1800-1850 | Burton Joyce Online

CHAPTER 5 : TimeLine Slice 1800 < 1850

STOCKINGERS/FWK/LACE

In the 1800 ‘s the machine which was producing the nearest approx to hand made lace was the point net machine patented by Morris in 1781. The double press machine invented by John Rogers in 1786 made a similar but mare stable fabric, embroidered by hand. This "net" was the first to be known commercially as Nottingham Lace

Nottingham the country’s main hosiery manufacturing town was fortunately best placed to take the lead in the up and coming lace industry. Leicester also appeared to be a likely lace centre , but as it specialised in a wool product and Nottingham in cotton and silks. It was cotton and silk activity which proved to be the important factor, when machine spun cotton became fine enough to be used in lace manufacture

By the change of the century to 1800 many master Hosiers were transferring their skills to the lace trade. Boosted by their business skills, experience and organising ability, trade expanded rapidly. By 1810 about 10,000 <15000 people were employed in Nottingham and the surrounding villages, with women and children embroidering patterns on the net.

It was in this early part of the 1800’s that Nottingham produce two men of genius John Heathcoat and John Levers.

1841 saw the introduction of the Jacquard system to produce lace with fancy edgings by controlling the threads to a pre determined pattern. This created greater scope for designs for shawls, scarves, veils, and edgings

Local; workmen such a Richard Burkin, Adams, Sewell, Kendal, Sneath, Moreley , Herbert Gregory, and the Burton Brothers became manufacturers.

In 1846 John Livesey introduced the Nottingham Lace Curtain machine which eventually produced "Madras" style lace also

A few men made fortunes, thousands toiled all their working lives just to keep body and soul together. There has been more bad times than good, in the early/mid 1800’s when twist net fever was raging , skilled lace-makers, known as twist hands, rode on horseback to work

It was in the mid 1800 that steam came in to power new circular frames.

The development of lace was a long cycle

There were two great holidays for lace makers - November 30th and November 25th

This sketch is modified but based on the original from

“Nottingham Lace 1760s <1950s”

- Sheila A Mason

HOUSING & DIET -

The people had been living for many years at the lowest point of existence feeding on bread and potatoes, sometimes for weeks at a time. Their furniture had to be sold , their clothing hardly held together and nothing new had been obtained by many families for so long as they could remember. The homes were most filthy and discontentment and misery abounded. The children had no education. The plight of the towns folk was a little better to those living in the country. The foul air, dampness and squalid conditions did little to help the health of the folk - the mortality rate in the young was tragically and wages were low. In BJ in this slice of the TimeLine a FWK was earning between 50% and 80%of the manufacturing rate , with the “Bagman” taking the balance for himself In 1841 - 12 houses in BJ and 26 in B. In the next 10 ears 22 houses built in BJ

THE POOR in 1840

Basford Workhouse was accommodating 250 inmates ( some from BJ). In a letter to Mr Hardey the BJ Overseer from a Mr Brown it was stated that there were three persons to a bed, occupying only six feet of space and in some cases only five feet of space. In Dec of 1840 there was an outbreak of smallpox in the workhouse with the result that 5 cases died, by now there was 4 and 5 sharing a bed.

EDUCATION -

According to the 1841 census returns there were 4 teachers in the village. The Nottingham review frequently reports parties being given to the children of the two Sunday schools, but nothing more about a day school until 1849, when a mention was made to a school n course of erection. This was completed in April 1850. It stands in the centre of the village and a stone explains that the site and subscription given by the Earl of Chesterfield. This remained a school for 17 years

OCCUPATIONS

FWK and agriculture The first reliable records of FWK appeared in 1841 when the first detailed national census was taken this census and subsequent ones shows numbers as follows

1841 - 96

1851 - 112

1861 - 118

1871 - 91

FWK was very often a family affair with the Head of the family usually operating a frame ( sometimes 2) and his wife and children completing additional operations such as seaming etc. In many households as the children reached the age of 10 many of them also would become FWK operatives themselves, even grandchildren are recorded as helping. Approx 74% of the knitting families in BJ were involved in the industry on a family basis. It was common practice for many families to continued in the FWK trade thro several successive generations. Knitting frames were either owned by the family themselves or rented from the hosiery company, or “Bagman”. It appears that in many of these machines were passed on from father to child or were even taken over by a wife in the case of widowhood,1841 average weekly age in lace industry estimated by Felkin as 18s

1845 Oct 17th - BJ Post Office began participation in the “penny post” Post Master General being Mr B Jackson.Foot messenger leaves Nottingham Daily at 7am and reached BJ at 9.45 and remains at Bulcote until 4.0pm ( messenger receives 12/- per week - 60p in todays money).

