Sunday 22nd of December 2024
Sunday 22nd of December 2024
This snippet was taken from an email from Phil Stevens of Leeds who has done much research on Kegworth:-
The reference to Pinfold Street is one that puzzled me too when I was researching the shops of the village. I came to the conclusion that it actually relates to that part of what is now Nottingham Road, between the Patels' shop (Gayatri News) and the top of Mill Lane.
The 1881 census has several residents in Pinfold Street. In the middle of the Pinfold Street listing is Tinker Lane, which I think may be the footpath opposite Patels that leads down to Mill Lane. also, the Manor House is listed in the midst of the listings for Pinfold Street.
...............the Cross Keys closed in 1929 when I believe John's (Tebbutt Smith) widow Elizabeth and her son ran the pub.
...............Leicester Record Office, there is a list on Mico Fiche of every birth in Kegworth from about 1838 to around 1860. It is the last fiche in the Kegworths Birth section. Luckily the then Vicar decided to record these births regardless of denomination.
...............I've had a look at the 1881 census and my analysis of the streets mentioned is attached.
The census doen't mention Cabbage Nook, Claypit (Clipit) Lane, Boroughwell or Harrisons Yard. The explanation for the first three is easy, there were no houses there in 1881. I'm not sure where Harrisons Yard was, off the Market Place rings a bell.
What is shown as Long Whatton Road, became Broadhill in the 1920s and reverted to Whatton Road after about 1950. I was born at 92 Whatton Road in 1947 which is shown on my birth cert as 10 Broadhill. Clipit Lane, as it's known to locals, became Broad Hill Road when they built the houses post WWII and the people in the new houses thought it beneath them the live in Claypit Lane.
In the census, the south bound side of London Road is called London Road and the north bound side Loughborough Road. I think a lot depended on the enumerators and their own versions of street names.
Just to confuse us, the census mentions Nottingham Road, Station Road and Pinfold St. Station Rd is definitely the same location as shown on the 1884 map. Nottingham Road appears to start at the bottom of Dragwell and run to Borough St and from there it is Station Road to the 4 Turns. I still reckon Pinfold St runs from the top of Mill Lane to Patels' shop (Gayatri News). Doctors is a colloquial name for the bit from bottom of Dragwell up to Harrison House.
..............they both remember in the 1920s/30s a widow, Flo' Worthington, "keeping house" for Freddie Keyes on the Dragwell in Kegworth. Emily lived right opposite the house and my mum went to school with Flo's son, Billy, who apparently messed his pants regularly.
Have now confirmed location of Pinfold Street being as I thought, i.e. that bit of Nottingham Road between Patels' shop and the top of Mill Lane.
In the 1881 Census there is a wheelwright, William Kelham, in Pinfold St. This William Kelham was the brother of John Crane Kelham, the blacksmith of Dragwell. John Crane Kelhams' forge was on the site of David Houseman's home.
JCK left his business to his son, also William, who in turn left it to his stepson, Tom Badger. I am in contact with Tom's daughter, Emily, and she confirmed to me today that William the wheelwright's premises were located "behind Mary Orme's shop". Old Kegworthians know that Mary Orme had a sweet shop in the last but one house in that block opposite Patels'. There is an archway between "Mary's shop" and the last house. William Kelham had his premises in the yard through this archway.
William the wheelwright died in 1901 and his son Richard took over the business. Richard committed suicide in 1902 and the business was transferred to William the Dragwell blacksmith, son of John Crane Kelham.
The attached photo of Pinfold St. shows Patels shop in the left hand corner, then Hassells (my great great grandad). The thatched cottages across the road show the archway with what was to become Mary Orme's shop on the left and the harness shop of Williams. The Hassell busines was sold when my GG grandad died in 1912 and the Kelham business ceased in 1902, therefore the pic was probably taken 1903-1912.
Info - Phil Stevens
Regarding the Whatton Road photograph, I guess this was taken between the wars as houses were built opposite (on the left) in 1948. The top house, side on, is Henry Vercoe's, the next one was where I was born in 1947 (then 10 Broadhill, now 92 Whatton Road) and next door is where Miss Knowles lives today. Don't know who lives in the detached house at the end, it was Phil Rock's.
