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With Christmas approaching and the cost-of-living crisis continuing to bite, charities are appealing for donations to help those in need this Christmas and beyond. Thankfully, attitudes towards those in need have come a long way since Dickens introduced us to Ebenezer Scrooge.

Built in 1824, the Workhouse at Southwell stands as an exceptionally well-preserved window into Victorian attitudes towards the poor.

Above: The Workhouse, Southwell. By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia.

The English Poor Law of 1834 led to the establishment of around 1800 workhouses throughout England and Wales. Built to eliminate pauperism, they effectively became prisons for the most vulnerable in society. Victorian attitudes were harsh: unsympathetic, and morally judgmental. Conditions in the workhouses were intentionally austere and unpleasant to deter all but the truly destitute. Upon entry, families were split up into male and female wings, and children separated from their parents. They lived and worked segregated lives, with no contact. Workhouse inmates slept in communal dormitories on narrow beds, with very basic bedding. They wore institutional uniforms and were put to work on gruelling physical tasks like breaking rocks, picking oakum fibres from old ropes, laundry work or corn grinding. The food provided was of very poor nutritional quality and meagre portions.

Whilst life for the 160 inmates at Southwell was undoubtedly bleak and unpleasant, there is evidence that gradual improvements were made as attitudes changed and new poor laws were passed. One major advance was the distinction made between the non-disabled ‘undeserving’ poor (the idle) and the infirm and elderly ‘deserving’ (blameless) poor, who were to be housed in an infirmary and cared for by nurses. The number of school places was expanded, and inmates began to work in the community with a view to a future beyond the walls. Decorative elements such as flower beds were introduced to create a more humane environment.

In 1929, new legislation transferred control of the workhouses to local authorities, who were required to run them as hospitals for the elderly and infirm who were unable to leave. The name was changed to Greet House, and people with social needs continued to be provided for here, until the late 1970s.

The site was purchased by the National Trust in 1997, and after years of restoration, was opened to the public in 2002. Today, the building is brought to life through the stories and objects of those who once lived here. The workhouse building has been designated as a Grade II* listed building as the most complete example of a workhouse in Britain and for its historical and social significance, representing the poor, who are largely missing from history, and the impact of poverty across the generations.

Check out the HER record here 

Pubs have been an important part of life in Nottinghamshire for centuries, not only providing refreshments but as the focus of community life. The origin of pubs can be traced back to the Roman period when ‘Tabernae' selling wine were set up along roads and in towns. In the Medieval period, Alehouses emerged. These were private homes where the householder brewed ale. The brewing process meant ale was safer to drink than water. Taverns were built to accommodate more people and to offer food, and larger Inns were built to include lodgings and accommodation for travellers. Collectively, these establishments are known as public houses (pubs).

Many old pubs are listed by Historic England or Locally Listed by local planning authorities to conserve them as an important part of our cultural heritage. More than 200 public houses are recorded in the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (HER). Use this link here and enter ‘public houses’ to see the complete list.

Nottingham has a claim to the oldest surviving pub in England - the famous ‘Trip to Jerusalem’ inn carved into the rock below the castle, is said to date to 1189 AD. It is reputed to have been used as a recruitment centre for knights signing up to join King Richard I on the Crusades. The earliest parts of the timber structure date that survive today, date to the early 17th century. The pub was Grade II listed in 1952.

Above: The famous Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem pub

Many of our old pub buildings have historic value. They often retain original features such as timber frames, flagstone floors, and leaded windows. Their building style, construction type and materials vary. The name of the pub often reflects local history, referring to historical people, landscape features, animals, hobbies and occupations.

Pub names are often based on heraldic symbols. The most common pub name in Britain is The Red Lion, originally the heraldic symbol of King James I. Six are recorded in the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (two are now domestic houses). Other heraldic symbols include Lions, Dragons, Unicorns, Griffin, and Crowns.

