she is called Maud, whilst Leland calls her Ingelrica. 1 It is further stated that Ingelric’s daughter, the mistress of the Conqueror, was given in marriage, by Duke William, to one Ranulph Peverel, a Norman knight, who accompanied the Conqueror to England, and that her husband consented that her bastard son should bear the name of Peverel also. The more general account, however, is that the wife of Ranulph Peverel became the mistress of the Conqueror, whose issue by her took the name of her husband’s family. 2 Peverel’s connection with the county of Nottingham commences very shortly after the Norman Conquest. In io6d, the newly erected castle of Nottingham was confided to his charge ; 3 and at the time of the compilation of the Domesday survey, he was lord of one hundred and sixty-two manors in England, and possessed in Nottingham alone, forty-eight merchants’ or traders’ houses, thirteen knights’ houses, and eight bondsmen’s houses, in addition to ten acres of land granted to him by the king to make a wall round the town, (1) Collectanea , i. 55. (2) Planche, Conqueror and his Companions , ii. 265. (3) The Conqueror, etc., ii. 259. 20 THE HISTORY OF THE and the churches of St. Mary, St. Peter, and St. Nicholas, 1 all of which he gave, as will be hereafter seen, to Lenton Priory. 2 The late Mr. Planche, Somerset Herald, remarks that it is a significant fact, “ that in all the battles and commotions, of which Normandy was the theatre during the thirty years preceding the Conquest, the name of Peverel, if such a family existed in the duchy, never crops up, even accidentally, in any of the pages of the contemporary chronicles.” 3 Such being the case, if the reputed parentage of William Peverel be erroneous, as is now urged by several authorities, how are we to account for the fact that he was endowed by the wary and suspicious Conqueror with such immense possessions, and obtained so responsible and important a trust as the custody of Nottingham Castle, when, if the date of his death in the register of St. James’s Priory, Northampton, which he founded, * 4 can be relied upon, he could scarcely have then been more than four or five-and-twenty years of age. The story of Peverel’s birth is rejected by Mr. Freeman with contempt and indigna¬ tion, “ as the unsupported assertion of a herald ; ” 5 and Eyton, in his history of Shropshire, discredits the report on the grounds that “ it is inconsistent with the general character of Duke William;” and further, because “this alleged liaison with a Saxon lady of rank can have originated in no earlier circumstance than the event of the Duke’s visit to the court of Edward the Confessor, in 1051 whilst “ William Peverel must have been born before that period, for he was old enough, in 1068, to be intrusted with one of the most responsible affairs in the kingdom.” 6 “ To whom,” asks Mr. Planche, in reference to the first of these arguments, ‘ shall we refer for the general character of this master of dissimulation, who so thoroughly understood and practised the policy of assuming a virtue if he had it not? To his paid servants and courtly flatterers, Guillaume de Poictiers, his own chaplain, or Guy of Amiens, his wife’s almoner, who, if he did write the ‘ Carmen de Bello, I consider not worthy to be believed on his oath ? These are (1) Domesday Book. (3) The Conqueror , etc., ii. 260. (5) Norman Conquest, iii. 656. (2) Mon. Angl., v. 113. (4) Mon. Angl., vi. 114. (6) Eyton’s Shropshire, ix. 69. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 2 1 the only actual contemporaries who could have informed us what was the Duke’s general character for morality in Normandy in his own time, and they have not thought it worth while to do so.” 1 Replying to the second objection, Planche very justly observes that it is quite possible “ that the Saxon lady of rank might have visited Normandy before 1051, a circumstance which would remove the only serious difficulty in the story. 2 “Mystery” Mr. Eyton admits “there certainly is about the whole subject, and the truth may be buried, very possibly, with some tale of courtly scandal, though not of the precise character pointed out.” “ History, it has been said, repeats itself, and the account given by Dugdale of William’s liaison with the daughter of Ingelric is curiously similar to that of his father, Robert, with the daughter of Fulbert the furrier. There is nothing remarkable in such circumstances, except their coincidence with those of Robert and Herleve, nor indeed in that, as they were of common occurrence in Normandy, and tolerated, if not sanc¬ tioned, as the custom of the country. And what if the existence, not only of a wife more Danico , but of a son, should have been one of the hitches in the matrimonial arrangements of William and Matilda of Flanders ? Several good reasons might be adduced to show the bearing of the case on the mystery that still enshrouds the singular courtships of the lady, and the unexplained prohibition of the Pope.” 3 Ranulph Peverel, who is also referred to in the Domesday survey as the lord of sixty-four manors, founded the Priory of Hatfield Peverel, in Essex/* at the instigation of Ingelrica, his wife, and supposing the story to be true that this lady was the mother of the founder of Lenton Priory, it seems altogether more probable that she became the mistress of Duke William after she had married Ranulph Peverel, for we find that Hammo, or Hammond, the eldest son of this Ranulph Peverel, was settled in England a few years after the Norman invasion, being then one of the chief tenants, or barons, of Roger Montgomery Earl (1) The Conqueror , etc., ii. 261. (3) Ibid, ii. 265. (2) Ibid., ii. 262. (4) Mon. Angl., iii. 294. "> o THE HISTORY OF THE of Shrewsbury. We may venture to conclude that this Hammo Peverel was the half-brother of William Peverel, of Nottingham, and besides Hammo, he had probably two other half-brothers, namely: Payne, or Pagan Peverel, of Bourne, in Cambridge¬ shire, the founder of Barnwell Priory, 1 2 3 in that county, and that William Peverel who is commonly styled as of Dover. But on this point genealogists disagree, and it is alleged that there is no evidence to prove that the Ranulph Peverel, of Domesday, had any other son than the William Peverel, who was afterwards called of Essex, or of London, to distinguish him from his con¬ temporaries, William Peverel, of Nottingham, and William Peverel, of Dover. Pedigree of Peverel, of Nottingham. William, died William Peverel,of Notting- = Oddona, Matilda, 16 kal. May, ham ,3 heir to his father, dau. of., living in 1100. Presumed to have died be- . 1130. fore the year 1149. Adeliza, mar. lo Richd. de Rivieres, lord of Shipbroke, co. Chester. Ilenrv, died in his William Peverel, of Nottingham ; living 18 Stephen, 1 ILenry father’s lifetime. II. ; manied Avicia de Lancaster, and, according to doubtful authority, had a daughter and heiress, Margaret, married to William, Earl of Ferrers, and had issue. (1) A/on. AngL, vi. 83. (2) In Tonge’s Visitation, circa 1530, the following occurs :—“ Peverelles armes ys golde and azure verrey. And his cieste ys a Saresins hed. And his beste ys a lyon gueules mordrying a dragon with his mouth .”—Hurl MS. 1499., f. 42. (3) In “Worthies of Nottinghamshire,” p. 3., it is stated that this William must have been very young at the foundation of Lenton Priory, as his brother of the same name had died in 1100. But it was common in those days for two brothers, living at the same time, to bear the same Christian name. Innumerable instances of this might he quoted. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 23 Adelina, his wife (whose parentage has not been ascertained), is mentioned by William Peverel, of Nottingham, in his charter to Lenton Priory, and we find by the same document that he had a son, also named William, and other children who are not named. Two of these children were daughters, Matilda (men¬ tioned in the Pipe Roll, 31 Henry I.), and Adeliza, who, in an Exchequer Roll, is stated to be the wife of Richard de Rivieres. According to the register of the Priory of St. James, Northamp¬ ton, William Teverel died the fifth kalends of February, in the year 1113, Adelina, his wife, surviving him, according to the same authority, only six years. This, however, does not agree with the fact that, in the fifth year of the reign of King Stephen, “Adelina, mother of William Peverel, of Nottingham,” was pardoned by the king eighteen shillings, as appears by the Sheriff’s account of the Dane Geld for that year, 1140, 1 unless we are to suppose that the debt incurred by the mother was pardoned to her son, after her death. The register of St. James’s, Northampton, also certifies that Sir William, son of the elder William Peverel, died in his father’s lifetime, the date of his death being given as the sixteenth of the kalends of May, 1100. It is sufficiently evident that the founder of Lenton Priory had two sons of his own name, one of whom succeeded to his father’s possessions. This last named William Peverel was one of the temporal barons who attended King Stephen at the great council held at Oxford in the first year of his reign, and wit¬ nessed the laws then ordained and ratified by the King. 2 3 Two years later (1138) he commanded the Nottinghamshire troops at the battle of the Standards King Stephen, being afterwards at Nottingham, confirmed to the Prior and Monks of Lenton, at the request of William Peverel, and of Oddona, his wife, and of Henry, their son, the donations of William Peverel (father of this William) and of William himself, who is styled in the charter, “William Peverel, junior.” 4 We find from the Pipe Roll (5 Stephen) that in 1 140, William Peverel, of Nottingham, gave (1) 1 horolon, p. 289. (2) Statutes of the Realm, charter 3 ; Stubbs’ Select. Charters , p. 121. (3) John of Hexham, p. 119 ; Florence of Worcester, ii., ill. (4) See the charter, section iv., post. 24 THE HISTORY OF THE account of the sum of ,£23 6s. 8d. of the Pleas of the Forest, in Nottinghamshire. In the following year, 1141, was fought the battle of Lincoln, in which King Stephen was taken prisoner, and with him his faithful adherent, William Peverel. The latter appears to have speedily regained his liberty, and contrived, by stratagem, to retake Nottingham Castle, which had been captured on behalf of the Empress Matilda, by William Painel, some time during the previous year. 1 At another time, this second William Peverel, with the consent of his heir, William Peverel, the younger, restored to the monks of Lenton the churches of Higham and Raunds, in Northamptonshire, which had been bestowed upon them by William Peverel, his father, at the entreaty of his faithful wife, Adelina, and which, by ill advice he had unjustly detained from the Priory. 2 Thus we have evidence that the before-named son, Henry, had pre-deceased his father, and that a younger son, William, was then heir. This William Peverel, for the health of his soul, and for the repose of the souls of his father and mother, gave to the monks of Garendon, in Leicestershire, all the demesne lands, about thirteen bovates, which they had held of him in Costock. There is no record of the death of the second William Peverel, but it is presumed that it occurred before the year 1149. Dugdale 3 has made a strange confusion by mixing up the first with the second William Peverel, making the former, who died in 1113, to have been present at the battle of the Standard in 1138, and at the battle of Lincoln in 1141. He mentions only two generations of this family, and his opinion is shared by several eminent genealogists, yet it seems far more probable that Camden is correct in ascribing the following to the grandson, rather than to the son, of the founder of Lenton Priory. In 1152, an agreement was arrived at between Stephen and his opponent, Henry, and in 1154, the death of Stephen gave the throne of England to Henry, who succeeded him as Henry the Second. He was crowned on the 19th of December in the same year, and one of his earliest acts in the following year was to (1) John of Hexham, p. 136, 141. (2) Thoroton, p. 488. (3) Baronage, i. 4367. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 25 disinherit William Peverel, upon the charge of his having conspired with Maud, Countess of Chester, to poison her husband, Earl Ranulph, surnamed Gernon. The cause of Peverel’s disinheritance is distinctly stated by the Chronicon Roffense, the register of Dunstable, Matthew Paris, Matthew of Westminster, and Gervase of Canterbury, as being the foul crime already named. * 1 The latter authority adds that Peverel, either because he feared the rigour of the king, or in expiation of his crime, left his worldly goods, and caused himself to be shaven and cowled a monk, and took refuge in a neighbouring monastery, 2 which was obviously that of Lenton ; in February, 1155,in mortal dread, he secretly escaped and fled away, leaving all his castles and stores to the mercy of the king. 3 It is, however, an undisputed fact that King Henry, before he ascended the throne, most probably in 1152, had given to the same Ranulph, Earl of Chester, the whole fee of Peverel, only excepting his manor of Higham, in Northamptonshire, unless William Peverel could clear himself' of his wickedness and treason.* From this there is little doubt that the offence for which William Peverel was deprived of his lands was the staunch support that he and his family had afforded to the cause of King Stephen. 5 Shortly previous to the forfeiture of his estates, the third William Peverel appears to have conferred certain privileges upon the canons of Darley, near Derby, which were confirmed by Avicia de Lancaster, his wife, 6 between the years 1149 and 1159. 7 From her surname, this lady might be conjectured to have been a daughter of Roger de Poitou, son of Roger de Montgomeri, Earl of Shrewsbury, who was sometimes called Earl of Lancaster, in consequence of the large possessions in that county which he obtained with his wife. But it is at the same time possible that she may have been one of the family of the Barons of Kendal, of whom William de Lancaster was a (1) The Conqueror , etc., ii. 71. (2) Gervase of Canterbury, i. 161. (3) Gervase of Canterbury, i. 161. (4) Rymer’s Fadera, i. 16. (5) Blore’s Rutlandshire , p. 143-4. (6) Mon. Ang ., vi. 361. (7) i.e ., during the episcopacy of Walter (Durdent) of Chester, 1149-1159 (Le Neve, i. 544). 26 THE HISTORY OF THE wealthy and powerful personage in the reigns of Henry the First, Stephen, and Henry the Second. After Peverel’s flight from the kingdom, we hear nothing further of the family; and it is probable that he ended his days in obscurity. The castles and vast possessions constituting the fee of Peverel, which, with the exception of a single manor in Northamptonshire, had been given to the Earl of Chester, reverted to the Crown during the close of the reign of Henry the Second, 1 and were bestowed, in 1174, by that king upon his son, John, Earl of Mortaigne. 2 3 On the accession of that prince to the throne, the honour of Peverel became annexed to the Crown, in which it always after continued^ The famous castle of the Peak, which has caused Peverel’s descendants to be known as the “ Peverels of the Peak,” remained part of the royal demesnes until the close of the reign of Edward the Third, when it was bestowed on John of Gaunt, and the castle thus became absorbed in the Duchy of Lancaster. William Peverel, the last of his name, is said, according to doubtful authority, to have had a daughter named Margaret, married to an Earl of Ferrers, who, in her right, became heir to a considerable portion of the Peverel estates, or was made so on the disinheritance of her father. In consequence of this marriage, the Earls of Ferrers are said to have abandoned the ancient arms of their house, and to have assumed those of Peverel. Deering * states that William, Earl of Ferrers, married Margaret, daughter and heiress of William Peverel, and adds that the marriage rites were performed at Canterbury by Archbishop Thomas a Beckett. He further states that the earl died in 1172, and that the countess died in the same year and month as her husband. In commenting upon the absence of any mention of this Margaret Peverel in any contemporary document, Mr. Planche proceeds to notice, that although a Plea Roll of the 25th year of the reign of Henry the Third certainly proves that, during the war between the king and his barons, some Earl of Ferrers had assumed a right of heirship to William Peverel, this (1) Gervase of Canterbury, i. 161 ; Robert de Monte, viii. 504. (2) Benedictus Abbas, i. 78 ; Roger de Hoveden, ii. 69. (3) See section xvi., post. (4) Nottinghamia Vctus et Nova, p. 201. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 27 assumption might be explained upon other grounds than that of a match with the heiress of Peverel. 1 The Oblate Roll of the first year of the reign of King John, states that William, Earl of Ferrers, “ gave two thousand marcs for the manors of Higham, Blisworth, and Newbottle, in Northamptonshire, so that the king gave him the park of Higham, which the Lord Henry, his great¬ grandfather, had given in exchange to the ancestors of William Peverel.” 2 “This William, Earl of Ferrers,” remarks Mr. Planche, “ was the one who unquestionably married Agnes, daughter of Hugh Kivelix, Earl of Chester, and sister and co¬ heiress of Ranulph Blundeville, the last earl of that line, and consequently he might fairly found his pretensions to the rest of the lands of William Peverel, upon the gift of the whole fee to Ranulph Gernon, his wife’s grandfather.” Confirmatory evidence of this alleged marriage appears to be altogether wanting. Such is the substance of all that has been handed down to us of the founder of Fenton Priory, and of his posterity. We have already remarked that the origin of Peverel is enveloped in intrigue and mystery, and in intrigue and mystery we lose sight of his descendants. Upon the Priory of Lenton, William Peverel bestowed his whole manor of Lenton, excepting four water-mills, together with all his demesne lands in Keighton, Morton, Radford, and elsewhere. The chief manor thus came into the hands of the Prior and Monks of Lenton, and continued in the possession of the confraternity until the final suppression of religious houses in the time of King Henry the Eighth. The manor of Lenton then, as now, included the whole of the parish of Radford, as is shown by the following perambula¬ tion, which is taken from an interesting document from the office of the king’s remembrancer in the Exchequer—“ Inquisitio tangens divisiones manerii de Lenton per metas et Bundas a manerio de Wilford. Mich. Eliz. ro. 381.” 3 The following is a copy of the document :—“ Inquisition Indented and taken at the Castle of Nottingham in the County aforesaid the 3rd day (1, 2) The Conqueror, etc., i. 70. (3) Mon. Ang., v. 10. 28 THE HISTORY OF THE of October in the 17th year of the Reign of our Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen, &c., before John Manors 1 Esq r Edward Stanhope 2 3 Esq r - Surveyors of all and Singular the Honoiers, Castles, Lordships, Manors, Lands, Tenements, Possessions and Hereditaments aforesaid of our Lady the Queen that now is in the County of Nottingham, and John Bounds, 3 Gent., Commissioners of our Lady the Queen by Virtue of the Commission of our said Lady the Queen directed to the said Commissioners and others Joyned in the Commission upon the Oaths of Henry Stanley Gent : John Hutchinson Gent : Geo Houghton, John Wylde, Rich d Wylde, W m Chamberlayne, Geo Brunt, Gabriel Greves, Rob c Sawell, Rich d Newton, Hugh Burrow, Anthony Curteys, Geo Crossland, Robt Burr, Edm d Locke, Rich d Heylowe, who upon their Oaths say, that the Manor of Lenton in the Commission aforesaid mentioned with Radford reaches to the several parishes of Lenton Radford and Bilborrow in the County of Nottingham aforesaid is Divided and separated from the aforesaid Manor of Wilford in the said Commission also named by the Limits Meets and Bounds herein aftermentioned (that is to say) the said Manor of Lenton extends from the South side of the River Lyne opposite the said Manor of Wilford in a certain place parcel of the Manor of Lenton called the Willow Holme part of which place called the Willow Holme is contiguous and Adjacent to the said Manor of Wilford and abuts upon a certain Meadow of our Lady the Queen called King’s Meadow in Nottingham in the County aforesaid towards the North and upon the aforesaid Manor of Wilford towards the East and is Divided and separated by part of the said Manor of Wilford called Wilford Meadows the same (1) He was second son of Thomas, first Earl of Rutland, and was subsequently honoured with knighthood. The story of his elopement with Dorothy Vernon, of Haddon (now, alas, considered apocryphal), is well known. His grandson eventually succeeded to the earldom, and was ancestor of the present Duke of Rutland. (2) He is doubtless identical with Edward Stanhope, of Grimston, in Yorkshire, sometime M. P. for that county, who was also afterwards knighted. Pie was second son of Sir Michael Stanhope, to whom Shelford Priory was granted by King Henry the Eighth, and who also held a lease of the site of Lenton Priory for forty years. (3) Properly Boun, or Bohun. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 29 being contiguous and adjoining by a certain Ancient Ditch which said Ditch begins at the aforesaid Meadow called the King’s Meadow Divided and Separated by the said Willow Holme of the aforesaid Meadow called Wilford Meadow towards a certain place Parcel of the aforesaid Manor of Lenton called Lenton Holmes towards the South where a certain Rivulet descends from the Town of Lenton aforesaid and then runs towards the East to the aforesaid place called the Willow Holmes ; Divided and separated by the said Places called Lenton Holmes parcel of the Manor of Lenton aforesaid lying near the aforesaid Meadow called Wilford Meadow parcel of the said Manor of Wilford towards a certain place in Wilford aforesaid called Wilford pastures where beginneth a certain great Ditch with a Quickset Hedge there lately made which said Ditch divides the aforesaid place called Lenton Holmes from the aforesaid place called Wilford pasture towards a certain place in Wilford aforesaid parcel of the said Manor of Wilford called Wilford great Steynour lying at the end of the aforesaid Ditch towards the South and from thence the said place called Lenton Holmes from the South part is Divided and separated by the aforesaid great Steynour near a certain bank towards the West in Length an Hundred and Sixty Feet or thereabout to be repaired and kept up by the Inhabitants of Lenton and afterwards Divided by a Rail between the said Bank and the Trent in Length Sixty Feet or thereabouts likewise to be repaired and maintained by the Inhabitants of Lenton, in the middle of the Rail there should be a Gate for the Inhabitants of Wilford aforesaid for the carriage of Crops growing in the Meadow of Wilford together with passage for their Cattle as there shall be Occasion and the said Rail towards the further part of the said Manor of Lenton towards the West (that is to say) to the West part of a certain place called Prior Wong from thence abutting upon the Meadows of Beeston in the County aforesaid to the West of the said Manor of Lenton, divided and separated from the aforesaid Manor of Wilford by the aforesaid Bank and River Trent to Beeston Stoopes. And afterwards the said Jurors on their Oaths say that the said Manor of Lenton particularly and separately extends to the 50 THE HISTORY OF THE place called Beeston Stoopcs leaving the Horse Doles towards a close in the aforesaid Manor of Lenton called [word illegible] Terry’s Close and from thence by the Exterior Hedge of a certain Close called the Rounds and then following the Hedge towards [word omitted] called Tuttle berry Gate 1 and from thence by the Hedge of a certain close within the aforesaid Manor of Lenton called Broom Close towards-Gate and thus by the Hedge of a certain Field belonging to Francis Willougbie Knight of Woollaton in the said County of Nottingham called the Fat Field and so by the Hedge surrounding a Field called the Sixty Acres to the Gate [called] Derby Gate and from the said Gate by the Hedge belonging to our Lady the Queen round one side of the Fields of Lenton towards a wood called Aspley Wood, half of which is lying and being in the parish of Bilborrow in the County of Nottingham aforesaid and so round the said Wood towards a stone called Tranches Stone, which divides the Manor of Lenton aforesaid from the lands of Anthony Strelley Knight through a parcel of his Manor of Bilborrow and from the aforesaid Stone towards a certain Syke 2 between the aforesaid Manor of Lenton and the Manor of Basford in the said County of Nottingham and thus following the said Syke to the River Lyne and so descending by the River Lyne to the Mill called Blackcliff and from the said Mill to the south end of a close belonging to a Tenement called Eland Hall and from thence to a Double Ditch between the said Manor of Lenton and the said Manor of Basford and then ascending the Top of a Hill called Tohow and from thence descending by a small Ditch to a certain way called the Cross way and so descending to a Dale called Swine Dale so by a way through the middle called the Dale, following the Metes and Bounds to a stone called Tranches Stone of Nottingham near the Malt Mill and from the said Mill by the Metes and Bounds of the Town of Nottingham (that is to say) the Bounder Stoole to the Meadow of our Lady the Queen of (1) The word gate, here and elsewhere, signifies a road. The word with this signification was formerly in common use throughout the northern parts of England, and is of Norse origin. (2) This is an old local word, now nearly obsolete, signifying a small stream of running water. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 3 1 Nottingham by the West part of the said Meadow to the River Lyne and over the Water to a Hedge of the Meadow called the King’s Meadow where it begins. And Lastly the said Jurors upon their Oaths say that the said Jervas Clifton Knight and his ancestors and all others whose Estates the said Jervas now holds in the said Manor of Wilford of which the Memory of Man is not to the contrary freely and wholly possessed and enjoyed all the water of the River Trent aforesaid contiguous adjacent and running by the Manor of Lenton aforesaid with the course and bed of the same water separately to fish in the same by himself his men and servants Except that all the Inhabitants within the said Manor of Lenton ought to have a passage through the aforesaid Water of the Trent to water and refresh all their cattle from time to time. In witness whereof &c A.D. 1575.” After the dissolution of Lenton Priory, the manor was retained by the Crown until about the commencement of the reign of King Charles the First, when it was granted to the corporation of the City of London. In 1628, the manor of Lenton, together with the ancient fair and all royalties, privileges, rents, and services, thereunto belonging, was granted in fee farm, by letters patent, dated September the 9th, that same year, to Edward Dichfield, salter, John Highlord, skinner, Humphrey Clarke, dyer, and Francis Mosse, scrivener, citizens of London, who were constituted commissioners, and duly authorised and empowered by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commoners of the said city, to sell and dispose of such manors, lordships, lands and tenements, as had been granted to them by King Charles the First. Accordingly, by their indenture, dated November the 6th, 1630, the said Edward Dichfield, John Highlord, Humphrey Clarke, and Francis Mosse, sold to William Gregory, gentleman, one of the aldermen of Nottingham, for the sum of .£2,500, the manor of Lenton with all due appurtenances, excepting an annual fee-farm rent of £94, which had been reserved by the Crown. 1 Alderman William Gregory, the purchaser of the manor of (1) Thoroton, p. 219. THE HISTORY OF THE Lenton, served as one of the sheriffs of the town of Nottingham in 1618, and was mayor in 1632, and again in 1639. Thoroton says of him that he had by agricultural pursuits “ raised a very considerable estate from the lowest beginning ” ; 1 yet it seems that he claimed to be descended, through a younger branch, from an ancient family seated at High Hurst, in Lancashire. Sufficient evidence of such descent was not, however, forth¬ coming at the Visitation of 1662, when armorial bearings were granted to the Nottingham family. The will of “William Gregory, of the town and county of the town of Nottingham, gentleman, one of the aldermen of the said town/’ which is dated June the 18th, 1650, was proved in London, before the judges for the probate of wills, by his elder son, John Gregory, February the 5th, 1650-1. He devised thereby all those three water corn-mills, with two houses, eight crofts, tofts, closes, or pingles, and eleven acres of land belonging to the same mills, in the parishes of Lenton and Radford, and all his tithe of hay growing within the liberties and territories of Lenton and Radford, to his grandson, George Gregory, eldest son of his son, John Gregory, and to the heirs of his body in tail, and if he should die without lawful issue, he devised the same, in like manner, to his grandsons, Philip Gregory, Francis Gregory, and Edward Gregory, the second, third, and fourth sons of the said John Gregory, in priority of birth successively, and to their heirs, in tail. The whole residue of his lands in the county of Nottingham, and within the town and county of the town of Nottingham, he devised to his elder son, the said John Gregory, and his heirs. The fee-farm rent of the manor of Lenton, reserved by the Crown, had been granted, by letters patent, dated December the 16th, 1638, to James Stuart, Duke of Lennox and Richmond, and was sold by that nobleman, February the 20th, 1650-1, for £1,460, to the above-named John Gregory, and to George Gregory, his eldest surviving son and heir. 2 This John Gregory (who, like his father, had espoused the (1) Thoroton, p. 479. (2) Thoroton, p. 219. PARISH AND PRIORV OF LENTON. 33 Parliamentary cause in the civil wars ') died in January, 1654-5, and by his will, which is dated December the 20th, 1654, and proved at York in the Prerogative Court, he devised his manor of Lenton, with his lands in Lenton and Radford, to his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, until such time as his eldest surviving son, George Gregory, should attain the age of twenty-one years. His widow survived him for more than twenty-five years, and by her will, dated September the 8th, 1681, and proved in the Prerogative Court of York, that same year, she bequeathed to her son, George Gregory, her great silver tankard ; to her daughter, Anne Dand, her diamond ring with six stones ; to her daughter, Winifred Gregory, the diamond ring that her husband had given her; to her daughter, Susanna Gregory, the wife of her son, George Gregory, she bequeathed her amethyst ring ; and there are various small pecuniary legacies. In 1662, George Gregory, Esquire, the eldest surviving son and heir to the above-named John Gregory, having obtained a patent of armorial bearings, entered his pedigree in the Heralds’ Visitation. About a year later, he had permission, by letters patent, dated November 9th, 1663, for another fair to be held within his manor of Lenton, upon the first Wednesday after the feast of Pentecost, and on the six following days. He served as High Sheriff of the county in 1666, and dying in 1684,* was buried in St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham. His eldest surviving son, George Gregory, Esquire, was High Sheriff for the county in 1694, and for some years represented the borough of Nottingham in the Whig interest. He was also appointed one of the Storekeepers of Ordnance, and was likewise a commissioner “for the sale of rebels’ estates,” after the futile attempt to restore the Stuart dynasty in 1715. His descendants (who subsequently were seated at Harlaxton Manor, in Lincoln- (1) Iiis name appears, together with James Chadwick, Esquire, Huntingdon Plumptre, M. D., and Alderman John James, as commissioner for collecting the weekly assessment in the town of Nottingham for the payment of the army raised by the Parliament, and to defray other expenses incurred during the civil contentious. (2) The old mansion in Nottingham, in which this gentleman resided, and which was partly rebuilt by him in 1674, stood on what was then called Swine’s Green, near the top of Pelham Street. Messrs. Wrights’ Bank now occupies some portion of the site. The mansion is shown in Thoroton’s “ North East Prospect of Nottingham,” and also in an engraving of the “ East Prospect of Nottingham,” originally drawn by Thomas Sandby, about the year 1750. 4 34 THE HISTORY OF THE shire, as may be seen on reference to the accompanying pedigree) continued in possession of the chief manor of Lenton for a considerable number of years. In i860, upon the the death of George Gregory, Esquire, the last male heir of this family, the manor devolved upon John Sherwin Sherwin, of Bramcote Hills, Esquire, 1 who was vested as the next in succession under the entail of the will of the late George de Ligne Gregory, Esquire, and who thereupon assumed the name and arms of Gregory, by royal license. John Sherwin Gregory, Esquire, had no issue, and upon his decease, June the 7th, 1869, the manor passed, by devise, to his widow, Mrs. Catherine Sherwin Gregory, who is the present lady of the manor, and one of the chief owners of the soil. The manor is now reputed to include all such portions of the parishes of Lenton and Radford as did not anciently constitute any part of the demesne lands of Lenton Priory. The View of the Frank pledge or Great Court Leet, with the Court Leet of the Lady of the Manor, is held on the Tuesday in Easter week. The court roll does not, however, contain many items of interest. The following are taken from the lists of fines:— April 21, 1747. “Humphrey Hopkins for not scouring his Ditch at Blotoff ------ 6d.” April 4, 1749. “William Dickinson for neglecting to do his Duty as a Juryman along with his ffellows and deserting such his Service ------ is.” “ Robert Cassells for the like heinous offence - is.” On April 24th in the same year, we find that “ Rebecca Garland was admitted as a Freeholder of Lenton at this Court.” Another entry states that Rebecca Garland took the oath of fealty to the Lord of the Manor, April 20th, 1762 (1) There was only a very distant connection between the two families. Reference to the Gregory pedigree will show that Barbara, daughter of George Gregory, of Nottingham, Esq., married George Needham, of Little Wymondley, in the county of Hertford, Esq. The issue of this marriage was three daughters, one of whom became the wife of John Sherwin, Esq., High Sheriff of this county in 1721, who was the maternal great-grandfather of the above-named John Sherwin Sherwin, Esq. Ipe&tflree of iBicgorv. of mottingbam. (A>uit» M, v .u Lan itri /*%*', A/S. CdfmUnt,) Arms.- (Granted lo George Gregory, of ihc town of Nottingham, Etq , .1 lb, VUuilio ..f 1661) CM* m , , hl „ „ Crmt.—T hree garln »r, banded pt/u. MoTra-”Crux tcutum." Thomw Gregory, of llrouditon Sutney, co. Non* , Yeoman, *on of Hugh Gregory. = Dorothy, d.iu of a younger eon of William Gregory, of High Hunt, CO, Lancaster, Kiq. | * I ~ John Gregory, of Broughton Sulncy, Yeoman. = Alice, dau, of... croaalcl of the field. . Rcctton. I f Nottingham, clde.t =• Anne, dan. of Adam lackvon, of Notting- John Gi . T" Ji , . ll,l l ,, "l ,T >at°r of. ham ; baft, at St. -Mary s Not ingham, ’ *«on. LentOO, by pureha.e, in 1630; ImnedalM, Mary., 1 Jan., 15834; buried there 8 March, Nottingham, 23 Aug., 165a | 1664-5. Gregory, of Nottingham, Gentleman, elder - Eli/al-th, . April, 1705, Mary\ Not || ngham, 13 lulv. 1648; marr. lint to Gerv.i-vShip- roan.Gent.; secondly at St. Mary's a Winifred, 1 -apt. at St. Mary's Nottingham, I Aug., 1650; marr. at Sncrnton, *8 April, 1694, to Jcneph Midd- leinotc, of Slanton-by- - • ...uw.w, Derby, E-,., Cheater, 28 Sept., Dand, of Manrfield buried at si. Mary's WiH.lhouve, eo. Nottingham, 4 Jan., 3 Jan., 1007-8 ; Nott'cham, bur. there, 3 15 March, March, 1607-8. 166S-9 ; George Gregory, of Notting- = Susanna, ham, Eaq. t third »on ; vuc- . etcnlunl ended hit father ; bapt. 111 St. | of William W'il- Mary’s Nottingham, 2 Feb., harm, of Kemp- Ibto 70 ; High Sheriff for ' »'on Hall, co. co. Noll*., 1694; M.P. for Not!* ,Esq ; died Nottingham, 1702. 1714 and 8 Feb., 1756: 1722 ; bur.atSt.Maiy'v,Not- bur. at Denton, lingham, to April, 1746. I co, Lincoln. and John, fourth Richard, fifth William, sixth Robert, 1 bapt. Mary .• M ly, 1671 buried there, buried Jar,., 23 Nov. St. Mary's Nottingham,' venth St. Mary'*, bap-. a Nottingham, Mary's No Throphdus eighth *un ; bapt. at St. Mary’*, Not I T~ 1098 - 9 . 1699 . February, lingham, 15 lingham, 13 married there, 1674-5; huned Feb,,1676-7; March, 19 April, 1688, there, 27 buried there, 1679-80; t<> Baitbolo- Feb., 1674-5. 27 March, died unmar- mew Bui ton, W'illiamscld evt von ; bapt. f cGiei (all. c ot St Mary's afterward* of Harluton 1 (by Elizabeth, dau. and be ire»» of St. Mary's Mary's Not- dert, and Rector of D.D., Rector of Cot- Nottingham, Manor, co. Lincoln, E*q., j Daniel Tyrwhitt, E*q.,»on of Scope Notlinghm. lingham, 71I1 Anhwei I. cou Rut- grave, co. Notts, and ward); Inpi. at 20 Nov.. iccond ton ; bapt. at St. ( Tyiwhilt, E*q .wlioic wife wax the 14 Oct., Nov., 1699; land; bapt. at St. -< «• «• ' • 1694; buried Mary’s Nottingham, 19 eldest dam and eventual co-hcircv* 1698; thcic, 13 Aug., 1697 ; died 26 Nov., of Sir Daniel De Ligne, of llatlav- there, to Jan., 1726-7. 1758 ; bur. at Harlaiton. ton. co. I.incoln, Knt.); died 20 Jan.,1698-9. 1 Dec., 1758 ; buried at Harliuton. 1699; land; bapt. at St. Vicar of St Mary’s I there, Mary's Notting- Nottingham; survived ’’ ham, 10 May, 17»>; her hud-and, and died died without male 26 Dec., 1771. Susanna, bapt. Elizabeth, Barbara, bapt. at Mary, Uipt. at St Mary*, lvipt.it St. St. Mary’*, Not- at St. Mary's Nottingham, Mary's lingham, 29 Nottingham, -.e \t„ .sax. Notting- July. 1678; roar- 16 April, ham, 12 riot in Gouge 1683 (buried May, 1672; Needham, of there, 25 bur. there, Lit tie Wymond- Jnly, 1733?). 14 May, ley, co. Hens, 1672. Eiq. I -Suwinna, Selim, bapt. Suunna, l*ipt. dau. of at St.Mary's at St. Marys . Nottingham, Nottingham, 7 Siam*- 2 January, July, 1704; died land. 1695 b; bur. unmniri- d, tS there, 27 Jao., 1781; bur. Aug., 1703. at Denton, co. Lincoln. George De I.ignc Gregory, of Ilnrlavtnn Manor, William Gregory, of Rcmpaton Hall, Esq., = Olivia, dnu. of John Prc*- Edward Gregory, Clerk in Daniel Gregory, F-wi., = Catherine, dau I.*r|., elder! on; born in 1738; J. I’, for tlic accond xon. axtumed Ihc additional name j Ion, of KU»by, CO. York, Holy Order*, and for 49’ear* fouith*-n;at ipiiinintn- , of Stephen counliei of Notts and Lincoln; High Sheriff and arm* of Wdliain*; lioin in 1742: J.P. j I'vq. married at St. Rector of I.aDg.tr, co. Not-*.. arm* ; du-d in Is-ndun ; ; Heckingh unmarried, 25 Oct., 1824. at Lower Hardrr*. i Itonmc Place, Kent, tS June, 1819. , <0. Kent, E*<|. George Gregorr, only wo ; born in 1730; die-1 un¬ married, 2 April, 1759 - citntc* iu 1822 ; die- county of Laricavter, who bore for their arnu —Party per |>ale arg. and Gervase, the son of Gervase de Clifton, Stephen, the priest of Wilford, and Elias, his son, and Geoffrey de Lutterell. 2 Beatrix de Whatton, widow of Robert de Whatton, 3 gave to the Priory of Lenton, by the consent of William de Heriz, and of Adelina, his wife, her sole daughter and heiress, two bovates in Newthorpe, reserving to herself a yearly rent of two shillings out of the same. 4 William de Heriz (son of Ivo de Heriz, and grandson of that Robert de Heriz who is named in the foundation-charter), (1) Thoroton, p. 242. (2) Ibid, p. 42. (3) Robert de Whatton, lord of Whatton-in-the-Vale, in this county, was the son of William de Whatton, a benefactor to the Priory of Blythe, whose father is said to have been a younger son of Gautier de Tirel, seigneur de Poix, in Picardy, and to have come over to England with William the Conqueror. This Robert de Whatton died without male issue, but the descendants of his younger brother, Walter, long continued in this county. (4) Thoroton, p. 238. PARISH AND PRIORY OF DENTON. I I I by the consent of his wife, Adelina (daughter and heiress of Robert de Whatton, lord of Whatton, and Beatrix, his wife), and of Robert de Heriz, his brother, gave Arnald, his man, of Wid- merpole [Widmerpool], with his whole land, viz., four bovates, and all customs and services thereunto belonging, and his mill at Widmerpool, and wood out of his woods at Huccanel [Hucknall Torkard], to make and mend it for ever ; and half his mill at Gonolveston [Gonalston], and the like power in his woods there ; and divers other things, to God and the Church of Lenton, upon the great altar, whereon this gift was offered by himself and his wife, in the presence of very many witnesses. Robert de Heriz, and William, his uncle, Simon, son of Richard, and Herbert, his brother, William Pietas, and Roger, his brother, Robert, the Sheriff, and William, his brother, Robert, Raph, and William, his son, Henry, the clerk of the Sheriff, and Henry of Huccanel, Henry Medicus (the Leech), Roger de Burthon, Peter Palmer, Reginald de Aslacton, Walter de Whatton, and Richard, his son, Ambrose, and John, Plungun, and Fulc, servants of Sir Ulf de Widmarpole, and Gilbert, the Parson, and many others there named. 1 This William de Heriz died without issue before the year 1180, when Robert de Heriz, his younger brother, gave account for one hundred pounds for having the lands that had been held by William ; and, at the same time, Adelina, the widow of William de Heriz, was found to owe one hundred marcs, for obtaining the king’s permission not to marry again, save at her own pleasure. Reginald de Aslacton (probably descended from Uluric, or Walchelin) was a witness, as was also Roger de Burton, to a charter of the Lady Adelina de Whatton, who thereby, with the consent of William de Heriz, her husband, gave to the Priory of Lenton her two men, or tenants, Hugh and Henry, with the three bovates of land they held in Aslacton, which gift she and her husband offered on the high altar of the Holy Trinity, at Lenton. 2 Robert de Heriz gave to the canons (i) Thoroton, p. 40. (2) Thoroton, p. 137. Adelina, the wife of William de Heriz, survived her husband, and gave the church of Whalton to the Abbey of Welbeck for the repose of the souls of Robert de Whatton, and Beatrice, his wife, her father and mother, and of William de Heriz, her husband. She subsequently married Adam de Newmarch, to whom she carried the manor of Whatton in frank marriage. I 12 THE HISTORY OF THE of Darley, in Derbyshire, his right of advovvson to the church of South Wingfield, in that county, in pure and perpetual alms ; and he subsequently confirmed the gifts that his elder brother had bestowed upon the Prior and Monks of Lenton, and he himself gave the brethren his whole portion of corn growing upon his land at Widmerpool, and desired that his body should be christianly buried in the Priory Church at Lenton. The liberality and devotion to the Church displayed by this pious family is remarkable. Ivo de Heriz, the son and successor of the last-named Robert, is believed to have built the church of Tibshelf, in Derbyshire, of which place he was lord, about the close of the twelfth century, and gave that church to the Priory of Brewood, in Staffordshire. His son, Sir John de Heriz, was a benefactor to the Priory of Felley, and founded a chantry chapel in the parish of South Wingfield, and he was father of another John de Heriz, the last male heir of the family, who was probably the founder of the Hospital of Brodbuske, 1 near Gonalston. He died before the year 1329. Gilbert de Meringes 2 granted to Ralph Murdac (High Sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, 30 Henry II.) six acres of meadow in Meering, in that called Esleng, which Roger de Caisneta held of him for two shillings per annum, as the said Ralph Murdac was to do, who thereupon gave it away to the Priory of Lenton, for the health of his own soul, and of Alexander de Cheney, or Cheinais ; and together with it, for the more abundant firmness and security of the said gift, he gave the writing which he had from the said Gilbert de Meringes, for which, after his death, the monks were to make a perpetual anniversary, as for one of their advocates, or principal benefactors. 3 Sir Geoffrey de St. Patric, lord of Nuthall (who was, undoubtedly, a descendant of Norman de St. Patric, the (1) According to Dodsworth, this hospital was founded in 1326, by John, the son of John de Heriz. Tanner calls the founder William de Heriz, but this is, in all probability, an error. (2) The descendants of this Gilbert de Meringes continued resident at Meering, in this county, down to the sixteenth century. Junior branches settled at Collingham, Hucknall Torkard, and elsewhere in the county, but this ancient family is now believed to be extinct in the male line. (3) Thoroton, p. 118. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 11 3 subfeudatory of William Peverel, whose gifts to the monastery were confirmed by the founder in his charter), gave the advowson of the church of Nuthall to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. The gift was duly confirmed by Roger, Archbishop of York, and subsequently by Pope Lucius III., 1 but it did not pass unchallenged, and the advowson appears to have eventually reverted to the donor’s family. In the year 1200, William de St. Patric paid one marc to the king for licence to have a jury of twelve free and lawful men of the neighbourhood of Nuthall, who should be examined upon oath, as to whether Geoffrey de St. Patric gave the church of Nuthall to Lenton Priory, and made his charter thereof when he was of sound mind, or whether the charter was executed upon his death-bed, under undue influence. 2 3 At the same time “ the Prior and monks of Lenton exhibited a charter which testified that Geoffrey de St. Patric, grandfather of William de St. Patric, gave his advowson of the church of Nuthall, confirmed by Roger, Archbishop of York.’b Michael, the son of Richard de Rutington, gave to the Priory of Lenton four bovates of land in Ruddington, which had formerly been held by Fulco, brother of the said Richard, and, since his death, by his son William. This gift was afterwards confirmed to the Priory by Richard, the son of Michael de Rutington, whose sons, William and Ralph, likewise yielded all claim to the same in the presence of the monastery. William de Rutington (one of the last-named) confirmed the gift of four acres of land in Ruddington, which had been bestowed upon the Priory by Geoffrey de Malquinci, his uncle. And at another time, Richard de Rutington, son of this same William, being at Lenton fair in 1234, confirmed certain gifts which Richard, his grandfather, had made to the monastery, and gave to the monks a certain meadow called Godzvinsholme , which lay near to the water-mill at Clifton. 4 (1) Thoroton, p. 244. (2) Madox, Hist, of Excheq , i. 436. (3) Abb. Plac., 1 John, rot. 3, in dorso. (4) Thoroton, pp. 65, 66. 9 THE HISTORY OF THE 114 Geoffrey Torkard, 1 with the consent of Maud his wife, and Henry his son, for the health of his soul, and of his ancestors and successors, and for the soul of Alexander de Cheney, gave to God and the church of the Holy Trinity at Lenton, and the monks there serving God, one cart to be continually wandering about, to gather up his dead wood of Hucknall: the witnesses were Ralph Murdac, 2 3 Ralph de Cheines, Hugh his brother, Philip de Beaumes, Hugh de Lichelade, Gilbert, the chaplain of the Castle p Alan, Robert, and Gregory, clerks; Silvester, Geoffrey Torkard, of Chilwell, William de Davidville, Henry Torkard his own son, and others. 4 Ralph Rosell, son of Hugh Rosell, confirmed to the monks of Rufford his whole land at Almpton, viz., twelve bovates, reserving six shillings to himself and his heirs at Midsummer, and six shillings to the Prior of Lenton, at the feast of St. Martin, in winter ; but there was a fine levied in the King’s Court at Doncaster, the Wednesday after the feast of Saint Margaret, in the fourth year of King John, between Peter, Prior of Lenton, and Ernis, abbot of Rufford, who called Ralph Rosell to warrant the twelve bovates in Almpton, for which he and his heirs were to have but four shillings per annum, and the Prior of Lenton six shillings, who had also thirty-five marcs of silver of the abbot for the bargain. The same Ralph afterwards released the four shillings rent, and so the greater part of the township came into the possession of Rufford Abbey. 5 Towards the close of the twelfth century, Adam de Cokefield 6 gave to Lenton Priory eight shillings yearly rent to be paid by (1) Hucknall Torkard acquires its distinctive affix from this ancient family, whose mansion was at that place, closely adjacent to the parish church. Its site might readily be traced not many years ago. (2) He was Sheriff of Notts and Derbyshire from 27 Henry II. to 1 Richard I., Constable of Nottingham Castle, and a Justice Itinerant. (3) Gilbert, the Chaplain of Nottingham Castle, appears as a witness to several charters relating to the Priory of Lenton. (4) Thoroton, p, 256. (5) Ibid, p. 373. (6) Adam de Cokefield, or Cockfiekl, lord of one of the chief manors in Nuthall, was the representative of a family derived from Roger de Vere, a younger son of the baronical house of Oxford, who held the lordships of Cockfield in Suffolk, under the Abbots of Bury immediately after the Conquest, from which place his descendants derived their surname. His wife, Agatha, to whom he was married in the seventh year of King John, appears to have been the heiress of the De Nuthall family, and to have survived her husband. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 115 the miller out of his mill of Nuthall, and if the mill should fall or be removed, or anything else happen that the rent could not be had, he promised to make it good out of some other land in the county. 1 After the death of Adam de Cokefield, his widow, “ Agatha de Cokefield, Lady of Nuthall, gave her mill of Nuthall, situate on the rivulet between the town and Hendeshill [Hempshill], to the Priory of Lenton, out of which those monks were wont to receive 8s. yearly rent (granted by Adam de Cokefield), and, together with the said mill, the suit of all Nuthall, except her own house, so that men of Nuthall should always grind according to their due and ancient custom. She likewise granted, that if any of the men of Nuthall (except those who were free when she conferred that charter) should be inter¬ cepted grinding at another mill when he might grind at that, it should be lawful for the miller, or any person else deputed by the said monks, to arrest him, and the sack with the corn was to be the monks’ ; but the man so intercepted, for his forfeit, was to be in the mercy of her and her heirs.” 2 Her elder son, Sir Robert de Cockfield, married Alice, daughter and coheiress of Geoffrey de Constable, lord of Melton Constable, in Norfolk, and acquired the other manor in Nuthall which had been held by the family of St. Patric. 3 The descendants of this Sir Robert de Cockfield remained seated at Nuthall until about the middle of the fifteenth century. (1) Thoroton, p. 245. (2) Thoroton, p. 246. Both windmills and watermills appear to have been used from a very early period, and as no mill could be established without a licence from the Crown, they were very valuable property. In many cases they appear to have been attached to the manor, and to have been transferred along with it, thus frequently becoming the property of monastic bodies ; they were also frequently granted to monasteries. In the Patent Rolls frequent instances occur of licences to establish mills, or to transfer them with the manor to which they belonged. Mills were so frequently the property of the monks to whom they had been granted, that in the 14th century this monopoly was felt to be a seiious inconvenience, and handmills were brought into use for domestic purposes. (Kebelliones Villanorum temporibus Kicardi Secundi—Cotton MS. in Brit. Mus. Claud. E. iv.) Their introduction, however, met with serious opposition from the monks, and violent quarrels arose between the people and the heads of various monasteries During the popular insurrections which occured in this country, the insurgents did not forget to stipulate for the privilege of using handmills. At St. Albans it is recorded that in 1327, Queen Isabella was way-laid on her journey by the townspeople, who protested against their compulsory use of the abbey mills. (3) See ante p. 86. THE HISTORY OF THE 116 Thoroton states that “John, Earl Morton, was at Nuthall when he granted to the Prior of Lenton the heath about the wood of Bestwood, and about his other woods in Notts, and Derbyshire. Witness Roger de Silan and Ralph Murdac.” 1 Matthew, the son of Matthew de Hathersage (presumably the last male heir of his family, and the father of Matilda, the wife of Sir Walter de Gonshill, of Hoveringham, and Cecilia, the wife of Nigel de Langford), gave to the Priory of Lenton his manors of Holme and Dunston, in Derbyshire, with all that appertained to the same. About the same time, Ralph, son of William de Toueton, gave to the church of the Holy Trinity, at Lenton, and the monks there serving God, all his rents in Kimberley, viz., half-a-mark of silver yearly. To this deed were witnesses the Abbot of Darley, Sampson de Strelley, Warnet de Beheleg, Richard de Roissalt, Robert, son of Fitz-William, Henry, Richard de Hartill, Hugh, son of Sampson, William, his brother, Ralph, son of Hugh de Watenhow, Matthew, his brother, Gilbert de Broculstow, and others. 2 Eustachius de Moreton, Lord of Wollaton, confirmed the alms which Robert de Moreton, his grandfather, and Adam, his father, gave to God and the church of the Holy Trinity at Lenton, and the Clugniac monks there serving God, namely, sixteen shillings a year out of that which Gerard de Algar- thorpe held of him and his ancestors, namely, ten shillings at Pentecost, or within the Octave, and six shillings within the Octave of Saint Martin. This gift was confirmed by Adam de Moreton, brother of the said Eustachius. 3 King John granted to Lenton Priory the following charters, in the first year of his reign :— “John, by the grace of God, King of England, etc. Know ye that we have granted and by the present charter have confirmed to the church of the Holy Trinity of Lenton, and to the monks there serving God, in free and perpetual alms, eighty acres of land of the essarts of Curtehall, and the mill of Blackcliff in exchange for the lands of Papplewick, which (i) Antiquities of Notts., p. 244. (2) Thoroton, p. 243. (3) Ibid., p. 234. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. II 7 King Henry, our father, gave in free and perpetual alms, to the canons of Nevvstead, in Sherwood, which he founded there. Wherefore we will, etc. We have also granted, and by this our charter have confirmed, to the same monks of Lenton for the health of ourself, and our heirs, and for the souls of King Henry, our great grandfather, and King Henry, our father, and our ancestors, our hermitage of Kershall with all its appendages, in pure, free, and perpetual alms. Wherefore we will, and firmly enjoin, that our said monks, freely, and quietly, and honourably, shall hold the said hermitage in peace as Hugo de Burun, monk of theirs, freely and quietly held it. We have also granted, and by this our charter have confirmed, to the same monks a fair of eight days, at the feast of Saint Martin, with full tolls of all things from which it is possible to take toll, except those purchases which are appointed for the table or for their clothing, which upon this acquittance we have given and confirmed. Given by the hand of Simon, archdeacon of Wells, and John de Gray, at Worcester, the sixth day of April, in the first year of our reign.” 1 “John, by the grace of God, King of England, etc. Know ye that we have granted and by this present charter have confirmed to God and to the monks of the convent of Lenton, the churches of Maperteshal [Meppershall, in Bedfordshire,] and Fal- mersham [Felmersham, in Bedfordshire,] with all their appurten¬ ances, which are of our sergeancy, in pure and perpetual alms, as Robert, son of William, gave and confirmed to them by his charter. And moreover we have confirmed and ratified to them in perpetual alms, whatever they have of the gift of their patrons or other faithful, whether of buying or selling, as their charters and writings testify. We have granted all these things in perpetual alms, for the souls of King Henry, our great grandfather, and of King Henry, our father, and of our ancestors, and for the health of ourself and of all our faith¬ ful, as the charter of King Henry, our father, reasonably testifies. We have also granted to them that they shall have free entry and exit, every day, without the hindrance of our foresters, in our forest of Berkswud [Bestwood], with a cart to take dead wood, and with two carts for heather, of which they shall freely take as much as shall suffice for their own proper use. Given by the hand of Simon, archdeacon of Wells, and John de Gray, archdeacon of Gloucester, at Guild¬ ford, the 22nd day of April in the first year of our reign.” 2 The church of Felmersham appears to have been a subject (1) Mon. Angl ., v. 112. A copy of this charter is preserved amongst the Clugny MSS., in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. (2) Mon. Ang., v. 112, No. 8. THE HISTORY OF TIIE 118 of contest at a very early date :—“ In the assize for the last presentation to the church of Felmersham which Gilbert de Malperteshal claimed against the Prior and Monks of Lenton, the Attorney of the Prior said that it was not vacant, because the Prior and Convent are the “ parson,” and he produced the charter of Robert, father of the said Gilbert, in which he is stated to have given to the church of the Holy Trinity of Lenton the advowson of the church of Felmersham, and what¬ ever he lawfully held in the same church, and exhibits the charter of the lord King John, confirming to the church of Lenton, the church of Felmersham, with all its appurtenances, etc., as the charter of King Henry, his father, reasonably testifies, etc.” 1 King Edward III., on July 25th, 1342, granted the advowson of Felmersham, with the chapel of Pavenham 2 attached, to the warden and scholars of King’s Hall, Cambridge, now absorbed in Trinity College. 3 * In the year 1207, King John issued the following mandate to Brien de Insula :— “ The King to Brien de Insula, etc. We command you that the Prior and Monks of Lenton be permitted to have their easement without waste (of property) and injury to the tenants ( exilio ) of the wood in their woods in your Bailiwick, through the view of yourself and your foresters. Witness myself at Nottingham, 16 day of August.” * In the year 1212, the King issued another mandate to Brien de Insula, commanding him to supply to the Prior and Monks of Lenton dead wood from the hay or wood of Willoughby, “ for the sustentation of their house of Lenton.” 5 By the third charter, dated December 2nd, 1212, King John granted to Lenton Priory the tenth of all the game taken in the counties of Nottingham and Derby. Know ye, that we from the fear of God and for the safety of our soul, and of the souls of our ancestors, have given, (1) Abb. Plac., p. 51. (2) Pabham according to Palgrave’s Rotuli Curia: Regis, i. 46. (3) Memorials of Cambridge. (5) Ibid, i. 120. (4) Rot. Lit. Claus., i., 90. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. ng granted, and confirmed by this our charter, to God and the Church of the Holy Trinity of Lenton, and to Peter the Prior and his successors, and likewise to the monks who serve and will serve God there, the tenth part of the game taken in the counties of Nottingham and Derby ; that is to say, of stags, hinds, bucks, does, hogs, and hares, to be held for ever as free, pure and pepetual alms. Wherefore, we will, etc. Given by the hand of Master Richard de Marisco, Archdeacon of Northum¬ berland, at Westminster, the second day of December, in the fourteenth year of our reign. 1 Two years later (1214), the king commanded the sheriff of Lincolnshire to give to P. Prior of Lenton full seisin of all the lands and tenements within his bailiwick belonging to the Priory, saving only the king’s escheats. A similar mandate was issued to the sheriff of Yorkshire. 2 On the 17th October, 1214, the king commanded Philip Marc, sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, to permit the bailiff of the Abbey of Clugny to have the custody of the Priory of Lenton, peacefully and without molestation, until the king should command otherwise. 3 Nichols 4 states that, in his time the Segrave Chartulary con¬ tained three deeds relating to Lenton Priory, namely—a grant by the Prior and Convent of Lenton to Katherine, widow of Arnald of Twyford, in the county of Leicester, of a carucate of land at Welby, in the same county, on the annual payment of ten shillings ; a transfer of the same carucate from Edo, son of the said Arnald, to Gilbert de Segrave ; and a (con¬ firmatory) grant of the same, from Peter, then Prior of Lenton, and his convent, to Gilbert de Segrave. 5 The Priory appears to have received an annual rent of 13s. 4d. from this land in 1387. The Prior and convent of Lenton, having remitted to Gerard de Rodes the custom of tithing his corn at Langar, after it was brought into the barn, and, out of their liberality, agreed to take it in the field, his successor, Ralph de Rodes, did, in (1) Mon. Ang. v. 112, No. 9. (2) Rot. Lit., Claus, i., 207. (3) Ibid i., 173. (4) History of Leicestershire, ii., 284. (5) Gilbert de Segrave, Lord of Segrave, in Leicestershire (whence he assumed his surname) held the fourth part of a knight’s fee there in 1166. lie was living in 1198, when he gave 400 marcs to King Richard the First in support of his wars. 120 TIIE HISTORY OE THE the third year of King Henry the Third, make his acknowledg¬ ment thereof, and engage himself, that if the Prior and convent should have any loss by so doing, they should enjoy their old custom again by tithing at the barn ; and this he did in full chapter before W. de Rotherham, Archdeacon of Nottingham, to whose jurisdiction and constraint, if he should fail, he sub¬ mitted himself, without appeal, by a sealed instrument, as the custom then ordinarily was in such cases. The Prior and Convent likewise granted to this same Sir Ralph de Rodes, lord of Langar and Barnston, and his Lady Berta, permission to have a chapel within their court at Langar, provided the chaplain should be presented to the parson of Langar, and swear not to hinder the mother church, and to be liable to be suspended by the patron if he did ; and that the lord and lady should come and hear divine service at the church on all the festivals, except there was manifest cause of hindrance ; but they were to have no bell in the said chapel. 1 King Henry the Third, in the year 1220, commanded the sheriff of Nottinghamshire to permit the Prior and monks of Lenton to have two waggons ( carros) or three carts wandering every day in the Hay of Boscwod [Bestwood] to collect dead wood or heather for their own use as fuel. 2 3 This injunction was repeated in 12212 and 1224.4 The privilege was, no doubt, so highly valued by the monks that they took the precaution, from time to time, to have it confirmed. Walter Grey, Archbishop of York, on the twelfth of the kalends of March, in the eighth year of his Pontificate, being then at Lenton, admitted Ralph, the clerk, on the presentation of the Prior and convent of Lenton, to be the perpetual vicar of Radford, which vicarage he made to consist of the whole altarage of that church, and four bovates of land belonging to the said altarage, with the tithes thereto belonging, and likewise the tithe of two mills, and all the toft lying between the toft of that church and the river Leen, but the vicar was (1) Thoroton, p. 103. (2) Rot. Lit., Claus, i. 421. (3) Ibid, i. 452. (4) Ibid, i. 595. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 12 I to sustain the burdens of the bishop and archdeacon, that is synodals and procurations. 1 On the ioth of March, 1223, the King commanded the venditors of fallen wood in the county of Nottingham that they should give, as a donation from the king, to R[oger], Prior of Lenton, ten loads of the fallen wood of the lord King in his Hay of Bestwood [Bescwud] for the reparation of the church and house of Lenton. 2 3 In 1224, the Prior of Lenton (Roger) was sent by King Henry the Third to France, together with the Master of the Temple and the Chancellor of London, to make a truce with King Louis the Eighth. It is a singular mark of royal con¬ fidence that the Prior of Lenton should have been selected for such an important mission. The following is a translation of the letter of credence with with which they were entrusted :— “ To his lord, when it shall please him, Louis, by the grace of God, the illustrious King of the PTench, Henry, by the same grace, etc., greeting and esteem. “ We send to you our well-beloved in Christ, Alan Martel, Master of the Knights of the Temple in England, and the Prior of Lenton, and Master H-, Chancellor of London, to whom you will give credence upon those things which they shall say to you in our behalf, as to proroguing the truce between you and us for four years from Easter in the year of grace 1224. Understanding that we shall hold firm and acceptable whatever they shall thereupon do on our behalf. “ Witness myself, at the New Temple, London, 28th day of April, in the eighth year [of our reign]. Before the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert de Burgh, justiciary, and J[oceline], Bishop of Bath, and [Richard] Bishop of Salisbury.” Similar letters were made, in which was placed,“to whom you will give credence, or to two of them, if all be not able to attend to this ”3 (1) Thoroton, p. 219, from Lenton Register. (2) Rot. Lit., Claus. 7 Hen. III., m. 15. (3) Pat. 8 Hen. III. m. 3. cl. ; Rymer’s Fcet/era, i. 270. 1 22 THE HISTORY OF THE The expenses of the Prior of Lenton on this occasion amounted to ten marcs. 1 Philip Marc (who was sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby in the latter part of the reign of King John, and seven or eight years of the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Third) and Anne, his wife, having purchased certain lands at Key worth, of the fee of Hugh de Bellomont, gave nine bovates thereof to the Priory of Lenton, where he desired that his body might be honourably entombed. After the death of Philip Marc, Sabina, the widow of the said Hugh de Bellomont, 2 in consideration of the sum of four shillings, and a quarter of rye, in her very great need released her dower in three bovates and a half of the nine bovates given by Philip Marc to the Priory, and swore on the Holy Gospels that she would never go against her release, nor in any way else disturb the Prior and his brethren in their quiet possession of the said land. 3 In the year 1234, R., Prior of Lenton, and the convent of the same, confirmed to Robert, son of Ingleram, of Nottingham, and his heirs, all their land and meadow belonging to it, with toft and croft, all which belonged to the church of Saint Stephen, of Sneinton, he paying them thirteen shillings yearly. They also granted, released, and confirmed to this Robert Ingram, knight, for his counsel and service, had, and to be had, during his life 21s. 6d. issuing to them out of his lands in Sneinton and Nottingham/ Robert Ingram had a son Laurence, who in 1265 paid half a marc for having a writ ad terminum. He appears to have been in rebellion with the barons, for about this time the lands of Laurence Ingleram, of Sneinton, were given to Simon de Arden, a “ varlet ” of Prince Edward. Robert had probably died before this date, or his son would not have been in possession of his (1) Rot. Lit. Claus, i. 597. (2) Hugh de Bellomont (youngest son of Robert de Bellomont, Earl of Leicester, already referred to as a benefactor to this monastery) obtained the Earldom of Bed¬ ford from King Stephen. Dugdale records of him that “being a person remiss and negligent himself, he fell from the dignity of an earl to the state of a knight ; and in the end to miserable poverty.” The sad straits to which his widow was reduced may be seen from the transaction which is recorded above. (3) Thoroton, p. 42. (4) Ibid, p. 277. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 123 lands. The Ingram family appear to have been the original owners of the water mill at Lenton. 1 In all ancient writings it is called “ Ingrams,” and was afterwards the property of Sir Geoffrey Bakepuz, who with his wife Amicia, demised it, during their lives, to the Prior and convent of Lenton, for twenty shillings a year, upon condition that the people of their house and family, of Wollaton, should be allowed to grind there for the toll of the “twentieth grain,” “which suit Hugh de Weloghby, lord of Wollaton, also granted for his life to Sir Geoffrey [de Rochero] the Prior, and the convent, in the eighth year of the reign of King Henry the Fourth, to their said mill upon the same terms.” 2 On Nov r 30th, in the year 1234, Walter Grey, Archbishop of York, issued a set of rules to the hospital of St. John the Baptist, Nottingham, the portions of which relating to Lenton Priory are here given :— “To all the faithful in Christ inspecting these letters, Walter, by the Grace of God, Archbishop of York, Primate of England, greeting in the Lord. We would have it come to the notice of you all that we, as well by the authority of the Pope which we exercise in this district, as by ordinary, with the consent of the rectors and patrons of S. Mary at Nottingham, by the prompting of charity, have granted to the brethren of the Hospital of Saint John of Nottingham that they may have a chapel and chaplain to minister divine service to them and to their guests, saving the church of Saint Mary, in whose parish the hospital is situated, indemnified as to the receipt of all revenue howsoever accruing by reason of the celebration of divine service in the same hospital. So that whosoever shall be chaplain for the time being, either religious or secular, shall take upon himself, over the saintly relics, a sworn obligation to the Prior and Convent of Lenton 3 (conventui de Lenton juratoriam cautionem inspectis sacro-sanctis praestabit), that he will in nowise defraud the said church [of S. Mary] of any temporal due, and will not receive money for singing annual, trienniel, or septenniel, or anniversary, or anything of this description of that parish. . . . (1) This mill occupied the site of the one still standing near the great lodge to Wollaton Park, where the high road from Nottingham to Derby crosses the river Leen. In later days it came into the hands of the Nix family. (2) Thoroton, p. 223, from Lenton Register. (3) It will be remembered that the church of St. Mary, Nottingham, had been given to the Priory by the founder, and the rectory had, sometime previous to the period referred to above, been appropriated to the monastery. 124 TIIE HISTORY OF THE The same brethren for themselves and their successors, have renounced petitioning against this ordination. In everlasting memory whereof we have caused our seal together with the seal of the Prior and Convent of Lenton, and the Vicar of S. Mary’s, to be appended to this writing remaining in the possession of the master and brethren of the Hospital. Dated at Laneham, on the day of the feast of Saint Andrew, in the 1234th year of the Incarnation of the Lord.” 1 The brethren of the hospital paid one marc of silver yearly to the Prior of Lenton, viz., half a marc within the octave of the Invention of the Holy Cross, and half a marc within the octave of St. Martin. About this time, Robert, son of Robert de Kynmerley, and Roger, Prior of Lenton, agreed that a division should be made between the woods of the Prior and the wood of the said Robert in Newthorpe. Robert le Vavasour, of Chyppeley [Shipley, in Derbyshire], was to fence the Prior’s wood, which lay next to a certain holme in Newthorpe, which Roger, Prior of Lenton, gave to him and his heirs, from any loss or damage it should sustain from his millers, or people coming to his mill, or else permit the Prior to fence it in close. 2 * In the 25th year of King Henry IIP, the Prior of Lenton was summoned to show why he did not permit his Lord the King to present a suitable “ parson ” to the chapel of Frich, etc. [Chapel- en-le-F'rith ].3 In January, 1240, a law suit of forty years’ duration in the court of King’s Bench, between Sir Henry de Grey, of Codnor, in Derbyshire, and the Prior and Convent of Lenton, con¬ cerning the patronage of one mediety of Attenborough Church, was terminated by Sir Richard de Grey, son of the said Sir Henry, on succeeding to his father’s estates. The whole case was submitted to the decision of the Archbishop of York (Walter de Grey, 4 1215—1255), “who, to make peace, and avoid the effusion of blood , ordained that the Prior and his successors should have tithes to the value of forty shillings (1) Appendix to part I. of Grey’s Register, p. 168. (2) Thoroton, p. 238. (3) Abb. Plac., p. 112. (4) The fact that the Prior of Lenton should have submitted to the arbitration of the Archbishop, who was the younger brother of his opponent, is remarkable, and shows the extraordinary character for probity which that prelate must have enjoyed. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 1 25 yearly, in the name of a simple benefice in that moiety to which the chapel of Bramcote was attached, and of which Robert Stamford was then Rector, and that the right of patronage of the other moiety should remain with the said Sir Richard de Grey and his heirs. The Prior was to pay a pound of frankincense every year at Attenborough feast.” 1 The advowson of Attenborough Church was subsequently granted (11 Edw. III.) by John de Grey, of Codnor, to the monks of Felley, and their successors. 2 In the year 1241, Richard de Beauchamp, lord of Beeston, gave two bovates of land in Beeston, which Jordan, the son of Yvo, then held, together with the said Jordan and all his sequela, 3 4 to the Priory of Lenton.* In 1249 the Prior of Lenton had permission, dated at Westminster, March 15th, to dig stone in the coppice of Nottingham within the enclosure of Sherwood Forest, for the fabric of his church. 5 The Prior obtained a similar permission from the King, dated at Westminster, May 12th, in the following year. 6 * In 1253, the king granted permission, dated at Portsmouth, July 24th, to the Prior of Lenton, to take seven score cart¬ loads of stone in the king’s quarry within Nottingham Wood for works at Lenton.? In the reign of King Henry the Third, Robert Bluet gave to the Priory a certain mill at Thorp-in-Glebis, in order that masses might be celebrated by the monks of this house for the health of his own soul, and for the souls of his brother, Hugh Bluet, who was at that time the Prior of Lenton, and of another brother, named Ralph. 8 In 1258, Sampson, son of Alan de Leke, lord of Staunton Harold, in Leicestershire (whose name appears amongst the (1) Thoroton, p. 205. (2) Ibid., p. 206. (3) Sequela, the goods, chattels, etc., of a villein which were at the disposal of his lord. The expression also includes the offspring of the villein. (4) Thoroton, p. 210. (5) Rot. Lit. Claus. 33 Hen. III., m. 12. (6) Ibid. 34 Hen. III., m. 12. (7) Ibid. 37 Hen. III., m. 5. (8) Thoroton, p. 38. TIIE HISTORY OF THE 126 benefactors of the Cistercian Abbey of Garendon, in that County), released to the Prior and monks of Lenton for four marcs of silver, four bovates of land in Keyworth, which he had recovered in the previous year in a suit before the King’s itinerant Justiciers at Nottingham. 1 The following report of the visitation of Lenton Priory, in the year 1262, by the visitors of Clugny Abbey, gives some interesting details of the manner in which the temporal and spiritual affairs of the monastery were conducted, together with the number of monks and lay brethren, and the debt of the Priory. “ 1262. Also we enquired at Lenton through brother Alfred, of Lenton, sub-cellarer, and of Richard, the almoner of the same place, from which it was evident to us that the state of the house in spiritual matters is good ; the service of God is there performed agreeably as it has hitherto been accustomed to be performed. There are twenty-two monks and two lay brethren there. Concerning the circumstances of the house, we inquired the truth from the Prior and two of the said monks, from which it appeared to us that the house was honourably in¬ debted even to the value of a thousand pounds of the money of the realm.” 2 In the same year an exchange was made between Roger the Prior, and the Convent of Lenton, and John Barre, 3 of Tollerton ; the Prior gave all his lands in Keyworth of the fee of Sir Thomas Fitz-Williams, of Plumptre, for all the lands of the said John Barre, in Bradmore. Sir Philip de Colwick [of Nether Colwick), and Sir John de Vilers (of Kinoulton], were witnesses to the exchange. 4 In December, 1264, certain bishops, barons, and a great number of abbots and priors (including the Prior of Lenton) (1) 'I horoton, p. 42. (2) Clugny MS., Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. (3) This John Barre, who succeeded his elder brother William, and died about the year 1283, was the representative of an ancient family long seated at Tollerton, in this county. According to Thoroton’s pedigree, he was fourth in descent from that Richard Barri, by whom the grant of the church of Tollerton made to the monastery by Ralph de Insula and Matilda Malebisse, his wife, was confirmed to the Priory in the time of King Henry the Second. (See p. 98.) (4) Thoroton, p. 49. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. I27 together with two knights from eacli shire, and two burgesses from each borough, were called together by the following mandate, to consult with Simon de Montford, who, “ in all but name a king,” having defeated the royal army at Lewes, held King Henry a prisoner at the time this summons was issued. “ Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to the Prior of Lenton, greeting. Forasmuch as after serious contests and disturbances which had long been taking place in our realm, our dearest first-born son, Edward, was given up and detained as a hostage in order to secure and confirm peace in our realm, and now (blessed be God) that the aforesaid disturbance is quieted, it behoves us to take measures for making secure provision for the liberation of the same, and for confirming and completing full security and tranquillity of peace, the honour of God and the benefit of our whole realm, and about certain other affairs of our realm which we are unwilling to despatch without your advice, and that of our other prelates and magnates : We command you, desiring you by that fidelity and love in which you are bound to us, to postpone every pressing matter and lay aside all other affairs, and be with us at London on the Octave of Saint Hilary next to come, to discuss with us and the aforesaid prelates and magnates whom we have caused to be summoned to the same place, and to give your advice : And this, as you love us and our honour and yours, and the common tranquillity of our realm, by no means omit. Witness the King at Woodstock, the twenty-fourth day of December.” 1 A great lawsuit was ended in 1266, between Roger, Prior of Lenton, and Tortus, son of Adam Wolf, Knight, canon of Anaquin, rector of the church of St. George, Barton in Fabis, “ upon the Prior paying 300 marcs, wanting 12, and taking his parsonage to farm five years, for 32 marcs per annum, of good, new, and lawful sterling money, 13s. 4d. to the marc.” The dispute arose in consequence of the Prior presenting Thomas Raley, whom the plaintiff had been nine years getting out with his apostolical letters. 2 In the following year (1267), the Prior and Convent of Lenton (1) Rymer’s Fadera i., 802; Dugdale’s Perfect coppy of all Summons of the Nobility to the great Councils ami Parliament from 49 Hen. /Id-, Ashmolean MS. 816, p. 36. (2) Thoroton, p. 51. 128 THE HISTORY OF THE granted permission to Robert de Rempston 1 to have a chantry chapel at Rempston manor, on condition that he did not admit the parishioners to divine service to the prejudice of the mother church, and that his chaplain should swear fealty to the rector. 2 In the third year of King Edward the First, Robert, son of Robert de Costinton, sought against Peter de Esswayt, two messuages and two bovates of land at Barton-on-Trent, and against the Prior of Lenton, one bovate in the same place. 3 In the same year (1275), complaint was made that King Henry the Third had made a certain weir beyond the water of Trent, which flooded the meadows of the King below the Castle of Nottingham, and the meadows of the Prior of Lenton. 4 Shortly before this time, William de Latimer, escheator of the King, seized the Priory of Lenton when it was vacant, and placed there a certain doorkeeper, who stood there for the fourth part of a year. 3 * In 1275, the Priory of Lenton was certified to hold, in Cotgrave, a fee of the honour of Byron. 6 The Priory also held, about this time, two bovates of land in Willoughby-on- the-Wolds, of the gift of Sir Richard de Willoughby. 7 In the year 1276, the Prior of Lenton held two bovates of land at Hal, in Lincolnshire, of Gilbert de Gaunt, valued at two marcs per annum. 8 The same land was held by the Prior in the year 1330. 9 In the same year (1276), the Prior of Lenton held half a fee in Cotgrave of the Honour of Byron, of the gift of Hugh Byron. 10 In the following year, Thomas Malet, son and heir of Alan Malet, released all actions against the Prior and Convent of (1) Robert de Rempston was the representative of an ancient family deriving their surname from the manor of Rempston, in this county, which continued in their possession down to about the middle of the fifteenth century. (2) Thoroton, p. 30. (3) Rawlinson collection, Bodl. Lib., No. 116, f. 4. (4) Rot. Hintd., ii., 314. (5) Ibid ii., 317. (6) Ibid. (7) Ibid, ii., 319. He was the son of Richard Bugge (son of Ralph Bugge, of Nottingham) who was styled de Willoughby, from his estate at Willoughby-on-the- Wolds, where he resided. This Sir Richard de Willoughby was the father of another Sir Richard, a Justice of Common Pleas, who settled at Wollator., which ultimately became the chief seat of the family. (8) Hundred Rolls, i. 244. (9) Ibid, i, 316 (10) Ibid. ii. 313. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 129 Lenton, and their bailiffs, for the waste made in his estate at Cotgrave, while it was in their custody. Amongst the witnesses to the agreement were Henry de Tibtot, constable of Notting¬ ham Castle, Walter de Stircley, sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, Richard de Jorz, of Burton, Gervase de Wilford, etc. 1 When the Priory was visited in the year 1276, the number of monks and lay-brethren had increased, but the visitors dis¬ covered that they were in the habit of infringing the rules of the order in the particulars detailed in the following report :— “ 1276. On Friday next before the Feast of St. Peter in Cathedra, 2 we visited at Lenton. There are twenty-seven monks and four lay-brethren. The house owes a thousand and four score marcs, nothing at usury. As to saddle-backs, shoes with latchets, eating of flesh, reading in the infirmary, and staying (up) after compline, we ordered as at Montacute. 3 We found, also, that the lay-brethren wore cloth of russet ; we ordered that in future they should wear gowns blacker than usual. We corrected what ought to be corrected.” 4 5 In 1278, Robert, son of William Gyon, of Bramcote, gave to the Prior and Monks of Lenton an annual rent of four shillings, which Hugh de Stapleford, clerk, then paid him for four bovates of land in Sutton Passeys, with homage, ward, relief, and all other appurtenances. Sir Robert de Stretley, Sir Geoffrey de Dethec, Sir Ralph de Arnale, John de Cortlingstock, Henry de Watenhow, John de Passeys, and William Torkard were amongst the witnesses to his charter. s In the following year the visitors from Clugny Abbey were again at Lenton, and were able to report a better state of things than existed in 1276 ; the Prior at that date having apparently resigned in the meantime. (1) Thoroton, p. 82. (2) Friday, February 21, 1276, the feast of St. Peter in Cathedra being on the 22nd of that month. (3) “ De postela, sotularibus corrigiatis, esu carnium, de lectione in infirmaria et de mora post completorium, precepimus sicut apud Montem Acutern.” (4) Clugny MSS., Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. (5) Thoroton, p. 220. 10 130 THE HISTORY OF THE “1279. On Thursday after the feast of St. Augustine 1 we were at Lenton, where there are twenty-five monks, as is customary. They live regularly and honestly, and perform the divine offices well. The Prior is an influential person, of honest life and far-reaching fame ; he came to the house indebted in nine hundred and thirty-five marcs, and in forty sacks of wool, and a sack is worth fifteen marcs. He has paid thirty-two sacks, and still owes eight. On the other hand, he is indebted in a thousand and thirty marcs ; the reason is because of the great dispute he has, and had, with the Chapter of Lichfield, 2 3 who are rich men, powerful, and of the council of the King, concerning a certain tithe worth two hundred and fifty marcs of annual rent ; and now the Prior has expended for that suit, one hundred and sixty marcs ; and he believes that it will be necessary to go to court for the said reason. Also, when he came to the house, he did not find a sufficiency of temporal goods. Also, he gives to his predecessor, every year, forty marcs, of which he is in great need. Also, that a certain manor of his is indebted to the value of forty shillings, which debt Prior Roger made.” 3 King Edward the First, in the year 1283, granted a charter sanctioning the exchange of the advowson of the church of Horsley, in the diocese of Lichfield, for the advowson of the church of Felmersham, in the diocese of Lincoln. 4 In the year 1284, a jury declared upon oath at Nottingham, “ that William, son of Nicholas de Cantilupe, was born in the Abbey of Lenton (‘ in Abbatia de Lenton ’), and was baptized in the church of the said Abbey, that is to say, on Palm Sunday, twenty-one years ago ; and they briefly declare that the said William, son of Nicholas, was of full age on the said Palm Sunday last past.” 5 (1) Thursday, June 1st, 1279. (2) See pp. 68-73 ante, for the particulars of this dispute. ( 3 ) Clugny MSS., Biblioth&que Nationale, Paris. (4) Cal. Rot. Chart., p. 112. (5) Calendarium Genealogicum, i. 139. Nicholas de Cantelupe, who married Eustachia, dau. and heiress of Ralph, son of Hugh Fitz Ralph, was the fourth son of William de Cantelupe, Baron Cantelupe by tenure, and Seneschal to King John, and was the father of William de Cantelupe, who PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. * 3 ' In 1288, the Official of York gave definitive sentence that the two parts of the great tithes of Elias de Bradmere, Ralph de Freschville, lord of Bunny, the Lady Maud Torkard, Agnes de Staynton, Richard, son of Felice, Maud Holfin, William Smith, of Bunny, Amice Boyne, of Bradmere, and William, son of Ralph, of the same place, within the parish of Bunny, belonged to William Heccredibire, rector of Bunny, and not to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. 1 In the year 1289, Thomas de Normanville, escheator beyond the Trent, was commanded to “ take into the hand of the King all the lands and tenements belonging to the Priory of Lenton, vacant through the resignation of brother Reginald de Jora, until lately Prior of the same.” 2 In the year 1289, Pope Nicholas IV. addressed the following bull to the King on behalf of Peter de Siviriaco, Prior of Lenton, who appears to have been deprived of his office, by one of the monks, Ranandus, being put into his place. “ Nicholas, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his well- beloved son in Christ, Edward the illustrious King of England, greeting and apostolic benediction. Some while ago we thought it proper, by our letters, to bring under the notice of the King, how our beloved sons, Brother Peter de Siviriaco of Lenton, of the Order of Cluniacs, in the Diocese of York, and some other Priors of Priories, Monks of the Monastery of Cluiiy. Carefully taking note that some statutes which G. IX. Pope, our predecessor, of blessed memory, published on the refor¬ mation of the said order, and which he, in virtue of obedience, must obviously have been identical with that William, who was, as above stated, baptized in Lenton Priory on Palm Sunday, 1263. In 1303, the said William was found by the jury to hold the manor of Greasley after the death of Sir William de Roos, Knight, who held the same for his life, “by the courtesy of England,” he being the second husband of the above named Eustachia, heiress of the said manor. In 1294, William de Cantelupe took part in the expedition into Gascony, and a few' years later he joined in the invasion of Scotland. In 1299, he was raised to the peerage as liaron Cantelupe, by writ of summons, dated December 29th, 1299. He was succeded at his death in 1308, by his son William, who made proof of his age in 1313, probably on attaining his majority. This William died not long after, and was never summoned to Parliament as a baron. His younger brother, Nicholas, Lord Cantelupe, had license to castellate his mansion at Greasley in 1340, and three years later he founded Beauvale Priory. This branch of the Cantelupe family bore for arms. Gules , a fosse vair, between three leopards’heads reversed, jessant ele-lys or. The elder branch of the family, who had the barony of Abergavenny, bore the same arms, omitting the fesse. (1) Thoroton, p. 46. (2) Ab. Rot. Orig., 1. 65. THE HISTORY OF THE 132 commanded to be strictly and inviolably observed, were not in the least attended to in the Order, Therefore, on this account, and for certain other reasons, they have appealed to the Apostolic See, And lest-Abbot of the said Monastery, after this their appeal, depriving them of their access to the Roman Court, should make any new attack upon them, or upon any one of them, or their adherents, or those who wish to adhere to them, or attempt any attack, either by citation, warning, or excommu¬ nication, suspension and sentence of interdict, or should proceed to remove or despoil them of their said Priories and houses, by themselves or by others, by whatever authority, have in their own name, and of those who wish to support them in this con¬ tention, for the second time appealed to the said See against the above-mentioned Abbot, and even applied for the prosecution of the above-named persons coming in person to the same See, Which attempts having been carried into effect, as the Abbot has before stated, as also the Surveyors of the General Chapter have unjustly deprived these Priors of their Priories and adminis¬ tration, contrary to law, brother Ranandus, monk of the above mentioned monastery, having been instituted de facto , though not de jure, into the Priory of Lenton, receiving whom (on the presentation of the Abbot) as Prior of the above mentioned Priory, of which you are said to be the patron, you have caused him to be put in possession of the Priory, and its goods and rights. We, therefore, looking to the peace and prosperity of the Monastery, and of the persons living therein, and considering attentively that as brother Peter before stated, as well as the other above-mentioned Priors, have been unjustly despoiled of their Priories and have suffered loss of that which should have been of emolument to them, have, justice demanding it, by the assent of the Proctors of the above Abbot, restored to him the above named Priory of [Lenton], removal from or spoliation in this manner notwithstanding ; Earnestly praying your Royal Highness and entreating you devoutly to unite with the Apostolic See to cause to be restored to the same brother Peter, Prior, full possession of the above- mentioned Priory of Lenton, and of its rights and goods, all obstacles being removed, and to keep him in possession thereof by the aid of your Royal favours. If you will kindly and liberally carry this out, reward from God, and the abundance of our high praises will be bestowed upon you. Moreover, you will know that it has lately come to our knowledge that the above named Abbot, whilst the said Priors were still in the Roman Court, has paid the debt of nature, and that the unanimous election of another, so it is said, has been held in the above named Monastery, and it is reported that the Elect PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 133 is about to come shortly to the Court, humbly to ask for the confirmation of his election, On account of which it behoves the said Prior, along with the above mentioned Priors, to remain at the Apostolic See until the Elect one arrives, in order that the good estate of the Monastery may be the more advantageously and efficaciously, with God’s help, provided for : As therefore the above mentioned Prior, on account of this hindrance, cannot personally return to England, to take actual possession of his, the said Priory, we have thought well to ask and entreat your Royal Highness, out of reverence for us and of the Apostolic See, to cause the corporal possession of the above named Priory, and all its goods and rights to be assigned to-- Proctor of the said Prior, in his name, and for him, all contrary customs notwithstanding. Thus faithfully yielding to our requests and effectually ful¬ filling that which we seek, so in like manner we will worthily praise the promptitude of your royal devotion, which we hope will, in this matter, be an easy task. If, however, any one in the same Priory of Lenton shall say that he has any rights, we are prepared to do him full justice, after we shall have investigated his cause. Given at Rome, at St. Mary Major, the third of the Ides of December, in the second year of our Pontificate.” (Under the hempen thread.) 1 According to the Taxation of Pope Nicholas the Fourth, made in 1291, 2 3 the annual income of the Priory was derived as follows :— Spiritualities, Lincoln diocese, £ 15 19s. 4d. ; Coventry and Lichfield diocese, £66 13s. 4d.; York diocese, ,£108 12s. iod. Total of spiritualities .£191 5s. 6d. Temporalities , Lincoln diocese, £37 3s. iojd. ; Salisbury diocese, 13s 4d. ; Coventry and Lichfield diocese, £1 7 6s.; York diocese, £gz 12s. 6d. Total of temporalities, ,£147 15s. 8-|-d. Total valuation of Priory, £339 is. 2|d.3 In 1294, John, son of Thomas the Leech ( medicus ), of Newthorpe, released all actions and demands to William, Prior of Lenton, who was his guardian during his minority.* (1) Rymer’s Fcedera , ii., 453. (2) Pope Nicholas IV., to whom the first-fruits and tenths of all benefices belonged, granted the tenths, in 1288, to King Edward I. for six years, towards defraying the expenses of a Crusade ; and in order that their full value might be collected, the King caused a valuation roll to be drawn up under the direction of John, Bishop of Winchester, and Oliver, Bishop of 1 .incoln. This taxation, completed in 1291, held good for the purpose of the taxation of benefices until the new survey of 27 Henry VIII. was made. (3) Mon. Ang., v. 109. (4) Thoroton, p. 238. 134 THE HISTORY OF THE In the year 1297, the Prior of Lenton was returned by the sheriffs of the counties of Northampton, Nottingham, and Derby, as holding lands or rents to the amount of twenty pounds yearly value, and upwards, either in capite or otherwise, and as such was summoned under the general writ to perform military service in parts beyond the sea. The muster to be at London on Sunday next after the octave of St. John the Baptist, 25 Edw. I.‘ In the same year the Priory was taxed at £6 13s. 4d., on the occasion of the King going into Gascony. 2 In the British Museum there are copies of the account of Robert Bozun of the issues of the Priory of Lenton, from the Sunday next after the feast of St. Margaret in the 25th year of the reign of King Edward the Third (July 21st, 1297) to the feast of St. Michael next following; 3 also from the feast of St. Michael in the 25th year of King Edward the Third, ending at the same feast in the following yearri In the 30th year of King Edward I., John le Paumer or Palmer, * * 5 and his wife Alice (sister and heir of Hugh cle Stapleford, son of Robert de Stapleford, of Nottingham), obtained a license to endow two chaplaincies in the chapel of St. Mary on Heth- beth Bridge, Nottingham, with £6 13s. 5d. of annual income. 6 7 Thoroton states that the Palmers gave this rent “to a certain chaplain to celebrate Divine Offices for their souls, etc., in the chapel of St. Mary on Hethebethe Brigg, where there is an arch, yet known by the name of Chappell Arch.” ? From this, and other documents, it appears that the Trent Bridge at Nottingham was anciently known as Heyghbeythbrugg, Hethbethe, or Pleybeth Bridge This name has, however, long fallen into desuetude. The sixth arch of the old bridge (from the Nottingham side) was formerly known as the Chapel Arch, and some remains of the chapel were found here when the bridge was repaired in 1826. (1) Pari, and Mil. Writs, i. 702. (2) Testa de Nevill, p. 22. (3) Add. MSS., 6164, f. 514. (4) Ibid, f. 517. (5) Mayor of Nottingham, 1302, 1306, and 1311. (6) Inq. p.m., 30 Edw. I., No. 102. (7) Antiquities of Notts., p. 492. The chapel is mentioned in the Valor Ecclesi¬ astical as being the properly of Lenton Priory. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 135 We find that King Edward I. was at Lenton in April, 1302, and on the 10th day of that month addressed a letter, dated at Lenton, to Henry, King of Spain, on the proposed marriage of Prince Edward of England, with Isabella, Infanta of Spain. 1 In the following year the King was again at Lenton. On the 9th of April, 1303, he addressed a letter, dated at Lenton, to the Count of Namur, in which he refers the count to the bearer for the King’s reply to his letter. 2 3 O11 the following day (April 10th, 1303) the King addressed a letter, also dated at Lenton, to the councillors of Bruges and other communes in Flanders, in which he refers them to the bearer of the letter for his answer to their letters .3 In the year 1307, King Edward II. was at Lenton Priory. On September 29th, in that year, Walter de Jorz, archbishop of Armagh, renounced, “ in Camera Regis in prioratu de Lenton,” all claim to the bulls of his appointment which were prejudicial to the King’s power. The witnesses to this renunciation were, the King, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, J., Bishop of Chichester, Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, V., Earl of Hereford, 4 Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster, Hugh le Despenser, W. Inge J. de Benested, clerico, Brother J. de Lenham (? Lenton), W. de Melton, A. de Osgoteby, and R. de Bardelby. 5 The Prior of Lenton at this time must have been an important and wealthy personage, not only to be honoured by such guests, but to possess the means of entertaining so distinguished an assemblage. On the following day (Sept. 30) the King addressed a letter, dated at Lenton, to John de Britannia, Earl of Richmond, the King’s lieutenant in Scotland, directing him to proceed to Galloway to suppress the rebellion of Robert de Brus. 6 By a statute, known as the “ Statute of Carlisle,” passed in the year 1307, the King prohibited all abbots, priors, or other religious persons of whatsoever condition, from thenceforth (1) Rymer’s Fxdera, ii. 900. (2) Ibid., ii. 922. (3) Il>id. (4) Humphrey de Boliun was then Earl of Hereford. (5) Rymer’s Fcedera, iii. 13. (6) Ibid., iii. 14. THE HISTORY OF THE 136 sending any money under any name or pretence whatsoever as a payment to their superiors beyond the sea. “ Alien superiors having set divers unwonted and heavy payments and impositions on the monasteries in subjection to them in England, the King can no longer suffer such losses and injuries to be winked at, and provides a sufficient remedy, etc.” In the year 1310, the Prior of Lenton impleaded William de Shaldeford, chaplain, and many others, for taking forty lambs of the value of forty shillings, at Langar, for tithes. 1 In the year 1316, the Prior of Lenton was certified, pursuant to writs tested at Clipston, March 5th, as lord of the manor of Lenton, in the county of Nottingham, and of the manor of Courteenhall, in Northamptonshire. He was likewise cer¬ tified to be the joint lord of the manors of Cotgrave, Owthorpe, Crophill Bishop, Kinoulton, and Newthorpe, in Nottingham¬ shire. 2 The inspeximns charter of King Edward the Second, dated at York, August 19th, 1316, after reciting and confirming Peverel’s foundation charter, a charter of Stephen, four of Henry II., and three of John, concludes with an enumeration of various grants by other persons. These are—the church of Wigston, with its appurtenances, by Robert, Earl of Medlent; the tithe of assarts in the forest of High Peak, by William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby ; of the churches of Ossington and Horsley, by Hugh de Burun and his son, Hugh Meschines, with a moiety of the church of Cotgrave ; of the church of Broughton, a chapel and certain lands in that town, by Richard Bussell ; the manors of Holme and Dunston, by Matthew de Hathersage ; and a moiety of the church of Attenborough, the land of Reginald, in Chilwell, the church of Barton (in Fabis), and two parts of the tithe of his demesne in Bunny and Brad- more, by Odo de Boneia.s The Prior of Lenton was, by a writ tested at Gloucester, February 16th, 1322, requested by the King to raise as many men-at-arms and horse and foot soldiers as he could, to march (1^ Ab. Placitor , p. 312. (1) Parliamentary Writs, iv. 1092. (3) Mon. Angl., v. 112. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 137 against the rebels or adherents of the Earl of Lancaster, “ who are destroying our people, and besieging with an armed force our castle of Tickhill the muster to take place at Coventry, on the first Sunday in Lent (Feb. 28). On the 16th of the following month, the battle of Boroughbridge put an end to this rebellion, and on the 23rd March, the Earl of Lancaster with a number of his adherents were executed. Rex, Priori de Lentonia salutem. Quia Scoti, inimici & Rebelles nostri, qui tempore Domini E. quondam R. Angliie, Patris nostri (contra quern in Rebellionem proruperunt) & nostro postmodum, infra Regnum nostrum, Homicidia, depraedationes, incendia, & alia Dampna innumera multipliciter perpetrarunt. Finita Treuga, inter nos & ipsos nuper inita, dictum Regnum nostrum in magna multitudine ingressi, in eodem consimilia facinora perpetrantes, AEtati, vel Sexui, seu loco, sacro vel Religioso, non parcentes. Ac quidam Magnates de Regno nostro, nobis Subditi, a jamdiu, nobis Inobientes & Rebelles, se in magna multitudine ad partes Boriales transtulerunt, populum nostrum destruentes, ac Castrum nostrum de Tykhull Armata potentia Obsedentes. Per quod ordinavimus & esse proponimus, Domino concedente, apucl Coventre, prima Dominica Quadragesima;, proximo futura, cum equis & Armis, quanto decentius & potentius poterimus, ad proficiscendum exinde contra dictos Inimicos, Inobedientes & Rebelles nostros, ad eorum malitiam & proterviam, cum Dei adjutorio refraenandas ; Nos, de vestra fidelitate ad plenum confidentes, sperantes etiam quod, in tanto & tarn arduo Ncgotio, nos, & Statum, ac sal- vationem Regni nostri praedicti specialiter tangente, manum porrigere velitis adjutricem, Vobis, in fide & dilectione, quibus nobis tenemini, firmiter injungentes, mandamus ; vos etiam specialiter requirimus & rogamus, quantinus de Hominibus ad Arma, Equitibus & Peditibus, quanto decentius poteritis, con¬ siderate diligenter qualitate Negotii praedicti, nos juvetis ; & eos- dem Homines, Armis competentibus bene munitos, habeatis ad nos, ad diem & locum pnedictos, ad proficiscendum exinde nobiscum in Obsequium nostrum supradictum ; vel de alio sub- sidio competenti nos, ad eosdem diem & locum, ita curialiter respiciatis & gratanter, quod, vestro mediante subsidio, negotia nostra praedicta, ad nostrum & vestrum honorem & commodum, & Populi Regni notris tranquilitatem & quietem pcrpetuam, feliciter valeant expediri, & quod vobis exinde in futurum artius teneamur. Et, si forsitan, ad eosdem diem & locum, obstante aliquo impedimento, quod absit, prsemissa facere non possitis, tunc ea postea ita festinanter compleatis, quod ex hoc perpendere possimus qualem affectionem ad nostram expeditionem optatam geritis & habeatis ; pensantes intime quod, in praedicto negotio status totius Regni nostri, tarn Ecclesim, quam Populi, versatur. T1II£ HISTORY OF THE 133 Et de eo, quod inde facere volueritis, nos, sine dilatione aliqua, reddatis per vestras Litteras certiores. Teste Rege apud Gloucestriani, decimo sexto die Febuarii. Per ipsum Regem. 1 King Edward the Third, on his accesion to the throne, by an instrument dated at Westminster, February 4th 1327, restored to the Prior of Lenton, and sixty-four other alien Priories, their lands in England, seized by his late father on account of the war in Aquitain. 2 In the same year, Geoffrey, Prior of Lenton, being troubled by the Court of Rome, “ to the great destruction of his house of Lenton,” for not obeying a Papal mandate to put Cardinal Pouget in possession of the church at Radcliffe-on-Soar, prays the King, for the love of Gcd, to forward letters excusatory to the Pope. A n’re Seign’r le Rey monstre son petyt Chapelyn si ly plest Frere Geffrey Prior de Lenten’, qe coment jadys la venyst Comaundeme’t de p’ n’re Piere la Pape, q’il meyst le Cardinal Pouget en possession de l’Eglise de Radeclyve sus Sore. Et le dit Prior sousyt, q’il n’osa faire le dist Comaundemet, partant q’il fust defendu p Bref le Rey de sa Chauncelerye, tant que le play de l’Avoyeson de la dist Eglise qe pendist entre le Conte de Lancastre & le Prior de Norton fust trie. Pur lagle chose le dist Prior est mult malemetz tretez & demenez a la Court de Rome, a la g’nt destrucion de sa meson de Lenton. Prye le dist Prior a n’re Seign’r le Rey pur l’amour de Dieux, q’il ly pleyse prier affectuosement a n’re dist Piere le Pape p’ ses L’res, q’il pur l’amour de ly voile aver le dist Prior pour escuse a ceste fethe, & aver regard al defense qe fait ly fust p’ Real Poer. Et q’il ly pleyse charger les messageres qe irront la, q’ils voillent escuser le dist Prior en le maner sus dite, & psenter les Lres nre dist Seignr le Rey a la Pape. Responsio. II semble au Conf’ q le Roi li deit aider, mes jadumeins devant le Roi. 3 The King, acceding to the Prior’s request, addressed the following letter, dated at Nottingham, May 15th, 1327, to the Pope:— Papas Rex devota pedum oscula beatorum. Religiosi Viri et nobis in Christo dilecti, Fratris Galfridi, (1) Rymer’s Fcedera, iii. 927. (2) Ibid., iv. 246. (3) Rolls of Parliament, ii. 393. