Skip to main content

Full text of "The Victoria history of the county of Nottingham / edited by William Page"

See other formats 


Victoria  Ifoietor^  of  the 
Counties  of  Enolanb 

EDITED    BY    WILLIAM    PAGE,    F.S.A. 


A   HISTORY   OF 
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


IN     FOUR     VOLUMES 

VOLUME     I 


a  a 


THE 

VICTORIA  HISTORY 

OF  THE  COUNTIES 
OF  ENGLAND 


NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


LONDON 
ARCHIBALD    CONSTABLE 

AND    COMPANY    LIMITED 


This  History  is  issued  to  Subscribers  only 
By  Archibald  Constable  &  Company  Limited 
and  printed  by  Eyre  &  Spottiswoode 
H.M.  Printers  of  London 


INSCRIBED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

HER     LATE     MAJESTY 

QUEEN    VICTORIA 

WHO      GRACIOUSLY      GAVE 

THE       TITLE       TO       AND 

ACCEPTED      THE 

DEDICATION    OF 

THIS  HISTORY 


THE 

VICTORIA  HISTORY 

OF  THE  COUNTY  OF 

NOTTINGHAM 


j 


EDITED    BY 

WILLIAM     PAGE,    F.S.A. 

VOLUME    ONE 


LONDON 
j  JAMES    STREET 

I  HAYMARKET 


DA 

670 


v.  I 


Counts  Committee  for  TRotttngbamsbire 


HIS   GRACE  THE  DUKE  OF  PORTLAND,  K.G.,  G.C.V.O. 

Lord  Lieutenant,  Chairman 


His  GRACE  THE  DUKE  OF  NEWCASTLE 
THE  RT.  HON.  THE  EARL  MANVERS 
THE  RT.  HON.  THE  EARL  OF  LIVERPOOL 
THE  RT.  HON.  THE  VISCOUNT  GALWAY 
THE  RT.  REV.  THE  LORD  BISHOP  OF  SOUTH- 
WELL 

THE  RT.  HON.  THE  LORD  MIDDLETON 
THE  RT.  HON.  THE  LORD  BELPER 
THE  RT.  HON.  F.  J.  S.  FOLJAMBE 
THE  RT.  HON.  JOHN  E.  ELLIS,  M.P. 
THE  HON.  FREDERICK  STRUTT 
SIR  THOMAS  WHITE,  BART. 
SIR  CHARLES  SEELY,  BART. 
SIR  JOHN  TURNEY,  J.P. 
THE  WORSHIPFUL  THE  MAYOR  OF  RETFORD 
HENRY  ASHWELL,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
THE  REV.  ATWELL  M.  Y.  BAYLAY,  M.A. 
THOMAS  M.  BLAGG,  ESQ.,  F.S.A. 
J.  POTTER  BRISCOE,  ESQ.,  F.R.H.S. 
THE  REV.  F.  BRODHURST,  M.A. 
CORNELIUS  BROWN,  ESQ. 
J.  W.  CARR,  ESQ.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S. 
THE  REV.  CANON  W.  L.  B.  CATOR,  M.A. 
G.  N.  CHARLTON,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
GENERAL  J.  TALBOT  COKE 
COL.  HENRY  EYRE,  C.B.,  D.L.,  J.P. 
GEORGE  FELLOWS,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
E.  H.  FRASER,  ESQ.,  D.C.L. 


THE  REV.  JAMES  Gow,  M.A.,  D.LiTT.,  HEAD 

MASTER  OF  WESTMINSTER  SCHOOL 
FRANK  GRANGER,  ESQ.,  D.Lrrr. 
J.  A.  H.  GREEN,  ESQ. 
W.  W.  HALL,  ESQ.,  D.L.,  J.P. 
JOHN  HOLDEN,  ESQ.,  D.L.,  J.P. 
THE  REV.  RODOLPH  BARON  VON  HUBE 
W.  LAMBE  HUSKINSON,  ESQ. 
J.  ALFRED  JACOBY,  ESQ.,  M.P. 
WILLIAM  H.  MASON,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
THE  REV.  C.  SUTTON  MILLARD,  B.A. 
THE  VEN.  ARCHDEACON  RICHARDSON,  M.A. 
MAJOR  G.  E.  ROBERTSON 
JOHN  RUSSELL,  ESQ.,  M.A. 

F.  A.  SMITH,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
JOHN  T.  SPALDING,  ESQ.,  J.P. 
THE  REV.  JOHN  STANDISH,  B.A. 
JOHN  R.  STARKEY,  ESQ.,  M.P. 
WILLIAM  STEVENSON,  ESQ. 
WILLIAM  H.  STEVENSON,  ESQ. 

THE  REV.  PROFESSOR  J.  E.  SYMES,  M.A. 
WILLIAM  VICKERS,  ESQ. 

G.  H.  WALLIS,  ESQ.,  F.S.A. 
JAMES  WARD,  ESQ. 

JOHN  C.  WARREN,  ESQ.,  M.A. 
B.  J.  WHITAKER,  ESQ.,  D.L.,  J.P. 
THE  REV.  R.  H.  WHITWORTH 
T.  CECIL  S.  WOOLLEY,  ESQ. 
J.  H.  YOXALL,  ESQ.,  M.P. 


Xlll 


CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    ONE 

PAGE 

Dedication       ...............         v 

The  Advisory  Council  of  the  Victoria  History .         .       vii 

General  Advertisement vii 

The  Nottinghamshire  County  Committee     ..........      xiii 

Contents .          .        xv 

List  of  Illustrations xvii 

Preface xix 

Table  of  Abbreviations xxi 

Natural  History 

Introduction By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.  .    xxvii 

Geology By  Professor  J.  F.  BLAKE,  M.A.,  F.G.S.      .         .         .          i 

Palaeontology       .         .         .  By  R.  LYDEKKER,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.     .         .         -37 

Botany By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S. 

Introduction       ........  .          .  .          .       41 

Botanical  Districts      .............       48 

Vascular  Plants  .............51 

Musci  (Mosses)  ............  .61 

Hepaticae  (Liverworts  and  Scale  Mosses')  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .65 

Algae        ...............       66 

Lichens    ...............       67 

Fungi       ................       68 

Zoology 

Molluscs  .         .         .         .  By  B.  STURCES  DODD  and  B.  B.  WOODWARD,  F.L.S., 

F.G.S.,  F.R.M.S 75 

Insects By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S. 

Aptera  (S/ ring- tails  and  Bristle-tails)   .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  79 

Orthoptera  (Earwigs,  Grasshoppers,  etc.)      .........        80 

Neuroptera  (Dragon-flies,  May-flies,  Caddis-flies,  etc.)    .         .         .         .         .         .         .81 

Hymenoptera  (Ants,  Bees,  Saw-flics,  Ichneumons,  etc.)    .          .         .         .         .         .         .83 

Coleoptera  (Beetles') 93 

Lepidoptera  (Butterflies  and  Moths')    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .108 

Diptera  (Flies) .         .         .123 

Hemiptera  (Bugs,  etc.)     .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .128 

Myriapoda  (Centipedes  and  MUR- 

pedef) By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.  .         .     131 

Spiders „  „  „  „  .      132 

Crustaceans       ....       By  the  Rev.  T.  R.  R.  STEBBING,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.      141 

Fishes By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.  .         .     152 

Reptiles  and  Batrachians     .  „  „  „  „  ..155 

Birds       .         .         .         .         .       By  J.  WHITAKER,  F.Z.S.,  etc 156 

Mammals          ....       By  Professor  J.  W.  CARR,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.  .         .     177 


CONTENTS    OF    VOLUME    ONE 

PACE 

Early  Man By  Professor  FRANK  GRANGER,  D.Litt.         .         .         .183 

Anglo-Saxon  Remains        ...       By  REGINALD  A.  SMITH,  B.A.,  F.S.A.          .         .         .193 

Introduction  to  the   Nottinghamshire 

Domesday By  F.  M.  STENTON,  B.A.  .  ...     207 

Text  of  the  Nottinghamshire  Domes- 
day    .  „         „         „  .  .     247 

Ancient  Earthworks  .         .         .  By  W.  STEVENSON    .......     289 

Political  History  ....  By  Miss  A.  A.  LOCKE,  Honours  School  of  Modern 

History,  Oxford  .          .          .          .          .          .          •     3 '  7 

Forestry By  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Cox,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,  and  the  Rev. 

R.  H.  WHITWORTH       .          .          .          .          .          -365 


xvi 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Nottingham  Castle.     By  WILLIAM  HYDE       ....                    .  .              frontispiece 

Perforated  Axe-head  from  Wollaton  .  \ 

Winged  Celt  from  Colwick 

\ full-page  flate,  facing     1 86 

Bronze  Socketed  Spear-head  from  Gringley  . 

Bronze  Implements  from  Nottingham  .  ' 

Section  of  Church  Hole  Cave,  Creswell          ....  .191 

Urn  from  Holme  Pierrepont        ...                    .                              ...  .195 

Bronze  Gilt  Brooch  from  Holme  Pierrepont           .          .                              ...  .196 

Bronze  Brooch  from  Holme  Pierrepont         .....  ....      196 

Viking  Sword  from  Farndon  Church    ...                    ...  .197 

Urn  from  Newark     .....                    •  ....     202 

Urn  from  Newark     .......                    ...  .          .     202 

Iron  Sword  from  Nottingham     .          .     \ 

Iron  Spear-head  with  Cross-bar,  London   I 

Bronze-gilt  Brooch  from  Tuxford         .      V  .                                                  -  full-page  plate,  facing     202 

Iron  Spear-head  from  Nottingham 

Sword  Pommel  from  Nottingham          .     ' 

Bronze  Brooch  from  Brough        .          .          .          .          .          .          .          -  .          .          .          .203 

Bronze  Ring-brooch  from  Nottingham           .          .          .          .          .          .  .          .          .          .204 

Ancient  Earthworks 

Combs  Farm  Camp,  Farnsfield     ...                                        .  .291 

Nottingham  Castle  and  Precincts .          ......  ...      292 

Castle  Hill,  Worksop .         .         .  .293 

Blidworth  Camp •     294 

Castle  Hill,  East  Retford     ....  -294 

Hill  Close  Camp,  Farnsfield          .          .  -     295 

Beacon  Hill  Camp,  Gringley  on  the  Hill       .  .     296 

Winny  Hill  Camp,  Mansfield  Woodhouse      .          .  .     296 

Camp  at  Oxton.          .          .  •     298 

Castle  Hill,  Thurgarton       .  •     298 

Woodborough  Camp  ...  -299 

Camp  in  Hollinwood  Hill,  Arnold        ...  .     300 

Castle  Hill,  Car  Colston      ...  .300 

Kingshaugh  Camp,  Darlton           .                              •          •                    •  •      3°' 

Castle  Hill  Camp,  Kirkby  in  Ashfield  .         .                            .  •     3°3 

Camp  at  Lonely  Grange,  Oxton  .                              ....  .     303 

Camp  on  Burgage  Hill,  Southwell •     3°4- 

Jordan  Castle,  Wellow •     3°4 

xvii 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Ancient  Earthworks  (continued) 

Castle  Hill,  Annesley •  3°5 

Earthworks  at  Aslockton      .                            ...  •                            •  3°6 

Gaddick  Hill,  Egmanton     .  ....  306 

Laxton  Castle •  3°7 

Sibthorpe          ....                  •                            •  .         .  310 

Greasley  Castle •         •         •         -311 


LIST    OF    MAPS 

Geological  Map between     xxx,   I 

Orographical  Map     .          .          .          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •  »  '8,   I9 

Botanical  Map.          .                    .                                        .......  40,  41 

Pre-Historical  Map „  182,  183 

Anglo-Saxon  Map .  „  192,  '93 

Domesday  Map         ........  „  246,  247 

Ancient  Earthworks  Map „  288,  289 


xvin 


PREFACE 

\ 

SO  much  of  the  County  of  Nottingham  was  covered  on  its  north 
and  east  sides  by  the  Forest  of  Sherwood  that  the  early  history 
of  this  district  is  comparatively  slight.      Nottinghamshire  can, 
however,  claim  to  possess  one  of  the  oldest   county  histories  in 
Dr.  Robert  Thoroton's  Antiquities  of  Nottinghamshire,  published  in  1677. 
Though  not  perhaps    equal  to  its  contemporary  the  History  of  Warwick- 
shire, by  Dugdale,  it  is  a  work  of  considerable  research,  and  has  remained 
till  now  the  only  history  of   the   county,  for  John   Throsby's   History  of 
Nottinghamshire  published  in  1 797  is  practically  a   reprint  of  Thoroton's 
work,  with  a  few  additions  to  the  text  and  illustrations. 

The  Editor  wishes  to  express  his  thanks  to  Mr.  J.  Horace  Round, 
M.A.,  LL.D.,  for  his  help  and  suggestions  regarding  the  articles  on  the 
Domesday  Book  and  Political  History  ;  to  Mr.  G.  H.  Wallis,  F.S.A., 
director  of  the  Art  Museum,  Nottingham  Castle,  for  assistance  in  many 
ways  ;  to  Mr.  I.  Chalkley  Gould,  F.S.A.,  for  notes  relating  to  the  earth- 
works of  the  county  ;  and  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  the  British 
Archaeological  Society,  and  Sir  John  Evans,  K.C.B.,  for  the  use  of  blocks. 


XIX 


TABLE    OF    ABBREVIATIONS 


Abbrev.  Plac.  (Rec. 

Com.) 
Acts  of  P.C.      .     . 

Add 

Add.  Chart.      .     . 

Admir 

Agarde    .... 
Anct.  Corresp. . 
Anct.  D.  (P.R.O.) 

A  2420 
Ann.  Mon. . 

Antiq 

App 

Arch 

Arch.  Cant.  .  . 
Archd.  Rec.  .  . 

Archit 

Assize  R.  .  .  . 
Aud.  Off.  ... 
Aug.  Off.  ... 
Ayloffe  .  .  . 

Bed 

Beds 

Berks      .... 

Bdle 

B.M 

Bodl.  Lib.    .     .     . 

Boro 

Brev.  Reg.   . 

Brit 

Buck 

Bucks 


Cal 

Camb.     .      . 

Cambr 

Campb.  Ch. 
Cant 


Carl  ..... 
Cart.  Antiq.  R. 
C.C.C.  Camb.  . 

Certiorari       Bdles. 

(Rolls  Chap.) 
Chan.  Enr.  Decree 

R. 

Chan.  Proc.       .     . 
Chant.  Cert. 


Chap.  Ho.   . 
Charity  Inq. 
Chart.  R.  20  Hen. 
III.  pt.  i.  No.  10 


Abbreviatio  Placitorum  (Re- 
cord Commission) 

Acts  of  Privy  Council 

Additional 

Additional  Charters 

Admiralty 

Agarde's  Indices 

Ancient  Correspondence 

Ancient  Deeds(Public  Record 
Office)  A  2420 

Annalcs  Monastic! 

Antiquarian  or  Antiquaries 

Appendix 

Archasologia  or  Archxological 

Archaeologia  Cantiana 

Archdeacons'  Records 

Architectural 

Assize  Rolls 

Audit  Office 

Augmentation  Office 

Ayloffe's  Calendars 

Bedford 

Bedfordshire 

Berkshire 

Bundle 

British  Museum 

Bodley's  Library 

Borough 

Brevia  Regia 

Britain, British,  Britannia,  etc. 

Buckingham 

Buckinghamshire 

Calendar 

Cambridgeshire  or  Cambridge 

Cambria,  Cambrian,  Cam- 
brensis,  etc. 

Campbell  Charities 

Canterbury 

Chapter 

Carlisle 

Cartae  Antiquse  Rolls 

Corpus  Christ!  College,  Cam- 
bridge 

Certiorari  Bundles  (Rolls 
Chapel) 

Chancery  Enrolled  Decree 
Rolls 

Chancery  Proceedings 

Chantry  Certificates  (or  Cer- 
tificates of  Colleges  and 
Chantries) 

Chapter  House 

Charity  Inquisitions 

Charter  Roll,  20  Henry  III. 
part  i.  Number  10 


Chartul 

Chas 

Ches 

Chest 

Ch.    Gds.     (Exch. 
K.R.) 

Chich 

Chron 

Close       . 

Co 

Colch 

Coll 

Com 

Com.  Pleas  . 
Conf.  R.      .     .     . 
Co.  Plac.      .      .      . 

Cornw 

Corp 

Cott 

Ct.  R 

Ct.  of  Wards     .      . 

Cumb 

Cur.  Reg.     . 

D 

D. and  C.    .      .     . 
De  Bane.  R.     .     . 
Dec.  and  Ord  . 
Dep.  Keeper's  Rep. 

Derb 

Devon     .      .      .      . 

Dioc 

Doc 

Dods.  MSS.      .     . 
Dom.  Bk.     .     .     . 

Dors 

Duchy  of  Lane. 
Dur 

East 

Eccl 

Eccl.  Com. 

Edvv 

Eliz 

Engl 

Engl.  Hist.  Rev.    . 

Enr 

Epis.  Reg.    . 
Esch.  Enr.  Accts.  . 
ExcerptaeRot.  Fin. 

(Rec.  Com.) 
Exch.  Dep.       .     . 
Exch.  K.B.       .     . 
Exch.  K.R.       .     . 

Exch.  L.T.R. 


Chartulary 

Charles 

Cheshire 

Chester 

Church    Goods    (Exchequer- 

King's  Remembrancer) 
Chichester 

Chronicle,  Chronica,  etc. 
Close  Roll 
County 
Colchester 
Collections 
Commission 
Common  Pleas 
Confirmation  Rolls 
County  Placita 
Cornwall 
Corporation 
Cotton  or  Cottoniaii 
Court  Rolls 
Court  of  Wards 
Cumberland 
Curia  Regis 

Deed  or  Deeds 

Dean  and  Chapter 

De  Banco  Rolls 

Decrees  and  Orders 

Deputy  Keeper's  Reports 

Derbyshire  or  Derby 

Devonshire 

Diocese 

Documents 

Dodsworth  MSS 

Domesday  Book 

Dorsetshire 

Duchy  of  Lancaster 

Durham 

Easter  Term 
Ecclesiastical 

Ecclesiastical  Commission 
Edward 
Elizabeth 

England  or  English 
English  Historical  Review 
Enrolled  or  Enrolment 
Episcopal  Registers 
Escheators  Enrolled  Accounts 
Excerpta   e    Rotulis   Finium 

(Record  Commission) 
Exchequer  Depositions 
Exchequer  King's  Bench 
Exchequer    King's    Remem- 
brancer 

Exchequer  Lord  Treasurer's 
Remembrancer 


XXI 


Exch.  of  Pleas,  Plea 

R. 

Exch.  of  Receipt    . 
Exch.  Spec.  Cora.  . 


Feet  of  F.   .     .     . 
Feod.  Accts.  (Ct.  of 

Wards) 
Feod.  Surv.  (Ct.  of 

Wards) 
Feud.  Aids  .     .     . 

fol 

Foreign  R.  .     .     . 
Forest  Proc.      .     . 


TABLE    OF    ABBREVIATIONS 

Exchequer  of  Pleas,  Plea  Roll 

Exchequer  of  Receipt 
Exchequer  Special  Commis- 


Feet  of  Fines 

Feodaries  Accounts  (Court  of 

Wards) 
Feodaries  Surveys  (Court  of 

Wards) 
Feudal  Aids 
Folio 

Foreign  Rolls 
Forest  Proceedings 


Gaz Gazette  or  Gazetteer 

Gen Genealogical,      Genealogica, 

etc. 

Geo George 

Glouc Gloucestershire  or  Gloucester 

Guild  Certif. (Chan.)  Guild  Certificates  (Chancery) 
Ric.  II.  Richard  II. 


Hants 

Had. 

Hen. 

Heref. 

Hertf. 

Herts 

Hil.   . 

Hist. 


Hist.  MSS.  Com. 

Hosp. 

Hund.  R.     .      . 

Hunt.      .      .      . 

Hunts 


Inq.  a.q.d. 
Inq.  p.m. 
Inst.  .  . 
Invent.  . 
Ips.  .  . 
Itin.  . 


Journ 

Lamb.  Lib. 

Lane 

L.     and     P.    Hen. 

VIII. 
Lansd. 
Ld.  Rev.  Rcc.  .     . 

Leic 

Le  Neve's  Ind. 

Lib 

Lich 

Line 

Lond. 


m. 
Mem. 


Hampshire 

Harley  or  Harleian 

Henry 

Herefordshire  or  Hereford 

Hertford 

Hertfordshire 

Hilary  Term 

History,  Historical,Historian, 

Historia,  etc. 

Historical  MSS.  Commission 
Hospital 
Hundred  Rolls 
Huntingdon 
Huntingdonshire 

Inquisitions  ad  quod  damnum 
Inquisitions  post  mortem 
Institute  or  Institution 
Inventory  or  Inventories 
Ipswich 
Itinerary 

James 
Journal 

Lambeth  Library 
Lancashire  or  Lancaster 
Letters    and     Papers,    Hen. 

VIII. 

Lansdowne 

Land  Revenue  Records 
Leicestershire  or  Leicester 
Le  Neve's  Indices 
Library 
Lichfield 

Lincolnshire  or  Lincoln 
London 

Membrane 
Memorials 


Memo.  R.    . 

Mich 

Midd 

Mins.  Accts.      .     . 
Misc.   Bks.   (Exch. 

K.R.,      Exch. 

T.R.   or  Aug. 

Off.) 


Mon.  .  . 

Monm.  . 

Mun.  .  . 

Mus.  .  . 

N.  and  Q.   . 

Norf.      .     . 
Northampt. 
Northants     . 
Northumb.  . 
Norw. 
Nott.       .     . 


N.S. 


Off.    .     . 
Orig.  R. 
O.S.  .     . 
Oxf.  . 


Palmer's  Ind.     . 
Pal.  of  Chest.    .      . 
Pal.  of  Dur.       .      . 
Pal.  of  Lane.     . 

Par 

Parl 

Parl.  R 

Parl.  Surv.   . 
Partic.  for  Gts. 

Pat 

P.C.C 

Pet 

Peterb 

Phil 

Pipe  R 

Plea  R 

Pop.  Ret.     .     .     . 

Pope    Nich.   Tax. 

(Rec.  Com.) 

P.R.O 

Proc 

Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  . 


pt. 
Pub. 


R 

Rec.  .  .  . 
Recov.  R.  .  . 
Rentals  and  Surv. 

Rep 

Rev 

Ric.   . 


Memoranda  Rolls 

Michaelmas  Term 

Middlesex 

Ministers'  Accounts 

Miscellaneous  Books  (Ex- 
chequer King's  Remem- 
brancer, Exchequer  Trea- 
sury of  Receipt  or  Aug- 
mentation Office) 

Monastery,  Monasticon 

Monmouth 

Muniments  or  Munimenta 

Museum 

Notes  and  Queries 
Norfolk 
Northampton 
Northamptonshire 
Northumberland 
Norwich 

Nottinghamshire  or  Notting- 
ham 
New  Style 

Office 

Originalia  Rolls 
Ordnance  Survey 
Oxfordshire  or  Oxford 

Page 

Palmer's  Indices 

Palatinate  of  Chester 

Palatinate  of  Durham 

Palatinate  of  Lancaster 

Parish,  parochial,  etc. 

Parliament  or  Parliamentary 

Parliament  Rolls 

Parliamentary  Surveys 

Particulars  for  Grants 

Patent  Roller  Letters  Patent 

Prerogative  Court  of  Canter- 
bury 

Petition 

Peterborough 

Philip 

Pipe  Roll 

Plea  Rolls 

Population  Returns 

Pope  Nicholas'  Taxation  (Re- 
cord Commission) 

Public  Record  Office 

Proceedings 

Proceedings  of  the  Society  of 
Antiquaries 

Part 

Publications 

Roll 

Records 

Recovery  Rolls 

Rentals  and  Surveys 

Report 

Review 

Richard 


xxn 


TABLE    OF    ABBREVIATIONS 


Roff.       ....     Rochester  diocese 
Rot.  Cur.  Reg.       .     Rotuli  Curiae  Regis 
Rut Rutland 


Topog. 


Sarum     .... 

Ser 

Sess.  R 

Shrews 

Shrops    .... 

Soc 

Soc.  Antiq.  . 

Soraers 

Somers.  Ho.      .     . 

S.P.  Dom.   .     .     . 

Staff.       .... 

Star  Chamb.  Proc. 

Stat 

Steph 

Subs.  R.       .     .     . 

SufF. 

Surr 

Suss 

Surv.  of  Ch.  Liv- 
ings (Lamb.)  or 
(Chan.) 


Salisbury  diocese 
Series 

Sessions  Rolls 
Shrewsbury 
Shropshire 
Society 

Society  of  Antiquaries 
Somerset 
Somerset  House 
State  Papers  Domestic 
Staffordshire 

Star  Chamber  Proceedings 
Statute 
Stephen 
Subsidy  Rolls 
Suffolk 
Surrey 
Sussex 

Surveys   of  Church  Livings 
(Lambeth)  or  (Chancery) 


Trans. 
Transl. 
Treas. 
Trin. 


Univ.      .  . 

Valor    Eccl. 

Com.) 

Vet.  Mon.  . 

V.C.H.  .  . 

Vic.  .     .  . 
vol. 


(Rec. 


Warw.  . 
Westm.  . 
Westmld. 
Will.  . 
Wilts  . 
Winton. 
Wore. 


Yorks 


Topography  or  Topographi- 
cal 

Transactions 
Translation 
Treasury  or  Treasurer 
Trinity  Term 

University 

Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (Record 

Commission) 
Vetusta  Monumenta 
Victoria  County  History 
Victoria 
Volume 

Warwickshire  or  Warwick 

Westminster 

Westmorland 

William 

Wiltshire 

Winchester  diocese 

Worcestershire  or  Worcester 

Yorkshire 


XXlll 


d 


A   HISTORY   OF 
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF 

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


NOTTINGHAMSHIRE,  one  of  the  north-midland  counties  of 
England,  is  in  form  an  irregular  oval,  about  fifty  miles  in 
length  from  north  to  south,  and  with  a  greatest  width  of  about 
twenty-six  miles  from  east  to  west  :  its  total  area  is  about  844 
square  miles.  Its  political  borders  are  formed  by  the  counties  of  York, 
Derby,  Leicester  and  Lincoln,  which  bound  it  on  the  north,  west,  south 
and  east  respectively.  In  the  north-east  portion  of  the  county  the  river 
Trent  forms  a  natural  boundary,  as  do  also  the  Erewash  and  Soar,  and 
about  three  miles  of  the  Trent,  in  the  south-west,  but  elsewhere  the 
boundary  is  not  formed  by  natural  features,  unless  we  except  the  few 
insignificant  lengths  along  which  the  Witham  and  one  or  two  small 
streams  coincide  with  the  county  boundary.  In  its  physical  features 
Nottinghamshire  presents  no  very  great  diversity  ;  it  possesses  none  of 
the  wild  moorland  or  bold  mountainous  scenery  of  its  neighbours  on  the 
north  and  west.  Along  the  course  of  the  Trent,  which  stretches  across 
the  southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  are  extensive  areas  of  rich 
low-lying  pasture  and  arable  land,  but  elsewhere  the  surface  is  for  the 
most  part  of  a  gently  undulating  character,  rising  in  some  places  into 
low  ranges  of  hills,  which  attain  their  greatest  altitude  to  the  south  and 
west  of  Sutton-in-Ashfield,  where  there  is  a  good  deal  of  ground  lying 
above  the  contour  line  of  600  feet.  The  highest  points  indicated  on  the 
last  edition  of  the  ordnance  map  are  651  feet  at  Hucknall-under-Huth- 
waite  ;  631  feet  at  Wild  Hill,  one  mile  north  of  the  former  station  ; 
and  629  feet  and  614  feet  respectively  to  the  east  and  south-east  of  East 
Kirkby.  Of  lesser  height  are  the  hills  north  of  Blidworth  (500  feet)  ; 
c  The  Plains '  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham,  which 
rise  to  a  height  of  470  feet  at  Dorket  Head,  and  508  feet  at  Cockpit 
Hill  ;  and  the  Wolds  in  the  extreme  south  of  the  county,  which  just 
reach  400  feet.  On  the  other  hand  a  great  part  of  the  eastern  side  of 
the  county  lies  below  the  100  feet  contour  line,  and  in  the  Carr  lands  of 
the  extreme  north  we  have  an  area  much  of  which  is  less  than  i  o  feet 
abo1.  o  sea  level. 

The  most  striking  of  the  physical  characteristics  of  Nottingham- 
shire is  however  the  beautiful  park  and  woodland  scenery  of  Sherwood 


XXVll 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Forest,  which  occupies  a  considerable  area  on  the  western  side  of  the 
county,  between  Mansfield  on  the  south  and  Worksop  on  the  north. 
Within  this  region,  especially  in  the  extensive  woods  known  as  the  Birk- 
lands  and  Bilhagh,  may  be  seen  some  of  the  finest  primeval  woodland  in 
Britain  ;  the  trees  are  mainly  oak  and  birch,  many  of  them,  especially 
the  former,  being  evidently  of  great  antiquity.  Such  are  the  celebrated 
Major,  Parliament,  Shambles  and  Greendale  Oaks.  There  is  usually  no 
undergrowth  beyond  a  dense  and  luxuriant  carpet  of  bracken.  Other 
parts  of  the  district,  from  which  the  old  timber  had  long  ago  been 
cleared,  are  now  occupied  by  extensive  plantations  of  oak,  beech,  larch 
and  other  conifers,  sweet-chestnut  and  other  trees.  The  open  forest  and 
park  lands  are  dotted  over  with  ancient  thorn  trees,  often  infested  with 
mistletoe  ;  the  ground  vegetation  consists  of  various  grasses  with  ling 
and  heath,  gorse  and  bracken. 

Nottinghamshire  is  almost  entirely  within  the  drainage  area  of  the 
Trent.  This  noble  river,  rising  in  the  Staffordshire  moors,  enters  the 
county  near  its  south-west  corner,  shortly  after  its  junction  with  the 
Derbyshire  Derwent  at  Sawley,  receives  at  once  the  waters  of  the  Erewash 
and  Soar,  and  thence  passing  along  the  southern  boundary  of  the  city 
of  Nottingham,  crosses  the  county  in  a  north-easterly  direction  to 
Newark,  whence  it  flows  almost  due  north,  finally  leaving  the  county 
at  West  Stockwith,  a  village  at  the  extreme  north-east  corner  of 
Notts.  Among  its  purely  Nottinghamshire  tributaries  are  the  Leen, 
which  rises  in  the  Robin  Hood  Hills  and  flows  into  the  canal  at 
Lenton,  and  thence  into  the  Trent  at  Nottingham  ;  the  Cocker  Beck, 
Dover  Beck,  and  Greet  from  the  north-west  enter  the  Trent  near  Gun- 
thorpe,  Caythorpe  and  Fiskerton  respectively  ;  the  united  waters  of 
the  Smite  and  Devon  rivers,  flowing  north  from  Leicestershire,  join 
the  Newark  branch  of  the  Trent  at  Newark  ;  and  finally  at  the  ex- 
treme north-east  of  the  county  the  Trent  is  reinforced  by  the  waters 
of  the  Idle,  a  river  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Ryton,  Poulter,  Meden, 
Maun,  and  Vicar  and  Rainworth  waters,  which  drain  the  Sherwood 
Forest  region.  In  the  parks  of  Sherwood  Forest  several  artificial 
lakes  of  considerable  size  have  been  formed  along  the  course  of  the 
streams. 

As  before  mentioned  the  county  of  Nottingham  is  in  shape  an  ir- 
regular, elongated  oval,  its  long  axis  pointing  somewhat  N.E.  and  S.W. 
It  thus  coincides  in  position  with  the  general  strike  of  the  English  sedi- 
mentary rocks  which  accordingly  run  through  it  from  end  to  end  as  long 
bands  of  varying  width.  Owing  to  the  narrowness  of  the  county, 
however,  these  bands  are  very  few  in  number,  and  consequently  there  is 
little  variety  in  the  nature  of  the  rocks  which  form  the  surface,  and 
therefore  of  the  scenery  due  to  such  diversity  of  geological  forma- 
tions. 

By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  surface  of  the  county  is  occupied  by 
the  Trias  or  New  Red  Sandstone,  the  two  main  divisions  of  which — 
the  Upper  or  Keuper  and  the  Lower  or  Bunter— form  broad  bands,  each 


xxvin 


NATURAL    HISTORY 

several  miles  across.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  county,  for  the  southern 
two-thirds  of  its  length,  the  Trias  is  bordered  by  the  lower  beds  of  the 
Lias,  which  form  a  narrow  strip  between  the  Keuper  and  the  county 
boundary.  Between  the  Keuper  and  Lias  is  a  band  of  Rhastic  shales  of 
insignificant  thickness.  On  the  other  side  of  the  county  the  Permian 
rocks  occupy  a  long  narrow  area  along  the  western  border  of  the  Bunter 
beds  ;  and  still  further  to  the  westward  the  Permian  is  followed  by  a 
patch  of  Coal  Measures — the  easterly  extension  of  the  Derbyshire  and 
Yorkshire  coalfield. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Drift  deposits  and  the  Alluvium  of  the 
river  valleys,  the  above  are  all  the  formations  which  occur  in  Notting- 
hamshire. 

In  a  county  whose  highest  ground  is  only  something  over  600  feet 
above  sea-level  it  might  be  expected  that  the  fauna  and  flora  which 
characterize  the  more  mountainous  parts  of  Derbyshire  and  Yorkshire 
would  be  absent,  as  is  indeed  the  case.  Also  an  inland  county  must 
necessarily  compare  unfavourably  with  one,  such  as  Lincolnshire,  which 
enjoys  all  the  advantages  in  flora  and  fauna  that  the  possession  of  a  long 
line  of  coast  confers.  A  further  circumstance  which  tends  to  reduce  the 
number  of  species,  especially  of  plants  and  molluscous  animals,  is  the 
absence  of  certain  geological  formations  favourable  to  their  occurrence ; 
even  the  narrow  band  of  Magnesian  Limestone  which  occurs  along  the 
western  border  of  the  county,  and  is  the  only  calcareous  rock  formation 
that  we  possess,  is  largely  spoiled  for  botanical  and  faunistic  purposes  by 
the  long  line  of  collieries  and  colliery  villages  with  their  attendant  net- 
work of  railway  lines  which  follow  its  outcrop.  Moreover  the  high 
state  of  cultivation  of  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  county,  and  the 
almost  entire  absence  of  undrained  bog  or  marsh  land  account  for  the 
absence  at  the  present  day  of  many  forms  of  life  which  may  once  have 
existed  here. 

Still,  in  spite  of  all  these  disadvantages,  it  will  be  found  from  the 
appended  lists  that  we  possess  a  fauna  and  flora  of  considerable  richness 
and  variety.  Many  groups,  both  of  animals  and  plants,  are  still  however 
only  very  imperfectly  worked  out,  and  very  much  still  remains  to  be  done 
before  we  can  form  any  accurate  idea  of  the  full  extent  of  our  organic 
wealth. 


XXIX 


GEOLOGY 


IN  relation  to  the  general  geological  structure  of  England  the  city 
of  Nottingham  occupies  a  peculiar  position.  If  a  line  be  drawn 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Tees  and  follow  a  course  along  the  vale  of 

York  and  the  lower  basin  of  the  Trent  on  their  western  sides,  and 
thence  by  the  Soar  and  Avon  to  the  east  side  of  the  vale  of  Severn  to 
terminate  at  the  mouth  of  the  Exe,  there  will  be  found  on  the  west  side 
of  it  all  the  older,  or  Palaeozoic,  rocks  and  the  bulk  of  the  manufactur- 
ing centres,  and  on  the  east  side  of  it  most  of  the  newer,  or  Neozoic, 
rocks  and  of  the  purely  agricultural  land.  This  dividing  line  passes 
through  Nottingham. 

Again,  in  the  northern  half  of  England  the  surface  is  dominated  by 
a  single  line  of  elevation  along  the  axis  of  the  Pennine  range  from  north 
to  south ;  but  in  the  southern  half  the  lines  of  elevation  are  shorter 
and  irregular  in  direction,  more  especially  in  the  Midland  district.  Not- 
tingham lies  at  the  extreme  southern  end  of  the  Pennine  axis. 

As  a  result  of  this  position  we  find  in  Nottinghamshire  the  youngest 
members  of  the  Palaeozoic  division  and  the  oldest  members  of  the  Neo- 
zoic division  of  rocks,  and  a  development  both  of  coal  mining  and  of 
agricultural  industries.  We  find  also  the  several  successive  rock  forma- 
tions sloping,  or  having  a  dip,  to  the  east  away  from  the  Pennine  axis 
until  they  approach  the  southern  border,  where  several  of  them  die  out 
altogether  and  others  change  their  direction. 

In  systematic  geology  the  bedded  rocks  of  Nottinghamshire  are 
classed  under  four  systems :  the  CARBONIFEROUS,  PERMIAN,  TRIASSIC  and 
JURASSIC,  of  which  the  two  former  are  Palaeozoic  and  the  two  latter  are 
Neozoic.  Besides  these  there  are  the  superficial  deposits  which  lie  in- 
discriminately on  all  the  bedded  strata.  A  complete  table  of  formations, 
described  in  ascending  order,  follows  on  the  next  page. 

THE  CARBONIFEROUS  SYSTEM 

The  whole  of  the  Carboniferous  system  as  developed  at  the  southern 
end  of  the  Pennine  axis,  if  we  include  the  rocks  easily  reached  by  bor- 
ing, is  found  within  the  county.  The  members  of  the  system  are  :  i . 
The  Carboniferous  or  Mountain  Limestone  (marked  da  on  the  Geological 
Survey  maps) ;  2.  The  Yoredale  Shales  (dj  ;  the  Millstone  Grit  (dj  ;  and 
the  Cdal-Measures  (dj,  including  the  three  subdivisions,  Lower,  Middle 
and  Upper  Coal-Measures. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


TABLE   OF   FORMATIONS    MET   WITH   IN    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


System 

Formation 

Subdivisions 

Maximum  local 
thickness  in  feet 

[Superficial] 

Local 

Blown  Sand 
Black  Earth  and  Loam 
Alluvium      
River  Gravel     .... 
Cave  Earth 

30 
2O 

Glacial 

Chalky  Gravel 
Chalky  Boulder  Clay  .     . 
Western  Gravel 
Western  Boulder  Clay 

70 
5° 

Liassic 

Lower  Lias  

i5o(?) 

Jurassic 

Rhaetic 

White  Lias  
Black    Shales    with    Bone 
Bed      

18 
is 

Keuper 

Keuper  Marls    .... 
Keuper      Sandstones      or 
Waterstones  .... 

|    „. 

Bunter 

Upper  Red  Sandstone. 
Pebble  Beds  
Lower  Red  Sandstone 

616 
233 

Upper  Marls      .... 
Upper  Limestone   . 
Lower   Marls   and    Sand- 
stones   

89 
53 

148 

Permian 

Small-grained  Dolomite  & 
Magnesian  Limestone  . 
Marl  Slate    
Breccia    

255 

185 

12 

Carboniferous 

Upper  Carboniferous 

Upper  Coal-Measures 
Middle  Coal-Measures 
Lower  Coal-Measures 
Millstone  Grit  .... 

53° 
2,480 
820 
720 

Lower  Carboniferous 

Yoredale  Shales. 
Mountain  Limestone  . 

Not  pierced 

GEOLOGY 

The  CARBONIFEROUS  LIMESTONE,  with  the  YOREDALE  SHALES,  which 
gradually  replace  it  towards  the  north,  was  laid  down  over  an  enormous 
area  extending  to  the  borders  of  Wales  on  the  west,  to  the  lowlands  of 
Scotland  on  the  north,  to  an  unknown  distance  to  the  east,  but  having 
its  southern  margin  in  Leicestershire  and  Derbyshire  on  the  confines  of 
Notts.  In  this  direction  it  is  definitely  bounded  by  a  ridge  of  older  rocks 
running  east  and  west.  These  come  to  the  surface  in  Charnwood  Forest 
and  are  met  with  in  both  directions  in  borings  east  and  west  of  Leicester.1 
Now  both  the  Limestone  and  the  Shales  are  seen  at  the  surface  at  Ticknall 
in  east  Derbyshire,  and  if  these  follow  the  line  of  their  common  boundary 
they  will  certainly  enter  Nottinghamshire,  without  any  overlying  Coal- 
Measures  but  covered  only  by  Neozoic  strata,  along  a  line  from  Remp- 
stone  to  Upper  Broughton.  They  probably  occur  also  as  basal  rocks 
throughout  the  whole  county,  but  at  too  great  a  depth  to  be  reached. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  MILLSTONE  GRIT  which  comes  to  the 
surface  at  Melbourne  and  Castle  Donnington.  It  will  continue  eastward 
underground  across  the  Soar  into  Nottinghamshire  along  a  line  from 
Kingston-upon-Soar  to  Widmerpool.  It  has  actually  been  found  beneath 
the  Coal-Measures  at  a  depth  of  1,150  feet  in  a  boring  at  Ruddington, 
which  was  continued  for  a  depth  of  720  feet  in  it. 

The  COAL-MEASURES,  or  group  of  strata  in  which  are  found  seams  of 
coal  thick  enough  to  be  profitably  worked,  are  the  lowest  rocks  which 
actually  come  to  the  surface  in  the  county,  of  which  they  occupy  about 
36  square  miles.  They  form  part  however  of  an  immense  coalfield  ex- 
tending continuously  into  Derbyshire  and  Yorkshire,  and  formerly  united 
to  the  now  separated  coalfields  of  Lancashire  and  north  Staffordshire. 
This  former  union  is  shown  by  the  recognized  identity  of  the  '  Black 
Shale '  coal  of  Derbyshire  and  Notts  with  the  '  Silkstone '  of  Yorkshire 
and  the  'Arley  Mine  '  of  Lancashire,  and  by  the  occurrence  of  the  same 
kinds  of  Upper  Coal-Measures  in  Notts  and  north  Staffordshire. 

The  materials  of  which  the  Coal-Measures  are  formed  consist  of  beds 
of  sandstone  and  grit  of  various  thicknesses  interspersed  with  beds  of 
shale  or  bind  and  occasional  beds  of  coal  and  other  special  rocks,  such 
as  clunch,  gannister  and  ironstone.  It  is  probably  seldom  realized  by 
those  who  have  no  mining  experience  how  small  is  the  amount  of  coal  in 
comparison  with  the  rest  of  the  series.  Thus  out  of  i  ,900  feet  of  strata 
from  the  top  of  the  Coal-Measures  to  the  lowest  workable  seam2  pierced 
near  Nottingham  only  83  feet  consists  of  actual  coal,  and  much  of  that 
is  too  thin  to  be  worked.  For  this  reason  outcrops  of  coal  are  seldom 
or  never  now  seen  at  the  natural  surface,  but  only  in  cuttings  or  in  clay 
and  stone  pits. 

The  best  idea  of  the  Coal-Measure  strata  of  Nottinghamshire  may 
be  obtained  from  the  cuttings  on  the  canal  side  near  Wollaton  ;  the  rail- 
way cuttings  between  Radford  and  Trowell3  (formerly)  and  at  Kimberley; 

1   Harrison,  Pnc.  Birm.  Phil.  Soc.  vol.  ii. 

3  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  71,  N.E.  (3  sections). 

3  Irving,  Pnc.  Geol.  AIIOC.  vol.  vi. 

3 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

and  the  openings  for  clay  near  Wollaton  and  for  stone  on  Trowell  Moor; 
though  some  of  these  are  now  poor.  The  alternations  of  sandstone  and 
shale  give  rise,  by  their  different  ways  of  weathering,  to  very  undulating 
country,  usually  well  clothed  with  vegetation.  The  fresh  exposures  of 
the  harder  rocks  are  of  peculiar  art  'shades  with  a  predominant  neutral 

tint. 

The  Nottinghamshire  coals  burn  to  an  ash  and  have  a  composition 
exemplified  by  one  from  Shireoaks,  analyzed  by  C.  Tookey  :' — 

Carbon 77'4° 

Hydrogen 4'9& 

Oxygen  and  Nitrogen 9^32 

Sulphur 0-92 

Ash 3-90 

Water  and  loss 3'5o 


lOO'OO 


Some  varieties  called  '  splint '  coal  show  a  very  bright  '  face  '  when  split, 
and,  in  others,  extra  bright  bands  may  be  seen  standing  out  from  the  parts 
which  consists  of  loose  dust.  The  bright  bands  are  cross  sections  of  the 
broken  tree  stems  of  Sigillaria,  etc.,  the  surface  markings  of  which  are 
sometimes  seen  when  the  fracture  lies  in  a  suitable  direction.  The 
loose  dust,  often  called  '  mother-of-coal,'  if  carefully  handled  and  suit- 
ably examined  under  the  microscope,  is  seen  to  consist  of  the  disc-bearing 
cells  of  some  kind  of  gymnospermous  tree,  probably  of  Cordaites. 

In  Clifton  Colliery  a  bed  of  '  Cannel  '  coal  is  found  between  the 
'  Waterloo  '  and  '  Deep  Soft  '  seams.  This  kind  of  coal  has  no  definite 
structure  in  it  and  is  supposed  to  be  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of 
the  material  of  ordinary  coal,  and  its  deposition  as  a  water-borne  sedi- 
ment. It  contains,  instead  of  plant  stems,  the  spines,  scales,  vertebras 
and  teeth  of  ganoid  fishes  referred  to  the  genera  Ctenacantbus,  Gyracan- 
thus  and  Megalichthys.  It  is  also  more  gaseous  than  ordinary  coal,  as  its 
name  implies. 

Clunch  and  gannister  are  materials  which  form  the  bed  next  below 
any  coal  seam.  In  the  case  of  all  the  coal  seams  of  Nottinghamshire,  as 
far  as  known,  it  is  clunch  that  is  found.  This  is  a  kind  of  kneaded  up 
clay,  without  internal  stratification,  and  often  showing  the  remains  of 
the  roots  of  the  plants  which  have  made  the  overlying  coal.  It  is  also 
called  '  underclay '  and  '  seat-earth.'  The  clunch  is  often  valuable  as  a 
fireclay,  but  is  little  worked  in  Nottinghamshire,  less  than  9,000  tons  of 
it  being  raised  in  1901,  against  nearly  68,000  tons  from  Derbyshire. 
Gannister  is  a  hard  siliceous  band  found  in  the  same  position  beneath 
certain  coals  with  which  marine  remains  are  associated,  but  it  has  not 
been  definitely  recognized  in  Nottinghamshire. 

The  largest  of  the  roots  found  associated  with  the  underclay  is  the 
Stigmaria.  This  usually  stands  upright  and  has  a  diameter  of  1 8  inches 
and  upwards.  In  a  downward  direction  it  branches  into  four  parts,  each 

1  Percy,  Metallurgy,  vol.  i. 
4 


GEOLOGY 

marked  with  rootlet  scars.  It  is  cut  off  above  by  the  horizontal  coal 
seam,  in  which  it  appears  lost,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  seam  the 
stem  corresponding  to  the  root  may  sometimes  be  seen  standing  upright 
above  it.  These  roots  are  most  abundant  below  the  '  Top  Hard'  seam. 
They  have  long  been  known  in  the  Newcastle  Colliery  at  Old  Basford, 
one  being  preserved  in  the  museum  at  the  University  College,  Notting- 
ham, and  some  specially  fine  examples  accompanied  by  the  correspond- 
ing stems  have  been  described  by  Mr.  Shipman  from  the  same  horizon 
elsewhere.1  In  one  of  these,  found  at  Bulwell,  the  stem  belonged  to 
Sigillaria  and  had  a  diameter  of  5  ft.  6  in.  and  a  length  preserved,  now 
filled  in  with  sand,  of  7  ft.  6  in.  In  another,  found  at  Newstead,  the 
stem  was  Lepidodendron,  and  had  a  diameter  of  9  feet  and  a  length  pre- 
served of  7  feet.  At  a  little  higher  level  similar  trees  of  smaller  diameter, 
3-4  feet,  are  found.  Such  trees  can  only  be  seen  in  the  mines  themselves, 
as  they  are  too  large  to  bring  up. 

The  ironstone  occurs  in  a  peculiar  form.  It  does  not  form  a  rock- 
bed  but  consists  of  concretionary  nodules  hardened  by  compounds  of 
iron.  These  nodules  occur  in  great  numbers  at  various  horizons  and 
often  contain  the  remains  of  some  organism  embedded  in  them,  such  as 
a  bivalve  shell  or  a  fern.  The  bivalve  shells,  named  Anthracosia?  belong  to 
the  family  Unionida  or  '  freshwater  mussels,'  hence  the  beds  containing 
them  are  called  '  mussel  bands.'  The  two  principal  species  are  A . 
robusta  and  A.  acuta.  The  ferns  are  most  commonly  of  the  genera 
Neuropteris  and  Alethopteris .  The  most  remarkable  fossil  from  these 
nodules,  found  by  Mr.  E.  Wilson  in  i  876  at  Skegby  New  Colliery  near 
Mansfield,  consists  of  five  abdominal  segments  and  a  pair  of  pincers  of  a 
scorpion,  described  and  figured  by  Dr.  H.  Woodward  3  under  the  name 
of  Eoscorpius  anglicus,  being  the  first  of  its  kind  found  in  England. 

The  roof  of  a  coal  seam,  or  stratum  immediately  following  it,  is 
generally  much  richer  in  organisms,  or  perhaps  more  frequently  examined, 
than  other  portions  of  the  strata,  and  constantly  contains  fragments  of 
such  plants  as  Spbenopteris^  Aster ophyllites,  etc.,  but  these  have  not  as  yet 
been  adequately  studied  in  Nottinghamshire. 

All  the  fossils  hitherto  mentioned,  with  the  possible  exception  of 
the  fishes,  are  inhabitants  of  the  land  or  fresh  water  ;  and  although  in 
other  coalfields  marine  organisms  occur  at  various  horizons  they  have  not 
till  lately  been  found  in  Nottinghamshire,  probably  from  the  scarcity  of 
opportunities.  However,  in  the  sinking  of  the  shaft  at  Gedling  (vide 
infra)  specimens  ofLingu/a,  Discina  and  Aviculopecten  have  been  discovered 
in  bands,  both  connected  with  or  unconnected  with  the  coal  seams  in 
that  part  of  the  Coal-Measures  usually  supposed  to  be  characterized  by 
their  absence.4 

Notwithstanding,  however,  these  proofs  of  occasional  submergence, 
as  in  other  coalfields,  the  Coal-Measures  exposed  or  worked  in  Notting- 
hamshire are  essentially  non-marine,  as  is  further  shown  by  the  remark- 

1  Nott.  Nat.  Sue.  Transaction!  for  1 894.  2  Also  called  Carbonicola. 

8  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  xxxii.  4  Geol.  Survey,  'Summary  of  Progress  for  1902.' 

5 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

able  phenomena  known  as  '  wash-outs.'  A  wash-out  or  '  dumb-fault  '  is 
discovered  in  working  a  coal  seam  by  the  sudden  dying  out  of  the  coal 
and  its  replacement  by  a  mass  of  sandstone  apparently  pressed  into  it  from 
above.  This  sandstone  may  continue  for  many  yards,  but  if  the  '  stone- 
heading  '  is  continued  far  enough  it  may  reach  the  other  side  of  the 
wash-out  and  enter  the  coal  seam  again.  If  the  sandstone  is  traced  in  a 
direction  transverse  to  such  a  heading  it  is  found  to  have  the  form  of  a 
long,  sometimes  branching  trough.  The  material  filling  this  trough  is 
often  false  bedded  and  includes  fragments  of  coal,  bind,  fossiliferous  iron- 
stone, etc.,  which  have  been  brought  from  a  distance. 

The  occurrence  of  a  wash-out  in  this  district  was  first  shown  by 
Lieut.  G.  E.  Coke  l  in  the  '  Deep  Hard  '  Coal  on  the  borders  of  the 
county,  but  they  have  since  been  described  by  Mr.  J.  Shipman3  as  occur- 
ring on  two  horizons  in  the  Leen  Valley  workings.  Such  a  wash-out  in 
the  Newcastle  Colliery  affects  the  '  Top  Hard  '  coal  and  has  a  breadth 
of  300  yards.  It  has  been  traced  in  a  transverse  direction  for  more  than 
a  mile.  In  the  Newstead  Colliery  a  wash-out  affects  the  '  Comb  '  coal 
and  the  strata  above  it.  Its  breadth  varies  from  50  to  250  yards,  and 
its  depth  is  about  25  feet.  It  has  been  traced  taking  a  winding  but 
generally  N.E.  or  E.N.E.  course  for  a  distance  of  3  miles,  and  has  a 
tributary  joining  it  on  the  right  hand  side  at  the  main  bend.  Its  base 
is  uneven  and  rutted,  and  the  channel  deepens  towards  the  N.E.,  the 
upper  end  being  probably  the  continuation  of  a  wash-out  formerly  met 
with  in  the  Annesley  Colliery.  A  third  wash-out  has  been  seen  in  the 
'  Deep  Soft '  coal  at  Wollaton,  having  a  breadth  of  1 5  yards  and  a  depth 
of  6  feet.  In  this  case,  as  in  that  at  the  Newcastle  Colliery,  but  in  a  more 
marked  degree,  the  wash-out  is  coincident  with  a  downward  roll  of  the 
strata  beneath,  which  was  doubtless  the  original  cause  of  the  wash-out 
taking  the  course  it  did.  A  wash-out  can  only  be  produced  on  a  land 
surface  by  a  stream  running  on  the  level  of  the  coal  seam  and  wearing 
away  a  furrow  which  is  afterwards  filled  with  the  next  succeeding  kind 
of  deposit.  It  is  an  example  of  contemporaneous  erosion. 

Another  example  of  this  kind  of  erosion  on  a  far  larger  scale  is  that 
of  the  Red  Rock  of  Rotherham,  which  has  also  been  met  with  in  Notts. 
This  is  a  massive  sandstone  200  ft.  in  thickness  which  lies  so  irregularly 
on  the  earlier  measures  that  it  was  thought  at  one  time  to  be  Permian. 
The  question  of  its  age  was  however  definitely  settled  by  the  occurrence 
of  a  coal  seam — the  '  Manor '  coal — above  it  in  the  Shireoaks  Colliery. 
Its  irregularity  is  therefore  a  mere  accident  of  deposit. 

With  these  exceptions  the  whole  of  the  Coal-Measures  belong  to  a 
single  conformable  series  of  deposits,  of  which  the  most  constant  as  well 
as  the  most  easily  recognized  are  the  coal  seams  themselves.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  all  the  coals  that  have  received  names  in  the  county  of 
Nottingham,  beginning  with  the  highest. 

1  trans.  Chester jwld  and  Mid.  Count.  Inst.  of  Engineers,  vol.  xvi.  1888. 
1  Nott.  Nat.  Soc.  Tram,  for  1894. 


GEOLOGY 


TABLE  I.     THE  NAMED  COALS  OF  THE  NOTTINGHAM  COALFIELD 


MANOR  .... 
SHAFTON  .  .  . 
BAGSHAW 

SWINTON  POTTERY 
CLOWN    .... 
ABDY  or  WINTER  . 
FURNACE      .     .     . 
BEAMSHAW  .     .     . 
KENTS  THIN    . 
HAZLES  .... 
COMB      .... 
TOP  HARD  . 
DUNSIL  .... 
WATERLOO  .     .     . 
Hoo  CANNEL    . 
DEEP  SOFT  .     .     . 
DEEP  HARD      .     . 
PIPER      .... 
TUPTON  or  FURNACE 
Low  MAIN  . 
THREE-QUARTERS 
YARD  or  DOGTOOTH 
BLACK  SHALE    . 
KILBURN.     .     .     . 
NAUGHTON  . 
ALTON 


Shireoaks,  above  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock 

Southcar,  below  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock 

Southcar,  above  the  Oaks  Rock 

Southcar,  below  the  Oaks  Rock 

Shireoaks  and  Leen  Valley  =  WATHWOOD  in  Yorkshire 

Southcar 

Shireoaks  and  Leen  Valley  )    n      ... 

Southcar  }  P°SSlbl>'  eclual 

Southcar 

Shireoaks  and  Leen  Valley  =  KENTS  THICK  at  Southcar 

Leen  Valley  =  BARNSLEY  SOFT  (?)  at  Southcar 

Nottingham  District  =  BARNSLEY  HARD  at  Southcar,  and  in  Yorkshire 

Nottingham  District  =  SWALLOW  WOOD  in  Yorkshire 

Nottingham  District  =  LIDGET  in  Yorkshire 

Clifton  Colliery 

Nottingham  District  =  FLOCKTON  in  Yorkshire 

Nottingham  District  =  FENTON'S  in  Yorkshire 

Nottingham  District 

Kimberley  and  Cossall  =  PARKGATE  in  Yorkshire 

Tevershall  =  THORNCLIFFE  THIN  in  Yorkshire 

Tevershall  =  FOUR  FEET  in  Yorkshire 

Tevershall  =  CLOD  in  Derbyshire  =  SILKSTONE  in  Yorkshire 
Kimberley  and  Cossall 
Ruddington  boring 
Ruddington  boring 


The  numerous  sinkings  by  shaft  or  boring  that  have  been  made  to 
reach  the  coal,  mostly  where  covered  by  newer  strata,  have  thrown  great 
light  upon  the  succession,  thickness  and  position  of  the  strata,  as  may  be 
seen  by  the  following  examples,  showing  successive  parts  of  the  series 
from  the  summit  to  the  base.1 


I.  BORING  AT  THURGARTON 

commences  60  ft.  above   O.D. 

(Communicated  by  G.  E.  Coke) 

Trias  and  Permian,  850  ft. 


Upper  Measures — Keele  Series    . 

„  „  Newcastle  Series . 

„  „  Etruria  Marls       .      256 

Measures .  620 


ft. 

188 
92 


I.  (a)  SHAFT  at  GEDLING 

commences  190  ft.  above  O.D. 

(Communicated  by  G.  E.  Coke) 

Trias  and  Permian,  513  ft.  ft. 

Upper  Measures — Etruria  Marls       .        93 
Measures  with  thin  coals  ....      762 
Top  Hard  Coal 


Total  Coal-Measures . 


.1,156 


Total  Coal-Measures       .      .      855 

I.  (i>)  BORING  AT  SCARLE 
commences  60  ft.  above  O.D. 
.  H.  Da/ton,  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83) 

Gravel  and  Lias  to  Permian,  2,022  ft.  ft. 

Upper  Coal-Measures 10 

Total  Coal-Measures       .  10 

1  The  thicknesses  of  the  coals  are  included  in  the  Measures  overlying  them,  which  are  taken  to  the 
base  of  the  coal  seam. 

7 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


II.  BORING  AT  SOUTHCAR  ON  THE  IDLE 

commences  15  ft.  above  O.D. 
(Dunstan,    Mid.  Inst.   Civ.   and  Meek.    Eng. 

Proc.  vol.  xiv.) 
Alluvium,  Triassic  and  Permian,  1,728  ft. 

ft. 

Mottled  Shale,  with  a  6  in.  limestone          9 
Rotherham  Red  Rock,  with    9    ft. 

mottled  shales  near  the  top.     .     .        96 
Measures  with  3  thin  seams  .     .     .      1 1 8 
Shafton  Coal,  3  ft.  I  in. 

Measures  with  Bagshaw  seam      .     .     469 
Oaks  Rock,  94  ft.  ;   Swinton  Pottery 
seam,    3  ft.   9  in.  ;  and  measures 
with  6  thin  seams  including  Abdy, 
Winter  and  Kents  Thin  ....      608 
Kents  Thick  Coal,  4  ft.  5  in. 

Measures 130 

Barns/ey  Soft  Coal,  4ft.  9  in. 

Measures 39 

Barnsley  Hard  Coal,  4  ft.  7  in. 

Measures .  i  o 


Total  Coal-Measures . 


',479 


II.  (a)  SHAFT  AT  SHIREOAKS  NEAR  WORKSOP 

commences  200  ft.  above  O.D. 

(Lancaster  and  Wright,  Quart.  Journ.    Geol. 

Sac.  vol.  xvi.) 

Permian,  215  ft. 


ft. 

Measures  with  Manor  Coal,  2  ft.  and 

bands  of  Ironstone 57 

Rotherham  Red  Rock 198 

Measures  with  15  thin  coals  .     .     .     546 
Clown  or  Wathwood  Coal,  4  ft.  4  in. 

Measures  with  coal  seam,  2  ft.  8  in.     266 
Haz/es  Coal,  3  ft. 

Measures  with  2  thin  coals    .      .      .      241 
Top  Hard  Coal,  3  ft.  9  in. 

Measures 114 


Total  Coal-Measures . 


1,422 


III.  SILVER  HILL  COLLIERY,  TEVERSHALL, 

commences  at  545  ft.  above  O.D. 

(M.E.  Colliery  Guardian,  vol.  Ixiii.) 

ft. 

Measures 

Top  Hard  Coal,  5  ft.  6  in. 

Measures 

Dunsil  Coal,  4  ft. 

Measures 

Water  loo  Coal,  2  ft.  7  in. 

Measures 

Deep  Hard  Coal,  2  ft.  7  in. 

Measures 

Piper  Coal,  2  ft.  8  in. 

Measures 

Low  Main  Seam,  4  ft.  9  in. 

Measures   with   Three-quarters  Coal, 

2  ft.  I O  in.  and  Tard  Coal,  3  ft.  4  in.      1 88 
Black  Shale  Coal,  2  ft.  10  in. 


'53 

63 

ni 

543 
3° 


III.  (a)  NEW  HUCKNALL  COLLIERY 

commences  at  500  ft.  above  O.D. 

(M.E.  Colliery  Guardian,  vol.  Ixviii.) 

ft. 

Measures 450 

Top  Hard  Coal,  4  ft.  2  in. 

Measures 51 

Dunsil  Coal,  2  ft.  4  in. 

Measures 1 1 1 

Waterloo  Coal,  3  ft.  9  in. 

Measures 348 

Deep  Soft  Coal,  i  ft.  9  in. 

Measures 123 

Deep  Hard  Coal,  3  ft.  3  in. 

Measures 129 

Low  Main  Seam,  4  ft. 


Total  Coal-Measures  .     .     .1,256 


Total  Coal-Measures . 


.  1,212 


8 


GEOLOGY 


IV.  NEW  WOLLATON  COLLIERY 

commences  200  ft.  above  O.D. 

(M.E.  Colliery  Guardian,  vol.  Ixviii.) 


ft. 
33 


Measures  with  i  coal  seam 
Top  Hard  Coal 

Measures  with  2  coal  seams  .     .     .      105 
Dunsil  Coal 

Measures 54 

Waterloo  Coal 

Measures  with  2  coal  seams    .     .     .      360 
Deep  Soft  Coal 

Measures 42 

Deep  Hard  Coal 

Measures 30 

Piper  Coal 


Total  Coal-Measures 


624 


V.  LODGE  COLLIERY,  NEAR  EASTWOOD 

commences  at  210  ft.  above  O.D. 
(M.E.  Colliery  Guardian,  vol.  Ixviii.) 

ft. 

Measures 15 

Deep  Soft  Coal,  3  ft.  3  in. 

Measures 44 

Deep  Hard  Coal,  3  ft. 

Measures 54 

Piper  Coal,  3  ft.  3  in. 

Measures 81 

Furnace  Coal,  3  ft.  6  in. 

Measures  with  Three-quarters  Coal  .      362 

=  Dogtooth  Coal,  i  ft.  5  in. 
Black  Shale  Coal  (worthless) 

Measures 235 

Kilburn  Coal,  2  ft.  3  in. 


Total  Coal-Measures       .     .     791 

VI.  BORING  AT  RUDDINGTON 
commences  at  120  ft.  above  O.D. 

(Communicated  by  G.  E.  Coke) 
Trias,  684  ft. 

Measures 261 

Naughton  Coal 

Measures 169 

Alton  Coal 

Measures 45 

Millstone  Grit,  721  ft. 


ft. 


IV.  (a)  CLIFTON  COLLIERY,  NOTTINGHAM 

commences  82  ft.  above  O.D. 
(M.E.  Colliery  Guardian,  vol.  Ixiii.) 

Gravels  and  Bunter,  361  ft. 

Measures 21 

Comb  Coal,  2  ft.  8  in. 

Measures 120 

Top  Hard  Coal,  6  ft. 

Measures 

Dunsil  Coal,  3  ft. 

Measures 

Waterloo  Coal,  3  ft.  3  in. 

Measures  with  5  seams     .... 
Hoo  Cannel  Coal,  9  in. 

Measures  with  3  coal  seams  and  iron- 
stone bed 221 

Deep  Soft  Coal,  5  ft. 

Measures 42 

Deep  Hard  Coal,  5  ft.  7  in. 

Measures 42 

Piper  Coal,  3  ft.  4  in. 


75 

27 
177 


Total  Coal-Measures. 


725 


V.  (a)  COSSALL  COLLIERY 

commences  at  300  ft.  above  O.D. 

(M.E.   Colliery  Guardian,  vol.   Ixviii.) 


ft. 
33 


Measures 

Piper  Coal,  3  ft.  9  in. 

Measures  with  thick  sandstone  and 

one  coal  seam 105 

Furnace  Coal,  3  ft.  7  in. 

Measures  with  thick  sandstone  and 

Dogtooth  coal 528 

Kilburn  Coal,  3  ft.  10  in. 


Total  Coal-Measures .  666 


Total  Coal  Measures . 


475 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

These  sections  taken  together  afford  a  fairly  complete  view  of  the 
development  of  the  Coal-Measures  in  the  county.  On  comparing  the 
thicknesses  of  the  strata  between  well  known  seams  there  does  not  appear 
to  be  quite  so  great  a  constancy  as  is  claimed  in  Yorkshire. 

Possibly  the  seams  called  by  the  same  name  in  different  collieries  are 
not  always  exactly  on  the  same  horizons.  One  may  die  out  and 
another  take  its  place  above  or  below  it.  The  total  thickness  will  vary 
according  to  the  sections  selected  for  addition,  but  if  there  are  added 
together  536  feet  for  the  Upper  Measures  at  Thurgarton,  1,250  feet  for 
the  Rotherham  Red  Rock  to  the  Top  Hard  coal  at  Shireoaks,  584  feet 
to  the  Piper  coal  at  Clifton,  678  feet  to  the  Kilburn  coal  at  Lodge 
Colliery,  and  476  feet  for  the  measures  at  Ruddington  boring,  which 
commences  below  the  Kilburn  coal — we  obtain  a  total  of  3,524  feet. 
Considering  this  great  thickness,  and  that  there  is  no  sign  of  thinning 
out  on  the  east  side  of  the  county,  nor  of  the  assumption  of  a  westerly 
dip,  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  that  the  whole  of  Nottinghamshire,  with 
the  exception  of  a  narrow  band  along  its  southern  margin,  is  underlaid 
by  Coal-Measures,  mostly  at  less  than  the  maximum  depth  of  working, 
and  these  measures  may  extend  also  to  any  distance  beneath  Lincolnshire 
and  perhaps  even  the  German  Ocean.1 

Regarding  the  Coal-Measures  of  Great  Britain  as  a  whole 
geologists  have  divided  them  into  three  series,  Lower,  Middle  and 
Upper.  The  Lower  Series,  where  characteristically  developed,  are  dis- 
tinguished by  containing  abundance  of  marine  fossils,  and  by  some  of 
their  coals  having  a  seat  earth  of  siliceous  gannister  instead  of  clunch. 
Such  are  principally  found  in  the  northern  coalfields.  The  Middle  Series 
are  more  entirely  freshwater  in  origin  and  contain  abundant  coal  seams 
with  nodular  bands  of  ironstone  in  all  the  midland  coalfields.  The 
Upper  Series  contain  many  ironstone  beds  and  ironstained  red  shales  with 
no  workable  coals,  or  very  few,  in  the  northern  part  of  their  range,  but 
form  very  rich  coalfields  in  the  southern.  These  divisions  correspond 
to  changes  in  the  accompanying  plant  remains,  and  possibly  indicate  also 
that  conditions  favourable  to  coal-growth  gradually  advanced  from  north 
to  south. 

The  geographical  position  of  Nottinghamshire,  near  the  centre  of 
the  English  coalfields,  prepares  us  for  the  statement  that  the  greater 
part  of  its  coal-bearing  strata  belong  to  the  Middle  Series.  No  gan- 
nister beds  as  above  defined  are  known  to  come  nearer  to  Nottingham 
than  Crich.  We  must  necessarily  however  call  those  beds  Lower  Coal- 
Measures  that  intervene  between  recognized  Middle  Coal-Measures  and 
Millstone  Grit  even  in  ignorance  of  their  possessing  such  characteristics. 
In  this  case  the  line  between  these  and  the  Middle  Series  must  be  chosen 
from  considerations  elsewhere  derived.  It  is  by  the  Geological  Survey 
drawn  for  convenience  below  the  Black  Shale,  Clod  or  Silkstone  coal, 
which  is  widespread  and  constant.  All  the  beds  below  these  are  there- 

1  See  Dunstan,  loc.  cit. 
10 


GEOLOGY 

fore  Lower  Coal-Measures,  including  the  Kilburn  coal  and  all  the 
Measures  in  the  Ruddington  boring. 

The  Upper  Series  have  been  recognized  by  Mr.  Walcot  Gibson l 
in  the  cores  from  the  boring  at  Thurgarton  above  the  ordinary  Middle 
Measures,  by  their  resemblance  in  character  and  succession  to  those  of 
north  Staffordshire,  which  he  names  in  ascending  order  the  Etruria 
Marls,  the  Newcastle-under-Lyme  Series  and  the  Kee/e  Series.  At  Gedling 
a  Lower  Series,  containing  sphsrosiderites,  called  the  Black  Band  Series, 
has  also  been  recognized  in  a  diminished  form.2  Mr.  Gibson  also 
quotes  the  ferns  Neuropteris  rarinervis  and  Pecopteris  miltoni,  with  Spheno- 
phyllum  and  Cordaites  as  obtained  in  the  uppermost  beds  in  both  counties, 
though  these  are  members  also  of  the  Middle  Measures  flora.  The 
relations  of  these  beds  to  any  definite  coal  seam  of  the  Middle  Series, 
which  was  not  ascertained  at  Thurgarton,  is  shown  in  the  Gedling 
shaft,  where  beneath  93  feet  of  red  strata  referred  to  the  Etruria  Marls 
are  found  762  feet  of  ordinary  Measures  above  the  Top  Hard  coal. 
This  thickness,  if  there  is  no  error,  is  much  less  than  that  found  at 
Shireoaks  (1,050  feet)  or  Southcar  (1,364  feet)  between  the  Top  Hard 
and  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock  which  lies  below  the  shales  called  Upper 
Coal-Measures  in  Yorkshire.  If  this  portion  of  the  series  thins  south- 
ward some  of  the  1,000—1,300  feet  of  Measures  which  at  Bestwood, 
Linby  and  Annesley  overlie  the  Top  Hard  may  be  expected  to  belong 
to  the  Upper  Series,  and  in  fact  their  resemblance  at  Bestwood  to  the 
beds  at  Scarle  has  been  recognized.3  Now  Professor  Hull3  also  recognized 
the  resemblance  of  the  red  shales  at  Scarle  to  the  Upper  Coal-Measures 
of  north  Staffordshire,  and  Professor  Green4  is  said  also  to  have  recognized 
the  Measures  above  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock  at  Southcar  as  the  same 
as  at  Scarle.  This  would  seem  to  suggest  that  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock 
might  be  taken  to  be  the  local  base  of  the  Upper  Series5  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county. 

The  Coal-Measures  have,  of  course,  greatly  changed  their  position 
since  they  were  laid  down.  Part  of  this  change  must  have  taken  place 
while  the  deposition  of  the  series  was  still  going  on.  Beds  of  coal  with 
their  swampy  seat  earth  and  their  fern-filled  roofs  must  have  been 
originally  formed  near  the  sea  level.  If  therefore  the  Kilburn  coal  near 
the  base  and  the  Manor  coal  near  the  top  of  the  series  were  deposited  at 
different  times  at  approximately  the  same  level  there  must  have  occurred, 
between  the  two  dates  of  their  deposit,  a  sinkage  of  the  ground  of  2,700 
feet.  When  room  had  thus  been  made  for  the  Upper  Measures  and  the 
last  of  them  had  been  deposited,  the  Carboniferous  period  ceased,  and 
there  was  a  long  interval  before  the  next  succeeding  period  of  deposition 
commenced. 

During  this  interval  the  Pennine  range  was  formed  and  the  strata 
on  the  east  side  obtained  a  dip  to  the  east  and  were  raised  towards  the 

1  £>uart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  Ivii.  a  See  'Summary  of  Progress  in  1902.' 

3  See  PitK.  I  nit.  Civ,  Eng.  xlix.  159-68.  *  See  Dunstan,  loc.  cit. 

5  Sec  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83. 
II 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

west.  We  can  now  only  ascertain  the  amount  of  this  movement  added 
to  all  subsequent  movements.  This  may  be  gathered  from  the  deviation 
from  horizontality  of  a  single  wide-spread  coal  seam  such  as  the  Top 
Hard,  as  shown  in  the  following  table  obtained  by  subtracting  the  depth 
of  it  in  the  sinking  from  the  height  above  Ordnance  Datum  from  which 
the  sinking  commenced. 


TABLE  II.    SHOWING  THE  POSITION  OF  THE  TOP    HARD  COAL  ABOVE  OR  BELOW 
ORDNANCE  DATUM  AT  VARIOUS  SINKINGS 


Wollaton  New    . 
Hucknall  New     . 
Kimberley. 
Watnall    .... 
Broxtowe  Wood. 
Radford     .     .     .     . 
Tevershall 
Clifton      .... 
High  Park,  Greetly  . 
Newcastle  colliery   . 
Clifton  borehole  . 
Cinderhill . 


ft. 


200-  33  = 
560-  45°  = 

-1-  110 

425  —  324  = 

+  IOI 

346-370  = 
234-294  = 

24 

60 

530-651 

82  —  2IO  = 

-107 

-  121 

-  128 

340-513  ' 

-  J73 

150-400  = 
82-498  ' 
213  —  660  = 

-250 
—  416 

-447 

ft. 

Watnall  New .      .  424—    963  =  —    539 

Kirkby.     .     .      .  360-1049  =  •    689 
Hucknall  Torkard 

No.  i  pit     .     .  300—1163  =  —    863 

Newstead  .     .     .  416—1368  =  —    952 

Annesley    .     .     .  460-1415  =  955 

Linby    ....  297-1287  =  -    990 
Hucknall  Torkard 

No.  2  pit     .      .  236-1230  =  •    994 

Bestwood    .      .      .  228—1236  =  -1008 

Gedling      .      .      .  190-1368  =  -1178 

Shireoaks    .      .      .  200-1523  =  -1323 

Southcar     .     .     .  15-319?  =  -3182 


There  was  subsequently  a  great  amount  of  removal  of  the  Carboni- 
ferous rocks  by  denudation,  so  that  the  Coal-Measures  and  Millstone 
Grit  are  lacking  in  the  central  part  of  the  original  coalfield,  where  the 
Mountain  Limestone  appears,  and  the  Upper  Series  in  Nottinghamshire 
are  separated  from  their  equivalents  in  north  Staffordshire.  The  amount 
of  material  thus  removed  within  the  county  before  the  Permian  period 
can  be  shown  by  means  of  Table  III. 

TABLE  III.  SHOWING  THE    POSITION    ABOVE    OR    BELOW    THE  ORDNANCE  DATUM  OF  THE 
SURFACE  OF  THE  COAL-MEASURES  AT  VARIOUS  SINKINGS 


Kimberley 
Watnall  New 
Annesley  . 
Kirkby      .      . 
Watnall     .      . 
Linby  . 
Cinderhill .     . 
Hempshill 
Bestwood . 
Shireoaks 


425-    26  = 
424-    44 

46O  —  IO8  = 

360-   45  : 

346-   50  = 

297-    25  : 

213-    25  = 

244-   91  = 

228  —  144  = 

2OO-2I5  = 


ft. 

+  399  Clifton  .... 

+  380  Gedling       .      .      . 

+  352  Chilwell     .     .      . 

+  315  Clifton  borehole    . 

-f-  296  Ruddington 

+  272  Edwalton  . 

+  1 88  Thurgarton 

+  153  Owthorpe  .      .      . 

+    84  Southcar     . 

15  Scarle    .     .     .     . 


ft. 

82- 

I56  = 

-   74 

190  — 

513  = 

-  323 

95- 

462  = 

-  367 

82- 

459  = 

-  377 

I2O  — 

699  = 

-  579 

IOO  — 

—  602 

60- 

850  = 

-  79° 

2OO  — 

1233  = 

-1033 

15- 

1728  = 

—  1713 

60- 

2O2O  = 

-  1960 

On  a  comparison  of  these  figures  with  those  for  the  Top  Hard 
coal  great  differences  in  the  amount  of  denudation  appear,  as  shown  in 
Table  IV. 


12 


GEOLOGY 

TABLE  IV.  SHOWING  THE  THICKNESS    OF    COAL-MEASURES  ABOVE  THE  TOP  HARD  COAL 

LEFT    AFTER    PRE-PfiRMIAN    (OR    PRE-TRIASSIC  *)    DENUDATION 

ft.  ft. 

*Clifton  borehole 39      Kirkby 1004 

*Clifton  colliery 54      Bestwood 1092 

Kimberley 298      Linby 1262 

Watnall 320      Annesley 1302 

Cinderhill 635      Shireoaks 1308 

Gedling 855      Southcar 1469 

Watnall  New 919 

In  these  tables  there  are  several  anomalies.  The  depths  to  the  Top 
Hard  and  to  the  surface  of  the  Coal-Measures  differ  greatly  in  neigh- 
bouring sinkings  without  any  surface  indications  of  faults.  These 
anomalies,  due  to  unseen  or  observed  dislocations,  show  that  in  the  interval 
between  Carboniferous  and  Permian  times  the  Coal-Measures  were  much 
broken  up.  Such  faults  are  occasionally  found,  as  at  Cinderhill,  to 
affect  in  a  less  degree  the  overlying  strata,  in  which  case  the  disturbance 
was  repeated,  but  on  a  smaller  scale.  Other  faults,  like  those  parallel  to 
the  Trent  valley,  seem  to  have  first  occurred  in  post-Triassic  times. 

THE  PERMIAN    SYSTEM 

The  Permian  rocks  of  Nottinghamshire  form  part  of  the  typical 
series  in  England,  being  continued  through  Yorkshire  into  Durham. 
The  fullest  development  is  in  the  north  of  this  area  ;  and  on  going 
south  the  divisions  one  by  one  die  out  till  the  last  of  them  disappears 
near  Wollaton.  Everywhere  it  is  a  most  peculiar  formation.  Litho- 
logically  it  is  characterized  by  the  occurrence  of  a  magnesian  limestone 
or  dolomite,  and  by  the  red  and  mottled  colour  of  its  clays.  Palas- 
ontologically  it  contains  the  last  relics  of  the  Palasozoic  genera,  such 
as  Productus,  associated  with  forerunners  of  Mesozoic  types,  such  as 
Schizodus.  Various  rocks  have  been  called  Permian  in  other  parts  of 
England,  including  some,  as  the  Rotherham  Red  Rock,  now  known 
to  belong  to  the  Coal-Measures,  but  only  some  in  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire  contain  any  of  the  characteristic  fossils,  and  there,  as  a  whole, 
they  are  of  a  different  lithological  character. 

The  unconformity  of  the  Permian  to  the  Coal-Measures  is  already 
shown  by  its  resting  upon  different  parts  of  them  in  different  sinkings 
and  by  its  being  unaffected  in  whole  or  in  part  by  many  of  the  faults 
in  that  series.  The  actual  junction,  demonstrating  on  a  small  scale  all 
these  features,  may  be  seen  in  the  Great  Northern  (Erewash  Valley 
Branch)  Railway  between  Hempshill  and  Kimberley,  where  it  has  been 
described  by  Mr.  Wilson.1  The  unconformity  in  this  district  was  first 
recognized  in  the  original  description  of  the  series  given  by  Professor 
Sedgwick.2 

THE  BASEMENT  BEDS. — The  natural  basement  conglomerate  along 

1   <%uart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  xxxii. 
*  Trans.  Geol.  Soc.  ser.  2,  vol.  iii. 

13 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  shore  line  of  a  new  set  of  deposits  is  represented  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county  by  a  breccia,  first  noticed  by  Professor  Sedgwick  in 
the  mineral  railway  at  Grives  Wood  between  Kirkby  and  Sutton-in- 
Ashfield,  where  it  crops  out  at  the  base  of  the  slope  at  its  southern  end. 
The  same  breccia  is  well  seen  in  a  ravine  near  Annesley  Park  springs 
and  in  the  railway  cuttings  of  the  Midland  and  Great  Northern  Railways 
at  Kimberley  ;  but  its  constancy  is  best  proved  in  borings  which  pierce 
the  Permian,  where  it  is  commonly  observed,  when  the  records  are  care- 
fully kept,  and  in  the  case  of  South  Scarle  it  was  the  means  by  which  the 
true  reading  of  the  section  was  recognized  by  Mr.  Wilson.  Its  last 
appearance  southward  is  seen  at  Old  Park  farm  near  Wollaton  Colliery. 
It  varies  from  a  compact  grey  sandstone  to  a  coarsely  brecciated  con- 
glomerate, seldom  more  than  3  feet  in  thickness,  but  rising  to  a  maximum 
of  i  2  feet  in  a  boring  near  Mansfield  and  reducing  to  I  foot  or  less  in 
the  Gedling,  Thurgarton  and  South  Scarle  borings.  '  It  contains  much 
angular  Coal-Measure  debris,  sandstone,  ironstone  and  ochreous  shale, 
also  rounded  pebbles  of  white  quartz  and  angular  fragments  of  slate, 
chert  and  limestone'  (Wilson).1  In  the  northern  part  of  the  county  no 
breccia  has  been  observed  in  the  borings  either  at  Shireoaks  or  Southcar. 
At  the  former  a  bed  of  sandstone  has  been  referred  to  the  base  of  the 
Permian,  but  as  it  lies  below  33  feet  of  blue  bind  it  is  possibly  part 
of  the  Carboniferous  series.  These  localities  may  be  too  far  removed 
from  the  shore  line  of  the  period  for  the  formation  of  a  breccia. 

Above  the  breccia  comes  a  series  of  thin-bedded  rocks,  alternating 
more  or  less  frequently  with  shales.  These  shales  much  resemble  Coal- 
Measures  and  contain  many  Carbonaceous  remains ;  they  gradually  become 
harder,  and  end  upwards  as  bands  of  compact  red  limestone,  varying  in 
character  with  the  overlying  massive  Magnesian  Limestone.  Geodes  of 
calcite  and  pyrites  are  recorded  from  them.  At  the  southernmost  point 
near  Wollaton  there  are  only  3  or  4  feet  of  yellow  and  red  marly  beds 
between  the  breccia  and  the  Magnesian  Limestone,  but  this  increases  to 
20  feet  of  shales  in  the  Kimberley  railway  cuttings,2  where  numerous 
fine  layers  of  sandstone  form  part  of  it.  Many  of  these  show  remains 
of  plants,  and  some  show  casts  of  Pleurophorus  and  Schizodus.  They 
may  be  seen  again  in  this  neighbourhood  on  the  rise  to  Chalk  Hill, 
west  of  Kimberley.  In  the  road  from  Hucknall  Torkard  to  the  Long 
Hills  a  slight  fault  crossing  the  road  has  raised  the  underlying  shales  and 
compact  beds  so  as  to  be  cut  off  along  the  roadside  bank  by  the  Magnesian 
Limestone,  whose  water  they  throw  out,  but  the  thickness  is  not  here 
determinable.  The  succession  may  also  be  well  seen  in  the  slopes  and  in 
the  stream  bottom  of  a  ravine,  running  west  from  Annesley  Park  springs. 
The  upper  part  is  composed  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone,  here  deposit- 
ing calcareous  tufa  from  its  waters ;  the  slopes  and  part  of  the  stream  bed 
show  about  20  feet  of  shales,  and  beds  of  limestone  and  the  breccia  may 
be  seen  crossing  the  stream  at  the  base.  At  the  Grives  Wood  cutting 

1  Midland  Naturalist,  vol.  iv. 

3  Wilson,  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  xxxii. 

14 


GEOLOGY 

they  are  thus  described  by  Mr.  Aveline  :  '  The  shales  have  a  thickness 
of  about  15  feet;  they  are  of  a  blue  and  light  brown  colour,  have  a 
marly  character  and  are  interstratified  with  bands  of  hard  compact  lime- 
stone, full  of  fossils.'  Of  these  he  records  Scbizodus  scblotbeimi,  S.  truncates 
and  Pleurophorus  costatus,  and  plant  remains  in  some  of  the  harder  bands.1 
In  the  memoir  on  the  sheet  to  the  north,  82  S.E.,  are  described 
two  sections  of  about  20  feet,  seen  in  road-cuttings  over  the  edge  of 
the  Magnesian  Limestone  escarpment  near  Skegby  and  on  Fulwood 
Top.  Here  the  limestone  passes  down  into  beds  of  soft  sandstone  of  a 
brown  colour,  interstratified  with  which  are  more  or  fewer  bands  of 
hard  compact  fossiliferous  limestone.  These  contain  the  same  organic 
remains  as  those  named  above,  except  that  Bakewellia  ceratophaga  takes 
the  place  of  Scbizodus  scblotheimi.  In  colliery  sinkings  this  portion  of 
the  series  cannot  easily  be  recognized  except  by  finding  the  breccia  below 
and  the  Magnesian  Limestone  above.  Between  these  limits  at  Linby  Col- 
liery there  are  alternations  of  blue  bind  and  various  bands  of  limestone, 
28^  feet  in  all;  at  Shireoaks  the  record  of '  limestone  bands  and  bands  of 
blue  metal,  19—20  feet,' represents  the  same  beds.  At  South  Scarle  there 
are  138  feet  in  the  same  interval,  and  at  Southcar  as  much  as  185  feet 
between  the  lowest  massive  limestone  and  the  Coal-Measures.  The 
following  records  of  these  last  two  borings  through  post-Carboniferous 
strata  are  given  for  reference  : — 

SECTION  OF  BORING  AT  SOUTH    SCARLE  2  SECTION  OF  BORING  AT  SOUTHCAR  ON  THE  IDLE3 

ft.  ft. 

River  Gravel 21  Alluvium 32 

Lias 29  Upper  Keuper '05^ 

Rhaetic 15  Lower  Keuper  [533]       ....  ~|  z    oj_ 

Keuper  Marls 688  [Upper  Red  Sandstone,  75^]     .      .  j 

Keuper  Sandstones 2o8£  Hunter  Pebble  Beds  [273^]       •      •  \         i 

Bunter  Pebble  Beds 318^  [Lower  Red  Sandstone,  161]    .      .  J4 

Lower  Red  Sandstone      .      .      .      .  223  Upper   Permian    Marls  with    9  ft. 

Upper  Permian  Marls      .      .      .      .  1 1 8^           seam    of    Anhydrite    and    some 

Upper  Limestone 43^           Gypsum 89 

Middle  Permian  Marls    .     .     .     .  150  Upper  Limestone 53 

Magnesian  Limestone      ....  68  Middle  Permian   Marls  with  Gyp- 
Sandstone    20            sum  veins  [148] 132 

Marl  Slate 118  Magnesian  Limestone  [56]        .     .     273 

Breccia i  [Grey  Limestone  and  Shales,  201] 

2,022  1,727^ 

Coal-Measures,  see  p.   7.  Coal-Measures,  see  p.  8. 

The  term  Marl  Slate  here  used  is  the  name  of  a  group  occupying  a 
similar  position  in  Durham.  The  characters  of  the  groups  are  scarcely 
identical,  the  latter  being  a  fissile  rock  with  many  fish-skeletons  in  the 
intervals  of  the  laminae,  and  not  containing  the  shells  found  in  the 
former  near  Nottingham.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  group  has  greatly 
thickened  towards  the  east. 

1  Geol,  Survey  Mem.  sheet  71,  N.E. 

1  Dalton,  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83.     This  account  differs  from  those  given  by  all  earlier  writers. 
3  Dunstan,  Midi.  Inst.  Mm.  Civ.  and  Mecb.  Eng.  Trans,  vol.  xiv.     Extra  details  in  square  brackets. 

15 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

THE  MAGNESIAN  LIMESTONE  is  the  most  important,  widespread  and 
characteristic  of  the  Permian  deposits.  In  the  form  most  commonly 
seen  near  Nottingham,  where  it  is  largely  used  as  a  building  stone,  it 
consists  of  a  number  of  rhombohedral  crystals  of  dolomite  with  inter- 
vening hollow  spaces.  It  is  of  a  peculiar  brownish  yellow  colour,  due 
to  oxide  of  iron.  It  yields  about  half  its  weight  of  magnesium  sulphate 
(Epsom  salts),  but  it  has  not  hitherto  been  used  commercially  as  is  done 
near  Sutherland.  *  Sulphate  of  baryta  is  a  very  abundant  mineral  in  many 
parts  of  the  formation  '  in  crystalline  nodules  and  veins  in  the  freestone 
beds  of  Mansfield  and  at  Pleasley  (Sedgwick).  The  limestone  is  every- 
where water  bearing  and  supplies  many  wells,  as  in  the  Leen  valley,  but 
the  water  is  naturally  hard,  as  is  shown  by  the  tufa  near  Annesley  Park 
springs  already  referred  to.  It  may  occur  in  fairly  massive  beds,  8— 10 
inches  thick,  in  which  case  it  is  used  for  building,  or  in  large  flaggy  beds 
with  irregular  rough  surfaces  and  greenish  marl  interstices. 

The  crystalline  structure  is  not  original,  but  has  been  produced  by 
later  alterations,  for  it  is  accompanied  by  the  breaking  up  of  the  surface 
of  any  individual  stratum  and  the  formation  of  curvilinear  cracks  in  the 
mass,  as  seen  in  Grives  Wood  quarries.  It  is  possible  that  this  crystal- 
lization has  destroyed  some  of  the  organic  remains,  but  more  probably 
they  were  never  abundant,  since  when  they  are  found  they  occur  mostly 
as  hollow  casts  in  definite  layers,  differing  in  no  other  respect  from  the 
neighbouring  barren  ones.  Such  fossiliferous  layers,  with  casts  of  Schi- 
zodus  and  Bakeivellia,  are  seen  in  the  limestone  quarries  at  Bulwell,  in  the 
old  quarries  at  Beauvale  near  Greasley,  in  Grives  Wood,  whence  Scbizodus 
obscurus  and  plates  of  Chiton  have  been  recorded '  ;  and  in  a  quarry  near 
Shireoaks,  which  has  yielded  fine  examples  of  Productus  borridus?  found 
also  in  the  Thurgarton  boring.3 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  county  the  maximum  thickness  is  only  30 
feet,  yet  the  limestone  extends  over  a  considerable  area  in  the  Leen  valley. 
This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  dip  is  very  low,  2°-3°  to  the  east,  and 
the  overlying  clay  is  very  easily  removed  by  denudation.  There  is,  how- 
ever, a  very  curious  anticlinal  in  which  the  overlying  rocks  concur  near 
Middle  Mill,  east  of  Hucknall  Torkard.  It  is  exposed  in  a  small  quarry, 
of  which  it  occupies  the  entire  end,  but  there  is  no  surface  indication  of 
its  existence  in  the  flat  marshy  field  composed  of  the  overlying  marls. 
Two  other  similar  small  anticlinals  have  been  noted  in  the  neighbourhood 
(Shipman). 

The  most  south-westerly  point  at  which  the  Magnesian  Limestone 
has  been  observed  is  near  Bobbers'  Mill,  Radford,  where  it  is  a  coarse 
brecciated  rock  followed  by  a  grit  (Wilson).  At  Strelley  it  is  sandy.  It 
probably  never  extended  much  more  westerly  than  its  present  boundary, 
as  no  outlier  is  known  more  than  1 1  miles  from  its  escarpment.  Nearly 
as  far  north  as  Mansfield  it  remains  fairly  constant  in  thickness  and 
character,  but  at  New  Mill,  a  mile  south  of  that  town,  it  is  found  to 

1  King,  Permian  Fossils  (Pal.  Soc.)  *  Tylden  Wright  in  White's  Worksop. 

8  '  Summary  of  Progress  for  1899.' 
16 


GEOLOGY 

swell  out  suddenly  and  to  change  its  nature.  It  takes  on  the  form  of  a 
white  calcareous  sandstone,  60  feet  in  thickness.  The  lower  parts  are 
more  siliceous  and  the  higher  more  calcareous,  and  the  whole  is  massive 
and  irregularly  bedded.  A  mile  to  the  north-east  of  the  town,  in  the 
Rock  valley,  a  similar  rock  of  equal  thickness,  but  of  a  red  colour, 
is  quarried.  The  following  analyses  of  the  two  varieties  have  been 
published  r1 — 

MANSFIELD  WHITE  SANDSTONE  MANSFIELD  RED  SANDSTONE 

Silica 5!'4O     Silica 49'4 

Carbonate  of  lime 26*50      Carbonate  of  lime 26-5 

Carbonate  of  magnesia  .     .     .     .      ij'<)8  Carbonate  of  magnesia    ....      i6'i 

Iron,  alumina,  etc 1*32      Iron,  alumina,  etc 3-2 

Water  and  loss 2'8o      Water  and  loss 4-8 


lOO'OO  lOO'OO 

This  sandstone  may  be  traced  by  quarries  running  in  a  N.N.E. 
direction  across  the  country  to  Pleasley  Vale,  between  Pleasley  Forge  and 
Pleasley  Works,  and  so  out  of  the  county.  As  the  dip  of  the  strata 
generally  is  eastwards,  it  is  probable  that  the  bulk  of  the  limestone  lying 
to  the  east  of  the  outcrop  of  the  sandstone  is  higher  in  the  series  than 
that  to  the  west.  Thus  the  Magnesian  Limestone  as  a  whole  may  be 
divisible  into  two  parts,  the  sandstone  forming  the  base  of  the  higher. 
The  upper  Magnesian  Limestone  is  seen  to  overlie  the  sandstone  at  the 
quarries,  and  at  a  higher  level  it  expands  to  a  rock  of  beautiful  character 
at  Mansfield  Woodhouse.  In  the  quarries  there  worked  it  is  a  glistening, 
finely  crystalline  limestone  of  yellowish  white  colour,  with  scattered  black 
specks,  and  having  the  composition  : — 

Carbonate  of  lime 5I-65 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 42'6o 

Silica 3'7° 

Water  and  loss 2*05 


lOO'OO 


From  this  quarry  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the  strike  of  the  sandstone  of 
Mansfield  the  Bolsover  Moor  Quarry  is  reached,  both  quarries  yielding 
similar  stone  of  celebrated  building  properties.2  This  same  type  of  lime- 
stone occupies  the  surface  for  the  rest  of  the  range  in  the  county,  and 
near  Warsop  becomes  very  finely  laminated  and  perforated  with  numer- 
ous fine  holes,  whence  some  extra-soluble  crystalline  ingredient  has  been 
dissolved  out.  At  Streetly  near  Worksop  the  limestone  is  also  '  white 
and  crystalline.' 

It  will  be  noted  in  a  geological  map  that  to  the  south  of  Mansfield 
the  surface  occupied  by  the  Magnesian  Limestone  is  about  1 1— 2  miles 
broad,  but  to  the  north  of  that  town  it  is  6  miles  broad.  This  is  partly 
due  to  the  thickening  of  the  lower  beds,  but  also  to  the  coming  on  of  a 

1  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  82,  S.E. 

*  See  '  Parliamentary  Report  on  Building  Stones,  1839.' 

I  J7  3 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

new  deposit.  That  there  are  two  distinct  masses  is  shown  by  the  section 
at  Shireoaks  containing  a  lower  band  of  48  feet  and  an  upper  band  of 
40  feet  separately  recorded.1  In  south  Yorkshire  these  two  beds  are  not 
only  recognized  but  named  ;  the  lower  being  1 20  feet  thick  and  the 
upper  one,  named  the  '  small-grained  dolomite,'  200  feet.2  It  is  to  the 
latter  of  these — the  small-grained  dolomite — that  the  limestone  north  of 
Mansfield  belongs.  It  is  possible  also  that  to  the  same  portion  belongs 
the  main  Magnesian  Limestone  in  the  borings  to  the  east  of  the  county, 
the  lower  portion  having  more  or  less  degenerated  into  shales  and  thin 
beds  and  so  being  included  in  the  abnormally  thick  basement  beds.  In 
one  boring  there  is  a  '  sandstone  20  ft.'  in  a  position  which  would  then 
correspond  to  that  of  the  Mansfield  freestone. 

THE  MARLS  AND  SANDSTONES. — Overlying  the  Magnesian  Limestone 
is  found  a  series  of  beds  consisting  of  so-called  marls  (though  not  calcareous) 
and  sandstones  alternating.  The  latter  are  chiefly  found  near  the  base  of 
the  series  or  in  the  north  of  the  county.  The  marls  are  a  brilliant  red 
with  bands  of  bluish  white.  The  sandstones  are  reddish  purple,  sharp 
grained  and  sometimes  calcareous.  In  most  places  these  have  every  sign 
of  conformity  to  the  rocks  on  which  they  lie  ;  nevertheless  they  must  in 
the  course  of  their  range  overlap  the  upper  part  of  the  limestone  to  lie 
on  the  lower.  In  some  places,  as  near  Mansfield,  it  has  been  thought 
that  unconformity  may  be  seen  by  the  undulating  surface  on  which  the 
marls  rest.3  A  still  more  remarkable  case  is  the  apparent  anticlinal  of 
the  limestone  overlaid  by  horizontal  marls  in  a  cutting  of  the  Lancashire, 
Derbyshire  and  East  Coast  Railway  at  Warsop  Colliery  junction,  figured 
by  Mr.  C.  Fox-Strangways,4  but  this,  like  the  others,  may  perhaps  be 
explained  by  an  original  inequality  of  the  surface  and  the  formation  of 
concentric  cracks  by  subsequent  concretionary  action. 

The  marls  do  not  give  rise  to  any  features,  but  form  the  base  of 
flat  areas,  as  in  the  Leen  valley.  They  nevertheless  play  an  important 
part  in  relation  to  other  beds.  As  an  impervious  stratum  of  sufficient 
thickness  not  to  be  easily  broken  through  they  hold  up  the  water  that 
falls  on  the  overlying  porous  Bunter  sands,  and  render  possible  the  exist- 
ence of  lakes,  as  at  Newstead  and  Welbeck,  and  to  some  extent  also  the 
higher  ones  at  Thoresby  and  Clumber.  On  the  other  hand  their  softness 
and  comparative  thinness  has  caused  them  to  be  removed  from  over  a 
large  surface  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone,  and  gives  that  more  valuable 
stratum  a  larger  superficial  area  than  its  thickness  would  suggest. 

At  the  Cinderhill  brickworks,  in  the  south  of  the  range  of  this 
series,  the  Magnesian  Limestone  is  seen  at  the  base,  followed  immedi- 
ately by  the  highly  contrasting  brilliant  red  clay,  in  which  there  are 
thin  beds  of  sandstone,  having  their  surface  covered  with  curious 
markings  which  may  be  due  to  annelids.  The  total  thickness  here 

1  Lancaster  and  Wright,  loc.  cit. 

2  Kirkby,  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  xvii. 

3  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  82,  S.E. 

4  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  liv.  p.  161,  fig.  I.     Compare  fig.  z. 

18 


GEOLOGY 

seen  is  25-30  feet  up  to  the  base  of  the  Triassic  sandstone.  From  this 
spot  it  may  be  traced  with  the  same  character  to  the  west  side  of 
Bulwell  and  Hucknall  Torkard,  by  the  lake  at  Newstead  and  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Triassic  ridge  to  the  brickyard  near  Kirkby  station. 
Further  on  it  forms  the  flanks  of  a  hill  between  Mansfield  and  Skegby. 

After  an  interval,  north  of  Mansfield  where  the  Trias  overlaps  and 
conceals  it,  a  new  development  commences  beyond  Cuckney,  where  a 
broad  expanse  of  it  occupies  the  surface  which  culminates  at  Woodhouse 
Hill.  Here  is  seen  in  a  lane-section  30-40  feet  of  red  sandstone  in  thick 
beds  alternating  with  clay  near  the  centre.  On  this  rising  ground  there 
is  a  valley  in  which  the  Magnesian  Limestone  has  been  quarried  beneath 
these  red  sandstones  ;  over  these  come  clays  and  over  these  again 
comes  a  higher  limestone  occupying  the  higher  ground  (Aveline).  Thus 
the  clays  and  sandstones  are  here  included  between  two  limestones.  A 
little  further  north  the  red  sandstone  gives  the  names  to  Ratcliff  and 
Red  Hill.  It  much  resembles  the  Trias  sandstone,  but  it  passes  as 
before  beneath  the  marls  and  limestone.  In  the  Shireoaks  sinking 
thirteen  alternations  of  sand  and  clay  in  46  feet  were  passed  through 
between  two  limestones,  but  on  the  east  of  the  county  133  feet  with 
gypsum  are  recorded  at  Southcar  and  150  feet  at  South  Scarle  in  the 
same  relative  position. 

THE  UPPER  LIMESTONES. — These  have  been  already  noticed  as  cap- 
ping the  marls  in  places,  and  in  the  extreme  north  they  come  on  in 
force  and  form  an  essential  feature  in  the  south  Yorkshire  type  of 
Permian.  The  series  consists  of  i  20  feet  of  thin-bedded  limestones  of  a 
quite  different  character  from  that  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone.  They 
were  called  '  Brotherton  Beds '  by  Professor  Sedgwick.  They  are 
described  by  Mr.  Kirkby1  as  '  usually  hard  and  compact  and  of  a  yellow 
or  grey  colour  ;  the  surface  planes  are  generally  a  little  apart  and  often 
coated  with  red,  green,  or  purple  clays.'  They  contain  very  little  mag- 
nesia, so  that  the  term  magnesian  should  be  restricted  to  the  lower  lime- 
stones. They  are  much  jointed  and  have  the  joint  faces  covered  with 
dendritic  markings.  They  are  first  seen  in  force  just  north  of  Shireoaks, 
round  Ramoth-Gilead,  and  continue  to  the  many  quarries  round  Carlton 
and  Oldcoates,  where  fossils  abound.  Those  recorded  are  Myalina  baus- 
manni  (M.  squamosus,  Sow.),  Schizodus  truncatus  and  S.  schlotheimi. 

The  Upper  Limestone  is  found  again  in  the  deep  borings  in  the 
east  of  the  county,  that  at  Southcar  showing  53  feet  of  grey  limestone  in 
one  mass  between  two  series  of  marls  and  that  at  South  Scarle  showing 
43!  feet  in  the  same  position.  It  does  not  appear  therefore  to  be  thick- 
ening in  this  direction. 

THE  UPPER  MARLS. — In  certain  places  in  the  north  of  the  county, 
viz.  on  Whincommon,  north-east  of  Oldcoates  and  near  Carlton,  the 
Geological  Survey3  record  the  occurrence  of  red  and  variegated  marls, 
without  intermixed  sandstone,  above  the  Upper  Limestones.  These  are 

1  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sue.  vol.  xvii. 
8  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  82,  N.E. 

19 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  commencement  of  a  larger  group  which  occurs  in  south  Yorkshire, 
and  forms  the  highest  member  of  the  Permian  anywhere  seen.  The 
Upper  Marls  have  been  called,  in  reference  to  their  supposed  equivalents 
in  Germany,  the  Banter  Schiefer.  There  can  be  no  question  however 
that  all  these  red  marls  belong  to  one,  i.e.  Permian,  group,  for  the  base  of 
the  Trias  transgresses  from  one  to  the  other. 

These  Marls  are  thicker  in  the  eastern  borings,  for  whereas  at  their 
outcrop  (in  south  Yorkshire)  there  are  only  50  feet  of  them,  at  Southcar 
and  South  Scarle  respectively  there  are  89  feet  and  ii8|  feet.  In  the 
former  place  they  contain  a  remarkable  9  feet  bed  of  anhydrite,  and  also 
some  gypsum,  which  is  found  also  in  the  Lower  Marls  there  and  in  the 
Upper  Marls  at  Oldcoates. 

THE  TRIASSIC  SYSTEM 

Although  this  system  retains  the  name  of  Trias  applied  to  it  in 
Germany  as  consisting  of  three  parts,  there  are  in  England  two  only, 
which  after  their  German  equivalents  are  called  the  Bunter  and  the  Keufer, 
the  central  member,  or  Muschelkalk,  being  the  absent  member.  These 
two  formations  together  occupy  the  greater  part  of  the  whole  county — 
the  strata  already  dealt  with  forming  merely  the  western  fringe,  as  the 
Jurassic  form  the  eastern  and  southern  fringe  of  it. 

The  Trias  on  a  large  scale  lies  unconformably  on  the  Permian.  At 
any  single  point  it  may  seem  to  be  conformable,  but  it  passes  indifferently 
over  all  the  members  in  turn  from  the  Upper  Marls  to  the  Magnesian 
Limestone,  and  passes  beyond  the  limits  of  all  to  lie  directly  upon  the 
Coal-Measures.  And  this  is  not  due  to  a  simple  overlap  by  a  later 
stratum.  The  Trias  could  not  have  been  deposited  where  it  is  now  found 
unless  the  lower  strata  has  been  irregularly  denuded,  so  as  to  leave  outliers 
in  one  spot  and  not  in  another  with  the  Trias  lying  equally  over  all. 

THE  BUNTER  SERIES  consists  almost  entirely  of  sandstones,  which  in 
parts  are  plentifully  supplied  with  pebbles,  as  is  so  commonly  the  case 
with  the  basal  beds  of  a  new  series — though  here  through  a  greater  thick- 
ness than  usual.  The  principal  deposit  of  pebbles  occurs  in  the  middle 
portion,  from  which  circumstance  this  part  is  called  the  Pebble  Beds, 
while  the  portion  below  is  called  the  Lower  Red  and  Mottled  Sandstone 
and  that  above,  when  it  occurs,  the  Upper  Red  and  Mottled  Sandstone. 

For  the  greater  part  of  its  range  the  Bunter  sandstones  rest  upon 
various  members  of  the  Permian  strata,  and  are  raised  up  with  them  to  a 
considerable  height.  Its  base  at  Bobbers  Mill  is  107  feet  above  O.D. 
At  Hempshill  the  base  has  risen  to  270  feet,  while  at  Bulwell  Spring  to 
the  east  it  has  descended  to  175  feet,  and  at  the  colliery  to  126  feet,  these 
last  three  showing  the  easterly  dip.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  Leen 
valley  the  base  appears  to  be  at  about  430  feet.  At  Mansfield  it  attains 
its  maximum  elevation  in  a  hill  of  588  feet,  which  includes  drift  gravels, 
so  that  its  base  is  probably  less  than  500  feet  above  O.D.  From  this 
point  it  descends  at  Warsop  to  210  feet,  at  Cuckney  to  180  feet,  here 

20 


GEOLOGY 

overlapping  the  eroded  Permian.  Traced  to  the  east  by  borings  the 
base  descends  at  Gedling  to  250.  feet  below  O.D.,  at  Thurgarton  to 
656  feet,  at  South  Scarle  to  1,503  feet,  these  being  along  a  north-east 
line  ;  at  East  Retford  to  730  feet  and  at  Southcar  to  1,165  ^eet- 

In  all  the  above  cases  the  Bunter  rests  on  the  Permian,  but  in  the 
south  it  passes  beyond  this  limit  and  rests  on  various  parts  of  the  Coal- 
Measures.  It  is  here  carried  down  to  a  lower  level  partly  by  erosion  of 
its  support  and  partly  by  faulting.  At  the  Radford  gasworks  the  basal 
breccia  was  found  at  about  60  feet  above  O.D.  From  this  point  it 
gradually  rises  westward  to  220  feet  in  Broomhill  Plantation  and  to  320 
feet  at  Catstone  Hill  outlier.  Farther  south  it  is  affected  by  the  first  east 
and  west  fault,  and  is  found  at  Clifton  Colliery  74  feet  below  O.D.,  at 
Highfield  Park  167  feet  below  O.D. — a  difference  due  in  part  to  a  greater 
erosion  of  the  underlying  coal  strata  to  the  west.  The  base  of  the 
Bunter  is  not  seen  again  in  the  county,  but  at  a  boring  for  water  at 
Wilsthorpe,  just  on  the  Derbyshire  side  of  the  Erewash,  the  top  of  the 
whole  Bunter  is  153  feet  below  O.D.1  ;  how  much  lower  the  base  may  be 
is  not  known.  South  of  another  fault  the  base  of  the  Bunter  is  found  to 
be  367  feet  below  O.D.  in  the  Chilwell  boring,  377  feet  at  Clifton,  579 
feet  at  Ruddington,  602  feet  at  Edwalton  and  888  feet  at  Owthorpe — 
all  below  O.D.  Those  figures  show  a  slope  to  the  east  at  a  lower 
level  but  of  a  slower  rate  than  between  Gedling  and  Thurgarton — but 
owing  to  there  being  known  post-Triassic  faults  in  the  district,  e.g.  one  of 
275  feet  throw  at  Clifton  Colliery,  it  is  impossible  to  be  certain  of  any 
interpretation  of  this.  Nevertheless  it  suggests  that  a  pre-Triassic  valley 
of  erosion  may  be  the  cause. 

The  Lower  Red  Sandstone  usually  contains  no  pebbles  and  the  grains 
of  sand  are  finer  than  in  the  Pebble  Beds.  They  are  coated  with  a  film 
of  red  hsmatitic  colouring  matter  which  may  be  removed  by  hydrochloric 
acid,  leaving  them  white.  This  bleaching  action — by  other  acids — takes 
place  sporadically  in  nature,  and  gives  a  mottled  appearance  to  the  rock. 
There  is  in  many  cases  much  falsebedding.  Although  the  body  of  the 
rock  does  not  usually  contain  pebbles  there  is  found  at  or  near  the  base  in 
several  localities  a  bed  of  breccia  or  conglomerate.  Such  a  breccia,  5  to 
8  feet  thick,  occurred  in  the  excavations  for  the  gas  works  at  Old 
Radford.2  In  the  brickyard  south  of  the  railway  at  Cinderhill  this  has 
long  been  noticed,  and  at  one  time  was  thought  to  represent  the  line  of 
separation  between  Trias  and  Permian.  In  the  Hempshill  railway  cutting 
described  by  Mr.  Wilson3  this  semi-basal  breccia  '  is  alternately  sandy, 
marly  and  calcareous  and  it  contains  semi-angular  green,  blue  and  purple 
slates,  more  or  less  rounded  grits,  quartzites,  and  numerous  white  and 
discoloured  slabs  and  nodular  balls  of  fossiliferous  Carboniferous  Lime- 
stone Chert.'  It  is  plain  that  new  sources  of  material  were  available  for 
its  production.  Similar  pebbly  bands  have  been  met  with  at  Annesley 

1  Shipman,  'Geol.  of  Sandiacre,'  Trans.  Nott.  Nat.  Sue.  for  1891  (interpretation  modified). 
8  Shipman,  Trans.  Nott.  Nat.  Sac.  for  1889. 
8  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  xxxii. 

21 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

and  elsewhere  as  well  as  in  borings  at  Bestwood,  Clifton  Colliery  and 
Highfield  ;  on  the  other  hand  bands  of  clay  occur  in  the  midst  of  the 
sandstone  east  of  Kimberley  and  at  Bulwell  spring.  No  fossils  either 
original  or  derived  have  ever  been  recorded  from  this  deposit,  but  a 
ripple-marked  slab  was  found  by  Mr.  Shipman  at  Old  Radford. 

The  thickness  of  this  division  is  variable  and  uncertain.  At  Bobbers 
Mill  it  cannot  be  more  than  20—30  feet,  but  on  the  southern  slopes  of  the 
Long  Hills  it  must  be  greater  and  in  the  Robin  Hood's  Hills  about  70 
feet  is  seen,  capped  by  Pebble  Beds.  At  Mansfield  and  Worksop  and  to 
the  east  of  Kimberley  it  is  so  fine  in  grain  as  to  be  used  for  moulding 
sand.  In  the  northern  part  of  its  range  it  is  thin  and  finally  disappears 
beyond  Blyth. 

The  Pebble  Beds. — No  definite  line  can  be  drawn  between  these  and 
the  last  group,  unless  a  bed  of  pebbles  comes  on  suddenly.  On  the  whole 
the  sand  grains  are  coarser  and  of  a  yellow  colour,  and  the  pebbles  are  of 
various  sizes  and  kinds  and  are  not  always  or  usually  in  contact. 
Lenticular  bands  more  pebbly  than  the  rest,  and  in  like  manner  some 
layers  of  red  clay,  lie  irregularly  in  the  mass.  The  false  bedding  when 
present  indicates  currents  principally  from  the  west  or  north-west,  though 
other  and  sometimes  opposite  directions  are  represented.  There  is  no 
continuous  real  bedding.  The  coating  of  the  component  sand-grains 
keeps  them  together  against  any  natural  tendency  to  separate.  The 
exposed  surfaces  do  not  generally  exfoliate  under  the  severest  frosts  and 
the  tool  marks  on  cut  surfaces  are  not  easily  effaced.  Yet  the  rock  is 
easily  cut  and  does  not  fall  from  a  roof  even  of  large  size. 

For  this  reason  the  rock  is  often  cut  into  chambers,  caves  and  passages 
with  which  the  city  of  Nottingham  abounds,  of  which  Mortimer's  Hole  in 
the  Castle  Rock  is  one.  The  '  Hermitage '  at  Sneinton  consists  of  numerous 
dwellings  dug  in  the  rock.  In  the  cliff  overlooking  the  Leen  by  the  side 
of  Lenton  Boulevard  are  numerous  recesses  cut  in  an  excavated  chamber, 
hence  called  the  Columbarium,  though  more  probably  once  used  as  a 
shop.  A  very  large  excavation  was  made  in  the  eighteenth  century  in 
the  rock  on  the  Mansfield  Road  for  extracting  sand  for  sale.1  Most  of 
the  cellars  in  the  centre  of  the  city  are  rock  cellars,  and  passages  are  often 
discovered  in  making  excavations,  as  in  the  case  of  the  reservoir  at  the  top 
of  Standard  Hill.  Probably  the  whole  city  is  more  or  less  excavated  like 
a  piece  of  bored  wood.  Carvings  are  also  cut  to  represent  wild  animals 
on  the  edge  of  the  rock  along  the  Rope  Walk.  The  catacombs  in  the 
church  cemetery  are  modern  excavations. 

At  Nottingham  the  outcrop  of  the  Pebble  Beds  is  limited  to  a 
breadth  of  i  \—^\:  miles  owing  to  the  coming  on  of  the  Keuper  Series  on 
the  high  ground  to  the  east,  and  the  total  thickness  is  estimated  at  200 
feet,  but  further  north  the  outcrop  widens  out  to  a  breadth  of  7-9  miles, 
the  Keuper  being  worn  back  to  lower  levels  on  the  east.  This  is  probably 
due  to  the  greater  elevation  to  which  the  Pebble  Beds  have  been  raised. 

1  Shipman,  Brit.  Assoc.  Handbook,  1893. 
22 


GEOLOGY 

If  we  allow  30  feet  for  the  unknown  thickness  of  drift  with  which  they 
are  covered,  the  solid  rock  rises  to  538  feet  near  Annesley,  595  feet  on 
the  Robin  Hood's  Hills  (their  highest  point)  and  558  feet  west  of  Mans- 
field. From  these  elevations  they  gradually  slope  to  north  and  south  but 
more  especially  towards  the  east,  exposing  a  broad  dip  slope.  This,  worn 
into  irregular  hills  and  possibly  undulating  also,  forms  the  wild  sandy 
forest  land  for  which  Nottinghamshire  is  famous. 

It  is  this  large  catchment  area  of  more  than  120  square  miles, 
together  with  the  porosity  of  the  rock,  which  makes  the  Pebble  Beds  and 
underlying  Red  Sandstones  so  valuable  for  water  supply.  The  larger 
part  of  the  rainfall  sinks  in  at  once  and  has  a  free  passage,  so  that  there 
are  but  few  streams  on  the  surface,  which  is  but  sparsely  inhabited,  and 
little  injury  to  agriculture  can  result  from  the  extraction  of  water.  The 
lower  parts  are  thus  saturated  by  available  water  and  afford  an  almost 
inexhaustible  supply.  At  the  same  time  the  reservoir  itself  forms  its 
own  admirable  filter  bed,  and  the  water  comes  out  with  only  the  mineral 
impurities  dissolved  in  its  passage  through  the  rock,  which  are  not  on 
the  average  great.  The  amount  extracted  in  1893  amounted  to  more 
than  5,000,000  gallons  daily  for  the  use  of  the  borough  of  Nottingham,1 
while  at  the  boring  at  South  Scarle  the  water  rose  in  a  fountain  above 
the  surface  from  a  depth  of  960— 1,440  feet. 

The  origin  of  the  Pebbles  in  the  Bunter. — This  is  a  subject  which  has 
been  much  discussed,  but  it  cannot  be  said  that  any  satisfactory  solution 
has  been  arrived  at.  A  similar  question  might  be  asked  concerning  the 
materials  of  any  stratum,  e.g.  the  Millstone  Grit,  and  it  would  be  equally 
hard  to  answer.  In  the  present  case,  however,  hopes  of  a  solution  are 
raised  by  the  size  of  the  pebbles,  which  are  large  enough  to  show  any 
special  characters  of  the  rock  whence  they  are  derived,  whether  litho- 
logical  or  palasontological.  With  regard  to  the  lithological  characters 
the  bulk  of  the  pebbles  are  of  quartzite,  many  of  which  are  of  a  peculiar 
liver-coloured  tint,  and  others  are  whiter  or  of  vein  quartz.  These  as  a 
rule  afford  very  little  guide,  as  '  one  quartzite  is  very  like  another.' 
The  rarer  pebbles  are  of  '  green  and  black  slates,  jaspers,  gneiss,  sub- 
angular  blocks  of  sandstone,  rounded  greenstone  and  felstone '  (Irving), 
Millstone  Grit,  Yoredale  Sandstone,  Caradoc  Sandstone,  amygdaloidal 
lava,  chert,  white  granite,  volcanic  ash,  and  toadstone  (Shipman). 
Palaeontologically  they  have  been  found  to  contain  Ortbis  budleighensis, 
0.  Jiabellulum,  O.  calligramma,  Atrypa  cf.  reticularis,  Stropbomena  grandis 
and  Glyptocrinus  basalts  from  pre-Carboniferous  rocks  and  Lonsdaleia  Jiori- 
formis  from  the  Carboniferous  Limestone. 

Neither  these  rocks  nor  these  fossils  could  have  come  from  the 
north  down  the  east  side  of  the  Pennine  axis  from  any  rocks  now 
exposed  in  situ,  for  there  are  none  such  containing  them.  They  probably 
came  from  the  west,  as  indicated  by  the  prevailing  falsebedding,  or  in 
part  from  the  north-west.  The  exact  locality  of  the  land  of  their  origin 

1  Hull,  Report  Brit.  Asm.  1895,  p.  743. 
23 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

it  is  not  so  easy  to  name.  Two  suggestions  have  been  brought  forward  : 
(i)  that  they  were  brought  by  a  large  river  from  the  Highlands  ; '  (2)  that 
they  are  derived  from  some  of  the  old  rocks  which  border  the  Pebble 
Beds  as  a  whole  on  the  west  or  which  are  hidden  by  newer  strata.8 
To  the  former  suggestion  there  are  apparently  the  following  objec- 
tions :  (i)  the  fossils  in  the  pebbles  do  not  at  all  indicate  the  direction 
suggested  ;  (2)  there  are  no  signs  of  any  such  river  till  the  Midlands 
are  reached;  (3)  it  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  river  deposits  that  the 
finer  sediments  should  be  deposited  nearer  the  source  ;  (4)  it  is  impossible 
to  account  for  the  Pebble  Beds  extending  up  the  east  side  of  the  Pennine 
axis.  The  only  positive  argument  brought  forward  in  its  favour  is  the 
remarkable  similarity  in  some  respects  of  some  of  the  pebbles  to  some 
part  of  the  Torridon  sandstones  and  quartzites  of  the  north-west  High- 
lands, and  to  some  of  the  igneous  rocks  in  south  Scotland.  The  latter 
suggestion  has  everything  in  its  favour  except  the  very  serious  difficulty 
that  so  far  as  the  known  rocks  are  concerned  an  adequate  source  of  sup- 
ply for  the  pebbles  cannot  yet  be  named,  and  the  existence  of  such  under 
cover  of  newer  rocks  is  purely  hypothetical.  It  is  possible  that  this 
difficulty  may  be  removed  by  further  researches. 

With  regard  to  the  means  of  transport  it  should  be  noted  that  the 
Bunter  is  an  exceptional  deposit,  yet  it  is  extremely  widespread  ;  some- 
thing of  the  same  kind  being  found  in  Germany,  the  south  of  England, 
the  north  of  Scotland  and  America  ;  all  belong  to  a  period  during  which 
old  forms  of  life,  in  the  regions  where  it  occurs,  were  changing  into  new. 
Perhaps  we  ought  not  to  look  to  the  action  of  an  ordinary  river  or  of  the 
sea  in  its  ordinary  condition  as  the  efficient  cause  of  transport. 

The  Upper  Red  Sandstone. — In  the  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham 
itself  there  are  no  beds  that  have  been  assigned  to  this  division.  But 
towards  the  east  of  the  county  the  borings  record  massive  beds  of  red 
sandstone,  in  which  no  pebbles  are  noted,  overlying  characteristic  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Pebble  Beds.  At  East  Retford  123  feet  of  such  occur, 
and  some  is  even  exposed  there  at  the  surface  according  to  Mr.  Metcalfe.3 
In  the  boring  at  Scarle  206  feet  of  the  strata  have  been  definitely  referred 
to  this  group  by  Mr.  De  Ranee,4  and  at  Southcar  75  feet  of  red  sandstone 
occur  immediately  above  the  beds  with  pebbles.  In  both  these  cases  the 
inclusion  of  the  red  sandstone  with  the  Pebble  Beds  would  make  the 
latter  abnormally  thick. 

The  '•Hemlock  Stone' — This  remarkable  outstanding  rock  and  its 
neighbours  the  Bramcote  and  Stapleford  Hills  have  given  rise  to  much 
discussion  as  to  the  age  of  the  rocks  composing  them.  Their  prominence, 
and  in  the  case  of  the  '  stone '  the  shape  is  primarily  due  to  the  infiltra- 
tion of  the  sand  by  an  ordinarily  insoluble  substance — barium  sulphate.8 
This  has  been  irregularly  distributed,  and  where  it  has  been  wanting  the 

1  T.  G.  Bonney,  Geol.  Mag.  1880  ;  Brit.  Assoc.  1886  ;  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  SK.  vol.  Ivi. 
8  W.  J.  Harrison,  Proc.  Birm.  Phil.  Sue.  vol.  iii.  1882. 
8  '  Geology  of  Nottinghamshire  '  in  White's  Nottinghamshire,  1 894. 
*  Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1891.  5  Clowes,  Brit.  Aaoc.  1885  ;  Proc.  Roy  Soc.  1889. 

24 


GEOLOGY 

rock  has  weathered  away  leaving  the  hardened  parts  outstanding.  The 
top  of  Bramcote  Hill  is  filled  with  porphyritic  white  crystals  of  baryta 
enclosing  the  sand  grains  in  its  substance,  and  these  weather  out  into 
pebble-like  lumps,  but  there  is  no  special  conglomerate — only  the 
ordinary  pebbles  found  in  other  parts  of  the  hill.  The  cap  of  the 
Hemlock  Stone  is  impregnated,  but  the  base  is  less  so,  if  at  all.  The 
top  is  aiso  pebbly  and  the  lower  part  soft  and  false-bedded  without 
pebbles.  For  these  reasons  the  upper  part  more  easily  resists  the  weather 
and  therefore  overhangs.  In  the  neighbouring  Stapleford  Hill  the  lower 
part  is  in  places  fully  charged  with  baryta  crystals  side  by  side  with 
parts  which  are  uncharged  and  soft  ;  at  the  same  time  the  pebbly  and 
non-pebbly  parts  are  here  found  somewhat  alternating.  At  the  bottom 
of  Bramcote  village  the  sandstone  has  a  peculiar  mammillated  structure,  as 
though  the  grains  were  agglutinated  by  an  infiltered  mineral.  Now  the 
presence  of  baryta  and  its  results  in  this  case  were  first  made  known  in 
1885,  but  in  1882  Mr.  Strahan,  in  his  Survey  Memoir,  'On  the  country 
round  Chester,'  had  already  described  rocks  on  the  summit  of  Beeston 
Castle  with  abundance  of  baryta,  showing  also  the  porphyritic  crystals, 
the  massive  form  with  glistening  faces,  and  the  mammillated,  agglutinated 
sandstone,  just  as  if  he  had  been  describing  Bramcote  and  Stapleford 
Hills.  They  are  also  false  bedded  and  red  in  parts,  and  in  parts  pebbly 
and  yellow.  Lithologically,  therefore,  and  chemically  the  two  sets  of 
deposit  agree.  There  remains  only  the  question  of  position.  At  Beeston 
Castle  these  beds  overlie  the  Upper  Red  Sandstone  ;  at  Stapleford  Hill 
they  reach  a  height  of  33  i  feet  above  O.D.,  and  at  Bramcote  Hill  of  over 
300  feet,  while  a  section  of  ordinary  Pebble  Beds  is  seen  in  Moor  Lane, 
only  460  yards  distant  from  the  latter,  at  a  little  over  200  feet.  They  are 
therefore  more  likely  to  represent  the  Upper  Red  Sandstone  and  higher 
beds  than  the  Lower  Red  Sandstone  and  Pebble  Beds  ;  especially  as  the 
junction  of  the  two  latter  is  seen  at  Catstone  Hill,  if  miles  to  the  north 
on  the  other  side  of  an  upthrow  fault  of  large  amount  at  nearly  the  same 
level,  but  differing  in  the  character  of  both  components. 

There  is  every  reason,  therefore,  to  believe  that  the  rocks  of  the 
Hemlock  Stone  and  neighbouring  hills  are  the  equivalents  in  a  diminished 
form  of  those  that  overlie  the  Pebble  Beds  at  Beeston  Castle,  especially 
as  similar  phenomena  are  observable  in  the  interval.  These  have  been 
divided  in  Cheshire l  into  two  parts  :  a  lower,  softer  part,  called  the 
Upper  Red  Sandstone,  and  an  upper,  harder  part,  called  Keuper  Basement 
Beds.  It  appears,  however,  that  the  only  grounds  for  placing  the 
upper  division  in  the  Keuper  are  an  apparent  gradual  passage  upwards 
into  the  Waterstones,  and  an  apparent  unconformity  with  the  lower 
division,  below  a  well  marked  conglomerate — both  of  which  grounds 
are  contested  by  Mr.  Strahan  and  which  are  certainly  not  applicable  at 
Bramcote  and  Stapleford  Hills.  Here  at  all  events  no  beds  have  any  re- 
lation to  the  Keuper,  but  all  are  the  topmost  beds  of  the  Bunter  whether 

1  Strahan,  loc.  cit.    See  also  Hull,  'Triassic  and  Permian  Rocks,'  Geol.  Surv.  Mem.  p.  9,  and  Strahan, 
Geol.  Mag.  1881,  p.  401. 

I  25  4 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

separable  or  not.  It  would  thus  appear  that  in  the  type  of  Bunter  which 
prevails  to  the  west  the  beds  of  pebbles  are  not  entirely  confined  to  the 
centre. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  certain  sandstones  discovered  at  the  top  of 
the  Pebble  Beds  in  the  east  of  Nottingham  represent  those  at  the  Hemlock 
Stone  called  '  Keuper  Basement  Beds,'  but  much  confusion  has  arisen  as 
to  the  relative  position  of  these  and  the  Keuper  Conglomerate  (see  post), 
and  the  exposures  referred  to  being  now  covered  it  is  impossible  to  clear 
the  matter  up. 

The  thickness  of  the  whole  Bunter  series  cannot  easily  be  deter- 
mined in  the  west,  and  can  only  be  estimated  where  the  beds  outcrop, 
but  in  the  east  where  covered  by  Keuper  Beds  we  find  the  whole  thick- 
ness at  Ruddington  to  be  218  feet,  at  Owthorpe  428  feet,  at  Gedling 
366  feet,  at  Thurgarton  343  feet,  and  in  parts  where  the  Upper  Red 
Sandstones  are  left,  as  at  East  Retford,  616  feet,  at  South  Scarle  542  feet 
and  at  Southcar  434  feet.  These  figures  however  depend  too  much  on 
the  interpretation  of  cores  to  be  thoroughly  reliable. 

THE  KEUPER  SERIES. — The  Keuper  Beds  throughout  are  sharply 
contrasted  with  the  Bunter.  Instead  of  the  coarse  torrential  deposits 
with  pebbles  and  falsebedding  we  find  thin  hard  beds  of  constant  thick- 
ness and  very  fine  grain  separated  by  beds  of  clay  of  various  shades  of  red. 
The  proportion  of  the  hard  beds  to  the  clay  varies.  Towards  the  base 
the  hard  beds  abound,  towards  the  top  the  clay  ;  and  though  there 
is  no  sharp  line  of  junction  between  them  the  former  are  called  Keuper 
Sandstones  or  Waterstones,  and  the  latter  Keuper  Marls. 

The  Keuper  Sandstones  or  Waterstones. — This  last  name  appears  to 
have  been  given  in  the  Midlands  from  their  water-bearing  property  when 
pierced  through  the  overlying  marls '  (though  there  is  another  account 
of  its  origin),2  and  it  is  somewhat  justified  by  the  fountain  of  water 
obtained  from  them  in  the  South  Scarle  boring.  Yet  it  appears  a  strange 
title  when  used  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  far  superior  Bunter  Beds. 
The  base  in  many  places  consists  of  a  hard  calcareous  conglomerate,  with 
sub-angular  pebbles  usually  in  greater  variety  than  in  the  adjacent  Pebble 
Beds.  The  existence  of  this  conglomerate  in  relation  to  the  Keuper 
Sandstones  was  first  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Irving  3  in  Red  Lane  and  on  the 
hillside  east  of  Sneinton — as  well  as  in  the  excavations  for  various 
culverts  in  the  east  of  Nottingham.  It  has  also  been  traced  (by  Messrs. 
Wilson  and  Shipman)  at  Red  Hill  three  miles  north  of  the  city,  at 
Highfield  House  near  the  lake,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Wollaton 
Park  and  on  the  top  of  the  hill  at  Bramcote  village.  It  was  formerly 
easy  to  see  it,  whilst  houses  were  being  built  over  the  line  of  junction  in 
the  east  of  the  city.  Further  north  and  east  in  the  county  it  has  not 
been  seen,  possibly  from  want  of  suitable  sections,  except  at  Retford 
where  nine  inches  of  it  are  recorded  by  Mr.  Metcalfe  in  a  well-boring. 

1  Hull,  Triassic  and  Permian  Rocks. 

2  See  Woodward,  Geology  of  England  and  Wales. 

3  Geol.  Mag.  1874,  'The  Geology  of  the  Nottingham  District.' 

26 


GEOLOGY 

Perhaps  the  most  instructive  of  these  localities  is  that  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Wollaton  Park.  Here  the  pebbles  are  large,  various, 
close  together  and  with  a  strong  calcareous  cement,  the  rock  in  every 
respect  differing  from  any  near  the  Hemlock  Stone  only  if  miles  away,  and 
resting  on  a  lower  part  of  the  Bunter  Series  seen  in  the  sand  pit  below. 
Elsewhere  also  it  rests  on  various  parts  of  the  Bunter,  showing  the  un- 
conformity between  the  two  series,  but  it  is  nowhere  known  to  reach 
the  Lower  Red  Sandstone. 

Overlying  the  conglomerate  are  other  beds,  which  differ  from  the 
normal  Waterstones,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  following  section. 

Section  of  the  junction  between  Keuper  and  Bunter  in  an  excavation  for  drainage  at  the  junction 
of  Sneinton  Dale  and  the  Hollows.      Communicated  by  IV.  N.  Blair,  1884. 

Shaly  beds  of  red  marl,  6  ft.  6  in. 

ft.  in. 

Shaly  beds  of  bluish  grey  marl,  sandy  towards  the  bottom    ...     2  8 

Yellowish  grey  sandstone,  with  yellow  spots  and  a  few  pebbles    .     o  10 
Conglomerate  of  yellow  sandy  matrix   with    pebbles  of  various 

material,  becoming  more  calcareous  towards  the  base   .     •     .      3  9 
Very  hard  conglomerate,  with  red  matrix  full  of  pebbles     ...06 

Sandstone  rock  (Bunter)  with  a  few  scattered  pebbles  40  ft.  + 

These  basal  beds  are  not  separated  by  any  marked  line  from  the  rest 
of  the  Keuper  Sandstones,  though  differing  from  them  in  character.  We 
find  the  yellow  spotted  sandstone  in  many  walls  near  the  junction  line. 
The  bluish  grey  marl  is  found  in  a  similar  position  at  Farnsfield,  Ollerton, 
Retford  and  Everton  (at  the  extreme  north  of  the  county).1 

The  alternations  of  dark  red  marls  with  thin  sandstones  or  fine 
marly  limestone,  which  constitute  the  lower  part  of  the  Keuper  Sand- 
stones, may  be  very  well  seen  at  the  Carlton  Hill  brickyard.  They  are 
similar  to  those  described  above  the  conglomerate  at  Blue  Bell  Hill  and 
Rough  Hill  Wood  excavations  by  Dr.  Irving  2  and  Messrs.  Wilson  and 
Shipman.3  The  limestones  have  flat  surfaces  and  the  sandstones  are  often 
ripple-marked.  The  latter  often  contain  on  their  undersurfaces  pseudo- 
morphs  in  sand  after  hopper-shaped  crystals  of  salt.  Such  have  been 
noticed  also  at  Colwick  and  Blue  Bell  Hill  as  well  as  in  the  Keuper 
Marls  at  Tuxford  and  Newark  and  many  other  places.  The  origin  of  these 
is  as  follows  :  As  the  salt  water  from  which  the  underlying  clay  has  been 
deposited  slowly  dries  the  salt  crystals  form,  partly  embedded  in  the  clay, 
which  then  becomes  hardened.  On  the  rewetting  of  the  surface  the  salt 
crystal  is  soon  dissolved,  while  the  hollow  it  has  occupied  still  remains 
hard  for  a  time.  The  fine  sand  enters  this  and  takes  a  cast  of  it,  which, 
when  the  sand  consolidates  into  sandstone,  projects  from  the  under  surface.* 
In  the  Keuper  Marls  the  thin  sandstones  are  likewise  often  ripple- 
marked,  as  at  the  Rifle  Butts  north  of  Nottingham,  where  they  are  pitted 
on  the  surface  as  by  annelid  borings,  and  in  Lambley  Dumble  and  at 

1  Metcalfe,  'Geology  of  Nottinghamshire,'  loc.  cit. 

*  Proc.  Geol.  Asm.  vol.  iv.  1875.  *  **«/.  Mag.  1879,  p.  S3*- 

*  See  Strickland,  S^art.  Journ.  Geol.  Sot.  vol.  ix. 

27 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Newark.  These  peculiarities  show  that  both  one  and  the  other  division 
of  the  Keuper  were  deposited  between  tide  marks.  The  same  condition 
of  deposit  is  indicated  by  the  footprint  of  a  Labyrintbodont  found  on  the 
sandstone  at  Colwick  by  Dr.  Irving,  and  the  remarkable  shoal  of  ganoid 
fishes,  Semionofus,  found  stranded  all  together  in  one  bed  at  Rough  Hill 
Wood  by  Mr.  Wilson.  It  is  judged  from  this  that,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Coal-Measures,  the  base  on  which  the  deposits  rested  was  constantly 
being  depressed  at  the  same  average  rate  as  the  deposits  were  formed, 
but,  as  these  do  not  contain  the  ordinary  marine  fossils,  the  water  was 
enclosed  as  a  lake  and  the  depression  was  not  sufficient  to  open  this  to 
the  sea  till  the  next  succeeding  epoch. 

At  a  higher  level  the  sandstones  become  thicker  and  of  a  brown 
colour.  These  tend  to  form  escarpments,  as  at  Spital  Hill  near  Retford, 
at  Bothamsall,  Kirton,  and  Belsthorpe  and  Edingley  Hill  near  South- 
well. 

The  Keuper  Marls  are  distinguished  by  the  preponderance  of  clay 
over  sandstone  and  by  the  vivid  red  colour  of  the  former.  The  beds  of 
sandstone  are  usually  thin,  but  there  are  parts  where  each  bed  is  thicker, 
or  where  the  thin  beds  are  closer  together,  such  as  the  neighbourhood  of 
Tuxford,  where  much  stone  has  been  extracted  for  building  under  the 
name  of  the  Tuxford  Stone.  Another  important  distinction  is  the 
abundance  of  gypsum.  This  mineral  is  not  unknown  in  the  Keuper 
Sandstone,  where  it  forms  fibrous  strings  or  veins,  but  in  workable  masses 
it  is  confined  to  the  marls. 

Gypsum  is  a  hydrous  calcium  sulphate,  with  a  composition  (from  a 
Nottingham  sample)  of:  calcium  sulphate,  77-4  ;  water,  21  ;  impurities, 
i  '6  per  cent.  The  crystalline  form,  or  Se/enite,  is  very  rarely  found  in  these 
marls  and  only  lining  accidental  cavities.  The  commonest  variety  is 
the  saccharoidal,  which  is  massive,  brilliantly  white  and  amorphous.  The 
more  compact,  transparent  form  of  this,  known  as  alabaster,  has  not  been 
found  in  any  quantity  in  Notts,  though  worked  at  Chellaston  over  the 
Derbyshire  border.  The  fibrous  variety  consists  of  long  narrow  crystals 
packed  closely  side  by  side  obliquely  to  the  edges  of  the  vein  or  round 
the  boundaries  of  the  saccharoidal  masses.  The  play  of  light  upon  these 
crystals  has  obtained  for  the  variety  the  name  of  Satin  Stone,  under  which 
title  it  has  been  much  worked  at  East  Bridgeford  for  ornaments.  The 
workable  variety  occurs  in  thick  nodular  beds  or  floors,  in  large  spheroidal 
or  lenticular  masses  called  balls  or  bowls,  or  in  rows  of  cakes.1  In  places 
where  any  large  lump  occurs  the  stratification  of  the  surrounding  marls 
is  disturbed  on  all  sides  as  though  irregularly  pushed  out  by  the  growth 
of  the  lump.  This  has  suggested  that  the  mineral  was  originally 
deposited  in  an  anhydrous  form  as  anhydrite,  and  that  subsequent  infil- 
trations of  water  have  caused  it  to  swell  by  entering  into  combination  to 
produce  gypsum.  "  This  explanation  is  rendered  more  probable  by  the 
occurrence  of  centres  of  anhydrite  in  some  of  the  larger  masses  at 

1  See  Metcalfe,  Tram.  Nott.  Nat.  Soc.  for  1 894. 
28 


GEOLOGY 

Newark  and  the  discovery  of  a  mass  of  the  same  mineral  9  feet  thick 
in  the  Permian  Marls  at  Southcar  boring,  where  no  doubt  it  has  been 
protected  from  infiltration.  The  gypsum  beds  occur  principally  on  two 
horizons,  one  not  far  from  the  base  which  has  been  worked  at  Clarborough 
and  Little  Gringley  in  the  north  of  the  county,  and  one  at  about  100 
feet  from  the  top  of  the  marls  worked  at  Newark,  Hawton,  Shelton 
Orston,  East  Bridgford,  Barton,  Thrumpton,  Gotham  and  Kingston. 
The  gypsum  industry  is  an  important  one,  76,584  tons  having  been 
raised  in  the  county  during  1901,  out  of  200,000  tons  raised  in  the 
whole  of  the  United  Kingdom.  The  water  also  from  these  works,  and 
that  which  is  used  for  brewing  at  Newark,  has  an  analysis  closely  resem- 
bling that  required  for  the  production  of  Burton  ales,  viz  : — 

Grains  per  gallon 

Calcium  sulphate 84-93 

Magnesium  sulphate 23-91 

Calcium  carbonate 6'00 

Sodium  carbonate 4-45 

Calcium  nitrate 4-85 

Sodium  chloride 5-76 

Alumina,  etc 2-02 


131-92 

The  Keuper  Marls,  from  the  softness  of  their  materials,  do  not  give 
rise  to  such  marked  escarpments  as  the  Sandstones,  but  only  to  more  local 
ones  where  their  own  sandstones  occur,  as  round  Tuxford  and  at  Leverton 
and  Halam  Hill  near  Southwell.  On  the  other  hand  water  falling  on 
them  does  not  readily  sink  in,  and  numerous  streams  are  formed  which 
work  their  way  downwards  to  a  hard  band,  and  thus  excavate  narrow 
ravines  known  as  dumbles,  filled  with  underwood,  e.g.  Lambley  Dumble. 

The  Keuper  beds  as  a  whole  occupy  the  eastern  half  of  the  county 
as  far  south  as  Nottingham,  at  which  point  their  outcrop  is  continued 
up  the  sides  of  the  Trent  valley  in  a  westerly  direction,  connecting  the 
bulk  of  them  with  those  in  the  Midlands.  Of  this  area  of  outcrop  the 
part  occupied  by  the  Sandstones  is  by  far  the  narrower,  indicating  a 
much  less  thickness  for  this  portion.  In  the  borings  made  on  the  out- 
crop we  only  get  a  partial  estimate  of  the  thickness.  These  give  at 
Clifton  279  feet,  at  Edwalton  426  feet,  at  Ruddington  465  feet,  from 
the  base  to  the  middle  of  the  Marls  ;  at  Gedling  75  feet,  at  Thurgarton 
273  feet,  from  the  base  to  the  commencement  of  the  Marls  ;  at  Tuxford 
426  feet,  at  Southcar  714  feet,  from  the  base  to  the  middle  of  the  Marls  ; 
and  at  Newark  410  feet  of  Marls  and  175  feet  of  Sandstone,  neither 
series  being  complete,  are  found.  In  the  borings  that  have  commenced 
on  the  Lias  we  get  the  full  thickness  at  the  time  the  Jurassic  period 
commenced,  viz.  633  feet  of  Marls  and  115  feet  of  Sandstones  =  748  feet 
atOwthorpe,  and  688  feet  of  Marls  and  205  feet  of  Sandstones  =89 3  feet 
at  South  Scarle.  These  figures  in  a  general  way  show  a  thickening 
to  the  east  while  the  shore  conglomerates  have  been  mostly  found  to  the 
west. 

29 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

THE  JURASSIC    SYSTEM 

The  beds  which  succeed  the  Keuper  Marls  in  the  east  and  south 
borders  of  the  county  could  scarcely  be  more  contrasted  with  them 
either  in  nature  or  contents.  Any  line  to  be  drawn  between  two 
systems  on  local  grounds  must  be  drawn  here.  Opinions  have  been 
always  more  or  less  divided,  according  to  the  locality  in  which  they  are 
studied,1  as  to  the  position  of  these  upper  strata,  whether  they  should  be 
placed  in  the  Jurassic  or  Triassic  systems.  Here  that  question  decides 
itself  in  favour  of  the  Jurassic.  Although,  however,  these  beds  belong 
to  the  same  system  as  the  Lias  above  them  they  are  distinct  from  it  and 
are  named  Rhastic. 

The  RH^TIC  formation  here  commences  with  Black  Shales,  which 
rest  with  a  sharp  line  of  demarcation  on  the  tea-green  Marls  of  the 
Keuper.  These  tea-green  Marls  were  at  one  time  taken  as  the  base  of 
the  Rhastic,  but  they  are  now  believed  to  be  merely  discoloured  by  the 
deoxidation  of  the  red  colouring  matter  through  the  decay  of  pyrites  in 
the  overlying  beds.  The  Black  Shales  are  '  thinly  laminated  and  contain 
a  few  thin  bands  of  sandstone  and  a  bone  bed  at  or  near  the  base.'  They 
have  also  been  called  Contorta-beds  from  the  abundance  in  them  of  the 
shell  Cassianella  contorta.  Above  these  come  a  series  of '  thick  bedded 
light- coloured  marls  with  yellowish  fine  grained  limestone  in  irregular 
nodular  bands  '  (Geol.  Survey)  often  called  White  Lias.  Each  of  these  two 
groups  is  about  15-20  feet  thick.  The  Black  Shales  are  not  strong 
enough  to  make  much  show  on  their  outcrop,  but  the  hard  slabs  of  the 
White  Lias  with  Pleuromya  croisocombeia  on  their  surface  make  a  slight 
scarp  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Elton  and  Barnston. 

The  characters  of  both  groups  are  best  seen  in  artificial  openings. 
At  Beacon  Hill,  Newark,  1 9  feet  of  Black  Shales  are  seen  with  Cassianella 
contorta  and  '  Pullastra  arenico/a,'  but  neither  sandstone  nor  bone  bed  has 
been  seen  in  situ — the  latter  has  probably  decayed.  The  upper  group 
has  only  been  reached  by  excavating  through  the  Lias  to  prove  its 
presence.  At  Elton  is  seen  a  bone  bed  overlain  by  black  paper-shales 
and  at  the  station  the  upper  group.  At  Kelvington  cutting  18  feet  of 
the  upper  group  containing  Estheria  minuta  overlay  the  shales.  At 
Gotham  cutting  both  groups,  the  lower  15  feet  and  the  upper  18  feet 
thick,  were  found,  but  no  bone  bed.  Near  this  spot  is  the  Orston  '  spa,' 
supposed  to  be  mineralized  by  the  decay  of  pyrites  from  the  bone  bed. 
At  Barnston  the  lower  group  is  14—15  feet  thick,  and  contains  a  pyritous 
bone  bed  with  vertebrate  remains,  and  the  upper  group  is  18  feet  thick. 
In  the  Midland  Railway  cutting  at  Stanton-on-the-Wold  13  feet  of  the 
lower  group  were  seen,  including  two  narrow  pyritous  bands  and  Cassian- 
ella contorta^  Schizodus  e/ongafus,  Protocardium  rhceticum  and  Modiola  minima 
in  the  upper  part  and  a  coprolitic  bone  bed  in  the  lower  part,  with  spines, 
scales,  teeth  and  bones  of  the  following  : — 

1  See  Renevier,  Alpes  Vaudoises,  InfraSas,  1864. 
30 


GEOLOGY 

Nemacanthus  filifer  Hybodus  reticulatus  Ceratodus  altus 

Saurichthys  acuminatus  Acrodus  minimus  Gyrolepis   tenuistriata 

Hybodus  minor  Sargodon  tomicus  Ichthyosaurus  platyodon 

Most  of  these  occur  also  at  Barnstone.  In  the  deep  boring  at 
Owthorpe  14  feet  of  black  paper-shales  were  recognized,  and  at  South 
Scarle  1 5  feet  of  strata  have  been  referred  to  the  Rhaetic. 

From  these  observations  can  be  seen  the  vast  difference — lithological 
and  pafceontological — between  the  Keuper  and  the  Rhaetic.  Another 
point  comes  out  from  the  consideration  of  position  and  thickness.  The 
Black  Shales  are  remarkable  for  their  constancy  in  both  respects. 
Throughout  their  range  they  remain  not  far  from  the  200  feet  contour 
line.  They  are  not  dependent  on  local  conditions — in  fact  the  bone 
beds  of  the  period,  though  thin,  are  of  European  extent  ;  the  fossils  are 
named  from  those  of  Germany  and  the  Alps.  The  fish  remains  are  all 
parts  only,  and  the  bone  beds  being  aggregate  deposits,  they  represent  the 
species  killed  on  the  introduction  of  the  new  conditions. 

THE  LIAS. — The  Lower  Lias  is  the  only  part  of  the  formation  to 
enter  the  county,  and  of  this  we  have  only  information  about  the  zones 
near  the  base.  It  follows  the  Rhastic  in  due  course  with  conformable  strati- 
fication and  is  made  of  similar  material,  the  chief  change  being  in  the  fauna. 
The  lowest  beds  belong  to  the  Planorbis  zone  and  consist  of  '  finely  lamin- 
ated shales  interbedded  with  layers  of  fine  grained  argillaceous  limestone.' 
They  are  worked  for  hydraulic  cement  at  Barnston,  Granby,  Elton,  Cot- 
ham,  Coddington,  Collingham  and  Balderton.  At  Barnston  there  are 
ten  bands  of  limestone  in  20  feet  of  strata,  in  one  of  which  a  fine  Ple- 
siosaurus  skeleton  has  been  found.  In  one  of  the  quarries  at  Coddington 
another  saurian  skeleton  was  found  and  buried  in  the  fallen  rubbish.  At 
Elton  there  was  found,  prior  to  1719,  the  hinder  part  of  an  Ichthyosaurus 
skeleton,  the  stone  containing  it  being  turned  fossil-downwards  by  the 
side  of  a  well.  In  that  year,  on  turning  up  the  stone,  it  was  re-dis- 
covered and  sent  by  the  rector  of  the  parish  to  Dr.  Stukeley,  who  figured 
it  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  vol.  xxx.  as  '  a  rarity  the  like  whereof 
has  not  been  found  before  in  this  island.'  It  was  in  fact  the  first  British 
fossil  reptile  skeleton  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  scientific  world.  Near 
Gotham  eight  bands  of  limestone  occur  in  1 3  feet  of  strata  with  Ichthyo- 
saurus tenuirostris.  Saurian  skeletons  or  remains  have  been  found  also  near 
Corthingstock.  These  beds  thus  well  deserve  the  name  assigned  to  them 
in  the  south  of  England — '  The  Saurian  Beds.'  At  Balderton  a  coral, 
Monthrualtia  haimei,  has  been  found.  The  ordinary  mollusca  from  the 
zone,  including  the  characteristic  ammonite  Psiloceras  planorbe  and 
fourteen  others,  are  widely  distributed. 

The  higher  zones  are  probably  present  but  are  generally  covered 
by  superficial  deposits,  especially  in  their  southern  range.  In  the  east 
the  Angulatus  beds  contain  nodules  occasionally  fossiliferous,  and  the 
Semkottattts  beds  are  inserted  on  the  map,  being  recognized  by  containing 
ironstones.  The  fossiliferous  portion  once  exposed  at  Red  Mile  is  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  county. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

THE  SUPERFICIAL   DEPOSITS 

The  study  of  the  superficial  deposits  is  a  very  complicated  matter 
in  which  but  little  progress  has  been  made.  They  include  Boulder  Clay, 
gravels  and  associated  sands  and  boulders,  alluvium,  blown  sand  and 
deposits  in  old  meres  and  in  fissure  caves. 

i.  Boulder  Clay  is  an  unstratified  clay  containing  large  stones,  which 
may  be  rounded,  angular  or  scratched,  and  include  some  which  are 
foreign  to  the  district.  Its  distribution  in  Notts  is  almost  entirely  con- 
fined to  the  southern  and  eastern  borders.  In  the  south  it  caps  an  escarp- 
ment of  Marlstone  except  along  the  earlier  formed  valleys,  where  it 
descends  to  lower  levels,  as  at  Stanton-on-the- Wolds.  Further  north  it 
descends  to  the  limit  of  the  Lower  Lias  escarpment,  and  still  further  north 
to  the  highest  Keuper  escarpment.  Within  these  limits,  except  at  one 
locality,  there  is  nothing  but  gravel.  Two  varieties  of  Boulder  Clay 
have  been  observed  during  the  excavation  of  the  cuttings  and  tunnel  for 
the  Midland  Railway  near  Stanton  and  Plumtree.  The  lower  of  these  is 
50  feet  thick  and  encloses  fragments  from  the  surrounding  solid  rocks, 
with  foreign  pebbles  from  various  members  of  the  Carboniferous  system. 
It  rests  at  a  height  of  about  200  feet  upon  Black  Shales  which  have  been 
contorted  in  a  direction  showing  pressure  from  the  north-west.  On  these 
grounds  it  may  be  considered  to  have  been  brought  by  ice,  forced  to 
travel  in  a  south-east  direction.  Associated  with  the  lower  Boulder  Clay 
was  an  enormous  block  of  Millstone  Grit1  ;  and  a  mass  of  basaltic  rock 
described  by  Mr.  Toplis  in  i8i42  between  Barton  and  Thrumpton  is 
probably  another  large  boulder. 

An  upper  Boulder  Clay  rests,  near  the  entrance  to  the  Stanton  tunnel, 
at  a  level  of  230  feet  upon  a  floor  of  Lias  limestone  which  is  striated  in 
a  direction  E.N.E.  to  W.S.W.  and  contains,  amongst  other  boulders, 
fragments  of  chalk  and  flint.  The  ice  that  brought  it  is  judged  therefore 
to  have  come  from  the  E.N.E.  The  same  kind  of  Boulder  Clay  forms 
the  summit  of  the  cutting  at  Plumtree  at  a  somewhat  lower  level.  It  is 
this  also  that  lies  on  the  rocks  of  lower  geological  horizons  in  the  north- 
east. The  exceptional  instance  of  a  Boulder  Clay  not  on  the  borders  of 
the  Trent  basin  is  at  Kneesall  Hill,3  reaching  a  height  of  300  feet. 
This  clay  contains  fragments  of  Trias  Sandstone,  Liassic  and  Oolitic 
Limestones  and  Chalk,  mixed  with  rounded  or  striated  fragments  of 
Carboniferous  rocks  with  slate  and  quartzite  probably  derived  from  an 
earlier  Boulder  Clay.  The  rest  of  the  country  has  not  been  examined 
with  sufficient  care  to  enable  it  to  be  said  that  no  other  exception  can 
be  found. 

In  other  cases  towards  the  south-west  old  stratified  clay  has  been 
churned  up,  and  pebbles,  usually  of  quartzite,  forced  into  it  on  the  spot. 
Such  cases  for  instance  are  known  in  relation  to  the  Permian  Marls  west 
of  Bulwell  at  a  height  of  about  170  feet  above  O.D.;  and  at  Wilsthorpe, 

1  Deeley,  Stuart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  xlii.  *  Annals  of  Pbiksophy,  vol.  iii. 

3  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83. 

32 


GEOLOGY 

just  over  the  Derbyshire  border,  Keuper  Marls  have  been  thus  treated 
from  a  level  of  54  feet  to  128  feet.  In  these  cases  only  the  pebbles 
seem  to  have  been  brought  from  a  distance,  and  it  is  rather  uncertain 
at  what  stage  of  the  history  they  arrived. 

2.  The  gravels  are  of  two  kinds,  those  connected  with  the  river 
Trent  itself  and  those  not  so  connected.  The  latter  are  the  most  wide- 
spread of  all  the  superficial  deposits  and  present  the  greatest  difficulties, 
whether  considered  to  have  been  formed  on  the  land  or  beneath  the  sea, 
especially  as  they  have  not  yet  been  sufficiently  studied.  Two  sources  of 
these  gravels  may  be  recognized,  corresponding  more  or  less  closely  to 
those  of  the  two  Boulder  Clays,  viz.  one  from  the  west  or  north-west  and 
one  from  the  east  or  E.N.E. 

The  gravel  from  the  west  is  a  high  level  gravel.  The  lowest  and 
most  southerly  spot  at  which  indications  of  it  have  been  met  with  is  on 
the  hills  to  the  west  of  Arnold,  where  comparatively  large  boulders  of 
Carboniferous  limestone  and  volcanic  rocks  lie  on  the  surface  of  the 
Bunter  Pebble  Beds  at  a  height  of  300  feet.  At  a  spot  a  mile  north  of 
Watnall  loose  and  large  pebbles  lie  in  a  patch  on  the  Magnesian  Lime- 
stone at  a  height  of  440  feet.  A  mile  further  north  commences  the  high 
ridge  of  the  Long  Hills,  composed  at  the  base  of  Lower  Red  Sandstone, 
and  covered  to  the  top  with  gravel,  including  large  rounded  boulders  of 
syenite,  like  that  of  Buttermere,  and  smaller  ones  of  a  felspar-porphyry 
and  of  a  compact  lava  resembling  the  Iron  Crag  lava  of  Keswick.  This 
ridge  rises  to  a  height  of  over  500  feet.  Where  the  Pebble  Beds  come  on 
in  Annesley  Park  they  are  capped  by  a  long  ridge  of  gravel  rising  to 
580  feet  along  the  nearly  level  top.  About  the  middle  of  this  ridge  is  a 
sand  pit,  showing  on  the  east  side  a  quantity  of  white  sand,1  irregularly 
bedded,  with  a  streak  of  broken  coal  fragments,  overlying  obliquely  a 
pebbly  mass  in  which  the  bulk  of  the  subangular  fragments,  some  of 
fairly  large  size,  consist  of  the  Permian  limestone  with  casts  of  Schizodus, 
and  of  pieces  of  Carboniferous  sandstone.  A  portion  of  this  limestone 
gravel,  which  differs  in  no  other  way  from  the  rest,  is  consolidated  into 
an  irregular  pipe  of  rock,  probably  by  the  action  of  percolating  water 
dissolving  and  redepositing  the  calcareous  matter  from  the  finer  particles. 
At  the  north  end  of  the  plantation  is  a  long  gravel  pit  where  the  boulders 
are  of  various  sizes  and  materials,  with  a  similar  consolidation  in  parts, 
and  surrounding  in  one  spot  a  large  mass  of  Pebble  Bed  rock.  Further 
on  in  the  same  direction  the  gravel-covered  hills  rise  to  the  highest  point 
in  the  county,  in  the  Robin  Hood's  Hills,  at  625  feet.  From  this  point 
eastward  to  Blidworth  there  are  other  gravel  pits,  in  one  of  which  the 
gravel  is  again  consolidated  as  in  a  vertical  pipe,  and  just  before  reaching 
Blidworth  are  seen  the  well  known  '  Druidical  Remains,'  which  consist 
of  similar  consolidated  masses,  shaped  by  the  hand  of  man  and  containing 
as  before  many  fragments  of  Permian  limestone.  Beyond  this  point  the 
gravels  have  not  yet  been  traced.  Further  north  at  Mansfield  Woodhouse, 

1  Cf.  Deeley,  loc.  cit. 
1  33  5 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

resting  at  a  base  level  of  320  feet  on  the  Lower  Red  Sandstone  or  Permian, 
occurs  a  repetition  of  the  gravels  of  the  Long  Hills  with  many  rounded 
masses  of  decayed  volcanic  ash,  suggesting  as  before  a  Lake  District 
origin.  The  gravels,  however,  do  not  extend  much  further,  as  near 
Worksop  there  is  no  trace  of  them.1 

Near  where  this  gravel  lies  are  some  enormous  boulders.  Thus, 
two  flat  blocks  of  Millstone  Grit,  one  deeply  scored  with  glacial  striae,  lie 
in  the  valley  west  of  the  Long  Hills,  and  a  boulder  of  24  cubic  feet  of 
a  tough  volcanic  ash  lies  by  the  stream  side  to  the  north  of  the  same 
hills  at  a  height  of  390  feet;  a  large  basaltic  rock  of  27  cubic  feet  lies  on 
the  road  from  Kirkby  Forest  to  Sherwood  Place  at  a  height  of  555  feet, 
and  a  similar  rock,  but  smaller  in  size,  rests  by  the  pump  in  the  centre  of 
Blidworth  village  at  436  feet. 

The  varying  heights  and  the  changes  of  the  underlying  rock  where 
this  gravel  is  found  show  us  the  form  and  character  of  the  surface  of  the 
country  on  which  they  were  deposited,  since  the  contour  has  not  there 
been  sensibly  modified  by  denudation  ;  how  far  it  has  changed  where  they 
do  not  lie  cannot  so  easily  be  stated,  but  probably  not  much,  and  as  the  Ere- 
wash  valley  contains  few  or  no  drift  deposits  it  may  be  suggested  that  it 
was  occupied  by  a  field  of  ice  which  in  its  motion  pushed  up  the  boulders 
and  carried  forward  the  gravel  as  in  a  great  terminal  moraine.  Possibly 
the  occupation  of  the  great  Trent  basin  by  gravel  instead  of  by  Boulder 
Clay  may  be  explained  in  a  similar  but  not  identical  manner. 

Similar  gravel  is  found  at  the  Grove  Castle  near  Retford  containing 
'  a  large  pebble  of  coarsely  crystalline  granite  with  pinkish  grey  matrix 
and  dark  prismatic  crystals,' and  a  large  block  of  Millstone  Grit  at  300  feet. 
The  broken  ridge  of  140-250  feet  above  O.D.  that  runs  from  Newington 
near  Bawtry  by  Everton  to  Gringley  is  capped  by  gravel  containing 
abundant  fragments  of  Permian  limestone,'  and  at  Gringley  a  large 
boulder,  30  cubic  feet  in  size,  of  Carboniferous  crinoidal  limestone  lies 
at  a  point  275  feet  above  O.D.3 

Gravels  containing  materials  derived  from  the  east  have  been  very 
little  investigated.  At  Osberton  near  Worksop  at  about  60  feet  above 
O.D.  two  unnamed  shells,  identified  by  Professor  E.  Forbes  with  species 
living  in  the  German  Ocean,  are  said  to  have  been  found2;  in  gravel 
that  lies  near  the  side  of  Rainworth  Water,  north-west  of  Blidworth,  a 
specimen  of  Gryphcea  arcuata  from  the  Lias  and  pieces  of  apparently 
Triassic  sandstone  have  been  noted  ;  at  Kersall  the  gravel  underlying  the 
Boulder  Clay  contains  fragments  of  Chalk  and  Lias3  ;  and  there  are 
other  noteworthy  patches  at  Wilford  Hill,  Orton  and  Newark  which 
do  not  appear  to  be  connected  with  the  Trent  drainage. 

Gravels  deposited  by  the  Trent  are  widely  distributed  along  or  near 
its  course,  as  at  Beeston  30  feet  above  its  present  level,  near  Col  wick 
siding,  at  Gamston  and  east  of  Newark  and  many  other  places.  The 

1  Fox-Strangways,  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sue.  vol.  liv. 
'  Thorpe,  Geol.  and  Pal.  Sue.  Yorkshire  Proc.  vol.  »v. 
8  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83. 

34 


GEOLOGY 

pebbles  in  such  gravels  are  to  a  large  extent  composed  of  the  materials 
of  all  the  older  gravels  and  are  therefore  very  mixed.  The  remarkable 
point  about  them  is  the  evidence  they  afford  of  the  recrudescence  of 
glacial  conditions,1  at  all  events  near  Nottingham.  The  Beeston  gravels 
are  wonderfully  contorted,2  and  so  are  those  at  Spring  Close,  Lenton 3 
and  Gamston.  The  pressing  of  pebbles  into  the  Triassic  Marls  at  the 
Nottingham  sewage-farm  excavations  and  the  contortions  of  the  same 
Marls  at  Ratcliffe-on-Trent  are  apparently  related  phenomena.  There  is 
no  alternative  to  the  conclusion  that  these  contortions  were  produced  by 
stranded  ice,  and  it  was  not  the  same  ice  that  brought  the  pebbles,  since 
some  of  them  came  from  the  east. 

This  conclusion  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  in  reference  to  the  other  point 
of  interest  in  relation  to  the  Trent  gravels.  Their  wide  distribution  to 
the  east  of  Newark  and  beyond  the  limits  of  Notts  to  the  other  side  of 
the  Lincoln  gorge,  suggested  to  Mr.  Penning  that  the  Trent  had  changed 
its  course  since  they  began  to  be  deposited,*  having  originally  reached 
the  sea  along  the  lower  course  of  the  Witham.  A  study  of  the  higher 
course  of  the  Trent  gives  little  support  to  this  hypothesis,  for  it  preserves 
throughout  the  same  relation  to  the  Trias  and  Rhaetic,  and  there  is  no 
sign  of  change  in  this  respect  near  or  north  of  Newark.  On  the  other 
hand  the  gravel  is  carried  at  least  as  far  as  Fledborough,  near  which  is  a 
buried  channel,  larger  and  deeper  than  the  present  Trent.5  Meanwhile 
the  occurrence  of  glacial  conditions  at  a  later  date  affords  the  means  by 
which  gravels  originally  deposited  on  one  side  of  the  Lincoln  gorge 
might  be  carried  to  the  other  side  across  a  low  watershed  in  a  manner 
which  cannot  be  dealt  with  here. 

3.  The  alluvium  of  the  Trent  calls  for   little   remark.     It   is  fairly 
abundant  all  along  the  course  of  the  river,  and  especially  so  on  the  west 
side    of   Newark    opposite    the    gravels   on   the   east.       The   Trent  has 
obviously  varied  its  course  considerably  within  the  limits  of  its  alluvium 
in  comparatively  recent  times,  since  here  and  there  the  remains  of  various 
animals  have  been  buried  beneath  it.     Thus  teeth  of  the  mammoth  have 
been  reported  from  Island  Street,  Nottingham "  and  near  Wilford ;  antlers 
of  the  red  deer  near  North  Clifton  7 ;  and  antlers  of  the  red  deer,  bones 
of  the  ox  and  horse  and  a  human  skull  (described  by  Professor  Huxley  8 
as  belonging  to  a  dwarf  race  commonly  found   in  Irish  tumuli)   are   re- 
ported by  Mr.  Drake  from  Muskham.7     These  are  usually  found  at  a 
depth  of  25  to  30  feet. 

4.  Blown  Sand  is  found  on  the  east   side   of  the  Trent  from  North 
Collingham  to  North  Clifton.     This   being  N.N.E.  of  the   great  spread 
of  alluvium   above   mentioned   may  indicate  prevalent  S.S.W.  winds   in 
this  district.     Another  area  of  blown  sand  is  at  Misterton  in  the  extreme 
north  of  the  county. 

»  Cf.  Deeley,  loc.  cit. 

J  Shipman,  Midi.  Nat.  vol.  v.  '  Shipman,  Geol.  of  Lenton. 

*  A.  J.  Jukes-Browne,  £>uart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  xxxix.  and  Geol.  Survey  Mem.  sheet  83. 

5  Fox-Strangways,  Stuart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  liv. 

6  White's  Directory,  1864.  7  Geologist,  vol.  iv.  8  Ibid.  vol.  v. 

35 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

5.  Deposits  in  old  meres  occur  to  the  north  and  west  of  Bingham  at  a 
height  of  50  feet  above  Trent  level.     They  are  mapped  as  alluvium,  but 
consist  of  black  earth,   3—4  ft.  thick,   and  contain  twenty-four  species 
of  land  and  freshwater  mollusca.1     Similar  meres  filled  up  with   black 
soil  are  known  at  Gotham  Moor  and  at  Scarthingmoor  by  Tuxford,  with 
seventeen  recorded  species.1     Black  soil  is  also   recorded  overlying  a  cal- 
careous tufa  at  Lambley  or  containing  tree  stumps  in  the  Leen  valley.3 

6.  Deposits  in  fissure  caves. — Caves  or  fissures  are  known  to  occur  in 
the  Magnesian  Limestone  at  two  localities,  both   of  which  are  by  the 
sides  of  rivers  forming  the   boundary  of  the  county  on   the   west  side. 
Creswell  Crags  are  on  the  Poulter,  a  tributary  of  the  Idle,  and  Pleasley  is 
on  the  Meden,  but  of  the   numerous   caves   at   Creswell   only  one   is   in 
Notts,  and  the  single  fossiliferous  cave  at  Pleasley  is   over  the  border  in 
Derbyshire.     The  single  Notts  cave  is  called  the  Church  Hole.3     It  is  a 
fissure  opened  in  the  clifF  and  runs  in  a  north  and  south  direction,  com- 
mencing 1 4  feet  above  the  river  and  extending  upwards  for  40  feet.     The 
deposits  within  it  are  :  a  bed  of  red  sand  overlain  by  several  varieties  of 
cave-earth,  the  whole  being   covered  with  stalagmitic  breccia.     Of  the 
animal  remains  here  buried,  the  jaw  of  a  polecat  is  peculiar  to  the  red 
sand,  and  a  limb  bone  of  the  cave-lion  to  the   cave  earth.     The  rest  are 
common  to  both  ;  they  include  the — 


Spotted  hyaena 

Fox 

Wolf 

Bear 


Reindeer 
Irish  elk 
Bison 
Horse 


Woolly  rhinoceros 

Mammoth 

Hare 


Of  human  implements,  rude  ones  made  of  quartz,  etc.,  occur  alone 
in  the  red  sand,  but  they  are  accompanied  in  the  cave  earth  by  imple- 
ments of  flint,  also  needle,  awl,  and  a  notched  instrument,  and  a  rounded 
spearhead  all  made  of  bone,  and  a  straight  rod  cut  from  a  reindeer's 
antler. 

To  complete  the  picture  of  the  associates  of  the  first  inhabitants  of 
Nottinghamshire  the  list  of  additional  mammals  found  in  the  caves  just 
over  the  border  may  be  given  : — 


Sabre-toothed  lion 

Lion 

Wild  cat 


Leopard 
Wild  boar 
Hippopotamus 


Field  mouse 


To  this  list  must  be  added  the  lynx  found  in  1866  at  Pleasley  Yew 
Tree  Cave  by  Dr.  Ransom.4  The  men  whose  works  are  associated  with 
these  are  considered  to  be  of  Palaeolithic  age,  though  one  of  them  was 
an  artist  and  carved  on  the  surface  of  a  bone  the  picture  of  a  domesti- 
cated horse. 

1  C.  T.  Musson,  Jeurn.  Conchology,  vol.  iv. 

*  Shipman,  Midi.  Nat.  vol.  vi. 

3  J.  M.  Mello  and  W.  B.  Dawkins,  £>uart.  Jeurn.  Geol.  Sac.  vol.  xxxiii. 

*  Rep.  Brit.Atsoc.  1866. 


PALEONTOLOGY 


IN  the  domain  of  vertebrate  palaeontology  Nottingham  is  a  county 
which  has  but  small  claim  to  distinction,  very  few  fossil  forms  from 
within  its  limits  having  apparently  been  recorded  in  scientific  publi- 
cations.    Of  these  '  finds  '  the  majority  are  mentioned  in  a  pamphlet 
by   Professor  J.   W.   Carr,  published  at  Nottingham  in    1893  for  the 
meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  that  city,  under  the  title  of  A  Con- 
tribution to  the  Geology  and  Natural  History  of  Nottinghamshire,     To  that 
gentleman  the  present  writer  is  also  indebted  for  information  with  regard 
to  other  fossils  from  the  county  in  the  museum  at  Nottingham. 

Commencing  with  the  remains  of  Pleistocene  mammals,  it  has  first 
of  all  to  be  mentioned  that  one  of  the  well  known  Creswell  caves  lies  on 
the  Nottinghamshire  side  of  the  river,  although  the  others  are  in  Derby- 
shire. The  cave  in  question  is  known  as  the  Church  Hole,  and  an 
account  of  its  excavation  and  the  remains  discovered  is  given  by  the 
Rev.  J.  M.  Mello.1  The  species  of  mammals  discovered  in  this  cave 
include  the  cave  hyaena  (Hycena  crocuta  spelcea),  badger  (Me/es  meles), 
wolf  (Canis  lupus),  brown  bear  (Ursus  arctus],  common  hare  (Lepus  euro- 
pceus),  reindeer  (Rangifer  tarandus),  extinct  Irish  deer  or  '  Irish  elk  ' 
(Cervus  giganteus),  the  Pleistocene  bison  (Eos  priscus),  wild  horse  (Equus 
caballusfossilis),  woolly  rhinoceros  (Rhinoceros  antiquitatis]  and  the  hairy 
elephant,  or  mammoth  (Elephas  primigenius).  Among  these  the  remains 
of  the  horse  were  especially  abundant.  As  in  the  case  of  other  caves, 
the  bones  of  the  larger  mammals  are  presumed  to  have  been  dragged 
into  Church  Hole  by  the  hyaenas,  which  made  it  their  den.  If  this  be 
correct,  it  indicates  two  features  by  which  the  extinct  cave  hyaenas 
differed  from  their  South  African  representatives.  For  according  to  the 
reports  of  travellers  and  sportsmen  the  African  spotted  hyaena  does  not 
dwell  in  caves,  while  its  food  consists  mainly  of  antelopes  and  not  of  the 
bones  of  such  large  animals  as  elephants  and  rhinoceroses. 

Another  locality  for  Pleistocene  mammals,  lying  on  the  borderland 
of  Derbyshire  and  Nottinghamshire,  is  the  Pleasley  Vale  near  Mansfield. 
The  bone  cavern  known  as  the  Yew  Tree  Cave  is,  however,  just  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river  Meden,  and  therefore  in  Derbyshire.  From 
that  cave,  it  may  be  mentioned,  has  been  obtained  the  imperfect  skull 
of  a  lynx  (Fe/is  lynx),  now  preserved  in  the  museum  at  Nottingham. 
Other  mammals  recorded  as  fossils  from  Pleasley  Vale — whether  belong- 

1  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  xxxiii.  585  (1877). 
37 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

ing  to  Nottinghamshire  or  Derbyshire  I  cannot  say — are  the  wolf,  rein- 
deer, horse  and  woolly  rhinoceros. 

Although  river  gravels  and  alluvium  occur  at  various  places  in  the 
Trent  valley,  they  appear  to  have  yielded  few  mammalian  remains. 
The  Nottingham  Museum  possesses  however  several  fine  molar  teeth 
of  the  mammoth  which  have  been  obtained  from  the  old  alluvium 
of  the  Trent  valley,  either  in  the  course  of  street  excavations  in  Not- 
tingham itself,  or  by  dredging  in  the  bed  of  the  river  near  the  town. 

Since  the  foregoing  was  in  type,  I  have  received  from  the  Rev. 
T.  B.  Chamberlin  a  note  on  some  mammalian  remains,  associated  with  a 
number  of  species  of  land  and  freshwater  shells  obtained  from  the  layer 
above  the  peat  in  the  valley  between  North  and  South  Wheatley,  near 
Retford.  Acccording  to  Mr.  Chamberlin's  determinations,  the  mam- 
malian remains  include  the  base  of  an  antler  of  the  roebuck  (Capreo/us 
capreolus),  a  horn-core  of  the  extinct  bison  (Bison  priscus),  a  portion  of 
the  antler  of  the  extinct  Irish  deer  (Cervus  giganteus),  and  several  antlers 
of  red  deer.  The  Irish  deer  antler  has  a  basal  girth  of  20  inches  ;  the 
brow-tine  is  15!  inches  in  length  and  5  inches  in  girth  ;  and  the  portion 
of  the  beam  still  remaining,  which  is  broken  off  just  below  the  palma- 
tion,  is  13  inches  in  length  from  above  the  origin  of  the  brow-tine. 

Passing  on  to  older  formations,  a  considerable  amount  of  interest 
attaches  to  certain  remains  of  plesiosaurians,  or  long-necked  extinct 
marine  reptiles  from  the  Lower  Lias  of  the  county  preserved  in  the 
British  Museum.  One  of  these  is  chiefly  interesting  on  account  of 
having  been  discovered  so  long  ago  as  the  year  1719.  It  consists  of  a 
slab  of  Lias  limestone  from  Elston  near  Newark  containing  the  im- 
pression of  the  hinder  part  of  the  skeleton  of  a  small  plesiosaur,  which 
has  been  provisionally  referred  to  the  common  P/esiosaurus  dolichodlrus* 
In  the  Philosophical  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  for  1719*  it  was 
regarded  by  its  describer,  William  Stukeley,  as  probably  representing 
the  remains  of  a  crocodile  or  a  cetacean,  the  existence  of  such  a  re- 
markable group  of  reptiles  as  the  plesiosaurians  being  at  that  time  quite 
unsuspected.  The  specimen  was  originally  in  the  possession  of  the 
Royal  Society,  by  the  council  of  which  body  it  was  presented  to  the 
British  Museum. 

The  second  specimen,  which  is  from  the  Lower  Lias  near  Granby, 
is  of  importance  on  account  of  the  comparative  rarity  of  the  species 
(Eretmosaurus  rugosus)  to  which  it  belongs.  It  was  presented  to  the 
British  Museum  by  the  Duke  of  Rutland  in  1841,  and  consists  of  a 
slab  showing  the  lower  aspect  of  the  nearly  entire  skeleton,  from  which 
however  the  skull  is  wanting.3  It  was  described  and  figured  by  Sir  R. 
Owen  (as  P/esiosaurus  rugosus)  in  his  '  Liassic  Reptilia.'4  The  genus 
Eretmosaurus,  it  may  be  observed,  is  chiefly  distinguished  from  the 
typical  P/esiosaurus  by  certain  well  marked  differences  in  the  form  and 
relations  of  the  scapula  and  coracoid  bones. 

i  Cat.  Fast.  Rtpt.  Brit.  Mut.  ii.  259.  *  pp.  936-8,  pi.  i. 

s  See  Cat.  Pass.  Reft.  Brit.  Mut.  ii.  250.  *  Man.  Pal.  Soc.  pt.  iii.  p.  34  (1865). 

38 


PALEONTOLOGY 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  specimens  mention  must  also  be  made 
of  a  fine  plesiosaurian  skull  from  the  Lower  Lias  of  Cropwell  Bishop 
recently  acquired  by  the  Nottingham  University  College  Museum. 
The  generic  and  specific  determination  of  this  specimen  does  not  hitherto 
appear  to  have  been  attempted.  It  is  stated  in  Mr.  W.  J.  Harrison's 
Geology  of  the  Counties  of  ILngland1  that  remains  of  plesiosaurs  together 
with  those  of  ichthyosaurs — another  group  of  marine  reptiles  confined 
to  the  Secondary  period — occur  plentifully  in  the  Lower  Lias  near 
Cortlingstock. 

From  the  Rhaetic  deposits  of  the  county  have  been  obtained, 
according  to  Prof.  Carr,  presumed  reptilian  coprolites,  which  may  belong 
to  one  or  both  of  the  aforesaid  groups. 

Footprints  of  amphibians  are  rare  in  the  Keuper  formation  of  the 
county,  but  one  example  from  the  foot  of  the  railway  cutting  at  Colwick 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Nottingham  High  School.  There  is 
also  a  statement1  to  the  effect  that  amphibian  footprints,  of  the  type 
known  as  Chirosaurus  or  Cbirotberium^  have  been  observed  in  the  Keuper 
sandstone  of  Weston  ClifF,  on  the  Nottinghamshire  side  of  the  Trent. 
And  Mr.  Harrison 3  likewise  states  that  similar  footprints  have  been 
met  with  in  the  Keuper  south  of  Ollerton.  Such  footprints,  it  may  be 
well  to  mention,  were  probably  made  by  gigantic  primeval  salamanders 
or  labyrinthodonts,  allied  to  or  identical  with  Mastodonsaurus.  Foot- 
prints of  the  same  nature  likewise  occur  in  the  Permian  Magnesian 
Limestone  at  Mansfield,  and  there  is  a  fine  slab  displaying  a  number  of 
such  impressions  in  the  Nottingham  University  College  Museum. 

Fish  remains  appear  to  be  very  scarce  in  the  Secondary  formations 
of  the  county,  but  from  the  Rhstic  Prof.  Carr  records,  bones,  teeth  and 
fin  spines  assigned  to  the  genera  Hybodus,  Nemacantbus,  Acrodus,  Gyro/epis, 
Saurichthys  and  Ceratodus. 

Of  much  greater  interest  however  are  numerous  remains  of  the 
ganoid  or  enamel-scaled  fish  known  as  Semionotus  brodiei^  which  occurs 
typically  in  the  Keuper  of  Warwickshire.  The  Nottinghamshire  speci- 
mens were  discovered  in  1879  by  Mr.  E.  Wilson*  in  the  roof  of  a 
tunnel  which  was  at  that  time  being  driven  through  the  so-called  '  water- 
stones '  of  the  Upper  Keuper  at  Colwick  Wood  near  Nottingham  for 
the  Lean  valley  outfall  sewer.  In  recording  this  '  find  '  Mr.  Wilson 
makes  the  following  observations  : — 

In  addition  to  the  exceptional  interest  that  is  always  to  be  derived  from  the  pre- 
sence of  organic  remains  in  Triassic  rocks,  as  a  rule  so  barren  of  life,  there  were  two 
points  specially  noticeable  in  connection  with  the  occurrence  of  these  fossils  in  the 
Keuper  at  Nottingham  ;  namely,  first,  the  great  number  of  the  fishes,  there  being 
quite  a  shoal  of  them  for  a  distance  of  30  feet  or  thereabouts  in  the  line  of  section, 
the  individual  fishes  even  lying  over  one  another  in  the  middle  portion  of  that  distance, 
but  gradually  becoming  more  widely  separated  in  either  direction  until  they  finally 
came  to  an  end  ;  and,  secondly,  their  occurrence  at  the  junction  of  two  formations  of 
the  Trias,  namely,  of  the  waterstones  of  the  Upper  Keuper  and  the  basement  beds 
(Lower  Keuper). 

1  p.  211.  2  See  Hall,  Mem.  Geol.  Survey  United  Kingdom  (1860).  3  Op.  cit. 

*  See  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  xliii.  542  (1887). 

39 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

No  record  of  fish  remains  appears  to  exist  from  the  Permian  of  the 
county,  but  about  twenty  years  ago  there  were  discovered  in  the  roof  of 
a  coal-seam  in  Clifton  Colliery  teeth,  spines  and  vertebras  of  large  fishes. 
The  spines  were  reported  to  resemble  those  of  the  Palaeozoic  genera 
Ctenacanthus  and  Gyracantbus,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  proper 
description  of  the  specimens  has  ever  been  published. 


40 


BOTANY 


I 


earliest  records  of  Nottinghamshire  plants  are  contained  in 
the  Phytologia  Britannica  of  William  How,  published  in  1650. 
In  this  work  Nottinghamshire  localities  are  given  on  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Stonehouse  for  Dianthus  deltoids  s,  Gnaphalium 
dioicum,  and  a  grass  which  was  probably  Melica  nutans.  Sixteen  years 
later  Christopher  Merrett  in  his  Pinax  mentions,  in  addition  to  the  above, 
Sparganium  minimum  and  a  white-flowered  form  of  Galeopsis  versicolor. 
These  were  probably  found  by  Thomas  Willisell,  who  travelled  all  over 
Great  Britain  in  search  of  plants,  and  visited  Nottingham  about  this 
time.  He  was  the  first  botanist  to  observe  Silene  nutans  on  the  walls  of 
Nottingham  Castle.  The  celebrated  John  Ray  was  at  Wollaton  Hall  in 
1670,  and  records  in  his  correspondence  and  botanical  works  a  number 
of  Nottinghamshire  plants,  among  which  are  Silene  nutans,  previously 
discovered  by  Willisell,  Cerastium  arvense,  Teesdalia  nudicaulis,  Verbascum 
puherulentum,  and  Apera  Spica-venti.  One  or  two  other  unimportant 
records  are  given  in  the  Dillenian  edition  of  Ray's  Synopsis,  published 
in  1724,  but  no  further  additions  of  any  consequence  were  published 
until  Deering's  Catalogus  Stirpium,  etc.,  or  Catalogue  of  Plants  naturally 
growing  .  .  .  about  Nottingham,  appeared  in  1738. 

Charles  Deering,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Saxony,  probably  in  1695,  and 
after  graduating  in  physic  at  Leyden  came  to  England  and  practised 
for  some  years  at  Bedford,  London,  and  Rochester.  He  settled  in 
Nottingham  in  1736,  and  remained  there  until  his  death  on  12  April, 
1749.  He  was  buried  in  St.  Peter's  churchyard.  His  Catalogue  contains 
about  840  separate  entries  of  Phanerogamic  and  Cryptogamic  plants,  a 
few  of  which  are  errors  of  identification,  a  few  are  cultivated  plants  only, 
and  some  others  are  unimportant  varieties  of  other  species.  Considering, 
however,  the  paucity  of  works  of  reference,  and  the  lack  of  facilities  for 
travelling  at  this  remote  period,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  the  book  was 
apparently  the  result  of  only  two  years'  research,  it  displays  truly  remark- 
able industry  and  ability  on  the  part  of  the  author. 

Most  of  the  references  to  Nottinghamshire  plants  in  the  various 
botanical  works  published  in  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  are 
copied  from  Deering,  but  some  additional  Nottinghamshire  records  are 
given  in  a  paper  by  R.  Pulteney  on  the  rarer  plants  growing  about 
Loughborough,  published  in  vol.  xlix  of  the  Philosophical  Transactions, 
and  in  Nichols'  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  County  of  Leicester  (1795). 
i  41  6 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

The  Botanist's  Guide  of  Turner  and  Dillwyn  (1805)  gives  a  list  of  the 
rarer  plants  of  Nottinghamshire,  mostly  copied  from  Deering,  but  with  a 
few  new  species  added. 

In  1807  Thomas  Ordoyno  of  Newark  published  his  Flora  Notting- 
hamiensis,  which  comprised  the  flowering  plants  and  vascular  cryptogams, 
and  included  many  species  unknown  to  Deering.  Although  by  no 
means  free  from  error,  the  publication  of  this  work  seems  to  have  given 
an  impetus  to  the  study  of  the  county  flora,  for  the  first  half  of  the 
nineteenth  century  was  a  fruitful  period  in  the  history  of  Nottingham- 
shire botany.  Among  the  numerous  workers  of  this  time,  two  men, 
Thomas  Jowett  and  Godfrey  Howitt,  M.D.,  stand  out  conspicuously. 

Born  in  1801  at  Colwick  (where  his  father  was  steward  to  the 
Musters  family),  Thomas  Jowett  received  a  medical  education  and 
practised  in  Nottingham  for  about  ten  years.  In  1831  his  health  broke 
down,  and  he  retired  to  the  village  of  Morton  in  the  Trent  Vale,  where 
he  died  in  the  following  year  at  the  early  age  of  31.  From  boyhood 
Jowett  seems  to  have  been  keenly  interested  in  the  plants  of  his  native 
county,  and  in  1826,  when  only  25  years  old,  he  published  in  the 
Nottingham  Journal,  under  the  pseudonym  of  '  II  Rosajo,'  a  series  of 
'  Botanical  Calendars,'  or  '  Notices  of  Native  Plants  of  the  County  of  Not- 
tingham, arranged  according  to  the  order  of  their  appearance.'  These 
calendars,  twenty-eight  in  number,  appeared  at  frequent  intervals  from 
March  to  December,  and  are  as  remarkable  for  their  admirable  literary 
style  as  for  the  evidence  they  afford  of  their  author's  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  county  flora  and  with  the  botanical  and  poetical  literature  of  his 
time.  Localities  are  given  for  1,023  species  of  flowering  plants  and 
cryptogams,  including  more  than  100  species  not  mentioned  in  the 
works  of  Deering  and  Ordoyno.  Four  volumes  of  dried  specimens  of 
Nottinghamshire  plants  collected  and  mounted  by  Jowett  are  preserved 
in  the  Bromley  House  Library  at  Nottingham.  These  are  particularly 
valuable  as  settling  the  identity  of  several  species  which  are  not  now  to 
be  found  in  the  county. 

Dr.  Howitt,  the  friend  and  co-worker  of  Jowett,  was  born  in  1800, 
and  after  graduating  in  medicine  at  Edinburgh,  practised  as  a  physician 
in  Nottingham.  In  1839  he  emigrated  to  Australia,  and  died  there  in 
1873.  His  Nottinghamshire  Flora,  the  latest  work  devoted  to  the  plants 
of  the  county,  appeared  in  1839,  and  is  a  tiny  volume  of  124  pages, 
recording  1,137  species  of  plants,  of  which  866  are  phanerogams,  ferns, 
etc.,  and  the  rest  are  mosses,  hepatics,  lichens,  and  algae.  There  is  not  a 
word  of  preface  or  introduction,  no  attempt  is  made  to  distinguish 
between  indigenous  plants  and  those  of  doubtful  nativity,  and  the  informa- 
tion about  each  species  is  confined  within  the  narrowest  possible  limits. 
It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  the  work  was  published  during 
the  year  in  which  Dr.  Howitt  left  England,  and  was  probably  prepared 
very  hurriedly,  with  the  object  of  placing  his  extensive  knowledge  of  the 
county  flora  at  the  disposal  of  other  local  botanists.  As  a  record  of  the 
composition  of  our  flora  at  a  period  when  it  was  still  comparatively 

42 


BOTANY 

unmodified  by  modern  industrial  developments,  Howitt's  Flora  is,  in 
common  with  Jowett's  Calendars,  of  the  greatest  value  to  modern 
workers. 

Six  years  before  the  publication  of  his  Flora,  Dr.  Howitt  (in  con- 
junction with  Wm.  Valentine,  F.L.S.,  a  talented  Nottingham  bryologist) 
issued  three  parts  of  a  Muscologia  Nottingbamiensis,  consisting  of  dried 
specimens  of  local  mosses  with  descriptive  letterpress.  Presumably  from 
lack  of  support  no  further  numbers  of  this  work  were  published. 

The  New  Botanist's  Guide  by  H.  C.  Watson  (1835-7)  contains  a 
long  list  of  Nottinghamshire  plants,  which  was  drawn  up  mainly  from 
a  marked  catalogue,  accompanied  by  numerous  specimens,  supplied  to 
Mr.  Watson  by  Mr.  T.  H.  Cooper.  The  specimens  were  given  to 
Mr.  Cooper  by  Dr.  Howitt  for  conveyance  to  the  author  of  the  N.  B.  G.,to 
be  used  in  drawing  up  the  county  list.  They  must  therefore  be  accepted 
as  evidence  of  the  occurrence  in  Nottinghamshire  of  the  species  they 
represent,  but  as  Mr.  Cooper  '  was  almost  a  stranger  in  the  county,  and 
had  enjoyed  few  opportunities  of  botanizing  there,'  and  as,  moreover, 
the  catalogue  contains  many  obvious  inaccuracies,  the  records  which 
are  unsupported  by  actual  specimens  must  be  ignored.  In  the  N.  B.  G. 
Supplement  a  new  list  of  Nottinghamshire  plants,  drawn  up  from  the 
advance  sheets  of  Dr.  Howitt's  Flora,  is  given  to  replace  that  supplied  by 
Mr.  Cooper. 

The  published  botanical  literature  of  Nottinghamshire  since  the 
time  of  Howitt  is  very  scanty.  Lists  of  the  plants  of  the  county,  or  of 
parts  of  it,  such  as  Sherwood  Forest,  have  appeared  from  time  to  time  in 
sundry  directories  and  guide-books,  and  a  few  new  species  have  been 
recorded  in  various  botanical  works  and  periodicals  by  E.  J.  Lowe, 
J.  Bohler,  Hilderic  Friend,  J.  K.  Miller,  H.  Fisher,  and  the  writer,  but 
an  up-to-date  Flora  of  Nottinghamshire  is  still  a  desideratum. 

A  modern  account  of  Nottinghamshire  botany,  when  compared 
with  the  records  of  Jowett  and  Howitt,  furnishes  melancholy  evidence  of 
the  large  number  of  interesting  plants  which,  once  common,  have  now 
become  exceedingly  rare  or  altogether  extinct.  The  enormous  growth 
of  the  city  of  Nottingham  has  covered  some  of  our  best  collecting  grounds 
with  buildings,  while  the  cultivation  of  waste  lands,  the  drainage  of 
bogs,  the  multiplication  of  railways  and  collieries,  and  the  conversion  of 
large  areas  of  arable  land  into  pasture,  have  all  been  potent  agents  in  the 
destruction  of  our  native  plants.  Nor  are  we  compensated  for  their  loss 
by  the  numerous  aliens — waifs  and  strays  from  foreign  lands — which  are 
making  their  appearance  along  railway  lines  and  canals,  and  about  malt 
kilns  and  grain  warehouses,  brought  over  with  grain,  fodder,  and  other 
merchandise  from  abroad.  Perhaps  the  most  famous  of  our  disappearing 
plants — though  of  course  not  a  true  native — is  the  purple  spring  crocus 
(Crocus  vernus),  which  formerly  covered  many  acres  of  the  Nottingham 
meadows  with  such  a  luxuriant  growth  as  to  suggest  the  idea  of  its 
having  been  sown  as  a  crop.  Much  of  the  ground  this  beautiful  plant 
occupied  is  now  built  over,  and  although  it  is  still  common  in  places  its 

43 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

habitat  becomes  more  restricted  year  by  year.  In  the  same  locality  grew 
abundantly  the  autumnal  crocus  (C.  nudiflorus],  first  recorded  as  a 
British  plant  in  1738  by  Dr.  Charles  Deering,  who  found  it  'in  Notting- 
ham meadows  and  about  Trent  Bridge.'  I  have  seen  it  in  some  numbers 
within  the  last  fifteen  years  in  a  field  close  to  Trent  Bridge,  but  the 
locality  has  recently  been  built  upon.  The  plant  still,  however,  persists 
in  fair  quantity  in  some  of  the  Trent  meadows.  The  wild  tulip 
(Tulipa  sylvestris)  also  was  formerly  common  in  the  Nottingham  and 
Beeston  meadows,  although  it  never  flowered  in  its  wild  state,  and 
usually  put  forth  only  a  single  leaf.  It  has  long  disappeared  from  its 
old  headquarters,  but  still  occurs  higher  up  the  Trent  Valley  at  Thrump- 
ton.  The  Nottingham  catchfly  (Silene  nutans],  first  recorded  for  Britain 
by  Ray  in  1 670  as  growing  '  on  the  walls  of  Nottingham  Castle,'  was 
still  common  on  the  ruined  walls  of  the  old  kitchens  of  the  castle  up  to 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  but  the  recent  restoration  of  this  part  of  the 
castle  has  destroyed  it.  It  is  quite  possible,  however,  that  a  few  plants 
may  still  linger  on  the  inaccessible  parts  of  the  castle  rock. 

The  draining  of  the  few  small  areas  of  bog  which  formerly  existed 
in  the  county  is  responsible  for  the  extinction  or  extreme  rarity  of  a  number 
of  interesting  species;  such  are  the  royal  fern  (Osmunda  regalis),  Lastrea 
Thelypteris,  L.  uliginosa,  and  L.  Oreopteris,  the  bog  orchis  (Epipactis  palus- 
fris),  bladderwort  (Utricularia  vulgaris),  butterwort  (Pinguicula  vu/garis), 
sundew  (Drosera  rotundifolia),  cranberry  (Schollera  Oxycoccos),  Vaccinium 
Vitis-idaea,  buckbean  (Menyanthes),  the  beautiful  Gentiana  Pneumonantbe, 
Schoenus  nigricans,  and  others.  On  the  other  hand  the  rare  crested  fern 
(Lastrea  cristata)  still  persists  in  its  ancient  station,  along  with  the  crow- 
berry  (TLmpetruni)  \  the  sweet-gale  (Myrica  Gale)  also  maintains  its  foot- 
hold in  some  quantity  in  a  single  locality;  and  the  bog  pimpernel 
(Anagallis  tenella),  and  cotton  grasses,  Eriopborum  vaginatum  and  angusti- 
folium,  may  still  be  found. 

Other  interesting  plants  which  formerly  occurred,  but  have  not  been 
seen  for  many  years,  are  Viola  stagnina  and  V.  lutea,  Dianthus  deltoides, 
Cerastium  quaternellum,  Hypericum  montanum,  Geranium  sangulneum  and 
G.  lucidum,  Cicuta  virosa,  Myrrbis  Odorata,  Bupleurum  rotundifolium,  Anten- 
naria  dioica,  Cnicus  pratensis,  Crepis  paludosa,  Pyrola  minor,  Rbinantbus 
major,  Littorella  juncea,  Galeopsis  ocbroleuca,  Rumex  maritimus  and  R.pulcher, 
Cephalanthera  ensifolia  and  C.  pallens,  Orchis  ustulata,  Stratiotes  aloides, 
Scheuchzeria  palustris,  Carex  digitata,  Melica  nutans,  Hordeum  syhaticum, 
Ceterach  officinarum,  Cystopteris  fragilis,  etc.  Turning  from  this 
melancholy  list  of  probable  extinctions  it  is  a  pleasure  to  note  that 
a  fair  number  of  species  which  have  always  been  rare  in  the  county 
still  persist.  Among  these  are  Arabis  perfoliata,  Lotus  tenuis,  Stum  lati- 
fohum,  Dipsacus  pilosus,  Inula  Conyza,  Monotropa  Hypopitys,  Samolus 
Valerandi,  Melampyrum  pratense,  Ophrys  apifera  and  O.  muscifera, 
Gagea  fascicularis,  Acorus  Calamus,  Carex  Pseudo-cyperus,  Apera  Spica- 
venti,  etc.  Moreover,  a  number  of  truly  native  species  which  were 
unknown  to  or  not  distinguished  by  the  earlier  Nottinghamshire  botanists 

44 


BOTANY 

have  been  discovered  in  recent  years  ;  e.g.,  several  Batrachian  Ranunculi, 
Cardamlne  flexuosa,  Neckeria  claviculata,  Viola  permixta,  V.  sihestris  and 
V.  ericetorum,  Polygala  serpyllacea  and  P.  oxyptera,  Stellaria  umbrosa,  Ulex 
Gallii,  Agrimonia  odorata,  Callitriche  stagnalis,  C.  obtusangula,  and  C. 
truncata  (the  last-named  a  very  remarkable  and  interesting  addition  to 
our  flora,  first  found  by  Mr.  H.  Fisher  in  the  Rainworth  Water), 
Epilobium  angustifolium  and  E.  adnatum,  Carum  segefum,  Arctium  majus 
and  A.  minus,  Arnoseris  pusilla,  Hypochaeris  glabra,  Gentiana  baltica, 
Mentha  alopecuroides  and  others,  Polygonum  mite,  Rumex  limosu;,  Habenaria 
chloroleuca,  Orchis  incarnata,  Potamogeton  coloratus,  P.  falcatus,  P.  prae- 
longus,  and  P.  Cooperi,  Scirpus  Tabernaemontani  and  S.  maritimus,  Carex 
curta  and  C.  binervis,  Agrostis  nigra,  Glyceria  plicata,  Bromus  erectus, 
many  Rubi,  Roses,  a  few  Hieracia,  Willows,  etc. 

If  we  compare  the  flora  of  Nottinghamshire  with  that  of  Great  Britain 
and  of  the  counties  bordering  upon  Nottinghamshire  the  result  is  at  first 
sight  somewhat  disappointing.  The  number  of  species  of  flowering  plants 
and  vascular  cryptogams  enumerated  in  the  ninth  edition  of  the  London 
Catalogue  of  British  Plants  is  1,930,  but  thirty-eight  of  these  are  confined 
to  Ireland  or  the  Channel  Islands,  leaving  1,892  species  for  Great  Britain 
proper.  But  of  this  number  between  230  and  240  have  no  claim  to  be 
regarded  as  native  plants,  and  if  we  neglect  these  we  are  left  with  about 
1, 660  species  indigenous  to  Great  Britain.  If  now  we  turn  to  the  counties 
forming  the  boundaries  of  Nottinghamshire  we  find  the  recorded  species  of 
'  wild '  plants  (including  true  natives,  colonists,  and  denizens)  to  be  as 
follows: — West  Yorkshire,  1,042;*  Derbyshire,  91 1;2  Leicestershire, 
825  ;8  Lincolnshire,  1,040.*  In  Nottinghamshire  the  number  of  species 
which  come  under  the  same  category  is  854.  In  attempting  to  account 
for  this  apparent  poverty  in  our  flora  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  of 
the  i, 660  or  so  vascular  plants  which  occur  in  Great  Britain  in  a  wild 
state  about  350  species  are  either  purely  maritime  or  are  confined  to  high 
latitudes  or  mountains,  and  are  therefore  necessarily  absent  from  Notting- 
hamshire. This  reduces  the  number  that  could  possibly  be  expected  to 
occur  in  the  county  to  little  more  than  1,300  ;  but,  as  we  have  seen,  we 
actually  possess  barely  two-thirds  of  this  number.  The  reason  for  this 
is  to  be  sought  in  the  comparative  lack  of  variety  in  the  physical  con- 
ditions of  Nottinghamshire  combined  with  the  highly  cultivated  state  of 
most  of  its  area.  There  is  scarcely  any  uncultivated  ground  with  the 
exception  of  parts  of  Sherwood  Forest,  and  this  being  situated  on  the 
dry  and  arid  Bunter  sandstone  possesses  only  a  poor  and  scanty  flora  : 
even  in  the  wooded  parts  of  the  forest  the  undergrowth  consists  almost 
entirely  of  bracken.  There  are  few  or  no  large  sheets  of  water  save  the 
trimly-kept  artificial  lakes  in  the  principal  parks,  and  there  is  an  almost 
complete  absence  of  bog,  so  that  lacustrine  and  bog-loving  plants  are 
largely  wanting.  Moreover,  the  Carboniferous,  Jurassic,  and  Cretaceous 

1  Lees,  Flora  of  West  Yorks.  '  Linton,  Flora  of  Deri.  *  Flora  ofLeic. 

4  Lond.  Catalogue,  marked  for  Lincolnshire  by  Rev.  E.  A.  Woodruffe-Peacock.     This  number  is 
probably  excessive,  as  some  of  the  species  marked  must  be  aliens  or  casuals  in  Lincolnshire. 

45 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

limestones  which  bear  so  rich  a  flora  in  the  neighbouring  counties  do  not 
extend  into  Nottinghamshire,  and  their  absence  is  only  partially  com- 
pensated for  by  the  Permian  Magnesian  Limestone  which  occupies  the 
western  margin  of  the  county,  and,  while  possessing  a  moderately  rich  and 
varied  flora,  cannot  compare  in  this  respect  with  the  more  highly  calca- 
reous Chalk,  Oolite,  or  Mountain  Limestone  of  the  counties  around  us. 

West  Yorkshire,  with  an  area  of  2,760  square  miles,  is  more  than 
three  times  the  size  of  Nottinghamshire,  and  with  its  numerous  hills — 
many  of  which  are  over  2,000  feet  in  height — possesses  an  extensive 
alpine  or  true  mountain  flora  which  could  not  exist  with  us  ;  while  the 
'  pavements,'  terraces,  and  scars  of  the  Mountain  Limestone  region,  and 
the  wide  expanses  of  peat  bog,  are  tenanted  by  numerous  species  which 
for  lack  of  suitable  conditions  are  absent  from  Nottinghamshire.  The 
same  remarks  apply  in  a  less  degree  to  Derbyshire,  which  possesses  a 
considerable  number  of  montane  plants  on  its  high  northern  moorlands  ; 
the  flora  of  its  limestone  dales  also  is  a  very  rich  and  varied  one. 
Lincolnshire,  with  an  area  greater  even  than  that  of  West  Yorkshire, 
with  its  long  line  of  sea-coast,  its  salt-marshes,  its  chalk  wolds  and 
Jurassic  limestones,  has  an  enormous  advantage,  botanically,  over  Not- 
tinghamshire, and  it  is  not  surprising  that  its  flora  is  numerically  so 
much  stronger  than  that  of  its  inland  neighbour.  Leicestershire  has  a 
slightly  smaller  area  than  Nottinghamshire,  with  a  very  similar  flora, 
except  that  the  Archaean  rocks  which  form  the  high  ground  of 
Charnwood  Forest  support  a  few  species  which  are  not  found  with  us. 
,  In  order  to  indicate  the  geographical  distribution  of  our  native 
plants  throughout  the  British  counties,  Great  Britain  is  divided  up  for 
botanical  purposes  into  1 1 2  areas  consisting  of  counties  and  vice-counties, 
the  latter  being  formed  by  sub-dividing  the  larger  counties  into  two  or 
more  parts.1  Taking  the  London  Catalogue  of  British  Plants,  ed.  9,  as 
our  authority,  we  find  that  of  our  1,930  species  of  native  vascular  plants 
seventy-nine  have  been  recorded  as  occurring  in  every  one  of  these  1 1 2 
counties  and  vice-counties,  and  no  fewer  than  300  species  are  found  in  100 
or  more  divisions.  Of  these  300,  299  are  recorded  for  Nottinghamshire, 
and  the  single  unrecorded  species,  Potamogeton  polygonifolius,  is  almost  sure 
to  be  found,  although  up  to  the  present  it  has  been  searched  for  in  vain. 

There  are  102  species  with  a  census  number  between  90  and  100, 
i.e.,  occurring  in  from  90  to  100  counties  and  vice-counties,  and  of  these 
we  have  all  but  the  following  : — Oenanthe  crocata^  Narthecium  ossifragum, 
Juncus  Gerardi,  and  Scirpus  pauciflorus.  It  is  probable  that  the  Narthecium 
once  occurred,  but  it  has  not  been  seen  for  at  least  a  century. 

Of  the  eighty-five  species  with  a  census  number  between  eighty 
and  ninety,  six  are  apparently  wanting  in  Nottinghamshire,  viz.  : 
Cochlearia  officinalis  (a  maritime  and  montane  plant  recorded  by  Deering, 
but  probably  in  error),  Hypericum  Androsaemum  (has  occurred  as  a  casual 
or  garden  escape),  Habenaria  bifolia  (the  species  recorded  under  this  name 
by  the  earlier  Nottinghamshire  botanists  is  H.  chloroleuca,  which  was 

1  For  a  list  of  these  divisions  see  Watson,  Top.  Botany,  ed.  2. 

46 


BOTANY 

formerly  not  distinguished  from  bifolia),  Scirpus  jluitans,  Carex  fuha  (?), 
and  Festuca  arundinacea. 

Of  species  with  census  numbers  ranging  from  seventy  to  eighty 
there  are  101,  and  seventeen  of  these  are  unknown  in  Nottinghamshire. 
Ten  of  the  absentees,  however,  are  plants  that  grow  only  by  the  sea,  and 
therefore  could  not  occur  with  us.  The  others  are  :  Utricularia  minor 
(recorded  by  Ordoyno,  but  not  confirmed),  Scutellaria  minor ;  Potamogeton 
alpinus,  Eleocbaris  acicularis,  Rbyncbospora  alba,  Pbegopteris  Dryopteris,  and 
P.  polypodioides, 

The  species  occurring  in  from  sixty  to  seventy  counties  or  vice- 
counties  number  ninety-seven.  The  most  conspicuous  absentees  with  us 
are — besides  a  number  of  maritime  and  submontane  plants — Sagina 
subulata  and  S.  ciliata,  Hypericum  e lodes,  Sedum  anglicum  (?),  Hieracium 
murorum,  Centunculus  minimus,  Carex  laevigata,  and  Polys  tic  bum  angular e  (?). 

There  are  ninety-five  species  with  a  census  number  between  fifty 
and  sixty,  and  of  these  we  necessarily  lack  the  maritime  species  as  well 
as  a  few  northern  forms  such  as  Geranium  sylvaticum,  Cnicus  heterophyllus, 
Cryptogramme  crispa,  Lycopodium  alpinum,  Selaginella,  etc.  In  addition  to 
these  we  want  the  following  : — Fumaria  Boraei,  Diplotaxis  muralis  (has 
occurred  as  an  alien),  several  Rubi,  Rosa  involuta,  Cotyledon  Umbilicus, 
Drosera  anglica  and  intermedia  (Howitt's  locality  for  D.  intermedia  is 
almost  certainly  in  Lincolnshire),  Euphorbia  amygdaloides  (recorded  by 
Deering,  perhaps  erroneously,  and  certainly  not  found  since),  Listera 
cordata,  Potamogeton  obtusifolius,  Carex  divulsa,  C.  axillaris,  C.  extensa,  and 
Pilularia  globulifera. 

Of  the  species  found  in  fewer  than  fifty  vice-counties  so  many  are 
wanting  in  Nottinghamshire  that  it  will  be  sufficient  to  refer  the  reader 
to  the  list  of  the  plants  of  the  county  at  the  end  of  this  article. 

The  vast  majority  of  our  wild  plants  naturally  belong  to  the  British 
and  English  types  of  distribution,  but  there  is  a  sprinkling  of  species 
representing  other  types.  Thus  of  Germanic  species  we  have  Myosurus 
minimus,*  Hippuris  vu/garis,  Galium  erectum  and  G.  tricorne,  Lactuca  uirosa, 
Campanula  glomerata,  Monotropa  Hypopitys,  Limosella  aquatica,  Orchis 
pyramidalis  and  O.  ustulata*  Allium  oleraceum,  Bromus  erectus,  Bracby- 
podium  pinnatum,  Hordeum  syhaticum,  etc.  Of  Scottish  type  are,  among 
others,  Viola  lutea*  Vicia  syhatica,  Parnassia  palustris,  Antennaria  dioica* 
Crepis  paludosa*  Campanula  latifolia,  Pyrola  minor*  Pinguicula  vulgaris, 
Salix  pentandra,  Empetrum  nigrum,  Melica  nutans*  Among  species  of 
Intermediate  type  we  have  Poterium  qfficinale,  Gagea  fascicularis,  Crocus 
nudijiorus,  and  Scbeucbzeria  palustris*  Plants  of  the  Atlantic  type  are,  as 
might  be  expected,  few  in  number,  and,  indeed,  not  a  single  species  is 
certainly  known  to  occur  now,  at  any  rate  as  a  native  ;  the  recorded 
species  are  Coronopus  didymus,  Erodium  moschatum  and  E.  maritimum,  Sedum 
anglicum,  and  Verbascum  virgatum.  Vaccinium  Vitis-idaea  is  our  only 
Highland  species,  and  we  have  no  representative  of  the  Local  type. 

*  Species  marked  with  an  asterisk  have  not  been  seen  in  the  county  for  many  years  and  are 
probably  extinct. 

47 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


BOTANICAL  DISTRICTS 

Nottinghamshire  lies  wholly  within  the  drainage  area  of  the  Trent,  so  that  the  usual 
division  of  a  county  into  river  basins  for  botanical  purposes  is  not  possible  in  our  case.  The 
districts  here  adopted  are  therefore  based  on  the  geological  structure  of  the  county,  and  this 
division  is  a  really  natural  one,  for  with  the  exception  of  the  alluvial  tracts  bordering  the 
Trent  and  its  tributary  streams  very  little  drift  occurs  to  obscure  the  older  deposits,  and  con- 
sequently the  surface  soil  is  principally  formed  by  the  disintegration  and  decay  in  situ  of  the 
underlying  rocks.  The  wide  differences  in  the  chemical  composition  of  the  resulting  soils 
have  of  course  a  marked  influence  on  the  character  of  the  flora  of  each  formation. 

Leaving  out  of  consideration  the  superficial  (drift  and  alluvial)  deposits,  the  formations 
represented  in  Nottinghamshire  are  the  Coal  Measures,  Permian,  Trias  (Bunter  and  Keuper), 
Rhaetic,  and  Lower  Lias.  These  form  bands  running  partially  or  completely  through  the 
county  in  a  direction  approximately  north  and  south. 

The  outcrop  of  the  Coal  Measures  forms  a  band  16  miles  long  between  Stapleford  in 
the  south  and  Teversall  in  the  north,  and  varying  in  width  from  2  to  about  4  miles.  To 
the  east  it  is  succeeded  by  the  Permian  or  Magnesian  Limestone,  which  forms  a  narrow  band 
running  from  Nottingham  to  the  county  boundary  on  the  north — a  distance  of  about  32  miles. 
At  its  maximum  development  it  is  about  4  miles  in  width,  but  for  the  most  part  is  consider- 
ably narrower.  The  sandstones  and  conglomerates  of  the  Bunter,  which  follow,  occupy  a 
much  larger  tract  of  land — nearly  40  miles  long  by  7  or  8  in  width  over  the  greater  part 
of  its  extent,  except  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham,  where  it  is  much 
narrower. 

Quite  half  the  area  of  the  county  is  occupied  by  deposits  of  Keuper  age,  but  as  the 
valley  of  the  Trent  lies  almost  wholly  in  this  formation  it  is  a  good  deal  covered  by  alluvial 
deposits.  The  Rhaetic  shales  form  a  band  of  insignificant  extent  along  the  eastern  margin  of 
the  Keuper. 

Finally,  on  the  eastern  and  south-eastern  border  of  the  county  for  the  southern  two-thirds 
of  its  length  the  Keuper  is  succeeded  by  the  lower  beds  of  the  Lias,  which  attain  their 
maximum  development  south  of  Cotgrave  and  Cropwell  Bishop.  Two  rather  extensive  out- 
liers occur  to  the  west  of  the  main  mass  of  the  Lias  in  the  extreme  south  of  the  county. 

The  botanical  districts  adopted,  four  in  number,  are  as  follows  :  — 

DISTRICT  I 

This  comprises  the  area  formed  by  the  outcrops  of  the  Coal  Measures  and  Permian  rocks 
on  the  western  side  of  the  county.  It  might  seem  at  first  sight  that  two  such  apparently 
dissimilar  formations  should  constitute  separate  districts,  but  the  area  occupied  by  the  Coal 
Measures  is  so  small  and  its  noteworthy  plants  so  few  in  number  that  to  make  of  it  a  separate 
district  would  be  to  ascribe  to  this  formation  an  importance  altogether  out  of  proportion  to  its 
merits.  Indeed,  the  Coal  Measures  can  scarcely  claim  to  possess  a  distinctive  flora  at  all  :  not 
a  single  species  appears  to  be  confined  to  their  outcrop,  and  the  few  conspicuous  plants  that 
do  occur  are  equally  common  elsewhere.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Magnesian  Limestone 
possesses  a  large  number  of  characteristic  species,  some  of  which  are  peculiar  to  it.  Among 
these  the  following  may  be  mentioned,  the  species  hitherto  found  only  on  this  formation  being 
indicated  by  an  asterisk  : — 


'Ranunculus     Lenormandi,     F. 

Schultz 

"Helleborus  viridis,  L. 
'Aquilegia  vulgaris,  L. 
*Arabis  hirsuta,  Scop. 

Reseda  lutea,  L. 

Helianthemum     Chamaecistus, 
Mill. 

Silene  Cucubalus,  Wib. 
'Geranium  sanguineum,  L. 

Trifolium  medium,  L. 

Anthyllis  Vulneraria,  L. 

Geum  rivale,  L. 

Pamassia  palustris,  L. 
*Ribes  alpinum,  L. 


Hippuris  vulgaris,  L. 
'Bupleurum  rotundifolium,  L. 

Galium  Mollugo,  L. 

Erigeron  acre,  L. 

Inula  Conyza,  DC. 

Centaurea  Scabiosa,  L. 

Campanula  Trachelium,  L. 

—  latifolia,  L. 

Anagallis  tenella,  L. 

Blackstonia  perfoliata,  Huds. 

Gentiana  Amarella,  L. 
* —  baltica,  Murb. 
*Myosotis  arvensis,  Lam., 
var.  umbrosa,  Bab. 

Lithospcrmum  arvcnse,  L. 

48 


Verbascum  Thapsus,  L. 
'Linaria  Elatina,  Mill. 

—  viscida,  Moench 
Veronica  montana,  L. 
Lathraea  Squamaria,  L. 
Origanum  vulgare,  L. 
Clinopodium  Acinos,  O.  Kuntze 

'Cephalanthera  ensifblia,  Rich. 
* —  pallens,  Rich. 

Epipactis  palustris,  Crantz 

Orchis  pyramidalis,  L. 

—  ustulata,  L. 
*Ophrys  muscifera,  Huds. 

Habenaria  conopsea,  Benth. 
•Polygonatum  multiflorum,  All 


BOTANY 


Allium  ursinum,  L. 

Gagea  fascicularis,  Salisb. 

Paris  quadrifolia,  L. 
'Potamogetoncoloratus,  Hornem. 
*  Eleocharis  multicaalis,  Sm. 


'Eriophorum  latifblium,  Hoppe 
*Carex  digitata,  L. 

—  pendula,  Huds. 

—  sylvatica,  Huds. 
*  —  vcsicaria,  L. 


*Avena  pratensis,  L. 
'Melica  nutans,  L. 

—  uniflora,  Retz. 
'Hordeum  sylvaticum,  Huds. 

Taxus  baccata,  L. 


DISTRICT  II 

This  consists  of  the  Bunter  or  lower  division  of  the  Trias,  and  includes  the  fine-grained 
red  or  variegated  sands  of  the  Lower  Red  and  Mottled  Sandstone,  and  the  yellow  or  brownish 
sands  and  conglomerates  of  the  Bunter  Pebble-beds. 

The  district  possesses  a  distinctive  and  characteristic  flora,  although,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  list  given  below,  only  a  few  species  are  confined  to  it.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  most 
sand-loving  plants  find  an  equally  suitable  habitat  in  the  sandy  patches  which  occasionally 
occur  in  the  Keuper  Marl,  in  the  tracts  of  sandy  alluvium  bordering  the  Trent  in  Division  III, 
and  in  the  drift  sands  which  cover  a  part  of  District  IV  on  the  eastern  edge  of  the  county. 

The  existing  remains  of  the  once  far  more  extensive  Sherwood  Forest  lie  entirely  in  this 
district,  and  consist  chiefly  of  oak  and  birch  timber  with  a  dense  undergrowth  of  bracken,  and 
open  spaces  covered  with  ling  (Calluna),  heath  (Erica  cinerea),  bracken  (Pteris),  Deschampsia 
fkxuosa,  etc.,  and  dotted  with  old  thorn  trees  much  infested  with  mistletoe. 

A  few  bits  of  boggy  ground  are  still  to  be  found  along  the  course  of  some  of  the  streams, 
as  at  Oxton  and  Rainworth,  and  to  these  we  owe  the  survival  of  some  of  our  most  interesting 
plants.  Of  late  years,  however,  owing  partly  to  a  succession  of  dry  seasons  and  partly  to  the 
sinking  of  deep  wells  for  the  water  supply  of  the  surrounding  towns,  these  bogs  have  become 
nearly  dry  at  times,  with  the  result  that  such  things  as  the  sundew  (Drosera),  butterwort 
(Pinguicula),  cranberry  (Schollera  Oxycoccus),  marsh  fern  (Lastrea  Thelypteris),  etc.,  are  fast  dis- 
appearing or  have  already  gone. 

Among  the  characteristic  species  of  the  district  are  the  following  : — 


'Capnoides  claviculata,  Druce 
'Arabis  perfoliata,  Lam. 

Teesdalia  nudicaulis,  R.  Br. 

Viola  palustris,  L. 

—  ericetorum,  Schrad. 
*  —  tricolor,  L. 

Polygala  serpyllacea,  Weihe 
'Dianthus  deltoides,  L. 

Silene  anglica,  L. 
* —  nutans,  L. 

Cerastium  quaternellum,  Fenzl. 

—  semidecandrum,  L. 

—  arvense,  L. 
Sagina  nodosa,  Fenzl. 
Alsine  rubra,  Crantz 

'Montia  fbntana,  L. 

Hypericum  humifusum,  L. 

Erodium  cicutarium,  L'H6r. 

Genista  anglica,  L. 
•Ulex  Gallii,  Planch. 

Trifolium  subterraneum,  L. 

—  arvense,  L. 

—  striatum,  L. 
Ornithopus  perpusillus,  L. 

'Vicia  lathyroides,  L. 
Potentilla  argentea,  L. 

—  palustris,  Scop. 
Chrysosplenium  al  tern  ifolium,L. 


'Drosera  rotundifolia,  L. 
'Callitriche  truncata,  GUSS. 
'Epilobium  adnatum,  Griscb. 

Galium  saxatile,  L. 

Filago  germanica,  L. 

—  minima,  Fr. 
'Antennaria  dioica,  R.  Br. 

Gnaphalium  sylvaticum,  L. 

Senecio  sylvaticus,  L. 
*Arnoseris  pusilla,  Gaertn. 
'Hieracium  tridentatum,  Fr. 

—  umbellatum,  L. 
Jasione  montana,  L. 

*Vaccinium  Vitis-idaea,  L. 

—  Myrtillus,  L. 
'Schollera  Oxycoccus,  Rcth 

Calluna  Erica,  DC. 
Erica  Tetralix,  L. 

—  cinerea,  L. 
*Monotropa  Hypopitys,  L. 

Lycopsis  arvensis,  L. 
Myosotis  collina,  Hoffin. 

—  versicolor,  Sm. 
Echium  vulgare,  L. 
Verbascum  nigrum,  L. 
Digitalis  purpurea,  L. 
Melampyrum  pratense,  L. 

*Mentha  alopecuroides,  Hull. 


Teucrium  Scorodonia,  L. 
Plantago  Coronopus,  L. 
Scleranthus  annuus,  L. 
*Rumex  limosus,  Thuill. 

—  Acetosella,  L. 
'Empetrum  nigrum,  L. 

Juncus  squarrosus,  L. 

Juncoides  multiflorum,  Druce 
*Scirpus  maritimus,  L. 
*Carex  teretiuscula,  Good. 

-  paniculata,  L. 
* —  curta,  Good. 

—  leporina,  L. 
* —  pilulifera,  L. 
*Apera  Spica-venti,  Beauv. 

Aira  caryophyllea,  L. 
Deschampsia  flexuosa,  Trin. 
Molinia  varia,  Schrank 
Nardus  stricta,  L. 
Pteris  aquilina,  L. 
Lastrea  Thelypteris,  Presl. 

—  Oreopteris,  Presl. 

—  cristata,  Presl. 

—  uliginosa,  Newm. 
Lycopodium  Selago,  L. 

—  inundatum,  L. 

—  clavatum,  L. 


DISTRICT    III 

The    Keuper    deposits    which    underlie   this  extensive   district   are  separable   into    two 
divisions.     The  lower  of  these,  known  as  the  '  Waterstones,'  consists  of  alternations  of  dull 

»  49  7 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

red  marl  and  light-coloured  greenish-grey  sandstone  ;  where  the  latter  predominates  the 
resulting  soil  is  sufficiently  sandy  to  suit  many  of  the  plants  characteristic  of  District  II  (e.g., 
Cerastium  arvense,  Cytisus  scoparius,  Saxifraga  granulata,  Artemisia  vulgaris,  Rumex  Acetosella, 
etc.),  and  we  therefore  find  along  the  outcrop  of  the  Lower  Keuper  an  assemblage  of  species 
transitional  in  character  between  the  flora  of  the  Bunter  and  that  of  the  upper  beds  of  the 
Keuper.  The  upper  division  or  Keuper  Marl  is  a  stiff  bright-red  clay  with  an  occasional  thin 
band  of  hard  whitish  sandstone.  The  heavy  somewhat  calcareous  clay  soil  supports  a  flora  very 
different  from  that  of  District  II,  but  more  nearly  approximating  to  that  of  District  I,  with 
which  it  has  a  large  number  of  species  in  common.  Among  the  more  prominent  plants  that 
occur  with  about  equal  frequency  in  Districts  I  and  III,  but  are  almost  or  entirely  absent  from 
Districts  II  and  IV,  are  Anemone  nemorosa,  Eutmymus  europaeus,  Pimpinella  major,  Asperula  odorata, 
Lactuca  muralis,  Campanula  latifolia,  Lysimachia  nemorum,  Erythraea  Centaurium,  Veronica 
montana,  Lamium  Galeobdolon,  Mercurialis  perennis,  Allium  ursinum,  Paris  quadrifolia,  Carex 
pendula,  C.  sylvatica,  Milium  effusum  and  Melica  uniflora.  Several  rare  or  uncommon 
Nottinghamshire  species  are  confined  to  District  III ;  of  such  are  Ranunculus  sardous  and 
R.  parviflorus,  Vlc'ia  sylvatica,  Lathyrus  sylvestris,  Caucalis  nodosa,  Dipsacus  pilosus,  Carduus 
pycnocephalus  and  C.  pratensis,  Campanula  patula,  Myosotis  sylvatica,  Mentha  Pulegium,  Carex 
pallescens  (?),  etc.  ;  while  among  commoner  species  which  are  most  abundant  in,  but  not  abso- 
lutely confined  to,  the  district  are  Geranium  pratense,  Bidens  tripartita,  Chrysanthemum  segetum, 
Tanacetum  vulgare,  Picris  hieracioides,  Veronica  Anagallis,  Habenaria  chloroleuca,  Epipactis 
latifolia,  etc. 

A  number  of  plants  which  have  their  headquarters  in  the  Trent  valley — which  lies 
almost  wholly  in  this  district — owe  their  presence  rather  to  their  fondness  for  a  moist  or 
watery  situation  than  to  the  chemical  or  physical  nature  of  the  soil  ;  such  are  Thalictrum 
ftivum,  Nasturtium  sylvestre  and  N.  amphibium,  Erysimum  cheiranthoides,  Stellaria  aquatica, 
Lythrum  Salicaria,  Apium  graveolens,  Oenanthe  Phellandrium,  Hottonia  palustris,  Symphytum 
officinale,  and  Polygonum  Hydropiper. 

On  the  other  hand  the  dry  gravelly  banks  and  terraces  of  old  Trent  alluvium  offer  a 
congenial  home  for  many  of  the  sand-loving  plants  characteristic  of  District  II. 

A  few  species  which  are  more  or  less  common  in  District  III  are  of  equally  frequent 
occurrence  in  District  IV,  but  almost  or  entirely  unknown  in  Districts  I  and  II.  Among  these 
are  Ononis  spinosa,  Conlum  maculatum,  Sison  Amomum,  Peucedanum  sativum,  Dipsacus  sylvestris, 
Senecio  erucifolius,  Picris  echioides,  Lactuca  virosa,  Hordeum  secalinum. 

