File 18 – Work in progress!
Bar Road
IMAGE1801 Newspaper cutting “Plans to save historic barn”
IMAGE1802 Beckingham Marshes Grasslands Project
IMAGE1803 Beckingham Cum Saundby Parish Council
IMAGE1804 Beckingham Willow Works
IMAGE1805 Listing Description Beckingham Station House and boundary wall
IMAGE1806 Beckingham Willow Works
IMAGE1807 Beckingham Station
Gainsborough to Doncaster Railway L & N.E.R.
IMAGE1808 Listing Description Signal box at Beckingham Station
BECKINGHAM CUM SAUNDBY PARISH CHURCH
BECKINGHAM WILLOW WORKS PROJECT
There have now been four local meetings about the Beckingham Marsh project. One to the Parish Council, one public meeting at the Primary School, one in Morton and the latest one held on Wednesday 24 November at The Environment Agency in Gainsborough. The latest one was to discuss the future of the old Willow Works on Old Trent Road Beckingham, to which the Parish Council was invited to send two representatives.
Many ideas of what to do with the building were banded about, all to do with the Beckingham Marsh Project. Could it become a:-
Visitors Centre? Willow Works Museum? Willow Crafts centre? Caf ?
The building is currently owned by the Environment Agency and it is hoped that they will make the building water tight in the very near future. It is also hoped, that sufficient interest can be generated within the community, to investigate: the history of the Old Willow Works; restoring the building to a safe and secure condition; the future use of the building; obtaining funding and grants.
Should this building and its future use be maintained as a Beckingham project, or should it be surrendered to Gainsborough?
Now is the time to be proud of our village and really make it stand out as a place of interest, lets put the Heritage of the village on the map. Do you have old photographs of the village? Would you allow a group to see them or loan them to complete the project and record it all for posterity to storage disk or print?
It would be greatly appreciated if you would anger the questions below and return to:
The Parish Clerk, Kasheme, Church Street, Beckingham, DN10 4PH
SK 78 NE Beckingham, Station Road
(South Side)
Listing Description
8/11 Beckingham Station House and Boundary Wall
GV II
House, formerly railway station, c1875. Gault brick with red brick, blue brick and stone dressings, concrete slab roof. Single side wall, single ridge and single gable stacks. Blue brick plinth, 4 red brick bands, 2 storeys, 4 bays, T plan. Gabled wing to left has single paired sash on each floor with red brick segmental heads. Lean-to to left, one storey, one bay has single glazing bar sash with segmental head. Main range, to right, has central blocked doorway flanked by single glazing bar sashes; above, 3 similar sashes, all with segmental heads. Ticket office, to right, one storey, one bay, has a pair of plain sashes with segmental heads. To right again, toilet block, one storey, one bay, has pair of close-boarded doors with segmental heads. Beyond, to right, boundary wall, gault brick, stone coping, with recessed red brick panels, approximately 25m long.
BECKINGHAM STATION
GAINSBOROUGH TO DONCASTER RAILWAY L AND NER
Work started on this line in 1864 and it was opened in 1867.
This line is still in use in 2000, but the amount of traffic is very small compared with that of 30 years ago.
Beckingham Station was closed to passenger traffic c1955 and to goods traffic c 1965.
The Ramper Road level crossing had automatic barriers fitted c19? On 16 April 1968 a car stalled on the crossing and all the occupants were killed. A bridge over the railway was built in 1973 and opened in 1974 at which time the crossing was closed.
The old Station House, Signal Box and The Weighbridge Cabin are listed buildings.
Mr George Bee in his notes gave the station staff in circa 1900 as:-
Mr E Cooter, Station Master
Mr A Loker, Signalman
Mr C Howden, Signalman
Mr H Goodridge, Platelayer
Mr Cooter was a Londoner who was banished to Beckingham by GNR following a complaint by a company shareholder that he had been seen drinking in a public house when he should have been on duty.
Mr Loker later moved to a cottage in Mosley Yard Lane at the north end of High Street.
In early 2000 this line had its sleepers replaced on the two outside lines of Beckingham section to prepare for diverted traffic when the main London to Edinburgh line is improved.
BECKINGHAM WILLOW WORKS
For much of the second half of the 1800s and first half of the 1900s, Beckingham was home to a willow working, cottage industry. The willow industry in the village is likely to have predated the building of the willow works. In the early 1900s, so many people in the village were involved in the work that the school held an annual celebration of the willow production (which meant a day off for children). There were, at the peak of the operations, two willow works. One was on the west bank of the Trent, near Dog Island, the other where it remains still stand, half way from the village to Beckingham Yards. In addition, work was carried out in houses in the village. This included stripping bark and weaving the willow. The willow works on the Trent bank, which seems to have been more associated with Gainsborough than Beckingham, is no longer in existence. Overall there was probably an area of 50 hectares used for growing willow. Fields to the north of the remaining willow works were filled with willow and, at some point, fields on the south side of the road. There were some further to the north west (which used to be called Beckingham Holt). None of the willow plantations remain.
The products from the willow operation included many everyday artefacts such as chairs and baskets. It is not known how many genuine Beckingham willow products remain in the village, but it would be interesting to discover. Likewise it would be interesting to know what other remains of the willow operation remain in the village – for example there may be, lying around in outhouses, curious Y-shaped pieces of wrought iron. These were a tool used for stripping the willow bark.
The willow works is built in a style unknown elsewhere in Nottinghamshire and it is unlikely there is another similar building in the whole country. It is a unique feature of the village’s, counties and, probably, country’s agricultural and industrial heritage.
From the road, the building may look rather forbidding, with its long, windowless south wall. Outbuildings at the two gable ends are either in ruins or else completely removed. The north wall, however, has many windows and two large doors – one to the ground floor and one opening straight into the upper floor. This pattern of fenestration is the opposite way round to that in many of the older cottages in the village. These are aligned with the gable ends at west and east, a north facing wall with few, small windows and a south facing wall with more, larger windows which catch the warmth and light of the sun (they certainly knew about solar power in those days). The willow works was built deliberately so that the sun’s heat would not overheat the inside of the building and this would prevent the willow from drying too quickly. The north facing windows allowed enough light for working.
In recent years the willow works has been used as a cattle barn. The lean-to shed at the west end, which had been used as an open-air storage and drying area for willow, collapsed some years ago. The main building is now in a dangerous condition and fencing has been erected to prevent access. Some roof tiles are missing and this allows rainwater in, damaging the brickwork, roof timbers and flooring. Broken guttering has caused further deterioration where water has flowed down the walls rather than down the drainpipes. Left on its own, the building may begin to collapse at any time – heavy snow, a single very bad storm or a wet and windy winter could be the final blow.
The building is owned by the Environment Agency and stands in what will be the RSPB’s largest bird reserve in England. There are only two possible futures for the building. One is for it to be restored and used for some purposes related to its history, the village or the bird reserve. The alternative is demolition.
LISTING DESCRIPTION
SK 78 NE Beckingham Station Road
(South Side)
8/12 Signal box at Beckingham Station
GV II
Signal box, C1875, gault and red brick, timber framing, slate roof, dentillated first floor band, chamfered stone coping, decorative bargeboards, turned finials, 2 storeys, 3 bays, 3 bay panelled base; to north, external timber stair to external landing with timber toilet enclosure. West front has, above, 3 three light glazing bar Yorkshire sashes. To north, 2 light glazing bar Yorkshire sash, and to left, C20 door. Above, vertical match boarded gable with ventilator and signal box name board. South gable has 2 two light Yorkshire sashes. At rear, above, single plain sash. Included for group value only.
SK 78 NE Beckingham Station Road
(South Side)
8/13 Weighbridge Cabin at Beckingham Station
GV II
Weighbridge cabin to east of Station, C1875. Gault brick with slate roof; deep cogged eaves, large corbelled external gable stack to left, single storey, one bay. Front has single glazing bar sash with segmental head. South gable has central close boarded door with segmental head. South gable has central close-boarded door. Included for group value only.
Gales came from Manchester c1921. Started basket making. Some sold from stall at Pillared House by Ivy Gale, daughter of ?
IMAGE1809 Southern most house at Beckingham Station. Copied from Mrs. Atkinson’s photo. Her maiden name was Burden. Henry Burdon evacuee children.
IMAGE1810 Photographed 1993, two pairs of houses on High Street, built by Mr Joseph Watson for shipyard workmen. The northern pair are of yellow brick, the others are of concrete. A similar pair were near Crown Farm. Developed 01/10/1993 Negative 24.
IMAGE1811 30/10/1994 Six houses built circa 1990 by Mr. Joseph Watson on Old Trent Road, Beckingham for shipyard workers. Developed 01/09/1994 Negative 24.
IMAGE1812 00/09/1994 Beckingham Station House and Booking Office. Developed 20/09/1994 Negative 24A.
IMAGE1813 Railway Signal Box, Old Trent Road, Beckingham. Developed 20/09/1994 Negative 23A
RAILWAY HOUSES AND FROG HALL
George Bee Circa 1895
Station Master Mr E Cooter
Signalman Mr A Loker – Moved later to Mosley Yard Lane. Joseph Locker buried at Beckingham 09/10/1890 aged 22 hours
Platelayer Mr H Goodridge
Signalman Mr C Howden
Frog Hall J Matthews, labourer
Fred Gosling says foundations were laid for another three pairs of houses, but no building took place. Two pairs to the west and one pair to the east.
FROG HALL OR MARSH FARM
Census 1871
Horberry Farm, Schedule 6
John Clayton Head Mar. 66 Shepherd Sturton, Notts
Sarah Clayton Wife Mar. 68 Gringley, Notts
(Could have been brother of William Clayton who farmed the High Street farm opposite the school).
Census 1881
Marsh, Schedule 101
George Wagstaff Head Mar. 44 Shepherd Lagnarne, Essex
Ann L Wagstaff Wife Mar. 44 Peldon, Essex
George Wagstaff Son 11 Fillingham, Essex
Lucy Wagstaff Dau 9 Althorpe, Essex
Ann L Wagstaff Dau 6 Malston, Essex
Thomas Wagstaff Son 3 Latchington, Essex
Alice Wagstaff Dau 1 Beckingham, Notts
Census 1891
Marsh, 3 rooms, Schedule 5
John Matthews Head Mar. 40 A labourer in Fitting Shop Gainsborough Lincs
Mary Matthews Wife Mar 34 Beckingham, Notts.
Mary Matthews Dau 8 Scholar Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ada Matthews Dau. 6 Scholar Beckingham, Notts.
Florence Matthews Dau. 4 Beckingham, Notts.
Maria Matthews Dau. 2 Beckingham, Notts.
Alice Matthews Dau. 1 Beckingham, Notts.
(John Matthew seems not to be connected with the High Street family of that name)
It is only in the above three census years that I can find this place being mentioned, but it could have been occupied in later years, 1901 and onwards.
Census 1901
Marsh, 4 rooms, Schedule 5
John Sissons Head Mar. 26 Ordinary Ag. Lab. Worker Lincoln
Sarah Sissons Wife Mar. 25 Scampton, Lincoln
Francis Sissons Dau. 3 Beckingham, Notts.
Kathleen Sissons Dau. 1 Beckingham, Notts.
George Sissons Bro. Sin. 24 Ordinary Ag, Lab. Worker Lincoln
Geroge Brumby and family lived here until flooded out in 1940, they never returned and the house was probably never again occupied again. The Brumbys took temporary shelter at the Hare and Hounds and then moved into Teale Cottage, a small holding on Low Street. John Brumby says the plan of this cottage was exactly the same as that of The Mill House, to where they moved later during World War Two. Wesley Baxter says that Pipes lived here after 1940.
Marsh Farm House has since been demolished and the land was taken over by Billy Proudley of Bole whose family still farm it.
EXCAVATION IN OS 147, NORTH HOLMES, BECKINGHAM, N0TTS. 1967 20/01/1989
A small dig was undertaken after large quantities of Romano British pot sherds were found in the weathered spoil from a ditch that had been cleared and deepened the previous year. Samian pottery in the dig is late second century but a surface find is late first century.
Robbin Minnitt carried out the dig and may have other information. Also found were the bones of domestic animals. A year of two later the ditch was again deepened and widened, and in the new spoil was found a broken quern, originally 2’2″ diameter and reused in antiquity for sharpening tools. Pieces of mortaria and a colander were found. One piece of samian had LVCIVS scratched (not stamped) on the base and another had been repaired by rivetting.
Ten or twelve years later, when a ditch on the north side of the Old Trent Road, Beckingham was cleaned, the profile of the ancient ditch could be seen in the north side of the modern ditch where it adjoins OS 196b. This was about ten years from the SE corner of OS 196b. Romano British pottery was visible near the bottom of the old ditch and embedded in the silt.
Photographs and measurements are available. Most of the finds have been donated to the Retford Museum.
Surface Potsherds and Quern OS 126 Beckingham Marshes
These finds were made on the highest part of the field to the east of the centre. The quern was in the hedge bottom to the south of this field.
P J Mason 20 01 1989
IMAGE1814 Ancient ditches at Beckingham approximately six feet apart and containing Romano British pottery near the bottom
IMAGE1815 Elevation showing north face of excavation in OS 157 at Hall Farm, Beckingham, Notts. Summer 1967
IMAGE1816 Excavation in North Holmes, Beckingham, Notts. 1967. Notts Sheet V11.7 Revision on 1940.
