Burton Joyce Online

 The village names of BURTON JOYCE and BULCOTE are said to be derived from “BURTUNE JORZ” and “BOUCOT”.. .. “BURTUNE” could either mean “the farm on the hill” or “the farm in a fortified place” , “JORZ” was added later because around 1160 <1380 the chief owners were the de Jorz family

A Richard de Jorse appears in the early Sherwood Forest Records. He was one of the family who were Lords of the Manor of Burton for about two hundred years. The name has many variants - Jorse, Jors, Jorz, Jort, Jortz, Jorce and Joice, until it eventually became Joyce.

In the time of King John (around 1200) Geoffrey de Jorz was the keeper of Sherwood Forest and in 1331 a Jorz family member was the Sheriff of Nottingham ( possibly Sir Robert ?)

Is it possible that this was the Sheriff who actually locked horns with the legendary Robin Hood ?

One fact not disputed is that BJ village must always have been the attractive Trent side village it is today, with the high ground overlooking the Trent to the South. This location would have been an ideal spot for an encampment, with excellent defensive qualities with a clear vision all around the area, coupled with the superb transit possibilities provided by the River Trent. The area originally was also the most south eastern extremity of Sherwood Forest the village sitting on the north bank side of the River Trent - just a 2 hours walk (as the crow flies) from Nottingham Castle.

Today BJ sprawls out and up into the side of a chain of low hills which run due eastward from Nottingham Castle to a point some 3 miles beyond Burton Joyce. Situated on the ridge is the Parish boundary, where Romano-British pottery has been found - the pottery of the first half of the 4th century AD and a coin found on the “Rabbit Bank” ( a popular name for the hillside on the north side of Nottingham Road) - indicates Roman occupation

PARTPPart PpPpppartPpPart 3Pp  PART 2

We are located not far from the old Bridleway access from BJ, over the top of the ridge and onto the next village-Lambley, ( 45 minute walk) and further on to Woodboro ( 90 minutes walk) and yet still further on to Calverton ( another walk of 30 minutes or so ) - We can look due south from Hillcrest, down the hill towards the River Trent, which meanders from the west towards BJ via Stoke Bardolph ( 30 minutes walk). It carves out a huge “water highway” with a long slow bend, in the valley, as it meanders on its journey east, down river - towards Gunthorpe, Caythorpe, Bleasby and beyond ( The Trent has always been main waterway from the East Midlands to the east coast - via Newark and Gainsborough to the North Sea at Grimsby.Is it that all these facts contribute to why there has been an influx of greater numbers of the family from the surrounding villages into BJ rather than the other way around outwards ?

When we look south, two horizons are visible - the nearest being approx 30/45 minutes walk away and the second way beyond, possibly a full days walk away. On this second horizon running eastwards, it is possible to see the profile of the ramparts and towers of Belvoir Castle (pronounced “Beever” Castle) the ancestral home of the “Manning dynasty - the Marquis of Granby. A superb and natural location for a “look out” and defensive position.

From time to time there are the most spectacular colourful visions to be seen from Burton Joyce, sunrise and sunsets in the summer month produce an ambience and kaleidoscope of rich colour shades which even in the 1600, 1700 and 1800 must have been as strikingly beautiful as they are today - a sight enhanced by the occasional rainbow created (provides by the light from of a setting sun). The vision is so close, that the ends of the rainbow always appear to be within ones grasp and is beyond belief and words of explanation - these time are truly breath-taking. However, in the summer of 2007 there was a scene which we guess will not be repeated our lifetime - It was a clear balmy summer evening, we knew that something spectacular was about to happen for the local TV Presenter had advised everyone to watch out for it, but we were not confident that we would be fortunate to see it - but we did. Bang-on schedule at 10.40pm and on a track across the sky - West of North West towards East of South East we spotted the brightly shining.. .. .. International Space Station.. .. . followed in its wake some 7 seconds later by the .. .. American Space Shuttle,.. .. equally as brightly lit. What an experience ! What a feeling ! boardering on the deep emotional feelings of mis-belief, wonderment and admiration for the fact that men and women of our generation, from down here on earth, were up there - flying thro the heavens - unbelievable, yet it was there happening for all to see here in BJ