The  Rhaetic  deposits  which  are  included  in  District  III  form  a  narrow  band  of  such 
insignificant  extent  along  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Keuper  as  to  be  of  no  botanical  importance, 
and  may  therefore  be  ignored. 

DISTRICT  IV 

The  Liassic  beds  of  Nottinghamshire  consist  of  a  series  of  blue  clays  and  shales  with 
bands  of  limestone,  belonging  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Lower  Lias,  and  forming  a  long  strip 
overlying  the  Triassic  rocks  along  the  south-eastern  border  of  the  county.  There  are  also  two 
considerable  outliers  capping  the  hills  south  of  the  Trent  between  Thrumpton  and  West 
Leake.  Sison,  Peucedanum  sativum,  Senecio  erucifolius,  and  a  few  others  are  common  plants  in 
this  district,  as  mentioned  above  ;  Cnicus  eriophorus  occurs  in  quantity  in  one  or  two  stations, 
and  is  apparently  now  confined  to  the  district,  although  formerly  found  in  others  ;  Solidago 
Virgaurea,  which  formerly  occurred  in  several  places  in  the  county,  seems  now  restricted  to 
a  single  station  on  the  Lias,  where  it  is  very  rare  ;  and  among  other  scarce  species  almost  or 
entirely  confined  to  this  formation  are  Lotus  tenuis,  Carum  segetum,  Caucalis  arvensis,  Galium 
tricorne,  Clinopodium  Nepeta,  Galeopsis  Ladanum  and  Carex  binervis. 

In  parts  of  District  IV,  as  at  Langford  and  Wigsley,  the  Lias  clay  is  covered  by  a  mantle 
of  gravelly  drift  supporting  the  usual  assemblage  of  sand-loving  plants,  such  as  Teesdalia, 
Cerastium  semidecandrum  and  C.  arvense,  Polygala  serpyllacea,  Galium  sylvestre,  Filago  minima, 
Gnaphalium  sylvaticum,  Senecio  sylvaticus,  Calluna,  Erica  cinerea,  Myosotis  versicolor,  Salix 
repens,  Nardus,  etc.  Langford  Moor  and  Wigsley  Wood  were  formerly  wet  swampy  moor- 
land, and  although  long  drained  and  planted  with  oak  and  fir  still  show  traces  of  their  ancient 
flora.  Erica  Tetralix,  Lysimackia  vulgaris,  Myrica  Gale,  Molinia  varia  and  Lastrea  spinulosa 
still  persist  in  fair  quantity,  as  well  as  patches  of  Sphagnum,  and  a  solitary  plant  of  Osmunda — 
probably  the  last  in  the  county — has  only  recently  disappeared. 

5° 


BOTANY 


LIST   OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE    VASCULAR    PLANTS,   WITH    THEIR 
DISTRIBUTION    THROUGH    THE    BOTANICAL    DISTRICTS 

In  the  following  summary  of  the  flora  of  Nottinghamshire  species  to  which  no  sign  is 
attached  are  to  be  regarded  as  '  wild  '  in  the  sense  of  being  natives,  colonists,  or  denizens  : 
these  number  854.  Aliens  and  plants  of  recent  introduction  which  maintain  their  ground 
more  or  less  successfully,  so  forming  permanent  constituents  of  our  flora,  are  indicated  by  an 
asterisk  :  of  these  there  are  seventy-two.  Species  of  merely  casual  occurrence  which  are  not 
likely  to  permanently  establish  themselves,  or  which  were  probably  recorded  in  error,  or  have 
long  been  extinct  are  enclosed  within  square  brackets  :  fifty-eight  such  are  enumerated.1 


DICOTYLEDONS 

RANUNCULACEAE 

[Clematis  Vitalba,  L.] 
Thalictrum  flavum,  L.     1-4 
Anemone  nemorosa,  L.      1-4 
Myosurus  minimus,  L.      I,  3,  4  (?) 
Ranunculus  circinatus,  Sibth.      I,  3 

—  fluitans,  Lam.     3 

—  pseudo-fluitans,  Bab.      2,  3 

—  trichophyllus,  Chaix      I 

—  Drouetii,  Godr.      I 

—  heterophyllus,  Web.     3 

—  peltatus,  Schrank     3 

c.  floribundus  (Bab.)      3 

—  Lenormandi,  F.  Schultz       I 

—  hedcraceus,  L.      1-3 

—  sceleratus,  L.      1—4 

—  Flammula,  L.      1-4 

—  Lingua,  L.     z 

—  auricomus,  L.      1—4 

—  acris,  L.      1—4 

—  repens,  L.      1—4 

—  bulbosus,  L.      1-4 

—  sardous,  Crantz     3 

—  parviflorus,  L.      3 

—  arvensis,  L.      1—4 

—  Ficaria,  L.      1-4 
Caltha  palustris,  L.      1-4 

'Helleborus  viridis,  L.      I 

[ —  fbetidus,  L.]      I 

•Cammarum  hyemale,  Greene   (Eranthis  hyemalis, 

Salisb.)     2,  3 
Aquilegia  vulgaris,  L.      1 
[Delphinium  Ajacis,  Gay]     2 

BBRBERIDEAE 
Berberis  vulgaris,  L.      i,  3,  4 

NYMPHAEACEAK 

Nymphaea  lutea,  L.      1-3 
Castalia  speciosa,  Salisb.      1-3 


PAPAVERACEAH 

[Papaver  somniferum,  L.]     I  (?),  2 

—  Rhoeas,  L.     1-4 

—  dubium,  L.     a.  Lamottei  (Bor.)      1-4 

b.  Lecoqii  (Lamotte).      3,  4 

—  Argemone,  L.      2-4 
'Glaucium  phoeniceum,  Crantz     3 

[Roemeria  violacea,  Medic.  (R.  hybrida,  DC.)]    3 
Chelidonium  majus,  L.      1—4 

FUMARIACEAE 

*Capnoidessolida,  Moench  (Neckeria  bulbosa,N.E. 

Br.)      i 
[  —  lutea,  Gaert.  (N.  lutea,  Scop.)]     3 

—  claviculata,  Druce  (N.  claviculata,  N.E.  Br.)  2 
Fumaria  capreolata,  L.     2 

—  muralis,  Sond.  (?)      I 

—  officinalis,  L.      1—4 

CRUCIFERAE 

Cheiranthus  Cheiri,  L.      1-3 
Radicula    officinalis,  Groves    (Nasturtium   offici- 
nale,  R.Br.)      1-4 

b.  siifolia  (Reichb.)      3 

—  pinnata,  Moench  (N.  sylvestre,  R.  Br.)      2,  3 

—  palustris,  Moench  (N.  palustre,  DC.)      2,  3 

—  lancifolia,  Moench   (N.  amphibium,  R.   Br.) 

i-3 

Barbarea  vulgaris,  R.  Br.      1-4 
Arabis  hirsuta,  Scop.      I 

—  perfoliata,  Lam.     2 
Cardamine  amara,  L.      1-3 

—  pratensis,  L.      1-4 

—  hirsuta,  L.      1,2 

—  flexuosa,  With.      1-3 
[ —  impatiens,  L.]     i 
[Alyssum  incanum,  L.] 

[ —  alyssoides,  L.     (A.  calycinum,  L.)]     2 
Erophila  vulgaris,  DC.     2—4 
[Cochlearia  officinalis,  L.]      i 
[ —  Armoracia,  L.]     3 


1  In  the  British  Association  Handbook  issued  at  the  Nottingham  meeting  in  1893  Mr.  H.  Fisher 
records  a  considerable  number  of  plants  found  growing  on  waste  ground  about  the  wharves,  malt-kilns, 
and  grain-warehouses  at  Newark — evidently  imported  with  grain  from  various  foreign  countries.  Among 
these,  in  addition  to  many  of  the  aliens  included  in  the  'list,'  are  Sisymbrium  Columnae,  All.,  Rafistrum 
rugpsum,  All.,  Euclydium  syriacum,  R.  Br.,  Coriandum  tordylioides,  Boiss.,  Cnicus  setosus,  Bess.,  Centaurea 
melitensis,  L.,  Gilia  capitate,  Benth.,  Salvia  lylvtstiis,  L.,  Panicum  miliaceum,  L.,  and  others,  besides  unidenti- 
fied species  of  Adonis,  Delphinium,  Papaver,  Eschscholtxia,  Sisymbrium,  Dianthus,  Silene,  Stellaria,  Malva, 
Medicags,  Trifo/ium,  Vicia,  Lathyrus,  Centaurea  and  other  Compositae,  Echium  and  several  other  Boragina- 
ceous  genera,  Linaria,  Veronica,  Salvia,  Atriplex,  Euphorbia,  Phleum,  Bromus,  Hordeum,  etc.  Many  of 
these  will  doubtless  establish  themselves  and  spread. 

5' 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CRUCI  FERAE  (continued) 

"Hesperis  matronalis,  L.     3 
Sisymbrium  Thalianum,  Gay      1—4 

—  officinale,  Scop.      1-4 

-  Sophia,  L.     2,  3 

[ —  pannonicum,  Jacq.]     3 

—  Alliaria,  Scop.      1—4 
Erysimum  cheiranthoides,  L.      2,  3 

*  —  perfolialum,  Crantz     3 
[Camelina  saliva,  Crantz]     3 
Brassica  Napus,  L.      1,3 

—  Rapa,  L.     2 

b.  sylvestris,  H.  C.  Wats. 

—  Sinapioides,  Roth     2,  3 

—  Sinapistrum,  Boiss.      1—4 
—  alba,  Boiss.      1,3 

"Diplolaxis  muralis,  DC.      2 

b.  Babingtonii,  Syme     2 
Bursa  pastoris,  Weber      1-4 

Senebiera  pinnatifida,  DC.  (Coronopus   didymus, 
Sm.)      i  or  2 

-  coronopus,  Poir.     (C.  Ruellii  All.)      3 
Lepidium  campestre,  R.  Br.      1—3 

-  heterophyllum,  Benth.  (L.  hirtum,  Sm.)  4  (?) 
* —  Draba,  L.      2,  3 

Thlaspi  arvense,  L.      3 

Teesdalia  nudicaulis,  R.  Br.      2,  3 

Raphanus  Raphanistrum,  L.      1—3 

RESEDACEAE 

[Reseda  alba,  L.]      2 

-  lutea,  L.      1,3 

-  Luteola,  L.      1-3 


CISTINEAE 
Helianthemum  Chamaecistus,  Mill.      I, 


3 


VlOLARIEAE 

Viola  palustris,  L.      I,  2 

—  odorata,  L.      1—4 

/  alba  (Lange).      i,  3,  4 

—  permixta,  Jord.     (?  odorata  X  hirta)  I,  4 

-  hirta,  L.      1-4 

—  silvestris,  Reich.      1—3 

-  Riviniana,  Reich.      1-4 

—  ericetorum,  Schrad.      2,  4 

—  stagnina,  Kit.      2  or  3 

-  tricolor,  L.     2 

-  arvensis,  Murr.      1—4 

-  lutea,  Huds.  (?)     2 

PoLYGALEAK 

Polygala  vulgaris,  L.      1,3 

—  oxyptera,  Reich.      I,  3 

—  serpyllacea,  Wei  he     2,  4 

CARYOPHYLLEAK 

Dianthus  deltoides,  L.     2 
* —  Caryophyllus,  L.     2 
'Saponaria  Vaccaria,  L.      3 

-  officinalis,  L.      I  or  2,  3 
Silene  Cucubalus,  Wibel      1—4 

b.  puberula,  Syme      i,  2 

—  anglica,  L.     2,  4 


CARYOPHYLLEAE  (continued) 
Silene  nutans,  L.     2 

—  noctiflora,  L.      I,  3,  4. 
Lychnis  alba,  Mill.      1—4 

—  dioica,  L.      1-4 

—  Flos-cuculi,  L.      1—4 

—  Githago,  Scop.      2—4 

Cerastium  quaternellum,  Fenzl.      z,  3  (?),  4  (?) 

—  semidecandrum,  L.     2—4 

—  glomeratum,  Thuill.      1-4 

—  triviale,  Link     1-4 

—  arvense,  L.     2,  3 
Stellaria  aquatica,  Scop.      1-4 

—  media,  Cyr.      1—4 

c.  major,  Koch     3 

—  umbrosa,  Opiz     i,  3 

—  Holostea,  L.      1-4 

—  palustris,  Retz.     2-4 

—  graminea,  L.     1-4 

—  uliginosa,  Murr.      1-4 
Arenaria  trinervia,  L.      1-4 

—  serpyllifolia,  L.      1-4 

c.  leptoclados  (Guss.) 
Sagina  apetala,  L.     2,  3 

—  procumbens,  L.      1—4 

—  nodosa,  Fenzl.     1—3 

Spergula  arvensis,  L.     a.  vulgaris  (Boenn.)      1-4 

b.  saliva  (Boenn.)      2 
Alsine  rnbra,  Crantz  (Buda  rubra,  Dum.)     2-4 

PORTULACEAE 

'Claytonia  perfoliata,  Donn     2 
Montia  fontana,  L.     2 

HYPERICINEAE 

[Hypericum  Androsaemum,  L.]     2,  3 

—  perforalum,  L.      1-4 

—  maculalum,  Crantz     (H.  dubium,  Leers)     3 

—  quadrangulum,  L.   (quadratum,   Stokes)    1-4 

—  humifusum,  L.     2—4 

b.  decumbens  (Peterm.)     2 

—  pulchrum,  L.     1-4 

—  hirsutum,  L.      1—4 

—  monlanum,  L.      I,  3 

MALVACEAE 

Malva  moschata,  L.      1—3 

—  sylvestris,  L.      1—4 

—  rotundifolia,  L.      1-4 

TILIACEAE 

*Tilia  plalyphyllos,  Scop. 

* —  europaea,  L.  (T.  vulgaris,  Hayne) 

—  cordala,  Mill.     1—3 

LlNEAE 

Radiola  Linoides,  Rolh     2,  4 
Linum  calharlicum,  L.      1-4 
[ —  usitatissimum,  L.] 

GERANIACEAE 

Geranium  sanguineum,  L.      I 
[ —  phaeum,  L.]     i  f 

—  praiense,  L.      1—4 


BOTANY 


GERANIACEAE  (continued) 

Geranium  pyrenaicum,  Burra.  fil.      3 

—  molle,  L.      1-4 

—  pusillum,  L.     2,  3 

—  dissectum,  L.      1-4 

—  columbinum,  L.      1—3 

—  lucidum,  L.     2 

—  Robertianum,  L.      1—4 
Erodium  cicutarium,  L'Her. 

a,  vulgatum,  Syme      1-4 

b.  chaerophyllum  (Cav.)       2 

—  moschatum,  L'Her.     2 

—  maritimum,  L'Her.     2 
Oxalis  Acetosella,  L.      1-3 

ILICINEAE 
Ilex  Aquifolium,  L.      1—4 

CELASTRINEAE 
Euonymus  europaeus,  L.     1-4 

RHAMNEAE 

Rhamnus  catharticus,  L.     1-4 

—  Frangula,  L.      i,  3,  4 

SAPINDACEAE 

'Acer  Pseudo-platanus,  L.      1-4 

—  campestre,  L.      1-4 

LECUMINOSAE 

Genista  anglica,  L.      I -4 

—  tinctoria,  L.      I,  3,  4 
Ulex  europaeus,  L.      1—4 

-  Gallii,  Planch.      2 

—  minor,  Roth  (U.  nanus,  Forst.)     2 
Sarothamnus  vulgaris,   Wimm.      (Cytisus  scopa- 

rius,  Link).      1-4 
Ononis  repens,  L.      1—4 

-  spinosa,  L.     2—4 
*Medicago  sativa,  L.      1—4 
[ —  falcata,  L.]     3 

—  lupulina,  L.      1-4 

—  arabica,  Huds.     3,  4 
Melilotus  officinalis,  Lam.      I,  3,  4. 

[ —  alba,  Desr.]     4 
* —  arvensis,  Walk.     3 
[ —  indica,  All.] 
Trifolium  subterraneum,  L.     2,  3 

—  pratense,  L.      1-4 

—  medium,  L.     1-4 

[ —  ochroleucon,  Huds.]     3 
[ —  incarnatum,  L.]     3 

—  arvense,  L.     2,  3 

—  striatum,  L.      2,  3 

[ —  hybridum,  L.]     I,  2 

[b.  elegans  (Savi)]     3 

—  repens,  L.      1-4 

—  fragiferum,  L.      I,  3,  4 
[ —  resupinatum,  L.]     3 

—  procumbens,  L.     1—4 

—  dubium,  Sibth.      1—4 

-  filiformc,  L. 

Anthyllis  Vulneraria,  L.      1—4 
Lotus  corniculatus,  L.      1—4 

—  tcnuis,  Wald.  and  Kit.      I  or  2,  4 


LEGUMINOSAE  (continued) 
Lotus  uliginosus,  Schkuhr     1-4 
Astragalus  glycyphyllos,  L.     2,  3 
Ornithopus  perpusillus,  L.     2,  3 
Hippocrepis  comosa,  L.  (?)     2 
Onobrychis  viciaefolia,  Scop,      i 
Vicia  hirsuta,  Gray      1-4 

—  gemella,  Crantz     3,  4 

var.  tenuissima,  Druce     I 

—  Cracca,  L.      1-4 

—  syJvatica,  L.     3 

—  scpium,  L.      1-4 
* —  sativa,  L.      3. 

—  angustifolia,  L.      2-4 

—  lathyroides,  L.     2 
[Lathyrus  Aphaca,  L.]      3 

—  Nissolia,  L.     3  or  4 

—  pratensis,  L.      1-4 

—  sylvestris,  L.     3 

—  montanus,  Bernh.      \,  3,  4 

ROSACEAE 

Prunus  spinosa,  L.      1-4 

—  insititia,  Huds.      2-4 
[ —  domestica,  L.] 

—  Avium,  L.     3,  4 

—  Cerasus,  L.      I  ? 

—  Padus,  L.     1-3 
Spiraea  Ulmaria,  L.      1-4 

—  Filipendula,  L.      l,  3,  4 
Rubus  idaeus,  L.      1-4 

—  suberectus,  Anders.     2,  4 

—  Lindleianus,  Lees     2,  3 

—  rhamnifolius,  W.  and  N.     2 

—  pulcherrimus,  Neum.     2,  4 

—  villicaulis,  Koehl. 

subsp.  Selmeri  (Lindeb.)     2 
subsp.  rhombifblius,  Weihe     3 

—  gratus,  Focke     3,  4 

—  rusticanus,  Merc.      1—4 

—  pubescens,  Weihe 

—  thyrsoideus,  Wimm.      3 

—  macrophyllus,  W.  and  N. 

subsp.  Schlechtendahlii  (Weihe)      3 

—  leucostachys,  Schleich.      1-3 

—  anglosaxonicus,  Gelert     3 

—  radula,  Weihe     2,  3 

—  echinatus,  Lindl.     2,  3 

—  Koehleri,  W.  and  N. 

subsp.  dasyphyllus,  Rog.   (pallidus,   Bab.) 

I,  2 

—  dumetorum,  W.  and  N.      1-4 

var.  rubriflorus,  Purch.      I 
var.   concinnus,  Warr.      I 

—  corylifolius,  Sm.     2 

var.  cyclophyllus,  Lindeb.     3 

—  caesius,  L.      1—4 
Geum  urban  urn,  L.      1—4 

—  rivale,  L.      I,  3 

—  „       X  urbanum  (intermedium,  Ehrh.)     1,3 
Fragaria  vesca,  L.     1-4 

* —  moschata,  Duch.  (elatior,  Ehrh.)      i 
Potentilla  Fragariastrum,  Ehrh.      1-4 

—  silvestris,  Neck.      1-4 

—  procumbens,  Sibth.     2,  3 


53 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


ROSACEAE  (continued) 
Potentilla  reptans,  L.      1—4 

—  Anserina,  L.     1—4 

—  argentea,  L.     2-4 

—  palustris,  Scop.     2,  3 
Alchemilla  arvensis,  Scop.      1-4 

—  vulgaris,  L.     1-3 
Agrimonia  Eupatoria,  L.      1-4 

-  odorata,  Mill.     3 
Poterium  Sanguisorba,  L.      1-4 

—  ofHcinale,  Hook.  fil.      1-4 
Rosa  spinosissima,  L.      1—4 

—  involuta,  Sm.,  var.  Sabini  (Woods)     4 

—  villosa,  L.  (mollis,  Sm.)      I 

—  tomentosa,  Sm.     3 

b.  subglobosa  (Sm.)     I  or  2,  4 

d.  scabriuscula  (Sm.)     3 

-  Eglanteria,  L.  (rubiginosa,  L.)       1-3 

-  micrantha,  Sm.      I,  3 

-  agrestis,  Savi  (sepium,  Thuill.)      3 

-  obtusifolia,  Desv. 

c.  tomentella  (Leman)      3 

d.  Borreri  (Woods) 

-  canina,  L. 

a.  lutetiana  (Leman)      1—3 

„      f.  andegavensis  (Bast.)      3 
c.   sphaerica  (Gren.)     3 

e.  dumalis  (Bechst.)       1—3 

„      /  aspernata  (Desegl.)      3 
g.  Blondaeana  (Rip.)      3 
i.  urbica  (Leman)      i,  3 
k.  arvatica,  Baker      I  or  2 

—  glauca,  Vill.      3 

e.  coriifolia  (Fr.)      3 

—  stylosa,  Desv.     2 

-  arvensis,  Huds.      1—4 
Pyrus  torminalis,  Ehrh.     3 

[—  Aria,  Ehrh.]     2 
[ —   domestica,  Ehrh.] 

—  Aucuparia,  Ehrh.      1—4 

-  communis,  L.     3,  4 

-  Malus,  L.      1-4 
Crataegus  Oxyacantha,  L. 

a.  oxyacanthoides  (Thuill.)      1-4 

b.  monogyna  (Jacq.)      1-4 

SAXIFRAGEAE 
Saxifraga  tridactylites,  L.      i,  3,  4 

—  granulata,  L.      2-4 
Chrysosplenium  oppositifolium,  L.      1-3 

—  alternifolium,  L.      2,  3 
Parnassia  palustris,  L.      1-3 
Ribes  Grossularia,  L.      1—4 

* —  alpinum,  L.     i 

—  rubrum,  L.      1—3 

—  nigrum,  L.     2 

CRASSULACEAB 

Sedum  Telephium,  L.      1,2 
[ —  album,  L.]    2 
[ —  dasyphyllum,  L.]      I 
* —  anglicum,  Huds.      I  or  2 

—  acre,  L.     1-3 

* —  reflexum,  L.     2,  3 

[b.  albescens  (Haw.)] 
[Sempervivum  tectorum,  L.] 


DROSERACEAE 

Drosera  rotundifolia,  L.      2 

[ —  lungi folia,  L.     (intermedia,  Hayne)  4  (:)] 

HALORACEAE 

Hippuris  vulgaris,  L.      1-3 
Myriophyllum  verticillatum,  L.      2,  3 

—  spicatum,  L.      1—4 

—  alterniflorum,  DC.      3 
Callitriche  vernalis,  Koch 

—  stagnalis,  Scop.      1—3 

—  obtusangula,  Le  Gall     3 

—  autumnalis,  L.  (?) 

—  truncata,  Guss.     2 

LYTHRARIEAE 

Peplis  Portula,  L.     2-4 
Lythrum  Salicaria,  L.     1—4 
[ —  Hyssopifolia,  L.] 

ONAGRARIEAE 

Epilobium  angustifolium,  L.      1—4 

—  hirsutum,  L.      1—4 

—  parviflorum,  Schreb.      1-4   • 

—  montanum,  L.     1—4 

—  roseum,  Schreb.      1—3 

—  adnatum,  Griseb.     2 

—  obscurum,  Schreb.     1—3 

—  palustre,  L.     2,  3 
Circaea  lutetiana,  L.      I,  3,  4 

CUCURBITACEAE 

Bryonia  dioica,  Jacq.      1—4 

UMBELLIFERAE 

Hydrocotyle  vulgaris.  L.      1—4 
Sanicula  europaea,  L.      1-4 
Conium  maculatum,  L.      1—4 
*Smyrnium  Olusatrum,  L.      2 
Bupleurum  rotundifolium,  L.      I 
Apium  graveolens,  L.     3 

—  nodiflorum,  Reich,  fil.      1—4 

c.  ocreatum,  Bab.     2 

—  inundatum,  Reich,  f.      1-3 
Cicuta  virosa,  L.      2 

*Carum  Petroselinum,  Benth.  and  Hook.      2 

—  segetum,  Benth.  and  Hook.     4 
* —  Carvi,  L.      1,3 

Sison  Amomum,  L.     3,  4 
Sium  latifolium,  L.     2,  3 

—  erectum,  Huds.     1-4 
./Egopodium  Podagraria,  L.   1-4 
Pimpinella  Saxifraga,  L.      1—4 

c.  dissecta,  With. 

—  major,  Huds.     I,  3,  4 
Conopodium  denudatum,  Koch       1—4 
Myrrhis  Odorata,  Scop.     2 
Chaerophyllum  temulum,  L.      1—4 
Scandix  Pecten,  L.      I,  3,  4 
Anthriscus  vulgaris,  Bernh.      2,  3 

—  sylvestris,  Hoffm.     1-4 

* —  Cerefolium,  Hoffin.      i,  3 

*Foeniculum  vulgare,  Mill.     2 

Oenanthe  fistulosa,  L.      1-4 


54 


BOTANY 


UMBELLIFERAE  (continued') 

Oenanthepeucedanifblia,Poll.(silaifblia,  Bieb.) 

—  Lachenalii,  Gmel.      1—4 

—  Phellandrium,  Lam.      I  (?),  2—4 
Aethusa  Cynapium,  L.      1—4 
Silaus  flavescens,  Bernh.      I,  3,  4 
Angelica  sylvestris,  L.      1—4 

*Archangelica  officinalis,  HofFm.      3 
Peucedanum  palustre,  Moench  (?)      I 

—  sativum,  Benth.  and  Hook.     I,  3,  4 
Heracleum  Sphondylium,  L.      1—4 

b.  angustifolium,  Huds.     1,3 
Daucus  Carota,  L.      1—4 
"Caucalis  latitblia,  L.     3 
* —  daucoides,  L.      3 

—  arvensis,  Huds.      3,  4 

—  Anthriscus,  Huds.      1—4 

—  nodosa,  Scop.     3 

ARALIACEAE 
Hedera  Helix,  L.      1-4 

CORNACEAE 

Cornus  sanguinea,  L.      1—4 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE 

Adoxa  Moschatellina,  L.      1-3 
Sambucus  nigra,  L.      1—4 
b.  laciniata,  L.     2 

—  Ebulus,  L.      1-3 
Viburnum  Opulus,  L.      1-4 

—  Lantana,  L.     2,  3 
Lonicera  Periclymenum,  L.     1-4 

RUBIACEAE 
Galium  Cruciata,  Scop.      1-4 

—  verum,  L.      1—4 

—  erectum,  Huds.     4 

—  Mollugo,  L.      1—4 

—  saxatile,  L.      1-4 

* —  umbellatum,  Lam.     (sylvestre,  Poll.) 

—  palustre,  L.     2-4 

b.  elongatum  (Presl.) 

c.  Witheringii  (Sm.)     2 
i    —  uliginosum,  L.     1—4 

—  Aparine,  L.      1—4 

—  tricorne,  Stokes     4 
Asperula  odorata,  L.      1—3 

• —  arvensis,  L.     3 
Sherardia  arvensis,  L.      1-4 

VALERIANEAE 
Valerians  dioica,  L.     1-4 

—  Mikanii,  Syme      3 

—  sambucifolia,  Willd.      1-4 
Valerianella  olitoria,  Poll.      1-4 

* —  eriocarpa,  Desv.     3 

—  dentata,  Poll.      1-4 


DlPSACEAE 


Dipsacus  sylvestris,  Huds. 

—  pilosus,  L.      1,3 
Scabiosa  Succisa,  L.      1-4 

—  Columbaria,  L.      1-4 

—  arvensis,  L.     1—4 


1-4 


CoMPOSITAE 

Eupatorium  cannabinum,  L.      1—4 
Solidago  Virgaurea,  L.      I  (?),  2,  4 
Bellis  perennis,  L.      1—4 
'Aster  Tripolium,  L.     2 
Erigeron  acre,  L.      1,2 
Filago  germanica,  L.      1—4 

—  minima,  Fr.     2,  3,  4 
Antennaria  dioica,  R.  Br.     2 
Gnaphalium  uliginosum,  L.      1-4 

—  sylvaticum,  L.     2,  4 
*Inula  Helenium,  L.     3 

—  Conyza,  DC.    i 

Pulicaria  dysenterica,  Gaertn.      1—4 
Bidens  cernua,  L.     2,  3 

—  tripartita,  L.      1—3 
Achillea  Millefolium,  L.      1-4 

—  Ptarmica,  L.      1-4 
[Anthemis  tinctoria,  L.]     3 

—  Cotula,  L.      1-4 

—  arvensis,  L.     2,  3 

—  nobilis,  L.      1,2 
Chrysanthemum  segetum,  L.      2-4 

—  Leucanthemum,  L.      1-4 
* —  Parthenium,  Pers.      1-3 

Matricaria  inodora,  L.      1-4 

—  Chamomilla,  L.      1-4 
Tanacetum  vulgare,  L.      1-4 
Artemisia  Absinthium,  L.      1-3 

—  vulgaris,  L.      1-4 
Tussilago  Farfara,  L.      1-4 
Petasites  officinalis,  Moench      1-3 

*Doronicum  Pardalianches,  L.      2 
Senecio  vulgaris,  L.      1-4 

—  sylvaticus,  L.      1-4 

—  viscosus,  L.  (?)      2  (?) 

—  erucifolius,  L.      i,  3,  4 

—  Jacobaea,  L.      1-4 

b.  discoideus,  Koch  (flosculosus  (Jord.) )  3 

—  aquaticus,  Huds.      1-4 
* —  saracenicus,  L.      i 

Carlina  vulgaris,  L.  I,  2,  4 
Arctium  majus,  Bernh.  1-4 

—  minus,  Bernh.      1—4 

Carduus  pycnocephalus,  L.  (tenuiflorus,  Curt.)     3 

—  nutans,  L.      1-4 

—  crispus,  L.      1—4 

c.  acanthoides  (L.) 
Cnicus  lanceolatus,  Willd.      1-4 

—  eriophorus,  Roth     i,  3,  4 

—  palustris,  Willd.      1-4 

—  pratensis,  Willd.     3 

—  acaulis,  Willd.     1-4 

—  arvensis,  HofFm.      1-4 
Onopordon  Acanthium,  L.     2,  3 

•Mariana  lactea,  Hill     2,  3 
Serratula  tinctoria,  L.     I,  3,  4 
Centaurea  nigra,  L.     1-4 

—  Scabiosa,  L.      1-4 

—  Cyanus,  L.      1-4 
[ —  solstitialis,  L.]     3 

Cichorium  Intybus,  L.  2—4 
Arnoseris  pusilla,  Gaertn.  2 
Lapsana  communis,  L.  1—4 
Picris  hieracioides,  L.  I,  3,  4 


55 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


COMPOSITAE  (continued) 

Picris  echioides,  L.     3,  4 
'Crepis  taraxacifolia,  Thuill.     4 
[ —  setosa,  Hall]     3 

—  virens,  L.      1-4 

—  biennis,  L.      3 

—  paludosa,  Moench     I  or  2 
Hieracium  Pilosella,  L.     1-4 

—  vulgatum,  Fr.      1-4 

—  sciaphilum,  Uechtr.      1—3 

—  rigidum,  Hartm.,  var.   tridentatum  (Fr.)     2 

—  boreal  e,  Fr.      1—4 

—  umbellatum,  L.     2-4 
Hypochaeris  glabra,  L.     2,  3 

-  radicata,  L.      1-4 
Leontodon  hirtus,  L.      1—4 

—  hispidus,  L.      1-4 

—  autumnalis,  L.     1—4 
Taraxacum  officinale,  Web.      1-4 

b.  erythrospermum  (Andrz.) 

c.  palustre  (DC.).      I  or  2 
Lactuca  virosa,  L.      2-4 

[-  saligna,  L.]  (?)      3 

-  muralis,  Fresen.      1—3 
Sonchus  oleraceus,  L.      1-4 

-  asper,  Hoffm.      1-4 

—  arvensis,  L.      1-4 
Tragopogon  pratense,  L.      3 

b.  minus  (Mill.)      1-4 

CAMPANULACEAE 
Jasione  montana,  L.      2,  3 
Campanula  glomerata,  L.      1,3 

—  Trachelium,  L.      1,4 

-  latifolia,  L.      i,  3,  4 

-  rapunculoides,  L. 

-  rotundifolia,  L.      1—4 
* —   Rapunculus,  L.     4 

—  patula,  L.     3 

VACCINIACEAB 
Vaccinium  Vitis-idaea,  L.      2 

-  Myrtillus,  L.     2-4 
Schollera  Oxycoccus,  Roth     2 

ERICACEAE 
Calluna  Erica,  DC.      2-4 

b.  pubescens,  Koch     2 
Erica  Tetralix,  L.     2, 4 

-  cinerea,  L.      2,  4 
Pyrola  minor,  L.      I  or  2 

MONOTROPEAE 

Monotropa  Hypopitys,  L.      (Hypopitys  Mono- 
tropa,  Crantz)      2 

PRIMULACEAE 

Hottonia  palustris,  L.     2-4 
Primula  acaulis,  L.      1—4 
X  veris.      i,  3 

—  veris,  L.      1—4 

•Cyclamen  hederaefolium,  Ait.      3  or  4 
Lysimachia  thyrsiflora,  L.   (?) 


PRIMULACEAE  (continued) 

Lysimachia  vulgaris,  L.     2—4 

—  Nummularia,  L.      1-4 

—  nemorum,  L.      1—4 
Anagallis  arvensis,  L.      1-4 

—  caerulea,  Schreb.     3 

—  tenella,  L.     1-4 
Samolus  Valerandi,  L.      1—4 

OLEACEAE 

Fraxinus  excelsior,  L.      1—4 
Ligustrum  vulgare,  L.      1—4 

APOCYNACEAB 

*Vinca  major,  L.      i,  3 

—  minor,  L.     3,  4 

GENTIANEAE 

Blackstonia  perfoliata,  Huds.      I,  3,  4 
Erythraea  Centaurium,  Pers.      1-4 
Gentiana  Pneumonanthe,  L.      3,  4 

—  Amarella,  L.      i,  3,  4 

—  campestris,  L.      2  (?),  3 

—  baltica,  Murb.      i 
Menyanthes  trifoliata,  L.      1-3 

"Limnanthemum  peltatum,  Gmel.     * 

BORAGINEAE 

Cynoglossum  officinale,  L.      1—4 
* —  montanum,  L.     (germanicum,  Jacq.)  (?)      2 
'Asperugo  procumbens,  L.      3 

Symphytum  officinale,  L.      3 
*Borago  officinalis,  L.      1-3 
*Anchusa  sempervirens,  L.      1-3 

Lycopsis  arvensis,  L.      2,  3 

Myosotis  caespitosa,  Schultz      1-4 

—  scorpioides,  L.     (palustris,  Relh.)      1-4 

b.  strigulosa  (Reich.)     3 

—  repens,  G.  Don     2,  3 

—  sylvatica,  HofFm.      3 

—  arvensis,  Lam.      1—4 

b.  umbrosa,  Bab.      i 

—  collina,  HofFm.     2,  3 

—  versicolor,  Sm.      2,  4 
Lithospermum  officinale,  L.      1-3 

—  arvense,  L.      i,  3 
Echium  vulgare,  L.      i,  2 

CONVOLVULACEAE 

Volvulus  sepium,  Jung.      1-4 
Convolvulus  arvensis,  L.      1-4 
Cuscuta  Epithymum,  Murr.      3 
*— Trifolii,  Bab.      3 

SoLANACEAE 

Solanum  Dulcamara,  L.      1-4 

—  nigrum,  L.      2,  3 

[Lycium  chinense,  Mill,     (barbarum,  L.)]      1-3 

Atropa  Belladonna,  L.      1-3 
[Datura  Stramonium,  L.]     3 

Hyoscyamus  niger,  L.      2,  3 


BOTANY 


SCROPHULARINAB 

Verbascum  Thapsus,  L.      1-3 
* —  pulverulentum,  L.      I,  2 
[ —  Lychnitis,  L.]     3 

—  nigrum,  L.      1,2 

—  virgatum,  Stokes  (?).     2 
'Linaria  Cymbalaria,  Mill.      1,3 

—  Elatina,  Mill.     I 

—  spuria,  Mill.     3,  4 

—  vulgaris,  Mill.     1-4 

—  viscida,  Moench      1,3 
'Antirrhinum  majus,  L.     3 
* —  Orontium,  L.     3 

Scrophularia  aquatica,  L.      1-4 

—  nodosa,  L.      1—4 

'Mimulus  Langsdorffii,  Donn  (luteus,  L.)     1,2 
Limosella  aquatica,  L.      3 
Digitalis  purpurea,  L.      1—3 
Veronica  hederaefolia,  L.      1-4 

—  didyma,  Ten.  (polita,  Fr.).      1—3 

—  agrestis,  L.     1—3 

—  Tournefbrtii,  C.  Gmel.      1—4 

—  triphyllos,  L.  (?)      2 

—  arvensis,  L.      1-4 

—  serpyllifblia,  L.     1—4 

—  officinalis,  L.      1-4 

—  Chamaedrys,  L.      1-4 

—  montana,  L.     1,3 

—  scutellata,  L.      1—4 

—  Anagallis,  L.      1—4 

—  Beccabunga,  L.      1-4 
Euphrasia  officinalis,  L.      1-4 
Bartsia  Odontites,  Huds.      1-4 
Pedicularis  palustris,  L.     2,  3 

—  sylvatica,  L.     1-4 
Rhinanthus  Crista-galli,  L.      1-4 

—  major,  Ehrh.,  b.  stenoptera,  Fr.     4 
Melampyrum  pratense,  L.     2—4 

OROBANCHACEAE 

Orobanche  major,  L.     2,  3 

—  rubra,  Sm.  (?)     2 

—  minor,  Sm.     3,  4 
Lathraea  Squamaria,  L.      1-3 

LENTIBULARIEAE 

Utricularia  vulgaris,  L.     2,  3 

—  minor,  L.  (?)     3 
Pinguicula  vulgaris,  L.     1-3 

VERBENACEAE 
Verbena  officinalis,  L.     2,  3 

LABIATAE 

Mentha  rotundifolia,  Huds.      I 

—  alopecuroides,  Hull.      2 

—  longi  folia,  Huds.      1—3 

—  piperita,  L.      1-3 

—  hirsuta,  Huds.      1—4 

3.  subglabra  (Baker).     1,2 
-  sativa,  L.      I,  3,  4 

—  rubra,  Sm.     2,  3 

—  arvensis,  L.      I,  3,  4 

var.  Nummularia  (Schreb.)      1,4 

—  Pulegium,  L.     3 


LABIATAE  (continued') 
Lycopus  europaeus,  L.     1—4 
Origanum  vulgare,  L.      I,  3,  4 
Thymus  serpyllum,  Fr.      1—3 
Clinopodium  vulgare,  L.     (Calamintha  Clinopo- 
dium,  Benth.)      1—4 

—  Acinos,  O.Kuntze  (Cal.  arvensis,  Lam.)     I,  z. 

—  Nepeta,O.  Kuntze(Cal.  parviflora,  Lam.)(?)  4 

—  Calamintha,     O.    Kuntze     (Cal.    officinalis, 

Moench)      2,  3 
Salvia  Verbenaca,  L.     2,  3 
Nepeta  Cataria,  L.      1—4 

—  Glechoma,  Benth.      1-4 

b.  parviflora,  Benth.     2 
Scutellaria  galericulata,  L.      1-4 
Prunella  vulgaris,  L.      1-4 
Marrubium  vulgare,  L. 
Stachys  Betonica,  Benth. 

—  palustris,  L.     1-3 

—  sylvatica,  L.      1—4 

—  arvensis,  L.      I,  3,  4 
Galeopsis  Ladanum,  L. 

—  ochroleuca,  Lam.     :  , 

—  speciosa,  Mill,  (versicolor,  Curt.) 
-  Tetrahit,  L.      1-4 

*Leonurus  Cardiaca,  L.      I 
Lamium  amplexicaule,  L. 

—  hybridum,  Vill.      3 

—  purpureum,  L.      1-4 

—  album,  L.      1-4 

—  Galeobdolon,  Crantz 
Ballota  nigra,  L.      1-4 
Teucrium  Scorodonia,  L. 
Ajuga  reptans,  L.      1-4 


I.   2. 


4 
2,4 


2-4  (?) 


i,  2,4 


PLANTAGINEAE 

Plantago  major,  L.      1-4 

—  media,  L.      1—4 

—  lanceolata,  L.      1—4 

—  Coronopus,  L.     2,  3 
Littorella  juncea,  Berg.      I,  2 

ILLECEBRACEAE 

[Herniaria  hirsuta,  L.].      3 
Scleranthus  annuus,  L.     2—4 

b.  biennis  (Reuter)      2 
[ —  perennis,  L.]     3 

AMARANTHACEAE 

[Amaranthus  retroflexus,  L.]     3 
[ —  Blitum,  L.]     3 

CHENOPODIACEAE 

Chenopodium  polyspermum,  L.      1,3 

—  Vulvaria,  L.     2,  3 

—  album,  L.     1-4 

b.  viride  (L.).      2,  3 

c.  viridescens,     St.     Am.    (C.     paganum, 

Reich.)     2,  3 
* —  opulifolium,  Schrad.     3 

-  murale,  L.  2,  3 
* —  hybridum,  L.  3 
* —  urbicum,  L.  3 

—  rubrum,  L.     2-4 

—  Bonus-Henricus,  L.      1-3 


57 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CHENOPODIACEAE  (continued) 

[Beta  maritima,  L.]  (?) 
[Atriplex  littoralis,  L.].     3 

—  patula,  L.     1-4 

b.  erecta,  Huds.     1,2 

f.  angustifolia  (Sm.)-     2,  3- 

—  hastata,  Huds.  (Smithii,  Syme)      i,  3 

—  deltoidea,  Bab.     3 

PoLYGONACEAE 

Polygonum  Convolvulus,  L.      1—4 
b.  subalatum,  V.  Hall,      i,  3 

—  aviculare,  L.     1—4 

a.  agrestinum  (Jord.)     3 

b.  vulgatum,  Syme     2,  3 
e.  rurivagum  (Jord.)      3 
/  littorale  (Link)      3 

—  Hydropiper,  L.      1—3 

—  minus,  Huds.      2  (?),  3 

—  mite,  Schrank     3 

—  Persicaria,  L.     1—4 

-  lapathifolium,  L.     2—4 

—  amphibium,  L.      1—4 

b.  terrestre,  Leers      1-4 

—  Bistorta,  L.      i,  2 

[Fagopyrum      sagittatum,     Gilib.      (esculentum, 

Moench)]      I,  2 
Rumex  conglomerate,  Murr.      1-4 

—  sanguineus,  L.      i  (?),  3 

b.  viridis  (Sibth.).      1-4 

—  maritimus,  L.     2  (?),  3 

—  limosus,  Thuill.     2,  3  (?) 

—  pulcher,  L.     2 

—  obtusifolius,  L.      1-4 

-  crispus,  L.      1-4 

—  acutus,  L.     (crispus  X  obtusifolius) 

-  domesticus,  Hartm.  (?) 

-  Hydrolapathum,  Huds.      1-4 

—  Acetosa,  L.      1—4 

—  Acetosella,  L.      1-4 

THYMEL/EACEAB 
Daphne  Laureola,  L.      i,  3,  4 

LORANTHACEAE 

Viscum  album,  L.     2,  3 

EUPHORBIACEAE 

Euphorbia  Helioscopia,  L.      1-4 
[ —  amygdaloides,  L.]  (?)     3 

—  Peplus,  L.     1-4 

—  exigua,  L.     1—4 

—  Lathyris,  L.  (?) 
Mercurialis  perennis,  L.      1—4 

—  annua,  L.     3 


URTICACEAE 

Ulmus  glabra,  Huds.  (montana,  Stokes)       I, 

—  campestris,  L.  (surculosa,  Stokes)      3 

a.  suberosa,  Koch     3 

b.  glabra  (Sm.)     2 
Humulus  Lupulus,  L.     1—4 
Urtica  dioica,  L       1—4 

—  urens,  L.     1-4 

Parietaria  ramiflora,  Moench  (officinalis,  L.) 


3,4 


MYRICACEAE 
Myrica  Gale,  L.     4 

CUPULIFERAE 

Betula  verrucosa  Ehrh.      i,  2 

—  pubescens,  Ehrh.      2,  4 
Alnus  glutinosa,  Medic.     1—4 

'Carpinns  Betulus,  L.      2 
Corylus  Avellana,  L.      1—4 
Quercus  Robur,  L.     1-4 

a.  pedunculata  (Ehrh.)     2,  3 

b.  intermedia  (D.  Don)     3 

c.  sessiliflora  (Salisb.)     2—4 
*Castanea  sativa,  Mill.      2, 4 

Fagus  sylvatica,  L.      1-4 

SALICINEAE 

Salix  triandra,  L.     3 

—  triandra  X  fragilis  (decipiens,  Hoffm.)     2  or  3 

—  triandra  X  viminalis    (hippophaefolia,   Wim. 

and  Grab.)      3 

—  triandra  X  alba  (undulata,  Ehrh.)      3 

—  pentandra,  L.     2 

—  fragilis,  L.     2,  3 

—  alba,  L.     3 

b.  vitellina,  L.      3 

—  alba  X  fragilis  (viridis,  Fr.) 

—  purpurea,  L.     3 

f.  Lambertiana  (Sm.).     2 

—  purpurea  X  viminalis  (rubra,  Huds.)      3 

„  „    f.    Forbyana  (Sm.)      3 

—  viminalis,  L.     3 

X    Caprea  (Smithiana,  Willd.)  (?) 
var.  acuminata  (Sm.)     2,  3 

—  Caprea,  L.      1-4 

—  aurita,  L.      1—3 

—  cinerea,  L.      1-4 

b.  aquatica  (Sm.)  (?)     2 

—  repens,  L.     2-4 
Populus  alba,  L.     3 

—  canescens,  Sm. 

—  tremula,  L.      i,  3 
*—  nigra,  1-4 

EMPETRACEAE 
Empetrum  nigrum,  L.      2 

CERATOPHYLLEAE 
Ceratophyllum  demersum,  L.     2  (?),  3 

MONOCOTYLEDONS 

HYDROCHARIDEAE 

Elodea  canadensis,  Michx.      1—4 
Hydrocharis  Morsus-ranae,  L.     2,  3 
Stsatiotes  Aloides,  L.     i,  3  (?) 

ORCHIDEAE 

Neottia  Nidus-avis,  Rich,      i,  3 
Listera  ovata,  R.  Br.     1—4 
Spiranthes  autumnalis,  Rich.     3 
Cephalanthera  ensifolia,  Rich.      I 

—  pallens,  Rich,      i 
Epipactis  latifolia,  All.     i,  3 

—  palustris,  Crantz     1-4 


BOTANY 


ORCHIDEAE  (continued) 

Orchis  pyramidalis,  L.      I,  3 

—  ustulata,  L.      I,  3  (?) 

—  Morio,  L.      1—4 

—  mascula,  L.      i,  3,  4 

—  incarnata,  L.      1-3 

—  latifolia,  L.  (?)      3 

—  maculata,  L.      1—4 
Ophrys  apifera,  Huds.      1,3,4 

-  muscifera,  Huds.      I 
Habenaria  conopsea,  Benth.      I,  3 

—  viridis,  R.  Br.      i,  3 

—  chloroleuca,  Ridley     3 

IRIDEAE 

Iris  Pseudacorus,  L.      1-4 

b.  acoriformis  (Bor.)      2,  3  (?) 
Crocus  vernus,  All.     2,  3 

—  nudillorus,  Sm.     2,  3 

AMARYLLIDEAE 

•Narcissus  Pseudo-narcissus,  L.      2,  3 
'Galanthus  nivalis,  L.      1-3 

DIOSCOREAE 
Tamus  communis,  L.      1-4 

LlLIACEAE 

[Ruscus  aculeatus,  L.] 

Polygonatum  multiflorum,  All.      i 
* —  officinale,  All.     i  or  2 

Convallaria  maialis,  L.     2 

Allium  vineale,  L.     2,  3 

c.  compactum  (Thuill.).   3 

—  oleraceum,  L.      I,  2 

[ —  carinatum,  L.]  (?)      3  (?) 

— -  ursinum,  L.      1—3 

Scilla  festalis,  Salisb.      1-4 
"Ornithogalum  nutans,  L.     2  or  3 

—  umbellatum,  L.      1,2 
Tulipa  sylvestris,  L.      3 
Gagea  fascicularis,  Salisb.      I,  3 
Colchicum  autumnale,  L.      I  or  2,  3 

[Narthecium  ossifragum,  Huds.  (?)].     4 
Paris  quadrifolia,  L.      1,3. 

JUNCACEAE 

Juncus  bufonius,  L.      1—3 

—  squarrosus,  L.     2,  4 

—  compressus,  Jacq.      1—3 

—  inflexus,  L.  (glaucus,  Leers)      1-4 

—  effusus,  L.     1—3 

—  conglomerate,  L.      1-4 

—  bulbosus,  L.  (supinus,  Moench)      2 

—  obtusiflorus,  Ehrh.      1-3 

—  articulatus,  L.  (lamprocarpus,  Ehrh.)      1-3 

—  acutiflorus,  Ehrh.      1—3 

Juncoides  pilosum,  O.  Kuntze  (Luzula  vernalis, 
DC.)     1,3 

—  sylvaticum,   O.   Kuntze   (L.    maxima,  DC.) 

i,  3 

—  campestre,  O.  Kuntze   (L.  campestris,  DC.) 

1-4 

—  multiflorum,  Druce  (L.  erecta,  Desv.)     2-4 

b.  congesta  (L.  congesta,  Lej.)       2 


TYPHACEAE 

Typha  latifolia,  L.      1-4 

—  angustifolia,  L.      i,  2(?),  3 

Sparganium  erectum,  L.  (ramosum,  Huds.)      1-4 

—  simplex,  Huds.     1—4 

—  minimum,  Fr.      i,  2 

AROIDEAE 

Arum  macula  turn,  L.      1—4 
Acorus  Calamus,  L.     1—3 

LEMNACEAB 

Lemna  trisulca,  L.      1—3 

—  minor,  L.     1—4 

—  gibba,  L.     2,  3 

—  polyrrhiza,  L.     2,  3 

ALISMACEAE 

Alisma  Plantago,  L.      1—4 

—  ranunculoides,  L.      1—3 
Sagittaria  sagittifolia,  L.      1—4 
Butomus  umbellatus,  L.      1-4 

NAIADACEAE 

Triglochin  palustre,  L.      1-3 
Scheuchzeria  palustris,  L.     2  or  3 
Potamogeton  natans,  L.      1-4 

—  coloratus,  Hornem.      i 

—  heterophyllus,  Schreb.      2 

-  falcatus,  Fryer     2 

-  lucens,  L.      1,3 

—  praelongus,  Wulf.     2,  3 

-  perfoliatus,  L.      1-4 

-  crispus,  L.      1-3 

-  Cooperi,  Fryer     3 

—  densus,  L.      1,2 

—  zosteraefolius,  Schum.      1-4 

—  Friesii,  Rupr.      i,  3 

—  pusillus,  L.      1—3 

-  pectinatus,  L.      1-3 

-  flabellatus,  Bab.  (interruptus,  Kit.)    1-3 
Zannichellia  palustris,  L.      1,3 

CYPERACEAE 

Eleocharis  palustris,  R.  Br.      1-4 

—  multicaulis,  Sm.      I 
Scirpus  caespitosus,  L. 

—  setaceus,  L.     2,  3 

—  lacustris,  L.      1-3 

—  Tabernameontani,  Gmel.      I  -3 

—  maritimus,  L.     2 

—  sylvaticus,  L.      1—3 

-  Caricis,  Retz.      1-3 
Eriophorum  vaginatum,  L.     2 

—  angustifolium,  Roth     2,  3 

—  latifolium,  Hoppe      I 
Schoenus  nigricans,  L.      1,2 
Carex  dioica,  L.     1,2 

—  pulicaris,  L.     1,3 

—  disticha,  Huds.     3 

—  teretiuscula,  Good.     2 

—  paniculata,  L.     i,  2 

—  vulpina,  L.     1-4 

—  muricata,  L.      1—4 

[ —  divulsa,  Good.]     2  or  3  (?) 

—  echinata,  Murr.     2,  3 


59 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CVPERACKAE  (continued') 

Carex  remote,  L.      1-4 

—  curta,  Good.     2 

—  leporina,  L.  (ovalis,  Good.)      2—4 

—  data,  All.  (Hudsonii,  A.  Benn. ;  stricta,  Good.) 

—  acuta,  L.      3 

var.  gracilescens,  Almq.      3 

—  Goodenovii,  J.  Gay     2,  3 

-  flacca,  Schreb.      1-4 

-  digitata,  L.      I 

—  pilulifcra,  L.     2 

-  verna,  Chaix      i,  3 

—  pallescens,  L.     3 

—  panicea,  L.      1—3 

—  pendula,  Huds.      I,  3 

-  sylvatica,  Huds.      I,  3,  4 

-  binervis,  Sm.     4 

-  distans,  L.      2,  3 

-  fulva,  Good.  (?)      I 

-  flava,  L.      1-3 

var.  Oederi,  Retz. 

-  hirta,  L.      1-3 

-  Pseudo-cyperus,  L.      1-4 

-  acutiformis,  Ehrh.      1-4 

var.  Kochiana,  Gaud.      I 

-  riparia,  Curt.      2,  3 

-  rostrata,  Stokes      1—3 

-  vesicaria,  L.     I 

GRAMINEAE 

[P.micum  Crus-galli,  L.]      3 
[Setaria  viridis,  Beauv.]     3 
[ —  glauca,  Beauv.]      3 
[Phalaris  canariensis,  L.]      1-3 

-  arundinacea,  L.      1—4 
Anthoxanthum  odoratum,  L.      1-4 
Alopecurus  myosuroides,  Huds.      3 

-  geniculatus,  L.      1—4 

-  pratensis,  L.      1—4 
Milium  effusum,  L.      1,3 
Phleum  pra tense,  L.      1—4 
Agrostis  canina,  L.      3 

-  palustris,  Huds.      I,  3 

—  vulgaris,  With.     2,  3 

var.  nigra  (With.)      I 
Calamagrostis  epigeios,  Roth      I,  3 

-  lanceolata,  Roth      I,  3 
Apera  Spica-venti,  Beauv.     2 

—  interrupta,  Beauv.      3 
Aira  caryophyllea,  L.      2,  3 

—  praecox,  L.     2,  3 
[Weingaertneria  canescens,  Bernh.] 
Deschampsia  caespitosa,  Beauv.      1—4 

—  flexuosa,  Trin.      1-4 
Holcus  moll  is,  L.      1—4 

—  lanatus,  L.      1—4 
Trisetum  pratense,  Pers.      1-4 
Avena  pubescens,  Huda.     I,  3,  4 

—  pratensis,  L.      I 

* —  strigosa,  Schreb.     3  or  4 
* —  fatua,  L.     3 

Arrhenatherum  avenaceum,  Beauv.      1—4 

Sieglingia  decumbens,  Bernh.      1,3 

Phragmites  communis,  Trin.     2-4 

Cynosurus  cr  is  tat  us,  L.      1—4 

Koeleria  cristata,  Pers.      1-3 


60 


GRAMINEAE  (continued) 
Molinia  varia,  Schrank      I,  2,  4 
Catabrosa  aquatica,  Beauv.      1-3 
Melica  montana,  Huds.    (nutans,  Lon.  Cat.,  ed. 
ix)      i 

—  nutans,  L.  (uniflora,  Retz.)      i,  3 
Dactylis  glomerata,  L.      1-4 

Briza  media,  L.     1—4 
Poa  annua,  L.      1-4 

—  nemoralis,  L.      I,  3 

—  compressa,  L.     i,  3 

—  pratensis,  L.     1-3 

var.  strigosa  (Gaud.)     3 

—  trivialis,  L.      i,  3 
Glyceria  fluitans,  R.  Br.      1-3 

—  plicata,  Fr.      3 

—  aquatica,  Sm.      1—4 

—  distans,  Wahl.      I,  3 
Festuca  rigida,  Kunth      i,  2 

—  Myuros,  L.     3 

—  sciuroides,  Roth     2,  3 

—  ovina,  L.      1—3 

—  rubra,  L.     3 

var.  fallax,  Thuill.      i 

—  elatior,  L.      1—3 

var.  pratensis,  Huds.      i,  3 
X  Lolium  perenne  (F.  loliacea,  Huds.)     3 
Bromus  giganteus,  L.      1-3. 

—  ramosus,  Huds.      i,  3,  4 

—  erectus,  Huds.      I,  3 
[ —  tectorum,  L.].     3 

-  sterilis,  L.      1—3 

—  secalinus,  L.      3,  4 

—  racemosus,  L.     3 

-  commutatus,  Schrad.      3 

—  mollis,  L.     1—4 

-  arvensis,  L.      3 
Brachypodium  gracile,  Beauv.      i,  3,  4 

—  pinnatum,  Beauv.      I,  3,  4 
Lolium  perenne,  L.      1—4 

*var.  italicum  (Braun)      2,  3 

—  temulentum,  L.     3 
Agropyron  caninum,  Beauv.      1—3 

—  repens,  Beauv.      1—4 
Nardus  stricta,  L.     2,  4 
Hordeum  sylvaticum,  Huds.      i 

—  nodosum,  L.   (H.  secalinum,  Schreb.,  H.  pra- 

tense,    Huds.)      I,  3,  4 

—  murinum,  L.      1-4 

GYMNOSPERMAE 

CONIFERAE 

Juniperus  communis,  L.      3  (?) 
Taxus  baccata,  L.      1—4 
*Pinus  sylvestris,  L.     2 

PTERIDOPHYTA 

FlLICES 

Pteris  aquilina,  L.      1-4 

Blechnum    spicant,    With.    (Lomaria     Spicant, 

Desv.)     2-4 
Asplenium  Adiantum-nigrum,  L.      1—3 

—  Trichomanes,  L.      1-3 

—  Ruta-muraria,  L.      1-3 


BOTANY 


FILICES  (continued?) 


Athyrium  Filix-foemina,  Roth      1—4 

Ceterach  officinarum,  Willd.      3 

Phyllitis  Scolopendrium,  Greene  (Scolopendrium 

vulgare,  Symons)      1—3 
Cystopteris  fragilis,  Bernh.      i,  z 
Polystichum  lobatum,  Presl.      1—3 
b.  aculeatum,  Syme      1-4 

—  angulare,  Presl. 

Lastrea  Thelypteris,  Presl.     2 

—  Oreopteris,  Presl.     z 

—  Filix-mas,  Presl.      1—4 

b.  affinis,  Bab. 

—  cr  is  tat  a,  Presl.     z 

—  uliginosa,  Newm.     z 

—  spinulosa,  Presl.      1—4 

—  dilatata,  Presl.      1-4 

b.  tanacetifolia,  Moore      I 

f.  dumetorum,  Moore      I  (?),  2 

d.  collina,  Bab.      i,  4 


FILICES  (continued') 

Polypodium  vulgare,  L.     1-4 
Osmunda  regalis,  L.      i  (?)— 4 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum,  L.     i,  3,  4 
Botrychium  Lunaria,  Sw.      1-3 

EQUISETACEAE 

Equisetum  maximum,  Lam.      1—3 

—  arvense,  L.      1—4 

—  sylvaticum,  L.      3 

—  palustre,  L.      1—3 

—  limosum,  L.      3 

b.   fluviatile,  L.      2 

—  hyemale,  L.      i,  3 

LYCOPODIACEAE 

Lycopodium  Selago,  L.     z 

—  inundatum,  L.     z 

—  clavatum,  L.     z 


MOSSES 

The  earliest  references  to  the  mosses  of  Nottinghamshire  occur  in 
the  second  edition  of  Ray's  Synopsis,  published  in  1696.  In  this  work 
Ray  describes  for  the  first  time  as  British  species  Aulacomnium  androgynum 
and  Encalypta  vulgaris,  which  had  been  sent  to  him  by  '  Mr.  Pool,  a 
mercer  in  Nottingham,'  and  '  a  diligent  enquirer  into  Natural  History.' 
Practically,  however,  the  foundations  of  our  knowledge  of  the  moss  flora 
of  the  county  were  laid  by  Deering,  whose  Catalogus  Stirpium,  etc., 
published  in  1738,  contains  references  to  forty-three  identifiable  species. 
Nearly  all  of  these  still  occur,  but  two  of  them,  Ptycbomitrium  polyphyllum 
and  Ginclidotus  fontinalioides,  the  first  possibly  a  mistake,  have  not  been 
seen  by  any  more  recent  observer. 

The  Botanical  Calendars  by  Thomas  Jowett,  which  appeared  in  a 
Nottingham  newspaper  during  1826,  give  localities  for  a  large  number  of 
mosses,  including  most  of  those  mentioned  by  Deering.  Among  the 
numerous  species  recorded  for  the  first  time  was  the  so-called  '  Luminous 
Moss'  (Scbistostega  osmundacea)^  found  abundantly  in  the  sandstone  caves 
on  Nottingham  Forest,  on  a  site  now  occupied  by  the  Church  Cemetery. 

About  this  time  considerable  interest  seems  to  have  been  taken  in 
this  group  of  plants,  and  in  1833  Dr.  Howitt  and  Wm.  Valentine,  F.L.S., 
commenced  the  publication  of  a  work  entitled  Muscologia  Nottinghamiensis, 
consisting  of  dried  specimens  of  mosses  with  descriptive  text.  Three 
fasciculi,  each  containing  eight  species,  were  issued,  but  the  work  then 
came  to  an  abrupt  termination. 

Six  years  later,  in  his  Nottinghamshire  Flora,  Dr.  Howitt  enumerates 
all  the  species  then  known  to  occur  in  the  county,  adding  to  the  records 
of  Deering  and  Jowett  a  considerable  number  discovered  by  Valentine  and 
himself.  Up  to  the  present  time  this  has  remained  practically  the  only 
available  source  of  information  respecting  the  mosses  of  the  county. 

61 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Some  attention  has  been  paid  by  the  present  writer  to  the  moss  flora 
of  Nottinghamshire,  and  has  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  a  considerable 
number  of  species  not  previously  recorded.  On  the  other  hand,  no 
fewer  than  forty  of  the  134  species  given  in  Hewitt's  Flora  still  await 
re-discovery.  A  large  proportion  of  these  should  certainly  turn  up  again, 
but  it  is  probable  that  some  few  were  errors  of  identification.  It  is 
scarcely  likely,  for  instance,  that  such  species  as  Dicranella  secunda,  Dicra- 
noiveisia  crispula,  Dicranum  /ongtfo/ium,  Anoectangium  compactum,  and  Ortbo- 
thecium  rufescens  ever  really  occurred  in  the  county. 

The  moss  flora  of  Nottinghamshire  cannot  be  considered  at  all  a  rich 
one,  only  192  species  together  with  some  two  dozen  well-marked  varieties 
having  as  yet  been  recorded.  The  entire  absence  of  the  older  Palaeozoic 
and  of  igneous  rocks,  and  the  almost  total  absence  of  bog,  combined  with  the 
low  elevation  of  the  county,  largely  account  for  this  comparative  poverty. 

Sphagna  are  rare  as  the  natural  result  of  the  draining  of  the  bogs  in 
which  they  formerly  flourished,  and  the  few  patches  that  still  remain  are 
confined  to  the  margins  of  the  streams  that  run  through  the  reclaimed 
bog-land.  The  most  noteworthy  species  is  Sphagnum  fallax,  which  has 
only  recently  been  recorded  as  a  British  species. 

The  Magnesian  Limestone  is  by  far  the  most  productive  formation  for 
mosses  in  Nottinghamshire,  as  many  as  136  species  occurring  upon  it,  and 
forty-three  of  these  have  not  as  yet  been  found  elsewhere  in  the  county. 
The  best  localities  are  Creswell  Crags,  Pleasley  Vale,  and  the  old  lime- 
stone quarries  about  Worksop,  Warsop,  Mansfield,  Kirkby,  and  Bulwell. 
Among  the  more  noteworthy  species  are  ;  Tetraphis  pellucida^  abundant 
on  tree  stumps  and  banks  at  Pleasley  Vale  and  elsewhere  ;  Pottia  bryoides ; 
Pottia  Heimii,  a  maritime  species  first  found  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  on  a 
brick  wall  at  South  Leverton  in  the  Trent  Valley,  and  subsequently  by  the 
writer  in  a  magnesian  limestone  quarry  at  Worksop  ;  Tortula  aloides  and 
T.  marginata  at  Creswell  Crags  and  other  localities  ;  Earbula  gracih's, 
gathered  by  Mr.  C.  T.  Musson,  F.L.S.,  on  a  magnesian  limestone  wall  at 
Sutton  in  Ashfield,  on  19  April,  1886  ;  Weisia  tenuis,  abundant  on  a 
vertical  face  of  rock  in  a  stone  quarry  at  Mansfield  ;  Zygodon  Mougeotii  at 
Creswell  Crags  ;  Bryum  pendulum  and  B.  pseudo-triquetrum  at  Mansfield, 
etc.  ;  Mnium  subglobosum  at  Sutton  in  Ashfield  ;  Eurhynchium  pumilum  at 
Creswell  Crags,  and  E.  megapolttanum  near  Newstead  ;  Plagiothecium 
depressum  at  G  rives  Wood,  Kirkby  ;  Amblystegium  irriguum  and  Hypnum 
Sendtneri  in  quarries  about  Worksop. 

On  the  Bunter  sandstone  about  thirty  species  are  found  which  are 
peculiar  to  this  formation.  Most  of  the  Sphagna  are  confined  to  it  ; 
Dicranum  montanum  occurs  in  the  Birklands,  Sherwood  Forest  ;  Rhacomi- 
trium  heterostichum  on  a  vertical  face  of  sandstone  in  the  Church  Cemetery 
at  Nottingham  ;  the  beautiful  '  luminous  moss '  (Schistostega  osmundacea] 
is  still  to  be  found  in  the  caves  in  the  Church  Cemetery  where  Jowett  and 
Howitt  first  noticed  it  over  eighty  years  ago  ;  Bryum  roseum,  one  of  the 
handsomest  of  British  mosses,  grows  abundantly  by  the  stream  at  Budby 
in  Sherwood  Forest ;  Erachythecium  salebrosum  has  been  gathered  near 

6a 


BOTANY 


Bawtry  ;  and  Hypnum  cordifolium  occurs  along  the  Rainworth  Water,  as 
well  as  on  the  Keuper  marl  at  Leverton,  where  it  was  discovered  by  the 
Rev.  A.  Thornley. 

The  Keuper  marl  and  Lias  clays  possess  few  distinctive  mosses, 
Fissidens  exi/is,  Tortu/a  paplllosa^  Earbula  lurida^  Welsia  squarrosa,  Mnium 
stellare  and  Erachytheclum  illecebrum  being  among  the  more  interesting 
Keuper  species,  while  Earbula  recuruifo/ia  has  only  been  found  on  the  Lias 
at  Gotham. 

In  the  following  list  of  the  mosses  of  Nottinghamshire,  the  arrange- 
ment and  nomenclature  of  Dixon's  Handbook  of  British  Mosses  are  adopted, 
except  that  in  the  genus  Sphagnum  Horrell's  European  Sphagnaceae  has 
been  followed.  Species  whose  occurrence  rests  solely  on  the  authority  of 
Howitt  and  earlier  botanists  are  distinguished  by  the  addition  of  the 
name  of  the  observer.  For  all  others  the  present  writer  is  responsible, 
and  it  may  be  well  to  mention  that  specimens  of  all  these  species 
(excepting  the  Sphagna)  have  been  submitted  to  Mr.  E.  M.  Holmes, 
and  in  the  case  of  all  obscure  forms  to  Mr.  H.  N.  Dixon  also  ;  no 
doubtful  species  has  been  admitted  to  the  list,  and  the  identifications  may 
therefore  be  regarded  as  authoritative.  The  Sphagna  were  kindly  named 
by  Mr.  E.  C.  Horrell. 


SPHAGNACEAE 
acutifolium,     Ehrh. 


(Howitt     and 


Sphagnum 

Bohler)      2 

—  subnitens,  Russ.  and  Warnst.,  var.  pallescens, 

Warnst.      2 

—  squarrosum,  Pers.  (Valentine)      2 

—  fallax,  Kling.     2. 

—  cuspidatum,  Ehrh.  (J.  Bohler)     2 

—  recurvum,    R.   and   W.,   var.    mucronatum, 

Warnst.     2 

—  compactum,  DC.  (Howitt)     2 

—  rufescens,  Warnst.     4 

—  cymbifolium,    Warnst.,      var. 

Warnst.     2 

var.  pallescens,  Warnst.     4 

—  papillosum,  Lindb.,  var.  sublaeve,  Limpr. 

TETRAPHIDACEAE 
Tetraphis  pellucida,  Hedw.      I,  3 


glaucescens, 


PoLYTRICHACEAB 

Catharinea  undulata,  Web.  and  Mohr 
var.  minor,  W.  and  M.  2,  3 
var.  Haussknechtii,  Dixon  I 

Polytrichum  nanum,  Neck.  (Howitt) 

—  aloides,  Hedw.      I,  2 

—  urnigerum,  L.  (Howitt)     2 

—  piliferum,  Schreb.      2 

—  juniperinum,  Willd.      2—4 

—  formosum,  Hedw.     3 

—  commune,  L.      1—4 

DlCRANACEAE 

Pleuridium  axillare,  Lindb.     3 

—  subulatum,  Rabenh.  (Howitt) 
Ccratodon  purpureus,  Brid.      1-4 


'-4 


DICRANACEAE  (continued) 

Dichodontium  pellucidum,  Schimp.      3 
Dicranella  heteromalla,  Schp.      1-4 

—  secunda,  Lindb.  (Jowett) 

-  varia,  Schp.      1-3 
Dicranoweisia  cirrhata,  Lindb.      2,  3 

-  crispula,  Lindb.  (Howitt)      I,  2 
Campylopus  flexuosus,  Brid.      2 
Dicranum  Bonjeani,  De  Not.     2,  4 

—  scoparium,  Hedw.      1-4 

var.  paludosum,  Schp.      I,  4 
var.  spadiceum,  Boul.      2 

—  montanum,  Hedw.      2 

—  longifolium,  Ehrh.  (Howitt)      I 
Leucobryum  glaucum,  Schp.      2,  4 

FlSSIDEXTACEAE 

Fissidens  exilis,  Hedw.      3 

—  viridulus,  Wahl.      I,  3 

—  incurvus,  Starke      I,  3,  4 

—  bryoides,  Hedw.      I,  3 

—  adiantoides,  Hedw.      I,  2 

—  taxifolius,  Hedw.      I,  3,  4 

GRIMMIACEAE 

Grimmia  apocarpa,  Ehrh.     3 

—  pulvinata,  Sm.      1—4 
Rhacomitrium  heterostichum,  Brid.      2 

—  canescens,  Brid.  (Valentine  and  Howitt)      2 
Ptychomitrium    polyphyllum,    FUrnr.     (Deering 

only) 
Hedwigia  ciliata,  Ehrh.  (Valentine)      2 

ToRTULACEAE 

Acaulon  muticum,  C.M.  (Howitt)     2 
Phascum  cuspidatum,  Schreb.     3 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


TORTULACEAE  (continued') 

Pottia  recta,  Mitt.  (Valentine)     z 

-  bryoides,  Mitt.      I,  3 

—  Heimii,  Ftlrnr.      i,  3 

—  truncatula,  Lindb.     2,  3 

—  intermedia,  Fttrnr.     I 

—  mmutula,  Ftlrnr.  (Valentine) 

—  Starkeana,  C.M.  (Valentine) 

—  lanceolata,  C.M.     \,  3 

Tortulla  pusilla,  Mitt.  (Valentine)      i,  3 

—  ambigua,  Angstr.      I 

—  aloides,  De  Not.      I,  3 

—  marginata,  Spruce     i 

—  mur.ilis,  Hedw.     1-4 

var.  rupestris,  Schultz      I 

-  subulata,  Hedw.      1-3 

—  laevipila,  Schwgr.      i,  2 

—  intermedia,  Berk.      I 

—  ruralis,  Ehrh.      3 

—  papillosa,  Wils.      3 
Barbula  lurida,  Lindb.      i,  3 

-  rubella,  Mitt,      i,  4 

var.  dentata,  Schp.      i 

—  tophacea,  Mitt.      I,  3 

-  fallax,  Hedw.      i,  3 

var.  brevifolia,  Schultz      I 

—  recurvifolia,  Schp.     4 

-  rigidula,  Mitt.      I,  3 

—  cylindrica,  Schp.      I,  3 

—  sinuosa,  Braithw.      i 

—  gracilis,  Schwgr.      i 

-  Hornschuchiana,  Schultz     2,  3 

-  revoluta,  Brid.      i 

—  convoluta,  Hedw.      i 

—  unguiculata,  Hedw.     i,  3 

var.  cuspidata,  B.  and  S.      1,3 
Weisia  crispa,  Mitt.  (Valentine) 

—  squarrosa,  C.  M.      3 

-  microstoma,  C.M.  (Valentine)      3 

—  verticillata,  Brid.      i 

—  viridula,  Hedw.      1-3 

var.  amblyodon,  B.  and  S.      3 

—  tenuis,  C.M.      i 

Cinclidotus    fontinalioides,    P.    Beauv.   (Deering 
only)       i,  3 

ENCALYPTACEAE 

Encalypta  vulgaris,  Hedw.     i,  2 

—  streptocarpa,  Hedw.     i 

ORTHOTRICHACEAE 

Anoectangium  compactum,  Schwgr.  (Howitt)      i 
Zygodon  Mougeotii,  B.  and  S.      i 
Ulota  crispa,  Brid.  (Valentine  and  Howitt)     I,  2 
Orthotrichum  anomalum,  Hedw.,  var.  saxatile, 
Milde      I 

—  leiocarpum,  B.  and  S.  (Howitt) 

—  Lyellii,  H.  and  T.  (Howitt)     2 

—  affine,  Schrad.      I 

—  rivulare,  Turn.  (Howitt)      I 

—  diaphanum,  Schrad.     i,  3,  4 


SCHISTOSTEGACEAE 

Schistostega  osmundacea,  Mohr 


64 


SFLACHNACEAE 
Splachnum  ampullaceum,L.(Jowett  and  Howitt)  2 

FUNARIACEAE 

Ephemerum  serratum,  Hpe.  (Valentine) 
Physcomitrella  patens,B.  and  S.  (Valentine,  1837)  3 
Physcomitrium  pyriforme,  Brid.      I,  3 
Funaria  hygrometrica,  Sibth.      i  -4 
var.  calvescens,  B.  and  S.     i 

MEESIACEAE 
Aulacomnium  palustre,  Schwgr.      2 

—  androgynum,  Schwgr.      1—4 

BARTRAMIACEAB 

Bartramia  pomiformis,  Hedw.      2 
Philonotis  fontana,  Brid.  (Howitt) 

BRYACEAE 

Leptobryum  pyriforme,  Wils.      1-3 
VVebera  nutans,  Hedw.      I,  3,  4 

—  carnea,  Schp.      1-3 

—  albicans,  Schp.      2 
Bryum  pendulum,  Schp.      i 

—  pallens,  Sw.      i,  2 

—  bimum,  Schreb.     2 

—  pseudo-triquetrum,  Schwgr.      i,  2 

—  pallescens,  Schleich.      I  (?),  3  (?) 

—  affine,  Lindb.      i 

—  intermedium,  Brid.      I 

—  caespiticium,  L.      I,  3 

—  capillare,  L.      1-4 

—  atropurpureum,  W.  and  M.  (bicolor,  Dicks.) 

>,  3 

—  argenteum,  L.      1-3 

—  roseum,  Schreb.     2 

Mnium  affine,  Bland.,  var.  elatum,  B.  and  S.     2 
var.  rugicum,  B.  and  S.     2 

—  cuspidatum,  Hedw.      i,  3 

—  rostratum,  Schrad.      1—4 

—  undulatum,  L.      1—3 

—  hornum,  L.      1-4 

—  stellare,  Reich,      i,  3 

—  punctatum,  L.      I,  2,  4 

var.  elatum,  Schp.      i 

—  subglobosum,  B.  and  S.      I 

FONTINALACEAE 

Fontinalis  antipyretica,  L.      I,  3 

CRYPHAEACEAE 
Cryphaea  heteromalla,  Mohr  (Valentine)     3 

NECKERACEAE 
Neckera  crispa,  Hedw.  (Howitt)      i 

—  pumila,  Hedw.   (Valentine  and  Bakewell)     3 

—  complanata,  Hubn.      i,  3 
Homalia  trichomanoides,  B.  and  S.      I 

LEUCODONTACEAB 

Leucodon    sciuroides,    Schwgr.     (Valentine    and 

Howitt)      i 
Porotrichum  alopecurum,  Mitt,      i,  3 


BOTANY 


LESKEACEAB 

Leskea  polycarpa,  Ehrh.  (Howitt)  I,  3 
Anomodon  viticulosus,  H.  and  T.  1,3 
Thuidium  tamariscinum,  B.  and  S.  1-4 

HVPNACEAB 

Climacium  dendroides,  W.  and  M.      1—3 
Orthothecium  rufescens,  B.  and  S.  (Jowett  and 

Eddison)      I 
Camptothecium  sericeum,  Kindb.      1-4 

—  lutescens,  B.  and  S.      I,  2,  3  or  4 
Brachythecium  albicans,  B.  and  S.  (Howitt) 

—  salcbrosum,  B.  and  S.     2 

—  rutabulum,  B.  and  S.      1-4 

—  rivulare,  B.  and  S.     3 

—  velutinum,  B.  and  S.      I,  3,  4 

—  plumosum,  B.  and  S.     2  or  3 

—  illecebrum,  De  Not.     3 

—  purum,  Dixon     1-4 
Eurhynchium  piliferum,  B.  and  S.      1,2 

—  praelongum,  Hobk.      1-4 

var.  Stokesii,  Brid.     2  or  3 

—  Swartzii,  Hobk.     1-3 

—  pumilum,  Schp.     i,  3 

—  tenellum,  Milde      I,  2  or  3 

—  myosuroides,  Schp.  (Eddison)      I 

—  myurum,  Dixon  (Eddison)      I 

—  stria  turn,  B.  and  S.      3,  4 

—  rusciformc,  Milde      I,  3 

var.  atlanticum,  Brid.      I 

—  murale,  Milde     I,  2 

var.  complanatum,  B.  and  S.      I 
—  confertum,  Milde    I,  3,  4 


HYPNACBAH  (continued) 

Eurhynchium  megapolitanum,  Milde       I 
Plagiothecium  depressum,  Dixon      I 

—  denticulaturn,  B.  and  S.      1—4 

—  sylvaticum,  B.  and  S.      1-3 

—  undulatum,  B.  and  S.      I,  2,  4 
Amblystegium  serpens,  B.  and  S.      1—4 

—  varium,  Lindb.     2  or  3 

—  irriguum,  B.  and  S.      I 

—  filicinum,  De  Not.      I,  3 
Hypnum  riparium,  L.      I,  2 

—  stellatum,  Schreb.      I 

—  chrysophyllum,  Brid.      I 
• —  aduncum,  Hedw.      I,  3 

—  Sendtneri,  Schp.      I 

—  fluitans,  L.      1,3 

—  exannulatum,  Gttmb.      I 

—  revolvens,  Sw.      3 

-  commutatum,  Hedw.     I 

—  cupressiforme,  L.      1-4 

var.  resupinatum,  Schp.      I,  3 
„    filiforme,  Brid.     3 
„    minus,  Wils.      3 
„   ericetorum,  B.  and  S.      1,2 

—  molluscum,  Hedw.      I,  3  or  4 

—  palustre,  Huds.      I,  3 

—  cordifolium,  Hedw.     z,  3 

—  cuspidatum,  L.      1—4 

—  Schreberi,  Willd.      I,  2 
Hylocomium  splendens,  B.  and  S.      1—3,  4  (?) 

—  loreum,  B.  and  S.  (Howitt)      2 

—  squarrosum,  B.  and  S.      1-4 

—  triquetrum,  B.  and  S.      I,  3 


LIVERWORTS  AND  SCALE  MOSSES 
HEPATICAE 

The  Liverworts  of  Nottinghamshire  are  only  imperfectly  known, 
few  local  botanists  having  made  them  the  object  of  serious  study.  The 
earliest  local  observer  of  these  plants  was  Charles  Deering,  who  in  his 
Catalogus  Stirpium  (1738)  includes  eight  species,  viz.: — Frullania  dilatata, 
Radula  complanata,  Cephalozia  bicuspidata,  Lopbocolea  bidentata,  Plagiochila 
asplenioides,  Marchantia  polymorpha^  Conocepbalus  conicus,  and  Reboulia 
bemisphaerica.  The  correctness  of  the  last  record  may  perhaps  be 
questioned,  but  the  others  are  all  more  or  less  common  and  widely 
distributed.  Jowett  in  1826  only  added  a  single  species  to  Deering's 
list,  this  being  Cephalozia  (Odontoschisma]  sphagni,  which  he  found 
growing  among  Sphagnum  obtusifolium  in  Oxton  Bogs.  This  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  noticed  by  any  later  observer.  In  Howitt's  Flora 
(1839)  Pellia  epiphylla  and  Metzgeria  pubescent  are  given  on  the  authority 
of  Mr.  W.  Valentine  and  Mr.  R.  Bakewell  respectively.  The  former 
species  is  abundant  everywhere  in  damp  places  at  the  present  day,  and 
the  latter  has  recently  been  gathered  at  Creswell  Crags.  Howitt  himself 
added  four  new  species,  viz.  Kantia  trichomanis,  Nardia  scalaris,  Aneura 
pinguis  and  Metzgeria  furcata ;  of  these  the  first  and  last  are  fairly 
i  65  9 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

common,  Aneura  is  abundant  in  a  quarry  at  Linby,  but  Nardia  has  not 
recently  been  found.  Four  additional  species  occur  in  a  list  of  the 
plants  of  Sherwood  Forest  by  John  Bohler;1  these  are  Cephalozia  conni'vens, 
Scapania  nemorosa,  Blasia  pusilla,  and  Lunularia  cruciata.  The  last-named 
is  one  of  our  commonest  liverworts,  and  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  its 
omission  from  the  works  of  Deering,  Jowett,  and  Howitt.  During  the 
last  five  or  six  years  many  new  species  have  been  found  to  occur  in  the 
county,  but  many  more  doubtless  remain  to  be  discovered.  At  best, 
however,  our  hepatic-flora  cannot  be  otherwise  than  a  poor  one,  owing  to 
the  absence  from  the  county  of  the  conditions  most  favourable  to  the 
growth  of  these  plants.  It  is  therefore  not  altogether  surprising  that  of 
the  220  or  so  species  recorded  for  the  British  Islands,  we  should  at  present 
be  able  to  claim  only  about  forty. 

In  the  list  which  follows  all  species  to  which  no  observer's  name  is 
attached  have  been  collected  recently  by  the  present  writer,  whose 
specimens  have  all  been  examined  and  their  identity  certified  by  Mr.  D. 
McArdle. 


Frullania  Tamarisci,  Dum.     (H.  Fisher) 

-  dilatata,  Dum. 
Radula  complanata,  Dum. 
Porella  platyphylla,  Lindb. 
Blepharozia  ciliaris,  Dum. 
Lepidozia  reptans,  Dum.     (H.  Fisher) 
Kantia  trichomanis,  Gr.  and  B. 
Cephalozia  bicuspid.ita,  Dum. 

-  connivens,  Spruce      (Bohler) 

-  Sphagni,  Spruce      (Jowett) 

-  divaricata,  Dum.      (Fisher) 
Scapania  nemorosa,  Dum.      (Bohler) 
Diplophyllum  albicans,  Dum. 
Lophocolea  bidentata,  Dum. 

-  cuspidata,  Limpr. 

-  heterophylla,  Dum. 
Chilocyphus  polyanthos,  Dum. 
Pedinophyllum  interruptum,  Lindb.1 
Plagiochila  asplenioides,  Dum. 

var.  humilis,  Lindenb. 
Jungermania  riparia,  Tayl. 


Jungermania  inflata,  Huds.     (Fisher) 

—  turbinata,  Raddi 

f.  acutiloba,  Spruce  (=  Jung.  corcyracea,Nees) 

—  capitata,  Hook.      (Fisher) 

—  ventricosa,  Dicks. 

Nardia  scalaris,  Gr.  and  B.      (Howitt) 
Fossombronia  pusilla,  Dum.     (Fishei) 
Blasia  pusilla,  L.     (Bohler) 
Pellia  epiphylla,  Lindb. 

-  calycina,  Tayl. 
Aneura  multifida,  Dum. 

—  pinguis,  Dum. 
Metzgeria  pubescens,  Raddi 

-  furcata,  Dum. 
Marchantia  polymorpha,  L. 
Conocephalus  conicus,  Dum. 

Reboulia  hemisphaerica,  Raddi  (Deering,   Howitt, 

Bohler)     Not  seen  recently  3 
Lunularia  cruciata,  Dum. 
Ricciella  fluitans,  Braun 


ALGAE 

CHARACEAE  (Stonworts) 

The  Characeae  of  Nottinghamshire  have  not  been  systematically 
worked  out,  and  only  five  species  are  certainly  known  to  occur  in  the  county. 
These  are  Chora  fragilis,  Desv.,  which  grows  in  ponds  and  canals  in  the 
magnesian  limestone  district  ;  C.  contraria,  Kuetz.,  found  in  a  pond  at 
Sutton  in  Ashfield,  and,  like  the  first-named  species,  now  placed  on 
record  for  the  first  time  ;  C.  bispida,  L.,  first  recorded  by  Deering,  and  of 
rather  frequent  occurrence  ;  C.  vu/garis,  L.,  also  noticed  by  Deering,  and 
common  in  canals  and  ponds,  with,  occasionally,  its  variety  longibracteatat 

1  In  White's  Worksop,  the  Dukery,  and  Sherwood  forest,  1875. 

1  This  hepatic,  which  is  rare  as  a  British  species,  was  collected  at  Creswell  Crags,  on  17  April,  1899. 

1  Is  it  possible  that  the  following  species  (Lunularia  cruciata)  was  meant  f 

66 


BOTANY 

Kuetz.  ;  and  Nitella  Jiexilis,  Ag.,  first  found  by  Jowett  at  Bulwell,  and 
recorded  by  Messrs.  Groves  as  collected  by  Mr.  H.  Searle  near  Work- 
sop,  in  1885.  Tolypella glomera ta  should  certainly  be  found  with  us,  as  it 
grows  in  a  pond  just  over  the  county  border  in  Derbyshire.  7*.  intricata 
also  has  occurred  in  Yorkshire,  close  to  the  Nottinghamshire  boundary. 

Of  the  Algae,  other  than  Characeae,  practically  nothing  is  known  ; 
they  have  not  been  seriously  studied  by  a  single  Nottinghamshire 
botanist,  and  only  a  few  species  which,  by  their  abundance,  force  them- 
selves upon  the  notice  of  the  collector  of  other  aquatic  plants,  or  are 
looked  for  on  account  of  their  beauty  as  microscopic  objects,  have  had 
any  chance  of  being  recorded.  Vofoox  globator  occurs  in  abundance  in 
ponds  in  certain  localities  ;  desmids  and  diatoms  of  many  and  varied 
kinds  may  be  found  in  profusion  in  suitable  places,  and  species  of 
Zygnema,  Spirogyra,  Oedogonium,  etc.,  are  common.  Cladophora  glomerata 
is  abundant  in  canals  ;  Prasiola  crispa  and  Enteromorpha  intestinalis  are  not 
uncommon.  Chroolepus  aureus  is  sometimes  quite  a  feature  of  damp  rock 
faces  in  magnesian  limestone  quarries.  Nostoc  occurs  in  extraordinary 
abundance  in  the  stream  in  Shireoaks  Park,  and  on  damp  ground  in 
various  places.  Batrachospermum  moniliforme  has  occurred  in  the  lake  at 
Newstead  Abbey,  and  the  curious  Hildenbrandtia  rivu/aris,  which  covers 
stones  in  streams  with  blood-red  incrustations,  is  found  in  the  River 
Poulter  at  Elksley  near  Retford,  and  probably  elsewhere  in  North 
Nottinghamshire. 

LICHENS 

A  few  species  of  Lichens  were  recorded  by  Deering  in  1738,  and  a 
century  later  Howitt,  in  his  Nottinghamshire  F/ora,  gave  localities  for 
many  additional  species,  largely  on  the  authority  of  Messrs.  Deakin  and 
Bohler.  No  more  recent  worker  seems  to  have  touched  these  plants, 
and  the  list  which  follows  is  taken  almost  entirely  from  Howitt's  work. 
The  names  and  arrangement  adopted  are  those  of  Crombie's  British 
Lichens,  as  far  as  published,  i.e.,  up  to  and  including  Urceolaria  scruposa  ; 
the  remaining  species  are  given  under  the  names  they  bear  in  Leighton's 
Lichen  Flora. 


Collema  cheileum,  Ach. 

—  nigrescens,  Ach. 
Leptogium  lacerum,  Gray 

—  palmatum,  Mont. 
Calicium  hyperellum,  Ach. 

—  quercinum,  Pers. 
Sphaerophorus  coralloides,  Pers. 
Baeomyces  rufus,  DC. 
Cladonia  pyxidata,  Fr. 

—  fimbriata,  Fr. 

—  gracilis,  Hoffm. 

—  furcata,  Hoffm. 

—  squamosa,  Hoffra. 

-  delicata,  Florke 

—  coccifera,  Schaer. 

—  deformis,  Hoffm. 

-  macilenta,  Hoffm. 


Cladina  rangiferina,  Nyl. 

—  uncialis,  Nyl. 
Ramalina  farinacea,  Ach. 

—  fraxinea,  Ach. 

—  fastigiata,  Ach. 
Usnea  hirta,  Hoffm. 
Cetraria  aculeata,  Fr. 
Platysma  glaucum,  Nyl. 
Evernia  prunastri,  Ach. 

—  furfuracea,  Fr. 
Parmelia  saxatilis,  Ach. 

—  omphalodes,  Ach. 

—  caperata,  Ach. 

—  olivacea,  L.  (?) 

—  physodes,  Ach. 
Lobaria  pulmonaria,  Hoffm. 
Peltigera  canina,  Hoffm. 

67 


Peltigera  rufescens,  Hoffm. 

—  spuria,  Leight. 

-  polydactyla,  Hoffm. 

-  horizontalis,  Hoffm. 
Physcia  parietina,  De  Not. 

—  ciliaris,  DC. 

—  pulverulenta,  Nyl. 

—  stellaris,  Nyl. 

subsp.  tenella,  Nyl. 

—  ulothrix,    Nyl.,    var.   virella. 

Cromb. 
Lecanora  saxicola,  Ach. 

—  laciniosa,  Nyl. 

—  vitellina,  Ach. 

—  citrina,  Ach. 

—  aurantiaca,  Nyl. 

—  cerin.i,  Ach. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


Lecanora  sophodes,  Ach. 

—  exigua,  Nyl. 

—  subfusca,  Nyl.  (?) 
-  albella,  Ach. 

—  sulphurea,  Ach. 

—  varia,  Ach. 

—  atra,  Ach. 

—  parella,  Ach. 

—  coccinea,  Cromb. 

—  calcarea,  Somm. 
Pertusaria  globulifera,  Nyl. 

—  amara,  Nyl. 

—  velata,    forma     aspergilla, 

Cromb 

—  communis,  DC. 


Pertusaria  Wulfenii,  DC. 

—  lutescens,  Lamy 
Phlyctis  agelaea,  Koerb. 
Thelotrema  lepadinum,  Ach. 
Urceolaria  scruposa,  Ach. 
Lecidea  dubia,  Borr. 

—  quernea,  Dicks. 

—  parasema,  Ach. 

—  coarctata,  Sm. 

—  canescens,  Dicks. 

—  Lightfootii,  Sm. 
—  anomala,  Fr. 

—  lutea,  Dicks. 

—  incompta,  Borr. 


Lecidea  abietina,  Ach. 
Opegrapha  herpetica,  Ach., 
f.  rufescens,  Pers. 

—  atra,  Pers. 

—  varia,  Pers. 

—  lyncea,  Sm. 

Stigmatidium  crassum,  Duby(r) 
Arthonia  epipasta,  Ach. 
Graphis  elegans,  Sm.  (?) 

—  scripta,  Ach.  (?) 
Verrucaria  epidermidis,  Ach. 

—  cinerea,  Pers. 

—  punctiformis,  Ach. 

—  nitida,  Weig. 


FUNGI 

The  Mycology  of  Nottinghamshire  has  until  quite  recently  been  a 
much  neglected  study,  and  although  various  references  to  the  fungi  of 
the  county  exist,  the  records  chiefly  occur  in  obscure  publications  which 
are  not  readily  accessible  and  are  almost  unknown  to  the  majority  of 
workers  in  the  subject.  Our  previous  knowledge  of  this  interesting 
group  of  cryptogamic  plants  has  been  greatly  augmented  by  the  work 
done  in  Sherwood  Forest  in  September,  1897,  by  the  members  of  the 
British  Mycological  Society;  indeed,  the  collections  made  on  this  occa- 
sion have  furnished  the  greater  part  of  the  material  for  the  list  which 
follows. 

The  earliest  writer  on  local  fungi  was  the  talented  Nottingham 
physician,  botanist,  and  historian,  Charles  Deering,  who,  in  his  remark- 
able work  Catalogus  Stirpium,  etc.,  published  in  1738,  enumerates  some  100 
or  more  species  as  occurring  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham.  In 
the  absence  of  figures  or  descriptions  it  is,  however,  impossible  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases  to  determine  with  any  certainty  the  modern 
equivalents  of  Deering's  names  ;  and  his  records,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
do  not  therefore  appear  in  the  subjoined  list. 

During  the  next  hundred  years  a  few  references  to  fungi  appear  in 
local  works,  the  most  important  being  those  by  Thomas  Jowett,  a  Not- 
tingham surgeon,  who,  under  the  pseudonym  of  '  II  Rosajo,'  published  a 
series  of  'Botanical  Calendars'  in  the  Nottingham  Journal  for  1826. 
Those  of  his  records  which  can  be  determined  without  any  doubt  are 
here  included. 

In  1832  and  1833  the  eminent  mycologist  M.  J.  Berkeley  seems  to 
have  spent  some  time  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  noticed  a  number  of  fungi, 
several  of  which  were  new  to  science.  These  he  describes  in  his  work 
on  British  fungi  which  forms  vol.  v,  part  2,  of  Smith's  "English  Flora. 

Nothing  further  seems  to  have  been  done  until  1875,  in  which  year 
John  Bohler  contributed  to  White's  Worksop,  TheDukery,  and  Sherwood  Forest 
an  extensive  list  of  the  fungi  of  that  district ;  and  a  further  account  of 
the  mycology  of  North  Nottinghamshire  is  given  by  the  Rev.  Hilderic 
Friend  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Nottingham  Naturalists'  Society  for  1886. 

68 


BOTANY 

In  this  paper  most  of  Bohler's  records  are  repeated,  and  a  number  of  new 
species  noted. 

In  September,  1897,  the  British  Mycological  Society  held  its  annual 
meeting  at  Worksop,  and  devoted  four  days  to  the  systematic  investiga- 
tion of  the  fungi  of  Sherwood  Forest,  with  the  result  that  some  250  species 
were  added  to  the  fungus-flora  of  the  district.  All  the  specimens  gathered 
on  this  occasion  were  identified  by  Mr.  George  Massee,  Dr.  C.  B.  Plow- 
right,  or  Mr.  Carleton  Rea,  B.C.L.,  M.A.,  who  were  present  at  the 
meeting.  Lists  of  the  species  found  were  drawn  up  for  me  by  Mr.  C. 
Rea,  Mr.  A.  Clarke,  and  Mr.  C.  T.  M.  Plowright,  and  to  these 
gentlemen  my  thanks  are  due.  To  Mr.  Rea  especially  I  am  indebted, 
not  only  for  his  valuable  assistance  on  this  occasion,  but  also  for  naming 
all  my  subsequent  gatherings  of  fungi  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Nottingham,  many  of  which  had  not  previously  been  found  in  the 
county. 

A  detailed  list,  with  localities  and  authorities,  of  the  Nottingham- 
shire basidiomycetous  fungi  will  be  found  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Nottingham  Naturalists'  Society  for  1897—8.  A  few  later  additions  have 
been  incorporated  in  the  present  list. 

The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  adopted  are  those  of  Mr.  G. 
Massee  in  his  British  Fungus  Flora,  excepting  that  the  Uredineae,  etc., 
which  are  not  included  in  that  work,  are  arranged  as  in  Dr.  C.  B.  Plow- 
right's  British  Uredineae  and  Ustilagineae : — 


BASIDIOMYCETES 

GASTROMYCETES 

Scleroderma  vulgare,  Fr. 

—  verrucosum,  Pers. 

—  bovista,  Fr.  (?) 
Cyathus  striatus,  Hoffm. 

—  vernicosus,  DC. 
Crucibulum  vulgare,  Tul. 
Sphaerobolus  stellatus,  Tode 
Lycoperdon  excipuliforme,  Scop. 

—  saccatum,  Vahl 

—  gemmatum,  Batsch 

—  pyriforme,  Schaeff. 

—  perlatum,  Pers. 

—  caelatum,  Bull. 

—  bovista,  L. 

—  plumbeum,  Pers. 

—  nigrescens,  Vitt. 

—  pusillum,  Fr. 
Geaster  Bryantii,  Berk. 

—  limbatus,  Fr. 

—  fornicatus,  Fr. 
Tulostoma  mammosum,  Fr.  (?) 
Ithyphallus  impudicus,  Fisch. 
Mutinus  caninus,  Fr. 


HYMENOMYCETES 

Auricularia  mesenterica,  Fr. 
Hirneola  auricula-judae,  Berk. 
Exidia  glandulosa,  Fr. 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.)  BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.) 


HYMENOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Exidia  albida,  Bref. 
Ulocolla  foliacea,  Bref. 
Tremella  frondosa,  Fr. 

—  mesenterica,  Retz. 

—  viscosa,  Berk. 

—  versicolor,  Berk. 

—  tubercularia,  Berk. 

—  sarcoides,  Sm.    (The  conidial 

stage  of  Ombrophila  sar- 
coides) 
Dacryomyccs  deliquescens,  Duby 

—  stillatus,  Nees 
Calocera  viscosa,  Fr. 
Clavaria  fastigiata,  L. 

—  muscoides,  L. 

—  coralloides,  L. 

—  cinerea,  Bull. 

—  cristata,  Holmsk. 

—  rugosa,  Bull. 

—  Kunzei,  Fr. 

—  crocea,  Pers.  (?) 

—  fragilis,  Holmsk. 

—  uncialis,  Grev. 

—  pistillaris,  L. 
Pistillaria  tenuipes,  Mass. 
Coniophora  olivacea,  Mass. 

—  sulphurea,  Mass. 

—  puteana,  Mass. 
Thelephora  palmata,  Fr. 

69 


HYMENOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Thelephora  terrestris,  Ehrh. 

—  laciniata,  Pers. 
Soppittiella  sebacea,  Mass. 

-  crustacea,  Mass. 
Peniophora  quercina,  Cooke 

—  gigantea,  Mass. 

-  rosea,  Mass. 

—  incarnata,  Mass. 

—  ochracea,  Mass. 

—  cinerea  Cooke 

—  velutina,  Cooke 
Hymenochaete  rubiginosa,  Lev. 
Corticium  sebaceum,  Mass. 

—  lacteum,  Fr. 

—  leve,  Pers. 

—  arachnoideum,  Berk. 

—  sambuci,  Fr. 

—  lactescens,  Berk. 

—  sanguineum,  Fr. 

—  coeruleum,  Fr. 

—  lividum,  Pers. 

—  comedens,  Fr. 
Stereum  hirsutum,  Fr. 

—  purpureum,  Pers. 

—  sanguinolentum,  Fr. 

—  rugosum,  Fr. 
Craterellus  cornucopioides,  Pers. 
Cyphella  capula,  Fr. 

Solenia  anomala,  Fr. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (coat.)  BASIDIOMYCETES  (cant.) 


HYMENOMYCETKS  (coat.) 

Hydnum  repandum,  L. 

-  zonatum,  Batsch 

—  coralloides,  Scop. 

—  ochraceum,  Pers. 

—  viride,  Fr. 

—  udum,  Fr. 

—  niveum,  Pcrs. 

-  farinaceum,  Pers. 
Caldesiella  ferruginosa,  Sacc. 
Irpex  obliquus,  Fr. 
Radulum  orbiculare,  Fr. 

—  quercinum,  Fr. 
Phlebia  merismoides,  Fr. 
Grandinia  granulosa,  Fr. 
Porothelium  Stevenson!,  B.  &  Br 
Merulius  lachrymans,  Fr. 

—  molluscus,  Fr. 

—  corium,  Fr. 
Daedalea  quercina,  Pers. 

—  unicolor,  Fr. 
Trametes  serpens,  Fr. 
Poria  vaporaria,  Fr. 

-  vulgaris,  Fr.  (?) 

-  medulla-panis,  Fr. 

-  hibcrnica,  B.  &  Br. 

-  blcpharistoma,  B.  &  Br. 

-  terrestris,  Yr. 

-  purpurea,  Fr. 
Polystictus  perennis,  Fr. 

-  versicolor,  Fr. 

-  velutinus,  Fr. 

-  abietinus,  Fr. 
Fomes  lucidus,  Fr. 

-  ulmarius,  Fr. 

-  applanatus,  Wallr. 

-  connatus,  Fr. 

-  fomentarius,  Fr. 

-  igniarius,  Fr. 

-  salicinus,  Fr. 

-  fraxineus,  Fr. 

-  annosus,  Fr. 

-  conchatus,  Fr. 
Polyporus  lentus,  Berk. 

-  rufescens,  Fr. 

—  squamosus,  Fr. 

-  elegans,  Fr. 

-  giganteus,  Fr. 

-  sulphureus,  Fr. 
— -  dryadeus,  Fr. 

-  hispidus,  Fr. 

-  quercinus,  Fr.  (?) 

-  betulinus,  Fr. 

-  adustus,  Fr. 

-  caesius,  Fr. 

—  spumeus,  Fr. 

—  pallescens,  Fr. 

—  fragilis,  Fr. 

—  armeniacus,  Berk. 
Fistulina  hepatica,  Fr. 
Boletus  luteus,  L. 

—  elegans,  Schum. 

-  flavus,  With. 

—  chrysenteron,  Fr. 


HYMENOMYCETES  (coat.) 

Boletus  subtomentosus,  L. 

—  impolitus,  Fr. 

—  variecolor,  B.  and  Br. 

—  castaneus,  Bull. 

—  badius,  L. 

—  piperatus,  Bull. 

—  bovinus,  L. 

—  granulatus,  L. 

—  pachypus,  Fr. 

—  edulis,  Bull. 

—  crassus,  Mass. 

—  satanas,  Lenz. 

—  luridus,  Schaeff. 

„       var.  erythropus,  Fr. 

—  felleus,  Bull. 

—  laricinus,  Berk. 

—  scaber,  Fr. 

„    var.  aurantiacus,  Bull. 

—  versipellis,  Fr. 
Coprinus  comatus,  Fr. 

—  atramentarius,  Fr. 

—  niveus,  Fr. 

—  micaceus,  Fr. 

-  macrocephalus,  Fr.  (?) 

—  domesticus,  Fr. 

—  ephemerus,  Fr. 

—  plicatilis,  Fr. 
Anellaria  separata,  Karst. 

—  fimiputris,  Karst. 
Panaeolus  papilionaceus,  Fr. 

—  campanulatus,  L. 
Psathyrella  gracilis,  Fr. 

-  atomata,  Fr. 

-  disseminata,  Pers. 
Gomphidius  glutinosus,  Schaeff. 
• —  viscidus,  Fr. 

Psathyra  corrugis,  Pers. 

-  semivestita,  B.  and  Br. 
Psilocybe  semilanceata,  Fr. 

„       var.  caerulescens,  Cke. 

—  spadicea,  Fr. 

—  foenisecii,  Pers. 
Hypholoma  sublatcritium, 

Schaeff. 

—  fasciculare,  Huds. 

—  elaeodes,  Fr. 

—  lachrymabundum,  Fr. 

—  velutinum,  Pers. 

—  pyrotrichum,  Holmsk. 

—  appendiculatum,  Bull. 

—  hydrophilum,  Bull. 
Stropharia  aeruginosa,  Curt. 

—  albo-cyanea,  Desm. 

—  inuncta,  Fr. 

—  coronilla,  Bull. 

—  squamosa,  Fr. 

—  semiglobata,  Batsch 
Agaricus  campestris,  L. 

„          var.  silvicola,  Vitt. 

—  arvensis,  Schaeff. 

—  silvaticus,  Schaeff. 

—  haemorrhoidarius,  Schulz. 

—  comptulus,  Fr. 

70 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (coat.) 
HYMENOMYCETES  (font.) 

Agaricus  xanthodermus,  Genev. 
Paxillus  lepista,  Fr. 

—  involutus,  Fr. 

—  atro-tomentosus,  Fr. 
Cortinarius   (Hygrocybe)    leuco- 

pus,  Bull. 

—  (Hygrocybe)  obtusus,  Fr. 

—  (Telamonia)  hinnuleus,  Fr. 

„  flexipes,  Fr. 

„  hemitrichus,  Fr. 

„          rigidus,  Fr. 

—  (Dermocybe)  caninus,  Fr. 

„  lepidopus,  Cke. 

„  sanguineus,  Fr. 

—  (Inoloma)  violaceus,  L. 

„          alboviolaceus,  Fr. 
„         pholideus,  Fr. 

-  (Myxacium)  elatior,  Fr. 

—  (Phlegmacium)  varius,  Fr. 

„         caerulescens,  Fr. 

„       purpurascens,  Fr. 
Tubaria  furfuracea,  Pers. 
Flammula  carbonaria,  Fr. 

-  flavida,  Schaeff. 

—  inopoda,  Fr. 
— •  sapinea,  Fr. 

—  picrea,  Fr. 
Galera  tenera,  Schaeff. 

—  hypnorum,  Batsch 

-  mniophila,  Lasch. 
Naucoria  melinoides,  Fr. 

—  badipes,  Fr. 

—  escharoides,  Fr. 
Hebeloma  fastibile,  Fr. 

—  mesophaeum,  Fr. 

—  crustuliniforme,  Bull. 
Inocybe  pyriodora,  Pers. 

—  incarnata,  Bres. 

—  flocculosa,  Berk. 

—  rimosa,  Bull. 

—  asterospora,  Quel. 

—  eutheles,  B.  and  Br. 

—  geophylla,  Fr. 
Bolbitius  fragilis,  Fr. 
Pholiota  praecox,  Pers. 

—  radicosa,  Bull. 

—  pudica,  Fr. 

—  aurivella,  Batsch 

—  spectabilis,  Fr. 

—  adiposa,  Fr. 

-  mutabilis,  Schaeff. 

—  marginata,  Batsch 

—  unicolor,  Fl.  Dan. 
Claudopus  variabilis,  Pers. 
Clitopilus  prunulus,  Scop. 

—  orcella,  Bull. 

—  mundulus,  Lasch. 
Leptonia  lampropoda,  Fr. 

—  serrulata,  Fr. 

—  chloropolius,  Fr. 

—  formosa,  Fr. 
Nolanea  pascua,  Pers. 

—  nigripes,  Trog. 


BOTANY 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.) 
HYMBNOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Entoloma  prunuloides,  Fr. 

—  jubatum,  Fr. 

—  sericellum,  Fr. 

—  majale,  Fr. 

-  costatum,  Fr. 

-  sericeum,  Fr. 

—  nidorosum,  Fr. 
Pluteus  cervinus,  Schaeff. 

„       var.  patricius,  Schulz. 
„       var.  eximius,  Saund.  & 

Sm. 
Volvaria  speciosa,  Fr. 

—  gloiocephala,  DC. 
Lenzites  betulina,  Fr. 

—  flaccida,  Fr. 
Panus  stypticus,  Fr. 
Lentinus  cochleatus,  Fr. 
Cantharellus  cibarius,  Fr. 

—  aurantiacus,  Fr. 

—  carbonarius,  Fr. 

—  umbonatus,  Fr. 

—  infundibuliformis,  Fr. 

—  retirugus,  Fr. 
Nyctalis  parasitica,  Fr. 

—  asterophora,  Fr. 
Hygrophorus    (Hygrocybe)    ce- 

raceus,  Wulf. 

—  (Hygrocybe)  cocci  neus,  Schaeff. 

miniatus,  Fr. 
puniceus,  Fr. 
conicus,  Fr. 
chlorophanus,  Fr. 
psittacinus,  Schaeff. 

—  (Camarophyllus)     nemoreus, 

Fr. 

„          pratensis,  Fr. 
„          virgineus,  Wulf. 
„          niveus,  Fr. 
„          ovinus,  Bull. 

—  (Limacium)  eburneus,  Bull. 

„  cerasinus,  Berk. 

Pleurotus  dryinus,  Pers. 

—  ostreatus,  Jacq. 

—  applicatus,  Batsch 
Omphalia  hydrogramma,  Fr. 

—  pyzidata,  Bull. 

—  campanella,  Batsch,  var.  badi- 

pus,  Fr. 

—  grisea,  Fr. 

—  fibula,  Bull. 

„     var.  Swartzii,  Fr. 
Clitocybe  nebularis,  Batsch 

—  clavipes,  Pers. 

—  odora,  Sow. 

—  rivulosa,  Pers. 

-  cerrusata,  Fr. 

-  candicans,  Pers. 

-  dealbata,  Sow. 

—  gallinacea,  Scop. 

—  decastes,  Fr. 

-  fumosa,  Pers. 

-  gigantea,  Sow. 

—  infundibuliformis,  Schaeff. 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.) 
HYMENOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Clitocybe  incilis,  Fr. 

—  geotropa,  Bull. 

—  tuba,  Fr. 

—  cyathiformis,  Bull. 

—  brumalis,  Fr. 

—  fragrans,  Sow. 

—  Sadleri,  Berk. 
Laccaria  laccata,  Scop. 
Lactarius  torminosus,  Schaeff. 

—  turpis,  Fr. 

—  insulsus,  Fr. 

—  blennius,  Fr. 

—  trivialis,  Fr. 

—  chrysorrheus,  Fr. 

—  acris,  Fr. 

—  piperatus,  Fr. 

—  vellereus,  Fr. 

—  deliciosus,  Fr. 

—  pallidus,  Fr. 

-  quietus,  Fr. 

—  aurantiacus,  Fr. 
— •  theiogalus,  Bull. 

—  rufus,  Scop. 

—  glyciosmus,  Fr. 

—  fuliginosus,  Fr. 

—  serifluus,  Fr. 

—  mitissimus,  Fr. 

—  subdulcis,  Fr. 

• — •  camphoratus,  Fr. 
Russula  Integra,  Fr. 

-  vitellina,  Fr.  (?) 

-  lutea,  Fr. 

-  nitida,  Fr. 

„     var.  cuprea,  Cke. 

—  aurata,  Fr. 

—  puellaris,  Fr. 

—  nigricans,  Fr. 

-  adusta,  Fr. 
— •  delica,  Fr. 

—  heterophylla,  Fr. 

—  azurea,  Brcs. 

—  virescens,  Fr. 

—  furcata,  Fr. 

—  lepida,  Fr. 

—  vesca,  Fr. 

—  depallens,  Fr. 

—  cyanoxantha,  Schaeff. 

—  fellea,  Fr. 

—  rubra,  Fr. 

—  drimeia,  Cke. 

—  ochroleuca,  Fr. 

—  granulosa,  Cke. 

—  foetens,  Fr. 

—  consobrina,  Fr. 

„       var.  sororia,  Fr. 

—  sardonia,  Fr. 

—  emetica,  Fr. 

—  rosacea,  Fr. 

—  sanguinea,  Fr. 

—  fragilis,  Fr. 

„       var.  nivea,  Cke. 
„       var.  violacea,  Quel. 
„       var.  fallax  (Cke.) 

71 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.] 
HYMENOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Mycena  capillaris,  Fr. 

—  rorida,  Fr. 

—  vulgaris,  Pers. 

—  epipterygia,  Scop. 

—  galopoda,  Fr. 

—  sanguinolenta,  A.  and  S. 

—  vitilis,  Fr. 

—  amicta,  Fr. 
— •  iris,  Berk. 

—  Slopes,  Bull. 

—  paupercula,  Berk. 

—  alcalina,  Fr. 

—  ammoniaca,  Fr. 

—  stanneus,  Fr. 

—  vitrea,  Fr. 

—  rugosa,  Fr. 

—  galericulata,  Scop. 

-  polygramma,  Bull 

-  lactea,  Pers. 

-  luteoalba,  Bolt. 

-  flavoalba,  Fr. 

-  pura,  Pers. 
Collybia  radicata,  Relh. 

—  longipes,  Bull. 

-  platyphylla,  Fr. 

—  fusipes,  Bull. 

—  maculata,  A.  and  S. 

-  butyracea,  Bull. 

—  velutipes,  Fr. 

-  vertiruga,  Cookc 

—  confluens,  Pers. 

-  conigena,  Pers. 

-  tuberosa,  Bull. 

-  nummularia,  Bull. 

-  tenacella,  Pers. 

-  acervata,  Fr. 

-  dryophila,  Bull. 

-  ambusta,  Fr. 
Marasmius  peronatus,  Fr. 

—  oreades,  Fr. 

—  erythropus,  Fr. 

-  calopus,  Fr. 

—  Vaillantii,  Fr.  (?) 

-  ramealis,  Fr. 

—  rotula,  Fr. 

-  androsaceus,  Fr. 

—  insititius,  Fr. 

-  epiphyllus,  Fr. 
Tricholoma     albobrunneum, 

Pers. 

—  rutilans,  Schaeff. 

—  columbetta,  Fr. 

-  imbricatum,  Fr. 

-  terreum,  Schaeff. 

-  saponaceum,  Fr. 

—  cuneifolium,  Fr. 

—  crassifolium,  Berk. 

—  sulphureum,  Fr. 

—  carneum,  Bull. 

—  album,  Schaeff. 

—  personatum,  Fr. 

—  nudum,  Bull. 

—  panaeolum,  Fr. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


BASIDIOMYCETES  (cont.) 
HYMENOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Tricholoma  melaleucum,  Pers. 
„         var.  polioleucus,  Fr. 

—  sordidum,  Fr. 
Armillaria  mellea,  Vahl 

—  mucida,  Schrad. 
Lepiota  prominens,  Viv. 

—  procera,  Scop. 

„  var.  rachodes,  Mass. 
„  var.  puellaris,  Mass. 

—  gracilenta,  Kromb. 

—  felina,  Pers. 

—  metulaespora,  B.  and  Br. 

—  cristata,  A.  and  S. 

—  carcharias,  Pers. 

—  granulosa,  Batsch 
Amanitopsis  vaginata,  Roze 

„       var.  fulva,  Schaeff. 
Amanita  recutita,  Fr. 

-  phalloides,  Fr. 

-  mappa,  Fr. 

—  pantherina,  Fr. 

-  muscaria,  Fr. 

—  rubescens,  Fr. 

—  nitida,  Fr. 

HYPHOMYCETES 

Trichoderma    lignorum,     Harz. 

(The     conidial     stage    of 

Hyfocrea  rufa) 
Aspergillus  glaucus,  Link. 
Penicillium  glaucum,  Link. 
Sepedonium  chrysospermum,  Fr. 
Ramularia  lapsanae,  Sacc. 
Torula  pulveracea,  Corda 
Zygodesmus  fuscus,  Corda 
Bispora  monilioides,  Corda 
Helminthosporium     fusisporum, 

Berk. 
Stilbum  tomentosum,  Schr. 

—  fimetarium,  B.  and  Br. 
Isaria  farinosa,  Fr.  (The  conidial 

condition  of  Cordicefs  mili- 
taris) 
Tubercularia  vulgaris,  Tode 

—  granulata,  Pers. 

—  nigricans,  Link. 

ASCOMYCETES 

Ascomyces  deformans,  Berk. 

—  turgidus,  Phil. 
Hysterographium      fraxini,      De 

Not. 
Hypoderma  commune,  Duby 

—  conigenum,  Cke. 
Coccomyces  dentatus,  Sacc. 
Coccophacidium  pini,  Rehm. 
Rhytisma  acerinum,  Fr. 

—  salicina,  Fr. 

—  urticae,  Fr. 
Cryptomyces  aurcus,  Mass. 


ASCOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Cenangium      furfuraceum,      De 

Not. 

Bulgaria  polymorpha,  Wett. 
Ombrophila  sarcoides,  Karst. 
Mollisia  lignicola,  Phil. 

—  stramineum,  B.  and  Br. 

—  cinerea,  Karst. 
Helotium  herbarum,  Fr. 
Ciboria  ochroleuca,  Mass. 
Chlorosplenium  aeruginosum,  De 

Not. 

Tapesia  sanguinea,  Fckl. 
Lachnea  scutellata,  Gill 

—  vitellina,  Gill 
Dasyscypha  virginea,  Fckl. 

—  clandestina,  Fckl. 

—  corticalis,  Mass. 
Geopyxis  coccinea,  Mass. 
Peziza  sepiatra,  Cke. 
Otidea  leporina,  Fckl. 

—  pleurota,  Phil. 

—  cochleata,  Fckl. 

—  aurantia,  Mass. 
Helvella  crispa,  Fr. 
Leotia  lubrica,  Pers. 
Morchella  crassipes,  Pers., 

var.  Smithiana  (Cke.) 

—  conica,  Pers. 
Mitrula  viride,  Karst. 
Spathularia  clavata,  Sacc. 
Geoglossum  glabrum,  Pers. 

—  difforme,  Fr. 

—  hirsutum,  Pers. 


PYRENOMYCETES 

Sphaeria  pulvispyrius,  Pers.  [A 
long  list  of  species  of 
Sphaeria  is  given  by  Bohler, 
but  as  only  the  above- 
named  species  has  been 
definitely  determined  by 
later  workers  it  is  thought 
best  to  omit  the  others  here] 

Hypoxylon  fuscum,  Fr. 

Xylaria  polymorpha,  Grev. 

—  hypoxylon,  Grev. 

—  digitata,  Grev. 

Dothidea  spp.  [several  are  men- 
tioned byBohler  but  require 
confirmation  before  they 
can  be  definitely  accepted] 

Nectria  cinnabarina,  Fr. 

Hypocrea  rufa,  Fr. 

Claviceps  purpurea,  Tul. 


PHYCOMYCETES 

Mucor  mucedo,  L. 
Spinellus  fusiger,  V.  T. 
Pilobolus  crystallinus,  Tode 
Cystopus  candidus,  Lev. 
—  cubicus,  De  B. 

72 


PHYCOMYCETES  (cont.) 

Phytophthora  infestans,  De  B. 
and  other  species  are  re- 
corded by  Bohler 

Empusa  muscae,  Colin. 


UREDINEAE1 

Uromyces  fabae  (Pers.)  (U. 
appendiculata,  L6v.,  Tri- 
chobasis fabae,  Lev.,  Puc- 
cinia  fabae,  Link.) 

—  polygon!  (Pers.) 

—  trifolii    (A.  and   S.)       (Tri- 

chobasis  fallens,  Cke.) 

—  valerianae  (Schum.)     (Lecy- 

thea  valerianae,  Berk., 
Aecidium  valerianacearum, 
Duby) 

—  poae,  Rahb.    (Aecidium  fica- 

riae,  Pers.) 

—  rumicis    (Schum.)        (Uredo 

bifrons,  Grev.)  On  Ru- 
mex  Acetosa 

—  alchemillae  (Pers.)       (Uredo 

alchemillae,  Pers.,  Uro- 
myces intrusa,  Lev.)  On 
Akhemilla  vuigaris 

—  scrophulariae  (DC.).      (Puc- 

cinia  scrophulariae,  Lev.) 

—  ficariae  (Schum.) 

—  scillarum  (Grev.)      (U.  con- 

centrica,  LeV.)  On  Scilla 
festalis 

Puccinia  galii  (Pers.)  (Tri- 
chobasis  galii,  Lev.,  Puc- 
cinia galiorum,  Link.)  On 
Asperula  odorata 

-  calthae,    Link.      (P.    calthae 

and  Aecidium  calthae, 
Grev.) 

—  lapsanae  (Schultz)      (P.  and 

Aec.  lapsanae,  Purt.,  Tri- 
chobasis  lapsanae,  Fckl.) 

—  pulverulenta,    Grev.      (Aec. 

epilobii,  DC.,  Trichobasis 
epilobii,  Berk.)  On  Efi- 
kbla 

—  violae  (Schum.).   (Aec.  violae 

Schum.,  Trichobasis  vio- 
larum,  Berk.,  Puccinia  vio- 
larum,  Link.) 

—  pimpinellae  (Strauss)      (Tri- 

chobasis heraclei,  Cke.) 

—  menthae,  Pers.      (Aec.  men- 

thae,  DC.,  Trichobasis 
labiatarum,  Lev.) 

—  primulae  (DC.).     (Aec.  pri- 

mulae,  DC.) 

—  saniculae,  Grev.  (P.  saniculae 

and  Aec.  saniculae,  Carm.) 

*  The  whole  of  the  records  of  Ure- 
dineae  and  Ustilagineae  rest  upon  the 
authority  of  Messrs.  Bohler  and  Friend. 


BOTANY 


UREDINEAE  («»/.) 

Puccinia  graminis,  Pers.  (Tricho- 
basis  linearis,  Lev.,  Aeci- 
dium  berberidis,  Pers.) 
Teleutospores  on  corn, 
aecidiospores  on  barberry 
(Herberts  vulgaris) 

—  coronata,  Corda  (Aec.  eras- 

sum,  Pers.) .  Aecidiospores 
on  buckthorn 

—  rubigo-vera  (DC.)     (Tricho- 

basis,  Lev.,  Puccinia  stra- 
minis,  De  B.) 

—  poarum,  Niel.      (Aec.  com- 

positarum,  Mart.,  var.  tus- 
silaginis,  Pers.).  Aecidio- 
spores on  coltsfoot  (Tussilago 
farfara) 

—  caricis     (Schum.)        (Trich. 

caricina,  Berk.,  Puccinia 
striola,  Link.,  Aec.  urticae, 
DC.) 

—  sylvatica,  SchrOt.   (Aec.  cora- 

positarum,  var.  taraxaci, 
Grev.).  On  Taraxacum 
qfficinale 

—  suaveolens  (Pers.)      (Tricho- 

basis,  Lev.) 

—  bullata  (Pers.)      (Trichobasis 

conii,  Strauss.,  T.  cynapii, 
DC.,  T.  petroselini,  Cke., 
Puccinia  umbelliferarum, 
DC.,  P.  conii,  Fckl.) 

—  hieracii  (Schum.)      (P.  hier- 

acii  and  P.  composita- 
rum,  Schl.,  Trich.  hieracii, 
Schum.) 

—  centaureae,  Mart. 

—  taraxaci,    Plowr.       (P.   vari- 

abilis,  Grev.) 

—  polygon!,    Pers.       (P.    poly- 

gonorum,  Link.) 

—  oblongata  (Link.)  (P.  luzulae, 

Lib.,  Trich.  oblongata, 
Berk.) 

—  lychnidearum,  Link.  (Puce.  & 

Trich.  lychnidearum,  Lev.) 

—  tragopogi  (Pers.)      (Aec.  tra- 

gopogi,  Pers.,  Puce,  sparsa, 
Cke.).  On  goatsbeard 
(Tragopogon). 

—  betonicae  (A.  and  S.) 

—  campanulae,     Carm.        On 

harebell  (Campanula  rotun- 
difilia) 

—  aegopodii     (Schum.)         On 

gout  weed  (Aegopodium  Pod- 
agraria) 

—  fusca  (Relh.)      (P.  anemones, 

Pers.).  On  wood  anemone 
(Anemone  nemorosa) 

—  adoxae,  DC.      On  moschatel 

(Adoxa) 

—  senecionis,  Lib. 

—  glomerata,  Grev. 


UREDINEAE  (cmt.) 

Puccinia  arenariae  (Schum.)  (P. 
moehringiae,  Fckl.) 

—  chrysosplenii,     Grev.        On 

golden  saxifrage  (Chryso- 
ipknium  alternifiRuni) 

—  valantiae,  Pers.      On  GaRum 

cruciata 

—  malvacearum,  Mont. 

—  circaeae,  Pers. 

—  veronicarum,  DC. 

—  glechomatis,  DC. 

—  cardui,  Plowr.     (P.  syngene- 

siarum,  Link.) 

—  buxi,  DC. 
Triphragmium  ulmariae  (Schum.) 

(T.  and  Uromyces  ulma- 
riae, LeV.).  On  meadow- 
sweet (Spiraea  Ulmaria) 
Phragmidium  tormentillae,  Fckl. 
(P.  obtusatum,  Fr.,  Uredo 
potentillarum,  DC.).  On 
strawberry,  barren  straw- 
berry, etc. 

—  rubi  (Pers.)       (P.  bulbosum, 

Fr.,  Lecythea  ruborum, 
Lev.) 

Phragmidium  subcorticatum 
(Schrank.).  (P.  mucro- 
natum,  Fr.,  Coleosporium 
pingue,  Lev.,  Lecythea 
rosae,  Lev.) 

—  rubi-idaei   (Pers.)       (P.  gra- 

cile,  Berk.) 

Xenodochus  carbonarius,Schlecht. 
(X.  carbonarius  and  Lecy- 
thea poterii,  LeV.) 

Gymnosporangium  sabinae 

(Dicks.).  (Roestelia  can- 
cellata,  Reb.)  On  pear 

—  clavariaeforme  (Jacq.).    (Roe- 

stelia lacerata,  Tul.).  On 
hawthorn 

—  juniperinum  (Linn.).     (Roe- 

stelia cornuta,  Tul.).  On 
mountain  ash 

Melampsora  helioscopiae  (Pers.) 
(M.  euphorbiae,  Cast., 
Lecythea  euphorbiae,  Lev.) 

—  lini  (Pers.).     (Lecythea  lini, 

Berk.).  On  Linum  cathar- 
ticum 

—  farinosa  (Pers.).    (M.  salicina, 

Lev.,  Lecythea  caprearum, 
Berk.) 

—  epitea,    Thum.        (Lecythea 

epitea,  LeV.) 

—  mixta    (Schlecht.).       (Lecy- 

thea mixta,  Schlecht.) 

—  vitellinae  (DC.).     (Lecythea 

saliceti,  Lev.) 

—  tremulae,  Tul. 

—  populina  Qacq.)      (M.  popu- 

lina  and  Lecythea  populina, 
Lev.) 

73 


UREDINEAE  («»/.) 

Melampsora  hypericorum  (DC.) 
(Uredo  hypericorum,  DC.) 

—  betulina  (Pers.) 

—  circaeae  (Schum.).     On  Cir- 

•caea  lutetiana 

Coleosporium  senecionis  (Pers.) 
(Peridermium  pini,  Chev., 
on  fir.  Col.  senecionis 
on  Senecio  lyhaticus) 

—  sonchi   (Pers.).     (C.  sonchi- 

arvensis,  LeV.,  C.  tussila- 
ginis,  Lev.,  C.  petasitis, 
Lev.).  On  Soncbus,  Tussi- 
lago, and  Petasites 

—  campanulae      (Pers.)         On 

Campanula  rotundifofia 
Uredo    quercus,   Brond.      Sher- 
wood Forest  (Brittain) 
Caeomamercurialis(Pers.).  (Ure- 
do  confluens.    DC.)     On 
Mercurialis  perennis 
^Ecidium  grossulariae  (Gmel.) 

—  periclymeni,  Schum. 

—  punctatum,       Pers.        (Aec. 

quadrifidum  DC.).  On 
a  garden  anemone 

—  leucospermum,      DC.        On 

Anemone  nemorosa 

USTILAGINEAE 

Ustilago  longissima  (Sow.) 

-  hypodytes,  Fr. 

—  segetum  (Bull.)       (U.  carbo, 

Tul.) 

-  bromivora,  Waldh. 
— •  utriculosa,  Tul. 

—  violacca  (Pers.).     (U.  anther- 

arum,  Fr.) 
Tilletia  tritici  (Bjerk.)     (T.  caries, 

Tul.) 
Urocystis  agropyri  (Preuss.) 

—  anemones  (Pers.) 

—  violae  (Sow.) 

Entyloma  ranunculi  (Bon.) 
(Gloeosporium  ficariae 
Berk.) 

Tubercinia  scabies,  Berk.  On 
potatoes 

MYXOMYCETES ' 

Ceratiomyxa  mucida,  Schroeter 
Badhamia  hyalina,  Berk. 

—  utricularis,  Berk. 

—  panicea,  Rost. 

1  This  list  is  drawn  up  from  the 
material  collected  in  Sherwood  Forest 
by  the  members  of  the  British  Myco- 
logical  Society,  and  by  the  present 
writer  chiefly  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Nottingham.  A  few  north  Notts, 
records  by  Messrs.  Bohler  and  Friend 
are  also  included. 

10 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


MYXOMYCETES  (com.) 

Physarum  nutans,  Pers.,  and 

var.  leucophaeum  (Fr.) 
Craterium  pedunculatum,  Trent. 
Diachaea  elegans,  Fr. 
Didymium  difforme,  Duby 

—  farinaceum,  Schrad. 

—  nigripes,  Fr.,  and 

var.  xanthopus  (Fr.) 

—  effusum,  Link. 
Spumaria  alba,  DC. 


MYXOMYCETES  («»/.) 

Stemonitis  fusca,  Roth 
Comatricha  obtusata,  Preuss. 
Brefeldia  maxima,  Rost. 
Cribraria  intricata,  Schrad. 
Tubulina  fragiformis,  Pers. 
Reticularia  Lycoperdon,  Bull. 
Trichia  favoginea,  Pers. 

—  scabra,  Rost.      (Massee,  Man. 

Myx.,  p.  192.) 

—  varia,  Pers. 


MYXOMYCETES  (coat.) 

Trichia  fallax,  Pers. 

—  Botrytis,  Pers. 
Hemitrichia  Serpula,  Rost. 
Arcyria  punicea,  Pers. 

—  incarnata,  Pers. 

—  flava,  Pers. 

Prototrichia  flagellifera,  Rost 
(Massee,  Man.  Myx.,  p. 
130.) 

Lycogala  miniatum,  Pers. 


ZOOLOGY 

MOLLUSCS 


The  soil  of  Nottinghamshire  is  not  as  a  whole  favourable  to  the  de- 
velopment of  molluscan  life,  the  bed-rock  of  the  greater  portion  being 
sandstone,  while  the  drifts  that  cover  it  are  not  particularly  rich  in  car- 
bonate of  lime.  Along  the  western  borders  of  the  county,  however, 
where  the  Permian  limestones  occur,  the  land-snails  are  abundant  ; 
whilst  the  streams  everywhere,  and  especially  the  canals,  are  rich  in  fresh- 
water forms. 

Altogether  108  species,  out  of  the  139  known  to  occur  in  the 
British  Isles,  have  been  recorded,  and  one  or  two  more  may  yet  be  looked 
for. 

In  this  list  Hygromia  revelata  is  not  included ;  the  record  of  examples 
said  to  have  been  found  at  Stanton-on-the- Wolds  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Lowe 
being  obviously  due  to  some  error  of  observation.  Pomatias  elegans  is  also 
omitted  as  not  indigenous  now,  though  a  single  subfossil  example  was 
found  at  Scarthing  Moor  in  a  superficial  deposit.  Limncea  glabra  has  been 
inserted,  though  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  its  actual  occurrence  at  the 
present  day,  only  a  single  specimen  having  been  met  with.  Some  forms, 
which  have  only  been  found  in  the  rejectamenta  of  streams,  are  added 
because  they  are  all  small  species  not  easily  found  and  probably  occur 
living  in  the  area. 

One  of  these  last,  Acantbinula  lamellata^  is  an  interesting  species  that 
once  spread  as  far  south  as  the  Channel,  it  having  been  found  in  a  pleisto- 
cene deposit  at  West  Wittering  on  the  coast  of  Hampshire,  but  to-day  it 
does  not  occur  further  south  than  Reading,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
which  a  single  example  was  found  a  short  time  ago.  The  occurrence 
of  this  pretty  little  species  imparts  a  slightly  northern  quality  to  the 
otherwise  typically  British  assemblage. 

An  introduction  of  note  is  Stenogyra  goodalli^  a  West  Indian  form 
that  occurs  in  hot-houses  where  it  has  been  introduced  in  the  soil  with 
plants.  It  was  first  observed  in  this  country  and  described  from  hot- 
houses at  Bristol  by  Miller  ;  it  has  since  been  found  at  Kew  Gardens 
and  in  nurseries  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  Mr.  Pearson  obtained  it 
at  Chilwell  near  Nottingham  feeding  on  the  roots  of  the  bulbs  of 
Eucbaris. 

Two  other  introductions  were  obtained  in  1883  from  Mr.  Thacker's 
orchid  house  on  Blue  Bell  Hill,  Nottingham,  where  they  occurred 
plentifully  in  moss  around  orchids. 

75 


A   HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

The  one  is  an  Opeas,  a  form  closely  allied  to  Sfenogyra,  and  is  very 
likely  the  0.  c/avu/us,  Per.,  of  Mauritius,  while  the  other  is  Zonitoides 
minusculus,  a  widely  distributed  North  American  and  West  Indian  form. 

The  literature  on  the  molluscan  fauna  of  Nottinghamshire  is  some- 
what scattered  and  spread  over  many  years,  but  the  two  latest  papers, 
which  collect  very  nearly  all  previous  information  on  the  subject,  are 
those  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Gain  (British  Naturalist,  1893)  and  Mr.  B.  Sturges 
Dodd  (in  A  Contribution  to  the  Geology  and  Natural  History  of  Nottingham- 
shire, 8vo,  1893). 

A.  GASTROPODA 


I.     PULMONATA 
a.  STYLOMMATOPHORA 

Testacella  matigii,  Fer.      Welbeck 

—  baliotldca,  Drap.      Carlton-on-Trent 

—  scutu/um,  Sby.      Welbeck  Abbey  gardens 
Limax  maximuSj  Linn. 


—  flavus,  Linn. 

—  arborum,  Bouch.-Chant. 
Agriolimax  agrestis  (Linn.) 

—  laruis  (Mull.) 

Amalia  sowerbii  (Fer.)     Highfield  House,  near 
Nottingham 

—  gagatfs  (Drap.)     Tuxford 
Vitrina  pellucida  (Mttll.) 
Vitrea  crystallina  (Mttll.) 

-  alliaria  (Miller) 

—  glabra  (Brit.  Auct.) 

—  cellaria  (Mttll.) 

—  nitidula  (Drap.) 

—  pura  (Aid.) 

—  radiatula  (Aid.) 

—  excavata  (Bean)     Clifton ;   Attenborough       — 

—  nitida  (Mttll.) 

—  fuha  (Mttll.) 
Arion  ater  (Linn.) 


—  circumicriptus,  John.      Hunger  Hill   Gar- 

dens, Nottingham 

—  subfuscm  (Drap.)      Tuxford  ;  West  Mark- 

ham 

Punctum  pygnueum  (Drap.) 
Pyramidula  rupestris  (Drap.) 

—  rotundata  (Mall.) 
HeKcella  virgata  (Da  C.) 

—  itala   (Linn.)      Newark  ;    Stanton  ;    Al- 

verton  ;  Gotham 

—  caperata  (Mont.) 

—  cantiana  (Mont.)    Near  Newark  ;  Stanton 
Hygromia  fusca   (Mont.)      Rare  :     Highfield 

House  estate 

—  granulata  (Aid.) 

—  hispida  (Linn.) 

—  rufescens  (Penn.)     Rare  :  Highfield  House 

estate 


76 


Acantbinula  aculeata  (Mttll.) 

—  lamellata  (JefF.)      Rejectamenta  of  stream 

near  Mansfield 

Vallonla  pukhella  (Mttll.) 

Helidgona  lapidda  (Linn.)       Debdale,    Mans- 
field ;   Cresswell  Crags  ;  etc. 

—  arbustorum  (Linn.) 
Helix  aspersa,  Mttll. 

—  nemoralh,  Linn. 

—  hortensis,  Mall. 
Bu/iminus  obscurus  (Mttll.) 
Cochlicopa  lubrica  (Mull.) 

Azeca  tridens  (Pult.)      Rare  ;   Pleasley   Vale  ; 
Highfield  House  estate  ;  Cresswell  Crags 
Ctecllianella  acicula  (Mttll.) 
Pupa  secale,  Drap.     Nottingham  Castle 

—  angllca   (F6r.)       Grives    Wood,    Kirkby- 

in-Ashfield  ;   Highfield  House 

—  cylindracea  (Da  C.) 

—  muscorum  (Linn.) 
Spbyradtum  edentulum  (Drap.) 
Vertigo  antivertigo  (Drap.) 

tubstriata  (JefF.)  Rare  :  Haggonfields, 
Worksop  ;  Bingham  Moor  ;  Highfield 
House  estate  ;  Cresswell 

—  pygm<zo  (Drap.) 

—  moulinsiana  (Dup.)     Crowhill,  Mansfield  ; 

rejectamenta,  Carlton-on-Trent ;  Darl- 
ton  (one  dead  specimen) 

—  pusi//a,   Mttll.     Cresswell ;  rejectamenta, 

Carlton-on-Trent  and  Bingham  Moor  ; 
Highfield  House 

—  angustior,  JefF.     Cresswell ;   rejectamenta, 

Carlton-on-Trent  and  Bingham  Moor  ; 

Scarthing  Moor 
Balea  perversa  (Linn.)     Local 
Clausilia  laminata  (Mont.)     Local  and  rare 

Cresswell  ;  Pleasley  Vale 

—  bidentata  (Strom.) 
Succinea  putris  (Linn.) 

—  elegans,  Risso. 

b.  BASOMMATOPHORA 

Carychium  minimum,  Mttll. 
Ancylus  fuviatilis,  Mttll. 


MOLLUSCS 


Velletia  lacustrts  (Linn.) 
Limntea  aurlcularia  (Linn.) 

—  pereger  (Mull.) 

—  palustris  (Mull.) 

—  truneatula  (Mall.) 

—  stagnalis  (Linn.) 

—  glabra  (Mttll.)     One  specimen  from  river 

Leen,  Bulwell 

Amphipeplea  glutinosa  (Mull.)  Pond  between 
Beeston  and  Attenborough  ;  Beeston 
Lock,  in  backwater  of  Trent 

Planorbis  corneus  (Linn.) 

—  albus,  Mall. 

—  glaber,  Jeff.    Thoresby  Lake  ;  Clumber  ; 

Cresswell 

—  nautileus  (Linn.) 
-  carlnatus,  Mall. 

—  marginatuS)  Drap. 

—  vortex  (Linn.) 

—  spirarb'tSy  Mull. 


Planorbis  contortus  (Linn.) 

—  fontanus  (Lightf.) 

—  lineatus    (Walker)         Oxton  ;     Highfield 

House  Lake 
Physa  fontlnalis  (Linn.) 

—  hypnorum  (Linn.)    Beeston  Rylands ;  Wil- 

ford  ;  Lenton  Meadows ;  Worksop 

II.     PROSOBRANCHIATA 

Bithynia  tentaculata  (Linn.) 

—  leachii  (Shepp.) 
Vivipara  vivipara  (Linn.) 

—  contecta  (Millett)     Dyke,    Notts    side    of 

river  Idle 
Valvata  piscina/is  (Mall.) 

—  cristata,  Mall.     Local 

Aclcula  lineata  (Drap.)     Rejectamenta,  Cress- 
well  Crags 
Neritina  fluviatllh  (Linn.) 


B.  PELECYPODA 


Dreissensia  polymorpha  (Pall.) 
Unto  pictorum  (Linn.) 

—  tumidus,  Retz. 
Anodonta  cygneea  (Linn.) 
Sph&rium  rivlcola  (Leach) 

—  corneum  (Linn.) 

—  ovale  (F^r.)      Nottingham  Canal ;   Marn- 

ham 
—  lacuitre  (Mall.) 


Pisldium  amnicum  (Mall.) 

—  pusillum   (Gmel.) 

—  nitidum,  Jenyns. 

—  fontinale  (Drap.)       Besides  the  type,  the 

var.  hendowiana  occurs  at  Retford  and 
Shireoaks,  and  the  var.  pulchella  at 
Beeston,  Stanton  and  Thoresby  Lake 

—  mlllum  (Held.)       Clumber  Lake  ;   Mans- 

field ;  Attenborough 


77 


INSECTS 


APTERA 

The  insects  belonging  to  this  order  are  small,  soft-bodied,  wingless  creatures  with  no  meta- 
morphosis, and  exhibiting  throughout  life  a  very  general  resemblance  to  the  larval  stage  of  many 
insects  of  higher  groups.  The  antennae  are  often  large,  and  while  all  possess  the  three  pairs  of 
thoracic  legs  characteristic  of  insects  in  general,  some  have  in  addition  short  limb-like  abdominal 
appendages  and  a  pair  of  long  bristle-like  processes  at  the  hind  end  of  the  body.  Others  are 
provided  with  a  pair  of  abdominal  appendages  modified  into  a  springing  or  leaping  apparatus  ;  many 
possess  on  the  under  side  of  the  first  abdominal  segment  a  peculiar  structure  of  doubtful  function, 
known  as  the  ventral  tube;  and  some  again  have  the  body  thickly  clothed  with  scales,  very  similar 
to  those  of  Lepidoptera. 

The  order  Aptera  comprises  the  two  sub-orders  Thysanura  (bristle-tails)  and  Collembola  (spring- 
tails).  The  Thysanura  have  the  abdomen  divided  into  ten  segments,  some  of  which — the  number 
varies  in  different  genera — bear  short  paired  limb-like  appendages,  while  the  last  segment  has  a  pair 
of  processes  or  cerci  which  are  generally  long,  slender,  many-jointed,  and  antenna-like,  but  in 
one  family  form  a  pair  of  forceps  somewhat  like  those  of  earwigs.  A  single  median  tail  appendage, 
similar  to  the  cerci,  occurs  in  some  forms. 

Of  the  five  recorded  British  species  of  Thysanura  four  have  occurred  in  Nottinghamshire. 
The  best  known  of  these  is  the  common  and  active  little  '  silver  fish '  (Lephma  sacckarina), 
found  commonly  in  kitchens  and  bakehouses  in  Nottingham  and  elsewhere.  Lephma  (or  Thermobia) 
domestica  has  recently  (November,  1 904)  been  sent  to  me  from  West  Bridgford,  Nottingham,  where 
it  occurs  in  abundance  among  cinders  under  fire-grates  in  a  dwelling-house.  The  curious  Campodea 
stapbylinus,  a  tiny  white  fragile  insect  suggesting  a  minute  Myriapod  in  appearance  and  movements, 
is  found  very  frequently  under  stones  and  logs  and  among  damp  loose  soil  in  gardens  and  fields 
throughout  the  county.  Mach'llis  polypoda  is  common  under  stones  in  quarries  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  Magnesian  Limestone  district.  The  remaining  British  species,  Machilh  marittma,  is  confined 
to  the  coast,  where  it  occurs  under  stones  at  and  above  high-water  mark. 

The  Collembola  have  only  six  abdominal  segments,  the  first  of  these  bearing  a  ventral  tube  or 
papilla  from  which  in  some  species  a  pair  of  long  delicate  tubes  or  vesicles  can  be  protruded.  The 
function  of  this  ventral  tube  is  far  from  being  satisfactorily  settled.  It  has  been  suggested  that  it 
may  assist  the  insect  to  adhere  to  smooth  vertical  surfaces,  or  may  be  a  respiratory  organ.  The 
'spring'  is  situated  on  the  under  side  of  the  fourth  or  fifth  segment  of  the  abdomen,  and  consists  of 
a  basal  unpaired  portion  and  two  free  limbs.  When  not  in  use  the  spring  lies  parallel  with  the 
body,  with  the  limbs  or  prongs  pointing  forward,  and,  in  some  genera  at  least,  is  kept  in  place  by 
a  '  catch  '  situated  on  the  third  abdominal  segment.  When  the  catch  is  removed  the  elastic  spring 
suddenly  extends,  so  that  the  limbs  now  point  backward,  and  the  insect  is  thus  shot  into  the  air. 
Besides  this  mode  of  progression  by  successive  rapid  leaps,  most  of  the  Collembola  can  run  actively. 

In  some  springtails  the  body  is  clothed  with  hairs,  in  others  with  flattened  scales.  The  colour 
varies  considerably,  some  species  being  pure  white,  others  black,  while  various  bright — often  metallic 
— tints  occur,  and  some  species  are  beautifully  variegated.  They  occur  abundantly  under  bark, 
rotten  wood,  stones,  amongst  moss  and  foliage,  in  damp  earth,  etc.  A  few  inhabit  the  surface  of 
stagnant  water,  and  one  species  at  least  is  confined  to  the  sea-shore.  Their  food  appears  to  consist 
chiefly  of  decaying  vegetable  matter,  but  several  species  have  recently  attracted  notice  by  their  injuries 
to  the  roots  and  other  parts  of  cultivated  plants.  Unlike  the  Thysanura,  the  Collembola  are  not 
at  all  intolerant  of  cold,  and  may  be  collected  throughout  the  winter.  Several  species  indeed  occur 
in  Spitsbergen,  in  Franz  Josef  Land,  and  on  the  Antarctic  continent. 

Extensive  materials  for  a  list  of  Nottinghamshire  Collembola  exist  in  the  writer's  collection, 
but  as  they  have  not  yet  been  worked  out  no  detailed  account  of  them  can  be  given  here.  The 
following  species  have,  however,  been  identified  by  Professor  G.  H.  Carpenter  in  material  submitted 
to  him. 

1  The  nomenclature  and  arrangement  adopted  for  the  orders  of  insects  are  those  of  Dr.  Sharp  in  the 
Camb.  Nat.  Hist. 

79 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

SMINTHURIDAE  ENTOMOBRYIDAE  (continued) 

Sminthurus  viridis  (Linn.).    Ollertm  Orchesella  cincta  (Linn.).     Very  common  everywhere 

Papirius  cursor,  Lubb.       Wollaton  —  villosa    (Geoff.).      Rather   widely   distributed  and 

—  ornatus,  Nic.     Oxton  Bogs ;  Strelley ;  Arnold  not  uncommon 

—  minutus  (O.  Fabr.).     Oxton  Bogs  Isotoma  viridis,  Bourlet.     Common  and  widely  dis- 

tributed 

ENTOMOBRYIDAE  —  palustris    (Mall.).     Nottingham  ;  Day brook ;    Best- 

Tomocerus  vulgaris  (Tullb.).     Bulwell  Wood  «">°<*  P«rk  ;  Burton  Joyce 

—  tridentiferus  (Tullb.).     Generally  distributed  and  —  nrnetaria  (Linn.).     Nottingham,  under  flower-pots 

very  common  'n  garden 
Lepidocyrtus    curvicollis,    Bourlet.     Nottingham    (in 

cellar  of  house)  ACHORUTIDAE 

—  lanugmosus  (Gmel.).     Widmerpool ;  Burton  Joyce, 

etc.  Achorutes  viaticus  (Linn.).1) 


etc.  Achorutes  viaticus  (Linn.). ^     .,       ,            ,        ,        . 

/r_  ...  .       „      ..  T.               L   i        /T  •      \     I    Abundant  under  a  board 

cyaneus  (Tullb.).     Strelley.  Lipura  ambulans  (Linn.).    }   . 

L         •    i-    /T  •      \  \  •         •    T>  nu                   in  a  garden  at  Bramcote 

tomobrya  nivahs  (Linn.).  ^  ...            ..    ,.     .,        ,      —  mermis,  Tullb.              ) 

—  muscorum  (Nic.).             I  AU generaiy di         ited      Neannii mnKornm (Temri.)     Mapperley  Park  ;  Bas- 

.  ..     .    v  „,'„,  .  and  fairly  common                    ,.    ,                   \         r  /          rr      j 

—  multifasciata  (Tullb.).      )  '                                ford,  etc. 


ORTHOPTERA 

The  British  insects  of  this  order  belong  to  the  families  Forficulldae  (Earwigs),  Blattidae 
(Cockroaches),  Acridiidae  (Grasshoppers),  Locustidae  (Green  Grasshoppers),  and  Gryllidae  (Crickets). 
The  remarkable  Praying  insects  (Mantidae)  and  Stick  and  Leaf  insects  (Phasmidae\  which  also 
belong  to  this  order,  are  unrepresented  in  the  British  Islands.  In  Nottinghamshire  the  Orthoptera 
have  hitherto  received  very  little  attention,  and  only  sixteen  species  are  on  record  for  the  county. 
Even  of  this  small  number  we  can  only  claim  ten  as  truly  native  species,  all  our  local  Blattidae 
having  been  introduced  by  human  agency.  We  have  two  members  of  the  Forficulidae,  the  common 
and  the  lesser  earwigs.  The  former  is  strictly  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  fact 
that  although  possessed  of  most  beautiful  and  elaborate  wings  it  apparently  rarely  or  never  uses  them, 
while  the  lesser  earwig  may  often  be  seen  flying  freely  in  the  daylight.  The  truly  British  species 
of  Cockroaches,  belonging  to  the  genus  Ectobia,  are  only  three  in  number,  and  none  of  these  have 
so  far  been  detected  in  Nottinghamshire.  They  are  relatively  small  insects  found  among  dry  leaves 
and  moss  and  about  the  undergrowth  in  woods.  The  other  species  which  are  found  here  attach 
themselves  to  human  habitations,  greenhouses,  and  other  places  where  artificial  warmth  is  provided  ; 
of  these  the  common  cockroach  or  '  black-beetle,'  found  only  too  abundantly  in  kitchens  and  bake- 
houses, is  the  most  familiar  ;  but  several  other  species  occur,  having  been  introduced  with  vegetable 
or  other  produce  from  abroad. 

The  Grasshoppers  (Acridiidae]  are  also  well-known  insects,  both  on  account  of  their  jumping 
powers  and  their  cheerful  chirping  notes  ;  we  possess  most  of  the  commoner  species.  Two  species 
of  the  migratory  locusts  (Acridium  aegyptlum  and  Schistocerca  peregrma)  have  occurred  in  the  county, 
the  latter  apparently  as  a  voluntary  immigrant,  the  former  as  a  mere  casual  imported  with  fruit. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Locustidae  and  Gryllidae  are  very  poorly  represented  in  Nottinghamshire, 
only  two  species  of  the  former  and  one  of  the  latter  group  having  as  yet  been  found. 

A  nearly  complete  list  with  localities  and  authorities  is  given  by  Mr.  Eland  Shaw  in  the 
Entomologist's  Monthly  Magazine  for  April,  1903,  and  forms  the  basis  of  the  list  which  follows. 

FORFICULIDAE 

Earwigs 

Labia  minor,  Linn.     Nottingham  and  RetforJ  districts 

Forficula  auricularia,  Linn.     This,  the  common  earwig,  is  abundant  everywhere 

BLATTIDAE 

Cockroaches 

Periplaneta  americana,  Linn.     Worksop  (J.  T.  Hough-  Stylopyga  decorata,  Brunner.     This  handsome  species 

ton)  — an  accidental  importation — has  been  taken  at 

—   australasiae,    Fab.       In    greenhouses    at  Wiseton  Worksop  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Hough  ton 

(E.  Shaw)  Panchlora    exoleta,   Klug.     Nottingham  and   Worksop, 

Stylopyga   orientalis.     The    common    cockroach    or  I9°3  »  probably  brought  from  the  West  Indies 

'  black-beetle  '  is  abundant  in  bananas 

80 


Stenobothrus  viridulus,  Linn. 

—  bicolor,  Charp. 

—  parallelus,  Zett. 
Gomphocerus  maculatus,  Thunb. 


INSECTS 

ACRIDIIDAE 

Grasshoppers 

All  of  these  have  and  is  supposed  to  have  been   imported  with 

been      taken       in  bananas  from  the  Canary  Isles 

various     localities,  Schistocerca    peregrina,   Oliv.     This    North    African 

and    are    probably  locust     visited     England    in     1869,  and    was 

common  through-  taken    in    many    English    counties,    including 


out  the  county.  Nottinghamshire.        (Roebuck     in     Naturalist, 

Acridium  aegyptium,  Linn.     A   fine  specimen  of  this,  1876— 7,  p.  izgetseq.) 

the  largest  of  the    European  Acridiidae,  was  Tettix    bipunctatus,    Linn.      Burton  Joyce   and  Ret- 

captured  in  Nottingham  market-place  in  1902,  ford 

LOCUSTIDAE 

Green  or  Long-horned  Grasshoppers 

Leptophyes  punctatissima,  Bosc.     N.  and  S.  Leverton  ;  Tresviell  Wood  ;  Colston  Bassett 
Meconema  varium,  Fab.       Aspley  and  Tresivell  Woods 

GRYLLIDAE 
Crickets 

Gryllus   domesticus,    Linn.      The  common  cricket  occurs  in  houses  in  Nottingham  and  Retford  (and  doubtless 
elsewhere) 

NEUROPTERA 

This  order,  as  usually  defined,  is  a  somewhat  heterogeneous  assemblage  of  insects  which  are 
provided  in  most  cases  with  two  pairs  of  thin  semi-transparent  membranous  wings  with  net-like 
venation.  It  includes  among  others  the  Stone-flies  [Perlldae\  Dragon-flies  (Odonata),  May-flies 
(Ephemeridae),  Alder-flies  and  Snake-flies  (Sia/idaej,  Scorpion-flies  (Panorpidae),  Lacewing-flies 
(Hemerobiidae),  and  Caddis-flies  (Trichapttra). 

The  Stone-flies  may  be  known  by  the  long  narrow  fore-wings  and  the  much  larger  and 
broader  hind-wings  which  are  folded  in  repose.  The  larvae  are  aquatic,  and  found  chiefly  in 
swiftly-running  streams  and  about  waterfalls  ;  hence  we  have  very  few  species  in  Nottinghamshire, 
where  such  conditions  scarcely  exist.  The  Dragon-flies  are  perhaps  the  best  known  of  the 
Neuroptera,  owing  to  their  conspicuous  colouring  and  rapid  flight  while  hawking  for  insects  in  the 
sunshine.  They  are  easily  recognized  by  their  large  and  very  mobile  head  with  tiny,  bristle-like 
antennae,  large  eyes,  long  slender  abdomen,  and  wings  of  nearly  equal  size,  which  have  a  transparent 
glassy  appearance  and  cannot  be  folded  when  the  insect  is  at  rest.  About  a  dozen  species  have  been 
taken  in  the  county.  In  the  May-flies  the  fore-wings  are  very  much  larger  than  the  hind-wings, 
which  indeed  are  sometimes  wanting  ;  the  venation  is  very  close  and  complex  ;  the  antennae  are 
very  small,  and  the  body  bears  at  its  hinder  extremity  two  or  three  very  long  slender  tails.  The 
larvae  are  aquatic,  but  unlike  the  exclusively  carnivorous  stone-flies  and  dragon-flies  their  food  is 
largely  vegetable.  The  adult  insect  takes  no  food  during  its  brief  life. 

The  Alder-flies  (Sialides)  have  a  squarish  head,  bearing  a  pair  of  rather  long  antennae  ;  the 
wings  are  similar  in  character,  the  hinder  pair  being  rather  the  smaller  ;  in  repose  they  meet 
together  over  the  back  like  a  roof,  after  the  fashion  of  those  of  a  noctuid  moth.  The  larvae  are 
aquatic  and  carnivorous.  Stalls  tutaria,  a  sober-looking  insect  with  black  body  and  pale  brown 
wings,  is  very  common  amongst  the  vegetation  about  canals,  slow  streams,  and  ponds.  The  Snake- 
flies  (Raphidiides)  are  easily  recognized  by  the  long  constricted  neck  formed  by  the  elongation  of  the 
prothorax  and  hinder  part  of  the  head.  The  larvae  are  terrestrial,  living  in  rotten  wood  and  feeding 
upon  other  insects.  The  Scorpion-flies  (Panorpa)  are  distinguished  by  the  prominent  beak-like 
prolongation  of  the  head,  and — in  the  males — by  the  terminal  segments  of  the  abdomen  being 
curved  up  like  the  tail  of  a  scorpion.  The  antennae  are  long  and  slender,  and  the  wings  narrow 
and  shining.  The  fore-wings  are  only  slightly  larger  than  the  others.  The  larvae  are  terrestrial, 
very  similar  to  those  of  the  Saw-flies,  and  as  well  as  the  flies  are  carnivorous.  The  Hemeroiiidae, 
to  which  family  the  beautiful  Lace-wing  flies  or  '  golden  eyes '  (Chrysopa)  belong,  are  useful  insects, 
inasmuch  as  the  larvae  feed  exclusively  on  aphides  or  '  green  fly,'  whose  juices  they  suck.  The 
larvae  of  some  of  the  species  of  both  Hemerobius  and  Chrysopa  have  the  curious  habit  of  covering 
themselves  with  the  empty  skins  of  the  aphides  that  they  have  sucked  dry. 

The  Caddis-flies  have  the  wings  clothed  with  hairs,  a  feature  which  at  once  distinguishes  them 
from  all  other  Neuroptera  5  in  repose  the  wings  meet  at  an  angle,  roof-like,  over  the  back,  and  this 
i  81  ii 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

attitude  combined  with  their  hairy  covering  gives  the  insects  a  moth-like  appearance.  The  hind- 
wings  are  rather  shorter  but  broader  than  the  fore-wings,  and  have  a  folding  anal  area.  The 
antennae  are  many-jointed,  long,  and  slender.  Caddis-flies  have  very  feeble  powers  of  flight,  and 
are  never  found  far  from  water.  The  larvae  are  aquatic  and  inhabit  cases,  constructed  by  them- 
selves, of  small  stones  or  shells,  grains  of  sand,  bits  of  stems  and  leaves  of  water-plants,  etc.  ;  their 
food  is  mainly  vegetable,  but  they  are  probably  insect-eaters  also. 

The  species  enumerated  in  the  subjoined  lists  have  all  been  collected  recently  in  Nottingham- 
shire, mostly  by  the  Rev.  Alfred  Thornley  (A.T.),  Mr.  Eland  Shaw  (E.S.),  Miss  Alderson  (E.M.A.), 
Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton  (J.T.H.),  and  the  present  writer  (J.W.C.).  Very  little  attention  has  hitherto 
been  given  to  these  insects,  and  many  more  species  will  doubtless  be  added  in  the  near  future. 


NEUROPTERA-AMPHIBIOTICA 


PERLIDAE 

Chloroperla  grammatica,  Poda.     Clumber  (S.  Pegler) 
Nemoura  variegata,   Oliv.     North  and  South  Leverton 
and  Treswell  Wood  (A.  T.  and  E.  S.) 

—  meyeri,  Pict.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) 

—  cinerea,     Oliv.       Worksop  (E.  M.  A.)  ;    Bulwell 

(J.W.C.) 

ODONATA 

Sympetrum  striolatum,  Charp.    Retford,  Treswell  Wood 

(A-  T.) 
Libellula  depressa,  Linn.     S.  Leverton,  Treswell  Wood 

(A.  T.)  ;  Widmerpool,  Longford  Moor  (J.  W.  C.) 

-  quadrimaculata,  Linn.     N.  Leverton  (E.  S.) 
Aeschna  cyanea,  Mull.     Treswell,  S.  Leverton,  Stoke- 

ham  (A.  T.)  ;  SMreoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

-  grandis,  Linn.     Chllwell  (J.  W.  C.) 
Calopteryx  virgo,  Linn.     Rainworth   Water  (Rev.   F. 

C.  R.  Jourdain) 

—  splendens,  Harr.      Treswell  Wood  (E.  S.)  ;  Cottam, 

Rampton,  Littlebonugh,  Wollaton  (J.  W.  C.) 


ODONATA  (continued) 

Pyrrhosoma  nymphula,  Sulz.  Treswell  Wood  (A.  T.)  ; 
Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

Ischnura  elegans,  Lind.  Retford,  S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ; 
Saundby  (E.  S.)  ;  Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Not- 
tingham district,  common  (J.  W.  C.) 

Agrion  pulchellum,  Lind.     Saundby  (E.  S.) 

—  puella,  Linn.     Common  in  the  Retford  (A.  T.  and 

E.  S.),    Worksop  (J.  T.   H.),    and   Nottingham 
(J.W.C.)  districts 

Enallagma  cyathigerum,  Charp.  Shireoaks  and  Welleck 
(E.  M.  A.) 

EPHEMERIDAE 

Ephemera  vulgata,  Linn.  Canal  at  Babtvorth  (J.  W.  C.) 

-  danica,  Mtlll.     Gonalston,  Ollerton  (J.  W.  C.) 
Cloeon  dipterum,  Linn.     A',  and  S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) 

—  simile,  Etn.     Osberton  (E.  S.) ;   Cossall  (J.  W.  C.) 
Baetis  vernus,  Curt.     Clifton  Grove,   near  Nottingham 

(J.W.C.) 


NEUROPTERA-PLANIPENNIA 


SIALIDES 


HEMEROBIIDAE  (continued) 


Sialis  lutaria,  Linn.     Retford  (A.  T.)  ;    N.  Leverton, 

Cottam  (E.  S.)  ;  Wollaton,  Cossall,  Trowell,  Bul- 

viell,  etc.,  common  (J.  W.  C.) 
-  fuliginosa,  Pict.     Eaton  (J.  W.  C.) 
Raphidia    notata,   Fab.     Clumber   (E.  M.  A.)  ;  Tres- 

viell  Wood  (A.  T.)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Rev.  W. 

Becher) 

—  xanthostigma,    Schum.       Worksop    (E.  M.  A.)  ; 

Treswell  Wood  (A.  T.)  ;  LangfordMoor  Q.  W.  C.) 

HEMEROBIIDAE 

HEMEROBIIDES 

Micromus  paganus,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood  (A.  T.)  ; 

Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Clumber  (E.  M.  A.) 
Hemerobius  elegans,  Steph.     Burton  Joyce  (J.  W.  C.)  ; 

Worksop  (E.M.A.) 

—  micans,  Oliv.     N.  and  S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Tres- 

well   Wood    (E.  S.)  ;     Clumber    and   Shireoaks 
(E.M.A.) 

—  humuli,   Linn.     S.   Leverton    (A.   T.)  ;    Treswell 

Wood  (E.  S.)  ;    Wotksop  (J.  T.  H.)  ;    Clumber 
(E.  M.  A.) 

—  stigma,  Steph.     Worksop  (E.  M.  A.) 

—  subnebulosus,  Steph.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Work- 

top (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Nottingham  (J.  W.  C.) 

—  nervosus,  Fab.     5.   Leverton    (A.    T.)  ;  Shireoaks 

(J.  T.  H.)  ;  Worksop  (E.  M.  A.) 


CHRYSOPIDES 


Chrysopa  flava,   Scop. 
—  alba,  Linn. 


N.  and  S.  Leverton,  Treswell 
Wood  (A.  T.  and  E.  S.)  ; 
Shireoaks  Q.T.H.);  Work- 
top (E.  M.  A.) 
Shireoaks    (J.  T.  H.) ;    Worksop 


S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Shireoaks 


N.   Leverton   (E.  S.)  ; 
Nottingham   (J.W.C.); 


—  tenella,   Schnd. 

(E.  M.  A.) 

—  vulgaris,  Schnd. 

a-  T.  HO 

—  septempunctata,   Wesm. 

Shireoaks    (J.  T.  H.)  ; 
Worksop  (E.  M.  A.) 

—  aspersa,  Wesm.      S.  Leverton   (A.  T.)  ;    Worksop 

(E.  M.  A.) 

—  ventralis,  Curt.     S.  Leverton    (A.  T.)  ;  Shireoaks 

(J.T.  H.) 

—  phyllochroma,  Wesm.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  perla,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Treswell  Wood 

(E.  S.)  ;  LangfordMoor,  Budby  Carr  0-W.C.); 
Shireoaks  (E.  M.  A.) 

PANORPIDAE 

Panorpa  communis,  Linn.  S.  Leverton,  Treswell  Wood 
(A.  T.)  ;  Worktop  (E.  M.  A.)  ;  Strelley,  etc. 
(J.W.C.) 

—  germanica,    Linn. 


S.    Leverton, 

(A.  T.)  ;    Sherwood  Forest,   in 
Annesley  (J.  W.  C.) 


Treswell  Wood 
many   places  ; 


82 


INSECTS 


TRICHOPTERA 


INAEQUIPALPIA 


PHRYGANEIDAE 

Worksop  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Wid- 


Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Ret- 


Neuronia  ruficrus,  Scop. 

merpool  (J.  W.  C.) 
Phryganea  grandis,  Linn. 

ford  (A.  T.) 

—  varia,  Fab.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

LlMNOPHILIDAE 

Grammotaulius  atomarius,  Fab.  N.  and  S.  Leverton 
(E.  S.);  Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Well™  (J.  W.  C.) 

Glyphotaelius  pellucidus,  Retz.  S.  Leverton,  Treswell 
(E.  S.) 

Limnophilus  rhombicus,  Linn.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  flavicornis,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  (E.  S.) 

—  marmoratus,  Curt.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Shireoaks 

(J.  T.  H.) 

—  lunatus,  Curt.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  TV.  Leverton, 

Cotton  (E.  S.)  ;  Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  politus,  McLach.  Cottam(E.S.');  Worksop  (£..M. A.) 

—  vittatus,  Fab.    S.  Leverton,  Treswell  Wood  (A.  T.)  ; 

N.  Leverton  (E.  S.) 

—  affinis,  Curt.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) 

—  auricula,  Curt.     N.    and  S.    Leverton    (A.    T.)  ; 

Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  £<?»*//<;»  (E.  S.) 

—  extricatus,  McLach.     Worksop  (E.  M.  A.) 

—  hirsutus,  Pict.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  sparsus,  Curt.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Tresviell  Wood 

(E.  S.)  ;  S/S/raw/tr  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  fuscicornis,  Ramb.     Burton  Joyce  (J.  W.  C.) 
Anabolia  nervosa    (Leach)  Curt.    Retford,  S.  Leverton 

(A.  T.) ;  Edwinstowe  (E.S.) ;  Shireoaks  (J.T.  H.) 
Stenophylax  stellatus,  Curt.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 

—  permistus,  McLach.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Epper- 

stonePark    (J.  W.  C.) 

—  concentricus,  McLach.     Worksop  (E.  M.  A.) 
Micropterna  sequax,  McLach.     S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) 
Halesus  radiatus,  Curt.     Worksop  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Edwin- 
stowe (E.  S.) 

SERICOSTOMATIDAE 

Notidobia  ciliaris,  Linn.    By  canal,  Trowell  (J.  W.  C.) 
Goera  pilosa,  Fab.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.)  ;   Fiskerton, 
(J.W.C.) 


INAEQUIPALPIA  (continued) 

SERICOSTOMATIDAE   (continued) 

Silo    pallipes,    Fab.       Misterton    (A.  T.)  ;    Worksop 

(E.  M.  A.)  ;  Teversall  (J.  W.  C.) 
Brachycentrus  subnubilus,  Curt.     Retford  (A.  T.) 

AEQUIPALPIA 

LEPTOCERIDAE 

Molanna  angustata,  Curt.     Clumber  Park  (E.  S.) 
Odontocerum  albicorne,  Scop.     Shireoaks  (J.  T.  H.) 
Leptocerus  albo-guttatus,  Hag.  Burton  Joyce  (J.  W.  C.) 

—  aterrimus,     Steph.       Rampton    (E.   S.)  ;    Shireoaks 

(J.  T.  H.)  ;  Edwinstowe,  Annesley  (J.  W.  C.) 

—  cinereus,  Curt.     West  Drayton   (E.  S.)  ;    Worksop 

(J.  T.  H.)  ;  Burton  Joyce  (J.  W.  C.) 

—  albifrons,  Linn.     West  Drayton  (E.  S.) 

—  bilineatus,  Linn.     Rampton  (E.  S.) 
Mystacides  azurea,  Linn.  Retford  (A.  T.)  ;  W.  Dray- 

ton (E.  S.) 

—  longicornis,  Linn.     W.  Drayton  (E.  S.)  ;    Worksop 


(E.  M.  A.)  ;  Cow//, 


(J,W.  C.) 


HYDROPSYCHIDAE 


Hydropsyche      instabilis,    Curt.       Worksop     district 
0-  T.  H.) 

—  angustipennis,   Curt.     Retford  (A.  T.)  ;    Rampton, 

Cottam  (E.  S.)  ;  Worksop  (E.  M.  A.)  ;  Radcliffe- 
on-Trent,  Bunny   (J.  W.  C.) 

—  guttata,   Pict.     Marnham    (A.T.)  ;  Burton  Joyce, 

Fiskerton,  Nottingham  (J.W.C.) 
Plectrocnemia    conspersa,     Curt.       Worksop     district 

(J.  T.  H.) 
Polycentropus  flavomaculatus,  Pict.     Retford  (E.  S.)  ; 

Radcliffe-on-Trent,  Burton  Joyce  (J.  W.  C.) 
Cyrnus  trimaculatus,  Curt.     West  Drayton  (E.  S.) 
Tinodes    waeneri,     Linn.       Worksop    and     Shireoaks 

(J.  T.  H.)  ;  Osberton  (E.  S.) 

HYDROPTILIDAE 

Agraylea  multipunctata,  Curt.     Rampton  (E.  S.) 
Hydroptila  maclachlani,  Klap.     Burton  Joyce,  under 
stones  on  margin  of  R.  Trent  (J.  W.  C.) 


HYMENOPTERA 

The  order  Hymenoptera  is  one  of  enormous  extent,  including  the  ants,  bees  and  wasps,  saw- 
flies,  gall-flies,  ruby-wasps,  ichneumons,  etc.  They  possess  two  pairs  of  membranous  wings  which 
are  destitute  of  scales  and  more  or  less  transparent ;  the  anterior  wings  are  larger  than  the  posterior. 
In  some  species,  however,  one  or  both  of  the  sexes  may  be  apterous.  The  females  are  in  some 
families  provided  with  a  sting,  in  others  with  a  sawing,  boring,  or  piercing  apparatus.  In  the 
sawflies  the  abdomen  is  broad  at  the  base  where  it  joins  the  thorax,  and  there  is  no  sharp  distinction 
between  the  two  regions,  the  lateral  outline  of  the  body  being  therefore  continuous  ;  but  in  the 
other  groups  the  base  of  the  abdomen  is  suddenly  contracted  into  a  slender  '  waist '  or  petiole  of 
varying  length  in  different  species.  These  differences  are  utilized  as  a  means  of  dividing  the  order 
into  two  sub-orders  :  the  Sessiliventres,  in  which  the  thorax  passes  almost  imperceptibly  into  the 
abdomen,  and  the  Petiolata,  in  which  there  is  a  deep  constriction  between  them,  and  the  transition 
is  therefore  abrupt  and  sharply  defined.1  This  difference  in  structure  is  accompanied  by  striking 

1  The  expressions  '  thorax '  and  '  abdomen '  are  here  used  in  a  somewhat  loose  sense.  In  the  Petiolate 
Hymenoptera  the  first  segment  of  the  abdomen  is  completely  fused  with  the  thorax,  and  the  '  waist '  or  stalk 
is  formed  by  the  second  (and  sometimes  the  third)  abdominal  segment.  The  petiole  or  constriction  is  there- 
fore, strictly  speaking,  not  between  the  thorax  and  abdomen,  but  behind  the  first  segment  of  the  latter.  It  is 
usual  to  speak  of  the  thorax,  plus  the  first  abdominal  segment,  as  the  alitrunk,  and  to  restrict  the  term  abdomen 
to  the  part  behind  which  commences  with  the  true  second  segment. 

83 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

differences  in  the  mode  of  life  of  the  insects  in  the  two  groups.  The  Sessiliventres  or  Sawflies  are 
vegetable  feeders  ;  the  larvae  mostly  resemble  the  caterpillars  of  Lepidoptera,  and  usually  feed 
exposed  on  the  foliage  of  plants,  while  those  of  the  Petiolata  are  maggot-like  and  incapable  of 
obtaining  food  by  their  own  exertions :  a  large  proportion  of  them  are  carnivorous,  living  as 
parasites  in  the  bodies  of  other  insects.  A  remarkable  feature  in  the  economy  of  the  Hymenoptera 
is  the  frequent  occurrence  of  parthenogenesis,  i.e.  the  production  of  young  by  the  female  insect 
without  the  co-operation  of  a  male.  While  in  some  cases  it  may  be  of  only  occasional  occurrence, 
in  others,  although  intermittent,  it  occurs  regularly,  and  still  other  species  are  apparently  perpetually 
parthenogenetic.  Thus  in  many  of  the  Gall-flies  (Cynipidae)  a  parthenogenetic  generation  alternates 
regularly  with  a  sexual  one,  and  in  a  few  Tenthredinidae  and  Cynipidae  the  male  insect  is  entirely 
unknown,  all  the  individuals  belonging  to  the  female  sex,  so  that  reproduction  must  be  entirely 
parthenogenetic,  and  the  progeny  always  wholly  female.  In  some  Cynipidae,  although  the  male  is 
very  rare  it  is  occasionally  produced,  but  is  probably  useless,  the  virgin  females  being  able  to  dispense 
with  the  assistance  of  a  male. 

On  the  other  hand  in  some  cases  of  parthenogenesis  the  progeny  is  entirely  male.  The 
workers  among  the  social  ants,  bees,  and  wasps  sometimes  lay  unfertilized  eggs,  and  these  always 
give  rise  to  male  individuals  The  same  thing  occurs  with  the  queen  hive-bee  before  fertilization, 
and  in  some  sawflies  In  a  few  species  of  the  latter  group,  however,  while  the  parthenogenetic 
broods  usually  consist  entirely  of  males,  a  female  very  occasionally  appears.  Whatever  may  be  the 
meaning  of  parthenogenesis — and  its  significance  is  still  very  obscure — it  appears  to  tend  to  the 
production  of  a  brood  in  which  the  individuals  are  all  of  one  sex,  sometimes  male,  sometimes  female. 

Among  the  higher  Hymenoptera  (ants,  some  bees  and  wasps)  a  remarkable  development  of 
social  life  occurs,  the  individuals  of  a  species  living  together  in  great  societies  consisting  mainly  of 
imperfect  females  or  '  workers  '  who  perform  all  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  community ;  they 
construct,  maintain,  and  defend  the  nest,  and  feed  and  tend  the  young.  The  work  of  reproduction 
is  undertaken  by  a  single  perfect  female  known  as  the  queen,  or  by  a  small  number  of  such  females. 
The  males  are  short-lived,  and  of  use  only  in  the  fertilization  of  the  queens, 

HYMENOPTERA    SESSILIVENTRES    OR    TENTHREDINIDAE 

Sawflies 

The  Sawflies  are  as  a  rule  sluggish  insects  with  a  weak  heavy  flight  which  is  not  long  sustained. 
They  are  fond  of  settling  on  flowers,  especially  Umbelliferae,  and  feed  chiefly  on  pollen  ;  a  few 
species,  however,  devour  the  small  insects  frequenting  flowers.  They  all  possess  in  the  female  sex  a 
pair  of  remarkable  sawing  or  piercing  instruments  which  are  used  to  cut  or  bore  into  the  tissues  of 
plants  in  which  the  eggs  are  deposited.  The  larvae  are  exclusively  vegetable  feeders  ;  a  few,  like 
Cephas,  which  feeds  internally  in  stems  of  corn,  and  Sirex,  which  lives  in  the  solid  wood  of  trees,  are 
white  fleshy  grubs  ;  a  few  others  inhabit  galls,  or  bore  into  fruits,  or  mine  or  roll  up  leaves ;  but  the 
great  majority  are  caterpillar-like,  and  feed  exposed  on  plants.  These  have  from  six  to  eight  pairs 
of  prolegs  in  addition  to  the  three  pairs  of  thoracic  legs,  whereas  a  lepidopterous  caterpillar  never 
has  more  than  five  pairs  of  prolegs. 

The  larvae  of  some  species  of  sawflies  are  at  times  very  destructive  to  crops.  Pteronus  ribesti 
sometimes  completely  defoliates  the  gooseberry  bushes  in  gardens,  and  the  slimy  slug-like  larva  of 
Eriocampoides  limacinus  occasionally  does  much  damage  to  pear  and  other  fruit  trees.  I  have  not 
heard  of  any  other  species  causing  damage  in  Nottinghamshire. 

Parthenogenesis  is  very  prevalent  in  this  group,  as  has  been  repeatedly  proved  by  rearing  larvae 
from  unfertilized  eggs  laid  in  confinement  by  bred  females.  In  nearly  all  the  species  females  are 
much  more  numerous  than  males  ;  indeed  in  some  species  males  are  very  rare,  and  in  others  quite 
unknown.  On  the  other  hand  the  parthenogenetically  developed  individuals  of  Pteronus  ribesii  are 
almost  always  males. 

The  list  of  Nottinghamshire  sawflies  is  a  somewhat  meagre  one,  and  will  doubtless  be  greatly 
extended  when  the  group  is  properly  worked.  Tenthredopsis  thornleyi  is  interesting  as  having  been 
founded  by  Pastor  Konow  on  specimens  collected  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  in  Nottinghamshire  and 
Lincolnshire  in  May  and  June,  1897.  Nearly  all  the  species  enumerated  below  have  been 
determined  either  by  Pastor  Konow  or  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Morice.  Unless  otherwise  stated  they 
were  all  collected  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  or  myself. 

LYDIDAE  LYDIDAE  (continued) 

Pamphilius  sylvaticus,  Linn.     S.  Leverton ;  Tresteell     Cephus    pygmaeus,    Linn.        S.   Leverton ;    Trestvell 
Wood  Wood;    Widmerpool,    abundant    in    buttercup 

—  hortorum,  Klug.     Trestoell  Wood  flowers,  23  June,  1900 

—  depressus,  Schrk.     S.  Leverton  Macrocephus  linearis,  Schrk.     Treswell  Wood 

84 


INSECTS 


Pnophorus  padi,  Linn. 


SIRICIDAE 

Sires  juvencus,  Linn.  Worktop  (E.  G.  Alderson  and 
J.  T.  Houghton)  ;  Chilwell  (D.  H.  Pearson)  ; 
Nottingham.  Probably  most  of  the  specimens 
of  this  and  the  next  species  captured  in  the 
county  have  been  introduced  with  foreign 
timber 

—  gigas,   Linn.     Generally   distributed  and   by   no 

means  rare  in  the  county 

TENTHREDINIDAE 

Trichiosoma  lucorum,  Linn.  S.  Leverton;  Bulwell 
Forest,  bred  from  larva  found  on  birch 

—  tibialis,  Steph.     S.  Leverton 
Arge  enodis,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood 

—  ustulata,  Linn.     N.  Leverton  ;  Widmerpool 

—  cyaneocrocea,  Forst.     Bagthorpe,  Nottingham 
Cladius  pectinicornis,  Fourcr.  \    ^  ^^ 

) 
/Bred  from  galls  on  osiers, 

11  u          Wilford  (G.  B.   Rothera)  ; 

Pontama  gallarurn,  Htg.   L/^          ;es  ;s  com. 

-  valhsmem,  Htg.  K         and   ^£nml[y    dis. 

Vtributed 
Pteronus  myosotidis,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

—  ribesii,    Scop.     Nottingham  ;    Lowdham  ;    Worksop, 

etc.      Often    very    destructive    to    gooseberry 

bushes 
Croesus  septentrionalis,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood,  larvae 

beaten    from    hazel,    September,    1898  ;    first 

imago  emerged  30  May,  1899 
Holcocneme    lucida,    Panz.     S.    Leverton,    not    un- 

common 
Pachynematus  trisignatus,   FOrst.     S.  Leverton  ;  Nott- 

ingham 
Eriocampoides    limacinus,     Retz.       Wellow,   causing 

damage  to  pear  trees  (Rev.  W.  Becher) 
Hoplocampa  testudinea,  Klug.     S.  Leverton 
Tomostethus  nigritus,  Fab.     Burton  Joyce,  one  female, 

1  8  May,  1899 

—  ephippium,  Panz.     Treswell  Wood 

-  fuscipennis,  Fall.      Treswell  Wood 
Monophadnus  albipes,  Gmel.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell 

Wood 
Athalia    rosae,    Linn.      Universally    distributed    and 

very  common 
Selandria  serva,  Fab.      S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood  ; 

Bunny 
Stromboceros  delicatulus,  Fall.     Worksop  (Miss  Alder- 

son)  ;  Treswell  Wood 
Strongylogaster  cingulatus,  Fab.    Edwlnstowe,  common 

in  the  forest  amongst  bracken 
Poecilosoma    tridens,    Knw.     S.    Leverton,    7    May, 

1898 


TENTHREDINIDAE  (continued*) 

Emphytus  succintus,  Klug.  (togatus,  Cam.).  Treswell 
Wood  ;  Lit  tie  borough 

—  cinctus,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

—  calceatus,  Klug.     Langford  Moor,  Newark 

—  tener,  Fall,  Blldworth 

Dolerus  madidus,  Klug.     Retford  (S.  Pegler) 

—  pratensis,    Fall,     (eglanteriae,    Klug.,    fulviventris 

Cam.).  'Nottingham;  Fuhuood;  Thorney  ;  Sutton, 
near  Retford 

—  gonager,  Fab.    Nottingham  ;  Southwell;  S.  Leverton; 

Clarborough 

—  haematodes,  Schrk.     S.  Leverton;  Clifton 

—  aeneus,    Htg.      Widely    distributed    and    com- 

mon 

Rhogogastera  viridis,  Linn.  Langford  Moor  ;  Widmer- 
pool;  Budby  ;  Treswell  Wood;  Cottam ;  Little- 
borough 

—  lateralis,    Fab.     Lambley ;  5.   Leverton ;   Treswell 

Wood 

—  aucupariae,  Klug.     Nuthall  and  Bnxtowe  (W.  H. 

Freestone)  ;  Gedling ;  Widmerpool;  Annesley 
Tenthredopsis  litterata,  Geoff.     Generally  distributed 
and    common  ;     the    female     var.    cordata    at 
Strelley 

—  raddatzi,  Knw.  Nottingham;  Retford;  S.  Leverton 

—  dorsal  is,  Lep.      Treswell;  N.  Leverton 

—  scutellaris,    Panz.       Southwell ;     Treswell    Wood; 

S.  Leverton 

—  coqueberti,  Klug.     'Nottingham  district ;  Southwell; 

Worksop    (Houghton) 

—  thornleyi,    Knw.       S.    Leverton,     two     examples 

May  and  June,  1897  (Rev.  A.  Thornley) 
Pachyprotasis  rapae,  Linn.     Strelley  ;  S.  Leverton 
Macrophya  ribis,  Schrk.     Edwlnstowe ;  S.  Leverton 
Allantus    maculatus,    Fourcr.     Treswell  Wood    (Miss 

Alderson) 

-  temulus,    Scop.     Widely  distributed    and    rather 

common 

-  vespa,  Retz.      Treswell  Wood ;  Rampton  Marsh 

-  scrophulariae,  Linn.     On  flowers  of  Scrophularia 

aquatica  at  Kingston-on-Soar ;  Budby ;  Bunny  ; 
W.  Burton ;  Treswell ;  Cottam ;  Broadholme ; 
Wheat  ley,  etc. 

—  arcuatus,  Forst.     Universally  distributed  and  very 

common,   generally  on   flowers  of   Heracleum 
sphondylium  ;    var.    nitidior,  Knw.,     Treswell 
Wood 
Tenthredo  rufiventris,  Panz.     Langford  Moor 

—  atra,  Linn.,  var.  dispar,  Klug.     S.  Leverton 

—  livida,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood ;  South- 

well; Cossall 

—  solitaria,  Scop.     Langford  Moor 

-  mesomelaena,    Linn.       Widely    distributed    and 

common 


HYMENOPTERA    PETIOLATA 

CYNIPIDAE 

The  Cynipidae  are  very  small  hymenopterous  insects,  usually  black  or  dark  in  colour,  which 
according  to  their  mode  of  life  may  be  divided  into  three  groups  : — (i)  those  whose  eggs  are  laid, 
and  the  resulting  larvae  feed,  in  the  tissues  of  a  living  plant,  the  presence  of  the  egg  or  larva  usually 
resulting  in  the  formation  of  a  '  gall ' — a  peculiar  abnormal  growth  in  the  merismatic  tissue  of  the 
plant.  The  succulent  internal  substance  of  the  gall  furnishes  the  larva  with  food.  The  oak- 
apple,  marble  gall,  oak-spangle,  and  Robin's  pincushion  or  bedeguar  gall  of  the  wild  rose  are  familiar 

85 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

examples  of  such  galls.  (2)  Inquilines  :  uninvited  guests  which  do  not  themselves  originate  galls, 
though  their  action  tends  to  modify  the  normal  gall,  but  lay  their  eggs  in  the  galls  formed  by  the 
members  of  the  first  group,  the  larvae  feeding  internally  upon  the  substance  of  the  gall.  (3)  Para- 
sites, which  have  similar  habits  to  those  of  the  ichneumon  flies,  living  and  feeding  inside  the  bodies 
of  other  insects,  chiefly  aphides  and  the  larvae  of  Diptera. 

The  Cynipidae  are  of  special  interest  on  account  of  their  varying  modes  of  reproduction.  The 
parasitic  forms  are  developed  from  eggs  fertilized  in  the  usual  manner,  and  this  is  also  true  of  some 
of  the  gall-makers  and  inquilines.  In  others,  however,  reproduction  is  partially  or  completely 
parthenogenetic,  the  individuals  of  some  species  consisting  mainly,  of  others  entirely,  of  females 
which  produce  fertile  eggs  without  the  co-operation  of  a  male.  But  besides  parthenogenesis  some  of 
the  gall-making  species  exhibit  the  phenomenon  of  '  alternation  of  generations.'  Such  species  have 
a  spring  brood  consisting  of  males  and  females,  reproducing  sexually  and  giving  rise  to  an  autumnal 
unisexual  or  wholly  female  brood  which  reproduces  parthenogenetically  and  originates  the  bisexual 
brood  of  the  following  spring.  The  two  generations  frequently  differ  so  materially  in  structural 
details,  and  moreover  produce  galls  of  such  different  form  and  structure,  that  they  were  formerly 
regarded  as  totally  distinct  species  and  received  different  names. 

The  appended  list  of  the  gall-making  and  inquiline  Cynipidae  of  Nottinghamshire  is  due  to 
the  researches  of  Mr.  G.  B.  Rothera  of  Nottingham,  who  had  the  advantage  of  the  co-operation 
of  Mr.  E.  A.  Fitch  in  the  determination  of  the  species.  The  names  bracketed  together  in  pairs 
represent  respectively  the  agamic  or  unisexual,  and  the  sexual  generations  of  those  species  which 
exhibit  cyclical  reproduction  or  alternation  of  generations. 


CYNIPIDAE 

[List  of  species  bred  from  the  Galls  by 
G.  B.  Rothera] 


Rhodites  eglanteriae,  Htg.  Forms  smooth,  round, 
pea -like  galls  on  leaves  of  Rosa  canina. 
Arnold ;  Lenton ;  Elton,  etc.  ;  S.  Leverton 
(Thornley) 

—  rosae,  L.  Causes  the  familiar '  bedeguar '  or '  Robin's 

pincushion  '  on  Rosa  canina.     Common 

—  nervosus,  Curt.   (R.  rosarum,    Gir.).       Gall  pea- 

shaped,  but  beset  with  three  to  six  stout  spines, 
on  leaf  of  Rosa  canina.  Trent  Lane,  Lenton; 
Beauvale  Woods,  August,  1 904  (Carr)  ;  5.  Lever- 
ton,  Kingston  (Thornley) 

—  Aulax  glechomae,  Htg.     Forms  soft,  rounded  or 

irregular  swellings  on  leaves  or  stem  of  Nepeta 
glechoma.  Linby 

—  hieracii,   Bouch£.     Produces    large,    green,    hairy 

swellings  on  the  stem  of  Hieracium 
Periclistus    brandti,    Ratz.        Inquiline    in    galls    of 
Rhodites  rosae  (Robin's  pincushion) 

—  caninae,    Htg.     Inquiline    in    galls    of  Rhodites 

eglanteriae  and  R.  nervosus 
Synergus    melanopus,    Htg.     Inquiline    in    galls    of     — 

Cynips  kollari 
-  reinhardi,  Mayr.     Same  as  last 

—  tscheki,    Mayr.     Inquiline   in    galls    of  Biorhiza      — 

terminalis  (oak-apples) 

—  albipes,  Htg.     Inquiline  in,  and  bred  from  galls 

of,  Dryophanta  folii,  D.  divisa,  Neuroterus 
fumipennis,  Andricus  curvator,  and  Trigonaspis 
megaptera — all  on  oak  ;  also  from  galls  of  Cynips 
kollari 

—  facialis,   Htg.     Inquiline  in  oak  apples  (Biorhiza 

terminalis)  and  oak  currant  galls  of  Spathegaster 
baccarum 

—  thaumacera,  Dal.    Inquiline  in  galls  of  Trigonaspis 

megaptera 
Diastrophus  rubi,  Htg.    Forms  large  irregular  fusiform 

swellings  on  stems  of  brambles.     Strelley 
Andricus  ostreus,   Gir.     Galls  on  leaves  of  Quercus 

robur.      'Nottingham  forest ;  Bulwell  Lane,  etc. 

86 


CYNIPIDAE  (continued) 

Andricus  fecundatrix,  Htg.  (agamic  form).    Forms  the 

'  artichoke  galls '  in  oak  buds.     Ollerton,  etc. 
-  globuli,     Htg.     (agamic    form).       Clifton;    Rud- 
dington; Ollerton 

—  inflator,    Htg.    (sexual     form).       Sherwood1    Lodge. 

Galls  in  leaf-buds  of  Quercus 

—  radicis,   Fab.   (agamic  form).      Galls  on  root  of 

Quercus 

—  corticis,    L.    (agamic    form).      Galls   in    bark   of 

Quercus.     Mapperley  Park,  Nottingham 

—  collaris,  Htg.   (agamic  form).     Galls  in    buds   of 

Quercus 

—  curvator,  Htg.  (sexual  form).     Galls  on  leaves  of 

Quercus.     Bulwell  Lane 

ramuli,  Schenck  (sexual  form).  Cottony  galls 
on  catkins  of  Quercus.  Bulwell  Lane  plantation  : 
Ruddington 

—  autumnalis,   Htg.    (agamic   form).     Galls  in   ter- 

minal buds  of  Quercus.     Stapleford  Hill 

—  quadrilineatus,   Htg.      Galls  on   male   catkins  of 

Quercus 

—  marginalis,  Schlecht.     Galls  on  leaves  of  Quercus. 

Gedling 

cirratus,  Adi.  The  agamic  form  (Andricus  calli- 
doma,  Thorns.)  produces  stalked  galls  from  leaf- 
buds  of  Quercus.  Between  Clifton  and  Ruddington 

—  albopunctata,    Schlecht.      Forms    green,    white- 

spotted  bud  galls  on  Quercus.     Gedling 

—  glandulae,    Schenck.       The    galls    are    developed 

from  lateral  buds  of  Quercus  and  are  clothed 
with  white  silky  hairs.  Blrklands,  Sherwood 
Forest 

—  solitarius,  Fonsc.     Gall  covered  with  ferruginous 

hair,  from  leaf-buds  of  Quercus.     Ollerton 
Cynips  kollari,   Htg.       Forms  the  familiar   spherical 
marble-like  galls  on  oak  buds.   Clifton;  Rudding- 
ton ;  Bulwell  Lane,  etc.,  common 
Trigonaspis  megaptera,  Pz.  (sexual  form).     Galls  on 
roots  or  trunks  of  Quercus.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  renum,  Mayr  (  =  Biorhiza  renum,  Gir.)   (agamic 

form).  Forms  kidney-shaped  galls  on  leaves  of 
Quercus.  Ollerton 


INSECTS 


CYNIPIDAE  (continued) 

Biorhiza  terminalis,  Fab.  (sexual  form).  Oak-apple  gall 
on  buds  of  Quercus.  Mapperley  Park;  Bulwell 
Lane;  Kingston;  Southwell;  etc.,  common. 

—  aptera,  Fab.  (agamic  form).     Galls  on  rootlets  of 

Quercus.    Gedling;  Bulwell  Lane 
Dryophanta  folii,   Htg.    (agamic  form).     Forms    the 
'  cherry  gall '   on  leaves  of  Quercus.    Bestviood 
Park;  Ollerton 

—  longiventris,  Htg.  (agamic  form).     Galls  on  leaves 

of  Quercus.    Tollerton 

—  agama,  Htg.      Galls  on  leaves  of  Quercus.     Not- 

tingham Forest 

—  divisa,  Htg.   (agamic  form).     Galls  on  leaves  of 

Quercus.     Clifton;  Nottingham  Forest 
Neuroterus  lenticularis,  Oliv.  (agamic  form).     Origi- 
nates  the    galls   known   as   '  oak   spangles '   on 
leaves  of  Quercus.    Clifton  Spinney  ;  Birklands 

—  baccarum,  Htg.  (  =  Spathegaster  baccarum)  (sexual 

form).  Forms  'oak  currant  galls'  on  catkins 
or  leaves  of  Quercus.  Nottingham  Forest ;  Clifton  ; 
Oxton  Wood;  Manton  Woods,  Worksop  (Thornley) 


CYNIPIDAE  (continued) 

•Neuroterus  fumipennis,  Htg.   (agamic  form).     Causes 
spangles  on  leaves  of  Quercus.     Ollerton 

—  tricolor,   Htg.    (  =  Spathegaster    tricolor)    (sexual 

form).  Forms  rounded  hairy  galls  on  Quercus 
leaves.  Clifton;  Ruddington ;  Balloon  Houses, 
Wollaton 

—  laeviusculis,      Schenck      (agamic      form).       Pro- 

duces splangles  on  leaves  of  Quercus.  Oiler- 
ton 

—  albipes,  Schenck  ( =  Spathegaster   albipes)    (sexual 

form).  Gives  rise  to  small  galls  on  edges  of 
leaves  of  Quercus 

—  numismatis,       Oliv.      (agamic      form).        Forms 

silky  '  button  galls '  on  leaves  of  Quercus.  Oiler- 
ton 

—  vesicatrix,     Schlecht.     (  =  Spathegaster    vesicatrix) 

(sexual  form).  The  galls  are  small  blister-like 
swellings  on  leaves  of  Quercus.  Nottingham 
Forest 

—  aprilinus,    Gir.       Galls    on    Quercus.       Sherwood 

Forest 


CHALCIDIDAE 

A  very  large  group  of  small  Hymenoptera,  often  brilliantly  coloured,  and  of  parasitic  habits. 
The  larvae  of  many  species  inhabit  galls,  and  feed  on  the  larvae  of  the  gall-makers  or  inquilines  ; 
others  live  in  the  nests  of  bees,  whose  grubs  they  devour ;  others  attack  the  caterpillars  or  pupae  of 
Lepidoptera,  and  some  destroy  aphides.  Very  few  species  have  been  obtained  in  Nottinghamshire, 
and  these  were  bred  by  Mr.  G.  B.  Rothera  from  galls  of  various  Cynipidae,  etc.  They  are  the 
following  : — 


Tetrastichus  diaphantus   Walk,  j  In    oafc_  ^ 

Entedon  sosarmus,  Walk.  (Biorhiza   ^rminSalis) 

Olmx  gallarum,  Linn.  )  ^ 

Eulophus   westwoodii,   Steph.     In   galls  of  Nematus 

gallicola 
Pteromalus  fuscopalpus,  Forst.     In  rose  bedeguar  gall 

—  tibialis,  West.      In  oak  currant  gall  (Spathegaster 

baccarum) 
Mesopolobus  fasciiventris,  West.  In  galls  of  Trigonaspis 

megaptera  and  Neuroterus  fumipennis 
Eupelmus  urozonus,  Dalm.     In  oak-apple  galls 
Megastigmus  dorsalis,  Fab. )  In  oak-apple  and  marble 

—  stigmatizans,  Fab.          J  (Cynips  kollari)  galls 
Syntomaspis  sapphyrina,  Boh.     In  oak-apple  galls 
Torymus  abbreviatus,  Boh.   In  the  galls  of  Cecidomyia 

rosae  on  rose  leaves 

—  abdominalis,  Boh.     In  oak-apples 


hairy  galls  of  Neuroterus  fumipennis  on  oak 
leaves  and  in  the  '  oak  currant  galls'  (Neuroterus 
lenticularis) 

Torymus   bedeguaris,  Linn.     In   rose   bedeguar  galls 
(Rhodites  rosae) 

-  hibernans,  Mayr  f     In  oak-apples 

-  nigricornis,   Boh.     In    oak-apple    (B.    terminalis) 

and  marble  (Cynips  kollari)  galls 

—  tipularium,  Zett.    In  galls  of  Nematus  gallicola  on 

willow  leaves 

—  viridis,  F5rst.     In  the  pea-like   galls   of  Rhodites 

eglanteriae  on  rose  leaves 

Eurytoma    aethiops,     Boh.      In    galls    of    Rhodites 
eglanteriae  and  R.  nervosus 

-  curta,  Walk.     In  galls  of  Rhodites  eglanteriae 

—  rosae,  Nees.     In  bedeguar  galls  (Rhodites  rosae) 

-  rufipes,  Walk.     In  galls  of  Rhodites  eglanteriae 

and  R.  rosae 


—  auratus,  Fourcr.   In  oak-apples ;  also  in  the  rounded 

The  Proctotrypid,  Perisemus  fulvicornis,  Curt.,  was  also  bred  from  oak-apple  galls  by  Mr.  Rothera 

ICHNEUMONIDAE 

Ichneumon-flies 1 

The  Ichneumon-flies  constitute  an  exceedingly  large  family  of  parasitic  insects,  most  of  them 
living  in  the  larval  stage  inside  the  bodies  of  lepidopterous  caterpillars.  In  common  with  the  next 
family  they  are  therefore  of  considerable  economic  importance,  keeping  in  check  the  destroying  hosts 
of  vegetable-feeding  caterpillars  which  might  otherwise  eat  up  the  produce  of  our  gardens  and  fields. 
The  long,  straight,  many-jointed  antennae,  the  position  of  the  stalked  abdomen  which  arises  from 
the  lower  part  of  the  hind  end  of  the  alitrunk  or  '  thorax,'  and  of  the  middle  and  hind  legs  which 
are  inserted  close  together,  are  distinguishing  features  of  the  insects  of  this  family.  The  wings  also 
have  a  characteristic  and  somewhat  complex  network  of  veins.  The  female  possesses  an  ovipositor 
which  in  some  species  is  several  times  as  long  as  the  body,  as,  e.g.  in  species  of  Rhyssa  and  Thalessa 

1  The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  adopted  here  are  those  of  Dalla  Torre's  Catahgus  Hymenopterorum. 

87 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

which  are  parasitic  on  the  wood-boring  grubs  of  Sirex.     The  small   somewhat   ant-like  Ichneumons 
belonging  to  the  genus  Pezomachus  are  peculiar  in  being  destitute  of  wings. 

Very  little  work  has  been  done  among  the  Ichneumons  in  Nottinghamshire,  as  will  appear 
from  the  meagre  list  below.  Acknowledgements  are  due  to  Mr.  Claude  Morley  for  much  kindly 
and  valuable  assistance  in  naming  these,  but  many  more  still  await  identification. 


Orthopelma  luteolator     (Grav.)   Tasch.      Nottingham 

district,  bred  from  galls  of  Rhodites  rosae  and 

R.  eglanteriae  (G.  B.  Rothera) 
Banchus  falcatorius,  Fabr.     Aldercar  Wood,  Newstead 

(Carr) 
Exetastes  cinctipes  (Retz.)   Thorns.      Worksop  district 

(Miss    Alderson    and    J.    T.    Houghton)  ;    S. 

Leverton  and  Sutton,  near  Retford  (Thornley)  ; 

Nottingham  (Carr) 

—  guttatorius,  Grav.     Nether  Langtoith  (Carr) 

—  illusor,  Grav.      Worksop  (J.  T.  Houghton) 
Parabates  virgatus  (Fourc.)   Thorns.     (Paniscus  vir- 

gatus,    Grav.).       Retford  district  (Thornley)  ; 
Worksop  (Houghton) 

Paniscus  cephalotes,  Holmgr.  S.  Leverton,  a  male  bred 
from  larva  of  Cerura  vinula  (Thornley) 

—  fuscicornis  Holmgr.      Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

-  testaceus,  Grav.    S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;   Worksop 

(Houghton)  ;      Retford,     bred     from     Cerura 

vinula  (S.  Pegler) 
Spudastica    kriechbaumeri    (Bridgm.)    D.    T.    (Lim- 

neria,  Bridgm).     Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) 
Campoplex  pugillator   (Linn.)   Grav.    Worksop  (Miss 

Alderson) 
Blaptocampus  perspicuus   (Wesm.)   Thorns.   (Anoma- 

lon     perspicuum,     Wesm.)       Retford     district 

(Thornley) 
Anomalon  fibulator,  Grav.     Workscp  and    Edwinstowe 

(Miss  Alderson) 

-  flavifrons   (Grav.)  D.  T.  (A.  cerinops,   Grav.)  (?) 

Nottingham  (Carr) 

Allocamptus  undulatus  (Grav.)  Brauns.  (Ophion 
undulatus,  Grav.).  Worksop  (Houghton) 

Ophion  luteus  (Linn.)  Fabr.  Worktop  (Miss  Aider- 
son)  ;  S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Wellow  (Rev. 
W.  Becher) 

—  obscurus,  Fabr.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Notting- 

ham  (Carr).       A   very   common  species  in  the 
autumn 

Homotropus  lateralis  (Grav.)  D.  T.  S.  Leverton 
(Thornley) 

—  pictus  (Grav.)  D.  T.     Nottingham  (Carr). 

—  tarsatorius     (Panz.)     D.     T.     (Bassus     exsultans, 

Grav.).     Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) ;  S.  Leverton 

(Thornley) 
Promethes  pulchellus    (Holmgr.)    Thorns.       Worksop 

(Miss  Alderson) 
Bassus   areolatus,  Holmgr.     Tresuiell  Wood   (Thorn- 

ley) 

—  deplanatus,  Grav.     Bagthorpe,  Nottingham  (Carr) 

—  graculus,  Grav.      Worksop  (Houghton) 

-  laetatorius  (Fabr.)  Panz.     Nottingham  (Carr) 

—  nemoralis,  Holmgr.     Nottingham  (Carr) 
Tryphon  rutilator  (Linn.)  Grav.     Thorney  (Carr.) 
Polytrera  virgultorum  (Grav.)  Holmgr.      Edwinstowe 

(Miss  Alderson) 
Diaborus   lituratorius    (Linn.)  Thorns.     S.    Leverton 

(Thornley) 
Alexeter    testaceus     (Fabr.)    Thorns.       S.  Leverton 

(Thornley) 
Hadrodactylus  fugax  (Grav.)  Thorns.     Worksop  (Miss 

Alderson) 


88 


Mesoleptus  cingulatus,  Grav.  Worktop  (Miss  Aider- 
son) 

Catoglyptus  fortipes  (Grav.)  Holmgr.  Treswell  Wood 
(Thornley) 

Spanotecnus  filicornis  (Grav.)  Thorns.  Worksop 
(Miss  Alderson) 

Sterotrichus  pilicornis  (Grav.)  Schmkn.  S.  Leverton 
(Thornley) 

Glypta  flavolineata,  Grav.     Treswell  (Thornley) 

—  mensurator     (Fabr.)      Grav.        Treswell     Wood 

(Thornley) 

Pimpla  examinator  (Fabr.)  Grav.  Treswell  Wood 
(Thornley) 

—  instigator  (Fabr.)  Grav.    S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 

Nottingham ;   Hucknall    Torkard ;    Arnold,    etc. 
(Carr) 

—  maculator    (Fabr.)    Grav.     (P.  scanica,  Grav.). 

Worksop  (Houghton) 

—  pomorum,  Rate.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  rufata     (Gmel.)     Grav.      (incl.     P.    flavonotata, 

Holmgr.).  Bunny,  J  bred  from  pupa  of  Thecla 

w-album  ('  rufata ')  (Carr).     Treswell  Wood,  $ 

('  flavonotata  ')  (Carr) 
-  turionellae  (Linn.)  Grav.    S.  Leverton  (Thornley) ; 

Kirkby-in-Ashfield  (Carr.) 
Dyspetes  praerogator  (Linn.)  Thorns.       Treswell  Wood 

(Thornley) 
Rhyssa    persuasoria    (Linn.)    Grav.       Worksop    (Miss 

Alderson)  ;  Longford  Moor  (Carr) 
Meniscus  impressor  (Grav.)  Tasch.     Clumber  (Miss 

Alderson) 

—  murinus  (Grav.)  SchiOdte.     N.   and    S.  Leverton, 

and  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

Lissonota  bellator,  Grav.  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  ; 
Nottingham  (Carr) 

—  cylindrator  (Fabr.)  Grav.     Bulwett  forest  (Carr) 

—  sulphurifera,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Hybophanes  scabriculus    (Grav.)   Schmkn.      Worksop 

(Houghton)  ;  also  bred  from  Tortrix  forsterana 

by  Miss  Alderson 
Collyria    calcitrator  (Grav.)    Schiodte.      S.    Leverton 

and  TrestvellWood (Thornley) ;  Widmerpool(Ci.rr) 
Chaeretymma  anatorium  (Grav.)  Schmkn.    (Cryptus 

anatorius,  Grav.).     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 
Cryptus  lugubris,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  minator,  Grav.     Clumber  (Miss  Alderson) 

—  tarsoleucus  (Schrk.)  Grav.  S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Habrocryptus  porrectorius  (Fabr.)   D.  T.      Treswell 

Wood  (Thornley) 
Pezomachus  melanocephalus  (Schrk.)  Kriechb.   (Hemi- 

machus     fasciatus   (Fab.)   Marshall).       Retford 

district  (Pegler) 
Hemiteles   areator    (Panz.)    Grav.      Treswell   Wood 

(Thornley) 

—  bicolorinus,  Grav.     Worksop  (Houghton) 

—  similis  (Gmel.)  Grav.     5.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Microcryptus  abdominator  (Grav.)  Thorns.     Clumber 

(Miss  Alderson) 
Plectocryptus  digitatus    (Gmel.)    Thorns.      Southwell 

(Carr) 
Glyphicnemis  vagabundus  (Grav.)  Ashm.      S.  Lever- 

ton  (Thornley) ;  Hucknall  Torkard,  Thorney  (Carr) 


INSECTS 

Phaeogenes     stimulator     (Grav.)      Wesm.       Retford,  Ichneumon  annulator,  Fabr.  (I.  curvinervis,  Holmgr.). 

Treswell  (Carr)  S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

Mevesia   argutus   (Wesm.)    Holmgr.     Clumber  (Miss  —  bilineatus,  Gmel.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

Alderson)  —  confusorius,  Grav.      Hucknall  Torkard,  Edtolnstowe 

Herpestomus   bruneicornis  (Grav.)  Wesm.       Treswell  (Carr) 

Wood  (Thornley)  —  deliratorius,   Linn.      (I.    multiannulatus,    Grav.). 

Alomyia  debellator    (Fabr.)    Panz.       Worksop    (Miss  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

Alderson)  ;    S.   Leverton    and    Tresviell  Wood  —  extensorius,    Linn.     (I.    luctatorius,    Linn.).     S. 

(Thornley)  Leverton      and     Treswell    Wood    (Thornley)  ; 

Eurylabus   dirus,    Wesm.     S.    Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Wigsley,  Bulwell  Forest  (Carr) 

Treswell  (Carr)  —  fabricator,  Fabr.     S.  Leverton  and    Treswell  Wood 

Probolus     alticola     (Grav.)     Wesm.       S.    Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Southwell,  Strelley  (Carr) 

(Thornley)  —  fuscipes,  Gmel.      Langford  Moor,  bred  from  larva 

Epiopelmus  leucostigmus  (Grav.)    Wesm.       Treswell  of  Acronycta  leporina  (Carr) 

Wood  (Thornley)  —  gracilentus,  Wesm.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

Amblyteles     armatorius     (Forst.)    Holmgr.     Worksop  —  lanius,  Grav.     Strelley  (Carr) 

(Miss    Alderson    and    J.    T.    Houghton) ;    S.  —  latrator,  Fabr.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

Leverton  and  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  —  lineator,  Fab.     Clumber  (Miss  Alderson) 

—  negatorius  (Fabr.)  Wesm.      S.  Leverton  (Carr)  —  nigritarius,  Grav.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  occisor  (Fabr.)  Wesm.     Arnold  (Carr)  —  ochropis,  Gmel.      Worksop  (Houghton) 

—  palliatorius  (Grav.)  Wesm.        S.  Leverton  (Thorn-  —  sarcitorius,  Linn.    (I.  vaginatorius,  Linn.)    Retford 

ley)  ;  Nottingham,  Retford,  Creswell  Crags  (Carr)  (Pegler)  ;    S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Widmerfool 

Var.   erythropygus  (Grav.)   Berth.      Arnold  (Carr) 

(Carr)  —  terminatorius,   Grav.        Retford  (S.    Pegler)  ;     S. 

—  septemguttatus    (Grav.)    Thorns.       S.     Leverton  Leverton  (Thornley) ;  Winkburn  (Carr) 

(Thornley)  ;  Treswell  (Carr)  —  trilineatus,      Gmel.       S.    Leverton     (Thornley)  ; 

Ichneumon  anator,  Fab.     Worksop  (Miss  Alderson)  Hucknall  Torkard  (Carr) 

BRACONIDAE 

The  Braconidae  form  another  very  extensive  family  of  parasitic  Hymenoptera.  They  are 
closely  allied  to  the  Ichneumonidae  both  in  structure  and  habits,  the  larvae  inhabiting  the  bodies  of 
larvae  or  pupae  of  other  insects,  especially  butterflies  and  moths. 

Scarcely  anything  is  known  of  these  insects  in  Nottinghamshire.  Several  species  of  Bracon 
have  been  identified,  including  B.  caudatus,  Ratz.,  bred  by  Mr.  G.  B.  Rothera  from  oak-apple  galls. 
Apanteles  glomeratus  is  as  abundant  here  as  elsewhere,  and  may  be  bred  in  hundreds  from  the  larvae 
of  the  cabbage  white  butterflies.  A  year  or  two  ago,  wishing  to  obtain  some  pupae  of  Pieris  brassicae 
for  experimental  purposes,  I  procured  three  dozen  of  the  larvae,  from  which  I  only  succeeded  in 
rearing  two  pupae  ;  all  the  rest  yielded  an  abundance  of  the  tiny  yellow  cocoons  of  the  Apanteles  ! 
Macrocentrus  col/arts,  M.  marginator  and  other  species  have  been  bred  from  Tortrix  larvae,  and 
Microdus  tumidulus  from  the  larva  of  Catoptria  bypericana  at  Worksop  by  Miss  Alderson,  who  has 
also  taken  Meteorus  ictericus  at  Worksop.  Chaenon  circulator  and  Zele  testaceator  have  occurred  at 
Treswell  Wood  and  other  places,  and  a  large  number  of  unknown  Braconids  in  the  writer's  and 
the  Rev.  A.  Thornley's  collections  still  await  identification. 

TUBULIFERA  OR  CHRYSIDIDAE 

Ruby-Wasps 

The  members  of  this  comparatively  small  family  are  distinguished  by  the  gorgeous  coloration  of 
their  exceedingly  hard,  coarsely-sculptured  integument,  the  prevailing  hues  being  brilliant  metallic 
green,  blue,  -  and  crimson.  In  spite  of  their  rather  small  size  they  are  therefore  conspicuous 
objects  as  they  fly  rapidly  about  in  the  hot  sunshine.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  the  nests  of  bees  and 
wasps  and  the  resulting  larvae  feed  on  the  bee-  or  wasp-grubs,  and  in  some  cases  also  on  the  food 
stored  up  in  the  nest  for  the  sustenance  of  its  rightful  occupants.  Of  the  twenty-one  British  species 
the  following  eight  have  so  far  been  detected  in  the  county  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  and  myself : — 

Ellampus  auratus,  Linn.  S.  Leverton;  Treswell  Wood  Chrysis  ignita,  Linn.  Widely  distributed  and  common. 

Hedychridium  minutum,  Lep.  Langford  Moor,  New-  At  Bagthorpe,  'Nottingham,  it  occurs  about  the 

ark  burrows  of  Colletes  daviesana,  and  at  Treswell 

Chrysis  neglecta,  Shuck.  Treswell,  about  the  burrows  Wood  it  accompanies  C.  viridula  about  the  nests 

of  Odynerus  spinipes  of  Odynerus  spinipes.     The  Rev.  A.  Thornley 

—  pustulosa,  Ab.     S.  Leverton  captured  some  very  large  females  at  Elksley  on 

—  cyanea,  Linn.     Thorney;  Budby  1 6  July,  1900,  which  appeared  to  be  parasitic 

—  viridula,  Linn.  (  =  bidentata,  Linn.).   Treswell  and  on  Odynerus  antilope,  and  suggests   that  this 

Treswell  Wood ;    in   some    numbers    about   the  may  possibly  account  for  their  large  size 

burrows  of  Odynerus  spinipes  —  ruddii,  Shuck.     S.  Leverton 

I  89  12 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

ACULEATA 

The  principal  feature  which  separates  the  Aculeata  from  other  Hymenoptera  is  the  modifica- 
tion of  the  ovipositor  into  a  retractile  sting  which  is  entirely  hidden  within  the  abdomen  when 
withdrawn.  The  larvae  are  soft  legless  grubs,  either  living  under  the  protection  of  the  adult  insects 
or  in  cells  constructed  by  them.  The  series  comprises  four  divisions,  viz.,  Heterogyna  (ants), 
Fossores  (solitary  or  digging  wasps),  Diploptera  (wasps),  and  Anthophila  (bees). 

The  ants  are  characterized  by  the  presence  of  one  or  two  small  nodular  swellings  between  the 
'  thorax  '  and  the  '  abdomen  '  in  the  place  of  the  simple  petiole  or  stalk  of  other  Petiolata.  They 
live  in  extensive  communities  consisting  of  males,  females,  and  workers  or  imperfectly  developed 
females.  The  males  and  females  are  winged,  but  the  workers — which  are  by  far  the  most 
numerous — are  wingless.  After  pairing,  the  males  die  and  the  females  cast  their  wings  and  devote 
themselves  to  egg-laying.  The  eggs  and  the  helpless  maggots  hatched  from  them  are  tended  by  the 
workers,  which  feed  the  larvae  and  also  the  fertile  females.  The  nests  are  made  by  the  workers, 
and  are  irregular  chambers  connected  by  numerous  galleries  constructed  underground,  beneath  stones, 
in  rotten  wood,  etc.  Formica  rufa,  occurring  commonly  in  fir-woods,  builds  large  mounds  of  twigs 
and  pine-needles,  often  two  feet  high  and  a  yard  in  diameter.  The  Heterogyna  are  not  very  well 
represented  in  Nottinghamshire,  only  five  native  and  two  introduced  species  being  recorded.  The 
Isopod  Crustacean  or  Woodlouse,  Platyarthrus  hoffmannseggii,  is  common  in  many  places  in  the  nests 
of  certain  species.1 

Among  the  fossorial  Hymenoptera  each  species  consists  of  male  and  female  only ;  they  are 
neither  social  nor  gregarious,  and  are  of  carnivorous  habits.  The  females  construct  nests  by  burrowing 
in  sandy  ground  or  in  wood  or  plant-stems  ;  in  these  burrows  they  lay  up  a  store  of  food  for  the 
use  of  their  offspring,  consisting  of  spiders,  aphides,  larvae  of  Lepidoptera,  Diptera,  beetles,  other 
Hymenoptera,  etc.  ;  these  are  usually  not  killed,  but  paralysed  by  being  stung.  So  far,  about 
forty-five  species  have  been  collected  in  the  county. 

The  Diploptera  or  true  wasps  may  be  distinguished  from  the  other  groups  by  the  anterior  wings 
being  longitudinally  folded  when  at  rest.  Some  species  are  solitary,  consisting  only  of  males  and 
females,  and  build  earthen  nests  which  they  provision  with  caterpillars.  The  species  of  Odynerus 
make  their  nests  in  holes  in  walls  or  woodwork,  in  plant-stems,  or  in  burrows  in  the  ground. 
O.  spinipes  burrows  in  clay  banks  and  builds  a  beautiful  projecting  trumpet-shaped  approach  to  its 
nest.  The  Vespidae  or  social  wasps  live  in  communities  consisting  of  males,  females  and  workers. 
The  nest  is  fashioned  of  paper  manufactured  by  the  wasps  from  the  woody  tissue  of  plants,  and  the 
'comb '  or  mass  of  cells  in  which  the  larvae  are  reared  is  usually  in  several  distinct  layers  or  plates 
situated  one  above  the  other.  The  grubs  are  fed  on  insects  or  fruit,  or  both.  In  the  autumn  the 
males  and  workers  die  off,  but  the  young  fertile  females  hibernate,  and  each  founds  a  new  nest  in 
the  following  spring,  lays  eggs,  and  rears  a  brood  of  workers  which  add  largely  to  the  size  of  the 
nest  and  tend  the  succeeding  broods  of  larvae.  For  long  only  workers  are  produced,  but  late  in  the 
summer  males  and  perfect  females  are  developed.  We  possess  five  of  the  eight  British  species  of 
Vespa  in  Nottinghamshire.  Of  these  V.  crabro,  the  formidable  hornet,  is  by  far  the  rarest ;  indeed 
the  only  local  specimen  I  have  seen  is  one  captured  on  the  river  bank  at  Ollerton  by  a  man  who 
was  cutting  the  water  weeds  ;  it  was  taken  by  him  to  the  Rev.  W.  Becher,  who  kindly  presented 
it  to  the  Nottingham  Museum.  Fespa  sylvestris,  which  suspends  its  nest  from  the  branches  of  trees 
and  bushes,  is  very  common  with  us,  and  may  often  be  seen  in  numbers  at  the  flowers  of  the 
Water  Betony  (Scrophularia  aquatica).  Fespa  vu/garis,  V.  germanica  and  V.  rufa,  which  construct 
their  nests  underground,  are  all  common. 

The  Anthophila  or  bees  may  in  general  be  known  from  the  other  Aculeate  Hymenoptera  by 
the  plumose  or  feathery  hairs  with  which  they  are  more  or  less  clothed,  by  the  flat  and  broad  basal 
segment  of  the  hind  foot,  and  by  the  long  '  tongue '  adapted  for  sucking  nectar  from  flowers  ; 
moreover  the  abdomen  is  never  narrowed  at  the  base  to  form  an  elongated  stalk  as  it  so  often  is  in 
the  other  groups.  The  majority  of  the  Anthophila  are  solitary,  but  innumerable  nests  are  frequently 
constructed  in  close  proximity.  A  soft  sandstone  road-cutting  at  Bagthorpe,  Nottingham,  exhibits 
over  a  considerable  area  many  hundreds  of  the  burrows  of  Colletes  davlesana  to  the  square  yard  of 
surface.  Some  burrow  in  wood  or  excavate  bramble  stems,  others  construct  nests  of  clay  in 
cavities  of  walls  or  posts,  or  even  utilize  empty  snail  shells  for  the  purpose.  The  writer  has  bred 
nearly  fifty  specimens  of  Osmia  rufa  from  a  door  lock  which  was  completely  filled  with  the  clay 
cells  of  this  species.  Some  species  live  parasitically  in  the  nests  of  other  bees;  thus  Epeolus  productus 
occurs  in  abundance  with  the  Colleta  davlesana  mentioned  above,  and  the  species  of  Nomada  live  at 
the  expense  of  species  of  Andrena.  Anthophora  acts  as  host  to  the  parasitic  Melecta,  and  Coelioxys  is 

1  It  occurs  most  frequently  in  company  with  Laslus  niger,  less  often  it  is  associated  with  Lasiusflavus  and 
Myrmita  rubra. 

90 


INSECTS 


parasitic  upon  Megachile  chiefly.  The  humble  bees  (Bombus)  and  the  honey  bee  (Apis  mellifica)  are 
social,  living  in  societies  consisting  of  males,  females  and  workers.  Pslthyrus  is  an  '  unbidden  guest ' 
in  the  nests  of  Bombus. 

In  the  following  list,  unless  otherwise  stated,  the  species  have  all  been  seen  by  the  writer  in  the 
localities  given. 


HETEROGYNA  (Ants) 

FoRMICIDAB 

Formica  rufa,  Linn.  The  large  dome-shaped  nests  of 
this  species  are  common  in  fir-woods  about 
Thorney  and  Wigsley 

—  fusca,  Latr.      Quarry  at   Cresioell  Crags;   Oxton 

Bogs 
Lasius  flavus,  De  Geer.     Common 

—  niger,  Linn.     Common 

[Plagiolepis  flavidula,  Reg.  In  greenhouse  at  Bram- 
cote,  introduced] 

MYRMICIDAE 

[Tetramorium  guineense,  Fab.      Retford,  introduced, 

S.  Pegler] 

Myrmica  rubra,  Linn.,  race  laevinodis.     Common 
,,  „  „    ruginodis.     Common 


FOSSORES  (Sand-wasps) 

SAPYGIDAE 

Sapyga  quinquepunctata,   Fab.     S.  Leverton,  common 
on  walls,  June,  1902  (Thornley) 

—  clavicornis,  Linn.     Nottingham  (R.  Bakewell),  not 

seen  in  recent  years 

POMPILIDAE 

Pompilus   plumbeus,    Fabr.      Nottingham  ;    Worksop  ; 
Everton  ;  Treswell 

—  gibbus,  Fab.     Bagthorpe  and  Bulwell  Forest  ;  Lang- 

ford  Moor  ;  Worksop  ;  Everton 

Salius  fuscus,  Linn.     Treswell  (Thornley)  ;  Bulwell  ; 
Thorney 

—  exaltatus,  Fab.     Longford  Moor 

—  pusillus,    Schiodte.       Bulwell    forest  ;    Thorney  ; 

Widmerpool,  etc. 

—  parvulus,  Dahl.      Bulwell  Forest,  common 

SPHECIDAE 

Trypoxylon  figulus,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 
Treswell;  Budby 

—  attenuatum,  Sm.     Trestvell  Wood  (Thornley) 
Ammophila  sabulosa,  Linn.     Longford  Moor 
Spilomena     troglodytes,    V.     d.    Lind.      S.    Leverton 

(Thornley) 

Stigmus  solskyi,  Moraw.     Bagthorpe,  Nottingham 
Pemphredon   lugubris,    Latr.     S.  Leverton,  common 

(Thornley)  ;  Wigsley  ;  Lowdham 

—  shuckardi,    Moraw.       S.    Leverton    (Thornley)  ; 

Hucknall  Torkard  ;  Thorney 

—  lethifer,  Shuck.      Nottingham  ;  Hucknall  Torkard  ; 

Bramcote  ;  Thorney 
[Diodontus  minutus,  Fab.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield)] 

—  luperus,  Shuck.     Bagthorpe,  Nottingham 

—  tristis,  V.  d.  Lind.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Passaloecus  corniger,  Shuck.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  gracilis,  Curt.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Thorney 
Mimesa  equestris,  Fab.     Thorney 

—  bicolor,    Fab.      Bulwell    Forest,    very    common  ; 

Hollinwell 


FOSSORES  (Sand-wasps)  (continued) 

SPHECIDAE  (continued) 

Psen  pallipes,  Panz.     S.  Leverton,  common  (Thornley) ; 

Styrrup 
Gorytes  mystaceus,  Linn.     Southwell 

—  quadrifasciatus,  Fab.     Thorney 

Nysson     dimidiatus,    Jur.        Barrow    Hills,   Everton, 

26  Aug.  1 904  (Thornley) 
Mellinus  arvensis,  Linn.     Rare  in  Nottinghamshire  ; 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton,  4  September,  1903 

—  sabulosus,  Fab.     Rampton  ;  Thorney  ;  on  Umbelli- 

ferous flowers 
Oxybelus  uniglumis,  Linn.     Widely  distributed  and 

common 
Crabro  clavipes,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  leucostomus,    Linn.       S.    Leverton     (Thornley); 

Treswell ;  Edwin  statue 

—  podagricus,  V.  d.  Lind.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  palmipes,  Linn.       Bagthorpe  and  Bulwell  Forest, 

Nottingham 

—  -  varius,  Lep.     Widely  distributed 

—  wesmaeli,  V.  d.  Lind.     Nottingham 

—  elongatulus,  V.  d.  Lind.     Widely  distributed 

—  quadrimaculatus,    Dahl.      Langford  Moor ;    Work- 

sop  ;  Sutton,  nr.  Retford 
[ —  signatus,  Panz.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield)] 

-  dimidiatus,  Fab.     Common 

-  cephalotes,  Panz.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

-  chrysostomus,  Lep.     Widely  distributed  and  not 

uncommon 

-  cribrarius,   Linn.     Very  common    in    the    sandy 

district  to  the  north  of  Nottingham,  as  at  Bag- 
thorpe, Basford,  Bulwell  Forest,  etc.  ;  also  about 
Harby,  Thorney  and  Wigsley.  Six  females 
captured  on  Bulwell  Forest  as  they  were  entering 
their  burrows  were  taking  home  the  following 
species  of  Diptera  with  which  to  provision 
their  nests  : — Calliphora  erythrocephala,  Hyle- 
myia  strigosa,  Pollenia  rudis  (two),  and  Thereva 
nobilitata  (two) 

—  peltarius,    Schreb.        Bulwell    Forest;     Langford 

Moor 

—  interruptus,  De  Geer.     Treswell  Wood  (E.  Shaw); 

Nottingham 

—  albilabris,    Fab.       Widely    distributed,    but    not 

common 
Entomognathus  brevis,  V.  d.  Lind.     Worksop 


DIPLOPTERA  (Wasps) 

VESPIDAE 

Vespa  crabro,  Linn.     Ollerton  (Rev.  W.  Becher) 

—  vulgaris,     Linn.       This    and    the   two    following 

species  are  all  of  common  occurrence  throughout 
the  county. 