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 139 Prioris de Lenton, ordinis Cluniacensis. Quictem et commoda affectantes, ea pro ipso vestrs dementis devota intentione suggerrimus, et, pro salubri appositione remedii, sedulis insisti- inus Precibus et votivis, per quae ipsius tranquilitatem conspici- mus inquietari, et spiritualis Profectus devotionem impediri. Dudum siquidem, Pater Sancte, lit didicimus, in quodam Negotio Provisorio, Ecclesiam de Radeclive, super Sore, Eborum Diocesi, contingente, per executores ejusdem Negotii, eidem Priori injunctam erat, ut Procuratorem, Venerabilis Patris, Do¬ mini B Tituli Sancti Marcellini, Presbyteri Cardinalis, in Pos¬ sessionem dictae Ecclesiae induceret, virtute Provision is, seu Gratis, eidem Cardinali a Sede Apostolica inde facts. Quod quidem Mandatum idem Prior, pro eo quod, super Advocatione diets Ecciesis, inter, bons memoris, Thomam, tunc Comitem Lancastris, et Priorem de Nortonia, in Curia, Magnifici Principio, Domini E nuper Regis Auglis, Patris nostri, Lis mota fuit, et inhibitum ei, ex parte dicti Patris nostri, ne. pendente hujusmodi Lite, aliquam Personam in¬ duceret in Ecclesiam supradictam, necnon, ob metum .prsfati Comitis, exequi non audebat : Et quamquam idem Comes, postmodum Patronatum diets Ecciesis, contra prsfatum Priorem de Norton, judicial iter evicissct, sicque dicta Provisio ad prsfatam Ecclesiam, utpote de Laico Patronatu existentem, se nullatenus extendebat, idem nicliilominus Prior de Lenton, ad respondendum prsfato Car¬ dinali de contemptu, extitit personaliter ad Sedem Apostolicam evocatus: Et, pro eo quod non comparuit, juxta vocationem illam (transitu maris, per dictum Patrem nostrum, ei tunc, certis de causis, penitus prohibito) idem Prior metuit Processus aliquos, contra ipsum, in eadem Curia factos esse ; sicque jam, per longa tempora, eo timore, abstinuit a Divinis. Verum quia, per inspectionem Judicii, in Lite prsdicta redditi, nobis constat evidenter quod prefatus Comes evicit Patronatum diets ecciesis, et quod prsfatus Prior de Norton nichil juris habuit in eadem. Beatitudini vestrs sinceris affectibus supplicamus quatinus prsfato Priori de Lenton, qui, pro petenda Status sui Reforma- tione, ad vestrs Sanctitatis prssentiam personaliter se divertit, benignum dignemini prsbere Auditum, eique, prsmissorum contemplatione, Sinum Paterns pietatis, in suis justis Postula- tionibus, benignitate solita aperire. Conservet etc. Dat apud Notingham decimo quinto die Maii. 1 The King also, at the same time, addressed the following letter, on the same subject, to the Cardinal of St. Susanna. (1) Rymer’s Fadera, iv. 289. 140 THE HISTORY OF TI1E Venerabili in Christo Patri, Domino P. Dei gratia, Tituli Sanctae Susanriae Presbitcro Cardinali, Amico suo carissimo, Edwardus, Dei gratia &c et Dux Aquitaniae, Salutem, et sincerre dilectionis affectum. Referente nobis, dilecto nobis in Christo, Fratre Galfrido, Priore de Lenton, Ordinis Cluniacensis, didicimus qualiter in quodam Negotio Provisorio, Ecclesiam de Radeclive, super Sore, Eborum Diocesi, contingente, per Executores ejusdem Negotii, eidem Priori injunctum erat, ut Procuratorem, Venerabilis Patris, Domini B tituli Sancti Marcellini, Presbyteri Cardinalis in Pos¬ sessionem dictae Ecclesiae in duceret, &c prout supra usque hcec verba ; vis. Patenitatem vestram afifectuosis Precibus requirimus et roga- mus, quatinus praefato Priori de Lenton. Qui pro petenda Status sui Reformatione, ad Sedem Apostolicam personaliter se divertit, in prosecutione negotiorum suorum, assistere velitis, nostri contemplatione rogaminis, Consiliis et Auxiliis oportunis ; eademque Nogotia penes dictum Dominum Summum Pontifiicem (Cui pro eisdem scribimus) modis, quibus melius expedire vide- ritis, efficaciter promovere. Dat apud Notingham decimo quinto die Maii. In the year 1329, a dispute arose between the Abbot of Vale Royal (Cheshire), and the Prior of Lenton, in consequence of the latter selling the tithes of beasts pasturing in Edale. The Abbot entreated Queen Isabella, at that time lady of the Castle and Honour of the High Peak, that she would give instructions to her Bailiff of the High Peak, to liberate to the Abbot the tithes of the wild beasts and domestic animals pastured in Edale, for the benefit of the church of Castleton, of which the Abbot was Rector. The Queen accordingly instructed Ralph de Spaynynge, her Bailiff, to make an inquisition on oath, as to the ancient rights and privileges of the Abbot and the church of Castleton. The result was that the claim of the Abbot was confirmed to him. 1 The following translation of the Placita de quo warranto relating to Lenton, held at Nottingham before W. de Herle, and his associate, justices-itinerant, on Monday next after the feast of St. Martin, 1329, is of very great interest, as showing the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Priory at that time. (1) Had. MSS., 2064, fo. 251. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 141 The Prior of Lenton was summoned to answer to his lord the King, by what warrant he claimed to have a yearly fair, lasting eight days, at Lenton, to be held at the feast of Saint Martin, with all things belonging to the said fair ; and to have in his said manor of Lenton, infangthef and outfangthef with a gallows, and a view of frankpledge there of all his tenants of Lenton, Radford, Keketon, and Newthorp, twice a year, with all pertaining to a view of frankpledge, also pillory, tumbrell, and thew ; and to have at the same manor of Lenton wayf; and to have at his manor at Cotgrave, a view of frankpledge twice a year, of all his tenants of Cotgrave, with all pertaining to a view of frankpledge. And how it was that at the time of a certain vacancy of the Priory of Lenton—whether it was by death, by resignation, or by any other cause—no eschator or other, our servant came to the said Piory of Lenton, nor entered, nor received any of the profits thereof, except indeed that the sheriff of Nottingham, or the constable of the Castle of Nottingham, at that time, whichever the first of them had been required thereto by the sub-prior and convent of the said Priory, had placed one of his servants at the gate of the said Priory, there to remain for the safety of the property of the Priory, lest it should be squandered, but who, immediately on the fealty of the new Prior to the King being taken, ought to withdraw without receiving anything except his sustenance in food, during the time of the said vacancy. And why he and his monks should be exempt from fair and market dues, of whatever sort they may be, on crossing bridges [and] at seaports ; from toll, from dane-geld, and from all monies and aids to the wapentake, and hundred, shire, trithing, and tenemental aid, from murder [money], scutage, assise, and summons, and hidage and ward, from frank-pledge and all pleas and fines, processes and forfeiture, from decisions and customs, and from every land service and secular exaction. And the Prior came by John de Shirwood, his atttorney. And whereas he is summoned to answer, &c., by what warrant he claims to have a fair at Lenton for eight days, &c., he says, that the late lord Henry the second after the conquest, King of England, by his charter granted and confirmed to the Monks of Lenton a fair of eight days at the feast of St. Martin with full toll of all things from which toll may be taken, excepting those purchases which were appointed for the table or for their dress which upon this quittance he gave and confirmed, willing and firmly enjoining that no one should sell or buy in Nottingham within the eight days during which the fair lasted, and that all persons coming and going to the fair should be free of all claims ; also enjoining that the Sheriff or the Castellan of Nottingham should not vex the said Monks in the slaughter of cattle, nor in anything else as they have been accustomed, but should buy in such fair like others who come to the market 142 THE HISTORY OF THE from a distance. And he produces the said charter of the said King Henry, &c., which testifies this, &c. And whereas he is summoned to answer by what warrant lie claims infangenthef and outfangenthef with gallows at his manor of Lenton, &c., and likewise why he and his Monks should be exempt in fairs and markets of whatever sort, &c, from toll &c. on all the articles in the same quittance above contained those articles being excepted, and from all pleas and fines and processes and forfeitures and decisions,—he says, that the lord King John late King of England, progenitor of the present King, by his charter granted and confirmed to God and the convent of monks of Lenton, infangthef and outfangenethef and soc and sac and tol and theam ; and that these monks hold all their tenements free and quit of toll, danegeld, and all monies and aids, and [free] of wapentake, hundred, trithing, shire and tenemental [charges], and of murder and scutage and other quittances above named, except all pleas, &c., as is above said. And he produces the charter of the said John, late King, &c., which testifies to this, the date of which is at Guildford the 22nd day of April in the first year of his reign. And as to the having quittance from all pleas, fines, processes, and forfeitures and decisions he claims nothing at present. And as to the view of frank-pledge at his manor of Lenton of all his tenants of Lenton and other towns above named twice a year, with all pertaining to a view, pillory, &c. ; and to have weyf at the said manor of Lenton ; and to have view of frankpledge of all his tenants of Cotgrave at his manor of Cotgrave, &c., as is above contained in the said writ, &c.,—for the view of frankpledge he says that he and all his predecessors from time whereof no memory exists have had view of frankpledge at his manor of Lenton of all his tenants of Lenton, Radford, Keketon, and Newthorpe, and likewise at his manor of Cotgrave, of all his tenants who were residents, twice a year, together with all pertaining to a frank-pledge, &c. Likewise he and all his predecessors had weyf at his said manor of Lenton from time immemorial. And by these warrants he claims the said liberties.—And whereas in the time of a certain vacancy of the Priory of Lenton no Escheator nor other servant of the King came to the said priory nor received the profits thereof, except that the sheriff of Nottingham or the constable of the Castle of Nottingham at that time, whichever the first of them had been required by the sub-prior and convent of the said Priory, had placed one of his servants at the gate of the said priory, there to remain for the safety of the property of the priory lest it should be squandered, but who immediately on the fealty of the new Prior to the King being taken, ought to withdraw without receiving anything excepting his sustenance in food during the time of the said vacancy, he says that the lord the King that now is assigned his beloved and faithful John de Annesley, Richard de Willoughby, and John del Ker to inquire in the PARISH AND PRIORY OF LF.NTON. 143 presence of the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Constable of Nottingham, or their lieutenants [locum tenentes] more fully into the articles contained in the same declaration. And by the inquisition taken by the said John, Richard, and John in the presence of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the lieutenant of the Constable of the said Castle, returned into the Chancery of the lord the King, it was found that the Sheriff or the Constable aforesaid, whichever might first come to the said Priory in time of vacancy on the request of the said sub-prior and convent, was accustomed to place one of his servants at the gate of the said Priory for the safety of the goods of the said Priory, &c., who, immediately on fealty to [the King's] progenitors being taken [by a new Prior] withdrew without receiving anything more than his sustenance, &c., as above is declared : And that the King’s progenitors had received no profits from the said priory in time of vacancy. Which inquisition in all its articles so returned, the King warranted by his charter, willing and granting for himself and his heirs that no Escheator or other servant of the King whatever in time of vacancy of the said Priory should enter on either temporalities or anything else belonging to the said Priory, or should meddle with the said priory or its temporalities in any way whatsoever, saving that the Sheriff of the County or the Constable of the Castle for the time being on the requisition of the sub-prior and convent of the said place and their successors may place one of his servants at the gate of the said Priory for the safety of the goods of the said Priory who shall remain there during the vacancy, and when the fealty of the new Prior has been taken shall go away without receiving anything except his sustenance, as above is said. And he now produces the said charter of the said King, which testifies the premisses in form above said, dated at Nottingham the 8th day of November in the 1st year of his reign. And William de Dene, who follows on behalf of the King says, that though the said Prior claims the view of frank¬ pledge at his manor of Cotgrave, with all pertaining to the said view, etc., the said Prior has not in the said manor a pillory nor a tumbrell, by which delinquents of any kind in the said view ought to be punished in his cause, etc. And the Prior says that he admits that he has neither pillory nor tumbrell, yet he and all his predecessors from time im¬ memorial had a view of frank pledge in the said manor as above is said. And William who follows, &c., asks judgment for the king, because as the said Prior recognizes expressly enough that he does not possess there the kind of judicial powers [judicialia] which are required at a view of frank-pledge, the said liberty will be lost, &c. He asks also that it shall be inquired on behalf of the king how he and his predecessors have exercised the other liberties which he claims above, &c. Therefore it is inquired for the king. 144 THE HISTORY OF THE Twelve jurors say upon oath, that the said Prior and all his predecessors have had the said fair at Lenton for eight days, in form as is above declared, from the time when the fair was granted to the predecessors of the Prior by King Henry the Second after the Conquest, without interruption. And the fair has been well used. And likewise that he and his predecessors have used and have had infangthef and outfangthef with gallows at his manor of Lenton, and those liberties have been well exercised from the time they were granted. And likewise that he and his monks were and are accustomed to be exempt in any fairs and markets whatever, on crossing bridges, at sea-ports, from toll and other liabilities above written, except those which he disclaims above. They say also that he has a view of frank¬ pledge at Lenton of all his tenants at Lenton, Radeford, Keketon, and Neuthorp, twice a year, of those who were resident, together with all belonging to that view, pillory and tumbrell and thewe and weyf at the manor of Lenton, and likewise at his manor of Cotgrave, a view of frankpledge of all his tenants of Cotgrave twice a year, together with all pertaining to that view, excepting pillory and tumbrell and thewe there. And likewise at his manor of Cotgrave, a view of frankpledge of all his tenants of Cotgrave twice a year, together with all pertaining to that view, excepting pillory and tumbrell and thewe there. And that he and all his predecessors from time immemorial have had those said views pertaining to the said manors of Lenton and Cotgrave, and those views have been exercised thus, namely, in the amercing of all those who transgress by breaking the assize of bread and ale, and other articles of the said views, whatsoever they may have transgressed, and never by inflicting corporal punishment on any kind of delinquents. And they say that the present Prior was Prior at the time when the said inquisition was taken before the said John de Annesley, Richard, and John, as to how the said Priory ought to be kept in the time of vacancy. And they say that the said Priory has never been vacant since. And William who follows, &c., says, that none of these liberties were claimed in the last Itinerary before J. de Vail and his colleagues the justices last travelling in the time of King Edward, grandfather of the present King. Therefore the said View shall be seized into the King’s hands. Afterwards came the said Prior and paid a fine of forty shillings to our lord the King in order to have back his liberties by the hand of John de Skeryngton and John de Shirwood of the same county. There¬ fore he regains his liberty, &c., saving the right of the King, &c. And he is told that he should exercise them as he ought, &c., and as to all other liberties the said Prior at present [has them] sine die , saving the King’s right, &C . 1 (i) Placita de quo Warran/o, p. 643. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 145 The pleas relating to the rights of the Prior of Lenton in the manor of Courteenhall, in Northamptonshire, were held at Northampton, on the Monday next after the Feast of All Saints, 1329, before Geoffrey le Scrop and his associate justices itinerary. 1 The pleas as to the rights of the Prior in the manor of Blackwell, in the High Peak of Derbyshire, were held before W. de Herle and his associate justices itinerant in the counties of Nottingham and Derby, on the Monday next after the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, 1330. 2 3 4 From an early period, the Priory had acquired the advovvscm of Beeston, and in the year 1330, the rectory of that parish was appropriated by Lenton Priory, and the church became a chapel, subject to the mother Church of Lenton. This appro¬ priation was effected by the aid of Popes Alexander III. and Lucius III., whose letters were produced in support of the claim “ against the parishioners and poor vicar.” Two com¬ missioners, John de la Launde, rector of Arnold, and William de Hundon, rector of Barmburgh, in Yorkshire, were appointed to determine the dispute as to repair of the chancel by the parishioners, and the payment of twenty-two shillings yearly by the vicar to Lenton Priory .3 The monastery retained the advowson and appropriate tithes of Beeston'* down to the dissolution, and the arms of the Priory (1) Placita de quo warranto, p. 576. (2) Ibid., p. 137. (3) Thoroton, p. 211. (4) William de Willesthorpe was instituted to this benefice, October the 12th, 1327, on the presentation of the Prior and Convent of Lenton, but during the latter half of the fourteenth century the advowson was retained by the Crown, owing to the restrictions then placed upon alien monasteries. Towards the close of that century the Prior and Convent were permitted to resume their right, and Richard Mason was instituted on their presentation. On his decease, the Prior and Convent presented Henry Searle, who was instituted March the 21st, 1401. Five years later they presented Thomas Marchall, who was instituted January the 30th, 1405. On his resignation they presented John Thimelby, who was instituted January the 26th, 1420. He resigned three years later, and John Gynger was instituted September the 17th, 1423. Thomas Smyth, who occurs as the next Vicar, was doubtless presented by the Prior and Convent, and on his resignation they presented John Katull, who was instituted April the 7th, 1431. John Meyson was instituted January the 28th, 1451, on the same presentation, as was also his successor, John Emott, on whose death the Prior and Convent presented Nicholas Bubwith, who was instituted August the 13th, 1 455 - On his resignation they presented William Taylor, who was instituted March the 18th, 1456. He was succeeded by Richard Ellesley, on whose resignation, the Prior and Convent presented Nicholas Blackwell, who was instituted March the 28th, 1465. Richard Burton, instituted March the 18th, 1500, on the death of 146 TIIE HISTORY OF THE were carved at the eastern end of the nave of Beeston church when that part of the fabric was rebuilt in the year 1844. According to John Capgrave, * 1 Lenton Priory appears to have been the meeting place of the captors of Roger Mortimer at Nottingham Castle, in the year 1330. “In the 1111 . yere was a Parlement at Notyngham ; where Roger Mortimere was take be nyte in the qween chamber behinde a corteyn. It is seid comounly that there is a weye fro the hous of Lenton onto the castel of Notyngham, under the ground ; and this wey cam thei in that took him, of whech the principales were too Ufforthis. The queen was logged in the castelle, and this Mortimere next hire, and the Kyng forth in the court. The keyes were in the keping of Mortimere. So these knytes, whan they were com into the castelle, thei cleped up the Kynge, and told him who Mortimere had ymaged his deth, that he myte be Kyng : thei told him eke who he mysused his moder the queen, and then thei broke up the dore, and fond him behinde the curteyn, as we saide, and sent him to London, and there was he ded.” Lenton Priory would appear to have been an exceptionally favourable rendezvous for this expedition, as the range of cells and passages in the face of the rock along the banks of the river Leen would effectually screen from observation a party of knights advancing from Lenton Priory in the direction of the Castle. Capgrave, who flourished 1393-1464, states that in his day, it was a common report that the party advanced on the castle in this manner, although other and more recent writers assert that the residence of Sir William Eland, at Algar- thorpe, in the parish of Basford, was the chosen starting place. On February 12th, 1333, the King addressed the following letter, dated at Pontefract, to the Prior of Lenton, refusing to accept his excuse in the matter of the subsidy on the marriage of the King’s sister, Eleanor. Nicholas Blackwell, was also presented by the Trior and Convent, as was Christopher Twistfeld, who was instituted July loth, 1510, on the resignation of Richard Burton. He was succeeded by William Garforde, who was instituted August the 4th, 1528. He was the last Vicar presented by the Prior and Convent. On his death, ten years later, William Mottram was presented, August the 3rd, 1538, by King Henry VIII .—From Torre's MSS ., Archdeaconry of Nottingham, p. 668. (1) Chronicle of England, p. 200. PARISH AND I'RIORV OF LENTON. M 7 Rex dilecto sibi in Christo, Priori de Lenton, salutem. Vos nuper, per litteras nostras, meminimus nos rogasse, ut in Sub- ventionem Magnorum Sumptuum, quos pro Maritagio Alianone, Sororis nostrae carrissimae, Nobili Viro, comiti de Gerb, fecimus, tale subsidium nobis faceritis, ut vestris desideriis, exinde dcbcr- emus fieri merito promptiores, significantes vobis quod hujus- modi Subsidium, quod in tanto necessitatis, Articulo faceritis, non deberet vobis, seu aliis, aliquod praejudicium facere, seu in Consequentiarn trahi in futurum. Ac Vos Nobis, per vestras litteias, quasdam Excusationes rescripsistis, quas insufficientes penitus reputamus, Quamobrem vos iterato rogamus quod, habita consideratione ad dictas preces notras, hujusmodi Excusa tionibus cessantibus, tale nobis Subsidium, ob causam praemissam, sicuti et alii Praelati, et Religiosi, Regni nostri, gradenter, juxta Facilitates suas fecisse dinoscuntur, facere studeatis, quod vestram exinde erga Nos Benevolentiam experiri erga vos ex hac causa provocari minime debeamus. Et quid inde duxeritis faciendum, nobis per litteras, et Latorem praesentium, rescribatis. Teste Rege apud Pontemfractum duodecimo die Februarii. 1 On October 16th, 1336, by a letter or instrument dated at Lenton, Nicholin de Flisco, cardinal of Genoa, agreed to accept the sum of eight thousand marcs, assigned by the King as redress for the losses of Yvan Luccan. 2 The said Nicholin, on the 30th October following, came into the King’s Chancery at York, and acknowledged his act and deed. In the eighteenth year of Edward III. (1344), the Commons protested against strangers being enabled to enjoy ecclesiastical dignities in England, “and showed divers inconveniences ensuing thereby,” such as the decay of national prosperity, and the export of money to nourish the King’s enemies. The Pope having granted to two cardinals divers livings within the realms of the annual value of 10,000 marcs, the Commons required the King and nobles to find some remedy for this oppression, or to help them to expel the power of the Pope. Consequently, in the twentieth year of this reign, it was ordered “ That all foreign monks do quit this realm by Michaelmas, and that their livings be disposed of to young English scholars, for that many of such aliens as be advanced to livings, were in -their own country but shoemakers, tailors, or chamberlains to cardinals, therefore (1) Rymer’s Fxdera, iv. 546. Similar letters were addressed to the heads of over 140 other priories, etc. (2) Rymer’s Fa’dera, iv. 712. THE HISTORY OF THE 148 they should depart, and their livings be disposed to poor Eng¬ lish scholars.” The result of this ordinance was that Lenton Priory, being the only monastery in the county of Nottingham subject to foreign jurisdiction, was placed under sequestration, from which it was not relieved until the sixteenth year of Richard II., when the monks obtained the privileges of denizenship. From that time Lenton seems to have no longer acknowledged the Abbey of Clugny as the mother-house, and although the ecclesiastics who presided over this monastery never attained any higher dignity than that of Prior, it is worthy of remark that the monastery itself was not unfrequently styled an Abbey. Several examples of this will be quoted. In 1348, William Hut, of Cotgrave, recovered seisin from the Priory of a corrody. 1 In 1351, William de Ferrours released to the Prior of Lenton all his right and claim in the lands and tenements of Ralph de Newthorp, and all his goods which were in his own house, where the said Ralph dwelt. 2 In the fourteenth century, private persons often founded a perpetual light to burn before the high altar, in token that the Church was ever watching. In the year 1354, we find that Sir John de St. Andrew, 3 of Gotham, gave eight shillings of rent derived from a messuage, and a virgate of land at Newthorpe, to maintain a light in the conventual church of Lenton, “ as he should order it.” 4 In the same year (1334), Richard Samon, of Nottingham, and John de Eyton, chaplain, gave a marc for the confirmation of a certain writing of the Priory granting them a corrody in the Priory. 5 The following interesting pleas in the Borough Court of Nottingham, in April, 1355, relating to the repairing of a Pyx belonging to Lenton Priory, give some idea of the splendour (1) Ab. Rot. Orig., ii. 199. (2) Thoroton, p. 238. (3) This was the representative of another ancient Nottinghamshire family, of whom a long pedigree is given by Thoroton. He appears to have died about the year 1360. (4) Thoroton, p. 238. (5) Ab. Rot. Orig., ii. 256. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 149 and value of the sacred vessels pertaining to the conventual church :— Peter, Prior of Lenton, complainant, by his attorney, appeared against Walter le Goldsmith, defendant, on a plea of agreement; and he complains that, whereas the same Peter, on Monday next before the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of the present King, 1 at Nottingham, in the house of the same Walter, by one Dawnestes, his fellow-monk, agreed with the said Walter to repair a vessel of crystal to carry the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, with pure silver and gold, the same Walter broke the agreement thereupon made between them, in these three particulars : in not making the said vessel of pure silver, nor well and suitably gilding it, and in soldering the aforesaid vessel with tin, whereas he should have soldered it with silver, to the serious damage of the said Prior of 100 shillings, wherefore he enters suit. And the afore¬ said Walter comes, and says that he has broken no agreement hereupon made between them, as the said Prior has set forth against him, but that he repaired well and suitably the aforesaid vessel, and this he will verify by a good inquest; and the afore¬ said Prior likewise. Therefore it is ordered that a good inquest be summoned against the next Court between the parties afore¬ said. Peter, Prior of Lenton, complainant, appeared against Walter le Goldsmith, defendant, on a plea of debt ; and he makes plaint that he unjustly withholds from him a noble and a halfpenny of gold, and unjustly because, whereas the same Peter, the Prior, on Monday next before the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of the present King, at Nottingham, by his servant, delivered to the same Walter two nobles of gold, to gild a vessel of crystal with, to carry the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which vessel he gilded with a halfpenny ; the same Prior, by his aforesaid servant, came and sought the aforesaid noble and halfpenny ; the same Walter would not pay them, but withheld them, and withholds them up to this time, unjustly, to the damage of the same Prior of a hundred shillings, wherefore he enters suit. And the aforesaid Walter comes, and says that he owes him nothing, nor withholds anything, nor delivered anything, as the same has set forth against him, and this he will verify by a good inquest; and the aforesaid Prior likewise. Therefore it is ordered that a good inquest be summoned against the next [Court] between the aforesaid parties. Walter le Goldsmith, complainant, appeared against Peter, Prior of Lenton, on a plea of debt; and he makes plaint that he unjustly withholds 36s. in silver, and unjustly because, (1) Monday, Jan. 26, 1354-5. THE HISTORY OF THE 1 5° whereas the same Prior, on Monday next before the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of the present King, at Nottingham, by one Dawestes, his fellow-monk, acknowledged himself to be bound to the said Walter in the aforesaid 36s. for the repairing of a certain vessel of crystal, to carry the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be paid to the same on Monday in the first week of Lent then next following, on which day the same Prior, although frequently requested, paid him nothing, but withheld the afore¬ said money, and withholds up to this time, unjustly, to the serious damage of the said Walter of 100s., wherefore he enters suit. And the aforesaid Prior comes, by his attorney, and says that he owes him nothing as he has set forth against him, and this he will verify by a good inquest ; and the aforesaid Walter likewise. Therefore, it is commanded that a good inquest be summoned against the next Court between the aforesaid parties. 1 In 1355, William de Beckford, or de Beeston, sometime vicar of Beeston, but then rector of Cotgrave, founded a chantry, dedicated to St. Catherine, in the south aisle of Beeston church, for his own soul, and the souls of John, his father, and Felice, his mother, and of his brothers and sisters, and of Alice de Langton. He appointed John de Beeston (probably his brother) the first priest, to whom, and to his successors, he gave a messuage and two pieces of land in Beeston, lately held by Matilda Rotour, also a messuage in Beeston, which was Hugh Manisterson’s, together with the reversion of two bovates of land adjoining, held by Margaret Hereward for the term of her life. Likewise, a messuage and piece of land, which were John de Strelleyes, of Nottingham, and the reversion of a piece of meadow, called Doddesholme, 2 near Lenton, and twelve-pence yearly rent. He also gave to the said John de Beeston, two messuages and 34 acres of arable land in Lenton, which he had of John de Tumby, of Nottingham. The foundation of this chantry was completed on the festival of St. Peter ad Vincula (Aug. 1st), 1355, and confirmed by John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, by an instrument dated at his manor, near Westminster, May 19th, 1356.3 (1) Records of the Borough of Nottingham, i. 161. (2) This seems to form a part of what is now ,the Highfield estate, and is just below the lake. (3) Thornton, p. 210. PARISH AND PRIORY OF RENTON. 151 “ All his gold and his goods hath he given To holy church, for the love of heaven ; And hath founded a chantry with stipend and dole, That priests and that bedesmen may pray for his soul.” In the year 1361, the King restored to the Prior of Lenton all his lands, tenements, fees and advovvsons, goods and chattels, lately in the hands of the King, by reason of the war between England and France. The letters patent were dated at West¬ minster, February 16th, 1361. 1 Ten years later, 1371, the custody of three messuages and 164 acres of land at Kersall was committed to Lenton Priory. 2 From several Extents of the Priory possessions, taken in the third year of Richard the Second, its spiritual and temporal revenues in Leicestershire amounted to £8 10s. ; in Nottingham¬ shire to £227 ns. iod., and in Derbyshire to £68 19s. iod., making a total of £305 is. 8d. 3 According to the following valuation, made in 1387, the total revenues of the Priory then amounted to £300 14s. 4d. “ Inquisition taken on Wednesday in the fourth week of Lent in the tenth year of the reign of King Richard the second after the conquest of England in the presence of Thomas of Derby and John Elyngham, sergeants of the lord King at Arms, at Lenton, in the county of Nottingham of divers articles and circumstances affecting the lord King and of all other things appertaining to the Crown, upon the oath of Robert Fitz-Robert, YVilliam de Thorp, Richard Wright, Adam Brokestowe, and others, jurors, who say upon their oaths that the site of the manor of Lenton is worth in herbage and pasturage £4 a year beyond outgoings. And they say that there are belonging to the same priory three carucates of arable land of the demesne land, and each carucate is worth 20s. a year beyond the outgoings. And they say that there are three other carucates of land in the said priory, each carucate of which is worth 10s. a year and no more, because they lie uncultivated and neglected. And there are in the demesne meadows four score acres of meadow, of which each acre is worth 2s. 6d. a year. And they say there is there a spinny wood worth 13s. 4d. annually beyond outgoings. And they say that the fair which belongs to the said priory held about the feast of All Saints and Saint Martin in the winter, is (1) Rymer’s Fadera, vi. 311. (2) Ab. Rot. Orig., ii. 314. (3) Add. MSS., 6164, ff. 365, 391. 152 THE HISTORY OF THE worth £35 a year beyond outgoings. And they say that there are belonging to the same priory certain lands and tenements in the hands of divers tenants, some free men, and others natives, in Lenton, Kyrkton, Radford, and Newthorpe, and these are worth .£40 4s. 4d. a year. And the perquisites of the [manorial] Court are worth 60s. 8d. a year. And they say that a water mill belongs to the said priory, and is worth 77s. 6d. a year. And they say that the third part of another water mill belongs to the said Priory and is worth 10s. a year beyond outgoings. And they say that a place called ‘ le Roche ’ belongs to the said Priory and is valued at 71s. 8d. a year beyond outgoings. And they say that there belongs to the said priory £15 15s. 2d. of fixed rents in the hands of divers tenants in the following towns, namely in Bradmore, Cotgrave, Crophill Bishop, Keyworth, Colston Basset, and Wiverton. And also 13s. 4d. at Stanton on the Wolds in the county of Nottingham. And they say that there belongs to the said priory the tithe of corn of the rectories of Lenton, Radford, Kyrkton, and Sutton, which is worth £20 a year. And they say that there belongs to the said priory the rectory of the church of Saint Mary of Nottingham with all tithes and profits of corn, fleeces, lambs, and of all titheable things arising from the said church, and valued at four score marcs. And they say that the rectory of the church of Beeston with a certain pension which belongs to the said church is worth £20 14s. annually, beyond outgoings. And they say that a certain tithe of two parts of the church of Langar, namely of corn, fleeces, lambs, and all other titheable things belonging to the said rectory is worth £22 a year, beyond outgoings. And they say that a certain portion of the tithe of the rectory of the church of Ruddington belonging to the said priory, is worth 100s. a year beyond outgoings. And a certain other portion of the tithes in ‘ Thorp in the Clottes ’ belongs to the same priory, and is worth 13s. 4d. a year beyond outgoings. And a certain portion of the tithes in Bunny belongs to the same priory which is worth 46s. 8d. a year. And a certain portion of the rectory of the church of Cotgrave which is worth 13s. 4d. a year belongs to the said priory. And they say that the following pensions belong to the said priory, namely, of the rectory of the church of Cotgrave 12s., of the rectory of Rempstone 2od., of the rectory of the church of Costock 2s., of the rectory of Barton 5s., of the rectory of Saint Peter in Nottingham 16s., of the rectory of the church of Saint Nicholas in Nottingham 10s., of the rectory of the church of Linby 6s. 8d., of the rectory of the church of Stapleford 66s. 8d. And they say that there belongs to the said priory a certain portion of the tithes in Attenborough, and worth 106s. 8d. a year beyond outgoings. And they say that there belongs to the said priory fixed rents in Basford amounting to 20s. And they say that a certain portion of the tithe of corn in Basford and Catesby is worth 13s. 4d. And they say that there PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 153 belongs to the said priory a certain pension of Nether Broughton which is worth 20s. a year. And they say that there belongs to the said priory certain fixed rents in Nether Broughton, of the proceeds of which they are ignorant. And they say that there belongs to the said priory 13s. 4d. of fixed rents in Welby. And they say that the custom of the fisheries, which belong to the said priory are worth every year 13s. id. And they say that a certain pension of the rectory of Wigston belongs to the said priory, and is worth 100s. a year. And the said jury being asked if any waste was made in any houses belonging to the said priory, or not, say upon oath that there were five cottages belonging to the said priory in Kyrkton, as much in want of repairs as of tenants, which in the time of the present Prior, who holds the same in fee-farm, fell into ruins to the detriment of the lord the King and of the said priory, to the amount of ten marcs. And they say that within the said priory every house and building is maintained and repaired, without any waste, and require no repairs. And they say that the manor of Blackwell belongs to the said priory of Lenton, and there are in the said manor two carucates of arable land with appurtenances, which are worth 40s. a year in all things, except outgoings. And they say that there belongs to the said manor 30s. of fixed rents. And they say that there belong to the said priory 52s. 8d. of annual rents derived from divers tenements, namely in Ashford, Tideswell, Wormhill, Staunton, and Nether Haddon in the county of Derby. And they say that there belongs to the said priory a chief messuage, with all its appurtenances in Dunston in the said county, which is worth £8 a year in all things except outgoings. And they say that there belongs to the said priory the rectory of the church of Bacwell [Bakewell], which is in the proper use of the said priory, in the said county, and is worth ^54 13s. a year. And the rectory of the church of Horsley in the said county, which is worth £16 13s. 4d. a year. And they say that the prior of the said priory has a certain parcel of arable land with all its appurtenances in Derby in the said county which is worth 26s. 8d. a year beyond outgoings. The said jurors of the articles required in the said letters patent say upon their oath that they know of nothing further to present. In testimony of which thing they have placed their seals alternately to this inquisition. Total valuation £$00 13s. 4d.” 1 King Richard the Second, by letters patent, bearing date at Nottingham, July 8th, in the 16th year of his reign (1392), granted a licence to John Plumptre, 2 of Nottingham, to found (1) Add. MSS., 6164., f. 502. (2) John de Plumptre belonged to an ancient Nottingham family, whose surname was doubtless derived from the neighbouring village of Plumtree. This John, who at one time represented the borough of Nottingham in Parliament, died in 1415, and was buried in St. Peter’s Church. The descendants of his brother, Henry de Plumptre, continued in Nottingham for several centuries, but eventually removed to Fredville, in Kent, the present seat of the family. 154 THE HISTORY OF THE and endow within the said town an hospital, or house of God, of two chaplains, one of whom should be the Master, or Guardian (magister sive custos) of the said hospital, and of thirteen widows bent by old age, and depressed by poverty (senio contractis et paupertate depressis), in a certain messuage of the said John Plumptre, with the appurtenances, in Notting¬ ham, and to give the said messuage, and ten other messuages, and two tofts, with the appurtenances in Nottingham to the said Master and Warden, and his successors, namely, one messuage for the habitation of the said chaplains and widows, and the rest for their sustentation, to pray for the good estate of the said John Plumptre, and Emma, his wife, during their respective lives, and for their souls afterwards. 1 By an Instrument of Foundation, bearing date July I2th, 1400, and confirmed by Richard, Archbishop of York, July 22nd, in the same year (as appears from an official extract from the Archbishop’s Register), the said John Plumptre, after stating that he had, for the honour of God, and of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, built an hospital at the end of the bridges of Nottingham for the support of thirteen poor women, ordained that there should be within the chapel which he had built within the said hospital a perpetual chantry of two chaplains, who should celebrate Divine Service at the altar of the Annuncia¬ tion of the Blessed Virgin, for the welfare of the king, and of the founder and his wife, while living, and for their souls after their deaths ; and for the welfare of the whole county of Nottingham, and for the souls of all faithful deceased persons ; and particularly those who should at their deaths have given any goods and chattels to the said hospital, and to the support of the widows dwelling therein ; one of which chaplains should be, and should be called, the Master and Guardian, and the other the Secondary Chaplain. The founder reserved to himself during his life the presentation of the chaplains to the said chantry, and directed that after his death the presentation should belong to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. 2 And he assigned to each of the said chaplains (1) Thoroton, p. 494. (2) Post obitum vero meum, volo quod ad Priorem et Conventum de Lenton, quicunq. ; pro tempore fuerint, pertineat Presentatio ejusdem in perpetuum). PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 155 and their successors for their stipend and support, 100s. yearly. The Instrument contains various other directions relating to the chantry and hospital, and the Master and Chaplain ; and the founder thereby reserved to himself a power during his life of interpreting, altering, adding to, or abstracting from, the ordinances thereby made. John Plumptre made a second Instrument of Foundation, bearing date the Monday after the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 1415, and confirmed by the Archbishop of York, February 5th following (as also appears from an extract from the Archbishop’s Register). This Instrument in its general tenor is the same as the former, but differs from it in some respects, and particularly in stating that the hospital built by him was for the support of seven poor women, and in directing that the stipend of the Master should be 61 ., and that of the Chaplain should be 5/. We learn from a manuscript history of this hospital, which is stated to have been compiled by one of the Plumptre family, that at the time of the dissolution of the chantry, in the reign of Edward 6th, no widows were maintained in the hospital, and that the lands were then wholly used for the benefit of the Master; 1 that previously to 1645, each of the widows, then seven in number, received only one penny a day; that in that year their allowances were increased to 2s. iod. each per month, with the addition of sixpence each on New Year’s-day; and that in 1650 (in which year the hospital was rebuilt by Huntingdon Plumptre, the then Master), the widows’ monthly allowance was raised to 5s. each. Under the statutes for the dissolution of chantries, etc., this hospital, and the lands belonging to it, became vested in the Crown, and from the reign of Queen Elizabeth to the present time, the office of Master of the hospital has been from time to time granted by letters patent to persons for life, being, with very few exceptions, of the founder’s name and family. 2 A monk of Lenton, named William Repyngdon, having in the year 1396 obtained Papal Bulls and Letters Apostolic to (1) Thoroton, p. 494. (2) Report of Charity Commission, 421-2. THE HISTORY OF THE 156 hold certain offices in the Priory of Lenton, “ to the manifest peril ” of the King’s hereditary rights and authority over the Priory, the King issued by letters patent the following warrant for his apprehension. “ The King to his well beloved Sheriff of Nottingham and Derby, John de Plumptree Mayor of the Town of Nottingham, John de Croweshawe, Richard Wylford, Thomas de Columbelle of Burton, and William de Deryngton, sendeth greeting. Insomuch as it has come to our knowledge that a monk, brother William de Repyngdon, has sought beyond our realm of England and of the Roman Curia, without our licence, divers Papal Bulls and Letters Apostolic to certain offices in the priory of Lenton, Although from its foundation by our ancestors all patronage thereat has appertained to the Kings of England and to ourselves he has sought to exercise for his life certain offices without our assent or will. He has done these things within our realm to our contempt and prejudice, and without our order and to the manifest peril of both our Crown and our hereditary rights as also to the perpetual destruction of our authority over the Priory, unless we bring to bear on this thing an opportune remedy. Now therefore we for our security and wishing to take care of our command of the Priory have assigned to you this duty, that conjunctively and separately, when or wherever you may find the said William, whether within or with¬ out your liberties, to seize and take him together with the said bulls and apostolic letters; you shall immediately bring him before us and our council in our Chancellery for trial and punish¬ ment according as our council shall deem fitting on this part. And further we command you, and all of you, that around the premisses you shall diligently search and examine according to aforesaid forms. And we also give to all and singular the sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers, constables and others our faithful subjects within and without their liberties, orders to aid and to council you as far as may be necessary for you and each of you strictly carrying out our orders in and according to the tenor of these presents. Witness the King at Scroby on the nth day of August. 1 Geoffrey de Rochero occurs as Prior of Lenton in the Minutes of the Privy Council, January, 1403. These pro¬ ceedings respecting the Alien Priories, appear to have arisen from the resolution of the King and the Peers, on the petition of the Commons, in the Parliament which met at Westminster, (1) Pat. 19 Ric. II., p. 1., m. 21 d. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 157 on the 30th September, 1402, that all Alien Priories, excepting conventual Priories, with their lands, tenements, rents, ad- vowsons, etc., should be resumed into the King’s hands. 1 By his will dated Thursday next after the feast of St. Hilary, 1413, John Tannesley, of Nottingham, bequeathed “ to the Prior and Convent [of Lenton], for tithes forgotten in the collection, ten pounds (?) and to the Convent of the same place, twenty shillings.” 2 3 The Priory appears to have owned a piece of land in Stoney Street, Nottingham, in the year 1416. In that year, John Wysow, parson of the church of Hickling, and Henry Gamels- ton, chaplain, granted by charter to John Tannesley, of Nottingham, and Alice his wife, int. al., a chief messuage, “ situate in the Stonstrete, on the western side of the same street, and extends from a vacant piece of ground belonging to the Prior and Convent of Lenton, on the south to a tenement belonging to St. Mary’s, where John del lie, corviser, dwells, on the north.”3 In 1421, Thomas Elmham, Prior of Lenton, and that Convent, demised to Hugh Willoughby, and Richard, Nicholas, and Thomas, his sons, their lands, which lay within the precinct of Radford, between the enclosure called Stokkinge, on the south, and the field of Broxtow, on the north ; and which abutted on the enclosure of John de Brokstowe, on the west, and on the east on the highway leading from Broxtow to Radford, during all and any of their lives, paying two shillings per annum, at the feast of the Invention of the Cross, and Saint Martin in Winter; but every day the rent should remain unpaid after the said time, it was to be doubled ; the Prior retaining the right of free passage over the land with carriages, the same as enjoyed by the said Hugh and his sons. 4 There is little doubt but that the condition as to rent would ensure prompt payment. Thomas Elmham, Prior of Lenton, in 1422, granted a lease of Lenton Mill to John Botre, for ten years at £3 per annum.5 (1) Proc. Priv. Coun. i., 191-5. (2) Nottingham Borough Records, ii. 91. (3) Nottingham Borough Records, Ii. III. (4) Thoroton, p. 219. (5) Thoroton, p. 223. 158 THE HISTORY OF THE A quare impedit was recovered in 1428 by Guy Fairfax and William Akworth, plaintiffs, against John Elmham, Prior of Lenton, and Thomas Smith, clerk, of the advowson of the church of Langar.' By his will dated January 6, 1431-2, William Barston, of Nottingham, chaplain, bequeathed ‘‘to the Prior and Monastery of Lenton four marcs, and to the Convent of the same place thirteen shillings and four pence.” 2 In the Borough Court of Nottingham, on April 25th, 1436, John Elman, Prior of Lenton, and John Dyghton, a fellow monk of the same place, by John Ode, their attorney, complained of Robert Selby, of Nottingham, carpenter, of a plea of debt of 2s. 8d. It was alleged that Selby, on Sunday, May 8th, 1435, at Nottingham, bought from Dyghton “ a cowl of black worsted,” “ paying there to the same John Dyghton at the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist then next to come, and he has not yet paid, but hitherto has refused to pay him, and still does refuse, whereby they say that they are injured, etc., to the value of I2d. : wherefore they bring suit, etc.” 3 Another action was brought by John Elman, and his fellow monk, Gilbert, against Selby, for a table and pair of trestles that he had given to Gilbert, but which he refused to deliver.”^ In the same Court, on September 13th in the same year, John Elman, Prior of Lenton, and John Manchester, of Nottingham, complained of Thomas Ironmonger of a plea of debt of 5s. nfd. for tithes of hay, etc., and who had made several defaults, etc. The said Thomas put himself in mercy for license to agree. * 5 Sir Hugh Willoughby, of Wollaton, knight, by his will dated September 15th, 1443, bequeathed to Alice Willoughby, his daughter “ till her mariage, besyde a some of mony that is comprehendid in my will, that I will that my feffes fulfill to the behove of her mariage, first, xij spones of silver marked with R and P, also a square salar of silver single, sometyme Phelipp Repyngdon, also a maser , sometyme Thomas Elveham, Priour of Lenton , etc.” 6 (1) Thoroton, p. 105. (2) Nottingham Borough Records, ii. 125. (3) Nottingham Borough Records , ii. 153 . (4) Ibid. (5) Ibid. ii. 155 . (6) Test. Ebor. ii. 132. Sir Hugh Willoughby died November the 15th, 1448, and his body was interred, according to the directions contained in his will, “before the altar of our Lady ” in the church of Willoughby-on-the-Wolds. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 1 59 William West, a monk of Lenton, was presented by King Henry VI. to the Priorate of the Benedictine Monastery of Blyth, and admitted August 3rd, 1451. He resigned his office, and was succeeded by Robert Bubwith, a monk of Blyth, who was admitted December 14th, 1458. 1 King Henry the Sixth, May 14th, 1455, appointed commission¬ ers in various parts of the country to raise money for the defence of Calais. The commissioners for the county of Nottingham were, the Prior of Lenton, Sir Thomas Chaworth, of Wiverton, Sir William Babington, of Chilwell, Robert Clifton, of Clifton, and Richard Willoughby, of Wollaton. 2 John, Prior of Lenton, was licensed by the archbishop, Nov. 7th, 1456, to marry Gervase, son of the above-named Robert Clifton, Esq., and Alice, widow of Richard Thurland, of Nottingham, in the private chapel of Thomas Neville, Esq., at Rolleston. 3 In the year 1464, the then Lord Chamberlain was at Lenton, most probably a guest at the Priory. According to the accounts of the chamberlains of Nottingham, 4 the corporation made a present to the distinguished visitor:— “ Presauntes to dyvers Lordes. “ Item for iij. galons of reede wyne gif[fen unto my L]orde Chamberleyn, 5 on Estenmasse-day, 6 when he came to Lenton . . . . [ijs].” In the same year, Robert Babington, of Lower Kiddington and Asterley, co. Oxon, Esquire, fourth son of Sir William Babington, Knight, previously mentioned under Elmore Manor, hereditary keeper of the Royal Palace at Westminster, and first warden of the Fleet prison, died at Lower Kiddington, and was buried at Lenton Priory, near his father’s tomb. 7 (1) Raine’s “ History and Antiquities of the Parish of Blyth,” p. 51. (2) Privy Council Proc., vi. 243. (3) Test. Ebor. iii. 184. This Alice, who had previously been married to Richard Thurland, of Nottingham, was a daughter of the above-named Thomas Neville, and was the first wife of Gervase Clifton, who was subsequently knighted, and was receiver-general of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, and High Sheriff in 1472, 1478, and 1483. (4) Records of Borough of Nottingham, ii. 378. (5) William, Lord Hastings. (6) Easter-day, April 1st, 1464. (7) The Topographer and Genealogist, i. 266. i6o T1IE HISTORY OF THE On August 29th, 1466, license was granted to the Prior of Lenton and to William Gull, S.T.P. Rector of St. Peter’s, Nottingham, to marry John, son of John Delves, Esquire, of Donington, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, and Elizabeth, daughter of William Babington, Esq., of Atten¬ borough, in the chapel of the manor house of Chilwell, 1 after the publication of banns. 2 Richard Willoughby, of Wollaton, Esq., by his will, dated September 15th, 1469, bequeathed twenty shillings to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. 3 By his will, dated January 16th, 1470, Thomas Thurland, of Nottingham, burgess, desires to be buried in St. Mary’s church, Nottingham, and bequeathes “To the Priour of Lenton, parson of the same chirche, for my tithes and offerynges forgetten, xls. To the convent of the same place to prey for my soule, xxs.” 4 In the year 1483, in the borough court of Nottingham, John Alestre, keeper of the free chapel of the Castle of Nottingham, complained of Richard, Prior of Lenton, of a plea of debt of ns. 8d. The plaintiff stated that on October 20th, 1482, he did, at Nottingham, demise and at ferm let to the Prior his part of the tithe, to wit, the moiety of the tithe of corn of the mills of the castle, at the yearly rent of 13s. 4d. After several adjournments, on Monday next before the Conversion of St. Paul, the Prior, by Walter Bowes, his attorney, said he ought not to appear before any secular judges, because King Henry IIP, by his charter, made May 21st, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, granted to God and the Convent of the Holy Trinity at Lenton (here the record ends abruptly). 5 On the feast of St. Clement, 1484, a covenant was entered into between Plenry Kent, vicar of Horsley (Derbyshire), with the consent of Richard Dene, Prior of Lenton, and Lawrence (1) See page 37. (2) Reg. Geo. Neville, Abp. of York, i. 536. (3) Test. Ebor., iii. 171. He was the eldest son of Sir Hugh Willoughby (see p. 157) by his first wife. (4) Ibid., iii. 184. (5) Nottingham Borough Records , ii. 337. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 161 Lowe, of Denby, in Derbyshire, 1 to have a priest to say mass daily in the chapel of Denby. The vicar acknowledged that his predecessors had, from time immemorial, provided and paid a resident priest at Denby, and an undertaking was now given that this should be done in the future. No resident priest, however, being provided, Lawrence Lowe had engaged Sir Christopher Bury from the previous Michaelmas day to say the divine service daily, for one year, for the stipend of seven marcs. Providing that the vicar now paid these seven marcs, and continued to do so yearly, to the said Sir Christopher Bury, or some other suitable priest, the present agreement was to be void ; but, if not, the vicar bound himself to pay a fine of .£40 to the said Lawrence Lowe. 2 Noveritis universi per presentes me Henricum Kent vicariam ecclesiae parochialis de Horseley in Com Derb teneri et firmiter obligavi Laurentio Lowe in quadragint’ lib’ legalis mo’eta Angl iae solvend’ eidem Laurent suo certo attornato hered’ vel executorib’ suis in festo natalis d’ni proxime futuro post datum presencium. Ad quern quidem solut . . . fideliter faciend’ obligo me heredes et executores meas p presentes. In cujus rei test’ sigillum meum apposui, et quod sigillum meum quam pluribus est incognitum, ergo sigulla venerabilium virorum clericorum prepositorum domus sanctae Trinitatis de Lenton Oliveri Blackwall clericus officialis Notinhamiae et Johis Mayewe clericus presentibus apponi proponerem. Datum in festo Sancti dementi Papae anno regni regis Ricardi tertii post con- questum secundo. Et nos predict’ clericus prepositi domus sere Trinitatis de Lenton Oliverus Blackwall clericus officialis Notinghamiae et Johes Mayewe clericus ad instanciam et specialem rogationem dich’ Henrici Kent et admanus et evi- dentias fidei et testimonii omnium et singulorum commissorum adhibenda sigilla sua present’ apposuimus die et anno supra- dictis. 3 In another hand— “The condition of y s obligation is such, y l whereas y e within named Laurence Lowe hath claymed for him and his tenants of (1) This Lawrence Lowe was descended from a Cheshire family, and had acquired estates in Derbyshire through marriage, which continued for nearly three centuries with his descendants in the male line. He was a sergeant-at-law, and held the office of Recorder of Nottingham. (2) Add. MSS., 6666, f. 208. (3) Ex. vet. copia penes Godf. Meynell, Arm., Add. MSS., 6666, fo. 207. 162 THE HISTORY OF THE Denby, in y e county of Derby, to have a priest founden yearly, daily and continually by y e within bounden vicar in y e chapell of Denby aforesaid, in y e parish of Horseley, for evermore, there being and doing service & administering y e sanct s of Holy Church, y e w ch priest hath been founden there in y e manner & form aforesaid, & at all times keeping residence in Denby aforesaid, & founden by y e said vicar & his predecessors both aforetime of mind & since, as it was said and alleged by y e said Laurence, and proved by notable proofs, y e w ch c d not be denied by y e said vicar, but openly confessed y e same. If ye said Henry, vicar of Horseley, from henceforth & at all times hereafter during his life natural, keep and find daily and yearly at y e said chappel of Denby, a good and convenable priest in y e manner & form aforesaid and continually keeping residence in Denby aforesaid, And whereas y e s d Laurence in the Dcfance (Qu. Defiance) of y e s d vicar, hath hired constantly S r Christopher Bury, priest, from y e feast of S‘ Mich. y e A. Angel last past, afore y e date of these presents, for y e space of a whole year thence next following, for seven marks, to say divine service in y e s d chappel, if y e s d vicar content & pay to y e s d S r Christopher ye s d seven marks in form following, that is to say, 23 s 4 d at y e feast of y e nativity of o r Lord now next ensuing, & 23 s 4 d at y e feast of y e annuntiation of o r lady S* Mary y n next following, & 23 s 4 d at y e feast of y e nativity of S l Jo 11 bapt. y n next ensuing & 23 s 4 d at y e feast of S 1 Mich 1 y e A.A. y n next ensuing, & so forth yearly at y e s d feasts, at every feast 23 s 4 d as long as y e s d Laurence & y e s d S r Christopher or any such other priest singing can agree. And if y e s d vicar stand to perform y e ordin¬ ance, doom & award of y e Rev d Father in God Rich d Prior of the house of y e Holy Trinity of Lenton, Oliver Blackwall &c. of & concerning all manner of tythes w ch y e s d vicar claims to have in Denby afores d & y e s d ordinance &c. for his part well & truly keep & perform so y l y e s d ordinance &c. of him & y e premisses be made & given afore y e feast of S 1 Mich 1 now next ensuing, & to y e s d Laurence & vicar deliver’d in writing under y e seals of y e s d arbitrators afore y e s d feast &c. y‘ y n y° obligation to be void, or else stand yet in strength and virtue.” 1 On the southern side of Nottingham Park there are the remains of a very singular chapel and a range of cells, formerly appendant to Lenton Priory, excavated out of the face of a semi-circular sweep of sandstone rock, which crops out on the bank of the Leen. The river formerly wound round the other half of the circle, 2 leaving, between the rock and the river, a (1) Add. MSS., 6666, fo. 208. (2) The course of the Leen from New Lenton to Nottingham Castle was filled up in 18S3-4, the water being diverted into the canal. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 163 space of greensward, upon which the cells open. The whole place is now enclosed, and forms part of a private garden. In former days this hermitage was just within the verge of the park of the royal Castle of Nottingham ; it was doubtless screened by the trees of the park, and its inmates might pace to and fro on their secluded grass-plot, fenced in by the rock on the one hand, and the river on the other, secure from every intruding foot, and yet in full view of the walls and towers of the castle, with the royal banner waving from its keep ; and catch a glimpse of the populous borough ; and see the parties of knights and ladies prance over the level meadows which stretched out to the neighbouring Trent like a green carpet, embroidered in spring and autumn by the purple crocus which formerly grew wild there in myriads, and still exists, though in sadly diminished numbers. Stukeley gives a view and ground-plan of these curious cells. He is of opinion that they are of British origin, and describes them as “ a ledge of perpendicular rock hewn out into a church, houses, chambers, dove-houses, &c. The church is like those in the rocks at Bethlehem and other places in the Holy Land : the altar is natural rock, and there has been painting upon the wall ; a steeple, I suppose, where a bell hung, and regular pillars. The river here, winding about, makes a fortification to it; for it comes to both ends of the cliff, leaving a plain before the middle. The way to it was by gates cut out of the rock, and with an oblique entrance for more safety.” 1 Throsby states that in his time these excavations were generally known as the Papist Holes, the Parliamentarian forces having, during the preceding century, destroyed part of them “ as being relics of popery.” He describes them as having the “ appearance of a ruin of magnitude, destitute of design : they neither afford the mind an idea of grandeur, nor simplicity.” 2 Laird, who visited the caves about the year 1812, says that they had even then suffered considerably since Stukeley’s time. The outer part had fallen down in several places, evidently from (1) Itinerarium Curiosum , 2 ed., 1776, i., 53. (2) Throsby’s edition of Thoroton, ii. 5. 164 THE HISTORY OF THE the effects of damp and frost ; but the church and altar, and even some vestiges of ancient paintings might be clearly traced. He adds that some of the pillars had carved capitals, the form of the Gothic arch being well imitated in the living rock. But no care was taken to preserve these remarkable excavations, which at that time seem to have been the nocturnal resort of the destitute and depraved. 1 Again, Blackner 2 3 has “ little doubt ” but “ that these caves were originally hewn and set apart as places of worship for the ancient Britons.” More recent writers 3 have advanced an opinion that the excavations are of Roman origin, and have been used as a sepulchrum commune and columbarium, the larger of the two caves having been the bustum, or place of incineration, and the smaller one, at a higher level, the columbarium , containing from 150 to 160 ollaria, or cells, for the reception of the urns con¬ taining the ashes of the dead. It is stated as an argument in favour of this theory, that the smoke flue of the bustum still remains, and that the small recess, styled the columbarium , has been formed at some distance from the ground in order that the inurned ashes of the dead, supposed to have been deposited therein, might “ be more secure and less likely to be disturbed by marauders or thoughtless people.” It is more probable, however, assuming the smoke flue to be an ancient one, that it has been used as the flue of the kitchen, which would necessarily form part of the monastic establishment located in this rock. The small cave has un¬ doubtedly been the dove-cote attached to the monastic cell. This form of dove-cote is by no means uncommon. We have scriptural proof that it is the habit of the dove to “ dwell in the rock,” and make “ her nest in the sides of the hole’s mouth.” That this excavation was spoken of as a dove-cote as far back as the year 1687 is evident from the following reference to the “ Douecoate Close in Nottingham Parke — (1) Beauties of England and IVales, vol. 12, part I., pp. 115, 116. (2) History of Nottingham, p. 36. (3) Old Nottinghamshire, pp. 118, 119. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 165 October y e 12th, 1687. Receiued then by mee Edward Lord Viscount Latimer Keeper & L d Warden of his Ma tles Forrest of Sherwood & Parke of Fulwood of Darcy Molyneux Esq r High Sheriffe of y e County of Nottingham the Sume of Nine pounds of Lawfull English Money For one yeares Wages Due to his Ma ties Nine Keepers w th in his Ma ties said Forrest of Sherwood in y e said County of Nottingham Ending at y e Feast of St. Michiall y e Archangell last past. Alowed out of the Rents of Tenn pounds and Tenn shillings charged Uppon George Earle of Rutland for the Fee Farme Rent of a Certain Close Called y e Douecoate Close in Nottingham Parke & all those Medowes Called y e Kings Medowes near y e Towne of Nottingham aforesaid J Say Receiued the Said Summe. P mee. 1 For many years the caves were resorted to by the boys from the neighbouring town and villages as a play place. Millhouse, the artisan poet of Nottingham, in the following sonnet, refers to his visits to the rock in his boyhood. “ Thou mouldering relic of forgotten time ! Well I remember how in youth I came And grav’d yon rude initials of my name, Unwistful then, that I, in manhood’s prime, Should be an anxious candidate for fame :— Long hast thou borne the onsets of the storm, Like speechless horror frowning in dismay ; But age thy latest vestige shall deform, And waste thy moss-grown chronicles away ; Yet, let not avarice hasten on thy fall, But leave thy destiny to Nature’s power ; So may the stripling shelter from the shower, And ponder o’er the records on thy wall, Or mount thy top to seize the hanging flower.” The gnawing tooth of time has effected a considerable change in the appearance of the caves since Stukeley’s day, the west end having fallen down about fifty years ago. At the present they consist of a cave (which was considerably altered and (1) The original, unsigned, is in the possession of Mr. M. I. Preston, of Notting¬ ham, to whom we are indebted for the above copy. THE HISTORY OF THE 166 enlarged several years ago to form a skittle alley), the dove¬ cote—also known as the “ doctor’s shop,” and two or three small caves. Many engravings of these rock holes exist. The engraving by Samuel Buck is well known, and being the earliest repre¬ sentation of these excavations which we have met with, it possesses especial interest. Less than half of what is shown in this engraving exists at the present day. In addition to the view given in Stukeley’s work and in the local histories by Deering, and Blackner, and in Throsby’s edition of Thoroton, two views, from sketches made in the year 1788 by the Rev. J. Swete, were published in the “ Antiquarian and Topographical Cabinet.” Carter also figures them in his “Ancient Architecture,” pi. 12, and gives details of a Norman shaft and arch in the chapel. He thus describes them :—“ These excavations evince rather a regular plan for a monastic building, for we meet with a chapel and various apartments, the latter both on the first and second stories, with a staircase, chimneys, etc. ; they are, how¬ ever, deprived of their original fronts, as well as some of their groins or ceilings.” In a patent-roll of King Edward the First, mention is made PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 167 of a house of Carmelite friars at Lenton. There is every reason to believe, both from the peculiarity of the situation and other circumstances, that these excavations owed their origin to the Carmelite friars, who established themselves here prior to the close of the thirteenth century ; and as no later reference to the Friary has been found than the one which is quoted above, it seems probable that the monks of Lenton in some way acquired the place from the Carmelites, though all record of the transac¬ tion appears to have been lost. 1 This place is most probably identical with the cell said to have been under the Castle of Nottingham in the reign of Henry the Third. 2 According to an inspeximus and confirmation, dated Decem¬ ber 5th, 1485, of letters patent, dated Westminster, June the 20th, 14 Edw. IV., granting to the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity, in Lenton, near Nottingham, of the order of Clugny, within the diocese of York, £10 sterling a year out of the fee-farm of the town of Arnoll, during the life of Leonard Say, son of Sir John Say, Knt., or until the said Prior and convent shall come into possession of a chapel with other premises, we learn that by letters patent, dated Aug. the 10th, 11 Edw. IV., the free chapel within the castle of Tickhill, parcel of the duchy of Lancaster, had been granted by the King to the above-mentioned Leonard Say for life. By subsequent letters patent, the King granted that whenever the same chapel should be void by the death of Leonard Say, the Prior and Convent should have the same and the custody thereof, with all things pertaining thereto ; to hold in pure alms for ever, in compensation for a certain chapel of St. Mary, called “le Roche,” and all the lands and tenements within the pale thereof be¬ longing to the said Prior and Convent, and also for two closes, called le Roche closes, “ on the south side of the water of Leene,” lying opposite to the chapel, and two small parcels of meadow adjoining to the same closes, granted to the King by (1) Deering, p. 190. (2) “In stipendiis duorum monachorum ministrantium in capella S. Marire de Rupe subtus castrum de Nottingham, vi/. b. viiu/.” — Collect. Dodsworth. e mag. rot. pipic , 29 Hen. 3. I IIK HISTORY OF THE 168 the Prior and convent; and also for release and remission from three cartloads of wood per diem “ in Beskwode, within the forest of Shirwode,” which the Prior and Convent had received on behalf of the expenses of the monastery. It is added that Leonard Say lives on, and the said Prior and Convent con¬ sequently do not obtain possession of the said chapel. 1 The following extract from the Act of Resumption, of the first year of the reign of Henry the Seventh, 1485, elucidates the foregoing: — “ Provided alway, that this Acte of Parliament, nor noon other Acte, be prejudiciall nor hurtfull to the Priour of Lenton, within our Shire of Notyngham, nor to his Successors, for any Graunte or Grauntes, L're Patent or L’res Patent made to the said Priour, or to any of his Predecessours, by Kyng Edward the Illlth, or for any Graunte made of oure free Chapell within our Castell of Tykhill, parcell of our Duchie of Lancastre, within oure said Shire of York, made by the said Kyng to any of the Predecessours of the said Prioure, or for the Advowson of the said Chapell of Tykhill, within oure said Countie, or for any Confirmation of the same made by Richard the Third Kyng of England, late in dede and not of right, to the said Priour or any of his Predessours, or for any confirmation made by us to the said Priour, and to the Convent of the same, or where the said Kyng Edward the Illlth, by his L’res Patents beryng date the Xth day of August, the Xlth yere of his Reigne, graunted the said fre Chapell of Tykhill, to oon Leonard Say, to have and to hold to hym for terme of his Lyf; and after¬ wards by his L’res Patents beryng date the Xlllth day of June, in the XII11, yere of his Reigne, graunted the said fre Chapell, to oon Thomas, then Priour of the Hous and Monastery of the Holy Trinite of Lenton aforesaid, besydes Notyngham, of the Ordre of Clune, and of the Diocese of the Shire of Yorke, and to the Covent of the same and their Successours, that when¬ soever the said free Chapell be voide, by the Deth of the said Lenard, or any otherwise, that then the said Prioure and Covent shall have the said free Chapell, with all things per- teyning therto, to theym and to their Successours for ever : all their said Grauntes made to the said Priour, or to any of his Successors, to stond in force and effect in oure Lawes : this Act of Resumption, or any other Acte made unto the contrarie, notwithstanding.” 2 A second inspeximus, made October 27th, i486, at the (1) Materials for History of Henry VII., i. 196. (2) Rolls of Parliament , vi. 346. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 169 instance of Richard Dene, then Prior of Lenton, states that on June 2nd, 1475, an indenture was made “ between Edward the Fourth and Thomas, Prior of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Lenton, near Notyngham, of the Cluniac order (York dioc.), and the Convent there, which witnesseth that the said Convent had, by their writing, dated 4 June last past, granted to the King and Gervase Clifton, Esq., for ever, the chapel of St. Mary, called the Roche, and the lands and tenements within the new Park there, two closes, called the Rock closes, to the south of the water of Leene, opposite to the said chapel, and two small parcels of meadow, adjoining the said closes, together with their rights of three cart loads of wood a day in Beske- wood, in the forest of Shirwod ; further, that in recompence for the premises a grant in perpetual frankalmoign had, 14th June (14 Ed. IV.), been made to the said Convent of the custody of the free chapel in the castle Tykhyll (parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster) in reversion on the death of Leonard Say, son of John Say, Knt. ; and further, the said Convent agrees to provide a monk to say mass in the chapel of St. Mary of Roche for the good estate, &c., of the King, Elizabeth, the queen consort, and Edward, prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall, and earl of Chester, and to celebrate the anniversaries of the King’s father, Richard, late duke of York, and of the said King ; also for ever, at their own expense, to oversee and take care of a small boat on the Leene water, and a garden near the said chapel, called ‘ Le Roche,’ within the pale of the said park.” One of the Harleian manuscripts has the following entry :— “ The prioure and convent of Lentone have £ 10 of the fee farm of Arnoll during the life of Leonard Say.” 1 In the fifth year of Henry the Seventh, by writ of Privy Seal, the sum of forty pounds was paid “To the Prior of the Monastery of St. Trinity of Lenton.” In the year 1504, the royal free chapel, or collegiate church of Tickhill, which had for some time belonged to Lenton Priory, was transferred to the Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster. 2 On the 8th of February, 1488, the King granted a license to Sir John Babington, Knight, and Ralph Savage, to found a (1) Harl. MSS., 433, f. 104. (2) Mon. Ang., v. 109. WO TIIE HISTORY OF THE perpetual chantry of one secular priest, to be called “ the chauntrie of blessed Marie Virgyn in the chirch of Seynt Elyn of Northwynfeld ’’ (North Wingfield, in Derbyshire). The priest was to be allowed an annuity of eight marcs “ of the Monasterie or Priorie of the Holy Trinite of Lenton, in our countie of Notyngham. The priest was to pray for the good estate of the King, his fully dere wyffe, Elizabeth, Queene of England, and his best beloved first-begotten son, Arthur, Prynce of Wales and Earl of Cornwalle, and of us the aforesayd John Babyngton, and Rauf Savage, and also of John Savage, Knight, Thomas Revell, serjeaunt-of-lawe, Thomas Babyngton, of Dethyck, John Savage, of Huknall, Thomas Orston, and Edmond Savage, preeste, whiles we lif and liffen, and for the soules of the aforesaid when we shall pass oute of this worlde, and also for the soules of Arnold Savage, Esqwyer, Agnes Leversage, and Helyn Orston, and all our ancestors.” The licence concludes with the following injunction •—“ That these ordinances be not forgotten they shall on ye feast of St. George, afore ye beginning of high mass, and on Wednesday in Whisson weke, be read openly in mother tongue by ye priest of ye chantry in ye parish church or churchyard.” 1 The chantry house, adjoining the north-east corner of the churchyard, has been for many years used as an ale-house, and is known by the sign of the “ Blue Bell Inn.” Robert Calverley, of Calverley, in the county of Chester, Esquire, by his will, dated February 15th, 1498, bequeathed the sum of three shillings and fourpence to the Abbot 2 3 of Lenton “ to say Messe and Derige !'3 The advowson of Arksey Church, near Doncaster, in York¬ shire, which had continued appendant to the manor until the beginning of the sixteenth century, was granted to Lenton Priory on the attainder of Sir John Windham, Knight, in 1502. In an Act, passed in 1513, by which the attainder was reversed, (1) Add. MSS. 5152, a copy of which is amongst the Nottingham Corporation Records. (2) This seems to show that the monastery must then have been not unfrequently denominated an abbey. (3) Test. Ebor., iv. 157. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 171 the rights of the monks of Lenton were protected. 1 An appro¬ priation quickly followed, and a vicarage was ordained. The tithe of corn and hay was reserved to the Monastery. 2 Henry Lee was instituted vicar of Arksey, June 22nd, 1504, on the presentation of the Prior and Convent of Lenton. On his death, John Knolles was instituted October 26th, 1507. He died, and was succeeded by William Wildbore, March 6th, 1532, also presented by the Prior and Convent of Lenton. In the year 1504, the vicarage of Middlewich, in the county of Chester ,3 was appropriated to the Priory of Lenton. In 1522, the Prior and Convent of Lenton demised the advowson to Sir Henry Willoughby, of Middleton, in the county of Warwick, and of Wollaton, in this county, who, in the following year granted the same by lease, of which the following is an abstract, to Sir Henry Brereton, of Brereton, in the County of Chester. “To All crysten peple to whom this p’sent wrytyng shall come, Syr Henry Willoughby of Myddylton in the Countie of Warr. Knyght sendith gretyng. Whereas Thomas Prior of the monastre of the holy Trinitie of Lenton in the Countie of Notyngh’m and the Convent of the same by their dede indentyd under their Convent Seale beryng date the xxj st day of Aprill in the xiij th yere of the reigne of our sov’aygn’ lord Kyng Henry the viij th have demised graunted and to ferine lett unto the seid S r Henry Willoughby their p’sonage of y e p’yshe Churche of Medulwyche w l * yn the Countie of Chester w* alman’ (1) Sir John Windham was engaged in the conspiracy of Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and being convicted of high treason, was beheaded on Tower-hill, May 6th, 1502. His son, Sir Thomas Windham, was attainted at the same time, but the attainder was reversed by Act of Parliament, 1513. (2) Hunter’s South Yorkshire , i. 327. (3) “This Church was appropriated] to [the] Monastery of Lenton in Notting 5 ' 1 an [no] 1504, 19 H. 7, and [the] Mon.[astery] obliged to pay to [the] B.[ishop] of Cov.[entry] and Pitch.[field] 13 s 4 rt [to the] D.[ean] and Chap.[ter] of Litch.[field] 3 s 4' 1 [to the] Archd.[eacon] of Chester 20 s . Reg. R. R. e Reg. [of the ] D.[ea>i[ and Chap\terof\ Cov.[entry] and Lich. fol. 76. Lib. Tho. Godfnll. cler. Cap. This Pens.[ion] in [the] Cat.falogue of] B.[ishop] Bridg.[man] is set down 13 s 4.1, Reg. p. 202, owned by L d Brereton an.[no] 1627, but not paid. Vicar presented, an.[no] 1505, by [the] Prior and Conv.[ent] of Lenton. Inst. [ itution\ B.[00k] 1., p. 1. An[no] 1579, by Q.fueen] Eliz. B. 2. p. 2. Improp rs severall persons, Mr. Low, who bought y e greatest part of f Tyths, presented once; but upon a Dispute w th L d Brereton, whose Grandf.[ather] sold y e Tyths it appeared y l y“ advows[on] of y c Vic.[arage] was not granted away, for L' 1 Brereton’s Present, [ation] an.[no] 1719, held good.”— Bishop Gaslreil's Notitia Cestriensis, Camden Soe., i. 247. 172 THE HISTORY OF THE of tithes oblac’ons mortuaries glebe lands and all other emolu¬ ments and p’fetts to the seid p’sonage in eny wyse app’teynyng °r by ryght belongyng To have & to hold the seid p’sonage and other the p’misses with their appurtenances to the seid S r Henry his executors or assignes ffrom the fest of seynt Marke the ev’ngelist next ensuyng the date of the seid lees unto th’ende and t’rme of vij. yeres then next followyng fully to be complett and endet. Yeldyng and payeng therfore yerely to the seid Priory and Convent and to their successours att the seid monastre of Lenton xxx ll ij li of lawfull money of England att ij t’mes of the yere. . . . Also the seid S r Henry coven’ntyth & —tyth by thise p’sents ffor hym his executors & assignes to pay yerely duryng the seid t’me to the Vicar of y e p’sshe Church of Medellvvyche ffor the tyme beyng & to his successours Vicars of the seid Church xijli. xiijs. iiijd. lawfull money of England on the hie aultar of the said Churche before xij. of the Clock of eny of the t’mes ffeasts or dayes hereaft’r ffolowyng. . . Know ye that I the seid S r Henry Willoughby by thise p’sents do dymyse gyff & ffully g’nt to S r Will’m Brereton of Brereton in the Countie of Chester, Knyght. his exectitors & assigns all my right title int’est cleyme & t’me which I the seid S r Henry have in the seid p'sonage and other the p’mysses. . . . (Dated 17th June, 14 Henry VIII.) 1 In 1535, Lenton Priory derived ^30 per annum from Middle- wich for tithes and other profits. It appears that after the dissolution of the Priory, the impro¬ priate rectory was vested in the Crown, from whence, about 1579, it passed to the Breretons, of Brereton, by whom some portions of the tithes were sold to several persons ; but the vicarage was reserved. In 1663, William, Lord Brereton, sold the advowson, together with the greater part of the tithes, to Mr. Robert Lowe, 2 of Newton Hall, which is now vested in his descendants in the female line. A few years previously a portion of the tithes had been held by Henry Ireton, of Atten¬ borough, the Parliamentary General, this portion being described in the conveyance as “heretofore. in the occupac’on of (1) From the original in the possession of Major A. E. Lawson Lowe. (2) Elder brother of Mr. John Lowe, the direct ancestor of Alderman Joseph Lowe, of Nottingham, who purchased a part of the manor of the Priory demesne, and built Highfield House, in this Parish. (See the pedigree of that family.) The Lowes thus appear to have been connected with the Priory lands longer than any other family except the Gregorys. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 173 Henry Ireton, in the County of Chester, Esquire, late deceased.” Francis, Lord Brereton, presented in 1719,011 the recommenda¬ tion of Bishop Gastrell, but the representatives of the Lowe family regularly from that time. In a letter to Dr. Stratford, dated Christ Church, Oxford, October 21st, 1719, the Bishop says, “ I have this morning instituted one Everard to the rectory of Brereton, who tells me that there were some motions made at the Assizes with relation to Middlewich. Let me know what they were.” Concerning an augmentation to the vicarage of Middlewich of twenty pounds per annum, see the case of Sir Lister Holte, et al. Appellants, and Robert Lowe, Esq., re¬ spondent, heard and determined in favour of the respondent by the House of Lords, April 26th, 1736. 1 In the first year of the reign of Henry the Eighth, John Mauntell, Esq., died siezed ini. al. of a wood, in Rode, in the county of Northampton, called Shortwood, which he held of the Prior of Lenton by fealty, and the annual presentment of a red rose. He was succeeded by his son, Sir William Mauntell, who died in the twenty-first year of Henry the Eighth, leaving the wood called Shortwood, which he held of the Prior of Lenton, to his son, John Mauntell, Esq. In the thirty-third year of the same reign, this John Mauntell was tried and con¬ demned for a murder committed in Sussex, 2 and his lands being forfeited, that portion of them lying in Rode was annexed the same year by Act of Parliament to the Honour of Grafton. The wood which he held of the Prior of Lenton was, in the first year of Queen Elizabeth, granted to Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon .3 On the sixth of June, 1511, by writ of Privy Seal, “a corrody in the Monastery of Lenton ” was granted to “ Robert Penne, gentleman, of the Chapel Royal.” The payment of one shilling per annum as quit rent, or fee farm, was formerly made by the Guild of St. George, in the church of St. Peter, Nottingham, to the Prior and Convent of Lenton, for a tenement in Houndsgate, Nottingham. The first (1) Ducal-el's Rep. (2) Stow’s Annals, p. 582. (3) Bridge’s Northamptonshire, i. 320. 174 THE HISTORY OF THE mention of this payment in the Guild Book is in the account for the year ending with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, in the fourth year of King Henry VIII. “ Et de xijd sol priori de lenton de lib’o reddit hoc a’o. Et de iiijd resol vicebz de cons reddit.” (And of I2d. paid to the Prior of Lenton for quit rent this year. And of 4d. paid to the sheriffs for the same rent). The next year’s account shows that the I2d. was paid to the Prior for a tenement in Hundgate, and the 4d. to the sheriffs of Nottingham for another tenement in Lystergate. During the next twenty-five years the payment of I2d. is frequently given in connection with the 4d. paid to the sheriffs, appearing for the last time in the account ending January 25th, 1539, thus—“ Et de i 2d solut p’ feod’ firme nup’ debit p’or de Lento’ Et de 4d solut vie ville Not' p’ feod’ firme.” The next year the payment was diverted from Lenton, for the sixteenpence was then paid to the Lord the King, and the sheriffs of the town of Notting¬ ham, and in the following year the same sum was paid to the sheriffs of Nottingham. In later years the amount is merely entered as “ p’ feod’ firma,” no mention being made as to whom it was paid. The following extracts from Dame Agnes Mellers’ 1 foundation deed of the Nottingham Free School, dated 22nd Nov., 1513, show that, under certain circumstances, she gave great authority in its government to the Prior and Convent of Lenton. “To all Christian people, to whose knowledge this present writing triplicate indented shall come to be seen or read, Agnes Mellers, widow and vowess, sendeth greeting, in him that is the root of Jesse produced to the salvation of all people.” * * * * “ And here if it should fortune the said mayor, aldermen, and common council to be negligent and forgetful in finding and choosing of the schoolmaster and usher forty days next after such time as it shall fortune him to be amoved or deceased, keeping and doing the obiit yearly in manner and form expressed in such like time ; or the lands and tenements, or hereditaments, and other possessions, or the yearly rent of them, (1) Widow of Richard Mellers, of Nottingham, the noted bellfounder, an alderman, and Mayor of Nottingham in 1499 and 1506. Dame Agnes’s will was proved in the year 1514. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 175 into other uses than finding of the said free school be convert, then I will, ordain, and establish that the Prior and Convent of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, of Lenton, for the time being, and their successors shall have as a forfeiture the rule, guiding, and oversight of the said lands, tenements, or heredita¬ ments, schoolmaster, &c., with all other things to the premisses in any wise appertaining to the intent above expressed, in as ample and large wise as the mayor and burgesses have, or should have had the same, by this my present constitution and ordinance.” 1 In the year 1522, the Prior of Lenton contributed the sum of £133 6 s. 8 d. towards “the loan,” an annual grant to be made by the spirituality for the King’s personal expenses in France for the recovery of the crown of the same. The taxation of Pope Nicholas IV., made in 1291, held good, and all taxes from benefices were regulated by it, until a new survey, known as the Valor Ecclesiasticus , was com¬ pleted in the 27th year of King Henry the Eighth. From this document the following particulars of the income of Lenton Priory, at that date, are derived :— 2 John, Prior. 3 Cheshire .—Tithes and other profits : Middlewich £ 30 Derbyshire. —Tithes and other profits : Horsley, £6 13s. 4d. ; tithes of lead ore in the High Peak, £6 13s. 4d.13 Portions : Ashford, £1 3s. 6d. ; Brad well, 10s. ; Blackwell, Hope, and Chapel-en-le-Frith, £6 ; Blackwell Mill, 4s. 5id. ; Buxton, £1 us. 8d. ; Chapel-en-le-F'rith, £8 ; Chelmorton, £3 ; Cow- dale, Sterndale, and Staden, £2 ; Fairfield, Cowlow, Wolow, and Pigter, £2 13s. 4d. ; Glos- sop (from Basingwork Priory) £10 13s. 4d. ; Holmesfield, 13s. 4d. ; Meadow-place (from Leicester Abbey), 3s. ; Monyash and Flagge, 16s. 8d.37 s. o 6 9 d. o 8 3 (I) Deering, Nottinghamia Vetus el Nova, p. 156. (2) Valor Ecclesiasticus, v. 147. (3) This was John Annesley. 176 THE HISTORY OF THE Rents, etc.: Ashford, 8s.; Bradwell, 15s.; Black- well, £8 7s. ; Denby, ,£1 ; Holme, Dunston, Birley, and YVhitwell, £8', Tideswell, us.; Trokehill, ^1 2s. ... ... ... ... ... 20 Lancashire .—Profits belonging to Kersall Cell, £9 6s. 8d., less the fee of Sir John Byron, ... 8 Leicestershire. —Tithes, oblations, etc. Wigston, ^33 Os. 2d., less the payments to the Vicar, to the Bishop, and Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, to the Archdeacon of Leicester, to the poor of the parish (to pray for the soul of Henry VII., King of England), to the Abbot and Convent of Leicester, to the Dean and Canons of Lei¬ cester, and to the Bishop of Lincoln, and the Archdeacon of Nottingham, for synodals and procurations, leaving the clear annual sum of ... 19 Portion : Husbands Bos worth ... ... ... o Pensions: Nether Broughton, .£1 10s. ; Foston, 10s. ; Prestwold (by the Prioress of Bolington), 4s.2 Rents, etc. : Broughton ... ... ... ... 1 Northamptonshire. —Portions : Duston (by St. James’s Priory, Northampton), £\ ; Rushden, ^12 ... 13 Pensions : Courtenall, 6s. 8d.; Harleston, £2 ; Floore, 3s. 6d. ; Rushden, 4s. ... ... ... 2 Rents: Courtenhalh ,£28 ; Dunston, 16s. ; New- bottle, 6s. 8d. ... ... ... ... ... 29 Nottinghamshu'e. —Tithes of corn and hay : Beeston, £8 ; Lenton, £6 13s. 4d. ; St. Mary’s, Notting¬ ham, ,£18 ; Radford, £6 13s. 4d ; oblations at St. Mary’s, Nottingham, £9 ... ... ... 48 Portions: from Beauvale Priory, for tithes in Greasley, 6s. 8d. ; Catesby Priory, for tithes in Basford, £1 13s. 4d. ; tithes in Cotgrave, 8s. 6d. ; Felley Priory, for tithes in Attenborough, £6 133.46. ;• Langar, £12 ; Newstead Priory, for tithes in Stapleford, £3 6s. 8d. ; portion of tithes in Ruddington, £3 ; Sutton, £2 ; Thorpe-in- the-Glebe, 8s. ; Ulverscroft Priory, for Bunny, £2 6s. 8d. ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 Pensions : Barton-in-Fabis, 5s. ; Basford, 4s. ; Costock, 2s. ; Cotgrave, 14s.; Lenton, £1 6s. 8d.; Linby, 6s. 8d.; Nottingham, St. Nicholas’s, 10s. ; St. Peter’s, 16s. ; St. John’s Hospital, 13s. 4d. ; Hospital of St. Mary at the end of the bridge of the town of Nottingham, 6s. 8d. ; Remp- stone, 2s. ... ... .. ... ... 5 s. d. 3 o 6 8 6 8 10 o 4 o 13 8 o o 14 2 2 8 6 8 3 2 6 4 PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 177 £ s - d - Demesne lands, rents, mills, fair, etc. : Lenton, .£54 1 os. ; Newthorpe, £6 9s. ; Nottingham, £1 17s. 2d. ; Radford, £15 17s. 6d.78 13 8 Rents : Awsworth, 13s. 4d. ; Almeton, 6s. ; Bar- ton-in-Fabis, 6s. ; Bradmore, £3 3s. ; Costock, 6d. ; Cotgrave, £8 18s. 3d. ; Cropwell Butler, 4s. ; Key worth, ^1 8s. 2d.; Mansfield, 13s. 4c!.; Normanton, 18s. 8d. ; Rempstone, 4s. ; Watnall, 9 s.17 4 3 Yorkshire. —Tithes of corn and hay (Arksey) ... 28 o o £387 10 10^ Payments. £ s. d. £ s. d. To the Warden of Clifton College, in the county of Nottingham, to pray for the souls of William Booth, formerly Archbishop of York, and Sir Ger- vase Clifton, ,£10; to Thomas Bate, chantry-priest in York Cathedral, to pray for the souls of Thomas Rother¬ ham, formerly Archbishop of York, and Henry Carnebull, priest, £6 I3s.4d.; to Thomas Pylley, chantry priest in Rotherham Church, to pray for the same souls, £6 13s. 4d. ; l to John Wilson, chantry-priest in the church of North Wingfield, to pray for Ralph Savage, .£5 6s. 8d. ; to Richard Dowkyn, curate of Chel- morton, £1 10s. ; to the prior of St. James’s cell, Derby, from lands in Dunston, 10s. ... ... ... 30 13 4 Alms : To five needy men, named William Brewer, Charles Howson, John More, Roger Wilson, and Thomas Revell, to pray for the souls of William Peverel and Adelina, his wife, of Henry the P'irst, King of England, and Matilda, his Queen, and his heirs, (1) In an undated return of the annual income of “ The chauntrye of ij prestes at th’altar of Jhesus & Our Lady in the Parysshe Churche of Rotherham,” this entry occurs : — “ Firste, a yerely Rent commyng furthe of the lands & possessyons of the late Monasterye of Lenton payd by thandes of the Kynges maiestie recevor vj 1 ' xiij s iiijd .”—Certificates of Colleges, No. 67., P.R.O. 13 I/S THE HISTORY OF THE £ S. d. £ S. d. in daily meat and drink, with lodging and firing, and one penny each per week, £14 is. 8d. per annum, and £2 13s. 4d. distributed in money to the poor on the anniversary of Wil¬ liam Peverel, and of Adelina, his wife, namely, the 20th of January and the 28th of the same month .. 16 15 o Fees : To Sir John Willoughby, Knight, 1 seneschall of the Priory, £2 per annum; Roland Collingwood,general receiver of all the lordships, manors, lands, and tenements of the Priory, £\ 6s. 8d. per annum, and Henry Statham, auditor, an annual fee of £ i ... ... ... ... ..,468 z £S l 3 15 05 7 15 o Clear annual value ... ... £329 15 io|- Shortly before the dissolution of the Priory, “ Nycholas [Heyth] Prior of Lenton,” addressed a letter, dated “ Lenton Abbey ,3 12 April,” to “ Mr. Henege, grome of the stoole to the King’s Grace,” stating that Dan 4 Hamlet Pencriche, one of the brethren, who last year laid an unjust accusation against the Prior before the Council, has fled from his religion, as he did (1) Sir John Willoughby, of Wollaton, Knight, was the son of Sir Henry Wil¬ loughby, of the same place, Knight, by his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Markham, of Cotham, Knight. Sir John married Anne, one of the sisters and coheiresses of Sir Edward Grey, Viscount Lisle, and died without issue. (2) It should be noted that there is a difference of ^6 between the amount of pay¬ ments deducted from the gross income to give the clear value of £329 15s. io^d., and the amount of the payments when added together. From this we may assume that an amount of £6 has been omitted from the latter. (3) We have here proof that at this time the Monastery was styled an Abbey by the monks themselves. (4) Dan appears to have been a title generally assigned to a monk. It is an abbreviated form of the Latin dominus, and appears also in French dan, Spanish don, and Portuguese dom. The O. Fr. form dans was introduced into English in the fourteenth century. In the Catholicon Anglicum, an English-Latin word book of the year 1483, we find “a Dan, sicut monachi vocanturJ" In the Monk’s Prologue, the host, asking him his name, says :— “Whether shall I call you my lord dan Johan, Or dan Thomas, or elles dan Albon ?” See an account of the word in “ Leaves from a Word-hunter’s Note-book,” A. S. Palmer, p. 130. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 179 twice before, by the instigation of certain men of Nottingham, “who love not this poor house.” He has taken goods belonging to the house, which the said men have received. The Prior asks Hennege’s favour, and for his credence for the bearer. 1 The last mention made of the Prior of Lenton, previous to the proceedings relative to the dissolution of the Priory, is contained in the following note :—“ Sir James Foljambe, of Walton, in Derbyshire, by his first wife, Alice, daughter and coheir of Thomas Fitzwilliam, of Aldwarke (who was slain at Flodden Field, 5 Henry VIII.), had, among other children, twin sons, George and James George, the elder of the twins, was born at Walton, on Friday, about midnight, 21 June, 1538. James was born about two o’clock on Saturday morning. His godfathers were the Prior of Lenton, and Sir John Dunham, Knight, and his godmother, Helena, relict of Roger Foljambe, Esq.” 2 * The Priors of Lenton. Humphrey occurs temp. Henry I.p and about 1144 (10 Stephen). Philip . 4 Alexander was one of the witnesses to the charter, by which John, Earl of Mortaigne, confirmed the charter of his father, King Henry II., to the burgesses of Nottingham, c. 1189. 5 6 7 PeteP occurs October, 12007 1203, 8 1209, 9 1212, 10 and 1214. Robert de Lexington , Prior of Lenton, was the son of Richard de Lexington, who “brought up his sons so fortunately, that Robert, who was a clergyman, canon of Southwell, became a great judge and baron; while John, the eldest brother, was Lord Keeper, and Henry, the youngest, became Bishop of Lincoln.” Lexington does not appear to have (1) State Papers, Henry VIII., v. 440. (2) Notices of Family of Foljatnhe, Gough MSS., Bod. Lib. (3) Nicholl’s Leicestershire, ii. 419. (4) Baker, Northamptonshire, i. 142. (5) Nottingham Borough Records, i. 9. (6) Transcripts of Fines, P.R.O., p. 1558. (7) See Thoroton, p. 244, and Nicholl’s Leicestershire, ii. 284. (8) Thoroton, p. 373. (9) Ibid., p. 355. (10) Cart. 14 John, n. 32., Dec. 2. ISO THE HISTORY OF THE filled any higher ecclesiastical office than that of canon, although he was once elected Bishop of Lichfield, but declined the honour. 1 In the ioth year of King John, he acted, however, as custos of the Archbishopric of York during its vacancy. He appears to have added military service to his other duties, and to have received various proofs of the royal confidence and favour. In the eighth year of Henry III., he was custodian of the castles of the Peak and Bolsover, in Derbyshire, and later on was governor of Oxford Castle. There is a letter from him to Hubert de Burgh, detailing the progress of William, Earl of Albe¬ marle, through Nottingham, with his own preparations to oppose him, and stating his intention to proceed himself into Northumberland. 2 He was appointed, when Prior of Lenton, one of the King’s Justices Itinerant, February 5th, 1219, and held a judicial appointment until the 27th year of Henry IIP, being mentioned in July, 1234, as the oldest judge on the bench. In 1240, he was placed at the head of the justices sent by the King into the northern counties, to extort money under the guise of redressing grievances. 3 * Having, in the discharge of his official duties at Lincoln, in common with his brother justices, heard capital causes on Sunday, and having punished the Dean, when he cen¬ sured them, Lexington received a letter of rebuke from Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln.+ The subsequent entries of his acting in his judicial capacity do not extend beyond Hilary term, 1243 (27 Henry III.), in all of which he is placed at the head of his associates. He then probably retired, and must have been far advanced in age. 5 Lexing¬ ton died on the 4th of the calends of June, 1250, his death being thus recorded by Matthew Paris :—“ On the 29th May, in this year, died Robert de Lexington, who had long continued in the office of Justiciary, and had acquired a distinguished name and ample possessions. A few years before his death, however, he was struck with palsy, and (1) Amials of Dunstable , iii. 149. (2) 4th Report Pub. Rec. App., ii. 157. (3) Matthew Paris, iv. 34. (4) Roberti Grosseteste Epistohz, p. 266. (5) Foss’ Judges, ii. 385. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 1 8 I gave up the aforesaid office ; so that, like the Apostle St. Matthew, he was summoned from the receipt of custom to a better life, and employing himself in bountiful almsgiving and devout prayers, he laudably terminated his enfeebled life.” 1 Roger 2 occurs ioth March, 1223, * 3 and was one of the witnesses to an agreement dated Nov. 17, 1225, between the Burgesses of Nottingham and the Burgesses of Retford. 4 5 Damascenus , or Dalmasins, was succeeded by Roger de Normanton , s who was made Prior in 1233 6 * and occurs in 12347 and 1241. H -— Prior of Lenton, occurs in an instrument dated 1251. 8 * This Prior is obviously identical with Hugh Bluet, who is described as Prior of Lenton in a charter of his brother, Robert Bluet, in the time of Henry the Third. (See p. 125) Roger Norman, formerly Prior of Montacute, was appointed Prior of Lenton, Sep. 16th, 1259,9 an d occurs in the years 1262 and 1266. 10 * Matthew, formerly Almoner of Lewes Priory, received the tem¬ poralities of Lenton from the King, March 14th, 1269." Reginald de Jora was probably the next Prior ; he is mentioned in 1289 as having lately resigned the Priorate, but this event may have taken place a few years before. 12 Peter de Siviriaco, or Siriniaco, received the King’s letters of protection, Dec. 1st, I28l, 13 and is mentioned in a bull of Pope Nicholas IV., dated Dec. 1 ith, 1289. William had the King’s letters of protection, Aug. 30th., 1290. 14 Occurs 1294 and 1296. 15 (1) Matthew Paris, v. 138. (2) See Rymer’s Fcedera, i. 270. (3) Rot. Lit. Claus., 7 Hen. III., m. 15. (4) Nottingham Borough Records, i. 20. (5) Nicholl’s Leicestershire, ii. no. (6) Pat. 18 Hen. III. m. 11., clorso. (7) Thoroton, p. 277. (S) Cart. Hart. Antiq., 84 F. 35. (9) Pat. 44 Hen. III. m. 3. Sept. 16. (10) Thoroton, p. 51. (11) Pat. 54 Hen. III., Mar. 14. (12) Ab. Rot. Orig., i. 63. “ Mancl’ est Thome de Normanville esc’ ultra Trentam q’d cap’ in man’ R. omnes terr’ & ten’ ad prioratum de Lenton p’tin’ vacant’ p’ resign’ f’ris Reginald’ de Jora nup’ P’or’ ibidem donee, &c.” Anno R. E. fir R.H., xvii. (13) Pat. 10 Ed. I., Dec 1. (14) Pat. 19 Edw. I. (1 S I Ab. Placitor, p. 292. I 82 TIIE HISTORY OF THE Stephen occurs in 1312. 1 Reginald occurs in 1313. 2 He resigned. Geoffrey was the next Prior. The temporalities were restored to him, March 7th, 1315. 3 4 5 6 William de Pinnebury occurs in 1324.-* Geoffrey occurs May 15th, 1327.5 Astorgius, or Antorgius , occurs March 22nd, 1336,® and in 1346. 7 Peter de Abbeville occurs April, 1355. 8 Geoffrey de Rochero occurs in 1403 9 and 1407. Richard Stafford. Prior. Thomas of Elmham —sometimes called Ellingham 10 —was a monk of St. Augustine’s monastery, Canterbury, where he held the office of treasurer in 1407, the year in which he had been arrested at the suit of Henry Somerset, for an alleged excess of vigour in discharging the duties of his office. In 1414, he ceased to be a Benedictine monk, and, following in the steps of others, panting for a higher measure of monastic austerity, joined the Clugniac order, and was appointed Prior of Lenton, the temporalities of which appointment were made over to him on the 1 ith June, 1414 (2 Henry V.). Subsequently to his instalment as the Prior of Lenton, Elmham was, in 1416, appointed vicar- general to Raymund, Abbot of Clugny, for the kingdoms of England and Scotland. Ten years later (in 1426) he received a fresh promotion (1) Reg. Greenfield, Abp. York, p. 2. (2) Pat. 7 Edw. II. (3) Pat. 9 Edw. II., p. 2. (4) Plac. 17 Edw. II., Term Hil. (5) Rolls of Parliament , ii. 373 ; Rymer’s Fcedera , iv. 289. (6) Pat. 10 Edw. III. (7) Ab. Rot. Orig., ii. 191. (8) Nottingham Borough Records, i. 160. (9) Proc. Priv. Coun., i. 191 -5. In vol. v., p. 146, of the Mon. Angl., it is stated that Geoffrey de Rocherio became Prior of Thetford, in Norfolk, on the deposition of James in 1355. He occurs also as Prior of Thetford in 1369. He commenced the history of the monastery, printed in the Monasticon, vol. v., p. 157, but, according to the same authority, died before its completion. It is more likely, however, that he resigned the priorate of Thetford for that of Lenton, where he probably died about the year 1410. (10) The following account of this Prior is principally derived from the valuable prefaces to the “ Historia Monasterii St. Augustini Cantuariensis,” and “ Memorials of Henry the Fifth,” published by direction of the Master of the Rolls, and from Hearne’s “ Thomae de Elmham vita et gesta Henrici quinti Anglorum regis,” published in 1727. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 183 to the office of commissary-general in spirituals and temporals 1 for all vacant benefices belonging to the Clugniac order in England, Scotland, and Ireland. In the same year he voluntarily resigned the Priorate of Lenton, 2 * 4 in favour of John Elmham, presumably a relative of his own, who was then collated to the vacant office on the nomination of Thomas Nelond, Prior of Lewes. The latest glimpse that we obtain of Thomas of Elmham’s private history is in a metrical piece, where he invokes the friendly criticism of the “glorious doctor, Mr. John Somersethe.’b with whom he stood, as it appears, on very intimate terms. This John Somerset was the celebrated tutor and physician of King Henry VI. ; but although elected as a fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, as early as 1410, his reputation was not established till considerably later, perhaps not till 1440, soon after which date he was appointed, as chancellor of the exchequer, and a man of eminent learning, to assist in drawing up a code of statutes for the original foundation of King’s College, Cambridge. Elmham was the author of several historical works of considerable importance. The principal of these, “A History of the Monastery of St. Augustine, Canterbury,” forming one of the series of “ Chronicles and Memorials,” was published in 1858.