LUDDITE ACTIONS

There are only two incidents of the Luddites action in BJ -in 1811 and 1812 when 5 frames were destroyed. In July 1812 the Nottingham Journal records that 13 Framework Knitters were unemployed and that 2 inhabitants of BJ have raised by subscription £26,14s 9d to assist their poor neighbours during the present high price of corn.

In the year 1819 Felkin says

a “very memorable year in the history of the FWK in Nottinghamshire for the extraordinary severity of the suffering of the workmen and their families” -

BJ did not escape and relief was asked for - The 13 FWK in BJ out of employ were listed as

Robt. Lindley………………….Robt Lindley Jnr…………Jno Lindley

Thos Lindley………………….Jno Dring…………………Jno Swinscoe

Samuel Hempshall……………Geo Hempshall…………Robt Alcock

Robt Scothern…………………Jno Scothern…………….Wm Caunt

Jno Marshall…………………

It should be noted that in the 13 listed FWK as being unemployed ,

3 families account for 8 The Lindley’s list 4, the Hempshall’s and Scotherns list 2 each

Census Returns BJ B and total population as

1801 447 148 595

1811 459 105 564

1821 508 142 650

1831 534 142 676

1841 610 154 764

1841 census show a Samuel Alvey aged 10 FWK and Susannah Alvey aged 11 boarding with Edward Barrowcliffe family in BJ. ( 63 Main St)- Susannah was still there in 1851

1841 census shows Joseph Alvey 15 yr old son of Joseph ( Blacksmith) and Mary as butcher -

1851 census shows him married ( age now listed as 28) to Ann ( Dams? b Caunton) aged 32 with 4 sons and employing 2 servants, farming 50 acres - employing a labourer

1801 Framework Knitting important to village - Riot in market Place in Nottingham against high price of provisions;

1806 Dec 10 Burial of Hannah @ 81

1808 Jun 18 Marriage of HINGLEY John = Elizabeth ALVEY both of this parish by licence

1809 Highest flood recorded

1809 A Samuel Alvey was father of an illegitimate daughter Ann by Alice Morris of Caythorpe he paid maintenance to Overseer

1810 The Lord Nelson Public House was named as The Swan and Salmon

1811 Feb reduced state of trade means experienced tradesmen who were starving had to sweep streets for income

11th March in Nottingham Market Sq 100’s of FWK assembled to complain of reduction in prices for hosiery

4th November the breaking of FWK machines resumed,

1811 Lord Byron in the House of Lords describes the life of a Stockinger as…….” meagre with famine, and sullen with despair”

1813 Mar 18 Marriage of JACKSON Joseph = Elizabeth ALVEY both of this parish Wit: Martha ALVEY

1815 ALVEY Family 360:

William Alvy & Elizabeth at Burton Joyce/ Gedling/Nottingham St Mary 1815

Children

1815/11/21 f Mary Ann Burton Joyce d 1819/07/28

1818/05/17 f Alice Gedling d 1827/03/23 buried at Burton Joyce

1820/07/18 f Elizabeth Burton Joyce possibly buried 1896/09/21@ BJ

1823/06/29 f Sarah Burton Joyce father born 1790 Blidworth

1825/09/09 f Martha Nottingham St Mary d 1826/12/21b. Barker Gate - buried Burton Joyce, father Victualler

Link family 222: William b 1787/04/09 son of John of Gedling & Ann Alvy at Gedling

