White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

Broughton-Sulney, or Over-Broughton, or Upper-Broughton

Broughton-Sulney, also known as Over-Broughton, 12 miles south-south-east of Nottingham, is a pleasant village, seated upon a declivity on the Melton-Mowbray Road, near the Leicestershire border, and at the foot of the Nottinghamshire Wolds, where the Roman Fosseway enters the county. The parish was enclosed about eighty years ago, and contains 394 inhabitants, and about 1,800 acres of clay land, which belongs principally to Thomas D. Hall Esq., William Brown, William Brett, Thomas and William Cross, and several other small freeholders, the former of whom is lord of the manor. At the enclosure, 240 acres were allotted to the rector in lieu of tithes.

The manor was anciently called Brocton, from its Norman owners. It afterwards passed to Alured de Sulene, from whom it received the name of Broughton-Sulney. It is sometimes called Over-Broughton, to distinguish it from Nether-Broughton, in Leicestershire.

The church has a nave, side aisles and a low tower with three bells. in the chancel are marble tablets to the memory of Mrs Burrell and Samuel Wright Esq., who died in 1839, and in the body are several belonging to the Brett family. The rectory, valued in the King's books at £11 9s 4½d, is in the patronage of Sir Joseph Radcliffe, of Campsall in Yorkshire. The Rev. Joseph Burrell is the incumbent. The General Baptists have had a chapel in the village since 1795. At the end of the village is an ancient cross, and near the rectory house is Woundheal Spring, so called from its supposed medicinal virtues.

Broughton Villa, a little north-east, pleasantly situated, commanding an extensive view of Melton Road and the Broughton Hills, is the property and residence of Thomas Brown Esq. The parish feast is on the second Sunday after Old Michaelmas Day.

Charities: In 1727, Mr Morris and Mrs Bley left £15 for which 15s is paid yearly, out of a farm in the parish. The yearly sum of 17s 8d is paid by John Brett and John Cross, as the interest of £17 13s 4d, left by an unknown donor. The Poor's Close is let for £10 per annum, out of which 6s is paid to the parishes of Ab-Kettleby and Hoby. In 1842, Mrs Marsden of London gave £120, three percent consols, the interest to be distributed annually to the deserving poor of the parish. The residue of the above named charities is distributed at Christmas, in coal, amongst the poor of Broughton-Sulney.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]