IMAGE1817 Elevation showing north face of excavation in OS 157 at Hall Farm, Beckingham Notts. Summer 1967.
IMAGE1818 Plan of excavation in OS 157 at Hall Farm, Beckingham, Notts. Showing alignment of ditches containing Romano British Pottery. Summer 1967
IMAGE1819 Two pictures showing profile of a silted up Romano British ditch in the north side of the present day ditch on the north side of the Old Trent Road adjoining OS 196b in 1982. Romano British potsherds are visible in the bottom of the old ditch. The roadside ditch has since been diverted
IMAGE1820 Two pictures, copies from pictures November 1989. Osier cutting and rod pilling as once practiced at Beckingham.
IMAGE1821 Willow Works, Trent Road, Beckingham, Summer 1984
IMAGE1822 Rod Piller, Osier Peeler or Brake. Found in Garden at Greenwood Cottage, Station Road, Beckingham. Developed April 1993. Negative 19.
WILLOW WORKS, OLD TRENT ROAD
A page of text missing here
WILLOW INDUSTRY AT BECKINGHAM
There were two willow works in the parish, one on the Trent bank and depicted in a picture by Karl Wood (said to be Hammonds). The other (Gales) on the north side half way down the Old Trent Road. This presumably would be Gales’ Yard. I remember fetching willow rods (unpeeled) with my father in the 1920’s for binding bundles of celery. Willows were grown in the field behind the Old Trent Roadworks. According to references in the School Log Book the willow harvest started in March and went on through April finishing at the beginning of May after which a Rod Feast was held. The headmaster refers to many children being absent at the Rod Hold, but whether or not this is synonymous with Willow Holt (Spinney) I do not know. He also refers to the rod pilling which means the same as peeling. The newly cut rods were put into bundles and taken round the village by horse and dry and left a houses for women to peel at piece work, the stripped ones being collected next day when fresh bundles were distributed. Every cottage would have a tool, called a brake, for striping the bark from the rods and one was recently found in the garden of Green or Greenwood cottage on Station Road junction with the Green. I have also heard of children using a piece of metal with a notch in the side and held in the hand for the same purpose.
KELLY 1932 HERBERT GALE – WILLOW GROWER
The rod harvest followed by the rod fest is mentioned the School Log Books in April and May 1863 and January 1868 when the rod pilling started.
This seems to be before the Old Trent Road Factory was built.
IMAGE1823 Gales Willow Holt, Old Trent Road
Wooden Bungalow, Peeling (Information from Fred Gosling)
IMAGE 1824 Plan of Willow and Holt Works
Gales came from Manchester circa 1921. Started basket making. Some sold from stall at Pillard House by Ivy Gale, daughter of
IMAGE1825 Willow Holt and Works, Old Trent Road, Beckingham, circa 1916 as remembered by Fred Gosling
IMAGE1826 Crown Farm, previously the Crown Public House. On the right are a pair of Watson’s shipyard workers’ houses. Milk from the farm was taken across the river to Lord Street and sold in Gainsborough.
IMAGE1827 Crown Farm, once the Crown Inn, and a pair of Watson’s shipyard workers’ houses, Trent Bank, Beckingham. Copies in 1994 from a photograph.
IMAGE1828 Crown Farm pictured during 1947 flood. Viewed across the river from Gainsborough. It is unfortunately printed in reverse. Copied February 1994.
IMAGE1829 Crown Farm, Trent Bank, Beckingham (now demolished). It was once the Crown Public House with approximately twenty acres of land. Also a pair of Watson’s shipyard workers’ houses. Crown Farm was farmed by a Mr Brown, then by King and Cooper earlier in the 20th century. Picture loaned by Mrs Jean Booth, 29 Queensfield, Off Mayfield Avenue, Ropery Road, Gainsborough. Developed August 94. Negative No. 6
IMAGE1830 1947 Floods. Barges loaded with stone brought to fill the gaps in the Trent Bank. Copied at end of October 1988.
IMAGE1832 Floods at Beckingham Shipyard in 1940. Copied 1994. Developed August 1994. Negative No 5. From Mrs Jean Booth’s picture, 25 Queensfield, Off Mayfield Avenue, Ropery Road, Gainsborough.
IMAGE1833 Floods at Beckingham Shipyard in 1940. Copied 1994. Developed August 1995. Negative No 3. From Mrs Jean Booth’s picture, 25 Queensfield, Off Mayfield Avenue, Ropery Road, Gainsborough.
TRENTSIDE FARM AND CROWN INN, OR THE SUN
These appears to have been a farm and inn on the river bank in the South Ings on the 22a 2r 20p of land allotted to Thomas Waterhouse in the Enclosure Awards. Teale Cottage Deeds refer to it as part of the Waterhouse – Massingberd Estate inherited in 1840 by Mary Jane Teale. In 1842 it was described as Messuage, buildings, 2 closes of land, and land used as a wharf in the tenancy of Charles Parkin and John Wright. The two closes of land were called South and North Ings, but as it was in the South Ings and eventually divided into three, the description on the deeds seems mistaken. The 1887 25″ Ordnance Survey map shows buildings towards the South East corner of the property on the river side, and on adjacent land to the south a disused oil mill. In 1887 the Teale deeds give this land as Mrs Meggitts portion, being Eighth and Ninth Ings house, buildings and garden of 22a 2r 20p in the Tenancy of John Clay.
Mrs Meggitt was Mary Jane Teale’s daughter, who was granddaughter of Thomas Waterhouse.
This was called the Sun Inn according to Post Office Directory 1849. John Gray, landlord and farmer. The area behind the public house or farmhouse appears on the Ordnance Survey map of 1887 to contain a typical square of farm buildings surrounding a crew yard. The pair of shipyard houses which once stood adjoining the farm appear to have been built on land purchased or leased from the owner of the farm.
1887 25″ Ordnance Survey map Nottinghamshire VII8 and Lincolnshire XLII8 shows the farm buildings on the above site, but not the pair of shipyard houses.
There was a pair of semi-detached houses adjoining Crown Farm on the north side. Mrs Booth nee Watson lived in the one on the Beckingham shipyard side. This pair of houses would be built towards the end of the century, as the shipyard was not brought to Beckingham until 1887.
Browns lived in the farmhouse, they had two daughters, Edna and Rene. The Browns were followed by partners King and Cooper in 1940. Information from Mrs Booth. King was probably the owner and sold to the Trent River Board in 1945. See the Trent River Board sale catalogue in 1982.
The following information was given by Mr P J Wilkinson of Marton. Telephone Torksey 463. Mr Wilkinsons family once farmed here. They produced milk which was ferried across the Trent to Chapel Staith where it was collected by the farmers brother with horse and trap for retailing in Gainsborough. This was around 1930. The farmer was James Wilkinson his son was Angus and his brother William. They were related to the Wilkinsons who had the joinery business on Dog Island in 1932.
TRENTSIDE FARM AND CROWN INN, OR THE SUN
CROWN INN AND FARM, TRENTSIDE
Census 1831
Census 1841
Probably the house was built in this decade
(1849 P.O. Directory John Gray, Sun Inn and Farmer)
Census 1851
Beckingham, Schedule 2
John Gray Head Mar. 32 Innkeeper and Farmer 22 acres Sturton le Steeple
Mathias Gray Son U 12 Scholar Beckingham
Adam Gray Son 8 Scholar Beckingham
Elizabeth Russell Serv. Un. 37 Housekeeper Navenby
Census 1861
Trentside Public House, Schedule 14
George Wagstaff Head Widow 53 Publican Farmer of 20 Acres Beckingham
John Wagstaff Son. Un 20 Innkeeper’s son Beckingham
Sarah Newton Serv.Un. 23 Domestic Servant West Stockwith
(In 1851 George was at the Ramper Road Crown Public House).
Census 1871
Trent Bank, Schedule 7
John Clay Head Mar. 59 Farmer occupying 22 acres Gunthorpe, Notts.
Elizabeth Clay Wife Mar. 57 Car Colston,
Henry Clay Son Unm 21 Farmer’s son Lincoln
Edward Clay G.Son 10 North Clifton
Harriet HunsleyServant 13General Servant DomesticMessingham
Census 1881
Trent Bank, Schedule 7
John Clay Head Mar. 69 Farmer of 22 Acres Gunthorpe
Elizabeth Clay Wife Mar. 67 Car Colston
William Clay G. Son Gainsborough
Census 1891
Trent Side, Schedule 7
John Clay Head Mar. 79 Farmer Gunthorpe
Elizabeth Clay Wife Mar 77 Car Colston
Milly Hollingsworth Servt. S 17 Gainsborough
Census 1901
Trent Side, Schedule 10
Arthur T Jarvis Head Mar. 38 Pattern Shipyard Worker Goxhill
Edith Jarvis Wife Mar. 38 Hull
Thomas H Jarvis Son 9 Morton
Ivy C Jarvis Dau. 2 Beckingham
GAINSBOROUGH LIBRARY
25″ OS Map 1887 Lincs XL11.8, Notts V11.8
Trent Side, Crown Inn shown, but not named as such. No Watson shipyard houses shown adjoining and no Watson Shipyard.
25″ OS Map 1921 Lincs. XL11.8, Notts. V11.8
Trent Side – Pair of houses shown
Crown Farm, house and buildings
Trent Works (Basket) South of Crown Farm
25″ OS Map 1887 Lincs. XL11.12, Notts. V11.12
Dog Island
Building, Wharf and four cranes
25″ OS Map 1921 Lincs. XL11.12. Notts. V11.12
Dog Island
Building but no wharf or cranes
IMAGE1834 Crown Farm, Trent Bank, Beckingham. Printed in reverse.
IMAGE1835 Crown Farm and pair of Watson’s houses.
BECKINGHAM INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES
Census 1831 –
Census 1832
Whites Susan Curtis Hare and Hounds
Census 1841
Susanna CurtisHare and Hounds
Census 1844
Whites George Barker Crown, Ramper
Joseph CurtisHare and Hounds
Thos EgreNew Inn, Church Street
John GrayBeer house and shoemaker
Census 1849
George WagstaffCrown, Ramper
Joseph CurtisHare and Hounds
Joseph AuklandPlough, Church Street
John GraySun, Trent Side
Census 1851
George WagstaffCrown, Ramper
Joseph CurtisHare and Hounds
John GrayTrent Side Public House
Joseph AucklandThe Plough, Church Street
Census 1853
Whites George Barker Crown
Joseph CurtisHare and Hounds
George WagstaffCrown
Edward WalkerThe Plough, Church Street
(Does George Wagstaff move from Ramper to Trent Side at this time)?
Census 1861
J CockingCrown, Ramper
G GabbitasHare and Hounds
George WagstaffCrown, Trentside
Census 1864
Whites John Cocking Crown
William HopkinHare and Hounds
G WagstaffCrown, Ramper
Census 1879
Wrights John Cocking Crown Ramper,
Samuel RogersHare and Hounds
Census 1881
Census 1891
Census 1908
Kelly’s Charles Leaning Crown
Thomas SpurrHare and Hounds
JOHN GRAY, PUBLICAN, MANOR HOUSE LOW STREET
Census 1831
John Gray One male
One female
Census 1841
John Gray 65 Agricultural Labourer
John Gray 40 Shoemaker
Mary Gray 35 (Probably wife of John junior)
Sarah Gray 8
William Gray 6
Matthias Gray 1
Census 1844
Whites Directory
John Gray Beer house and shoemaker
Census 1849
Post Office Directory
John Gray Sun Inn and Farmer
Census 1851
Schedule 2
John Gray Head M 32 Innkeeper and farmer of 22 acres Sturton le Steeple
(Age does not fit. Perhaps he was 52).
Matthias Gray Son Un 12 Scholar Beckingham
Adam Gray Son Un 8 Scholar Beckingham
Elizabeth Russell Serv.U 37 Housekeeper Navenby
Census 1861
John Gray Head M 69 Cottage occupying 7 acres Sturton
(Age again does not tally)
Census 1871
No John Gray as head of household
Although John Gray is always referred to on the census returns of 1851, 1861 and 1871 as being married his wife is never mentioned. Had she left him?
Census 1831 John Gray, Manor House, Low Street –
Electoral Roll
1833 George Barker, house and land, Southfield Ramper Crown
Census 1841 John Gray, Manor House, Low Street,
Age circa 65 Labourer. Age circa 40 Shoemaker
George Barker, publican, High StreetRamper Crown
George Wagstaff. 30, jobber, Aylestone Cottage, Low Street-
Whites 1844 John Gray, Shoemaker Beer house
Post Office 1849 John Gray, farmer Sun Inn
Geo Wagstaff, Crown InnRamper Crown
Census 1851
Schedule 2 John Gray, farmer of 22 acres, Inn Keeper, age 32 Trentside
Schedule 5 George Wagstaff, Inn Keeper, age 44, born Birmingham Ramper Crown
Whites 1853 George Wagstaff, Vict., Crown Inn and cattle dealer
George Barker, Vict., Crown
Census 1861
Schedule 14 John Cocking, publican and farmer of 35 acres, Crown Inn Ramper Crown
Schedule 11 George Wagstaff, 53, publican, farmer, 20 acres, born Birmingham Trentside Public House
Whites 1864John Cocking, Vict., CrownRamper Crown
George Wagstaff, Vict., Cattle dealer, Crown InnTrentside Inn
Census 1871
Schedule 7 John Clay, farmer, 22 acres –
Schedule 10 John Cocking, Vict. and farmer Ramper Crown
Wrights 1879 John Cocking, Vict. Crown Ramper Crown
Census 1881
Schedule 95 John Cocking, Vict. and farmer Ramper Crown
Schedule 102 John Clay, farmer 22 acres –
Schedule 101 George Wagstaff, 44, shepherd, Marsh –
(probably son of above George Wagstaff
Census 1891
Schedule 104 John Cocking, Vict. Crown Inn, Gainsborough Road Ramper Crown
Schedule 7 John Clay, farmer –
Kellys 1895 George Milbourn, Hare and Hounds Public House
Cooks 1900 Henry Leaning, Crown Inn
George Milbourn, Hare and Hounds
Victualler and farmerRamper, Crown
Electoral Roll George Waggstaff, High Street High Street
1833
Electoral Roll George Barker, House and Lane, South Field Ramper
1833
LICENSEES OF THE TWO CROWN INNS
Census 1841 George Barker, publican, High Street Ramper
(Was this the Ramper Road Crown?
