At a recent meeting of the Edwinstowe Historical Society members applauded Bob Massey after listening to his talk about Violet Constance Jessop, ocean liner stewardess, World War One nurse and survivor of the sinking of the SS Titanic and SS Britannic.
Emulating her mother, Violet’s first position as stewardess was on board RMS Orinoco. She was on board when the vessel collided with another boat. Undaunted she transferred to the Titanic which sank in 1912, and while in a lifeboat she was tasked with the care of a baby. When aboard the rescue ship Carpathia a woman, presumably the baby’s mother, grabbed the baby she was holding and ran off crying, without saying a word. (An incident often referred to by film makers in their productions.) During WW1 Violet served as a British Red Cross nurse on board the hospital ship Britannic, and once again fate intervened when the vessel struck a German mine in the Aegean sea, sinking within 55 minutes. Jumping out of the lifeboat she avoided being shredded by the ship’s propellers, and survived a traumatic head injury while doing so. Violet retired in 1950 and died in 1971, aged 83 years.
The current photographic display in the Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre focuses on aerial views of Edwinstowe, from which it is noticeable how small parcels of land have been utilised for carparking and housing.
Shirley, Chair, welcomed visitors and members of the Edwinstowe Historical Society to the first meeting of the new programme of talks for 2024/25, and introduced Adam Nightingale whose talk related to Newark during the English Civil war.
Adam regaled members with details of the 3 sieges that took place in Newark during the English civil war, when the townspeople favoured the royalist cause. Newark was strategically placed between the north and south of the country having the benefit of 2 main roads and a narrow crossing of the River Trent. The first 2 sieges were successfully defended. However, the 3rd siege lasted six months during which time the people suffered hardship and disease. When King Charles I surrendered in Southwell, Newark surrendered two days’ later on 8th May, 1646.
Olwen, Vice-Chair, then referred to a recent donation to the Society of a painting and fire screen carved by Richard, a member of the well-known Tudsbury family. However, as the society had no facility to look after artefacts St Mary’s Church, Edwinstowe had kindly agreed to display the fire screen in the church. The painting is being looked after by Nik and Rachael Teal of Edwinstowe Hall, and will be available for use at future events.
November, being the month associated with fireworks, brings to mind the fact that In the late 19th century George Pinder, pyrotechnist, was the owner of a fireworks factory in Edwinstowe, and gave firework displays at local events. Unfortunately, in November 1896 he was at Welbeck Abbey conducting experiments with a new kind of bomb, patented by him, for use at night by gamekeepers for illumination of the scene in cases of poaching. During the experiment there was an explosion and Mr. Pinder’s right hand was blown off.
At a recent meeting of the Edwinstowe Historical Society members applauded Bob Massey after listening to his talk about Violet Constance Jessop, ocean liner stewardess, World War One nurse and survivor of the sinking of the SS Titanic and SS Britannic.
Emulating her mother, Violet’s first position as stewardess was on board RMS Orinoco. She was on board when the vessel collided with another boat. Undaunted she transferred to the Titanic which sank in 1912, and while in a lifeboat she was tasked with the care of a baby. When aboard the rescue ship Carpathia a woman, presumably the baby’s mother, grabbed the baby she was holding and ran off crying, without saying a word. (An incident often referred to by film makers in their productions.) During WW1 Violet served as a British Red Cross nurse on board the hospital ship Britannic, and once again fate intervened when the vessel struck a German mine in the Aegean sea, sinking within 55 minutes. Jumping out of the lifeboat she avoided being shredded by the ship’s propellers, and survived a traumatic head injury while doing so. Violet retired in 1950 and died in 1971, aged 83 years.
The current photographic display in the Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre focuses on aerial views of Edwinstowe, from which it is noticeable how small parcels of land have been utilised for carparking and housing.