Examples include:

• The Red Lion (Wellow) 
• Green Dragon (Hucknall) 
• The Unicorns Head (Langar) 
• The Griffins Head (Papplewick) 
• The Crown Inn (East Markham)

Above: The 18th-century 'Crown Inn' at East Markham. Check out the HER record here

Other pub names refer directly to Kings and Queens, famous people and local aristocracy:

• The Queens Head (Newark) 
• Duke William (William the Conqueror) (Askham)
• The Manvers Arms (Radcliffe-on-Trent)   
• The Portland Arms (Hucknall) 
• The Pauncefoot Arms (East Stoke)

Above: The sixteenth century ‘The Queens Head’ at Newark. Check out the HER record here

Above: 'The Manvers Arms' at Radcliffe on Trent. Check out the HER record here

Other pub names can give us clues about the landscape, names such as The Willow Tree, and Bridge Tavern. Names may be based on local wildlife, such as The Black Swan or The Fox. Some tell us about the interactions between humans and animals, The Butcher and the Bull or The Jolly Angler or even domestic animals like The Greyhound. Other pub names mention local industry and pastimes: Miners, Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Gardeners, and Cricketers to name a few.

• The Willow Tree (Barnby in the Willows) 
• The Fox Inn (Kelham) 
• The Jolly Angler (Beeston)
• The Greyhound (Aslockton) 
• The Miners Arms (Huthwaite) 

Above: The Old Greyhound Public House at Aslockton. An early nineteenth-century stable and coach house. Check out the HER record here

Like the rest of the UK, Nottinghamshire has seen a decline in the number of pubs over the last couple of decades. Increased costs, changing drinking habits and the smoking ban have made running traditional pubs more difficult and resulted in the closure of many pubs. Often the buildings are converted into homes or businesses. Statutory Listing, Local Listing and Listing as Assets of Community Value (ACV) are all designed to conserve these historic buildings.

The iconic K6 telephone kiosk, more commonly known as the red telephone box, dates to 1935. It was designed by the famous British Architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of King George V.

The K6 was the first telephone kiosk to be employed extensively outside of London. It was made from four cast-iron sections, bolted together and installed on a concrete base. Three of the sides, which included the teak door frame, were glazed with eight rows of three panes of glass windows, in a decorative mould surround. The ‘telephone’ sign at the top was illuminated. The domed roof incorporated a moulded royal crown representing the current monarch at the time of installation. Three crowns can be found on K6 kiosks: King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The standardised paint colour is ‘currant red’.

Above: An iconic K6 Kiosk at Maythorne Mill. Check out the HER record here.

By 1968, 60,000 original K6 kiosks had been installed by the General Post Office, making them a familiar sight throughout Britain. Ordinary homes did not have a landline until the 1950/60s, so public telephone boxes were vital for communications. They were sited in the main areas where people would pass by, often close to road junctions. In high footfall areas such as the marketplaces at Newark and Bingham, pairs of kiosks were installed.

Above: Two pairs of K6 kiosks at the Market Place, Newark. Google Image. Check out the HER record here.

In the 1980/90s K6 kiosks began to disappear as they were replaced with a more modern design. The introduction of mobile phones in the 1990s, made telephone boxes virtually redundant, and many more disappeared from the street scene. In 2017/18, British Telecom wrote to councils offering them the option to purchase redundant K6 kiosks in their area for just £1.  Many were purchased and repurposed by councils and community groups for a range of uses. In Nottinghamshire, K6 boxes are commonly used to house defibrillators and book exchanges. One in Ravenshead has become a floral display, while others have been incorporated into museums and public places (Newark Air Museum). Some can even be spotted in domestic properties where they are sited as garden features.

Above: K6 Kiosk now houses a defibrillator adjacent to Martins Arms Public House, in Colston. Check the HER record here.

In 2022, it was estimated that 11,700 K6 kiosks remained. As one of the most recognisable symbols of 20th-century British design, Historic England considers the best-surviving K6s to be an important part of our national heritage. So far, almost 2,500 have been Grade II listed. 38 of these are in Nottinghamshire. You can find out which ones, by entering 'K6' in the search bar of our website here.

These listed examples serve as reminders of the era when phone boxes were an essential part of communities across Britain. The iconic design of these modest yet striking structures has secured their place in our national heritage.