1815 Jan 6 Burial of Ann @ 5 months, B Joyce Nov 21 Baptism of Mary Ann dau of William & Elizabeth

1818 Sep 27 Burial of Matthew @ 26, B Joyce

1818 ALVEY Family 370:

Joseph Alvey & Mary at Burton Joyce 1818

1817/09/07 wed: Joseph b 1789 d 1869/09/10 & Mary Seston b 1792 d 1845/10/19 at Burton Joyce (from PR burials,

1041/1861 census, gr b Blidworth

Children

1818/01/31 m Matthew Alvey Burton Joyce d 1897/08/07 buried at Lowdham

1820/11/03 f Eliza Burton Joyce = John Parker

1823/02/02 m Joseph Burton Joyce d 1890/05/26

Link family 222: Joseph b 1789/01/31 son of John of Gedling & Ann at Gedling

Joseph was BJ’s village Blacksmith working out of the Smithy located at the corner of Willow Wong and Main St with his son Matthew

The Image shows the Old Forge before it became a store

1818 Jan 31 Burial of Matthew son of Joseph blacksmith & Mary,

1818 Dec 12 Marriage of PILKINTON James = Ann ALVEY both of this parish by licence

1819 Jul 28 Burial of Mary Ann @ 3yr 8mo, B Joyce, discovered in the River Trent Jul 24

1820 Jul 18 Baptism of Elizabeth dau of William livery servant & Elizabeth, BJ

1820 Nov 3 Baptism of Eliza dau of Joseph blacksmith & Mary, B Joyce

1823 Feb 2 Baptism of Joseph son of Joseph blacksmith & Mary, BJ

1823 Jun 29 Baptism of Sarah dau of William service & Elizabeth, BJ

1824 Jul 24 Burial of Dorothy @ 66, B Joyce

1824 Oct 12 Marriage of Richard widower = Elizabeth HAZELDINE spinster both of this parish

1826 Dec 21 Burial of Martha @ 15 months, Nottingham

1826 The Lord Nelson Public House was named as The Sign of the Swan

1827 Mar 23 Burial of Alice @ 8.75, Nottingham

1829 Two Steam Packets plied their trade between Nottingham and Gainsborough - the "Robin Hood" and the "Little

Steam Packets on the river at BJ

1829 Thomas Brittle is mentioned as travelling to Gunthorpe from the “ Old Angel” Stoney Street 3 carriers to Lowdham and 1 to

Caythorpe ( high probable thro BJ). John Swinscoe a BJ carrier went to Nottingham on Wednesdays and Saturdays a @ 7

a.m.

1831 Dec 15 Marriage of John of GEDLING = Elizabeth PALING of this parish (Bulcote)

1832 Mar 18 Burial of Samuel @ 83 Burton BURIED

1836 The Lord Nelson Public House finally received its present name!

The Lord Nelson Public House

1838 Aug 26 Marriage of SLATER Edward widower butcher (father John victualler)= Ann ALVEY spinster (father Joseph

blacksmith) both of this parish, Wit: Matthew ALVEY

1844 Thomas Smith - carrier from “ New George” Hotel Nottingham running to Bulcote on Wednesday and Saturday and John Chapman of the “Nags Head” Nottingham running daily to BJ, John Goodwin carrier of BJ ran to Nottingham on Wednesday and Saturday. Subsequently carriers began to run regularly to BJ<1920

In 1844 A Thomas Atkin reported to the Commissioners that there were possibly 2 or 3 “Bagmen” in BJ, one with about

14/15 frames another with 12 another 1 or 3 with less. The “Bagmen” were middlemen who would have their own frames

and workshops and who would collect raw materials from the Hosiers in Nottingham and deliver and collect from the

knitters in the village and then return with the finished product to Nottingham.

FWK Frame

This was most acceptable to the individual knitters for it meant that they did not lose work time in delivering and collection (To and from

Nottingham would have taken the best part of a day in travel for them - none productive time) There were times however when this was not so - In BJ in this slice of the TimeLine a FWK was earning between 50% and 80%of the manufacturing rate ,with the “Bagman” taking the balance for himself.