—  germanica,  Fab. 

—  rufa,  Linn. 

—  sylvestris,  Scop.     Common  on  flowers  of  Scrophu- 

laria  aquatica  in   many  places  throughout  the 
county 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


DIPLOPTERA  (Wasps)  (continued) 

EUMENIDAK 

Odynerus  spinipes,  Linn.  Treswell  Wood,  abundant, 
July,  1899,  burrowing  into  the  soil  among  the 
branches  of  old  upturned  tree-roots.  The 
beautiful  external  tubular  structures  forming  the 
entrances  to  the  burrows  were  very  numerous. 
The  parasites  Chrysis  ignita  and  C.  viridula 
(bidentata)  were  rather  common  about  the 
burrows.  Numerous  nests  were  also  found  in 
the  clay  banb  of  the  Lea  Beck  in  Trcstoell  vil- 
lage ;  in  and  about  these  several  Chrysis  viridula 
and  C.  neglecta  were  captured.  O.  spinipes 
has  also  been  taken,  although  less  commonly,  in 
several  other  localities. 

—  callosus,  Thorns.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  parietum,  Linn.     Widely  distributed  and  common 

—  pictus,    Curt.      S.   Leverton   and    Trestvell  Wood 

(Thornley) 

—  trifasciatus,  Oliv.     Occurs  in  many  places,  but  not 

commonly 

— -  parietinus,  Linn.  S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ,•  Tres- 
toell 

—  antilope,  Panz.     S.  Leverton  and  Elksley  (Thorn- 

ley)  ;  Harby 

-  gracilis,  Brulle.      N.  Wheatley  and  Treswell,  on 

flowers  of  Scrophularia  aquatica,  fairly  common 

-  sinuatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) ;  Treswell 

ANTHOPHILA  (Bees) 
OBTUSIL1NGUES 

CoLLETIDAE 

Colletes  succincta,  Linn.  Bulwell  Forest,  flying  over 
Erica  cinerea 

—  daviesana,  Sm.  Widely  distributed.  At  Bag- 
thorpe,  Nottingham,  it  occurs  in  profusion,  burrow- 
ing in  the  sandstone  rock  at  the  sides  of  the  road- 
cutting  near  the  prison.  The  parasites  Epeolus 
productus  and  Chrysis  ignita  infest  the  burrows 
in  considerable  numbers;  indeed,  in  1900  the 
Epeolus  was  almost  as  abundant  as  the  Colletes, 
which  as  a  consequence  has  been  less  common 
since 

Prosopis  communis,  Nyl.     Common 

—  hyalinata,  Sm.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  pictipes,  Nyl.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  ;  Hoi- 

beck,  near  Welbeck 

4CUTILINGUES 
ANDRENIDAE 


All  widely  distributed  and 
common 


Sphecodes  gibbus,  Linn. 

—  subquadratus,  Sm. 

—  pilifrons,  Thorns. 

—  similis,  Wesm.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  ferruginatus,  Schenck.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
• —  variegatus,  v.  Hag.     Blidworth 

—  dimidiatus,  v.  Hag.     Langford  Moor 

—  affinis,  v.  Hag.     Bagthorpe  ;  Blidworth  ;  Thorney  ; 

Sutton,  nr.  Retford 

Halictus  rubicundus,  Christ.     Abundant  everywhere 
[ —  leucozonius,  Schrank.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield)] 

—  quadrinotatus,  Kirb.     Not  uncommon  in  several 

localities 

—  cylindricus,  Fab.     Of  common    and   widespread 

occurrence 

—  albipes,  Kirb.     Arnold ;  Bulwell:  Bunny 


ANTHOPHILA  (Bees}  (continued) 
4CUTILINGUES  (continued) 

ANDRENIDAE  (continued) 

Halictus  villosulus,  Kirb.  Ckrborough  (Thornley)  ; 
Cottam  ;  Treswell 

—  punctatissimus,  Schenck.     BRdworth 

—  nitidiusculus,    Kirb.       Widely    distributed    and 

common 

—  minutus,  Kirb.     Bunny 

—  atricornis,    Sm.      Thorney ;    Sherwood  Forest,    nr. 

Edwinstotoe 

—  tumulorum,  Linn.     Common  in  various  localities 

—  smeathmanellus,  Kirb.      S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 

Wheatley  (Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin)  ;  Worksop 
(Miss  Alderson) 

—  morio,  Fab.     Blyth 

—  leucopus,  Kirb.     Not  common,  but  widely  dis- 

tributed 
Andrena  albicans,  Kirb.     Very  common  everywhere 

—  rosae,  Panz.     var.  trimmerana,  Kirb.     Very  com- 

mon 

—  nitida,  Fourc.     N.  and  S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 

Gedllng 

—  cineraria,  Linn.     Babworth  (Pegler)  ;  common  at 

Langford  Moor 

—  fulva,  Schr.     Universally  distributed,  and  abund- 

ant in  some  localities 

—  clarkella,   Kirb.      S.  Leverton  and  Treswell  Wood 

(Thornley) 

—  nigroaenia,  Kirb.     Common 

—  gwynana,  Kirb.     Common 

—  varians,  Rossi.      Thorney  ;  Bilsthorpe 

—  fucata,  Sm.     Widely  spread,  but  not  common 

—  denticulata,   Kirb.     Edwinstotoe ;    Wigsley  ;   Thor- 

ney 

—  albicrus,  Kirb.     Common  in  a  few  localities,  as 

at  Bulwell  Forest 

—  chrysosceles,  Kirb.     Common 

—  analis,  Panz.     Langford  Moor 

—  coitana,  Kirb.     Thorney 

—  humilis,  Imhoff.     Bulwell  Forest,  common 

—  labialis,  Kirb.     N.  and  S.  Leverton  and  Trestoell 

Wood,  common  (Thornley)  ;  Winkburn 

—  minutula,   Kirb.      Bagthorpe;  Widmerpoot ;  Lang- 

ford  Moor 

—  nana,  Kirb.     S.  Leverton  and  Treswell  (Thornley) ; 

Burton  Joyce  ;  Strelley  ;  Southwell 

—  wilkella,  Kirb.     Widely  distributed,  and  common 

in  some  localities 

[ —  tibialis,  Kirb.  ;  A.  bimaculata,  Kirb.  ;  A. 
thoracica,  Fab.  ;  A.  fulvicrus,  Kirb.  ;  A. 
similis,  Sm.  ;  and  A.  afzeliana,  Kirb.,  in  the 
late  Mr.  Hadfield's  collection  (now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley),  were  all 
probably  collected  in  the  Newark  district] 

Nomada  solidaginis,  Panz.  Wigsley  ;  Thorney  ;  Lang- 
ford  Moor 

—  succincta,  Panz.     Fairly  common  throughout  the 

county 

—  alternata,  Kirb.      Widely  distributed  and  not  un- 

common 

—  jacobaeae,  Panz.     Worksop 

—  lathburiana,    Kirb.       Langford    Moor,   common, 

flying  in  company  with  Andrena  cineraria 

—  ruficornis,  Linn.     Not  rare 

—  bifida,   Thorns.       Treswell  Wood;    S.    Leverton ; 

Clarborough  (Thornley) 


INSECTS 


ANTHOPHILA  (Beet)  (continued) 
JCUTILINGUES  (continued) 

ANDRENIDAE  (continued) 

Nomada  borealis,  Zett.      Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  ochrostoma,    Kirb.       Bukoell    Forest;    Lang  ford 

Moor 

—  fabriciana,  Linn.     C/arborough  (Thornley);  Strel- 

ley  ;  Widmerpool ;  Epper stone 

—  flavoguttata,    Kirb.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  ; 

Strelley 

API  DAE 

Epeolus  productus,  Thorns.  Very  common  in  certain 
localities 

—  rufipes,  Thorns.     Bfidworth 
Chelostoma  florisomne,  Linn.     Not  uncommon 
Coelioxys  rufescens,  Lep.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  elongata,  Lep.     Bulwell  Forest ;  Lang  ford  Moor 
Megachile   willughbiella,   Kirb.       Newark   (?)   (Had- 

field)  ;   'Nottingham,  1905  (Thornley) 

—  circumcincta,    Lep.       S.    Leverton    (Thornley)  ; 

Button,  nr.  Retford 

—  centuncularis,   Linn.      S.   Leverton    (Thornley)  ; 

Nottingham 

Osmia  rufa,  Linn.  Nottingham,  Worksop,  and  Retford 
districts,  common.  In  1898  the  writer  bred 
forty-eight  specimens  from  a  nest  in  the  door- 
lock  of  an  outbuilding  in  Nottingham.  Of  this 
number  forty-three  were  males,  and  only  five 
females — a  remarkable  numerical  discrepancy 
in  the  sexes.  The  nest  contained  fifteen  other 
cocoons  from  which  the  bees  failed  to  emerge, 
and  these  on  investigation  were  found  to  con- 


ANTHOPHILA  (Bees)  (continued) 

4CUTILINGUES  (continued) 

APIDAE  (continued) 

tain  nine  males,  five  females,  and  a  larva — all 

dead.     The  high  mortality  among  the  females 

is  noteworthy 
Osmia  caerulescens,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  and  Treswell 

Wood  (Thornley) 
[ —  fulviventris,  Panz.,  and  O.  aurulenta,  Panz.,  are 

both  represented    in   the    Hadfield    collection, 

and  are  probably  from  the  Newark  district] 
Melecta  armata,  Panz.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 
Anthophora    retusa,    Linn.       Nottingham    (Davis,    in 

Loudon's  Mag.  N.  H.,  vol.  v,  1832) 

—  pilipes,  Fab.     Rather  common 

Psithyrus  rupestris,  Fab.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;  Treswell 
Wood  (Thornley) 

—  vestalis,  Fourc.     Occurs  throughout  the  county 

—  campestris,  Panz.     Retford  (Pegler) 

—  quadricolor,  Lep.     S.  Leverton  and  Grove  (Thorn- 

ley) 
Bombus  venustus,  Sm.     Moderately  common 

—  agrorum,  Fab.     Common  everywhere 

—  hortorum,   Linn.     Common.      The   var.  harris- 

ellus,  Kirb.,  is  not  rare 

—  sylvarum,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Bunny; 

Widmerpool 

—  lapidarius,  Linn.     Of  common  occurrence 

—  pratorum,  Linn.     Of  common  occurrence 

-  terrestris,  Linn.      Both  the  varieties,  virginalis  and 

lucorum,  are  common 

Apis  mellifica,  Linn.      Abundant  in  a  domesticated 
state 


COLEOPTERA 

The  Coleoptera  or  Beetles  constitute  a  very  large  and  distinct  order  of  insects,  easily  dis- 
tinguished by  their  firm  integument,  and  especially  by  the  hard  and  rigid  character  of  the  fore- 
wings  (elytra),  which  are  not  used  for  flight,  but  serve  as  protecting  shields  for  the  soft  upper 
surface  of  the  abdomen  and  for  the  thin  membranous  posterior  wings  which  are  folded  together 
beneath  the  elytra  and  are  alone  concerned  with  flight. 

The  beetles  of  Nottinghamshire  have  been  well  worked  out,  thanks  mainly  to  the  exertions 
of  the  Rev.  Alfred  Thornley,  M.A.,  who  has  devoted  many  years  to  the  investigation  of  the 
Coleoptera  of  the  county,  and  who  has  generously  placed  all  his  records  at  the  writer's  disposal. 
The  rich  district  of  Sherwood  Forest — perhaps  one  of  the  best  collecting  grounds  in  the  country — 
has  been  thoroughly  investigated  by  the  Rev.  Canon  Fowler,  the  Rev.  A.  Matthews,  Mr.  W.  G. 
Blatch,  Mr.  J.  Kidson  Taylor,  Dr.  G.  W.  Chaster,  Mr.  J.  R.  le  B.  Tomlin,  and  others,  who 
have  discovered  many  rare  species  in  this  region,  some  of  which  have  not  occurred  elsewhere  in 
the  British  Isles.  The  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham  has  been  successfully  worked  by  Mr.  W.  E. 
Ryles  and  others,  and  Messrs.  Stephen  Pegler  and  J.  T.  Houghton  have  collected  extensively  in 
the  Retford  and  Worksop  districts  respectively.  Many  good  species  have  also  been  discovered  in 
the  extreme  north  of  the  county  by  the  Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin. 

The  following  list  comprises  some  1,280  species  out  of  an  approximate  total  for  Britain  of 
3,300  species.  Localities  are  given  for  the  rarer  or  more  local  species  only.  Where  a  locality  is 
given  without  an  authority  the  species  is  to  be  regarded  as  of  frequent  occurrence  in  that  locality, 
or  has  been  seen  there  by  the  writer.  The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  followed  are  those  of 
Sharp  and  Fowler's  Catalogue  of  British  Coleoptera. 


CICINDELIDAE 
Cicindela  campestris,  L. 

CARABIDAE 

Cychrus   rostratus,    L.       Aspley    Woods,    Nottingham 

(Ryles) 
Carabus  catenulatus,  Scop.     Sherwood  Forest  (W.  H. 

Freestone)  ;  Worksop  (J.  T.  Houghton) 


CARABIDAE  (continued) 
Carabus  nemoralis,  Mull. 

—  violaceus,  L. 

—  granulatus,  L. 

—  monilis,  Fab. 
Notiophilus  biguttatus,  Fab. 

—  substriatus,  Wat.          ^Nottingham  (Ryles) ;  S.  Lev- 

—  quadripunctatus,  Dej.j      erton  (Thornley) 


93 


I 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CARABIDAE  (continued) 

Nfotiophilus  aquaticus,  L.  Not  nearly  so  common  in 
Nottinghamshire  as  the  next  species 

—  palustris,  Duft. 
Leistus  spinibarbis,  Fab. 

—  fulvibarbis,  Dej. 

—  ferrugineus,  L. 

—  rufescens,  Fab. 
Nebria  brevicollis,  Fab. 

—  gyllenhali,  Sch.     Nottingham,  1898  (B.  S.  Dodd) 
Blethisa   multipunctata,    L.      S.    Leverton    (Pegler)  ; 

Nottingham  and  Bees  ton  (Ryles) 
Elaphrus  riparius,  L. 

—  cupreus,  Duft. 
Loricera  pilicornis,  Fab. 
Clivina  fossor,  L. 

-  collaris,  Herbst.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

Broscus  cephalotes,  L.  In  Oct.  1895,  Mr.  Stephen 
Pegler  discovered  a  colony  of  this  shore-loving 
species  in  a  sandy  tract  near  Retford  railway 
station,  in  the  parish  of  Ordsall 

Badister  unipustulatus,  Bon.  Newark  (Fowler,  Brit. 
Cokop.  i,  30) 

-  bipustulatus,  Fab. 

-  sodalis,  Duft.     Aspley,  Nottingham,  4  Oct.   1899 

(Ryles) 

Licinus  depressus,  Payk.  Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles)  ;  an 
interesting  record,  as  this  species  is  scarcely 
known  away  from  the  chalk  districts  of  the 
south  of  England 

Chlaenius  nigricornis,  Fab. 

Acupalpus  dorsalis,  Fab.  Stapleford  Common,  nr. 
Newark  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  \,  38).  This  is 
a  somewhat  doubtful  Nottinghamshire  record, 
as  a  large  part  of  the  district  thus  designated 
lies  over  the  border  in  Lincolnshire 

-  exiguus,  Dej.,  var.  luridus,  Dej.     S.  Leverton 

-  meridianus,  L. 

-  consputus,  Duft.     Near   Newark  in  plenty  (J.  F. 

Dawson,  Ent.  Ann.  1856) 

Bradycellus  placidus,  Gyll.  Treiwell  Wood  (Thornley) ; 
Grove  (Pegler) 

-  cognatus,  Gyll.     TresweU  Wood  (Thornley) ;  Ret- 

ford (Pegler) 

-  distinctus,  Dej. 

-  verbasci,  Duft. 

-  harpalinus,  Dej. 

-  similis,  Dej. 

Harpalus  punctatulus,  Duft.  Newark  (Fowler,  Brit. 
Coleop.  i.  45) ;  Burton  Joyce,  several  examples 
(Ryles) 

—  azureus,  Fab.     Edtvalton  and  Burton  Joyce  (Ryles) 

—  rufibarbis,  Fab. 

-  puncticollis,  Payk. 

-  ruficornis,  Fab. 

-  aeneus,  Fab. 

—  rubripes,  Duft.  'j 

—  discoideus,  Fab.  \Barrow  Hills,  Everton 

-  latus,  L.  J 

-  tardus,  Panz. 
Stomis  pumicatus,  Panz. 

Platyderus   ruficollis,    Marsh.      Nottingham,    Lambley, 

Clifton 
Pterostichus  cupreus,  L. 

—  versicolor,  Sturm.     Much  less  common  than  the 

last 

-  madidus,  Fab. 

—  niger,  Schall. 


CARABIDAE  (continued) 

Pterostichus  vulgaris,  L. 

—  nigrita,  Fab. 

—  minor,  Gyll. 

—  strenuus,  Panz. 

—  diligens,  Sturm. 

—  picimanus,  Duft.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Not- 

tingham (Ryles) 

—  inaequalis,  Marsh.     Newark  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

i,  67) 

—  vernalis,  Gyll. 

—  striola,  Fab. 

Amara  fulva,  Dej.     Nottingham  district  (Ryles) 

—  apricaria,  Sturm. 

—  consularis,  Duft.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  aulica,  Panz. 

—  bifrons,  Gyll  (=livida,  Fab.) 

—  ovata,  Fab. 

—  similata,  Gyll. 

—  acuminata,  Payk.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Not- 

tingham 

—  tibialis,  Payk. 

—  familiaris,  Duft. 

—  trivialis,  Gyll. 

—  communis,  Panz. 

—  plebeia,  Gyll. 
Calathus  cisteloides,  Panz. 

-  fuscus,  Fab.     Babworth,  1897  (S.  Pegler) 

—  flavipes,  Fourc.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  melanocephalus,  L. 

-  micropterus,  Duft.  Barrow  Hills,  Everton,  8  Aug., 

1904  (Chamberlin) 

—  piceus,  Marsh. 

(S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Ret- 
Taphria  nivalis,   Panz.  <     ford    (Pegler)  ;     Sherwood 

(     Forest  (Ryles) 
Pristonychus  terricola,  Herbst. 
Anchomenus  angusticollis,  Fab. 

-  dorsalis,  Mull. 

—  albipes,  Fab. 

—  oblongus,  Sturm.     Worksop  (Ryles) 

• —  marginatus,  L.     Moor  Green  Reservoir,  etc. 

—  sexpunctatus,  L.     Newark,  Nottinghamshire    (near 

Stapleford  Common,  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  i,  90) 

—  parumpunctatus,  Fabr. 

—  viduus,  Panz.,  var.  moestus,  Duft. 

—  micans,  Nic. 

—  fuliginosus,  Panz. 

-  piceus,  L. 

-  puellus,   Dej.     Not   uncommon    in   early   spring 

by  the  Trent  side,  Nottingham  (Ryles) 
Olisthopus  rotundatus,  Payk. 
Bembidium  rufescens,  Guir. 

—  quinquestriatum,  Gyll.     5.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  obtusum,  Sturm. 

—  guttula,  Fab. 

—  mannerheimi,  Sahl.     Common  in  early  spring  in 

flood  refuse  by  the  Trent,  Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  biguttatum,  Fab. 

—  riparium,  Ol. 

—  aeneum,  Germ. 

—  clarki,  Daws.     Moor  Green  Reservoir 

—  doris,  Panz.     '  Newark,  in  plenty  '  (J.  F.  Dawson, 

Ent.  Ann.  1856);  not  seen  since 

—  gilvipes,  Sturm. 

—  lampros,  Herbst. 

—  tibiale,  Duft.     Thurgarton  (W.  E.  Ryles) 

—  decorum,  Panz. 


94 


INSECTS 


CARABIDAE  (continued) 

Bembidium  nitidulum,  Marsh.     Moor   Green   Reser- 
voir, etc. 

—  stomoides,  Dej.     Trent  side  at  Cottam  and  Ramp- 

ton,  among  the  roots  of  Alopecurus  genicu- 
latus,  close  to  the  water's  edge,  July,  1899,  and 
subsequently,  not  uncommon  (A.  Thornley)  ; 
also  at  Littleborough  and  W.  Burton  (Pegler) 

—  quadriguttatum,  Fab. 

—  quadrimaculatum,  Gyll. 

—  lunatum,    Duft.     Not    uncommon    in    the   same 

localities  as  B.  stomoides,  especially  at  Cottam 
(Thornley) 

—  femoratum,  Sturm. 

—  littorale,  Ol. 

—  fluviatile,   Dej.      Banks   of  Trent   near   Newark 

(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  \,  117);  Nottingham, 
Colwick,  etc. 

—  punctulatum,   Drap.      Barton,     Beeston,    Colwick 

(Ryles) 

—  flammulatum,  Clairv.     'Nottingham,  not  uncommon 

(Ryles)  ;    W.    Burton    (Pegler)  ;   Moor    Green 

Reservoir 

Tachypus  flavipes,  L. 
Trechus  discus,  Fab.  Banks  of  Trent,  Newark  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleof.  i,  126);  banks  of  Trent,  opposite 

Gainsborough  (Pegler)  ;  Nottingham  (Pope) 

—  micros,  Herbst.     Retford  and  Cottam  (Pegler) 

—  minutus,  Fab. 

„        var.  obtusus,  Er.     Beeston  (Ryles) 

—  secalis,  Payk. 
Patrobus  excavatus,  Payk. 
Demetrias  atricapillus,  L. 
Dromius  linearis,  Ol. 

—  agilis,  Fab.     Commoner  in  the  Nottingham  district 

than  the  next  species  (Ryles) 

—  meridionalis,  Dej. 

—  quadrimaculatus,  L. 

—  quadrinotatus,  Panz. 

—  melanocephalus,  Dej. 
Metabletus  foveola,  Gyll. 

—  truncatellus,  L.     Bramcote,   nr.    Nottingham,    one 

example  (Ryles) 

HALIPLIDAE 

Brychius  elevatus,  Panz. 
Haliplus  flavicollis,  Sturm. 

—  fulvus,  Fab. 

—  ruficollis,  De  G. 

—  fluviatilis,  Aub£.     Littleborough  (Thornley)  ;  Not- 

tingham district  (Ryles) 

—  lineatocollis,  Marsh. 

DYTISCIDAE 


Noterus  clavicornis,  De  G.     Beeston  (Ryles) 

—  sparsus,  Marsh.     Raddiffe-on-Trent  (Ryles) 
Laccophilus  interruptus,  Panz.)  S.Leverton (Thornley); 

—  obscurus,  Panz.  J    Nottingham  (Ryles) 
Hyphydrus  ovatus,  L. 

Coelambus   versicolor,    Schall.     Nottingham    (W.    H. 
Freestone) 

—  inaequalis,  Fab. 

—  confluens,  Fab.      N.   Wheatley,    21    Sept.    1903 

(Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin) 
Deronectes  assimilis,  Payk.     Edwinstotve  (Pegler) 

—  depressus,  Fab. 

—  duodecimpustulatus,  Fab. 


DYTISCIDAE  (continued) 

Hydroporus  pictus,  Fab. 

—  granularis,  L.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Cossall 

—  lepidus,  Ol. 

—  rivalis,  Gyll.     Edwinstowe  (Pegler) 

—  halensis,  Fab.     S.  Leverton,  a  single  example  from 

the  Catchwater  drain,  Nov.  1895  (Thornley) 

—  dorsalis,  Fab. 

—  lineatus,  Fab. 

—  gyllenhali,  Schiodte.     5.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  palustris,  L. 

—  erythrocephalus,  L. 

—  memnonius,  Nic.     Broadholme  (Pegler) 

—  pubescens,  Gyll. 

—  planus,  Fab. 

—  lituratus,  Fab. 
Agabus  guttatus,  Payk. 

—  paludosus,  Fab. 

—  didymus,  Ol.      Retford  district,  not    uncommon 

(Thornley) 

—  nebulosus,  Forst. 

—  sturmii,  Gyll. 

—  chalconotus,  Panz. 

—  bipustulatus,  Linn. 
Platambus  maculatus,  L. 
Ilybius  fuliginosus,  Fab. 

—  fenestratus,  Fab.     Wollaton  (Ryles) 

—  ater,    De    G.   Nottingham    (Ryles)  ;     S.    Leverton 

(Thornley) 

—  obscurus,  Marsh.     Beeston  (Ryles) 
Colymbetes  fuscus,  L. 

Dytiscus  marginalis,  L. 
Acilius  sulcatus,  L. 

GYRINIDAE 

Gyrinus  natator,  Scop. 

• —  marinus,  Gyll.      Cossall,  etc.,  not  uncommon. 
Orectochilus  villosus,  Mull.     Nottingham,  common  in 
the  Trent  in  places  (Ryles) 

HYDROPHILIDAE 

Hydrobius  fuscipes,  L. 

Paracymus  nigroaeneus,  Sahl.     Cottam 

Anacaena  globulus,  Payk. 

—  limbata,  Fab. 

Cymbiodyta  ovalis,  Thorns.     S.  Leverton  ;  Cottam 
Enochrus  bicolor,  Gyll.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield) 
Chaetarthria  seminulum,  Herbst.     S.  Leverton 
Laccobius  sinuatus,  Mots.     Cinder-hill  Brickyard  near 
Nottingham 

—  bipunctatus,  Fab.     Cossall 

Helophorus  rugosus,  Ol.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield) 

—  nubilus,  Fab. 

—  aquaticus,  L. 

—  aeneipennis,  Thorns. 

—  brevipalpis,  Bedel 
Hydrochus  elongatus,  Schall. 

Octhebius    rufimarginatus,   Steph.      Raddiffe-on-Trent 

(Ryles) 

Hydraena  nigrita,  Germ.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Cyclonotum  orbiculare,  Fab. 
Sphaeridium  scarabaeoides,  Fab. 

—  bipustulatum,  Fab. 

„  var.  marginatum,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

(Thornley) 


95 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


HYDROPHILIDAE  (continued) 

Cercyon  haemorrhoidalis,  Herbst. 

-  obsoletus,  Gyll.      Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

-  flavipes,  Fab. 

—  lateralis,  Marsh. 
--  melanocephalus,  L. 

—  unipunctatus,  L. 

—  quisquilius,  L. 

—  nigriceps,  Marsh.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

-  analis,  Payk. 

—  lugubris,  Payk.     Beeston,  in  flood  refuse  (Ryles) 
Megasternum  boletophagum,  Marsh. 
Cryptopleurum  atomarium,  Fab. 

STAPHYLINIDAE 

Aleochara  fuscipes,  Fab. 

-  lanuginosa,  Grav. 

-  moesta,  Grav. 

-  nitida,  Grav. 

—  morion,  Grav. 
Microglossa  suturalis,  Sahl. 

-  pulla,  Gyll.  \SherwoodForest  (Fowler, 
Oxypoda  spectabilis,  Maerk. )      Brit.  Cokop,  ii,  24) 

-  lividipcnnis,  Mann. 

-  opaca,  Grav.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

-  alternans,  Grav. 

-  umbrata,  Grav. 

-  haemorrhoa,  Mann. 

-  annularis,  Sahl.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 
Ischnoglossa  corticina,  lLr.\Shcrw>ood    Forest    (Fowler, 
Ocyusa  incrassata,  Kr.        J     Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  40,  41) 

-  picina,  Aub6.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

Phloeopora  reptans,  Grav.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

-  corticalis,  Grav.  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Chaster, 

Tomlin) 
Ocalea    castanea,  Er.      Sherwood  Forest    (Blatch    and 

Homer) 

Ilyobatcs  nigricollis,  Payk.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 
Chilopora  longitarsis,  Steph. 
Myrmedonia  limbata,  Payk.    Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  56)  ;  S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Astilbus  canaliculatus,  Fab. 

Callicerus  rigidicornis,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 
Alianta  incana,  Er.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Homalota  vicina,  Steph. 

—  graminicola,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  fungivora,  Thorns.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Horner) 

-  nigella,  Er.     5.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

-  picipes,  Thorns.     N 

-  aequata,  Er.  I  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch,   Hor- 

-  linearis,  Grav.         (      ner,  Fowler,  and  others) 

-  pilicornis,  Thorns./ 

-  circellaris,  Grav. 

-  immersa,  Er.   Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

»>  94) 

-  cuspidata,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

-  analis,  Grav. 

-  depressa,  Gyll.     S.  Leverton,  on  walls  (Thornley) 

—  aeneicollis,    Sharp.       Sherwood     Forest     (Blatch, 

Horner,  etc.) 

—  xanthoptera,  Steph. 

-  euryptera,  Steph. 

—  trinotata,  Kr. 

—  xanthopus,  Thorns.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Horner) 

—  fungicola,  Thorns. 


STAPHYLINIDAE  (continued) 


Sherwood  Forest   (Blatch, 
Horner,  and  others) 


Homalota  ignobilis,  Sharp 

—  boletobia,  Thorns. 

—  humeralis,  Kr. 

—  gagatina,  Baudi 

—  divisa,  Maerk. 

—  nigricornis,  Thorns. 

—  ravilla,  Er. 

—  corvina,  Thorns.         t 

—  sericea,  Muls. 

—  subtilis,  Scriba.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  indubia,    Sharp.       Sherwood    Forest   (Blatch  and 

Horner) 

—  atricolor,  Sharp.     Abundant  under  elm  bark  in 

Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  germana,  Sharp 

—  celata,  Er. 

—  canescens,  Sharp 

—  cauta,  Er. 

• —  setigera,  Sharp 

—  macrocera,  Thorns., 

—  atramentaria,  Gyll. 

—  cadaverina,  Bris. 


Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 
others) 


Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 


Sherwood  Forest 


—  marcida,  Er.        j 

—  longicornis,  Grav. 

—  sordida,  Marsh. 

—  aterrima,  Grav. 

—  muscorum,  Bris.    S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood 

Forest  (Blatch) 

—  pilosiventris,    Thorns.      Sherwood    Forest,    under 

bark  (Blatch) 

—  fungi,  Grav. 

-  cribrata,  Kr.  ?     Sherwood  Forest  (Horner) 
Falagria  sulcata,  Payk. 

—  obscura,  Grav. 

Autalia  impressa,  Ol.)       p,  ,  _          .„      ..   . 

-  rivularis,  Grav.     )      Sbamatl  Fmtt  (Tomlln> 
Encephalus   complicans,  Westw.     S.  Leverton  (Thorn- 
ley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.   Coleop.  ii, 
152) 

Gyrophaena  nana,  Payk.     Treswell  Wood,  common  in 

fungi  (Thornley) 
Agaricochara  laevicollis,  Kr. 
Placusa  pumilio,  Grav. 

—  denticulata,  Sharp 
Epipeda  plana,  Gyll. 

Leptusa  fumida,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Sipalia  ruficollis,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Bolitochara   lucida,   Grav.      Sherwood  Forest  (J.    K. 

Taylor,  Blatch,  etc.) 

— •  obliqua,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Hygronoma  dimidiata,  Grav.     Clumber  (Pegler) 
Oligota  inflata,  Mann.      Retftrd  district  and  Sherwood 

Forest 

—  pusillima,  Grav.  )  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch,  Horner, 

—  apicata,  Er.          }       etc.) 

Myllaena  fowleri,  Matth.     Sherwood  Forest,  Rev.  A. 

Matthews  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  1 78) 
Hypocyptus  longicornis,  Payk. 
Conosoma  littoreum,  L. 

—  pubescens,  Grav. 

—  immaculatum,  Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 

—  lividum,  Er. 
Tachyporus  obtusus,  L. 

„      var.  nitidicollis,  Steph.    Sherwood 
Forest,  1871  (J.  R.  Hardy) 

—  solutus,  Er.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  chrysomelinus,  L. 


96 


INSECTS 


STAPHYLINIDAE  (continued) 

Tachyporus  humerosus,  Er. 

—  hypnorum,  Fab. 

—  pusillus,  Grav. 

-  brunneus,  Fab. 

Lamprinus  saginatus,  Grav.  S.  Leverton,  a  single 
specimen  in  vicarage  garden,  1895  (Thorn- 
Ie7) 

Cilea  silphoides,  L. 

Tachinus  humeralis,  Grav. 

-  rufipes,  L. 

—  subterraneus,  L. 

„          var.    bicolor,    Grav.     Retford,  with 
type  (Pegler) 

—  marginellns,  Fab. 

—  collaris,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Notting- 

ham (Ryles) 

Megacronus  cingulatus,  Mann.  Sherwood  Forest 
(Blatch,  Homer,  Fowler) 

—  analis,  Fab. 
Bolitobius  lunulatus,  L. 

—  trinotatus,  Er. 

—  exoletus,  Er.      Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  pygmaeus,  Fab. 

Mycetoporus  lucidus,  Er.  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch 
and  Homer) 

—  punctus,  Gyll.      Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  ii,  215) 

—  lepidus,  Grav.  )      Sherwood    Forest   (Chaster 

—  longulus,  Mann.       J          and  Tomlin) 

—  splendidus,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Habrocerus  capillaricornis,  Grav.     Colwick  (Ryles) 
Trichophya  pilicornis,  Gyll.      Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch 

and  Horner) 

Heterothops  dissimilis,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Quedius  ventralis,  Ar.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  ii,  231) 

—  lateralis,  Grav.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  mesomelinus,  Marsh. 

—  fulgidus,  Fab.  )      Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler, 
• — •  puncticollis,  Thorns.  J          Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  233) 

—  cruentus,  Ol.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;    Wheatley  (H.  B. 

Chamberlin)  ;     Sherwood    Forest    (Blatch    and 
Horner) 

—  xanthopus,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  scitus,  Grav.  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and  Horner)  ; 

Broadholme  (Pegler) 

—  cinctus,  Payk. 

—  fuliginosus,  Grav. 

—  tristis,  Grav. 

—  molochinus,  Grav. 
-  nigriceps,  Kr. 

—  maurorufus,  Grav. 

—  rufipes,  Grav. 

—  semiaeneus,  Steph.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  boops,  Grav. 
Creophilus  maxillosus,  L. 
Leistotrophus  nebulosus,  Fab. 

—  murinus,  L.     Kingston-on-Soar  (Thornley) 
Staphylinus  pubescens,  De  G. 

—  fulvipes,  Scop.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  stercorarius,  Ol.     Kingston-on-Soar  (Thornley) 
Ocypus  olens,  Mull. 

—  cyaneus,    Payk.       Sherwood     Forest     (Rev.     H. 

Matthews)  ;    Newark,  several  specimens  taken 
by  Mr.  Hadfield  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  255) 

—  brunnipes,  Fab. 

—  cupreus,  Rossi 


STAPHYLINIDAE  (continued) 

Ocypus  ater,  Grav.     Retford  (Pegler) 

—  morio,  Grav. 

—  compressus,  Marsh.      S.     Leverton    (Thornley)  ; 

Nottingham  (Ryles)  ;  Barrow  Hills,  Everton 
Philonthus  splendens,  Fab. 

—  intermedius,  Boisd.     Retford  (Pegler) 

—  laminatus,  Creutz. 

—  aeneus,  Rossi 

(     S.  Leverton  and  Kingston-on-Soar 

—  proximus,  Kr.  j  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest 

(          (Chaster  and  Tomlin) 

—  addendus,  Sharp.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  decorus,  Grav.     Retford and  Nottingham  districts 

—  politus,  Fab. 

-  varius,  Gyll. 

—  marginatus,  Fab. 

-  albipes,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  cephalotes,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Sher- 

wood  Forest  (Blatch  and  Horner) 

—  fimetarius,  Grav. 

—  sordidus,  Grav. 

—  debilis,  Grav. 

-  sanguinolentus,  Grav.     S.    Leverton   (Thornley)  ; 

Nottingham  (Ryles) 

-  cruentatus,  Gmel.     Sherwood  Forest 

-  varians,  Payk. 

-  ventralis,  Grav.     Sherwood   Forest   (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  ii,  274) 

—  discoideus,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

-  splendidulus,    Grav.       Sherwood  Forest    (Chaster, 

Tomlin);  abundant  under  oak  bark  (Blatch) 

—  trossulus,  Nord. 

—  puella,   Nord.      Sherwood  Forest    (Fowler,     Brit. 

Coleop.     ii,    280)  ;     S.    Leverton    (Thornley)  ; 

Retford  (Pegler) 

Actobius  cinerascens,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Xantholinus  glabratus,  Grav. 

-  punctulatus,  Payk. 

-  linearis,  Ol. 

Leptacinus    parumpunctatus,     Gyll.       S.     Leverton 
(Thornley) 

—  linearis,  Grav. 

Baptolinus  alternans,  Grav.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Othius  fulvipennis,  Fab. 

-  laeviusculus,  Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler  and 

Tomlin) 

—  melanocephalus,    Grav.     Retford   (Thornley    and 

Pegler) ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  myrmecophilus,  Kies. 
Lathrobium  elongatum,  L. 

—  fulvipenne,  Grav. 

—  brunnipes,  Fab. 

-  longulum,  Grav.     Beeston  (Ryles) 

-  quadratum,  Payk.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Stilicus  rufipes,  Germ. 

—  orbiculatus,    Er.       Sherwood  Forest    (Blatch    and 

Horner)  ;  Retford  (Pegler) 

—  affinis,  Er. 
Lithocharis  ochracea,  Grav. 
Sunius  angustatus,  Payk. 

Stenus  biguttatus,  L.     Trent  bank,  Cottam  and  Llttlt- 
borough  ;  Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  guttula,  Mull.     Retford  and  Nottingham  districts 

—  bimaculatus,  Gyll. 

-  juno,  Fab. 

-  speculator,  Er. 

-  buphthalmus,  Grav. 


97 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


STAPHYLINIDAE  (continued') 

Stenus  canaliculatus,  Gyll.     Trent  bank,  Beaton  and 
Radcltffe  (Ryles) 

—  brunnipes,  Steph. 

—  fuscicornis,  Er.     Gtwe  (Pegler) 

—  impressus,  Germ. 

—  flavipes,  Steph. 

—  nitidiusculus,  Steph. 

—  picipes,  Steph. 

-  similis,  Herbst. 

—  tarsalis,  Ljungh 

—  paganus,  Er. 
Oxyporus  rufus,  L. 
Platystethus  arenarius,  Fourc. 
Oxytelus  rugosus,  Grav. 

—  sculptus,  Grav. 

—  laqueatus,  Marsh. 

—  sculpturatus,  Grav. 

—  nitidulus,  Grav. 

-  tetracarinatus,  Block. 

Haploderus  coelatus,  Grav.     S.  Leverton,  on  hawthorn 

bloom  (Thornley) 
Trogophloeus  bilineatus,  Steph. 

—  corticinus,  Grav.     S.  Leverton  (Pegler) 
Syntomium      aeneum,      Miill.       Radcltffe  -  on  -  Trent 

(Ryles) 

Coprophilus  striatulus,  Fab. 
Lesteva  longelytrata,  Goeze 
Olophrum  piceum,  Gyll. 

-  fuscum,  Grav.      Clumber,  three  examples  (Pegler) 
Lathrimaeum  atrocephalum,  Gyll. 

-  unicolor,  Steph. 

Philorhinum     sordidum,     Steph.         Sherwood    Forest 

(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  408) 
Coryphium     angusticolle,     Steph.      Sherwood    Forest 

(Blatch,  Pegler,  etc.) 
Omalium  rivulare,  Payk. 

-  allardi,  Fairm.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 

-  exiguum,  Gyll.        )    Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

-  oxyacanthae,  Grav.j         Coleop.  ii,  414,  415) 

-  excavatum,  Steph. 

—  caesura,  Grav. 

-  pusillum,  Grav. 

-  punctipenne,  Thorns. 

—  rufipes,     Fourc.        S.     Leverton,    very    common 

(Thornley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest 
„  var.     nigrum,     Grav.       Sherwood   Forest 

(Blatch  and  Horner) 

—  salicis,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  iopterum,  Steph.     5.  Leverton  (Thornley) ;  Retftrd 

(Pegler) ;  Sherwood  Forest 

—  planum,  Payk.      Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  ii,  421) 

—  concinnum,  Marsh. 

-  deplanatum,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  ii,  422) 

-  striatum,   Grav.       Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Anthobium   minutum,    Fab.      S.   Leverton    (Thorn- 
ley) 

—  ophthalmicum,  Payk. 

—  torquatum,  Marsh 
Proteinus  ovalis,  Steph. 

—  brachypterus,  Fab. 

Megarthrus  denticollis,  Beck.  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  ii,  429) 

—  depressus,  Lac. 

—  sinuatocollis,  Lac. 

Phloeocharis  subtilissima,  Mann.     Sherwood  Forest 


STAPHYLINIDAE  (continued) 

Pseudopsis  sulcata,  Newm.      S.  Leverton,  one  example 
in  haystack  refuse,  4  Oct.  1  899  (Thornley) 


Prognatha  quadricornis,  Lac.  j 

I 


abundant  (Blatch) 


PSELAPHIDAE 

Pselaphus  heisei,  Herbst. 
Tychus  niger,  Payk. 

„          var.  ibericus.     Treswell  (Thornley) 
Bythinus  curtisi,  Denny.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Horner) 
Batrisus  venustus,   Reich.     Sherwood  Forest,  taken  by 

many  collectors.     '  In  a  nest  of  Formica  fuliginosa 

in  an  old  tree'  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  93) 
Bryaxis  fossulata,  Reich.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
—  haematica,  Reich.     Cottam  (Pegler) 
Bibloporus  bicolor,  Denny.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch 

and  Horner) 
Euplectus  punctatus,  Muls.  ' 


—  karsteni,  Reich. 

—  signatus,  Reich. 

—  nanus,  Reich. 

—  sanguineus,  Denny 
-  piceus,  Mots. 

—  nubigena,  Reitt. 


Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch, 
Horner,  Fowler,  and 
others) 


SCYDMAENIDAE 

Neuraphes  elongatulus,  Mull.  \  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

—  angulatus.  Mull.  /      Brit.Coleop.  iii,  74) 

—  planifrons,  Blatch.     Sherwood  Forest,  under  bark  of 

birch  stumps  (Blatch) 

Scydmaenus  godarti,  Latr.  \  Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster, 
-  scutellaris,  Mull.  Tomlin,     etc.),    (also 

—  collaris,  Mall.  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii, 

—  exilis,  Er.  )       77-79) 
Eumicrus  tarsatus,  Mull. 

Eutheia  clavata,  Reitt.  Sherwood  Forest,  under  bark  of 
oak  and  birch  logs,  rare  ;  first  taken  by 
Mr.  Blatch  in  1883,  and  subsequently  by 
Mr.  Blatch,  Mr.  Horner,  Canon  Fowler,  and 
Dr.  Chaster 


98 


SILPHIDAE 

Calyptomerus  dubius,  Marsh.    S.  Leverton  (Thornley) ; 
Clumber  (Pegler) 

Agathidium  nigripenne,Kug.  ( 

—  atrum,  Payk. 

—  seminulum,  L. 

V,      15,  1 6) 

—  laevigatum,  Er.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  varians,  Beck.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield) 

—  rotundatum,     Gyll.      Sherwood    Forest    (Fowler, 

Chaster) 

—  nigrinum,  Sturm.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  18—20) 
Amphicyllis  globus,    Fab.      Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Chaster,  Tomlin) 
Liodes  humeralis,    Kug.      Sherwood  Forest;    Treswell 

Wood 

—  orbicularis,  Herbst.     Sherwood  Forest 
Anisotoma    oblonga,    Er.      Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  27) 

—  dubia,  Kug.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 


INSECTS 


SILPHIDAE  (continued} 

Anisotoma  obesa,  Schmidt.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  29) 

—  calcarata,  Er. 

Colenis  dentipes,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Necrophorus  humator,  Fab. 

—  mortuorum,  Fab. 

—  vestigator,  Heer.     Newstead  (Win.  Allen)  ;  Clum- 

ber (Pegler)  ;  Nottingham 
— •  ruspator,  Er.     Nottingham,   Worksop,  and    Retford 

districts 
„          var.  microcephalus,  Thorns.    Aspley  Woods 

(Ryles) 

—  interruptus,     Steph.         Near    Nottingham,     rare 

(Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

—  vespillo,  L. 

Necrodes  littoralis,  L.  In  dead  animals  in  the  Vale  of 
Trent  (Dr.  G.  Howitt)  ;  Kingston-on-Soar,  in 
dead  squirrel,  1905  (Thornley) 

Silpha    tristis,    111.      Nottinghamshire     (Fowler,    Brit. 
Coleop.  iii,  48) 

—  nigrita,  Creutz.    Nottingham  (Howitt,  Ryles,  Dodd, 

etc.) 

—  obscura,  L.     'Nottinghamshire  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

iii,  49) 

—  quadripunctata,  L.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  reticulata,   Fab.     "  Nottinghamshire   (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  50) 

—  opaca,  L.       S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;    Nottingham 

(Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

—  thoracica,  L. 

—  rugosa,  L. 

—  sinuata,  Fab. 

—  strata,  L. 

„     var.  brunnea,  Herbst.     Clifton  Grove  (Ryles) 
Choleva  angustata,  Fab.     Nottingham  (Dr.  Howitt) 

—  cisteloides,  Frohl. 

—  intermedia,  Kr.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  spadicea,    Sturm.       Nottingham     (T.    Ludgrove  ; 

specimen  named  by  Canon  Fowler);   Sherwood 
Forest 

—  agilis,  111. 

—  velox,  Spence 

—  anisotomoides,    Spence.        Treswell    (Thornley)  ; 

Retford  (Pegler) 

—  fusca,  Panz. 

—  nigricans,  Spence 

—  morio,    Fab.       Sherwood   Forest    (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  62) 

—  grandicollis,  Er. 

—  nigrita,  Er. 

—  tristis,  Panz. 

—  kirbyi,  Spence 

—  chrysomeloides,  Panz. 

—  fumata,  Spence 

—  watsoni,  Spence 
Ptomaphagus  sericeus,  Fab. 

—  varicornis,  Ros.     Sherwood  Forest    (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  66)  ;  Retford  (Pegler) 

HISTERIDAE 

Hister  unicolor,  L.     Nottingham  and   Retford  districts 
(Thornley  and  Ryles) 

—  merdarius,  Hoff.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;  Sher- 

wood Forest  (Blatch) 

—  cadaverinus,  Hoff.     Nottingham,  Worksop,  and  Ret- 

ford districts 


HISTERIDAE  (continued) 

—  stercorarius,  Hoff.     Newark  (?)  (Hadfield  coll.) 
Hister  succicola,  Thorns.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  purpurascens,   Herbst.      Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  202)  ;  Fiskerton  (Ryles)  ;  there 
were  numerous  specimens  in  the  late  Mr.  Had- 
field's  collection,  presumably  from  the  Newark 
district 

—  marginatus,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 

—  neglectus,  Germ.     Nottingham  Forest  (Dr.  Godfrey 

Howitt)  ;  Newark  district  (?)  (Hadfield  coll.) 

—  carbonarius,  111. 

—  I2-striatus,  Schr. 

—  bimaculatus,  L. 

Carcinops  1  4-striata,  Steph.    Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch)  ; 

Retford,  in  old  corn-mill  (Pegler) 
Dendrophilus  punctatus,  Herbst.     One  specimen  from 

dead  bird,  Nottinghamshire,  1828  (Dr.  Howitt)  ; 

Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin  and  Chaster) 
Gnathoncus  punctulatus,  Thorns.      Retford,  not  un- 

common in  old  corn-mill  (Pegler)  ;  S.  Leverton, 

one  example,  20  May,  1901  (Thornley) 
Saprinus  nitidulus,  Payk. 

—  aeneus,    Fab.       Bulwell  Forest,    3    June,     1899; 

abundant  in  Nottinghamshire  (Dr.  Howitt);  now 
rare 

—  virescens,  Payk.     Once  taken   by  Mr.  Marlow  at 

Welbeck  (Dr.  Howitt);  taken  recently  in  the 
Retford  district  by  Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin 

—  rugifrons,  Payk.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  212) 
Plegaderus  dissectus,    Er.     Sherwood  Forest,  taken  on 

various  occasions  from  1870  on  wards  by  several 

collectors 
Abraeus  globosus,  Hoff.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;   Sherwood 

Forest  (Blatch) 

—  granulum,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Acritus  minutus,  Herbst. 

Onthophilus  sulcatus,  Fab.  Nr.  Nottingham  (A.  H. 
Davis,  in  Loudon's  Mag.  N.  H.,  April,  1832)  ; 
Nottinghamshire,  Stephens  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 
iii,  217) 

—  striatus,  Fab. 

SCAPHIDIIDAE 

Scaphidium  quadrimaculatum,  Ol.     Sherwood  Forest  ; 

Langford  Moor 

Scaphisoma   agaricinum,  L.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;  Sher- 
wood Forest  (Blatch,  Homer,  etc.) 

—  boleti,  Panz.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and  Homer) 

TRICHOPTERYGIDAE 

Pteryx  suturalis,  Heer.     Sherwood  Forest 

Ptinella  testacea,  Heer.  '  Under  bark  of  dead  beech  ; 
taken  in  great  abundance  by  Rev.  A.  Matthews 
in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  also  by  Mr.  Blatch  ' 
(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  1  1  1) 

—  denticollis,  Fa> 
-aptera,Guer 

—  angustula,  Gill. 

—  tenella,  Er.     A  single  example  under  bark  of  dead 

oak  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii, 
113) 

Trichopteryx  sarae,  Matth.  'Two  specimens  were 
taken  in  Nottinghamshire  by  the  Rev.  H.  Mat- 
thews in  1  86  1  ;  the  species  has  not  been  found 
since  that  time  '  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  1  1  6) 


and  Fowler 


99 


A    HISTORY   OF   NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


TRICHOPTERYGIDAE 

Trichopteryx  anthracina,  Matth.  \  Sherwood        Forest 

—  seminitens,  Matth.  (Fowler,     Brit. 

—  attenuate,  Gill.  Coleop.  iii,  1  1  8- 

—  picicornis,  Mann.  /      I23) 

-  carbonaria,  Matth.     'A  single  example  was  taken 

in  Aug.,  1868,  by  the  Rev.  A.  Matthews  in 
Thoresby  Park,  Nottinghamshire,  by  sweeping 
under  oaks'  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  123) 

—  obscaena,  Woll.     '  Has  once  been  taken  in  faggots 

by  Mr.  Matthews  in  Sherwood  Forest  '  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coif  of.  iii,  124) 
Ptilium  marginatum,  Aub£.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  halidayi,  Matth.      '  A  single  example  was  taken 

by  Mr.  Matthews  under  bark  of  dead   oak   in 
Sherwood  Forest'  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  134) 
Ptenidium  nitidum,  Heer 

-  evanescens,  Marsh. 

-  turgidum,  Thorns.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  gressneri,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

CORYLOPHIDAE 

Orthoperus  brunnipes,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest 

-  corticalis,    Redt.     Two  specimens  taken    by  the 

Rev.  A.  Matthews  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  144) 

-  atomus,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Corylophus  cassidioides,  Marsh.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

COCCINELLIDAE 

Subcoccinella  24-punctata,  L."\ 

Hippodamia  variegata,  Goeze  >S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

Anisosticta  ip-punctata,  L.     J 

Adalia  oblitcrata,  L.     Type  common  ;  var.  fenestrata, 

Weise,    taken    in    Sherwood    Forest  by    Canon 

Fowler 

—  bipunctata,  L. 

Anatis   ocellata,  L.     Langford  Moor,   common  on  firs 

(Thornley)  ;  Clumber  (Pegler) 
Coccinella  lo-punctata,  L. 

—  hieroglyphics,  L. 

—  •    I  I-punctata,  L. 

—  7-punctata,  L. 
Halyzia  14-guttata,  Poda 

-  1  8-guttata,  L. 
•  —  conglobata,  L. 

-  22-punctata,  L. 
Scymnus  nigrinus, 

—  capitatus,  F. 

—  haemorrhoidalis,  Herbst.  Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  testaceus,   Mots.,    var.    scutellaris,  Muls.      Canal 

bank,  Retford  (Pegler) 
Platynaspis  luteorubra,  Goeze.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fow- 

ler, Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  175) 
Chilocorus  similis,  Rossi.     Treswell  ;  Grove 

—  bipustulatus,  111.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.    iii,      176)  ;      Barrow     Hills,    Everton 

(Thornley) 
Exochomus  quadripustulatus,  L.     Occurs  throughout 

the  county 

Rhizobius  litura,  Fab. 
Coccidula  rufa,    Herbst.      S.   Leverton   (Thornley)  ; 

Retford  (Pegler) 

ENDOMYCHIDAE 

Mycetaea   hirta,    Marsh.      5.   Leverton   (Thornley)  ; 
Retford  (Pegler) 


has 


EROTYLIDAE 

Dacne   rufifrons,   Fab.     Very  widely  distributed    in 

Nottinghamshire 
Triplax  russica,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler)  ;  on  ash 

trees  near  Nottingham  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

—  aenea,  Schall.     Littleborough  (Thornley)  ;  Notting- 

ham, in  numbers  in  company  with  Tetratoma 
fungorum  (Ryles) 

Cyrtotriplax  bipustulata,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (J.  K. 
Taylor,  Chaster,  and  Tomlin) 

PHALACRIDAE 

Phalacrus  caricis,  Sturm.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 
Olibrus  corticalis,  Panz.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  aeneus,  Fab. 
Eustilbus  testaceus,  Panz. 

MICROPEPLIDAE 

Micropeplus  porcatus,  Payk. 

—  staphylinoides,  Marsh. 

—  margaritae,  Duv. 

-  tesserula,  Curt.  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Blatch, 
Tomlin,  etc.)  ;  36  specimens  taken  off  an  oak 
stump,  June,  1889  (Blatch) 


NITIDULIDAE 

Brachypterus  pubescens,  Er. 

—  urticae,  Fab. 

Cercus  pedicularius,  L.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 

—  bipustulatus,   Payk.       Sherwood  Forest,    in  Cossus 

burrows  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  223) 
Carpophilus  hemipterus,  L.     Newark  district  (?)  (Had- 
fieldcoll.) 

—  mutilatus,  Er.     Sparingly  in  Cossus   burrows  in 

Sherwood  Forest;    Mr.   J.   R.  Hardy    (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  224) 
Epuraea  decemguttata,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  aestiva,  L. 

—  melina,  Er.    S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  longula,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

iii,  229) 

—  deleta,  Er. 

—  parvula,  Sturm.      Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  231) 

—  obsoleta,  Fab. 

Omosiphora  limbata,  Fab.     Retford  district  (Thornley 

and  Pegler) 
Nitidula  bipustulata,  L. 

—  rufipes,  L.     Nottinghamshire,  rare  (Dr.  Howitt) 
Soronia    grisea,  L.     Retford  district    (Thornley    and 

Pegler) 

Omosita   depressa,    L.       Retford   (Pegler)  ;    Sherwood 
Forest  (Blatch) 

—  colon,  L. 

—  discoidea,  Fab. 

Pocadius  ferruginous,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest ;   Treswell 

Wood,  etc. 
Meligethes  rufipes,  Gyll. 

—  lumbaris,  Sturm.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  aeneus,  Fab. 

—  viridescens,  Fab. 

—  morosus,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  picipes,  Sturm. 

—  murinus,  Er.     Barrow  Hills,  Everton 


100 


INSECTS 


NITIDULIDAE  (continued) 

Cychramus  luteus,  Fab. 

—  fungicola,  Heer 

Cryptarcha  strigata,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Ips  quadriguttata,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest 
Pityophagus  ferrugineus,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tom- 
lin) 

TROGOSITIDAE 

Ncmosoma  elongatum,  L.  Beeston,  Mr.  J.  Sidebotham 
(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  268).  One  specimen 
beaten  from  bramble  at  Cokuick,  near  Notting- 
ham, 1828  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

Tenebrioides  mauritanicus,  L. 

Thymalus  limbatus,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest 

COLYDIIDAE 

Teredus  nitidus,   Fab.      Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Tomlin) 
Cerylon   histeroides,  Fab.      Under   bark  of  willows, 

Nottinghamshire  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) ;  Sherwood  Forest 

(Tomlin) 

—  fagi,  Bris.     Wollaton  ;  Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  ferrugineum,  Steph.     Wollaton  (Freestone) ;    Ret- 

ford (Pegler)  ;  Sherwood  Forest 

CUCUJIDAE 

Rhizophagus  cribratus,  Gyll. ' 

—  depressus,  Fab. 


Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch, 
Homer,  Fowler,  and 
others) 


perforatus,  Er. 
-  parallelocollis,  Er. 

—  oblongocollis,  Blatch 

—  ferrugineus,  Payk. 

—  nitidulus,  Fab. 

—  dispar,  Gyll. 

—  bipustulatus,  Fab. 

—  politus,  Hellw.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and  Gor- 

ham) 
Pediacus  dermestoides,  Fab.    Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Chaster,  and  Tomlin) 
Laemophloeus  ferrugineus,   Steph.      Grove  (Pegler)  ; 

Worksop  (Houghton) 

Psammoechus  bipunctatus,  Fab.     Clumber  (Pegler) 
Silvanus  surinamensis,  L.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 

MONOTOMIDAE 

Monotoma  picipes,    Herbst.       S.    Leverton,    in    hot 
frame  (Thornley) 

—  longicollis,    Gyll.      S.    Leverton,    in    hot    frame 

(Thornley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

LATHRIDIIDAE 

Lathridius  lardarius,  De  G. 

—  bergrothi,  Reitt.    On  13  November,  1900, 1  found 

several  examples  of  this  beetle  feeding  on  a  dried 
specimen  of  burdock  in  a  parcel  of  British  plants 
which  I  was  incorporating  in  the  herbarium 
at  Nottingham  University  College,  Accompany- 
ing it  were  Cartodere  filum  and  Corticaria 
fulva,  both  in  some  numbers.  All  the  species 
were  identified  by  Mr.  G.  C.  Champion 

Coninomus  nodifer,  Westw. 

Enicmus  minutus,  L. 

—  transversus,  Ol. 


LATHRIDIIDAE  (continued) 

Enicmus  rugosus,  Herbst.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleof.  iii,  284) 

—  testaceus,   Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (J.   K.  Taylor 

and  W.  G.  Blatch)  ;  Tuxford  (S.  Pegler) 

—  '  consimilis,  Mann.' (=  brevicornis,  Mann.).  Sher- 

wood Forest  (see  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iii,  283) 
Cartodere  ruficollis,  Marsh. 

—  elongata,  Curt.     Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler,   Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  286) 

—  filiformis,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

—  filum,  Aub6.     Several  specimens  feeding  on  dried 

burdock  in    University   College,  Nottingham  (see 
note  under  Lathridius  bergrothi  above) 
Corticaria  pubescens,  Gyll. 

—  denticulata,    Gyll.      Sherwood   Forest    (Fowler)  ; 

Tuxford,  Ordsall,  and  Lound  (Pegler) 

—  serrata,  Payk.     Clarborough  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood 

Forest  (Blatch) 

—  fulva,  Com.     Found  in  numbers  feeding  on  dried 

burdock,  University  College,  Nottingham  (see  note 
under  Lathridius  bergrothi  above) 

—  elongata,  Humm. 
Melanophthalma  gibbosa,  Herbst. 

—  fuscula,  Humm. 

CRYPTOPHAGIDAE 

Telmatophilus  caricis,  Ol. 

Antherophagus    nigricornis,    Fab.      Budby,    Sherwood 

Forest  (J.  Golding,  etc.) 
Cryptophagus  lycoperdi,  Herbst. 

—  setulosus,  Sturm.     Treswell  (Thornley) 

—  pilosus,  Gyll. 

-  ruficornis,  Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster) 

—  saginatus,  Sturm. 

—  scanicus,  L. 

—  acutangulus,  Gyll.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 

—  cellaris,  Scop. 

-  pubescens,  Sturm.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  iii,  325) 

—  bicolor,  Sturm.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Micrambe  vini,  Panz. 

Henoticus    serratus,    Gyll.       Sherwood  Forest   (J.    K. 

Taylor  and  Blatch) 
Paramecosoma    melanocephalum,    Herbst.       Cottam 

(Pegler) 
Atomaria  nigriventris,  Steph. 

—  elongatula,  Er.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  nigripennis,  Payk. 

—  munda,  Er.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  fuscata,  SchSn. 

-  atra,  Herbst.     Radcliffe-on-Trent  (Ryles) 

-  pusilla,  Payk. 

—  atricapilla,  Steph. 

—  basalis,  Er.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  apicalis,  Er. 

—  analis,  Er. 

-  ruficornis,  Marsh. 
Ephistemus  gyrinoides,  Marsh. 

MYCETOPHAGIDAE 

Typhaea  fumata,  L. 

Triphyllus  suturalis,    Fab.     Newark  (Ryles)  ;  Retford 

district  (Pegler)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Horner) 

—  punctatus,    Fab.      Sherwood    Forest    (Blatch    and 

Horner) 


101 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


MYCETOPHAGIDAE  (continued) 

Litargus  bifasciatus,  Fab.    Clifton  Grove,  nr.  Nottingham 

(Ryles) 
Mycetophagus      quadripustulatus,    L.       Nottingham, 

Worksop,  and  Retford  districts 

—  piceus,  Fab.     Lound,  near  Ret/bra"  (Pegler)  ;  Sher- 

wood Forest 

—  atomarius,  Fab.     Clifton  Grove  (Ryles) 

—  qu.idrigutt.itus,  Mull.     Retford,  in  old  corn  mill 

(Pegler) 

—  multipunctatus,  Hellw.     Littleborougb  (Thornley) 

BYTURIDAE 
Byturus  tomentosus,  Fab. 

DERMESTIDAE 

Derrnestes  vulpinus,  Fab.  Bone  works  at  Nottingham 
(Ryles)  and  Retford  (Thornley  and  Pegler)  ; 
Worksop  (Houghton) 

—  murinus,  L.     Has  occurred  throughout  the  county 

in  dead  birds,  etc. 

—  lardarius,  L. 
Attagenus  pellio,  L. 

Megatoma  undata,  Er.     Nr.  Nottingham  (Dr.  Howitt) ; 

Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler  and  Ryles)  ;    Retford 

district  (Pegler) 

Tiresias  serra,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Anthrenus  musaeorum,  L. 
-  claviger,   Er.     Nottingham,    Worksop,  and    Retford 

districts,    common  ;     '  sometimes    swarms    at 

parsley  flowers  at  S.  Leverton '  (Thornley) 

BYRRHIDAE 

Byrrhus  pilula,  L. 

—  fasciatus,  Fab. 

—  murinus,    Fab.       Nottingham,    once    taken     (Dr. 

Howitt) 

Cytilus  varius,  Fab. 
Simploc.iria  semistriata,  Fab. 
Aspidiphorus  orbiculatus,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest 

PARNIDAE 

Elmis  aeneus,  Mull. 

—  cupreus,  Mall.     Treswell  (Thornley) 
Parnus  prolifericornis,  Fab. 

—  auriculatus,  Panz.     Newark  district  (?)   (Hadfield 

coll.) 

HETEROCERIDAE 
Heterocerus  marginatus,  Fab.     Barton-in-Fabis  (Pope) 

LUCANIDAE 

Dorcus  parallelopipedus,  L.  Nottingham  district  (Wol- 
laton,  Clifton  Grove,  etc.) ;  Wheatley  (Rev.  T. 
C.  B.  Chamberlin)  ;  Retford  district  (Pegler)  ; 
Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  6) 

Sinodendron  cylindricum,  L. 

SCARABAEIDAE 

Onthophagus  ovatus,  L.     Mansfield  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

—  coenobita,    Herbst.     Rare  near  Nottingham   (Dr. 

Howitt) 

—  nuchicornis,    L.       Nottingham,    abundant,     1830 

(Dr.  Howitt) ;  Retford  district  (Pegler) 


SCARABAEIDAE  (continued) 

Aphodius  erraticus,  L. 

—  subterraneus,  L. 

—  fossor,  L. 

—  haemorrhoidalis,  L. 

—  foetens,  Fab. 

—  fimetarius,  L. 

—  scybalarius,  Fab. 

—  ater,  De  G. 

—  constans,  Duft.     Coltvick,  fairly  common  in  early 

spring  (Ryles) 

—  granarius,  L. 

—  rufescens,  Fab.      Nottingham  and  Retford  districts 

—  porcus,  Fab.     Clumber  (Pegler)  ;  not  uncommon 

near  Nottingham  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

—  pusillus,  Herbst.     Nottingham  and  Retford  districts 

—  merdarius,  Fab. 

—  inquinatus,  Fab. 

—  sticticus,  Panz.     S.  Leverton,  common  (Thornley) 

—  punctato-sulcatus,  Sturm. 

—  prodromus,  Brahm. 

—  contaminatus,   Herbst.      Nottingham   and   Retford 

districts,  often  abundant. 

—  luridus,  Fab.     (The  black  var.  also  occurs) 

—  rufipes,  L. 

—  depressus,  Kug. 

Geotrupes  typhoeus,  L.  Common  throughout  the 
Forest  district  of  Nottinghamshire  ;  Dr.  Howitt 
(Stephens) 

—  spiniger,  Marsh. 

—  stercorarius,  L. 

- — •  sylvaticus,  Panz. 

—  vernalis,  L.     Mansfield  Forest  (Dr.  Howitt) 
Trox  scaber,  L.     Nottingham  and  Retford  districts 
Hoplia  philanthus,  Fuss.     '  Nottinghamshire  '  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  48) 
Serica  brunnea,  L. 
Rhizotrogus    solstitialis,     L.     Nottingham,    sometimes 

common  ;   Worksop  (Houghton) 
Melolontha  vulgaris,  Fab. 
Phyllopertha  horticola,  L. 
Cetonia  aurata,  L.     Mansfield  (Dr.  G.  Howitt) 

BUPRESTIDAE 

Agrilus  laticornis,  111.  (?)     Treswell  Wood  (Pegler) 

—  angustulus,  111.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

THROSCIDAE 

Throscus  dermestoides,  L.  Longford  Moor,  common 
(Thornley)  ;  Nottingham  (Ryles);  Sherwood  Forest, 
common 

EUCNEMIDAE 
Melasis  buprestoides,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

ELATERIDAE 

Lacon  murinus,  L. 
Cryptohypnus  riparius,  Fab. 

—  quadripustulatus,  Fab.    Nottingham  district  (Ryles) 
Elater  lythropterus,  Germ.     Sherwood  Forest 

—  coccinatus,  Rye.    Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch;  Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  90) 

—  pomonae,  Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (].  Ray  Hardy) 

[See  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  April,  1873,  p.  268] 

—  pomorum,  Herbst.     Sherwood  Forest;  first  taken 

in  1836  by  Dr.  Howitt  and  T.  Desvignes,  and 
from  1 886  to  the  present  time  by  Fowler,  Blatch, 
Homer,  and  others 


102 


INSECTS 


ELATERIDAE  (continued) 

Melanotus  rufipes,  Herbst. 

„  var.    castanipes,    Payk.      Sherwood 

Forest  (Trueman  ;  Fowler,  Brit. 
Coleop.  iv,  97) 
Athous  rhombeus,  Ol.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  niger,  L. 

—  longicollis,  Ol. 

—  haemorrhoidalis,  Fab. 

—  vittatus,  Fab. 
Limonius  minutus,  L. 
Adrastus  limbatus,  Fab. 
Agriotes  sputator,  L. 

—  obscurus,  L. 

—  lineatus,  L. 

• — •  sobrinus,  Kies. 

—  pallidulus,  111. 
Dolopius  marginatus,  L. 

Corymbites  pectinicornis,  L.  Worksop  (Houghton)  ; 
Retford  (Pegler)  ;  Grove  (Rev.  G.  Shipton)  ; 
Wheatley  (Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin)  ;  Barton 
(Ryles) 

—  cupreus,  Fab.     Nottingham,  with  var.  aeruginosus, 

Fab.  (Ryles);  Lowdham  (C.  E.  Pearson) 
-  tessellatus,  Fab.     Southwell  (Ryles) 

—  quercus,   Gyll.     Nottingham    district,    with     var. 

ochropterus,  Steph.  (Ryles)  ;  Worksop  (Hough- 
ton) 

—  holosericeus,  Fab. 

—  aeneus,  L.     Nottingham   (Ryles)  ;    Sherwood  Forest 

(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  114);  Bulwell  Forest 

—  bipustulatus,  L.    Sherwood  Forest  (Turner ;  Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  115) 

Campylus  linearis,  L.  Aspley  ;  Nottingham ;  Hazle- 
Jbrd  (Ryles)  ;  Treswell  and  Gringley  Woods 
(Thornley) 

DASCILLIDAE 

Dascillus  cervinus,  L.  Clumber  (Pegler)  ;  Wheatley 
(Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin)  ;  Nottingham  (Ryles) 

Helodes  minuta,  L. 

Microcara  livida,  Fab. 

Cyphon  variabilis,  Thunb. 

Prionocyphon  serricornis,  Moll.     Sherwood  Forest 

Scirtes  hemisphaericus,  L.  Sutton,  nr.  Retford,  abun- 
dant among  Equisetum  (Thornley) 

MALACODERMIDAE 

Pyropterus  affinis,  Payk.     Sherwood  Forest,  1869  (J.  R. 

Hardy)  ;  also  taken  there  in  1869  and  1870  by 

J.  Kidson  Taylor,  and  subsequently  by  Rev.  A. 

Matthews  and  others  (see  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

iv,  128) 

Platycis  minutus,  Fab.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 
Lampyris    noctiluca,    L.     Retford  district     (Pegler)  ; 

Sherwood  Forest ;  Kingston-on-Soar 
Podabrus  alpinus,  Payk.     Aspley,  Nottingham  (Ryles)  ; 

Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  133) 
Telephorus  rusticus,  Fall. 

—  lividus,  L. 

—  pcllucidus,  Fab. 

—  nigricans,  Mtill.,  and  var.  discoideus,  Steph. 

—  obscurus,  L.     Nottingham    (Ryles)  ;    Retford    dis- 

trict   (Pegler) ;    Sherwood  Forest    (Turner    and 
Blatch  ;  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  138) 

-  lituratus,  Fab. 

-  bicolor,  Fab. 


MALACODERMIDAE  (continued) 

Telephorus  haemorrhoidalis,  Fab.  Nottingham  (Ryles)  ; 
Retford  (Pegler)  ;  S.  Leverton,  common  on 
hawthorn  flowers  (Thornley) 

—  oralis,  Germ.      Nottingham    (Ryles)  ;    S.  Leverton 

(Thornley) 

—  flavilabris,  Fall. 

—  thoracicus,  Ol.     Nottingham  (Pope) 
Rhagonycha  fuscicornis,  Ol. 

—  fulva,  Scop. 

—  testacea,    L.      Nottingham    (Ryles)    and    Retford 

(Thornley)  districts 

—  limbata,  Thorns. 

—  pallida,  Fab. 
Malthinus  punctatus,  Fourc. 

—  fasciatus,  Ol.    Langford Moor  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood 

Forest 
Malthodes  marginatus,  Latr. 

—  minimus,  L. 

—  fibulatus,  Kies.      Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler,   Brit. 

Coleop.  iv,  152) 
Malachius  bipustulatus,  L. 
Dasytes   flavipes,   Fab.      Nottingham  district   (Ryles)  ; 

S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  oculatus,  Kies.     Sherwood  Forest  (E.  C.  Rye  ;  and 

Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  161) 
-  aerosus,  Kies. 

Phloeophilus  edwardsi,  Steph.  Sherwood  Forest  (Rev. 
A.  Matthews)  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  165) 

CLERIDAE 

Opilo  mollis,  L.     Nottingham  Park  (Ryles) 
Thanasimus  formicarius,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

(Nottingham,  in  profusion  in 
bone  mill  (Ryles)  .Retford 
common  in  bone  mill 
(Pegler)  ;  Shencood  Forest 
(Blatch  and  Homer) 

Corynetes  coeruleus,  De  G.  S.  Lcverton,  very  com- 
mon in  the  old  church  (Thornley)  ;  Retford 
(Pegler) 

LYMEXYLONIDAE 

Hylecoetus  dermestoides,  L.     Sherwood  Forest,  locally 


PTINIDAE 

Ptinus  sexpunctatus,  Panz.  Nottingham  University  Col- 
lege, 9  November  1897  ;  many  examples  found 
feeding  on  specimens  of  Draba  in  a  parcel  of 
dried  plants  collected  by  Mr.  H.  Fisher  in 
Franz  Josef  Land.  The  origin  of  the  insect 
is,  however,  quite  uncertain,  and  may  be  local 

—  fur,  L. 

Niptus  hololeucus,  Fald. 

—  crenatus,  Fab.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

Hedobia  imperialis,  L.  S.  Leverton,  often  common 
(Thornley)  ;  Nottingham  district  (Ryles  and 
Freestone) 

Dryophilus  pusillus,  Gyll.   \ 

—  anobioides,  Chevr.          J 
Priobium  castaneum,  Fab. 
Anobium  domesticum,  Fourc. 

—  fulvicorne,  Sturm.     Beeston  (Ryles)  ;  S.  Levertoit 

(Thornley) 

—  paniceum,  L. 


R 


I03 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


PTINIDAE  (continued) 

Xestoblum  tessellatum,  Fab.  S.  Leverton,  was  common 
in  the  old  church  (Thornley)  ;  Retford  (Pegler)  ; 
Cokatck  (Ryles) 

Ernobius  mollis,  L. 

Ptilinus  pectinicornis,  L. 

Ochina  hederae,  Moll.  Chilwell  (Ryles)  ;  Retford 
.(Pegler) 

Xyletinus  ater,  Panz.  On  old  palings  at  Newark,  not 
uncommon  (Hadfield ;  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv, 

195) 

Dorcatoma  flavicornis,  Fab.  Sherwood  Forest  (Mat- 
thews ;  Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  198) 

Anitys  rubens,  Hoff.  Sherwood  Forest  (Rev.  A.  Mat- 
thews, Dr.  Chaster,  and  J.  R.  le  B.  Tomlin) 

BOSTRICHIDAE 

Rhizopertha   pusilla,    Fab.     Old   corn  mill,   Retford 

(Pegler) 
Bostrichus  capucinus,  L.     '  Nottinghamshire?  Stephens 

(Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  201) 

LYCTIDAE 

Lyctus  canaliculatus,  Fab.  Worksop  (Houghton) ; 
'  Very  abundant  during  the  summer  in  Notting- 
hamshire ;  Dr.  Howitt '  (Stephens) 

—  brunneus,  Steph.     '  Nottingham,  one  specimen  in 

a  shop  window,  1829  ;  Dr.  Howitt'  (Stephens) 

SPHINDIDAE 

Sphindus  dubius,  Gyll.  Sherwood  Forest  (J.  K.Taylor 
and  Blatch) 

CISSIDAE 
Cis  boleti,  Scop. 

—  micans,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Chaster, 
Tomlin,  etc.) 

-  hispidus,  Payk.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and  Hor- 

ner,  Chaster) 

-  bidentatus,  Ol.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;  Sherwood  Forest 

(Blatch  and  Homer) 

—  nitidus,  Herbst.^  „,  ,     r  /mi.  j 
-  festivus   Panz.     \Sh^   /«*"     (Blatch      and 

-  fuscatus,  Mell.   J      H°rner> 

Ennearthron  cornutum,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chas- 

ter) 
Octotemnus  glabriculus,  Gyll. 

CERAMBYCIDAE 

Aromia  moschata,  L.     Nottingham  and  Retford  districts 
Callidium  violaceum,  L.     Ruddington   (W.   H.   Free- 
stone) ;  Worksop  (Houghton) 

-  variabile,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch,  Tomlin) 
Clytus  arietis,  L. 

—  mysticus,    L.       Chilwell    (Ryles)  ;     S.    Leverton 

(Thornley)  ;  Retford  (Pegler) 

[Cyllene  crinicornis,  Chev.  A  fine  example  of  this 
Central  American  longicorn  was  captured  in 
Retford  railway  station  in  September,  1899, 
and  taken  to  Mr.  Stephen  Pegler.  It  was 
identified  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Gahan  of  the  British 
Museum] 

Gracilia  minuta,  Fab.  Retford,  in  great  quantity  in 
an  old  hamper  (Pegler) 

Molorchus  umbellatarum,  L.  Kingston-on-Soar,  August 
1903  (Thornley) 


CERAMBYCIDAE  (continued) 

Rhagium  bifasciatum,  Fab. 
Toxotus  meridianus,  Panz. 

Leptura  scutellata,  Fab.  Sherwood  Forest,  June,  1869 
(J.  K.  Taylor) 

—  livida,  Fab.     Cottam,  6  July,  1901  (Eland  Shaw) 
Strangalia  quadrifasciata,  L.     Langford  Moor ;    Sher- 
wood Forest 

—  armata,  Herbst.     Treswell  Wood,  rather  common  ; 

Sherwood  Forest ;  Wellow  Park 

Grammoptera  tabacicolor,  De  G.  Treswell  and  Gring- 
ley  Woods  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  analis,  Panz.     Colwick  (Ryles) 

—  ruficornis,  Fab. 

Acanthocinus  aedilis,  L.     Cossall ;  Wilford ;  Clifton; 

in  all  cases  not  far  from  a  colliery,  and  probably 

imported  in  pit-props  ;  Worksop  (Houghton) 
Leiopus  nebulosus,  L.     Bramcote  and  Sherwood  Forest 

(Ryles)  ;     S.    Leverton    (Thornley)  ;    Clumber 

(Pegler) 
Pogonochaerus  bidentatus,  Thorns.     S.  Leverton,  not 

uncommon  in  late  autumn  (Thornley) 

—  dentatus,  Fourc.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Monochammus  sutor,  L.     Near  Clifton  colliery,  Not- 
tingham,   one    specimen,    probably    imported 
(Walker) 

Saperda  carcharias,  L.  Worksop  (Houghton);  Cinder 
Hill 

—  scalaris,  L.     Sherwood  Forest,  June,   1869  (J.   K. 

Taylor),  and  two  specimens  in  1889  (W.  G. 
Blatch)  ;  also  taken  by  Mr.  Tomlin  and 
Dr.  Chaster 

Tetrops  praeusta,  L. 

Stenostola  ferrea,  Schrank.  Taken  at  Nottingham, 
abundantly  in  June,  1828,  sparingly  in  1829 
(G.  Howitt:  see  Entomologist  for  1878,  p.  177). 
Near  Nottingham,  1831  (A.  H.  Davis  in  Lou- 
don's  Mag.  N.  //.April,  1832)  ;  Newark  (Fow- 
ler, Brit,  Coleop.  iv,  254) 

Phytoecia  cylindrica,  L.  Newark  (Hadfield  ;  Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  iv,  255) 

BRUCHIDAE 

Bruchus  rufimanus,  Boh. 

—  villosus,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 

CHRYSOMELIDAE 

Donacia  simplex,  Fab. 

—  semicuprea,    Panz.      Canal,    Retford,     common 

(Thornley) ;  Wollaton  Canal  (Ryles)  ;  Worksop 
(Houghton) 

—  sericea,  L. 

Haemonia  appendiculata,  Panz.  (=  equiseti,  Fab.) 
Holme  Pierrepont,  one  specimen  (W.  H.  Free- 
stone, confirmed  by  Rev.  A.  Thornley) 

Lema  lichenis,  Voet.    Nottingham  and  Retford  districts 

—  melanopa,  L. 

Crioceris  lilii,  Scop.  (=merdigera,  Fab.)  Newark  dis- 
trict (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

Cryptocephalus  coryli,  L.  Langfird  Moor,  a  single 
specimen  beaten  from  birch,  29  June,  1899 
(Thornley) 

—  pusillus,    Fab.     Sherwood    Forest    (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  iv,  295) 

—  labiatus,  L. 

—  querceti,  Suffr.  Sherwood  Forest  (Matthews,  Blatch, 

Ryles,  and  others) 


104 


INSECTS 


CHRYSOMELIDAE  (continued') 

Timarcha  tenebricosa,  Fab. 

—  violaceonigra,  De  G. 
Chrysomela  staphylea,  L. 

—  polita,  L. 

—  orichalcia,  Mall.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

„     var.  hobsoni,  Steph.  Nottingham  (B.  S.  Dodd) 

—  goettingensis,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler) 

—  fastuosa,  Scop.     Ruddington  (Ryles  and  others) 

—  didymata,  Scriba.    Barrow  Hills,  Everton,  1 1  July, 

1903  (Thornley) 

—  hyperici,  Forst.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ;    Sher- 

wood forest  (Ryles) 

Phytodecta  viminalis,  L.     Newark  district  (?)   [Had- 
field  coll.] 

—  olivacea,  Forst. 
Gastroidea  viridula,  De  G. 

—  polygon!,  L. 
Phaedon  tumidulus,  Germ. 

—  cochleariae,  Fab. 
Phyllodecta  vulgatissima,  L. 

—  vitellinae,  L. 

Hydrothassa  aucta,  Fab.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  marginella,  L. 
Prasocuris  junci,  Brahm 

—  phellandrii,  L. 

Phyllobrotica  quadrimaculata,  L.     Retford  (Pegler) 
Luperus  rufipes,  Scop. 

—  flavipes,  L. 

Lochmaea  suturalis,  Thorns.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 

—  crataegi,  Forst.     Clumber  (Pegler) 
Galerucella  nymphaeae,  L.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 

—  lineola,    Fab.      S.  Leverton;    Rampton ;   Cottam; 

common  (Thornley) 

Adimonia  tanaceti,  L.     Barrow  Hills,  Everton,  in  pro- 
fusion, 1902  (Thornley) 

Sermyla  halensis,  L. 

Longitarsus  anchusae,  Payk.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  holsaticus,  L.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

—  luridus,  Scop. 

—  suturellus,  Duft. 

„         var.  fuscicollis,  Steph. 

—  atricillus,  L.     Retford  district  (Thornley) 

—  melanocephalus,  All. 

—  flavicornis,  Steph. \Newark    district  (?)    [Hadfield 

—  tabidus,  Fab.         J      coll.] 

—  jacobaeae,  Wat. 

—  gracilis,  Kuts.    Kings ton-on-Soar,  common  (Thorn- 

ley) 

—  laevis,  Duft.     S.  Leverton,  common  (Thornley) 
Haltica  lythri,  Aube  \Newark   district  (?)     [Hadfield 

-  pusilla,  Duft.        J      coll.] 

Phyllotreta  nodicornis,  Marsh.     Nottingham  and  Rad- 
cliffe (Ryles) 

—  consobrina,  Curt.     )  Newark     district  (?)     [Had- 

—  punctulata,  Marsh,  j      field  coll.] 

—  vittula,  Redt.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

-  undulata,  Kuts. 

—  nemorum,  L. 

—  ochripes,  Curt.      Newark    district  (?)    [Hadfield 

coll.] 

—  tetrastigma,  Com.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

-  exclamationis,  Thunb. 

Aphthona    nonstriata,    Goeze.      Newark   district  (?) 
[Hadfield  coll.] 

—  atrocoerulea,  Steph.       S.  Leverton  (Thornley) 
Batophila  rubi,  Payk.   S.  Leverton  (Thornley) ;  Retford 

(Pegler)  ;  Radcliffe  (Ryles) 


CHRYSOMELIDAE  (continued} 

Sphaeroderma  testaceum,  Fab. 

—  cardui,  Gyll. 
Apteropeda  orbiculata,  Marsh. 
Mantura  rustica,  L. 

—  matthewsi,  Curt.     Newark  district  (?)   FHadfield 

coll.] 
Crepidodera  transversa,  Marsh. 

—  ferruginea,  Scop. 

—  rufipes,  L. 

—  aurata,  Marsh. 

Chaetocnema  subcoerulea,  Kuts.  Newark  district  (?) 
[Hadfield  coll.] 

—  hortensis,  Fourc. 
Plectroscelis  concinna,  Marsh. 

Psylliodes  attenuata,  Koch.)  Newark  district  (?)  [Had- 

—  chrysocephala,  L.  J      field  coll.] 

—  napi,  Koch. 

—  cuprea,  Koch. 

—  affinis,  Payk. 

—  marcida,  111.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

—  luteola,   Milll.     Sherwood  Forest,    Rev.    A.    Mat- 

thews (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleof.  iv,  394) 

—  picina,  Marsh.     Tuxford  (Pegler) 
Cassida  vittata,  Vill. 

—  flaveola,  Thunb. 

—  viridis,  Fab. 

TENEBRIONIDAE 

Blaps  mucronata,  Latr. 

Heledona  agaricola,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest 

Scaphidema  metallicum,  Fab.  S.  Leverton  (Thornley) ; 

Beeston  and  Radcliffe  (Ryles) 
Tenebrio  molitor,  L. 

—  obscurus,     Fab.       Nottingham      (Ryles)  ;     Retford 

(Pegler) 

Gnathocerus  cornutus,  Fab.  Nottingham,  Worksof, 
and  Retford  districts 

Tribolium  ferrugineum,  Fab.  Retford,  in  old  flour 
mill  (Pegler) 

Hypophloeus  castaneus,  Fab.  Nottingham,  30  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  R.  Bakewell  (Stephens,  Ent.  Mag. 
January,  1836,  iii,  415)  ;  Shem-ood Forest,  June, 
1869  and  1870  (J.  K.  Taylor);  also  taken  there 
subsequently  by  various  collectors  (Fowler,  Brit. 
Coleop.  v,  22) 

Helops  striatus,  Fourc. 

CISTELIDAE 

Cistela  ceramboides,  L.  Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleof.  v,  29,  and  Tomlin) 

—  murina,  L. 

Eryx  ater,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Mycetochares  bipustulata,  111.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tom- 
lin) 

Cteniopus  sulphureus,  L.  Barrow  Hills,  Everton ; 
Marnham  (Thornley) 


LAGRIIDAE 


Lagria  hirta,  L. 


MELANDRYIDAE 

Tetratoma  fungorum,  Fab.  Nottingham,  1898-99, 
in  abundance  (Ryles) ;  Sherwood  Forest 

—  desmaresti,  Latr.  Sherwood  Forest  (Matthews  and 
Blatch) 


105 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


MELANDRYIDAE  (continued) 

Clinocara  undulata,  Kr.  Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 
Tomlin) 

Hallomenus  humeralis,  Panz.  Sherwood  Forest  (Tom- 
lin) 

Conopalpus  testaceus,  OL,  and  var.  vigorsi,  Steph. 
Sherwood  Forest 

Melandrya  caraboides,  L.  Nottingham  (Ryles)  ;  S. 
Leverton  (Thornley) 

Phloeotrya  rufipes,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest 

PYTHIDAE 

S.ilpingus  castaneus,  Panz.     Clumber  (Pegler) 


—  planirostris,  Fab. 

OEDEMERIDAE 


Retford  districts. 


Clumber  (Pegler) 

Clifton    Grove,   Nottingham 


Oedemera  nobilis,  Scop. 
Ischnomera  coerulea,  L. 

(Ryles) 
—  sanguinicollis,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest,  on  mountain 

ash  flowers  (Blatch) 


PYROCHROIDAE 
Pyrochroa  serraticornis,  Scop. 

SCRAPTIIDAE 

Scraptia  fuscula,  Mull.     Sherwood  Forest,  June,  1870 
(J.  Kidson  Taylor) 

MORDELLIDAE 

Anaspis  frontalis,  L. 

—  rufilabris,  Gyll.     Aspley  Woods,  Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  geoffroyi,  Mllll.     Nottingham  ;  Gunthorpe  (Ryles)  ; 

Retford  district,  common  (Thornley) 

—  ruficollis,  Fab. 

—  subtestacea,  Steph.      'Nottingham  (Ryles)  ;  S.  Lever- 

ton  (Thornley)  ;  Retford  (Pegler) 

—  maculata,  Fourc. 

ANTHICIDAE 

Anthicus  floralis,  L. 

—  antherinus,  L.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

XYLOPHILIDAE 

Xylophilus  oculatus,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 
Brit.  Coleop.  v,  92) 

MELO'lDAE 

Meloe  proscarabaeus,  L. 

—  violaceus,  Marsh.     Bulwell  Forest 

ANTHRIBIDAE 

Brachytarsus  fasciatus,  Forst.     Occurs  in  many  places 

—  varius,  Fab.     Langjbrd  Moor,  not  uncommon  on 

fin  ;  S.  Leverton  ;   Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  ; 
Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles,  Chaster,  and  Tomlin) 

CURCULIONIDAE 


Apoderus  coryli,  L.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 
Attelabus  curculionoides,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 


CURCULIONIDAE  (continued) 

Rhynchites   cupreus,    L.      Sherwood    Forest   (Stevens, 
Blatch,  and  others) 

—  aequatus,  L.    RadcRffe-on-Trent  (Ryles)  ;    S.  Lever- 

ton  (Thornley)  ;  Retford  (Pegler) 

—  aeneovirens,    Marsh.      Sherwood  Forest    (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  v,  124,  and  Tomlin) 

—  minutus,  Herbst.     S.  Leverton,  common  (Thorn- 

ley)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  interpunctatus,  Steph.    Newark  district  (?)  [Had- 

field coll.] 

—  nanus,  Paylc. 

—  pubescens,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles)  ;  Gam- 

ston  Wood  (Pegler) 

Deporaus  megacephalus,  Germ.     Langford  Moor,  on 
birch  with  next  species  (Thornley) 

—  betulae,  L. 
Apion  pomonae,  Fab. 

—  craccae,  L.    S.  Leverton  and  Treswell  Wood  (Thorn- 

ley)  ;  Hazelford  (Ryles) 

—  subulatum,  Kirby.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  ulicis,  Forst. 

—  miniatum,  Germ. 

—  cruentatum,  Walt.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  haematodes,  Kirby 

—  rubens,   Steph.     Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler,    Brit. 

Coleop.  v,  143) 

—  viciae,  Payk.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

—  difforme,  Germ.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  apricans,  Herbst. 

—  dichroum,  Bedel 

—  nigritarse,  Kirby 

—  hookeri,    Kirby.       Treswell    Wood    (Thornley)  ; 

Grove  (Pegler) 

—  aeneum,  Fab. 

—  radiolus,  Kirby 

—  onopordi,  Kirby 

—  carduorum,  Kirby 

—  virens,  Herbst. 

—  astragali,  Payk.     Cottam,  in  a  grass  field  (Pegler) 

—  pisi,  Fab. 

—  aethiops,  Herbst. 

—  striatum,  Kirby 

—  immune,  Kirby.     Gravel-pit,  Sutton,  near  Retford 

(Thornley) 

—  ervi,  Kirby 

—  vorax,  Herbst. 

—  seniculum,  Kirby 

—  simile,  Kirby.     Grove  (Pegler; 

—  marchicum,  Herbst.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch  and 

Ryles) 

—  violaceum,  Kirby 

—  hydrolapathi,  Kirby 
-  humile,  Germ. 

Otiorrhynchus  atroapterus,  De  G.    Newark  district  (?) 
[Hadfield  coll.] 

—  raucus,  Fab.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  ligneus,  OL     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop. 

v,  178) 

—  picipes,  Fab. 

—  sulcatus,  Fab. 

—  ovatus,  L. 

Trachyphloeus   scabriculus,   L.      Newark   district  (?) 

[Hadfield  coll.] 
Strophosomus  coryli,  Fab. 

—  capitatus,  De  G. 

—  retusus,  Marsh. 

—  faber,  Herbst.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 


106 


INSECTS 


CURCULIONIDAE  (continued) 

Exomias  araneifbrmis,  Schr. 

Omias  mollinus,  Boh.  S.  Leverton,  common  in  hay- 
fields  (Thornley) 

Brachysomus  echinatus,  Bonsd.  S.  Leverton  (Thorn- 
ley)  ;  Clumber  (Pegler) 

Sciaphilus  muricatus,  Fab. 

Tropiphorus  tomentosus,  Marsh.  S.  Leverton  (Thorn- 
ley)  ;  Beeston  (Ryles)  ;  Nottingham  (Pope) 

Liophloeus  nubilus,  Fab. 

Polydrusus  micans,  Fab.  Nottingham  (Ryles)  ;  Tres- 
well Wood  (Thornley) 

—  pterygomalis,  Boh. 

—  cervinus,  L. 
Phyllobius  oblongus,  L. 

—  calcaratus,  Fab. 

—  urticae,  De  G. 

—  pyri,  L. 

—  argentatus,  L. 

—  maculicornis,  Germ. 

—  pomonae,  Ol. 

—  viridiaeris,  Laich. 

Tanymecus  palliatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 

Grove  (Pegler) 

Philopedon  geminatus,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Atactogenus  exaratus,  Marsh.    Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  v,  209) 
Barynotus  obscurus,  Fab. 

—  schonherri,  Zett.     Newark  district   (?)  [Hadfield 

coll.] 

—  elevatus,  Marsh.    Widely  distributed  and  common 

in  places 

Alophus  triguttatus,  Fab. 
Sitones  regensteinensis,  Herbst. 

—  crinitus,  Herbst.     Broadholme  (Pegler) 

—  tibialis,  Herbst. 

—  hispidulus,  Fab. 

—  humeralis,  Steph.     Barrow  Hills,  Everton,  4  Sep- 

tember, 1903 

—  meliloti,  Walt.     Colaiick  (Ryles) 

—  flavescens,  Marsh. 

—  puncticollis,  Steph. 

—  suturalis,  Steph. 

—  lineatus,  L. 

—  sulcifrons,  Thunb. 

Gronops  lunatus,  L.     Newark  district   (?)  [Hadfield 

coll.] 
Hypera  punctata,  Fab. 

—  rumicis,  L. 

—  polygon!,  L. 

—  suspiciosa,    Herbst.      Retford   (Pegler)  ;    Sherwcod 

Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  v,  234) 

—  variabilis,  Herbst. 

—  murina,  Fab.     Clumber  (Pegler) 

—  plantaginis,  De  G. 

—  trilineata,  Marsh.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  nigrirostris,  Fab. 
Liosoma  ovatulum,  Clairv. 
Hylobius  abietis,  L. 

Tracodes  hispidus,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Tomlin) 
Orchestes  quercus,  L. 

—  alni,  L.     Nottingham  (Freestone)  ;  Sherwood  Forest 

(Ryles) 
„     var.  ferrugineus,  Marsh.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  ilicis,  Fab,  var.  nigripes,  Fowler.     Treswell  Wood 

(Thornley) 

—  avellanae,    Don.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  v,  260) 


CURCULIONIDAE  (continued) 

Orchestes  fagi,  L. 

—  rusci,  Herbst.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

—  stigma,  Germ.     Treswell  Wood  (Thornley) 

I*      •  T 

—  sahcis,  L. 

Rhamphus  flavicornis,  Clairv. 

Grypidius  equiseti,  Fab.  Aspley,  Nottingham  (Ryles)  ; 
S.  Leverton  and  Treswell  (Thornley) 

Erirrhinus  bimaculatus,  Fab.  Clifton  Grove,  Notting- 
ham (Pope) 

—  acridulus,  L. 

Dorytomus  vorax,  Fab.  Nottingham  and  Retford  dis- 
tricts 

—  tortrix,  L.     Nottingham  (Pope) 

—  maculatus,  Marsh. 

—  melanophthalmus,    Payk,    var.    agnathus,     Boh. 

Littleborough 

Tanysphyrus  lemnae,  Fab. 
Bagous  alismatis,    Marsh.     S.    Leverton   (Thornley)  ; 

Cossall 

Anoplus  plantaris,  Naez. 

Elleschus  bipunctatus,  L.     Newark  district  (?)  [Had- 
field coll.] 
Tychius   meliloti,  Steph.     Newark,  in  profusion   on 

Melilotus  officinalis  in  brickyard  (Thornley  and 

Carr) 

Miccotrogus  picirostris,  Fab. 
Gymnetron  pascuorum,  Gyll.    Retford  district  (Pegler) ; 

Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Chaster,  and  Tomlin)  ; 

Worksop  (Houghton) 

—  antirrhini,  Payk.     Trent-bank,  Rampton,  in  flowers 

of  Linaria  vulgaris,  common 
Mecinus  pyraster,  Herbst. 
Anthonomus  ulmi,  De  G. 

—  pedicularius,  L. 

—  pomorum,  L. 

—  rubi,  Herbst. 

Nanophyes  lythri,  Fab.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield 

coll.] 
Cionus  scrophulariae,  L.    Common  in  many  localities 

on  Scrophuhria  nodosa  and  S.  aquatica 

—  tuberculosus,  Scop.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield 

coll.] 

—  hortulanus,   Marsh.     Treswell  Wood,  on  Scroph. 

nodosa 

—  blattariae,  Fab. 

—  pulchellus,  Herbst. 

Orobitis  cyaneus,  L.  On  violets,  Treswell  Wood 
(Thornley);  Clumber  Park  (Pegler) 

Cryptorrhynchus  lapathi,  L.  Nottingham  (Pope)  ; 
Littleborough  (Thornley) 

Acalles  ptinoides,  Marsh.  Newark  district  (?)  [Had- 
field coll.] 

Coeliodes  rubicundus,  Herbst.  Sherwood  Forest 
(Ryles) 

—  quercus,  Fab. 

—  erythroleucus,  Gmel.     Littleborough  (Thornley) 

—  quadrimaculatus,  L. 

—  geranii,    Payk.      N.    Leverton   and    Treswell,    on 

Geranium  pratense  (Thornley) 
Poophagus  sisymbrii,  Fab. 

—  nasturtii,  Germ.     Nottinghamshire  (Stephens) 
Ceuthorrhynchus  assimilis,  Payk. 

—  cochleariae,  Gyll.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 

—  ericae,  Gvll.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

—  erysimi,  Fab. 

—  contractus,  Marsh. 

—  chalybaeus,  Germ.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 


107 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CURCULIONIDAE  (continued') 

Ceuthorrhynchus    quadridens,    Panz.       S.    Leverton 
(Thornley)  ;  Widmerpool  (Ryles) 

—  pollinarius,  Forst. 

—  viduatus,  Gyll.     Sherwood  Forest  (Hardy  ;  Fowler, 

Brit.  Ctleop.  v,  252) 

—  pleurostigma,  Marsh. 

—  alliariae,  Bris.     S.  Leverton  and  Retford  (Thornley) 

—  melanostictus,  Marsh.     Retford  district  (Pegler) 

—  arcuatus,  Herbst.     Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  v,  257) 

—  litura,  Fab. 
Ceuthorrhynchidius  floralis,  Payk. 

—  pyrrhorhynchus,  Marsh.     Beeston  (Ryles) 

-  horridus,  Fab.     Newark  district  (?)  [Hadfield  coll.] 

—  troglodytes,  Fab. 
Rhinoncus  pericarpius,  L. 

—  gramineus,  Herbst.     Cottam  and  Retford  (Pegler) 

—  perpendicularis,  Reich. 

—  castor,  Fab.     Liltleborough  (Thornley)  ;  Sherwood 

Forest 
Litodactylus    leucogaster,    Marsh.      Sherwood    Forest 

(Ryles  and  Pegler) 
Phytobius  quadrituberculatus,  Fab. 
Baris  lepidii,  Germ.     Hazclford  (Ryles) 
Balaninus  venosus,   Grav.     Sherwood  Forest   (Fowler, 

Brit.  Coleop.  v,  384) 

-  nucum,    L.     S.    Leverton    (Thornley)  ;    Sherwood 

Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  v,  385) 

—  turbatus,    Gyll.     Newark   district    (?)    [Hadfield 

coll.] 

—  villosus,    Fab.      Treswcl!  Wood   (Thornley)  ;    N. 

Leverton  (E.  Shaw)  ;    Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler 
and  Tomlin) 


CURCULIONIDAE   (continued) 


Nottingham  (Ryles)  ;   S. 
Sherwood  Forest  (Fowler, 


Balaninus  salicovorus,  Payk. 

—  pyrrhoceras,  Marsh. 
Magdalis  armigera,   Fourc. 

Leverton  (Thornley)  ; 

Brit.  Coleop.  v,  398  ;  and  Chaster) 

—  pruni,  L. 
Calandra  granaria,  L. 

—  oryzae,  L. 

Cossonus  ferrugineus,  Clairv.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Rhyncolus  lignarius,  Marsh.     Grove  (Pegler)  ;  Sher- 
wood Forest  (Blatch  and  Tomlin) 

—  gracilis,  Ros.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  ater,  L.     Sherwood  Forest  (Turner  ;  Fowler,  Brit. 

Coleop.  v,  394) 

SCOLYTIDAE 

Scolytus  destructor,  Ol. 

—  intricatus,  Ratz.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 

—  multistriatus,  Marsh.     Sherwood  Forest  (Chaster  and 

Tomlin) 
Hylastes  ater,  Payk. 

—  opacus,    Er.      Worksop    (Houghton) ;     Sherwood 

Forest  (Fowler,  Brit.  Coleop.  v,  413) 
Hylesinus  crenatus,  Fab.      Tuxford  (Pegler)  ;    Worksop 
(Houghton) 

—  oleiperda,  Fab.     Burton  Joyce  (Ryles) 

—  fraxini,  Panz. 
Myelophilus  piniperda,  L. 
Dryocaetes  villosus,  Fab. 

Tomicus  laricis,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Trypodendron  domesticum,  L.     Sherwood  Forest,  etc. 

—  quercus,     Eich.       Sherwood    Forest    (Blatch     and 

Homer) 


LEPIDOPTERA 

The  insects  belonging  to  this  group  have,  as  usual,  owing  to  their  attractive  appearance, 
received  more  attention  from  collectors  than  the  other  orders ;  but  although  our  knowledge  of  the 
butterflies  and  larger  moths  of  the  county  is  now  fairly  complete,  much  still  remains  to  be  done 
before  anything  like  an  exhaustive  list  of  the  so-called  Micro-Lepidoptera  can  be  given.  The  earliest 
published  account  of  Nottinghamshire  Lepidoptera  is  contained  in  White's  Worktop,  the  Dukery,  and 
Sherwood  Forest,  published  in  1875.  In  this  work  two  lists  are  given,  one  by  W.  J.  Sterland  of 
'  Lepidoptera  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  by  the  late  John  Trueman '  ;  the  other,  by  R.  E.  Brameld, 
enumerates  the  species  captured  by  himself '  in  or  about  Sherwood  Forest,  from  1859  to  1874.' 
Mr.  Sterland's  list,  although  it  professes  to  include  only  those  species  which  Trueman  himself 
collected  within  the  limits  of  the  forest,  contains  so  many  improbable  records  that  one  is  forced  to 
the  conclusion  that  numerous  species  are  included  which  were  collected  by  Trueman  in  other  parts 
of  the  kingdom  or  received  by  him  from  correspondents.  I  have  therefore  felt  compelled  to  ignore 
most  of  Sterland's  records  unless  confirmed  by  Brameld  or  later  observers.  Other  lists  of  Notting- 
hamshire Lepidoptera  have  been  published  by  the  present  writer *  and  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy.3 

In  addition  to  the  information  derived  from  these  sources  I  have  received  much  help  from 
numerous  entomological  friends  and  correspondents.  My  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Miss  Alderson 
of  Worksop,  whose  labours  in  the  Worksop  and  Sherwood  Forest  districts  have  resulted  in  the 
addition  of  very  many  new  species  to  the  county  records,  and  whose  co-operation  in  this  work  has 
been  of  the  utmost  value ;  to  the  Rev.  Alfred  Thornley,  whose  unrivalled  knowledge  of  the  insect 
fauna  of  Nottinghamshire  has  been  freely  placed  at  my  disposal  ;  and  also  to  the  Revs.  E.  G.  Alderson 
and  W.  Becher,  and  Messrs.  B.  A.  Bower,  W.  Daws,  J.  R.  Hardy,  G.  Henderson,  J.  T.  Houghton, 
A.  R.  Leivers,  D.  H.  Pearson,  G.  Pike,  and  A.  Simmons.  To  all  these  friends  I  am  indebted  for 
much  valuable  and  generous  assistance. 

The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  adopted  in  this  list  are  those  of  South's  'Entomologist'  List 
of  British  Lepidoptera.  Of  the  2,081  species  therein  enumerated,  903  species  have  been  recorded 
on  good  authority  as  occurring  in  Nottinghamshire. 

1  A  Contribution  to  the  Ceology  and  Natural  History  of  Nottinghamshire,  1893. 
'  Manchester  Memoirs,  vol.  45  (1901). 

108 


INSECTS 

RHOPALOCERA 

Butter/lies 

PIERIDAE 

The  beautiful  Black-veined  White  (Aporia  crataegf)  can  only  be  claimed  as  a  Nottinghamshire 
insect  on  the  strength  of  Sterland's  statement  ('  Zoology  of  Sherwood  Forest,'  in  White's  Worhop, 
the  Dukery,  and  Sherwood  Forest)  that  '  a  single  specimen  of  the  Black-veined  White  (P.  crataegi) 
was  taken  by  J.  Trueman,  but  he  does  not  give  in  his  memoranda  the  precise  locality,  though  I 
gather  it  was  in  Thoresby  Park.'  The  large  and  small  Cabbage  Whites  (Pierii  brassicae  and  P.  rapae) 
and  the  Green-veined  White  (P.  nap!)  are  all  very  common  both  in  spring  and  autumn.  The  larvae 
of  P.  brassicae  have  been  observed  feeding  gregariously  on  horse-radish,  Tropaeolum  canariense  and 
other  species,  as  well  as  on  the  more  usual  cabbages  and  cauliflowers.  P.  rapae  is  very  partial  to 
the  common  garden  mignonette,  and  has  also  been  seen  feeding  on  charlock  and  horse-radish  as  well 
as  the  various  forms  of  cabbage.  The  aberration  immaculata  of  this  species  occurs  occasionally. 
P.  napi  is  more  partial  to  the  ridings  of  woods  than  are  the  other  two  species.  The  Orange  Tip 
(Euchlo?  cardamines)  is  widely  distributed  in  the  county,  frequenting  the  country  lanes  and  wood 
ridings ;  in  some  localities  it  is  very  common.  The  aberration  turritis  frequently  occurs.  The 
favourite  food-plants  in  this  district  appear  to  be  charlock  (Brassica  Sinapistrum)  and  garlic  mustard 
(Shymbrlum  Alllaria).  The  delicate  and  fragile-looking  Wood  White  (Leucophasia  sinapis)  used  to 
occur  occasionally  in  Sherwood  Forest  according  to  Sterland,  and  a  single  specimen  was  taken  at 
Newark  many  years  ago  (G.  Gascoyrie,  in  Newman's  British  Butterflies).  No  modern  entomologist 
has  seen  it.  The  Pale  Clouded  Yellow  (Colias  hyale)  is  usually  very  rare,  but  occurs  in  small  numbers 
at  wide  intervals.  Several  were  taken  at  Mansfield  in  1875,  and  at  Southwell  in  1877,  but  no  more 
were  seen,  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  until  1900,  when  it  occurred  in  several  localities  in  the  Notting- 
ham district.  The  Clouded  Yellow  (C.  edusa)  is  of  much  more  frequent  occurrence,  occasionally 
becoming  quite  common,  but  it  is  very  uncertain  and  erratic.  It  was  common  about  Mansfield  in 
1859,  occurred  at  Nottingham  in  1875,  and  in  profusion  all  over  the  county  in  1877.  A  few 
specimens  were  seen  in  1878,  1883,  1885,  and  1889  ;  and  in  1892  it  again  appeared  in  numbers 
in  every  part  of  the  county.  In  1895  it  occurred  about  Mansfield,  accompanied  by  a  few  var. 
belice  (Daws)  ;  and  finally  in  1900  it  once  more  appeared  in  many  localities.  On  the  Foss  road 
at  Cotgrave  it  was  so  abundant  that  one  collector  secured  fifty  specimens  in  perfect  condition  in 
two  hours  on  1 8  August.  Gonopteryx  rhamn't,  the  Brimstone  butterfly,  occurs  somewhat  sparingly 
throughout  the  county,  and  is  occasionally  common,  as  in  1900. 

NYMPHALIDAE 

Of  the  Fritillaries  the  Pearl-bordered  (Argynnis  euphrosyne)  and  Small  Pearl-bordered  (A.  selene) 
occur  in  various  localities,  the  former  being  much  the  commoner.  A.  ag/aia,  the  Dark  Green 
Fritillary,  is  widely  distributed,  but  scarce  ;  the  High  Brown  Fritillary  (A.  adippe)  is  still  fairly  common 
in  Sherwood  Forest  and  was  formerly  so  in  many  places  where  it  is  now  scarce.  The  Silver-washed 
Fritillary  (A.  papbia)  is  now  also  an  uncommon  insect,  but  several  specimens  were  seen  in  a  wood  near 
Retford  in  1901.  All  the  Argynnidae,  except  perhaps  A.  euphrosyne,  seem  indeed  to  be  gradually 
getting  scarcer  in  Nottinghamshire.  The  Greasy  Fritillary  (Melitaea  aurinia)  was  several  times  taken 
in  Sherwood  Forest  by  J.  Trueman,  according  to  Sterland,  and  a  single  specimen  was  taken  at 
Worksop  in  1883  by  Miss  Alderson.  The  singularly-shaped  Comma  Butterfly  (Vanessa  c-album) 
seems  to  have  been  not  uncommon  formerly,  but  is  now  very  rare  ;  it  has  occurred  in  recent  years 
at  Thieves  Wood  and  Mansfield  (Daws),  and  one  specimen  was  taken  at  Worksop  on  15  September, 
1893,  by  Miss  Alderson.  The  Large  Tortoiseshell  \V.  polychloros)  is  occasionally  seen,  and  the  Small 
Tortoiseshell  (V.  urticae)  is  very  common  everywhere.  The  variety  ichnusoides  has  been  taken  at 
Mansfield  by  Mr.  Daws.  The  Peacock  (V.  to)  is  usually  very  scarce  and  uncertain  in  its  appearance, 
but  in  1 900  it  was  quite  common.  Records  of  the  occurrence  of  the  Camberwell  Beauty  (V.  an- 
tiopa)  in  Nottinghamshire  are  fairly  numerous  :  one  at  Worksop  and  one  at  Southwell  in  1846,  and 
one  taken  some  years  before  near  Nottingham  (J.  Wolley) ;  two  at  Welbeck  and  two  at  Edwin- 
stowe  in  1860  (Sterland).  'In  1860  this  species  was  common  about  Mansfield.  I  have  two  taken 
here.  A  nice  series  was  taken  at  Berry  Hill  by  the  late  Lady  Walker  ;  they  were  feeding  on  fallen 
ripe  plums.  They  were  again  fairly  numerous  in  1864'  (W.  Daws).  Several  specimens  were 
taken  in  Nottinghamshire  in  1872  (Brameld),  and  a  specimen  was  seen  flying  in  Nottingham  in  or 
about  1890.  The  Red  Admiral  (V.  atalanta)  is  common  throughout  the  county,  in  some  seasons 
extremely  so,  and  the  Painted  Lady  (P, .  cardui),  though  usually  very  scarce,  is  sometimes  just  as 
common.  It  was  abundant  in  1883  and  1892,  and  common  in  South  Nottinghamshire  in  1900. 
It  was  again  common  in  the  autumn  of  1903. 

109 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

APATURIDAE 

The  Purple  Emperor  (Apatura  iris)  is  now  rare,  but  has  been  seen  and  taken  many  times  in 
various  parts  of  Sherwood  Forest.  It  has  also  occurred  in  woods  near  Newark  and  Southwell,  and  at 
Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield  Mr.  Daws  has  seen  it  on  several  occasions  up  to  1895. 

SATYRIDAE 

Another  rare  species  is  the  Marbled  White  (Melanargia  galatea\  the  last  specimens  of  which,  as 
far  as  I  can  learn,  were  captured  near  Bingham  about  1890.  It  was  formerly  common  in  one  or  two 
places  near  Tuxford,  and  also  at  Warsop  and  Mansfield,  but  has  apparently  died  out  in  all  these 
places.  The  Wood  Argus  (Pararge  egeria)  occurs  sparingly  near  Mansfield,  and  has  been  taken  in 
the  Birklands,  also  near  Carlton-in-Lindrick,  and  at  Widmerpool.  The  Wall  Butterfly  (Pararge 
megaerd)  has  almost  disappeared  from  some  districts  where  it  was  formerly  plentiful,  but  still  occurs 
rather  commonly  in  the  Mansfield  district,  and  I  have  lately  seen  it  in  some  numbers  in  the  lanes 
about  Wigsley  and  Thorney.  The  Grayling  (Satyrut  semele)  used  to  be  very  abundant  on  sandy 
ground  at  Thieves  Wood,  but  has  not  been  seen  lately  (Daws).  The  Meadow  Brown  (Epinephele 
ianira)  is  abundant  nearly  everywhere,  and  the  Gatekeeper  (E.  tithonus)  occurs  in  profusion  in  many 
places,  but  is  quite  absent  from  some  districts  and  rare  in  others.  The  Ringlet  (E.  hyperanthes)  is 
also  locally  common  in  damp  lanes  and  woods,  but  like  many  other  butterflies  has  disappeared  from 
some  districts  where  it  was  formerly  common.  'About  1882  this  species  simply  swarmed  in  the 
grass  ridings  of  Clumber  and  Welbeck  Parks  ;  since  that  time  it  has  entirely  disappeared  from  the 
neighbourhood' (Miss  Alderson).  The  Small  Heath  (Coenonympha  pamphilus)  is  very  common  and 
universally  distributed. 

LYCAENIDAE 

Three  of  the  Hairstreaks  occur  in  Nottinghamshire.  Thecla  w-album  is  taken  sparingly  in 
Sherwood  Forest  and  elsewhere  in  the  north,  and  is  locally  abundant  in  the  south  of  the  county. 
Barrett's  statement,  '  very  rare  in  Nottinghamshire '  (British  Lepidoptera,  vol.  i,  p.  47),  is  certainly 
very  far  from  the  truth.  The  Purple  Hairstreak  (Thecla  quercus)  is  much  less  common,  but  occurs 
in  Sherwood  Forest,  in  a  wood  near  Mansfield,  and  in  certain  woods  in  the  east  of  the  county,  in 
one  of  which  I  have  recently  seen  it  flying  in  considerable  numbers  round  the  tops  of  the  oak  trees. 
The  Green  Hairstreak  (Thecla  rubi)  also  occurs  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  in  woods  near  Mansfield  and 
Newark,  but  in  only  one  place  have  I  seen  it  in  any  quantity.  The  Small  Copper  (Polyommatus 
phloeas)  is  very  common,  especially  in  the  dry  Triassic  sandstone  area  of  the  central  and  northern 
parts  of  the  county,  and  may  be  seen  from  the  beginning  of  May  until  well  into  October.  Some 
beautiful  varieties  have  been  taken,  including  the  aberration  schmidtii.  Among  the  '  Blues ' 
Lycaena  argon  used  to  be  common  not  very  many  years  ago  in  Clumber  Park,  and  has  also  been 
taken  sparingly  in  one  or  two  places  near  Mansfield.  It  is  now  apparently  very  rare.  The  Common 
Blue  (L.  icarus)  is  widely  distributed  and  abundant  in  many  places,  occurring  throughout  the  summer 
from  early  in  May  until  sometimes  the  end  of  October.  The  Holly  Blue  (L.  argiolui)  is  said  by 
Sterland  to  be  not  uncommon  in  Sherwood  Forest.  It  certainly  is  not  so  now,  since  no  later  observer 
has  seen  it,  although  holly  bushes  are  abundant  in  parts  of  Sherwood. 

HESPERIIDAE 

Of  the  Skippers,  Syrichthus  ma/vae,  the  Grizzled  Skipper,  occurs  rather  commonly  at  Bunny  and 
about  Cotgrave  and  Widmerpool.  It  is  also  found  sparingly  about  Newark,  Southwell,  Newstead,  and 
Wellow.  The  Dingy  Skipper  (Nisoniades  tages]  is  fairly  common  in  the  Mansfield  district  (Daws), 
and  occurs  rarely  in  Sherwood  Forest.  The  Small  Skipper  (Hesperia  thaumas)  is  widely  distributed, 
often  occurring  abundantly  in  the  south  of  the  county,  but  rather  more  sparingly  in  the  north.  I 
know  of  only  a  single  capture  of  Hesperia  lineola  in  Nottinghamshire,  that  by  Mr.  J.  N.  Young  in 
1880  at  Clumber,  as  recorded  by  Barrett  (Brit.  Lepid.  i,  282).  The  Large  Skipper  (Hesperia 
sylvanus)  is  locally  abundant  in  woods  and  lanes  in  the  south  of  the  county,  and  also  near  Retford 
and  Mansfield.  In  Sherwood  Forest  and  about  Worksop,  and  elsewhere  on  the  Bunter  sandstone, 
it  is  much  less  common.  It  appears  to  be  at  least  partially  doubled-brooded,  occurring  from  about 
I  June  until  the  middle  of  August. 

HETEROCERA 

Moths 

SPHINGES 
SPHINGIDAE 

The  Death's  Head  Moth  (Acherontia  atropos)  is  very  irregular  in  its  appearance,  some  years  being 
quite  common  or  even  abundant,  in  others  almost  absent.  In  1899  and  1900  it  was  common 

no 


INSECTS 

throughout  the  county  in  the  larval  stage.  The  Convolvulus  Hawk  Moth  (Sphinx  convolvuli)  is  another 
erratic  insect,  but  is  never  really  common.  I  have  many  recent  records  of  its  occurrence,  singly  or 
in  small  numbers,  in  the  Nottingham,  Mansfield,  Southwell,  Tuxford,  Edwinstowe,  and  Worksop 
districts.  The  Privet  Hawk  Moth  (Sphinx  ligustri)  is  of  frequent  occurrence.  A  single  specimen  of 
the  Bedstraw  Hawk  Moth  (Deilephila  galii)  is  recorded  by  Sterland  as  having  been  taken  in  Sherwood 
Forest.  Mr.  W.  Daws  captured  two  specimens  of  this  species  at  flowers  of  honeysuckle  in  his 
garden  at  Mansfield,  on  20  and  24  June,  1 866,  and  a  third  specimen  was  taken  in  the  same  neighbour- 
hood by  another  collector  about  the  same  date.  The  rare  Choerocampa  celerio  has  been  taken  several 
times  in  the  county,  my  notes  recording  captures  of  single  specimens  at  Chilwell,  at  Edwinstowe  in 
1876,  at  Retford  in  1884,  and  again  in  1885,  and  in  Nottingham  in  1860  and  1892.  The  Small 
Elephant  Hawk  Moth  (Choerocampa  panel/us)  occurs  most  seasons  in  the  Mansfield  district  (Daws)  ; 
specimens  were  also  taken  at  Worksop  and  Wellow  in  1901,  and  in  Nottingham  in  1902.  The 
Large  Elephant  Hawk  (C.  elpenor)  is  much  more  frequent  and  generally  distributed,  larvae  being 
sometimes  fairly  common  about  Mansfield  (Daws).  The  Eyed  Hawk  (Smerinthus  ocellatus)  and  the 
Poplar  Hawk  (S.  populi)  are  both  fairly  plentiful,  especially  in  the  larval  stage,  the  former  feeding  on 
wild  crab  and  willow,  and  on  apple  trees  in  orchards,  and  the  latter  chiefly  on  poplar,  but  once  found -^ 
on  ash  at  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson).  S.  populi  appears  to  be  partially  doubled-brooded,  eggs  deposited 
in  June,  1898,  produced  imagines  in  the  following  September  (Daws).  The  Lime  Hawk  (S.  ti/iae)  is 
rare,  but  is  recorded  from  Mansfield  (Daws)  and  Marnham,  where  several  specimens  were  bred  by  the 
Rev.  E.  Cunningham  from  larvae  found  on  lime  trees  in  his  garden.  The  Humming-Bird  Hawk 
Moth  (Macroglossa  stel/atarum)  occurs  throughout  the  county  and  is  frequently  common.  In  1899  and 
1900  it  was  particularly  plentiful  all  over  the  county.  The  Broad-bordered  Bee  Hawk  (Macroglossa 
fuciformis)  occurs  in  two  woods,  many  miles  apart,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  county,  and  is  a  recent 
addition  to  our  list,  the  first  authentic  specimens  having  been  taken  in  May,  1895.  It  has  since  been 
seen  in  all  stages,  sometimes  plentifully. 

SESIIDAE 

The  Hornet  Clearwings  (Trochiitum  aptformis  and  T.  crabroniformis]  have  both  been  taken  in  the 
county  several  times,  but  are  very  rare.  Of  the  smaller  Clearwings  Sesia  tipuliformis  is  widely  dis- 
tributed and  often  common  in  gardens  where  currant  bushes  grow,  but  the  other  recorded  species  are 
very  rare.  Sesia  asUiformis,  S.  myopiformis,  and  S.  tulieifirmis  are  all  recorded  from  Sherwood  Forest, 
and  S.  myopiformis  has  also  been  taken  by  Daws  at  Mansfield. 

ZYGAENIDAE 

The  Forester  (Ino  stances),  at  one  time  common  in  Sherwood  Forest,  is  now  rare  there,  if 
indeed  it  still  exists.  It  has,  however,  been  taken  recently  in  the  south  of  the  county,  near  Bunny. 
Of  the  Burnets,  Zygaena  trifolii  is  reported  from  Sherwood  Forest  and  Gedling,  but  is  certainly  very 
rare.  Z.  lonicerae  is  in  some  seasons  very  plentiful  but  extremely  local  in  the  Mansfield  district ; 
it  also  occurs  in  old  pastures  at  Welham  near  Retford.  The  Six-Spot  Burnet  (Z.  filipendulae)  is 
widely  distributed  in  the  county,  but  has  a  knack  of  disappearing  suddenly  from  localities  where  it 
was  formerly  common.  It  occurred  in  a  single  meadow  at  Gedling  some  years  ago  in  the  utmost 
profusion,  but  has  not  been  seen  there  lately.  It  is  also  found  more  or  less  commonly  in  the  Retford, 
Southwell,  and  Mansfield  districts,  and  in  several  places  south  of  Nottingham.  In  Sherwood  Forest 
it  is  now  apparently  rare. 

BOMBYCES 
NYCTEOLIDAE 
Hylophila  prasinana  occurs  throughout  the  county,  but  is  nowhere  common. 

NOLIDAE 

No/a  cucullatella  is  widely  distributed,  variable  in  its  appearance,  but  some  years  very  abundant. 
In  1899  it  swarmed  in  gardens  at  Mansfield,  from  20  June  to  the  middle  of  July  (Daws).  N.  con- 
fusalis  was  taken  in  the  north  of  Nottinghamshire  by  Brameld  many  years  ago,  but  there  are  no 
recent  records. 

LITHOSIIDAE 

Nudaria  senex  has  been  taken  '  on  the  railings  near  the  Normanton  Hotel  [Clumber  Park], 
several  times,'  (J.  R.  Hardy),  and  N.  mundana  occurs  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  near  Worksop. 
Calligenia  miniata,  Lithosia  mesomella,  and  L.  deplana,  are  all  reported  from  Sherwood  Forest,  the 
last  named  only  once,  however.  L.  lurideola  is  widely  diffused  and  common  in  one  or  two  localities. 
Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  took  nine  specimens  of  L,  complana  by  beating  larches  near  Worksop,  in  June, 

HI 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

1887,  and  it  was  again  obtained  in  the  same  locality  in  1 894.  The  Large  Footman-  (Gnopbria  quadra] 
is  said  by  Sterland  to  have  been  taken  several  times  in  Sherwood  Forest ;  and  the  Red-necked  Foot- 
man (G.  rubricollii)  occurs  in  the  same  district. 

EUCHELIIDAE 

The  gorgeous  Cinnabar  Moth  (Euchelia  jacobaeae)  is  common  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  at  Langford 
Moor,  and  occurs  with  more  or  less  frequency  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  conspicuously- 
coloured  larvae  are  often  very  abundant  on  Senedo  jacobaea  (Ragwort). 

CHELONIIDAE 

The  Clouded  Buff  (Nemeophila  russula)  was  common  in  Clumber  Park  within  the  last  twenty 
years,  but  is  now  scarce  there.  It  was  also  taken  in  Mansfield  Forest  in  1886  and  1887,  and  has 
occurred  recently  at  Ollerton.  The  Wood  Tiger  (N.  plantaginh)  occurs  at  Thieves  Wood  near 
Mansfield  (Daws),  and  I  took  a  specimen  in  a  wood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  county  on  26  May, 
1896.  It  used  to  occur  in  Sherwood  Forest,  but  has  not  been  seen  there  of  late  years.  The  Common 
Tiger  (Arctia  caia)  is  found  commonly  throughout  the  county,  but  is  much  more  abundant  in  the 
larval  than  in  the  perfect  stage.  The  Ruby  Tiger  (Spilosoma  fo/iginosa)  occurs  sparingly  in  Sher- 
wood Forest  and  in  the  Mansfield  and  Nottingham  districts.  Of  the  Ermines  Spi/osoma  mendica  is 
occasionally  taken  in  various  places  in  the  northern  half  of  the  county,  and  S.  lubricipeda  and 
S.  menthastri  are  common  and  universally  distributed. 

HEPIALIDAE 

All  the  British  '  Swifts '  occur  with  us.  Hepialus  humuli  is  common  everywhere,  and 
H.  sylvanus  moderately  so.  H.  velleda  occurs  abundantly  and  in  great  variety  (including  the  var. 
carnus)  in  Clumber  Park  and  the  woods  at  Sparken  Hill  near  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson)  ;  elsewhere 
in  the  county  it  is  only  occasionally  found.  H.  lupulinus  and  H,  hectus  are  both  very  common  and 
universally  distributed. 

COSSIDAE 

The  Goat  Moth  (Cossus  ligntperda)  occurs  commonly  in  many  places  in  the  larval  state,  and 
the  imago  is  frequently  taken.  The  Leopard  Moth  (Zeuzera  pyrina)  is  not  rare,  and  has  occurred 
all  over  the  county. 

COCHLIOPODIDAE 

The  rare  Heterogenea  asella  is  said  by  Sterland  to  have  been  taken  '  in  Trueman's  garden  at 
Edwinstowe  ' — a  statement  hard  to  believe. 

LIPARIDAE 

The  Brown-Tail  Moth  (Portbesta  cbrysorrhoea)  has  occurred  in  several  places,  and  the  Gold- 
Tail  (P.  iimilis)  is  generally  abundant.  The  Satin  Moth  (Leucoma  salicis)  and  the  Black  Arches 
(Psi/ura  monacha]  occur  in  the  county,  but  are  rare.  The  Pale  Tussock  (Dasychira  pudibunda]  is 
rather  frequent  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  one  or  two  other  localities,  but  the  Dark  Tussock 
(D.  fascelina)  is  recorded  only  by  Sterland  and  must  be  considered  doubtful.  The  Vapourer  (Orgyia 
antiqua)  is  found  everywhere,  and  is  often  so  abundant  as  to  be  a  destructive  pest  in  gardens. 
Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  some  years  ago  took  several  larvae  of  0.  gonostigma  at  Edwinstowe  from  which 
two  males  and  a  female  were  bred. 

BOMBYCIDAE 

Trichiura  crataegi  occurs  sparingly  throughout  the  county,  and  is  usually  captured  at  gas  lamps 
or  in  the  larval  stage  on  hawthorn  hedges.  The  December  Moth  (Poecilocampa  populi]  is  irregular 
in  appearance,  but  is  sometimes  seen  in  abundance  on  gas-lamps  in  various  places.  Eriogaster  lanestrls 
is  widely  diffused,  the  nests  of  the  gregarious  larvae  being  often  very  abundant  ;  the  moth  is 
however  rarely  seen.  Larvae  of  the  Lackey  (Bombyx  neustria)  are  also  frequently  common.  Botnbyx 
rubi  is  rare,  and  recorded  from  Sherwood  Forest  only,  but  B.  quercus  (the  Oak  Eggar)  is  frequent 
and  sometimes  common  in  both  larval  and  perfect  states.  The  Drinker  (Odonestis  potatoria]  is  very 
common,  especially  in  the  larval  stage.  The  Lappet  (Lasiocampa  quercifolia)  has  been  taken  in  the 
larval  stage  at  Mansfield  by  Daws. 

SATURNIIDAE 
The  Emperor  Moth  (Saturnta  pavonia),  once  common,  has  now  become  rare. 

112 


INSECTS 

DREPANULIDAE 

Drepana  falcataria  is  frequent  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  about  Mansfield,  and  rather  common  at 
Langford  Moor.  Cilix  glaucata  is  found  throughout  the  county,  and  is  occasionally  very  common 
in  some  districts. 

DICRANURIDAE 

The  Kittens,  Dicranura  furcula  and  D.  bifida  both  occur,  though  not  commonly,  but  the  Puss 
Moth  (D.  vinula)  is  much  more  plentiful.  The  Lobster  Moth  (Stauropus  fagi)  has  been  taken  in 
the  larval  stage  in  Sherwood  Forest. 

NOTODONTIDAE 

Pterostoma  palpina  is  rare,  Lophopteryx  camelina  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  Notodonta  dictaea, 
N.  dictaeoideSy  N.  dromedarius,  N.  ziczac,  N.  trepida,  N.  chaonia,  and  N.  trimacu/a,  are  all  found  in 
the  county. 

PYGAERIDAE 

Phalera  bucephala  is  universally  distributed  and  is  often  excessively  abundant  in  the  larval  stage. 
Pygaera  curtula  is  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  by  Sterland. 

CYMATOPHORIDAE 

Tbyatira  derasa  and  T.  bath  (the  Peach  Blossom)  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  sometimes 
fairly  common.  Cymatophora  or  and  C.  duplaris  have  both  been  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  at 
Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield,  though  only  very  occasionally.  Aiphalia  diluta  is  confined  to 
Sherwood  Forest  so  far  as  Nottinghamshire  is  concerned,  and  may  generally  be  taken  in  small 
numbers  at  'sugar'  in  the  proper  season.  A.flavicornh  is  sometimes  common  about  Worksop  and 
in  the  Forest,  and  occurs  also  at  S.  Leverton  and  at  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield.  A.  ridens  rested 
upon  Sterland's  authority  alone  until  1894,  when  one  specimen  was  taken  by  Miss  Alderson  in 
Clumber  Park. 

NOCTUAE 
BRYOPH1LIDAE 

Bryophila  per/a  is  widely  distributed  and  fairly  common,  but  no  other  species  of  the  genus 
occurs  in  the  county. 

BOMBYCOIDAE 

Demas  coryli  has  been  taken  at  Ollerton  and  Mansfield.  Acronycta  tridem  is  rather  scarce. 
A.  psi  is  common  everywhere.  A.  leporina  occurs  at  Langford  Moor,  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  at 
Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield,  where  Mr.  Daws  has  taken  both  the  type  and  the  variety  brady- 
porina.  A.  aceris  is  recorded  for  South  Scarle  by  Mr.  G.  M.  A.  Hewett,  who  states  that  he  has 
taken  it  both  in  spring  and  autumn.  A.  megacephala  is  curiously  scarce  in  Nottinghamshire  :  I 
have  very  few  records  of  its  occurrence,  and  most  of  these  are  for  larvae  only.  A.  aim  is  occasion- 
ally taken,  most  frequently  in  the  larval  state  ;  my  numerous  records  for  the  last  thirty  years  show 
that  it  has  occurred  all  over  the  county.  A.  ligustri  is  very  rare,  but  has  been  taken  in  Sherwood 
Forest.  A.  rumicis  is  frequently  taken,  but  cannot  be  called  common.  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  tells 
me  that  in  July,  1897,  he  took  seven  specimens  of  A.  menyanthidis  among  heather  at  Edwinstowe, 
and  has  also  taken  the  larvae  several  times  by  sweeping  in  the  same  place.  Diloba  caeruleocephala  is 
abundant  nearly  everywhere,  the  moth  sometimes  swarming  on  gas-lamps,  and  the  larvae  occurring 
in  profusion  on  the  hawthorn  hedges. 

LEUCANIIDAE 

Of  the  '  wainscots '  we  have  Leucania  turca  (one  specimen  under  log  near  the  Major  Oak, 
Edwinstowe,  19  June,  1896,  J.  R.  Hardy),  L.  conigera,  L.  /ithargyria,  L.  comma,  L.  imfura,  and 
L.  pa/lens,  most  of  which  are  common,  the  last  named  in  particular  being  sometimes  excessively 
abundant.  Tapinosto/a  fulva  and  Nonagria  arundinis  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  Mr.  Daws  of 
Mansfield  writes  of  N.  lutosay  'I  have  a  series  taken  in  my  garden  here  at  sugar,  12  August,  1894.' 

APAMEIDAE 

Gortyna  ochracea,  Hydroecia  nictttans,  H.  micacea,  Axylia  putris,  Xylophasia  rurea  with  its  var. 
alopecurus,  X.  lithoxylea,  X.  suh/ustris,  and  X.  bepatica,  are  all  more  or  less  common  ;  X.  monoglypha 
is  abundant  everywhere  and  extremely  variable,  and  X.  scolopacina  occurs  sparingly  in  Sherwood 
Forest  and  at  Mansfield.  Neuria  reticulata  and  Neuroma  popularis  are  not  uncommon.  Charaeas 
graminis  is  widely  distributed  and  abounds  in  some  seasons  in  Sherwood  Forest,  where  it  frequents 
I  113  15 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  Ragwort  flowers  by  day,  while  in  other  years  it  is  scarce.  Cerigo  matura  is  widely  distributed 
but  not  very  common.  Luperina  testacea  is  common,  but  L.  capitil  seems  to  be  almost  confined  to 
Sherwood  Forest,  where  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence.  Mamestra  sordida  is  widely  distributed,  and 
by  no  means  rare.  M.  albicolon  formerly  occurred  in  Sherwood  Forest,  but  has  not  been  seen  of 
late  years.  M.  furva,  recorded  by  Sterland  as  having  been  taken  on  one  occasion  in  Sherwood 
Forest,  remained  unconfirmed  for  many  years,  but  in  1891  was  taken  by  the  Rev.  E.  G.  Alderson 
at  Sparken  Hill  near  Worksop,  and  again  on  30  June,  1894,  by  Miss  E.  M.  Alderson  in  the  garden 
at  Park  House,  Worksop.  M.  brassicae,  the  well-known  Cabbage  Moth,  is  of  course  very  common 
everywhere  ;  the  vars.  unico/or,  Tutt,  and  albidilinea,  Haw.,  have  also  occurred.  M.  persicariae  is 
common  in  some  parts  of  the  county,  but  appears  to  be  absent  from  others.  Apamea  basilinea, 
A.  gemina,  and  A.  didyma  are  common.  Several  specimens  of  A.  connexa  were  taken  between 
Worksop  and  Edwinstowe  in  1885  and  1886  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  and  others.  A.  unanimis  has 
occurred  at  Chilwell  and  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  A.  leucostigma  var.  fibrosa  is  reported  by  both 
Sterland  and  Brameld  from  Sherwood  Forest,  but  has  not  been  seen  for  many  years.  Miana 
strigi/is  is  abundant ;  M.  fasciuncu/a  and  M .  arcuosa  pretty  common  ;  but  M.  /iterosa,  formerly  common 
in  Sherwood  Forest,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  taken  lately  ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
M.  bicolaria,  formerly  reported  '  common '  in  the  Forest  and  at  Nottingham. 

CARADRINIDAE 

Grammesia  trigrammica  is  moderately  common.  Stilbia  anoma/a,  recorded  by  Sterland,  was 
again  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson  on  23  August,  1895.  Caradrina  morpkeus, 
C.  taraxaciy  and  C.  quadripunctata  all  occur  with  greater  or  less  frequency,  and  C.  a/sines  was 
captured  at  Shireoaks  near  Worksop  in  July,  1900,  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton.  Rusina  tenebrosa  is 
frequent,  especially  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  county. 

NOCTUIDAE 

The  genus  Agrotis  is  well  represented.  A.  vestigia/is,  generally  a  coast  insect,  has  been  taken 
in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  Mr.  Daws  captured  one  at  Mansfield  at  '  sugar  '  on  1 1  July,  1894.  A.  suffusa 
and  A.  saucia  are  frequent,  A.  segetum  very  common,  A.  exclamationis  abundant,  A.  corticea  and 
A.  nigricans  not  uncommon,  A.  tritici  frequent,  and  the  Rev.  W.  Becher  reports  having  taken 
A,  aquilma  at  Edwinstowe  and  Wellow.  A.  obelisca  has  occurred  in  Sherwood  Forest,  according  to 
Sterland  and  Brameld,  but  possibly  one  of  the  allied  species  may  have  been  mistaken  for  it. 
A.  agathina  is  stated  by  Barrett  (Brit.  Lepid.  iii,  362)  to  be  'rare  in  Nottinghamshire,'  but  I  have 
no  details  of  its  occurrence.  A.  strigula  has  been  taken  frequently  at  Mansfield  and  in  Sherwood 
Forest,  and  twice  at  Shireoaks  in  1900.  A.  praecox  is  said  by  Sterland  to  have  been  taken  on  one 
occasion  in  Sherwood  Forest,  but  this  is  probably  a  mistake  ;  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  has  however 
seen  an  undoubted  specimen  taken  at  Marnham  in  the  Trent  Valley  by  the  Rev.  E.  Cunningham. 
A.  obscura  occurs  rarely  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  has  been  taken  several  times  recently  by 
Mr.  Thornley  at  'sugar'  in  the  vicarage  garden  at  South  Leverton.  The  genus  Noctua  is  also  well 
represented  in  Nottinghamshire,  N.  glareosa  occurring  sparingly  at  Mansfield,  but  sometimes  plenti- 
fully in  Sherwood  Forest  ;  N.  augur,  N.  p/ecta,  N.  c-nigrum,  N.  brunnea,  N.  festiva,  N.  dahlii, 
N.  rubi,  N.  umbrosa,  N.  baia,  and  N.  xanthographa  all  occur  in  various  localities,  and  are  most  of 
them  common.  N.  triangulum  is  rare,  but  has  been  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  by  Miss  Alderson, 
and  at  Chilwell  by  Mr.  D.  H.  Pearson.  N.  castanea,  var.  neg/ecta,  stated  by  Sterland  to  be  '  not 
uncommon '  in  Sherwood  Forest,  is  not  reported  by  any  other  collector.  All  the  species  of 
Trlphaena  are  found  with  us.  T.  ianthina  and  T.  interjecta  are  widely  distributed  but  not  very 
common,  the  latter  indeed  being  scarce  ;  T.  fimbrta  is  frequent  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  about 
Mansfield  ;  T.  orbona  (subsequa),  first  recorded  by  Sterland,  has  more  recently  been  taken  at  sugar  in 
Sherwood  Forest  on  several  occasions  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  ;  T.  comes  is  fairly  common,  and 
T.  pronuba  is  everywhere  abundant. 

AMPHIPYRIDAE 

Amphipyra  pyramidea  is  fairly  plentiful  at 'sugar 'in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  has  been  taken 
occasionally  at  Mansfield.  A.  tragopoginis  is  common,  and  Mania  typica  fairly  so,  while  M.  maura  is 
not  rare. 

ORTHOSIIDAE 

Panolis  piniperda  occurs  frequently  in  Scots-pine  woods  in  Sherwood  Forest,  at  Berry  Hill, 
Mansfield,  and  at  Langford  Moor.  Pachnobia  leucographa  formerly  occurred,  but  very  rarely,  in 
Sherwood  Forest,  but  has  not  been  taken  recently  ;  P.  rubricosa,  once  frequent  in  the  same  locality, 
was  again  taken  in  1899,  1900,  and  1901,  also  in  April,  1902,31  South  Leverton  (Thornley). 

114 


INSECTS 

Taeniocampa  gotbica,  T.  incerta,  T.  staii/ts,  and  T.  pulverulenta  are  all  common  ;  T.  munda  and 
T.  gracilis  frequent,  but  T.  populett  and  T.  miniosa  are  very  rare.  We  possess  all  the  species  of 
Orthosia  and  Anchocelis,  but  none  of  the  Orthosias  are  really  common.  6.  lota  is  only  moderately 
so,  0.  macihnta  frequent,  but  O.  suspecta  and  0.  upsilon  are  very  rare,  and  have  only  been  taken  in 
Sherwood  Forest.  Anchocelh  rufina  seems  fairly  common  about  Mansfield,  and  has  been  taken  in 
a  few  other  localities  ;  A.  pistadna  is  decidedly  common,  A.  litura  moderately  so,  and  A.  lunosa 
occurs  pretty  freely  in  one  or  two  places,  but  seems  to  be  local.  Cerastis  vaccinii,  C.  spadicea,  and 
Scoleposoma  satellitia  are  all  of  common  occurrence.  The  following  are  rare  : — Dasycampa  rubiginea 
(Mansfield,  W.  Daws),  Oponna  croceago  (Sherwood  Forest,  J.  R.  Hardy),  Xanthia  citrago  (Rufford 
Abbey,  Rev.  W.  Becher),  and  X.  aurago  (Mansfield,  Daws).  X.  fulvago,  X.  flavago,  and 
X.  circe/laris  are  not  uncommon,  and  X.  gilvago  has  occurred  frequently  in  some  localities.  Cir- 
rhoedia  xerampelina  is  occasionally  quite  common  in  several  localities  about  Nottingham  ;  in  August 
1900  one  collector  took  forty-three  specimens  in  a  single  evening  !  The  var.  untcolor  has  also 
occurred. 

COSMIIDAE 

Tethea  subtusa  and  T.  retusa  are  both  recorded  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  as  taken  by  him  at  sugar 
between  Worksop  and  Edwinstowe  in  July,  1896.  One  of  the  most  noted  Nottinghamshire  insects 
is  Cosmia  pa/eacea,  which  in  favourable  years  is  abundant  at  sugar  in  Sherwood  Forest  ;  it  has  also 
been  taken  at  Langford  Moor.  Calymma  trapezina  is  another  abundant  Sherwood  Forest  species, 
and  also  occurs,  though  more  sparingly,  in  several  other  localities.  Calymnia  diffinis  and  C.  affinis 
are  both  of  frequent  occurrence. 

HADENIDAE 

Eremobia  ochroleuca  was  taken  many  years  ago  in  Sherwood  Forest  by  Mr.  R.  E.  Brameld. 
Dianthoecia  capsincola  is  rather  common,  especially  in  the  larval  stage,  but  D.  cucubali  and  D.  car- 
pophaga  seem  to  be  rare.  Hecatera  serena  is  rare,  but  formerly  occurred  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and 
three  specimens  were  taken  at  Basford  in  1900  (G.  Henderson).  Polia  chi  is  common  in  most 
parts  of  the  county  but,  curiously  enough,  is  not  nearly  so  common  at  S.  Leverton  as  P.  flaviancta, 
which  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  takes  there  commonly  every  year  both  at  sugar  and  light,  although  it 
is  scarcely  known  in  any  other  part  of  the  county.  Dasypolia  temp/i,  although  according  to  Barrett 
'  found  only  in  rocky  districts,  on  high  hills,  and  upon  the  coast,'  has  several  times  occurred  in 
Nottinghamshire.  Mr.  W.  Daws,  of  Mansfield,  reports  it  as  '  taken  close  to  my  house  at  gas 
lights,  and  found  amongst  gas-coke  at  Sherwood  Foundry,  probably  attracted  by  the  light  from  the 
furnace,  10  October,  1890."  Miss  Alderson  took  one  specimen  on  the  doorstep  of  Park  House, 
Worksop,  about  1894  or  1895,  and  Mr.  D.  H.  Pearson  captured  a  specimen  at  a  gas-lamp  at 
Chilwell,  on  6  October,  1894.  Epunda  nigra  occurs  occasionally  at  Edwinstowe  and  Wellow. 
C/eoceris  vimina/is  is  found  in  various  localities.  MiseKa  oxyacanthae  is  common,  the  var.  capucina 
being  also  of  frequent  occurrence.  Agrieph  aprlKna  occurs  sparingly  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  about 
Mansfield.  Euplexia  luctpara  and  Phlogophora  meticu/osa  are  common  ;  of  the  latter  species 
Mr.  Daws  took  a  good  series  at  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield,  between  7  and  10  December, 
1895!  Of  the  species  of  /fp/ecta,  which  are  all  found  in  Nottinghamshire,  A.  prasina  is  rare  in 
Sherwood  Forest  and  at  Mansfield,  but  more  frequent  in  the  extreme  south  of  the  county  ; 
A,  occulta  has  occurred  singly  in  Sherwood  Forest,  at  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield,  and  twice 
at  Southwell ;  A.  ntbulosa  is  moderately  common  ;  A.  tincta,  recorded  by  Sterland  as  found 
occasionally  in  Sherwood  Forest,  has  since  been  taken  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy,  who  captured  six 
specimens  among  bilberry  near  Worksop,  on  19  June,  1897;  and  A.  advena  is  taken  in  several 
localities.  Hadena  oleracea  is  abundant,  and  H.  adusta,  H.  protea,  H.  dentina,  H.  trifo/ii,  H.  dis- 
similis,  H.  pisi,  H.  tha/assina,  H.  contigua  and  H.  genistae  are  all  found  in  the  county  ;  while 
H.  rectilinea  is  said  by  Sterland  to  have  been  once  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest,  a  not  improbable 
record,  as  it  used  to  be  taken  near  Sheffield. 

XYLINIDAE 

Xylocampa  areola  occurs  at  Rufford  and  Mansfield,  and  is  not  uncommon  at  South  Leverton 
(Thornley).  Calocampa  vetusta  has  been  taken  recently  at  Mansfield  (Daws)  and  Chilwell 
(Pearson)  ;  C.  exoleta  is  of  frequent  occurrence  ;  and  a  single  example  of  C.  solidaginis  is  recorded 
as  taken  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  in  Sherwood  Forest  on  27  July,  1898.  Xyllna  ornithopus  and 
X.  soda  are  extremely  rare,  the  former  being  recorded,  possibly  in  error,  by  Sterland  only  ('  occa- 
sional in  Sherwood  Forest '),  while  a  single  specimen  of  the  latter  is  said  by  Hardy  to  have  been 
taken  by  him  near  Worksop.  Asteroscopus  sphinx,  also  recorded  for  the  Forest  by  Sterland,  was 
taken  by  Daws  at  Mansfield  ('a  few  at  light')  on  10  October  1890.  Cucullia  verbasci  is  some- 
times very  common  in  the  larval  state  in  various  localities ;  C.  chamomillae  is  rather  scarce,  but 
C.  umbratica  not  at  all  uncommon. 

"5 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

GONOPTERIDAE 

Gonopttra  Kbatrix  (the  '  Herald  ')  is  not  uncommon,  and  is  frequently  found  hybernating  in 
outhouses  in  the  winter. 

PLUSIIDAE 

Habrostola  tripartita  and  H.  triplasla,  Plusia  chrysltis,  P.  lota  and  P.  pulchrina  are  all  fairly 
common,  P.  ckrysitis  often  indeed  very  abundant  at  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson)  ;  P.  gamma  occurs 
some  years  in  the  utmost  profusion  ;  P.  festucae  is  rare,  and  confined  to  Sherwood  Forest ;  and 
Sterland  records  P.  bractea  ('  a  few  times ')  and  P.  interrogationis  ('  once  in  a  garden  at  Edwinstowe ') 
for  the  same  district. 

HELIOTHIDAE 

Anarta  myrtilU  and  Heliaca  tenebrata  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  especially  the  latter,  which  is 
reported  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  to  be  common  at  South  Leverton  in  hay-fields,  and  abundant 
in  the  green  drives  at  Treswell  Wood.  Hellothis  dipsacea  has  occurred  in  Sherwood  Forest 
and  at  Mansfield  (Daws). 

POAPHILIDAE 

Phytometra  viridaria  is  widely  distributed,  but  not  common. 

EUCLIDIIDAE 
Euclldia  mi  is  rather  common,  and  E.  glyphica  is  by  no  means  rare. 

HERMINIIDAE 

Zanclognatha  grisca/is,  Z.  tarsipennalis,  and  Pechypogon  barbalh  are  all  of  more  or  less  common 
occurrence. 

HYPENIDAE 

Hypena  proboscidalis  occurs  commonly  in  the  county. 

BREPHIDES 

Brephos  partbenias  is  common  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  one  or  two  other  localities,  and  B.  notha 
is  recorded  by  Sterland  for  Sherwood  Forest.  The  latter  record,  however,  requires  confirmation 
before  it  can  be  accepted. 

GEOMETRAE 

UROPTERYGIDAE 

The  Swallow-tail  Moth  (Uropteryx  sambucaria')  is  fairly  common  in  all  parts  of  the  county. 

ENNOMIDAE 

Epiane  apiciaria,  although  not  common,  is  very  widely  distributed.  Rumia  luteolata  is  very 
common  everywhere.  Ven'dia  macularia  is  rare,  the  only  records  being  Clumber  Park  (Miss  Alder- 
son),  Sherwood  Forest  (Hardy),  and  Marnham  in  the  Trent  Valley  (Rev.  E.  Cunningham). 
Angeronia  prunaria,  another  scarce  species,  which  was  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  many  years  ago 
by  Sterland,  has  been  taken  singly  at  Ollerton  and  Edwinstowe  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy,  and  sparingly 
at  Thorney  in  1896  by  Mr.  G.  Henderson.  Metrocampa  margaritaria  is  well  distributed  and 
frequent.  Ellopla  prosapiaria  is  fairly  frequent  among  Scotch  firs  in  Clumber  Park,  where  the 
specimens  are  small  and  dark-coloured  (Miss  Alderson),  and  is  scarce  about  Mansfield  and  Newark. 
Eurymena  dolabraria  occurs  sparingly  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  single  specimens  have  recently  been 
taken  at  Mansfield,  Cotgrave,  and  Langford  Moor.  Pericallia  syringaria  is  another  scarce  species, 
met  with  occasionally  about  Nottingham,  Mansfield,  Southwell,  Worksop,  and  Retford.  Selenia 
bilunaria  is  fairly  common  and  widely  distributed,  while  S.  lunaria  is  rare,  the  only  recent  record 
being  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson).  Odontopera  bidentata  is  pretty  common  everywhere,  as  are  Crocallis 
e/inguaria  and  Eugonia  alniaria.  Eugonia  fusca ntaria  sometimes  occurs  rather  freely  at  South  Lev- 
erton (Thornley),  and  is  also  taken  about  Worksop,  Southwell,  and  Nottingham,  but  not  commonly. 
E.  quercinaria  is  found  occasionally  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  other  places  in  the  north  of  the  county, 
and  E.  erosaria  occurs  at  Worksop  and  Chilwell.  Himera  pennaria  is  not  rare. 

AMPHIDASYDAE 

Phigalia  pedaria  is  widely  distributed  and  frequent,  but  Nyssia  hispidaria  seems  confined  to  the 
northern  half  of  the  county,  having  been  taken  at  Worksop,  Ollerton,  S.  Leverton,  and  Mansfield. 

116 


INSECTS 

Amphidasys  strataria  has  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson ;  at  Southwell  and  Wellow 
by  the  Rev.  W.  Becher ;  and  at  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield  by  Mr.  Daws.  A.  betularia  is  far 
more  common,  though  more  so  in  the  north  than  in  the  south  of  the  county  ;  it  is  noteworthy  that 
the  var.  doubledayaria  is  much  more  common  than  the  type,  which  it  seems  to  be  gradually 
replacing. 

BOARMIIDAE 

Hemerophila  abruptaria  is  widely  diffused,  and  in  some  places  common.  Boarmia  repandata  and 
B.  gcmmaria  are  well  distributed  and  common,  and  B.  roboraria  has  been  taken  in  the  Forest  near 
Edwinstowe,  and  at  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield.  Tephrosia  punctularia  and  T.  biundularia 
(including  crepuscularia)  are  both  rather  common,  the  latter  occurring  in  great  variety,  some  specimens 
being  almost  black. 

GEOMETRIDAE 

Pseudoterpna  prutnc.ta  has  been  taken  in  several  places,  and  Geometra  papilionaria  is  widely 
distributed  though  not  common.  Phorodesma  pustu/ata  is  rather  scarce,  but  has  been  taken  in  several 
localities  in  both  north  and  south  Nottinghamshire.  lodis  lactearia  and  Hemithea  strigata  are  pretty 
common  in  certain  localities. 

EPHYRIDAE 

Zonasoma  punctaria  is  frequent ;  Z.  porata  is  recorded  for  the  Birklands  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  ; 
Z.  linearia  is  frequent  in  Sherwood  Forest,  where  also,  according  to  Brameld,  Z.  annulata  is 
common  ;  Z.  orbicularia  is  recorded  for  the  same  district  by  Sterland  and  Hardy ;  and  Z.  pendularla 
occurs  in  the  Forest  and  elsewhere. 

ACIDALIIDAE 

Astbena  luteata  and  A.  candidata  are  rather  common,  and  Vcnmia  cambrica  has  been  taken  at 
Worksop  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy.  Acidalla  dimidiata,  A.  bhetata,  A.  virgu/aria,  A.  remutaria, 
A.  imitaria  and  A.  aversata  occur  in  varying  degrees  of  frequency  or  commonness  ;  A.  trigeminata 
and  A.  subsericeata  occur  at  Mansfield  (Daws),  A.  dilutaria  at  Southwell  and  Wellow  (Becher), 
and  A.  emarginata  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Brameld).  Timandra  amataria  is  not  uncommon. 

CABERIDAE 

Cabera  pusaria  and  C.  exanthemata  are  common,  and  C.  rotundaria  occurs  in  the  Birklands 
(J.  R.  Hardy).  Bapta  temerata  is  of  frequent  occurrence. 

MACARIIDAE 

Macaria  notata  has  been  taken  near  Worksop  by  Hardy,  and  M.  liturata  is  frequent.  Halia 
vauaria  is  everywhere  common. 

FIDONIIDAE 

Strenia  clatbrata  has  occurred  at  Sherwood  Forest  (Sterland)  and  Langford  Moor  (A.  R. 
Leivers).  Panagra  petraria  occurs  in  many  places  among  bracken,  especially  in  Sherwood  Forest, 
and  is  generally  abundant  where  found.  Numeria  pulveraria  has  been  taken  recently  at  Mansfield 
and  Wellow,  and  plentifully  at  Thorney.  Ematurga  atomaria  is  common  in  heathy  places,  as  at 
Sherwood  Forest,  Fountain  Dale,  Langford  Moor,  etc.  Bupalus  piniaria  is  abundant  in  Scotch  fir 
plantations,  in  various  parts  of  Sherwood  Forest,  at  Mansfield,  Newstead,  Wigsley,  and  Langford 
Moor.  All  three  species  of  Aspilates  (A.  strigillaria,  A.  ochrearia,  and  A.  gi/varia)  occur  about 
Mansfield  but  are  rare  (Daws). 

ZERENIDAE 

Abraxas  grossu/ariata  is  common  in  gardens  everywhere,  and  A.  sy/vata,  although  of  rather 
uncertain  appearance,  is  widely  distributed  and  in  some  years  extremely  abundant.  Ltgdia  adustata 
is  not  very  common,  but  Lomaspilis  marginata  is  fairly  plentiful. 

HYBERNIIDAE 

All  the  Hyberniidae  (Hybernia  rupicapraria,  H.  leucophearia,  H.  aurantiaria,  H.  marginaria, 
H.  defoliaria  and  Anisopteryx  aescularia)  are  very  common,  excepting  aurantiaria,  which  is  however 
by  no  means  scarce  ;  and  many  beautiful  varieties  of  leucophearia,  marginaria,  and  defoliaria  have  been 
taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  elsewhere. 

117 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

LARENTIIDAE 

Cheimatobia  brumata  is  abundant,  and  C.  boreata  common  in  several  places.  Oporabia  dilutata 
is  pretty  common,  but  0.  fillgrammaria  and  0.  autumnaria  are  scarce,  and  occur  chiefly  about 
Mansfield.  Larentia  didymata  is  abundant,  L.  multistrigaria  and  L.  virldaria  fairly  common. 
Emmelesia  affinitata,  E.  alchemlllata^  E.  albulata,  and  E.  decolorata  are  all  of  frequent  occurrence. 
Twenty-six  species  of  '  Pugs '  are  on  record  for  the  county,  viz.,  Eupithecia  venosata,  rare  but 
widely  distributed  ;  E.  /inariata,  scarce  in  the  Mansfield  district ;  E.  pulchellata  and  E.  oblongata 
frequent  in  several  places  ;  E.  succenturiata,  Southwell  and  Sherwood  Forest ;  E.  subfulvata  at 
Nottingham,  Mansfield,  and  Worksop ;  E.  scabiosata  and  E.  pygmaeata  taken  on  several  occasions 
in  different  years  at  Mansfield  (Daws)  ;  E.  castigata  fairly  common  at  Mansfield  and  in  Sherwood 
Forest ;  E.fraxinata  and  E.  innotata  rather  scarce  at  Mansfield  (Daws)  ;  E.  indigata  common  in 
Sherwood  Forest  (Miss  Alderson)  and  also  found  at  Mansfield  ;  E.  nanata  frequent  at  Edwinstowe 
(Hardy)  and  Mansfield  (Daws) ;  E.  subnotata  at  Chilwell  (D.  H.  Pearson)  and  in  Sherwood  Forest ; 
E.  vulgata  very  common  everywhere  ;  E.  albipunctata,  rare  at  Worksop  and  Mansfield  ;  E.  absin- 
tbiata  in  Sherwood  Forest,  where  the  larva  feeds  on  ragwort  flowers  in  company  with  E.  oblongata} 
E.  minutata,  a  few  some  seasons  at  Mansfield  (Daws) ;  E.  assimilata  at  Worksop  and  Clumber 
(Miss  Alderson)  ;  E.  lariclata,  fairly  common  in  Clumber  Park  (Miss  Alderson) ;  E.  abbreviata 
common  at  Worksop  and  Mansfield  ;  E.  dodoneata,  a  single  female  found  on  an  oak  tree  in 
Sherwood  Forest  in  1896  by  J.  R.  Hardy;  E.  exiguata  frequent  at  Clumber  (Miss  Alderson)  and 
Mansfield  (Daws)  ;  E.  pumi/ata,  Mansfield  (Daws)  ;  E.  coronata,  Clumber  and  Mansfield ;  and 
E.  rectangu/ata,  widely  distributed  and  fairly  common. 

Thera  simulata  is  recorded  as  taken  at  Berry  Hill,  near  Mansfield,  on  26  May,  1896,  by  Mr.  W. 
Daws  ;  T.  variata  is  common  in  fir  plantations  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  elsewhere  ;  and  T.firmata 
has  been  taken  in  the  Forest  and  near  Mansfield.  Hypsipetes  trifasdata  has  occurred  at  Newstead 
and  Wollaton,  and  H.  sordidata  is  generally  distributed  and  common.  Melanthta  albicil/ata,  M. 
ocellata,  and  M.  bicolorata  are  all  of  general  occurrence.  Melamppe  kastata  is  recorded  for  Sherwood 
Forest  by  Sterland  only,  and  needs  confirmation  ;  M.  tristata  is  rather  scarce  about  Mansfield 
(Daws)  ;  M.  rivata  has  been  taken  in  some  numbers  in  woods  near  Mansfield  and  Nottingham  ; 
M.  iociata  and  M.  montanata  are  widely  distributed  and  common;  M.galiata  has  occurred  at  New- 
stead,  and  M,  fluctuata  is  perhaps  our  commonest  geometer,  being  especially  abundant  in  gardens  in 
Nottingham.  Antldea  badiata  and  A.  nigrofasciaria  are  frequent,  especially  the  former  ;  but  A,  rubi- 
data  is  represented  only  by  three  specimens  taken  at  Edwinstowe  on  4  June,  1896,  by  Mr.  Hardy. 
Coremia  designata  occurs  sparingly  in  Wellow  Park  and  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  I  have  taken  it  in 
Epperstone  and  Beauvale  Woods.  C.  fcrrugata  and  C.  unidentaria  are  rather  common,  but 
C.  quadrifasciaria  has  only  been  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  by  Mr.  R.  E.  Brameld.  Camptogramma 
bilineata  is  common  everywhere.  Phibalaptcryx  vittata  is  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  by  both 
Sterland  and  Brameld,  and  Mr.  Daws  has  taken  P.  vitalbata  in  gardens  at  Mansfield.  Triphosa 
dubitata  occurs  throughout  the  county,  sometimes  commonly.  Eucosmia  certata  has  been  taken 
several  times  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  in  his  garden  at  South  Leverton  ;  and  E.  undulata  has 
occurred  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  at  Mansfield,  but  only  very  rarely.  Scotosia  vetulata  has  only  once 
been  taken,  by  the  Rev.  W.  Becher,  at  Southwell  ;  but  S.  rbamnata  has  been  taken  sparingly  in 
several  localities. 

Cidaria  siderata  is  '  occasional  in  Sherwood  Forest '  (Sterland),  while  C.  miata,  C.  corylata, 
C.  truncata,  C.  immanata,  C.  suffiimata,  C.  silaceata,  C.  prunata,  C.  testata,  C.  populata,  C.  fu/vata, 
C.  dotata,  C.  associata,  and  Pelurga  comitata  all  occur  in  various  localities,  most  of  them  commonly. 

EUBOLIIDAE 

Eubolia  cervinata,  E.  /imitata,  and  E.  plumbaria  are  all  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  E.  bipunc- 
tarla  has  been  taken  in  several  localities.  Anaitis  plagiata  is  found  in  several  places,  but  is  not 
common.  Chesias  spartiata  is  rather  rare,  and  C.  rufata  has  occurred  only  in  Sherwood  Forest 
(Brameld). 

SIONIDAE 

Tanagra  atrata  is  widely  distributed,  and  in  some  localities  common. 

PYRALIDES 
PYRALIDIDAE 

Aglossa  pinguinalis  and  Pyra Us  farina /is  are  common  in  stables  and  outbuildings  throughout  the 
county.  P.  coitalis  occurs  at  Worksop,  and  P.  glaucinalis  is  rather  scarce  in  Sherwood  Forest  and 
the  Mansfield  and  Retford  districts  ;  it  is  generally  taken  at  sugar.  Scoparia  ambigualis  is  everywhere 

118 


INSECTS 

common,  and  S.  cembrae,  S.  murana,  S.  dubitalis,  S.  mercure//ay  S.  crataegella,  S.  resinea,  S.  trundco/e//a, 
and  S.  angustea  all  occur  with  more  or  less  frequency  ;  S.  lineola  has,  however,  only  been  taken  in 
Sherwood  Forest  by  Mr.  R.  E.  Brameld.  Nomophila  noctuella  occurs  in  the  Worksop  district. 
Pyraustra  purpuralis,  P.  ostrina/is,  and  Herbula  cespitalis  are  frequent. 

BOTYDAE 

Eurrhypara  urticata  is  common  everywhere  among  nettles.  Scapula  lutealis  and  S.  olivalis  are  wide- 
spread and  common,  and  S.  prunalis  of  frequent  occurrence.  Botys  ruralis  is  another  common  species  ; 
but  of  B.  asinalis  only  a  single  specimen  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  Daws  at  Mansfield.  Ebulea  crocealis 
occurs  in  the  Worksop  district,  and  E.  sambucalis  is  common.  Spilodes  sticticalis  is  represented  by  a 
single  specimen  captured  at  Mansfield  by  Mr.  Daws.  Pionea  forficalis  is  common  nearly  everywhere. 

HYDROCAMPIDAE 

Cataclysta  lemnata  occurs  in  plenty  in  suitable  localities.  Paraponyx  stratiotata  is  found  about 
Worksop.  Hydrocampa  nymphaeata  and  H.  stagnata  occur  in  the  Mansfield  and  Worksop  districts. 

ACENTROPODIDAE 
Acentropus  niveus  has  been  taken  near  Worksop  and  Mansfield. 

PTEROPHORI 

The  Plume  moths  are  only  moderately  well  represented  in  Nottinghamshire.  Platypttlia 
gonodactyla,  Mimaeseoptllus  bipunctidactylus,  and  M.  pterodactylus  occur  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  the 
Mansfield  district  ;  M.  zophodactylm  and  Oedematophorm  lithodactylus  at  Worksop  ;  Pterophorus  mono- 
dactylus,  Leioptilus  osteodactylus,  and  Aciptilia  tetradactyla  in  Sherwood  Forest  ;  A.  galactodactyla  in 
Wellow  Park,  where  the  Rev.  W.  Becher  finds  the  larvae  on  burdock  ;  A.  pentadactyla  is  every- 
where common  ;  and  Alucita  hexadactyla  is  plentiful  in  some  localities. 

CRAMBI 
CHILIDAE 
Schoenoblus  forficellm  occurs  in  the  Worksop  district. 

CRAMBIDAE 

Cra mbus  pratellus,  C.  triste//us,  C.  culmellus,  and  C.  hortuellus  are  widely  distributed  and  common  ; 
C.  pine/lus,  C.  per/e//us,  and  C.  inquinatellm  occur  at  Mansfield,  Worksop,  and  in  Sherwood  Forest  ; 
C.  fahellus  has  been  taken  at  South  Leverton  by  Rev.  A.  Thornley  ;  C.  pascuellus  in  Sherwood 
Forest  by  Mr.  R.  E.  Brameld ;  C.  selasellus  at  Worksop  by  Mr.  Houghton  ;  and  C.  sylvellus, 
C.  uliginosellus,  C.  warringtonellus,  C.  contamincllus,  C.  gtniculeta,  C.  chrysonuchellus,  and  C.  craterellus 
are  all  reported  from  the  Mansfield  district  by  Mr.  W.  Daws. 

PHYCIDAE 

Myelophila  cribrum  is  reported  by  Mr.  Daws  as  bred  from  pupae  found  in  thistles  in  the  Mans- 
field district.  Homoeosoma  nimbella  and  H.  nebulella  were  both  taken  at  Worksop  in  1901  by 
Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton.  Ephestia  elutella  occurs  at  Worksop,  where  it  has  been  taken  by  Miss  Alderson 
and  Mr.  Houghton  ;  E.  ficella  and  E.  kubniella  are  reported  by  Daws  from  Mansfield,  the  former 
bred  from  dried  fruits,  the  latter  probably  introduced  in  flour.  Euzophera  pinguis  is  recorded  by 
Brameld  for  Sherwood  Forest.  Cryptoblabes  bhtriga  has  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss 
Alderson.  Phycis  fusca  occurs  at  Worksop  (Houghton),  and  P.  betulae  was  taken  for  the  first  time  in 
1902  at  Edwinstowe  by  Miss  Alderson. 

Nephopteryx  spissicel/a,  Rhodophaea  cansocieHa,  R.  advenellay  and  R.  tumidella  all  occur,  but  rarely, 
in  Sherwood  Forest. 

GALLERIDAE 

Aphomia  sociella  is  not  uncommon  in  the  vicarage  garden  at  S.  Leverton  (Thornley),  and 
Achroea  grisella  is  found  at  Worksop  (Houghton). 

TORTRICES 
TORTRICIDAE 

Tortrix  podana,  T.  rosana,  T.  beparana,  T.  unifasciana,  T.  minlstrana,  and  T.  forsterana  are  all 
more  or  less  common.  7".  viridana  is  an  abundant  and  destructive  pest  in  oak  woods,  sometimes 

119 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

almost  stripping  the  trees  of  their  foliage.  T.  crataegana,  T.  xy/osteana,  T.  sorbiana,  T.  cinnamomeana, 
T,  ribeana,  T.  corylana,  T.  costana,  and  T.  pa/leana,  all  occur  in  the  northern  half  of  the  county 
from  Mansfield  to  Worksop  ;  and  T.  dumetana  and  T.  viburnana  are  reported  from  Mansfield 
(Daws).  Dichelia  grotiana  was  taken  in  1903  at  Clumber  by  Miss  Alderson.  Peronea  schalleriana, 
P.  comparana,  and  P.  logiana  occur  in  Sherwood  Forest  and  the  Worksop  district  ;  P.  variegana  is 
rather  common  in  the  Forest,  and  at  Mansfield  and  South  Leverton  ;  P.  ferrugana  common  in 
Sherwood  Forest ;  P.  sponsana  recorded  as  rare  in  the  same  locality  by  Brameld  ;  P.  cristana  and 
P.  hastiana  are  said  by  Daws  to  be  frequent  in  the  Mansfield  district.  Rhacodia  caudana  is  stated  by 
Brameld  to  be  frequent  in  Sherwood  Forest.  Teras  contaminana  has  been  taken  in  various  places ; 
the  larvae  occurred  in  great  numbers  on  apple  trees  at  Southwell  in  1884,  and  were  largely  picked 
off  and  eaten  by  sparrows  (Captain  Becher,  in  Zoologist,  Sept.  1884,  p.  342).  Dictyopteryx  loeflingiana, 
D.  bolmiana,  D.  bergmanniana,  D.  forskaleana,  Argyrotoxa  comuayana,  and  Ptycholoma  lecheana  are  all 
more  or  less  common  in  the  county. 

PENTHINIDAE 

Penthina  cortlcana  has  been  taken  at  Worksop  and  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson  ;  P.  betu- 
laetana  and  P.  sororculana  occur  in  the  Worksop  district  ;  P.  pruniana  and  P.  variegana  are  common  ; 
and  P.  ochroleucana  has  occurred  at  South  Leverton  and  in  Sherwood  Forest. 

SPILONOTIDAE 

Hedya  ocellana  is  very  common  ;  H.  aceriana  has  only  been  taken  in  my  garden  in  Nottingham  ; 
H.  dealbana  occurs  at  Worksop  and  in  Clumber  Park.  Spilonota  trimaculana  used  to  be  taken  in 
Sherwood  Forest,  but  has  not  occurred  lately  ;  5.  roborana  is  not  uncommon.  Pardia  tripunctana 
is  common. 

SERICORIDAE 

Aspis  udmannlana  and  Sericoris  lacunana  are  both  common  ;  5.  urticaria  is  frequent  at  Mansfield 
(Daws)  and  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Brameld),  and  S.  bifasciana  was  taken  in  1902  in  Clumber  Park 
by  Miss  Alderson.  Euchromia  purpurana  and  Orthotaenia  striana  both  occur  in  the  Worksop  district 
(Houghton),  and  0.  ericetana  was  taken  for  the  first  time  in  1904  at  Shireoaks  by  Miss  Alderson. 

SCIAPHILIDAE 

Phtheochroa  rugosana  is  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  by  Brameld.  Cnephasia  musculana  is  widely 
distributed  and  rather  common.  Sciaphila  conspersana  occurs  in  the  Worksop  district  (Houghton)  ; 
5.  subjectana  is  common,  and  S.  virgaureana,  S.  hybridana,  and  S.  octomaculana  also  occur,  but  less 
frequently.  Sphaleroptera  ictericana  is  widely  distributed,  but  apparently  uncommon.  Capua  favill- 
aceana  is  common  in  Clumber  Park  (Miss  Alderson). 

GRAPHOLITHIDAE 

Bactra  lameolana,  Phoxopteryx  lundana,  and  P.  mitterpacheriana  are  not  uncommon,  and  P.  lactana 
has  been  taken  by  Miss  Alderson  in  Clumber  Park.  Grapholitha  ramella  occurred  at  Worksop  in 
1901  (Houghton),  G.  nigromaculana  in  1904,  near  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson),  and  G.  trimaculana  is 
reported  for  the  same  district  by  Miss  Alderson,  and  I  have  taken  it  recently  at  Chilwell. 
G.  subocellana,  G.  penkleriana,  and  G.  naevana  occur  in  various  localities.  Hypermecia  cruciana 
is  locally  common  about  Worksop  (Houghton).  Batodes  angustiorana  occurs  throughout  the  county. 
Paedisca  bi/unana,  P.  profundana,  and  P.  solandriana  have  hitherto  been  taken  only  in  Sherwood 
Forest,  where  also  P.  cortlcana  is  excessively  common  and  variable,  as  well  as  at  South  Leverton  ; 
P.  occultana  was  taken  at  Shireoaks  in  1901  (Houghton).  Seven  species  of  Ephippiphora  occur  in 
the  north  of  the  county,  viz.,  E.  simi/ana,  E.  cirsiana,  E.  pflugiana,  E.  brunnichiana,  E.  nigricostaaa, 
E.  trigeminana  and  E.  papu/ana,  the  two  latter  taken  at  Worksop  by  Miss  Alderson  in  1 904  and 
1 905  respectively.  Olindia  ulmana  and  Semasia  ianthinana  were  taken  by  Mr.  Houghton  at 
Worksop  in  1901  ;  5.  spiniana  is  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest,  and  5.  woeberiana  is  common  in  the 
Nottingham  district.  Coccyx  splendidulana  occurs  in  the  Worksop  and  Retford  districts  ;  C.  argyrana 
is  well  distributed  ;  C.  taedella  is  reported  from  Sherwood  Forest  ;  and  C.  nanana  is  found  in  the 
Nottingham  and  Worksop  districts.  Retinia  pinivorana  is  reported  by  Brameld  from  Sherwood 
Forest,  and  on  21  May,  1905,  Miss  Alderson  bred  a  specimen  from  a  larva  found  in  Clumber  Park. 
Carpocapsa  pomonella  is  frequent.  Endopisa  nigricana  is  only  recorded  in  the  imago  stage  for  South 
Leverton.  Stigmonota  coniferana,  S.  perlepidana,  S.  nitidana,  and  S.  regiana,  Dicrorampha  petiverella, 
D.  plumbana,  D.  plumbagana,  and  D.  acuminatana,  Pyrodes  rheediella,  Catoptria  hypericana,  C.  scopo/ianat 
and  C.  expallidana  all  occur  in  the  county,  but  are  mostly  scarce  or  local.  Catoptria  cana  is  rather 
common,  and  C.  ulicetana  abundant. 

120 


INSECTS 

PYRALOIDIDAE 
Choreutts  myllerana  and  Symaetbis  pariana  are  rare,  but   S.  oxyacanthella  is  abundant  everywhere. 

CONCHYLIDAE 

Eupoecilia  nana,  E.  dubitana,  and  E.  atricapitana  all  occur  at  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson),  and 
E.  angustana  is  reported  from  Mansfield  (Daws).  Xanthmetia  zoegana  has  been  taken  at  Mansfield 
and  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  X.  hamana  is  widely  distributed  and  common  in  places.  Lobesia 
re/iguana,  Argyrolepta  hartmanniana,  A,  Indiana^  A.  cnicana,  Conchy/is  francittana,  and  C.  straminea 
have  all  been  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest  by  Brameld,  and  all  but  the  second  of  these  by  Miss  Alderson 
in  Clumber  Park  and  at  Shireoaks. 

APHELIIDAE 
Tortrlcodei  hyemana  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Worksop  and  Mansfield  districts. 

TINE.E 
EPIGRAPHIIDAE 

Lemnatophila  phryganella  is  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  by  Brameld.  Dasystoma  salicella 
occurs  commonly  in  several  localities.  Exapate  congelatella  has  been  taken  atS.  Leverton  (Thornley). 
Diurnea  fagella  is  very  common  everywhere,  and  excessively  variable  in  colour,  every  gradation 
occurring  from  pale  buff  to  nearly  black.  Semioicopus  avellanella  is  common  in  Sherwood  Forest. 
Eplgrapbia  steinkellneriana  is  rare  at  Mansfield  (Daws). 

PSYCHIDAE 

Talaeporia  pseudo-bombycella,  Fumea  intermediella,  and  Solenobia  inconspicuella  have  been  taken  in 
Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson,  and  5.  triquetrella  is  reported  from  the  Mansfield  district  (Daws). 

TINEIDAE 

Xyunatodoma  melanella  was  taken  in  Clumber  Park  in  the  summer  of  1 902  by  Miss  Alderson, 
and  Ochsenbeimeria  blrdella  in  the  Worksop  district  by  Mr.  Houghton.  Of  the  genus  Scardia  we 
have  5.  boleti  (Mansfield,  Daws),  5.  corticella,  5.  granella,  S.  cloacella,  S.  rurico/e//a,  and  S.  arcella,  all  of 
which  have  been  taken  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  most  of  them  in  other  localities  as  well. 
Blabophanesfenestratella  is  reported  by  Daws  to  be  frequent  in  the  Mansfield  district,  and  B.  rusticella 
is  widely  distributed.  The  genus  Tinea  is  rather  poorly  represented  with  us.  T.  fulvimitrella  was 
taken  many  years  ago  by  Brameld  in  Clumber  Park,  and  several  specimens  have  been  taken  recently 
in  the  same  place  by  Miss  Alderson  ;  T.  tapetzclla  is  very  common,  and  sometimes  destructive  in 
houses  ;  T.  pellionella  has  occurred  at  South  Leverton  in  the  vicarage  (Thornley)  ;  T.  fusdpunctella 
is  reported  from  Sherwood  Forest  and  Chilwell  ;  T.  pallacentella  and  T.  lapella  from  Worksop  and 
Sherwood  Forest,  the  latter  occurring  also  not  uncommonly  at  S.  Leverton  ;  and  T.  semifuhiella  is 
not  rare  in  Clumber  Park  (Miss  Alderson).  Tinea/a  bhelllella  is  frequent  in  the  Mansfield  and 
Worksop  districts.  Lampronia  luzella  occurs  at  Treswell  and  Osberton  (Miss  Alderson),  and  L. 
rubiella  at  Mansfield  and  S.  Leverton.  Incurvaria  muicalella  is  widely  distributed  and  common  ; 
/.  pectinea  has  been  taken  commonly  by  Miss  Alderson  in  Sherwood  Forest  ;  and  /.  capitella  has 
been  bred  freely  from  currant  shoots  at  Kingston-on-Soar,  by  Mr.  F.  Wakerley.  Micropteryx 
calthella  swarms  in  some  localities  on  buttercup  and  marsh-marigold  flowers ;  M.  thunbergella 
was  found  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  flying  in  numbers  about  the  grassy  drives  of  Treswell 
Wood  on  1 6  May,  1901  ;  M.  sefella,  M.  semipurpure/!a,  M.  unimaculella  and  M.  subpurpurella 
have  all  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson,  and  the  last-named  species  also  occurs  in 
Treswell  Wood  (Thornley)  ;  M.  sangii  was  taken  in  the  spring  of  1903  in  the  Woiksop  district, 
also  by  Miss  Alderson.  Nemophora  swammerdammella  is  common,  and  N.  scbwarziella  frequent  in 
one  or  two  localities. 

ADELIDAE 

Adela  fibulella  has  occurred  recently  (1903)  at  Treswell  Wood  (Miss  Alderson) ;  A.  rufimitrella 
seems  to  be  widely  distributed  but  not  common  ;  A.  degeerella  is  reported  from  Sherwood  Forest, 
and  is  common  at  Thieves  Wood,  near  Mansfield  (Daws),  and  I  have  lately  taken  it  at  Strelley  ; 
A.  viridella  occurs  plentifully  in  most  parts  of  the  county. 

HYPONOMEUTIDAE 

Svjammerdammia  pyrella  is  of  general  occurrence,  but  S.  combinella  and  S.  caesiella  are  apparently 
local  and  rare.  Hyponomeuta  padellus  is  wide-spread  and  common  ;  H.  evonymellus  occurs  in  the 

I  121  l6 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Worlcsop  and  Mansfield  districts ;  and  H.  plumbellus  is  reported  from  Worksop  and  Sherwood  Forest. 
I  netted  a  single  specimen  of  Anesychia  funerella  in  Epperstone  Park  on  19  May,  1901 — a  fact 
worthy  of  note  owing  to  the  entire  absence  of  the  usual  food-plant,  Symphytum  officinale,  from  the 
district. 

Prays  curtisellus  is  found  in  the  Worksop  and  Retford  districts. 

PLUTELLIDAE 

Plutella  cruciferarum  is  sometimes  only  too  common,  and  P.  porrectella  occurs  at  Mansfield, 
Worksop,  and  South  Leverton.  Cerostoma  sequella  is  reported  as  rare  in  Sherwood  Forest ;  C. 
vittella  occurs  at  Worksop ;  and  both  C.  radiate/la  and  C.  costella  have  been  taken  commonly  in 
Sherwood  Forest  and  Thieves  Wood  near  Mansfield. 

We  possess  all  the  three  species  of  Harpipteryx,  H.  scabrella  and  H.  nemorella  having  been 
taken  in  the  Worksop  district  by  Mr.  Houghton,  while  H.  xylaste/la  occurs  commonly  in  several 
localities  on  honeysuckle. 

GELECHIIDAE 

Orthotelia  sparganella  is  recorded  by  Brameld  for  Sherwood  Forest.  Phtbaloctra  quercana  is 
common  in  the  Forest,  and  at  S.  Leverton.  We  have  sixteen  species  of  Defressaria,  two  of  which, 
D.  costosa  and  D.  propinquella,  are  recorded  only  by  Brameld  for  Sherwood  Forest  ;  four,  viz., 
D.umbellana,  D.  subpropinquella,  D.  ct/ie/la,  and  D.  depressella,  are  reported  from  Mansfield  by  Daws; 
D,  aisimilella  and  D.  liturella  have  been  taken  at  Clumber  and  Worksop  by  Miss  Alderson,  both 
in  1903  ;  D.  angelkella  at  Worksop  (Houghton)  and  Treswell  (Thornley)  ;  and  the  remainder, 
viz.,  D,  flavella,  D.  armella,  D.  ahtroemeriana,  D.  yeatiana,  D.  applana,  D.  weirella,  and  D.  heracleana 
occur  in  various  localities.  Gelechia  nigra  is  said  by  Daws  to  be  frequent  in  the  Mansfield  district, 
G.  er'uetella  occurs  at  Clumber  and  elsewhere  in  Sherwood  Forest,  G.  diffinis  is  found  at  Bulwell 
Forest  and  Worksop,  G.  rhombella  has  so  far  only  occurred  in  my  garden  at  Nottingham,  G.  distinctella 
near  Worksop  in  1904  (Miss  Alderson),  and  G.  scalella  has  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  and  Treswell 
Wood.  Brachmia  mouffetella  is  rare  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Brameld).  Bryotropha  terrella  is  widely 
distributed,  B.  desertella  used  to  be  common  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Brameld),  and  B.  domestica  occurs 
at  Mansfield  (Daws).  Teleia  luculella  is  not  uncommon  at  S.  Leverton  and  in  Treswell  Wood 
(Thornley),  and  has  been  taken,  together  with  T.  proximella,  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson. 
T.  bumeralis  is  said  by  Brameld  to  be  rare  in  Sherwood  Forest,  and  the  same  statement  applies  to 
Recurvaria  leucate//a,  Poecilia  nivea,  and  Nannodia  stipel/a,  var.  naeviferella.  Recurvaria  nanella  occurs 
at  Osberton.  Lamprotes  atrella  and  Anacampsis  ligulella  have  been  taken  at  Worksop  by  Mr.  Houghton, 
and  A.  immaculatdla  is  said  by  Daws  to  be  common  in  the  Mansfield  district.  Tachyptilia  populella 
occurs  about  Worksop  and  in  Treswell  Wood.  Ceratophora  rufescens  is  another  of  Brameld's  Sherwood 
Forest  captures.  Parana  metzneriella,  Che/aria  htibnerella  and  Atlanta  spartiella  have  all  occurred  in 
the  Worksop  district  (Houghton).  Sophrtmia  parenthesella  is  rare  in  Sherwood  Forest  (Brameld). 
Harpella  geoffrella  occurs  among  honeysuckle  at  Mansfield  (Daws),  and  a  single  specimen  of  H.  brac- 
teella  was  taken  at  Worksop  in  1901  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton.  Dasycera  sulphurella  is  widely 
distributed  and  common.  Oecophora  fulvlguttella  and  Oe.  lambdella  occur  in  the  north  of  the  county, 
and  Oe.  pseudospretella  and  Endrosis  fenestrella  are  only  too  common. 

GLYPHIPTERYGIDAE 

Glyphipteryx  fuscoviridella  and  G.  facheriella  are  not  uncommon,  and  G.  forsterella  occurs  in  the 
Mansfield  district  (Daws).  Heliozele  sericiella  was  taken  by  Miss  Alderson  in  Clumber  Park  on 
19  May,  1902. 

ARGYRESTHIIDAE 

The  genus  Argyresthia  is  well  represented  in  Nottinghamshire,  the  following  species  having  been 
taken  quite  recently  in  the  localities  specified  :  A.ephippellaznA  A. pygmaeella  (Worksop,  Houghton)  ; 
A.  nitidella,  A.  spinie//a,  and  A.  albistria  (S.  Leverton,  Thornley) ;  A.  conjugella^  A.  semifusca,  and 
A,  brocbella  (Worksop  district,  Miss  Alderson)  ;  A.  glaucinella  (Treswell  Wood,  Thornley)  ; 
A.  curvella  (Worksop  and  Nottingham)  ;  and  A.  goedartella  (common  and  widely  distributed)  ;  the 
variety  llterella  of  the  last  species  occurs  in  my  garden  in  Nottingham.  In  addition  to  the  above 
Brameld  records  A.  semitestacella  and  A.  mendica  for  Sherwood  Forest,  and  Mr.  W.  Daws  reports 
A.  dilectella,  A.  arceuthina,  A,  praecocella  and  A.  aurulentella  from  the  Mansfield  district.  Cedestis 
farinatella  occurs  at  Clumber  and  Mansfield,  and  Ocnerostoma  piniariella  at  Mansfield  (Daws). 

GRACILARIIDAE 

Gracilaria  alchimiella  and  G.  syringe/la  are  common,  G.  elongella  and  G.  tr'mgipennella  occur 
near  Worksop,  and  G.  auroguttella  in  the  Retford  district.  Ornix  avellanella,  0.  angltcella^  0.  betu/ae, 

122 


INSECTS 

and  0.  torqulllella  are  all  recorded  for  Sherwood  Forest  by  Brameld,  and   the  two  first-named   have 
been  taken  commonly  elsewhere  in  the  county. 

COLEOPHORIDAE 

The  large  genus  Coleopbora  is  not  very  well  represented  with  us,  only  the  following  species 
having  been  so  far  identified,  but  doubtless  many  other  species  will  ultimately  be  discovered  in  the 
county  : — C.  fabrlciella,  C.  alcyonipennella,  C.  albtcosta,  C.  palliatella,  C.  dhcorddla,  C.  saturatella, 
C.  caespititiella,  C.  virgaureae,  C.  laricella,  C.  albitarsella,  C.  nigricella,  C.  fuscedinella,  C.  gryphipen- 
nellay  C.  o/ivacee/Ia,  C.  lutipennella,  C.  adjunctella,  and  C.  limosipennella. 

ELACHISTIDAE 

Batrachedra  pinicolella  was  taken  in  the  Worksop  district  on  19  July,  1902,  by  Miss  Alderson, 
and  Chauliodus  chaerophyllellus  at  Fenton,  near  Sturton,  in  1901  by  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley.  Laverna 
raschkiella  occurs  at  Osberton,  and  L.  epilobiella  is  common  at  Welbeck  (Miss  Alderson);  L.  ochraceella 
has  been  taken  at  Chilwell  (D.  H.  Pearson),  L.  hellerella  at  Nottingham  and  near  Worksop,  and 
L.  atra  at  Nottingham.  Chrysoclysta  schrankella  is  reported  from  Mansfield  (Daws),  and  C.  aurl- 
frtmtella  is  sometimes  very  common  about  North  and  South  Leverton  (Thornley),  and  also  occurs 
at  Worksop.  The  genus  Elachista  is  represented  by  E.  apidpunctella  (Nottingham  and  Clumber), 
E.  nigrella  (S.  Leverton,  Thornley),  E.  triatomea  (Worksop,  Houghton),  E.  rufocinerea  (very  common 
everywhere),  E.  subalbidella  (N.  Leverton,  Thornley),  and  E.  argentella  (common)  ;  E.  albifrontella 
and  E.  ceruaella  are,  in  addition,  recorded  by  Brameld  for  Sherwood  Forest,  but  have  not  yet 
been  noted  by  more  recent  observers.  Tischeria  complanella  has  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by 
Miss  Alderson. 

LITHOCOLLETIDAE 

Lithocolletis  is  another  genus  rather  poorly  represented  in  Nottinghamshire.  L.  roboris 
L.  cavella,  L.  ulmifoliella,  and  L.  heegeriella  have  all  been  taken  recently  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss 
Alderson ;  L.  pomifoliella  occurs  in  the  Nottingham  district,  and  L.  salidcolella  at  Clarborough 
(Thornley) ;  L.  quercifoliella  and  L.  cramerella  are  common,  as  also  is  L.  messaniella  on  Quercus  ilex  at 
Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) ;  L.  tcnella  and  L.  mcellli  have  been  taken  in  Treswell  Wood  (Thornley), 
and  Brameld  gives  L.  faginella  and  L,.  alnlfoliella  in  his  Sherwood  Forest  list. 

LYONETIIDAE 

Lyonetia  clerckella,  said  by  Brameld  to  be  rare  in  Sherwood  Forest,  is  common  at  Worksop, 
according  to  Miss  Alderson.  Cemiostoma  laburnella  is  abundant  on  laburnum  trees  in  Nottingham 
gardens,  and  also  occurs  at  Mansfield  and  S.  Leverton.  Only  a  single  species  of  Bucculatrix,  viz., 
B.  nigricomella,  which  occurs  in  the  Worksop  and  Retford  districts,  has  so  far  been  detected  in 
Nottinghamshire. 

NEPTICULIDAE 

The  Nepticulidae  have  been  almost  entirely  neglected  :  indeed,  only  four  species  of  Nepticula 
are  on  record.  N.  anomalella  and  N.  mb-blmaculella  occur  in  the  vicarage  garden  at  South 
Leverton,  and  the  latter  species  occurs  also  not  uncommonly  on  oak  trunks  in  Treswell  Wood 
(Thornley)  and  in  Clumber  Park  (Miss  Alderson).  N.  argcntipedella  is  taken  in  the  Worksop 
district  by  Miss  Alderson,  and  N.  fragarulla  has  been  captured  in  the  same  district  by  Mr.  J.  T. 
Houghton.  Trifurcula  immundella  has  recently  been  taken  in  Clumber  Park  by  Miss  Alderson. 
But  for  the  difficulty  in  pinning  and  setting  these  minute  moths  we  should  doubtless  have  had  many 
more  species  to  record. 

DIPTERA 

Flies 

The  insects  belonging  to  this  order  are  easily  known  by  their  possessing  only  one  pair  of 
membranous  and  nearly  transparent  wings  ;  behind  these,  in  the  place  of  the  hind  wings,  are  a 
pair  of  stalked  knobs — the  halteres  or  '  balancers.'  The  fleas  and  a  few  parasitic  flies  are,  however, 
wingless.  The  head  is  remarkable  for  its  great  mobility,  being  connected  with  the  thorax  by  a 
neck  which  is  so  slender  and  flexible  as  to  permit  of  nearly  complete  rotation.  The  eyes  are  very 
large,  often  occupying  the  greater  part  of  the  visible  surface  of  the  head.  The  mouth  is  suctorial. 
The  larvae  are  usually  legless  grubs  or  maggots,  feeding  on  all  kinds  of  animal  and  vegetable  refuse,  or 
inside  living  plant  tissues,  where  they  sometimes  give  rise  to  galls,  or  they  are  predaceous  or  parasitic  ; 

123 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


some  are  aquatic.  The  mature  insects  are  equally  diverse  in  their  habits.  Many  live  by  sucking 
the  blood  of  vertebrate  animals,  others  prey  upon  other  insects,  and  an  enormous  number  live  on 
decaying  animal  or  vegetable  matter,  or  suck  nectar  from  flowers. 

The  Diptera  have  been  comparatively  neglected  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  most  of  our  knowledge 
of  the  group  we  owe  to  the  exertions  of  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley,  who,  together  with  the  present 
writer,  is  responsible  for  all  the  records  in  the  following  list  unless  otherwise  stated.  Much 
unidentified  material  exists  in  the  writer's  collection  which  could  not  be  worked  out  in  time  for 
use  in  this  article. 

The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  adopted  are  those  of  Verrall's  List  of  British  Diptera, 
2nd  edition. 


ORTHORRHAPHA 
NEMATOCERA 

PULICIDAB 

Pulex  irritans,  Linn.     Abundant  everywhere 
Trichopsylla  gallinae,  Schrk.      S.  Leverton,  abundant 
in  old  fowl-house 

CECIDOMYIDAE 

Cecidomyia  bursaria,  Bremi.  Linby,  bred  from  galls 
on  Nepeta  glechoma  (G.  B.  Rothera) 

-  clausilia,    Meade.       Bred   from    galls    on    willow 

leaves  (G.  B.  Rothera) 

-  crataegi,     Winn.       Wilford,    Ruddington    (G.     B. 

Rothera)  ;  S.  Leverton,  abundant 

-  galii,   Lw.     Wilford,  bred  from  galls  on  Galium 

verum  (G.  B.  Rothera) 

-  marginemtorquens,  Bremi.     Common  on  willows 

near  Leverton  Station 

-  plicatrix,  Lw.     Oxton,    galls    on    Rubus   (G.    B. 

Rothera) 

-  rosaria,  Lw.     Forms    the  well-known   and   con- 

spicuous  leaf  rosettes    on    the    ends  of  willow 
twigs  ;  common 

-  rosarum,  Hardy.     Nottingham  district,  bred  from 

galls  on  leaves  of  Rosa  canina  (G.  B.  Rothera) 

-  salicis,    Schrk.       Oxton    (G.    B.    Rothera),    forms 

tumours    on    twigs  of  Salix    caprea  and  other 
willows 
—  taxi,  Inch.     Galls  on  yew  hedge  at  S.  Leverton 

—  tiliae,  Schrk.      Nottingham,  Arnold,  bred  from  galls 

on  lime  (G.  B.  Rothera)  ;  Bcauvale  Woods 

-  tilicola,  Rud.     Manton  Woods 

-  ulmariae,    Bremi.        Linby,    bred    from    galls    on 

Spiraea  ulmaria  (G.  B.  Rothera)  ;  S.  Leverton 
and  other  parishes  around,  not  uncommon 

-  urticae,  Ferris.     Galls  on   stinging  nettle  (Urtica 

dioica),  Nottingham  (Rothera)  ;  5.  Leverton  and 
other  parishes  nr.  Retford,  common 

-  veronicae,  Vallot.     S.  Leverton;  all  the  Veronica 

Chamoedrys  in  this  parish  seem  to  be  affected 
with  this  gall.  Common  throughout  the  Ret- 
ford district 

Hormomyia  capreae,  Winn.  Bred  from  galls  on 
leaves  of  Salix  caprea,  Linby  (G.  B.  Rothera) 

MYCETOPHILIDAE 

Mycetophila  punctata,  Mg.  \ 

—  cingulum,  Mg.  j 
Glaphyroptera  fascipennis,  Mg.     S.  Leverton,  rare 

BIBIONIDAE 

Scatopse  notata,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

Dilophus  febrilis,  Linn.  Nottingham  ;  early  in  1899 
this  insect  completely  destroyed  a  large  crop  of 
spring  lettuces  in  a  market  garden  ;  S.  Leverton, 
abundant 


ORTHORRHAPHA  (continued) 

NEMATOCERA  (continued) 

BIBIONIDAE  (continued) 

Bibio  marci,  Linn.  Universally  distributed  and 
abundant 

—  varipes,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

—  johannis,  Linn.    Abundant  and  widely  distributed 

SIMULIDAE 

Simulium  reptans,  Linn.  S.  Leverton  ;  Trestvell  Wood, 
abundant 

CULICIDAE 

Anopheles  maculipennis,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 
Culex    annulatus,   Schrk.     Common  ;    in    1905    this 
species  was  excessively  common  in  Nottingham, 
and  many  persons  were  badly  bitten  by  it 

—  nemorosus,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

—  pipiens,  Linn.     Common  everywhere 

PTYCHOPTERIDAK 

Ptychoptera  contaminata,  Linn.  Worksop  (J.  T. 
Houghton)  ;  S.  Leverton 

—  paludosa,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 
— •  albimana,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

LIMNOBIDAE 

Limnobia  quadrinotata,  Mg.     Trestuell  Wood 

—  nubeculosa,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

—  analis,  Mg.     Sheru'ood  Forest  (R.  C.  Bradley) 

—  tripunctata,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 
Dicranomyia  chorea,  Mg.     S.  Leverton,  common 
Rhypholophus  lineatus,  Mg.U  Leverton 

—  nodulosus,  Mcq.  j 
Poecilostola  punctata,  Schrk.     S.  Leverton 
Trichocera  hiemalis,  Deg.     Common  and  widely  dis- 
tributed 

TIPULIDAE 

Pachyrrhina  crocata,  Linn.  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson)  ; 
Sherwood  Forest,  common  (R.  C.  Bradley  and 
C.  J.  Wainwright) 

—  histrio,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  ;  Fkdborough 

-  maculosa,    Mg.      N.    and  S.    Leverton:   Grove; 
Nottingham 

—  quadrifaria,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

Tipula  pabulina,  Mg.  (?)  '  This  small  species  occurs 
commonly  in  the  autumn  on  the  windows  and 
walls  of  the  vicarage  at  S.  Leverton,  and  has  to 
all  appearance  a  subapterous  female.  Dr.  Meade 
names  it  doubtfully  pabulina  '  (A.  Thornley) 

—  lunata,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

—  vernalis,  Mg.     N.  and  S.  Leverton  ;  Trcstoell  Wood 

—  vittata,  Mg.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

—  gigantea,  Schrk.    Widely  distributed  and  common 

—  ochracea,    Mg.      S.    Leverton;    Tresviell  Wood; 

Clumber  (Miss  Alderson) 


124 


INSECTS 


ORTHORRHAPHA  (continued) 
NEMATOCERA  (continued) 

TIPULIDAE  (continued} 

Dictenidia  bimaculata,   Linn.     Sherwood  -Forest  (C.  J. 

Wainwright)  ;  S.  Leverton 
Xiphura    nigricornis,    Mg.      Sherwood   Forest   (R.   C. 

Bradley) 

RHYPHIDAB 

Rhyphus  fenestralis,  Scop.     Nottingham  ;  S.  Leverton 

—  punctatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton,  common 

BRACHTCERA 
STRATIOMYIDAE 

Nemotelus  nigrinus,  Fin.     Saundby  (Eland  Shaw) 

Oxycera  pygmaea,  Fin.     Misterton 

Chrysonotus  bipunctatus,  Scop.     Worksop  (Houghton) 

Sargus  cuprarius,  Linn.  Worksop  (Houghton)  ;  Not- 
tingham ;  Treswell.  Var.  nubeculosus,  Ztt., 
common  at  S.  Leverton  and  in  Treswell  Wood 

Chloromyia  fbrmosa,  Scop.  Worksop  (Houghton)  ; 
Retford  district,  common. 

Microchrysa  polita.  Linn.)  0    T 

-  flavicLis,  Mg.  J5'  Levertm 
Beris  vallata,  Forst.     S.  Leverton 

—  fuscipes,  Mg.     Treswell  Wood 

TABANIDAE 

Haematopota  pluvialis,  Linn.     Worksop  (Houghton)  ; 

S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood,  etc.  common 
Therioplectes  solstitialis,  Mg.  1   Clumber  (Miss    Alder- 
Tabanus  bovinus,  Linn.          /     son) 
Tabanus  bromius,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 
Chrysops  caecutiens,  Linn.     Longford 'Moor,  Newark  ; 

Retford  district,  common 

LEPTIDAE 

Leptis  scolopacea,  Linn.  S.  Leverton,  common  on  the 
boles  of  willow  trees 

—  tringaria,  Linn.     Worksop  (Houghton) ;  S.  Lever- 

ton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

Chrysopilus  aureus,  Mg.  Sutton  near  Retford ;  Tres- 
well Wood,  common 

Xylophagus  ater,  Fab.    Sherwood  Forest  (R.  C.  Bradley) 

ASILIDAE 

Leptogaster  cylindrica,  Deg.     Generally  distributed 
Dioctria    oelandica,    Linn.       Sherwood  Forest    (C.   J. 
Wainwright) 

—  atricapilla,  Mg.     Rampton  Marsh 

-  rufipes,  Deg.     Generally  distributed  and  common 

—  baumhaueri,  Mg.     Sherwood  Forest  (C.  J.  Wain- 

wright) 

—  linearis,  Fab.      Treswell  Wood 
Laphria  marginata,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood 

Asilus  crabronifofmis,  Linn.  Bulwell  Forest,  Notting- 
ham, several  specimens  taken  some  years  ago 

Neoitamus  cyanurus,  Lw.  Sherwood  Forest  (Wain- 
wright) ;  Langford  Moor,  Newark;  Clumber 
(Miss  Alderson) 

Machimus  atricapillus,  Fin.  Thorney  ;  Treswell  Wood ; 
Clumber  (Miss  Alderson) 

Dysmachus  trigonus,  Mg.  Bulwell  Forest;  Worksop 
(Houghton) 


ORTHORRHAPHA  (continued') 
BRACHTCERA  (continued) 

BOMBYLIDAE 

Bombylius  major,  Linn.  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn,  rather 
common  at  primrose  flowers  ;  Treswell  Wood, 
and  in  vicarage  garden  at  S.  Leverton,  at  prim- 
roses ;  Eakr'mg  Brail  Wood 

THEREVIDAB 

Thereva  nobilitata,  Fab.  Sherwood  Forest  (C.  J.  Wain- 
wright) 

EMPIDAE 

Cyrtoma  spuria,  Fin.      Treswell  Wood 
Rhamphomyia    sulcata,     Fin.       Nottingham;    Retford 
district 

—  flava,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

Empis  tessellata,  Fab.  Common  throughout  the 
county 

-  livida,    Linn.       S.     Leverton;    Treswell;     Grove; 

Langford  Moor.  In  Treswell  Wood  numerous 
examples  were  seen  capturing  specimens  of  a 
species  of  Tortrix 

—  opaca,  Fab.     Clifton  ;  S.  Leverton 

-  stercorea,    Linn.      N.    Leverton ;    Treswell  Wood, 

common 

• —  trigramma,  Mg.  N.  and  S.  Leverton ;  Treswell 
Wood  ;  Gedling,  common 

—  pennipes,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood,  common 

—  vernalis,  Mg.     Treswell  Wood 

-  chioptera,  Fin.     N.  and  S.  Leverton 
Pachymeria  femorata,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 
Hilara  pilosa,  Ztt.      Treswell  Wood 

-  maura,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 
Ocydromia  glabricula,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

DOLICHOPODIDAE 

Dolichopus  griseipennis,  Stan.     Treswell  Wood 

—  trivialis,  Hal.     S.  Leverton  ;   Treswell  Wood 

—  aeneus,  Deg.     Worksop  and  Retford  districts,  abun- 

dant 

Chrysotus  gramineus,  Fin.      Treswell  Wood 
Argyra  diaphana,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

—  argyria,  Mg.      Treswell  Wood 
Scellus  notatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

LoNCHOPTERI  DAI 

Lonchoptera  lacustris,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

CYCLORRHAPHA 

PROBOSCIDEA 

PLATYPEZIDAE 

Pipunculus  campestris,  Ltr.  S.  Leverton;  Treswell 
Wood 

SYRPHIDAE 

Pipizella  heringi,  Ztt.      Treswell  Wood,  9  June,  1900 
Pipiza  luteitarsis,  Ztt.     S.  Leverton 

—  noctiluca,  Linn.     S.  Leverton,  not  uncommon 

—  lugubris,  Fab.     Treswell  Wood 

Cnemodon  vitripennis,   Mg.     Worksop   (Houghton)  ; 

S.  Leverton 
Liogaster    metallina,    Fab.      S.    Leverton;     Treswell 

Wood 


125 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continued) 
PROBOSCIDEJ  (continued) 

SYRPHIDAE  (continued) 

Chrysogaster  splendens,  Mg.  S.  Lcverton  ;  Trestvell 
Wood 

—  hirtella,  Lw.     Retford  ;  S.  Leverton 

-  chalybeata,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

Chilosia  sparsa,  Lw.      Treswell  Wood,  rather  common 

—  antiqua,  Mg.      Treswell  Wood 

—  longula,  Ztt.     Kingston-on-Soar 

—  scutellata,    Fin.       Sherwood  forest   (C.   J.   Wain- 

wright) 

—  pulchripes,    Lw.       S.    Leverton  ;    Trestvell  Wood ; 

Widmerpool 

—  variabilis,  Pz.      Trt 'swell 'Wood,  rather  common  ;  S. 

Leverton 

—  illustrata,  Harr.     Ramfton 

-  grossa,     Fin.       Retford    (Pcgler)  ;     5.    Leverton ; 

Winkburn 

—  albitarsis,  Mg.      ^//SWdistrict,  common  ;   Gedllng 

-  fraterna,  Mg.      Treswell  Wood 

-  praecox,  Zett.      Treswell  Wood 

-  vernalis,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 
Platychirus  manicatus,  MgA 

—  pcltatus,  Mg.  (Common  and  widely  dis- 

—  scutatus,  Mg.  j      tributed 

-  albimanus,  Mg.  ) 

-  scambus,  Staeg.     S.  Leverton 

-  clypeatus,  Mg.     S.  Leverton,  Sept.   1897,  in  pro- 

lusion ;       SaunJby      (Eland     Shaw)  ;     Worksop 
(Houghton) 

-  angustatus,  Ztt.     S.  Leverton  ;   Trestvell 
Pyrophaena  granditarsa,  Forst.      S.  Leverton 
Melanostoma  ambiguum,  Fin.      S.  Leverton 

-  dubium,  Ztt.      Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) 

-  mellinum,  Linn.     Common 

-  scalare,  Fab.     N.  Leverton  ;   Trestvell  Wood 
Melangyna    quadrimaculata,    Vcrr.       Clumber    (Miss 

Alderson) 

Leucozona  lucorum,  Linn.  N.  and  S.  Leverton  ;  Tres- 
well Wood  ;  Worksop  (Houghton) 

Ischyrosyrphus  laternarius,  Mull.  Trestvell  Wood; 
Aspley  Woods,  Nottingham  ;  Nether  Langwith 

Catabomba  pyrastri,  Linn.  Nottingham  and  Retford 
districts  ;  Thorney 

Syrphus  albostriatus,  Fin.  Retford  district  and  Sher- 
wood Forest,  not  uncommon 

• — -  tricinctus,  Fin.  Trestvell  Wood ;  Sherwood  Forest, 
near  Edwin  statue 

-  venustus,  Mg.     Sherwood  Forest  (Wainwright)  ;  S. 

Leverton  and  Treswell  Wood,  common 

-  lunulatus,  Mg.     S.  Lcverton 

-  nigricornis,  Verr.     Sherwood  Forest  (C.  J.  Wain- 

wright) 

—  torvus,  O.-S.      Treswell  Wood 

—  annulatus,   Ztt.      Sherwood  Forest    (C.   J.  Wain- 

wright) 

-  lineola,  Ztt.     Sherwood  Forest  (C.  J.  Wainwright) 

—  ribesii,  Linn.     Common  everywhere 

—  vitripennis,  Mg.      S.  Leverton,  not  uncommon  ; 

Treswell  Wood 

—  latifasciatus,  Mcq.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

—  nitidicollis,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

—  corollae,  Fab.)    „,. ,  .     ,.     .,        ,       . 

i     •       \/r      (   Widely  distributed  and  common 

—  luniger,  Mg.  J 

-  bifasciatus,  Fab.   Worksop  (Houghton)  ;  S.  Leverton, 

common  ;   Treswell  Wood 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continued) 
PROBOSCIDE4  (continued) 

SVRPHIDAE  (continued) 

Syrphus  balteatus,  Deg.  Widely  distributed  and 
common 

—  cinctellus,  Ztt.     Woods   at  Kingston-on-Soar,    not 

uncommon  on  flowers  of  wild  parsnip 

-  auricollis,  Mg.,  var.  maculicornis,  Ztt.     Sherwood 

Forest  (C.  J.  Wainwright)  ;  5.  Leverton,  common 
in  the  vicarage  garden. 

—  umbellatarum,   Fab.      Worksop    (Houghton)  ;    S. 

Leverton 

—  lasiophthalmus,  Ztt.     S.  Leverton 
Sphaerophoria  scripta,  Linn.      S.  Leverton,  abundant  ; 

Treswell ;    Thorney 

—  menthastri,    Linn.,  var.  picta,   Mg.      N.  and  S. 

Leverton  ;  Blidworth 

—  flavicauda,  Ztt.,  var.  nitidicollis,  Zett.    S.  Leverton 
Baccha  obscuripennis,  Mg.     5.  Leverton  and   Treswell 

Wood,  not  uncommon  ;  Strelley 

Ascia  podagrica,  Fab.  S.  Leverton,  common  ;  Work- 
sop  (Houghton) 

Rhingia  campestris,  Mg.  N.  and  S.  Leverton,  etc., 
common 

TT-  i       n    i        ii         T  •  ( Both  widely  distributed 

Volucella  bombylans,  Linn.  ,          ' 

n             T-  i      and  common  in  the 

—  pellucens,  Linn. 

^     county 

Eristalis  sepulchralis,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

—  tenax,  Linn.  Widely  distributed  and  very  common 

-  intricarius,  Linn.     Kingston  ;  Newstead ;  S.  Lever- 

ton  ;  Everton 

-  arbustorum,  Linn.     Common  everywhere 

-  nemorum,  Linn.     S.   Leverton;    Treswell  Wood; 

Edwinstotve 

-  pertinax,  Scop.      Everywhere,  very  common 

(      Treswell    Wood;    Newstead; 

-  horticola,  Deg.     •<  Blidworth;  Sherwood  Forest; 

\         Marnham 
Myiatropa  florea,  Linn.       Widely  distributed  in  the 

county 
Helophilus  trivittatus,  Fab.      Bunny,  23  Aug.  1899 

-  pendulus,  Linn.     Of  common  occurrence. 

-  transfugus,    Linn.      Marnham,    several    specimens 

flying  about  watercress  flowers  in  the  old   bed 
of  the  Trent,  19  July,  1901 

Mcrodon  equestris,  Fab.  Bulwell  Forest ;  N.  Wheat- 
ley,  type  and  var.  narcissi,  Fab. 

var.  narcissi,  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) 

Criorrhina  ranunculi,  Pz.  /   ^'™^'^(W.Harri- 

-  berberina,  Fab.  son  ^d   C  J-  Wain- 

l       wright) 

• —  oxyacanthae,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

-  floccosa,  Mg.    Sherwood  Forest  (Bradley  and  Wain- 

wright) ;  S.  Leverton 
Brachypalpus   bimaculatus,    Mcq.       Sherwood    Forest 

(Bradley  and  Wainwright) 
Xylota  segnis,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood;   Langford  Moor 

—  lenta,  Mg.     Southwell 

—  sylvarum,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood ;  Langford  Moor  ; 

Wigsley  Wood 

Syritta  pipiens,  Linn.     Common  everywhere 
Chrysochlamys  cuprea,  Scop.      Treswell  Wood 
Chrysotoxum  cautum,  Harr.      Sherwood  Forest  (Brad- 
ley and  Wainwright)  ;  S.  Leverton;  Treswell  Wood 

—  arcuatum,  Linn.     Sherwood  Forest  (Wainwright) 

—  bicinctum,  Linn.      S.  Leverton;    Treswell    Wood; 

Widmerpool;  not  uncommon 


126 


INSECTS 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continued) 
PROBOSCIDE4  (continued) 

CONOPIDAE 

Conops   vesicularis,   Linn.      Langford  M  oar,  10  June, 
1900 

—  strigata,  Mg.     Langjord  Moor,  12  Aug.  1899 

—  flavipes,  Linn.     Widely  distributed,  but  not  very 

common 

Physocephala  rufipcs,  Fab.     Wigsley  ;  Tmteell 
Sicus  ferrugineus,  Linn.     Wigs/ey,  7  Aug.  1  899 
Myopa  buccata,  Linn.     Bulwell  and  Sherwood  Forests  ; 

Treswell  Wood 

—  testacea,  Linn.     Bultvell    Forest  ;    Raintuorth;    S. 

Leverton 

OESTRIDAE 
Oestrus  ovis,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

TACHINIDAB 

Phorocera  cilipeda,  Rnd.     S.  Leverton 
Tachina  nmica,  Mg.      \ 
Thelaira  leucozona,  Pz.  J 
Olivieria   lateralis,  Fab.     Worksop 


5. 


(Houghton) 
Leverton  ;  Rampton  ;  Kingston  ;  Wigsley  ;  Thorney 

Micropalpus  vulpinus,  Fin.     Blidworth 

Echinomyia  fera,  Linn.     Edwinstowe,  Shertvood  Forest 

Plagia  ruralis,  Fin.     Trestvell 

Siphona  geniculata,  Deg.  S.  Leverton,  common  ; 
Gedling 

Trixa  oestroidea,  Dsv.     Trestvell  Wood ;  Clarborough 

Fortisia  foeda,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

Cynomyia  mortuorum,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

Sarcophaga  carnaria,  Linn.  Widely  distributed  and 
common 

—  atropos,  Mg.     Edwinstowe 

—  agricola,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

• —  haemorrhoidalis,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 
Metopia  leucocephala,  Rossi 
Sphixapata  conica,  Fin. 
Dexia  vacua,  Fin.     Thorney 

MUSCIDAE 

Stomoxys  calcitrans,  Linn.  S.  Leverton  ;  Nottingham  ; 
common 

Pollenia  rudis,  Fab.  Worksop  (Houghton)  ;  S.  Lever- 
ton  ;  Trestvell ;  Linby  ;  common 

Myiospila  meditabunda,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

Graphomyia  maculata,  Scop.  S.  Leverton  ;  Sutton,  nr. 
Retford;  common 

Musca  domestica,  Linn.) 

—  corvina,  Fab.  j 
Cyrtoneura  stabulans,  Fin. 

common 

—  pabulorum,  Fin.  )      „ 

—  caesia,  Mg.  j 
Morellia    hortorum,  Fin. 

abundant 

Mcsembrina  meridiana,  Linn. 
ton;  Cottam  ;  common 

Pyrellia  lasiophthalma,  Mcq.  S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell ; 
Wmkburn 

Protocalliphora  azurea,  Fin.     Nottingham 

Calliphora  erythrocephala,  Mg.  Abundant  every- 
where 

—  vomitoria,  Linn.     Common 

Euphoria    cornicina,    Fab.      S.    Leverton,    common  ; 
Linby 


Generally  distributed  and 

common 
Nottingham  ;  S.  Leverton  ; 


Nottingham  ;    S.  Leverton, 
Newstead  ;    S.  Lever- 


S.  Leverton 


S.  Leverton  ; 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continued) 
PROBOSCIDE4  (continued) 

MUSCIDAE  (continued) 
Lucilia  caesar,  Linn.  Widely  distributed  and  common 

—  sylvarum,   Mg.      Marnham,   flying  about   water- 

cress flowers  in  bed  of  old  Trent 

—  sericata,  Mg.     Nottingham  ;  Worksop  ;  S.  Leverton 

ANTHOMYIDAE 

Polietes  lardaria,  Fab.    )  0  , 

-  albolineata,  Fin.       \S-Le™rim>  etc.,  vcrycommon 
Hyetodesia  incana,  Wdm.     S.  Leverton,  common 

—  lucorum,  Fin.     S.  Leverton  ;  Grove;    Edtvinstotve  ; 

Winkburn 

—  marmorata,  Ztt. 

—  serva,  Mg. 

—  variabilis,  Fin.     Trestcell  Wood 
• —  umbratica,  Mg.          \ 

— •  laeta,  Fin.  !•      S.  Leverton 

—  lasiophthalma,  Mcq.  J 

—  erratica,  Fin.      Worksop  (Houghton) 

Tresivell  Wood 

—  basalis,  Ztt.     Worksop  (Houghton)  ;  Trestvell  Wood 

-  scutellaris,  Fin.     5.  Leverton ;  Trestvell  Wood 
• —  pallida,  Fab.      Kingston-on-Soar 

Alloeostylus  flaveola,  Fin.     Clumber  (Miss  Alderson) 
Mydaea  urbana,  Mg.     S.  Leverton,  not  uncommon 

—  impuncta,  Fin.     S.  Leverton  ;   Trestvell  Wood 

—  separata,    Mg.        S.    Leverton ;    Trestvell    Wood ; 

Nottingham 
Spilogaster  communis,  Dsv.  Worksop  (Houghton)  ; 

S.  Leverton 
Hydrotaea  irritans,  Fin. 

—  dentipes,  Fab. 

—  armipes,  Fab. 

Ophyra   leucostoma,    Wdm.       S.    Leverton ;    Worksop 

(Miss  Alderson) 

Drymia  hamata,  Fin.     S'.  Leverton 
Hydrophoria  conica,  Wdm.      Treswell  Wood 
Hylemyia     variata,     Fin.         Worksop      (Houghton)  ; 

Lambley  (W.  H.  Freestone)  ;  S.  Lrverton 

—  strigosa,  Fab.   5.  Leverton  ;  Worksop  (Miss  Alderson) 
Anthomyia  pluvialis,  Linn.    S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

—  radicum,    Linn.        S.   Leverton,     In    1901   some 

young   cabbages    were    badly    attacked   by  the 
grub  of  this  fly,  producing   an    appearance  like 
'  anbury  '   (Thornley) 
Pegomyia  rufipes,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

—  bicolor,  Wdm.     S.  Leverton  ;  Trestvell 
Homalomyia  hamata,  Mcq.     S.  Leverton 

-  scalaris,  Fab.     Common 

— •  canicularis,  Linn.     S.  Levcrton 
Azelia  macquarti,  Staeg.    \ 

-  zettentedti,  Rnd.          I      s_  ^.^ 

—  triquetra,  Wdm. 
Coenosia  sexnotata,  Mg.    / 

CoRDYLURIDAE 

Amaurosoma  fasciata,  Mg.     Trestvell  Wood 
Norellia  spinimana,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 
Scatophaga  lutaria,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

—  stercoraria,  Linn.     Everywhere  abundant 

HELOMYZIDAE 

Helomyza  ustulata,  Mg.     5.  Leverton 

Blepharoptera  serrata,  Linn.      S.  Leverton,  abundant  ; 

Nottingham  ;  Winkburn 


S.  Leverton,  the  two 
species  common 


first 


127 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continual) 
PROBOSCWE4  (continued) 

HELOMYZIDAE  (continued} 

Tephrochlamys  rufiventris,  Mg.  S.  Leverton  ;  Tresviell 
Wood 

-  flavipes,  Ztt.     S.  Leverton 

SdOMYZIDAE 

Dryomyza  flaveola,  Fab.     Retford ;  S.  Leverton 
Tetanocera  elata,  Fab."! 

—  sylvatica,  Mg.          [•      Treswell  Wood 

—  punctulata,  Scop.   J 

Limnia  unguicornis,  Scop.  S.  Leverton;  Treswell 
Wood 

-  obliterata,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

Elgiva  albiseta,  Scop.     S.  Leverton  ;  Linby 

-  rufa,  Pz.     Cottam 

Scpedon  sphegeus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  ;  Clarborougb 

PSILIDAE 

Psila  fimetaria,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;  Widmerpool 

-  rufa,  Mg.     Worktop  (Houghton) 
Chyliza  leptogaster,  Pz.     Treswell  Wood 

MICROPEZIDAE 

Calobnta  cibaria,  Linn.  }       „    T 

..     T'.  \     S.  Leverton 

-  pctronclla,  L,mn.      J 

ORTALIDAE 

Ptilonota  centralis,  Fab.  S.  Leverton;  Treswell  Wood ; 
Gamston,  nr.  Retford  (S.  Pegler) 

Platystoma  seminationis,  Fab.  River-bank,  Little- 
borough,  common 

Rivellia  syngenesiae,  Fab.      Worksop  (Houghton) 

Scoptcra  vibrans,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

TRYPETIDAE 

Acidia  cognata,  Wdm.     Treswell  Wood 

-  heraclei,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

Spilographa  zog,  Mg.     S.  Leverton;  Shcnvood  Forest  (?) 

(Wainwright) 
Trypeta    onotrophes,     Lw.        A',     and    S.    Leverton ; 

Treswell  Wood 
Urophora  solstitialis,    Linn.     Littleborough ;     Treswell 

Wood 
Tephritis  miliaria,  Schrk.     Treswell  Wood 

-  bardanae,   Schrk.     Sherwood  Forest  (C.   J.    Wain- 

wright) 

LONCHAEIDAE 

Lonchaea  vaginalis,  Fin."! 

-  chorea,  Fab,  >      S.  Leverton 
Palloptera  ustulata,  Fln.J 

— •  trimacula,  Mg.    Sherwood  Forest  (C.  J.  Wainwright) 

-  arcuata,  Fin.     S.  Leverton;  Saundby  (E.  Shaw) 


CYCLORRHAPHA  (continued) 
PROBOSCIDE4  (continued) 

SAPROMYZIDAE 
Lauxania  aenea,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

OPOMYZIDAE 

Balioptera  combinata,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood 
Opomyza  germinationis,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell 

Wood 
Pelethophila  flava,  Linn.       S.  Leverton 

SEPSIDAE 

Sepsis  violacea,  Mg.    )      Worksop     (Houghton)  ;      S. 

—  cynipsea,  Linn.    }          Leverton;  Nottingham 
Nemopoda  cylindrica,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

PlOPHILIDAE 

Piophila  casei,  Linn.      S.   Leverton;   Kingston-on-Soar, 
abundant  at  the  Dairy  Institute  ;  Nottingham. 

EPHYDRIDAE 

Hydrellia  griseola,  Fin.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 
Scatella  quadrata,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

DROSOPHILIDAE 
Drosophila  funebris,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

CHLOROPIDAE 

Meromyza  pratorum,  Mg.     Cottam  ;  Treswell  Wocd 

—  laeta,  Mg.      Cottam 

Chlorops  taeniopus,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 

—  speciosa,  Mg.     Treswell  Wood 

-  laeta,  Mg.     S.  Leverton 
Siphonella  laevigata,  Fin.     S.  Leverton 

AGROMYZIDAE 
Ochthiphila  polystigma,  Mg.      Treswell  Wood 

BoRBORIDAE 

Borborus  nitidus,  Mg. 

-  niger,  Mg. 

—  vitripennis,  Mg. 

-  equinus,  Fin. 

—  geniculatus,  Mcq. 
Sphaerocera  subsultans,  Fab.. 

PHORIDAE 

Trineura  aterrima,  Fab. 
Phora  rufipes,  Mg. 

EPROBOSCIDE4 

HlPPOBOSCIDAE 

Ornithomyia   avicularia,   Linn.     Nottingham,  on  star- 
lings 


S.  Leverton 


S.  Leverton 


HEMIPTERA 

This  order  comprises  the  bugs,  cicads,  frog-hoppers,  plant-lice,  scale-insects,  etc.,  insects 
of  small  or  moderate  size,  all  of  which  are  characterized  by  the  modification  of  the  mouth  parts 
into  a  piercing  and  sucking  proboscis  or  beak.  Two  pairs  of  wings  are  usually  present,  and  these 
exhibit  important  differences  in  the  two  main  groups  into  which  the  order  is  divided.  In  the 
Hemiptera  Heteroptera  the  anterior  wings  (elytra)  are  more  or  less  horny  except  at  the  tip,  which 
is  membranous,  and  they  fold  flat  on  the  back,  covering  over  the  more  delicate  and  entirely 
membranous  hind  wings.  In  the  Hemiptera  Homoptera,  on  the  other  hand,  the  forewings  are 
not  horny,  and  scarcely  differ  in  texture  from  the  hind  wings  ;  they  slope  over  the  back  in  a 
roof-like  manner  when  at  rest.  In  this  group,  moreover,  the  face  slopes  downwards  and  back- 

128 


INSECTS 


wards,  thus  bringing  the  beak  close  to  the  bases  of  the  fore  legs.  The  Heteroptera  are  almost 
without  metamorphosis,  the  newly-hatched  young  closely  resembling  the  adult  except  for  the 
absence  of  wings,  which  are  gradually  developed  as  the  insect  approaches  maturity.  Among 
the  Homoptera,  however,  metamorphosis  is  more  marked,  the  young  frequently  bearing  little 
resemblance  to  their  parents. 