+ In this work, which contains numerous references (1) Ilearne’s Preface, xxii. (2) Ibid. (3) Harl. MSS. 864, sec. 2. The next section of the same MSS. contains a “Laus M. Johannis Somerset Metrice,” by the same hand. (4) The following, which is related by Camden, probably refers to one of the two monks of this name, who successively held the office of Prior of Lenton : — “ Dan Elingham, a monke of Lenton, of Saint Benedict’s order, comming to the White-Friers in Nottingham, found there John Baptist painted in a White-Friers weede, whereat maruelling, he coled out these rymes vpon the wall neere to the picture :— ‘ Christa Baptista, vestis non te decet ista, Qui te vestiuit fratrem, maledictus abivit. Nunquam Messias frater fuerat, nec Helias, Non stat plebs beta, dum sit pro fratre phropheta. Si fiatrem Jonam fingis, Geezi tibi ponarn : Ac Jebusaeum, ne jungas his Helizseum.' “ But a White-Frier there answered Elingham, with these following, in the person of John Baptist :— ‘ Elingham mentiris, metris fatuis quoq. rniris Atq. ea quae nescis, sic astruis ut ea quae scis, Nam Deus est testis, decet haec me Candida vestris, Plusquam te vestris pulla, sive nigra cuculla, Sum Carmelita merito, sed tu Geezita, Ac frater fictus Benedict!, non benedictus.’” Remaines Concerning Britain, 6th edit ., i6jj, p. joy. IS 4 THE HISTORY OF THE to Norfolk, the author manifests his deep antipathy to the Lollards. “ Everything most vile, most murderous, and most sacrilegious, which he finds in the earlier annals of his country, rises up before him as a dark precursor of the modern heretics, who dared to say that temporal riches ought never to have been bestowed upon the monasteries and ministers of holy church.” 1 The history contains a coloured drawing of the high altar of the Abbey Church of St. Augustine’s, and the ledge above it, whereon were deposited certain books which are minutely described. Other books are also mentioned as being preserved in the sacristy, but all these have now disappeared with the exception of the Book of the Gospels (Textus Evange- liorum) which was presented by Archbishop Parker to the library of Corpus Christi Col¬ lege, Cambridge. The writing in this book, of which we have here reproduced (one half size of original) the first three verses of St. John’s Gospel, is judged by the best palaeographers to be of Pope Gregory’s date, and it is extremely interesting to know that this is one of the books sent by Gregory to Augustine, in 6or, and from which, in all probability, he read out aloud in that church which he had “recovered ” from the Romans, in presence of King Ethelbert, whom he had converted to the faith of Christ. That this MS. once belonged to St. Augus¬ tine’s Monastery, there is the clearest evidence : on one of the pages is copied a charter of a gift of land to that monastery in the ninth century, and on another page one of a grant in the tenth century, and the writing of these charters appears contemporary with their date. So that, (1) “ Historia Monasterii St. Augustini Cantuariensis,” edited by C. Hardwick, M. A., Preface, p. xx. eiue fiBU cneyCXX_^ ejK*rw cjTBu ~h ooejKSJ 7 NpftJN cip/o^L oco 2cp y> stF'* eTsiNi e] psop^cFr eSTKi]fojl, Cjl\ 02>j:2kCTKCD CSX | N jp S Otf ) PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. IS 5 although some monk put the book to a quasi secular use by copying a charter on one of the blank leaves, this Book of the Gospels was clearly a book of importance in the monastery as early as the ninth century. There is ample evidence that the History of St. Augustine’s Monastery was written by Elmham, for besides the numerous references to Norfolk, which lead to the conclusion that the writer was a native of that county, 1 we have, in a metrical account of the foundation of St. Augustine’s, the following lines in honour of St. Pancras:— “ Marcida dum tellus patet, hanc tu germine justi Ornas Augustini ; flos datur inde novellus. Nunc juvenes puerique, senes, laudes date lenes ; Almiphonis jubilate tonis, per rura colonis.” On turning to the acrostic verses of the author on his own name, we again meet with lines very nearly approaching to those just quoted. They occur in a profane Te Deurn 2 in honour of the Blessed Virgin :— “ Marcida jam tullus patet, hinc tu germine sacro Ornes theothocos flore virente novo. Nuncia sacra tibi, quae contulit angelus angli, Almiphonis resonent perpetuanda tonis.” The manuscript of this history is in the possession of the Master and Fellows of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and was presented to them by Robert Hare, the Cambridge archaeologist, who died Nov. 2, 1611. A modern copy is preserved in the Harleian Collection, No. 686. The editor of this volume is of opinion that “ in the work before us, where the matter is original, and not entirely or in substance borrowed from more elegant writers, no one will dispute the miserable want of skill in composition, or defend the author’s turgid epithets and his declamatory diction.” Elmham was also the author of a prose Life of Henry V., (i) There is a village known as North Elmham, near East Dereham, in Norfolk, of which Prior Elmham may have been a native, or perhaps the descendant of a family taking their name from that place. In the adjoining county of Suffolk there are no less than six villages called Elmham. (2) Cotton MSS., Vesp. D. XIII. ; Julius, E. iv. 3. TIIE HISTORY OF THE I 86 published, in 1727, by Thomas Hearne, 1 a work which, though written in a verbose and inflated style, is of con¬ siderable historical value. “ The style of this work is so extremely inflated as occasionally to suffocate the sense, 2 and according to Archdeacon Wilkins (preface to Bishop Tan¬ ner’s “Bibliotheca Britanno-Hibernica ,” pp. xliii. xlv.), the better known work of Titus Livius Forojuliensis is little more than a compilation from Elmham’s prose history— “ with this merit, however, that the Thrasonic and turgidly poetic style of the original is changed for one of greater severity, and more befitting the historian.” A copy of this work is preserved in the Cottonian Collection (Julius, E. iv.). The third work, attributed to Elmham, entitled “ Versus Rythmici de Henrico Quinto,” also forms one of the series of the “ Chronicles and Memorials,” and was published in 1858, being edited by Mr. Charles Augustus Cole. In line 139, there is evident proof that the writer was an ecclesiastic and a member of the royal household, for he here speaks of himself as reading, or rather intoning, mass in the King’s presence. Again, in line 208, he identifies himself with the monks of Westminster Abbey. “ As to any further or clearer information beyond this, or even inference, relative to his personal history, it seems impossible to arrive at it, either by indication or conjecture. 3 A description of the person of the King is given in lines 69-88. His head is described as being of a spherical form, with thick, smooth, brown hair, a face becomingly oblong, with a straight nose. His complexion is florid, his eyes bright, large, and of an auburn tinge, dovelike when unmoved, and fierce as those of a lion when in anger. His teeth are even, and white as snow, his ears graceful and small, his chin divided, his neck fair and of a becoming thickness throughout, his cheeks of a rosy hue in part, and partly of a delicate whiteness, his (1) “ Thomse de Elmham, vita & gesta Henrici quinii Anglorum regis. E codicibus MSS., vetustis descripsit, & primus luci publicse dedit Tho. Ilearnius. Oxonii E. Theatro Sheldoniano. MDCCXXVII.” (2) “Monument. Britan,” Genl. Int., p. 29. (3) Preface, p. xxviii. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 187 lips of vermilion tint, his limbs well-formed, and the bones and sinews of his frame firmly knit together. We are also informed that Henry, notwithstanding his attention to his religious duties (his weekly practice of confession being deemed worthy of special remark), the calls of the cares of state, his study of the art of war, the pursuits of hunting, falconry, and archery, could often find time for the study of books. “ Vivat Rex tabs,” exclaims the loyal writer. By way of comparison, we give Hall’s delineation of the person of the King, although it differs in one or two par¬ ticulars. “ He was of stature more than the comen sort, of body lene, well mebred [membered] and stro[n]gly made, a face beautiful, somewhat long-necked, black heered, stout of stomake, eloquent of tong, in marcial affaires a very doctor, and of all chivalry the very paragone ” {Hall's Chronicles , p. 113, edition 1809). The Lollards, who are mentioned in a disparaging tone in line 136, are again introduced in lines 151-168 in reference to their criminal designs against the Romish Church. The manuscript of this work, written in the hand of the earlier half of the fifteenth century, is contained in six vellum leaves, paged 173 to 178 inclusive, in a small quarto volume among the Cottonian Manuscripts (Cleopatra, B. i). The present History , as the writer seems inclined to call it, appears to have been written by Elmham as an afterthought, and by way of supplement to his prose history, to which work distinct allusion is made. Notwithstanding the character of the composition, its grammar is considered to be quite on a par with that of similar writings of the same age. The fourth work which we have to notice, and one of which Elmham was undoubtedly the author, is the “ Liber Metricus,” printed in the same volume as the “ Versus Rythmici.” Thomas Hearne, in his preface to Elmham’s prose History (p. xxviii.), speaks in but disparaging terms of this work; his reason, however, for thus expressing himself, there are grounds for believing, is mainly based upon the fact that the writer’s meaning was too obscure for him to take the trouble to comprehend it. The intense 188 THE HISTORY OF THE antipathy of the writer to the Lollards, expressed in his other works, here again manifests itself. The uncompli¬ mentary terms in which he speaks of John Oldcastle are remarkable for their vehemence ; and he even looks upon that bold reformer as of sufficient importance to be identified with the “ great dragon ” of the 12th chapter of Revelation, ver. 4, whose “ tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,”—“ That satellite of hell, I mean, the Heresiarch of Arch-Lollard, John Oldcastle, whose stench is noted to have ascended most horribly to the nostrils of the Catholics, even like that of a dunghill.” Line 104 is also deserving of remark, as implying that Oldcastle was indebted to demoniacal agency for his escape from the Tower. Elmham has taken particular care to let the reader know he is the author, by inserting his name, “ Thomas Elmham,” as an acrostic, at the commencement of the metrical narrative. The work ends with the fifth year of Henry's reign. Seven MS. copies of the “ Liber Metricus ” are accessible to the English reader, two being preserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and five in the British Musuem. The text in the present volume is printed from Julius, E. iv., collated with Vespatian, D. XIII., and the Harleian MSS., No. 861. The Julius MS. consists of 24 leaves, written on both sides, in the court-hand in vogue in the reign of Henry VI., and is a fine specimen of penmanship. It commences at folio 89 of the volume, the manuscript immediately preceding it being a copy of Elmham’s prose History. The verses, 1 written as a Te Deum in honour of the Blessed Virgin, and forming an acrostic on the name of the writer," Thomas Elmham, Monachus,” are, at the conclusion of Vesp. D. XIII., written in the same hand as the rest of the manuscript. For a second copy of this Te Deum , see Cotton MSS., Julius E, iv. 3, where the hymn is said to be “ ad laudem Dei Genetricis Marirn, propter gloriosam expeditionem regis Henrici quinti, et pro succursu regis (1) Flearne, p. 375. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 189 Angliae, dolis suae, quae cunctas haereses cum haeresiarcha Johanne Old-Castel, suis precis intereunt.” John Elmhatn. His appointment received the royal assent, February 18th, 1426.' He resigned in 1450. John Middylburgh received the royal assent, October 18th, 1450 .“ Thomas Wo/lore was appointed by the King, July 5th, 1458.3 Edward IV., in the first year of his reign, confirmed the Priorate to him for life. * 3 4 Occurs in 1476. 5 Richard Dene appointed Prior, February 21st, 1481, 6 * occurs 2 Henry VII., 8 * also in 1492? and 1495. 10 * John Ilkeston occurs as Prior in 1500” and 1501. 12 * On December 3rd, 1508, he is referred to as John Hilston. 14 The signature of this Prior is attached to an undated J ^ exemplification, written in an early 16th century hand, of Sir Avery de Sulney’s allowance of the right of the Burgesses of Nottingham to pasture in Basford, and of Sir Robert de Cockfield’s release of the acknowledgment paid for the same. The document is thus attested, “ Thes be the trewe copyes of ij. dedis undre saille whiche we have seyn, as dothe apere here above writyn. By me, John’ Prior of Lenton. By me, Johnn’ Willughby, Kt.” 14 (1) Pat. 5 lien. VI., p. 1. (2) Pat. 29 Hen. VI., p. 1. (3) Pat. 37 Hen. VI., p. 2. (4) Pat. 1 Edw. IV., p. 1. (5) Tanner Notitia Monastica, app. (6) Pat. 21 Edw. IV., p. 1. (8) Add. MSS., 6666, f. 208. (9) Tcstamenta Vetusta, ii. 414. (10) Records of the Nottingham Corporation, MS. No. 1375, p. 115. (n) Records of the Nottingham Corporation, MS. No. 1380, p. 31. (12) Tanner Notitia Monastica, appendix. (13) Records of the Nottingham Corporation, MS. No. 1382, p. 24. (14) Records of the Borough of Nottingham, i. 407. Through the courtesy of the Town Clerk of Nottingham, we are enabled to give a fac-simile of the autograph of this Prior. 190 THE HISTORY OF THE Thomas Guyllam , or Gillame , succeeded to the Priorate in 1509, 1 being sued on September 7th in that year in the Borough Court of Nottingham, for goods ordered by his predecessor, Hilston . 2 3 He occurs also in the year 1522.5 Thomas Notyngham, alias Hobson , succeeded to the Priorate March 2nd, 1525, on the death of Thomas Guyllam. John Annes/ey was appointed Prior Jan. 17th, 1531, on the resignation of Thomas Notyngham, alias Hobson. Nicholas Heth , or Hey the —the last Prior. The events which led to the suppression of Lenton Priory may be briefly stated. Early in the year 1534, Parliament prohibited every kind of appeal, and every kind of payment, to the Pope, and confirmed the King’s title of supreme head of the English Church, and vested in him alone the right of appointing to all bishoprics, and of deciding in all ecclesiastical causes. Thus the tie which for so many centuries had united England with Rome was completely severed. In November of the same year, the firstfruits and tenths were annexed to the Crown for ever, and a new oath of supremacy was intro¬ duced. In the following year, some of the clergy refused either to take the oath, or to proclaim in their churches and chapels that the Pope was Antichrist. The system adopted with regard to them was simple and expeditious ; they were condemned for high treason, and hanged. Shortly afterwards, the King, acting on the advice of Cromwell, appointed com¬ missioners to visit the monasteries or other religious houses in England, and “ to search into the lives and manners of religious persons.” They were also commanded to make all the monks and nuns renounce the authority of the Pope, and to take the oath of supremacy. In 1536 a formidable insurrection in favour of the monks broke out at Louth, in Lincolnshire, which was quickly followed by the still more formidable rising in York¬ shire, known as the “ Pilgrimage of Grace.” The King, enraged (1) He resigned the Priorate of Lenton for the Abbey of Pipewell, in Northampton¬ shire. In 1535, Thomas Gyllarn, alias Lenton, and thirteen monks, surrendered the Abbey of Pipewell to the Crown. Bridge’s Northamptonshire , i. 333. (2) Records of the Nottingham Corporation, MS. No. 1382, p. 108. (3) See p. 171. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 19I at this new rebellion, wrote to the Duke of Norfolk to execute a large number of the insurgents in every town and village, and “ forasmuch as all these troubles have ensued by the solicitation and traitorous conspiracies of the monks and canons of these parts, we desire you at such places as they have conspired or kept their houses with force since the appointment at Doncaster, you shall, without pity or circumstance, cause all the monks and canons that be in anywise faulty, to be tied up without further delay or ceremony, to the terrible example of others.” 1 The Duke of Norfolk obeyed this order and hanged seventy- four persons, including the abbots of Kirkstead, Barlings, Fountains, Jervaulx, Rievaulx, the Prior of Bridlington, Lord Hussey, Lord Darcy, Aske, and others. The Prior of Lenton most probably suffered the same fate, there being a tradition that he was hanged above the gateway of his Priory. The inquisitio post mortem of the possessions of Nicholas Heth, late Prior of the house or monastery of the Holy Trinity of Lenton, attainted, was taken at Nottingham, September 3rd, 1538, before Francis Merynge, Esquire, Escheator of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, the whole of the posses¬ sions of the Priory being confiscated to the King. One important fact should be made clear. The dissolution of the monasteries had, historically, no connection with the Reformation. The religious confraternities, with some exceptions, had acknowledged the royal supremacy. The dissolution of the lesser houses was accomplished by Act 27 Henry VIII. c. 20 ; the dissolution of the greater houses took place in May, 1539, by Act 31 Henry VIII. c. 13. By Statute 31 Henry VIII. c. 14, in June of the same year, the Statute of the Six Articles was passed, confirming the doctrine of the mass and celibacy of the clergy. 2 It was not until ten years later that the (1) In the same letter the King says: “We desire and pray you to have good respect to the conservation of the lands and goods of all such as shall be now attainted, that we may have them in safety, to be given, if we shall be so disposed, to such persons as have truly served us ; for we be informed that there were amongst them divers freeholders and rich men, whose lands and goods well looked into will reward others well, that, with their truths, have deserved the same.” (2) Part. Hist ., i. 587. 192 THE HISTORY OF THE reconstruction of the devotional offices took effect. The Reformers, therefore, had no share in the reign of terror and cupidity, or its destructive consequences. 1 Although the monasteries were, in many respects, perfectly indefensible, yet they are entitled to higher praise than the qualified approbation frequently accorded to them. Their position is the more striking by the strong contrast they presented to the outer world. In days of lawless violence and rapine, they afforded the only sanctuary for the oppressed, the timid, and the weak. When all around breathed of war, and studied its arts alone, they fostered the more enduring arts of peace. And when the world was immersed in ignorance and barbarity, learning and science found their only asylum within the friendly walls of the monastery. But, at the same time, they contained within themselves the seeds of dissolution. Their wealth was the provocative of their ruin. Unchecked by external supervision, the monks in many instances became indolent and self-engrossed ; and, making due allowance for exaggeration, grossly vicious, yet, “ it appears to be the testi¬ mony of history, that the monks and clergy, whether good or bad in themselves, were, in all times and places, better than other people.” “ Monachism itself, so rich and fruitful once, is now all rotted into peat; lies sleek and buried,—and a most feeble bog-grass of Dilettantism all the crop we reap from it! That was frightful waste ; perhaps among the saddest our England ever saw. Why will men destroy noble forests, even when in part a nuisance, in such reckless manner; turning loose four-footed cattle and Henry-the-Eighths into them ! The fifth part of our English soil lay consecrated to ‘ spiritual uses,’ better or worse; solemnly set apart to foster spiritual growth and culture of the soul, by the methods then known ; and now—it too, like the four-fifths, fosters what ? Gentle shepherd, tell me what ? ” 2 The site of Lenton Priory and that portion of the parishes (1) Walcott, English Minsters, ii. 52. (2) Carlyle, Past ami Present. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 1 93 of Lenton and Radford which formed the demesne of the monastery appear to have constituted a distinct manor, and yet continue separate from the manor of Lenton. In 1539, King Henry the Eighth granted a lease of the site of the Priory, with certain lands in “ Carleholme, Lenton, and Radforde,” for forty years, at an annual rent of £38 13s. od., to Sir Michael Stanhope, Knight, who had previously obtained a grant of the site of the dissolved Priory of Shelford, in this county. In 1563, the reversion of the site and demesne of Lenton Priory was granted to Sir John Harrington, Knight, and to John Harrington, his son and heir, and Isabel his wife, for the term of their lives. In 1604, the site and demesne of Lenton Priory was granted in fee farm to Sir Michael Hicks, Knight, and his heirs. Sir Michael was descended from a Gloucestershire family, and was the son of Robert Hicks, a wealthy citizen and mercer of London, and elder brother of Sir Baptist Hicks, who was raised to the peerage as Viscount Campden in 1629. He was a barrister-at-law, and became secretary to the eminent statesman, William, Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England, to whose influence he mainly owed his advancement, and who “stood god-father to his eldest son, and named him William, after his own name.” 1 Sir Michael Hicks purchased the manor of Ruckholt, in the parish of Leyton, in Essex, which he made his principal residence, and he likewise acquired by purchase Beverston Castle, in Gloucestershire, afterwards the chief seat of the family. He died at Ruckholt Hall, August 5th, 1612, aged 69. Dame Elizabeth Hicks, his widow, died in February, 1634, and was interred near her husband, in the chancel at Ley- ton. His son and successor, Sir William Hicks, 2 was created a Baronet, July 21st, 1619, shortly after attaining his majority, and was subsequently appointed Lieutenant of the Forest of Waltham. He was married at Drayton, in Middlesex, September (1) Morant’s Hist, of Essex, vol. i., p. 24. (2) Thoroton, usually so accurate, is in error in stating that the site of Lenton Priory was granted to this Sir William Hicks, in 1604. The “Calendar of State Papers” shows clearly that the grant was to his father, Sir Michael Hicks, and his heirs. In 1604, Sir William Hicks could only have been about seven years of age. H ^94 TIIE HISTORY OF THE the 8th, 1625, to Margaret, eldest daughter of William, Lord Paget, of Beaudesert ; and by this lady (who was buried in Henry the Seventh’s chapel in Westminster Abbey, September the 10th, 1652) he had several children. His eldest son, Sir William Hicks, the younger, received the honour of knight¬ hood from King Charles the Second, upon one occasion when His Majesty was entertained at Ruckholt after he had been hunting in Epping Forest. This second Sir William Hicks, married Marthagnes, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry Coningsby, of North Mimms, in the County of Hertford, Knight, by whom he had a family of thirteen children. Sir William Hicks, the elder, died October 15th, 1680, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was buried in the chancel at Leyton. 1 He had suffered severely from his devotion to the royal cause during the civil wars, and he and his son had been compelled to alienate a considerable portion of their estates. He died in possession of the site and demesne of Lenton Priory, but, four years after his decease, the property passed, by purchase, to the Winford family. In 1684, Thomas Winford, Esq., second Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, together with Richard, Lord Gorges, Peter Barwick, M.D., Robert Winford, and William Winford, Gentlemen (who were the trustees of the marriage-settlement of the said Thomas Winford and Sarah, his wife, daughter and sole heiress of Michael Pearce, of Drury Lane, in the city of Westminster, apothecary), purchased from Sir William Hicks, of Ruckholts, in the County of Essex, Knight and Baronet, and Dame Marthagnes, his wife, the manor of the Priory demesne, with the site, circuit, and precinct of the dissolved Priory of Lenton, and two messuages, three cottages, two tofts, one water-mill, four hundred acres of arable land, two hundred acres of meadow, one hundred acres of pasture, and two hundred acres of furze and heath, with all due (1) The two large and stately monuments in Low Leyton Church, with the effigies of this Sir William Hicks, and his father and grand-father, which formerly stood in the chancel, on either side of the altar, have been displaced in a recent so-called “restoration” of the fabric, and, to the disgrace of all concerned, have been consigned to an obscure position beneath the tower, at the west end of the church. The questionable taste displayed in the monuments of that period can afford no apology for such unpardonable interference with the memorials of the dead. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 195 appurtenances, in the parishes of Lenton and Radford. The amount of the purchase-money was £9,650. Thomas Winford, Esq. (who was the son of Sir John Win¬ ford, a gallant and devoted royalist who attended King Charles the Second at the battle of Worcester) was created a Baronet, July the 3rd, 1702, with limitation to the heirs of his elder brother, Henry Winford, of Glasshampton, in the county of Worcester, Esquire, who had married Mercie, one of the sisters and co-heiressess of Sir Thomas Cookes, of Norgrove, in the same county, Baronet, by whom he had a son, Thomas Cookes Winford. Sir Thomas Winford, the first Baronet, died with¬ out issue, September the 22nd, 1702, less than three months after the creation of the title, and was succeeded by his nephew, above-named, who was twice married. His first wife was Beata, youngest daughter of Sir Henry Parker, of Honing- ton, in the county of Warwickshire, Knight, and after her decease he married Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Wilmot, Vicar of Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, but he had no issue by either of these ladies. Sir Thomas Cookes Win¬ ford, Bart., died January the 19th, 1743-4, and upon his death the baronetcy became extinct. His widow, Dame Elizabeth Winford, to whom the manor of the demesne of Lenton Priory and other property had passed by devise, died shortly after her husband, having bequeathed the same to her niece, Elizabeth Wilmot, who became the wife of Edward Milward, M.D. Their only daughter and heiress, Miss Elizabeth Milward, of Newman Street, in the parish of Mary-le-bone, in the county of Middlesex, first mortgaged her estates in the parishes of Lenton and Radford, and eventually sold the same for .£36,000, to Thomas Pares, the younger, of the town of Leicester, and Thomas Paget, 1 of Scraptoft, in the county of Leicester, Gentlemen. The estate was then described in the following schedule as “ All that manor and lordship and site, circuit and precinct of the late dissolved Priory of Lenton, and those several closes, or grounds enclosed, situate, lying and being in the parishes of Lenton and Radford ” purchased by Thomas Pares, the younger, and Thomas Paget, Gentlemen. (1) These gentlemen were in partnership as bankers in the town of Leicester. 196 TIIE HISTORY OF THE Church-yard close (where the Priory stood) South part of the Mill, or Great Pond, Yard ... North part of the Mill Close (called about the year 1684, the Abbey Orchard, and since in¬ tersected by the Nottingham canal) ... Five Acre Meadow (in two parts) ... Messuage and Croft (being the North part of the Mill, or Great Pond, Yard) Water-mill (formerly a Corn-mill, heretofore a Paper-mill, afterwards a Thimble-mill, and since a Leather-mill) on the river Leen Messuage and Croft, called Little Pond Yard Water-mill. Close, heretofore divided and known as the South part of the Mill Close (formerly the Abbey Orchard) and David’s Close Nether Farnworth Close East Farnworth Close West Farnworth Close South Farnworth Close Nether Wheat Croft... Leggett, or Leggett Wong ... Prior’s Meadow Barn Close ... ... Rye Close (in two parts) Great Littling Meadow South Littling, or Jervas’s, Meadow The Littling Meadow, or Littling Hook ... South West part of Cow Close South Alder Plantation South East part of Cow Close Small part of Cow Close with cottage The Rounds, or Barley’s Close Lane Close (which in 1684 formed the more southern part of “ The Greens”) North Gorsie Close ... South Gorsie Close ... Nether Littling Middle Littling Great Littling North Cow Close Second part of Cow Close ... Northern Alder Plantation ... West Round Close (in two parts) ... Middle Round Close (in two parts) East Round Close ... Parcels of land occupied by the Nottingham Canal Company and by the Trent Navigation Company, with an old cottage and a garden attached ... 4 I 26 0 3 14 0 3 15 6 2 0 0 3 14 0 1 25 2 2 33 4 3 20 6 2 26 6 1 34 4 1 3 14 2 9 11 3 4 5 0 7 19 3 12 22 1 11 11 3 39 6 1 6 2 3 39 11 2 TO 0 3 27 10 3 I 0 1 20 8 13 O 3 2 O 13 0 22 10 1 1 7 3 0 7 8 0 9 8 3 10 7 3 7 15 0 23 0 3 26 6 2 26 6 3 33 5 3 23 0 0 36 PARISH AND TRIORY OF LENTON. Old cottage and garden Old cottage and garden Farm-house, with Far Fan Broom Close ... Near Fan Broom Close Middle Broom Close (with stack-yard) Near Broom, or Home Close, with farm-yard, gar¬ dens, buildings, &c. Broom Close ... Long, or Broom Meadow Second Broom Close Home Abbey Field ... Second Abbey Field... Farm, with yard and buildings Oxhouse Close and Dog, or Day-house Close Pi ngle, or Duck Meadow Lane Close (formerly the Northern part of “The Greens”) Broom Meadow Calf Close (called in 1684, Greeson’s Close) Dove-house Close Salter Close, and Great Trin’s or Terne’s Close .. Little Trin’s, or Terne’s Close Trin’s, or Terne’s Close Abbey Field (next Turnpike Close) or Little Abbey Field Abbey, or Sandy Field (in two parts) Lodge Field (next to the Derby Road) Sand Hill and Sand Hill Field Pitt Field (in two parts) The Six Acres Third Abbey Field ... Rushy Meadow Little Rushy Close (called in 1684, the Doe Park) Turnpike Close, or Little Abbey Field The Fourteen Acres (called in 1684, the High Hill Close) The Fourteen Acres (called in 1684, the Lower Hill Close) Lower Highfield, or Barn Ground ... Home Field ... South Highfield (called in 1684, the Lower High- field Park) ... ... .. . . North Highfield (called in 1684, the Lower High¬ field Park, and then united with the South Highfield, the Lower Highfield, the Home Field, and probably several others) ... North High Close ... South High Close Duck, or Gutt Meadow 197 0 0 6 0 0 3 9 0 12 10 0 22 12 2 0 6 2 33 4 1 0 8 0 22 0 0 1 4 11 1 9 12 1 18 1 1 11 4 2 25 0 0 33 2 4 34 10 0 13 4 2 28 10 3 11 2 3 24 I 0 0 I 1 10 13 0 11 22 2 20 17 2 0 19 2 22 I I 0 0 6 2 17 1 7 2 12 4 1 24 1 2 3 6 3 24 14 3 3 14 0 29 7 0 22 8 2 23 7 2 3 i 7 3 25 4 2 29 4 2 0 3 3 11 i gS THE HISTORY OE THE The two Highfield Closes ... ... ... ... 13 Highfield Meadow (also forming, with the two Highfield Closes, another part of the High¬ field Park) ... .. ... ... ... 3 Turnpike, or Gutt Close ... ... ... ... 7 Seven Acres Meadow .. ... ... .. 7 Coal-house Close, adjoining the Bridge (called in 1684, Carleholme) ... ... ... ... 2 1 15 o 2 2 o 2 I o o Amounting in all to 620 o 13 And likewise “ all manner of tithes, tenths, oblations, obventions, fruits and profits of every sort, &c., arising from any part of the said manor, lordship, site, circuit and precinct aforesaid.” Almost immediately after this purchase, a portion of the property lying on the southern side of the parish of Lenton was resold to Joseph Lowe, Esq., an Alderman of Nottingham, who had previously held the tenancy of some part of the same ; and other portions were afterwards purchased by John Wright, Esq., and by Matthew Needham, Esq., Thomas Wright Watson, Esq., Francis Evans, Esq., and William Stretton, Esq. These gentlemen thus seem to have become joint lords of the manor of the Priory demesne, in proportion of their several purchases, as is usual in such cases, but it does not appear that any manorial rights have been claimed in respect of this manor for many years past. That portion of the manor of the Priory demesne, situated at the southern extremity of the parish of Lenton, nearest to Beeston, and which had been purchased by Joseph Lowe, Esquire, was known as the High-field, and here, upon a considerable elevation, overlooking the valley of the Trent and commanding an extensive and varied prospect, embracing parts of the adjoining counties of Lincoln, Leicester, and Derby, he built a plain substantial mansion, called Highfield House. The natural beauty of the situation was greatly enhanced by the number of trees which he planted, and the delightfully sylvan aspect yet retained in this part of the parish is mainly due to Mr. Lowe, and to those who subsequently followed his PARISH AND PRIORY OF RENTON. I99 example. 1 Another feature in the Highfield estate is the artificial lake (so well-known to skaters), which was afterwards formed at the foot of the eminence upon which the house had been built. Joseph Lowe, Esquire (who was for more than thirty years an Alderman of Nottingham, and served as Sheriff in 1763, and filled the office of Mayor in 1787, 1797, and 1807), died at Highfield in 1810, leaving an only son, Joseph Hurst Lowe, Esquire, who made some additions to the property by the purchase of adjoining lands from the Gregory family and others. He was father of the late Alfred Lowe, Esquire, who was in possession of the estate for nearly forty years, and who, throughout that period, continued to take an active part in the affairs of the neighbourhood. 2 “ A lover of the Arts and Sciences,” so says the memoir of this gentleman in the Transactions of the Meteorological Society, of which he was one of the original members, “he mainly contributed to the establishment of Amateur Musical Societies in Nottingham. He was a nice discriminator of paintings, and his collection at Highfield House was much esteemed by connoisseurs. 3 Mr. Lowe inherited considerable landed property from his ancestors. His estate in every part displays the refined taste which he possessed and exercised in bringing it to its present state of beauty and perfection.Mr. Lowe was a member of the Meteorological Society from its commencement, and kept regular observations for many years, continuing them to the 31st of July, 1856 (only ten days before his death). He also took much delight in astronomy, and built an observatory. He was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Nottingham, the duties connected with which demanded a great portion of his time ; and was also appointed a Justice of the Peace for (1) It is said that whilst the plantations were young, serious damage was done to the trees by the mischievous youths of the neighbourhood, and that in the hopes of saving the trees and of sparing his friends and neighbours the annoyance caused them by this wanton mischief, the Reverend Thomas Bigsby, then Vicar of Bceston, preached a sermon in Beeston church specially upon the subject. With what effect we know not ! (2) Amongst other things, he was one of the founders of the Nottingham Mechanics’ Institute, and his portrait, by Gilbert, which formerly adorned the great hall, was unfortunately destroyed when the building was burnt down in 1867. (3) This collection was removed from Highfield House in 1SS0, and is now at Shirenewton Hall, in Monmouthshire. 200 THE 11ISTORV OF THE the town of Nottingham, but he never acted in the latter capacity. Had his powers of body been equal to his mind, his usefulness would have been more extended and appreciated ; his general kindness and benevolence won the esteem and regard of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He died on the ioth of August, 1856, from disease of the heart.” Under his will, the Highfield estate devolved upon his son, Edward Joseph Lowe, Esquire. This gentleman, who is known to the world by his scientific works, was born at Highfield House, November the nth, 1825. As early as the year 1840, he commenced that valuable series of daily meteorological observations, which have been continued to the present day. In 1846, he published ‘‘A Treatise on Atmospheric Phenomena.” About 1848, he assisted the late Professor Baden Powell in the meteor observations for the British Association, and was the first to point out the convergence of meteors to a point in the heavens. “ Prognostications of the Weather,” a small work by him, appeared in 1849. 1° 1850, he became a member of the Meteorological Society, 1 of which he was one of the founders. In 1853, he wrote two valuable local works, entitled “The Climate of Nottinghamshire,” and “ The Conchology of Not¬ tinghamshire.” In the same year he likewise assisted the late Professor Edward Forbes, in the compilation of his work on “ British Mollusca,” and issued the first parts of the well-known “Natural History of British and Exotic Ferns.” His next work, on “ British Grasses,” appeared in 1858, and he subse¬ quently wrote two other botanical works on “ Beautiful-leaved Plants,” and “New and Rare Ferns,” in 1861 and 1862. His last work is entitled the “ Chronology of the Seasons.” In i860, he was one of those who accompanied the Government expedition to Spain for the purpose of observing the solar eclipse, and was placed in charge of the meteorological depart¬ ments in the Santander district. He was also one of the first to send daily telegrams to the Government Meteorological Office, originally established under the care of the late Admiral Fitzroy. In 1868, he was president of the Nottingham (1) This society subsequently obtained a Royal Charter, and in the year 1883 it became the Royal Meteorological Society. IPc&igrcc of lowc of lblohftcl6. in. L«wc, of Hartford, in the ctnpcl.y of Wilton, co. Charter ; = . . 'S-.S: " .. >'> N "' • '-'91 I «I«U. of OiL Rolcrt Lowe, of Newton Hall, in Middlcwieh. = Eleanor, muc. o.. (holer. Cent: accond »m ; bept at | (it ran).. !iS; n I'rimy), l66j. ; hm. in .h, ■l Middlcaaich, 28 July, .679. iei.S irir-r-r; loula, y Mary, his at Skcglry. 23 Jan., wife: married at Nut- 1636: left one son. I hall, co. Nutt*., 30 A Oct., 1683. _ Notts,, nnd suit-= llannab. dau. i.f Tho- [tenjainin Wright, third Nottingham, second son ; I mas Rotherham, of son ; bapt. at Skeghy, Hnughley, co. Suffolk, from hi* | Nottingham, by Mary, 2 July, 1664; *»- 165S ; marr. father; Isipt. at Skeghy, 2 j March, 1660; hur. at | In* wife (lurried at Si. .. to . St. Mary**, Nottingham, 28 Nov,, 173a Mary**. Nottingham, Ryther. 4 July, 1755^1 Samuel Wiight, of Not- Iclinlioil > lingham, eldest ton; burn ham, Cent. ; 1697; 1 1 led IS Feh., 2 Sept., 1777; hur. in the I rlau. of Richard Milne*, of Chex- 1 7 Si-J- buried at St. north aide at St. Mary's, Not- | terficld, Co. Derby, Earj.); mart. Mary**, Nottingham. itngham. where there i* a at St. Nicholas's, Nottingham, 9 monument to hi* memory. ” 1 " ' ' '*“* . I I NVricht, of Notiing-= Eliralierh, dau. of John Wildliore, Mary; ■ cut. ; lx -iii 1700; died l of Nottingham, Cent, (by Mary, unmnrri Feb., 1720-21 ; died 6Oct., 1782. 1713 ; bur at Nottingham. Johnnnnh; mart, to Peter Tliomton, of Kindlon upo n Hull, died without issue, 2 Nov., 1758. Hannah ; marr. at Si Mary**, Nottingham, 4 Nov., 1731, to Samuel Fellows, Alderman of Nottingham; died with¬ out issue, IS Apr., 1764. Elizabeth ; marr. to Samuel John- *"n, Gent. ; died in IjmH, 1787, jaminRickard*,of Not¬ tingham ; died F'cb., 1740, leasing issue. |ohn Wright, of Nutting-= Anne, dau. of John Sher- hatn, Cent., eldest am ; 1 hroukc,of Nottingham,tient.; bom s April, 1723: died I marr. nl St. Pel, r's. Notling- 17 Dee . 1789 ; Imriol I luitn, Sjan.. 1747-8; died 5 at St. Mary’s Notting- I March. 1792; liur. at St. ham. | Mary's, Nottingham. Thomas Wright, of Nulling-= Mary, dau. of John Smith, of Nottingham, ham. tient-. » second son ; I Gent, (by Elizabeth, dau.of Langford Ne- Ixirn it July, 1724; died 20 vdl, of the tnme place. Esq.); marr. 18 July, 1790; buried at Sr. Dec., 1764; rlied 19 May, 1817 ; buried Mary'*, Nottingham. | at St. Mary's Nottingham. Samuel Wright, of - Mary, dau, of James Kingston-upon-llull, | Robinson, of King- Merchant, third son; donupon-llull, and born Nov.,i726;dicd | widow of Henry 16 Dee., 1803, I Net ill, of Derby, H'tighti of MafftiUy Hall wiihout male is Gent. Mary; born 6 I >*c., Two other 1721 ; marr. at St. daughters, M jij's, Nottingham, 6 both died Jan,, 1751-2, to Sir unmarried. Rqlicrt Cunliffe, of Liverpool, ISaronet. ShciLro fant; bur. at St. Peter**, Nottingham, 21 January, Samuel Wright, of Gunthorpc,= l-ndy Ann Margaret John Wright, co. Nolls, Esq., second «on ; Captain in the 15th Hussar-, and afterward* Lieut.-C'ol. of the Loyal Runny Volunteer*; born 8 Oct., 1754 ; died 22 Dee., 1839, bur. at liruughton Elizabeth, dau. and Coventry, dau. of ion, co. Malta, Esq. : I eo.-heirca*of Francia the Right Hon. purchased an estate there i llercsford, of Ash- George William, nnd built the mansion , bourne, co. Derby, sixth Earl of Coven- n-.w known a* Lenton Esq.; marr. 6 April, try; died without Hall; liorn 7 Aug , 1758;, 1791 : died 17 April, issue. dies! 21 April. 1840 ; 1833 ; bur. in the old hur. at Lenton. ! churchyard at Lenton. Ellralicih ; born 1 Oct., • 7 S« : «'»"• *« s «- Mary’s, Nottingham, 27 Wirksworth, co. Derby, Esq. ; died March, 1844. Feb.. 1757 '• marr. to the Rev. Pcnrloek Neale, of Tol- lcrton, co. Notts. ; rlied 29 Nor.. 1S29. Charlotte ; liorn 5 March. 1762; mar¬ ried at St. Mary's, Nottingham. < F'cb., 1780, to John Edwards, of Old Court, col Wicklow, Esq. I Lucy; Imrn 6 Oct., 1766; married at Tollcrton, Sept., 1780, to Samuel Bank*, of Dublin, M l). John Wright, eldest = Cecilia Ccorgiann, dau. ol son ; born 4 Sept., Admiral the lion. George 1793; died at Hyrig; man. in Parrs. Naples 24 Jan.. 5 June. 1827 ; married 1828 ; bur. in the secondly to Arthur John- old churchyard at 1 »lone Blackwood, Gentle- Francis Wright, of lenton ilnll, = Selina,eldest dau. of- and nf Otmajton Manor, eo. ; sir Henry F'nrhcr- Derby, Esq., second son ; D.L. I licit, of Tmington, for co, of Derby; J.P. for the eo. Derb), Bart.; counties ol Noti*., Derby, and mair. 12 Aug., Staffed ; High Sheriff of Notts. 1 itija in 1842 ; liorn >1 Dee., 1806 ; ilicsl 21 Feb., 1873. Mmeut Wiight, of= Fndcrique Natalie, Rinligrovc, dau. of Lars Frederic co. Derby, Esq,, Kuhlstrom, Count third u.n; late Her Councillor and Ma»- M.iicsty's Consul at ter of the Roll* for Wabent, in Finland ; Finland, and widow l*om 15 Jail., l8l2. of Monsieur Teme- unmarried living, Elizabeth; marr. to the Reverend Charles Thomas Plumplrr, M.A., Rector of Wick - hamhicu*, co. Lucy Pauline, only dau. and - 1 • Hanover Middlesex, 6 Aug., 1863, to Captain the lion. Charles Edward Hobart. Rev. Henry Plumptrc.Kcc- Mr of East- woosl, Co, Notts. ; fir*t wife ; died It 1 I -John \\right, = formerly 1 ol Owns*!on Man..r, Eaq., I eldest son ; assumed the surname of Osmaston in l 187(1: J.P. I I'.',- Edward Roy,I Rice, of Dane Court, Kent, and D.L. for j F'.sq. ; I the Co. of tecum Henry Wrigl Clerk in lie Order., late Hector of St. Nicholas’s, Nottingham ; . l8tj ; acciden¬ tally drowneil, at Coniston. Leslie Melville of Bran- of Aldcrear Hall, co. Derby, E«i , third von; J.P. for the eo. of Derby; born 30 Dee., 1857. marr. 20 June, 1862. r Adeline Frances Henrietta, I Somertall | Herbert, CO. Derby, I E*q- Kil/ Herbert = Louisa Char- Wright, of j loti* Rudol- Thc Have*, phina, dau. Swanwick, | of Ernst co. Derby, I Christ,>|>hc Esq., fourth | Frcidcrieh son ; J.P. j Von Beck- and D.L. for mann, Pastor the co. of ofliolzeodofT Derby ;bom 4 A 1 ?’ Philip = AliccKlim- Wright, 1 licth, dau. of Mel- 1 of the Rev. lington William Hall eo. | llury, Mont- M.A.,l(ec- gomery, tor of Pim- E«lo j |>cnie, co. mAft I I Fnmei* Plumptre Marcus Uereoford Wright Western (now Osmaston), Bemford, eldest ton ; liorn second in 1857 »on. Fit*''Herbert, Bertram B-resfonl, filth son. Lionel Rovimond Shnbr, oke, Florence. Ill In the former |>alenl a somewhat different crest wa-s grantcil, namely—Out of a crescent or, a unicorn's head argon!, erased gulf, armed and maned of the first. *lhc second patent recited the former one. but grantcil another crest, which is the one now borne by the elder branch of the family. The other crest is, however, still borne by the junior branches. (2| Captain John Wright took a somewhat active port in this neighbourhood during the civil wars, and is several lime* alluded to by Mrs. Hutchinwn in her ” Memoirs," who occasionally s|icakx of him as Captain ff ’kill, and at other limes give* linn his proper name. After the Restoration, he was imprisoned at Newark, where he wa* kept in confinement for eight year*. (3) Thomas Wright left three son*, the eldest of whom was Ichabad Wright, of Mnpperley II,ill. Esq., who was father of the late Ichalnsl Charles Wright, Esq., the accomplished translator of •• Dante." Henry Smith Wright, Eaq, a who purchased Lenton Hall from the late Lord Middleton, in 1868, .1* elsewhere stated, wa* the third son of the last-named gentleman. (4) To these liencvolcnt ladies, who have for some years resided at Lenton I-odgc, the parish is indebted for the Infant School, as well a* for a long period of unwearied attention to the want* of the afflicted and distressed poor. - ' _ PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 203 Lenton Fields was sold by Henry Hadden, Esquire, to James Holvvell Lee, Esquire, a magistrate for the borough of Notting¬ ham, and from him the property is leased by the present occupier, Mr. William Heape Walker, lace manufacturer. The mansion, known as Lenton Grove, was erected upon another portion of the Priory demesne, purchased by Francis Evans, Esquire, 1 an eminent attorney-at-law, who for some years held the office of Prothonotary of the Court of the Honour of Peverel. This gentleman died in 1815, and, having no male issue, the property ultimately devolved upon his eldest daughter and coheiress, Miss Anne Elizabeth Evans, and is now vested in her representatives. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that, with this exception, no part of the Priory demesne con¬ tinues in the possession of the descendants of those gentlemen who purchased the various portions when the manor of the Priory demesne was divided in the latter part of the last century. The portion purchased by Thomas Wright Watson, Esquire, lay on the north-east side of the Lenton Hall estate, and upon it was built the mansion called Lenton Firs. This property was purchased by Henry, sixth Lord Middleton, and the house was for many years occupied by tenants. Henry, eighth Lord Middleton, sold Len¬ ton Firs to Thomas Adams, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace for the county of Not¬ tingham, and also for the borough, who resided here until his decease in 1873. This gentleman, who was a native of Sible Hedingham, in Essex, and an extensive lace manufacturer in Nottingham, obtained a grant of these armorial bearings : Vert, a cross parted and fretty between two mul¬ lets in the first and fourth, and as many cinquefoils in the second and third quarters, (1 ) Through his mother this gentleman was one of the representatives of a branch of the old Nottinghamshire family of Hacker. 11 is father, Robert Evans, an attorney- at-law, residing at Thurland Hall, in Nottingham, had married Dorothy, daughter and sole heiress of the Rev. Henry FYancis, by Dorothy, his wife, one of the daughters and coheiresses of John Hacker, of Trowell, Gent., who died in 1735, and was the last male heir of that branch of the family. 204 THE HISTORY OF THE or. Crest—A talbot passant sable , semee of cinquefoils or, supporting with the dexter foot a mullet of the last. His widow occupied the mansion for upwards of a year, and upon her death the property passed to her second son, John Adams, Esquire, who subsequently sold it to William Lambert, Esquire, an Alderman of Nottingham. This mansion was at one time occupied by the late John Storer, Esquire, M.D., F.R.S., the first president (1816-1819) of the Nottingham Subscription Library, where a full-length portrait of this gentleman, by Barber, of Nottingham, may be seen on the staircase. 1 Lenton Firs is now occupied by Edward Cope, Esquire. William Stretton, Esquire, who purchased that portion of the demesne close^ by the site of the Priory, built thereon a mansion, which he designated “ The Priory,” and which seems to occupy pretty nearly the site of the Prior’s lodgings. Mr. Stretton was the eldest son of Mr. Samuel Stretton, who removed from Longdon, in Staffordshire, 2 to Lenton, early in the year 1750 (being married at Lenton, July 14th, 1754, to Elizabeth Wombwell, the daughter of a wealthy yeoman resident in this parish), and subsequently resided at Standard Hill, Nottingham, where he carried on the business of an architect and builder. His son, Mr. William Stretton, also practised for several years as an architect in Nottingham, and was engaged in the erection of many of the public and private buildings in that town, amongst which were the Borough Gaol and St. James’s Church. Mr. Stretton, in conjunction with his father, built the Barracks in Nottingham Park, occupying four acres ; they were finished by contract in sixteen weeks. The grand stand on the race-course was built by the Messrs. Stretton, Mr. John Carr, of York, being the architect. Mr. William Stretton also built Lord Middleton’s Park Gateway in 1790 ; (1) At the first meeting held at Thurland Hall, Nottingham, March 4th, 1816, to promote this library, John Wright, Esquire, of Lenton Hall, occupied the chair, Dr. Storer taking the most active part in its formation. (2) “ The Strettons resided for centuries at Longdon, in Staffordshire, where my grandfather (and father) was born to good property, which the former dissipated, and obliged the latter to leave Longdon, from whence he came into Notts., 1750.”— Stretton MSS., No. 31, f. 41. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 205 improved, or in part built, Mr. William Gregory Williams’ house at Rempstone in 1792 ; and built the Riding School, near the Castle, in 1798. The first stone of the seven arch bridge on the Flood Road, Nottingham, was laid by Mr. Stretton, September 15th, 1796, and the bridge was completed by him in the following year. Mr. Stretton also built the first boat (the “ Nottingham Castle,” 67 feet in length, and carrying 70 tons) on the Nottingham Canal, in 1796. The first cargo of slates from Lord Penrhyn’s quarries at Llandegai, in Carnarvonshire, were brought to Nottingham, in 1790, by Mr. Stretton, and were the first introduced into this part of the country. 1 Mr. Stretton also restored St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s churches, Nottingham, and his own parish church at Lenton. Mr. Stretton had a taste in articles of vertu , of which, at the time of his death, he possessed an extensive museum, at all times open to the inspection of persons of a kindred taste. P'or several years previous to his decease, his leisure time had been principally employed in the collection of materials (many of which are still extant) for a work on the History and Antiquities of Nottinghamshire. A collection of old documents known as the Stretton MSS., with two or three drawings, are preserved in the Free Public Library, Nottingham. This gentleman made a series of excavations, which will be hereafter alluded to, on the site of Lenton Priory, with the view of ascertaining its ground plan, but the notes which, doubtless, were made at the time, are, unfortunately, not to be found amongst Mr. Stretton’s papers. During his residence at Lenton, Mr. Stretton took an active interest in all public matters, and filled the several parish offices in an efficient manner. Mr. Stretton left Lenton Priory, and went to reside on Standard Hill, Nottingham, June 25th, 18147 and was residing there in August, 1817, in which month he visited Paris and Rouen, going by Dover and Calais, and returning by Dieppe and Brighton.3 He appears to have returned to Lenton Priory, where he died on the 12th of (1) Stretton Jl/SS., No. 32, f. 21. (2) Stretton MSS., No. 29, f. 5. (3) Ibid, No. 34. 20 6 TIIF. HISTORY OF THE March, 1828, in the 73rd year of his age, and was interred in the churchyard at Lenton. His death is thus announced in a local newspaper:—“On Wednesday, the 12th inst., in the 73>'d year of his age, after a long and painful affliction, sustained with true Christian fortitude and resignation, William Stretton, Esq., of Lenton Priory. Words would but faintly convey the deep grief which his irreparable loss has occasioned to those who knew his worth. In him antiquarians have lost a fund of general and useful knowledge, and the poor a warm and benevolent friend.” 1 By his wife, Susanna, the daughter of Mr. William Lynham, of Eakring, in this county, he left, with other issue, two sons, each of whom attained much distinction in the army. Lieutenant-Colonel Sempronius Stretton, eldest son of Mr. William Stretton, was born at Nottingham on the 15 th May, 1781 He entered the army at an early age, com¬ mencing his military career in the Nottinghamshire Militia, 2 which he joined at Dumfries, in April, 1800. In the following November, he entered the 6th Regiment of Foot as an ensign, joining the depot of that regiment at Chatham. In the following April, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 49th Regiment, and, shortly afterward, sailed with it to Quebec. In this regiment, Lieutenant Stretton served under Colonel Brock, who generally selected him to act as his aide-de-camp in his visits to the upper country to distribute presents, or meet the Indian Chiefs in council. Having been promoted to a company in the 40th Regiment, he returned to England, and was employed for some time on the recruiting service. In 1812, Captain Stretton sailed for Lisbon, where he met his only brother, then an ensign in the 68th Light Infantry, and the two brothers proceeded to join the army under Lord Wellington. Captain Stretton’s first engagement with the enemy was at the battle of Vittoria, June 21st, 1813. The regiment afterwards took an active part in the investment of Pampeluna, and the numerous brilliant actions during the passage of the Pyrenees ; (1) Nottingham Journal , March 15th, 1828. (2) This regiment, afterwards so well known as the Royal Sherwood Foresters, is now disguised under the title of the 4th Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 20 7 and on July 28th, 1813, Captain Stretton received the thanks of Lord Wellington, conveyed to him through H.R.H. the Prince of Orange, for the gallant defence made by the 40th, under his command, supported by two Portuguese regiments, in defending the key of the position on the heights before Pampeluna, against an overwhelming force of the enemy. For this service Captain Stretton was awarded the gold medal, and received the brevet rank of major. He was present in the numerous actions with the enemy, which terminated in the battle of Toulouse, and the abdication of Napoleon. When the army was withdrawn from France, he accompanied the 40th in the expedition to New Orleans, in 1814, and narrowly escaped with his life when shipwrecked, with part of his corps, in the Baring transport, in Bantry Bay, on the 10th October ; on which occasion all the baggage was lost, and many soldiers drowned. Having returned to Cork, Major Stretton again sailed, in the Wellington transport, and arrived in the Mississippi on January 9th, 1815. The disastrous results of that unfortunate expedition are too well known to require recapitulation here. The troops returned to Portsmouth ; and the 40th, with other regiments, proceeded to Flanders, and joined the army assembled near Brussels, in time to share in the memorable victory of Waterloo. On the arrival of the allies in Paris, Lord Welling¬ ton, in acknowledgment of Major Stretton’s services, appointed him commandant of the 5th Arondissement of that city, which post he held for a considerable time. Pie also obtained the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. When the British troops were withdrawn from France, Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton, with his regiment, was quartered successively both in Scotland and Ireland. On the corps being ordered for service in New South Wales, he retired on half-pay, and passed several years in travelling on the Continent, returning occasionally to his residence at Lenton. His military services obtained for him the rank of colonel, and the companionship of the Order of the Bath. He received the gold medal, as before stated, for the battle of the Pyrenees, and the silver medal for Waterloo, but died before the Peninsular medal was granted. Colonel Stretton had the good fortune to escape being wounded in the 208 THE HISTORY OF THE various actions in which he was engaged, 1 but he had one of his epaulettes shot away in the Pyrenees, and his charger was wounded at Toulouse ; he had also a horse killed at Waterloo. For many years, Colonel Stretton was a much-honoured guest at the annual banquet given by the Duke of Wellington on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, and a portrait of him is to be found in Salter’s celebrated painting of that scene. Colonel Stretton was an able draughtsman, and during his services in Canada, and travels on the Continent, made many valuable contributions to his father’s extensive museum. He was twice married; first, in 1821, to the Honourable Catherine Jane Massey, daughter of General the Right Hon. Nathaniel William, second Lord Clarina, who died shortly after marriage. He married, secondly, the Honourable Anne Handcock, daughter of the second Viscount Castlemaine, but had no issue by either of these ladies. Colonel Stretton died at Croydon, February 6th, 1842, in the 62nd year of his age, and was buried in Bromley churchyard, in Kent, where a plain monument marks his last resting place. 2 Lieutenant-Colonel Severus William Lynham Stretton, who is still living, was the second son of Mr. William Stretton. Evin¬ cing an early desire for the profession of arms, a commission was obtained for him in the Nottinghamshire Militia, which he joined at Plymouth, in 1810, and accompanied the regiment to Ireland. In 1812 he obtained an ensigney in the 68th Light Infantry, and joined the regiment in Portugal. Having been severely wounded at the battle of Vittoria, by two musket balls, lodged in the body, he was removed, in a very precarious state, to England ; prior to this, one of the balls was extracted, but the other, at different periods, has been a source of great trouble and pain, relieved only by severe surgical operations. The excellent nursing and skilful medical treatment he received, whilst at his father’s house at Lenton, restored him so far that in the course of twelve months afterwards he was enabled to rejoin his regiment, then stationed in Ireland. He accompanied (1) The verse adapted from the 140th Psalm, engraved upon his cenotaph in the old churchyard at Lenton (vide post), was evidently chosen in allusion to this. (2) Bailey’s Annals of Nottinghamshire, iv. 431. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 209 the same regiment to Canada in 1818, and in 1825 was promo¬ ted to an unattached company; shortly after which he exchanged to the 64th regiment, and joined it at Gibraltar. He succeeded to the lieutenant-colonelcy and command of this regiment in 1842, having accompanied it to the West Indies and Novia Scotia, from whence he returned with it in 1843. Lieutenant- Colonel Stretton, in 1848, exchanged to his brother’s old regiment, the 40th, of which he retained the command until June, 1852. He was subsequently lieutenant-colonel of the Hampshire Militia. He was awarded the Peninsular medal, and he is also in receipt of a government pension for wounds. He inherited the Lenton property from his brother, but never resided there. In October, 1851, Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton married the Honourable Catherine Adda de Courcy, youngest daughter of the 28th Lord Kingsale. 1 The arms used by this family are— Argent , a bend engrailed sable, plain cotised gules. “ The Priory ” is now occupied by the Sisters of Nazareth, as a house of refuge for the aged, sick, and infantine poor of the neighbourhood, without reference to sex or creed. Another portion of the Priory demesne, lying near to the western extremity of the parish, and which appears to have been sold off at an earlier period, was purchased from Henry, eighth Lord Middleton, by the late Mr. Thomas Bay ley, the proprietor of the extensive fellmongery establishment at Lenton. This part has been known for at least two centuries as “ the Abbey fields,” and there was an old house here, which has been conjectured to have been originally the grange, or farmstead of the monastery. Some part of this old house still remains incorporated with the mansion known as Lenton Abbey, which was built towards the close of the last century by Thomas Green, Esquire. The thickness of the walls in the old part sufficiently attest the antiquity of the work. Lenton Abbey is now the property of Mrs. Bayley. 15 (1) Bailey, Annals of Nottinghamshire, iv. 433. 210 THE HISTORY OF THE Previous to the division of the manor in the last century, small portions of the Priory demesne seem to have been granted to various persons by the Crown from time to time. Several of these were ultimately purchased by the Nix family, who thus obtained a moderate estate in this parish. By an indenture, dated August the 17th, 1613, a certain cottage in Lenton was conveyed to Leonard Nix, of the town of Nottingham, merchant, by John Kilborne, of Lenton, baker, which cottage had been granted by King James the First, by letters patent, dated February the 7th, 1606, to Roger Howtone, of Lenton, for the term of forty years, and had been conveyed by him to William Stephenson, of Lenton, weaver, who had reconveyed the same to the said John Kilborne. By another indenture, dated May the 18th, 1614, Richard Willoughby, of Lenton, Gentleman, and James Wolffe, of the town of Notting¬ ham, skinner, together conveyed to John Atkinson, of the town of Nottingham, Gentleman, and to George Ryley, of the same town, chandler, for the proper use of Susanna Burbage, of Lenton, widow, and of the said Leonard Nix, a cottage with a garden and one rood of meadow in Lenton, which had been granted and let to farm by Queen Elizabeth, by letters patent, dated July 24th, 1601, to Thomas Cooper, late of Porkington, in the county of Salop, Gentleman, and Philip Hanmer, and Thomas Hanmer, both of Radford, Gentlemen, who had sold the same, August the 20th, 1610, to Gervase Annesley, of Rud- dington, Esquire, and William Gregory, 1 of the town of Not¬ tingham, Gentleman, from whom the cottage and lands had been purchased, January the 6th, 16n, by the said Richard Willoughby and James Wolffe. By another indenture, dated April the 6th, 1615, Francis Small, of Newark-upon-Trent, Gentleman, conveyed to the said Leonard Nix a certain mes¬ suage with a garden and one close, containing about an acre ; two oxgangs of arable land, and six acres of meadow in Lenton, the whole of which had been granted by King James the First, (1) This gentleman, who was Town Clerk, and represented the borough of Not¬ tingham in several Parliaments, must not be confounded with Alderman William Gregory, who purchased the manor of Lenton in 1630, nor were the two families in any way related. The above-named William Gregory died in 1616. Thoroton says he was “related to those of that name now seated at Barneby-on-Dun, in Yorkshire.” PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 2 I I by letters patent, dated at Westminster, February the 8th, 1612, to John Eldred and William Whitmore, of the city of London, Esquires, for threescore years, at an annual rent of twenty-four shillings, and which had been sold by them, June the 10th, that same year, to Thomas Gonnyson, of Radford, Gentleman, from whom the same had been purchased by the said Francis Small. By another indenture, dated April the 30th, 1615, George Kirke, of Lenton, conveyed to the said Leonard Nix a cottage in Lenton, which had been granted by King James the First, by letters patent, dated May the nth, 1610, to the said John Eldred and William Whitmore, Esquires, for threescore years, and had been sold by them on the day following to Francis Matthew, of Lenton, yeoman, who conveyed the same, October the 10th, that same year, to the said George Kirke. By another indenture, dated May the 24th, 1617, William Rodes, the son and heir of Robert Rodes, 1 of Lenton, conveyed to the said Leonard Nix, on the death of his father, another cottage, with a garden and one acre of meadow in Lenton, which had been granted by King James the First, by letters patent, dated February the 7th, 1606, to Roger Howtone, of Lenton, for the term of forty years, and which he had sold to the said Robert Rodes. By another indenture, dated June the 27th, 1617, John Brodbent, of Stapleford, Gentleman, conveyed to the said Leonard Nix another cottage, with a garden and croft and one acre and a half of meadow in Lenton, which had been granted by King James the First, by letters patent, dated March the 14th, 1611, to the said John Eldred and William Whitmore, Esquires, for threescore years, and by them conveyed, February the 1st, 1612, to the said John Brodbent. Leonard Nix, by whom all these small portions of the Priory demesne were thus acquired, was Sheriff of Nottingham in 1591, and Mayor in 1617, 1624, and 1631. By his indenture, dated January the 1st, 1633, he conveyed all his lands and tenements in Lenton, as above recited, to William Nix, of Nottingham, (1) From the proceedings in Chancery in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it appears that there was a suit between Robert Rodes and John Seywell and Margaret his wife, whereby the first-named claimed a certain messuage and land in Lenton, held for a term of years by John Rodes, father of the plaintiff, and by him devised to the said plaintiff, and to the defendant, Margaret Seywell, who seems to have been the widow of the said John Rodes. 212 TIIE HISTORY OF THE merchant, and Richard Hardmeat, of the same town, skinner, for the sum of _£200. This William Nix, 1 who was doubtless of the same family, though his precise relationship with Leonard Nix has not been seen, was also an Alderman of Nottingham ; he was Sheriff in 1619, and Mayor in 1636, 1643, 1644, and 1649. He was son of Robert Nix, of Wilford, and was married at Barton-in-Fabis, February the 4th, 1615-16, to Mrs. Millicent Sacheverell, by whom he had several daughters, and an only son, Robert, 2 who left no male issue. Alderman William Nix died in September, 1650, and was buried in St. Peter’s Church, Nottingham Upon his decease, the whole of his property in this parish, including freehold lands which he had purchased, passed under settlement to his eldest daughter, Tabitha, who had married Thomas Charlton, of Chilwell, Esquire, High Sheriff of this county in 1667. Their grandson, Thomas Charlton, Esquire, who died unmarried in 1703, barred the entail of a portion of the family estates, and re-settled them upon his half-brother, and the heirs of his body, with remainder, in default of issue, to his four sisters and their heirs. His half-brother, Nicholas Charlton, Esquire, who was the last male repre¬ sentative of the elder branch of the Charltons of Chil¬ well Hall, died unmarried in 1748, when the Lenton property passed to Miss Rebecca Garland and her sister, Lucy, the wife of George Brentnall, of the town of Derby, Gentleman. These ladies were the only surviving daughters of John Garland, of Lenton, Gentleman, by Lucy, his wife, one of the four sisters of the above-named Thomas Charlton, of Chilwell, Esquire. This John Garland, who had inherited a small estate in this parish from his father, had died in 1721, and the elder daughter, Rebecca (whose benefaction to the poor of Lenton will be else¬ where referred to), having died unmarried in 1769, the whole (1) Alderman William Nix resided in an old mansion in Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, on the site subsequently occupied by the Post Office. This mansion afterwards belonged to the Charlton family. (2) Sarah, only daughter and heiress of the above named Robert Nix, was married in 1676 to Thomas Grimsditch, of Grimsditch Hall ,* in the county of Chester, Esquire, but it does not appear that either this lady or her husband possessed any interest in the parish of Lenton. Ipefckiree of (Barlanfc, of Henton (From Major Lawson Lowe's MS. Collections.) Arms . 1 2 3 —Paly of six or and gules, a chief per pale of the second and azure, in the dexter chief a demi-lion rampant issuant, and in the sinister chief a garland, both of the first. John Garland,2 of Notting- = Jonne, dau. of., ham ; buried at St. Mary’s Church, in that town, 26 Nov., 1614. buried at St. Mary’s, Nottingham, 31 Dec., 1607. Edmund Garland, of Not- = Elizabeth, dau. of tingham; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 20 Feb., 1568-9; buried there 24 July, 1646. Scattergood, of Nottingham ; marr. at St. Mary’s, 17 Jan., 1591-2 ; buried there, 18 May, 1640. John; baptized at St. Mary’s, 29 May, 15^3 ; died an infant. John Garland, = Cicely, of Notting- dau. of ham ; bapt. at . St. Mary’s, bur. at 6 January, Radford 1 193-4 (living 6 Nov., in 1667 ?). 1667. d Anthony ; bapt. at St. Mary’s 17 Aug., 1600 ; bur. there, 10 May, 1603. Elizabeth ; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 18 Jan., 1602-3 ; mar¬ ried there, 4 August, 1625, to Nathaniel Piggott. Bridget ; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 2 February, 1605-6 ; buried there 22nd April, 1629. John Garland,3 of= Rebecca, Lenton,co. Notts., I dau. of... Gent. ; born circa . 1630 ; buried at | buried at Lenton, 4 June, Lenton, 1686. 10 June, 1689. Elizabeth ; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 23 July, 1631 ; bur. there, 23 July, 1633. Elizabeth ; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 3 November, 1633. Joane ; bapt. at St.Mary’s, 12 June, 1636 ; buried at Radford, 18 May, 1656. James ; bapt. at St. Mary’s, 28 August, 1639 ; bur. there, 5 Sept., 1639. John Garland, of Lenton, Gent. ; = Lucy, dau. and eventual co-heiress of Thomas married at Beeston, 25 Feb., 1689 ; died intestate ; buried at Lenton, 3 May, 1721. Charlton, of Chilwell, co. Notts., Esq. ; bapt. at St. Peter’s, Nottingham, 16 Feb., 1668-9; bur. at Attenborough, co. Notts., 10 Aug., 1702. Rebecca, eldest dau. and Lucy, second dau. and co-heiress; Mary ; bapt. at co.-heiress ; bapt.at Len- bapt. at Lenton, 23 Dec., 1693 > Lenton, 19 ton, 5 Oct., 1692; died married there, 2 April, 1725, to July, 1702; died unmarried; buried at George Brentnall, of Derby; bur. in her infancy. Lenton, 22 Jan., 1769. at Lenton, 27 June, 1761. (1) The arms are taken from the seal of John Garland, of Lenton, the last male representative of the family, which is attached to a deed, dated in 1702, now preserved amongst the documents at Chilwell Hall. (2) lie was very probably a son of Anthony Garland, Sheriff of Nottingham in 1530, though evidence of this is wanting. In 1594, the will of William Towle, of Notting¬ ham, was proved in the Prerogative Court of York by Francis Wynfield and John Garland, his executors. (3) There is reason to believe that this John Garland may have been twice married, for the registers of St. Peter’s, Nottingham, record the burial of “ Alice, wife of John Garland, of Nottingham Castle, Gent" ,” September the 13th, 1658. If so, this must have been his first wife, and she must have died within a year or two after her marriage, and assumably without issue. That John Garland should be described as “of Notting¬ ham Castle ” is a little remarkable. It is possible that after the garrison had been disbanded, part of the Castle was converted into one or more dwelling houses ; or John Garland may have held some appointment in connection with the Castle during the Commonwealth. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 213 property passed to the Brentnall family. Thomas Brentnall, of Spondon, in the county of Derby, Gentleman, sold his estate in Lenton to a Derby attorney, named Upton, for an annuity ; and about the year 1800 the entire estate was sold off in detached lots. The Right Honourable Lord Middleton and John Wright, Esquire, were the principal purchasers, and it is stated that sixteen acres of land purchased at this time by the latter, were re-sold in the year 1815 at a rate of £ 1,000 per acre, at least ten times the amount which had been given for it only about fifteen years previously. 1 The village of New Lenton now occupies the whole of this. The old house where the Garland family resided seems to have been used in the earlier part of the present century as the village poor-house. Many grants of portions of the possessions of the Priory in other places were made at intervals during the century suc¬ ceeding its dissolution :— On the 3rd of February, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. the site of Kersall cell was (int. a /.) leased to John Wood for 21 years, at ,£11 6s. 8d. per annum. 2 3 4 On the 24th of July, in the 32nd year of the same reign, the site of the cell was granted to Baldwin Willoughby, Esquire .,3 and was sold by him to Ralph Kenion, of Gorton, who, on the 10th of September, in the 2nd year of Edward VI., conveyed two parts of the cell, manor, and demesne lands to Richard Siddall, of Withington, and James Chetham, of Crumpsall, gent., for £24%.* The cell finally passed to the Byroms, though not without some litigation, 5 and was for many years the residence of Miss (1) Bailey’s Annals of Nottinghamshire, p. 555. (2) Mon. Ang., v. 115. (3) Baldwin Willoughby, who was presumably the second son of Baldwin Willoughby, of Grendon, in Northamptonshire, was a naval commander, and in 1522 kept the seas between Cambre and the Channel Islands. (4) Notitia Ccstricnsis (Chetham Soc.), vol. ii., pt. i., p. 69. (5) John Byrom, the poet-stenographer, of Manchester, resided at Kersall Cell for several years. He was the younger son of Mr. Edward Byrom, of Kersall Cell, and Hydes Cross, Manchester (descended from Ralph Byrom, of Salford, 15—), and was baptized February 29th, 1691-2. He was sent to Merchant Taylors’ School, London, and was admitted thence to Trinity College, Cambridge, July 6th, 1708. He took his B.A. degree in 1711, and proceeded M. A. in 1715, having been elected a fellow of his college in the previous year. After studying physic at Montpellier, he married, February 14th, 1720-1, his cousin, Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph Byrom, of 214 THE HISTORY OF THE Atherton, a descendant of that family. Coffins and bones have been found on the site. 1 Considerable alterations have been made in the residence from time to time, but there are still the remains of the old chapel, and of the black and white house. A portion of the wall exposed to view is of wattle and daub. In an upper room are some antique mouldings of the arms of the Byroms, Ai'gent, a chevron between three hedge-hogs, sable. The house, which is now occupied as a ladies’ school, is furnished throughout in accordance with its ancient character. The Corporation of Nottingham having petitioned the King (Henry VIII.) to grant them the advowson of the church of Barton-in-Fabis, a commission of inquiry was appointed, the result being that the King, February 19th, 1542, granted the advowson to the Archbishop of York, with whom it still remains, the rectory being charged with an annual pension of five shillings to the King. 2 This payment appears to have been subsequently transferred, for, at the present time “five shillings per annum is paid out of the Rectory as a fee farm rent to the Duke of Leeds.”3 The same King “in consideration of the good, true, faithful, and acceptable services of his beloved and faithful servant Francis Leek, Knight, to him before these times in many ways performed,” granted to the same Sir Francis, March 23, 1544, certain lands at Holme, Dunston, Whitwell, and Ledwort, in the High Peak, lately belonging to Lenton Priory. The manor of Newthorpe, with divers lands there, lately Byrom Hall, Esq.), and commenced to give instructions in the system of shorthand¬ writing which bears his name. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1723. On the death, in 1740, of his elder brother, Edward, he succeeded to the family estate of Kersall. Byrom was the author of the well-known hymn, “ Christians, Awake,” and was “generally admired for his entertaining productions and un¬ common flow of genius ; nor was he less esteemed on account of his humanity, extensive benevolence, and universal charity.” “This great and good man ’’died, September 26th, 1763, aged 72 years, and was buried in the Byrom Chapel in the Collegiate Church, now the Cathedral, of Manchester. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, who died unmarried at Kersall Cell, December 2nd, 1801, was the author of the Journal of the visit of the Pretender to Manchester in 1745. Vide “The Private journal and Literary Remains of John Byrom,” forming vols. xxxii., xxxiv., xl., and xliv, of the publications of the Chetham Society, and “The Palatine Note Book,” ii., 96. (1) Aitken’s Manchester, 1795, p. 209. (2) Hark MSS., 6969, p. 39. (3) Terrier of Barton-in-Fabis. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 215 belonging to Lenton Priory, was granted, July 13, 1545, to John and George Mylle. 1 King Edward the Sixth, July 13, 1547, granted the Rectory of Rushden, in Northamptonshire, to the Master and College of the Virgin Mary and All Saints at Fotheringay, in that county. 2 The advowson of the church of Linby was granted, August 6, 1548, to Robert Strelley, Esquire, and Frideswide, his wife. 3 In 1552 the advowson of the church of Harleston was granted to Edward Lord Clinton and Saye, in exchange for manors and lands conveyed to the Crown, and in compensation for former grants which were rendered void by having been previously granted to other persons. 4 King Philip and Queen Mary, May 31, 1557, granted to Thomas White, and Agnes, his wife, and the heirs of the former, the manor of Cotgrave, with its appurtenances. 5 The reversion of the herbage and pannage of Aspley Wood, in the parish of Radford, parcel of the manor of Lenton, demised to Edward Southworth, gentleman, for 21 years, was granted (int. al.) August 6th, 1564, to Richard Pype, of London, leather-seller, and Francis Boyer, of the same place, grocer. 6 Queen Elizabeth, January 29 1574, granted to John Dudley and John Aiscough, the tithes in the parish of Langar, in the tenure of Sir John Chaworth, of Wiverton, Knight, at £12 per an num .7 I11 1575, a messuage in Bradmore, lately part of the Priory possessions, was granted by royal letters patent to Roger Manners. 8 On February 27th, in the same year, the Queen granted to Anthony Rotsey, and William Fisher, a messuage and seven bovates of land, another messuage with a croft, and a toft and half a bovate, in Key worth, in the occupation of John Sewell and others. 9 (1) Thoroton, p. 238. (2) Ibid., p 35. (3) Ibid., p. 259. (4) Bridge’s Northamptonshire, 1., 514. (5) Thoroton, p. 83. (6) Ibid., p. 219. (7) Thoroton, p. 105. (8) Ibid., p. 49. (9) Ibid., p. 42. 2l6 THE HISTORY OF THE The same Queen also granted, March 15, 1577, to Richard Ouseley, Esquire, Clerk of the Privy Seal, the manor of Courtenhall, in the county of Northampton, at the yearly rent of £30; with the reversion after Margaret, John, and Richard Clarke, of two tenements with land thereto belonging, at the yearly rent of £2 5s. qd. ; also three tenements with land at the yearly rent of £2 5s. 6d. ; with hedgebote, firebote, plough- bote, and carbote ; also the office of bailiff and rent-collector of lands of the late monastery of Lenton, in reversion after Richard Conyers, for twenty-one years, commencing 1611, at an annual fee of forty shillings. 1 In 1587, the rectory and tithes of Foston, in Leicestershire, were demised by Queen Elizabeth, for twenty-one years, to Thomas Ryale, at the annual rent of thirteen shillings and four- pence. 2 The same Queen, on June 17th, 1599, granted to Henry Pierrepont, all the tithes of corn in Nottingham and Sneinton formerly belonging to Lenton Priory, and then valued at £20 a year. 3 King James the First, by letters patent dated at Westminster, June 2, 1614, granted to Sir Edward Palmer, Knight, and Benjamin Harris, gent., their heirs and assigns, int. a/., the Manor of Radford, with all its appurtenances. The documentary history of the Priory buildings is of the most fragmentary description, only two contemporary references to the conventual buildings having been met with. Thoroton 4 quotes a charter of Robert de Passeys, already referred to, by which he gave fifteen acres of his demesne lands in Sutton Passeys to the Prior and Convent towards the building of the church of the Holy Trinity of Lenton. This charter is undated, but it must have been about the earlier part of the reign of Henry the Second. The other reference is of much later date. Sir William Babington, of Chilwell, v/hose will is dated October 3rd, 1454, desires to be buried in the Priory Church of Lenton, within the Chapel of St. Mary, then newly built. From the (1) Stale Papers, Domestic , 1566-1579, p. 510. (2) Nichol’s Leicestershire, iv. 172. (3) Thoroton, p. 277. (4) Thoroton’s Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, p. 220. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 217 first, it is evident that the erection of the church had not been completed in the time of Henry the Second. It seems probable that Peverel would erect a range of buildings for the monks, and a portion—most likely the choir—of the conventual church. It was the custom in all the orders first to build an oratory of the church, upon such a plan that the cloister and surrounding buildings could conveniently be added thereto. Further endow¬ ments would furnish the means for, as more monks would necessitate, additional accommodation ; the church would, therefore, be further enlarged, and a corresponding extension made of the conventual buildings. The recent discovery of a quantity of carved stones belonging to the Perpendicular period, show that this was evidently the case at Lenton. Immediately on the dissolution of the monasteries, they were in most instances, partially, if not completely, demolished. The grantee of Repton, in Derbyshire, in a single Sunday pulled down that noble church ; r and the method adopted, and the time occupied in demolishing the conventual church of Lewes, the principal monastery of the Clugniac Order in England, are detailed in a contemporary letter of the year 1537. 1 2 3 The King’s Commissioners appear to have issued general instructions for the destruction of such conventual buildings as could not be converted into farm buildings.^ This general destruction was taken advantage of by the populace, who appropriated whatever materials they could lay their hands on, the result being that in many instances the grantees of monastic buildings placed persons in charge to sell the ready-worked stones to the best advantage. This probably would be the case at Lenton, for the absence of building stone in the neighbourhood, and the (1) Mon. Ang. vi. 429. (2) “ Letters relating to the Suppression of the Monasteries,” Camden Soc , p. 180. (3) John Freeman, writing to the Lord Privy Seal about the razing of the abb.ys in Lincolnshire, says:—“The King’s Commission commandeth me to pull down to the grounde all the walls of the Churches, stepulls, cloysters, fraterys, dorters, chapter howsys, with all other howys, saveyng them that be necessary for a farmer,” the charge of doing this, he continues, would be so great that he thinks it would be best to take down the bells and lead and pull down the roofs and battlements and stairs, and “ lete the wnllis stande, and charge som with them as a quarre of ston to make salys of as they that hath node will fetche.” Sir Ilenry Ellis’ Original Letters , 3rd series, vol. iii., p. 269. 218 THE HISTORY OF THE exceedingly scanty remains, warrant the supposition that it was utilized as a stone quarry. We have no evidence of the demolition of the conventual buildings prior to 1551, when Sir Richard Sackville wrote to the porter of the King’s Castle of Nottingham, on the nth of May, directing him to deliver the lead in his custody at Not¬ tingham Castle to William Hever, servant to the Earl of Wiltshire, Lord High Treasurer, to be removed to London for the King’s use. On the 13th of the same month, the Earl of Wiltshire and the Earl of Rutland addressed letters to John Pottes, porter of Nottingham Castle, to the same effect. From a curious letter, dated March 5th, 1555, and written by William Bolles, of Osberton, the Receiver General of the County of Nottingham, to Thomas Mildmay, Esquire, we find that the lead in question came from Lenton Priory. It appears that there were 198 fodders of lead 1 removed from Lenton to Nottingham Castle, of which only 160 fodders had been delivered by Pottes to Hever. The conversation between Bolles and Pottes as to the deficiency in the quantity of lead removed to London, is detailed in the following quaint letter 2 :— Right worshipfull S r I have sins [ ] byn att Nottingham Castell and have declared to John Pottes porter their that ther was lefte of the leade of the late attaynted monastery of lenton c xx iiij xviij fodres, whereof ther was delyv’d to W. Hever but clx fodres And so there shuld yet & now remayne xxxviij fodres. who made answer he delyverd all that ther was And that ther is none remaynyng Then I demanded of hym how moche he delyv’d he said he coulde not tell noweghther what waight nor yet how many p’cels and it was not waide. To whom I said so ye myght delyv’r cc fodres and he or they who receyved it myght (if they wold) say the receyved but one hundrith fodres And this not w'standyng I cowde have none other answer than I had before. Then I demanded of hym the sight of the l’rs of my Lord Tresaurer my L of Ruthland and M r Chauncellors. he made answer he had now found theym & shewed theym to me Whereof I toke the true copies w ch I have sent unto you herynclosed And wheras I persayved in the said M r Chauncellors l’re one clause (amonge others) That his l’re togither w h a book of the contents & just waight of the same Lead, so by hym (1) A fodder of lead varies, according to local custom, from 19J to 22| cwt. (2) This curious correspondence is now preserved in the Public Record Office. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 219 to be delyv'd should be his sufficient warrant & discharge for the delyvry of the same. I red the same clause to hym ij or iij tymes. And demanded of hym if he had folowed his comyss’on & made suche a book, he answered no. Then s d I y e have done amysse and not folowed your comysson And therfor chargeabill still for the Lead as M r Chauncellors l’re to you porportith, who then said hever red not that clawse to hym To whom I answerd I thought not so unwise but that he wold have had bothe others to have red his l’rs (than hym who brought theim) and also have had advise and councell how to have delyverd the said Lead (beyng so great a charge) after such sort as myght & shuld have byn a sufficient discharge for hym Then he heryng me say so although he is a witty man he dissymulated a great symplenes sayeinge he cowde not rede nor [ ] no skill of such maters And had never sene so moche lead before And he had done the best he cowde (to his knowledge & [ ] skill) and had delyv’d all accordyng to his l’rs And S r this is all I can do at this p’nt And therfor referre the mater to your better wisdome Untill I know ferther your pleasure w h att all tymes I shal be glad t’accomplisshe to my power And thus rest att your comand- ment. Written the xxiiij th day of March, 1555. Anno ij° & iij 0 Re s & Re $ ph : & Mar : w l the hand of yours ever to comand W. Bolles. S r I m’vell that hever wold not se it waied for his owne dis¬ charge before he receyved it and had it away. In my openyon (if they had all thought well) it shuld nowghther have byn delyvred nor yet receyved w’out waight. S r Although I write you playnlie my fantesy towchyng all the parties yet I trust y e will not shew this wherby I myght have disspleasure for my good will and travelle To the right w r shipfull M r Thomas Myldmay Esquier at his hows in St. thomas Appostell’s parisshe in hast in London. The copie of my L Tresaurers l’re. To my frend the porter of the Castell of Notingh’m and all other charged with the keeping of the Kyng’s said Castell, and w h the Lead w’yn the same. I comende me hertily to you And for that the Kynges lead lyeing in the Castell of Notyngh’m is appoynted to be brought to the tower of London for the Kynges use I have sent you this bryngcr Will’m Hever. w* my Lord of Rutlands l’rs and M r Chauncellers l’rs and this my l’re to you for your hcipe to 220 THE HISTORY OF THE be shewed to Will’m Hever about the doyng thereof hertily praying you in the behalf of the Kyngs ma tie to aide and assiste hyin abowte the carriage thereof to the waterside And he shall pay the charge and do all thyngs nessessary w h your aides for cariage and all other thyngs nessessary for tne same whereof I pray you se he lakke not. Thus fare you well. Written the xiij day of May 1551. W. WlLTESS. The copie of my Lord of Rutlandshire's 1 're. To my s’vant John Potes, porter of the Castell of Notyngham. I comende me to you And for asmoche as the Kynges highnes pleasure is that all the lead of the Kynges ma t!es Re¬ may nyng at Notyngh’m shalbe taken from thens And [removed?] to sondry places to his owne use Theis are to will you Imediately upon the rec’pt hereof To delyv r unto the brynger herof All the King’s ma ties Lead remayning at Notyngh’m And this my l’re shalbe your sufficient discharge for the delyvry of the same. Thus fare you well. Written att my hous halywell the xiiij day of May 1551. Y r M r th’erll of RUTIiLAND. The copie of S r Ric Sakvell his l’re To the Porter of the Kynge’s Castell of Notyngham & all other charged w h the lead ther After right hartie comendac’ons And forasmuche as the Kyngs pleasure w h thadvise of his graces most honorable Councell is that all suche Lead of his highness Remaynyng in your costody at Notyngh’m shalbe delyv’d unto the right honourabell & my veray good Lord therlle of Wiltess high Tresaurer of England to be collected and [redused ?] to such place as the said Lord Tresaurer shall thynk mete to appoynt to the kynges high ss use. Theis be to require you Imediately upon the Rec’pt herof To delyver unto Will’m Hever s’vant to the said Lord Tresaurer all suche Lead of the Kynges ma ties remayning in your Custody at Notyngham to be collected and [redused?] to london to the Kyngs highness use Acordyng to the said Lord Tresaurers appoyntment w w And theis my l’re togither w h a book of the contents & just waight of the same Lead so by you to theym ther delyv’r’d shalbe your sufficient warrant & discharge for the delyvry of the same. Thus fare you well. Written the xj of May 1551. Y r lovyng frend Ric Sakvile. The ruthless demolition of monastic buildings that prevailed under the sway of the nominees of Queen Elizabeth, caused PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 22 I Her Majesty, in a royal proclamation of 1560, to forbid any further instances of “churches and places spoiled, broken, and ruinated, to the offence of all noble and gentle hearts.” This injunction doubtless came too late to save the stately conventual church at Lenton. Some considerable portion of the conventual buildings probably remained in the year 1573, when the Assizes were held at Len¬ ton, probably on account of gaol fever, or some other pestilence being prevalent in the neighbouring town of Nottingham. The only record of this circumstance are certain entries in the accounts of the chamberlains of Nottingham. Given to Justices in Eyre, at the Assize held at Lenton, 2 gallons of Wine, and I lb. of Sugar 5s. 8d. It was probably owing to the accommodation for the courts to be obtained in some portion of the conventual buildings, which led to Lenton being selected as the place for holding the Assizes, in preference to some of the neighbouring villages. We find from the parish register of Lenton, that in 1601 some portion of the monastic buildings remained, for on November 26th of that year, Thomas, son of Andrew Brad- forde was baptized, “qui quidem Thas natus erat in monasterio, in domo Thsa Birche,” but Thoroton, writing in the year 1677, states that at that time “there was only one square steeple left of the Monastery, which, not long since, fell down, and the Stones of it were imployed to make a Causey through the Town.” 1 The Priory gate-house was, however, in existence for more than a century after Dr. Thoroton’s time, and stood across the Wilford Road, near the end of Abbey Street, and was in existence at the commencement of the present century, part of it being occupied for parochial purposes up to the time of its demolition. 2 The Peverel Court was held in the room over the archway for a short time after the removal of the Court to Lenton, towards the end of the last century. (1) Thoroton, p. 219. (2) The following entry occurs in the overseer’s accounts for the year 1791. “ Paid Glaz r for repairs Windows at Abbey Gate house—6s. 9d.” THE HISTORY OF THE 222 In making some excavations on the Priory site, the late Mr. William Stretton “not only dug out seven very fine specimens of the ancient pillars, to the height of a few feet above their bases,” but was also “enabled nearly to trace out the ground plan of the whole.’’ 1 At the corner of Priory Street and Old Church Street, in a garden which is now the property of the Rev. Kirke Swann, M.A., of Forest Hill, Warsop, the bases of two of these pillars, which are fine specimens of Norman work, are to be seen in situ. One of these bases has a portion of the pillar still standing on it to a height of three feet. These bases are five feet in diameter and five feet apart, and exhibit the base mouldings entire. Mr. Swann informs us that when his father purchased the garden, 2 there were bases of four pillars remaining, of equal size, and at equal distances apart, forming a square. Two of these have now disappeared, except some portion of the foundations, which have been found in digging at the spots pointed out by Mr. Swann. The positions of these are indicated by the letters B and C on the accompanying plan. These pillars must have formed part of the great calefactorium. On the south side of the old churchyard, some massive fragments of masonry, from which the external ashlar casing has been removed, remain, which are supposed to have formed part of the wall of the north transept of the great conventual church. Between the conventual church and the river Leen stood the Prior’s lodge, beyond which, stretching towards the south, were the Prior’s orchards. Some portion of the foundations of the Lodge were found when the modern “Priory” was erected by the late Mr. William Stretton. It may be here mentioned that a local tradition exists to the effect that the ancient porch attached to the south aisle of St. (1) “Beauties of England and Wales,” vol. 12, parti., p. 181. It is a matter of regret that these interesting details are not to be found amongst Mr. Stretton’s MSS., which contain several sketches of masonry found on the site of the Priory. (2) This property was purchased by the late Kirke Swann, Esq., father of the present owner, who, in conjunction with the late Mr. William Stretton, took much interest in local antiquities, and purchased the garden referred to, solely that he might be able to preserve from destruction the last relics of the great Priory of Lenton. LG.S. del pu\l4 op R^IOf^Y SlJE. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 223 Mary’s Church, at Nottingham, originally belonged to Lenton Priory, from whence it was removed, on the dissolution of the monastery, to the position it now occupies. Although the remains in situ of the Priory are so scanty, there are architectural remains scattered over the parish sufficient to indicate the character and size of the monastic buildings. The more interesting specimens of masonry are to be found in the grounds of what is now called the “ Priory,” and consist princi¬ pally of Norman work. Several large stones, consisting of the responds of large pillars, in the possession of various residents, appear to have formed portions of buildings of great size. The following extract from a local newspaper gives some interesting particulars of the relics discovered on the site of the Priory about thirty years ago. “ In the course of laying down pipes in the streets of Old Lenton for the supply of water, several discoveries of con¬ siderable interest have been brought to light by Mr. John FYoggatt, of Lenton Poplars, 1 and others taking an interest in archa;ology, in the vicinity of the once extensive and magnificent Priory of Lenton. The recent excavations in Old Church Street, and along the main street of Old Lenton, as well as along Abbey Street, including within these bounds an area of several acres of ground, have, however, revealed the great extent of the Priory grounds, and shown by the exhumation of the bones of men and animals, of the carved and moulded architectural stones of the former ecclesiastical buildings, such as the volutes of pillars and the mullions of windows, as well as occasionally a rare old coin, that all traces of the monks are not yet absolutely extinct. In the course of digging in Old Church Street, a small, but extremely rare old coin of Queen Mary, which the possessor presumes to mean Mary, Queen of Scots, was picked up. It is very small, rude, and not intrinsically valuable, being composed of silver alloy. Shortly before, a curious iron key was also found, much corroded, with an oval ring at the head, and highly ornamented and intricate in the wards. A fragment of mediaeval pottery, a rude red clay crock, or portion of a patera, were also turned up. A profusion of bones of men and horses, unaccom¬ panied, however, by any other relics, were disinterred about the same period in Old Church Street — “heaped and pent, rider and horse”—as if they had been slain in battle, and had been (1) Mr. Froggatt made numerous memoranda of the various objects found in making these excavations, but the book in which they were recorded was unfortunately destroyed in the great flood of October, 1875. 224 THE HISTORY OF THE hurriedly buried on the spot. In Abbey Street, another description of bones, evidently those of oxen, were turned up, and human skulls, &c., have been found in abundance all along the line of excavation. Undoubtedly the most remarkable ossi¬ fications which the ground has yielded were the bones in a tremendous stone coffin found several years ago, and transmitted by Mr. Froggatt to Dr. Hood, of London. These gigantic bones were dug up whilst enclosing a garden at the extremity of Old Church Street, on the left of the way. The spot had previously been an open field, the property of Mr. Kirke Swann. The stone coffin measured internally the enormous size of nearly eight feet, and the bones found within it corresponded in dimen¬ sions. Those entire consisted of two thigh bones, two tibiae or leg bones, and an under-jaw, with the whole of the teeth in a state of wonderful preservation. During the recent excavations in Abbey Street, many carved stones and fragments of window mullions, beautifully carved and moulded, were also turned up ; a whole cart-load of the stones having been drawn to Hyson Green to build a wall, and others used in repairing the roads, &c. One of the workmen also found here, in a bent condition, a splendid specimen of the English Rose noble of Edward III. (1344) in pure gold, which, on being cleaned and straightened, presents as bright and beautiful an appearance as the day it was coined. In addition to the above, a remarkable antique stirrup iron was likewise turned up some time ago within the monastic precincts. It greatly resembles in form and ponderosity a door scraper, but appears to be of tempered iron or steel, and strikingly illustrates the picture in which similar stirrup irons are represented from the Bayeux Tapestries of the Conquest, or the Field of the Cloth of Gold, temp. Henry VIII., with strength enough to resist the blow of a weapon, and capacity sufficient to repose the long pointed iron shoe of the knight in armour.” From the fact that numerous human remains were found about this time in excavating the vacant piece of ground at the south end of Old Church Street, it may reasonably be inferred that this was the site of the monastic cemetery— “ And questionless here in this open court Which now lies naked to the injuries Of stormy weather, some men lie interred— Loved the Church so well, and gave so largely to’t, They thought it would have canopied their bones Till domesday.” Webster, Duchess of Malfi , v. 3. The supposition that this was the conventual burial ground appears to be supported by the discovery of several stone porfion ef-circular column apparently 4.6 d lam r . clcv- and ■=>ecl'ion of a Voussoir elev" pilaster worked on ballufeter lu piece of window tracery porHon of. a screen . ‘be* i c or r.j. del. Masonry- Lenton Priory. TTTriTT Masonrv- Letsiton Priory PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 225 coffins in the grounds of the “Priory” as well as on this site. A drawing of one of these coffins, made by Mr. Stretton, is in existence. The accompanying sketch is a copy of the same— The recent diversion of the river Leen into the canal near New Lenton, has led to the discovery of numerous pieces of worked masonry, including a small Norman capital, in the wall forming the right bank of the river, and further investiga¬ tion would probably prove that this wall is principally, if not entirely, built of stones from the Priory, several worked stones being noticeable in the face of the wall near to the present “ Priory ” house. A most interesting discovery has recently been made in taking down part of the walls of the old parish church previous to its restoration. It was then found that the stones of which the walls had been built were pieces of worked masonry, placed with their flat sides out, to form the face of the wall, the interior being filled up with mortar and rubble. These stones appear to have formed some part of the interior of the Priory Church, the chiselling being as clean and sharp as it was the day when it was done. They are principally of the Perpendicular period, and probably formed part of the stone stalls in the choir or chapter-house. In the “Gentleman’s Magazine” for the year 1786, 1 is an engraving (here reproduced) of an inscription round the centre of a large circular dish of brass, apparently once gilt. The dish, which was found at Lenton, was about sixteen inches in diameter, and had an embossment in the middle, the inscription (1) Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 56, p. 220. 226 THE HISTORY OF THE being, with slight variation, four times repeated. The writer of the note was of opinion that it had “ been used in the administration of the Sacrament, perhaps in the monastery of Lenton, in which parish, tradition says, it has remained upwards of a century.” This curious dish has unfortunately disappeared from the neighbourhood, and all endeavours to ascertain what became of it have proved futile. In the “Gentleman’s Magazine” for the year 1797, 1 is an engraving of a curious copper plate, which weighed upwards of seven ounces. This plate bears on the obverse a finely- executed representation of the Crucifixion of our Saviour, and on the reverse several figures which do not appear to have been completed. It was discovered on the site of the Priory upwards of a century ago, and is “ supposed to have been left there by Cardinal Wolsey, on his way to Leicester Abbey, where he closed his ambitious and disquiet life.” Laird states that “ it was found adhering to a wooden crucifix above the transverse piece.” 2 It appears, however, to have been originally a pax or osculatoriinn , 3 The plate was at one time in Greene’s Museum, at Lichfield, 4 5 but its present location is unknown. About the year 1848, the late Colonel Stretton gave to Sir Henry Dryden, Baronet, of Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, a large earthenware jug, fourteen encaustic tiles, and a small piece of carved masonry, found on the site of Lenton Priory.s The jug, which is \ 2 \ inches in height, is of coarse earthen¬ ware, glazed with a green glaze, which has partly shelled off, and is now without a spout. The tiles, which are considerably damaged, are, with the exception of Nos. 2, 12, 13, and 14, about five inches square, and of various thicknesses. Six of the tiles are heraldic in (1) Gentleman's Magazine , vol. 67, p. 281. (2) Beauties of E?igland and Wales , xii. 180. (3) For an interesting note on the pax and its use, see North’s Chronicle of the Chtirch of St. Martin, Leicester , p. 68. (4) A manuscript catalogue of this once noted museum is now in the possession of Mr. William Greene, of Lichfield, who informs us that it contains no mention of the plate. (5) These articles were presented by Sir Henry Dryden to the Corporation of Nottingham, in the year 18S1. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 227 character, and do not appear to be in any way connected with Lenton Priory. Major Lowe remarks that “ in many instances there can be no doubt that where armorial tiles were used, the appropriate¬ ness of the arms was often completely ignored, and therefore the arms of personages are found upon tiles in buildings with which they had no connection whatever. This practice is very remarkable, as prevailing at an age when heraldry was deemed of so much importance.” One of the tiles (No. 1) found at Lenton illustrates, in a striking manner, the peculiar practice referred to. This tile exhibits the arms of Morley, lords of the manor of Morley, in Derbyshire, which were assumed by the Stathums of Morley after their alliance with the heiress of that family. It was probably made for Morley Church, where it may be seen in the north aisle, for in three of the angles the space above the shield is filled by the figure of a bell, and there is evidence that John Stathum, 6th, 1454), gave a bell to Morley Church, 1 hence the appro¬ priateness of the device upon a tile used there, but there could be no such signification in a tile used at Lenton, unless we are to assume that the same benefactor gave a bell, or bells, to the Priory, of which there is no evidence whatever. The arms of Morley are— argent , a lion rampant sable, crowned or. A similar tile was found within the abbey church at Dale, during the excavations made by the Derbyshire Archaeological Society in 1878-9. The tile (No. 2) bearing the inscription “ Mentem sanctam, spontaneum honorem Deo, et patrie liberacionem,” occurs also at Great Malvern, and at the abbey church, Shrewsbury. The legend (rendered “ The holy mind, honour freely rendered to God, and liberty to the country”) was used as a charm “ for fyre,” being found on the great bell given to (1) Cox, Churches of Derbyshire, iv. 330. THE HISTORY OF THE Kenilworth church by Prior Thomas Kedermynstre, who was elected to the priorate in 140c. The tile is engraved full size in Xicholl's " Examples of Decorative Tiles, " 1S45. Xo. 3 is an heraldic shield bearing two chevrons within a bordure. X"o. 4 is evidently intended to represent the arms of the royal Duchy of Lancaster, viz., England, differenced with a label of three points a star, each point charged with as many fleurs-de-lys or. Xo. 5 exhibits the royal arms of France [ancient and England quarterly, and is consequently of an earlier date than the year 1405-6. when three fleurs-de-lys were substituted for a field seme, in the arms of France. It will be noticed that on this tile the device is reversed, which is probably accounted for by the artificer cutting the block with the device the right way on. which, on being impressed on the wet clay, would have the effect of reversing the pattern. Xo. 6 may possibly be intended to represent the arms of the town of Derby, but the device is. in this instance, and probably for the same reason, shown reversed. X"o. 7 is presumably intended as a portrait of King Edward the Third. Xo. S exhibits a single fleur-de-lys. Xos. 9. 