Burton Joyce Online

The Beginning of a "Journey through Time"

In 1500 an employed Nottingham man earned £20 per year - a house could be built for the princely sum of £6! Yes…. Six Pounds Sterling

It should be mentioned that during this early period of time the Nottingham was quite an unruly town to live in and to be caught in alone in after dark, as was much of the surrounding area. The punishment meted out to felons was barbarous, in many cases hanging was common so much so the gallows needed renewing from time to time. There was burning at the stake, branding with hot irons and the stocks, and the pillory and cock-stool were kept in constant repair. For felons there was the town gaol, a fearsome place with cells below ground level, there was also another lock-up ominously called “the cage”. In 1607 there were the Houses of Correction for the “sturdy beggars” who tried to live on their wits

St Helen’s C of E has been the single physical constant in Burton Joyce village from the time of Edward the Confessor (1042<1066), to the present day, it appears relevant and justifiable to describe and explain at this early point of this Timeline, the “thro the ages” occurrences & connections

Attendance at the “new” Protestant Church of England had been compulsory since 1570 as part of a campaign against the Catholics after the Pope had excommunicated the Queen.

STOCKINGERS/ FWK/ LACE

Flemish refugees introduced pillow and bobbin lace to England in the 1500s, founding a major cottage industry

Lace generated romance and almost religious fever. The Rev William Lee resolved to mechanise the hand practise of stocking making- The result in 1589 he invented the Stocking Frame - capable of producing and entire row in the time it took an experienced knitter to form a single loop

Lace had become the infant of the stocking trade

1641 there were less than 100 frames operating n the whole country, it was in this year that the Frame Work Knitting in Nottingham is recorded.

LIFE GENERALLY

Life in these times must have been very hard. No running water , no transport, no NHS, no flushing toilets, unmade roads and paths (becoming quagmires for most of the year), lack of sewage treatment, no schools, no shops as such , just the basics in food and drink , having to fetch water from streams or rivers in all weathers ( winter and summer - we know there was some running water for a “beck“ has always run off the hillside parallel to Lambley Lane and there was also a small “spring” at the east end of Main street. This spring giving and was the “identifying name” to Abel Alvey’s Main St cottage in the late 1800’s),

No baths or showers, clothes worn day in and day out, very frequently a complete lack of shoes, no tea, coffee or soft drinks, access completely without lighting (gas lights came much later), the heating was probably one fire in the food area of a home, no duvets on the sleeping areas - probably just skins or straw, there was a complete lack of food choice- sometimes a complete lack of food? (“You have what you’ve got and that’s it.! “), possibly the occasional milk from a goat or a friends cow, berries, and fish caught in the river or rabbit (when one was brave or desperate enough to ignore the consequences of being caught red-handed - “poaching?”), the odd rabbit or bird and eggs from the water fowl nests, etc. would have been luxury itself. When the winds blow either from the South West or the North East, it can be quite “hairy” in BJ. The wind will find the easiest route and it will “howl” up/down the large gulley with its bridal way which runs from BJ village up and over the escarpment to Lambley village. Tree damage is all too frequent an occurrence

These must have been just some of the downsides of life in the 1600’s , however there must have been one or two upsides also, otherwise the village would never have attracted migrants into the community and it would surely have degenerated and died completely. The Alvey’s and other families would certainly not have prevailed and contributed to the development of the village

Perhaps here is the opportune time to illustrate the ALVEY’S of BURTON JOYCE TimeLine in order to begin to explain and tie the following detail into context

The illustration below is meant to show the movement of individual Alvey families relative to time. Each relevant ALVEY family is given a dedicated numerical reference which can note within the framework of time and place.

The details have been collated and analysed by my cousin Peter ALVEY whilst researching archives etc., for several years now together with his sister Joan. Their goal is and has been to establish credible and records, together with comprehensive and accurate detail within both their paternal and maternal family trees. A task which has consumed a great deal effort and travelling and visiting archives and local parishes over many years and still continues on today.

ROAD SYSTEMS

As important as the population of a village was, it was not the only point of significance. Geographic considerations were just as important, even as late as the second half of the 1700’s. BJ was always both small and remote - passage invariably crude, generally via unmade roads, bridal ways and footpaths

There was no bridge over the river Trent between Nottingham and Newark and as BJ has never stood at a road junction. The old road to Grimsby which passed through was not good and was the only way down river to get to Bleasby/Hazelmere, where the nearest cross-river ferry was situated. Jon Ogliby in his text accompanying his road map (1675) describes the road passing thro BJ as “no pleasant way, being in many places deep and clayey”

On the other hand in 1750 Charles Deering writes about the same road: “The horse road over the forest to Newark from Nottingham is… seldom inconvenient, but on the contrary for the most part, especially in summer, furnishes the horseman for eight miles with a most pleasurable journey, by the north bank of the river Trent, whilst he rides on a green lawn and enjoys the most delightful view of the high ad steep hills near the opposite side of the river.”