1845 Oct 17th - BJ Post Office began participation in the “Penny Post” Post Master General being Mr B Jackson. Foot messenger leaves Nottingham Daily at 7am and reached BJ at9.45 and remains at B until 4.0pm ( messenger receives 12/- per week - 60p in todays money)

1845 Oct 19 Burial of Mary @ 53, B Joyce

1846 ALVEY Family 449:

Matthew ALVEY & Sarah Shelton at Burton Joyce 1846

1842/12/01 wed: Matthew b1818 & Sara Shelton b 1823 d 1869/02/03 at Gedling ages from 1851/1861 census br b and bur at STOKE BARDOLPH

Children

1846/10/04 m Matthew Burton Joyce d 1858/10/21 father b 1818 (1851 Census) gravestone in St Helen’s BJ cemetery

1849/09/02 f Mary Martha Burton Joyce

1854/05/15 f Emma Burton Joyce

Link family 370: Matthew b 1818/01/31 son of Joseph & Mary Alvey at Burton Joyce

Matthew worked alongside his father Joseph who was the village Smithy located at the corner of Willow Wong and Main St. He later took over the business

1846 Oct 4 Baptism of Matthew son of Matthew blacksmith & Sarah, B Joyce

The Old BJ Smithy ( on the L) today is a Dance Studio

1846 - On the 3rd August the Nottingham to Lincoln railway was opened - The railway took just 8 months to complete - mainly because the terrain caused very few engineering problems.

The railway track ran straight thro the land which separated the village from the river -result several rail crossing were required.

There was 6 BJ home owners with land which was compulsory purchased, 6 in Bulcote and 48 BJ garden holders.

There were several disturbances with differences of opinions between the Railway navvies and the men of BJ one of note took place at the Lord Nelson Public House.

However there was not always trouble, on June 12th 1845 there was “grand entertainment given by Mr Craven for the workers employed on the Lincoln line, held at the house of Mr Thorpe - the Lord Nelson. It seemed to be entirely amicable.

There were numerous “incidents” resulting from the railway, some quite horrifying - the church being nearby often being used as a mortuary

On Monday August 3rd 1846 the directors and certain shareholders rode the first train from Nottingham to Lincoln.

August 1st 1846 seeing the last coach between the two Cities. The journey time from Nottingham to Burton Joyce was now only

19 minutes (by rail) there are 5 crossing points of the railway lines in BJ & B

1) At the Station - vehicular and gated

2) At the Lord Nelson PH - pedestrian

3) At Meadow Lane - Vehicular and gated

4) At the junction of Criftin Road and Lee road - pedestian

5) At Bulcote - Vehicular and gated

1848 ALVEY Family 455:

Joseph Alvey & Ann Dams at Burton Joyce 1848 1848/04/04 wed: Joseph farmer b 1822 and Ann Dams b 1818 at Burton

Joyce - Note 1881census returns gives Joseph 200 acre and employs 4 men + boy. Son George is then

a Journalist and Harry a Farmer

Joseph bachelor full age of Burton Joyce farmer Signed (son of Joseph blacksmith) = Ann Dams widow full age of Burton Joyce signed (fa deceased) Wit: Matthew Alvey Eliza Alvey by John Rolleston vicar

Children

1848/11/19 m William Burton Joyce d 1872/10/19 - gravestone in St Helen’s BJ

1850/06/23 m Albert Burton Joyce d 1871/08/03 “”””””””””

1852/02/15 m Arthur Joseph Burton Joyce

1853/12/18 f Sophia Dams Burton Joyce married Mr H Roberts Jnr

1856/01/27 m George Burton Joyce

1859/07/31 f Elizabeth Ann Burton Joyce

1861/07/14 m Harry Burton Joyce

Link family 370: Joseph b 1823/02/02 son of Joseph Alvey & Mary at Burton Joyce

Note ! Mr Roberts married Sophia Alvey and purchased Criftin land from Joseph , building a house and living there ( Fernside )

"Fernside"

1848 Nov 19 Baptism of William son of Joseph farmer & Ann, B Joyce

1848 There were 7 shops in BJ incl William Harby - The Baker and Coal Dealer 2 others were sited side by side at the corner of

Tim Lane and Main Street. One was the business of Miss Swinscoe and the other Mrs Alvey,!!! at the rear of Mrs Alveys

shop was her husband’s Stocking making business. Mrs Alvey was invariably seen with her head wrapped in red flannel

-”To ease her neuralga and head aches” (Need to question this date “as to when this family came to BJ

Alvey Link Family ??? ( in 1860’s?)