10, and 11 have merely ornamental patterns. The three small tiles, Xos. 12, 13, and 14, have respectively the letters F, O, and a small bird. The piece of carved masonry bears two crossed keys and a sword, and may represent the arms of the See of Exeter, 1 but more probably, the sword and keys are not, strictly speaking, heraldic, but rather emblematic The following extract from a local newspaper 2 probably refers 1) George Neville, Bishop of Exeier and Lord Chancellor, afterwards Archbishop of York, visited Nottingham several times in the year 1464. It is possible that he may have sojourned at. and been a benefactor to. Lemon Priory on one of these occasions, and for this reason the arms of the See of Exeter may have been carved in some part of the Priory buildings to commemorate the event. 12 Nottingham Journal, March 30, 17S2. I cs J«. PARISH AND FRIORY OF LENTON. 229 to the discovery in the church-yard of some tiles similar in character to those just described :— “ A few days ago, as the Sexton of the Parish of Lenton, in this Neighbourhood, was digging a Grave, he discovered a foundation which seemed to produce some very good Stone ; whereupon the overseers ordered him to take it up, in doing which, he discovered a Pavement of Roman Bricks quite perfect, upon which were a Variety of Coats of Arms, etc., curiously inlaid and glazed. It seems, from its Form and Situation, that this was the Floor of a Bath belonging to the Antient Priory of Lenton.” Mr. Stretton relates that “ in digging the foundation for a new Methodist Meeting House at the north end of George Street (late Gregory’s Paddock), Nottingham, in May, 1816, at about five or six feet from the surface, was found an immense quantity of broken monastic paving tiles, evidently the refuse of a manufactory of those articles, as none of them had ever been in use, but were such as had been injured or broken in the process of burning, and consequently not useful; there appeared to be about a cart load of them,.wherefore it may fairly be conjectured that this was the market for those curious tiles with which the chapels and oratories of our Churches, and the floors of our religious houses were paved. 1 ” “ On digging the foundations for a house near the centre of this late Paddock under the Writer’s [Mr. Stretton’s] superintendence for Mr. Thos. Elliott, in the month of February 1817, a complete kiln was discovered, in which these tiles were evidently burnt, in and about which a large quantity of them were found. 2 “On digging other foundations for a set of maltrooms, subsequently to the discovery of the above mentioned kiln, in March, 1818, another kiln and large quantities of imperfect and unfinished tiles were discovered, which to a demonstration proves the manufactory to have been on this piece of ground, and which was within the walls of the Town. 3 ” “ In digging the foundations for Saint Paul’s Church, (1) Stretton MSS., No. 30, f. 24. (2) Ibid, No. 31, f. 31. (3) Stretton MSS., No. 31, f. 32. 2 3 ° THE HISTORY OF THE Nottingham, in July, 1821, two distinct kilns for burning these monastic tiles were found, very complete, three or four feet under ground, with numerous fragments of this and other ancient pottery ; and also very considerable excavations, extend¬ ing nearly under the whole of the Church, consisting of habitations and places for religious worship. 1 “In the manufactory of these tiles the following process must have been pursued—the Tiles composed of fine strong red clay (for which the neighbourhood is famous), were, after having been taken from the mould, impressed with various shields, figures, and devices, from stamps (most probably cut in wood), which impression, not more than the tenth of an inch deep, was filled in with a white clay, and afterwards glazed in the burning.” “This manufactory,” remarks Mr. Stretton, “was in all probability carried on here till the dissolution of religious houses, and it appears that not only this county, but the neighbouring ones, were supplied from it, as numerous devices from the same stamps are to be found in the churches and remains of religious houses of the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, etc, as well as of this. The writer made near 100 drawings of the different shields and devices im¬ pressed upon tiles found in the floors of the oratories and other appartments of the Priory of Cluniac Monks at Lenton, near Nottingham (upon the site of which he built a mansion), in digging the foundations for which, these, 2 3 as well as some stone coffins and other relics, were discovered.’^ Several ancient keys have at various times been found on the site of the Priory and elsewhere in the parish of Lenton. The eight keys 4 shown in the accompanying drawing are, with the exception of Nos. 6 and 8, much corroded. Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 8 have barrels, the remainder have pikes, the pike on No. 2 having originally been much longer. The (1) Stretton MSS., No. 30, f. 24. (2) “ Some thousands” in number. Stretton MSS. No. 30, f. 24. (3) Stretton MSS., No. 31, f. 24. (4) Nos. 1 to 6 are now in the possession of Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq., F. R.S., of Shirenewton Hall, Monmouthshire, and were acquired by his father, the late Alfred Lowe, Esq., of Highfield House; Nos. 7 and 8 belong to Mr. F. G. Spybey, Long Row, Nottingham. L 4 3 d.l PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 231 shaft of No. 3 is flattened at the back. No. 7 is a very- curious old key, much corroded. It is made of iron, but appears to have been plated with thin brass, which would effectually conceal all the defects in construction. The bow is broken off, but both it and the wards have been fixed on the barrel. A straight crack extends the whole length of the barrel, beneath the wards, and into it are fixed the wards, or teeth, ab. No. 8 is a more modern key, of hammered iron. The arms of Lenton Priory are described in Tong’s Visitation of the Northern Counties in 1530, as follows— “The Armes of the House ys golde and azure quarterly, over all a playn crosse sable, borderid golde.” 1 They are now usually blazoned — Quarterly, or and azure , over all a cross calvary sable , fimbriated of the first ; and are thus represented in Tong’s Visitation. No earlier example of the arms has It is of a pointed been found. An imperfect impression of the seal of Lenton Priory is appended to the Harleian Charter, 44, F. 19. oval form, in red wax, and represents our Saviour seated apparently upon a rainbow, the feet being upon an orb, to represent the world, holding in the left hand a closed book, the right hand being raised in benediction. The inscrip¬ tion, which is partly oblitera¬ ted, runs thus—[SIGJILLVM CONVENTVS SANC[TI TRINITATIS DE L]EN- TO[NA], On the reverse is (I) flarl. MSS ., 1499, f- 42. 232 THE HISTORY OF THE a small counter-seal, also oval, with the half figure of a monk, bearing in his right hand a sceptre terminating in a fleur-de-lis, inscribed—© SIGNVM PETRI P[RIOR]IS DE LENTONA. An impression of what is apparently the same seal of Lenton Priory is appended to a deed amongst the muniments at Lich¬ field Cathedral, dated in the year 1252 (see page 72). This is vesica shaped, 2\ inches long, and if inches broad. The upper part of the seal is wanting, but in the centre is a similar repre¬ sentation of our Saviour to that on the seal previously described. The inscription is—[SIGILLVM CONVEJNTVS S[ANCTI] TRINITATIS DE LEN[TONA], The counterseal, engraved real size, is a pointed oval, and appears to have consisted of an oval intaglio, set in a metal mount, 1 round which is inscribed—GRACIA' DEI • SVM • ID • QOD • SVM. The seal of Alan, sub-prior of Lenton, also broken, is appended to the same docu¬ ment. It is circular in shape, if inches in diameter, and bears in the centre two lions combattant, sur¬ rounded by the inscription — ’SALANI SVB PRIOR’ [DE LENJTO’. Tanner notices three Registers of Lenton Priory, the first which he describes as “Registrum penes Sam. Roper de Heanore in com. Derb. arm., 1677,” appears to have been that which was used by Dr. Thoroton, in compiling his “Antiquities of Nottinghamshire,” and which is so frequently quoted in that work. (1) The practice of using heathen gems, surrounded by Christian legends, as seals, was not uncommon amongst the ecclesiastics of the twelvth and thirteenth centuries. The seal of Roger de Pont l’Evepue, Archbishop of York, 1154-1181, consisted of a gem bearing three heads, Jupiter, Apollo, and Saturn, conjoined, surrounded by the inscription * CAPVT ' NOSTRV’ TRXNITAS ' EST. Two of the seals of Walter Gifford, Archbishop of York, 1266-1279, consist of an intaglio, bearing the conjugated portraits of M. Antoninus, the philosopher, and his master, Plato, surrounded in each case by a different inscription. That Archbishop Gifford considered the gem a valuable possession may justly be inferred from his having it set a second time when he changed his seal. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 233 The second is described as “ Registrum quondam penes dom. Franc. Willoughby.” Whether either of these two registers is yet extant has not been ascertained ; but it is not improbable that the latter may still exist amongst the muniments at Wolla- ton Hall. The third is thus described by Tanner. “ Registrum in bibl. Cotton. Otho B. xiv.” The Cottonian manuscript Otho, B. xiv. here mentioned, disappeared in the disastrous fire at the Cotton Libary, Westminster, in 1731. The following is the de¬ scription which is given of it in Smith’s Catalogue of the Library. “ Chartularium prioratus de Lenton in agro Nottinghamiensi a Gulielmo Peverello fundati, cum syllabo maneriorum, advoca- tionum ecclesiarum, portionum garbarum et foeni, pensionum, terrarum, et reddituum, ad ejusdem priorem et conventum spectantium.” It was a folio volume, containing 184 leaves of vellum, exclusive of six leaves at the beginning, and three leaves at the end, which contained an index. The present manuscript marked Otho, B. xiv., in the Cottonian Collection at the British Museum, is not the same which was placed under that number previous to the fire. 1 Saint Anthony’s Hospital. Within the courtyard of the Priory there was a hospital “ for the free and charitable sustcntation of such as should be troubled with St. Anthony’s fire.” Here “ strangely visited people, All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye, The mere despair of surgery,” received that surgical treatment for which many of the monas¬ teries were famous. The following extracts from Thoroton give all the information we are able to obtain respecting this hospital. “ Mr. Gervase de Somerville gave to the Hospital of St. Anthony, within the Court or Church Yard of Lenton, seven bovates of land at Bradmore, for the free and charitable susten- tation of such as should be troubled with St. Anthony’s fire. (1) Mon. Ang., v. 119. 234 TIIE HISTORY OF LENTON. Raph de Freschvile confirmed the said seven bovates, and added the service of the eighth, which they had of the gift of the said Mr. Gervase de Somerville, with common of pasture, as well as turbary of Boney, belonging to Bradmore. Sir Geoffrey de Boney, and Sarah, his wife, confirmed the same seven bovates.” “Archer, son of William, son of Froue de Boney, or Bradmere, gave three roods of medow in Boney to God and the hospital of St. Anthony, at Lenton, in pure alms.” 1 There is a tradition that, after the suppression of the monas¬ tery, the chapel of this hospital was converted into the parish church. The situation of the old church would exactly corres¬ pond with that of the hospital, but the church appears to have been rebuilt after the dissolution out of the materials supplied by the demolished conventual buildings. It is very probable, however, that the church may have been erected upon the foundations of the chapel of this hospital. (i) Thoroton, p. 46. SECTION V. THE VICARAGE. ROM the foundation of the church 1 until the final suppression of religious houses, and the consequent confiscation of their possessions, this benefice remained in the hands of the Prior and Monks of Lenton, but upon the dissolution of the monastery the advowson was seized, and is yet retained by the Crown. Before the close of the thirteenth century, the rectory had been appropriated to Lenton Priory, and subsequent to the dissolution of that house the impropriate rectory was held for upwards of eighty years by the Crown, but was granted by King Charles the First, together with the manor, to the Corporation of London, and ultimately passed to the Gregory family by purchase. The impropriate tithes remained appen¬ dant to the manor until the year 1768, when they were commuted for an allotment of seventy-three acres of land. In 1796, when the Forest lands were enclosed, a further allotment was made, comprising twenty-two acres, one rood, and four perches. The tithe-allotments now belong to the lady of the manor, Mrs. Catherine Sherwin Gregory. (1) The question as to whether there was anciently a distinct parish church or whether the parishioners were permitted to resort to some part of the Priory church set apart for that purpose, is elsewhere discussed. 236 THE HISTORY OF THE In 1292, when an inquisition was made by order of Pope Nicholas the Fourth, with a view to the payment of the tenths of ecclesiastical benefices to King Edward the First for six years, being a grant to him from the Pope in aid of an expedition to the Holy Land, it was found that the annual value of the church of Lenton (which had been appropriated to the Priory) was .£13 6s. 8d., the vicar receiving an annual pension of £4 13s. 4d. A more detailed account of the sources from which the emoluments of this benefice were derived during the first half of the fourteenth century is furnished by the Nonae Roll. This was a subsidy of the ninth of corn, lambs, and wool, in every parish, granted by the Parliament to King Edward the Third in 1341, as an aid in his wars with France. At an inquisition taken at Nottingham on the Tuesday after the feast of St. Gregory, in that year, before the venditors and assessors of the subsidy of a ninth of corn, fleeces, and lambs, and of a ninth of chatties in cities and boroughs, and of a fifteenth of all foreigners and of dwellers in forests and wastes, lately granted to the King in the county of Nottingham, John de Brokilstowe, Geoffrey de Brunnesley, William de Selston, Henry de Wynkeburn, Roger de Lenton, Robert de Beskewod, 1 John de Mauncestre, William de Worthington, William de Warde, John de Henowre of Sutton, John Gervis, and Thomas de Langeton, declared upon oath, amongst other things, that the ninth of corn, lambs, and wool throughout the parish of Lenton, was of the annual value of eighteen marcs, six shillings and eightpence; that thirty-one acres of land belonging to the endowment of the church were estimated to be worth three marcs, four shillings and fourpence per annum ; that the, tithe of hay was worth eleven shillings per annum ; and that oblations, mortuaries, and other small tithes, amounted to four marcs, three shillings and eightpence, throughout the year ; and the church was accordingly rated at twenty-seven marcs. In 1534, in the ecclesiastical survey made upon the dissolu¬ tion of religious houses, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, (1) The above seems to be the only instance on record of this as a local surname. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 237 Richard Matthew, then Vicar of Lenton, is recorded to have had a house with one acre of glebe land, and was entitled to the tithes of lambs and fleeces, pigs, fowls and eggs, flax and hemp, and certain other things, including daily meals in the kitchen of the Priory, and fodder for one horse, provided by the Prior, which, together with oblations and all other ecclesiastical dues, amounted in all to £10 11s. id. per annum ; but out of this the Vicar had to pay an annual pension of £1 8s. 8d. to the Prior of Lenton, so that his clear yearly stipend, at that period, was £<) 2s. qd. 1 In 1559, the Commissioners who made a Visitation of the Province of York, reported of the parishioners of Lenton that “they have neither vicar nor curate.” At the official survey taken previous to the suppression of chantries, the church of Lenton was found to possess a certain piece of arable land, estimated to be of the annual value of three shillings, which had been given for the perpetual maintenance of a lamp and other lights within the church. 2 3 During the Usurpation, at an inquisitions taken at the Shire Hall, in Nottingham, on the 14th of August, 1650, before John Hutchinson, Gervase Pigot, Robert Raynes, Nicholas Charlton, and Clement Spelman, Esquires, and John Martyn, Gentleman, by virtue of a commission from the Keepers of the Liberty of England, by authority of Parliament, under the Great Seal of England, to them and others directed, Thomas Newton, Nathan Newton, Nicholas Strey, Jeffery Brock, and John Langford, Gentlemen, George Brough, Humphrey Neede, Thomas Cumminge, Thomas Smyth, Lancelot Everingham, and Thomas Brightman, good and lawful men of the county of Nottingham, declared upon oath, amongst other things, that the impropriate rectory of Lenton was then of the annual value of forty-six pounds, which William Gregory, Alderman of Nottingham, received for his own use. The Vicarage was then worth only seven pounds per annum, and was held by (1) Valor Ecclesiasticus. (2) Certificates of Chantries, Roll 37. (3) MS. Survey in Lambeth Library. 238 THE HISTORY OF THE Robert Ollerenshawe, who was declared to be “a preaching- minister,” but “a drunkard and of an ill conversation.” 1 In 1676, from a return made by John Francis, then Curate of Lenton, of the number of persons residing within the parish of an age to communicate, together with the number of Papists and other nonconformists, it appears that there were then 160 communicants, and not a single Papist or nonconformist in the parish. 2 In 1759, a terrier, enumerating the emoluments of the benefice, was exhibited to the then diocesan, His Grace the Archbishop of York. The following is a copy of the same :— “A True Terrier of all the Glebe Lands, Portions of Tithes, and other Rights belonging to the Vicarage and Parish Church of Lenton in the County of Nottingham and Diocese of York, and now in the use and possession of Mr. George Wayte, Curate there, or his Tenants, taken made and renewed according to the old evidences and knowledge of the antient Inhabitants, this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord, 1759, and exhibited in the Primary Visitation of the Most Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Archbishop of York, holden at Nottingham on the first day of September, 1759 - First, one small Close called the Vicarage Yard ; Also one half acre of arable land in the Beck Field lying on a Furlong called Long Hill : Commons belonging to the said Vicarage ; Three Cow Gates; One Horse Gate and fifteen Sheep Gates ; Also to the Vicar is paid yearly by the Auditor of the King’s Chief Rents a Pension of five pounds, eleven shillings and eleven pence ; Also all Tythes within the said parish of Lenton are paid to the Vicar in their proper kind and there are no Customs in the Parish, but only three half pence for every new-milched Cow, and one penny for every Stropper, instead of Tythe milk ; Four pence for every Foal ; and Seven Shillings yearly to the Vicar, and One Shilling to the Clerk, for the Tythe of a large parcel of land called Beskwood Park ; Also (1) It is more than probable that Robert Ollerenshawe earned the bad character given him by the Commissioners by his adherence to his King, and it is by no means unlikely that his “ ill conversation ” was directed against the Roundheads, then in power. (2) Tanner MSS. 150, f. 129. Bodleian Library, Oxford. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 239 to the Vicar belong the Tythes of Wool, Lambs, Eggs, Geese, Ducks, Chickens, Pigeons if sold, Pigs, Gardens and Orchards, Turnips and Potatoes, Easter Offerings, Surplice Fees and Mortuaries, and all other Tythes and Ecclesiastical Duties except the Tythes of Corn and Hay both from Grass and Seeds.” Witness, Geo. Wayte, Curate. 1 John Chamberlin, ) William Norris, ) Geo. Wombwell, \ John Frith, Thomas Townsend, [ Jonathan Townsend,/ Church Wardens. Inhabitants. The living is now worth about ,£380 per annum, inclusive of a good vicarage-house, built in 1842 upon a site given by the late Francis Wright, Esquire. At the enclosure of this parish in 1768, the vicarial tithes were commuted for an allotment of twenty-two acres, one rood and five perches of land. A further allotment of one acre, two roods and thirty- four perches was made when the Forest lands were enclosed ; and the Vicar has one acre, two roods and thirty-one perches of glebe. There are likewise about seventeen acres of land at Belchford, near Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, purchased with a sum of money allotted for the augmentation of this benefice by the Governors of Queen Anne’s Bounty. The benefice has been further augmented by a grant of £80 per annum from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. There is an annual pension from the Crown to the Vicars of Lenton of £5 11s. lid. ; whilst the Vicar has to pay a rent-charge of ,£1 is. 6d. yearly to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests “ for the use of Her Majesty.” Bestwood Park formerly paid a modus of seven shillings yearly to the Vicar of Lenton, and one shilling to the parish clerk, in lieu of tithes. But since the year 1874, (1) As will be elsewhere remarked, there seems to have been no presentation to the vicarage of Lenton at one time for a considerable period. Several of the vicars of the adjoining parish of Radford were permitted to hold the benefice —in commendam, and the Rev. George Wayte, who signs the above as “Curate,” was one of these. 240 THE HISTORY OF THE when Bestwood Park was formed into a separate benefice by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, this payment has been transferred to the incumbents of Bestwood. Easter Offerings were formerly received by the Vicars of Lenton, and are still legally due to them ; but owing to the difficulty of collecting the same, and the odium attending it, these offerings have been discontinued by the present Vicar. The Vicars of Lenton. Robert Anger , presbyter. Patron, the Prior of Birstall (?) Instituted 8 Nov., 1274. John de Berde , presbyter. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 2 Aug., 1300, and held the vicarage until his death. Adam de Graneby , cap. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 4 Feb., 1331, and held the vicarage until his death. Robert de Radeford , cap. Patron, King Edward III. Insti¬ tuted 6 Sept., 1349. John Blakeman , resigned for the rectory of Bulwell. Michael de Lyndeby , pbr. Patron, King Edward III. Inist- tuted 19 October, 1358. Robert de Thornton , resigned for the rectory of Cortlingstock. He was probably buried at Lenton. 1 Henry Broksop , pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 24 Oct., 1410, and held the living until his death. William Clyjion, pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 30 July, 1425, and resigned the living the year following for the rectory of Wilford. Probably a younger son of the ancient family of Clifton, of Clifton. John Peeke , pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 10 October, 1426, and held the living until his death. By his will, dated July the 22nd, 1442, and proved in the Prerogative Court of York, October the nth, that same year, he commends his soul to God Almighty, St. (1) See the will of John Peeke, Vicar of Lenton, who died in 1442. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 24I Mary, and All Saints, and desires that his body should be buried in the churchyard at Lenton, near to the grave of Robert de Thornton. To the church of Lenton he devised the sum of three shillings and fourpence. William Fyndern, B.D. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 6 October, 1442. William Odo, pbr. Resigned, and was succeeded by John Mayewe, pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 16 Oct., 1459, anc * held the living till his death. Died intestate before 6 Oct., 1496, when administration was taken of his estate. John Milnes, pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 14 Oct., 1496, and held the living till his death. By his will, dated December the 15th, 1514, and proved in the Prerogative Court of York, January the 25th, 1514-15, he commends his soul to God Almighty, St. Mary, and All Saints, and desires that his body should be buried in the church of the Holy Trinity at Lenton. Robert Burton, pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 3 June, 1515, and held the living until his death. By his will, dated March the 12th, 1516, and proved in the Prerogative Court of York, May the 7th, 1516, Sir Robert Burton, pbr., Vicar of Lenton, desires that his body should be buried in the parish church of Lenton, 1 on the south side of the high altar. Alexander Penhill, pbr. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 25 March, 1517, and resigned in 1527. Robert Mathew, diac. Patrons, the Prior and Convent of Lenton. Instituted 26 Feb., 1527, and resigned in 1543. Robert Mayburn. Patron, King Henry VIII. Instituted 5 March, 1543. He resigned. Thomas West, clericus. Patrons, King Philip and Queen Mary. Instituted 18 Jan., 1556. He must have vacated the benefice within about three years. (1) This may possibly refer to that portion of the Priory church that was used for parochial purposes. Otherwise we have here a special reference to a distinct parish church prior to the Reformation. •7 242 TIIE HISTORY OF THE Thomas Askewe, cler. Patron, Queen Elizabeth. Instituted 26 Oct., 1571, and held the living until his death. John Fisher, cler. Patron, Queen Elizabeth. Instituted 13 July, 1572, and held the living until his death. He was probably buried at Lenton, but a page containing the burials from 1589 to the earlier part of 1593, has, unfor¬ tunately, been cut out of the parish registers. JoJin Wood, cler. Patron, Queen Elizabeth. He was instituted July the 12th, 1592, and held the living until his decease. The parish registers record the burial of his wife, July the 28th, 1595, and his own burial, September the 10th, 1623. Various entries relative to his descendants are to be found in the registers of Lenton and Radford. Robert Ollerenshawe, M.A. Patron, King James I. He was instituted, September the 28th, 1623, and retained his benefice for at least twenty-seven years. Judging from the bad character he received from the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1650 (see page 238), he must have been a Royalist, and was probably ejected. John Webster, is described as “minister” in the parish registers in 1659. He was evidently the Puritan divine put into the benefice after Cromwell’s usurpation. William Parker, described as “Vicar” in 1660, was likewise a Puritan. From the Minute Book of the Nottingham Classis it appears that “Mr. William Parker, preacher of the Word at Lenton,” was examined and approved April 4th, 1660, and on the 4th of the following month he was ordained, after the manner of the Presbyterians, Mr. Boole (the Puritan incumbent of Clifton), propounding the questions and praying, and he, together with six other ministers, subsequently officiating at the imposition of hands, the ceremony taking place in St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham. William Parker must ultimately have con¬ formed and received episcopal ordination, for he held this benefice, together with the vicarage of Radford, for some years after the Act of Uniformity had come into operation. His name is but once mentioned in the Lenton registers, but those of Radford record the baptisms of two sons of PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 243 William Parker, Clerk, and Dorothy his wife. One of them was baptized in 1670, and the other in 1674. The date of William Parker’s decease has not been ascertained, nor is it known up to what date he held this benefice. 1 William Rudsby. This clergyman’s name first occurs in the Lenton registers in 1693, when he styles himself “Vicar.” There is, however, reason to believe that although he was fully instituted into the vicarage of Radford, he was merely permitted to hold this benefice in commendam, and was never, strictly speaking, Vicar of Lenton, though he enjoyed all the rights and privileges as such for many years. He was married at St. Peter’s, Nottingham, to Mary Scattergood, widow, May the 2nd, 1728, but appears to have had no issue. He died, July the 25th, 1731, aged 68 years, and was buried at Radford. The stone which marks the spot where he was interred within the church is now concealed beneath the pews. John Swai/e succeeded the last-named clergyman in the vicarage of Radford, to which benefice he was instituted August the 6th, 1731, and appears to have held that of Lenton in like manner as his predecessor, no formal institution to this benefice being recorded. He was like¬ wise Master of the Nottingham P'ree School and Curate of Sneinton, at which place he was buried, December the 17th, 1731. The registers of St. Mary’s, Nottingham, record the baptism of his son, Cleasby, in 1730, and of a posthumous daughter, Mary, in 1732. George Wayte, M.A. This clergyman was a native of Repton, in Derbyshire, where he was educated at the Free Grammar School, and subsequently graduated at Oxford. In 1732, shortly after taking priest’s orders, he was presented by the Crown to the vicarage of Radford, holding the vicarage of Lenton in commendam, never being fully instituted into that benefice. In 1732, he was also appointed Usher of the Nottingham Free School, a post which he held until (1) In 1676, in a return of the number of persons of an age to communicate, elc (which has been referred to elsewhere), William Parker described himself as Curate of Radford, but John Francis, who was also Curate of Bramcote and Stapleford, then describes himself as Curate of Lenton. 244 TIIE HISTORY OF LENTON. 1747. On Trinity Sunday, 1782, Mr. Wayte preached a sermon at Radford in the morning, and at Lenton in the afternoon, telling his hearers that he had preached that sermon in the same churches on Trinity Sunday fifty years ago. He was then seventy-five years of age, and died on the 7th of June following. His remains were interred at Radford. William Pickering , B.D., was presented to the vicarage of Radford on the death of George Wayte, and he, too, held that of Lenton in commendam for upwards of twenty years. Edward Cresswell, M.A. Patron, King George the Third. He was presented by the Crown to the vicarages of Lenton and Radford, and was duly instituted into both benefices, May the 3rd, 1803, being the first actual Vicar of Lenton for upwards of a century, the living having been held in commendam throughout that period, as already stated. He died April the nth, 1840, and was buried at Radford, where there is a mural monument to his memory. George Browne , M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin. Patron, Her present Majesty. Instituted in July, 1840. This much-esteemed gentleman, who has held the living for upwards of forty-four years, was Curate-in-charge of Lenton at the time of his presentation. He is the fifth son of the late Right Honourable Denis Browne, M.P., younger brother of the first Marquess of Sligo. SECTION VI. THE CHURCHES. The Old Church. LTHOUGH there is no mention of a church being at Lenton at the time of the Domesday Survey, such omission must not be taken in itself as proof of the non-existence of a church at that period ; but the foundation charter of Lenton Priory is also silent on the same subject, and no specific reference to the parish church is to be found previous to the dissolution, although the benefice is mentioned as early as the year 1292 in the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Pope Nicholas the Fourth. It is therefore probable that, previous to the dissolution of Lenton Priory, some portion of the conventual church was set apart for the use of the parishioners. Many of the greater monasteries had churches standing in their closes, or a collateral church. These churches, which were distinct from the conventual church, were at first regarded as mere chapelries, served by a chaplain at an altar, which was considered as being included within the conventual church, as if it stood under the same roof, which was actually the case in some churches. Although the fact yet remains to be proved, we may probably infer that a 246 THE HISTORY OF THE portion of the conventual church of Lenton was used by the parish, its altar being served by the Vicar, who, in a limited sense, would be independent of the monks. Such an arrangement, though not uncommon in some other Orders, is, however, seldom to be found in the Clugniac monasteries. 1 In the year 1200, the canons of Westminster forbade a monk to be placed alone in a parish church, and required him to keep within his cloister. In 1268, the Papal legate imposed a restriction upon the appropriation of churches to any priory or other monastery, and made an order that all religious, exempt and not exempt, Cistercians and others, who held such churches, should present a resident vicar for institution by the diocesan, providing him with a sufficient portion out of the endowment, and a house with a garderobe and chimney after the French fashion. Usually, the dependent vicar received a “ robe of clerical suit,” and, as at Lenton, daily rations when near a convent. 2 There is a tradition to the effect that after the dissolution of the Priory, the chapel, or some other portion of the Hospital of St. Anthony, which formerly stood in the courtyard of the Priory, was converted into the parish church. It is somewhat remarkable that, with the exception of the following certificate of church goods taken in the year 1552, no particulars relative to the church in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries have been met with, neither are there any notes of old monuments or stained glass. The certificate of Church Goods belonging to the parish of Lenton, is dated September 5 th, 6 Edward VI. [1552], and is as follows : “ ffyrst. one sanctus bell, it. ij vestments of whyte ffustyan. it. one vestment of dornyxe. 3 it. one albe. it. one chalyse w th a patene of sylv r . (1) In a correspondence with Major Lawson Lowe upon this subject, Mr. Mackenzie Walcott, one of the greatest authorities on conventual arrangements, says that in all probability the laity were permitted to make use of the nave of the conventual church in the Clugniac Priories of Castle-acre and Bromholme, in Norfolk, and Mendham, in Suffolk. (2) Walcott, English Minsters, ii. 30. (3) Coarse damask, made at Doornix, or Tournay. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 247 it. one cowpe of red sey. 1 it. ij belles, the one callyd a hande bell and the other a sacryng bell.” The certificate is signed by Robert Gaybone—V icar. John Lecest r 1 , , . J l p shioners. Anthony Weston J John Bowser Avery Walker The existing fabric, which is now (April, 1884) undergoing restoration, is of comparatively little interest in itself, and consists merely of a nave, measuring externally about 42 feet by 36 feet, and a chancel measuring about 28 feet by 18 feet, having on the northern side a small brick vestry of modern construction. There was a good Perpendicular window of two lights built into the west wall on the south side of the doorway, and above the doorway itself is an old stone, upon which are carved two shields, the one charged with three crowns, and the | Ch. wardens. other with as many fleurs-de-lys. 2 On the north side of the same doorway is a small window also of two lights. The other windows in the church (all of which are now removed) exhibited the ordinary round-headed lights and plain chamfered mullions of the later Tudor period. Of these there were three windows on the north side of the nave, each having three lights, while on the south side there were six windows of two lights each. (1) Silk and wool mixed. (2) Several writers have erroneously assigned the latter of these two coats to the family of Hicks, who bore—a fesse wavy between three fleurs-de-lys. The arms are, however, of considerably earlier date than the period when the Hicks family first became connected with the parish. It is impossible to identify them with any degree of certainty. 2 4 S THE HISTORY OF THE In addition to these there was a three-light window of similar character on the south side of the east end of the nave. Judging from the character of the masonry discovered in pulling down a portion of the walls, it is evident that the church was built of worked masonry from the Priory shortly after its dissolution, probably upon the foundations of the chapel of the Hospital of St. Anthony. Previous to the partial demolition of the church in 1843, there was a wooden belfry at the west end of the nave. This belfry, or “steeple,” as it is called in the parish books, was newly boarded over in 1725, and again in 1764, and contained a bell bearing the inscription— 1591 1 A new bell was placed therein in 1829. 2 3 The church had an open timber roof until the year 1775, when it was ceiled. On a key of the plastering over the entrance to the sacrarium was—EH.IB. 1775 .,3 and in front of the old oak Communion Table were the letters—(HG.TH.CW.) 4 At a meeting of the inhabitants of Lenton, held October 18th, 1805, it was unanimously resolved that the church was inadequate to the accommodation of the parish, and was so damp as to render it dangerous to the health of the inhabitants assembling there for public worship. It was determined, there¬ fore, to take steps to raise the floor and the walls of the church sufficiently high to admit of the erection of a gallery at some future time, if necessary, to cover the roof with slates, and to entirely repew the church. Several committee meetings were held to consider the reports of Mr. Stretton and Mr. Staveley, but at a general meeting of the inhabitants, held January 8th, 1806, it was resolved that a new church for the parish was not (1) Stretton MSS., No. 27, f. 61. William Ward is probably identical with the person of that name who was buried at Lenton, October 26th, 1595. (2) The old bell is said to have been broken in a vain attempt to knock a wedding peal out of it by means of sledge hammers. The bell that replaced it in 1829 is now at Hyson Green Church. (3) Edward Hollingworth and John Bradshaw were churchwardens in 1775. (4) Stretton MSS., No. 27, f. 61. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 249 then necessary. At a meeting held February 19th, 1807, it was resolved to repew and repair the church, the new pews to be wholly allotted by the Ordinary. During the same year, therefore, the floor of the church was raised and laid dry, a vestry erected, the church repewed, and a stove for warming introduced. The cost of these works was £574. In 1811, the churchyard walls were rebuilt, and iron gates fixed therein to make the churchyard entire, and in the fol¬ lowing year trees were planted round the churchyard. 1 The condition of the church and churchyard at this period are described in detail in the following observations of Arch¬ deacon Eyre. “On Thursday, the 27th of June, 1811, the Revd. John Eyre, of Babworth, Archdeacon, visited the Church of Lenton, and made the following remarks and observations. “ That the Roof, Walls, (and especially the lower part of them,) and the Steeple, are in a ruinous and bad state—that, at all events, it is necessary that the Roof be taken off and renewed ; that a new Steeple be made; that the Walls be well repaired and pointed, especially towards the Basement, which ought to be particularly examined and underpinned with good sound Materials. “ That, as to the interior of the Church, he gives the Parishioners credit for having done all in their power to render it neat, clean, & comfortable, but is sorry to find that there is a great want of accomodation, and that many absent themselves from Church for want of it; and as a considerable Expence will necessarily be incurred by the above Reparation, he very strongly recommends the taking down and rebuilding the Church, if the Parish could accomplish it, and by raising the Walls sufficiently high, upon the same Foundations, to erect a spacious Loft, whereby all those who are now destitute might be accomodated with Seats—this might be done, he thinks, without any material injury to the present Pews. “ He was glad to find a disposition in the Parishioners to keep the Church Yard entire, and was pleased with the improvements that were taking place for that purpose ; but was sorry to find that large Cattle are pastured therein, as the Graves and Stones were thereby trodden down and injured ; Sheep he recommends to be permitted to graze, but no larger Animals. “The old Wall adjoining the Ruin on the East side of the (1) Vic/e Churchwardens’ Accounts, post. 250 THE HISTORY OF THE Church Yard ought to be rebuilt; and Mr. Gregory should be requested to repair his Fences next the Church Yard. “ The Parish Registers, he observed, ought to be particularly attended to, the Entries therein should be correctly and regularly made, that it was the Business of the Churchwardens to see that this was done ; and for this purpose they should attend in the Vestry every Sunday a little before Service time, and after such correction and examination, they should sign every Page. The Ages of the deceased should always be entered as well as any other necessary information for the identifying the Persons meant to be recorded therein. That a new Terrier should be made of all the property of the Church, whether of the Vicar, or that vested in the Churchwardens, as of the Vestments, Furniture, Books, Communion Plate, Registers, Fees, &c., &c., (in which it is to be observed that the Clerk’s Fee for every Funeral should be two shillings and sixpence, &c.) and that a Copy of it should be entered in the Parish Register, and called over and given in church to every succeeding Churchwarden, on entering upon his Office. “ The Awards, Maps and Registers, should be kept in the Parish Chest, as well as all other Papers and Documents be¬ longing to the Parish. “A Table of Donations, if any, to the Church or Poor, should be written and fixed in some public part of the Church. “ The above Statement accurately records all the remarks and observations which I made during my Visitation of the Church of Lenton, and I most strenuously recommend it to the Parish to carry them into execution, in a manner suitable to its respec¬ tability & Spirit. “ Their Obedt. Servant “John Eyre, Archd n .” The foregoing report was apparently drawn up by Mr. Stretton shortly after the Archdeacon’s Visitation, and forwarded to him for his approval. This the Archdeacon readily granted in a letter of which the following is a copy, and in which he complimented Mr. Stretton on his skill as an architect, and expressed a hope that the Church might be rebuilt during that gentleman’s term of office as church¬ warden. “ Sir, “Just upon the point of setting out to London, I have received your letter, inclosing an account of my observations on the Church at Lenton, most accurately and excellently drawn up : so much so that I have no occasion to delay my answer in order to reconsider them. I am in great hopes the Parish will accede PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 251 to the proposal of rebuilding the Church during your Wardenship, as I am convinced it will be well done, and the antient style of architecture appropriate to those buildings preserved. I shall be at Southwell the two following months and shall be happy to see you at the Residence if anything brings you that way. In great haste, “ I am, Sir, Your most obedt. servant, “ Babworth, Aug. 27, 1811. “JOHN Eyre. “William Stretton, Esq re , “ Lenton Priory, Nottingham.” At a vestry meeting of the parishioners, held March 10th, 1829, it was resolved to provide a new bell for the church, and to make such repairs or alterations to the belfry as might be required, the total cost of such work not to exceed the sum of fifty-eight pounds. At a vestry meeting, held April 1st, 1841, it was resolved to erect a wall of Bulwell stone on the boundaries of the churchyard and Old Church Street (then called Churchill Close), also between the churchyard and the garden plot belonging to Mr. Kirke Swann, and to levy a rate of twopence- halfpenny in the pound to cover the expense of building such walls. The church being totally inadequate to meet the require¬ ments of the parish, a new church was erected midway between Old and New Lenton in 1842, and in the following year a faculty (of which the following is a copy) was obtained to take down the old church, except the chancel and vestry. GEORGE Wilkins, Clerk, Doctor in Divinity, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham lawfully constituted To our well beloved in Christ the Reverend George Browne, Clerk, the Vicar, and Francis Wright and Joseph Bell, the Church¬ wardens of Lenton in the County of Nottingham and within our said Archdeaconry, Greeting; Whereas on your Petition We issued our Citation calling upon all and singular the Inhabitants of the Parish of Lenton aforesaid and all others who have or pretend to have any right title or interest in or unto the Old Parish Church of Lenton aforesaid or to any pew or pews therein, or to any grave, tombstone or monument in or about any part thereof to appear before us or our lawful Surrogate or other competent Judge in the Court held this day in the Parish Church of Saint Peter in the Town of Nottingham (and by adjournment at our Registry Office in the same Parish) to show 252 TIIE HISTORY OF THE just and lawful cause if they had or knew any why a Faculty or License should not be granted to you the said Reverend George Browne, Francis Wright and Joseph Bell, for the purposes therein mentioned And Whereas no person having appeared at the said Court and time and place mentioned in the said Cita¬ tion, We, therefore do, by every power and authority in us vested Grant to you by these presents our Faculty or License to take down the said Old Church (save the Chancel and Vestry) and to make use of, or sell the old materials, and apply the proceeds in or towards the erection of a Chapel of Ease at Ison Green in the said Parish of Lenton (now being built)—you the Vicar and Churchwardens taking care to have the west end of the said chancel and vestry properly built up, and the same put into good repair and condition in order that Burial Service may be performed therein, and also that any mural monument or tablet on the walls of the said ancient Church be removed and duly placed upon the Walls of the new Parish Church (recently erected in the said Parish and to which all Parochial rights privileges and emoluments have been legally transferred) but in or upon such part as you may deem most suitable. Given at the Town of Nottingham under the Seal of our Office this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three. (The seal of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham) Chas. Geo: Balguy, Registrar. At a vestry meeting, held March 25th, 1844, it was resolved “ That the churchwardens be directed to get the chancel of the old church put into proper repair and enclosed, and that shutters be put to the outer windows to make it a fit and proper place for any purposes relating to the parish, or other business.” A few years later—in 1857—the Lenton Burial Board ordered the boundary wall of the churchyard to be repaired, and re¬ quested all persons having relatives or friends interred in the closed ground 1 should fix some mark to determine the site before January 1st, 1858. After that date the Board ordered that the ground should be levelled and planted, that the old church door be removed, and a new common gate put up instead, that ivy be planted against the old church walls, inside and outside, that the elder trees be taken down, and the church gates be cleaned and painted. (1) Burials in the churchyard were discontinued April 1st, 1857, by order of the Privy Council. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 253 All that now remains of the old church are the chancel and vestry, and the roofless walls of the nave, until lately luxuriously mantled with ivy. The architectural features, such as they are, have already been described. Divine service was, until recently, held in the chancel, which was fitted up with plain wooden benches, the old clerk’s desk, placed under the east window, doing duty for reading-desk and pulpit. The old reading-desk and pulpit are now in the church at Hyson Green, and the font is in the new church. For several years the altar-rails served the purpose of a fence to the River Leen at the end of Friar Street. On the west wall is a board (removed from the west end of the church), on which are painted the royal arms of the time of King Charles the Second, with the initials C. R. (altered to G. R.), and the date 1722, the latter having probably been added when the arms were renovated. 1 The church is now in course of restoration, the memorial stone having been laid by the Lady of the Manor of Lenton. The stone bears the following inscription, “To the Glory of God this stone was laid by Airs. J. Sherwin Gregory, and consecrated by Christopher, Bishop of Lincoln, November 22nd, 1883.” It is proposed to leave standing as much of the old walls as possible, and to work new windows to replace the present decayed ones. In the west wall of the nave there will be a three-light traceried window, and a single light at the west end of each aisle. Nave arcades will be built, and sur¬ mounted by a clerestory, with two single-light windows in each (1) In an old edition of Burn’s “Ecclesiastical Law” (1824, vol. i., p. 374), speaking of Ornaments of the Church beyond those ordered in the Prayer-Book and in the Canons, the writer says :— “ Besides what hath been observed, in particular there are many other articles for which no provision is made by any special law, and therefore must be referred to the general power of the Churchwardens, with the consent of the major part of the Parishioners, as aforesaid, and under the direction of the Ordinary ; such as the erecting galleries, adding new bells . . . organs, clock, chimes, King’s arms, . . . and such like.” It would appear that the practice is not dependent on any law. It was a custom which crept in during the sixteenth century, but it is not easy to assign a date for their first appearance. During the Usurpation, the royal arms were removed from the churches, and replaced by that curious heraldic composition which had been adopted as the arms of the Commonwealth. These latter were, of course, destroyed at the Restoration, and the royal arms again set up. Those at Lenton date from that period, and with the exception of those in St. Nicholas’s Church, Nottingham, they are, so far as we are aware, the only example of the royal arms of that date remaining in Nottinghamshire. 254 THE HISTORY OF THE bay. There will be a bell turret at the west end of the nave. The church is designed to accommodate about 250 persons, and the estimated cost of the restoration is ;£ 1,800. “ Now shall the Sanctuary And the House of the most High be newly built ; The ancient honours due unto the Church Buried within the ruined Monasteries, Shall lift their stately heads, and rise again To astonish the destroyers’ wondering eyes. Zeal shall be decked with gold ; Religion, Not like a Virgin robbed of all her pomp, But bravely shining in her gems of state, Like a fair bride be offered to the Lord.” Webster, Fam. Hist., ed. Dyce, 173. The only monument in the chancel is a plain tablet of white marble, on the north wall, which is thus inscribed :— Sacred to the memory of George Stretton, late of Nottingham, died December VII 1 . 1 ?, MDCCCXXXIII, aged LXII years. Also one son and one daughter. George Burbage Stretton, died March VI th , MDCCCXVII, aged XVII years. Elizabeth Stretton died July VI$, MDCCCXXVIII, aged XXVI years. There were formerly several floor-stones in the chancel to various members of the Garland 1 family, but these were probably removed when the church was repaved in 1807. On the south wall of the now roofless nave, near to the west end, is a large oval tablet, thus inscribed :— In Memory of George Blanchard the Son of (1) See the pedigree of this family, p. 212. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 255 John and Ann Blanchard 1 who departed this life the iS 1 . 1 ? day of July, 1805, Aged 8 years and 6 months. The inscriptions on the slabs in the floor of the nave are as follows :— Here Lieth the Body of Richard Norris who Departed this Life Oct r 10 th , 1726. Here Lieth the Body of Elizabeth y e Wife of RlCH d Norris, who Departed this Life, April 20, 1731. Here lieth the Body of Ann Chamberlain, Daughter of John and Martha Chamberlain, who Departed this Life Feb ry 5 1 . 1 ?, 1748 Aged 26 years. Martha Chamberlain, 1753. John Chamberlain, 1766. William Norris died March io'. 1 ?, 1788, aged 75 years. John, Son of Tho s - Needham, Gent, and Elizabeth his Wife of Sandbeach, in Cheshire died April. Aged 3 years &.months. (1) An inscription upon a floor-stone beneath adds that the above-named John Blanchard was Veterinary Surgeon in the Third, or King’s Own Regiment of Light Dragoons. The regiment was at that time quartered at the barracks in Nottingham Park. The Park was then extra-parochial, but by ancient custom those who died within the limits of the Park or Standard Hill were interred at Lenton. Numerous entries of the burials of soldiers who died at the barracks are to be found in the parish registers. 25 6 THE HISTORY OF THE The only sepulchral memorial, dating from mediaeval times, is a portion of a broken slab bear¬ ing the shaft of an incised cross, having a chalice on one side and a (clasped ?) book on the other. These emblems denote that it originally indicated the grave of an ecclesiastic—possibly one of the Vicars of Lenton. Laird, 1 who wrote in 1813, before the church was disman¬ tled, and who seems to have derived much of his information relative to this place from Mr. William Stretton, mentions an ancient monumental stone, near the reading-desk, on which a cross and chalice are carved, with the date 1333. This was perhaps the same slab as the one just mentioned, although there is no indication of any inscription on the part that remains. Another slab has upon it the initials and date:— J. G. 1721. This slab marked the grave of Mr. John Garland, 2 who died in that year, and has probably been moved out of the chancel. In the churchyard, near the west end of the church, is this inscription upon a large tomb, surrounded by iron railings:— In Memory of Mary, the daughter of Tho s Wright Watson and Elizabeth his wife who died 30* Sept r 1801, aged 5 years. Also Tho s Wright Watson, who died 20$ April, 1802, aged 44 years. Likewise Henry the son of Tho s Wright Watson and Elizabeth his wife who died 8* May, 1802, aged 17 years. (1) “ Beauties of England and Wales,” vol. 12, part i., p. 180. (2) Strelton MSS., No. 32, f. 18. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 25 7 A plain flat stone adjoining this monument, and likewise enclosed within iron railings, records that James Watson, of Nottingham, Gent., died January 25th, 1808, aged 82 years. Upon a plain slate tablet affixed to the churchyard wall :— Herbert Son of Alexander & Sarah Foxcroft Died 6il* October 1817 Aged 15 months. Upon a stone monument near to the’ one last-named, is this inscription :— “ Sacred to the memory of Anne, the wife of Thos. Brown Milnes, who departed this life on the 12th of August, 1816, in the 27th year of her age. Also to Elizabeth, their daughter, who died June 22nd, 1816, aged 4 years and 6 months. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” The family vault of the Wrights, of Lenton Hall, stands near the gateway at the south western corner of the church¬ yard, and two plates upon the railings, each surmounted by the Crest of the family, state that “ This vault was erected by John Wright, Esq., A.D. 1823.” A slab on the vault records the burials of John Wright, Esq., of Lenton Hall, who died April 21st, 1840, aged 81 ; Elizabeth, his wife, eldest daughter of Francis Beresford, Esq., of Ashbourne, who died December 18th, 1833, aged 74; John Wright, their eldest son, who died at Naples, January 24th, 1828, aged 25 ; Annie, wife of Richard Perrin, Esq., who died at Lenton Hall in 1838; and Frances, eldest daughter of John Wright, Esq., who died January 10th, 1873, aged 77. Close to, is a large monument in the^form of a 1 'sarcophagus, bearing the following inscriptions on slabs of black marble :— “ Sacred to the memory of William Strctton, Esq., late of Lenton Priory, who departed this life March 12, 1828, aged 72 years.” “ Here lieth entombed, Susanna, wife of William Stretton, a pattern of piety and virtue, who, having borne the rod of affliction near twenty years with almost unexampled fortitude, 258 THE HISTORY OK THE resigned her soul to God who gave it Dec. 7, 1815, aged 58 years;’ leaving to the world this momento : ‘ Tho’ afflicted, not forsaken. Reader ! if thou hast never yet considered the state of thy immortal soul, or that but briefly, go home and examine thyself, the present moment to thee is invaluable. But if thou be a true follower of Jesus Christ, lift up thy heart with praise and thanksgiving to thy Blessed Lord and Saviour, and pray Him to keep thee in the true faith. For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? ” “ In memory of Colonel Scmpronius Stretton, C.B., late of the 40th Regiment, who died at Croydon, February 6, 1842, aged 59 years, and was buried at Bromley, in Kent. His distinguished services in the Peninsula, and at the memorable battle of Waterloo, were rewarded with several honorary decorations, and he was also made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. O God, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou has covered my head in the day of battle. Glory be to thee, O Lord.” “ In memory of Thomas Naylor, of Standard Hill, who died November 5, 1818, aged 48 years. Also, Stella, his wife, who died at Lenton, September 18, 1863, aged 82 years. She was a tender and loving mother, and beloved most by those who knew her best. He, which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus.” “ Sacred to the memory of Agnes Stella, youngest daughter of the late Thomas and Stella Naylor, of Standard Hill, Nottingham, who departed this life in the year of our Lord, 1866, in the 49th year of her age.” Near to is a plain headstone inscribed “ In memory of Ellen Maria, second daughter of the Reverend Herbert Napleton Beaver, Vicar of Gringley, Nottinghamshire. Born November 13* 1843. Died Nov¬ ember 18 1 . 1 } 1851.” Another plain headstone adjoining is inscribed :— “ Severus, son of W. & S. Stretton, Born Novt 7 t . h 1783. Died Dec r 19^ 1785. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 259 “ When ye Arch Angel’s Trump shall sound, And Souls to Bodies join, What Crowds will wish their Lives below, Had been as short as Thine.” Other memorials adjoining record the burials of the following members of the Stretton family :—Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Stretton, died February 22nd, 1802, aged 70 years ; Samuel Stretton, died May nth, 1811, aged 80; Ann, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Stretton, and relict of Samuel Pinkney, of Dublin, died April nth, 1820, aged 63 years. Also, Samuel Bilby, son of George and Mary Stretton, died March 4th, 1805, aged —• months ; George Burbage Stretton, died March 6th, 1817, aged 17 years ; Elizabeth Stretton, died July 6th, 1828, aged 26 years ; and George Stretton, died December 7th, 1833, aged 62 years. Placed against the south wall of the churchyard is a square monument, inscribed :— Sacred to the memory of John Wright Killingley, Gent., who departed this life XXIV. May, MDCCCXXIX, Aged LXVlll. years. Also, of Elizabeth, his wife, Who departed this life XI. January, MDCCCXLV, Aged LXXXII. years. Near to, upon a large stone slab, inclosed by iron railings :— “Sacred to the Memory of William Hutlnvaite, Gent? , who died Oct r . 17 l . h 1824, aged 61 years. Also of three of his Children who died in their Infancy and were buried here. And of Lucy, a Daughter, who died November 24^ 1817, aged 21 years, and was buried at St. Mary’s Church, Whitechapel, in London. Also Lucy, Wife of the above William Huthwaite, who died October the I2*. h , 1852, in the 8I s . 1 year of her age. Also William Francis, Son of the above Will? 1 and Lucy Huthwaite, who died October the 3': d 1834, Aged 34 years, and was buried at St. Matthews Church at Brixton in Surrey.” A small slate headstone is inscribed :— “ In Memory of Francis Gill who departed this life February 25 th 1823, Aged 53 years.” 26 o THE HISTORY OK THE Upon two plain headstones :— “ Here Lieth y e Body of Sarah the Wife of James Feild, who departed this Life the 26 t . 1 ' Octo r 1746, aged 46. Also the Body of Jane Dealtry, her Mother, who departed this Life y e 26 * Jan ry 1731-2, Aged 68.” “ Here lyeth the Body of Joseph Feild the Son of James and Sarah Feild, who departed this Life the 9‘. h day of April 1726, Aged 8 months. Also the Body of James Feild who Departed this Life the 24 Day of January, 1749-50, aged (27?) Years.” Near to is a small headstone, inscribed — HERE LYeth The BodY of Ralf LOUet W hO deParted ThiS Life The 24 of OCtO 1722 Opposite to the Wright’s family vault is a headstone, in¬ scribed :— “Sacred to the Memory of John Aspin, late Rough Rider in the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, who after serving his King & Country faithfully seven years & eight months fell a Victim to the King of Terrour on the 10th Day of December 1800, in the 29th year of his age. “ No Routes nor Riots now molest, Safe in this hallowed Ground, I’ll wait ’till Christ shall call the blest, By the last Trumpet's sound.” Upon another headstone :— “ Sacred to the Memory of William Pattin, Cornet in the late 23^ Light Drag s , Aged 32 years; who departed this Life the 22l d of April, 1804 : was born in the 7 l . h Dragoon Guards where he remained until he was 29 years of age.” PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 26l Upon another headstone :— “ In Memory of Anthony Alexander, Infant Son of Ant y Alex r O’Reilly, Esq!? of the Fourth, or Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, and Ann his wife. He died May the io l . h 1810 Aged 14 months. Upon a plain headstone, near the last :— “Sacred to the Memory of Lucy Abigail Rich Scales, the Daughter of William Scales, Sergl Major of the 9‘. h L‘. D rs , and Emma his Wife. She departed this life Feb y if 1816. Aged 18 months.” Upon a large square tomb on the south-east side of the churchyard, is this inscription :— Within this Tomb are deposited the Remains of John Chamberlain, who died the 18‘.l 1 April, 1810, Aged 85 Years. Also Elizabeth his Wife who died the 7‘. h January, 1810, Aged 80 Years. In another part of the churchyard is the vault of the Needham family, formerly of Lenton House, on the covering stones of which “ M.N. 1822.” is deeply incised. Above are two plain slate slabs ; one stating that Matthew Needham died August 1st, 1840, aged 41 ; that Maty, his wife, died August 26th, 1837, aged 68 ; and that Caroline, his daughter, died March 15th, 1850, aged 44; and the other, that Henry Enfield died July 23rd, 1869, aged 66, and Eleanor Sara, his wife, died June 1st, 1880, aged 67. Immediately adjoining, is a plain monument, bearing the following epitaph, written by the Rev. John Kenrick, M.A., of York, in memory of the Rev. Henry Turner, a Unitarian Minister, of Nottingham, who died January 31st, 1822, aged 29 years : — 1 (1) For an obituary article on this minister, see “ The Monthly Repository,” vol. xvii., p. 121. 262 THE HISTORY OF THE H. S. E. Henricus Turner. V.D.M. Ecclesiae Nottinghamiensis Unum Deum Patrem, Mediatore Christo, colentium Per quinquennium fere, alter e Pastoribus. Quo, morte, ipsi non immatura, abrepto, Filium, conjugem, amicum Pietate, sanctitate, ingenio, praestantem. Consuetudine, et sermonibus jucundissimurn Sui desiderant, Ecclesia vero se vitae duce ac magistro Ad omnem honestatem Non praeceptis magis quam exemplo incitante Orbatum esse testatur. Obiit Prid. Kal. Febr. A.D. M.DCCC.XXII, JE tat. XXIX. A short distance from this is a headstone bearing a singular inscription in memory of Eliza Place, who died February nth, 1835, aged 31 years. Close to is a large monument bearing the following inscription in memory of Francis Evans, Esq., of Lenton Grove:— M. S. Francisci Evans Armig ri . Obiit die quarto Octobris A.D. MDCCCXV, aetatis LX. Vir, Pater, Maritus, Pietate Ingenio Moribus, Vere praestans. Quern eruditum fuisse Lector Testatur Doctorum consensus ; Quern et dilectum, Uxoris eheu, et trium Filiarum, Necnon amicorum lacrymae ; Virtutum denique in Bonorum omnium desiderio Comprobationem videas !! PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 263 In the middle of the churchyard, on the west side of the footpath, is a stone monument having on one side a slate slab bearing an inscription, but as the tomb has sunk into the ground only the following portion of the inscription is visible. “To the Memory of M r James Thain who died April the 7th 1771, Aged 70 years.” Near to is a small headstone inscribed :— RICHARD DAWSON BVRIED THE 30 OF DECEM 1683 A very small stone bears the date 1677, but no further inscription. This is the earliest date in the churchyard. There is, however, another stone, probably older, inscribed :— E. H. GRIEVE NOT AT ALE THE LORD DOTH CALL Another old stone is inscribed JEREMIAH ROADES WAS BVRIED THE 10 OF IVLY 1678. The erection of tombstones in churchyards was not a common practice prior to about the middle of the seventeenth century. 1 (1) See Notes and Queries (3 rd scries, vi., passim) for many interesting particulars on this point. 264 THE HISTORY OF THE The New Church. The New Church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, 1 stands midway between Old and New Lenton. The first stone was laid June nth, 1841, by Francis Wright, Esq., of Lenton Hall, who contributed 3,000 towards its cost, besides giving the land for the site, and the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Lin¬ coln, October 6th, 1842. It is a large stone building, with high pitched slated roofs, and consists of a nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, chancel, vestry, organ chamber, north porch, and lofty square pinnacled tower. The style of archi¬ tecture is the Early English, but the general effect of the building is far from pleasing, the high narrow clerestory placed upon its disproportionate side aisles giving it a distorted appearance. “ It is not impossible that the prejudice in favour of building the tower at the west end, coupled with the rule not to build one narrower than the clerestory, and with the fact that the funds were not sufficient to make the tower larger than it is, was the cause of the pinched up proportion of the clerestory, while an idea of future side galleries was the cause of the heavy looking side aisles being combined with the said lank clerestory. If so, Mr. Stephens [the architect of the church] deserves more credit and less blame than most spectators will award to him.” A clock was placed in the tower in 1844 ; it is now illuminated, and, in connection with the bells, plays the Cambridge chimes at the hours and quarters. Previous to the year 1856, the tower contained only one bell, but in that year five additional bells, cast by Messrs. Taylor & Co., of Loughborough, were placed (1) This was the dedication of the Priory. It has already been remarked that previous to the dissolution- of the monastery there does not seem to have been a parish church, properly so-called, though some portion of the conventual church was doubtless appropriated to the use of the parishioners. The village feast, or wakes, was formerly held on Trinity Sunday, but at a meeting of the inhabitants, convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of altering the annual feast from Trinity Sunday to Whit-Sunday, held in the parish church on April 15th, 1805, it was “resolved unanimously as the opinion of this meeting that it is desirable that the annual feast, which has hitherto been held in Trinity week, shall he kept in Whitsun-week for the future ; and also that an advertisement declaratory of this resolution be twice inserted in the ‘ Nottingham Journal,’ and that the lord of the manor, the minister of the parish, and the churchwardens and overseers be requested to sign this advertisement.” This alteration was duly carried out, and the feast is still nominally observed at Whitsuntide. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 26 S therein, through the liberality of Mr. John Shaw, churchwarden. The bells are in the key of A, and, although somewhat deficient in weight, are very musical in tone. The bells are thus inscribed :— First (or treble)—“ Lord have mercy upon us.” Second—“ Christ have mercy upon us.” Third—“ Lord have mercy upon us.” Fourth—“ O Lord save the Queen.” Fifth—“Thomas Mears, Founder, London, 1842.” Sixth (or tenor)—“ Hallelujah.” In addition to these inscriptions, each of the bells, with the exception of the fifth (the old bell), has upon it : “ George Browne, Vicar. Thomas Hopkins, Curate. Thomas Adams, Lace Merchant, John Shaw, Tanner and Fellmonger, 18 V. (Crown) R. 56.” Churchwardens. For several years after the erection of the church, the east end of the chancel, which was partitioned off from the remainder of the church, was used for the purposes of a vestry, but in 1862 the partition was removed, and a vestry erected on the south side of the chancel. This alteration brought to view the reredos, erected in 1858, at a cost of ^43. It is executed in Ancaster stone, the Agnus Dei being carved in the centre, and bears the Lord’s Prayer, Decalogue, and Apostles’ Creed, upon panels of Hill’s patent consolidated glass. The organ chamber was erected on the north side of the chancel in 1870. The church contains three stained glass windows. The east window of three lights, and containing conventional floral devices in brilliant colours, with the text, “ For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord will cause righteous¬ ness and peace to spring forth before all the nations,” has the following inscription :—“ Erected by his sons, friends, and tenants in memory of Francis Wright, Esq re ., the founder of this 266 THE HISTORY OF THE Church.—Born Dec. 21, 1806. Died Feb. 24, 1873.” The second window, to the memory of Thomas Adams, Esq., is in the south aisle. It is of two lights, each divided into two com¬ partments, and represents the Pharisee and Publican in the Temple, with the text, “ God be merciful to me a sinner the just steward, with the text, “ Well done good and faithful servantthe return of the prodigal son, with the text, “ Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;” and the good Samaritan, with the text, “ Go and do thou likewise.” At the foot of the window is the inscription, “ To the memory of Thomas Adams, Esq. J.P., of Lenton Firs, Born Feb. 5, 1807. Died May 16, 1873. Erected as a testimony of the high esteem of his friends and neighbours.” Painted on the wall above the window is the Crest (somewhat inaccurately represented) granted to the late Mr. Adams. A small window at the east end of the south aisle is also to the memory of the same gentleman. It represents in the upper portion a woman instructing her child in the Scrip¬ tures ; in the lower portion is an open book, on the pages of which is written, “ All flesh is as grass, all the glory of man is as the flowers of grass.” The window bears these inscriptions, “ From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures,” and “ In memory of Thos Adams Esq re J.P. 1873.” The memorial tablets in the church, six in number, are all of white marble. On the north wall of the chancel, near the east end, is a large tablet bearing the Crest of the Wright family and the following inscription :— Crest .—A unicorn’s head argent , erased gules , armed and maned or, charged on the neck with three spear heads, one and two, of the second. In affectionate memory of John WRIGHT, of Lenton Hall, Esquire, Who died April 21? 1840, aged 81 years. And of Elizabeth, his wife, eldest daughter of Francis BERESFORD, Esquire, of Ashbourne, who died Dec! i8 l . h 1833, aged 74 years. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 26/ Also of JOHN, their eldest son, who died at Naples, JanY 24 l . h 1828, aged 35 years. Also of Annie, wife of Richard Perrin Esq ! 6 and niece of the above, Who died at Lenton Hall in 1838 and was interred in the same vault in the old churchyard. “ Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah i. 18. Upon another tablet on the south wall of the chancel:— Sacred To the memory of Joseph Fenton who died March 22, 1853, aged 67 years. And of Ann, his wife, who died December 14, 1853, aged 60 years. “ Enter not into judgement with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.” Near to the last are two tablets, thus inscribed :— In affectionate remembrance of Elizabeth Anne, the beloved wife of the Rev? George Browne, Vicar of this Parish, She fell asleep Dec r . 8 th 1870, aged 63 years “ Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” “ Her children arise up and call her blessed.” 268 THE HISTORY OF THE Also to the memory of William John, who died May 31^ 1858, aged 2 years, Edward, who died May i8 l . h 1842, aged 12 years, James Peter, died January I4 t . h 1844, aged 6 months, and Denis George, Died February I9'. h 1848, aged 19 years. The beloved children of Rev? George & Elizabeth Anne Browne. “I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Isaiah, 44. 3. On another tablet near, is :— In loving memory of Francis Browne B.A. Late Vicar of Christ Church, Enfield, And some time Curate of this Parish. Born October 7 th 1844, Fell asleep in Jesus Aug 8 th 1879, “ He walked with God and was not, For God took him.” “ To be with Christ which is far better.” In the south aisle is a tablet, surmounted with a Crest and Motto, thus inscribed:— Crest .—A talbot passant sable , semee of cinquefoils or, resting the dexter paw upon a mullet of the last. Motto. A nimo Fideque To the memory of their beloved Father Thomas Adams of Lenton Firs, J.P. for the Borough and County of Nottingham, This tablet is erected by his grateful children. He was born 5‘. h Feb? 1807, Fell asleep in Jesus May i6 l . h 1873, And was buried in the Church Cemetery. “ He was a faithful man and feared God above many.” Heb : 7. 2. “By the grace of God I am what I am.” 1 Cor. 15. 10. PARISH AND FRIORY OF LENTON. 269 Also in memory of their beloved mother, Lucy Adams, Born Atig st 28 th 1807, died Aug st 28 th 1874. “Safe in the arms of Jesus.” “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” Psalm 112, 6. A large gallery, capable of seating 214 persons, extends, across the west end of the nave. Beneath this gallery stands the font, which undoubtedly belonged to Lenton Priory, and was probably placed in the old parish church at the dissolution of the Priory. For several years it stood in the garden of the late Mr. Stretton, to whom it had been presented by the then churchwardens, but it was restored to the parish church on the erection of the new fabric in 1842, by Lieut.- Colonel Stretton, at the request of the present Vicar. When first placed in the new church, it stood on four pedestals near the chancel, but was afterwards removed to its present position, and placed on a plain stone slab. This font, one of the finest and most perfect examples of Norman work remaining in this county, is of a square form, measuring 34 inches by 30 inches, and is 30 inches high. The sculptures upon its sides are both curious and interesting, and have evidently been coloured. At one end is a very curious representation of the Crucifixion, the figure of the Saviour occupying the centre, extended upon a large cross with foliated ends. On the right is a soldier piercing His side with a spear, and on either side are the two thieves upon smaller crosses. From the mouth of one issues a small figure, representing his soul, flying upwards, and from the mouth of the other issues a similar figure falling into the extended jaws of a huge monster, the head of which only is seen. Above this group are figures of angels represented in the act of swinging censers. At the opposite end of the font is a large cross of ornamental foliage. One side is divided into a double row of recesses, each of which is occupied by the figure of an angel or cherub, excepting the central one of the lower row, of larger size than the others which contains a group considered to represent Christ’s descent 2/0 THE HISTORY OF THE from the cross. A fair engraving of this side is given in Paley’s “ Baptismal Fonts.” The other side is in four divisions. Mr. M. H. Bloxam, the veteran archaeologist, is of opinion that the first may represent Christ before Pilate, the second appears to be the Resurrection, the third is the three Marys going to the sepulchre, and the fourth represents the church built over the sepulchre. The bowl measures 30 inches by 26 inches, and is 18 inches deep. It is of quatrefoil form, and appears to have been intended for the practice of immersion. The top is ornamented with eight fleur-de-lys, and there is evidence of the former existence of hinges. The font is placed in an inconvenient position for inspection, and although it possesses a water drain, it has not, until recently, been used for the purpose for which it was intended, the rite of Holy Baptism having been performed by means of water contained in a basin placed inside the font. The communion plate is of the same date as the church. At the west end of the nave is a board, removed from the old church, recording the following charitable bequest— “ 1781. 1 Mrs. Reb: Garland left to the Vicar and Church¬ wardens of Lenton, for the time being, Ten Pounds, the Interest to be given in Bread on St. Thomas’s Day, to such poor Persons as do not receive Parochial Relief” Another board has inscribed upon it— “This Church was built in the year 1842, by which means Six Hundred and Eighty four additional sittings were obtained; and in consequence of a Grant from the Incorporated Society for promoting the Enlargement, Building, and Repairing of Churches and Chapels, Four Hundred and Forty of that number are hereby declared to be FYee and Unappropriated. The provision of Church-room in the Parish previously to the building of this Church being to the extent of Two Hundred and seventy six Sittings, Seventy of which number were P'ree. A Plan, showing the number and situation of the I'ree Seats is fixed up in the Vestry Room. George Browne, Vicar. Francis Wright, Samuel Keetley, Churchwardens.’ (1) Why this date is given we are unable to explain. Reference to the Garland pedigree (see p. 212) shows that Rebecca Garland died in 1769, and was buried in the old parish church of Lenton on the 22nd of January in that year. Sci^Lt Ti 5 J*l. Font from Lenton Priory PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 271 The churchyard, enlarged in 1859, contains a few monuments worthy of notice. In a corner near the tower is one in memory of John Shaw, formerly churchwarden of Lenton, who died October 26th, 1864, aged 59 years, and of Margaret, his wife, who died April nth, 1869, aged 63 years. Other monuments are to the memory of William Weatherall, who died April 24th, 1 873, aged 29 years ; George Stanton, who died July 1 ith, 1882, aged 80, and Hannah, his wife, who died April 20th, 1882, aged 80 ; John Froggatt, of Lenton Poplars, who died April 28th, 1861, aged 71, and Sarah, his wife, who died November 14th, 1879, aged 90; John Godfrey, who died December 25th, i860, aged 73 years, and Jane, his wife, who died April 29th, 1883, aged 96 years; William Kirk, who died August 13th, 1866, aged 59 ; and Thomas Wood, of Dunkirk, who died November 23rd, 1879, aged 45 years. There is also a plain granite slab near the end of the chancel in memory of Alice Josephine Smith Wright, and Caroline Henrietta Smith Wright, infant children of Henry Smith Wright, Esq., of Lenton Hall ; the former died May 25th, 1871, and the latter died February 24th, 1873. By an order of the Privy Council, dated March 20th, 1857, it was directed that from and after the first of April following, burials should be discontinued in Lenton New Church, and in the burial ground adjoining within three yards of the church, “with the exception of now existing vaults and walled graves, which can be opened without disturbing soil that has been already buried in, and in which each coffin shall be embedded in a layer of powdered charcoal, four inches thick, and be separately entombed in an airtight manner,” and, that “with the exception of vaults and family graves, only one body be buried in a grave, and, that with the same exception, no grave be re¬ opened.” SECTION VII. THE PARISH REGISTERS; CHURCHWARDENS’ ACCOUNTS; AND PAROCHIAL CHARITY. “ Untwist the linked bouts of pedigree, And on a point where Garter’s self might err, Quote—fearless quote—the Parish Register.” HE Parish Registers 1 date back to the year 1540, and the entries of baptisms, marriages, and burials, from that year down to 1748, with certain ex¬ ceptions, are contained in four volumes of parch¬ ment. These registers are, with two exceptions (those of Ordsall and Askham), the oldest in the county of Nottingham, but it is somewhat remarkable that only the marriages and burials date from 1540, no baptisms being recorded prior to 1598. 2 The first volume is in good preservation, and is (1) Extracts from these registers were first published in “The Reliquary” (Vol. XIII., p. 11.) by Major A. E. Lawson Lowe, F.S.A., to whom we are indebted for the numerous annotations that follow. (2) The original mandate for keeping registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials in each parish was issued in 1536, but seems to have been only partially carried into effect, for parish registers that date back beyond 1550 are comparatively uncommon. The mandate was repeated in more rigorous terms on the accession of Queen Eliza¬ beth, hence the number of registers which date from about that period. In 1597, it was ordained that parchment books should be provided in every parish, and all the names from the older books (which had been kept on paper) should be therein transcribed. The Lenton registers, so far as the marriages and burials are concerned, appear to have been copied, as directed, in £598, but the baptisms, for some unknown reason, were not copied in like manner, and consequently they only date from that year. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 273 evidently a copy of the original paper register. Nearly all the entries are in Latin, and the writing being neat, may be read without much difficulty. The book consists of thirty-eight leaves, 13 f inches long by 5! inches wide, and is without covers. The first page commences—“A Register of all wedings as they are founde In the oulde Register Booke since the year 1540, etc.,” and the marriages are continued to the end of the year 1652, except that the leaves containing the marriages from February, 1589, to December, 1612, and from October, 1644, to December, 1647, are missing. The burials then follow from February, 1541, to September, 1647, but a leaf containing the entries of burials from 1589 to the earlier part of 1593 has been abstracted from the registers, and the volume concludes with the baptisms which commence in 1598, and continue until September, 1651, except that the leaves containing the baptisms from March 25th, 1626, to July, 1629, and from September, 1651, to December, 1655, are lost. At the bottom of the last page of this volume is written:— “ Gulielmus Rudsby, Vicarius, natus Anno Domi 1663, sexto die mensis martij, cui dedit Oxonium mamas Wintonia cunas.” The second volume consists of fifteen leaves, 13^ inches by 6 inches, with a front parchment cover. It is badly written, and is in many places quite illegible. It commences—“A true and p’fect Register of all that are borne within the parish of Lenton, begun in y e yeare 1655,” and the baptisms are con¬ tinued to March 25th, 1678. The marriages commence in March, 1655, and continue until the end of 1678, and the burials follow from 1653 to the end of 1678. The third volume consists of fifteen leaves, 12 inches by 6 b inches, and back parchment cover. It is in very indifferent condition, and the entries are carelessly written. It com¬ mences with the baptisms from 1679 to 1706, then follow the marriages from March 25th, 1680, to the end of 1707, and after these are the burials from 1679 to 1707. The burials for 1692, 1693, and 1694, are written on the inside of the back cover. The fourth volume is of larger size, and written with much greater care. It consists of 49 leaves, 15I inches by 7 inches, 19 2/4 TIIE HISTORY OF THE and is bound in parchment covers. This volume contains the baptisms from 1706 to 1784, the marriages from 1708 to the end of 1753, and the burials from 1707 to 1784. The words “ Insp d W. Lister” are written in the margins of the entries of baptisms and burials between September 12th and October nth, 1784, indicating that the register had been inspected between those dates. The following are the entries in the first four volumes which appear most worthy of note :— Volume I. 1540. John Warton and Joan Matthew, married 26 February. 1541. Thomas Ducket, buried 8 February. — John Warton, buried 14 September. 1548. Robert Ward and Isabella Mirrian, married 22 January. 1568. Robert Taylor and Katherine Birche, married 20 January. 1 573 - Richard Norwood and Agnes Robinson, married 17 May. 1577. “ Radulphus Lees nupt est 17 die April.” (No mention of the wife). — “ Mulier qusedam pauper sepulta est 22 die Maij.” 1578. “ Puer quidam pastor sepultus est 13 die Aprilis.” Isabella, daughter of Richard Lecester, buried 28 June. Anne Lecester, mother of James Lecester, Gent.,* buried 18 July. 1580. Jane, wife of James Lecester, Gent., buried 19 November. 1582. Cicilia Cost, the wife of the herdsman ( bubulci ), buried 8 August. — Luke, son of John Lecester, buried 13 December. 1584. John, son of John Lecester, buried 14 July. 1585. Cassandra Wood, buried 11 January. 1586. William Gregory and Elizabeth Dolphin, married 17 April. — William Warde and Anne Matthew, married 16 May. 1587. William Chamberlaine and Elizabeth Clialens, married 24 April. Margaret, daughter of James Lecester, buried 12 July. Thomas fforster, 1 2 minister, and Jane Digbye, married 24 December. Peter Toule and Catherine Toule, married 29 January. 1588. Alice Mirian, buried 25 May. (1) No particulars as to this family have been seen. Some of the Lecesters were resident in the parish of Lenton as late as about the middle of the last century, but, apparently, in somewhat reduced circumstances, for they do not seem to have then ranked amongst the gentry. (2) Thomas Forster, here described as “minister,” was possibly stipendiary curate of Lenton, but was never incumbent of the living. As may be seen from the list of vicars (p. 242), John Fisher was presented to the benefice in 1572, which he held until his decease in 1592. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 275 1588. William Bushelh and Aloisia Matthew, married 25 July. George, son of James Lecester, Gent., buried 20 December. 1589. James Charnocke, Gent., and Anna Faile, married 4 February. 1594. William Dolphin, yeoman, buried 4 October. — Humphrey, son of James Lecester, buried 13 January. 1595. Meriella (Muriel?) wife of John Wood, clerk,2 buried 12 June. William Warde, buried 26 October. Henry Lecester, Gent., buried 11 February. Humphrey Gilbert, yeoman, buried 24 March. 1596. William Bushell ,3 yeoman, buried 15 June. 1597. Samuel Byllay, a youth, buried 21 May. “ Tho: Graisley porcarius sepultus est 26 die Augusti.” William Lovelas, Gent., buried 2 September. Robert Walker, miller, buried 21 October. Helen, wife of Ralph Mirian ,4 buried 3 February. 1598. Francis, son of John Pearson, baptized 17 April. 1599. “Richards Gatneby, Eboracensis,” buried 10 July. — Margaret, daughter of William Gregorye, baptized 19 August. 1600. William, son of Christopher Mirrian, buried 30 January. 1601. Bathshuah, daughter of William Foster, Gent., baptized 3 April. “A soldier, formerly of Lincolnshire, whose name is unknown to us,” buried 25 October. “Jana Pillinge peregrina sepulta est 2omo die Martij.” “ Tha’s filius Andreas Bradforde, bapt est 26*° die Nove’bris qui quidem Tha’s natus erat in monasterio in domo Th’sa. Birche.” 1602. “ Fraciscus filia Joh’is LeemingeS bap. apud Radford Iimo f ]i e Maij.” [inserted.] Frances daughter of William Cliffe,6 minister, baptized 29 August. James Lecester, a youth, son of James Lecester, Gent., buried 27 December. Elizabeth, daughter of John Brouley, Gent., buried 3 Feb. (1) See his burial in 1596, and hers in 1606. (2) Meriella Wood was wife of John Wood, vicar of Lenton, who had been pre¬ sented to the living about two years previously. See his burial in 1623. (3) The will of William Bussell, of Lenton, in the county of Nottingham, gentle¬ man, dated May the 22nd, 1596, was proved in the Prerogative Court of York, October the 7th, that same year. He desires thereby that his body may be interred within the parish church of Lenton. (4) The Herald’s Visitations record that Richard Willoughby, of Grendon, in Warwickshire (the representative of a younger branch of the Willoughbys of Wollaton), married Elizabeth, daughter of Ralph Mirian, of Lenton, assumably identical with the above. (Iiarl. MSS., 1400-1555.) Several entries relative to members of the Mirian, or Merrian, family are to be found in the earlier portion of the Lenton registers. (5) This entry has been obviously interpolated, probably by Robert Ollerenshawe, vicar of Lenton, to whom this Frances Leemeinge was married in 1629. See that year. (6) “ William Cliffe, minister,” has not been identified. 276 TIIE HISTORY OF THE 1603. “Johes filius Johes Byshopp ut asseritur ex Helena Fenton genitus bapt est 151° die Octobris.” » 1604. Richard Toone, Gent., buried 21 October. 1605. Catherine, wife of Peter Toule, buried 6 April. 1606. Aloicia, wife of William Bushell, Gent., buried 17 July. — John Lecester, Gent., buried 12 September. 1607. William Foster, Gent., buried 29 March. 1608. Thomas Smedley, miller, buried 16 Jan. 1609. Elizabeth, daughter of Ralph Runington, Esquire, * buried 10 October. 1612. Mary, dau. of Sir Thomas Cave, Knight,3 buried 15 August. — Bridgett, dau. of Richard Willoughby, Gent ,4 bapt. 24 October. 1613. John, son of Thomas Wood, Gent.,5 bapt. 20 September (born 17 Sep¬ tember). — Edward, son of Edward Leicester, baptized 25 March. — Anne, daughter of James Lecester, Gent., buried 29 November. 1615. John Brown, painter, buried 18 July. Mary, wife of James Lecester, Gent., buried 15 September. — James Lecester, Gent., buried 12 November. Roger Ayskough and Mary Ouldfeeld, married 31 Jan. 1616. Frances, daughter of Thomas Wood, Gent., baptized 22 September (born 11 September). — Mary, daughter of Edward Lecester, baptized 2 February. 1617. Sarah, wife of William Forster, Gent., buried 7 July. 1618. “ Anthonius Harison6 custos de Nott: parke sepultus est 9 no die Junij.” — Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wood, Gent., baptized 10 July (born 3 T ul y)- 1619. “Anna filia Guilielmi Ward agricolse bapt. est 171110 die Octobris.” Robert Cowlishaw and Mary Leemeinge, married 25 November. (1) A not unusual form of registration of baptisms of illegitimate children. (2) There was an armigerous family of the name of Bunington or Bonington seated at Barrowcote, in Derbyshire, at this period. The Visitation of Derbyshire, made in 1662, shows that William Bonington, of Barrowcote, had a younger son, Ralph, contemporary with the above, who was married and had issue. (3) Sir Thomas Cave, the father of the child whose burial is recorded above, was of Stanford, in Leicestershire, and was the eldest son of Roger Cave, Esq., of that place. His grandson was created a baronet in 1641. It is somewhat difficult to understand how a child of Sir Thomas Cave’s came to be buried at Lenton. (4) Bridget Willoughby was the youngest daughter of Richard Willoughby, of Grendon, in Warwickshire, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Ralph Mirian, of Lenton. (5) Thomas Wood, the father of the child whose baptism is here recorded, was the son of John Wood, vicar of Lenton. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Richard Willoughby, of Grendon, by whom he had several children. The baptisms of four of his daughters are recorded in the Lenton registers, in 1616, 1618, 1619-20, and 1621. The burial of Thomas Wood, gentleman, appears in the Radford registers in 1639. (6) Nottingham Bark was well stocked with deer until about the year 1750 ; after then the Park was let to the people of Nottingham for their cattle to graze in. The custom of interring at Lenton the remains of those who died within the limits of Nottingham Park or Standard Hill has already been remarked upon. (See p. 255). PARISH AND PRIORY OF DENTON. 2 77 1619. Elizabeth daughter of Andrew Naile, of London, bapt. 2 Jan. Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Wood, bapt. 16 Feb. 1620. Bryan Bylay, Esquire, buried 4 March. 1621. Brigetta, daughter of Thomas Wood, Gent., baptized 9 November (born 7 November). 1622. Humphrey, son of Philip Hanmer, Gent.p baptized 15 Aug. 1623. John Wood, clerk,2 buried 10 September. — “ Advena qui claudus erat sepult i7to die Novem.” 1625. “Anna filia Gulielm. Wright (paup ignotus) bapta 2 To the glory of God and in memory of John Ward.” On the east wall are four marble tablets, removed from the old chapel in St. James’s Street. They commemorate (1) the Rev. John Wild, pastor of that chapel from July, 1832, to May, 1868, born Jan. 25, 1801, died Jan. 7, 1871 ; (2) Mary, wife of the Rev. John Wild, died Feb. 8, 1861, aged 62; (3) Alderman William Wilson, deacon, died Oct. 26, 1833, aged 64; (4) Mary, wife of Mr. John Harrison, deacon; she was for nearly 40 years a member of the chapel, “ having been one of four persons who constituted this church at its formation in 1824”; died at Southport, October 12, 1863, aged 69. The style of architecture is Middle Pointed, the materials used being red Loughborough bricks, with dressings of Mansfield and Ancaster stone, the walls internally being finished in trowelled stucco. Externally, the principal feature is the front to the Derby road. It consists of a central gable, rising to a height of seventy feet above the road, and contains the principal entrance. Over the THE HISTORY OF LENTON. 302 entrance doorway are two-light tracericd windows, over which again the gable is relieved by stone panelling and tracery. The gable is flanked on each side by a turret, that on the east side being surmounted by a gabled pinnacle, panelled and traceried, terminating in a cross. In the rear of the chapel is a lecture-hall, to seat 150 persons, and two commodious class¬ rooms or vestries ; but these are only of a temporary character, the building being designed with a view to enlargement at a future date. The chapel is designed to seat 500 persons on the ground floor, and about 100 in the end gallery. The memorial stone was laid June 15th, 1882, by Mr. Arnold Morley, M.P. for Nottingham, and the chapel was opened April nth, 1883. SECTION XI. THE FAIRS. AIRS held under the shadow of the convent gates, with their attendant pastime and mirth, enriched taverner and tradespeople by the influx of mer¬ chants, visitors, and customers from all parts. “ Resides the men who came for serious business, there would be a mob of pleasure-seekers also. The crowds of people of all ranks and classes from every part of the country, with the consequent variety of costume in material, fashion, and colour— the knight’s helm and coat of mail, or embroidered jupon and plumed bonnet, the lady’s furred gown and jewels, the mer¬ chant’s sober suit of cloth, the minstrel’s gay costume, and the jester’s motley, the monk’s robe and cowl, and the peasant’s smock frock, continually in motion up and down the streets of the temporary canvas town, the music of the minstrels, the cries of the traders, the loud talk and laughter of the crowd—must have made up a picturesque scene full of animation.” 1 Pro¬ visions, furniture, and clothing were usually purchased by the country people at the fairs held in their respective neighbour¬ hoods, which were frequently the only means of social intercourse enjoyed by the people. Occasional scraps of news were ob¬ tained from travellers, and something of state affairs was learned from the strolling minstrel, who was often welcomed as much (i) Cutt’s Characters of the Middle Ages, p. 506. 3°4 TIIE HISTORY OF THE for his gossip as for his song, but the annual re-union of the country people took place at the fairs. The inhabitants then made merry with fresh arrivals of welcome guests, and the cellarer took the first choice of all wares exhibited on the stalls in the fair conceded by charter to the convent. It has been stated 1 that previous to the year 1163, a fa' 1 ' °f eight days, commencing on the feast of St. Martin in every year, was granted to Lenton Priory by King Henry the Second. This grant, which conferred on the monks many privileges to the exclusion of the town of Nottingham, was confirmed April 6th, 1200, by a charter of King John. 2 In the 26th or 27th year of King Edward I., the Chancellor and Barons of the Exchequer enjoined the Sheriff of Notting¬ ham and Derby (then present in the Court) to cause, by himself and his Bailiffs, the King’s Peace to be kept at the Lenton Fair, which was then near at hand, so that the Peace might not be broken through the neglect of him or his Bailiffs. 3 4 The restrictions imposed on the inhabitants of Nottingham during the continuance of Lenton fair, and the possible pre¬ ference of traders to bring their goods to Lenton fair rather than to the two fairs held annually at Nottingham/ resulted in a con¬ tention, about the year 1300, between the Prior of Lenton and the Mayor of Nottingham as to their respective rights and privileges. This dispute was settled by the following agreement (1) See p. 106. (2) See p. 117. This grant was again confirmed by the Inspeximus Charter of King Edward II., 29 Aug., 1316. (3) “ Notingham. Prteceptum factum Vicecomiti Notingamias pro Pace servanda. Memorandum quod die S. Leonardi Abbatis, prtesente hie Radulpho de Schirlegh Vicecomite Notingamise & Derbire, Injunction est eidem Vicecomiti per Cancellarium & Barones de Scaccario Regis, quod per se & Ballivos suos, custodiri faciat Pacem Domini Regis in Nundinis de Lenton quae erunt ad instans festum S. Martini; Ita quod Pax Domini Regis pro negligencia sua & suorurn Ballivorum non laedatur ibidem ; maxime pro eo quod Prioratus Loci praedicti de Lenton in manu Domini Regis esse dinoscitur, eo quod Prior ejusdem Alienigena est et de Potestate Regis Fiancice. Alic/i. Commiinia , 26 & 27, E. I., Rot. 5. b.” Madox “ History of the Exchequer,” vol. ii, p. 106. (4) King Edward I., by charter given at Lincoln, February 12, 1283, granted to the burgesses of Nottingham, in addition to their fair of eight days at the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, a second fair of fifteen days at the feast of Saint Edmund the King and Martyr, “unless this fair shall be to the damage of neighbouring fairs.” (Rot. Chart., 12 Ed. I., No. 51.) The latter fair was exchanged by charter of King Richard II., dated March 19, 1377, on the petition of the Mayor and burgesses, for a fair of five days at St. Peter in Cathedra. (Nottingham Borough Records, i. 194.) PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON, 305 from which it will be seen that the Prior and Convent of Lenton got the best of the bargain. From this agreement we also learn that the term of the fair had been increased from eight to twelve days by charter of King Henry III. “ Let all the faithful of Christ seeing or hearing the present writing know that, whereas contention had arisen between the Prior and Convent of Lenton, on the one part, and the Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham, on the other, in regard to the fair of Lenton, in certain liberties pertaining to that fair, the said contention between them is at length, through the mediation of discreet men, amicably settled in this wise : to wit, that the said Prior and Convent, by the unanimous assent and common counsel of their Chapter, have released and quit-claimed to the Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham, and their heirs, four days of the increment of their fair of Lenton, which the Lord Henry King of England, son of King John, granted to them, and by his charter confirmed : so that the said Prior and Convent, and their successors, shall not hold the fair except for eight days fully complete, and the fair shall begin on the eve of Saint Martin, and shall endure from the morning of the same day until the end of the eighth day. They have also granted in good faith, for them and their successors, that neither they, nor their suc¬ cessors, shall hereafter make any petition towards the Lord King, nor towards any other man, to obtain any days, beyond the eight days, for the augmentation of their fair, to the damage and detriment of the Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham, or of their heirs. Moreover the aforesaid Prior and Convent have granted, for them and their successors, to the said Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham, that cloth merchants, apothecaries, pilchers, and mercers of the community of the town, who wish to hire booths in the fair of Lenton, shall give for each bootli covered with the covering of the Prior, or of their own proper covering, I2d., for as long as the fair lasts, and each of them, according to his condition, shall have a booth amongst the other stranger merchants, to wit, the best amongst the best, and the middle class amongst the middle class, the smaller amongst the smaller, excepting those selling ‘ Blacks’ and accustomed cloths, and each of them shall give 8d. for a booth covered with their own proper covering, or not covered. And all others who may desire to hire booths shall give for every booth 8d., excepting those selling iron, and each of them who may desire to hire a booth and occupy land, shall give for the booth 4d., and if he do not occupy land, eacli of them shall give 2d. : so that tanners and shoemakers who do not occupy land, shall be quit of covered and uncovered stalls, and from all action pertaining to stallage. And be it known that each booth shall be of the measure of 8 feet in length, and 8 feet in breadth ; saving to the same 21 306 THE HISTORY OF THE merchants the appenticia [penthouses], as to other stranger merchants. Provided that none of the aforesaid merchants, of whatsoever condition he may be, through the medium of any hiring or payment, shall presume to hire a booth or booths, stall or stalls, for the use of any stranger, but only for his own use, nor shall he sell alien goods in the said booths or stalls unless for his own profit, or for the use of any Nottingham merchant. And if it shall be found that any one of the aforesaid merchants shall sell or hire, in any other way than as abovesaid, the warden of the fair shall have power to remove the said stranger merchant or merchants, with the goods found in the said booths, until they shall satisfy him for the collusion. And if any one of the afore¬ said merchants shall have necessity for more booths than one, he shall have [them] at the before-named price, and in accord¬ ance with the measure aforesaid, giving the better price for the better, and the smaller price for the smaller, in form aforesaid. The said Prior and Convent grant that the aforesaid merchants who may desire to hire stalls, and do not occupy land, shall give henceforth for the stall 2d., as they have hitherto been used to give. And if there are any who are poor, who in past times have been used to give nothing for the stalls, they shall be henceforth quit of such stallage. And all men of Nottingham buying and selling hides tanned or with the hair on, or skins, of whatsoever manner, as well dry as fresh, and all from Nottingham passing through Lenton in fair time with carts, wagons and pack-horses, shall be quit of toll and all custom. For this quittance the said Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham have granted to the said Prior and Convent of Lenton, a building in the Saturday market for ever, which Gilbert de Beeston lately held, and which his ancestors in times past assigned, by a certain composition, to the predecessors of the aforesaid Prior and Convent. Moreover each man of Nottingham shall be quit of toll of all things pertaining to his food and clothing, but of the traffic of horses, oxen, and other animals and herds, he shall give a moiety of the toll of animals bought in the fair of Lenton and led elsewhere to be sold ; but he shall give nothing for animals there slain. And the said Mayor and Burgesses have granted, for them and their successors, that no market shall be held within the town of Nottingham so long as the fair of Lenton lasts, that is to say, for eight days, of any description of merchandize, except within houses, and in doors and windows ; not selling bread and fish and meat, and other victuals, and leather, except in houses, doors, and windows. And if the said Prior and Convent, or their bailiffs, shall find anything elsewhere for sale, they shall have power to have their will thereof, without contradiction. And the said Prior and Convent, and their successors, or their bailiffs, shall receive toll in Nottingham so long as the fair lasts, to wit, for eight days, of all things of which toll ought or is used to be received according to the custom of the fair of Lenton, without PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 307 contradiction or impediment of the aforesaid Mayor and Bur¬ gesses, or their heirs, and this they grant as far as in them lies. For this receipt of toll within the borough of Nottingham, for so long as the said fair lasts, and for the acquittance of a dinner which the said Prior and Convent have been used to give to the said Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham every year, they and their successors shall render to the said Mayor and Burgesses, and their heirs, 20s. sterling on the day of Saint Edmund, at Nottingham, for ever. And the aforesaid Mayor and Burgesses, and their heirs, shall cause the said fair of Lenton to be pro¬ claimed in Nottingham, at the will and summons of the said Prior and Convent, or their bailiffs, without difficulty, that it shall begin on the before-named day, receiving from them never¬ theless full security for the said 20s., by them, to be faithfully paid to them, or their heirs, at the before-named term. More¬ over, the Mayor and Burgesses, for themselves and their heirs, have promised in good faith that they will inviolably observe, and cause to be observed, as far as is in their power, everything aforesaid. In order that this composition, as well on the part of the aforesaid Prior and Convent of Lenton, as on the part of the said Mayor and Burgesses, and their heirs, may obtain the strength of perpetual stability, the said Prior and Convent of Lenton have set their common seal to the part remaining in the possession of the often-named Mayor and Burgesses, and their heirs ; and the said Mayor and Burgesses of Nottingham have caused the seal of the Community of Nottingham to be affixed to the part remaining with the said Prior and Convent of Lenton. And be it known that all merchants of the town of Nottingham [who] may wish to hire stalls or booths in the aforesaid fair, shall stand the better class amongst the better, the middle class amongst the middle, the smaller amongst the smaller, each one according to his condition, as is contained as above in the case of cloth merchants, apothecaries, pilchers, and mercers.” 