The village school still stands, part is a private house and part some sort of meeting hall. The school, which is in Dragwell opened I think in 1843 and closed in 1938.
...........so from the various maps, what is now Nottingham Road, was made up, from north to south, of Station Road, The Doctors and Pinfold Street.
What is now called Station Road was named Bridge Lane (later Bridge Road).
What is now Mill Lane was named Dark Lane (Also Hill Lane - but that may have been a spelling error)
What is now Whatton Road was named Dump Lane at the lower end and Long Whatton Road at the top end. The top end was later named Broad Hill.
...........and in the 20's, there was a blacksmiths forge halfway between the bottom of Dragwell and the bottom of Borough Street............... as well as another derelict windmill on Sideley, just to the left as you came out of Borrowell. Mind you it was Boroughwell then!
In 1845, Long Lane as it is now, was called Grimsway and led to Goose Pastures. (Near the T Junction). The sewerage farm is built on what was named Grimsway Common.
c1845, as you reached the end of Cabbage Nook, heading north, you could cross Sideley and carry on down a further footpath called Sawley Way which was exactly opposite Cabbage Nook.
Attached to a will, (which was part of the deeds), written in 1684, was a plan showing that nearly all of the land enclosed by, what is now High Street, Whatton Road, Broadhill and London Road, belonged to the property which is now 51 High Street.
The Property at that time was owned by Catherine Pollard and her husband, ? Chaplin.
Inside the roofspace of the building is a virtually complete timber framed structure of a much earlier roof.
Coincidentally, one of the main beams of that previous structure has a date inscribed 1684. The property had a 'three seater' toilet in the yard.
Margaret Groves (nee Young) who married a soldier billetted in the village, Tom Groves. Margaret had a hairdressing salon at 25 Borough Street in the 1950s and later moved to the other side of the street.
The property is still a hairdressers today. Her parents had a shop at No.25 known as 'Lizabobs'.
Tom played the piano in High Street on VJ Day and taught at Castle Donington School.
Info - Phil Stevens
The Kegworth Customs & Excise office was opposite 'Claremont House' on the left hand corner of the block and looked down the London Road towards Loughborough.
Queen - Kathleen Hickling, daughter of builder Teddy Hickling, married Winston Jarman and lived at 48 Ashby Road for many years.
Attendants - Lucy Large, married Mancunian soldier, Jim Berry, lived in Station Road until her untimely death in the 1960s. Margaret Hinds also married a soldier, from Wigan. She came home to die an early death at her sister's, Kate Wallis' home in the 1960s. Mary Wooley became Sketchley and still lives in the village..
Info - Phil Stevens
Only Bert Wallis was Kegworth born, most of the lads were true incomers, although Tom Buckley was born over the river in Kingston and came to Kegworth as a child.
Frank "Torchy" Baker earned his nickname because at some stage in his working life he worked for the Ever Ready Battery Co. Tom Beale was the last landlord of the Fox & Hounds. Steve Stevens & Doug Chard were brothers in law, they married Margie & Kath Hassell respectively. With the possible exception of David Raddie, Welsh soldier Jim Spence, is the only survivor of this line up. The Fox & Hounds was a gathering place for all the lads who came to the village during WWII and settled here. As well as Steve & Doug, Jim Spence (Married Dot Shilcross), Bob Pratley (Dot Barker), Jim Caddick (Ruby Hall) and Jack Cresswell (Elsie Rowbotham) were all regulars in the 1950s/60s.
Click here to see PhotoInfo - Phil Stevens
This picture was originally captioned by Bill (The Paperman) Woolley, 109 Station Road, for the Loughborough Echo, who only printed initials. I have tried to add first names where possible from the Kegworth Boys School records.
L-R Back Row:- Gaffer Thomas, Sam North, Harry Hassell, Ernest Jackson, F Rate, Tom Badger, Cyril Featherstone, A Lewis, Fred Mellors.
