The history of the parish and Priory of Lenton, in the county of Nottingham

Preface

HE legitimate functions of a preface in works of a topographical description appear to be two fold ; the progress of the work should be briefly traced from its inception to its completion, and due acknowledgments made to those persons who have assisted the author in his labours. Early in the year 1880, materials were collected by the author for a paper on Lenton Priory, to be read at a meeting of a newly-founded society in Nottingham. Before the paper was completed, the society in question, after a brief career, had ceased to exist ; but the materials already collected were added to from time to time, with the idea of eventually publishing a short history of the Priory. This has now expanded into a history of the whole Parish. The task has been one of some magnitude, involving no light amount of labour, and requiring not a little persever ance.

It is no egotism to say that only those engaged in similar pursuits can form a just idea of the time and re search requisite in collecting and digesting materials for a work of this description. The burden and responsi bility would have pressed still heavier, but for the kindly assistance of those friends to whom it is my pleasing duty vi

PREFACE.

. to return my acknowledgments. I am principally indebted to Major A. E. Lawson Lowe, J. P., F.S.A. (whose knowledge of the history of the county of Nottingham is, perhaps, unequalled), for his hearty and friendly co-operation through out the progress of the work. Not only has Major Lowe communicated from time to time numerous genealogical and historical notes, and rendered other valuable assistance, but he has most kindly permitted me to make unrestricted use of his MS. History of the Hundred of Broxtow. I must also express my obligations to the Rev. J. Charles Cox, author of " The Churches of Derbyshire," for his courteous permission to extract what was applicable to my purpose from his valuable work. I am also indebted to M. Leopold Delisle, Director of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, for furnishing me with interesting extracts from the Clugny MSS. recently deposited in that library ; to Sir Henry E. L. Dryden, Bart, M.A, F.S.A, of Canons Ashby, for the loan of his sketches of the tiles found at Lenton Priory, and described on pages 226 and 227 ; to W. H. St. John Hope, Esq, M.A, F.S.A, for the loan of casts of the seals from which the engravings on pages 231 and 232 have been made ; to Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq, D.L, F.R.S, for the valuable meteorological table ; and also to Mr. W. Henry Stevenson (Editor of " The Nottingham Borough Records") for several valuable suggestions.

The Rev. George Browne, M.A, Vicar of Lenton, has rendered material assistance by allowing me ready access to the parish registers and other parochial documents in his custody ; and the value of the service has been increased by the urbanity and kindness with which it has been rendered. I would also thank the Rev. Percy E. Smith, B.A, Curate

PREFACE.

. VII of Lenton, for the cordial assistance he has always been ready to afford. To Mr. James Shipman, of Nottingham, who has con tributed a valuable account of the geology of the parish, I beg to return my sincere thanks. Mr. Shipman's intimate acquaintance with the geology of the neighbourhood of Nottingham has been recognised and appreciated by the officers of H.M. Geological Survey of Great Britain. I am also indebted to the owner of the Stretton MSS. for placing that interesting collection of notes relating to the antiquities of the county at my disposal. The MSS. had been lost for several years, and only came to light when this work was ready for the press. They are some what mutilated, but contain a mass of valuable information of sufficient interest to justify their suture publication.

The MSS, which consist principally of notes on the churches of Nottinghamshire, made at the commencement of this century contain a large number of interesting sketches, sac-similes of three of which appear in my pamphlet on The Market Crosses of Nottingham. With regard to the illustrations, I am indebted to Mr. Frank Johnson, A.R.I. B.A, Mr. Lawrence G. Summers, A.R.I. B.A, and Mr. John A. Stamp, who have kindly con tributed the drawings for the photo-lithographic plates ; to Mr. Llewellynn Jewitt, F.S.A, who has lent me the wood cuts on pages ii, 227, and 406; and to Messrs. Blackie and Sons for the use of the woodcut on page 166. I cannot close my list of acknowledgments without a grateful word of thanks to the Librarian of Bromley House Library, Nottingham, and to the Principal Librarian of the Nottingham Free Library, for the facilities afforded me in

PREFACE.

