White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

South Muskham

South Muskham is a village and parish on the North Road, near to the clumsy and wooden bridge which crosses the broad stream of the Trent, 2 miles north-west of Newark. It contains 282 inhabitants and 2,612a 2r 39p of land, Lord Middleton is the owner, except about 20 acres in small freeholds, and lessee under the prebendary and chapter. The Marshalls formerly had a seat here, but sold their inheritance to Sir William Willoughby Bart. The Great North Railway passes through the parish.

The church, dedicated to St Wilfred, is a vicarage valued in the King's books at £4, now £65, and is in the patronage of its own prebendary in Southwell Collegiate Church, who is also appropriator, and at the enclosure had 140 acres and 37 perches of land awarded for the large tithe. The Rev. John Drake Beecher M.A. is the incumbent, and has 3a 1r 2p of glebe. The church is an ancient structure with name, chancel, side aisles and tower, with three bells.

Carlton (South or Little), is a hamlet and small village 1 wile west of South Muskham. In Mr Gilbert's house is a room which was anciently a Catholic chapel. A stone coffin was found here some years ago, now used as a water trough. It is said a subterranean passage extended from this house to the Mount, an ancient place, in the form of a cross, shaded by ancient sycamore, mulberry and walnut trees, in this hamlet. Rufford Abbey had possessions here. Robert de Muschamp, whose family had long been lords of this parish, gave to the monks of Rufford a wong (culturum) in this hamlet.

Those marked * live in Little Carlton.

Post Office at John FLETCHER's; letters dispatched at 6:30 p.m. BENTLEY, Joseph, tailor and shopkpr FLETCHER, Samuel, cottager FOSTER, Gervas, vict. Elephant & Cstl. FOX, Fras, gate kpr, Gt. Nor. R. Co. GELSTHORPE, George, farm bailiff JEFFORD, Charles, blacksmith QUIBELL, William, cottager RADFORD, George, shoemaker REDFERN, george, shoemaker TAYLOR, John, cottager * TIDY, William, shoemaker WHITWORTH, Edward, senr., joiner WHITWORTH, Edwar, junr., joiner

  Farmers CHOULER, William * EGGLESTONE, Jno FLETCHER, John * GILBERT, Henry * HOLE, Catherine, Woodhouse * LAMBERT, Edwd. PARLBY, Richard TODER, John * WEIGHTMAN, T.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]