The  great  majority  of  the  British  Hemiptera  are  vegetable  feeders,  living  on  the  juices  of 
plants  ;  a  few  of  the  Heteroptera,  however,  are  blood-suckers.  Some  of  the  Homoptera  have  the 
remarkable  habit  of  enveloping  themselves  in  their  earlier  stages  in  a  mass  of  white  froth,  as  in 
the  well-known  '  cuckoo-spit '  frog-hoppers. 

The  Heteroptera  are  sub-divided  into  two  groups  :  (i)  the  Gymnocerata,  comprising  all  the 
terrestrial  forms,  and  the  '  pond-skaters,'  which  live  on  the  surface  of  water,  are  characterized  by 
possessing  large  and  conspicuous  antennae  ;  (2)  the  Cryptocerata  are  truly  aquatic  insects  with  very 
small  antennae  which  are  hidden  beneath  the  head.  To  this  group  belong  the  water-scorpion 
and  the  water-boatmen,  the  latter  having  the  curious  habit  of  swimming  on  their  backs. 

Unless  otherwise  stated  the  species  enumerated  below  have  all  been  collected  by  the 
Rev.  Alfred  Thornley,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  species  collected  by  myself.  The  Aphides 
and  Coccidae  of  Nottinghamshire  are  practically  untouched,  and  no  list  of  these  can  yet  be 
given. 

The  arrangement  and  nomenclature  adopted  are  those  of  the  Catalogue  of  British  Hemiptera, 
by  E.  Saunders  and  J.  Edwards. 

HETEROPTERA 


GYMNOCERATA 
PENTATOMINA 

Sehirus  bicolor,  Linn.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 
Pentatoma  juniperina,  Linn.     Nottingham  (Ryles) 
Piezodorus  lituratus,  Fab.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 
Tropicoris  rufipes,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood ;  Marnham  ; 

Sherwood  Forest,  common 

Picromerus  bidens,  Linn.     Kingston  (Miss  Challans) 
Acanthosoma  haemorrhoidale,  Linn.     5.  Leverton 

—  dentatum,  De  G.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  interstinctum,  Linn.     Langford  Moor,  common  on 

birch  ;  Shencood  Forest,  common 

COREINA 
Myrmus  myriformis,  Fall.     Langford  Moor 

BERYTINA 
Neides  tipularius,  Linn.     Barrow  Hills,  Everton 

LVGAEINA 

Cymus  glandicolor,  Hahn.     Clumber  Park  (Pegler) 
Stygnus  rusticus,   Fall.     Clumber  Park  (Pegler)  ;    S. 
Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

—  arenius,  Hahn.     Clumber  Park  (Pegler) 
Drymus   sylvaticus,    Fab.     Leverton;  Treswell  Wood; 

Clumber  Park  and  Retford  (Pegler) 

—  brunneus,  Sahib.     Sutton,  near  Retford  (Pegler) 
Notochilus  contractus,  H.  S.      Treswell  Wood 
Scolopostethus  affinis,   Schill.      Leverton;  Sutton  near 

Retford  (Pegler) 

TlNGIDINA 

Piesma   capitata,   Wolff.      S.   Leverton   and    Treswell 

Wood,  common 

Orthostira  parvula,  Fall.     Bramcote  (Ryles) 
Monanthia    ampliata,     Fieb.       Sutton,    near    Retford 

(Pegler)  ;  Langford  Moor 

—  cardui,   Linn.     Sutton,  near  Retford  (Pegler)  ;  S. 

Leverton;  Treswell  Wood 


GYMNOCERATA  (continued) 

HYDROMETRINA 

Hydrometra  stagnorum,  Linn.  S.  Leverton  ;  Kingston  ; 

Thrumfton  ;  Nottingham 
Velia  currens,  Fab.     Nottingham  and  Retford  districts, 

common 
Gerris  thoracica,  Schum.     Common 

-  gibbifera,     Schum.      S.     Leverton;     Nottingham; 

Cossall 
• —  lacustns,  Linn.      Retford;   S.  Leverton,  common 

—  odontogaster,  Zctt.     Retford  (Pegler)  ;  Cossall 

REDUVIINA 

Ploiaria  vagabunda,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood 

• —  culiciformis,  De  G.     S.  Leverton 

Nabis   brevipennis,  Hahn.    Treswell  Wood,  on  Corylus 

—  major,  Cost.       Retford  district,  not  uncommon  ; 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton 

—  flavomarginatus,   Scholtz.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell; 

Cottam 

—  limbatus,  Dahlb.     Treswell  Wood 

-  ferus,  Linn.     Retford  district 

—  rugosus,  Linn.      Retford  district,  common  ;  Lang- 

ford  Moor 

SALDINA 

Salda  saltatoria,  Linn.     Cottam  (Pegler) 

—  orthochila,  Fieb.     S.  Leverton 

—  cincta,  H.  S.     S.  Leverton  and  Clumber  (Pegler) 

-  cocksii,  Curt.     Clumber  Park  (Pegler) 

CIMICINA 

Cimex  lectularius,  Linn.     Nottingham,  etc. 
Piezostethus  cursitans,  Fall.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Lyctocoris  campestris,  Fall.     S.  Leverton 
Anthocoris  nemoralis,  Fab.     Clumber  (Pegler)  ;  Tres- 
well 

—  sylvestris,  Linn.     Retford  district,  common 


129 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

GYMNOCERATA  (continued)  GYMNOCERATA  (continued) 


CIMICINA  (continued) 

Triphleps  minuta,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell 
Microphysa  pselaphiformis,  Curt.  Colwick  (Ryles) 
—  elegantula,  Baer.     S.  Leverton,  on  oak  trunks 


CAPSINA 

Pithanus   maerkeli,  H.  S.     S.  Leverton;  Button  near 

Retford ;  Treswell  Wood,  common 
Miris  calcaratus,  Fall.  Nottingham  and  Retford  districts, 

common 

—  laevigatus,  Linn.     S.  Leverton;  Treswell;  Tuxford 

(Pegler)  ;  Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles),  etc. 

—  holsatus,  Fab.     Treswell  Wood,  common 
Megaloceroea  err.itica,  Linn.     S.  Leverton  ;   Treswell; 

Littleborough 

—  longicornis,  Fall.     Cot/am 

-  ruficornis,  Fourc.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 
Lcptopterna  ferrugata,  Fall.     Sutton,  near  Retford 

-  dolobrata,     Linn.        Retford    district,     common  ; 

Langford  Moor 
Monalocoris  filicis,  Linn.     Sherwood  Forest,  abundant 

amongst  bracken 

Pantilius  tunicatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton,  on  Corylus 
Lopus  gothicus,  Linn.   Langford  Moor;  Sherwood  Forest 

(Ryles) 
Phytocoris  populi,  Linn.     S.  Leverton,  on  tree  trunks 

-  tiliae,  Fab.     S.  Leverton;   Treswell  Wood;  Edwin- 

stowe 

-  longipennis,  Flor.      Treswell  Wood 

-  reuteri,  Saund.      Treswell  Wood 

-  ulmi,    Linn.      Retford  district  ;    Kingsttm-on-Soar, 

common  on  Senecio  jacobaea 

Calocoris  striatcllus,  Fab.     Southwell;  Sherwood  Forest ; 
Aspley  (W.  E.  Ryles) 

—  sexguttatus,  Fab.    Nottingham  and  Retford  districts, 

common 

—  fulvomaculatus,  De  G.      Treswell  Wood 

-  alpestris,  Mey.      Treswell  Wood ;  Sherwood  Forest, 

etc. 

—  bipunctatus,     Fab.       Retford   district,    common  ; 

Nottingham  district 

—  chenopodii,  Fall.     Clarborough  ;  Sherwood  Forest 

—  infusus,  H.  S.      Treswell  Wood  ;  Radcltffe 

—  striatus,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood ;  Sherwood  Forest 
Oncognathus  binotatus,  Fab.      Cottam,  abundant  in  a 

grassy  lane 

Uichrooscytus  rufipennis,  Fall.     Beeston  (Ryles) 
Plesiocoris  rugicollis,  Fall.  S.  Leverton;  Treswell  Wood 
Lygus  pratensis,  Fab.     Retford  and  Worksop   districts 

(Thornley  and  Pegler) 

—  contaminatus,  Fall.     Langford  Moor,  common  on 

birch 

—  pabulinus,  Linn.     Gunthorfe   (Ryles)  ;   S.  Lever- 

ton  ;  Treswell  Wood,  common 

—  pastinacae,  Fall.     Nottingham  district  (Ryles) 

—  kalmii,  Linn.     Gunthorfe  (Ryles) 

Liocoris  tripustulatus,  Fab.    Radcliffe-on-Trent  (Ryles) ; 

Clumber  (Pegler)  ;  S.  Leverton 

Capsus  laniarius,  Linn.      Nottingham,  RadcRffe  (Ryles) 
Rhopalotomus  ater,  Linn.     Aspley  Woods,  Nottingham 

(Ryles) ;    S.    Leverton,    on    rushes ;      Trestaell 

Wood 
Dicyphus  epilobii,   Reut.     S.  Leverton;    Sutton,  near 

Retford 


CAPSINA  (continued) 

Dicyphus  stachydis,  Reut.     S.  Leverton,  common   in 
vicarage  garden 

—  globulifer,  Fall.     Clumber  (Pegler) 
Campyloneura  virgula,  H.S.     Radcltffe  (Ryles) 
Cyllocoris  histrionicus,  Linn.     Beeston  (Ryles)  ;    Tres- 
well Wood ;  Langford  Moor 

—  flavonotatus,  Boh.     Southwell  (Ryles) 
Aetorhinus  angulatus,  Fab.     Treswell  Wood,  common  ; 

Nottingham  district,  common 
Mecomma  ambulans,  Fall.     Treswell  Wood,  common  ; 

Sutton,  near  Retford 

Orthotylus  nassatus,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  ;  Littleborough 
Loxops  coccinea,  Mey.     Radcltffe  (Ryles) 
Heterotoma  merioptera,  Scop.     S.  Leverton,  common; 

Sutton,    near     Retford;      Nottingham     district, 

common 
Heterocordylus    tibialis,    Hahn.     Clumber   (Pegler)  ; 

Treswell  Wood 

Malacocoris  chlorizans,  Fall.    Treswell  Wood,  common 
Harpocera  thoracica,  Fall.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 
Byrsoptera  rutifrons,  Fall.     Southwell  (].  E.  Mason) 
Phylus   palliceps,    Fieb.      Aspley    Woods,   Nottingham 

(Ryles)  ;   Treswell  Wood 

—  melanocephalus,  Linn.  Treswell  Wood;  Edwinstowe 

—  coryli,  Linn.      Treswell  Wood 

Psallus  betuleti,  Fall.     Clumber  (Pegler)  ;  Edwinstowe, 
common  on  birch  ;  Langford  Moor 

—  variabilis,  Fall.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 

—  varians,  H.  S.      Treswell  Wood 

—  salicellus,  Mey.     S.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 
Plagiognathus  arbustorum,  Fab.     Retford  district 

—  viridulus,  Fall.     Sherwood  Forest  (Ryles) 


CRYPTOCERATA 

NAUCORIDINA 

Naucoris  cimicoides,  Linn.  N.  Whcatley  (Rev.T.C.  B. 
Chamberlin) 

NIPINA 
Nepa  cinerea,  Linn.     Widely  distributed 

NoTONECTINA 

Notonecta  glauca,  Linn.     S.  Leverton,  with  var.  ma- 
culata  ;  Kingston-on-Soar 

var.    furcata.     S.    Leverton ;    Cossall;    Not- 
tingham 

CORIXINA 

Corixa  geoffroyi,  Leach.     S.  Leverton,  not  uncommon 

—  hieroglyphica,  Duf.'l 

—  sahlbergi,  Fieb.         J-     S.  Leverton 

—  linnaei,  Fieb.  ) 

striata,   Linn.     S.  Leverton;   Cossall;  Radcliffe-on- 
Trent 

—  fallen!,  Fieb.     S.  Leverton 

—  distincta,  Fieb.     S.  Leverton 

—  fabricii,  Fieb.     S.  Leverton;  Cossall 

—  coleoptrata,  Fab.     Cossall 


130 


INSECTS 


HOMOPTERA 


CICADINA 


Cixius  pilosus,  Ol.     N.  Leverton  ;  Treswell  Wood 

—  nervosus,  Linn.     Longford  Moor,  Newark 
Liburnia  lineola,  Germ.     Treswell  Wood 

—  difficilis,  Edw.     S.  Leverton 

—  limbata,  Fab.     S.  Leverton 

—  lineata,  Perr.     Treswell  Wood 

Aphrophora    alni,     Fall.      Widely    distributed    and 
common 

—  salicis,  De  G.     Treswell  Wood 
Philaenus  spumarius,  Linn.     Abundant 

—  Hneatus,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 
Ledra  aurita,  Linn.     Treswell  Wood 
Macropsis  lanio,  Linn.     S.  Leverton 

Bythoscopus   flavicollis,    Linn.     Edwlnstowe,  Sherwood 

Forest,  common  on  birch 
Pediopsis  scutellatus,  Boh.     Treswell  Wood 

Idiocerus  adustus.  H.  S. )  „         „  „.    , 
r         ,-,,  '  \  Treswell  Wood 

—  confusus,  Flor.  J 

Evacanthus  interruptus,  Linn.     Kingston-on-Soar 
Tettigonia  viridus,  Linn.     Clumber  (Pegler) 
Acocephalus  nervosus,  Schr.     Ramfton  Marsh 

—  albifrons,  Linn.     Treswell;  Rampton 
Athysanus  sordidus,  Zett.     Treswell 


CICADINA  (continued) 
Athysanus  communis,  J.  Sahl. 

—  obscurellus,  Kbm. 

—  obsoletus,  Kbm. 
Deltocephalus  ocellaris,  Fall. 
Allygus  mixtus,  Fab. 
Thamnotettix  prasina,  Fall.1] 

—  subfuscula.  Fall. 

—  cruentata,  Panz.  J 

—  crocea,  H.  S.     S.  Leverton  , 
Limotettix  sulphurella,  Zett.' 
Alebra  albostriella,  Fall. 
Chlorita  viridula,  Fall. 
Eupteryx  urticae,  Fab. 

—  stachydearum,  Hardy 

—  auratus,  Linn. 
—  abrotani,  Dougl. 

-  pulchellus,  Fall.     S.  Leverton  ;  Edwlnstowe 
Typhlocyba  rosae,  Linn.     ~j 

-  quercus,  Fab.  I    S.  Leverton,  common 
Zygina  flammigera,  GeofFr.J 

PSYLLINA 

Livia  juncorum,  Latr. 
Psylla  crataegi,  Schr. 


\ 


S.  Leverton 


Treswell  Wood 
Treswell  Wood 


S.  Leverton 


Gotham,  on  Juncus 
S.  Leverton 


MYRIAPODA 


Centipedes  and  Millipedes 

The  Myriapods  of  Nottinghamshire  appear  to  have  received  no  attention  from  local  zoologists, 
nothing  having  hitherto  been  published  concerning  them.  The  scanty  particulars  given  in  this 
note  are  founded  upon  specimens  collected  casually  by  the  writer  during  the  last  two  or  three  years  ; 
the  great  majority  of  these  are,  however,  still  unidentified  and  consequently  no  list  of  the  species 
can  yet  be  given. 

The  Myriapods  are  terrestrial  animals  found  under  stones  and  logs  lying  on  the  ground,  under 
the  loose  bark  of  dead  trees  and  among  dead  leaves  and  rubbish.  The  body  is  divided  into  a 
large  but  variable  number  of  nearly  similar  segments  or  rings,  and  is  provided  with  numerous  pairs 
of  legs  :  the  head  bears  a  pair  of  antennae  varying  in  length  in  the  different  species,  and  eyes  may 
be  present  or  absent. 

The  class  is  divisible  into  two  orders  :  the  Chilopoda  or  Centipedes,  active,  swiftly-running  forms, 
which  prey  upon  living  animals,  and  possess  formidable  poison  fangs,  and  one  pair  of  legs  to  each 
body-ring  ;  and  Chilognatha  or  Millipedes,  which  are  vegetable  feeders,  very  sluggish  in  their  move- 
ments, and  have  two  pairs  of  legs  to  each  body-ring.  To  the  latter  group  belong  the  species  of 
lulus,  commonly  known  as  '  wire-worms,'  which  are  often  very  injurious  to  cultivated  crops,  but  are 
otherwise  harmless  and  inoffensive. 

CHILOPODA 

Centipedes 

The  family  Lithobiidae  includes  a  number  of  very  active  species  which  run  with  great 
rapidity  when  disturbed.  The  body  is  relatively  short  and  depressed,  and  furnished  with  fifteen 
pairs  of  legs.  Eyes  are  present. 

Lithobius  forficatus  (Linn.)  is  abundant  everywhere  in  Nottinghamshire  under  stones  and  logs 
and  among  dead  leaves  both  in  town  gardens  and  in  the  open  country.  One  and  probably  two 
other  species  also  occur  in  the  county. 

The  Geophilidae  are  slow-moving  centipedes  with  very  long,  slender  bodies,  no  eyes,  and  a 
large  but  variable  number  of  pairs  of  legs.  The  genera  Geophilus  and  Linotaenia  are  each  represented 
in  Nottinghamshire  by  at  least  one  species.  The  last-named  genus  includes  the  luminous  or 
phosphorescent  centipedes. 

CHILOGNATHA  OR  DIPLOPODA 

Millipedes 

The  families  Polyxenidae  and  Glomeridae  are  each  represented  in  Great  Britain  by  a  single 
species,  and  both  of  these  are  found  in  Nottinghamshire  Polyxenus  lagurus  (Linn.),  a  pretty  and 

'31 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

minute  millipede,  occurs  under  stones  and  bark  of  dead  trees  in  several  localities.  The  '  pill-milli- 
pede,' Glomeris  margmata  (Vill.),  is  a  short  broad  millipede  of  the  size  and  shape  of  the  common  '  pill- 
woodlouse,'  which  it  also  resembles  in  its  ability  to  roll  up  into  a  spherical  ball  when  disturbed. 
It  is  however  easily  distinguished  from  the  woodlouse  by  the  large  size  of  the  posterior  segment  of 
the  body,  and  by  the  narrow  white  border  to  each  segment. 

Of  the  family  Polydesmidae  one  species,  Polydesmus  complanatus  (Linn.),  is  very  common  with 
us,  occurring  chiefly  under  rotten  logs  lying  on  the  ground.  Other  species  will  probably  be 
found  among  the  material  collected  by  the  writer  when  properly  examined. 

Atractosoma  folydesmoides  (Leach),  belonging  to  the  family  Chordeumidae,  has  been  found  in 
Nottingham. 

Individuals  of  one  or  more  species  of  the  lulidae  occur  abundantly  in  Nottinghamshire,  and 
are  locally  known  as  '  wireworms.' 


ARACHNIDA 

Spiders,  Harvestmen,  and  False-scorpions 

Spiders  may  be  readily  distinguished  from  insects  by  the  following  characters  among  others  : — 
In  insects  the  body  is  clearly  divided  into  three  separate  regions — head,  thorax,  and  abdomen,  the 
last-named  being  distinctly  segmented,  while  in  spiders  the  head  and  thorax  are  completely  fused 
together,  forming  the  cephalothorax,  which  is  connected  with  the  abdomen  by  a  short  stalk  or 
pedicle  ;  only  two  distinct  parts  are  therefore  visible  ;  the  abdomen  is  not  segmented.  The  eyes  of 
spiders  are  simple,  while  insects  possess  compound  eyes,  although  many  have  simple  eyes  in  addition. 
Insects  have  three  pairs  of  legs,  spiders  possess  four  pairs.  In  front  of  the  walking  legs  all  spiders 
possess  two  pairs  of  jointed  appendages  ;  the  anterior  of  these  are  called  the  chelicerae  or  falces,  and 
are  formidable  claw-like  pointed  fangs,  each  containing  a  poison-gland  ;  these  are  used  for  seizing 
and  killing  the  prey.  The  hinder  pair  are  the  pedipalps  or  palpi  ;  they  lie  on  either  side  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  basal  part  of  each  (the  maxilla)  is  used  as  a  masticatory  organ,  while  the  remaining 
portion  forms  the  palpus  or  feeler  ;  the  terminal  joint  of  this  is  in  the  male  spider  modified  into  an 
accessory  organ  of  reproduction. 

The  terminal  joint,  or  tarsus,  of  each  of  the  eight  legs  ends  in  either  two  or  three  curved 
claws,  and  in  some  spiders  there  is  on  the  last  joint  but  one  (metatarsus)  of  the  fourth  pair  of  legs  a 
peculiar  comb-like  organ  termed  the  '  calamistrum,'  consisting  of  a  longitudinal  row  of  curved 
bristles. 

The  silken  lines  which  all  spiders  produce  are  emitted  from  a  group  of  six  nipple-like  '  spinners ' 
situated  on  the  underside  of  the  hind  end  of  the  abdomen.  In  those  spiders  which  possess  a 
calamistrum  there  is  also,  immediately  in  front  of  the  spinners,  a  paired  organ,  the  so-called 
'  cribellum,'  perforated  by  numerous  fine  pores  through  which  silk  is  emitted  and  combed  out  by  the 
calamistrum  so  as  to  become  flocculent,  and  to  assist  in  the  entanglement  of  their  prey. 

The  respiratory  organs  of  spiders  are  tubular  tracheae  and  book-leaf  tracheae  ('  book  lungs ') 
opening  to  the  exterior  by  slit-like  apertures  or  stigmata  situated  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  under- 
side of  the  abdomen.  Some  have  book-leaf  tracheae  only,  others  possess  both  book-leaf  and  tubular 
tracheae. 

Unlike  most  insects,  spiders  undergo  no  metamorphosis,  but  they  moult  or  cast  their  skin 
several  times  before  reaching  the  adult  state.  All  spiders  are  carnivorous,  preying  upon  other 
animals,  chiefly  insects,  which  they  capture  either  by  leaping  suddenly  upon  them,  or  more  com- 
monly by  spinning  webs  or  snares  in  which  the  insect  prey  becomes  entangled. 

In  the  Phalangidea  or  harvestmen  the  body  is  undivided,  the  abdomen  being  joined  to  the 
cephalothorax  along  its  whole  breadth,  instead  of  being  connected  with  it  by  a  narrow  pedicle  as 
in  spiders.  The  abdomen  is  segmented,  the  eight  legs  are  very  long  and  slender,  and  the  simple 
eyes  are  only  two  in  number. 

The  Chernetidea  or  false-scorpions  are  minute  arachnids  occurring  amongst  moss  and  dead 
leaves,  or  under  stones,  etc.,  and  easily  recognized  by  their  peculiar  palpi,  which  are  very  large 
and  terminate  in  pincers  or  forceps.  They  thus  resemble  miniature  scorpions,  except  that  they 
have  no  tail. 

Nothing  whatever  appears  to  have  been  known  concerning  the  arachnids  of  Nottinghamshire  before 
1903,  when  the  present  writer  began  to  pay  attention  to  them  for  the  purposes  of  this  History.  In 
the  course  of  two  seasons'  collecting  169  species  of  spiders,  fourteen  species  of  harvestmen,  and  five 
of  Chernetidea  have  been  taken  in  the  county,  and  while  more  extended  research  will  doubtless  result 
in  the  discovery  of  many  more  species,  the  list  given  below  will  compare  favourably  with  those  of 
most  other  counties  whose  arachnid  fauna  has  been  worked  out.  In  the  preparation  of  this  list  the 

132 


SPIDERS 


writer  has  been  greatly  assisted  by  the  Rev.  T.  C.  B.  Chamberlin,  M.A.,  who  has  collected  most 
indefatigably  at  North  Wheatley  and  elsewhere  near  Retford.  Dr.  G.  W.  Chaster,  of  Southport 
contributed  a  number  of  specimens  picked  up  while  collecting  Coleoptera  in  Sherwood  Forest  in  June, 
1904,  and  among  these  were  several  rare  species.  Specimens  have  also  been  contributed  by  the 
Rev.  A.  Thornley,  M.A.,  and  Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson,  and  a  few  records  by  Miss  E.  M.  Alderson 
and  Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton. 

In  a  group  so  little  worked  as  the  arachnida,  and  one  presenting  so  many  difficulties  in  the 
identification  of  the  more  obscure  or  closely  allied  species,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the 
determinations  should  be  beyond  question,  and  it  is  therefore  gratifying  to  know  that  every  species 
enumerated  below  is  vouched  for  by  our  highest  authority  on  these  creatures,  the  Rev.  O.  Pickard- 
Cambridge,  F.R.S.,  who  most  generously  undertook  the  examination  of  the  entire  collection. 

Lists  of  the  species  collected  during  the  seasons  1903  and  1904  have  been  published  in  the 
fifty-first  and  fifty-second  Reports  of  the  Nottingham  Naturalist?  Society.  The  arrangement  and 
nomenclature  adopted  are  those  of  the  Rev.  O.  Pickard-Cambridge  in  his  List  of  British  and  Irish 
Spiders,  Monogr.  of  British  Phalangidea,  and  Monogr.  of  British  Chernetidea. 

ARANEIDEA 


Spiders 


DYSDERIDAE 


The  spiders  of  this  family  have  six  eyes  and  two 
pairs  of  stigmatic  openings  situated  near  the  anterior 
end  of  the  ventral  surface  of  the  abdomen,  the  open- 
ings of  each  pair  being  in  close  proximity  to  one 
another  ;  the  anterior  pair  communicate  with  book- 
lungs,  the  posterior  pair  with  tubular  tracheae. 

1.  DysJera  crocota,  C.  L.  Koch 

Headon  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

A  large  and  handsome  spider,  with  chestnut-red 
cephalothorax  and  legs,  and  dull  yellow  elongated 
abdomen  ;  there  are  two  tarsal  claws,  and  the  eyes  are 
arranged  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe  with  the  ends 
directed  forwards. 

2.  Harpactes  hombergii,  Scop. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

Known  by  its  slender  somewhat  ant-like  form, 
nearly  black  cephalothorax  and  pale  abdomen,  three 
tarsal  claws,  and  eyes  arranged  in  a  circle. 

3.  Segestria  senoculata,  Linn. 

Rather  common  under  loose  bark  on  old 
palings  :  Colwick  Park  ;  Oxton  Bogs ;  South- 
well ;  Lambley  ;  Widmerpool  ;  Langford 
Moor  ;  Calverton  Hill,  etc. 

A  slender  elongated  spider,  easily  recognized  by  the 
black  diamond-shaped  patches  on  a  dull  buff  ground 
on  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  abdomen,  the  three  tarsal 
claws,  and  the  arrangement  of  the  eyes,  which  are 
grouped  in  three  pairs,  the  central  pair  being  placed 
transversely  and  the  two  lateral  pairs  longitudinally. 

4.  Oanopt  pulcher,  Tempi. 

Nottingham,  two  or  three  specimens  in  a  heap 
of  old  flower-pots  in  a  garden ;  Lambley ; 
Langford  Moor. 

Recognizable  by  its  small  size  (one-twelfth  of  an 
inch  or  less  in  length),  orange-red  colour,  large  oval 
pearly  eyes,  and  two  tarsal  claws. 

DRASSIDAE 

Includes  mostly  hairy  spiders  of  elongated  form  and 
usually  sombre  colour,  with  eight  eyes  in  two  trans- 
verse rows,  and  two  tarsal  claws. 


DRASSIDAE  (continued) 

5.  Drassus  cupreus,  Blackw. 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton  (A.  T.) ;  Oxton  Bogs  ; 
Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

6.  Drassus  pubescent,  Thor. 

Bulwell  Forest;   Blidworth. 

7.  Drassus  troglodytes,  C.  L.  Koch 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

8.  Drassus  blackwallii,  Thor. 

North  Wheatley,  near  Retford  (T.  C.  B.  C)  ; 
S.  Leverton  (A.  T.);  Strclley;  Lambley. 

A  nocturnal  dark  very  hairy  spider,  often  found 
roaming  about  on  the  walls  of  houses  and  outbuildings; 
also  found  under  bark  on  old  palings. 

9.  Micaria  pulicaria,  Sund. 

Sherwood     Forest,    between     Edwinstowe    and 

Budby  ;  Langford  Moor. 

A  very  beautiful  and  brilliant  little  spider,  dark 
coloured,  iridescent  and  shining. 

10.  Phrurolithus  festivus,  C.  L.  Koch 

Quarry  near  Bulwell  Wood  Hall. 

1 1 .  Clubiona  terrestris,  Westr. 

Worksop,  under  stones  ;  Calverton  Hill  and 
Wollaton,  under  bark  on  old  palings. 

12.  Clubiona  reclusa,  Cambr. 

Edwards  Lane,  Nottingham,  among  dead  leaves; 
Calverton  Hill,  under  bark  on  palings. 

13.  Clubiona  holosericea,  De  G. 

Oxton  Bogs  ;  Budby  Carr. 

1 4.  Clubiona  pallijula,  Clerck 

Common,  and  widely  distributed. 

15.  Clubiona  brevipes,  Blackw. 

S.  Leverton  (A.  T.)  ;  Edwinstowe  ;  Roe  Wood, 
Winkburn ;  Langford  Moor.  Beaten  from 
trees,  chiefly  oak. 

1 6.  Clubiona  comta,  C.  L.  Koch 

Common  on  trees  in  woods  throughout  the  county 

17.  Clubiona  corticalis,  Walck. 

Common  under  bark  on  old  palings,  etc. 


133 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


DRASSIDAE  (continued) 

1 8.  Z.ora  maeulata,  Blackw. 

Eakring  Brail  Wood  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ; 
Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe  ;  Langford 
Moor. 

19.  Anyphoena  accentuata,  Walck. 

Epperstone  Park;  Langford  Moor;  Eakring  Brail 
Wood  ;  Wigsley  Wood  ;  Roe  Wood,  Wink- 
burn.  Occurs  on  the  foliage  of  various  trees, 
but  is  not  very  common,  although  widely  dis- 
tributed. 

20.  Agroeca  brunnea,  Blackw. 
Langford  Moor,  under  bark. 

DICTYNIDAE 

Spiders  with  eight  eyes  in  two  transverse  curved 
rows,  those  of  each  lateral  pair  being  close  together. 
There  are  three  tarsal  claws,  and  the  calamistrum  and 
cribellum  are  present  in  all  the  species. 

21.  Dictyna  arundinacea,  Linn. 

Onheatherand  rushes,  common;  Langford  Moor; 
Budby  Carr;  Wigsley  Wood. 

22.  Dictyna  uncinata,  Westr. 

Wilford  ;  Lambley  ;  Budby,  Sherwood  Forest ; 
N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

23.  Dictyna pusllla,  Westr. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

24.  Dictyna  latens,  Fab. 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton  (A.  T.). 

25.  Lethla  humilis,  Blackw. 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Langford  Moor. 

26.  Amauroblus  ferox,  Walck. 

Nottingham,  in  cellars.  Worksop  (J.  T.  H.)  ; 
N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Barrow  Hills, 
Everton. 

A  very  large  dark  and  forbidding-looking  spider, 
common  in  cellars  and  outbuildings,  but  occurring 
ilso  under  stones  and  logs  far  away  from  houses. 

27.  Amaurobius  simi/is,  Blackw. 

An  abundant  house-spider,  occurring  in  cellars 
and  outhouses,  in  crevices  in  walls,  under 
boards,  etc.  The  tubular  snares  are  familiar 
objects  in  crevices  of  the  sandstone  rock  in 
and  about  Nottingham. 

28.  Amaurobius  fenestralis,  Stroem. 

Abundant  under  loose  bark  on  old  palings,  logs, 
and  trees  ;  also  occasionally  under  stones  and 
the  copings  of  walls. 

AGELENIDAE 

The  members  of  this  family  have  eight  eyes  placed 
in  two  more  or  less  curved  rows,  those  of  the  lateral 
pairs  not  being  contiguous  to  each  other.  The  legs 
are  hairy  and  spinose,  and  three  tarsal  claws  are 
present.  Calamistra  and  cribellum  are  absent. 

29.  Cryphoeca  silvicola,  G.  L.  Koch 
Blidworth. 

30.  Cryphoeca  diverse,  Cambr. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 


AGELENIDAE  (continued} 

31.  Coehtes  atropos,  Walck. 

Pleasley  Vale,  under  stones. 
3  2.  Argyroneta  ajuatica,  Latr. 

Ditches   near    the   Trent,    Lenton  ;    pool    near 

Trent  Bridge,  Nottingham. 

This  is  the  large  and  well-known  '  water-spider,' 
which  can  swim  and  dive  with  ease,  and  constructs  its 
silken  dome-shaped  nest  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
water. 

33.  Tegenaria  parietina,  Fourcr. 
Worksop  (J.  T.  H.). 

34.  Tegenaria  derhamii,  Scop. 

An  abundant  house  spider  everywhere  in  the 
county. 

HAHNIIDAE 

The  spiders  of  this  family  have  usually  been  in- 
cluded in  the  Agelenidae,  but  may  be  distinguished, 
as  pointed  out  by  the  Rev.  O.  Pickard-Cambridge, 
by  the  disposition  of  the  six  spinners  in  a  single 
transverse  nearly  straight  row,  the  two  outside  ones 
— representing  those  of  the  usual  superior  pair — being 
the  largest  and  the  longest. 

35.  Habnla  montana,  Blackw. 

Langford  Moor,  among  dead  leaves  on  the  ground 
under  pine  trees. 

THERIDIIDAE 

A  very  large  family,  including  spiders  mostly  of 
small  size  with  relatively  large,  often  nearly  globular, 
abdomens.  The  eight  eyes  are  situated  in  two  curved 
transverse  adjacent  rows,  the  four  centrals  forming  a 
quadrangle.  Three  tarsal  claws  are  present. 

36.  Eplslnus  truncatus,  Walck. 

Langford  Moor. 

37.  Theridion  formosum,  Clerck 
Langford  Moor. 

38.  Theridion  sisyphlum,  Clerck 

Rather  common  amongst  the  foliage  of  trees  and 
shrubs  in  many  localities  throughout  the 
county. 

A  handsome  spider,  with  the  abdomen  beautifully 
variegated  with  reddish,  brown,  yellow,  and  white 
markings. 

39.  Theridion  vittatum,  C.  L.  Koch      (T.  pulchellum, 
Walck.) 

Langford  Moor  ;  Sherwood  Forest,  near  Edwin- 
stowe; Widmerpool  ;  Crown  End  Wood, 
West  Leake. 

40.  Theridion  denticulattim,  Walck. 

A  pretty  little  spider  occurring  in  all  parts  of 
the  county. 

41.  Theridion  simile,  C.  L.  Koch 

Langford  Moor,  beaten  from  heather,  etc. 

42.  Theridion  variant,  Hahn 

Widely  distributed,  and  common  in  some  locali- 
ties :  found  among  heather,  foliage,  on  palings 
in  gardens,  etc. 

43.  Theridion  tine  turn,  Walck. 

Langford  Moor,  beaten  from  heather. 


134 


SPIDERS 


THERIDIIDAE  (continued) 

44.  Therldion  pictum,  Hahn 

S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.C.); 
Budby,  Sherwood  Forest. 

A  beautiful  species  :  the  abdomen  has  a  central 
longitudinal  band  of  a  red  colour,  with  a  yellow  border 
on  either  side  of  it. 

45.  Tfieridion  tepidariorum,  C.  L.  Koch 

Lowdham  (A.  H.  P.)  ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) ; 
Trowell. 

A  large,  rather  plainly  coloured  species,  found  in 
greenhouses  and  conservatories. 

46.  TAeridion  bimaculatum,  Linn. 
Blidworth  ;  Budby  ;  Langford  Moor. 

47.  Tfieridion  pallens,  Blackw. 

Wollaton  ;  Epperstone  Park  ;  Edwinstowe,  Sher- 
wood Forest  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Lang- 
ford  Moor  ;  Wigsley  Wood. 

A  minute  pale  yellow  spider,  with  the  abdomen 
more  or  less  marked  or  suffused  with  black,  especially 
in  the  male.  It  occurs  on  heather  and  among 
herbage  and  the  foliage  of  trees. 

48.  Nesticus  cellulanus,  Clerck 

N.  Wheatley  (T.C.B.C.);  Nottingham,  in  cellar. 

49.  Phyllonethis  Kneata,  Clerck 

Very  common  among  foliage  of  trees  in  woods 
throughout  the  county. 

A  pretty  spider  of  a  pale  yellow  colour,  often  with 
two  conspicuous  longitudinal  carmine-coloured  bands 
on  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  abdomen. 

50.  SteatoJa  bipunctata,  Linn. 

Common  in  crevices  and  under  copings  of  walls, 
under  bark  on  old  palings,  on  windows  of 
outhouses,  etc.,  everywhere  in  the  county. 

51.  Crustulina  guttata,  Wid. 

Budby,  Sherwood  Forest ;  Langford  Moor. 

52.  Enoplognatha  thoracica,  Hahn 

Bagthorpe,  Nottingham  ;  Budby. 

53.  Ptdanostethus  lividus,  Blackw. 

Burton  Joyce,  in  a  patch  of  liverwort  (Cono- 
cephalus)  ;  Langford  Moor,  under  dead  leaves. 

54.  Bolyphantes  bucculentus,  Clerck 

Oxton  Bogs. 

55.  Bolyphantes  alticeps,  Sund. 

Pleasley  Vale. 

56.  Bolyphantes  luteolus,  Blackw. 

Edwinstowe,  Sherwood  Forest. 

57.  Drapetisca  lociafu,  Sund. 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton  ;  Sherwood  Forest ;  Lang- 
ford  Moor  ;  Epperstone  Park  ;  Widmerpool  ; 
West  Leake  Hills.  Rather  common  in  some 
of  these  localities  among  the  foliage  of  trees 
and  bushes. 

58.  Stemonyphantes  Rneata,  Linn. 

Occurs  under  stones,  logs  of  wood,  heaps  of 
straw,  etc.,  in  several  localities  about  Notting- 
ham ;  also  at  Sherwood  Forest,  Clipston  Wolds, 
etc.  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 


THERIDIIDAE  (continued) 

59.  Linyphia  insignis,  Blackw. 

Beauvale  Woods;  Oxton  Bogs;  Crown  End 
Wood,  West  Leake  ;  Widmerpool ;  Roe  Wood, 
Winkburn  ;  Wigsley  Wood. 

60.  Linyphia  montana,  Clerck 

Under  bark  of  palings,  and  on  foliage  of  trees 
and  bushes,  in  many  localities  throughout  the 
county. 

6 1 .  Linyphia  triangularis,  Clerck 

A  very  abundant  spider,  occurring  on  heather 
and  furze  bushes  on  commons,  on  hedges,  and 
on  shrubs  and  trees  in  plantations  and  woods 
everywhere  throughout  the  county. 

62.  Linyphia  peltata,  Wid. 

Beauvale  Woods  ;  Widmerpool  ;  Owthorpe  ; 
Cotgrave  ;  Epperstone  Park  ;  Eakring  Brail 
Wood  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Sherwood 
Forest,  Edwinstowe.  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) 

63.  Linyphia pusilla,  Sund. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.)  ;  N.  Wheatley 
(T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Blidworth  ;  Langford  Moor 

64.  Linyphia  hortensis,  Sund. 

Widmerpool  ;  Sherwood  Forest. 

65.  Linyphia  clathrata,  Sund. 

Daybrook  ;  Southwell  ;  Eakring  Brail  Wood  ; 
Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Langford  Moor. 
N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) 

The  four  last  species  occur  on  heather,  bushes,  and 
among  the  foliage  of  the  lower  branches  of  trees. 

66.  Labulla  thoracica,  Wid. 

North  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Lambley  ; 
Bulcote. 

67.  Leptyphantes  minutus,  Blackw. 

Ranby  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Nottingham  district,  in 
several  places  ;  Widmerpool. 

68.  Leptyphantes  nebulosus,  Sund. 

Nottingham,  in  cellar  ;   Bagthorpe. 

69.  Leptyphantes  leprosus,  Ohl. 

Nottingham,  in  deep  rock  cellar  ;   Bulcote. 

70.  Leptyphantes  blacka'allii,  Kulcz. 

North  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

71.  Leptyphantes  obscurus,  Blackw. 

On  heather  and  among  foliage  of  trees  and 
shrubs.  Blidworth  ;  Epperstone  Park  ;  Budby 
and  Edwinstowe,  Sherwood  Forest ;  Eakring 
Brail  Wood. 

72.  Leptyphantes  pallidus,  Camb. 

Southwell  (F.  O.  P.-Cambridge). 

73.  Leptyphantes Jlavipes,  Blackw. 

Langford  Moor,  on  heather. 

74.  Leptyphantes  tenuis,  Blackw. 

North  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Nottingham  dis- 
trict, in  several  places,  common  ;  Sherwood 
Forest  ;  Widmerpool. 

75.  Bathyphantes  variegates,  Blackw. 

Bulwell  Forest  ;  Blidworth ;  Epperstone  Park  ; 
Langford  Moor  ;  Budby  and  Edwinstowe, 
Sherwood  Forest. 


135 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


THERIDIIDAE  (continued} 

76.  Bathyphantes  concohr,  Wid. 

Under  stones,  logs,  etc.,  in  many  localities 
around  Nottingham  ;  Worksop.  N.  Wheatley 
(T.  C.  B.  C.). 

77.  Bathyphantes  nigrinus,  Westr. 

Wilford  ;  Oxton  Bogs  ;  Beauvale  Woods. 

78.  Bathyphantes  pullatus,  Cambr. 

Eakring  Brail  Wood  ;  Oxton  Bogs. 

79.  Bathyphantes  parvulus,  Westr. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

80.  Bathyphantes  gracilis,  Blackw. 

Bagthorpe,  Nottingham  ;  Widmerpool. 

8 1 .  Bathyphantes  dorsalis,  Wid. 

Budby  and  Edwinstowe,  Sherwood  Forest  ;  Cot- 
grave  Wolds.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

82.  Tmeticus  rufui,  Wid. 

Bagthorpe,  Nottingham  ;  Langford  Moor,  on 
heather,  and  under  heaps  of  dead  leaves  in 
early  spring. 

83.  Tmeticus  abnormis,  Blackw. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.)  ;  Wollaton  ;  Lang- 
ford  Moor,  on  heather. 

84.  Tmeticus  blcolor,  Blackw. 

Bagthorpe,  Nottingham,  in  numbers ;  Arnold  ; 
Sutton,  near  Granby  ;  Worksop. 

85.  Microneta  rumtr'u,  C.  L.  Koch 

Foss  Road,  Widmerpool  ;  Cossall. 

86.  Microneta  saxatifii,  Blackw. 

Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

87.  Sintula  dlluta,  Cambr. 

Langford  Moor. 

88.  Maso  sundevattll,  Westr. 

Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

89.  Gongylidlum  rufipes,  Sund. 

S.  Leverton  (A.  T.) ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) ; 
Widmerpool ;  Eakring  Brail  Wood  ;  Beauvale 
Woods  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Wigsley 
Wood. 

90.  Gongylidlum  fuscum,  Blackw. 

Bagthorpe,  Nottingham,  under  heaps  of  straw  in 
winter  ;  Wigsley  Wood,  on  foliage  of  trees. 

91.  Gongylidlum  apicatum,  Blackw. 
Southwell  (F.  O.  P.-Cambridge). 

92.  Gongylidlum  tuberosum,  Blackw. 
Oxton  Bogs. 

93.  Tito  vagans,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

94.  Erigone  dentipalpis,  Wid. 

Nottingham  ;  Trowell ;  Widmerpool. 

95.  Erigone  atra,  Blackw. 

•  Bagthorpe,  Nottingham,  under  straw  heaps,  in 
winter ;  Langford  Moor,  and  Sherwood 
Forest,  on  heather  and  shrubs. 

96.  Lophomma  herbigradum,  Blackw. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 


THERIDIIDAE  (continued) 

97.  Dicymbium  nlgrum,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

98.  Neriene  rubens,  Blackw. 

Sherwood    Forest,    Edwinstowe  ;   Oxton    Bogs  ; 
Langford  Moor.    N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

99.  Neriene  rubella,  Blackw. 

Epperstone   Park ;    Crown    End   Wood,    West 
Leake. 

100.  Dicyphus  cornutus,  Blackw. 

Sherwood    Forest    (G.  W.  C.)  ;    N.     Wheatley 
(T.  C.  B.  C.) ;  Langford  Moor. 

101.  Dicyphus  bituberculaius,  Wid. 
Wilford  ;  Oxton  Bogs,  under  bark. 

1 02.  Dismodicus  bifrons,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

103.  Diplocephalus  fuscipes,  Blackw. 
Langford  Moor. 

104.  Entelecara  acuminata,  Wid. 

Langford  Moor ;  Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

105.  Entelecara  erythnpus,  Westr. 

Colwick  Park ;  Sherwood  Forest,   Edwinstowe  ; 
Cossall. 

1 06.  Peponocranium  ludicrum,  Cambr. 

Blidworth  ;  Langford  Moor,  common  on  heather. 

107.  Pocadicnemls  pumllus,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

1 08.  M etopobactrus prominulus,  Cambr. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

109.  Gnephalocotes  obscurus,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

1 10.  Tapinocyba  praecox,  Cambr. 
Langford  Moor. 

111.  Baryphyma  pratcnsis,  Blackw. 

Wilford,  under  an  old  tin  can  in  hedge-bottom. 

112.  Wideria  antica,  Wid. 
Langford  Moor,  on  heather. 

113.  Wlderiafugax,  Cambr. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

114.  Wakkenaera  acuminata,  Blackw. 

Sherwood    Forest   (G.  W.  C.)  ;    Bagthorpe    and 
Basford,  Nottingham  ;  Cossall. 

115.  Ceratlnella  brevipes,  Westr. 
Langford  Moor. 

MIMETIDAE 

The  spiders  included  in  this  family  resemble  the 
Theridiidae  in  most  respects  :  the  eight  eyes  are 
disposed  as  in  the  latter  family,  there  are  three  tarsal 
claws,  and  the  legs  are  very  spinose. 

1 1 6.  Era  thoracica,  Wid. 

Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe  ;  Langford  Moor. 

EPEIRIDAE 

The  members  of  this  family  have  eight  eyes  situated 
in  two  rows,  and  disposed  in  three  rather  widely 
separated  groups — two  lateral  groups  of  two  eyes  each 
and  a  central  group  of  four  which  form  a  quadrangle. 


136 


SPIDERS 


EPEIRIDAE   (nnthueJ) 

The  tarsal  claws  are  three  in  number,  but  super- 
numerary pectinated  claws  are  often  present.  Mostly 
spiders  with  bright  colours  and  distinctive  pattern  of 
markings,  spinning  orbicular  or  wheel-shaped  snares. 

1 1 7.  Tetragnatba  extensa,  Linn. 
Annesley  Park  ;  Budby  Carr. 

1 1 8.  Tetragnatba  solandrii,  Scop. 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  on  sedges,  Wollaton 
Canal ;  on  palings  in  garden,  Lambley  ;  among 
foliage  of  trees,  Epperstone  Park  ;  on  marsh- 
thistle,  Wigsley  Wood. 

1 19.  Tetragnatba  obtusa,  C.  L.  Koch 

Among  the  foliage  of  trees  :  Sherwood  Forest, 
Edwinstowe ;  Langford  Moor ;  Cotgrave 
Wolds. 

1 20.  Pacbygnatba  degeerii,  Sund. 

In  many  localities  about  Nottingham  ;  Oxton 
Bogs  ;  Edwinstowe,  Sherwood  Forest,  beaten 
from  low  trees  commonly. 

I  z  I .  Pachygnatha  clerckii,  Sund. 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Bagthorpe,  Not- 
tingham, common  under  heaps  of  straw  in 
stubble  field,  in  winter  ;  Wilford ;  Radcliffe- 
on-Trent  ;  Oxton  Bogs,  rather  commonly  ; 
Worksop. 

122.  Pachygnatha  Ksteri,  Sund. 

Eakring  Brail  Wood,  among  grass  in  riding. 

123.  Meta  segmerttata,  Clerck 

Abundant  and  universally  distributed  throughout 
the  county. 

124.  Meta  merianae,  Scop. 

Nottingham,  on  plants  in  garden  ;  Langford 
Moor,  on  trees  and  heather. 

125.  Cyclosa  conica,  Pall. 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Langford  Moor 

126.  Singa  albovittata,  Westr. 

Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe,  taken  by  sweep- 
ing grass. 

127.  Zilla  x-notata,  Clerck 

A  very  common  spider  :  found  throughout  the 
county  under  cross-bars  of  gates  and  palings, 
under  the  coping  of  walls,  in  greenhouses  and 
outbuildings,  etc. 

128.  Zilla  atrica,  C.  L.  Koch. 

Nottingham  ;  Oxton  Bogs;  Winkburn;  Widmer- 
pool,  etc. 

129.  Epe'ira  gibbosa,  Walck. 

Worksop  district  (E.  M.  A.)  ;  Langford  Moor  ; 
Sherwood  Forest  ;  Crown  End  Wood,  West 
Leake. 

130.  Epeira  pyramidata,  Clerck 
N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 


131.  Epeira  diademata,  Clerck 

One  of  our  largest   and   most   familiar  spiders, 
common  in  gardens,  on  heaths,  and  in  woods. 

I  137 


EPEIRIDAE  (continued} 

132.  Epeira  cucurbitina,  Clerck 

Clumber  (E.  M.  A.). ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) ; 
Sherwood  Forest,  near  Edwinstowe  ;  Langford 
Moor,  rather  common. 

A  very  beautiful  spider,  easily  recognized  by  its 
reddish  cephalothorax  and  legs,  and  bright  apple- 
green  abdomen  with  a  red  blotch  at  its  hinder 
extremity. 

133.  Epeira  triguttata,  Fab. 

Langford  Moor  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn. 

134.  Epeira  umbratica,  Clerck 

Rather  common,  and  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  county,  occurring  under  bark  on  old 
palings,  in  the  crevices  of  wooden  fences,  etc. 
Easily  known  by  its  large  size,  flat  oval  abdo- 
men, and  very  dark  brown  colour  with  paler 
markings,  and  two  large  yellowish-white  spots 
on  the  under  side  of  the  abdomen. 

135.  Epeira  quadrata,  Clerck 

Bulwell  Forest  ;  Barrow  Hills,  Everton. 

A  very  large  and  handsome  species,  forming  its  large 
orbicular  snare  chiefly  in  furze  bushes  on  commons. 

136.  Epeira  sc lope taria,  Clerck 

Lowdham,  in  greenhouses,  abundant  (A.  H.  P.)  ; 
Colwick  Park,  under  bark  on  old  fence-rail. 

137.  Epeira  cornuta,  Clerck 
Colwick,  Barrow  Hills,  Everton. 

138.  Epeira patagiata,  C.  L.  Koch 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Colwick. 

THOMISIDAE 

The  spiders  of  this  family  have  a  short  and  broad 
cephalothorax  and  abdomen  and  laterally  extended 
legs.  This  crab-like  shape  is  accompanied  by  a  crab- 
like  motion,  the  species  moving  freely  either  forwards, 
backwards,  or  sideways.  There  are  eight  eyes  in  two 
rows,  arranged  in  a  semicircle  or  crescent  with  the 
convexity  directed  forwards.  Tarsal  claws,  two.  No 
web  or  snare  is  constructed. 

139.  Diaea  dorsata,  Fab. 
Langford  Moor. 

A  lovely  species  in  which  a  clear  pale  green  is  the 
prevailing  colour,  occurring  among  the  foliage  of  trees, 
especially  fir. 

140.  Xysticus  cristatus,  Clerck 

Occurs  more  or  less  commonly  in  every  part  of 
the  county. 

141.  Xysticus  pint,  Hahn 
Langford  Moor,  common. 

142.  Xysticut  lanio,  C.  L.  Koch 

Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;   Wigsley  Wood. 

143.  Xysticus  erraticus,  Blackw. 
Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.). 

144.  Xysticus  ulmi,  Hahn 
Roe  Wood,  Winkburn. 

145.  Oxypti/a  praticola,  C.  L.  Koch 
North   Wheatley    (T.  C.  B.  C.) 

Lambley. 


Nottingham 
18 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


THOMISIDAE  (continued') 

1 46.  Oxyptila  trux,  Blackw. 
Eakring  Brail  Wood. 

147.  Philotiromus  dispar,  Walck. 

South  Leverton  (A. T.) ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

148.  Pbilodromut  aureolus,  Clerck 

Abundant   on    heather,    fir,  and  other   trees  in 
woods  and  plantations  throughout  the  county. 

149.  Tibellus  oblongus,  Walck. 
North  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.) 


PISAURIDAE 

150.  Pis  aura  mlrabltis,  Clerck 

This,  the  only  British  representative  of  the 
family,  is  a  very  large  spider  occurring  in  all 
parts  of  the  county  on  heaths  and  in  woods, 
where  the  female  may  be  seen  about  mid- 
summer running  over  the  herbage  with  its 
egg-sac  attached  beneath  the  cephalothorax. 
Later  on  a  large  and  conspicuous  roughly 
dome-shaped  nest  is  constructed  between  the 
upright  stems  of  grasses,  twigs  of  heather,  etc., 
and  in  this  the  egg-sac  is  enclosed  and  the 
young  are  hatched  out. 

The  body  of  this  spider  is  long  and  narrow,  the 
legs  are  long,  with  three  tarsal  claws  ;  the  eight  eyes 
are  arranged  in  three  rows  :  four  in  the  first  row  in  a 
transverse  line  slightly  curved  backwards,  those  of  the 
second  and  third  rows  forming  a  rectangle  which  is 
wider  than  long. 

LYCOSIDAE 

Spiders  with  eight  eyes  in  three  rows  as  in  the 
Pisauridae,  but  the  first  row  is  straight.  There  are 
three  tarsal  claws.  Many  species  occur  in  woods, 
running  freely  over  the  ground  in  bright  sunshine. 
The  egg-sac  is  carried  about  attached  to  the  spinners, 
and  the  young  are  also  carried  for  a  time  after  hatch- 
ing, crowded  together  upon  the  abdomen  of  the 
mother.  Some  species  lurk  under  stones,  and  some  of 
the  larger  make  a  burrow  in  the  ground,  which  they 
line  with  silk.  No  snare  is  constructed  by  members 
of  this  family. 

151.  Pirata  hygnphllus,  Thor. 

Annesley  Park  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Eak- 
ring Brail  Wood. 

152.  Pirata  piraticus,  Clerck 
Radcliffe-on-Trent  ;     Cinder    Hill     Brickyard  ; 

Oxton  Bogs. 

153.  Trochosa  ruricola,  De  Geer 

Cinder  Hill  Brickyard  ;  Daybrook  ;  Wilford 
Hill  ;  Wollaton  ;  Linby  ;  Worksop.  North 
Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.);  South  Leverton 
(A.T.). 

154.  Trochosa  terricola,  Thor. 

Quarry  near  Bulwell  Wood  Hall  ;  Worksop. 
N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

155.  Trochosa  picta,  Hahn 

Worksop  (J.  T.  H.)  ;  Barrow  Hills,  Everton. 


LYCOSIDAE  (continued') 

156.  Tarentula  andrenivora,  Walck. 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Barrow  Hills, 
Everton. 

157.  Tarentula  puheruknta,  Clerck 

Quarry  near  Bulwell  Wood  Hall ;  Barrow  Hills, 
Everton  ;  Sherwood  Forest,  Edwinstowe  ; 
Langford  Moor  ;  Clipston  Wolds  ;  Oxton 
Bogs  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Eakring  Brail 
Wood.  Worksop  (J.  T.  H.) 

158.  Lycosa  amentata,  Clerck 

Abundant,  especially  in  woods,  in  every  part  of 
the  county. 

159.  Lycosa  nlgrlceps,  Thor. 

Blidworth  ;  Edwinstowe  ;  Langford  Moor. 

1 60.  Lycosa  pullata,  Clerck 

1 6 1 .  Lycosa  lugubrls,  Walck. 

This  and  the  last  species  are  widely  distributed 
and  common  in  woods  and  rough  waste  places. 

162.  Lycosa  prativaga,  C.  L.  Koch 

Edingley  Hill,  near  Southwell  ;  Oxton  Bogs  ; 
Eakring  Brail  Wood. 

163.  Lycosa  palustrls,  Linn. 
Eakring  Brail  Wood. 

164.  Lycosa  monticola,  C.  L.  Koch 

N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.)  ;  Barrow  Hills, 
Everton  ;  Clipston  Wolds. 

SALTICIDAE 

The  spiders  of  this  family  are  easily  recognized  by 
the  quadrate  form  of  the  cephalothorax,  and  by  the 
arrangement  of  the  eyes  in  three  rows,  forming  a  large 
quadrangle.  The  anterior  row  consists  of  four  large 
eyes,  the  two  centrals  being  especially  large  and  usually 
iridescent ;  the  two  forming  the  intermediate  row  are 
minute,  and  the  posterior  two  are  of  medium  size. 
These  spiders  spin  no  snare,  but  utilize  their  remark- 
able leaping  powers  for  the  capture  of  their  prey. 

165.  Eplblemum  icenicum,  Clerck 

This  is  the  common  'jumping  spider"  so  often 
seen  running  and  leaping  on  walls  in  the  hot 
sunshine.  It  is  distributed  throughout  the 
county.  I  have  found  it  at  Southwell  under 
the  bark  of  an  old  fence  in  company  with 
the  next  species. 

1 66.  Epiblemum  cingulatum,  Panz. 

Worksop  district  (E.  M.  A.  and  J.  T.  H.)  ; 
Calverton  Hill  ;  Oxton  Bogs  ;  Blidworth  ; 
Southwell ;  Langford  Moor ;  Budby.  Found 
on  palings  and  under  bark  on  old  fences. 

167.  Heltophanus flavlpes,  C.  L.  Koch 

Barrow  Hills,  Everton  ;  Oxton  Bogs ;  Sherwood 
Forest,  Edwinstowe. 

1 68.  Euopbrys  JrontaRs,  Walck. 

Warsop  ;  Worksop  ;  Budby  South  Forest  (Sher- 
wood Forest). 

169.  Hasarius  falcatus,  Blackw. 

Sherwood  Forest  (G.  W.  C.)  ;  Langford  Moor  ; 
Wigsley  Wood. 


138 


SPIDERS 


PHALANGIDEA 
Harvestmen 


170.  Liobunum  rotunJum,  Latr. 

Langford  Moor  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ; 
Rempstone. 

171.  Liobunum  blackwallii,  Meade 

North  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.);  Cotgrave  Wolds, 
on  trees. 

172.  Phalangium  opifio,  Linn. 

Abundant  throughout  the  county,  especially  on 
trees  in  woods. 

173.  Phalangium  parietinum,  Clerck 

Nottingham  ;  Budby  ;  Warsop  ;  N.  Wheatley  ; 
Cotgrave  Wolds  ;  Beauvale  Woods. 

174.  Phalangium  laxatile,  C.  L.  Koch 
Mansfield  ;  Barrow  Hills,  Everton. 

175.  Platybunus  corniger,  Herm. 
Wilford  Hill,  near  Nottingham. 

1 76.  Megabunus  insignis,  Meade 
Linby  ;  Langford  Moor. 

177.  Oligohphus  morio,  Fabr. 

Clumber,  (E.  M.  A.)  ;  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B. 
C.)  ;  Cotgrave  Wolds  ;  Roe  Wood,  Wink- 
burn,  etc.,  common  on  trees. 


178.  Oligohphus  agrestis,  Meade 

Grives  Wood,  Kirkby-in-Ashfield  ;  Nether  Lang- 
with  ;  Roe  Wood,  Winkburn  ;  Crown  End 
Wood,  West  Leake.  Ranby,  near  Babworth 
(T.  C.  B.  C.). 

179.  ORgolophus  tridens,  C.  L.  Koch 

Grives  Wood,  Kirkby-in-Ashfield  ;  Nether  Lang- 
with  ;  Warsop  ;  Worksop  ;  Beauvale  Woods, 
on  trees.  N.  Wheatley  (T.  C.  B.  C.). 

1 80.  Oligohphus  palpinalis,  Herbst. 
Crown  End  Wood,  West  Leake. 

1 8 1 .  Oligohphus  hamenii,  Kraep. 

Under  rotten  log  and  fallen  gate-post  in  field 
at  Bagthorpe,  Nottingham,  19  and  24  Novem- 
ber, 1903.  This  is  the  first  record  for  England, 
the  species  having  previously  been  found  in 
Great  Britain  only  at  Elvanfoot,  Lanark,  and 
Leadhills,  by  Mr.  W.  Evans.  I  took  several 
specimens  on  each  occasion,  and  have  since 
taken  it  at  Daybrook  and  Wollaton. 

182.  Nemastoma  lugubre,  O.  F.  Muller 

Linby  ;  Worksop  ;  Nottingham  district,  in 
several  places  ;  Beauvale  Woods  ;  Oxton 
Bogs,  etc. 

183.  Nemaitoma  chrysomelas,  Hermann 
Worksop. 


CHERNETIDEA 

Fahe-scorpions 


1 84.  Chthonius  rayi,  L.  Koch 

Common  under  stones  in  old  quarries  throughout 
the  Magnesian  Limestone  district.  Near 
Bulwell  Wood  Hall  ;  Mansfield  ;  Mansfield 
Woodhouse  ;  Pleasley  Vale  ;  Creswell  Crags 
quarry  ;  Worksop.  North  Wheatley  (T.  C. 
B.  C.). 

185.  Cbthonius  tetrachelatus,  Preyss. 

Quarries  in  Magnesian   Limestone  near  Bulwell 


Wood   Hall  ;    Grives  Wood,   near    Kirby-in- 
Ashfield  ;  and  Mansfield  Woodhouse. 

1 8  6.   Obisium  muscorum,  Leach 

Nottinghamshire  (W.  E.  Ryles). 

187.  Chernes  nodosus,  Schr. 

Two  specimens  clinging   to  legs  of  house-fly  at 
Worksop  (J.  T.  H.). 

1 88.  Chernes    dmicotdes,  Fab. 

Near  Trent  Bridge,  Nottingham  (Ryles). 


ADDENDA 

The  following  species  have  been  added  to  the  Nottinghamshire  fauna  since  the  foregoing  lists 
have  been  in  type  : — 

INSECTS 


EPHEMERIDAE 

Centroptilum  luteolum,  Mall.  Cossall      ~\ 

Baetis  binoculatus,  Linn.  Daybrook 

Rhithrogena  semicolorata,  Curt.  Linby 

Heptagenia  sulphurea,  Mull.  Fiskerton 

Caenis  (one  or  more  species)  Edteinstotce 


Carr. 


Anchomenus    atratus, 
(Chamberlin) 


COLEOPTERA 

Duft.     Barrow  Hills,  Everton 


COLEOPTERA  (continued} 

Hydroporus  marginatus,  Duft.     N.  Wheatley  (Cham- 
berlin) 

Laccobius  minutus,  Linn.     A'.  Wheatley  (Chamberlin) 
Cercyon  aquaticus,  Muls.     A'.  Wheatley  (Chamberlin) 
Homalota  liturata,  Steph.     Sherwood  Forest  (Blatch) 
Tachyporus  pallidus,  Sharp.     S.  Wheatley  (Chamber- 
lin) 

Oxytelus   rufipes,    Er.    Sherwood  Forest,  May,    1905 
(J.  Kidson  Taylor) 


139 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

COLEOPTERA  (continued')  COLEOPTERA  (continued') 

Bythinus  bulbifer,   Reich.     Colwtck  Wood  (Carr  and      Notoxus  monoceros,  Linn.      \      Barrow  Hills 
Ryles)  Sitones  griseus,  Fab.  J      (Chamberlin) 

Hippodamia  1 3-punctata,  Linn.  Barrow  Hills  (Cham- 
berlin) 

Scymnus  ater,  Kug.     Gamston,  near  Retford  (Cham-  DIPTERA 

-,  _,  Diplosis  tritici,  Kirby.  )    Kineston-on-Soar 

Cryptocephalus  fulvus.  Goeze.     Barrow  Htlls,  on  birch      T>      -i  u  .v.  u-v  T  •          r        rr\.       i     s 

CCh      be  1'   )  Poecilobothrus  nobilitatus,  Linn.    J         (Thornley) 

m»  .  ..  T-          /-,  f    i  /^-.L  Urophora  cardui.  Linn.     Gotham  (Thornley) 

Melasoma  popuh,  Linn.    Gamston,  near  Retford  (Cham-      ,~.    . r .    c  •     T .  v.  0       /ITI,       ,    s 

.     J  ,r  Oscmis  frit,  Linn.     Ktngston-on-Soar  (Thornley) 

Mordellistena  abdominalis,  Fab.     S.  Leverton  (Thorn- 


ley) 

Metoecus  paradoxus,  Linn.     2V.  Wheatley,  in  wasps' 
nests  (Chamberlin) 


HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA 

Typhlocyba  ulmi,  Linn.     Nottingham,  abundant 


ARACHNIDA 

ARANEIDEA 

8<2  Prosthesima  petiverii,  Scop.     Clipstone,  Sherwood  Forest  (Carr) 
loza  Diplocephalus  cristatus,  Blackw.          \  Colwtck  Wood 

JO23  „  latifrons,  Cambr.          j  (Carr) 


140 


CRUSTACEANS 

For  the  special  fauna  with  which  the  present  chapter  is  concerned 
this  county  might  very  well  be  chosen  as  a  representative  region.  To 
such  a  preference  the  contributory  circumstances  are  these : — it  occupies 
a  fairly  central  position  ;  it  is  richly  diversified  with  hills  and  dales, 
rivers  and  forests ;  it  is  also  abundantly  supplied  with  wells,  ponds, 
gardens,  and  greenhouses.  Under  these  favouring  conditions  a  student 
might  probably  make  himself  acquainted  with  the  land  and  freshwater 
crustaceans  of  England  at  least  as  well  in  Nottinghamshire  as  in  any 
equal  area  of  the  interior.  It  is  not  a  question  of  competition  with 
maritime  counties,  where  tidal  rivers,  harbours,  brackish  pools,  and  a 
saline  atmosphere  may  confuse  the  results.  Only  the  truly  terrestrial  and 
freshwater  species  are  here  to  be  taken  into  account.  But  while  the 
territory  is  very  attractive  for  this  limited  branch  of  research,  it  must  be 
confessed  that  it  is  at  present  to  a  large  extent  virgin  ground.  Hitherto 
only  two  or  three  investigators  have  published  records  of  their  researches. 
Among  these,  as  will  be  seen,  especial  acknowledgement  is  due  to 
Professor  J.  W.  Carr,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.,  of  University  College, 
Nottingham. 

Our  inland  fauna  nowhere  illustrates  the  whole  class  of  Crustacea : 
it  is  entirely  barren  of  the  highest  and  the  lowest  groups ;  there  are  no 
crabs  and  no  barnacles.  On  the  other  hand,  species  intermediate  between 
these  two  extremes  are  far  more  numerous  and  far  more  common  than  is 
generally  suspected.  An  overwhelming  proportion  of  these  belong  to 
the  Entomostraca,  while  comparatively  few  are  distributed  among  three 
orders  of  the  Malacostraca.  There  is,  in  fact,  only  one  out  of  the  whole 
number  that  answers  to  the  ordinary  popular  notion  of  a  crustacean. 
This  is  the  river  crayfish,  Potamobius  pallipes  (Lereboullet).  The  generic 
name  appropriately  points  to  its  life  in  rivers.  Its  extensive  distribution 
over  the  river-system  of  England  is  only  now  being  gradually  proved,  and 
is  almost  certainly  subject  to  some  limitations  and  fluctuations.  The 
latter  are  apparently  due  to  epidemical  disease  or  other  temporary  and 
local  disasters.  The  former  may  be  traced  to  uncongenial  conditions  of 
soil  or  climate,  and  will  be  worthy  of  more  exact  consideration  when  we 
are  more  sure  of  the  precise  facts.  That  a  particular  district  is  fertile  in 
crayfish  is  easily  proved  by  our  finding  plenty  of  specimens  in  it ;  but  by 
not  finding  them  we  cannot  at  once  conclude  that  there  are  none  to  be 
found.  We  have  to  bear  in  mind  the  old  logical  warning  that  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  prove  a  negative.  However,  with  regard  to  the 
species  now  in  question,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Walker,  of  Averham  Rectory, 

141 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Newark-on-Trent,  writing  under  date  6  August,  1903,  says:  'It  certainly 
does  not  occur  in  the  Trent,  nor,  as  I  am  aware,  in  any  streams  in  my 
district,  Averham,  near  Newark.  The  only  place  I  can  recollect  where 
they  are  to  be  found,  and  that  is  many  years  ago,  was  at  Shireoaks,  near 
Worksop.'  Similarly  Mr.  Henry  V.  Machin,  of  Gateford  Hill,  Worksop, 
writing  on  15  August,  1903,  says:  'We  have  no  specimens  of  the 
Astacus  fluviatilis  nearer  than  Shireoaks.'  At  the  same  time  he  enclosed 
an  extract  from  The  Worksop  Guardian  for  Friday,  14  August,  1903,  in 
which  the  anonymous  writer  agrees  with  him  in  using  the  familiar 
designation  Astacus  Jiuviatilis  for  the  species  now  more  correctly  known  as 
Potamobius pallipes.  Under  the  heading  ' Naturalist  Notes  by  "Observer,"' 
the  following  account  is  given  : — 

I  have  been  very  much  interested  during  the  past  week  in  watching  the  proceedings  of  a 
female  crayfish  (Astacus  fuviatilis),  which,  like  many  other  creatures  of  a  larger  growth,  has 
recently  acquired  a  new  summer  suit,  but,  unlike  the  members  of  the  genus  homo,  the  crayfish 
has  not  to  appeal  for  outside  assistance  to  aid  it  in  this  operation. 

When  it  becomes  apparent  that  the  limits  of  expansion  have  been  reached  with  the  old  suit, 
it  loses  its  sensibility  or  practically  dies,  and  the  constituents  of  a  new  shell  are  deposited  between 
the  body  and  the  old  shell.  At  the  appointed  time  the  crayfish  simply  walks  out  of  its  old 
home,  which  is  left  empty,  but  marvellously  perfect  even  to  the  extreme  tips  of  the  delicate 
antennae. 

After  the  operation  the  creature  rests  for  a  time  in  a  perfectly  limp  and  helpless  condition, 
until  the  new  shell  gradually  hardens,  and  it  is  once  more  able  to  indulge  its  ready  propensity 
for  bickering  and  quarrelling  with  the  other  members  of  the  tribe.  One  might  also  mention  the 
extraordinary  ability  for  parting  with  claws,  which  seem  to  be  regarded  by  the  crayfish  as 
appendages  to  be  thrown  off  on  the  least  provocation.  Fortunately,  Nature  has  been  kind  in 
this  respect  ;  and  the  loss  of  a  claw  is  not  a  serious  matter,  as  a  new  one  speedily  grows  in  the 
place  of  the  discarded  member. 

As  with  so  many  other  forms  of  wild  life,  Worksop  may  almost  be  said  to  have  a  monopoly 
for  the  county,  as  I  am  not  aware  that  the  crayfish  occurs  in  any  other  part.  Anyone  who  has 
seen  a  lobster  may  almost  be  said  to  have  seen  a  crayfish,  for  beyond  the  fact  that  the  lobster  is 
much  larger,  and  lives  in  salt  water,  whilst  the  crayfish  is  confined  to  fresh  water,  there  is 
practically  no  structural  difference  between  the  two.  The  female  crayfish  changes  her  shell,  in 
the  manner  described  above,  once  each  year  ;  while  the  more  extravagant  male  requires  two 
coats  in  the  same  period. 

The  female  carries  her  eggs  (which  are  laid  in  November  or  December)  with  her  until  they 
are  hatched,  and  the  young,  which  appear  in  May  or  June,  are  also  carried  about  for  some  time 
by  their  parent.  Being  nocturnal  in  their  habits,  and  resting  by  day  under  stones  or  in  holes 
in  the  banks,  these  curious  creatures  are  not  often  observed,  which  is  perhaps  as  well  for  them, 
seeing  that  they  are  not  particularly  well  equipped  for  offence  or  defence  against  larger  animals. 
Eels  particularly  are  said  to  be  amongst  their  worst  enemies.  As  they  do  not  appear  to  do  any 
harm,  and  by  feeding  upon  dead  animals  or  other  matter  found  in  thewater.no  doubt  do  a  great 
deal  towards  keeping  it  pure,  we  may  be  pleased  that  our  local  fauna  includes  such  an  interesting 
crustacean  as  the  crayfish,  sometimes  called,  but  erroneously,  the  fresh  water  crab. 

Upon  this  agreeably-written  notice  by  a  local  observer  a  few  com- 
ments may  be  permitted.  In  regard  to  the  distribution  of  Potamobius 
pallipes  within  the  county,  Professor  Carr  makes  it  clear  that  Worksop  has 
not  a  monopoly,  by  supplying  the  information  that  the  species  is  '  fairly 
common  in  the  River  Maun  and  mill-dams  at  Mansfield.' *  The  process 
known  as  exuviation,  ecdysis,  moulting,  or  shedding  of  the  outer  sheath 
of  the  animal  is  not  peculiar  to  crayfishes,  but  a  common  characteristic 
of  the  whole  crustacean  class.  Not  only  does  it  extend  to  the  delicate 
tips  of  the  antenna?,  the  covering  of  the  eyes,  the  complicated  apparatus 

of  the  mouth-organs,  but  actually  includes  the  lining  of  the  stomach, 

\ 

1  Tram.  Nott.  Nat.  Soc.  for  1902-3,  p.  i  (1904). 
I42 


CRUSTACEANS 

although  that  is  not  extruded  when  the  rest  of  the  apparel  is  thrown  off. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  would  be  wrong  to  regard  the  operation  as 
universally  simple,  as  the  facile  casting  of  old  clouts,  to  find  a  fairer  and 
better  fitting  costume  beneath  them.  There  is  often  no  such  ground 
for  evoking  envy  in  the  impecunious  children  of  men.  In  all  species 
armed  with  massive  nippers  the  withdrawal  of  big  muscles  through 
narrow  articulations  is  a  hazardous  and  probably  painful  operation.  Nor 
can  it  be  said  without  reserve  that,  prior  to  the  moult,  '  the  constituents 
of  a  new  shell  are  deposited  between  the  body  and  the  old  shell.'  The 
discarding  of  the  latter  exposes  indeed  the  new  coat  that  lay  beneath  it, 
but  the  fresh  vesture  is  unfinished,  not  yet  properly  calcified.  This  is  a 
necessary  condition  of  the  whole  procedure.  The  muscles  first  of  all 
become  flaccid  for  purposes  of  extraction.  They  then  assume  a  certain 
rigidity.  Finally  they  expand  to  that  fuller  capacity  which  made  a 
change  in  the  exoskeleton  essential.  When  the  coat  is  once  well  hardened 
by  calcareous  salts  such  expansion  is  no  longer  possible.  In  the  meantime 
the  crustacean  without  a  solid  crust  is  exposed  to  anxiety  and  peril. 
Another  incident  in  the  biology  of  these  creatures  may  at  the  first  glance 
be  thought  rather  enviable.  Wolves  and  Spartans  have  been  known  to 
escape  from  fetters,  and  less  heroic  individuals  can  avoid  the  pain  and 
danger  of  wounded  limbs,  by  artificial  amputation.  But  the  tribe  of 
crabs  and  lobsters  are  provided  by  Nature  herself  with  a  special  groove 
at  which  they  can  easily  throw  off  almost  the  whole  of  an  inconvenient 
leg.  Also  from  the  stump  they  can  grow  a  new  limb.  But  '  Observer ' 
exaggerates  their  good  fortune  in  affirming  that  the  loss  of  a  claw  is  not 
a  serious  matter,  and  that  its  restoration  may  be  counted  on  as  speedy. 
On  the  contrary,  the  repair  of  appendages  is  slowly  accomplished,  perhaps 
requiring  several  exuviations  for  its  completion,  and  in  any  case  leaving 
an  interval  during  which  the  cripple  must  be  at  a  grave  disadvantage 
among  its  fully-equipped  competitors. 

Our  river  crayfish  and  our  common  lobster,  alike  as  they  are  in 
general  appearance,  belong  in  fact  to  two  different  though  nearly  allied 
families,  respectively  the  Potamobiidas  and  the  Nephropsida?.  Into  all 
the  distinctions  between  these  two  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  enter ;  but,  as 
an  example  of  them,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  in  the  former  family  the 
segment  that  precedes  the  flexible  tail  is  partially  free,  whereas  in  the 
lobster  it  is  firmly  adherent  to  the  other  segments  covered  by  the 
carapace. 

Crayfishes  are  tolerably  tenacious  of  life,  and  can  be  to  a  certain 
extent  domesticated.  By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Machin  and  his  sister  I 
was  put  in  communication  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddison,  of  Shireoaks 
Hall,  near  Worksop,  with  the  result  that  Mr.  George  Eddison  wrote  to 
me  from  that  residence  on  16  August,  1903,  as  follows  : — 'The  crayfish 
I  have  pleasure  in  sending  you  by  to-night's  post  have  been  caught  this 
afternoon  in  the  cascade  which  runs  from  one  pond  to  another  in  the  park 
here.  I  have  known  crayfish  to  be  in  these  waters  for  over  fifty  years, 
where  they  breed.  These  are  of  average  size.'  The  specimens  packed 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

in  damp  moss  travelled  first  to  Tunbridge  Wells,  and  were  forwarded 
thence  to  West  Baling,  having  been  in  close  confinement  for  about  forty- 
eight  hours.  Nevertheless,  they  arrived  in  a  quite  lively  condition,  and 
one  of  the  four,  a  female,  survived  to  accomplish  another  postal  journey 
and  to  spend  several  months  at  Tunbridge  Wells  apparently  much  to  its 
own  satisfaction.  During  this  period  it  occupied  a  glass  bowl  8J  inches 
in  diameter  by  3i  inches  deep.  This  was  supplied  with  a  layer  of  mud 
at  the  bottom  for  the  tenant  to  burrow  in,  with  two  or  three  rough 
stones  to  assist  it  if  necessary  in  sloughing  its  coat,  with  the  moss  in 
which  it  had  travelled  from  its  native  cascade,  with  some  fresh  Anacharis 
alsinastrum  and  other  pond  weeds  ;  and,  lastly,  with  water  to  the  depth  of 
an  inch  or  a  little  more.  For  food  it  was  at  first  provided  with  sessile- 
eyed  crustaceans,  water  boatmen,  and  other  experiments  in  aquatic  pro- 
vender ;  but  in  the  course  of  the  winter  it  was  found  more  convenient  to 
feed  it  on  earthworms.  These  it  did  not  attempt  to  kill,  but  it  appeared  to 
eat  them  with  much  satisfaction  when  they  had  been  converted  into  meat. 
It  soon  ceased  to  show  any  sort  of  timidity  or  shyness,  and  would  raise 
itself  out  of  the  water  when  approached,  as  if  courting  society.  It  never 
made  any  visible  attempt  to  leave  the  bowl,  yet  one  morning  it  was  found 
on  the  floor,  having  apparently  effected  its  escape  and  fallen  from  a  height 
of  14  inches  without  injury.  A  considerable  time  after  this  escapade, 
and  without  having  shed  its  skin,  it  eventually  met  its  death  on  13  May, 
1904.  Though  this  catastrophe  happened  during  my  own  absence  from 
home,  it  need  not  be  assumed  that  the  creature  died  of  grief.  It  is  more 
likely  to  have  succumbed  to  an  abrupt  rise  of  temperature  which  then 
occurred.  Of  the  four  specimens  from  Shireoaks  Park,  the  larger  pair 
were  three  inches  long,  the  smaller  about  two  inches,  in  each  case  the 
male  and  female  being  approximately  equal.  I  have  specimens  from 
Oxfordshire  far  more  bulky,  and  over  four  inches  in  length. 

The  sessile-eyed  Malacostraca  are  represented  in  our  inland  waters  by  plenty  of  individuals 
but  very  few  species.  Of  the  Amphipoda  only  one  species,  the  common  Gammarus  pulex 
(Linn.),  has  hitherto  been  recorded  for  this  county.  According  to  Professor  Carr  it  '  occurs 
abundantly  everywhere  in  streams  and  ponds.'  *  This  little  shrimp  is  under  an  inch  in  length.  ' 
A  crayfish  of  small  dimensions  would  outweigh  a  hundred  of  the  Gammarus.  Any  near 
relationship  between  the  two  could  scarcely  be  suspected  on  a  cursory  inspection.  Nevertheless 
the  structure  in  both  is  essentially  the  same,  although  in  the  smaller  animal  it  is  in  some 
respects  simpler,  and,  on  the  hypothesis  of  a  common  origin,  might  be  thought  to  show  fewer 
modifications  of  the  ancestral  form.  The  difference  in  appearance  might  be  compared  with  that 
which  exists  between  a  thin  boy  in  an  Eton  jacket  and  a  portly  man  in  a  frock  coat.  It 
depends  essentially  on  the  covering  capacity  of  the  carapace.  This  great  shield  in  the  crayfish 
extends  over  the  segment  which  carries  the  eyes  and  over  thirteen  other  appendage-bearing 
segments,  which  are  all  except  the  last  in  complete  coalescence.  But  in  Gammarus  the  coat 
or  carapace  is  so  short  that  seven  of  this  number  are  left  uncovered  and  remain  movably 
articulated,  like  the  seven  following  segments,  which  in  both  species  alike  constitute  the  pleon 
or  tail.  To  several  appendages  of  those  uncovered  middle  segments  in  the  amphipod  it  will  be 
found  that  little  sacs  or  vesicles  are  attached.  These  simple  bag-like  organs  are  the  gills 
or  branchiae.  In  the  crayfish  the  corresponding  organs  are  divided  up  into  numerous  filaments, 
exposing  a  much  larger  surface  for  the  oxygenation  of  the  blood  in  the  course  of  its  circulation. 
Moreover,  they  are  attached  to  a  greater  number  of  appendages,  and  instead  of  hanging  freely 
in  the  water,  they  are  efficiently  sheltered  in  a  pair  of  branchial  chambers,  formed  by  the 

1  Op.  cit,  p.  i. 
144 


CRUSTACEANS 

cheeks  of  the  carapace.  In  the  tail-segments  or  pleon  it  is  not  very  difficult  to  trace  similarity 
of  character  throughout  the  Malacostraca,  but  the  appendages  of  these  segments  are  modified 
in  a  strange  variety  of  ways  to  serve  different  functions.  In  the  higher  forms  some  of  them  are 
altogether  dispensed  with,  just  as  we  find  the  proudest  of  the  mammals  dispensing  with  their 
caudal  vertebrae.  In  that  division  of  the  Amphipoda  to  which  Gammarus  pulex  belongs,  the  first 
three  segments  of  the  pleon  are  always  articulated  and  carry  appendages  called  pleopods 
or  swimming-legs,  with  a  function  corresponding  to  their  name.  Their  structure  is  tolerably 
simple,  consisting  of  a  two-jointed  stem  and  two  many-jointed  branches.  Even  when 
the  animal  is  stationary  their  movements  are  not  entirely  discontinued,  being  no  doubt 
necessary  for  maintaining  a  proper  flow  of  water  over  the  branchial  vesicles.  The  foremost 
pair  is  often  found  directed  strongly  forwards.  In  the  female  the  object  of  this  position  is  to 
assist  in  keeping  the  eggs  or  developing  young,  safe  within  the  marsupial  plates.  In  Gammarus 
and  its  neighbours  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  pairs  of  pleon-appendages  are  known  as  uropods 
or  tail-feet.  The  last  pair  may  be  used  as  a  steering  apparatus,  but  sometimes  all  three  assist 
the  animal  in  springing  movements  by  which  the  rowing  action  of  the  pleopods  is  supplemented 
or  superseded. 

The  Isopoda  are  represented  here  as  in  other  inland  districts  of  our  country  by  a  single 
freshwater  species,  Asellus  aquaticus  (Linn.),  noted  by  Professor  Carr  as  'common  in  similar 
situations'1  with  G.  pulex.  Many  fine  specimens  of  this  species  were  sent  me  by  Mr.  H.  V. 
Machin,  of  Gateford  Hill,  Worksop.  They  reached  West  Ealing  opportunely  for  the 
commissariat  of  the  earlier  arrived  crayfishes.  Much  to  my  surprise,  when  introduced  to  one 
another  the  crayfishes  made  not  the  slightest  attempt  to  catch  or  molest  the  Aselli,  and  these 
on  their  part  swam  and  crawled  about  not  only  within  reach  of  the  claws,  but  close  to 
the  mouths  of  the  crayfishes.  Their  immunity  was  not  permanent.  But  my  impression  is  that 
crayfishes  prefer  to  take  their  meals  in  the  dark,  and  do  not  much  care  for  game,  at  least  in  the 
guise  of  earthworms  and  water  boatmen,  until  it  has  been  kept  a  decent  time.  For  a  speci- 
men of  Asellus  aquaticus  from  a  shallow  well  at  Chilwell  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Charles  E. 
Pearson,  F.L.S. 

The  Isopoda  agree  with  the  Amphipoda  in  having  the  eyes  not  stalked  but  sessile,  and  in 
having  the  seven  segments  of  the  middle-body  or  person  freely  movable,  and  not  covered  by 
the  carapace.  On  the  other  hand  they  differ  strikingly  in  regard  to  the  breathing  apparatus, 
which  is  in  them  transferred  from  the  walking  legs  to  the  appendages  of  the  pleon.  This 
carries  with  it  a  transfer  of  the  heart  from  its  position  near  the  head  to  a  position  near  the  tail. 
Like  Potamobius  pallipes  among  the  Macrura,  Asellus  aquaticus  among  the  Isopoda  is  a  convenient 
object  of  study  because  of  its  extreme  commonness.  But  whereas  the  former  species  is  in  most 
respects  normal  to  an  exemplary  degree,  the  Asellus  is  very  abnormal  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
pleon.  Not  merely  are  all  the  segments  of  this  part  consolidated  into  a  single  shield, 
but  beneath  this  sort  of  carapace  the  appendages  are  eccentric,  differing  in  number  in  male  and 
female,  and  some  of  them  rather  widely  differing  in  shape  in  the  two  sexes. 

Of  terrestrial  Isopoda  the  species  known  to  occur  in  England  are  now  twenty-four  in 
number.  When  Bate  and  Westwood  published  their  work  on  British  Sessile-eyed  Crustacea 
in  1868  they  were  only  able  to  record  sixteen  of  these  twenty-four,  and  for  Nottinghamshire, 
Professor  Carr's  list  in  1904  contained  only  seven.  A  collection  kindly  made  for  me  by 
Mr.  C.  E.  Pearson  during  the  winter  of  this  present  year,  1905,  enables  me  to  make  one 
addition  to  the  latter  number.  These  eight  species  are  distributed  over  three  families  of  the 
Oniscidea.  All  of  them  are  commonly  known  as  woodlice.  This  term,  it  may  be  said 
in  passing,  is  quite  unworthy  of  their  true  carcinological  rank.  They  are  as  much  Crustacea 
Malacostraca  as  any  crab  or  lobster  that  ever  was  eaten.  In  the  family  Trichoniscidae  stands 
Trichoniscus  pusi/lus  (Brandt),  described  by  Bate  and  Westwood3  under  the  name  Philougria 
riparia  (Kinahan).  Professor  Carr  says  of  it,  '  This  tiny  claret-brown  coloured  species  is  very 
common  under  stones,  decaying  logs,  amongst  moss,  etc.,  in  damp  places.  I  have  found  it  more 
or  less  abundantly  at  Basford,  Cinder  Hill,  Wollaton,  Kimberley,  near  Bulwell  Wood  Hall,  at 
Kirkby  in  Ashfield,  Mansfield,  Warsop,  Nether  Langwith,  Creswell  Crags,  Shireoaks,  and 
Worksop.'8  The  animal  is  only  a  sixth  of  an  inch  long,  with  very  minute  eyes,  the 
second  antennas  much  geniculate,  and  the  first  pair,  as  usual  in  this  terrestrial  group,  very  small. 
The  pleon  is  abruptly  narrower  than  the  middle  body,  and,  as  in  almost  all  the  Isopoda,  has 
the  terminal  segment  or  telson  fused  with  the  preceding  segment.  This  terminal  piece  has 
here  a  truncate  apex,  distinguishing  it  from  the  corresponding  part  in  the  next  five  species, 

1  Op.  cit.  p.  i.  8  Brit.  Seti.  Crust,  ii,  456.  s  Trans.  Nott.  Nat.Soc.  for  1902-3,  p.  i, 

I  145  19 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

which  have  the  telsonic  segment  more  or  less  acute.  All  these  five  are  included  in  the  family 
Oniscidae.  Oniscus  asellus  (Linn.),  as  might  be  expected,  is  noted  as  the  commonest  species,  and 
as  being  'abundant  everywhere  under  flower  pots  in  gardens,  under  stones,  logs,  bark  of  fallen 
trees,  etc.' J  It  reaches  two-thirds  of  an  inch  in  length  and  more  than  a  third  in  breadth,  the 
eyes  are  rather  large,  and  the  second  antennae  have  the  five-jointed  peduncle  not  armed  with 
outstanding  spines  as  in  Trichoniscus  pusil/us,  but  smooth  and  carrying  a  flagellum  of  only  three 
joints.  The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  segments  of  the  pleon  are  expanded  in  such  a  way  that 
their  lateral  edges  form  a  continuous  curve  with  the  sides  of  the  middle  body.  By  this  last 
feature  it  is  easily  distinguished  both  from  the  preceding  species  and  from  the  next,  which  is 
of  a  size  somewhat  intermediate  between  the  two.  This  bears  a  name  reminiscent  of 
summer  glades,  being  by  interpretation  the  shade-loving  tenant  of  mosses,  or  technically 
Philotcia  muscorum  (Scopoli).  It  is  '  common  under  stones  and  logs  everywhere  around  Not- 
tingham ;  also  about  Mansfield,  Worksop,  in  Sherwood  Forest,  etc.'  *  Of  Platyarthrus 
ho/mannsfggii  (Brandt),  Professor  Carr  says,  'This  curious  little  wood-louse  differs  from  the  other 
British  species  in  being  quite  destitute  of  eyes  ;  it  is  pure  white  in  colour,  and  lives  in  ants' 
nests,  where  its  presence  is  tolerated  probably  on  account  of  its  being  useful  as  a  scavenger. 
I  have  found  it  commonly  in  quarries  throughout  the  Magnesian  Limestone  district,  e.g.,  near 
Bulwell  Wood  Hall,  Grives  Wood  (Kirkby  in  Ashfield),  Mansfield,  Warsop,  Creswell  Crags, 
and  Worksop  ;  also  in  Wollaton  brickyard  ;  and  the  Rev.  A.  Thornley  has  sent  me  specimens 
from  a  gypsum  pit  at  Clarborough,  near  Retford.'3  The  peculiar  habitat  and  the  characters 
above  given  will  enable  the  student  when  he  comes  across  this  widely  distributed  species  to 
imitate  a  celebrated  traveller  and  say,  without  further  introduction,  '  Platyarthrus,  I  presume.' 
Its  supposed  usefulness  as  a  scavenger  in  the  formicarium  tallies  with  the  service  which 
apparently  the  whole  crustacean  class  are  disposed  to  render  to  their  fellow  creatures.  They 
are  a  kind  of  living  machinery  for  converting  waste  products  into  palatable  foods.  Porcellio 
icater  (Latreille)  is  reported  as  '  very  common  under  stones  and  flower  pots  in  Nottingham 
gardens,  also  under  stones  and  logs,  under  bark  of  dead  trees,  etc.,  throughout  the  county. 
The  usual  colour  is  a  greyish  slate,  but  a  yellowish  or  reddish  brown  variety  is  not 
uncommon.'*  This  very  common  species  is  nearly  as  long  as  Oniscus  astl/us,  but  not  so  broad, 
and  is  distinguished  by  its  more  granular  integument,  and  by  having  the  flagellum  of  the  second 
antennae  two-jointed.  Moreover,  the  two  first  pairs  of  appendages  in  the  pleon  exhibit  an 
interesting  feature  of  distinction,  in  that  the  outer  branches  which  form  opercular  plates  are 
provided  with  air  cavities  known  as  pseudo-tracheae.  These  must  be  regarded  as  a  character 
acquired  since  the  ancestral  Porcellio  left  the  water  for  terrestrial  wandering.  In  his  essay  on  this 
species  the  learned  doctor  and  professor  G.  R.  Treviranus 6  confirms  the  observation  previously 
made  by  de  Geer  that  the  Oniscidea  feed  on  plants,  and  take  their  nourishment  principally  by 
night.  This  is  in  accord  with  what  I  have  suggested  above  as  the  custom  of  crayfishes. 
Treviranus  adds,  however,  '  In  my  hotbeds  I  often  saw  these  creatures  still  late  in  the 
morning  gnawing  at  the  leaves  of  the  plants.'6  Besides  P.  sealer  several  other  species  of  this 
genus  are  found  in  England,  and  some  of  these  are  sure  to  be  eventually  discovered  in  this 
county.  Indeed,  since  this  prediction  was  written,  it  has  been  in  part  fulfilled,  as  will 
presently  be  noticed.  Of  Metoponorthus  pruinosus  (Brandt),  Professor  Carr  writes,  '  I  have  only 
once  met  with  this  species,  on  22  June,  1902,  when  it  occurred  in  considerable  numbers 
under  a  log  in  a  garden  at  Sherwood  Rise,  Nottingham.'7  This  species  recalls  the  appearance 
of  Philosda  muscorum  by  having  the  pleon  abruptly  contracted.  But  it  agrees  with  Porcellio  in 
having  *a  two-jointed  flagellum  to  the  second  antennae,  and  air  cavities  in  the  pleopods.  In 
contrast  with  his  single  record  for  this  species,  Professor  Carr  speaks  of  Armadillidium  vulgare 
(Latreille)  as  occurring  in  considerable  numbers  in  several  localities,  e.g.,  Nottingham,  Kim- 
berley,  quarry  near  Bulwell  Wood  Hall,  Mansfield,  Warsop,  Creswell  Crags,  Worksop,  etc. 
'  This  species,'  he  adds,  '  when  disturbed  instantly  rolls  itself  into  a  perfect  ball  of  the  size  and 
colour  of  a  black,  or  rather  blue,  pill  ;  hence  the  name  "  Pill  woodlouse,"  commonly  applied 
to  it.  Varieties  of  a  brown  or  yellowish-brown  colour  are  not  uncommon.'8  It  belongs  to  the 
family  Armadillidiidae.  It  has  the  telsonic  segment  truncate  as  in  Trichoniscus  pusi/lus,  but, 
whereas  in  that  species  the  two  slender  branches  of  the  uropods  extend  beyond  the  telson 
quite  prominently,  here  the  inner  branch  is  entirely  concealed,  and  the  short  broad  outer 
branch  helps  to  form  a  continuous  curve  with  the  telsonic  and  three  preceding  segments.  To 

1  Op.  cit.  p.  2.  s  Ibid.  p.  2.  8  Ibid.  p.  2. 

*  Ibid.  p.  2.  6  yermischte  Schriften,  i,  50(1816).  8  Ibid.  p.  53. 

^  Trans.  Nott.  Nat.  Sac.  for  1902-3,  p.  2.  "  Ibid.  p.  2. 

146 


CRUSTACEANS 

this  record  of  seven  species  published  by  Professor  Carr  may  now  be  added,  from  Mr.  C.  E. 
Pearson's  collection,  the  interesting  species  Porcellio  dilatatus  (Brandt  and  Ratzeburg).  From 
P.  scaber  this  is  distinguished  by  its  broader  shape,  less  tuberculose  integument,  and  the  produced 
rounded  (not  acute)  apex  of  the  telsonic  segment.  Also  in  the  second  antennae  the  two 
joints  of  the  flagellum  are  about  equal  in  length.  Bate  and  Westwood  record  it  only  from 
Ireland,  and  say  it  is  found  among  decaying  grass  and  straw,  and  appears  to  be  extremely 
rare.1  But  like  many  other  rarities,  it  has  proved  to  be  not  so  very  uncommon  when  search 
is  conducted  with  a  little  pertinacity.  Though  the  Oniscidea  more  than  ever  withdraw  them- 
selves from  the  public  gaze  during  our  English  winter,  Mr.  C.  E.  Pearson  was  able  in  a  few 
days  of  January  and  February  to  collect  for  me  from  Lowdham  and  Chilwell,  besides  the 
above-mentioned  P.  dilatatus,  also  P.  scaber  ;  the  straight-fronted,  smooth-coated  Metoponorthus 
pruinosus  ;  and  the  globe-forming  Armadillldium  vulgare,  including  prettily-marked  specimens 
of  the  form  known  as  var.  vent  gat  a. 

From  the  Malacostraca,  in  which  a  strong  cord  of  uniformity  binds  together  all  the  diverse 
elements,  we  now  pass  to  the  Entomostraca,  united  indeed  to  the  other  sub-class  and  united 
among  themselves,  but  united  by  less  evident  and  more  entangled  threads.  For  species 
occurring  within  this  county  I  am  indebted  to  papers  by  Mr.  Edwin  Smith,  M.A.,  published 
in  The  Midland  Naturalist*  and  to  an  unpublished  list  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Pratt,  F.R.M.S.,  of 
Cavendish  Hill,  Sherwood,  Nottingham,  sent  me  through  Professor  Carr,  to  whom  I  am 
further  indebted  for  the  published  record  of  one  species  and  for  specimens  of  another.  From 
these  several  sources  sixteen  or  seventeen  species,  illustrating  the  three  orders  of  the  sub-class, 
can  be  accredited  to  the  county.  The  orders  in  question  are  named  Branchiopoda,  Ostracoda, 
and  Copepoda,  in  allusion  to  features  which  are  more  or  less  conspicuously  characteristic  of 
them  severally.  The  names  signify  respectively  gill-footed,  valve-shelled,  oar-footed.  It  is  in 
the  last  of  these  groups  that  we  find  forms  the  most  shrimp-like,  the  least  remote  from  the 
Malacostracan  pattern.  Mr.  Edwin  Smith,  in  the  work  already  cited,  gives  an  interesting  dis- 
cussion of  the  Copepoda,  taking  as  a  type  the  species  Cyclops  quadricornis  from  some  unspecified 
locality.  Mr.  Pratt  records  it  from  '  ponds  and  ditches  about  Nottingham  in  many  places,' 
and  the  same  authority  records  Canthocamptus  minutus  from  '  pond  at  Gamston  near  Notting- 
ham.' In  regard  to  this  and  two  other  species  Mr.  Smith  makes  the  following  remarks,  some 
of  which  will  be  useful  for  wider  application  :  '  Nearly  allied  to  Cyclops,  and  not  much  unlike 
it  in  appearance,  is  Canthocamptus,  found  abundantly  in  the  ponds  about  Nottingham.  As  it 
is  rather  small,  the  best  way  to  secure  a  specimen  for  examination  is  to  place  a  portion  of  the 
gathering  in  a  shallow  dish  and  look  it  well  over  with  a  pocket  lens.  A  small  dipping  tube, 
made  as  follows,  will  be  found  useful  :  One  end  must  be  drawn  to  a  blunt  point  with  moderate 
aperture,  the  other  inserted  into  a  short  piece  of  india-rubber  tubing  sealed  air-tight  at  the  free 
extremity.  Press  the  india-rubber  between  thumb  and  fore-finger,  dip  into  the  water,  and  by 
removing  pressure  at  the  right  moment  the  object  is  sucked  up  into  the  tube,  whence  it  may  be 
expelled  by  once  more  pinching  the  indiarubber.  The  two  commonest  species  of  Cantho- 
camptus are  C.  minutus  and  C.  furcatus.  In  the  female  I  have  often  found  a  curious  reddish 
substance  coming  off  from  the  sixth  body  segment.  It  is  of  a  hard  and  horny  nature,  but  its 
use  is  not  known.  Closely  allied  to  the  preceding  is  Diaptomus  castor,  easily  recognized  by  its 
inferior  antennae,  which  are  fully  as  long  as  the  entire  body.  I  have  found  it  amongst  algas  in 
stagnant  ponds.'3 

Thus  we  have  apparently  four  species  of  normal  Copepoda  to  deal  with.  As  already 
indicated,  they  are  extremely  common  species.  Also  they  are  all  insignificant  in  size,  but  the 
three  genera  belong  to  three  different  families,  of  which  the  Cyclopidae  and  Arpacticidas  belong 
to  the  division  Podoplea,  the  Diaptomidae  to  the  division  Gymnoplea.  To  explain  this  sever- 
ance we  have  to  notice  that  the  framework  of  ordinary  Copepoda  is  divided  into  eleven 
segments,  the  first  or  cephalic  being  composite.  This  is  followed  by  a  middle-body  or  limb- 
bearing  trunk  of  five  segments,  and  a  pleon  or  tail-part  of  five  segments  without  limbs.  In 
the  Gymnoplea,  as  the  name  implies,  there  is  a  bare  or  naked  pleon,  in  the  sense  that  the  pleon 
is  devoid  of  limbs.  But  in  the  Podoplea  the  pleon  seems  to  have  annexed  one  of  the  limb- 
bearing  segments  of  the  middle-body,  and  hence  the  name  of  the  division,  implying  that  the 
pleon  carries  limbs,  points  only  to  a  difference  which  is  apparent  rather  than  real.  It  would 
often  be  delightful  if  natural  history  could  tell  its  story  in  the  compendium  of  a  single  word, 

1  Brit.  Sess.  Crust,  ii,  479. 

8  Op.  cit.  No.  I,  January,  p.  15  ;  No.  2,  February,  pp.  33-37,  vol.  i   (1878). 

8  Op.  cit.  34. 

147 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

but  the  attempt  is  never  for  long  successful.  Nature  continually  interposes  the  necessity  for 
limitations,  explanations,  and  exceptions.  Names  the  most  apt  at  the  time  of  their  choice  may 
easily  become  with  the  increase  of  knowledge  inconvenient  and  misleading,  so  that  we  can  only 
continue  to  use  them  by  shutting  our  eyes  to  their  original  significance.  In  the  Diaptomidae 
the  first  antennas  in  the  female  are  divided  into  twenty-five  articulations,  and  in  the  male  the 
right  member  of  the  pair  is  geniculate.  The  fifth  pair  of  trunk-legs  differ  much  in  the  two 
sexes  and  are  very  unsymmetrical  in  the  male.  The  female  carries  a  single  ovisac  or  external 
egg-bag.  The  pleon  in  the  male  has  five  distinct  segments,  but  in  the  female  these  are 
reduced  to  two  or  three  by  coalescence.  The  latter  sex  in  Diaptomus  castor  (Jurine),  a  species 
which  is  found  all  over  Europe,  measures  from  a  twelfth  to  a  seventh  of  an  inch  in  length,  the 
male  not  quite  attaining  the  upper  limit.  But  in  determining  the  actual  species  with  which 
Mr.  Edwin  Smith  was  concerned,  we  are  met  with  this  difficulty.  He  says  that  it  is  '  easily 
recognized  by  its  inferior  antennae,  which  are  fully  as  long  as  the  entire  body.'  It  is  obvious 
that  by  the  inferior  antennae  he  really  intends  the  first,  and  not  the  very  much  shorter  second, 
pair.  But  in  Diaptomus  castor  the  first  antennae  are  '  unusually  short,  when  reflexed  reaching 
but  slightly  beyond  the  anterior  division  of  the  body.' l  There  is,  however,  another  allied 
species,  D.  gracills  (Sars),  also  found  all  over  Europe,  and  described  from  England  by  Sir  John 
Lubbock  (Lord  Avebury)  under  the  name  of  D.  westwoodi,  which  has  the  first  antennas  even 
longer  than  the  body.  This  species,  only  a  sixteenth  of  an  inch  long,  is  probably  the  one  to 
which  Mr.  Smith  was  really  referring.2  It  is  not  a  little  important  that  in  faunistic  lists  some 
distinctive  features  of  the  creatures  mentioned  should  be  given,  whereby  verification  of  their 
names  may  be  made  to  some  extent  practicable.  In  regard  to  Cyclops  quadricornis  the  two 
authorities  above  quoted  do  not  allude  to  any  specific  character.  But  the  Linnean  name 
quadricornis  has  been  applied  to  several  forms  which  are  now  held  to  be  distinct  species.  Thus, 
according  to  Dr.  G.  S.  Brady,  F.R.S.,  the  C.  quadricornis  of  Lilljeborg  is  the  same  as  the 
Monoculus  quadricornis  rubens  of  Jurine,  and  should  be  called  C.  strenuus  (Fischer),  while  the 
M.  q.  albidus  and  the  M.  q.  fuscus  of  Jurine  he  considers  to  be  two  varieties  of  the  species 
C.  signatus  (Koch).3  On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  J.  D.  Scourfield  includes  quadricornis  in  the 
synonymy  of  three  distinct  British  species,  C.  strenuus  (Fischer),  C.  fuscus  (Jurine),  and  C. 
albidus  (Jurine),*  not  to  mention  others  which  were  regarded  by  Dr.  Baird  in  1850  as  mere 
varieties  of  one  generalized  type.5  It  is  not  only  possible,  but  practically  certain,  that  several  of 
these  will  eventually  be  found  in  this  county.  In  C.  strenuus  and  its  near  allies  it  may  be 
noticed  that  the  anterior  antennas  are  ly-jointed.  They  cannot  therefore  be  confused  with 
Canthocampus  minutus  (O.  F.  Mtlller),  in  which  the  first  antennas  are  only  8-jointed.  The 
hard  structure  to  which  Mr.  Smith  refers,  as  seen  in  connexion  with  the  vulvular  segment  of 
the  female,  was  probably  the  spermatic  tube.  The  genus,  be  it  observed,  is  properly  named 
Canthocampus,  not  Canthocamptus.  The  species  C.  furcatus  (Baird)  has  been  transferred  to 
the  genus  Idya  (Philippi),  and  being  a  marine  species  has  no  claim  to  our  consideration  here, 
nor  does  Mr.  Smith  claim  to  have  found  it  in  local  waters.  Its  range  is  wonderfully  exten- 
sive, since  it  occurs  not  only  on  the  English  coast,  but  also  at  New  Zealand  and  in  the 
Chatham  Islands.6 

Professor  Carr  observes  in  his  often  quoted  paper,  '  Among  the  Entomostraca  perhaps  the 
most  interesting  form  is  the  fish-parasite,  Argulus  foliaceus  (Linn).  This  beautiful  and  delicate 
Crustacean  I  have  found  in  numbers  on  bream  taken  from  the  Trent  at  Nottingham.7  Here 
we  are  fortunately  left  in  no  doubt  about  the  species,  since  there  is  but  one  of  the  family 
known  in  England.  The  only  doubt  is  about  its  place  in  classification,  whether  it  should  be 
ranged  among  the  parasitic  Copepoda,  to  which  so  many  fish-devotees  belong,  or  should  be 
allotted  to  a  special  division  of  the  Branchiopoda  called  Branchiura  or  gill-tails.  As  will  be 
seen  from  Baird's  bibliographical  history  of  the  genus,8  these  animals  have  courted  the  attention 
of  more  than  one  distinguished  naturalist.  The  celebrated  Cuvier  kept  some  alive  under 
special  observation.  He  noted  that  the  eggs  were  deposited  in  two  compact  straight  lines  on 

1  G.  O.  Sars,  Crustacea  of  Norway,  iv,  85  (1903)  ;  and  Giesbrecht  and  Schmeil,  Das  Tierreic6t 
Copepoda,  pt.  i,  88  (1898). 

3  Sars,  op.  cit.  p.  92,  pi.  63  ;  Giesbrecht  and  Schmeil,  op.  cit.  p.  72. 
8  Nat.  Hist.  Trans.  Northumb.  etc.  vol.  xi,  pt.  i,  71,  73  (1891). 
*  Journal  Quekett Microscopical  Club,  533,  535  (1903). 

5  British  Entomostraca,  Ray  Soc.  pp.  198,  203  (1850). 

6  Sars,  Zool.  Jahrb.  vol.  xxl.  pt.  iv.  380  (1905). 

7  Trans.  Nott.  Nat.  Soc.  for  1902-3,  p.  2.  8  Brit.  Entomostraca,  p.  242. 

148 


CRUSTACEANS 

the  sides  of  the  glass  vessel  in  which  the  mother  was  kept.  This  method,  reminiscent  of 
molluscan  habits,  is  strikingly  different  from  that  of  Copepoda,  which  normally  carry  the 
extruded  eggs  in  ovisacs  attached  to  their  own  bodies.  Cuvier  described  also  the  four  pairs  of 
two-branched  feet  as  serving  both  for  locomotion  and  respiration,  being  perpetually  in  move- 
ment, whether  the  animal  were  swimming  or  at  rest.  One  of  the  remarkable  peculiarities  of 
this  species,  but  not  common  to  the  whole  family  of  the  Argulidas,  is  the  transformation  of 
one  pair  of  maxillz  into  suckers.  These  give  the  animal  secure  adhesion  to  the  fishes,  from 
which  by  other  organs  it  derives  a  bountiful  meal.  When  sufficiently  gorged  it  can  loose 
hold  and  disport  itself  freely  in  the  water.  There  is  no  narrow  exclusiveness  in  its  attach- 
ments, for  it  has  been  observed  on  carp  and  roach,  pike  and  perch,  trout  and  salmon-trout, 
as  well  as  on  the  humble  stickle-back  and  the  tadpole  of  the  frog.  The  bream  is  an  addition 
to  the  victims  on  which  this  sanguinary  persecutor  battens  for  the  nutriment  of  its  little  flat, 
greenish,  roundabout  body. 

The  Cladocera,  which  owe  their  name  to  their  two-branched  second  antennas,  unlike  the 
Argulidae,  are  a  much  diversified  order  of  the  Branchiopoda.  In  place  of  the  two  separate 
compound  eyes  and  median  eye-spot  which  our  Argulus  enjoys,  they  have  but  one  eye,  with 
or  without  an  eye-spot  in  attendance.  They  have  a  more  or  less  distinct  head,  and  the  rest  of 
the  body  in  general  covered  by  a  bivalved  sheath.  They  have  from  four  to  six  pairs  of  feet. 
They  share  with  many  other  Entomostraca  a  privilege  highly  conducive  to  the  preservation 
and  distribution  of  the  race.  While  essentially  aquatic  animals  that  cannot  live  without 
water,  they  can,  nevertheless,  sow  the  seed  of  future  generations  in  defiance  of  drought. 
For  example,  in  January  of  this  present  year  I  conveyed  from  one  county  to  another  a  little 
earth  scooped  up  from  a  piece  of  grassland  which  was  not  then,  but  sometimes  is,  covered  by 
a  thin  stratum  of  water.  Some  ordinary  drinking  water  was  poured  upon  this  dried  mud. 
For  some  weeks  it  showed  no  sign  of  crustacean  life,  but  at  length  on  the  agth  of  the  month 
I  noticed  some  moving  specks,  and  on  the  following  4th  of  February  I  was  able  to  take  out  and 
dissect  a  full-grown  Daphnia  pulex  laden  with  thirty-five  well-advanced  eggs.  Of  this  vivacious 
and  abundant  order  Mr.  Pratt's  list  mentions  '  Daphnia  pulex. — Ponds  and  ditches  in  many 
places  about  Nottingham.  D.  schiefferi. — Pond  at  Gamston,  near  Nottingham.  D.  reticulata. — 
Ponds  about  Nottingham.  D.  vetula. — Ditch  near  Beeston.  Chydorus  sphfericus. — Ditch  near 
Beeston.  Eurycercus  lamellatus. — Old  pond  at  Strelley.'  In  Mr.  Edwin  Smith's  lecture  various 
species  are  mentioned  with  some  account  of  their  peculiarities,  but  no  statement  that  they  had 
been  observed  in  Nottinghamshire,  although  a  species  of  Macrothrix  is  noted  as  having  been 
found  elsewhere.  This  notice  is  succeeded  by  the  following  paragraph  :  '  One  other  family 
of  the  Cladocera  should  be  mentioned,  if  only  because  it  contains  Chydorus  sphaericus,  a  very 
common  species  in  our  stagnant  ponds.  The  .Lynceidae  (for  so  the  family  is  called)  may  be 
recognized  by  a  black  spot  situated  in  front  of  the  eye,  and  looking  not  much  unlike  a  second 
eye,  which,  however,  it  is  not.  The  intestine,  moreover,  makes  one  complete  turn  and  a  half. 
To  the  same  family  belong  Eurycercus  lamellatus  and  Acroperus  harpce,  both  of  which  occur  in 
this  neighbourhood.  The  latter  is  fond  of  resting  on  the  top  of  the  water,  moored  by  its 
antennae  to  a  bit  of  weed,  or  a  cluster  of  them  will  collect  round  some  floating  leaf  or  sprig, 
and  lie  motionless  in  the  warm  sunshine  as  if  asleep.'  From  references  in  other  parts  of  the 
essay  it  is  clear  that  the  expression  '  this  neighbourhood  '  relates  to  Nottingham. 

There  is  no  reason  whatever  for  doubting  that  the  species  recorded  in  the  above  quoted 
lists  occur  in  this  county.  It  would  rather  be  a  marvel  if  they  did  not.  But  some  comment 
may  be  offered  on  their  names  and  distinctive  characters.  In  the  family  Daphniidae  the  second 
antennae  have  the  dorsal  branch  four-jointed,  the  ventral  one  three-jointed  ;  of  the  five  pairs 
of  feet,  the  last  is  remote  from  the  others,  and  the  intestine  is  not  convoluted.  The  typical 
species,  Daphnia  pulex  (de  Geer),  is  extremely  common.  It  is  also  very  mutable,  so  that  a 
medley  of  specific,  subspecific,  and  varietal  names  has  grown  round  it.  D.  schtefferi  (Baird)  is 
now  identified  with  the  earlier  D,  magna  (Straus),  and  earns  its  specific  name  by  attaining  a 
much  more  considerable  size  than  its  commoner  relation,  the  female  becoming  about  a  sixth  of 
an  inch  long  as  contrasted  with  a  tenth  of  an  inch  measured  by  the  other  species,  in  each  case 
the  terminal  spur  not  included.1  The  D.  reticulata  of  Baird  is  now  known  as  Ceriodaphnia 
reticulata  (Jurine),  the  genus  being  distinguished  from  Daphnia  by  having  the  first  antennae  of 
the  female  movable,  and  by  the  hexagonal  or  pentagonal  pattern  of  the  reticulation  on  its 
shell.  It  must,  however,  be  understood  that  the  name  as  used  by  Baird  is  considered  now  to 
cover  not  only  three  varieties  of  Jurine's  species,  but  two  other  species  in  addition,  namely, 

1  Brady,  in  Nat.  Hist.  Trans.  Northumberland,  etc.,  vol.  xiii,  pt.  ii,  pp.  222,  242  (1898). 

149 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

C.  mega/ops  (Sars)  and  C.  quadrangula  (O.  F.  Mtlller).1  Similarly,  Daphnia  vetula  (Baird) 
includes  the  two  species  Simocephalus  vetulus  (O.  F.  Mdller)  and  S.  exspinosus  (Koch),  the 
former  '  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  British  Cladocera,'  the  latter  '  a  fairly  common  species 
in  the  south  and  east  of  England,  but  not  yet  recorded  from  the  north  or  from  Scotland. '  In 
these  there  is  no  spiny  prolongation  of  the  shell  such  as  occurs  in  Daphnia,  and  the  head  is 
obtuse  with  a  beak  but  little  projecting.  In  1903  Dr.  A.  M.  Norman,  F.R.S.,  pointed  out 
that  the  generic  name  Simocephalus  (SchOdler)  was  pre-occupied,  and  changed  it  to  Simosa. 
Some  specimens  sent  me  by  Professor  Carr,  '  which  when  alive  were  pea-green  in  colour,'  and 
which  '  were  excessively  abundant  among  the  water  weeds  in  the  canal  at  Cossall,  Notts,' 
proved  on  examination  to  be  Simosa  vetula.  The  three  remaining  species — Eurycercus  lamellatus 
(O.  F.  Mailer),  Acroperus  harpa  (Baird),  and  Chydorus  sphaericus  (O.  F.  Mailer) — belong  to  a 
family  which  has  been  not  unfrequently,  but  not  properly,  named  Lynceidcs.  Correctly,  it 
should  be  named  Chydoridae  from  its  premier  genus  Chydorus  (Leach).  Here  both  branches 
of  the  second  antennae  are  three-jointed,  there  are  five  or  six  pairs  of  feet  equally  spaced,  and 
the  intestine  forms  almost  a  double  convolution.  By  these  characters  its  numerous  genera  are 
distinguishable  from  those  of  the  Daphniida:.  The  Eurycercus,  though  like  our  Cladocera  in 
general,  small  enough  in  itself,  is  quite  a  monster  compared  with  the  other  two  species.  It  is 
also  lethargic  in  its  habits,  in  contrast  to  the  little  spherical  Chydorus,  which  is  ever  on  the 
move.  The  Acroperus  is  distinguished  from  Chydorus  by  its  harp-shaped  shell,  the  strings  of  the 
harp  being  represented  by  the  obliquely  longitudinal  ribbing  of  the  transparent  carapace. 

Lastly,  the  Ostracoda  demand  a  brief  notice.  Concerning  these  Mr.  Edwin  Smith  says, 
'  The  species  most  common  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham  are  Cypris  vidua,  C.  minuta, 
C.  aurantia.  If  you  search  carefully  the  surface  of  gravel  in  your  aquarium  you  may  chance 
to  see  a  little  oblong  horny  speck  making  its  way  by  fitful  jerks.  This  will  probably  turn  out 
to  be  a  rather  large  member  of  the  same  family,  named  Candona  reptans.  It  has  a  comical 
habit  of  creeping  in  preference  to  swimming.  I  have  found  it  about  here  in  meadow  drains, 
and  have  successfully  bred  it  in  my  aquarium  from  season  to  season.' s  Mr.  Pratt's  list 
contains  '  Cypris  bistriata — Pond  at  Gamston  and  ditch  near  Beeston.'  This  group  differs 
from  the  Cladocera  in  many  ways,  but  strikingly  in  external  form,  inasmuch  as  the  bivalved 
shell  or  carapace  makes  no  pretence  of  showing  a  distinct  head.  The  body  within  the  valves 
shows  little  or  no  segmentation.  The  appendages,  including  the  two  pairs  of  antennae  and  the 
mouth-organs,  are  limited  to  seven  pairs,  and  do  not  always  reach  that  number. 

According  to  the  latest  available  authorities  the  four  species  mentioned  by  Mr.  E.  Smith 
should  now  respectively  be  called  Pionocypris  vidua  (O.  F.  Mtlller),4  Cyclocypris  lavis  (O.  F. 
Muller),6  Cyprinotus  incongruens  (Ramdohr),'  and  Erpetocypris  reptans  (Baird).7  Mr.  Pratt's 
Cypris  bistriata  is  presumably  C.  bistrigata  (Jurine),  and,  if  so,  may  be  identical  with  Ilyocypris 
gibba  (Ramdohr)8  or  with  Ilyocypris  bradyi  (G.  O.  Sars).9  All  these  species  belong  to  the  section 
called  Podocopa,  in  which  the  second  antennae  are  simple,  subpediform,  geniculate,  furnished 
with  terminal  curved  spines  called  ungues,  and  the  first  maxillae  have  a  branchial  appendage. 
The  family  to  which  these  species  all  alike  belong  is  called  Cyprididae.  Therein  only  the  last 
two  pairs  of  limbs  are  pediform,  '  the  preceding  pair  small  and  maxilliform  in  female,  larger 
and  modified  for  grasping  in  male  ;  furnished  with  a  branchial  appendage,'  the  caudal  append- 
ages are  '  long,  narrow,  linear,  terminating  in  ungues,'  or  else  '  minute,  consisting  of  setiform 
processes,  which  run  out  to  a  very  fine  extremity.' 10  From  such  names  as  Erpetocypris,  the 
creeping  Cypris,  and  Ilyocypris,  the  Cypris  of  the  mud,  something  may  be  judged  as  to  the 
sluggish  habits  which  some  of  these  creatures  have  contracted.  They  are  all  very  common  in 
England,  with  one  very  remarkable  limitation  to  this  quality  of  abundance.  It  is  not  without 
reason  that  Pionocypris  vidua  is  specifically  called  '  the  widow,'  for  Professor  G.  O.  Sars  in 
1889,  when  defining  the  genus  (then  called  Cypridopsis),  gives  as  one  of  the  characters, 
'  propagation  exclusively  parthenogenetical.' u  Nevertheless,  so  unnatural  an  exclusiveness  may 
perhaps  be  doubted,  for  in  the  neighbouring  genus  Cypris,  at  one  time  supposed  to  share  this 
singular  singleness  of  sex,  males  of  various  species,  such  as  C.  incongruens,  have  now  been 
repeatedly  found.  Yet  Brady  and  Norman  say,  '  As  far  as  we  know  the  curious  fact  remains 

1  Scourfield,  in  Journ.  Quekelt  Microscopical  Club,  ser.  2,  viii,  436  (1903). 

*  Ibid.  p.  435.  8   The  Midland  Naturalist,  i,  17. 

*  Brady  and  Norman,  Trans.  Roy.  DubRn  Soc.  ser.  2,  v,  726  (1896).  6  Ibid.  p.  718. 
8  Sars,  Crustacean  Fauna  of  Central  Asia,  pt.  iii,  p.  28  (1903). 

7  Brady  and  Norman,  Trans.  Roy.  Dublin  Soc.  ser.  2,  iv,  p.  84  (1889). 

8  Ibid.  p.  107.  »  Op.  cit.  v,  728. 
1°  Ibid.  p.  624.                                           11  Ibid.  p.  725. 


CRUSTACEANS 

that  no  representatives  of  that  sex  have  been  observed  in  northern  or  western  Europe  north  of 
Spain.' l 

While  much  remains  to  be  done  for  the  Crustacea  of  Nottinghamshire,  enough  has  been 
done  already  by  a  few  workers  to  show  that  the  county  is,  as  might  have  been  expected,  ready 
to  yield  a  rich  harvest  to  those  who  have  time  to  study  its  carcinology.  The  comparative 
neglect  of  this  particular  branch  of  natural  history  investigation  is  scarcely  surprising,  since  in 
quite  recent  years  a  history  of  the  county  could  claim  to  discuss  its  flora  and  fauna,  while 
completely  ignoring  the  whole  zoology  of  invertebrate  animals.  The  '  water-flea '  and  the 
'  wood-louse  '  need  not  complain  of  indifference  and  neglect,  when  spiders  and  flies,  ants  and 
grasshoppers,  are  treated  as  the  mere  material  for  fables,  and  the  great  armies  of  beetles  and 
bees  and  butterflies  are  left  out  of  account,  as  though  they  had  no  essential  part  in  the  life  and 
economy  of  the  globe,  and  contributed  nothing  to  the  beauty  and  the  marvel  of  man's 
surroundings. 

1  Op.  cit.  p.  721. 


FISHES 


In  the  twenty-sixth  song  of  Michael  Drayton's  poem,  the  Poly- 
olbion,  published  in  1622,  reference  is  made  to  the  fishes  then  known  to 
occur  in  the  Trent  near  Nottingham.  This  enumeration  constitutes,  as 
far  as  I  can  learn,  the  earliest  record  of  Nottinghamshire  fishes,  and  in  spite 
of  the  enormous  growth  of  the  city  since  Drayton  wrote,  and  the  pour- 
ing into  the  river  of  large  volumes  of  foul  water  from  the  numerous 
dyeing,  bleaching,  tanning  and  other  works,  as  well  as  the  effluent  from 
the  sewage  farm,  the  fish  fauna  seems  to  have  undergone  comparatively 
little  change  during  the  interval  of  280  years  since  the  publication  of 
the  Polyolbion,  and  I  am  only  able  to  add  eight  species  to  Drayton's 
list,  viz.  the  miller's  thumb,  three-spined  and  ten-spined  sticklebacks, 
burbot,  rudd,  white  bream,  spined  loach  and  shad. 

TELEOSTEANS 


ACANTHOPTERYGII 

1.  Perch.      Perca  fluv  iatilis,  Linn. 

Very  common  in  all  parts  of  the  Trent 
and  attaining  a  large  size,  specimens  weigh- 
ing from  3  to  3^  Ib.  being  frequently  taken. 

2.  Ruffe.      Acerlna  cernua,  Linn. 

One  of  the  commonest  fishes  in  the  Trent. 

3.  Miller's  Thumb.      Coitus  gobio,  Linn. 
Common  in   the  Trent   and   its  tributary 


streams. 


ANACANTHINI 


4.  Burbot.      Lota  vulgarly  Cuv. 

This  fish,  the  freshwater  representative  of 
the  cod  family,  occurs  in  the  Trent,  but  not 
commonly.  A  specimen  taken  at  Wilford 
weighed  4^  Ib. 

5.  Flounder.     Pleurone  ctes  fesus,  Linn. 
Common  in  the  Trent  below  Newark,  but 

occasionally  makes  its  way  higher  up  the 
stream,  even  as  far  as  Colwick  Weir,  close  to 
Nottingham. 

HEMIBRANCHII 

6.  Three-spined     Stickleback.       Gasterosteus 

acu/eatus,  Linn. 

Very  common  everywhere  in  rivers,  streams 
and  ponds. 


7.  Ten-spined  Stickleback.      Gasterosteus  pun- 

gitius,  Linn. 

Common  in  places,  as  in  the  streams  and 
ditches  in  the  Nottingham  and  Lenton 
meadows,  but  much  less  so  than  the  last. 

HAPLOMI 

8.  Pike.     Esox  /ucius,  Linn. 

Common  in  rivers,  canals  and  lakes  every- 
where. 

OSTARIOPHYSI 

9.  Carp.      Cyprinus  carpio,  Linn. 

Occurs,  but  is  not  common,  in  the  Trent, 
preferring  ponds  and  still  waters,  in  which 
situations  it  is  fairly  common. 

10.  Barbel.      Barbus  vu/garis,  Flem. 
Common    in    deep    waters    all    along    the 

course  of  the  Trent,  both  above  and  below 
Nottingham.  Examples  up  to  10  Ib.  in 
weight  are  frequently  taken,  and  one  brought 
to  me  a  few  years  ago  scaled  loj  Ib. 

11.  Gudgeon.     Gobio fluviatilis^  Flem. 
Common. 

12.  Roach.     Leuciscus  ruti/us,  Linn. 
Abundant  in  rivers  and  canals.    The  finest 

Nottingham  specimen  I  have  handled  weighed 
i  Ib.  io£  oz. 


152 


FISHES 


13.  Chub.      Leuciscus  cephalus,  Linn. 

Very  common  in  the  Trent ;  specimens 
weighing  from  5  to  6  Ib.  are  not  infrequently 
caught. 

14.  Dace.      Leuciscus  vulgaris,  Flem. 
Very  common  in  the  Trent. 

15.  Rudd.      Leuciscus  erythrophthalmus,  Flem. 
Occurs  in  the  Trent,  but  is  not  common. 

1 6.  Minnow.     Leuciscus  phoxinus,  Flem. 
Common    in    the    Trent    and    tributary 

streams. 

17.  Tench.      Tinea  vulgaris,  Cuv. 

Is  occasionally  taken  in  the  Trent,  and  is 
fairly  common  in  ponds  and  still  waters. 

1 8.  Bream.     Abramis  brama,  Linn. 

Very  common  in  the  Trent ;  a  specimen 
in  the  Nottingham  Museum  weighed  6f  Ib. 
in  the  flesh. 

19.  White  or  Silver  Bream.      Abramis  blicca, 

Bloch. 

Common  in  the  Trent  and  in  the  Grantham 
Canal. 

20.  Bleak.     Alburnus  lucidus,  Hackel. 

This  species  is  known  locally  as  the  whit- 
ling,  and  is  a  common  Trent  fish.  A  speci- 
men taken  from  the  river  at  Radcliffe-on- 
Trent  a  few  years  ago  weighed  5^  oz. 

21.  Loach.      Nemachilus  barbatula,  Linn. 
A  common  Trent  fish. 

22.  Spined  Loach.      Cobitis  t&nia,  Linn. 
'River  Trent'  (Berkenhout,  Synopsis,  p.  79). 

'  Has  been  recorded  from  the  Trent  near 
Nottingham '  (Day,  British  Fishes,  ii.  202). 
Mr.  W.  Rose  has  taken  it  commonly  in  a 
pool  by  the  Trent  near  Trent  Bridge,  Not- 
tingham. 

MALACOPTERYGII 

23.  Salmon.     Salmo  salar,  Linn. 

Occurs  every  year   in   many  parts  of  the 


Trent,  both  above  and  below  Nottingham, 
but  not  very  commonly. 

24.  Trout.      Salmo    trutta,    Linn,  (including 

S.  fario,  Linn.). 

Scarce  in  the  Trent,  but  occurs  about  the 
spots  where  the  small  trout  streams — in  which 
it  is  common — enter  the  river.  Some  of  our 
artificial  lakes  and  some  trout  streams  are 
stocked  with  the  variety  known  as  the  Loch 
Leven  trout. 

25.  Grayling.      Thymallus  vexH/ifer,  Linn. 
This  elegant  fish  was  within  twenty  years 

ago  fairly  common  in  one  or  two  places  in 
the  Trent  near  Nottingham,  but  is  now  very 
scarce.  The  only  local  specimen  in  the 
Nottingham  Museum  was  taken  from  the 
Trent  in  Beeston  meadows  about  1895  ;  it 
is  just  over  10  inches  in  length.  Two  other 
specimens,  of  4  or  5  oz.  weight  each,  were 
caught  in  1896. 

[The  Smelt,  Osmerus  eperlanus,  Linn.,  is 
mentioned  by  Drayton  as  one  of  his  '  thirty 
fishes  of  Trent,'  but  although  it  is  not  un- 
likely that  it  may  ascend  the  Trent  into 
Nottinghamshire,  I  have  no  record  of  its 
actual  occurrence.] 

26.  Shad.      Clupea  a/osa,  Linn. 

An  example  was  taken  in  the  Trent  at 
South  Clifton  some  years  ago,  and  a  second 
captured  at  South  Muskham  near  Newark  in 
1896  is  preserved  in  an  inn  at  Newark. 

APODES 

27.  Eel.      Anguilla  vu/garis,  Turt. 

Very  common  in  rivers  and  canals,  attain- 
ing a  very  large  size.  It  descends  to  the  sea 
to  breed,  spawning  in  deep  water,  where  the 
eggs  give  rise  to  the  remarkable  little  fish 
known  as  Leptocephalus  brmirastris,  Pennant, 
a  larval  form,  whose  connection  with  the  eel 
was  until  lately  unsuspected.  The  Lepto- 
cephali  undergo  a  metamorphosis,  the  result 
being  the  little  '  elvers '  which  make  their 
way  in  multitudes  up  the  rivers  in  which  the 
adult  condition  is  attained. 


GANOIDEI 


28.  Sturgeon.     Aciptnser  sturio,  Linn. 

Very  rare  in  the  Trent,  and  has  not,  I 
believe,  been  seen  near  Nottingham  for  many 
years.  The  last  one  that  I  can  hear  of  was 
taken  at  Clifton,  some  few  miles  above  the 
city.  This  is  a  curious  coincidence,  as  there 
is  an  old  popular  belief  that  the  presence  of 
one  of  these  fish  in  the  Trent  above  Notting- 
ham presages  the  death  of  some  member  of 


the  ancient  Clifton  family,  whose  mansion 
stands  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  (Lowe, 
in  Black's  Guide  to  Nottinghamshire).  On 
IO  June,  1884,  a  fine  sturgeon  was  captured 
at  Muskham  near  Newark  in  the  salmon  nets ; 
it  was  8  feet  long  and  weighed  16  stone  (Field, 
14  June,  1884).  Another  specimen  was 
captured  in  the  Trent  at  Muskham  Bridge 
near  Newark  in  June,  1902. 


153 


20 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 
CYCLOSTOMES 


29.  Lamprey.     Petromyzon  mannus,  Linn. 

Occurs  in  the  Trent,  but  not  commonly  ; 
a  fine  specimen  caught  in  the  river  at  Fisker- 
ton  about  1897  is  now  in  the  Nottingham 
Museum. 


30.   Lampern.      Petromyzon  fluviatllh,  Linn. 

Abundant  in  the  Trent,  especially  about 
Colwick,  Beeston,  Newark  and  Averham 
Weirs  where  great  quantities  used  to  be  taken 
and  sent  to  Grimsby  for  bait  for  sea-fishing. 
I  have  seen  it  in  considerable  numbers  in  the 
Rainworth  Water  near  Mansfield. 


154 


REPTILES 
AND  BATRACHIANS 

The  list  of  reptiles  and  batrachians  is  a  very  meagre  one,  only  the 
commonest  species  being  found  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  even  of  these 
the  slow-worm  and  viper  are  now  very  rare.  Sterland's  assertion  (in 
White's  Worksop,  the  Dukery,  and  Sherwood  Forest]  that  the  sand  lizard 
(Lacerta  agilis)  '  may  be  seen  occasionally '  in  Sherwood  Forest  is  doubt- 
less an  error,  and  I  have  hitherto  searched  in  vain  for  the  palmated  newt 
(Molge  palmata). 


REPTILES 


LACERTILIA 


1.  Common  Lizard.     Lacerta  vivipara,  Jacq. 
Formerly  common  in  Nottingham  Park,  on 

the  forest  and  other  sandy  gorse  covered  com- 
mons about  the  city  ;  but  the  absorption  of 
most  of  its  former  haunts  within  the  ever- 
extending  area  covered  by  bricks  and  mortar 
has  almost  exterminated  the  lizard  in  this 
neighbourhood.  It  is  still  however  to  be 
met  with  in  considerable  numbers  on  Bulwell 
Forest,  where  the  writer  recently  saw  five 
specimens  during  a  morning  stroll  across  the 
forest.  It  was  also  seen  last  summer  (1902) 
in  an  enclosed  part  of  the  old  Nottingham 
Forest  within  the  city  boundary. 

2.  Slow-worm  or  Blind-worm.      Anguh  fra- 

gi/is,  Linn. 
At  one  time  frequent  in  Sherwood   Forest, 


according  to  Sterland.  Not  often  seen  now, 
but  has  been  taken  at  Gedling,  Lambley  and 
elsewhere. 

OPHIDIA 

3.  Common  or  Ringed  Snake.      Tropidonotw 

natrix,  Linn. 

Fairly  common   and   generally   distributed 
throughout  the  county. 

4.  Viper  or  Adder.      Fipera  berus,  Linn. 
Formerly    common    in    Sherwood    Forest, 

according  to  Sterland,  but  now  rare.  Mr.  J. 
Whitaker  reports  it  as  occurring  very  occa- 
sionally about  Rainworth  ;  one  killed  on  the 
carriage  drive  there  in  1900  was  nearly  two 
feet  long.  I  have  heard  also  of  specimens 
captured  at  Oxton  and  in  Newstead  Park. 


BATRACHIANS 

ECAUDATA 

1.  Common  Frog.     Rana  temporaria,  Linn. 

2.  Common  Toad.      Bufo  vulgarity  Laur. 


Great 
Laur. 


CAUDATA 

Crested     Newt.      Molge    cristata, 


Both  of  the   above    are   abundant  in   the 
county. 


4.   Common  Newt.     Molge  vutgaris,  Linn. 

Both  common  and  generally  distributed  in 
the  county,  the  latter  being  much  the  more 
abundant. 


ADDENDA 

Since  the  above  was  printed  the  following  records  have  been  received  : — Common  Lizard  : 
Seen  by  the  writer  4  September,  1903,  in  a  gravel  pit  on  the  Barrow  Hills,  Everton  ;  reported 
by  Mr.  Houghton  as  common  in  the  Worksop  district.  Slow-worm  :  Also  occurs  in  the 
Worksop  district,  according  to  Mr.  Houghton.  A  large  specimen  seen  by  the  Rev.  A. 
Thornley  in  the  summer  of  1903  in  quarry  behind  Creswell  Crags.  Viper:  A  very  fine 
example,  measuring  two  feet  in  length,  captured  in  Sherwood  Forest  near  Edwinstowe  in 
Nov.  1904,  has  been  preserved  by  Mr.  Houghton,  who  has  seen  this  species  also  at  Shireoaks. 

155 


BIRDS 

Being  an  inland  county,  Nottinghamshire  cannot  be  expected  to 
furnish  as  extensive  a  list  of  birds  as  one  which  possesses  a  coast-line, 
however  small.  Nevertheless  the  following  notes  will  show  that  it  can 
boast  of  a  rich  and  varied  avifauna,  which  will  compare  favourably 
with  that  of  any  other  inland  county  in  England. 

The  extreme  northern  part  of  the  county  lies  very  low  and  is  drained 
by  dykes  :  here  the  redshank  and  snipe  nest.  The  forest  land  to  the 
south  of  this  covers  about  100,000  acres,  and  is  some  eighteen  miles  long 
by  seven  or  eight  wide  ;  a  large  portion  has  been  converted  into  farms, 
but  there  still  remains  a  considerable  area  of  ancient  woodland,  largely 
consisting  of  fine  old  oaks,  with  a  sprinkling  of  birch  and  an  undergrowth 
of  bracken.  Many  hundreds  of  jackdaws  nest  in  the  hollow  trunks  of 
these  grand  old  trees.  In  several  of  the  great  estates  comprised  within 
this  region — Clumber,  Welbeck,  Thoresby  and  RufFord — are  large  lakes 
covered  in  winter  with  waterfowl  of  many  species,  which  being  most  care- 
fully protected  find  here  a  safe  and  quiet  home  with  abundance  of  food. 
It  is  no  uncommon  sight  to  see  over  20  goosanders  at  one  time,  and  at 
Thoresby  thirty  or  forty  pairs  of  tufted  ducks  remain  in  the  spring  to  breed. 

Coming  towards  the  middle  of  the  county  there  is  in  RufFord  and 
Mansfield  Forests  a  large  stretch  of  heather,  some  4,000  acres  in  extent, 
with  here  and  there  patches  of  fir-trees  ;  here  live  the  last  of  the 
Nottinghamshire  black-game,  now  only  a  small  remnant,  but  for  size 
and  beauty  of  plumage  equal  to  any  in  Great  Britain.  Rainworth 
waters  lie  to  the  south  of  this  tract  of  heather,  and  here  the  tufted 
duck  has  nested  in  numbers  since  at  least  as  far  back  as  1820—30.  From 
these  waters,  consisting  of  seven  or  eight  ponds  of  about  50  acres  in 
total  area,  they  gradually  spread  over  the  other  waters  in  the  county,  and 
now  many  scores  of  pairs  breed  on  other  properties.  The  teal,  shoveler 
and  wild  duck  also  nest  on  these  lakelets. 

South  of  Rainworth  are  the  fine  estates  of  Newstead,  Sherwood 
Lodge,  and  Bestwood  and  Annesley  Parks,  on  all  of  which  are  many 
plantations  of  fir  and  hardwood  trees,  and  these  being  most  carefully 
protected  form  quiet  nesting  places  for  many  species  of  birds.  In  all 
there  are  about  26,000  acres  of  woods  in  Notts — not  a  large  area,  but  a 
fair  extent  for  an  agricultural  county. 

About  Nottingham,  and  thence  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
county,  we  find  much  more  grass  ;  there  are  not  so  many  plantations,  but 
still  we  find  some  woods  of  fair  size.  This  part  of  the  county  is  rich  in 
warblers  and  finches,  and  is  also  a  fair  game  district,  though  not  to  be 
compared  in  this  latter  respect  with  the  forest  part,  where  much  more 
corn  and  turnips  are  grown. 

An  inland  county  is  always  at  a  disadvantage  compared  with  one 
possessing  a  sea-coast,  but  rivers  and  streams,  especially  large  ones,  offer 

156 


BIRDS 

a  great  inducement  to  sea-birds  and  waterfowl  to  follow  their  course 
inland  far  from  their  natural  home.  Nottinghamshire  is  fortunate  in 
having  such  a  fine  river  as  the  Trent,  which  runs  through  the  county 
from  south-west  to  north-east  and  forms  a  natural  highway  from  the 
sea.  There  are  numerous  other  streams,  the  most  important  being  the 
Idle,  which  drains  the  northern  parts  of  Notts ;  there  are  also  several 
canals.  These  make  the  county  very  attractive  to  birds  of  aquatic  habits. 
We  have  no  big  hills,  though  a  few  rise  to  about  600  feet  ;  on  one  hill 
near  Rainworth  a  small  trip  of  dotterel  often  stay  for  a  few  days  on  their 
way  north  to  nest  ;  they  were  last  seen  in  April  1901,  when  they  num- 
bered about  sixteen. 

No  place  in  Nottinghamshire  has  a  larger  or  more  varied  avifauna 
than  Rainworth,  and  it  may  be  of  interest  to  enumerate  the  birds  that 
have  been  seen  within  a  radius  of  one  mile  around  Rainworth  Lodge  : 
they  number  155  species,  and  are' as  follows  : — 

Osprey 

Peregrine  Falcon 

Hobby 

Merlin 

Kestrel 

Sparrow  Hawk 

Common  Buzzard 

Rough-legged  Buzzard 

Hen  Harrier 

Montagu's  Harrier 

Barn  Owl 

Tawny  Owl 

Long-eared  Owl 

Short-eared  Owl 

Great  Grey  Shrike 

Red-backed  Shrike 

Spotted  Flycatcher 

Pied  Flycatcher 

Missel  Thrush 

Song  Thrush 

Fieldfare 

Redwing 

Blackbird 

Ring  Ousel 

Hedge  Sparrow 

Redbreast 

Redstart 

Stonechat 

Whinchat 

Wheatear 

Reed  Warbler 

Sedge  Warbler 

Grasshopper  Warbler 

Nightingale 

Blackcap 

Garden  Warbler 

Whitethroat 

Lesser  Whitethroat 

Wood  Warbler 

Willow  Warbler 

157 


Chiffchaff 

Great  Spotted 

Bittern 

Wren 

Woodpecker 

Water  Rail 

Goldcrest 

Lesser  Spotted 

Land  Rail 

Tree  Creeper 

Woodpecker 

Moorhen 

Great  Tit 

Wryneck 

Coot 

Blue  Tit 

Cuckoo 

Whooper  Swan 

Coal  Tit 

Kingfisher 

Bewick's  Swan 

Marsh  Tit 

Swallow 

Mute  Swan 

Long  tailed  Tit 

House  Martin 

Grey  Lag  Goose 

Pied  Wagtail 

Sand  Martin 

Brent 

White  Wagtail 

Swift 

Canada  Goose 

Grey  Wagtail 

Nightjar 

Wild  Duck 

Yellow  Wagtail 

Ring  Dove 

Gad  wall 

Tree  Pipit 

Stock  Dove 

Shoveler 

Meadow  Pipit 

Turtle  Dove 

Wigeon 

Sky  Lark 

Pheasant 

Teal 

Corn  Bunting 

Black  Grouse 

Garganey 

Reed  Bunting 

Pallas's  Sand  Grouse 

Pochard 

Yellow  Hammer 

Partridge 

Scaup 

Chaffinch 

Red-legged  Partridge 

Tufted  Duck 

Brambling 

Quail 

Golden-eye 

Goldfinch 

Grey  Plover 

Scoter 

Siskin 

Golden  Plover 

Smew 

Linnet 

Lapwing 

Red-breasted 

Twite 

Ringed  Plover 

Merganser 

Lesser  Redpole 

Dotterel 

Goosander 

Tree  Sparrow 

Greenshank 

Great  Crested  Grebe 

House  Sparrow 

Redshank 

Sclavonian  Grebe 

Greenfinch 

Green  Sandpiper 

Little  Grebe 

Hawfinch 

Common  Sandpiper 

Gannet 

Bullfinch 

Knot 

Common  Tern 

Crossbill 

Dunlin 

Black  Tern 

Starling 

Grey  Phalarope 

Black-headed  Gull 

Carrion  Crow 

Woodcock 

Kittiwake 

Hooded  Crow 

Common  Snipe 

Common  Gull 

Rook 

Jack  Snipe 

Herring  Gull 

Jackdaw 

Curlew 

Lesser  Black-backed 

Magpie 

Whimbrel 

Gull 

Jay 

Spoonbill 

Great  Black-backed 

Green  Woodpecker 

Heron 

Gull 

A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

There  are  two  duck-traps  in  the  county,  one  at  Park  Hall  and  the 
other  in  Annesley  Park.  They  are  made  by  cutting  a  narrow  canal 
through  an  island  and  covering  it  over  with  wire  netting  ;  at  each  end  is 
a  door  which  can  be  raised  or  lowered  at  pleasure.  The  trap  is  baited 
with  corn.  The  ducks  swim  in  to  feed,  and  when  a  sufficient  number 
have  entered  the  doors  at  the  ends  are  lowered  by  means  of  a  wire 
pulled  by  the  fowler,  who  is  concealed  in  a  hut  from  which  he  can  get 
a  clear  view  of  the  trap  without  being  seen  by  the  wildfowl  on  the 
water.  The  captives  are  left  until  night,  when  the  other  ducks  have  left 
the  pond,  and  are  then  caught,  the  doors  raised,  corn  spread,  and  the  trap 
is  again  ready  for  next  day.  This  mode  of  capture  is  more  effective 
than  shooting,  for  if  wildfowl  are  shot  at  often  they  leave  the  lake,  but 
when  taken  in  a  trap  the  rest  are  not  disturbed  and  attract  others. 

At  Park  Hall,  where  the  lake  is  in  front  of  the  house,  hundreds  of 
wildfowl  may  be  seen  dotted  all  over  the  water,  and  sitting  or  feeding  on 
the  banks  by  scores  ;  parties  of  ducks  are  continually  coming  and  going, 
and  ten  or  a  dozen  herons  may  be  seen  at  one  time,  some  often  standing 
on  the  top  of  the  trap,  the  sides  of  which  are  hidden  by  willows  and 
other  shrubs.  Cattle  and  other  animals  are  kept  away  by  an  iron 
fence,  and  no  gun  is  fired  anywhere  near.  There  is  no  more  delight- 
ful occupation  for  a  naturalist  than  to  sit  in  the  library  window  with 
a  good  pair  of  glasses  watching  the  wildfowl — six  or  seven  or  even 
more  species — some  asleep,  others  feeding  or  chasing  one  another  over 
the  glassy  surface  of  the  lake,  and  parties  of  pochards  and  tufted  ducks 
busy  diving.  When  lit  up  by  a  bright  winter  sun  the  scene  is  one  to  be 
remembered.  The  ducks  begin  to  arrive  in  numbers  about  the  end  of 
September  and  remain  until  the  spring,  when  they  depart  to  their  nesting 
quarters.  As  many  as  400  have  been  taken  in  a  winter  on  this  piece  of 
water,  and  I  have  many  times  seen  a  thousand  or  more  wildfowl  on  and 
about  the  lake  at  one  time. 

In  compiling  the  following  list  all  doubtful  occurrences  have  been 
most  carefully  excluded,  and  only  those  enumerated  which  have  a  real 
claim  to  be  considered  Nottinghamshire  birds. 

1.  Missel  Thrush.      Turdus  viscivorus,  Linn,      birds  of  this  species  singing  in  the  plantations 

This  fine  thrush    is    distributed   over    the  round  the  house   at  one  time  '  the  volume  of 

county  in  fair  numbers,  and   is  very  abundant  sound  was  wonderful, 

at  Rainworth.      In  August,  when  they  flock  3.  Redwing.      Turdus  iliacus,  Linn. 
together,  as  many  as  1 15   have  been  seen  to          A  fajr  number  of  thisspecies  visits  us  every 

fly  into  a  small  plantation   in  the  deer  park  to  autumn  and  wj          but  k   is  most  numerous 

roost.      It   is  usually   met  with    in    pairs    in  m  thg  of  the  c  where   grass  fidds 

spring,  and  I  have   found  its  nest  in  a  small  and  b;    hed        occur  .  thfe  bird  suffers  much 

fir  within  2  feet  6  inches  of  the  ground.  in  severe  winters> 

2.  Song  Thrush.      Turdus  musicus,  Linn.  4.  Fieldfare.      Turdus  pi/arts,  Linn. 

Very    common    and    distributed   over    the          Much  commoner  than  the  last  named  bird, 

county   in  spring  and   summer  ;  many  leave  some    years    occurring    in  very    large   flocks, 

in  autumn  ;    it   frequents    small    plantations.  The  earliest  date  at  which  I  have  ever  seen 

In  March    1901  Mr.  Aplin,  when  staying  at  this  bird   was  on    12    September    1874,  and 

Rainworth,  was   certain  he  heard  over   100  the  latest  the  third  week  in  May  1900. 

158 


BIRDS 


5.  Blackbird.      Turdus  merit/a,  Linn. 

Very  common.     This    bird  stands    severe 
weather  better  than  the  thrush  or  redwing. 

6.  Ring  Ouzel.      Turdus  torquatus,  Linn. 
Seen  occasionally  in  the  spring  and  autumn, 

more  particularly  the  latter  time. 

7.  Wheatear.      Saxicola  oenanthe  (Linn.) 
Found  in  small  numbers  in  suitable  places. 

It  nests  on  Ratcher  Hill  in  Mansfield  Forest, 
where  several  pairs  arrive  in  March,  using 
rabbit  holes  in  which  to  lay  their  eggs  ;  a 
fair  number  rest  in  big  fields  on  their  way 
south  in  autumn. 

8.  Whinchat.      Pratincola  rubetra  (Linn.) 
Very  common  all  over  the  county  and  is 

partial  to  the  hedges  by  the  roadside.  It  is  pro- 
bable that  there  are  two  forms  of  this  bird, 
some  of  the  males  being  larger  and  brighter 
and  having  more  white  on  their  heads  than 
others. 

9.  Stonechat.      Pratincola  rubicola  (Linn.) 
Not  at  all  a  common  bird  in  Notts  ;  found 

here  and  there  in  suitable  places,  and  at  Rain- 
worth  it  is  seen  almost  as  often  in  winter  as 
in  summer.  A  pair  or  two  breed  in  Mans- 
field Forest. 

10.  Redstart.      Ruticilla  phcenicurus  (Linn.) 
Lightly  distributed  in  most  parts  ;   it  is  fond 

of  oak  woods  and  frequents  the  forest  where 
it  can  find  old  hollow  oaks  for  nesting  ;  in 
younger  woods  it  nests  under  the  dead  leaves 
on  the  ground  and  in  faggot  heaps.  I  have 
them  breeding  at  Rainworth  in  boxes  put  up 
in  the  plantations. 

n.  Black  Redstart.  Ruticilla  titys  (Scopoli) 
Rare.  A  male  was  shot  near  Nottingham 
in  May  1846,  one  in  December  1857,  and 
another  on  the  old  Nottingham  racecourse 
in  1870. 

12.  Redbreast.      Erithacus  rubecula  (Linn.) 

A  very  common  resident,  drawing  near 
houses  and  gardens  in  autumn  and  winter 
and  going  further  afield  to  nest  in  spring.  Its 
eggs  are  rarely  taken,  but  the  species  does  not 
increase  ;  one  of  our  early  nesting  birds. 

13.  Nightingale.     Daulias  luscinia  (Linn.) 
The  old  saying  that  this  bird   never  went 

north  of  the  Trent  has  been  proved  to  be 
wrong,  for  it  is  fairly  plentiful  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  county,  and  a  few  pairs  nest  here 
and  there  in  the  north  portion. 

14.  Whitethroat.      Sylvia   cinerea  (Bechstein) 
A  very  common  spring  visitor  and  frequents 


hedges ;  it  is  often  seen  taking  short  upward 
flights  and  singing  at  the  same  time.  I  have 
a  white  variety  shot  near  Nottingham. 

15.  Lesser    Whitethroat.        Sylvia      curruca 

(Linn.) 

Much  less  common  and  more  local  than 
the  last-named  species,  and  often  overlooked 
by  those  who  do  not  know  its  song.  It 
sings  in  trees  of  a  good  height.  There  are 
always  a  pair  or  two  nesting  at  Rainworth  in 
garden  plantations. 

1 6.  Blackcap.      Sylvia  atricapilla  (Linn.) 
Only   fairly   common    in   localities    which 

suit  it ;  one  of  our  finest  songsters.  I  have 
often  seen  a  male  sitting  on  the  nest. 

17.  Garden  Warbler.      Sylvia  hortensis  (Bech- 

stein) 

More  numerous  in  some  years  than  in 
others,  and  commoner  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  county. 

1 8.  Goldcrest.      Regulus  cristatui,  Koch 
Found  nesting  in  fir  plantations,  and  occurs 

in  greater  numbers  in  the  northern  and  middle 
parts  of  the  county.  It  has  a  very  pleasing 
little  song  in  spring. 

19.  Firecrest.       Regulus   ignicapillus   (Brehm) 
A    rare    visitor  ;    one    was    shot    by    Mr. 

Caborn  in  Nottingham  Meadows  in  1850, 
and  another  by  Daws,  the  bird-stuffer  of 
Mansfield,  in  his  garden  about  1878.  This 
bird  no  doubt  is  often  overlooked  and  mis- 
taken for  one  of  the  last  species,  for  owing  to 
its  quick  movements  it  is  not  easy,  even  for  a 
keen  observer,  to  see  the  white  eye-line. 

20.  Chiffchaff.     Phylloscopus  rufus  (Bechstein) 
Local,   and   is  one    of  our  earliest    spring 

visitors.  I  shot  one  at  Rainworth  on  28 
February  1882  ;  this  may  have  been  one  that 
had  stayed  over  the  winter,  which  it  has  been 
known  to  do  on  several  occasions. 

21.  Willow    Warbler.      Phylloscopus    trochilus 

(Linn.) 

This  pretty  little  warbler  is  much  more 
common  in  all  parts  of  the  county  than  the 
last  named  bird,  and  its  song  is  heard  on  all 
sides  in  April,  May  and  June.  It  is  fond  of 
young  larch  plantations. 

22.  Wood    Warbler.       Phylloscopus   sibilatrix 

(Bechstein) 

A  very  local  bird,  but  found  in  fair  num- 
bers in  the  great  oak  woods  near  Rainworth, 
also  at  Annesley  and  in  Sherwood  Forest. 
It  has  a  very  striking  song  which  once  heard 
can  never  be  mistaken.  The  nest  of  this 


159 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


bird  is  very  difficult  to  find  ;  it  is  lined  with 
grass,  not  hair,  as  most  of  the  natural  history 
books  tell  us.  There  are  generally  about  thirty 
pairs  nesting  in  Harlow  Wood,  which  is  about 
800  acres  in  extent. 

23.  Reed    Warbler.       dcrocephalus    streperus 

(Vieillot) 

Not  uncommon  in  reed  beds  on  the  side  of 
the  Trent,  where  it  breeds.  It  was  once 
heard  on  the  side  of  the  lake  at  Rainworth. 

24.  Sedge  Warbler.     Acrocepbalus  phragmitis 

(Bechstein) 

Fairly  common  in  suitable  localities;  as  it 
sings  when  quite  dark  at  night  it  is  often  mis- 
taken for  a  nightingale  by  the  villagers  in 
these  parts. 

25.  Grasshopper  Warbler.       Locustella  neevla 

(Boddaert) 

A  spring  visitant  and  very  local  ;  but 
although  it  is  found  in  certain  places  one 
year,  it  may  not  occur  again  there  for  some 
time.  It  is  generally  found  near  water,  but 
has  been  seen  over  a  mile  away  nesting  in 
clover  fields.  I  have  a  pretty  variety  with 
partly  white  flights  shot  near  Mansfield  in 
1892.  This  bird  has  not  nested  at  Rain- 
worth  since  1887,  when  there  were  three 
pairs. 

26.  Hedge    Sparrow.        Accentor       modularis 

(Linn.) 

Distributed  all  over  the  county,  but  not  in 
such  great  numbers  as  formerly. 

27.  Dipper.      Cine/us  aquaticus,  Bechstein. 
Two  or  three  have   been   shot  or  seen  on 

the  stream  at  Perlthorpe,  Thoresby.  Mr. 
Edward  Walter  shot  one  and  saw  another  on 
the  stream  near  Papplewick  in  1 88 1,  and  I 
saw  one  by  the  waterfall  at  Lamb  Close  in 
1898.  Both  were  specimens  of  the  chestnut 
breasted  dipper. 

28.  Black-bellied    Dipper.       Cine/us    melano- 

gaster,  Brehm. 

The  only  specimen  obtained  in  Notting- 
hamshire was  shot  near  Southwell  about  1873. 

29.  Bearded  Tit  or  Reedling.     Panurus  biar- 

micus  (Linn.) 

The  late  Mr.  Percy  of  Beeston  shot  a  bird 
of  this  species  in  a  willow-bed  near  Toton 
in  Notts,  and  had  it  in  his  collection  ;  it  was 
alone  at  the  time.  As  far  as  I  know  this  is 
the  only  county  specimen. 

30.  Long-Tailed    Tit.        Acredula     caudata 

(Linn.) 
Fairly  common,  and   is  more  in  evidence 


in  winter,  when  it  is  seen  in  small  and  large 
parties.  This  bird  is  fond  of  nesting  near  the 
same  place  year  after  year. 

31.  Great  Tit.     Parus  major,  Linn. 

Well  distributed  all  over  the  county  ;  a 
bird  of  many  notes.  It  is  rather  too  fond  of 
bees. 

32.  Coal  Tit.      Parus  ater,  Linn. 
Common,  but  not  so  numerous  as  the  last 

species  and  more  retiring. 

33.  Marsh  Tit.      Parus  palustris,  Linn. 
The  rarest   of  the  five   commoner  tits  in 

Notts. 

34.  Blue  Tit.     Parus  cceruleus,  Linn. 
Common  all  over  the  county  ;  in  winter  it 

is  seen  in  woods  in  companies,  associated  with 
two  or  three  of  the  other  species  of  tit. 

35.  Nuthatch.     Sitta  casia,  Wolf. 

Very  local  and  nowhere  common  ;  nests  in 
Thoresby  Park  and  at  Wollaton  ;  it  has  also 
been  seen  at  Rufford  and  in  the  south  of  the 
county. 

36.  Wren.      Troglodytes  parvu/us,  Koch. 

A  very  common  resident,  found  in  woods, 
gardens  and  hedgerows  all  over  the  county  ; 
it  is  one  of  the  few  birds  that  sing  here  in 
winter. 


Certhia  fami/iaris,  Linn, 
in  woods,  but  is  nowhere 

comes  nearer  houses  in 
has  been  known  to  nest 
a  greenhouse  attached  to 
a  summer-house,  and  on 
a  flower-box  close  to  my 
most  interesting  little  bird 


37.  Tree  Creeper. 
This  bird  is  seen 

common.     It  often 
breeding  time,  and 
under  the  lead   in 
this  house,  also  in 
another  occasion  in 
front  door.     It  is  a 
and  very  quiet. 

38.  Pied  Wagtail.      Motacilla  lugubris,  Tem- 

minck. 

This  pretty  bird  is  found  in  greater  num- 
bers in  spring  and  summer.  It  sometimes 
stays  through  the  winter  and  may  then  often 
be  seen  where  sheep  are  feeding.  I  once  saw 
a  nest  with  eggs  in  a  turnip  field  close  under 
the  side  of  a  large  turnip. 

39.  White  Wagtail.     Motacilla  alba,  Linn. 
Occurs   from  time   to  time,  but  it  is  rare. 

Two  or  three  have  been  seen  near  Ollerton 
and  also  at  Rainworth,  but  it  is  probably  often 
overlooked. 

40.  Grey  Wagtail.    Motacilla  melanope,  Pallas. 
Far  from  common  ;  it  is  seen  in  autumn 

and  early  spring.     On   2O  October    1897    I 


1 60 


BIRDS 


saw  one  of  these  beautiful  birds  running  on 
the  roof  of  my  house  ;  it  was  searching  for 
insects,  and  the  contrast  of  its  bright  colours 
against  the  slates  was  a  pretty  sight. 

41.  Blue-headed    Yellow    Wagtail.       Mota- 

cilla  flava,  Linn. 

Two  of  these  birds  were  killed  at  one  shot 
on  the  side  of  the  stream  at  Ollerton,  by  Hibbs 
the  naturalist,  on  7  June  1892. 

42.  Yellow  Wagtail.     Motacilla  ra'ii  (Bona- 

parte) 

This  beautiful  bird  arrives  in  April  in 
numbers  in  suitable  places  ;  it  is  plentiful  in 
the  Trent  valley.  Nests  have  been  found 
several  times  in  fields  of  tares,  but  they  are 
very  hard  to  locate. 

43.  Tree  Pipit.     Anthus  trivia/is  (Linn.) 

A  regular  spring  migrant,  and  is  found  in 
numbers  in  the  big  woods  in  north  Notts. 

44.  Meadow  Pipit.     Anthus  prattnsis  (Linn.) 
Plentiful,  and   is  often  seen    in  sheep-pens 

in  turnip  fields.  I  saw  a  white  specimen  in 
September  1888,  and  a  cream-coloured  one 
was  shot  near  Southwell. 

45.  Golden  Oriole.      Orio/us  galtu/a,  Linn. 
The   late   Mr.  Lowe  of  Highfield  House 

saw  one  of  these  beautiful  birds  in  his  grounds 
several  times  in  1863. 

46.  Great    Grey   Shrike.       Lanius    excubitor, 

Linn. 

A  rare  winter  visitor,  but  seen  from  time 
to  time.  I  shot  one  when  partridge  driving 
at  Park  Hall  in  1877  ;  and  on  13  March 
1901,  when  Mr.  Aplin  and  I  were  driving 
over  the  forest,  we  saw  one  near  the  Clip- 
stone  Road  and  had  a  good  opportunity  of 
watching  it.  I  have  two  others  in  my  col- 
lection shot  near  Nottingham  ;  all  three  are 
the  form  with  one  bar  (L.  major,  Pallas's 
shrike). 

47.  Red-backed  Shrike.  Lanius  collurioy  Linn. 
A  regular  visitor  to   the  southern  parts  of 

the  county,  but  it  is  nowhere  common  ;  not 
so  plentiful  in  the  northern  parts.  A  pair 
nested  in  a  garden  at  Blidworth  in  1897,  and 
the  year  before,  probably  the  same  ones,  in  a 
lane  near  that  village. 

48.  Woodchat    Shrike.       Lanius    pomeranus, 

Sparrman. 

This  rare  bird  has  occurred  once  in  Not- 
tinghamshire, when  a  male  was  shot  in  May 
1859  in  Sherwood  Forest  near  'The  Buck 
Gates,'  Thoresby  Park,  by  Mr.  H.  Wells. 


49.  Waxwing.     Ampelis  garrulus,  Linn. 
Now  and  again  this  handsome  bird  has  oc- 
curred.    The  late  Captain  Hall  shot  one  at 
Park  Hall  a  good  many  years  ago  ;  a    few 
have  been  obtained  in  the  northern  parts  of 
the    county,  several  at    Ossington   in   1871, 
and  I  saw  one  in  the  valley  near  Rainworth 
in  March  1883. 

50.  Pied    Flycatcher.     Muscicapa  atricapilla, 

Linn. 

A  rare  visitor.  It  is  known  to  have  nested 
twice  in  the  county,  once  in  Birkland,  and  in 
a  hollow  apple  tree  at  Ramsdale  in  1875. 
Other  occurrences  are  :  one  shot  at  Oxton, 
two  seen  near  Rainworth,  one  at  Newstead 
in  May  1887,  and  also  at  Newark,  Wellow 
and  Ollerton. 

51.  Spotted    Flycatcher.     Muscicapa   grisola, 

Linn. 

A  common  spring  visitor  and  generally  the 
last  to  come.  In  1902  it  did  not  arrive  till 
23  May,  which  is  the  latest  date  I  have  ever 
known  ;  in  1901  it  was  almost  as  late,  viz. 
22  May,  but  it  started  to  nest  at  once  and 
had  a  nest  and  one  egg  in  it  on  the  27th. 
This  migrant  is  so  conspicuous  in  its  habits 
that  its  arrival  is  at  once  noticed. 

52.  Swallow.      Hirundo  rustica,  Linn. 

This  charming  summer  bird  arrives  gener- 
ally about  12  April  and  in  varying  numbers 
all  over  the  county.  Some  seasons  it  is  more 
numerous  than  in  others.  Several  white,  pied 
and  cream-coloured  varieties  have  been  shot. 

53.  House  Martin.      Chelidon  urbica  (Linn.) 
Not  nearly  so  plentiful  as   the  last  species 

but  fairly  common,  and  is  a  useful  bird  ;  the 
quantity  of  flies  consumed  by  a  pair  during 
their  visit  to  us  must  be  enormous. 

54.  Sand  Martin.      Cotile  riparia  (Linn.) 
Rather  local,  and   numerous  where  there 

are  suitable  nesting  places  ;  there  are  several 
large  'sand-martinries'  in  different  parts  of  the 
county.  It  breeds  on  the  side  of  the  Trent. 
I  have  several  varieties  shot  in  Nottingham- 
shire. 

55.  Greenfinch.     Ligurinus  chlorls  (Linn.) 
Very  common  ;  it   is   fond  of  hedgerows, 

and  stubbles  in  autumn.  I  have  a  beautiful 
variety  with  pale  yellow  wings,  and  another 
of  a  cream  colour  ;  both  were  shot  near  Not- 
tingham. 

56.  Hawfinch.     Coccothraustes  vulgarly  Pallas. 
This  bird  has  increased  very  much   in   late 

years  all  over  the  county.     I  first  came  across 


161 


21 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


it  in  1870,  when  I  saw  some  feeding  on  the 
peas  in  the  garden  at  Ramsdale,  and  two  or 
three  were  shot ;  the  man  who  preserved 
them  said  they  were  the  first  he  had  had. 
This  bird  nests  in  apple,  oak  and  thorn  trees 
in  preference  to  others,  and  is  very  shy  and 
retiring.  I  have  a  beautiful  specimen  showing 
a  great  deal  of  white  on  its  head,  back  and 
breast,  which  was  shot  in  1894  at  Berry  Hill 
near  Mansfield. 

57.  Goldfinch.       Carduelis  e/egans,  Stephens. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  this  beautiful  finch  is  now 
rare  ;  high  farming  and  clap-nets  have  told 
their  tale.  It  still  breeds  in  suitable  places,  and 
a  few  are  seen  in  the  autumn  ;  it  has  nested 
in  my  kitchen  garden. 

58.  Siskin.     Carduelis  spintu  (Linn.) 

This  pretty  little  bird  comes  to  us  in 
autumn  and  leaves  early  in  the  spring.  It  is 
very  fond  of  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  the 
alder  and  birch.  Some  winters  hardly  one  is 
seen  at  Rainworth,  and  again  in  others  there 
are  a  good  many. 

59.  House  Sparrow.    Passer  domesticus  (Linn.) 

An  abundant  resident.  I  have  many 
varieties  shot  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 

60.  Tree  Sparrow.      Passer   montanus  (Linn.) 
Local    but    fairly     plentiful,  especially     in 

north  Notts.  There  are  a  good  many  at 
Rainworth,  and  I  have  several  pairs  breeding 
in  artificial  nesting  boxes  fastened  on  the 
trees  in  the  plantations.  This  bird  has  quite 
a  little  song,  but  I  have  only  heard  it  rarely. 

61.  Chaffinch.      Fnngilla  cceltbs,  Linn. 

A  very  conspicuous  bird  and  found  in 
numbers  over  the  whole  county  ;  large  flocks 
frequent  the  stubbles  with  other  birds  in  the 
autumn.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  to  sing  in 
the  new  year.  I  have  some  very  pretty  and 
striking  varieties  which  have  been  shot  in 
Notts  ;  they  are  cream-coloured  and  pied,  and 
one  with  the  usual  white  parts  brick  red. 

62.  Brambling.   Fringilla  montifringil/a,  Linn. 
Some  winters  this  species  is  seen  in  large 

flocks  on  the  stubbles,  and  again  in  others 
only  in  small  numbers  ;  occasionally  it  stays 
late.  One  was  shot  near  Southwell  in  full 
breeding  plumage;  on  17  April  1884  I 
heard  birds  twittering  on  some  high  fir  trees 
in  a  wood  at  Rainworth,  and  as  the  notes 
were  new  to  me  I  shot  a  bird  and  found  it 
to  be  one  of  this  species  in  full  breeding 
plumage.  Saw  one  here  II  April  1903. 

63.  Linnet.      Linota  cannabina  (Linn.) 

A  common  resident.     A  white  variety  was 


shot  near  Southwell  in  1870  and  is  now  in 
my  collection,  also  a  grey-coloured  one. 

64.  Mealy  Redpoll.      Linota   I'maria   (Linn.) 
A  rare  winter  visitor.     I  know  of  only  one 

specimen  being  obtained,  and  that  was  caught 
on  Mapperley  Hills  near  Nottingham  on  12 
January  1848,  and  was  taken  alive  to  the 
late  Mr.  Percy  of  Beeston,  who  identified  it. 

65.  Lesser  Redpoll.    Linota  rufescens  (Vieillot) 
Resident  in   Notts    and   breeds    here    and 

there.  It  is  most  numerous  in  winter,  when 
it  is  found  in  flocks  in  company  with  siskins 
frequenting  alder  and  birch  trees.  I  have 
two  pure  white  varieties  in  my  collection  shot 
near  Southwell  in  1870.  There  are  always 
several  nests  about  Rainworth  every  year. 

66.  Twite.      Linota  flavirostris  (Linn.) 
Very  local  and    far  from  common.     I  have 

a  pair  shot  on  Mansfield  Forest  where  a  few 
can  often  be  seen.  It  has  nested  once  or 
twice  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

67.  Bullfinch.      Pyrrhula  europtsa,  Vieillot. 
Found  thinly  distributed  over  the  county. 

A  good  many  are  taken  by  bird-catchers  in 
the  autumn.  A  beautiful  pale  grey  bird  was 
shot  near  Nottingham  in  1869. 

68.  Pine  Grosbeak.  Pyrrhula  enucleator  (Linn.) 
A  beautiful  male  in  rosy  plumage  was  shot 

by  Dr.  Dixon  on  30  October  1890  when  he 
was  partridge  driving  at  Watnall.  The  bird 
came  and  settled  by  the  side  of  a  small  pond 
to  drink,  and  on  seeing  him  flew  up  into  a 
tree  where  he  shot  it ;  it  is  now  in  the  col- 
lection of  Mr.  Chaworth  Musters  of  Annes- 
ley  Park. 

69.  Crossbill.     Loxia  curvirostra,  Linn. 
This  bird  is  seen  now  and  again  in  small 

flocks,  and  has  nested  in  the  county  on  more 
than  one  occasion.  Daws  of  Mansfield  once 
saw  old  and  young  ones  in  Harlow  Wood,  and 
in  July  1870  I  saw  a  female  come  down  to 
the  side  of  the  pond  at  Ramsdale  to  drink. 


70.  Parrot     Crossbill. 
Bechstein. 


Loxia    pityopsittacus, 


A  small  party  of  these  rare  stragglers  from 
northern  Europe  visited  a  clump  of  Scotch 
firs  at  Edwinstowe  in  the  winter  of  1849,  and 
seven  were  shot  by  Mr.  Wells  on  4  March  of 
that  year. 

71.  American  White- winged  Crossbill.    Loxia 

leucoptera,  J.  F.  Gmelin. 
About  the  end  of  March  1 849  Mr.  Wells 
shot  four  of  these  birds  in  some  fir  trees  near 
Edwinstowe. 


162 


BIRDS 


72.  Two-barred  Crossbill.       Loxia  bifasciata 

(Brehm) 

One  of  these  rare  stragglers  was  shot  by 
George  Emery  in  the  Residence  Gardens  at 
Southwell  about  1875.  It  was  taken  in  the 
flesh  to  the  late  F.  Schumach,  the  taxidermist 
of  Southwell,  who  preserved  it  and  put  it 
away.  After  his  death  it  was  given  to  me  by 
his  son,  who  remembered  seeing  it  when  it 
was  brought  to  his  father.  The  bird  is  in 
beautiful  plumage  and  is  a  most  interesting 
county  specimen. 

73.  Black-headed  Bunting.    Emberiza  melano- 

cephala,  Scopoli 

Stanley,  the  bird-stuffer  of  Nottingham,  had 
a  specimen  in  fine  plumage  brought  to  him 
with  some  small  birds  which  had  been  caught 
near  Nottingham  in  the  spring  of  1886. 
The  Rev.  J.  Ashworth  seeing  it  there  and 
noticing  that  it  was  something  out  of  the 
common  expressed  a  wish  to  have  it  ;  Stanley 
at  once  gave  it  him,  little  thinking  how  rare 
it  was.  It  was  identified  by  Professor  Newton. 
Only  three  others  have  occurred  in  Britain. 

74.  Corn-Bunting.    Emberiza  miliaria,  Linn. 
Resident  and  fairly  common   in  cultivated 

parts  of  the  county  ;  the  nest  of  this  bird  is 
very  hard  to  find.  It  is  often  a  very  late 
breeder,  and  I  have  found  its  nest  at  Rain- 
worth  in  August.  I  have  a  pretty  pied  bird 
shot  in  1882  at  Blidworth,  and  a  pale  cream- 
coloured  variety  shot  at  Newstead  Abbey  in 
1883. 

75.  Yellow    Hammer.       Emberiza    citrine/la, 

Linn. 

A  very  common  bird  and  frequents  culti- 
vated fields  with  high  hedges  ;  I  have  several 
very  pretty  varieties  shot  in  the  county. 

76.  Cirl  Bunting.      Emberiza  cir/us,  Linn. 
Rare  ;  a  few  have  been  taken  near  Ollerton, 

and  Mr.  Wells  shot  five  at  Edwinstowe  in 
1859.  On  5  February  1897  two  were 
caught  in  a  clap-net  at  Bagthorpe  near  Notting- 
ham with  some  chaffinches.  I  bought  the  two 
for  is.  kd.  from  their  captor,  and  was  very 
pleased  to  get  such  rare  county  birds  for  my 
collection. 

77-   Reed  Bunting.   Emberiza  schceniclus,  Linn. 

Resident  and  fairly  numerous  in  suitable 
places.  I  have  a  pretty  pied  variety  shot  near 
Newark-on-Trent. 

78.  Snow       Bunting.      Plectrophenax    nivalis 

(Linn.) 

A  rare  winter  visitor.  A  flock  was  seen 
by  Mr.  Lowe  at  Highfields  in  January  1854, 
three  birds  were  shot  at  Oxton  in  1880 


by  Mr.  Musters,  and  in  March  1901  when 
driving  with  Mr.  Aplin  near  Clipstone  we 
saw  one  on  the  high  road  ;  the  last  specimen 
was  in  good  plumage  and  very  tame. 

79.  Lapland    Bunting.       Calcarius    lapponicus 

(Linn.) 

This  rare  straggler  has  occurred  once  in 
Nottinghamshire  ;  it  was  shot  by  Mr.  Wells 
in  the  winter  of  1850  amongst  a  number  of 
larks  between  Edwinstowe  and  Ollerton. 

80.  Starling.      Sturnus  vulgarly  Linn. 

A  resident  and  very  common,  nesting  in 
any  possible  place  it  can  find.  I  have  nearly 
100  boxes  on  trees  at  Rainworth,  each  one 
containing  a  pair  of  these  birds.  Great 
flocks  get  together  early  in  July  and  keep  in 
company  till  the  following  spring.  A  fir 
wood  near  Rainworth  is  a  favourite  place  for 
roosting  in  winter  and  is  resorted  to  by  tens 
of  thousands  of  starlings.  I  have  a  pure 
white  variety,  also  cream,  grey  and  sandy- 
coloured  varieties  shot  in  these  parts.  This 
bird  is  single  brooded. 

8 1.  Rose-coloured     Starling.       Pastor     roseus 

(Linn.) 

Very  rare.  I  know  of  only  two  speci- 
mens, one  shot  many  years  ago  by  my  father's 
keeper  at  Ramsdale,  and  the  other  was  killed 
near  West  Bridgford  and  is  in  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Chaworth  Musters  of  Annesley  Park. 

82.  Nutcracker.  Nucifraga  caryocatactes(L'mn.) 

One  was  seen  at  Ramsdale  by  my  brother 
in  the  winter  of  1871.  It  flew  out  from  a 
thorn  tree  and  he  had  a  shot  at  it,  but  missed  ; 
on  following  it  up  he  had  a  good  view  of  it 
several  times,  but  could  not  secure  it. 

83.  Jay.      Garrulus  glandarius  (Linn.) 
Fairly    common,   especially    in    big    woods 

where  it  nests  ;  great  numbers  come  to  us  in 
autumn.  I  have  four  white  jays  which  have 
been  shot  in  the  county,  also  a  pied  variety, 
and  I  have  heard  of  several  others. 

84.  Magpie.     Pica  rustica  (Scopoli) 
Resident,  but  far  from  common.  It  is  fairly 

numerous  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county 
but  scarcer  in  the  northern  parts.  I  saw  a  nest 
containing  five  eggs  near  Farnsfield  in  1902 
on  the  side  of  the  high  road  in  a  small  thorn 
tree  not  more  than  10  feet  from  the  ground. 

85.  Jackdaw.      Corvus  monedula,  Linn. 
This  bird    nests    in    the   old    oaks   in   the 

Birklands,  and  is  scattered  over  the  county  in 
autumn  and  winter.  A  pied  one  was  seen 
at  Ollerton,  and  I  have  a  brown  variety  shot 
near  Nottingham. 


163 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


86.  Raven.     Corvus  corax,  Linn. 

Has  been  seen  in  Sherwood  Forest  some 
years  ago.  One  was  shot  near  Bingham 
about  1879. 

87.  Carrion  Crow.     Corvus  corone,  Linn. 
Not  common.     It   breeds  about  Stoke  and 

a  few  other  places  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county ;  it  is  seen  now  and  again  near 
Rainworth,  where  it  nested  in  1903. 

88.  Hooded  Crow.     Corvus  cornix,  Linn. 
Scattered  over  the  county  especially  in  the 

northern  parts  in  autumn  and  winter.  I 
think  there  are  more  about  Rainworth  than 
in  other  places.  I  have  seen  thirty-five  on  the 
wing  at  one  time,  and  in  1887  I  counted 
eighty-two  flying  over  to  their  roosting 
places  in  the  forest.  In  1892  I  counted 
eighty-six  passing  over,  and  in  January  1879 
twenty-three  feeding  at  one  time  on  an  ash 
heap  near  my  house. 

89.  Rook.   Corvus  frugilegus,  Linn. 

This  is  an  abundant  resident  and  many 
arrive  in  autumn  ;  there  are  many  large 
rookeries  in  Notts.  I  have  white,  brown 
and  cream-coloured  varieties  shot  in  the 
county.  Great  numbers  roost  in  Newstead 
Park  during  the  winter. 

90.  Sky  Lark.      Alauda  arvensis,  Linn. 

A  very  common  bird  and  found  in  large 
numbers  in  the  cultivated  districts.  A  white 
variety,  and  one  with  white  wings,  were 
shot  near  Rainworth  in  1884,  and  several 
others  in  varied  plumage  have  occurred  from 
time  to  time. 

91.  Wood  Lark.      Alauda  arborea.  Linn. 

A  very  rare  bird,  but  found  occasionally  in 
the  forest,  where  the  late  Mr.  Sterland  some 
years  back  took  its  eggs  j  it  has  been  seen 
several  times  at  Newstead. 

92.  Swift.      Cypselus  apus  (Linn.) 
Common     in    some    parts,     especially     in 

villages  where  there  are  houses  with  tiled 
roofs.  It  is  very  plentiful  in  Mansfield,  but 
it  seldom  arrives  before  the  first  week  in  May 
and  leaves  early  in  August. 

93.  Nightjar.      Caprimulgus  europ&us,   Linn. 
Plentiful    during    the    summer  months  in 

the  forest  but  not  nearly  so  numerous  as 
formerly,  when  I  have  seen  a  dozen  on  the 
wing  at  once  flying  about  the  road  between 
Harlow  and  Thieves  Woods. 

94.  Egyptian  Nightjar.   Caprimulgus  tegyptiui, 

Lichtenstein 
The   only  British   specimen   was   shot   on 


23  June  1883  in  Thieves  Wood  near  Mans- 
field, by  my  keeper,  who  mistook  it  for  a 
light  variety  of  the  common  nightjar.  The 
bird  rose  from  the  side  of  the  drive  on  his 
shooting  at  a  rabbit  and  fell  to  his  second 
barrel.  Only  five  other  specimens  are  known 
to  have  been  obtained  in  Europe. 

95.  Wryneck.     lynx  torquilla,  Linn. 

I  do  not  know  any  part  of  the  county  where 
this  bird  is  found  in  any  numbers,  but  it 
occasionally  occurs  in  north  Notts.  I  have 
seen  it  at  Rainworth  only  three  times  in 
thirty  years.  It  has  nested  once  or  twice 
near  Southwell. 

96.  Green     Woodpecker.        Gecinus     viridis 

(Linn.) 

Fairly  common  in  forests  and  large  woods. 
I  had  a  pair  nesting  at  Rainworth  within  60 
yards  of  my  house  in  June  1902. 

97.  Great  Spotted  Woodpecker.    Dendrocopus 

major  (Linn.) 

Often  seen,  but  not  so  abundant  as  the  last 
species.  I  have  frequently  seen  one  on  the 
park  pales  at  Rainworth  stripping  the  bark 
for  insects. 

98.  Lesser    Spotted  Woodpecker.       Dendro- 

copus minor  (Linn.) 

By  no  means  common,  but  it  is  harder  to 
see  than  either  of  the  above  named  birds.  It 
nested  in  Harlow  Wood  in  1888,  and  I  have 
seen  it  about  Rainworth  a  few  times. 

99.  Great  Black  Woodpecker.    Picus  martius, 

Linn. 

I  know  there  are  doubts  oast  on  the 
occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Britain,  but  on  the 
evidence  of  Macgilljvray,  who  most  certainly 
is  to  be  trusted,  I  add  it  to  this  list.  In  the 
University  Museum  at  Aberdeen  there  are 
two  specimens  of  this  bird  labelled  '  Notting- 
ham '  in  the  handwriting  of  the  late  Professor 
Macgillivray  and  referred  to  by  him  in  his 
British  Birds,  iii.  79.  He  says  '  two  speci- 
mens in  my  collection,  a  male  and  a  female, 
which  I  purchased  from  Dr.  Madden,  to 
whom  they  had  been  sent  by  their  owner  as 
having  been  shot  near  Nottingham.  That 
gentleman  afterwards  obtained  for  me  a 
certificate  of  the  fact  by  the  person  who  had 
procured  them.' 

100.  Kingfisher.      Alcedt  ispida,  Linn. 

This  lovely  bird  is  fairly  common  in 
suitable  localities,  though  numbers  are  shot 
and  caught  every  winter.  I  often  see  it  at 
Rainworth  within  a  few  yards  of  my  house, 
and  it  is  delightful  to  watch  it  capturing 


164 


BIRDS 


small  fish.  I  only  wish  it  were  protected  all 
the  year  round. 

101.  Bee-eater.     Merops  apiaster,  Linn. 
One  of  these  very  rare  and  beautiful  birds 

was  shot  in  the  spring  of  1878  on  Mapperley 
Plains  near  Nottingham,  and  was  preserved 
by  Rose  of  Mount  Street ;  traces  of  where  it 
is  now  are  lost. 

102.  Hoopoe.      Upupa  epops,  Linn. 

This  striking  bird  has  been  seen  and  shot 
in  Notts  several  times  ;  one  was  shot  at  Wil- 
ford  in  1863,  another  seen  near  Ollerton  about 
the  same  time,  and  in  1889  Mr.  Webb  saw 
one  several  times  at  Newstead  Abbey. 

103.  Cuckoo.     Cucului  canarus,  Linn. 
Varies  in  numbers  in  different  years  but  it 

is  always  well  distributed  over  the  county.  I 
once  took  a  chocolate  coloured  mature  bird 
from  a  trap  in  Harlow  Wood,  and  the  Rev. 
W.  Becher  of  Wellow  also  has  one  in  this 
plumage.  The  latest  date  at  which  I  have 
heard  this  bird  sing  was  13  July  1872,  and  I 
am  quite  sure  the  adult  cuckoo  leaves  directly 
after  its  song  ceases. 

104.  White  or  Barn  Owl.       Strix  flammea, 

Linn. 

This  bird  is  found  thinly  distributed  over 
Nottinghamshire  and  nests  in  old  oaks  in 
Sherwood  Forest  ;  it  does  a  great  deal  of 
good,  which  I  am  glad  to  say  keepers  are  be- 
ginning to  find  out.  A  pale  cream-coloured 
variety  with  pink  eyes  was  shot  near  Newark 
in  the  '  eighties '  and  is  in  my  collection. 

105.  Long-eared  Owl.     Am  otus  (Linn.) 
Found  in  the  fir  woods  in  fair  numbers  and 

in  the  forest,  and  is  thinly  distributed  in  the 
south  of  the  county. 

1 06.  Short-eared      Owl.        Asia     accipitrinus 

(Pallas) 

Now  and  again  a  good  many  arrive  in 
autumn,  and  I  once  saw  eight  on  the  wing  at 
one  time,  and  we  sometimes  see  them  when 
shooting  getting  up  from  turnips.  I  have 
looked  for  its  nest  in  the  open  forest  but  have 
never  come  across  one. 

107.  Tawny  Owl.     Syrnium  aluco  (Linn.) 
Observed  in  suitable  localities,  but  far  from 

common.  I  have  seen  them  in  both  shades 
of  plumage. 

108.  Little  Owl.     Athene  noctua  (Scopoli) 
One   was    caught    alive  near  Newark-on- 

Trent  in  1896,  and  another  was  shot  in 
October  1901  near  Nottingham. 


109.   Marsh  Harrier.  Circus  <eruginosus  (Linn.) 
The  only  record  I  have  of  this  now  rare 
bird  being  killed  in  the  county  is  one  shot  by 
a  keeper  in  Thoresby  Park  in  1848. 

no.  Hen  Harrier.       Circus cyaneus  (Linn.) 

Occurs  now  and  again,  birds  of  both  sexes 
having  been  killed  at  Welbeck,  Newstead, 
Rufford  and  other  places.  I  have  seen  it  at 
Rainworth  three  or  four  times,  on  one  oc- 
casion a  beautiful  male  in  full  plumage. 

111.  Montagu's     Harrier.     Circus    cineraceus 

(Montagu) 

One  of  these  birds  was  caught  in  a  pole 
trap  at  Ratcher  Hill  near  Rainworth,  and  is 
the  only  occurrence  of  which  I  have  heard. 

112.  Buzzard.     Buteo  vulgarly  Leach. 

It  is  not  often  that  this  fine  bird  is  seen 
now,  though  formerly  it  was  not  so  rare.  I 
have  three  eggs  taken  by  the  late  Sir  Arthur 
Need  when  a  boy  (probably  about  the  '  thirties ') 
at  Fountain  Dale,  from  a  nest  in  an  old  Scotch 
fir  tree  not  far  from  the  lake  there.  The 
latest  of  which  I  have  any  note  was  picked 
up  dead  at  Stoke  by  Sir  Harry  Bromley  in 
1900. 

113.  Rough-legged    Buzzard.      Buteo  lagopus 

(].  F.  Gmelin) 

Seen  now  and  again,  generally  in  the  open 
forest.  Some  years  ago  four  or  five  were  killed 
at  Ruffbrd.  In  March  1899  I  saw  one  flying 
over  the  lake  at  Rainworth,  and  it  was  about 
for  over  a  month  and  often  seen  ;  its  flight  was 
very  beautiful,  and  on  the  wing  it  looked 
about  as  large  as  a  heron.  There  was  also 
one  here  this  year  (1903). 

[Red-tailed  Buzzard.  Buteo  borealis  (Wil- 
son) 

Mr.  Felkin  of  Lenton  near  Nottingham 
stated  in  a  list  of  birds  he  drew  up  in  1866, 
and  which  he  read  at  the  British  Association 
meeting,  that  a  buzzard  was  brought  to  him 
in  the  flesh  which  had  been  killed  between 
Mansfield  and  Newstead  in  the  autumn  of 
1850.  He  submitted  it  to  the  late  Mr.  Gould, 
who  identified  it  as  Buteo  borealis,  and  so  far  it 
is  the  only  British  specimen.] 

114.  White-tailed  Eagle.     Haliaftus  albicilla 

(Linn.) 

One  was  seen  at  Welbeck  in  1838,  and 
was  about  there  for  three  weeks.  One  was 
shot  at  Osberton  in  January  1857  ;  and  another 
measuring  7  ft.  I  in.  across  and  weighing  9^ 
Ib.  was  shot  by  Mr.  George  Musters  at  Park 
farm,  Annesley,  on  8  November  1896.  The 
latter  had  been  seen  a  few  days  before  being 


165 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


shot  feeding  on  rabbits,  which  abound  in  this 
fine  park. 

115.  Goshawk.     Astur  palumbarius  (Linn.) 

There  are  only  two  instances  of  the  oc- 
currence of  this  rare  hawk  in  Nottingham- 
shire ;  one  was  shot  by  a  keeper  at  Ruffbrd  in 
1848,  and  the  other  on  Mansfield  Forest. 

n  6.  Sparrow  Hawk.     Accipiter  nisus  (Linn.) 
Fairly  common  in  autumn  but  not  as  a  nest- 
ing species. 

117.  Kite.     Milvus  ictinus,  Savigny. 

Two  of  these  now  very  rare  hawks  were 
shot  at  Clifton  near  Nottingham  a  good  many 
years  ago,  and  a  female  was  shot  by  Mr. 
Wells  near  Edwinstowe  in  1860.  The  late 
Mr.  Sterland  saw  one  flying  over  the  forest  in 
May  1847  ;  another  was  shot  in  November 
1875  at  Chilwell  near  Nottingham. 

1 1 8.  Honey  Buzzard.  Perms  apivorus  (Linn.) 

Several  of  these  birds  have  been  shot  and 
trapped  in  Nottinghamshire.  A  pair  were  killed 
in  Ploughman  Wood  near  Lowdham  in  the 
summer  of  1842,  and  another  pair,  male  and 
female,  were  both  caught  in  the  same  trap  by 
their  legs  on  26  April  1858  ;  other  records 
are,  a  female  at  Rufford  in  1854,  one  at  Toton 
October  1863,  and  a  pair  shot  near  Park  Hall 
in  1897  ;  the  latter  are  in  Mr.  Musters'  col- 
lection. 

119.  Peregrine     Falcon.       Falco    peregrinus, 

Tunstall. 

I  have  notes  of  a  good  many  occurrences 
of  this  bird.  Of  these  I  may  mention  one 
shot  at  Ramsdale  by  my  late  father's  bailiff 
in  1840,  and  others  shot  at  Ruffbrd,  Park 
Hall,  Kirton  and  Rainworth.  The  last  I 
saw  was  in  1899. 

1 2O.  Hobby.      Falco  subiutto,  Linn. 

A  summer  visitor,  but  I  once  saw  one  in 
Newstead  Park  on  9  December  1877,  a^so 
another  near  Rainworth  in  July  1875.  It 
has  been  shot  at  Ruffbrd,  Ollerton,  and  other 
places. 

121.  Merlin.      Falco  tesalon,  Tunstall. 

This  bird  has  bred  in  Sherwood  Forest, 
and  has  been  shot  and  seen  many  times  at 
Ruffbrd  ;  two  were  seen  at  Thrumpton  and 
were  caught  at  one  time  in  a  clap-net  near 
Trent  station.  In  November  1870  I  shot 
the  largest  specimen  of  this  falcon  I  have  ever 
seen  ;  it  was  a  female  and  was  half  as  large 
again  as  the  usual  size. 


122.  Kestrel.     Falco  tinnuncu/uiy  Linn. 
Fairly  common  and  nests  in  several  places. 

Many  come  to  us  in  autumn,  and  a  cream- 
coloured  variety  was  seen  at  Park  Hall  in  1880. 
It  is  very  much  scarcer  than  it  was  thirty 
years  ago. 

123.  Osprey.      Pandion  haliat'tus  (Linn.) 
The  following  occurrences  are  recorded  : 

one  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Nottingham 
in  1839  ;  a  female  caught  alive  at  Beeston 
Rylands  in  the  same  year  ;  one  seen  flying 
over  Thoresby  Lake  in  1855,  which  remained 
about  there  for  several  weeks  ;  one  shot  at 
East  Bridgeford  in  1865  ;  one  shot  years  ago 
at  Newstead  Abbey  ;  one  seen  over  Rainworth 
Water  in  1866  ;  one  caught  in  a  hawk-trap 
at  Clipstone  in  the  spring  of  1871  ;  one  shot 
near  Nottingham  in  1881  ;  and  one  caught 
at  Rainworth  in  1880. 

124.  Cormorant.    Phalacrocorax  carbo  (Linn.) 
One  was  shot  on  Thoresby  Lake  in  August 

1864  ;  and  another  some  years  back  at  Lamb 
Close,  Eastwood  ;  also  one  at  Annesley  in 
1883,  and  one  on  Mansfield  reservoir  in 
April  1886. 

125.  Shag  or  Green  Cormorant.      Phalacro- 

corax graculus  (Linn.) 

Two  were  shot  at  Burton  Joyce  on  the 
Trent  in  July  1851  ;  in  November  1879  a 
man  who  was  going  to  his  work  came  upon 
two  of  these  birds  in  Cross  Street,  Notting- 
ham, both  of  which  he  caught  ;  another  was 
shot  on  the  same  day  while  sitting  on  the 
roof  of  a  factory  on  Mapperley  Plains. 

126.  Gannet  or  Solan  Goose.      Sula  bassana 

(Linn.) 

It  is  curious  that  this  sea-loving  bird  should 
be  so  often  found  in  this  inland  county.  I 
have  notes  of  the  gannet  having  been  shot  on 
more  than  a  dozen  occasions.  A  full  adult 
which  is  now  in  my  collection  was  caught  by 
a  fox  on  the  side  of  a  pond  at  Fountain  Dale  ; 
the  fox  was  seen  dragging  the  bird  along  by 
its  neck,  but  left  it  on  being  run  after. 

127.  Common  Heron.     Ardea  cinerea,  Linn. 
I  am  delighted  to  say  this  fine  bird  is  fairly 

plentiful,  and  I  often  see  three  or  four  from 
my  windows.  The  strongest  heronry  in  the 
county  is  at  Stoke,  where  there  are  about  forty 
nests.  It  belongs  to  Sir  Harry  Bromley,  who 
kindly  gave  me  a  most  wonderful  nest  which 
was  blown  out  of  a  tree  ;  the  greater  part  is 
made  of  wire  with  a  stick  intertwined  here 
and  there,  and  how  the  bird  ever  got  this 


i6G 


BIRDS 


quantity  of  wire  through  the  tree  tops,  to  say 
nothing  of  forming  it  into  a  perfect  nest,  is 
marvellous.  There  are  a  few  herons  nesting 
at  Thoresby  Park,  also  at  Clumber  and  New- 
stead. 

128.  Purple  Heron.      Ardea  purpurea,  Linn. 
One  of  these  birds  was  shot  at  Clifton  near 

Nottingham  in  1868,  and  Mr.  Forman  has 
one  which  was  shot  at  Colwick  some  years 
back.  Rose  the  naturalist  once  showed  me  a 
bird  which  looked  very  much  like  a  cross 
between  the  purple  species  and  the  common 
heron,  showing  in  its  plumage  markings  of 
each. 

129.  Great  White  Heron.   Ardea  alba,  Linn. 
Mr.  Foljambe  has  a  fine  specimen  of  this 

bird  in  his  collection,  which  was  shot  at 
Osberton. 

130.  Squacco  Heron.    Ardea  ra//otdes,  Scopoli. 
This   is  another  very  rare  straggler  ;  one 

was  shot  by  a  keeper  at  Bestwood  Park  in 
August  1871,  and  is  in  my  collection. 

131.  Night  Heron.  Nycticorax  griseus  (Linn.) 
Only  one  specimen  has  been  noted,  which 

was  shot  in  the  autumn  of  1820  at  South 
Clifton  by  Mr.  Bassett. 

132.  Little  Bittern.      Ardetta  minuta  (Linn.) 
A  rare  summer  visitor.     One  was  put  up 

from  some  flags  on  the  side  of  the  Trent  near 
Newark  and  shot,  and  another  was  shot  on 
24  May  1870  near  Worksop. 

133.  Bittern.     Botaurus  stellarls  (Linn.) 
There  are  many  records  of  this  bird  having 

been  killed  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  of 
which  I  may  mention  the  following  :  at  Col- 
wick  in  1848  ;  at  Clifton  in  1871  ;  on 
Rainworth  Water  a  pair,  male  and  female,  were 
shot,  and  on  one  of  the  keepers  holding  the 
former  up  by  the  legs  five  or  six  trout  dropped 
from  its  throat ;  one  was  shot  at  Beeston  in 
1871  ;  several  during  the  severe  winter  of 
1 88 1  ;  one  in  the  winter  of  1891,  and  one 
was  shot  at  Welbeck  in  January  1903. 

134.  White  Stork.     Ciconia  a/bay  Bechstein. 
Two  instances  only  are  recorded.  In  1825 

one  was  shot  near  Bawtry  in  the  north  corner 
of  the  county  ;  and  in  1829  a  flock  was  seen 
not  far  from  the  same  place  and  two  were 
killed. 

135.  Spoonbill.      Platalea  leucorodia,  Linn. 
The  visits  of  this  bird  are  now  few  and  far 

between.  In  July  1831  one  was  followed  by 
Mr.  Gee  at  Girton-on-Trent,  but  was  not 


captured.  In  the  winter  of  1 847  one  was  shot 
by  Mr.  Maltby  near  Toton  on  the  Notts  side  of 
the  Erewash  ;  and  in  1843  one  was  seen  on 
the  side  of  Rainworth  Waters. 

136.  Gray  Lag  Goose.  Amer  dnereus,  Meyer. 
Rare,  but  has  been  seen  on  Thoresby  and 

Ruffbrd  lakes.  Sir  Thomas  White  shot  one 
on  his  lake  at  Wallingwells,  and  another  was 
shot  on  the  pond  at  Papplewick  in  1885,  and 
sent  to  me  by  the  late  Mr.  Henry  Walter. 

137.  White-fronted    Goose.      Amer  albifrons 

(Scopoli) 

In  Mr.  Felkin's  list  he  states  that  this 
goose  has  been  killed  in  Nottinghamshire; 
several  were  shot  on  the  Trent  in  the  great 
frost  of  1891. 

138.  Bean  Goose.       Anser    segetum     (J.     F. 

Gmelin) 

This  goose  has  been  obtained  several  times 
on  the  Trent  near  Newark  ;  Mr.  Musters 
shot  two  of  these  birds  at  Annesley  in  the 
winter  of  1891,  when  seven  were  about  there 
for  a  month. 

139.  Pink-footed  Goose.      Anser    brachyrhyn- 

cbus,  Baillon. 

I  am  only  aware  of  one  record  of  this 
goose  having  been  obtained  in  Notts,  which 
was  in  the  winter  of  1888-9  when  Mr.  W. 
P.  Sutton  shot  one  at  Langar  in  the  south 
of  the  county. 

140.  Bernacle  Goose.  Bernicla  leucopsis  (Bech- 

stein) 

In  September  1869  fifty-two  of  these  birds 
flew  close  over  my  head  at  Ramsdale,  and 
were  so  near  that  I  had  no  difficulty  in  dis- 
tinguishing the  species.  One  was  shot  flying 
over  a  garden  at  Mansfield  a  few  years  back, 
and  another  at  Eastwood  in  December  1890. 

141.  Brent  Goose.     Bernicla  brenta  (Pallas) 
The  late  Mr.  Foottit  shot  one  near  Newark- 

on-Trent,  and  another  was  shot  by  the  Rev. 
R.  Sutton  in  the  same  neighbourhood  in  the 

winter  of  1850. 

i 

[Canada  Goose.     Anser  canadensis  (Linn.) 

These  birds  are  seen  every  winter  flying 

over  in  small  and    big  companies,  and  they 

nest  on  several  pieces  of  water  ;  the  greater 

proportion  are,  I  feel  sure,  domesticated  ones.] 

[Egyptian  Goose.     Anser  egypticus  (Linn.) 
A  party  of  six  was  seen  on  the  Trent  near 
Clifton  Hall  on  5  December  1873,  when  two 
of  them  were  killed  ;    one  was  shot  at  East- 
wood in  1868.] 


167 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


142.  Whooper  Swan.     Cygnus  musicus,  Bech- 

stcin. 

Formerly  herds  of  these  swans  were  often 
seen  passing  over  the  county,  but  now  it  is  a 
rare  sight.  They  are  birds  of  hard  winters. 
A  flock  of  twelve  spent  a  few  days  on  the 
Trent  in  March  1845  ;  two  were  killed  on 
the  Trent  in  1 848  near  Newark ;  one  was 
shot  out  of  a  flock  of  five  at  Lamb  Close 
Reservoir  in  1871  ;  another  at  Besthorpe  in 
November  1872;  and  I  saw  six  on  the  lake 
at  Welbeck,  23  December  1902. 

143.  Bewick's  Swan.     Cygnus  bewicki,  Yar- 

rell. 

This  species  has  been  observed  occasionally. 
It  has  been  shot  near  Newark-on-Trent  by 
Mr.  Foottit,  and  also  near  Nottingham  ;  in 
December  1899  a  flock  of  sixty  flew  over 
Mr.  Musters'  head  at  Annesley  Park,  and 
from  their  size  he  was  certain  they  were  of 
this  species.  Twenty-one  settled  on  Rainworth 
Water  on  28  November  1902,  when  my  son 
shot  two,  one  on  the  water,  the  other  on  the 
wing,  with  a  rifle. 

144.  Mute  Swan.    Cygnus  olor  (J.  F.  Gmelin) 
It  is  common  on  all  the  waters  in  Notting- 
hamshire, and  I  have  seen  as   many  as  fifty- 
eight  on  Thoresby  Lake  at  one  time.     I  have 
no  doubt  the  pure   wild   species  occurs  now 
and  again. 

145.  Common  Sheld  Duck.    Tadorna  cornuta 

(S.  G.  Gmelin) 

The  late  Mr.Sterland  twice  saw  this  duck  on 
the  lake  at  Thoresby,  and  it  has  been  noticed 
on  the  river  Idle  at  Retford  ;  a  female  was 
shot  in  December  1864  at  Beeston  Rylands, 
and  one  was  shot  on  the  Trent  at  Tnrump- 
ton  in  January  1885.  It  has  also  been  seen 
at  Newstead. 

146.  Ruddy    Sheld-Duck.      Tadorna   casarca 

(Linn.) 

The  late  Mr.  Webb  saw  two  of  these 
striking  ducks  on  the  lake  in  Newstead  Abbey 
Park  in  1869  ;  they  were  very  wild  and  in- 
accessible and  remained  there  some  time. 

147.  Mallard  or  Wild   Duck.     Anas   boscas, 

Linn. 

This  duck  is  common  all  over  the  county, 
more  especially  on  the  large  lakes  in  north 
Nottinghamshire  ;  I  have  seen  over  a  hundred 
on  Rainworth  Water  at  one  time.  It  is  an 
early  breeder,  and  I  have  found  its  nest  in  the 
centre  of  a  big  wood  half  a  mile  from  the 
outside  and  a  long  way  from  water.  I  have 


several  pretty  varieties,  most  of  which  were 
taken  in  a  trap  at  Park  Hall  and  kindly  given 
me  by  Mr.  Hall. 

148.  Gadwall.     Anas  strepera,  Linn. 

A  rare  Notts  duck.  One  was  shot  near 
Retford  by  Mr.  Thorold  in  1858.  Mr. 
Webb  has  seen  them  once  or  twice  on  the 
lake  at  Newstead,  and  one  was  killed  on  the 
lake  at  Fountain  Dale  by  the  late  Sir  A. 
Need. 

149.  Shoveler.     Spatula  clypeata  (Linn.) 
This  handsome  duck  has,  I  am  glad  to  say, 

increased  of  late  years.  The  first  pair  I  ever 
saw  nesting  was  in  1874,  and  in  1884  these 
had  increased  to  six  pairs.  It  has  bred  at 
Park  Hall  and  other  places  during  the  last 
few  years.  It  generally  nests  away  from 
water. 

1 50.  Pintail.     Dafila  acuta  (Linn.) 

This  is  a  very  rare  duck  in  Nottingham- 
shire, but  has  been  obtained  on  the  Trent 
near  Newark.  One  was  shot  by  Mr.  Turner 
in  January  1903  on  Forest  Pond,  and  five  were 
seen  at  Annesley  during  the  same  month. 

151.  Teal.     Nfttton  crecca  (Linn.) 

Fairly  common,  and  many  breed  on  the 
Nottinghamshire  waters.  We  have  had  as 
many  as  six  pairs  nesting  at  Rainworth  ;  it 
also  nests  at  Newstead,  and  on  some  of  the 
forest  ponds. 

152.  Garganey.     ^uerquedula  circla  (Linn.) 
There  are  several  occurrences  of  this  bird. 

A  male  was  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Newark 
by  Mr.  Foottit  ;  Mr.  Percy  had  a  male  and 
female  killed  on  the  Trent  near  Beeston 
fields  ;  the  Rev.  W.  Becher  obtained  another 
near  Southwell  about  1880,  and  a  pair  were 
shot  at  Rainworth  on  10  April  1880.  I 
wonder  it  is  not  more  frequently  seen,  as  the 
waters  at  Rainworth  are  most  suitable. 

153.  Wigeon.     Mareca  penelope  (Linn.) 
This  is  a  winter  visitor  and  is  often   seen 

in  large  quantities  on  some  of  the  lakes, 
especially  in  the  forest.  Numbers  frequent 
the  lake  at  Park  Hall,  and  I  have  shot  many 
on  the  lakes  at  Rainworth.  A  slightly 
wounded  duck  wigeon  remained  on  the  large 
sheet  of  water  at  Lamb  Close  and  was  joined 
by  a  male  ;  they  nested  and  reared  a  good 
brood.  On  5  August  1883,  when  walking 
round  the  lake  here  with  Messrs.  Aplin  and 
Bid  well,  we  saw  one  of  these  ducks  in  full 
breeding  plumage  ;  it  appeared  in  good  health 
and  was  by  itself. 


168 


BIRDS 


154.  Pochard.      Fuligula  ferina  (Linn.) 

Fairly  common  as  a  winter  visitor  and  can 
be  seen  in  all  the  winter  months  on  the  lake 
at  Thoresby,  and  also  at  Newstead. 

155.  Ferruginous    Duck.       Fuligula    nyroca 

(Guldenstadt) 

One  of  these  rare  ducks  was  shot  on  the 
Trent  at  Newark  and  was  in  Mr.  Foottit's 
collection  ;  a  pair  were  seen  on  the  lake  at 
Highfields  near  Nottingham,  and  another,  a 
female,  was  killed  by  Mr.  Lowe. 

156.  Tufted  Duck.    Fuligula  cristata  (Leach) 

Yarrell  mentions  that  the  first  authenticated 
nest  was  found  in  1849,  but  long  before  this, 
early  in  the  '  twenties '  of  the  last  century, 
the  bird  was  breeding  in  numbers  on  Rain- 
worth  Waters,  and  in  1872,  when  I  first 
came  to  live  here,  sixteen  pairs  were  nesting  ; 
I  can  well  remember  my  delight  on  seeing 
them.  It  has  nested  every  year  since  and 
has  given  pleasure  to  many  of  our  well  known 
naturalists  ;  large  quantities  occur  all  over  the 
northern  parts  of  the  county  in  the  winter, 
and  many  remain  to  breed.  In  May  1902  I 
counted  twenty-eight  pairs  on  Thoresby  Lake, 
and  quite  as  many  at  Newstead  Abbey,  and  in 
December  of  that  year  I  saw  at  least  400  on 
Welbeck  Lake.  It  also  nests  at  Park  Hall, 
Rufford,  Osberton  and  on  several  other  waters. 

157.  Scaup  Duck.     Fuligula  mania  (Linn.) 

A  rare  winter  visitor.  It  has  been  shot 
once  or  twice  on  the  Trent  near  Newark.  I 
shot  a  female  on  Mansfield  reservoir  on 
i  December  1883,  and  obtained  another  on 
Rainworth  Water  in  1884.  Mr.  Hall  has 
one  taken  in  the  decoy  at  Park  Hall. 

158.  Golden-eye.     Clangula  glaucion  (Linn.) 
A  fair  quantity  visit  the  large  lakes  in  Sher- 
wood Forest  during  the  winter  and   leave  us 
in  early  spring,  but   I  have  seen  one  on  the 
pond  at  Rainworth   as   late  as  April,  where  I 
have  shot  a  number   from  time  to  time  ;  I 
have  seen  others  killed  at  Park  Hall  and  the 
Mansfield    reservoir,   most    of    which     were 
young  birds  and  females,  but  I  have  a  grand 
male  in  full  plumage  shot  at  Mansfield. 

159.  Long-tailed    Duck.     Harelda    glacialis 

(Linn.) 

One  of  these  sea-loving  ducks,  an  immature 
male,  was  killed  at  Newark  in  1862,  and  was 
taken  to  Mr.  Foottit  in  the  flesh  ;  another 
was  shot  on  the  Trent  at  East  Bridgeford  on 
i  November  1881. 


1 60.  Common      Eider     Duck.         Somateria 

mollissima  (Linn.) 

Only  one  specimen,  a  female,  is  known, 
which  was  shot  on  Nottingham  meadows  when 
flooded  about  1879,  and  brought  in  the  flesh 
to  Rose  the  bird-stuffer,  who  sold  it  to  me. 

1 6 1 .  Common  Scoter.     CEdemia  nigra  (Linn.) 
This  bird   has  occasionally   been  seen    on 

the  Trent  at  Newark,  also  near  Nottingham. 
One  was  shot  in  the  winter  of  1868  at  Wil- 
ford  Ferry ;  another  by  Sir  A.  Need  at 
Fountain  Dale,  and  four  were  seen  on  the 
reservoir  at  Lamb  Close,  Eastwood,  on  22 
August  1898,  which  was  rather  a  curious  time  ; 
one  was  obtained  by  Captain  Hall  at  Park 
Hall  many  years  ago,  and  is  preserved  there  ; 
and  another  was  on  Rainworth  Water  in 
November  1882. 

162.  Velvet  Scoter.     CEdemia  fusca  (Linn.) 

A  very  rare  visitor.  One  was  shot  at 
Welbeck  some  few  years  back,  which  is  in 
the  Duke  of  Portland's  collection  ;  and 
another  was  shot  by  Mr.  W.  Hollins  at 
Pleasley  Vale  on  the  lake  which  forms  the 
county  boundary. 

163.  Goosander.      Mergus  merganser,  Linn. 

Occurs  every  winter  on  Thoresby  Lake. 
Mr.  Sterland  once  counted  forty-three  there 
at  one  time.  It  is  also  seen  at  Newstead 
Abbey  ;  and  one  day  when  shooting  at  Rain- 
worth  we  found  over  forty  on  the  Rainworth 
Water,  three  being  shot.  Mr.  Hall  has  shot 
several  at  Park  Hall,  and  I  have  often  seen 
small  parties  on  the  Mansfield  reservoir.  It 
generally  arrives  about  the  end  of  October 
and  has  remained  on  one  occasion  as  late  as 
May. 

164.  Red-breasted  Merganser.     Mergus  ser- 

rator,  Linn. 

Much  rarer  than  the  last  bird.  It  has  been 
shot  on  the  Trent  at  Newark,  and  there  is  a 
fine  male  in  Mr.  Percy's  collection.  A  pair 
were  killed  at  Newstead  in  March  1844,  and 
one  was  shot  near  Retford  many  years  ago  by 
my  father ;  another  was  shot  at  Annesley 
Park  in  1876;  and  I  killed  a  female  on 
Rainworth  Lake  in  January  1890. 

165.  Smew.     Mergus  albellus.  Linn. 

From  time  to  time  this  pretty  duck  is  seen 
on  our  sheets  of  water.  Mr.  Sterland  saw  it 
many  times  on  Thoresby  Lake,  and  it  has 
been  obtained  on  the  Trent  several  times. 
A  female  was  shot  on  Rainworth  Water  ;  six 
were  seen  together  on  the  pond  at  Highfields 


169 


22 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


near  Nottingham,  four  of  which  were  killed 
at  one  shot.  Mr.  Hall  has  two  which  were 
killed  at  Park  Hall,  and  a  pair  were  obtained 
at  Beeston  Rylands  near  Nottingham  in 
1891. 

1 66.  Ring  Dove  or  Wood  Pigeon.     Columba 

palumbus,  Linn. 

A  very  common  bird,  and  flocks  of  several 
hundreds  are  seen  on  the  new  seed  fields  near 
Mansfield  in  winter.  It  breeds  in  quantities 
and  does  much  damage  to  young  seeds.  I 
once  shot  twelve  at  a  '  right  and  left,'  and 
I  have  white,  sandy  and  cream-coloured 
varieties,  also  a  very  pretty  pied  one  which 
was  shot  near  Mansfield. 

167.  Stock  Dove.      Columba  aenas.  Linn. 
Fairly  common  locally,  but  not  so  numer- 
ous as  the   last   species,      I  have   four  or  five 
pairs  nesting  in  boxes  put  up   in   the  trees  at 
Rainworth.      In  my  collection  there  is  a  very 
pretty    hybrid   between  a   stock-dove    and  a 
common  tame  pigeon.    The  bird  was  hatched 
in  one  of  the  old  hollow  oak   trees  where  the 
pair  were  often  seen  together,  and  it  was  shot 
at    Haywood   Oaks.      I  have    also    a    pretty 
speckled   variety,  shot   at   Rainworth,   but  in 
this  species  varieties  are  very  rare. 

1 68.  Turtle  Dove,      lurtur  communis,  Selby. 
The  first  turtle-doves  ever  noticed  in  Not- 
tinghamshire, to  my  knowledge,  were  observed 
in   the  very   dry   summer  of  1868,   when   I 
shot  one  which  was  the  first  stuffed  in  Not- 
tingham ;  since  then  they  have  increased  and 
are  now  common.     In   May    1902   I   saw  a 
flock  of  twenty-seven,  but   it  is   rare   to  see 
them  in  flocks  of  such  size. 

169.  Pallas's  Sand  Grouse.     Syrrhaptes  para- 

doxus  (Pallas) 

In  the  extraordinary  flight  of  these  birds 
that  visited  Great  Britain  in  1863  five  were 
killed  ;  a  pair,  male  and  female,  were  shot  in 
May  at  Farnsfield  ;  another  male  at  Farnsfield 
on  20  August ;  and  a  pair  of  females  were 
caught  in  rabbit  traps  on  Two  Oaks  farm 
near  Mansfield.  A  much  larger  flight  visited 
us  in  1888,  when  I  saw  as  many  as  sixty 
together  in  the  forest ;  and  one  day  in  June 
of  that  year  thirty-two  flew  over  my  head  in 
the  Deer  Park  at  Rainworth.  They  had  all 
left  by  the  following  October.  Two  eggs 
were  taken  in  the  forest,  but  were  broken 
before  I  could  secure  them. 

170.  Black  Grouse.      Tetrao  tetrix,  Linn. 

I  am  delighted  to  say  we  still  have  a  few 
of  these  grand  game  birds  in  the  forest,  and 
some  forty  years  back  packs  of  fifties  were 


about.  I  have  heard  of  a  man  who  killed  eight 
at  one  shot  when  sunning  themselves  on  some 
rails.  The  species  has  become  more  scarce, 
as  the  odd  bits  of  forest  have  been  enclosed  ; 
but  I  hope  it  will  be  long  ere  it  is  a  bird  of 
the  past  in  these  parts. 

171.  Red  Grouse.     Lagopus  scoticus  (Latham) 
Now  and  again  in  severe  winters  this  bird 

is  driven  from  the  Derbyshire  moors  and  is 
shot  in  Nottinghamshire.  A  male  was  killed 
at  Bevercotes  in  1860  ;  in  1863  several  were 
killed  near  Nottingham ;  one  was  shot  at 
Clipstone  in  1 883,  and  one  was  seen  on  Mans- 
field Forest  in  January  1903. 

172.  Pheasant.     Phasianus  colcbkus,  Linn. 
Found  in  quantities  all  over  the  county, 

and  in  addition  many  thousands  of  tame  birds 
are  turned  up.  Over  2,000  have  been  killed 
in  a  day  at  Welbeck. 

173.  Partridge.     Perdix  cinerea,  Latham. 
Nottinghamshire  is  one  of  the  best  counties 

for  this  species  of  game  bird,  particularly  in 
the  middle  and  north,  where  it  is  very  numer- 
ous. At  Welbeck  over  600  brace  have  been 
shot  in  one  day,  and  Mr.  Hollins  has  killed 
over  300  brace  in  a  day  at  Berry  Hill  near 
Mansfield.  I  saw  a  very  pretty  pale  cream- 
coloured  variety  shot  one  day  at  Clipstone. 
The  large  increase  is  due  to  driving  and  turn- 
ing up  Hungarian  birds. 

[Virginian  Colin.  Perdix  virginiana 
(Latham) 

Several  of  these  birds  have  been  obtained 
in  the  county,  and  though  they  have  been 
turned  out  in  numbers  in  various  parts  of 
England  as  far  back  as  Montagu's  time,  I 
think  it  as  well  to  notice  this  species.  I  have 
one  shot  at  Thrumpton  in  September  1872, 
and  another  was  killed  at  the  same  place 
shortly  after.] 

174.  Red-legged    Partridge.      Caccabis    rufa 

(Linn.) 

About  1872  the  late  Duke  of  Portland 
turned  some  of  these  birds  out,  and  they  were 
added  to  by  Mr.  Lees ;  a  few  were  obtained 
prior  to  this  time,  but  it  was  then  a  rare  bird. 
Latterly  they  have  increased  much,  and  as 
many  as  forty-eight  brace  have  been  shot  in 
a  day  at  Welbeck. 

175.  Quail.     Coturnix  communis,  Bonnaterre. 
This  is  not  so  plentiful  as  formerly,  and  is 

regarded  in  these  days  as  a  rare  bird.  I  have 
shot  it  at  Ramsdale  in  September  and  Decem- 
ber ;  it  has  nested  there  on  several  occasions, 
and  also  at  Rainworth.  In  1 874  I  killed  seven 
in  one  day  at  Ramsdale. 


170 


BIRDS 


176.  Corn  Crake  or  Land  Rail.     Crex  pra- 

tensis,  Bechstein. 

A  spring  visitor,  formerly  very  plentiful  but 
now  much  rarer.  I  fancy  the  mowing 
machine  has  much  to  answer  for  this.  A 
pale  cream-coloured  variety  was  shot  near 
Newark-on-Trent  and  is  in  my  collection. 

177.  Spotted      Crake.        Porzana      maruetta 

(Leach) 

Has  been  killed  in  various  parts  of  the 
county ;  twenty-five  were  brought  to  one 
bird-stuffer  in  Nottingham  in  1871,  in  which 
year  several  pairs  nested  in  Nottingham 
meadows. 

178.  Baillon's  Crake.    Porzana  baillom  (Vieil- 

lot) 

On  22  June  1893  a  man  going  to  work 
in  the  early  morning  picked  up  one  of  these 
birds  from  under  the  telegraph  wires  close  to 
Gedling  near  Nottingham  ;  it  was  an  adult 
specimen  in  beautiful  plumage,  and  looked 
rather  as  if  it  might  have  been  nesting. 
Another  of  these  crakes  was  shot  near  Retford 
a  short  time  after. 

179.  Water  Rail.      Rallus  aguaticus,  Linn. 

This  retiring  bird  is,  I  believe,  more  com- 
mon than  is  supposed.  I  have  often  seen  it 
at  Rainworth,  and  have  shot  several  near 
Epperstone.  I  have  no  doubt  it  nests,  though 
I  have  never  found  one. 

1 80.  Moorhen.     Gallinula  chloropus  (Linn.) 

Common  on  all  streams  and  ponds  ;  there 
are  great  numbers  on  the  different  pieces  of 
water  at  Rainworth.  A  tawny  variety  was 
killed  some  years  back  in  Nottingham  mea- 
dows, and  in  1894  my  son  also  shot  one  at 
Rainworth.  Mr.  Watson  of  Beeston  has  a 
pretty  speckled  variety  obtained  near  there  in 
1872.  A  beautiful  white  bird  shot  at  Glebe 
Thorpe  in  1901  is  in  my  collection. 

181.  Coot.      Fulica  atra,  Linn. 

Fairly  common,  but  local.  There  are 
numbers  on  the  lake  at  Thoresby,  and  also  on 
Rainworth  Water  ;  a  pied  variety  was  shot 
on  the  mill  dam  at  Southwell. 

182.  Crane.      Grus  communis,  Bechstein. 
This  very  rare  straggler  has  only  been  ob- 
tained in  the  county  once,  when  it  was  shot 
by  a  man  on  the  Trent  near   Gunthorpe   in 
1851,  and  bought   for   Js.   6ct.   by  Cutts  for 
Mr.  Felkin.     It  was  a  young  male  in  imma- 
ture plumage,  and  is  now  in  the  Nottingham 
Museum. 


183.  Little  Bustard.      Otis  tetrax,  Linn. 
There  are  several  occurrences  of  this  bird — 

one  in  1854  at  Shelton,  where  it  was  feeding 
with  some  fowls  ;  another  at  South  Clifton 
on  21  December  1856  ;  I  have  two,  bought 
at  a  sale  of  Mr.  Foottit's  collection,  which 
were  killed  near  Newark  ;  the  male  is  in  full 
breeding  plumage,  and  was  the  first  ever  seen 
in  Britain  in  this  state  (since  then  one  was 
killed  in  Norfolk  in  1898,  also  in  full 
plumage). 

184.  Stone    Curlew.        CEdicnemus      scolopax 

(S.  G.  Gmelin) 

This  fine  bird  has  been  seen  many  times 
in  Nottinghamshire.  It  has  been  shot  at 
RufFord,  Farnsfield,  Papplewick  and  New- 
stead.  A  pair  nested  near  Rainworth  in 
1881,  also  in  1887  and  1891,  and  I  have 
two  of  these  eggs  in  my  collection. 

185.  Dotterel.     Eudromias  morinellus  (Linn.) 
A  few  were  shot  on  Oxton  Warren  about 

1860,  and  I  killed  a  young  bird  at  Ramsdale, 
2O  August  1890.  Small  flocks  are  seen 
occasionally  in  May  on  Ratcher  Hill  ;  about 
twenty  were  there  for  a  few  days  in  May 
1901,  resting  on  their  way  north. 

1 86.  Ringed      Plover.        /Egialitis      hiaticula 

(Linn.) 

A  good  many  have  been  seen  from  time  to 
time,  and  several  have  been  obtained  on  the 
side  of  Mansfield  reservoir.  In  August  1873 
eight  were  seen  on  the  side  of  a  small  stream 
at  Rainworth  and  two  were  shot.  It  has 
also  been  shot  at  Burton  Joyce  and  Wilford. 

187.  Golden    Plover.      Charadrius    pluvialis, 

Linn. 

Some  years,  and  more  often  in  the  spring, 
great  numbers  of  this  species  are  seen  in  the 
large  fields  at  Rainworth,  and  stay  till  the 
end  of  March,  when  many  have  got  their 
black  breasts.  A  scattered  few  are  found  in 
suitable  localities  in  autumn,  and  I  know  no 
place  where  they  are  oftener  seen  than  at 
Papplewick. 

1 88.  Grey  Plover.    Squatarola  helvetica  (Linn.) 
This  is  a  rare  straggler,  and  I   have   notes 

of  only  four  occurrences  in  Nottinghamshire — 
one,  a  fine  old  bird,  in  my  collection,  shot  at 
Mansfield  reservoir ;  one  killed  at  Sutton ; 
one  near  Edwinstowe,  and  one  near  Notting- 
ham. 

189.  Lapwing.      Vanellus  vulgarly  Bechstein. 
A    resident    and   seen    in   large   flocks ;    it 

breeds    in   fair   numbers,  especially  in   north 


171 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


Notts.  I  have  a  beautiful  cream-coloured 
variety  which  was  shot  in  November  1899 
near  Farnsfield. 

190.  Turnstone.     Stref  si/as  interpret  (Linn.) 

Mr.  G.  Attenbury  shot  two  of  these  birds 
near  Sutton-on-Trent,  and  my  father  killed 
one  at  Ramsdale.  These  are  the  only  occur- 
rences of  which  I  have  heard. 

191.  Oyster-Catcher.     H<ematopus  ostra/egus, 

Linn. 

A  rare  Notts  bird.  I  have  one  shot  at 
Mansfield  reservoir  in  1870;  one  was  shot 
near  Newark -on -Trent,  and  was  in  Mr. 
Foottit's  collection  ;  and  a  third  was  ob- 
tained near  Ollerton  in  1875,  and  is  in  the 
collection  of  Lord  Savile  at  Rufford  Abbey. 

192.  Avocet.     Rtcurvirostra  avocetta,  Linn. 

A  few  of  these  striking  birds  have  been 
killed.  One  was  shot  on  the  Trent  at  Barton 
Ferry  near  Beeston  in  1 800  ;  another  was 
killed  at  Fiskerton  in  1859  ;  another  was 
seen  at  Thrumpton  on  the  Trent  side  ;  and 
a  fourth,  in  immature  plumage,  was  seen  on 
24  July  1856  on  the  banks  of  the  stream  at 
Edwinstowe  and  killed  by  a  boy  with  a  stick. 