. VIII consulting the works of reference in their respective libraries. I would also thank the subscribers to this work for their financial support. To conclude. This history of my native place has not been written with the idea of satisfying any literary ambition. It pretends to be nothing more than a parochial history, but if it should be deemed worthy of forming a chapter in a much-needed history of the County, I shall be amply re warded for the labour involved in its preparation. " I have taken this pains, not for the present age, but a future ; many things which were known to our grandsires are lost to us, and our grandchildren will search in vain for many facts which to us are most familiar." JOHN T. GODFREY, Radcliffe-on- Treti t, Nottingham. CONTENTS. SECTION PAGE I Geography, Etymology, and Early Antiquities _-.-_-_ i II.

Manorial and Early History - - - 18 III. Area, Population, etc 44 IV. The Priory - - - - - 53 V. The Vicarage -_._.. 235 VI. The Churches - - - - - - - 245 VII. The Parish Registers ; Churchwardens' Accounts ; and Parochial Charity- - 272 VIII. Hyson Green Church 292 IX. The Schools ------- 295 X. The Nonconforming Congregations- - 298 XI. The Fairs - - 303 XII. The Inclosures ------ 316 XIII. Local Government - - - 334 XIV. Manufactures 355 XV. Bestwood Park ------ 362 XVI. The Peverel Court ------ 386 XVII. Geology ...... - 408 XVIII. Miscellaneous ------ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PEDIGREES. PAGE Lenton Lodge to Wollaton Park To face Title.

Stone Axe from Wollaton Park 1 1 Roman Sword from Highfield Park 15 Arms and Pedigree of Peverel of Nottingham 22 Arms and Pedigree of Gregory, of Nottingham - - - To face 34 Arms of Babington - - 3S Arms of Burun, or Byron - - - - 102 Rock Holes in Nottingham Park - - - - - - - - 166 Fac-simile of portion of MS. of St. John's Gospel, Corpus Christi College, Camrridge 184 Signature of John Ilkeston, Prior of Lenton - 189 Arms and Pedigree of Lowe, of Highfield House - - To face 200 Arms and Pedigree of Wright, of Lenton - - ,, 202 Arms of Adams, of Lenton - - 203 Arms of Stretton, of Lenton Priory 209 Arms and Pedigree of Garland, of Lenton - - - To face 212 Plan of Site of Lenton Priory .--... 222 Masonry from Lenton Priory (two plate-) - „ 224 Stone Coffin from Lenton Priory 225 Inscription on Dish from Lenton Priory 225 Arms of Morley, of Morley 227 Tiles Found at Lenton Priory To face 228 Carved Masonry from Lenton Priory 228 Ancient Keys Found at Lenton To face 230 Arms of Lenton Priory - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PEDIGREES, PAGE Seal of Lenton Priory - - - 231 Counterseal of Lenton Priory 232 Seal of Alan, Sub-Prior of Lenton 232 Arms at West End of Old Church 247 Incised Sepulchral Slab in Old Church 256 Font from Lenton Priory To face 270 Portrait of Charles, First Duke of St. Albans 377 Arms and Pedigree of Beauclerk, Dukes of St. Albans - To face 378 Emmanuel Church, Bestwood ,, 382 Seals of the Peverel Court 406 Geological Sections To face 412 INTERGLACIAL ALLUVIUM OF THE TRENT, SPRING CLOSE - - - - 447 Section of the Alluvium of the Leen at Old Radford - - - 453 Section of the Alluvial and Drift Deposits of the Leen at Basford LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

His Grace The Duke of St. Albans, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire (2 copies). His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, K.G., Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London. The Right Hon. The Lord Middleton, MBirdsall House, Yorkshire. Adams, Miss The Park, Nottingham. Bailey, John E., F.S.A. - Stretford, Manchester. Ball, Frederick ------ New Lenton, Nottingham. Bardsley, George ------ Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Bingham, Richard F. - - - - - Old Lenton, Nottingham. Bloodworth, Charles Priory Cottage, Old Lenton. Bloodworth, Miss Old Lenton. Booker, AVilliam H., F.R.H.S. - - - Nottingham. Bradley, Frederick J. - - - - - Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Bright, Joseph ------ The Park, Nottingham. Brown, Cornelius, F. R. S. L. - - - Newark-on-Trent. Browne, Rev. George, M.A. - - - Lenton Vicarage, Nottingham.

