19th century newspaper reports
about Stanton on the Wolds
Dangerous driving
The Notts. Guardian for the 25th January 1849 reported that William Orange of Stanton was charged with riding in a wagon at West Bridgford without reins. The defendant admitted the charge and was convicted. He was fined twenty shillings.
Female assaulted
The Notts. Guardian of Thursday the 12th April 1849 carried a short report that a John Smith of Stanton was complained against by Ellen Baker of Stanton for assaulting her on the 3rd April at Stanton. Mr Bowley appeared for Smith. The case was dismissed on the defendant paying the expenses of 8s 6d.
Editor's notes:- Ellen and her twin sister Sarah, daughters of Charles and Jane Baker, were baptised at All Saints on the 12th April 1836. At the time of the assault she was just 13 years old.
Drunk and disorderly
On Thursday the 7th March 1850 the Notts. Guardian reported that PC Finnigan had brought a complaint that one Samuel Jackson had on the 26th February committed a breach of the peace at Stanton by fighting, swearing and making a great noise. Jackson admitted the charge and this being his first offence was discharged on paying ten shillings expenses.
Horse stealing with a difference
The Notts. Guardian carried a report on Thursday 17th October 1850 into an unusual incident in the village. At a court hearing William Astill, a 36 year old labourer of Stanton and Thomas Pike, a 26 year old frame work knitter of Stanton, pleaded not guilty to stealing 500lbs of bones on the 3rd August, the property of John Peck of Stanton. Mr Peck had had one of his horses put down. The carcase lay in a field near his house. On that day, Mr and Mrs Peck were away from home and the two accused went to the house where they spoke to a lad called Woolley. They asked him if the master was in because they wanted to see him about the carcase. Woolley told them he was not at home. They borrowed a pick axe and went away. The following day the carcase was gone. Early in the morning the prisoners were seen leaving the field with a quantity of horse flesh on a cart and they were afterwards taken into custody. When they were apprehended Astill said “I meant to have paid him for it last night”. Evidence was called to show that that the lad Woolley had told the prisoners that his mistress would be glad if they could take the horse flesh away. At this stage the prosecutor withdrew the prosecution and the prisoners were discharged.
A farm stock sale at Stanton
The Notts. Guardian of Thursday February 21st 1856 carried an advert for a farm sale at Stanton. Mr White has received instructions from the executor of the late Mr Pilkington to sell by auction upon the premises on Tuesday 4th March the whole of the live and dead farming stock, household furniture etc.
The implements comprise sundry forks and shovels, hopper, 2 riddles, 7 swathe rakes, sack barrow, wheel barrow, gearing for 8 horses, 3 short and 2 long ladders, 6 pairs of harrows, 1 large drag, 8 ploughs, 1 turnip drill, 1 turnip scraper, 1 turnip cutter, sheep dipping tub, cake breaker, weighing machine and weights, land roller, light spring cart, set of nearly new harness, narrow wheel cart, 3 broad wheel carts, 1 narrow wheel wagon and 3 broad wheel wagons.
The beasts comprise 1 yearling bull calves, 8 heifers, 7 bullocks, 1 barren cows, 3 in-calf heifers, 4 fat bullocks, 2 porket pigs, in-pig gilt. The horses include “Fann” a grey mare in foal by “Rainbow”, “Mettle” a brown, “Diamond” a brown 6 year old, “Beauty” 5 year old, “Jolly”, “Farmer”, “Prince”, “Short”, a brown yearling colt by “Rainbow” and a useful pony.
At close of stock sale there will be a general sale of household furniture and brewing vessels.
More dangerous driving
The Notts.Guardian of Thursday 15th May 1856 reported that William Wilton of Stanton was caught riding in a cart drawn by two horses without having reins attached on the turnpike road at Bradmore. He was ordered to pay ten shillings.
A spit and polish
The Police Intelligence column in the Notts.Guardian of Thursday 3rd December 1857 reported that a John Alfred was charged with having stolen a shoe brush the property of Mr Brown, farmer of Stanton and also another the property of Mr Robinson of Widmerpool. He was acquitted of the first charge but pleaded guilty to the second and was ordered to be imprisoned with hard labour for one month.
A rare bird indeed
The Liverpool Mercury carried an interesting note on Monday 21st December 1857. It reported that “a person the other day walking on the roadside between Stanton on the Wolds and Widmerpool discovered in a ditch which contained some water a very singular bird which was readily secured. Not recognising the species the bird was brought to Wymeswold, where it was discovered to be a “Rotche” and it lived there for some time”.
