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NOTTON
VILLAGE THROUGH THE AGES The
first National Land Register for England is the Doomsday book which was
compiled in 1086 whilst England was under NORMAN rule. The
Village of Notton is listed as the Villata De Notton with Notton spelled in
various ways e.g. Nortune, Nortone. The
village is registered as 6 carucates of land worth 20 shillings. The
village was part of a SAXON manor pre 1086 with a Saxon lord, Godric in charge
and in tenancy of Notton Manor House. The
manor house was also tenanted by Normans before falling into decay and ruin in
the 16th century. The
position of the manor house, based upon old land registry documents, would be
where the four new houses are now built in the small cul de sac on George Lane. The
place name Notton means wether sheep farm most probably from the old
English hnoc wether sheep and
old English tun meaning enclosure
. The village has progressed
through the ages being recognised as a holding, village, township and back to a
village in recent times. The area
is mainly recognised as agricultural but this has not always been so.
The lands were imparked in the mid 16th century before being
brought back to agricultural use early 19th century which was
consolidated with the outbreak of two world wars early 20th Century.
However more of this later. Before
I present the details of the village history via ownerships it is opportune to
firstly recognise other important place names associated with Notton. Applehaigh Lane The
meaning being Land leading to or from Applehaigh . It is most likely derived from a combination of the old
English names of haga for hedge and Eadbald a person's name. The
literal meaning would be Eadbalds Enclosure.
There does not appear to be a first date of recording for the lane,
however the name Applehaigh is recorded within CHARTERS held in the Bodleian
library with alternative spelling shown as Adbaldeshage or Adbaldehage. There
are Iron Age workings and footpaths in the vicinity of Applehaigh enclosure i.e.
the region of the farmhouses at the end of the present lane. Chevet Lane The
meaning being land leading to or from Chevet.
The most likely meaning of Chevet is the ridge from an old Welsh
term CEMET for ridge, which has survived in modern Welsh language as cefn
meaning back. Again
one cannot find a first date of recording of the name.
The name Chevet however is in the Doomsday Book with other spellings
shown as Cevet and Ceuet. Ingswell The
meaning being a well or spring in a pasture . It is a combination of Old Norse eng for meadow,
water meadow and/or pasture, and old English
wella for well or spring. I
cannot determine any conclusive date for the first recording of the name. Smawell The
meaning being a small well or spring being a combination of either old
English smoel or old Norse sma(r), for small and old English wella
for well or spring. Once again one
cannot determine any conclusive date for the first recording of the name. There
are five listed buildings within the village boundary namely: - Joiners Cottage,
Bushcliffe House, 70 George Lane, Gill Bridge (George Stephenson design) and a
milestone in Mucky Lane (Keepers Lane?). When
attempting to interpret old place names one must be very careful, warning the
reader that they are the most probable or likely use, but there are other
possible interpretations. To give
my interpretations some credence I have discussed them with Dr. Margaret Faul
Director of Caphouse Mining Museum, a recognised world authority, who assures me
they are reasonably sound. The
chronological history of the village which now follows is extracts from various
sources and again I would not wish the reader to consider it as a definitive
history, IT IS NOT. Pre 1086 - Notton
Village administered by a Saxon lord Godric who resided in Notton Manor. Notton
village is first registered as were all villages, towns etc. in England in the
Doomsday Book as the Villata de Notton. 1086
- The
registered administrator/owner was the Norman Baron Ilbert De Laci (Lacy).
De Laci resided in Tan Shelf Manor (Tatashella) and placed minor lords in
both Notton and Woolley Manors. As
De Laci was not a highborn lord his success must have been due to his prowess as
a soldier and later an administrator. 1166
The Manor is now administered
by Henry De Laci with Notton under
the specific jurisdiction of Robert Son of Leofwine son of AElfeat.
Roberts's brother Eburhard may have also held part of Notton as a half
knights fee at this time, but it is unclear. 1170
-
1190 Robert
granted part of Notton to Asulfr De Notton. 1190
-
1200 Robert's
part of Notton passed to his nephew Gilbert , son of Reginald De Notton.