Browne, Rev. Henry Joy, M.A. - - - Christ Church Vicarage, Barnet. Burton, Francis C. - - - - - Corporation Oaks, Nottingham. Burton, Alderman John ... - New Radford, Nottingham. Buttrum, George H. - - - - - Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire. Carter, H. H. - - - - - The Park, Nottingham. Chariton, Thomas AV. .... Chilwell Hall, near Nottingham. Chiosso, Antonio M. Norfolk Terrace, Bayswater, AV. Christie, Lorenzo .... - Carholme, Stackhouse, near Settle. Clark, Thomas Old Lenton, Nottingham. Clayton, AVilliam Old Lenton, Nottingham. Cleaver, F. F. Sheriff of Nottingham. Clements, S. AV. 1, Castle Terrace, Nottingham. Cooper, James Old Lenton. C ropper, Alderman Henry Smith - - The Park, Nottingham. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Daft, Richard Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Dawson, Alfred The Park, Nottingham.

Dennett, Alderman Robert - - - . The Park, Nottingham. Derry, Joseph --.... Chestnut Cottage, Old Lenton. Dobson, Samuel H. Nottingham. Dobson, AVilliam E., J. P. .... The Park, Nottingham. Dyson, W. Colbeck, F.S.A., Scot. - - Rock House, Batley, Yorkshire. Ellis, John E, J. P. The Park, Nottingham. Evans, Robert, J. P. The Park, Nottingham. Farmer, Henry Old Lenton. Fearfield, Joseph Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Fellows, George, J. P. Beeston Fields, near Nottingham. Fletcher, James - Larkdale Street, Nottingham. Fletcher, Joseph E. Long Eaton Hall, Derbyshire. Foljambe, Cecil G. S., M.P., F.S.A. - - Care of Messrs. Hatchard, 187, Piccadilly, London, AV. Ford, Alderman William - - - - Mapperley Road, Nottingham. Froggatt, John Lenton Poplars, Nottingham (5 copies) Froggatt, Samuel Old Lenton, Nottingham (2 copies). ' Cell, Samuel H. - Clumber Street, Nottingham.

Gerring, Charles Melbourne Street, Nottingham. Gill, John A. Nottingham. Gordon, Edwin H. Bilbie Street, Nottingham. Gray, Henry 2S> Cathedral Yard, Manchester. Gregory, Mrs. Catherine Sherwin - Harlaxton Manor, Grantham. Harwood, Alfred Nottingham. Hatherly, Henry R., M.R.C.S., Eng. -. Arundel Street, Lenton. Hill, Thomas, J. P. The Park, Nottingham. Hine, George T„ F.R.I.B.A. - - . Nottingham. Hme, Thomas C, F.S.A. - . . Nottingham. Jennison, Frederick - - . . Nottingham. Johnson, Frank, A.R.I.B.A. - - . London Johnson, Samuel George .... Town Clerk of Nottingham (2 copies). Johnson, William G. Park Hill, Lenton. Kirkland, William ..... Beeston> Nottinghamshire_ Lamb, Richard Nottingham. Lewis, Chris. T. - p ,„ , „ T . ' " Forest Road, Nottingham Lewis, Frank B. - t. D , ,. . , - she Park, Nottingham.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XV Library, Corporation of London - - - Guildhall, London, E.C. Cheetham's - - Hunt's Bank, Manchester. Free Public Manchester. Nottingham Subscription - - - Bromley House, Nottingham. Free Public Nottingham. Mechanics' Institution - - - Nottingham. Lindley, Alderman Leonard - - - Ex-Mayor of Nottingham. Lowe, Major A. E. Lawson, J. P., F.S.A. - Shirenewton Hall, near Chepstow. Lowe, Colonel Arthur S. H., J. P. - - Gosfield Hall, near Halstead, Essex. Lowe, Edward Joseph, D.L., J. P., F.R.S. - Shirenewton Hall, near Chepstow. Maples, Samuel ------ AVolseley House, Nottingham. Nevill, John B. Burns Street, Nottingham. Newell, James Nottingham. Peat, Edward ------ Lenton Sands, Nottingham. Peat, Edward, jun. ----- Park Hill, Lenton. Pegg, H. Carter Nottingham. Percy, Edmund, J. P. ----- Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