1849 Sep 2 Baptism of Mary Martha dau of Matthew blacksmith & Sarah, BJ

1850 Jun 23 Baptism of Albert son of Joseph farmer & Ann, B Joyce

1850 Jun 8 Burial of Mary @ 62, B Joyce late Carlton

1850 BJ prosperous for knitting - No schools in BJ

Census Returns give

Year BJ B Total pop

1801 447 148 595

1811 459 105 564

1821 508 142 650

1831 534 142 676

1841 610 154 764

1841 Census shows A Samuel Alvey aged 10 FWK ***and a Susannah Alvey aged 11 boarding with a FWK family other than an Alvey - Barrowcliffe @ 63 Main St)
Alvey Baptisms @ BJ Parish Records
1815 Nov 21 ALVEY Mary Ann dau of William labourer & Elizabeth, B Joyce
1818 Jan 31 ALVEY Matthew son of Joseph blacksmith & Mary, B Joyce
1820 Jul 18 ALVEY Elizabeth dau of William livery servant & Elizabeth, BJ
1820 Nov 3 ALVEY Eliza dau of Joseph blacksmith & Mary, B Joyce
1823 Feb 2 ALVEY Joseph son of Joseph blacksmith & Mary, B Joyce
1823 Jun 29 ALVEY Sarah dau of William service & Elizabeth, B Joyce
1846 Oct 4 ALVEY Matthew son of Matthew blacksmith & Sarah, B Joyce
1848 Nov 19 ALVEY William son of Joseph farmer & Ann, B Joyce
1849 Sep 2 ALVEY Mary Martha dau of Matthew blacksmith & Sarah, BJ
1850 Jun 23 ALVEY Albert son of Joseph farmer & Ann, B Joyce

Alvey Burials @ BJ Parish Records
1806 Dec 10 ALVEY Hannah @ 81
1815 Jan 6 ALVEY Ann @ 5 months, B Joyce
1818 Sep 27 ALVEY Matthew @ 26, B Joyce
1819 Jul 28 ALVEY Mary Ann @ 3yr 8mo, B Joyce, discovered in the River
Trent Jul 24
1824 Jul 24 ALVEY Dorothy @ 66, B Joyce
1826 Dec 21 ALVEY Martha @ 15 months, Nottingham
1827 Mar 23 ALVEY Alice @ 8.75, Nottingham
1832 Mar 18 ALVEY Samuel @ 83 Burton BURIED
1845 Oct 19 ALVEY Mary @ 53, B Joyce
1850 Jun 8 ALVEY Mary @ 62, B Joyce late Carlton

Alvey Marriages @ BJ Parish Records
1808 Jun 18 HINGLEY John = Elizabeth ALVEY both of this parish by licence
1813 Mar 18 JACKSON Joseph = Elizabeth ALVEY both of this parish
Wit: Martha ALVEY
1817 Sep 7 ALVEY Joseph bachelor = Mary SESTON spinster both of this
parish, by banns
1818 Dec 12 PILKINTON James = Ann ALVEY both of this parish by licence
1824 Oct 12 ALVEY Richard widower = Elizabeth HAZELDINE spinster
both of this parish
1831 Dec 15 ALVEY John of GEDLING = Elizabeth PALING of this parish
(Bulcote)
1838 Aug 26 SLATER Edward widower butcher (father John victualler)
= Ann ALVEY spinster (father Joseph blacksmith)
both of this parish, Wit: Matthew ALVEY
1848 Apr 4 Alvey Joseph bachelor full age of Burton Joyce farmer signed
(son of Joseph blacksmith)
= Ann Dams widow full age of Burton Joyce signed
(fa deceased)
Wit: Matthew Alvey Eliza Alvey
by John Rolleston vicar

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BJ Vicars 1782 - Thomas Bigsby 1822 - John Rolleston

Note !!

Joseph Alvey the land owner and Farmer did live in Bulcote for a period of time

Bulcote Church after its rebuild
Main road from BJ to Bulcote - passing by “The Spring” (home of “Abel”)