Robert gifted Notton mill to Monk Bretton Priory.
Gilbert later gifted 18 acres and one bovate of land owned by Margery
wife of Asulfr to Monk Bretton priory. 1200
-
1210 Warin
church chaplin administered Notton on behalf of Prior Roger in life tenancy.
On Warins death Prior Roger gave the lands of Notton to John Page. 1210
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1234 Gilbert
De Notton gave Notton Manor and all lands owned by his father Gilbert to his
cousin Roger De Notton as part of a fine. 1240
The lands passed to Roger De
Nottons heirs, however as they were minors, custody was given to Mathew Bezil on
their behalf. 1258
Geoffrey De Notton son of
Roger De Notton was granted free warrant over Demensne lands of Notton and
Bushcliffe. 1280
Geoffrey de Notton died
without an heir. The Manor i.e. the
lands passed to William Heron who had married Geoffreys sister, Christina. 1296
William Heron died.
His lands passed to his grandaughter, Emiline who married John Darcy. 1330
John Darcy was given
permission from the crown to impark the lands of Notton.
He changed the use of the land from mainly agriculture to woods.
Darcy formed Notton Park and Notton Woods.
John Darcy died in 1356. 1356
Queen Phillipa granted Notton
Manor to Peter De Routhe her Yeomen User to administer on behalf of John
Darcys son, also John Darcy. 1373
John Darcy died and the Manor
passed to his son Philip. 1402
Philip died leaving the Manor
to his son John Darcy. John died in
1411 passing
the Manor to his son Philip. 1418
Philip holds two thirds of the
Manor with the remaining third held by his mother Margaret. 1438
Control of Notton Manor now
begins to fragment. The Manor in
parts was held by James Strangeways who had married Philip's (1402) daughter
Elizabeth. John Darcy of Aston,
Philip (1402) brother, Thomas Swynford, Helen widow of Thomas Tunstale and her
two daughters Elizabeth and Helen. 1531
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1750 Control
of all lands eventually passed to the church on reformation.
Firstly Monk Bretton Priory, then Nostell Priory and finally the Hospital
of St. Johns of Jerusalem. Through
the period 1200 to 1750 there were several minor holdings which confuses the
picture of overall ownership. Some
are too small to be mentioned and indeed some were too small to be recorded.
The significant ones appear to be: - 1185 1205 Arnold de Notton
granted two bovates of land to Hugh son of Gamall.
1365 1366 William De Notton granted land to William Fyncheden.
In 1400 Oliver Woodrove held one and a half bovates of land in Notton and
Woolley. In 1431 1432 Richard
Woodrove son of Oliver held the family land which passed to his son Thomas in
1520. To
gain a better understanding of land usage some understanding of how land was
measured at this time may be useful. Manor
- This
was the largest holding of land and where the Lord of the Manor derived.
The word comes from Manere meaning to stay or abide.
The Manerium is the chief seat. Berewick - A
section of land within the Lords ownership.
Berewick means Barley Farm. It
carries the connotation of an outlying settlement feeding the Manerium. Inland - A section of land
owned by the Lord which despite its name could be distant from the main seat.
In most aspects the same as Berewick. Sokelands - A
section of land NOT owned by the Lord of the Manor but under his control.
Sokemen owned the land but gave allegiance to the Lord in return for
protection. Carucate - Accepted
as the area which eight oxen could plough in a year.
The size varied greatly and depended very much on what type of land was
under plough and what the condition of your oxen were. The word is derived from
Caruca to plough. Carucages - Generally
accepted as being 2 : 1 ratio of Carucate. Bovate
- The
area of land which could be ploughed by an ox in a year.
It could then be assumed that eight bovates equalled one Carucate.