Preston, Martin I. - - -' - - Arundel House, Nottingham. Renals, John The Park, Nottingham. Sampson, Thomas ----- New Lenton, Nottingham. Scattergood, Peter, jun., F.R.H.S. - - Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Seely, Lieut. Colonel Charles, M. P. - - Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire. Shepperson, Thomas The Park, Nottingham. Simpson, Henry Highfield House, Lenton. Smith, Rev. Percy E., B.A. - - - Old Lenton. Spybey, F. G. Mapperley Park Drive, Nottingham. Stamp, John A. Nottingham. Sulley, William ------ Balmoral Road, Nottingham. Summers, L. G., A. R.I. B.A. - - - Greenfield House, Radcliffe-on-Trent. Tate, Clement Nottingham (2 copies). Taylor, A. Claude, M.D. - - - - Nottingham. Tew, William T. Long Row, Nottingham. Thorpe, Henry R. Park Terrace, Nottingham. Thorpe, John Park Road, Lenton. Tollinton, Joseph Radford Road, Nottingham.

Toplis, John Arthur Street, Nottingham. Truswell, Walter - - - - - - Exchange AValk, Nottingham. Turney, F. N. - - - - - - New Basford, Nottingham. Turney, John, J.P. Alexandra Park, Nottingham. Turney, AVilliam J., J. P. - - - - Park Hill, Stourbridge. Turpin, Stephen W. - - - - - Nottingham. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. AValker, AVilliam H. Lenton Fields, (2 copies). Windle, AVilliam Low Pavement, Nottingham. AVright, Colonel C. I. - - - ' - - Stapleford Hall, near Nottingham. Wright, Frederick ----- Lenton Hall, near Nottingham. AVright, Henry Smith - - - - - Park Hill, Lyndhurst, Hants. AVright, AVilliam The Park, Nottingham. York, The Dean and Chapter of - - - York. The impression of this work is limited to 250 copies. THE HISTORY 01 THE PARISH AND PRIORY OF LENTON.

Section I. Geography, Etymology, And Early Antiquities

" Describe the Borough — though our idle tribe May love description, can we so describe, That you shall fairly streets and buildings trace, And all that gives distinction to a place ? This cannot be ; yet moved by your request A part I paint — let Fancy form the rest." Crabbe. HE parish of Lenton is situated in the southern division of the hundred of Broxtow, on the banks of the river Leen, near its confluence with the river Trent. It is bounded on the north by the parish of Radford, on the east by the parish of Standard Hill and limits of the Castle of Nottingham, and by the town and county of the town of Nottingham ; on the south by the river Trent ; and on the west by the parishes of Beeston and Wollaton. The name of this parish is undoubtedly derived from the river Len or Leen, on which, as previously stated, it is situated.

Mr. Flavell Edmunds, in his " Traces of History in the names of Places," derives the name thus, " Len, Lena, Leen, E, land held in fee (Spelman) or farmed out," and as an example he gives " Lenton (Notts.), the town on the farm," but this derivation is as inappropriate as it is improbable, so that it may be passed by without further comment. " Tun," or town, as the word is now generally understood, may appear at first sight a pre sumptuous title to apply to the handful of huts which made up the Lenton of Saxon days. But, it must be borne in mind that the original meaning of the affix tun was no more than a piece of ground surrounded, for purposes of defence, by a hedge, and might comprise but few homesteads. " The English town," remarks one, " was in its beginning simply a piece of the general country, organised and governed precisely in the same manner as the townships around it.