John Gray, Shoemaker, Low StreetLow Street
George Wagstaff, 30, jobber, Low StreetLow Street
Whites 1864 George Barker, Vict. Crown Ramper
John Gray, Beer House and Shoemaker
Post Office John Gray, farmer, Sun Inn Trentside
Directory 1849 George Wagstaff, Crown Inn Ramper
George Barker (Not in this directory)
Census 1851
Schedule 2 John Gray, 32, farmer 22 acres and Inn Keeper Trentside
Schedule 5 George Wagstaff, Inn Keeper Ramper
George Barker (Not in this directory)
Whites 1853 George Barker, Vict. Crown (Is this a mistake) Ramper
George Wagstaff, Vict. Crown Inn and cattle dealerTrentside
Census 1861
Schedule 19 John Cocking, publican and farmer 35 acres, Crown Inn Ramper
Schedule 11 George Wagstaff, 53, publican and farmer 20 acres Trentside Public House Trentside
Census 1860 John Cocking, Vict. Crown Ramper
George Wagstaff, Vict. and Cattle Dealer, Crown InnTrentside
Census 1871
Schedule 10 John Cocking, Vict. and farmer Ramper
Schedule 7 John Clay, farmer 22 acres Trentside
George Wagstaff (not in census)
Census 1879 John Cocking, Vict. Crown Ramper
Census 1881
Schedule 95 John Cocking, Vict. and farmer Ramper
Schedule 102 John Clay, farmer 22 acres Trentside
Schedule 101 George Wagstaff, 44, shepherd, Marsh –
Census 1891
Schedule 104 John Cocking, Vict. Crown Inn, Gainsborough Road Ramper
Schedule 7 John Clay, farmer Trentside
Census 1908 Charles Leaning, Crown Public House Ramper
BUILDINGS ON TRENT BANK BECKINGHAM
Information from Pauline Kettlewell – May 1985
Crown Farm was opposite Lords Staith, Gainsborough. Said to have at one time been in pub. Now demolished.
Hammonds Willow Works to south of Crown Farm, now demolished. The Willow Works was originally Linseed Oil Mill.
Farley’s Mill on Dog Island adjoining boundary with Saundby Parish was on of several enterprises started on this site after Farley’s mansion was demolished. All were said to be doomed to end in failure because of a gypsy curse when gypsies were once turn off the site.
GAINSBOROUGH NEWS ADVERT 23/02/1940
CROWN FARM to be sold on Tuesday 12th March by Henry Spencer’s at the White Hart, 23 acres, 1 rod, 22 perches, nearly all grass on Trent Side near Gainsborough. At present occupied by the owner W. Brown who will give vacant possession on 25th March 1940.
IMAGE1836 Meeting the Aegir at Gainsborough
IMAGE1837 Information from Mr Jack Taylor re picture of Aegir. Probably taken 1930-1940 by Kath Wood, the painter from the opposite bank.
The men in the boat are two Brumby’s uncles of Mr Taylor. It is a ‘cob’ boat . They are catching disorientated white salmon in the wake of the Aegir. The spectators are outside the Willow Works. Mr Taylor’s mother occasionally helped here.
Crown Farm and two shipyard cottages can been seen to the right. Mr Brown and later Mr Footitt lived at Crown Farm.
IMAGE1838 Picture of Willow Basket Factory. Painted by Karl Wood. It was owned by Mr. Gourley of Torksey, later at Bole. Brumby’s ran it.
IMAGE1839 Trent Side Willow Works. There was a big boiler used to process the willows.
After pilling (peeling) they were tied into bundles and dispatched by rail. Occasionally a boat would be sent by river to Hull.
IMAGE1840 Lecture Programme Autumn 1989 – Thornton Society of Nottinghamshire
IMAGE1841 Willow Works, Trent Bank, Beckingham. Previously a Linseed Oil Mill. Mrs Taylor of Wood Land loaned the original painting for copying. Probably a Karl Wood Picture. Copied November 1989.
IMAGE1842 Rod Piller, Osier Peeler or Brake from Greenwood Cottage, Station Road, Beckingham
OIL MILL, LATER WILLOW WORKS, TRENTSIDE, BECKINGHAM
1887 25″ OS Map Notts V118 and Lincs XL118 shows this as a disused Oil Mill
Whites Directory 1832 – For Trent Port Wharf, see Saundby
This was once Brumby’s Cottage. Information from Mrs Booth, Gainsborough
Mr Brumby ran the Willow Works and was injured in a duck shooting accident when passing a gun through a hedge. Harry Brumby was shot in the side. The other person involved was George Blundell. Information from Mr Taylor of Beckingham
OIL MILL, LATER WILLOW WORKS, TRENT SIDE, BECKINGHAM
Census Returns
Census 1831
Perhaps John Otter, 4 male, 1 female
Census 1841
PerhapsThomas Otter35Engineer
Elizabeth35
William13
Census 1851
Schedule 3
Joseph Parkinson Head 40 Engine Driver at Linseed Cake Mill Scotter
Elizabeth Parkinson Wife 41 Gainsborough
Lidia Parkinson Dau. 12 Sutton on Trent
Joseph Parkinson Son 9 Sutton on Trent
Mary Parkinson Dau. 7 Sutton on Trent
John Parkinson Son 5 Sutton on Trent
Edward Parkinson Son 2 Gainsborough
Ann Parkinson Dau. 2 mths Gainsborough
Census 1861
Old Mill House, Schedule 13
Joseph Parkinson Head 49 Engine Driver at Oil Cake Mill Scotter
Elizabeth Parkinson Wife 50 Engineers wife Gainsborough
Joseph Parkinson Son 19 Mariner Sutton on Trent
John Parkinson Son 14 Scholar Sutton on Trent
Edward Parkinson Son 12 Scholar Gainsborough
Ann Parkinson Dau. 10 Scholar Beckingham
Martha Parkinson Dau. 5 Scholar Beckingham
Census 1871
Trent Bank Oil Mill House, Schedule 8
Elisha Barratt Head Widower 36 Oil Warehouse Porter Stockwith
William Barratt Son 12 Scholar Pilham
Mary E Barratt Dau. 7 Scholar Gainsborough
Thomas Barratt Son 4 Gainsborough
Census 1881
Trent Side, Schedule 103
Jonathon Bennett Head Mar. 35 Agricultural Labourer Stockwith
Elizabeth Bennett Wife Mar. 46 Scotter
Census 1891
Oil Mill House, Schedule 8
Joseph Wilson Head Mar. 42 Manager, Basket Making Factory Hull
Catherine Wilson Wife Mar. 30 Hull
Ada E Wilson Dau. 9 Hull
Arthur H Wilson Son 7 Scholar Hull
Harold E Wilson Son 6 Scholar Hull
Sidney E Wilson Son 4 Scholar Hull
Russell W Wilson Son 2 Hull
Edith P Wilson Daughter 1 Goxhill
Census 1901
Trent Side, 4 Rooms, Schedule 11
John Brumby Head Mar. 35 Labourer general on farm worker Scotherne
Kate Brumby Wife Mar. 35 Grasthorpe
Claire A Brumby Dau. 13 Walkeringham
Maud E Brumby Dau. 11 Beckingham
Henry Brumby Son 9 Owston Ferry
Herbert C Brumby Son 7 Walkeringham
John W Brumby Son 5 Beckingham
Reginald W Brumby Son 3 Beckingham
Herbert S Brumby Son 1 Beckingham
IMAGE1843 Letter from Susan Edlington regarding photographs of Boyd’s shop and Dog Island.
IMAGE1844 Trent Port circa 1800. From Ian Beckwith’s Book of Gainsborough. Copied August 1994. Negative11.
IMAGE1845 Regatta at Gainsborough, circa 1899. Trent Bank
IMAGE1846 Gainsborough May 1915 with perhaps Trent Port on right of picture and the bridge in the centre background.
IMAGE1847 Trent Port, Beckingham Parish. Ian Beckwith’s History of Gainsborough
TRENT PORT, BECKINGHAM PARISH
Ian Beckwith’s History of Gainsborough
In 1804 William Wharlton mentioned a spacious mansion and pleasant gardens laid out at Trent Port, and the commercial directories show that there were numerous warehouses, two shipyards and a public house there in the 1840’s.”
“White’s Nottinghamshire Directory of 1833 stated that Trent Port on the west bank of the Trent opposite to Gainsborough…” contains a good inn, two large shipyards, an oil mill and several wharfs warehouses etc. One wharfinger, two shipbuilders and a rope maker are given for Trent Port, Beckingham. One of the shipbuilding firms on this side of the river was Furley’s…”
See also photographs in the above mentioned History.
1887 25″ Ordnance Survey Map shows details. Nottinghamshire VII Lincolnshire XLII 12.
FURLEY’S TRENT PORT WHARF
This site has for many years been known as Dog Island.
I am told that Marshalls experimented here with the manufacturer of motor cars. In the 1930’s Wilkinsons had a joinery works here. A gypsies curse is said to prevent any business prospering on this site. (Thompsons are said to have had gypsy wooden caravans on the site 30-40 years ago. Information from Mrs Jean Booth 1994).
There was a railway carriage cottage on Dog Island which was demolished 38 years ago ie 1956. The picture of Crown Farm was taken from Lord Street. Information from Mrs Booth 1994.
This site is now always called Dog Island. Wilkinsons had a joinery business there in 1932. Information from Mrs P J Wilkinson of Marton Telephone Torksey 463.
Lincolnshire Directory 1872 – Gainsborough –
Hind, Charles, William Wharfinger and Carrier Trent Port Wharves.
Pickering, John, Veterinary Surgeon and Victualler, Trent Port Hotel, Trent Port. (Saundby Parish).
TRENT PORT, LATER DOG ISLAND
Census Returns relating to the Furley family
Census 1871 Beckingham
Schedule 65 (Orchard House, High Street)
Mary Ann Furley Head Wife 82 Wharfinger Gringley
William R Furley Son Mar. 45 Wharfinger Gainsborough
Alice Furley G. Dau Unm. 21 Wharfinger’s Granddaughter Morton
Mary M Smalley Servt. Unm 19 Housemaid Alton
Ellen W Lambert Servt. Unm. 17 Cook Beckingham,
(The a/m Mrs Furley was born Mary Ann Crossm baptised 3rd August 1788 and married Richard Furley 12th Novdember 1812).
Census 1871
Schedule 94 (Manor House, Low Street)
Margaret Harwood Head Wife 60 Agricultural labourer’s widow Anston
Frances Otter Visitor Mar. 32 Bricklayer’s Wife Rothwell
Frederick Furley Boarder 8 Scholar Gainsborough
Richard H Furley Boarder 6 Scholar Gainsborough
Census 1881
Trent Port Wharves, Schedule 104
William C Furley Brother (sic) Mar. 56 Retired Engineer Beckingham
William C Furley Nephew Unm. 19 Clerk in Engineers Office Gainsborough
Census 1891
Trent Side, Schedule 9
Dorothy Furley Head Single 77 Living on her own means Gainsborough
Mary Furley Niece Single 34 Hull
Minna Borchardt Servant Single 28 General Domestic Servant Messingham
Census 1901
Furley’s Wharf, Schedule 12
Benjamin B Matthews Head Mar. 45 Painter House Worker Epworth
Ellen Matthews Wife Mar. 40 Snitterby
Fred Gregory Boarder Mar. 23 Painter House Worker Gainsbrough
Ellen Gregory Boarder Mar. 24 Doncaster
Ann Gregory Boarder 1 Gainsborough
TRENT PORT SHIPYARD
Census 1831
Hoprow
7 males
2 females
Census1841
Trent Port
Thomas Hoprow 55 Shipbuilder
Rebecca Hoprow 45
William Hoprow 20
Rebecca Hoprow 15
Jos Hoprow 13
Elizabeth Hoprow 1
TRENT PORT WHARF, BECKINGHAM PARISH
Census 1831
Dickson 3 males, 1 female (Shipbuilder in White’s 1832)
Census 1841
Trent Port
Perhaps
Thomas Dixon 45 Shipbuilder
Mary Dixon 40
John Dixon 14
Joseph Dixon 11
Ann Dixon 9
William Dixon 7
Mary Dixon 5
Sarah Dixon 3
Robert Dixon 1
Census 1851
Schedule 4 Beckingham
Robert Higginson Head M 34 Wharfinger’s Agent Burton, Lincs
Mary T Higginson Wife M 36 Ulverston? Lincs
Teresa E Higginson Dau Scholar Holy Well
Louisa A Higginson Dau Stone, Staffs
Robert Higginson Son Beckingham
William B Higginson Son Beckingham
Clara E Higginson Dau Beckingham
? Connally Servant County Galway, Ireland
Census 1861
Schedule 12 Trent Port Wharf
Eliza Mountain Servt. Unm 28 Housemaid N.K. probably Yorkshire
Census 1871
Schedule 9 Trent Port House
Charles William Hind Head Mar. 37 Wharfinger Cape Colony, British Af, Canal Carrier
Glass and China Dealer
Employing 2 labourers
Harriet F Hind Wife Mar. 35 Burton Stather, Lincs
Lucy O Hind Dau 5 Beckingham
Florence Hind Dau. 2 Beckingham
Ethel M Hind Dau. 5 months Beckingham
Mary H Marshall Servant Unm 25 General Servant Domestic Clayby Normanby, Lincs
Hardy Servant Unm. 15 Nurse Maid Newark, Notts.