L-R Third Row:- Walter Hadley, James Newham, John Horobin, A Rate, A Hutchinson, John Peckover, Sidney Smith, T Bramley, Percy Taylor, Fred Rowbotham, James Akers, Sam Moore
L-R Second Row:- Austin? Copeland, Cyril Marshall, Fred Hassell, John Marchant, Arnold Poxon, W Papworth, ??????, Arthur Herbert, Arthur Beale.
L-R Front Row:- Charles Herbert, Harold Woolley, William Branson, Bob Dunmore, Arthur Eley, Harold Baxter, Walter Harrison, (John or Joseph) Bagguley, John Brydson, A Disney, Ben Harrison.
Notes re people:-
1. Harry & Fred Hassell were brothers, whose father had died in 1901.
2. Bob Dunmore and Harry Hassell later became brothers in law when Harry married Bob's sister.
3. Tom Badger was the last village blacksmith.
4. John Marchant was one of two brothers who died in 1917/1918, killed in World War 1 France. Another brother died two weeks after the end of that war and a sister had died young in 1908, a truely tragic family. Their father William Marchant was a draper employed at Knowles on the Market Place.
5. Arthur Beale was the son of George Beale, last landlord/licensee of The Three Cranes pub until its closure in 1937. Arthur became a bookie having a shop in Nottingham Road before moving to Alf Bowler's shop in the 1960s after Alf was murdered.
6. John Callis Brydson was a professor of music later on.
7. Arthur & Charles Herbert were brothers, sons of Job, a booking clerk at Kegworth Station.
8. Harold Woolley was the son of William Pegg Woolley, licensee of the Cap & Stocking.
9. The school record says that Walter Harrison was kidnapped in December 1910 but he was readmitted to the school in January 1911.
Info - Phil Stevens
For many years up until about 1962, Kegworth had one through train to and from London each day. The London bound train started at Derby and departed Kegworth at 8.24am. The train from London arrived at Kegworth shortly before 4pm and was known as the 4 O'clock stopper. It then carried on to Nottingham..
William 'old Bill' Lacey, the village cobbler, in his working garb. It was probably taken behind his shop at 5 Derby Road. The lady is Caroline, his second wife and my Great grandmother. They married in 1920, both thinking each had money, neither had. Caroline had been widowed with 3 kids in 1901 when my great grandad Robert Hassell died. The shop and business was sold to Edward (Teddy) Reid when Old Bill died sometime around 1930/31.
Info - Phil Stevens
In 1929 George Dunmore (1899-1980) went into partnership with Freddie Harrison at 29 High Street selling bicycles and radios. The radios were built by Harry Hassell (1898-1972), George's brother in law.
George borrowed £250 from his mother, Charlotte, to buy into the business. He married his first cousin Lillian Dunmore (1901-1985) in 1932.
In the 1940s George Dunmore took over the business in his own name and in 1976 passed it to Alf Brown. Alf had worked for George for many years, and, to the childless couple, was like a son. The photo of George Dunmore as a soldier in WWI is taken after April 1917..
Click here to see Photo oneInfo - Phil Stevens
The landlord of the Fox & Hounds in the 1920s was reputed to have had a tame fox which ran through the pub bar and up the chimney. This fox on the photograph was from the same litter as one kept by George Musson Dunmore and the photo shows that at least this part of the story is true. The writers mother, Margie Stevens, nee Dunmore, can remember the fox as a child. The girl in the photograph is Lizzie Murray a girl friend of George Dunmore Jnr who later had Dunmore's cycle and TV shop at 29 High St.
George Musson Dunmore (1869-1957), came to the village in 1897 and worked as a gardener cum groom for amongst others Knowles the draper who had a house on Ashby Rd.
Info - Phil Stevens
Mrs E Mellors (born 1890s?)was my grandmother and attended the church for many, many years and was a Deacon.
It was interesting to see this website and some of the old photos. My father, Mr R W Mellors (business name at 2 High Street, was E Mellors and Son, painter and decorator) and my uncle Fred Mellors (artist and member of Kegworth Bowls Club (founder member) also attended the sunday school for many years as children. (both now deceased).
