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Clayworth

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"Clayworth Parish comprises the two townships of Clayworth and Wiseton, which together contain 3,170 acres of land and 627 souls. It is intersected by the Chesterfield Canal, and bounded on the west by the River Idle. The two townships maintain their poor separately, and have both a fertile soil, that of Clayworth being a rich clay, and that of Wiseton a fine red sandy mould. Clayworth is a good village on the east side of the canal, 6 miles north by east of Retford. It contains a population of 474 inhabitants, and 2,076 acres of land. The heirs of the late Peter B. Dickenson Esq. and lords of the manor, and the principal owners are the Rev. John Otter, G.C. Fox Esq., H.B. Simpson Esq., and Mrs Davenport.
The church, dedicated to St Peter, is an ancient edifice with a tower, and contains many old monumental inscriptions. The living is a rectory valued in the King's books at £26 10s 10d, now at £604, in the patronage of the Dean of Lincoln, and now enjoyed by the Rev. Thomas Henry Shepherd M.A."
[WHITE's "Directory of Nottinghamshire," 1853]

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Archives & Libraries

The Library at East Retford will prove useful in your research.

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Cemeteries

  • The Cemetery in Clayworth on Church Lane appears to be an extension of St. Peter's churchyard.
     
  • Jonathan THACKER has a photograph of the Cemetery Lych Gate on Geo-graph, taken in December, 2011.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST also has a photograph of the Cemetery Lych Gate on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2014.
     
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Census

  • The parish was in the Gringley sub-district of the East Retford Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 849
1861R.G. 9 / 2412
1871R.G. 10 / 3450
1881R.G. 11 / 3299
1891R.G. 12 / 2638
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Church History

  • The Anglican Parish Church is dedicated to Saint Peter.
     
  • Portions of the church fabric show Saxon origins. Most of the building appears to be 12th or 13th century Norman work.
     
  • The church was extensively restored in 1874 - 1875.
     
  • The church is a Grade 1 historical building.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of St. Peter's Church on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2006.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican Parish register dates from 1540.
     
  • There is a Rector's book with entries from March 27th, 1676 through 1701, written by Rev. William SAMPSON. The entries continue until 1901, written by various other clerics.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of Retford.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel here in 1834.
     
  • Jonathan THACKER has a photograph of the Former Wesleyan Chapel on Geo-graph, taken in December, 2011.
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Gringley sub-district of the East Retford Registration District.
     
  • Civil Registration started in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

Clayworth is a village, a township and a parish bounded on the west by the River Idle. The parish is 6 miles north of East Retford and 8 miles west of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The parish covers 3,080 acres and inclues the hamlet of Wiseton.

If you are planning a visit:

  • The Chesterfield Canal (the River Idle) runs past the western side of the village.
     
  • Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of The Cuckoo Way and the Chesterfield Canal on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2016.
     
  • Take the A631 trunk road between Gainsborough and Bawtry. Turn south onto the B1403 at Gringley on the Hill, which will deliver you into Clayworth after about 1 mile.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2014.
     
You can see pictures of Clayworth which are provided by:

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Directories

We have this entry from WHITE's 1832 Directory of Nottingham, page 336, starts with:

"CLAYWORTH comprises the two manors and townships of Clayworth and Wiseton, which together contain 3,116 acres of land and a popluation of 577 souls. It is intersected by the Chesterfield Canal, and is bounded on the west by the river Idle, and on its other limits by Gringley-on-the-Hill, Beckingham and North and South Wheatley. The two townships maintain their poor separately, and have both a fertile soil, that of Clayworth being a rich clay and that of Wiseton a fine red sandy mould."
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Gazetteers

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History

  • A Roman road ran from Bawtry ran through Scaftwort and Everton to Wheatley and Sturton. St. Peter's Church stands close to the path of the old road.
     
  • Do you recognize the Clayworth Challenge Cup? What can you tell us about this goblet? Contact the site co-ordinator via the "Find help" link at the bottom.
     

 

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  • There were several Public Houses in Clayworth over time, like the Brewer's Inn, the White Swan and the White Hart in the 1800s.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of the Brewer's Arms Pub on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2006.
     
  • Neil THEASBY also has a photograph of The Brewers Arms on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of the recently closed Blacksmith's Arms Pub on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2011.
     
  • The Pub appears to have re-opened in 2012. They have their own website, but at last look it was very, very slow. Here are the names of the proprietors or victuallers that appear in various directories for the Blacksmith's Arms:
     
Year Person
1853-- not listed --
1869-- not listed --
1876Thos. PARKINSON, blacksmith
1881Mrs. Jane PARKINSON
1904Mrs. Jane PARKINSON
1912Geo. JOHNSON

 

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Manors

Wiseton Hall is a stately home near Clayworth. It was originally built in 1771, then demolished in 1960 and rebuilt in 1962. Wiseton was, for some generations, the home of the ACKLOM family.

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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK729880 (Lat/Lon: 53.383825, -0.905463), Clayworth which are provided by:

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Military History

Clayworth's war memorial is dedicated to the 12 soldiers from Clayworth who died during the Great War and the 6 who were killed in the Second World War. The names are listed on a roll of honour inside St. Peter's Church.

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Military Records

The Roll of Honour can be seen at the Nottinghamshire County Council site. The nemaes are:

1914 - 1918

  1. George Cliff TAYLOR
  2. George DARWIN
  3. John Hindley HIRD
  4. William Henry HIRD
  5. F HONEYSETT
  6. Norman KENTON
  7. Robert John Charles OTTER
  8. John Robert RICHARDSON
  9. William ROBINSON
  10. William John SCRUTON
  11. Herbert THOMPSON
  12. John Albert TINLIN

1939 - 1946

  1. A. EDWARDS
  2. D. H. FOOTITT (Possibly Douglas H. FOOTITT)
  3. G. JONES
  4. E. KENTON
  5. M. H. LAYCOCK
  6. R. OTTER

Note: The webpage author has been unable to find any information on "F HONEYSETT", above, from World War One.

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Names, Geographical

"Clayworth" was "Clavard" in the 1086 Domesday Book.

By 1769 Clayworth appears as Cloworth.

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Politics & Government

  • Clayworth and Wiseton were ancient Townships in the parish of Clayworth.
     
  • This place was an ancient parish in Nottingham county and Clayworth became a modern Civil Parish in December, 1866. At that time, Wiseton township was created as a separate Civil Parish.
     
  • The parish was in the North Clay division of the ancient Bassetlaw Wapentake (Hundred) in the northern division of the county.
     
  • You may contact the local Clayworth Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT funded to do family history searches for you.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Bassetlaw District Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard at the Retford petty session hearings held in West Retford.
     
  • The poor of the parish received a small dole at Easter and Christmas from rent-charges on local land.
     
  • After the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, this parish became a part of the East Retford Poor Law Union.
     
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Population

 YearClayworthWiseton
1801420123
1841627-
1851474127
1871434133
1881439-
1901410154
1991285102
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Schools

  • The Parochial School was endowed in 1702 by the Rev. Willaim SAMPSON.
     
  • Clayworth County Primary School is on Church Lane in Clayworth.
     
  • The primary school is now closed and has been converted to a private dwelling. Children attend Clarborough Junior School.