1 The four following documents relating to Lenton fair are derived from “ The Records of the Borough of Nottingham.” The first of these shows how the hireling left his master’s sheep, and went to Lenton fair, with the result that the sheep were (1) Records of the Borough of Nottingham, i. 61. There are two copies of this agreement, the original not being preserved. One was copied out of the Red Book of the Corporation in 1646 by William Flamsteed, then Town Clerk, and Arthur Rickards (whom Thoroton, p. 499, describes as “Councillor at Law”). It is signed at the bottom by them as follows : — “ Vera Copia Compositions prout intratur in libro Record. Villae Nott., et examinata, 1 Febr. 1646, per nos, Willm. I'lamsteed, Arthur Rickards.” The other copy is among Greaves’ papers, p. 50, et seq. It is also referred to in Will. Gregory’s “ Noates of the Contentes of the Redd Book ” (No. 4.771, fo. 6n.). He gives the date' “in die Sancti Edwardi apud Nott.,” — that is, November 20 — but he mentions no year, as he invariably does when one existed in his original. 308 TIIE HISTORY OF THE lodged in the pinfold at Nottingham, to the damage of their owner. The second gives the particulars of an action brought by a glover of Nottingham against a workman for failing to cut and work, according to agreement, 22 dozens of gloves in time for sale at Lenton fair. The demand for gloves at this date must have been considerable. The third is an action for deceit in the quality of ale bought for sale at Lenton fair; whilst the fourth is an action for the theft of bows brought to Nottingham for sale at Lenton fair. I. —November 15, 1385. “ Roger Wilding, of Radford, makes plaint of Richard Jeffson Nanneson, of Radford, on a plea of trespass : pledge of prosecuting the plea—John de Breadsall : that whereas the said Richard was engaged to serve the afore¬ said Roger from the feast of Saint Martin in Winter, in the eighth year of the reign of the present King, until Sunday next after the feast of Saint Martin in Winter, in the ninth year of King Richard the Second, to take care of his sheep, the said Richard, on the eve of Saint Martin now last past, went to the fair of Lenton without the license of the said Roger, and left his sheep uncared for, so that through the default of the said Richard the aforesaid sheep were taken by Henry Hostiler, of Notting¬ ham, at Nottingham, and were placed in the Pinfold for two days, to the damage of the said Roger of 40 shillings, wherefore he enters suit, etc. And the said Richard comes, and acknow¬ ledged himself to be guilty ; and afterwards by license [of the Court] the parties aforesaid are agreed, and the said Richard is in ‘ misericordia.’ ” r II. —November 29, 1396. “ Thomas de Lenton, glover, makes plaint of Thomas del Peek on a plea of trespass and contempt against the Statute, that whereas the same Thomas del Peek, in the week next before the feast of the Nativity of Saint John, in the 20th year of the reign of the present King, made an agree¬ ment, here at Nottingham, with the aforesaid Thomas de Lenton to cut and work 22 dozens of gloves of the gloves of the afore¬ said Thomas de Lenton, so that the same Thomas de Lenton should have every week from the said Thomas del Peek two dozens of gloves, well and faithfully cut and worked, until the eve of Saint Martin then next following, no week being wanting of the aforesaid two dozens being wanting in work, so that he should have all the aforesaid 22 dozens between the feasts of Saint Martin and Michael, taking for the dozen 3d. until 5s. 6d. for leather bought from the said Thomas de Lenton should have been paid back, the same Thomas del Peek only cut 6 dozens (1) Records of Borough of Nottingham, i. 232. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 309 and 4 pairs of gloves of the aforesaid 22 dozens, and left 16 dozens and 8 pairs unworked, which the same Thomas de Lenton should have sold at the Fair of Lenton and of the working of the aforesaid Thomas del Peek, and he has never had them, but was deceived in default of the aforesaid Thomas del Peek, and so he says that the same Thomas has broken the said agreement with him, whereby the same Thomas de Lenton is injured and has received damages to the value of 20s., wherefore he enters suit, etc. And the aforesaid Thomas del Peek comes in his own person, and defends the force and injury, etc., and says that he broke no agreement with him as he has above set forth against him, and as to this he places himself upon the country ; and the other likewise. Therefore the Bailiffs are commanded to cause 12 [jurors] to come between them against the next [Court], etc. Mainpernor of the aforesaid Thomas del Peek to await the in¬ quest of the Court, or for damages, if they be adjudged : Thomas Bulker. And now the aforesaid parties come in their own per¬ sons, and the jurors between them being formally required do not come. Therefore the Bailiffs are commanded to distrain the aforesaid jurors against the next [Court], etc. ” 1 III.—May 16, 1397. Roger [de Strelley] makes plaint of William [de Brodbury, of Nottingham,] and Agnes [his wife] on a plea of agreement, that whereas the same Roger bought from the same Agnes, here at Nottingham, on a certain day, ale of the brewing of the aforesaid Agnes before the feast of Saint Martin, in the 20th year of the reign of King Richard the Second, (at the price of) 2d. for a flagon, which ale the aforesaid Agnes guaranteed to the aforesaid Roger to make as good ale as the said Roger had previously had brewed by them at the Fair of Lenton, the said Agnes at the aforesaid time sold her best ale at Nottingham, and sent the inferior ale which she had to the aforesaid Roger, contrary to the agreement made between them, and so he says that the same William and Agnes have broken the agreement with him, whereby the said Roger is injured and has received damages to the value of 20s., where¬ fore he enters suit, etc. And the aforesaid William and Agnes come, by their attorney, John Breadsall, and defend the force and injury and damages, etc., and say that they have broken no agreement with him, and they seek that this may be inquired ; and the other likewise. Therefore it is commanded, etc. The same Roger makes plaint of the aforesaid William and Agnes on a plea of trespass, that the said Alice should have made and sent as good ale to the Fair of Lenton as the said Roger had from them at the aforesaid fair at the feast of Saint Martin in the year before written, she sent to the aforesaid Roger bad ale which was not good, but she sold her good ale at home for 3d. whereas the said Roger should have had it from (1) Records of Borough of Nottingham, i. 328. THE HISTORY OF THE 310 her for 2d., whereby the said Roger was deceived of the sale of ale to divers men in the aforesaid fair, whereby the said Roger is injured to the damage of the aforesaid Roger of 20s., where¬ fore he enters suit, etc. And the aforesaid William and Agnes come, by their attorney John Breadsall, and defend the force and injury, etc., and say that they are therein of nothing guilty, and they seek that this may be inquired; and the other likewise. Therefore it is commanded, etc.” 1 IV.-—July 25, 1397. William de Clifton was attached to answer to Richard Northwell, of Lincoln, bowyer, on a plea of trespass : pledge of prosecuting—Thomas de Arnold : and he makes plaint that whereas the said Richard, at the feast of St. Martin in Winter, in the 20th year of the reign of King Richard the Second, as he came to the Fair of Lenton with his saleable bows to sell, lodged at the house of Thomas de Arnold here at Nottingham, the said William, within the said house where the aforesaid bows stood, opened the packing-cloths of the same, and took and carried away with him three bows of the aforesaid bows, value of each bow 2s., whereby the said Richard is injured and has received damages to the amount of half a mark, where¬ fore he enters suit, etc. And the aforesaid William comes in his own person, and defends the force and injury, etc., and says that he therein is guilty of nothing, and as to this he places himself upon the country; and the other likewise. Therefore it is com¬ manded, etc—And now the said William comes in his own person, and acknowledged that he was guilty towards the afore¬ said (Richard) in everything, excepting in the damages : and the damages are now taxed at 6d. Therefore it is decided by the Court that the said Richard shall recover from the said William the aforesaid three bows of the value aforesaid, or the aforesaid price, and 6d. for damages ; and the said William is in “misericordia.” 2 When the Lord-mayor and aldermen of London, during the reign of Henry VII., prohibited any of the citizens from repairing with their goods to any market or fair out of the city, so many places remonstrated, and so loud an outcry was raised, that the obnoxious prohibition was repealed by parliament in 1487. In the appeal that was made on this occasion, we learn the principal places at which fairs were then held in England, and the kind of business transacted, as well as the persons who frequented them. “ There be many fairs,” it said, “ for the common weal of your said liege people, as at Salisbury, Bristow, Oxenforth, Cambridge, Nottingham, Ely, Coventry, and at many (1) Records of Borough of Nottingham, i. 346. (2) Ibid. i. 348. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 311 other places ; where lords spiritual and temporal, abbots, priors, knights, squires, gentlemen, and your said commons of every country, hath their common resort to buy and purvey many things that be good and profitable, as ornaments of holy church, chalices, 1 books, vestments, and other ornaments for holy church aforesaid ; 2 and also for household, as victual for the time of Lent, and other stuff, as linen cloth, woollen cloth, brass, pewter, bedding, osmund, iron, flax, and wax, and many other necessary things, the which might not be forborne among your liege people.” We find that in the year 1500 it was part of the duty of the Mayor of Nottingham to give the common council “knowledge for to see the sports at the fishings, bear baitings, and bull baitings within the town, after the old customs and usages, and to make search the week before Lenton fair for white herrings and salt fish.” As a result of the development in power of municipal institu¬ tions, men claimed the right of trading free from ecclesiastical control, and long and fierce contentions frequently arose between municipal and conventual authorities. Such was the case in 1517, when the Mayor and Sheriffs of Nottingham again dis¬ puted the rights of the Prior of Lenton as to Lenton Fair. The Prior complained that the Mayor had usurped privileges, and exacted dues which belonged exclusively to Lenton Priory. The Prior and the Mayor continued at variance for a long period, and, in order to prevent further strife, King Henry VIII. recom¬ mended the mediation of Sir Thomas Lovell, Steward of the Priory, and Governor of Nottingham Castle, who, together with the Mayor and Sheriffs of Nottingham, met and agreed as a compromise that the Prior was to “ have, hold, occupy, and enjoy, without let or distrust from the mayor,” the said fair at Lenton for the space of eight days, and during that period no market or sale was to be held in Nottingham, except food (1) Margaret Cokefield (widow of John Cokefield, of Nuthall, Esq.), by her will dated June 17, 1462, bequeathed to the church of Nuttall, “a chalice, bought at Lenton Fair.” Test. Ebor , ii, 263. (2) Richard Willoughby, Esq., of Wollaton, by his will dated Sep. 15, 1469, be¬ queathed to the church of Wollaton two embroidered cloths, lately bought at Lenton Fair, fur the high Altar. Test. Ebor , iii, 171. THE HISTORY OF THE 112 “ within houses, doors, or windows,” and that corn brought into Nottingham during the fair should not be sold on the pavement. No market-bell was to be rung in Nottingham during the fair, and the Prior was empowered to exact all “tolls, passages, and customs,” as if the goods were sold within the liberty of Lenton. The Prior was to grant to the Mayor, Sheriffs, and burgesses of Nottingham, who should desire to have any shop, booth, or stall, or should have the same before any stranger if they applied before the feast of St. Michael, and should be abated twelve- pence of rent from the usual prices ; and that those tanners and bakers who, not having previously paid rent, should continue to be exempt, and that burgesses should be quit of all manner of toll, if they caused buyers to pay “ counter toll ” to the Prior. To this deed of compromise the Mayor and Sheriffs affixed the town seal, and the Prior the convent seal, August 6th, 1517. At the dissolution of the Priory, the yearly profit derived from Lenton Fair was £12. The following are some of the rates of stallage at the fair. s. d. In the vestment row at the west end of the church, 10 foot ... ... ... 3 o Toward the south, n foot each ... 3 4 Near the church yard gate ... ... 2 o One stall at the end of Cross lane, 10 foot ... ... ... ... ... 2 6 One in Lenton lane, 30 foot ... ... 13 4 Two cockpits at the west end of the churchyard, one 6s. 8d., the other 5s. per annum One bay of the beddars, 20 yds. each bay . 3 4 Two other bays of the beddars, each bay ... ... ... ... ... 4 0 Five bays in the Lundelen row, four at is. 8d. each, the others 2s. ... In the commonplace book 1 of Roger Columbell, Esq., of (l) Bril. Mas., Add. MSS., No. 6702, f. 107. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 313 Darley Hall, Derbyshire (who died in 1605), we find the following list of spices bought at Lenton fair, with the prices affixed. Spices bought at Lenton In p’i’is peas, iii/z. ... Cinamo, 2 oz. Ginger, di./z. Mace, 2oz. ... cloves, 2 oz.... proynes, 61 i. great Ray sons 6 /i.... Corans, 61 i. Aniseede, di./z. licorise, i/z'. dates, di./z. ... Caraways, j/z. safron, oz. ... bayes, 1 li. ... Sugar, 4/z‘. ... Sanders? ... Turnefall, 1 oz. fayre in Anno dni, 1584. 8s. I2d. I4d. . i8d. iod. . l6d. i6d. 2S. . 4 d. . 4d. . 6d. i6d. 8d. . 4d. . 5 s - 4 d. . 4d. ... [no price.] In 1603, the plague raging in some parts of the country, it was ordered that the Mayor and Aldermen of Nottingham, assisted by three other persons, should be constituted overseers of the town, to foresee the dangers of the visitation. The sheriffs to serve by turn, weekly. It being feared that infection might be carried into the town by some of the great number of strangers who frequented Lenton Fair, all the inhabitants of Nottingham were “forbade going to Lenton fair, unless to buy horses or beasts, on pain of imprisonment and disfranchise¬ ment ; and none to go there to buy London wares, or to deal with such wares for two months.” It was ordered further “ that a sufficient watch be set betwixt this town and Lenton, viz. : at the Bridge-end, four persons ; Castle-gate, two ; the Postern-bridge, near to the Park, one ; Chapel-bar, two ; Sheep- lane end, one ; Cow-lane bar, one ; at the malt-kiln, one ; St. John’s, one; and at the Tyle-house, one ; and that four honest 314 THE HISTORY OF THE men be assigned to go to Lenton, to observe and see if any of the inhabitants have offended against this order.” 1 King James the First, in consideration of the good and acceptable services of Thomas Webber, gentleman, granted to him, his executors, and assigns, by royal letters patent, dated October 22, 1605, a yearly fair at Lenton, for thirty-one years, to be held on Tuesday, the fifth week in Lent, and the eight following days (Sunday excepted), together with all payments, tolls, dues, etc. 2 We are unable to find any record that this fair was exercised, but as it was granted for a limited term, and the old fair of Lenton being in great repute, the probability is that it may have been regarded as a convenience by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and held annually during the term for which it was granted. In the year 1640, Richard Velley and others, freemen of the city of London, licensed to sell tobacco by retail, presented a petition to the Council for redress in the following grievance :— About six years before, the petitioners took out licenses at £10 each, upon the order of the Commissioners appointed to com¬ pound with retailers of tobacco, that they should retail tobacco at all fairs. But, the petitioners state, of late Samuel Wildy, having obtained a license for Lenton, near Nottingham, one of the oldest fairs, for which he paid only forty shillings a year, opposed the petitioners, and caused some of them to be attached, others to be summoned to the Tobacco Office, where they were fined twenty shillings each, but were respited till the cause was heard by the Council. The petitioners prayed the Council to hear the cause, and confirm the order ; and if it appeared that Wildy had causelessly molested the petitioners, that he might be ordered to pay them their costs in the business. 3 Alderman William Gregory, of Nottingham, who purchased the manor of Lenton, with its fair and other privileges, filed a bill in equity, in the year 1646, to compel the Corporation of Nottingham to enforce on the town the charter of Henry II., (1) Bailey’s “Annals,” i. 518. (2) Record Office, Pat. Roll, 1663. This fair is not noticed by previous local writers. (3) State Papers, Domestic , 1640, p. 91. PARISH ANH PRIORY OF LENTON. 315 which commanded that during Lenton fair “no man should buy or sell in Nottingham,” and which injunction, it appears, had long been disregarded. Mr. Gregory having threatened certain of the burgesses with legal proceedings for the violation of his chartered rights, they petitioned the Hall “ that they would defend them against actions, in case they kept market and opened their shops during Lenton fair,” on which the Corpora¬ tion held a meeting, and resolved, that “ if Alderman Gregory trouble any burgesses for not going to, or for keeping open their shops in Nottingham during, Lenton fair, they shall be defended.” This resolution appears to have effectually silenced Mr. Gregory’s claim. George Gregory, Esquire, grandson of Alderman William Gregory, obtained from King Charles II. his royal letters patent, dated November 9th, 1663, granting permission for another fair to be held at Lenton, every year, on the Wednesday next after the feast of Pentecost, and on the six several days following. Lenton Fairs retained much of their ancient repute down to the last century, and were resorted to by all classes of society. The neighbouring ’squires were not above participating in the annual business and merry-making, as appears from the follow¬ ing entry in the Household Book 1 of the Hon. Anchitell Gray, of Risley Hall, in Derbyshire :— 1681. November 11. Spent at Lenton faire ... 00 Oi 00 In the “ Compleat Horseman,” by the Sieur de Solleysell, equerry to the King of France, translated by Sir William Hope, deputy-lieutenant of Edinburgh Castle, in 1696, the following remark occurs :—“ Lenton Faire in Notts, is a great fair for all sorts of Horses.” For several years past the fairs at Lenton have, like the fairs at Nottingham, been declining in their importance, and have only been held on the Wednesday in Whitsun week, and on St. Martin’s day. They are still, however, somewhat largely fre¬ quented by farmers and horse-dealers, and enjoy a considerable reputation for the sale of horses and cattle. All other business has long since been discontinued. (1) The Reliquary, iii. 100. SECTION XII. THE INCLOSURES. N the year 1637, a petition was presented to King Charles the First by Marmaduke Marshall, 1 Esquire, praying that the King would be pleased to grant to the petitioner certain common or waste lands lying within the parishes of Lenton and Radford, in fee farm at a certain rental. Attached to the petition is a schedule of the lands (containing about 488 acres) which the petitioner desired might be granted to him, the greater portion being included in the first Inclosure Award of 1768. Although the King received Marshall’s petition with favour, we are unable to find that his request was complied with. “ To the King’s most Excellent Ma tie “ The most humble Peticon of Marmaduke Marshall Esq! 15 your Maties most Loyall subiect. “In all humilitie showeth “ That your subiect hath discovered that divers parcells of ground lying w’thin the Lordshipps or Parishes of Lenton & Radford in your Maties countie of Nottingham, or in one of them (1) Marmaduke Marshall, of Morton-upon-Swale, in the county of York, and afterwards of Cole Park, in Wiltshire, was the son of John Marshall, of the first- named place, and was born in or about the year 1593, and married Anne, sole daughter and heiress of Sir George Marshall, of Cole Park, Knight, Equerry to King James the First (who died in 1636). In 1639, Marmaduke Marshall held the office of Gentleman Sewer to the Duke of Lennox. He had at least seven daughters, but appears to have left no male issue. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 317 lying common or waist ground and the greatest part thereof being heather or barren ground doe belong unto your Ma tie and are unlawfullie w th held from your Matie by colour or pretence of l’res patents heretofore respectively made by your Matie and your Maties late ffather of ever blessed memorie (w’ch said parcells of ground are severallie and more particularly named menconed and expressed in a schedule hereunto annexed). “May your Matie therefore be pleased to grant the same unto your said subiect & his heires in fee-farm rendering unto your Matie & to your Maties heires and successors for ever the Rent of vi/ xiii. iiijd. p annu. And your Maties said subiect will at his owne perill and att his owne proper costs & charges re¬ cover the same ground, wch otherwise is like to be still kept and unlawfullie detained from your Matie, so as your subiect may inclose and improve the premisses “ And hee shall ever pray it.” (Copy of Schedule referred to.) “ One p’cell of ground called by y e name of the Holmes, or Cow-pasture, with the tithe thereof, conteyning by estimacon one hundred and ffiftie acres w’thin the confines of the fforest of Sherwood in the County of Notingham ; The River of Trent lying or being on the south part, Wilford Meadowe towards the East p’te, and the Trent wong toward the west p’te. “ And one othe pcell of ground there lying called the Lings, by estimacon three hundred acres, w’th the tithe thereof, Basford Lings lying toward the Northe pte, Notingham feild lying towards the south pte, the Churche feild of Radford towards the West pte, and Notingham lings towards ye East pte. “ And one pcell of ground there lying, called, or knowne by the name of the common under Radford, conteyning by estimacon six acres, wth the tithes thereof, Radford lying towards the East pte, and the Moore ffeild towards the west pte. “ And one pcelLof ground called the Bull piece, conteyning by estimacon, two acres. “And one pcell of ground called Snowden hole conteyning by estimacon three acres. “And one other pcell of ground conteyning by estimacon one acre and an halfe. “And one other pcell of ground conteyning by estimacon two acres. “And one pcell of ground called the Gorse conteyning by estimacon three acres. “ And one other pcell of ground (lying ut supra) there called the Becksyde, conteyning by estimacon three acres. “ And one Plott of ground lying in the parrish of Radford, called by the name of the two grove meadowe, conteyning seaven THE HISTORY OF THE acres and an halfe, or thereabouts, abutting towards a certain place called Bobbers Milne upon the East, and upon the tith- barne of Radford on the West, and upon the River Leen upon the south, & upon the redd ffeild of Radford on the North, in the ocupacon of Radford men, together with the tithes thereof. “And one other Little Close, called by the name of ye towne close, lying in the pish of Radford, conteyning one acre and an hafe or thereabouts, lying between Bobbers Milne on the West, and a heath ground called the Lings on ye East, in the ocupa- tion of Radford men, together wth the tithes thereof. “ And a certaine quantitie of arrable & pasture ground, con- ceyning fower acres or thereabouts, called Radford townes lands, in the feilds of Radford and Lenton, or one of them, in the ocupacon of Radford men, together wth the tithes thereof. “ And one other peice of ground called the horse commons, lying in Radford and Lenton, or one of them, conteyning fower acres or thereabouts. “ And one plott of meadow ground in Lenton Holmes, con¬ teyning one acre or thereabouts, in the ocupacon of Radford men.” Written under the petition :— “I.—Reference to the Lord Treasurer, who, calling to his assistance the Attorney-General, is to certify his opinion. Hampton Court, 15th October, 1637. “ II.—The Lord Treasurer to the Attorney-General and Surveyor-General. To certify what they think fit to be done. London House, 25th October, 1637. “ III.—Report of the Attorney-General and Surveyor-General to the Lord Treasurer. We find the number of acres to be as they are set down in the schedule annexed. If the Lord Treasurer thinks the lands should be enclosed, they lying within the Lorest of Sherwood, then they may be improved to 13s. 4d. or 1 os. an acre. As touching the grant to petitioner, we leave the same to your wisdom. 25th June, 1638. “ IV.—Report of the Lord Treasurer to the King. Linds the lands desired by petitioner are part of the Lorest of Sherwood, and to be very improvable if you will sever the same, and so will the whole forest, I doubt not. But how fit your Majesty knows best.” 1 The first Inclosure Act for the parishes of Lenton and Radford was passed in the year 1767, and the Commissioners’ award was made in the following year. The Act, which has been printed, is entitled “ An Act for (1) State Tapers, 1637, vol. 369, No. 82. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 319 Dividing and Inclosing the Open Fields, Meadows, Common Pastures, and Commonable Lands, lying South of the Turnpike Road leading from Nottingham to Alfreton , within the Liberties and Townships of Lenton and Radford, in the County of Nottingham.” [1767 .] 1 Amongst other things, it was enacted “ That all the said Lands hereby intended to be divided and inclosed as aforesaid shall be surveyed and measured by the said Commissioners, or any Two of them, or by such Person or Persons as they, or any two of them, shall order and direct, and a Plan made of the whole ; which Plan and Admeasurements shall be reduced into Writing, ascertaining the Contents of the whole and the Contents of the Lands belonging to each and every Proprietor interested therein, and shall be laid before the said Commissioners, or any Two of them, at one of their Meetings to be held in pursuance of this Act, to be by them kept for the Purposes of this Act.” Lenton and Radford Inclosure Award, 1768. The following extracts from this Award refer only to the parish of Lenton. The Award commences, “To ALL to whom these presents shall come,” and after reciting several things contained in the Act, proceeds, “ Now know ye, that we the said Tristram Exley, 2 John Stone, 3 and Thomas Oldknow, 4 Commissioners named in the same Act, having taken upon us the execution of the powers vested in us, in and by the said in part recited Act, etc., etc., and having appointed a survey to be taken of the lands intended by the said Act to be inclosed, as in and by the said (1) It will be observed that this Inclosure does not appear to have included any portion of the Priory demesne, the whole of which seems to have been of old inclosure. (2) The Reverend Tristram Exley was rector of the Second Mediety of Trowell from 1753 to 1792. He died April the 19th, 1792, aged 68, and was buried in the chancel at Trowell, where there is a mural tablet to his memory. (3) John Stone, gent., died at Quorndon, Jan., 19, 1783, and was buried there on the 22nd of the same month. (4) Thomas Oldknow was Sheriff of Nottingham in 1746; he was made an alderman in 1772, and was Mayor in 1773, and again in 1778. He died at Calverton, where he had a small estate, March the 31st, 1787, aged 78, and was buried at Ileanor, in Derbyshire. His name appears as commissioner in various Inclosure Acts in this and other counties. 320 THE HISTORY OF THE Act is directed, and the same having been accordingly taken and laid before us, etc, we the said Commissioners having finished the division of the said lands, do, by this our award or in¬ strument in writing under our hands and seals, set out, allot and award to and for the said several and respective proprietors the several and respective pieces, plots, and parcels of land herein¬ after mentioned, with a description of the buttals and boundaries of each respective allotment, in the describing of which buttals and boundaries the Eastward boundaries to each respective allotment are first mentioned, and so on to the South, West, and North about as they respectively adjoin to each other, which may be more fully and clearly discovered by a plan of the allotments herein made, which plan we have to this our Award annexed.” 1 . . . “To the VlCAR OF Lenton and his successors, one piece, plot or parcel of land in a pasture called Lenton pasture containing la. 2r. 3ip., or thereabouts, bounded by land allotted to the said vicar in lieu of vicarial tythes, and by land allotted to George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. and is so allotted to the said Vicar in lieu of the glebe land and common right lying within the liberties of Lenton, and being part of the lands intended by the said Act to be inclosed. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land, lying in the said pasture containing 22a. ir. 5p. or there¬ abouts, bounded by the lordship of Wilford, by land allotted to the said George De Ligne Gregory, by land allotted the said James Thane, and by the last mentioned allotment in lieu of glebe land, and which said piece plot or parcel of land is allotted to the said Vicars of Lenton and their successors, is, in the judgment of us the said Commissioners, worth twenty-four pounds a year as directed to be set out by the said Act, to and (1) The map, or plan, formerly attached to the award has been lost for many years. In the year 1794 we find the following entry in the churchwardens’ accounts :— “ To our Trobill Drying the Writings that was damaged by the flood—5s.” These writings would consist of the Parish Registers, the Inclosure Award of 1768, etc. The Registers and Award bear evidence of considerable damage from water, and the probability is that the map, which would be folded up, was so much damaged (particularly if it had remained in the chest since the great flood of 1792) that the churchwardens, being illiterate men, to save themselves further “ trobill,” detached it from the award and destroyed it. It is probable that the loss of this map caused the following resolution to be passed at a vestry meeting held at Lenton, April 3rd, 1812 : “ Resolved unanimously that Mr. Roughton be directed to apply to Mr. Green for such map, or maps, as may be in his possession, in order that it, or they, may be de¬ posited in the parish chest with the other parochial documents.” In addition to the loss of the original map, there does not appear to be a copy of it in existence. We have made inquiries at the office of the Clerk of the Peace for the county of Nottingham, at the Public Record Office, the office of the Land Commis¬ sioners for England, and other Public Departments in London, with the result in each case that no such plan, or copy, is known to exist. The Lenton and Radford Inclosure Awards of 1768 and 1799, which were formerly kept in a chest in the parish church of Lenton, are now in the possession of the Corporation of Nottingham. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 321 for the said Vicar of Lenton and his successors for the time being, and by him and them taken and accepted in full recom¬ pense and satisfaction for all Vicarial tythes of all the lands within the Liberties of Lenton intended by the said Act to be divided and inclosed, and for all Vicarial Tythes of all the yards, gardens, orchards, homesteads, and old inclosures within the Liberties of Lenton, and for all Vicarial Tythes of all the common lands in the Liberties of Lenton aforesaid, which lie on the North side of the said turnpike road from Nottingham to Alfreton and which by the said Act was not intended to be divided and inclosed, mortuaries, surplice fees, and Easter offer¬ ings only excepted, which are to be paid as usual heretofore.” . . . “ To the said George L)e Ligne Gregory, one piece, plot or parcel of land, part in the said pasture called Lenton pasture, and part in a meadow thereto adjoining, con¬ taining 73 acres, or thereabouts, bounded by the Lordship of Wilford, by the river Trent, by old inclosed lands in the said Lordship of Lenton, and by other lands in the said pasture and meadow allotted to the said George Ue Ligne Gregory as a proprietor of lands and which allottment so made to the said George De Ligne Gregory is in lieu of all the impropriate tythe of all the land lying within the liberties of Lenton intended by the said Act to be inclosed, and in lieu of all the impropriate tythe of all the yards, gardens, orchards, and homesteads within the said liberties of Lenton aforesaid. To the said GEORGE De Ligne Gregory as a proprietor of land, one piece, plot or parcel of land in the said pasture and meadow containing 183a. 3r. 26p. or thereabouts, bounded by the said Lordship of Wilford, by land allotted to the said Vicar of Lenton and his successors, by land allotted to James Thane, by land allotted to him the said George De Ligne Gregory in lieu of Tythe, by old in¬ closures in the said Lordship of Lenton, by the Lordship of Beeston, and by land in the said meadow, allotted to Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall. One piece, plot, or parcel of land, in a field called Beck field, containing 54a. 3r. 5p. or there¬ abouts, bounded by the said River Leen, by old inclosed lands belonging to him the said George De Ligne Gregory, by other old inclosed lands called the Abbey Field, and by the Turnpike Road leading from Nottingham to Derby. One piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said Beckfield and Thackholm meadow containing 91a. 2r. 36p, or thereabouts, bounded by the said River Leen, by land in the said Beckfield and Thackholm meadow allotted to the said Rebecca Garland and George Brent¬ nall, by the said Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby, by land allotted to Joseph Stubbins and by the said lurnpike road leading from Nottingham through Wollaton. . . . One piece, plot, or parcel of land in a field called Allen I'ield, containing 42a. ir. I4p., or thereabouts, bounded by Nottingham Park, by the said River Leen, by an old inclosure THE HISTORY OF TIIE or garden belonging to Timothy Pym, by land allotted to the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall, and by the Turn¬ pike road leading from Nottingham to Derby. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said Allen Field, containing 21a. 31-. 5p., or thereabouts, bounded by land allotted to the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall, by ancient homesteads in the Town of Lenton, and by the said Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said Allen Field, being two Field closes containing 9a. ir. i6p., or thereabouts, bounded by the allotment of the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall, and by old inclosures of him the said George De Ligne Gregory. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land in a field called Sand Field, containing 85a. 31'. 26p., or thereabout, bounded by land allotted to William Elliott, by the said Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby, by old Inclosure adjoining to the town of Lenton, by the said River Leen, by land in the said Sand Field allotted to the said William Bingham, and by the said Turnpike road leading from Nottingham through Wollaton. . . . One piece, plot, or parcel of land in certain places called the Bull Close and Leen Crofts, containing 4a. 2r. I4p., or thereabouts, bounded by old inclosures in Lenton aforesaid, by land allotted to John Webb, by the said River Leen, and tbe said Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby. . . . We allot, set out, and award to the said George De Ligne Gregory certain lands lying on both sides the Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby, directed by the said Act to be allotted for keeping Fairs for Cattle and as a recompense and satisfaction for his the said George De Ligne Gregory’s interest in the said waste lands in¬ tended by the said Act to be inclosed, which said land exclusive of the Turnpike road contains 5a. ir. 8p , or thereabouts. To LORD Middleton, one piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said Beck Field, and a small old inclosure of the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall consented and agreed to exchange for Field Land of the same value, which consent the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall have testified to us the said Commissioners by writing under their own hands, contain¬ ing 25a. 2r. 8p., or thereabouts, bounded by land allotted to Joseph Stubbins, by the said Turnpike road leading from Not¬ tingham to Derby, by the lordship of Wollaton, and by the Turnpike road leading from Nottingham through Wollaton. . . . To the said Rebecca GARLAND AND GEORGE BRENT¬ NALL, one piece, plot, or parcel of land part being old inclosure of the said George De Ligne Gregory, consented to be ex¬ changed for Field Land and part being in the said Allen Field, containing 22a. 3L 32p., or thereabouts, bounded by the allot¬ ment hereinbefore made to the said George De Ligne Gregory adjoining to Nottingham Park, by an old inclosure or garden of the said Timothy Pym, by the River Leen, by old inclosures PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 323 of him the said George De Ligne Gregory, and others, by other allotments of the said George De Ligne Gregory in the said Allen Field, and by the said Turnpike road leading from Not¬ tingham to Derby. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said Lenton Meadow, containing 12a. 2r. 38p., or thereabout, bounded by land in the said Meadow and Pasture allotted to the said George De Ligne Gregory, and by old inclosures in the said Lordship of Lenton. One other piece, plot, or parcel of land in the old Beck Field and Nether Thackholme meadow containing 5a. ir. 5p., or thereabout, bounded by the River Leen, by old inclosed lands, by the Turnpike road, and by land allotted to the said George De Ligne Gregory, all which three last mentioned allotments, made to the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall contain together 40a. 30 35p., or thereabout, and are made to them the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall in full satisfaction for all the land and common right which they had dispersed in and over the lands intended by the said Act to be inclosed, and also in full satisfaction for a small piece of old inclosed land lying in the first-mentioned allotment of the said Lord Middleton. . . . To JAMES THANE, one piece, plot, or parcel of land in the said pasture called Lenton Pasture, containing la. ir. 26p., or thereabout, bounded by land allotted to the Vicar of Lenton and by land allotted to the said George De Ligne Gregory, and is allotted to the said James Thane in lieu of and full satisfaction for common belonging to him the said James Thane, in, over, or upon, all or any part of the Lands intended by the said Act to be inclosed. . . . To JOHN Webb, one piece, plot, or parcel of land, being part of a piece of land called Bull Close, containing 3r. 22p., or there¬ about, bounded by old homesteads within the Town of Lenton, by the river Leen, and by other parts of the said Bull Close allotted to the said George De Ligne Gregory, and is allotted to the said John Webb in lieu of and full satisfaction for two cow commons and eight sheep commons, in, over, and upon the lands intended by the said Act to be inclosed. . . . All which pieces, plots, or parcels of land so allotted as aforesaid to and for the several and respective proprietors, contain together in the whole the said quantity of 1219a. 3r. 29p. first mentioned to be intended by the said Act to be inclosed, and also 2a. 3r. 33p., contained in the several old inclosures, belonging heretofore to the said George De Ligne Gregory and the said Rebecca Gar¬ land and George Brentnall exchanged as before mentioned for Field land equal in value to the said old Inclosure.” 3 2 4 TIIE HISTORY OF THE Public Roads or Ways. 1 Concerning the public roads and ways, other than the turnpike 1 roads [Derby Road and Alfreton Road], the course of which has not been altered, the Commissioners ordered and directed that there be the following public, horse, carriage, and drift roads or ways :— “ From the town of Lenton southward, over the allotments of the said George de Ligne Gregory, by the side of the fence by the westward parts of the allotments of the Vicar of Lenton and James Thane, and continued in nearly a direct line to the ford place in the River Trent, where a public horse, carriage, and drift way has usually heretofore been from the town of Lenton to Wi/ford.” “ From the northward end of the town of Lenton to the southward end of the town of Radford, over the respective allotments of the said George de Ligne Gregory and William Bingham, where a Public, Horse, Carriage, and drift way has usually heretofore been from Lenton to Radford!' Private Roads or Ways. “ Also a private horse, carriage and drift road westward from the public road leading from Lenton to Wi/ford , near where that road adjoins to the ford way in the River Trent, near the bank of the River Trent, on the allotment of the said George de Ligne Gregory to an old Inclosure called Trent Wong, Also a private horse, carriage and drift road from the Town of Lenton on a Lane called Birch Lane and continued over the allotment of the said Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall, to an old inclosure or garden belonging to the said Timothy Pym for the use and conveniency of the owner and occupiers of that old inclosure or garden for the time being for ever.” Public Footways. “ From the Lordship of Wilford, over the allotment of the (i) “ All such publick Highways shall be set out and remain Sixty feet broad at the least between the Ditches or Fences (except Bridle Ways and Foot Ways).” Inclosure Act, 1767. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 325 said Vicar of Lenton, in Lenton pasture, and the lands in Lenton pasture and Lenton meadow, alloted to the said George de Ligne Gregory, to an old inclosure in the Lordship of Lenton called Trent Wong, where a public footway had usually heretofore been.” “ From the town of Lenton westward, over the allotment of John Webb, in Bull Close, to a foot bridge over the river Leen, and from thence over the allotment of the said George de Ligne Gregory, No. 11, to a place in the said Lordship of Lenton called Abbey field, where a footway has usually heretofore been from Lenton to Beeston.” “ From the town of Lenton eastward, on a Lane called Birch Lane, and over the respective allotments of Rebecca Garland and George Brentnall, and an allotment of the said George de Ligne Gregory, to a foot stile in the fence belonging to Notting¬ ham Park, where a footway has usually heretofore been from Lenton to Nottingham.” “ From the town street in Lenton into the allotment of the said George de Ligne Gregory, near the Pinfold , and over that allotment and the allotment of William Bingham, by the east side of the public horse, carriage, and drift road from Lenton to Radford, where a public footway from Lenton to Radford has usually heretofore been.” And the Commissioners furthur ordered and directed that good and convenient foot stiles should be made, and for ever after repaired, upon all the foot roads herein before appointed over all the fences lying across such foot roads, by and at the expense of the several proprietors, owners, and occupiers of such allotments who are to make the fences where such foot roads are directed, and that good and convenient foot bridges be made over all or any drains, where such foot roads are directed, by and at the expense of the owner of such allotments as have any such drains across any such foot roads, except such foot bridges as go across the river Leen, which are to be made, repaired and amended for ever hereafter by the Overseers of the Highways for such respective townships where such bridges happen to be. • ‘ In Witness of this being our Award, which we have caused to be engrossed on fourteen skins of parchment, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this ninth day of January in the eighth year of the reign of our Soverign Lord George the Third, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight.” 326 THE HISTORY OF THE Schedule of Allotments. A. R. p. Attenborrow, Robert and John ... R. 6 I 8 Bingham, William.., R. 36 0 13 Brentnall, G., and Garland, R. L. 40 3 35 Bradshaw, John R. I 2 32 Elliott, William R. 46 2 8 Gregory, George de Ligne L. 572 2 30 Do. R. 252 0 5 Gregory, Mrs. R. 29 3 37 Hall, William . R. 1 13 Holmes, Elizabeth R. 19 Hornbuckle, Walter R. 18 1 9 Merriman, Edward R. 2 16 Middleton, Lord ... L. 25 2 8 Do. R. 42 0 15 Radford Town Land R. 5 1 29 Roughton, Gervase R. 2 15 Roughton, John ... R. 3 2 26 Sherwin, John R. 1 2 24 Smith, Sir George... R. 3 1 27 Smith, John R. 2 0 23 Smith, Mary R. 1 1 33 Stubbins, Joseph ... R. 34 2 39 Strey, Michael R. 1 0 32 Thane, James L. 1 1 26 Thoroton, Thomas... R. 2 0 25 Townsend, Thomas R. 19 Wayte, George, Vicar of Lenton L. 23 3 36 Do. , Vicar of Radford R. 53 1 38 Webb, John L. 3 2 Willoughby, Edward R. 7 0 22 Wyld, William R. 4 2 15 A. R. P. In Lenton parish ... 665 I 17 In Radford parish... 557 2 17 Total.., 1222 3 34 1 (i) It should be noted that there is a difference of 12 perches between this total and the total quantity of land (1222a. 3r. 22p.) stated in the Commissioners’ Award to have been alloted by them. This is possibly accounted for by the fact that in the Book of Quality the total of land to be alloted to the Vicar of Radford is entered as 53a. ir. 26p., whereas the quantity actually awarded by the Commissioners was 53a. ir. 38p. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 327 A dispute having arisen in the year 1774, between the inhabitants of Lenton and the inhabitants of Radford as to the repair of the road known as Radford Marsh, the matter was settled in accordance with the terms of an agreement, made June 29th, 1774, between the parishioners of each parish. It was then agreed that the parishioners of Radford should forthwith pay the sum of five pounds to the parishioners of Lenton towards the cost of repairing the road, and also contribute twenty loads of stone for the same purpose. The parishioners of Radford also agreed to relinquish their rights to depasture cattle on the road, and every other parochial right thereto. The inhabitants of Lenton agreed to repair the road forthwith, and to keep it in good and sufficient repair in the future, such road thereafter to be considered as being in the parish of Lenton. The agreement was signed on behalf of the inhabitants of Lenton by George Wayte, Curate, John Chamberlain, John Bradshaw, and several others, and on behalf of the inhabitants of Radford by Edward Willoughby, 1 George Wayte, Vicar, William Bingham, and others. In the year 1792, the state of the Crown lands, or the claims of the Government on the domains of royalty in various forests, parks, chases, manors, etc., of the country, having begun to attract public attention, a commission was appointed, by the authority of Parliament, to make strict enquiries into these matters, in order to ascertain what lands were still unalienated from the Crown, and the value of the same. According to a great survey made of the limits and bounds of the forest of Sherwood in 1609, it was found to contain over 95,000 acres of land. To all this immense tract of land the Crown formerly held undisputed right, but the Commission of Inquiry, which sat at Mansfield in 1792, in their report, say that “ not the right of common only, but the soil itself, of every part of the Forest, (1) Edward Willoughby, Esq., of Aspley Hall, in the parish of Radford, whose signature heads the list of those who signed on behalf of that parish, was the repre¬ sentative of a younger branch of the noble family of Willoughby, of Wollaton. Being a Romanist, and thus incapacitated from holding any public office, his name seldom appears in connection with parochial or county affairs. He died October 17th, 1792, aged 86, and a few years later the Aspley Hall estate was sold by his representatives to the then Lord Middleton. 328 THE HISTORY OF THE was claimed by the neighbouring proprietors, and that the rights of the Crown had long been lost sight of.” To show the principle upon which the commissioners proceeded, in order to recover for the Crown its just share in the unenclosed lands, over which it still held a right of domain, one case may be cited. This royalty extended over 200 acres in the parishes of Lenton and Radford, which land, in fee simple, the commissioners estimated might be worth 5s. per acre. The property of the Crown was rated at one-fortieth part of this valuation, which was not claimed in land, but estimated in money. Thus the share of the parishes of Lenton and Radford due to the Crown, had it been reserved in land, would have amounted to five acres ; this, however, was commuted for a money payment of twenty-five shillings. The second Inclcsure Act for Lenton and Radford was passed in 1796, and the Award was made in 1799. The lands com¬ prised in the award formed the detached portions of the parishes of Lenton and Radford subsequently known as Hyson Green. The Inclosure Act, which has been printed, is entitled “An Act for Dividing and Inclosing the Forest, Commons, and Waste Lands, within the Liberties or Townships of Lenton and Radford , in the County of Nottingham .” [1796.] The Commissioners appointed to put the Act into execution were John Renshaw, 1 of Owthorpe, in the county of Notting¬ ham, gentleman, and Robert Padley, 2 of Burton Joyce, in the said county of Nottingham, gentleman. (1) . Mr. John Renshaw for many years occupied Owthorpe Hall, the former seat of the Hutchinson family, and, dying there August the 24th, 1802, aged 60, his remains were interred in Owthorpe Church. (2) Mr. Robert Padley, of Burton Joyce, who was subsequently in the Commission of the Peace for the county of Nottingham, died June the 16th, 1833, aged 74, and was buried at Burton Joyce. He married Ann, daughter and eventual heiress of John Newton, Esq., of Bulwell Hall, and was grandfather of the Reverend Charles John Allen Newton Padley, B.A., who sold the Bulwell Hall estate to the late Samuel Thomas Cooper, Esq. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 329 Lenton and Radford Inclosure Award, 1799. After reciting the Act of 36 George III. for inclosure, the award states that a survey had been made, that the lands contained 276a. ir. 37p., and that after making deductions for public and private roads, and the allotment for getting materials, there remained 261a. ir. lip. The Commissioners appointed the following public carriage, bridle, and drift-roads :— (1) . From Nottingham to Alfreton, so far as the same goes over or passes through the said land inclosed. This road was sixty feet wide, and in Radford parish. (2) . From a lane in the parish of Radford called Outgang Lane, in a north-eastward direction over the said lands to be inclosed, to The Forest, within the liberties of Nottingham, being the public road from Radford towards Mapperley. This road, forty feet wide, was also in Radford parish. It is now known as Bentinck Road. (3) . A road branching northwards out of the last-mentioned road, and extending in nearly a straight direction over the said lands intended to be inclosed, to a lane in the parish of Basford, near the Paper Mill, being the public road from the westward end of the Town of Nottingham to Basford. This road was forty feet wide, and in Lenton parish. The Commissioners then set out and appointed one public footway, of the breadth of ten feet, from Nottingham Forest, near the Race Stand, in a northward direction, into and over the lands awarded to George De Ligne Gregory, to a foot- stile leading into the parish of Basford, being the public footway from Nottingham, by the Bowling Alley House, to the town of Basford ; and the Commissioners further ordered that the owners of the said lands should make, or cause to be made, good and convenient footstiles where the footway crosses any of the fences of such lands, and at all times thereafter to repair the same. The Commissioners also ordered that the footway or path leading from the town of Nottingham to a certain place called 330 TIIE HISTORY OF THE Bobber’s Mill, in the county of Nottingham, through part of certain lands known by the name of Radford Old Inclosures, should be stopped up. “ And we do set out and appoint one Private carriage bridle and drift road of the breadth of thirty feet from the Turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Alfreton near the northward end of a lane in the Parish of Radford, called Church Field Lane in a north-eastward direction over the said lands intended to be inclosed to join the public carriage road herein before described, and set out from the west end of the Town of Nottingham to Basford, which is for the use of the owners and occupiers of lands in Lenton and Radford to pass and repass along the same.” The Commissioners declared this road to be in the parish of Lenton. The Commissioners allotted a piece of land, No. 15 in the map, containing ia. 2r. 20p., to the Surveyor of Highways for the parishes of Lenton and Radford, for getting materials for the repair of highways and other roads in the parishes. The herbage and produce of the said land was granted to George Ik Ligne Gregory. The allotments were made as follows No. in Award Names of Proprietors. Lenton or Radford Areas of Allotments. Map. I. George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. ... parish. R. A. O R. I p. 28 2. William Hornbuckle R. O I 9 3 - George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. .. R. O I 21 4 - W. E. Elliott and John Elliott, Esqs. R. O O 23 5 . George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. ... R. I 3 1 7 6. Do. L. 21 3 37 7 - Elizabeth Hall . R. I 2 21 8. Thomas Bostock R. I 2 21 9. Gervas Roughton R. I 2 iS 10. William Bingham ... R. I 2 34 11. Vicar of Lenton L. I 2 34 12. Vicar of Radford R. I 2 34 13 - William Hornbuckle R. 4 3 21 14. George De Ligne Gregory, Esq., for Tithes in Lenton L. iS 3 28 PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 331 No. ir 1 Lenton Areas of Award Names of Proprietors. or Radford Allotments. Map. parish. A. R. p. is- Surveyor of the Highways .. I 2 20 16. George De Ligne Gregory, Esq., for Tithes in Radford R. 6 I 16 1 7 - Do. as Lord of the Manor of Radford... R. 6 3 11 18. Do. received in exchange of John Sherwin, Esq. R. 1 2 24 19. Do. , as Lord of the Manor of Lenton ... L. 7 3 17 20. George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. ... R. 19 1 10 21. John Sherwin, Esq. ... R. 4 0 32 22. William Elliott Elliott and John Elliott, Esqs. R. 3 0 17 23 - Do. do. R. 8 0 32 24. Lord Middleton R. 4 0 14 25 - Do. . L. 2 0 0 26. Thomas Webb Edge, Esq. ... L. 1 0 11 27. Thomas Brentnall ... L. 2 0 22 28. James Killingley L. 2 0 22 29. Oliver Buck ... R. 2 0 22 30. William Walker R. 1 3 8 Si- James Smith... R. 1 2 24 32 - Nathaniel Stubbins ... R. 1 2 34 33 - George De Ligne Gregory, Esq. ... L. 116 3 30 34 - Earl of Chesterfield, in right of Chase R. 3 0 0 35 - Do. do. L. 7 0 0 36. Robert Hill ... R. 1 3 4 37 - Paul Barrett ... R. 1 0 32 38 . William Gregory Williams... R. 0 3 20 The Award is dated April ioth, 1799. The “ Nottingham Corporation Act, 1883,” after reciting in its preamble that, by an Act passed in the seventh year of the reign of King George the Third, intituled “An Act for dividing and enclosing the open fields, meadows, common pastures, and THE HISTORY OF THE commonable lands lying south of the turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Alfreton, within the liberties and townships of Lenton and Radford, in the county of Nottingham,” and an award made under that Act dated the 9th of January, 1768, certain highways in the parishes of Lenton and Radford were directed to be set out not less than sixty feet wide, and certain lands adjoining the turnpike road from Nottingham to Derby, on each side thereof, were allotted to George De Ligne Gregory, and certain cattle fairs directed to be held thereon, but by en¬ croachments and otherwise parts of the said highways are now, and have been for many years past, of less width than that prescribed, and the last mentioned allotted lands have long ceased to be used for the purpose of cattle fairs, and are not now required for that purpose, 1 and that by an award dated the 10th day of April, 1799, made in pursuance of an Act passed in the 36th year of the reign of King George the Third, intituled “ An Act for dividing and enclosing the forest commons and waste lands within the liberties and townships of Lenton and Radford, in the county of Nottingham,” a certain piece or parcel of land was allotted to the Surveyors of Highways of the parishes of Lenton and Radford, for getting materials for the repair of high¬ ways in the said parishes, which highways are now vested in and repairable by the Corporation : and whereas the above- mentioned provisions of the said Acts and Awards have proved unnecessary, or inconvenient, and it is expedient that they be altered, and other provisions made in that behalf, enacts that not¬ withstanding anything contained in the recited Act of 1767, or in the Award of 1768, the Corporation may continue, or permit to be continued, the public highways hereinafter mentioned of a less width than sixty feet, on such terms and conditions with respect to the width of the said highways, or any of them, and with respect to the vesting free from any right of way of the soil of any inclosed lands which ought, under the provisions of the said Act and Award, to form part of any such highway, and other¬ wise as may be agreed between the Corporation and the owners of the lands abutting on or adjoining such highways. The highways above referred to are—- A highway leading from Lenton to YVilford, and known as Trent Lane. A highway leading from Lenton to Radford, and known as Marsh Road. Any other public highway required by the said Act of 1767 to be set out of a width not less than sixty feet, with respect to which the Corporation may deem a less width sufficient. Notwithstanding anything contained in the recited Act of (1) The cattle fairs have been held for many years in a field on the north side of the Derby Road, and bounded on the east side by the Butt Houses, and on the west side by Lenton Railway Station. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 333 1767, and the Award of 1768, the Corporation may at any time, after the passing of this Act by deed, extinguish all right, whether of the Corporation, or of any person or persons, to hold fairs for cattle on certain lands adjoining the turnpike road leading from Nottingham to Derby, on both sides thereof, and by the said Award allotted to George de Ligne Gregory, for the purpose of holding such fairs for cattle, and such deed may be made by the Corporation upon and subject to any terms and conditions that may be agreed with the devisees or trustees for the time being of the settled estates, whereof those lands form part, and from and after the execution of such deed, and subject to any such terms and conditions, all right of the Corporation and of any person or persons to hold fairs on such lands, shall by virtue of this Act cease and be extinguished. The Corpora¬ tion may, with the consent of Catherine Sherwin Gregory, Robert Wilmot Bradshaw, and John Holden, or other the devisees or trustees for the time being of the settled estates of John Sherwin Gregory, deceased, sell, let, or otherwise dispose of, free from the right of getting materials for the repair of any highway or road, the piece of land containing one acre, two roods, and twenty perches, or thereabouts, numbered 15 on the map referred to in the recited Award of 1799, and by that Award allotted to the surveyors of the highways of Lenton and Rad¬ ford for the getting of materials for the repair of the highways and other roads in Lenton and Radford, and shall carry the proceeds of sale, or other disposition under this section, to the credit of the Borough fund. The Corporation may from time to time enter into and carry into effect any agreement or agreements with Catherine Sherwin Gregory, Robert Wilmot Bradshaw, and John 1 lolden, or other the devisees or trustees for the time being of the settled estates of John Sherwin Gregory, deceased, or with any other owner of lands allotted under the recited Act of 1767, and Award of 1768, and the recited Act of 1796, and Award of 1799, with respect to all or any of the matters in this part of this Act contained, and may accept as consideration, or part consideration in the case of any such agreement, any lands, or interest in lands, and may from time to time appropriate any lands so acquired by them for purposes of public recreation, or for any other purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants of the borough. SECTION XIII. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. ARISHES were constructed out of the ancient manors. The ecclesiastical district of a parish takes its commencement, as an area for rating for the relief of the poor, from the Act of 43 Eliz., cap. 2, which constituted the overseers of the poor. It directed “ that the churchwardens of every parish, and four, three, or two substantial householders therein,” should be nominated as overseers of the poor, to undertake the relief of the poor and to provide a poor rate for the maintenance of the poor. The “ parish ” there is the then ecclesiastical parish. For the most part the parishes were well defined; and generally the term “parish” applied to places which were under the ecclesiastical control of a “ parson,” which is the very word used in the statute itself. 1 But in recent legislation the definition of “parish” for the purposes of the statutes has embraced an ecclesiastical parish, a township, a chapelry, a hamlet, and every other place that separately maintained its own poor, until the time when the union chargeability was created, and then it became necessary to alter the definition of the term “ parish,” for the purposes of the Poor Laws, to a place for which a separate poor rate can (1) Select Committee on Boundaries of Parishes, etc., 1873; questions 3, 14, 313. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 335 be levied or a separate overseer appointed. 1 But it was not until the maintenance of the poor was made a legal charge upon the parishes that the parish boundaries assumed their fixity of position. 2 The following lists of the various parish officers of Len- ton are compiled from the parish vestry books, overseers’ accounts, surveyors’ accounts, parish indentures, and other sources, the names being spelt as they occur in the books. A careful examination of the overseers’ accounts, from which we have abstracted some of the more important items, shows that the office of Overseer was one which required the devotion of a considerable amount of time and labour. The old overseers appear to have performed their duties in a creditable manner, but this was not the case at a later period, as the following extract from the overseers’ account book, dated March, 1836, will show. “ It was represented to the meeting that the annual overseers of the poor have of late been exceedingly negligent in the discharge of their duties, particularly in their almost total non-attendance at the usual parish meetings, thereby imposing upon the assistant overseer a responsibility which he ought not exclusively to bear, and subjecting him to the censures and odium of those paupers from whom in the proper discharge of the duties of his office, he feels himself obliged to withhold relief entirely, or to afford it in a limited degree; it was therefore unanimously resolved that in future if the annual officers for the time being be negligent in their attendance at the usual meetings of the parish, or in the discharge of their other official duties, that the assistant overseer report the same to the Parish. Resolved that the above Resolution be transcribed and sent to those persons who may be elected overseers of the poor for the present and succeeding years.” Overseers of the Poor. 1678. Thomas Kelladine ; William Selby. 1704. Samuel Colishaw ; Mordecai Hall. (1) Select Committee on Boundaries of Parishes, etc., 1S73; question 17. (2) Ibid. 5S9. 33(5 THE HISTORY OF THE 1705. Humphrey Hopkins; George Swinscow. 1709. William Davis ; Griffith Davies. 1715. Mordecai Hall ; George Fewks. 171S. Thomas Lester. 1719. Francis Roberts; John Garland. 1720. John Garland ; Joseph Thompson. 1721. John Hopkins. 1722. Thomas Newham ; Stephen Western. 1723. Stephen Western ; Thomas Newham. 1724. Arthur Beardsley; John Roberts. 1725. Thomas Wood ; Thomas Greasley. 1726. Richard Pyatt ; William Black. 1727. John Chamberlain ; John Holmes. 1728. William Marshall; Richard Gilbourn. 1729. William Shaw ; William Marshall. 1730. Thomas Roughton ; Richard Flinders. 1731. Richard Crampton ; William Shelton. 1732. William Dickinson ; Samuel Keatley. 1733. William Dickinson ; Samuel Keatley. 1734. James Feild ; William Norris. 1 1735. Do. do. 1736. John Clarke; Benjamin Ault. 1737. Do. do. 1738. Robert Castle ; John Fish. 1739. William Burton ; Thomas Townshend. 1740. James Thaine ; Henry Brown, junr. 1741. Humphrey Hopkins; William Pike. 1742. Francis Roberts ; William Black. 1743. William Shipman ; Robert Castle, junr. 1744. Thomas Wood ; Thomas Newham. 1745. John Chamberlain ; Thomas Townshend. 1746. Thomas Roughton ; Joseph Lacey. 1747. John Chapman ; James Lacey. 1748. William Dickinson ; Samuel Keatley. 1749. Do. do. 1750. William Norris; James Feild. 1751. Benjamin Ault; Edward Hollingworth. 1752. John Clarke; do. 1 753 - Do. ; John Bradshaw. 1754. Humphrey Hopkin ; do. 1755. Humphrey Hopkin ; Joseph Roberts. 1756. John Chamberlin ; do. (1) “Apr: 9: 1734 it is agreed by ye inhabitants of Lenton that Ja. Feild & W m Norris, is to be overseers of ye Poor for two years next ensuing, being both willing to it, & Jno Clark & Ben. Ault ye two following, if living & still inhabitants, being as ye others both willing .”—Vestry Book. This arrangement was actually carried out. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 1757. John Chamberlin ; Matthew Welch. 1758. Thomas Roughton ; do. 1759. Do. ; Ralph Porter. 1760. Samuel Keetley ; do. 1761. Do. ; William Norris. 1762. Edward Hollingworth ; do. 1763. Do. ; Joseph Castle. 1764. Joseph Roberts; John Ivettleby. 1765. John Bradshaw; do. 1766. Do. ; William Hopkin. 1767. Thomas Roughton; do. 1768. Do. ; William Norris. 1769. John Chamberlin; do. 1770. John Hopkins ; Matthew Welch. 1771. John Chamberlin ; do. 1772. Do. ; John Keetley. 1773. John Keetley ; William Shaw. 1774. William Shaw ; Edward Hollingworth. 1775. Edward Hollingworth ; Elias Roberts. 1776. John Bradshaw; Thomas Roughton. 1777. Thomas Stevenson ; Thomas Roughton. 1778. Thomas Roughton ; William Wilkinson. 1 779 - William Wilkinson ; William Norris. 1780. Gervase Boot ; William Norris. 1781. Thomas Roughton; John Hopkins. 1782. John Hopkins ; John Chamberlin. 1783. “John Hopkins for John Chamberlin.” 1784. John Keetley ; Edward Hollingworth. 1785. John Keetley for John Bradshaw; John Shaw. 1786. John Shaw ; William Hopkins. 1787. Gervas Boot; Thomas Roughton. 1788. Gervas Boot; John Hopkins. 1789. Humphrey Hopkins; John Hopkins. 1790. John Hopkins; Mr. Chamberlin. 1791. Mr. Chamberlin; John Keetley. 1792. John Shaw ; William Keetley. 1793. William Keetley ; Thomas Roughton. 1794. Thomas Roughton ; Edward Hollingworth. 1795. Edward Hollingworth; William Wigley. 1796. William Wigley; Thomas Stevenson. 1797. Thomas Stevenson ; Gervas Boot. 1798. Mr. Boot; Mr. Chamberlin. 1799. John Shaw; Mr. Chamberlin. 1800. Richard Nutt; T. Roughton. 1801. J. W. Ivillingley ; John Shaw. 1802. My. Needham ; R. Nutt. 1803. J. Green ; Thomas Newham. THE HISTORY OF THE 333 THE HISTORY OF THE 1804. IS05. 1806. 1807. IS08. 1809. 1510. 1511. 1812. 1S13. ^iSi 4 . iSis. ISI6. 1817. 1818. iS 19. IS20. 1821. 1822. IS23. 1824. 1825. 1826. 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832. 1833- 1834. IS35. 1836. 1837- 1838. 1839- 1840. 1841. 1842. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. William Surplice ; Thomas Newham. Francis Evans ; Thomas Newham. William Stretton ; Thomas Newham. John Wilkinson ; Thomas Newham. John Wright, Esq. ; Thomas Rougliton ; Thomas Newham Thomas Rough ton ; John Burton. John Burton ; Richard Chamberlin ; John Roughton. Richard Chamberlin ; John Rougliton ; William Hopkins. William Hopkins ; John Roughton ; William Weston. William Weston; John Roughton; James Nutt. James Nutt; John Roughton; Joseph [Hurst] Lowe. J. H. Lowe, Esq. ; John Roughton ; Samuel Keetley. Samuel Keetley; John Roughton; T. B. Milnes. T. B. Milnes ; John Roughton ; Isaac Bailey. Isaac Bailey ; John Roughton ; John Burton. John Burton; John Roughton; Nathaniel Gee. John Wilkinson; John Roughton; Alex. Foxcroft, Esq. Alex. Foxcroft, Esq. ; John Roughton; Samuel Goodacre. William Surplice ; Samuel Goodacre ; George Brown. William Surplice ; George Brown ; T. B. Milnes. T. B. Milnes ; Thomas Roughton ; Francis Stout. John Ray; Thomas Roughton; John Lammin. Alfred Lowe; Lorenzo Christie; John Challands. Richard Chamberlin; John Maples; John Needham. John Maples; William Cliff; Francis Cheetham. John Maples ; Thomas Kirk ; William Wilkinson. John Swain ; John Needham ; John Maples. John Needham ; Samuel Goodacre. John Wilmot; Edward Wilson. George Bradley ; William Goodhead ; Samuel Atkins. William Goodhead ; James Nutt ; William Potter. Isaac Fisher ; Thomas Wood. Thomas Roe ; William Hopkins. John Wilkinson; John Hill. John Hutchinson ; George Langford. Thomas Roe; Thomas Pegg. Richard Grant Tucker; John Hill. John Godfrey ; George Bradley Harvey. Joseph Bell ; Thomas Shephard. Joseph Smith ; John Sylvester. Thomas Bayley ; Peter Coxon. William Best ; John Oldknow ; Edward Wilson. William Knight ; James Smith. William Kirk ; George Stanton. 1 (i) From this elate, the books are imperfect or inaccessible. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 339 Extracts from the Accounts of the Overseers of the Poor. 1782. To Expences at Mr Pacey’s when we went to detect Rebecca Lovatt keeping a Disorderly house ... -006 To John Kirkham for a Wheel for Jackson’s wife ... 46 This was probably a spinning-wheel. 1783. To a Glaziers Bill for the Poors Houses.1 o Bought a new Lock for hand cuffs. 10 To a Lock for Garlands House. 36 Numerous entries refer to a wretched man named Robert Clayworth, who appears to have been a lunatic, and to have been much trouble to the parish officers. We extract a few of the items : — To Two Men with a Cart bringing Clayworth from Nottm. - 5 o To my own Trouble ........ 10 To Two Men taking care of R Clayworth one night - 30 To Bread and Cheese and Ale at the same time ... 10 To the Expense of Ellis’s Family going to Ireland - - - 10 9 2^ To my trouble going with them to Liverpool - - - - 150 1784. To Joseph Elvage putting in Window Gar’ds [Garland’s] House 8 To making New Window Duplicate and ’livering it in at Stamp Office - -- -- -- -- -- 10 The unpopular tax on windows was increased this year, which accounts for this last entry. In the next year’s accounts the unfortunate Clayworth again appears upon the scene, and the barbarous inhumanity with which poor maniacs were treated at that time is strikingly illustrated by the following extracts from the overseer’s accounts :— 1785. To 2 Men sitting up with R Clayworth and Expenses and bringing him down to Lenton ...... 60 To 2 Men tentingi Clayworth 2 Days and 2 Nights, supposing he would be better. 100 To Meat and Drink they had same time ----- 50 To 3 Men bringing him down to be Chained at Lenton - 30 To some Goods he broke ....... 20 To Joseph Elvidge for setting Post down To Chain Clayworth and Staple and Chains and my trouble ----- 26 To his Board when Confined at my House .... 80 To pr of Stockings and Shoes and Shirt and Hat and Handker¬ chief he had when he went home, the other being torn to pieces 9 o To Clayworth when he went back to Nottingham as was thought well. 50 For Cleworth for some windows that he broke before he was put in house of Correction at Nottingham. 20 1786. To a man that w as gathering for Loss by fire at Armcrton in Derbyshire, which he had a paper granted and signed by Neighbours and Justices, to gather only on Constables, which I think was right ; most Parishes paid 7s. some 5s. I paid him 4 o The following relate to a compulsory marriage, and the care which the parish officials took to prevent the unwilling bridegroom from running away from his fair and frail bride is sufficiently amusing. (1) This is a local word, still in common use amongst the lower orders, signifying to tend, or guard. 340 THE HISTORY OF THE To John Shaw going to Bilboroug to take Geo Everson, and the going to Mr Cope’s with him. 20 To expenses that day. 42 To a Licience to be married - - - - - - - 1130 To the Parson’s and the Clarke’s dues. 76 To Mr Maddock coming down for his advice before they was marred ---------- 26 To 2 Men tenting him 4 days and 3 nights Before married at 2s. 6d. day and night. 17 o To Mr Hopkins for 3 Mens board wile tenting him and wedding Dinner and ale - -- -- -- -- 120 To my Self and Thomas Lacy taking account of the number of windows - -- -- -- -- - 20 17S7. Paid for five Duberleygates [duplicates]. 76 Paid Gorge Wilkinson for takeing John Marsh and is wife down to the salt watter. 10 o Paid Mr Pearson for bringing them back again - ... 10 o Whether John Marsh and his wife were taken down to the “salt watter” that their health might be benefitted by the sea breezes does not appear. 1788. Paid four Salers with apass. 8 In this year we again find more items relating to the poor maniac, Clayworth. pade Jhoseph Jacson for Tenting Clawerth one night one day - 3 o Ditto for my trobel Geting him to the hous of Erection and Exspenses - -- -- -- -- - 10 pade Mr Glover at the hous of Erection one night - - - 10 Ditto pade Jhoseph Jaction for fetching Clawerth homagane - 6 pade dol w'hen Ill -------- 10 pade Samwell Shaperd for bleeding Roberd Clawerth - - 3 pade pataddams when Ill ------ - 6 pade for Clawerth Coming horn from Mansfeild ... 100 pade for Shifting post to Cassels barn for Clawerth* - - 4 At length the unfortunate Clayworth died, and the overseer became disrespectful in consequence. pade for one blankit that Clawerth had ----- 30 pade for Jarsey for Clawerth ------- 6 pade for Laing Clawerth out. I o pade fore men to Care Clawerth to Chirch - 20 pade for bred and dring for Clawerth Funeral - - - - 20 bought ouhl Clawerth one Sheet. 42 pade parson and Clark for bureing Clawerth - - - - 28 1790. paid for a Lock for Garlands Chamber ----- 14 1791. A meetg to consider of proper places to remove the poor out of houses intended to be pulled down. 30 Paid Glazr for repairs Windows at Abbey Gate house - - 69 1792. Paid for a Warrant from Mr. Charlton requiring two Waggons to remove the Soldiers Baggage. 20 1793. [A similar entry to the last.] Paid to Admarel Greaves Sun & Wife & 4 Children Being a Naterf of Filledlfey Havend a Auder fron Govermente for Every Parish to Pay to him. I o 1 795. Paid for Four Jurey Men for Anqurey Over the Man that was Found In Eings meadows 2 ...... 10 o (1) This barn stood at the back of a number of small houses which, facing the west, formerly stood on the site of the house on the footroad to Nottingham, now occupied by Mr. Samuel Froggatt. The village stocks were fixed where the water tank re¬ cently stood, and opposite to these old cottages. (2) See p. 283, ante, for an entry in the Parish Registers relating to a Stranger found dead in the Ring’s Meadow, in 1752. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 341 1796. To A Cratch to Bat Cotten for Hannah Bayley ... 20 Paid Francis Simpson for Catching Moles half a year - - 368 To James Chadbourn for going to Wollarton 2 days & Expences on Account of 2 skellertons found there .... 46 These “skellertons” were presumably found in that part of Wollaton Park which was within the parish of Lenton. Paid Mr. Tod and my Expences Surveying the Lean - - 30 1797. Paid on Account of Sea Men.34 12 1 To Extra Expences for 6 Substitutes for Militia - - 16 2 6 Pd James Chadburn for taking A Vagrant to Sandiacre - - 26 To a Soldier with a Pass. 4 To A Lock for Fin Fold Gate ...... 12 To a Ship-Racked Rusian Sailor with a Pass ... 10 1798. To the Infirmary.220 To a Lock for Pin Fold Gate ...... 1 10 Paid for Assistance &c to take Mathew Reed to Justice - 5 o 1799. To Expence for a Militia Man - - - - - - 61511 To Joseph Needham mending Leen banks .... 60 1800. To Sparrows.1 16 9| Paid for Sparrows --------- 2 2 Paid Mrs. Brown for Cloathing & putting out hir Son Wm’s Boy 313 o Paid for Sparrows ...... - 1 2 5 9 a do .3 18 5 1801. Paid Mr. Falkenor for 8 Militia Orders.22 14 o To A Book for takeing the Popolation of the Parish- - 7 To an Account of Popolation taking ..... 10 O 1803. Expenses of Militia substitutes.32 1 11 County rates and damages for riots.25 7 o Loss on account of the Army of Reserve - - - - 46 8 9 1805. To Advertizing the Feast*. no 1806. Sam Fletcher, Pining & Seizing R Woodhouses Asses - - 5 o Coroners Fee & 4 Jurymen over Collyer who was suffocated in M r Wrights well ....... . 176 1811. Sarah Hopkin for Jury for the Lord of the Manor - - - 100 A Bonnett & 2 Pinbefores for Mary Millot - - - - 7 11 Takeing the Population of the Parish - - -100 1812. Mrs. Wombwel! a Bill for Watch & Ward - - - - 1 19 9 Attending the Hall to receive the Arms .... 5 o By one Blunderbuss & 2 Soards • - - - - - 3 7 6 Mr. Scullthorpe for a Blunderbuss - - - - - - 226 attending the meeting for Do.. 5 o Mrs. Wombwell a Bill for Watch Room Coals, &c. 2 - - 5 5 * F. Wayte for 4 lbs of Candles for the Guardhouse ... 310 paid Sarah Hopkins for the Huzars being there - - - 180 Postage to M* Ward for Letters from the war office - - - 62 Thos. Wade a Bill for Masonry for Guard house - - - 1 1 7 These items all refer to what are known as the “ Luddite” outrages, arising out of the discontent amongst the local framework-knitters owing to the reduction of wages, which they attributed to the establishment of machinery. Having broken out into open violence, under the leadership of one “Ned Ludd,” they proceeded to destroy all the stocking-frames that they could lay hands upon, and accompanied with such excesses that at length parties of soldiers had to be quartered in all the country villages. The inhabitants of Lenton first tried to keep the peace with two blunderbusses and as many swords, but apparently without effect. (1) Seep. 264. (2) Previous to the introduction of the police system, the watch-house and lock-up were at the Lenton Coffee House, now the White Hart Inn. 342 THE HISTORY OF THE 1514. By trouble & Intrust of 250^ for Hosiery ns pr. Acct. - - 36 9 o 1515. Poastage of a Letter from Nottingham ----- 3 1S17. By Expenditure in Manufacturing ..... ^j 2 17 9 Expences attending the Hosiers and frame-work Knitters - 126 1S19. By an Act of Parliament passed July 2nd, ’19- - - - 5 1S21. Edwd. Sherrock a Bill for Population Book - - - - 66 1S23. Thos Wright for Catching Moles - - - - - - 100 1S2S. Hallam, Hyson Green.100 This entry proves that the portion of Lenton parish known as Hyson Green was thus spelled in 1S2S. 1S29. A Stamp for Lord Middleton’s Poor Rate - 10 1S33. The Treasurer of the County, for Messrs Lowe & Smith’s damages.723 1 1 Chief Constables Bill for damages at Beeston, Turlon’s & others 46 5 6J This was consequent on the riots in October, 1832, when Nottingham Castle and other property was destroyed. 1S34. Mr. Godfrey, Clerk of the Peace, on the Pligh Constables order 17 County rates under the Damages Compensation Act - 153 14 2 The General Hospital Subscription - - - - - - 440 1835. Mr. Godfrey, Clerk of the Peace, 17 County Rates for damage to Nottingham Castle in 1831.153 14 2 1836. To Mr. Godfrey, for the Broxtowe damages ... - 307 8 4 To expenses incurred at Easter 1836 at the parish Baronial Court of G. Gregory, Esqr..200 1837. The Clerk of the Peace, seventeen County Rates on Account of the Broxtowe damages compensation Act .... 133 14 2 1838. Clerk of the Peace, damages in 1831 under the Broxtowe Damages compensation act.137 19 91 Clerk of the Peace, Hundred Rates for damages in the riots in 1831.137 19 9i 1839. Paid the Clerk of the Peace for damages by Rioters in 1831 to Nottingham Castle.137 19 91 [The same sum was paid in 1840.] 1840. Paid Chief Constable, Broxtowe Damages - - - - 159 4 44 1842. To Losses upon Light Gold, as per account .... 10 6 1843. Paid for Loss upon Light Gold ------ 2 10 Received from the High Constable on Account of overcharges in the Broxtowe Hundred Compensation Act, and now returned' 10 12 3^ 1844. Loss on Light Gold - -. in Constables 1 2 and Overseers of Highways. 1718. Thomas Allicock. 1719. John Scattergood ; William Marshall. 1720. John Western ; Joseph Thompson. 1721. John Swinscow ; John Hopkins. (1) The total amount paid by the Parish of Lenton as compensation for damages done during the riots in the neighbourhood of Nottingham in 1831 was ^2,238 8s. 8^d. (2) Referring to the multifarous duties performed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by these officials, a local historian has recently remarked that “ the office is one of great antiquity, and its full importance can scarcely be realized in these days. The Parish, or Petty Constable, united in his person most of the functions of a police force, public prosecutor, exciseman, custom-house officer, collector and assessor of taxes, sanitary and building inspector, overseer, and a fully armed nineteenth century local board .”—Leigh in the Eighteenth Century, by J. Rose. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 343 1722. Stephen Western ; John Svvinscow. 1723. Tohn Svvinscow ; Richard Norris. 1724. John Swinscow ; John Chamberlain. 1725. John Swinscow ; Arthur Beardsley. 1726. Thomas Wood ; Thomas Greasley. 1727. Richard Pyatt ; William Black. 1728. John Hopkins; Humphrey Hopkins. 1729. John Bradshaw ; John Chamberlain ; Thos. Firth. 1730. William Shaw; John Mosley. 1731. Thomas Roughton ; Thomas Wheatley. 1732. Thomas Newham ; William Marshall. 1 733. William Marshall ; Joseph Lacey. 1734. Samuel Keatley ; Benjamin Ault. 1735. William Norris ; William Dickinson. 1736. Robert Castle; William Burton. 1737. John Clarke; William Burton. 1738. John Clarke ; William Dickinson, junr. 1739. William Dickinson, junr. ; William Spencer. 1740. Benjamin Ault; John Chamberlain. 1741. John Chamberlain; James Field. 1742. Thomas Wood ; William Dickinson, senr. 1743. Humphrey Hopkin ; William Norris. 1744. Thomas Roughton ; Samuel Keatley. 1745. William Norris ; Robert Castle. 1746. Robert Castle ; John Clarke. 1747. John Clarke; John Chapman. 1748. John Chapman ; William Dickinson. 1749. William Dickinson ; John Chamberlaine. 1750. John Chamberlain ; Benjamin Ault. 1751. Benjamin Ault; Samuel Keatley. 1752. Samuel Keatley ; Edward Hollingworth. 1753. Edward Plollingworth ; James Feild. 1754. Joseph Roberts; John Bradshaw. ' 755 - John Bradshaw ; Humphrey Hopkin. 1756. Humphrey Hopkin ; Thomas Roughton. 1757. Thomas Roughton; William Norris. 1758. William Norris ; Ralph Porter. 1759. Ralph Porter ; Matthew Welch. 1760. Matthew Welch ; John Chamberlain. 1761. John Chamberlain; Samuel Keatley. 1762. Samuel Keatley ; Edward Hollingworth. 1763. Edward Hollingworth ; Joseph Roberts. 1764. Joseph Roberts; Joseph Castle. 1765. John Kettleby ; John Bradshaw. 1766. John Bradshaw ; William Hopkin. 1767. William Hopkin; Thomas Roughton. 1768. Thomas Roughton ; 344 THE HISTORY OF THE 1769. 1770. John Iiopkin ; 1771. Matthew Welch ; John Chamberlin. 1772. John Chamberlin; John Keetley.i Constables. i 773 - John Keetley. 1789. Humphrey Hopkins. > 774 - William Shaw. 1790. John Hopkins. > 775 - Edward Hollingworth. 1791. Richard Chamberlin. 1776. John Bradshaw. 1792. Mr. John Shaw. 1777. Thomas Stephenson. > 793 - William Keetley. 00 Thomas Roughton. 1794 - Thomas Roughton. 1779 - William Wilkinson. > 795 - Edward Hollingworth. 1780. Gervase Boot. 1796. Mr. William Wigley. 1781. Thomas Roughton. 1797- Thomas Stevenson. 1782. John Hopkins. 1798. Thomas Newham. 1783- John Keetley. 1799. Do. 1784. John Keetley. 1800. Do. 1785- John Shaw. 1801. George Wombwell. 1786. John Shaw. C 4 O OO 0 1821. Thomas Newham. 1787. Thomas Roughton. 1837- Richard Burton. 00 00 Gervas Boot. 1838. Henry Sissons or Syson. Surveyors. 1773- Edward Hollingworth. 1816. Humphry Hopkins. > 774 - Joseph Roberts. 1817. Do. > 775 - Elias Roberts. 1818. Do. 1786. Thomas Roughton. 1819. Do. 1801. J. W. Killingley. 1820. Humphrey Hopkins and G. 1802. Matthew Needham. Brown. 1803. J. Green. [1821—1837 wanting.] 1804. William Surplice. 1838. John Froggatt; Thomas 1805. Francis Evans. Mawby. 1806. William Stretton. 1839. Robert James ; John Croshaw. 1807. John Wilkinson. 1840. Robert James ; John Godfrey. 1808. Do. 1841. John Shaw ; Thomas Roe. 1809. Thomas Roughton. 1842. Thomas Roe; R. G. Tucker. 1810. John Burton. 1843. R. G. Tucker; Samuel Roe. 1811. Humphrey Hopkins. 1844. Do. ; William Greaves. 1812. Do. -1845. James Nutt ; do. 1813. Do. 1846. William Hickling; do. 1814. Do. 1847. Thomas Shepherd ; do. 1815. Do. 1848. Do. ; William Hickling. (1) The total expenditure of the Surveyors of Highways for the year ending October, 1772, was £34 3s. 5d., and for the year ending October, 1779, the expenditure was £22 3s. 5d. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 345 Burleymen. Halliwell, in his “ Dictionary of Provincial and Archaic Words,” says that Burleymen were to assist the constable in a court leet. They appear to have usually been appointed at manorial courts, and their special duties were to act as referees as to the amount due for damages, trespass, encroachments, etc., and on this account persons having experience in agri¬ cultural matters were commonly chosen for the office. 1 1718. John Garland ; Samuel Collishaw. 1719. Thomas Allicock ; George Dickinson. 1720. John Swinscow ; 1721. John Hopkins; 1722. John Chamberlain ; 1723. John Swinscow ; 1724. Stephen Western ; 1725. John Swinscow; Stephen Western. 1726. Arthur Beardsley; John Western. 1727. Thomas Wood; Thomas Greasley. 1728. Thomas Wood ; John Chamberlain. 1729. Thomas Newham ; 1730. Robert Castle; John Clarke. 173 r. John Clarke; William Marshall. 1732. William Marshall ; Thomas Roughton. 1733. Humphrey Hopkin ; do. 1734. Do. ; William Burton. 1735. John Chamberlain; do. 1736. John Chamberlaine ; William Norris. 1737. William Norris; Benjamin Ault. 1738. Benjamin Ault ; William Marshall. 1739. William Dickinson, junr. ; Thomas Wood. 1740. Samuel Keatley ; Robert Castle. 1741. William Dickinson, junr. ; John Chamberlaine. 1742. Thomas Wood ; William Dickinson, senr. 1743. Thomas Wood; Humphrey Hopkin. (1) That, duties of this nature were performed by the Burleymen of this parish, is shown from the following entry in one of the old parish-books : “July ye 21st, 1744. Be it remembered yt Mr Trueman, Steward to Esqre Plumtree paid one shilling on this day to Humphrey Hopkins ye Burliman of Lenton for an acknow¬ ledgement of a trespass by carrying the hay from ye Ilorsedoles [in the parish of Beeston] to Nott'" through ye Meadows belonging to Lenton and Radford.” The Burleymen of Lenton were, however, evidently appointed by the parish, at the annual vestry meeting, and not at the manorial court. 346 THE HISTORY OF THE 1744. Humphrey Hopkin; 1 745 - John Clarke; William Tike. 1746. John Chamberlain; Thomas Roughton. 1747. Thomas Roughton ; William Norris. 1748. William Norris ; John Chapman. 1749. John Chapman ; Benjamin Ault. 1750. Benjamin Ault; William Dickinson. 1 7 5 1 • Do. ; Thomas Wood. 1752. Humphrey Hopkin ; do. 1753 - Do. ; John Clarke. ■ 754 - John Clarke; Edward Ilollingworth. 1755. Edward Hollingworth ; John Bradshaw. 1756. John Bradshaw / John Chamberlain. 1757. Thomas Roughton ; do. 1758- Do. ; William Norris. 1759. Ralph Porter; do. 1760. Do. ; Matthew Welch. 1761. Samuel Keetley ; do. 1762. Do. ; Edward Ilollingworth. 1763. John Bradshaw ; do. 1764. Do. ; John Chamberlin. 1765. Thomas Roughton ; do. 1766. Do. ; William Norris. 1767. William Norris ; William Hopkin. The Pinder was another parochial officer, and appears to have been subordinate to the constable. Previous to the year 1841 there was only one pinfold for the joint parishes of Lenton and Radford, the constable of the latter parish paying to the Con¬ stable of Lenton a proportion of the cost of repairing the pinfold. The following entry to this effect occurs in the Lenton parish books under date of June 6th, 1740. “Memoranda y l Ben: Ault y e pst Constable is to Rec[eive] of Radford Constable one shilling & fourpence for y e Repairs of y e Pinfold y e late year past.” The rules and instructions to be observed by the Pinder tend to prove that the pinfold, although used by the parishes of Lenton and Radford jointly, was under the control of the former parish. 1 The inhabitants of Lenton also appointed a neat-herdsman to look after their cattle grazing on the common lands in Lenton (1) See also the Overseer’s Accounts for 1797 and 1798 for payments by the parish of Lenton for locks for the pinfold gates. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 347 and Radford Holmes. The following agreement is derived from the parish books of Lenton. Feb. 13 th 174I. Be it Remembred y t We y e Inhabitants of Lenton doe Now unanimously Agree Consent & Covenant w th William Burton to be y e Neatherdsman in Lenton & Radford Holmes to Enter this p st Year & y l he Upon Agreem 1 . is to Look after & attend y e Beasts Horses & Sheep dureing their abode & Continuance Upon y e Comons thereunto belonging Every Sort of Cattell in their Season & y l he shall pay pinship for Every Sort of Cattell trespassing in y e daytime & y l he shall take Care to drive & attend Every Comoners Beast to y e forrest Every Year whilst he Continues in his place begining about y e tenth of March If y e Weather be Seasonable & from thence to Continue so doing till y e Comon Pasture be broken & also y 1 he shall take care y‘ y e Quick sett be Weeded yearly whilst it needs y l is now Sett And y l he shall doe his whole business Upon y e same Salary y l Belongs to y e place In Wittness whereof y e Partys above Named have hereunto Sett our hands. John Chamberlin. — John Clarke. — Will. Dickinson. — Tho. Wood.—Sami. Keetley. — Tho. Roughton. — Robt. Cassells. — Willm Norris. — Hum : Hopkins.—Willm Burton his W marke. The Highway Board. The Board for the Repair of the Highways in the Parish of Lenton was constituted under the provisions of the Act of Parlia¬ ment, 5th and 6th William the Fourth, ch. 50, entitled “ An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Highways in that part of Great Britain called England.” The total expenditure of the Board in 1865 was .£504 4s. 5d. The Board continued its operations until it was superseded in 1870 by the Lenton Local Board. The Burial Board. At a public vestry meeting of the parish of Lenton, held December 1st, 1856, “ for the purpose of determining whether a new burial ground, or an extension of the present one, should be provided for the parish of Lenton, and, appointing a Burial Board under the provisions of the recent Acts of Parliament,” it 34 8 THE HISTORY OF THE was decided to form a Burial Board forthwith, and the following gentlemen were accordingly elected :—Rev. George Browne, Vicar (chairman), Messrs. Thomas Adams, John Shaw, Samuel Morley, Thomas Bayley, W. F. Gibson, William Kirk, Richard Savage, and Joseph Thompson. Party feeling in Lenton ran very high. The Nonconformists demanded a burial ground dis¬ connected from the Church. The Church people simply asked for an extension of the existing Churchyard, to be acquired by subscription of the principal parishioners. The latter course was ultimately carried out, the Nonconformists conceding their strong objections, and subscribing liberally to the fund. The following were the principal subscribers:—The Rt. Hon. Lord Middleton, Wollaton Hall, £100 ; Gregory, George, Esq., Har- laxton Hall, £100 ; Adams, Thomas, Esq., Lenton Firs, £100; owner and occupiers of Bestwood Park, £400 ; Wright, Francis, Esq., Osmaston Manor, £50 ; Wright, Misses, Lenton Lodge, £50; Smith, Henry, Esq., Wilford, £25 ; Morley, Samuel, Esq., Lenton Grove, £25 ; Bayley, Mr. Thomas, Park Side, £25 ; Walker, Mr. Benjamin, Park Side, £25 ; Midland Railway Com¬ pany, £25 ; Browne, Rev. George, Vicar of Lenton, £10. An acre of land on the south side of the churchyard was purchased from George Gregory, Esq., for the sum of £786, and walled in as an addition to the same, the total cost amounting to ,£1,020. At a meeting of the Board held July 5th, 1861, the following resolution was adopted, “that, as the purchase money for the land required for an extension of the churchyard has been obtained by voluntary contributions, and all the liabilities of the Board are now discharged, it is, in the opinion of the Board, unnecessary to continue the operations of the Burial Acts in this parish, and that the Board be now dissolved.” The Local Board. The Local Government Act, 1848, was adopted by the parish of Lenton in the year 1870. On this, as on other occasions, public feeling ran very high, and “ stormy meetings ” were the order of the day. The Board consisted of twelve members, PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 349 each of whom was elected for three years. The Board adopted as its official seal the arms of Lenton Priory, suspended by a broad belt from an oak tree—symbolical of the former con¬ nection of the parish with Sherwood Forest, and surrounded by the words LENTON LOCAL BOARD. This seal was designed for the Board by Captain (now Major) A. E. Lawson Lowe, of Highfield. The Board was dissolved by the 7th section of “The Nottingham Borough Extension Act, 1877.” Tiie School Board. In February, 1871, an unsuccessful attempt was made to form a School Board. Considerable animosity was exhibited on this occasion, and for some time after, until the Education Depart¬ ment “ resolved that it was expedient to cause a School Board to be formed.” A Board, consisting of seven members, was accordingly elected August 9th, 1872. In pursuance of the 74th section of “ The Fdementary Education Act, 1870,” the Board made certain bye-laws at a meeting held April 28th, 1874. These were confirmed by an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated October 20th, 1874, and published in the London Gazette on the 23rd October following. By the 38th section of “The Nottingham Borough Extension Act, 1877,” “All the juris¬ diction, rights, powers, liabilities, and obligations of the School Board for the district of Lenton, in respect of that part of the same district which is by this Act included within the area of the extended borough, shall, at the commencement af this Act, cease and be transferred to the School Board for the extended borough.” The following are the names of the members of the dissolved Board:—Henry Smith Wright, Hlsq. (chairman), Rev. W. R. Cripps, Messrs. Joseph Billyeald, and William Dalli- son, Churchmen ; and Messrs. John Renals, John Benjamin Walker, and Thomas Bayley, Nonconformists. The seal of the Board was similar to that of the Local Board, but surrounded by the words LENTON SCHOOL BOARD. 350 THE HISTORY OF THE The Sewerage of Lenton. Up to the year 1853 the principal drainage of Old Lenton was conveyed in open ditches along the streets of the village, and thence along a field belonging to John Sherwin Gregory, Esquire, and after passing through such field, it was conveyed by a culvert under the river Leen, and thence along an open ditch into and through a wooden trunk under the Nottingham Canal into the Tinker’s Leen, which discharges itself into the river Trent. In or about the year 1853, the ditches in the village streets of Old Lenton were converted into brick culverts, and subsequently, about the year 1858, the Board for the Repair of the Highways in the parish of Lenton, acting as the local authority for the execution of the Nuisances Removal Act, 1855, constructed a bricked culvert in connection with the same, and in lieu of the open ditch through the field of Mr. Gregory. The culvert entered the field at the same point as the former open ditch, but instead of following the circuitous route of the ditch, it was made in a straight course across the field to the same point under the Leen where the original ditch emptied itself, and it was thence continued further in a straight line under the canal, and to the Tinker’s Leen, which it entered at a point about ninety yards higher up, or more westward, than the former old wooden trunk entrance into the Tinker’s Leen. The authorities of the town of Nottingham denied the right of the authorities of the Parish of Lenton to use the Tinker’s Leen for their sewage, or in any manner to interfere therewith, and contended that the watercourses to the Trent were their proper drainage, and they considered themselves under no obligation to keep the Tinker’s Leen cleared out, and allowed it to remain neglected. The Board of Highways for Lenton had no power or authority over it beyond the limits of the parish, and within those limits it was always kept properly cleaned out by the Board. In the year 1858 the Highway Board also constructed, at great expense, a new main road sewer in Willoughby Street, New Lenton, by which the refuse and drainage of New Lenton, PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 35 1 which was much greater in quantity than that of old Lenton, was conveyed into the River Leen. In July, 1870, the sewerage of Lenton had become so offensive to the inhabitants of Nottingham Meadows, that instructions were given for the sewage matter deposited in the ditches in the King’s Meadows to be examined by two Notting¬ ham medical practitioners. They reported that “ ordinary town sewage, moving freely in good sewers, cannot be compared with the contents of this ditch, which in our opinion contains an enormously greater amount of putrid organic matter.” In 1872, “The Nottingham and Leen District Sewerage Act,” 1 was passed, the object of which was the purification of the River Leen and the River Trent, and their tributaries, and the prevention of their future pollution. The powers of this Act were vested in a Board known as “ The Nottingham and Leen District Sewerage Board,” the interests of Lenton being represented by two members of the Local Board, Messrs. John Froggatt and Thomas Shepperson. The functions of the Board, as to sewerage, were restricted to the execution and maintenance of such intercepting and outfall sewerage works, authorized by the Sewerage Utilization Acts to be made by a Sewer Authority, as in the opinion of the Board were from time to time necessary for the purpose of intercepting, storing, disinfecting, and distributing the sewage of the districts under the control of the Board, but did not extend to the internal sewerage of the several districts. Soon after the passing of the Act, the Board commenced the construction of a sewer for the interception of all the sewage between Nottingham and Bulwell at that time polluting the River Leen. The Sewage of New Lenton was turned into the intercepting sewer in 1875, and two years later the Local Board of Lenton connected the outfall of Old Lenton with the sewer, near the railway bridge in Lenton footpath. The Nottingham and Leen District Sewerage Board was dissolved by section 41 of “ The Nottingham Borough Extension Act, 1877.” (1) 35 and 36 Viet., Ch. cv. 352 TIIE HISTORY OF THE The Nottingham Borough Extension Act, 1877. By this Act, 1 which came into operation November 1st, 1877, the parish of Lenton was absorbed into the Borough of Not¬ tingham. By the seventh section of this Act, the Lenton Local Board was dissolved. By the sixteenth section the boundaries of the Borough of Nottingham were extended to include the parish of Lenton, except Bestwood Park, which is excluded from the operations of the Act. Section twenty-nine transferred the Lenton Police Station to the Corporation Sections thirty-eight and thirty-nine abolished the Lenton School Board, special provision being made by section forty for the future School Board at Bestwood Park. The Nottingham and Leen District Sewerage Board was dissolved by section forty-one. The fifty-seventh section provides that no bathing place shall, under section 66 of the Nottingham Improvement Act, 1874, be established on the River Trent in the Parish of Lenton unless with the consent of the riparian owner for the time being, upon or opposite to whose land such bathing places are to be placed. By section fifty-nine it is enacted that the present lady, or any future lady or lord, of the manor of Lenton, shall at all times hereafter, hold and enjoy all rents, services, franchises, rights, royalties, courts, perquisites, and profits of courts, and all other royalties, privileges, and jurisdictions to the said manor belonging, as though the Act had not been passed. The Parish of Lenton is situate partly in Castle Ward and partly in Meadows Ward, the greater and more populous portion of the parish, however, being included in Castle Ward. The first election of three councillors to represent Castle Ward in the Nottingham Town Council took place November 1st, 1877. The contest was a keen one, and the greatest excitement prevailed. The Liberals returned their three candidates, and the ward has returned a Liberal councillor at each annual election since. The following is a list of councillors (1) 40 Viet., Chap. xxxi. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 353 for Castle Ward since the extension of the borough, the first- named in each year being elected for three years, and the last one going out of office on the first day of November following :— 1877. Thomas Bayley ; John Renals ; John Benjamin Walker. 1878. John Benjamin Walker; Thomas Bayley; John Renals. 1879. John Froggatt; John Benjamin Walker ; Thomas Bayley. 1880. Thomas Bayley; John Froggatt; John Benjamin Walker. 1881. John Benjamin Walker; Thomas Bayley; John Froggatt. 1882. John Froggatt; John Benjamin Walker; Thomas Bayley. 1883. Thomas Bayley; John Froggatt; John Benjamin Walker. The Low Level Road. The chief inducement offered by the Corporation of Not¬ tingham to the parish of Lenton to consent to the annexation of the parish to the borough, was the promise that a Low Level Road should be at once made from Lenton to Notting¬ ham along the side of the River Leen. The scheme was not by any means a new one, for at a meeting of the lessees and occupiers of Nottingham Park, held at the Castle Lodge, October 14th, 1867, it was stated that when the Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone, one of the Trustees of the Nottingham Park Estate, was in Nottingham in 1864, he inspected the Leen, and the plans projected to cover it over for the purpose of making a road from the Midland Railway Station to Lenton. “ He (Mr. Gladstone) was so pleased with it that he and his coadjutor, Lord de Tabley, agreed to contribute to the cost of making a sewer, and give land in the King’s Meadows for a road between Nottingham and Lenton. It rested entirely with the Corporation, who generally took the initiative in such matters, and with the owners of the adjoining lands to carry out the scheme.” In the month of November, 1877, the Improvement Committee of the Nottingham Town Council were requested to take into their consideration the desirability of opening a new communi¬ cation between the parish of St. Mary and the parish of Lenton, by means of a low level road. On June 18th, 1880, the 24 354 THK HISTORY OF LENTON. Committee issued its report, in which it is stated “ that the proposed new road is a necessary improvement, and should be carried out if it can be done at a reasonable expenditure.” A Provisional Order of the Local Government Board, dated May nth, iSSI, empowered the Corporation of Nottingham to put in force the powers of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts, 1845, i860, and 1869, with respect to the purchase and taking of lands required for making this new road, otherwise than by agreement. This Order was confirmed by “ The Local Government Board’s Provisional Orders Confirmation (Birmingham, Tame, and Rea, etc.,) Act, 1881.” 