In Autumn, when the earth/land is relatively warm and the early morning air is cold, the most erie of sights come into view - the morning awakes with the valley flooded with a low-lying mist, ( which gives the appearance of a wide reservoir of water, a water which sits quite still and comfortably between BJ and the first southern horizon, - 45 minutes walk away). Only the square Norman Tower of Shelford Church Tower - in the midst of the valley, remains in survival mode, peeking above the mist, which takes on a appearance of a “expansive reservoir” with a still and calm “water-line”.

PART 3

      LIFE GENERALLY - 1600 <  

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. 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

It is said that….

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. 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 was the Houses of Correction for the “sturdy beggars” who tried to live on their wits

In 1567 ”Thoroton” suggested.. Burton Joyce consisted of 15 messuages, 10 cottages, 20 tofts, 1 dovecote, 20 gardens, 500 acres of land, 100 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 40 acres of wood, 100 acres of furze and heath.

These figures suggest a population of approx 150 <200. A number which was probably still relevant at the beginning of the 1600’s

Attendance at the “new” Protestant Church of England ( St Helens) 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.                 

Part 4 

Burton Joyce 1650 < 1700

   STOCKINGERS/ FWK/ LACE

       The Rev William Lee resolved to mechanise the hand practice 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    .     

 TRANSPORT

The River Trent was most important,. Although it was shallow and impeded by many obstacles ( Bull Shoal in the bend at BJ), it flooded frequently creating devastation to the area.

There were small ferries at Gunthorpe and Stoke Bardolph, but only a ford at  BJ. 10/12 men were required to haul heavy boats up the river ( towards Nottingham ) It was not until 1781 we saw Nottingham  Corporation seeking an Act of Parliament to allow horses to tow the barges rather than men , but they were unsuccessful in this  attempt. It was pointed out that if some of the restrictions were removed , one horse could haul nearly double the weight pulled by 10/12 men - in half the time and much more cheaply - Also the horses would cause much less wear to the “haling” than the feet of 10<12 men

The road from Nottingham to Grimsby passes thro BJ.On North side of the River Trent and on to the Bleasby Ferry over the river and then onto Newark. The road is described as

“no pleasant way, being in many places deep and clayey. Not affording altogether that conveniency of entertainment as you have in mind in the direct and more frequented roads”

TAXATION -  

During the period 1660< 1670 a “Hearth Tax” was introduced. We are lead to believe that this was a means of raising revenue to pay forCromwell’s armyIn theory the head of every household in the village should be included, (the families exempt from the tax , were those in poverty but they should be listed - their hearths to be described as “uncharged“).

Two lists for BJ & B show that

In 1663 - 47 households were charged and 22 uncharged revealing a likely population of approx 300. In 1674 - 35 households were charges and 11 uncharged revealing a likely population of approx 200.This would show a  major decrease in population, however, records are often incomplete - some 100 years later in 1796 Hearth Tax returns show a  number of inhabited houses as only 35. The list would not include houses of very low rental.It is interesting to note that even later Returns Lists show the same number of “charged” houses as in1674.

ROADS and TRANSPORT

Will not have developed or improved appreciably over this period

EMPLOYMENT

Still predominantly agricultural 

1651

1660 Hearth Tax introduced was used to raise cash nationally for thefighting men’s pay

1663 Richard Broad Vicar

1680 -1686 Richard Broad , the Vicar had also been the schoolmaster

1694 Joseph Hawkins Vicar

1696 Industrial development in piped water to limited areas of Nottingham( privately owned)

1699 Thomas Tye Vicar

SOME FAMILIES LIVING IN B J IN THIS TIME SLICE

Joseph & Dorcas Alvey family

John Pecke - Churchwarden - could read and write

William Stampe - could not sign his own name

Robert Padley - could not sign his own name

John Blatherwick - yeoman of Bulcote

Mary Blatherwick

Elizabeth Blatherwick

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