193.  Black-winged  Stilt.     Himantopus  candi- 

dus,  Bonnaterre. 

The  first  and  only  instance  of  this  bird 
having  been  seen  in  Nottinghamshire  was  at 
Perlethorpe  near  Ollerton  on  30  January 
1848,  when  Mr.  Mansel  and  his  son  saw 
one,  apparently  feeding,  in  a  shallow  ditch  in 
an  ashholt  bordering  the  stream.  It  rose 
with  a  shrill  cry,  and  flew  low  towards  the 
river.  They  had  a  clear  view  of  the  bird 
both  standing  and  flying,  and  had  no  doubt 
of  its  identity. 

194.  Grey   Phalarope.     Phalaropus  fulicarlus 

(Linn.) 

Two  were  shot  near  Newark-on-Trent, 
and  were  in  Mr.  Foottit's  collection  ;  one 
was  shot  near  Eastwood  in  i88i,and  another 
at  Holme  near  Newark  in  1891.  I  have 
two  in  my  collection,  one  shot  about  1870 
on  Mansfield  reservoir,  and  the  other  killed  on 
Rainworth  Water.  All  these  occurred  in 
the  autumn. 

195.  Red-necked  Phalarope.     Phalaropus  hy- 

perboreus  (Linn.) 

Only  one  specimen  of  this  very  pretty 
little  bird  has  been  obtained.  It  was  shot  by 
my  father  on  the  side  of  his  pond  at  Rams- 
dale  6  July  1843. 


196.  Woodcock.      Scolopax  rusticu/a,  Linn. 

A  fairly  common  autumn  visitor,  and  a  few 
remain  and  nest.  Some  woods  attract  this 
bird  more  than  others,  and  certain  places  in 
such  woods.  Thieves  Wood  is  a  favourite 
covert,  and  thirty-six  have  been  killed  there 
in  one  day.  Newstead  Park  is  another  good 
locality.  It  breeds  in  some  numbers  in  Birk- 
land,  also  Harlow  Wood,  Ruffbrd,  Newstead 
and  Annesley.  I  have  a  white  variety  killed 
in  Thoresby  Park  in  1861. 

197.  Great   Snipe.      Gallmago    major   (J.   F. 

Gmelin) 

This  bird  has  been  obtained  occasionally, 
but  it  is  a  very  rare  visitor.  One  was  shot 
years  ago  by  Mr.  John  Hardy  at  Bestwood 
Park,  one  at  Hickling  near  Nottingham  on 
3  October  1882,  and  the  Rev.  W.  Becher 
killed  another  near  Southwell  in  1883. 

198.  Common     Snipe.       Gallmago     caelesth 

(Frenzel) 

This  species  is  scattered  over  Notts  in  suit- 
able places  and  breeds  in  a  good  many  parts. 
There  are  generally  several  nests  at  Rain- 
worth,  and  I  have  found  one  within  100 
yards  of  my  house.  The  late  Mr.  Cursham 
in  one  day  shot  twenty-five  couples  on  the 
end  of  Mansfield  reservoir  when  the  water 
was  low,  and  could  have  got  more  but  ran 
short  of  cartridges.  A  white  variety  was 
seen  near  Blidworth  several  times  in  1883. 

1 99.  Jack  Snipe.      Gallinago  gallinula  (Linn.) 
Not  as  plentiful  as  it  was  thirty  years  ago 

when  I  have  killed  several  in  one  day  ;  now 
I  rarely  see  one.  I  once  flushed  one  on 
I  September  1867,  a  very  early  date. 

200.  Dunlin.      Tringa  a/pina,  Linn. 

It  has  been  seen  and  shot  on  the  side  of 
the  Trent  several  times,  both  near  Nottingham 
and  Newark.  I  have  some  which  were  killed 
on  the  side  of  Mansfield  reservoir  and  at  Park 
Hall  ;  also  one  killed  on  Rainworth  Water. 

201.  Little  Stint.      Tringa  minuta,  Leisler. 
Two  were  shot  near   Newark-on-Trent ; 

it  has  also  been  killed  on  the  side  of  Mans- 
field reservoir,  and  one  in  my  collection  was 
shot  in  August  1881  on  the  Trent  near 
Nottingham. 

202.  Temminck's  Stint.      Tringa   temmincki, 

Leisler. 

Very  rare  indeed  with  us.  The  only 
specimen  which  has  been  obtained  was  shot 
on  the  side  of  Mansfield  reservoir  about  1869 
and  is  now  in  my  collection. 


172 


BIRDS 


ham    meadows   in    1880;  and   the  third 


o 

was 


203.   Curlew  Sandpiper.      Tringa    subarquata      H.  Bayly  ;  a  second  was  obtained  in  Notting- 

(Gttldenstadt) 

A  rare  straggler.  One  was  shot  on  the 
Trent  near  Newark,  and  two  on  the  side  of 
Mansfield  reservoir  about  1870.  I  have  seen 
one  on  the  side  of  the  pond  at  Ramsdale. 


killed  by  James  May,  keeper,  on  the  side  of 
Mansfield  reservoir  in  August  1884.  The 
last  is  a  nice  specimen,  and  is  now  in 
collection. 


my 


204.  Purple  Sandpiper.   Tringa  striata,  Linn. 

The  winter  is  the  usual  time  when  this 
species  pays  its  visits,  but  curiously  enough 
one  was  shot  on  the  side  of  the  Trent  near 
Wilford  Ferry  in  the  summer  of  1864  by 
Mr.  G.  Price.  Another  was  picked  up  by  a 
tramp  under  some  telegraph  wires  near  Larch 
farm,  Blidworth,  and  brought  to  me  when 
shooting  ;  it  was  still  quite  warm,  and  the 
man  told  me  there  were  six  or  seven  more  in 
the  flock. 

205.  Knot.     Tringa  canutus.  Linn. 

I  have  notes  of  two  occurrences  only — one 
shot  by  Mr.  Besley  on  the  side  of  the  Trent 
near  Nottingham,  and  another  in  full  breed- 
ing plumage  shot  by  the  late  Sir  Arthur  Need 
on  the  side  of  a  pond  at  Fountain  Dale.  The 
latter  is  now  in  my  collection. 

206.  Sanderling.      Calidris  arenaria  (Linn.) 

The  only  record  of  this  bird  in  the  county 
is  one  killed  by  the  Rev.  R.  Sutton  near 
Newark  in  1850. 

207.  Ruff.      Machetes  pugnax  (Linn.) 

A  rare  bird.  Two  were  shot  on  the  side 
of  the  Trent  near  Newark ;  one  was  obtained 
in  1870  at  Clipstone  ;  and  James  May,  keeper, 
killed  a  female  on  the  side  of  the  reservoir  at 
Mansfield  in  August  1892. 

208.  Common  Sandpiper.     Totanus  hypoleucus 

(Linn.) 

The  common  sandpiper  is  a  spring  and 
autumn  visitor,  but  though  one  or  two  have 
remained  more  than  once  all  the  summer  on 
the  side  of  the  reservoir  at  Lamb  Close  its 
nest  has  never  been  found.  It  is  said  to  have 
nested  on  the  side  of  the  Trent. 

209.  American  Spotted  Sandpiper.      Totanus 

macularius  (Linn.) 

In  March  1848  John  Eyre,  then  head- 
keeper  at  Thoresby,  flushed  and  shot  one  of 
these  very  rare  birds.  It  was  feeding  on  the 
side  of  a  shallow  stream  at  Budby  just  on  the 
outskirts  of  Thoresby  Park. 

210.  Wood      Sandpiper.       Totanus     glareola 

(J.  F.  Gmelin) 

Has  only  been  obtained  three  times  in 
Notts.  One  was  shot  at  Kirklington  by  Mr. 


211.  Green     Sandpiper.       Totanus     ochropus 

(Linn.) 

An  occasional  visitor  to  this  county,  and 
has  been  seen  and  shot  on  the  side  of  the 
Trent  and  also  on  Mansfield  reservoir.  I 
have  obtained  two  and  seen  several  at  Rain- 
worth. 

212.  Redshank.      Totanus  calidris  (Linn.) 

This  species  is  oftener  seen  in  the  spring 
than  at  any  other  time  of  the  year,  and,  I  am 
glad  to  say,  breeds  in  fair  numbers  in  mea- 
dows near  Rolleston,  also  near  Newark-on- 
Trent,  Retford  and  Bawtry.  It  has  been 
shot  near  Mansfield  in  winter. 

213.  Spotted      Redshank.        Totanus    fuscus 

(Linn.) 

Only  two  specimens  are  known  to  have 
been  found  in  this  county.  One  was  shot  on 
the  side  of  a  pond  at  Halloughton  near  South- 
well, and  the  other,  now  in  my  collection, 
was  killed  on  the  side  of  a  small  pond  in 
Bestwood  Park  on  3  September  1872.  There 
were  a  pair,  but  one  escaped. 

214.  Greenshank.      Totanus    canescens   (J.   F. 

Gmelin) 

Several  of  these  birds  have  been  shot  on 
the  Trent  near  Newark.  One  was  killed 
near  Ollerton,  another  on  the  side  of  the 
Trent  near  Muskham  in  September  1844, 
and  one  at  Beeston  in  August  1871.  The 
last  of  which  I  have  heard  was  obtained  on 
the  side  of  the  reservoir  at  Lamb  Close  in 
September  1873. 

215.  American  Yellowshank.     Totanus  flavi- 

pes  (J.  F.  Gmelin) 

This  very  rare  visitor  to  Britain  has  once 
been  obtained  ;  it  was  killed  at  Misson  in 
Nottinghamshire  in  the  winter  of  1854-5. 

2 1 6.  Bar-tailed    Godwit.      Limosa     lapponica 

(Linn.) 

Has  been  obtained  several  times  both  in 
spring  and  autumn,  on  two  occasions  near 
Newark-on-Trent.  In  May  1846  a  flock 
was  seen  and  several  killed  near  Nottingham ; 
and  in  September  1874  a  flock  of  about 
thirty  flew  over  some  partridge  shooters  near 
Farnsfield  and  four  were  killed. 


173 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


217.  Black-tailed     Godwit.      Litnosa     belgica 

(J.  F.  Gmelin) 

Two  or  three  specimens  have  occurred — 
one  near  Newark,  another  near  Ollerton,  and 
one  was  shot  near  Newark  in  September  1892, 
which  was  first  seen  amongst  some  fowls. 

2 1 8.  Common    Curlew.      Numenius  arquata, 

(Linn.) 

From  time  to  time  this  bird  is  seen,  gener- 
ally flying  over.  It  has  also  been  killed  on 
several  occasions  at  Thoresby,  Edwinstowe, 
Ramsdale,  Oxton,  and  Mansfield  reservoir. 

219.  Whimbrel.     Numenius  phaopus  (Linn.) 
Much  rarer  than  the  last  species.    In  1847 

one  was  shot  at  Trent  Bridge,  Nottingham. 
I  shot  one  at  Ramsdale  in  August  1865  ; 
one  near  Ollerton  in  1882,  and  one  near 
Mansfield  about  1880.  I  heard  them  passing 
over  my  house  in  May  1 90 1 . 

220.  Black  Tern.  Hydrochelldon  nigra  (Linn.) 
Not   an  uncommon   spring    visitor  on  the 

Trent.  I  saw  them  flying  over  the  lake  at 
Rainworth  in  1885,  and  again  in  1887  ;  it 
has  also  been  shot  at  Mansfield  reservoir. 

221.  Caspian  Tern.      Sterna  caspia,  Pallas. 

A  specimen  of  this  very  rare  straggler  was 
killed  on  the  border  of  the  county  at  Cay- 
thorpe  on  17  May  1863  and  was  taken  in 
the  flesh  to  Mr.  Foottit  of  Newark. 

222.  Sandwich  Tern.      Sterna  cantiaca,  J.  F. 

Gmelin. 

One  was  seen  by  Mr.  Whitlock  in  May 
1888  flying  up  and  down  the  Trent  at  Barton 
Ferry. 

223.  Common  Tern.   Sterna  fluviati/is,  Nau- 

mann. 

This  is  a  frequent  spring  visitor  and  has 
been  obtained  on  many  occasions  ;  hardly  a 
spring  passes  without  one  or  more  being 
noticed  on  Mansfield  reservoir  and  the  Trent. 
I  have  seen  it  flying  over  Rainworth  Lake. 

224.  Arctic    Tern.      Sterna    macrura,    Nau- 

mann. 

As  far  as  I  am  aware  only  two  specimens 
have  been  shot,  both  occurring  on  the  Trent 
near  Newark. 

225.  Little  Tern.     Sterna  minuta,  Linn. 
This  little  bird  has  occurred  several  times, 

twice  in  winter.  In  1838  one  was  shot  on 
the  Trent  near  Nottingham,  and  taken  to 
Mr.  Felkin  ;  another  was  seen  by  Mr.  Foottit 
flying  over  the  stream  near  Southwell,  and  one 
now  in  Mr.  Musters'  collection  was  killed  at 


Annesley.       Others    have    been    observed  at 
Thoresby  and  Mansfield  reservoir. 

226.  Little  Gull.     Larus  minutus,  Pallas. 

A  rare  straggler.  One  was  shot  on  the 
Trent  near  Clifton  Grove  in  December  1870, 
and  a  second  on  the  same  river  near  Notting- 
ham on  29  December  1892. 

227.  Black-headed   Gull.     Larus    ridibundus, 

Linn. 

This  gull  is  a  constant  visitor  ;  it  is  shot 
on  the  Trent  continually,  and  has  been  killed 
at  many  places  in  the  county.  I  have  seen 
them  about  the  lakes  at  Rainworth  very  late 
in  the  spring  and  have  wondered  they  have 
not  nested  there  as  it  is  a  very  suitable 
locality. 

228.  Common  Gull.     Larus  canus,  Linn. 
Frequently  seen  and  generally  in  winter  and 

early  spring.  Flocks  have  been  seen  on  the 
Trent  and  also  on  the  Nottingham  Corpora- 
tion farm  at  Burton  Joyce  ;  one  was  obtained 
at  Ramsdale  in  September  1863,  and  I  have 
noticed  them  near  Rainworth. 

229.  Herring  Gull.      Larus  argentatus,  J.  F. 

Gmelin. 

Neither  so  common  nor  so  much  of  an 
inland  bird  as  the  two  last  species.  It  has 
often  been  seen  on  the  Trent ;  I  saw  one  at 
Rainworth  on  20  October  1898,  and  my  son 
saw  six  there  on  15  April  1899. 

230.  Lesser  Black-backed  Gull.    Larus  fuscus, 

Linn. 

This  bird  is  more  frequent  than  the  last  and 
is  seen  from  time  to  time  flying  over  the 
Trent.  One  was  shot  at  Bothamsall  near 
Ollerton  in  May  1855,  another  on  Markham 
Moor  in  May  1859,  onc  near  Nottingham 
in  May  1866,  and  I  saw  two  flying  over 
Rainworth  Park  on  21  September  1898.  I 
have  one  in  full  plumage  killed  near  Mansfield 
about  1870. 

231.  Great  Black-backed  Gull.     Larus  mar i- 

nus,  Linn. 

This  fine  gull  has  been  killed  several  times 
on  the  Trent  both  in  mature  and  immature 
plumage.  One  frequented  a  fallow  field  near 
Newark-on-Trent  for  two  months  ;  in  1862 
an  immature  bird  was  shot  at  Lamb  Close 
reservoir ;  I  saw  a  mature  bird  of  this 
species  fly  low  over  my  house  on  23  Sep- 
tember 1896,  and  another  in  the  same 
plumage  on  5  April  1902. 

232.  Glaucous    Gull.     Larus  glaucus,  Fabri- 

cius. 
A  rare  straggler,  and  I  have  heard  of  only 


174 


BIRDS 


two,  which  were  shot  on  the  Trent  at 
Beeston  Weir  on  22  December  1872  ;  one  is 
in  the  collection  of  Mr.  S.  Watson  of  Beeston 
and  the  other  is  in  my  collection. 

233.  Kittiwake.     Rlssa  tridactyla  (Linn.) 
This  bird  has  been  shot  often,  not  only  on 

the  Trent  but  in  various  parts  of  the  county, 
and  has  been  obtained  at  the  following  places  : 
Newark  -  on  -  Trent,  Fiskerton,  Mansfield 
reservoir,  Rain  worth  Waters,  Thoresby, 
Bestwood,  etc. 

234.  Great   Skua.       Megalestris    catarrbactts, 

(Linn.) 

A  rare  wanderer.  On  22  August  1898 
my  son  saw  one  of  these  birds  when  fishing  ; 
it  was  flying  over  the  water  at  Lamb  Close 
reservoir,  chasing  the  green  plover ;  several 
times  it  came  close  to  the  boat  and  was  about 
for  some  hours. 

235.  Pomatorhine  Skua.     Stercorarlus  poma- 

torhinus  (Temminck) 

I  have  never  heard  of  this  species  occurring 
more  than  once,  when  one  was  shot  near 
Farnsfield  in  November,  1875  ;  it  is  now  in 
my  collection. 

236.  Arctic    or    Richardson's    Skua.     Ster- 

corarius  crepidatus  (].  F.  Gmelin) 
One  of  this  species,  a    bird   of  the  year, 
was   shot  between   Farnsfield  and  Southwell 
and    was  in  the  late  Mr.  Foottit's  collection 
at  Newark-on-Trent. 

237.  Long-tailed   or  Buffon's  Skua.     Sterco- 

rarius  parasiticus  (Linn.) 
[  have  notes  of  two  specimens  ;  one  shot 
at  Clipstone  near  Mansfield  in  1879,   now  ln 
my  collection,  and  another  killed   near  Tux- 
ford  in  1 88 1. 

238.  Razorbill.     Alca  torda,  Linn. 

A  scarce  straggler  to  this  county.  One 
was  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Nottingham  in 
January  1847,  and  another  was  obtained  near 
Eastwood  in  1870. 

239.  Guillemot.      Uria  triole  (Linn.) 

Mr.  Sterland  saw  several  of  these  birds  in 
December  1855  on  the  lake  at  Thoresby, 
where  they  stayed  for  a  week  or  two  ;  he 
saw  them  several  times,  and  watched  them 
diving  for  fish. 

240.  Little  Auk.     Mergulus  alle  (Linn.) 
Has  been  observed  several  times,  generally 

after  storms.  In  November  1841  one  was 
shot  at  Radcliffe-on-Trent,  one  was  killed  at 
Holme  Pierrepont  in  January  1847,  and 


another  was  picked  up  at  Lenton  after  a  gale 
m  1849.  I"  November  1877  one  was  found 
dead  under  the  telegraph  wires  near  Rain- 
worth,  and  in  November  1878  two  were  shot 
at  Wollaton.  Others  have  occurred  since. 

241.  Puffin.      Fratcrcula  arcttca  (Linn.) 

Miss  Webb,  the  daughter  of  the  vicar  of 
Mansfield-Woodhouse,  picked  up  one  of  these 
birds  on  the  road  near  the  vicarage  in  Novem- 
ber 1 884  ;  this  is  the  only  specimen  of  which 
I  have  heard,  and  is,  thanks  to  her  kindness, 
in  my  collection. 


242.  Great  Northern  Diver.       Colymbus  gla- 

ciatis,  Linn. 

This  very  fine  bird  has,  as  far  as  I  know, 
only  been  obtained  in  this  county  twice  ;  one 
was  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Newark  and  is 
now  in  Nottingham  Museum,  and  the  other 
was  killed  by  Mr.  Caborn  near  Wilford,  on 
the  Trent,  in  the  winter  of  1853. 

243.  Black-throated  Diver.   Colymbus  arcticus 

T    '  ' 

Linn. 

Has  been  shot  or  taken  a  few  times  within 
our  borders.  One  was  found  frozen  in  the 
ice  of  a  pond  near  Worksop  in  January  1848, 
and  three  others  have  been  obtained  on  the 
Trent  near  Newark,  two  of  them  being  taken 
in  the  flesh  to  Mr.  Foottit. 

244.  Red-throated   Diver.       Colymbus  septen- 

trionalis,  Linn. 

This  bird  has  visited  Nottinghamshire  more 
often  than  either  of  the  two  mentioned  above. 
Mr.  Felkin  says  he  has  known  five  to  have 
been  killed  in  one  day  on  the  Trent  in  win- 
ter ;  the  late  Mr.  Percy  had  one  in  his  col- 
lection shot  at  the  Trent  Bridge,  Nottingham; 
one  was  shot  on  Mansfield  reservoir  in  1876, 
another  in  1878,  and  I  also  saw  one  on  that 
sheet  of  water  in  1877  and  tried  to  get  a  shot 
at  it,  but  without  success.  Mr.  Barber's 
keeper  killed  one  on  the  reservoir  at  Lamb 
Close  in  1876. 

245.  Great  Crested  Grebe.    Podicipes  c ristatus 

(Linn.) 

Since  the  Bird  Act  came  into  force  this  fine 
bird  has  increased  very  much,  and  now  breeds 
on  many  of  the  waters  in  Nottinghamshire. 
I  saw  three  pairs  nesting  at  Thoresby  in  1 902, 
two  pairs  on  Mansfield  reservoir,  and  several 
pairs  at  Newstead.  It  nested  at  Rainworth 
in  1898,  1899  and  1900,  but  not  since.  It 
has  also  been  obtained  at  Lamb  Close,  Pap- 
plewick,  Ollerton,  and  on  the  Trent.  Twelve 
pairs  nested  on  Mansfield  reservoir  in  1903. 


175 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


246.  Red-necked  Grebe.     Podicipes  griseigena 

(Boddzrt) 

There  are  notes  of  this  bird's  occurence  on 
several  occasions.  One  was  shot  near  the 
Trent  Bridge  in  December  1843,  another,  a 
male  in  full  summer  plumage,  was  killed  at 
Clifton  in  June  1850,  two  or  three  have  been 
obtained  near  Newark-on-Trent,  and  I  have 
one  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Nottingham  in 
1876. 

247.  Sclavonian    Grebe.       Podicipes    auritus 

(Linn.) 

Occurs  now  and  again  in  the  county. 
Several  have  been  seen  and  shot  on  the  Trent ; 
one  was  killed  near  Nottingham  in  1 838,  one 
at  Barton  in  January  1848  ;  Mr.  Felkin  states 
that  one  was  killed  on  the  Trent  in  the  sum- 
mer. I  have  one  shot  at  Fountain  Dale  in 
November  1882  ;  also  one  obtained  on  the 
Trent  in  1881. 

248.  Eared     Grebe.          Podicipes     nigricollis 

(Brehm) 

I  have  notes  of  this  grebe  being  obtained 
twice  in  Nottinghamshire.  Schumach,  the 
taxidermist  of  Southwell,  preserved  one  which 
was  shot  on  the  Trent  near  Fiskerton  in  the 
winter  of  1864,  and  Mr.  Barber's  keeper 
killed  one,  an  immature  bird,  on  Lamb  Close 
reservoir  on  4  August  1876. 

249.  Little    Grebe   or   Dabchick.       Podicipes 

JiuviatiUs  (Tunstall) 

This  shy  little  bird  frequents  the  ponds  and 
streams  in  Nottinghamshire  in  fair  numbers, 
and  nests  more  frequently  than  is  supposed. 
There  are  always  a  few  pairs  at  Rainworth, 


and  their  tittering  call  is  heard  oftener  than 
the  bird  is  seen.  I  once  saw  the  bird  diving 
in  clear  water  and  it  did  not  use  its  wings, 
and  I  have  also  seen  a  small  party  of  seven 
together  in  the  winter  on  Mansfield  reser- 
voir. 

250.  Storm  Petrel.  Procellaria  pelagica,  Linn. 
There  are  many  notes  of  this  bird  having 

been  driven  by  storms  from  its  usual  haunts 
into  Notts.  One  was  shot  in  May  1 843  at 
the  Trent  Bridge,  Nottingham  ;  during  east- 
erly gales  in  the  winter  of  1845  a  pair,  male 
and  female,  were  seen  on  Thoresby  Lake  and 
were  both  killed  by  a  keeper ;  in  1861  two 
more  were  obtained  at  the  Trent  Bridge, 
Nottingham  ;  one  at  Papplewick ;  and  on  1 7 
November  1872  one  was  picked  up  near  Bui- 
well.  I  have  in  my  collection  one  shot  on 
Mansfield  reservoir  in  1870. 

251.  Leach's  Fork-tailed  Petrel.    Oceano drama 

leucorrhoa  (Vieillot) 

This  rare  straggler  has  now  and  again  been 
observed  in  the  county.  One  noted  by  Mr. 
R.  Enfield  was  shot  at  Burton  Joyce  in  the 
winter  of  1840  ;  another,  now  in  my  col- 
lection, was  killed  near  Lenton  by  Mr.  Moult 
of  Old  Radford  in  November  1878,  and  Mr. 
R.  Evans  of  Nottingham  shot  one  at  Bunny 
Park  in  September  1900. 

252.  Manx    Shearwater.      Puffinus  anglorum 

(Temminck) 

This  is  another  rare  Notts  bird.  One  was 
picked  up  dead  on  I  September  1888  at  Sutton- 
in-Ashfield  and  is  in  my  collection  ;  a  second 
was  found  near  Retford  in  September  1891. 


ADDENDA 


2(7.  Dusky  Thrush.     Turdus  dubius  (Bechst.). 

One  shot  at  Gunthorpe  by  Mr.  Mills, 
13  October,  1905,  was  by  itself,  and  is  the 
first  British  specimen. 

760.  Ortolan  Bunting.     Emberiza  hortulana, 
Linn. 

One  caught  on  Rock  Hill  near  Mansfield 
in  a   clap  net,  Feb.    1858,  and  now  in   the 
collection  of  Mr.  Daws  of  Mansfield. 
162.  Velvet  Scoter.      Oedemia  fusca,  Linn. 

After  the  article  was  in  print   the  writer 


saw  the  specimen  which  was  shot  at  Plea- 
sley  Vale,  and  found  it  to  be  a  common 
scoter. 

i86tf.   Kentish    Plover.       Aegialit'u    cantiana 
(Latham). 

One  was  seen  on  13  April,  1904,  by  the 
writer's  son  in  a  field  of  young  wheat  near 
one  of  the  ponds  at  Rainworth.  It  was  with- 
in fifteen  yards  of  him  for  some  time,  and  as 
he  knows  this  species  well,  there  was  no  doubt 
as  to  the  identity. 


176 


MAMMALS 

Although  most  of  the  larger  indigenous  mammals  of  Nottingham- 
shire are  now  extinct  there  is  no  doubt  that  up  to  a  few  centuries  ago 
the  forest  of  Sherwood,  which  covered  a  considerable  part  of  the  county, 
afforded  shelter  to  most  of  the  British  species.  The  red  deer  was  abun- 
dant, the  wolf,  pine  marten,  polecat,  badger  and  otter  were  all  probably 
common,  and  we  have  evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  wild  boar,  roe 
deer  and  wild  cat.  Of  these,  descendants  of  the  red  deer  still  exist  in  a 
semi-domesticated  state,  the  marten  and  polecat  have  been  captured  in 
the  county  within  recent  years,  and  the  badger  and  otter  are  by  no  means 
very  rare  even  now. 

From  very  early  times  up  to  at  least  the  reigns  of  James  I.  and 
Charles  I.  Sherwood  Forest  was  a  favourite  hunting  ground  of  our 
English  monarchs,  being  tenanted  by  numerous  herds  of  red  deer  which, 
though  of  course  quite  wild,  were  strictly  protected  by  the  harsh  and 
oppressive  forest  laws  which  regarded  the  unauthorized  killing  of  a  deer 
as  a  crime  more  heinous  than  homicide.  Camden,  writing  in  the  time 
of  James  I.,  tells  us  that  the  forest  still  supported  '  an  infinite  number  of 
deer  and  branchy-headed  stags.'  From  a  survey  taken  in  1635  it  appears 
that  the  number  of  red  deer  in  the  forest  was  1,367,  and  as  late  as  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne  a  yearly  grant  of  £1,000  was  made  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  deer  and  maintenance  of  a  hunting  establishment.  At  this 
time  they  were  so  abundant  as  to  cause  great  loss  to  the  surrounding 
landowners  by  feeding  upon  their  crops,  and  many  were  the  complaints 
made  against  '  the  intolerable  burden  of  the  Queen's  deer.'  The  subse- 
quent gradual  disafForestation  and  enclosure  of  the  district  resulted  in  the 
reduction  of  the  herds  and  their  confinement  within  the  limits  of  the 
parks  formed  out  of  the  ancient  forest. 

That  the  forest  was  in  early  times  infested  with  wolves  is  proved  by 
the  fact  that  as  late  as  1433  an  official  existed  who  held  certain  land  in 
Mansfield  Woodhouse,  called  '  wolf  hunt  land,'  by  service  of  winding  a 
horn  and  chasing  or  frightening  the  wolves  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood. 

In  an  inland  county  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  any  of  the  Cetacea 
should  often  occur,  and  indeed  the  only  member  of  the  order  which  has 
been  certainly  known  to  ascend  the  Trent  into  Nottinghamshire  is  the 
porpoise.  This  species  occurs  frequently,  and  a  single  individual  was 
quite  recently  shot  in  the  river  close  to  Newark. 

Of  our  remaining  mammals  the  fallow  deer,  which  forms  so  grace- 
ful an  ornament  of  many  of  our  parks,  the  all  too  common  brown  rat  and 
the  ubiquitous  rabbit  are  introductions  within  historic  times.  Among 

i  177  23 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  smaller  forms  further  research  will  perhaps  lead  to  the  discovery  of 
other  species  of  bats  besides  those  now  recorded  ;  the  pigmy  shrew  may 
also  yet  be  found  to  inhabit  the  county. 

CHEIROPTERA 


1.  Greater      Horseshoe      Bat.       Rhinolophus 

ferrum-equinum,  Schreber. 
Said  by  Sterland  to  have  occurred  in  Sher- 
wood Forest  many  years  ago,  and  Mr.  J. 
Whitaker  reports  it  from  Rainworth.  Fur- 
ther confirmation  is  however  required  before 
we  can  definitely  claim  this  southern  species 
as  a  Notts  bat. 

2.  Lesser  Horseshoe  Bat.      Rhinolophus  hippo- 

sideros,  Bechstein. 

Only  known  to  occur  in  the  county  from 
a  specimen  picked  up  dead  some  years  ago  at 
Edwinstowe  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Hardy  of  the  Man- 
chester Museum. 

3.  Long-eared  Bat.     Plecotus  auritus,  Linn. 
This  appears   to  be  one   of   our  common 

species.  I  have  seen  specimens  captured  in 
Nottingham,  Mr.  Whitaker  reports  it  from 
Rainworth,  and  it  is  said  by  Sterland  to  be 
abundant  in  Sherwood  Forest. 


4.  Noctule  or  Great  Bat.     Piphtrellus  noctula, 

Schreb. 

Bell — Scotophilus  noctula. 

This  fine  species  is  common  about  Not- 
tingham, and  is  sometimes  found  hybernating 
in  numbers  in  the  roofs  of  factories. 

5.  Pipistrelle.    Pipistrelluspipistrellus^chreber. 

Bell — Scotophilus  pipistrellus. 
Recorded  from  several  districts  and  prob- 
ably common    in  the   county,  although   few 
specimens    have    actually    come    under    my 
notice. 

6.  Natterer's  Bat.     Myotis  nattereri,  Kuhl. 

Bell — Vespertilio  nattereri. 
A  specimen  was  picked   up  dead  at  Grove 
near  Retford  in  June,  1888,  by  Mr.  L.  Buttress 
(Zoologist,  1892,  p.  144). 


INSECTIVORA 


7.  Hedgehog.      Erinaceus  europteus,  Linn. 
Generally  distributed  and  common  in  spite 

of  the   relentless   persecution   to   which   it  is 
subject  at  the  hands  of  gamekeepers. 

8.  Mole.      Talpa  europeea,  Linn. 
Abundant  everywhere.     A  cream-coloured 

form  occurs  occasionally. 

9.  Common  Shrew.      Sorex  araneus,  Linn. 
Common  in  the   Nottingham  district,  and 

would    doubtless   be   found   to  be   equally  so 
elsewhere  if  looked  for. 


IO.   Water  Shrew.      Neomys  fodiens,  Pallas. 

Bell — Crosiopus  fodiens. 

Apparently  not  common  about  Nottingham, 
but  has  been  seen  at  Colwick,  Lenton  and 
Beeston.  Mr.  Whitaker  says  that  it  frequents 
the  Rainworth  Water,  but  is  rare.  In  north 
Notts  Mr.  L.  Buttress  has  taken  it  at  Grove 
and  Headon,  together  with  the  variety  formerly 
distinguished  as  the  oared  shrew  (N.  remifer). 
A  specimen  of  the  latter,  killed  at  Annesley, 
is  in  Mr.  J.  Whitaker's  collection. 


CARNIVORA 


[Wild  Cat.     Felts  catus,  Linn. 

I  have  been  unable  to  find  any  documentary 
evidence  of  the  occurrence  of  the  wild  cat  in 
Nottinghamshire,  but  as  its  remains  occur  in 
both  the  Pleistocene  and  Recent  deposits  in 
theCreswell  caves  on  the  borders  of  Sherwood 
Forest,  it  doubtless  once  inhabited  the  dense 
woods  which  formerly  covered  this  region.] 

[Wolf.     Cants  lupus,  Linn. 

Common  in  Sherwood  Forest  as  late  as  the 
fifteenth  century  at  least.] 


11.  Fox.      fulpes  vulpes,  Linn. 

Bell — Vulpes  vulgaris. 

Common  throughout  the  county  owing  to 
its  preservation  for  purposes  of  sport. 

12.  Pine  Marten.     Mustela  martes,  Linn. 

Bell — Martes  abietum. 

The  Rev.  W.  Becher  of  Wellow  possesses 
an  example  which  was  killed  at  Winkburn 
near  Southwell  about  1850,  and  two  specimens 
in  the  Nottingham  Museum  were  captured 
on  the  Worksop  Manor  estate  about  1872. 


178 


MAMMALS 


Bones  of  the  pine  marten  occur  in  the  Recent 
deposits  in  the  caves  at  Creswell  Crags,  so 
that  it  was  probably  a  regular  denizen  of  the 
forest-clad  district  of  Notts,  but  doubtless  is 
now  extinct. 

13.  Polecat.     Putorius  putorius.  Linn. 

Bell — Mustela  putorius. 

Possibly  still  survives  in  the  county,  but  if 
so  is  verging  upon  extinction.  In  1875,  ac- 
cording to  Sterland,  it  still  held  its  ground  in 
Sherwood  Forest,  and  as  recently  as  January, 
1891,  a  fine  male  was  captured  alive  there 
(L.  Buttress  in  Zoologist,  1891,  p.  424).  Mr. 
Whitaker  writes  me  that  the  last  polecat  seen 
at  Rainworth  occurred  about  1876.  Mr.  W. 
Rose  of  Nottingham  has  seen  specimens  which 
were  taken  at  Beeston  and  East  Bridgford ; 
one  was  killed  near  Colwick  Hall  about 
1871-2,  and  two  specimens  at  Bingham  about 
1887.  Remains  of  the  polecat  have  been 
found  in  the  Pleistocene  and  Recent  deposits 
in  the  Creswell  caves. 

14.  Stoat.     Putorius  ermineus,  Linn. 

Bell — Mustela  erminea. 

Very  common  throughout  the  county. 
Examples  in  winter  dress  are  frequently  seen, 
and  Mr.  Buttress  records  (Zoologist,  1892,  p. 
310)  that  a  great  many  white  and  pied  indi- 
viduals were  shot  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Grove  in  the  winter  of  1891—2,  one  as  late 
as  28  May.  A  pure  white  stoat  was  seen  at 
Thurgarton  on  26  January,  1898. 

15.  Weasel.      Putorius  nivalis,  Linn. 

Bell — Mustela  vulgarii. 

Abundant  and  generally  distributed  in  the 
county. 

1 6.  Badger.     Meles  me/es,  Linn. 

Bell — Meles  taxus. 

The  badger  is  not  so  rare  in  Nottingham- 
shire as  is  generally  supposed,  but  owing  to  its 
shyness  and  nocturnal  habits  is  not  often  seen. 
Mr.  J.  Whitaker,  writing  in  January,  1898, 
says :  '  Badgers  are  got  nearly  every  winter  at 
Annesley  Park,  and  a  few  years  back  two 
were  taken  at  Newstead.'  The  Field  for 
5  January,  1889,  records  a  specimen  captured 
on  the  Aspley  Hall  estate  near  Nottingham. 
The  steep  right  bank  of  the  Trent,  where 
well  wooded,  as  at  Kneeton,  Clifton  and 
Thrumpton,  has  yielded  several  examples  in 
recent  years,  e.g.  at  Clifton  Grove  two  were 
seen  on  1 8  May,  1893,  one  °f  which  was 
killed  and  is  now  in  the  Nottingham  Museum; 
and  one  was  captured  at  Thrumpton  on 
9  March,  1898,  and  sold  alive  to  a  Nottingham 
publican.  Five  badgers  were  killed  at  Bunny 
in  the  late  autumn  of  1897;  an  adult  male 


was  run  down  by  a  pack  of  foxhounds  at 
Thurgarton  on  17  January,  1898 ;  and  a  pair 
were  caught  at  Plumtree  about  the  beginning 
of  March,  1900.  There  is  a  stuffed  specimen 
in  the  collection  of  the  Rev.  W.  Becher  at 
Wellow,  which  was  killed  at  Fiskerton  a  few 
years  ago.  If  protected  from  useless  and 
wanton  destruction  this  interesting  and  prac- 
tically harmless  animal  would  doubtless  become 
fairly  common. 

Bones  of  the  badger  have  been  found  in 
the  Recent  deposits  in  the  Creswell  caves,  and 
the  animal — under  its  old  name  of  '  brock  ' — 
apparently  gave  its  title  to  the  Broxtowe 
(anciently  Brockstowe)  estate  near  Nottingham. 

17.  Otter.      Lutra  lutra,  Linn. 
Bell — Lutra  vulgaris. 

Sterland  in  1875  (White's  Worksop,  etc.) 
stated  that  the  otter  occurred  at  intervals  in 
some  of  the  streams  in  Sherwood  Forest,  but 
neither  the  Rev.  W.  Becher  nor  Mr.  Whitaker 
has  heard  of  its  occurrence  there.  The  latter 
writes  (under  date  14  January,  1898):  'The 
only  otters  I  have  heard  of  were  in  the  willow 
beds  at  Basford  some  fifteen  years  ago.  I 
often  wonder,  with  the  large  quantity  of 
water  and  lots  of  fish,  we  don't  have  them 
here.' 

The  records  of  its  occurrence  in  the  Trent 
are  fairly  numerous,  and  I  have  notes  of  its 
having  been  captured  or  seen  within  compara- 
tively recent  years  at  Clifton  (several),  Wilford, 
Colwick,  Farndon,  East  Stoke,  South  Colling- 
ham,  etc.  F.  B.  Whitlock  (Naturalist,  1895, 
p.  329)  gives  the  following  instances  of  its  oc- 
currences in  the  Nottinghamshire  part  of  the 
river  Soar  :  one  near  Stanford-on-Soar  about 
1869;  one  near  Zouch  Mills — an  exceptionally 
large  male — a  few  years  ago ;  a  lair  with  two 
old  otters  and  two  or  more  young  ones  found 
on  an  island  in  the  Soar  in  November,  1894  ; 
four  more,  two  old  and  two  young,  seen  in  the 
same  place  in  August,  1895.  The  late  Mr. 
Lockwood  of  Aspley  Hall  near  Nottingham 
possessed  an  otter  which  was  trapped  in  the 
Aspley  Woods  some  years  ago. 

The  following  paragraph  appeared  in  the 
Nottingham  Daily  Express  of  7  December, 
1895  :  'A  "dog"  otter  of  a  large  size  was 
shot  in  the  Greet,  in  the  parish  of  Upton,  the 
other  afternoon  by  Mr.  Kinder  of  Upton 
Mills.  The  animal  was  in  beautiful  con- 
dition, and  when  weighed  turned  the  scale  at 
34  Ib.  These  animals  are  now  becoming 
very  rare  in  the  district,  though  they  were 
formerly  very  frequently  met  with  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  little  river  Greet,  well 
known  to  anglers  for  its  excellent  trout  fish- 
ing.' 


179 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

RODENTIA 


1 8.  Squirrel.     Sciurus  leucourus,  Kerr. 

Bell — Sciurus  vulgaru. 

Common   in  woods  and  parks  throughout 
the  county. 
[Beaver.      Castor  fiber.  Linn. 

No  remains  of  this  animal  appear  to  have 
been  found  in  the  county,  and  the  only  reason 
for  supposing  that  it  ever  occurred  rests  upon 
the  name  of  a  village — Bevercotes — in  north 
Notts,  which  is  supposed  to  have  derived  its 
name  from  the  existence  of  the  beaver  in  that 
neighbourhood  at  some  former  period.] 

19.  Dormouse.       Muscardinus     avellanarius, 

Linn. 

Bell — Myoxus  avellanarius. 
'  As  to  Nottinghamshire,  Mr.  J.  Whitaker 
of  Rainworth  Lodge  near  Mansfield  writes 
me  that  notwithstanding  numerous  inquiries 
he  can  only  hear  of  its  existence  in  one  locality 
(a  wood  near  Worksop),  where  there  are  two 
colonies  '  (G.  T.  Rope,  Zoologist,  June,  1885, 
ix.  207). 

20.  Harvest  Mouse.      Mus  minutus,  Pallas. 
Probably  now   rare  in   the  county.     The 

only  record  I  have  is  of  several  mice  and  a 
nest  seen  by  W.  Rigby  of  the  Nottingham 
Museum,  in  a  field  near  the  Eastcroft,  Not- 
tingham, a  good  many  years  ago. 

2 1 .  Wood  Mouse,  or  Long-tailed  Field  Mouse. 

Mus  sylvaticus,  Linn. 

Common  in  the  Nottingham  district  and 
doubtless  elsewhere.  Mr.  Whitaker  reports 
it  from  Rainworth. 

22.  House  Mouse.     Mus  musculus,  Linn. 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  an  abundant  pest. 


23.  Brown  Rat.     Mus  decumanus,  Pallas. 
As  the  preceding. 

24.  Field  Vole.     Microtus  agrestis,  Linn. 

Bell — Arvuola  agrestis. 

Rainworth  (Whitaker),  and  no  doubt  com- 
mon elsewhere. 

25.  Water  Vole.     Microtus  amphibius,  Linn. 

Bell — Arvuola  amphibius. 
Very  common  in  all  suitable  situations. 
Mr.  T.  M.  Blagg  tells  me  that  his  father  fre- 
quently saw  individuals  of  the  black  variety 
on  the  banks  of  a  stream  in  Langford  parish, 
in  the  'fifties '  and  '  sixties'  of  the  last  century. 
Remains  of  the  water  vole  occur  in  the  Pleis- 
tocene and  Recent  deposits  in  the  caves  at 
Creswell  Crags. 

\ 

26.  Bank  Vole.    Evotomys  glareo/us,  Schreber. 

Bell — Arvicola  glareolus. 

Common  in  the  only  place  in  the  county 
where  I  have  placed  traps  for  field  mice,  viz. 
Colwick  Park  near  Nottingham.  No  doubt 
this  and  the  field  vole  would  be  found  to  be 
widely  distributed  if  sought  for. 

27.  Hare.     Lepus  europ&us,  Pallas. 

Bell — Lepus  ttmidus. 

Very  common  ;  white,  pied  and  sandy  varie- 
ties are  occasionally  seen.  Bones  of  the  hare 
have  been  found  in  the  Pleistocene  and  Recent 
deposits  in  the  Creswell  caves. 

28.  Rabbit.     Lepus  cuniculus,  Linn. 

Occurs  in  great  abundance  throughout  the 
county,  and  its  bones  occur  in  the  Recent 
deposits  in  the  caves  at  Creswell  Crags. 


UNGULATA 


[Wild  Boar.      Sus  scrofa,  Linn. 

Remains  of  this  animal  were  found  in  the 
Recent  deposits  in  the  Creswell  caves.] 

29.  Red  Deer.      Cervus  elaphus,  Linn. 

The  red  deer  was  once  common  in  Sher- 
wood Forest,  but  has  long  since  disappeared 
in  a  wild  state,  although  it  exists  in  a  semi- 
domesticated  condition  in  Welbeck  Park, 
where  in  1892  there  was  a  herd  of  130  and 
14  white  ones;  at  Thoresby  Park  in  the 
same*  year  there  were  24,  and  at  Wollaton 
Park  31.  (The  numbers  are  from  Whit- 
aker's  Deer  Parks  and  Paddocks  of  England, 
1892.) 

30.  Fallow  Deer.     Cervus  aama,  Linn. 
Introduced  into  the  following  parks  (num- 


bers from  Whi  taker's  Deer  Parks  and  Paddocks 
of  England,  corrected  to  date) :  Thoresby  Park, 
about  630;  Welbeck  Park,  360  and  a  herd 
of  130  white  ones  ;  Wollaton  Park,  105  ; 
Annesley  Park,  200 ;  Ruffbrd  Park,  300  to 
350;  Rainworth  Park,  26;  Highfield  Park, 
IO;  Chauntry  House  Park,  10. 

[Roe  Deer.     Capreolus  capreolus,  Linn. 

Bones  have  been  found  in  the  Recent  de- 
posits in  the  caves  at  Creswell  Crags.] 

[Wild  Cattle.     Bos  taurus,  Linn. 

Wild  white  cattle  existed  in  Wollaton  Park 
until  the  beginning  of  the  last  century. 
'They  were  polled  or  hornless,  with  black 
noses  and  black  ears,  and  were  known  as  the 
"  old  park  herd,"  a  name  denoting  some  an- 


180 


MAMMALS 


tiquity.  Between  1800  and  1835  the  herd 
became  reduced  by  an  accident  when  fourteen 
died  from  eating  dead  branches  of  yew  cut 
from  trees  near  the  hall.  The  survivors, 
showing  no  tendency  to  breed,  were  killed 
off '  (Whitaker,  Deer  Parks,  etc.). 

Wild  cattle  also  existed  in  Annesley  Park, 
as  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  from 
Lord  Chaworth  to  the  Countess  of  Rutland 
shows  (the  letter  is  dated  'Annesley,  4  August, 


1669  ') :  '  I  have  made  boulde  to  present  your 
Ladyship  a  small  taste  off  a  White  wild  Oxe 
frome  my  Parke,  killed  by  my  owne  hand. 
I  had  not  presumed  so  much  but  that  I  have 
heard  my  Lord  off  Rutland  saye  they  were 
originally  his  att  Beskewood  Park  from 
whence  I  had  that  breed'  (Whitaker,  Deer 
Parks,  etc.). 

Remains  of  wild  cattle  occur  in  the  Cres- 
well  cave  deposits.] 


CETACEA 


3 1 .   Porpoise.      Phocaena  phocaena,  Linn. 

Bell — Pkoccena  communis. 

Occurs  very  frequently  in  the  tidal  portion 
of  the  Trent  and  occasionally  ascends  the 
river  to  a  much  higher  point.  Mr.  T.  M. 
Blagg  of  Newark  writes  to  me  :  '  It  is  no  in- 
frequent event  for  a  small  school  to  come  up 
the  Trent  as  high  as  Collingham,  and  I  must 
have  heard  of  their  being  seen  on  some  half- 
dozen  occasions  at  least  during  the  past  ten 
or  twelve  years.  The  most  noteworthy  in- 
stance, however,  was  in  1880  when,  the  river 
being  in  flood,  a  school  of  five  crossed  the 


weir  in  the  canal  just  below  Newark,  and 
coming  up  past  the  town,  were  hunted  with 
guns  and  boats  in  the  mill-tail,  one  being 
actually  captured  in  the  locks.' 

A  specimen  which  measured  4  ft.  6  inches 
in  length  was  shot  in  the  Trent  at  Kelham 
near  Newark  on  26  March,  1903,  and  was 
exhibited  for  some  days  in  a  fish  shop  in 
Newark.  The  Newark  Herald  of  28  March, 
in  recording  the  event,  stated  that  five  or  six 
were  killed  in  the  Trent  near  Collingham 
about  five  years  ago. 


ADDENDA 


3.  Long-eared  Bat.      Plecotus  auritus,  Linn. 

Specimens   have  occurred   recently   in   the 
Worksop    and    Retford    districts,    and    about 
Nottingham  and  Eastwood. 
5.   Pipistrelle.      Pipistrellus  pipistrellus,  Schreb. 

Common    everywhere     in    the    Worksop 
district  (J.  T.  Houghton). 
10.  Water  Shrew.     Neomys  fodiens,  Pallas. 

Seen  in  the  stream  in  Shireoaks  Park  near 
Worksop,  2  July,  1904,  by  Rev.  A.  Thornley. 
I  Off.  Pigmy  Shrew.  Sorex  minutus,  Linn. 

In  the  Zoologist  for  May,  1904,  Mr.  J. 
Whitaker  records  a  specimen  captured  at 
Rainworth  Lodge  near  Mansfield  during  the 
previous  month.  It  was  brought  into  the 
house  by  a  cat,  and  had  doubtless  been 
captured  in  the  grounds  of  the  Lodge  or  in 
its  immediate  vicinity. 


1 6.  Badger.      Meles  mcles,  Linn. 

Two  killed  in  Nottinghamshire  by  the 
Earl  of  Harrington's  hounds  in  September, 
1904  :  one  in  Edwalton  Top  Cover,  the 
other  in  Epperstone  Park.  Has  been  seen 
recently  at  Shireoaks  and  elsewhere  near 
Worksop ;  while  not  long  ago  a  litter  of 
young  badgers  was  found  at  Gringley-on-the- 
Hill. 

17.  Otter.      Lutra  /utra,  Linn. 

On  3  March,  1905,  a  very  fine  example 
was  shot  in  the  canal  at  Hickling.  It 
measured  47  in.  from  nose  to  end  of  tail,  the 
tail  itself  being  19  in.  long.  Now  in  the 
local  collection  in  the  Nottingham  Natural 
History  Museum.  Mr.  J.  T.  Houghton  re- 
ports two  recent  occurrences  in  the  Worksop 
district. 


181 


EARLY    MAN 


IT  is  proposed  in  this  article  to  trace  the  history  of  man  from  his 
earliest  appearance  in  the  county  to  the  moment  when  definite 
records  begin.1  For  the  performance  of  this  task,  we  have  to  rely 
upon  the  tokens  of  his  presence  :  here  and  there  the  skeletons  of 
his  dead,  but  more  often  implements  and  weapons  of  bone  and  stone  and 
bronze,  or  again  and  more  doubtfully  the  shaping  of  huge  stones  and  of 
caverns.  By  a  happy  accident  the  stalagmites  of  the  Creswell  Caves  have 
sealed  up  the  successive  deposits  of  human  and  animal  remains.  They 
thus  furnish  us  with  a  rough  calendar  of  the  earliest  times  which,  with 
the  help  of  the  geologist  and  palaeontologist,  it  is  possible  to  decipher. 
There  is  yet  another  measure  of  the  lapse  of  time.  The  anthropologist 
marks  off  the  successive  stages  of  advancing  civilization,  as  man  passes 
from  the  use  of  rough  stone  tools  and  weapons  to  polished  stones,  and 
again  from  stone  to  metal,  first  bronze,  and  then  iron.  It  follows  that 
our  measure  of  time  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  historian  who  is 
helped  by  definite  records.  Instead  of  years  we  deal  with  geological 
periods  and  with  ages  of  culture.  We  have  to  be  satisfied  with  a  bare 
register  of  succession  :  with  saying  that  such  and  such  objects  come  before, 
or  at  the  same  time  with,  or  after,  other  objects.  Moreover  the  stages 
of  development  overlap.  Notably  is  this  the  case  as  man  passes  from 
the  use  of  stone  to  the  use  of  metals.  The  finest  stone  tools  were  wrought 
when  man  had  already  become  familiar  with  the  working  of  bronze.  It 
will  be  convenient,  however,  to  consider  the  stone  implements  together 
before  we  pass  to  the  Bronze  Age,  although  many  of  the  stone  imple- 
ments belong  to  the  Bronze  Age.  We  begin  with  the  Old  Stone  Age, 
or  palaeolithic  man  :  then  we  shall  consider  the  New  Stone  Age  or 
neolithic  man  :  and  lastly  the  Bronze  Age,  which  will  bring  us  to  the 
coming  of  the  Romans  and  the  dawn  of  history. 

The  county  of  Nottingham  is  not  rich  in  pre-historic  remains,  but 
possesses  them  in  sufficient  variety  to  illustrate  the  life  of  early  man.  Our 
poverty  in  this  respect  is  somewhat  exaggerated  owing  to  the  lack  of  local 
antiquarian  research.  No  one,  for  example,  has  done  for  Nottingham- 
shire what  Bateman  did  for  Derbyshire,  and  every  year  removes  some 
landmark  or  memorial  of  the  past.  Hence  the  following  pages  are  an 
indication  of  work  yet  to  be  done,  as  well  as  an  attempt  to  sum  up  the 
results  which  are  already  ascertained.8 

1  See  index  at  the  end  of  this  article. 

*  I  have  to  acknowledge  gratefully  the  assistance  which  has  been  generously  given  me  in  preparing 
this  description.  The  officers  and  many  of  the  members  of  the  Thoroton  Society  have  taken  great  pains 
for  me ;  my  colleague,  Prof.  Carr,  has  also  helped  me  much. 

I83 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

THE  PALAEOLITHIC  AGE 

A  line  drawn  from  the  Dee  to  the  Humber  seems  to  mark  a  limit 
beyond  which  palaeolithic  man  rarely  passed.  Scarcely  any  instances  are 
recorded  of  palaeolithic  implements  being  found  even  as  far  north  as  the 
now  famous  Creswell  Caves.  The  Rev.  J.  M.  Mello  began  the  explora- 
tion of  these  caves  in  1875  along  with  Professor  Boyd  Dawkins,  and  it 
was  at  once  clear  that  the  discoveries  made  there  were  very  important  for 
the  early  history  of  man. 

The  Creswell  Crags  line  the  two  sides  of  a  beautiful  ravine  which 
marks  the  boundary  between  the  counties  of  Nottingham  and  Derby. 
The  crags  are  of  magnesian  limestone.  By  the  percolation  of  water 
along  the  joints  of  this  rock,  dissolving  away  its  soluble  constituents, 
passages  have  been  slowly  formed  and  gradually  enlarged  into  caverns. 
Of  these  caverns  the  greater  part  are  on  the  Derbyshire  side  of  the  ravine. 
But  one  of  the  chief  of  them,  which  is  known  as  the  Church  Hole  Cave, 
is  upon  the  southern  or  Nottinghamshire  side.  On  digging  through  the 
cave  bottom,  there  were  found  the  following  strata  of  deposits  :  first  a  super- 
ficial layer  at  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  lying  upon  the  stalagmite  ;  this 
contained  remains  of  the  late  Bronze  Age  :  second,  stalagmitic  breccia  in 
places  and  beneath  it  an  accumulation  of  earth  and  sand  with  clay  ;  the 
implements  found  were  of  bone,  antler,  and  flint :  third  and  lowest  was  a 
layer  of  red  sand  which  contained  rough  implements  of  quartzite.  The 
animal  remains  which  accompanied  the  implements  in  the  two  lower 
layers  show  that  we  have  here  relics  of  two  successive  occupations  of 
palaeolithic  man  in  the  late  Pleistocene  Age.1 

At  the  time  of  these  occupations  the  great  Ice  Age  was  already  a 
thing  of  the  past.  The  ice  cap  was  retreating  northwards,  although  the 
scanty  traces  of  human  occupation  seem  to  show  that  it  still  covered  the 
northern  part  of  the  island,  or  rather,  we  should  say,  the  northern  part 
of  what  is  now  Great  Britain.  For  the  British  Isles  were  not  yet  formed, 
so  different  was  the  distribution  of  land  and  sea  from  that  of  the  present 
time.  The  coast  of  Europe  extended  westward  beyond  the  furthest  shores 
of  Ireland,  and  northward  beyond  the  Orkneys.  The  Thames  was  a  mere 
tributary  of  the  Rhine,  which  flowed  northward  into  a  gulf  of  which 
Norway  marked  the  eastern  side.  This  wild  region  was  covered  with 
forests  of  oak  and  pine,  through  which  there  rose  snow-capped  ridges 
having  glaciers  on  their  lower  slopes.  Here  man  contended  with  a 
mingled  host  of  arctic  and  southern  animals  :  on  the  one  hand,  the  bear, 
mammoth,  and  reindeer ;  on  the  other,  the  lion,  the  hyena,  and  the  woolly 
rhinoceros.  For  the  bones  of  these  animals  are  found  in  the  caves  of 
Creswell  along  with  the  traces  of  man's  presence.  The  rough  tools  and 
weapons  of  the  red  sand  show  the  extent  of  his  skill  in  manufacture. 
His  civilization  was  at  least  as  advanced  as  that  of  the  Tasmanians,  who 
used  similar  weapons  of  stone  when  they  came  first  into  contact  with 
European  settlers.3  As  their  experience  increased  and  their  skill  developed, 

1  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Sac.  xxxiii,  602  f.  '  E.  B.  Tylor,  Enc.  Brit,  xxv,  466. 

184 


EARLY    MAN 

these  palaeolithic  men  passed  to  the  more  carefully  finished  implements 
of  flint  and  bone  which  were  found  at  Creswell  in  the  cave  earth.  Doubt- 
less they  were  akin  to  the  race  of  men  who,  in  the  same  age,  hunted  the 
reindeer  and  the  horse  in  Switzerland  and  the  south  of  France. 

The  diagram1  (seep.  191)  will  show  the  conditions  under  which  the 
discoveries  were  made  in  the  Church  Hole  Cave.  While  the  red  sand 
only  furnished  rough  quartzite  tools,  the  cave  earth  above  yielded  objects- 
of  bone,  antler,  and  flint.  These  included  (a)  a  well-shaped  needle,  abso- 
lutely perfect,  made  out  of  the  metacarpal  or  metatarsal  bone  of  a 
ruminant,  (b]  two  bone  awls  fashioned  out  of  the  tibiae  of  a  hare  and 
polished  by  long  and  continued  use,  (c)  a  broad  fragment  of  bone  rounded 
at  the  end  and  with  its  edges  notched,  (d)  two  carefully  rounded  rods 
made  of  antler,  (e)  various  tools  of  flint  and  quartzite.  The  bone  awls 
and  needles  suggest  that  the  cave-men  wore  skin  clothing  like  that  of  the 
modern  Australians  and  Fuegians,  or  like  the  pre-historic  inhabitants  of 
Egypt  described  by  Professor  Flinders  Petrie. 

The  county  is  rich  in  caves  other  than  those  of  Creswell.  There 
are  some  at  Mansfield  which  have  been  used  for  dwellings  up  to  now  ; 
and  the  city  of  Nottingham  and  its  immediate  neighbourhood  are 
honeycombed  with  hollows  and  openings  in  the  rock.  These  have  not 
been  explored  systematically,  but  as  far  as  may  be  learned  there  is  nothing 
to  connect  them  with  palaeolithic  man.  It  will  be  most  convenient  to 
consider  them  at  the  end  of  this  article. 

THE  NEOLITHIC  AGE 

A  long  interval  of  time  elapsed  between  the  Palaeolithic  Age  and 
the  appearance  of  neolithic  man.  England  no  longer  formed  part  of  the 
European  continent,  but  was  separated  from  it  by  the  English  Channel. 
The  abruptness  of  the  transition  from  the  Old  Stone  Age  to  the  New  Stone 
Age  suggests  that  some  great  cataclysm  must  have  taken  place  by  which 
in  England  at  least  palaeolithic  man  was  swept  away,  or  driven  out  before 
the  arrival  of  his  successor.  The  new  comers  were  acquainted  with  many 
of  the  arts  upon  which  developed  civilization  was  to  rest.  They  were 
not  only  hunters,  but  fishermen  and  miners.  They  had  begun  to  culti- 
vate the  earth,  and  to  breed  domestic  cattle.  They  had  even  begun  to 
make  pottery.  And  towards  the  end  of  this  period  they  had  learned  to 
shape  huge  stones  into  monuments  of  the  dead,  and  perhaps  temples  for 
worship.  Recent  excavation  seems  to  show  that  Stonehenge  itself  marks 
the  close  of  the  New  Stone  Age.  If  we  may  compare  palaeolithic  man 
to  backward  races,  such  as  the  Eskimo  in  the  north,  or  the  bushmen  of 
Africa,  neolithic  man  is  not  only  illustrated  by,  but  is  actually  represented 
by,  the  Iberians  who  inhabited  these  islands  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Celt,  and  whose  descendants  are  still  distinguishable  in  the  populations  of 
the  western  coasts  of  Europe,  notably  in  the  Basques  of  the  Spanish 
peninsula.  For  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  dark-skinned  type  of 

1  Fig.  i,  from  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  xxxiii,  opp.  p.  588.     By  kind  permission  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Mello. 
I  185  24 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

man  which  is  more  prevalent  towards  the  west  both  of  England  and 
Ireland,  or  in  other  words  the  Iberian  inhabitants  of  these  isles,  are 
descended  from  the  neolithic  men.  The  fusion  of  types  in  the  county 
is  almost  complete,  but  there  are  still  visible  traces  of  the  darker  race. 
Hence  we  may  be  permitted  to  see  in  the  scanty  neolithic  remains  of 
the  county  a  legacy  from  the  remote  forefathers  of  some  of  the  present 
inhabitants. 

The  advance  that  we  have  already  traced  in  the  manufacture  of  his 
tools  by  palaeolithic  man  was  continued  in  the  period  which  we  are  now 
considering.  The  roughly  sharpened  flakes  of  flint  which  were  found  at 
Creswell  are  succeeded  by  well-wrought  arrow-heads  and  knives.  No 
sure  line  can  be  drawn  between  the  late  Stone  Age  and  the  age  of 
bronze.  And,  indeed,  most  of  the  finer  stone  implements  of  the  county 
have  been  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Celtic  burial  grounds,  and  in 
conjunction  with  bronze  objects. 

The  more  important  neolithic  implements  found  in  Nottingham- 
shire include  chipped  flint  arrow-heads  found  at  Gunthorpe ;  and  ground 
or  polished  flint  celts  from  Averham,  Car  Colston,  Carlton,  and  Notting- 
ham. At  Bestwood,  North  Clifton,  Scarthing  Moor,  and  Wiverton 
neolithic  implements  have  also  been  found. 

The  fluted  and  perforated  axe-head  found  at  the  Sand  Hills, 
Wollaton,  and  the  fragment  of  another  perforated  axe-head,  including  its 
cutting  end  found  at  Beeston,  are  both  probably  more  nearly  related  to 
the  age  of  bronze  than  that  of  stone.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
specimen  of  holed  axe-head  dredged  from  the  bed  of  the  Trent  near 
Barton  and  the  holed  stone  hammer-head  from  Thrumpton. 

Some  human  remains  were  found  at  South  Muskham  along  with 
rough  fragments  of  earthenware  and  reindeer  bones.  These  belong 
probably  to  a  time  preceding  the  coming  of  the  Celtic  invaders,  that  is 
to  the  age  which  we  are  now  considering.  But  when  stone  objects  are 
found  along  with  bronze  objects,  we  have  already  passed  into  another 
stage  of  civilization.  For  example,  Bateman  found  a  flint  spear-head 
along  with  articles  of  bronze  at  Gotham.1  And  the  '  well-finished  celt  of 
polished  stone'  which  was  found  at  Collingham  in  1867  seems  to  have 
belonged  to  a  British  burial  ground.2 

There  are  one  or  two  striking  natural  objects  in  the  county  which 
may  be  associated  with  some  reason  with  the  close  of  the  Stone  Age. 
This  time  was  characterized,  as  we  have  seen,  by  the  erection  or  use  of 
huge  stones,  and  reached  its  culmination  in  Stonehenge.  There  is  some 
reason  to  think  that  the  Hemlock  Stone  on  Stapleford  Hill,  and  the 
Druid  Stones  of  Blidworth,  were  centres  of  religious  interest  even  in 
neolithic  times. 

The  Hemlock  Stone  is  a  pillar  of  sandstone  which,  owing  to  the 
insoluble  nature  of  the  cementing  material,  barium  sulphate,  has  resisted 
the  weather  to  a  greater  degree  than  the  surrounding  rock,  and  so 
has,  by  degrees,  been  left  standing  out  amid  the  slow  decay  of  the  rest 

1  Vestiges,  104.  '  Wake,  CoKngham,  43. 

186 


PERFORATED  AXE-HEAD  FROM  WOLLATON. 


WINGED  CELT  FROM  COLWICK. 


BRONZE  SOCKKTED  SPEAR-HEAD 

FROM    (jRINGLKY. 


BRONZE  IMPLEMENTS  FROM  NOTTINGHAM. 


To  face  page  186. 


EARLY    MAN 

of  the  hill-side.1  The  rock  itself  reveals  no  trace  of  human  handiwork  ; 
but  long  standing  custom  seems  to  connect  the  Hemlock  Stone  with 
those  ancient  days  in  which  the  miracle  of  fire  was  still  celebrated.  The 
use  of  lighting  the  sacred  fire  seems  to  have  continued  down  to  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  This  lighting  took  place  on 
Beltane  eve  each  year  upon  the  top  of  the  Hemlock  Stone,  according  to 
Dr.  Timothy  Spencer  Hall,  and  old  people  in  his  young  days  could 
remember  and  describe  the  celebration.* 

At  Blidworth  in  a  hollow  to  the  west  of  the  village  are  some 
masses  of  Bunter  conglomerate,  which  stand  out  above  the  level  of  the 
fields.  They  remind  us  of  the  Hemlock  Stone,  and  like  it,  are  connected 
by  tradition  with  the  pre-Roman  past,  under  the  name  of  Druid  Stones. 
The  largest  of  them  rests  upon  a  knob  of  rock  which  juts  a  little  above 
the  soil  ;  it  has  been  hollowed  from  the  western  side  for  a  distance  of 
about  six  feet  into  the  interior  of  the  mass.  The  hollow  is  pierced 
through  at  the  back  in  such  a  way  that,  it  is  said,  the  aperture  exactly 
faces  the  sun  on  the  morning  of  Midsummer  Day.  Thus  we  are  again 
pointed,  as  in  the  Beltane  usage  on  Stapleford  Hill,  to  rites  in  which 
reverence  for  the  sun  played  a  leading  part.  The  hole  through  the 
largest  mass  at  Blidworth  is  to  be  compared  with  the  numerous  holed 
stones  which  have  been  recorded  in  many  quarters.  And  doubtless  the 
men  who  hollowed  out  the  western  side  of  Blidworth  Stone  made  a 
practice  of  passing  either  human  beings  or  their  possessions  through  the 
narrow  opening  at  the  back,  but  with  what  purpose  it  is  now  impossible 
to  say.3 

THE  BRONZE  AGE 

The  use  of  metals  was  brought  to  these  islands  by  the  advanced 
guard  of  the  great  Indo-European  invasion,  which,  spreading  from  the 
east  of  the  European  continent,  pressed  westward  and  southward,  driving 
before  it  the  men  who  were  already  settled.  The  Celts,  with  their  weapons 
of  bronze,  expelled  or  subdued  to  themselves  the  darker  neolithic 
inhabitants  of  England,  leaving  them  to  take  refuge  in  the  extreme 
west,  in  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  and  Wales.  Compared  with  their 
enemies,  the  Celts  were  fair-haired,  ruddy  and  tall,  differing  very  little 
from  the  Germans  and  Anglo-Saxons.  Huxley  indeed  affirms  that  the 
people  termed  Gauls,  and  those  called  Germans  by  the  Romans,  did  not 
differ  in  any  important  character.4  It  is  impossible  to  say  with  anything 
like  precision  by  how  long  an  interval  the  coming  of  the  Celts  preceded 
the  Christian  era.  Probably  it  was  by  a  period  of  not  less  than  a 
thousand  years.  Since  the  Celts  formed  one  of  the  earliest  offshoots  from 
the  Aryan  stock,  they  displayed  a  more  primitive  form  of  constitution 
than  their  brethren  who  emigrated  at  a  later  period.  Each  tribe,  or 
rather  each  local  settlement,  formed  a  political  unit  which  was  very 

1  This  is  the  opinion  of  Prof.  J.  W.  Carr. 

'  Old  Nottinghamshire,  ed.  by  J.  P.  Briscoe,  p.  51  ;  Notts,  and  Derb.  Notes  and  Queries,  \,  76,  100. 
*  Baring-Gould,  Strange  Survivals,  268  ;  Notts,  and  Derb.  Notes  and  Queries,  ii,  1 16  ;  iii,  88. 
4  Man's  Place  in  Nature,  257. 

I87 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

loosely  connected  with  the  other  similar  tribes  or  settlements.  For 
example,  the  settlement  upon  the  rising  ground  which  surrounds  St. 
Mary's  Church  at  Nottingham  would  not  be  very  closely  bound  to  the 
neighbouring  settlement  upon  Calverton  Hill.1  On  the  other  hand 
the  tie  which  united  the  inhabitants  of  any  single  village  was  very 
close,  most  of  the  land  being  held  in  common  by  the  whole  community. 
Hence  it  is  that  the  civilization  of  the  Celts  exhibits  such  a  curious 
mixture  of  what  is  primitive,  and  what  is  highly  developed.  They 
lacked  what  the  Romans  enjoyed  through  their  stricter  national  organiza- 
tion. But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  very  intensity  of  the  clan  life  of  the 
Celts  furnished  more  frequent  exercise  for  the  inspiration  of  their  poets 
and  artists.  The  Celtic  love  of  music  is  symbolized  for  us  in  the  harp- 
shaped  brooch  which  was  found  at  Creswell.  Their  power  of  design  may 
be  more  doubtfully  traced  in  the  mouldings  of  the  bronze  objects  which 
we  shall  now  have  to  enumerate. 

We  have  followed  the  development  of  stone  implements  from  the 
rude  quartzite  lumps  which  were  found  in  the  lowest  stratum  at  Creswell, 
to  the  finely  finished  tools  which  were  still  used  in  the  Bronze  Age. 
We  pursue  a  similar  line  of  advance  as  we  come  first  upon  the  flat  bronze 
adze  or  axe  which  is  a  copy  in  metal  of  the  most  elaborate  stone 
weapons  ;  secondly,  upon  the  palstave,  consisting  of  a  long  axe-shaped 
piece  of  bronze,  with  flanged  edges  in  order  to  grip  the  wooden  handle, 
the  handle  being  split  to  receive  the  palstave.  In  the  third  stage  the 
celt  was  made  hollow  so  as  to  receive  the  end  of  the  wooden  handle  entire, 
and  was  often  furnished  with  a  loop  through  which  a  thong  was  passed, 
in  order  the  better  to  secure  the  handle  to  the  head.  In  the  Castle 
Museum,  Nottingham,  is  a  transitional  form,  a  looped  palstave. 

We  will  now  consider  in  order  the  discoveries  of  bronze  objects 
which  have  taken  place  within  the  county  : — 

A  hoard  of  bronze  objects  of  a  most  important  character  was  discovered 
in  the  course  of  some  building  operations  at  Great  Freeman  Street, 
Nottingham,  in  1860.  The  objects,  which  were  exhibited  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London8  on  21  February,  1861,  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Close,  F.S.A.,  comprised  :  sixteen  socketed  and  looped 
celts,  one  palstave,  four  socketed  spear-heads,  one  knife  with  flat  tang,  six 
fragments  of  swords,  one  long  ferrule  gj  inches  long,  a  fragment  of  a  quad- 
rangular tube,  and  what  was  described  as  '  part  of  a  circular  ornament.' 
The  accumulation  of  a  number  of  perfect  and  imperfect  articles  of  bronze 
in  one  spot  is  of  great  interest.  All  the  fragments  were  found  quite  close 
together  buried  in  the  sandy  soil  at  a  depth  of  3  ft.  6  in.  from  the 
surface.  These  were  evidently  buried  in  the  earth  for  safety,  and  they 
doubtless  represent  the  hoard,  possibly  all  the  wealth,  of  some  individual 
who  knew  the  commercial  value  of  bronze. 

The  fragments  of  swords  are  suggestive.  There  are  many  instances 
on  record  of  the  discovery  of  several  short  sections  of  bronze  swords  which 
have  apparently  been  broken  up  purposely  into  convenient  lengths  for 

1  Wright,  Celt.  Rom.  and  Sax.  nz.  '  Prix.  Soc.  Antij.  Lond.  and  Ser.  vol.  i,  pp.  332-333. 

188 


EARLY    MAN 

re-casting  or  for  secret  burial  in  the  earth.  The  weapon  having  been 
worn  out  by  use,  or  damaged  beyond  repair,  became  of  no  use  except  for 
melting  up  and  re-casting.  The  presence  of  socketed  and  looped  celts  and 
socketed  spear-heads,  as  well  as  the  ferrule,  indicates  a  fairly  late  stage  in 
the  Bronze  Age.  The  ornamental  character  of  the  palstave  and  celts 
points  to  the  same  conclusion.  Some  of  the  objects  found  in  this  hoard 
are  now  in  the  museum  at  Nottingham  Castle,  others  are  in  the  Notting- 
ham Natural  History  Museum,  and  others  are  in  private  possession. 

Another  interesting  hoard  of  Bronze  Age  antiquities  was  found  some 
years  ago  at  Newark  and  passed  into  the  fine  collection  of  Canon  Green- 
well.  They  comprise:  (i)  two  bronze  discs  5J  inches  in  diameter, 
pierced  with  a  hole  in  the  centre,  with  a  raised  rib  round  their  margins, 
and  with  a  cone-like  rising  or  projection  in  the  middle  ;  (2)  socketed 
celts  ;  and  (3)  a  broad  socketed  spear-head. 

Several  objects  were  found  in  Nottingham  during  the  excavations  for 
the  Theatre  Royal,  including,  I  am  told,  a  bronze  celt,  a  bronze  spear- 
head, and  a  sword-blade  of  iron.1  Three  spear-heads  are  said  to  have  been 
dug  up  in  Nottingham  when  the  workmen  were  excavating  for  the 
Grantham  Canal.3 

Sir  John  Evans  possesses  a  fine  winged  celt  found  in  the  gravel  of 
the  Trent  at  Colwick,  near  Nottingham.  Immediately  below  the  stop, 
the  blade  is  fluted,  and  the  bottom  of  the  fluting  tapers  somewhat  in  the 
contrary  direction  to  the  tapering  of  the  blade.3  It  is  a  singularly  hand- 
some and  effective  implement. 

Another  fine  bronze  object  found  in  this  county  was  the  socketed 
and  fluted  spear-head  discovered  in  1803  in  the  course  of  some  drainage 
works  at  Gringley.  A  drawing  of  the  spear-head,  exhibited  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Society  of  Antiquarians  of  London  on  9  January,  1806,  has  been 
engraved  and  published  in  Arcbceologia,  vol.  xvi,  Plate  LIV,  fig.  I. 

The  small  bronze  pin  found  at  Gotham  in  association  possibly  with 
an  interment,  and  accompanied  by  a  neatly  chipped  spear-head  of  flint, 
furnishes  an  interesting  illustration  of  that  overlapping  of  stone  and  metal 
tools  or  weapons  of  which  prehistoric  archaeology  affords  many  instances. 

Some  bronze  objects  seem  to  have  been  found  with  traces  of  crema- 
tion. For  example,  there  were  found  at  Combes  near  Southwell  towards 
the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  two  socketed  celts  which  when 
discovered  appeared  to  be  buried  in  a  bed  of  ashes.4  In  1836  workmen 
excavating  along  the  Fosse  Road,  near  Newark,  found  urns  placed  about 
2  ft.  to  2  ft.  6  in.  from  the  surface,  and  with  them  a  pair  of  scissors 
much  oxidized,  and  pottery  probably  of  British  manufacture.6  When 
Major  Rooke  opened  the  barrow  near  Oxton  an  urn  of  iron  half  full  of 
ashes,  a  sword  in  its  scabbard,  and  fifteen  glass  beads  were  found.6 

Our  history  ends  as  it  began  with  the  Church  Hole  Cave  of  Cres- 
well.  The  civilization  of  the  Bronze  Age  came  with  the  Celts  and 

1  Information  supplied  by  Mr.  W.  Rigby.  '  Orange,  Hut.  ofNott.  i,  64. 

'  Evans,  Bronze  Imp.  77.  *  Dickinson,  Southwell,  298. 

5  Cornelius  Brown,  Annals  of  Newark,  4.  '  Throsby,  TAoroton  (1797),  vol.  ii,  176. 

189 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

ended  when  they  were  conquered  by  the  Saxons.  The  Britons,  as  they 
fled  before  the  invaders,  took  refuge  in  hiding  places  and  fastnesses,  and 
for  a  passing  moment  occupied  the  caves  which  their  neolithic  pre- 
decessors had  haunted.  Some  such  company,  perhaps,  taking  refuge  in 
the  ravine  of  Creswell,  has  left  behind  at  the  entrance  to  the  Church  Hole 
Cave  the  ashes  of  its  fires  and  a  few  objects  of  use  or  ornament.  Among 
them  a  bronze  brooch  in  the  form  of  a  harp  is  especially  noteworthy. 
There  were  also  found  '  a  bone  awl,  a  square  polished  bone  like  a  die  cut 
in  half,  ornamented  with  circles  on  all  sides  but  one,  numerous  fragments 
of  grey  lathe-turned  Romano-British  ware,  a  fragment  of  a  whetstone,  a 
black  flint  strike-a-light.' l 

If  the  above  account  is  correct,  these  objects  belong  to  the  end  of 
the  British  period,  but  it  is  possible  that  we  are  dealing  with  a  burial  place, 
such  as  those  which  line  the  Fosse  Road  out  of  Newark.  The  presence 
of  the  ashes,  of  human  bones,  of  pottery,  of  personal  ornaments,  is, 
perhaps,  more  easily  explained  in  this  way  than  by  supposing  that  the 
caves  were  occupied  as  dwellings. 

The  circular  ornament  upon  the  die  is  an  interesting  trace  of  a 
familiar  Celtic  decoration,  and  anticipates  the  favourite  geometrical 
motive  of  the  Irish  illuminators  of  manuscripts. 


THE    CAVES    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Now  that  we  have  surveyed  the  course  of  prehistoric  time  as  far  as 
our  somewhat  scanty  resources  will  permit,  we  can  take  up  a  problem 
which  has  much  interested  local  antiquaries,  namely,  the  age  of  the 
caves  which  are  found  at  various  places  in  the  county.  In  addition  to 
the  caves  of  Creswell,  there  are  some  rock  surfaces  which  have  been 
hollowed  out  and  used  as  dwellings  in  the  neighbouring  town  of  Mans- 
field. They  are  towards  the  top  of  the  rise  leading  from  the  town  in 
the  direction  of  Southwell.  The  same  sandstone  formation  presents  in 
Nottingham  and  its  neighbourhood  an  opportunity  for  numerous  excava- 
tions. The  northern  escarpment  of  the  Trent  on  both  sides  of  the 
Castle  Rock  has  been  honeycombed  with  dwellings  and  hollows  of 
various  kinds.2  Some  of  these  caves  are  probably  as  old  as  Roman  times, 
or  even  older  ;  but  the  evidence  for  their  antiquity  is  meagre,  and  in  the 
end  reduces  itself  to  a  passage  in  Asser,  in  which  the  historian  gives  the 
British  name  of  Nottingham  as  Tignocobauc,  and  translates  it  '  dwellings 
of  caves.'8  But  the  Britons  themselves  dwelt  by  preference  in  hill 
settlements,  and  although  it  is  believed  by  some  that  the  Druids  some- 
times taught  in  caves,  this  was  a  special  custom,  and  does  not  prove  a 
common  usage.  In  view  of  all  this  we  cannot  ascribe  a  very  early 
origin  to  the  excavations  in  the  church  cemetery  at  Nottingham.* 

1  Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  xxxiii,  603  ff. 

'  Trans.  Thonton  Soc.  (1897),  37  ;  Notts,  and  Derb.  Notes  and  Queries,  vi,  17,  35. 

3  Guest,  Origines  Celticae,  i,  360  ;  Notts,  and  Derb.  Notes  and  Queries,  ii,  87. 

4  Oliver,  Shadows  Departed,  13. 

igo 


EARLY    MAN 


INDEX    AND    SUMMARY 

ASLOCKTON. — Stone  hatchet  :  communicated  by  Rev.  J.  Standish. 
AVERHAM  FLASH. — Axe-head  of  polished  flint  :  described  by  Mr.  Blagg. 
BARTON. — Holed  axe-head  :  Natural  History  Museum,  Nottingham. 
BEESTON. — Cutting  end  of  stone  axe-head  [Evans,  Stone  Imp.  210]. 

Bronze  sword  found  in  pond  at  Highfield  ;  Castle  Museum,  Nottingham. 
BESTWOOD. — Neolithic  implements  :  Castle  Museum,  Nottingham. 
CAR  COLSTON. — Polished  stone  axe  :  Mr.  T.  M.  Blagg's  collection. 

Bronze  spear-head  :  described  by  Mr.  Blagg. 

CARLTON. — Stone  hatchet  {Notts,  and  Derb.  Notes  and  Queries,  ii,  123]  :  Mr.  Whitbread's  collection. 
COLWICK. — Bronze  palstave  [Evans,  Bronze  Imp.  77]. 
COLLINGHAM. — Stone  celt  [Wake,  Cottingham,  43]. 
COMBES. — Two  bronze  socketed  celts  [Dickinson,  Southwell,  298]. 
CRESWELL. — Palaeolithic,  neolithic,  bronze  implements :  Museum,  Owens  College,  Manchester  ;  Derby 

Museum  [Quart.  Journ.  Geol.  Soc.  xxxiii,  602  f.]. 

GOTHAM. — Neolithic  implement  [Evans,  Bronze  Imp.  1 90]  ;  bronze  pin  [ibid.]. 
GRINGLEY. — Bronze    spear-head   [Evans,   Bronze    Imp.    321  ;   Arch,   xvi,   361]  ;   stone    implements   in 

Dr.  Appleby's  collection,  Newark. 

GUNTHORPE. — Flint  arrow-head  :  Jewitt,  Engl.  Antiq.  fig.  60. 
HEXGRAVE. — Bronze  celts  [Stevenson,  Bygone  Notts.  42]. 
HOLME. — Bronze  celts  :  in  Colonel  E.  H.  Nicholson's  possession. 
NEWARK. — Bronze  hoard  [Evans,  Bronze  Imp.  1 1 8]  :  Greenwell  collection. 

Flint  arrow-head  :  British  Museum. 

NORTH  CLIFTON. — Neolithic  implement  :  Mr.  C.  Woolley's  collection. 
NORTH  MUSKHAM. — Bronze  celt  :   Castle  Museum,  Nottingham. 
NOTTINGHAM. — Stone  hatchet  :  Natural  History  Museum;  bronze  hoard,  p.  1 88  ante  [Evans,  Bronze  Imp. 

1 18]. 

OXTON. — British  burial  place,  p.  189  ante 

SCARTHING  MOOR. — Neolithic  implement  :  recorded  by  Rev.  A.  Hunt,  Wclton,  Line. 
SOUTH  MUSKHAM. — Skull,  rude  earthenware  vessels  [Geologist,  1861,  349]. 
SOUTH  SCARLE. — Bronze  celt,  stone  celt  [Wake,  Collingham,  43]. 
THURGARTON. — Bronze  celt  :  recorded  by  Rev.  A.  Hunt,  Welton,  Line. 
THRUMPTON. — Holed  stone  hammer-head  :  Mr.  Whitbread's  collection. 
TUXFORD. — Neolithic  arrow-heads  and  celts  [Evans,  Stone  Imp.  316]. 
WIVERTON. — Flint  implement  :  Wiverton  Hall. 
WOLLATON  PARK. — Neolithic  implement  [Evans,  Stone  Imp.  202]. 
WORKSOP. — Bronze  celt  :  Osberton  Hall. 


Section  of  Church  Hole  Cave. 
(31  Feet  From  Gate  at  entrance.)  • 
Ft  in 


1  •  0 
1      0 

1  8 
to 

2  •  0 

2-  0 


3    0 


do00 


Staltgmitic  breccia 
with  charcoal ,  Flint  implements  &  bones. 
2      Reddish  cavt  earth, 
similar  remains . 


,      Lighter  cave  earth. , 
similar  remains 


Mottled  cave  earth  , 

quartette  i  flint  implements  t  tones  . 


Light  reddish  sandy  earth  t 
Bones  but  no  implements  . 


6      White  calcareous  sand  *  rock  . 
CRESWELL  CAVES. 


191 


ll 

3 

<S> 


CD 

"i     m 

a) 

^ 

g 

L) 

*3j 

A 

NH 

c^_ 

<u 

HM 

o 

h 

O 

,2 

V 
<M 
W 

^7 

d 

ccj 

" 

tj 

to  ^ 

^^ 

H 

H 

O                       °J 

^•J 


ANGLO-SAXON 
REMAINS 

OUR  knowledge  of  the  founders  of  England  must  to  a  great 
extent  be  derived  from  their  funeral  customs  and  the  array 
of  objects  deposited  in  their  graves.  Apart  from  traditions 
of  the  pagan  period,  which  cannot  be  implicitly  trusted, 
there  are  indeed  other  sources  of  information  not  yet  exhausted  by 
scientific  inquiry  ;  and  it  will  suffice  to  mention  two  in  the  field  of 
philology.  In  Nottinghamshire  and  the  neighbouring  counties  place- 
names  are  of  special  significance  ;  and  the  classical  instance  of  North- 
weorthig,  which  ranked  among  the  Five  Boroughs  under  the  name  of 
Derby,  indicates  precisely  enough  the  period  during  which  the  suffix  -by 
replaced  the  English  -ham  or  -ton  (tun]  in  certain  parts  of  the  country. 
It  is,  however,  with  still  earlier  centuries  that  the  present  chapter  deals, 
the  centuries  that  elapsed  between  the  Roman  domination  and  the  con- 
version of  England  to  Christianity  ;  and  for  this  period  we  can  appeal 
with  still  less  confidence  to  another  set  of  survivals,  the  dialectical  varie- 
ties that  may  still  be  plainly  distinguished  in  many  districts.  In  the 
nature  of  things  documentary  evidence  is  here  most  inadequate,  for  only 
in  recent  times  have  measures  been  taken  to  distinguish  intonations  by  an 
elaborate  system  of  symbols,  and  year  by  year  the  material  for  such 
inquiries  is  diminishing.  The  prospect  for  archaeology  is  more  encourag- 
ing. Though  little  has  yet  been  done  to  classify  or  even  to  record  in  detail 
relics  recovered  from  the  soil,  it  is  incontestable  that  much  remains  to 
be  found,  and  there  is  every  likelihood  of  more  scrupulous  and  intelligent 
excavation  and  treatment  of  antiquities  in  the  future. 

An  attempt  to  present  the  history  of  Nottinghamshire  before  docu- 
mentary records  were  contemplated  can,  in  the  present  circumstances, 
result  in  little  more  than  a  summary  of  the  few  discoveries  available  ;  but 
even  thus  some  data  may  be  rescued  from  oblivion,  and  the  interest  of 
chance  finds  more  fully  appreciated.  A  glance  at  the  map  will  reveal  the 
most  striking  physical  features  of  the  county,  and  at  once  account  for  the 
restriction  of  early  Anglo-Saxon  sites  to  its  southern  and  eastern  areas. 
An  instructive  comparison  may  be  instituted  with  Sussex,  where  the 
longer  axis  similarly  divides  what  was  once  a  desolate  forest  from  the 
fertile  region  that  attracted  the  earliest  settlers.  The  Sussex  Weald 
corresponds  to  Sherwood  Forest  that  occupied  nearly  all  the  western  half 
of  Nottinghamshire  ;  and  in  both  cases  the  forest  area  is  shown  by  the 
Domesday  record  to  have  been  still  uninhabited  at  least  six  centuries  after 
the  Teutonic  invasions.  The  villa  at  Mansfield  Woodhouse  on  the  further 
i  193  25 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

side,  however,  suggests  that  Sherwood  did  not  baffle  the  Romans,  who 
also  drove  a  road  (Stane  Street)  through  the  Weald  of  Sussex. 

At  present  it  is  impossible  to  bring  forward  conclusive  evidence  as 
to  the  course  followed  by  the  earliest  Teutonic  immigrants  into  this 
district ;  but  the  view  put  forward  by  John  Richard  Green  has  everything 
in  its  favour.  A  glance  at  his  series  of  maps  will  explain,  and  in  many 
cases  substantiate  his  statements,  though  here  and  there  imagination  may 
too  readily  fill  the  void  left  by  archaeology.  If  by  the  Engle  (Angles) 
be  understood  the  tribe  or  tribes  that  at  the  date  of  their  arrival,  and  for 
some  time  longer,  practised  cremation  and  urn-burial,  little  exception  can 
be  taken  to  his  contention  that  '  their  main  settlement  along  the  lower 
Trent  (in  what  is  now  the  county  of  Nottingham)  must  have  been  in  the 
little  dales  that  break  the  picturesque  wold  country  that  lies  to  the  south 
(or  east)  of  the  river,  and  through  which  they  pushed  along  its  course  as 
far  as  its  junction  with  the  Soar.'1  The  map  showing  Anglo-Saxon  sites  at 
the  head  of  this  chapter  fully  warrants  this  view,  and  physical  reasons  for 
such  distribution  are  not  far  to  seek.  '  The  forest  of  Sherwood  stretched 
from  the  outskirts  of  our  Nottingham  '  northward  within  a  short  distance 
of  Southwell  '  to  a  huge  swamp  into  which  the  Trent  widened  as  it 
reached  the  Humber.  Here,  indeed,  a  thin  line  of  clay-country  remained 
open  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  with  lifts  of  soft  sandstone  here  and 
there  ;  and  on  the  slopes  of  one  of  these  the  house  of  the  Snotingas  fixed 
their  home.'  3 

The  finds  at  Oxton  and  Tuxford,  both  of  which  may  belong  to  the 
sixth  century,  represent  therefore  in  all  probability  the  western  limit  of 
the  earliest  Teutonic  settlement  of  the  lower  Trent  valley  ;  and  the  ques- 
tion arises,  Whence  came  these  strangers  from  over-sea  ?  The  answer 
must  depend  on  the  final  interpretation  of  their  diverse  funeral  customs,  of 
which  the  traces  are  evident  ;  and  the  first  step  is  to  correlate  the  archaeo- 
logical data  in  this  and  neighbouring  areas.  Of  the  latter  only  those  now 
known  as  Lincolnshire,  Derbyshire,  and  Leicestershire  are  of  importance,  as 
forest  and  swamp  completed  the  circuit  ;  and  it  may  be  said  at  once  that 
there  seems  to  have  been,  in  the  period  now  under  discussion,  an  archaeo- 
logical frontier 3  coinciding  roughly  with  the  upper  courses  of  the 
Warwickshire  Avon  and  Welland.  North  of  this  line  there  is  a  marked 
absence  of  a  certain  type  of  brooch  that  is  characteristic  of  the  southern 
midlands,  an  area  that  in  its  turn  is  practically  devoid  of  the  large 
square-headed  variety  represented  by  two  examples  in  Nottinghamshire 
itself. 

As  is  generally  the  case  north  of  the  Thames,  groups  of  burials  with 
or  without  cremation  of  the  body  have  been  discovered  in  the  county  ; 
and  it  must  be  confessed  at  the  outset  that  this  discrepancy  with  regard 
to  a  ceremony  usually  controlled  by  a  rigid  tradition,  is  at  present 
unexplained.  It  is  true  that  in  the  Trent  valley  there  is  but  little  evidence 
of  a  mixed  cemetery  in  which  burnt  and  unburnt  burials  occur  side  by 


1  Making  of  England  (1897),  vol.  i,  p.  88. 
1  V.C.  H.  Warw.  i,  256  :  Bucks,  i,  196. 


'  Ibid.  pp.  85,  88. 


194 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

side,  as  for  instance  in  Cambridgeshire  ;  and  there  is  little  to  show 
whether  inhumation  was  for  a  time  abolished  in  favour  of  cremation,  or 
whether  the  two  rites  were  practised  by  contemporaries  of  different 
tribal  affinities  in  settlements  distinct  but  not  far  removed  from  one 
another.  It  should  be  remembered  in  this  connexion  that  among  the 
Romans  or  Romanized  provincials  of  Britain,  cremation  of  the  dead 
seems  to  have  passed  out  of  fashion  about  the  middle  of  the  third 
century  of  our  era,  more  than  half  a  century  before  the  state  recognition 
of  Christianity  under  Constantine  ;  so  that  it  would  be  unwise  to  regard 
the  Teutonic  cinerary  urns  of  Nottinghamshire  as  the  successors  of  the 
Roman  mortuary-ware  that  attained  a  high  standard  of  quality.  Com- 
parison with  continental  discoveries  justifies  the  attribution  of  these  rude 
hand-made  urns  to  immigrants  who  came  from  the  country  bordering 
the  lower  Elbe,  or  were  at  least  akin  to  the  tribes  who  settled  in  what 
are  to-day  Schleswig-Holstein  and  Hanover. 

There  is  in  this  county  some  slight  indication  that  burials  of  the 
unburnt  body,  that  must  still  on  account  of  their  grave  furniture  be 
referred  to  the  pagan  period,  preserve  the  Roman  tradition.  They  may 
be  those  of  the  population  that  was  left  to  its  own 
resources  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  Roman  troops 
and  officials  about  the  year  410  ;  and,  leaving  the 
cinerary  urns  for  separate  treatment,  we  may  at 
once  proceed  to  an  examination  of  a  burial-ground 
that  was  evidently  in  use  during  the  fifth  century. 

A  cemetery  at  Holme  Pierrepont,  three 
miles  east  of  Nottingham,  was  accidentally  dis- 
covered by  labourers  in  1842;  but  though  various 
articles  are  described  and  illustrated  in  the  original 

account,1    nothing    is    Said    as    to    the    interments.      URN  FROM  HOLME  PIERRKPONT. 

It  may,  however,  be  concluded  from  the  con- 
dition of  the  relics  found  2  ft.  below  the  surface,  that  the  burials  were 
not  by  way  of  cremation,  and  the  skeletons  had,  perhaps,  gone  to  decay, 
though  one  urn  is  mentioned  that  may  have  contained  calcined  bones. 
As  remnants  of  the  Roman  civilization,  may  be  mentioned  part  of  a  thin 
yellow  glass  bowl,  about  six  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  raised  inscription 
of  which  the  word  Semper  alone  remains  above  a  bird.  Another  drawing 
represents  a  brooch  in  the  form  of  a  spotted  animal  that  has  a  decidedly 
Roman  appearance.  Though  details  were  wanting,  it  was  said  that  all 
varieties  of  weapons  and  ornaments  usually  found  in  Saxon  cemeteries 
were  here  discovered  in  profusion.  Two  more  urns  are  mentioned,  and 
one  is  illustrated  ;  but  as  they  are  described  as  smaller  than  the  first, 
there  is  nothing  to  show  that  they  were  cinerary,  though  they  were 
classed  as  such  in  1858.*  A  quern  about  one  foot  in  diameter,  with  part 
of  the  iron  spindle  remaining,  on  which  revolved  an  upper  stone  of  bee- 
hive form,  may  be  compared  with  similar  discoveries  in  graves  at  Winster, 
Hartington,  and  Taddington  in  Derbyshire,  and  at  Reading,  Berkshire. 

1  Journ.  Brit.  Arch.  Asiac.  iii,  297  ;  see  also  Coll.  Antij.  ii,  228.          '  W.  M.  Wylie,  Arch,  xxxvii,  471. 

195 


BRONZE-GILT  BROOCH  FROM 
HOLME  PIERREPONT. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

With  the  exception  already  noticed,  the  brooches  were  of  well-known 
Anglo-Saxon  types,  a  gilt  example  of  the  square-headed  variety,  about 
4!  in.  long,  being  illustrated  (see  fig.),  and  resembling  specimens  from  the 

northern  midlands  and  eastern  counties.  As  it 
appears  to  have  been  enriched  with  seven  settings 
of  stone  or  glass,  the  resemblance  to  one  found 
at  St.  Nicholas,  near  Warwick,1  is  all  the  more 
striking.  This  form  of  the  square-headed  brooch 
belongs  to  the  first  half  of  the  fifth  century 
here  and  in  Scandinavia,  and  closely  resembles  one 
from  Kenninghall,  Norfolk.'  From  among  many 
smaller  brooches  discovered  at  Holme  Pierrepont 
one  with  a  trefoil  head  is  illustrated  (see  fig.),  and 
belongs  to  a  type  represented  in  Northants.8  All 
were  of  bronze,  with  iron  pins,  and  present 
evident  traces  of  a  woven  fabric  on  the  back, 
indicating  that  they  had  been  deposited  with  an 
unburnt  body  in  the  grave.  The  buckles  men- 
tioned were  probably  quoit-shaped  brooches  such 
as  have  been  found  in  many  parts  of  England. 
Numerous  glass  beads  of  various  forms  and 
colours,  as  well  as  one  or  two  of  rough  amber, 
are  mentioned,  and  two  larger  ones  had  the 

somewhat  rare  mosaic  pattern,  made  in  the  same  way  as  the  millefiori 
glass  of  the  Roman  period. 

Some  pieces  of  bronze  that  had  apparently  been  riveted  to  the  sides 
of  small  bronze  buckets  for  the  attachment  of  handles  were  another 
interesting  item,  as  they  probably  belonged  to  a  bowl  with 
three  hooks  for  suspension,  such  as  were  found  at  Chester- 
ton, Warwickshire.4  Circular  enamelled  plates  are  some- 
times found  which  were  attached  to  the  side  of  the  bowl 
inside  a  frame  of  which  the  hook  formed  part  ;  but  as  there 
is  no  mention  of  enamel  here,  the  present  example  may  have 
resembled  one  from  Hawnby,  N.  R.  Yorkshire,  in  the 
British  Museum,  which  has  plain  attachments. 

In   1839  a  discovery  of  human  burials  was  made  in 
the  neighbourhood   of  Cotgrave   and  Normanton,  immedi- 
ately on  the  line  of  the  Roman  road  known  as  the  Fosse 
Way,  at  a  point  about  nineteen  miles  from  Leicester  and 
about  thirty  from  Lincoln.      The  following  account   was  PIERREPONT. 
communicated  to  the  British  Archaeological  Association ' 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Bateman  some  years  later.     Three  skeletons  were  found 
within  a  hundred  yards,  and  a  fourth  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant. 
They  were  interred  at  full  length  in  the  line  of  the  road  (which   here 

1  V.  C.  H.  Wano.  i,  258,  fig.  6  on  plate  :  Akerman,  Pag.  Sax.  rx,  I. 

1  r.  C.  H.  Norfolk,  i,  340,  fig.  5.  *  V.  C.  H.  Northanti,  i,  243. 

4  y.  C.  H.  Wane,  i,  258,  figs.  8,  9,  on  plate.  *  Joum.  iii,  297. 

196 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

runs  nearly  north  and  south),  and  the  graves  had  been  cut  through  the 
gravel  and  rubbish  of  which  the  road  was  made  to  the  rock  which  lies 
about  two  feet  below  the  present  surface.  The  workmen  who  made  the 
discovery  agreed  in  stating  that  two  spears  were  deposited  with  each  body ; 
these  varied  in  length  from  eight  to  sixteen  inches,  and  were  composed 
as  usual  of  iron.  It  is  probable  that  other  remains,  such  as  shield-bosses 
and  handles,  escaped  observation,  but  a  '  third-brass '  coin  of  Carausius 
(286-293)  was  found  which  serves  to  date  the  burials  at  any  rate  in  one 
direction.  It  is  hardly  possible  that  interments  in  the  centre  of  the 
highway  were  permitted  in  Roman  times,  and  it  is  therefore  reasonable 
to  refer  these  and  another  group  found  in  the  middle  of  the  Watling  Street, 
near  Bensford  Bridge,1  to  the  fifth  century,  if  not  to  the  sixth  of  our  era. 

Another  group  of  burials  that  cannot  be  dated  in  the  same  manner, 
but  had  evidently  some  relation  to  the  same  great  highway,  was  discovered 
half  a  century  ago  at  Norton,  near  Daventry,  Northants.8  A  bank  forty  or 
fifty  yards  long  and  about  three  feet  high  ran  parallel  to,  and  just  beyond, 
the  Roman  embankment,  being  about  twenty-five  feet  from  the  crown  of 
the  road  ;  and  several  bodies,  buried  in  a  line,  were  found  about  six  feet 
below  that  level.  A  fine  square-headed  brooch  s  was  found  on  a  subse- 
quent occasion  when  the  bank  was  levelled  to  alter  the  course  of  the  road. 

In  January,  1893,  Mr.  F.  Pritchatt,  while  opening  a  new  gravel- 
pit  in  the  Barnfield,  Aslockton,  came  upon  the  remains  of  a  warrior, 
lying  buried  with  his  feet  to  the  west,  at  a  depth  of  3^  ft.  from  the 
surface.  A  straight  two-edged  sword,  with  a  blade  29  in.  long  and  2  in. 
wide,  was  found  at  the  right  of  the  body,  pointing  north-west,  and  a 
lance-head,  with  a  blade  of  3  in.  and  a  socket  J  in.  shorter,  lay  near  the 
left  foot.  Other  bones  have  been  turned  up  on  the  site,  and  a  bed  of 
gravel  was  a  favourite  position  for  an  Anglo-Saxon  burial-ground ;  while 
it  is  pointed  out  in  the  original  account 4  that  the  orientation  was  not  in 
accordance  with  Christian  usage.  It  may  also  be  added  that  the  reversed 
spear  is  of  rare  occurrence  in  graves  of  the  period  in  England,6  though 
apparently  the  rule  among  the  Ripuarian  Franks.6  From  measurements  of 
some  of  the  bones  it  is  evident  that  the  stature  of  the  living  subject  was  about 
five  feet  four  inches,  which  is  not  by  any  means  excessive  for  a  warrior. 


VIKING  SWORD,  FROM  FARNDON  CHURCH  (  £  ). 


Another  sword   (see  fig.),  of  the  Viking  pattern,  was  found  during 
excavations  below  Farndon  church,  and  was  preserved  in  the  vestry  there.7 

1  V.  C.  H.  Warm,  i,  253.  '  V.  C.H.  Nortbants,  i,  234  ;  see  also  236  (Passenham). 

*  Arch,  xli,  pi.  xxii,  p.  479. 

4  Scarrington  and  Aslockton  Parish  Magazine,  March,  1893  :  the  relics  are  in  the  possession  of  Capt. 
Montagu  Hall,  ofWhatton  Manor,  who  kindly  furnished  the  account.     Reproduced  in  Notts,  and  Derb. 
Notes  ana"  Queries,  1893,  p.  107  ;  the  skull  is  said  to  be  brachycephalic,  ibid.  p.  122. 

5  Long  Wittenham,  Berks.,  with  stoup  bearing  biblical  scenes,  Arch,  xxxviii,  345. 

6  Proc.  Soe.  Antiq.  Lond.  iii,  34  :  for  an  example  see  Boulanger's  MoblRer  funlraire  Gallo-romain  et 
Franc,  pi.  36.  'Cornelius  Brown,  Hist,  of  Newark  (1904),  i,  8. 

197 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Its  total  length  is  33!  in.,  the  guard  being  straight  and  the  pommel 
proportionately  heavy  ;  but  nothing  of  interest  was  found  with  it. 

A  somewhat  disappointing  discovery  must  here  be  noticed,  as  afford- 
ing evidence  of  Anglo-Saxon  burial  just  within  the  forest  area  of  the 
county ;  and  it  is  fortunate  that  the  few  antiquities  discovered  were  illus- 
trated at  the  time,  for  the  description1  leaves  much  to  be  desired.  In  1790 
Major  Hayman  Rooke  reported  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  the  results 
of  his  excavations  in  the  previous  year  about  a  mile  north  of  Oxton. 
The  smallest  of  three  grave-mounds  (tumult)  within  little  more  than  half  a 
mile  measured  i  59  ft.  in  diameter,  and  consisted  of  very  fine  mould  to 
the  depth  of  j\  ft.,  from  the  top  to  a  little  below  the  natural  soil,  where  a 
layer  of  grey  sand  mixed  with  clay,  about  five  inches  thick,  was  met  with. 
On  this  layer  lay  what  was  described  as  '  an  urn  (later  found  to  be  of 
iron)  half  full  of  ashes,  and  covered  with  a  piece  of  coarse  baked  earth, 
which  broke  when  taken  up.'  The  engraving,  rough  as  it  is,  proves  this 
to  have  been  a  shield-boss  of  ordinary  Anglo-Saxon  type,  and  the  ashes 
within  it  can  have  been  nothing  but  the  decayed  remnants  of  the  wooden 
framework  of  the  shield,  which  appears  to  have  been  uppermost.  On 
one  side  and  at  the  bottom  was  a  piece  of  wood  adhering  to  the  iron, 
and  several  small  pieces  were  found  near  it  which  were  hollowed  out, 
and  had  evidently  taken  the  curve  of  the  boss  ;  hence  it  was  inferred 
that  the  boss  had  been  deposited  in  the  barrow  in  a  wooden  casing  which 
had  in  time  become  fixed  to  the  metal  by  oxidation.  Near  this  was 
a  sword  in  a  wooden  scabbard,  30  in.  long  and  4  in.  broad,  the  breadth 
applying  no  doubt  more  to  the  scabbard  than  the  sword,  which  should 
have  measured  about  two  inches  from  edge  to  edge.  The  sheathed  sword 
broke  into  seven  pieces  on  being  lifted  from  the  earth,  and  the  total 
thickness  where  least  decayed  was  above  half  an  inch.  '  Near  the  end  of 
the  sword  fifteen  glass  beads  were  picked  up,  some  green,  others  clouded 
with  yellow,  and  some  of  a  deep  yellow.'  The  illustration  of  specimens 
shows  these  to  have  been  not  beads  but  discs,  with  one  flat  and  one 
convex  face,  used  apparently  for  gaming,  as  draughtsmen  ;  and  it  is 
expressly  stated  that  they  were  not  perforated.  Beads  are  an  almost 
invariable  mark  of  a  female  interment,  and  the  occurrence  of  these  discs 
with  a  sword  perplexed  the  excavator  ;  but  later  discoveries  have  made 
it  clear  that  these  draughtsmen  were  frequently  placed  in  the  graves  of 
warriors,  and  it  will  suffice  to  mention  a  bone  set  of  twenty-eight,  with 
varying  numbers  of  dots  on  the  convex  surface,  found  at  Cold  Eaton  in 
the  neighbouring  county  of  Derby,*  and  specimens  found  with  a  die 
at  Faversham,  Kent.3  Dice  in  association  with  glass  and  bone  draughts- 
men are  also  known  from  Scandinavia.* 

The  Oxton  barrow  further  yielded  some  objects  of  iron  which  may 
to  some  extent  be  identified  from  the  illustrations.  An  iron  knife  is 

1  Arch,  x,  381,  pi.  xxxv  ;  details  of  the  site  in  ix,  20 1  ;  Journ.  Brit.  Arch.  Assoc.  viii,  1 8  8. 

1  Jewitt,  Grave-mounds  and  their  Contents,  p.  293,  fig.  484. 

*  Roach  Smith,  Collectanea  Antiqua,  vi,  138  (made  of  horse- teeth)  ;  other  bone  specimens  from 
Sarre,  Archaeologta  Cantiana,  vi,  157  ;  vii,  308. 

4  Sophus  Mailer,  Nordische  Altertumskunde,  ii,  108  (Denmark)  ;  Rygh,  Nonke  Qldsagcr,  figs.  474, 
475  (Taasen,  Akershus,  Norway). 

198 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

almost  invariably  found  in  Anglo-Saxon  inhumations,  and  was  used  at 
meals  and  for  general  purposes.  A  socketed  cone  of  iron  has  the  appear- 
ance of  a  spear-butt,  though  the  head  was  not  recovered  ;  and  a  strip  of 
bronze  binding  may  well  have  come  from  the  edge  of  the  shield.  A 
piece  of  iron,  that  is  better  drawn  in  Thoroton's  account,1  was  probably 
the  handle  of  the  sword  or  the  shield,  and  *  the  thin  coat  of  smooth 
yellow  rust  upon  it '  would  be,  in  that  case,  decayed  wood,  or  possibly 
leather.  There  need  be,  therefore,  little  hesitation  in  classing  this  as  an 
unburnt  burial  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  period,  though  the  mound  may  con- 
ceivably have  been  in  existence  some  centuries  previously,  and  contained 
Bronze  Age  interments  of  which  no  trace  remained.  Such  was  the  case 
at  Oldbury,  near  Atherstone,  just  within  the  northern  boundary  of  War- 
wickshire. Here  the  barrow,  at  the  time  of  exploration,  was  about  twenty 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  rising  in  the  centre  to  a  height  of  about  fifteen 
feet  ;  but  the  Anglo-Saxon  interment,  marked  by  an  iron  spear-head  and 
shield-boss,  was  found  with  human  bones  only  2  ft.  from  the  surface,  the 
usual  depth  at  that  period.2  Many  cases  in  Yorkshire  show  that  the 
Teutonic  invaders  frequently  availed  themselves  of  grave-mounds  that 
were  then  at  least  a  thousand  years  old  and  formed  a  conspicuous  feature 
of  the  landscape. 

The  bald  statement  that  the  brooch  illustrated  below  (p.  203)  was 
found  in  a  garden  at  Tuxford  in  1865  is  of  a  kind  too  frequently  met 
with  in  archaeological  inquiry  :  it  whets  the  curiosity  and  leaves  it 
unsatisfied  on  many  points  that  careful  excavation  or  even  a  superficial 
examination  of  the  site  would  have  settled.  Methods  of  precision,  how- 
ever, can  hardly  be  expected  in  such  chance  discoveries,  and  it  is  a 
matter  for  congratulation  that  this  interesting  relic  of  antiquity  was 
preserved  at  all.  It  recently  passed  into  the  hands  of  Sir  John  Evans, 
who  exhibited  it  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,8  and  kindly  allowed  its 
reproduction  in  these  pages. 

Its  outline  is  familiar  enough,  and  evidently  further  than  the  Holme 
Pierrepont  example  from  the  prototype.  Large  square-headed  specimens  of 
this  type  are  mostly  found  in  the  counties  of  Leicester  and  Northampton 
(five  each),  but  four  are  also  known  from  Cambridgeshire,  and  three  each 
from  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Yorkshire  ;  Nottinghamshire  and  Lincoln- 
shire have  each  yielded  two,  so  that  the  centre  of  distribution  is  thus 
fairly  indicated  ;  but  typical  specimens  occur  sporadically  further  afield, 
and  a  very  close  analogy  to  the  Tuxford  example  is  presented  by  one  from 
Sarre,  on  the  highroad  half-way  between  Canterbury  and  Ramsgate.  The 
isolated  occurrence  of  another  almost  identical  with  the  latter  at  Herpes, 
Dept.  Charente,  near  the  centre  of  the  west  coast  of  France,  does  not  point 
to  importation  from  that  quarter,  but  rather  the  contrary;  the  prototype  was 
evidently  evolved  in  the  north  of  the  Continent,  though  specimens  found  in 
this  country  may  well  have  been  manufactured  here  on  the  traditional  lines. 

The  side  view  shows  a  comparatively  small  bow  and  the  position 
of  the  hinge  and  catch-plate  for  the  pin  at  the  back,  but  the  most 

1  Hist,  of  Notts,  ii,  176.  *  V.  C.H.  Warw.  i,  267.  *  Proceedings,  vol.  xxi. 

199 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

important  feature  is  the  disc  attached  to  the  front  of  the  bow.  A  well- 
known  pattern,  common  in  the  Baltic  island  of  Gothland,  is  not  truly 
parallel,  being  later  in  date  and  quite  distinct  as  regards  outline  and 
ornamentation.  Comparison  is  best  made  with  unpublished  brooches  from 
Finningham  and  Ipswich,  Suffolk,  and  a  damaged  example  from  Brooke, 
Norfolk,  now  in  the  British  Museum.  In  spite  of  its  appearance,  the 
last  was  probably  not  burnt  at  the  time  of  burial,  as  amber  beads  from 
the  same  site  are  quite  intact  ;  but  it  seems  to  have  been  intentionally 
damaged  before  interment,  and  only  the  square  head  and  bow  with  its 
attached  disc  remain.  The  ornamentation  on  all  four  is  similar,  and  the 
type  was  evidently  well  established  in  this  country.  Below  the  bow  may 
be  distinguished  animal  heads  with  open  jaws,  familiar  in  this  position 
on  such  brooches  in  northern  Europe  from  the  opening  of  the  fifth  century  ; 
but  the  rest  of  the  surface  exhibits  little  that  suggests  animal  forms  of 
any  kind.  The  three  pear-shaped  lobes  and  the  two  triangular  patches 
near  the  centre  of  the  foot  owe  their  form  and  position  to  the  existence 
of  garnet  settings  on  earlier  and  better  examples  of  the  type  (as  from 
Sarre  and  Herpes).  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  two  small  cones  on 
the  head  (just  above  the  junction  with  the  bow),  and  of  the  lobes  in  the 
upper  corners,  between  which  is  a  row  of  spectacle-ornament  that  is 
generally  derived  from  the  human  face,  but  is  more  probably  a  remote 
descendant  of  Roman  arcading. 

The  inner  band  is  divided  into  square  panels,  some  of  which  enclose 
the  eye  of  the  characteristic  animal  of  early  Teutonic  art,  represented  in 
the  present  instance  merely  by  a  dot  with  two  or  three  curved  lines 
beside  it  that  may  represent  the  neck  of  the  animal.1  A  single  reference 
will  suffice  for  evidence  of  this  derivation  ;  and  lastly,  attention  may  be 
directed  to  the  S-shaped  engraving  near  the  centre  of  the  brooch-head, 
as  well  as  the  rope  pattern  of  the  central  disc,  both  reminiscent  of  the 
scrolls  so  frequent  in  Roman  work  of  the  fourth  century.8 

Specimens  with  a  disc  on  the  bow,  evidently  belonging  to  the  same 
parent  stock,  but  differing  in  details,  are  published  from  all  three  Scandi- 
navian countries,  and  a  remarkable  specimen  with  an  almost  triangular 
base  was  found  at  Bifrons,  near  Canterbury.  Brooches  of  similar  dimen- 
sions with  a  hole  in  the  bow,  evidently  for  affixing  a  disc  by  means  of  a 
rivet,  are  known  from  Bury  St.  Edmund's  and  Faversham,  while  a  smaller 
example  has  been  found  in  Kent.3  It  is  fairly  certain  that  all  these 
belong  to  the  northern  area  of  Europe,  as  contrasted  with  Bohemia, 
Bavaria,  and  Switzerland,  where  early  Teutonic  antiquities  of  quite 
distinct  character  are  frequently  met  with.  It  was  along  the  latter  route 
that  the  culture  of  the  barbarians  spread  westward  to  Gaul  and  Britain, 
south  of  the  Thames  ;  while  further  north,  in  the  midlands  and  East 
Anglia,  the  North  German  and  Scandinavian  element  was  predominant. 
Whether  this  fact  explains  the  prevalence  of  cremation  in  the  area  indi- 

1  B.  Salin,  Die  altgermamsche  Thierornamentik,  p.  326. 

1  Ibid.  pp.  170—2. 

*  Arch,  xli,  pi.  six,  fig.  i  (Stowting) 

2OO 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

cated  has  still  to  be  decided,  but  the  preceding  pages  show  that  cremation 
was  not  the  invariable  practice  here  during  the  fifth  and  sixth  centuries. 
An  important  discovery  of  cremated  burials  at  Kingston  on  Soar  in 
1844  was  communicated  to  the  British  Archaeological  Association1  by  the 
Rev.  J.  S.  Henslow,  at  that  time  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge.     In  the  light  of  subsequent  investigations    it  is  no  longer 
permissible  to  attribute  these  cinerary  urns  to  the  aboriginal  Britons  ;  they 
are  undoubtedly  of  Anglian  origin,  of  a  dark-coloured  clay  mixed  with 
fragments  of  felspar,  and  wrought  by  hand  without  the  use  of  the  lathe, 
while  the  firing  was  very  imperfect.     Many  were  ornamented  with  lines 
in  various  patterns,  and  some  have  in  addition  stamped  devices  probably 
executed  by  means  of  a  stick  or  bone.     They  were  found  deposited  on  the 
slope  and  near  the  summit  of  a  gentle  eminence,  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  to  the  east  of  Kingston  Church,  and  over  a  space  of  about  half  an 
acre.     Workmen  employed  in  trenching  the  ground  for  the  shrubbery  in 
the  grounds  of  Kingston  Hall,  then  in  course  of  erection  for  the  Rt.  Hon. 
Edward  Strutt  (formerly  M.P.  for  Derby,  and  afterwards  Lord  Belper),  had 
turned  up  and  completely  destroyed  about  two  hundred  of  them  before  it 
occurred  to  anyone  that  they  were  worthy  of  preservation.     The  owner 
subsequently  had  the  soil  removed  from  the  remainder  of  the  space  occu- 
pied by  the  interments,  and  thus  made  it  apparent  that  they  had  been 
arranged  in  lines  or  trenches  either  singly  or  in  groups,  several  deposits 
being  from  four  to  six  feet  apart.     As  the  field  had  been  under  the  plough 
about  sixty  years  previously,  it  is  not  surprising  that  there  was  no  surface 
indication  of  the  burials,  or  that  all  the  urns  had  been   more  or  less 
mutilated.     About  thirty  of  the  deposits  were  carefully  removed,  and  the 
fragments  recovered  were  generally  sufficient  to  indicate  the  size,  shape, 
and  decoration  of  the  urns.     It  seemed  probable  that  the  mouth  of  each 
had  been  covered  with  a  slab  of  sandstone,  and  it  may  thus  be  inferred 
that  all  had  been  buried  in  an  upright  position.     With  the  exception  of 
a  small  vase,  which  was  empty,  all  contained  human  bones  thoroughly 
calcined.     In  a  few  were  also  found  glass  beads  fused  in  the  funeral  pyre, 
and  in  one  some  fragments  of  a  bronze  brooch,  which  is  not  described  in 
detail  ;   but  no  weapons  or  coins  were  found  in   or  near  the   cemetery.  " 
The  specimens  figured  in  the  original  account  furnish  examples  of  most 
of  the  forms  and  decorative  patterns  known  in  this  class  of  pottery,  and 
vary    in    height  from    lof  to  6    in.,  the    exception    mentioned    above 
being  a  cup  3§  in.  high. 

It  was  by  the  side  of  the  Fosse  Way  that  a  number  of  cinerary  urns 
were  found  near  Mill  Gate  at  Newark  in  i836.a  During  excavations  for 
the  foundation  of  a  house  at  the  south-west  end  of  the  town,  fifteen  or 
sixteen  specimens  (see  fig.)  were  recovered  in  fairly  good  condition,  but 
three  or  four  times  as  many  were  destroyed  in  digging.  Subsequently  a 
saw-pit  was  sunk,  and  about  twenty  more  urns  were  found  in  an  area  of 

1  Journ.  vol.  ii,  p.  60  (where  the  site  is  wrongly  stated  to  be  in  Derb.),  vol.  viii,  p.  189  ;  Arch. 
Journ.  iii,  158  ;  and  Roach  Smith,  Collectanea  Antiqua,  ii,  228,  with  plate  of  urns  ;  Jewitt's  Reliquary, 
vol.  ix  (1868-9),  p.  6,  and  pi.  ii. 

'  Roach  Smith,  Collectanea  Antiqua,  ii,  231  ;  Journ.  Brit.  Arch.  Assoc.  iii,  194. 

1  201  26 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

24  ft.  by  4  ft.  They  appear  to  have  been  placed  in  regular  quincunx 
order,  and  all  were  in  an  upright  position  about  two  feet  from  the  surface. 
Each  contained  calcined  bones,  and  in  one  alone  were  also  found  a  pair 
of  bronze  tweezers,  a  pair  of  iron  shears,  and  part  of  a  bone  comb.  l 

Before  proceeding  to  mention  certain  discoveries  of  a  later  period 
we  may  conclude  from  the  character  and  distribution  of  the  antiquities 
already  described  that  the  Rhaetic  beds  of  red  marl  attracted  the  earliest 
Teutonic  settlers,  who  seem  to  have  approached  from  the  Lincolnshire 
side,  and  to  have  followed  the  Fosse  Way  and  the  Trent  Valley.  The 
former  took  them  into  Leicestershire,  where  antiquities  of  the  period  are 
somewhat  more  plentiful  but  of  similar  character ;  while  the  latter  would 
draw  them  across  what  is  now  the  county  border  into  Derbyshire.  In 
this  connexion  it  should  be  noticed  that  early  Anglo-Saxon  sites  in 
Derbyshire  fall  into  two  main  groups  ;  *  the  larger  occupies  the  centre 
of  the  western  half  of  the  county  between  Buxton  and  Matlock,  and  is 
quite  isolated  from  that  in  the  southern  angle,  where  the  river  valley 


URN  FROM  NEWARK. 


URN  FROM  NEWARK. 


was  the  centre  of  attraction.  The  cemeteries  of  King's  Newton,  near 
Melbourne,  and  of  Stapenhill,3  near  Burton,  present  many  resemblances  to 
those  in  the  adjoining  county.  The  former  site  is  only  seven  miles  from 
Kingston  on  Soar,  and  yielded  a  large  number  of  cinerary  urns  of  the 
same  description  as  those  from  Kingston  Hall  grounds  and  from  Newark, 
while  the  Stapenhill  cemetery  contained  five  burnt  and  thirty-one  unburnt 
burials,  the  latter  not  strictly  orientated.  Elsewhere  in  Derbyshire 
different  types  of  interment  are  not  found  intermingled,  and  the  presence 
of  many  Roman  objects  recalls  discoveries  at  Holme  Pierrepont,  where 
both  rites  may  also  have  been  practised.  At  present  there  is  little  to  fix 

1  George  Milner,  Cemetery  Burial,  pp.  26,  27,  figs,  reproduced  in  Journ.  Brit.  Arch.  A  HOC.  viii, 
pi.  27. 

'  Map  in  y.  C.H.  Derbyshire,  \,  265  ;  cf.  pp.  272-5. 

1  Another  variety  of  trefoil-headed  brooch  was  found  here  :  Trans.  Burton  Arch,  and  Nat.  Hist.  Soe. 
(1889),  pi.  vii. 

202 


IRON  SWORD  FROM 
NOTTINGHAM       . 


~  ti«J 


IRON   SPEAR-HEAD  WITH 
CROSS-BAR,  LONDON   (J). 


BRONZE-GILT  BROOCH  FROM 
TUXFORD  (I.  6|  in.). 


IRON  SPEAR-HEAD  FROM 
NOTTINGHAM        . 


SWORD  POMMEL  FROM 
NOTTINGHAM  (^) 

page  2OZ. 


5V 


BRONZE  BROOCH  FROM  BROUGH  (CROCOLANA).    (J) 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

the  date  of  this  advance  up  the  Trent  Valley,  but  both  the  Holme 
Pierrepont  brooches  illustrated  evidently  belong  to  the  fifth  century,  and 
a  wave  of  immigration  about  that  time  would  account  for  the  isolated 
occurrence  of  Anglo  -  Saxon 
brooches  at  two  stations  on 
the  Fosse  road.  That  illustrated 
by  kind  permission  of  Mr.  T. 
Smith-Woolley  was  found  at 
Brough  (identified  with  Cro- 
colana),  and  is  essentially 
similar  to  the  smaller  Holme 
Pierrepont  specimen,  both  hav- 
ing a  trefoil  head  (see  fig.)  and 
faceted  bow  and  foot,  in  the 
late  Roman  manner.  The  side 
view  shows  the  ear  and  rivet 
for  attaching  the  pin  to  the 
back  of  the  head  (which  is 
accidentally  bent)  and  the  catch 
projecting  from  the  upper  part 
of  the  foot.  A  second  speci- 
men, of  the  same  type  but  not  so  well  preserved,  is  the  only  Anglo- 
Saxon  relic  as  yet  found  at  Castle  Hill,  between  Car  Colston  and  East 
Bridgford  on  the  Roman  road,  the  site  being  considered  that  of  the 
Roman  station  Margidunum. 

In  1851  portions  of  two  iron  swords  with  a  spear-head  of  unusual 
form  were  found  at  Nottingham  with  two  skulls  and  other  human  remains 
at  a  depth  of  3  ft.  in  a  field  adjoining  the  public  baths  and  wash- 
houses  (between  St.  Mary's  Cemetery  and  the  County  Lunatic  Asylum). 
These  weapons  were  exhibited  to  the  Archaeological  Institute1  in  the 
same  year,  and  are  now  preserved  in  the  armoury  at  the  Tower  of 
London.8  The  spear  is  24!  in.  long,  with  a  maximum  breadth  of  2J  in.; 
while  the  sword  is  36  in.  long,  2j  in.  at  the  widest  part  of  the  blade,  with 
a  guard  5J  in.  long  and  a  grip  of  3  in.  These  burials  evidently  belonged 
not  to  the  early  Anglo-Saxon  period,  but  to  what  is  generally  known  in 
this  country  as  the  Viking  Age,  corresponding  in  part  to  the  Carlovingian 
period  of  Western  Europe.  Spears  with  cross-bar  below  the  blade  are 
rarely  met  with  in  this  country,8  but  are  more  frequent  abroad,  where 
they  were  made  within  the  kingdom  of  Charles  the  Great.*  The  perfect 
sword  belongs  to  one  of  the  two  main  types,  with  a  straight  guard  and 
a  three-lobed  pommel.  Many  have  been  found  in  Norway,6  and  others 
are  known  from  Scotland  and  Ireland,  but  their  place  of  manufacture 

1  Journ.  viii,  424,  with  illustrations.  *  Nos.  158,  174,  and  175  in  catalogue. 

1  Two  from  London  and  one  from  Amiens  are  in  the  British  Museum,  and  one  from  the  Thames  is 
in  Reading  Museum.     A  specimen  is  figured  for  comparison. 

4  Mittheilungen  der  anthrof.  Gesell.  in  Wien,  xxix  (1899),  p.  37,  pi.  i. 

4  Specimens  in  Bergen  Museum  described  by  A.  L.  Lorange,  Den  Tngre  Jernalders  SvaerJ:   Rudolf 
Wegeli,  Zeitschrtft  fur  Historische  Waffenkunde,  vol.  iii  (1904). 

203 


A    HISTORY    OF   NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

is  somewhat  uncertain,  and  the  most  likely  region  is  that  near  the  mouths 
of  the  Rhine.  They  were  no  doubt  carried  by  the  Northmen,  to  whom 
Nottingham  more  than  once  fell  a  prey.  The  Danes,  for  instance,  seized 
the  passage  of  the  Trent  and  wintered  there  in  868. 

Such  is  the  somewhat  meagre  story  of  portable  objects  belonging 
for  the  most  part  to  the  pagan  Anglo-Saxon  period,  which  have  been 
recovered  from  the  soil  of  Nottinghamshire  from  time  to  time.  Christian 
monuments  of  pre-Norman  date,  such  as  the  stone  carvings  still  to  be 
seen  in  the  county,  are  reserved  for  treatment  elsewhere  ;  but  as  marking 
the  transition  to  Norman  England  one  discovery  of  interest  may  be 
mentioned  in  conclusion.  Four  ring-brooches  of  bronze,  of  plain  and 
solid  workmanship,  were  included  in  the  exhibition  organized  by  the 
Thoroton  Society  in  1899  l  and  are  still  in  existence.  All  of  the  same 
pattern  (see  fig.),  they  can  be  at  once  recognized  as  belonging  to  a  type 

hitherto  poorly  represented,  and  difficult  to 
date  with  precision.  The  available  evidence 
is  somewhat  contradictory  and  may  be  summed 
up  as  follows  : — Two  are  known  from  Berk- 
shire8 :  one  was  found,  apparently  with  a 
secondary  interment,  in  a  grave-mound  on  the 
Lambourn  Downs,  and  is  now  in  the  British 
Museum  ;  while  the  other,  now  in  Reading 
Museum,  comes  from  a  grave  lined  with 
Roman  tiles  in  a  meadow  adjoining  King's 
Road,  Reading.  Two  in  the  Royal  Museum 
at  Canterbury  were  found  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, but  further  details  are  wanting  ;  while 
two  other  discoveries  might  be  approximately 

dated,  though  the  evidence  points  to  the  Norman  period.  A  pair  was  found 
buried  in  the  flower  garden  at  Audley  End,  Essex,  and  may  have 
belonged  to  a  member  of  the  Benedictine  community  on  that  site 
(Walden  Abbey),  which  dates  from  1138.  A  similar  conclusion  may 
be  drawn  from  the  occurrence  of  the  same  type  on  the  site  of  Hyde 
Abbey  (founded  1 109),"  where  several  of  these  brooches  were  found  with 
chalices,  patens  and  ciboria  in  graves  that  retained  traces  of  ecclesi- 
astical vestments.  Nothing  definite  as  to  date  can  be  gathered  from  the 
account  of  the  Nottingham  discovery,  which  took  place  in  February,  1 841, 
during  excavations  for  the  poor-house  in  York  Street.*  Human  bones 
were  uncovered  in  great  numbers,  along  with  fragments  of  stonework, 
part  of  a  pavement  of  glazed  tiles,  several  '  brass  rings '  (the  bronze 
brooches  in  question),  a  large  stone  coffin,  and  other  antiquities.  The 
site  is  supposed  to  have  been  that  of  the  ancient  church  of  St.  Michael, 
which  was  destroyed  by  the  inhabitants  in  1328  during  a  tumult  with 

1  Transactions  of  Thoroton  Society,  iii,  50. 

1  V.  C.  H.  Berks,  i,  pp.  238,  240,  (with  fig.). 

*  John  Carter,  Specimens  of  Ancient  Sculpture  and  Painting,  ii,  19  (figs.). 

4  Nottingham  Date  Book,  10  Feb.  1841  ;  Bailey,  Annals  of  Notts,  iv,  419  ;  i,  210. 

204 


BRONZE  RING-BROOCH  FROM 
NOTTINGHAM.     () 


ANGLO-SAXON    REMAINS 

the  body  of  foreign  soldiers  brought  into  the  country  with  Philippa,  the 
young  queen  of  Edward  III.  The  brooches  were  evidently  worn  in 
pairs  at  some  period,  and  the  moulding  below  the  head  of  the  pin  is 
characteristic  ;  while  the  specimen  illustrated  (see  fig.)  retains  a  fragment 
of  linen  textile  on  the  pin,  showing  that  it  had  been  fixed  to  the  garment 
at  the  time  of  burial.  Another  still  bears  a  piece  of  leather  inserted 
between  the  ring  and  the  pin  head,  and  the  same  was  found  to  be  the 
case  at  Hyde  Abbey.  The  discoveries  at  Audley  End  and  Winchester 
certainly  point  to  the  early  twelfth  century,  and  the  minor  antiquities  of 
the  Norman  period  are  as  yet  but  imperfectly  known  ;  but  such  a  date  for 
the  Lambourn  Down  and  Reading  specimens  does  not  seem  appropriate, 
and  this  discrepancy  must  be  our  excuse  for  including  these  brooches  in 
the  present  chapter. 


205 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 


I 


Nottinghamshire  portion  of  the  Domesday  Survey  has 
perhaps  received  less  attention  than  has  been  given  to  most 
of  the  counties  of  the  northern  midlands.  It  is  not  one  of 
the  more  attractive  parts  of  the  great  record,  for  its  subject 
matter  is  somewhat  severely  restricted  to  such  details  as  were  strictly 
relevant  to  the  main  object  of  the  Domesday  Inquest,  which  was  the 
assessment  and  distribution  of  the  king's  '  geld.'  Many  problems  are 
raised  in  the  course  of  the  portion  of  the  survey  with  which  we  have 
to  deal,  but  in  general  we  can  only  hope  to  solve  them  in  the  light  of 
evidence  drawn  from  beyond  the  borders  of  our  county,  for  Domesday 
rarely  explains  its  own  terminology,  and  local  records  which  can  be 
applied  to  its  elucidation  are  somewhat  to  seek  in  Nottinghamshire. 
Several  religious  houses  were  founded  in  the  county  within  seventy  years 
of  Domesday,  and  their  documents  are  useful  in  this  connexion,  but 
none  of  them  take  in  Nottinghamshire  history  the  place  which  Peter- 
borough records  fill  in  that  of  Northamptonshire,  nor  have  we  any  later 
royal  survey  of  our  county  such  as  we  possess  for  its  neighbours 
Lincolnshire  and  Leicestershire. 

This  is  the  more  to  be  regretted  since  Nottinghamshire  was  the 
central  member  of  a  very  interesting  group  of  counties  comprising 
Lincolnshire,  Yorkshire,  Derbyshire,  Leicestershire,  and  Rutland,  which 
are  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  England  by  many  characteristic 
features  pointing,  as  is  now  recognized,  to  a  Scandinavian  colonization 
of  the  district  in  the  ninth  century.  These  counties  are  divided  into 
'  wapentakes '  instead  of  'hundreds,'  and  are  assessed  in  'carucates'  instead 
of'  hides,'  while  place-names  ending  in  the  accepted  Scandinavian  termina- 
tion '  by  '  are  scattered  unevenly  over  the  district.1  In  Nottinghamshire, 
for  instance,  a  well-marked  group  of  such  names,  represented  by  Scrooby, 
Serlby,  Thoresby,  Budby,  Bilby,  and  Ranby,  is  congregated  in  the  north- 
western quarter  of  the  county,  outlying  examples  being  Harby  and 
Barnby  in  the  Willows  on  the  Lincolnshire  border,  Saundby  and  Bleasby 
on  the  Trent,  and  Granby  and  Willoughby  on  the  Wolds  close  to 
Leicestershire.  Names  like  Gunthorpe,  Staythorpe,  and  Owthorpe  are 
also  suggestive,  but  evidence  from  local  nomenclature  is  easily  misin- 
terpreted ;  a  much  more  certain  and  delicate  test  of '  Danish '  settlement 
lies  in  the  manner  in  which  this  group  of  counties  was  assessed  to  the 
Danegeld. 

1  There  is  still  no  more  recent  treatment  of  the  distribution  of  these  place-names  than  the  Words 
and  Places  of  Isaac  Taylor,  whose  results  are  utilized  by  Green,  Conquest  of  England,  1 14-1 29. 

207 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

In  every  other  part  of  England  except  East  Anglia  and  Kent  the 
basis  of  taxation  was  the  *  hide '  containing  four  '  virgates,'  and  this  unit 
when  employed  for  fiscal  purposes  is  normally  found  combined  in  groups 
of  five  or  ten,  for  the  assessment  of  the  south  and  west  was  arranged  on 
a  decimal  system.  In  Nottinghamshire  and  the  counties  which  adjoin 
it,  the  place  of  the  hide  was  taken  by  the  '  carucate,'  consisting  of  eight 
'  bovates,'  and  from  an  analysis  of  the  portion  of  Domesday  relating  to 
this  district  it  has  been  found  that  these  carucates  were  normally  dis- 
posed so  as  to  form  blocks  of  six  or  twelve.  This  theory  of  the  *  six 
carucate  unit '  was  first  set  forth  by  Mr.  Round  in  Feudal  England?  and 
the  opposition  between  the  *  duodecimal '  system  of  assessment  which 
prevailed  in  that  part  of  England  which  is  known  on  other  grounds  to 
have  been  subjected  to  '  Danish '  influence,  and  the  *  decimal '  system 
found  elsewhere  has  for  the  first  time  enabled  the  boundaries  of  the 
Danelaw  to  be  defined  with  something  like  exactitude.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  neither  the  carucate  nor  the  bovate  was  in  this  sense 
a  measure  of  area,  nor  even  when  we  read  of  acres  in  connexion  with 
assessment  must  we  think  of  real  divisions  of  the  soil;  these  were  all 
purely  fiscal  terms,  the  bovate  being  divided  into  fifteen  parts  called 
acres,  and  the  carucate,  as  we  have  seen,  containing  eight  bovates.  The 
'  field  carucates '  actually  existing  on  the  land  bear  no  necessary  relation 
to  the  '  carucates  assessed  to  the  geld ' ;  the  number  of  the  latter  which 
a  county  was  reputed  to  contain  was  determined  not  by  its  acreage  but 
according  to  the  will  of  the  law-givers  of  the  country,  who  fixed  the 
fiscal  responsibility  of  each  shire  at  their  own  pleasure. 

The  assessment  of  the  Danelaw  can  most  conveniently  be  studied  in 
Lincolnshire  and  Leicestershire ;  for  one  reason  because  a  survey  of  each 
of  these  counties  made  under  Henry  I  has  come  down  to  us  and  throws 
much  light  upon  the  local  distribution  of  the  geld.  But  for  our  immediate 
purpose  it  is  more  important  to  note  that  in  proportion  to  their  area  Lin- 
colnshire and  Leicestershire  were  burdened  with  a  much  larger  number 
of  carucates  than  was  assigned  to  Derbyshire  and  Nottinghamshire. 
Now  the  unequal  rating  of  the  several  counties  of  the  Danelaw  certainly 
deserves  mention  in  any  account  of  this  subject,  as  it  affected  the  assessment 
of  the  whole  district  in  every  stage  of  its  subpartionment.  Thus  Leicester- 
shire and  Nottinghamshire  each  contained  about  270  vills  surveyed  in 
Domesday,  but  whereas  the  former  seems  to  have  paid  geld  on  2,500 
carucates,8  which  would  give  an  average  of  over  nine  to  each  vill,  the  latter 
only  paid  on  567  carucates,  representing  an  average  of  about  two  per  vill. 
Hence  while  cases  of  rating  at  six  or  more  carucates  may  be  noted  on 
every  page  of  the  Leicestershire  survey,  they  are  extremely  rare  in  this 
county.  On  the  other  hand,  the  assessment  of  vills  at  1 2  bovates  or 
3  carucates  is  very  characteristic  of  Nottinghamshire,  and  these  are  just 
the  figures  in  which  we  should  expect  the  fiscal  liability  of  the  local 

1  Feudal  England,  79,  et  seqq. 

1  Leicestershire  statistics  are  complicated  by  the  peculiar  '  hide '  of  that  county,  but  in  any  case  its 
assessment  as  expressed  in  carucates  was  extremely  high. 

208 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

groups  to  be  expressed  on  a  duodecimal  system  of  repartition  in  view  of 
the  favourable  treatment  which  the  county  as  a  whole  received  in  the 
apportionment  of  the  geld. 

We  may  now  proceed  to  the  assessment  of  our  county  in  detail, 
remembering  always  that  the  unit  of  taxation  was  not  the  '  manor  '  but  the 
vill,  for  in  Nottinghamshire  the  two  were  rarely  identical  even  at  the  date 
of  the  survey.  Beginning  with  Broxtow  wapentake  we  may  note  the 
following  as  instances  of  assessment  at  3  carucates  :  Toton,  Beeston, 
Lenton  (i  +  J+2),  Radford,  Sutton  Passeys  (ij+ij),  Trowell 
(iJ+i  +  J  +  i),  and  probably  Bramcote  (|1  +  J  +  2).  Cossall  (l  +  l), 
Strelley  (t  +  i  +  l),  and  '  Mortune '  stand  at  ij  carucates  each,  all  these 
places  lying  west  of  Nottingham  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  Trent 
and  Erewash.  To  the  immediate  north  of  them  occurs  a  curious  belt 
of  small  vills  such  as  Bilborough,  Awsworth,  Kimberley,  Nuthall, 
Greasley,  Eastwood,  and  Brinsley,  which  are  assessed  at  only  i  carucate 
or  less  each,  and  therefore  do  not  illustrate  any  system,  while  the  north 
of  the  wapentake  was  occupied  by  the  king's  great  manor  of  Mansfield; 
but  across  the  Leen  we  find  Arnold  and  Papplewick  (2! +  f)  rated  at 
3  carucates  each,  with  Linby  near  Papplewick  and  Kirkby  in  Ashfield 
further  west  (li  +  i)  both  answering  for  ij  carucates.  On  passing  the 
water-parting  of  the  Erewash  and  Idle  into  Bassetlaw  wapentake  we 
find,  lying  along  the  road  from  Mansfield  to  Tickhill,  Warsop,  Cuckney 
(1  +  2),  and  Worksop  assessed  at  3  carucates;  Mattersey  in  the  extreme 
north  of  the  county  (ii  +  i),  Bothamsall,  Elkesley  (J  +  J  +  J),  Houghton, 
Tuxford,  and  Ruffbrd  standing  at  ij  carucates  each.  In  the  adjoining 
wapentake  of  '  Lide '  occur  Kneesall  with  Kersall,  Winkburn,  Hocker- 
ton  (i+i+f),  and  Norwell  rated  at  ij  carucates;  Averham,  Cromwell 
(1+2|),  and  Sutton  upon  Trent  (2f  +  £  +  J)  at  3. 

Crossing  the  Greet  into  Thurgarton  wapentake,  the  assessments  at 
first  sight  appear  so  unintelligible  that  it  may  be  well  to  set  them  forth 
in  tabular  form  : — 

Carucates       Bovates  Team-lands 

Southwell  with  berewicks       .      .  22  4  24 

Rolleston 4  4  9 

Thurgarton 3  3  6 

Gunthorpe 3  3  6 

Lambley 2  2  3 

Oxton 2  2  6 

Hoveringham 2  2  4 

Staythorpe I  I  2 

Blidworth I  I  3 

To  these  instances  we  may  add  that  one  manor  in  Bulcote  and  another  in 
Fiskerton  were  each  assessed  at  2  carucates,  2  bovates.  Now  the  highest 
common  factor  which  can  underlie  all  these  figures  is  the  strange  sum  of 
9  bovates,  a  unit  which  seems  absolutely  confined  to  this  wapentake. 
What  the  meaning  of  this  curious  system  may  be,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  say,  and  the  difficulty  is  not  lessened  by  the  fact  that  two  of  the  above 

1  Possibly  the  figure  here  is  '  v '  not  '  vi '  (bovates). 
t  209  27 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

instances  result  from  the  addition  of  fractional  assessments,  the  details  of 
which  are  meaningless  by  themselves  and  by  no  means  well  adapted  to  a 
convenient  payment  of  the  geld. 


Archbishop  of  York. 
Bishop  of  Bayeux 
Walter  de  Aincurt 

Total 


Rolleston 

Car. 

Bov.      Team-lands 

•k. 

.       O 
.       2 

4$                 X 

4i           6 

.       I 

3^                2 

Oxton 


Archbishop  of  York 
Roger  de  Busli    . 
Walter  de  Aincurt  . 

Total 


Car.      Bov.  Team-lands 
06  2 

i       o  ai 

o      4 


ii 

6 


Moreover  in  contrast  to  these  fractional  assessments  it  is  important 
to  note  that  in  seven  out  of  the  above  nine  cases  the  number  of  '  team- 
lands  '  is  integral  and  '  duodecimal '  in  character.  As,  with  the  exception 
of  Calverton  which  was  assessed  at  ij  carucates,1  the  above  table  includes 
every  vill  in  the  wapentake  the  assessment  of  which  can  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  its  neighbours,  the  recurrence  of  this  nine-bovate  unit  cannot 
well  be  regarded  as  accidental.  Whatever  its  origin  it  strikingly 
differentiates  the  assessment  of  this  particular  district  from  that  of  the 
rest  of  the  shire,  and  illustrates  the  solidarity  of  the  wapentake  in  matters 
of  taxation. 

South-east  of  the  Trent  it  is  more  difficult  to  detect  the  influence  of 
any  system  of  assessment.  The  subdivision  of  vills  was  carried  much 
further  in  the  open  land  of  the  vale  of  Belvoir  and  the  Nottinghamshire 
wolds  than  in  the  largely  afforested  north  and  west  of  the  shire,  with 
the  result  that  the  assessment  of  the  former  district  is  far  more  compli- 
cated than  that  of  the  latter.  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  several  frac- 
tions of  villar  assessment  do  not  work  out  so  well  as  might  be  expected 
into  even  duodecimal  totals,  and  we  possess  for  this  county  no  clue  to  the 
system  by  which  vills  were  combined  in  roundly  assessed  fiscal  groups, 
although  by  analogy  with  Lincolnshire  and  Leicestershire  we  know  that 
such  a  principle  must  have  been  in  operation.2  And  another  difficulty 
which  should  not  be  ignored  lies  in  the  fact  that  many  of  these  southern 
assessments  are  expressed  in  very  small  fractions  involving  thirds,  quarters, 
and  fifths  of  a  bovate.  Now  Mr.  Round  has  shown  that  for  some  reason 
or  other  the  compilers  of  Domesday  were  not  very  careful  in  recording 
minute  fractions  of  assessment,3  a  failing  which  at  once  introduces  an 
element  of  doubt  into  our  calculations.  It  so  happens  that  in  the  one 
case  in  which  the  assessment  of  a  Nottinghamshire  vill  is  recorded  in 
another  document  than  Domesday  we  find  a  divergence  between  the  two. 
In  Domesday,  Collingham  is  rated  at  4  carucates,  oj  bovate  ;  in  the 
Black  Book  of  Peterborough  it  stands  for  4  carucates,  of  bovate.*  Here 
the  discrepancy  is  so  small  that  it  gives  us  no  reason  to  suppose  a  fresh 
assessment  to  have  taken  place,  but  it  is  quite  enough  to  suggest  that 

1  It  is  probable  that  this  is  only  an  apparent  exception,  for  Salterford,  which  is  in  the  modern 
parish  of  Calverton  was  rated  at  6  bovates,  so  that  the  combined  assessment  of  both  places  would  stand 
at  2  carucates,  2  bovates. 

8  See  Feudal  England,  75-81.  3  Feudal  England,  1 6-2 1 . 

'  Chrm.  Petroburgense  (Camden  Soc.),  159. 

210 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

the  Domesday  figures  may  not  be  infallible.  It  will  be  evident  that  a 
very  small  margin  of  error  in  the  figures  themselves  would  make  the  task 
of  their  combination  into  duodecimal  totals  impossible  for  us. 

For  all  this  we  can  trace  a  number  of  assessments  of  the  normal 
type  in  the  southern  half  of  our  county  beginning  with  Wysall  (3  caru- 
cates), on  the  Leicester  border,  and  continuing  through  Bradmore, 
Plumtree,  Normanton  on  the  Wolds  (f  +  T\  +  T\),  i£  carucates  each, 
Cotgrave  6  (2  +  1  +  3)  and  Edwalton  (f  +  })  i£,  to  the  Trent  at  Wil- 
ford,  3,  West  Bridgford,  Adbolton  (I  +  I),  Holme  Pierrepont,  ij  each, 
RadclifFe  on  Trent,  3  carucates  (ii  +  ij),  Saxondale,  and  Newton 
(I  +  ii),  i£  carucates  each.  Lying  apart  from  this  group  occurs  Orston, 
3  carucates,  and  away  in  Newark  wapentake  we  find  Girton  assessed  at  i  J. 

Lastly,  crossing  the  Trent  once  more  we  may  illustrate  the  possi- 
bilities of  the  combination  of  vills  by  setting  forth  the  very  neat  assess- 
ment of  North  and  South  Muskham  with  the  hamlet  of  Little  Carlton 
included  in  the  latter.  The  long  continued  association  of  these  three 
places,  which  occupy  a  corner  of  '  Lide '  wapentake  to  themselves,  makes 
it  very  probable  that  this  was  the  grouping  actually  employed  in  the 
distribution  of  the  geld. 

Car.  Bov.  Team-lands 

North  Muskham 

Archbishop  of  York      .          .          .          .14  (not  given) 

Peterborough  Abbey     ....      I      2  4 

'Uluric' o 

Sokeland      .          .          .  .  .  .      O 

'Tochi' 2 

Siward        .          .          .          .          .          .     o 

South  Muskham 

Archbishop  of  York      .          .          .          .4 

'Sortebrand'        .          .          .          .          .     O     _, 
Little  Carlton 

Sokeland  to  North  Muskham  .  o      i)  (not  given) 

We  shall  find  it  convenient  to  consider  in  connexion  with  assess- 
ment what  is  perhaps  the  most  difficult  problem  presented  by  the  Not- 
tinghamshire survey — the  relation  between  gelding  carucates,  plough- 
lands,  and  actual  plough-teams.  The  second  are  in  uniform  excess  of  the 
first,  but  the  third  are  so  greatly  in  excess  of  the  second  that  the 
question  whether  the  term  '  plough-land  '  bears  its  obvious  meaning  in 
this  county  has  seriously  to  be  faced.  This  has  attracted  the  attention 
of  Professor  Maitland,  who  says  : — 

To  interpret  the  steady  excess  of  teams  that  we  see  in  Nottingham  and  Derby 
is  not  easy.  We  can  hardly  suppose  that  the  jurors  are  confessing  that  they  employ 
a  superfluity  of  oxen.  Perhaps,  however,  we  may  infer  that  in  this  district  a  given 
area  of  land  will  be  ploughed  by  an  unusually  large  number  of  teams,  whereas  in 
Devon  and  Cornwall  a  given  area  will  be  ploughed,  though  intermittently,  by  an 
unusually  small  number.  In  every  way  the  contrast  between  Devon  and  Cornwall 
on  the  one  hand,  Lincoln,  Nottingham,  and  Derby  on  the  other,  is  strongly  marked.1 

Now  the  case  of  Nottinghamshire  stands  somewhat  apart  from  that 
of  its  neighbours  to  east  and  west.  In  Lincolnshire  there  seem  after  all 

1  Domesday  Book  and  Beyond,  427. 
211 


6-4 


4 

i 

4 

I2'0 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


to  be  more  plough-lands  than  teams,  and  these  two  quantities  approxi- 
mate pretty  closely  to  each  other  throughout  the  shire.  In  Derbyshire, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  plough-lands  keep  fairly  close  to  the  gelding 
carucates,  but  are  100  below  the  number  of  existing  teams.  The  pecu- 
liarity of  the  case  of  Nottinghamshire  is  that  while  the  teams  exceed  the 
plough-lands  by  736,  the  latter  are  688  in  excess  of  the  fiscal  units.  For  the 
sake  of  clearness,  we  may  express  these  figures  in  the  following  table  : — 


Lincolnshire 
Derbyshire 
Nottinghamshire  . 


Carucates 

4188 

679 

567 


Plough-lands 

•       5043 

762 

1255 


Teams 

4712 

862 

1991 : 


But  a  further  point  which  comes  out  strikingly  on  an  analysis  of 
the  survey  of  our  county  is  that  the  plough-lands,  like  the  carucates  of 
assessment,  tend  to  be  distributed  among  the  vills  according  to  a 
duodecimal  system.  Below  is  given  a  series  of  instances  arranged 
according  to  wapentakes  : — 


Rushdiffe 


Blngham 


Car. 

Bov. 

Ratcliffe  upon  Soar 

I 

2i 

Stanford  upon  Soar 

.       2 

4 

Barton  in  Fabis 

.       2 

3T\ 

Wilford        .      .      . 

•       3 

o 

Bunny 

.       2 

0 

Bonnington 

I 

I 

Wysall         .      .      . 

•     3 

o 

Plumtree 

i 

4 

Bradmore     . 

i 

4 

West  Bridgford 

i 

4 

Basset!aw 

Car. 

Bov. 

Dunham    and    '  bere- 

wicks' 

•     5 

4 

Gamston  upon  Idle 

i 

I 

Elkesley 

i 

4 

Cuckney 

•     3 

o 

Boughton     . 

o 

6 

Grove     .... 

o 

A 

Finningley  . 

.     o 

T 

6 

Ossington    . 

.       0 

6 

Stokeham 

.     o 

6fi 

Bilby      .... 

.     o 

Plough- 
lands     Teams 


12 

9 
6 

6 
6 

3 
3 
3 


12 

6 

Si 

9 
9 

4 
6 

9 
3 
4 


Whatton 

Shelford 

Bingham 

Staunton 

Barnston 

Radcliffe 

Bassingfield 

Clipstone 

Scarrington 


Mansfield   and 

wicks' 
Trowell 
Arnold 
Radford 
Stapleford 
Cossall 
'  Mortune ' 
Annesley 
Teversall 


Plougb 

L- 

Car. 

Bov. 

lands 

Teams 

.... 

2 

4 

9 

12 

e 

•} 

Q 

IO 

J 

4 

o 

7 

6 

'7* 

. 

2 

i| 

6 

8 

. 

I 

of 

6 

9* 

upon  Trent  . 

3 

o 

6 

IO 

eld        ... 

2 

o 

3 

4 

3 

o 

3 

8 

on        ... 

2 

o 

3 

72 

'ierrepont  . 

I 

4 

3 

7 

Broxtow 


Car.     Bov. 


Plough- 
lands    Teams 


'here- 


....     3 

6 

9 

2l£ 

....     3 

o 

3 

8 

o 

8 

0 

o 

6 

d    ....     2 

6 

3 

9 

i 

I  i- 

ie'.     .     .     .     i 

4 

xi 

ii 

f     ....     i 

0 

I2L 

8 

1       ....       0 

6 

!£ 

5i 

Thurgarton 

Car.    Bov. 

Southwell   and  '  bere- 

wicks '  ....  22  4 
Rolleston  ....  4  4 
Gunthorpe  ••••33 
Thurgarton  •••33 

Oxton 22 

Lambley      ....     2     2 
Blidworth  i      i 


-Udt' 


Plough- 
lands 

Teams 

Norwell  . 

Car. 
I 

Bov. 

Plough- 
lands    T 

6 

earns 

Q 

24 

9 
6 
6 
6 

3 
3 

90 
10} 
20 

8 
6 

2 

Lax  ton  . 
Averham 
Bilsthorpe    . 
Marnham     . 
Winkburn  . 
Willoughby 

•     3 
•     •     3 

.       2 
.       .       2 

I 
.     .     o 

O 
0 
0 

6| 
4 
5 

6 
6 
6 
6 

3 

7 

6 
6 

9 

2 

Professor  Maitland's  figures. 


212 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

Now  in  face  of  these  tables  it  seems  as  if  our  choice  can  only  lie  between 
three  possible  alternatives.  Either  the  recurrence  of  these  duodecimal 
figures  is  accidental,  or  the  jurors  habitually  employed  a  duodecimal 
method  of  reckoning  in  stating  the  agricultural  possibilities  of  their  vills, 
or  else  we  have  in  these  figures  fragments  of  an  obsolete  system  of  assess- 
ment as  conventional  as  that  which  prevailed  in  the  distribution  of 
gelding  carucates.  The  first  suggestion  seems  impossible — the  above 
tables  account  for  20  per  cent,  of  the  total  number  of  vills  in  the 
county,  and  as  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  remainder  are  either  surveyed 
in  connexion  with  other  vills  or  else,  through  inadvertence  on  the  part 
of  the  scribes,  are  not  assigned  any  plough-lands  in  the  survey,  the 
proportion  of  duodecimal  figures  seems  much  too  high  to  be  the  result 
of  chance.  The  second  conclusion  also  is  improbable  ;  we  find  no  traces 
of  such  a  habit  of  reckoning  elsewhere.  The  third  possibility,  unlikely  as 
it  may  seem  at  first,  is  greatly  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  '  plough- 
land  '  in  Northamptonshire  and  Rutland  has  been  proved  to  be  a  con- 
ventional quantity.  The  above  tables  in  fact  strikingly  resemble  those 
given  by  Mr.  Round  in  the  Victoria  History  of  Northamptonshire,  of  the 
assessment  of  Rutland,  and  of  the  hundreds  of  Nassaburgh  and  Willey- 
brook,  Northants,1  not  only  in  the  steady  excess  of  the  plough-lands 
over  the  carucates,  but  also  in  the  fact  that  no  constant  ratio  can  be 
discovered  between  these  two  quantities.  Nor  must  we  forget  that  at 
the  time  of  Domesday  Rutland  was  closely  associated  for  fiscal  purposes 
with  Nottinghamshire,  to  the  survey  of  which  its  own  account  is 
appended,3  while  the  Rutland  evidence  further  reminds  us  that  figures 
which  do  not  imply  a  duodecimal  system  of  reckoning  may  nevertheless 
be  combined  into  groups  based  on  this  principle.  After  all  this,  it  seems 
that  we  shall  be  fairly  safe  in  saying  that  the  possibility  of  the  Not- 
tinghamshire plough-land  being  an  obsolete  fiscal  term  ought  to  be 
kept  in  mind  in  any  future  discussion  of  this  unit. 

We  may  now  briefly  recapitulate  the  main  conclusions  suggested  by 
the  Nottinghamshire  assessment.  We  have  seen  that  the  county  as  a 
whole  was  very  leniently  treated  in  the  general  distribution  of  the  '  geld,' 
and  that  this  produced  a  correspondingly  low  assessment  of  individual 
vills,  so  that  the  fiscal  units  characteristic  of  the  shire  are  of  3  or  ij  caru- 
cates instead  of  the  1 2  or  6  carucate  groups  which  prevailed  in  Lincoln- 
shire and  Leicestershire.  It  has  been  shown  that  this  normal  system 
of  rating  is  displaced  in  Thurgarton  wapentake  by  a  very  peculiar  series 
of  assessments  seemingly  based  upon  a  '  unit '  of  9  bovates,  and  that  in  the 
south  of  the  county  the  extreme  subdivision  of  vills  places  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  our  reconstructing  the  total  villar  assessments.  Lastly,  we 
have  seen  that  the  plough-lands  of  Nottinghamshire  show  distinct  traces  of 
a  duodecimal  system  of  distribution  as  artificial  as  that  which  prevailed  in 
the  apportionment  of  assessment  carucates,  which  connects  the  terrae 
carucis  of  our  county  with  the  conventional  plough-lands  of  Rutland 
and  North  Northamptonshire. 

1  V.  C.  H.  'Northants,  i,  266-268.  *  See  below,  p.  240. 

213 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

First  in  order  among  the  landowners  of  Nottinghamshire  stands  the 
king,  the  extent  of  whose  possessions  may  be  gathered  from  the  Domes- 
day map.  Stretching  across  some  sixty  vills  they  were  in  fact  almost 
entirely  grouped  as  '  sokeland,'  or  '  berewicks,'  round  the  five  great 
manors  of  Dunham,  Bothamsall,  Mansfield,  Arnold,  and  Orston,  all  of 
which  stand  out  conspicuously  in  the  feudal  history  of  the  shire. 
Bothamsall,  the  least  important  of  the  five,  had  belonged  to  Earl  Tostig 
of  Northumbria  ;  the  rest  had  formed  part  of  the  demesne  of  Edward 
the  Confessor;  while  on  the  Leicestershire  border,  apart  from  this  group, 
the  king  had  reserved  to  himself  '  Neubold  '  (in  Kinoulton)  and  Upper 
Broughton,  previously  belonging  to  the  house  of  Leofric  of  Mercia.1  The 
centre  of  his  territory  in  our  county,  however,  consisted  of  the  large 
manor  of  Mansfield  with  its  dependent  '  sokeland.'  The  latter  lay  in 
two  blocks,  one  extending  from  Mansfield  itself  along  the  Maun, 
Meden,  and  Poulter,  to  the  border  of  the  '  soke '  of  Bothamsall  which 
lay  along  the  Idle  ;  the  other  scattered  over  the  north-eastern  division  of 
the  county,  the  '  Oswardbeck  wapentake '  of  Domesday.  The  northern 
group  of  sokeland  maintained  its  unity  as  '  Oswardbeck  Soke  '  right 
through  the  Middle  Ages  ;  the  western  group  is  interesting  because  it 
included  just  that  district  which  is  now  known  as  Shirewood  forest — 
the  northern  half  of  the  forest  as  it  is  defined  in  mediaeval  '  perambu- 
lations.'2 We  have  no  proof  of  any  afforestation  in  our  county  before 
the  Pipe  Roll  of  1 130,  when  William  Peverel  answers  de  placitis  forestae? 
but  it  is  distinctly  probable  that  the  king  in  keeping  this  region  in  his 
own  hands  may  have  had  an  eye  to  its  sporting  possibilities. 

The  ecclesiastical  history  of  these  manors  is  unusually  clear.  In 
1093  William  Rufus  gave  to  Robert  Bloet,  the  newly-appointed  bishop 
of  Lincoln,  the  churches  of  Mansfield  and  Orston,  '  with  the  chapels 
which  are  in  the  berewicks  belonging  to  the  said  manors,' 4  a  grant 
which  is  interesting  as  showing  the  relationship  between  a  manor  and  its 
berewicks  reproduced  in  the  ecclesiastical  sphere  in  the  distinction 
between  a  '  church  '  and  its  (dependent)  chapels.  Domesday  mentions  a 
church  as  existing  at  Mansfield  and  Orston,  and  so  late  as  i79oThrosby, 
in  his  edition  of  Thoroton,  says,  '  The  church  (of  Orston)  is  reputed  the 
mother-church  of  Scarrington,  Thoroton,  and  part  of  Staunton,'  three  of 
the  dependencies  of  Orston  in  io86.6  Henry  I  gave  Dunham  church 
to  Archbishop  Thurstan  of  York,  who  made  of  it  a  prebend  in  his  church 
of  Southwell,6  where  it  still  gives  a  title  to  an  honorary  canon  ;  and 
Henry  II,  between  1154  and  1158,  added  the  church  of  Arnold  to  the 
donations  which  he  confirmed  to  Laund  Priory,  Leicestershire.7 

1  Probably  Upper  Broughton,  Notts.,  and  Nether  Broughton,  Leic.,  had  originally  formed  one 
estate,  for  the  former  had  belonged  to  Earl  jElfgar,  of  Mercia,  and  the  latter  to  Earl  Morcar,  of  North- 
umbria, his  son. 

1  See  the  perambulation  of  Shirewood  forest  in  the  time  of  Henry  III  given  in  Select  Pleas  of  the 
Forest  (Selden  Society). 

'  Pipe  Roll  31  Henry  I  (Rec.  Com.)  «  Men.  Anff.  viii,  1271. 

5  Hist,  of  Nottinghamshire,  1790,  224. 

6  Man.  Angl.  viii,  1314.  '  Man.  Angl.  vi,  189. 

214 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

At  the  end  of  the  account  of  the  king's  land  come  a  number  of 
miscellaneous  entries  relating  to  Flintham,  the  former  possession  of  one 
'  Elwin,'  Kneeton,  Sneinton,  Meering,  and  Misson.  The  latter  is  an 
interesting  vill,  for  three  of  the  parcels  into  which  it  was  divided  were 
appendages  of  manors  outside  our  county.  The  king  possessed  3  J  bovates 
there,  over  three  of  which  the  '  soke '  belonged  to  Kirton-in-Lindsey, 
while  the  remaining  half  bovate  is  said  to  '  lie '  in  '  Lestone,'  and  to  be 
held  by  '  Guy,'  and  by  '  Alfred  '  under  him.  '  Lestone '  is  Laughton 
near  Gainsborough  (Lines.),  and  we  may  safely  recognize  our  Misson 
tenants  in  Guy  '  de  Credun,'  the  owner  of  Laughton,  and  Alfred  his  man 
who  held  of  him  there.1  Of  the  other  vills,  Meering  before  the  Conquest 
had  been  held  by  a  certain  William  who  is  not  otherwise  distinguished. 
But  immediately  across  the  Trent  from  Meering  lies  Sutton  upon  Trent, 
of  which  the  previous  owner  is  given  as  '  William  the  son  of  Scelward,' 
and  in  view  of  the  rarity  of  the  name  William  before  the  Conquest, 
and  of  the  contiguity  of  these  two  places,  we  shall  hardly  be  wrong 
in  assuming  the  identity  of  their  former  possessors.  The  case  of 
Sneinton  will  be  discussed  later.8 

The  valuations  of  the  more  important  royal  manors  deserve  con- 
sideration in  connexion  with  the  very  difficult  question  of  the  Domes- 
day valet.  Of  Dunham  we  read  :  '  In  King  Edward's  time  it  rendered 
£30  and  6  sestiers  of  honey,  now  £20  with  all  things  that  belong 
there.'  Here  the  sum  named  is  evidently  that  which  was  actually 
received  for  the  manor,  and  the  same  must  be  the  case  at  Arnold,  which 
is  said  in  King  Edward's  time  to  have  been  worth  (valebat]  £4  ar>d 
2  sestiers  of  honey,  for  no  one  would  express  a  valuation  in  the  modern 
sense  in  terms  of  pounds  and  honey.  Similarly  the  phrase  used  at 
Orston, '  it  was  worth  £30  by  tale '  (adnumerum),  points  to  a  rent  received 
rather  than  to  an  estimate  of  potential  revenue,  and  should  be  compared 
with  the  Lincolnshire  formulas  valebat  .  .  .  cum  pondere  et  arsione  or 
cum  pensioned  Outside  the  royal  demesne  we  find  one  clear  instance  of 
rent  at  Newark  of  which  we  read  :  '  In  King  Edward's  time  it  rendered 
£50,  now  (it  renders)  £34  '  ;  and  a  probable  instance  at  Southwell  which 
had  been  worth  (va/e&at)  £4°>  but  had  risen  to  £40  r  $s.  Such  round 
figures  as  £40,  £30,  £$o,  when  applied  to  large  and  heterogeneous 
manors  suggest  that  the  latter  have  been  '  farmed '  or  set  to  rent  as  single 
wholes,  and  here  we  may  see  at  least  a  partial  explanation  of  the  fact 
that  no  value  is  usually  assigned  to  '  sokeland  '  in  our  county  ;  at  Newark 
and  on  the  royal  manors  quoted  above  its  proceeds  must  be  in- 
cluded in  the  rent  received  from  the  whole  manorial  group.  There  is 
much  in  Domesday  Book  to  suggest  that  historical  economists  have 
generally  underestimated  the  play  of  monetary  forces  in  the  eleventh 
century.4 

1  Dom.  Bk.,  f.  367.  !  See  below,  p.  245. 

3  These  formulas  are  found  on  the   royal  demesne  at  Kirkby  Laythorpe,  Kime,  Boothby  Pagnell, 
and  Wellingore. 

*  See  for  the  Domesday  'valet '  r.  C.  H.  Essex,  i,  364. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

In  most  counties  the  compilers  of  the  survey,  after  describing  the 
king's  land,  pass  at  once  to  the  estates  of  the  ecclesiastical  tenants- 
in-chief  within  the  shire,  but  here  this  rule  of  precedence  is  not 
observed.  Two  folios  are  devoted  to  the  king's  land,  after  which  a  folio 
is  left  blank,  and  then  the  survey  deals  with  the  three  lay  tenants  of 
comital  rank  within  the  county — Earl  Hugh  of  Chester,  and  Counts  Alan 
of  Richmond  and  Robert  of  Mortain.  The  survey  of  Count  Alan's  land 
is  thrown  together  somewhat  carelessly.  His  manors  of  Sibthorpe, 
Sutton  upon  Trent,  Ruddington,  Kneeton,  and  Treswell  follow  each  other 
in  column,  his  holdings  in  Syerston,  Carlton  upon  Trent,  and  South 
Leverton  ('  Cledretone  ')  being  described  in  the  margin.  The  account 
of  the  latter  place  runs  : — 

In   Cledretone   habuerunt  Godric   &  Ulmar    vii    bovatas   terrae  et  quintam   partem 

unius  bovatae  ad  geldum. 
Hanc  terram  tenuerunt  Alanus  comes  et  Rogerus  de  Busli  usque  nunc.  Terra  ii  carucis. 

Valet  xx  solidos. 

Now  on  f.  287  Roger  de  Busli  is  credited  with  an  estate  at  '  Cledretone' 
rated  at  3!  bovates,1  valued  at  los.  and  reputed  to  contain  i  'plough-land,' 
details  representing  exactly  half  of  this  place  as  it  is  described  under 
Count  Alan's  fief.  On  the  Busli  estate  '  half  a  church '  is  entered  and 
also  a  certain  amount  of  woodland  and  meadow  which  probably  belonged 
to  the  vill  as  a  whole,  for  we  are  told  '  hujus  silvae  et  prati  medietatem 
habet  Rogerus.'  Here  then  we  have  a  duplicate  entry  of  somewhat 
unusual  form,  and  the  explanation  is  probably  to  be  found  in  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  neighbouring  vill  of  Treswell,  which  also  was  divided  between 
the  same  two  tenants-in-chief  in  approximately  equal  proportions. 
Count  Alan's  share  had  belonged  to  a  certain  Ulmar,  and  Roger  de 
Busli's  to  one  Godric.  Now  '  Cledretone '  as  described  on  Count  Alan's 
land  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  Godric  and  Ulmar,  and  it  would  doubt- 
less be  the  latter's  portion  only  which  passed  to  Count  Alan,  although  the 
details  of  assessment  and  value  given  as  referring  to  his  land  refer  to  both 
shares.  In  the  Robert  de  Mosters  who  held  Treswell  of  the  count  we  have 
one  of  the  earliest  recorded  bearers  of  a  surname  well  known  in  Notting- 
hamshire history,  whose  descendants  continued  to  hold  land  in  that  vill  of 
the  honour  of  Richmond  down  to  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  He  was 
doubtless  the  Robert  de  Musters  who  granted  land  to  Count  Alan's  new 
foundation  of  St.  Mary's  abbey,  York.2  Another  of  the  count's  tenants 
deserving  mention  is  the  Hervey  (a  characteristically  Breton  name)  who 
held  Sutton  upon  Trent,  for  the  name  reappears  in  connexion  with  Sutton 
under  Henry  II.3 

In  contrast  to  the  string  of  undistinguished  men  who  had  preceded 
Count  Alan,  all  Earl  Hugh's  manors  in  this  county  had  belonged  to  a 
certain  Harold  in  whom,  though  he  is  mentioned  in  our  survey  without  any 
note  of  rank,  we  must  recognize  no  less  a  person  than  the  former  earl  of 

1  'iii  bov1-  terrae  et  dim"1  et  medietatem  quintae  partis  unius  bovate.' 

1  Men.  Angl.  iii,  532.  *  Vide  Pipe  Roll,  22  Henry  II  (Pipe  Roll  Sac.),  95. 

216 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

Wessex  and  king.  In  Lincolnshire  and  Leicestershire  also  Earl  Hugh 
appears  as  the  successor  of  Harold,  whose  Leicestershire  estates  of 
Barrow  upon  Soar,  Loughborough  (probably), and  Kegworth  are  connected 
geographically  with  the  manors  of  Kingston,  Sutton  Bonnington,  and 
Normanton,  which  he  had  held  on  the  Nottinghamshire  bank  of  the 
Soar.  With  the  exception  of  a  one-bovate  manor  at  Newthorpe  in 
Broxtow  wapentake  all  the  possessions  of  the  count  of  Mortain  lay  in 
the  south-western  corner  of  our  county,  and  had  belonged  to  an  English- 
man named  '  Stori.'  The  name  occurs  several  times  elsewhere  in  the 
Danelaw,  but  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  it  refers  to  the  same  man 
in  every  case.1 

Of  much  greater  interest  are  the  estates  of  the  archbishop  of  York, 
which  occupy  the  next  folio  of  the  survey  and  still  maintain  their 
individuality  as  the  Liberty  of  Southwell  and  Scrooby.  It  is  important 
to  note  that  the  collegiate  church  of  Southwell,  the  one  religious  house 
which  our  county  possessed  in  Anglo-Saxon  times,  like  its  sister  churches 
of  York  (St.  Peter's),  Beverley,  and  Ripon,  does  not  appear  in  the  survey 
as  holding  in  chief  of  the  crown.  The  intimate  and  historical  connexion 
which  existed  between  the  archbishop  of  York  and  his  four  great 
'  colleges '  of  secular  canons  caused  the  latter  to  be  represented  as  holding 
of  him,  and  the  lands  appropriated  to  them  to  be  entered  among  his 
estates.  First  among  the  latter  stands  the  great  manor  of  Southwell 
itself,  the  elaborate  description  of  which  deserves  careful  study.  We  are 
first  given  the  assessment  of  the  whole  manor  with  its  berewicks,  which 
we  have  seen  to  be  rated  at  22 £  carucates  and  24  plough-lands.  Then 
follows  a  description  of  that  part  of  the  manor  which  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  archbishop,  after  which  we  are  told  that  six  knights  hold  4^  caru- 
cates of  this  land,  three  clerks  hold  ij,  of  which  2  bovates  are  in  a 
prebend,  and,  a  unique  entry  for  our  county,  two  Englishmen  (Anglicf) 
hold  3  carucates,  5  bovates.  These  three  parcels  of  the  manor  are  then 
described  one  after  the  other  and  the  total  result  deserves  to  be  set  out 
in  detail  :  — 


Demesne       Villein 
Car.  Bov.        Teams          Teams        Sokemen       Villeins        Bordars 


Archbishop's  land          .      (not  stated)  10  37  10             75  23 

Knights'  lands     ..44              7  21  35  28 

Clerks'  lands       ..14              !?  3  7  5 

Englishmen's  land                  3     5              4  6£  20  6 

Lastly  we  have  an  account  of  the  appurtenances  of  the  manor  in  meadows 
and  woodlands,  together  with  a  very  unusual  entry  of  '  arable  land, 
5  leagues  in  length  and  3  in  breadth.'  Domesday  so  rarely  expresses 
arable  land  in  terms  of  lineal  measure  that  we  ought  to  work  out  the 
relation  which  these  figures  bear  to  the  number  of  plough-lands  recorded 
for  the  whole  manor,  though,  if  we  are  wise,  we  shall  not  hope  for  any 
very  intelligible  result,  especially  in  view  of  the  possibility  that  the 
Nottinghamshire  plough-land  was,  after  all,  a  conventional  quantity.  As 

1  See  V.  C.  H.  Bedfordshire,  i,  203  ;  V.  C.  H.  Derbyshire,  \,  304. 
I  217  28 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

a  matter  of  fact  we  arrive  by  this  process  at  an  average  for  the  Southwell 
terra  carucae,  which  is  simply  inconceivable  on  any  theory  of  the  acreage  of 
the  plough-land.  On  the  Eytonian  equation  of  1 2  furlongs  to  the  leuca 
the  above  land  would  contain  21,600  acres,  which  divided  among  the 
24  Southwell  plough-lands  would  give  us  an  average  of  no  less  than 
900  acres  to  the  plough-land.  Even  if  we  adopt  Mr.  Round's  suggestion 
of  8  furlongs  to  the  '  league,'  we  shall  have  an  average  of  600  acres  to 
account  for.  Nor  can  we  obtain  relief  by  assuming  that  while  the  state- 
ment about  '  arable  land '  relates  to  the  whole  manor  the  number  of 
plough-lands  only  refers  to  part  of  it  ;  the  latter  is  given  in  connexion 
with  the  assessment  figures,  and  undoubtedly  refers  to  the  whole.  Probably 
there  does  not  occur  elsewhere  in  Domesday  so  violent  a  discrepancy 
between  recorded  area  and  estimated  plough-lands x ;  a  discrepancy  in  our 
case  which  no  allowance  reasonably  to  be  made  for  the  uncertainty  of  early 
lineal  measurements  will  reduce  to  workable  proportions.  On  the  other 
hand  if  we  use  for  our  divisor  the  number  (90)  of  actual  teams  existing 
on  the  manor  we  shall  be  able  (on  Mr.  Round's  equation  of  8  furlongs 
=  i  league)  to  assign  an  average  of  160  acres  to  each  team;  a  sufficiently 
neat  quotient,  but  one  which  only  throws  up  the  artificiality  of  the 
plough-lands  into  stronger  relief. 

Of  course  the  population  enumerated  in  the  above  table  is  much  too 
large  to  be  contained  in  any  one  rural  manor,  and  Domesday,  after  its 
statement  of  value,  tells  us  that  '  in  Southwell  there  are  reckoned  (numer- 
antur]  twelve  berewicks.'  Now  we  possess  a  copy  of  a  charter  dated 
958  which  purports  to  be  a  grant  by  King  Eadwig  to  (arch) bishop 
Oskytel  (of  York)  of  20  cassates  of  land  at  Southwell.3  This  charter 
is  more  than  probably  spurious,  but  it  contains  a  list  of  the  lands  belong- 
ing to  Southwell  which,  whether  the  document  be  genuine  or  not, 
represents  the  earliest  statement  of  the  constituent  vills  of  the  manor 
which  has  come  down  to  us,  and  it  may  accordingly  be  used  to  illustrate 
the  Domesday  text.  These  lands  are  said  to  be  Halloughton,  Upton, 
Halam,  Bleasby,  Goverton,  Gibsmere,  Fiskerton,  Morton,  Normanton, 
Farnsfield,  and  Kirklington,  all  of  which  at  the  present  day  form  part  of  the 
manor  of  Southwell.  Here  we  account  for  eleven  of  our  twelve  unnamed 
berewicks,  the  first  four  of  which  are  not  mentioned  in  Domesday  at  all, 
while  Upton  only  comes  in  incidentally  under  Rolleston.  Parts  of  the 
other  berewicks  which  lay  outside  the  archbishop's  land  are  described  in 
due  course,  but  in  every  case  but  one  the  soke  over  them  is  said  to 
belong  to  Southwell.  This  one  exception  casually  reveals  a  fact  of 
considerable  importance,  for  on  Walter  de  Aincurt's  land  occurs  the 
entry  :  '  In  Farnsfield  Walter  has  two  bovates  of  land  assessed  to  the 

1  Compare  Domesday  Book  and  Beyond,  434,  where  a  number  of  other  instances  are  compared. 
The  arable  land  entered  at  Rolleston  (Staffs.),  Professor  Maitland's  extreme  example,  only  gives  360  acres 
to  the  team-land. 

Birch,  Cartul.  Sax,lO2<).  If  genuine,  this  would  be  a  highly  important  document,  for  it  distinctly 
asserts  that  the  archbishop  possessed  sac  and  soc  over  his  Southwell  estate.  But  the  text  is  very  corrupt, 
and  the  list  of  witnesses  seems  to  have  been  modelled  upon  the  attestations  to  the  charter  of  Edgar, 
which  precedes  it  in  the  Liber  Albus. 

218 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

geld.  One  is  in  the  soke  of  Southwell  and  the  other  is  the  king's,  but, 
nevertheless,  it  belongs  to  the  hundred  of  Southwell.'  Taken  simply 
these  words  would  seem  to  imply  that  the  soke  of  Southwell  and  the 
hundred  of  Southwell  were,  or  ought  to  be,  identical,  otherwise  there 
would  be  no  object  in  Domesday  pointedly  noting  an  exception  to  this 
arrangement.  If  this  were  so  it  would  give  us  a  welcome  clue  as  to  the 
composition  of  one  of  these  mysterious  Danelaw  '  hundreds.' 

The  statement  under  Southwell  that  2  bovates  were  '  in  a  prebend ' 
is  important  in  view  of  the  appropriation  of  capitular  revenues  to  par- 
ticular canons  which  it  implies,  for  such  cases  are  rare  in  Domesday.1 
We  shall  not  be  far  wrong  in  assigning  the  above  2  bovates  to  the 
prebend  of  Normanton,  for  this  was  the  only  one  of  the  early  prebends 
within  the  manor  of  Southwell  which  possessed  an  endowment  in  land. 
Other  manors  said  to  have  belonged  to  St.  Mary  of  Southwell  in  pre- 
Conquest  times  were  Cropwell  Bishop,  with  its  berewick  of  Hickling,  and 
Norwell,  with  its  soke  ;  and  we  may  note  that  away  in  east  Leicestershire 
Tilton  is  said  to  belong  to  the  alms  of  St.  Mary  of  Southwell.* 

Passing  now  to  the  lands  held  in  the  archbishop's  own  hand,  we  may 
recognize  the  northern  part  of  the  modern  liberty  of  Southwell  .and 
Scrooby  in  his  two  large  manors  of  Laneham  and  Sutton.  The  account 
of  the  former  gives  us  a  wholesome  caution  not  to  press  Domesday  termin- 
ology too  far.  It  runs  : — '  In  Lanun  cum  Berewitis  his  ....  novem 
carucatae  terrae  et  ii  bovatae  ad  geldum  ....  In  dominio  aulae  sunt 
x  bovatae  de  hac  terra.  Reliqua  est  soca.'  Here,  then,  although  all  the 
vills  dependent  on  Laneham  are  distinctly  described  as  '  berewicks,'  the 
whole  of  the  land  in  them  not  in  demesne  turns  out  to  be  '  sokeland.' 
The  phrase  dominio  aulae,  which  is  contrasted  with  soca,  is  unique  in 
Nottinghamshire  and  Derby,  and  not  very  common  elsewhere.  The 
manner  in  which  Laneham  is  surveyed  also  deserves  a  passing  notice.  First 
comes  the  archbishop's  own  portion  of  the  manor,  probably  consisting 
only  of  Laneham  itself;  then  we  read  of  the  sokemen,  villeins,  and  bordars 
holding  of  him  in  its  berewicks  ;  and,  lastly,  there  are  entered  33  soke- 
men, 6  villeins,  and  18  bordars,  with  the  curious  statement,  '  hos  cum 
terra  sua  tenent  ii°  milites  de  archiepiscopo.'  This  synthetical  method 
of  description,  as  applied  to  large  and  discrete  manors,  is  a  sort  of  com- 
promise between  the  usual  practice  of  entering  each  parcel  of  '  sokeland  ' 
separately  and  the  plan  of  merely  giving  a  string  of  villar  headings  with 
the  appropriate  assessments,  such  as  was  followed  in  the  account  of 
Mansfield.  The  appurtenances  of  the  manor  with  which  we  are  dealing 
extended  across  the  Trent  into  Lincolnshire,  for  in  the  Domesday  of 
that  county  the  archbishop  is  assigned  100  acres  of  meadow  'as  belonging 
to  Laneham  ' 

The  manor  of  Sutton  (with  Scrooby)  is  interesting,  because  the  York 
Liber  Albus  has  preserved  the  text  of  the  charter  by  which  Edgar  granted 

1  Another  instance  occurs  at  Stafford,  fol.  247^. 

1  This  probably  means  that  Tilton  joined  the  vills  of  Nottinghamshire  in   the   Pentecostal  offering 
which  the  latter  made  at  the  church  of  Southwell. 

219 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

it  to  Archbishop  Oskytel  of  York.  This  latter  seems  to  be  genuine,  and 
is  one  of  the  very  few  similar  documents  older  than  the  eleventh  century 
which  relate  to  the  Danelaw.1  Apart  from  this  the  manor,  the  sokeland  of 
which  is  only  described  in  abstract,  does  not  call  for  special  remark. 
Blidworth,  which  is  now  part  of  the  manor  of  Southwell,  stands  by  itself 
as  a  manor  in  Domesday,  with  parts  of  Calverton  and  Oxton  as  its 
dependencies.  Oxton,  indeed,  is  entered  as  a  separate  manerium,  desig- 
nated as  such  by  the  symbol  M  in  the  margin,  and  assigned  to  a  pre- 
Conquest  owner  '  Elnod.'  But  at  the  end  of  the  entry  we  read  '  the 
king  has  one  bovate  of  this  land,  the  rest  belongs  (iacet)  to  Blidworth.' 
Accordingly,  we  have  here  an  instance  of  one  manenum  dependent  on 
another. 

The  possessions  of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  all  lay  in  the  east  of  our 
county,  and  were  entirely  dominated  by  his  manor  of  Newark.  Although 
only  styled  a  manor  in  the  survey,  Newark  possessed  fifty-six  burgesses 
(whose  existence  is  only  revealed  to  us  through  an  interlineation),  and 
has,  presumably  on  this  account,  been  included  in  the  small  class  of 
boroughs  which  were  situated  on  private  land  in  io86.s  Whether  a 
borough  or  not  before  the  Conquest,  Newark  must  have  been  very  recently 
under  a  lord  of  comital  rank,  for  it  was  given,  together  with  Fledborough 
and  Well  wapentake,  Lincolnshire,  by  the  famous  Countess  Godeva,  wife 
of  Earl  Leofric  of  Mercia,  to  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  and  his  monastery  of 
Stow  in  Lindsey.3 

The  Conqueror  confirmed  the  grant/  and  Newark  became  a 
favourite  residence  of  the  bishops  of  Lincoln,  especially  after  the  founda- 
tion of  its  castle  by  Bishop  Alexander  (1123—1147).  But  to  the 
Domesday  student  the  chief  interest  of  Newark  will  consist  in  its  soke 
and  the  rights  which  the  bishops  of  Lincoln  possessed  over  it.  At  the 
time  of  the  survey  the  bishop  exercised  rights  of  jurisdiction  over  three 
wapen takes,  Newark,  and  Well  and  Lawress  in  Lincolnshire  ;  the 
first  two  being  in  virtue  of  the  above  grant  of  the  Countess  Godeva. 
However,  the  rights  conferred  over  Newark  were  not  quite  the  same  as 
those  which  the  bishop  enjoyed  over  his  two  Lincolnshire  wapentakes. 
Thus,  in  the  Lincolnshire  (West  Riding)  '  clamores,'  we  read  : — 

'  Super  forisfacturam   de  (Lagulris)          '  De   omnibus  tainis  qui  terrain  habent  in 

wapentac  hab(uit)  S.    Maria  ii   partes  Welle  wapentac    habet   S:  Maria  ii  partes  et 

soc(ae)  et  comes  terciam.     Nunc  Rex.  comes  terciam.     Similiter  de  heriete.     Simi- 

Similiter    de   heriete.       Et  si    terram  liter  si   terram  suam  forisfecissent  ii  partes  in 

suam  forisfecissent  S:  Maria  ii  partes  S:  Maria  et  terciam  partem  in  manu  comitis 

habuisset  et  comes  terciam.'  hunc  habet  rex.' 6 

The  grammar  of  these  passages  is  not  above  reproach,  but  we  can  see  that 
only  the  king's  two  pennies,   and  not  the  earl's  third  penny,    were  in 

1  Birch,  Cartul.  Sax.,  iii,  249  (not  in  Codex  Diplomaticus). 
'  Domesday  Book  and  Beyond,  213. 

3  See  the  documents  in  Man.  Angl.  iii,  under  the  heading  of  Eynsham  Priory. 
*  The  text  of  the  charter  is  preserved  in  the  Eynsham  Register,  which  will  shortly  be  published  by 
the  Oxford  Historical  Society. 
4Dom.  Bk.,  f.  376. 

220 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

the  bishop's  hand.  On  the  other  hand,  we  are  told  of  Newark  that  : — 
'  Ad  Newercke  adiacent  omnes  consuetudines  regis  et  comitis  de  ipso 
wapentac,'  and  this  distinction  is  borne  out  by  the  statement  on  folio 
280^,  that  the  Countess  Godeva  had  held  (over  Newark  wapentake)  not 
only  the  king's  two  pennies  but  the  earl's  third  penny  as  well.  From  a 
charter  of  Henry  I  we  learn  in  addition  that  Newark  was  only  reckoned 
as  a  'half  wapentake,  and,  accordingly,  that  only  two  men  were  to  be 
summoned  from  it  to  pleas  of  the  crown  and  the  shire  court.1 

This  district  is  interesting  for  another  reason.  Nottinghamshire  as  a 
whole,  was  very  far  indeed  from  being  a  fully  manorialized  county  ;  and  in 
Newark  wapentake,  or  at  least  in  that  strip  of  it  which  lay  between  the 
Lincolnshire  border  and  the  Trent,  the  process  which  was  always  creating 
the  villar-manorial  economy  seems  scarcely  to  have  begun  before  the 
Conquest.  Wholly  or  in  part  seventeen  vills  are  included  in  the  soke  of 
Newark,  the  population  of  which  is  given  by  Domesday  as  174  sokemen 
and  14  bordars,  not  a  single  villein  being  mentioned,  nor  any  hint  given 
of  the  existence  of  demesne.  The  conclusion  forces  itself  upon  us  that 
the  predecessors  of  these  sokemen  had  no  immediate  lord  below  the  king 
and  the  earl,  and  we  see  also  that  the  bishop's  rights  over  them  are 
essentially  connected  with  his  possession  of  the  wapentake  to  which 
they  belonged.  Moreover,  such  powers  as  he  possessed  can  hardly  have 
been  of  such  a  nature  as  to  affect  very  intimately  the  social  organization 
of  the  group.  Large  as  was  the  manor  of  Newark,  it  can  hardly  have 
called  for  any  very  onerous  agricultural  services  from  its  appurtenant 
sokemen  ;  it  had  42  villeins  of  its  own.  Probably  these  sokemen 
furnished  to  the  bishop  little  more  than  their  jurisdictional  and  fiscal 
profits,  such  as  the  '  heriot  '  and  '  forfeiture  '  of  which  our  Lincolnshire 
quotations  speak.  Something  similar  may  doubtless  be  said  of  those 
sokemen  of  Oswardbeck  wapentake  who  belonged  to  the  king's  manor  of 
Mansfield.  On  the  other  hand,  we  shall  shortly  see  an  instance  of  soke- 
land  united  to  its  manor  by  much  more  definite  and  stringent  ties.  No 
argument  could  well  be  more  unsafe  than  that  which  would  represent 
the  vague  and  obscure  bonds  which  so  often  connected  vill  with  vill  in 
our  county  to  have  been  even  approximately  the  same  in  all  cases. 

Even  apart  from  the  immediate  soke  of  Newark,  the  vills  of  the  wapen- 
take show  traces  of  extreme  subdivision  before  1066.  Clifton  upon  Trent, 
for  instance,  had  been  divided  into  five  manors,  Coddington  into  four  manors 
and  one  carucate  of  sokeland,  Hawton  into  sixteen  manors  and  three  dis- 
tinct parcels  of  sokeland.  Most  of  the  wapentake  was  held  by  the  bishop, 
and  had  come  to  him  from  numerous  small  owners.  One  of  the  latter, 
the  Agemund  who  had  possessed  i\  bovates  as  a  manor  in  Clifton,  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  same  under  the  bishop.  The  '  Arnegrim  '  who  was  a 
joint  tenant  at  Elston  can  safely  be  identified  with  the  man  of  the  same 
name  who  held  part  of  Sibthorpe  and  Elston  under  Ilbert  de  Lacy. 
These  two  vills  are  connected  in  another  way,  for  the  '  Pilewin  '  who  had 

1  Man.  Angl.  viii,  1272.      Rushcliffe  was  also  reckoned  as  a  'half  wapentake.'     Nomina  Villarum, 
printed  in  Parly.  Writs  (Rec.  Com.),  iv,  401. 

221 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

held  aj  bovates  in  Sibthorpe  which  had  passed  to  Ilbert  can  hardly  be 
other  than  the  '  Pilewin '  who  was  one  of  the  bishop's  predecessors 
in  Elston.  Across  the  Trent  in  Bassetlaw  wapentake  we  find  Fledborough 
and  Stokeham  in  the  bishop's  hands,  the  former  certainly,  and  the  latter  in 
all  probability,  as  the  gift  of  the  Countess  Godeva,  who  is  given  as  the 
former  owner  in  each  case,  though  Fledborough  only  is  mentioned  in  the 
writ  by  which  the  Conqueror  confirmed  her  grants.  One  other  bishop 
appears  among  the  tenants-in-chief  in  our  county  in  the  person  of  Odo  of 
Bayeux,  the  brother  of  the  count  of  Mortain,  and  half-brother  of  the 
Conqueror,  but  he  held  his  lands  in  his  lay  capacity  only,  and  in  this 
county  they  do  not  call  for  special  remark. 

The  only  religious  house  which  held  land  in  chief  of  the  crown  in 
Nottinghamshire  was  Peterborough  Abbey,  and  its  holding  was  restricted 
to  the  two  manors  of  Collingham  and  North  Muskham.  The  former  is 
surveyed  in  the  '  Liber  Niger  '  of  the  abbey,1  from  which  we  gather  that  its 
population  had  risen  in  the  fifty  years  which  separates  this  document  from 
Domesday,  its  sokemen  increasing  from  thirty-seven  to  fifty,  and  its  villeins 
from  eight  to  twenty,  while  its  bordars,  sharing  the  general  fate  of  their 
class,  vanished  altogether.  Domesday  records  two  churches  as  existing  in 
the  vill,  which  are  still  represented  by  the  two  parish  churches  of  North 
and  South  Collingham.  The  abbey's  share  of  North  Muskham  was  one  of 
the  possessions  which  King  William  confirmed  to  Abbot  Brand  at  the 
very  beginning  of  his  reign.  We  are  enabled  to  recover  a  little  of  its 
early  history  through  Hugh  '  Candidus,' 2  who  tells  us  that  Abbot  Brand 
and  his  brothers  Askill,  Siward,  and  Siric,  gave  a  number  of  lands  to  the 
abbey,  and  at  the  head  of  his  list  stands  '  Muskham  on  the  other  side  the 
Trent.'  This  explains  an  otherwise  mysterious  passage  in  the  Lincoln- 
shire '  clamores,'  which  runs  : — 

Scira  testatur  quod  Aschil  habebat  ea  die  qua  rex  Edwardus  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus  et 
post  haec  tria  maneria.  Scotune,  Scotre,  et  Ragenaltorp,  in  propria  libertate  de 
rege  Edwardo.  Similiter  habebat  Muscham  in  Snotinghamscire.3 

Now,  on  a  strict  reading  of  these  passages,  if  Askil  held  Muskham  on  the 
day  of  King  Edward's  death  '  and  afterwards,'  while  it  was  confirmed  to 
Peterborough  by  the  Conqueror  at  the  time  (probably)  of  his  coronation, 
the  grant  must  have  taken  place  either  in  the  reign  of  Harold,  or  during 
the  interregnum  which  followed  the  battle  of  Hastings.  We  might 
even  suggest  that  Askil  gave  the  manor  on  the  occasion  of  his  brother 
Brand  becoming  abbot  of  Peterborough,  and  this  supposition  is  confirmed 
by  the  wording  of  William's  charter.  He  grants  to  the  monastery  '  at 
the  request  of  Abbot  Brand,'  '  all  the  lands  belonging  to  his  brothers  or 
kinsmen  which  they  had  under  King  Edward  in  hereditary  right  and 

1  Chron.  Petroburgense  (Camden  Soc.),  159. 

•  Ed.  Sparke,  p.  43.  Hugh  states  the  donor  of  Collingham  to  have  been  one  Turkill 
'  Hoche,'  who  also  gave  the  abbey  its  moneyer  in  Stamford  and  its  land  in  Stamford  (Baron), 
Northamptonshire. 

3  Dom.  Bk.,  f.  3763. 


222 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

freely.' '  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle 2  we  know  that  Brand  had  to 
purchase  this  concession  and  his  own  recognition  as  abbot  with  40  marks 
of  gold,  but  for  our  purpose  it  is  more  important  that  the  above  charter 
confirms  nine  manors  by  name  to  the  abbey,  and  that  on  turning  back  to 
Hugh  Candidus  we  find  that  he  states  every  one  of  them  to  have  been 
given  originally  by  Brand  and  his  three  brothers.  It  would  seem,  there- 
fore, to  have  been  a  main  object  of  the  abbot  in  obtaining  this  very  im- 
portant charter  to  secure  from  the  new  king  a  detailed  confirmation  of 
all  the  grants  which  he  and  his  family  had  made  in  the  doubtful  time 
between  the  death  of  Harold  and  William's  own  coronation.  Incidentally 
we  may  note  that  all  this  is  welcome  as  confirming  the  general  accuracy 
of  Hugh  Candidus,  whose  twelfth-century  narrative  becomes  important 
from  the  facts  which  he  alone  gives  as  to  the  revolt  of  Hereward  in  the 
summer  of  1070." 

After  describing  the  ecclesiastical  estates  with  which  we  have  been 
dealing,  the  survey  at  once  proceeds  to  the  possessions  of  the  greatest  of 
Nottinghamshire  landowners,  Roger  de  Busli.  Powerful  in  many  counties, 
he  had  no  rival  in  the  wide  expanse  of  wild  and  largely  forest  country  which 
lies  between  the  Idle  and  the  Don,  a  district  which  included  his  castle  of 
Tickhill,  Yorkshire,  and  the  priory  which  he  founded  at  Blyth  (Notts.), 
within  two  years  after  Domesday.  '  Famous  in  Domesday  but  nowhere 
else,'  as  Mr.  Freeman  said,*  very  little  is  known  about  him  and  his 
family.  He  seems  to  have  derived  his  name  from  Bully-le-Vicompte, 
near  Neufchatel  (Seine  Inferieure),  where  he  appears  some  two  years 
before  the  Conquest  as  selling  his  tithes  to  the  abbey  of  Holy  Trinity, 
Rouen.6  That  he  was  infrequently  in  attendance  on  the  king  is  proved 
by  the  extreme  rarity  of  his  attestation  to  the  writs  and  charters  of  the 
reign.  He  died  towards  the  close  of  the  reign  of  William  Rufus,  and  as 
Roger,  his  only  son,  predeceased  him,  his  lands,  which  formed  a  group 
described  indifferently  in  feudal  documents  as  the  honour  of  Blyth  or  of 
Tickhill,  escheated  to  the  crown.  When  found,  in  virtue  of  re-grants, 
in  the  hands  of  Robert  of  Belesme,  in  1102,  and  of  Earl  John  in  1191, 
they  play  an  important  part  in  Nottinghamshire,  and,  indeed,  in  general 
history,  but  one  which  lies  too  far  from  our  present  purpose  for  it  to  be 
described  here. 

The  Domesday  map  marks  the  general  distribution  of  Roger  de 
Busli's  estates.  They  were  scattered  over  the  whole  of  the  county  with 
the  exception  of  Broxtow  wapentake,  in  which  he  did  not  hold  a 
single  manor.  As  might  be  expected,  they  became  more  and  more 
compact  as  we  approach  the  Yorkshire  border  ;  indeed,  the  only  exceptions 
to  his  tenure  between  the  latter  and  the  River  Idle  were  some  fragments 
of  the  king's  sokeland  of  Bothamsall  and  Mansfield. 

Most  of  Roger's  predecessors  in  this  large  territory  had  been  quite 
undistinguished  men.  It  is  equally  uncertain  whether  the  '  Morcar ' 

1  The  charter  is  printed  in  the  Monasticon,  \,  383,  and  discussed  by  Mr.  Round  in  the  Commune  of 
London,  p.  29,  where  its  date  is  determined. 

1  Sub  anno  1066.  *  See  also  Feudal  England,  163. 

4  English  Towns  and  Districts,  p.  363.  5  Round,  Cal.  Doc.  France,  23. 

223 


A   HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

who  had  held  Gunthorpe  was  the  earl  of  Northumbria,  or  whether  the 
'  Tosti '  who  had  held  part  of  Bingham  was  his  dispossessed  predecessor 
in  that  earldom.  Elsi  the  son  of  Caschin,  who  is  stated  on  folio  280^  to 
have  held  sac  and  soc  over  Worksop,  duly  appears  on  folio  285  as  the 
former  owner  there,  but  this  seems  to  be  the  limit  of  possible  identifica- 
tions. On  the  other  hand  the  fief  supplies  us  with  some  extremely  good 
examples  of  the  division  of  vills,  not  into  parcels  of  sokeland,  but  into 
distinct  manors,  the  former  owners  of  which  are  usually  specified  by 
name.  When  this  is  not  the  case  they  are  invariably  described  collec- 
tively as  '  thegns,'  a  fact  which  is  important,  for  the  majority  of  these 
people  must  have  been  of  very  lowly  rank  with  little  except  their  per- 
sonal status  to  mark  them  off  from  the  larger  class  of  sokemen  around 
them.  Moreover  there  are  some  valuable  entries  in  which  we  read  not 
only  of  the  thegn  but  of  his  hall  (aula).  Thus  we  are  told  that  at  Eaton 
ten  thegns,  at  Carlton  in  Lindrick  six  thegns,  at  Headon  Godric  and  six 
other  thegns  had  each  his  hall.1  Such  cases  are  interesting,  for  it  is  to 
the  hall  that  we  must  look  if  we  wish  to  find  the  old  English  equivalent 
of  the  Anglo-Norman  manerium  ; 2  while  on  the  other  hand  the  estates 
on  which  these  halls  were  seated  might  well  be  considered  far  too  small 
to  admit  of  anything  resembling  the  later  manorial  organization.  Thus 
Eaton  and  Carlton  in  Lindrick  contained  only  4  plough-lands  each  and 
Headon  53  ;  at  Normanton  upon  Trent  '  five  thegns,  Justan,  Durand, 
Elward,  Ulmar,  Aseloc,  had  each  his  hall  and  ii  bovates  of  land  each 
(assessed)  to  the  geld,'  and  in  the  neighbouring  vill  of  Weston,  '  Elmar, 
Elwi,  Osbern,  Grim,  Edric,  Steinulf  had  each  his  hall  and  6  bovates 
between  them.'  However  faintly  the  fiscal  responsibility  of  the  manor 
may  have  reflected  its  real  capacity,  no  allowance  reasonably  to  be  made 
for  this  will  materially  increase  the  size  of  their  units ;  Normanton  had 
been  worth  10  shillings  as  a  whole,  Carlton  in  Lindrick  and  Headon  £4 
each,  and  if  Eaton  was  estimated  at  £6  before  the  Conquest  this  would 
only  give  an  average  value  of  10  shillings  for  each  of  its  manors.  Other 
small  but  seemingly  independent  estates  from  the  same  quarter  of  the 
county  occur  at  Rampton  and  Gringley  on  the  Hill,  where  there  had 
been  seven  manors,  Misterton  and  Wheatley  divided  into  five,  Ordsall 
and  Fenton  into  four.  The  account  of  the  latter  is  important,  for  it 
shows  us  the  existence  of  private  jurisdiction  on  one  of  these  small  pre- 
Conquest  manors.  Three  of  the  four  manors  in  Fenton  are  surveyed 
together,  but  a  separate  entry  is  made  of  the  fourth,  which  runs  : — 

Ibidem  habebat  Speravoc  ii  bovatas  terrae  et  ii  partes  unius  bovatae  ad  geldum. 
Terra  i  carucae  cum  saca  et  soca  sine  aula. 

This  may  fairly  be  quoted  as  a  counter  instance  to  Professor  Mait- 
land's  Cheshire  manor  which  is  said  to  have  its  pleas  in  its  lord's  court;3 
for  if  the  latter  passage  suggests  that  it  was  an  exceptional  thing  for  a 

1  At  Epperstone  and  Woodborough  in  the  fief  of  Ralf  de  Limesi,  the  scribe  after  giving  the  names  of 
Ralf's  two  English  predecessors  has  added  the  words  '  non  aulam '  over  the  second  name. 

'  Domesday  Book  and  Beyond,  109.  3  Domesday  Book  and  BiyonJ,  91. 

224 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

'  lord '  to  hold  his  court  in  his  hall  we  might  certainly  gather  from  the 
Fenton  case  that  it  was  no  less  exceptional  for  a  man  to  have  jurisdiction 
over  a  manor  without  possessing  a  court  in  which  it  could  be  exercised. 
Also  this  particular  manor,  rated  at  2§  bovates,  and  valued  T.R.E.  at 
ioj.  8*/.,  does  not  look  like  a  promising  field  for  private  jurisdiction  of 
any  kind,  though  it  is  only  fair  to  add  that  '  Speravoc '  seems  to  have 
been  distinctly  a  more  important  man  than  his  fellows.  In  the  three 
other  Fenton  estates,  indeed,  the  Nottinghamshire  manor  seems  to  reach 
its  lowest  point — the  three  together  had  only  been  rated  at  i  J  bovates, 
and  valued  at  5  shillings,  but  Sperhavoc  had  also  held  part  of  Sturton-le- 
Steeple  and  the  whole  of  West  Burton  with  its  sokeland  in  Everton  and 
Harwell.  However,  we  have  no  need  to  make  this  qualification  in  the 
case  of '  Ulmer '  of  Clarborough,  who  in  1086  held  as  a  king's  thegn 
ij  bovates  in  that  vill,  like  Sperhavoc  in  Fenton  'with  sac  and  soc  with- 
out a  hall.'  Ulmer's  manor  was  only  worth  2s.,  and  there  is  nothing 
known  to  connect  him  with  any  other  vill,  while  '  Ulchil,'  who  had  also 
held  part  of  Clarborough  and  had  like  Ulmer  survived  the  Conquest, 
though  only  as  under-tenant  to  Roger  de  Busli,  had  exercised  sac  and  soc 
over  land  assessed  at  half  a  bovate,  and  worth  no  more  than  i6d.  We 
may  suspect  that  these  small  manors  seemed  as  great  an  anomaly  to  the 
compilers  of  Domesday  as  they  seem  to  us,  for  a  great  and  general  con- 
solidation of  the  manorial  system  had  taken  place  between  1066  and  the 
date  of  the  survey.1 

The  under-tenants  whom  Roger  de  Busli  had  enfeoffed  on  his  estates 
are  somewhat  less  shadowy  persons  than  their  English  predecessors.  The 
highly  important  charter  which  Roger  granted  to  his  new  foundation  of 
Blyth  *  was  witnessed  by  a  number  of  his  '  men,'  several  of  whom  may 
be  recognized  in  Domesday.  The  Fulk  de  Lisors  (Lusoris]  of  the  charter, 
for  instance,  appears  with  his  full  name  at  Breaston  in  Derbyshire,  and 
as  Fulco  simply  at  Gotham,  Eaton,  Weston,  Clayworth,  Clarborough,  and 
Harworth  in  our  county.  For  two  generations  his  manors  descended 
in  his  male  line  and  then  passed  to  the  constables  of  Chester,  several 
donations  to  Blyth  Priory  marking  the  process  of  the  descent.  The 
charter  also  warns  us  of  the  confusion  that  may  arise  from  the  fact  of 
two  under-tenants  bearing  the  same  name,  for  it  distinguishes  '  Thorald,' 
brother  of  Fulk  de  Lusoris  from  Thorald  de  Chevercort,  founder  of  an 
important  early  Nottinghamshire  family,  both  of  whom  appear  in  the  survey 
simply  as  '  Turold.'  It  was  very  possibly  the  former  of  these  men  who  held 
at  Hodsock  ;  at  any  rate  the  Lisors  family  and  their  tenants  appear  there 
very  soon  after  Domesday,  but  the  '  Turold  '  who  held  the  next  vill  of 
Carlton  in  Lindrick  was  undoubtedly  Turold  de  Chevercort.  Ralf  de 
Chevercort,  probably  his  son,  gave  land  in  Carlton  to  Worksop  Priory, 
and  his  deed  of  gift  was  witnessed  by  Ernald  the  son  of  Claron,3  whom 
we  may  safely  connect  with  the  Claron  of  Roger  de  Busli's  charter  to 

1  See  VinogradofF,  The  Growth  of  the  Manor,  299-300. 
1  Mon.  Angl.  iv,  623. 

*  Abstract  in  Thoroton,  History  of  Nottinghamshire,  ed.  Throsby,  iii,  408-9. 
I  225  29 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Blyth  and  the  Domesday  under-tenant  at  West  Markham  and  Elkesley. 
The  Ralf  '  Novifori '  of  Roger's  charter  bore  a  name  which  occurs  fre- 
quently in  the  documents  of  Roche  Abbey,  but  unless  he  was  the  Ralf 
who  held  at  Elton,  which  is  improbable,  he  does  not  appear  in  our 
portion  of  the  survey. 

It  is  rather  surprising  that  there  is  no  evidence  directly  to  connect 
the  great  family  of  '  Luvetot,'  the  lords  of  Sheffield  and  of  Worksop  and 
many  other  manors  in  this  shire  with  any  Domesday  under-tenant  in  our 
county.  But  before  1 1 20,  William  de  Luvetot  had  founded  Worksop 
Priory,  and  granted  to  it  '  all  the  churches  of  his  demesne '  of  the  honour 
of  Blyth,  that  is  the  churches  of  Gringley,  Misterton,  Walkeringham, 
Normanton  (upon  Trent),  Car  Colston,  Willoughby  on  the  Wolds,  Wysall, 
and  his  part  of  the  church  of  Treswell.1  Now  on  referring  to  Domesday 
we  find  that  in  six  out  of  these  eight  places  the  under-tenant  is  given  as 
Roger,  Roger  (de  Busli)'s  man,  Misterton  is  said  to  be  held  by  '  Roger,' 
which  may,  of  course,  stand  either  for  the  tenant  or  his  overlord,  and  the 
holder  of  Willoughby  is  not  stated.  If  we  cannot  argue  directly  from 
this  as  to  the  relationship  of '  Roger '  and  William  de  Luvetot,  the  com- 
pleteness with  which  the  former's  group  of  manors  had  passed  to  the 
latter  is  nevertheless  very  suggestive,  especially  in  view  of  the  probability 
that  Roger  the  under-tenant  may  be  identical  with  Roger  de  Luvetot, 
who  is  addressed  in  several  writs  belonging  to  the  early  years  of  Henry  I 
and  relating  to  South  Yorkshire.2 

Returning  again  to  the  foundation  charter  of  Blyth  Priory,  we 
should  certainly  note  one  very  exceptional  and  important  feature  which 
it  contains.  In  making  his  gift  to  his  monks  Roger  grants  them  '  the 
entire  vill  of  Blyth  with  all  its  appurtenances  and  customs  as  the  men  of 
that  vill  used  to  perform  them,  that  is,  to  plough  (arare),  to  do  carrying 
service  (kariare) ,  to  mow  (falcare) ,  reap  (bladum  secare) ,  make  hay  (foenum 
facere),  pay  merchet  (merchetum  dare),  and  to  make  the  mill  pool  (stagnum 
molendini  facere}'  He  also  grants  'all  the  dignities  (dignitates)  which 
I  used  to  enjoy  in  that  vill,  that  is  soc  and  sac  and  toll  and  team 
and  infangenethef,  iron  and  ditch  and  gallows  with  the  other  liberties 
(libertates),  which  I  then  held  from  the  king.'  Now  this  charter  is  dated 
1088,  and  it  is  probable  that  we  do  not  possess  another  outline  of 
the  services  done  by  the  men  of  a  vill  to  a  lay  tenant-in-chief,  and  of 
his  rights  over  them,  so  nearly  contemporary  with  Domesday.  In  fact 
we  have  here  some  of  the  most  characteristic  features  of  the  later  manorial 
labour  system,  and  this  although  Blyth  in  Domesday  is  merely  entered 
as  sokeland  of  Hodsock,  two  miles  distant,  and  contained  no  demesne  of 
its  own.  At  Blyth,  the  only  population  consisted  of  four  villeins  and 
four  bordars,  and  it  is  precisely  as  to  the  services  performed  by  men  of 
these  classes  that  Domesday  is  most  silent,  while  such  information  as  it 
does  give  relates  almost  entirely  to  the  west  of  England.  It  is,  of  course, 
unfortunate  though  inevitable  that  our  charter  merely  indicates  the 
nature  of  these  services  and  tells  us  nothing  of  their  quantity ;  but  if  the 

1  Mm.  Angl.  v,  1 18.  !  Ibid,  viii,  1 179. 

226 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

reaping,  mowing,  and  hay-making  were  of  necessity  confined  to  one 
season  of  the  year,  the  carrying  service  and  the  ploughing,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  work  on  the  mill-dam,  were  not  so  restricted.  This  early  occur- 
rence of  '  merchet,'  the  especial  test  of  servile  status  at  a  later  period, 
deserves  particular  notice.1 

As  to  the  lord's  powers  of  jurisdiction  the  phrase  '  sicut  tune  temporis 
tenebam  de  rege '  is  noteworthy,  for  as  Professor  Maitland  says,  '  whether 
the  Conqueror  or  either  of  his  sons  would  have  admitted  that  any  justice 
could  be  done  in  England  that  was  not  his  justice,  we  may  fairly  doubt.' 2 
We  could  especially  wish  to  know  how  many  of  these  '  franchises '  had 
been  possessed  by  '  Ulsi,'  the  pre-Conquest  owner  of  Hodsock,  to  which, 
as  we  have  seen,  Blyth  was  appurtenant.  The  manner  in  which  the  survey 
is  drawn  up  in  Nottinghamshire  implies  that  the  relation  between  a  manor 
and  its  soke  had  existed  before  1066,  but  the  whole  question  is  too  wide 
to  be  discussed  here.  In  the  case  of  Blyth  it  is  complicated  by  the  fact 
that  that  vill  contained  no  sokemen  in  1086,  and  in  a  case  of  this  kind 
Professor  Maitland  would  suspect  that  there  has  been  some  depression  of 
the  peasantry.3  Certainly,  as  might  be  expected,  sokemen  are  charac- 
teristic of  sokeland,  but  it  would  be  easy  to  carry  this  argument  too  far. 
Roger  de  Busli's  fief  contains  some  instances  to  the  point.  He  held 
widely  in  Oswardbeck  wapentake,  and  we  have  seen  that  the  king 
possessed  much  of  this  wapentake  as  '  sokeland '  belonging  to  his  manor 
of  Mansfield.  If,  therefore,  we  turn  to  those  vills  which  are  surveyed 
partly  as  royal  sokeland  and  partly  as  manors  on  Roger  de  Busli's  fief, 
we  may  arrange  their  population  in  the  following  table  : 


Sokeland  Manors 

Sokemen        Villeins      Honiara  Sokemen     Villeins     BorJars 

Gringley  on  the  Hill                   .6               i             i  0106 

561  085 

•     13              2           3  415 

6              i            o  4           25           o 

.       24               II                7  2                  22 

12             i         18  3             o           3 

211  O                  8                I 


Misterton 

Walkeringham 

Wheatley 

Sturton-le-Steeple 

Clayworth 

Clarborough    . 


These  figures  show  that  general  distribution  of  sokemen  which  was 
to  be  expected;  they  constitute  55  per  cent,  of  the  population  on  the 
sokeland  as  against  nearly  15  per  cent,  on  the  manors.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  fact  that  23  villeins  appear  in  the  former  and  13  sokemen 
in  the  latter  reminds  us  that  these  classes  were  too  nearly  related  in 
economic  position  for  them  to  be  mutually  exclusive ;  they  were  rather 
differentiated  by  varieties  of  tenure  and  customary  service  than  by  any 
fundamental  distinctions  of  origin  or  status. 

One  of  the  four  typical  '  escheats  '  mentioned  in  Magna  Carta  was 
the  honour  of  Nottingham,  which  is  represented  in  Domesday  by  the  fief 
of  William  Peverell.  The  origin  alike  of  the  man  and  of  his  name  is 

1  This  charter  deserves  re-editing.      The  Monasticm  copy  omits  the  witnesses,   who   have  to  be 
supplied  from  the  abstract  given  by  Thoroton,  Hist  of  Notts,  iii,  494. 
1  Dom.  Bk.  and  Beyond,  85.     '  'Ibid. 

227 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

very  obscure,  but  he  occurs  early  in  the  history  of  the  Conquest  in 
connexion  with  our  county,  for  it  was  to  him  that  the  Conqueror 
entrusted  the  castle  which  he  built  at  Nottingham  in  1068  when  on  his 
way  to  put  down  the  first  revolt  of  the  north.1  William  Peverel's  lands 
form  a  compact  group  in  the  western  half  of  the  shire,  covering  all  the 
roads  leading  from  west  and  south  to  the  county-town  and  its  stronghold. 
He  held  nearly  the  whole  of  Broxtow  wapentake,  if  we  except  the  royal 
manors  of  Mansfield  and  Orston  and  some  unimportant  estates  mostly 
belonging  to  '  king's  thegns,'  his  possessions  being  continued  across  the 
Trent  by  the  manor  and  soke  of  Clifton.  This  last  is  an  interesting 
estate,  for  two  lines  were  devoted  to  it  at  the  end  of  the  statement  of  the 
customs  of  Nottinghamshire  and  Derbyshire  to  the  effect  that  '  over  the 
soke  which  belongs  to  Clifton  the  earl  ought  to  have  the  third  part  of  all 
customs  and  works.' *  As  there  was  no  earl  of  Nottinghamshire  at  this 
time,  these  dues  must  have  been  in  the  king's  hand  unless  he  had  made 
an  unrecorded  grant  of  them  to  anybody.  Clifton  had  belonged  to  a 
former  owner  of  comital  rank,  though  one  unconnected  with  any  earldom 
in  which  Nottingham  ever  lay,  in  the  Countess  '  Code '  or  Gytha  who 
had  preceded  William  Peverel  in  several  counties,  notably  Buckingham- 
shire and  Northamptonshire.  She  was  the  wife  of  Earl  Ralf  of  Hereford 
and  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  her  namesake  Gytha,  the  wife 
of  Earl  Godwine,  and  from  the  better  known  wife  of  Earl  Leofric,  the 
Countess  Godeva  (Godgifu)  of  Mercia.3  We  may  also  recognize  our 
countess  in  the  '  Code  '  whose  manor  of  Edwalton,  3  miles  from 
Clifton,  had  passed  to  Hugh  de  Grentemaisnil,  the  greatest  landowner  in 
Leicestershire.  Although  she  is  mentioned  there  without  any  mark  of 
title  we  may  be  quite  certain  of  the  identification,  for  Edwalton  is  said 
to  belong  to  Stockerston,  Leicestershire,  and  on  turning  to  that  place  in 
the  Leicester  Domesday  *  we  find  that  it,  like  Wigston  Magna,  which 
had  also  passed  to  Hugh  de  Grentemaisnil,  had  belonged  to  Earl  Ralf. 
Returning  to  the  soke  of  Clifton  we  may  notice  that  it  lay  along  the 
right  bank  of  the  Trent  opposite  Nottingham,  including  Wilford,  West 
Bridgford,  Bassingfield,  Gamston,  and  Adbolton  with  one  or  two 
outliers  along  the  wolds,  and  that  its  value  must  be  included  in  the 
figures  given  for  Clifton  itself,  since  £16  would  be  an  impossible  value 
for  a  Nottinghamshire  manor  rated  at  2j  carucates  and  reported  to 
contain  only  five  ploughlands. 

Like  his  rival  Roger  de  Busli,  William  Peverel  founded  a  priory 
on  his  Nottinghamshire  estates.  Early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I  he 
established  a  house  of  Cluniac  monks  at  Lenton  under  the  shadow  of 
Nottingham  Castle.  His  selection  of  a  site  for  his  priory  is  rather 
curious,  for  in  1086  he  merely  held  Lenton  in  custodia,  that  is,  probably, 
on  the  king's  behalf  as  his  bailiff  or  agent.6  He  held  the  whole  of  the 

1  Ordtrkus  Vit*Rt  (Soc.  de  la  Hist,  dc  France),  iv,  184.  '  Dom.  Bk.  f.  280*. 

^  See  V.  C.  H.  Northants,  \,  289.  «  Dom.  Bk.  f.  232. 

5  See  for  the  meaning  of  custodia  Appendix  I  in  Round,   Geoffrey  de  Mandevlllt,  and  for  Peverel's 
tenure  of  the  royal  demesne  in  the  Peak  V.  C.  H.  Derb.  \,  303. 

228 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

royal  demesne  in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire  on  the  same  terms,  as  also 
Awsworth  and  Eastwood  (Notts.),  while  we  have  seen  that  when  he 
appears  in  1068  in  connexion  with  Nottingham  Castle  it  is  merely  as 
the  king's  representative.  It  was  Henry  I  who  gave  him  definite 
possession  of  his  lands  in  the  Peak  with  which  he  richly  endowed  Lenton 
Priory,  bestowing  on  it  also  besides  Lenton  itself  the  adjoining  vills  of 
Radford,  Morton,  and  Kighton,1  with  his  portion  of  Newthorpe  and 
Papplewick  and  Courteenhall  in  mid-Northamptonshire.  His  under- 
tenants followed  their  lord's  example,  and  among  the  list  of  donors  given 
in  William's  foundation  charter2  we  may  notice  several  names  which  occur 
in  the  Nottingham  survey.  Thus  the  Saped  who  gave  two-thirds  of  his 
demesne  tithes  in  Empingham  (Rutland)  and  Baseford  may  be  identified 
with  the  Saped.  who  appears  as  William's  tenant  in  the  latter  vills,  and 
the  '  Pagan  '  who  was  Saped's  co-tenant  at  Baseford  must  have  been  the 
father  of '  Robertus  filius  Pagani,'  who  also  gave  tithes  there  to  Lenton. 
A  '  Goscelinus  '  made  a  similar  grant  at  Watnall  to  the  priory,  and  we 
may  recognize  him  in  the  Gozelinus  who  with  Grinchel,  an  Englishman, 
held  Watnall  of  William  in  Domesday.  In  the  '  Thonethona  '  of  the 
charter,  strange  as  is  the  form  of  the  name,  we  have  the  modern  Toton 
(near  Long  Eaton),  and  we  discover  the  son  of  another  Domesday  tenant 
in  Robert  the  son  of  Warner,  who  made  a  grant  of  tithes  there.  Whether 
the  Domesday  Warner,  his  father,  was  identical  with  the  tenant  of  that 
name  at  Wollaton  and  Codnor  and  Shirland,  Derbyshire,  must  be  un- 
certain, but  the  name  is  not  very  common.8  Ambrose,  who  held  under 
William  in  Strelley  and  Bilborough,  has  been  identified  in  several  other 
counties,  notably  Northamptonshire,  as  a  Peverel  under-tenant. 

But  William  Peverel's  estate  in  this  county  is  also  noteworthy  for  the 
number  of  Englishmen  who  held  of  him  in  1086.  Their  holdings  may 
most  conveniently  be  expressed  in  tabular  form  : — 

Name  Held  T.  R.  W.  in  :—  Held  T.  R.  E.  in  :— 

'UnloP          .          .          .          Lenton  .          .          .          Lenton 

Godwin  the  Priest  .          Strelley  .          .          .          Adbolton 

. .,  .  f  Greasley  — 

Ailnc    .          .          .          •        i  r>  •    i 

(isnnsley  — 

ir>   j  i-rr          T  fCostock 

1-,     ,  .  [  Radclifie  on  Trent  .          „ 

Jbredgis.  .  .  .        IT-V,,  •(  Rempston 

(Tithby  .          .          .         I  u   j  i-ff         T 

^Radclifte  on  Trent 

Ulviet  ....          Radcliffe  on  Trent 

/'Watnall        \ 
Grinchitel  4  Newthorpe  >  .          .          Watnall 

(Kimberley  ) 

1  Already  in  Thoroton's  time  the  two  latter  places  were  absorbed  in  Lenton. 

*  Man.  Angl.  v,  ill. 

3  The  tithes  of  Stapleford  were  given  to  the  priory  by  Geoffrey  (de)  Heriz,  the  founder  of  a  branch 
of  this  family  which,  according  to  the  Newstead  Register,  died  out  early  in  the  male  line.  The  Domes- 
day under-tenant  is  given  as  Robert,  who  may  have  been  Robert  de  Heriz,  the  head  of  the  main  line 
of  the  family.  Tithes  in  Gonalston  were  given  by  '  Erbertus,'  whom  we  may  probably  identify  with 
the  '  Herbert  Peverel '  of  a  Lenton  charter  given  in  Round,  Cat.  Doc.  France,  506,  and  with  the  Herbert 
styled  by  Wm.  Peverel  miles  metis,  who  gave  to  the  priory  one  of  the  four  mills  of  Lenton.  The 
tenant  of  Gonalston  is  not  given  in  Domesday. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Here  we  see  that  even  those  Englishmen  who  continued  to  hold  land 
after  the  Conquest  suffered  some  disturbance  and  reduction  of  their 
tenure.  We  might  perhaps  add  to  the  list  but  for  the  carelessness  of  the 
Domesday  scribes  in  recording  the  names  of  Englishmen,  an  extra- 
ordinary instance  of  which  occurs  at  Lenton.  The  former  owner  is 
given  as  '  Unlof,'  but  directly  afterwards  we  read  Ibi  isdem  Ulnod  babet, 
etc.  We  certainly  dare  not  have  assumed  Ulnod  and  Unlof  to  be  the 
same  man  without  this  distinct  statement  to  that  effect,  but  in  its  light 
we  may  probably  recognize  him  in  the  Ulnod  who  is  said  to  hold  at 
Radford  (adjoining  Lenton)  '  i  bovate  in  thegnland.'  It  is  perhaps 
worth  noting  that  in  none  of  these  seven  cases  is  the  Englishman  described 
after  the  normal  fashion  as  William  Peverel's  '  man  '  ;  the  almost  equi- 
valent formula  (Fredgis)  tenet  sub  or  de  Willelmo  is  used  instead. 