1 The road, which is sixty feet wide, and known as the Lenton Boulevard, extends from Church Street, New Lenton, through the gardens and wharves in Nottingham Park, past the Castle Rock, to Canal Street, Nottingham. (1) 44 and 45 Viet., ch. cii. SECTION XIV. MANUFACTURES. REVIOUS to the commencement of the present century, the inhabitants of Lenton were engaged almost exclusively in agricultural pursuits. We find, however, indications of other industries in the parish registers of the last century, framework-knitters appearing as early as 1717, a basket-maker in 1733, a weaver in 1735, and a needle-maker in 1777. The principal trade carried on in the earlier part of this century was framework-knitting, a row of one-storey buildings in the main road, and facing the church, being occupied by stocking frames. This trade appears, however, to have left the parish about the year 1823, when the lace trade rapidly developed in the adjoining town of Nottingham. In the year 1844, there were only 23 stocking frames in the parish, out of a total of 16,382 frames in the whole of the county. Mr. Henry Dunington, of Lenton, made, on the warp loom, elastic woollen cloth for gloves, and for some time the best of its kind. This mechanician patented several improve¬ ments in warp hosiery machinery and fabrics. In 1849 he took out a patent for his still further improved method of making hat-bands and gloves. To this manufacturer the trade owes an important advance in the fabrication and use 356 THE HISTORY OF THE of warp articles, on which he bestowed much time and money. In the manufacture of lace, in which the inhabitants are now principally engaged, Lenton has taken a conspicuous place, the following important improvements in lace machinery having been made by Lenton men :— In 1841, Joseph Wragg, of Lenton, smith, assisted by Bertie, used the cylinder and cards, but instead of holes they put on knobs of wood of different heights to act on guide bars, forcing them to greater distances than by compound levers, and thus got gimp threads round the flowered patterns, which had before been put in by the needle. This was a great discovery, operating however to displace the labour of many lace embroiderers, and to overturn some important arrangements of the trade. The goods being nearly finished for the market on the machines, much labour, time, and capital, previously employed in giving them out all over the midland counties to be run or tamboured, were saved ; but the hands were gradually thrown out of employment. This was not an unmitigated evil, for the labour was unhealthy and of late years ill-paid for long hours and close application. 1 In 1844, Mr. Gravener Henson gave a plan and drawings to Crofts and Cox, of Lenton, for putting one bobbin of the usual size at the bottom of a steeple-top carriage, and another of smaller size at the top of the same. The bobbins above the bars being of the same size as the bottom bobbins, a fixed thread passed round both bobbins which were placed more than two inches above the others, holding double the quantity of thread, and the bobbins pulled nearly alike, so that no yarn was wasted. 2 In 1845, John Oldknow, of Lenton, made Lever machines 24 quarters, or 216 inches, in width. It was intended to make muslin laces extensively from them, but as the bobbin threads did not traverse, the article fell into disused (1) Felkin, History of Machine Wrought Hosiery and Lace, p. 385. Much of the information in this section is derived from this work. (2) Ibid., p. 387. (3) Ibid ., p. 388. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 357 An invention appeared in 1846, produced upon circular machinery, by Mr. John Livesey, a draughtsman, of Lenton, called from the looped formation of the meshes and the threads not traversing, “straight-down” net; and it is upon this arrangement that curtain nets and curtains are principally made. The tissue is not solid or fast, and will not bear too much stress in wear ; nevertheless cloth work of single, double, and three-fold texture, can be introduced at pleasure; and intermixed with open works, form elegant designs in the net work, by the application of Jacquard apparatus at the ends of the machine to one class of threads, and a separate one acting at the back upon another part of the threads, so as to produce the effects of light and shade in floral or geometric patterns. These are much admired for their beauty when hung up so as to intercept the light. Livesey began by using only one tier of carriages and bobbins. Where more warp threads were wanted in some parts for the pattern than in others, he supplied them from additional warp beams. Instead of the bobbin threads twisting with the separate warp threads, as in common bobbin net, one bobbin thread on this plan acts upon two warp threads, turn and turn about, which causes that the meshes, united by one and the same bobbin thread, are produced in a vertical line. This plan was not at first thoroughly successful ; but by the consecutive assistance of Elsey, Sisling, and Cope, the proposed result was eventually more than realised. John Livesey, the originator of the curtain net machinery, was so well acquainted with the various classes into which the lace manufacture had become sub-divided, that he was enabled to take instruments from each for the purpose of effecting new combinations, and for these he obtained additional patents. In 1851 he patented a mode of making articles resembling velvet and Brussels carpet ground ; piled and cut, piled and embossed velvets, tapestry, or Berlin needlework ; and lace with velvet figures, and internal pearls, spots, and ornaments. Also, having two or more piles to each carriage thread, and with a back and front ground, from between which the pile thread is drawn. Also a mixed ground, partly 35S THE HISTORY OF THE looped and partly woven, on which Berlin work stitches are formed. Also embroidered grounds with raised piled surfaces; and, finally, patterns in or on piled or cut piled, and in introducing more colours than were before practicable. The productions here enumerated were of most diversified character and great beauty. The ingenuity displayed in the bobbin net machinery thus modified, was highly creditable to the mind which devised and executed it. Livesey patented in 1852, No. 1139, for lace piled fabrics. In 1854, No. 1571 and No. 1748, the former for improvements in making laces, the latter in fringes from lace machinery. In 1855, No. 32 was for printing lace, and No. 182 for machinery. In 1857, No. 2997 was for further improvements in the machinery for making piled fabrics. His last patent was taken out in 1861, No. 2043, for methods of making lace embroidered articles, trimmings, etc. This aptitude for, and versatility of inventions, evidence a great amount of mechanical power, but in Livesey it was more suggestive than practical ; he indicated the way to important objects rather than pursued it, so as to secure the beneficial results. Of these he obtained little beyond the needful supply of his daily wants. His mind seems to have been discursive, full of plans, certain, as he averred, to bring large gains, but he lacked the energy and determination to work them fully out. Thus, the greater part of life having passed without Livesey realising any pecuniary harvest from his inventions by a friendly contribution he was assisted to emigrate to Australia. 1 About 1848, Mr. Peter Coxon, of Lenton, made embossed muslin laces from the Lever’s machine. The article was too expensive, and did not sell in consequence. His method was to throw the wheels and tackle out of gear, and thus letting the w'arp accumulate where necessary for producing emboss¬ ment. (1) History of Machine Wrought Hosiery and Lace , pp. 381—384. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 359 To Sir James Oldknovv, Knight, 1 a native of Lenton, the lace trade is indebted for the invention of the perforated steel bar , which has been universally adopted in place of the old guide bars previously in use. “James Oldknow had the distinguished merit of devising and carrying into successful operation the plan now universally adopted, of substituting for the guide bars, in use until 1849, steel perforated bars. Having patented this invention in France, it was, in 1849, patented in England, and under that protection licenses were granted to English machine owners for the use of these improved instruments. But when the idea was first introduced to the notice of a large meeting of the Nottingham fancy machine owners, convened for that purpose, it was very generally thought to be impracticable. Mr. Oldknow having taken the precaution of bringing with him workmen from France, who had practical knowledge with himself of its feasibility, they shut themselves up in a room with darkened windows and locked doors, and put the steel drilled bars into a Lever’s machine, which was ready there for the purpose. When seen really at work, it was with some difficulty those present could understand how the bars were so accurately drilled as to work exactly with the corresponding parts of a Lever’s machine, wherein the bars must act with entire exacti¬ tude in the minute space allotted to them. They had to be so drilled as to operate with the combs, each to the exact gauge. It was necessary, therefore, to place the holes, not absolutely equi-distant, but with allowed shades of increased space, according as the holes were more or less distant from the sides of the machine. The heat generated by the operation of drilling and consequent expansion of the metal, had to be got rid of by cooling the bars repeatedly during the process. (1) Sir James Oldknow filled the important office of Mayor of Nottingham in 1869, and on the death, in June, 1878, of Alderman Ward, the then Mayor, Mr. Oldknow was elected in his place on the 24th of the same month. On the occasion of the opening of Nottingham Castle as an Art Museum, July 3rd, 1878, by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Mr. Oldknow, in his official capacity, entertained their Royal Highnesses, on behalf of the town. In commemoration of this event, Mr. Oldknow received the honour of knighthood at Osborne, August 14th, 1878. Sir James was re-elected Mayor in November, 1878, and again in November, 1879, having thus, filled that office four times. 36 o THE HISTORY OF THE The only drawback to their use is said to be that they are liable to be affected by expansion and contraction through changes of weather.” 1 Messrs. Maillott and Oldknow were amongst the first to introduce into France the manufacture of lace looped curtains upon Livesey’s system. The bleach works at New Lenton, formerly in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Brown Millies, and known as Lenton Works, are now carried on by Mr. Alfred Cleaver. Part of these premises were occupied, about the year 1850, by Messrs. Manlove, Alliott, & Seyrig, patentees of the centrifugal drying machine. In this machine, invented by Mr. John Gotlob Seyrig, “instead of being wrung or pressed, and hung up in a hot room to dry, as is the usual mode, the article is wrapped round in a kind of coil between two copper cylinders, the outer one of which is perforated with holes, the apparatus is made to rotate, perhaps a thousand times in a minute, so that by the centrifugal force thus obtained, the water is quickly driven out from the damp article inclosed, through the holes of the cylinder, and left nearly dry. This valuable invention is applied with very important results in manufactures greatly diversified the one from the other.” 2 The manufacture of these machines is now continued by Messrs. Manlove, Alliott, & Co., at Bloomsgrove Works, Radford. The manufactures and trades now carried on in the parish are—lace making, leather dressing, cotton doubling, bleaching, merino spinning, lace machine building, malting, and iron founding. Messrs. Bayley & Company’s leather dressing works in Leen Gate were first established upon a very small scale by the late Mr. Isaac Bayley, of Lenton. They have since been conducted successively by Messrs. Bayley & Shaw, and Messrs. T. J. & T. Bayley, the latter firm being turned into a Limited Liability Company in 1875, under the style of “Thomas Bayley & Company, Limited.” This well-known business has largely (1) Felkin, Machine Wrought Hosiery and Lace , p. 426. (2) Ibid., p. 307. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 361 increased during the last thirty years, the buildings erected a few years ago covering more than two acres of land, while at the present time the firm employs between 450 and 500 work¬ people. Messrs. E. Peat & Son’s cotton doubling mill in Park Street, New Lenton, finds employment for about 200 persons. SECTION XV. BESTVVOOD PARK. ESTWOOD—anciently Beskvvood, Boskwood, Bosc- vvod, or Buscvvod—Park, formerly an outlying portion of the parish of Lenton, contains 3,711 acres, 3 roods, and 21 perches of land, environed by a buck-leap of fourteen feet, and, being principally under cultivation, now forms an oval of arable farms. Although the Park is completely surrounded by parishes situated in the northern division of the hundred of Broxtow, it is considered, as a former part of the parish of Lenton, to constitute part of the southern division of the hundred. It is bounded on the north by the parish of Papplevvick, on the south by Basford, on the east by Arnold, and on the west by Buhvell and Hucknall Torkard. The boundaries of Bestwood are thus defined in an old manu¬ script book relating to Sherwood Forest, preserved in Bromley House Library, Nottingham. “ The m’ks and bowndes of the haye or the p’ke of our lorde the kynge of Beskwoode, Beginnyng att the heade of Coldalle and so the hay of beskwoode is devyded by the wai that is callid walton-gaytte unto the heithe, and so from the hethe unto leen furth, that is callid beskwoode PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 363 furthe, and so by the vvatt r of leene, unto more broke and so by the more broke unto the wai that goithe betwix arnall and papilhvike, unto the sike in th’end of the long valey, and so by the sike in th’end of the longe valye, unto the yate in the red Rodde, and from the said yate unto the felde of arnall by the red Rode, and so by the hegge betwix the feld of arnall and beskwoode, unto colldale y r it began.” The derivation of the name Beskwood, or Bestwood, is probably from the Old Norse (Icelandic) buskr, a thicket, and the Anglo-Saxon zvudu , a wood. Bestwood formed part of Sherwood Forest, and in an inquisition held at Nottingham in the reign of Henry the Third, it was stated that the hay of Bestwood was included in the southern “keeping” of the forest. As a part of Sherwood Forest, it belonged to the Crown, and was frequently resorted to by the monarchs of England for the enjoyment of the sports of the chase. Until about the middle of the fourteenth century, Best- wood remained an open hay or unenclosed wood, but was eventually emparked by King Edward III., whose partiality to the place caused him to erect a hunting-lodge here. The custody of Bestwood was granted by the Crown from time to time (as will subsequently be shown) to various persons, who, after Besk¬ wood had been emparked, were styled keepers, but who, in previous times, were designated foresters, or rangers. Amongst the various privileges appended to this office, at all events in later times, was the right to occupy the royal lodge at such times when it was not required for the use of the sovereign. The connection between Bestwood Park and Lenton may be traced back to an early period, for it is recorded that Henry the First, during his stay at Nottingham Castle, granted to Lenton Priory the right of having two carts to fetch dead wood and heather out of the royal forest of Beskwood. 1 This grant is said to constitute the foundation of the parochial connection between Bestwood and Lenton. Henry the Third made a somewhat similar grant, 2 allowing the monks to have two carts, or three (1) Thoroton, Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, p. 244. (2) Rot. Lit. Claus, i. 452. THE HISTORY OF THE 3f>4 carretts, daily wandering in “ the hay of Boscwod,” to bring therefrom as much dead wood as should be required for fuel for the use of the monastery. According to an Inquisition held before Geoffrey de Langley, Justice of Sherwood Forest, on the 4th of July, 1250, at the Hospital of St. John the Baptist, in Nottingham, Bestwood was styled “a hay or park of our lord the King, wherein no man commons.” 1 On December 30th, 1261, the king granted to the Grey Friars of Nottingham, ten oaks from Beskwood Hay, towards the erection of their dormitory and chapter-house, 2 * * * the grant being repeated on March 16th in the following year.? It was found by a jury in an enquiry regarding the lands of Nottingham Castle, in 1284, that the Hay of Besk’ Wode was usually agisted by the Constable of the CastleT About the year 1304, Philip de Wyllughby, Clerk, held one toft and two bovates of land in Beskwood, and eighty acres in Bulwell, for the service of being forester, or ranger, of Beskwood Park.? In 1329, at the request of Roger de Mortimer, the custody of the wood was granted to Richard Strelley 6 for life, he paying an annual acknowledgment for the same; and, in the same year, Richard Strelley had a grant of allowance within the Forest of Sherwood. 7 On Feb. 22, 1334, King Edward III. granted him all the dry zuches, or stovenes, or stubbes within the hay of Beskwood. 8 In 1339, the custody of the wood was granted to Robert Maule, of Linbyp who was ordered, in 1350, to fell timber in the woods of Linby, and with the profits to enclose Beskwood. 10 In 1351, Robert Maule had orders to make trenches, and cut down oaks and other trees fit for making the paling, and to make into charcoal and sell those that were not fit for that purpose. 11 In 1357, the custody of the wood of Beskwood was granted to (1) Thoroton, p. 258. (2) Rot. Lit. Claus., 45 Henry III., m. 20. (3) Ibid., m. 15. (4) Inq. post Mortem, 7 Edw. I., No. 80. (5) Thoroton, p. 258. (6) Ab. Rot. Orig. ii, 20, 55. Tho:oton, p. 506. (7) Inq. post, mort., ii. 29. (8) Thoroton, p. 258. (9) Ab Rot. Orig., ii. 130. (10) Ibid., ii. 206. (11) Ibid., ii. 218. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 365 Richard de la Vache. 1 According to a survey of Sherwood Forest taken about this year, we find that “ the kyngs hai of beskwoode is closid in wth a paille and it is in kepyng of Ricr Delaywache Knyght, &c.” 2 On the 1st of September, 1363, Edward III., by his letters patent, dated at his park of Best- wood, pardoned the Prior and Monks of Newstead certain rents owing to him out of Linby Hay and Bulwell Wood .3 In the same year the king ordered Robert de Morton and Richard de Clifford to cut down and sell the underwood in that part of Bestwood which lay between the road called Rasgate, and the road leading to Calverton, and which was then called “The Hasels.” The proceeds of this sale was to be devoted towards the repairs (or more probably the completion) of the fence sur¬ rounding the park. In 1373, the custody of the park and manor of Bestwood was granted to Nicholas Dabrichecourt, Esquire, who received for the same as wages all the money paid for cutting out the balls of the dogs’ feet, and the tolls paid for passing through the forest with loaded horses or carts, and as much firewood as he required for his own use. 4 In 1376, William Elmely superintended the works at the King’s Lodge. 5 Geoffrey de Kniveton was appointed July 16th, 1444, int. a/., keeper of the lodge of Beskwode for life. 6 King Henry the Sixth, by Writ of Privy Seal, February 1st, 1445, granted to Ralph, last Lord Crom¬ well, of Tattershall, in the county of Lincoln, inter alia, the office of Steward and Custodian of the park of Beskwode. 7 On the 22nd September, 1485, Henry VII. granted to Sir Simon Digby, 01 Coleshill, in the county of Warwick, Knight, for life, the office of Lieutenant of the forests of Sherwood, Bestwood, and Clip- stone ; 8 and, at the same time, the profits of the pannage of Bestwood Park were granted to John Byron, Esq., for life. 9 In February, 1511, the reversion of the keepership of Beskwood Park, then held by James Savage by grant of Henry VII., was (1) Ab. Rot. Orig., il. 247. (2) MS., Bromley House Library. (3) Thoroton, p. 258. (4) Ab. Rot. Orig., ii. 322. (5) Ibid., ii. 339. (6) Thoroton, p. 435. (7) Cal. Rot. Litt. Pat., p. 287. (8) Materials for Hist, of Hen. VII., i. 35. (9) Ibid., i. 37. THE HISTORY OF THE 366 granted to Sir Thomas Boleyn, Knight of the Body. 1 Thomas Manners, thirteenth Lord Ros, was appointed, July 12th, 1524, warden and chief justice itinerant of Sherwood Forest, and inter alia, of the park of Beskewode. 2 On the 23rd of November, 1524, a commission was issued to the Abbot of Welbeck, the Abbot of Rufford, the Prior of New- stead, Sir Brian Stapleton, Sir Richard Basset, Sir John Vyllers, and John Hercy, to survey and report into Chancery the condition of Nottingham Castle, and int. alia , of the park of Beskewood. 3 A second commission was issued in February, 1531, to the Abbot of Welbeck, Sir Richard Sacheverell, Sir Brian Stapulton, John Hercy, and Roger-, to visit and survey, int. alia, the park of Beskewod, and to certify into Chancery the state and number of the deer 4 The Commis¬ sioners accordingly reported that on January 12, 1532, Beskwood Park contained 691 fallow deer, of which 151 were deer of antler, and 114 red deer, of which 60 were deer of antler. * 5 In his description of Sherwood Forest, about this period, Leland says, “ I roode by a mighty great Park by the space almost of a 3 Miles. This Park is caullid Beskewood, and longith to the Castelle and Lordship of Notingham.” 6 Queen Elizabeth, by letters patent, dated at St. Albans, May 20, 1567, granted to Thomas Markham, of Ollerton, Esquire, standard bearer of the gentleman pensioners, the keepership of Bestwood, void by the death of Sir John Byron, of Newstead, Knight, with the herbage and pannage, the customary fees and commodities, and wages of fourpence a day. The reversion of the office was granted at the same time to Sir Roger Aston, Knight. 7 A year later this same Thomas Markham, who was likewise ranger of the forest of Sherwood and high steward of Mansfield, had a grant of the office of keeper of the manor of Clipston, with the site of the late castle there, and all the (1) Domestic State Papers. (2) Ibid. (3) Pat. 16 Hen. VIII., p. 2, ni. 22, d. (4) Pat. 22 Hen. VIII., p. 2, m. 26, d. (5) Domestic State Papers. (6) Leland’s Itinerary, vol. 1, fo. no. (7) Domestic State Papers. This Sir Roger Aston, who was subsequently gentle¬ man of the bedchamber to King James I., was an illegitimate son of Thomas Aston, of Aston, in Cheshire. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 367 customary dues and fees, as had formerly been held by the said Sir John Byron and William West. In 1598 a commission was constituted on Her “Majesty’s behalf concerning the spoile and spoiles of her highness woods in ye righte of her Crown in the County of Nott.,” and “ p’ticularly and especially to enquire how many trees or trees like to be timber and of what price, hath there been felled in the wood called Lyndehurst haye in the fiforest of Sherwood ” between July 1 ith, 1569, and the date of the present commission. The Commission sat at Mansfield, January 3rd, 1598, and adjourned until January 12th, when the business commenced. According to the verdict of the jury, it appears that by warrant from the Lord Treasurer dated June 20th, 1593, eighty-six trees from the above wood were supplied “ for ye repaire of Beskwoode Lodge.” On June 9th, 1603, James I. granted, in reversion, to Roger, fifth Earl of Rutland, the office of keeper of the parks of Bestwood and Clipston for life. On May 27th, 1607, the same king granted, in reversion, to Francis Manners (younger brother and eventual heir of the last named nobleman), the keepership of Bestwood Park for life. On June 27, 1609, Roger, Earl of Rutland, wrote from Belvoir to — Salisbury, urging the repair of Beskwood pale, and enclosed a statement of the decay of the pale, and an estimate of the expenses of its repair, and the number of trees and deer there. The repair of the fence was at once ordered. At “a view taken by speciall comandment from his Ma’tie to the Lord Warden of his Forests and from him to the Verderers, of all the Red Deare in this forest, the fifth of March, 1616, and sertefied as followethe —[inter alia ]—Beskwood Parke, 28, whereof male, 16. On March 27th, 1627, a warrant, dated at Westminster, was issued for the payment of £79 17s. 4d. to John Deverell for repairs at Bestwood Lodge. 1 King Charles I., October 16, 1638, granted to William Willoughby and John Cary, Esquires, for their lives successively, the keepership of Bestwood Park (1) State Papers, Domestic Series. This is the earliest instance in which the modern form of the name has been seen. 368 T 1 IE HISTORY OF THE with the herbage and pannage, and a fee of four pence per diem, as then held by the Earl of Rutland. In a petition of George, seventh Earl of Rutland, to the King, about the year 1639, 1 the petitioner states that whereas lie having the custody, herbage, and pannage of Bestwood Park, during life, by a grant of James I., your Majesty (Charles I.) commanded “that the conies in the park should be destroyed, to make the ground more safe for you to hunt there, it is conceived that your grant under seal is requisite in that case. Though the conies be destroyed, their burrows are so numerous that the ground will remain dangerous unless it may be ploughed up and sown with some grain for five years, to begin at Michaelmas next, which will prove no prejudice, but rather a benefit to the deer, and make the ground much the better many years after.” The Earl prays license to destroy the conies and plough up the ground for the term of five years. From an Inquisition held the 5th of April, 1650, at Best- wood Hall, before George Flower, of Hucknall Torkard, Gentleman, and a jury, concerning Bestwood Park, which the Government of the day appears to have entertained some idea of disposing of, we learn, among other particulars, that there was at that time a Hall, built of wood, lime, and plaster, and covered with slate and tile, containing thirty-eight rooms, all in tolerably good repair, with several lodges, a farmhouse, barns, etc. The materials of the hall, if pulled down, it was estimated would be of the value of fifty pounds. In answer to the fourth article of inquiry, the jury say— “ That the report is common, that the whole circumference of the said park is now inclosed about, and that the park is three thousand acres, or thereabouts ; and that there is, in their judgment, about an hundred acres in tillage, the rest in pasture ; and that there be some old trees, but no underwood. And the said jury say, that the ground tilled, whilst it is in tillage, will lie but for six years, and is worth three shillings and four pence per acre. That the said pasture ground and park is worth two shillings an acre ; and that the said park is in the occupation of William Willoughby, Esquire, saving some small quantity of (1) Domestic State Papers, 1639 40, p. 196. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 369 inclosed land allowed to the keepers, to the quantity of sixteen acres. And that the boundary of the said park, upon the west and south, is by the highway leading from Papplewick to Not¬ tingham ; and upon the east by the highway leading from Basford towards Arnold ; and from the Red Hill, near Arnold, on the highway between Mansfield and Nottingham, to Papple¬ wick boundary eastward ; from thence, on the north-west, or Papplewick lordship, to the highway from Papplewick as before. And that the said park is in the Forest of Sherwood, and subject to the forest laws. And that the said jury say, that the wood within the said park is worth, in their judgment, .£150, beside the expense of cutting down ; and that the herbage of the park (the pannage being little worth) the jury think, is worth, to be let, ^250 per annum. What profit hath been made, the jury know not, nor what number of beasts it will keep ; and that the value of a beast-gate there is worth six shillings for the summer, and that the park may be put into many divisions.” To the fifth article of inquiry, the jury say— “ There be eight brace of red deer, whereof two brace of male deer, and five young fallow deer, the value whereof the jury know not; and the jury say the number of rabbits they know not, but they are worth, in the condition they now are in, per year, £40 ; and that there be four fishponds, the fish of which were destroyed in those times of war. And the jury say, that they consider there is no profit to be made of hawking or hunt¬ ing in the park, and that the value of all the park and site between the 15th day of July and the 29th of September, in the articles named, they can get no certain knowledge, but that it was the worst time of year to raise profit, the agistment being almost past, and the warrens not yielding benefit ; but the jury think those two months, odd days, might be made thirty pounds.” To the sixth article, the jury say— “ That they have seen a copy of a patent, examined and attested, dated the 20th of October, in the 14th year of the late King Charles, wherein it appeareth that the keepership of Best- wood park, and the herbage, and pannage of the said park, and the issues and profits thereof, and also fourpence per diem for exercising the said keepership, to be paid out of the issues, rents, and profits of the county of Nottingham, at the feast of St. Michael, and Easter, by the Sheriff of that county ; and the hay of four acres of meadow, in the King’s Meadow, at Nottingham, worth, per annum, £10, were granted to William Willoughby, Esquire, for the term of his life ; and after, to John Harvey, Esquire, to which patent for more certainty they refer themselves, and the jury say that there hath anciently been three under¬ keepers, one warrener, and one ground keeper, and that each of 25 3/0 THE HISTORY OK THE the keepers there had for fees and allowances, from their former masters, yearly, five pounds, grass for two horses, twelve beasts, six two-year-old beasts, six calves, and forty sheep, in the park, and dry wood for fire ; which allowance was worth, for each of them, fourteen pounds per annum ; and that there is paid to the vicar of Lenton, seven shillings and sixpence, as a rate-tythe, and other . . . they know not.” The document is signed by Geo. Flower, Richard Brough, Ra. Smyth, Tho. Daws, Henry Challand, Ri. Shaw, William Langley, John Fairbrother, Henry Fairbrother, Tho. Horsley, John Robinson, and others—twenty-two in all. 1 In a valuation of Bestwood Park as “ parcell of the posses¬ sions of Charles Stuart late Kinge of England grounded upon a survey taken by Abell Richardson, gent, and others, in the month of May last and is made forth examined and signed by order of the Contractors. Dated the xth of June 1650,” the following passages occur :— “ Memorandum that the said parke and p’misses with their appurtenances are Tythefree without payeing any kinde of Tythe whatsoever theire haveing been a composicon made ancciently with y e viccar of Lenton, whereby the Impropriator and successor of the said viccar of Lenton are debarred from claymeing any more in respect of all Tythes for the p’misses than the yearely some of vj.j. viij .d.” “ Memorandum, it is also certified that the Inhabitants in the other Tenements within the said Parke are pore people and doe inioye their habitations and y e grounds adiacent thereunto with severall Beast Gates alsoe ffreely at mr Willoughbyes curtesie. And should they be putt out, they would bee destitute of mayntenance.” “ All the Deere, being seaven brase of redd Deere and three brace of ffallow Deere in the said Parke are vallued worth at present to be sould, xvii//.” “ The premisses above mentoned are Contracted for and agree’d to bee sold unto John Grove of the Cittie of Westminster Esqr on the behalfe of him selfe and diverse other originall Creditors by whome hee is sufficienly authorized.” “ By vertue of an Act of Parliament entituled an Act of the Comons in Parliam’t assembled for Sale of the Honors Manors and Lands-belongeinge to the late Kinge, Queen, and Prince, I doe hereby certifie unto the Right worp’ll sir John Wollaston Knight Thomas Andrewes John Dethick & ffrancis Allen, Alder- (1) Bailey’s Annals of Nottinghamshire, i. 799. The original Report was formerly in the possession of the late Henry Gaily Knight, Esq., of Firbeck Park. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 371 men of the Cittie of London, appointed Trustees by the said Act, that there is due by three hundred and fforty severall Bills or Debentors herewth sent, all of them signed and sealed by two of the Trustees in the said Act named, to Cap’tn John Grove and other persons officers and souldiers originall creditors hereafter nominated, whoe by their writeings under their hands and seales have authorized the said Captaine John Grove their Attourney the severall Sumes hereafter specified : [Here follows a list of the 340 creditors.] Amountinge in all to the ffull sume of 6652 - 14 - 02f which with xiiijw & J to bee paid in money is to bee allowed by way of defalcacon for and in discharge of the Sume of 6953 - 08 - 03 being the whole purchase money payable for Beskwood Parke als Bestwood Parke with thappurtenances in the County of Nottingham Certified by the deputy Register, to be sould unto the said John Grove of the Cittie of Westminster Esqr. on the behalfe of him selfe and divers other Originall Credditors by whome hec is sufficiently authorized the vi th of June 1650, And at the desire and by and with the Consent of the said John Grove is rated in fifee simple for the said John Grove, Wm Evanson of Colchester in the County of Essex Esqr John Savage of the County of Berkshr. Esqr. Edmund Chillenden of London Esqr Daniell Dale of Susse. Joseph Sabbarton of London and Joseph Chamberlen of the County of Susse, gent: and to be paid for eyther in readie money or in Originall Debentors: charged upon the creddit of the Act of Parliament in that behalfe.” (Unsigned) 1 On the accession of King Charles II. to the throne, he confirmed the appointment of William Willoughby, Esq., Keeper of Bestwood Park, as follows :— “ Whereas our trusty & well beloved Will. Willoughby Esq’re hath the keeping of o’r Parke called Bestwood Parke, w’thin our fforest of Sherwood in the county of Nottingham w’th the Herbage & Pawnage of the sayd parke by Graunt from the King our late Royall ffather of blessed memory, Wee doe now hereby declare that our pleasure is, that ye s’d Willia’ Willoughby doe continue his custodis of the sd parke, & doe hold and enioy ye same according to his Graunt, & to the end the same may bee fitted & prepared for a Game of Deere & for o’r Royall disport, and ye Coneyes there may bee taken of & distroyed o’r pleasure is, & Wee doe hereby Graunt free leave & Licence unto the sayd Will Willoughby & his Assigns to plough up reduce & convert into culture or tillage such parts and places of the sayd Parke as hee shall iudge most convenient, & the same soe (1) Harl. MSS., 427, fo. 54—90. 372 THE HISTORY OF THE reduced & converted into culture or tillage, to hold use & enioy & to plough & sow the same w’th any manner of Corns or graine, that wthout any impeachm’t, presentm’t, Damage, paine, or penalty of any Lawes of forest, or other Law, Ordinance, order or Statute to be incurred for or by Reason of the same. And wee are further pleased & doe consent that the saycl Will. Willoughby doe settle a breed of or Race of Horses in the sayd parke, & keep such number of Breeding Mayres as hee shall thinke fitt. And hereof as well our Cheife Justice & Justice in Eyre o’r fforesters Verderers, Officers & Ministers of o’r sayd fforest of Sherwood & all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever are to take notice, & herein in any manner not to troble, disquiet or molest the s’d Will’ Willoughby or his assignes contrary to o’r Royal Will, leave & licence herein & hereby granted and Declared : Given 5th of Septemb’r 1660.” 1 In the month of February, 1661-2, the King sent the fol¬ lowing orders to William Willoughby, Esq., keeper of the Park, to repair the fence, so that it might be used for the breeding and keeping of horses for the King’s use, and instructed him to cut down sufficient timber in Sansom wood to repair such fence :— 2 Charles Rex. Whereas William Willoughby Esq r Keeper of our Parke of Bestwood in our fforest of Sherwood hath received Comand from us to repaire the pale and fence of our said Parke and make divisions there whereby it may be so fitted for the brooding and keepeing of horses for our own use and service. And in order thereunto and in pursuance of our Comand the said Ml Willoughby hath lately bought a large quantity of timber trees and woods called Sansom woods in our said fforest w ch he intends to imploy and dispose for the use aforesaid To the end therefore that the said service soe much conducing both to our Royal pleasure and profitt may be the more speedily and effectually proceeded with wee have thought fitt hereby to signify to you that it is our will and pleasure y l all orders licenses warrants and directions w ch the said M r . Willoughby or his Agents shall from time to time demand of you as L d Warden of our said fforest of Sherwood for the felling cutting down converting disposeing and carrying away and imploying of the said Timber and woods soe by him bought and to be imployed for our said service be by you granted to him or them in as large and Beneficiall a manner as hath beene formerly to any p’son whatsoever And that you also grant unto the said M r - (1) Egerton MSS., 2542, f. 422. (2) MSS. Bromley House Library. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 373 Willoughby or his Agents desiring your Order License & Warrant from time to time for the incloseing and coppiceing of parte of the said Woods after he shall have felled the same whereby the rest in our said fforest will be increased. And for soe doeing this shalbe your sufficient warrant. Given at our Court at Whitehall the 26th day of ffebruary 1661. By his Ma ties Comand Edw Nicholas. To o r Right Trusty and Right well beloved Cousin Willm Marquis of Newcastle Justice in Eyre on the northside of Trent and warden of our Forest of Sherwood. We learn from a report by Attorney-General Palmer and Surveyor Sir Charles Harbord, dated March 27, 1662, 1 on the petition of Sir Richard Spencer, Sir Gervase Clifton, Sir William Walter, and Sir Thos. now Lord Fanshawe, creditors of the late King (Charles I.), that on July 4, 1643, the New Forest, co. Hants, Sherwood Forest and Bestwood Park, co. Notts, and Clarendon and Bowood Parks, co. Wilts, were assigned to them and others by letters patent as standing security for certain debts with leave to sell the said lands, unless the debts were paid with interest in two years. The report gives an account of the debts, the advances made by the respective creditors to meet them, and the expenses to which they have been put by lawsuits upon their bonds, etc. ; and adds that the King is at great disadvantage, owing to this great debt, but these worthy gentlemen have deserved well. Relative to the order issued by King Charles II. to William Willoughby, Esq., for repairing the fence of Bestwood Park, we find that on the 4th September, 1662, Rowland Dande, of Mansfield Woodhouse, and William Wylde, of Nettleworth, certified that Sansom woods contained 30 acres, forest measure, and that there were “ between 700 and 800 loads of wood fit for stoopes rails and some pales, but very little fit for pales but only for stoopes and rails.” “ And we have alsoe viewed the Parke pale of Beskod w ch we finde very much decayed and fenced soe y l very few either of the pales stoopes or rayles will growe againe.” (1) State Papers, Domestic Series. 374 T1IE HISTORY OF THE On May 3, 1667, a warrant was issued for a grant in reversion to Sir Humphrey Brigges, of Houghton, in the county of Salop, Baronet, nominee of William, Lord Willoughby, of Parham, of Bestwood Park, then disparked, the keepership and herbage of which were granted by the late King to the said Lord, with a reversion to John Carey. 1 Dr. Thoroton, writing in 1677, 2 describes Bestwood Park as follows •—“ It hath a very fair lodge in it, and in respect of the pleasant situation of the place, and conveniency of hunting and pleasure, this park and lodge hath for these many years been the desire and achievement of great men ; three Earls of Rutland had it, Roger, Francis, and George; 3 be¬ fore that Thomas Markham, a great courtier and servant to Queen Elizabeth, had it, and before him little Sir John Byron, a great favourite to King Henry the Eighth. It is now on lease to Lord Willoughby, of Parham. Before the troubles it was well stocked with red deer. But it is parcelled into little closes on one side, and much of it hath been ploughed, so that there is scarce either wood or venison : which is too likely to be the fate of the whole forest of Sherwood.” Shortly after this Bestwood Park appears to have been held by the celebrated Nell Gwynne, 4 under a lease from (1) State Papers, Domestic Series. (2) “Antiquities of Nottinghamshire,” p. 258. (3) These three noblemen were brothers. Roger, 5th Earl of Rutland, died with¬ out issue in 1612 ; Francis, 6th Earl, died without male issue in 1632 ; and George, 7th Earl, died unmarried in 1641. (4) Nell Gwynne was born, according to authors of known veracity, in Pipe Street, in the city of Hereford, about the year 1642. Her father is said to have been “Thomas Gwyn, a captain, of an ancient family in Wales,” who must have died before Nelly’s birth, or when she was very young. In early life she gained a livelihood by selling oranges in the theatres in London, and eventually became an actress in the King’s playhouse in the year 1663, quitting the stage in 1672. Her life, from her debUt at the playhouse to the date of her death, is well known. She became the King’s mistress about the year 1668, and bore him two sons, Charles Beauclerk, afterwards Duke of St. Albans, born in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, May 8th, 1670, and James Beau- clerk, who was born in 1671, and died in Paris in 1680. Not only was Nell the favourite mistress of the King, but in a short time she became the favourite of the people. After the King’s death she secluded herself at her house in Pall Mall, and maintained an unimpeached fidelity to the King’s memory up to the time of her death, which occurred November 13th, 1687. Her funeral was conducted, with great solemnity, at the parish church of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields. Dr. Thomas Tenison, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, preached her funeral sermon. The Earl of Jersey, who wanted to prefer Dr. Scott, of St. Giles, brought forward this sermon on Nell Gwynne as an objection to Tenison’s promotion, but Queen Mary defended him. “ It was a sign,” she said, “ that she died penitent ; for, if I can read a man’s PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 375 the Crown, for in the year 1681 she leased portions of the Park to neighbouring yeomen for agricultural purposes. From the three counterpart leases preserved in the British Museum we have abstracted the following details :—The first lease, dated August ist, 1681, is made “between the Lady Elianor Gvvynne of the parish of St Martyne in the Fieldes” in the county of Middlesex, of the one part, and Thomas Gibson, William Maltby, George Rossell, Joseph Wood, John Bradley, Jonathan Sturtivant, William Beardsley, and Richard Tole, all of Arnold, in the county of Nottingham, yeomen, of the other part. The lessee grants to the lessors “ all that peice or p’cell of Bestwood parke in the parish of Lenton in the county of Nottingham conteyninge by estimacon Two hundred and ffive and ffifty acres two Roods and twenty one perches be the same more or lesse,” then in the occupation of John Barber and others, from Lady day, 1681, for the term of nine years at the yearly rent of £34 -1-8 to be paid at Lady day and Michaelmas day “ att the Mansion house in Bestwood parke called Best- wood hall.” The witnesses to the counterpart lease were “Geo. Gregory, Fra. Holies, Tho. Herricke.” * 1 The second lease is of the same date and terms as the first, and grants to Charles Warren, John Sturtivant, John Wilkinson and Robert Fillingham, all of Arnold, yeomen, “ one hundred and ffowre score acres abutting upon the Roadway leading from redd hill to Mansfeild in the east part and upon diverse lande & grounde in Bestwood parke afore said in possession of the said Charles Warren.” Annual rent, ,£24. Same witnesses. 2 The third lease, of the same date and terms as the other two, grants to John Sturtivant, of Calverton, Notts, gent, Edward Davyes, of the same place, clerk, Thomas Grammer, Samuel Wilkinson, Thomas Wilkinson, and William Motteram, all of Calverton, yeomen, 180 acres of Bestwood Park, bounded by heart through his looks, had she not made a truly pious and Christian end, the doctor never could have been induced to speak well of her.” By her will, dated July 9th, 1687, she bequeathed the whole of her property to her “ dear natural son, his Grace the Duke of St. Albans.” The arms ascribed to Mrs. Eleanor Gwynne are : Per pale, arg. and or, a lion [sometimes called a leopard] rampant, azure ; and these arms appear to have been used at her funeral. (1) Add. Charter, 15,863. (2) Add. Charter, 15,862, 376 THE HISTORY OF THE Arnold brook on the east, Sherwood Forest on the north-east, etc., and then in the tenure of the said lessees. Annual rent, £25. Same witnesses. 1 The possession of Bestwood Park was finally secured to Nell Gwynne, and her elder son, then recently created Duke of St. Albans, by the payment by the Crown, on October 18th, 1687, of the balance of a sum of .£3,774 2s. 6d., which had been advanced on mortgage by Sir John Musters, Knight. The transaction is thus recorded in the Secret Service Accounts of King Charles the Second 2 “ To Sir Stephen Fox, for so much by him paid to Sir Rob 1 Clayton, in full of 3,774'* 2 s 6 d for redeeming the mortgage of Bestwood Parke, made to S r John Musters, 3 4 to settle the same upon Mrs. Ellen Gwynne for life, and after her death upon the Duke of St. Albans and his issue male, with the reversion in the Crowne - - - - 1256 -0-2” King Charles II. ennobled Charles Beauclerk, the elder of his two illegitimate sons by his mistress, Eleanor Gwynne, by creating him, December 27th, 1676, when but six years old, Baron Hedington, in the county of Oxford, and Earl of Burford, in the same county, with remainder to his younger brother, James Beauclerk. The young Earl appears to have been placed in the care of Thomas Otway,successively actor, soldier, and dramatist. On January 10th, 1683-4, the Earl was advanced to the Duke¬ dom of St. Albans, and was appointed hereditary Grand Fal¬ coner of England, and hereditary Registrar of the Court of (1) Add. Charter, 15,864. (2) “ Copy of a schedule of the Receipts and Payments for the Secret Services of Charles II. and James II. from Lady day 1679 t0 Christmas 1688.”—Camden Soc., vol. 52, p. 167. (3) This was Sir John Musters, of Colwick, the direct ancestor of the present John Chaworth Musters, Esq. Sir John, who appears to have originally resided at Hornsey, in Middlesex, was knighted at Whitehall on the 2nd of June, 1662. He purchased the ancient seat of the Byrons at Colwick, which he made his place of residence, and, dying July the 28th, 1689, was buried in the chancel of Colwick Church. (4) Plarl. MSS., 7, 319, f. 135. The sad death on April 14th, 1685, of the poet, who was one of Nell Gwynne’s oldest friends, and tutor to her son, was greatly felt by that kind-hearted woman. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 377 Chancery. 1 The Duke early em¬ braced the profession of arms, serving with special distinction in the Imperial army, more par¬ ticularly at the siege of Belgrade in 1688. On the abdication of James II., the Duke joined cor¬ dially in the new measures adopted by William III., and continued in the confidence of the King up to the time of that monarch’s decease. On the 12th of No¬ vember, 1714, King George I. appointed his Grace Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire, and in March, 1718, he was made a Knight of the Garter. He died at Bath, May 9th, 2 1726, aged 56 years, and was interred in Westminster Abbey. By Diana, his wife, eldest daughter and eventual heiress of Aubrey de Vere, twentieth and last Earl of Oxford (who survived him), he left eight sons, all of whom attained distinction, and was succeeded in his titles and estates by the eldest, who, during the lifetime of his father, had been made a Knight of the Bath. Charles, second Duke of St. Albans, was created a Knight of the Garter after his accession to the dukedom, and was appointed a Lord of the King’s Bedchamber, Governor of Windsor Castle, and Lord Warden of the Forests, and continued in the personal service of his Sovereign during the whole of his lifetime. He died July the 27th, 1751, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, leaving an only son. George, third Duke of St. Albans, so seriously impaired his fortune by his magnificent establishment and lavish hospitality, as to be compelled to quit his native country, and to spend (1) The portrait of the first Duke, when a child, is from a print engraved by A. Blooteling. (2) This is the date given in the newspapers of the day, but Colonel Chester (Westminster Abbey Registers, p. 317) points out that the Funeral Book belonging to the Abbey states that he died on the ioih of May, and some of the old peerages give the 1 tth of that month as the date of his decease. It is remarkable that his will, dated July 19th, 1694, shortly after his marriage, in which he left all his estate to his wife, was never added to or altered in any way. 378 THE HISTORY OF THE a considerable portion of his life in comparative retirement upon the Continent. He died at Brussels, February the 1st, 1786, in his 55tla year, and his remains, being brought to England, were interred on the nth of the following month in Westminster Abbey. He left no lawful issue, 1 and was succeeded by the only son of his cousin, Colonel Charles Beauclerk. George, fourth Duke of St. Albans, enjoyed the title little more than a year, dying unmarried February 16th, 1787, aged 29 years. Upon the decease of the last-mentioned nobleman, the title devolved upon his kinsman, Aubrey, second Lord Vere, only son of Lord Vere Beauclerk (third son of the first Duke of St. Albans), who, in recognition of his valiant services as a naval officer, had been raised to the peerage, May the 28th, 1750, as Baron Vere, of Hanworth, in the county of Middlesex. Aubrey, fifth Duke of St. Albans, died February the 9th, 1802, and from him the dukedom has descended (as shown in the accompanying pedigree) to the present noble owner of Bestwood Park, William Amelius Aubrey de Vere, tenth Duke of St. Albans, Earl of Burford and Baron Hedington, and seventh Baron Vere, of Hanworth, hereditary Grand Falconer of England, and Registrar of the Court of Chancery. 2 3 His Grace, who was formerly Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, is Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Not¬ tingham, Honorary Colonel of the 1st Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood) Rifle Volunteers, Provincial Grand Master of the Lree- masons of Nottinghamshire^ and a Justice of the Peace for the county. He has recently been appointed an ex-officio Governor of the Nottingham High School. The present Duke may be said to be the first of his family who has been intimately con¬ nected with Nottinghamshire, for, although Bestwood Park has been in the possession of his ancestors for two hundred years, (1) See a note of his will in the Westminster Abbey Registers, edited and annotated by ColonelJ. L. Chester, p. 441. (2) The carriage way between Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Gate, London, was, until 1828, open only to the Royal Family, and the hereditary Grand Falconer, the Duke of St. Albans. (3) The ceremony of Installation was performed by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, Pro Grand Master of England, at a Provincial Grand Lodge, held at Nottingham Castle, September 20th, 1878. 1P>cMorco of Beauclerh, Suhcg of St. Hlbans PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 379 none of the family (with one exception 1 ) have ever made it their place of residence, nor do they seem to have ever interested themselves in any way in local affairs. Some small detached portions of Bestwood Park were under cultivation, and much of the timber was felled towards the close of the seventeenth century, 2 but a considerable portion of it remained as open forest ground until the year 1775, when the greater part of it was broken up, and applied to agricultural purposes by Mr. Barton, a Norfolk farmer, who, having in that year obtained a lease of the park from the then Duke of St. Albans for twenty-one years, brought a great number of labourers from Norfolk, to cultivate it after the custom of that county. 3 4 Barton lost ,£10,000 by his farming operations, and was ruined thereby, notwithstanding which, the then Duke of St. Albans commenced an action against his widow for dilapidations. Mr. William Ellis became tenant on a lease for 21 years, from Michaelmas, 1796, at the rent of £1,500, and acquired a handsome profit of about £3,000 a year.* According to the “Agriculture of Nottingham¬ shire,” by Robert Lowe, Esq., of Oxton, the whole park was, in 1798, divided into eight farms, the principal one, attached to the old hall, being occupied by the representatives of Mr. Barton. In 1844, the park was divided into thirteen farms. Bestwood Lodge, the seat of the Duke of St. Albans, was erected in 1864, in the domestic style of architecture of the fourteenth century, from the designs of the late Mr. S. S. Teulon. The Lodge (which occupies the site of the old hall) is built of brick, with red and white Mansfield stone dressings, and contains many artistic features. The entrance is on the north side, under a semi-circular tower, somewhat heavily flanked with flying buttresses. Above and under the circular window are picture panels, extremely well carved in stone, of Robin Hood and his men, with exquisite (1) The old house at Bestwood was occasionally occupied by Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk, G.C.B., a younger son of the 5th Duke of St. Albans. He died in 1846. (2) In 1729, Mr. James Thain was the Steward. ( 3 ) In 1778, Mr. Barton was rated in the parish books of Lenton at £s° 4 > as amount of his rent of Bestwood Park. (4) Stretton MSS., No. 29, f. 4. 3 So THE HISTORY OF LENTON. medallions. The south, or dining-room front is decorated with two large stone panels, one illustrating the old legend of the origin of the spring at Bulwell, and the other a portrait of King Edward the Third on horseback, returning from hunting, and at the south end of the office wing there is a large figure of King Charles the First raising the Standard at Nottingham ; all these, finely chiselled out of white Mansfield stone, stand well out in contrast with the brick and red sandstone. On the north front is this inscription:—“This house was commenced A.D. 1862, by William Amelius Aubrey de Vere, 10th Duke of St. Albans, on the site of a hunting lodge of King Edward III., and was completed A.D. 1865. Samuel Saunders Tuelon, Architect, James Burford, Clerk of the works.” The several rooms open from a square central hall with a gallery above and lighted from a glass dome. The dining-room, 40 feet by 20 feet, and 15 feet high, is in the south front, and the drawing or reception-room, 50 feet by 20 feet, in the west, and commands a fine view over an undulating country, with the Derby¬ shire hills in the distance. The billiard-room was added at a later date, the foundation stone being laid by the Earl of Cadogan. It contains a picture of H.M. Ship “ Dryad ” of 36 guns, commanded by Lord Amelius Beauclerk, bringing to close action the French frigate “ Prosperine.” In the dining-room is a bust, by Roubiliac , of Wilks, the founder of the Beefsteak Club. The drawing-room contains a number of family portraits, amongst which are the following : — Charles Beauclerk, first Duke of St. Albans. The same, as a child, by Gascar. King Charles the First, in armour, by Jamesone. George, first Earl of Berkeley, died 1698. Elizabeth [Noel], Countess of Berkeley, by Sir Peter Lely. Edward de Vere, seventeenth Earl of Oxford. Diana de Vere, Duchess of St. Albans, daughter and eventual heiress of the last Earl of Oxford. Barbara Villiers, only daughter and heiress of William, Viscount Grandison, wife of Roger, Earl of Castlemaine, mistress of King Charles II., and afterwards created Duchess of Cleveland, by Sir Peter Lely. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 38 1 Lord Aubrey Beauclerk, eight son of the first Duke of St. Albans, born 1711, killed at Carthagena, 1740. Lord Ainelius Beauclerk, third son of the fifth Duke, G.C.B., and G.C.H., Admiral of the White, born 1771, died 1846. In 1874, Best wood Park was constituted a separate ecclesias¬ tical district, under the provisions of the Act of Parliament authorising the formation of new benefices. The present Duke of St. Albans, who had previously given the site for the church and contributed largely towards its erection, endowed the living with ,£100 per annum, to which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners added ,£50 per annum ; the present annual value of the living being £150, exclusive of fees. The right of patronage is vested in the Duke of St. Albans, and the Reverend William Richard Cripps, B.A., is the first and present Vicar of Bestwood. The Vicar of Lenton having formally resigned all rights in this portion of his parish, the annual rent-charge, paid to the Vicars of Lenton in lieu of tithes, has been transferred to the Vicar of Bestwood, so that, in point of fact, this benefice, although it has never been duly gazetted as such, is actually a Rectory, in consequence of the incumbent holding the entire rectorial tithe, or rent-charge in lieu thereof. EMMANUEL Church, a small building in the earlier French Gothic style, was erected in 1870, from designs by Mr. S. S. Tuelon (the architect of Bestwood Lodge), at a cost of over £ 1,000, defrayed by the present Duke and his tenantry. An inscription, cut upon a stone near the south-western corner of the nave, thus records the commencement of the fabric :— “ The first stone of this Chapel, 1 erected by the Duke of St. Albans and the inhabitants of Bestwood for the service of God, was laid by Mrs. Challand, on behalf of Lady Louise Beauclerk, May 17, 1869, the Revd. George Browne being Vicar of the parish.’’ (1) Until June, 1874, this was a chapel-of-ease only, Lenton being the parish church. Being duly licensed by the Bishop, it was first used for Divine service on Sunday, June the 5th, 1870, and was consecrated July the 4th following, on the en¬ closure of the surrounding burial-ground. THE HISTORY OF THE 382 The church merely comprises a nave having an apsidal recess at the eastern end to form a chancel, with a small organ-chamber and vestry. The single bell is in an open turret upon the western gable. The interior arrangements, although simple, are particularly tasteful, and the decoration of the eastern end of the church is most effective. This little church is intimately associated with the memory of the late lamented Duchess, whose remains repose in the adjoining churchyard. The five beautifully painted little windows in the apse, the embroidered altar-cloth, and the cloth cover¬ ing the kneeling step before the altar are all her Grace’s handiwork. A fine medallion portrait of the Duchess, carved by her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, is affixed to the wall at the western end of the church. There are also two windows in the same part of the church, containing stained glass, representing the Nativity and the Ascension, both of which are memorials of the late Duchess. One of these was erected by the Dowager Duchess of St. Albans and Lady Diana Beauclerk, and the other by Mrs. Webb, of Newstead Abbey. Beneath the five windows in the apse, already mentioned, runs the following inscription :—- “ These windows were executed by Sybil, Duchess of St. Albans, in fond memory of her beloved father, General the Hon ble - Charles Grey, who died March 31st, 1870.” On the outside of the church, at the western end, beneath a plain stone canopy, surmounted by a cross, is a very fine representation of the Resurrection, in mosaic work, and beneath it is the inscription :— “ Sacred to the memory of Sybil Mary, Duchess of St. Albans. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’” Just below is a ledger tomb of grey and red granite, simply inscribed :— “ Sybil Mary, Wife of William, 10th Duke of St. Albans, Daughter of General Hon ble - Charles Grey. Born 28th Nov., 1848. Died 7th Sept., 1871.” E. MMANUEL CHURCH BESTWOOD PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 383 Bestvvood is the scene of the operations of the “ Bestwood Coal and Iron Company, Limited,” formed in August, 1872. The company has effected a long lease of the entire estate underground, and commenced its operations by the sinking of a colliery in March, 1873. Though many doubtful opinions had been expressed in reference to the value of the minerals beneath the surface, the directors prosecuted their labours, and eventually found what is called the “top hard,” at a depth of about 420 yards. This result was realised after two years’ hard labour. To the satisfaction of all concerned, the coal was found in a thick seam and in a high state of perfection. Thus encouraged, the promoters went to work in effecting the completion of the colliery, the result being that two large shafts, fitted with the most powerful machinery, were sunk. The prosecution of the work of developing the mine gave evidence that the extent and quality of the coal would be quite equal to the most sanguine expectations of the promoters. The seam consists at the top of household coal, known as “ brightsnext comes the hard coal, which is brought into requisition for steam purposes and iron smelting ; and the next portion is the “cannel coal,” distinguished for its special illuminating power when converted into gas. So successful have the works been that at the present time the colliery is capable of raising about 350,000 tons per year; and the iron¬ works were projected in November, 1880, and carried out with the view of consuming a portion ol the hard coal of this seam. The works are in close proximity to the famous oolitic ironstones of Northamptonshire, North Leicestershire, and South Lincolnshire ; in fact, they are the nearest works to these ironstone fields. As some evidence of the importance of the works, it may be said that for some time past the three railway companies—the Midland, Great Northern, and London and North Western—have been engaged in a sharp rivalry for the acquisition of railway approach, and at the present time all three have found their way thither. By this means communication is easily obtained with all the com¬ mercial centres of the land. The ironworks, which are regarded as of the best character in the country, have two large furnaces 3S4 TIIE HISTORY OF THE with patent stoves, together with a pair of powerful blowing engines of 100 ins. diameter blowing cylinders each. The first of these furnaces was put in blast in November, 1881, and the second during the following month. Complete as all the appliances are to the minutest detail, the entire works are so constructed that they are capable of great enlargement at any time when circumstances render it necessary. It is ad¬ mitted by all who have seen it, that the colliery is fitted up with one of the most powerful ventilating fans that has been invented. The number of men employed is 720, 550 underground and 170 on the surface. Bestvvood Park was regularly perambulated by the in¬ habitants of Lenton, the perambulation of 1719 being thus recorded in the parish books:—“May y e 5, 1719, ffor Memo- randam that the Parishonors of Lenton Went the paramblea- tion Round Bestwood parke And thay Went the bounds ffourteen fut out of the pales as is witnessed by vs whose Names Are here vnto subscribed Will : Rudsby vie : ” and sixty-seven others. In the year 1808 the neighbouring landowners addressed the following protest to the Constable of Lenton previous to the perambulation of the Park by the parish officials “ M r . Thomas Newham. We whose names are hereunto sub¬ scribed being respectively Owners or Occupiers of Lands and Buildings in the Parish of Arnold in the County of Nottingham or their Agents do hereby give you Notice that if you or any person acting by your order or under your authority shall or do on the twenty sixth day of May instant commonly called Holy Thursday or on any other day in any year intrude or come upon any Lands or grounds or into any House or Buildings belonging to or in the occupation of us or any of us or for the proprietors of which we or any of us are Agents beyond the boundary fence of Bestwood Park under a pretence of perambulating and ascertaining the boundaries of Bestwood Park or on any other pretence whatsoever or shall do or commit any other Act in regard to such Lands and Buildings as an assertion of the pretended right or claim of any Body Politic Corporate or Collegiate or any Trustee or other person whatsoever one or more action or actions of trespass and other proceedings will be commenced and prosecuted to the utmost rigour of the Law against you and every person acting under your order or authority who shall offend in the premises aforesaid. As wit- PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 385 ness our hands this nineteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and eight. W. Sherbrooke, Henry Coape, Robt. Lowe, Junr., Benj. Thompson, John Need, Win. Rhodes, Thos. Holt, Wm. Daft, Charles Bramley, John Blatherwick, Jno. Rawson, Thos. Marsden, Benj. Churchell, Daniel Simkins.” When the parish of Lenton was absorbed into the borough of Nottingham, on the passing of the “ Nottingham Borough Extension Act, 1877,” 1 Bestwood Park was, by section 16, excluded from its operations. Section 40 of the same Act provides that “ at such time after the commencement of this Act [Nov. 1, 1877,] as the Education Department shall think fit, that Department shall issue an order for the election of five persons to serve as members for the School Board for that portion of the district of Lenton known as Bestwood Park, which is not by this Act included within the extended borough, in the place of the persons who at the time of the making of such order shall be members of the said School Board for Lenton.” In March, 1878, Bestwood Park was constituted a separate and independent parish for all purposes. (1) 40 Victoria, ch. xxxi. 26 SECTION XVI. THE PEVEREL COURT. HE Honour of Peverel is supposed to have been created by William the Conqueror, and granted by him to William Peverel. To this Honour 1 was attached a Court of some description, but there is now no way of ascertaining correctly what was its nature or jurisdiction. It seems, however, to have comprised both a Tourn and a View of Frankpledge. The former, which was a Court of Record, had jurisdiction to hear and determine all felonies (death of man excepted) and common nuisances. It was holden twice a year at Nottingham, and all tenants of the Honour were bound to appear there when it was holden. The latter, also a Court of Record, had jurisdiction over those matters which were exempt from the Tourn. It met once in every three weeks, and the tenants of the Honour who owed suit and service were bound to appear before it. Over the (i) “The title Honour means a more noble sort of Lordship, on which other inferior estates depend by performance of certain service to the superior chief, whose seigniory is frequently termed an honour , not a manor, particularly if it has ever belonged to the king, or to an ancient feudal baron. To constitute an honour , however, it was essential that it should be holden of the king, for though the king might grant it to a subject, it could not be holden of a subjcet, if the king as¬ signed it to another .”—Thomson on Magna Charta, p.- 236. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 387 Tourn, after the Honour came into the King’s hands, the Con¬ stable or Warden of Nottingham Castle presided (and not the Sheriff, whose jurisdiction was confined to the Tourn held for the county, of which he was the chief officer), it being alleged “ the King William the First, with the consent of his Council, ordained that from time to time, and at all times thereafter, when and so often as any freeman of dignity and fealty to the Crown of England should in lawful manner hold or be pro¬ prietor of the inheritance of the site and castle of Nottingham, whether by gift, descent, or purchase, the same man and his heirs (so long as he should be qualified) should be Constable, Marshall, and Steward of the Castle of Nottingham and Honor of Nottingham, alias Peverel.” 1 When in the height of its power, the Honour, as the juris¬ diction of the Court was named, comprised no less than 127 towns and villages in Nottinghamshire, and 120 in Derbyshire, a list of which is given in Deering’s Nottinghamia Vetus et Nova, pp. 354-6, and Pilkington’s Derbyshire ii. 15. On the flight of William Peverel, the grandson, in 1155, the king seized his possessions, and retained them in his own hands until he be¬ stowed them, with some exceptions, on his son John, Earl of Morteign and Nottingham, in 1174. The Court was then de facto a princely one, and continued in the hands of John until his accession to the throne in 1199, when it became merged in the Crown. Over the Frankpledge an officer in the nature of Bailiff pre¬ sided, and from the time that the Honour came into the hands of the Crown until the 10th of the reign of Edward III., the office was granted or leased out at an annual rent. 2 In 1173 (19 Henry II.) the Honour was in the custody of Robert P'itz-Ralph (Sheriff of Notts, and Derbyshire, 1166), and in 1185 (31 Henry II.) it v/as in the hands of the King. 3 According to the Great Roll of 1183 (29 Henry II.) Ralph Murdac, Sheriff of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, (1) Sixteenth Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, p. 41. (2) “ So also an Honor might be lett to ferm, or put into custody, like as a Manour or other estate in land.” Madox, ISaronia Anglica, p. 89. (3) Madox, History of the Exchequer, 2 ed. i. 297-8. 333 THK HISTORY OF THE rendered an account of £219 8s. od., of the farm of the Honour of Peverel. In 1196-7 (8 Richard I.), the Sheriff, William le Briwerre, gave account of the scutage of the Honour of Peverel of Nottingham, assessed the year before, being the second for the army in Normandy. 1 In 1204 (5 John) the Honour was in the custody of Hugh Bardolf 2 3 4 (Madox i., 405), and in 1207 it was in the hands of the King. Sir Ralph Fitz-Nicholas, Governor of Nottingham Castle, was appointed Keeper of the Honour, May 18, 1225. He died 1257. Sir Robert le Vavasour, of Shipley, in Derby¬ shire, held the same office. He was Sheriff of the counties of Notts, and Derby from 1235 to 1254. He died in the last- named year. In 1250 a survey of the Honour of Peverel, co. Notts., was made, a transcript of which is preserved in the British Museum, Add. MSS., 25,459, PP- I-I4- “ In the forty-fourth year of K. Henry III. (1260), in a Plea moved in the Court of Exchequer between John de Luvetot , Keeper of the Honour of Peverell of Nottingham, then in the King’s hands, and Simon de Asselacton, Sherif of the counties of Nottingham and Derby , Search was made in the Rolls of the Exchequer. By those Rolls it was acertained (that is manifestly proved) that Roger de Luvetotf Keeper of that Honor, did answer to the King upon his Account rendred in the fortieth year of that King, for the profits of View of Frankpledg, as pertaining to his Ferme of that Honor. Thereupon the Barons gave judgment for the said John de LuvetotH The Chapter of Southwell and the Prioress of Brewood were certified in the Testa de Nevil to hold three parts of the town of Calverton, of the Honour of PevereD The next holder of the Honour was probably Hugh de Staple- ford, to whom it was granted by Henry III. for life. In the (1) Thoroton’s Antiquities of Nottinghamshire , i 677 > p* 207b. (2) He was probably the brother of Robert Bardolf, feudal lord of Codnor, in Derbyshire, and father of Isolda, wife of Sir Henry de Grey, who built Codnor Castle early in the 13th century. (3) Roger de Luvetot, lord of Wysall, was Governor of Bolsover Castle, and thrice Sheriff of Notts, and Derbyshire. Sir John de Luvetot, his younger brother, was appointed Justice of the Common Pleas in 1275, and died Nov. 5, 1294. (4) Madox, Baronia Anglica, p. 89. (5) Thoroton, 296a. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 389 18th year of Edward I., when Sir Gervase de Clifton, of Clifton, was Sheriff, great complaint was made, and a jury of Broxtowe wapentake found, that William de Tytheby and Aunsell de Gameleston held the farm of the Bailiwick of Broxtowe for nine marks, by which they got a living, and that it was to the great damage of the county. They also found that the greatest part of Broxtowe wapentake formed part of the Honour of Peverel which was held by Hugh de Stapleford by charter of King Henry III. for the term of life, and that the farm of the Honour was also raised in the same manner as Broxtowe wapen¬ take, to the great abuse of the county. 1 In the reign of Edward I., this same Sir Gervase de Clifton married the daughter and heiress of Gervase de Rabacy, who, with John de Skerrington and others, held a moiety of a messuage and of three oxgangs of land in Glapton, by the service of finding an under-bailiff to make summons and distress in the Court of Peverel. The Court was originally held in the Chapel dedicated to St. James, the site of which was lately occupied by the Independent Chapel in St. James’s Street, Nottingham. The Court continued to be held here until 1316, 2 3 when Edward II. discharged it from that burden by his charter to the Carmelite Friars .3 In 1321 the King kept Court at Nottingham Castle, and gave the Corporation a further benefit (that is, in addition to his charter granted March 16, 1313), by exempting the town from the jurisdiction of the Court of the Honour of Peverel. In this year (1321) the Honour was in the hands of the King. 4 On the 26th September, 1336 (10 Edward III.), the King granted, among other tokens of his royal favour, to his “ well- beloved ” William Eland, and his heirs, for ever, for the yearly payment of fourteen marcs, the Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel, in consideration of the great services he had rendered in the capture of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, at the Castle at Nottingham (see page 146). His son, William, afterwards (1) Thoroton, 205. (2) Dickinson, “History of Southwell,” says 9th year of Edward III., 1335. (3) Deering, p. 127. (4) Madox, Exchequer , i. 535. 39° THE HISTORY OF THE (41 Edward III.) held this Bailiwick of the King in the counties of Nottingham and of Derby by the service of paying fourteen shillings yearly. On the grant being made to William Eland, the elder (1336), it would appear that the Court was removed from the County Hall, where it had been held since the year 1316, to the mansion occupied by William Eland, constable of Nottingham Castle, at the manor of Algarthorpe, in the parish of Basford. “ In or about the fourteenth year of King Richard II. (1390) it was found by an Escheatours enquest, that John de Loudham , Chivaler, held the manour of Walton in Derbyshire of the King in capite, as of the Honor of Peverell by the service of suit to Court, for all services. Afterwards in the eighteenth year of King Richard II. it was alleged in the Court of Exchequer, that John de Londham held the manor of Walton in Derbyshire of the King in capite , as of the Honor of P ever el, by the service of one Knight’s Fee.” 1 In the reign of Henry VIII., that monarch did “by a private Act of Parliament made in the 28th year of his reign, convey to and settle on Thomas Lord Cromwell and his heirs the inheritance and property of the Castle and Honor of Not¬ tingham, alias Peverel.” Lord Cromwell 2 being thus seised of the premises did, by his Lease and Release severally dated 23rd and 25th of February, 30th Henry VIII., demise and grant them to his son Gregory, Lord Cromwell. The Grant above mentioned and the Indenture thereupon made, seem to have been forfeited on the attainder of Lord Cromwell in 1540, and the Honour taken into the hands of the Crown, where it remained until the reign of James I., when the Stewardship of the Honour was leased to Sir George Goring and his brother, as will be hereafter mentioned. (1) Madox, Baronia , 185. (2) This Thomas, Lord Cromwell, was the son of a blacksmith at Putney, and being in the suite of Cardinal Wolsey, was taken inlo the service of the King on the downfall of that ambitious prelate. The active part which he took in the dissolution of religious houses, and in the establishment of the spiritual supremacy of his royal master, gained for him rapid elevation. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Cromwell in 1536, and further advanced as Earl of Essex in 1539, and was constituted the King's Vice-Regent in spirituals; he was also a Knight of the Garter and Lord High Chamberlain of England. In 1540, he was attainted of high treason, and was beheaded on the 24th of July, 1540. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 391 The Bailiwick remained with the Eland family until the time of Henry VIII. Henry Eland, the last male heir of this family, died September the 8th, 1493, aged 67, his only son, Thomas, having died previously, leaving an only daughter, Mary, who thereupon became heiress to her grandfather. She married Roland Revel 1 , and after his death without issue, she conveyed (23 Henry VIII., anno 1531) the manor of Algarthorpe, and all her lands elsewhere, together with the Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel to Randall Revell “ because he had holpen her in her great suits she had with Nicholas Strelley, Esq., concerning her said inheritance.” Hugh Revell, 1 cousin and heir of Mary Eland, was the next holder of the Bailiwick. In 1546, he obtained licence from King Henry VIII. to alienate the office of the Bailiwick of Peverel to Henry Willoughby, of Wollaton, Esquire, in fee, at the old rent due to the Crown ; and by Indenture (reciting King Edward III.’s Letters Patent to William Eland, and that the estate, title, and interest, of the said William Eland, in the said office, had come to the said Hugh Revell, as well by lawful conveyance as by descent of inheritance, as right heir of the said William Eland), in consideration of ^80, covenanted, bargained, and sold the said Office or Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel, with all profits, charges, and all Records, Evidences, Court Rolls, and Writings concerning and belonging to the said Office, to the said Henry Willoughby. In the 2nd year of the reign of Edward VI., Henry Willoughby, Esq., died 2 seised of the said Bailiwick, leaving a son, Thomas, then between eight and nine years of age. This Thomas Willoughby died before attaining his majority, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Francis, who was subsequently knighted, and who “ out of ostentation to show his riches,” as Camden remarks, built the magnificent old Elizabethan mansion at Wollaton, which was completed about (1) lie was son of the above-named Randall Revell, who had married Joan, sister of Thomas Eland. (2) This gentleman lost his life in 1548, whilst engage 1 in quelling the insurrection in Norfolk, commonly known as “ Ket’s rebellion.’’ His remains were brought to Wollaton, and there interred. There is a fine mural monument to his memory within the family pew at the east end of the north aisle in Wollaton church. 392 THE HISTORY OF THE 1588. Sir Francis Willoughby died in London, November the 16th, 1596, and having no male issue, the greater portion of his estates, including the Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel, passed to his eldest daughter and coheiress, who had married Sir Percival Willoughby, Knight, a descendant of the great Lin¬ colnshire house of Willoughby D’Eresby. The Bailiwick appears to have continued in the Willoughby family until about the year 1617, without interruption. In that year, King James I., by Letters Patent of the 26th February, in the 15th year of his reign, granted to Sir George Goring and Sir Edward Goring, Knights, “ the office of High Steward of the Honor of Peverel, and of the King’s Manors, Lordships, and Hereditaments, in the counties of Nottingham and Derby, to the said Honor in any way appertaining, and the keeping of all Courts within the said Honor for the term of fifty years.” In consequence of this Lease from the Crown, Sir Percival Willoughby, in whom the estate of the Bailiwick of the Court of Peverel had become vested in right of Dame Bridget, his wife, disputed King James’s Lease to the Gorings ; whereupon they exhibited a Bill in the Exchequer Chamber against him, and “ demanded to have the Court Rolls, the profits of the Stewardship and waifs estray, felons goods, common fines, amerciaments, and perquisites of Court,” etc. The Court, having decided (upon what grounds does not appearj against Sir Percival Willoughby, decreed that the Gorings “ should hold and enjoy unto them and their assigns (inter alia) the said Stewardship, felon’s goods, common fines, perquisites of Court, mentioned in the King’s Lease to them ; and that all Court Rolls, Books of Account, and Evidences concerning the Bailiwick of the said Manor, and the Steward¬ ship then remaining in the hands of the said Defendant Willoughby or his under officer should be delivered up to the Plaintiffs (the Gorings), to be brought unto that Court, there to remain for His Majesty’s use.” Exceptions were taken by the Defendant’s counsel to this Decree, but it was ordered that the said Decree should continue and stand in force. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 393 On the 31st May, 1639, Charles I. issued his Letters Patent, appointing George, Lord Goring 1 (the first-named of the lessees in King James’s demise above-mentioned), to the office of High Steward of the Honour of Peverel for and during his lifetime. By these Letters Patent the King “ordains, establishes, and declares that the jurisdiction of the Honor of Peverel shall for the future extend itself as well in and through all those places which of old were within the jurisdiction of the said Honor, as in and through the whole Wapentakes or Hundreds of Broxtow and Thurgarton by Leigh, in the county of Nottingham (to wit) in all parts of those wapentakes which previously were not within the jurisdiction of the said Honor, and that all the towns, townships, hamlets, and places within the wapentakes aforesaid which before were not within such jurisdiction, shall henceforth be called the additional limits of the Honor of Peverel.” These Letters Patent also contained some regulations respecting the deputy-steward and other officers, and the prison of the Honour. Previous to Lord Goring’s appointment, Mr. James Chadwick, of Nottingham, was the prime mover in getting the powers of the Court revived. “ Chadwick, a fellow of most pragmatical temper, was at first a boy that scraped trenchers in the house of one of the poorest justices in the county, but yet such a one as had a great deal of formality and understanding of the statute law, from whom this boy picked such ends of law that he became first the justice’s, then a lawyer’s clerk ; then, I know not how, got to be a parcel judge in Ireland, and came over to his own country swelled with the reputation of it, and set on foot a base, obsolete, arbitrary court, 2 which the Conqueror of old had given one Peverel, his bastard, which this man entitling my lord Goring unto, executed the office under him, to the great abuse of the country. At the beginning of the Parliament they had (1) Sir George Goring had been created Baron Goring, April 14, 1628; he was further advanced as Earl of Norwich, Nov. 8, 1646. Pepys relates how “ my Lord of Northwich, at a public audience before the King of France, made the Duke of Anjou cry, by making ugly faces as he was stepping to the King, but undiscovered.” (2) On the revival of the Court, it was for a time held in some old malt rooms, which stood on the site of the chapel in St. James’s Street, previously mentioned. 394 THE HISTORY OF THE prosecuted him for it, but that my Lord Goring begged of Sir Thomas Hutchinson to spare him, and promised to lay it down for ever ; so from the beginning of Parliament he executed not that office, but having an insinuating wit and tongue, procured himself to be deputy Recorder of Nottingham, my lord of Clare 1 being chief. Never was a truer Judas since Iscariot’s time than he, for he would kiss the man he had in his heart to kill ; he naturally delighted in mischief and treachery, and was so exquisite a villian, that he destroyed those designs he might have thriven by, with overlaying them with fresh knaveries.” 2 Bailey says : “ A careful perusal of the new charter under which the Court of the Honour of Peverel was at this time re-established, leads us to the conviction that the abuse directed by Mrs. Hutchinson against Chadwick, on account of the revival of this Court (save upon the principle that all Courts for recovery of debts, where a power to imprison is conferred, are radically base and arbitrary), is extremely unjust and improper. If imprisonment for debt was a cruelty and injustice to the country, the Peverel Court, as revived under Lord Goring, only shared the guilt which the rest of the legal tribunals of the country incurred in the incarceration of the persons of poor or fraudulent debtors, whilst the charter of its re-enactment contained divers provisions against the abuse of power, which did not exist in many of them, and more especially is this one, as it stood in its original formation : so that instead of Mr. Chadwick being deserving of the severe censures bestowed upon him, in such unbecoming language, by Mrs. Hutchinson, for the revival of this Court, it would more probably appear to every impartial person, that he was deserving of the highest praise for the care with which he guarded from abuse the administration of the law, in the case of actions for debt or trespasses, in this court, (i) The above named “Lord of Clare” was John Holies, second Earl of Clare, eldest son of John, first Earl, by Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanhope. He succeeded his father in 1637, and was appointed Recorder of Nottingham in 1642, Mr. Chadwick acting as his deputy. The Earl died January 2nd, 1665, and was buried in the Chapel of Our Lady (south transept) in St. Mary’s Church, Notting¬ ham. (2) “Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson,” by his Widow. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 395 by the wholesome provisions he caused to be engrafted in its charter.” 1 Besides being for several years deputy-recorder of Notting¬ ham, as well as the Steward of the Peverel Court, Mr. Chadwick, sometimes known as Colonel Chadwick, .served twice in Parlia¬ ment as member for the town of Nottingham, and appears to have enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his constituents. By his own perseverance, combined with considerable talent, he had risen from very humble beginnings in life to the possession of property and influence beyond that of most men around him. 2 He appears to have had an extensive and profitable practice as a barrister, regularly keeping chambers in one of the Inns of Court, London, besides being engaged professionally as one of the inferior judges in Ireland. It is not difficult to discover, by a careful perusal of the Memoirs, what were the true grounds for the hostility which Colonel and Mrs. Hutchinson bore towards Chadwick. He considered the Colonel to be an enthusiast, 3 and the town to be insecure whilst in his keeping. In these respects he might be erroneous in his judgment, but there is no just reason for supposing that his motives were corrupt. There does not appear to be the least doubt that the charges brought against Mr. Chadwick by Mrs. Hutchinson, were false and malicious. It is impossible that any man, in those days, with such a character, could have secured the good-will and confidence, and lived in the esteem of persons of all ranks of life, as Mr. Chadwick did. 4 (1) “Annals of Notts.,” i. 642. (2) See foot note, p. 394, ante. (3) Colonel John Hutchinson was the eldest surviving son of Sir Thomas Hut¬ chinson, by his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir John Byron, of Newstead, and was born at Nottingham, September, 1615. He married (July 3, 1638) Lucy, daughter of Sir Allen Apsley, Bart., late Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and served as Colonel in the Parliamentarian Army, having the Castle and Town of Nottingham in his keeping. At the trial of Charles I. he sat as a member of the High Commission Court, and signed the death warrant. After the Restoration he was confined in Sandown Castle, Kent. He died after eleven months’ imprison¬ ment, September 11, 1664, and was buried at Owthorpe, Notts. (4) The descendants of Mr. James Chadwick continued for several generations in this neighbourhood. In 1742, upon the death of Thomas Mansfield, Esq., the manor of West Leeke and other estates devolved upon his nephew, Evelyn Chad¬ wick, Esq., who was directly descended from the above named gentleman. This Evelyn Chadwick was the father of Georgiana, Lady Middleton, wife of Thomas, fourth Lord Middleton, who was High Steward of the Peverel Court, as will be seen hereafter. TIIE HISTORY OF THE 396 On the 8th of April, in the 15th year of King Charles the First, George, Lord Goring, mortgaged the premises to Sir Thomas Lawley, Knight (afterwards created a baronet), for a large sum of money, but continued in possession until 1646, when, being a delinquent, his whole estate was sequestered. On the 19th August, 1640, Lewis Chadwick and John Chadwick, farmers of the profits and perquisites of the Court of the Honour of Peverel, petitioned the King respecting the profits of the Court. The petitioners stated that the King by his letters patent had restored the courts and jurisdiction of his ancient honour of Peverel, and by a special warrant com¬ manded his steward and judge of the courts to put them in full execution, wherefore petitioners had been persuaded by his steward, their kinsman, on his promise to perform the King’s commands, to farm the profits of the courts, and thereupon increased the King’s revenue five fold (sic) from 50/. to 300/. per annum, and that it would be increased to much more. Yet the Steward had not put the courts in full execution, to the great damage of the petitioners and the King’s rights. They prayed the King to refer their petition to some of the Council, that they might call the Steward before them to show cause why he had not put the courts in execution according to the King’s warrant, and to bring the warrant with him, and that he might be ordered thenceforth to put them in full execution, or that the increase of the King’s revenue might be abated from 300/. to 50/. again, unless good cause was shown to the contrary. Under the petition was written a reference to the Lord Treasurer and another, authorising them to call the petitioners and the Steward before them and learn the true state of the business, and to certify the King their opinion what was fit to be done there¬ in. 1 The result of this enquiry has not transpired. Shaw 2 states that in 1638, Lewis Chadwick, of Mavesyn Rid ware, in the county of Stafford, and John Chadwick, of Healey Hall, in the county of Lancaster, Esquires, succeeded (1) State Papers, 1640, p. 606. (2) Shaw’s History of Staffordshire, vol. i., p. 183. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 397 their kinsman, James Chadwick, in the office of Steward to the Peverel Court. John Chadwick, who had married Katherine, only daughter and eventual heiress of the above- named Lewis Chadwick, took up his residence in Nottingham, and held the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the Parliamentary army. Lewis Chadwick, who never appears to have resided in this neighbourhood, was at one time Governor of the Island of St. Lucia, in the West Indies, which he acquired by purchase. He died in London, in 1655. John Chadwick died in 1669, and was buried in the chancel of Rochdale Church, in Lancashire. After the estates of George, Lord Goring, had been escheated for his alleged “ delinquency,” it was ordered, on the petition of the widow of Sir Thomas Lawley, Baronet, to whom the Bailiwick had been mortgaged, that the Committee of Sequestration should either pay .£1,450, then due to the Lady Lawley for the principal and interest, or suffer her to enjoy the premises. In the meantime, Sir Percival Willoughby, * 1 the Defendant in the suit in the Exchequer (in which the Gorings were Plaintiffs), took steps before the Committee of Sequestration to recover some of his rights in the Honour of Peverel, as did also his son, Sir Francis Willoughby, but without effect. In 1658, the so-called “Lord Whalley,” 2 having expressed his wish to have the jurisdiction of the Court of the Honour of Peverel restored to Nottingham, from which, as we have seen, it was exempted in 1321, the Corporation caused a letter (1) Sir Percival Willoughby, Knight, represented the county of Nottingham in the first Parliament of James I., and dying about the commencement of the civil war, was succeeded by his only son, Sir Francis Willoughby, Knight, who married Lady Cassandra Ridgway, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Londonderry. Sir Francis died in 1665 and was succeeded by his only son, Francis Willoughby, Esq., the eminent philosopher, who left two sons, Francis, the elder of whom, was created a baronet in 1677, with remainder to his younger brother, Thomas, who eventually succeeded to the baronetcy, and who was raised to the peerage as Baron Middleton, of Middleton, in the county of Warwick, in 1711. (1) Edward Whalley, a Major-General in the Parliamentary army, and one of the Regicides, was a younger son of Richard Whalley, Esq., of Kirketon Hall, in the parish of Screveton, by Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Cromwell, of Hinchinbroke, in Huntingdonshire, and was thus cousin of Oliver Cromwell. During the Usurpation he was called to the “ Upper House,” as one of Oliver’s so-called peers. He fled to America, and died at Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1678. 39^ TIIE HISTORY OF THE to be written to him, expressive of their disapproval of such proposed arrangement, when the project was abandoned. On December 22, 1662, a Royal Warrant was issued autho¬ rizing the removal of the Court to the Shire Hall, Nottingham. “ Whereas O’r Court of Record for O’r Honour of Peverell was anciently kept in Our Castle of Nottingham, w’ch was demolished in the late Warrs, since w’ch time the same hath been kept in Our Shire-Hall for the Count)'- of Nottingham w’thin Our s’d Hono’r, Our will & pleasure [is] that Our s’d Court shall for the time to come, be held & kept in our s’d Shire-hall of Our s’d Countie of Nottingha’ soe as the same in noe manor hinder or be prejudiciall to Our service of ye sd Countie. And Wee re¬ quire Our Sheriff of Our sd Countie & all other Our officers & ministers to bee conformable hereunto, dated ye 22th day of Decemb. 1662. On the death of the first Earl of Norwich 1 2 (to whom the Bailiwick had been granted for life), Sir Francis Willoughby possessed himself again of his hereditary Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel, though he does not seem to have exercised any jurisdiction in the Court of the Honour, as remodelled by King Charles I., inasmuch as King Charles II., by his Letters Patent bearing date April 14th, in the 16th year of his reign, granted to Charles, second Earl of Norwich, 3 and Henry Goring, Esquire, 4 the office of High Steward of the Honour of Peverel, and the office of keeping all Courts, Leets, Liberties and Views (1) State Papers, 1662 ; Warrant Book, p. 201. (2) This nobleman was the son of George Goring, of Hurstpierpoint and Oving- dean, in Sussex. He received the honour of knighthood at Greenwich in 1608, and two years later was Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary to Prince Henry, and afterwards Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen. He was elevated to the peerage in 1632, as Baron Goring, of Hurstpierpoint, and subsequently obtained a grant of the offices of Secretary, clerk of the signet, and clerk of the council within the princi¬ pality of Wales. He warmly espoused the cause of his sovereign on the outbreak of the unhappy civil contentions, and was further advanced to the earldom of Norwich in 1644. He died at Brentford, whilst on his way from Hampton Court to London, January the 6th, 1662-3, being then about eighty years of age, and was buried on the 14th of that month in Westminster Abbey. (3) Charles, second Earl of Norwich, only surviving son of the first Earl, died without issue in 1672, when the title became extinct. (4) Henry Goring derived his descent from an elder branch of the family, his great grandfather, Sir Henry Goring, of Burton, in Sussex, being the elder brother of George Goring, father of the first Earl of Norwich. This Henry Goring, who suc¬ ceeded to a baronetcy, on the death of Sir James Bowyer, of Leighlhorne, in Suf¬ folk, by virtue of a special limitation, was the direct ancestor of the present Sir Charles Goring, Bart., of Ilighden, in Sussex. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 399 of Frankpledge in the said Honour, for and during their lives and the life of the longer liver of them. On the death of the second Earl of Norwich, without issue, and the surrender of the office in question by Henry Goring, the other co-grantee, King Charles II., by his Letters Patent, dated January 23rd, in the 25th year of his reign (1674), nominated and appointed Henry, Marquess of Worcester, 1 Charles, Lord Herbert, his eldest son, and Arthur, Lord Somerset, his second son, to the office of High Steward of the Honour of Peverel, for their lives, and the life of the longer liver of them. In these last-mentioned Letters Patent, the limits of this Court were further extended to the Manor of Worksop, to Chesterfield and other places in Derbyshire, and to Sheffield, Rotherham, etc., in Yorkshire, and a Court of Record was appointed to be held every Tuesday, in such place as the Steward of the Court of the Honour should from time to time appoint, and in the said Court should be heard and determined, all and singular pleas of debt, detinue, covenant, and broken account, trespass, trespass on the case, caption and detention of cattle, goods and chattels, and all other personal pleas and actions whatsoever, arising within the Honour afore¬ said, so that the debts, damages, etc., exceed not the sum of 50/., etc. The Letters Patent also directed that the deputy steward to be appointed by the High Steward should be an utter Barrister; it also regulated his office and empowered him to appoint a Prothonotary. Simon Degge, a barrister, 2 was appointed Steward for life, and then Thomas Eyre for life, under the regulation of the High Steward. (1) Ilenry, third Marquess of Worcester, succeeded his father in 1667, and was created Duke of Beaufort, December 2nd, 1682. He refused to subscribe the oath of allegiance to William III., and spent the latter part of his life in retirement. He died January 21st, 1699. Charles, Lord Herbert, was his eldest son, who, after his father was created Duke of Beaufort, had himself the courtesy title of Marquess of Worcester. He died in his father’s lifetime. Arthur, Lord Somerset, was his younger brother. (2) Sir Simon Degge (descended from Hugh Degge, of Stramshall,) was the son of Thomas Degge, who died in 1628. He married, first, Jane, daughter of Thomas Orrell, by whom he had one son, and, secondly, Alice Oldfield, widow of James Trollop, by whom he had two sons. He is described in Dugdale’s Visitation of Derbyshire as “Symon Degge of Derby Esq on of ye Judges of South Wales Circuit 1667.” 400 THE HISTORY OF THE On the death of the last survivor of the three grantees mentioned in King Charles II.’s Letters Patent, the family of Willoughby once more endeavoured to obtain possession of the Bailiwick of the Honour of Peverel, and for the purpose of preventing all disputes for the future, applied to the Crown for a grant in perpetuity of the Stewardship of the Honour and the casual profits thereof. Oueen Anne thereupon by Her Letters Patent, dated June 22nd, in the fifth year of her reign (1706), reciting that the office of High Steward of the Honour of Peverel being only honorary, and having been long enjoyed by the family of Sir Thomas Willoughby, Baronet, the Queen, in consideration of the good and acceptable services performed unto her by the said Sir Thomas Willoughby, granted “the office and place of High Steward of the Honour of Peverel in the county of Nottingham and Derby, and of all and every the manors, lordships, lands, and hereditaments to the said Honour belonging or appertaining together, to Sir Thomas Wil¬ loughby, Baronet, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Sir Thomas Willoughby, and of his heirs and assigns, for ever, in free and common soccage, by the yearly rent of one peppercorn at the Feast of St. Michael, if the same shall be lawfully demanded.” Sir Thomas Willoughby was raised to the peerage, December the 31st, 1711, as Baron Middleton, of Middleton, in the county of Warwick. His descendants held the office of High Steward until the abolition of the Court in 1849, the last High Steward being Digby, seventh Lord Middleton, who died unmarried, Nov. 5, 1856. The three successive Deputy Stewards of the Court at Bas- ford, previous to the year 1751, were Mr. William Thorpe, Mr. John Farnsworth, attorneys, and Edward Wilmot, Esq., 1 barrister-at-law, Mr. Francis Evans acting as Prothonotary during the latter part of the Stewardship of the latter. (1) Deering, p. 127. This author mentions a tradition that whilst the Court was held at Nottingham, “the mace, which is now carried before the Mayor, used to be carried before the Steward of the Peverel Court,” this was probably an acknowledg¬ ment of the superior powers of the Court, and a similar custom is still observed in some towns, where the Mayor’s mace is carried before the Judges at the time of the assizes. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 401 John Howard, the philanthropist (born Sept. 2, 1726 ; died Jan. 20, 1790), visited in 1776 and 1779 the Peverel Prison at Basford, which he thus describes, “This is his majesty’s gaol or prison of the court of record of his honour of Peverel and additional limits of the same in the counties of Nottingham and Derby. Thomas, Lord Middleton, high steward. One room with three beds. The keeper said he had another little room for women-prisoners ; but having none of that sex, he made use of it for his servants. The house is his freehold. Fees; 13s. 4d. by the court roll. The debts were from forty shillings to fifty pounds, but now are from ten pounds (see 19 George III. cap. lxx.) to fifty pounds. 1 1776, Sept. 24, 3 prisoners; 1779, Sept. 20, 2 prisoners.” In the Records of the Manor Court of Lenton is the following entry referring to the Peverel Court :— “ 1788. 25 Mar, Deduct for Mr. Cooper’s Fine it appearing that he was obliged to attend the Court of Tryals at Basford being subpcened to give Evidence in a Cause Tryed there—5s.” In 1789, John Balguy, Esq., of Swanwick, in Derbyshire, was the Deputy Steward. Previous to the removal of the Court to Lenton at the close of the year 1790, the Gaoler, John Sands, liberated all the prisoners because he had no food allowed for their support, and because he was legally advised that if any of them died from want of food, he would be liable to take his trial as a murderer. On December 1st, 1790, the Court was held for the first time at the Coffee-house, Lenton. Blackner, who visited the prison in 1796, thus writes:—“I went with a friend, one morning in February, to see what havoc stern winter had made in the coffee-house gardens at Lenton, which had been represented to me as a kind of para¬ dise in the summer season ; being unconscious, at that time, that one of the most wretched mansions of human misery stood within their precincts. Several robins were fluttering upon the keenly frozen snow, in quest of scattered crumbs ; and a black- (1) “ The State of the Prisons in England and Wales,” by John Howard, F.R.S., second edition, 1780, p. 284. 402 THE HISTORY OF THE bird, all shivering with cold, was hopping from spray to spray. The wind whistled, and bleak, from the north east, the angry blast blew. While walking in pensive admiration, my ears were stricken with the sound of a human voice, the tremulous cadence of which bespoke the anguish of the bosom whence it came. These were the words which it uttered :—‘ God bless you, master, pray relieve a poor prisoner, famishing for want of food, and trembling with cold.’ A clap of thunder would not have made so deep an impression on the memory —death alone can remove the impression from the heart. Hastily turning about, a man appeared, peeping through a hole in a door, with a beard of four weeks’ growth upon his face, which was otherwise haggard and meager, his eyeballs glaring with anxiety, and his body sparingly clad in filthy rags. ‘What! a prison in a pleasure garden ! ’ was the first exclamation that presented itself—‘and pray what is your offence, my poor man? and what your means of subsistence ?’ ‘ My offence,’ replied the victim, ‘is that of running twenty-five shillings in debt, when my family was nearly perishing with hunger, during last year’s famine (1795), and which I have not been able to pay ; and my means of subsistence (while, with a look which was half sarcastic, and half expressive of his sufferings, he pointed towards a pump), my means of subsistence are all within that well, except a few scraps which the keeper pleases to give me, for cleaning his knives and his shoes.’ What! is it to be borne, that, in what is called a land of liberty, a human being is to be incarcerated within four walls, without bread and without fire. * That is all', replied the prisoner, still pointing towards the pump; ‘and, as my wife and children are now supported by the parish, not one of them can come near me to cheer me with a smile.’ Without calculating upon consequences, or re¬ flecting that my strength was inadequate to the performance of what the wounded feelings of the heart suggested, I im¬ mediately set my shoulder to the door, with the hope of wresting it from its hateful hinges ; but the unhappy man stopt me by saying, ‘You will only, by a vain attempt, bring yourself into trouble, and add much to mine; for, if I should obtain the keeper’s displeasure, he will not give me a morsel of bread to PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 403 prolong my miserable existence, till the rules of this court will permit me to leave this abode of sorrow; in which case I must die of want here, and never see my disconsolate family more.’ A flood of tears gave relief to the writer’s half-bursting heart, he forced the small contents of his pockets into the hands of the wretched sufferer, and then fled from this disgraceful dreg of the feudal law.” 1 Some authorities state that when the Court was first removed to Lenton it was held in a room over the Priory gateway, and was afterwards removed thence to the White Hart Inn, which was erected in 1804 by Mr. Wombwell, who afterwards had charge of the prisoners, special apartments in the rear being set apart as a prison. 