In 1767 the road from Nottingham to Newark still appears to pass thro BJ. However, much later in 1822 Peterson’s map shows the road from Nottingham to Southwell going via Redhill and up Oxton Hill.

Even as late as 1750 the roads in the neighbourhood of Nottingham were described as “at times impassable for vehicles and in winter it happened not infrequently that wagon and coaches were stuck in the mud and were left there until extrication became more easy”

TRANSPORT

“Shank’s pony” (ones own feet!) , ponies, horse, cows etc., “beast of laden” although even in the late 1700, wheeled vehicles were relatively scarce, however, the amount of traffic on the roads was vast for so small a population. There were enormous numbers of pack horses as well as great herds of cattle, sheep and pigs, geese and other livestock which could be moved by walking along the roads. This constant procession of feet, especially in wet weather turned the soft “unsurfaced” tracks into quagmires. It is reported that geese came thro BJ on their way from Lincolnshire to Nottingham Goose Fair. It is also reported that often the feet of the geese were coated by dipping them into tar, to protect them throughout their walk over the great distances

RELIGION in BJ

Vicars of St. Helen’s (Church of England) thro the ages

1581 - John Parker 1626 - Edward Piers 1627 - John Gifford

Attendance at the “new” Protestant Church of England had been compulsory since 1570 as part of a campaign against the Catholics after the Pope had excommunicated the Queen.

Catholics did not appear to have been much of a problem to the authorities in the area (only one - Alice Wood -1608) is recorded as a Popist Recusant. However Vicar Richard Broad seems to have been beset with trouble through out his term. In a letter responding to questions from his superiors, concerning unlawful assemblies held in the Parish he replied…..

“Every Lords Day unlawful meetings are held at……..John Trewman’s house, attended by, (This could be the “John Trueman “plus son who was killed in the Royalist’s battle at Shelford)

• John Trewman and his family
• James Pecke
• Adam Barker and his wife
• Jon Goffe and his family
• Gabriell Blatherwick and his family
• Richard Marshall and his wife
• Thomas Orston and his family
• John Oxley and his wife
• Edward Spenser and his family
• Joseph Spenser and his family
• Janne Parker
• Catherine Truman
• Robert Bradshaw and his family
• Richard Walker
• Ann Walker
• Ann South
• Urie Martin

In fact the people of BJ were playing havoc with the work of their Pastor during the years 1699 to 1714

It is relevant to mention at this point that the invention of the Stocking Frame (FWK) by the clergyman Rev William Lee from nearby Calverton in 1589 and the first cotton hose created in 1730 by Slater the “Stockinger of Bellargate” both had major and significant influences on the individual livelihood and lifestyles and many of the villagers of BJ and their families throughout the period of this TimeLine

HOUSING

Thro out this period the majority of families lived in squalid one or two roomed houses/cottages - the rent being between 15s and 25s a year (£1.00p/1.25p in today’s money) depending upon the amount of land, if any, which went with it.,

It should be added that Vicars and the Clergy always appeared to be a “cut above the rest” for example.. BJ’s Vicarage had a Study, Hall, Parlours, Three Chambers, Kitchen, Quern house and Tillhouse, (better class houses still had their main living area in the Hall or House as it was sometimes called - this was often open to the roof rafters. These rooms were generally the centre of all domestic life and used for cooking, eating, sitting, and sleeping. (Parlours were originally “withdrawing rooms” for the Master and Mistress to sit and sleep in, away from the servants in the Hall)

The Vicars in these early times had to be Farmers also -

John Parker had eight cows, three beasts, five calves, five horse, eight pigs, and forty eight sheep also barley and peas

In later years the Vicarage was measured at 30’ x 15’, the Barn 18’ x 14’, the Stable 16’ x 12’ and the Beast Hovel 14’x11’ (for info 3.1’ = 1M).

The old BJ Vicarage once stood on the plot of land now occupied by 24 & 26 Main Street and the small bungalows on Tim Lane. However, it was not considered fit for the Vicar to live in during John Rolleston’s incumbency (1882-63) and it was let to 3 families.

The Vicar moved to a house close by the Church.

It should be added here that some time later in the TimeLine 2 more churches were built - one in the villages centre (Methodist) and another on Lambley Lane.