Editor's notes: -A “Rotche” was the old name for the Little Auk, Plautus alle (Mergulus melanodemus). This small seabird belongs to the family Alcidae, order Pygopodes and is truly oceanic. It breeds on Iceland, Greenland and parts of Arctic Russia. In the US it is known as ‘the Ice bird’. In the winter it migrates south to the northern end of the North Sea and is not usually found south of the Orkney or Shetland Islands, although it has been found at various times along the East coast as far south as Suffolk. It has been recorded as being driven inshore and occasionally inland by storms. Such ‘wrecks’ may occur over a wide area inland.
Village ploughing match
The newly formed South Notts Agricultural Society was established early in 1859. On the 3rd November the Notts. Guardian reported that the Society had held their first ploughing match the last Thursday in October. A large number of farmers of the locality attended the meeting and appeared satisfied with the results of this first effort.. For the ploughing which was a great feature of the day several prizes were offered. The land upon which the ploughing took place was a field in the occupation of Mr John Brown, situated near the Melton Turnpike Road and was of a heavy description. The judges were Mr Bonser of Kinoulton, Mr Joseph Wild of Owthorpe Lodge and Mr Jalland of Widmerpool.
Class 1 was for farmers, their sons, servants and labourers and had 11 entries:
A £2 1st prize was won by Thomas Tinkler with the Rev J.Robinson, Widmerpool
2nd prize of £1 went to John Tinkler and the 3rd prize of 10s to John Ashley.
Class 2 was for farmer’s sons and servants under 18 years.
The 1st prize of £1 10s went to Henry Hebb of Keyworth, the 2nd prize of £1 was awarded to Henry Brown and the 3rd prize of 10s went to James Armstrong.
A very large gathering of persons witnessed the ploughing match. The work done was so good the judges had great difficulty in choosing the awards. Dinner was provided by Mr Bradley of the Salutation Inn in Keyworth. The Chair was taken by Mr James of Bradmore and the vice chair by Mr Brown of Stanton.
Taking clothes
A lad named Frank Smith was brought before the bench at the Shire Hall in Nottingham, charged with stealing some clothes the property oa William Wilford and Thomas Willmott at Stanton some time ago. The Notts. Guardian of Friday the 6th May 1864 reported that the charge was fully proved and the bench sent him to prison for 14 days.
Suicide of an Independent Minister
The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent of Friday the 10th June 1864 reported that on Wednesday at Keyworth, Mr Suttercliffe the Independent Minister committed suicide by cutting his throat. A fortnight ago the son of the deceased committed suicide by taking prussic acid (cyanide) and this had such an effect upon the father that his friends considered it necessary to watch him. On Wednesday morning he left home to go to Mr Page’s at Stanton on the Wolds but as he did not return at the expected time his friends were alarmed and a search was made. Some time afterwards he was found in a plantation belonging to Mr Page with his throat cut and quite dead.
Absconding from service
William Hill, a farm labourer with Mr Page of Stanton on the Wolds, was charged with absconding from service on the 15th February 1865 ran the story in the Notts. Guardian of the 22nd February. He complained that the bedroom was cold and that rats ran in. The master said there was no grounds for such a complaint. The man was ordered to pay costs and go back to service.
A second suicide
On Friday the 18th October 1867 the Notts. Guardian reported that the Coroner Mr Browne held an inquest at the Union Workhouse, Bingham on the body of Sarah Wilcox, 16 years old who committed suicide last Wednesday. Mr Charles J.C.Smith said he was one of the surgeons of the Nottingham Union. The deceased had lived with him for about a year and ten months. She was not a well-informed girl and could neither read nor write. She had made an attempt to destroy herself about 13 months ago when she bought three pennyworth of laudanum at a grocer’ shop and drank it all. She was very ill from the effects of it and he believed she would have died if he had not kept her walking about. Nothing occurred between himself or his family and the deceased which would be likely to trouble her. She was in her usual health and spirits on Wednesday. About 3pm he heard a moaning and found the deceased lying partly on the bed with her hands clenched, her eyes fixed and glossy, a full perspiration on her forehead and her jaws set. He thought she might be in a fit and procured some water which he sprinkled upon her. He was going to fetch some more water when happening to turn his head he saw a bottle containing prussic acid, which had been taken from the surgery. He found that the deceased had swallowed about a drachm and a half of that mixture. She always had free access to the surgery. He fetched Mr Huthwaite and they endeavoured to give her stimulants but it was of no avail and she died in 45 minutes. At about 2.30pm he had found one of his children’s toys broken and had charged her with it. She said she did not mean to break it and he replied that she should leave when her time expired next November. There was no appearance of insanity about her.