Also I was not aware that the pastor, Rev V Sutton had died so suddenly in 1966. I remember him most. My memories are of going to chapel to water plants and dusting. The sales of work in the school rooms were a great occasion. Who was going to win the coveted prize for best Victoria Sandwich and fruit cake!!!! Great times.
My grandmother always sat on the back pew in between the two doors. This seat was removed when my grandmother was quite elderly. She was so mortally upset by this, that she, after all the years attending chapel from birth (she died when she was well over 90) did not go to chapel much more. Very sad after all her years as a devoted servant. A very thoughtless thing to do we thought. She rests with my Grandpa and Uncle Fred in Kegworth cemetery.
Info - S.J. Symons
Kegworth residents may be interested to learn that I describe my father Brian Hartley's upbringing in the village in my book 'The Zanzibar Chest: A Memoir of Love and War' (HarperCollins, July 2003). I say how he was born at home at Claremont in 1907, and through his eyes I depict an idyllic youth on either side of the Great War, local characters and the values that he was brought up to believe in. His family moved away in the 1930s, by which time he had left England to work in Africa and Arabia, where he remained for the rest of his life. The book website is at www.thezanzibarchest.com and if Kegworth would like me to come and do a reading in 2004 I would be very honoured. I currently live in Kenya.
Edward Hopkinson, on the war memorial, was the winner of the Military Cross.
My great - grandfather was Thomas Bond landlord of the Red Lion 1893 to 1912. My Grandmother often told me of the time she lived at the pub. My memories of Kegworth was to visit my uncle Frank Bond and his sister Nellie, I think her surname was Veasey. I do know she played the piano in the New Inn as I was aloud to wait till closing time while she played. I was only about ten at the time, I am now sixty-six. The other thing that sticks in my mind on these visits was watching frenchpolisher at work his workplace was very close to were my relatives lived on Boroughwell. When I looked on your site again I found the 1935 map which reminded me straight away were my aunt & uncle lived. I can remember getting off the bus on Derby Road and crossing the footpath across the field, this led right their house, it was one of about four cottage type properties that seemed quite old. There was some council type houses at the side which I dont think show on the 1935 map. The map also shows me the route we took to the New Inn, which was by the footpath that ran by the side, I also think I was told this was the carnival site , or it was very close by. The french polisher could also have been a cabinet maker. It was very close to my aunties house, it was in a very large wooden outbuilding.
John Tucker, 48 Alderway, Shirebrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
john@johntucker78.wanadoo.co.uk
As a former resident, albeit 45-50 years ago when my father was Rector, may I say how much I've enjoyed browsing your website ... certainly brought back some memories!
My father was George Suthers. We were the first occupants of the new Rectory - have some early photos of it somewhere ... taken by a Daily Mail photographer of all things! Is the old acacia still in the garden?
I haven't been to Kegworth for quite some time, although both my parents are buried there and I was married at St Andrews, but I can see there has been the odd change!
The reason I looked up the village was that, the other day, I came upon some old postcards. Inevitably four of them were of the church, one of the river and five of village streets in the 50's, but three others intrigued me.
One was 'Across the Lawn , The Manor House' (venue for Easter Egg Hunts!) by G F Hudson ..which you've got on the site, and then there's another one in the same series titled 'The Doctors' Kegworth.
Do you know who G F Hudson was? However, it's the third one I really want to ask about. It's a picture of 'Rectory Grounds and Church' taken from almost the identical place as the modern one you have on the site ... but on the back it's addressed to Private C Moss ... B.E F. and says 'With Miss Henrietta Stephenson's best wishes for Christmas 1915 & 'Good luck' for 1916'. I suspect the C Moss could well be Charlie Moss, who used to have a small shoe repair (I think) shop in London Road - where my father spent many hours chatting - but was Henrietta the Rector's daughter? I have a vague recollection that there may have been a Rev'd Stephenson, and we wondered if she or other 'ladies' of the parish sent postcards to all the Kegworth volunteers.