Nottinghamshire County Council and Forestry England have worked together to help shed more light on the archaeology buried within Sherwood Pines. A crew of volunteers assembled from Operation Nightingale and Forestry England have excavated three archaeological targets within the WWI training trenches within the forest. These features were selected over the course of several months, where specialists consulted the HER, conducted thorough archival research, and carefully studied the LiDAR survey data in the area (more information can be found here: The Veiled Landscape: Sherwood Lidar Project - Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record) . Soil samples were collected on site and processed to help us understand the environment of the past, and a metal detector and unexploded ordnance officer were also on site to lead in the discovery of a number of fascinating finds (and help keep us safe while doing so!)

A huge thanks goes out to the volunteers who braved the very wet conditions to help us better understand this important relic landscape and improve the management of the WWI trench network within the Sherwood Pines.

To find out more about the Clipstone Camp and the effects of WWI in Nottinghamshire:

• 'Clipstone Camp and the Mansfield Area in World War One: The impact of a large military presence in a North Nottinghamshire community',Pauline Marples. 2013.
• https://www.ourmansfieldandarea.org.uk/content/place/clipstone/clipstone_camp_and_the_mansfield_area_in_ww1
• From Forest to the Frontline: Understanding Clipstone Camp through Archival Research

Check out some more photographs from the excavation below:

  

  

Delivered as part of the Miner2Major Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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Miner2Major focuses on the heart of the Sherwood Forest area from Nottingham to Ollerton, and Mansfield to Rufford Abbey, an area that has a distinctive landscape character. Just like archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and historic buildings, the landscape is an integral part of the historic environment. Place names establish identity and assist communications, but historic maps show us that place names change through time. How do these changes help us unravel history?

Place names can tell us stories that would otherwise be unknown. Often made up of two elements, a prefix and a suffix, the names can be decoded to reveal natural features that may have disappeared, ownership or the character and origins of a settlement. Through the centuries, place names have evolved, reflecting historical, linguistic, and cultural changes. The evolution of place names is called Etymology.

Anglo-Saxon Names

Many names are rooted in Old English, the Germanic language that was brought to England by the Anglo-Saxons, and in-use between the mid-5th to 12th centuries. Anglo-Saxon place names take different forms. Some refer to people or animals in the prefix, followed by a suffix that denotes ownership. Examples include Blidworth, probably meaning Blida’s Farm, and Ravenshead, high ground named after the bird or a man bearing that name. Others refer to the landscape, ending in ‘field’ (Mansfield) or ‘ley’ (a clearing), (Annesley).

Settlements and towns were given names ending in ‘ham’, ‘tun’ or ‘ton’ (Ollerton). A fortified town is indicated by the suffix ‘burh’ ‘brough’ ‘borough’, ‘burgh’ or ‘bury’, for example the hamlet of Brough, built around a Roman military settlement.  

Places with a religious connection often end in ‘minster’ or ‘stow’. Edwinstowe is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Edenestou’. The name commemorates the legend of the body of King Edwin of Northumbria, being laid to rest near here after he was killed in battle in 632. Many other spellings occur over the centuries Hedenestoua (1173), Edenestowa (1194), Eddenstowe (1287); Edwynstow (1300); Edenstow (1577); Eddingstowe (1633).

Above: Modern Edwinstowe overlying Chapman’s map of 1774.

Viking Names

The Viking settlers of the 9th and 10th centuries left their mark on the Nottinghamshire landscape, with place names ending in ‘by’, the Danish word for town, or ‘thorp’ meaning settlement of Danish people. Examples of these include Walesby, Budby, Bilsthorpe and Perlethorpe. The prefix of the name can also reveal clues about the landscape. Linby for example, means Lime Town and’ Kirk’ indicates a church (Kirkby and Kirklington).

The Domesday Book

The first large-scale survey of England was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey of the land and resources in England to be used as a tool for taxation and governance. This was probably the first time place names in Nottinghamshire were officially written down. The Norman surveyors were French speakers and whenever they encountered a tricky name, they simplified it and recorded a variation that was easier for French speakers. Sometimes they added ‘bel’ or ‘beau’ as a prefix (Beauvale).

