Flawford - village merged or migrated. (1)

The church at Flawford (M806) stood in the midst of a small village. (2)

Flawford appears to have been the name of a locality and not that of a village … there is a vague tradition in the neighbourhood that it was deserted on account of the scarcity of water. (3)

Flaufore c 1150. At a considerable distance from the nearest stream, the second element must be "flor" - floor, pavement - descriptive of the site of a house (cf Lawford). (4)

Extensive perambulation revealed no surface indication of a former village adjacent to Flawford Church. Local enquiry also proved negative. (5)

Discusses etymology of name and derives isolation of church from its having been built to serve several surrounding villages - Plumtree, Edwalton, Bradmore, Ruddington, etc., and to have been gradually superseded as each built its own church. No evidence has yet been shown that a village of Flawford ever existed. The 'scarcity of water' tradition is only 'a rustic theory' to account for the absence of a village. Claims that Flawford is probably identifiable with one of the manors mentioned without name in Domesday Book and that the former church was the manorial chapel. (6)

Disputes Stevenson's (6) identification and reiterates that the church was isolated to serve several parishes. Dismisses Stevenonson's (6) Domesday reference and controverts Phillimore's (6) suggestion on the grounds that there are very early references to churches in Plumtree and Bradmore. Points out the distinction between names applicable to a habitation and those of geographical origin. Classes Flawford as of the latter type and suggests that the church was placed in an isolated position because it was of later foundation than the Village of Ruddington. (7) (9)

Nothing visible on available AP's (RAF1953) (8)

<1> Beresford M, 1954, The Lost Villages of England, p 378 (Published document). SNT475.

<2> Cox JC, 1912, Churches of Notts, p 92 (Published document). SNT589.

<3> Godfrey JT, 1887, Churches of Nottinghamshire - Hundred of Rushcliffe, p 76 (Published document). SNT715.

<4> Gover, Mawer & Stenton, 1940, Place Names of Nottinghamshire, pp 210, 239 (Published document). SNT670.

<5> Colquhoun FD, 196?, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT574.

<6> Briscoe JP (ed), 1894, Notts and Derbys Notes and Queries, p. 130 (W.P.W. Phillimore), p.165 (W. Stevenson) (Article in serial). SNT268.

<7> Briscoe JP (ed), 1895, Notts and Derby Notes and Queries, p. 16 (W.PW. Phillimore) (Article in serial). SNT6279.

<8> Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.

<9> Briscoe JP (ed), 1898, Notts and Derbys Notes and Queries, pp.145ff (A.W. Whatmore) (Article in serial). SNT269.