Census 1881
Schedule 104 Trent Port Wharf
William C Furley Brother Mar. 56 Retired Engineer Beckingham
William C Furley Nephew Unm. 19 Clerk in Engineers Office Gainsborough
Harriet Chatterton Servant Unm. 20 General Servant Cuckney
(The elder of the above Williams was probably Wm. Cross Furley called after his mother who was a Cross from Gringley).
Census 1881
Schedule 105 Trent Port Wharf
Francis Newbold Head Mar 37 Gardener Beckingham
Mary Newbold Wife Mar 33 Eakring
George Newbold Son 9 Scholar Beckingham
Thomas A Newbold Son 3 Beckingham
(Above were living on High Street in 1891, Schedule 59, see Moat House).
Census 1891
Schedule 9 Trent Port Wharf
Dorothy Furley Head S 77 Living on her own means Gainsborough
Mary Furley Niece S 34 Hull
Mima Barchardt Servant S 28 General Servant Domestic Messingham
Census 1891
Probably Trent Side, Schedule 10, 3 Roomed Dwelling
Thomas Kenewell Head Mar. 36 Gardener (Domestic Servant) Messingham
Mary Kenewell Wife Mar. 34 Walkingham
Eden Kenewell Dau. 12 Blyton
Census 1901
Schedule 13, Furleys Wharf, 3 Rooms
Thomas H StubbinsHead Mar.50Basket maker – WorkerBrigg
Rachel Stubbins Wife Mar. 45 Laundress – Own Account South Kelsey
Sarah S Stubbins Dau. S 17 Dressmaker – Own Account Brigg
INFORMATION FROM MRS JEAN BOOTH
24 Queensfield, Mayfield Avenue, Gainsborough
Telephone Gainsborough 612395
Willow Works Picture
Possibly Brumbys
Ring Mrs Arben (Asquith Street) re Dog Island
Dog Island – first works burnt down
Three works burnt down (curse?)
Mrs Arben – telephone Gainsborough 616766 – Asquith Street
1700 Furley Manson Burnt
2nd Burnt
Warehouse Burnt
1932 Wilkinson Burnt
1940 Marshalls
Brumbys Rod Mill or Hammond’s
Clarks Farm
Walkerith Ferry – Walkeringham side in book
Crown Farm – Brown then Tring and Cooper
Mrs Margaret Arben will let me have information regarding Dog Island
Thompsons had caravans on Dog Island 30 – 40 years ago
King and Cooper
Browns – 2 daughters
Rene’ married Johnnie Owston
Edna married ?
Shipyard side – Mrs Booth (nee Watson)
Mr Percy Wright’s cottage
Wooden house by shipyard
Daughter in Mansfield – Norma
Pearsons old mill next to Trent Port – flat fronted house (between Mr and Mrs Andrews)
Pub (Trent Port) was farm. Last people – names Butchers – had it as farm and pub.
Tom Elsham – Trent Port Publican (left on photo)
Picture of Toll House
Sid Garner had farm (right on Trent Port photo)
Brumby’s cottage – (Oil mill)
Footpath between Wood yard and Dog Island
Picture taken from Lord Street
Railway Carriage on Dog Island. Pulled down 38 years ago.
IMAGE1843
Ernest Levick 75
Coot 75
Limes 75
Cheese (copy) 85
Joiners 70
Orchard House circa 1910
Pear Tree Cottage circa 1960
IMAGE1844 South View of the Bridge and Part of the Town of Gainsborough
IMAGE1845 The waterfront at Gainsborough seen across the Trent from Beckingham side in the early part of the 20th century. Copies 1985. Negative 32.
IMAGE1846 Newspaper cutting from 1989 regarding strengthening of Eight Arches Bridge – final stages of refurbishment.
IMAGE1847 Trent Port Hotel, Saundby Parish, 1940 Floods. Tom Elsham, publican, left of photo,
IMAGE1848 Trent Port Hotel. This is in Saundby Parish.
GAINSBOROUGH BRIDGE
The west end of the bridge over the Trent is in Saundby Parish, but is reached by a road which divides the parishes of Saundby and Beckingham except for last 300-400 yards approach which is in Saundby Parish.
A report in the Stamford Mercury of 26.10.1787 gives the following report. “On Thursday last the first stone of the bridge intended to be built over the river Trent at Gainsborough was laid by Thomas Waterhouse of Beckingham, esq. Sheriff of the county of Nottingham, who being a subscriber to the work of 1000? Gave his hearty assistance of three strokes, and laid thereon three guineas; several other subscribers also made handsome contributions, which added to the numerous and generous benefactions of the people assembled, raised a considerable sum. The workmen, after their labour, drank success at a good supper provided for the purpose. Several of the subscribers and other gentlemen of the town, also partook of the elegant dinner at The Ferry Boat.
Built by local builder and architect, William Weston. Opened 1790.
It was freed from tolls in 1932, but it became free for pedestrians four and a half years earlier. See Gainsborough Trader report 21st May 1991.
The bridge was widened in 1964. The stone balustrade was removed allowing new footpaths to be constructed on both sides supported by cantilever beams projecting over the river. The old footpaths then became part of the carriageway.
IMAGE1849 Retford Times Thursday 13th September 2001 – Workers Shore Up Trent Defences
IMAGE 1850 Newspaper cutting – Last of the Keel Boats
IMAGE1851 HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF GAINSBOROUGH by Adam Stark – 1841
Page 198 “Preview of the building of this bridge across the Trent, accidents must frequently have occurred, particularly on the market days, when numbers of people are anxious to pass and some perhaps not in the best state to consider consequences. One of these accidents appears to have occurred in 1760, an account of which is preserved in The Royal Magazine, as follows:- “On Tuesday, December 23rd, Mr Hall’s servant, of Beckingham, returning from market, and finding the ferry boat pushing off from the shore, full of people, was so rash and imprudent, to say no worse of it, as to leap his horse into the boat, and with the violence of the fall drove the poor people and their horses to the further side, which instantly carried the boat into the middle of the steam and upset it. By this accident six people perished, a number were brought to left with difficulty. It was happy for him that so many horses were on board, as all who had time to lay hold of a stirrup or a horses tail were brought safe to shore.
A poor man who had a large basket of fowls on his arm, was providentially buoyed up till assistance could be had, and he, after many fruitless attempts, was taken up alive, though senseless, at the distance of four hundred yards from the ferry. A poor woman who had bought a pig and had tied one end of a string round its foot and the other round her waist, was dragged to land in this providential manner.””
IMAGE1852 Copy of newspaper article regarding the First Stone of Gainsborough Bridge, Stamford Mercury dated 26th October 1787, Page 3, Column 2
IMAGE1853 Copy of newspaper article from Gainsborough Standard dated 19th January 2001 regarding the widening of Gainsborough Toll Bridge in 1964.
IMAGE1854 Copy of newspaper article from Stamford Mercury dated 12th April 1844, page two, column 4 re opening of the Trent Bridge at Gainsborough
IMAGE1855 Copy of newspaper article from Stamford Mercury dated 4th January 1930. page three, column 4 regarding Trent Bridge at Gainsborough being lit by gas
IMAGE1856 Photograph of the Toll Bridge, Gainsborough by Lilywhite Ltd.
IMAGE 1857 Copy of newspaper article from Gainsborough Trader dated Tuesday 21st May 1991 Trent Bridge marks 200th Anniversary
CRABTREE LANE
IMAGE1858 Details from Enclosure Map of 1777
1736 Map
Field Name Owner Number Acreage
Moor Close Roger Burton 243
Moor Close Roger Burton 244 0.3.00
Moor Close Thomas Hall 245 1.0.08
Moor Close Thomas Hall 246 1.1.30
1777 Map
Owner Number Acreage Later Owners
William and John Hoggard 193 2.0.18 R Finingley
J Gamson 194 0.1.37 T Waterhouse
Waterhouse 195 1.1.04 T Waterhouse
J Gamson 196 1.1.27 T Waterhouse
IMAGE1859 Recently built by the Difuria family at the entrance to Wood Lane, on the site of two bungalows that were demolished to make way for it. View across the by-pass. September 1998.
IMAGE1860 Article from Gainsborough Target dated 19th March 1999 regarding “Brocklehurst” Wood Lane, Beckingham. Brocklehurst was brought by W Baxter in 1948 for 1,350.00 and sold to Tomlinsons for 1,800.00.
IMAGE1861 Article from Retford Times dated 18th January 2001 regarding “Brocklehurst” Wood Lane, Beckingham. Said to have been sold for 105,000 in August or September 2001.
FAIRFIELD, WOOD LANE
This house was built by Mrs John Dickinson after the death of her husband at The Hall. It was occupied by Mrs Dickinson and her daughter Mary, and the adjoining farm was occupied by Mary’s brother Jack. When Mrs Dickinson died both properties were advertised for sale by auction.
Gainsborough News 12th August 1949 – Drewery and Wheeldon advertise for sale at the Assembly Rooms Tuesday 16th August
Lot 1 Wood Lane Farm, house, building and about 50 acres of land. (This is now known as South Sandy Furze and is on Mutton Lane). (More details with S.Sandy Furze Farm in Gringley Road Book.
Lot 2 Fairfield, a modern house with vacant possession. Water and electricity supplied from the farm.
Gainsborough News 9th September 1949. Drewery and Wheeldon advertise for sale by auction on 15th September 1949, at Wood Lane Farm and Fairfield by Order of J E & M. M. Dickinson, antique and modern furniture and engineering electrical and poultry equipment.
In 1968 this house was occupied by Bessie Watts
Later the house was bought by Mr and Mrs Brian Edlington
Mr Edlington died 1st December 1997. Mrs Susan Edlington continued in occupation.
IMAGE1862 Newspaper Article dated Friday 4th December 1997 regarding death of Brian Edlington
IMAGE1863 Picture of Beckingham Wood Farm
IMAGE1864 Later picture of Mrs Tomlinson’s
IMAGE1865 Beckingham Wood Farm. Mr O Harrison’s Sale, 18th October 1959 Auctioneer Colin Thomson. Copied 1988
IMAGE1866 Wood Farm House, March 1994, Negative 21
BECKINGHAM WOOD FARM
The farmstead was built in 1801 by the Reverend Joseph Stephenson who for many years officiated in Beckingham in place of absentee vicars. The sandstone block placed high in the west wall of the barn commemorates the building of the farmstead in 1801 by Reverend Joseph Stephenson. This is now hidden by a new steel and asbestos shed. The site chosen by Dairy (Deary) House close on what had been part of the Meynell Estate. The estate was bought in 1779 by Robert and William Cross of Gringley and William Flint of Beckingham. William Flint who lived at Orchard House, died in circa 1783 and part of his share of the estate was inherited by Joseph Stephenson and John Brown. John Brown disappears from the scene and Joseph Stephenson is shown on parish records as the owner of the following enclosures:-
218 Third/Parts Hallwood 32a 3r 28p
220 Springs 4 1 24 76acres 2 rods 22 perches
229 Wheat Close 22 0 00 Part of one time Meynell
230 Dairy House Close 17 1 10 Estate
Bishop Piece 24 3 29 Archbishop of Yorks
___________________
101a2r11p
___________________
The last a/m close was granted at the Enclosures to the Archbishop of York as Lord of the Manor. This was probably leased by Joseph Stephenson, as the Archbishop did not sell it until 1854, when it was purchased by Samuel Harrison of Everton. There is thought to be no connection between Everton Harrisons and the Beckingham Harrisons.
It was occupied in 1832 by John Best – See White’s Directory, and in 1844 by John Durdy, but the 1851 census shows the occupier as being John Harrison, farmer of 87 acres. At some time it was bought by Sir C. H. J Anderson. Bart. Of Lea Hall, see the agreement of 1859 when he agreed to lease the farm to John Harrison who had been his steward. John died in 1886, and the farm had earlier been taken over by his son William who was shown as tenant in 1871 on the census return. The farm was bought from the Andersons by Herbert Harrison, father of Oswald on 28th April 1913. Oswald sold the farm in 1959 to a Mr Braithwaite from Braithwell who stayed for only a few years before selling to Mr Fred Tomlinson of Clayworth Woodhouse who son Fred now lives there.