Its existence witnessed, indeed, to the need which men felt, in those early times, of mutual help and protection. The burh or borough was probably a more defen sible place than the common village ; it may have had a ditch or mound about it instead of the quick-set hedge or " tun," from which the township took its name." The river Leen, from whence the parish derives its name, rises in Sherwood Forest, not far from the Robin Hood Hills, between Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Newstead, and in conjunction with several other streamlets, flows on to Newstead Abbey, where, being arrested by an embankment opposite the Abbey, it spreads out into a large and beautiful lake. Wending its way therefrom, through the grounds of Newstead,1 it is again impounded, and forms the large lower lake, from which, after receiving several accessories, it directs its course to Papplewick ; leaving that place a little on the west, it descends southwardly to Bulweil, and collects from the west some important brooks from the higher ground round Linby and Hucknall Torkard, and from the Annesley Hills, as well as some minor ones on the east.

(i) "By this Newstede rennith Line Ryver, that cummeth after to Lineton-Abbay, and thens to Notingham, and a litle beneth Notingham ynto Trent. "— Leland's Itinerary, vol. i. so. no. Passing through Bulwell it takes a meandering course to Basford, of which place it makes nearly a circuit, and receiving on the east a stream known as the Daybrook, which rises beyond Arnold, and passes through that village and the hamlet of Day brook, to which it gives its name. Lower down other streams from Nuthall and Hempshill, together with the Whitemoor springs, flow into the Leen from the west. Leaving New Basford to the eastward, the Leen flows on southwardly through Radford, past the great Lodge to Wollaton Park, and on to Old Lenton,1 which it almost encircles, and then diverges suddenly to the east on its way to Nottingham.

" Nearing the town, the Leen flows to the east, On the left hand, beneath the western sun, Climbing with lofty ridge towards the sky The rock appears ; its huge mass honey-combed By countless caverns, the delightful home Of fair chaonian doves." z It should be remarked that the ancient Leen is said to have originally flowed on direct to the south on leaving Lenton, and to have emptied itself into the Trent nearly opposite Wilford Church ; for, in the perambulation of Sherwood Forest, in the sixteenth year of King Henry III, it is stated, "That the boundaries of the Forest came down according to the course of the Leen to Lenton, and from thence as the same water was tuont of old time to run into the water of Trent," showing that the course of the Leen was diverted long before the reign of Henry III, and there is good reason to believe that the alteration took place when Nottingham Castle was built by the Normans soon after the Conquest, "to which the bringing of the river Leen must have been of great service."

An examination of the course of the river, the outlet opposite Wilford Church, and the banks from Lenton to Nottingham, will confirm the statement as to the artificial deviation of the course of the stream beyond Lenton. (i) " There runnith it [the river Leen] by Linton or Lenton, much frequented and famous in old time for the Abbay there of the Holy Trinity, founded by William Pevcrell, the base sonne of King William the Conqueror ; but now all the fame is onely for a Faire there kept." — Camden's Britain, trans. by Philemon Holland, 1610, p. 547. (2) Translation of Latin verses by Huntingdon Plumptre, M.D. Subsequently to the formation of the Nottingham and Cromford canal, the Leen, from Nottingham Castle, through the town as far as the Cork Hole, has been covered over and made the cloaca maxima of Nottingham.1 The Leen probably derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon hlynna, a brook, or rivulet.

The chief physical feature of the parish is the Leen Valley. This is a somewhat wide but shallow depression with a north and southerly trend, and enters the valley of the Trent between Spring Close on one side and New Lenton on the other. The Leen itself meanders through a level tract of meadow land, comparatively dry in some parts, but marshy in others, of an average width of nearly 500 yards throughout this parish, though much narrower in places higher up the stream. The Trent Valley crosses the southern part of the parish in a direction from south-west towards the north-east, while the river Trent itself forms the natural boundary of the parish along its southern side. A large area in the southern part of the parish thus lies within the valley of the Trent, and is low-lying meadow land drained by natural brooks and streamlets, and by numerous artificial water-courses.