However due to the wide variances of land and ploughing resulting in
large differences to the same measure, there was not much sense in comparing. Acre
- Equally
well it was difficult to compare Bovates with Acres. A Bovate is recorded as 6
acres in one reference and 30 acres in another. 1750
The next major change of land
ownership was when the Wentworth family purchased land in Notton and Woolley
from the church. The Wentworth
family lived in Woolley and Notton Manor house fell into ruin. N.B Manor now
being used to describe a building rather than an area of land. In
the early part of the 19th century a land register was formed
and hence reviewed at regular intervals. To
follow the more recent history of the village I have referred to the Land
register but have chosen those entries with some significance.
It should be remembered that Notton was a small village and did not
warrant much of an entry. Another caution is when considering the population quoted.
Not everyone who lived in the village was important enough to be registered.
Only those who paid taxes and were registered property owners would be counted.
1822
The land register has Notton
first recorded with little comment other than the population was 339. 1838
A more accurate record lists
Notton as a scattered romantic village of 317 inhabitants.
Godfrey Wentworth Esg. Is the Lord of the Manor and owner of the soil. 1852
Notton is recorded as a
scattered village of 260 souls. Godfrey
Wentworth is the lord of the Manor residing in Woolley Manor. 1857
Notton is described as a
farmship and scattered village. The
population is 269 and Godfrey Wentworth is Lord of the Manor. 1862
Notton is recorded as a
scattered village of 286 souls. The
Midland Railway and the Wakefield to Barnsley canal intersect the village.
The local school is Woolley built in 1842.
Godfrey Wentworth is the owner of the lands. 1867
Notton is listed as a
township in the South Riding of Yorkshire, in the influence of the rural
Deanery of Pontefract, Diocese of York. Godfrey
Wentworth is the landowner and letters to be addresses via Barnsley. 1888
Still listed as a township.
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln railways pass through the town.
The post office is now recorded and the village green recognised.
The post office is operated by Mrs Sarah Woodcock and the station master
at Royston/Notton is Joseph Bowring. Godfrey
Wentworth is still the landowner. 1892
Notton Park is recorded. 1904
Godfrey Wentworth has passed
away and his wife is the owner of the lands.
The post office sub postmaster is Joseph Paley and the station master is
Henry Charles Lattey. The schools are Woolley and Royston. It is recorded that the township participates in the benefits
of the Royston United Charities . 1908
William Jackson is the
stationmaster. 1922
Mrs. Wentworth has passes
away. Major Guy Edward Wentworth J.P. is the sole owner of the lands.
Mrs Mary Paley is sub postmistress.
The school is Royston Railway Station.
George Clarke is stationmaster. 1927
Major Wentworth still owner of
the lands, Mrs Shaw is sub postmistress and G. Clarke is stationmaster. 1939
-
1945 The
Kitson Family are first recorded as farmers owning farms bounding the
village. Mrs Bessie Kitson lived
her final years in Joiners Cottage. I
remember her well as every ones idea of the archetype grandmother, her grey hair
in a bun, a flowery pinny, rosy cheeks and stood as straight as an arrow.
An undoubted bueaty of her day. 1949
The Wentworth family had sold
off most of the lands. The village
green was sold to Farmer Kitson for £5. The
green is still in the private ownership of the Kitson family. 1949
- Present
Mrs Molletts Barn ( Mrs Bessie
Kitsons mother ) was used for the
village Gala and other social events. A
Gala queen was chosen each year. A
childrens Christmas party was held in the barn each year. Woolley
Dam was a focal point for villagers with picnics, boating and a small shop on
site until the dam was drained for mine working. Although
there was a village shop, other traders peddled their wares.
Probably the best known of them was Herbert Wragg of Clayton West better
known as the Parafin man . Herbert
sold paraffin from off his bicycle and always carried some sweets for the
children. Finally,
the village of Notton is unique, owning its own hall and lands and more recently
its own shop. It does not have a pub, church or school one or more of which
usually signifies village status. I
have not attempted to complete the history in detail from 1950 to present.
When I gave a short presentation in the village hall to the gardening
club most people there knew it in living memory. Bob
Stevenson (Very) Amateur Historian |
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Send mail tocolin.bryant@notton.org.uk
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