WINTHORPE VILLAGE, When this century began Roger Pocklington was still flourishing at the Winthorpe Hall, and his son, Roger was at The Grove. Christopher Morley was living at The Grange from 1764, when he was a churchwarden, to 1825, when he died aged 91 and was buried at Winthorpe on 27th September. During his lifetime he figured prominently in Brewer’s Charity records as he rented Charity Land.
According to White’s Directory, 1832, other farmers were John Beastall and James Smith. There were two wheelwrights, J. Camamile and J. Wright, two victuallers, John Anstill and Job Hampson.(0n 15th October 1832, the latter with George Fisher of Newark, “in the third year of the reign of William IV were ordered to appear at Westminster to answer James Dyson, deptor, of our said Lord the King.” The amount due to the exchequer was £109), a tailor, J. Cawthorne, a miller, Geo.Gamble, a shoemaker, W. Bellamy, W. Worth, the schoolmaster, J. Marfleet, malster, (he followed Pocklington Jrn. at the Grove) a land agent and valuer named G. L. Beaumont, Mr. Richard Beale and John Milton,(no occupation given), the Rev. Rastall who had permission to reside in Newark owing to the bad condition of the rectory, and three widows, Mesdames Fox, Mary Holt and Sarah Hyde.
White’s Directory of 1844 listed many of the above names, but the schoolmaster was John Corlett, who was paid £5 half-yearly from Brewer’s Charity, for twelve free scholars. Richard Capon who was a solicitor was at the Grove, and James Camamile was at the “Nelson.” Slingsby Duncombe was at the Hall 1809 to 1832.
The village had 228 inhabitants and “635 acres of land which was exonerated from tythe at the enclosures of 1757, by an allotment of 82 acres.” There have been further enclosures in 1778, at the time when Roger Pocklington greatly enlarged the hall estate and a further enclosure in 1800. This latest one enclosed the Newark field, which extended from the foot of Winthorpe Hill to what is now Cow Lane in Northgate. The actual wording of the enclosure was: -
“Whereas the several Open Fields Meadows and Waste Land with in the parish of Newark on Trent, contain about 400 acres.... ...whereas the said Duke of Newcastle, Lord Middleton, and Sir M. Jenison, Wm. Gordon and others are owners... the lands in the said open fields and meadows lie intermixed and dispersed and in their present position are incapable of any considerable improvement... it will be of advantage to the owners of the said fields and meadows are divided and enclosed...Christopher Morley of Broughton and Wm. Gantly of Bakewell are hereby appointed commissioners for dividing and enclosing the said Open Fields.....”
One-twentieth part of all wastelands allotted to Gordon. Two ninths of the Meadow was allotted to the above named. The Commissioners were to “erect a sluice in the drain dividing the open meadows from Winthorpe and to extend the bank next the Trent in Winthorpe for the protection of the open meadows from ordinary flooding.”
Is it possible that Christopher Morley of Broughton was the same as at Winthorpe? Perhaps he owned land and property in both places?
A number of interesting items appear in the Brewer’s Charity records for the early part of the century. In addition to the Schoolmasters salary mentioned above appears the following: -
1. 1829 Money paid to Cawthorn of Nottingham (tailor - above?)
2. September 21st 1829. Tablet to the memory of Thos. Brewer, erected in the church.
3. 1820 - 1822-childbed linen lent out by Brewer's Charity.
4. 1809 - 1812. The former farmhouse of the Skelton family, which had been exchanged for Brewer’s
White House, and was therefore part of the charity, was converted into three cottages for the elderly
of the parish. Three extra cottages were added, one at the north end and two at the south end. The
total cost of the whole construction was £89.9.10.
From 1798 the Camamiles were prominent in the village as carpenters and wheelwrights. In 1812 one of them appears to have had problems. A removal order exists for a Joseph Camamile dated 17th, September 1812. Apparently Joseph, wife Elizabeth and children, John 12, James 10, Daniel 8, Michael 6 and Joseph 5, came to Brampton, Lincs. “Having no legal settlement elsewhere.” The Justices agreed that their lawful place was Winthorpe and wrote, “We require you the said Church wardens and Overseers of the Poor of Brampton to convey the said Joseph, Elizabeth and family from out of your township to Winthorpe and deliver them to the Churchwardens and Overseers there.... and we do require you the said Churchwardens and Overseers to receive and provide for them as inhabitants of your township.” There is no entry of Joseph, Elizabeth and family in the Winthorpe Church registers. The main branch of the family can be traced from 1798 to 1962, most of them being carpenters or wheelwrights.
In 1849 the Methodist Chapel was built at a cost of £150. G. H. Gamble, miller, gave the ground and £50. He lived in what is now Millers House and the ground was at the bottom of his property, at the end of Town Street, now Chapel Lane. Part of the building still remains at the entrance to Mr. M. Craddocks home.
Lord Middleton had purchased the Hall in 1832 and this remained the largest estate in the village. The middle of the century saw the development of two other estates, The Grange, J. G. Branston and Winthorpe House with William Gilstrap. The former moved from Newark to Winthorpe about 1855. The modern redbrick Grange must have replaced the Morleys Homestead. The Lodge, now at the entrance to the Spinney, was later built for the coachman and stables and coach houses along the roadside. The existing wall along the roadside was the back wall of the stable block. The two houses now occupied by Messrs. Gatiss and Gold were erected 1884-6 on the site of an older house and workshop occupied by James Camamile, wheelwright who moved to Hargon House.
The present Winthorpe House was originally a smaller dwelling just visible on Howlett’s engraving of 1807. This was much enlarged by William Gilstrap, who came to the village from Newark in 1855. Here also a house was built for the coachman, and this has been Mr. M. Goslings home. A stable block was also added. The vast majority of men in the village worked in the three estates, the number of inhabitants in 1881 being 56.
The Hall again changed ownership in 1867, when Pierce-Duncombe bought the estate and greatly improved the living accommodation for his tenants.
The schoolmasters, named in Whites Directory, probably lived in the Dial House (now M.Wenn’s home) there was in the garden of the house in 1832, the largest elm in the village measuring 10 yards in circumference. Similar, but smaller specimens were along the roadsides from the bottom of Winthorpe Hill to the end of the village. The last large one was felled in the late 1960's and had been opposite the Post Office. The weeping elm in Mr. Wenn’s garden was probably planted to replace the old tree. Unfortunately this tree now has Dutch elm disease.
The present church was built 1886-1888 but this will be dealt with in a special section. So by 1900 we have a village community based on three estates, the owners all taking an active interest in village life.
Miss K.E.Euston.
Extract from Focal Point.