There was at one time a rectangle of brick and pan tiled buildings with the stables on the west side of the square. The crew yard was at some later date covered by a double span of Yorkshire wooden roofs. Tomlinsons have demolished the stables and the yard cover, replacing the crew yard with a single span steel and asbestos building for general purpose use, using existing buildings to form the north and east sides.
This is an alcove the right of the fireplace in the kitchen. There was once a trap door in the ceiling of this alcove which gave access by ladder, to the bedroom above where the young men in service slept.
The threshing barn is approximately 50 feet long by 20 feet wide. Mr. Harrison says that the barn had a floor of stone slabs in the centre with bricks at the ends. There was also a loft over the north end for chop or chaff. And a granary over the south end which was erected by Mr Bee, the village joiner.
The adjoining cart shed had a blacksmith’s hearth with bellows and anvil etc. There was stabling for five horses and a loose box for mare and foal, but usually only three horses were kept, although the farm had grown to nearly 200 acres. At the far end of the stables was a two bay high-roofed shed where coal could be tipped. There was also a row of outhouses that could be used for hens sitting on goose eggs. On the south of the buildings was a boiler house with a copper for boiling potatoes and a stone trough for mashing them in, for pigs and poultry.
BECKINGHAM WOOD FARM
1831 Census
John Durdy, 3 male, 3 female
(White’s Directory of 1832 gives John Best as the farmer, Perhaps out of date information)
1841 Census
Beckingham Wood
John Durdy 60 Farmer
Elizabeth Durdy 65
Ann Durdy20
Mary Durdy 20
John Boswell 21 Man Servant
John Durdy, his wife Elizabeth and daughter Mary are living at Ravenbeck on High Street in 1851. His occupation is given as butcher. In 1861 and 1871 he is a widower living with his daughter Mary at Ravensbeck and still carrying on the trade of butcher.
Census 1851
Beckingham Wood, Schedule 62
John Harrison Head Mar 49 Farmer of 87 acres 1 lab. Sturton, Notts
Martha Harrison Wife Mar 38 Brigg
William Harrison Son 12 Littleborough
John Harrison Son 86 Scholar Littleborough
Ann Harrison Dau. 6 Littleborough
Tom Harrison Son 10 mths Beckingham
Samuel Robinson Servant Unm 27 Farm Servant Wiseton
Census 1861
Woods Farm, Schedule 85
John Harrison Head Mar 59 Farmer of 100 acres Sturton, Notts
Martha Harrison Wife Mar 48 Farmer’s wife Brigg
William Harrison Son Unm. 22 Farmer’s son Littleborough
John Harrison Son Unm. 18 Farmer’s son Littleborough
Ann Harrison Dau Unm. 17 Farmer’s daughter Littleborough
Tom Harrison Son 11 Scholar Beckingham
Fanny Harrison Dau 8 Scholar Beckingham
Hannah Harrison Dau 6 Scholar Beckingham
Elizabeth Harrison Dau 2 Beckingham
William Serv. 13 Farm Servant, Plough Boy Gringley
Census 1871
Woods Farm, Schedule 43
John Harrison Head Mar. 69 Farmer of 100 acres, 2 labs Sturton
Martha Harrison Wife Mar. 58 Brigg
Hannah Harrison Dau Unm. 15 Farmers daughter Beckingham
Charles Clapham Servt. Unm. 20 Farm Servant Indoors Lincoln
Henry Beech Servt. Unm. 13` Farm Servant Indoora Gringley
M.I. John Harrison died 4th August 1886, aged 84. Martha his wife died 21st May 1884, aged 70.
Census 1881
Woods Farm, Schedule 80
William Harrison Head Mar 41 Farmer of 115 acres, 3 men Littleborough
Ann Harrison Wife Mar 43 Kexby
Herbert Harrison Son 14 Scholar Gringley
Lavinia Harrison Dau 12 Scholar Gringley
John E Harrison Son 10 Scholar Gringley
Charles Gilbert Servant 21 Farm Servant Indoor Willoughton
Census 1891
Woods Farm, Schedule 82
William Harrison Head Mar 51 Farmer Littleborough
Ann Harrison Wife Mar 56 Kexby
Herbert Harrison Son S. 24 Farmer’s son Gringley
Lavinia Harrison Dau S. 22 Farmer’s daughter Gringley
Frances Charlesworth Servt. S 23 General Servant, domestic York
George Maw Servt. S 13 Farm Servant Stockwith
Census 1901
Woods Farm, Schedule 72
Herbert Harrison Head Mar 34 Farmer Employer Gringley
Louisa Harrison Wife Mar 32 Lea
Edith Harrison Dau 5 Beckingham
William H Harrison Son 3 Beckingham
Ernest G Harrison Son 1 Beckingham
Ruth Howden Servt. 20 General Domestic Servant Bishop Norton
George Harrison Servt. 19 Horsemen on farm – worker Normanby
IMAGE1867 Record of Commemoration in Memory of William Henry Harrison
BECKINGHAM WOOD FARM
M.I. in churchyard
John Harrison died 4th August 1886 aged 84
His wife Martha died 21st May 1884 aged 70
Mr O Harrison has a Conveyance of 24th December 1802
George Riley to James Gamson
And a document of 31st March 1919
Trustees of Mrs E M B Wraith to Mr Herbert Harrison
16 acres 1 rod 8 perches and 3 closes containing 23 acres
This would be part of the Duckle Estate
Mr Oswald said part of the lower land was used to grow watercress and celery. He still owns some of the woodland that was once part of the holding
Joseph Stephenson, clerk (he built this farmstead) married Elizabeth Brumhead by licence at Beckingham 15th August 1970. He is not on the list of vicars at Beckingham, but was curate for non-resident vicars.
Wood Farm – Abstract of Title for Charles Henry John Anderson of Lea from copy held by Mr Oswald Harrison, the following acreages were taken.
ARP
18 The Springs 6 0 10
19 Trent Side Field 12 3 10
22 Massingbred Close 1 3 30
23 Massingbred Close 7 3 20
24 Garden Field 13 1 15
25 Gringley Hill Field 12 2 18
26 House and Garden 9 1 23
27 Stackyard Field 4 2 38
28 Four Acres Daisy Close 4 2 25
29 Two Acres Daisy Close 2 0 35
30 Oak Tree Field 8 2 14
31 Middleton Field 5 1 11
32 Copse 2 0 12
__________________
89221
__________________
The above does not tally exactly with the 1859 tenancy agreement which was for 79 acres 3 rods 11 perches, less the copse of 2 acres, 0 rods, 12 perches which makes 77 acres, 2 rods, 39 perches.
Wood Farm was bought by Herbert Harrison from Mrs A L H Anderson on 28th April 1913.
The house was brick and pan tiles. The exterior has been rendered and the roof now has concrete tiles. The front door step is said to be an old gravestone.
Mr Oswald Harrison says they grey watercress and celery on the lower land.
IMAGE1867 Beckingham Wood Farm, Built 1801. Top east side of barn. Developed April 1994. Negative 1
IMAGE1868 Beckingham Wood Farm, Bottom west side of barn, note blocked doorway. Picture taken March 1994. Negative 5
IMAGE1869 Mr Oswald Harrison, April 1998. Aged 90
IMAGE1870 Mr and Mrs Fred Tomlinson of Clayworth Woodhouse at Jim Pickering’s 80th Birthday party, with Mr Oswald Harrison in blue shirt.
IMAGE1871 Beckingham Wood Farm. Copied from Mr. O. Harrison’s papers.
IMAGE1872 Lease dated 28th March 1859 between Mr C H J Anderson and Mr John Harrison
IMAGE1873 Memorandum of Agreement dated 28th March 1859 between Mr C H J Anderson, Baronet, and John Harrison
IMAGE1874 Part of tenancy agreement – see IMAGE1872
IMAGE1875 Part of tenancy agreement – see IMAGE1872
IMAGE1876 Part of tenancy agreement – see IMAGE 1872
IMAGE1877 Part of tenancy agreement for Beckingham Woodhouse (Wood Farm) 1859
The semi legible bits over the page of transcribed below
To destroy all thistles, nettles, docks and other noxious weeds and to remove all anthills that are or may arise, on any of the grass land. To consume all the hay, stray, turnips and potatoes upon some part of the premises. During the last year of the tenancy to convert and make into manure in the fold yard, stables, pig sties and cow houses, and not elsewhere upon the premises, all the hay, seeds, clover an straw, except the straw, hay, clover and seeds which are to be left for the use of the in-coming tenant, as hereinafter mentioned. To clay or mash in each and every year of the tenancy not less than acres.
As before mentioned during the last year of the tenancy, in the fold yard, stables, sheds, pigsties and cow houses and not elsewhere upon the premises except the quantity set apart for the use of the in-coming tenant, as hereinafter mentioned – the said additional sums of money respectively recoverable as rent in arrear, immediately after the happening of the events upon which such sums respectively shall become payable.
IMAGE1878 Beckingham Wood Farm from records of Mr O Harrison, field acreages and plan.
BECKINGHAM WOOD FARM
IMAGE1879 The area coloured red became the Reverend Joseph Stephenson’s farm after the sale to the Meynell Estate and the death of William Flint, Esq. The blue area was added to the farm later. Probably by a later owner, Charles Henry John Anderson, Esq. Of Lea.
IMAGE1880 Extra land owned later by Charles Henry John Anderson of Lea
IMAGE1881 Extract from Conveyance
EXTRACTED FROM CONVEYANCE OVER THE PAGE
Field Numbers A R P A R P
192127
Taken from the road by Robert Fletcher 0 0 08
8 Grime or Grain Croft 9 0 30 11 3 22
9 & 10 Little Woodhouse Piece 10 2 20 12 0 26
11West Yards1423110016
12 & 13 Homestead 2 0 25 4 3 08
17 The Meadow 11 3 00 7 0 08
20 & 21 The Wood or West Close 12 3 37 12 3 28
16 Great Meadow 12 1 08 16 1 22
15 Pear Tree Close 10 3 11 10 2 37
? South Close was not included 15 a 1r 30 p
(House Close9308
14 17 3 32
(House Close5216
7 Clover Close 7 0 09 7 0 16
IMAGE1882 Photograph of Clayworth Woodhouse circa 1946 – copied 1988
IMAGE1883 Photograph of Clayworth Woodhouse copied from Mrs Tomlinson’s picture. Copied 1988.
CLAYWORTH WOODHOUSE, WOOD LANE
PART IN BECKINGHAM PARISH
IMAGE1884 Clayworth Woodhouse, Wood Farm, Part of Beckingham Parish
Throsby’s Additions to Thoroton. Volume III Page 307 Paragraph 2.
“Claworth Woodhouse, notwithstanding its name, is within the manor of Wiseton, which is denominated Wiseton cum Woodhouse, and pays a chief rent to Mr Acklom of 23, 4. The Hall house here was in the form of half an H, was large, and belonged to a family of considerable property, of the name of Wawen. The last possessor of that name, sold the reversion of his then estate, at Claworth, with the house, to the predecessor of the present Dickensons of Claworth, about the beginning of this century.” (circa 1700).
Church of Claworth, in the chancel within the altar rails:-
A marble monument to the memory of Lacey Dickenson, gent. who departed this life 24/01/1720. On the ground a black marble stone in the chancel – here lies the body of Mrs Sarah Dickenson, daughter of Lacey Dickenson, gent. she departed this life 05/07/1721. There are other gravestones to the Dickenson family.
Sarah Dickenson may have been a spinster, the appellation Mrs was sometimes used to denote rank rather than marital status. PJM
The land extends into both Beckingham and Clayworth parish. The old house and buildings were on the border, mainly in Clayworth parish but the new house is on the Beckingham side. The old house was empty for many years and demolished in the late 1980’s. The deserted mediaeval village is in the field to the west of the farmstead and lies close to the 18th and 19th century farmstead. Most of the field has now, in 1990, been ploughed but the village site left as grass. In the Middle Ages there was a dispute and some of the cottages were burned down. See the account in Thoroton. In 1777 the land on the Beckingham side was owned by Mr Dickinson. This was probably the Thomas Lacy Dickenson mentioned in the conveyance of 1822.
Mr Oswald Harrison says the farm was owned in the 19th century by the Andersons of Lea along with Wood Farm, after which it was bought by Robert Sidwell who lived on Beckingham High Street at Westfield Farms in the house now occupied by Levicks Transport business. When he died it passed on to his daughter, the wife of Dr Pinder, then to Mr Sykes a coal merchant, then to Sir Joseph Laycock who had the road made thereto from Beckingham. It can also be approached by lanes and headlands from Clayworth and post is delivered that way, but there is no hard road from that direction.
Charlie Lundy’s father was tenant of Sir J Laycock on this and the adjoining Clayworth Lane Farm.
More land has been purchased by Mr Fred Tomlinson, the present owner, in Saundby Parish, part of Saundby Park Farm, in circa 1989.
1891 Beckingham Census gives occupants as Sally Belton, 18 Farmers daughter, born at Clayworth Woodhouse with three men farm servants living in. This relates only to the Beckingham part of the house. Not mentioned by George Bee, The post was and is delivered from Clayworth. The house appears to have straddled across the parish boundaries as it is usually only the servants who are recorded on Beckingham census returns.