Two  and  a  half  columns  of  our  survey  are  assigned  to  Walter  de 
Aincurt,  the  kinsman  of  Bishop  Remigius  of  Lincoln  and  the  lord  of 
Granby,  whose  principal  seat  was  at  Braunstone,  Lincolnshire.  Although 
the  fact  is  somewhat  obscured  by  the  plan  of  the  survey,  his  estates 
formed  a  roughly  continuous  group  extending  from  his  west  Lincolnshire 
possessions,  through  Staunton,  Gotham,  Granby,  and  Flintham,  to  a 
number  of  manors  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Trent,  comprising  the  whole 
of  Thurgarton,  Hoveringham,  and  Bulcote,  with  part  of  Fiskerton  and 
Rolleston.  One  of  his  under-tenants,  the  Mager  who  held  in  Staunton, 
deserves  notice  as  the  ancestor  of  the  Nottinghamshire  family  of  Staunton, 
who,  however,  appear  later  as  holding  of  the  lords  of  Belvoir  in  virtue 
of  a  grant  made  by  Oliver  de  Aincurt  to  William  de  Albini  the  younger.1 
In  each  of  his  Nottinghamshire  manors,  except  Granby,  and  in  most  of 
his  Derby  and  Lincoln  possessions,  Walter  de  Aincurt  had  been  preceded 
by  one  or  both  of  two  Englishmen,  called  Swegen  and  Tori,  of  whom 
nothing  else  is  known  ;  but  the  case  of  Granby  is  peculiar.  It  was  by  far 
his  most  valuable  manor  in  Derbyshire  or  Nottinghamshire,  and  he  is 
said  to  have  possessed  sac  and  soc  over  it.8  Its  former  owner  had  been  a 
certain  Haminc  who  does  not  appear  elsewhere  in  Nottinghamshire,  but 
occurs  in  the  list  of  those  who  had  held  sac  and  soc  in  Lincolnshire,  and 
also  as  Walter's  predecessor  at  Branston  and  Blankney  in  that  county.8  A 
considerable  amount  of  sokeland  belonging  to  Granby  was  scattered 
over  the  neighbouring  vills,  over  which  Haminc  had  doubtless  exercised 
powers  of  jurisdiction  before  the  Conquest.  Domesday  reveals  a  church 
at  Granby,  and  the  register  of  St.  Mary's  Abbey,  York,  shows  us  Walter 
de  Aincurt  granting  his  tithes  there  and  at  Gotham,  Knapthorpe,  Hick- 
ling,  and  Thurgarton  to  that  foundation.4  But  the  Aincurt  fief,  like  all 
the  greater  fiefs  in  our  county,  afterwards  supplied  an  endowment  for  a 
religious  house  of  its  own,  for  Ralph  de  Aincurt,  Walter's  son,  founded 
an  Augustinian  priory  at  Thurgarton  between  1114  and  1140.  We 
may,  in  passing,  note  one  curious  detail  concerning  the  Aincurt  estates  ; 
they  had  risen  in  value  in  face  of  a  general  depreciation  throughout  the 

1  Thoroton,  Hut.  of  Notts.  \,  305.  *  Dom.  Bk.  f.  28o3. 

'  Ibid.  £.361.  <  Mm.  Angl.  iii,  549. 

230 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

shire.  As  the  value  of  his  lands  in  Derbyshire  and  Lincolnshire  had 
also  risen  since  the  Conquest,  Walter  de  Aincurt  may  have  the  credit 
of  being  a  discreet  and  skilful  landlord. 

The  next  fief  entered  in  our  survey  was  that  of  Geoffrey  Alselin, 
whose  chief  manor  in  our  county  was  Laxton,  which  afterwards  became 
the  head  of  the  Everingham  barony.  Laxton,  to  which  pertained  nine 
pieces  of  sokeland,  had  belonged  to  Geoffrey's  regular  predecessor  in  this 
and  other  counties,  '  Tochi '  (Toki)  the  son  of  Outi,1  who  appears 
among  those  who  had  exercised  sac  and  soc  before  the  Conquest.  It 
may  be  convenient  to  note  here  that  all  the  more  important  groups  of 
sokeland  in  our  county,  such  as  Laneham,  Sutton,  Newark,  Clifton, 
Granby,  and  this  of  Laxton,  are  connected  by  their  pre-Conquest  owners 
with  rights  of  jurisdiction  existing  in  King  Edward's  time.2  If  we 
include  the  king  in  our  calculation,  we  can  account  for  nearly  four-fifths 
of  the  recorded  sokeland  of  Nottinghamshire.  This  is  important,  for  it 
makes  it  possible  that  the  word  '  sokeland '  may  here  at  least  have  meant 
what  by  derivation  it  implies,  and  that  in  these  cases  we  may  find  a 
fairly  definite  bond  of  union  between  manor  and  soke  in  jurisdictional 
rights  centred  in  the  former.  It  is  necessary  to  keep  this  question  well 
apart  from  the  distinct  problem,  whether  a  thegn  who  possessed  one  or 
two  manors  had  '  sac  and  soc '  over  them  where  the  fact  is  not  directly 
stated  ;  and  if  we  believe  that  such  powers  of  jurisdiction  must  have 
taken  their  origin  from  a  royal  grant,  we  must  make  a  very  large  allow- 
ance for  our  deficiency  of  information  respecting  the  Anglo-Saxon 
thegnhood  in  estimating  the  prevalence  of  private  justice  before  1066. 

We  may  pass  more  rapidly  over  the  tenants-in-chief  who  remain, 
for  their  Nottinghamshire  estates  were  for  the  most  part  mere  appen- 
dages of  large  possessions  elsewhere.  Thus  Geoffrey  de  Wirce,  Osbern 
fitz  Richard,  Durand  and  Robert  Malet,  and  Hugh  de  Grentemaisnil 
only  held  one  manor,  and  William  the  Usher,  Robert  the  son  of  William, 
Henry  de  Ferrers  and  Hugh  fitz  Baldric,  only  two  manors  apiece  in  our 
county.  Ralf  fitz  Hubert  has  been  considered  in  the  Victoria  County 
History  of  Derbyshire,  where  he  was  lord  of  Crich.  He  held  some  nine 
manors  in  the  west  of  Nottinghamshire,  and  here,  as  in  Derbyshire,  he 
had  succeeded  two  Englishmen  named  Leofric  and  Leofnoth.  Gilbert 
de  Gand  had  come  into  possession  of  a  compact  estate  in  the  centre  of 
the  county,  most  of  which  had  belonged  to  the  Ulf  '  fenisc,'  who  had 
held  'the  earl's  third  penny'  in  Nottinghamshire  and  Derbyshire.  In  the 
description  of  Gilbert's  Nottinghamshire  lands,  Ulf  is  not  assigned  his 
distinguishing  adjective,  but  in  six  cases  out  of  eight  a  space  is  left 
vacant  after  his  name,  and  the  uniformity  with  which  his  possessions  in 
other  counties  had  passed  to  Gilbert  leaves  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  his 

1  V.  C.  H.  Nortkants,  \,  292. 

'  It  should  be  noted  that  the  famous  list  on  f.  280^  is  not  quite  consistent  as  to  date,  for  while  the 
majority  of  names  given  in  it  are  those  of  pre-Conquest  owners,  it  also  includes  Walter  de  Aincurt  and 
Henry  de  Ferrers.  It  is  just  possible,  however,  that  the  list  may  really  refer,  as  a  whole,  not  to  the 
tempore  regis  Edwardi  but  to  some  time  early  in  the  Conqueror's  reign,  before  the  great  confiscation 
of  Englishmen's  lands  had  been  thoroughly  carried  out. 

23I 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

identification.  The  most  interesting  of  Gilbert's  possessions  are  the  two 
manors  which  he  held  in  Eakring,  for  they  probably  represent  the 
partition  of  one  estate  between  co-heirs.  Thus  each  of  them  was  assessed 
at  6  bovates  and  2  plough-lands,  each  contained  3  acres  of  meadow,  and 
woodland  6  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth,  and  each  had  fallen  in 
value  from  £i  to  i6j.  Their  former  owners,  however,  had  undergone 
different  fates,  for  while  one  of  them, '  Ingolf,'  was  replaced  by  '  William, 
Gilbert's  man,'  the  other,  '  Echebrand,'  continued  to  hold  his  share  as 
Gilbert's  under-tenant. 

The  small  fief  of  Gilbert  Tison  was  more  directly  connected  with 
Nottinghamshire,  for  it  appears  later  as  the  honour  of  Averham  (Egrum).1 
In  addition  to  Averham  and  one  or  two  adjoining  vills,  it  included 
Finningley,  the  most  northerly  manor  in  the  county,  and  had  nearly  all 
belonged  to  one  Swegen.  The  description  of  it  is  noteworthy  in  one 
respect,  for  it  incidentally  mentions  one  of  those  mysterious  '  senior 
thegns '  in  whose  functions  in  the  local  courts  Professor  Stubbs  sought 
to  discover  the  germs  of  the  jury  of  presentments.  The  entry  in 
question  runs  : — 

In  Wicheburne  [Winkburn],  habuit  Suain  xii  bovatas  terrae  ad  geldum  .  .  . 
Duas  bovatas  de  hac  terra  tenuerunt  v  taini.  Unus  eorum  erat  senior  aliorum,  que 
(sic)  non  pertinuit  ad  suain.3 

This  passage  unfortunately  is  by  no  means  clear,  but  the  que  is 
probably  a  short  and  obscure  expression  for  cujus  terra.  Without  making 
conjectures  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  '  seniority '  of  this  thegn,  we  may 
note  that  Swegen  himself  must  have  been  an  important  man,  for  the 
entry  seems  to  imply  that  the  land  of  four  of  these  five  thegns  had 
'  belonged '  to  him.  It  is  perhaps  worth  while  making  the  guess  (it  is 
no  more)  that  he  may  have  been  the  Swen  the  son  of  Suave  who  appears 
on  folio  280$  as  a  former  possessor  of  sac  and  soc. 

The  survey  of  Ralf  de  Limesi's  land  contains  a  reference  to  a  unit 
of  land-measurement  sufficiently  rare  in  the  north  of  England  to  be 
worth  a  note.  In  the  account  of  Epperstone  we  are  told  '  Ibi  Radulfus 
habet  in  dominio  iii  carucas  et  xiiii  sochmanni  de  vi  bov'  et  ferding  hujus 
terrae,'  and  over  '  ferding '  the  scribe  has  added  the  words  '  i  bov  '  in 
explanation.  The  'ferding'  would  seem  to  represent  the 'fertinus  '  or 
'  farthing '  which  occurs  frequently  in  the  survey  of  the  south-western 
counties,  where  it  represented  the  quarter  of  a  virgate,8  whereas  at  Epper- 
stone it  was  apparently  the  quarter  of  a  bovate  ;  unless  indeed  the  inter- 
lineation is  not  explanatory  but  intended  to  correct  the  '  ferthing  '  into 
'  bovate.' 

A  folio  of  our  survey  is  assigned  to  Ilbert  de  Lacy  the  lord  of 
Pontefract,  and  it  also  contains  an  entry  which  looks  as  if  it  would  be 

1  See  the  charter  of  Henry  de  Hose,  the  successor  of  the  Tisons,  to  Thurgarton  Priory,  addressed 
'Omnibus  sanctae  matris  ecclesiae  fidelibus  et  maxime  hominibus  honoris  de  Egrum.'  Man. 
Angl.  vi,  191. 

1  Folio.  291,  quoted  by  Maitland,  DmesJay  Book  and  Beyond,  165,  and  Vinogradoff,  The  Growth 
of  the  Manor,  p.  287. 

3  Domeiday  Book  and  Beyond,  479. 

232 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

interesting  if  it  were  only  intelligible.  Godric  and  Ulviet  had  held 
4  bovates  in  Cropwell  Butler  which  had  passed  to  Ilbert,  but  when 
Roger  of  Poitou,  who  possessed  a  much  larger  manor  in  the  same  vill, 
received  his  land  he  appropriated  Ilbert's  share  in  addition  to  his  own. 
The  wapentake  (of  Bingham)  bore  witness  that  Ilbert  had  received 
seisin,  and  when  Domesday  was  compiled  the  manor  was  in  the  king's 
hand  '  praeter  terciam  partem  et  tainum  qui  est  caput  manerii,  quem 
tenet  Ilbertus.'  It  seems  impossible  to  translate  these  last  words  so  as  to 
make  sense,  for  one  does  not  see  how  a  thegn  could  be  a  '  capital 
messuage'  (caput  manerii)^  nor  indeed  how  Ilbert  could  'hold'  him. 
Doubtless  there  is  a  mistake  here,  unless  possibly  '  tainum  '  is  used  for 
'  tainagium,'  the  thegn  and  his  thegnland  being  taken  as  equivalent  ;  but 
at  any  rate  we  have  an  illustration  of  the  action  of  the  wapentake  court 
in  suits  as  to  the  possession  of  land,  and  we  also  notice  the  importance 
attached  even  thus  early  to  proof  of  actual  possession  or  '  seisin.' 

Small  as  were  the  Nottinghamshire  possessions  of  Henry  de  Ferrers 
and  Osbern  fitz  Richard,  the  description  of  them  involves  a  curious 
topographical  difficulty  in  each  case.  It  is  rather  surprising  to  find 
Osbern  fitz  Richard  holding  land  so  far  east  as  Nottinghamshire,  for  the 
head  of  his  barony  was  at  Richard's  Castle  in  Herefordshire.  In  our 
county  he  is  assigned  a  manor  in  Granby  which  had  formerly  belonged 
to  earl  ./Elfgar,  together  with  3^  bovates  in  Wiverton  and  6  in  Salterford. 
But  the  difficulty  in  the  case  is  occasioned  by  the  statement  that  Osbern's 
holding  in  Wiverton  was  '  sokeland,'  and  his  6  bovates  in  Salterford 
formed  a  '  berewick  '  in  '  Coletone.'  Now  Osbern's  manor  in  Granby 
was  held  of  him  by  Robert  de  Oilly,  the  greatest  lay  tenant  in  Oxford- 
shire, and  our  difficulty  arises  from  the  fact  that  there  seems  to  be  no 
evidence  later  than  Domesday  to  connect  Granby  with  the  honours 
either  of  Richard's  Castle  or  Wallingford,  which  represent  the  fiefs  of 
Osbern  fitz  Richard  and  Robert  de  Oilly  respectively  ;  the  whole  vill 
belonging  to  the  Aincurts.  On  the  other  hand  the  '  carta '  of  Geoffrey 
Ridel  in  1166  shows  us  the  Bassets  holding  Colston  Basset,  which  in  all 
probability  represents  the  '  Coletone '  above,  of  the  honour  of  Walling- 
ford,1 and  we  also  know  that  they  had  entered  into  possession  there  before 
1 12 1.3  It  would  seem  therefore  that  either  the  account  of  Colston 
Basset  is  altogether  omitted  from  the  survey,  or  else  that  we  have  its 
description  in  the  entry  which  is  above  attributed  to  Granby,  the  name 
being  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  the  Domesday  scribes,  either  alternative 
of  course  implying  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  latter.3  An  even  more 
inexplicable  case  occurs  on  the  fief  of  Henry  de  Ferrers,  who  held  one 
bovate  in  Willoughby  on  the  Wolds,  of  which  we  read  '  soca  in 
Badeleie.'  The  only  known  name  in  the  county  which  can  represent 
the  latter  is  Bathley,  to  the  north-east  of  Newark,  but  this  was  merely  a 

1  Red  Book  of  the  Exch.  (Rolls  Ser.),  331. 

'  See    the  charters  relating  to  the  priory  of  Laund,  Leicestershire   (Man.   Angl.   vi,    1 8 8). 
3  An  additional  complication   is  caused  by  the  fact  that  the  only  '  Salterford  '  in  the  county  lies 
near  Calverton  north  of  the  Trent,  and  is  13  miles  distant  from  Colston  Basset. 

I  233  30 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

hamlet  of  North  Muskham,  and  was  chiefly  in  the  hands  of  the  chapter 
of  Southwell.  In  connexion  with  Henry  de  Ferrers  we  may  safely 
identify  the  Siward  who  preceded  him  at  East  and  West  Leake  and 
Bonnington  with  the  Siward  'barn,'  who  in  1070  joined  Hereward  and 
his  fellow  malcontents  in  the  Isle  of  Ely.1 

The  last  two  folios  of  the  Nottinghamshire  survey  are  devoted  to 
those  Englishmen  who  had  survived  the  Conquest  and  form  the  class  of 
'  king's  thegns.'  They  are  interesting  people,  for  they  seem  to  be 
holding  their  lands  in  1086  on  conditions  of  tenure  very  similar  to  those 
which  had  prevailed  generally  over  the  county  in  the  time  of  King 
Edward,  and  in  Nottinghamshire  their  number  is  unusually  great.  On 
analysis,  however,  it  turns  out  to  be  not  quite  so  great  as  might  be 
supposed  at  first  sight,  for  two  or  three  thegns  stand  out  prominently 
above  their  fellows.  By  far  the  most  interesting  of  this  class  was  one 
Alden  or  Healfdene,  who  held  as  much  land  of  the  king  in  Nottingham- 
shire as  did  Roger  of  Poitou  or  Ralf  fitz  Hubert.  As  a  king's  thegn  he 
held  manors  in  Cromwell,  Carlton  upon  Trent,  Knapthorpe,  Lambley, 
Woodborough,  Trowell,  Awsworth,  Lambcote,  Kelham,  and  Widmer- 
pool,  and  he  was  probably  the  Alden  who  held  part  of  Normanton  upon 
Soar  of  the  count  of  Mortain.  But  his  peculiar  importance  arises  from 
the  fact  that  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  mediaeval  lords  Cromwell,  who 
without  attaining  the  highest  regions  of  statesmanship  played  a  creditable 
part  in  English  history  before  the  extinction  of  their  male  line  in  the 
time  of  Henry  VI.  If  it  should  be  found  possible  to  connect  the  great 
Protector  with  this  family,  the  interest  attaching  to  our  '  Aldene  '  as  his 
earliest  recorded  ancestor  would  of  course  be  greatly  increased.  It  is 
worth  noting  that  in  eight  of  his  manors  '  Aldene  '  had  been  preceded 
by  an  Englishman  styled  in  different  entries  Ulchel,  Ulchet,  and  Ulchete. 

Eight  manors,  Normanton  upon  Trent,  Elkesley,  Clarborough,  Ordsall, 
Chilwell,  Trowell,  Gonalston,  and  Misson,  were  held  by  a  certain  Ernui, 
sometimes,  but  it  seems  indifferently,  styled  '  presbiter  '  in  an  interlinea- 
tion.2 Unlike  Aldene,  he  had  held  land  in  this  shire  before  the  Conquest, 
and  he  appears  prominently  in  the  Domesday  account  of  Lincoln,  where 
he  held  a  messuage  which  had  belonged  to  Earl  Morcar.  He  also  held 
ij  bovates  in  Flintham  of  Roger  de  Busli.3  It  is  curious  that  at  some 
period  after  1070  the  county  had  possessed  a  sheriff  of  this  name,  for  an 
Earnwi  or  Earnwig  is  addressed  as  such  in  two  of  the  Conqueror's  writs 
relating  to  Nottinghamshire  affairs.* 

A  third  thegn,  holding  a  smaller  but  more  compact  estate,  was  the 
'  Sawin  '  who  possessed  part  of  Gotham,  Kingston  and  Barton  in  Fabis 
with  the  whole  of  Ratcliffe  upon  Soar.  It  will  be  evident  that  the 
subtraction  of  these  three  estates  from  the  total  possessions  of  the  king's 
thegns  in  Nottinghamshire  will  materially  reduce  the  number  of  the 


.  i,  282. 

'  For  a  notice  of  Ernui  the  priest  see  V.  C.  H.  Lanes.  \,  275. 
*  Man.  Angl.  iii,  20. 

4  Writs,  in  Anglo-Saxon,  in  the  Eynsham  Chartulary,  shortly   to   be   published   by   the  Oxford 
Hist.  Soc. 

234 

\ 

<. 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

latter  who  were  independent  landholders,  and  will  to  that  extent  invali- 
date the  conclusions  which  Professor  Freeman  based  upon  their  presence 
in  our  county.  The  professor  made  the  presence  or  absence  of  king's 
thegns  the  test  by  which  to  determine  whether  a  county  had  submitted 
peaceably  or  the  reverse  to  the  Conqueror,  and  he  argued  that  the 
presence  of  the  class  in  such  considerable  numbers  in  Nottinghamshire 
showed  that  the  king's  favour  had  been  bought  by  an  early  submission 
on  the  part  of  the  shire  to  his  rule.1  But  apart  from  the  question  of 
mere  numbers  it  has  been  shown  in  other  volumes  of  this  series  that  the 
king's  thegns  were  considered  to  be  of  inferior  status  to  the  tenants  in 
chief  by  military  service,  and  even  in  this  county  the  number  of 
Englishmen  holding  land  in  1086  bears  a  very  small  proportion  to  the 
great  crowd  of  the  disinherited.3 

The  position  of  the  borough  of  Nottingham  in  the  survey  deserves 
notice,  for  it  reflects  one  of  the  most  important  facts  in  the  history  of 
the  shire.  Until  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  Nottinghamshire  was  united 
with  Derbyshire  under  one  sheriff,  and  from  a  chance  reference  in  the 
Domesday  account  of  Derby  borough  to  '  the  witness  of  the  two  shire 
courts '  we  know  that  this  arrangement  must  already  have  prevailed  in 
1086.*  The  association  of  the  counties  is  implied  in  the  order  in  which 
their  surveys  are  entered  in  Domesday,  for  the  account  of  Derbyshire 
comes  first,  followed  on  folio  280  by  the  descriptions  of  Nottingham 
and  Derby,  to  each  of  which  a  column  is  assigned  ;  the  next  folio,  which 
is  devoted  to  certain  customs  relating  to  the  two  counties  jointly,  being 
succeeded  by  the  survey  of  Nottinghamshire.  It  is  rather  important  to 
follow  carefully  the  structure  of  the  account  which  is  given  of  Nottingham 
itself.  First  comes  the  description  of  the  borough  as  it  stood  in  the 
Confessor's  time,  with  special  reference  to  its  agricultural  condition,  and 
to  the  king's  fiscal  rights  there.  Next  we  have  an  account  of  some 
changes  which  took  place  in  the  borough  between  the  Conquest  and 
1086,  and  then  comes  the  usual  description  of  the  state  of  things  existing 
at  the  date  of  the  survey,  with  a  specification  of  those  who  held  houses 
in  the  borough.  This  is  followed  by  the  account  of  a  small  agricultural 
estate  which  the  king  possessed  in  Nottingham,  and  then  in  reality  begins 
the  statement  of  general  customs  with  which  the  reverse  of  the  folio  is 
occupied. 

Like  the  great  majority  of  English  boroughs  Nottingham  was 
'  farmed  '  or  set  to  rent  as  a  single  whole,  and  as  generally  was  the  case 
its  'ferm'  had  been  largely  increased  by  the  Conqueror.*  In  King 

1  Norman  Conquest,  iv,  197. 

1  This  point  has  been  considered  in  the  V.  C.  H.  Northants,  \,  294  ;  and  Derb.  i,  307. 

*  On  this  ground  Mr.  Round  has  suggested  (Geoffrey  de  Mandeviilt,  193)  that  the  Ferrers  earldom 
consisted  of  the  joint  shrievalty  of  Notts,  and  Derby,  and  that  this  was  the  reason  why  Nottingham 
never  became  a  separate  earldom  before  Richard  II  conferred  the  title  on  Thomas  Mowbray.  If  we 
can  trust  the  copy  given  in  the  Mart,  (vi,  97)  the  connexion  of  the  two  counties  is  proved  by  the 
foundation  charter  of  Bredon  Priory,  Leicestershire,  where  Earl  Robert  de  Ferrers  appears  as  '  Robertas 
comes  de  Notingham.' 

4  On  the  payments  made  by  boroughs  in  1086  see  Mr.  Round's  paper  on  Domesday  finance  in 
Domesday  Studies. 

235 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Edward's  time  it  had  paid  £18,  but  in  1086  it  is  found  debited  with 
£30,  and  an  additional  payment  of  £10  from  tne  mint.  The  'ferm'  of 
Derby  had  likewise  been  brought  up  to  £30  from  £24,  while  that  of 
Lincoln  and  Leicester  had  stood  at  the  former  amount  before  the  Con- 
quest, but  had  been  much  increased.  The  pre-Conquest  '  ferm '  of 
Nottingham  most  probably  included  the  proceeds  of  the  mint,  for  follow- 
ing the  rent  of  the  borough  lands  we  read  of  a  payment  of  £2  '  from 
two  moneyers.'  This  statement  is  interesting,  for  in  the  twelfth-century 
pipe  rolls  we  find  that  when  one  of  the  moneyers  of  a  borough  ceased  to 
work,  a  remission  of  £i  was  made  from  the  'ferm'  of  the  borough  on 
this  account,  and  the  above  passage  carries  this  allowance  of  £1  to  a 
moneyer  beyond  the  Conquest.  Moreover  the  increase  in  the  render  of 
the  mint  from  £2  to  £10  may  fairly  be  taken  to  imply  that  a  corres- 
ponding increase  in  the  trade  of  the  borough  had  taken  place  since  1066. 
The  mint  at  Lincoln,  however,  rendered  £75,  and  a  proportionately 
greater  number  of  actual  coins  struck  there  have  come  down  to  us. 

But  in  addition  to  its  '  ferm '  a  borough  was  usually  assessed  to  the 
geld  in  the  same  fashion  as  a  rural  manor,  its  assessment  being  repar- 
titioned  among  the  burgesses.  The  case  of  Nottingham  is  not  quite 
simple.  To  begin  with,  the  amount  of  geld  cast  upon  the  borough  is 
very  small,  being  only  6  carucates  ;  it  was  only  1 2  carucates  at  Derby, 
the  case  of  which  is  parallel  in  several  points  with  that  of  Nottingham.1 
Then  the  wording  of  the  survey  deserves  attention  :  '  To  this  borough 
there  belong  six  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  king's  geld,  and  one 
meadow  and  underwood  6  furlongs  in  length  and  5  in  breadth.  This 
land  was  divided  among  38  burgesses,  and  from  the  rent  of  the  land  and 
the  works  of  the  burgesses  rendered  75  shillings  and  sevenpence.'  Now 
this  entry  does  not  read  like  a  statement  of  assessment  of  the  borough  as 
a  whole,  but  has  rather  the  form  of  a  description  of  an  agricultural  estate 
'  belonging '  indeed  to  the  borough,  but  held  in  fact  by  only  a  relatively 
small  number  of  its  burgesses.  As  the  total  number  of  the  latter  had 
been  173  we  see  clearly  enough  the  presence  of  a  landholding  class 
within  the  urban  community,  and  we  seem  entitled  to  ask  the  question 
whether  the  fiscal  responsibility  of  the  borough  had  not  been  borne  in 
practice  by  those  burgesses  only  who  possessed  a  share  in  the  borough  lands, 
especially  in  view  of  the  reappearance  of  a  precisely  similar  phenomenon 
at  Derby.  For  the  gulf  is  wide  between  the  assessment  of  Nottingham 
and  Derby  at  6  and  12  carucates,  and  that  of  Cambridge  at  100  hides, 
of  Bedford  and  Huntingdon  at  50  each,  and  (to  return  to  the  Danelaw) 
of  Stamford  at  150  carucates.  Lastly,  later  in  the  same  column,  there 
occurs  an  entry  which,  to  all  appearance,  relates  to  the  geldable  land  of 
the  borough — '  Burgenses  habent  vi  carucatas  terra  ad  arandum  et  xx 
bordarios  et  xiii  carucas.'  Here,  then,  we  see  the  above  6  fiscal  carucates 
represented  by  an  equal  number  of  field  carucates  actually  cultivated  by 
the  burgesses  and  their  dependents. 

1  V.  C.  H.  Derb.  \,  308. 

236 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

The  account  of  the  borough  land  of  Nottingham  opens  up  another 
interesting  subject.  One  of  these  6  carucates  had  been  held  by  Earl 
Tostig  '  of  the  soke  of  whose  land  the  king  had  two  pennies  and  the  earl 
himself  the  third.'  This  entry  has  a  definite  bearing  on  the  difficult 
question  of  the  earldom  to  which  Nottinghamshire  had  belonged  in  the 
time  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  Professor  Freeman,  who  had  noticed 
this  passage,  remarked  that  Tostig  '  is  not  distinctly  spoken  of  as 
earl  of  the  shire.'1  This  no  doubt  is  true,  but  when  an  earl  is 
found  in  possession  of  the  third  penny  of  land  in  a  county  town  the 
fact  affords  a  reasonable  presumption  that  he  was  the  earl  of  the  shire  to 
which  the  town  belonged.  Tostig's  possession  of  Bothamsall,  an  im- 
portant manor  with  much  sokeland  appurtenant,  is  also  suggestive  ; 
such  estates  were  not  very  common  in  Nottinghamshire,  and  the  Con- 
queror's retention  of  it  in  his  own  hand  agrees  well  with  the  plan,  which 
we  know  him  to  have  followed  in  other  counties,  of  keeping  for  himself 
the  forfeited  estates  of  the  local  earl. 

At  any  rate  Earl  Tostig's  land  in  Nottingham  is  of  importance  in 
another  connexion.  At  some  uncertain  date  before  1086,  Hugh  fitz 
Baldric  was  sheriff  of  this  shire,2  and  he  established  thirteen  houses  on  the 
land  in  question,  although  the  population  had  fallen  from  173  to  136. 
An  interlineation  describes  these  houses  as  in  novo  burgo,  a  phrase  which 
gives  us  our  first  evidence  for  the  existence  of  the  '  French  borough  '  in 
Nottingham.  Similar  '  new  boroughs'  had  been  founded  in  other  towns, 
as  at  Exeter  and  Northampton.3  The  peculiarity  of  the  Nottingham 
case  is  that  it  accidentally  affected  our  legal  phraseology.  The  '  old 
borough  '  of  Nottingham,  so  early  as  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
Henry  I,  had  come  to  be  described  in  contradistinction  to  the  new 
borough  as  the  Anglicus  burgus^  and  in  it  the  old  English  customs  as  to 
the  inheritance  of  land  continued  to  prevail.  In  particular,  that  form  of 
succession  according  to  which  the  youngest  son  succeeded  to  his  father's 
land  was  found  there,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  deeper  reason  for  the 
name,  Borough  English,  which  ever  since  the  twelfth  century  has 
attached  to  this  kind  of  tenure. 

Although  five  Nottinghamshire  tenants  in  chief  held  houses  in  the 
county  town,  we  do  not  see  any  of  that  attribution  of  town  houses  to 
country  manors  which  was  such  a  prominent  feature  of  the  survey  of 
Leicester.  There  is,  therefore,  no  direct  evidence  in  favour  of  the 
'  garrison  theory  '  of  the  borough  to  be  gathered  from  Nottingham.*  On 
the  other  hand  the  survey  of  Nottingham  contains  one  very  characteristic 
feature  in  the  domus  equitum,  which  appear  in  two  entries.  The  word 
eques  is  very  rare  in  Domesday,  and  it  seems  as  if  it  can  have  had  no 
other  Anglo-Saxon  equivalent  but  cnibt,  a  word  which,  by  the  eleventh 

1  Norman  Conquest,  ii,  580. 

*  He   figures  as   sheriff  (of  Yorkshire)   before    1069   in    the  foundation  legend  of  Selby  Abbey. 
Freeman,  Norman  Conquest,  iv,  794. 

'  V.  C.  H.  Northants,  i,  276. 

*  See  the  section  on  '  the  Borough '  in  Domesday  Book  and  Beyond,  where  particular  reference  is  made 
to  Nottingham  in  1200. 

237 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

century  at  any  rate,  was  undergoing  a  military  specialization.  When, 
therefore,  we  read  that  '  Ralf  de  Burun  has  twelve  knights'  houses,  in 
one  of  which  a  merchant  dwells,'  we  may  be  disposed  to  see  a  concrete 
instance  of  the  process,  as  a  result  of  which,  in  Professor  Maitland's 
phrase,  '  houses  which  should  have  been  occupied  by  knights  were  occu- 
pied by  chapmen.'1  Twenty-five  knights'  houses  are  recorded,  twelve 
of  which  belonged  to  William  Peverel,  who,  we  may  remark,  had  been 
at  least  formerly  in  charge  of  Nottingham  Castle,  and  thirteen,  as  we  have 
seen,  to  Ralf  de  Burun. 

The  one  church  which  Domesday  records  in  Nottingham  was  hand- 
somely endowed.  It  possessed  three  '  messuages  '  (mansiones)  and  5  bovates 
of  borough  land  '  with  sac  and  soc,'  as  well  as  5  j  acres,  over  which  the 
king  exercised  these  rights,  which  also  belonged  to  him  in  relation  to 
sixty-five  houses  situated  '  in  the  priest's  croft,'  the  total  value  of  all  these 
possessions  being  £5  yearly.  The  foundation  charter  of  Lenton  Priory 
carries  the  history  of  this  church  a  stage  further,  for  William  Peverel 
gives  to  his  monks  'the  church  of  St.  Mary,  of  the  English  borough  of 
Nottingham,  with  all  its  appurtenances,  by  the  grant  of  (his)  lord  King 
Henry. >s  These  last  words  are  explained  by  the  statement  in  Domesday 
that  the  church  was  situated  in  the  king's  demesne,  and  we  may  safely 
identify  it  as  the  Norman  predecessor  of  the  present  church  of  St.  Mary. 

Of  more  general  interest  is  the  statement  that  '  In  Nottingham  the 
water  of  Trent  and  the  Foss  way  (fossa),  and  the  road  towards  York  were 
so  guarded  that  if  any  one  should  hinder  the  passage  of  ships,  or  should 
plough  or  make  a  ditch  within  two  perches  of  the  king's  way,  he  should 
pay  a  fine  (emendare]  of  £8.'  Nottingham  stood  in  later  times  at  the 
head  of  the  navigation  of  the  Trent,  and  the  commercial  importance  of 
the  river  is  illustrated  by  the  permission  which  Henry  I  gave  to  Alex- 
ander, bishop  of  Lincoln,  of  making  a  bridge  over  the  Trent  at  his  castle 
of  Newark,  '  so  that  it  may  not  hurt  my  city  of  Lincoln  nor  my  borough 
of  Nottingham,'3  and  also  by  the  clause  in  Henry  II's  charter  to  the 
burgesses  of  Nottingham,  granting  them  rights  of  toll  over  all  people 
passing  along  the  Trent  from  Thrumpton  to  Newark.4  The  Lincolnshire 
Domesday  shows  us  other  than  mercantile  travellers  passing  down  the 
river,  for  it  was  the  duty  of  the  men  of  Torksey  to  conduct  the  king's 
messengers  in  their  boats  from  the  latter  place  to  York.6  Much  of  the 
trade  of  Nottingham  was  no  doubt  due  to  its  situation  at  the  point  where 
the  Trent  at  or  near  its  navigable  limit  was  crossed  by  one  of  the  great 
highways  running  from  north  to  south,  the  via  versus  Eboracum  of 
Domesday.  There  seem  to  have  been  two  main  '  through  routes '  from 
London  to  York,  both  of  which  intersected  Nottinghamshire.  The  one 

1  Domes  Jay  Book  and  Beyond,  1 96. 

*  Man.  Angl.  v,  in.      In   1538  the  value  of  the  tithes  accruing  to  the  priory  from  Nottingham 
amounted  to  £3  5  1 8/.  8</. 

*  Man.  Angl.  viii,  1275. 

4  Stevenson,  Records  of  the  Borough  of  Nottingham,  \.  The  Domesday  text  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
clause  in  the  charter  running  '  Et  iter  de  Trenta  liberum  esse  debet  navigantibus  quantum  pertica  una 
obtinebit  ex  utraque  pane  fili  aquae.'  6  Dom.  Bk.  f.  337. 

238 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

in  question  was  that  which  diverged  from  the  Watling  Street  at  Stony 
Stratford,  passed  through  Northampton  and  Leicester  to  Nottingham, 
and  continued  through  Blyth  and  Doncaster  to  York  and  the  north. 
We  get  a  definition  of  its  course  in  Nottinghamshire  in  the  above- 
mentioned  charter  to  Nottingham,  for  the  burgesses  are  granted  toll  '  a 
Duito  ultra  Rempeston  usque  ad  aquam  de  Radefud  in  Nor.'  Duito  is 
explained  by  Mr.  Stevenson  as  a  shortened  form  of  conductum,  and  refers 
to  the  brook  which  for  some  five  miles  forms  the  southern  boundary  of 
Nottinghamshire,  and  is  crossed  by  the  above  road  at  Rempstone  on  its 
entrance  into  the  county.1  Similarly  the  road  crosses  the  '  water  at 
Radford,'  or  river  Ryton,  at  Blyth,  a  fact  which  helps  to  explain  Roger  de 
Buslis'  grant  of  toll,  fair,  and  market  there.3  The  other  road  from  the 
south  to  York  ran  from  London  through  Huntingdon  to  Lincoln,  and 
then,  crossing  the  Trent  at  Littleborough,  passed  across  the  north-eastern 
corner  of  Nottinghamshire,  entering  Yorkshire  at  Bawtry,  and  probably 
joining  the  road  from  Leicester  and  Nottingham  at  the  same  place.3 

A  slight  ambiguity  attends  the  word  fossa  in  the  Domesday  passage 
quoted  above.  Mr.  Ballard  takes  it  to  mean  '  the  city  ditch';4  but  there 
does  not  appear  to  be  any  evidence  in  support  of  this.  By  Mr.  Green 
and  his  followers  it  is  taken  in  close  connexion  with  via  versus  Eboracum, 
and  translated  '  the  ditch  and  road  that  runs  to  York.' b  But  this 
reading  does  not  seem  very  natural,  and  in  the  translation  below  the 
word  is  taken  to  mean  '  the  Foss  Way.'  This  great  road,  running 
from  Lincoln  to  Leicester  and  the  south-west,  passed  through  the  three 
southern  wapentakes  of  Nottinghamshire,  and  for  1 2  miles  formed  part 
of  the  high  road  from  Newark  to  Nottingham.  The  Lincoln  Cathedral 
charters  show  its  position  as  a  '  royal  road.'  In  one  of  them  the  bishop 
is  allowed  to  divert  the  regia  strata^  which  goes  through  Newark,  whither 
he  will.6  Mr.  Stevenson  has  recently  suggested  that  the  words  '  In 
Snotingeham,  aqua  Trente  ....  custodiuntur  '  in  the  above  Domesday 
passage  may  indicate  '  some  control  over  the  county '  as  belonging  to  the 
burgesses  of  Nottingham.7  This  may  no  doubt  be  so,  but  it  is  also 
possible  that  the  word  scire  was  omitted  after  '  Snotingeham,'  and  that 
the  passage  is  merely  indicating  the  manner  in  which  the  main  lines  of 
communication  running  through  the  county  were  safeguarded. 

On  the  whole  the  local  geography  of  Nottinghamshire  has  exhibited 
somewhat  unusual  stability.  If  we  combine  Domesday  with  the  twelfth- 
century  chartularies  which  we  possess  there  will  be  few  hamlets  in  the 
county  which  we  cannot  trace  back  to  a  period  beyond  1 1 60,  while  a 
still  smaller  number  of  the  place-names  mentioned  in  the  survey  have 
passed  altogether  out  of  remembrance.  In  1086  the  county  seems  to 

1  The  copy  of  the  charter  given  by  Dr.  Stubbs  in  his  Select  Charters,  p.  167,  reads  '  usque  ad  aquam 
de  Radefud  in  Norhantesire,'  but  this  is  merely  a  wrong  expansion  of  the  Nor'  of  the  original. 

'  '  Theloneum  et  passagium  de  Radefud  usque  in  Thornewat'  .  .  .  feriam  et  merchatum  in  eadem 
villa.'  Man.  Angl.  iv,  623. 

3  It  was  by  this  latter  road  that  Harold  marched  south  in  1066,  and  William  in  1068. 

4  The  Domesday  Boroughs,  85.  5  Conquest  of  England  (ed.  1883),  439. 

6  Man.  Angl.  viii,  1273.  '  English  Historical  Review,  April,  1905,  p.  349. 

239 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

have  had  precisely  its  present  boundaries,  a  statement  which  is  worth 
making  in  view  of  the  general  belief  that  Nottinghamshire  was  com- 
bined with  Rutland  in  Domesday,  and  that  its  frontier  accordingly 
requires  rectification.1  Now  the  south  of  Rutland  was  actually  included 
in  the  Domesday  account  of  Northamptonshire,  and  several  manors  in  north 
Rutland  are  duplicated  in  the  Lincolnshire  Domesday,  but  the  connexion 
between  Rutland  and  Nottinghamshire  in  1086  was  purely  fiscal.  The 
district  which  is  called  Rutland  in  Domesday  consisted  of  the  wapentakes 
of  '  Alfnodestou '  and  '  Martinsley,'  representing  the  three  modern  hun- 
dreds of  Alstoe,  Martinsley,  and  Oakham  soke.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
survey  of  this  district  these  two  wapentakes  are  named  with  the  state- 
ment that  they  belong  to  the  sherifdom  of  Nottingham  with  reference 
to  the  king's  geld  (ad  geldum  regis),  and  in  particular  we  are  told  that 
Alstoe  is  '  half  in  Thurgarton  and  half  in  Broxtow  wapentake.'  Perhaps 
the  simplest  possible  explanation  of  this  very  difficult  phrase  would  be 
that  the  proceeds  of  the  Alstoe  court  were  divided  between  Thurgarton 
and  Broxtow  wapentakes  in  the  sense  of  being  added  in  equal  propor- 
tions to  the  perquisites  drawn  by  the  sheriff  of  Nottingham  from  each  of 
the  latter.  We  certainly  cannot  suppose  that  half  the  peasantry  of  Alstoe 
wapentake  were  expected  to  travel  forty  miles  each  month  to  attend  the 
court  at  Thurgarton.  The  essence  of  the  connexion  doubtless  was  that 
the  sheriff  of  Nottingham  was  answerable  for  the  Rutland  Danegeld,  and 
it  was  nearly  a  century  after  Domesday  before  the  latter  became  a  fiscally 
independent  shire.  We  get  a  glimpse  of  this  association  in  another 
quarter,  for  when  the  Conqueror  granted  the  churches  of  Uppingham 
and  Wardley  in  Rutland  to  Westminster  Abbey  he  addressed  his  writ  to 
Bishop  Remigius,  Hugh  de  Port,  and  'all  his  servants  and  lieges  (jidelibus) 
of  Nottinghamshire.' s 

We  may  now  pass  on  to  certain  matters  which  are  suggested  by  the 
Nottinghamshire  survey  as  a  whole.  If  the  survey  is  read  with  special 
attention  to  its  statements  of  manorial  values  it  will  be  noticed  that  while 
the  great  majority  of  values  are  expressed  in  simple  multiples  or  fractions 
of  a  pound  a  considerable  number  are  more  complex.  Thus  the  first 
four  manors  entered  on  the  land  of  the  king's  thegns  are  valued  respec- 
tively at  ioj.,  5-r.  4</.,  loj.  8</.,  and  £2.  Now  this  sum  of  5^.  ^d.  with 
its  fractions  and  multiples  occurs  in  many  entries  in  Nottinghamshire, 
and  is  found,  though  somewhat  less  frequently,  in  the  Derbyshire 
Domesday  also.  The  instances  of  its  occurrence  in  the  latter  county  are 
collected  in  the  Victoria  History  of  Derbyshire^  where  it  is  suggested 
that  these  figures  are  based  upon  the  '  ora,'  or  ounce  of  silver,  of  1 6  pence, 
a  currency  unit  which  we  know  to  have  prevailed  in  that  district.8  On 

1  DomesJay  Book  and  Beyond,  408. 

1  Man.  i,  301.  Remigius  is  doubtless  included  as  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  in  which  these  churches 
were  situated,  but  it  is  difficult  to  explain  the  fact  that  Hugh  de  Port  occupies  in  this  charter  (1081- 
1087)  the  place  of  a  sheriff  of  Notts.  We  have  no  statement  elsewhere  to  the  effect  that  he  ever  held 
that  office,  and  he  held  no  land  in  this  county  in  1 08  6. 

*  This  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  Burton  Chartulary  uses  'ora 'and  '  1 6 pence'  interchangeably. 
See  Mr.  Round  in  Eng.  Hist.  Rev.  April,  1905  ;  and  feudal  England. 

240 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

the  other  hand,  in  the  survey  of  Leicester,  the  capital  of  another  of  the 
counties  of  the  true  Danelaw,  as  at  Oxford,  we  are  distinctly  told  that 
the  ora  consisted  of  20  pence,  but  in  Cambridgeshire  and  Bedfordshire 
we  know  that  the  reckoning  of  16  pence  held  good.  The  denomi- 
nation is  not  mentioned  by  name  in  Nottinghamshire,  but  the  following 
table  certainly  suggests  that  the  16  pence  equation  was  recognized  in 
this  county  also  : — 


£  '•  d. 
014 
028 


Value  T.R.E.  at : 


Value  T.R.W.  at  i 


054 


o  10     8 


0160 


Clarborough Clarborough 

Kinoulton 

Xhrumpton Thrumpton 

Rempstone 

Oxton 

Calverton 

West  Dray  ton 

Aslockton Aslockton 

— Carlton  on  Trent 

Woodborough Woodborough 

Trowell 

.Chilwell Costock 

(  Fenton Fenton 

'  "]  Knapthorpe Knapthorpe 

(  Welham 

East  Markham East  Markham 

Gotham Gotham 

Greasley Beckingham 

Oxton Kelham 

Cossall Eakring 

Normanton-by-Southwell      .      .  North  Muskham 

Cropwell  Butler 

Calverton 

South  Muskham — 


The  same  unit  is  very  prominent  in  the  valuation  of  mills,  a  fact 
which  Mr.  Round  has  noticed  elsewhere.  Thus  mills  at  Newark, 
Barnby  in  the  Willows,  Epperstone,  Oxton,  Staunton,  and  Hawton  were 
valued  at  5^.  ^d.  each,  the  mill  at  Tuxford  was  worth  IGJ.  8</.,  while 
those  at  Laneham,  East  Markham,  Kirklington,  Warsop,  Hickling,  and 
Teversall,  were  estimated  at  i6j.  each,  and  at  Tilne,  Clarborough,  and 
Bole  we  read  of  'two  mills  rendering  £i  12s.'  Apart  from  mills,  the 
fishery  at  Dunham  had  been  worth  IQJ.  8</.,  and  two  of  the  most  impor- 
tant ferries  across  the  Trent,  at  Gunthorpe  and  Fiskerton,  had  brought 
in  £1  i  os.  %d.  and  £2  6s.  8d.  respectively,  the  last  of  course  representing 
a  sum  of  seven  half-marks.1 

In  the  Victoria  History  of  Derbyshire  it  was  pointed  out  that  the 
existence  of  this  '  ora '  of  1 6d.  threw  a  little  light  upon  the  curious 
series  of  fines  by  which  the  king's  peace  was  safeguarded  in  Nottingham- 
shire and  Derbyshire.  The  statement  in  question,  which  is  repeated 


1  For  the  value  of  the  '  ora '  compare  Studies  in  Anglo-Saxon  Institutions,  by  Mr.  H.  M.  Chadwick, 
who,  however,  regards  the  Domesday  evidence  as  pointing  exclusively  to  an  '  ora '  of  20  pence. 

I  241  31 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

with    slight    verbal    differences  in   the  Yorkshire  and  Lincoln  surveys, 

runs : — 

In   Snotingeham  scyre  et  in  Derbescyre  pax  regis  manu  vel  sigillo  data,  si  fuerit 
infracta  emendatur  per  xviii  hundrez.     Unumquodque  hund  :   viii  libras. 

Now  £8  represents  120  'ores,'  that  is  100  according  to  the  '  Anglicus 
Numerus  '  which  was  followed  in  the  Danelaw,  and  this  fact  becomes  signi- 
ficant when  we  read  in  a  statement  of  the  privileges  of  the  church  of 
York  :  '  Si  quis  enim  quemlibet  .  .  .  infra  atrium  ecclesiae  caperet 
et  retineret,  universali  judicio  vi  hundreth  emendabit.  In  hundreth 
viii  librae  continentur.'1  In  1106  these  privileges  were  declared  to 
apply  to  the  church  of  Southwell,8  so  that  we  are  justified  in  extending 
their  application  into  Nottinghamshire,  and  by  combining  this  passage 
with  the  above  quotation  from  Domesday  we  see  that  the  '  hundred ' 
was  i  oo  '  ores,'  and  that  most  probably  on  this  account  the  sum  of  £8 
came  itself  to  be  described  as  a  '  hundred.'  This  is  not  the  place  in 
which  to  discuss  the  meaning  of  these  '  hundreds '  as  fiscal  groups,  which 
has  been  treated  by  Mr.  Round  in  Feudal  England,  nor  can  we  enter 
into  the  difficult  question  of  their  possible  connexion  with  the  territorial 
hundreds  mentioned  here  and  there  in  the  body  of  the  survey  of  this  county, 
but  we  may  note  that  the  Lindsey  survey  shows  us  that  the  Lincolnshire 
'  hundred '  normally  contained  1 2  carucates,  which,  as  .£8  represents 
12  marks  as  well  as  120  ores,  illustrates  in  a  striking  way  the  neatness 
and  artificiality  of  early  fiscal  arrangements.3 

Nottinghamshire  was  one  of  those  counties  in  which  we  may 
suspect  that  the  compilers  of  Domesday  did  not  deal  very  consistently 
with  certain  classes  of  society  included  in  the  original  returns.4  Two 
very  important  classes,  slaves  at  one  end  of  the  social  order  and  rent- 
paying  tenants  (here  styled  '  censores ')  at  the  other,  are  mentioned  just 
sufficiently  often  to  prove  that  nothing  in  the  instructions  issued  to  the 
Domesday  commissioners  directed  their  exclusion  from  the  returns,  but 
appear  in  our  portion  of  the  survey  in  a  way  which  suggests  that  their 
entry  depended  on  the  caprice  of  the  scribes.  Thus  not  a  single  '  censor  '  or 
serf  appears  on  the  first  fifteen  folios  of  the  Nottinghamshire  survey;  but  at 
Colwick,  the  first  manor  entered  on  the  fief  of  William  Peverel,  we  meet 
with  two  serfs,  and  at  Gonalston  two  '  censores '  occur.  On  the  next  folio 
two  serfs  are  entered  at  Stapleford,  and  four  at  Bilborough,  and  two  serfs 
appear  at  Bulcote  on  the  succeeding  fief  of  Walter  de  Aincurt.  The 
scribes  would  seem  to  have  been  more  exact  in  their  description  of 
Geoffrey  Alselin's  land  which  follows,  for  in  addition  to  the  serfs  who 
are  found,  in  number  five,  six,  and  one  respectively  at  Laxton,  Stoke  with 
Gedling,  and  Burton  Joyce,  an  '  ancilla '  or  female  serf  is  entered  at  the  first 

1  Feudal England,  73. 

*  A  statement  of  these  privileges  is  entered  in  the  (MS.)  Liber  Albus  of  Southwell. 
3  feudal  England,  7  5 . 

*  The  unsystematic  methods  of  the  scribes  in  matters  of  secondary  importance  for  their  purposes  are 
illustrated   in   another  way.     In  Notts,  there  occurs  only  one  instance,  at  Gunthorpe,  of  the  tallage 
(tailla)  which  is  a  prominent  feature  of  the  Lincoln  survey,  and  cannot  reasonably  be  supposed  to  have 
been  levied  on  a  single  manor  only  in  the  former  county. 

242 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

and  last  of  these  places ;  but  serfs,  '  ancillae,'  and  '  censores  '  alike  are  en- 
tirely absent  from  the  remainder  of  the  survey.  We  shall  not  explain 
their  casual  appearance  on  geographical  grounds,  for  if  Stapleford  and 
Bilborough  are  close  to  the  border  of  Derbyshire,  where  the  servile 
population  reaches  "j  per  cent.,  Laxton  is  within  7  miles  of  Lincolnshire, 
where,  so  far  as  the  evidence  of  Domesday  goes,  there  were  no  serfs  at 
all.  No  doubt  the  proportion  of  the  servile  class  is  usually  supposed  to 
have  reached  its  lowest  point  in  the  Danelaw,  yet  there  were  nearly  700 
serfs  in  Leicestershire,  while  as  for  Nottinghamshire  the  fact  that  the 
servi  are  confined  to  three  fiefs  entered  in  the  middle  of  the  survey 
would  alone  make  any  conclusions  based  on  their  numbers  in  this  county 
extremely  precarious.  No  freemen,  strictly  so  called  (liberi  homines] ,  occur 
in  Nottinghamshire,  but  we  notice  seven  franci  homines,  who  may  be  either 
franklins  or  Frenchmen,1  at  Newark,  and  one  francus  homo  is  to  be  found 
on  William  Peverel's  portion  of  Langar.  But  the  Liber  de  Welbeck gives  one 
most  interesting  glimpse  of  an  older  order  of  society  in  its  account  of  Norton 
Cuckney.  The  story  runs  that  a  certain  'Joceus  the  Fleming'  came  to 
England  with  the  Conqueror,  and  received  land  in  Cuckney.  In  the 
same  vill  there  was  dwelling  one  Gamelbere,  who  had  held  2  carucates  of 
land  before  the  Conquest  as  a  '  dreng,'  on  condition  of  shoeing  the  king's 
palfrey  when  he  came  to  Mansfield,  and  of  performing  such  duties  as 
belonged  to  a  holding  of  2  carucates  whenever  there  was  need  of  military 
service  in  Wales.  Gamelbere  (the  name  is  pure  Danish)  died  in  the 
time  of  Henry  I,  having  presumably  continued  to  hold  his  land  according 
to  pre-Conquest  conditions  of  tenure  up  to  his  death,  and  the  king  gave 
his  2  carucates  to  Richard,  son  of  the  above-mentioned  'Joceus  the 
Fleming.'2  It  is  impossible  to  corroborate  this  story  from  Domesday 
evidence,  for  neither  '  Joceus '  nor  Gamelbere  is  mentioned  in  the 
survey  ;  but  there  seems  no  reason  to  doubt  its  truth,  nor  the  fact 
that  in  1086  there  was  still  to  be  found  in  Nottinghamshire  one 
of  that  class  of  '  drengs  '  who  figure  prominently  in  the  land  between 
Ribble  and  Mersey,  and  maintained  their  ancient  tenures  in  the 
north  for  centuries  after  Domesday,  but  of  whose  existence  we 
can  find  only  the  slenderest  traces  after  the  Conquest  south  of  the 
Humber.3 

The  Nottinghamshire  survey  is  not  a  very  favourable  specimen  of 
the  workmanship  of  the  Domesday  scribes.  The  earls,  as  we  have  seen, 
are  entered  before  the  ecclesiastical  tenants,  one  folio  is  entirely  vacant, 
and  there  are  numerous  blank  spaces  in  the  manuscript,  while  erasures, 
interlineations,  and  marginal  entries  are  frequent.  The  account  of  the 
king's  manor  of  Mansfield  is  somewhat  unintelligible  at  first  sight.  It 

1  Probably  the  former.     See  Mr.  Round's  remarks  in  P.C.H.  Warwickshire,  i,  285. 

'  Mm.  Angl.,  vi,  872 

3  The  most  complete  account  of  drengage  is  contained  in  Prof.  Maitland's  article  on  Northumbrian 
tenures, Eng.  Hist.  Rev.  v,  625  et  seq.  See  also  Lapsley  in  Amer.  Hist.  Rev.  ix,  670-695,  and  V.  C.H. 
Durham,  i,  284—291.  It  may  be  noted  that  the  Worksop  Priory  documents  contain  references  to 
land  'ad  Inwara(m) '  and  'ad  Utwara(m)  '  so  late  as  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  See  Atherueum,  24  June, 
1905. 

243 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

follows  the  description  of  his  manor  of  Grimston,  which,  though  desig- 
nated as  a  *  manerium '  by  the  symbol  M  in  the  margin  of  the  entry,  and 
possessing  five  pieces  of  appurtenant  sokeland,  is  described  as  being  a 
berewick  in  Mansfield.  Then  comes  the  survey  of  the  latter,  which  is 
followed  by  a  string  of  place-names  with  assessment  figures  annexed,  of 
which  we  read  that  the  total  amounts  to  13  carucates  6J  bovates.  This 
is  not  true,  for  these  figures  work  out  at  the  much  neater  total  of  1 5  caru- 
cates ;  but  the  survey  then  goes  on  to  describe  some  of  these  places  with 
their  agricultural  details,  a  plan  which  is  followed  more  consistently  in 
the  account  of  the  soke  of  Grantham  in  the  Lincolnshire  Domesday. 
One  touch  of  personal  interest  occurs  in  these  last  details,  for  at  Warsop 
we  are  told  that '  there  is  i  bovate  which  a  blind  man  holds  in  alms  of  the 
king.'  He  is  entered  again  on  the  thegns'  land  at  the  very  end  of  the 
survey,  and  as  the  assessment  of  Warsop  is  complete  as  a  3~carucate  vill 
without  his  bovate,  it  is  quite  possible  that  he  was  exempted  from  pay- 
ment of  the  geld.  Professor  Freeman  rather  unnecessarily  suggested  that 
he  had  been  '  blinded  by  the  king's  orders.' l  We  may  also  note  that 
i  bovate  which  the  king  held  in  Farnsfield  '  prope  Snotingeham ' 
as  belonging  to  Grimston  soke  is  not  improbably  entered  again  on 
Walter  de  Aincurt's  land  as  that  bovate  which  was  '  the  king's,  but 
belonged  to  the  hundred  of  Southwell,'  to  which  reference  has  already 
been  made.9 

The  history  of  the  eight  Domesday  wapentakes  of  Nottinghamshire  is 
reasonably  clear,  the  only  changes  of  importance  being  that  Oswardbeck  has 
been  united  to  Bassetlaw,  of  which  it  forms  the  North  Clay  division,  and 
'  Lide  '  to  Thurgarton,  the  name  of  the  former  being  preserved  in  the  old 
description  of  the  latter  as  the  wapentake  of '  Thurgarton-a-Lee.'  It  is 
always  worth  while  to  try  to  trace  the  order  in  which  the  hundreds  (or 
wapentakes)  are  entered  in  the  survey,  especially  where,  as  in  this  county, 
the  rubrication  is  not  consistent,  for  a  sequence  once  established  may  throw 
light  on  difficult  problems  of  identification,  and  also  has  a  bearing  on  the 
question  of  possible  circuits  which  may  have  been  made  by  the  Domesday 
commissioners.  In  Nottinghamshire,  the  fief  of  Roger  de  Busli,  which  is 
rubricated  throughout,  shows  the  following  order  :  Newark,  Bassetlaw, 
'  Lide,'  Thurgarton,  Rushcliffe,  (Broxtow),  Bingham,  Oswardbeck.  The 
nine  manors  of  Count  Alan's  fief,  which  is  not  rubricated  at  all,  were 
scattered  over  five  wapentakes  which  are  entered  in  the  above  order, 
which  also  appears  on  the  fiefs  of  Walter  de  Aincurt,  Geoffrey  Alselin, 
and  (with  the  exception  of  his  first  manor)  William  Peverel.  It  is  also 
observed  on  the  king's  land,  for  the  description  of  his  possessions  in 
Oswardbeck  wapentake  immediately  after  Mansfield  is  explained  by  their 
connexion  with  the  latter  manor  ;  and  on  that  of  Gilbert  de  Gand  the 
mistaken  rubrication  of  Newark  wapentake  at  the  head  of  his  fief  points 
to  a  practice  by  which  the  survey  of  a  tenant's  lands  would  normally 
begin  therewith.  It  will  be  evident  that  this  sequence  violates  all 
geographical  order,  for  it  leaps  at  once  from  Bingham  wapentake  in  the 

1  Norman  Conquest,  iv,  197.  *  See  above,  p.  219. 

244 


DOMESDAY    SURVEY 

extreme  south  of  the  county,  to  Oswardbeck  wapentake  in  the  extreme 
north. 

There  are  a  few  difficult  questions  of  identification  in  the  Nottingham- 
shire Domesday,  one  of  which  has  the  rare  distinction  of  being  raised  in  a 
mediaeval  law  suit.  In  1285,  Henry  de  Purpunt  and  Annora  his  wife, 
lords  of  Sneinton,  were  impleaded  by  the  men  of  that  vill  on  the  ground 
that  while  Sneinton  was  ancient  demesne  of  the  crown,  Henry  and 
Annora  had  increased  the  rents  due  from  tenements  there,  and  had  inter- 
fered with  the  legal  rights  and  privileges  of  their  tenants,  on  whom  they 
had  also  imposed  an  unaccustomed  tallage  of  100  marks.  In  reply  it  was 
urged  that  Sneinton  was  not  ancient  demesne,  upon  which  Domesday 
Book  was  ordered  to  be  searched,  when  '  Notintone '  was  found  to  be 
duly  entered  on  the  king's  land.  There  the  matter  seems  to  have  rested 
for  two  years,  but  in  1287  a  jury  found  that  Sneinton  was  always  called 
by  that  name,  and  that  '  Notintone '  was  a  part  of  Nottingham  on  the 
side  towards  Arnold.  On  this  the  men  of  Sneinton  were  assessed,  but  in 
view  of  the  undoubted  fact  that  their  predecessors  had  enjoyed  the 
privileges  of  ancient  demesne  in  the  time  of  King  John,  and  that  in 
documents  of  the  time  the  name  appears  as  Snotintone  or  Snadinton, 
we  shall  not  be  disposed  to  attach  much  weight  to  the  verdict  of  the 
jury  of  I287.1 

One  of  the  few  Nottinghamshire  names  which  have  quite  vanished 
from  the  modern  map  is  the  '  Schidrintune  '  which  is  entered  on  the  royal 
demesne,  and  also  on  the  fiefs  of  Roger  de  Busli,  Gilbert  de  Gand, 
and  Geoffrey  Alselin.  We  need,  however,  have  little  hesitation  in 
identifying  it  with  the  modern  Kirton,  near  Ollerton,  for  in  the  thirteenth 
century  the  latter  was  divided  between  the  Everingham  barony,  repre- 
senting the  fief  of  Geoffrey  Alselin,  the  earls  of  Lincoln,  descendants 
of  Gilbert  de  Gand,  and  the  family  of  Fitz  Alan  (fitz  Flaald),  the  founder 
of  which  had  been  enfeoffed  by  Henry  I  on  certain  of  the  escheated 
lands  of  Roger  de  Busli,  and  has  been  recognized  by  Mr.  Round  as  the 
ancestor  of  the  Stewarts.*  Another  name  presenting  difficulty  is 
'  Cledretone,'  which  was  part  of  the  king's  soke  of  Oswardbeck,  and  has 
also  been  already  described  as  being  divided  equally  between  Count  Alan 
and  Roger  de  Busli.  In  all  probability  it  is  now  represented  by  South 
Leverton,  which  formed  part  of  Oswardbeck  soke,  and  also,  like  'Cledretone' 
in  Domesday,  was  held  of  the  honour  of  Richmond  by  the  Musters 
family.  It  is  probable  that  the  '  Suderdeshale '  which  occurs  in  the 
king's  land,  for  all  the  formidable  appearance  of  the  name,  is  in  reality  a 
corruption  for  '  Sud  Ordeshale  '  (South  Ordsall),  with  which  it  agrees  in 
geographical  position 

No  account  of  the  Nottinghamshire  Domesday  would  be  complete 
which  did  not  include  a  passing  reference  to  the  history  of  the  county 
published  in  1677  by  Robert  Thoroton,  a  most  worthy  member  of  the 

1  See  the  account  of  this  case  in  Thoroton,  Hist,  of  Notts,  iii,  2,  and  Placita  coram   rege,  Mich. 
13-14  Edw.  I,  m.  28, 

*  Round,  Studies  in  Peerage  and  Family  History,  129. 

245 


A   HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

great  band  of  seventeenth-century  antiquaries.  It  is  perhaps  the 
greatest  merit  of  Thoroton's  work  that  he  fully  grasped  the  essential  fact 
that  the  key  to  all  manorial  history  lies  in  the  distribution  of  land  recorded 
in  Domesday,  and  that  he  carried  out  this  principle  with  such  thorough- 
ness that,  so  far  as  the  work  of  identification  is  concerned,  independent 
investigation  can  often  do  little  more  than  confirm  his  minuteness  and 
accuracy.  The  extent  of  his  knowledge,  and  the  strength  with  which  he 
applied  it  to  the  narrow  but  all-important  study  of  manorial  descent, 
make  his  book  one  of  the  best,  as  it  is  one  of  the  earliest,  examples  of  the 
systematic  treatment  of  Domesday  for  purposes  of  local  history. 

NOTE 

The  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  the  date  of  the  Domesday  Survey  is  1086;  and  that 
'the  time  of  King  Edward'  normally  means  the  date  of  his  death  (5  January,  1066).  The 
Domesday  '  carucate  '  was  a  unit  of  assessment  containing  8  '  bovates.'  The  essential  portion 
of  the  plough  was  its  team  of  oxen,  eight  in  number.  The  'demesne'  was  the  lord's  portion 
of  the  manor,  the  peasantry  holding  the  rest  of  it  under  him. 

It  must  always  be  remembered  that  when  Domesday  speaks  of  a  place  as  held  by  a  certain 
tenant  it  does  not  follow  that  the  whole  of  it  is  thereby  meant  ;  as  the  vills  often  comprised 
other  manors  which  form  the  subject  of  separate  entries. 

In  the  survey  of  this  county  manors,  berewicks,  and  soc-land  are  distinguished  as  a  rule 
by  the  letters  M.,  B.,  S.,  preceded  by  a  numeral  in  cases  where  several  pre-Conquest  estates 
have  been  united. 


Domesday  Form 

1.  Bcrnedesclawe 
Bcrnedelawe 
Bernesedelawe 
Bernesedelaw 

2.  Brocolvestou 
Brolvestou 
Brochelestou  1 

3.  Bingameshou 
Bingehamhou 

4.  Torgartone 
Turgastune1 

5.  Newerca     . 
Newerce     . 

6.  Riseclive 


THE    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE    WAPF.NTAKES 


Modern  Form 


Bassctlaw 


Broxtow 


Bin°;ham 


Thurgarton 


Newark 


Rushcliffe 


Domesday  Form                 Modern  Form 

Comprises  with  the 

addition  of  the  villages 

7.  Wardebec 

of  Rampton  and  Tres- 

Oswardebec 

well  the  present  North 

Clay  division  of  Basset- 

i,  law  wapentake. 

8.  Lide       .     .     .          Now   the    North    Di- 

vision     of     Thurgar- 

ton wapentake. 

Reference    is   also   made   to  the   following 

'  Hundreds  '  :— 

1  These  forms  occur  in  the  Rutland  introduc- 
tion. 


1.  Sudwelle  =  Southwell  (trans,  p.  274). 

2.  Bliduorde  =  Blidworth  (trans,  p.  281). 

3.  Pluntre  =  Plumtree  (trans,  p.  283). 
And    in    the    AIGRUN    [Averham]    entry, 

p.  281,  it  is  said  that  to  this  manor  belong 
five  sochmen  in  other  hundreds. 

This  may  suggest  a  system  of  small  territorial 
hundreds  such  as  occurs  in  the  Leicester  Survey. 


246 


Q 
(fi 
UJ 

S 
O 
O 


*=<              t/1 

s 

S 

^v 

V 

i._ 

1 

g 



-\ 

^~)      O 

1 

/ 

"-x..- 

'"" 

\ 

X 

V 

\ 

! 

i  > 

j 

\ 

S 

\     A 

\ 

i 
j 

i 

i 

Sr-^ 

/- 

V.- 

j 

\ 

i 

1 

i 

W 

\ 

x-' 

V 

r* 

*' 

D 

E 

R 

NOTES  TO  DOMESDAY  MAP 

(Compiled  by  F.  M.  STENTON,  B.A.) 

4_A_ 

IN  this  map  those  manors  in  which  the  king 
had  an  interest  have  a  red  line  under  them  ; 
those  in  which  the  greatest  ecclesiastical 

tenant,  the  Archbishop  of  York  held  land, 

are  distinguished  by  a  blue  line  (broken),  and 

V 

•a 

Z 

1 

^"2 
'£ 

c 

S 

c 

at 

U 

0 

V 

-o 
,c 

c 

1 

C4 

-o 
_5 

2 

"5 

c 
§ 

bo 
1) 

Ifi 

3 

1) 

S 

E 

0 
ID 

"S 

U 
O. 

•4-1 

O 

2; 

boundaries  of  the  Wapentakes.  The  rubri- 

c 

D 

"E. 

5 
u 

| 
en 

V 

5 
1 

respect  throughout  the  county,  and  is  occa- 

sionally inaccurate  ;  while  the  great  estates 

of  the  Archbishop  of  York  interrupted  the 

continuity  of  the  northern  Wapentakes,  and 

by  preserving  their  own  unity  as  a  '  Liberty  ' 

distinct  from  the  shire  organisation,  they 
render  it  impossible  to  reconstruct  the 
Domesday  Wapentakes  from  later  evidence. 

3' 

-3 
to 
V 

a 
Q 

1 
g 

i 

0 

1 

u 

•r. 

the  Wapentakes  were  so  disposed  that  their 
boundaries  in  every  case  extended  for  some 

V 

-C 

a 

5 
H 
a 

0 

"3 

<u 

o 
c 
n 

^r 

'•5 

case  of  the  great  north-western  district  of 

o 
o 


o 

h- 
O 


SNOTINGHAMSCIRE 


ioi.  28oa  JN  j£ING  EDWARD'S  TIME  THERE  WERE  IN  THE  BOROUGH  OF  SNOTINGE- 
HAM  [Nottingham]  173  burgesses  and  19  villeins.  To  this  borough 
there  belong  (adiacenf)  6  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  king's  geld 
and  i  meadow  and  underwood  (sifoce  minutes)  6  furlongs  in  length  and  5 
in  breadth.  This  land  was  divided  among  38  burgesses  and  rendered 
75  shillings  and  7  pence  from  the  rent  (censu)  of  the  land  and  the  services1 
(operibus)  of  the  burgesses  and  40  shillings  from  2  moneyers  (monetarii}. 
In  it  (Inib'i)  earl  Tosti(g)  had  I  carucate  of  land  from  the  soc  of  which 
land  (de  cujus  terre  soca)  the  king  used  to  have  the  two  pennies  and  the 
earl  himself  the  third.  Hugh,  son  of  Baldric,  the  sheriff,  found  136 
men  dwelling  (there),  now  there  are  16  less.  Nevertheless  Hugh  himself 
built  13  houses,  which  were  not  before,  on  the  earl's  land  in  the  new 
borough,  adding  them  to  the  rent  (apponens  eas  in  censu)  of  the  old 
borough. 

In  Snotingeham  there  is  one  church  in  the  king's  demesne  to  which 
there  belong  (in  qua  iacenf)  3  burgess  tenements  [mansiones  burgi)  and  5 
bovates  of  land  of  the  above  named  6  carucates  with  sac  and  soc  (saca  et 
soca),  and  to  the  same  church  belong  5!  acres  of  land  of  which  the 
king  has  the  sac  and  soc.  The  burgesses  have  6  carucates  of  arable  land 
(terre  ad  arana")  and  20  bordars  and  14  ploughs  (carucas).  They  were 
accustomed  to  fish  in  the  water  of  Trent,  and  now  they  make  complaint 
that  they  are  forbidden  to  fish. 

In  King  Edward's  time  Snotingham  rendered  18  pounds,  now  it 
renders  30  pounds  and  10  pounds  from  the  mint. 

In  Snotingham  Roger  de  Busli  has  3  tenements  (mansiones)  on  which 
are  established  1 1  houses  rendering  4  shillings  and  7  pence.  William 
Pev(e)rel  has  48  merchants'  houses  rendering  36  shillings  and  12 
horsemen's  houses  (domus  equitutri)  and  8  bordars.  Ralf  de  Burun  has 
1 3  horsemen's  houses  ;  in  one  of  these  one  merchant  dwells.  Gulbert 
(has)  4  houses.  Ralf  the  son  of  Hubert  has  1 1  houses  ;  in  these  3 
merchants  dwell.  Geoffrey  Alselin  has  21  houses  and  Aitard  the  priest 
2  houses.  In  the  priest's  croft  there  are  65  houses  and  in  these  the  king 
has  sac  and  soc.  The  church  with  all  the  things  that  pertain  to  it  is 
worth  100  shillings  yearly.  Richard  Frelle  has  4  houses.  In  the 
borough  ditch  (fossatum  burgi)  there  are  17  houses  and  6  other  houses. 
The  king  granted  to  William  Pev(e)rel  10  acres  of  land  for  making  an 
orchard  (pomerium). 

In  Snotingeham  King  Edward  had  i  carucate  of  land  with 
the  geld.  (There  was)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  the  king  has  now 

1  i.e.  the  value  of  their  labour  services  in  respect  of  this  land. 

247 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

1 1  villeins  having  4  ploughs  and  1 2  acres  of  meadow.  (There  is) 
nothing1  in  demesne.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  3  pounds, 
(and  it  is  worth)  the  same  now. 

In  Snotingeham  the  water  of  Trent  and  the  Foss  (Way)  and 
the  road  towards  York  are  so  guarded  that  if  any  one  impedes  the 
passage  of  boats  or  if  any  one  ploughs  or  makes  a  ditch  within  two 
perches  of  the  king's  road  he  has  to  pay  a  fine  of  (emendare  per)  8 
pounds.' 

fol.  a8ob 

In  Snotingehamscyre  and  in  Derbiscyre  if  the  king's  peace,  given 
under  his  hand  or  seal,  be  broken  a  fine  is  paid  (emendatur)  of  (per)  18 
hundreds.  Each  hundred  (being)  8  pounds.  The  king  has  2  parts  of 
this  fine  (emendationis) ,  the  earl  the  third.  That  is,  12  hundreds  pay  to 
the  king  and  6  to  the  earl. 

If  any  one  be  exiled  according  to  law  for  any  crime  none  but  the 
king  can  restore  peace  to  him. 

A  thegn  having  more  than  6  manors  does  not  give  relief  of  his 
land  except  8  pounds  to  the  king  alone.  If  he  has  only  6  or  less  he 
gives  3  marks  of  silver  to  the  sheriff  as  relief  wherever  he  dwells,  in 
the  borough  or  without.  If  a  thegn  having  sac  and  soc  forfeit  his  land 
the  king  and  earl  between  them  have  half  his  land  and  money,  and 
his  lawful  wife  with  his  legitimate  heirs,  if  there  be  any,  have  the 
other  half. 

Here  are  noted  those  who  had  soc  and  sac  and  thol  and  thaim 
and  the  king's  dues  (consuetudinem)  of  the  two  pennies.3 

The  Archbishop  of  York  over  his  manors  and  the  Countess  Godeva 
over  Newerca  [Newark]  Wapentake  and  Ulf  fenisc  over  his  land ;  the 
Abbot  of  (Peter)  Borough  over  Colingeham  [Collingham] ;  the  Abbot 
of  Bertune  [Burton];  Earl  Hugh  (of  Chester)  over  Marcheton  [Mar- 
keaton,  Derby] ;  the  Bishop  of  Cestre  [Chester] ;  Tochi ;  Suen  the  son 
of  Suave ;  Siward  barn ;  Azor  the  son  of  Saleva ;  Ulfric  cilt ;  Elsi ; 
Illinge  ;  Lewin  the  son  of  Alwin;  the  Countess  Alveva;  the  Countess 
Goda ;  Elsi  the  son  of  Caschin  over  Werchesoppe  [Worksop] ;  Henry 
de  Ferrars  over  Ednodestune  [Ednaston,  Derby]  and  Dubrige  [Doveridge, 
Derby]  and  Breilesfordham  [Brailsford,  Derby];  Walter  de  Aincurt  over 
Granebi  [Granby]  and  Mortune  [Morton,  Derby]  and  Pinnesleig  [Pilsley, 
Derby].  None  of  all  these  could  have  the  earl's  third  penny  except  by 
his  grant,  and  that  for  as  long  as  he  should  live,  except  the  Archbishop 
and  Ulf  fenisc  and  the  Countess  Godeva. 

Over  the  soc  which  belongs  to  Cliftune  [Clifton]  the  earl  ought  to 
have  the  third  part  of  all  customs  and  services  (operum). 

1   i.e.  no  ploughs. 

1  The  first  column  of  this  page  (z8oa)  ends  here.     The  second  column  is  devoted  to  Derby  and 
is  therefore  treated  in  the  Victoria  History  of  Derbyshire,  i,  327. 

*  i.e.  the  two-thirds  of  certain  profits,  of  which  '  the  third  penny '  went  to  the  earl. 

248 


HERE  ARE   ENTERED 

THE    HOLDERS    OF    LANDS    IN 

SNOTINGHAMSCIRE 


i  KING  WILLIAM 

ii  Count  Alan  (of  Richmond) 
in  Earl  Hugh  (of  Chester) 
mi  The  Count  of  Mortain 

v  The  Archbishop  of  York 
vi  The  Bishop  of  Lincoln 
VH  The  Bishop  of  Bayeux 
vin  The  abbey  of  [Peterborough 
ix  Roger  de  Busli 

x  William  Pev(e)rel 
xi  Walter  de  Aincurt 
xn  Geoffrey  Alselin 
xin  Ralf  the  son  of  Hubert 
xim  Ralf  de  Limesi 
xv  Ralf  de  Burun 


fol.  281 


I.  THE  KING'S  LAND 


BERNEDESELAWE  [BASSETLAW]  WAPENTAC 

M.  In  DUNEHAM  [Dunham]  with  (its)  4 
berewicks  RAGENEHIL  [Ragnall],  WIMENTUN 
[Wimpton],  DERLUVETUN  [Darlton],  SUANE- 
STERNE  [Swansterne]  King  Edward  had  5^ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  ploughs.  Now  the  king  has 
there  2  ploughs  in  demesne  and  50  villeins 
and  3  bordars  having  10  ploughs  and  I  mill 
(rendering)  3  shillings  and  I  fishery  (rendering) 
10  shillings  and  8  pence  and  120  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  (silva 
pastills)  6  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  rendered  30  pounds 
and  6  sestiers  (sextarit)  of  honey  ;  now  (it  ren- 
ders) 2O  pounds  with  everything  that  belongs 
to  it. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  DRAITONE  [East  Drayton]  (there 
are)  2  carucates  of  land  and  3  bovates  and 
the  fifth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  5  ploughs.  There  16 
sochmen  and  17  villeins  have  13  ploughs  and 
20  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage i  furlong  in  length  and  half  (a  furlong) 
in  breadth. 

S.  In  MARCHAM  [East  Markham]  (there 
are)  3^  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  10  ploughs.  There  25 
sochmen  and  15  villeins  have  10  ploughs. 
There  (is  a  church  and  a  priest  and  40  acres 


xvi  Roger  de  Poitou 
xvii  Gilbert  de  Gand 
xvni  Gilbert  Tison 

xix  Geoffrey  de  Wirce 

xx  Ilbert  de  Laci 

xxi  Berenger  de  Todeni 
xxn   Hugh  the  son  of  Baldric 
xxin   Hugh  de  Grentemaisnil 
xxini   Henry  de  Fereires 

xxv  Robert  Malet 
xxvi  Durand  Malet 
xxvii   Osbern  the  son  of  Richard 
xxvin   Robert  the  son  of  William 
xxix  William  the  usher  (hostiarius) 

xxx  The  king's  thegns1 

of  meadow  and  a  little  underwood  (silva 
minutte], 

S.  In  GRENLEIGE  [Little  Gringley]  (there 
are)  2  bovates  of  land  and  the  sixth  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  There  5  sochmen  and  I 
bordar  have  2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  4  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in 
breadth. 

S.  In  ORDESHALE  [Ordsall]  (there  is)  i 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  2  sochmen  have 
I  plough  and  3  acres  of  meadow  and  3  acres 
of  wood(land). 

S.  In  HEDUNE  [Headon]  2  (there  is)  half  a 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  ox  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  It 
is  waste. 

S.  In  UPETONE  [Upton]  (there  is)  i  bovate 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  I  plough.  There  4  sochmen  and  2  bor- 
dars have  !•£  ploughs  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  furlongs  in  length 
and  I  in  breadth. 

S.  In  NORMENTONE  [Normanton  by  Clum- 
ber] (there  are)  i£  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  Half  of  this  land  belongs  to 

1  This  list  is  followed  immediately  by  one  of 
the  holders  of  lands  in  that  portion  of  Rutland  of 
which  the  survey  follows  that  of  Nottinghamshire. 
This  is  reserved  for  the  Victoria  History  of  Rutland. 

1  Hedune  added  above  '  Grave '  [Grove],  under- 
lined for  deletion. 


249 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


DUNE  [Dunham],  the  other  (half)  to  BODMES- 
CELD  [Bothamsall].  It  is  waste.  (There  is) 
wood(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  in  length 
and  2  in  breadth. 

M.  In  BODMESCEL  [Bothamsall]  Earl 
Tosti(g)  had  12  bovatesof  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  Now 
the  king  has  there  5  villeins  and  i  bordar, 
with  2  ploughs  and  I  mill  (rendering)  8  shil- 
lings and  40  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  half  a  league  in  length  and  4 
furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  8  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
60  shillings. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  ELCHESLEIG  [Elkesley]  (there  are)  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church 
and  a  priest  and  6  sochmen  with  i£  ploughs, 
and  I  mill  (rendering)  4  shillings  and  a  little 
underwood  (silvte  minutis). 

S.  In  MORTUNE  [Morton]  and  another 
MORTUNE  (there  are)  10  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
ploughs.  There  7  sochmen  and  I  bordar 
have  4  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2 
furlongs  in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 

O  o 

S.  In  BABURDE  [Babworth]  (2^  bovates) 
and  ODESTORP  '  [  ]  (4^  bovates)  and 

ORDESHALE  [Ordsall]  (i  bovate)  all  together 
(there  are)  "]\  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  It  is 
waste  except  for  I  villein  and  2  bordars  with 
half  a  plough.  (There  are)  10  acres  of 
meadow. 

S.  In  RANESBI  [Ranby]  (3  bovates)  and 
SUDERDESHALE  [South  Ordsall]  (2  bovates) 
(there  are)  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i^  ploughs.  It  is 
waste. 

S.  In  RANEBI  [Ranby]  (there  are)  2  caru- 
cates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  It  is  waste. 

S.  In  MADRESSEIG  [Mattersey]  (there  are) 
1 1  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  12 
sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  3  bordars  have  6£ 
ploughs.  Meadow,  3  furlongs  in  length  and 
i  in  breadth.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  I 
league  in  length  and  \\  furlongs  in  breadth. 

S.  In  LUND  [Lound]  and  BARNEBI  [Barnby 
Moor]  (there  are)  6  bovates  of  land  8  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  There  3  sochmen  have  I  plough 
and  3^  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  2  furlongs  in  length  and  half  a  fur- 
long in  breadth. 

1  Not  identified. 

'  '  et  Jim'  et  Hi  fan  un?  bou1 '  is  added  here,  but  is 
underlined  for  deletion. 


M.  In  GRIMESTUNE  [Grimston]  *  (there 
are)  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  (This  manor 
is  a)  berewick  of  (in)  MAMMESFED  [Mans- 
field]. There  3  sochmen  and  3  bordars  have 
2  ploughs  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  half  a  league  in  length  and 
4  furlongs  in  breadth. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  (there  are) 
i-^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  oxen.  There  2  soch- 
men have  half  a  plough. 

In  SCHIDRINTUNE  [Kirton]  4  (there  is)  half 
a  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

S.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby]  and  WALESBI 
[Walesby]  (there  are)  2  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i 
plough.  There  4  sochmen  have  I  plough. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  4  perches  in  length 
and  4  in  breadth. 

S.  In  BESTORP  [Besthorpe]  (2  bovates)  and 
CARLETONE  [Carlton  on  Trent]  (2  bovates) 
(there  are)  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 
4  sochmen  and  3  bordars  have  2  ploughs  and 
30  acres  of  wood(land)  for  pannage. 

In  FRANESFELD  [Farnsfield]  the  king  has 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  near  to 
(prope)  SNOTINGEHAM. 

BROCOLVESTOU  [BROXTOW]  WAPENTAC 

M.  In  MAMESFELDE  [Mansfield]  and 
SCHEGEBI  [Skegby]  (B')  and  SUTONE  [Sutton 
in  Ashfield]  (B')  King  Edward  had  3  caru- 
cates  of  land  and  6  bovates  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  9  ploughs.  There 
the  king  has  2  ploughs  in  demesne  and  5 
sochmen  on  (de)  3  bovates  of  this  land  and  35 
villeins  and  20  bordars  with  19^  ploughs,  and 
i  mill  and  i  fishery  (rendering)  2 i  shillings 
and  24  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 

*  The  village  of  Grimston   has   long  been   de- 
cayed, but   its   position  can  be  fixed  with  certainty 
owing  to  the  fact  that  Jordan  Foliot,  36  Henry  III. 
obtained  leave    to    embattle    his    manor  house   of 
Grimston.       The    '  site    of    Jordan's    castle '     is 
marked  on  the  Ordnance  maps,  and  the  eminence 
on  which  it  rests  is  still  known  as  Grimston  Hill. 

*  This  name  has  no  modern   equivalent.     The 
identification  with   Kirton  is  based  on  the  substi- 
tution of  some  form  of  the  latter  for  '  Schidrintune' 
in  such  later  lists  of  holdings  as  admit  of  collation 
with   relative  entries  in   Domesday.     Perhaps  the 
clearest  instance  of  such  correspondence  occurs  in 
an    inquisition  on   the  death  of  Henry  de  Lacy, 
Earl   of  Lincoln,  in  which  the  descent  of  all  the 
fees  mentioned  can  be  traced  from  the  Domesday 
estate  of  Gilbert  of  Gaunt  if  '  Kirketon '  replace 
'  Schidrintune.' 


250 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


pannage  2  leagues  in  length  and  2  in  breadth. 
There  (are)  2  churches  and  2  priests. 

In  WARSOPE  [Warsop]  i  bovate.  In 
CLUNE  [Clown,  Derby]  4  bovates.  In  CAR- 
EER-TONE [Carburton]  2  carucates.  In  CLUN- 
BRE  [Clumber]  3  bovates.  In  BUTEBI  [Budby] 
2  carucates.  In  TURESBI  [Thoresby]  6 
bovates.  In  SCOTEBI  [Scofton]  and  TORP 
[Perlethorpe]  and  ROWETONE  [Rayton]  2 
carucates.  In  EDENESTOU  [Edwinstowe]  i 
carucate.  In  GRIMESTONE  [Grimston]  half  a 
carucate.  In  ECERINGHE  [Eakring]  3^bovates. 
In  MAPELBEC  [Maplebeck]  2  bovates.  In 
BESTORP  [Besthorpe]  2  bovates.  In  CAREN- 
TUNE  [Carlton  on  Trent]  2  bovates.  In 
SCHITRINTONE  [Kirton]  i£  bovates.  In  WIL- 
GEBI  [Willoughby]  i£  bovates.  In  ALMUN- 
TONE  [Ompton]  x  i  £  bovates.  In  CARETONE 
[Carlton  in  Lindrick]  4  carucates. 

In  all  (there  are)  13  carucates  of  land  and 
6£  bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

In  WARESOPE  [Warsop]  (there  is)  i  bovate 
of  land  which  a  certain  blind  man  (ctscus) 
holds  of  the  king  in  alms  (eltmosina),  where  he 
has  I  bordar  with  6  ploughing  oxen  (bobus  in 
car') 

In  TORP  [Perlethorpe]  (there  is)  the  fourth 
part  of  I  bovate  of  land  which  belongs  (iacef) 
to  MAMESFELD  [Mansfield].  It  is  waste. 

BEREWICK 

B.  In  GRIMESTONE  [Grimston]  (there  are) 
4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  the 
king  has  I  plough  and  8  villeins  and  I  bordar 
having  2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
6  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth. 

BEREWICK 

B.  In  EDENESTOU  [Edwinstowe]  (there  is) 

1  carucate    of   land    (assessed)    to    the    geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.     There  (is)  a 
church  ;    and  a  priest  and  4  bordars  have    I 
plough.      Wood(land)    for    pannage    half    a 
league    in     length    and    half    (a    league)    in 
breadth. 

S.  In  MAPELBERG  [Maplebeck]  (there  are) 

2  bovates    of    land    (assessed)    to    the    geld. 
(There  is)   land  for  4  oxen.     There  3  soch- 
men  have  i  plough. 

S.  In  CARLETONE  [Carlton  in  Lindrick] 
(there  are)  2  carucates.  In  SCOTEBI  [Scofton] 
and  RENETON  [Rayton]  and  TORP  [Perle- 
thorpe] (there  are)  2  carucates ;  *  this  is  4 
(carucates  assessed)  to  the  geld.  The  soc 

1   '  •  I  •  borf  '  added  above  '  Almuntone.' 
J  'In  Ranebi   ii.  car'   terrae'   is  added    in   the 
original  but  erased,  'de  bodmescel'  is  interlined  in 
explanation,  and  the  total  number  of  carucates  in 
the  entry  is  corrected  from  6  to  4. 


belongs  to  (de)  MAMESFELD  [Mansfield].  They 
are  waste. 

Also  Soc[land]  in  Wardebec    [Oswardbeck] 
Wapentac 

S.  In  TILNE  [Tilne]  (there  are)  2  bovates  of 
land  and  the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough. 
There  2  sochmen  and  i  villein  and  i  bordar 
have  6  ploughing  oxen  (haves  in  car1).  There 
(are)  2  mills  (rendering)  32  shillings  and  6  acres 
of  meadow.  It  is  worth  40  shillings. 

fol.  aSib 

S.  In  CLEDRETONE  [South  Leverton]  3  (there 
are)  12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  22 
sochmen  and  1 1  villeins  have  9  ploughs. 

In  King  Edward's  time  these  sochmen 
rendered  10  shillings  by  way  of  (de)  custom 
(consuetudine). 

In  FENTUNE  [Fenton]  (there  is)  half  a  caru- 
cate (of  land  assessed)  to  the  geld. 

S.  In  LITELBURG  [Littleborough]  (there 
are)  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  14 
sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  4  bordars  have  5 
ploughs.  Meadow,  3  furlongs  and  10  rods 
in  length  and  2  furlongs  in  breadth.  This 
soc  (soca)  is  worth  10  shillings. 

S.  In  ESTRETONE  [Sturton  le  Steeple]  (there 
are)  2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  24 
sochmen  and  1 1  villeins  and  7  bordars  have 
8  ploughs.  Meadow,  i  league  in  length  and 
I  furlong  in  breadth.  Wood(Iand)  for  pan- 
nage I  league  in  length  and  5  furlongs  in 
breadth.  This  soc  is  worth  40  shillings. 

S.  In  WATELEIE  [Wheatley]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  6  sochmen  and 
I  villein  have  2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for 

3  The  name  '  Cledretone  '  is  not  found  after 
Domesday.  But  South  Leverton  formed  part  of 
'Oswardbeck  Soke'  and  the  patronage  of  its  church 
remained  with  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lincoln 
until  1884  probably  as  a  result  of  Rufus's  gift  to 
that  body  of  the  churches  belonging  to  his  manor 
of  Mansfield.  Further  on  (p.  254).  'Cledretone' 
appears  to  be  dependent  on  Treswell,  the  adjoining 
village  to  South  Leverton.  Both  villages  were 
divided  equally  between  Roger  de  Busli  and  Count 
Alan  of  Richmond  ;  and  the  descendants  of  Robert 
de  Mosters,  tenant  of  the  latter  half  of  Treswell, 
are  seen  from  the  Testa  de  Nevil  and  earlier  records 
to  have  held  land  in  Leverton. 

North  Leverton  ('Legretone'  below)  seems  to 
have  lain  in  the  archbishop's  soke  of  Laneham,  not 
in  the  king's  soke  of  Oswardbeck,  and  it  formed 
a  prebend  in  Southwell  Minster. 


251 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


pannage  I  league  and  i  furlong  in  length  and 
i£  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  3  shillings ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  7  (shillings). 

S.  In  WACHERINGHAM  [Walkeringham] 
(there  are)  12^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
1 3  sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  3  bordars  have 

4  ploughs.       Meadow  6    furlongs  in    length 
and  4  in  breadth.      Wood(land)  8  furlongs  in 
length    and    4    in  breadth.     It  is  worth   2O 
shillings. 

S.  In  MINISTRETONE  [Misterton]  (there  are) 

5  bovates  of  land   and  the   fourth  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.     (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.     There   5   sochmen  and  6  vil- 
leins and  i  bordar  have  I   plough.      Meadow, 
I    furlong    in    length   and   half  a  furlong  in 
breadth.     It  is  worth  7  shillings. 

S.  In  WISETONE  [Wisetqn]  (there  is)  I 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  7  sochmen 
and  7  villeins  and  4  bordars  have  6  ploughs. 
Meadow,  2  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in 
breadth.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  14  fur- 
longs in  length  and  4  in  breadth.  It  is  worth 
10  shillings. 

S.  In  CLAUORDE  [Clayworth]  (there  is)  I 
carucate  of  land  and  6  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
There  12  sochmen  and  i  villein  and  1 8 
bordars  have  10  ploughs.  Meadow  2  fur- 
longs in  length  and  i£  in  breadth.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  10  furlongs  in  length  and 

6  in  breadth.     It  is  worth  26  shillings  and  4 
pence. 

S.  In  CLAUREBURG  [Clarborough]  and  TILLE 
[Tilne]  1  (there  are)  2  bovates  of  land  and 
the  fourth  part  of  i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 
(are)  2  sochmen  and  i  villein  and  i  bordar 
having  6  ploughing  oxen  (boves  in  car ')  and  2 
mills  (rendering)  32  shillings  and  6  acres  of 
meadow.  It  is  worth  40  shillings. 

S.  In  WELLUN  [Welham]  and  SIMENTONE 

]  (there  are)  5  bovates  of  land  and 

the  third   part  of  i    bovate   (assessed)  to  the 

geld.      (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.      There 

5  sochmen  and  i  villein  and  i   bordar  have  2 
ploughs.     Meadow,  i±  furlongs  in  length  and 
I  furlong  and  10  perches  in  breadth.     Wood- 
(land)    for  pannage   9   furlongs  in  length  and 
2£  in  breadth.     It  is  worth   10  shillings  and 
8  pence. 

S.  In  GRENELEIG  [Gringley  on  the  Hill] 
(there  are)  a£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 

6  sochmen  and  i  villein  and  i    bordar  have 


2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs 
in  length  and  4  in  breadth.  It  is  worth  10 
shillings. 

In  SANDEBI  [Saundby]  i  villein  holds  i 
orchard  (ortum) ;  rendering  salt  for  the  king's 
fish  in  BIGREDIC  [Bycar  Dyke]. 

M.  In  ERNEHALE  [Arnold]  King  Edward 
had  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  the  king 
has  I  plough  and  20  villeins  and  4  bordars 
having  7  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage, 
scattered  (per  /oca),  3  leagues  in  length  and  3 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  4  pounds  and  2  sestiers  (sextarii)  of 
honey  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  8  pounds  and  6 
sestiers  of  honey. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

In  BRONCOTE  [Bramcote]  (there  are)  5 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  6  oxen. 

B.  In  WALETONE  [Wollaton]  (there  is)  i 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i    plough.     BER[EWICK],     It  is 
.  waste. 

S.  In  LENTONE  [Lenton]  (there  are)  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (in)  ERNEHALE  [Arnold].  It  is 
waste. 

S.  In  BRUCHELESTOU  [Broxtow]  (there  is) 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  is 
waste.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  ERNEHALE. 

In  BILEBURCH  [Bilborough]  (there  is)  i 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

BlNGAMESHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAPENT[AC] 

M.  In  OSCHINTONE  [Orston]  King  Edward 
had  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  10  ploughs.  There  the 
king  has  3  ploughs  and  3  sochmen  on  (de)  i 
carucate  of  this  land  and  1 9  villeins  and  1 1  bor- 
dars having  14  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church 
and  2  priests  having  i  plough  and  i  ox,  and 
1 80  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  30  pounds  by  tale  (ad 
numerum)  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2O  pounds. 
Berewick  of  this  Manor 

B.  In  SCARINTONE  [Scarrington]  (there  are) 
2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  the 
king  has  2  ploughs  and  23  villeins  and  4  bor- 
dars having  5^  ploughs. 

In  STANTON  [Staunton]  (there  are)  7  bovates 
and  3  acres  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.2 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  (are) 
i  o  sochmen  and  3  bordars  with  3  ploughs  and 
60  acres  of  meadow. 


1  '  et  Tille '  added  above  Claureburg. 


252 


1  The  rest  of  this  entry  is  in  the  margin. 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


S.  In  TORVERTUNE  [Thoroton]  (there  are) 
12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  (is)  I 
sochman  and  1 8  villeins  and  i  bordar1  having 
7  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest. 

S.  In  SCREVINTONE  [Screveton]  (there  is) 
i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  3  soch- 
men  and  2  villeins  and  I  bordar  have  i^ 
ploughs  and  8  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  COLESTONE  [Car  Colston]  (there  are) 

4  bovates  and  4  acres  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.     (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.      There 

5  sochmen  have  i£  ploughs. 

S.  In  ASLACHETONE  [Aslockton]  (there  is)  I 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  ;  I  villein 
ploughs  there. 

M.  In  NEUBOLD  [Newbold]  *  Earl  Morcar 
had  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  There  the 
king  has  3  ploughs  and  13  sochmen  and  13 
villeins  and  3  bordars  having  7  ploughs  and  2 
acres  of  underwood  (silva  minuta).  There  (is) 
a  priest  and  a  church.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  ' 
worth)  10  pounds. 

M.  In  BROTONE  [Upper  Broughton]  Earl 
Algar  had  2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  7  ploughs. 
There  the  king  has  2  ploughs  and  23  villeins 
and  4  bordars  having  7  ploughs  and  I  mill 
(rendering)  5  shillings,  and  100  acres  of  mea- 
dow. In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
3  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  4  (pounds). 

Berewick 

B.  In  TORP  [Thorpe-in-the-Glebe]  (there 
are)  I  o  bovates  of  land  (assessed )  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  10  oxen.  It  is  waste. 
There  (are)  12  acres  of  meadow.  It  is  worth 
2  shillings.  In  King  Edward's  time  (it  was 
worth)  40  shillings. 

M.  In  FLINTHAM  [Flintham]  Elwin  had 
14  bovates  of  land  and  three  parts  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5 
ploughs.  There  the  king  has  2  ploughs  in 
demesne  ;  and  5  sochmen  and  4  villeins  and  5 
bordars  having  3  ploughs.  There  (is)  a 
church  and  a  priest  having  half  a  plough  and 
60  acres  of  meadow.  Underwood  (silva  minuta) 
3^  furlongs  in  length  and  i  furlong  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60 
shillings,  now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shillings). 

In  CHENIVETON  [Kneeton]  (there  are)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 


is)  land  for  4  oxen.     There  I    sochman  has 
half  a  plough  and  i  acre  of  meadow. 

In  NOTINTONE  3  [Sneinton]  the  king  has  i 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  n  villeins 
have  4  ploughs  and  12  acres  of  meadow.  It 
is  worth  3  pounds. 

In  MERINGE  [Meering]  William  had  6£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

In  MISNE  [Misson]  the  king  has  3  bovates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  Tostig  had  (it).  There 
are  6  villeins  with  3  ploughs.  The  soc  be- 
longs to  (in)  CIRCETON  [Kirton-in-Lindsey]. 

In  the  same  place  (Ibidem,  sc.  MISNE)  (there 
is)  half  a  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It 
belongs  (iacet)  to  LESTON  [Laughton,  near 
Gainsborough,  Lincoln].  There  (is)  i  vil- 
lein. Guy  (Wido)  holds  (it)  and  Alvred 
of  him. 


1  '  et  I  bord.'  interlined. 
1  In  Kinoulton  parish. 


fol.  J8ab 

II.   THE   LAND   OF   COUNT   ALAN 

M.  In  SIBETORP  [Sibthorpe]  Unspac  had 
2  ^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  Count  Alan  has  (it). 
Fredgis  holds  (it)  of  him,  and  has  there  I  plough 
and  4  sochmen  on  (de)  I  bovate  of  land  and  2 
bordars  having  I  plough.  There  (is)  a  priest  and 
a  church,  to  which  the  fourth  part  of  the  land 
belongs.  There  (are)  10  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  (it  was  worth)  2O  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  12  shillings. 

M.  In  the  same  place  [Ibidem]  Osbern 
had  I  bovate  of  land  and  3  acres  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  2  bordars  and  4  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  4  shil- 
lings. 

(*)M4.  In  SIRESTUNE  [Syerston]  Ailric  had 
3  bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  i£  ploughs  ;  (and)  there  3  sochmen  have 
them.  There  (are)  12  acres  of  meadow.  Robert 
holds  (it)  of  Count  Alan.  Formerly  (it  was 
worth)  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20  shil- 
lings. 

M.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton  upon  Trent]  Wil- 
liam the  son  of  Scelward  had  2  carucates  of 
land  and  6  bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  5  ploughs.  There  Hervey  (Herveus), 
Count  Alan's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and  1 3  soch- 
men on  (de)  the  half  of  this  land,  and  17  villeins 

'  See  above  p.  245. 

4  The  three  entries  marked  (*)  follow  each 
other  in  the  margin. 


253 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


and  3  bordars  having  8  ploughs.  There  (is)  a 
priest  and  a  church  and  3  fisheries  and  100  acres 
of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage,  I  league 
in  length  and  half  a  league  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it 
is  worth  the  same)  now. 

(*)In  CARLETUNE  [Carlton  on  Trent] 
(there  is)  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
are  3  villeins  with  I  plough.  William  holds  (it). 

M.  In  RODINTUN  [Ruddington]  Leviet  had 
12  bovatesof  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Count  A(lan) 
has  in  demesne  I  plough  and  (there  are)  6  soch- 
men  and  7  villeins  having  3  ploughs.  There 
(arc)  55  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now(it  is  worth) 
30  shillings. 

M.  In  CHENIVETONE  [Kneeton]  Elsi  had  i 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Count  A(Ian)  has 

1  plough  and  3  sochmen  and  5  villeins  having 

2  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  half  a  church 
and  I  mill  (rendering)  10  shillings  and  5  acres 
of  meadow.      In   King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  2O  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shil- 
lings). 

M.  In  the  same  place  [Ibidcni]  Ulvric  had 
i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  is  I  villein  and 
i  bordar. 

M.  In  TIRESWELLE  [Treswell]  Ulmar  had 
6  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
ploughs.  Robert  de  Mosters,  Count  A(lan's) 
man,  has  I  plough  and  8  villeins  and  5  bordars 
having  4  ploughs  and  40  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  4  furlongs  in  length 
and  i£  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings,  and  (it  is 
worth  the  same)  now. 

(*)In  CLEDRETONE  [South  Leverton] 
Godric  and  Ulmar  had  7  bovates  of  land  and  the 
fifth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
Count  Alan  and  Roger  de  Busli  have  held 
this  land  up  to  the  present.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  It  is  worth  20  shillings. 

III.  THE   LAND    OF   EARL  HUGH 

M.  In  SUDTONE  [Button]  Harold  had  i£ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  Earl  Hugh  has  (it)  now. 
Robert1  holds  (it)  of  him  and  has  there  i£ 


i  < 


'flius  Wtllehn?  erased. 


ploughs  and  3  sochmen  and  6  villeins  having 
3^  ploughs  and  I  mill  (rendering)  20  shillings 
and  1 5  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings,  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  NORMANTON  [Normanton  upon  Soar] 
(there  are)  2  bovates  of  land  and  2  parts  of  i 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.  It  is  waste.  There  (are)  3  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  5  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3  shillings. 

M.  In  BONNITONE  [Bonington s]  Harold 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Robert, 
the  earl's  man,  has  3  sochmen  and  5  villeins 
having  i\  ploughs.  There  (are)  10  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
2O  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

2  M.3  In  CHINESTAN  [Kingston].  Lewin 
and  Richard  had  3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i o  oxen.  There 
i  sochman  has  now  half  a  plough  and  9  acres 
of  meadow  under  (sub)  Earl  Hugh.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

IIII.   THE  LAND   OF   THE   COUNT 
OF   MORTAIN 

M.  In  NORMANTUNE  [Normanton  upon 
Soar]  Stori  had  i  o  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Now 
the  Count  of  Mortain  has  (it),  Alden  holds 
(it)  of  (de)  him,  and  has  there  i  plough  and  2 
sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  3  bordars  having  2 
ploughs.  There  (are)  1 5  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  30  (shillings). 

M.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton  Bonington]  4  Stori 
had  half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  (There  is) 
now  i  plough  in  demesne  and  5  acres  of  mea- 
dow. In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2O  shillings. 

M.  In  GATHAM  [Gotham]  Stori  had  2  caru- 
cates of  land  and  3^  bovates  (assessed)  to  the 
geld  and  5  acres.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs. 
There  Count  R(obert)  has  3  ploughs  in 
demesne,  and  3  sochmen  and  20  villeins 

*  Bonington   is    the    parish    of    St.    Michael's, 
Sutton   Bonington,  while   Sutton  is   the  parish  of 
St.  Anne's,  Sutton  Bonington. 

*  (£)  ;  showing  the  union  of  two  pre-Conquest 
manors. 

4  i.e.  St.  Anne's  parish.  See  note  above  under 
Bonington. 


254 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


and  2  bordars  having  9  ploughs  and  80 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40 
shillings. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

In  LECHE  [Leake]  (there  are)  2  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  is  nothing 
there. 

M.  In  STANTUN  [Stanton  on  the  Wolds] 
Stori  had  3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 
Alvred,  the  count's  man,  has  i  plough  and  6 
villeins  and  3  bordars  with  2  ploughs.  There 
(are)  20  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  20  (shillings). 

M.1  In  the  same  STANTUN  Frane  had  i 
bovate  of  land  and  3  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough. 
There  3  villeins  have  now  i  plough. 

M.  In  CAWORDE  [Keyworth]  Stori  had  3 
bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I 
plough.  There  Alvred,  the  count's  man,  has 
2  sochmen  and  I  villein  and  I  bordar  with  i£ 
ploughs.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
20  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  (shillings). 

In  NEUTORP  [Newthorpe]  ^Eluin  had  i 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  oxen.  There  (is)  wood(land)  for 
pannage  8  furlongs  in  length  and  2^  (furlongs) 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  2  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  1 2  pence. 

fol.  983 

V.   THE  ARCHBISHOP   OF  YORK'S 
LAND 

TORGARTONE    [THURGARTON]    WAPENTAC 

M.  In  SUDWEIXE  [Southwell]  with  its  bere- 
wicks  (Berewitts)  there  are  22^  carucates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for 
24  ploughs.  There  Archbishop  Thomas  has 
10  ploughs  in  demesne  and  10  sochmen  and 
75  villeins  and  23  bordars  having  37  ploughs. 
There  (are)  2  mills  (rendering)  40  shillings  and 
a  fish  pond  (piscina)  and  ferry  (passagium) 
(rendering)  6  shillings. 

Of  this  land  6  knights  (milites)  hold  4^ 
carucates.  3  clerks  (clerici)  have  l£  carucates  ; 
2  bovates  of  it  are  in  a  prebend  (prebenda).  2 
Englishmen  (anglict)  have  3  carucates  of  land 
and  5  bovates. 


The  knights  have  7  ploughs  in  demesne 
and  35  villeins  and  28  bordars  having  21 
ploughs  and  i  mill  (rendering)  8  shillings. 

The  clerks  have  i£  ploughs  in  demesne  and 
7  villeins  and  5  bordars  having  3  ploughs. 

The  Englishmen  have  4  ploughs  in  de- 
mesne and  20  villeins  and  6  bordars  having 
6^  ploughs. 

To  SUDWELLE  belong  188  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  8  leagues  in  length 
and  2^  furlongs  in  breadth.  Arable  land  (terra 
arabilii)  5  leagues  in  length  and  3  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  pounds ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  40  pounds  and  15  shillings. 

In  SUDWELLE  there  are  reckoned  (numerantur) 
12  berewicks. 

In  NORDMUSCHAM  [North  Muskham]  (there 
are)  i£  carucates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

BlNGEHAMHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAPENTAC 

M.  &  B.  In  CROPHILLE  [Cropwell  Bishop] 
and  HEGELINGE  (B')  [Hickling]  SAINT  MARY 
OF  SUDWELLE  [Southwell]  had"  2^  carucates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  7  ploughs.  The  canons  have  2  ploughs 
there  in  demesne;  and  5  sochmen  and  15  vil- 
leins and  4  bordars  having  6  ploughs  and  2 
oxen  and  20  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  50  (shillings). 

M.  &  B.  In  LANUN  [Laneham]  with  these 
berewicks,  ASCAM  [Askham],  BECHINGHAM 
[Beckingham],  SANDEBI  [Saundby],  BOLUN 
[Bole],  BURTONE  [West  Burton],  WATELAIE 
[South  Wheatley],  LEGRETONE  [North  Lever- 
ton]  ,  (there  are)  9  carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  is  land  for  27 
ploughs.  In  the  demesne  of  the  hall  (dominium 
aulee)  there  are  10  bovates  of  this  land.  The 
remainder  is  soc(land).  Now  Archbishop 
Thomas  has  there  4^  ploughs  and  35  villeins 
and  6  bordars  having  16  ploughs.  There  (is) 
a  church  and  a  priest  and  2  fisheries  (render- 
ing) 8  shillings  and  I  mill  (rendering)  16  shil- 
lings. Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  leagues  in 
length  and  1^  leagues  in  breadth.  (There  are) 
100  acres  of  meadow. 

In  the  berewicks  mentioned  above  as  belong- 
ing to  this  manor  there  are  38  sochmen  and  17 
villeins  and  2O  bordars  having  14^  ploughs. 
There  are  also  33  other  sochmen  and  6  vil- 
leins and  1 8  bordars  having  15  ploughs.  2 
knights  (milites)  hold  these  with  their  land  of 
the  archbishop. 


1  In  the  text  this  paragraph  follows  Caworde,  M.  In  MUSCHAM  [Muskham]  and  CARLE- 

but  its  proper  place  is  indicated  by  marks  in  the      TON  [Carlton  on  Trent]  (there  are)  4  carucates 
margin.  of  land  and   5   bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

255 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


(There  is)  land  for  9^  ploughs.  Archbishop 
Thomas  has  there  2  ploughs  in  demesne  and 
2O  sochmen  and  7  villeins  and  16  bordars 
having  6  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  mill  (render- 
ing) 2  shillings  and  66  acres  of  meadow  and 
80  acres  of  underwood  (sihts  minutts).  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  1 6  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  10  (shillings). 

In  ROLLESTONE  [Rolleston]  Alvric  had  for 
a  manor  (pro  mancrio)  \\  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough  which 

5  villeins  have  there.     There  (are)  12  acres  of 
meadow.      (It  was)  formerly  (worth)  2O  shil- 
lings ;  now  it  is  worth  10  shillings. 

M.  &  B.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton]  and  SCROBI 
(B')  [Scrooby]  and  LUND  (B1)  [Lound l]  (there 
is)  i  carucate  of  land  and  6  bovates  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs. 
Archbishop  Thomas  has  there  2  ploughs  in 
demesne  ;  and  14  villeins  and  6  bordars  having 

6  ploughs.     There  (are)  7  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  half  a  league  and  8 
furlongs  in  length  and  8£  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  pounds, 
(and  it  is  worth)  the  same  now. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

In  ETTONE  [Eaton]  2  carucates  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  In  TILNE  [Tilne]  2  bovates 
and  the  fourth  part  of  i  bovate.  In  WELLON 
[Welham]  and  SIMENTON  [  ]  5  bo- 

vates and  the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate.  In 
GRENELEI  [Little  Gringley]  i  bovate  and  the 
fourth  part  of  i  bovate.  In  SCAFTEORDE 
[Scaftworth]  i  carucate.  In  EVRETONE 
[Everton]  I  carucate  and  the  third  part  of  I 
bovate.  This  land  is  (sufficient)  for  12 
ploughs.  There  38  sochmen  with  18  villeins 
and  20  bordars  now  have  25  ploughs.  In 
TILNE  [Tilne]  i  mill  rendering  30  shillings 
belonging  to  LANUM  [Laneham].3  In  RED- 
FORDE  [Retford]  i  mill  belonging  to  SUDTONE 
[Sutton].  In  CLAUEBURCH  [Clarborough]  6£ 
bovates.  Meadow  4^  furlongs  in  length  and 
the  same  in  breadth  and  45  acres  in  addition. 
Wood(Iand)  for  pannage  2^  leagues  in  length 
and  2  leagues  in  breadth. 

M.  In  BLIDEWORDE  [Blidworth]  the  Arch- 
bishop of  York  had  9  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
Archbishop  Thomas  has  there  5  villeins  having 
2  ploughs  and  i  mill  which  is  in  LUDEHAM 
[Lowdham].  Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  leagues 
in  length  and  i  in  breadth. 


1  '  Madressei '  in  original  is  underlined  for  dele- 
tion, and  '  Lund  '  is  written  over  it. 
1  '  pertinens  ad  Lann '  interlined. 


BER[EWICK] 

B.  In  CALVRETONE  [Calverton]  (there  are) 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  7  villeins  and  2 
bordars  have  2  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church 
and  a  priest  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  8  furlongs  in  length  and  3 
(furlongs)  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  40  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the 
same)  now. 

M.  In  OSTONE  [Oxton]  Elnod  had  6  bo- 
vates of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Archbishop  Thomas 
has  i  plough  in  demesne  and  i  sochman  and 
I  villein  and  i  bordar  having  2  ploughs.  The 
king  has  I  bovate  of  this  land.  The  remainder 
belongs  (iactt)  to  BLIDEWORDE  [Blidworth].  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  20  (shillings). 

In  RAVESCHEL  [Ranskill]  (there  are)  4^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
is  land  for  I  plough.  It  was  and  is  waste. 
Godric  held  (it).  The  archbishop  holds  (it). 

M.  In  NORTWELLE  [Norwell]  SAINT  MARY 
of  SUDWELLE  [Southwell]  had  12  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for 
6  ploughs.  There  (are)  now  2  ploughs  in  de- 
mesne and  22  villeins  and  3  bordars  having  7 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and  a  priest  and 

1  mill  (rendering)  12  pence,  and  i  fishery  and 
73  acres  of  meadow.    Wood(land)  for  pannage 

2  leagues  in  length  and  i  in  breadth.    In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  ;  now  (it 
is  worth)  100  shillings. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 
S.  In  OswiTORp3  [Osmondthorpe]  (there  are) 
4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.    There  4  sochmen  have 

2  ploughs.     (There  are)  8  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  4  furlongs  in  length 
and  3  in  breadth. 

S.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby]  (there  are)  3^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  4  sochmen  and 

3  villeins  have    2   ploughs  and    16  acres   of 
meadow. 

S.  In  CALNESTONE  [Caunton]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  i  sochman  and  5 
bordars  have  i^  ploughs  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  in  length 
and  2  in  breadth. 

In  OCRETONE  [Hockerton]  (there  is)  I  bovate 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  (is)  i  vil- 
lein and  i  bordar  and  I  acre  of  meadow. 


3  The    scribe    evidently    read    '  Osmutorp '  as 
'  Osunitorp.' 


256 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


In  UDEBURG  [Woodborough]  (there  are)  7 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  (is)  half  a  plough 
in  demesne,  and  2  villeins  and  I  bordar  have 
i  plough.  It  belongs  to  SUDWELLE  [South- 
well]. 

IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  I  clerk  (clericus) 
has  i  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  under 
(sub)  the  archbishop. 


fol.  28jb. 

VI.  THE  LAND   OF  THE   BISHOP 
OF  LINCOLN 

M.  In  NEWERCHE  [Newark]  with  (its)  two 
berewicksBALDRETUNE[Balderton]  and  FAREN- 
DUNE  [Farndon]  Godeva  the  countess  had  7 
carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  26  ploughs.  There 
Bishop  Remi  has  7  ploughs  in  demesne  and 
56  burgesses  (burgensei)  and  42  villeins  and  4 
bordars  having  2d£  ploughs.  There  (are)  10 
churches  and  8  priests  having  5  ploughs.  There 
7  free  men  (franci  homines)  have  5^  ploughs. 
There  (is)  I  mill  (rendering)  5  shillings  and  4 
pence  and  i  fishery.  To  NEWERCHE  belong 
(adlacenf)  all  the  customs  (consuetudines)  of  the 
king  and  the  earl  from  (de)  that  wapentake.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  rendered  (reddebat)  50 
pounds  ;  now  (it  renders)  34  pounds. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  BALDRETONE  [Balderton]  (there  are) 
6^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  26  sochmen  and 
3  bordars  have  9  ploughs. 

S.  In  CHELVINTONE  [Kilvington]  (i  bovate), 
SIRESTUNE  [Syerston]  (i^  bovates),  ELVESTUNE 
[Elston]  (i  bovate),  STOCHES  [East  Stoke]  (i^ 
bovates),  HOLTONE  [Hawton]  (2^  bovates), 
CoTiNTONE[Coddington](i  carucate),BARNEBi 
[Barnby-in-the-Willows]  (2^  bovates  of  land), 
WIMUNTORP  [Winthorpe]  (6£  bovates),  to- 
gether there  are  3  carucates  and  half  a  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  io£ 
ploughs. 

There  77  sochmen  with  4  bordars  have  15^ 
ploughs.  In  these  (members)  (there  are)  163 
acres  of  meadow. 

S .  In  SCORNELEI  [South  Scarle] ( 2 1  carucates), 
GRETONE  [Girton]  (i|  carucates),  SPALDES- 
FORDE  [Spalford]  (3^  bovates),  TORNESHAIE 
[Thorney]  (i  carucate)  and  WIGESLEIE  [Wigs- 
ley]  (7  bovates),  HERDREBI  [Harby]  (i  bovate), 
COTUN  [Gotham]  (i  bovate),  together  (there 
are)  6£  carucates  and  half  a  bovate  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  21  ploughs 
and  3  oxen.  There  71  sochmen  and  7  bor- 
dars have  21^  ploughs.  There  (are)  280  acres 


of  meadow.     Wood(land)  for  pannage  5  fur- 
longs in  length  and  4  furlongs  in  breadth. 

2  M.  In  ELVESTUN  [Elston]  Lewin  and  Pile- 
win  had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  I  villein 
and  3  bordars  have  i  plough.  There  (are)  1 2 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  10  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the 
same)  now.  Ravenesort  and  Arnegrim  hold 
(it)  of  the  bishop. 

M.  In  COTINTONE  [Coddington]  Ulvric  had 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  oxen.  The  bishop  has 
there  half  a  plough  and  I  acre  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 

M.  In  the  same  place  Bugo  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
is  land  for  half  a  plough.  It  is  waste.  Botild 
holds  (it)  and  it  is  worth  2  shillings.  There 
(are)  2  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  CLITONE  [Clifton]  Ulviet  had  6£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
is  land  for  3  ploughs.  Bishop  R(emi)  has  there 
3  sochmen  on  (de)  3  bovates  of  this  land  and 
I  bordar  with  I  plough.  There  (are)  30  acres 
of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  half 
a  league  in  length  and  3  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20 
shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  IO  shillings. 
Ralph  holds  (it). 

M.  In  HERDEBI  [Harby]  Godwin  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  5  villeins  have 
now  2  ploughs  and  12  acres  of  meadow. 
Woodland  for  pannage  half  a  league  in  length 
and  half  (a  league)  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  2O  (shillings). 

M.  In  CLIFTONE  [Clifton]  Frane  had  3^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  Bishop  Re(mi)  has 
there  I  plough  and  6  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  i\  ploughs.  There  are  14  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings ;  now  it  is  worth  20 
shillings.  Siwate  holds  (it). 

fol.  984. 

M.  In  the  same  place  Ulviet  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  It  is  waste.  Ralf 
holds  (it).  There  is  the  fourth  part  of  I 
church  and  8  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  IO  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 


257 


33 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


M.  In  the  same  place  Agemund  had  2^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The 
same  Agemund  holds  (it)  of  the  bishop  and  has 
2  ploughing  oxen  (boves  in  car ')  and  2  villeins 
likewise  (with)  2  ploughing  oxen  and  8  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  10  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth) 
6  shillings. 

IN   BERNEDELAWE    [BASSETLAW]  WAPENTAC 

M.  In  FLADEBURG  [Fledborough]  the 
Countess  Godeva  had  I  carucate  and  3^ 
bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  4  ploughs.  There  Nigel,  the  bishop's 
man,  has  i\  ploughs  and  1 6  villeins  and  5 
sochmen  on  (de)  I  bovate  of  this  land  having 
5  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church 
and  I  mill  (rendering)  12  pence.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  I  league  in  length  and  half 
a  league  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  8  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  5 
(pounds). 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  NORMENTONE  [Normanton  upon 
Trent]  (there  are)  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  12  oxen. 
There  1 1  sochmen  have  3  ploughs  and  6 
acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  ESTOCHES  [East  Stoke]  the  Countess 
Godeva  had  6  bovates  of  land  and  a  third  part 
and  a  fifteenth  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Nigel  the 
bishop's  man  has  5  sochmen  and  4  bordars 
having  3  ploughs  and  6  acres  of  meadow 
and  underwood  (si hie  minute).  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

VI.   THE  LAND  OF   THE  BISHOP 
OF  BAYEUX 

M.  In  COTES  [Gotham]  Levric  had  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Wazelin  the 
man  of  the  bishop  of  Bayeux  has  I  plough 
and  5  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  half  a 
plough  and  20  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  30  (shillings). 

M.  In  BARNEBI  [Barnby  in  the  Willows] 
Ulvric  had  7  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
Losuard  the  man  of  the  bishop  of  Bayeux  has 
I  plough  and  4  sochmen  on  (de)  2  bovates  of  this 
land  and  9  villeins  and  6  bordars  having  4^ 
ploughs.  There  is  a  priest  and  a  church  to 
which  there  belongs  (in  qua  jacet)  half  a  bovate 
of  this  land  and  i  mill  (rendering)  5  shillings 
and  4  pence  and  30  acres  of  meadow,  and 


underwood  (siha  minuta).  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  and  (it  is 
worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  COTINTON  [Coddington]  Ulvric  had 
3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  1 2  oxen.  There  Losoard 
the  bishop's  man  has  2  villeins  and  4  bordars 
with  i  plough  and  3  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  10  (shillings). 

M.  In  COTINTONE  [Coddington]  Levric 
had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Oudchel  has  under  (sub)  the  bishop  half  a 
plough  and  4  sochmen  on  (de)  4  bovates  of  this 
land  and  3  bordars  with  half  a  plough  and  5 
acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  ROLLESTONE  [Rolleston]  Godwin  had 
2^  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  and 
the  fourth  part  of  i  bovate.  (There  is)  land  for 
6  ploughs.  There  Losoard  the  bishop's  man 
has  I  plough  and  1 1  villeins  and  9  bordars 
having  4^  ploughs.  There  (is)  i  mill  (render- 
ing) 27  shillings  and  68  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8 
pounds;  now  (it  is  worth)  4  pounds  and  10 
shillings.  To  this  manor  there  belong  7 
sochmen  in  OPETONE  [Upton]  and  COLINGE- 
HAM  [Collingham]. 

M.  In  SCREVETONE  [Screveton]  Toti  had  12 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Hugh,  kinsman 
(nepos)  of  Herbert,  the  bishop's  man,  has  5 
sochmen  and  4  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  3 
ploughs  and  6  oxen  and  12  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  32  shillings. 


VII.   THE  LAND  OF  ST.  PETER  OF 
BURG     [PETERBOROUGH] 

M.  In  COLINGEHAM  [Collingham]  St. 
Peter  of  Burg  had  4  carucates  of  land  and  half 
a  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  14  ploughs.  In  demesne  there  are 
now  2  ploughs  and  (there  are)  37  sochmen  on 
(de)  2  carucates  and  3  bovates  of  this  land  and 
8  villeins  and  20  bordars  having  14  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  2  churches  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  20  shillings  and  200  acres  of 
meadow.  Underwood  (siha  minuta)  2  fur- 
longs in  length  and  i  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  9  pounds  (and  it 
is  worth)  the  same  now. 

M.  In  NORD  MUSCHAM  [North  Muskham] 
St.  Peter  of  Burg  had  10  bovates  of  land 


258 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


(assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  is  land  for  4 
ploughs.  In  demesne  there  is  now  I  plough 
and  (there  are)  2  sochmen  on  (de)  2^  bovates  of 
land  and  5  villeins  and  3  bordars  having  i^ 
ploughs  and  2  mills  (rendering)  20  shillings 
and  i  waste,  and  half  a  fishery  and  30  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  60  shillings ;  now  it  is  worth  40 
shillings. 

fol.  284b. 

VIII.    THE   LAND    OF   ROGER    DE 
BUSLI 

NEWERCA  [NEWARK]  WAPENTAC 

M.  In  ELVESTUNE  [Elston]  Oudenecar  had 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There 
Norman  the  priest  has  of  Roger  de  Busli  5 
villeins  having  5  ploughing  oxen  (boves  in  car'). 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shil- 
lings and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  SCELTONE  [Shelton]  and  FLODBERGE 
[Flawborough]  ^Elsi  (had)  7^  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2^ 
ploughs.  There  Robert,  Roger's  man,  has  i 
plough,  and  6  villeins  and  2  bordars  have  2 
ploughs.  There  is  a  church  and  the  site  of 
i  mill  and  30  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  30  (shillings). 

M.  In  CLISTONE  [Clifton]  Oudgrim  had 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Roger, 
Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  I  sochman  on 
(de)  I  bovate  of  this  land  and  7  villeins  with  3 
ploughs  and  the  fourth  part  of  a  church  and 
30  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage (silva  pasti/is)  2  furlongs  in  length  and 
half  (a  furlong)  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  30  (shillings). 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  SPALDESFORDE  [Spalford]  (there 
are)  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  2  soch- 
men have  half  a  plough  and  12  acres  of 
meadow. 

M.  In  BRODEHOLM  [Broadholme]1  Alwi 
had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  (are)  4 
sochmen  on  (de)  2  bovates  of  this  land  and  3 
villeins  having  4  ploughs  and  12  acres  of 
meadow.  Roger  de  Busli  holds  (it).  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  30  (shillings). 


i  < 


Vel  Cliftune  '  added  over  '  Brodeholm.' 


BERNESEDLAWE    [BASSETLAW]    WAPENTAC 

M.  In  MARCH  AM  [East  Markham]  Edwi 
had  9  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Geoffrey, 
Roger's  man,  has  i  plough ;  and  9  villeins  and 
5  bordars  have  3  ploughs.  There  is  a  church 
and  i  mill  (rendering)  1 6  shillings.  In  King 
Edward's  time  (it  was  worth)  3  pounds  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  4  pounds. 

M.  In  the  same  place  Frane  had  3! 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Turold,  Roger's 
man,  has  I  plough  and  I  villein  with  2  plough- 
ing oxen  (bolus  in  car').  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is 
worth)  the  same  now. 

2  M.  In  the  same  place  Godwin  and  Ulchel 
had  7^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3^  ploughs.  There  Ulchel 
and  4  sochmen  and  2  bordars  have  i^  ploughs. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  1 6 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

2  In  HEDUNE  [Headon]  (there  is)  i  bovate  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  oxen.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  Mark- 
ham  and  (there  are)  2  acres  of  meadow. 
There  i  sochman  has  2  oxen. 

*In  UPETUN  [Upton]  (there  are)  2^  bovates 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  is  land 
for  2  ploughs.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in) 
Markham.  There  9  sochmen  and  2  bordars 
have  4  ploughs  and  6  acres  of  meadow. 

2  In  GAMELESTUNE  [Gamston]  (there  is)  i 
orchard  (ortum)  and  i  sochman  belonging  to 
MARCHAM  and  i  orchard  belonging  to 
ETONE  [Eaton]. 

2  M.  In  TUXFARNE  [Tuxford]  Elwi  and 
Ulmer  had  1 2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  10  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  4  ploughs  and  32  villeins 
and  2  bordars  having  14  ploughs  and  i  mill 
(rendering)  10  shillings  and  8  pence.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  pounds ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  8  pounds. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 
S.  In  SCHIDRINTON  [now  Kirton]3  and 
WALESBI  [Walesby]  (there  are)  2  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  6  oxen.  There  5  sochmen  and  i  bordar 
have  2  ploughs. 

S.  In  AGEMUNTONE  [Egmanton]  (there  are) 
l£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

2  These   entries  are  added  at  the  foot    of  the 
page,  with  a  mark  to  indicate  their  proper  position 
under  Marcham. 

3  See  note  p.  250. 


259 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  I  soch- 
man  and  3  villeins  have  2  ploughs.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  I  league  in  length  and  half 
a  league  in  breadth. 

3  M.  In  AGEMUNTONE  [Egmanton]  Torche- 
tel  and  Ulmer  had  4^  bovates  (of  land)  and 
the  third  part  of  I    bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.     (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.     There 
Roger   has  4  ploughs  and  13  villeins  and   9 
bordars    having    8    ploughs.     There    (are)   2 
mills    (rendering)    30    shillings.       In     King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it 
is  worth)  the  same  now. 

M.  In  BUCHETONE  [Boughton]  Mdwi  had 

3  bovates  of  land    (assessed)    to    the    geld. 
(There  is)   land   for  3    ploughs.     There    (is) 
now  i  plough  in  demesne  and  2   villeins  and 
i  bordar  with  i  plough.     In  King  Edward's 
time  it   was  worth   20  shillings  ;   now  (it   is 
worth)  10  shillings. 

M.  In  ALRETUN  [Ollerton]  Alwold  had 
l\  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  now  5 
sochmen  and  I  villein  have  2  ploughs  and 

1  mill  (rendering)  6   shillings   and   8    pence. 
In    King    Edward's   time   it    was  worth    20 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  COTUNE  [Gotham]  Hardulf  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Fulco,  Roger's 
man,  has  8  villeins  with  2  ploughs.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  16  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

4  M.    In    ORDESHALE    [Ordsall]  Osward, 
Turstin,  Ordric  and  Turstin  had  4  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.      (There  is)  land  for 

4  ploughs.     There  2  men  of  Roger  have   3 
ploughs  and  5  villeins  and  2  bordars  having  2 
ploughs.     There  (are)   16  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage    I    furlong  in  length 
and    half   a    furlong    in    breadth.      In    King 
Edward's    time    it    was  worth   28   shillings ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  24  shillings. 

10  M.  In  ATTUNE  [Eaton]  10  thegns 
had  each  his  hall  (aulai).  Between  them 
(there  were)  6£  bovates  of  land  and  the 
sixth  part  of  i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
Fulco,  Roger's  man,  has  i  plough  and  14 
villeins  and  9  bordars  having  7  ploughs  and 

2  mills  (rendering)  20  shillings  and  60  acres 
of    meadow.       Wood(land)    for    pannage    5 
furlongs    in    length   and    3    in    breadth.     In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  3  (pounds). 


lln  MISNA  [Misson]  (there  is)  i  bovate  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  belongs  to 
ETTONE  [Eaton]. 

M.  In  GRAVE  [Grove]  Alwi  and  Osmund 
had  4^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Robert, 
Roger's  man,  has  i£  ploughs  and  6  villeins 
and  3  bordars  and  I  sochman  having  2^ 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church 
and  8  acres  of  meadow.  Wood  (land)  for  pan- 
nage i  league  in  length  and  half  (a  league)  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings  and  (it  is  worth)  the  same 
now. 

*In  ORDESHALE  [Ordsall]  (there  are)  i£ 
bovates.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough. 

S.  In  RANEBI  [Ranby]  (there  are)  2^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  The  soc  belongs  to 
(in)  GRAVE.  It  is  waste. 

In  RANEBI  [Ranby]  there  is  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  The  soc  belongs  to 
(in)  ETUNE  [Eaton], 

M.  In  HEDUNE  [Headon]  Godric  and  6 
other  thegns  had  each  a  hall  (hallani).  Between 
them  (there  were)  8  bovates  of  land  and  the 
third  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  5^  ploughs.  There 
William,  Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and  14 
sochmen  and  9  villeins  and  6  bordars  having 
1 6  ploughs.  There  (are)  26  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  5  furlongs  in  length 
and  4  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it  is  worth)  the 
same  now. 

S.  In  UPETUNE  [Upton]  (there  is)  half  a 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  oxen.  There  are  3  sochmen 
and  2  bordars  with  I  plough  and  2  acres  of 
meadow. 

M.  In  WESTMARCHAM  [West  Markham] 
Godric  had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Roger  has  2  ploughs  and  4  villeins  and  2 
bordars  having  2  ploughs  and  1 6  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(Iand)  for  pannage  5  furlongs  in 
length  and  3  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  (and  it  is 
worth)  the  same  now.  Claron  holds  (it.) 

fol.  385. 

S.  In  WESTMARCHAM  [West  Markham] 
(there  are)  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (in)  TUXFARNE  [Tuxford]. 


1  Added  at  the  foot  of  the  page,  with  a  mark  to 
indicate  its  proper  position. 
*  In  the  margin. 


260 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


There  6  sochmen  and  5  villeins  have  4^ 
ploughs.  There  (are)  16  acres  of  meadow. 
S.  In  the  same  place  (there  is)  I  bovate  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  (of  which)  the  soc 
belongs  to  (in)  GRAVE  [Grove]  and  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld  (of  which)  the  soc 
belongs  to  (in)  ETUNE  [Eaton]  and  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld  (of  which)  the  soc 
belongs  to  (in)  DRAITONE  [Drayton].  (There 
is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There  3  sochmen 
have  2  ploughs. 

2  M.  In  DRAITONE  [West  Drayton]  Swen 
and  Ulstan  had  4  bovatesofland  and  2  parts  of 
I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  2  ploughs.  There  2  men  of 
Roger's  have  i  plough  and  8  villeins  and  I 
bordar  having  2  ploughs.  There  (are)  3  mills 
rendering  50  shillings  and  7  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  in  length 
and  half  a  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  17  shillings  and  4  pence. 

2  M.  In  ELCHESLIE  [Elkesley]  Locre  and 
Ulchel  had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Claron  has  I  plough,  and  3  villeins  and  I 
bordar  have  i^  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  26  shillings  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

M.  In  BABURDE  [Babworth]  Ulmar  had 
2^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Geoffrey,  Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  I 
bordar  with  half  a  plough.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  2  furlongs  in  length  and  i  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

2  M.  In  NORDERMORTUNE  [North  (?)  Mor- 
ton] Assord  and  Lufchel  had  2  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  It  is  waste.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  I  furlong  in  length  and  half  a  furlong 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  1 6  shillings. 

M.  In  CALDECOTES  [Old  Coates]  Caschin 
had  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  It  is  waste. 
There  are  6  acres  of  meadow  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  20  shillings.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  30  shillings. 

2  M.  In  CUCHENAI  [Cuckney]  Alric  and 
Ulsi  had  I  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs. 
There  Geoffrey,  Roger's  man,  has  i  plough 
and  9  villeins  having  3  ploughs.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  2  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in 


breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  2O  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2 
shillings  less. 

2  M.  In  TORP  [Perlethorpe]  Turstan  and 
Ulmer  had  10  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
There  Richard,  Roger's  man,  has  4  ploughs 
and  5  villeins  and  4  bordars  having  2^  ploughs 
and  7  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage [  ]  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  26  shillings. 

Soc[land]  belonging  there 
S.  In  GLETORP  [Gledthorpe]  (there  are) 
4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There  4  soch- 
men have  2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage I  furlong  in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 

2  M.  In   CLIPESTONE  [Clipstone]   Osbern 
and  Ulsi  had  I   carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the    geld.       (There    is)    land    for    2    ploughs 
There    Roger    has    in   demesne    i£   ploughs 
and   (there   are)    12    villeins    and    3    bordars 
having   3^   ploughs,   and    I    mill   (rendering) 
3     shillings.      Wood(land)  (fit)   in   places  for 
pannage  (per  /oca  pastilis)  i  league  in  length  and 
I  in  breadth.     In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth   60  shillings ;    now   (it   is  worth)    40 
(shillings). 

3  M.  In  WARESOPE  [Warsop]  Godric  and 
Leviet  and  Ulchel   had   3   carucates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.      (There  is)  land  for  6£ 
ploughs.      There  Roger  has  in  demesne   3^ 
ploughs  and  (there  are)  6  sochmen  on  (de)   2 
bovates  of  this  land   and   15   villeins  and    II 
bordars  having  3  ploughs.     There  (is)  a  priest 
and  a  church  and  i  mill  (rendering)    16  pence 
and  half  the  site   of  a  mill.      Wood(land)  for 
pannage  5  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth. 
In    King    Edward's  time    it  was  worth   64 
shillings  ;   now  (it  is  worth)  4  shillings  less. 

2  M.  In  CLUNBRE  [Clumber]  Adelwol  and 
Ulchil  had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Part 
(2  bovates)  is  waste,  which  Fulc  holds. 
In  the  other  (part)  Ulchel  has  under  (sub) 
Roger  I  plough  and  I  mill  (rendering)  12 
pence.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  furlongs 
in  length  and  j  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  4  shillings. 

S.  In  ODESTORP  [  ]  and  REDFORD  [Ret- 
ford]  (there  are)  i£  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  oxen. 
The  soc  belongs  to  CLUMBRE.  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  WERCHESOPE  [Worksop]  Elsi  had  3 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 


261 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


(There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  There  Roger  has 
i  plough  in  demesne  and  22  sochmen  (de)  on 
12  bovates  of  this  land  and  24  villeins  and  8 
bordars  having  22  ploughs  and  7  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  leagues 
in  length  and  3  furlongs  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  7  (pounds). 

2  M.  In  ROLVETUNE  [Rayton]  Ulsi  and 
Archil  had  i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  4  soch- 
men on  2  bovates  of  this  land  and  i  bordar 
with  I  plough.  There  (are)  2  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs 
in  length  and  3  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  2O  shillings ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings.  In  the  same 
place  (there  is)  I  bovate  of  land  assessed  to  the 
geld.  Soc(land).  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  BILLEBI  [Bilby]  Grimchel  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Ingran, 
Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  9  villeins  and 
I  bordar  having  3  ploughs  and  6  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2O 
(shillings). 

M.  In  ODESACH  [Hodsock]  Ulsy  had  2 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
Turold,  Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and  3 
sochmen  on  (de]  4  bovates  of  this  land  and  12 
villeins  having  9  ploughs.  There  (are)  2 
mills  (rendering)  1 6  shillings  and  4  pence  and 
8  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  half  a  league  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  60  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  ELIDE  [Blyth]  (there  is)  I  bovate  of 
land  and  the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough. 
There  4  villeins  and  4  borders  have  I  plough 
and  i  acre  of  meadow. 

1  In  the  same  place  (there  is)  I  carucate  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (It  is)  soc(land)  of 
the  king's  manor  of  MAMESFELD  [Mansfield]. 

'In  the  same  place  (there  is)  I  carucate  of 
land.  The  soc  and  geld  (belong)  to  (ad)  the 
king's  manor  of  BODMESCEL  [Bottamsall]. 

6  M.  In  CARELTUNE  [Carlton  in  Lindrick] 
6  thegns  had  each  a  hall.  Between  them  all 

1  These  two  entries  are  in  the  margin,  and 
probably  refer  to  Hodsock. 


(there  were)  2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  Turold,  Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs, 
and  2  sochmen  and  1 6  villeins  and  3  bordars 
having  4  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and 

2  mills  (rendering)   21    shillings  and  20  acres 
of  meadow.     Wood(land)    for    pannage     i£ 
leagues  in  length  and  half  a  league  in  breadth. 
In    King    Edward's  time    it    was    worth     4 
pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3  (pounds). 

M.  In  LUND  [Lound]  Ulchel  had  2  bovates 
of  land  and  2  parts  of  i  bovate  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  In 
demesne  there  (is)  I  plough  and  (there  are)  6 
villeins  with  2  ploughs  and  5  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs  in  length 
and  2  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  it  (is  worth)  10 
(shillings.) 

M.  In  SERLEBI  [Serlby]  Alvric  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  Gilbert,  Roger's 
man,  has  i  plough  and  5  villeins  and  8  bor- 
dars with  3  ploughs  and  I  mill  (rendering) 

3  shillings.     In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

2  M.  In  TURDEWORDE  [Torworth]  Brixi 
and  Caschi  had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Azo 
the  priest  has  (it)  of  Roger  and  it  is  waste. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  league  in  length 
and  i  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  3  shillings. 

fol.  28sb. 

2  M.  In  BARNEBI  [Barnby  Moor]  Turverd 
and  Sorte  had  I  £  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.     (There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.     It  is 
waste.      There    (is)     i      acre    of     meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage   I    furlong  in  length 
and   half   a    furlong    in    breadth.     In    King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  12  pence. 

3  M.    In  HAREWORDE  [Harworth]  Wade, 
Ulfiet  and    Ulstan   had    i    carucate  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.     (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.       There  Fulc,  Roger's  man,  has  in 
demesne    i    plough  and  (there  are)  8  villeins 
and  i  bordar   with   3    ploughs.     There  (is)  a 
church.     Wood(land)  for  pannage  i  league  in 
length  and  I  in  breadth.     In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was   worth   40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  30  shillings. 

Soc[land]  belonging  there 
S.  In  MARTUNE  [Martin]  there  is   I  caru- 
cate of    land   (assessed)  to  the  geld.     (There 


262 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  10  villeins 
have  5  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  I 
league  in  length  and  half  a  league  in  breadth. 

3  M.  In  ESTIRAPE  [Styrrup]  Leving,  Tor- 
chil  and  Leuric  had  7  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
ploughs.  There  Bernard,  Roger's  man,  has  I 
plough  and  9  sochmen  on  (de)  half  a  carucate  of 
this  land  and  7  villeins  and  5  bordars  having 
3^  ploughs.  There  (are)  6  acres  of  meadow 
and  10  acres  of  wood(land)  for  pannage.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  50  shillings  ; 
now  it  is  worth  25  shillings. 

In  the  same  place  (there  is)  I  bovate  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  is  soc(land). 
It  is  waste. 

IN  LIDE  WAPENTAC* 

M.  In  CALUN  [Kelham]  Turchil  and 
Godric  had  10  bovates  of  land  and  the  third 
part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Turold, 
Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  7  sochmen  (de) 
on  5  bovates  of  this  land  and  3  villeins  and  3 
bordars  having  i\  ploughs.  There  (are)  22 
acres  of  meadow.  Underwood  (si/vee  minutes) 
1 6  furlongs  in  length  and  74  rods  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  28  shillings. 

M.  In  HOCRETONE  [Hockerton]  Ulsi  and 
Turchil  had  I  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2^  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  1 1  villeins  and  4  bordars  having  4 
ploughs.  There  (are)  36  acres  of  meadow. 
There  (is)  a  church.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  4  furlongs  and  4  rods 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  4  pounds ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3 
(pounds). 

In  CARLETUN  [Caunton]  Roger  has  12 
acres  of  meadow. 

2  M.  In  GRESTORP  [Grassthorpe]  Dunning 
and  Grim  had  6^  bovates  of  land  and  the 
fourth  part  of  i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Roger, 
Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and  4  sochmen 
and  1 2  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  5  ploughs. 
There  (are)  3  mills  (rendering)  20  shillings 
and  12  acres  of  meadow  and  4  acres  of 
wood(land)  for  pannage.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  3  pounds  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

1  Now  the  North  Division  of  Thurgarton 
Wapcntake. 


S.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton-on-Trent]  there  is 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (It 
is)  soc(land).  It  is  waste.  There  (are)  6 
acres  of  meadow. 

2  M.  In  MARNEHAM  [High  Marnham] 
Alvric  and  Dane  had  6^  bovates  of  land  and 
the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Fulo,  Roger's  man,  has  i  plough  and  there 
I  sochman  has  12  acres  of  land  and  (there 
are)  10  villeins  and  4  bordars  having  4^ 
ploughs.  There  (are)  40  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings  ;  now  it  is  worth  20  (shillings). 

M.  In  another  MARNEHAM  [Low  Marn- 
ham] Ulsi  had  2  carucates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  in  demesne  4  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  2  sochmen  on  40  acres  of  land 
and  20  villeins  having  7  ploughs  and  I  mill 
(rendering)  4  shillings  and  i  fishery  and  24 
acres  of  meadow.  Underwood  (silva  minuta) 
half  a  league  in  length  and  the  same  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  4  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3  pounds. 

M.  In  SCACHEBI  [Skegby]  Alwold  and 
Ulchet  had  I  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2-Jr  ploughs. 
There  2  men  of  Roger's  have  in  demesne  3 
ploughs  and  (there  are)  7  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  3  ploughs.  There  (are)  16  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  half  a 
league  in  length  and  3  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  48  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40  shillings. 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton  upon  Trent]  (there 
is)  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There  I  sochman 
has  I  plough. 

S.  In  NORMENTUNE  [Normanton  upon 
Trent]  (there  is)  half  a  bovate  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  There  2  villeins  and  2  bordars 
have  i  plough. 

5  M.  In  NORMENTUNE  [Normanton  upon 
Trent]  5  thegns,  Justan,  Durand,2  Elward, 
Ulmar,  Aseloc,  had  each  his  hall  (aula)  and 
each  of  them  (had)  I  bovate  of  land  and  the 
fifth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Roger, 
Roger's  man,  has  9  sochmen  and  4  bordars 
having  3  ploughs  and  12  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  6  shillings. 

a  '  Durand '  is  added  over  '  Aseloc,'  marked  for 
deletion. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


6  M.  In  WESTONE  [Weston]  Elmer,  Elwi, 
Osbern,  Grim,  Edric,  Stenulf  had  each  his 
hall  (aula}.1  Between  them  (there  were)  6£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Fulc,  Robert 
and  Turold,  Roger's  men,  have  4^  ploughs 
and  i  sochman  and  14  villeins  and  3  bordars 
having  3^  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and 
I  mill  and  30  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  half  a  league  in  length  and  the 
same  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  70  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  50 
shillings. 

Soc[land]  belonging  there  (Ibidem). 

S.  In  ODESTORP  [  ]  and  REDFORD 

[Retford]  (there  is)  half  a  bovate  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
oxen.  There  is  I  villein  and  the  fourth  part 
of  I  mill  and  4  acres  of  meadow. 

IN  TORGARTONE  [THURGARTON] 
WAPENTAC 

M.  In  GHELUNGE  [Gedling]  Dunstan  had 
9^  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  There  Roger  has  2  ploughs 
and  9  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  2  ploughs 
and  10  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  2  furlongs  in  length  and  I  furlong  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  32  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40 
shillings. 

M.  In  EPRESTONE  [Epperstone]  and  UDES- 
BURG  [Woodborough]  Ulviet  had  half  a  caru- 
cate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  12  oxen.  There  Roger  has  I  plough 
and  2  sochmen  on  (<&)  I  bovate  of  this  land  and 
3  villeins  having  i^  ploughs.  There  (is)  i 
mill  (rendering)  5  shillings  and  4  pence  and 
3  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  5  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  I 
mark  of  silver. 

M.  In  GULNETORP  [Gunthorpe]  Morcarhad 
3  carucates  of  land  and  3  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  in  demense  4  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  5  sochmen  on  i^  bovates  of  this 
land  and  40  villeins  and  7  bordars  having  1 6 
ploughs.  There  (is)  toll  (theloneum)  and  a 
(ferry)  boat  (navli)  rendering  30  shillings  and  8 
pence  and  2  fisheries  (rendering)  25  shillings 
and  1 80  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  6  furlongs  in  length  and  5  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  15 
pounds;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  pounds.  Talli- 
age  (tail/a)  30  shillings. 

1  '  Unus  quisque  \  bo'  terre '  in  the  original,  but 
deleted. 


S.  In  BERTUNE  [Burton  Joyce]  and  LUD- 
HAM  [Lowdham]  (there  are)  12  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for 
i  plough.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in]  GUNNE- 
TORP  [Gunthorpe].  There  4  sochmen  and  2 
villeins  have  I  plough.  There  (are)  4  acres  of 
meadow. 

2  M.  In  OSTONE  [Oxton]  Turstan  and 
Odincarle  had  i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  There  is  land  for  2^  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  2  ploughs  and  5  villeins  and 

fol.  386. 

6  bordars  having  2  ploughs  and  I  mill  (render- 
ing) 5  shillings  and  4  pence.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  60  shillings. 

IN    RlSECLIVE    [RUSHCLIFF]    WAPENTAC 

M.  In  STANFORD  [Stanford  upon  Soar]  Elsi 
had  10  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Roger 
has  i  plough  and  5  sochmen  and  3  villeins 
and  2  bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (is) 
half  a  mill  (rendering)  6  shillings  and  8  pence 
and  1 1  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  30  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  40  shillings. 

S.  In  NORMANTONE  [Normanton  upon  Soar] 
(there  are)  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  (It  is) 
soc(land).  It  is  waste.  There  (are)  4  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  4  shillings  (and  it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

M.  InTuRMODESTUN[Thrumpton]  Lewin 
and  Elnod  had  7  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  i  plough  and  3  sochmen 
and  2  villeins  and  2  bordars  having  i£  ploughs. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 

M.  In  HOLMO  [Holme  Pierrepont]  Toret 
had  12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Roger 
has  2  ploughs  and  14  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  5  ploughs  and  I  mill  (rendering)  5 
shillings  and  80  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  and  (it 
is  worth  the  same)  now. 

sln  BASINFELT  [Bassingfield]  (there  are)  10 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  and  2 
parts  of  I  bovate.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  (It  is)  soc(land)  of  HOLMO  [Holme 

1  This  paragraph  is  written  at  the  bottom  of  the 
next  column,  but  is  marked  for  insertion  here. 


264 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


Pierrepont].  There  8  sochmen  have  3  ploughs 
and  15  acres  of  meadow. 

2  M.  In  PLUNTRE  [Plumtree]  Ulfac  and 
Godric  had  1 2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.      (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.      There 
Roger  has  in  demense  3  ploughs  and  (there 
are)  33  villeins  having  5  ploughs.     There  (is) 
a  church  and  23  acres  of  meadow.     In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

Soc[Iand]   belonging  there 

S.  In  RODDINTONE  [Ruddington]  (there  are) 
10  bovates  of  land  and  2  parts  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  There  18  sochmen  have  3  ploughs 
and  33  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  NORMANTONE  [Normanton  on  the 
Wolds]  Unfac  had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  6  villeins  and  3  bordars  and  4  soch- 
men with  3  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
30  (shillings). 

B.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  (there  are) 
4^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There  2 
villeins  and  I  bordar  have  half  a  plough.  It 
belongs  to  (jacet)  PLUNTRE  [Plumtree]. 

S.  In  STANTUNE  [Stanton  on  the  Wolds] 
(there  is)  half  a  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  There  I  villein  has  5  ploughing  oxen 
(haves  in  car').  It  belongs  to  ( pertinet)  PLUNTRE. 

S.  In  CAUORDE  [Keyworth]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  2 
villeins  have  half  a  plough.  It  belongs  to 
(pertinet)  PLUNTRE. 

3  M.  In  CAWORDE    [Keyworth]   Harold, 
Ricard  and  Frane  had  6  bovates   of  land   and 
2    parts  of    I    bovate  (assessed)   to  the   geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.     There  Roger 
has  4  sochmen  and  3   villeins  and   2   bordars 
having   3    ploughs.     There  (are)  16  acres  of 
meadow.      In   King    Edward's    time    it    was 
worth   30  shillings ;    now  (it   is   worth)    1 7 
shillings. 

M.  In  LECHE  [Leake]  Godric  had  2  bo- 
vates of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
oxen.  There  Ernulf,  Roger's  man,  has  2 
ploughs  and  2  villeins  with  half  a  plough  and 
8  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
10  shillings. 


In  King  Edward's  time  it 
now  (it  is  worth)  10 


IN  BROLVESTou1  [BROXTOW]  WAPENTAC 

3  M.  In  Wisoc  [Wysall]  Estan,  Elsi,  Glad- 
uin  had  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  3  ploughs  in  demesne 
and  1 5  villeins  and  5  sochmen  on  (de)  6  bovates 
of  this  land  and  I  bordar  having  (habentei)  10 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  45  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  48  shillings. 

3  In  the  king's  (land  of)  TORP  [Thorpe  in 
the  Glebe]  (there  are)  7  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld  belonging  to  (pertinentes) 
Wisoc  [Wysall].  (It  is)  soc(land).  It  is 
waste.  There  (are)  6  acres  of  meadow  and 
it  is  worth  2  shillings. 

In  WILLEBI  [Willoughby  on  the  Wolds] 
(there  is)  the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby  on  the 
Wolds]  Odincar  had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There 

2  sochmen  on  (tie)  I  bovate  of  this  land  and  3 
villeins  and  15  bordars  have  4  ploughs  and  13 
acres  of  meadow. 

was  worth  20  shillings 
(shillings). 

2  M.  In  COTINGESTOCHE  [Costock]  and 
REPESTONE  [Rempstone]  Godric  and  Algar 
had  13  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  13  oxen.  There  Roger 
has  2  sochmen  on  (de)  2  bovates  of  this  land  and 

3  villeins  with   2    ploughs.      One  carucate  of 
this   land    is  waste.      There  (are)  30  acres  of 
meadow.      In   King   Edward's    time    it    was 
worth    40    shillings;  now   (it    is   worth)    12 
shillings. 

1  The  places  which  stand  under  this  rubrication, 
like  those  which  precede  them,  belong  to  Rush- 
cliff  wapentake.  But  the  rubrication  of  this  fief 
is  so  accurate  throughout  that  the  introduction  of 
a  fresh  heading  at  this  point  probably  has  a 
meaning,  which  seems  to  be  that  these  five  villages, 
in  a  group  at  the  extreme  south  of  the  county, 
were  annexed,  temporarily  at  least,  to  the  some- 
what distant  wapentake  of  Broxtow.  This  is 
borne  out  by  the  fact  that  in  Ralf  de  Burun's  fee 
Costock  and  Rempstone  both  stand  under  the 
Broxtow  rubrication.  It  is  also  significant  that 
in  these  three  manors  (as  in  those  of  Ralf  de 
Burun's  fee)  the  number  of  ploughlands  is  equal 
to  the  numbers  of  carucates.  The  average  ratio 
in  the  county  is  more  than  2  to  I  and  identity 
is  very  characteristic  of  the  assessment  of  Broxtow 
wapentake.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  Roger  de 
Busli  held  no  manor  in  the  modern  wapentake 
of  Broxtow. 

'This  entry  follows  'Wilgebi,'  but  is  marked 
for  insertion  here. 


265 


34 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


IN    BlNGAMESHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAPENTAC 

M.  In  TROCLAUESTUNE  [Tollerton]  Elsi 
had  2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Roger 
in  demesne  has  i£  ploughs  and  (there  are)  n 
villeins  and  i  bordar  having  3  ploughs  and  8 
sochmen  with  3^  ploughs  and  2  mills  (render- 
ing) 3  shillings.  There  (is)  a  church  and  30 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  60 
(shillings). 

2  M.  In  LANBECOTE  [Lamcote]  Frane  and 
Odincar  had  7^  bovates  of  land  and  the  third 
part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Roger  has  i£ 
ploughs  and  i  villein  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  15 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  BINGHEHAM  [Bingham]  Tosti(g)  had 
3  carucates  of  land  and  2^  bovates  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5  ploughs. 
There  Roger  in  demesne  has  4  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  26  villeins  and  5  bordars  and  14 
sochmen  having  12^  ploughs.  Wood(land) 
for  pasture  I  league  in  length  and  8  furlongs 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  pounds  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now.  In  NIWETUNE  [Newton]  (there  are)  3 
bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

2  M.    IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  [Ibidem,  SC.  BlNG- 

HEHAM]  Hoga  and  Helga  had  5  bovates  of 
land  and  2  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There 
is  I  sochman  and  8  villeins  and  I  bordar 
having  I  plough  and  24  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  2O 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  13  (shillings). 

S.  In  SCELFORDE  [Shclford]  (there  are)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  The  soc  belongs  to 
(in)  BINGHEHAM  [Bingham].  There  3  soch- 
men have  i  plough. 

M.  In  BRUGEFORD  [East  Bridgeford]  Odin- 
car  had  4  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There 
Roger  in  demesne  has  3  ploughs  and  (there 
are)  2O  sochmen  on  (de)  10  bovates  of  this  land 
and  15  villeins  and  3  bordars  having  1 1 
ploughs.  There  is  a  priest  and  a  church  and 
12  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  3  pounds ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  5  pounds. 

3  M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Turstan 
and  Roschet    and    lustan   had  6   bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.     (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.  There  (are)  3  acres  of  meadow. 


The  land  is  not  cultivated.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  8  shillings ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  3  shillings. 

M.  In  CHENIVETONE  [Kneeton]  Ulviet 
had  5  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.  There  Roger  has  i  plough 
and  2  villeins  with  i  plough  and  4  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

2  M.  In  SAXEDEN  [Saxondale]  Ulviet  and 
Unspac  had  12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  5  sochmen  and  5  villeins  and  3 
bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (is)  a 
church  and  I  acre  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  25  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  CLIPESTUNE  (Clipston)  Ulviet  had 
3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Roger 
in  demesne  has  2  ploughs  and  (there  are)  3 
sochmen  and  12  villeins  and  I  bordar  having 
6  ploughs.  There  (are)  20  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shillings). 

M.  In  WAREBERG  [  ]  Godric 

had  12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  It  is  waste. 
There  (are)  10  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 

M.  In  ESCREVENTONE  [Screveton]  Odincar 
had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  i  soch- 
man with  I  bordar  has  I  plough.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  8  shillings. 

fol.  a86b. 

M.  In  COLESTONE  [Car  Colston]  Ulviet  had 
6  bovates  of  land  and  i  acre  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5  ploughs.  There 
Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs  in  demesne 
and  13  sochmen  and  3  villeins  and  7  bordars 
having  8  ploughs.  There  (are)  17  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  30  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40 
(shillings). 

M.  In  FLINTHAM  [Flintham]  Odincar  had 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Roger, 
Roger's  man,  has  i  plough  and  2  sochmen 
and  3  villeins  and  4  bordars  having  2  ploughs. 


266 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


In    King  Edward's    time   it   was  worth  20 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

S.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  (there  are)  I  ^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in) 
CHENIVETONE  [Kneeton].  Ernuin  the  priest 
has  it  of  (de)  Roger.  There  2  sochmen  and 
I  bordar  have  I  plough.  There  (are)  8  acres 
of  meadow. 

M.  In  AILETONE  [Elton]  Morcar  had  7 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Ralf,  Roger's 
man,  has  3  ploughs  and  3  sochmen  and  1 1 
villeins  having  6  ploughs.  There  (is)  a 
church  and  12  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it 
is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  OVETORP  [Owthorpe]  Helge  had 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
William,  Roger's  man,  has  i  plough  and  4 
sochmen  and  8  villeins  having  3  ploughs. 
There  (are)  12  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

IN     OSWARDEBEC     [OsWARDBECK] 

WAPENTAC 

3  M.  In  FENTONE  [Fenton]  Ulsac  and 
Levric  and  Grim  had  I  bovate  of  land  and 
the  third  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  The  land  is  waste  except  for  one  bordar 
(hard').  There  (are)  30  acres  of  wood(land) 
for  pannage.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  5  shillings. 

In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  Speravoc  had  2 
bovates  of  land  and  two  parts  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  is  land  for  I 
plough  with  soc  and  soc  (soca  et  soca)  without 
a  hall  (aula).  It  is  waste.  There  (are)  60 
acres  of  woodland  for  pannage.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  and 
8  pence  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

2  M.  In  ESTRETONE  [Sturton  le  Steeple] 
Sperhavoc  and  Archil  had  4^  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2^ 
ploughs.  There  (are)  now  2  villeins  and  2 
sochmen  and  2  bordars  having  7  ploughing 
oxen  (boves  in  car1)  and  8  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs  in  length 
and  3^  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  2  marks  of  silver. 
(It  is  worth)  the  same  now. 

5  M.  In  WATELEIA  [North  Wheatley]  5 
thegns  had  9  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  There 


Roger  has  in  demesne  4  ploughs  and  4  sochmen 
and  25  villeins  having  12^  ploughs  and  5  acres 
of  meadow.  Underwood  (silva  minuta)  I  league 
in  length  and  I  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  pounds  and  (it 
is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  BURTONE  [Burton]  Sperhavoc  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Geoffrey, 
Roger's  man,  has  I  plough  and  I  sochman 
and  i  villein  and  2  bordars  have  !•£  ploughs. 
There  is  I  fishery  (rendering)  200  eels. 
Underwood  (silva  minuta)  I  furlong  in  length 
and  i  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
40  shillings. 

Soc[land]  belonging  there 

S.  In  EVRETONE  [Everton]  and  HERE- 
WELLE  [Harwell]  there  are  2  bovates  of  land 
and  3  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  I 
sochman  has  half  a  plough  and  i^  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  furlong 
in  length  and  i  in  breadth. 

M.  In  BOLUN  [Bole]  Turvert  had  7 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  now  4  soch- 
men and  4  bordars  have  3  ploughs.  To  this 
manor  belong  (adiacent)  6  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld,  of  which  the  soc  belongs 
to  (in)  SANDEBI  [Saundby].  There  is  land  for 
2  ploughs.  There  Geoffrey,  Roger's  man,  has 

1  plough  and  2  sochmen  and  4  villeins  and  3 
bordars  have  i^  ploughs.     Meadow  8  furlongs 
in  length  and  2   in  breadth.      Wood(land)  for 
pannage    I  league  in  length  and  3  furlongs  in 
breadth.      In    King    Edward's    time    it   was 
worth  40    shillings ;    now   (it  is  worth)    50 
shillings. 

M.  In  BECHINGEHAM  [Beckingham]  Os- 
bern  had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 
Geoffrey,  Roger's  man,  has  i  plough  and  15 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
7  furlongs  in  length  and  I  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  16  shillings. 

M.  In  WACHERINGEHAM  [Walkeringham] 
Adestan  had  lOj  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  There  Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  4 
sochmen  and  I  villein  and  5  bordars  having 

2  ploughs.     Meadow    2   furlongs   in   length 
and  I  in  breadth.      Wood(land)  4  furlongs  in 
length  and  i  in  breadth.     In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was   worth   2O  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  15  shillings. 


267 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


5  M.  In  MINISTRETONE  [Misterton]  5 
thegns  had  13^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2^  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  8  villeins  and  5  bordars 
having  2^  ploughs.  There  is  a  church  and 
meadow  3  furlongs  in  length  and  i£  in 
breadth.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  12^  fur- 
longs in  length  and  2  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2  shillings 
more. 

7  M.  In  GRINGELEIA  [Gringley  on  the 
Hill]  7  thegns  had  3  carucates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  8 
ploughs.  There  Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  3 
ploughs  and  10  villeins  and  6  bordars  having 
8  ploughs.  There  is  a  church  and  I  fishery 
(rendering)  1,000  eels  and  40  acresof  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  league  in  length 
and  3  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  10  pounds  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  4  pounds. 

Soc[land]  belonging  there 
S.  In  MINISTRETONE  [Misterton]  (there 
are)  7^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  5  soch- 
men  and  I  villein  and  5  bordars  have  i£ 
ploughs.  Meadow  4  furlongs  in  length  and 
half  (a  furlong)  in  breadth.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  4  furlongs  in  length  and  i^  furlongs 
in  breadth. 

S.  In  HEREWELLE  [Harwell]  and  EVRE- 
TONE  [Everton]  (there  are)  3  bovates  of  land 
and  three  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There 
i  sochman  and  I  villein  have  half  a  plough 
and  3  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  5  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in 
breadth. 

M.  In  BOLUN  [Bole]1  Ulmer  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Roger  has  i 
plough  and  the  fourth  part  of  a  church  and  2 
mills  (rendering)  32  shillings  and  10  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings  (and  it  is  worth)  the  same 
now. 

M.  In  CLAUORDE  [Clay  worth]  Grinchil  had 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

'  Bolun'  may  stand  here,  and  on  page  267,  for 
Bolham,  another  village  in  this  wapentake.  But 
it  appears  (Thoroton,  iii.  280)  that  the  latter 
was  reckoned  part  of  the  manor  of  Gringley, 
while  Bole  certainly  later  was  part  of  the  honour  of 
Tichhill.  Also  the  fact  that  Bole  formed  a  pre- 
bend in  York  Cathedral  suggests  its  identification 
with  the '  Bolun '  of  the  Archbishop  of  York's  see 
on  page  255. 


(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  Fulc, 
Roger's  man,  has  3  sochmen  and  3  bordars 
with  3!  ploughs.  Meadow,  2^  furlongs  in 
length  and  1 8  perches  in  breadth.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  and  10  perches 
in  length  and  the  same  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 

M.  In  CLAUREBURG  [Clarborough]  Ragen- 
ald  had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There 
Fulc,  Roger's  man,  has  half  a  plough  and  8 
villeins  and  i  bordar  with  i^  ploughs  and  7 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
4  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 

fol.  287. 

IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Ulchil  had  half 
a  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  with 
sac  and  soc  (saca  et  soca).  (There  is)  land  for 
2  oxen.  The  same  Ulchil  himself  holds  (it) 
of  (de)  Roger  and  has  there  2  bordars  with  2 
oxen  and  i  acre  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  2  furlongs  in  length  and  i  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  16  pence  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

M.  In  TIRESWELLE  [Treswell]  Godric  had 
6  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  and  the 
fifteenth  part  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
Roger,  Roger's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and  14 
villeins  and  5  bordars  having  5  ploughs. 
Meadow  4  furlongs  in  length  and  i  furlong 
in  breadth.  Wood(Iand)  for  pannage  4  fur- 
longs in  length  and  i£  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  50 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

In  CLEDRETONE  [South  Leverton]  (there 
are)  3^  bovates  and  half  a  fifth  part  of  I  bovate 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Roger  has  this 
land  and  there  he  has  7  villeins  having  i£ 
ploughs.  There  (is)  half  a  church.  There 
is  wood(land)  for  pannage  i£  furlongs  in 
length  and  i  furlong  in  breadth  and  meadow 
i£  furlongs  in  length  and  i  furlong  in  breadth. 
Roger  has  half  of  this  wood(land)  and  meadow. 
It  is  worth  10  shillings.  (There  is)  land  for 
i  plough. 

7  M.  In  RAMETONE  [Rampton]  7  thegns 
had  2  carucates  of  land  and  3  bovates  and  the 
fifth  part  of  i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  7^  ploughs.  There 
Roger  de  Busli  with  his  four  men  has  3 
ploughs,  and  1 1  sochmen  and  8  villeins  and  6 
bordars  having  5^  ploughs.  There  (is)  a 
church  and  3^  fisheries  (rendering)  3  shillings 


268 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


and  6  pence.  There  are  65  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  54 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  4  shillings  less. 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  MADRESSEI  [Mattersey]  (there  is)  i 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
(is)  i  sochman  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 

IX.   THE  LAND    OF  WILLIAM 
PEVEREL 

M.  In  COLEWIC  [Colwick]  Godric  had  7 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  William 
Peverel  has  i  plough  in  demesne  and  7 
villeins  and  6  bordars  having  3  ploughs. 
There  is  a  priest  and  a  church  and  2  serfs  and 

1  mill    (rendering)    5    shillings    and    half    a 
fishery  and  30  acres  of  meadow  and  15   acres 
of     underwood    (silva     minutai).        In     King 
Edward's  time    it  was   worth    20    shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shillings).     Walan  holds 
it. 

2  M.  In  SIBETORP  [Sibthorpe]  Lewine  and 
Turber  had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  13  oxen.  There 
Robert,  William's  man,  has  I  plough  and  5 
villeins  with  i  plough  and  i  mill  (rendering) 
2O  pence  and  1 7  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  24  shillings. 

M.  In  GUNNULVESTUNE  [Gonalston]  and 
MILETUNE  [Milton]  Ulsi  cilt  had  2  carucates 
of  land  and  2  bovates  and  two  parts  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3 
ploughs.  There  William  in  demesne  has  I 
plough  and  2  sochmen  on  (de)  3  bovates  of  this 
land  and  7  villeins  and  2  bordars  and  2  rent- 
paying  tenants  (censures)  having  3  ploughs  and 

2  mills  (rendering)  40  shillings  and  10  acres 
of  meadow.     Wood(land)  for  pannage  5  fur- 
longs in  length  and   3   in   breadth.     In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  60  shillings. 

M.  In  TURMODESTUN  [Thrumpton]  Staple- 
win  had  3  bovates  of  land  and  3  parts  of  i 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.  There  4  sochmen  have  i 
plough  and  5  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5  shillings  and  4 
pence  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  CLIFTUN  [Clifton]  the  Countess 
Gode  had  2^  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5  ploughs.  There 
William  has  2  ploughs  in  demesne,  and  4 
sochmen  and  19  villeins  and  8  bordars  having 
9  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church 


and  i  mill  (rendering)  1 2  pence  and  1 2  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  16  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  9 
pounds. 

1  In  BARTONE  [Barton  in  Fabis]  (there 
are)  2  bovates  and  the  third  part  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i 
plough.  There  3  sochmen  have  2  ploughs 
and  3  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  WILESFORDE  [Wilford]  soc(land)  (there 
are)  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  23 
sochmen  have  7  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest 
and  1 8  acres  of  meadow  and  half  a  fishery. 

S.  In  BRIGEFORDE  [West  Bridgeford] 
soc(land)  (there  are)  12  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3 
ploughs.  There  William  has  half  a  plough 
in  demesne  and  3  sochmen  and  4  villeins  and 
2  bordars  having  4^  ploughs  and  12  acres  of 
meadow. 

S.  In  NORMANTUN  [Normanton  on  the 
Wolds]  (there  are)  i£  bovates.  In  CAUORDE 
[Keyworth]  the  third  part  of  i  bovate.  In 
WILLEBI  [Willoughby  on  the  Wolds]  2i 
bovates.  In  STANTUN  [Stanton  on  the  Wolds] 
2  bovates  and  the  fourth  part  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  CLIFTUNE 
[Clifton].  There  (are)  4  sochmen  and  i 
villein  and  i  bordar  having  3  ploughs.  There 
William  has  in  demesne  in  STANTUN  [Stanton] 
I  plough  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  COTINGESTOCHE  [Costock]  (there  is) 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
I  sochman  has  I  plough  and  2  acres  of 
meadow.  There  is  land  for  i  ox. 

In  ALBOLTUNE  [Adbolton]  (there  are)  6 
bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

S.  In  BASINGFELT  [Basingfield]   (there  are) 

5  bovates  of  land  and    3   parts  of  I    bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.      (There  is)  land  for  i 
plough.       There   2   sochmen   and   2    bordars 
have  I  plough  and  5  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  GAMELESTUNE  [Gamston]  (there  are) 

6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.   (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.   There  2  sochmen  have 
i  plough  and  7  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  REDEFORD  [Radford]  Alvric  had  3 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  William  in 
demesne  has  2  ploughs  and  1 1  villeins  and  4 

fol.  a8?b. 

bordars  having  4  ploughs.  There  (are)  4 
mills  (rendering)  3  pounds  and  30  acres  of 
meadow  and  3  acres  of  underwood  (silva 
minuta)  and  half  a  fishery.  In  King  Edward's 


1  This  entry  stands  in  the  margin. 


269 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

Of  the  same  land  Ulnod  holds  i  bovate  in 
the  thegn-land. 

4  M.  In  STAPLEFORD  [Stapleford]  Ulsi  cilt 
and  Stapleuin  and  Godwin  and  Gladuin  had 
2  carucates  of  land  and  6  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
There  William  has  in  demesne  (Robert  holds 
of  (de)  him)  3  ploughs  and  6  villeins  and  2 
serfs  with  6  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and 
a  church  and  58  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  40  (shillings). 

M.  In  MORTUNE  [Morton]1  Bovi  had  i£ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  William 
has  1 1  ploughs  and  5  sochmen  on  (de)  3 
bovates  of  this  land  and  12  villeins  and  i 
bordar  having  9^  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is 
worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  NEUBOLD  [Newbold]  Morcar  had 
12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  William 
in  demesne  has  i£  ploughs  and  9  villeins  hav- 
ing 3  ploughs  and  40  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

S.  In  LENTUNE  [Lenton]  (there  are)  2 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (in)  NEUBOLD.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  There  4  sochmen  and  4  bor- 
dars  have  2  ploughs  and  a  mill. 

3  M.  In  LIDEBI  [Linby]  3  brothers  had  i£ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  William  has  3 
ploughs  and  12  villeins  and  2  bordars  having 
5  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  i  mill 
(rendering)  10  shillings.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  i  league  in  length  and  i  league  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  26  shillings  and  8  pence  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  40  shillings. 

In  PAPLEWIC  [Papplewick]  5  bovates  of  land 
belong  to  (adjacent)  this  manor. 

M.  In  BASEFORD  [Basford]  Alwin  had  10 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  1 2  oxen.  There  Safrid,  William's 
man,  has  i  plough  and  2  villeins  and  5 
bordars  and  i  sochman  having  2^  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  i  acre  of  meadow  and 
i  acre  of  wood(land).  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

1  Near  Nottingham  but  now  lost  :  given  by 
William  Peverel  to  Lenton  Priory  at  its  endowment. 


M.  In  LENTUNE  [Lenton]  Unlof  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  Now  it  is  in  the 
wardship  (custodia)  of  William.  There  the 
same  Ulnod  has  i  plough  and  i  villein  and  i 
bordar  having  i  plough  and  i  mill  (rendering) 
I O  shillings  and  i  o  acres  of  meadow  and  i  o 
acres  of  underwood  (silva  minuta).  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  1 5  (shillings). 

M.  In  TOVETUNE  [Toton]  Aldene  had  3 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3^  ploughs.  There  Warner, 
William's  man,  has  3  ploughs  and  4  sochmen 
on  3  bovates  of  this  land  and  16  villeins  and 
3  bordars  having  6  ploughs.  There  (is)  half 
a  church  and  a  priest  and  2  mills  (rendering) 
8  shillings  and  100  acres  of  meadow  and 
a  little  plantation  of  willows  (salictum).  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

Soc[land]  of  this  manor 
S.  In  CHIDEWELLE  [Chilwell]  (there  are)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

M.  In  STRALEIA  [Strelley]  Godric  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There  Godwin  the  priest 
has  of  (de}  William  i  plough  and  3  villeins 
and  2  bordars  having  2  ploughs.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings,  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Brun  had 
3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Am- 
brose now  holds  (them)  of  (de)  William.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  3  shillings ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  12  pence. 

M.  In  GRISELEIA  [Greasley]  Ulsy  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  William  has  I 
plough  and  5  villeins  and  2  bordars  having  3 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  9  furlongs  in  length 
and  6  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  1 6  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  10  shillings. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Ulsi  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  It  is  waste.  Ailric 
holds  (it)  of  (de}  William. 

M.  In  BRUNESLEIA  [Brinsley]  Brun  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  half  a  plough.  There  Ailric  has  under 
(sub)  William  i  plough  and  i  villein  having  i 
plough  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  6  furlongs  in  length  and  3$ 
furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 


270 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


it  was  worth  6  shillings  and  8  pence  ;  now  (it 
is  worth)  4  shillings. 

M.  In  ESTEWIC  [Eastwood]  Ulfchetel  had 
4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  [  J.1  It  is  waste  (and) 

is  in  the  wardship  of  William  (Willelmus  cus- 
todit).  Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  in 
length  and  3  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  5  shillings. 

M.  In  NEUTORP  [Newthorpe]  Grinchel 
had  7  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
There  is  land  for  half  a  plough.  It  is  waste. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2  shillings. 

3  M.  In  BESTUNE  [Beeston]  Alfag  and  Al- 
wine  and  Ulchel  had  3  carucates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  William  in  demesne  has  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  17  villeins  and  I  sochman  having 
9  ploughs.  There  (are)  24  acres  of  mea- 
dow. In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
30  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  OLAVESTUNE  [Wollaton]  Ulsi  cilt 
had  i  £  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Warner, 
William's  man,  has  I  plough  and  7  sochmen 
and  4  villeins  having  4  ploughs.  Under- 
wood (silva  minuta)  I  league  in  length  and  I 
furlong  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  100  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
60  shillings. 

B.  In  COTESHALE  [Cossall]  berewick  (there 
are)  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There  in 
demesne  (is)  I  plough  and  (there  are)  2  villeins 
and  I  acre  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage 4  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in  breadth. 

S.  In  BRUNECOTE  [Bramcote]  soc(land) 
(there  are)  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  It  is  waste. 

S.  In  SUDTONE  [Sutton  Passeys]  soc(land) 
(there  are)  1 2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  It  is 
waste. 

2  M.  In  BILEBURG  [Bilborough]  Ailric  and 
Ulsi  (and)  Suen  had  7  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  the  same 
number  of  oxen.  There  Ambrose,  William's 
man,  has  i  plough  and  2  sochmen  and  3 
villeins  and  4  serfs  with  I  plough.  There  are 
8  acres  of  meadow,  and  underwood  (silva 
minuta).  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  30  shillings,  now  (it  is  worth)  20 
shillings. 


The  amount  of  the  land  is  omitted. 


M.  In  NUTEHALE  [Nuthall]  Aldene  had 
4^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  the  same  number  of  oxen. 
There  William  has  i£  ploughs  and  3  villeins 
and  4  bordars  having  i  plough.  Underwood 
(silva  minuta)  5  furlongs  in  length  and  I  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  I  o  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

In  BROCHELESTOU  [Broxtow]  there  belong 
(adiacent)  5  acres. 

S.  In  WATENOT  [Watnall]  soc(land)  (there 
are)  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

M.  In  WATENOT  [Watnall]  Grinchel  had 

1  carucate    of    land    (assessed)    to  the   geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.    There  William 
has   3   ploughs  in  demesne.     Wood(land)  for 
pannage  5  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in  breadth. 

M.  In  WATENOT  [Watnall]  Siwart  had  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

S.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  Grim  (had)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (in)  WATENOT  [Watnall]. 

S.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  JElmar  (had) 

2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.    The 
soc    belongs   to  (in)    BULEWELLE     [Bulwell]. 
(There    is)    land    for    i    plough.      There    in 
demesne  (is)  I  plough,   and  I  sochman  and  2 
villeins  and  2  bordars  have  2  ploughs.  Wood- 
land) for  pannage  5  furlongs  in  length  and  3 

fol.  188. 

furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
the  same.  Gozelin  and  Grinchel  hold  (it). 

M.  In  CHINEMARELIE  [Kimberley]  Azor 
had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld 
and  Grinchitel  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough. 
There  2  sochmen  and  I  villein  and  5  bordars 
have  3^  ploughs.  Underwood  (silva  minuta) 
4  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  ELDEURDE*  [Awsworth]  Alwin 
(had)  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
It  is  waste.  It  is  in  the  wardship  of  William 
(Willelmus  custodit). 

M.  In  HOCHENALE  [Hucknall  Torkard]  2 
brothers  had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough. 
There  3  villeins  have  i  plough.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  4  shillings. 

S.  In  HAMESSEL  [Hempshill]  (there  are)  6| 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  2  sochmen  and 
2  Added  over  '  ibidem.' 


271 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


2  villeins  and  2  bordars  have  2  ploughs  and 
4  acres  of  underwood  (silva  minuta).  This 
soc(land)  belongs  to  (jacef)  BULEWELLK  [Bui- 
well]  and  WATENOT  [Watnall]. 

2  M.  In  BASEFORD  [Basford]  Alfag  and 
Algod  had  2  carucates  of  land  and  3  bovates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for 
the  same  number  of  ploughs  and  oxen.  There 
Pagen  and  Saffrid,  William's  men,  have  I 
plough  and  2  villeins  and  5  bordars  having  2 
ploughs  and  3  mills  (rendering)  25  shillings  and 
4  pence,  and  6  acres  of  meadow,  and  underwood 
(silva  minuta).  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  the 
same. 

In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  (there  is)  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Escul  held  (it). 

M.  In  CORTINGESTOCHES  [Costock]  Fred- 
ghis  had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  oxen.  There 
Godwin  under  William  has  I  plough,  and  2 
villeins  (have)  I  plough  and  3  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  5  shil- 
lings and  4  pence. 

M.  In  RAMPESTUNE  [Rempstone]  Fredgis 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There  5  villeins 
have  i  plough  and  15  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings; 
now  it  is  worth  5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

2  M.  In  RADECLIVE  [Radcliffe  on  Trent] 
Fredgis  had  i^  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
Now  Fredgis  and  Ulviet  under  (sub)  William 
have  there  2  ploughs  and  15  villeins  and  6 
bordars  having  4  ploughs  and  18  acres  of 
meadow  and  the  site  of  half  a  fishery  and  the 
third  part  of  one  fishery.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  32  shillings. 

M.  In  ALBOLTUNE  [Adbolton]  Godwin  the 
priest  had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There 
William  in  demesne  has  I  plough  and  (there 
are)  6  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  2  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  church  and  7  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20  (shillings). 

M.  In  TIEDEBI  [Tithby]  Ulvric  had  4 
bovates  of  land  and  3  parts  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i 
plough.  Now  Fredgis  under  (sub)  William 
holds  (it).  There  i  sochman  and  5  villeins 
and  4  bordars  have  2^  ploughs  and  20  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 


worth   20  shillings;    now  (it  is    worth)    10 
shillings. 

M.  In  WrvRETUN   [Wiverton]  Ulvric  had 

I  bovate    of  land  and   3   parts  of  i    bovate 
(assessed)  to  the    geld.     (There  is)  land  for 
half  a  plough.     There  3  villeins  and  i  bordar 
have   I  plough  and   6  acres  of  meadow.     In 
King    Edward's    time    it     was     worth     10 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  LANGARE  [Langar]  Godric  had  2 
carucates  of  land  and  4^  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs. 
There  William  in  demesne  has  3  ploughs 
and  (there  are)  1 5  sochmen  on  6  bovates  of 
this  land  and  19  villeins  and  6  bordars  having 

I 1  ploughs  and  2  mills  (rendering)  5  shillings 
and  50  acres  of  meadow.     There  i  free  man 
(francus    homo)    has     i     plough.      In     King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth    100  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  10  pounds. 

S.  In  WIVRETUNE  [Wiverton]  soc(land) 
(there  are)  3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There 
7  sochmen  and  i  bordar  have  3  ploughs  and 
2  oxen  and  8  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  BERNESTUNE  [Barnston]  Godric  and 
Azor  had  each  a  hall  (aula)  and  each  (had)  4 
bovates  of  land  and  7  parts  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
ploughs.  There  William  in  demesne  has  3 
ploughs  and  (there  are)  7  sochmen  on  4 
bovates  of  this  land  and  7  villeins  and  6 
bordars  having  4^  ploughs.  There  (are)  36 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  4 
pounds. 

M.  In  NEUTORP  [Newthorpe]  Grinchel 
had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough. 

B.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  oxen.  (It  is)  a  berewick  of  (in) 
CHINEMARELEIE  [Kimberley].  Each  (of  these 
estates)  is  waste. 

In  MENNETUNE  [Manton]  Elwin  and 
Ulviet  (had)  i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld  for  2  manors.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  There  are  3  sochmen  with  3 
ploughs.  It  was  and  is  worth  10  shillings. 

In  SALESTUNE  [Selston]  Ulmer,  Gladuin 
and  Ulvric  had  3  bovates  of  land  for  3 
manors.  There  is  land  for  i  plough. 
There  4  villeins  and  2  bordars  have  2  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  church  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
Formerly  it  was  worth  8  shillings  ;  now  it  is 
worth  10  shillings. 


272 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


In  BULWELLE  [Bulwell]  Godric  had  2 
carucates  of  land  for  a  manor.  (There  is) 
land  for  2  ploughs.  There  is  i  plough  and  i 
villein  and  I  bordar  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 
Formerly  it  was  worth  1 2  shillings  ;  now  it 
it  worth  5  shillings. 

fol.  288b 

X.     THE    LAND    OF   WALTER    DE 
AINCURT 

M.  In  FLODBERGA  [Flawborough]  Ulvric 
had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Walter 
de  Aincurt  has  I  plough  and  4  villeins  with  i 
plough.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

M.  In  STANTUNE  [Staunton]  Tori  had  10 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  (are)  now  3 
ploughs  in  demesne  and  4  sochmen  on  (de)  I  ^ 
bovates  of  this  land  and  1 1  villeins  and  2 
bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest 
and  a  church  and  i  mill  (rendering)  5 
shillings  and  4  pence  and  80  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4 
pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  100  shillings. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 
S.  In  ALVRETUN  [Alverton]  and  FLOD- 
BERGE  [Flawborough]  and  DALLINTUNE 
[Dalington]  (there  are)  6  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  There  12  sochmen  have  3  ploughs 
and  i  oo  acres  of  meadow.  Malger  holds  (it). 

2  M.  In  COTES  [Gotham]  Suen  and  Tori 
had  9  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There 
Walter  in  demesne  has  i  plough  and  (there 
are)  10  villeins  and  8  bordars  having  3  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church  and  60  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  100  shillings ;  now  it  is  worth  6 
pounds. 

Soc  [land] 

S.  In  FLODBERGE  [Flawborough]  (there  are) 
i£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  (are)  24 
acres  of  meadow.  There  5  sochmen  have  i£ 
ploughs  and  24  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  STOCHES  [East  Stoke]  Tori  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  in  demesne  (is) 
I  plough  and  (there  are)  3  villeins  and  5 
bordars  having  half  a  plough  and  60  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  60  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40 
(shillings).  Osbert  holds  (it). 


S.  In  HOUTUNE  [Hawton]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  6  sochmen  have 

2  ploughs  and  20  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  HOCRETUNE  [Hockerton]  Tori  had 

3  bovates    of  land    (assessed)    to    the    geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.     There  Walter 
has   I   plough   and   5   villeins  and    5   bordars 
having  half  a  plough  and  1 6  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)   for  pannage    I  league  in   length 
and     i£    furlongs    in    breadth.       In     King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  15  (shillings). 

M.  In  CHENAPETORP  [Knapthorpe]  Tori 
had  4^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  in 
demesne  (is)  I  plough  and  (there  are)  5 
villeins  and  3  bordars  having  i^  ploughs  and 
2  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
8  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  2O  shillings 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  BULECOTE  [Bulcote]  Swen  cilt  had 
2  carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld,  and  in  the  same  place  (ibidem)  15^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld,  soc(land) 
of  the  same  manor.  (There  is)  land  for  5^ 
ploughs.  There  in  demesne  is  i  plough  and 
(there  are)  8  sochmen  and  1 1  villeins  and  12 
bordars  and  2  serfs  with  3  ploughs.  There 
(are)  76  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage, scattered  (per  loco)  I  league  in  length  and 
8  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

M.  In  OxETUNE1  [Oxton]  Tori  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  1 2  oxen.  There  (is)  i  sochman  on 
(de)  the  third  part  of  I  bovate  of  this  land  with 
I  bordar  having  half  a  plough  and  4  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  1 6  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  5 
shillings  and  4  pence. 

M.  In  TURGARSTUNE  [Thurgarton]  and  in 
HORSPOL  [Horsepool]2  Suainhad  3  carucates  of 
land  and  3  bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There 
Walter  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and  10 
sochmen  on  (de)  9  bovates  of  this  land  and  12 
villeins  and  2  bordars  having  6  ploughs. 
There  is  a  priest  and  a  church  and  40  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  i  league 
in  length  and  half  a  (league)  in  breadth.  In 

1  [O]'stune'  interlined. 
SA   decayed    farm  about    I 
Thurgarton, 


mile     north     of 


273 


35 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  3  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  4  pounds. 

In  TIEDBI  [Tithby]  (there  are)  2  bovates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld. 

M.  In  HORINGEHAM  [Hoveringham]  Suain 
had  2  carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  Walter  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  6  sochmen  on  (de)  3  bovates  and  the 
third  part  of  I  bovate  of  this  land  and  9 
villeins  and  3  bordars  having  4  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  40  shillings  and  2  fisheries  (render- 
ing) 8  shillings  and  40  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  the  same  and  10  shillings 
more. 

S.  In  FISCARTUNE  [Fiskerton]  Walter  has 
half  acarucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld,  of 
which  (unde)  the  soc  belongs  to  (pertinet) 
SUDWELLE  [Southwell].  There  he  himself 
has  I  plough  and  (there  are)  3  villeins  with  I 
plough. 

S.  In  MORTUNE  [Morton]  Walter  has  half 
a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld,  of 
which  (de  qua]  the  soc  belongs  (pertinet)  to 
SUDWELLE.  There  he  himself  has  I  plough 
and  3  villeins  have  I  plough. 

S.  In  FARNESFELD  [Farnsfield]  Walter  has 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  One 
is  in  the  soc  of  SUDWELLE  and  the  other  in 
the  king's  (soc),  but  nevertheless  it  belongs 
(pertinet)  to  the  hundred  of  SUDWELLE.  There 
(is)  i  plough  in  demesne.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  5  shillings ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  8  shillings. 

M.  In  ROLDESTUN  [Rolleston]  Tori  had  1 1 
bovates  of  land  and  the  fourth  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  There  (is)  I  plough  in  demesne  and 
(there  are)  8  villeins  and  6  bordarj  having  3 
ploughs  and  3  oxen.  There  is  a  priest  and  a 
church  and  32  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  4  furlongs  in  length  and  2  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  60 
shillings. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 
S.  In  CALUN  [Kelham]  (there  are)  9 
bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  z\ 
ploughs.  There  18  sochmen  and  3  bordars 
have  7 1  ploughs  and  1 6  acres  of  meadow. 
Underwood  (si/va  minuta)  9  furlongs  in  length 
and  50  rods  in  breadth. 

M.  In  FISCARTUNE  [Fiskerton]  Tori  had  2 
carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates  (assessed)  to 


the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5  ploughs. 
There  Walter  has  in  demesne  i  plough  and 
(there  are)  1 1  villeins  having  4  ploughs. 
There  (are)  2  mills  and  i  fishery  and  I 
ferry  (passagium)  (rendering)  46  shillings 
and  8  pence  and  42  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  furlongs  in  length 
and  i  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  3  pounds ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  4  (pounds). 

S.  In  this  FISCARTVNE  Walter  has  6 
bovates  of  land  of  which  (unde}  the  archbishop 
has  the  soc. 

M.  In  ASLACHETUNE  [Aslockton]  Tori  had 
i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
Walchelin,  Walter's  man,  has  2  ploughs  and 

1  sochman  on  (de)  i  bovate  of  this  land  and  6 
villeins  and  2  bordars  with  i£  ploughs  and  24 
acres  of  meadow.     In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  30  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the 
same)  now. 

S.  In  HOCHESUORDE  [Hawksworth]  (there 
is)  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  oxen.  Soc(Iand).  There 

2  sochmen  and    i    bordar  have  2    ploughing 
oxen  (bovei  in  car1)  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  COLESTUNE  [Car  Colston]  Tori  had  2 
bovates  of  land  and  a  half  and  i  acre  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I 
plough.  There  I  bordar  ploughs  with  I 
ox.  There  are  3  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  I  o  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings.  Walchel  holds 
it. 

M.  In  FLINTEHAM  [Flintham]  Tori  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  I  sochman 
and  7  villeins  and  i  bordar  have  2  ploughs 

fol.  389. 

and  24  acres  of  meadow.  Raynold,  Walter's 
man,  has  I  plough.  Underwood  (sUva 
minuta)  I  furlong  in  length  and  i  furlong  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

M.  In  GRANEBI  [Granby]  Haminc  had  i  £ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  ploughs.  There  Walter  in 
demesne  has  4  ploughs  and  (there  are)  44 
villeins  and  9  bordars  having  IO  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church  and  i  mill 
(rendering)  2  shillings  and  200  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  12  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20 
pounds. 


274 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  BERNESTUNE  [Barnston]  (there  is) 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  5 
sochmen  and  i  bordar  have  2  ploughs  and  2 
ploughing  oxen  (beves  arantei)  and  1 1  acres  of 
meadow. 

S.  In  LANGARE  [Langar]  (there  are)  4^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  8  sochmen 
have  2  ploughs  and  6  ploughing  oxen.  There 
(is)  half  a  church  and  1 3  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  WIVRETUNE  [Wiverton]  (there  are) 
6^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  5 
sochmen  have  2  ploughs  and  2  ploughing  oxen 
and  20  acres  of  meadow. 

In  HECHELINGE  [Hickling]  (there  are)  2 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  8 
sochmen  and  I  villein  and  10  bordars  have  5 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  mill  (rendering)  16 
shillings  and  80  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  CHINELTUNE  [Kinoulton]  (there  are) 
7  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  (are)  9 
sochmen  and  4  bordars  having  3  ploughs  and  7 
ploughing  oxen  and  2O  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  CROPHILLE  [Cropwell  Butler]  and 
WIVRETUNE  [Wiverton]  (there  are)  4  bovates 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  i  plough.  There  4  sochmen  and  7 
bordars  have  2  ploughs  and  13  acres  of 
meadow. 

M.  In  RADECLIVE  [Radcliffe  on  Trent] 
Suain  had  i£  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
There  in  demesne  are  2  ploughs  and  (there 
are)  14  villeins  and  3  bordars  having  2 
ploughs  and  19  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 


XII.   THE  LAND  OF  GEOFFREY 
ALSELIN 

In  LAXINTUNE  [Laxton]  Tochi  had  2  caru- 
cates of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  Walter,  a 
man  of  Geoffrey  Alselin's,  has  I  plough  and 
22  villeins  and  7  bordars  having  5  ploughs 
and  5  serfs  (servi)  and  I  female  serf  (ancilla) 
and  40  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  I  league  in  length  and  half  a  league 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  9  pounds ;  now  (it  is  worth)  6 
pounds. 


The  Soc  of  this  Manor 

S.  In  SCHIDRINCTUNE  [Kirton]  *  (there  are) 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  3  soch- 
men have  i  plough. 

In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby]  there  is  i 
orchard  (ortum)  belonging  (pertinent)  to  LAXIN- 
TUNE [Laxton]. 

S.  In  WALESBI  [Walesby]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  2  sochmen  have 
I  plough. 

S.  In  ECHERINGHE  [Eakring]  (there  is) 
half  a  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
It  is  waste. 

S.  In  ALMENTUNE  [Ompton]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  is 
waste. 

S.  In  CHENAPETORP  [Knapthorpe]  (there 
is)  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It 
is  waste.  (There  is)  land  for  2  oxen. 

S.  In  CALNESTUNE  [Caunton]  (there  are) 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  8 
sochmen  and  10  bordars  have  5  ploughs. 
There  (is)  I  mill  (rendering)  2  shillings  and 
8  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  4  furlongs  in  breadth. 

S.  In  BESTORP  [Beesthorpe]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There  2  sochmen 
and  I  bordar  have  half  a  plough  and  half  an 
acre  of  meadow.  (There  are)  10  acres  of 
wood(land)  for  pannage. 

S.  In  CARLETUN  [Carlton  on  Trent]  (there 
is)  I  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  4  soch- 
men have  2  ploughs  and  20  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  4  furlongs  in  length 
and  4  in  breadth. 

M.  In  NORDMUSCHAM  [North  Muskham] 
Ulvric  had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
in  demesne  is  I  plough  and  (there  are)  4 
villeins  and  7  bordars  having  i^  ploughs. 
There  (is)  I  mill  (rendering)  10  shillings  and 
12  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  30  (shillings). 

2  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  (there  are)  2^ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  In  demesne 
are  3  ploughs  and  (there  are)  16  sochmen  and 
5  villeins  and  2  bordars  with  6  ploughs. 
There  are  2  mills  (rendering)  20  shillings  and 
40  acres  of  meadow  and  40  acres  of  wood- 


1  See  note,  p.  250. 

*  This  entry  is  added  in  the  margin. 


275 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


(land).  Formerly  (it  was  worth)  I OO  shillings; 
now  it  is  worth  4  pounds.  Tochi  held  it  for 
a  manor. 

S.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem}  (there  are) 
4  bqvates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  Soc(land).  It  is  waste. 
There  (are)  12  acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  CARLETUN  [Carlton  on  Trent]  (there 
is)  i  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
There  are  2  sochmen  having  nothing. 

M.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby]  Tochi  had 
i£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  It  is  waste. 
There  (is)  half  a  mill  and  1 2  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  STOCHES  [Stoke  Bardolph]  and 
GHELLINGE  [Gedling]  Tochi  had  3  carucates 
and  2  bovates  and  2  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs. 
There  in  demesne  Geoffrey  has  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  15  villeins  and  6  serfs  and  21  bor- 
dars having  8  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest 
and  a  church  and  I  fishery  and  2  mills  (ren- 
dering) 20  shillings  and  30  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  3  furlongs  in  length 
and  3  furlongs  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  HO  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  6  pounds. 

S.  In  CARENTUNE  [Carlton  by  Nottingham] 
and  GHELLINGE  [Gedling]  and  COLEWI  [Col- 
wick]  (there  are)  1 5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
30  sochmen  have  10^  ploughs  and  20  acres  of 
meadow.  Underwood  (si/va  minuta)  3  fur- 
longs in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 

M.  In  BERTUNE  [Burton  Joyce]  Suen  had 
I  carucate  of  land  and  the  fourth  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  There  Geoffrey  has  I  soch- 
man  on  (de)  5  acres  of  land  and  5  villeins  and 
I  bordar  and  I  serf  and  I  female  serf  (ancilla). 
All  together  (simul)  they  have  3  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  church  and  a  priest  and  1 6  acres 
of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  fur- 
longs in  length  and  I  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  I  mark  of  silver 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  SCELFORD  [Shelford]  Tochi  had  4 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  There  (are)  now  36 
villeins  and  12  bordars  having  9  ploughs  and 

fol.  a8gb. 

i  mill  (rendering)  4  shillings  and  I  fishery. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  pounds;  now 
(it  is  worth)  4  pounds. 

The  Soc  of  this  Manor 
S.    In  NEUTONE    [Newton]  (there   are)  9 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.    (There 


is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  (are)  9  soch- 
men and  4  bordars  having  4  ploughs  and  4 
acres  of  meadow. 

In  OBETORP  [Owthorpe]  Tochi  had  i 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Nothing 
is  had  there. 

In  CHENATORP  [Knapthorpe]  (there  is)  half 
a  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It  belongs  to 
(jacet)  NORTWELLE  [Norwell]. 

In  CARLENTUN  [Carlton  on  Trent]  (there 
are)  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There 
(are)  4  sochmen  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
Formerly  it  was  worth  8  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  3  shillings. 


XIII.  THE  LAND  OF  RALF  THE 
SON  OF  HUBERT 

M.  In  BARTONE  [Barton  in  Fabis]  Levric 
had  13  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
Ralf  the  son  of  Hubert  has  2  ploughs 
and  1 8  villeins  and  5  bordars  having  5^ 
ploughs.  There  (are)  48  acres  of  meadow. 
Underwood  (silva  minuta)  2  furlongs  in  length 
and  half  a  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  IOO  shillings,  with  the  two 
CILUELLIS  [Chilwell]  in  which  (are)  7  sochmen 
and  half  a  church. 

M.  In  THE  SAME  PLACE  [Ibidem,  sc.  BAR- 
TONE]  Ulvric  had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough. 
There  Ralf  has  i  plough  and  2  villeins  and  i 
bordar  with  i  plough.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth 
the  same)  now. 

B.  In  CLIFTUNE  [Clifton]  (there  are)  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  belonging 
(pertinentes)  to  BARTONE  [Barton  in  Fabis]. 

S.  In  CILLEWELLE  [Chilwell]  and  ESTRE- 
CILLEUELLE  [East  (?)  Chilwell]  (there  are)  3 
carucates  of  land  and  3  bovates  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  It  is  (soc)land  belonging  to  (de) 
BARTONE  [Barton  in  Fabis].  (There  is) 
land  for  4^  ploughs.  There  Ralph  has  I 
plough  and  2  sochmen  and  5  villeins  and  13 
bordars  having  6  ploughs  and  2  ploughing 
oxen  (haves  arantei).  There  (are)  70  acres  of 
meadow  and  half  a  church  and  4  acres  of 
underwood  (silva  minuta)  and  4  acres  of 
willow  plantation  (salictum). 

In  CIDWELLE  [Chilwell]  (there  are)  5 
bovates  of  soc(land)  (assessed)  to  the  geld 
belonging  to  (i»)  TOLVESTUNE  [Toton]. 


276 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


M.  In  BONEI  [Bunney]  Levenot  had  2 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  Ralf 
has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and  (there  are)  1 8 
villeins  and  7  sochmen  and  2  bordars  having 
7  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and  a  priest 
and  I  mill  (rendering)  12  pence  and  1 60 
acres  of  meadow  and  underwood  (silva  minuta) 
10  furlongs  in  length  and  I  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  60  shillings. 

M.  In  CAWORDE  [Keyworth]  Frane  had 
5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  Ralf  has  i£ 
ploughs  and  3  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

M.  In  TEVRESHALT  [Teversall]  Levric 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i£  ploughs.  There  Ralf  has 
2  ploughs  and  I  sochman  on  (de}  I  bovate  of 
land  and  9  villeins  having  3^  ploughs.  There 
is  I  mill  (rendering)  1 6  shillings  and  8  acres 
of  meadow  and  underwood  I  league  in  length 
and  I  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
30  (shillings).  Geoffrey  holds  (it). 

M.  In  CHIRCHEBI  [Kirkby  in  Ashfield] 
Levenot  had  10  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs. 
There  Ralf  has  in  demesne  3  ploughs  and 
(there  is)  I  sochman  on  (de)  I  bovate  of  land  and 
20  villeins  and  6  bordars  having  12  ploughs. 
There  is  a  church  and  a  priest  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  3  shillings  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  (fit)  in  places  for  pannage  (per  loca 
past1)  2  leagues  in  length  and  I  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  4  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  3  pounds. 

M.  In  WANDDESLEI  [Wansley]  Levric 
had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Ralf 
has  half  a  plough  and  3  villeins  and  2  bordars. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  half  a  church  and  4 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
4  furlongs  in  length  and  4  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  shillings; 
now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

M.  In  ANESLEI  [Annesley]  Levenot  had  I 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  Ralf  has  I 
plough  and  1 9  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  7 
ploughs  and  3  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage  I  league  in  length  and  I  league  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
40  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 
Ricard  holds  (it). 


In  COTESHALE  [Cossall]  Levenot  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  the  same  number  of  oxen.  There 
are  3  ploughs  with  3  villeins  and  5  acres  of 
meadow.  Formerly  (it  was  worth)  1 6  shil- 
lings ;  now  it  is  worth  10  shillings. 

In  GIPESMARE  [Gibsmere]  and  MORTUN 
[Morton]  (there  is)  I  carucate  of  land  and  3 
bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The  soc  be- 
longs to  (de)  SUDWELLE  [Southwell].  (There 
is)  land  for  3^  ploughs.  It  was  and  is  worth 
28  shillings. 

In  WIMARSPOL  [Widmerpool]  (there  is)  I 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld  and  it 
belongs  (facet)  to  BONEI  [Bunney]. 

XIIII.   THE  LAND  OF  RALF  DE 

LIMESI 

M.  In  HOLTONE  [Hawton]  Tored  had  4^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Ralf  de  Limesi 
has  2  ploughs  and  4  sochmen  on  (de)  2^  bovates 
of  land  and  5  villeins  and  5  bordars  having  3 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  2  churches 
and  I  mill  rendering  5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

4  M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Bugo, 
Rainald,  Toruet  and  Bugo  had  6i  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2^  ploughs. 

Soc  [land] 

S.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  (there  are) 

5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.   (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.     On  these  lands  (In  his 
terns)  are  1 8  sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  10 
bordars     having     6     ploughs.     Alvred    holds 
these  5  manors  of  (tie)   Ralf.      In   King  Ed- 
ward's time  it  was  worth  100  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  4  pounds  and  10  shillings. 

Soc  [land] 

In  DORDENTORP  [Danethorpe]  (there  is)  i 
bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  oxen.  There  5  sochmen  and 

6  bordars    have    2    ploughs.      There    (is)    a 
church   and  a  priest   with    i    plough   and   80 
acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  EPSTONE  [Epperstone]  and  UDEBURG 
[Woodborough]  Ulvric  and  Elsi,  (who  had)  no 
hall,1  had  3  carucates  of  land  and  4  bovates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6 
ploughs.  There  Ralf  has  in  demesne  3 
ploughs  and  (there  are)  14  sochmen  on  (de)  6 
bovates  and  a  farthingland  (ferding)  (i  bovate)2 
of  this  land  and  12  villeins  and  10  bordars 
having  6  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and  a 


1  '  n  aula  '  interlined  above  Elsi. 

2  '  i  bov' '  interlined  above  'ferding? 


277 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


priest  and  4  mills  (rendering)  77  shillings  and 
8  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
2  leagues  in  length  and  9  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5 
pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  7  pounds. 

In  GUNNULVESTONE  [Gonalston]  Ralf 
Limesi  has  5  bovates  and  the  third  part  of 
i  bovate1  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 

M.  In  TORP  [Thorpe  by  Newark]  Ulvric 
had  6£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Main- 
frid,  Ralf  s  man,  has  I  plough  and  9  villeins 
and  5  bordars  having  3  ploughs  and  72  acres 
of  meadow. 

S.  In  SCELTUN  [Shelton]  and  COLINGEHAM 
[Collingham]  (there  are)  5^  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3 
ploughs.  There  (are)  8  sochmen  and  5  vil- 
leins having  3  ploughs  and  60  acres  of 
meadow  and  2  acres  and  I  rood  of  wood(land) 
not  for  pannage.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  4  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  40 
shillings. 

fol.  290. 

XV.  THE  LAND  OF  RALF  DE 
BURUN 

BERNESEDELAU  [BASSETLAW]  WAP[ENTAC] 

M.  In  OSCHINTONE  [Ossington]  Osmund 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Ralf 
de  Burun  has  3  ploughs  and  4  sochmen  on  (de) 
half  a  bovate  of  this  land  and  16  villeins  and 
6  bordars  having  6  ploughs  and  28  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  leagues 
in  length  and  I  league  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shillings). 

In  ALMENTUN  [Ompton]  (there  are)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  2  bordars  have 
i  plough. 

M.  In  CALUN  [Kelham]  Osmund  had  2 
bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  There  William,  Ralf 's 
man,  has  i  plough  and  3  bordars  with  2 
ploughing  oxen  and  9  acres  of  meadow. 
Underwood  (siha  minuta}  8  furlongs  in  length 
and  12  rods  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  1 6  shillings. 

BROCOLVESTOU  [BROXTOW]  WAPENT[AC] 
M.  In   HOCHEHALE    [Hucknall    Torkard] 
Ulchet  had  12   bovates  of  land   (assessed)  to 
the    geld.     (There    is)  land    for    2    ploughs. 

1   Interlined  above  '  iiii.  car'  terra  '  erased. 


There  Osmund,  Ralf 's  man,  has  i  plough  and 
5  villeins  having  3^  ploughs.  Wood(land) 
for  pannage,  I  league  in  length  and  half  (a 
league)  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  30  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
15  shillings. 

M.  In  CORTINGESTOCHE  [Costock]  Seric 
and  his  2  brothers  had  14  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  14 
oxen.  There  William,  RalPs  man,  has  3 
ploughs  and  I  sochman  on  (de)  2  bovates  of  land 
and  9  villeins  and  4  bordars  having  5  ploughs. 
There  (are)  30  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  30  shillings. 

M.  In  RAMPESTONE  [Rempstone]  Ulchetel 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  It  is  waste.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings; 
now  (it  is  worth)  2  shillings.  There  (are) 
10  acres  of  meadow. 

BlNGAMESHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAP[ENTAC] 

M.  In  LANBECOTE  [Lamcote]  Ulchet  had 
5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
Osmund,  Robert's  man,  has  I  plough  and  I 
villein  and  6  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings,  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  GODEGRAVE  [Cotgrave]  Oghe  had 
2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  in 
demesne  are  3  ploughs ;  and  (there  are)  7 
sochmen  and  4  villeins  and  4  bordars  having 
4^  ploughs.  There  (is)  half  a  church. 
Underwood  (s'tha  minuta)  I  furlong  in  length 
and  I  furlong  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  60. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  [Ibidem]  Turchil 
had  i  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Gozel, 
Ralf's  man,  has  half  a  plough  and  5  villeins 
and  i  bordar  having  2  ploughs.  There  (are) 
30  acres  of  meadow.  Underwood  (silva 
minuta)  half  a  furlong  in  length  and  half  (a 
furlong)  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  10  shillings  and  (it  is  worth)  the 
same  now. 

In  GODEGRAVE  [Cotgrave]  Warner  has  6 
bovates  of  the  land  of  the  same  manor. 

XVI.   THE  LAND  OF  ROGER  OF 
POITOU 

BERNESEDELAV  [BASSETLAW]  WAP[ENTAC] 

M.  In  GAMELESTUN  [Gamston]  Gamel 
and  Suain  had  i  carucate  of  land  (assessed) 


278 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs. 
There  Roger  of  Poitou  has  in  demesne  2 
ploughs  and  (there  are)  7  sochmen  on  (de)  2 
bovates  of  this  land  and  3  villeins  and  I 
bordar  having  3^  ploughs.  There  (are)  2 
mills  (rendering)  40  shillings  and  20  acres  of 
meadow  and  2O  acres  of  underwood  (silva 
minuta).  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
4  pounds  (and  it  is  worth)  the  same  now. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  [Ibidem]  Chetel- 
bern  had  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  Chetel- 
bern  has  this  (manor)  of  (de)  Roger,  and  there 
he  has  I  plough  and  2  bordars  and  3  acres  of 
wood(land)  fit  in  places  for  pannage  (per  loco 
past').  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
2O  shillings  and  8  pence  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
12  shillings. 

TORGARTONE     [THURGARTON]    WAPENT[AC] 

M.  In  CALVRETONE  [Calverton]  Ulvric  had 
3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  are  now  2 
villeins  and  i  rod  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

RlSECLIVE    [RUSHCLIFE]    WAPENT[AC] 

M.  In  EDWOLTONE  [Edwalton]  Stepi  had 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There  in  demesne  (is) 
now  I  plough  and  (there  is)  I  villein  and  16 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  30  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  10 
shillings. 

2  M.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby  on  the 
Wolds]  Godric  and  Ernui  had  6£  bovates  of 
land  and  2  parts  of  I  bovate  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There 
(are)  now  in  demesne  i£  ploughs  and  (there 
are)  2  sochmen  and  6  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  2^  ploughs.  There  (are)  9  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  50  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  22 
shillings. 

BlNGAMESHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAPENT[AC] 

M.  In  CROPHELLE  [Cropwell  Butler]  Ulvric 
had  2  carucates  and  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs. 
There  Roger  has  3  ploughs  and  8  sochmen 
and  17  villeins  having  6  ploughs.  There 
(are)  20  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  half  a  league  in  length  and  4  furlongs 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  8  pounds ;  now  (it  is  worth)  100 
shillings. 

M.  In  GODEGRAVE  [Cotgrave]  Ulvric  had 
3  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Roger 


has  I  plough  in  demesne,  and  6  sochmen  and 
IO  villeins  and  I  bordar  having  5  ploughs. 
There  (are)  30  acres  of  meadow.  Under- 
wood (silva  minuta)  2  furlongs  in  length  and 

1  in  breadth.     In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  4  pounds  ;  now   (it  is  worth)    40  shil- 
lings. 

M.  In  WARBERGA  [  ]   Fredgis  had 

13^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Roger 
has  I  plough  and  2  sochmen  and  i  bordar 
having  I  plough  and  10  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  12  shillings. 

M.  In  HOCTUN  [Haughton]  Baldric  had 
12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  It  is  waste. 
There  (are)  1 6  acres  of  meadow  and  wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  I  furlong  in  length  and  8 
perches  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
2O  shillings. 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  WALESBI  [Walesby]  (there  is)  half 
a  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  DRAITUN  [West  Drayton]  Suain  had 

2  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.      (There  is)  land    for    i 
plough.      Now  Ulsi  holds  (it)  of  (de)    Roger 
and  there  he  has  half  a  plough  and    i    villein 
and    i    bordar   with   half   a  plough.      There 
(are)   3   acres  of  meadow.      Wood(land)    for 
pannage  I  furlong  in   length   and  half  a  fur- 
long in  breadth.      In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth   10  shillings  ;    now  (it    is  worth) 
5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby  on  the  Wolds] 
Ernui  had  5  bovates  of  land  for  a  manor. 
(There  is)  land  for  the  same  number  of 
oxen.  There  are  2  ploughs  with  i  villein 
and  6  bordars  and  4  acres  of  meadow.  For- 
merly (it  was  worth)  20  shillings;  now  it 
is  worth  10  shillings. 

fol.  agob. 

XVII.   THE  LAND  OF  GILBERT 
DE  GAND 

NEWERCE  [NEWARK]  1  WAP[ENTAC] 
M.  In  BUCHETUN  [Boughton]   Ulf2  had  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.   (There 

1   In  error  for  Bassetlaw  Wapentake. 

1  This  seems  to  be  the  '  Ulf  fenisc '  of  the  pro- 
logue to  the  shire's  survey.  In  the  original  a  blank 
is  left  after  his  name  whenever  it  appears  in  this 
column.  In  Derbyshire  '  Ulf  fenisc '  was  the  '  ante- 
cessor '  of  Gilbert  de  Gand  in  the  manor  of  Ilkeston. 


279 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  de 
Gand  has  3  villeins  and  i  sochman  and  I 
bordar  having  3^  ploughs.  There  (are)  4 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
3  furlongs  in  length  and  3  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shillings; 
now  (it  is  worth)  i  o  shillings. 

M.  In  SCHIDRICTUNE  [Kirton]  1  Ragenalt 
had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  There  4 
villeins  have  2  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  I  furlong  in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

M.  In  ALRETUN  [Ollerton]  Wade  had  5^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  William, 
Gilbert's  man,  has  I  plough  and  6  sochmen 
on  (de)  2  bovates  of  land  and  3  villeins  having 
6  ploughs.  There  (are)  2  mills  (rendering)  1 6 
shillings.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  league 
in  length  and  4  furlongs  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings; 
now  (it  is  worth)  30  shillings. 

M.  In  RUGFORDE  [Rufford]  Ulf  had  12 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  in 
demesne  has  i  plough  and  (there  are)  10 
villeins  having  3  ploughs.  There  (are)  20 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  i£  leagues  in 
length  and  i  league  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  60  shillings. 

Soc[Iand   belonging]   there 

S.  In  BILDESTORP  [Bilsthorpe]  (there  are) 
2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  13 
sochmen  and  6  bordars  have  6  ploughs  and  4 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  4  furlongs  in  breadth. 

B.  In  WIRCHENEFELD  2  [  ]  there  is 

I  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (It 
is)  a  berewick.  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  ECHERINGHE  [Eakring]  Ingolf  had 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Wil- 
liam, Gilbert's  man,  has  I  plough  and  3  soch- 
men on  3  bovates  of  this  land  and  2  villeins 
and  3  bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (is) 
a  priest  and  a  church  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs  in  length 
and  4  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time 

1  See  note  p.  250. 

1  Appears  in  an  inquisition  of  36  Hen.  Ill  as 
'Wackfeld  in  the  forest  of  Wiclewod,"  but  no 
further  identification  can  be  made. 


it  was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
1 6  shillings. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Eche- 
brand  had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  The 
same  Echebrand  holds  (it)  of  (de)  Gilbert  and 
has  there  I  plough  and  6  sochmen  on  (de) 
4  bovates  of  land  and  2  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  2£  ploughs.  There  (are)  3  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs 
in  length  and  4  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  1 6  shillings. 

M.  In  CHENESHALE  [Kneesall]  and 
CHERVESHALE  [Kersall]  Ulf  had  1 2  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  4  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  in  demesne 
has  3  ploughs  and  (there  are)  8  sochmen  on  (de) 
3  bovates  of  land  and  16  villeins  and  4  bordars 
having  12  ploughs.  There  (are)  22  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  league 
in  length  and  half  (a  league)  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  8  pounds  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  6  pounds. 

Soc[land  belonging]  there 
S.  In  ALMENTUN  [Ompton]  (there  are)  i^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.     (There 
is)  land  for  2  oxen.     There  2  sochmen  and  i 
bordar  have  2  ploughs. 

S.  In  MAPLEBERG  [Maplebeck]  (there  are) 
14  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Gilbert 
(has)  I  plough  and  9  sochmen  on  (de}  io£  bovates 
of  this  land  and  5  bordars  having  4  ploughs 
and  30  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  i  league  in  length  and  3  furlongs  in 
breadth. 

M.  In  CREILEGE  [?  Wellow »]  Ulf  had  2* 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  There 
is  land  for  4  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  has  2 
ploughs  and  22  villeins  and  2  bordars  having 
9  ploughs  and  26  acres  of  meadow.  Wood- 
(land)  for  pannage  half  a  league  in  length  and 
half  (a  league)  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  6  pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
3  pounds. 

In  CHERLINTON  [Kirklington]  Ulf  had  4^ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  The  soc  belongs  to 
the  archbishop's  manor  of  SUDWELLE  [South- 
well]. There  Gilbert  has  I  plough  and  4 

*  According  to  Thoroton,  iii,  zoo,  '  Creileye ' 
included  the  modern  village  of  Wellow.  Gilbert 
of  Gaunt  gave  '  Cratela  '  to  RufFord  Abbey  at  its 
foundation  ;  the  name  persists  for  some  time,  then 
ceases,  and  '  Wellhagh '  takes  its  place  among 
the  possessions  of  the  abbot  of  RufFord. 


280 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


villeins  h(aving)  2  ploughs  and  I  mill  (render- 
ing) 1 6  shillings.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  30 
shillings. 

In  NORMANTUN  [Normanton  by  Southwell] 
Ulf  had  3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There 
Gilbert  has  4  villeins  with  i  plough.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (in)  SUDWELLE  [Southwell].  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  1 6  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  8  shillings. 

M.  In  RODDINTON  [Ruddington]  Ulf  had 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  (is)  now 
in  demesne  i  plough  and  (there  are)  4  soch- 
men and  5  villeins  and  2  bordars  having  3 
ploughs.  There  (are)  33  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  8  shillings. 

BlNGAMESHOU  [B  INCH  AM]  WAPENT[AC] 

M.  In  WATONE  [Whatton]  Ulf  had  2^ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  9  ploughs.  There  Roger,  Gil- 
bert's man,  has  3  ploughs  and  28  villeins  and 
12  bordars  having  9  ploughs  and  i  mill 
(rendering)  4  shillings  and  80  acres  of  meadow. 
There  (is)  I  stone  pit  (mo/aria)  where  mill 
stones  (molte)  are  quarried  rendering  (afc)  3 
marks  of  silver.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  8 
(shillings). 

Soc[land]  of  the  same  Manor 

S.  In  HocHEswoRDE1  [Hawksworth]  (there 
are)  13  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  2O 
sochmen  and  I  bordar  have  4^  ploughs  and  20 
acres  of  meadow. 

S.  In  HASLACHESTONE  [Aslockton]  (there  is) 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  \\  ploughs.  There  9 
sochmen  have  4  ploughs. 

fol.  391. 

XVIII.     THE    LAND    OF     GILBERT 
TISON 

M.  In  AIGRUN  [Averham]  Suain  had  3 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  Tison 
has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and  (there  are)  8 
sochmen  on  6  bovates  of  land  and  2 1  villeins 
and  22  bordars  having  12  ploughs.  There 
(is)  a  church  and  a  priest  and  I  mill  (render- 
ing) 5  shillings  and  80  acres  of  meadow. 
Underwood  (silva  minuta)  8  furlongs  in 

1  Originally  '  Holesworde,'  but  the  first  five 
letters  are  erased  and  '  Hoches '  is  added  above 
them. 


length  and  4  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  6  (pounds)  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  10  pounds  and  12  pence.  To  this 
manor  belong  (appendunt)  5  sochmen  in  other 
hundreds. 

S.  In  CRUNWELLE  [Cromwell]  (there  are) 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  2  soch- 
men have  i  plough. 

M.  In  FENIGLEI  [Finningley]  Suain  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  has 
half  a  plough  and  15  villeins  and  4  bordars 
having  5^  ploughs.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
2  leagues  in  length  and  2  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  45  shillings. 

M.  In  CALUN  [Kelham]  Alvric  had  2 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  6  oxen.  There  (is)  i  sochman 
and  I  bordar  with  half  a  plough  and  6  acres  of 
meadow.  Underwood  (silva  minuta)  8  fur- 
longs in  length  and  14  rods  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  16  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  3  shillings. 

M.  In  WICHEBURNE  [Winkburn]  Suain 
had  12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Gil- 
bert has  2  ploughs  in  demesne  and  15  soch- 
men on  4  bovates  of  land  and  7  villeins  and  5 
bordars  having  7  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church 
and  1 6  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  I  league  in  length  and  half  a  league 
in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  100  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  60 
shillings.  5  thegns  held  2  bovates  of  this  land. 
One  of  them  was  the  senior  of  the  others. 
This  (land)  did  not  belong  to  Suain. 

M.  In  ALWOLDESTORP  [  ] a  Ade- 

stan  had  4  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  Gilbert 
has  I  plough  in  demesne  and  4  bordars. 
There  (are)  10  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  2O  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

BLIDEUORDE  [BLIDWORTH]  HUNDRED 

M.  In  STARTORP  [Staythorpe]  Suain  had  9 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  Gilbert  has  I 
plough  and  12  villeins  and  4  bordars  having 
4^  ploughs  and  i  mill  (rendering)  5  shillings 
and  60  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  (and  it  is  worth) 
the  same  now. 


2  Identified  by  Thoroton  with  Caythorpe  near 
Lowdham. 


281 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


XIX.    THE    LAND    OF    GEOFFREY 
DE   WIRCE 

M.  In  LANDEFORDE  [Langford]  Levric  had 

2  carucates  of  land,  and   3  bovates  and  the 
fifth  part  of  i    bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There    is)    land    for     8     ploughs.      There 
Rannulf,  the  man  of  Geoffrey  de  Wirce,  has 
2^  ploughs  and    16   sochmen  and  17  villeins 
and  4  bordars  having  7   ploughs.     There  (is) 
a  priest  and  a  church  and  2  mills  (rendering) 
12  shillings  and    I    fishery  and    IOO  acres  of 
meadow.     In   King    Edward's    time    it    was 
worth  4  pounds  ;   now  (it  is  worth)  the  same 
and  10  shillings  more. 

XX.  THE  LAND  OF  ILBERT  DE 
LACI 

M.  In  SIBETORP  [Sibthorpe]  Pilewin  had 
1\  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  Now  Ilbert 
de  Laci  has  (it).  Arnegrim  holds  of  (de)  him. 
There  is  I  plough  in  demesne  and  3  sochmen  on 
(de)  half  a  bovate  of  land  and  16  bordars  having 

3  ploughs  and  the  third  part  of  I  mill  (render- 
ing) 10  pence  and  10  acres  of  meadow.    The 
fourth    part  of  this  land  belongs  to  the  church 
of  the  same  manor.      There  (is)  a  priest.      In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30  shillings 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

Soc[land] 

S.  In  SCELTUN  [Shelton]  and  ALVRITON 
[Alverton]  and  CHILVINTUN  [Kilvington]  and 
TORUENTUN  [Thoroton]  (there  are)  3  bovates 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  I  plough.  There  6  villeins  and  I  bordar 
have  2  ploughs  and  30  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  STOCHES  [East  Stoke]  Turchil  had 
5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Mainfrid  holds  (it)  of 
(de)  Ilbert  and  has  there  half  a  plough  and  3 
sochmen  and  5  bordars  having  I  plough  and 
2  ploughing  oxen  (boves  arantes)  and  64  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  15 
(shillings). 

In  ELVESTUNE  [Elston]  Ilbert  has  3  dwell- 
ings (mansura:)  in  which  are  2  sochmen  and  I 
bordar  belonging  to  (ad)  STOCHAS  [East  Stoke]. 
They  have  no  land. 

Ilbert  claims  the  priest's  land  against  Bishop 
R(emi)  and  in  STOCHES  [Stoke]  he  claims  the 
fourth  part  of  the  vill. 

M.  In  ELVESTUN  [Elston]  Godwin  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  Arnegrim  holds  (it)  of 
(de)  Ilbert  and  has  there  I  plough  and  3  soch- 


men on  2  bovates  of  land  and  i  villein  and  5 
bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (are)  30 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  40  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
25  shillings. 

M.  In  ASLACHETONE  [Aslockton]  Leving 
had  i  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld 
with  sac  and  soc  (saca  et  soca).  (There  is) 
land  for  half  a  plough.  Ulvric  holds  (it)  of 
(de)  Ilbert,  and  there  he  has  2  ploughing  oxen 
(boves  arantes)  and  2  sochmen  and  I  bordar 
having  half  a  plough  and  8  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5  shil- 
lings and  4  pence  (and  it  is  worth)  the  same 
now. 

2  M.  In  CROPHILLE  [Cropwell  Butler] 
Ulviet  and  Godric  had  4  bovates  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2 
ploughs.  Ilbert  de  Laci  was  seised  of  this 
estate  (terra),  but  when  Roger  of  Poitou  re- 
ceived (his)  estate  he  seised  this  manor  away 
from  (super)  Ilbert.  The  wapentake  (court) 
bears  witness  that  Ilbert  was  seised.  Now  it 
is  in  the  king's  hand  except  the  third  part  and 
the  thegn(land)  (tainum)  which  is  the  head  of 
the  manor,  which  Ilbert  holds.  There  is  now 
I  plough  in  demesne  and  4  sochmen  having 
9  ploughing  oxen  (boves  in  car')  and  6  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
16  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  shillings. 

In  ECHELINGE  [Hickling]  (there  are)  3^ 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Tur- 
chil and  Godwin  held  (it)  for  2  manors. 
(There  is)  land  for  8  ploughs.  In  demesne 
are  3  ploughs  ;  and  4  sochmen  and  23  villeins 
with  i  bordar  have  6  ploughs.  There  (are) 
2OO  acres  of  meadow.  Formerly  (it  was 
worth)  6  pounds  ;  now  it  is  worth  4  pounds. 


fol.  agib. 