Martha Mee, nurse, living with Mr Smith at Great Alfred Street said in June 1866 when Mr Smith was living at Keyworth the deceased bought some laudanum and took it, which made her very ill. That was on the Sunday and on the Monday following she tried to buy the same. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had died from taking a dose of prussic acid.
Editor's notes: - Sarah was the second daughter of John and Sarah Wilcox of Stanton who married 26th November 1849. The family was Harriet born 1851, Sarah 1852, Elizabeth 1854,, Eliza 1856, Martha 1859 and Hannah 1861. Sarah was interred 12th October 1867 and lies at rest in the church yard of All Saints, Stanton on the Wolds.
Straying cattle and brawling farmers
At the Shire Hall, nottingham on Friday 22nd November 1867 a Stanton on the Wolds farmer, Mr Fletcher was charged with assaulting Mr Barratt also of Stanton. Mr Fletcher occupied some pasture near to Mr Barratt’s farm. On the 11th Mr Fletcher’s cattle strayed into his field. Mr Barratt and his servant rounded them up and drove them to the Barratt farm. Mr Fletcher arrived shortly after to see what was going on and Mr Barratt refused to let the beasts return without some restitution. At which point Mr Fletcher yanked the gates off the hooks and let them out and at the same time struck Mr Barratt with his stick. In court Mr Fletcher denied the charge and called a youth, Joseph Terry, who ‘never seen any feightin dun’. The prosecutor quipped “He could see, not withstanding the hair which was hanging over his eyes (laughter)”. The Bench ordered Mr Fletcher to pay a fine of 21 shillings or go to prison for a month.
A death from sunstroke
The Notts.Guardian of Friday 7th August 1868 reported that the county coroner Mr Heath held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon at the farmhouse of Mr J.Brown of Stanton into the death of David Hallam aged 33 years, who was found dead last Sunday the 2nd August. It seemed from the evidence that the deceased who had been working on Mr Brown’s farm did not return home and his wife consequently proceeded to Mr Brown’s to inquire for him. On the way however she saw him lying on the road, dead. A post mortem examination showed that death had been caused by sunstroke and a verdict to that effect was recorded.
Editor's notes: - David had married Hannah Brown, one of his employer's daughters at All Saints on the 12th January 1864 aged 29 years. David was interred at All Saints on the 4th August, the day of the inquest.
Although the following stories may be only of minor interest, they do give the reader some of the names of the 1500 navvies who were temporarily camped in the village during the construction of the Midland Railway line from Nottingham to Melton Mowbray and also provide a brief glimpse of what local life might have been like at the time.
Stolen bill hook
John Sheppard was charged with the larceny of a bill hook on the 22nd March 1874, the property of Charles Baker a labourer of Stanton on the Wolds reported the Notts. Guardian of Friday 28th April 1874. The prisoner after stealing the article sold it for one shilling and three pence to a fellow worker. Prisoner said he had purchased it from a man in a public house. The case was remanded until the next day.
A desperate affray with poachers
This was the alarming headline in both the Bradford Observer and the Birmingham Daily Post for the 31st May and 1st June 1875 respectively. Both papers reported that “at 3am on Sunday 30th May, a policeman P.C. Storer and a gamekeeper employed by Major Robertson of Widmerpool Hall were out watching at Stanton when they heard the discharge of firearms. In going in the direction of the shooting they came across two poachers each armed with a gun. The policeman approached the first man who took a swing at the officer with the butt-end of his gun but missed. This poacher then dropped his gun and fled. The other man immediately took deliberate aim at P.C Storer and fired. Fortunately the officer ducked and the shot grazed his hair and took off the top of his helmet. The officer drew his cutlass and attempted to arrest the poacher, who then picked up the gun of his accomplice and threatened to blow out the brains of either the policeman or the gamekeeper if they approached. He kept them at bay for a considerable time but assistance was eventually obtained from more navvies who induced him to lay down his arms. The man was secured and safely lodged in the county gaol at Nottingham. He gave his name as John Smith, aged 40 years, a navvy. His comrade who fled has not yet been apprehended”.
After his trial the Daily Gazette for the 20th July reported that John Smith, an excavator, was charged with attempted murder of P.C. Storer. He was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years penal servitude.
Nicking navvies
The Notts. Guardian reported on the 10th March 1876 that John White, a 52 year old navvy and Charles Wheeler, a 50 year old navvy were on trial for stealing a shirt, two pairs of stockings and other articles, the property of Thomas Vincent and William Mitchell of Stanton on the Wolds. The result of the trial was not known.