That portion of the northern escarpment or natural boundary of the alluvial plain of the Trent which comes within the parish boundary, is marked by a steep grassy bank or cliff which runs through the middle of Highfield Park and round by Spring Close, where it is broken by the gap through which the Leen enters the valley of the Trent. The line of escarpment re-appears on the opposite side of the Leen, however, in the lovv sandstone cliff at the back of the bleach works at New Lenton, and continues on by the " Rock Holes " in Nottingham Park to a more lofty eminence, crowned by Nottingham Castle. Receding from the banks of the Leen, either to the east or to the west, the ground gradually rises to the most elevated parts of the parish. The highest point is at Sion Hill, on the Derby Road, which is the extreme eastern limit of the parish.

This is 257 feet above the sea-level, (1) Since the above was written the Leen has been again diverted, and now empties its waters into the canal, passing through a field known as Boot's Close, in Lenton parish, on the western side of the Midland Railway line, and the bed of the river has been filled up from that point to Nottingham Castle. or about 150 feet above the level of the river Leen near Lenton Station. On the west a gently swelling ridge, picturesquely wooded here and there with plantations or clumps of trees, stretches from the edge of the Trent escarpment in Highfield Park on the south, to Wollaton Hall near the extreme north west corner of the parish. The charming views of the country for miles round to be obtained from almost any part of this ridge, has caused it to be selected as the sites for such country seats as Lenton Hall, Lenton Firs, Lenton House, and Highfield House.

From the grounds of the latter residence a singularly beautiful and extensive view across the valley of the Trent is obtained. To the east, Belvior Castle is plainly visible ; more to the south lies Clifton Grove, backed by the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Wolds; whilst further southward is Thrumpton Park and Red Hill, with the wooded eminence of Donington Park beyond, and Charnwood Forest forming a bold back ground ; and to the south-west appear Breedon Bulwarks and Church. The parish, formerly included within the boundaries of the once famous Forest of Sherwood, likewise comprised in earlier days the now extinct villages of Morton and Keighton ; and until 1878 the large out-lying tract of land, known as Bestwood Park, was also in the parish of Lenton. Until recent years the modest aspect of the village, with its retired villas and gentlemen's seats, possessed an air of peaceful repose, of which few other places in this busy neighbourhood could boast.

For ecclesiastical purposes the parish is included (as part of the county of Nottingham1) in the diocese of Southwell, and in the archdeaconry and rural deanery of Nottingham. For civil purposes it forms part of the borough of Nottingham, and is also included in the Poor Law Union, and County Court District, of Nottingham ; but for Parliamentary purposes, it forms part of the Northern Division of the county of Nottingham. (1) Previous to ihe year 1837 the entire county, with the exception of a portion of two parishes, formed part of ihe diocese of York, but in that year it was severed from York and united with Lincoln. In February, 1884, the county of Nottingham was severed from the diocese of Lincoln and united to the adjoinin_; county of Derbv, to form the new diocese of Southwell. The high roads from Nottingham to Derby,1 and from Nottingham to Birmingham, run through the parish, the latter road branching off from the former opposite to the second entrance lodge to Wollaton Park.

The Derby Road appears to have formerly left the line of the present road near to the " Rose and Crown " Inn, and to have followed the line of the carriage drive in Wollaton Park as far as the bend (which forms the corner boundary of Wollaton parish), and along the boundary of the parishes of Lenton and Wollaton ; near the entrance lodge to Lenton Hall2 it crossed the line of the present road and ran along by the row of old elms in the park belonging to Lenton Hall, joining the present road near the small pond at the corner of the park. The course of the road was diverted when Lord Middleton purchased the land between the old and present lines of road and enclosed it in his park. The Cromford and Nottingham canal also crosses the parish, being joined below Old Lenton by the Beeston canal, commonly known as "Beeston Cut," and passing out of the parish on the northern side of the King's Meadows at Nottingham.