XXI.    THE    LAND    OF    BERENGER 
DE   TODENI 

M.  In  STOCHES  [East  Stoke]  Sbern  croc  had 
2^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  Berenger  de 
Todeni  has  (it).  Ralf,  his  man,  holds  (it). 
There  he  has  i  plough  and  2  villeins  and  3 
bordars  ploughing  with  2  oxen.  There  (are) 
40  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  12  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
10  shillings. 

M.  In  SIRESTUN  [Syerston]  Sbern  croc  had 
1\  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  Godwin  holds 
(it)  of  Berenger,  and  has  there  i  plough  and  i 
sochman  and  2  villeins  with  half  a  plough. 
There  (are)  10  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 


282 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


Edward's   time    it    was  worth  30  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 

In  BRODEHOLM  [Broadholm]  Turgot  and 
Halden  had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  It  is 
waste.  Now  Berenger  de  Xodeni  and  William 
de  Perci  have  (it.)  The  land  belongs  (iacet)  to 
NEWERCE,  [Newark]  but  the  service  (opus)  of 
the  villeins  belongs  to  SAXEBI  [Saxelby]  in 
LINCOLESCIRA  [Lincolnshire].  There  (are)  30 
acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  another  in  breadth. 


XXII.   THE    LAND   OF   HUGH  THE 
SON  OF  BALDRIC 

M.  In  CHELVINCTONE  [Kilvington]  and 
ALURITONE  [Alverton]  Colegrim  had  3  bovates 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  ploughs.  Hugh  the  son  of  Baldric  has 
(it),  Ansger  holds  (it)  of  (de)  him,  and  has 
there  2  ploughs  and  I  sochman  on  half  a 
bovate  of  land,  and  3  villeins  and  2  bordars 
having  2  ploughs  and  20  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  30  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 

M.  In  CUCHENAI  [Cuckney]  Suen  had  2 
carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  Richard  holds  (it)  of 
Hugh  and  has  there  2  ploughs  in  demesne  and 
3  sochmen  on  (de)  2  bovates  of  land  and 
10  villeins  and  5  bordars  having  3  ploughs. 
There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  8  shillings.  Wood(land)  for  pan- 
nage 4  furlongs  in  length  and  4  furlongs  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  30  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 


XXIII.   THE   LAND   OF    HUGH    DE 

GRENTEMAISNIL 

In  EDWOLTUN  [Edwalton]  Gode  had  6 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  z\  ploughs.  There  Hugh  de 
Grentemaisnil  has  in  demesne  2  ploughs  and 
(there  are)  6  sochmen  and  I  villein  having  \\ 
ploughs  and  20  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings.  It  belongs  to 
STOCTUN  [Stockerston,  Leicester]. 

In  TURMODESTUN  [Thrumpton]  (there  are) 
i^  bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  I  plough.  There  (are)  2  sochmen 
and  2  bordars  with  2  ploughs  and  3  acres  of 
meadow.  It  belongs  (iacet)  to  SANDIRIACA 
[Sandiacre,  Derby]. 


XXIIII.   THE  LAND   OF   HENRY 
DE  FEREIRES 

M.  In  LECCHE  [East  Leake]  Siward  had 
2  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  6  ploughs.  There  Henry 
de  Ferrariis  has  in  demesne  4  ploughs,  and 
(there  are)  16  sochmen  and  16  villeins  having 
1 7  ploughs.  There  (is)  a  priest  and  a  church 
and  I  mill  (rendering)  2  shillings  and  50 
acres  of  meadow  and  underwood  (silva 
minuta)  2  furlongs  in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6 
pounds  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  7  pounds. 

To  this  manor  belongs  (adiacet)  the  bere- 
wick  of  LECCHE  [West  Leake]  where  there 
are  2  carucates  of  land  to  the  geld.  This 
belongs  to  (iacet  in)  PLUNTRE  [Plumtree] 
Hundred. 

In  BONNITON  [Bonnington]  Siward  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  4  oxen.  There  3  villeins  have  i^ 
ploughs  and  3  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  6  shillings  (and 
it  is  worth)  the  same  now. 

In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby  on  the  Wolds] 
(there  is)  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  oxen.  The  soc 
belongs  to  (in)  BADELEIE  [  ].1  It  is 

waste.     There  (are)  6  acres  of  meadow. 


XXV.    (THE 


LAND     OF) 

MALET 


ROBERT 


M.  In  BRADEMERE  [Bradmore]  Azor  had 
12  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Robert 
Malet  has  in  demesne  3  ploughs  and  (there 
are)  16  villeins  and  8  bordars  having  5  ploughs. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

S.  In  RODINTONE  [Ruddington]  (there  is) 
I  bovate  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  I 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  2  oxen.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  BRADE- 
MERE [Bradmore]. 


XXVI.    (THE 


LAND   OF) 

MALET 


DURAND 


M.  In  OVETORP  [Owthorpe]  Rolf  had  half 
a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There  Durand 
Malet  has  I  plough  and  4  sochmen  and  3 
villeins  having  2  ploughs.  There  (are)  12 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  30  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20 
shillings. 

1  See  Introduction,  p.  233. 


283 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


fol.  331. 

XXVII.  THE     LAND     OF    OSBERN 
THE  SON  OF   RICHARD 

M.  In  GRENEBI  [Granby]  1  Earl  Algar  had 

3  carucates  of   land   (assessed)    to   the   geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  10  ploughs.     Osbern  the 
son  of  Richard  has  (it)  now.     Robert  de  Olgi 
holds  (it)  of  him  and  has  there  4  ploughs  and 
22  sochmen  and    14  villeins  and   8  bordars 
having   10  ploughs.     There  (is)  a  priest  and  a 
church  and  2  mills  (rendering)  10  shillings  and 
10    acres  of   meadow.     In   King    Edward's 
time    it  was    worth    8   pounds ;  now   (it    is 
worth)  15  pounds. 

S.  In  WIVRETONE  [Wiverton]  (there  are) 
3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  7  soch- 
men have  2  ploughs.  The  soc  belongs  to 
(in)  COLETON  [Colston  Basset], 

B.  In  SALTREFORD  [Salterford]  (there  are) 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  It 
is  waste.  (It  is)  a  berewick  of  (in)  COLETONE 
[Colston  Basset].  Wood(land)  for  pannage 
I  league  in  length  and  4  furlongs  in  breadth. 

XXVIII.  (THE  LAND)   OF   ROBERT 
THE  SON  OF  WILLIAM 

M.  In  STANFORD  [Stanford  upon  Soar] 
/Elfag  had  I O  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4  ploughs.  There 
Robert  the  son  of  William  has  i  plough  and 

4  sochmen   and    7    villeins    and    2    bordars 
having   7   ploughs.     There  (is)  the  site  of  a 
mill    and    15   acres  of   meadow.     In     King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings. 

Soc[land  belonging]   there 

S.  In  LECHE  [Leake]  2  (there  is)  I  bovate 
of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  4  oxen.  There  2  sochmen  have  I 
plough.  It  belongs  to  STANFORD. 

M.  In  BROCHELESTOU  [Broxtow]  Godric 
had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3  oxen.  There  Robert 
has  i  plough  and  i  villein.  Underwood 
(silva  minuta)  i  furlong  in  length  and  I  in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  1 6  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  8 
shillings. 

XXIX.  (THE   LAND)   OF   WILLIAM 
THE    USHER    (Hostiarius) 

4  M.  In  BRUNCOTE  [Bramcote]  Ulchel, 
Godric,  Alvric  and  Levric  had  12  bovates  of 

1  See  above,  p.  233. 

8  '  Leche '  is  interlined  above  '  Stantone,' 
which  is  not  however  marked  for  deletion. 


land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  12  oxen.  There  William  the  usher  has 
i  plough  and  4  villeins  and  i  bordar  having 
3^  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2O 
(shillings). 

M.  In  TORWALLE  [Trowell]  Uctebrand 
had  i-J-  carucates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  12  oxen.  There 
William  the  usher  has  i  plough  and  6 
villeins  with  4  ploughs.  There  is  a  priest 
and  half  a  church  and  6  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  100 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  20  shillings. 


fol. 

XXX.   THE   LAND   OF   THE 
THEGNS 

BERNESEDELAWE  [BASSETLAW]  WAPENTAC 

2  M.  In  OSBERNESTUNE  [Osberton]  3  El- 
wine  and  Ulviet  had  I  carucate  of  land 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
ploughs.  Now  Suan  and  Ulviet  hold  (it)  of 
the  king  and  have  there  5  sochmen  having  4 
ploughs,  and  a  church  and  20  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood  (land)  for  pannage  6  furlongs  in  length 
and  3  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  60  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
10  shillings. 

M.  In  CARLENTUNE  [Carlton  on  Trent] 
Ulchel  had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  oxen.  Alden 
has  (it)  of  the  king.  There  2  bordars  have  3 
ploughing  oxen  and  10  acres  of  meadow. 
Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  furlongs  in  length 
and  half  (a  furlong)  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

M.  In  CHENAPETORP  [Knapthorpe]  Alden 
holde  of  the  king  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6  oxen. 
There  he  has  i  plough  and  4  bordars  having 
I  ploughing  ox  (bovem  in  car'}  and  4  acres  of 
meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2  furlongs 
in  length  and  i  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  and  8  pence 
and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  CRUNWELLE  [Cromwell]  Alden 
holds  of  the  king  2  carucates  of  land  and  6 
bovates  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  4  ploughs.  There  he  has  I  plough 
and  5  sochmen  on  I  carucate  of  this  land 
and  8  villeins  and  2  bordars  having  4^ 
ploughs.  There  (is)  a  church  and  I  mill 


8  '  ORMESTUNE  '  is  underlined  for  deletion  and 
'  OSBERNESTUNE  '  written  over  it. 


284 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


(rendering)  12  pence  and  i  fishery.  Meadow 
6  furlongs  in  length  and  3  in  breadth.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  60  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  40  (shillings). 

M.  In  LAMBELEIA  [Lambley]  Ulchet  had 
2  carucates  of  land  and  2  bovates  (assessed) 
to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs. 
Alden  holds  (it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  I 
plough  and  20  villeins  and  3  bordars  having 

4  ploughs  and  3  sochmen  on  (de)  half  a  carucate 
of  land  with  i  plough.     There  (are)    2  mills 
(rendering)    20    shillings    and    20    acres    of 
meadow.     Wood(land)  for  pannage  I  league 
in    length    and    4   furlongs    in    breadth.     In 
King    Edward's    time     it    was    worth    60 
shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  UDEBURG  [Wood borough]  Ulchel 
had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  Aldene 
has  3  villeins  having  half  a  plough.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  5  shillings  and  4 
pence  and  (it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 

M.  In  NORDMUSCHAM  [North  Muskham] 
Siward  had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  3  ploughs.  There 
the  same  Siward  has  2  bordars  and  i  mill 
(rendering)  10  shillings  and  12  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  40  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  16 
shillings. 

M.  In  COLUI  [Colwick]  Alvric  (3)  and 
Buge  (2)  had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough. 
The  same  hold  (it)  of  the  king  and  have 
there  2  ploughs  and  I  sochman  on  (de)  i 
bovate  and  6  villeins  and  i  bordar  with  2 
ploughs.  There  (are)  31  acres  of  meadow 
and  8  acres  of  underwood  (silva  minuta).  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  25  shillings 
and  4  pence. 

M.  In  UDEBURG  [Woodborough]  Ulchel 
had  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  The  same 
holds  (it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  I  plough 
and  3  villeins  and  i  bordar  with  i£  ploughs 
and  i  mill  (rendering)  20  shillings  and  I  rod 
of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  2 
leagues  in  length  and  5  furlongs  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  (it  was  worth)  20 
(shillings)  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  30  shillings. 

1ln  UDEBURG  [Woodborough]  Alvric  has 

5  bovates  (assessed)  to   the  geld.     (There  is) 
land  for   2   ploughs   which  are  there  with  3 
villeins   and    i    bordar.     There    (is)    a    mill 


1  This  entry  is  added  in  the  margin. 


(rendering)  20  shillings.  The  same  held  it 
for  a  manor  in  King  Edward's  time. 

M.  In  NORMENTUN  [Normanton]  Arnui 
the  priest  has  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  It 
is  waste. 

M.  In  ODESTORP  [  ]  Ulmer  had 

2^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  There  in 
demesne  is  i  plough  and  half  a  mill  (rendering) 
4  shillings  and  10  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  4  shillings. 

In  CALVRETONE  [Calverton]  Alvric  (has)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  i  plough.  There  2  sochmen  and 

4  villeins  have  2   ploughs.      Formerly  (it  was 
worth)    16   shillings;  now  (it   is  worth)    10 
shillings.      The  same  holds  (it). 

RlSECLIVE    [RUSHCLIFF]    WAPENTAC 

M.  In  NORMANTUN  [Normanton  on  Soar] 
Osgod  had  3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  I  plough. 
There  (are)  2  villeins  and  2  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  (it  was  worth)  2O 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  6  shillings. 

B.  In  BONNITONE  [Bonington]  (there  are) 
i^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  It  belongs 
to  NORM(AN)TUN  [Normanton].  There  (are) 

5  villeins   with    i    plough    and    3    acres    of 
meadow.     In    King   Edward's   time   (it   was 
worth)  6  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the  same) 
now. 

M.  In  the  same  NORM(AN)TUN  Raven 
(has)  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld. 

M.  In  SUTONE  [Sutton]  Leword  had  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
Siward  holds  (it)  of  the  king. 

M.  IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  (Ibidem)  Cole- 
man  (has)  l£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld. 

M.  In  CHINESTAN  [Kingston]  Algar  had 
3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Sawin  holds 
(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  2  villeins  with 
i  plough  and  the  site  of  a  mill  and  i  o  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  (it  was 
worth)  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  10 
shillings. 

M.  In  RADECLIVE  [Ratcliffe  upon  Soar] 
Osgod  had  I  o  bovates  of  land  and  4  parts  of 
i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 


285 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


land  for  6  ploughs.  Sawin  holds  (it)  of  the 
king  and  has  there  2  ploughs  and  9  villeins 
and  3  bordars  having  2  ploughs.  There  (is) 
a  priest  and  a  church  and  I  mill  (rendering) 
IO  shillings  and  6  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  100 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  60  shillings. 

S.  In  CHINESTAN  [Kingston]  (there  is)  i 
carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  There  8 
sochmen  and  3  villeins  have  3  ploughs. 

M.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  Ulchet 
had  I  £  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  I  plough.  Godric  holds 
(it)  now,  but  the  men  of  the  country  do  not 
know  from  whom  (per  quern)  (or)  how. 
There  is  I  villein  and  6  acres  of  meadow. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  20 
shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3  shillings. 


M.  In  BARTON  E  [Barton  in  Fabis] 
had  li  bovates  of  land  and  the  fourth  part  of 
i  bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is) 
land  for  i  plough.  There  Sawin  has  I  villein 
and  2  bordars  with  2  ploughing  oxen  and  3 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
3  shillings. 

M.  In  GATHAM  [Gotham]  Godric  had  3^ 
bovates  of  land  and  I  acre  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  There  is  land  for  i  plough.  It  is 
waste.  Sawin  has  (it).  There  (are)  12  acres 
of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2 
shillings. 

In  CLIFTUN  [Clifton]  Ulchel  has  of  the 
king  i  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
There  he  has  I  villein  with  2  ploughing  oxen 
(boves  arantes)  and  I  acre  of  meadow. 

S.  In  WILLEBI  [Willoughby  on  the  Wolds] 
Algar  had  2^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  TORP  [Thorpe- 
in-the-Glebe].  There  (are)  2  sochmen  with 
3  ploughs  and  3  acres  of  meadow. 

M.  In  CHIRCHEBI  [Kirkby  in  Ashfield] 
Alvric  had  2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  (There  is)  land  for  2  oxen.  The 
same  holds  (it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  i 
plough.  In  King  Edward's  time  (it  was 
worth)  5  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2  shil- 
lings. 

2  M.  In  BASEFORD  [Basford]  Alvric  had  i 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld  (which)  is  waste, 
and  Escul  i  bovate  (which)  is  waste. 


3  bovates  (assessed)  to   the  geld.      These  are 
waste.      There  (is)  wood(land)  for  pannage  i 
league    in    length    and    half    (a    league)     in 
breadth.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
2O  shillings. 

M.  In  TORWALLE  [Trowell]  Ulchel  had 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  It  is  waste. 
Alden  has  (it).  There  (are)  2  acres  of  mea- 
dow. In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings  and 

4  pence. 

fol.  293. 

M.  In  SRAELiE1  [Strelley]  Ulchel  had  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  oxen.  Now  Ulsi  and  Godwin 
hold  (it)  of  the  king  and  have  there  4  villeins 
and  i  bordar.  In  King  Edward's  time  it 
was  worth  4  shillings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  3 
shillings. 

M.  In  NUTEHALE  [Nuthall]  Aschil  had 
3^  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  3^  oxen.  Alvric  holds 
(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  6  villeins  with 
2  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings;  now  (it  is  worth)  6  shil- 
lings and  8  pence. 

M.  In  ELDESUORDE  [Awsworth]  Ulchete 
had  half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld.  Aldene  holds  (it). 

M.  In  BASEFORD  [Basford]  Alvric  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  The  same  holds 
of  the  king  and  has  there  i  villein  with  I 
plough  and  I  acre  of  meadow  and  2  mills 
(rendering)  1 6  shillings  and  i  acre  of  under- 
wood (silva  minuta).  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  20  shillings  and  (it  is  worth  the 
same)  now. 

2  M.  In  WILGEBI  [Willoughby  on  the 
Wolds]  Sbern  and  Ulmer  had  3  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  3  oxen.  Elwin  and  Ernuin  hold  (it)  of 
the  king.  It  is  waste.  There  (are)  5  acres 
of  meadow  and  5  bordars.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  and  4  pence  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  4  shillings. 

BlNGAMESHOU    [BlNGHAM]    WAP[ENTAC] 

M.  In  LAMBECOTES  [Lamcote]  Ulchel  had 
5  bovates  of  land  and  the  third  part  of  i 
bovate  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  Aldene  holds 


In    PAPLEWIC    [Papplewick]     Alvric    and          '  «  SRAELIE  '  is  written  over  '  STADELIE  '  under- 
Alsa  and  Elric  had  2  carucates  of  land  and      lined  for  deletion. 

286 


HOLDERS    OF    LANDS 


(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  I  plough  in 
demesne  and  6  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 

M.  In  ASLACHESTONE  [Aslockton]  Levric 
had  I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  Ulvric  holds  (it) 
of  the  king  and  has  there  2  ploughing  oxen 
(boves  in  car1"]  and  2  sochmen  and  I  bordar 
with  half  a  plough.  There  (are)  8  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth 
5  shillings  and  4  pence  and  (it  is  worth  the 
same)  now. 

M.  In  CHINELTONE  [Kinoulton]  Azor  had 
I  bovate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  3  oxen.  Now  Azor's  son  holds 
(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  3  villeins  with 
3  ploughing  (aranf)  oxen  and  3  acres  of 
meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  2  shil- 
lings and  8  pence. 

M.  In  CLAUREBURG  [Clarborough]  Ulmer 
had  i£  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld 
with  sac  and  soc  (saca  et  soca)  without  a 
hall.  (There  is)  land  for  3  oxen.  The  same 
holds  (it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  2  villeins 
and  3  bordars  with  half  a  plough  and  3  acres 
of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  6  fur- 
longs in  length  and  3  in  breadth.  In  King 
Edward's  time  it  was  worth  3  shillings  ;  now 
it  is  worth  2  shillings. 

NEWERCE  [NEWARK]  WAP[ENTAC] 

M.  In  SIRESTUNE  [Syerston] — (this)  is  the 
kind's l — Turvert  had  2  bovates  of  land 

O 

(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5 
oxen.  There  2  villeins  and  i  bordar  have  i 
plough  and  5  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward's  time  (it  was  worth)  10  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 

M.  In  ELCHESLEIE  [Elkesley]  Aschil  had  4 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Ernuin  the  priest 
holds  (it)  of  the  king.  There  4  villeins  have 
i£  ploughs.  In  King  Edward's  time  it  was 
worth  8  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth)  10  shil- 
lings. 

In  NORTMORTVN  [North  (?)  Morton]  (there 
are)  3  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
Aschil  held  (it),  Ernuin  holds  (it).  It  is 
waste. 

M.  In  MISNA  [Misson]  Cnut  had  i£ 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 


1  Regis  est '  interlined. 


is)  land  for  3  oxen.  Ernuin  has  there  4 
villeins  with  half  a  plough  and  2  sochmen 
with  I  plough  and  a  fishery  (rendering)  3 
shillings.  Wood(land)  for  pannage  i  furlong 
in  length  and  i  in  breadth.  It  is  worth  8 
shillings. 

O 

S.  In  the  same  place  [Ibidem}  (there  are)  3 
bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  The 
soc  belongs  to  (de)  CHIRCHETON  [Kirton-in- 
Lindsey].  There  6  villeins  have  3  ploughs. 

M.  In  CALUN  [Kelham]  Ulchel  had  i 
bovate  of  land  and  2  parts  of  i  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  6 
oxen.  There  Aldene  has  2  villeins  and  2 
bordars  with  I  plough  and  6  acres  of  meadow. 
Underwood  (silva  minuta)  8  furlongs  in  length 
and  8  rods  in  breadth.  In  King  Edward's 
time  (it  was  worth)  20  shillings  ;  now  (it  is 
worth)  10  (shillings). 

M.  In  MUSCHAM  [Muskham]  Sortebrand 
had  6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  i£  ploughs.  Seric  holds 
(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  I  sochman  and 
2  bordars  with  2  ploughing  oxen  (bobus  in  car') 
and  1 2  acres  of  meadow.  Wood(land)  for 
pannage  I  league  in  length  and  I  in  breadth. 
In  King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  1 6  shil- 
lings ;  now  (it  is  worth)  5  shillings. 

M.  In  WIMARSPOLD  [Widmerpool]  William 
had  1 1  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Aldene  has 
there  14  sochmen  and  2  villeins  and  2  serfs 
with  6  ploughs  and  20  acres  of  meadow.  In 
King  Edward's  time  it  was  worth  40  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  30  shillings. 

IN  THE  SAME  PLACE  [Ibidem]  4  thegns  had 
6  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There 
is)  land  for  I  plough.  Alden  has  there  i 
sochman  with  3  ploughing  oxen  (tabus  in  car') 
and  6  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's 
time  it  was  worth  21  shillings;  now  (it  is 
worth)  6  shillings. 

S.  In  GUNNULFESTONE  [Gonalston]  Ernuin 
the  priest  with  4  sochmen  had  5  bovates  of 
land  (assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land 
for  12  oxen.  The  soc  belongs  to  (in)  ERNE- 
HALE  [Arnold].  There  4  sochmen  have  I 
plough  and  5  acres  of  meadow  and  16  acres 
of  underwood  (silva  minuta). 

M.  In  TROWALLE  [Trowell]  Alvric  had 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  4  oxen.  The  same  holds 
(it)  of  the  king  and  has  there  3  villeins  with 
2  ploughs  and  2  acres  of  meadow.  In  King 
Edward  s  time  it  was  worth  9  shillings  and 
(it  is  worth  the  same)  now. 


287 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


M.  In  the  same  place  (Ibidem)  Ulvric  had 
half  a  carucate  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  half  a  plough.  Ernuin 
has  I  bordar  and  I  villein  with  i  plough  and 
2  acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
it  was  worth  10  shillings  ;  now  (it  is  worth) 
5  shillings  and  4  pence. 

One  bovate  of  land  belongs  there  (iacet  ibi), 
Soc(land).  It  is  waste. 

M.  In  ESTRECILLEWELLE  [?  East  Chilwell] 
Dunninc  had  5  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to 
the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  5  oxen.  Ernuin 
has  there  I  villein  with  half  a  plough  and  12 
acres  of  meadow.  In  King  Edward's  time 
(it  was  worth)  5  shillings  and  4  pence  ;  now 
(it  is  worth)  3  shillings  and  4  pence. 

In  WARESHOPE  [Warsop]  a  certain  blind 
man  (cecui)  holds  I  bovate  in  alms  (elemosind) 
of  the  king. 


In  CLAUREBURG  [Clarborough]  (there  are) 
2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the  geld. 
(There  is)  land  for  2  ploughs.  Archil  held  (it). 
Ernuin  holds  (it).  There  (are)  2  villeins  and 
6  acres  of  meadow.  It  was  worth  4  shillings  ; 
now  (it  is  worth)  2  shillings. 


In  SUTONE  [Sutton  Passeys]  Alvric  and 
Brun  (had)  1 2  bovates  of  land  (assessed)  to  the 
geld,  for  2  manors  and  Ulsi  (had)  i£  carucates 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  The  soc  belongs  (iacet) 
to  OLLAVESTONE  [Wollaton],  There  is  land 
for  3  ploughs.  It  is  waste. 


In  ORDESHALE  [Ordsall]  (there  is)  I  bovate 
(assessed)  to  the  geld.  (There  is)  land  for  4 
oxen.  Ernui  holds  (it). 


288 


0 


N 


V 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 


INTRODUCTION 

Neither  physically  nor  strategically  do  the  gentle  contours  of  Notting- 
hamshire provide  sites  for  those  great  hill  fortresses  to  be  found  on  the  crests 
of  the  hills  in  many  other  counties. 

The  great  water-way  of  the  Trent  divides  Nottinghamshire  as  it  flows 
northwards  into  the  estuary  of  the  Humber ;  and  many  minor  rivers,  notably 
the  Soar,  Erewash,  and  Idle,  made  the  very  heart  of  the  county  easily  accessible 
to  inimical  incursions.  With  few  exceptions  its  natural  features  did  not  lend 
themselves  to  fortification  ;  this  was  compensated  for  in  the  Pennine  Range 
of  Derbyshire,  on  the  west,  which  over-looked  the  comparatively  level  sur- 
face of  this  county,  and  formed  a  barrier  to  the  invaders  of  the  territory  of 
the  Coritani,  a  tribe  which  occupied  approximately  the  present  shires  of 
Lincoln,  Nottingham,  and  Leicester. 

Forest  and  swamp  occupied  a  large  part  of  Nottinghamshire  ;  remains 
of  old  woods  are  extant  in  the  Hays  of  Birkland  and  Bilhagh,  to  the  north 
of  Ollerton  and  Edwinstowe  ;  while  in  the  north-eastern  extremity  the  swamps 
that  intervened  between  the  northern  boundary  and  the  Isle  of  Axholme 
were  almost  impassable. 

Viewed  through  the  medium  of  its  earthworks,  it  appears  to  have  been 
sparingly  inhabited  by  early  man,  possibly  owing  to  the  poor  protection  the 
open  character  of  the  country  afforded.  There  are  few  headlands  like  the 
Castle-rock  or  the  old-town  area  of  Nottingham,  which  could  be  cut  off  by 
rampart  and  fosse,  to  constitute  forts.  There  are,  however,  a  number  of 
rounded  hills,  the  summits  of  which  have  been  utilized  as  military  sites. 
Though  great  defensive  works  of  a  martial  character  are  absent,  we  find 
numerous  sites  of  moated  manor  houses,  less  interesting,  possibly,  than  the 
former,  but  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  household  property  and  domestic 
peace. 

Such  earthworks  as  are  traceable  are  here  classified  according  to  the 
following  scheme,  adopted  by  the  Congress  of  Archaeological  Societies  in 
1903  ;  and  we  find  examples  illustrating  all  but  class  H. 

Class  A.  Fortresses  partly  inaccessible,  by  reason  of  precipices,  clifls,  or  water,  additionally 
defended  by  artificial  works,  usually  known  as  promontory  fortresses. 

Class  B.  Fortresses  on  hill-tops  with  artificial  defences,  following  the  natural  line  of  the  hill  ,• 
or,  though  usually  on  high  ground,  less  dependent  on  natural  slopes  for  protection. 

Class  C.  Rectangular  or  other  simple  enclosures,  including  forts  and  towns  of  the  Romano- 
British  period. 

Class  D.     Forts  consisting  only  of  a  mount  with  encircling  ditch  or  fosse. 

Class  E.  Fortified  mounts,  either  artificial  or  partly  natural,  with  traces  of  an  attached  court 
or  bailey,  or  of  two  or  more  such  courts. 

Class  F.  Homestead  moats,  such  as  abound  in  some  lowland  districts,  consisting  of  simple 
enclosures  formed  into  artificial  islands  by  water  moats. 

i  289  37 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Class  G.  Enclosures,  mostly  rectangular,  partaking  of  the  form  of  F,  but  protected  by 
stronger  defensive  works,  ramparted  and  fossed,  and  in  some  instances  provided  with 
outworks. 

Class  H.     Ancient  village  sites  protected  by  walls,  ramparts,  or  fosses. 

Class  X.     Defensive  works  which  fall  under  none  of  these  headings. 

Class  A. — Of  the  three  examples  of  Promontory  Fortresses,  Nottingham 
is  by  far  the  boldest  ;  but  that  at  Worksop  was  originally  more  characteristic. 
All  in  this  class  are  situated  on  the  great  ancient  thoroughfares  ;  but  none 
of  them  exhibits  those  prominent  features  such  as  are  found  in  the  same  type 
of  stronghold  in  certain  other  districts. 

Class  B. — Eight  examples  only,  and  those  not  of  a  typical  character,  can 
be  included  in  this  category  of  Hill  Fortresses  ;  and  even  most  of  those  have 
perished  or  are  much  mutilated.  We  look  in  vain  for  examples  of  com- 
plicated entrances  such  as  are  found  in  many  other  counties,  or  for  those 
stupendous  aggers  which  excite  wonder  at  the  skill  and  patience  of  their 
engineers  ;  the  only  one  that  remains  sufficiently  perfect  to  reveal  a  cunningly 
contrived  defence  is  the  camp  called  '  Oldox  '  in  the  parish  of  Oxton. 

Class  C. — All  but  one  in  this  class — of  which  there  are  but  few  in 
the  county — are  of  very  simple  construction.  The  camps  at  Arnold  and 
Harworth  meet  those  requirements  generally  considered  characteristic  of 
the  Roman  camps,  and  that  of  Southwell  recalls  to  mind  some  of  those  en- 
trenchments usually  attributed  to  the  nation  ;  but  among  these  the  camp  at 
Woodborough  is  incomparably  the  most  interesting. 

Class  D. — The  four  mounts  in  Nottinghamshire  are  also  very  simple, 
that  at  Lowdham  being  the  best  defined. 

Class  E. — Four  only  of  the  mount  and  bailey  type  can  be  found  for 
our  attention.  The  most  interesting  is  that  in  Laxton  parish,  where  the 
mount  is  doubled,  the  main  work  being  crowned  by  a  monticle,  and  the 
design  of  the  double  court  is  distinct. 

Class  F. — As  usual  in  an  agricultural  and  pastoral  country,  the  moat 
defences  of  manor  houses  and  farmsteads  are  to  be  found  more  abundantly 
than  in  a  district  of  hilly  and  rocky  character.  A  considerable  number  are 
recorded  and  apparently  many  of  them  have  been  filled  in  for  modern  con- 
venience at  a  comparatively  modern  date.  In  those  examples  left  there  is  but 
little  to  guide  us  in  attributing  them  to  any  given  age,  and  although  no  history 
of  them  is  known,  they  cannot  be  relegated  to  a  pre-historic  period. 

Class  X. — Those  works  excluded  from  either  of  the  above  mentioned 
divisions  are  naturally  of  varied  types.  The  great  Bykersdyke  is  of  remote 
antiquity  ;  and  the  collateral  lines  of  entrenchments  at  Barton  impress 
one  with  the  idea  of  hasty  and  temporary  measures  of  defence.  The 
curious  series  of  low  mounds  on  Laxton  Common  provide  food  for  specula- 
tion as  to  their  date  and  purpose. 

PROMONTORY    FORTRESSES 
[CLASS  A] 

FARNSFIELD  :  COMBS  FARM  CAMP. — On  a  promontory  jutting  out  east- 
ward from  the  neighbouring  high-lands,  situated  ii  miles  south-west  of 
Farnsfield,  and  4}  miles  north-west  by  west  from  Southwell,  is  an  irregular 

290 


Combs 

Farm,  *' 


\ 


SCALE  OF  FEET 

IOO  200          30O 


COMBS  FARM  CAMP,   FARNSFIELD. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

elliptical    camp,  commanding    the    ancient   road,  the  '  Stone    Street,'    from 
Nottingham  to  Bawtry,  that  passes  south  and  north-west  of  its  site. 

Major  Rooke,  writing 
in  1785,  says  : — 

At  a  farm  on  an  emi- 
nence called  the  '  Combs,' 
a  Roman  camp  is  plainly 
made   out,   the   ditch   and 
vallum  are  perfect  at  the      , 
west  end  and  in  most  part      ' 
of  the  south    side.      The       ''%''''/,* <»it 
south-eastern    part    is    oc-  <*'''<5}'''ffif'fr.f' 

•      1111  i  *'^  ji.  x"    ^rft*\\ 

cupied  by  the  house  and 
garden ;  here  I  found  frag- 
ments of  Roman  bricks  and 
tiles  turned  up  in  plough- 
ing. About  fifty  yards  to 
the  north  of  the  camp  is 

a  circular  vallum  of  earth  near  forty  yards  in  diameter,  part  of  which  has  been  lately  destroyed 
by  the  plough.  The  camp,  which  is  fully  250  yards  long  and  seventy  yards  wide,  commands 
an  extensive  view  NW.  over  Sherwood  Forest.  The  great  road  from  Southwell  to  Mansfield 
goes  through  Farnsfield  between  this  and  the  Hexgreave  camp.1 

About  3  acres  of  ground  are  enclosed  by  the  fosse,  in  which  several 
weapons  were  found  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  ;  and  some 
ninety  years  later  two  small  implements  of  war  resembling  battle-axes,  but  of 
diminutive  size,  made  of  copper,  and  cast  in  a  mould,  were  found  near  these 
works  in  a  bed  of  ashes  2  ft.  beneath  the  surface ;  one  of  these,  illustrated 
by  Major  Rooke,  is  a  bronze  socketed  and  fluted  celt. 

NOTTINGHAM  :  THE  CASTLE  AREA  AND  PRECINCTS  are  situated  on  a 
sandy  rock  which  towards  the  south  forms  a  precipitous  promontory. 

The  origin  of  this  fortress  possibly  dates  from  King  Edward's  visit  to  the 
town  in  924,  when  the  Old  Borough  (dealt  with  in  Class  B)  may  have 
existed  ;  and  he  '  commanded  a  burh  to  be  built  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river,  over  against  the  other,  and  the  bridge  over  the  Trent,  between  the 
two  burhs.' 3  No  evidence  remains  to  show  that  this  was  done,  or  that 
the  promontory  fortress  supplied  the  royal  demand,  though  it  seems  impossible 
that  so  commanding  a  position  could  have  been  neglected  by  former 
warriors. 

The  natural  fastness,  precipitous  on  the  southern  side  and  largely  so 
on  the  western,  was  strengthened  artificially  by  a  fosse  and  steep  escarpment 
over  it  which  ran  the  whole  length  of  the  cliff  edge.  On  the  north  and 
east  the  lines  are  wholly  artificial,  but  of  enormous  proportions,  being  hewn 
out  of  the  solid  rock  ;  this  entrenchment  divided  the  promontory  from  the 
main-land,  which  slopes  downward  to  the  site  of  the  old  entrenched  town  on 
the  east. 

The  plan  consists  of  four  courts,  sub-divisions  of  the  original  prehistoric 
enclosure,  three  of  which  from  the  time  of  William  I  to  that  of  Edward  I 
were  utilized  for  and  absorbed  by  the  royal  castle  ;  the  fourth  remained  an 
open  field  to  become  the  camping  ground  of  Charles  I  in  1642,  in  the  midst 
of  which,  '  on  a  flat  and  round  spot,'  now  obliterated,  he  erected  his  standard 

1  Arch,  ix,  200. 

1  Anglo-Saxon  Chron.  A.  924.     The  site  of  the  burh  on  south  side  may  possibly  be  identified  with 
Micklesborough  Hill 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

of  war.  It  is  an  open  question  whether  these  sub-divisions  date  before  or 
after  the  Norman  Conquest.  Divested  of  their  later  masonry  and  viewed  as 
earthworks  alone,  which  was  undoubtedly  their  state  in  the  first  century  after 
the  Conquest,  they  much  resemble  the  mound  and  bailey  type  of  the  Normans, 
under  which  heading  (Class  E)  they  will  be  further  noted. 


SCALE  OF  FEET 
O  IOO  2OO          300 


NOTTINGHAM  CASTLE  AND  PRECINCTS. 

Beyond  the  north  line  of  this  original  entrenchment  was  a  large  tumulus, 
utilized  by  Colonel  Hutchinson  during  the  Civil  War  as  a  platform  for  a  piece  of 
ordnance  ;  in  its  later  history  it  was  known  as  '  Derry  Mount,'  and  at  one  time 
was  adopted  as  the  site  of  a  windmill.  It  was  levelled  in  178 1, when  no  fewer  than 
five  interments  were  found  in  it,  one  of  them  being  accompanied  by  a  dagger. 

292 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

The  strength  of  this  defence  consisting  of  a  double  ditch  may  be 
gathered  from  the  record  of  the  late  James  Shipman,1  F.G.S.,  who  says  that — 

The  more  northerly  of  the  ditches  was  much  smaller  and  shallower  than  the  other  one,  being 
only  1 3  feet  in  width ;  the  dimensions  of  the  larger  ditch  could  not  be  accurately  ascertained 
as  the  excavations  did  not  go  far  enough  south  .  .  .  :  but  it  could  hardly  have  been  less  than 
50  feet  in  width,  and  was  about  20  feet  in  depth.  The  smaller  ditch  was  semicircular  in 
shape  and  went  down  16  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  sand  rock.  [In  the  filling-in  of  the 
excavations]  a  few  bones,  apparently  those  of  animals,  were  found ;  among  them  was  the  back 
part  of  a  human  skull,  having  probably  come  from  some  other  part  when  the  ground  was 
levelled  in  1782  [possibly  from  the  remains  found  in  the  'Derry  Mount']  .  .  .  Between  the 
ditches  was  a  narrow  ridge  of  rock  six  feet  in  width.  The  northern  side  of  the  great  ditch 
was  a  vertical  cliff  of  more  than  seven  feet.  The  bottom  of  the  great  ditch  appeared  to  rise 
with  the  ground  towards  the  west ;  .  .  .  the  ditches  followed  a  general  east-to-west  line,  and 
cut  across  the  top  of  the  hill. 

A  great  line  of  fosse  sweeping  away  to  the  north  connected  the  castle 
and  the  old  town,  enclosing  the  intervening  valley  of  the  new  borough.  The 
west  part  appears  to  be  the  oldest,  as  it  continued  further  north  to  the  brow 
of  the  hill  overlooking  the  Larkdale  valley,  now  the  depression  of  Shakespeare 
Street,  where  it  played  no  part  in  recorded  history.  The  date  of  this  enclosing 
line  is  unknown,  but  at  one  time  it  was  partially  strengthened  by  a  stone 
wall.  In  1898,  this  northern  fosse  was  cut  through  by  the  railway,  and  found 
to  be  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  over  30  ft.  in  width  and  20  ft.  in  depth. 

WORKSOP. — A  prominent  feature  of  this  village  is  the  Castle  Hill,  a 
headland  dominating  an  ancient  road  which  appears  to  be  a  continuation  of 
the  route  from  Stamford  to   Newark  via  Kelham  and  the  Gorge  Dyke  at 
Wellow.     It  is  a  hill 
of  red  sandstone,  from 
which  the  ford   de- 
rives   the  name     of 
*  Redford,'  now  called 
Radford. 

There  is,  appar- 
ently, no  evidence 
that  a  mediaeval  cas- 
tle was  ever  built 
here  ;  and  although 
Leland  said  '  the  old 
castle  on  the  hill  by 
the  town  is  clene 
down,  and  scant 
known  where  it  was,' 
he  was  probably  mis- 
led by  the  name 
'  Castle  Hill,'  and  the 
earthwork — such  as 
remains — is  the  work 
of  an  earlier  age, 
undisturbed  by  any  structure  of  stone. 

The  remains  consist  of  a  fosse,  which  cuts  off  the  promontory,  upon 
which  is  a  flat  mound  of  somewhat  circular  plan. 

1  Excavations  at  the  Nott.  Gen.  Hospital,  7. 
293 


SCALE  or  rtET 

.00  200 


soo 


CASTLE  HILL,  WORKSOP. 


BLIDWORTH   CAMP. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

HILL     FORTRESSES 

[CLASS  B] 

BLIDWORTH. — The  Blidworth  Camp  is  situated   ij  miles  north-west  of 

Blidworth  village  and  3  miles 
south-east  of  Mansfield,  above 
a  little  rivulet  called  the  Rain- 
worth  Water,  a  tributary  of  the 
River  Maun. 

Major  Rooke,  writing  in 
1788,  says,  'The  remains  of 
this  camp  is  on  a  hill  within 
3  miles  of  Mansfield.  On  part 
of  the  north  and  north-west 
sides  of  the  camp  the  ditch 
and  vallum  appear  perfect.' 
From  C  to  B,  a  length  of  1 27  yds. 
is  a  double  vallum  with  an  inter- 
mediate fosse ;  but  from  B 
towards  the  south  the  entrench- 
ments widen  and  branch  into  a 
double  vallum,  each  with  its 
fosse.  From  B  the  defences 
curve  to  the  south  for  140  yds., 

where  the  ditches  are  obliterated,  but  the  ramparts  appear  to  have  continued 

up  the  rising  ground.     The  vallum  and  fosse  on  the  southern  and  eastern  sides 

have  been  destroyed, 

owing    to    the    hill 

having  been  enclosed 

and  cultivated. 

On    the    north 

side  the  ground  slopes 

down    to    a    morass 

some    90    ft.    wide, 

through  which  runs 

the     Rai  n  w  o  r  t  h 

Water. 

Close     to     the 

vallum  on  the  north- 
west are  two  tumuli 

105  ft.  apart. 

EAST  RETFORD. 

— Castle     Hill,    on 

the  boundary  of  this 

parish   and   that    of 

Grove,    is    2    miles 

east  -  south  -  east    of 

Retford  and  6  miles 

south  of  Gringley  on 

the  Hill. 


CASTLE  HILL,  EAST  RETFORD. 
294. 


SCAtE    OF    FEET 

IOO  2OO 


300 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

Extensive  earthworks  are  situated  on  this  high  ground,  of  which  the 
principal  part  only  is  seen  on  this  plan.  It  consists  of  an  irregular  fortified 
area  which  was  apparently  connected  with  another  and  larger  entrenchment. 
The  rampart  and  fosse  have  suffered  greatly  from  the  levelling  process. 
From  the  north-west  part  the  works  extend  westward  as  rampart  and  fosse 
for  half  a  mile  ;  for  the  first  half  of  this  distance  the  fosse  is  on  the  north  side, 
where  the  ground  falls  away.  The  other  or  western  half  is  a  vallum  with 
evidence  of  a  second  or  inner  one.  South-east  of  these  entrenchments  are  one 
complete  side  and  portions  of  two  others  of  the  larger  camp,  with  an 
entrance  between  the  two ;  but  the  destruction  of  the  ancient  work  and  the 
construction  of  the  more  modern  moat  render  it  impossible  to  trace  the 
system  of  the  pre-historic  defences.  Possibly  this  mutilation  was  occasioned 
by  the  Parliamentarian  war,  when  this  neighbourhood  was  one  of  the  scenes 
of  that  lamentable  contention. 

Concerning  these  earthworks  Laird  remarked  that  :  '  Being  so  near  the 
line  of  the  Roman  Road  (Lincoln  to  York  via  Littleboro'),  the  situation 
could  not  escape  that  warlike  people  as  fit  for  an  exploratory  station,  and  we 
may  conclude  that  the  moat  on  Castle  Hill  was  occupied  by  them  for  military 
purposes,  though  it  may  originally  have  been  a  British  work.' 

FARNSFIELD  :  HILL  CLOSE  CAMP. — To  the 
east  of  Hexgreve  Park,  and  about  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  north-west  of  Kirk- 
lington,  a  curious  series  of  entrenchments  crown 
the  summit  of  a  hill. 

William  Dickinson  furnishes  an  engraving 
of  the  plan,  and  Major  Rooke,  in  1788, 
describes  the  vallum  and  fosse  as  perfect  in 
places,  but  so  destroyed  by  the  plough  in 
other  parts  that  the  precise  shape  cannot  be 
made  out. 

The  extremities  of  the  outworks  were  de- 
stroyed before  1818,  but  the  remains  exhibited 
a  central  enclosure  within  a  vallum,  slightly 
higher  than  the  surrounding  ground.  In  1864 
it  was  said  that  the  vallum  and  fosse  could  HlLL  CLOSE  CAMP'  F*"«""-D 
be  traced,  but  that  the  intermediate  lines  were 

destroyed.  Around  this  main  camp  appeared  three  other  ramparted  areas, 
which,  when  perfect,  were  probably  four  in  number,  one  at  each  of  the 
irregular  sides  ;  but  how  the  broad  fosse  between  these  apparently  independent 
works  branched  out  and  consolidated  them  into  one  great  stronghold 
is  almost  beyond  conjecture. 

Standing  in  a  high  position,  Hill  Close  Camp  overlooked  the  valley  of 
the  Greet,  along  which  an  ancient  road  passed  from  the  Trent,  via  Southwell, 
to  Mansfield  and  the  west. 

In  1849  Roman  remains  were  found  near  this  spot. 

GRINGLEY  ON  THE  HILL  :  BEACON  HILL  CAMP. — As  the  name  implies, 
this  is  an  elevated  site.  It  is  situated  in  the  north-east  of  the  county,  abutting 
in  old  times  on  miles  of  bog-carr  or  swamp-land,  separating  the  Isle  of 
Axholme,  which  lies  to  the  north.  From  the  Beacon  Hill  near  the  church 

295 


N 

/  i 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

very  extensive  views  of  the  country  round  are  obtained,  embracing  a  circle  of 
some  sixty  miles,  whence  the  approach  of  an  invader  would  be  seen  at  a  far 
distance.  It  is  a  natural  hill,  fairly  round  in  form,  which  rises  3  5  ft.  above  the 
level  of  the  road  immediately  at  its  foot  ;  in  all  it  is  275  ft.  above  the  sea-level. 
The  camp  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill  and  follows  the  natural  con- 
tour ;  it  is  elongated  in  plan,  the  long  axis  being  east  and  west,  depending 

largely  for  its  strength  on  the  escarpment  of  the 
hill.  Some  distance  from  the  summit,  on  the  north 
side,  is  an  outer  defence  or  terrace  of  more  erratic 
curves  following  the  natural  line  of  the  hill,  its 
very  irregularity  enhancing  its  strategical  importance. 
The  important  question  of  a  water-supply  was 
overcome  in  this  instance  by  the  rise  of  a  small 
tributary  to  the  River  Trent,  which  flows  to  the 
east  of  the  camp. 

About    ij    miles  to  the  south-west  passes  an 
ancient  road  from   Lincoln,  via   Littleborough,    to 
Doncaster,   which    is   embraced  in    the    Vlth    and 
VHIth  Iters  of  Antoninus. 
This  site  was  occupied  by  Prince  Rupert  in    1644  when  he  routed  the 
Parliamentary  army  and  succoured  Newark  Castle. 

GROVE. — Part  of  the  earthworks  on  Castle  Hill  is  in  this  parish,  but 
the  whole  is  treated  of  above  under  the  parish  of  East  Retford. 


SCALE  OF  FCCT 
IOO          ZOO 


300 


BEACON  HILL  CAMP, 
GRINGLEY  ON  THE  HILL. 


WINNY  HILL  CAMP,  MANSFIELD  WOODHOUSB. 

MANSFIELD   WOODHOUSE  :    WINNY  HILL  CAMP. — A  small  eminence  to 
the  north-east  of  Mansfield  Woodhouse  and    if  miles  north-north-west  of 

296 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

Mansfield  is  called  Winny  Hill,  on  and  around  which  are  the  remains  of 
a  camp.  On  the  crown  of  the  hill  the  camp  follows  the  natural  line,  but  on 
the  east  side,  C,  the  vallum  appears  to  have  gone  up  the  hill,  where  a 
hedge  has  been  planted  upon  it,  and  on  the  south  side,  at  D,  it  apparently 
turned  down  by  the  side  of  a  sunk  road,  which,  at  300  ft.  to  the  east, 
terminates  at  a  brook. 

At  the  base  of  the  hill  on  the  north-west  side  is  a  double  vallum  and 
double  fosse  extending  about  160  yds.  The  inner  vallum  rises  4  ft. 
from  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  descends  nearly  8  ft.  into  a  fosse  6  ft. 
wide  at  the  bottom  ;  the  second  vallum,  1 2  ft.  in  thickness,  is  of  the  same 
height  as  the  first,  and  the  outer  fosse,  slightly  wider  than  the  other,  is 
4  ft.  deep. 

Outside  these  entrenchments  is  the  road  A,  the  'Leeming  Lane' — the 
'Leeming  Street'  of  Mansfield — which  appears  to  have  been  a  branch  of  an 
ancient  street  that  divided  the  watershed  of  the  rivers  Maun  and  Leen  by  the 
ridge  of  Robin  Hood  Hills  and  to  have  passed  Mansfield  on  its  way  to 
the  ford  of  Retford  for  Littleborough  and  Lincoln.  B  is  a  road  from  Mans- 
field to  Clipston,  Edwinstowe,  and  Ollerton,  which  now  passes  between  the 
foot  of  the  hill  and  the  entrenchments. 

From  the  top  of  the  hill  a  view  is  commanded  of  all  the  neighbouring 
camps  and  roads,  especially  the  great  camp  in  Pleasley  Park,  county 
Derby. 

NOTTINGHAM,  ST.  MARY'S  HILL. — The  site  of  the  old  English  borough 
or  town  of  Nottingham  is,  owing  to  being  built  over  for  many  centuries,  not 
indicated  on  the  Ordnance  maps  as  a  feature  that  can  be  scheduled  under 
class  B.  Nevertheless  it  is  known  to  have  been  an  important  area  defended 
by  fosse  and  vallum :  the  south  line  is  a  precipitous  rock  rising  from 
the  meadow  to  the  height  of  nearly  100  ft.  Its  western  line  is  still  the 
boundary  of  two  parishes,  the  old  and  new  boroughs  of  Domesday.  Those 
of  the  north  and  east  are  preserved  by  existing  inner  and  outer  lines  of 
streets  that  bore,  as  records  testify,  descriptive  names  implying  walls 
(earthen)  or  defences. 

The  town  was  intersected  by  two  ancient  roads.  Through  its  long  axis, 
east  and  west,  ran  the  old  trackway  or  ridgeway  bordering  the  Trent  valley, 
and  through  its  short  axis — almost  north  and  south — is  the  Stone  Street, 
Broad  Street,  or  York  Street  of  Nottingham,  passing  in  its  way  north  to 
Bawtry,  Saltersford,  and  the  Coniswath  (King's  Ford).  South  of  the  town 
this  road  takes  a  short  rectangular  bend,  which  is  a  sunken  way  in  the  rock, 
by  which  to  ascend  from  the  meadow  to  the  high  level  of  the  camp  ;  the 
straight  line  of  the  road,  from  the  precipitous  character  of  the  rock,  being 
impracticable. 

A  vallum  and  fosse  surrounded  the  north,  west,  and  east  sides, 
the  clifF  forming  the  southern  defence,  but  all  have  for  long  been  built 
over ;  rebuilding  operations  however  occasionally  expose  the  ancient  fosse. 
At  the  south-west  corner,  when  cut  through  by  the  Great  Central 
Railway,  it  was  found  to  be  1 6  ft.  wide  and  7  ft.  deep,  its  section  being  nearly 
semi-circular. 

When  the  central  part  of  the  northern  fosse  was  exposed  a  few  years  ago, 
two  small  objects  of  solid  earthenware  were  found,  modelled  on  the  lines  of 
i  297  38 


N. 


v«fe.%- 

IW 

iyil. 
^w 

"liM 


CAMP  AT  OXTON. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Roman  amphorae,  which  were  identified  by  the  late  Sir  Wollaston  Franks,  of 
the  British  Museum,  as  hand-warmers.1 

OXTON. — A  well-planned  camp  remains  in  good  preservation  nearly 
one  mile  north  of  Oxton  village  and  south-east  of  Oxton  Grange,  locally 
known  as  '  Oldox,'  which  is  probably  derived  from  Old  Works  ;  this  camp — 
governed  to  a  certain  extent  by  the  natural  line  of  the  hill — has  a  plan 

something  between  an  oval  and  a  parallelo- 
gram. It  is  surrounded  by  a  double  vallum 
and  single  fosse,  except  on  the  east,  where 
there  is  a  triple  vallum  and  a  double  fosse, 
and  here  its  strength  is  greatly  augmented 
by  the  steep  escarpment  of  the  hill  on  the 
south  and  east. 

The  entrance,  at  the  south-east,  is  by  a 
sunk  road  which  rises  200  ft.  up  the  hill  side. 
At  half  that  distance  a  path  curves  from  it  on 
the  right  and  continues  in  the  outer  fosse  ; 
but  the  main  path  continues  to  the  inner 
fosse,  where  it  is  confronted  by  an  indentation 
in  the  vallum,  at  which  spot  the  invaders 
would  be  thrown  into  confusion  by  an  all- 
round  assault  from  the  defenders.  On  the 
eastern  side,  beneath  the  second  rampart  and  the 
outer  ditch,  is  a  berm  or  fairly  wide  platform, 
which  forms  a  coign  of  vantage  over  the  sunk  path  entrance  and  provides 
a  thoroughfare  to  the  northern  part  of  the  camp.  At  the  north-east  the 
works  are  mutilated,  but  the  middle  agger  and  outer  fosse,  with  the  inter- 
mediate berm,  apparently  merge  into  one  broad  ditch,  from  which  an 
entrance  through  the  inner  rampart  gives  access  to  the  central  area. 

The  engineering  skill  displayed  in  the  construction  of  this  earthwork  is 
of  a  high  order,  and  well  repays  a  careful  study. 

Three  tumuli  are  in  a  westward  line  from  this  camp,  the  farthest  not 
being  over  a  mile  distant,  and  half  a  mile  to  the  west  is  the  rectangular  camp 
at  Lovely  Grange.  ruargarto 

THURGARTON. — In  this  parish,  3! 
miles  south-west  from  Southwell,  is  Castle 
Hill,  a  slight  eminence  in  the  valley  of 
the  Trent.  It  is  quite  close  to  the  village, 
from  which  a  footpath  leads  to  a  small, 
almost  square,  entrenchment  200  ft.  by 
1 60  ft.  The  footpath  covers  the  site  of 
the  north-west  side.  Within  the  enclosure 
is  a  small  mound. 

WOODBOROUGH. — Five  miles  north-east  from  Nottingham  and  half  a  mile 
south  of  Calverton  is  Fox  Wood,  in  which  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
earthworks  of  the  county.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  destructive  forces  have 
shorn  it  of  its  original  size  and  plan.  The  swell  of  the  ground  gives  a  promi- 
nence to  the  site. 

1  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  28  Jan.  189*. 
298 


Hill  f 

CASTLE  HILL,  THURGARTON. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 


Mu'H* ''!>'"'"  ""'O 
I...!'  'Mltftfr;''/, 


'Fox     Wood 


V. 


SCALE  OF  FEET 

too        too 


WOODBOROUGH  CAMP 


At  present  the  remains  are  somewhat  oval  in  form.  The  strongest 
position,  approaching  a  square,  has  three  sides  of  a  vallum  and  fosse  ;  but  on 
the  eastern  side  they  begin 
to  curve  outwards  into  an- 
other court,  which  possibly 
provided  a  well-defended 
entrance  into  this  innermost 
area.  On  the  north  is  an- 
other court  with  the  fosse 
remaining  on  the  north  and 
west  sides  ;  at  the  north- 
east the  defence  changes 
into  a  vallum  which  ap- 
parently, by  the  progress 
of  its  line,  joined  the 
northern  entrenchments  of 
the  inner  court  ;  but  the 
eastern  side  is  lost. 

From  the  middle  of 
the  northern  side  a  strong 
vallum,  embracing  all  the 
inner  works,  passes  around 
the  western  and  southern 
sides,  at  the  extremity  of 
which  latter  it  is  destroyed  ; 
this  entrenchment  is  probably  older  than  the  interior  works.  At  the  middle- 
north  point  is  an  entrance,  difficult  of  access  ;  the  agger  is  here  incurved,  while 
another  rampart,  taking  the  same  curve  outwardly,  forms  a  sunken  approach, 
which  for  iBoft. — even  in  its  mutilated  state — could  be  covered  by  a  cross- 
fire from  both  sides. 

On  the  western  side  the  intervening  ground  between  the  inner  fosse 
and  outer  vallum  widens  into  a  broad  platform. 

The  position  of  this  stronghold  is  the  centre  of  many  surrounding  camps, 
and  communication  could  easily  be  made  with  those  at  Lambley  on  the  south ; 
Lowdham  and  Thurgarton  on  the  east ;  Epperstone  and  Oxton  on  the  north  ; 
and  the  two  in  the  parish  of  Arnold  on  the  west. 


RECTANGULAR  CAMPS,   ETC. 
[CLASS  C] 

ARNOLD. — Nearly  2  miles  north  of  Arnold,  and  5  miles  north  of 
Nottingham,  is  the  site  of  a  camp  on  Hollinwood  Hill  alias  Cockpit  Hill, 
on  a  point  521  ft.  above  sea-level. 

This  camp  dominates  the  ancient  road  from  Nottingham  to  Bawtry 
and  the  north,  which  passes  this  elevated  site  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the 
west.  It  is  a  point  where  the  roads,  or  ridgeways,  and  three  parishes  meet, 
viz.,  those  of  Arnold,  Calverton,  and  Woodborough. 

299 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


Major  Rooke  thus  speaks 
of  the  camp  :  '  These  works 
appear  to  have  continued  east- 
ward beyond  the  hedge  into  an 
enclosed  field,  where  there  is 
hardly  any  trace  of  the  ditch  ; 
an  old  native  remembered  it 
extending  a  long  way  in  that 
direction.  It  has  had  a  double 
ditch  and  vallum  ;  but  the 
plough  has  destroyed  a  great 
part  of  it.' l 

The  portion  then  re- 
maining showed  a  rectangular 
plan  1,251  ft.  long  and  720  ft. 


CASTLE  HILL,  CAR  COLSTON 

300 


HILL,  ARNOLD. 

wide,  its  long  axis 
lying  due  north- 
east by  south-west. 
Beyond  the  sur- 
rounding vallum 
and  fosse,  on  the 
south-east  side,  was 
a  platform  and  the 
remains  of  an  outer 
vallum  and  fosse. 
Two  entrances 
were  visible,  almost 
opposite  each  other, 
one  in  each  of  the 
long  sides.  Near 
the  north-western 
works,  and  presum- 
ably about  the  cen- 
tre of  the  original 
length,  was  an  en- 
closure 5 1  ft.  square. 
Several  Roman 
coins  have  been 
found  here. 

CAR  COLSTON. 
—On  Castle  Hill, 
ij  miles  north  of 
Bingham,  is  a  large 

1  Arch,  x,  378. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

camp  through  which  runs  the  great  Fosse  Way  towards  Newark  ;  this  being 
the  boundary  between  two  parishes,  part  of  the  camp  is  in  Car  Colston  and 
part  in  East  Bridgford. 

It  is  an  irregular  camp  with  a  single  vallum,  depending  to  a  slight  extent 
on  the  natural  slope,  which  is  steepest  on  the  south  and  south-east,  decreasing 
as  it  proceeds  northwards.  On  the  north-west  side  of  the  Fosse  Way  the 
northern  defences  are  said  to  have  been  in  two  tiers,  this  being  the  most 
accessible  side  for  an  enemy  approaching  from  the  direction  of  Newark. 
The  inner  defence  curved  round  the  north  and  turned  into  the  central  area, 
forming  a  defended  entrance  to  the  interior.  The  whole  of  the  western 
defence  has  been  obliterated  by  the  plough.  Just  beyond  the  fort  to  the  west 
is  a  spring  of  water. 

Many  Roman  coins  and  fragments  of  pottery  have  been  found  within 
the  circumvallation,  and  it  is  generally  supposed  to  have  been  the  site  of  the 
Roman  station  of  Margidunum. 

DARLTON  :  CAMP  AT  KINGSHAUGH. — Two  and  a  half  miles  north-east 
of  Tuxford  is  a  system  of  earthworks  embracing  an  area  of  about  7  acres. 
The  northern  boundary 
is  a  small  stream  flowing 
eastward  towards  the 
River  Trent,  about  three 
miles  distant. 

The  inner  work  is 
a  broad  ditch  which 
originally  appears  to 
have  enclosed  an  ir- 
regular circle,  the  extant 
half  being  on  the  east. 
On  the  same  side  is  an 
outer  vallum  and  ditch, 
the  latter  broadening 
and  again  narrowing 
towards  the  entrance, 
the  widest  part  con- 
taining a  mound  for  the 
additional  defence  of 
the  narrow  passage  by 
which  access  was  gained 
to  the  interior. 

In  mediaeval  times  these  defences  were  adapted  to  the  old  Kingshaugh 
House,  which  formed  part  of  the  manor  of  Dunham. 

EAST  BRIDGFORD. — Part  of  the  camp  mentioned  under  Car  Colston  is 
in  this  parish. 

EPPERSTONE. — In  Epperstone  Park,  6  miles  north-east  from  Nottingham, 
on  '  Solly  Hill,'  Mr.  Dickinson  mentions  the  presence  of  a  Roman  camp 
'  very  little  obliterated.' l  It  is  also  noticed  by  Dr.  Gale,  who  considered  it 
to  be  the  Causennae  of  the  Itinerary.  A  number  of  Roman  coins  were  found 
here  in  1776. 

1  Exploratory  Observations,  p.  17.     . 
301 


6CALC   OF  FEET 
O  IOO         200         30O 


KINGSHAUGH  CAMP,  DARLTON. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

HARWORTH. — In  the  extreme  north-west  of  the  county,  at  Martin,  about 
a  mile  north-north-west  of  Bawtry,  where  the  ancient  road  provides  the  only 
thoroughfare  out  of  Nottinghamshire  in  the  direction  of  Doncaster,  is  a  square 
camp  with  double  vallum  and  fosse,  which  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  W.  Peck, 
writing  in  1815:  *  This  camp  is  now  covered  with  trees  and  underwood, 
which  have  contributed  to  preserve  it  to  the  present  time  ;  the  ditches  are 
nearly  grown  up,  though  they  evidently  have  been  deep.  This  place  most 
probably  was  a  station  to  defend  the  Roman  road  that  passed  near  to  it  : 
several  smaller  stations  are  adjoining  ;  but  of  late  years  the  ditches  have 
been  filled  up.  A  little  to  the  north-east  are  traces  of  a  Roman  pottery, 
many  broken  vessels  of  various  forms  are  now  found,  several  pieces  I  have 
seen  are  made  of  blue  clay  and  slightly  baked.  At  the  time  of  the  enclosure 
of  the  adjoining  parish  of  Austerfield  several  curious  remains  of  arms  were 
found  near  the  site  of  the  great  camp,  such  as  parts  of  swords  and  heads 
of  battle-axes.' l 

Francis  White,  writing  in  1864,  says  :  'Here  is  the  site  of  a  Roman 
station  where,  in  1828,  three  silver  coins  of  Antonius,  Adrianus,  and 
Faustina  were  found,  together  with  part  of  a  Roman  vase,  and  numerous 
pieces  of  Roman  pottery.  The  form  of  the  fort  or  station  may  still  be 
distinctly  traced,  and  even  when  the  field  is  covered  with  full-grown 
wheat  an  octagon  figure  is  slightly  perceptible,  from  the  stems  being  shorter 
on  the  site  of  the  building  than  in  other  places.' s  We  give  this  quotation 
as  a  contribution  to  the  state  of  the  camp  at  that  date  ;  but  it  is  of 
questionable  assistance  :  the  writer's  conception  of  an  earthwork  was  his 
own,  and  the  'octagon  figure'  can  only  be  explained  by  the  two  four- 
sided  ramparts.  The  outer  vallum  was  215  ft.  on  either  side,  with  rounded 
corners,  and  the  inner  defence,  leaving  a  court  50  ft.  wide  between  the 
two  entrenchments,  had  its  two  opposite  angles  at  the  north-west  and 
south-east  considerably  rounded. 

HAWTON. — In  this  parish  immediately  south-west  of  Newark  is  '  Sconce 
Hill,'  the  largest  earthwork  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  county.  It  was  the 
work  of  the  royalist  engineers  and  remains  in  a  well-preserved  condition. 

This  mound,  called  the  '  Queen's  Sconce,'  is  rectangular  in  form  with 
projecting  bastions  at  the  angles,  capped  with  an  earthen  breastwork,  the 
centre  being  depressed.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  deep  moat  and  artificially 
escarped  ground  stretches  away  a  considerable  distance. 

It  formed  the  north-west  end  of  the  defensive  earthworks  that  consti- 
tuted a  cincture  round  the  town  of  Newark,  the  north-east  termination 
having  a  similar  work  on  a  smaller  scale,  of  which  some  remains  may 
be  seen.  They  each  occupied  the  south-east  or  right  bank  of  the  river.  A 
view  of  the  entire  works  is  furnished  in  Dickinson's  History  of  NeivarA.  A 
plan  is  given  in  the  Guide  to  Newark  by  T.  M.  Blagg,  F.S.A.,  who  also  refers 
to  a  somewhat  similar  earthwork  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  which  was 
raised  by  Cromwell's  army. 

KIRKBY  IN  ASHFIELD  :  CASTLE  HILL  CAMP. — This  village  lies  5^  miles 
south-west  from  Mansfield  ;  and  although  the  name  would  appear  to  demand 
its  classification  under  B,  the  natural  features  of  the  site  do  not  justify  so  doing. 

1  Tofog.  Account  of  the  Isle  of  Axholme,  p.  6. 
*  Hiit.  ett.  of  the  County  o/Notti.  p.  680. 

302 


kirkby 


in 


Ash  fie  Id 
N. 


SCALE  or  recr 
too      *oo      soo 


CASTLE  HILL  CAMP,   KIRKBY  IN  ASHFIELD. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

The  camp  immediately  south  of  the  church  is  a  small  rectangular  area 
surrounded  by  a  vallum,  with  the  remains  of  a  fosse  on  the  southern  side. 
At  the  south-west  angle  the  entrance  is  guarded  by  a  projecting  platform  at 
the  extremity  of  the  western  agger,  which  counterbalances  the  rampart  and 
ditch  on  the  other  side  of  the 
entry.  Another  entrance  is  at 
the  north-west  angle,  between 
two  ramparts  ;  and  within  the 
area  is  an  agger  60  ft.  long  lying 
parallel  to  the  east  boundary. 

Due  east  of  this  camp, 
220  ft.  distant,  are  the  remains 
of  a  work,  pear-shaped  in  plan, 
consisting  of  a  vallum  which 
possibly  joined  the  south-east 
angle  of  the  camp. 

LITTLEBOROUGH.  —  Traces 
of  a  fosse  are  perceptible,  in- 
dicating probably  part  of  the 
original  defences  of  this  Roman 
station  of  Segclocum. 

NEWARK. — In  the  valley  of  the  Trent,  on  the  Fosse  Way  from  Leicester 
to  Lincoln,  was  a  strong  military  post  to  control  both  land  and  water  communi- 
cation. That  it  was  a  very  ancient  stronghold  is  seen  in  the  Roman  remains 
discovered. 

OXTON  :  CAMP  AT  LONELY  GRANGE. — About  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Oxton 
camp  called  Oldox  is  a  field  named  '  Lonely  Grange,'  in  which,  situated  on 
the  side  of  a  hill  within  200  yds.  of  the  top,  was  an  elongated  rectangular  camp. 

In  1790  Major  Rooke 1  de- 
scribed the  rampart  and  fosse  on  the 
north-east  and  north-west  sides  as 
plainly  distinguished  ;  but  with  very 

y,,t  slight  traces  on  the  other  two  sides. 

'''%•',      *  The    length   of  the    long  axis  was 

'&.  942  ft.,  the  short  one   201    ft.      Its 

f ''%>.  high  position  provided  an  extensive 

'**$//,,,  view,  whence  signals  could  be  seen 

from  other  camps. 

The    site    of    this  camp  may 
now  be  recognized  as  '  Grangefield 
Farm,'    \\    miles    north-east    from 
^      Oxton    and     3^     miles     west     of 
Southwell. 

1 1  • 

SCAFTWORTH. — Until  recently 
an    earthwork    similar    to    that  at 
Martin,  in  the  parish  of  Harworth, 
was  situated  about  half  a  mile  to 
the  east  of  Bawtry  ;  it  is  figured  in  some  of  the  old  county  maps.8 

1  Arch,  r,  349.  '  County  Map  in  Pigot's  Directory,  1841.     W.  Peck,  A  Topographical  History  of  Bawtry. 

3°3 


CAMP  AT  LONELY  GRANGE,  OXTON. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

During    the    enclosure   of  the    common    several    specimens  of   Roman 
antiquities  were  found.     This  discovery  seems  to  confirm  the  opinion  that  the 

vestiges  of  some  fortifica- 
tions near  the  village  are 
the  remains  of  a  Roman 
fort  or  station,  through 
which  passed  the  Roman 
road  between  Doncaster 
and  Littleborough.1 

SOUTHWELL  :  CAMP 
ON  BURGAGE  HILL. — On  a 
hill  to  the  north-east  of 
the  River  Greet  and  north 
of  the  town  of  Southwell 
was  an  oval  camp,  the  plan 
of  which  is  figured  in 
Dickinson's  History  of 
Southwell,  published  in 
1 80 1.  The  site  was  then 
largely  built  upon  and  in 
$»  part  enclosed.  It  is  a 

f7 


ft 


>,-2J 


*'% 


tl 

£?/ 


^ 


CAMP  ON  BURGAGB  HILL,  SOUTHWELL. 


matter  for  regret  that,  as 
in  the  parallel  case  of  the 
Hexgreve  Camp,  he  gave 
no  measurements. 

The  site  was  inter- 
sected by  two  roads,  A,  the 
route  to  Hockerton  on  the 


north  and  a  minor  branch  connecting  it  with  another  road  in  the  bottom  of 
the  fosse.     At  B  the  fosse  has  been  utilized  as  a  public  road,  which  mutilated 

the     line     of 

SCALE  or  rccr 
M  <t          '9°       *.°o      a?o 


SECTION 


en- 
trenchments at  this 
point.  The  narrow 
or  south  end  of  the 
oval  was  also  de- 
stroyed by  the  mak- 
ing of  a  sewer, 
obliterating  all  in- 
dications of  the 
entrance,  which  was 
probably  at  this 
spot. 

WELLOW:  JORDAN 
CASTLE. — One  mile 
and  a  half  south- 
east by  east  of  Oiler- 
ton  and  half  a  mile  north-east  of  the  village  of  Wellow,  the  ground  rises  to  a 
comparative  height  above  the  surrounding  country.  On  this  swelling  emi- 

1  F.  White,  Hilt.  ttc.  of  Nottinghamshire,  p.  397. 
3°4 


A.  Fosse  here  nearly 
filled  nirh   earth 
in  1900.  .j 

rarm  House 

JORDAN  CASTLR,  WELLOW.  and 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

nence  is  a  circular  earthwork  about  250  ft.  in  diameter,  a  broad  fosse  which 
opens  on  the  south-west  side  to  the  surrounding  land  where  vestiges  of 
further  works  are  seen.  These  may  have  been  a  continuation  of  the  camp 
or  a  defended  approach  to  the  small  fortification,  for  there  is  no  doubt  the 
entrance  was  at  this  point. 


CASTLE     MOUNTS 
[CLASS  D] 

BOTHAMSALL. — Fully  4  miles  north-west  of  Tuxford  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  River  Meden  is  a  conical  mound  called  'Castle  Hill,'  but  the  fosse  is 
obliterated  and  the  general  contour  of  it  has  not  been  so  well  preserved  as  the 
mounts  at  Egmanton  and  Laxton. 

LAMBLEY. — Five  miles  north-east  from  Nottingham  and  i\  miles  from 
Lowdham  on  the  Cocker  Beck  is  a  simple  mound  known  as  the  'Round  Hill.' 

LOWDHAM. — Six  miles  north-east  of  Nottingham  above  Cocker  Beck  is  a 
well-defined  circular  mount  and  fosse,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  existing 
old  manor  house  and  a  short  distance  from  the  church.  It  is  only  small 
in  size,  and  the  encircling  fosse  is  nearly  levelled  up  ;  but  its  situation  in  the 
meadow  implies  that  it  was  formerly  greatly  strengthened  by  surrounding 
waters. 


&CALK  OF  f IIT 


,2        Cast  If   Hill 
\ 


CASTLE    MOUNTS    WITH    ATTACHED    COURTS 

[CLASS  E] 

ANNESLEY. — In  Annesley  Park,  2£  miles  from  Hucknall  Torkard,  on 
rising  ground  towards  the  western  boundary  of 
the  county,  is  Castle  Hill.  It  is  a  simple  form 
of  the  mount  and  bailey  type,  largely  depending 
on  the  natural  formation  of  the  ground  for  its 
defence.  The  court  is  on  the  north  of  the  mound, 
but  irregularly  approaching  its  base  at  the  north- 
west, guided  thus  by  the  natural  escarpment 
of  the  hill.  A  fragment  of  the  fosse  remains  at 
the  north-east  angle  of  the  court,  and  a  trans- 
verse agger  120  ft.  in  length  extends  across  a 
third  of  the  middle  of  the  court  on  the  western 
side. 

ASLOCKTON    or    ASLACTON. — The    works 
here  considered  are  in  the  village  of  Aslockton, 
which  lies  10  miles  east  of  Nottingham  and  2  miles  beyond  Bingham  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  River  Smite. 

The  mount,  about  16  ft.  high,  originally  circular,  but  lately  excavated  for 

ballast  on  its  south-east,  is  marked  as  a  tumulus  on   the  early  ordnance  maps, 

but  on  the  later  as  '  Cranmer's  Mound.'     The   latter  is   accounted  for  by 

this  town    being  the  ancestral  home   and    birthplace  of  Thomas  Cranmer, 

i  3°5  39 


X\ 

•.  *x> 


.•> 
-S 


Park 


ftnneiley    ^' 

CASTLE  HILL,  ANNESLEY. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


archbishop  of  Canterbury,   but    the 
and  are  probably  the  remains  of  a 


SCALE  OF  FEET 

IOO  20O          30O 


SKETCH     SECTION 


earthworks  date  from   an  earlier  period 

late  Norman  stronghold. 

Two  rectangular 
courts  on  the  south-east 
are  slightly  raised  and 
appear  to  be  surrounded 
by  fosses,  in  a  large 
measure  filled  up.  The 
moat  proper  to  the 
mount  is  still  well  sup- 
plied with  water  on  the 
south  and  west. 

EGMANTON. — Near 
the  Great  North  Road 
i  J  miles  south  of  Tux- 
ford  stood  one  of  the 
best  examples  of  the 
mount  and  bailey  type 
of  defences  in  the 


EARTHWORKS  AT  ASLOCKTON. 

county,  still  striking  attention  by  the  altitude  of  the  mount. 

This  artificial  mount,  called  '  Gaddick  Hill,'  is  460  ft.  in  circumference 
at  the  base  and  198  ft. 
at  the  top,  with  an 
escarpment  of  50  ft. 
slope  at  its  highest  ; 
but  it  has  been 
mutilated  by  the 
local  games  upon  it 
on  every  recurring 
Shrove  Tuesday. 
The  terrace  on  the 
south-east  of  the 
summit  may  be  the 
result  of  modern 
vandalism,  but  is 
more  likely  an 
original  feature,  pro- 
viding  a  landing 
place  for  the  draw- 
ladder  by  which  the 
keep  was  approached. 

In  the  construction  of  the  farm  house  and  yard  a  large  portion  of  the 
vallum  and  fosse  of  the  bailey  has  been  destroyed.  This  was  provided  with 
an  entrance  in  the  middle  of  the  arc,  and  from  the  extant  fragments  it  appears 
to  have  been  of  some  strength. 

LAXTON,  formerly  Lexington. — Half  a  mile  north  of  Laxton  and  2 \  miles 
south-west  of  Tuxford  is  the  largest  and  best  preserved  work  of  this  class  in 
the  county  ;  it  is  situated  fully  a  mile  south-west  of  the  last-mentioned 
fortification  in  Egmanton,  and  stands  on  higher  ground  than  its  neighbour. 

306 


Church 


\\    farm      Buildings 

\  i       < 


SCALEOFFEET'109 

IOO        too       300 


GADDICC  HILL,  EGMANTON. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

The  great  mount,  with  its  fosse  nearly  perfect,  has  a  stage  or  terrace  on 
its  upper  part  ;  the  cap  surmounting  it  appears  like  a  tumulus  on  the  mound 
proper.     At  the  base  it  is  816  ft.  in  circumference,  and  426  ft.  at  the  top  of 
an    escarpment    of 
71  ft.  ;  this  is  sur- 


mounted by  a  ditch  •^'•'•Vvlll '/''/ ''''*'•• 

and   ring  of  earth  --/S\^ '%'-:'-•  \\ 

and  the  small 
mount,  which  latter 
is  147  ft.  in  cir- 
cumference at  the 
base  and  8  ft.  per-  //  ||%|  SCALE  OF  FEET 

pendicular    height.     \~^  II    %        ° '°°       *°°      30° 

The    fosse    around 
the     great    mount 
branches  off  on  the 
east  into  a  sunk  road 
passing     into     the 
bailey,  and   on  the 
same    side    a    pro- 
jecting       platform  =  = 
protects  this  June-                    ^& 
tion  ;  on   the  west                   H : 
side  also  is  a  frag-                   \\ 
ment  of  a  similar                    §| 
defence.                                        ^^ 

On  the  south 
access  to  the  mount 

Was      gained      from  LAXTON  CASTLB. 

the     inner     court, 

which  occupies  this  side,  and  is  rectangular  with  an  exceedingly  strong  vallum 
and  fosse  on  the  south,  the  rampart  being  strengthened  by  rough  stone 
walling.  At  either  end  of  this  defence  was  an  entrance ;  that  on  the  east  into 
an  outer  court,  that  on  the  west  to  the  exterior  of  the  fortress  ;  the  latter, 
needing  greater  protection,  has  the  western  fosse  around  a  circular  platform, 
by  which  the  approach  is  well  covered.  The  works  on  the  east  of  the  court 
have  been  mutilated,  but  appear  to  have  been  arranged  to  command  the 
entrance  to  the  sunk  road  into  the  fosse  and  the  entrances  to  the  bailey. 

The  outer  and  larger  court  encloses  a  considerable  area.  The  vallum  and 
fosse  are  fairly  perfect  on  the  eastern  side  ;  on  the  west  the  vallum  has  been 
levelled  and  the  fosse  partly  choked  with  earth  ;  evidence  of  an  oblique 
entrance  is  at  the  middle  of  this  side  defended  by  overlapping  entrenchments. 
On  the  south  portions  of  the  rampart  remain,  but  the  works  were  originally  far 
more  extensive  on  this  side  ;  a  paved  causeway  leads  to  an  ancient  well,  and 
yet  further  south  a  small  circular  mount  and  ditch  may  be  traced.  On  the 
high  land  a  few  yards  east  of  these  works  is  a  small  circular  mount ;  it  is  well 
defined  and  girt  round  with  a  shallow  ditch. 

On  the  north  of  these  ancient  defences  the  ground  falls  rapidly,  the 
mount  standing  on  the  brow  of  the  hill. 

3°7 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

NOTTINGHAM. — The  castle  of  Nottingham  has  been  included  in  Class  A 
on  account  of  its  natural  position  and  the  deep  fosse  which  cuts  off  a 
rocky  promontory,  otherwise  it  would  have  been  recorded  in  this  section, 
as  in  mediaeval  days  its  main  features  were  those  of  a  mount  and  bailey 
stronghold. 

HOMESTEAD    MOATS 
[CLASS   F] 

These  earthworks  occur  in  considerable  numbers  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  county.  In  nearly  every  case  they  appear  to  be  rect- 
angular in  form,  and  composed  of  raised  areas  with  a  fosse  or  ditch 
strengthened  by  water.  They  appear  to  mark  the  original  sites  of  the  lords' 
residences  in  their  agricultural  centres. 

In  some  instances,  as  at  Hodsock,  etc.,  they  are  still  occupied,  the  moats 
being  spanned  by  bridges  and  defended  by  gate-houses  ;  in  others,  as  at 
Wiverton  and  Colwick,  they  were  abandoned  centuries  ago,  and  the  manor 
houses  or  halls  rebuilt  on  the  open  land  adjoining. 

In  other  instances,  as  at  Clifton  near  Nottingham,  and  Holme  Pierrepont, 
the  line  of  the  earthworks  has  been  destroyed,  the  manor  houses  or  halls  and 
the  adjacent  churches  remaining  as  their  record  ;  or,  as  at  Whatton,  Norwell, 
and  Weston,  they  remain  as  landmarks  in  the  grass  fields  adjoining  the 
churches.  They  constitute  a  subject  upon  which  careful  study  would  meet 
with  ample  reward. 

At  Stanton  on  the  Wolds,  situate  in  an  ancient  territory  called  Seggeswold, 
from  which  Sixhills,  of  old  Seggeshill,  in  the  neighbouring  county  of  Leicester, 
drew  its  name,  the  area  enclosed  is  about  four  acres.  An  enclosure  at  Gams- 
ton,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  River  Idle,  is  equally  large.  An  enclosure 
suggestive  of  ancient  origin  occurs  at  Wilford,  near  Nottingham,  in  which  the 
village  itself  is  situate,  the  centre  of  its  river  bank  being  the  site  of  the 
ancient  ford,  opposite  to  which  on  the  Nottingham  side  a  pre-historic 
dwelling  site  or  settlement  was  found  when  sinking  the  shaft  of  the  Clifton 
Colliery. 

A  fine  enclosure  occurs  on  the  right  bank  of  the  River  Ryton  at  Scrooby, 
in  which  the  old  archbishops  of  York  had  one  of  their  Nottingham  palaces.1 
Leland  describes  it  as  '  The  great  manor  place  standing  within  a  moat,  longing 
to  the  archbishops  of  York.'  It  had  a  bridge  and  a  gate-house,  and  was 
walled  round  in  the  middle  ages.  The  fosse  is  silted  up,  and  the  rough  area 
is  a  pasture  field  containing  a  farmstead. 

At  Rolleston,  near  Southwell,  are  extensive  moated  areas,  occupied  down 
to  the  seventeenth  century  by  the  Neville  family,  now  a  pasture  field  near  the 
church. 

At  Sibthorpe,  near  the  Fosse  Way,  there  is  a  considerable  area  enclosed 
by  a  moat,  now  forming  a  swampy  depression.  At  Coddington,  two  miles 
east  of  Newark,  in  a  slight  depression  on  the  Beacon  Hill,  is  a  well-preserved 
moated  site  ;  two  of  its  four  sides  are  somewhat  elongated. 

At  Granby,  or  Sutton,  hard  by,  in  the  vale  of  Belvoir,  a  great  manor 
temp,  Edward  the  Confessor,  a  moated  site  remains,  the  interior  of  which  is 

1  Bygone  Notts,  p.  248. 
308 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

uneven  in  its  surface,  two  of  the  four  corners  being  raised  into  small  mounds, 
one  of  which  until  lately  was  occupied  by  a  windmill  ;  this  was  the  caput 
or  chief  residence  of  the  Norman  d'Eyncourts. 

At  Norwell  Woodhouse  and  at  Belle  Vue  Park  near  Kirklington,  and 
about  a  mile  west  of  Egmanton  church  and  mound,  are  moated  sites  occupied 
by  farmsteads. 

The  Fosse  Way  in  passing  through  the  county  forms  with  slight  exception 
a  clear  manorial  line  ;  the  village  sites,  a  number  of  them  with  their  moated 
manors,  are  set  back  as  agricultural  centres  from  the  road,  on  an  average 
of  a  mile  or  more,  clearly  with  the  view  of  cultivation  being  conducted 
round  them. 

AVERH  AM. — Two  miles  west  of  Newark,  on  the  west  of  St.  Michael's  church. 

BECKINGHAM. — On  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county  and  the  west  of 
the  River  Trent,  west  of  Gainsborough,  is  a  moat  surrounding  an  area  called 
« Dog  Island.' 

BILSTHORPE. — Five  miles  north-west  from  Southwell. 

BURTON  JOYCE. — Five  miles  north-east  by  east  from  Nottingham,  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Trent,  is  the  Eertune  of  the  Domesday  Survey.  In  the  time 
of  Henry  II  it  belonged  to  the  family  of  Joez,  from  whom  it  derived  the 
adjunct  to  its  name.  A  moat  remains  at  Burton  Lodge. 

CAR  COLSTON. — Nine  miles  south-west  by  south  from  Newark  the  re- 
mains of  a  moat  lie  to  the  south-east  of  Car  Colston  Manor  House, 

CARLTON  ON  TRENT. — Six  and  three-quarter  miles  north  from  Newark. 
A  moat  lies  f  of  a  mile  south-west  of  the  village. 

CAUNTON. — Five  and  a  half  miles  north-west  by  north  from  Newark. 
A  moat  is  on  Earlshaw  Hall  Farm,  south-west  of  the  village. 

CLIFTON. — Four  and  a  half  miles  south-west  from  Nottingham  ;  now 
destroyed. 

CODDINGTON. — Two  and  a  quarter  miles  east  by  north  from  Newark, 
and  north  of  Coddington  Windmill,  is  a  moat  with  two  of  its  sides  elongated. 

COLWICK. — Two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Nottingham. 

CUCKNEY  or  NoRTON-CucKNEY. — Five  and  a  half  miles  south-south-west 
from  Worksop. 

DARLTON. — Three  and  a  quarter  miles  north-east  by  east  from  Tuxford 
is  a  moat  on  the  site  of  Kingshaugh  Hall. 

GAMSTON. — South  of  East  Retford,  on  the  River  Idle  ;  area  enclosed  is 
about  4  acres. 

GONALSTON. — Four  and  three-quarter  miles  south-south-west  from 
Southwell. 

GOTHAM. — Seven  and  a  half  miles  south-south-west  from  Nottingham. 
'  Rushcliffe  Moat '  Water  House,  to  the  north  of  Crow  Wood  Hill,  near  the 
boundary  of  the  parishes  of  Gotham  and  West  Leake. 

GRANBY. — Four  miles  south-east  from  Bingham  is  the  moated  site  of  a 
manor  of  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  At  two  of  the  angles  are  mounds. 

GREASLEY. — Seven  miles  north-west  from  Nottingham.  Beauvale  Priory 
to  the  west  of  Callis  Hagg. 

HODSOCK. — Two  miles  south-west  from  Blyth.     The  site  is  still  occupied. 

HOLME  PIERREPONT. — South-east  of  Nottingham.  The  moat  is  now 
destroyed. 

309 


\-  -> 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

KINOULTON. — Nine  miles  south-east  from  Nottingham.  A  moat  is  near 
the  boundary  of  this  parish  and  that  of  Hickling,  to  the  south-west  of  Kemps 
Spinney.  The  Fosse  Way  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  parish. 

KIRKLINGTON. — Three  and  a  half  miles  north-west  from  Southwell. 
The  site  is  occupied  by  a  farmstead. 

LINDHURST. — Three  miles  south-east  from  Mansfield  is  a  moat  to  the 
west  of  Friar  Tuck's  Well,  where  Rainworth  Water  divides  Mansfield  and 
Lindhurst  parishes. 

LOWDHAM. — Seven  and  three-quarter  miles  north-east  from  Nottingham 
is  an  old  manor  house — now  a  farm — where  the  defences  of  an  earlier  fortified 
house  may  be  traced. 

NORWELL. — Six  miles  north  by  west  from  Newark.  One  moat  is  to  the 
south-east  of  the  village,  near  the  Hall  and  St.  Lawrence's  church  ;  and 
another  close  to  the  Black  Horse  Inn. 

NORWELL  WOODHOUSE. — Seven  miles  north-north-west  from  Newark. 
A  moat  is  to  the  south  of  the  township. 

OWTHORPE. — Eight  and  a  half  miles  south-east  by  east  from  Notting- 
ham, at  Nanney's  Plantation.     The  Fosse  Way  bounds  the  parish  on  the  west. 
ROLLESTON. — Two  and  a  half  miles  south-east  from  Southwell  are  a  moat 
and  fragments  of  earthworks. 

SCROOBY. — One  and  three  quarter  miles  south  of  Bawtry.     On  the  right 

bank  of  the  Ry- 
ton  is  the  site 
of  an  archie- 
piscopal  manor 
of  the  prelates 
of  York. 

SlBTHORPE. 

— Nearly  7 
miles  south- 
south-west  from 
Newark.  A 
moat  620  ft. 
long  runs  in  a 
line  north  to 
south  on  the 
east  side  of  the 
manor  house, 
with  a  branch 
at  right  angles 
1 60  ft.  in  length. 
A  number  of 
small  dykes  are 
in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the 
Dovecote  south- 
east of  the  church.  To  the  south-east  of  the  park  two  quadrangular  areas 
about  1 20  ft.  square  are  surrounded  by  a  moat,  which  extends  to  the  north, 
and  appears  to  have  originally  surrounded  a  third  and  larger  area. 

310 


SlBTHORPE. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

STANTON  ON  THE  WOLDS. — Seven  and  a  half  miles  south-east  from 
Nottingham.  The  moat  encloses  4  acres. 

STRELLEY. — Four  and  a  half  miles  west-north-west  from  Nottingham. 
In  the  park  of  Strelley  Hall  is  an  extensive  area  surrounded  by  a  moat. 

WEST  LEAKE. — Three  miles  east  from  Kegworth,  to  the  south  and  east 
of  Pithouse  Lane. 

WESTON. — Three  miles  south-east  from  Tuxford.  A  moat  is  in  the 
Hall  Yard. 

WHATTON. — Two  and  three-quarter  miles  east  from  Bingham.  A  moat 
is  to  the  west  of  the  village,  just  above  Whatton  Bridge. 

WIVERTON  HALL. — Two  miles  south  of  Bingham.  The  moat  of 
Wiverton  Hall  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  River  Smite,  and  south-east  of 
Wiverton  Farm. 

WORKSOP. — Two  miles  north  of  Worksop  is  the  moat  of  Gateford  Hall. 

MANORIAL  STRONGHOLD 
[CLASS  G] 

GREASLEY. — Seven  miles  north-west  from  Nottingham  are  the  ruins  of 
Greasley  Castle,  built  amid  earthen  defences.  A  length  of  vallum  on  the 


A.  Modern  House 

B.  Castle    Walls 

C.  Banks  cut  through 
^.Traces    of  former  Watercourse 

GREASLEY  CASTLE. 


3" 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

south  of  the  building,  a  fosse  at  right  angles,  and  two  other  ramparts  appar- 
ently formed  the  boundaries  of  two  courts.  South-west  of  the  castle  is  a  long 
length  of  rampart  ;  at  the  west  end  it  returns  north  for  a  distance  of  300  ft., 
and  at  its  eastern  extremity  is  a  similar  return,  the  angle  thus  formed  is 
moated  and  contains  a  series  of  parallel  hollows.  This  was  no  doubt  the 
manorial  fish  stew,  and  though  high  and  dry  on  the  sloping  hill-side  there  is 
evidence  that  water  once  flowed  from  this  spring-fed  stew-pond.  The 
rampart  of  earth  south-east  is  high  enough  to  have  held  back  the  water  to 
fill  the  four  stews,  though  the  base  of  them  is  5  ft.  higher  than  that  of 
the  moat. 


UNCLASSIFIED  EARTHWORKS 
[CLASS  X] 

ANNESLEY. — Fragments  of  earthworks  remain  on  the  west  and  south-west 
of  Annesley  Hall,  near  the  Derby  and  Mansfield  road. 

ARNOLD. — Indications  of  entrenchments  are  visible  to  the  north-east  of 
the  village.  They  run  north  and  south,  between  Killisick  Lane  and  Spout 
Lane. 

BARTON  IN  FABIS. — Brent's,  or  Brand's  Hill,  4  miles  south-west  of 
Nottingham,  is  above  a  small  tributary  of  the  Trent,  and  about  half  a  mile 
south  of  the  latter.  Upon  the  side  of  this  hill  are  certain  lines  of  entrench- 
ments, of  which  Camden  says  :  '  On  the  side  of  the  hill  there  appeared  to  be 
terraces  like  waves,  or  ploughed  lands,  one  above  another,  in  number  fourteen 
or  fifteen,  and  about  a  mile  long.  The  works  cross  from  the  bottom 
of  the  hill.' 

These  lines  of  entrenchment  run  north-east  and  south-west  in  an  almost 
straight  line,  curving  slightly  with  the  hill  on  the  south-western  extremity. 
Seven  lines  only  are  now  well  defined,  the  lowest  extending  barely  half  the 
whole  distance,  and  the  uppermost  has  been  destroyed  with  the  exception  of 
550  ft.  They  are  possibly  examples  of  prehistoric  terrace  ploughing. 

BESTWOOD  PARK. — Remains  of  some  earthworks  are  observable  to  the 
south  of  Bestwood  Park,  ij  miles  north-west  of  Arnold. 

BLYTH. — An  entrenchment  is  on  the  west  side  of  Toad  Holes  Wood, 
not  quite  a  mile  to  the  north-west  of  the  village. 

CAR  COLSTON. — The  remains  of  an  entrenchment  lie  to  the  south-east  of 
Car  Colston  Manor  House. 

EGMANTON. — To  the  north  of  the  great  works  at  Laxton,  in  the  valley 
beneath  the  mount  and  bailey,  is  a  quadrangular  moat  and -portion  of  an 
outer  fosse,  surrounding  three  depressions,  which  it  has  been  suggested  were 
for  water  storage  or  fish  ponds,  possibly  of  mediaeval  date. 

EVERTON. — Three  miles  south-east  from  Bawtry  are  some  vestiges  of 
fortifications  which  have  been  supposed  to  be  Roman  from  their  proximity 
to  the  ancient  road  and  the  discovery  of  some  Roman  coins. 

GAMSTON. — Four  miles  north  of  Tuxford  are  indications  of  some  earth- 
works to  the  south-west  of  the  rectory. 

HARWORTH. — A  so-called  '  Roman  bank '  forms  the.  east  boundary  of 
Serlby  Park. 

313 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

KNEETON. — The  remains  of  an  entrenchment  lie  to  the  west  of  the 
village.  The  Fosse  Way  also  passes  the  south-east  boundary  of  the  parish. 

LAXTON. — On  the  common  are  a  series  of  mounds  of  low  elevation,  rising 
from  two  to  two  and  a  half  feet  from  shallow  ditches.  They  form  a  group  of 
five,  with  indications  of  extending  further  towards  the  west  ;  while  a  similar 
bank  occurs  at  a  considerable  distance  to  the  south-east.  Tradition  is  silent 
respecting  these  mounds,  and  so  far  no  satisfactory  explanation  has  been 
forthcoming. 

LOWDHAM. — Fragments  of  works  remain  to  the  west  of  the  village. 

MARNHAM. — Indications  of  earthworks,  probably  flood  banks,  lie  around 
Low  Marnham. 

MISSON. — Remains  of  earthworks  are  on  the  east  side  of  the  village. 

MISTERTON. — Bykersdyke.  In  the  extreme  north-east  of  the  county  is 
an  ancient  dyke,  rampart,  or  waterway,  which,  for  over  four  miles,  constitutes 
the  boundary  between  Nottinghamshire  and  Lincolnshire.  Its  object  was  to 
connect  the  River  Trent  with  the  Idle,  which  at  this  point  was  only  about 
four  miles  distant  to  the  west,  and  to  make  the  site  of  Bawtry,  on  the  Roman 
road  from  Lincoln  to  York,  an  inland  port  ;  and  as  such  it  continued 
throughout  the  middle  ages,  and  with  varying  fortunes  until  the  introduction 
of  railways. 

This  dyke  is  alluded  to  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  and  mentioned  in  a 
charter  of  John,  earl  of  Mortain,  about  the  year  iiSg.1  At  some  date 
before  the  publication  of  Saxton's  map  in  1580  the  dyke  was  duplicated 
through  higher  ground  about  a  mile  further  south,  and  designated  the  'New 
Bykersdyke.'  The  ancient  dyke  was  straightened,  and  the  county  boundary 
modified  by  the  draining  operations  of  Cornelius  Vermuiden,  under  a  patent 
of  Charles  I,  since  which  time  it  has  lost  its  identity,  and  is  replaced  in  its 
west  part  by  the  comparatively  modern  '  Tindale  bank,'  while  at  its  eastern 
end  the  name  has  been  altered  to  'Heckdyke'  or  'Hocdyke.' 

NOTTINGHAM. — Connecting  the  camp  of  the  Old  Borough  of  Notting- 
ham on  the  east  and  Nottingham  Castle  on  the  west,  a  strong  vallum  and 
fosse  enclosed  the  intervening  ground — the  New  Borough  of  Domesday — on 
its  northern  boundary,  a  distance  of  1,690  ft.  The  eastern  end  was  supported 
by  the  entrenchments  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  old  town,  and  making 
a  huge  arc  was  supported  on  the  west  by  the  cliff  at  the  northern  extremity 
of  the  prehistoric  enclosure. 

When  the  Great  Central  Railway  track  was  made  across  this  site  in 
1898  the  fosse  was  found  to  have  been  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock  ;  it  was 
over  30  ft.  in  width  and  20  ft.  in  depth. 

RANSKILL. — A  strong  rampart  and  ditch,  which  is  also  in  the  parish  of 
Scrooby,  and  described  under  that  name. 

SCROOBY. — Between  Blyth  and  Scrooby,  in  the  north  of  the  county, 
some  three  miles  north  of  East  Retford,  is  an  important  rampart  and  fosse, 
trending  nearly  south  to  north.  It  is  nearly  one  and  a  half  miles  in  length, 
and  the  fosse  is  used  as  a  sunken  road  between  the  above  villages.  Its  bank 
on  the  west  side  is  enclosed  in  Serlby  Park,  to  which  it  forms  the  manor 
boundary ;  the  east  side  is  fairly  evenly  divided  between  the  parishes  of 
Scrooby  and  Ranskill ;  the  lands  in  the  latter  parish  belonged  to  the  Saxon 

1  Records  of  the  Borough  of  Nottingham,  vol.  i. 
i  3J3  40 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

archbishops  of  York.  The  vallum  is  locally  called  '  The  Roman  Bank,'  and 
the  fosse  '  Roman  Bank  Lane  '  and  '  Long  Bank  Lane.' 

Its  origin  is  unknown,  though  possibly  it  is  referred  to  in  the  following : 
'Matilda  de  Mules,  10  Ric.  I,  ought  one  mark  for  licence  to  make  a  ditch 
between  the  wood  of  Serleby  and  the  fields.' l 

SOUTH  CLIFTON. — Indications  of  earthworks  lie  to  the  west  and  south- 
west of  the  village. 

SOUTH  MUSKHAM. — At  Little  Carlton,  two  miles  north  from  Newark, 
and  on  the  north  side  of  the  Trent,  are  the  remains  of  an  earthwork  called 
'  The  Mount '  ;  it  is  described  as  '  an  ancient  place  in  the  form  of  a  cross, 
shaded  by  some  ancient  sycamore,  mulberry,  and  walnut  trees.'  * 

WELLOW. — Gorge  Dyke,  possibly  the  eastern  rampart  and  fosse  of  a 
rectangular  village  enclosure. 

WISETON. — Drakeholes  lie  to  the  north-west  of  Wiseton,  where  the 
road  from  Bawtry  to  Gainsborough  meets  the  Chesterfield  Canal. 


BARROWS    AND    TUMULI 

ASLOCKTON. — A  tumulus  is  figured  in  the  Ordnance  map  near  Bingham, 
but  it  has  the  appearance  of  a  military  mound.  Another  mound  has  been 
destroyed  here. 

BLIDWORTH. — Several  tumuli  are  in  the  neighbourhood.  Two  of  them 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill  measure  respectively  728  ft.  and  159  ft.  in  circum- 
ference. The  latter  was  explored  by  Major  Rooke,  who  describes  it  as 
53  ft.  in  diameter,  containing  an  urn  made  of  iron  filled  with  calcined  bones 
and  ashes  ;  also  a  large  sword  in  a  wooden  scabbard  broken  in  several  pieces, 
two  daggers,  and  fifteen  glass  beads — blue,  yellow,  and  green. 

Two  other  tumuli  are  situated  on  the  side  of  Blidworth  Camp,  both  of 
which  were  opened  by  Major  Rooke,  who  thus  describes  them:  'Close  to 
the  vallum  are  two  tumuli,  thirty-five  yards  asunder.  The  diameter  of  the 
most  northern  one  was  near  eight  yards,  the  more  southern  one  being  only 
seven  yards.  These  two  I  opened  to  the  depth  of  near  six  feet  from  the 
top  and  about  one  foot  and  a  half  from  the  level  of  the  natural  soil.  Here 
I  perceived  a  thin  body  of  smooth  clay  near  9  ft.  5  in.  in  length  and  2  ft.  4  in. 
in  breadth  ;  on  this  lay  ashes  and  burnt  bones.  On  the  edge  of  these  clay 
beds  the  ashes  were  very  black,  owing,  I  imagine,  to  their  not  having  been 
mixed  with  the  burnt  bones.  At  the  end  of  one  of  these  beds  I  found  three 
teeth.  There  were  no  urns  in  these  tumuli.' 

BLYTH. — In  this  parish  are  two  tumuli  ;  one  of  them  stands  a  con- 
spicuous object  by  the  roadside  two  miles  south-east  of  the  village,  from 
which  point  the  ancient  road  from  Nottingham  to  Bawtry  and  the  north 
makes  a  detour  westward.  It  was  formerly  known  as  'Emmeslaw,'  and  was 
the  site  of  the  manor  gallows,  but  is  now  called  'Blyth  Law  Hill.' 

The  other  is  in  the  middle  of  the  highway  in  Blyth,  the  road  dividing 
at  its  base.  It  is  a  well-defined  mound  of  easy  gradient,  upon  which  a 
fourteenth-century  building  is  placed.  It  is  certainly  an  unrecorded  cemetery, 
and  evidence  of  very  early  interments  have  been  found  in  delving  below 
the  surface. 

1  Thoroton,  Hist.  e/Nettt.  475.  '  Ibid.  488. 


ANCIENT    EARTHWORKS 

BOTHAMSALL. — Five  miles  south-south-west  from  Retford  and  one  mile 
and  a  quarter  east  of  the  ancient  road  is  Castle  Hill,  which  is  called  a  tumulus 
on  the  Ordnance  map. 

GOTHAM. — At '  Court  Hill,'  a  central  spot  on  high  land,  is  a  well-defined 
tumulus  called  the  Cuckoo  Bush,  surrounded  by  a  shallow  ditch. 

HAYWOOD  OAK. — A  large  tumulus  lies  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the 
village  on  the  brow  of  a  hill. 

NOTTINGHAM. — 'Deny  Mount,'  outside  the  northern  fosse  of  the  castle, 
where  the  General  Hospital  now  stands,  was  levelled  in  1777,  when  five 
skeletons  and  a  dagger  were  found.  Throsby  mentions  three  or  four  barrows, 
in  one  of  which  a  quantity  of  human  bones  were  found  at  Nottingham  Hill, 
about  a  mile  from  Nottingham.1 

OXTON. — On  the  west  side  of  the  camp  at  Oxton  is  a  tumulus  thus 
noticed  by  Major  Rooke :  '  About  one  hundred  yards  west  of  this  camp  a 
hill  rises  in  a  conical  shape ;  the  top  appears  to  be  a  large  tumulus,  from 
whence  there  is  a  very  extensive  view  over  the  forest  towards  Mansfield.' 

RANSKILL. — East  of  the  village,  extending  to  the  River  Idle,  are  several 
barrows,  also  a  tumulus  called  'Blakow  Hill.' 

SOUTH  COLLINGHAM. — '  Potter's  Hill,'  at  a  point  where  the  Fosse  Way 
leaves  the  county  for  Lincoln  city,  is  said  to  be  a  tumulus ;  it  was  probably 
connected  with  the  Roman  station  of  Crococalana. 

WILLOUGHBY  ON  THE  WOLDS. — A  tumulus  called  'Crossbill,'  by  Stukeley, 
is  close  to  the  Red  Cow  Farm,  to  the  east  of  the  village. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  parishes  in  which  earthworks  exist,  with  the 
class  to  which  they  belong : — 


Classes 

Annesley EX 

Arnold C   X 

Aslockton £ 

Averham F 

Barton  in  Fabis X 

Beckingham F 

Bestwood  Park X 

Bilsthorpe F 

Blidworth B 

Blyth X 

Bothamsall D 

Bridgford,  East,  see  East  Bridgford 

Burton  Joyce F 

Car  Colston C  F  X 

Carlton  on  Trent F 

Caunton F 

Clifton F 

Coddington F 

Colwick F 

Cuckney     F 

Darlton C    F 

East  Bridgford C 

East  Retford B 

Egmanton E 

Epperstone C 

Everton X 

Farnsfield    .  A    B 


Classes 

Gamston F   X 

Gonalston F 

Gotham F 

Granby F 

Greasley F    G 

Gringley  on  the  Hill B 

Grove B 

Harworth C  X 

Hawton C 

Hodsock F 

Holme  Pierrepont F 

Kinoulton F 

Kirby  in  Ashfield C 

Kirklington F 

Kneeton X 

Lambley D 

Laxton EX 

Leake,  West,  see  West  Leake 

Lindhurst F 

Littleborough C 

Lowdham DFX 

Mansfield  Woodhouse B 

Marnham X 

Misson X 

Misterton X 

Muskham,  South,  see  South  Muskham 

Newark  C 


Throsby,  Hist,  of  Notts.  (1795),  16. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 


Classes 

Norwell F 

Norwell  Woodhouse F 

Nottingham ABEX 

Owthorpe F 

Oxton B    C 

Ranskill X 

Retford,  East,  see  East  Retford 

Rolleston F 

Scaftworth C 

Scrooby F  X 

Sibthorpe F 

South  Clifton X 

South  Muskham   .  X 


Classes 

Southwell C 

Stanton  on  the  Wolds F 

Strelley F 

Thurgarton B 

Wellow  C   X 


West  Leake    . 
Weston 
Whatton    .     . 
Wiseton 
Wiverton  Hall 


F 
F 
F 
X 
F 


Woodborough B 

Worksop A   F 


POLITICAL   HISTORY 

IN   the  making   of  the  counties  of  England,  as  part  of  the  making  of 
England  itself,    the  effect    of    geographical  and    physical    conditions 
can  hardly  be  overestimated.     On  these  depended  the  lines   of  the 
Roman  roads  marking  the  way  for  Saxon  settlements,  the  grouping  of 
the  Saxon  kingdoms,  and  the  grouping  of  the  counties  within  the  kingdoms. 
The  district  which  was  to  become  Nottinghamshire,  being  traversed  by  the 
Trent,  invited  Roman  and  Saxon  along  its  waterway  as  a  passage  north  and 
south.       As    a    further    development  this  passage  had    to  be  guarded,  and 
round  a   fortified   centre   the   county   originated.     The   reasons  which    thus 
brought  the  county  into  existence  gave  it  in  later  days  its  strategical  impor- 
tance, brought  it  actively  into  every  insurrectionary  movement  of   Scotland 
and  the  north  of  England,  and  made  it  of  so  much  moment  in  the  history  of 
the  Civil  War. 

There  is  little  or  no  definite  evidence  to  mark  the  progress  of  the  Angle 
tribes  who  by  the  end  of  the  sixth  century  had  settled  in  the  country  round 
the  Trent.  At  their  coming  the  Trent  valley,  in  spite  of  Roman  roads  and 
settlements,1  was  undoubtedly  a  wild  tract  of  unreclaimed  country  hedged 
round  by  hills  and  stretches  of  forest.  It  was  only  along  the  Fosse  road  that 
they  could  slowly  push  on  to  the  Trent  and  gradually  people  the  territory 
which  was  to  become  Nottinghamshire,  on  their  way  to  further  conquests 
under  the  name  of  Middle  English  in  Leicestershire  and  further  west.  Hence 
when,  by  a  gradual  series  of  annexations,  the  kingdom  of  Mercia  had  come 
into  being  by  the  end  of  the  sixth  century 2  Nottinghamshire  evidently 
existed  as  a  territorial  district  until  the  break-up  of  Mercia  into  shires  under 
Edward  the  Elder  in  the  ninth  century.3  However,  the  earliest  mention  of 
the  county  is  not  until  1016,  when,  during  the  final  struggle  between  Cnut 
and  Edmund  Ironside,  Cnut  marched  north  and  harried  Nottinghamshire.4 

No  further  mention  of  the  county  comes  until  1064  or  1065,  when 
Earl  Morkere,  whom  the  thanes  of  Yorkshire  and  Northumberland  had  chosen 
to  be  their  earl  after  they  had  renounced  and  outlawed  Earl  Tostig,  went 
south  to  meet  his  brother  Edwin  with  all  the  shire  (i.e.  Yorkshire),  and  with 
Nottinghamshire,  and  Derbyshire,  and  Lincolnshire  until  he  came  to  North- 
amptonshire.6 The  first  definite  outline  of  the  bounds  of  the  county  and  of 
the  wapentakes  composing  it,  comes,  of  course,  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  and 

1  See  section  on  '  Roman  Remains,'  for  full  account  of  the  Roman  occupation  of  the  district. 

1  Hen.  of  Hunt.  Hist.  Angl.  (Rolls  Ser.),  53.  The  original  kingdom  of  Mercia  evidently  comprised 
quite  a  small  part  of  the  later  kingdom.  Probably  it  included  only  the  greater  part  of  Staffordshire, 
Derbyshire,  and  Nottinghamshire,  with  parts  of  Warwickshire  and  Leicestershire.  See  Chadwick,  Studies 
in  Angl.-Sax.  Institutions,  215. 

3  Stubbs,  Const.  Hi;t.  \,  104-11. 

4  The  spurious  charter  purporting  to  be  made  by  King  Wulfhere  of  Mercia  in  664  granting  Colingham 
'  in  Notinghamscira '  to  the  monastery  of  Peterborough  is  of  necessity  no  proof  that  the  shire  existed  so  early. 
Rather  the  mention  of  the  shire  at  that  date  is  further  evidence  of  the  spuriousness  of  the  charter.     Kemble, 
Cod.  Dipl.  v,  4-8. 

4  Angl.-Sax.  Chrm.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  331. 

317 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

from  that  time,  at  least,  possibly  from  the  time  of  Edward  the  Elder,  the  general 
outline  of  the  county  has  altered  very  little,  and  the  wapentakes l  have  remained 
almost  the  same  on  their  outer  lines.  They  were  then  eight  in  number, 
Bassetlaw,  Broxtow,  Bingham,  Thurgarton,  Newark,  Rushcliffe,  '  Wardebec  ' 
or  '  Oswardebec  '  (now  with  Rampton  and  Treswell  forming  the  North  Clay 
division  of  Bassetlaw)  and  '  Lide  '  (now  the  north  division  of  Thurgarton). 

The  numbers  remained  the  same  until  the  seventeenth  century,  when 
John  Speed,  writing  in  about  1610,  stated  that  'for  the  taxe  to  the  crown' 
Nottinghamshire  was  divided  into  eight  wapentakes  or  hundreds.8  By  1719" 
however  the  number  had  dwindled  to  the  present  number,  six,  since  Bassetlaw 
had  absorbed  the  wapentake  of  Oswardebec,  and  Thurgarton  that  of  Lide. 
Bassetlaw,  on  account  of  its  size,  is  now  divided  into  North  Clay,  South  Clay, 
and  Hatfield. 

It  is  inevitable  that  the  early  history  and  political  importance  of  the 
county  of  Nottingham,  as  of  so  many  others,  must  be  gathered  rather  from 
the  history  of  its  chief  town  than  from  any  direct  evidence  concerning  the 
county  in  general.  Evidently  by  the  ninth  century,  if  not  before,  the  town 
of  Nottingham  had  become  of  importance  strategically.  Although  Roman 
soldiers  had  pushed  their  way  along  the  banks  of  the  Trent  from  Newark  to 
the  site  of  Nottingham,  they  came  there  either  too  late  or  too  few  in 
numbers  to  have  left  any  lasting  trace  of  their  visit.  Yet  they  had  prepared 
the  way  for  the  Angle  to  find  and  utilize  the  natural  fortification  presented 
by  the  hill  on  which  the  castle  of  Nottingham  was  built  in  later  days. 
During  the  eighth  century,  in  the  struggle  for  supremacy  between  the  three 
great  kingdoms,  Nottingham  must  have  often  played  a  very  important  part  for 
Mercia,  since  from  its  situation  it  formed  both  a  point  of  contact  with  and  a 
bulwark  against  the  northern  enemy.  Again,  at  the  end  of  the  century,  when 
under  the  consolidating  rule  of  Offa  Mercia  was  supreme,  though  her 
supremacy  was  unclaimed,  the  development  of  the  town  must  have  kept  pace 
with  the  development  of  the  kingdom.  Hence  it  was  that  when  the 
Danes  under  Hubba  had  struck  at  York  and  had  defeated  the  two  rival 
claimants  of  the  Northumbrian  crown,  they  turned  in  868  to  Nottingham 
and  settled  there  for  the  winter  in  preparation  for  an  attack  on  Mercia. 
Once  there  they  could  defy  the  united  forces  of  Burhred  of  Mercia  and 
Ethelred  of  Wessex,*  and,  although  Mercia  was  probably  saved  from 
devastation  by  the  refusal  of  the  Danes  to  fight,  it  remained  submissive  under 
the  terms  of  the  forced  peace.  With  Mercia  submissive  to  the  Northmen, 
Nottingham  under  the  Peace  of  Wedmore  became  one  of  the  chief  centres 
of  the  Danish  settlement  in  England,  and  one  of  the  five  boroughs.  The 
reduction  of  the  Danelaw  and  the  regaining  of  the  five  boroughs  was  the  work 
of  Edward  the  Elder  and  his  sister  Ethelflaed,  lady  of  the  Mercians,  and  the 
conquest  of  Nottingham  in  922  marked  the  climax  of  his  successes.  In  the 
words  of  the  chronicler  '  he  reduced  the  burgh  and  ordered  it  to  be  repaired, 

1  See  section  on  the  Dom.  Surv.  for  evidence  of  Danish  influence  in  division  of  the  county  into 
'wapentakes,'  not  hundreds. 

1  Speed,  A  Prospect  of  the  Most  Famous  Parts  of  the  World,  under  Great  Britain,  bk.  i,  p.  56. 

'  See  Overton's  map  of  the  county. 

4  Angl.-Sax.  Chron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  132.  Matt.  Paris,  Chron.  Maj.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i.  391.  Burhred  sent 
to  Ethelred  for  help,  and  he,  gathering  a  large  force,  came  to  Nottingham.  '  Cumque  pagan!,  arcis  tuitione 
muniti,  praelium  conserere  denegarent  et  Christian!  muros  confringere  non  sufficerent  pace  inter  Mercios  et 
paganos  ad  tempus  composita  singuli  ad  propria  sunt  reversi.' 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

and  peopled  both  with  Englishmen  and  with  Danish.'  Then  it  was  that  'all 
the  people  who  were  settled  in  the  Mercian's  land  submitted  to  him,  both 
Danish  and  English.  'l  Two  years  later  Edward  again  visited  Nottingham  and 
secured  his  conquest  by  a  second  '  burgh  '  stationed  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river  opposite  the  other  fortification,  and  connected  with  the  other  by  a 
bridge  '  built  and  manned  there  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood.'8  A  mixed 
population  of  Danish  and  English  seems  to  have  inhabited  the  town  and 
possibly  the  county  of  Nottingham  until  the  reign  of  Edmund,  a  younger  son 
of  Edward  the  Elder.  He,  in  the  year  940  or  941,  seems  to  have  entirely 
repeopled  the  five  boroughs  with  Englishmen.8  If  this  statement  is  true  it 
may  be  that  Edmund's  idea  was  to  draw  closer  the  union  between  Wessex  and 
Mercia,  and  clench  his  father's  policy.  But  Danish  influence  still  remained 
strong  in  the  county,*  and  all  hope  of  continuing  Edward's  policy  of  concen- 
tration was  frustrated  by  the  weakness  of  the  monarchy  and  the  unhappy 
rivalry  between  the  incapable  Edwy  and  his  brother  Edgar,  when  the  Danelaw, 
with  English  Mercia,  chose  Edgar  for  their  king,  while  Wessex  remained  true 
to  Edwy.  When  Edwy  was  dead  and  Edgar  was  sole  king,  Nottingham, 
both  town  and  county,  must  have  grown  prosperous  again  under  the  just  and 
peaceful  rule  of  Edgar  and  his  wise  adviser  St.  Dunstan.  But  after  Edgar's 
death,  when  England,  prepared  for  subjugation  by  the  unstable  rule  of  Ethel- 
red  the  Unready,  was  being  forced  into  submission  by  the  Danish  Cnut, 
Mercia  and  the  Danelaw  had  to  be  reduced,  as  the  entrance  to  the  north,  and 
Nottinghamshire,  as  one  of  the  most  important  keys  to  that  position,  suffered 
with  the  rest.6  Yet  there  is  little  definite  information  concerning  the  part 
taken  by  the  county  in  the  desperate  struggle  which  followed  Cnut's  death, 
and  finally  resulted  in  the  battle  of  Hastings.  The  break  up  of  Mercia  under 
Harthacnut  had  meant  the  formation  of  a  new  earldom  of  the  middle 
English,  over  which  Earl  Godwin  set  his  nephew  Beorn,  brother  of  Swein 
Estrithson,  and  of  which  Nottingham  formed  part.  After  the  treacherous 
murder  of  Beorn  by  Swein,  son  of  Godwin,  in  1049-50,'  the  earldom  seems  to 
have  again  become  part  of  Leofric's  earldom  of  Mercia,  and  so  to  have  come 
to  his  grandsons  Edwin  and  Morkere.  Jealousy  of  the  house  of  Godwin  led 
these  two  Mercian  earls  to  forsake  Harold,7  as  jealousy  of  William's  success 
led  them  later  to  rebel  against  him,  and  the  men  of  Nottingham  were  of 
necessity  drawn  into  their  treachery.  It  was  to  Nottingham  that  William 
went  with  his  whole  army  8  in  1068,  when  he  heard  that  '  the  people  of  the 
north  had  gathered  themselves  together  and  would  stand  against  him  if  he 
came."  The  burghs  which  Edward  the  Elder  had  raised  were  undoubtedly 
guarded  against  him,  but  it  would  almost  seem  as  though  the  town  was  half- 
hearted in  its  defence,  since  the  number  of  king's  thegns  retaining  their  land 
in  the  county  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  would  seem  to  suggest  that 
it  made  an  easy  submission. 

1  Jng/.-Sax.  Chron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  195  ;  ii,  84.  Matt.  Paris,  op.  cit.  i,  445.  Ric.  de  Clrencatria  (Rolls 
Ser.),  ii,  57.  *  jfngl.-Sax.  Chron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  196  ;  ii,  84. 

8  Ibid,  ii,  89.  Thus  also  Robert  of  Gloucester  records  that  Edmund  drove  away  '  the  Saracens '  that 
were  yet  remaining  in  Lincoln,  Leicester,  Derby,  Stafford,  and  Nottingham,  and  '  brought  back  Christian  men 
in  their  stead.'  Rob.  ofGIouc.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  409. 

4  See  Introd.  to  Dom.  Surv.  *  See  former  reference  to  the  harrying  of  the  county  by  Cnut. 

6  Angl.-Sax.  Chron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  307  ;  ii,  140.  '  Ibid. 

8  Flor.  Wlgprn  (Eng.  Hist.  Soc.),  '  Rex  Willelmus  cum  exercitu  suo  Snottingaham  venit.' 

*  Angl.-Sax.  Chron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  342  ;  ii,  172. 

3'9 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

The  success  of  the  Norman  brought  a  fresh  era  of  life  for  Nottingham. 
William,  like  Edward  the  Elder,  secured  his  possession  by  making  up  a  new 
castle,1  not  with  Edward's  idea  of  protecting  the  borough  on  either  bank  of 
the  river,  but  on  the  highest  point  of  the  rock  overhanging  the  town,  where 
it  would  serve  both  to  protect  the  town  and  keep  the  burghers  submissive.' 
The  importance  with  which  Nottingham  was  regarded  is  perhaps  nowhere 
better  shown  than  in  the  Domesday  entry  reciting  the  duty  of  the 
burghers  :  '  In  Snotingeham  the  water  of  Trent  and  the  Fosse  (Way)  and  the 
road  towards  York  were  so  guarded  that  if  any  one  should  hinder  the 
passage  of  boats,  or  if  any  one  should  plough  or  make  a  ditch  within 
two  perches  of  the  king's  road  he  should  be  compelled  to  amend  it  with 
8  pounds.' s  Although  the  existence  of  this  castle  must  have  added  much  to 
the  political  status  of  Nottingham,  its  existence  is  ignored  by  the  Domesday 
Survey,  and  there  is  little  or  nothing  known  about  its  history  during  the 
reign  of  William  except  that  it  was  committed  to  the  custody  of  William 
Peverel,  to  whom  nine  manors  in  the  county  belonged.4 

The  reign  of  William  Rufus,  though  it  could  hardly  have  been  a  time 
of  prosperity,6  seems  to  have  brought  little  history  for  the  county.  Indirectly 
there  comes  almost  the  first  mention6  of  the  local  levy,  since  Nottinghamshire 
evidently  furnished  its  quota  of  men  and  money,  when  in  1094,  by  Ralph 
Flambard's  connivance,  20,000  men  were  summoned  from  the  English  coun- 
ties for  service  in  Normandy,  and  dismissed  at  Hastings  after  their  service 
money  had  been  taken  from  them.7  Again,  the  reign  of  Henry  I  brings  very 
little  history.  The  years  of  plague  and  famine,  the  heavy  taxes  caused  by  the 
constant  petty  warfare  between  the  king  and  his  vassals,  must  have  fallen 
heavily  on  Nottinghamshire,  as  on  all  England.  Doubtless,  too,  a  time  of 
prosperity  seemed  to  be  again  beginning  under  the  reforms  which  Henry 
inaugurated,  only  to  be  again  ended,  as  the  county  was  plunged  into  the  dis- 
orders of  Stephen's  reign.  Into  these  disorders  Nottingham  was  of  necessity 
drawn.  Thus,  when  David  of  Scotland  advanced  into  England  against 
Stephen  in  1138,  the  militia  of  Nottinghamshire,  under  William  Peverel, 
fought  for  Stephen  at  the  Battle  of  the  Standard.8  And  now  for  the  first 
time  the  castle  of  Newark  comes  definitely  into  history.  Theories  are  rife 
that  Newark  was  a  Roman  city,  and  that  the  site  of  the  castle  was  occupied 
by  a  large  granary  like  Colchester  or  London  Tower.9  Egbert,  king  of 
Wessex,  is  moreover  said  to  have  raised  the  first  fortification,  which  fell  into 

1  '  He  went  to  Nottingham  and  there  wrought  a  castle.'     Angl.-Sax.  Ckron.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  342. 

Thus  Camden  states  that  the  castle  was  built  '  to  bridle  the  English,  and  was  so  strong  by  nature 
and  art  (according  to  William  of  Newburgh)  that  if  properly  defended  it  seemed  as  if  nothing  but  famine 
could  force  it.'  Camden,  Brit.  (ed.  Gough),  ii,  283. 

3  See  section  on  Dom.  Surv.  *  Ibid. 

6  See  Chron.  Angl.  Petrib.  (Caxton  Soc.),  65.     Flor.  Wigorn  (Engl.  Hist.  Soc.),  iv,  35. 

6  The  first  mention  would  be  that  implied  in  1053,  when  Earl  Morkere  went  south  'with  Nottingham- 
shire.' See  supra. 

1  Sax.  Chron.  (ed.  Earle),  230.  'Da  sende  cyng  hider  to  lande  et  het  abeodan  at  xx  }>usenda  Engliscra 
manna  him  to  fultume  to  Normandig.  ac  )?a  hi  to  sae  coman.  pa  het  hi  man  cyrran  and  f  feoh  syllan  to  Saes 
cynges  behofe  \z  hi  genumen  hacfdon.  pet  wass  asle  man  healf  punda,  and  hi  swa  dydon.' 

Flor.  Wigprn  (Engl.  Hist.  Soc.),  ii,  3  5.  '  Quibus  ut  mare  transirent  Heastingae  congregatis  pecuniam  quae 
data  fuerat  eis  ad  victum  Rannulphus  Passeflambardus  praecepto  regis  abstulit,  scilicet,  unicuitjue  decem  solidos 
et  cos  domum  repedare  mandavit  ;  pecuniam  vero  regi  transmisit.' 

8  Symeonis  mmacki  opera  ornma  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  294.  '  Affluit  etiam  cum  suis  copiis  de  Nottingham  scira 
Willelmus  Peverel.' 

'  Cornelius  Brown,  Ann.  ofNctcark-on-Trent;  Mackenzie,  Castles  of  England,  i,  449,  quoting  Stukeley. 

320 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

the  hands  of  the  Danes,1  but  was  recovered  and  rebuilt  by  Earl  Leofric  of 
Mercia,  who  held  the  manor  of  Newark.8  The  omission  of  any  entry  con- 
cerning it  in  Domesday  is,  of  course,  no  evidence  for  its  non-existence,  and 
possibly  some  such  fortifications  as  those  built  by  Edward  the  Elder  at  Not- 
tingham may  have  been  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  town.  However,  the 
first  actual  fortress  was  built  in  1 123  by  '  Alexander  the  Magnificent,'  bishop 
of  Lincoln,  and  brother  of  the  famous  Roger,  bishop  of  Salisbury,8  under  the 
plea  that  such  fortifications  were  absolutely  necessary  in  his  diocese  in  those 
times  of  lawlessness,  ad  tutamen  et  dignitatem  episcopi*  Although  Alexander 
had  sworn  allegiance  to  Maud  as  '  lady  of  England  and  Normandy,'  he 
immediately  transferred  his  allegiance  to  Stephen  on  Henry's  death.  How- 
ever, in  the  anarchy  which  followed,  both  Alexander  and  his  uncle,  Nigel  of 
Ely,  fell  under  Stephen's  suspicion,  and  in  1139  were  thrown  into  prison  until 
they  should  surrender  their  castles.6  Alexander,  kept  sub  vili  tugurio,  was 
hurried  across  England  with  Stephen  and  his  army  to  Newark,  and  kept  with- 
out food  until  the  garrison  surrendered.  With  Newark  in  Stephen's  possession, 
and  Nottingham  in  the  hands  of  William  Peverel,8  one  of  his  most  trusted 
adherents,  the  county  was  inevitably  drawn  into  alliance  with  Stephen's  cause. 
In  1 140,  a  few  months  before  the  siege  of  Lincoln  was  begun,  Robert  earl  of 
Gloucester,  one  of  Maud's  adherents,  by  the  prompting  of  Ralph  Painel,  who 
was  evidently  a  private  enemy  of  William  Peverel,  advanced  on  Nottingham 
and  took  the  city.  Some  of  the  citizens  fled,  others  were  slain,  and  many 
burnt  as  they  sought  sanctuary  in  houses  and  churches  ;  for  when  one  citizen 
who  seemed  richer  than  the  others  was  led  to  his  house  and  forced  to  dis- 
cover his  treasure  to  the  enemy,  he  led  them  into  a  cellar  where  his  riches 
were  kept,  and  while  they  were  gloating  over  the  spoil  slipped  out,  shut  and 
bolted  the  door  behind  him,  and,  setting  fire  to  the  house  and  cellars,  burnt 
the  spoilers  with  the  spoil.  But  the  fire  spread  over  the  whole  city,  and 
Nottingham,  that  noble  city  which,  according  to  the  chronicler,  had  remained 
peaceful,  rich,  and  populous  from  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  was  utterly 
destroyed.7  It  seems  evident,  however,  that  even  if  the  town  was  burnt  so 
completely  the  castle  must  have  escaped,  as  in  the  next  year  the  Empress 
Maud,  after  her  success  at  Lincoln,  is  said  to  have  forced  the  castle  from 
William  Peverel,  and  to  have  given  it  into  the  custody  of  William  Painel, 
who  was  probably  some  connexion  of  the  Ralph  before  mentioned.8  Early 
in  1142,  when  Maud's  cause  seemed  to  be  hopeless,  Stephen's  adherents  in 
the  county  seemed  to  have  taken  courage,  and  garrisoned  themselves  in  an 
offensive  position  at  Southwell.  Thus  William  Painel  went  out  from  Not- 
tingham with  a  body  of  troops  to  raze  the  fortifications  that  had  been  made 
in  the  precincts  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  Southwell,  and  whither  a 

*  Cornelius  Brown,  op.  cit.  6.  '  Ibid.  8,  9. 

1  Ann.  Man.  (Rolls  Ser.),  iv,  1 8.     Gtrvase  of  Cant.  (Rolls  Ser.),  vii. 

4  Will,  of  Malmes.  Geit.  Reg.  Angl.  sub  Hist.  Novell,  ii,  547. 

5  Ibid.  548-55.     The  account  of  the  seizure  of  the  castles,  and  the  later  discussion  of  the  case  before  the 
papal  legate  is  here  given  in  full. 

*  A  descendant  of  the  William  Peverel,  of  Domesday,  probably  a  great  great  grandson. 

r  Gervase  of  Cant.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  112.  Flor.  ffigorn  (Engl.  Hist.  Soc.),  ii,  128,  129.  '  Itaque  destructa 
est  Snottingaham,  urbs  nobilissima,  cum,  ex  quo  Normanni  Angliam  sibi  subjugaverunt,  usque  ad  hoc  tempus, 
in  summa  pace  et  quiete,  populosa  multitudine  et  opulentia  rerum  omnium  referta  fuisset.' 

8  Symeonis  monachi  opera  omnia  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  309.  '  Castrum  de  Notingham  imperatrix  Adela  exegit 
a  Willelmo  Peverel,  et  imposuit  custodem  in  eo  Willelmum  Painel  cum  militibus  suis.' 

I  321  41 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

multitudo  provinciae  had  gathered.  Being  unable  to  cope  with  them  with  the 
forces  at  his  disposal,  he  marched  out  to  meet  the  empress  and  gain  reinforce- 
ments. Meantime,  however,  William  Peverel  was  plotting  to  regain  the 
castle  during  Painel's  absence,  and  having  succeeded  in  gaining  the  confidence 
of  two  youths  who  had  charge  of  the  mills  under  the  castle,  managed  by  their 
connivance  to  scale  the  castle  rock  with  his  followers  and  seize  the  castle. 
Thereupon  all  the  partizans  of  the  empress  were  driven  out  of  Nottingham.1 
The  result  of  this  was  presumably  a  union  of  the  forces  at  Southwell  with 
those  of  Nottingham,  and  it  is  little  likely  that  William  Painel  returned  from 
York  with  his  reinforcements. 

The  deliberate  stand  which  Nottingham  town  and  county  had  made 
for  Stephen  brought  it  early  under  the  notice  of  Maud's  son,  Henry  II,  and 
brought  the  governor  of  Nottingham  Castle  under  his  disfavour.  In  1152, 
as  duke  of  Normandy,  Henry  granted  the  fee  of  William  Peverel  to  Ranulf, 
earl  of  Chester,  unless  William  should  be  able  to  clear  himself  of  his  crime 
and  treason  in  his  court  ('  nisi  poterit  se  dirationare  in  mea  curia  de  scelere  et 
traditione.') '  When  he  invaded  England  in  the  next  year  Henry  realized  the 
advisability  of  securing  a  hold  on  Nottingham,  and  having  stormed  Stamford 
and  Ipswich  he  advanced  to  Nottingham  and  besieged  the  town.  However, 
the  garrison  of  the  castle  came  out  with  great  force  and  managed  to  break  up 
the  siege  by  setting  fire  to  the  town.8  Then,  since  the  town  was  destroyed, 
and  the  natural  defence  offered  by  the  castle  rock  was  so  strong,  being  un- 
willing to  waste  his  energies,  Henry  evidently  abandoned  all  attempt  to 
seize  the  fortress.4  When  Stephen  died  in  October,  1154,'  and  Henry, 
according  to  the  Treaty  of  Winchester,  peacefully  succeeded,  he  began  at 
once  to  establish  order  by  compelling  the  surrender  of  all  adulterine  castles,' 
among  which  was  possibly  the  castle  of  Cuckney,  in  Nottinghamshire, 
built  in  Stephen's  reign  by  Thomas  de  Cuckney.7  In  Nottingham  itself  he 
completed  the  humiliation  of  William  Peverel  (who  had  in  the  meantime 
contrived  to  poison  his  rival,  Ranulf,  earl  of  Chester)  by  depriving  him  of  the 
castle  and  all  his  estates.  William,  on  Henry's  accession,  had  fled  to  a 
monastery  and  received  the  tonsure,  and  assumed  the  monastic  habit.8  When, 
in  February,  1155,  Henry  advanced  to  Nottinghamshire,  he  again  fled, 
leaving  his  castle  and  possessions  in  the  king's  hands.9  Nottingham  was  thus 
secured  as  a  royal  station,  and  was  held  by  the  king  until  granted  by  him  to 
Prince  John  in  1 174  in  the  treaty  which  followed  the  great  insurrection  of 
that  critical  year.10  During  the  next  year  Henry  himself  was  at  Notting- 
ham, and  while  there  sued  the  landowners  of  the  county  for  breach  of  the 
forest  laws,  presumably  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood,  'et  posuit  omnes  in 
misericordia  sua  pro  capta  vensione.'  In  many  cases  they  were  bound  to 
the  king  for  more  than  their  estates  were  worth,  but  he  refused  to  yield  them 

1  Symemts  monachl  opera  omnia  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  3 1  i-i  2.  *  Rymer,  Feed,  i,  4. 

1  Rob.  o/Glouc.  (Rolls.  Ser.),  ii,  864.  «  Trivet,  Annah,  29. 

*  Chron.  of  the  Reigns  ef  Stephen,  Hen,  II,  etc.  (Rolls  Sen),  iv,  181. 

'  Ibid.  183.     Gervaie  of  Cant.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  1 6 1 . 

'  Mackenzie,  Castles  tf  England,  i,  447. 

'  Gervaie  of  Cant.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  1 6 1 .  »  Ibid. 

10  Gervase  of  Cant.  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  78.  Henry,  since  he  had  been  completely  successful  in  quelling  the 
insurrection  of  his  sons,  allied  with  France  and  Scotland,  against  their  father,  could  afford  to  be  merciful.  Thus 
he  granted  two  castles  in  Poitou  to  Richard,  others  in  Brittany  to  Geoffrey,  and  those  of  Nottingham  and 
Marlborough  to  his  favourite,  John. 

322 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

mercy,  although  Richard  de  Lucy,  the  justiciar,  pleaded  their  cause,  stating 
that  the  forest  laws  had  been  broken  during  the  late  hostilities  by  a  special 
mandate  given  him  by  the  king  when  in  Normandy.1  Henry  again  visited 
Nottingham  in  1 179,  when  he  spent  Christmas  there,  attended  by  William 
of  Scotland  and  all  the  nobles  of  the  realm,8  and  in  1 181,  when  he  held  a 
council  there.' 

After  a  period  of  comparative  peace  under  Henry  II,  the  county  was  to 
see  troublous  times  during  the  reigns  of  Richard  and  John,  and  again  the 
chief  scenes  of  its  history  were  centred  round  the  castles  of  Nottingham  and 
Newark.  Richard,  on  his  arrival  in  England  after  his  father's  death  in  1 189, 
took  possession  of  the  royal  treasure  at  Winchester,  and  proceeded  to  win  his 
brother's  favour  by  granting  him  many  honours,  among  them  the  earldom  of 
Nottingham.4  The  utter  failure  of  all  Richard's  attempts  to  keep  John 
faithful  to  him  during  his  absence  resulted  in  the  open  quarrel  between  John 
and  Longchamp  in  1191,  the  consequent  seizure  by  John  of  the  castles  of 
Nottingham  and  Tickhill,  probably  in  April  1191,'  and  his  threat  to  the 
chancellor  if  he  refused  to  give  up  the  castle  of  Lincoln.8  A  compromise 
was  effected  by  the  queen-mother,  and  John  surrendered  Nottingham  Castle 
to  William  Marshall,  and  Tickhill  to  William  de  Wendeval,7  with  special 
reservation  that  if  Richard  before  his  return  should  refuse  the  terms  of  the 
peace  between  John  and  the  chancellor  both  the  castles  should  be  restored  to 
John.8  It  seems  unlikely  that  either  William  Marshall  or  William  de  Wen- 
deval ever  actively  fulfilled  the  office  of  governor  of  the  two  castles.9  Both, 
however,  were  granted  to  Roger  de  Lacy,  constable  of  Chester,  by 
Longchamp  presumably  about  this  date,  and  he,  judging  from  the  easy 
surrender  that  had  been  made  to  John  how  little  the  garrisons  could  be  relied 
on  to  support  Richard's  cause,  urged  that  Robert  de  Crokstone,  governor  of 
Nottingham,  together  with  the  governor  of  Tickhill,  should  be  hanged  for 
treachery.  Being  unable  to  accomplish  this,  since  they  refused  to  stand  on 
trial,  he  seized  and  hung  a  certain  Alan  de  Leek,  or  Lee,  who  had  been  in 
the  castle  with  Robert,  together  with  one  of  the  officers  of  Tickhill.  John 
interceded,  but  in  vain,  and  in  revenge  seized  the  estates  of  the  constable,  and 
harried  his  lands. 10  From  this  time  Nottingham  evidently  embraced  John's 
cause,  and  the  castle  held  out  for  him  after  all  others  he  had  seized  had 
surrendered  to  Richard  on  his  return  from  captivity  in  1194.  Hence 
Richard  quickly  marched  to  storm  Nottingham,  25  March,  1194,  but  the 
garrison  surrendered,  and  placed  themselves  at  his  mercy.  Some  he  im- 
prisoned, others  he  compelled  to  ransom  themselves,  since  he  was  in  great 

1  Chron.  of  Hen.  II  and  Rich.  I  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  94.     Roger  of  Hoveden  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  79. 

1  Chron.  of  Hen.  11  and  Ric.  I  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  244.  *  Ibid.  280. 

4  Ibid,  ii,  78.  Roger  of  Hoveden  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii.  6.  Matt.  Paris,  Chron.  Maj.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  347-8. 
Matthew  Paris  says  he  granted  the  'Castella  de  Notingeham '  to  John,  but  this  hardly  seems  possible,  since  the 
castle  was  evidently  held  by  a  royal  garrison  in  1191. 

6  L'Histoire  de  Guillaume  k  Marechal  (Soc.  de  1'histoire  de  France),  iii,  130,  ».  l. 

'  Chron.  of  Hen.  II  and  Ric.  I  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  207. 

*  The  accounts  of  the  two  chroniclers  Roger  of  Hoveden  and  Richard  of  Devizes  differ.  In  the  latter 
Nottingham  is  given  to  William  de  Wendeval,  and  that  of  Tickhill  to  Reginald  de  Wassevile. 

'  Roger  of  Hoveden  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  136,  137. 

9  In     the    case    of    William     Marshall    this    seems    undoubtedly    proved    by    the    fact    that    the    con- 
temporary author  of  his  life  in  the  Histoire  de  Guillaume  le  Marechal  makes  no  mention  even  of  the  grant 
of  the  office. 

10  Chron.  of  Hen.  II  and  Ric.  I  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  232-4. 

323 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

need  of  money.1  For  a  short  time  Richard  remained  at  Nottingham,  and 
Walter  of  Coventry  and  Roger  of  Hoveden  tell  how  he  made  an  expedition 
on  28  March  to  Clipstone  and  to  Sherwood  Forest,  which  he  had  never  seen 
before,  and  they  pleased  him  much  (et  plac ue runt  el  multuni) . s  During  the 
next  few  days  a  council  was  held  at  Nottingham  at  which  Richard  '  prayed 
that  justice  should  be  done  him,'  on  John  and  his  chief  ally,  Hugh,  bishop  of 
Coventry.  As  a  result  both  were  cited  to  appear  within  forty  days  or  forfeit 
the  one  his  claims  to  the  kingdom,  the  other  his  offices  in  church  and  state,  as 
well  as  all  their  possessions.  From  Nottingham  Richard  advanced  to  Clip- 
stone  to  meet  the  king  of  Scots,  spent  Palm  Sunday  there,  and  reached 
Southwell  on  4  April.  Hence  he  went  to  Winchester  for  his  second  corona- 
tion on  17  April.8 

Early  in  John's  reign  Nottingham  was  the  scene  of  one  of  his  character- 
istic acts  of  impetuous  cruelty.  Enraged  at  the  Welsh  rising  of  r  2 1 2,  he 
revenged  himself  by  marching  to  Nottingham,  and  there,  before  he  had 
eaten  (antequam  cibum  sumeret),  he  caused  the  eight  Welsh  hostages  in  the 
castle  to  be  hung.  Then,  as  he  sat  down  to  eat,  messengers  came  from  the 
king  of  Scots  and  from  the  Welsh  queen,  John's  natural  daughter,  telling  him 
of  the  disaffection  of  the  northern  barons.4  In  this  year  the  discontent 
which  had  been  brewing  under  John's  misrule  came  to  a  crisis,  but  John's 
clever  move  in  submitting  to  the  pope  warded  off  the  danger  for  a  time.  A 
second  clever  move,  the  calling  of  the  council  of  St.  Albans  in  1213,  was 
followed  by  a  visit  to  Nottingham,  whither  went  also  Archbishop  Langton, 
who,  unsuccessful  in  his  attempts  at  peace,  left  Nottingham,  and  a  few  days 
later6  produced  Henry  II's  coronation  charter,  and  gave  the  baronial  party 
their  watchword.  John's  submission  at  Runnymede  was  followed  in  1215 
by  preparations  against  the  barons,  and  an  order  to  Philip  Marc,  constable  of 
Nottingham,  to  fortify  the  castle  as  for  a  siege.8  Evidently  Nottingham 
was  one  of  the  king's  chief  stations,  and  when  hostilities  had  begun,  after 
his  northern  march  in  the  same  year,  he  retired  cum  satellitibus  suis 
nefandissimis  to  Nottingham,  and  spent  the  following  Christmas  there.7 
The  unsettled  state  of  the  county  generally  is  implied  by  the  order  of 
Louis  of  France  to  Gilbert  of  Ghent  in  1 2 1 6  to  repress  the  irruptions  of  the 
garrisons  of  Nottingham  and  Newark,  since  they  were  creating  great 
devastations  by  spreading  fire  and  slaughter  in  all  the  country  round.8  But 
all  attempts  made  to  overwhelm  the  garrisons  were  unsuccessful.  Both 
Nottingham  and  Newark  remained  true  to  John,  and  it  was  to  Newark  that 
he  went  after  his  disastrous  march  of  1216,  and  at  Newark  that  he  died.9 

On  the  death  of  John,  William  Marshall,  earl  of  Pembroke,  and  Gualo, 
the  papal  legate,  immediately  proclaimed  Prince  Henry  king,  but  as  yet  the 

1  Ralph  de  Coggeshall,  Chnn.  Angl.  (Rolls  Ser.),  63.  Matt.  Paris,  Cbron.  Maj.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  404. 
Robert  of  Gloucester  tells  the  story  thus: — '  )?o  king  richard  com  to  engelond  J>er  was  joy  e  inou.  Mid  joye 
&  procession .  J>at  fole  a  Jen  him  drou.  He  pleyede  nywe  king  at  ome.  ]>o  he  hom.  com.  Verst  ];e  castel 
of  notingham.  vpe  is  broker  he  nom.  &  su)?)>e  is  oj?cr  londes,  &  deseritede  him  al  clene.'  Rob.  of 
Glouc.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  697-8.  A  full  account  of  the  siege  is  given  in  L'Histoire  de  Gutllaume  le  Marccbal,  iii, 
1 34-6,  together  with  the  details  of  the  events  of  the  day  following,  when  Richard  demanded  homage  from 
Walter  de  Lacy  and  William  Marshall  for  their  lands  in  Ireland. 

'  Walter  tf  Coventry  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  54.  »  Roger  of  Hoveden  (Rolls  Ser.),  iii,  240-3. 

4  Matt.  Paris,  Chron.  Maj.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  534.  s  Ibid.  551-2. 

1  '  Ut  castra  sua  victualibus  munirent  fossatis  ambirent,  serventibus  stipendiariis  roborarent,  balistas  et 
machinas  pararent,  spicula  fabricarent."  Ibid.  612. 

'  Ibid.  637-8.  •  Ibid.  663.  '  Ibid.  667-8. 

324 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

whole  county  was   in   a  state  of  disorder.      Louis  of  France  had  received 
reinforcements,  and  with  the   insurgent  barons  he    besieged    the    castle    of 
Mountsorrel  in  Leicestershire.     A  plundering  expedition  into  the  surround- 
ing country  was  made  by  the  besiegers  early  in   1217,  but  some  knights, 
reconnoitring  (exploratores  milites]  from  Nottingham,  learning  of  their  coming, 
set   out   to  meet  them,  and  succeeded  in  killing  three   of  the  enemy,  and 
capturing    ten   knights    and    twenty-four    squires.1       Raising    the    siege    of 
Mountsorrel,  Louis  and  his  allies  turned  to  besiege  Lincoln  Castle,  which 
held  out    for    the    king,    although    the   town    had    surrendered.       William 
Marshall  hastened  to  gather  an  army,  and   ordered  all  governors  of  castles 
and  their  soldiers  to  come  together  at  Newark,  to  proceed  thence  to  Lincoln 
and  break  up  the  siege.     And  they  came  joyfully,  being  eager  to  fight  with 
the  Frenchmen.'     After  the  fall  of  Lincoln   and  the  defeat   of  the  French 
fleet  by  Hubert  de  Burgh,  Louis  realized  that  his  cause  was  hopeless,  and, 
making   peace  with  William   Marshall,  retired    to    France.      But  even  after 
peace  was  made   there   were  many  who   could   not  keep  their   hands   from 
pillage  ('  nunc  post  pacem  denuntiatam  et  omnibus  concessam  non  potuerunt 
manus    a    praeda    cohibere').     Thus    Robert    de   Gaugi,   even    after  several 
remonstrances  from   the   king,  refused   to   deliver  up  the  castle  and  town  of 
Newark  to  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  to  whom  it  properly  belonged  by  right 
of  its  foundation  by  Alexander  (see  supra).      Therefore  the  Earl-Marshal,  by 
the  king's  orders,  raised  a  large  army,  and,  accompanied  by  the  king,  attacked 
the  castle.     The  siege  lasted  for  nearly  eight  days,  during  which  time  the 
friends  of  Robert  treated   for  peace  with  the  bishop,  and   a  final  agreement 
was  made  that  the  castle  should   be  delivered  to    the   bishop  on  payment  of 
>Tioo  sterling.      And  thus  the  siege  being  raised,  every  one  returned  to  his 
home.8 

From  this  time  the  reign  of  Henry  III  seems  to  have  been  one  of 
material  prosperity  for  Nottinghamshire.  The  frequent  visits  that  Henry  paid 
to  the  county  are  shown  by  the  number  of  letters  patent  dated  from  Southwell, 
Newark,  and  Nottingham.4  Moreover,  he  confirmed  John's  charter  of  1200 
to  the  burgesses  of  Nottingham,  and  granted  them  many  fresh  rights  and  privi- 
leges.1 In  1264  the  county  was  for  the  first  time  actively  concerned  in  the 
Barons'  War.  The  failure  of  the  Provisions  of  Oxford  to  bring  about  any  lasting 
settlement  had  resulted  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Northampton  by  the  royal 
forces.  Thence  the  army  marched  through  Leicester  into  Nottingham.  The 
castle  was  then  held  for  the  barons  by  William  Bardolf,  who,  on  the  advance  of 
the  royal  troops,  immediately  came  out  and  surrendered  to  the  king.  While 
the  army  was  quartered  at  Nottingham  several  Scotch  nobles  came  to  the 
king's  help,  among  them  John  de  Balliol,  Robert  Bruce,  and  Peter  Bruce, 
with  a  strong  fighting  force.8  From  Nottingham  the  king  sent  out  Prince 
Edward  to  harry  the  neighbouring  counties  of  Derby  and  Stafford,  and  to 
seize  on  the  lands  of  Robert  de  Ferrers,  earl  of  Derby,  who  was  among  the 
hostile  barons.  When  this  was  done,  the  king,  hearing  that  Simon  de 

1  Matt.  Paris,  Chron.  Maj.  (Rolls  Sen),  iii,  1 1  ;  Roger  of  Wendover,  Florti  Hist.  (Rolls  Scr.),  ii,  208. 
'  Roger  of  Wendover,  floret  Hist.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  ±12. 

3  Et  sic,  obsidione  soluta,  unusquisque  ad  propria  remeavit.     Ibid.  226-8. 

4  See  various  entries  in  the  Calendars  of  Patent  and  Close  Rolls. 
4  Robt.  Chart,  in  Tun:  Lond.  (Rec.  Com.),  39. 

6  Matthew  of  Westminster,  Fkres  Hist.  ( Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  488. 

325 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Montfort  was  besieging  Rochester,  left  Nottingham  and  marched  south,  but 
De  Montfort,  hearing  of  his  coming,  raised  the  siege  and  retreated  to  London 
to  prepare  his  forces  before  the  fateful  battle  of  Lewes.1  With  the  com- 
pletion of  peace,  after  the  battle  of  Evesham  in  1265,  an  order  was  sent  to 
John  de  Grey,  governor  of  Nottingham  Castle,  bidding  him  see  that  the 
king's  peace  was  observed,  on  pain  of  loss  of  lands  and  estates,  and  that  the 
prisoners  remaining  in  the  castle  were  sent  to  London.  * 

The  regime  of  law  and  order  under  the  strong  rule  of  Edward  I  resulted, 
in  Nottinghamshire,  as  elsewhere,  in  a  repression  of  the  strength  of  local 
jurisdiction  and  privilege.  Hence,  under  the  commission  of  1275,  the  returns 
known  as  the  Hundred  Rolls  were  made,  to  search  out  and  recover  royal  rights 
and  jurisdiction.  Edward  saw  that  supreme  influence  in  the  state  must  ulti- 
mately belong  to  the  power  which  controlled  the  law  courts,  and  thus  he 
determined  to  limit  the  jurisdiction  of  manorial  lords  and  define  the  causes  they 
might  and  might  not  try.  The  returns  show  how  needful  from  the  royal  point 
of  view  such  a  policy  was  in  Nottinghamshire  as  elsewhere.  Suits  had  been 
withdrawn  from  the  hundred  courts  ;  thus  the  honour  of  Tickhill  and  the  fee 
of  Peverel  were  accustomed  to  send  six  suitors  to  the  hundred  court  of  Rush- 
cliffe,  but  now  two  of  the  suitors  had  withdrawn,  one  of  them  paid  suit 
instead  to  the  court  of  Tickhill,  the  other  to  that  of  William  Peverel.8  The 
lords  of  the  county  claimed  power  of  life  and  death  and  right  to  exclude  the 
sheriff  from  their  demesne  ;  thus  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  claimed  the  right  of 
namium  -vetitum,  and  the  right  to  have  gallows,  pillory,  tumbrel,  and  assize  of 
bread  and  ale  within  half  the  wapentake  of  Newark*  ;  the  bailiffs  of  the 
honour  of  Leicester  refused  to  allow  the  king's  ministers  to  fulfil  their  duties 
in  their  bailiwicks,  and  at  the  same  time  refused  to  put  the  king's  mandates 
into  execution  themselves.5  Again  the  Hundred  Rolls  show  a  state  of 
oppression  and  extortion  in  every  grade.  In  the  wapentakes  of  Thurgarton 
and  Lye,  the  sheriffs  after  the  battle  of  Evesham  had  given  up  their  baili- 
wicks to  extortioners  who  forced  all  the  free  tenants  to  pay  suit  at  the  hundred 
court,  or  pay  a  fine  on  refusal.6  An  assize  of  1287  shows  the  same  system  of 
oppression  at  work  among  small  manorial  lords.  Henry  de  Pierrepoint  and 
Alice  his  wife  were  called  to  answer  concerning  services  other  than  customary 
exacted  from  their  men  of  the  manor  of  Sneynton.  The  tenants  claimed  that 
their  services  were  defined  by  the  Domesday  entry  concerning  '  Notinton,' 
which  was  identical  with  Sneynton,  but  a  complaisant  jury  was  found  to  say 
that  the  '  Notinton  '  of  Domesday  was  not  Sneynton  but  a  part  of  Notting- 
ham, so  that  the  case  against  Henry  and  Alice  fell  through.7 

The  reign  of  Edward  I  brought  more  than  a  regime  of  law  and  order 
to  Nottinghamshire,  for  it  brought  the  beginning  of  its  parliamentary  history. 
The  first  extant  return  of  knights  of  the  shire  is  for  the  Parliament  of  1295,* 
for  although  writs  were  issued  for  those  of  1282,  1283,  1290,  and  1294,  the 
returns  are  missing.'  Writs  were  also  issued  to  the  burgesses  of  Nottingham 
for  the  Parliament  of  I283,10  but  again  there  is  no  extant  return  until  1295." 
Two  members  for  the  county  and  two  members  for  the  borough  represented 

1  Matthew  of  Westminster,  Flores  Hist.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  488.  '  Rymer,  Foed.  i,  pt.  2,  88. 

'  Rot.  HunJ.  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  28.         4  Ibid.  29.  •  Ibid.  28. 

'  Ibid.  29.  '  Abbrev.  Plac.  (Rec.  Com.),  209. 

8  Par/.  Writt  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  40.         •  Ibid,  i,  10,  16,  21,  26. 
10  Ibid,  i,  1 6.  "Ibid.  1,40. 

326 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

Nottinghamshire  until  1572,  when  East  Retford  was  made  a  parliamentary 
borough  and  sent  two  members.  It  was  not  until  1672-3  that  Newark  upon 
Trent  was  incorporated  and  entitled  to  send  two  members. 

In  the  natural  course  of  events  Nottinghamshire  played  its  part  in  the 
Welsh  and  Scotch  wars  of  Edward  I,  both  in  contributing  its  share  in  money 
and  victuals  and  in  furnishing  its  quota  of  men.  Thus  in  1282,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  second  rising  in  Wales,  the  bailiffs  of  Nottingham  were  ordered 
to  obey  the  commands  of  William  Wyther,  commissioner  of  array  for  the 
county,  who  was  empowered  to  raise  300  foot  soldiers  in  Nottinghamshire 
and  Derbyshire.1  Fresh  disturbances  in  Wales  during  Edward's  absence  in 
1287  brought  a  fresh  demand  for  seventeen-score  foot  soldiers  from  the  two 
counties.3  The  strained  relations  between  Scotland  and  England,  coincident 
with  the  attack  of  Philip  IV  on  Gascony  and  a  fresh  insurrection  in  Wales, 
made  warlike  preparations  an  immediate  necessity  in  1 294.  Hence  the  com- 
mission in  that  year  to  Nottinghamshire,  among  the  other  counties  north  of 
the  Trent,  to  provide  its  quota  of  footmen  and  send  them  to  meet  the  king  at 
Chester  and  march  against  the  Welsh.3  Footmen  were  also  summoned  from 
the  county  for  each  of  the  Scotch  expeditions.  For  example,  in  1299  a  quota 
of  500  foot  soldiers  was  ordered  from  Nottinghamshire,4  and  a  writ  was 
addressed  to  the  commissioner  of  array  for  the  county,  with  a  command  that 
if  the  men  were  unwilling  to  march  to  Newcastle  because  of  the  bad  money 
current  in  the  kingdom  or  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  they  should  be 
induced  by  promise  of  a  bounty  from  the  king  beyond  their  regular  pay.6 
In  the  next  year  a  commission  was  issued  to  John  Byron  and  Richard  de 
Havering  to  make  inquiry  concerning  and  punish  the  bailiffs,  bedels  and 
others  who  lately  took  reward  from  the  footmen  of  the  county  of  Nottingham, 
when  they  came  to  Blyth,  and  gave  them  licence  to  return  home.6  In  the 
June  of  the  same  year  Richard  Bingham  and  Robert  Joyce,  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  select  1,500  footmen  from  Nottinghamshire  for  the  Scotch  war, 
were  ordered  also  to  select  a  proportionate  number  of  constables  in  the 
county,  well  equipped  with  horses  and  arms,  to  come  with  the  footmen  to 
Carlisle.7  A  similar  mandate  in  the  next  year,  1301,  shows  the  quota  required 
that  year  as  1,000  footmen.8  Evidently  the  constant  service  was  found  to  be 
very  irksome,  and  thus  there  is  another  mandate  for  the  punishment  of  the 
bailiffs  and  bedels  who  had  received  bribes  from  the  1,000  footmen  selected 
in  the  county  of  Nottingham.  All  those  who  had  stayed  at  home  were 
to  come  without  delay  to  the  army  at  their  own  expense,  and  the  bribed 
ministers  were  to  be  imprisoned  and  kept  in  gaol  until  further  orders.9 

But,  in  Nottinghamshire,  as  in  most  of  the  counties,  the  chief  burden  of 
the  wars  fell  on  the  gentry  of  the  county.  In  1276,  all  who  held  in  chief 
and  were  able  to  bear  arms  were  ordered  to  muster  at  Worcester  or  provide 
substitutes.10  A  comparison  of  the  names  of  those  who  held  knights'  fees  in 
the  county  at  the  time  of  the  Testa  de  Nevill,11  and  of  those  summoned  at 
various  times  by  parliamentary  writs  to  perform  military  service,19  shows  how 
thoroughly  the  system  was  worked,  and  how  every  baronial  lord  was  forced 

1  Part.  Writs  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  245.  s  Ibid.  *  Ibid. 

4  Ibid,  i,  326.  *  Ibid.  6  Cal.  efPat.  1292-1301,  489. 

7  Ibid.  519.  '  Ibid.  596.  •  Ibid.  60 1. 

10  Par/.  Writs.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  196.  "  Testa  de  Nevitt  (Rec.  Com.). 

"  Par!.  Writs  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  under  '  Writs  for  Military  Service.' 

327 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

to  pay  his  service  to  the  full.  The  representatives  of  the  landed  interest  were 
also  forced  to  take  up  arms.  Thus,  in  1282,  a  writ  was  directed  to  the 
sheriff  of  Nottingham,  among  others,  ordering  that,  '  Since  Lewelin  son  of 
Griffin  and  his  accomplices  had  destroyed  the  peace  of  the  realm,'  all  those 
who  had  more  than  £20  worth  of  land,  and  were  not  then  with  the  king  in 
Wales,  were  ordered  to  serve  or  purchase  exemption.1 

The  military  system  which  the  wars  of  Edward  I  had  developed  was 
well  tested  in  the  reign  of  his  son,  when  Edward  II,  estranged  from  his 
barons  by  his  zealous  attachment  to  Piers  Gaveston,  was  forced  to  rely  mainly 
on  the  militia  in  order  to  carry  on  the  war  with  Scotland,  which  had  been 
his  father's  glory  but  was  to  be  his  own  disgrace.  In  July,  1308,  came  a 
commission  for  the  levy  of  500  footmen  from  the  counties  of  Nottingham 
and  Derby,3  followed  in  the  October  of  the  next  year  by  a  commission  for 
400."  In  1311  a  general  order  was  sent  to  the  sheriff  of  each  county  for  the 
provision  of  one  foot  soldier  from  each  town  for  the  hosting  of  the  war 
against  the  Scots,*  and  the  sheriff  of  the  counties  was  ordered  to  give  64*.  for 
sixteen  days  to  Richard  Daniel  and  Thomas  Folejaumbe,  who  were  to  lead 
the  footmen  of  Nottingham  and  Derby  to  Roxburgh.6  The  levies  of  1314 
were  evidently  a  longer  time  than  usual  in  coming  together,  for  in  that  year 
an  order  was  sent  to  the  sheriffs  of  several  counties,  including  Nottingham  and 
Derby,  bidding  them  hasten  in  the  gathering  of  the  levies  since  Stirling  was 
in  great  danger.'  During  the  next  year  Thomas  de  Crecy  was  commissioned 
to  choose  sixty  able  footmen  from  the  wapentake  of  Broxton,  in  Nottingham- 
shire, and  lead  them  to  Scotland  for  service.  He,  however,  seems  to  have 
turned  his  office  into  a  means  of  making  money,  since  after  the  sixty  men 
had  been  raised  to  be  led  to  Scotland,  he  received  various  gifts  from  them  to 
allow  them  to  return  home.  An  order  to  the  sheriff  to  inquire  into  his 
conduct  and  punish  the  offence  was  accordingly  made  in  the  December 
of  the  same  year.7  The  war  still  dragged  on,  since  Edward  refused  all  idea  of 
making  peace  with  Robert  Bruce,  and  year  after  year,  in  spite  of  the  disease 
and  famine  of  1315  and  1316,  fresh  demands  for  infantry  were  made  from  the 
counties.  Thus,  in  1316,  came  a  demand  for  1,000  footmen  from  Notting- 
ham and  Derby,  of  whom  200  were  to  be  woodcutters  (/mgatores) ;  in 
1317,  for  2,000  footmen,  200  of  whom  were  to  be  slingers  (fundatores).* 
From  the  town  of  Nottingham  forty  footmen  were  demanded  in  the  next  year, 
and  ten  from  Newark.9  These  demands,  like  those  from  the  other  northern 
counties,  were  distinctly  heavy,  and  show  how  the  king's  policy  was  to  make 
the  brunt  of  the  war  fall  on  the  counties  it  most  vitally  affected. 

During  the  reign  of  Edward  II  several  entries  on  the  Patent  Rolls  give 
a  glimpse  of  town-life  in  Nottingham  during  the  fourteenth  century.  There 
seems  to  have  been  a  general  feud  between  town  and  castle,  and  John  Segrave, 
who  was  constable  of  the  castle,  was  evidently  on  exceptionally  bad  terms 
with  the  townsmen.  The  mayor  who  was  elected  for  the  year  1313 
sided  with  the  constable.  Hence  the  townsmen  banded  themselves  together, 
slew  the  mayor  and  assaulted  the  royal  officers  and  servants  who  were  in 
charge  of  the  castle.  They  went  further,  and  when  the  murderer  of  the 

1  Part.  Writs.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  10. 

*  Cal.  of  Pat.  1307-13,  82.  '  Par/.  Writs  (Rec.  Com.),  ii,  pt.  2,  383. 

4  Ibid.  408.  "Ibid.  410.  'Ibid.  427. 

'  Ibid.  460.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid.  506. 

328 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

mayor  was  being  led  to  the  castle  prison,  bells  were  rung  and  a  band  of 
townsmen  rushed  forward  to  rescue  the  prisoner,  while  others  secretly  entered 
the  castle,  caused  the  crown  of  the  murderer's  head  to  be  shaved,  and  com- 
mitted other  outrages.  A  commission  of  inquiry  into  the  case  was  ordered 
to  be  made  in  the  October  of  the  same  year.1  In  the  April  of  1315 
John  Segrave  made  a  further  complaint  against  the  inhabitants  of  Nottingham 
concerning  what  seems  to  have  been  another  riot.  Robert  Ingram  and 
others  having  summoned  the  commonalty  by  the  ringing  of  the  common  bell, 
'  with  force  and  arms  and  banners  displayed  '  attacked  the  castle,  broke  the 
gates,  and  besieged  it  for  eight  days,  '  not  allowing  the  constable  or  any  of 
his  men  to  go  out  thence  to  obtain  necessary  provisions,  and  assaulting  such 
of  his  followers  as  they  found  without  the  castle  in  the  town.'  * 

The  unpopularity  of  the  constable  extended  to  the  county  as  well  as  to 
the  town.  He  was  justice  of  the  forest  beyond  Trent  as  well  as  keeper  of 
Nottingham  Castle,  and  in  February,  1315,  the  '  good  men '  of  the  county 
of  Nottingham  united  with  those  of  the  other  northern  counties  in  a 
petition  against  Segrave  and  his  ministers  of  the  said  forest  and  county  that 
they  had  committed  many  acts  of  extortion  and  oppression  by  the  exaction 
of  prises,  carriages,  and  divers  sums  of  money,  both  from  the  men  of  his 
bailiwick  and  custody  and  from  the  men  of  the  county  of  Leicester.8  This 
seems,  indeed,  to  have  been  a  favourite  complaint  against  the  constables 
of  Nottingham.  Another  instance  occurs  at  a  later  date,  when  in  1395 
the  Commons  petitioned  against  the  ministers  of  Stephen  Rumbilows,  the 
constable  of  Nottingham  Castle,  that  they  extorted  4^.  from  each  cartload  of 
charcoal  passing  along  the  high-road  through  Sherwood  Forest  for  the  sole 
use  of  the  people  of  the  surrounding  district,  and  persisted  in  so  doing, 
although  the  judgement  had  been  passed  against  them  in  the  court  of  the 
King's  Bench.* 

After  the  murder  of  Edward  II  Nottingham  was  brought  actively 
into  the  history  of  the  times,  since  Mortimer  and  Isabel,  having  aroused 
opposition  on  all  sides,  were  fearful  of  the  results  of  the  meeting  of  the 
Parliament  of  1330  at  Nottingham,  and  fortified  themselves  in  Nottingham 
Castle.  Edward  III,  at  last  roused  to  a  determination  to  throw  off  the 
domination  of  Mortimer,  knowing  himself  secure  in  the  support  of  the 
majority  of  the  barons,  who  were  the  natural  enemies  of  the  earl,  won  over 
the  aid  of  William  Eland,  constable  of  the  castle,  and  made  his  well-known 
attack  on  the  castle  and  on  Mortimer  and  the  queen.  The  subterranean 
passage  through  which  he  and  his  followers  crept  up  into  the  castle  still 
exists,  and  the  whole  scene  is  not  difficult  to  picture.'  From  this  time 
Edward  was  freed  from  tutelage,  and  was  able  to  carry  out  his  ambitious 
policy  of  war,  involving  the  glory  of  victory  overshadowed  by  the  inevitable 
spectre  of  heavy  taxation  and  a  merciless  drain  on  the  nation's  strength  in 
money  and  men. 

In  the  Scotch  wars  of  Edward  III,  as  in  those  of  Edward  I  and  II, 
the  county  of  Nottingham  was  forced  to  play  an  active  part.  The  king 
himself  was  frequently  in  the  county,  and  used  Nottingham  as  a  station 

1  Cal.  of  Pat.  1313-17,  p.  63.  *  Ibid.  p.  314. 

5  Ibid.  p.  311.  '  Rolls  of  Par!.  (Rec.  Com.),  iii,  330*7. 

4  See  account  in  Rob.  de  Avesbury,  Hut.  EJw.  tercit  (ed.  Hearne),  p.  8. 

I  329  42 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

from  whence  to  advance  into  Scotland.'1  In  1335  Thomas  Lungvillers  and 
John  de  Mountenay  were  relieved  from  furnishing  forty  light  horsemen 
(hobelers)  by  a  levy  of  £40  in  ^e  county,  Newark  excepted.2  During  the 
same  year  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Nottingham  made  complaint  that 
they  had  been  overburdened  by  an  order  to  provide  ten  light  horsemen,  and 
their  quota  was  accordingly  reduced  to  six.8  In  1336  William  de  Shareshull 
and  others  were  ordered  to  take  an  inquisition  in  the  county,  and  to  punish 
according  to  their  crime  certain  light  horsemen,  archers,  and  others,  chosen 
and  arrayed  to  serve  in  the  company  of  Thomas  earl  of  Warwick,  leader  and 
captain  of  the  army,  '  who  did  not  set  out,  or  after  coming  to  those  parts 
stealthily  withdrew  and  went  home  again,  so  that  through  their  default  the 
enemy  again  carried  fire  and  sword  into  the  realm.'  *  Each  year  while  the 
war  lasted  came  fresh  demands  and  frequent  attempts  to  evade  the  same.6 
For  instance,  in  1346,  John  Fitz William  and  others  were  sentenced  to  lose 
their  lands  and  possessions  because  'contemptibiliter  detractaverant  electionem 
hominum  pro  bello  Scotiae.' ' 

The  disasters  both  at  home  and  abroad  which  marked  the  reign  of 
Richard  II  were  but  the  necessary  outcome  of  the  absorption  of  Edward  III 
in  continental  warfare.  His  grandson  had  to  carry  on  the  French  war,  the 
character  of  which  was  changed  by  the  fact  that  Crecy  and  Poitiers  had  taught 
the  French  a  lesson  in  generalship.  He  had  also  to  face  the  social  upheaval 
which  times  of  famine  and  plague,  coming  with  times  of  heavy  taxation  and 
disarrangement  of  labour,  made  inevitable.  For  '  Richard  the  Redeless ' 
both  these  tasks  were  impossible.  He  caught  at  the  theories  of  absolutism 
which  were  occupying  the  minds  of  the  great  jurists  of  the  time,  and  for 
him  the  king  was  to  be  solutus  legibus  in  practice  as  in  theory,  whereas  in 
the  Middle  Ages  theory  and  practice  could  never  agree.  It  was  the  battle 
between  this  absolutist  theory  and  the  counter-development  of  Wiclifs  ideas 
into  the  Lollard  theory  of  the  sovereignty  of  the  people  that  was  the  far- 
reaching  cause  of  the  Peasants'  Revolt.  Although  the  county  of  Notting- 
ham was  hardly  affected  directly  by  Lollardy,  and  thus  took  no  active  part 
in  the  Peasants'  Revolt,  it  suffered  under  the  general  causes  of  the  social 
discontent,  and  was  moreover  involved  in  Richard's  absolutist  schemes.  It 
was  at  Nottingham  Castle  that,  having  forced  the  judges  to  uphold  the 
prerogative  of  the  crown,  he  prepared  in  1387  for  a  coup  d'etat  against  the 
'  over-mighty  subject,'  which,  had  it  been  successful,  might  have  seriously 
changed  not  only  the  course  of  Richard's  reign,  but  the  development  of  the 
constitution.7  The  *  Wonderful  or  Merciless  Parliament '  swept  aside  his 
schemes,  and,  baffled  for  a  time,  he  resorted  to  a  policy  of  constitutional 
government.  But  in  1397  came  a  second  attempt  to  set  up  his  royal 
prerogative.  The  duke  of  Gloucester  and  the  earls  of  Arundel  and  Warwick, 
three  of  the  lords  appellant,  were  seized  and  sent  to  different  castles.  A 
council  was  called  at  Nottingham,  and  there  they  were  appealed  of  treason.8 
By  the  end  of  the  year  Arundel  was  beheaded,  Warwick  banished,  and 

'  Hence  the  majority  of  the  great  councils  of  the  reign  were  held  there,  and  many  letters  patent  are 
dated  thence. 

*  Cal.  of  Pat.  1334-8,  p.  131.  *Rot.  Scot.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  339$. 

4  Cal.  of  Pat.  1 334-8,  p.  575.  •  See  the  frequent  levies  throughout  the  Rolls  of  Scotland. 

'Rot.  Scot.  (Rec.  Com.),  i,  68 jb. 

*  Walsingham,  Hut.  Angl.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  161,  174.  8  Ibid.  p.  223. 

33° 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

Gloucester  suffocated,  and  Parliament  was  as  a  catspaw  in  the  king's  hands.1 
Early  in  the  next  year  Hereford  and  Norfolk,  the  last  of  the  lords  appellant, 
were  banished,  '  the  king  was  rid  of  Parliament  and  began  to  rule  more 
fiercely  than  before,'8  until  by  his  arbitrary  rule  he  prepared  the  way  for  the 
Lancastrian. 

Apart  from  the  military  service  performed  by  the  county,  the  reigns  of 
the  two  first  Lancastrians  seem  to  have  furnished  little  towards  the  political 
history  of  Nottinghamshire.  Even  the  rebellion  of  1450  seems  hardly  to 
have  affected  the  county,  the  only  connexion  being  that  in  1451  the  mayor 
of  Nottingham  let  to  farm  a  meadow  in  the  common  meadow  of  Nottingham 
to  raise  money  to  furnish  men  to  march  with  the  king  to  Blackheath  to 
suppress  Cade's  rebellion.3 

In  the  Wars  of  the  Roses,  although  the  strength  of  the  Lancastrian 
party  lay  in  the  north  of  England,  the  county  of  Nottingham  seems  on  the 
whole  to  have  favoured  the  Yorkists,  although  the  Lancastrians  could  reckon 
among  their  number  many  of  the  county  nobles.*  The  castle  seems  to  have 
been  generally  in  Yorkist  hands,  and  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  useful 
stations  of  Edward  IV.  After  his  victory  at  the  second  battle  of  St.  Albans, 
and  his  subsequent  proclamation  as  king  in  London,  the  news  that  the  queen 
was  gathering  her  northern  forces  called  Edward  north  to  prepare  for  the 
victorious  day  at  Towton.  A  commission  was  issued  to  Richard  earl  of 
Warwick  to  array  all  the  able-bodied  men  in  Nottinghamshire  and  the 
surrounding  counties  'for  defence  against  Henry  VI  and  his  adherents'  ;6  and 
Edward  gathered  his  forces  as  he  went,  hoping  that  '  in  the  conflict  of  one 
day  he  might  perfect  all  his  travailes  and  victoreyes.'  *  At  Nottingham  he  is 
said  to  have  held  a  court  '  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  nobility  and 
gentlemen  of  the  district  to  render  him  their  honour  and  support.'7 

His  next  recorded  visit  to  the  county  seems  to  be  in  1469  on  his  way 
northward  to  suppress  Robert  of  Redesdale's  rebellion. 8  Closely  following  on 
this  came  his  visit  early  in  1470,  when,  hearing  that  the  earl  of  Warwick, 
now  supporting  Henry,  had  landed  in  England  with  help  from  France,  he 
marched  to  Nottingham,  and  there  proclaimed  Warwick  and  his  adherents 
to  be  traitors.'  In  September,  1470,  he  was  again  at  Nottingham,  where  he 
awaited  the  arrival  of  Thomas,  Lord  Montague,  with  a  strong  force  of  6,000 
men  ;  but  when  Lord  Montague,  '  whom  the  king  loved  entirely,' 10  but 
whose  loyalty  he  had  rewarded  by  giving  him  a  marquisate  with  '  a  pye's 
nest  to  maintain  it  withal,'11  had  arrived  near  Nottingham,  he  suddenly 
declared  for  King  Henry,  and  made  a  retrograde  movement  to  meet  Warwick 
and  Clarence  and  attack  the  king.  But  Alexander  Carlisle,  '  that  was  sarjeant 
of  the  minstrels,'  came  to  the  king  in  great  haste  and  told  him  of  the  treason 
of  Montague.  Whereupon  Edward  fled  '  from  his  host  beside  Nottingham  ' 
to  Bishop's  Lynn  in  Norfolk,  and  thence  to  Holland.12  On  his  return  to 

1  Walsingham,  Hist.  Angl.  (Rolls  Ser.),  ii,  224.  et  seq.  'Froissart  (ed.  Bcrner),  iv,  chap.  78. 

s  Stevenson,  Rec.  of  the  Son.  ofNott.  iii,  409. 

4  For  example,  Thomas  Lord  Roos,  Lord  of  Orston,  in  Notts,   was  one  of  the  lords  deprived  of  their 
estates  by  attainder  for  allegiance  to  Henry,  Cal.  of  Pat.  1461—7,  30. 

4  Cal.  of  Pat.  1461-7,  31.  •  Polydore  Virgil,  Hilt,  of  Hen.  VI,  etc.  (Camd.  Soc.),  1 10. 

7  Thomas  Bailey,  Annals  of  Notts,  i,  329. 

8  Paston  Letters  (ed.  Gairdner),  ii,  361. 

'  Chron.  of  the  White  Rose  (ed.  Giles),  229.  10  Ibid.  29.  "  Stow,  Annals,  422. 

"  Chron.  of  the  White  Rose,  29  ;  Cant.  Hist.  Croyland,  554. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

England  in  March,  1471,  he  landed  at  Ravenspur  in  Yorkshire,  and  came 
south  to  Nottingham,  where,  according  to  Stow,  '  Sir  William  Stanley,  Sir 
William  Norris,  and  divers  others  brought  him  men,  so  that  hee  had  then 
4,000  or  more.'1  Other  chroniclers  mention  also  Sir  William  Parr  and  Sir 
James  Harington,  who  came  '  with  two  good  bands  of  men,  well  arrayed 
and  habled  for  warr,  the  nombarof  VIC  (600)  men,'8  and  Sir  Thomas  Burgh 
and  Sir  Thomas  Montgomerie,  with  their  aids,  '  which  caused  him  at  their 
first  comming  to  make  proclamation  in  his  owne  name,  to  wit,  of  King 
Edward  the  fourth,  boldlie  affirming  to  him  that  they  would  serve  no  man 
but  a  king.' s  While  he  was  at  Nottingham  Edward  '  sent  the  scorers 
alabowte  the  contries  adioynynge  to  aspie  and  serche  yf  any  gadyeryngs  were 
in  any  place  agaynst  hym.'  These  scouts  reported  that  the  duke  of  Exeter, 
the  earl  of  Oxford*  and  others,  with  a  body  of  4,000  men,  were  garrisoned 
against  him  at  Newark.  But  the  duke  and  the  earl,  '  havynge  knowledge 
that  the  sayde  forrydars  of  the  kyng's  had  bene  aforne  the  towne  in  the 
evenynge,'  and  thinking  that  the  whole  army  was  coming  upon  them, 
determined  on  flight,  and  '  erly,  abowte  two  of  the  cloke  in  the  mornynge, 
they  flede  out  of  the  towne,  and  ther  they  lost  parte  of  the  people  that  they 
had  gathered  and  brought  with  them  thethar.'1  The  king,  however, 
directly  he  heard  of  the  gathering  at  Newark,  had  set  out  thither,  but 
learning,  when  he  was  within  three  miles  of  the  town,  that  the  leaders  had 
fled,  he  returned  to  Nottingham,  wishing  '  to  kepe  the  next  and  right  way 
towards  his  sayde  great  Rebell,  th'  Erie  of  Warwick.' "  From  Nottingham 
the  royal  forces  marched  to  Leicester,  and  thence  to  London,  whence  they 
rode  to  Barnet,  where,  '  under  a  hedge-side,  were  ready  assembled  a  great 
people  in  array  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick's.'  Thus  the  scene  of  action  was 
changed  from  north  to  south,  and  Nottinghamshire  had  no  local  part  in  the 
decisive  battles  of  1471. 

During  the  few  unsettled  years  of  his  reign  Richard  III  was  often  at 
Nottingham,  and  seems  to  have  done  much  to  repair  the  damage  done  to 
the  castle  during  the  late  wars.  While  he  was  there,  in  1484,  the  town  was 
the  scene  of  an  important  gathering,  when  ambassadors  came  from  James  III 
of  Scotland,  bringing  a  commission  '  for  the  abstines  of  were  be  twyen 
England  and  Scotland,'  and  '  for  maryage  by  tweyne  the  Prince  of  Scottis, 
and  one  of  the  kynges  blood.' 7  It  was  when  Richard  was  '  kepyng  his  howse 
in  the  castell  of  Notyngham  "in  1485  that  the  news  of  Henry  of  Richmond's 
landing  with  a  small  force  in  Wales  was  brought  to  him. 8  Determined  to 
provide  against  any  unexpected  strength  of  the  enemy,  he  sent  commissions 
to  John  duke  of  Norfolk,  and  other  of  his  supporters,  '  wyllynge  theim  to 
mustre  and  viewe  all  their  servauntes  and  tenentes,  and  to  elect  and  choose 
the  moost  courageous  and  active  persones  of  the  whole  nomber,  and  with  them 
repaire  to  his  presence  with  all  spede  and  diligence.' '  Hearing,  however, 

1  Stow,  Annals,  423. 

*  Hiit.  of  the  Arrival  of  Edw.  IV  (Camd.  Soc.),  7  ;  Cbnn.  of  the  White  Rose  (ed.  Giles),  45-6. 

1  Holinshed,  Ctron.  iii,  680.  This  was  contrary  to  the  promise  of  allegiance  to  Henry  that  Edward  had 
made  to  the  citizens  of  York,  which  '  cast  a  great  shame  and  dolor  into  the  hartcs  of  the  citizens.'  Hall's 
Cbron.  292. 

'  See  Fenn'i  Letters,  ii,  59.  The  earl  of  Oxford,  on  hearing  of  Edward's  arrival,  had  called  upon  the 
gentry  of  his  county  bidding  them  meet  him  at  Lynn  in  full  array  to  proceed  to  Newark  to  meet  the  enemy. 

"  Hut.  of  the  arrival  ofEdw.  IV  (Camd.  Soc.),  8.  •  Ibid.  Chron.  of  the  White  Rose,  62. 

1  Letters,  etc.  Ric.  Ill  and  Hen.  Vll  (Rolls  Ser.),  i,  60-65.  •  HalTs  Chnn.  (ed.  Ellis),  412.  •  Ibid. 

332 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

that  Henry  had  reached  Shrewsbury  unchecked,  he  determined  to  advance, 
and  having  marshalled  his  forces  outside  Nottingham,  '  with  a  frownynge 
countenaunce  and  truculente  aspect,  mounted  on  a  great  white  courser,"  rode 
with  them  to  Leicester  and  to  the  field  of  Bosworth.1 

Nottinghamshire,  thus  actively  concerned  in  the  events  which  made 
Henry  VII  king,  was  once  more  brought  into  the  faction  fight  with  the 
attempt  of  Lambert  Simnel  as  the  tool  of  Irish  and  Yorkist  party  to 
depose  the  king  in  1489.  Aroused  like  the  rest  of  England  to  fight  against 
an  army  composed  of  Irish  and  German  forces,  Nottinghamshire  was  wholly 
with  Henry,  and  welcomed  him  on  his  march  from  Leicester  to  meet  the 
rebel  forces  as  they  advanced  from  Masham,  in  Yorkshire.  At  Nottingham, 
'  by  a  lytle  wood  called  Bowres,  he  pytched  his  feelde,'  and  to  him  came 
George  Talbot,  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  and  many  other  '  valeaunt  capitaynes ' 
and  '  noble  and  expert  men  of  warre,'  for  he  had  ordered  that  '  all  the  persons 
of  the  counties  adjoyning  that  were  hable  and  of  strength  to  cary  weapon 
should  be  ready  in  an  houres  warnynge  in  case  that  any  nede  should  requyre.'2 
On  the  night  of  15  June  'the  king's  hooste  lay  under  the  end  of  that  hill 
towarde  Nottingham  Lentonwarde,  and  his  forward  before  him  to  Nottingham 
bridge,  and  the  Erie  of  Derby's  hooste  on  the  king's  left  hand  to  the  meadows 
beside  Lenton.'  A  council  of  war  was  held  in  Nottingham  Castle,  and  in 
the  morning  the  king  set  out  with  the  army  for  Newark,  accompanied  by 
'  six  goode  and  trewe  men  of  the  village  of  Ratcliffe,  which  showed  his  grace 
the  best  waye  for  to  conduct  his  hooste.'3  Tarrying  a  little  while  at  Newark, 
Henry  marched  three  miles  farther  on,  so  placing  himself  between  the  enemy 
and  Newark,  '  being  loth  that  their  army  should  get  the  commodity  of  that 
town.'  *  The  earl  of  Lincoln  with  the  rebel  force  '  passed  softly  on  his 
journey,'  and  advancing  probably  through  Mansfield  and  Southwell,  forded 
the  Trent,  and  planted  his  camp  '  at  a  lytle  village  called  Stoke,  nygh  to  the 
king  and  his  armye.'  On  the  next  day  Henry  divided  his  army  into  three 
battalions,  and  approached  Stoke, '  where  was  an  equall  and  playne  place  for 
both  parties  to  darreigne  the  battaille.'6  The  armies  joined  and  fought 
'  earnestly  and  sharply,'  and  '  for  a  space  so  sore  and  so  egrely  of  both  partes 
that  no  man  could  well  judge  to  whom  the  victory  was  lyke  to  enclyne.' 
But  at  last  the  king's  vanguard  entered  the  fray  with  such  force  and  violence 
that  the  enemy  fled,  leaving  their  leaders  and  about  4,000  men  slain  on  the 
field.'8 

When  the  beginnings  of  reform  under  Henry  VIII  took  shape  in  the 
dissolution  of  the  lesser  monasteries,  and  aroused  the  conservatism  of  the 
north,  Nottinghamshire  came  once  more  into  history  as  marking  the  southern 
range  of  the  'Pilgrimage  of  Grace.'  Early  in  October,  1536,  rebellion 
was  known  to  be  brewing  in  the  county  and  the  districts  round,  and  the 
rebels  were  gathering  force  at  Newark.  Thus  in  answer  to  a  royal  command 
'  to  repress  all  evil-disposed  persons  lately  assembled  in  those  parts,  and 
apprehend  the  ringleaders  and  examine  them  of  the  grounds  of  the  insur- 
rection,' the  earl  of  Shrewsbury  wrote  from  his  'poor  cot  at  Herdewyche 

1  Hall's  Chron.  (ed.  Ellis),  412.  '  Ibid.  433. 

1  Account  of  herald  quoted  in  full  by  Bailey,  Annals  of  Notts.  i,  347-8. 

4  Bacon,  Hist,  of  Hen.  Vll  (ed.  Murray),  286.  ''Hairs  Chron.  (ed.  Ellis),  434. 

'  Ibid. 

333 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

in  the  forest  of  Shrywood '  that  he  was  inclined  to  gather  all  the  forces  he 
could  at  Nottingham  on  the  following  Sunday.1  Four  days  later  he  reported 
that  the  scouts  whom  he  had  sent  out  to  Newark  had  taken  a  messenger 
from  the  enemy,  who  declared  that  his  only  object  in  bearing  the  missive 
was  to  escape  from  Newark.*  The  news  that  the  rebels  of  Lincolnshire  had 
retired  on  the  duke  of  Suffolk's  arrival  quieted  the  king's  fears,  and  thinking 
that  the  Yorkshire  rebels  would  be  as  quickly  subdued  he  wrote  to  Shrews- 
bury to  advance  upon  them  '  with  my  lords  of  Rutland  and  Huntingdon  and 
all  the  forces  of  Leicestershire  and  Nottinghamshire,'  and  when  all  things 
were  appeased  in  Lincolnshire  and  Holderness  to  dissolve  the  whole  army 
and  come  home,  sending  the  ordnance  to  Nottingham  Castle.3  However, 
the  strength  and  the  disciplined  advance  of  the  rebels  showed  that  stronger 
measures  were  necessary,  and  later  in  the  month  the  king  wrote  to  the  duke 
of  Norfolk,  who  had  been  sent  to  crush  the  insurrection,  suggesting  that 
considering  the  diversity  between  these  and  the  Lincolnshire  rebels  they 
should  first  be  tempered  by  means  of  a  letter,  and  if  this  would  not  serve, 
then  by  force.  Meanwhile  special  care  was  to  be  taken  to  fortify  the  bridges 
of  Nottingham  and  Newark  and  all  other  passages  so  that  the  rebels  should 
have  '  nowhere  any  passage  out  of  Yorkshire.' 4  Wriothesley  reported  this 
command  to  Cromwell,  remarking  that  Norfolk  only  had  2,000  men  with 
him,  '  which  he  thought  enough,'  the  lord  marquis  had  no  more,  and  with 
'  the  Gloucestershire  men  '  the  force  would  only  number  5,ooo.6  The  king 
evidently  realized  how  weak  the  forces  were,  and  how  important  it  was  to 
keep  the  passages  over  the  Trent  and  Don  safe.  Thus  he  wrote  to  Suffolk, 
stationed  at  Lincoln,  concerning  the  fortifying  of  the  passages.  Shrewsbury 
was  near  Doncaster,"  and  had  sent  1,200  men  and  six  pieces  to  Doncaster  and 
Rushington  Bridge  to  keep  the  passages.  In  case  Shrewsbury  should  be 
pressed  by  the  rebels,  or  should  be  forced  to  attack  them  and  be  worsted,  the 
passages  over  the  Trent  must  be  kept,  and  Suffolk  on  receiving  notice  from 
Norfolk  of  any  such  chance  was  to  leave  a  sufficient  force  at  Lincoln,  but 
was  himself  to  repair  to  '  such  places  as  shall  be  thought  fit  for  the  keeping 
of  the  passages.' 7  A  similar  letter  went  to  Norfolk,  ordering  him  to  with- 
draw with  Shrewsbury  to  the  passages  of  Nottingham  and  Newark,  if  the 
rebels  seemed  too  strong,  or  any  of  Shrewbury's  company  should  be  ill- 
disposed,  and  fortify  the  same  '  until  we  can  repair  to  you  with  our  royal 
army,  having  even  more  regard  to  the  defence  of  us  and  of  your  natural 
country  than  to  any  dishonour  that  might  be  spoken  of  such  retirement,  for 
we  assure  you  we  would  not  expose  our  cousins  of  Norfolk  or  Shrewsbury 

1  L.  and  P.  Hen.  fill,  xi,  223.  John  Babyngton  wrote  to  Cromwell  that  he  and  his  cousin  Hersy  were 
doing  their  best  in  the  county  for  the  king's  service.  (Ibid.  p.  245.)  Sir  John  Markham  wrote  in  answer  to 
Cromwell's  inquiry  as  to  '  what  men  he  could  have  within  the  forest  of  Sherwood  by  his  office  of  chief  justice 
of  the  same,  no  man  offended,'  that  he  thought  he  might  have  twenty  of  the  retinue  of  the  town  of  Notting- 
ham and  four  who  filled  offices  granted  by  the  king's  patent.  He  also  stated  that  he  had  given  orders  to  the 
tenants  of  the  suppressed  monasteries  in  Nottingham  to  retain  themselves  to  no  man,  but  be  ready  to  serve  the 
king  in  Cromwell's  retinue.  (Ibid.  p.  222). 

'  Ibid,  xi,  254.  » Ibid. 

Ibid,  xi,  315.  'Ibid,  xi,  329. 

'  It  was  by  this  speedy  march  over  the  Yorkshire  border  to  Doncaster  that  Shrewsbury  saved  Nottingham- 
shire from  being  overrun  by  the  rebels. 

L.  and  P.  Hen.  Pill,  xi,  339.  In  another  letter  dated  14  Nov.  1536,  in  which  the  king  granted 
pardon  to  the  Lincolnshire  rebels,  he  begged  Suffolk  «  remember  his  former  letter  touching  the  fortification  of 
Newark  and  the  passages  there  and  the  withdrawing  of  victual.'  Ibid,  p.  427. 

334 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

or  others  with  you  to  peril  for  any  dominion  we  have  on  this  side  of  Trent.' l 
Concerning  any  promises  Norfolk  might  make  to  the  rebels  to  stay  them 
until  his  force  was  strengthened  Henry  bade  him  '  have  such  temperance  as 
our  honour  shall  remain  untouched  by  any  certain  grant  of  what  you  cannot  cer- 
tainly promise.'  Under  such  orders  as  these a  Norfolk  could  do  little  to  satisfy 
Aske's  conditions  of  peace,  and  the  rebel  forces  which  had  been  disbanded 
were  called  back  to  the  standard  in  the  middle  of  November  and  again 
advanced  to  the  Don.5  However,  in  the  meantime  all  royal  forces  had  been 
kept  in  readiness.  Thus  early  in  November  Nottingham  and  Newark 
Castles  were  reported  to  be  fortified  as  if  for  siege.*  Nottingham  Castle, 
held  by  Thomas  earl  of  Rutland,'  and  the  knights  of  the  county  with  between 
400  and  500  men,  was  laid  round  with  guns  and  stocked  with  provisions  ; 
grain  was  ordered  to  be  brought  in  by  the  county.  There  was  a  new  draw- 
bridge at  the  entry  to  the  castle,  although  the  country  round  was  for  the 
king.  Like  provision  for  grain  was  made  at  Newark,  and  the  captains  there 
had  decided  to  make  a  blockhouse  at  the  bridge  end  and  a  drawbridge  at 
Muskham.  The  '  commons '  were  on  the  king's  side,  but  feared  to  be 
spoiled  like  the  men  of  Lincolnshire.8  The  castle  had  three  '  chesse  '  of  guns, 
and  was  kept  with  700  men.  But  Norfolk,  who  probably  had  much 
sympathy  with  the  rebels,  wrote  to  the  king  on  the  news  of  the  fresh 
gathering  at  Doncaster,7  begging  him  to  grant  a  general  pardon.  The  king's 
answer  showed  a  non-relenting  attitude.  If  the  enemy  was  as  strong  and 
Norfolk's  position  as  weak  as  he  represented  it  was  because  he  had  not  been 
*  so  circumspect  as  he  should  have  been.'  First  he  had  desired  that  Shrews- 
bury should  not  pass  the  Trent  till  he  himself  had  joined  him,  taking  upon 
himself  '  such  knowledge  of  the  county  as  though  he  had  been  able  to  stay 
the  passage  of  the  rebels  and  thereby  defeat  them,'  yet  if  Shrewsbury  had  not 
advanced  early  to  Doncaster  '  the  country  had  been  clearly  overrun  and  a 
great  number  of  our  subjects  spoiled  who  are  now  ready  to  serve  us  against 
the  rebels.'  Then  again,  after  promises  not  to  consider  binding  any  terms  he 
might  make  with  the  rebels,  he  soon  '  fell  to  a  point  with  them,'  and  dissolved 
the  army  'without  any  exploit,  leaving  them  in  force.'  Now  he  writes  that 
if  the  king  '  trust  to  treat  or  do  he  shall  be  deceived,  adding  beside  the 
report  of  sixty  gentlemen  declaring  other  parties  not  to  be  trusted  to.' 8  A 
second  letter  addressed  to  Norfolk  and  others  runs  :  *  We  wonder  you  all 
unite  in  such  desperate  sort  as  though  the  world  would  be  turned  upside 
down  if  we  do  not  agree  to  the  petitions  of  the  rebels  especially  for  a  free 
pardon  and  a  parliament  ...  if  the  rebels  be  as  cankeredly  disposed  and  in 

1L.  and  P.  Hen.  VIII,  xi,  p.  353. 

*  The  uncertainty  of  the  king's  conduct  towards  the  rebels  is  seen  in  two  letters  from  Richard  Cromwell 
to  his  father.  One  recounts  orders  to  march  on  the  morrow  to  Newark  ;  the  other  tells  how  that  day  they 
were  countermanded,  then  renewed  one  night  and  the  next  day  discharged.  'Thus  the  Council  do  and 
undo,  for  they  know  not  what  determination  the  king  has  taken  with  them  in  the  north."  Ibid.  pp.  412,  416. 

1  Ibid,  xi,  450.  '  Ibid,  pp.  415,  465. 

'Thomas  earl  of  Rutland  in  a  letter  to  Cromwell  dated  10  November,  1536,  states  that  'lying  at 
Nottingham  Castle  is  very  chargeable.'  At  Doncaster  his  own  money,  and  that  he  had  of  his  friends,  was 
almost  spent,  and  the  duke  of  Norfolk  sent  him  £500,  which  he  delivered  part  to  Peter  Mewtes  for  conveying 
up  gunners,  part  to  the  masters  of  the  ordnance  here  for  gunners,  part  to  posts  about  Nottingham  and 
Newark,  and  to  divers  gentlemen  for  fortifying  fords  beside  Doncaster,  so  that  he  has  little  over  .£300  left. 
He  has  daily  to  lay  out  money  on  the  castle,  and  doubts  whether  he  will  receive  his  rents  in  Yorkshire — a 
great  part  of  his  living — this  year  or  not.  He  therefore  begs  Cromwell  move  the  king  for  money. 

6  Lord  Burght  and  the  captains  of  Lincolnshire  had  seized  the  people's  harness  in  the  country  round. 

'  L.  and  P.  Hen.  Vlll,  xi,  494.  "  Ibid. 

335 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

as  good  a  readiness  as  you  write  we  marvel  that  neither  you  our  cousin  of 
Shrewsbury  have  been  so  diligent  in  viewing  and  fortifying  the  fords  of  the 
Don  as  we  desired  in  former  letters,  nor  that  you  our  cousin  of  Norfolk  and 
our  admiral  have  devised  upon  the  same  since  your  arrival,  knowing  that  we 
had  the  doing  thereof  so  much  at  heart.  .  .  If  by  your  negligence  the  rebels 
should  .  .  .  cross  the  Don  we  should  think  ourselves  ill  served.'1  Finally, 
however,  the  king  agreed  to  Norfolk's  request,  pardon  was  promised,  and 
the  rebel  forces  disbanded.  During  the  next  year  the  earl  of  Shrewsbury 
was  rewarded  for  his  prompt  measures  to  quell  the  rebellion  by  a  grant  of 
the  lands  and  site  of  the  lately  suppressed  monastery  of  Ruffbrd  in  the  county.* 

The  reigns  of  Edward  VI  and  Mary  seem  to  have  furnished  little 
towards  the  political  history  of  the  county  which,  on  the  whole,  con- 
formed to  the  religious  changes  and  thus  had  small  share  in  the  religious 
rebellions  that  were  rife  during  these  years  for  religion's  sake.  In  Eliza- 
beth's reign,  when  the  north  was  disaffected,  Nottingham  seems  to  have 
remained  loyal.  Thus  in  1569  the  sheriff  reported  to  the  council  that 
Nottingham  was  quiet,  and  that  many  in  the  county  had  subscribed  to  the 
observance  of  the  Statute  of  Uniformity.* 

In  1562  Lord  Robert  Dudley  was  ordered  to  make  preparations  for  a 
meeting  at  Nottingham  between  Queen  Elizabeth  and  Queen  Mary  of 
Scots.  Tilts  were  to  be  set  and  warning  given  to  all  lusty  young  knights 
to  show  feats  of  arms.*  A  letter  was  also  directed  in  July  to  the  sheriff 
of  Nottinghamshire  ordering  him,  since  the  queen  had  determined  to 
meet  the  queen  of  Scots  at  Nottingham  on  3  September  next,  '  bothe  whose 
traines  will  amount  to  4,000  personnes,'  to  repair  *  to  Nottingham,  calling 
unto  him  as  well  the  most  experte  and  skilfull  gentlemen  of  that  shire 
as  of  the  confynes  of  the  shires  adjoining,'  and  there  prepare  for  the 
victualling  of  the  train  of  the  queen  of  Scots.'  There  still  exists  a  scheme 
of  devices  '  to  be  shewed  before  the  Queen's  Majesty  by  way  of  maskinge  at 
Nottingham  Castell  after  the  meeting  of  the  Queen  of  Scots,'  but  these 
devices  were  set  aside  8  since  the  meeting  was  eventually  postponed.7 

As  a  contrast  to  this  suggestion  of  pageantry  comes  a  tale  of  '  most  lewd 
and  foule  parties  and  disorders  committed  in  that  county  '  in  the  years  1592 
and  1593.  The  riots  seem  to  have  been  caused  by  the  erection  of  weirs 
upon  the  River  Trent,  and  the  rioters  among  other  things  defaced  the  coach 
of  Sir  Thomas  Stanhope,  and  set  up  '  vile  pictures '  of  the  earl  of  Shrewsbury, 
the  owners  of  the  weirs.8  Orders  came  from  the  council  to  the  sheriff 
and  justices  of  the  county  to  seize  and  examine  all  suspected  persons  and 
imprison  them  without  bail.  A  few  months  later  came  a  censure  from  the 
council  because  the  justices,  in  spite  of  the  late  commands,  by  their  '  wilful 
negligence  and  partiality,'  had  shown  contempt  of  justice  and  Her  Majesty's 
commands  rather  than  '  yealded  any  show  of  care  '  in  the  performance  of 
their  duties.* 

But  for  Nottinghamshire,  as  for  many  other  counties,  the  history  of 
Elizabeth's  reign  with  its  intricate  foreign  policy  resolves  itself  for  the  most 

1  L.  and  P.  Hen.  viit,  xi,  494  'Ibid,  xii,  pt.  ii,  350. 

'  Cal.  S.  P.  Dom.  1547-80,  pp.  346,  350.  « Ibid.  p.  202. 

*  Jcti  of  P.  C.  vii,  1 10.  •  Lansd.  MS.  v,  No.  38.  Camden,  Annals  for  1562,  p.  60. 

'  4cti  of  P.  C.  vii,  1 14.  8  Ibid,  xxiv,  77.  •  Ibid.  267. 

336 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

part  into  a  long  list  of  muster  rolls.  In  the  critical  years  before  the  Spanish 
Armada,  when  England's  safety  seemed  to  rest  on  such  slender  defences, 
English  forces  had  to  be  sent  to  give  Elizabeth's  half-hearted  aid  to  the  Lords 
of  the  Congregation  against  the  French  faction  in  Scotland,  to  the  Nether- 
landers  against  the  French,  and  to  the  French  against  the  Spaniards.  In  1559 
a  levy  of  200  men  was  ordered  from  Nottinghamshire  to  march  to  Berwick 
to  help  in  the  siege  of  Leith.1  From  Nottingham  itself  went  forty-two  able 
men,  of  whom  ten  were  archers  and  thirty-one  bill  men,  the  latter  having 
twelve  'harnesses'  between  them.3  Again,  in  1573,  when  the  massacre  of 
St.  Bartholomew  made  definite  action  on  Elizabeth's  part  a  necessity,  fresh 
musters  were  ordered  from  the  town  of  Nottingham  to  advance  to  Edinburgh 
for  the  help  of  the  king's  party.3 

The  failure  of  her  shifting  policy  and  the  events  of  1576  drove  the 
queen  into  negotiations  with  the  Low  Countries,  and  in  accordance  with  her 
promise  of  help  fresh  musters  were  ordered  throughout  the  country  in  1577.* 
In  April  of  that  year  the  council  wrote  to  the  commissioner  of  trustees  for 
Nottinghamshire  concerning  the  training  of  the  number  of  men  appointed, 
and  '  signefieing  Her  Majestie's  pleasure  that  fiftie  shalbe  rebated.' 5  Further 
commissions  were  issued  in  1580  and  1581,  when  100  men  from  Nottingham- 
shire were  ordered  to  help  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebels  in  Ireland.' 

From  this  time  until  the  Spanish  Armada  had  become  a  thing  of  the 
past  all  energies  were  concentrated  on  preparations  for  defence  against  the 
threatened  attack  of  Spain.  Thus  in  1580  musters  were  taken  '  not  to  charge 
men  in  any  foreign  service,'  but  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  realm  in  case 
of  any  rebellion  or  invasion.7  A  change  seems  to  have  been  made  in  the  list 
of  horsemen  to  be  maintained  by  the  county  of  Nottingham.  The  rate  of 
assessment  for  the  subsidy  of  that  year  was  two  light  horse  from  land  worth 
^Tio,  a  lance  and  a  light  horse  from  land  worth  £20,  a  lance  and  two  light 
horse  from  land  worth  £30,  and  two  lances  and  two  light  horse  from  land 
worth  £40. 8  The  gentlemen  of  the  county  were  required  to  attend  a  muster 
at  Newark  in  January,  1581,  and  those  'expected  to  show  horses'  were 
sixty-four  in  number.9  Several  pleas  for  exemption  were  put  forward. 
Sir  John  Byron  wrote  to  the  lord-lieutenant  that  as  he  was  now  sheriff  of 
Lancashire  he  trusted  he  would  not  be  '  charged  in  Nottinghamshire.' 10  Sir 
Francis  Willoughby  stated  that  he  could  not  provide  the  lances  and  horsemen 
and  their  furniture  by  the  time  appointed  '  because  the  county  yields  not  the 
same  upon  the  sudden,'  but  would  send  two  lances  and  two  light  horse.11 
Edward  Stanhope  petitioned  that  '  being  a  younger  brother  and  having  no 
residence  in  Nottinghamshire,'  he  should  be  excused  from  providing  a  demi- 
lance and  a  light  horse.13  In  January,  1588,  the  beginning  of  the  critical 
year,  the  earl  of  Rutland,  with  the  consent  of  the  gentlemen  of  Nottingham- 
shire, decided  that  the  county  should  furnish  1,400  footmen  of  whom  400 
were  to  be  selected  at  once.13  The  quota  originally  required  from  the  county 

Hist.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  xii,  pt.  iv.  vol.  i,  71. 

Ibid.  p.  70.  *  Acts  of  P.  C.  viii,  107. 

Hist.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  xii,  pt.  iv,  vol.  i,  1 12.  *  Acts  of  P.  C.  ix,  335. 

Ibid,  xiii,  45.     Hut.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  xii,  pt.  iv.  vol.  i,  1 19.  7  Ibid.  p.  125. 

Ibid.  p.. 123.  '  Ibid.  p.  124. 

10  Ibid.  p.  125.  "  Ibid.  "  Ibid. 

13  The  numbers  for  Nottinghamshire  according  to  the  musters  of  1574  and   1575  are  omitted  in   Peck's 
Desiderata  Curiosa.     See  vol.  i,  liber  ii,  75. 

i  337  43 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

was  2,000,  but  since  the  earl  had  abated  600  from  this  number  the  gentlemen 
of  the  shire  promised  '  to  persuade  all  persons  able  to  do  so,  over  and  above 
their  contributions,  to  provide  themselves  with  private  armour  and  weapons  for 
their  own  furniture.'  The  earl  was  to  be  informed  of  all  persons  who  were 
of  the  ability,  and  refused  to  furnish  themselves  as  aforesaid.1  Fresh  orders 
were  issued  in  May,  1589,  'for  musters  and  getting  in  readiness  of  horsemen, 
footmen,  pioneers,  powder,  matches,  and  such  like,  and  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  beacons.'  Also  '  to  maintain  the  peace  in  those  parts  and  to  suppress 
all  riots  and  rebellion.'8  The  earl  of  Shrewsbury  wrote  to  his  brother-in-law 
Sir  John  Manners  concerning  these  musters  that  there  might  be  '  default  in 
the  selected  bands  of  footmen  '  and  thus  he  hoped  that  Sir  John  and  some  of 
the  justices  would  view  them  before  the  day  originally  fixed.  The  greatest 
want  he  thought  would  be  of  powder  and  match.3 

After  the  success  of  1588  England  turned  to  give  help  to  France  since 
Henry  of  Navarre  was  now  king.  In  June,  1591,  an  army  of  3,000  men  was 
to  be  sent  to  Normandy  *  for  the  succour  of  the  French  kinge,'  and  of  these 
a  contingent  of  150  was  ordered  from  Nottingham  to  be  shipped  at  Hull.4 
In  July  an  order  was  sent  to  the  mayor  of  Nottingham  that  the  town  of 
Nottingham  should  contribute  '  towards  the  furnishing  of  the  armour  and 
weapon  and  other  necessary  and  incident  thinges  and  charges  for  those 
nombers  now  to  be  leavied  in  that  countie.' 5  Recruits  to  the  number  of  fifty 
were  required  from  the  county  in  August  of  the  next  year  for  the  '  aid  of  the 
French  kinge  in  Britaigni.' 6  Five  of  these  recruits  seem  to  have  been 
unwilling  to  serve  abroad  and  to  have  '  runn  away  from  their  generall  at 
the  place  where  they  should  have  embarked.'  They  with  others  who  had 
deserted  from  various  counties  were  to  be  committed  to  prison  and  punished 
as  '  shalbe  thought  agreable  with  the  qualitie  of  their  offence. ' 7  Levies  were 
again  ordered  for  service  in  Ireland  in  June,  1 594,  and  forty  foot  and  two  horse 
were  required  from  Nottinghamshire.8  Concerning  these  it  was  reported 
that  Nicholas  Hamerton  and  John  Elvas  had  shown  themselves  '  back- 
ward and  undutyfull '  in  service  and  were  ordered  accordingly  to  appear 
before  the  council.9  In  March,  1595,  the  forty  footmen  were  ordered  to  be 
sent  to  Ireland,  '  sorted  with  their  armor,  weapons,  and  other  furniture  as 
before  prescribed,  that  is  one  half  of  the  whole  to  be  shott,  whereof  one-fourthe 
parte  to  be  muskettes,  the  other  half  of  the  whole  to  be  armed  with  corselettes 
and  pikes  savinge  some  few  halbertes.'  Besides  these  fourteen,  others  were  to 
be  kept  in  readiness  for  future  service.10  A  new  levy  of  100  men  was  ordered 
from  the  county  for  service  in  Ireland  in  1598,"  and  a  further  levy  of  £120 
for  '  the  provyding  of  fower  light  horse.'  Concerning  the  raising  of  the  latter 
the  council  wrote  to  the  high  sheriff  and  commissioners  censuring  '  the  back- 
ward and  obstinacy  of  them  whose  abilities  are  known  to  be  of  suche  as  they 
have  no  cause  to  pretend  any  excuse  (for  refusing  payment)  but  of  a  perverse 
disposition.'1  In  June,  1600,  came  a  new  requirement  of  fifty  foot  from  the 
county  for  Ireland.  The  choice  of  'serviceable  and  sufficient'  men  was 
emphasized  and  a  special  warning  given  against  the  '  evill  choise  '  of  '  lewd  and 
dissolute  persons,'  such  as  those  who  '  contynewallie  either  runne  awaie  before 

1  Hist.  MSS.  Cam.  Rep.  xii,  pt.  iv.  vol.  i,  235.  '  Ibid.  p.  272.  '  Ibid. 

4  Acts  of  P.  C.  xxi,  221.  5  Ibid.  •  Ibid,  xxiii,  135. 

'  Ibid.  p.  214.  o  Ibid,  xxv,  6.  '  Ibid. 

10  Ibid.  48,  263.  "  Ibid,  xxviii,  609.  "  Ibid,  xxx,  67. 

338 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

they  come  to  embarque  or  abandon  their  service  very  soone  after  comming 
into  Ireland.'  Special  conditions  were  also  made  as  to  the  arming  and 
apparelling  of  the  soldiers.1  Later  in  the  same  year  came  a  fresh  demand  for 
fifteen  men  from  the  county  to  proceed  from  Chester  to  Lough  Foyle  in  the 
north  of  Ireland.  As  there  had  been  moderation  used  in  the  number 
demanded  so  Her  Majesty  had  like  regard  in  the  '  arming  and  apparrelling '  of 
the  men  '  to  deminishe  the  charge  of  the  county,'  and  therefore  it  should 
suffice  that  they  were  furnished  with  '  harquebuses,  murrions,  bandolyers,  and 
Turkey  swords  with  especiall  good  baskett  hiltes,'  while  for  their  apparel  they 
must  have  '  well  lyned  cassockes,'  and  must  be  provided  with  '  hose  and 
shooes,'  while  for  their  coats  there  should  be  the  ordinary  government 
allowance  of  4^.  the  piece.3 

Meanwhile  the  government  was  also  occupied  in  seeing  that  the  home 
forces  of  the  country  were  properly  mustered  and  equipped.  Thus,  early  in 
1595,  a  letter  was  addressed  to  the  mayor  and  burgesses  of  Nottingham, 
requiring  that  the  commissioners  for  musters  for  that  shire  should  '  take  view 
of  soch  able  men  and  souldiers  as  that  towne  hath  heretofore  enrolled  and 
prepared,  and  see  them  trayned  with  the  rest  of  the  shire.' s  This,  the  letter 
expressly  stated,  was  not  meant  to  be  an  infringement  on  the  liberties  of  the 
burgesses,  but  in  order  that  a  true  certificate  might  be  sent  to  the  council  of 
the  state  of  all  the  forces  in  the  county.*  Special  care  was  advised  in  1596 
that  the  leadership  of  the  Nottingham  trained  bands  should  not  be  committed 
to  any  '  Recusant  in  any  sort.' 6  Certificates  of  the  musters  were  sent  to  the 
council  in  June,  i  596,  and  were  acknowledged  by  a  letter  thanking  the  sheriff 
and  commissioners  for  their  pains  and  '  prayeinge  and  requiringe '  them  that 
as  they  had  taken  '  good  order  with  the  footbandes  for  change  of  their  armes  6 
....  and  for  supplie  of  their  defectes,' so  they  would  '  take  a  better  view 
of  the  horses  ....  the  nomber  whereof  we  are  sorie  to  fynde  decayed.' 7 
Concerning  the  provision  of  powder,  match,  and  bullets  to  remain  '  in 
stoare '  in  the  county,  the  council  advised  of  powder,  1,600  Ib.  weight  ;  of 
match,  400  Ib.  weight  ;  of  bullets,  i,6oolb.  or  thereabouts.8  A  general  order 
to  increase  all  stores  of  powder,  match,  and  bullet  came  in  November,  1596, 
on  account  of  '  the  great  preparacions  the  king  of  Spain  doth  make,'  together 
with  another  command  that  all  the  inrolled  numbers  of  the  county,  both  of 
horse  and  foot,  should  be  again  viewed  and  mustered.9  Although  Notting- 
hamshire is  not  included  in  the  great  list  of  musters  of  Elizabeth's  reign,10  a 
paper,  compiled  about  1607—8,  gives  the  total  number  of  '  able  men  '  available 
from  the  county  at  4,000.  Of  these  1,500  were  armed  men,  100  were 
pioneers,  18  were  demi-lances,  and  100  light  horse.11 

The  reign  of  James  I,  and  the  early  years  of  Charles  I  carry  on  the  long 
list  of  musters.1*  In  1621  the  commissioners  reported  that  the  Nottinghamshire 

I  Acts  ofP.C.  xxviii,  412-6.  '  Ibid.  790,  796-?. 

3  The  proportion  furnished  by  the  town  seems  to  have  been  sixteen    trained   soldiers   and  twenty-four 
bowyers,  maintained  by  private  individuals.     Rec.  of  Bora.  ofNott. 

4  Acts  ofP.C.  xxv,  9.  >  Ibid.  p.  41 1. 

*  A  general  attempt  was  being  made  to  convert  '  the  bowes  .  .  .  unto  callyvers  and  muskettes.'  See 
ibid.  27.  'Ibid.  p.  462.  8  Ibid.  9  Ibid.  292-5. 

10  See  Peck,  Desiderata  Curiosa,  vol.  i,  liber  ii,  75  ;  and  Ordinances  of  the  Royal  Household  (Soc.  Antiq.). 

II  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  on  MSS.  of  Lord  Montagu  of  Beaulieu,  8 1. 

"  Levies  were  constantly  needed  for  foreign  service,  as  in  1625,  when  150  men  were  raised  in  the  county. 
Cal.  S.P.  Dom,  1625-6,  46)  ;  and  again  in  1627,  when  100  soldiers  were  required  for  the  service  of  the  king 
of  Denmark  (ibid.  284). 

339 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

bands,  both  trained  and  untrained,  were  in  good  condition,  except  that  the 
horse  were  lessened  by  the  creation  of  some  barons  who  claimed  exemption, 
as  did  some  of  the  king's  servants.1  In  1622  the  bands  were  ordered  to  be 
ready  for  instant  service,  and  to  suppress  riots  if  any  should  occur.3  Three 
years  later  the  store  of  powder  in  the  county  was  considered  insufficient,8  and 
in  1626  William,  Viscount  Mansfield,  wrote  to  Secretary  Conway  that  in 
Nottinghamshire,  although  the  '  Muscatires  '  were  reasonably  well  '  for  pikes 
and  corslets,  there  were  not  above  six  in  the  whole  shire  right  as  they  should 
be.'  *  He  also  reported  that  he  had  '  taken  his  own  credit '  to  supply  the 
deficiencies  of  the  county  musters,  and  promised  to  do  his  utmost  to  procure 
a  benevolence  from  the  county,  but  feared  they  would  be  governed  by  *  ill 
precedents  and  factions,  the  dregs  of  the  last  Parliament.' 6 

Already,  indeed,  the  county  as  a  whole  was  beginning  to  revolt  against 
the  illegal  schemes  fashioned  to  meet  the  financial  difficulties  of  the  Stuarts. 
In  January,  1626,  Sir  Gervase  Clifton  had  reported  concerning  the  forty-five 
loans  demanded  under  the  Privy  Seal  that  he  had  received  amounts  to  £500 
from  thirty-four  persons.  Five  persons  (assessed  together  at  £100)  had  been 
silent  or  refused,  and  six  others  (assessed  together  at  £90)  had  sent  excuses.6 
Again,  in  September,  1626,  the  forced  loan  was  met  by  a  refusal  of  'the 
people  in  general,  save  a  few  whose  offer  amounted  to  £70  ....  to  give 
to  His  Majesty  otherwise  than  by  Parliament,  which  they  alleged  to  be  the 
ordinary  way.'7  However,  in  February,  1627,  the  commissioner  for  the 
loan  reported  that,  though  the  country  at  first  was  '  not  a  little  perplexed  at 
the  height  of  the  demand,  and  the  manner  of  it  as  not  being  included  in 
Parliament,'  it  had  ultimately  been  persuaded  to  submit  '  on  allowance  of 
certain  exceptions  and  the  giving  of  time.' e  Moreover,  the  gentlemen  and 
others  of  the  town  of  Nottingham  '  willingly  assented  to  the  loan,'  and  pro- 
mised 'to  pay  down  half  at  once  (i.e.  .£129),'  and  the  residue  in  three 
months.' 10  Yet,  though  the  county  had  yielded,  there  was  a  general  simmering 
of  discontent,11  and  this,  added  to  the  ravages  of  the  plague,  in  1630  and 

1  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1619-23,  262.  '  Ibid.  427.  'Ibid.  1625-6,  377. 

4  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1625-6,  406.  *  Ibid. 

6  S.P.  Dom.  Chas.  I,  xix,  No.  21.  Of  the  latter  George  J.iques  petitioned  that  he  had  no  land  but  a 
poor  cottage  worth  4O/.  a  year  ;  that  he  lived  upon  a  farm  which,  with  a  high  rent,  was  scarcely  worth 
£30  per  annum,  yet  was  the  cheapest  of  his  means,  as  for  the  estate  and  goods  inherited  from  his  uncle, 
brother,  and  mother  there  were  at  the  most  but  £1,000,  and  of  this  he  had  not  a  sixth.  Added  to  this  slender- 
ness  of  estate  he  was  £200  in  debt,  to  be  paid  by  Candlemas  next.  Gabriel  Armestreye  made  the  quaint 
excuse,  '  not  forged  to  avoid  it  (the  loan),  but  most  true,'  that  he  had  great  expenses  since  he  had  '  twelve 
children  living,  and  more  than  one  hundred  children  and  children's  children  alive  and  dead.'  George  Abell 
had  too  little  money  for  himself  and  family  since  he  had  no  land,  having  lately  sold  it,  no  house  of  his 
own,  and  many  children.  Alexander  Stowe  was  already  overwhelmed  with  many  debts  he  could  not  pay, 
and  his  lands,  'not  being  above  £15  per  annum,'  he  had  a  year  ago  conferred  on  his  son  in  marriage, 
half  in  possession,  half  in  reversion.  Thomas  Grantham  wrote,  '  I  presume  by  this  time  you  take  notice 
that  Mrs.  Sacheverill  hath  changed  her  name,  so  as  wee  must  both  entreate  you  to  make  a  faire  excuse 
on  our  behalfe.  And  in  so  doing  I  shalbe  reddye  to  performe  the  like  kindness  to  any  of  yor  freindes 
in  Lincolnshire.'  Richard  Welshe  wrote  that  about  four  years  ago  he  had  bestowed  most  of  his  estate  on  his 
eldest  son  in  marriage,  and  had  since  had  losses,  '  the  vallew  of  two  hundred  pounds  in  cattle  and  other 
sheepe,  beinge  by  trade  a  butcher,  by  reason  whereof  I  am  greatly  impoverished  in  my  estate.' 

'  Ibid.  p.  434.  '  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1627-8,  65.  •  Ibid.  338.  I0  Ibid.  53. 

"  This  is  seen  in  connexion  with  the  muster  levies  of  1 63  3.  The  earl  of  Newcastle  reported  many  defects 
and  many  refractory  persons  in  the  county.  Thomas  Flower,  of  Askham,  was  especially  censured  since  he  had 
refused  to  '  show  his  arms '  with  '  such  sauciness '  that  if  some  course  '  were  not  taken  to  reform  him  his 
Majesty's  service  would  much  suffer.'  He  had  also  '  denied  to  compound  for  knighthood,'  and  when  threatened 
with  a  summons  before  the  council  had  answered  that  '  he  knew  his  way  well  enough  thither,  and  it  was  but 
buying  a  new  pair  of  shoes  more'  (ibid.  1633-4,  28')-  BX  APril>  l634»  tnis  same  Thomas  had  been  brought 
to  conformity  by  the  council  (ibid.  p.  561). 

340 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

1 63 1,1  made  it  in  little  humour  to  meet  the  fresh  burden  of  ship-money.    By  the 
levy  of  1635  the  county  was  assessed  at  £3,509,  of  which  £200  was  due  from 
Nottingham,  >T 1 20  from  Newark,  and  £30  from  Retford.*     At  the  assess- 
ment no  one  seems  to  have  been  refractory  except  Gervase  Markham,3  who 
wrote  to  the  sheriff  taxing  him  with  favouritism  in  the  assessment,  and  com- 
plaining of  the  great  and  intolerable   oppression,  and  stating  that  '  if  he  had 
been  commanded  to  present  to  him  his  head  he  would  as  willingly  have  done 
it.'  *     However,  when  the  sheriff  came  to  gather  in  the  money  there  were 
few   that  would   pay   without    distraint,   yet   though   it    was  '  much   to  his 
trouble,'  he  got  the  money  at  last.6     In  March,  1636,  £3,200  of  the  £3, 500 
charged  on  the  county  was  paid  over  by  the  sheriff,*  and  the  remainder,  it  was 
thought,  would  be  paid  by  the  end  of  September.7     However,  in  January, 
1637,  the  under-sheriff  wrote  that  the  late  sheriff  was  'fourscore  years  of  age, 
and  little  able  to  go  through  such  a  weighty  business  as  ship-money.'      Only 
£30  then  remained  in  arrear,  and  of  this,  Newark,  he  stated,  was  'behind  £20, 
whereof  the  earl  of  Berkshire,  as  the  late  mayor  telleth  me,  should  pay  £10, 
and  the  town  is  poor.'8     In  the  assessment  of  1637  the  hundreds  of  Newark, 
Hatfield,  South  Clay  and  North  Clay  were  more  heavily  assessed  than  those  of 
the  north  division,  and  complained  that  the  sheriff,  Sir  Francis  Thornhaugh, 
had  favoured  the  part  of  the  county  in  which  he  lived.      This  he  disclaimed, 
contending  that  if,  as  the  complainants  asserted,  the  king's  service  should  suffer 
in  this  matter  it  would  be  by  their  unjust  interruption,  and  not  by  his  assess- 
ment.9    In  March,  1638,  he  wrote  to  Secretary  Nicholas  that  £650  had  been 
sent  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Navy,  and  that  he  hoped  to  send  more  about  May 
or  Whitsuntide,  but  '  money  is  scarce  in   the   county,  and  you  know   how   I 
have  [been]  troubled  about   the   assessment.      I  have  neither  spared   care  nor 
pains  since  I  came  down  into  the  country.     There  is  nobody  denies,  but  only 
desires  a  little  more  time.'10     Arrears  for  1637  were  still  not  paid  by  1639. 
In  the  May  of  that  year  Sir  Francis  reported  that  Ambrose  Wade,  one  of  the 
chief  constables  of  the   hundred  of  Broxton,  had  retained  £39  i6s.,  part  of 
the  £250  6j.  $d.  charged  on  that  hundred,  and  that  the  town  of  Newark  was 
in  arrear  £i  I,  being  part  of  the  £80  charged  on  the  town.      The  mayor  of 
Newark  and  Ambrose  Wade   were  therefore   ordered   to   pay   the  said  sums 
within  eight  days  or  appear  before  the  council.11      For  the  levy  of    1638   the 
sheriff  Lord  Chaworth  reported  the  payment  of  £700  towards  the  full  sum 
required  from  the  county,  and  begged  that  the   council  should  suggest  some 
mode  of  procedure  in  cases  where  he  had  been  bidden  to  get  the  ship-money 

1  Thus  in  December,  1630,  many  parts  of  the  county  were  'so  extremely  visited  in  the  plague'  that  the 
musters  could  not  be  taken  with  safety  (Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1629-31,  414). 

1  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1635-6,  253. 