A rape at Stanton
At the Nottingham Lent Assizes George Brown, 22 year old labourer of Stanton was indicted for committing a rape on the person of Hannah Green at Stanton on the 29th November last. The Notts. Guardian of the 31st March 1876 reported that the prisoner was sentenced to 5 years penal servitude.
Neighbour troubles
The Notts.Guardian reported in its issue of Friday 10th November 1876 that two women named Sophia Lawson and Martha Warren summoned each other for assault at Stanton a few days since. They were both fined 10 shillings and sixpence.
A beer-off
John Taylor, excavator, of Stanton on the Wolds was charged with selling beer without a licence on the 2nd February 1877. His defence was that it was his daughter who kept a shop and sold the beer. He was found guilty and was fined £5.
More clothes line raiders
The Notts.Guardian reported on the 4th January 1878 that Thomas Cross, a 23 year old labourer, Charles Chatfield, a 22 year old miner and Thomas Walker, a 20 year old labourer were charged with having on the 11th December last, stolen a pair of sheets, a towel, a tablecloth, two shirts, two chemises, a nightcap and a pocket handkerchief, to the value of 15 shillings and the property of Thomas Marston of Stanton. The event being witnessed by his grandson Thomas Freeston. A Stanton resident, Samuel Boot, reported that he had seen the three men secreting the linen in a hut by covering it with soil. Police Constables Slack and Storer took the men into custody. Cross and Chatfield admitted to the theft and Walker was found guilty. All were sentenced to hard labour for 2 months in a House of Correction.
Sale at Glebe Farm
The auctioneers John Holmes and Son received instructions from Mr R Kirkland of Glebe Farm, Stanton to sell by auction at his premises on Monday the 1st April 1878 his farm stock etc comprising in part: -
7 in-calf and other beasts, 2 horses, 11 pigs, 2 geese (sitting) and 1 gander and 14 couple of fowls. Also for sale were a spring cart, harness, implements, tackling etc.
Feathers flying
The Notts.Guardian reported that Robert Fraser was charged with stealing two fowls, which were the property of William Denny an engine driver of Stanton on the Wolds on the morning of the 19th January 1879. Denny heard a noise as of fowls screaming and on going out of his hut he saw the prisoner and another man named Thomas King, a watchman for the Midland Railway, who told him the prisoner had been robbing his fowl house at quarter to one in the morning. Fraser was found guilty and was sent to prison for one month.
A drowning at Stanton
The Notts. Guardian reported on Friday 11th September 1885 that” On Monday the District Coroner held an inquest at the farmhouse of Mr Edmund Brown of Stanton on the Wolds as to the circumstances attending the death of William Allen. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said they had to inquire into the death of a man whose body had been found near the highway on Saturday. The body had been identified as that of a man living at Sutton Bonington. He had been last seen on Saturday week when he journeyed to Nottingham to hear a charge which had been made against him. After seeing a lawyer he and his wife waited for the opening of the court, but shortly before his case was called, he was missed and he had not been seen until Thursday last at Rempstone.
A witness, George Reynolds, a stud groom from Kegworth, said he knew the deceased who was a cottager and had gone to town to answer a charge of assaulting a little girl. The deceased saw a lawyer and then went to the County Tavern to await being called. When the case was called, the deceased had vanished and that he had appeared to be greatly excited and had grown more and more agitated. Francis Holland, a farm bailiff, said he was in a field near the road from Widmerpool to Stanton when he saw the body of a man lying face downwards in a dyke. The head and shoulders were below the water, the legs were dry. There was no one else around at the time of the discovery. The witness summoned the police from Keyworth. There were no marks of a struggle. It was not a running stream but a still pool of water at the mouth of a culvert. Mr Lindon, surgeon, said he was proceeding towards Stanton on Saturday morning and when passing the end of Thurlby Lane he saw the body lying in the dyke. Major Robertson and a constable were on the spot. The constable searched the body and found between nine and ten shillings, a knife, a pipe, and a pocket hankerchief. The surgeon made a post mortem examination and said in his opinion the death was due to drowning, perhaps brought on by the coldness of the water or by the exertion of bending down.
The jury returned a verdict of death from drowning but that there was no evidence to show how he got into the water.
Sale of Stanton Odd Houses
The Notts.Guardian carried this advert for the sale of the Stanton Odd Houses on Saturday 10th September 1887.
Sale of Goddard’s cottage
The Notts.Guardian of the 29th September 1894 carried the following advert for the sale of two cottages on Main Street.