THE POOR

By the end of the 1500’s Parishes followed a typical English village pattern and appointed a Church Warden, a Way Warden or Supervisor of Roads, a Constable, and an Overseer of the Poor.

In 1626 a Roger Guest of Bulcote and a labourer was allowed six pence a week

“he having lived for 20 years in the parish and being too feeble to keep himself and his wife”.

Money to pay for the services provided for the poor came from a levy being made whenever the were required

Records show that BJ had 22 houses and Bulcote 13, with a rental value of more than £5 yearly, and it was on the occupants of these houses that the levy was made. All except the very poor paid a Poor Rate.

In certain circumstances the Overseer could seize property to recover expenses incurred.

(For example - in later years - 1757 John Alvey moved to BJ - leaving his wife and 3 children in Woodborough, where they became the responsibility of the parish. The Overseer tried to seize a Stocking Frame but John’s brother Samuel claimed actual ownership. This predicament became the subject of a court action in Nottingham and was finally resolved in Samuel’s favour)

Monetary relief was also given to able bodied paupers. An extract from an official document reveals….

“To the Constable and Church Warden and others, the Overseers of the poor of the parish of Burton Joyce

Greetings:

Whereas complain hath been made unto me Sit Thos Parkyns Bart, one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace …….that Geo Merston of your town who appears to Me to be an Inhabitant legally settled in your Parish is in Great need and Poverty and likely to perish for want of Employment to maintain himself and his family Therefore in his Majesty’s name we command you the Ch. Warden etc………… to set ye said George Merston on work or to pay unto him Two shillings weekly for the and out of your Publick Levey for ye use of Ye Poor made etc…. otherwise to come before me and show cause to the contrary. Hereof fail not at your peril”

In 1649 in Nottingham the system for contracting with a “Master for the Employment of the Poor” was made to include able bodied men and children.

The Corporation undertook to supply to a “Master” a capital sum of £20, a quarterly subsidy of 27s 6d and 12 spinning wheels.

On his part the Master agreed to set the poor on the spinning of linen and woollen and pulling out candlewick and to pay the following rates of wages

6d per pound for carding and spinning finest wool

5d “ “ “ the second sort

4.5d “ “ “ “ third sort

1d per leg ( ie per skein) for linen spinning, the reel being 4 yard long

0.5d per pound for carding candlewick

1d “ “ “ pulling out coarse part

1d “ “ “ spinning candlewick

EDUCATION

1634 NO schoolmaster in BJ recorded

HEALTH

There was outbreaks of plague in Nottingham 1631/36.

Infant mortality was always high , with smallpox, scarlet fever typhus, typhoid and gastro complaints prevalent - personal hygiene, dirty hands, contaminated drinking water etc., were the likely causes

OCCUPATIONS

Mainly Agriculture In BJ the Open Field System was where the arable land would be -

Crock or West Field, Smith Moor Hill or Brusto or Birstie Hill Field, Mill Field, Low Field & Upper Field ( common to Bulcote), Church Field and Skithorne Hill. Also in Bulcote .

There was a Mill Field in the SW of BJ near the River Trent, there must have been a Mill in or near this field for in 1608 a mill was reported as suffering storm damage at BJ, together with one at Stoke Bardolph.

The Smithmoor Hill Farm or Brusto Field was on the hill to the north and still survives today in Brusto House (alongside the developments of Foxhill Road and Hillcrest Gardens).

Open fields were sub-divided into furlong long plots of varying size which usually depended upon the contour and nature of the land.

The method of ploughing these plots resulted in the familiar ridges seen in many old cultivated fields.

Should a ploughman stray onto a neighbours plot , a fine would be incurred (in Bulcote this was 5/-d five shillings or 25p in todays money).

Within the villages of BJ and Bulcote the nature of the soil varies immensely and because of this the plots were allotted as fairly as possible so that the good and bad land was shared and evened out equitably amongst the workers of the land.

AVERAGE LOCAL WAGES

Meane Servant - 25s per year ( £1.25p today)

Thatcher, Hedger, Ditcher, Agricultural (winter rate)-6d per day ( 2.5p a day)

Note! Masters risked prosecution if they paid above the rate set by Justices

TIMELINE 1600-1650

1589 *** The Rev William Lee of Calverton (some researchers suggest he was of Woodborough - practising his religion in Calverton) invented, built  and worked the First “Frame Work Knitting machine” and produced goods in either Calverton or Woodborough with varying profit ***