2 In 1815 the High Steward’s deputy was John Balguy, Esq., barrister-at-law, and Mr. S. Sanders, solicitor, was prothonotary. The Court was held before the prothonotary every Tuesday, and the writs issued were returnable the next Court day following that on which they were issued ; and a general Court, called “The Court of Trials,” at which the High Steward, in whose name the processes were witnessed, was supposed to preside, was held twice a year, but the Act preventing arrests for debts under £10 deprived it of much of its business. The inhabitants of the Honour only were liable to serve on its juries. It appears to have been the custom of the overseers of Lenton to pay for the maintenance of poor prisoners in the Peverel gaol, and to recover the amounts from the parishes to which they belonged. The following entries are taken from the accounts of the overseers of Lenton :— 1792. Paid to a Man’s wife, who is in the Peveral Prison, having fitts ... ... ... ... 1 o 1823. W & J Readish in P’v’r’l ... ... ... 7 o 1824. Reed of Parish of Stapleford for Peverel ... 615 o 1827. Reed, on Order for removal from Peverel of Wheatley (Lincoln) ... ... ... ... 4 4 6 (1) Blackner’s History of Nottingham, i S16, p. 105. (2) In the year 1842, the Court was held temporarily at the Plough Inn, Old Radford. 404 THE HISTORY OF THE 1830. To Relief of Wm. Pegg in Peveral prison, not recovered 1S35. Wm. Hopewell in Peverall Prison 1836. Recovered from the Parishes of Hucknall Tor- kard and Denby for examinations of Peveral Prisoners 1837. To 65 days relief to Joseph White a pauper of this parish in Peveral Prison for debt from the 27th Jany to 30th March inclusive at 6d. per diem 1838. Received from the Overseers of Hoveringham for Relief of Thomas Broughton in Peveral Prison ... 3 6 3 6 3 4 0 1 12 6 3 4 6 Close by the prison was (and is) a bowling green, where the players and company were waited upon by the prisoners, from which (notwithstanding Blackner’s pathetic story, probably somewhat highly coloured) it is evident that their confine¬ ment was not very rigorous. The Court room contained several old portraits, presumably of former Stewards, but they have been dispersed during the last few years. The prison still remains. It is a small brick building, 48 feet long and 15 feet wide, two stories in height, and contains three rooms on each floor. The windows are protected by massive iron bars set in strong oak frames, and overlook a small courtyard, about 30 feet long by 18 feet wide, surrounded by a high brick wall. This courtyard appears to have been enclosed after Blackner’s visit to the prison in 1796, when he says the prison overlooked the adjoining pleasure garden. According to a return, in accordance with an order of the House of Commons, it appears that the number of summonses issued by the Court during the year ending July 1, 1848, amounted to 1,344, being an increase of more than 850 on the average of the three previous years. During the same year the fees received amounted to £ 228 , being upwards of .£150 more than the average. This great increase was prin¬ cipally owing to the fact that the number of summonses issued in the town of Sheffield in the year ending July, 1848, amounted to 880, or 850 above the average of the preceding three years. The return also contains the plaintiffs’ costs incurred in two actions, in one of which, where the amount PARISH AND PRIORY OF DENTON. 405 of debt recovered amounted to £2 14s. lid., the plaintiff’s costs alone were £\J ns. od., and in another, where the amount recovered was £^ 12s. 8d., the plaintiff’s costs amounted to ,£40 16s. 4d., or when they were taxed, to £26 17s. iod. Some idea of the manner in which the business of the Court was conducted in its latter days may be obtained from the following extract from the Nottingham Review, March 24, 1848 :— Peverel Court of Trials. A court for the trial of causes was held on Tuesday last [March 21, 1848,] at the White Hart Inn, Lenton, near this town. John Barker, Esq., barrister-at-law, the Judge and Deputy Steward of the Honour of Peverel, attended by Abraham Cann, Esq., prothonotary, Mr. William Johnson, the capital bailiff, and a number of professional gentlemen, took his seat at ten o’clock in the morning, and the following gentlemen were sworn in as the jury. [Here follows list of jury and particulars of thirteen cases tried.] The business occupied the court until four o’clock, when the judge, jury, and professional gentlemen sat down to dinner, which was got up in the most recherche style by the landlord, and consisted of every delicacy. After the cloth was drawn, Abraham Cann, Esq., took the chair, and Mr. Thomas Flower (foreman of the jury) the vice-chair; and harmony and conviviality were kept up for some time. At the Court held June 5, 1849, three men from Ripley were each ordered to be imprisoned for 40 days in Derby County Gaol, for refusing to pay debts and costs. The following is a copy of a blank form of “jury summons” in the possession of the author :— Mr. By virtue of a Venire Facias to me directed, I do hereby summon you to appear and serve on the Jury, at the next Court of Trials, to be held for the Honor of Peverel, and additional limits of the same, at the House of the Lenton Coffee House, situate at Lenton, in the County of Nottingham, on Tuesday the Day of 18 Dated this Day of 18 Capital Bailiff of the said Court. 406 T1IE HISTORY OF THE The seal used by the Peverel Court obviously dates from about the time when the additional limits were granted to the Court. An old seal, here engraved full size, bears within its inner circle, on a field vaire, the Imperial Crown, to denote the possession of the Court by the Sovereigns of England ; and in the outer circle, the legend, HONOR DE PEVERELL ET ADDICONAL LIMIT. The seal in use previous to the abolition of the Court, also engraved full size, from an engraving made for the late Mr. William Stretton, varies somewhat from the above, the legend on this latter seal being, HONOR DE PEVEREL ET ADDIC LIMIT El VS. In 1849, a Bill was prepared and brought into the House of Commons by the Attorney-General and Mr. Cornewall Lewis “ to amend the Act for the more easy recovery of small debts and demands in England, and to abolish certain inferior Courts of Record.” This Bill received the Royal assent, August 1st, and became law as 12th and 13th Viet., cap. 101. Sections 13 and 14 abolished “the Court of the Marshalsea of Household of the Kings of England, and the Court of our Lady the Queen of the Palace of the Queen at Westminster, and her Majesty’s Court of Record for the Honour of Peveril and additional limits of the same,” the powers of which ceased on the 31st day of December, 1849, the actions or suits then pending therein being transferred to the Court of Common Pleas, or the County Court, as the case required. The records of the abolished courts were, by section 16, placed under the care of the Master of the Rolls. Section 17 provided compensation to the officers of the abolished courts, the amounts of which were determined by the Commissioners of her Majesty’s Treasury. The last sitting (Nov., 1849) of this ancient Court was held without a case being heard, and it was formally adjourned, never to sit again. Thus, shorn of its former dignity and PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 407 power, passed away a relic of the feudal system, which, after strange vicissitudes, survived to the middle of the nineteenth century. The Records of the Court were removed, by virtue of a warrant of the Master of the Rolls, dated 18th July, 1854, to the New Repository at the Public Record Office, where they are now deposited. SECTION XVII. GEOLOGY . 1 Physical Features. HE greater part of the parish of Lenton lies in the Trent Valley, which crosses the southern part of the parish, and consists of low flat meadow, drained by several brooks and numerous artificial water¬ courses. The Trent Valley—here more than a mile and a quarter wide—approaches Lenton from the south-west, but about the middle of the parish this course becomes deflected into a more easterly direction. Viewed from the high ground on either side, the Trent Valley is seen to be a broad expanse of meadow, picturesquely dotted with trees, and divided by a network of hedgerows. It is bounded on each side by low escarpments, which sometimes take the form of steep grassy slopes half hidden by clumps of dense wood, sometimes a low cliff for a short distance. In some parts, again (though scarcely so within this parish), the escarpments merge almost impercep¬ tibly into the river plain, and it is not easy to tell where the (i) Contributed by Mr. James Shipman, of Nottingham, author of papers on “ The Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Trent Valley, near Nottingham,” “ Triassic Rocks of Nottingham and Cheshire,” “ Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Leen Valley,” etc. THE HISTORY OF LENTON. 409 plain ends and the escarpment begins. The northern escarp¬ ment or boundary of the alluvial plain of the Trent winds through Highfield Park, just in front of Highfield House, form¬ ing the cliff of Bunter Sandstone that overlooks the lake there, and then on towards Spring Close. Between Highfield Park and Spring Close the line of escarpment takes a sudden bend to the north for three or four hundred yards, and sweeps round so as to form a small bay, ending at the back in a low cliff of the crimson Lower Mottled Sandstone, the bright red rock forming a charm¬ ing contrast with the dark green foliage of the young trees that cluster round its brow. This hollow—now smoothly grass-grown, and with little to indicate how it got formed —was probably scooped out by a sharp bend in the course of the Trent at this spot, at a time when it flowed at a slightly higher level than now, or, in other words, before the river had eaten its way down to its present level, and when its course lay along this side of the valley. Between Spring Close and New Lenton the Trent escarpment is broken through by the broad shallow gap by which the Leen enters the Trent Valley, but it re¬ appears in the form of a low cliff of Bunter Sandstone at the back of the bleach works on the Lenton Boulevard, near the end of Willoughby Street. The continuation of the escarpment to the east is marked by the line of low cliffs, now for the most part crowned with villas, that overlooks the old course of the Leen, and on by the “ Rock Holes ” in Nottingham Park, to the noble buttress of Bunter Sandstone on which the Castle stands. Thus the more elevated ground of the parish is confined to the northern half. The most important physical feature of this part is of course the Leen Valley. The Leen Valley is a somewhat wide but shallow depression that enters the parish on the north, and with a north-and-southerly trend joins the Trent Valley, as already stated, between Spring Close on one side and New Lenton on the other. The Leen itself meanders through a level tract of meadow land, comparatively dry in some parts, but marshy in others, and of an average width of about 400 yards throughout this parish, though much narrower in places higher up the stream. 4io THE HISTORY OF THE As we recede from the banks of the Leen to the east the ground rises very gently at first, then more rapidly till we reach the most elevated parts of the parish. The highest point is at Sion Hill, on the Derby road, which is the extreme eastern limit of the parish. This is 257 feet above the sea-level, or about 170 feet above the level of the river Leen near Lenton Station, and about 174 feet above the average level of the Trent Meadow at Lenton. On the west a gently swelling ridge, picturesquely wooded here and there with plantations or clumps of trees, stretches from the edge of the Trent escarpment in Highfield Park on the south, to Wollaton Hall, near the extreme north-west corner of the parish. The highest point on this ridge—near Lenton Hall—is about 200 feet above the sea-level, or about 117 feet above the level of the alluvial plain of the Trent. West of this ridge lies one of the most picturesque bits in the parish. It is an irregular shaped shallow valley, very prettily wooded, along the bottom of which the diminutive Tottle Brook skips merrily on towards the Trent, and forms the boundary of the parish for some distance on that side. General Description. No similar area within the extended borough of Nottingham contains so great a variety of rocks as the parish of Lenton. Indeed, all the formations met with in other parts of the borough, except the Permian Magnesian Limestone and Marl, are brought together here almost side by side, within a comparatively very small space. And the description of the rocks of Lenton will apply almost equally well, as far as it goes, to the same rocks where they happen to occur in other parts of Nottingham. It may be wondered why there should be so many different kinds of rocks in this parish compared with other parts of the borough. The secret of the matter is, that the rocks over a large part of the north-west corner of the parish have been very much shattered and dislocated by “ faults,” by means of which large patches and strips of the ground have been in some cases lowered two or three hundred feet, and thus brought down to the same level as some of the underlying older rocks. These earth-move- PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 41 I ments have produced such a transformation that the more disturbed portion of the ground forms quite a mosaic, composed of different kinds of rocks, red clay being brought down alongside yellow sandrock, and one kind of sandrock thrown down side by side with another and much older kind, and so on. The rocks have not only been fractured, and the broken patches displaced, but in some instances the strata have been tilted, and caused to slope in directions quite contrary to what they would do if they had remained unbroken. These lines of fracture cross the parish for the most part in a west-north-westerly direction, but there are doubtless cross-fractures that run at right angles to these in some spots. Some parts of the area, again, have yielded unequally to the strain, and have left strips of older rocks wedged in between newer strata. All this ground is now, how¬ ever, carved into smoothly-rounded slopes and hollows, and we may walk across these dislocations from one formation on to another without meeting with any sign at the surface to indicate that any such physical movement of the rocks had ever taken place. Much of the ground of this part is concealed by plantations and ornamental gardensattached to the mansions of the neighbourhood. The ground is still further obscured by superficial deposits of sand and clay, so that it is almost impossible to trace out all the details of this complex area on the map. Curiously enough, too, the features on which the geologist has to depend so much for his information—such as cliffs, and quarries, and other natural or artificial exposures, by which he is enabled to infer the structure of the ground in parts where no rock is visible, are remarkable for their scarcity. Such exposures of the rocks as do exist have therefore to be made the most of. Fortunately, however, the borings for coal on the Clifton estate, on the south¬ east side of the parish, and at Highfield Park, have revealed the character and thickness of the rocks in areas where they are completely out of the reach of observation at the surface— namely, underneath the alluvial gravel of the Trent. These borings, and the sinking of the Clifton Colliery shafts, also afford valuable data as to the direction taken by the main “faults” when they disappear under the alluvium of the Trent. The following is a list of the formations represented within 412 THE HISTORY OF THE the boundaries of the parish, arranged in order of relative age, the oldest at the bottom, with their thicknesses as nearly as they can be ascertained. feet. j Alluvial \{b) Recent river gravel and silt ... 25 ' t Deposits. l(tf) Terrace gravel (ancient river deposits) 12 6. Upper Keuper Marl... ... 270 5 * Trias, Lower Keuper “ Waterstones” 80 4 - or New Red Lower Keuper Basement Beds 6 3 - Sandstone. Bunter Pebble Beds... ... 180 2. 'Lower Mottled Sandstone ... ... 80 I. . . . Coal Measures . . 2,000 In the following pages the formations are treated of separately in the order of their relative geological age, beginning with the Coal Measures, and so on until we get to the river gravels, which represent the newest deposits we have. The general relations of the formations will be seen at a glance by referring to the accompanying plate, which contains two horizontal sections across the parish—one from west to east along the more elevated ground of the north side of the parish, the other from north¬ west to south-east, and across the Trent Valley. These sections show the height and shape of the ground, and also what depth we should have to go to pierce any particular formation, either in search of coal, or of a water supply. Some idea of the magnitude of the dislocations that affect the rocks may also be derived from these geological sections. Coal Measures. The Coal Measure rocks of the Nottinghamshire and Derby¬ shire Coalfield, which cover so many square miles of surface along the east side of Derbyshire and the western border of Nottinghamshire, pass quietly beneath a thin veneering of Lower Mottled Sandstone of the Trias, between Wollaton and Old Radford, and about half-a-mile north of this parish. Within the parish of Lenton itself, therefore, the Coal Measures are almost completely hidden from view at the surface, and only very meagre indications of their existence are met with Gcolouicat Section N° ■?. From Wo Hat on //a// across Trent VaJtru to ('titton (iron Shipman, dal IfltH of Coal rrprr.«n/rd at /hr It at Atrasum . t f strain that part* /Arm ttrr drrtnd from /hr Ch/lon >n and (At llu/A/irld Turk boring PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 413 where slight hollows happen to have been worn through the thin covering of Lower Mottled Sandstone, or where they have been exposed by excavations. But before we attempt to trace the Coal Measures south¬ wards underneath the Lower Mottled Sandstone, it will perhaps be interesting to examine the character of the Coal Measure rocks themselves a little more in detail. The Coal Measures of this district consist of alternations of clay, sandstone, iron¬ stone, and coal. The clay assumes many varieties of colour in different beds, but is mostly light blue, yellow, or black ; occasionally, however, it is light green, purple, white, or mottled. The sandstone is, for the most part, hard and fine-grained, sometimes laminated and fissile, sometimes coarser and massive, without any marks by which to tell the physical conditions under which it was formed. Occasionally the sandstone and the clay are so intimately mixed that the rock partakes of the character of both. It is then called shale, and readily splits into thin wafery layers or leaves along the planes of bedding or deposition. The ironstone occurs in thin seams, seldom exceeding three or four inches in thickness, but more often it is found in separate flattened cakes or nodules, arranged as a thin bed, and spreading over a wide area. The continuous seams of ironstone sometimes contain vast numbers of a species of freshwater mussel called Anthracosia, resembling in many respects the Unios and the Anodontas which inhabit our ponds, canals, and sluggish rivers. The coal occurs in seams that vary in thickness from about half an inch to six feet. Much interesting information concerning the character of the Coal Measure rocks, and the wonderful relics they contain of the animals and plants that flourished in that remote period of the earth’s history, is to be gleaned by looking over the heaps of rock brought up during the process of sinking colliery shafts. It was so in the case of the sinking of the Clifton pits, and many pleasant hours were spent in the early morning by the writer in this way before the time for commencing the ordinary business of the day. Some of the blocks of sandstone brought up out of these shafts, for instance, showed by their very oblique lamination that the sediment was accumulated in shallow water, 414 TIIE HISTORY OF THE and was brought by rapid currents coming from different quarters, which caused the materials to be thrown down irre¬ gularly along the bottom, in the form of small sand-banks, or shoals. This kind of deposition takes place mostly at the mouths of rivers, or where rivers empty their waters into lakes. Slabs of sandstone, finely laminated, and containing broad ripples, were occasionally met with. The ripples must, of course, have been impressed on the sediment while it was still in a soft state, and could only have been produced where the water was very shallow. The same process may be seen going on on our sea-beaches at the present day, where the ripples produced by the wind on the surface of the water along the shore become registered on the soft sand of the beach. Many of the blocks of sandstone, when broken open, were found to contain the stems and sometimes the rootlets of the trees and plants that flourished during the Carboniferous Period, and that helped to form the coal. The plant remains most frequently met with, perhaps, were those of Stigmaria, so called on account of the pittings arranged in lozenge-shaped pattern all round the stem. Each pit contains a small nipple, and to the nipple there is attached a long ribbon-shaped black filament. The whole thing has a very root-like look, the Stigmaria being the larger branches of the root and the filaments the rootlets. These fossil plants generally made their appearance as flattened stems, with a row of filaments down each side, the whole being quite black and carbonised. These fossil Stigmaria are the roots of the trees that went to form coal, and are always met with underneath seams of coal, in what is known as the “underclay,” which is in reality the soil on which the coal- plants grew. The same phenomenon was observed to occur at Wilford. Stigmaria was at one time thought to be a distinct plant of itself, but many years ago it was found to be merely the root of another plant that had long been known as Sigillaria , or “ seal-like stem.” The stem of Sigillaria is marked by a broad fluting, studded at intervals with seal-like impressions, on account of which the tree was so named. Fragments of the stem of this tree are sometimes met with in coal, but few or no specimens of it were met with in the Coal PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 4 1 5 Measure rocks at Wilford, though it is frequently found in Derbyshire. Another remarkable tree that seems to have flourished in great abundance in Coal Measure times is called Lepidodendron, or “scaly-tree,” on account of the lozenge-shaped markings of the stem, which bear some resemblance to the scales of a fish. These markings are not the scales themselves with which the bark was originally covered, however. In its young state, the bark of Lepidodendron had scale-like leaves, which shrivelled up and fell off as it grew older, leaving its stem marked with lozenge-shaped leaf-scars, as we now find it. Some of these trees are estimated to have attained a height of a hundred feet. Stems of Lepidodendron are frequently found in the Coal Measures of Nottinghamshire and Derby¬ shire, and are easily recognised by the diamond-shaped markings all over their bark. Occasionally stems and leaves of coal plants, sometimes beautifully preserved, and showing the most delicate venation, were found when the slabs of shale came to be split open, all matted together, as if they had been washed down into a lake, and so got buried. Several beautiful leaves of Sphenopteris were met with in this way. A plant frequently met with in the massive sandstone beds passed through in the shafts at Wilford was a jointed and fluted stem, tapering at one end into an obtuse point, like a cucumber. The joints or nodes were three or four inches apart, and gave it the appearance of a sugar-cane ; while branching from each side were flattened rootlets, about six inches long. This was the Calamite, or “ stone-reed.” The nearest approach to the Cala¬ mite among the flora of the present day is the equisetum , or “ horse-tail,” which, like its ancient prototype, loves marshy spots. The Calamite may have been floated down the rivers of the period till it lodged on some sandbank and got buried, or it may possibly have grown on the spots where we now find it. Thus, the flora of the Coal Measures consisted of gigantic tree ferns, conifers, and club-mosses, and reed-like plants allied to the “ horse-tails.” These ferns attained the size of the largest trees of the present day, and altogether the Coal Measure flora has been compared to the present aspect of the vegetation of New Zealand. 416 the history of the With regard to the origin of coal, it is now an established fact that it was formed from plants which sprang up, grew, and died on the spot where coal is now found. “ It is now very generally admitted that many English and other coals are little else but an aggregation of minute rounded bodies known as spores, that were shed by a tree called Lepidodendron “Professor Huxley says that these spores are always present, and in the purest and best coal they make up nearly the whole mass.” It seems however, that the portions of the plants which furnished the coal are not always the same. “The ground on which the trees grew was probably such as we could hardly call dry land, but was rather a spread of swamps and marshes like those of Central Africa, or that border the delta of the Mississippi. In some cases it may have been covered with water to a moderate depth, so that the roots and the lower part of the stems were submerged, while the larger part of the trunks and branches rose into the air. But whether the plants grew in marshes or on ground just submerged beneath water, coal may be looked upon as a product of what was practically land growth, and each seam of coal indicates the existence of a land surface at the time it was formed.” “ Cannel coal,” a thin seam of which occurs in the Coal Measures underneath Lenton, “ was probably formed in a somewhat different manner to black or common coal. Cannel coal always occurs in dish-shaped patches, thinning away to nothing on all sides. It frequently merges insensibly into highly carbonaceous black shale, and contains occasionally the remains of fishes. The presence of fossil fishes in cannel coal shows that it must have been formed under water, and it probably consists of vegetable matter which was drifted down into ponds or lakes and lay soaking till it became reduced to a pulp. The deposit was, of course, limited in extent by the banks of the sheet of water in which it was formed, and hence the lenticular shape which beds of cannel exhibit. The maceration it has undergone has to a large extent effaced all traces of vegetable structure in PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 417 cannel coal, but spores can now and then be still detected in it.” 1 Two seams of ironstone containing the supposed fresh-water bivalve— Anthracosia —were passed through in sinking the Clifton pits. In these seams the shells lay thickly packed together, so thick, indeed, as to almost compose the whole bed, with their valves united, just as they had lived, showing that they had not been washed down from some other part, but that the ironstone had quietly segregated round the shells in the lake or marsh which they had inhabited. Four or five of these shelly ironstone bands were met with in the Highfield Park boring, and were, no doubt, the continuation of the same beds as those found at Wilford. They have been met with similarly in the Coal Measures of Derbyshire. The occurrence of these seams of ironstone crowded with shells goes to confirm the impression derived from other evidence, that the Coal Measure strata were mostly formed in shallow wide-spreading inland lakes and marshes, which soon became silted up sufficiently to give root to the moisture-loving plants of the period, and which a slight depression or sinking of the bottom after a time again converted into open lakes. That the sandstones, shales, and clays of the Coal Measures were deposited close to land is proved by the stems and leaves of plants which they contain, for these could not have been floated far without being destroyed altogether. Some of the laminae or layers which go to make up the shales are so thin that a large number may be counted in the thickness of an inch. Only one of these layers could have been deposited at once, and there is reason to believe that an interval of time—how long or how short we cannot tell—elapsed between the forma¬ tion of each thin leaf of sediment. It is therefore clear that an enormous amount of time must have been required to bring about the various physical changes by which the seams of coal came to be overlaid with considerable thicknesses of various kinds of strata piled layer upon layer. ( 1 ) The passages above quoted, besides many of the notes about the coal plants, are extracted from “Coal : Its History and Uses,” by Professors Green, Miall, etc., of the Yorkshire College of Science, in which will be found much valuable and interesting matter bearing further on this subject. 28 4 iS THE HISTORY OF THE Returning now to the work of tracing what becomes of the Coal Measures when they pass out of sight underneath the Lower Mottled Sandstone north of Wollaton Park, the Govern¬ ment Geological Survey map of this district (71 N.E.) represents the Coal Measures as rising to the surface over a large area on the north side of Wollaton Park. This is a mistake, however, for a thickness of something like thirty feet of Lower Mottled Sandstone was met with where, according to the Government Geological Survey Map, there ought to have been Coal Measure rocks, during the excavations for a new gas-holder at Old Radford Gas-works. As a matter of fact, the Lower Mottled Sandstone stretches, in the form of a thin sheet of soft red sand, nearly as far north as the Radford Canal, or about a quarter of a mile north of the Ilkeston road. What probably led to the mistake in the mapping of this part, by which the Coal Measures were represented as forming the surface rock over a large space that is really occupied by the Lower Mottled Sandstone, was the dark stiff Drift clay which overspreads the surface of the ground over the north¬ east corner of Wollaton Park, and which was evidently derived from the Coal Measures, as we shall have occasion to notice at a later stage of these notes. Then, again, the Lower Mottled Sandstone being very thin, the Coal Measures actually do peep out in one spot along a slight depression in the ground at the foot of the north slope of the low ridge on which Wollaton Hall stands, but beyond the boundary of this parish. Grey shales and yellow clay belonging to the Coal Measures again make their appearance below the Lower Mottled Sandstone in the ditch by the east side of the pond in Wollaton Park. Coal Measure clays are also traceable in the plantation at the outflow of the pond on the west, where they are brought up by small dislocations alongside the Lower Mottled. The continuation southward of the Coal Measures so close to the surface is, however, suddenly interrupted along a line drawn from the south side of the pond in Wollaton Park to Lenton Hall, and thence onward in a south-easterly direction. Along this line a “ fault,” or dislocation, throws down all the rocks on the south side ninety-five yards. The effect of this PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 419 is that the whole of the Triassic rocks of the district—from the Lower Mottled Sandstone to the Upper Keuper Marl— have to be penetrated in order to reach the Coal Measures, which, north of this line of fissure, as we have seen, lie almost at the surface. Before the Clifton Colliery was opened out indeed, it was doubted by some whether workable Coal Measures would be found so far south, and underneath the newer rocks of the Trias. It was feared that the Coal Measures, the outcrop of which is seen, west of Wollaton, steadily veering round from a north-and-southerly to an east- and-westerly direction, would, for the most part, have cropped out north of the Trent, and that any attempt to reach coal farther south would be fruitless. This impression was not founded on any very scientific reasoning, or on a close acquain¬ tance with the facts presented by the geological map of the district, and was certainly not warranted by the results of the borings on the Clifton estate. Nevertheless, the results of the boring operations were looked forward to with a good deal of curiosity, partly as clearing up a point of great local interest, partly on account of the effect the discovery of coal so close to Nottingham might be expected to have on the commercial aspect of the question. The first attempt to solve the problem of the continuation of the Coal Measures on the south side of the great “ fault ” was made near Clifton Hall, on the south bank of the Trent, many years ago. No record of what was met with in this bore¬ hole, however, was preserved, and when, in the year 1867. boring operations were resumed on this estate, the work had to be begun de novo. In a boring made in the Brickyard Spinney, at the entrance to Clifton Grove, on the south side of the Trent, in 1867, however, the Coal Measures were reached at a depth of 171 yards from the surface, which is here composed of Upper Keuper Marl ; and at a depth of 186 yards a seam of coal, 6ft. 3in. thick, believed to be the “Top Hard,'’ was passed through. Later in the same year another bore-hole was made on the north bank of the Trent, and only a few yards to the 420 THE HISTORY OF THE south-west of the site of the present Clifton Colliery shafts. 1 Here the Coal Measures were reached at a depth of 153 yards, but the Top Hard coal was not recognised, on account of the bore-hole passing through the great “fault” which traverses the rocks at this spot, by which the strata were much broken and confused, and great difficulty was experienced in obtaining proper samples. Below this, however, the strata became stronger, and at 188 yards a seam of coal, 3ft. 2in. thick, which afterwards proved to be the Dunsil, was passed through. Large feeders of water were met with from 70 to 140 yards deep, and the water rose forcibly over the top of the bore-hole, increasing the difficulty of keeping the hole open below the broken strata, and of obtaining samples. 2 In sinking the shafts for the Clifton Colliery the Coal Measures were reached at a depth of 52 yards, as against 153 yards at the adjacent bore-hole. A heading was after¬ wards made from the Deep Hard workings through the “ fault ” into the strata on the down-throw side in the vicinity of the bore-hole, and a “ staple pit ” was sunk for a few yards. The Top Hard coal was then found at a depth of 165 yards from the surface. It was then proved by actual levellings that this “ fault ” had a down-throw to the south-west of 95 yards. A comparative section of the strata passed through in the two boreholes at Wilford and in the shaft, shows some in¬ teresting facts :— Spinney Borehole. Borehole north of the Trent. Shaft. Yards. Yards. Yards. Thickness of Keuper 93 64 No Keuper. Thickness of Bunter 78 82 44 Depth to Coal Measures 171 153 52 Depth to “Top Hard” 186 16 6 70 At the Highfield Park borehole, which was made close by the north side of the Midland line, south-east of the house, and near the rising suburb of Dunkirk, the Coal Measures (1) It may be here mentioned that the Clifton Colliery is situated just outside the south-east boundary of the parish. (2) “Description of some Borings on the Clifton Estate,” etc., by J. Brown, F.G.S., P . 3 - PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 42 1 were reached below 22 feet of alluvium of the Trent, and 230 feet of Lower Mottled Sandstone and Bunter, no record having been kept apparently of the thickness of these forma¬ tions individually. Thus the Coal Measures were here found to lie at a total depth beneath the meadow of 252 feet. The first beds of Coal Measure strata passed through at this spot consisted of gray sandstone with clay partings, below which came ironstone and shale, blue bind, and so on. At a total depth of 299 feet, a seam of coal, 2 feet \\ inches thick, was pierced, and in less than 20 feet below this another coal seam, 2 feet thick, was found. The third coal proved to be a seam of cannel, 2 feet in thickness, which was found at a depth of 319 feet. A similar seam of cannel was also met with in the Clifton Colliery shafts, but it was there only 9^ inches thick, showing that Highfield Park lies nearer the centre of the basin-shaped hollow, in which there is reason to suppose it was formed. The fourth seam of coal, 1 ft. thick, was met with at 354 feet. At a depth of 429 feet, the boring rod passed through a band of shell ironstone ( Anthracosice ), and at 433 feet more fossils were noticed. At 435 feet, there was a seam of coal 7^ inches thick, which would, of course, be too thin to work; and at a depth of 467 feet a bed of conglomerate was passed through, though what its precise character was is not recorded. A conglomerate was also met with at a similar horizon in the Clifton shafts, where it is described as “ cank,” or impure coal, and may therefore be taken to indicate the breaking up over a large area of a coal seam by the agents of denudation, as we know did sometimes happen during the formation of the Coal Measure strata. Ironstone bind, with layers of plant impressions, was observed at a depth of 514 feet, and at 560 feet the “ Deep Soft ” coal, 4 feet thick, was reached. Boring operations were discontinued at a total depth of 610 feet from the surface, when the “Deep Hard” coal was pierced, with a thickness of 6 feet 3 inches. The following table shows the thickness and depth below the surface of the seams of coal proved in the Clifton shafts compared with the corresponding coals met with at Highfield Park. The particulars relating to the coal seams met with at 422 THE HISTORY OF THE the Clifton Colliery are taken from Mr. Brown’s paper, already quoted ; the figures relating to the Highfield boring are from information courteously given me some years ago by Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. Highfield Park. Clifton Colliery. Thickness. Depth. Thickness. Depth. Ft. In. Ft. Ft. In. Ft. I. Comb Coal ' 2 8 180 2. Top Hard Absent at 6 0 210 3 - Dunsil Highfield 3 0 282 4 - Waterloo 3 3 309 5 - Coal 2 4 299 2 4 462 6 . Coal 2 O 316 1 11 482 7 - Cannel Coal 2 O 319 0 92 486 8. Coal 1 O 354 1 8 1 528 9 - Coal . . ... 0 11 608 10. Coal . 2 10 694 11. Deep Soft 4 O 560 5 0 718 12. Deep Hard 6 3 610 5 7 761 13 - Piper Coal 2 3 4 801 From this table it will be seen that the Coal Measure strata met with at Highfield begin some distance down the Clifton section. As a matter of fact, the highest beds of the Coal Measures met with at Highfield come 267 feet below the top of the Coal Measures at Wilford ; in other words, 267 feet of strata have been removed from the top of the Coal Measures at Highfield Park, compared with their thickness at Clifton Colliery. The Highfield section, in fact, commences between the fourth and fifth coals of the Clifton section, and all the seams above this, including the “ Waterloo,” the “ Dunsil,” the “ Top Hard,” and the “ Comb Coal,” have cropped out in the intermediate ground. The measures below the “ Waterloo,” however, are tolerably well represented, showing that the attenuation of the Coal Measures going west is due to the rapid rise and consequent cropping out of the strata in that (1) This coal, in reality, consists of two seams, each ten inches thick, parted by two inches of bass. (2) Boring at Highfield was discontinued before reaching this coal. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 423 direction, and not to any original diminution in thickness in that quarter. A boring made in the Trent Valley at Chilwell. in 1875, about a mile-and-a-half south-west of the Highfield bore-hole, showed that the Coal Measure strata crop out still more rapidly in that direction. Here the thickness of strata that has cropped out, or been removed, appears to be so great that it was found impossible to correlate the results met with in the two bore-holes, and it was believed that the Chilwell section com¬ menced below the Highfield measures altogether. The Chilwell boring was begun in the Trent alluvium, which was found to be 16 feet 6 inches thick. Below the alluvium the boring rod entered the Upper Keuper Marl, and below this again, the Bunter and Lower Mottled Sandstone, but no record was kept apparently of the thickness of these subdivisions of the Trias, the various alternations of the strata being described as “ brown rock,” “ red clay and white bands,” “ sand rock and thin bands,” “ rock band and clunch,” and so on, according to their respective lithological characters, without any attempt being made to assign them to the particular formation to which they belonged. And even this was done in so crude a way, that it is im¬ possible now for anyone to tell where one formation ends and another begins. All we can do is to infer that in the 459 feet of strata passed through before reaching undoubted Coal Measures, all the sub-divisions of the Trias, which we know are well developed in the neighbourhood, are represented there. The Coal Measures were penetrated to a depth of 549 feet, or a total depth from the surface of 1,008 feet, when the boring operations were abandoned on account of some dispute between the manager and the proprietor of the estate. Only a few thin coals were met with, though many ironstone bands are mentioned. The first seam of coal was pierced at a depth of 514 feet, and was found to be 6Mn. thick. Another scam was found at 560 feet, which was ift. 5^in. thick. A third coal was met with at a depth of 614 feet, and w'as found to be ift. 1 in. thick. At 734 feet a seam of coal nine inches thick was reached, and a bed of shaly coal, or bat, was passed through at a depth of 834 feet, and this represents the total 424 THE HISTORY OF THE thickness of coal met with. 1 Although the results of the boring were not so profitable as could have been wished, they afford valuable data as to the extension towards the south-west of workable seams of coal. It is evident from this boring that all the thick coals met with at Wilford and Highfield crop out within a distance of about a mile to the south-west of the Highfield bore-hole, though the fact that the “ Top Hard ” was found in the “ Spinney ” bore-hole, south of the Trent, shows that the higher strata of the Coal Measures are repeated by a pre-Triassic “ fault ” somewhere south of Highfield Park, for the “ Top Hard,” it will be remembered, does not occur in the bore-hole there. Thus, there is probably more coal under the Trent Valley, immediately south of Highfield Park, than was revealed by the boring at that spot. A very interesting section, showing how the Coal Measure strata regularly dip to the east or north-east, in the neighbour¬ hood of this parish, was opened out during the excavations for the Radford and Trowell Railway, about ten years ago. Between Radford and Wollaton the line passes through a rather deep cutting, unfortunately now grass-grown, however, in the sides of which the various alternations of hard sandstone, bright yellow and variegated clays and shales, with three or four seams of coal, could be well seen rising gently one from underneath the other going westward. At the end nearest Nottingham the angle of inclination was very small—probably not more than 3 0 —but as the line travelled westward the dip steadily increased till it was 5 0 , or more. In the gasometer excavations at Old Radford, the Coal Measures, consisting of light green and variegated shales and clays, were found to slope at an angle of about 2° to the east. At the Highfield Park boring the mean dip of the Coal Measures was estimated to be 1 in 17, or an angle of 3J 0 , but the direction could not, of course, be ascertained. At the Clifton Colliery, however, as we might expect, the strata dip gently towards the north. Thus, all the evidence afforded by (1) For these particulars I am indebted to Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., who kindly favoured me with a glimpse of the MS. section. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 425 borings and other excavations into the Coal Measures in this neighbourhood tends to confirm what has long been the im¬ pression, that these rocks slope inwards, or towards the north¬ east, and so form part of a gigantic basin-shaped area, many miles in diameter, and that the parish of Lenton is situated on the southern rim of this basin. The true basin-shaped character of the coal strata of this part, however, is concealed in a great measure by the thick mass of Triassic rocks, which, as we have seen, overlap the Coal Measures along their southern margin. Lower Mottled Sandstone. The Lower Mottled Sandstone is the lowest subdivision of the Trias, or New Red Sandstone, and in Wollaton Park, as we have seen, rests directly on the Coal Measures, the Permian Magnesian Limestone and Marl, which intervene between the Coal Measures and the Lower Mottled at Bulwell, being here absent. The Permian Magnesian Limestone, indeed, may be traced thinning out on the north side of the railway at Radford VVoodhouse, about one-third of a mile north of the Ilkeston Road, and is not again met with farther south. Along its southern edge the Permian Limestone becomes rather conglo¬ meratic and brecciated, the pebbles, however, being exceedingly small and bean-shaped. At Bobbers Mill, about three-quarters of a mile north of the northern boundary of the parish, Mr. E. Wilson, F.G.S., noticed, during the progress of the Leen Valley Sewage Works, the Magnesian “ Limestone gradually pass, in the last 200 yards of its range, from an ordinary crystalline yellow dolomite into a grit, and from this into a coarsely brecciated rock, an evident marginal deposit.” 1 This clearly indicates that we are here in the neighbourhood of the ancient beach of this formation, and therefore that this is the approximate original southern boundary of the sea in which the Magnesian Limestone and Marl were deposited, an impression which is (1) “ The Permian Formation of the North-east of England.”— Mid. Nat., Vol. iv. p. 190. 426 THE HISTORY OF THE borne out by the rapid attenuation of the Permian formation when traced south from North Notts. The Lower Mottled Sandstone is a fine-grained, bright red, soft sandstone, seldom containing any pebbles, and often prettily mottled with streaks and patches of yellow. It is so soft as to have yielded more readily than any other rock in the neighbour¬ hood to the disintegrating action of the weather, and the wear- ing-away agency of running water. Hence, except where this rock is protected by a capping of harder rock, it mostly forms low ground or gentle slopes, and is easily traceable at the surface by its bright crimson colour, for it is a favourite haunt of rabbits. It forms the low ground in YVollaton Park between the pond and the low ridge on which YVollaton Hall stands, and is again seen on the east side of this ridge between Lenton Firs and Spring Close, where it breaks out into low cliffs, the bright crimson colour of which forms a pretty contrast with the dark green vegetation around. Along a tolerably straight line drawn from the south side of the pond in YVollaton Park, through Lenton Hall to the Trent alluvium, the Lower Mottled Sandstone is cut off" in its extension southwards at the surface by a great fault, which throws the rocks down nearly 300 feet on the south, and lets in a broad wedge of Keuper Marl along¬ side. Of course, the Lower Mottled Sandstone continues on underneath these Keuper rocks in its natural position, except that it lies something like 270 feet lower on the south side of the line of fault. Between Spring Close and Ilkeston Road, along the low ground that forms the west bank of the Leen, this •rock is much hidden by gravel and clay belonging to the Drift and river deposits, as we shall have occasion to notice by-and-by. The Lower Mottled Sandstone forms the lower slopes of the east side of the Leen Valley as far east as Radford Boulevard, where it passes out of sight beneath the Bunter Pebble Beds. The rock is much hidden on this side of the valley, where it borders the Leen, by a thick deposit of gravel, and sand, and brickearth (or silt), which completely covers it, and the rock itself is only exposed during excavations for the foundations of buildings. The best exposure of this formation in the neighbourhood is in PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 427 the sand-pit at Spring Close. Here there is a section of about 20 feet of it, capped with a thick deposit of ancient river gravel, which will be described at a later stage. The rock is of the usual bright red colour, streaked and blotched with greenish-yellow. It is horizontally bedded, and very fine grained, and soft enough to be easily crumbled between the fingers. It is the same rock, in fact, as is found at Mansfield to be so peculiarly well adapted for iron moulding, and is quarried at Lenton for the same purpose. Another good exposure of this rock occurs in a field north of Cut Through Lane, between Spring Close and Lenton Hall. A small cliff of this rock was formerly exposed in Cut Through Lane itself, and was a curious example of the striped and mottled colouring of this formation, but it has now been spoilt by the building of a boundary wall in front of it. A considerable thickness of Lower Mottled Sandstone was passed through in an excavation for a large gasholder, at Old Radford Gasworks, in 1879-80. Below nine feet of alluvium of the Leen, which itself occupies a ravine worn out of the Lower Mottled, there was 24 feet of this rock, below which came eight feet of brecciated conglomerate belonging to this formation, and forming its base, the brecciated conglomerate resting on a planed off and even surface of Coal Measures. Thus, below the surface of the meadow at this spot, there was a total thick¬ ness of Lower Mottled Sandstone down to the Coal Measures of 41 feet. The upper beds of the Lower Mottled consisted of the usual soft sandrock, but the lowest 14 feet was composed of a hard, compact and purplish variety of this rock, similar to that seen at the base of this formation in the Great Northern Line to Kimberley, just west of Bagnall. The brecciated conglomerate varied in thickness from about two feet on the west side of the excavation (which was about 180 feet in diameter) to eight feet on the east side, 1 and was mainly composed of fragments of the underlying greenish and mottled Coal Measure shales, along with (1) This thickness must be regarded as exceptional, for at the Clifton Colliery only eleven inches of conglomerate was met with at the base of the Lower Mottled, while at the Highfield Park boring only two inches of conglomerate parted the Lower Mottled from the Coal Measures. 428 TIIE HISTORY OF THE rolled quartzite pebbles, and an abundance of sub-angular frag¬ ments of felspathic, granitic, and other igneous rocks, most of them being too much decomposed for examination under the microscope. The arrangement of the pebbles and the inclination of the bedding clearly showed that the materials were trans¬ ported from a westerly direction. Faint impressions of broad ripple-marks were also met with in the Lower Mottled Sandstone here. A slab of rock showing these ripple marks was presented by the writer to the Natural History Museum at University College, Nottingham, being the only traces of ripples yet observed in this formation in the neighbourhood of Nottingham. Although the Lower Mottled Sandstone is so well developed at the Gas Works at Old Radford, it thins out against the Coal Measures, which rise from underneath it about 500 yards to the north. Less than that distance further on in the same direction the Coal Measures are capped by the Permian Mag¬ nesian Limestone. Both these formations now form slightly higher ground than the Lower Mottled Sandstone, just as they did when the Lower Mottled was originally deposited around the foot of the gentle slopes formed by these older rocks. When the Magnesian Limestone was deposited, its extension southwards was probably limited by a low ridge of Coal Measure rocks which then stretched from east to west across the ground now occupied by Radford Woodhouse and Wollaton. But before the Triassic deposits began to be laid down, this high ground had all been swept away by denudation, leaving the Permian Limestone to form a sort of low plateau, overlooking gently sloping ground towards the south and east, composed of Coal Measure rocks. From this we may expect to find the Triassic rocks steadily thickening, going south and east from Old Radford. The same process of thinning out against the westerly rise of the surface of the Coal Measures is observable in Wollaton Park, where, north of the pond, the Coal Measures make their appearance at the surface from underneath the Lower Mottled, which is evidently very thin, for every slight depression in the surface of the ground there reveals the exis¬ tence of the Coal Measures close beneath. It is difficult to draw the line exactly between the Lower PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 429 Mottled Sandstone and the overlying Bunter Pebble Beds, as the one formation passes up into the other, and the change in colour and texture is nowhere very sudden and well-marked. Any estimate of its thickness, therefore, must be taken as approximate. Yet there is a very broad difference between the two formations on the whole, and a line of separation can be drawn. About 79 feet of Lower Mottled Sandstone appears to have been passed through in the Clifton Colliery shafts, and this is probably its maximum thickness underneath Lenton. Bunter Pebble Beds. If we now trace the Lower Mottled Sandstone up from the low ground at Spring Close to the ridge on which Lenton Hall is situated, we observe that the soft red sandstone of this forma¬ tion passes steadily up into a rather harder sandrock of a yellowish colour, that is coarser and contains well-rounded quartz and quartzite pebbles. This is the Bunter—or Bunter Pebble Beds, as it is called. Another feature more common in this formation than in the Lower Mottled Sandstone, is the abundance of oblique lamination, or “ false bedding,” which characterises this rock almost wherever it is exposed. The same sort of passage upwards from soft crimson sandstone to harder yellowish pebbly sandrock, is traceable on the east side of the Leen Valley in the roads leading into Nottingham ; but, as the ground is being rapidly covered with buildings, this feature will soon have to be looked for farther up the Leen Valley, where the same transition is observable in several spots. Next to the Lower Mottled Sandstone, the Bunter Pebble Beds cover the largest area at the surface of all the rocks in the parish. The ridge from Lenton Hall to YVollaton Hall is capped with them. A narrow strip of these beds is traceable on the footpath of the Derby road near Lenton Abbey, where they form a wedge dovetailed in by “ faults ” between Keuper rocks on either side. The Bunter also reveals its presence along the Trent escarpment in Highfield Park in several small detached bosses, as if the rock here was shattered by a series 430 TIIE HISTORY OF THE of small dislocations that run in a north-west and south¬ easterly direction. In the field just outside the north-west corner of Wollaton Park there is a small sand-pit, where the Bunter is also nicely opened out. The Bunter at this spot is very irregularly bedded, and contains many lenticular flakes of fine red clay, one of which was found to measure 19 inches in length by four inches in thickness in the middle. This quarry is also remarkable as having furnished an unusually large pebble, or boulder, which was described at the time in a short note in the Midland Naturalists The boulder consisted of hard fine-grained white sandstone, finely but unevenly laminated, and very fissile. It measured 7 in. by 3 in. by 3J in., and weighed over 9 lbs. It was quite angular, being only very slightly worn along the edges, and had, therefore, not been much rolled about by the action of currents. In texture, it resembled Caradoc sandstone 1 2 more than anything else, and was quite unlike the Coal Measure sandstone of the adjacent coalfield. These Bunter pebbles are chiefly interesting, it may be remarked, on account of the evidence they furnish of the source whence the sandy material of the Bunter itself was derived. But the pebble above described could hardly, one would suppose, have travelled many miles. There are only two or three spots where anything like a good section of the Bunter is to be seen within the parish of Lenton. These are (1) in the Trent escarpment, by the side of the pond in Highfield Park, at (2) the back of the Bleachworks, in Lenton Boulevard, and (3) at Lenton Sands. The section in Highfield Park is about eighteen feet high, and shows the usual oblique bedding, with an abundance of well-rounded quartz and quartzite pebbles scattered through the mass. The Bunter also rises to the surface by the east side of the Tottle Brook at Lenton Grove; but whether it crops out from under the Lower Keuper in the ordinary course, or whether the marl close by is faulted down against it, is not clear. The ground is obscured by brick- earth and other deposits left there by the Tottle Brook. (1) Vol. vi. (1883), p. 264. (2) The Caradoc sandstone, it may be mentioned, is one of the subdivisions of the Lower Silurian system, and is largely developed in North Wales. PARISH AND TRIORY OF LENTON. 431 The Bunter Pebble Beds, being much harder, are not so easily disintegrated and worn away by the insidious agents of denuda¬ tion as the Lower Mottled Sandstone is, and consequently assume a somewhat bolder feature in the landscape. Thus the line of junction between the Lower Mottled and the overlying Bunter Pebble Beds, is roughly indicated by the steeper slope of the ground where the Bunter comes on. This feature is well seen as we approach Lenton Firs from the Wollaton Park (Lenton) Lodge, on the one hand ; or as we walk up Lenton Sands towards the top of Derby Road, on the other. We cross the boundary line between the two formations about two hundred yards below, or west of the end of Willoughby Street, Lenton. A few yards above Willoughby Street, the road has been cut down into the Bunter to a depth of several feet, and the oblique lamination and pebbly character of the rock here are at once apparent. The oblique bedding slopes from north¬ west to south-east, and this is the predominant direction in the neighbourhood of Nottingham. This tells us that the materials which form the Bunter Beds were brought by powerful currents that came, for the most part, from a north-westerly direction, or from the direction of Liverpool. And it is a curious fact that the Bunter thickens out in that direction, being estimated to attain a thickness of 600 feet in Cheshire, while at Bootle, near Liverpool, over 1,200 feet of this formation has been penetrated in a borehole there. 1 The finest exposure of the Bunter Pebble Beds in this neighbourhood, or perhaps in the Midland Counties, however, is the noble buttress of rock on which Nottingham Castle stands. Most of the peculiarities of structure and weathering of this formation may there, indeed, be seen to advantage. This majestic cliff shows more than two-thirds of the total thickness of the Bunter formation in this neighbourhood, for it is 133 feet high, while the Bunter can hardly be more than 180 feet thick at Nottingham, and may not be so much—that is, according to the results of the borings on the Clifton estate, and in Highfield Park. (1) “ Geology of the Country around Chester,” by Aubrey Strahan, M.A., p. 3. 432 TIIE HISTORY OF THE About Nottingham, the Bunter sandstone has been largely excavated for caves and cellars and rock-houses. The most remarkable examples of this kind in or near Lenton are the “Hermitage” and the Columbarium, or “Doctor’s Shop,” in the cliff at the Rock Holes in Nottingham Park. Mortimer’s Hole, at the Castle, is a secret passage that winds through the Castle rock from summit to base, and formed an outlet into the meadows below for the garrison. Mr. VV. T. Aveline, F.G.S., of H.M. Geological Survey, aptly describes the facility with which the Bunter can be excavated, as observed while surveying this district twenty-six years ago. He says : “ The rock is not so hard but that it can be easily worked, but such is its massive consolidation, and so few are the lines of bed¬ ding or joints, that it can be hollowed into large square- chambered caverns without requiring any artificial support for the roof. Advantage has been taken of this peculiar structure, and of the dryness of the rock, for along the faces of the cliffs chambers of various sizes have been hollowed, and when the front is built up with brick or stone, they are used for dwellings, stables, storehouses, etc.” “ In this rock many cellars in the town of Nottingham are formed, which vary but very little in temperature throughout the year.” 1 “ Geologists have for years been puzzling themselves as to where all this Bunter sand and these pebbles could have been derived from ; for it is one of the fundamental principles of geology that all rocks that were accumulated as this appears to have been—in the form of sediment at the bottom of a large inland sea or lake—must have been built up of the ruins of some still older rocks that formed the dry land at that time. There has been so much of this wearing away of the dry land and the spreading out of the materials at the bottom of other seas and lakes since then, that the rest of this old land from which the Bunter sand and its pebbles were derived was probably long since either washed away altogether or else has been buried beneath accumulations of newer sediments and rocks. Nevertheless, a great deal of attention has been paid (i) “Geology of the Country around Nottingham,” Sec. Ed., p. 25. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 433 to the subject of late years, and as the result, though geologists are not yet able to point out exactly where the land lay, they can tell what was the character of that land, or, rather, of the rocks that composed it, and from which the pebbles were derived. Professor Bonney, F.R.S., has identified some of these pebbles as being precisely like certain rocks in the north-west of Scotland, and, therefore, as having probably come from there. Another geologist who has devoted a good deal of attention to the subject, Mr. W. J. Harrison, F.G.S., of Birmingham, has brought forward a mass of evidence to prove that they v/ere derived from a central ridge of very old rocks that stretched from Charnwood Forest on the east to the borders of Wales on the west, but which is now in great part covered by newer rocks. That such a ridge of high land striking from east to west across the South Midlands existed during Bunter times there is abundant evidence to prove, but it is doubtful whether it had much to do with the origin of the pebbles in the Bunter. Most of these pebbles in the Bunter are well rounded, and have had whatever sharp edges they may once have possessed all smoothed away. On the other hand, a few of them are angular, and still retain their sharp edges and corners, as if they had just been broken off a cliff somewhere. Some of the smoothed and rounded pebbles consist of granite, felstone-porphyry, or of some kinds of volcanic rocks, but the great majority are composed of the mineral quartz, which generally takes a milky white colour, and of quartzite—so called because they are composed of almost pure quartz, in the form of grains of sand that have been welded together by the action of heat, moisture, and pressure when they formed part of some great rock-mass buried deep down in the earth’s crust. The other and more angular class of pebbles consist of different kinds of sandstone, slate, and indurated clay, all very ancient, and very much older than the Bunter period. Some of these pebbles are made of the same kinds of rock as now form a large part of the mountains of Wales ; others are found to contain fossils that prove that they were chipped off rocks of the same age and character as those that form the hills of Devon. Whether 29 434 THE HISTORY OF THE any of these pebbles actually came from Wales or from Devon is not clear.” 1 The whole subject, indeed, seems sur¬ rounded with great difficulties, and a good deal of research still requires to be done before the origin and source of the Bunter and its pebbles can be determined. Keeper Basement Beds. Resting on the Bunter in some spots, and occasionally found sandwiched between that formation and the overlying Keuper “ Waterstones ” on the east side of Nottingham, certain white or greyish grits, sometimes containing thin bands of conglo¬ merate, have lately been discovered. The grit is coarser and “sharper” than the sand of either the Bunter or the “ Waterstones ; ” it is micaceous, and contains rounded quartzite pebbles like those in the Bunter, along with occasional sub- angular fragments of Permian Magnesian Limestone. It rests on a clearly eroded surface of the Bunter, and varies much in thickness in different spots, as if it had itself suffered con¬ siderable denudation before the deposition of the “ Water¬ stones.” The conglomerate bands which occur in it are usually firmly cemented by calcareous and dolomitic matter, and sometimes the deposit is represented by this conglomerate alone, which then forms a very hard pebbly rib of rock, vary¬ ing from two or three inches to about two feet in thickness, and separating the Bunter from the Keuper sandstone and marl. 2 These are the Keuper Basement Beds. The deposit is not continuous, but occurs in isolated patches, and is fre¬ quently absent altogether. Yet at Bramcote and Stapleford Hills it must attain a thickness of about 120 ft., for it forms the whole of Stapleford Hill and very nearly the full height of Bramcote Hill. It is well seen in the Hemlock Stone, which is entirely carved out of this rock. In Cheshire this (1) From a paper on “ A Bunter Pebble,” read by the writer before the Notting¬ ham Naturalists’ Society, Oct., 1883. (2) “ Geology of the Country around Nottingham,” W. Talbot Aveline, F.G.S. Also, “On the Occurrence of Keuper Basement Beds in the Neighbourhood of Nottingham,” E. Wilson, F.G.S., and J. Shipman. Geol. Mag., 1879, p. 532. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 435 formation attains a thickness of 250 ft. At Bramcote Hill and Stapleford Hill the rock varies from greyish white to crimson or brownish red, while at Nottingham it is white. The same sort of irregular changes in colour are met with in Cheshire. The fact that at Nottingham it is found resting on an eroded surface of the Bunter, of course indicates that a considerable amount of denudation took place in this area in the interval between the formation of the Bunter and the dawn of the Keuper period. That a vast interval of time elapsed between the two periods we know from the fact that the Upper Mottled Sandstone, which in Cheshire is 600 feet thick, was deposited in the interim. The Upper Mottled Sandstone is nowhere met with in this neighbourhood. Hence it is inferred that our Bunter Sandstone formed dry land for a long period before the Keuper rocks were laid down over it. Traces, but only traces, of these Keuper Basement Beds have hitherto been met with at Lenton. On the north-east side of the Bunter cliff in Highfield Park, overlooking the lake there, thin alternations of white and greenish-grey compact grit, with one or two seams of hard cemented quartzose con¬ glomerate, were observed resting in a cavity worn out of the underlying Bunter. Only one side of this hollow, however, is at all traceable, the continuation of the section being obscured by a talus of earth deposited there, apparently, to give root to a plantation of young trees. There is a thickness of about six feet of these beds here, but the spot is inaccessible, and too much overgrown to make anything of it. At the top of the bank of Bunter, in the end of which a sand-pit has been opened out at the south-west corner of Wollaton Park wall, there are one or two very small bosses or blocks of highly calcareous quartzose conglomerate, with a matrix composed of coarse grey grit, that belong to the Keuper Basement Beds, and appear to be in their natural position. A larger mass of similar conglomerate stands on the narrow strip of Bunter, in the plantation on the south side of the park, opposite Lenton Abbey Lodge, but it is uncertain whether it is in place. 436 TH1£ HISTORY OF THE It is certainly a remarkable feature about this formation that it should be so fully developed a mile-and-a-half further west, and yet so scantily represented here. It seems highly probable that this rapid thinning out and disappearance within short distances is due to subsequent erosion, as well as to irregular deposition in the first instance, and would therefore point to a considerable lapse of time having occurred between the de¬ position of these beds and those of the “ Waterstones ” above them. Lower Keuper “ Waterstones.” Next, in ascending order, comes the so-called Lower Keuper “ Waterstones.” This formation usually consists of alterna¬ tions of greyish or brownish soft micaceous fine-grained sand¬ stone and red marl. Although scarcely at all seen exposed at the surface of the ground on account of the absence of sections, and by reason of the Drift sand and clay which mantles the west side of the parish, the Keuper “ Waterstones ” appear to cover a comparatively large area of the low ground in the valley of the Tottle Brook. The only exposure of these beds is at the south-west corner of Wollaton Park wall, where a few feet of them, consisting of red marl containing one or two thick beds of brown sandstone dipping gently towards the north-east, appear to have been wedged in alongside the Bunter by the “ faults ” that cross this spot. Hard brown Lower Keuper Sandstone is again traceable along the south edge of the park, close by the lake, and red and green marls belonging to this formation were at one time visible in the road side, a few yards west of the Beeston Lodge. The sloping ground of Highfield Park, west of the house, is composed of Lower Keuper Sandstone, of a drab or brownish colour, which becomes coarser as you descend the slope, as was proved by a series of small holes which Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., had made at my suggestion, in order to determine the character PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 437 of the underlying rock there. 1 This subdivision of the Trias is about eighty feet thick on the east side of Nottingham, and most likely attains a similar thickness here in those spots where it is overlain by the Upper Keuper, and therefore retains its full development. Many of the beds of sandstone of this formation show the impressions of the ripples produced in the sand when it formed the margin of the ancient lake in which the sediment was deposited. The ripples run in wavy parallel lines across the slabs of stone, and are best seen when the surface of the bed of rock or the slab has been exposed to the weather for a time. These ripple-marks in the Keuper are not so broad as those in the Coal Measures, already described, but, like them, were formed by the action of the wind producing ripples on the surface of the shallow water, the ripples becoming registered in the soft sand of the beach, just as ripple-marks are formed in the soft sediment along some parts of our sea¬ shores at the present day. Upper Keuper Marl. If we could see the Lower Keuper “ Waterstones ” passing underneath the Upper Keuper Marl, where a continuous section showed the transition from one formation into the other, as we can do in some spots on the east side of Nottingham, we should observe that the Lower Keuper “Waterstones” graduate upwards into the Upper Keuper Marl so imper¬ ceptibly that it would be hard to say where the line ought to be drawn between them. Both formations consist of layers of sandstone interbedded with more or less thick strata of red clay or shale, and perhaps the most important difference be¬ tween the two formations is that the lower one usually contains more sandstone than clay, while the Upper Keuper undoubtedly (i) For the courtesy and kindness received from E. J. Lowe, Esq., during the many pleasant hours spent in working out and mapping the ground about Higlifield Park and the neighbourhood, and for the assistance which he was always ready to lend in order to clear up any doubtful point, the writer of these notes here respect¬ fully tenders his grateful acknowledgments. 438 THE HISTORY OF THE contains more clay than sandstone. Hence it is the Upper Keuper that is chiefly used for brickmaking, though many of the old brickyards of Nottingham were opened out in the Lower Keuper, probably because that formation lay nearest the town and the main roads. Another point of difference is that the “ Waterstones ” consist of brownish or greenish-yellow soft sandstone, often in thick beds, while the Upper Keuper Sand¬ stone beds are always thin, very compact, hard, and fine-grained, and of a pale bluish or cream colour. The clay of the “ Water- stones,” again, is of a duller red, and contains thin seams of greenish clay, sometimes purplish towards the top of the series ; while the Upper Keuper clay is of a much brighter red, contains no greenish-yellow clay, but sometimes bands of white clay, and occasionally gypsum. And these form perhaps the readiest tests of all. The lower beds of the Upper Keuper Marl are occasionally found to consist of shaly clay that breaks up into small squares or tesserae, and about a quarter-of-an-inch thick. This character is observable in the Upper Keuper Marl exposed in Cut Through Lane. The Upper Keuper almost invariably forms a rather bold physical feature when it is present, and where it comes on above the Lower Keuper along a sloping hill-side gives rise to a steeper slope and a bolder swelling aspect of the ground. The Upper Keuper Marl in the area under notice forms a patch about 400 yards wide, that stretches from the escarpment in front of Highfield House to near Beeston Lane, and is dovetailed into this position by dislocations which have the effect of bringing it down to the same level as the Bunter Pebble Beds and the Lower Mottled Sandstone. It forms the Trent escarpment for a stretch of 500 yards east of the Bunter Cliff by the lake in Highfield Park, and the fields along the slope of the escarpment here show the usual hummocks that often mark the spots where clay has been worked in former times. It is not unlikely, indeed, as some suppose, that an ancient pottery once existed here. How far to the north-west the Upper Keuper extends is not quite certain, but it probably ends along the sloping ground that overlooks Beeston Lane. A small patch of this marl appears in the road side at the PARISH AND PRIORY OF RENTON. 439 south-west corner of Wollaton Park wall, and between there and the Tottle Brook. It is probable that Upper Keuper Marl underlies the alluvium of the Trent over all the area south of a line drawn from the middle of Beeston to the Clifton Colliery. The evidence for this supposition is as follows :—In excavating for the foundation of the large malt-house near Beeston station, Upper Keuper Marl was found below the Trent alluvium. Keuper Marl was also found to underlie the superficial deposit of gravel at the bottom of Bramcote Lane, in the heart of Beeston, though Bunter is exposed at the surface two or three hundred yards to the north-east. At the Highfield Park boring, as we have seen, the Keuper was absent altogether, but, at the bore-hole close by the Clifton Colliery, sixty-four yards of Keuper was passed through before reaching the Bunter. Again, from Stapleford to Beeston, the Upper Keuper Marl is brought down alongside the Bunter by a considerable “fault.” This fault probably continues on through Beeston in the same south¬ easterly direction as hitherto, and may be expected to be met with passing underneath Dunkirk plantation, about a quarter of a mile south of the railway line there, from whence it may be expected to continue on to Clifton Colliery, where it most likely joins the other main “fault.” North of this line of “fault,” Bunter appears to form the chief surface rock, while south of it Keuper may be expected to be found all the way. The boundary wall of Highfield Park in Cut Through Lane is almost entirely composed of the hard thin-bedded light-grey and bluish-white stone drawn from this formation. With regard to the physical conditions under which these rocks were formed, the ripple marks, which frequently occur in the beds of sandstone in this formation as well as in the Lower Keuper, and the sun-cracks observable in the clays, show that these two formations were accumulated in shallow water where the bottom occasionally became dry, and was thus ex¬ posed to the parching heat of the sun for a time. Footprints of gigantic reptiles have been found in these rocks in other parts of England, the impressions being eight to ten inches in length ; besides the remains of fishes, a few plants, one or 440 THE HISTORY OF THE two small bivalve shells, and teeth of a small marsupial, the oldest mammalian fossil animal known. These facts, along with the presence of iron oxide, as a thin coating round each grain of the rock, the abundance of gypsum, and the frequent occurrence of pseudomorphous crystals of rock-salt in the Upper Keuper Marl, have led Professor Ramsay to infer that both these deposits were accumulated in a vast inland salt lake, or lakes, somewhat resembling the Dead Sea, or the Great Salt Lake of Utah, at the present day. 1 This great inland lake must have extended over the greater part of what is now the middle of England. “ Faults,” or Dislocations. As if to render the geological structure of the rocks of this area more complex, the strata have been considerably displaced vertically out of their natural position and relation by means of several important “ faults,” or dislocations, which strike across the parish in a general east-and-westerly direction. The effect of these ‘‘ faults” is to bring down rocks from a higher horizon alongside those belonging to a lower. [See Geological Section, No. i.] By this means the Upper Keuper Marl, which, as we have seen, forms a broad strip of the high ground on which Highfield House and Lenton Hall are situated, has been dove¬ tailed in as it were between Lower Mottled Sandstone capped by Bunter Pebble Beds on the north, and Lower Keuper “ Waterstones ” on the south. And we can walk across the lines of fissure without being in the least aware that on one side of the fissure the rocks have been thrown down at some period in the past several hundred feet, and the cliff which must have been left has all been swept away and the ground levelled. The more northerly line of “ fault,” which brings the Upper Keuper down level with the lowest beds of the Bunter at Lenton Hall, is doubtless the same fault as is met with in the workings of the Clifton Colliery at Wilford. This fault (i) “ Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain,” Prof. A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S., P . 155. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 441 was there found to throw down the rocks on the south side about 95 yards, and the shafts were sunk under the impres¬ sion that they were on the down-throw side of the fault. The sinking, however, soon showed that the fault passed between the colliery shafts and the site of the trial boring, 270 yards to the south-west. The exact course of the fault in the Trent Valley is of course hidden by the alluvial gravel and silt of the Trent, but appears to bear in a west-north-westerly direction, and is first seen at the surface in Cut Through Lane. It was formerly much better exposed there, but a wedge of Bunter Sandstone, shattered and tilted, may still be seen dove¬ tailed between Upper Keuper on the south-west side and Lower Mottled Sandstone on the north-east. The fault appears to pass underneath the back part of Lenton Hall, for in a well sunk there 114 feet of Keuper marl and sandstone was passed through before the underlying Bunter was reached, while the house itself stands on the Bunter formation. This fault was exposed lately during the laying down of pipes in Beeston Lane, and was found to cross this lane about 145 yards from the north end, opposite the Beeston Lodge of Wollaton Park. From hence to the outflow of the pond in Wollaton Park it brings Lower Keuper “ Waterstones ” down level with the bottom beds of the Lower Mottled Sandstone, but there is no clear exposure of it. The amount of displacement of the rocks on the two sides of the fault here can hardly be less than 270 feet. Another powerful dislocation, though one less seen even than that just described, appears to run parallel with the Lenton Hall fault. Its exact course has not yet been ascertained, but it is certain that it runs close by the west side of Highfield House, and throws down the Upper Keuper Marl alongside Lower Keuper “ Waterstones,” the Upper Keuper Beds being evidently high up in that series. At a spot about 300 yards to the north-east of the Bunter cliff in Highfield Park, there is a small quarry showing about 15 feet of Upper Keuper Marl, dipping westerly at an angle of 35 0 . The high angle of inclination of the beds clearly indicates the proximity of some disturbing agency, and in all probability the neighbourhood of 442 THE HISTORY OF THE a fault. It was a favourite theory of Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., that this quarry marked one point in the course of a fault which trended westerly, by the front of his house, and through the middle of the grove of trees that runs from Highfield House down by the side of Cut Through Lane to the entrance lodge. What seemed to strengthen this impression to his mind was the curious fact that below a certain point in the plantation (the spot where he supposed the fault crossed) the trees did not grow to the same height as those higher up the slope and nearer the house. In order to decide the matter, therefore, he had holes dug at intervals all the way down the plantation, with the result that the fault was found to pass within a few yards of the house, and the rest of the ground of the plantation was found to be composed of Lower Keuper Sandstone. This fault must have a down-throw to the north-east of at least eighty or a hundred feet, and there are likewise indications that the Keuper is much shattered between these two main faults. There is reason to believe, from the results of the borings for coal on the Clifton estate, that other faults, running nearly parallel with these, strike across the Trent Valley from Beeston towards Wilford, but their existence is as yet only vaguely indicated. There is evidently a fault of some magnitude south of the site of the Highfield boring, and between that spot and Clifton Grove, for no Keuper rock was met with in the High¬ field boring, yet, at the Spinney bore-hole, at Wilford, a mile and three furlongs to the south-south east, ninety-three yards of Keuper was passed through. Then, again, at the Clifton Colliery bore-hole, north of the Trent, but still south of the main fault, 64 yards of Keuper was passed through. The existence of so much Keuper in this area can hardly be accounted for by the natural dip of the strata to the south¬ east. In the underground workings of the Clifton Colliery, two other “faults,” subordinate to the main dislocation above de¬ scribed, have been met with, which, although outside the parish boundaries, must have an important bearing on any future underground operations carried on in the adjacent parts of the parish itself. They both strike in a northerly direction—the PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 443 one on the west side of the pit, with a down-throw on that side of 8 yards, bearing towards the Bleach-works in Lenton Boulevard; the other, which lies east of Wilford Church, and has a down-throw to the east of 11 yards, bearing towards the Rock Holes in Nottingham Park. “Neither of these two faults is known to affect the overlying Triassic rocks.” 1 Their true direction is laid down on the second edition of the Government Geological Survey Map of this district (71 N.E.) The manner in which the Bunter Pebble Beds of the escarp¬ ment in Highfield Park stand out in disconnected bosses, seems to indicate that the ground is much faulted hereabouts. Indeed, Mr. E. Wilson, F.G.S., mentioned to me, ten or twelve years ago, that he had noticed, during the laying down of pipes in the Beeston road on the east side of the Tottle Brook, that several small dislocations broke through the rocks of this part. The numerous fractures observable in the rocks at the south-west corner of Wollaton Park may be a continuation of the same series. Two of these faults unite to let in a narrow wedge of Bunter there between Keuper rocks. It would be a work of great difficulty, however, to attempt to trace the extent of all the dislocations of this part in detail. Superficial Deposits. Glacial Drift .—The solid rocks of the more elevated ground of the parish are hidden for a space in some parts by a mantle of clay, or sand, or gravel, sometimes by a mixture of all three. These deposits are not connected with the river gravels that underlie the broad meadows of the Trent and the Leen, and are, in fact, much older. They do not attain any great thick¬ ness or importance within the area of the parish, yet they cover a sufficient extent of ground to justify some mention here. To anyone unacquainted with geology, these loamy sheets of pebbly sand or mottled clay might easily be mistaken for the ordinary surface soil derived from the disintegration of the immediately (1) “Geology of the Country around Nottingham,’’ p. 43. 444 THE HISTORY OF THE underlying rocks. Pebbly mottled clay of this kind is some¬ times found overlying the Lower Mottled Sandstone, which rarely contains any pebbles whatever, and certainly could not have furnished the clay. The character of the pebbles and the colour of the clay combine to show that the materials for its formation were derived from other rocks that rise to the surface farther north. These deposits must, therefore, belong to the Glacial period, or Great Ice Age, as it is called, during which the North of Europe, including nearly the whole of Britain and Ireland, endured a climate not unlike that of Greenland at the present day, and the high ground was shrouded in snow and ice, which crept seawards in the form of vast glaciers. This long period was marked by stages, during which the land at one time stood higher above the sea-level than now, and at another period the land that now forms the British Isles was submerged altogether beneath the waters for a time. It was during the last of these periods of glaciation that the red loamy and pebbly sand seen along the foot of the south wall of Wollaton Park, and indeed the whole of the Drift of the parish, appears to have been deposited. It bears evidence of having been derived from the grinding down of the rocks by the passage of ice, as it descended from the Pennine Hills across the country in a south-easterly direction ; for the chief ingredients of the deposit are invariably such as could only have come from the north or north-west, mixed up with materials derived from the grinding down of the rocks on which the deposits rest. Four or five miles farther west—in the neighbourhood of Stanton Gate, beyond the Erewash—Drift deposits of this age assume considerable importance, and betray all the usual signs of ice action, such as highly disturbed bed¬ ding, in which the strata have been crumpled and puckered, and the pebbles squeezed into a highly inclined or vertical position by the action of lateral pressure ; while in other spots the Drift consists of a heterogeneous mixture of pounded rock fragments torn up by the advancing ice-sheet, and crushed and kneaded into a stiff, lumpy clay. At Cobden Park, the low ground there was covered with two or three feet of pebbly yellow sandy clay, containing an abun- PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 445 dance of pounded gritstone, evidently derived from the Lower Coal Measures of Derbyshire. This deposit became thicker towards the Leen. In some spots, the beds of clay and sand could be seen twisted and crumpled, and the pebbles reared on end in such a way as to clearly point to some powerful force acting from the north-west, and crossing the Leen Valley obliquely, ploughing up the gravel and older brick-earth along the east bank of the river. Here and there the surface of the soft Lower Mottled Sandstone had been kneaded into the overlying gravel, so powerful was the disturbing force. This deposit contained many large boulders of well-rounded Coal Measure Sandstone, doubtless brought over from Derbyshire, besides large pieces of Lower Mottled Sandstone. Deposits of Drift age vary much in character in different spots. Thus, along the south side of Wollaton Park, the Drift consists of dull red loamy sand, containing some clay and a few scattered pebbles. In the low ground attached to Lenton Hall, on the east side of Beeston Lane, there is red loamy sand without pebbles, while farther south it is a mixture of clay and sand and pebbles. In the north-east corner of Wollaton Park there is a dark, stiff, mottled clay ; while to the south, the park slopes, as well as the top of the ridge on which Wollaton Hall stands, are thickly covered with loose pebbly sand that completely obscures the underlying sandrock. A similar loamy covering, containing scattered pebbles, is trace¬ able along the top of the low ridge from Spring Close westward. Gravel, probably of Glacial age, covers the low ground along the eastern side of Wollaton Park to the thickness of several feet. At the south end of Lincoln Street, Cobden Park, during the progress of some excavations for buildings, a curious section of Drift gravel was exposed. Below four feet of loam, there was a foot-and-a-half of gravel resting on a level surface of Lower Mottled Sandstone. At one part of the cutting, however, a shallow cavity, about ten feet in width, and like the old course of a small stream, had been scooped out of the sandrock, and the hollow filled in with sand and pebbles slightly stratified, the bedding coinciding with the shape of the cavity. It was 446 THE HISTORY OF THE exposed in two sides of the excavation, and was probably of Glacial origin. The whole of the eastern slope of the Leen Valley is, or was (for it will soon be completely covered with buildings), thickly covered with loamy sand and pebbles left there during Glacial times. This Drift gravel creeps down the sides of the valley and appears to blend with the more recent alluvial deposits, but excavations show that it really passes underneath the river deposits, except where it has been removed altogether, and the river gravel rests directly on the Lower Mottled Sandstone. “Just at the angle formed by the Tottle Brook and the Trent escarpment in Highfield Park, the ground swells into a low rounded prominence at once suggestive to a geological eye of the presence of Drift beneath the grass which covers it. An excavation made in it showed that the surface was composed of dull brown sand and pebbles, below which there was about five feet of red and yellow sand arranged in thick bands, with a thin parting of drab clay now and then between. The sand rested on gravel, on the surface of which an Ostrea, very fragile, and a well-rounded pebble of coal were found. This deposit, like those high-level gravels which have just been described, was probably left there during the Glacial period ; and its stratified character and position seem to imply that it was laid down when the bed of the Tottle Brook had not been cut so deep as it is now, and when it was for a time still further choked up—perhaps by ice, perhaps by Drift accumula¬ tions.” 1 Alluvial Deposits. Interglacial Alluvium .—Before leaving the high ground and descending into the river valleys in order to examine the de¬ posits of gravel, sand, and silt deposited by the rivers during the many thousands of years that must have elapsed since the Glacial Period, there is a deposit of sand and gravel that rests (i) “ Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Trent Valley,” by J. Shipman, p. u. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 447 high up on a ledge or terrace of the Lower Mottled Sandstone at Spring Close that remains to be described, and that we may now venture to examine. This terrace is about twenty- five or thirty feet above the present level of the Leen, and the gravel is ten or twelve feet thick in its deepest part, thinning away to nothing as the hill slopes towards the Leen on the east and towards the Trent on the south. This deposit is composed of a mixture of red, grey, and yellow fine and coarse sand, clay, and all sorts of quartz and quartzite pebbles and flints, with other rocks that do not belong to this district at all. The whole mass shows signs of stratification, but has evidently been much kneaded and contorted, apparently by the same force that crumpled the gravel and sand by the Leen at Cobden Park, higher up the valley. Interglacial Alluvium of the Trent , resting on a terrace of Lower Mottled Sandstone, Spring Close, Lenton (1879). Here, too, the level surface of red sand-rock on which the gravel rests has been forced into puckers during the crumpling process. The highly-contorted character of this deposit could be seen better about sixteen years ago, and before so much of it had been cut away. This curious deposit appears to be of the same age as the thick mass of terrace-gravel on which Beeston stands. That deposit was long thought to be of Glacial origin, but recent joint researches by Mr. R. M. Deeley 44« THE HISTORY OF THE and the writer have led to the conclusion that it is an ancient deposit of the Trent, formed when the river flowed at a higher level than now, or, in other words, before it had deepened its valley to the present extent. At Beeston the alluvial character of this deposit is more clearly seen than it is here. With regard to the geological age of this gravel, the presence of Chalk flints in it implies that it was formed subsequently to the Chalky Boulder Clay (the early part of the Glacial Period), while its highly-contorted character proves that it was overridden by ice before the close of Glacial times. It is therefore regarded as of interglacial age, and was formed during the long interval that appears to have elapsed between the formation of the Chalky Boulder Clay and the descent of the last ice-sheet from the Pennine Hills, by which it was crumpled, towards the close of the Great Ice Age. Alluvium of the Trent .—The ground that lies within the valley of the Trent is low flat meadow, elevated but a few feet above the summer level of the Trent itself, and frequently flooded after the heavy rains of autumn. In some spots, indeed, it is marshy all the year round. The alluvial deposits of the Trent consist of gravel, covered with a surface veneering of silt and clay. The gravel lies spread over the bottom of the valley to a thickness of many feet, and completely hides from view the solid rocks out of which the valley has been hollowed. These sheets of gravel and silt stretch across the valley from side to side, ending abruptly at the foot of the river escarpments where they form cliffs, but creeping up the slopes where the high ground that bounds the valley descends gradually into the river plain. The valley bottom deepens, and the thickness of the alluvial deposits of the Trent there¬ fore increases slightly, as we approach the middle of the valley, but not to such a marked extent as in the case of the Leen alluvium. Thus, at Clifton Colliery twenty-five feet of alluvial gravel and soil was passed through before reaching the solid rock beneath. At Highfield Park boring, a few yards north of the railway, the alluvium was found to be twenty-two feet thick ; and at Chilwell boring, a mile and a half north-west of that in Highfield Park, but rather nearer PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 449 to the side of the valley, only sixteen feet of alluvium was passed through. The alluvial gravel of the Trent is composed for the most part of a great variety of well-rounded quartz and quartzite pebbles, along with sub-angular, or less rolled, pebbles of Carboniferous Limestone chert, Coal Measure sandstone, and Millstone Grit, Keuper sandstone, Lias, and flints, and a few other rocks that have probably travelled from the far north. Many of the quartz and quartzite pebbles were most likely derived from the wearing down of the Bunter, but a large proportion of the pebbles would seem to have been brought from the north and swept into the valley during the Glacial Period. The gravel is mixed with a coarse red sand that appears to have been largely derived from the Carboni¬ ferous grits of North Derbyshire, as it is coarser than the sandstone rocks around Nottingham. Wherever this gravel is opened out by excavations, it is found to present a horizontally bedded arrangement, just as the deposits of gravel do which the Trent is forming at various points along its course at the present day. This, of course, proves that the gravel was deposited, or at least re¬ arranged, by the Trent, though perhaps many thousand years ago. The gravel is covered at the surface in some parts by sand, silt, or tough clay (brick-earth). This superficial covering of clay varies rapidly in thickness and character, and occasionally is absent altogether, allowing the gravel to appear at the surface for a space. The clay is often dull red, or drab, but in some parts bluish, bright yellow, or mottled, and occasionally black and peaty. It mostly contains a few scattered pebbles, and is perhaps best seen in the sides of the brooks, especially of the Tottle Brook in its course through Highfield Park. There are no gravel pits in the Trent Valley in or near Lenton. Hence, if we would observe the character of the alluvium of the Trent we must go farther up or down the valley. An interesting excavation was made, however, during one of my visits to Highfield Park, five or six years ago, at the instance of Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., in order to decide a 30 450 TIIE HISTORY OF THE doubtful point as to the thickness of the brick-earth seen in the sides of the Tottlc Brook. It was close by the spot where the Tottle Brook enters the Trent Valley, and just where the clay brought down by this brook might be ex¬ pected to attain its maximum thickness. “ About six feet of clay was passed through without reaching the gravel on which it probably rests, further progress being arrested by the influx of water. This thickness, however, must be regarded as exceptional on account of the close proximity of the channel by which the sediment was originally poured into the Trent Valley. The clay presented a faintly banded arrangement, consisting of broad alternations of, first, yellow mottled clay, with plenty of pebbles, then light blue clay, then white, then blue again, the pebbles becoming fewer as we went deeper, and being mostly large and split in two. Bits of fossil wood, in a bleached and pulpy state, were met with at a depth of about five feet. Dr. Carruthers, F.R.S., of the British Museum, to whom the specimens were submitted, found the wood to be exogenous, though its kind was undeterminable, and re¬ garded the remains as of Glacial Age.’' 1 A good section of these alluvial deposits of the Trent was exposed for a time in a large gravel pit, now converted into a lake, at Long Eaton Field, about five miles farther up the river. This section was the more interesting as it showed the whole thickness of the river gravel and clay down to the solid rock on which it rested. Although the upper beds of the section varied in thickness and character laterally every few yards, the lower deposit of gravel remained pretty much the same over the whole extent of the gravel pit, which was nearly a quarter of a mile long. The following was the succession of beds at one spot:— ft. in. c. Reddish-brown argillaceous loamy sand, passing down into. 6 6 b. Dark-bluish and brownish stiff clay, resting on a level surface of . I 6 a. Ferruginous sand and gravel . 12 o 20 o (i) “ Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Trent Valley,” p. 14. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 451 A similar succession of these alluvial deposits of the Trent is said to have been met with while excavating a large well for a gasholder in Island Street, Nottingham, about thirty years ago. The spot is just on the margin of the alluvial plain, and the contractor had to go 24 feet down before reaching the solid rock. The first stratum of three feet was soil, the next ten feet was sand or silt, below which came eleven feet of gravel. Amongst other things found here were part of the skull of a deer, and an enormous tooth 1 (probably of the mammoth). From these facts, and the thickness at different points already given, we can form some idea what must be the character and thickness of the deposits formed by the Trent that happen to come within the boundaries of the parish of Lenton. The river deposits of some parts of England are rich in the bones and teeth of extinct animals, but very few bones or teeth have been met with in this neighbourhood. Two teeth of the mam¬ moth (Elephasprimigenius) were found about six feet deep in the alluvial brick-earth or clay on the Clifton side of the valley some years ago. A few bones were also met with in sinking the shafts for the Clifton Colliery in 1869, but no scientific exami¬ nation or record appears to have been made of them. 2 These remains were probably washed out of some older deposit that may have dated back to the dawn of the Great Ice Age, and before the rusty-coloured gravel that lines the bottom of the Trent Valley was deposited. The black peaty loam of course indicates the decay of vegetation that formerly flourished over certain parts of the valley. This peat is most likely due to the growth and decay of mosses, or of some of the lower orders of vegetation, for no evidence has yet been met with of the exis¬ tence of a continuous bed of peat, or matted vegetation, such as would indicate that the Trent Valley had been the site of an ancient forest at any period of its history. With regard to evidence of physical changes that we know have taken place since the Glacial Period, the alluvial deposits of the Trent Valley seem to be peculiarly deficient, and the alluvium of the Leen, (1) “ White’s Notts. Directory for 1864,” p. 72. (2) “ Description of the Borings,” etc., on the Clifton Estate, by John Brown, F.G.S , “Trans. Chestertiehl and Derbyshire Mining Institution,” p. 7. 452 T 1 IE HISTORY OF THE which now remains to be described, is much more interesting in this respect. Alluvium of the Leen. 1 Small and unimportant a stream as this river is, the geolo¬ gical evidence furnished by its deposits invests it with an interest which it would not otherwise possess. Throughout the valley of the Leen, especially the lower half of its course, the ground is thickly covered with pebbles. There is scarcely a ploughed field or ditch-side that does not indicate the abundance of gravel all over the valley. But although this gravel lies eight or ten feet thick in some places, only occasional glimpses of its character can be obtained. The pebbles most abundant in the gravels of the Leen Valley are quartzites of all sizes, many of them split, perhaps by intense frost, some perhaps by the pressure of glacier ice ; but there are besides, quartz, Coal Measure sandstone, Mill¬ stone Grit, chert, flints, and, more rarely, pebbles composed of the harder rocks of the neighbourhood. An examination of the rocks out of which the Leen Valley has been scooped shows that the pebbles in the valley gravels could not all have been derived from the rocks that bound the valley. The valley of the Leen has been worn for the most part out of the Lower Mottled Sandstone of the Trias, as may easily be seen by the little low cliffs of bright crimson sandstone which have been formed by the river here and there along its east bank. The Lower Mottled Sandstone, however, contains only a few small pebbles, so that they could hardly have been derived from the wearing away of this rock. In some parts of its course, indeed, the Leen has entirely swept away the thick mass of this Lower Mottled Sandstone that once stretched across its bed and far away over the ground beyond, and has even eaten its way down into the Middle Marl of the Permian, and through that again into the underlying Permian Magnesian Limestone, which, along with a small strip of Coal Measures, (i) The observations that follow are taken from the writer’s paper on “The Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Leen Valley,” Midland Naturalist, vol. vi., p. 76, et seq. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 453 form its western slopes. But there are very few pebbles to be found that have been derived from these rocks. The majority of the pebbles were no doubt derived from the wearing away of the Bunter Sandstone, which forms so much of the country to the north-east. Most of the others were in all likelihood brought from North Derbyshire, while the flints must, of course, have come out of the Chalk. Many of the pebbles now found in the gravel of the Leen Valley, then, must have come a very long way. A large excavation, made in 1879-80, during the extension of the Nottingham Corporation Gas Works at Old Radford (now included in Lenton parish), opened out a very instructive section The evidence revealed by this section was found to throw considerable light on what had hitherto been a blank page in the geological history of the valley. Section of the Alluvium of the Leen at Old Radford. (а) Yellow, bluish, and dark gray clay. (б) Peat, with upright stems of young trees. (e) White and gray “sharp” sand and gravel. ( with the full confidence of finding it there on his return another day.” In 1789, the villagers testified their loyalty by joining heartily in the rejoicings which celebrated the recovery of King George the Third from the unhappy mental malady that had for a time overthrown his reason. On Monday, March 23rd, bonfires were made in different parts of the parish, at which three sheep were roasted whole, which, together with plenty of ale, were given to the populace. About seven o’clock a general illumination took place, a band of music paraded the village, playing “ God Save the King,” etc. A grand entertainment was provided at the Cofifee House, at which sixty-eight persons supped. After supper, several toasts were drank, including “ The King,” “ Queen,” and “ Royal Family,” “ Doctor Willis,” (the King’s physician), “ the Lord Chancellor,” and “ Mr. Pitt.” Mr. John Keetley, an inhabitant of Lenton, died there, September 2nd, 1791. He was so extraordinarily corpulent, that at his burial, on the 4th of the same month, it was with difficulty that eleven men carried his remains to the grave. The coffin measured two feet ten inches across the shoulders, and was twenty inches in depth. Amongst Mr. William Stretton’s notes is the following :— “ The last of the Shops in the Mart Yard at Lenton taken down and the present Tenements erected, 1792.” 