Just to prove the point, do you know if there is anything similar in the museum? Must say it feels rather odd to be asking questions. As a member of both our village and the area local history societies, I'm usually on the other end! Anyway thanks again for the 'stroll down memory lane'.
Regards Mary Atkins
PS Re 'Ghosts' .. Didn't realise there were so many around! I vaguely remember my father being called into 'discourage' a grey lady who drifted up the stairs at The Cedars, and Lou and Ken Hayward, who had an antique shop in the Market Place, claimed to have one ... I think in their sitting-room.
mary.atkins@btinternet.com
The Friends of Charnwood Museum are organising an exhibition in Loughborough on the subject of Lacemakers.
A significant character in this story is John Heathcoat whose invention of the bobbin net lace machine took the industry from the cottage to the factory. (his, in Loughborough being attacked by Luddites in 1818)
It is known that after his move to Loughborough in 1805 he spent much time in Kegworth between 1805 and 1808, where his business found support from a local Kegworth attorney named Jelbert (or Gilbert ?).
It is thought that the model for his machine may have been built in a house in the Rookery.
Love the website - I have learnt so much about Kegworth and it's really exciting to see where my ancestors used to live.
My ancestors are Henry Chaplin who was married to Mary Mays and lived in London Road Kegworth. I know they had a least 4 children, Rosemary born 1928, Twins - June Mary and William Henry born 1930 and Douglas born 1931. I have a later address for Mary Chaplin (I believe Henry had died by then) which is 40 Mill Lane, Kegworth.
Any info you can give me will be very much appreciated. I am hoping to come and visit Kegworth next year to really explore the village and my family history. Do you know where the parish registers are kept now?
I used to live in Burton-upon-Trent (I got married there and my first daughter was born there too!) and can't believe how close I used to live to my ancestors!!
Jennifer Thompson
a-ha.tomski@tesco.net
I was interested to read of Kegworth's ghosts. I know about Dr. Bedford's lady but I didn't know about the High Street hauntings. In one way I feel quite left out as we lived at 20 High Street (which was originally, the coach house for No. 16 ('The Chestnuts') and we didn't have a resident spirit. The strange thing is that my mother was very friendly with Mrs Banks who lived at 'The Chestnuts' certainly through the 1950's and 1960's until she died there (as did Mr. Banks). She was a chatty lady and as far as I know at no time did she mention the presence of a ghost at 'The Chesnuts' nor did her son Rodney who was a bit younger than me. Similarly, when Harry Gosling kept the shop at No. 18, there was no mention of a ghost, but then again my mother and father weren't as friendly with Harry as they were with Irene Banks. Needless to say, I drank in the Red Lion over the years during Edgar Daniels' time and he never mentioned a ghost either. So there, some you see and some you don't.
geoff_boothside@yahoo.co.uk
The male side of the intersex cricket match was captained by my brother, ATC Flt/Sgt Ken Haberfield not Hoberfield. An interesting coincidence was that he was demobbed from the RAF in 1946 or1947 as a Flt/Sgt (having joined in 1943).
geoff_boothside@yahoo.co.uk
As for the VE day street parties, the children in High Street and environs had their party in the Baptist Chapel in High Street, which I attended. Not knowing what it was all about, I was disappointed and couldn't understand why there wasn't a similar party the following year.
geoff_boothside@yahoo.co.uk
With reference to the Fox and Hounds darts team, your text made no mention of Jim Walters although he is sitting LHS front row of the picture. Jim came from Sileby and married Annie Hickling having just the one child, Nickolas born c1940. They lived in one of the terraced cottages on Plummers Lane with the front door fronting directly onto the lane itself (later they moved to Thomas Rd). Jim was RAF (I think) during the war and was a successful service boxer. May I say that the village web site is brilliant although it took me quite a while to find it. However, there a still some of my generation still around and it should be possible to write our everyday history certainly between 1940's onwards.
geoff_boothside@yahoo.co.uk
Can anyone put a date on the photo of the Kegworth band? My husband Paul Brydson would like to know as his grandfather James Bagguley is on it. Thanks.