1  The  Markham  family  seems  to  have  been  generally  recalcitrant.  Thus  in  July,  1635,  Thomas  Markham, 
a  cousin  of  Gervase,  was  accused  of  being  in  the  company  of  a  John  Bensford  and  others  the  day  after  a 
training  of  the  horses  of  the  county  at  Newark,  when  certain  disloyal  words,  overheard  and  reported  by  a  beggar 
woman,  had  been  spoken  concerning  the  king.  Markham  was  examined  by  the  bishop  of  York,  but  denied 
that  such  words  were  spoken,  protesting  that  he  himself  was  ready  to  spend  his  life  in  His  Majesty's  defence 
(Ibid.  1635,  272).  A  further  letter  of  February,  1536,  states  that  Mr.  Gervase  Markham  was  the  only  person 
in  the  county  who  was  refractory  (Ibid.  216).  In  the  next  month  he  was  suing  for  pardon  '  in  humblest 
manner  that  his  heart  can  devise  or  a  delinquent  poor  prisoner  .  .  .  express  himself.'  (Ibid.  1635—6,  290). 

4  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1635-6,  II.  6  Ibid.  p.  190.  '  Ibid.  268. 

7  Ibid.  1636,  92.    '  '  Ibid.  p.  1 86. 

9  Ibid.  1637-8,  43,  159,  184.  10  Ibid.  327. 

"  Ibid.  1639,  241.  However,  in  1640,  the  sheriff  for  that  year  signified  that  Ambrose  Wade  was  'dead 
intestate  and  of  small  estate.'  Ibid.  1640,244. 

341 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

if  he  could,  while  the  men  who  bade  him  get  it  kept  their  gates  and  fences 
so  well  maintained  that  '  no  distress  could  be  drawn  out  but  by  force.' l 
Earlier  in  the  year  he  sent  to  the  council  a  petition  presented  by  the  poor 
inhabitants  of  Newark,  complaining  of  '  being  overrated  towards  the  business 
of  shipping.'  They  pleaded  that  because  of  the  smallness  of  their  trade,  the 
poorness  of  the  people,  and  the  removal  of  '  gentlemen  and  able  men  who 
formerly  dwelt  there  and  contributed  to  the  taxes,'  the  levy  of  £45  towards 
ship-money  was  more  than  the  weak  estate  of  the  town  could  support.*  The 
council  required  the  sheriff  to  examine  the  allegations,  and  if  the  town  were 
overcharged  then  the  proportion  was  to  be  '  eased,'  but  what  was  taken  off 
was  to  be  levied  in  the  county  elsewhere,  '  which  is  either  too  easily  rated,  or 
may  better  bear  it.'  *  As  a  result  Newark  was  eased  of  £4.0,  which  was 
imposed  on  the  rest  of  the  county.4 

Sir  Thomas  Williamson,  sheriff  for  the  next  year,  was  able  to  collect 
£600  or  £700  towards  the  charge  on  the  county,  but  spent  it  at  a  later  date 
in  raising  a  garrison  for  the  king  at  Newark.' 

Meanwhile  the  attention  of  the  king  was  being  directed  to  Scotch 
affairs,  and  already  in  December,  1638,  and  January,  1639,  the  lord- 
lieutenants  of  the  northern  counties,  Nottingham  among  them,  had  been 
notified  that  by  reason  of  '  the  extraordinary  and  unexpected  occasion  '  at 
hand  they  should  prepare  the  forces  and  strength  of  their  counties  to  prevent 
such  disorders  as  might  otherwise  fall  on  the  kingdom.'  An  order  also  went 
out  that,  owing  to  the  great  want  of  armourers,  gunsmiths,  swordmakers,  and 
bandoleer-makers  those  skilled  in  these  trades  should  be  allowed  to  set  up  and 
exercise  any  of  the  said  trades  as  freemen  of  the  corporation  of  any  of  the 
Nottinghamshire  towns,  as  of  all  the  counties  of  the  north.7  In  February, 
1639,  Captain  Roger  Bradshaw  reported  to  Windebank  concerning  the 
Nottinghamshire  horse  and  foot.  The  footmen  numbered  1,033  besides 
officers,  the  arms  of  the  pikemen  were  '  passable,'  but  for  '  musketeers ' 
he  had  '  defected  a  great  number  by  reason  of  the  weight  and  length, 
some  weighing  18  or  20  Ibs.,  for  no  man  is  able  to  do  service  with 
them.'  The  horse  numbered  sixty-one,  and  both  horse  and  arms  were 
good,  except  a  few  pistols  which  he  had  '  defected.'  The  magazine  was 
2 1  lasts  of  powder,  2j  tons  of  match,  and  2§  tons  of  lead.8  In  1640,  300  foot 
soldiers,  fifty  horses,  and  seventeen  carters  were  required  from  the  county,  *  • 
and  the  lord-lieutenant  promised  they  should  be  in  readiness  at  time  and 
place  appointed.  The  numbers  actually  sent  were  300  men  and  three 
drummers.10  Although  the  war  with  Scotland  was  nominally  ended 
by  the  Treaty  of  Ripon,  the  strain  it  had  involved  on  the  revenue  made 
the  Long  Parliament  a  necessity,  and  with  the  Long  Parliament  came  the 
Civil  War. 

The  period  of  the  Civil  War  was  one  of  the  most  eventful  in  the  history 
of  Nottinghamshire.  There  was  a  strong  royalist  element  in  the  county,  and 

1  Cal.  S.P.  Dam.  1639,  '5°-  '  Ibid.  1638-9,  234,  and  1639,  '34- 

Ibid.  1639,  '34-  4  Ibid.  1639-40,  465. 

4  Pror.  of  Committee  for  Advance  of  Money,  i,  90.  In  March,  1 662,  Sir  Thomas  was  '  discharged  £500  ship- 
money  levied  in  co.  Notts,  during  his  shrievalty,  and  by  him  paid  in  1 648  for  the  use  of  the  garrison  of  Newark.' 
Col.  S.P.  Dam.  1661-2,  312. 

•Ibid.  1638-9,  pp.  155,  307.  'Ibid.  p.  373. 

•Ibid.  444.  'Ibid.  1640,  p.  272.  "Ibid.  p.  544. 

342 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

thus  Mrs.  Hutchinson  writes  that  whereas  '  some  counties  were  in  the  begin- 
ning so  wholly  for  the   Parliament  that  the  king's  interest  appeared  not  in 
them  ;  some  were  so  wholly  for  the  king  that  the  godly,  for  those  generally 
were   the   Parliament's  friends,  were  forced  to  forsake  their  habitations  and 
seek  other  shelters  :   of  this  sort   was   Nottinghamshire.' l      All  the  nobility 
and  gentry  and  their  dependents  were  generally  for  the  king,  and  among 
them  were  the  earl  of  Newcastle,  the  earl  of  Kingston,  who  '  a  few  months 
stood  neuter,'  until  at  length  '  his  fate  drew  him  to  declare  himself  absolutely 
on  the  king's  side,'  Lord  Chesterfield,  Lord  Chaworth,  the  earl  of  Clare,  who 
was  '  very  often  of  both  parties,  and  .   .  .  never  advantaged  either,'  Sir  John 
Byron,  and  Sir  John  Savill.     Of  the  'parliament  men  '  Mr.  Sutton,  afterwards 
Lord  Lexington  and  Sir  Gervase  Clifton  '  forsook  the  Parliament,  went  to  the 
king  and  executed  his  commission  of  array.'     Others  who  were  firm  to  the 
Parliament  were  Mr.  Hutchinson  and   Mr.   Henry  Ireton.2      Knowing  the 
strength   of  his  party  in  the  county  the  king  was  quick  to  visit  first  Newark 
and  then  Nottingham  and  gather  his  forces.      In  July,  1642,  he  convened  a 
meeting  at  Newark  of  all  the  principal  gentry  and  landowners  of  the  county, 
and  declared  that  whereas  he  went  to  other  places  'to  confirm  and  undeceive' 
his  subjects,  he  had  come  there  only  to  '  thank  and  encourage  '  them.3     A 
few  days  later  he  went  on  to  Nottingham,  where  he  held  a   similar  meeting 
and  summoned   the  trained   bands  which   were   arrayed   under   Sir   Gervase 
Clifton.4     The  mayor,  Alderman  James,   a  parliament  man — '  a  very  honest 
bold  man  with  no  more  but  a  burgher's  discretion  ' 6 — had  refused  twice  to 
go    to   York    at    the    king's   command,    and    had    not   published   the  king's 
proclamations,  and   the  king,  though  he  accepted  the  mace,  '  gave  him  no 
hand   to   kiss.' 8      By    1 2   August   the   king   was   again   at   York,   where   he 
published  his  proclamation  requiring  the  aid  and  assistance  of  all  his  '  well- 
affected  subjects  north  of  the  Trent   .   .   .  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
and  the  protection   of  his  subjects  from  that   slavery  and   insolvency  which 
threatened   them.'7     By    17   August   he   was  at   Newark,  the   next   day  at 
Southwell,   and   the   next   at   Nottingham,   where  he  reviewed    the   cavalry. 
On    Monday,    22   August,    came   the   formal    declaration    of   war   with    the 
setting    up    of    the    royal    standard    at    Nottingham.      A    letter    printed    in 
Remarkable  Passages  from  Nottingham  gives  the  graphic  account  of  an   eye- 
witness :    '  His   Majesty  came   into   the   castle    yard    accompanied   with   the 
prince-duke  Prince  Robert  (Rupert)  and  Maurice  his  brother,  the  duke  of 
Richmond,   and   divers  others,   courtiers   and  cavaliers,  and  finding  out  the 
highest  pointed  hill  in  the  yard  from  whence  it  might  be  perspicuous  the 
standard  was  brought  in  and  there  erected.       At  which  time  all  the  courtiers 
and  spectators  flung  up  their  caps  and  whooped  crying  :   "  God  save  King 
Charles  and   hang  up  the  Roundheads "  !  and  so  whooped  the  king  to  his 
lodgings.     After  which  the  standard  was  removed  to  the  highest  tower  of 
the  castle,  where  it  hangs  blowing,  and  so  must  till  the  king  advanceth  his 

1  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  Memoirs  of  Col.  Hutchinson  (Bohn  ed.),  p.  116. 

'  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit,  pp.  117-8. 

5  Rushworth,  Hist.  Coll.  iii,  vol.  i,  653. 

4  Truths  from  Nott.  and  Leic.  (B.M.  Pamphlets,  669,  fol.  657). 

'Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  13*. 

*  Truths  from  Natt.  and  Leic.  April,  1642  (B.M.  Pamphlets,  669,  fol.  657). 

'Clarendon,  Hist,  of  Great  Rebellion,  ii,  275. 

343 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

camp  forward  ;  then  it  removes  with  him.' l  Drums  were  beating  about 
Nottingham  for  volunteers  for  the  king,  troops  of  horse  were  coming  to  be 
billeted  on  the  county,  and  already  rapine  and  spoil  was  being  committed 
about  Nottingham  ;  gentlemen's  nouses  were  ransacked,  and  '  one  Master 
Needham's  oune  cart '  was  made  to  '  bring  away  to  Nottingham  bedding, 
linen,  pewter,  butter,  cheese,  and  other  things  out  of  his  house,'  because  he 
was  '  accounted  a  Roundhead.'  * 

Three  days  after  the  setting  up  of  the  standard,  the  king  by  the  advice 
of  his  council  sent  a  message  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament  hoping  to  find 
*  some  remedy  to  prevent  the  miseries  which  are  ready  to  overwhelm  the 
whole  nation  by  a  civil  war,'  and  proposing  a  treaty  between  himself  and 
Parliament. 8  The  Houses  answered  that  the  king  by  his  proclamations  and 
declarations  against  Parliament  and  by  setting  up  his  standard  had  put  '  the 
two  Houses  of  Parliament  and  in  them  the  whole  kingdom '  out  of  his 
protection,  and  until  His  Majesty  should  recall  the  proclamation  and  take 
down  the  standard  the  Houses  for  '  the  good  and  safety  of  the  kingdom ' 
could  give  him  no  answer.  The  king  answered  that  he  never  had  declared 
the  Houses  traitor,  nor  set  up  the  standard  against  them,  and  if  they  would 
revoke  all  their  proclamations  made  against  his  party  he  would  do  the  same 
and  would  take  down  the  standard.4  The  Parliament  unmoved  returned  the 
same  answer  as  before,  and  declared  that  the  arms  they  had  been  forced  to 
take  up  should  not  be  laid  down  until  His  Majesty  should  withdraw  his 
protection  from  such  persons  as  had  been  voted  delinquents  by  both  Houses.' 
Meanwhile  on  30  August  the  men  of  Nottinghamshire  presented  a  petition 
to  the  king,  '  humbly  imploring  his  sacred  Majesty  to  returne  and  joyne 
with  both  his  Houses  of  Parliament,'  and  to  take  down  the  standard.  There- 
upon His  Majesty  '  struck  with  clemency  immediately  caused  his  standard  to 
be  taken  downe  .  .  .  but  the  Cavalliers  were  not  a  little  moved  at  the  happy 
success  this  Petition  found,  wherefore  some  certain  of  them  being  ful  of  gall 
and  spleen,  and  withall  taking  a  cloak  for  their  wicked  intention,  saying  that 
the  Petitioners  were  rather  traytors  than  subjects  .  .  .  alleadging  that  his 
Prerogative  was  dipt,  and  ere  they  would  suffer  it  their  lives  (as  for  their 
fortunes  they  had  none)  should  be  sacrificed  to  redeem  his  wrongs,  in  such  , 
like  passions  sought  out  for  the  Petitioners  .  .  .  and  would  have  fallen  upon 
them,  but  they  .  .  .  sent  to  the  mayor  .  .  .  intreating  that  some  of  the 

1  (B.M.  Pamphlets,  669,  fol.  675).  Remarkable  Passages  from  Nott.  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  neere  Nctt.  to  a 
Friend  in  London.  The  writer  goes  on  to  describe  the  standard  as '  a  long  pole  like  a  maypole,  painted  red  on  the 
upper  end,  whereof  hangs  a  large  silk  flag  (in  form  of  a  scutcheon)  with  a  red  crosse  and  two  lyons  passant  upon 
two  crownes.'  He  also  tells  how  '  Prince  Robert '  (Rupert)  was  next  day  made  general  of  the  horse  and  how 
the  king  declared  that  whoso  would  go  that  afternoon  with  the  prince  against  Coventry  and  Warwick  '  it 
should  be  acceptable  service.'  A  rather  different  account  of  the  event  is  given  in  another  description.  There 
the  writer  says  that  the  standard  was  '  taken  out  of  the  castle  and  carried  into  a  field  a  little  on  the  back  side  of 
the  castle  wall.'  Of  the  standard  he  says  that  '  the  likeness  of  the  standard  is  much  of  the  fashion  of  the  City 
streamers  used  at  the  Lord  Mayor's  Show,  having  about  twenty  supporters,  and  is  to  be  carried  the  same 
way  ;  on  the  top  of  it  hangs  a  bloody  flag,  the  king's  arms  quartered,  with  a  hand  pointing  to  the  crowne 
which  stands  above,  with  this  motto  :  "  Give  to  Caesar  his  due."  '  A  True  and  Exact  Relation  of  the  Manner 
of  Hit  Majesty's  Setting  uf  his  Standard  at  Nottingham. 

'  This  account  is,  of  course,  written  from  a  partial  point  of  view.  The  writer  of  the  letter  has  been 
thought  to  be  Col.  Hutchinson,  who  was  certainly  in  Nottingham  at  the  time.  See  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
Memoirs  of  Col.  Hutchinson. 

'  His  Majesty's  Gracious  Message  .  .  .  sent  from  Nottingham,  etc.  (B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  1 1 6,  No.  2). 

4  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  116,  No.  2. 

'  Clarendon,  Hist,  of  Great  Rebellion,  ii,  308. 

344 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

Trained  Bands  should  be  in  a  readinesse  to  quell  all  uproars  if  it  chanced 
that  the  Cavalliers  should  bee  over  busy.' l 

There  was  thus  another  side  to  the  history  of  the  king's  cause  in 
Nottinghamshire.  Though  the  gentry  of  the  shire  were  on  his  side, 
Nottingham  townsmen  and  the  freeholders  were  against  him,3  and  Clarendon 
reports  how  the  king  '  found  the  place  much  emptier  than  he  thought  the 
fame  of  his  standard  would  have  suffered  it  to  be,'  for  '  at  Nottingham 
(besides  some  few  of  the  train-bands  which  Sir  John  Digby,  the  active  shrieve 
of  that  county,  drew  into  the  old  ruinous  castle  there)  there  were  not  of  foot 
levied  for  the  service  yet  300  men.'8  All  the  strength  on  which  the  king 
could  depend  was  his  horse,  about  800  in  number,  now  at  Leicester  with  Prince 
Rupert,  and  Essex,  with  the  parliamentary  forces,  was  at  Northampton, 
ready,  it  seemed,  to  march  on  Nottingham.  But  '  God  blinded  his  enemies 
so  that  they  made  not  the  least  advance  towards  Nottingham.'  *  By  the  end  of 
August  recruits  were  coming  in  from  Yorkshire,  Staffordshire,  Lincolnshire, 
Shropshire,  and  Cheshire,  and  the  hopes  of  the  royal  party  were  rising.  Yet 
Nottingham  '  seemed  not  a  good  post  for  His  Majesty  to  stay  in,'  and  on 
13  September  he  marched  from  Nottingham  to  Derby.  Thus  Sir  Edward 
Nicholas  wrote  to  Sir  Thomas  Roe  that  the  king  was  on  that  day  '  setting 
forth  with  his  army  ...  to  join  with  5,000  foot  and  400  horse,  which  are 
raised  for  the  king  in  Wales  and  the  borders.  The  king's  army  is  much 
increased  within  these  eight  days,  and  near  2,000  arms  have  been  hither 
brought  in  from  this  and  the  adjacent  counties.' 5 

Meanwhile  musters  were  gathering  under  the  parliamentary  commission 
of  array.  Three  colonels  had  been  nominated  :  Sir  Francis  Thornhaugh, 
Sir  Francis  Molyneux,  and  Francis  Pierrepoint.  Of  these  Sir  Francis 
Molyneux  utterly  refused  service  :  Sir  Francis  Thornhaugh  raised  a  regiment 
of  horse,  and  Colonel  Pierrepoint  a  regiment  of  foot,  of  which  Mr.  John 
Hutchinson  became  lieutenant-colonel.  Colonel  Pierrepoint  seems  to  have 
been  very  half-hearted,  for  Mrs.  Hutchinson  tells  how  he  was  six  weeks 
before  he  could  be  persuaded  '  to  put  on  a  sword  or  to  enlist  any  men,  which 
at  length  he  did  of  substantial  honest  townsmen.' 8  With  the  beginning  of 
the  association  of  the  counties  after  the  battle  of  Edgehill,  Nottinghamshire 
was  placed  with  Leicestershire  and  other  counties  under  Lord  Grey,  of  Groby. 
Then  the  royalist  gentry,  headed  by  Lord  Chaworth,  '  finding  an  opposition 
they  expected  not,'  seem  to  have  made  some  vain  effort  to  come  to  terms 
with  the  'parliament  men.'7  In  December,  1642,  a  meeting  of  the  corpora- 
tion of  Nottingham  and  ten  gentlemen  of  the  county  was  held  at  the 
guildhall,  and  an  agreement  was  made  to  invite  the  gentlemen  of  the  county 

1  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  1 16,  No.  3.    Nott.  Pet.  to  the  King. 

'  Mrs.  Hutchinson  says  :  '  Although  the  town  was  generally  more  malignant  (i.e.  Royalist)  than  wcll- 
affected,  yet  they  cared  not  to  have  the  cavalier  soldiers  quarter  with  them,  and,  therefore,  agreed  to  defend 
themselves  against  any  force  which  should  come  against  them  ;  and  being  called  hastily  together  as  the 
exigence  required,  about  700  listed  themselves,  and  chose  Mr.  George  Hutchinson  for  their  Captain  '  (Memoirs  of 
Col.  HutMnion,ed.  Bohn,  132).  The  ill  effects  on  the  king's  cause  of  the  unscrupulous  billeting  of  the  soldiers 
in  the  town  is  shown  by  the  petition  of  1642,  presented  to  Parliament  by  the  townsmen.  William,  earl  of 
Newcastle,  the  lord-lieutenant,  had  '  withdrawn  himself,  with  mischievous  accomplices,  to  his  own  house  in 
Nottingham,  billeting  his  cavaliers  and  Papistical  soldiers  in  the  houses  of  the  most  substantial  persons  of  that 
county,'  who  were  forced  to  quit  their  houses  and  goods,  or  suffer  the  indignities  imposed  on  them  by  '  those 
enemies  of  God  and  the  Commonwealth  in  the  ferocity  of  their  barbarous  dispositions'  (B.M.  Pamphlets, 
E.  84,  No.  17).  '  Clarendon,  Hist,  of  Great  Rebellion,  ii,  293.  4  Ibid.  p.  299. 

6  Cal.  5.  P.  Dom.  1642-3,  389.  '  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  139.  *  Ibid.  p.  140. 

1  345  44 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

to  join  the  townspeople  for  the  defence  of  the  town  of  Nottingham. l  Those 
who  would  not  threw  themselves  into  Newark,  where  preparations  for  a 
strong  defence  were  being  made.  Works  were  also  begun  round  Notting- 
ham, and  from  this  time  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  county  was  to 
resolve  itself  into  a  struggle  between  the  two  rival  garrisons  of  Nottingham 
and  Newark.  Nottingham  was  as  important  to  Parliament  as  '  a  considerable 
pass  to  the  north  '  as  Newark  was  to  the  king,  yet  early  in  1 643  the  '  coldness  ' 
of  Colonel  Pierrepoint,  and  the  growing  '  disaffection  '  of  the  town,  made  it 
seem  as  though  it  could  only  with  difficulty  be  preserved  for  Parliament. 
However,  in  February,  1642—3,  the  garrison  decided  to  join  with  Lincoln 
and  Derby  and  attack  Newark,  since  '  it  would  be  easier  to  prevent  Newark 
from  being  made  a  fortified  garrison  than  to  take  it  when  it  was  so.'  *  The 
forces  from  Nottingham  and  Derby  were  to  advance  on  one  side,  those  of 
Lincoln  on  the  other.  According  to  the  parliamentary  version  Newark 
would  have  been  forced  to  surrender  had  it  not  been  for  the  treachery  of  the 
Lincolnshire  commander,  John  Ballard,  who,  '  decayed  in  his  family,'  and 
owing  his  education  to  many  of  the  royalist  gentry  within  Newark,  determined 
to  cast  aside  the  Parliament  cause  '  rather  than  ruin  his  old  benefactors.' 8  He 
refused  to  attack  the  town  at  the  right  time,  and  probably  betrayed  the 
enemy's  movements  to  the  Newarkers,  so  that  they  prepared  an  ambuscade  to 
intercept  them.  When  the  forces  of  Nottingham  and  Derby  had  come, 
being  1,000  strong,  horse,  foot,  and  dragoons,  they  attacked  the  town  on  one 
side,  beat  the  Newarkers  from  the  works,  and  entrenched  themselves. 
Captain  King,  of  the  Lincolnshire  forces,  attacked  the  other  side  of  the  town, 
and  had  '  taken  a  street,  cut  up  a  chain,  and  placed  a  "  drake  "  in  a  house,' 
when  Ballard  ordered  him  to  retreat,  and  thereupon  the  whole  force  of 
Newark  fell  on  the  entrenched  Nottingham  and  Derby  forces.  The  latter 
fought  bravely  until  a  Lincolnshire  trooper,  sent  by  Ballard,  came  and  bade 
them  fly  for  their  lives,  or  else  they  were  lost  men.'*  The  royalist  version 
tells  how  the  Nottingham  and  Derby  regiments  '  discharged  against  the 
towne  from  eleven  of  the  clocke  at  noone  untill  six  at  night,  but  with  more 
courage  than  successe.'  The  attack  on  the  other  side  of  the  works  failed 
completely,  and  the  enemy  retired,  whereupon  the  governor  attacked  the 
Nottingham  and  Derby  forces,  and  dislodged  the  enemy.  *  There  were 
killed  of  the  king's  side  in  this  brave  repulse  but  one  man  onely,  a  common 
souldier  of  the  garrison,  and  not  many  hurt.  But  of  the  rebels  were  slaine  no 
fewer  than  200  men  and  many  wounded,  whereof  the  chiefe  was  Colonel 
Ballard,  and  no  meane  one  neither.' 6 

For  the  next  few  months  Nottingham  seems  to  have  felt  the  effect  of 
the  general  royalist  victories  throughout  the  north  and  west.  Sir  Richard 
Byron,  the  new  governor  of  Newark,  brought  all  the  zealous  loyalty  of  his 
family  to  the  help  of  the  Newark  garrison  ;  Lord  Chaworth,  the  earl  of 
Chesterfield,  and  others  had  left  Newark,  and  fortified  their  several  houses 
in  the  royalist  cause.  The  forces  at  Nottingham  only  numbered  about 
1,000  men, 'but  at  Whitsuntide  they  were  reinforced,  and  the  numbers 

1  Rec.  of  the  Bora.  ofNott.  v,  207.         *  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  143.  *  Ibid.  p.  144. 

4  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  143—5. 

'  A  Brief  Relation  of  the  Remarkable  Occurrences  In  the  Northern  Parts  (B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  73). 
*  The  queen  wrote  to  Charles  from  Newark  that  '  all  the  force  Parliament  had  in  those  parts  was  only 
1 ,000  men  in  Nottingham.' 

346 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

raised  to  about  5,000  or  6,000  by  the  gathering  at  Nottingham  of  the  forces 
of  the  northern  midlands  for  the  rescue  of  the  Fairfaxes  from  Newcastle's 
'  Popish  army.' l  Owing  chiefly  to  the  conduct  of  the  younger  Hotham, 
who  was  found  to  be  in  correspondence  with  the  Newark  garrison,  there 
seems  to  have  been  much  disorder  in  the  town,  and  finally,  probably  by 
Cromwell's  influence,  Lord  Grey  was  superseded  by  Sir  John  Meldrum a  in  the 
command  of  the  associated  forces.  Sir  John  Meldrum  being  called  off  with 
the  bulk  of  the  Nottinghamshire  forces  to  the  relief  of  Gainsborough  in  July, 
1643,  t^ie  town  was  again  in  a  desperate  state,  since  only  a  few  townsmen 
remained  to  guard  both  town  and  castle.  These  Colonel  Hutchinson,  who 
had  been  made  governor  of  the  castle  the  month  before,  ordered  into  the  castle, 
since  they  were  not  sufficient  in  number  to  guard  the  works  round  the  town, 
and  ordered  the  fourteen  guns  upon  the  works  to  be  brought  up  also.  This 
action  seems  to  have  aroused  much  opposition,  for  the  townsmen,  since  '  their 
houses,  families,  and  estates  were  exposed,  began  to  envy,  then  to  hate  the 
castle,  as  grieved  that  anything  should  be  preserved  when  all  could  not.' 
Finally,  out  of  the  whole  town  and  the  four  companies  that  remained 
under  Colonel  Pierrepoint  only  about  300  men  were  found  to  garrison 
the  castle.'  The  defenceless  state  of  the  town  naturally  gave  an  oppor- 
tunity to  the  garrison  at  Newark.  They  issued  out  in  various  parties, 
and  swept  the  county  round  up  to  the  very  walls  of  Nottingham.  On 
1 8  September,  1643,  Sir  Richard  Byron  effected  an  entry  into  the  town, 
and  for  five  days  was  garrisoned  in  the  old  church  of  St.  Nicholas.  Failing 
to  make  any  impression  on  the  castle,  he  prepared  to  evacuate,  but  was 
attacked  by  a  sally  party  from  the  castle.  He  thereupon  retreated  to 
the  Trent  bridge,  and  remained  entrenched  there  until,  hearing  that  re- 
inforcements were  on  the  way  to  Nottingham,  he  silently  marched  back 
to  Newark.* 

The  next  month  brought  the  reinstatement  of  Parliament  in  the  north 
with  the  defeat  of  Lord  Newcastle  by  Fairfax,  and  the  taking  of  Gainsborough 
by  the  earl  of  Manchester.6  Royalist  hopes  in  the  north  were  failing,  the 
treachery  of  the  Hothams  had  been  unavailing,  '  and  much  about  this  time 
(i.e.  December,  1563)  there  fell  out  another  remarkable  passage  much  to  His 
Majesty's  dishonour,'  since  the  marquis  of  Newcastle  '  plotted  and  contrived 
by  one  Colonel  Dacre  to  have  corrupted  and  undermined  the  valiant  and  most 
loyal  governor  of  Nottingham  Castle.'  Colonel  Hutchinson  himself  wrote  to 
Mr.  Millington,  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  that  he  had  three 
times  been  tempted  to  betray  the  castle,  by  Sir  Richard  Byron,  by  Mr.  Sutton, 
and  by  the  earl  of  Newcastle.  Ten  thousand  pounds  and  'to  be  made  best 

1  Mercurius  jiutuus,  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  55,  14.      Certain  Informations,  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  55,  4. 
'  Carlyle,  Cromwell's  Letters,  i,  Letter  ix.  Lord  Grey's  conduct  in  failing  to  meet  with  the  united  forces  at 
the  appointed  rendezvous  is  here  censured  by  Cromwell. 

3  Mrs.   Hutchinson,   op.  cit.  p.  155,  et  seq.     The  records   of  the  borough   for    1643   show   the   special 
provisions  made  for  night  guard  :  '  Those  wattchmen  that  are  appoynted  to  wattche  the  toun  nightly  for  the 
flanckinge  and  strengthinge  the  Gentries  and  inner  gards  shalbe  sworn  to  keepe  their  wattche  until  fower  of  the 
clocke  in  the  morninge,  and  thatt  whoesoever  shall  depart  from  his  garde  or  wattche  .   .   .  shall  pay  for  his 
fyne  iis  or   ells   in  defalte  thereof   ...   be  ymprisoned  .   .  .  and  xxxtie  (are)  to  be  appoynted  everie  nighte  to 
wattche  oute  of  the  severall  wardes '  (Rec.  of  Bora.  ofNott.  v,  209). 

4  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  pp.  176-180.     Captain  White  and  his  horse  returning  from  Lincolnshire  to 
Leicester  came  to  the  rescue  of  the  governor. 

*  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  212.     God's  Arke  overtopping  the  World's  Waves,  p.  7 

347 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

lord  in  Nottinghamshire  '  was  the  reward  offered  him.1  Of  Lord  Newcastle's 
share  in  these  transactions  it  is  difficult  to  judge.  Certainly  if  Nottingham 
could  have  been  gained  before  the  parliamentary  forces  under  Sir  John 
Meldrum  and  Lord  Willoughby  could  march  south  the  county  would  have 
formed  a  royalist  wedge  between  north  and  east.  Since  Colonel  Hutchinson 
could  not  be  won  over  the  garrison  at  Newark  made  a  desperate  effort  to  take 
both  town  and  castle  by  storm  in  January,  1643-4.  Fifteen  hundred  horse 
and  foot  from  the  garrison  joined  with  royalist  forces  from  the  surrounding 
country,  and  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  1 6  January  drew  near  the 
town  from  either  side  and  forced  an  entry,  driving  back  the  governor  and 
two  foot  companies  into  the  castle.  They  then  possessed  themselves  of 
St.  Peter's  Church  and  the  houses  and  '  street  ends  '  to  prevent  the  garrison 
from  sallying  out.  The  ordnance  from  the  castle,  however, '  made  a  lane  among 
them,'  and  the  Parliamentary  horse,  seeing  they  could  do  no  service  mounted, 
took  their  muskets,  and  served  on  foot,  and  so  succeeded  in  beating  back  the 
enemy.8  '  In  all  this  day's  service,'  Colonel  Hutchinson  wrote,  '  we  had  not 
any  assistance  from  the  townsmen  besides  those  which  have  all  this  year  been 
in  the  castle  with  me,  though  I  had  twice  summoned  them  to  receive  arms 
for  the  defence  of  the  town  .  .  .  but  now  I  am  in  some  hopes  that  they  will 
by  this  be  brought  to  concur  more  cheerfully  with  me  for  their  own  defence 
and  that  the  cavaliers  (though  they  have  no  cause  to  bray  of  this)  will  more 
dearly  buy  their  next  entrance.'8  In  February,  1643—4,  came  an  account, 
again  from  the  parliamentary  side,  of  the  most  '  admirable  and  marvellous 
deliverance '  of  the  town  and  castle  from  a  plot  of  the  king's  '  base  cormorants.' 
Horses  laden  with  straw  were  driven  by  thirty  cavaliers,  some  '  in  the  habits 
of  plain  country  men,  others  of  them  like  unto  homely  country  women,' 
from  Newcastle  towards  Nottingham  as  though  going  to  the  market  ;  but 
the  '  supposed  women '  were  suspected,  and  the  '  cousening  cormorants ' 
being  detected  were  examined  and  tortured  until  they  confessed  a  plot  to 
suddenly  attack  and  kill  the  guard,  and  prepare  the  way  for  the  horse  and 
foot  that  were  following.  Thus  warned  the  Nottingham  garrison  issued  out 
and  put  the  enemy  to  rout  and  retreat.* 

Meanwhile    Sir   John    Meldrum  and  Lord  Willoughby  had    marched  \ 
south,  and  by  the  middle  of  February  the  siege  of  Newark  was  begun.6     By  f 
the  middle  of  March  the  garrison  was  nearly  starved  out,'  and  so  sure  was  i 
Parliament  of  a  speedy  end  to  the  siege  that  an  order  went  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Both  Kingdoms  to  the  earl  of  Manchester  on  20  March  that  the 
Nottingham  and  Derby  forces  were  to  return  from  Yorkshire  to  secure  their 
own  counties,  that  the  footmen  of  Lord  Willoughby,  then  at  Newark,  should 
go  with  Sir  John  Meldrum  to  Yorkshire,  and  his  horse  to  the  earl  of  Denbigh.7 
On  the  next  day,  21    March,   Prince  Rupert,  who  when   at   Chester  had 
received  orders  from  the  king  on  1 2  March  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Newark, 

B.  M.  Pamphlets,  E.  p.  104.  An  interesting  personal  note  comes  into  this  letter  since  Mr.  Hutchinson 
tells  his  friend  'your  sonnes  are  both  well  here  in  the  castle,  and  I  heare  your  wife  is  so  in  the  country  : 
only  I  hear  your  goods  and  corne  are  plundered.' 

B.  M.  Pamphlets,  £312.         Gods'  Ark  overtopping  the  World's  Waves,  p.  163.  *  Ibid.  p.  163. 

4  Ibid.  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  pp.  214-5.  5  See  Cai.  S.  P.  Dom.  1644,  23. 

'  Yet  Sir  Edward  Nicholas  reported  on  1 5  March  that  '  the  rebels  assaulted  Newark  in  several  places,  but 
were  repulsed  with  loss  of  about  500  dead  on  the  place,  besides  some  of  their  ordnance,  particularly  the  great 
wars  piece  they  took  at  Hull  from  my  lord  of  Newcastle.'  Ibid.  p.  C4-. 

»          ft      •     1  yp-  *  *  J\ 

7   Ibid.  p.  63. 

348 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

having  joined  Lord  Loughborough  at  Bingham,  marched  to  Newark  early  in 
the  morning,  attacked  Meldrum's  forces,  and  relieved  the  town.1  On 
22  March  the  Committee  of  Both  Kingdoms  wrote  to  the  earl  of  Man- 
chester bidding  him  send  what  force  he  could  to  the  help  of  the  forces 
before  Newark.  '  We  conceive  if  your  forces  come  timely  Prince  Rupert's 
army  may  be  in  the  straits  yours  is  now  conceived  to  be.'8  A  further 
account  of  the  '  unhappy  condition  of  affairs  at  Newark '  was  sent  to  Sir 
William  Waller,8  and  Lord  Denbigh  and  Commissary  General  Belire  with 
the  Nottingham  and  Derby  forces,  as  well  as  those  of  the  earl  of  Manchester, 
were  reported  to  be  marching  towards  those  parts  to  hinder  the  royalist  forces 
there  from  '  that  fruit  of  their  victory  they  might  hope  to  reap  by  arming 
the  country  with  those  arms  they  had  taken  from  our  men.'  *  Lord  Denbigh, 
in  a  letter  written  27  March,  feared  that  the  enemy  would  '  follow  their 
fortune'  in  the  vicinity  of  Newark,  but  had  the  earl  of  Manchester's  march 
been  swifter,  and  had  the  Nottingham  forces  joined  with  his  own,  this  might 
have  been  prevented.'  However,  letters  from  Prince  Rupert  having  been 
intercepted,  the  Committee  learnt  that  he  was  '  not  of  such  strength  as  he 
thinks  it  safe  to  continue  where  he  is.' ' 

During  the  summer  of  1644  all  the  efforts  of  Parliament  were  directed 
to  affairs  in  Yorkshire,  and  all  the  strength  of  the  associated  forces  was  sum- 
moned to  the  north.  Newark  and  Nottingham  were  left  once  more  to  their 
old  antagonism,  and  the  Nottingham  garrison  fared  badly.  Thus  in  June, 
1644,  '  divers  gentlemen  in  Nottingham  well  affected  to  the  Parliament '  sent 
intelligence  to  the  Committee  of  Both  Kingdoms  of  the  strength  of  the 
enemy's  garrison,  while  they  themselves  had  but  few  horses  left,  and 
could  '  neither  defend  their  county  nor  gain  contributions  for  the  necessary 
maintenance  of  their  garrison '  without  the  aid  of  the  horse  then  with  Lord 
Denbigh,  which  for  the  most  part  had  been  '  raised  at  the  charge  of  par- 
ticular men.'  The  Committee  therefore,  '  being  sensible  of  the  great  loss  like 
to  come  speedily  on  Nottingham  for  want  of  horses,'  wrote  to  Lord  Denbigh 
ordering  him  to  dismiss  100  of  the  Nottingham  horse  then  with  him  and  the 
others  as  soon  as  he  could  spare  them.7  The  governor  of  Nottingham  had 
other  difficulties  to  meet  besides  the  attacks  of  the  Newark  garrison. 
Although  old  rivalry  between  the  town  and  castle  was  somewhat  abated 8  it 
had  given  way  to  a  rivalry  between  the  governor  and  the  Committee,  and 
this  of  necessity  gave  an  added  weakness  to  his  plans  for  defence.9  In  July, 
1644,  Mr.  Millington  was  sent  by  the  Committee  of  Both  Kingdoms  to  give 
the  committees  both  of  town  and  castle  and  the  honest  inhabitants  of  the 
garrison  thanks  for  '  their  undaunted  courage  and  unwearied  diligence  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  same,'  and  to  '  endeavour  to  compose  all  differences 
between  the  garrisons  of  the  castle  and  town,  and  between  the  members  of 
the  committees.'10  By  November  the  quarrel  between  the  governor  and 
the  committee  of  Nottingham  had  come  before  the  Committee  of  Both 

1  Mercurius  Aulicus,  B.M.  Pamphlets,  £.55.  *  Cal.  S.  P.  Dam.  1644,  p.  66. 

*  Ibid.  pp.  70,  75.  4  Ibid.  p.  75.  5  Ibid. 

6  Ibid.  pp.  77,  78.  '  Ibid.  p.  277. 

8  The  townsmen  had  at  last  determined  to  join  in  their  own  defence,  and  400  were  enlisted  under 
'  one  Mr.  Coates,  a  minister,  an  honest  and  Godly  man,  and  Mr.  Mason,  an  attorney,  a  great  cavalier,  but  a 
reverend  and  silent  man  who,  for  an  austere  knit  in  his  brow  and  a  grave,  severe  countenance,  had  the 
reputation  of  a  wise  man.'     Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  208. 

9  Ibid.  pp.  208-14.  10  Cal.  S.  P.Dom.  1644,  p.  368. 

349 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Kingdoms  for  settlement,  and  by  its  decision  all  the  affairs  of  town  and 
castle  were  to  be  in  the  hands  of  a  general  committee  of  which  Colonel 
Hutchinson,  Colonel  Thornhaugh,  the  mayor  of  Nottingham,  and  others 
specially  named  were  to  be  members.  Without  the  consent  of  the 
majority  in  this  committee  no  forces  should  be  sent  out,  or  being  sent 
out  recalled,  and  no  works  or  fortifications  should  be  made  in  or  about 
the  garrison.  Especially  the  committee  were  requested  to  take  care  that 
money  was  provided  for  the  garrison,  so  that  it  might  not  suffer  from 
want  of  pay.1 

Meanwhile  Cromwell's  victory  at  Marston  Moor  had  secured  thenorth,and 
the  parliamentary  forces  were  available  elsewhere,  but  it  was  not  until  the  end 
of  the  year  that  Fairfax  suggested  that  some  of  the  Scottish  horse  should  be 
sent  from  the  northern  counties  to  Newark,  the  only  considerable  garrison  of 
the  enemy  and  the  '  receptacle  of  all  (their)  flying  forces.'8  During  November 
Fairfax  received  orders  from  the  committee  '  to  straiten  the  enemy  at  Newark,'3 
and  in  December  he  wrote  that  he  had  ordered  some  regiments  to  march  to 
Newark,  but  the  place  was  strong  and  well  manned  and  provided  for  some 
months,  and  he  could  not  spare  enough  forces  to  effect  much.*  By  January 
Newark  was  not  taken,  but  some  of  the  forces  of  the  counties  of  Nottingham, 
Derby,  and  York,  that  had  been  rendering  good  service  in  the  siege  under  Sir 
John  Cell,  had  been  withdrawn.  The  committee,  being  '  sensible  of  the  loss 
and  danger  '  this  withdrawal  entailed  on  Nottingham,  ordered  Fairfax  to  send 
1,000  horse  out  of  Yorkshire,  and  ordered  Sir  John  Cell  to  send  back  the 
1,000  he  had  withdrawn.5  The  garrison,  however,  still  held  out,  and  periodi- 
cally made  desperate  sallies,  but  was  '  reduced  to  an  exceeding  strait  for  want 
of  provisions.'6  In  March,  1645,  Prince  Rupert  determined  to  relieve  the 
town,  and  sent  a  party  of  1,500  horse  under  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  for 
that  purpose.7  On  the  way  from  Leicester  to  Newark  the  relief  party  was 
attacked  by  Colonel  Rossiter  with  about  3,000  men,  but  succeeded  in 
repulsing  the  enemy,  and  marching  on  to  Newark,  was  able  to  relieve  the 


town.8 


Once  again,  therefore,  Parliament  was  obliged  to  leave  Newark  to  the 
royalists,  and  Colonel  Rossiter  was  ordered  to  march  after  Sir  Marmaduke  \ 
Langdale,  who,  when  he  had  relieved  the  town,  had  started  to  meet  Prince 
Maurice  in  Cheshire,  but  to  leave  enough  forces  before  Newark  as  '  may 
preserve  the  country  from  spoil  by  the  Newark  garrison.' 9  A  few  days  after 
this  order  was  countermanded,  and  Colonel  Rossiter  was  ordered  to  take 
special  care  of  the  country  round  Newark  that  none  of  the  garrison  should 
'  be  suffered  to  march  towards  any  part  of  the  Eastern  Association  to  disquiet 
and  alarm  them.' 10 

The  march  of  the  royal  forces  from  Worcester  across  to  Leicester  in 
April,  1645,  presumably  against  the  Eastern  Association,  aroused  the  fears  of 
Parliament,  and  early  in  May  an  order  was  sent  to  the  deputy-lieutenants  of 
Nottingham  to  send  200  horse  and  200  foot  to  join  with  Lincoln  forces  c  in 
case  the  Newark  garrison  should  attempt  to  march  towards  the  king.' u  On 

1  Cal.  S.  P.Dom.  1644-5,  p.  m.  '  Ibid.  p.  104.  '  Ibid.  p.  119. 

4  Ibid.  p.  172.  *  Ibid.  p.  235. 

6  MS.  of  a  gentleman  of  the  relief  party,  printed  in  1782,  quoted  in  Shilton,  Hut.  of  Newark,  pp.  81-91. 

7  Cal.  S.  P.  Dom.  1644-5,  P-  334-  *  MS.  above  quoted. 
'  Cal.  S.  P.  Dom.  1644-5,  P-  34°.              lo  Ibid.  p.  355.                    "  Ibid.  p.  478. 

35° 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

20  May  Lord  Fairfax  wrote  to  the  earl  of  Leven  that  '  the  Newark  forces 
get  all  horses  they  can  possibly  for  a  speedy  march  either  towards  the  king's 
forces  or  to  raise  the  siege  of  Pontefract.' l  Later  in  the  month  a  rendezvous 
of  all  the  Associated  Counties  was  appointed  at  Nottingham,  and  '  in  case  the 
king  should  draw  out  the  garrison  of  Newark,'  Colonel  Rossiter  was  ordered 
to  advance  with  600  horse  of  Lincolnshire.3  The  king's  success  at  Leicester, 
early  in  June,  brought  orders  to  Fairfax  to  pursue  the  royal  forces,  since  the 
king  was  thought  to  be  '  able  to  attempt  either  Nottingham,  Derby,  or  any 
other  garrison.' s  The  decisive  victory  of  Fairfax  at  Naseby  crushed  all  the 
royalist  hopes.  The  king's  broken  forces  threw  themselves  into  Newark, 
now  the  only  strong  royalist  centre,  near  which  some  of  the  Scotch  forces 
were  stationed  for  the  next  three  months  to  defend  the  country  round  against 
the  garrison.* 

After  the  defeat  of  Goring  in  the  west,  in  July,  Charles  advanced  across 
England  to  Newark,  with  about  3,000  horse  and  dragoons,  to  join  with  the 
Newark  garrison.6  In  August  the  Committee  of  Both  Kingdoms  ordered 
Major-General  Poyntz  to  gather  all  the  forces  formerly  appointed  from 
Staffordshire,  Derbyshire,  Nottinghamshire,  and  Lincolnshire,  and  from  the 
Eastern  Association,  and  taking  them  under  his  charge  '  take  all  advantage 
against  the  Newark  garrison.' '  Further,  he  was  ordered  to  follow  the  king 
with  his  Yorkshire  horse,  while  the  Committee  for  War  at  York  was  ordered 
to  reinforce  him  so  as  to  enable  him  to  besiege  Newark.  This  they  had 
neglected,  and  Poyntz  had  been  forced,  for  want  of  horse,  to  relieve  Notting- 
ham, so  that  Newark  was  left  '  to  infest  the  adjacent  parts  and  to  trouble  and 
alarm  the  quiet '  of  the  north  unless  horse  and  dragoons  were  sent  quickly.7 
Throughout  September  the  country  round  Newark  was  the  scene  of  numerous 
skirmishes,  but  the  Association  forces  were  drawing  together,  and  there  was 
great  hope  '  that  the  countrymen  would  come  in  likewise,  with  their  muskets.' 
During  October  news  came  to  London  that  Newark  was  blocked  up  by 
horse  '  as  well  as  for  the  present  it  can  be.'  Major-General  Poyntz  was  in 
the  north  with  his  own  and  the  London  horse,  Colonel  Rossiter  on  the  other 
side  with  his  horse.  The  king  was  in  the  garrison  with  '  the  two  German 
princes  and  many  gentlemen  of  note,  and  not  above  700  or  800  horse,  and 
not  so  many  foot  as  there  had  lately  been  :  If  our  brethren  of  Scotland  were 
there  now  they  might  do  England  and  themselves  good  service,  but  God  will 
work  his  own  work  by  what  hand  he  pleases.' 8  In  the  same  month  was 
reported  '  a  pretty  design  against  Newark  ;  the  business  well  carried  had  not 
the  enemy  too  soon  gotten  the  alarm  ;  our  men  tugged  hard  for  the  bridge, 
slew  divers  of  the  enemy,  and  the  next  day  Sir  Thomas  Williams  was 
suspected  to  hold  confederacy  and  dismissed  the  garrison.' 9  Charles  was 

1  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1644-5,  p.  505.  '  Ibid.  pp.  530,  542.  '  Ibid.  p.  551.  '  Ibid.  p.  622. 

*  News  of  great  disorder  '  among  the  rebels'  forces  in  Yorkshire  decided  the  course  of  the  king's  march. 
The  gentlemen  of  the  five  northern  counties  expressed  a  wonderful  alacrity  and  resolution  to  engage  in  the 
king's  service,  even   more   frankly  than  .  .   .  when  he  was  most  prosperous.'     Letter  from  Lord  Digby  to 
Prince  Rupert.     Cal.  S.  P.  Dom,  1645-7,  p.  70. 

6  Ibid.  p.  63.  Already  letters  had  been  sent  to  the  Committees  of  Derby,  Notts,  Stafford,  Lincoln,  Cam- 
bridge, and  Rutland,  informing  them  that  the  royalist  garrison  was  grown  to  greater  strength  at  Newark  by 
access  of  force  from  several  other  reduced  garrisons,  and  bidding  them  send  what  force  they  could  to  help  in  its 
reduction.  Ibid.  pp.  35,  44. 

'  Ibid.  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  302.  Moderate  Intelligencer  and  Mercurius  Veredicus  ;  also  Mercurius  Ciricus 
and  The  Scottish  Dove  (Ibid.  E.  303).  8  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  307,  The  Scottish  Dove. 

*  Ibid.  E.  303,  Continuation  of  Divert  Remarkable  Passages. 

351 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

anxious  to  get  away  from  Newark  to  join  Montrose,1  being  unwilling, 
according  to  his  enemies,  '  to  be  blockt  up  there,  and  the  rather  the  sickness 
was  in  it'  and  taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  General  Poyntz  at  the  siege 
of  Shelford  House,  and  the  withdrawal  of  many  of  the  Derby  and  Warwick 
horse  to  Chester,'  marched  out  secretly  with  all  the  supplies  the  garrison  could 
afford, '  who  have  so  extremely  drained  themselves  to  pleasure  him  that  the 
adjacent  countries  will  now  be  in  great  quiet,  and  Colonel  Rossiter  be  the 
better  spared  to  pursue  him.'8  The  coming  of  General  Leslie  with  the 
Scotch  forces,  to  the  number  of  2,000  horse  and  3,000  foot,4 '  to  visit  that 
cage  and  catch  these  foul  birds,'  was  finally  planned  in  November,  and  at  this 
news  there  came  daily  out  of  Newark  '  great  store  of  men  of  quality  who 
have  passes  and  goe  home  to  their  houses.'  There  were  those  who  had  '  fled 
to  Newark  and  received  rents  from  their  tenants,'  and  now,  fearing  a  siege, 
came  out,  '  that  the  provisions  within  might  last  longer.' 6  It  was  not  until 
December'  that  the  Scottish  forces  arrived,  and  their  commanders  and  the 
parliamentarian  officers  held  a  council  of  war  and  agreed  to  storm  the 
bridge  a  mile  from  the  town  where  the  enemy  kept  guard.  The  attack  seems 
to  have  been  successful  and  many  royalists  were  killed.7  On  10  December 
the  Newarkers  designed  to  blow  up  a  bridge  over  the  Dee,  and  prepared 
five  boats  for  this  purpose,  but  one  caught  fire  before  it  reached  the  bridge, 
and  warned  the  enemy,  so  that  the  rest  were  stopped.8  For  the  next  few 
weeks  the  Newarkers  made  desperate  sallies  but,  seemingly,  with  indifferent 
success.  Thus,  on  19  December,  about  600  of  the  garrison  attacked  the 
enemy,  who  caused  them  to  retreat,  but  pursuing  them  too  eagerly  fell  into 
a  royalist  ambush  near  the  town  works  and  lost  about  20  of  their  men.' 
On  another  occasion  the  royalists  fared  less  well.  About  200  or  300  made 
a  sally  on  Colonel  Rossiter's  quarters,  but  were  compelled  to  retreat  with 
the  loss  of  many  men.10  By  the  end  of  December  Skipton  Castle  had 
surrendered  to  Parliament,  and  2,000  were  sent  thence  to  '  help  the  business 
of  Newark,'  u  as  well  as  a  '  great  mortar  piece,'  which  it  was  hoped  would 
'  doe  good  execution.' 12  In  January  also  the  Committee  of  Both  Kingdoms 
wrote  to  the  Committee  at  Nottingham  that,  all  the  garrisons  in  Yorkshire 
being  reduced,  horse  and  foot  could  be  spared  for  Newark,13  and  the  committee 
of  the  militia  of  London  was  desired  to  provide  60  dragoons,  to  be  ready  at 

I  Cal.  S.  P.  Dam,  1645-7,  P-  l6°-  *  B-M-  Pamphlets,  E.  309,  The  Kingdom's  Weekly  IntelRgencer. 

*  B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  304,  The  Kingdom's  Weekly  Post.     During  Colonel   Rossiter's  absence  in  pursuit 
of  the  king,  the  earl  of  Warwick  was  ordered  to  send  Major  Gibb  and  800  horse  of  the  Association  to  Newark 
(Cal.  S.  P.  Dem.   1645-7,  p.  98).     The  Weekly  Account  for  8-15   October  describes  a  council  of  war  in 
Newark,  and  how  the  commanders  with  the  king  '  made  high  propositions  to  the  towne  for  horse,  ammuni- 
tion, arms,  etc.,  and  that  what  was  not  entirely  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  garrison  was  to  be  carried  away 
with  his  Majesty.'     B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  304. 

4  Ibid.  E.  313,  A  Diary  or  Exact  Journal,  1 8  Dec.  1645. 

4  Ibid.  E.  310,  The  Weekly  Account,  Nov.  4-11,  1645. 

6  The  Scots  had  been  severely  censured  by  Parliament  for  the  delay  in  their  advance  to  Newark, '  whereby 
not  only  the  northern  parts  have  lain  all  the  while  under  an  insupportable  burden,  but  also  the  fairest  oppor- 
tunity ...  for  putting  an  end  to  our  miseries  is  already  slipped  out  of  our  hand.'  Cal.  5.  P.  Dam. 
1645-7,  p.  256. 

B.M.  Pamphlets,  E.  311,  The  Weekly  Account,  26  Nov.-2  Dec.  1645. 

*  Ibid.  Diary  or  Exact  Journal,  10  Dec.  1645. 

*  Ibid.  E.  313,  Diary  or  Exact  Journal,  19  Dec.  1645. 
"  Ibid.  The  Weekly  Account,  16-30  Dec.  1645. 

II  Ibid.  E.  314,  The  Scottish  Dove,  24  Dec.-i  Jan.  1645-6. 
"  Ibid.  E.  313,  The  Weekly  Account,  16-30  Dec.  1645. 

11  Cal.  S.  P.  Dm,  1645-7,  306. 

352 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

Goldsmiths'  Hall  to  convoy  the  arms,  clothes,  and  ammunition  to  be  sent 
to  the  Scots  army  at  Newark.1 

But  Newark  Castle  now  protected  by  two  new  fortifications,  the  '  King's 
Sconce '  and  the  '  Queen's  Sconce,'  seemed  invulnerable,  and  the  county 
began  to  weary  under  the  burden  of  victualling  the  besieging  forces.  In 
January,  1645—6,  the  inhabitants  '  of  that  part  of  the  county  of  Nottingham 
lying  on  the  north  side  of  the  Trent '  petitioned  the  Committee  of  Lords  and 
Commons,  complaining  of  the  hardships  they  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the 
Scotch  army.2  A  complaint  was  therefore  made  to  General  Leslie,  but  in 
February  he  wrote  back  to  the  committee  enclosing  a  letter  signed  by  47 
gentlemen  of  Nottingham  giving  '  a  good  character  of  the  Scotch  army.' 
Though  the  burden  was  great,  they  wrote,  'in  this  small,  barren,  and  exhausted 
north  part  of  our  country,  we  cannot  but  cheerfully  acknowledge  our  great 
thankfulness  for  your  favour.  .  .  We  are  sorry  that  our  poverty  and  weaknesse 
cannot  answer  your  merits  and  noblenesse.'  Parliament  ordered  £15,000  per 
mensem  for  the  maintenance  of  the  forces  before  Newark,  and  the  general 
ordered  that  the  least  wrong  or  violence  done  by  his  soldiers  to  any 
whatsoever  in  persons  or  goods  should  merit  death.3  Throughout  the 
disasters  of  February  and  March,  1646,  Newark  still  held  out  under  Bellasis, 
but  already  before  the  end  of  March  Montreuil  had  been  sent  with  a  message 
to  the  Scots  promising  that  the  king  would  come  to  the  Scotch  army  on 
assurance  of  security  in  conscience  and  honour  and  would  surrender  Newark 
into  their  hands.  On  28  March  the  besiegers  summoned  the  garrison  to 
surrender,  stating  that  Parliament  had  16,000  horse  and  foot  before  the  town, 
'  soldiers  of  experience,  united  and  in  health  and  courage.'  Bellasis  replied, 
knowing  nothing  of  Charles's  overtures  to  the  Scots,  that  he  must  follow  the 
king's  commands,  and  'though  honour  and  conscience  might  permit  the 
delivery  of  the  garrison,  yet  civility  would  retard  it,  lest  His  Majesty's  Act  of 
Grace  should  be  frustrated.'  *  However,  at  the  end  of  April,  Charles  left 
Oxford,  and  advancing  to  Southwell  delivered  himself  into  the  hands  of  the 
Scots.  And  'immediately  upon  his  coming  General  Leven  had  some  treaty 
with  His  Majesty  about  the  surrender  of  Newark' ;  not  to  the  Scots  themselves, 
but,  to  'remove  all  jealousy,'  to  the  Parliament.5  The  result  was  the  character- 
istic order  sent  by  Charles  to  Lord  Bellasis,  who  much  against  his  own  will 
and  that  of  his  garrison,  although  by  now  the  plague  was  raging  in  the  town, 
was  forced  to  surrender  on  6  May.  By  the  articles  of  surrender  the  garrison 
with  all  its  ordnance  and  arms  was  to  be  delivered  over  to  Parliament,  and 
Colonel  Hutchinson  with  his  regiment  was  appointed  to  receive  the  town  and 
the  arms,  and  to  quarter  in  it.8  Lord  Bellasis  and  his  officers  were  allowed  to 
march  out  either  to  one  of  the  royal  garrisons  not  besieged,  or  to  their  own 
houses  ;  the  soldiers  were  allowed  to  '  make  peace  with  Parliament,'  or  go 
beyond  the  seas.7  After  the  surrender  of  Newark  the  active  participation  of 
the  county  in  the  Civil  War  was  practically  over.  Nottingham  town  and 
castle  '  was  continued  a  garrison  for  some  time,'8  until  in  August,  1647,  when 

1  Cal.  S.  P.  Dam,  1645-7,  326.  '  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  vi,  93. 

1  Two  letters  from  Lieut.-Gen.  David  Lesley. 

1  Rushworth,  Hist.  Coll.  pt.  iv,  vol.  v,  250-2.  5  Ibid.  p.  269. 

6  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  291. 

7  See  Articles  given  in  full  in  Rushworth,  Hist.  Coll.  pt.  iv,  vol.  i,  265. 

8  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  297. 

i  353  45 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  Parliament,  submissive  to  the  army, '  was  by  the  General  restored  to  their 
seats',  the  garrison  was  reduced  only  to  the  castle  guard.  The  works  at  the 
town  and  the  bridges  were  also  slighted,  and  since  all  but  two  of  the  companies 
of  the  governor's  regiment  were  disbanded,  he  gave  the  command, '  not  worthy 
of  himself  or  his  brother,'  to  his  kinsman  Captain  Poulton.1  But  with  the 
new  danger  rising  from  the  king's  intrigues  with  the  Scots  early  in  1 648 
Colonel  Hutchinson  was  again  commissioned  to  garrison  the  castle.3  An 
attempt  by  Colonel  Gilbert  Byron  to  win  over  the  governor  to  betray  the 
castle  failed,  but  Byron  managed  to  gather  about  500  horse  from  Notting- 
hamshire and  Lincolnshire,  and  with  these  marched  to  join  the  royalist  party 
in  the  north.  They  were  met  and  defeated  by  Colonel  Rossiter,  and  Colonel 
Byron  himself  was  carried  prisoner  to  Belvoir  Castle.3  In  April  Cromwell  was 
at  Nottingham  on  his  way  into  Lancashire,  and  when  he  left,  Colonel  Thorn- 
haugh  and  the  Nottinghamshire  horse  marched  with  him  and  fought  bravely  at 
Preston,  where  the  colonel  was  killed.*  With  the  renewal  of  royalist  activity 
on  the  alliance  of  Charles  II  with  the  Scots,  a  regiment  of  horse  was  com- 
missioned from  the  county  to  go  to  Cromwell  into  Scotland.6  With  the 
entry  of  Charles  into  England  early  in  1651  it  seemed  probable  that  he  would 
gather  his  forces  in  the  north.  Thus  in  March  the  Council  of  State  sent 
notice  to  the  Militia  Commissioners  for  Nottinghamshire  that  Major-General 
Harrison  was  sent  into  those  parts  with  some  forces  and  with  directions  '  to 
give  order  to  such  horse,  foot,  and  dragoons  of  the  Militia  of  the  county  as  he 
should  find  necessary.'8  In  April  a  further  command  came  that  'considering 
the  state  of  affairs  in  the  country,  and  the  designs  of  the  enemy  in  those  parts,' 
the  troop  of  horse  in  arms  in  the  county  should  be  kept  on  foot  fourteen  days 
longer,  '  so  as  to  be  ready  to  prevent  any  insurrections  or  other  distempers.'7 
But  Charles  'chose  another  way  and  went  to  Worcester,'  and  in  May,  1651, 
the  castle  of  Nottingham  was  ordered  to  be  demolished,8  and  the  two  com- 
panies of  foot  then  in  the  castle  were  to  march  to  Major-General  Harrison.' 
The  Council  of  State  wrote  in  June  to  Major  Poulton,  governor  of  the 
castle,  that  they  left  it  to  him  to  see  the  demolition  effectually  done  within 
14  days,  so  that  the  castle  and  all  outworks  and  fortifications  should  be 
altogether  demolished  before  10  November.10  A  few  days  later  they  wrote 
ordering  that  to  prevent  the  great  quantity  of  brass  and  iron,  ordnance  and 
arms  in  the  castle  from  being  embezzled,  it  should  be  sent  by  water  to  Hull 
and  thence  to  the  Tower  of  London.11  They  were  not  sent  by  October  of  that 
year  '  for  want  of  money,  as  is  alleged,'  and  the  council  ordered  that  the  needful 
sums  of  money  should  '  be  imprested  to  Mr.  Collin,  late  master  gunner,  on 
account,'  and  a  bill  of  exchange  for  the  amount  should  be  drawn  upon  the 
council  at  six  days'  sight.13  During  the  next  few  years  the  royalist  faction  in 
the  county  seems  to  have  been  entirely  subdued  even  when  royalist  hopes 
were  rising  in  1655,  and  in  1656  Whalley,  who  was  major-general  of  the 

1  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  306. 

1  Ibid.  p.  308.  3  Ibid.  p.  312-3.  '  Ibid.  p.  317-24. 

1  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  355.  6  Cat.  S.  P.  Dam,  1651,  p.  97.  '  Ibid.  p.  132. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  357  ;  this  was  by  her  husband's  influence,  since  he  was  convinced  that 
Cromwell  and  the  army  were  '  carrying  on  designs  of  private  ambition,'  and  '  he  would  not  that  what  he  had 
preserved  for  the  liberty  of  his  country  should  be  a  curb  upon  them.' 

'  Cal.  S.  P.  Dom.  165  I,  pp.  187-8.  10  Ibid.  p.  242. 

11  Ibid.  p.  245.  "Ibid.  p.  48 1. 

354 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

district,  boasted  that  under  his  own  stern  rule  one  might '  ride  all  over  Notting- 
hamshire and  not  see  a  beggar  or  wandering  rogue.'1 

In  the  meantime,  after  the  surrender  of  Newark,  various  delinquents  of 
the  county  made  their  submission,  and  compounded  for  their  estates  under 
the  articles  of  surrender.  Among  these  were  Henry  Bellasis,  son  of  the 
governor,  Sir  Richard  Byron,  Lord  Chaworth,  Lord  Lexington  (formerly 
Robert  Sutton),  Sir  Thomas  Williamson,  late  sheriff,  Sir  Christopher  Athar, 
and  Thomas  Harrington.2  They  admitted  their  complicity  in  gathering 
forces  for  the  garrison,  and  in  collecting  subsidies  for  service  against  Parlia- 
ment. The  inhabitants  of  Newark  in  general  also  compounded  in  June, 
1 646,  but  because  '  the  plague  raged  very  much  there '  they  could  not  per- 
sonally attend  to  prosecute  their  suit.8  Lady  Lexington  also  certified  that 
by  reason  of  the  plague  she  could  not  go  to  Newark  in  person  nor  send  her 
servants  there  to  ascertain  the  value  of  her  husband's  estates.4  John  Nichol- 
son, alderman  of  Newark,  excused  himself  from  appearing  to  compound  since 
he  must  remain  in  Newark  '  to  assist  in  its  government  during  the  pesti- 
lence.'6  Gervase  Lee  begged  mitigation  of  his  assessment  in  1647,  stating 
that  he  was  captain  of  a  train  band,  and  being  aged  and  infirm  was  forced 
into  Newark  by  the  sheriff.8  In  October,  1650,  the  county  committee  for 
Nottinghamshire  informed  the  Committee  for  Compounding  that  from  the 
March  sequestrations  in  the  county  they  had  advanced  £1,293  I4-r-  l^->  '  a 
large  sum  considering  the  ruinous  state  of  this  county,  long  the  seat  of  the 
war,  so  that  many  estates  were  untenantable.' 7  They  also  stated  that  through 
the  power  of  the  enemy  and  the  indigency  of  the  country  the  late  Committee 
for  Sequestration  received  not  one-fortieth  of  the  sequestrations,  and  had  to 
borrow  money  to  carry  on  the  parliamentary  service  ;  and  when  Newark  was 
reduced  most  of  the  sequestrations  were  discharged.8  In  December,  1659,  the 
County  Commissioners  for  Derbyshire  reported  to  the  Committee  for  Seques- 
tration concerning  commotions  in  these  parts,  and  that  one  of  their  number 
with  his  troop  had  gone  into  Nottinghamshire  to  appease  distempers  there.9 
Edward  Heming  reported  from  Nottingham  that  he  had  spent  fourteen  days 
in  the  county,  and  '  had  done  what  he  could,'  but  '  the  commissioners  here 
have  been  disturbed  by  papers  set  on  the  forts,  intimating  that  it  would  be 
good  service  to  knock  us  on  the  head,  so  that  I  can  get  none  to  act.' 10 

Already  Monk  had  entered  England,  and  had  been  well  received  as  he 
passed  through  the  county  on  his  way  to  London.11  His  coming  was  followed 
by  a  cry  for  a  free  Parliament,  resulting  in  the  final  dissolution  of  the  Rump 
in  March,  1660.  And  '  some  time  before  the  writs  for  the  new  elections 
came,  the  town  of  Nottingham,  as  almost  all  the  rest  of  the  island,  began  to 
grow  mad,  and  to  declare  themselves  so  in  their  desires  of  the  king.' 12  The 
townsmen,  now  that  they  no  longer  needed  protection,  quarrelled  with  the 
soldiers  quartered  there,  until  at  length  permission  came  from  Monk  to  'let 
loose  the  fury  of  the  regiment  on  the  town,'  but  by  Colonel  Hutchinson's 

1  Gardiner,  Hist,  of  Commonwealth  and  Protectorate,  iii,  242. 

s  Cal.  of  Com.  for  Compounding,  and  Cal.  of  Com.  for  Adv.  of  Money. 

3  Cal.  of  Com.  for  Compounding,  1,335. 

4  Ibid.  1,336.  6  Ibid.  1,371.  °  Cal.  of  Com.  for.  Adv.  of  Money,  538. 
7  Cal.  of  Com.  for  Compounding,  i,  342-3.                            8  Ibid.  9  Ibid.  p.  771. 

10  Ibid.  "  Bailey,  Annals  ofNott.  iii,  865. 

"  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  399. 

355 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

intervention  the  order  was  countermanded.  Counted  as  the  deliverer  of  the 
town,  Colonel  Hutchinson  was  therefore  chosen  as  one  of  its  representatives 
in  the  new  Parliament.  The  other  member  elected  was  Mr.  Arthur  Stan- 
hope, also  a  '  Parliament  man.' l  But  the  elections  generally  went  in  favour 
of  the  king's  party,  and  when  in  May,  1660,  Charles  was  welcomed  back,  the 
gentry  of  Nottinghamshire  sent  an  address  of  '  laudation  and  congratulation 
to  the  king  on  his  restoration.' 2  Of  the  four  Nottinghamshire  men  who  had 
sat  as  judges  in  the  High  Court  of  Commission  held  on  Charles  I,3  Ireton 
was  dead  ;  Whalley  had  refused  to  obey  the  proclamation  for  surrender,  and  was 
excluded  from  the  Act  of  Indemnity  and  forced  to  flee  to  America  for  his 
life  ;4  Millington  abjectly  '  confessed  himself  guilty  every  way,'  and  his 
death  sentence  was  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life  ; 6  Hutchinson  pleaded 
that  his  share  in  the  king's  execution  had  been  the  result  of '  the  inexperience 
of  his  age  and  the  defect  of  his  judgment,  and  not  the  malice  of  his  heart,' 
and  by  the  connivance  of  his  friends  was  included  in  the  Act  of  Amnesty  or 
Oblivion. 6 

Although  Nottinghamshire,  like  the  rest  of  England,  had  accepted 
Charles  so  gladly,  before  three  years  were  over  it  was  engaged  with  the  rest 
of  the  north  of  England  with  the  Yorkshire  plot.7  In  October,  1663,  Colonel 
Hutchinson  was  in  consequence  apprehended  with  his  papers  and  writings 
and  conveyed  to  the  Tower  '  for  treasonable  designs  and  practices.'8  He 
stated  that  he  had  been  at  his  own  house  twelve  months  without  stirring 
except  to  pay  the  benevolence  ;  that  he  had  never  heard  of  the  rising  in  the 
north  till  he  came  to  Newark,  nor  was  asked  to  concur  in  it  ;  that  he  had  not 
heard  of  a  secret  council  to  manage  public  disturbances  ;  that  he  did  not 
keep  a  horse,  saddle,  nor  arms,  except  birding  pieces  allowed  his  sons  by 
Lord  Newcastle  ;  that  none  of  his  children  had  had  any  correspondence  about 
any  public  design.9  He  was,  however,  confined  to  the  Tower,  whence  he 
wrote  in  March,  1664,10  Secretary  Bennett,  complaining  that  he  had  been  close 
prisoner  twenty  weeks  without  accusation,  and  begging  a  copy  of  the 
warrant  of  his  commitment,  which  Sir  John  Robinson  refused  him.10  This 
was  allowed  him,  but  he  still  seems  to  have  suffered  much  ill  usage  at  the 
hands  of  Sir  John  Robinson.11  Finally  in  May,  1664,  he  was  transferred  to 
Sandown  Castle,  in  Kent,  where  he  died  of  fever  four  months  later.12  In 
August,  1663,  when  '  one  hundred  of  the  chief  designers '  of  the  Yorkshire 
plot  had  been  seized,  one  Thomas  Calton,  of  Leicester,  was  examined,  and 
stated  that  his  master,  Captain  Lockier,  had  said  that  '  Thomas  Palmer,  of 
Nottingham,  would  raise  a  troop  of  horse,  and  they  would  meet  at  Notting- 
ham on  October  12.' ls  After  the  renewal  of  the  plot  in  October,  1663,  and 
the  seizure  of  conspirators,  Sir  Thomas  Gower  wrote  to  Secretary  Bennett  in 
October,  1664,  that  a  certain  schoolmaster  of  Newcastle,  for  whom  search 

1  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  p.  399. 

*  Cal.  S.P.  Dam.  1660,  i,  5.  »  Nalson,  Trial  of  Charles  I,  p.  21. 

4  Noble,  Lives  of  the  Regicides,  328.  *  Ibid.  82-4. 

6  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit.  pp.  403-8. 

7  See  Sir  Thomas  Gower's  papers  concerning  the  '  intended  rising  in  England.'     The  design  of  the  con- 
spirators is  here  said  to  be  to  fall  on  Whitehall,  seize  the  dukes  of  York  and  Albemarle,  the  head  treasurer  and 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  to  take  several  towns.     S.P.  Dom.  Chas.  II,  Ixxxi,  77. 

8  Cal.  S.P.  Dam.  1663-4,  P-  3H-  9  Ibid.  p.  329. 

Ibid.  p.  526.  "  S.P.  Dom.  Chas.  II,  xcv,  103. 

"  For  account  of  imprisonment  and  death,  see  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  op.  cit. 
13  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1663-4,  P-  663. 

356 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

was  now  being  made,  had  spoken  of  '  great  assistance  for  the  plot  from  the 
county  of  Nottinghamshire,  also  of  great  preparations  in  the  middle  of 
England,  and  of  a  great  number  of  persons  of  quality  engaged.' *  In  the 
following  March  a  certain  Philip  Wild  was  examined  concerning  his  know- 
ledge of  the  plot.  It  was  proved  that  he  knew  that  Lockier  would  raise  500 
men  at  Nottingham,  that  he  '  often  spoke  of  the  plot,  offered  press  money  to 
enlist  persons,  and  said  there  would  soon  be  an  alteration.'  The  prisoner's 
defence  was  that  he  remembered  nothing  of  this,  but  that '  his  head  was  once 
hurt  and  a  piece  of  his  skull  taken  out,  that  his  brain  was  somewhat  distem- 
pered, and  that  he  had  been  drinking.' 2  He  was  therefore  pardoned  in  June, 
1665,  since  the  'jury  were  satisfied  that  he  was  drunk  when  he  tried  to  enlist 
soldiers,  and  that  he  is  distracted  on  the  changes  of  the  moon.'3  Plots  such 
as  this  were  naturally  the  result  of  a  strong  anti-Papist  element  in  the  county, 
and  the  strength  of  the  feeling  in  Nottingham  itself  seems  to  be  proved  by 
the  joy  with  which  the  proclamation  against  Papists  was  received  in  the  town 
in  March,  1673.  'It  was  received  with  so  much  joy  that  bells  and 
bonfires  rang  and  flamed  as  they  never  did  since  the  restoration.  The  Fanatics 
contended  with  the  Conformists  who  should  show  most  zeal  in  expressing 
their  joy  for  his  Majesty's  great  grace.'  * 

It  was,  indeed,  the  ecclesiastical  policy  of  the  later  Stuarts  that  gave 
colour  to  the  political  events  of  their  reigns,  since  it  alienated  both  Cavalier 
and  Roundhead,  '  Conformist '  and  '  Fanatic.'  Hence  Nottinghamshire  was 
ready  with  the  rest  of  England  to  welcome  the  Prince  of  Orange  as  it  had 
welcomed  Charles  Stuart.5  On  24  November,  1688,  William  Cavendish, 
duke  of  Devonshire,  wrote  to  the  earl  of  Derby  concerning  the  supporters  of 
the  Prince  of  Orange  in  the  Midland  shires,  that  there  were  now  at  Notting- 
ham, Lord  Cholmondeley,  Sir  Scrope  How,  Sir  William  Russell,  Mr.  Charleton, 
Mr.  Harvey,  Mr.  Hartop,  Mr.  Palmer  and  others.  That  morning  before 
Lord  Delamere  left  a  public  declaration  was  made  by  his  supporters  in  the 
Nottingham  market-place,  '  where  there  was  a  great  concourse  of  people,'  to 
stand  by  the  Prince  of  Orange  with  their  lives  and  fortunes.6  Four  days  later 
the  duke  wrote  from  Mansfield  to  the  Yorkshire  supporters,  that  since  the 
prince  needed  a  considerable  addition  of  horse  the  Yorkshire  horse,  num- 
bering 240,  should  join  with  the  contingents  from  Nottinghamshire 
and  Northamptonshire,  and  march  together  to  him  a  thousand  strong. 
'  For  we'  shall  march  to-morrow  from  hence  (i.e.  Mansfield)  to  Nottingham 
about  300,  and  I  am  assured  to  have  near  100  more  sent  me  in  there.'7 
A  similar  account  of  the  part  played  by  the  county  comes  in  a  contem- 
porary record  of  William's  progress  through  England  : — '  Que  les  my  lords 
de  Devonshire  de  Derby  Lumley  et  plusieurs  autres  avoi't  assemble  de  la 

1  Cal.  S.P.  Dom.  1664-5,  P-  32-     This  is  rather  different  from  what  was  reported  in  July,  1663,  that 

'no  considerable  men  '  would  join  the  rebels.  Ibid.  1663—4,  p.  216. 

*  Ibid.    1664-5,  pp.  262-3.  *  Ibid.  pp.  263,  449. 

*  Ibid.  1672-3,  p.  49. 

5  Early  in  November,  1688,  Lord  Delamere  'having  a  mind  to  try  the  disposition  of  the  populace,  on  a 
sudden  ordered  the  trumpets  to  sound  to  arms,  giving  out  that   the  king's  forces  were  within   four  miles  of 
Nottingham.'     Immediately  both  horse  and  foot  were  in  readiness,  '  some  appeared  with  firelocks,  some  with 
swords,  some  with  other  weapons,  even  pitchforks  not  excepted,'  and  '  My  Lord  Delamere   and  his  party  were 
well  pleased  with  the  readiness  of  the  people  to  give  their  assistance.'     Sutton,  Nott.  Date  Book. 

6  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  Rep.  ix,  460^.      This  meeting  was  according  to  an  arrangement  made  by  Lord  Danby 
(Ibid.  Ref.  xi,  pt.  vii,  30). 

7  Ibid.  Rep.  ix,  460^. 

357 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

cavallerie  composed  des  Gentilshom'es  du  pays  une  partie  a  York  et  1'autre 
a  Nottingham  qu'ils  alloi't  marcher  aussez  vers  Glocester  pour  se  joindre  a 
n're  armee.' l  On  4  December  Princess  Anne  came  to  Nottingham,  whither 
she  had  arrived  '  safe  out  of  their  hands  by  your  lordship's  (the  bishop  of 
London)  prudent  conduct.'  As  a  result  of  her  presence  the  duke  of  Devon- 
shire wrote  that  '  great  numbers  came  in  every  day,'  and  on  8  December  he 
wrote  further  that  the  forces  gathered  at  Nottingham  then  numbered  1,500 
horse  and  two  companies  of  foot.8  The  flight  of  James  three  days  later 
avoided  recourse  to  arms,  and  by  the  Declaration  of  Right  William  and  Mary 
became  legal  sovereigns.  The  lord-lieutenant  of  Nottinghamshire  reported  in 
June,  1689,  how  well  the  county  was  affected  to  the  king,3  and  it  remained 
loyal  to  him  throughout  his  reign,  having  little  part  in  Jacobite  plots. 

With  the  death  of  Anne  and  the  beginning  of  the  Hanoverian  Dynasty 
the  aggressive  policy  of  the  Whigs  roused  the  High  Tory  party  into  action, 
and  resulted  in  the  Jacobite  plot  of  1715.  As  a  result  Lord  Newcastle, 
lord-lieutenant  of  Nottinghamshire,  wrote  to  the  deputy -lieutenants  in 
September,  1715,  that  they  must  have  'immediate  care  to  regulate  the 
militia  of  the  county,'  for  since  '  the  Pretender  is  resolved  to  try  his  fate  at 
last  by  flinging  himself  into  the  hands  of  his  friends  either  here  or  in  Scotland 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  militia  of  Nottingham  should  be  rendered 
useful  as  soon  as  possible,  it  being  a  passage  into  Scotland,  and  so  capable  of 
doing  great  service.'  Account  was  to  be  taken  of  the  number  of  men,  both 
horse  and  foot,  that  the  county  was  lawfully  bound  to  furnish,  and  the  horse 
especially  were  to  be  in  readiness.4  '  The  county  cannot  be  disobliged  if 
upon  this  extraordinary  occasion  where  our  religion  and  liberty  are  so  nearly 
concerned  their  safety  be  considered  more  than  their  ease.' 6  The  deputy- 
lieutenants  wrote  back  in  October  that  good  progress  had  been  made,  but 
'  fixing  the  horses  of  the  Peers,  especially  such  as  were  not  rated  formerly 
.  .  .  ought  to  be  judged  by  the  Council.'  They  reported  a  need  of 
arms,  and  stated  that  all  the  officers  of  the  horse  and  foot  were  '  entirely 
unacquainted  to  discipline  their  men,'  so  that  it  would  be  well  if  some 
person  were  sent  to  instruct  them.6  Another  letter  from  the  deputy- 
lieutenants  stated  that  the  inhabitants  of  Nottingham  and  Worksop  had 
offered  to  arm  themselves  at  their  own  charge  and  '  gather  together  with 
other  hearty  friends  of  the  government,  to  be  commanded  by  such  officer  or 
officers  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  to  command  them.'  This  offer  they  thought 
it  '  very  proper  to  countenance  ...  at  this  critical  juncture.'  They  also 
suggested  that  a  regiment  of  regulars  should  be  sent  to  Nottingham,  since 
the  Trent  was  seldom  fordable  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  the  few  bridges 
over  it  might  easily  be  broken  down,  so  that  '  should  any  insurrection  be  in 
these  parts  it  would  be  difficult  to  get  any  troops  over  the  river  to  suppress 
them.7  The  lord- lieutenant  approved  of  the  proposed  association,  and 

1  Hist.  AfSS.  Com.  Rep.  zz'a 

'  Ibid,  si,  pt.  vii,  27.  »  Cal.  S.P.  Dem.  1689-90,  p.  137. 

4  In  accordance  with  the  Act  of  March,  1659,  f°r  settling  the  militia,  the  landowners  of  Nottinghamshire 
were  bound  to  furnish  '  one  troope  horse  furnished  with  sufficient  furniture  as  saddle,  bridle,  brest  plate,  and 
crupper,'  mounted  with  '  such  a  rider  on  him  as  the  commissioners  shall  approve  of,  sufficiently  armed  with 
sword,  pistolls,  with  holsters,  carbine,  backe,  brest  and  head  piece.'  The  trooper  was  to  have  2/.  a  day  '  for 
soe  many  days  as  hee  shalbe  absent  from  his  dwelling  and  calling  by  occasion  of  muster  or  exercise.'  Add. 
MS.  34,769,  fol.  58. 

4  Add.  MS.  33,060,  fol.  34.  6  Ibid.  fol.  38.  7  Ibid.  fol.  40. 

358 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

declared  himself  willing  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  encourage  his  countrymen 
'  to  distinguish  themselves  upon  this  extraordinary  occasion  that  it  may 
appear  to  the  world  that  the  county  of  Nottingham  still  have  that  regard  for 
their  religion  and  liberty  which  was  so  remarkable  in  their  ancestors.'  He 
had  spoken  to  the  duke  of  Marlborough  concerning  half-pay  officers  to 
instruct  the  militia,  but  they  could  only  be  removed  from  their  present 
stations  if  the  town  would  bear  their  travelling  expenses.1  In  November  he 
wrote  his  satisfaction  to  hear  of  '  the  good  appearance  their  horse  militia 
made  at  the  review,  which  was  beyond  expectation.'  The  arms  they  needed 
should  be  sent  as  soon  as  possible,  except  bayonets  and  swords  ;  they  should 
have  been  sent  sooner  but  for  '  the  great  scarcity  of  arms  and  the  great  call 
there  is  for  them.'2  However,  'on  receiving  the  glorious  news  of  the  entire 
defeat  of  the  northern  rebels'  at  Preston  on  1 1  November,  and  at  Sheriffmuir 
two  days  later,  the  musters  were  delayed  for  some  days  in  hope  that  the  peers' 
horses  would  then  be  ready  and  the  others  more  complete  in  their  mounting 
and  arms.  At  Mansfield  many  honest  men  had  entered  into  '  a  particular 
association  for  a  troop  of  horse.'  At  Southwell  many  of  the  '  good  men 
thereabouts '  were  drawn  into  the  association,  but  some  were  seized  on 
suspicion  of  being  disaffected.  The  volunteer  companies  at  Nottingham 
and  Worksop  had  received  their  commissions  and  would  soon  muster,  and 
the  deputy-lieutenants  were  hopeful  of  bringing  '  the  same  good  design  .  .  . 
to  some  perfection  '  before  they  left  Newark.3  But  in  spite  of  the  loyalty 
of  the  county  to  the  Hanoverian  house  a  spirit  of  Jacobitism  lingered  in 
Nottingham.  Thus  Mr.  Alderman  Hawksley,  who  was  mayor  of  Notting- 
ham in  1715,  '  gave  an  entertainment  to  a  party  of  his  political  friends,  when 
probably  from  a  state  of  inebriety  ...  he  went  down  on  his  bare  knees 
before  the  company,  and  from  a  large  silver  tankard  .  .  .  drank — "  Success 
to  the  House  of  Stuart."  He  was  accordingly  committed  by  a  brother 
magistrate,  and  while  in  prison  was  visited  by  vast  numbers  of  his  brother 
Jacobites,  more  especially  those  of  the  higher  classes  in  society,  for  many 
miles  round.'*  Again  in  1745,  when  the  Young  Pretender  reached  Derby, 
Nottinghamshire  shared  in  the  general  panic,  but  there  seem  to  be  few  or  no 
details  as  to  preparations  made  in  the  county  for  defence  or  as  to  any  move- 
ment in  favour  of  the  Jacobite  cause. 

The  reorganization  of  the  militia  in  1757,  and  the  attempt  to  raise  it 
by  ballot,  met  with  much  opposition  in  Nottinghamshire.6  At  Mansfield, 
on  5  September,  a  mob  of  about  500  persons  broke  into  the  room  where  the 
ballot  was  to  be  taken,  took  all  the  papers  by  force,  and  after  carrying  them 

1  Add.  MS.  33,060,  fol.  42  ;  and  Hist.  AfSS.  Com.  Rep.  xi,  pt.  vii,  126. 

'Add.  MS.  33,060,  fol.  54.  A  bill  for  'Tropheys'  for  the  county  gives  the  full  complement  of  arms 
and  equipment  for  the  militia  :  '  2  Blew  damask  standards  imbroidered  with  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's 
coat  of  arms  in  silver  fringe,  £13;  1 8  Halberts  I  is.  per  piece,  £<)  l8/. ;  2  Standards  staffes  with  Belts  and 
Springs,  £$;  2  Tassells,  £3;  2  Red  Leather  cases  lined,  12s.;  for  a  box  to  pack  them  in,  $s. ;  6  colors  and 
makeing,  £10  ;  6  color  staffs  with  gilt  heads,  £2  8/. ;  6  pr.  of  blew  color  tassclls  and  strings,  £3  6s.;  for 
painting  of  6  colors,  £12  ;  12  Drummes,  £12  ;  painting  12  Drummes,  £ 9  ;  5  cases  to  pack  them  in, 
£l  3/.  lod.;  for  Bayes  to  line  case  for  colors,  4/.;  carriage  to  the  carryer,  2s.  6d.;  50  carabines  at  2$s.  per 
piece,  ^62  los. ;  50  carabine  Belts  at  6s.  per  piece,  £15  ;  50  Buckets  and  Straps,  £3  I?'-;  for  3  chests  for 
the  carabines,  £i  4*.;  44  long  muskets  at  22/.,  ^48  8/.;  loo  muskets  at  22/.,  £110;  106  muskets  at  l8/., 
£95  8/.;  250  Bionets  at  2s.  6J.,  £31  j/.;  210  Swords  at  5/.,  £$z  ios.;  10  large  chests  at  us.,  £$  los.; 
for  3  boxes  for  Swords  and  Bionets,  £ l  2s.'  (Ibid.  fol.  77).  Mr.  Round  points  out  that  these  figures  imply 
a  regiment  of  six  companies  each  with  a  '  colour,'  three  sergeants  armed  with  halberts,  and  two  drummers. 

*  Add.  MS.  33,060,  fol.  61.  4  Sutton,  op.  cit.  p.  15. 

'The  number  demanded  from  the  county  was  480.    Gent.  Mag.  1757,  p.  301. 

359 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

in  triumph  through  the  streets,  finally  burned  them.1  In  1759,  when  there 
was  a  threatened  descent  of  the  French  on  England,  another  attempt  was 
made  to  mobilize  the  Nottinghamshire  militia,  but  so  keen  was  the  feeling 
of  the  county  against  the  ballot  system  that  many  of  the  local  gentry  refused 
commissions  and  preferred  to  pay  a  fine  instead.8  From  this  date  until  1775 
Nottinghamshire  seems  to  have  paid  heavy  levies  in  default  of  raising 
militia,  but  in  August  of  that  year,  at  a  meeting  held  by  the  deputy-lieutenants 
at  the  Swan  Inn,  Mansfield,  all  disputes  were  adjusted  and  the  number  of 
men  settled  as  follows: — Nottingham  town,  80;  Bassetlaw  hundred,  123  ; 
Broxton,  93  ;  Thurgarton,  70  ;  Rushcliffe,  34  ;  Bingham,  37 ;  Newark,  46." 
The  regiment  was  entitled  the  '  Forty-second  or  Nottinghamshire  Regi- 
ment of  Militia,'  and  consisted  of  a  grenadier  and  a  light  infantry  company 
and  the  six  ordinary  companies  with  their  three  sergeants  and  two  drummers 
each.  On  20  May,  1776,  they  assembled  for  twenty-eight  days'  training  in 
Nottingham,  and  a  parade-ground  was  formed  on  the  north  of  the  town.4 
In  1778,  when  England  was  involved  in  the  American  War  and  France  had 
united  with  America,  the  militia  of  each  county  was  called  upon  to  undertake 
home  defence.  Inducements  were  held  out  to  recruits  for  the  Nottinghamshire 
militia,  '  good  English  ordinary  of  roast  beef  and  plum  pudding,  and  a  ticket 
for  the  play  at  night  and  a  handsome  bounty.'  Moreover  they  were  to  be 
quartered  '  in  the  delightful  and  plentiful  town  of  Kingston  upon  Hull, 
where  excellent  ale  is  sold  at  only  threepence  the  full  quart,  fish  of  the  best 
quality  at  one  penny  per  pound,  and  shambles  meat  at  a  lower  rate  than  in 
most  towns  of  the  kingdom.'6  In  June  the  militia,  now  reduced  to  320 
privates,  since  so  many  men  had  volunteered  for  the  line  into  the  45th,6  left 
Nottingham  for  Hull  in  two  divisions  ;  the  first  the  grenadier  company  with 
three  others  under  the  command  of  Lord  George  Sutton,  the  second  the  light 
infantry  with  the  other  three  companies  under  Major  Cartwright.7  At  Hull 
the  militia  gave  good  proof  of  their  fitness  by  their  ready  defence  of  the  town 
against  an  intended  attack  by  the  French  in  November,  1778."  In  June, 
1779,  they  were  ordered  into  camp  on  Southsea  Common  near  Portsmouth  ; 
in  December  the  camp  was  broken  up,  and  they  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Gosport.9  From  1780  until  disembodied  in  1783  the  numbers  of  the  militia 
remained  about  the  same,  the  privates  of  the  eight  companies  numbering 
about  370:  drummers,  16;  corporals,  21;  sergeants,  21 ;  surgeon,  i  ;  quarter- 
master, i;  chaplain,  i;  ensigns,  5;  lieutenants,  10;  captains,  5;  lieutenant- 
colonel,  i;  colonel,  I.10 

1  Sutton,  Nott.  Date  Book,  p.  42  ;  Gent.  Mag.  1757,  p.  430.  '  Lord  Robert  S(a)v(i)le  was  near  being 
stifled  by  the  mob,  but  by  civility  and  kind  entreaty  he  at  last  prevailed  on  them  to  let  him  have  a  little  air 
that  he  might  recover  himself.  Several  of  the  mob  collar'd  Sir  George  S(avile)  and  threatened  to  strike  him  ; 
in  short,  none  of  the  gentlemen  who  were  present  escaped  without  receiving  marks  of  their  resentment.  The 
cause  of  these  outrages  is  said  to  be  this  :  at  the  time  when  recruits  were  raising  in  that  county  for  Col.  N.'s 
regiment  the  men  who  were  inlisted  were  promised  that  not  one  of  them  should  be  sent  abroad,  since  which 
it  is  said  that  all  or  most  of  these  men  .  .  .  have  been  sent  abroad  and  many  of  them  killed  by  the  enemy.' 

'Ibid.  1759,  p.  304.  The  number  demanded  was  again  480,  but  the  return  nil.  See  Add.  MSS. 
33,060,  ff.  144-6. 

3  Sutton,  op.  cit.  p.  112.    In  1774  £4°  hid  been  levied  on  Nottingham  town  as  fine  of  £5  per  man  for 
the  twenty-eight  men  that  should  have  been  furnished  in  the  last  year.    Ibid.  p.  103. 

4  On    14  June  a   ball   was  given  at  the  castle  to  celebrate  the  formation   of  the  regiment.     Sutton, 
op.  cit.  p.  115. 

5  Ibid.  pp.  1 19-20.  6  See  infra.  'Sutton,  op.  cit.  p.  121. 

"A.  E.  Lawson  Lowe,  Royal  Sherwood  Foresters,  p.  1 6.  9  Sutton,  op   cit.  p    132 

10  Muster  Rolls,  P.R.O. 

360 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

From  1783  to  1788  the  regiment  was  not  assembled  for  training,  but 
from  this  date  until  embodied  for  coast  defence  in  1793  it  seems  to  have  met 
annually.  In  1797,  when  the  militia  was  at  Hull,  since  there  was  great  fear 
of  a  French  attack,  the  Leicestershire  militia  was  sent  to  relieve  the  Notting- 
hamshire, and  the  latter  was  divided  into  several  detachments,  which  were 
stationed  at  Bridlington,  Hornsea,  and  other  coast  towns.1 

With  the  Peace  of  Amiens  in  April,  1802,  came  the  disembodiment  of 
the  whole  of  the  militia,  each  non-commissioned  officer  and  private  receiving 
one  month's  pay  as  a  gratuity.  The  Militia  Act  of  the  same  year  fixed  the 
number  of  the  Nottinghamshire  militia  at  564,  this  including  the  quota  from 
the  county  and  from  Nottingham  town  and  county.3  By  this  Act  men  between 
eighteen  and  forty-five  were  to  be  raised  by  ballot  or  to  pay  a  fine  of  ^Tio  to 
be  exempt  for  five  years.  In  the  critical  years  of  1803  and  1804,  when 
France  was  engaged  in  vast  preparations  against  England,  the  Nottingham 
militia  was  ordered  to  the  south  coast,  and  the  actual  strength  of  the  regiment 
soon  reached  more  than  1,000  of  all  ranks.  Later  in  the  year  it  was  stationed 
at  Margate  and  then  at  Ramsgate,  detachments  being  posted  about  the  Isle  of 
Thanet.3  In  1811  and  1812  the  militia  was  on  service  in  Ireland.  In 
November,  1813,  by  reason  of  its  good  service  a  detachment  of  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  undertake  the  duties  of  royal  guard  for  two  nights  and  two 
days,4  and  in  December  it  was  further  honoured  by  royal  permission  to  be 
styled  '  the  Royal  Sherwood  Foresters,' 5  and  the  present  regimental  badge 
was  adopted. 

With  the  battle  of  Waterloo  came  the  end  of  the  period  of  war,  and  the 
consequent  disembodiment  of  the  militia.  The  strength  of  the  Royal  Sher- 
wood Foresters  was  reduced  to  one  colonel,  one  lieut. -colonel,  i  major, 
8  captains,  10  lieutenants,  6  ensigns,  I  adjutant,  i  surgeon,  i  quartermaster, 
i  paymaster,  i  sergeant-major,  18  sergeants,  19  corporals,  I  drum  major, 
10  drummers,  and  564  privates.6  From  this  date  the  disembodied  regiments 
were  only  assembled  for  training  at  irregular  intervals  until  the  beginning  of 
the  Crimean  War.  In  1854  they  were  again  embodied  and  encamped  at 
Aldershot  in  i855.7  In  the  summer  of  1856  they  were  disembodied.8  The 
militia  at  the  present  day  (1906)  forms  the  4th  Battalion  of  the  Royal 
Sherwood  Foresters.  As  such  it  did  good  service  in  South  Africa  in  1900 
and  1 90 1.9 

The  first  battalion  of  the  Royal  Sherwood  Foresters  represents  the 
nucleus  of  the  old  45th  Regiment  of  Foot  incorporated  with  the  volunteer 
forces  from  Nottinghamshire.  In  1779  the  nobility,  gentry,  and  clergy  of  the 
county  met  in  Nottingham  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  large  county  subscrip- 
tion '  to  be  applied  for  the  public  service  of  this  kingdom  in  the  present 
critical  state  of  affairs.'  As  a  result  they  petitioned  the  king  that  some  par- 
ticular regiment  might  be  recruited  in  the  county  with  the  assistance  of 
subscription  ...  to  be  henceforward  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the 
county.'  Their  petition  was  answered  by  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War 

1  A.  E.  Lawson  Lowe,  op.  cit.  p.  27.  *  Stat.  42  Geo.  Ill,  c.  90,  Art.  xix. 

*  A.  E.  Lawson  Lowe,  op.  cit.  31-2.  The  patriotism  of  the  county  was  shown  both  by  the  number  of 
volunteers  for  the  line,  and  by  the  raising  of  472  yeomanry  cavalry  and  3,635  volunteer  infantry,  besides  the 
ordinary  militia. 

4  Nott.  Gaz.  Nov.  1813.  '  Ibid.  Dec.  1813.  6  Ibid.  1815. 

7  Nott.  Rev.  1854  and  1855.  8  Ibid.  1856.  '  4rmy  List  (1905). 

I  361  46 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

desiring  the  nobility  and  gentry  to  exercise  their  personal  influence  to  promote 
the  levy  of  men  in  the  speediest  and  most  effectual  manner,  and  when 
300  men  should  be  raised  they  should  be  incorporated  with  the  45th  Regi- 
ment of  Foot  to  be  thenceforward  called  the  Nottinghamshire  Regiment.1 
The  remains  of  the  '  45th '  which  had  then  been  returned  from  service  in 
America  numbering  less  than  100  men,  was  therefore  ordered  on  recruiting 
service  into  Nottinghamshire,  an  extra  bounty  of  six  guineas  was  paid  to  each 
recruit  out  of  the  county  subscription,  and  the  '45th  '  became  incorporated 
with  the  county.3  Its  services  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  attack  on  Buenos 
Ayres,  and  in  the  Peninsular  War,  at  Roleia,  Vimiero,  and  Talavera,  and  at 
Busaco  earned  for  it  the  title  of  the  '  Old  Stubborns '  and  won  Wellington's 
praise  for  steadiness  and  discipline.3  It  also  saw  service  in  South  Africa  from 
1899  to  1902,  and  was  at  Vlakfontein  in  1901.* 

By  statute  of  1808  a  local  militia  was  established,6  and  in  1809  the 
various  volunteer  corps  in  Nottinghamshire  were  disbanded,  and  in  most  cases 
the  men  transferred  their  services  to  the  local  militia  in  accordance  with 
clause  xix  of  the  statute.6  Their  services  were  at  first  confined  to  their  own 
counties,  but  in  1813  the  crown  was  authorized  to  accept  from  the  local 
militia  voluntary  offers  of  service  out  of  their  counties  for  under  forty  days 
in  the  year,  and  limited  by  the  duration  of  the  Act  to  25  March  i8i5.7  In 
February,  1814,  the  men  and  officers  of  the  Nottinghamshire  local  militia 
were  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  extending  their  services  to  forty-two  days. 
Those  who  agreed  to  do  so  were  not  to  be  called  out  for  training  or 
exercising  for  the  rest  of  the  year.8  The  battle  of  Waterloo  however  gave  a 
death  blow  to  the  local  militia,  and  in  May,  1816,  the  ballot  was  suspended, 
and  the  office  of  agent-general  for  local  militia  and  volunteers  was  abolished.9 
When  the  aggressive  policy  of  Napoleon  III  brought  the  possibility  of  a  French 
invasion  the  national  need  of  a  volunteer  defence,  voiced  in  a  pamphlet  of 
i846,10  was  slowly  realized  by  the  nation  at  large,  and  led  to  the  volunteer 
movement  of  1859  and  to  General  Peel's  circulars  of  that  year.  The  volun- 
teers of  Nottinghamshire  formed  into  battalions  according  to  the  general 
regulations  of  1891  are  the  'Robin  Hood'  or,  ist  Nottinghamshire  Rifle 
Volunteers,  with  their  headquarters  at  Nottingham,  and  the  Nottinghamshire 
volunteer  battalions  of  the  Sherwood  Foresters,  with  the  headquarters  of  their 
B  and  C  companies  at  Newark,  and  of  their  A  company  at  East  Retford.  The 
Southern  Nottinghamshire  Hussars  (Imperial  Yeomanry)  have  their  head- 
quarters in  Nottingham,  and  the  Sherwood  Rangers  (Imperial  Yeomanry)  at 
East  Retford. 

Apart  from  the  development  of  the  militia  the  history  of  the  eighteenth 
and  early  nineteenth  centuries  wrapped  itself  round  the  system  of  party 
government,  and  all  that  party  government  involved.  As  early  as  1696 
bribery  and  corruption  were  evident,  and  the  town  of  Nottingham  petitioned 
that  measures  might  be  adopted  to  abate  or  remove  the  evil,  that  the 
election  of  members  might  be  free.11  Again,  in  1699,  on  the  return  of  Robert 

'  Sutton,  op.  cit.  p.  134.  '  Ibid.  p.  135.  3  R.  de  M.  Rudolph,  Hist,  of  Territorial  Regiments. 

^id.  •  Stat.  48  Geo.  Ill,  c.  1 1 1.  •  Ibid. 

Stat.  54  Geo.  Ill,  c.  19,  extended  by  56  Geo.  Ill,  c.  76. 
'  Nott.  Gaz.  Feb.  1814.  •  Ibid.  M       ,8,6_ 

Gen.  Sir  Chas.  Napier,  Defence  of  England  by  Volunteer  Corps  and  Militia. 
1  Bailey,  Ann.  of  Notts,  iii,  1,052. 

362 


POLITICAL    HISTORY 

Sacheverell  as  member  for  Nottingham,  George  Gregory  presented  a  petition 
to  the  House  complaining  of  many  illegal  practices  adopted  by  the  successful 
candidate.1  In  the  same  year  John  Raynor,  candidate  for  Newark,  petitioned 
that  he  himself  was  the  duly  chosen  burgess,  but  the  mayor  and  others  had 
used  many  illegal  practices  in  favour  of  his  rival  Sir  Francis  Molyneux  who  had 
been  returned.2  In  January,  1700,  the  House  resolved  that  Sir  Francis 
Molyneux  was  not  duly  elected,  and  the  mayor  was  taken  into  custody  for 
his  conduct  at  the  election.3  In  the  same  year  George  Gregory  and  Robert 
Sacheverell  were  again  rival  candidates  for  Nottingham.  Gregory  was 
returned,  and  thereupon  Sacheverell  petitioned  that  he  had  been  returned 
by  means  of  many  corrupt  and  illegal  practices  by  the  sheriff,  the  mayor, 
and  many  others.4  At  the  end  of  the  session  Parliament  resolved  that 
Gregory  was  not  duly  elected,  and  the  return  was  ordered  to  be  amended.6 
Similar  petitions  were  sent  to  the  House  of  Commons  year  after  year,  but 
the  system  of  representation  was  anything  but  satisfactory.6  In  May,  1783, 
John  Cartwright  wrote  to  the  '  gentry,  clergy,  and  freeholders  of  co.  Notting- 
ham who  have  a  vain  shadow  of  representation  in  Parliament,  but  more 
particularly  to  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  who  have  no  representation  at 
all '  that  something  further  must  be  done,  the  unrepresented  must  petition 
as  well  as  the  badly  represented,  so  '  to  bring  the  House  of  Commons  back 
to  its  ancient  purity  and  dependence  on  the  people.'  Such  a  reform  would 
create  no  ascendancy  of  any  one  political  party,  '  it  would  not  favour  a 
Shelburne  more  than  a  Fox,  a  Bute  more  than  a  Portland.' 7  A  petition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Nottingham  not  possessed  of  the  necessary  qualification  of 
freehold  of  40^.  was  accordingly  prepared,  but  seems  to  have  effected  little.8 

In  1812  and  1813,  when  the  question  of  peace  or  war  with  Napoleon 
played  so  great  a  part  in  the  elections,  seventy  burgesses  met  at  Nottingham 
Guildhall  to  draw  up  a  petition  in  the  interests  of  peace.  The  speaker  of 
the  evening  exhibited  two  loaves  'of  war  and  peace  ;  the  first,  the  big  loaf  of 
1791,  and  the  second,  the  small  loaf  of  i8i3.'9  But  in  the  minds  of  many 
the  cause  of  the  distress  of  those  years  lay  deeper.  Thus  Major  Cartwright 
wrote :  '  I  hear  you  are  petitioning  about  peace  in  your  town.  I  would  to 
God  you  would  get  to  work  on  reform,  without  which  peace  is  of  no  value.' 
No  temporary  expedient  or  temporary  peace  could  avail  ;  '  to  save  the  state  is 
to  restore  the  constitution.'10  The  Reform  Bill  of  1832  accomplished  much, 
but  did  not  satisfy  the  extremists,  whose  organ  in  Nottinghamshire  was  the 
Nottingham  Review.  Leading  articles  in  October,  1838,  called  for  universal 
suffrage,  for  the  sovereignty  of  the  people,  asking  how  long  Whigs  would  act 
Tories  in  denying  such.11  In  November,  1838,  when  the  Chartist  movement 
was  gaining  head,  a  Radical  demonstration  was  made  on  the  borders  of  Sher- 
wood Forest  since  the  mayor  forbade  a  meeting  in  the  town.  A  long  pro- 
cession made  its  way  to  the  meeting-place  from  the  surrounding  towns,  and  in 

1  Bailey,  Ann.  of  Notts,  iii,  1,055.  *  Ibid.  1,056. 

*  Joum.  of  House  of  Commons,  Jan.  1700.  4  Bailey,  op.  cit.  iii,  1,061. 

5  Journ.  of  House  of  Commons,  June,    1700.     However  Sacheverell's   triumph   was  but   short-lived.      The 
return  was  ordered  to  bs  amended  on  10  June,  Parliament  was  prorogued  on  24  June  and  never  met  again. 

6  In  1741  the  burgesses  and  freeholders  of  Nottingham  gave  instructions  to  their  representatives  to  bring 
forward  a  Bill  for  ousting  placemen  from  Parliament  ;  to  reduce  so  dangerous  an   influence  both  for  now  and 
futurity.     Add.  MS.  33,060,  fol.  219. 

'  Nott.  Journ.  May,  1783.  «  Ibid.  '  Nott.  Gaz.  Jan.  1813. 

10  Ibid.  "  Nott.  Ret>.  Oct.  1838. 

363 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

its  ranks  were  the  members  of  the  Female  Political  Association  lately  formed 
in  the  county.1  On  12,  13,  and  14  August  of  the  next  year  the  Chartists 
kept  their  notable  '  three  days'  holiday.'  Those  of  Mansfield  united  with 
those  of  Button  and  the  villages  round,  and  marched  in  procession  along  a 
lane  outside  Mansfield.  Special  constables  were  ordered  to  seize  the  ring- 
leaders, and  a  detachment  of  the  5th  Dragoons  was  ordered  to  be  in  readiness 
to  overwhelm  the  rebels.8  They  seem,  however,  to  have  been  perfectly 
passive,  and  even  the  Nottingham  Mercury  confessed  that  the  extreme  pro- 
ceedings taken  against  them  were  quite  uncalled  for.8  However,  the  next 
year,  in  anticipation  of  an  insurrectionary  movement,  special  measures  were 
taken  to  secure  Nottingham.  From  10  to  17  August  the  mayor  was  in 
constant  attendance  at  the  police  office,  troops  were  under  arms  every 
evening,  and  the  Rifle  Brigade  was  in  constant  readiness.  But  the  year  passed 
by  quietly  with  no  attempt  at  an  organized  meeting.4 

The  spirit  of  progress  and  reform  which  marked  Nottinghamshire  in 
the  early  nineteenth  century  has  grown  strong  in  its  old  centres  in  this 
early  twentieth  century.  Newark,  the  royalist  centre  of  the  Civil  War,  still 
maintains  its  old-time  reputation,  and  as  in  1833  it  was  the  first  constituency 
of  Gladstone,  then  '  the  rising  hope  of  the  stern  and  unbending  Tories,'  so 
now  as  ever  it  represents  the  Conservative  element  in  the  county. 

1  Nott.  Rev.  Nov.  1838.  *  Ibid.  Aug.  1839. 

*  Nott.  Mercury,  Aug.  1839.  *  Bailey,  op.  cit.  iv,  415. 


364 


FORESTRY 


I 


central  and  western  parts  of  Nottinghamshire  were  thickly  wooded  from  the  earliest 
times.  The  place-name  terminal  '  field  ' — always  spelt  '  feld  '  in  old  English — 
meaning  a  place  where  trees  have  been  felled,  or  as  we  now  say  a  clearing,  is  to  be 
found  exclusively  in  the  western  half  of  the  shire,  as  in  Ashfield,  Balkfield,  Basingfield, 
Eastfield,  Farnsfield,  Haggonsfield,  Highfield,  and  Mansfield. 

This  well-wooded  portion  of  Nottinghamshire  became  a  great  hunting  district  or  forest  for  the 
early  Norman  kings.  The  Domesday  Survey  seldom  makes  any  reference  to  a  forest,  but  the 
Nottinghamshire  portion  of  the  Great  Survey  shows  that  a  considerable  number  of  the  places  within 
the  woodland  district  were  terra  regis,  so  that  the  amount  of  royal  demesne  made  its  conversion  by 
the  Conqueror  or  his  immediate  successor  into  a  large  forest  a  comparatively  easy  matter.1 

It  is,  perhaps,  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  term  forest  did  not  originally,  either  in  its 
etymological  or  customary  signification,  imply  a  wood,  but  rather  a  great  waste  reserved  for  royal 
hunting  purposes,  and  necessarily  including  certain  woods  and  underwoods  as  coverts  for  the  deer  and 
other  game.  The  forest  of  Nottingham  or  Sherwood,  though  including  various  open  tracts  of 
country,  was  far  more  thickly  and  generally  wooded  than  many  of  the  old  forests,  and  afforded  a 
notable  contrast  to  the  forest  of  the  High  Peak  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Derby,  where  the 
proportion  of  woodland  was  very  small.2 

In  early  days  this  great  tract  of  country,  which  then  embraced  at  least  a  fourth  of  the  whole 
county,  was  known  in  various  documents  as  the  forest  of  Nottingham,3  but  the  equivalent  term  of 
Sherwood  4  soon  became  the  more  usual  expression.  The  first  exact  notice  of  this  forest  occurs  in  the 
year  1 1  54,  when  William  Peverel  the  younger  answered  to  the  forest  pleas.  He  controlled  the  forest 
and  held  the  profits  under  the  crown.  On  the  forfeiture  of  the  Peverel  estates,  early  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  II,  the  forest  lapsed  to  the  king,  and  was  for  some  time  administered  by  the  successive  sheriffs 
of  the  joint  counties  of  Nottingham  and  Derby. 

In  the  lifetime  of  Richard  I  the  forest  of  Sherwood  was  held  by  his  brother  John,  earl  of 
Morton.  The  earl,  by  charter,  granted  to  Ralph  FitzStephen  and  Maud  de  Caux  his  wife,  all 
liberties  and  custody  of  the  forest  of  Sherwood,  including  permission  to  hunt  hare,  fox,  cat,  and 
squirrel  with  dogs  and  hounds  ;  5  all  windfallen  wood  ;  the  valuable  inner  bark  or  bast  of  the  lime 
trees  ;  a  skep  out  of  every  cartload  of  salt  passing  through  the  forest,  and  half  a  skep  from  a  half 
load  ;  the  after  pannage  (retro-pannagiuni)  for  pigs  ;  all  pleas  of  unlawed  dogs  ;  together  with  all 
goods  and  chattels  belonging  to  thieves  or  '  brybours,'  6  taken  by  them  within  the  forest. 

The  same  charter  sanctioned  the  holding  of  a  park  at  Lexington  (Laxton)  7  by  Ralph  and 
Maud,  wherein  they  might  hunt  deer  as  they  pleased  without  molestation,  and  also  granted  them 
seventy  acres  of  assart  or  inclosure  at  Lexington  and  Gedling  free  of  view  of  the  forest  ministers.8 

This  definite  mention  of  robbers  and  thieves  in  Sherwood  Forest  in  the  time  of  Richard  I, 
which  has  not,  we  believe,  been  previously  cited,  causes  a  short  digression  to  be  made  from  the  dry 
sequence  of  historic  facts.  The  very  name  of  Sherwood  at  once  brings  to  the  mind  the  early  tales 

1  Royal  hunting  grounds  (slha  regis)  as  distinct  from  the  king's  lands  or  royal  demesnes  (terra   regis)  pro- 
bably existed  here  long  before  the  Conquest.     Cox,  Royal  Forests  of  England,  4. 
1  V.C.H.Derb.  397-413. 

3  Anct.  Forest  Proc.  Chan.  No.  3,  A.D.  1218  ;  No.  24,  A.D.  1232. 

4  The   earlier  form  was  almost   invariably    ShirewoJe   or    ShineoJe ;    the  name   probably   came  from   a 
considerable  length  of  the  forest  bound  being  also  the  bound  between  the  two  shires  of  Derby  and  Nottingham. 

5  There  were  roedeer  in  Sherwood  Forest,  but  they  were  probably  never  numerous,  and  died  out  at  a 
comparatively  early  date.     There  was  a  single  presentment  for  killing  a   roebuck  at   the  eyre   of  1 5    Edw.  I. 
Sherwood  was  so  intersected  with  roads  and  by-roads,  included  so  many  fairly  populous  places  within  its  limits 
or  on  its  fringes,  and  was  so  destitute  of  great  heights,  ravines,  or  gorges,  that  it  could  at  no  time  be  com- 
pared with  such   wild  districts  as  the   Peak  Forest,  or  certain   parts   of  the  royal  forests   of  Lancashire  and 
Yorkshire.     As  Sir  Robert  Plumpton  held  a  bovate  of  land  in  Sherwood,  called  Wolfhunt  land,  as  late  as  1433, 
by  the  service  of  scaring  the  wolves  by  winding  a  horn,  it  has  sometimes  been  supposed  that  wolves  remained 
in  Sherwood  as  late  as  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.     But  such  a  surmise  is  altogether  untenable  ;  the  survival  or 
repetition  of  an  old  manorial  service  proves  nothing. 

6  Bribour  was  a  mid-English  term  for  a  robber  or  pickpocket. 

7  Laxton  was  outside  the  forest  when  the  bounds  were  lessened  by  the  forest  charter  of  Henry  III. 

8  Exch.   K.   R.  Acct.   Forests,  &^-,   6,   7.     This   is  a  paper   book  of  152   pages,  written   in    English, 
temp.  James  I.     It  is  a  sort  of  directory  of  proceedings  as   to  the   laws  and  customs   of  Sherwood  Forest.     It 
contains  the  charter  of  the  forest  of  Henry  III,  and  various  local  charters  and  regulations,  with  the  bounds  and 
metes  of  the  different  hays  of  the  king  and  of  the  abbot  of  RufFord,  the  chapters  of  the  '  regard '  temp.  Edw.  Ill, 
together  with  the  oaths  of  the  forest  ministers,  as  well  as  highly  interesting  definitions  of  the  courts  and  customs 
of  the  forest. 

365 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

of  Robin  Hood,  with  Little  John,  Friar  Tuck,  Will  Scarlet,  and  his  other  lawless  associates,  and 
more  particularly  their  various  delightful  adventures  with  the  sheriff  of  Nottingham,  and  with 
purse-proud  travellers.  Outlaw  and  robber  that  he  was,  the  whole  garland  of  Robin  Hood  ballads, 
from  the  earliest  to  the  latest,  always  represents  him  as  an  advocate  of  humane  though  levelling 
principles,  and  a  protector  of  the  oppressed. 

From  wealthy  abbots'  chests  and  churches'  abundant  store 

What  oftentimes  he  took  he  shared  among  the  poor  ; 

No  lordly  bishop  came  in  lusty  Robin's  way, 

To  him,  before  he  went,  but  for  his  pass  must  pay  ; 

The  widows  in  distress  he  graciously  relieved 

And  remedied  the  wrongs  of  many  a  virgin  grieved.1 

So  dear  were  the  stories  of  Robin  Hood  to  our  forefathers,  that  in  the  earliest  days  of  English 
printing  a  sheaf  of  ballads  was  issued  from  the  press  of  Wynken  de  Worde,  at  the  end  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  under  the  title  'A  Lytell  Geste  of  Robyn  Hode.'  No  earlier  mention  of  this 
character  has  been  found  than  that  contained  in  the  '  Vision  of  Piers  Ploughman,'  written  about 
1377,  wherein  the  character  of  Sloth  is  introduced  saying  : — 

I  can  noughte  perfidy  my  paternoster,  as  the  prest  it  syngeth  ; 
But  I  can  rymes  of  Robyn  hood  and  Randolf  erle  of  Chestre. 

The  references  to  this  ballad  hero  are  not  infrequent  in  the  following  century.  The  most  interesting 
of  these  is  a  petition  to  Parliament  of  the  year  1439,  complaining  that  one  Piers  Venables  of 
Derbyshire  rescued  a  prisoner,  '  and  after  that  tyme  the  same  Piers,  havynge  no  liflode  ne  sufficeante 
of  goodes,  gaderied  and  assembled  unto  him  many  misdoers  ....  and  in  manere  of  insurrection, 
weinte  into  the  wodcs  in  that  countrie,  like  as  it  hadde  be  Robyn  Hode  and  his  meyne.'  2 

The  popularity  of  the  ballads  of  Robin  Hood,  which  mainly  associate  him  with  Sherwood 
Forest,  long  before  the  age  of  printing,  can  be  abundantly  testified.  It  is  difficult  to  believe  that 
the  gallant  outlaw  and  the  leading  men  of  the  earlier  ballads  were  mere  characters  of  fiction.  Some 
have  supposed  that  he  was  one  of  the  proscribed  followers  of  Simon  de  Montfort  ; 3  Scott,  in  his 
inimitable  Ivanboey  has  followed  others  who  assign  the  time  of  Richard  I  to  the  hero,  when,  as 
we  have  seen,  there  were  certainly  robbers  in  this  forest ;  whilst  a  third,  the  least  possible  but 
perhaps  the  most  plausible  theory,  is  that  Robin  Hood  was  an  adherent  of  the  earl  of  Lancaster  in 
the  ill-fated  insurrection  of  1322*  The  identity  of  Robin  Hood  with  a  pretended  earl  of 
Huntington,  who  died  in  1274,  has  no  kind  of  substantial  basis,  and  is  a  mere  fond  imagining  of 
comparatively  late  date. 5 

The  attempts  to  turn  Robin  Hood  into  a  mere  mythical  hero — an  ingenious  German  even 
considering  that  Hood  is  but  a  corruption  of  Woden — find  no  favour  at  the  hands  of  the  American 
scholar  who  has  devoted  so  much  pains  and  learning  to  his  edition  of  the  ballads  of  the  great  forest 
outlaw.6  At  the  same  time  there  are  doubtless  mythical  elements  in  the  traditions ;  a  genuine 
character  became  the  centre  round  which  certain  old  popular  legends  and  tales  accumulated. 
Randle,  earl  of  Chester,  with  whom  Langland  associates  the  name  of  Robin  Hood,  did  not  lose  his 
identity  as  a  real  nobleman  who  flourished  in  the  reigns  of  Richard  I,  John,  and  early  in  the  time  of 
Henry  III,  because  the  common  folk  made  half-fictitious  rhymes  about  him.7 

Robin  Hood,  like  the  third  Randle,  earl  of  Chester,  was,  it  may  be  safely  assumed,  a  real  in- 
dividual. Possibly  Sir  Walter  Scott  was  right  in  regarding  him  as  a  Saxon  holding  out  against  the 
Norman  conquerors  so  late  as  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century.8  At  any  rate  the  time  of  Richard  I 
is  the  best  authenticated  period  for  the  hero's  existence.  It  is  the  time  assigned  to  him  by  Major  in 
his  history  of  Great  Britain,  which  appeared  in  1521,  wherein  he  gives  a  brief  but  vivid  account  of 
Robin  and  his  lieutenant,9  about  whose  deeds  he  states  that  all  Britain  rang  with  songs.  This  date 

1  Drayton,  Polyolbion,  song  xxvi.  *  Parl.  R.  v,  1 1 6. 

s  Land,  and  West.  Review  (1840),  xxxiii,  424. 

1  This  is  Hunter's  theory  in  The  Ballad-Hero,  Robin  Hood  (1854).  Mr.  Hunter's  arguments  are  based 
on  finding  the  name  Robin  Hood  as  a  porter  of  Nottingham  Castle,  temp.  Edward  II,  but  the  name  was 
of  common  occurrence. 

5  Dr.  Stukeley  in  his  Paleographia  Britanniae,  invented  for  him  a  most  elaborate  pedigree  as  a  descendant 
of  Judith,  countess  of  Huntington,  the  Conqueror's  niece  ;  it  is  given  in  Throsby's  Thornton,  ii,  165. 

6  English  and  Scotch  Popular  Ballads,  5  vols.,  edited  by  F.  J.  Child.     The  Robin  Hood  section  is  in  vol.  iii 
(1888),  pp.  39-237. 

Mr.  Sidney  Lee  has  a  learned  article  in  the  Diet.  Nat.  Biog.,  wherein  he  strongly  argues  in  favour  of  Robin 
Hood  being  a  '  mythical  forest  elf.' 

8  This  is  also  the  view  accepted  by  Thierry  in  his  Norman  Conquest.  A  correspondent  of  Notes  and 
Queries  (Ser.  7)  ix,  226  suggested  that  Robertus  Hod,  who  killed  one  Ralf  in  the  abbot  of  Cencester's  garden 
in  the  days  of  King  John,  and  was  in  consequence  outlawed,  was  identical  with  Robin  Hood  ;  but  this  is 
highly  improbable. 

•  '  Robertus  Hudus  et  Parvus  Joannes  latrones  famatissimi.' 

366 


FORESTRY 

has  been  followed  by  Grafton,  Stow,  and  Camden.  Had  these  men  actually  flourished  in  Sherwood  at 
a  later  date,  in  the  thirteenth  century,  or  in  the  fourteenth  century,  there  could  scarcely  fail  to  be 
definite  references  to  their  marauding  habits  in  the  presentments  at  the  forest  pleas  held  at  Notting- 
ham, of  which  full  particulars  are  extant. 

It  was  near  the  close  of  Maud  de  Caux's  tenure  of  the  office  of  keeper  of  this  forest  that  the 
great  storm  of  the  winter  of  1222  occurred,  when  England  was  swept  from  end  to  end  with 
winds  of  extraordinary  vehemence.  Trees  were  everywhere  overthrown  in  such  vast  numbers  that 
the  old  forest  customs,  whereby  windfallen  boughs,  or  rootfallen  trees,  were  the  perquisites  of  forest 
ministers  were  suspended,  and  special  writs  were  issued  by  the  crown  to  the  authorities  throughout 
England  directing  the  sale  of  all  such  timber  with  a  return  of  the  proceeds.  These  special  instruc- 
tions were  forwarded  inter  a/ia,  to  the  (i)  verderers  and  foresters  of  the  forest  of  Sherwood,  (2)  to  the 
verderers  and  forester  of  the  enclosures  or  hays  of  Sherwood  (de  haiis  de  Shirewood),  (3)  to  Maud 
de  Caux,  widow,  keeper  of  the  forest  of  Sherwood  and  of  Clay,  and  (4)  to  Philip  Marc, 
keeper  of  the  hays  of  Sherwood.1  The  hays  or  parks  within  a  forest  usually  had  a  separate  set  of 
ministers  ;  the  two  chief  hays  at  this  period  were  those  of  Clipston  and  Bestwood. 2  Maud  de 
Caux  obtaining  in  1222  the  title  of  keeper  of  Sherwood  and  Clay  was  a  survival  of  the  time 
when  the  districts  placed  under  the  then  rigid  forest  laws  had  been  much  extended  by  Henry  II  and 
John,  including  in  Nottinghamshire  a  considerable  part  of  the  Clay  3  division  in  the  north-east  of 
the  county,  as  well  as  the  northern  part  of  Hatfield  or  Heathfield,  above  Warsop.  In  1215  John, 
by  one  of  the  articles  of  Magna  Charta,  was  compelled  to  agree  to  the  disafforesting  of  all  the  great 
tracts  put  under  forest  law  during  his  reign,  and  in  1217  the  child-king,  Henry  III,  was  made  to  issue 
in  return  for  certain  grants,  the  Charter  of  the  Forest,  whereby  good  men  and  true  were  to  view  forests 
in  every  shire,  and  all  that  had  been  added  since  the  coronation  of  Henry  II  was  to  be  disafforested. 

We  are  not  aware  that  there  is  any  perambulation  of  this  forest  extant  of  earlier  date  than 
1232,  but  in  that  year  the  Clay  and  Hatfield  districts  were  declared  outside  the  forest,  and  the  true 
bounds  set  forth  in  definite  fashion.4  This  perambulation  is  identical  in  its  main  lines  with  one 
taken  in  the  year  1300,  though  the  phraseology  is  not  quite  so  clear.  In  both  cases  the  perambula- 
tion, or  setting  forth  of  the  bounds,  began  at  the  king's  ford  (Conyngeswath),  which  was  a  ford  over  the 
stream  of  Rainworth  Water  between  Edwinstowe  and  Wellow  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  forest, 
proceeding  thence  in  both  directions. 

The  perambulation  of  17  June,  1300,  was  made  in  the  presence  of  the  forester  and  verderers 
and  of  the  attorney  of  the  justice  of  the  forests,  on  the  oath  of  Sir  Gervais  Clifton,  Sir  John  Lecke, 
and  six  other  knights  and  four  Serjeants.6  They  declared  that  the  lord  king's  forest  of  Sherwood 
begins  at  the  ford  of  Conyngeswath,  along  the  road  which  leads  as  far  as  the  town  of  Wellow 
towards  Nottingham,  so  that  the  close  of  the  town  of  Wellow  is  outside  the  forest,  and  so  by  the 
road  which  goes  between  Wellow  and  Nottingham  to  a  certain  parcel  of  wood  called  Littlehawe  ; 
and  so  ascending  by  a  certain  way  towards  the  west  between  the  said  wood  and  the  wood  of  the 
abbot  of  Rufford,  which  is  called  Brown,  and  extends  so  far  as  Rainworthford  ;  and  thence  turning 
aside  by  a  certain  road  towards  the  east  between  the  aforesaid  wood  of  Littlehaw  and  the  wood  of 
Blidworth  as  far  as  the  aforesaid  great  road,  which  leads  from  Wellow  towards  Nottingham  as  far  as 
Bakestanehowe  on  that  same  great  road  ;  and  so  by  the  same  road  as  far  as  the  place  where 
the  rivulet  of  Dover  Beck  crosses  the  aforesaid  road ;  and  thence  as  the  aforesaid  rivulet  of  Dover 
Beck  descends  into  the  water  which  is  called  the  Trent ;  and  so  along  the  same  water  of  the  Trent 
to  Nottingham  bridge. 

The  aforesaid  perambulation  also  begins  in  the  same  county  of  Nottingham  at  the  aforesaid  ford 
of  Conyngeswath,  ascending  towards  the  west  by  the  water  which  is  called  Meden  as  far  as  the 
town  which  is  called  Warsop,  and  from  that  town  ascending  by  the  same  water  as  far  as  Pleasley 
Park  ;  and  thence  ascending  by  the  same  water  as  far  as  Haytrebridge  ;  and  thence  turning  aside 
along  the  high  road  of  Nottingham  as  far  as  the  bridge  of  Milneford,  and  thence  ascending  as  far 
as  Mameshead  ;  and  thence  between  the  fields  of  Hardwick  and  Kirkby  and  the  moor  Kirkby  as 
far  as  the  corner  which  is  called  Nonneker ;  and  thence  through  the  assart  of  Ywayn  le  Breton  as 
far  as  Tarlesty  ;  and  thence  as  far  as  Stolegate  ;  and  thence  along  the  high  road  as  far  as  beneath 

1  Pat.  7  Hen.  Ill,  m.  6.  As  to  the  instructions  of  this  period,  De  Cabkiclo,  i.e.  the  cablish  or  windfallen 
timber,  on  the  Patent  and  Close  Rolls,  see  Cox,  Royal  Forests,  6,  J. 

'  Beskwood  was  the  old  form  of  spelling,  and  generally  maintained  until  the  beginning  of  last  century. 

*  Called  Clay  from  the  nature  of  the  soil,  which  differed  from  the  usually  sandy  soil  of  Sherwood. 

4  Exch.  Misc.  Bk.,  No.  76.  This  is  a  small  parchment  book  of  thirteenth-century  date,  consisting  of 
115  folios,  lettered  on  back  'Sherwood  Forest  Perambulation  and  other  Proceedings,'  Hen.  Ill — Edw.  III. 
It  opens  with  a  transcript  of  the  Charter  of  the  Forest ;  this  is  followed  by  perambulations  of  Sherwood, 
16  Hen.  Ill  and  28  Edw.  I. 

4  There  are  three  early  MSS.  of  this  perambulation  at  the  Record  Office,  For.  Proc.  (Ancient) 
Chancery,  No.  102,  m.  10;  ibid.  No.  44,  and  in  Misc.  Bk.  76,  just  cited.  This  English  version  is  taken 
from  Turner,  Pleas  of  the  Forest  (Selden  Soc.)  1 18,  119. 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

the  old  castle  of  Annesley  ;  and  from  the  same  castle  along  the  high  road  as  far  as  the  town  of  Linby  ; 
and  thence  through  the  middle  of  the  town  of  Linby  as  far  as  the  mill  of  the  same  town  on  the 
water  of  the  Leen  ;  and  from  thence  descending  by  the  same  water  as  far  as  the  town  of  Lenton  ; 
and  thence  as  that  water  was  anciently  wont  to  run  as  far  as  the  water  which  is  called  the  Trent, 
and  so  descending  by  the  same  water  of  the  Trent  as  far  as  Nottingham  bridge  aforesaid1. 

These  bounds,  which  were  exactly  maintained  until  Sherwood  began  to  be  broken  up  at  the 
close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  embraced  a  district  of  country  about  twenty  miles  long  by  eight 
broad,  and  containing  some  100,000  acres,  or  about  a  fifth  of  the  whole  shire.2 

Reverting  to  the  chief  ruler  of  this  forest,  Maud  de  Caux  died  in  1223,  and  as  the  office  by 
the  charter  of  the  earl  of  Morton  had  been  made  hereditary,  she  was  succeeded  as  chief  forester- 
of-fee  by  her  son,  John  de  Birkin.  In  1231  this  hereditary  office  came  to  Robert  de  Everingham, 
in  right  of  his  wife  Isabel,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  de  Birkin.  Adam  de  Everingham  was 
chief  forester  at  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Edward  I,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert. 
Soon  after  his  accession,  Robert  de  Everingham  incurred  the  king's  displeasure,  and  the  office  was 
claimed  by  the  crown  as  forfeited.3 

It  is  clear  from  the  Close  Rolls  of  1286  that  the  offence  which  brought  about  the  downfall 
of  the  last  hereditary  keeper  of  Sherwood  Forest  was  the  grievous  abuse  of  his  position  as  guardian 
of  the  king's  deer.  In  November  of  that  year  the  crown  interfered  to  release  from  Nottingham 
gaol  Robert  de  Everingham,  John  de  Everingham,  and 'nine  others,  who  were  there  imprisoned  for 
venison  trespass  in  Sherwood  ;  bail  was  accepted  from  twelve  sureties,  who  were  bound  to  produce 
the  offenders  at  the  next  eyre.4 

After  the  disgrace  of  Robert  de  Everingham,  the  position  of  chief  forester  or  keeper  (custos) 
of  Sherwood  was  granted  by  the  crown  to  various  persons  of  high  position  as  a  mark  of  royal 
favour.  It  was  a  post  not  only  of  dignity,  but  of  privilege  and  emolument. 

The  forest  pleas  for  Sherwood  were  held  at  Nottingham  in  July,  1251,  before  Geoffrey 
Langley,  forest  justice,  when  the  duties  as  well  as  the  privileges  of  Robert  de  Everingham  as  keeper 
were  defined.  It  was  then  reported  that  there  were  within  the  forest  three  keepings,  namely, 
the  first  between  the  streams  of  the  Leen  and  Dover  Beck,  the  second  the  High  Forest,  and  the 
third  Rumewood.  The  chief  keeper  was  bound  to  have  a  sworn  chief  servant,  who  was  to  go 
through  all  the  forest  at  his  own  cost,  to  attach  transgressors,  and  to  present  them  before  the 
verderers  at  the  attachment  courts.  In  the  first  keeping  the  chief  keeper  was  to  find  a  riding 
forester  with  a  servant,  two  foot  foresters,  two  verderers,  and  two  agisters  ;  in  this  keeping  were 
three  parks  or  hays,  namely,  Bestwood,  Linby,  and  Welby.  In  the  second  keeping  there  were  to 
be  two  riding  foresters  with  their  servants,  two  foot-foresters,  two  verderers,  and  two  agisters; 
the  hays  of  Birkland,  with  Bilhagh  and  Clipston,  were  in  this  keeping,  and  to  them  pertained  two 
other  verderers  as  well  as  two  agisters.  The  third  keeping  of  Rumewood  had  a  foot-forester,  two 
verderers,  and  two  agisters  ;  and  also  two  woodwards,  one  for  Carburton,  and  one  for  Budby.  It 
was  also  declared  that  Robert  de  Everingham  ought  to  provide  a  servant,  bearing  his  bow,6  to  gather 
cheminage  or  wayleave  through  the  forest.6 

There  are  certain  particulars  extant  with  regard  to  the  forest  pleas  of  Sherwood  which  were 
held  in  1267.  Several  hundred  vert  offenders  were  brought  before  the  court.  The  heaviest 
presentment  under  this  head  was  that  against  the  abbot  of  Rufford  for  having  felled  483  oaks  for 
building  purposes  since  the  last  eyre  ;  the  abbot  was,  however,  able  to  plead  successfully  a  charter 
of  Henry  II  in  justification  of  his  action.7 

A  striking  illustration  of  the  occasionally  rebellious  conduct  of  the  forest  tenants  of  Sherwood  against 
the  officials  who  guarded  the  king's  game  occurred  in  1276.  On  3  July  John  de  Lasceles,  steward 
(senacallui)  of  the  forest,  caught  two  men,  Robert  Martham  and  Robert  Afferton,  with  bows  and 

1  Edward  I  broke  the  Forest  Charter  in  several  cases  throughout  the  kingdom  under  legal  quibbles,  but 
as  a  rule  the  bounds  as  settled  in  his  father's  time  were  maintained.  In  1281  the  king  ordered  an  inquisition 
relative  to  the  Sherwood  perambulation,  with  the  result  that  the  bounds  of  1 6  Hen.  Ill  were  held  good  ;  save 
that  the  wood  of  Rumewood  and  the  townships  of  Carburton,  Budby,  and  half  the  townships  of  Thoresby  and 
Skegby  and  the  townships  of  Sutton  in  Ashfield  and  Bulwell,  with  certain  other  parts,  were  to  be  held  forest,  as 
being  part  of  the  whole  demesne  of  the  crown,  and  therefore,  wrongly  disafforested  temp.  Hen.  III.  (For.  Proc. 
Chan.  No.  72.)  There  are  also  somewhat  contradictory  memoranda  attached  to  some  versions  of  the  ancient 
1300  perambulation,  wherefrom  it  would  appear  that  the  king's  wood  of  Wellow  and  the  archbishop's  wood  of 
Littlehagh  were  again  afforested.  At  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  following  townships  were 
declared  '  ould  demesne  not  geldable ': —Arnold,  Bulwell  (half),  Carburton,  Clipston,  Darlton,  Linby, 
Mansfield,  Mansfield  Wbodhouse,  Roynton,  Skegby,  and  Sutton  in  Ashfield.  Exch.  K.  R.  Accts.  &££-,  f.  66. 

'  See  perambulation  of  Sherwood  30  Hen.  VIII.,  Fourteenth  Rep.  of  Woods  and  Forests  (1793)  App.  ii. 

'  See  the  two  Sherwood  Forest  Chartularies  already  cited,  passim. 

4  Close,  14  Edw.  I,  m    i. 

6  This  was  the  officer  who  was  afterwards  termed  the  Bow-bearer  or  Ranger. 

'  Exch.  K.  R.  Accts.  £|5,  pp.  7,  8.  '  Exch.  Misc.  Bk.  Ixxvi. 

368 


FORESTRY 

arrows,  and  took  them  to  Blidworth,  intending  to  keep  them  till  the  morrow,  when  doubtless  they 
were  to  be  delivered  to  the  sheriff  at  Nottingham  Castle.  But  during  the  night  twenty  men,  armed 
with  swords  and  bows  and  arrows,  broke  open  the  doors  of  the  place  where  they  were  confined, 
released  the  prisoners,  and  severely  beat  one  Gilbert,  a  young  servant  of  the  steward.  Then  the 
men  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  the  steward,  insulted  him,  and  broke  his  doors  and  windows. 
When  an  inquest  was  held  by  the  verderers,  regarders,  and  other  ministers  of  the  forest,  it  was 
found  that  two  or  three  of  the  marauders  had  fled  into  Yorkshire,  and  one  was  dead,  but  sixteen 
names  are  set  forth.1 

The  next  forest  pleas  of  Sherwood  were  held  at  Nottingham  on  I  January,  1287,  before  Sir 
William  de  Vescy,  Thomas  de  Normanville,  and  Richard  de  Creping,  justices  in  eyre  of  the  lord  king.2 
The  verderers  were  six  in  number,  namely,  Richard  de  Fort,  William  de  Colwick,  John  de  Annesley, 
Henry  de  Tinsley,  William  de  Bevercotes,  and  Ralph  clerk  of  Mansfield.  Robert  de  Everingham 
was  the  forester-of-fee,  and  under  him  were  eight  sworn  foresters. 

Sir  William  de  Vescy  and  his  fellow  justices,  finding  that  the  king  had  sustained  many  losses 
since  the  last  eyre  held  by  Robert  de  Neville  and  others,  arising  in  many  instances  from  the  general 
assize  of  the  forest  not  being  sufficiently  observed,  laid  down  certain  special  injunctions  to  the 
following  effect : — 

That  all  verderers,  in  accordance  with  the  charter  of  the  forest,  were  to  assemble  every  forty 
days  to  hold  attachments  for  vert  and  venison  and  small  pleas. 

That  they  were  to  present  a  single  roll  of  vert  and  venison  to  the  justices  in  eyre,  and  not  each 
one  a  separate  roll  for  his  own  bailiwick. 

That  anyone  dwelling  in  the  forest  found  felling  a  green  oak  be  attached  for  the  next  attachment 
court,  there  to  find  pledges  till  the  next  eyre,  and  to  pay  the  price  to  the  verderers  ;  a  second  offence 
to  be  dealt  with  in  like  manner ;  but  for  a  third  offence  to  be  imprisoned  at  Nottingham,  and  there 
kept  till  he  be  delivered  by  the  king  or  justice  of  the  forest. 

That  anyone  dwelling  outside  the  forest  committing  any  trespass  against  the  vert,  his  body  is  to 
be  committed  to  prison  till  he  be  delivered  by  the  king  or  justice  ;  for  a  third  offence  he  is  also  to  lose 
his  horses  and  cart,  or  his  oxen  and  wagon,  or  their  price,  and  that  price  is  to  be  paid  at  the  next 
attachment  to  the  verderers  for  the  king's  use. 

That  those  dwelling  in  the  forest  caught  cutting  saplings,  branches,  or  drywood  from  oaks  or 
hazels,  or  thorns,  or  limes,  or  alders,  or  hollies,  or  such-like  trees,  without  warrant,  are  to  be  attached 
by  two  good  pledges  to  come  to  the  next  attachment  court,  there  to  be  amerced  for  the  king  ;  but  if 
it  be  for  a  sapling  which  is  of  greater  price  than  ^d.  or  any  higher  sum,  to  be  attached  until  the  next 
eyre. 

That  escapes  of  beasts  of  the  plough  into  the  forest  be  pleaded  in  attachments,  and  amends  taken 
for  the  use  of  the  king. 

That  no  man  carry  bows  or  arrows  in  the  forest  outside  the  king's  highway  save  a  sworn 
forester,  and  on  the  king's  highway  only  in  accordance  with  the  assize  of  the  forest. 

That  no  man  save  a  sworn  forester  or  other  sworn  officer  attach  anyone  in  the  future. 

That  any  dweller  outside  the  forest  agisting  his  animals  therein  is  to  have  such  animals  taken  before 
the  verderers  and  the  price  paid,  and  to  make  answer  before  the  justices  in  eyre. 

That  the  great  burden  of  so  many  regarders  is  no  longer  to  be  endured,  but  that  in  this  forest  the 
number  be  limited  to  twelve. 

And  that  those  taken  by  night  or  in  the  fence  month*  within  the  forest  be  dealt  with  as 
before. 

The  very  large  number  of  350  head  of  deer  (both  red  and  fallow)  had  died  of  murrain  in  the 
one  year  preceding  the  holding  of  this  eyre,  and  were  entered  on  the  venison  presentments.  In 
another  year  ten  harts,  three  hinds,  sixty-one  bucks,  and  twelve  deer  had  perished  from  disease. 

The  Attachment,  or  Forty-day  Court  as  it  was  sometimes  called  from  the  period  at  which  it 
was  summoned,  was  held  by  the  verderers  with  much  regularity  in  Sherwood  for  a  long  time  after 
the  pronouncement  of  the  forest  justices  at  Nottingham  in  1287.  These  courts  were  held  at  four 
different  centres,  namely  at  Edwinstowe,  Mansfield,  Linby,  and  Calverton,  on  successive  days  of  the 
same  week.  There  are  a  large  number  of  the  Sherwood  Attachment  Court  Rolls  at  the  Public 
Record  Office,  from  Edward  I  to  Henry  IV,  with  a  few  of  later  date.4  The  Attachment  Roll  of 
1292—3,  which  is  in  an  imperfect  state,  gives  lists  of  the  presentments  for  vert  offences  and  the  fines 
imposed.  A  green  oak  was  usually  valued  at  6d.,  and  a  dry  or  leafless  oak  at  4^. ;  a  sapling 

1  Exch.  Misc.  Bk.  Ixxvi,  f.  55^.  '  For.  Proc.  Tr.  of  Rec.  No.  27. 

*  The  fence  month  (mends  vetitus)  of  the  forest  lasted  from  fifteen  days  before  Midsummer  Day  to  fifteen 
days  after ;  it  was  the  special  time  when  the  deer  required  quiet  and  protection  just  after  fawning. 
Cheminage  of  a  special  character  was  often  levied  during  the  month.  See  Cox,  Royal  Forests,  59-61. 

4  Exch.  K.  R.  Accts.  Forests,  ^  (20-2 1  Edw.  I),  ^  (3  Edw.  Ill),  John  de  Crumbwell,  keeper  ;  ^-  to 
!-§£  (20  to  40  Edw.  Ill),  Ralph  de  Neville,  keeper ;  one  each  of  John  de  Neville  (41-42  Edw.  Ill)  and  John 
atte  Lee  (42-3  Edw.  Ill)  ;  l£5  to  -'T3^  (42-3  Edw.  Ill  to  4-5  Ric.  II),  William  Latimer ;  ^/-  (5-6  Ric.  II), 
Walter  de  Neville;  and  J^5  (1—5  Hen.  IV),  Ralph  earl  of  Westmoreland.  As  to  attachment  and  swainmote 
courts  and  their  powers,  see  Cox,  Royal  Forests,  13-16. 

1  369  47 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

(blectruni)  varied  from  id.  to  3^.,  and  a  stubb  or  dry  trunk  of  a  pollarded  tree  at  id.  The  roll  for 
1317  shows  that  twenty-two  attachment  courts  were  held  that  year,  namely  six  each  at  Mansfield 
and  Edwinstowe,  and  five  each  at  Linby  and  Calverton.  Amongst  those  presented  in  1318  were 
Nicholas  de  Nottingham,  rector  of  Clipston,  and  Robert  de  Kirkby,  rector  of  Kirkby  in  Ashfield.  In 
1330,  each  of  the  four  courts  was  held  eight  times.  The  full  number  of  nine  courts  at  each  centre 
was  held  in  1347  ;  on  some  rolls  it  is  clear  that  the  court  was  not  entered  when  there  were  no 
presentments.  The  roll  for  this  year,  as  well  as  some  others,  shows  a  higher  rate  of  fines  (such  as 
I2</.  and  6d.  for  vert  offences)  at  Mansfield  than  at  the  other  courts  ;  this  difference  may  have  been 
brought  about  through  the  necessity  of  being  more  particular  to  guard  the  wood  where  the  popula- 
tion was  greater.  The  thirty-six  courts  of  this  year  brought  in  value  fines  to  the  amount  of 
£6  14*.  id.  The  roll  for  1401-2  shows  that  eight  courts  were  held  that  year  at  Calverton,  six  at 
Mansfield,  five  at  Edwinstowe,  and  two  at  Linby. 

These  attachment  courts  took  cognizance  of  beasts  trespassing  as  well  as  of  vert  offences  ;  thus 
in  1330  there  were  cases  of  id.  fines  for  the  straying  of  cow  or  stirk,  of  3^.  for  five  sheep,  and  of 
Sd.  for  twenty-six  sheep.  In  1430  foals  were  agisted  in  Clipston  Park  at  6d.  each,  cows  from  6d. 
to  iod.,  and  calves  at  3^.1 

In  April,  1309,  the  sheriff  of  Nottingham  was  ordered  to  assemble  all  the  regarders  and 
foresters  of  Sherwood  to  make  regard  or  survey  therein  before  the  coming  of  the  justices  of  the  forest, 
and  to  cause  regarders  to  be  elected  in  the  place  of  those  who  were  dead  or  infirm,  so  that  there  be 
twelve  in  number.  The  foresters  were  to  swear  that  they  would  lead  these  twelve  knights 
throughout  their  whole  bailiwicks  to  view  all  the  trespasses,  and  to  set  out  the  same  in  writing  under 
the  headings  that  were  forwarded.  These  twelve  headings  deal  with  all  purprestures  old  and  new, 
assarts,  wastes,  eyries  of  hawks  and  falcons,  forges  and  mines,  honey,  those  who  had  bows  and  arrows 
and  greyhounds,  etc.,  in  accordance  with  the  usual  '  charter  of  the  regard.'  The  phrase  as  to  the 
coming  of  the  justices  was  a  mere  form  ;  it  was  repeated  in  the  summons  for  the  regard  of 
Sherwood  in  1312,  although  in  neither  case  was  the  regard  followed  by  an  eyre  or  forest  pleas.2 

Sherwood  from  early  days  was  a  treasury  for  kingly  gifts  both  of  wood  and  venison.  The 
royal  grants  of  timber  from  this  forest  were  frequent  throughout  the  reign  of  Henry  III.  In 
1227-8  four  oaks  were  given  to  William  Avenel,  who  is  described  in  the  grant  as  waiting  on  the 
king  of  Scotland  ;  two  to  the  leper  hospital  of  Chesterfield  ;  six  to  the  priory  of  Blyth  ;  six  to  the 
canons  of  Newark  ;  and  three  to  the  priory  of  Thurgarton.3  Such  gifts  to  religious  houses  often 
specify  that  the  trees  were  for  works  then  in  progress  of  their  churches  or  conventual  buildings. 
Occasionally  the  gifts  from  this  forest  consisted  of  ready-trimmed  timber.  Thus,  in  1228,  the  king 
sent  twenty  tie-beams  (copulas)  from  Sherwood  to  the  church  of  the  distant  priory  of  Wormgay, 
Norfolk  ;4  and  in  1229  forty  rafters  (ckevrones)  to  the  abbot  and  canons  of  Croxton.5  A  single 
oak  was  also  sent  in  the  latter  year  into  Norfolk,  to  one  Richard  de  St.  John,  chaplain  of  Henry  de 
Burgh  ;  the  bailiff  was  directed  to  fell  one  as  near  as  possible  to  the  Trent,  as  it  had  to  reach 
Norfolk  by  water  carriage.6  In  the  same  year  another  single  oak  was  granted  to  the  prior  of 
Blyth  to  make  a  door  for  his  hall.7  William  Bardulf  in  1231  had  a  grant  from  Sherwood  of 
twenty  tree  trunks  suitable  for  timber  (fusta  ad  maeremium  inde  faciendum)* 

Henry  III  also  dealt  generously  with  the  deer  of  Sherwood  Forest,  his  gifts  being  chiefly 
from  the  fallow  deer.  In  1229  the  king  gave  two  does  to  Beatrice,  wife  of  Walter  de  Evermuth, 
constable  of  Lincoln  Castle  ;  ten  does  and  a  brocket  to  John,  constable  of  Chester,  to  be  placed  in 
his  park  of  Dunyton  ;  ten  does  and  two  bucks  to  Hugh  Despencer  towards  stocking  his  park  at 
Loughborough  ;  and  twenty  does  and  two  bucks  for  the  bishop  of  Carlisle's  park  at  Melbourne.9  In 
1  230-1,  twenty-five  more  does  and  seven  bucks  were  sent  to  Despencer's  park  at  Loughborough,  and 
the  bishop  of  Lincoln  received  twelve  does  and  three  bucks  towards  the  stocking  of  his  park  at 
Stow.10 

The  royal  gifts  of  deer  from  different  parts  of  Sherwood  from  1231  to  1234  included  three 
does  to  Robert  de  Lexinton  ;  three  bucks  and  four  does  to  the  earl  of  Huntingdon  ;  five  bucks  and 
twenty  does  to  the  bishop  of  Carlisle  for  his  park  at  Melbourne  ;  three  bucks  to  the  dean  of 
St.  Martin's,  London  ;  six  bucks  to  Walter  de  Evermuth  ;  two  bucks  and  eight  does  to  Hugh 
Despencer  ;  a  buck  to  John  son  of  Geoffrey  ;  two  harts  to  John  de  Stuteville  ;  two  bucks  to  Robert 
de  Hareston  ;  seven  bucks  to  the  bishop  of  Carlisle  ;  five  bucks  to  William  of  York  ;  three  bucks 
to  William  Bardulf  ;  five  bucks  and  a  hart  to  William  de  Albini,  and  ten  bucks  to  the  bishop  of 
Lincoln.11 


1  Exch.  K.R.  Accts.  ig£.  »  As  to  the  Regard,  see  Cox,  Royal  Forests,  p.  1  1. 

Close,  12  Hen.  Ill,  m.  14.  «  Ibid.  m.  9. 

Ibid.  13  Hen.  Ill,  m.  4.  •  Ibid.  14  Hen.  Ill,  m.  20. 

Ib;<*.  8  Ibid.  15  Hen.  Ill,  m.  7. 

Ibid.  13  Hen.  Ill,  m.  4,  i  ;    14  Hen.  Ill,  m.  22. 

Ibid.  14  Hen.  Ill,  m.  8  ;   15  Hen.  Ill,  m.  4,  I. 
"  Ibid.  16  Hen.  Ill,  m.  18,  19,  14,6,  3,  2  ;   17  Hen.  Ill,  m.  II,  7,  3  ;   i8Hen.III,m.  15,  n,  9,6. 

37° 


FORESTRY 

During  a  like  period  the  gifts  of  wood  from  Sherwood  included  five  oaks  to  Gilbert  Spigurnel, 
for  making  a  mill ;  five  oaks  and  thirty  tie-beams  to  Simon,  chaplain  of  Hugh  de  Burgh  ;  thirty 
oaks  to  the  prior  and  monks  of  Lenton,  suitable  for  timber  for  the  works  of  their  church  ;  twenty 
oaks  to  Brian  de  Insula  ;  five  lime  trees  (tei/z)  to  the  Franciscan  friars  of  Nottingham,  for  making 
their  stalls  ;  thirty  oaks  to  William  de  Kirkham,  dean  of  St.  Martin's,  London,  for  timber  for  the 
works  of  his  chancel  at  Elm  ;  forty  rafters  to  brother  Robert  de  Dyva ;  ten  oaks  to  Robert  Lupus, 
and  fifteen  oaks  to  William  de  Albini  for  making  rafters.1  Numerous  examples  could  also  be  given 
of  the  gifts  of  Edward  I  from  this  forest. 

The  royal  warrants  of  this  period  for  Sherwood  venison,  or  of  deer  for  park-stocking,  are  fairly 
frequent.  The  king  kept  Easter,  1276,  at  Lincoln,  and  orders  were  issued  on  13  March  for  fifteen 
Sherwood  does  to  be  supplied  at  that  season  for  royal  use,  in  addition  to  twelve  bucks  from  Galtres  Forest.2 
Adam  de  Everingham  was  ordered,  in  September,  1277,  to  supply  Richard  Folyot  with  two  live 
bucks  and  ten  live  does  towards  stocking  his  park  at  Grimeston  ;3  and  in  1279  eight  does  and  four 
bucks  were  supplied  to  William  de  Colwick  to  help  to  stock  his  park  at  Colwick.4 

Two  ecclesiastics  were  the  special  recipients  of  favours  from  the  great  Nottingham  forest. 
Edward  I  was  much  attached  to  the  two  younger  sons  of  Walter  Bek,  baron  of  Eversley,  Thomas 
and  Anthony.  Both  were  king's  clerks,  and  both  eventually  obtained  high  promotion.  Thomas, 
the  second  son,  was  consecrated  bishop  of  St.  David's  in  1280.  On  Christmas  Day  of  the  following 
year  Edward  I  granted  him  four  live  bucks  and  eight  live  does  towards  stocking  his  park  at  Pleasley, 
on  the  Derbyshire  fringe  of  the  forest.  On  the  same  day  a  royal  letter  was  dispatched  to  the  forest 
justices  ordering  them  not  to  molest  the  bishop  on  account  of  four  bucks  taken  by  him  in  the 
previous  autumn,  when  passing  through  this  forest,  as  the  king  had  sanctioned  this  action  by  word 
of  mouth.  In  1283  the  same  bishop  was  granted  twelve  good  oaks  for  timber  out  of  these  woods. 
Anthony  Bek,  the  third  son,  the  celebrated  bishop  of  Durham,  was  a  still  greater  favourite  of 
Edward  I.  In  1282  twenty  good  oaks  were  granted  him  out  of  Sherwood  for  the  construction  of 
his  house  at  Somerton,  and  also  four  bucks  and  eight  does  towards  stocking  his  park  at  Rothwell. 
In  the  following  year  he  received  further  timber  and  live  deer.  The  king,  as  a  special  mark  of  his 
favour,  at  the  time  of  Anthony's  consecration  to  the  bishopric  of  Durham  in  1284,  forwarded  to 
the  bishop  the  largest  grant  out  of  Sherwood  Forest  of  which  there  is  record,  namely  ten  live  bucks 
and  twenty  live  does.6 

The  custom  of  making  royal  warrant  grants  of  timber  or  venison  died  out,  save  for  a  very  few 
exceptions,  with  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  The  Close  Rolls  of  that  reign  yield,  however,  interesting 
particulars  with  regard  to  the  six  Sherwood  verderers.  These  officials,  who  presided  at  the  forest 
courts,  were,  as  has  been  stated,  responsible  to  the  crown ;  they  were  elected  by  the  county  court  for 
life,  but  could  be  removed  by  the  crown  for  incapacity,  lack  of  property  qualification  within  the 
jurisdiction,  etc.  In  1309  a  writ  de  viridario  ellgendo  was  addressed  to  the  sheriff  of  Nottingham 
ordering  the  election  of  a  Sherwood  verderer  in  the  place  of  the  recently  chosen  Robert  Joste,  who 
was  insufficiently  qualified.  In  August,  1311,  the  sheriff  was  instructed  to  see  to  the  election  of 
another  verderer  in  the  place  of  Richard  de  Byngham,  deceased.  In  November,  1312,  an  election 
was  ordered  to  fill  the  place  of  Nicholas  de  Wydmarpole,  as  he  had  no  lands  within  the  forest 
limits,  nor  did  he  dwell  therein.  Sampson  de  Estrebley  was  removed  from  the  office  of  verderer  of 
the  king  in  1313  in  consequence  of  unfitness.  In  this  same  year  the  king  removed  Peter  Foun 
from  his  verderership,  because  he  was  found  to  be  insufficiently  qualified  and  unfit.  The  late  sheriff 
had  caused  Peter  to  be  suddenly  elected  in  the  place  of  Nicholas  de  Wydmarpole,  although  Nicholas, 
as  the  king  subsequently  found  out,  had  sufficient  lands  within  the  forest  and  was  a  useful  and  fit 
man  for  the  position.  A  writ  to  the  sheriff  of  a  like  character  in  1314  gave  longer  reasons  for  the 
removal  of  John  de  Ludham,  for  it  stated  that  John  did  not  continuously  dwell  within  the  county, 
and  was  so  occupied  with  the  affairs  of  divers  men  that  he  could  not  attend  to  his  duties  as  verderer. 
Nicholas  de  Wydmarpole  was  reinstated  in  1313,  but  he  did  not  hold  the  office  long,  for  he  was 
again  removed  in  the  following  year,  being  incapacitated  by  infirmity  ;  he  is  described  as  suffering 
from  such  incurable  infirmity  that  'sometimes  he  cannot  leave  his  house  without  great  risk  to  his  life, 
and  has  remained  continuously  indoors  for  four  months.'  Thomas  de  Langevillers  was  removed  in 
1314  on  account  of  having  no  lands  in  the  county  ;  Robert  de  Pirpoint  for  insufficiency  in  1315  ; 
John  Doylly  for  age  and  infirmity  in  1318  ;  and  John  Bilthewater  of  Edwinstowe  and  John 
Annesley  for  like  causes  in  1322."  Similar  writs  affecting  the  Sherwood  verderers  also  occur  from 
time  to  time  throughout  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

When  the  Parliament  was  held  at  Lincoln  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1316  great  provision  of 
wood  was  made  from  Sherwood.  The  archbishopric  of  York  was  then  vacant  and  in  the  king's 
hands,  and  Edward  II  ordered  in  January  the  keeper  of  the  forest  to  deliver  to  the  sheriff  of 

1  Close,  16  Hen.  Ill,  m.  14,  12,  II,  3  ;   17  Hen.  Ill,  m.  6  ;   18  Hen.  Ill,  m.  26,  19,  18,  16. 

1  Ibid.  4  Edw  I,  m.  13.  '  Ibid.  5  Edw.  I,  m.  3. 

4  Ibid.  7  Edw.  I,  m.  4.  5  Close  and  Pat.  R.  Edward  I,  passim, 

*  Close  R.  temp.  Edward  II,  passim. 

371 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Nottingham  fifty  leafless  oaks  from  the  archbishop's  wood  of  Blidworth,  to  be  used  for  charcoal  and 
for  boards  for  dressers  (tabulis  ad  dressoria)  ;  also  thirty  oaks  from  the  king's  woods  in  the  forest  near 
the  Trent  for  firewood  for  the  king's  hall,  and  thirty  more  for  the  king's  chamber,  against  the 
ensuing  Parliament.  The  wood  was  to  be  felled  by  the  sheriff,  carried  to  Lincoln,  and  there 
delivered  to  the  clerk  of  the  king's  scullery.1 

The  owners  of  woods  within  a  royal  forest  had  no  power  of  felling  timber  or  cutting 
underwood  therein,  save  under  direct  warrant.  In  1316  Edward  II  permitted  Ralph  de  Crumb  well 
to  fell  and  sell,  whither  he  will,  twenty  acres  of  his  wood  of  Lambley,  within  the  bounds  of  Sherwood 
Forest,  in  compensation  for  the  losses  sustained  by  him  in  the  king's  service  in  Scotland.2 

The  oaks  of  Sherwood  were  always  held  in  good  repute  when  choice  timber  was  required. 
When  Edward  II  was  preparing,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1324,  for  the  expedition  into  the  duchy 
of  Aquitaine,  the  sheriff  of  Nottingham  was  directed  to  supply  nine  springalds  and  a  thousand 
quarels.  These  springalds  were  military  engines  of  the  catapult  kind,  constructed  to  discharge  heavy 
arrows  or  quarels  with  iron  heads.  The  sheriff  was  instructed  to  prepare  the  springalds  so  that  some 
of  them  should  be  capable  of  discharging  quarels  of  the  length  of  three-quarters  of  a  yard  and  others 
of  five-eights  of  a  yard.  The  justice  of  the  forest  south  of  the  Trent  was  ordered  to  suffer  the 
sheriff  and  his  carpenters  to  have  as  many  oaks  and  other  trees  fit  for  timber  out  of  Sherwood  Forest 
as  were  deemed  necessary  for  the  construction  of  these  engines.3 

A  curious  case  of  forest  claims  outside  the  limits  arose  in  1338.  John  de  Wyne  had  a  pasture 
called  Fulwood,  in  Pinxton  and  Normanton,  partly  in  Nottinghamshire  and  partly  in  Derbyshire. 
It  was  near  to  the  town  of  Kirkby,  and  about  a  mile  from  the  field  of  Kirkby,  which  was  a  mete  of 
the  forest.  Although  well  outside  the  limits  according  to  the  perambulation,  the  deputy  of  the 
keeper  and  other  forest  ministers,  asserting  that  the  pasture  was  forest,  compelled  John,  by  distraints 
on  his  cattle,  to  pay  a  custom  called  wardefet  for  the  king's  use.  On  John's  complaint  a  commission 
was  appointed  in  April,  1338,  to  hold  an  inquisition.  This  inquiry  showed  that  the  facts  were  as 
stated,  and  Ralph  de  Nevill  (the  keeper)  and  his  ministers  were  ordered  not  to  intermeddle  further 
with  the  pasture.  In  the  following  year,  however,  further  evidence  came  to  light,  particularly 
that  of  the  woodward  elected  by  the  township  of  Hucknell  under  Huthwaite,  to  the  effect  that 
wardefet  had  in  old  days  been  claimed  from  Fulwood,  and  a  further  commission  was  appointed. 

After  an  interval  of  nearly  fifty  years,  the  forest  pleas  for  Sherwood  were  again  held  at 
Nottingham.  They  were  held  in  the  spring  of  1334,  before  Ralph  de  Nevill,  Richard  de 
Aldborough,  and  Peter  de  Middleton.4  The  number  of  venison  presentments  at  this  eyre  was  119, 
which  was  but  a  small  amount  considering  the  long  period  since  the  last  court.  In  several  cases 
there  was  no  definite  charge  of  deer-slaying,  or  even  of  being  found  with  dogs  or  bows,  but  simply 
of  trespass.  Such  trespass  would  be  by  strangers  at  night  or  during  the  fence  month.  Some  of  the 
transgressors,  as  was  usually  the  case,  were  of  good  position.  Such  were  John  lord  de  Grey,  who 
was  found  in  the  Bestwood  enclosure  with  bows  and  six  greyhounds  running  a  herd  of  hinds  (herdum 
bissarum),  of  which  he  killed  two  ;  and  Henry  Curson  of  Breadsall,  who  killed  a  hind  in  Clipston  Wood. 

The  roll  of  amercements  of  persons  convicted  of  vert  trespass  at  the  attachment  courts  at 
more  than  \d.,  and  who  could  only  be  amerced  at  the  eyre,  was  presented  to  the  justices.  This 
roll  embraced  about  750  trespasses,  varying  in  value  from  6d.  for  honey  found  in  an  oak,  or  for  boughs 
and  trunks,  to  2s.  for  a  single  oak.  These  values  had  been  already  paid  to  the  verderers  at  the 
time  when  the  attachment  court  was  held,  and  the  additional  fines  imposed  by  the  justices  varied 
from  is.  to  2s.  In  each  case  the  name  of  two  who  had  been  bound  over  to  secure  the  trespasser's 
appearance  follows  the  entry  of  the  offence. 

It  is  scarcely  surprising  to  find,  after  the  very  long  interval  since  the  last  eyre,  that  some  of  the 
verderers'  rolls  of  the  different  attachment  courts  were  missing.  Those  for  1288,  1289,  1290, 
and  1291  were  not  forthcoming.  The  fines  imposed  in  1334  upon  the  defaulting  verderers  or  their 
heirs  amounted  to  £20  8s.  2d. 

At  this  eyre  the  forest  ministers  were  asked  upon  their  oath  to  state  from  what  person  or  persons 
the  foresters  were  wont  to  receive  and  have  their  living.  In  reply  they  cited  from  an  inquest 
held  in  1289,  shortly  after  Edward  I  had  removed  Robert  de  Everingham  from  his  bailiwick  as 
hereditary  forester,  stating  his  extensive  perquisites  and  privileges.  It  is  interesting  to  note  a 
particular  difference  between  the  privileges  there  cited  and  those  already  named  of  the  time  of 
Richard  I.  There  is  no  mention  of  a  skep  of  salt  from  the  salt  carts  going  through  the  forest,  but 
he  had  an  average  of  2OJ.  a  year  on  the  carriage  of  millstones.  Robert  de  Everingham,  as  chief 
forester,  also  held  ten  knights'  fees  of  the  king,  but  he  was  exonerated  from  that  charge  in  return 
for  finding  foresters  at  his  own  cost.  It  therefore  followed,  after  the  keepership  was  forfeited  to 
the  crown,  that  the  foresters  were  to  continue  to  be  paid  by  whomsoever  the  crown  should  appoint 
as  keeper. 

1  Close,  9  Edward  II,  m.  20.  '  Ibid.  10  Edward  II,  m.  18. 

1  Ibid.  1 8  Edward  II,  m.  21.  «  For.  Proc.  Tr.  of  Rec.  No.  132. 

372 


FORESTRY 

As  the  forest  justices  were  so  seldom  on  circuit,  they  seem  to  have  been  all  the  more  determined 
to  exact  appearances  whenever  the  eyre  was  held.  The  whole  of  the  free  tenants  of  the  forest  were 
bound  to  attend  the  pleas.  On  the  opening  day  three  of  them  were  absent.  John  Bardolf 
successfully  pleaded  that  he  had  not  received  his  letter  of  summons,  but  Adam  de  Everingham  was 
fined  1 5*.,  and  Joan  widow  of  Ralph  de  Burton  6s.  8^.,  for  their  absence.  The  reeves  and  four- 
men  of  each  township  within  the  bounds  had  also  to  be  present.  On  the  first  day  William 
Goodrych  and  William  de  Normanton,  both  of  Lenton,  were  fined  collectively  y.  4^.,  whilst 
William  Router,  the  reeve  of  Basford,  had  to  pay  2s.  Before  the  eyre  was  closed  the  justices  issued 
a  series  of  pardons  for  both  venison  and  vert  offences.  Amongst  the  eighteen  pardoned  were  John 
le  Bret,  rector  of  Annesley,  and  the  vicar  of  Edwinstowe. 

Between  the  times  of  holding  eyres  the  crown  not  infrequently  intervened  with  pardons  for 
venison  and  vert  trespasses.  Thus  between  the  eyres  of  1287  and  1334  (to  cite  only  two  or  three 
Sherwood  examples)  Edward  I  pardoned  William  Simpson,  parson  of  the  church  of  Epperstone,  in 
1295,  of  both  vert  and  venison  trespass  j1  the  abbot  of  Thornton,  in  1305,  for  felling  eight  oaks 
beyond  the  number  granted  ;3  and  Edward  II  pardoned  John  de  Sandwyce  and  others  in  1308  for 
taking  two  harts  and  a  buck.3 

There  was  not  a  single  royal  forest  wherein  various  religious  houses  had  not  special  rights 
granted  them  of  fuel  and  other  wood,  of  pannage  or  agistment,  and  sometimes  of  venison.  Nor 
was  there  hardly  any  royal  forest  to  be  found,  within  whose  bounds  one  or  more  monasteries  were 
not  established.  Sherwood  is  a  striking  instance.  Surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  forest  stretches 
were  the  Cistercian  monks  of  Rufford  and  the  Austin  canons  of  Newstead.  On  its  northern  verge 
were  the  white  canons  of  Welbeck,  the  most  famous  Premonstratensian  house  in  England,  and  a 
little  further  afield  the  Austin  canons  of  Worksop,  the  Benedictine  monks  of  Blyth,  and  the 
Benedictine  nuns  of  Wallingwell.  On  its  western  margin  were  the  Carthusian  monks  of  Beau 
Vale,  and  the  Austin  canons  of  Felley  ;  on  the  south-eastern  flank  were  the  two  other  small  Austin 
houses  of  Thurgarton  and  Shelford,  whilst  at  the  southern  extremity  was  the  powerful  house  of 
Cluniac  monks  of  Lenton.  Every  one  of  these  monasteries  had  certain  Sherwood  forest  privileges, 
some  small  and  some  great,  as  well  as  a  few  other  houses  situated  outside  the  county  bounds. 
Thus  the  nuns  of  Wallingwells  might  send  their  wood  cart  once  a  week  to  collect  windfallen 
wood  for  their  hearth  and  oven,  whilst  the  RufFord  monks  could  have  wood  for  almost  any  purpose 
they  desired.  Or,  again,  the  canons  of  Felley  could  turnout  their  swine  at  certain  seasons  to  fatten 
on  the  acorns  and  beech  mast,  whilst  the  Lenton  monks  had  a  right  to  a  tithe  of  the  whole  of 
the  venison  killed  throughout  the  forest.  Besides,  too,  their  definite  chartered  rights,  which  had  to 
be  substantiated  at  every  recurrence  of  the  forest  pleas,  our  kings  were  often  ready,  particularly 
in  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries,  to  grant  the  religious  temporary  forest  grants.  To  take 
only  a  few  examples  of  Edward  I's  Sherwood  forest  grants  of  this  description,  we  find  that  the 
king,  in  1279,  licensed  the  prior  of  Newstead  to  fell  and  sell  40  acres  of  his  own  wood;4  and  in 
the  next  year  the  abbot  of  RufFord  had  license  to  clear  out  a  trench,  40  ft.  wide,  round  his  own 
wood,  and  make  his  profits  out  of  the  wood  and  underwood.5  In  1300  the  same  king  licensed  the 
abbot  of  RufFord  to  sell  the  windfalls  (cabliecium)  of  his  woods,  and  in  1304  to  fell  and  sell 
40  acres.6  The  prior  of  Newstead  had  leave  in  1304  to  enclose  and  cultivate  1, 800  acres  of  the 
forest  waste  of  Linby  ;7  and  in  1305  the  prior  of  Felley  was  granted  the  tithes  of  all  the  assarts 
(clearances)  in  the  hays  of  Linby,  Rumewood,  and  Wellow,  that  had  been  assarted  in  the  king's  reign.8 

It  is  greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  religious  of  these  monasteries  that  they  were  hardly  ever 
presented  for  any  form  whatever  of  venison  trespass,  though  this  can  by  no  means  be  said  of  their 
secular  brethren,  the  beneficed  clergy  of  Sherwood  and  the  neighbourhood.9 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  IV,  and  subsequently,  various  appointments  of  king's  foresters  of 
Sherwood  are  entered  on  the  patent  rolls  at  a  wage  of  4^.  a  day.  In  1474  John  Stanbridge,  a 
yeoman  of  the  king's  chambers,  was  granted  for  life  the  office  of  the  custody  of  the  king's  lodge  of 
Immeslowe  in  the  north  bailiwick  and  of  being  one  of  the  foresters  there,  to  hold  by  himself  or 
deputy  agreeable  to  the  master  of  the  game,  with  wages  of  \d.  a  day  out  of  the  issues  of  Mansfield 
in  the  forest  ;  but  the  appointment  and  wage  were  not  to  be  taken  as  a  precedent.  But  later  in  the 
same  month  there  was  a  like  life  appointment  by  the  crown  of  a  forester  in  the  south  bailiwick  ;  he 
received  a  similar  wage,  and  in  addition  to  being  a  forester  was  also  made  keeper  of  the  king's  deer 
at  Langton  Arbour.10 

1  Pat.  23  Edw.  I,  m.  3.  3  Ibid.  33  Edw.  I,  m.  15.         "  Ibid.  2  Edw.  II,  pt.  ii,  m.  25. 

4  Ibid.  7  Edw.  I,  m.  2.  s  Ibid.  8  Edw.  I,  m.  6.  6  Ibid.  28  Edw.  I,  m.  15  ;  32  Edw.  I,  m.  5. 

7  Ibid.  32  Edw.  I,  m.  5.  8  Ibid.  33  Edw.  I,  m.  6. 

9  So  far  as  the  evidence  of  the  Pleas  of  the  Forest  is  concerned,  the  monks  throughout  England  were  but 
very  rarely  poachers,  contrary  to  the  usual  belief.    Probably  not  a  score  of  cases  could  be  found  against  them  in 
all  the  stores  of  the  Public  Record  Office. 

10  Langton  Arbour,  in  Blidworth  parish,  is  now  known  as  Blidworth  Dale. 

373 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

In  1531  Henry  VIII  appointed  a  commission,  consisting  of  the  abbot  of  Welbeck,  Sir 
Richard  Sacheverell,  Sir  Brian  Stapleton  and  Sir  John  Villers,  knights,  and  John  Hersey  and  Roger 
Greenhaghe,  esquires,  to  view  and  certify  the  number  and  state  of  the  deer  in  the  forest  and  park  of 
Sherwood.  The  returns  show  that  there  were  at  that  time  4,280  red  deer,  and  1,131  fallow  deer. 
The  fallow  deer  were  within  the  parks  of  Bestwood,  Nottingham,  Clipston,  and  Thorney  Wood. 
The  red  deer  ranged  throughout  the  forest,  save  for  214  in  Bestwood  Park.  In  the  com- 
missioners' detailed  certificate,  '  as  signed  by  me  John,  bishop  of  Elphyn,  commendatory  of  the  abbey 
of  Welbeck,'  the  red  deer  were  apportioned  to  the  following  forest  divisions  :  '  Clypston  Shroggys,' 
310  ;  'Billey  and  Brykkeland,'  223  ;  '  Romewood  and  Olsland,'  60  ;  '  Farmsfeyld,'  63  ;  '  Blyd- 
worth,'  128;  'Calverton,'  146;  '  Papilwike,' 73  ;  '  Lymbe  Hawis  Walke,'  30;  '  Simon  Woddys 
Walke,'  90  ;  '  Lyndhurst  Walk,'  114  ;  and  '  Nomanys  Wode,'  I48.1 

A  forest  session  was  held  at  Ollerton  on  3  June,  1538.  Among  the  higher  officials,  Thomas, 
earl  of  Rutland,  is  named  as  master  of  the  game,  and  Sir  John  Byron  as  keeper  of  Bestwood 
Park  and  forester  of  Thorney.  Eleven  other  foresters,  thirty-five  woodwards,  fourteen  regarders, 
three  verderers,  and  the  constables  and  '  four-men '  of  twenty-eight  townships  are  all  specified  as 
being  in  attendance. 

The  large  majority  of  the  constables  and  '  four-men '  of  different  towns  stated  on  their 
corporal  oath  that  they  '  doth  knowe  nothing  that  is  to  the  disturbance  of  the  kyng,  his  game,  or 
woode  within  the  seid  foreste.'  Among  the  exceptions  may  be  quoted  the  two  following  presentments 
from  Mansfield  : 

'  Item,  the  Constable  and  Fowermen  of  the  townshippe  of  Mannsefelde  sayeth  that  one 
Christofer  Shutte,  Gerves  Herdy,  and  one  William  Falcherde  dothe  kepe  in  their  howses  moo 
Fyres  than  of  right  they  ought  to  do,  wherebye  the  kynge  his  woode  is  destroyed  extendyng  every 
yere  to  three  score  lodes  contrarie  the  Statute  of  the  Forest.' 

'  Item,  that  one  Richarde  Swynesloo,  Thomas  Clerke,  Christofer  Bradeshawe  (and  five  others) 
dothe  staff-hyrde  theire  sheep  of  the  Kyng  his  Common  the  number  of  twelve  score  where  the 
Kyng  his  deare  shulde  have  their  peacablie  Feadyng.' 

The  jury  of  freemen  of  the  town  of  Nottingham  presented  the  names  of  four  burgesses,  each 
of  whom  owned  a  greyhound,  but  stated  that  they  only  kept  them  for  the  purpose  of  hunting 
hares  and  foxes  in  the  forest  (to  which  they  had  a  chartered  right),  and  not  for  the  disturbance 
of  the  king's  game.  The  justices  accepted  their  plea  as  to  the  motive  for  keeping  the  greyhounds. 
They  also  made  two  orders  affecting  the  forest  wood — firstly,  that  no  hedgebote  nor  firebote  was 
to  be  taken  without  the  deliverance  of  the  woodward,  nor  any  housebote  without  the  deliverance  of 
the  keeper  as  well  as  the  woodward  ;  and  secondly,  that  no  one  was  to  fell  any  of  his  own  wood 
for  any  intent  '  withoute  the  especiall  lycense  of  the  kynge  his  highness,  or  the  Justice  of  the 
Foreste,  and  that  none  from  hencesforthe  do  take  aine  woode  for  bleaching.'2 

A  return  at  the  Public  Record  Office  that  was  made  in  1538  of  all  the  deer  in  the  king's 
forests  and  parks  north  of  the  Trent,  gives  the  number  of  red  deer  in  Sherwood  Forest  as  about  1,000  ; 
in  Bestwood  Park,  there  were  700  fallow,  and  140  red  ;  in  Clipston  Park,  60  fallow,  and  20  red  ; 
and  in  Grynley  park,  150  fallow. 

A  perambulation  of  the  forest  was  made  on  9  September,  1539,  beginning  at  the  castle  of 
Nottingham,  and  returning  to  Nottingham.3 

In  1599,  Elizabeth  granted  the  keepership  of  the  forest  district  of  Thorney  wood  to  the  north 
of  Nottingham,  to  John  Stanhope,  with  free  leave  of  hunting,  chasing,  and  killing  '  the  Queene's 
wild  beastes '  without  being  molested  by  any  forest  ministers  or  others,  provided  he  always  provided 
IOO  deer  for  the  use  of  the  queen.4 

A  survey  of  Sherwood  Forest  taken  in  1609  gave  the  following  estimate  of  the  acreage  : — 
Inclosures     .      .      .     44,839  Clipston  Park      .      .      .      1,583 

Woods    ....       9,486  Bestwood  Park  .     .     .     3,672 

Unenclosed  .     .     .     35,080  Bulwell  Park      .     .     .        326 

Nottingham  Park    .     .         129 
89,405 

There  were  at  that  time  21,009  oak  trees  m  Birkland,  and  28,900  in  Bilhagh,  or  a  total  of 
49,909  ;  the  majority  of  them  were  even  then  past  maturity.  It  may  here  be  mentioned,  as 
showing  the  rapid  diminution  that  went  on  from  that  date,  that  in  1686  the  oaks  of  Birkland 
and  Bilhagh  numbered  37,316,  and  in  1790  they  were  reduced  to  io,U7.6 

A  fragmentary  return  of  presentments, '  by  the  view  and  regard  '  of  the  forest  in  1606,  gives  a 
long  list  of  purprestures  or  encroachments,  among  which  may  be  mentioned,  under  Mansfield,  'One 
by  ye  Earle  of  Scarsdale  by  building  a  Forge  near  Randenthorp  and  turning  ye  river  Naiden  out  of 

Exch.  Misc.  Bk.,  Ixxvi.     There  is  much  variation  in  different  deer  estimates  of  this  reign. 
'  Cox,  Royal  Forests,  216-17.  3  It  is  set  forth  at  length  in  Bailey,  Jnnals  (ii,  405-7). 

Fourteenth  Rep.  of  Woods  and  Forests  (1793),  App.  22.  6  Ibid.  p.  4. 

374 


FORESTRY 

its  course  it  being  a  bound  of  ye  Forest  '  ;  under  Oxton,  '  one  by  Wm.  Savile,  gent.,  by  turningye 
river  Doverbeck  out  of  its  antient  course'  ;  under  Rufford,  'one  by  Francis  Biggs  there  called  the 
New  Inn,'  and  under  Bulwell,  '  one  by  a  paper  mill  in  ye  tenure  of  Ralph  Smith,  gent.'  1 

In  1616  there  were  1263  red  deer  in  Sherwood  Forest  in  addition  to  those  in  Thorney  Wood  ; 
whilst  an  estimate  of  1635  made  the  total  1,367* 

There  was  an  unusual  long  drought  in  the  summer  of  1624,  which  helped  to  bring  about  a 
destructive  forest  fire  of  vast  extent.  On  23  August  some  ill-slacked  charcoal  that  was  being  carried 
away  fell  upon  some  ling  that  at  once  blazed  up,  and  ere  long  the  conflagration  spread  with  such 
rapidity  that  the  fire  was  four  miles  in  length  and  one  and  a  half  in  breadth.  An  eye  witness 
describes  a  thick  mist  of  smoke  over  Newark,  which  was  seven  or  eight  miles  from  the  scene  of  the 
fire.  An  army  of  men,  with  spades  and  picks  and  shovels  turned  out  to  try  and  stop  its  progress 
with  trenches.  Most  providentially  the  wind  abated  and  changed  its  course  just  as  the  fire  was  ap- 
proaching the  northern  end  of  the  great  long  wood  that  then  stretched  from  Mansfield  to  Nottingham.3 

During  the  Commonwealth  there  was  much  disorder  and  aggression  throughout  Sherwood 
Forest.  Many  old  rights  and  privileges,  particularly  if  exercised  by  those  who  took  the  king's  side, 
were  abrogated,  whilst  many  onslaughts  were  made  both  on  vert  and  venison  by  multitudes  of  the 
smaller  folk  of  the  adjoining  districts.  At  the  Restoration,  the  king  and  his  council  were  beset  by 
the  claims  of  those  who  rightly  or  wrongly  alleged  their  forestal  rights.  Charles  II  on  recovering 
his  throne  showed  much  interest  in  replenishing  with  game  the  forest  and  parks  that  had  been 
wasted  during  the  Civil  War  and  Commonwealth.  A  warrant  was  signed  in  November,  1661,  for 
the  payment  of  j£i,ooo  to  Sir  William  St.  Ravy,  for  the  expenses  of  transporting  red  and  fallow 
deer  from  Germany  to  help  to  restock  the  forests  of  Sherwood  and  Windsor.4  In  the  following 
year  an  order  was  made,  in  order  to  repair  the  destruction  of  the  deer  in  Thorney  Wood  and 
Sherwood  Forest,  that  no  fee  deer  of  any  kind  were  to  be  taken  until  further  warrant.5 

Early  in  1662,  Charles  II  issued  the  necessary  authority  under  letters  patent  to  investigate  the 
Sherwood  claims  to  his  old  and  faithful  friend  William  earl  of  Mansfield  and  marquis  of  Newcastle 
(afterwards  known  as  '  the  loyal  Duke  '),  appointing  him  to  act  as  lord  chief  justice  in  eyre. 
The  business  was  so  complicated  and  required  so  much  legal  investigation  that  William  Cavendish 
presided  over  this  forest  court,  either  in  person  or  by  commission,  for  upwards  of  twelve  years.6 

The  court,  which  was  held  at  Mansfield,  opened  on  6  February,  1662—3  >  rePeated 
adjournments  carried  on  the  proceedings  up  to  1676.  The  first  claim  made  was  that  of  the 
archbishop  of  York,  who  appeared  by  proxy  in  the  person  of  John  Rolleston.  A  long  array  of 
ancient  chartered  privileges,  from  the  days  of  Richard  I  onwards,  was  put  in  on  his  grace's  behalf, 
and  their  force  acknowledged  by  a  specially  sworn  jury.  The  next  in  order  was  Sir  George  Savile, 
bart.,  of  RufFord,  who  also  appeared  by  proxy,  claiming  the  privileges  formerly  held  by  the 
Cistercian  Abbey.  Other  claims  were  those  of  Arthur  Capel,  earl  of  Essex  ;  George  duke  of 
Buckingham,  the  president  of  the  court  ;  Patrick  Viscount  Chaworth,  Richard  Lord  Byron  (the 
second  lord  of  that  name  claiming  for  Newstead  Priory  rights),  John  Lord  Clare,  the  earl  and 
countess  of  Devonshire,  Sir  William  Dalston,  Sir  Tamworth  Reresby,  and  Sir  Humphrey  Molineux. 

There  were  also  a  vast  number  of  minor  claimants,  who  came  from  all  parts  of  the  forest  and 
its  surroundings  ;  these  humbler  folk  appeared  in  person,  or  through  the  attorneys  they  had  clubbed 
together  to  pay.  Some  of  them  seem  to  have  been  unable  to  resist  the  attractions  of  the  game,  as 
they  made  their  way  through  the  forest  glades.  Thomas  Cotton,  of  Edwinstowe,  blacksmith,  was 
convicted  of  shooting  a  hart  whilst  journeying  to  attend  the  court.  He  was  fined  40*.,  and  had  to 
find  a  mainpernour  or  bondsman  (in  the  person  of  Francis  Biggs,  innkeeper  of  RufFord),  who  entered 
into  a  recognizance  of  £20  for  Thomas's  good  behaviour  towards  His  Majesty's  game  for  the 
twelvemonth  next  ensuing. 

In  1675  the  marquis  of  Newcastle  issued  the  following  warrant  :  — 

Forasmuch  as  I  am  informed  there  are  many  disorderly  persons  dwelling  in  or  neare  who  have  and 

keep  greyhounds,  setting  dogs,  lurchers,  gunns,  nettes,  and  other  ingins  for  the  destruction  of  the  deer, 

fowl,  fish,  hares,  rabbits,  partridges,  peasants,  powtes,  and  other  moor  game,  whereby  the  game  in  the 

forest  is  much  destroyed  and  disturbed.       For  the  preservation  thereof  these  are  to  authorise  and  require 

the  Rt.  Honble.  John  Viscount  Rochford,  headkeeper  and  forester  of  the  walk  called  Blidworth  Walk,  by 

all  means  to  inhibit  all  such  persons  as  shall  thus  enter  the  said  forest. 

The  people  of  Blidworth  came  out  strongly  for  Charles  I,  and  Charles  II,  with  unusual  gratitude, 
gave  them  the  'small  wode'  within  their  walk.  They  put,  however,  too  generous  an  interpretation 
on  the  word  '  small,"  and  as  this  grant  also  led  to  poaching  it  was  cancelled. 


1  Exch.  K.R.  Accts.  s^-.     A  damaged  paper  book,  consisting  now  of  seven  folios. 

'  Ibid.  App.  24.  *  Roy.  MS.  A.  xviii,  f.  24. 

4  Cal.  o/S.P.  Dom.  Chas.  II,  xliv,  43,  103.  5  Ibid.  vol.  Ivi,  122. 

s  The  official  story  of  this  last  Forest  Court  is  told  in  detail  in  a  large  contemporary  MS.  book,  now  in 
possession  of  Captain  Sherbrooke,  R.N.  of  Oxton  Hall,  near  Blidworth.  The  contents  are  of  much  value  and 
interest,  but  space  can  only  be  found  for  a  few  short  abstracts  and  extracts. 

375 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

One  destructive  practice  occupied  much  of  the  attention  of  this  court.  Forest  officers  were 
paid  in  kind,  and  each  had  an  annual  '  fee  tree '  ;  but  as  each  officer  possessed  the  right,  or  had 
acquired  the  custom,  of  selecting  his  own,  every  year  saw  the  depletion  of  the  finest  timber. 

The  two  following  documents,  one  an  order,  the  other  an  attestation,  pertain  to  this 
question.  '  Ordered  that  Richard  Grammar,  woodward  of  the  Blidworth  Office,  belonging  to  his 
grace  the  archbishop  of  York,  shall  have  licence  to  fell  and  take  away  one  tree  in  any  of  his  grace's 
woods  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood,  for  his  fee  tree  in  the  execution  of  his  office.'  Lord  Byron  had  to 
make  the  following  assurance  :  '  These  are  to  certify  whom  it  may  concerne  that  I  had  fee  tree 
allowed  me  out  of  the  Forest  of  Sherwood  every  yere  whilst  I  was  bowbearer  of  the  saide  forest.' 

It  would  be  an  error  altogether  inadmissible  to  suppose  that  this  Sherwood  Forest  Court,  as  well 
as  those  of  earlier  date,  concerned  themselves  only  with  feudal  lords  and  owners.  It  was  also  the 
great  and  legally  organized  engine  for  the  protection  of  the  poorer  sort  in  their  common  rights.  In 
the  parish  of  Blidworth  an  intense  forestal  spirit  prevailed,  even  the  humblest  inhabitant  having  all 
kinds  of  privileges,  such  as  gathering  windfallen  wood,  housebote,  haybote,  and  the  keep  of  so  many 
animals.  One  great  duty  of  the  court  was  to  preserve  the  privilege  of  water,  a  claim  of  much  value  in 
the  sandy  soil  of  Sherwood.  The  wells  and  sykes  were  open  '  omnibus  animalibus,  omnibus  temporibus 
anni,  omnimodo,  porcis,  anseribus,  capris l  duntaxat  exceptis.'  There  was  a  distinction  almost 
ethnological  between  the  true  sylvico/a  or  forest-dweller  and  the  mere  '  purley  man ' — a  distinction 
not  wholly  obliterated — that  is  between  him  who  enjoyed  the  pleasure  and  restrictions  of  Sherwood, 
and  the  inferior  being  whose  hard  luck  it  was  to  be  born  and  pass  his  life  en  pur  lieu  in  the  void 
and  open  space  around.2 

To  a  certain  extent  the  court  concerned  itself  with  the  system  of  agriculture  known  as  bricks, 
which  was  pursued  in  some  of  the  more  fertile  spots.  Inhabitants  of  Blidworth,  etc.,  banded 
together  to  obtain  a  lease  from  some  of  the  forest  dignitaries,  with  the  consent  of  the  superior 
lord,  under  which  farming  might  be  carried  on  after  a  fashion  inadmissible  in  the  stricter  days  of 
forest  law.  These  enclosures  called  '  brecks,'  or  portions  '  broken  up,'  were  let  at  small  rentals,  one 
reason  being  the  necessity  of  high  and  strong  hedges,  for  which  haybote  was  allowed,  to  prevent 
incursions  of  forest  animals,  restraint  of  which  in  their  semi-wild  condition  was  very  difficult.  An 
illustration  lies  at  hand  in  a  petition  conceded  and  signed  by  Toby  Mathew,  archbishop  of  York. 
Certain  parishioners  ask  him,  as  lord  of  the  manor,  permission  to  make  a  breck  of  20O  acres.  If 
he  will  grant  the  prayer  they  '  promise,  of  their  thankfulness  unto  your  grace  for  this  yore  grete 
bountie  and  good  favour,  they  will  be  redie  at  your  grace's  resydynge  at  Southwell  to  help  with 
their  droghtes  to  furnish  yore  provision,  by  leadynge  of  wood  and  lynge  as  you  shall  make  them 
liable.  And  they,  and  all  theires  (as  otherwise  they  have),  shall  prayse  and  pray  God  for  the  long 
contynewance  of  yre  Grace  to  the  good  of  hys  church  and  this  commonwealth.' 

Under  the  Commonwealth,  and  subsequently,  a  large  number  of  Sherwood  oaks  were  felled  for 
the  navy;  but  various  grants  were  made  for  exceptional  purposes  during  that  period  and  immediately 
after  the  Restoration.  About  1680,  the  inhabitants  of  Edwinstowe  petitioned  the  crown  for 
permission  to  fell  200  oaks  of  the  value  of  £200,  out  of  the  hays  of  Birkland  and  Bilhagh  for  the 
repair  of  their  parish  church,  then  in  a  ruinous  condition.  The  petition  was  entertained,  and  on  a 
survey  for  that  purpose  it  was  found  that  '  although  there  were  standing  many  thousand  trees,  few 
of  which  there  were  but  what  were  decaying,  and  very  few  useful  for  the  navy.' 3 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  largest  and  most  substantial  of  the  beams  used  by  Sir 
Christopher  Wren  in  the  construction  of  St.  Paul's  came  from  Sherwood  Forest.  Among  the 
papers  at  Welbeck  Abbey  is  a  letter  from  the  great  architect  to  the  steward  of  the  duke  of 
Newcastle,  dated  4  April,  1695,  referring  to  'the  noble  benefaction'  promised  by  the  duke  in 
1693,  and  sending  the  measurements  of  the  'great  Beames '  then  required.  They  were  to  be 
'47  ft.  long,  13  inches  and  14  inches  at  the  small  end,  ....  and  of  growing  timber,  and  as  near 
as  can  be  without  sap.'  4 

In  1708  a  representative  meeting  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  north  of  the  county  was  held  at 
Rufford,  at  which  a  strongly-worded  petition  was  adopted,  addressed  to  the  crown,  complaining  of 
'  the  grievous  and  almost  intolerable  burden  we  labour  under  by  reason  of  the  numerous  increase  of 
the  red  deer  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood  these  late  years.'  They  complained  that  so  many  of  the 

The  keeping  of  goats  was  prohibited  throughout  the  forest,  as  they  were  so  offensive  to  the  deer. 

The  purlieus  of  a  forest  were,  as  a  rule,  those  outbounds  of  a  forest  which  had  been  disafforested  in  the 
time  of  John  or  Hen.  Ill  ;  these  districts  were  not  under  regular  forest  law,  but  nevertheless  their  tenants 
had  to  submit  without  any  redress  to  the  ravages  of  deer  and  game  in  general.  As  a  rule,  too,  the  privileges 
of  purlieu  men  were  quite  trivial  as  compared  with  the  forest  tenants ;  consequently  their  position  was 
generally  regarded  as  most  undesirable.  Particularly  was  this  the  case  on  the  eastern  confines  of  Sherwood 
Forest.  To  call  a  man  'a  purley'  is  yet  a  term  of  some  opprobrium  in  the  district.  Blidworth  was  forestal, 
but  Farnsfield  was  purlieu,  and  a  native  of  the  former  will  still  occasionally  speak  contemptuously  of  the  latter 
as  a  '  mere  purley,'  or  '  youre  nobbut  purley,'  though  ignorant  of  its  signification. 

1  Cox,  Royal  Forest!,  218.  <  White,  Worksop  and  Sherwood.  Forest,  149-50. 

376 


FORESTRY 

woods  had  been  granted  or  given  away  by  the  queen's  predecessors  that  there  was  but  little  harbour 
left  for  the  deer  in  the  forest,  and  the  deer  in  consequence  were  distributed  all  over  the  county, 
eating  up  the  corn  and  grass ;  that  their  tenants  had  often  to  watch  all  night  to  keep  the  deer  off ; 
that  their  servants  were  terrified  by  several  new  keepers  made  by  the  present  deputy-warder,  who 
'threaten  them  if  so  much  as  they  do  set  a  little  dog  at  the  deer  though  in  the  corn';  that  not  only 
had  they  to  watch  their  cornfields,  where  the  deer  often  lay  nine  or  ten  brace  together,  but  they  so 
destroy  private  woods  as  to  injure  them  to  the  extent  of  from  £10  to  £50  a  year. 

At  the  same  time  another  petition  was  addressed  to  the  House  of  Commons  with  about  400 
signatures,  wherein  it  was  stated  that  the  number  of  red  deer  in  the  forest,  'till  very  lately,  had 
never  or  seldom  exceeded  three  hundred,  which  was  a  great  number,  considering  the  barrenness  of 
the  soil  and  the  great  destruction  of  the  woods,  as  the  forest  could  maintain.'  In  the  light  of  other 
evidence  this  estimate,  used  for  the  sake  of  strengthening  the  petitioners'  arguments,  was  probably 
much  below  the  mark.  The  petitioners  proceeded  to  state  that  these  deer  now  numbered  more 
than  900 ;  that  they  roamed  over  the  country  to  find  sustenance,  but  more  particularly  that  these 
depredations  were  chiefly  carried  on  in  '  the  division  called  Hatfield  and  the  whole  district  of  the 
Clay  ;  and  that  these  parts  of  the  county  were  outside  the  forest  limits  according  to  the  perambulation 
and  inquisition  of  Edward  I.'  This  petition  met  with  no  favour,  for  it  was  argued,  though 
incorrectly,  that  the  owners  had  never  before  been  asked  to  stint  the  number  of  deer,  and  that  it  was 
a  request  to  Parliament  to  take  away  the  queen's  liberty  and  right  without  her  consent.  On  a  copy 
of  this  petition  still  extant  is  endorsed  : — 

'Tis  no  doubt  but  that  if  there  were  no  more  than  fifty  deer  in  the  whole  forest,  and  if  it  should 
happen  that  they  were  on  any  one  particular  man's  two  or  three  acres  of  corn  or  turnips,  they  would 
be  sure  to  lessen  his  crops  ;  yet  he  bought  the  land  with  the  encumbrance,  and  it  is  past  all  dispute 
that  the  queen  has  as  much  right  to  it  as  any  man  has  to  his  own  coat.' 

The  forest  was  no  source  of  profit  in  Anne's  reign.  Contrariwise  ^1,000  a  year  was  granted 
to  maintain  the  deer  and  the  new  park  at  Clumber,  and  to  hunt  with  two  horsemen,  forty  couple  of 
hounds,  eleven  horses,  and  four  grooms.  There  were  four  '  forest  keepers,'  and  four  '  deputy 
purlieu  rangers  ' ;  the  winter  hay  for  the  deer  averaged  £100  a  year. 

In  the  eighteenth  century  the  open  forest  area  was  continuously  decreasing,  partly  by  grants  in 
the  northern  part  for  parks,  but  still  more  by  the  enclosure  acts  of  the  latter  part  of  the  century. 
Between  1789  and  1796  inclusive  acts  were  passed  for  the  enclosure  of  Arnold  Forest,  Sutton  in 
Ashfield,  Kirkby  in  Ashfield,  and  Lenton  and  Radford,  whereby  8,248  acres  were  brought  into 
cultivation.  Earlier  in  the  reign  of  George  III,  enclosure  acts  of  Blidworth  (1,800  acres),  Carlton 
(220),  Epperstone  (70),  Ollerton  (500),  and  several  others  of  smaller  extent  had  enclosed  yet  more 
of  the  open  forest  tracts.2 

In  1793  the  Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests  and  Land  Revenues  of  the  Crown  issued 
their  fourteenth  report  (70  folio  pages)  which  dealt  exclusively  with  Sherwood.  They  describe 
it  as  the  only  forest  remaining  under  the  superintendence  of  the  chief  justice  in  eyre  north  of 
Trent,  or  belonging  to  the  crown  in  that  part  of  England.  The  chief  officials  were  the  lord- 
warden,  the  duke  of  Newcastle,  by  letters  patent  ;  the  bowbearer  or  ranger,  Lord  Byron,  by  the 
lord-warden  ;  four  verderers,  elected  by  the  freeholders  ;  and  steward,  John  Gladwin,  appointed 
during  pleasure  by  lord  chief  justice.  There  were  also  nine  keepers  of  nine  walks,  appointed  by 
the  verderers,  each  receiving  a  salary  of  2OS.  from  the  lord-warden.  Two  woodwards  were 
annually  sworn  for  Sutton  and  Carlton.  Each  verderer  and  the  steward  received  an  annual  fee  tree 
out  of  the  hays  of  Birkland  and  Bilhagh.  There  were  no  deer  in  the  forest  save  in  Thorney 
Woods,  of  which  Lord  Chesterfield  (as  hereditary  successor  to  John  Stanhope  of  Elizabeth's  days) 
was  keeper  ;  but  evidence  was  given  of  there  having  been  a  great  many  red  deer  in  Birkland  and 
Bilhagh  until  about  1770,  when  they  were  killed  ofF  by  the  keepers  of  the  dukes  of  Newcastle 
and  Kingston,  assisted  by  the  inhabitants,  since  which  time  the  forest  farms  had  proved  much 
more  valuable,  and  the  wheatfields  no  longer  wanted  guarding  by  horns  in  the  daytime  and  by  fires 
at  night.  The  four  verderers  at  that  time  each  demanded  and  obtained  a  fee  buck  and  a  fee  doe 
annually  from  Lord  Chesterfield. 

The  accounts  of  particular  ancient  trees,  or  of  special  groups,  as  at  Haywood,  near  Blidworth, 
or  in  the  beautiful  glades  of  Birkland  and  Bilhagh,  together  with  the  recording  of  other  forest 
survivals,  will  be  more  appropriately  discussed  under  their  respective  parishes  in  the  topographical 
section. 

Though    there  was   so    much    grievous    destruction    of  timber    in    Sherwood  Forest  in  the 

1  White,  Worktop  and  Sherwood  Forest,  218—9.     Cited  chiefly  from  Bailey,  Annals. 

'  General  Rep.  on  Enclosures  (1808).  Nottingham  had  88  enclosure  acts  in  the  first  forty  years  of 
George  III,  and  was  only  surpassed  in  the  acreage  enclosed  by  Lincoln,  Leicester,  and  Northampton.  According 
to  the  Agricultural  Report  of  1794  (App.  v)  there  had  been  in  that  century  10,666  acres  of  private  enclosures 
from  the  forest  and  its  borders. 

377  48 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

seventeenth  and  following  centuries, l  there  were  some  considerable  compensations  made  in  the  second 
half  of  the  last  of  these  centuries. 

In  the  elaborate  report  on  the  county  of  Nottingham  issued  by  the  Board  of  Agriculture  in  1 794, 
there  is  a  good  deal  of  information  as  to  the  woods  and  plantations  of  the  shire.  It  is  there  stated 
that  a  spirit  of  planting  had  prevailed  throughout  much  of  the  old  Sherwood  district  for  the  last 
forty  years.  Though  at  first  fir  trees  were  chiefly  planted,  it  was  found  that  the  sandy  soil  seemed 
well  adapted  for  almost  every  kind  of  forest  tree  in  the  sheltered  places.  The  duke  of  Newcastle 
had  recently  planted  1848  acres  in  Clumber  Park.  Considerable  particulars  are  given  in  appendices 
as  to  the  plantations  on  the  VVelbeck  and  Ruffbrd  estates,  together  with  descriptions  of  the  methods 
adopted. 

There  was  but  little  wood  save  hedgerow,  and  but  little  recent  planting  on  the  level  lands  of 
the  county  that  flank  the  Trent,  save  occasional  ash  growing.  Thirty-one  acres  had  been  planted 
with  ash  in  1771-2  on  thecliff  opposite  Washford  Ferry,  in  Flintham  ;  it  had  been  cut  in  1791-2 
and  had  been  sold  standing  for  £1,300.  In  another  instance  six  acres  of  ash  that  had  been  planted 
for  seventeen  years  sold  for  £70. 

In  the  Clay  district  3,664  acres  had  been  planted  in  comparatively  recent  enclosures.  There 
was  very  little  timber  in  the  Vale  of  Belvoir  district ;  but  mention  is  made  of  Bunny  Wood,  which 
contained  seventy  acres. 2 

In  Major  Rooke's  Sketch  of  Sherwood  Forest,  printed  in  1799,  much  praise  is  given  to  '  the  many 
respectable  persons,  whose  mansions  and  parks  border  on  the  forest,  who  have  made  and  continue 
to  make  large  plantations  in  honour  of  the  splendid  victories  gained  by  our  gallant  admirals.'  Such 
were  the  twenty-five  acres  of  forest  trees  and  firs  planted  by  Lord  Newark,  and  called  Howe  Grove, 
in  honour  of  Earl  Howe  and  his  victory,  as  well  as  fifteen  to  the  east  of  Thornley  Park,  called  after 
Lord  St.  Vincent,  and  twelve  acres  on  the  north  called  after  Lord  Duncan.  He  also  particularly 
mentions  the  extensive  plantations  of  the  duke  of  Portland  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Welbeck;  the 
fine  plantations  at  Ruffbrd  by  the  Hon.  R.  Lumley  Savile  ;  as  well  as  the  Howe,  Spencer,  Nelson, 
St.  Vincent,  Warren,  and  Duncan  groves  planted  by  the  Hon.  F.  Montague.  Mr.  Foljambe,  of 
Osberton,  was  one  of  several  other  Nottinghamshire  gentlemen  who  were  busily  engaged  in  tree 
planting  towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  marquis  of  Titchfield  had  sown  up- 
wards of  a  hundred  acres  in  parts  of  the  old  forest,  between  Mansfield  and  Nottingham,  with  acorns. 

Though  the  glories  of  Sherwood  as  a  royal  open  forest  have  long  since  passed,  various  noble 
parks  occupy  some  of  its  choicest  portions.  They  not  only  include  much  of  the  ancient  timber, 
but  several  are  well  stocked  with  red  and  fallow  deer,  which  in  some  instances  rightfully  claim  to  be 
the  descendants  of  those  that  used  to  roam  at  will  the  forests  and  glades  in  mediaeval  days. 

The  present  deer  parks  in  Nottingham  only  number  five,  all  of  which  are  in  the  old  Sherwood 
Forest  district.3 

Thoresby  Park  (Earl  Manvers),  one  of  the  finest  in  the  kingdom,  has  a  circuit  of  upwards  of 
ten  miles  and  an  acreage  of  2,000.  In  1683  the  crown  sold  1,270  acres  out  of  the  hays  of 
Bilhagh  and  the  White  Lodge  to  be  added  to  his  own  land  to  make  the  park  of  Thoresby.  It  is 
grandly  timbered  in  parts,  particularly  at  the  Buck  Gate  entrance,  where  there  are  many  noble  oaks. 
The  park  is  also  noted  for  its  Spanish  chestnuts,  and  there  are  large  picturesque  stretches  thickly 
dotted  with  old  thorns.  The  fallow  deer  number  about  630  and  the  red  deer  25. 

Welbeck  (duke  of  Portland)  was  the  only  one  of  the  duke  of  Newcastle's  eight  parks  that 
escaped  destruction  at  the  time  of  the  great  Civil  War.  It  has  an  acreage  of  1640;  the 
timber  is  chiefly  oak.  Many  of  the  trees  are  of  great  age,  the  oldest  being  the  Greendale  Oak  .4 
Two  fine  oaks,  standing  one  each  side  of  the  roadway,  are  known  as  the  Porters.  Of  the  once 
celebrated  Seven  Sisters,  which  had  seven  stems  growing  from  a  single  root,  only  one  stem  is  now 
standing.  There  are  about  500  fallow  deer,  including  a  herd  of  white  ones,  and  150  red  deer. 

Rufford  Park  (Lord  Savile)  extends  over  500  acres  ;  it  is  well  wooded,  and  contains  some 
particularly  fine  beech  trees.  The  fallow  deer  number  about  350. 

Wollaton  Park  (Lord  Middleton)  covers  750  acres,  and  is  well  wooded  with  fine  clumps  of 
forest  trees.  Its  principal  feature  is  the  avenue  of  limes  from  the  chief  lodge  to  the  hall.  The 
fallow  deer  number  about  three  hundred.  This  park  used  to  harbour  a  herd  of  wild  white  cattle, 
of  the  polled  or  hornless  breed,  with  black  noses  and  ears.  They  died  out  in  the  first  quarter  of  last 
century. 

Annesley  Park  (J.  P.  Chaworth-Musters,   esq.)  contains  about  600  acres,  and  has  a  good  deal 
of  large  timber,  though  there  are  many  bracken-covered  stretches.     There  are  about  200  head  of 
In  Cox's  Magna  Britannia,  issued  in  1827,  reference  is  made  to  '  the  abominable  destruction  of  the  wood 
made  by  the  connivance  or  negligence  of  the  woodwards  (vol.  iv.  p.  171). 

'  Robert  Low,  General  View  of  Agriculture  of  the  County  of  Nottingham  (1794),  passim. 

'he   brief  notes  on  these  parks  are  taken  from  Whitaker,  Deer  Parks  of  England  (1892)  ;  Shirley,  Deer 
and  Deer  Parks  (1867);   White,  Worktop  and  Sherwood  Forest  (1875),  and  from  personal  observation. 

1  The  story  of  this '  Methusaleh  of  the  Forest '  was  told  at  length  in  Country  Life  (30  Dec.  1905)  by  Dr.  Cox. 

378 


FORESTRY 

fallow  deer  of  the  small  black  breed,  supposed  to  be  the  original  wild  forest  stock.  There  was  a 
herd  of  wild  white  cattle  in  this  park  at  the  time  of  Charles  II. 

The  two  most  ancient  parks  of  Sherwood,  those  of  Clipston  and  Bestwood,  are  now  no  more. 
Clipston,  where  was  the  ancient  royal  lodge  visited,  as  is  known,  repeatedly  by  King  John  and  also 
by  the  first  three  Edwards,  possessed  a  park  which  enclosed  an  area  of  1,583  acres  in  1609,  and 
seven  miles  in  compass  ;  it  was  utterly  destroyed  in  the  Civil  Wars.  It  had  a  pleasant  river  running 
through  it  full  of  fish,  was  well  stocked  with  deer,  and  so  abounding  in  fine  trees,  '  the  tallest  in  the 
county,'  that  their  value  was  estimated  at  £20,000.  When  'the  loyal  duke'  visited  Clipston  after 
the  Restoration  there  was  not  a  single  tree  left  standing  in  the  park.1 

The  fate  of  Bestwood  Park,  a  few  miles  north  of  Nottingham,  between  Papplewick  and  Arnold, 
was  somewhat  similar,  though  not  so  severely  treated.  This  '  mighty  great  park,'  as  Leland  termed  it, 
comprised  3,672  acres,  and  'before  the  troubles  was  well  stocked  with  red  deer,'  but  when 
Thoroton  wrote  in  1677  much  of  it  was  ploughed  up  and  divided  into  closes.2  The  park  that  now 
surrounds  Bestwood  Lodge  is  of  very  limited  area. 

Clumber  Park  (duke  of  Newcastle),  the  largest,  and  in  some  respects  the  most  beautiful,  of  the 
Nottinghamshire  parks,  which  lies  immediately  to  the  north  of  Thoresby  Park,  is  of  comparatively 
modern  date,  and  used  to  be  known  as  the  New  Park.  The  earl  of  Clare  (afterwards  created  duke 
of  Newcastle)  received  the  crown  licence  in  1707  to  enclose  and  impark  3,000  acres  at  Clumber. 
Low,  writing  in  1794,  says  of  this  park,  then  so  luxuriant  with  its  new  plantation,  that  'thirty 
years  ago  it  was  a  black  heath  full  of  rabbits.'  But  this  only  refers  to  the  newly  enclosed  parts,  for 
he  elsewhere  states  that  Clumber  Park  included  the  remains  of  two  woods  of  venerable  oaks,  known 
as  Clumber  Wood  and  Hardwick  Wood.3  The  park  now  contains  above  4,000  acres.  By  the 
side  of  the  large  lake,  cedars,  pines,  and  various  other  coniferous  trees  grow  to  a  great  size. 

The  hays  of  Birkland  and  Bilhagh,  the  last  remaining  portion  of  the  crown  lands  in  Sherwood, 
were  sold  to  the  duke  of  Portland  about  1800,  who  subsequently  parted  with  them  to  Earl  Manvers. 
Low,  writing  in  1794,  describes  these  hays  as  an  'open  wood  of  large  oak,  but  mostly  decayed  or 
stagheaded.'4 

Newstead  Park,  formed  after  the  dissolution  of  the  religious  houses,  was  beautifully  wooded 
and  well  stocked  with  fallow  deer  ;  but  it  was  broken  up  into  farms,  and  most  of  this  side  of 
the  Sherwood  district  was  very  much  denuded  of  trees  during  the  concluding  period  of  the  Byron 
regime.  Towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  Lord  Byron  of  the  day  cut  down  the 
oaks  wholesale  to  the  value  of  £60,000,  and  the  bleak  treeless  aspect  of  the  surroundings  of  the 
abbey  in  1814  are  mentioned  in  the  memoirs  of  John  Murray.  The  poet  Byron  planted  some 
sparse  copse-like  spinneys  such  as  Poet's  Wood  ;  Castle  Wood  and  Abbey  Wood  are  somewhat 
similar,  and  consist  largely  of  beech.  There  are  a  few  conifers  (pinus  sy/vestris  and  larch)  on  the 
estate,  which  appear  to  have  been  planted  before  Colonel  Wildman's  time.  The  woods,  copses, 
spinneys,  and  clumps,  when  he  took  over  the  Newstead  estate,  were  of  small  extent,  and  could 
have  been  of  little  value  as  timber,  actual  or  prospective.  Colonel  Wildman  was  an  enthusiastic 
arboriculturist,  and  did  a  great  deal  of  planting,  but  it  was  not  done  on  economical  lines,  and  was 
chiefly  for  aesthetic  purposes.  The  fact  of  his  keeping  an  enormous  stock  of  rabbits  absolutely 
precluded  any  rational  or  scientific  system  of  tree-growing.  One  wood  planted  by  him  north  of 
the  Mansfield  and  Nottingham  road  was  originally  very  well  laid  out  ;  but,  owing  to  the  fallacies 
and  defects  inherent  in  the  old  British  theories  of  sylviculture  of  the  past  century,  it  has  been  so 
treated  as  to  be  of  little  actual  value.  The  late  Mr.  Webb  planted  a  very  considerable  acreage, 
mainly  of  conifers.  The  woods  were  well  designed  and  laid  out  ;  but  the  technical  planting  was 
badly  done,  and  the  young  trees  were  not  scientifically  looked  after  during  their  early  growth. 
The  ignorance,  incompetence,  and  prejudices  of  woodmen  and  so-called  foresters  frustrated  the 
well-schemed  projects  and  designs  of  Mr.  Webb,  whose  knowledge  in  these  matters  was  in 
advance  of  the  general  knowledge  and  practice  in  England.  A  considerable  portion  of  the 
Newstead  estate  consists  of  arable  land  of  the  annual  value  of  5*.  per  acre  downwards,  much  of 
which  should  never  have  been  reclaimed  from  forest  for  tillage.  This  was  due,  here  as  elsewhere, 
to  the  economic  conditions  preceding  the  repeal  of  the  Corn  Laws. 

Sir  H.  E.  and  Lady  Chermside  have  of  late  years  given  much  attention  to  the  systems  of 
forestry  in  Germany  and  other  countries.  Their  objective  is  to  reconstitute  the  existing  depleted 
woodlands  by  the  employment  of  'jardinage'  and  other  recognized  methods  of  planting,  and  to  add 
to  them  by  tree-culture  on  lands  obviously  better  suited  to  such  a  purpose  than  to  cereals  or  pasture. 
One  of  the  chief  impediments  to  progress  in  this  direction  is  found  to  be  the  very  inefficient  British 
legislation  concerning  rabbits.  The  aggregate  area  of  woodland,  heath,  and  rough  land  on  the 
property  is  some  1,200  acres.5 

1  Collins,  Noble  Families  of  Cavendish  (1752),  42.  *  Thoroton,  Notts.  258. 

3  Gen.  View  of  Agiic.  of  Notts.  9,  20.  *  Ibid.  19. 

5  From  the  information  of  Sir  H.  E.  Chermside,  G.C.M.G.,  C.B. 

379 


A    HISTORY    OF    NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 

Considerable  areas  were  planted  in  Welbeck  Park  and  its  environs,  to  clothe  the  landscape, 
about  the  year  1726.  At  that  time  oak,  Spanish  chestnut,  and  beech  were  used  for  forming  mixed 
plantations,  with,  no  doubt,  firs  and  larch  to  act  as  nurses,  as  in  some  instances  a  few  of  these  are 
found  among  the  hardwoods.  At  a  later  date  oak  was,  probably  from  the  high  price  of  bark  and 
also  from  the  demand  of  oak  timber  for  ship-building,  given  the  preference,  with  the  view  of  forming 
pure  oak  plantations.  Unfortunately  there  is  now  a  limited  demand  for  bark,  and  timber  must  be 
of  excellent  quality  to  find  a  sale.  Even  the  casual  observer  will  notice  the  superiority  of  trees 
grown  in  the  mixed  woods,  being  more  apparent  when  sufficient  beech  has  been  left  to  shade  the 
oak  and  chestnut ;  under  such  conditions  are  the  long  clean  stems  grown  which  realize  the  highest 
prices.  Only  in  sheltered  situations  is  the  oak,  when  grown  in  pure  forest,  found  attaining  similar 
dimensions  in  this  neighbourhood.  Good  oak  is  grown  with  coppice  on  the  clay  lands,  but  coppice 
can  only  pay  in  localities  where  there  is  a  local  demand  for  it. 

The  tendency  to-day  is  in  favour  of  plantations  which  will  serve  as  suitable  game  coverts, 
and  thus  a  crop  which  will  grow  and  mature  quickly  is  often  in  request ;  consequently  firs  and 
larch  are  more  generally  planted  as  a  crop  than  merely  as  nurses. 

The  age  of  the  old  oaks  in  Birklands  which  have  at  some  time  been  pollarded,  from  a  careful 
count  of  the  annual  layers  of  growth,  places  the  trees  at  387  years  of  age,  and  owing  to  their  being 
pollards  decay  has  set  in  from  the  top  downwards,  and  in  many  cases  they  are  badly  affected  with 
the  ring  and  star  shake.1 

There  has  been  steady  planting  on  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's  Clumber  estates  since  1889, 
averaging  about  26  acres  a  year,  exclusive  of  the  renewal  of  old  woodland.  This  fresh  land 
planting  of  some  425  acres  has  chiefly  been  of  a  mixed  character,  larch  and  Scotch  fir  being 
mingled  with  oak,  beech,  and  sycamore.  A  certain  small  amount  has  been  planted  with  Corsican 
pine,  and  another  plot  with  poplars.  Six  acres  of  bog  land  were  planted  with  birch  in  1895.  A 
plantation  of  24 j  acres  of  mixed  larch,  Scotch  fir,  oak,  beech,  and  pine,  laid  out  in  1902,  was 
appropriately  named  Coronation  Plantation.  This  year  (1906)  three  acres  of  old  woodland  at 
Hardwick  Wood  Round  have  been  planted  with  Japanese  larch.8 

During  the  last  thirty  years  there  have  been  planted  on  Earl  Manvers's  property  in  South 
Nottinghamshire,  33  acres  in  the  parish  of  Clipston-on-the-Wolds,  and  1 8£  in  the  parish  of  Cotgrave. 
The  planting  on  the  earl's  North  Nottinghamshire  estate,  in  the  like  period,  has  been  much  more 
considerable,  namely,  194  acres  in  Edwinstowe,  204  in  Budby-cum-Perlethorpe,  30  in  Eakring, 
26  in  Kneesall,  and  41  in  Kersall.  This  gives  a  total  on  these  estates  of  646^  acres.3 

On  Lord  Savile's  Rufford  Abbey  estates  there  are  now  1,700  acres  of  woods  and  plantations, 
showing  an  increase  of  about  700  acres  since  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.4 

Particulars  have  been  kindly  supplied  by  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Huskinson,  F.S.I.,  land  agent  of 
Epperstone,  as  to  the  planting  on  various  smaller  estates  of  the  county  under  his  agency,  which 
show  considerable  progress  in  arboriculture.5 

1  From  the  information  of  Mr.  Mitchie,  the  Duke  of  Portland's  wood-steward. 

1  From  the  information  of  Mr.  Arthur  V.  Elliott,  agent  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle. 

*  From  the  information  of  Mr.  R.  W.  Wordsworth,  agent  of  Earl  Manvers. 

4  From  the  information  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Bell,  agent  of  Lord  Savile. 

6  '  In  my  agency  the  following  estates  in  Notts,  have  extensive  woodlands  : 

The  Oxton  estate,  Captain  Sherbrooke,  R.N.,  owner,  four  miles  from  Southwell.  Old  wood- 
lands, 338  acres;  oak  and  ash  ;  ash  underwood  ;  thin  timber.  Plantation  last  fifty  years  54  acres. 
Total  392  acres,  nearly  all  on  the  clays. 

The  Sherwood  Lodge  estate,  Sir  Charles  Seely,  bart.,  seven  miles  from  Nottingham.  Old 
woodlands,  157  acres  ;  oak,  chestnut,  beech,  and  larch  ;  no  underwood.  Plantation,  365  acres  ;  of 
this  1 50  acres  only  prepared  for  planting — not  yet  planted.  Total  522  acres,  all  on  sands. 

Ossington  estate,  W.  E.  Denison,  esq.,  eight  miles  from  Newark.  Old  woodlands,  214  acres  ; 
ash  underwood,  oak  and  ash.  Plantations,  67  acres.  Total  281  acres,  all  on  clays. 

Winkburn  estate,  Colonel  Burnell,  eight  miles  from  Newark.  Old  woodlands,  405  acres  ; 
well  looked  after  ;  oak  with  ash  underwood. 

Widmerpool  estate,  Major  Robertson,  nine  miles  south  of  Nottingham,  on  the  wolds.  Oak  and 
ash  with  hazel  underwood.  Old  woodlands,  108  acres.  Plantations,  60  acres,  mostly  larch  and 
spruce  for  game.  Total  168  acres,  all  on  clay. 

The  other  estates  in  our  management  in  this  district  all  agricultural  with  only  small  coppices  or 
shelter  plantations. 

The  estate  duties  on  woodlands  appear  to  me  to  be  a  mistake,  as  it  is  taxing  a  growing  crop. 
A  tax  on  timber  sales  would  be  more  equitable.  As  it  is  many  people  will  be  taxed  for  a  property 
in  young  woods  that  they  never  can  enjoy. 

Planting  is  generally  done  with  trees  transplanted  from  nurseries.  This  I  consider  an  expensive 
method,  and  doubt  whether  there  is  any  industrial  profit.  If  planting  were  to  be  done  on  a  large 
scale  on  the  clays  I  would  advocate  sowing  the  seed  of  oak,  ash,  and  sycamore  on  the  ground 
reserved  for  the  wood  just  like  a  corn  crop,  and  singling  out  each  few  years  as  the  seedlings  settle 

380 


FORESTRY 

As  to  the  Wold  district  of  this  county,  south-east  of  the  forest,  on  the  five  estates  belonging  to 
Earl  Manvers,  Lord  Helper,  and  Messrs.  Robertson,  Warner,  and  W.  P.  Paget,  in  the  parishes  of 
Cotgrave,  West  Leake,  Widmerpool,  Wysall,  and  Normanton  upon.  Soar,  at  least  1,000  acres  have 
been  tree-planted  in  the  last  thirty  years.  It  is  thought  that  the  thinnings  of  these  plantations,  after 
expenses  of  felling  and  sale  are  paid,  amount  annually  to  double  the  rent  of  a  good  deal  of  land  in 
Gotham,  Bunny,  and  some  other  parishes  that  have  not  been  planted.1 

Official  statistics  are  strongly  confirmatory  of  the  considerable  growth  of  the  wooded  area  of 
Nottinghamshire  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  In  1891  the  woods  of  the  county,  exclusive  of 
plantations,  covered  25,819  acres  ;  and  the  plantations — that  is,  those  that  have  been  planted  during 
the  last  fifteen  years — covered  an  additional  area  of  2,027  acres.  The  total,  therefore,  in  1891  was 
27, 846  acres.  A  great  stride  was  made  between  that  year  and  1888,  for  in  the  latter  year  the  total 
was  only  24,254. 

The  agricultural  returns  for  1895  give  the  area  of  wood,  excepting  plantations,  as  27,269, 
whilst  the  area  of  recent  planting  brought  the  full  total  up  to  28,517. 

The  returns  for  the  last  decade,  as  estimated  in  June,  1905,  show  a  further  gain  in  Notting- 
hamshire woodland  of  nearly  2,000  acres.  It  is  there  set  forth  as  coppice  489  acres,  plantations 
1,404,  and  other  woods  28,540,  giving  a  total  under  woodland  of  30,433  acres. 

From  all  this  varied  information,  Nottinghamshire  may  be  safely  placed  among  the  compara- 
tively few  counties  in  which  the  woodlands  have  largely  increased  during  the  past  hundred  years. 
But  this  increase  is  almost  entirely  due  (save  to  a  limited  extent  on  the  wolds)  to  what  may  be 
termed  the  luxurious  value  of  forest  trees  and  coverts,  that  is  to  say,  to  the  beauty  of  woodland  land- 
scape, and  to  its  assistance  in  the  maintaining  of  game.  The  initial  difficulty  in  tree-planting  on 
private  property,  from  a  commercial  standpoint,  is  the  sinking  of  capital  for  such  a  distant  and 
somewhat  problematical  return,  for  most  people  live  in  the  present.  It  is,  therefore,  generally  thought 
by  those  competent  to  form  an  opinion  that  a  commercial  return  from  arboriculture  (save  in 
exceptional  circumstances)  can  only  be  expected,  under  existing  legislation,  on  suitable  crown  lands 
or  on  those  of  such  corporations  as  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners. 

between  themselves  which  is  to  be  the  best  tree.    I  believe  this  method  on  a  large  enough  scale  would 
pay  a  very  good  profit  at  the  end  of  the  century. 

There  should  be  no  rating  or  taxation  of  woodlands  till  the   crop   is  felled,  when   this  burden 
falls  on  the  proper  person  alone  able  to  bear  it. 

I  advocate  very  strongly  shelter  plantations  and  trees  on  pasture  lands,  especially  upland  pastures 
as  a  shelter  for  stock.     I  know  from  experience  such  pastures  will  carry  stock  two   or  three  months 
longer  than  more  exposed  fields  in  the  immediate  vicinity.' 
1  From  the  information  of  the  Hon.  F.  Strutt,  to  whom  we  are  otherwise  particularly  indebted. 


381 


DA 
670 
N9V6 
v.l 


The  Victoria  history  of  the 
county  of  Nottingham 


PLEASE  DO  NOT  REMOVE 
CARDS  OR  SLIPS  FROM  THIS  POCKET 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO  LIBRARY