Kelly’s 1900 – Smith Belton, farmer.
Mr Fred Tomlinson died 02/1998.
IMAGE1885 Beckingham Wood Farm and Clayworth Woodhouse. From abstract of Title of Charles H G John Anderson to Clayworth Woodhouse and Beckingham Wood Farm from Mr O. Harrison’s deeds.
CLAYWORTH WOODHOUSE
Census Returns for that part of the house which is in Beckingham
Census 1831
Not given, probably because the head of the house would be in Clayworth Parish
Census 1841
Woodhouse 1, Inhabited house
John Brown 20 Male Single
George Bean 15 Male Single
Thomas Barlow 15 Male Single
Thomas Bean 15 Male Single
John Ellis 11 Male Single
Eliza Sims 15 Female Single
Mary Woodhead 15 Female Single
Census 1851
Clayworth Woodhouse does not seem to be included for this census year on the Beckingham Returns.
Census 1861
Clayworth Woodhouse, Schedule 17
Henry Walker Servant Unmarried 19 Farm Servant Carter Beckingham
Thomas Holland Servant Unmarried 17 Farm Servant Carter Weston
Henry Whittam? Servant Unmarried 13 Farm Ploughboy Hayton
Mary Ann Cooper Serv. Unmarried 16 House Servant Walkeringham
Gertrude Wright Servant Unmarried 12 House Servant Mattersey
Census 1871
Wood House Farm, Schedule 42
Thomas Hird Servant Unmarried 20 Farm Servant Indoor North Wheatley
Thomas Hoult Servant Unmarried 18 Farm Servant North Clifton
James Mountcastle Serv. Unmarried 12 Farm Servant Brampton L
Census 1881
Wood House Farm, Schedule 81
Thomas Burton Servant Unmarried 20 Farm Servant Indoor Marnham
John Cooper Servant Unmarried 17 Farm Servant Egmanton
Census 1891
Wood House Farm, Schedule 83
Sally Belton Dau Single 18 Farmer’s daughter Clayworth Woodhouse
Walter Storey Servant Single 30 Farm Servant Beckingham
James Stores Servant Single 18 Farm Servant Retford
James McDonald Servant Single 23 Farm Servant Ireland
Census 1901
Wood House Farm, Schedule 73 (2 rooms – part of house)
Thomas Burton Servant Single 19 Waggoner on Farm Thorp
Charles Troop Servant Single 27 Yardman Burringham
CLAYWORTH WOODHOUSE
Tenants 1900 to 1960 – information from Mr Oswald Harrison, etc.
Smith Belton
Havercroft
Bell (Fred Bell’s father)
Ingall
Prescott
Lundy
Owners – Wawen or Wawyn family who sold circa 1700 to Lacy Dickinson
Charles Henry John Anderson of Lea Hall
Brigadier General Sir Joseph Laycock of Wiseton Hall
Mr J. F Tomlinson, owner occupier
The conveyance dated 23rd November 1822 gives Clayworth Woodhouse Farm as having been occupied by Robert Fletcher, then Robert Gamston and owned by Thomas Lacy Dickenson.
Percy Proudly confirms that the Bell family farmed here, also at Sandy Furze and that it was Fred Bell’s father who turned Gamson’s Barn into four houses.
IMAGE1886 Clayworth Woodhouse – from Abstract of Title of Charles Henry John Anderson to Clayworth Woodhouse and Beckingham Wood Farm.
CLAYTON WOODHOUSE
Information from Mr Tomlinson senior;-
The pond has a brick bottom
There were at least three wells. The main one 30 – 40 feet deep, but was filled in when a grain store was built circa 1890. Another still exists by the south side of the old buildings.
There was supposed to be a burial ground in the corner of a field to the south west of the deserted medieval village. This was probably a gypsum pit. Gypsum was much used for the plaster bedroom floors of local houses.
The granary steps were brick with stone treads with a “dog kennel” under.
There is a date on the plaster in the loft of the barn.
A large millstone, probably quite old, and broken into two parts if found on the farmstead. Half is on display at the approach to the farm from Beckingham, whilst the other half is used as a step in the farmyard.
There should somewhere be recorded information on the D.M.V. but I have not yet found it. Perhaps there is something to be found in the Nottingham Archives or the University Records. There is nothing on this subject in Transactions of Thornton Society pre 1997.
IMAGE1887 Clayworth Woodhouse and Wood Farm Beckingham from abstract of title of Charles Henry John Anderson. Boundary between two farms marked with heavy pencil line.
IMAGE1888 Copy of information from Nottingham Record Office DD 1085/3
Conveyance
1) Wotton Byrchinshaw Thomas of Chesterfield, agent )
James Gamson of Misterton, agent ) Trustees
2) Robert Gamson of Gringley Grange, Gringley, agent)
Are Trustees appointed under the marriage settlement of Robert Cross, late of Pear Tree Hill near Beckingham, now of Beckingham with wife Mary, late Mary Bright. Reciting mortgage of 29th September 1812, by which Robert Gamson has requested 4,000.00 from the Trustees.
Now the 4,000 (1) to (2) part of Clayworth Woodhouse Farm in Clayworth and Beckingham, late occupied by Robert Fletcher, then Robert Gamson. Including messuage, arable closes, meadows and pasture (192 acres, 1 rod, 27 perches) 8 perches taken in from the road by Robert Fletcher, Grime Croft – anciently Grain Croft (11 acres, 3 rods, 22 perch), Little Wood House Piece (12 acres 26 perch), the West Yards or the Wood (10 acres, 16 perch), the Homestead (4 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch), the Meadow (7 acres, 8 perch), The Wood – anciently called West Close (12 acres, 3 rods, 28 perch), Great Meadow (16 acres, 1 rod, 22 perch), Pear Tree Close (10 acres, 2 rods, 37 perch), House Close (9 acres, 3 rods, 8 perch), House Close (5 acres, 2 rods, 16 perch), Clover Close (7 acres, 16 perch), Forty Acres (27 acres, 1 rod, 14 perch), Hose Holes (8 acres, 3 rods, 25 perch), Long Leys (21 acres, 1 rod, 26 perch), Three Acres (2 acres, 2 rods, 32 perch), Great Sea Croft – anciently Six Acre Close (9 acres, 2 rods, 2 perch), Little Scoe Croft (4 acres, 1 rod, 21 perch), The Hose Holes and “best part” of South Meggitt Hern – that part of Meggitt Hern then partly new inclosed in Clayworth Parish enclosure. Premises bounded by Gringley, Beckingham and Saundby, North and East, North Wheatley south. High Road to Clayworth west, which separates above premises from other parts of Clayworth Woodhouse Farm as was held by Robert Fletcher and Thomas Lacy Dickenson. Also extinction of residue to mortgage term of 1,000 years.
23rd November 1822
CLAYWORTH WOODHOUSE
The road to the farm was built by Sir Joseph Laycock circa 19 . The original intention was to root it from Clayworth but the Beckingham route was adopted at the insistence of Mr Herbert C Lundy, the tenant, who feared that the road would be ruined by being used by other farmers if taken towards Clayworth.
PAIR OF COTTAGES ON THE EAST SIDE OF STATION ROAD, NOW LOW STREET
Census Returns for Southern cottage of the pair.
1831 Census
Perhaps William Keightley, 2 male, 2 female
1841 Census Low Street
Perhaps
John Keightley 60 Agricultural Labourer
Sarah Keightley 20
Susannah Horsley 14
Anthony Horsley 10
George ? 8
1851 Census Beckingham Schedule 97
Perhaps
William Keightley Head Widow 71 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
William Pygott Son-in-law M 36 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Sarah Pygott Son’s wife M 31 Beckingham
1861 Census Low Street Schedule 17
William Pigot Head 46 Agricultural Labourer Rampton
Sarah Pigot Wife 40 Beckingham
William Keightley Father-in-law 86 Agricultural Labourer Gringley on the Hill
1871 Census Station Road Schedule 108
William Newbold Head M 29 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Elizabeth Newbold Wife M 31 Epworth
Frederick W Newbold Son 7 Scholar Beckingham
Georgiana Newbold Dau 9 Beckingham
Eliza J Newbold Dau 3 months Beckingham
1881 Census Station Road Schedule 3
Eliza Cassan Wife M 36 Wife of Agricultural Labourer Morton, Lincolnshire
Sarah J Cassan Dau 13 Scholar Gringley
John Cassan Son 11 Scholar Gringley
Annie Cassan Dau 5 Scholar Beckingham
1891 Census Station Road Schedule 14, 4 rooms
George Wood Head Widow 56 Carter Grewelthorpe, Yorkshire
1901 Census Schedule 21 Station Road, 4 rooms
William Parkin Head M 81 Labourer RDC Worker Beckingham
Harriet Parkin Wife M 81 Egmanton
William H Northedge Gson S 15 Labourer Coal Yard Beckingham
IMAGE16A/08 Retford and North Nottinghamshire Guardian 27/04/1988
IMAGE16A/09 Copied 09/1993 Neg 13A. Pair of cottages Station Road, Beckingham, in 1984 before being altered into a single dwelling.
IMAGE16A/10 Developed 08/1993 Neg 9A. Royston Cottage, Station Road, Beckingham, in August 1993 after alterations. Named after an 18th century owner.
IMAGE16A/11 Map of Beckingham
IMAGE16A/12 Map of Beckingham
ROYSTON COTTAGE, STATION ROAD, NOW LOW STREET
1710 This was Mr Royston’s property, see marriage settlement of J Bromhead, Thistle Farm. In 1736 this site totalled 4a, 3r, 37p with close no 79 called Upper Furlong of 3a, 1r, 07p.
In 1777 this same site was estimated at 4a, 0r, 39p with close 54 called now South Field Close of 3a, 2r, 18p. Owner Mary Royston. Received at the enclosure allotment was 3a, 0r, 27p. on Saundby Road and 7a, 1r, 08p and 2a, 0r, 11p in the Marshes. See next page.
Beckingham Marriage Register.
Mr Thomas Royston and Mris Ann Hogard “was married at Retford” 21/05/1683.
The above groom was obviously a man of some importance to be called Mr and to marry at Retford. His bride was given the title of Mris. Which probably indicated rank rather than marital status, ie she was most likely a spinster, not a widow.
Rector’s Book of Clayworth Page 82
The rector recorded in 1688 “that at May day Mr Thomas Royston came from Beckingham with his family to settle at his house here; and on ye 1st of November following, in a difference upon some words, he brake his gun barrel over ye head of Thomas Hellyfield; but after an arrest, and ye beginning of a suit, things were compounded and quieted.”
It seems likely that there is some connection between this property and Royston Manor, but what it can be is not immediately obvious. The Otter family were in Clayworth in 1715 when Roger Otter, Rob Fretwell not George Ryd compiled the inventory of the goods of Thomas Royston. The Otters lived at Royston Manor until c1939. There does not seem to have been sufficient land attached to make a farm or estate of the land at Beckingham. Was Mary Royston of Beckingham at the Enclosures of 1777 the daughter of Thomas Royston of Clayworth who died 1715?
George Bee said the occupiers circa 1895 were:-
Road side cottage Mr S Wharton, joiner at Marshalls Works.
Eastern end Cottage Mr W B Halle.
Percy Proudley:- Wright had far end and Spratt near the road.
It has been difficult to allocate tenants to cottages from the census returns as there is no means of knowing which was listed first.
Mr and Mrs A C Jordan had the building modernised c1980 and made into one house. The brickwork was rendered and the roof altered on the north side. It was probably they who called it Royston Cottage, after Mary Royston who owned the property, which included the other pair of cottages, in 1777.
It is said that this was known as Blue Gates before being called Royston Cottage.
Alwin Ingall says Joe Wright lived here.
SOUTHERN PAIR OF COTTAGES ON STATION ROAD, NOW LOW STREET . NOW ROYSTON COTTAGE A single dwelling since c1980.
LARGER COTTAGE, END TO THE ROAD
1831 Census
Robert Cottam, 3 male, 3 female. Described as yeoman farmer in Whites 1832. He had Freehold Land at Crabtree Close, see 1833/1834 Electoral Roll.
1841 Census Low Street
Robert Cottam 40 Agricultural Labourer
Mary Cottam 35
Robert Cottam 13
Sarah Cottam 12
George Cottam 10
Richard Cottam 7
Mary Cottam 5
Jane Cottam 3
William Cottam 4 months
Sarah Brumhead 55 Inmate (Mother of Mary Cottam. See Brumhead deeds).
1851 Census Beckingham Schedule no 99
Jonathon Crowder Head M 54 Agricultural Labourer Clayworth
Elizabeth Crowder Wife M 49 Dunham
Hannah Crowder Dau 12 Beckingham
1861 Census Low Street Schedule 16
Jonathon Crowder Head M 64 Agricultural Labourer Clayworth
Elizabeth Crowder Wife M 59 Dunham
1871 Census Station Road Schedule 110
Jonathon Crowder Head M 74 Agricultural Labourer Clayworth
Elizabeth Crowder Wife M 69 Dunham
1881 Census Station Road Schedule 2
John Gurnhill Head M 54 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Eleanor Gurnhill Wife M 49 Boston Fen
Thomas G Gurnhill Gson 4 Beckingham
1891 Census Station Road Schedule 12
Samuel Wharton Head M 40 Joiner Thorparch Yorkshire
Sarah Ann Wharton Wife M 39 Misterton
Thomas Wharton Son S 18 Labourer in Shipyard Lincoln
Arthur Wharton Son 15 Labourer in Coachyard Beckingham
Frederick W Wharton Son 13 Scholar Beckingham
Ernest Wharton Son 8 Scholar Beckingham
1901 Schedule 19 Station Road, 4 rooms
Henry Waterfield Head M 43 Joiner Worker Sheffield
Sarah J Waterfield Wife M 44 Edingley
Mary Waterfield Mother Widow 79 Holme
Walter Baguley Nephew S 20 Ship Plate Rivetter Worker Mansfield
SOUTHERN PAIR OF COTTAGES ON STATION ROAD, NOW LOW STREET. NOW ROYSTON COTTAGE A Single dwelling since C1980.