1606 Execution of Guy Fakes for his attempt to blow up Parliament

1609 The earliest map of BJ is one of Sherwood Forest dated 1609. It shows BJ consists of Main St, Lambley Lane, and Meadow lane ( the eventual Old road to Grimsby). About 35 houses were scattered around these roads and the population calculated from Baptisms, Hearth Tax and Visitation returns was about 145. In the next two centuries the population grew very slowly, in 1801 when official census returns began BJ was accredited with a population of 447. Henry Hudson sails into New York - River now has his name

1611 John Alvey - Chamberlain of Nottingham

1613 John (Joseph?)Alvey ( Baker) Sheriff of Nottingham  Joseph Alvey _ Sheriff of Nottingham together with a Messr Jowitt as the second Sheriff. It  was  customary for the Sheriffs to finance a Sheriff’s Dinner. In this instance they were both summoned before the Town Council “to show cause why they do not make their Sheriffs dinner this year according to custom, they both answered it peremptorily that they will neither make dinner nor give a penny fine or composition, “Whereupon all agree, except a John Stanley to fine them £10 otherwise they are to be dis-franchised, made foreigners, and their burgess parts taken from them…….Jowitt paid and was allowed a rebate of half his fine of £5; but Joseph Alvey only paid after much argument, his rebate was only £1..........Ah! the bloody mindedness of an Alvey

1615 Coffee introduced into Europe

1616 Death of William Shakespeare

1631 Outbreak of plague

1631 Outbreak of plague

1634 No schoolmaster in BJ recorded

1635 Trent Bridge in sate of repair Council ordered 6 trees felled for repair

**** Major village event 1635 - the River Trent froze over in the bad winter ****

1636 a further plague

1636 King Charles forced a loan to himself -mid 1600 Nottm was a place of turmoil thro 1600 with taxes, loans, civil war Charterism

1641/2 We know from the Protestant Returns NTT that a William Alvye of Burton Joyce (listed as family 74 in the“Alvey BJ database” is a high probability for being 3rd son of family 43 who is in turn the son of family 19) and is listed amongst 24 namesakes.

• Henry Alvey - Broughton
• Richard Alvye - Car Colston
• Robert Alvye - Car Colston
• Robert Allvey - Tithby
• Richard Alvey - Arnold
• William Allvye - Mansfied
• John Alvey - Nottingham Town
• Richard Alvey - Nottingham Town
• Robert Alvey - Nottingham Town
• William Alvie - Farndon
• William Alvye - Burton Joyce
• Henry Alvye - Epperstone
• Gervase Alveye - Norwell
• William Alvey - Southwell
• Henry Alvie - Lowdham
• Henry Alvie - Lowdham
• Nicholas Alvie - Lowdham
• Richard Alvie Lowdham
• William Alvie Lowdham
• Christopher Alvie - Woodborough
• Christopher Alvie - Woodborough ( church warden)
• John Alvie - Woodborough
• Richard Alvie - Woodborough - father of William ?
• Thomas Alvie - Woodboro

1642 King Charles set up Standard in Nottingham near Castle on Standard Hill

1643 Galileo dies

1644 The Great Plague was rife nationally in the country although BJ seemed to avoid its consequences ( was the because of BJ’s isolation, access and  minimal outside contact)

1645 Saturday 1st November; The Royalist come to Shelford ( one mile across the Trent river from BJ) Hutchinson, General Poynts and Colonel Rochester assembled in village. The Parliamentarians win and sack the large house. The musket noise, battle cries together with the blaze of lighted buildings were to be seen from miles around, lighting up the sky well into the evening time. BJ father and son die after joining the battle on the Royalist side (Johns Trueman)

1647 - ALVEY Family 74:

• William Alvie & Isabell at Burton Joyce or Bleasby 1647

Children

• 1647/11/02 f Mary Alvie Burton Joyce d 1647/11/08
• 1650/04/30 m Samuel Alvie Burton Joyce
• 1652/08/1 f Mary Alvie Bleasby d 1655/03/24

Link family 43: William b1617/11/16 son of Richard & Jane Alvie at Woodboro

• Nov 2 Baptism of Mary Alvey dau of William & Isabell
• Nov 8 Burial of Mary Alvey dau of William & Isabell

1649   Charles the First executed after trial

1650 - April 30 Samuel Alvey baptism, son of William & Isabell

1650 Tea first drank in England - imported from China.

Some BJ families in this same timeline slice

• John Trueman Snr…..John Trueman Jnr…Richard Browne……
• Elizabeth Levesley …Elizabeth Heige…Alice Knight…
• William Knight of Bulcote…Grace Knight…Joan Sanderson…
• Thomas Knight…Johnathon Knight…Katherine Haywood
• Elizabeth Bannister…Elizabeth Parkinson…Elizabeth Boomer…
• Alice Rippon…Elizabeth Prigeon…Susannah Gregory