The main line of the Midland Railway, from London to York, divides the villages of Old and New Lenton, the railway station being on the Derby Road, near to the end of Gregory Street, formerly the principal street of the parish ; whilst the Derby, Nottingham, and Lincoln branch intersects another part of the parish, running along the Trent valley, almost parallel with the river. In making a perambulation of the parish, the followino itinerary will be found the most convenient. On quitting Not tingham by the Derby Road, a little beyond Sion Hill, already spoken of as the highest point of the parish, we come to what was formerly known as the " Sand Hill," down which the road (i) This road was known as "Derbigate" as early as the year 1301. See "Records of the Borough of Nottingham," i. 371. In 1335 it is referred to as " regiam viam quae ducit versus 'Lenton,' " Ibid. i. 122.

In the year 1759 an Act was passed " for repairing and widening the roads from . . . . Chappel Bar, near the West End of the town of Nottingham, to Saint Mary's Bridge in the town of Derby, and from the Guide Post in the parish of L»nton to Sawley Ferry." This Act was amended by four subsequent Acts, passed 20 George III, 39 George III, 59 George III, and 7-8 George IV. (2) See Ihe Lenton and Radford Inclosure Award, 176S. runs into the Leen Valley. The " Sand Hill," * or " Lenton Sands," as it is generally called, derives its name from the deep sandy nature of the soil in this part, owing to which the Derby Road was, until a comparative recent period, almost impassable at certain seasons,2 and there is little doubt but that for many years the want of a more convenient means of access between Lenton and Nottingham materially retarded the increase and prosperity of the former place.

Except for pedestrians, who have acquired a right to cross Nottingham Park, the Derby Road forms the only direct communication between Lenton and Nottingham, but a low-level road, to be named the " Lenton Boulevard," running directly from the new parish church to the foot of the Castle Rock at Nottingham, is now in course of construction. At the top of the Sand Hills, from which a splendid view of Wollaton Hall and Park is obtained, a place was reserved under the Inclosure Act of 1768 for holding Lenton Fair, but this site has long been relinquished, and the fairs are now held about half-a-mile down the road at the bottom of the hill, close to the railway station. Passing down the Sand Hill, having first gardens and a football ground, and then a considerable tract of arable land on the right, lying between the Derby Road and the road leading from Nottingham to Ilkeston, we come first to New Lenton, a thickly populated and thriving, but most unlovely modern manufacturing district, lying to the left of the road, and extending on each side of Willoughby Street as far as Lenton Boulevard, already mentioned.

Lower down the hill, on the same side of the road, and at some distance from it,3 stands the new parish Church, and near it the Vicarage house and National Schools, and close by, but nearer to New Lenton, a mansion known as Lenton Lodge, the residence of the Misses Wright. At the bottom of the hill the road crosses (1) In speaking of the maiden pink, John Ray says, " I find this to be the same pink which groweth so plentifully by the road side on the sandy hill you ascend going from Lenton to Nottingham." Catalogus Plantarum, 2 ed, 1677. p. 57. (2) Until the year 1740, Ihe road from Chapel Bar, Nottingham, to the top of the Sand Hills, was a deep hollow way ; at that time Lord Middleton obtained permis sion from the Corporation of Nottingham to raise the road by casting into it the hills which lay on both sides.

Blackner's Nottingham, p. 57. (3) The Nottinghamshire Agricultural Show was held in the intervening fields in the years 1880 and 1883. over the Midland Railway, close by the station, and just beyond we come to a road crossing the Derby Road, and running almost parallel with the railway. To the right, this road, known as Radford Marsh, leads into the squalid district of Old Radford, whilst to the left it forms what in modern days has been dignified, or rather " townified," with the name of " Gregory Street." This road, having detached villas on either side, leads direct into Old Lenton, of which, in fact, it constitutes a part. Turning down this " street," we come to another road which turns to the left, and then, branching off, leads on the left hand past a plain square red brick farm-house, known as the Manor House, and so past the new Church to New Lenton, and on the right crosses the Lenton Boulevard, and runs by the southern end of New Lenton, and across the Park direct into Nottingham.