SMALLER COTTAGE AT EAST END
1831 Census
George Hall, 3 male, 3 female
1841 Census Low Street
Chas Johnson 35 Agricultural Labourer
Charlotte Johnson 30
Susannah Johnson 15
Rebecca Johnson 10
William Johnson 6
Elizabeth Johnson 3
Ann Johnson 3
Rob Watkinson 50 Agricultural Labourer
1851 Census Beckingham Schedule no 98
Charles Johnson Head M 47 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Charlotte Johnson Wife M 43 Retford
Elizabeth Johnson Dau 15 Beckingham
Ann Johnson Dau 13 Beckingham
Enoch Johnson Son 7 Scholar Beckingham
George Johnson Son 4 Beckingham
1861 Census Low Street Schedule 15
Charles Johnson Head M 57 Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Charlotte Johnson Wife M 53 Retford
Elizabeth Johnson Dau Unm 23 Lately a house servant now out of place. Beckingham
Tomlinson Ranshaw Servant Unm 21 Farm Servant Carter Walkeringham
Enoch Johnson Son Unm 18 Farm Servant Carter Beckingham
William Johnson Gson 9 months Beckingham
1871 Census Station Road Schedule 109 (Probably at Rose Cottage, Low Street in 1861).
William Jaques Head M 62 Agricultural Labourer Not Known
Elizabeth Jaques Wife M 64 Long Collingham
George Jaques Gson 9 Scholar Beckingham
Arthur Jaques Gson 6 Scholar Beckingham
Emily Jacques Gdau 11 Scholar Beckingham
1881 Census Station Road Schedule 1
Elizabeth Jaques Head Widow 75 Collingham
George Jaques Gson 19 Iron Moulder (Apprentice) Beckingham
(Monumental Inscription William Jaques died 08/03/1877 aged 70. Elizabeth his wife died 21/04/1883 aged 78).
1891 Census Station Road Schedule 13, 4 rooms
William P B Halle Head M 51 Accountant Clerk Paris (British Subject)
Amelia P B Halle Wife M 50 London, Middlesex
Percy PB Halle Son 12 Scholar Wimbledon, Surrey
1901 Schedule 20 Station Road, 3 rooms
Alexander Noall Head M 76 Retired Shipwright Sunderland, Durham
Elizabeth Noall Wife M 70 Sunderland, Durham
IMAGE16A/13 Rector’s Book
IMAGE16A/14 Map of Beckingham Station Road
IMAGE16A/15 Mr Timson Pickering Extract from an article about Beckingham in the Doncaster Chronicle of 21/06/1956.
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IMAGE16A/22 Part of Deeds of Mr Timson Pickerings Diary Farm, Beckingham
IMAGE16A/23 Developed 08/1994 Neg 24. Mr H T Pickering’s Dairy farm House, Station Street, Beckingham. 18/08/1994. Mr Pickering now lets this house and lives in the new Round Bungalow across the road having moved from the other bungalow.
IMAGE16A/24 A08/1993 Neg 8A. Mr Tim Pickering’s Diary Farm House Station Road Corner, Beckingham 08/1993. This is now let and he lives in bungalow seen on right of picture.
ROTHERLEIGH DAIRY FARM, STATION ROAD CORNER
1736 This property is shown on the map of that date as a Homestead no 74 of 1 acre 1 rood and no 73 a Home Close of 3 acres 1 rood 8 perches, being part of the estate of Thomas Hall.
1777. The enclosure Map shows it as no 58 of 4 acres 1 rood 31 perches, owned by Thomas Waterhouse, being part of the property he inherited from his brother in law, Thomas Hall.
1795. Thomas Waterhouse died and the estate of around 500 acres plus property in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and shares in Gainsborough Bridge was left in trust to his wife Anne, then on her death to their younger daughter, Elizabeth Hawksmore, then to her children.
1840. Elizabeth Hawksmore Massingberd died and the inheritance passed to her children Hompesch, Christiana Louisa, Ellen and Mary Jane, with the exception of the elder son, Thomas who was excluded by his grandfather’s will from benefiting. This rather odd exclusion was made before his elder son was born. Mrs Mary Teale inherited this Homestead as part of her quarter share. Ann Cliff was the then tenant. On the death of Mrs Teale the ownership passed to her daughter Mrs Meggitt. Included in the Reverend Hompesch Massingberd’s quarter share was South Field Close no 55 on the Enclosure Map and of 2 acres 3 roods 13 perches. More details of this close no 55 and close no 54 which became attached to this holding are given on a later page.
1866. The Tithe Book gives the owner of the homestead as being Mr Rogers and the tenant was George Wells who at some later date must have bought the cottage George Wells also rented the Moor Closes form Miss Rudsdell, who probably acquired them from Mrs Teale.
12/10/1910. George Wells died leaving his property, consisting of this Corner House and Close of 4 acres 1 rood 31 perches no 58 also South Field Close no 54 of 3 acres 2 roods 18 perches and another South Field Close no 55 of 3 acres, in trust for his wife to benefit from the profits thereof. The trustee was George William Thom.
20/10/1913. Mrs Wells died and the three properties were sold on 01/12/1913 to Henry Rose Esquire for £1,365. The two South Field Closes were then in the occupation of John Atkinson Anyan of Croft House.
14/04/1920. Henry Rose died and ownership was transferred to William Henry Rose at which time the tenant was Mrs Rogers.
24/09/1946. William Henry Rose sold the property to Mr Hubert Timson Pickering.
Mr Pickering told me that his business originated in the 1930’s when he collected neighbours milk and delivered it to the diary along with that from their own farm. The family farmed originally at Ernam near Corby Glen before moving to Kneesal. He was born at Osgodby near Market Rasen in 1911.
Later he ran the business from Cottam, but in 1946 he had the opportunity to buy the small holding at Beckingham. This chance came about because Mr Oswald Harrison’s daughter was ill and in Sheffield hospital, and Mrs Harrison was able to get a lift to see her on Mr Pickering’s milk lorry. Mr Harrison heard about the property being likely to come onto the market and told Mr Pickering, who was able to buy it, forestalling Mr Arthur Smithson and Mr Frank Selby, who would have been interested.
Mr Pickering modernised the house and erected buildings nearby for his milk lorries. He later moved from the house into a bungalow he built next door. He bought several nearby closes and when Richard Selby sold his land he bought a cottage on Bar Road North and part of one of the Croft House paddocks and most of the Croft House Farm buildings. The cottage was once a “Dames School” and was bought, with vacant possession, for £5,000. The buildings made £10,000.
Another of Mr Pickering’s purchases was Hall Close, no 31 on the Enclosure Map, the acreage being12.449. This, for many years, from the second half of the nineteenth century, had been part of the Meynell Estate, the mansion house being Croft House, then called The Hall. The estate was sold in 1779 to Messrs Flint and Cross, although the Church “Rental Records” give it as belonging to James Gamson with Flint shown in brackets. Hall Close was offered for sale by auction in 1828 along with other land by Mr Gervase Gamson, the owner occupier at that date. Hall Close was later in the possession of Mr Jack Surfleet whose executors sold it on 28/03/1972 at auction. It was then Ordnance Survey pt 254 of 12.449 acres. It was bought by Hayes Son and Richmond on behalf of Mr H T Pickering for £5,999.
At one time Mr Pickering kept the Rotherleigh Herd of pedigree Jersey cows and retailed milk. This was discontinued and in later years he had a commercial herd of deer. The milk collection and delivery business ceased when the Milk Marketing Board finished and the new Milk Marque did not renew his contract.
Mr Pickering tells the story of a Beckingham farmer, Richard Selby, who in winter kept his binder canvases in the house attic to keep them safe from damp and vermin. This farmer was also in the habit of rolling up banknotes in the canvases as he thought no thief would think of looking there. Mr Pickering intended to buy the binder canvases at the farm sale, but arrived too late so he never knew if there was a hoard of notes secreted therein.
Mr and Mrs Pickering moved to the Rotunda in 1995. Mr Pickering died on 12/08/1997. His herd of deer was also sold, also the depot buildings. Later the Farm House and Depot site were put up for auction and sold by Drewery and Wheeldon on 11/03/1998. The depot site had planning permission for five houses and this are together with the farmhouse was bought by Mr R Heaton, who has since between 1998 and 2001, built five houses.
SOUTH FIELD CLOSE, Enclosure no 54 in 1777
1736 This appears to have belonged to Roystons. It was no 79 and 3a 1r 07p.
1777It belonged to Mary Royston, no 54, 3a 2r 18p. (She also owned the Homestead and Close numbers 59 and 60 which adjoined the above mentioned homestead.
C1779 Thomas Waterhouse had become the owner. The property descended through the family to his granddaughter Mrs Meggitt. Ann Cliff was the tenant.
George Wells probably became tenant, after Ann Cliff, of both properties.
These two properties must at some time have been bought by George Wells. On the death of his widow his trustee Mr Thom sold them, along with another close, to Henry Rose Esquire. See the deeds of these properties.
SOUTH FIELD CLOSE, Enclosure No 55, in 1777
1736 This was no 78 on the map and of 2a 3r 00p. Ownership not given.
1777 Thomas Waterhouse owned it, no 55 2a 3r 13p.
1779 as above.
This close appears to have been part of Rev Hompesch Massingberds share of the Waterhouse estate.
1853 he sold it to Richard Hodgson.
1857 Richard Hodgson of Sheffield sold it to Charles Cliffe of Gamston for £290.0.0. Acreage 2a 3r 25p. This seems expensive.
This close also seems to have been bought by George Wells and on the death of his widow was sold to Henry Rose, along with the Homestead no 58, and another South Field Close no 54. £1,365 was paid for the three properties, 01/12/1913.
There is no known connection between the above mentioned Charles Cliffe of Gamston and Ann Cliffe of Beckingham. The Mr Rogers who according to the 1866 Tithe Records, owned land let to George Wells, was not necessarily connected with the Rogers who were tenants of Mr Rose.
ROTHERLEIGH, STATION ROAD CORNER.
MR H T PICKERING’S DAIRY FARM
1831 Census
Ann Cliff, 3 females
1841 Census
Anne Cliffe 60 Farmer
Joseph Cliffe 30
George Curtis 2
Charlotte Cooper 15 Farm Servant
1851 Census Beckingham Schedule 100
Elizabeth Newbold Head Widow 43 Widow of Agricultural Labourer Beckingham
Eliza Newbold Dau 11 Scholar Beckingham
Francis Newbold Son 7 Scholar Beckingham
Elizabeth Newbold Dau 10 Scholar Morton Carr, Lincolnshire
Mary Newbold Niece M 26 Baker’s Wife Nottingham
M Newbold Nephew 5 Baker’s Son Gainsborough
1861 Census Low Street 1 uninhabited between schedules 14 and 15
(George Wells the next occupier was at this time a Cordwainer and Local Methodist Preacher living with his parents Thomas and Amelia on Bar Road).
1871 Census Station Road Schedule 111
George Wells Head M 35 Coal and Lime Merchant Beckingham
Mary Jane Wells Wife M 34 Grasby, Lincolnshire
Julia Sarah Wells Dau 7 Scholar Beckingham
Annie Maud Dau 4 Beckingham
Bertha Wells Dau 2 Beckingham
Eliza Ann Wells Dau 5 months Beckingham
1881 Census Station Road Schedule 96 Farming 13 acres of land
George Wells Head M 45 Coal and Cake Merchant Beckingham
Mary J Wells Wife M 44 Grasby, Lincolnshire
Julia S Wells Dau Unm 17 Beckingham
Annie M Wells Dau 14 Assistant to Teacher Beckingham
Bertha Wells Dau 12 Scholar Beckingham
Eliza A Wells Dau 10 Scholar Beckingham
Mary E Wells Dau 5 Scholar Beckingham
Emily J Wells Dau 4 Scholar Beckingham
1891 Census Beckingham Schedule 11
George Wells Head M 55 Coal and Cake Merchant Beckingham
Bertha Wells Dau S 22 Dressmaker Beckingham
Eliza A Wells Dau S 20 School Teacher Beckingham
Mary E Wells Dau 15 Beckingham
Emily J Wells Dau 14 Scholar Beckingham
Alice B Hopkins Visitor Widow 71 Living on her own means Gainsborough
(In 1871 Alice Hopkin was Housekeeper, Widow 51 at Beckingham Hall, now called Croft House).