Please come back to KegworthVillage
mabrydson@hotmail.co.uk
Regarding the air crash:-
First on the scene that night was the crew from Withernsea Inshore Lifeboat who were on their way back from the London boat show.
These men assisted in the recovery of casualties for over 4 hours yet received no recognition for their efforts, however, they have recently received thanks from the Irish governmont and are attending Stormont Castle in January 2008 and are to be honoured for their help. Many of those involved have never spoken about the events of that night.
kevin@kevinsmith11.orangehome.co.uk
The stocking shop on London Road, (back of the Britannia Inn) was also a Sign making company called BADEN WAIN, owned by Jim Webster and John Thornton. They moved from there I think in the 80s and went to Side Ley were Meridion or Kessy textiles used to be.
Here we have a letter from Dick Rawson, aged 83, in New Zealand, about his Great Grandfather who was aged 27.
The letter was addressed to me, Kim Gayton-Pollard, to see if I could locate anyone contained therein.
I did know someone!!, Andrea, Debbie and Jim (Deceased) and Jean Bagguley
Here is the email.
I am a direct descendant of Dr Thomas Edward Rawson who practiced medicine and surgery from Rosebank, Market Place and contributed 5 articles to the "Lancet" from 1837 to 1843. Patients named were Elizabeth Baguley, (45 in 1837); H Middleton, (27 in 1838); Mary Bates, (35 in 1843). I have been told that some of these names are still present in Kegworth and would be most interested to hear from descendants if they wish to know more. Elizabeth Baguley's case is particularly interesting, being a rare report of pre-anaesthetic surgery in 1837 (I too am a surgeon, now retired).
dick.rawson@xtra.co.nz
Andrea and Debbie are the Great, Great, Great Granddaughters of this Elizabeth Baguley.
Doctor T.E.Rawson, who had a practice in the Market Place in Kegworth for 10+ years, 170 years ago. He emmigrated to New Zealand in 1858.
Here is a copy of a letter sent to "The Lancet". Just remember, this was done with no anaesthetic!!
______
To the Editor of THE LANCET
??????About twelve months ago, Elizabeth Baguley, ?tat. 45, after lifting a heavy weight, complained of symptoms resembling those arising from strangulated hernia, but as she denied having any tumour in the ordinary situations of hernia, and positively refused to be examined, it was treated as a case of introsusception, by bleeding, the warm bath, purgatives, calomel, &c., but without effect.
??????On the fifth day, stercoraceous vomiting took place, and on the eighth day, there were hiccough, the pulse scarcely perceptible, but intermittent, cold extremities, and great distention of the abdomen. She now submitted to an examination, when a small tumour was detected in the left groin. I immediately proceeded to operate; the peritoneal sac was highly distended with gas, and also contained a considerable quantity of serum; the small knuckle of intestine was pretty strongly adherent to the ring, and of a deep purple hue; the adhesions were carefully separated, the opening was enlarged, and the intestine returned. The patient rapidly recovered, and is still living.
??????The success of this case appears to me an encouragement to operate, even under the most unfavourable circumstances.
Click here to see PhotoI was the manager at the Thistle Hotel at the time of the crash, and the events of that night and the following days and weeks have stayed with me ever since.
When I see news of any plane crash, my mind turns to Kegworth, and the work that so many will have to be involved in..
As you may know, the hotel was the place where the loved ones waited overnight and the place where the bereaved stayed while they waited patiently to identify their lost.
Nearly 20 years on, I have been unable to fully watch the hours of recorded video at home.
I came onto this site looking for something else - and there it was.
I send best wishes to all Kegworth residents past and present. Sender email: manager@hotels-coventry.com
Message from Geoff haberfield
After watching a Time team programme, it seems that the alleged gun mounting by the canal bridge and footpath was actually, a swivel mortar mounting erected for the Home Guard to protect the bridge.
Originally, it was devised for army use, but they respectfully, declined and so it was passed on to the Home Guard. If this is in error, blame Tony Robinson.
Sender email: geoff_boothside@yahoo.co.uk