Maps

One of the oldest maps of the area was drawn by Joan Blaeu in 1646. Most of the names are recognisable, but the spelling of place names in maps and documents continued to vary due to mispronunciation and inconsistent spelling. Several variations of a name might be in use at the same time. It was not until the first Ordnance Surveys in the 1840s that the spelling of place names became standardised.

Above: Joan Blaeu Map, 1646. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland CC_BY (NLS). Visit the Blaeu Atlas here: Map

Place names are still not set in stone. Some place names are relatively new where new settlement or industry occurs, and some do change. Clipstone and King’s Clipstone are good examples. King’s Clipstone is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as ‘Clipestune’. King Edward I, bestowed the prefix King ‘Kyngesclipston in 1290, after parliament was held at King John’s Palace. As its importance declined, it became simply known as Clipstone, then Old Clipstone as the new Clipstone Colliery village grew in the 1920s. In 2011, the community chose to reinstate the medieval name of Kings Clipstone to create a distinct identity separate from the colliery village of Clipstone.

Above: Kings Clipstone shown as ‘Clipstone’ on Sanderson’s map of 1835.

Place Name Etymology in the Miner to Major Landscape Partnership Area.

Below are other examples of place name etymology in the Miner to Major project area, recording the name changes as shown on dated maps or documents.

Wellow - First attested in 1207 in pipe rolls as Welhag’. Also, Welagh (1316), Wellehach’ (1250); Wellhawe (1275); Whellay (1494); and finally, Wellow in 1747. The word is a compound word from Old English: wielle and haga, referring to an enclosure of some kind near to a spring. A small tributary of the Maun is nearby and could refer to that.

Blidworth - First attested in the Domesday book in 1086 as Bliedeworde. Also, Blieswurda (1158); Blithewurth (1240); Blittewrth (1271); Blideth (1670). Blieworth probably means “Blida’s Farm”.

Annesley - First attested in the Domesday book in 1086 as Aneslei. Also, Anisleia (1190); Anyslegh (1250); Ansley (1590). Possibly a compound of a personal name An with Leah (meaning An’s clearing).

Linby - First attested in 1086 in Domesday book as Lidebi. Also, Lindebeia (1316); Linneby (1233); Lundeby (1304); Lynby (1392). From Old Norse linda býr, meaning “lime-tree village”.

Bestwood -First attested in 1177 as Beskewuda in the pipe rolls. Also, Beescwde (1200); Buskwud (1207); Bekeswood (1523); and finally, Bestwood in 1619. From Old English bēosuc, a derivative of the Old English word bēos(e), meaning bent grass (how Beeston also gets its name). Therefore, Bestwood means “wood where bent grass grows” in Old English.

Ollerton - First attested in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Alretun. Also, Allerton (1276); Alverton (13th c.); and Ollerton by 1316. From the words alor and tun, meaning “farm of the alders”.

Papplewick - First attested in the Domesday book in 1086 as Paplleuuic. Also, Papelwich (1316); Papewich’ (1165); and Papleweeke. Formed from the words pappol(stan) and wic, meaning “dairy farm in the pebbly place” in Old English. As noted by some researchers, some fields on the east side of the village are very pebbly.

Ravenshead - First attested in 1205 as Ravenesheved. Literally means “Raven’s Head” It is the highest ground in the neighbourhood and the hill may have been so called from the bird or from a man bearing that name.

Newstead - “New Place”. The place obtained its name at the time of the foundation of the Austin Priory here by Henry II.

Warsop - Domesday book 1086 as Wareshope. Also, Wyrssop (1321-4); Worsoop (1569); Warsopp Church towne, Warsopp Markett towne (1653). The second element of the word is hop, “valley”, the well-marked valley between the two settlements at Church and Market Warsop being the determining factor in the original settlement. Warsop means “the Valley of Wǣr” (Wǣr being an Old English personal name).

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