1 This work was carried out by Mr. Stretton. In 1793, the popular rage in Nottingham and its neighbour¬ hood against the notorious Tom Paine and his work, “The Rights of Man,” was at its culminating point—nothing being more common, on all public occasions, than to have the offender, with a pair of stays under his arm (it being alleged that Paine had once been a journeyman staymaker in Nottingham), burnt (1) Stretton MSS., No. 32, f. 22. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 463 in effigy. 1 The following extract from a local paper 2 records the feeling of the inhabitants of Lenton against this individual :— “On Tuesday last (Feb. 12), the infamous THOMAS PAINE (one of the rag-a-muffin Convention of Paris), was apprehended and lodged in the Peverel Gaol at Lenton , near this town ; he was brought to Trial the same day, and after a fair and impartial examination (his crimes being as big with infamy, HE COULD NOT PLEAD!) he was found guilty of Treason against the KING who had formerly spared his Life, and against the Constitution of this country, in endeavouring, by his seditious writings, to overwhelm us in destruction, and our SOVEREIGN KING, whom all good Englishmen revere!—He was sentenced to be Hanged on the arm of a large tree, near the above Village, which was accordingly done, amidst a great concourse of people ; he was left hanging on the tree a considerable time, after which the Company retired to the Coffee House for refreshment; soon after, they were informed that the Paineites had laid a plan to convey the remains of their Champion away from the Tree, which the LOYALISTS being aware of, fell on, routed, and put to flight the whole GANG of them.—In the evening, his body was cut down and burnt to ashes in a bonfire ; after which, the major part of them retired to the Coffee House, where the company gave repeated toasts to the Health and Long Life of GEORGE the Third, our Gracious KING, QUEEN CHARLOTTE, the ROYAL FAMILY, Lord MIDDLETON, and many other Gentlemen in the Neighbour¬ hood.” One of the most remarkable floods in this neighbourhood commenced February 9th, 1795, owing to the breaking up of a frost which had continued without intermission from the 24th of December. The frost had been so intense as to freeze up the Trent as low as Gainsborough, (1) Bailey’s Annals of Nottinghamshire, iv. 150. Mr. Stretton, in his account of the church at Radcliffe-on-Trent, written in February, 1824, says : “Stephen Ratcliff, a prostrate figure, carved in Wood, used to lye under an arch in the south front of the Church—he was Lord of the Manor, and Patron of the living, he is supposed to have lain there for many Generations, untill the rejoicing took place on the Death of Tom Payne, when a number of Youths stole him away', and burned him in effigy, in lieu of Payne .”—Stretton MSS ., No. 34. (2) The Nottingham Journal , Feb. 16, 1793. 464 -THE HISTORY OF THE and was accompanied by immense and frequent descents of snow. When the thaw took place, it was so exces¬ sively rapid that there was not a valley in the counties of Stafford, Derby, and Nottingham that was not the channel of a river, the current of which carried along, with irresistible impetuosity, vast sheets of ice and half-melted snow, posts, rails, timber, sheep, etc., into the Trent. The river consequently swelled so inordinately, that its overflow entered the lower parts of Nottingham, and inflicted great damage. The canal banks were washed away in several places, many cattle, horses, and sheep perished, including 400 sheep at Wilford and Lenton ; and the scene the Trent itself presented, bearing down in its mighty stream horses and sheep, haystacks and trees, and farm produce of all kinds, was amply sufficient to show the extent of the calamity. When at its greatest altitude, the water was sixteen feet above the ordinary level of the Trent, and two feet ten inches higher than any previous flood on record. It is estimated to have been about fourteen inches higher than the flood of 1852, and ten inches higher than that of October, 1875. In 1797, the “Amicable Society,” which held its meetings at Old Lenton, was instituted on the 2nd of September. The object of the society, which existed until about the year 1842, was to provide assistance to its members in case of sickness. The officers consisted of a Father, a Deputy-Father, two Stewards, and Clerk. This appears to have been the first of these admirable associations formed within the parish, and it speaks well for the inhabitants of Lenton to have thus early recognised the principles of mutual self-help. Several highway robberies were committed in the parish at the end of the last, and the commencement of the present, century. On March 31st, 1802, a young man named Ferdi- nando Davis, a native of Sawley, in Derbyshire, and a black¬ smith by trade, was executed at Nottingham for robbing John Cockayne, a butcher’s apprentice, of a silver watch and a sum of money on the Derby Road, in this parish. For many years previously the Derby Road seems to have had an unenviable notoriety from the numerous encounters with the so-called “ gentlemen of the road,” with whom it was a favourite resort. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 465 Early in the present century, the fierce and systematised hostility of Bonaparte to the commerce of this country, which, instead of being allowed, through the return of peace, to flow in its old channels, was actually more impeded in the countries where the French held sway than it had been during the war, combined with the continual departure of France from the spirit, if not from the letter, of the treaty of Amiens, while she pretended to bind England to the strict obser¬ vance of every article in that treaty, which was against her, finally terminated in a rupture, and the declaration of war by England against France, in May, 1803. This action of the English Government so enraged Napoleon, that on the 22nd of the same month he issued a decree that all the English, of whatever condition, found on French territory, should be detained as prisoners of war. About 10,000 British subjects, of nearly every class and condition, thus fell into his clutches. In the following July, a bill enabling the King to raise a levy en masse, in case of invasion, passed both Houses of Parliament. At the same time, the opposite coasts of France and Belgium were lined with troops, and Napoleon was cal¬ culating how many days it would take him to reach London. The excitement in the country was intense. The inhabitants of Lenton, then few in number, showed great public spirit at this crisis, and exhibited, in a very marked manner, their loyalty and patriotism. The following account of their action is com¬ piled from one of the parish books :— At a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Lenton parish, held in the parish church on Thursday, August 11, 1803, assisted by the Right Honourable Lord Middleton, present amongst others, the Reverend William Gill (Curate), Messrs. Francis Evans, William Ellis, John Chamberlin, James Green, Gervase Boot, Thomas Roughton, Humphrey Hopkin, John Shaw, George Wombwell, and Matthew Needham, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to :—p'irst.—That from the present disposition and preparations of the French Government for an invasion of this country, and in order to guard against the calamitous consequences which would attend the temporary success of such 3i 4 66 THE HISTORY OF THE an attempt, it is the duty of every British subject capable of bearing arms, to qualify himself for their use, and to resist, by every means in his power, the progress of an inveterate and sanguinary foe. Second.—That it is extremely desirable for the inhabitants of this parish to exhibit the same alacrity and zeal which have been manifested in the neighbouring villages, and that it be recommended to them, and in particular, to the young and unmarried men, to enrol their names to serve as volunteers in defence of their King and country. Third.—That for accomplishing the above purposes, a subscription shall be immediately opened, and that it be particularly recommended to such of the inhabitants of this parish, who, from age or infirmity, or from any other cause, are unable to appear in the foremost ranks against the enemy, to contribute pecuniary aid. Fourth.—That the subscription be applied to the purposes of procuring arms and accoutrements, if necessary ; of affording relief to the families of volunteers, and of rewarding merit and heroism. Fifth.—-That the subscriptions be called for by instal¬ ments, and disposed of at the discretion of a committee of the subscribers, any five of whom shall be competent to act. In response to these resolutions the sum of £^ 6 g 12s. od. was sub¬ scribed, augmented, in November, 1804, by the Government allowance of .£63, for clothing 63 men, making a total sum of ^432 12s. od. at the disposal of the committee. Lord Middle- ton, John Wright, Esq., Joseph Lowe, Esq, and Matthew Need¬ ham, Esq., were amongst the principal subscribers to the fund, which was contributed to by a large majority of the parishioners of all classes. The names of 148 persons were enrolled as volunteers, from whom 63 were selected, as follows :— Humphrey Hopkins, Lieutenant, 1 John Hopkins, Ensign, Three permanent Sergeants, Three Sergeants, Three Corporals, A drummer, a fifer, and Fifty men. 2 (1) The sword worn by Mr. Hopkins, when lieutenant of the Lenton Volunteers, is now in the possession of the author. (2) These formed part of the “Loyal Wollaton, Lenton, and Beeston Volunteer Infantry,” under the command of Lord Middleton, of Wollaton Ha l. PARISH AND FRIORY OF I.ENTON. 467 In September, 1803, the following residents and occupiers of land in Lenton voluntarily agreed to furnish for the use of the army such hay, corn, forage, fuel, etc., as might be in their power, if they were required, the same to be paid for at prices to be ascertained by two magistrates, or deputy- lieutenants. Offers of horses, carts, and waggons were also made, as stated against their respective names :— Gervase Boot—2 waggons, 7 horses, 2 drivers. John Wright—2 waggons, 6 horses, 2 drivers. John Chamberlin—The same. John Shaw—1 waggon, 3 horses, 1 driver. John Hopkins—The same. Mary Hopkins—The same. Thomas Roughton—1 waggon, 1 cart, 5 horses, 2 drivers. William Wigley—The same. Edward Hollingworth—-1 cart, 2 horses, 1 driver. James Green—The same. Francis Evans—1 tilted cart, I horse. Matthew Needham—One horse for use of a guide. James Weston offered to bake 120 or 240 loaves of bread (of 3^ or 4 pounds each) every 24 hours, and Daniel Hughes 60 or 120 loaves, as might be required. Samuel Goodacre undertook to deliver at his mill every 24 hours, if required three sacks of flour of 240 pounds each, between Lady-day and Martinmas, and five sacks between Martinmas and Lady- day. The wheat to be provided for him. The bakers and millers were to be paid for their labour. Thomas Millington and William Wigley offered their services as guides, and Richard Chamberlin and John Roughton undertook the office of conductors of waggons. Mr. Matthew Needham was ap¬ pointed superintendent of Lenton parish, excepting Bestwood Park. John Gray, William Nuttall, Edward Edwards, John Bennet, Thomas Becket, and Joseph Hollis, inhabitants of Bestwood Park, each offered one waggon, four horses, and one driver. John Challand offered one waggon, three horses, and a driver. Edward Edwards was appointed guide, and Matthew Hollis conductor of waggons. Mr. William Ellis, of Bestwood Hall, undertook to be superintendent of Bestwood Park. 468 TIIE HISTORY OF THE In April, 1805, the Right Hon. Lord Middleton presented to the inhabitants of Lenton a “fine fat ox,” weighing 107 stones, to be distributed amongst the volunteers and their families. In December, 1807, a similar gift was made by his lordship, under whose command the Lenton volunteers had been placed. The following is a summary of the expenditure of the com¬ mittee appointed for raising the volunteers in this parish :— Clothing Arms and accoutrements Drummers and band... Dinners Instruction in military exercises ... Payments on account of accident, travelling expenses, and printing Balance in hand £ 327 12 25 34 9 7 16 3 16 4 o 19 6 2 d. 6 o 2 8 6 o 2 £432 12 o At a meeting of the subscribers, held in the parish vestry, June 6th, 1811, for the purpose of examining the accounts of Mr. Matthew Needham, the treasurer, and disposing of the balance, it was unanimously resolved “ that Mr. Hopkins be requested to dispose of the balance of £\6 \ 2 \ 2 amongst the late volunteers, or their families, in any way he thought proper.” In 1804, the Lenton Coffee House, now known as the “ White Hart Inn,” was rebuilt on the site of an older structure by Mr. Wombwell. Attached to the Coffee House were pleasure gardens and a bowling-green, which were then much frequented by the better class of the inhabitants of the neighbouring town of Nottingham, and which Blackner 1 2 describes as being “ a kind of paradise in the summer season.” Within the grounds also was the Peverel gaol, to which we have already referred. Previous to the introduction of railways, and for several years after, these gardens were the favourite resort of local pleasure- (1) Blackner’s History of Nottingham, p. 105. (2) See p. 403. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 469 seekers, while the bowling-green was patronised by the gentry and principal tradespeople in the neighbourhood. 1 In the year 1809, on the Day of Jubilee, when King George the Third entered on the fiftieth year of his reign, the inhabitants of Lenton raised a subscription for the poor of the parish, by which eighty-three families were relieved ; 29 families with seven shillings each, 37 families with five shillings each, 12 families with four shillings each, and 5 families with smaller sums, besides bread and cheese and ale to all the children in the village attending the bonfires. 2 The “Luddite” outrages in 1811 and 1812, have already been alluded to .3 Parties of the Berkshire Militia were stationed in Lenton for some months, and cavalry patrolled the parish nightly. The year 1831 will be memorable in the history of Notting¬ ham in consequence of the Reform Bill riots and the burning of Nottingham Castle on the evening of October 10th. During the forenoon of the following day, a large mob collected in Nottingham Market Place. On leaving the town, the rioters called at the Greyhound Inn and the Durham Ox Inn, where they consumed all the food the houses contained, without pay¬ ment. They then marched to Beeston, and set fire to the large silk mill belonging to Mr. William Lowe, of Nottingham. By three o’clock of the-same day, the mill was reduced to a heap of ruins, and the 200 workpeople thrown out of employ¬ ment, the loss of property being estimated at .£7.790. On their return from Beeston, the rioters called at Lenton House, (1) “Nearly every London racket-ground had its adjacent tavern; but these taverns, it must be remembered, were the clubs for the middle classes of those days. In their parlours of an evening parochial matters and politics were amicably discussed, and here the notabilities of the district were wont to assemble for plea¬ sant social intercourse when work was done. We venture to say that more courtesy and propriety were observed in the taverns that encouraged skill at rackets, or quoits, or the despised but excellent skittles, than are found in these modern days of constant nipping and fashionable refreshment bars . . For what did one find at the old London taverns with attached recreation grounds, the places where, when work was done, the citizens congregated to amuse themselves in simple fashion? Not the tippling of modern times, not the drinking for drinking’s sake, not the glitter and gaudiness of the modern bar, with the presiding Hebe bedecked with sixpenny bouquets, but a garden, or at any rate some semblance of it, a dozen or so of simple arbours, and certainly no more pipes and ale than are now seen and legitimately recognised on every known cricket-ground.” (2) Stre.'/on MSS., No. 27, f. 54 (3) See p. 341. 470 THE HISTORY OF THE the residence of Matthew Needham, Esq., where all the wine and eatables, and silver plate to the value of £4.0, were quickly- appropriated. They also demanded food at Lenton Hall, the residence of John Wright, Esq., but went away on that gentle¬ man giving them two sovereigns ; and also at Highfield House, the residence of Alfred Lowe, Esq., 1 who appeared to have been mistaken by the rioters for Mr. William Lowe, the proprietor of the silk mill at Beeston, who, being a Tory and a somewhat ardent politician, had rendered himself specially unpopular with the mob. This fact was noticed at the time as showing that many of the rioters must have been comparative strangers to the neighbourhood. They next commenced an attack on the lodge to Wollaton Park, near the junction of the Derby and Bir¬ mingham roads, and speedily effected an entrance, but no sooner were they within the park than a charge was made upon them by a troop of yeomanry cavalry, which at once put them to flight. Sixteen of them were taken prisoners, and escorted by the yeomanry, with drawn swords, to the barracks, where they were handed over to a party of the 15th Hussars, by whom they were conveyed to the county gaol. Three of the rioters eventually suffered the extreme penalty of the law, being hung at Nottingham on the 1st of February, 1832. A public dinner was given by the parishioners of Lenton, at the White Hart Inn, April 4th, 1853, to Captain James Anlaby Legard, R.N., J P. (who had for some years occupied Lenton Hall), previous to his leaving the neighbourhood, “ as a mark of respect for the uniform kindness and courtesy shown by him to all parties during his residence in the parish.” In the last-named year the “ Lenton and Radford Association for the prosecution of Felons ” was established, the meetings of the association being held at the White Hart Inn, at Old Lenton. A toll-gate was erected in the year 1854 on the Nottingham and Derby turnpike road, between New Lenton and the end of Barrack Lane, Nottingham Park, and there being already (1) This gentleman was afterwards one of the Grand Jury for the county at the special Assizes held in Nottingham for the trial of the principal rioters in January, 1832. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 47 I another toll-bar within two miles on the same road, two full tolls daily were demanded from, and paid by all persons who used the road on the 1st day of January, 1855. The parishioners of Lenton were evidently of the same opinion as Lord Byron on the subjects of turnpike roads and toll-bars, 1 for they held several public meetings and appointed deputations, who had several interviews with the Trustees of the road, but without getting any alteration of the toll. A memorial to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in opposition to the application to Parliament by the Trustees for a renewal of their Act, was prepared, and very numerously signed by the parishioners of Lenton, and by many persons residing in Nottingham. It was ultimately agreed that the parishioners of Lenton should pay to the Trustees the sum of fifty pounds and withdraw their opposition to the Trustees’ bill, and that the toll should be reduced to one-half toll daily. The ,£50 was raised by subscription, and paid to the Trustees in December, 1855, and the toll reduced from January 1st, 1856. The toll-house was removed in November, 1870. The principal stock of a superior breed of prime shorthorn cattle, bred by the late Mr. John Wilkinson, on his farm at Old Lenton, was sold by Mr. Strafford, auctioneer, of London, April 20th, 1854, the sale being attended by the most eminent breeders in England, Ireland, and America. Fifty cows and heifers, and fifteen bulls, were sold, the average price realised by the former being £57 9s. od., and by the latter, exclusive of one or two calves, £4 7. The aggregate of the sale exceeded £2, 900. Bull calves derived from this stock, shortly after the sale, were sold for 150 guineas. In the same year (1854), in consequence of the Crimean War, a considerable sum was raised throughout the country by voluntary subscription, in aid of the wives and families of the killed and wounded. This “ Patriotic Fund,” as it was called, received substantial support from the inhabitants of this parish, and the sums paid over by Alfred Lowe, Esq., J.P., of Highfield, who acted as chairman and treasurer to the fund (Mr. George (1) Don Juan, Canto x., s. lxviii., lxix. 47 2 THE HISTORY OF THE Bardsley being the honorary secretary), amounted in all to ^238 13s. 3 Ad., the whole of which was collected within the parish. 1 On Thursday evening, June 12th, 1S56, a complimentary dinner was given to Mr. John Shaw, churchwarden of Lenton, at the White Hart Inn, by a committee of friends, as a token of their high esteem and appreciation of his efforts in pro¬ curing a peal of bells for Lenton Church. The Lenton Rural Library was established December 21st, 1857, chiefly through the efforts of the late Rev. F. W. Naylor, of Upton, in this county. The Library prospered about six years, when the interest in it began, unfortunately, to decline, and it shortly afterwards ceased to exist. At a meeting of the inhabitants of Lenton, held January 14th, 1861, after much enquiry and investigation into the state of the poor of the parish during the distress then prevailing, it was resolved to establish a Soup Kitchen to relieve the distress. A committee was appointed to carry out that im¬ portant object, and to receive the subscriptions, which in two days amounted to over ,£100. In 1873 the Mission Hall at New Lenton was erected, at a cost of £660 , chiefly through the exertions of the late Rev. Francis Browne, M.A. (son of the present vicar), who at that time was curate of the parish. The greatest flood in Lenton during the present century reached its height shortly before midnight, October 22nd, 1875. This flood, which did considerable damage in the parish, was 5|- inches higher than that of 1852, 23^ inches higher than the floods of 1869 and July, 1875, 28 inches higher than the flood of January, 1877, 36 inches higher than the floods of 1857 and 1872, and 39 inches' higher than that of 1864. The flood of 1795 is estimated to have been about 10 inches higher than the one under notice. New Lenton was the scene of a murder, committed on the evening of December nth, 1877, in one of the garden avenues leading out of Milne's Lane. Here a man named John Brooks took the life of his paramour, Caroline Woodhead, by cutting (1) Not/ingham Journal , December 29th, 1854. PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 473 her throat. Brooks soon afterwards surrendered to the police, and was executed in the Nottingham Borough Gaol on the 13th of February following. The Annual Show of the Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society was held at Lenton in the years 1878, 1880, and 1883, when the total number of entries were—1878, 572 ; 1880, 73 2 J 1883, 783. The Lenton Liberal Club occupy a neat and convenient club-house near the Unsectarian Schools at New Lenton. This building was erected by the Lenton Liberal Club Company, Limited, and opened to the use of members, June 24th, 1881, the formal opening, by Cecil G. S. Foljambe, Esq., M.P. for North Nottinghamshire, taking place, January 26th, 1882, when a banquet was held in the club-house to celebrate the event. The cost of the site and club-house was ,£1,100, and there are at present 160 members. The Company was incorporated February 17th, 1881, with a capital of ,£1,500 in £1 shares. On the occasion of the laying of the memorial stone for the restoration of the Old Church by Mrs. Sherwin-Gregory, Lady of the Manor, November 22nd, 1883, the following address, richly illuminated, was presented to that lady at the public luncheon which followed the ceremony :— To Mrs. Sherwin-Gregory. Madam,—We, the undersigned tenants and residents on your manor and estate of Lenton, beg to approach you on this occasion of your coming amongst us, and to assure you of our high appreciation of your kindness in taking the initial step in the noble and useful work of providing additional accommoda¬ tion for public worship in the parish. We feel sure that you will, with us, experience much gratitude and satisfaction in seeing a new and splendid edifice arise within the consecrated precincts of our ancient and venerable priory, hitherto so long abandoned to decay, as well as in knowing that the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants of the parish, under the direction of its devoted clergy, are and will be so well cared for. Sincerely trusting that you, a lady so well known and prominent in all good works, may by Divine Providence long be spared in health and happiness, We beg to remain, Madam, Your faithful servants. Lenton, 22nd November, 1883. 474 THE HISTORY OF THE The following extract from a local newspaper, forwarded to the author whilst this work was passing through the press, may be conveniently inserted here. “ An impressive parochial ceremony took place on Monday last, May 12th, 1884, at the restoration work of the Old Church, Lenton, which ought not to be passed over by the local historian. It was the laying of the capitals of two of the stone pillars on the north side of the building by two representatives of the parish, the one clerical, and the other lay : the first, the aged vicar of Lenton, the Rev. George Browne; and the other his churchwarden, and the bearer of the name of the family who have been intimately connected with the place for the last hundred years, Frederick Wright, Esq., of Lenton Hall. The vicar laid the capital of the pillar nearest the chancel, and Mr. Wright that of the central one; both declaring the stones duly and truly laid in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The vicar gave some very interesting information concerning the old church and his con¬ nection therewith ; of its old choir, and the variety of musical instruments and voices in it. He said he preached his first sermon in that church on September 1st, 1839, from the text, Psalm 89, verse 15,—“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound ; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy counte¬ nance.” The Vicar said that the whole merit and credit of the restoration of the church was due to the energy and zeal of his senior curate, the Rev. Percy E. Smith. He concluded by asking the blessing of God on the restored House of God, and he prayed that many souls might find rest and peace within its walls. Mr. Wright also addressed the parishioners assembled on the importance of the work in which they were engaged. The ceremony concluded with the Benediction, very earnestly and affectionately pronounced by the vicar.” The mean annual rainfall in the parish during the 44 years from 1840 to 1883, inclusive, was 26.9 inches. The greatest fall was in 1872, when 40.4 inches were indicated, no less than 7.4 inches falling in the month of July alone ; £ and the least in 1854 and 1864, when only 17.4 inches fell. (1) The greatest rainfall in any month, was, however, in August, 1878, when 8'8 inches fell. In the memorable thunder-storm of the 13th and 14th of August, 1857, 3'i inches of rain fell at Ilighfield House, but more than double this amount in some other places. C LI M ATE OF THE PARISH OF LENTON. (From 44 Years’ Observations taken by E. J. LOWE, Esq., F.R.S., at Highfield House.) Month. Mean Tempera¬ ture. Degrees. Lowest Mean Tem¬ perature. Degrees. Highest Mean Tem¬ perature. Degrees. Greatest Heat. Degrees. Lowest Maximum Heat. Degrees. Highest Minimum Cold. Degrees. Greatest Cold. Degrees. Average Amount of Rain. Inches. Greatest Amount of Rain. Inches. Least Amount of Rain. Inches. Monthly Range in Rainfall. Inches. Monthly Range in Mean Tem¬ perature. Degrees. Monthly Range in Greatest Heat. Degrees. Monthly Range in Greatest Cold. Degrees. January . 36-5 267 45 'I 59-6 467 29'5 -40 i 9 36 0'2 3'4 i 8'4 I 3 'I 33'5 February. 3 8-6 28‘4 43’5 6fO 397 27-4 61 i '7 3 '6 °'3 3'3 1 5 1 21‘3 21'3 March .. 42-1 3 5 '6 46 6 7 I -5 52'9 3 ro 130 1-6 3'9 01 38 iro l8 6 180 April . 473 4 2 '3 5 11 927 62-5 36-0 20’4 i '9 4'3 °'5 3-8 8-8 30*2 15-6 May. 53 1 48-5 6o'0 897 708 400 263 2‘ I 50 °'5 4'5 n '5 18-5 137 June. 00 LO 53'8 677 97'3 73'5 48-0 30'5 2*6 5-8 0-3 5'5 1 3 9 23-8 175 July . 6l’3 55'5 68-4 94'3 77 ' 0 50'4 363 2'5 7'4 O'l 7'3 12-9 I 7‘3 14-1 August . 60-3 54-6 65-3 957 73 '° 50-0 33 '° 3'0 8-8 °'5 8'3 107 227 iyo September ... 566 5 i -4 63-2 88-o 7 0'2 465 32'0 2-6 5 '6 O'l 5'5 118 17-8 i 4'5 October . 49'4 43'2 55 ' 2 77'5 627 32-2 r 9'4 2'8 5'5 0-9 4'6 12'0 i 5'0 128 November ... 42-4 36'4 48-8 649 527 3 °'° 170 2’2 66 °'5 61 12 '4 12 '4 13-0 December ... 39-2 32-5 457 6o-2 47'5 300 -80 2'0 6-6 0‘2 6-4 13-2 127 380 Yearly Means and Extremes 48-8 267 68-4 97 3 397 50-4 -80 2 &g 8-8 O'l 87 417 576 58'4 PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON. 475 On the morning of December 7th, 1879, a thermometer, placed four feet above the ground at Highfield House, indi¬ cated 2.3 degrees below zero, and one on the grass nearly 4b degrees below zero, this being the coldest night since December 24-25, i860, when the thermometer indicated 8 degrees below zero at 4 feet above the ground, and 13.2 degrees below zero on the grass. In the month of June, 1868, the thermometer reached 97.3 in the shade. This was the hottest summer for many years ; the crops of grass and corn took fire in many places, and much damage was done. INDEX. A. Abbeville, Peter de, Prior of Lenton, 182 Ackworih, William, 158 Adams, Arms of, 203 -J ohn, 204 -Lucy, 269 -Thomas, 203, 265, 266, 268, 290, 348 Aiscough, John, 215 Alan, sub-Prior of Lenton, 71 Alan, sub-Prior of Lenton, seal of, 72, 232 Albemarle, William, Earl of, 180 Albini, W. de, 101 Aldelmus, 63, 87 Aldesworth, Adam de, 109 -Robert de, 109 Alexander, Prior of Lenton, 179 Alestre, John, Warden of the Chapel in Nottingham Castle, 160 Alfer, of Basford, 87 Algarthorpe, Gerard de, 116 Allcock, Thomas, 287 Allen, Francis, 370 - John, 287 Allicock, Thomas, 47, 342, 345 Allworthy, John, 283 Almeton, 101, 114 Alneo, Hugh de, 85 Amiens, Guy of, 20 Andegavansis, Robert, no Anglo-Normans, a building people, 54 Annesley, Gervase, 210 -John, Prior of Lenton, 175, 190 Annis, Jester, 285 Antiquities, early, II —17 Amyas, William de, 40 Andrewes, Thomas, 370 Anger, Robert, 240 Apsley, Sir Allen, Bart., 395 Arches, Thomas de, 96 Arden, Simon de, 122 Arksey Church (Yorks.), 170 Arksey Vicarage, 171 Arnale, Gervase de, 109 -Sir Ralph de, 129 Arnesby (Leic.), 63, 84 Arnold, Thomas de, 310 Ashbourne (co. Derby), 63, 84 Ashby, Great, Manor of, S3 Ashford (co. Derby), 62, 68, 71, 77 Askewe, Thomas, 242, Aslacton, 111 -- Reginald de, 111 Aspin, John, 260 Asply, 63, 85 - Wood, herbage of, 215 Asselacton, Simon de, 388 Assizes held at Lenton, 1573, 221 Asson, William, 47 Aston, Gregory, 287 -Sir Roger, Knt., 366 ■- Thomas, 366 Astorgius, or Antorgius, Prior of Lenton. 182 Atherton, Miss, of Kersall, Lane., 214 Atkins, Samuel, 338 Atkinson, John, 210 Attenborough, Church of, 88, 124 Attenborough, Edward, 47 Attenborrow, John, 326 --— Robert, 326 Athillewell, Augustin de, 39 -Alice, widow of, 39 Ault, Benjamin, 287, 336, 343 ' 345 . 346 Ault, Mercy, 284 Aveline, W. ' 1 '., Geologist, 432 Avenel, Robert, 99 - William de, 62, 63, 82, 83 Awsworth, 87 —-- Mill at, 109 ■-- see Aldesworth Ayscough, John, 41 Ayskough, Mary, 276 - Roger, 276 B. Babington, Arms of, 38, ----- Sir Bernard, 36 ■- Elizabeth, 160, -— Sir John, 35, 169, 170 Babington, Robert, buried at Lenton Priory, 159 Babington, Thomas, 170 -Sir William, 35 —38, 159, 216 Babington, William, 160 Bacon, Thomas, 284 Bagshaw, John, 280 -Mary, 280 Bailey, Isaac, 338 Bakepuz, Sir Geoffrey, 123 Bakewell (co. Derby), 62, 68, 70, 71, 72, 77 Bakewell Church of, 75 -Matthew priest of, 83 Balguy, Charles George, 252 Balguy, John, 401, 403 Bardelby, R. de, 135 Bardolf, Llugh, 388 -— Robert, 388 INDEX. 477 Bardsley, George, 472 Barker, John, 405 Barn Houses, 8 Barneston, Gervase de, 95 -Margaret, wife of Gervase cle, 95 Barneston, Richard de, 95 B.irnwell Piiory (Cambridge¬ shire), 22 Barre, John, 126 - Ralph, 88, 98 - Richard, 126 Barrett, Paul, 331 Barri, Richard, lord of Tollerton, 98 Barri, Beatrice, wife of, 98 Barry family, 98 -see Barre, Barri Barston, William, 158 Barton, Mr., of Best wood, 379 Barton-in-Fabis, Church of, 88, 127, 136, 214 Barton-on-Trent, 128 Barwick, Peter, M.D., 194 Basford, 63, 84 -Alluvial and drift deposits at, 456 Basford, Lands of Safed, 83 Basford, Manor of, 40 Bassano, Francis, note on Chelmorton Chapel, 77 Basset, Sir Richard, 366 -Simon de, charter of, 83 Bate, Thomas, 177 Bath Hill, 14, 15, 17 Bath, Joceline, Bishop of, 121 Baume, Claude de la, Arch¬ bishop of Besanfon, 460 Bayley, Hannah, 341 - Isaac, 360 - & Co’s, leather dressing works, 8, 360 Bayley, Thomas, 209, 3 8, 348, 349, 353 Beacock, Thomasine, 278 Beardsley, Arthur, 287, 336, 343 . 345 Beardsley, William, 375 Beauchamp, Richard de, 125 Beauclerk, Lord A melius, 379. 380, 381 Beauclerk, Lord Aubrey, 381 Beauclerk, Charles, 274 -Lady Diana, 382 - James, 374, 376 - Lady Louise, 381 - Lord Vere, 378 Beaufort, Henry, first Duke of, 399 Beaumes, Philip de, 114 Beaver, Ellen Maria, 258 Beaver, Herbert Napleton, 258 Becket, Thomas, 467 Beckley, Roman villa at, 14 Beckford, William de, Vicar of Beeston, 150 Beesley, Richard, 287 Beeston, 125 - Church, chantry of St. Catherine, 150 Beeston, John de, 150 -Gilbert de, 306 -mill burnt, 469 - Rectory of, appro- piated to Lenton Priory, 145 Beeston, William de, 150 - Vicars of, 145, 146 Beheleg, Warnet de, lit) Bell inscriptions, 248, 265, 293 Bell, Joseph, 251, 252, 290, 338 Bellew, William de, 97 Bellofago, Ralph de, bene¬ faction of, 88 Bellofago, Thomas de, 89 -William de, 89 Bellomont, Hugh de, 122 - Robert de, 89, 90, 122 Bellomont, Roger de, lord of Pont Andomar, 89 Bel voir, Roger Wendover, Prior of, 61 Benested, J. de, 135 Bennet, John, 467 Benton, Catherine, 279 -John, 279 Berene, 1 hornas, 248 Beresford, Elizabeth, 257, 266 Beresford, Francis, 257, 266 Berde, John de, 240 Berkeley, Elizabeth, Coun¬ tess of, 380 Berkeley, George, first Earl of, 380 Bernard, Henry, 46 Beskewod, Robert de, 236 Best, William, 338 Beston, William, 39 Bestwood Park, 5, 50, 117, 168, 362-385 area of, 44, 50 dead wood granted to monks of Lenton, 117, 120, 121 held by Nell Gwynne, 374 - secured to her and first Duke of St. Albans, 376 Bestwood Lodge, 379 Emanuel Church, 381 Colliery and Ironworks, 383 perambulations of, 48-52, 384 Beverston Castle, Gloucester¬ shire, 193 Bigsby, Rev. Thomas, Vicar of Beeston, 199 Billyeald, Joseph, 349 Bingham, Richard, 40 -William, 326, 327, .330 Birche, Katherine, 274 - Thomas, 221, 275, 287 Bishop, Ellen, 279 - Henry, 278 - John, 278, 279 - William, Rector of St. Nicholas, Nottingham, 87 Blacclivegate, Lenton, 39 Black, William, 336, 343 Blackcliff, mill of, 39, 66, 79, 85, 107, 116. Blackwall, Oliver, 161, 162 Blackwell (co. Derby), 77 - Nicholas, 145 Blakeman, John, 240 Blakeney, Rev. Richard Paul, 294. -Lieut. Richard, 293 Blakesley (Northants.), 63, 86 Blanchard, Ann, 254 -George, 254 - John, 254 Blatherwick, John, 385 Blisworth (Northants.), 62, 67 Bluet, Hugh, Prior of Len¬ ton, 125, 181 Bluet, Robert, 125 Blundeville, Ralph, 27 Blundus, Serlo, 63, 85 Blyth, Robert Bubwith, Prior of, 159 Blyth, Priory of, 1 to - William West, Prior of, 159 Bobber’s Mill, 109 Bochart, Jofrid, 99 Bohun, John, 28 Boleyn, Sir Thomas, 365 Bolles, William, 218, 219 Boney, Sir Geoffrev de, 234 -Hugh de, 88 -Odo de, 63, 88, 136 - Ralph de, 88 Bonington, William, 276 Bonney, Professor, 433 Boot, Gervase, 288, 289, 337. 344. 465 467 4/8 INDEX. Boroughbridge, battle of, 137 Bossu, Robert, Earl of Leicester, charter of, 90 Bostock, Thomas, 330 Bosworth (Leic.), S5 Botetourt family, 76 Botre, John, 157 Bowes, Walter, 160 Bowser, John, 247, 2S6 Bowyer, Sir James, Bart., 398 Boyer, Francis, 215 Bozun, Robert, 134 Bradforde, Andrew, 275 - Thomas, 275 Bradley, George, 338 -John,375 -John de, 95 Rradmere, Elias de, 131 -Ralph de, 98 -Sir Richard de, 98 Bradmore, 88, 98, 126, 136 -S'-e Bradmere Bradshawe, John, 248, 288, 326, 327, 336, 337, 343, 344, 346 Bradwell (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77 Bramcote Chapel, 125 -- Herbert de, 109 Bramley, Charles, 385 Breadsall, John, 309, 310 Brentnall, George, 21?, 282, 283, 322, 326 Brentnall, Lucy, 212, 282, 283 Brentnall, Thomas, 213, 331 Brereton, Francis, Lord, 173 ■-Sir Henry, 171 --Sir William, 172 -William, Lord, 172 Brewer, William, 177 Brewood, Priory of, 112 Brigges, Sir Humphrey, Bart.,-374 Brightman, Thomas, 237 Brikesard, Anketina de, 101 -Nichola, wife of, 101 Brito, Helyus, 109 - Roger, 63, 85 Briwerre, William, 109, 388 Broadband, Elizabeth, 277 -William, 277 Broadbent, John, 211 Brock, Jeffery, 237 Broculstowe, Gilbert, son of Eustace de, 104 Brodbury, Agnes, 309, 310 -William de, 309, 310 Broksop, Henry, 240 Brokestowe, Adam, 151 Brokilstowe, John de, 236 Brokstowe, John de, 157 Bromholm Priory, 54, 61 Bromley, William de, 104 Brooks, John, 472 Brough, George, 237 - Richard, 370 Broughton, Anne, 282 -Church of, 136 --Peter, 282 -Thomas, 404 Brouley, Elizabeth, 275 -John, 275 Brown, Elizabeth, 282 - George, 338, 344 - - Henry, 282, 336 - John, 276 Browne, Right Plon. Denis, M.P., 244 Browne, Denis George, 268, 285 - Edward, 268, 285 - Elizabeth Ann, 267 Browne, Rev. Francis, 268, 472 Browne, Rev. George, 244, 251, 252, 265, 267, 285, 348, 381, 474 Browne, Henry, 287 - James Peter, 268 - Mary, 281 - Thomas, 104 - William John, 268 Brownlow, Hannah, 280 - John, 280 -Philip, 280 Broxtow, I, 87, 104 -- See Broculstowe, Brokestowe, Brokilstowe, Brokstowe. Broydeston, Richard de, 104 Brunnesley, Geoffrey de, 236 Brunt, George, 28 Brus, Robert de, 135 Bubwith, Nicholas, 145 Buck, Hannah, 281 - Oliver, 331 Bugge,'Ralph, 128 - Richard, 128 Bulker, Thomas, 309 Bullington Priory, 108 Bunington, Elizabeth, 276 -Ralph, 276 Bunny, 88, 98, 99, 136 -see Boney Burbage, Susanna, 210 Burdin, Elizabeth, 281 Burford, James, 280 Burgh, Hubert de, 109, 121 Burghlty, William, Lord, 193 Burial Board, 346 Burleymen, list of, 345 Burr, Robert, 28 Burrow, Plugh, 28 Burton, Abbot of. 70, 71 - John, 289, 338, 344 - Mary, 280 -Richard, 145, 344 Burton, Robert, 241 - Robert de, 89 -Roger de, 111 -- William, 287, 336, 343. 345, 346 Burun, arms of, 102 -- Hugo de, 63, ioo, 101, 103, 136 Burun, Hugo, Albrcda, wife of, 101 Burun, Hugo, Plugo Mes- chines, eldest son and heir of, Monk of Lenton, 100, 102 Burun, pedigree of, 102 -Ralph de, 96 -Robert de, 100 -Roger de, 100, 101, i°3 Burun, Roger de, Nichola, wife of, 101 Bury, Christopher, 161, 162 Busli, Hugo de, 100 Bussell, or Buisell, Albert, 9i Bussell, or Buisell, Richard, 92, 136 Bushell, Aloisia, 275, 276 -William, 275, 276 Butterley Ironworks, 201 Buxton, 62, 68 Bylay, Bryan, 277 Byllay, Samuel, 275 Byngeley, John, 104 Byrom, of Kersall Cell, Lane., arms of, 214 Byrom, Edward, 213, 214 -Elizabeth. 213 -John, F.R.S., 213, 214 Byrom, Joseph, 213 -- Ralph, 213 Byron, family, of Colwick, 276 Byron, Sir John, 108, 366, 367, 395, 461 Byron, John, Esquire, 365 Byron, Lord, poet, 102, 471 -see Burun Byshopp, John, 276 C. Cadogan, Earl of, 380 Cadwallader, King of Wales, 108 Caisneta, Roger de, JI2 Caketherngate, 39 Calais, Prior of Lenton raises money for defence of, 159 Callow (co. Derby), 62, 68 Calverley, Robert, bequest to Lenton Priory, 170 INDEX. 479 Cambridge, King’s Hall, 118 ■-Trinity College, 118 Camden’s Britain quoted, 3 Campden, Viscount, 193 Canal, Nottingham and Cromford, 4 Cann, Abraham, 405 Cantelupe, Arms of, 131 -Nicholas de, 130 - William de, 130, I 3 I Canterbury, St. Augustine’s Abbey, History of, 183 Canville, Richard de, 101 Capgrave, John, quoted, 146 Carlisle, Statute of, 133 Carmelite Friary at Lenton, 167 Carnebull, Thomas, 177 Carr, John, Architect, 204 Carruthers, Dr., 450, 454 Carver, Rev. David, 294 Cary, John, 367, 374 Cassells, Robert, 34, 346, 461 Castle, Joseph, 337, 343 - — —— Robert, 287, 336, 343 > 345 Castleacre Priory, 54, 58, 61 Castleton, Derbyshire, Church of, 140 Catesby (Northants.), Manor of, 83 - — Nunnery of, 87 Cave, Mary, 276 - Roger, 276 Cave, Sir Thomas, 276 Chadbourn, James, 341 Chadwick, Evelyn, 395 -James, 33, 393, 394 - 395 > 397 Chadwick, John, 396, 397 - Lewis, 396, 397 Chalens, Elizabeth, 274 Challand, Henry, 370 Challands, John, 338, 467 Chamberlain, or Chamberlin, Ann, 214, 283 Chamberlain, Elizabeth, 261, 274 Chamberlain, John, 239, 254, 261, 283, 284, 285, 287, 288, 327, 336, 337, 343 . 344 . 345 . 346, 465, 467 Chamberlain, Joseph, 371 - Martha, 254, 283 Chamberlain, Mary, 281 - Richard, 289, 338, 344, 467 Chamberlain, William, 28, 274, 281 Chapel-en-le-Frith (Derby), 7 i, 73 , 74 , 75 , 77 , 124 Chapman, John, 287, 288, 336 , 343 , 346 Charley, Prior of, 75 Charlton, Lucy, 212 -Nicholas, 212, 237 -Tabitha, 212 -Thomas, 212, 278 Thos. Broughton, 37 Charnocke, Anna, 275 -James, 275 Chauz, Robert de, 63 Chaworth, Sir John, Knight, 215 Chaworth, Sir Thomas, 159 Cheeiham, Francis, 338 -James, 213 Chelmorton (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77, 78 Chelmorton Chapel, tomb of a Prior of Lenton at, 78 Cheney, Alexander de, 112, 1 14 Cheney, Hugh de, 114 -- Ralph de, 114 Chester, Adam de Stanford, Archdeacon of, 71, 72 Chester, Earl of, 25, 101, 107 Chester, Maud, Countess of, 25 Chester, Walter Durdent, Bishop of, 25 Chesterfield, Earl of, 331 ----- Henry de, 39 Chilwell, 63, 85, 88, 136 Chilwell. coal, boring for, at, 423 Chilwell, fishery of, 105 Chilwell Hall, 37 Chillendon, Edmund, 371 Christie, Lorenzo, 338 Churchell, Benjamin, 385 Churches, The, 245-271 Church Goods, A.D. 1552, 246 Church, Old Church re¬ stored, 473, 474 Church rates, 286 Churchwardens’ Accounts, extracts from, 285-286 Churchwardens, list of, 286- 290 Clare, John Holies, second Earl of, 394 Clark, Milicent, 281 - Peter, 281 - William, 281 Clarke, Humphrey, 31 -John, 216, 287, 288, 336 , 343 , 345 , 346 Clarke, Margaret, 216 - Richard, 216 Clay, Charles, 281 --- Mary, 281 Claydon, Little (Bucks.), 63, 85 Clayton family, 280 Clayton, Richard, 280 Clayworth, Robert, 339, 340 Cleaton, Richard, 280 -- Sarah, 280 Cleaver, Alfred, 360 Cliff, William, 338 Cliffe, Frances, 275 - William, 275 Clifford, Richard de, 365 Clifton College, payment by I.enton Piiory to, 177 Clifton Collieiy, 411, 413, 420, 421, 422, 427. 439, 440, 442, 448, 451 Clifton, Sir Gervase, 31, 97, 159, 373, 389 Clifton, Gervase de, 102, 110 Clifton Hall, 419 ( Iifton, Robert, 159 Clifton water mill, 113 Clifton, William, 240, 310 Climate of Lenton, 475 Clinton and Saye, Edward, Lord, 215 Clugniac Monastery, ar¬ rangement of, 56-61 Clugtiy, Abbey of, 54 - Pontius, Abbot of, 61, 64 Clugny, Raymund, Abbot of, 182 Coape, Henry, 385 Cobden Park, 11, 45 Cockayne, John, 464 Cockfield, see Cokefield Codnor Castle, 97 Coins, discovery of, 15 Cokefield, Adam de, 114 - Agatha de, 115 -- Agnes, 41 -- John, 40, 41, 311 -Margaret, 40, 41, 3'i Cokefield, Sir Robert, 115, 189 Collingwood, Roland, 178 Collishaw, Margaret, 281 -Mary, 281 -Samuel, 281, 333, 345 Colston Basset, 95 Columbell, Roger, 312 - Thomas de, 156 Colwick, Sir Philip de, 126 Coningsby, Sir Henry, 194 Conksbery (co. Derby), 82 Constable, Alice de, 115 - Geoffrey de, 115 Constables, list of parish, 342 INDEX. 480 Conyers, Richard, 216 Cookes, Sir Thomas, 195 Cooper, Samuel Thomas, 3 2 $ Cooper, Thomas, 210 Cope, Edward, ro, 204 Copley, Edward, 27S -- - Joan, 278 Cortingstock, or Costock, Andrew de, 96 Cortingstock, Church of, 96, 97 Cortingstock, John de, 129 -Philip de, 90 -Robert de, 96, 100 Cortingstock, Roger de, 96 -William de, 96 Cossall, S7 Cost, Cecilia, 274 Coslinton, Robert de, 128 Cotes (Leic ), 63, 85 Cotgrave, 96, 100, 128, 129, 136, 141, 144, 215 Cotgrave, Ralph, rector of, 96 Courteenhall (Northants.), 62, 66, 67, 116, 136, 216 Cousin, Gilbert, canon of Nozeray, 460 Coventry, 61 Coventry Lane, Beeston, 13, 14 Coventry and Lichfield, Bishops of—■ Cornhill, William, 68 Muschamp, Geoffrey, 68 Nonant, Hugo de, 68 Stavenby, Alexander, 69. 7L 74 Weseham, 70 Cowdale (co. Derby), 62, 68 Cowl, action to recover value of a, 158 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, Elizabeth, 279 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, Isaac, 179 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, Isabella, 279 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, John, 277 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, Mary, 276 Cowleyshaw, or Cowlishaw, Robert, 276, 279 Coxon, Peter, 338, 358 Crampton, Richard, 336 Creissi, Hugh de, 107 Crescy, William de, 40 Cresswell, Edward, 244 Cripps, Rev. William Richard, 349, 381 Croft, Hugh, 38 Cromford and Nottingham Canal, 6 Cromwell, Frances, 397 -Gregory, Lord, 390 Cromwell, Sir Henry, 397 -Oliver, 397 -Ralph, Lord, 37, 365 Cromwell, Thomas, Lord, „ 390 Crophill-Bishop, 89, 136 Croshaw, John, 344 Crossland, George, 28 Croweshaw, John de, 156 Croxall (co. Derby), 62, 68 Croxton, Abbot and Convent of, 93, 94 Croxton, Geoffrey, Abbot of, 94 Cuckney, Isabella de, 109 -Thomas de, 109 Cumin, John, justice itine¬ rant, 95 Cumminge, Thomas, 237 Curci, R. de, 101 Curteys, Anthony, 28 “ Cut-throat Lane,” footroad from Lenton to Beeston, 8, 10, 16 D. Dabrichecourt, Nicholas, 365 Daft, William, 385 Dalby, Walter the cook, of, 93 Dale, Daniel, 371 Dallison, William, 349 Dalmasius, Prior of Lenton, 181 Damascenus, Prior of Len¬ ton, 94, 181 Dan . title applied to a monk, 178 Dand, Anne, 33 Dande, Rowland, 373 Daniel, Richard, 70, 71 -Robert, 42 Darnall, 62, 68 Darrien Presentment, assize of, 81 Daubes, John, 42 Davidville, Robert de, 96 -William de, 114 Davies, Griffith, 336 Davis, Ferdinando, 464 - William, 336 Davyes, Edward, 375 Daws, Thomas, 370 Dawson, Richard, 263 Dealtry, Jane, 260 Deeley, R. M., 447 Degge, Alice, 399 Degge, Hugh, 399 -Jane, 399 -Sir Simon, 399 -Thomas, 399 Deincourt, family of, 37 Delves, John, 160 Denby Chapel (co. Derby), 160-162 Dene, Richard, Prior of Len¬ ton, 160, 169, 189 Derbigate, 39 Derby, Earl of, 459 -St. James’ cell, pay¬ ment 10, 177 Derby, Thomas of, 151, Deryngton, William de, 156 Desboiough, Northants, 63, 68 Despencer, Geoffrey le, 84 -;-Hugh le, 135 Dethick, Sir Geoffrey de, 129 -John, 370 Deverell, John, 367 Dichfield, Edward, 31 Dickinson, George, 287, 341 -William, 34, 287, 336, 343. 345- 346 Digby, Sir Simon, Knt., 365 Digbye, Jane, 274 Dobb, Sarah, 282 Dolphin, Elizabeth, 274 -William, 275 Domesday survey quoted, 18, 35 Dowkyn, Richard, 78 Drewry, or Drury, Sarah, 280 Dryden, Sir Henry', Bart., 226 Dudley, John, 215 Dunham, Sir John, 179 Dunington, Henry, 355 Dunkirk, 8, 16 Dunningstede, 62, 68 Dunstanville, Robert de, 106 Dunston (co. Derby), manor of, 116, 136, 214 Duran, deacon at Flawford, 89 Durdent, Walter, 25 Duston, Northants., 62, 67, 68 Dyghton, John, monk of Lenton, 158 E. Eastwood, Adam de Mark¬ ham, rector of, 97 Eastwood, George, 2^3 -Mary, 283, see Esswayt, Estwait, Estwayt Edge, of Strelley, family of, 43 INDEX. 481 Edge, Ralph, 43 -- Thomas Webb, 331 - Walter, 43, Edward I., at Lenton, 135 -- — II., at Lenton, 135 -charier to Len¬ ton Priory, 136 Edwards, Edward, 467 Eland, Henry, 391 - Joan, 391 -Mary, 391 - Thomas, 391 - Sir William, 389, 391 Eldred, John, 211 Eller, Thomas, 287 Ellesley, Richard. 145 Elliott, John, 331 -William, 326 - William Elliott, 330 Ellis, William, 379, 465, 467 Ellys, Richard, 104 Elmham, John, Prior of Lenton, 158, 183, 189 Elmham, Thomas of, Prior of Lenton, 157, 158, 182— 189 Elmely, William, 365 Elmore, Manor of, 35, 159 Elyngham, John, 151 Empingham, 63, 83, 84 - Barbara, 277 Elsam, Elinora, 277 -William, 277 Enfield, Eleanor Sara, 261 - Henry, 261 Erchin, tenant of Sutton Passeys, 99 Ernis, Abbot of Rufford, 114 Emott, John, 145 Esswayt, Peter de, 128 Eston, Adam de, 73 Estwait, William, son of Godfrey de, 97 Estwayt, Walter de, 109 Etymology, 2 Evans, Anne Elizabelh, 203 - Dorothy, 203 - Francis, 198, 203, 262, 289, 338, 344, 400, 465, 467 Evans, Robert, 203 Evanson, William, 371 Everingham, Lancelot, 237 Exeter, arms of see of, 228 - Bartholomew, bishop of, 107 Exley, Rev. Tristam, 319 Eyre, Rev. John, 249, 250, 2 5i Eyre. Thomas, 399 Eyton, John de, 14S 3^ F. Fairs, Lenton, 3, 7, 141, 151, 303 — 315 Fairgranted to Lenton Priory by Henry II., 106 Fairs, actions relating to, 307—310 Fairs, agreement between Prior of Lenton and Mayor of Nottingham as to Lenton Fair, 304—307 Fairs reduced four days in duration, 305 Fairs, spices bought at, 313 -rates of stallage, 312 - proclaimed in Not¬ tingham, 307 Fairs, iheft of bows brought to Nottingham for sale at, 310 Fairs, deceit in quality of ale brewed for, 309, 310 Fairs, manufacture of gloves for, 308 Fairs, Webber, Thomas, grant of fair to, 314 Fairs, Gregory, George, grant of fair to, 313 Fairs, tobacco, sale of, 314 -decay of, 313 Faile, Anna. 275 Fairbrother, Henry, 370 —-— — John, 370 Fairfax, Guy, 158 Fairfield (co. Derby), 73, 74- 75- 77 Fanshawe, Sir Thomas, 373 Farmer, Henry, 8 Faukener, Flenry le, 93 - Honora, wife of, 93 Faukener, Ralph, 93 Farnworth, Henry, 279 -Mary, 279 Farnsworth, John, 400 Feast, village, 264 Feild, Anne, 282 - Elizabeth, 282 -James, 260, 281, 282, 283, 284, 287, 288, 336, 343 Feild, Joseph, 260, 282 - Mary, 282 -Matthew, 283 - Mercy, 283, 284 - Sarah, 260, 281, 282, 283 Felley Priory, 97, 112, 125 Felmersham (Beds.), church of, 117, 118, 130 Fenton, Ann, 267 -Helena, 276 -Joseph, 267 -Rev. Timothy, 281 Fernilee (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77 Ferrers, Margaret de, 82 -Robert de, 73, 74, - William de, 26, 27, 73, 74, 81, 82, 136, 148 Fewks, George, 336 Field names, 196—198 Fillingham, Robert, 375 Firth, Thomas, 287, Fish, John, 336 Fisher, Emily 293 -Isaac, 33S -James, 293, -John, 242, 274 -William, 215 Fitz-Aman, family of, 85 Fitz-Eustace, Richard, 105 Fitz-PIerbert, Ralph, 88 Fitz-John, Eustace, of Castle Donington, 105 Fitz-John, William, 81 Fitz-Nicholas, Sir Ralph, 388 Fitz-Nigel, William, Baron of Halton, and Constable of Chester, 105 Fitz-Pain, Robert, 63, 84 Fitz-Parnell, Robert, Earl of Leicester, 90 Fitz-Ralph, Hugh, 130 -Ralph, 130 -Robert, 387 -William, 96 Fitz-Robert, Robert, 151 Fitz-Simon, Simon,of Kyme, 108 Fitz-Thomas, William, 81 Fitz-William family, 278 -— Thomas, 179 Flammoynth, Walter, 63, 85 , Flanders, Matilda of, 21 Flawford, church of, 37 - Duran, deacon of, 89 Fleet Prison, London, first warden of, 159 Fletcher, John, 281, -Mary, 279, 281 Flinders, Richard, 336 Flisco, Nicholin de, Car¬ dinal of Genoa, at Lenton, 147 Flower, Elizabeth, 279, 281 - George, 279, 368, 370 Flower, Hellina, 278 - Henry, 279 - Judilh, 279 - Thomas, 405 - William, 278 Foljambe, Alice, 179 - Cecil G. S., 473 - family of, 40 INDEX. 4 S2 Foljambe, George, 179 -Helena, 179 -Sir James, 179 - James, 179 -Roger, 179 -Sir Thomas, 40 -William, 40 Forster, Jane, 274 -Sarah, 276 ——-—• Thomas, 274 Foster, Bathshuah, 275 -William, 275, 276 Foston, Leicestershire, church of, 62, So, 216 Foxcroft, Alexander, 257, 338 Foxcroft, Herbert, 257 -Sarah, 257 Frauncis, Robert, 97 Francis, Dorothy, 203 -Rev. Henry, 203 -John, 238. 243 Freeman, Grace, 284 Freschville, Ralph de, 131, 234 Fressenville, Britan de, 99 -- Willimina, 99 Frith, John, 239 -Thomas, 343 Froggatt, John, senior, 223, 224, 271, 290, 344 Froggatt, John, junior, 50, 35L 353 Froggatt, Samuel, 50, 340 -Sarah, 271 Fulvvood, enclosed by Prior of Lenton, 97 Furneis, Ralph de, 105 Furneus, Alan de, justice intinerant, 95 Fyndern, William, 241 G. Gadsby, Mary, 281 Gameleston, Aunsell de, 389 -Henry, 157 Garendon Abbey, 75, 106, 126 Garforde, William, 146 Garland, arms of, 212 -charity, 291 —-John, 212, 256, 280, 281, 336, 345 Garland, Lucy, 212, 280, 282 Garland, Mary, 28 t -pedigree of, 212 -Rebecca, 34, 212, 270, 280, 283, 322, 326 Garland, residence of family of, 339 Gasworks, 11 Gatneby, Richard, 275 Gaunt, Gilbert de, 109 -J ohn of, 26 Gee, Anne, 281 - Rev. John, 281 -Nathaniel, 338 Geoffrey, Prior of Lenton, A.n. 1315, 182 Geoffrey, Prior of Lenton, A. D. 1327, 138, 182 Geography, 1 Geology, 408-458 Gerard, Archbishop of York, 6 3 Gernon, Sir John, 75 -- Matilda, Countess of Chester, 108 Gernon, Ralph, 27, 75 ■ -Ralph de, Earl of Chester, 107 Gervis, John, 236 Gibson, Thomas, 375 -W. F„ 348 Gilbert, chaplain of Notting¬ ham Castle, 83 Gilbert, Baldwin, son of, lot -Joan, 41, 42 -John, 41, 42 -Plumphrey, 275 -Margery, 42 •-monk of Lenton, 158 Gilbourn, Richard, 336 Giles, John Thomas, 290 Gill, Francis, 259 -Rev. W., 465 Gladwin, Herbert, son of, 99 Gladwyn, Lemuel, 282 ■ - Sarah, 282 Gladstone, Right Hon. W. E-, 353 Glamorgan, Amabile de, 98, 99 Glamorgan, Philip de, 98, 99 -- Robert de, rector of Bunny, 98 Glanville, Ralph de, 107 Glossop (co. Derby), 77 Gloucester, Robert, Earl of, 108 Godfrey, a benefactor to Lenton Priory, 84 Godfrey, Catherine, 279 -Jane, 271 -John, 271, 280, 338, 344 Godfrey, Richard, 279, 280 - Thomas, 49, 50, 51, 52 Godiva, Countess, 61 Gonalston, 63, 85, 111 Gonshill, Dame Matilda, 116 - Sir Walter de, 116 Goodacre, Samuel, 338, 467 Goodhead, William, 338 Goodwin, Alice, 280 Gorges, Richard, Lord, 194 Goring, Sir Charles, 398 -Sir Edward, 392 --Sir George, 390, 392 398 Goring, George, Lord, 393, 396, 397, 398 Goring, Sir Henry, 398, 399 Gonnyson, Thomas, 211 Graisley, Thomas, 275 -William, 287 Grammer, Thomas, 375 Graneby, Adam de, 240 Gray, Hon. Anchitell, 315 -John de, 117 - John, 467 Greasley, Thomas, 336, 343, 345 Greatrakes (co. Derby), 69 Greaves, Admiral, 340 -Gabriel, 28 -Mary, 279 -William, 344 Green, J., 337, 344 --- James, 285, 289, 465, 467 Green, Sarah, 285 - Thomas, 209 Greendale, too Greene, John, 46 - William, 226 Greenlow (co. Derby), 77 Gregory, Barbara, 34 -— Catherine Sherwin, 34, 43, 235, 253, 473 Gregory, Edward, 32 —-Elizabeth, 274 -Francis, 32 -George, 32, 33, 34, 47, 3i5, 348, 375 . Gregory, George de Ligne, 34, 321, 326, 33°, 33i Gregory, John, 32, 33 -John Sherwin, 34 -Margaret, 275 -pedigree of, 34 -Philip, 32 -Susanna, 33 -William, 31, 32, 210, 237, 274, 314, 315 Gregory, Winifred, 33 Grendon, Serlo de, 96 -William de, 81 Gresley, Geoffrey de, 38 -Robert de, 96 Grey, General the Hon. Charles, 382 Grey, Sir Edward, Viscount Lisle, 178 Grey, Sir Henry de, 97, 124, 388 Grey, Dame Isolda, 97, 388 - John de, 125 INDEX. 483 Harris, Benjamin, 216 Harrison, Anthony, 276 Vicar of - Mary, 301 Grey, Sir Richard de, 97, 124, 125 Grey, Richard de, Horsley, 104 Grey, Walter, Archbishop of York, 120, 123, 124 Grimsditch, Saiah, 212 -Thomas, 212 Grove, John, 371 Grunquetel, 99 Grym, John de, 38 Gull, William, 160 Gunthorpe, ford, 89 -mill at, 89 Guyllam,or Gillame,Thomas, Prior of Lenton, 190 GuyIlam,or Gillame,Thomas, Abbot of Pipewell, 190 Gwyn, Thomas, 374 Gvvynne, Nell, 51, 374, 375, 376 Gwynne, Nell, arms of, 375 Gylot, John, 104 Gynger, John, 145 Gyon, Robert, 129 - William, 129 H. Hacker, Dorothy, 203 - family of, 203 - John, 203 Hadden, Henry, 202, 203 Haddon (co. Derby), 62, 71, 76, 77, 82 Haddon, Reginald, chaplain of, 83 Haddon, Sir Simon de, no Hall, Catherine, 279 - Elizabeth, 330 - Mordecai, 335, 336 Hall, Thomas, 290 - Truth, 283 - William, 326 Ilallam, Edward, 289 Halum, Henry de, 104 Hanmer, Cicely, 277 - Ellinor, 277 - Grace, 277 - Humphrey, 277 - Mary, 277 - Philip, 210, 277 - Thomas, 210, 277 - Sir William, 277 - Winifred, 277 Harbord, Sir Charles, 373 Harleston (Northants.), 62 - church of, 81, 215 - Robert de, 109 Harpole (Northants.), 63, 85 Harrington, Damelsabel, 193 - Sir John, 193 - John, 193 - : - W. J., 433 Hartill, Richard de, 116 Harvey, George Bradley, 338 Harvey, James, 290 -— John, 369 Hastings, William, Lord Chamberlain, 159 Hatfield Peverel, Priory of, 21 Hathersage, Cecilia de, 116 - Matilda de, 116 -Matthew de, 116, 136 Haversham (Bucks.), 63, 85 Hazelbeech(Northants.), 63, 85 ITeanor, John de, 39, 236 Hearson, Isabel, 280 Heath, Mr. Justice, on high¬ way robberies. 462 Ileccredibire, William, 131 Ilelgot, 63, 85 Helion family, 76 Hemlock Slone, 434 Henry I., charter to Len¬ ton Priory, 65 Henry II., charters granted to Lenton Priory, 106, 107 Henry V., Elmham’s de¬ scription of King, 187 Henson, Gravener, 356 Herbert, Knight of William Peverel, 63, 85 Herbert, Charles, Lord, 399 - John, 290 Hercy, John, 366 - Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of, 135 Ilereward, Margaret, 150 Heriz, Adelina de, no, in - Geoffrey de, 63, 86 - Ivo de, 84, 85, no, 112 Heriz, Sir John de, 112 - Robert de, 63, 84, 86, no, in, 112 Heriz, William de, 84, 93, no, in, 112 Herricke, Thomas, 375 lleth, or Iieythe, Nicholas, Prior of Lenton, 67, 190 Heth, or Heythe, Nicholas, letter from, 178 lleth, or Heythe, Nicholas, attainder of, 191 Hever, William, 218, 219 Heylowe, Richard, 28 Heyth, Nicholas, see Heth Hiclding, Adelina de, 89 - Robert de, 89 - William de, 89 Hickling, William, 344 Hicks, arms of, 247 -Sir Baptist, 193 - Elizabeth, wife of Sir Michael, 193 Hicks, Margaret, wife of Sir William, 194 Hicks, Marthagnes, wife of Sir William, 194 Hicks, Sir Michael, 193 -Robert, 193 -Sir William, 193, 194 High Peak of Derbyshire, 82 High Peak, tithe of lead ore, 76 Higham (Northants.), 24, 25 Highfield House, 5, 10, 11, 198 — 201, 409, 440, 475 Highfield Park, borings lor coal at, 420, 421, 422, 424, 427. 439, 448 Highlord, John, 31 Highway Board, 346 Highways, Overseers of, list of, 342 Hill, John, 338 - Robert, 331 -William, 287 Hilston, or Ilkeston, John, Prior of Lenton, 189 Hinglesham, William de, 8 d H obson, Thomas, Prior of Lenton, 190 Holfin, Maud, 131 Holies, Francis, 375 Hollingworth, Edward, 248, 288, 336, 337, 343, 344, 346, 467 Hollis, Joseph, 467 - Matthew, 467 Holme (co. Derby), manor of, 116, 136, 214 Holmes, Elizabeth, 326 -John, 336 Holt, Thomas, 385 Hood, Dr., of London, 223 Hooley, Mary, 282 Hooton, Roger, 287 Hope (co. Derby), 70, 72, 73, 75, 77 Hope, church of, 73 - Sir William, 315 Hopewell, William, 404 Hopkins, Humphrey', 34, 282, 287, 288, 336, 337, 343, 344, 345, 346, 465, 466, 468 Hopkins, John, 282, 288, 336, 337, 342, 343, 344, 345, 466, 467 Hopkins, Mary, 467 - Sarah, 282, 341 - William, 288, 337, 338, 346 4§4 INDEX. Hopkins, Rev. Thomas, 49, 265, 270 Iloriston Castle and Park (co. Derby), 100 Hornbuckle, Walter, 326 -William, 330 Plornius, of Ruddington, 89 - Margery, wife of, 89 Hornius, William, son of, 89 Horsley (co. Derby), church of, 100, 103, 130, 136 Plorsley, Thomas, 370 - list of Vicars of, 104 Hostiler, Henry, 308 Houghton (Northants.), 63, §5 Houghton, George, 28 Howard, John, 401 Howson, Charles, 177 Howtone, Roger, 210, 211 Hucklow (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77 Hucknall Torkard, III, 114 Hugh, son of Richard, 63 —— Sheriff of Leicester¬ shire, 63 Hugh, son of Simon, 89 Hughes, David, 467 Hulme (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77 Humet, Richard de, 107 Humfrey, Sarah, 279 Humphrey, Prior of Lenton, 92, 101, 179 Hundon, William de, 145 Hunsdon, Henry Carey, Lord, 173 Huns worth (Yorks.), church of, 103 Hunt, Thomas, 47 Hurst, William, 42, 43 Husbands Bosworih (Leic.), 63 Hut, William, 148 Hutchinson, John, 28, 237, 338 Plutchinson, Colonel John, 395 Hutchinson, Lucy, 395 -Dame Margaret, 395 Hutchinson, Mary, 281 -Sir Thomas, 395 Huthwaite, Lucy, 259 -William, 259 -William Francis, 259 Huxley, Professor, 416 Hydes, Piers, 42 -Roger, 42, 43 Hyson Green, 44, 45, 292 -Chapel, 299 -Church, 253, Hyson Green, Schools, 297 I. He, John del, 157 Ilkeston, or Hilston, John, Prior of Lenton, 189 Inclosures, 316-333 Inclosure Act, 1767, 318 -— 1796, 328 -Award, 1768, 319- 326 Inclosure Award, 1799, 329- 331 Inclosure Map, 1768, 320 Ingram, Lawrence, 122 -Robert, 122 Ingram’s Mill, 9, 123 Innocent IV., Pope, 70 Insula, Brien de, 118 -Ralph de, 88, 98 Irchester, (Northants.), 62, 82 Ireton, Henry, 172, 173 Ironmonger, Thomas, 158 J- James, Alderman John, 33 -Prior of Thetford, 182 -Robert, 344 Jerusalem, Patriarch of, 135 Jocelin, 85 John, King, charters granted to Lenton Priory by, 116- 119 John, Prior of Lenton, 159 -—-—- son of Thomas the Leech, 133 John XXII., Pope, 75 Johnson, Joan, 278 -- George, 278 -Margaret, 283 -Walter, 283 --William, 405 Jora, Reginald de, Prior of Lenton, 131, 181 Jorz, Richard de, 129 K. Katull, John, 145 Kaytsank, William, 39 Keetley, Ann, 283 -Anne, 283 -Elizabeth, 282, 283 - George, 282 - James, 282 - Joanna. 282, 284 - John, 282, 288, 337, 344, 462 Keetley, Joseph, 282 -Matthew, 283 -Samuel, 270, 282, 283, 287, 288, 289, 290, 293, 336-338, 343, 345, 346 Keetley, Thomas, 283 -- William, 282, 337, 344 Keighton, village of, 5, 8, IS, l6 , 62, 152 Kelladine, Thomas, 287, 335 Kenilworth, Prior of, 70 Kenion, Ralph, 213 Kenrick, Rev. John, 261 Kent, Henry, 104, 160, 161 Kersall Cell, Lancashire, 107, 10S, 117, 151, 213, 214 Kettleby, John, 288, 337, 343 Key worth, 110, 122, 126 Kilborne, John, 210, 287 Kilburne, Albert, Knight of, 100 Killamarsh (co. Derby), 85 Killingley, Elizabeth, 259 -James, 331 -J ohn Wright, 259, 285, 289, 337, 344 Kimberley, 116 Kinoulton, manor of, 136 Kirk, Joseph, 287 -Thomas, 289 -William, 271, 338, 348 Kirk Langley (co. Derby), 63, 87 Ivirke, George, 211 Kirkton, see Keighton Kivelix, Hugh, Earl of Chester, 27 Knaggs, John, 285, 287 Knight, William, 338 Kniveton, Geoffrey de, 365 Knolles, John, 171 Knowle (co. Derby), 63 Kyme, Simon de, 108 -Rose, wife of, 109 -Walter de, 109 Kynmerley, Robert de, 97, 124 Kyrkton, decay of, 152 L. Lacey, James, 336 -Joseph, 343 -Robert, 285, 287 Laci, John de, Constable of Chester, 104, 105, 106 Laci, Robert de, lord of Pontefract, 105 Lacy, Henry de, Earl of Lincoln, 135 292-294 INDEX. Lacy, Joseph, 287 Lambcote, Hugh de, 109 - William de, 109 Lambert, William, 204 Lamin, John, 51, 338 Lancaster, Avicia de, 25 - Duchy of, 26 — - Earl of, 137 - John, Duke of, 75 Lancaster, William de, 25 Langar, 80, 119, 120, 158 -- church, 62 Langeton, Thomas de, 236 Langford, Cecilia de, 116 - George, 290, 338 - John, 237 -Nigel de, 116 Langley (co. Derby), 63, 87 - Geoffrey de, 364 — -• William, 370 Langton, Alice de, 150 Langtree, •—, 68 Lathorn, Sir Robert de, no Latimer, Edward, Viscount, 165 Latimer, William de. 128 Launde, John de la, 145 -Prior of, 70, 71 Lawley, Sir Thomas, Bart., 396, 397 Lecester, sometimes Leices¬ ter, Anne, 274, 276 Lecester, Edward, 276, 277 - Henry, 275 - Humphrey, 275 - Isabella, 274 - James, 274, 275, 276 Lecester, Jane, 274 - Joan, 277 - John, 247, 274, 276, 277 Lecester, Luke, 274 - Margaret, 274 - Mary, 276, 277 - Richard, 274 - Sarah, 277 - Thomas, 278 - William, 278 Led wort, 214 Lee, Henry, 171 - James Holwell, 203 - Sarah, 202 - William, 202 Leeds, Duke of, 214 Leek, Sir Francis, Knight, 214 Leek, Ralph, 36 - see Leke Leeminge, Elinora, 277 -Frances, 275, 277 Leeminge, John, 275, 277 - Mary, 276 Leen, River, 2—4, 61, 162, 169, 225 Lees, Ralph, 274 Legard, James Anlaby, 470 Leicester Abbey, 82 --— collegiate church of, founded, 89 Leicester, monks of, 91 -Honour of, 91, 93 -Richard, Abbot of, 99 Leicester, Robert de Bello- mont, Earl of, 89 Leicester, Robert Fitz-Par- nell, Earl of, 90 Leicester, St. Margaret’s Church, 75 Leicester, St.Mary’sChurch, 71 Leicester, Walter, Warden of the Friars Minor at, 71, 72 Leicestershire, Hugh, Sheriff of, 63 Leke, Alan de, 125 - John de, 109 - Sampson de, 125 Leland’s Itinerary quoted, 2, 366 Lennox and Richmond, James Stuart, Duke of, 32 Lenton “ Abbey,” 10, 209 -aggravated assault at, 41 Lenton, Agricultural Shows at, 7, 473 . Lenton, Amicable Society 464 Lenton, ancient keys found at, 230 Lenton, area of, 44 - as a Roman Station, 12 Lenton, as a surname, 39 -— battle at, between Britons and Romans, 15 Lenton, Blacclivegale at, 39 - Boulevard, 7, 8, 9, 354. 409. 430 Lenton, Carmelite Friary, i6 7 Lenton, celebration in honour of King George III. 1809, 469 Lenton church, see Churches - climate of, 475 - Coffee House, 468 -— Domesday survey of, 18 Lenton, early history of, 38, 43 Lenton Eaves, 10 - Everard de, 99 -- Fair, see Fairs - Fields, 202 485 Lenton Firs, 5, 9, 203, 204, 426, 431 Lenton floods, 461 463, 464, 472 Lenton, freeholders of, 46, 47 Lenton, Geoffrey de, 39 -Gervase de, 99 - Grove, 10, 203, 430 -highway robberies at, 464 Lenten Hall, 5,6, 10, 11, 201, 410, 418, 426, 427, 429, 440, 470 Lenton House, 5, 202, 469 -itinerary of, 6—11 -John de, 39 -- and Radford Associ¬ ation for the prosecution of felons, 470 Lenton Liberal Club, 473 -Lodge, 7 -Luddite outrages at, 34L 469 Lenton, Manor of, 18—34 -Boundaries of 27, 31 Lenton Manor, Extracts from Court Roll, 34 Lenton, Mart Yard, Shops in, removed, 462 Lenton, Mary, 280 -Mission Hall built, 472 Lenton, murder at, 1877, 472 Lenton, Paine, Tom, burnt in effigy, 463 Lenton parishioners prepare for invasion of England by Bonaparte, 465—468 Lenton parochial perambu¬ lations, 48, 52 Lenton “ Patriotic Fund,” 47i Lenton, pax found at, 226 -- physical features of, 45 Lenton Police Station, 11 --— Poplars, 8, 9 --population of, 46 -Prior and Convent of, passim Lenton “ Priory,” 8, 204, 206, 209 Lenton Railway Station, 6 -rain fall at, 474 - rateable value of, 4^ Lenton, rejoicings on re¬ covery of King George III., 462 Lenton, riots at, 469, 470 -Robert de, 39 INDEX. Lent on, Roman antiquities found at. 15 Lemon, Roman Villa dis- covered at, 14 Lenton, Roger de, 30, 236 -rural library, 472 ■—-— sale of Shorthorn cattle, 471 Lenton Sands, 7 - Simon d <*, 39 -Soup Kitchen, 4'- -terrific storm at, 155S, 459 Lenton, Thomas de, 39, 30$, 309 Lenton, tiles found at, 226, 229 Lenton Toll Gate erected, 47 ° Lenton Vicarage, 7.-35 — 244 - Volunteers, 406— 46S - White 1 lart Inn, 46$ - William de, 39 Lenton Priory, 53—’34 -accounts of Robert Bozun, 134 Lenton Priory, agreement between, and the Burges¬ ses of Nottingham, regard¬ ing Lenton Fa:r,305—307, 3 ii Lenton Priory, architecture of, 216, 217' Lenton Priory, arms of. 231 - building in the Saturday Market, N 0 : gham, given to them by Gilbert de Beeston, 306 Lenton Priory cemetery, Lenton Priory, corrody granted to Robert Penne, H 3 Lenton Friory, demolition of, 217 Lenton Priory, descent of site of, 193. 213 Lector. Priory dissolved, 191 - excavations at, 220, 223 Lenton Priory founded by William Peverel, 61 Lenton Priorv gate house, 221, 340 Lenton Triory, lead from, 217 Lent on Priory made denizen, 14S Lemon Priory, possessions, grants of, 213— 216 Lector Priory, pleas regard¬ ing the repairing of a pyx belonging to, 14S, I49, 15° Lenton, Prior of, summoned to Parliament, 127 Lenton Prior v, remains of, Lenton Priory, registers of, 2 3 -- 2 33 _ Lenton Priory, reports on, by visitors of Clugny Abbey. 126, 129, 130 Lenton Priory, seal of, 231, 232 Lenton Priory, seal of Alan, sub- Prior of, 232 Lenton Priory, Valor JEccles- iasiicns relating to, 175— 17S Leofric, Earl of Mercia, 61 Leominster, 6i Lester, Francis. 279 - Hannah, 2S1 - Thomas, 47, 2S1, Leversage, Agnes, 170 Lewes Priorv, 54, 55, 5S, 61 Lewin, Ralph, son of, 99 Lewis, Cornewall, 406 Lexington, Henry de, 72, 1/9 Lexington, John de, Lord Keeper, 179 Lexington, Robert de, Prior of Lenton, and Justice Itinerant, 179—1S1 Lichfield, Dean and Chapter of, dispute with Lenton Priory as to the tithes in the Peak of Derbyshire, 6S— 77 - 13 ° Lichfield, documents at. re¬ lating to Lenton Priory, 7 1 73 Liehela'.e. Huge de, 114 Linby Church, 62, 79, So, 215 I.inby, Michael de, 240 Lincoln, diocese of, 5 - Christopher, Bishop of, 253 Lincoln, Henry de Lexing¬ ton, Bishop of, 179 Lincoln, Hugh, Bishop of, So, 90 Lincoln, Robert, Bishop of, 6 3 Lincoln, Henry de Lexing¬ ton, Dean of. 72 Lincoln. Master of the Sch ols at, 70 Lir.dum, a Roman Station, 12 Lisle, Sir Edward Grey, Viscount, 1 7S Lister, Thomas, 46 Lisures Albreda de, 105 Livesey, John, 356, 357, 35S Loan, Contribution by Prior of Lenton to the, 1522, 175 Local Board, 34S LocalGovernment, 334—354 Locke, Edmund, 28 Lollards, Elmhanvs anti¬ pathy to, 1S4 London, Corporation of City of, Lenton Manor granted to, 31 London, Gilbert, Bishop of, 106 London, Prior of the Black Preachers, 71 Londonderry, Thomas, Earl of, 397 Longebothem, 39 Long Eaton, alluvial deposits of Trent at, 450 Lord, Robert, 2S4 Loudham, John de, 390 Louise, H. R. H. The Princess, 3S2 Lovatt Rebecca 339 Lovelas, William, 275 Lovell, Sir Thomas, 311 - Sir W illiam, 37 Lovet, Ralph, 260 Lowdham, see Loudham and Ludham Lowe, Alfred, 11, 199, 33S, 470 , 47 • Lowe, Major A. E. Lawson, on tiles, 227 Lowe, Edward Joseph, 15, 16, 200, 201, 230, 422, 424, 436 , 437 , 442 , 449 Lowe, John, 172 -- Joseph, Alderman, 172, icS, 466 Lowe, Joseph Hurst, 199, 33S 'Lowe, Lawrence, Recorder of Nottingham, 160, 161, 162 Lowe, Robert, of Newton Hall, 172, 173 Lowe. Robert, of Oxlon, 379 -Robert, jun, 3S5 - William, 469, 470 - William Drury, 2S0 Lucius III., Pope, 113 Luddite riots, 341 Ludham, Gervase de, S9 Lutterell, Geoffrey de, no Luvetot, Sir John de, 3SS -Roger de, 3SS Lynham, Susanna, 206 - William, 206 Lyndeby, Michael de, 240 INDEX. 487 M. Malahcrbe, Ralph, 63, 85 Malebisse, Matilda, 98 Malefield, John, 41, 42 Malet, Alan, 128 - Thomas, 128 Malinere, William le, 104 Malmesbury, William of, 55 Malperteshal, Gilbert de, 118 Malquioci, Geoffrey de, 113 Maltby, William, 375 Manchester, John, 158 Mandeville, Geoffrey de, 105 Manistersons, Hugh, 150 Mm love, Alliott and Co., 360 Manners, Francis, 367 - John, 28 -Roger, 215 Mantel], Thurstin, 62, 67 Mansfield, Thomas, 395 Manufactures, 355 Maples, John, 285, 289, 290, 338 Mara, James de, 84 Marc, Anne, 122 - Philip, 109, 1 19, 122 Marchall, Thomas, Vicar of Beeston, 145 Mareschall, Roger le, 39 Markham, Adam de, 97 —--—- Margaret, 178 - Sir Roliert, 178 - Thomas, 366, 374 Markland, Elizabeth, 281 - Matthew, 281 Marsden, Thomas, 385 Marsh, John, 340 Marshall, Sir George, 316 -John, 316 - Marmaduke, 316 - William, 287, 336, 3 + 2 , 3 + 3 . 345 Martell, Alan, 121 - family, 35, 89 - Margaret, 37 - Sir Peter, 37 Martyn, John, 237 Mason, Richard, 145 Matthew, Aloisia, 275 - Anne, 274 - Francis, 211, 279 - Joan, 274 - priest of Bakewell, 83 Matthew, Prior of Lenton, 181 Matthew. Richard, 237, 241 Maule, Robert, 364 Mauncestre, John de, 236 Mauntell, John, 173 - Sir William, 173 Mawby, Thomas, 344 Mayburn, Robert, 241 M aye we, John, 161, 241 Mayson, Thomas, 104 Meadow-place (co. Derby), 62, 69, 82 Meering, 112 - Gilbert de, 112 Melton, A de, 135 Mellent, Hughde Bellomont, Earl of, 89 Mellent, Robert, Earl of, 63, 89 , 136 Mekesburgh, William de, 40 Meller, Tnomas, 283 Melleis, Agnes, 174 - Richard, bell- founder, 174 Meppershall (Beds.), church of, 117 Merriman, Edward, 326 Merynge, Francis, 191 Meyson, John, 145 Middleton, Thomas, first Lori, 397, 400, 401 Middleton, Francis, third Lord, 322, 326 Middleton, Thomas, fourth Lord, 395 Middleton, Henry, fifth Lord, 331 Middleton, Henry, sixth \x. ird, 9, 203, 465, 466 468 Middleton, Digby, seventh Lord, ro, 202, 400 Middleton, Henry, eighth Lord, 202, 203, 209. 34S Middlewich Church, advow- son of, 171 Middlewich church, pur¬ chased by Robert Lowe, 172 Middlewich Church, trial re-pectir.g, 173 Midland Railway line, 6 Mildmay, Thomas, 218, 219 Mill, Blaccliff, 79 - Ingram’s, 9, 123, 157 - Prior’s, 11 Mill ngton, Thomas, 467 Mills, note on, 115 Milnes, Anne, 257 - Elizabeth, 257 - John, 241 - Thomas Brown, 257, 289, 338, 360 Mirrian, or Merrian, Alice, 274 Mirrian, or Merrian, Chris¬ topher, 275 Mirrian, or Merrian, Eliza¬ beth, 276, 279 Mirrian, or Merrian, Helen, 275 Mirrian, or Merrian, Isa¬ bella, 274 Mirrian, or Merrian, James, 279 Mirrian, or Merrian, Ralph, 275 . Mirrian, or Merrian, \5 il- liam, 275 Miscellaneous, 459-475 Mollington Xorthants.), 85 Molyneux, Darcy, 165 Monasteries, suppression of, 190-192 Monasteries, Thomas Car¬ lyle on, 192 Monasteries, utility of, 192 Monboucher, Ralph, 40 Monk’s Dale (co. Derby), 77 M ontfautrel, Adeline de, 85 - Norman de, 63, 85 Montford, Simon de, 127 Montgomery Roger de, 21, 25 Monj-ash (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77, 82 More, John, 177 - Peter de la, 93 M reton, Adam de, 93, 116 - Euslachius de, 116 - Robert de, 62, 87, 116 Morley, family of, 227 - Samuel, 348 Mortaigne, John, Earl of, 26, 68, 69, 75', 83, 1 16, 179 Mortimer, Roger, 146, 364, 389 Morton, village of, 5, 16, 62 - Domesday survey of. 35 Morton, Manor of, 35 - Robert de, 365 Mosley, John, 2S7, 343 Mosse, Francis, 31 Mot ram, Wi liam, 146, 375 Mundy, Francis, 277 - John, 277 - William, 277 Murdac, Ralph, 112, 114, 11 6, 387 Musters, Sir John, 376 - JohnC worth, 376 Myddylburgh, John, Prior of Lenton, 1S9 Mylle, George, 215 - John, 215 N. Naile, Andrew, 277 - Elizaoeth, 277 Nan>on, Richard Jeflson, 30S 488 INDEX. Navlor, Acmes Stella, 23S -Rev. F. W., 472 - Stella, 25s - Thomas, 258, 2S4 Neat-herdsman, 346 Need, John, 3S5 Neede, Humphrey, 237 Needham, Caroline, 261 -Francis, 2S1 -George, 34 -Isabel, 281 -John, 338 - Mary, 261 - Matthew, 198, 202, 261, 2S9, 337, 344, 465, 466, 467, 468, 470 Needham, William, 202 Neep, Anne, 281 - William, 2S1 Nether Broughton (Leic.), 91, 92 Nether Broughton, church of, 93 Nether Broughton, John de Bradley, rector of, 94 Nevill, Hugh de, 109 -- John Benjamin, 290 - Ralph de, 109 Neville, Alice, 159 -George, Bishop of Exeter ; Lord Chancellor ; Archbishop of York, 228 Neville, Thomas, 159 Newbold (co. Derby), 62, 68 Newcastle, William, Marquis of, 373 Newham, Thomas, 287, 336, 337, 338 , 343, 344, 345, 384 Newnrarch, Adam de, ill Newstead, Prior of, 38, 66, 86, 365, 366 Newthorpe, 62, 66, no, 124, 136, 148, 214 Newthorpe, John de, 97 - Ralph de, 148 - Robert de, 97 Newton, Ann, 328 -John, 328 -Nathan, 237 -Richard, 28 -Thomas, 237 Nicholas IV., Bull of Pope, to Prior of Lenton, 131- 133 Nix family, 123 — Leonard, 210, 211,212 — Millicent, 212 — Robert, 212 — Sarah, 212 — Tabitha, 212 — William, 211, 212 Noble, Christopher, 279 - Elizabeth, 279 Nonconforming Congrega¬ tions, 29S-302 Norman, Roger, Prior of Lenton, 1S1 Normandy, William, Duke of, 19 Nornranton, Roger de, Prior of Lenton, 94, 1S1 Normanton-on-Soar, Her¬ bert and family of, 96 Normanville, Thomas de, Norris, Elizabeth, 254 -Richard, 47, 254, 742 -William, 239, 254, 284, 287, 288, 336, 337, 343) 345) 346 Norih Wingfield church, chantry founded in, 170 Northampton, St. James’s Priory, 20, 23, 67, 85 Northampton, Simon, Earl of, 63 Northwell, Richard, 310 Norton Abbey, 105 Norwich, George, first Earl of, 393. 398 Norwich, Charles, second Earl of, 398 Norwich, William, bishop of, 106 Norwood, Agnes, 274 -- Richard, 274 Nottingham Barracks, 204, 254 Nottingham Borough Exten¬ sion .Act, 1877, 352 Nottingham Burough Gaol, 204 Nottingham Canal, first boat on, 205 Nottingham CarmeliteFriary 79. Nottingham Coppice, Prior of Lenton has permission to dig for stone at, 125 Nottingham, Corporation of, 7, 214 Nottingham, dinner given annually to the Burgesses of, by the Priory of Lenton, 307 Nottingham exempt from jurisdiction of Honour of Peverel, 389 Nottingham, fairs at, 304 -first slates used in, 205 Nottingham, fishery of, grant¬ ed to Lenton Priory, 62 Nottingham Free School founded by Dame Agnes Mellers, 173, 174 Nottingham, Grey Friars of, 364 Nottingham, Gilbert de, 99 -Guild of St. George in St. Peter’s church, 173 Nottingham, Hethbeth Bridge, chapel of St. Maty on, 134 Nottingham, Hospital of St. John the Baptist, 123 Nottingham,King’s meadows flooded, 128 Nottingham, land belonging to Lenton Priory in Stoney Street, 137 Nottingham Race Stand, 204 -Reform Riots, 1831, 469, 470 -St. James’s Church, 204 Nottingham, St. Leonard’s Hospital, 78 Notiingham, St. Mary’s church, 62, 78, 79, 123, 205, 222 Nottingham, St. Michael’s Chapel, 78 Nottingham, St. Nicholas’s Church, 62, 78, 79, 253 Nottingham, St. Peter’s Church, 62, 78, 79, 173, 205 Nottingham seven arch bridge, 205 Nottingham Subscription Library, 204 Nottingham, Thurland Hall, 203, 204 Nottingham, Thomas, Prior of Lenton, 190 Nottingham, W. de Rother¬ ham, Archdeacon of, 120 Nottingham, White Friars of, 183 Nottingham Castle, 3, 364, 3 66 , 389, 390, 431 Nottingham Castle burnt by rioters, 342 Nottingham Castle, capture of Mortimer at, 146 Nottingham Castle, action against the Prior of Len¬ ton for the rent of the tithes of the Chapel in, 160 Nottingham Castle, Gilbert, chaplain of, 83, 114 Nottingham Castle, lead from Lenton Priory deposited at, 218 Nottingham Castle, Mor¬ timer’s Hole, 432 Nottingham Castle, tithe of mills of, 160 Nottingham Park, supposed sepulchrum commune in, 164 INDEX. Nottingham Park, 276 -chapel of St. Mary “ le Roche ” in, 61, 167, 169 Nottingham Park, Dovecote Close in, 164 Nottingham Park, rock holes in, 3, 4, 162-169, 4°9> 432 Nuthall, Agatha de, 114 - church of, 40, 86, 113 Nuthall, manor of, 40 ———- mill of, 115 Nutt, James, 289, 291, 293, 338 , 344 Nutt, Richard, 289, 337 Nuttall, see Nuthall - William, 467 O. Ode, John, 158 Odo of Clugny, 54 -William, 241 Oldcastle, Sir John, 188 Oldfield, Alice, 399 Oldham, Thomas, 46 OIdknow, Sir James, Knt., 359, 360 OIdknow, John, 338, 356, - Thomas, 319 Olive, William de, 98 Ollerenshawe, Frances, 277 - Robert, 238, 242, 275, 277 O’Reilly, Ann, 261 - Anthony Alexan¬ der, 261 Orrell, James, 399 - Thomas, 399 Orston, Elizabeth, 281 - Plelen, 170 - Thomas, 170, 281 Osgoteby, A. de, 135 Osmaston, John, 202 - Manor, 202 Ossington church, 100, 136 - Geoffrey, parson of, 103 Ossington, Hugo de Burun’s benefaction to Lenton Priory, 102 Otter, Isabel, 280 - Thomas, 280 Otway, Thomas, 376 Ouldfeeld, Mary, 276 Ousley, Richard, 216 Overseers of the Poor, ex¬ tracts from the accounts of, 339-342 Overseers of the Poor, list of. 335-338 Owthorpe, manor of, 136 Oxcroft (co. Derby), 63, 84 Oxford, Edward, 17th Earl of, 380 P. Padley, Ann, 328 -Rev. C. J. A. N., 328 -Robert, 328 Paget, Thomas, 195 -- William, Lord, 194 -- William, 202 -William Byerley, 202 Paine, Tom, 462, 463 Painel, William, 24 Palmer, Attorney General, 373 Palmer, Sir Edward, 216 -John le, 134 -Peter, 111 Papist Holes, Nottingham Park, 163 Papplewick, 62, 66, 116 Pares, Thomas, 195 Parish Constables, duties of, 34-2 Parish Register of Lenton, appointment of, 278 Parish Registers, 272-285 Parker, Dorothy, 243 Parker, Sir Henry, 195 -William, 242, 243 Parsons, William, 290 Pascayl, William, 97 Paskayle, Ralph, 97 Passeys, Alice, wife of Robert de, 99 Passeys, John de, 97, 129 - Robert de, 99, 216 -William de, 99, too Pattin, William, 260 Paveley, Robert de, 63, 85 Pavenham Chapel, 118 Pax found at Lenton, 226 Pearce, Michael, 194 Pearson, Francis, 275 -John, 275 Peat, Edward, 290 - Edward & Son, 361 Peckham, Archbishop, 78 Peek, Thomas del, 308, 309 Peeke, John, 240 Pegg, Thomas, 338 - William, 404 Pencriche, Hamlet, monk of Lenton, flight of, 178 Pendrill, John, 461 Penhill, Alexander, 241 Peninton, Thomas, 280 Penne, Robert, 173 Perche, Geoffrey de, 107 Perrin, Annie, 257, 267 -Richard, 257, 267 489 Peter, Prior of Lenton, 103, 109, 114, 119, 179 Peverel, Adelina, wife of Wm. Peverel, of Notting¬ ham, 23, 178 Peverel, arms of, 22 - Harnmo, 21 -Henry, son of Wil¬ liam Peverel the younger, 23, 88 Peverel, Court of the Honour of, 81, 203, 221, 386-407 Peverel, Honour of, 80, 86, 386 Peverel, Margaret, 26 -of Nottingham,pedi¬ gree of, 22 Peverel, Odonna, wife of William, the younger, 88 Peverel of the Peak, 26 Peverel, Payne, 22 Peverel Prison, 8, 46, 401, 402, 404, 463, 468 Peverel, Ranulph, 19, 21, 22 Peverel, records of the Court of the Honour of, 407 Peverel, seals of the Court of the Honour of, 406 Peverel, William, of Dover, 22 Peverel, William, of Essex, 22 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, 3, 18, 19-27, 50, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 75. 77, 78, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 101, 178, 386 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, Manor of Lenton granted to, 18 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, possessions of, 19 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, foundation charter of Lenton Priory, 63 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, death of, 23 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham,anniversary celebrated by monks of Lenton, 178 Peverel, William, of Notting¬ ham, the younger, 79, 88 Philip, Prior of Lenton, 67, 179 Philip, son of Safred, 84 Pickering, William, 244 Pierrepont, Henry, 216 - Sir Henry de, 97 Pigot, Gervase, 237 Tike, William, 336, 346 Pilgrimage of Grace, 190 Pilling, Jane, 275 Pinder, 346 Pinfold, 346 Pinkney, Ann, 259 490 INDEX. Pinkney, Samuel, 259 Pinnebury, William de, Prior of Lenton, 182 Pipewell, Abbot of, 39 Place, Eliza, 262 - John, 15 Place de Ambaston, Roger de la, 104 Plantagenet, Thomas, 135 Plumptre, Emma, wife of John de, 154 Plumptre, Henry de, 153 - Huntingdon, 3,33, 1 55 Plumptre Hospital, Notting¬ ham, 153-155 Plumptre, johnde, 153, 154, 155, 156 Poictiers, Guillaume de, 20 Poitou, Roger de, 25 Pole, Edmund de la, Earl of Suffolk, 171 Pont Andomar, Roger de Bellomont, lord of, 89 Pontius, Abbot of Clugny, 61 Porter, Henry', 47 ■-Ralph, 288, 337, 343, 346 Potter, William, 338 Pottery, discovery of Roman, 17 Poucher, Herbert, 104 Pouger, Henry, 104 - Herbert, 104 Pouget, Cardinal, 138 Poupet, Guillaume de, 460 Preston, Hellina, 278 -M. I., 165 Preux, Abbey of, 89 Priories, alien, proceedings respecting, 156 Priors of Lenton, list of, 179-190 Priory, see Lenton Priory, Pyatt, Richard, 336, 343 Pype, Richard, 215 Q- Quatford (co. Derby), 62, 68 Quincy, Roger de, Earl of Winchester, 82, 90 Quincy, Saher de, Earl of Winchester, 90 R. Rabacy, Gervace de, 389 Racket grounds, note on, 469 Radcliffe-on-Soar, church of, 138 Radcliffe-on-Trent, Tom Paine burnt in effigy at, 463 Radclive, Anselinus de, 99 Radford, alluvium of the Leen at, 453 Radford church, 62 -land leased to Hugh Willoughby, 157 Radford, manor of, 216 -Marsh, 11 - Robert de, 240 -Vicarage, 120 Ragg, Samuel, 293 Raherst, Hugh de. justice itinerant, 95 Raley, Thomas, 127 Raunds (Northants.), church of, 24 Raynes, Robert, 237 Rawson, Francis George, 10 - George, 50 —-John, 385 Ray, John, 338 Ray’s Catalogus Plantarum, 7 Redinges, Hugh de, no - Ralph de, no Reginald, of Chilwell, 88 -Prior of Lenton, 182 Rempstone, church of, 96 -manor of, 128 --— Robert de, 128 Renals, John, 349, 353 Renshaw, John, 328 Repton Priory (co. Derby), demolition of, 217 Repyngdon, Philip, 158 -William, monk of Lenton, absconds, 155 Revel), Francis, 46 -- Hugh, 391 -Randall, 391 -Thomas, 170, 177 Revill, George, 277 Rhodes, Gerard de, 119 ■ -John, 211 -Margaret, 2II •-- Sir Ralph de, 119 120 Rhodes, Robert, 211 -William, 211, 385 Richard I., 68 -Prior of Lenton, 160 Richardson, John, 370 Richmond, John de Britan¬ nia, Earl of, 135 Richmond, Mary, 284 ■ -Thomas, 284 ■ -Thomas George, 284 Ridgway, Lady Cassandra, 397 Rivieres, Richard de, 23 Roades, Jeremiah, 263 Roberts, Elias, 288, 337, 344 Roberts, Francis, 287, 336 -John, 287, 336 - Joseph, 287, 288, 33 . 6 , 337 , 343 . 344 Robinson, Agnes, 274 -John, 370 Rocester, Abbot of, 70, 71 Rochero, Geoffrey de, Prior of Lenton, 123, 156, 182 Rochero, Geoffrey de, Prior of Thetford, 182 Rode (Northants.), property of Lenton Priory at, 173 Rode, Thomas, son of Wil¬ liam de la, 97 Rodyngton, Robert de, 104 Roe, Samuel, 344 -Thomas, 338, 344 Roger, Prior of Lenton, 98, 121, 124, 127, 130, 181 Roissalt, Richard de, 116 Rolleston, Thomas Neville, of, 159 Roman occupation, traces of, 13 Roman sword, discovery of, 116 Romans, King of the, Henry, son of, 74 Roper, Samuel, 232 Ros, Thomas Manners, Lord, 365 Rosell, Hugh, 101, 114 -Ralph, 114 -Robert de, 100 Rossell, George, 375 Rotherham Church, payment to Chantry priest in, 177 Rotour, Matilda, 150 Rotsey, Anthony, 215 Roughton, Gervase, 282, 326, 330 Roughton, John, 326, 338, 467 Roughton, Mary, 282 -Thomas, 282, 287, 288, 289, 336, 337, 338 , 343 , 344 , 345 , 346, 465, 467 Rowland (co. Derby), 63, 86 Rowsley (co. Derby), mill at, 83 Ruddington, 89, 113 -- see Rodyngton and Rutington Rudsby, Mary, 243 -William, Vicar of Lenton, 46, 243, 273, 281, 384 Rufford, Abbot of, 366 Rufus, William, 109 Rushden, 62, 82, 215 INDEX. 49I Rutington, Fulco de, 113 - Michael de, 113 - Ralph de, 113 - Richard de, 113 - William de, 113 Rutland, Thomas, first Earl of, 28 Rutland, Henry, second Earl of, 218, 220 Rutland, Roger, fifth Earl of 367, 374 Rutland, Francis, sixth Earl of, 374 Rutland, George, seventh Earl of, 165, 368, 374 Ryale, Thomas, 216 Ryley, George, 210 S. Sabbarton, Joseph, 371 Sacheverell, Millicent, 212 -Sir Richard, 366 Sackville, Sir Richard, 218, 220 Safred, 62, 83, 87 Safred, Philip, son of, 84 St. Alban’s, Abbey of, 85 -Archdeacon of, 70, 71 St. Albans, Charles, first Duke of, 374, 376, 377, 380 St. Albans, Charles, second Duke of, 377 St. Albans, George, third Duke of, 377 St. Albans, George, fourth Duke of, 378 St. Albans, Aubrey, fifth Duke of, 378 St. Albans, William, tenth Duke of, 49, 50, 378, 380, 381 St. Albans, Diana de Vere, Duchess of, 380 St. Albans, Sybil Mary, Duchess of, 382 St. Andrew, Sir John de, 148 St. Anthony’s Hospital, Len- ^ ton, 233, 234, 246, 248 St. Ebrulf, monks of, 91 St. John of Jerusalem, Hos¬ pitallers of, 102, 103 St. Patric, Sir Geoffrey de, 86, 112 St. Patric, Norman de, 63, 86, 112 St. Patric, William de, 112 St. Susanna, Cardinal of, 138 Salisbury, Richard, Bishop of, 121 Samon, Richard, 148 Sand Hill, 6 Sandiacre, Peter de, 99 Sands, John, 401 Saucei.or Salceto, Sir Robert de, 85 Savage, Arnold, 170 -Edmond, 170 -James, 365 - Sir John, 170 -- John, of Berkshire, 371 Savage, John, of Hucknall, 170 Savage, Ralph, 169, 170 -s Richard, 348 Sawell, Robert, 28 Say, Sir John, 167, 169 -- Leonard, 167, 168, 169 Scales, Emma, 261 - Lucy Abigail Rich, 261 Scales, William, 261 Scattergood, John, 342 -Mary, 243 School Board, 349 Schools, 7, 295 — 297 Seagrave, Gilbert de, 119 —-Stephen de, 109 Searle, Henry, 145 Selby, Robert, 158 ■- William, 49, 51, 335 Selone, miller of Rowsley, 83 Selston, William de, 236 Serlo, Robert, son of, 100 Sewell, John, 215 Sewerage, 350 Seyrig, John Gotlob, 360 Seywell, John, 211 - Margaret, 211 Shalcross (co. Derby), 62, 68, 77 Shaldeford, William de, 136 Shaw, Adjutant, 284 - John, 49, 50, 51, 265, 271, 288, 289, 337, 340, 344, 348, 465, 467, 472 Shaw, Margaret, 271, 284 - Richard, 370 -- William, 288, 336, 337 , 343 Sheffield, and Peverel Court, 404 Shelford Priory, 28 - Remigius, Prior of, 89 Shelford, see Shaldeford Shelton, Richard, 336 Shepherd, Thomas, 338, 344 Shepperson, Thomas, 351 Sherbrooke, W., 385 Sherwin, Joan, 278 - John, 34, 326, 331 - John Sherwin, 34 Sherwood Forest, 3, 5 Shipman, Alice, 279 -James, 408 -William, 287, 336 Shirebrook (co. Derby), 62, 68 Siddal, Richard, 213 Silan, Roger de, 116 Simkins, Daniel, 385 Simpson, Francis, 341 -Henry, 201 -Rev. Robert, 293 -- William, 287 Singlehurst, Francis, 279 -John, 291 -Sarah, 279 Sion Hill, 4, 6, 11, 410 Sissons, Henry, 344 Siviriaco, or Siriniaco, Peter de, Prior of Lenton, 131, 181 Sligo, first Marquess of, 244 Small, Francis, 210, 211 Smallet, Walter, 102 Smart, William, 282 Smedley, Thomas, 276 Smith, Edward, 278 -Sir George, Bart., 326 Smith, George, 281 -Henry, 348 -Henry Abel, 43 -James, 331, 338 -John, 279, 326 ■-Joseph, 338 -Mary, 279, 281, 326 --Rev. Percy E., 474 -Sarah, 281 -Thomas, 281 -Thomasine, 278 -William, 131 Smyth, R., 370 -Thomas, 145, 237 Sneinton, St. Stephen’s Church, 122 Somerset, Arthur, Lord, 399 -Plenry, 182 -John, 183 Somerville Gervase de, no, 233 , 234 Somerville, Hugh de, iro -Richard de, 110 Southw ell, Diocese of, 5 South Wingfield (co. Derby), 84, 86, 112 Southworth, Ann, 277 -Edward, 215, 277 Southworth, Winifred, 277 Spaynynge, Ralph de, 140 Spelman, Clement, 237 -P., 278 Spencer, Sir Richard, 373 -William, 287, 343 492 INDEX. Spring Close, 4, 11, 409, 426, 427, 447 Spybey, F. G., 230 Stacey, Thomas, 104 Staden (co. Derby), 62, 6S Stafford, Archdeacon of, 75 -Richard, Prior of Lenton, 1S2 Stanhope, Edward, 28 -Sir Michael, 28, 193 Stanlaw Abbey founded, 106 Stanley, Henry, 28 Stanton, George, 271, 338 -Hannah, 271 Stapleford, 63, 86 -Sir Brian, 366 --— Sir Geoffrey de, 97 Stapleford, Hugh de, 129, 134 , 389 Stapleford, Robert de, 134 Statham, Henry, 178 Stathum, John, 227 Staunton, Clemencia, 81 -Hugh de, 81 -(Thomas, 81 -William de, 81 Staynton, Agnes de, 131 Stephen, King, Charter of, to Lenton Priory, 88, 101 Stephen, Prior of Lenton, 182 Stephenson, William, 210 Sterndale (co. Derby), 62, 68 Stevens, Richard, 281 -Sarah, 281 Stevenson, John, 288 -Thomas, 288, 289, 337 . 344 Stockport, Margery,daughter of Robert de, 83 Stocks, Parish, 340 Stoke Field, battle of, 459 Stone, John, 319 Stone axe found in Wol- laton Park, 11-12 Storer, Dr. John, 204 Stout, Francis, 338 Stoyle, Geoffrey, no Strelley, Sir Anthony, 30 - Frideswide, 215 - John de, 150 - Richard, 364 - Sir Robert de, 129 ■ - Robert, 215, 280 -Roger de, 309, 310 -Sampson de, 96, 105, 116 Stretton, Ann, 259, 283 - arms of, 209 -- Elizabeth, 204, 254, 259, 283, 284 Stretton family, 204—209 - 'George, 254, 259 Stretton, George Burbage, 254 , 259 Stretton manuscripts, 205 -Mary, 259, 283 -Samuel, 204, 259, 283, 284 Stretton, Samuel Bilby, 259 -— Sarah, 283 - Lieut.-Col. Sem- pronius, 206-208, 226, 258 Stretton, Severus, 258 -Lieut.-Col. Severus William Lynharn, 208-209 Stretton, Stella, 284 -Susanna, 206, 257 - William, 198, 204- 206, 222, 225, 248, 250, 251, 256, 257, 269, 283, 2S4, 289, 338, 344, 406 Stretton, William, architec¬ tural works of, 204, 205 Stretton, William, museum of, 205 Stretton, William, obituary notice, 206 Strey, Michael, 326 -Nicholas, 237 Stuart, James, Duke of Len¬ nox and Richmond, 32 Stubbins, Joseph, 326 -Nathaniel, 331 Sturtivant, John, 375 - Jonathan, 375 Stuteville, Robert de, 107 Subterranean passage near Lenton, 17 Sulley, Sarah, 281 Sidney, Sir Alvery, 189 Surplice, William, 8, 9, 289, 338 , 344 Sutborrow, Hannah, 280 --Hannah Mariah, 280 Sutborrow, Rowland, 280 Sutton, Helric de, 99 -Hugh de, 99 -John de, rector of Lexington, 86 Sutton, Richard de, Canon of Southwell, 86 Sutton Passeys, 129 -disappearance of village, 99 Sutton Passeys, Robert, son of Ralph of, 99 Swaile, Cleasby, 243 —-- John, 243 -Mary, 243 Swain, John, 338 Swann, Kirhe, 222, 224, 251 Swann, Rev. Kirke, 222 Swinburne family, 76 Swinecliff, 100 Swinscow, George, 336 Swinscow, John, 287, 342, 343 . 345 Sylvester, John, 338 Syson, Henry, 344 T. Tabley, Lord de, 353 Talbot, Robert, 12 Tannesley, Alice, 157 -John, 157 Taylboys, John, 41 - Margaret, 41 Taylor, Katherine, 274 -Robert, 274 -William, 145 Terwet, George, 278 - Robert, 278 Teulon, Samuel Saunders, 294, 379. 380, 381 Thaine, or Thane, Christian, 282, 283 Thaine, or Thane, David, 282 Thaine, or Thane, Elizabeth, 282 Thaine, or Thane, Isabel, 282 Thaine, or Thane, James, 263, 282, 283, 284, 323, 326, 336, 379 Thaine, or Thane, Margaret, 283 Thaine, or Thane, Thomas, 282 Thaine, or Thane, William, 282 Thetford Priory, 54, 61 Thimelby, John, 145 Thomas, Prior of Lenton, 168, 169, 171 Thompson, Benjamin, 385 -----Joseph, 336, 342, 348 Thornes, William, 42 Thornton, Robert de, 240, 241 Thoroton, Thomas, 326 Thorp, William de, 151 Thorpe, William, 400 Thorpe-in-the-Glebe, 63, 85, 125 Throgmorton, Richard, 82 Thurgarton Priory, 80 Thurland, Alice, 159 -Thomas, 159, 160 Tibshelf (co. Derby), 84, 86 Tibtot, Henry de, 129 -Margaret, wife of Robert, 80 Tibtot, Pagan, 80 Tickhill Castle, chapel of, 167, 168, 169 INDEX. 493 Tickliill Castle, siege of, 137 Tidesvvell (co. Derby), 62, 68, 70, 72, 75, 77 Tidesvvell (co. Derby),seizure of wool and lambs by monks of Lenton, 69, 72 Tiles, manufactory of, at Nottingham, 229 Time, Joan, 277 Tirel, Gautier de, seigneur de Poix, 110 Tole, Richard, 375 Tollerton, 126 - church, 98 - see Torlavistune Tompson, John, 46 Toone, Richard, 276 Torkard, Geoffrey, 114 — — -Henry, 114 -Maud, 114, 131 -William, 129 Torlavistune, Adelina de, 98 -Serlo de, 98 Toton, 63, 87 Tottle brook, a boundary of Lenton Parish, 10, 410 Toueton, Ralph de, 116 -William de, 116 Towle, Catherine, 274, 276 -Christiana, 277 -Peter, 274, 276, 287 Towne, Anne, 282 - Rev. John, 282 Townley, Sir Charles, 283 - John,283 -Mary, 283 - Sarah, 283 Townsend, Elizabeth, 283 -George, 285 -John, 461, --Jonathan, 239, 283 Townsend, Mary, 281, 282, 283, 461 Townsend, Rosomond, 279 - Thomas, 239, 326 Townsend, Vicesimus, 279, 281, 282, 283, 284 Townshend, see Townsend Trent, river, a boundary of Lenton parish, I Tresham, William, 36 Trestles, action to recover value of pair of, 158 Trollop, James, 399 Tucker, Richard Grant, 338, 344 Tumby, John de, 150 Tunstead (co. Derby), 69 Turner, Rev. Henry, 261, 262 Twistfeld, Christopher, 146 Twyford Arnald of, 119 -Katherine, 119 Tyrell family, 76 Tylheby, William de, 389 V. Vache, Richard de la, 365 Vale Royal, Abbot of, 140 Valor Ecclesiasticus, income of Priory as stated in, 175- 178 Vavasour, Sir Robert le, 124, 388 Velley, Richard, 314 Vere, Roger de, 114 Vernon, Avicia, wife of Richard de, 83 Vernon, Dorothy, 28 - Sir Henry, 76 -Margery, wife of William de, 83 Vernon, Richard de, 83 - William de, 83 Vicarage, 7, 235-244 Vicars of Lenton, see— Anger, Robert; Askewe, Thomas ; Berde, John de; Burton, Robert; Blakeman, John ; Brok- sop, Henry; Browne, George; Clyfton, Wil¬ liam; Creswell, Edward; Graneby, Adam de; Fisher, John ; Fyndern, William; L y n d e b y, Michael de; Mathew, Richard; Mayburn, Ro¬ bert; Mayewe, John; Milnes, John; Odo, Wil¬ liam ; Ollerenshawe, Robert; Parker, Wil¬ liam ; Peeke, John; Penhill, Alexander; Pickering, William; Radeford, Robert de; R u d s by, W r i 11 i a m ; Swaile, John; Thornton, Robert de ; Wayte, George; Webster, John, West, Thomas; W T ood, John. Vilers, Sir John de, 126 Villiers, Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, 380 Vinson, William, 461 Vycare, John, 104 Vyllers, Sir John, 366 W. Wade, Thomas, 341 Walden Abbey, 105 Whiles, Cadwallader, King of, 108 Walker, Avery, 247, 286 -Benjamin, 10, 348 -Elizabeth, 282 -John Benjamin, 349, 353 W'alker, Robert, 275 - William, 282, 331 -William Heape, 203 Walter, Sir William, 373 Wkilton (co. Derby), 63 Ward, Anna, 276 - Isabella, 274 -Robert, 274 - Simon, 36 - William, 248, 276 Warde, Anne, 274 -Barbara, 277 -Jo, 287 -William, 274, 275, 277 Warde, William de, 236 Warner, named in Domes¬ day Survey, 87 W’arren, Charles, 375 Wartnaby, Barnaby, 280 -Ellen, 280 -Isabel, 2S0 Warton, Joan, 274 - John, 274 Watch-house, 341 W'atenhow, Henry de, T29 -Robert de, 97, 110 W'atenhow, Roger de, no Watson, Elizabeth, 256 --— Henry, 256 -James, 257 -Mary, 256 - Thomas Wright, 198, 203, 256 Watnall, no -see Watenhow Wayte, George, 238, 239, 243, 244, 291, 326, 327 Weatherall, William, 271 Webb, John, 323, 526 -Mrs., of Newstead, 382 Webber, Thomas, 314 Webster, Andrew, 287 -Elizabeth, 279 -John, 242 Welbeck, Abbey of, in, 366 W'elby (Leic.), 119 Welch, Matthew, 288, 337, 343 . 344 . 346 Welles, Hugh de, Bishop of Lincoln, 94 W'ells, Simon, Archdeacon of, 117 Wenlock Abbey, 54, 61 Wentworth family, 76 494 INDEX. West, Gilbert, 279 -John, 279 - Robert, 241, 279 - Thomas, 241, 279 -William, 279, 367 -monk of Len- ton, appointed Prior of Blyth, 159 Western, John, 2S7, 342, 345, -Stephen, 336 343, 345 Westminster Abbey, 169 Weston, Anthony, 247 -James, 467 -Roger de, 105 -William, 2S9, 338 Whalley Abbey, 106 ■—--Major Gen. Ed¬ ward, 397 Whalley, Richard, 397 Whatton, Adelina de, ill -Beatrice de, 110, ill Whatton, church of, 111 -manor of, in -Richard de, ill -Robert de, 110,111 -Walter de, no, hi -William de, no Wheatley, Thomas, 287, 343 Wheeler, Anne, 282 -Rev. William, 282 White, Agnes, 215 -Joseph, 404 -Thomas, 215 White Hart Inn, 8, 341, 403, 405, 468 Whitmore, William, 211 Whitwell (co. Derby), 214 Widmerpool, in, 112 Wigley, William, 289, 337, 344 , 467 Wigston (Leic.), church of, 89, 90, 91, 136 Wild, John, 301 - Mary, 301 Wildbore, William, 171 Wilde, Sarah, 283 -William, 283 Wilding, Roger, 308 Wilford church, 3, 460 -Gervase de, 129 - Richard, 156 Wilkins, Rev. George, 251 Wilkinson, George, 340 -John, 289, 338, 344, 375 , 471 Wilkinson, Samuel, 375 --Thomas, 375 Wilkinson, William, 337, 338, 344 Willesthorpe, William de, r 45 William, benefactor to Len- ton Priory, 84 William, Prior of Lenton, J33, 181 Williams, William Gregory, 331 Willoughby, Alice, 158 -Dame Anne, 17S Willoughby, Baldwin, 213, 279 Willoughby, Dame Bridget, 392 Willoughby, Bridgett, 276 -Dame Cassan¬ dra, 397 Willoughby D’Eresby, house of, 392 Willoughby, Edward, 326, 327 Willoughby, Elizabeth, 276, 279 Willoughby, family of, 41, 43- 87, 279, 400 Willoughby, Sir Francis, 233- 39G 392, 397- 398 Willoughby, Francis, philoso¬ pher, 397 Willoughby, Gilbert, 43 -Sir Plenry, 171, 172, 178 Willoughby, Henry, 391 -Sir Hugh, 158, 279 Willoughby, Hugh, 123, 157 --— Sir John, 178, 189 Willoughby, DameMargaret, 178 Willoughby, Nicholas, 157 -of Parham, William, Lord, 374 Willoughby, Sir Percival, 392, 397 Willoughby, Philip de, 364 Willoughby, Sir Richard de, 128 Willoughby, Richard, 41, 157, 159, 160, 210, 275, 276, 279, 311 Willoughby, Robert, 279 -Sir Thomas, Bart, 397, 400 Willoughby, Alderman Tho¬ mas, 43 Willoughby, Thomas, 157, 391 Willoughby, William, 43, 367, 368, 369, 371, 372, 373 Willoughby Wood, 118 Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, 128 Wilmot, Edward, 195, 400 -Elizabeth, 195 -John, 338 -—■— Sir Thomas, 195 Wilson, E., 425, 443, —-— : — Edward, 338 -Roger, 177 -William, 301 Wiltshire, Earl of, 218, 220 Winchester, RogerdeQuiucy, Earl of, 82, 90 Winchester, Saher de Quin¬ cy, Earl of, 90 Windham, Sir John, attain¬ der of, 170, 171 Windham, Sir Thomas, 171 Winford, Dame Beam, 195 -Dame Elizabeth, 195 Winford, Henry, 195 -Sir John, 195 -Mercie, 195 -Robert, 194 -Sarah, 194 -- Sir Thomas, 194, 195 Winford, Sir Thomas Cookes, 195 Winford, William, 194 Winthorpe, William de, 39 Wissendon, mill at, 84 Wiverton, 95 -Gervase de, 96 Wodishawe, Nicholas, 104 Wolf, Sir Adam, 127 -Tortus, 127 Wolffe, James, 210 Wollaston, Sir John, 370 Wollaton, 87 --Church, 311 ■-Hall, S, 391, 410, 429. 445 Wollaton, Henry de, 39 -Hugh de, 39 -John de, 40 — 1 -Park, 9, 11, 44,45, 48 Wollaton, Ralph de, 40 -Skeletons found at, 341 Wollore, Thomas, Prior of Lenton, 189 Wolsey, Cardinal, 226, 390 Wombawl, William, 287 Wombwell, Elizabeth, 204, 284 Wombwell, George, 239, 344, 465 Wombwell, Mary, 281 Wood, Brigetta, 277 -Cassandra, 274 -Dorothy, 277, 279 -Elizabeth, 276, 277, 279 Wood, Frances, 276 -John, 213, 242, 271, 275, 276, 277, 279, 287, 290, 336, 338, 342, 343, 345, 346 Wood, Joseph, 375 Wood, Meriella, 275 - Thomas, 276, 277 Woodhead, Caroline, 472 Worcester, Henry, third marquess of, 399 Wormhill (co. Derby), 62, 68, 69 Worthington, William de, 236 Wragg, Joseph, 356 Wrest, Christopher, 287 Wright, Alice, 279 - Alice Josephine Smith, 271 Wright, Anna, 277 - Caroline Henrietta Smith, 271 Wright, Elizabeth, 257, 266, 284 Wright, Frances, 257 INDEX. Wright, Francis, 202, 239, 251, 252, 264, 265, 270, 290, 295, 348 Wright, Frederick, 202, 290, 474 Wright, Henry Smith, 202, 290, 349 Wright, Ichabod, 201 - John, 198, 20 J, 202, 204, 213, 257, 266, 267, 289, 338, 466, 467, 470 Wright, the Misses, 7, 295 - pedigree of, 202 - Rebecca, 284 - Richard, 151 - Thomas, 284 - William, 277, 279 Wyld, William, 326, 373 Wylde, John, 28 - Richard, 28 Wynkeburn, Henry de, 236 495 Wysow, John, parson of Hickling, 157 Y. Yeomans, William, 289 York, diocese of, 5 -Edmund, 278 -Gerard, Archbishop of, 63 York, John Thoresby, Arch¬ bishop of, 150 York, Richard, Archbishop of, 154 York, Roger, Archbishop of, 103, 106, 113 York, Walter Grey, Arch¬ bishop of, 120, 123, 124 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Pag e 5, line 12, for Belvz'ztr read Belvo/r. P. 7, line 11, and p. 354, line 12. The Lenton Boulevard was opened for public use, September 18th, 1884. P. 8, note 2, the initials upon the Barn-houses, now visible, are T. W. P. 39, line 2 from bottom, dele [Chillewelle ?]. In 1302, the Friars Minor of Not¬ tingham had license given them to lead the watercourse of the spring in Athilwelle from thence to their house by a subterranean conduit. — Records of the Borough of Nottingham , i., 428. P. 46, note 5, add — Some idea of the relative value of the parish of Lenton in those days may be formed from the sums then paid by other neighbouring parishes. Beeston paid £6 12s. od. ; Radford, ^5 7s. od. ; y e Brewhouses, 16s. ; Wollaton, £7 17s. od. ; Basford, £9 13s. od. ; Bilborough and Broxtow, £2 9s. od. ; Strelley, £3 16s. od. ; Trowell, £12 14s. od. ; Nuthall and Awsworth, £13 19s. od. ; Bramcote, £2 7s. od. ; Chilwell, £3 19s. od. ; and Toton and Attenborough, £4 15s. od. P. 63, line 3, for Geoffrey read Godfrey. This error occurs in Mon. Ang. v. 108. P. 85, line 2, for Geoffrey read Godfrey. P. 99, last line of note 5 , for this time read his time [i.e., Thoroton’s). P. 114, note 6, line 3, for baronical read baronial. P. 148, line 4—The statement, derived from Bailey’s Annals of Nottinghamshire, i. 38, that Lenton Priory was “ the only Monastery in the county of Nottingham subject to foreign jurisdiction ” is incorrect. The Priory of Blyth, also in the county of Nottingham, was subject to the Abbey of St. Trinite, Rouen. P. 161, note 1, line 3, for serjeant-at-law read seiyeant-at-law. P. 172, line 5 from bottom, for which is now vested read and these are now vested. P. 173, line 7 from bottom. Fitzherbert, Natura Brevium (1581), fol. 231 h., prints an ancient roll in the Exchequer giving a list of the Abbeys and Priories in which the King had corrodies or pensions. This list was taken from the Red Book of the Exchequer : ‘ In prioratu de Lenton ’ i. pensio’ occurs fo. 232 dorso. P. 194, end of line 8, dele the comma. P. 194) line 2 of note, for his father and grandfather read his father and son. P. 195, line 12 from bottom, for Mary-le-bone read St. Mary-le-bone. P. 206, line 11. Mr. William Lynam, of Eakring, who died August 16th, 1785, aged 67 years, married Ann, daughter of William and Anne Bielby, of Eakring, who died June 16th, 1790, aged 75 years. Stretton MS. No. 31, f. 19. 33 498 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. P. 20S, line 15 ,for Viscount Castlemaine read Lord Castlemaine. P. 209, line 4 from bottom, for Thomas Green, Esq., read James Green, Esq. P. 216, line 3, for Courtenhall read Courteenhall. P. 22S, line 11, for seme read semee. P. 232, line 10 from bottom, for ’SALANI SVB PRIOR’ [DE LENJTO’ read S’ : ALANI : SVBPRIOR’ [DE LEN]TO’. P. 234, lines 11 to 16, and p. 248, lines 2 to 7. The statements here made that the old parish church was rebuilt of worked masonry from the Priory after the dissolution of the monastery requires modification, as several interesting dis¬ coveries have been made in restoring the chancel since these lines were written, proving that, at all events, that portion of the fabric dates from the pre- Rcformation period. On removing the plastering from the wall below the three-light window on the south side, a piscina, with a quatrefoil basin (the projecting portion of which was broken off) and drain was discovered about a foot above the level of the floor. This piscina has been restored and built into the south wall, nearer the east end than where it was originally placed, at a height of 2 feet 8 inches above the new altar steps. The three-light Tudor window at the east end, as well as the large one on the south side (above mentioned), both of which have been recently removed, were found to be inserted in the place of older windows which were originally much larger and nearer the floor, the ancient openings having been partially filled up with masonry at the time when the more modern Tudor windows were inserted. On the north side a small priests’ doorway, blocked with masonry, was dis¬ closed. This doorway, which is 2 feet 9 inches wide, and 5 feet 2 inches from the level of the floor to the crown of the depressed arch, which forms the head, is just below the marble slab to the memory of Mr. George Stretton, and 2 feet 6 inches westward of the present vestry door. This latter doorway appears to have been partly formed out of an ancient window, 3 feet 4 inches wide and 6 feet high, the distance from the sill to the floor level being 2 feet 6 inches. Between this ancient window and the east wall, and above the aumbrey recently inserted (which does not, however, replace an older one), traces of black letter inscriptions and various ornamentations were found on removing the plaster. The prevailing colour in this ancient fresco work was a deep chocolate red. The floor level hitherto referred to was the level of the chancel floor previous to the recent restoration, when the pavement was raised 13 inches. But during this restoration the ancient floor was discovered at a depth of four feet below the recent, or 5 feet 1 inch below the present, floor level of the chancel. This remarkable difference in the floor levels will account for the position of the piscina in the south wall, and of the window on the opposite side of the chancel. On the ancient floor a Purbeck marble coffin lid, bearing a slightly raised cross of thirteenth century work, was found. The lid is 6 feet 3 inches long, 22 inches wide at the top, and 14 inches wide at the bottom. The two blocks of stone which form part of the new altar step were found at the same time. These stones appear to have originally formed one slab, 9 feet 6 inches^- long, and 6 inches thick, the original use of which is doubtful. The two blocks have now been fixed, so that the curious carving on the edge may be readily inspected. These features, as well as the important discovery of the ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 499 foundations of walls about three feet within the north and south walls of the present nave, clearly indicate that some ancient chapel, within the precincts of the monastery, was enlarged, and adapted for the purposes of a parish church, by having the nave widened, and the walls partly rebuilt of old masonry from the Priory shortly after the dissolution of the monastery. The chancel seems, however, to have been preserved intact. We have already referred to the local tradition that the chapel of the Hospital of St. Anthony was converted into the parish church, and the facts brought to light during the recent restoration of the old church tend very strongly to confirm the popular belief. P. 244, line 11. The Rev. Edward Creswell, who was at one time curate of Clar- borough, near Retford, was the master of Wilford School previous to his insti¬ tution to the vicarages of Lenton and Radford. —Stretton MS. No. 33. P. 247, line S ,/or Robert Gaybone read Robert -, the name being difficult to decipher. P. 300, line 1, for 1882 read 1832. P. 307, line 4 from bottom. In addition to the four documents given, the Records of the Borough of Nottingham contain another document (vol. i. p. 75) relating to Lenton fair, which has been accidentally omitted from the foregoing pages. On March 23rd, 1312-3, Roger de Ancaster complained that John Bully had on a Sunday previously, at Lenton fair, brought a false suit against him for 40s., by which suit his goods and chattels; valued at ten pounds, were seized by the bailiff of the fair, and detained from Sunday until the following Tuesday, when “ the said Roger came and waged his law against the said John.” The latter thereupon “maliciously withdrew himself from the Court, and would not prosecute his suit,” through which false suit “ the said Roger lost his profits of the fair, to the value of 60s., to the damage of the said Roger of 40s., and of this he enters suit.” The entry in the roll is damaged by damp, and incomplete. P. 389, line 3, dele the comma after the word found. P. 465, line 9 from bottom. The Rev. William Gill, curate of Lenton, at one time was master of Wilford School ( Stretton MS. No. 33), and in 1808 was the chaplain of Nottingham Gaol. Bemrose & Sons, Printers, Derby; and 23, Old Bailey, London.