Census Returns Continued
1901 Schedule 18 Station Road
George Wells Head M 65 Cole, Cake and Tillage Own account Beckingham
Mary J Wells Wife M 64 Grasby
Mary E Wells Dau S 25 Beckingham
Emily J Wells Dau S 24 Beckingham
THE ROTUNDA AND CROFT HOUSE FARM BUILDINGS
In 1944 Mr Pickering began altering these farm buildings, purchased in 1973, to make them suitable for housing his collection of horse-drawn vehicles, farm machinery etc. The wooden Dutch barn near the road was demolished to make way for the proposed circular bungalow. The open fronted cartshed in the South East corner of the site fell down in late 1994. The old buildings had been roofed in French and Belgian slates. The date when they were erected is not known, but they were probably built in the second half of the nineteenth century when Croft House was owned by the Duckle family.
In 1995 the new bungalow called The Rotunda was complete and Mr and Mrs Pickering moved there from their other bungalow. Two roadside building plots were sold and houses built thereon which fill the gap between The Rotunda and the existing bungalows on this part of Station Road now renamed as part of Low Street.
Mr Pickering died on 12/08/1997.
The herd of deer were sold, and also the depot buildings. In March 1998 Drewery and Wheeldon auctioned the farmhouse and five building plots. The plots were on the cleared site of the depot and they, together with the house, were bought by Mr R Heaton, who has between then and 2001, built houses on the five plots.
INDENTURE MADE 01/12/1913
Conveyance of a Dwelling House and Three Closes of Land
Will 26 November 1907
William Thom of Normanby by Spital, grocer, executor of will of George Wells who died 12/10/1912. Income to widow of George Wells who died 20/10/1913.
Enclosure no 58 1
Property sold by the trust to Henry Rose for £1,365 4a 1r 31p West and South by Station Road, North and East not stated. Together with house and buildings on South West corner of above land late in occupation of George Wells.
No 54 2
Also South Field Close 3a 2r 18p on north by hereditaments to on west by Gainsborough Road on South by Mrs Bingleys property East by South Field Lane now in occupation of John Atkinson Anyan.
No 55 3
Thirdly pasture land of 3 acres east by South Field Lane west by Gainsborough Road, north by property of Mr Watson south by Mr Anyan, and in occupation of Mr Anyan.
Mr George Wm Thom to Henry Rose Esquire.
Indenture Made 04/06/1857
Between Richard Hodgson of Sheffield
Charles Cliffe of Gamston, farmer
Thomas Hugh Oldham of Gainsborough
Refers to an earlier agreement of 12/11/1853
Between Rev Hompesch Massingberd
Richard Hodgson
John Cairns
Also mentioned is an agreement
Between Ann Stephenson
Joseph Stephenson
William Barnard
Rev H Massingberd
John Cairns
(Land no 55 on Enclosure Map 2a 3r 13p)
All that Close of Meadow or Pasture, South Field Close, 2a 3r 25p.
South Field Lane to east, Turnpike Road to Gainsborough west, Mr Watson to the north, land of Eadales Trustees, south.
Signed by Cliffe and Hodgson.
IMAGE16A/25 Deeds of Land at Beckingham, South Field Close Enclosure No 55
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Deeds of Homestead and two closes at Beckingham
Mr T Pickering’s Land in 1994
Enclosure numbers 58 Homestead 4a 1r 31p
54 South Field Close 3a 2r 18p
55 South Field Close 3 acres or thereabouts
IMAGE16A/28 Indenture
IMAGE16A/29 Indenture
IMAGE16A/30 Indenture
IMAGE16A/31 Indenture
Deeds of 1 Homestead, 2 A South Field Close, 3 A South Field Close at Beckingham
Enclosure numbers 58, 54 and 55 respectively.
IMAGE16A/32 Abstract of the Title Mr William Henry Rose
IMAGE16A/33 Abstract of the Title Mr William Henry Rose
IMAGE16A/34 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/35 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/36 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/37 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/38 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure NO 55
IMAGE16A/39 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/40 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/41 Deeds of South Field Close, Beckingham Enclosure No 55
IMAGE16A/42 All Saints Parish Church, Beckingham 20/08/1997
IMAGE16A/43 All Saints Parish Church, Beckingham 20/08/1997
IMAGE16A/44 Drewery and Wheeldon Station Road, Beckingham
IMAGE16A/45 Developed 03/1993 Neg 7. Mr T Pickering’s Croft House Farm buildings. North East corner of crewyard showing cattle sheds with granary over and barn. This part of the yard was once covered. The barn was probably not built for threshing.
IMAGE16A/46 Developed 03/1993 Neg 9 Mr T Pickering’s farm buildings that once belonged to Croft House Farm. Croft House, seen in the background, is not now a farmhouse. Some of the buildings on the south side.
IMAGE16A/47 Planning Applications 25/02/1994
IMAGE16A/48 Developed 03/1993 Neg 4. Mr Tim Pickering’s Croft House farm buildings off Low Street, Beckingham. Barn and granary viewed from north east. The barn does not have the usual ventilator holes.
IMAGE16A/49 Developed 02/1994 Neg 23. Mr T Pickering’s Croft House farm buildings off Low Street, Beckingham. Interior of the barn viewed form east doorway when partially demolished.
IMAGE16A/50 Developed 09/1996 Neg 18A. North wing of Croft House farm buildings adapted for museum by Mr T Pickering. 18/09/1996
IMAGE16A/51 Developed 09/1996 Neg 19A. Massey Harris binder to Mr T Pickering’s Museum in adapted Croft House farm buildings. 18/09/1996
IMAGE16A/52 Neg 20 South wing of converted farm buildings off Station Road. Formerly belonging to Croft House Farm, now Mr Pickering’s 06/1994.
IMAGE16A/53 Neg 18 Foundations of Mr Pickering’s Bungalow, Low Street, Beckingham 06/1994.
IMAGE16A/54 Neg 3 Mr Pickering’s Bungalow 07/1994.
IMAGE16A/55 Start of construction of walls.
IMAGE16A/56 Neg 23 Mr Pickering’s bungalow 18/08/1994. Croft House in the background.
IMAGE16A/57 Neg 2A Bungalow nearly completed 12/1994.
IMAGE16A/58 Developed 09/1996 Neg 10A Mr and Mrs Pickering’s Round House, Low Street, formerly Station Road, Beckingham 18/09/1996.
IMAGE16A/59 Developed 09/1996 Neg 21A Round House viewed from West 18/09/1996.
CROFT HOUSE FARMSTEAD
When owned by the Meynell family this was the mansion house of Beckingham Estate, but in c1822 it had been purchased by Mrs Wailey along with 5 acres of land in which it stood, and South Field Close of 5a 0r 29p. The house was probably then known as The Hall. The 1777 map shows some buildings but these were probably stables and coach house. Sold to Robert Duckle Esquire in 1836.
Some time later owner must have purchased farm land and built the extensive range of farm buildings. These buildings from a rectangle around a yard with access from the south east corner which is rather strange as the land associated with the farmstead was on the west side beyond the house. The buildings appear in the main to be one storey animal sheds. They are of brick with French and Belgian slate roofs with blue brick ridge tiles. The barn is of similar construction but is now partly roofed with asbestos. It was probably constructed when threshing barns were becoming obsolete. There are no ventilator holes in the walls, but the doors have originally been of the traditional type on the east side. There is an opposing door on the west side but this is a single door probably meant as access to the yard when feeding animals. Both ends of the barn have wooden lofts and the barn forms an L shaped building with another part of similar size on the north side of the yard which has a granary over open fronted sheds facing into the yard. The floor of the barn appears to have been raised so the original type of flooring used is not known. The stone blocks on which the big doors pivoted are partly buried and it is not possible to tell if there were slots for a threshold board. It was probably built as a feed barn, but kept the traditional threshing barn style.
IMAGE16A/60 Threshing Barn diagram
The bricks are 3″ thick. 10 courses of brickwork is 2′ 9 1/4″
The barn is 60 courses high. The height to the eaves is approximately 16 1/2 feet. English garden bond. The buildings now belong to Mr H T Pickering’s Dairy Farm. PJM 15/03/1993
The buildings were photographed and measured by The Retford Historical and Archaeological Society in 02/1994.
IMAGE16A/61 Developed 09/1996 Neg 16A Developed 09/1996 Neg 16A Mr T Pickering’s Round House, Low Street, previously Station Road. Looking up to the roof of the rotunda. 18/09/1996
IMAGE16A/62 Developed 09/1996 Neg 17A Circular central hall of Mr T Pickering’s Round House, Beckingham 18/09/1996.
IMAGE16A/63 Beckingham and Saundby Coronation Funds
IMAGE16A/64 Beckingham and Saundby Coronation Funds
IMAGE16A/65 Beckingham Ladies Hockey 1949-1950
Back Row left to right
Pam Large, Molly Lockwood, Joan Meredith, Barbara Ellis, Pauline Hoyle, Betty Pilkington
Front Row Left to right
Pam Levick, Angela Heppenstall, Mary Maden, Pam Smith, Margaret Broxholme
IMAGE16A/66 Beckingham Ladies Hockey
Back row Left to right
Betty Pilkington, ?, Molly Lockwood, Margaret Trafford, Angela Heppenstall, Joan Meredith
Front row Left to right
Pam Levick, Barbara Ellis, Pauline Hoyle, Mary Maden, Margaret Broxholme
IMAGE16A/67 Copied 11/1986. Opening Day of Beckingham Village Hall in 1948. Miss Nora Watson speaking.
IMAGE16A/68 Copied 03/1997 from Mrs Freda Proudley’s photograph Neg 18. The opening of the Village Hall and Playing Field 1948.
IMAGE16A/69 Women’s Institute at the Village Hall Christmas Circa 1948.
Left to right
Mesdames Herbert Gill, Maud Adams, Beardsworth, Whitlam, Smithson, Williamson, Mitchell, Mr A Smithson, Mrs Alice Proudley, Mrs Frank Levick, Miss Mabel Gosling, Mrs Irene Jervis and Mrs Esme Ranby.
IMAGE16A/70 Beckingham Women’s Institute 1949
IMAGE16A/71 Beckingham Church Sunday School (1949/1951)
IMAGE16A/72 Beckingham Women’s Institute 1949
Supplied by Alan Gosling. Supplement to master photograph. Key to Sunday School photograph is in Church File.
THE HISTORY OF BECKINGHAM VILLAGE HALL AND PLAYING FIELD
This begins in 1944 when the Football Club was being formed. The only other club at this time was the Cricket Club. The two other clubs thought that it was time that the village had a proper sports ground and not have to ask local farmers for the use of a field.
A village meeting was called to rally support and this was well attended. From the meeting the Watson Family donated a ten acre field which is now the playing field and many people promised to help raise funds for equipment.
The Wallhead brothers made a detailed plan of the layout for tennis courts, a bowling green, a play park for children, football, cricket and hockey pitches.
During the next three years things on the field began to take shape under a working committee headed by Miss Nora Watson. Equipment was installed and paid for with money raised from various events. During 1947 the working committee decided that a Village Hall was needed to complete the project. Miss Watson visited County Hall, Nottingham to see the council people who dealt with village halls. Her visit was successful.
The Rural Council allocated a village hall to Beckingham and this was delivered in 09/1949. The hall was erected, water, electric and sewerage were connected up by 06 1948.
The official opening of the Hall and Playing Field was set for the first week of 09/1948. Mr Howden, the Managing Director of Newell’s Engineering was asked to perform the ceremony.
The formation of the tennis, bowls and hockey clubs now took place. The first committee of Management was elected comprising representatives from 16 village clubs and organisations and 8 Trustees under the Chairmanship of Mr Lesley Selbey and was registered as a Charity.
A caretaker/groundsman was employed at a weekly wage of 30 shillings per week all the rest of the people were volunteers.
During the next few years the dressing rooms were added, paid for by the Football and Cricket Clubs. During 1978 the hall was extended towards the tennis courts and in 1980 the Hall was further extended towards the bowling green, the kitchen was also extended and the car park enlarged.
All the work done on the playing field is voluntary the Clubs being self supporting and paying rents for the Courts, Greens and Pitches.
IMAGE16A/73 Beckingham cum Saundby Parish Council Newsletter
IMAGE16A/74 Beckingham cum Saundby Parish Council Newsletter
IMAGE16A/75 Beckingham and Saundby Community Information
IMAGE16A/76 Beckingham and Saundby Community Information
IMAGE16A/77 Beckingham and Saundby Community Information
IMAGE16A/78 Beckingham and Saundby Community Information
IMAGE16A/79 Beckingham cum Saundby Village Hall Newsletter
IMAGE16A/80 Beckingham cum Saundby Village Hall Newsletter
IMAGE16A/81 North Nottinghamshire Villages want a Community Centre. Retford Times 09/02/1945 From Mrs Edlington
IMAGE16A/82 The Gainsborough News 1948 Beckingham Playing Field From Mrs Edlington
IMAGE16A/83 Retford Times 1948 From Mrs Edlington
IMAGE16A/84 Gainsborough News 23/07/1948 From Mrs Edlington
IMAGE16A/85 Gainsborough News 09/09/194?
IMAGE16A/86 Evening News 25/09/1973 P 8
IMAGE16A/87 Drewery and Wheeldon Green Cottage, Station Road, Beckingham
IMAGE16A/88 Beckingham By-pass Newspaper article
IMAGE16A/89 Beckingham Newspaper article
IMAGE16A/90 Evening News 25/09/1973 Beckingham By-pass