In August, Committee members of the Edwinstowe Historical Society spent a
pleasant afternoon at the Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre in the company of
Julie and Pat Yeoman. The latter had brought along a firescreen carved out of oak
by one of the members of the well-known Tudsbury family. Also, a sampler
embroidered by Eleanor Tudsbury in 1864. The Tudsbury family had been associated
with Edwinstowe since 1627, and Richard exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London
in 1851. He also carved the magnificent chimney-piece in the library at Thoresby Hall. His
youngest son Walter, carved the oak lectern, which may be seen in St. Mary’s Church,
Edwinstowe.
Bob Massey makes a welcome return to the group on 16th October when he presents his
illustrated talk about Violet Jessop, Stewardess, World War One Nurse and survivor of the
sinking of the SS Titanic and SS Britannic.
The Society’s researchers continue to answer enquiries from families anxious to trace
ancestors who once lived in Edwinstowe. The success of the task is often due to the well-
maintained parish records kept in St Mary’s Church.
Shirley Moore, Chairperson for the Edwinstowe Historical Society, apologised for the fact that John Baird was unable to present his talk “Follow the Moon and Stars”. However, committee members were able to provide two illustrated talks, the first about Worksop Manor House, and the second about Edwinstowe Hall. Members were also able to view a display indicating Edwinstowe’s literary heritage.
The Historical Society had provided information to enable the local school children to join in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Memories were also evoked of the time when Field Marshall Lord Montgomery paid an underground visit to Thoresby Colliery in 1947, later speaking to the miners and their wives in the Thoresby Colliery Institute. Afterwards, he met and spoke to village school children.
Monty’s visit to Fourth Avenue, Edwinstowe in October, 1947
Shirley referred to the list of vicars compiled by the Society and placed in St Mary’s church to assist visitors. Also provided for the church stewards was information relating to the church and churchyard.
At the Annual General Meeting held in May, Shirley Moore, Chairperson for the Edwinstowe Historical Society was pleased to report that there had been an increase in membership and that visitor numbers had also increased. She thanked members of the committee, all of whom had made a valuable contribution to the Society. The current committee members were re-elected and two new members were elected onto the committee.
Enquiries continued to be dealt with, both nationally and internationally, with people anxious for details of relatives and some providing photos for the archive. As an example, Shirley highlighted the following enquiries: the National Trust in Surrey were interested in a photo of the 1904 royal visit to Rufford Abbey; John Hayman in Australia requested permission to use the website information of his ancestor Henry Telford Hayman, a former Edwinstowe vicar, to add to the Wikitree record; a writer requested permission to use a photo of the Major Oak to share with a Japanese audience; following a house clearance, information relating to Diana Curly, née Hume, who lived at Edwinstowe house, is to be forwarded to the Society; the Hoggard family who sailed as Pilgrims to America are tracing relatives and shared their family tree; the Ward family in Australia are also tracing family members, graves and relatives; The Stearn family were pleased with information regarding the coat of arms of their family home (Cockglode House). During the year photos and information have been supplied to the BBC, ITV and TV France.
There are no meetings during July and August, and the new programme of talks commences on 18th September when the speaker will be Adam Nightingale whose talk is “English Civil War”.
Shirley Moore, Chair, welcomed members of the Edwinstowe Historical Society, and introduced Mo Cooper whose talk entitled “The Good, the Bad and the Reality” truly was a gallop through the lives of women who have contributed to Nottingham’s history.
Mo explained that Florence Boot, Mary Potter and Henrietta Carey were concerned with the living and working conditions of the community. Reference was made to Queen Isabella, Eileen Casey and Freda Lawrence who came in for censure because of their notorious behaviour and, lastly, Mo referred to the working conditions in the Nottingham lace industry.
The Society’s current display in the Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre is devoted to Leisure. Although time and tastes have changed the photographs show that Edwinstowe has been, and still is, an active community. There was Horse racing on the Forest Corner; Duck Racing on the river, which also offered the opportunity for a dip when the weather was fine; entertainment by the Methodist Drama group, the Major Cinema (grander than many big city establishments) and the Thoresby Colliery Brass Band; outings to the seaside (courtesy of Thoresby Colliery, and the railway) and other places of interest; dances at the Welfare Hall (which had a sprung floor); and several sporting groups.
Committee members had been invited to Edwinstowe Hall to see the improvements that had been carried out since their previous visit. The owners were complimented on their achievements which had helped to preserve such a historic building for the future.
Denis Hill’s talk at the March meeting of the Edwinstowe Historical Society related to Newstead Abbey and its owners. In reality it was an Augustinian Priory founded about the year 1170 by King Henry II in atonement of the murder of Thomas a Becket. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, in 1540 Henry viii granted Newstead to Sir John Byron, whose descendants and subsequent owners made changes to the property.
Notable ancestors included “Foul Weather Jack”, “Mad Jack Byron”, “The Wicked Lord”, and “The Devil Byron”, but the most memorable family member was the romantic poet Lord George Gordon Byron, the 6th Baron, born 1788 who died in Greece in 1824. This year marks the 200th anniversary of his death.
After several changes in ownership, the Abbey is currently owned by Nottingham City Council. When the lake was dredged in the late eighteenth century the lectern was discovered, having been thrown into the Abbey fishpond by the monks to save it during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and In 1805 was given to Southwell Minster.
Shirley Moore, Chairperson, thanked Denis for his informative talk, and then introduced Terry Ashton who spoke about his duties as a steward in St Mary’s Church, Edwinstowe, which had given him pleasure and a sense of purpose knowing he was performing a worthwhile task talking to the many visitors to the church. He hoped his comments would spur others to help in a similar way which would enable the church to remain open to visitors.
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 15th May, and will be followed by a DVD evoking memories of the Woodhead family, and several members of the community.
Maun Bridge, Edwinstowe. c.1910
Shirley Moore, Chair, welcomed 38 members and visitors who had braved the elements to attend the meeting and illustrated talk which was presented by members of the Edwinstowe Historical Society. The talk related to the River Maun and followed its journey from source at Kirkby-in-Ashfield continuing north easterly through Mansfield, Edwinstowe, Ollerton, Markham Moor and West Drayton where it loses its identity to the River Idle eventually joining the River Trent at West Stockwith.
Shirley referred to the September 1994 edition of the former community newspaper “The Acorn” that listed 48 groups and organisations in the village at that time, and was proud to acknowledge that the Edwinstowe Historical Society which was inaugurated in the 1960’s, was one of the few remaining groups. The oldest being the Edwinstowe Cricket Club.
Recent updates to the website related to Cockglode House (Rev. William Sterne’s family); Edwinstowe Hall (the Alexander family); and Geoffrey Palmer, author.
In January members of the Edwinstowe Historical Society met for lunch at the Forest Lodge hotel in Edwinstowe. A former coaching inn thought to have been built in 1774, it has provided accommodation and sustenance for travellers for many years. During that time the proprietors have changed, so too has the name of the establishment, in turn being known in 1885 as Forest House – a boarding house with dining and refreshment rooms; Forest Side Café -providing high class refreshments (1937); Forest House Café (1947); Bullivants restaurant (1993); and subsequently Forest Lodge
Just one of the many establishments in the village, which catered for visitors to Sherwood Forest including many well-known 19th century writers, poets and artists who gained inspiration from the surroundings. The opening of the station for passenger service in 1896 brought trippers into the village. For past generations the first choice for refreshment when leaving the station might have been a visit to the Station Tea Rooms, or the splendid Dukeries Hotel, followed by a stroll into the village passing the Black Swan Inn, the Jug and Glass, Birkland House temperance tea rooms, the Royal Oak and the Forest Lodge. Next would be a walk in the forest to see the Major Oak, perhaps stopping to purchase a drink from Granny Bullimore’s stall on Forest Corner, while keeping an eye open for one of the popular cycling clubs.
Edwinstowe Historical Society