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Gotham

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"Gotham, seven miles south south west of Nottingham, is a considerable village and parish, bounded on the west by the lofty hills of the Wolds, and on the east by an extensive tract of marshy land, which is often flooded by the numerous streams that roll from the heights after heavy rains. Its parish contains 792 inhabitants, and 2,740 acres of land, enclosed in 1804, when 427a 3r 11p were allotted to the rector in lieu of tithes, in addition to 43a of Keyworth common allotted to him in the 36th of George III. Earl Howe is principal owner and lord of the manor, but D. Hall Esq., Mrs Crane, Sir Arthur B. Clifton and others have small estates here.
All the water near the village is strongly tainted with decomposed vegetable matter, and with the gypsum that lies under the surface, so that the villagers were obliged to fetch their water from the summit of a hill, distant half a mile to the north. A few years ago, the Earl had pipes laid from Weldon Hills to the village, by which means a supply of pure water has been obtained. In 1829, his lordship erected a large school here, and supports the master, who has under tuition about 200 scholars. The poor parishioners have the interest of £57, left by John Barrow and three other benefactors.
The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, was repaired and repewed in 1835 at the cost of about £1,200, raised by subscription, aided by a grant from the Incorporated Society for Building and Enlarging Churches. It contains 628 sittings, of which 477 are declared free for ever. In the chancel are several ancient monuments of the Andrews family. The rectory, valued in the King's books at £19 8s 6½d, now £513, is enjoyed by the Rev. John James Vaughan, and is in the alternate patronage of Earl Howe, Lord St John and George Saville Foljambe Esq., the former having the next presentation. The rectory is a commodious mansion on the south side of the church yard. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here."
[WHITE's "Directory of Nottinghamshire," 1853]

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Archives & Libraries

Laura ? has a photograph of the Gotham library on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2016. This Library stands on Nottingham Road, and is only open two days per week.

The Library at Nottingham will prove useful in your research.

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Cemeteries

In 1869 additional land (3 roods and 30 perches) was purchased to extend the churchyard. This land was consecrated in November, 1870.

This cemetery lies between Church Street and Orchard Street on the opposite side of Leake Road to the church and is ¾ of an acre in extent.

In 1939 an extension of 0.67 acres of the Gotham cemetery was opened and was consecrated on the second day of May.

This extension of the churchyard was nearly full in 2001.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Wilford sub-district of the Basford Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1851H.O. 107 / 2128
1861R.G. 9 / 2446
1871R.G. 10 / 3497
1881R.G. 11 / 3339
1891R.G. 12 / 2680
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church was dedicated to Saint Lawrence.
     
  • The church was built in 1180.
     
  • The church seats 400.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of Gotham Church on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2008.
     
  • Andy JAMIESON also has a photograph of Gotham Church on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2009.
     
  • We have a List of Organ Contributors of 1870, compliments of John MELLORS.
     
  • At last report, services are no longer held in this church.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1554 and is in good condition.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of West Bingham.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel here by 1881.
     
  • The Primitive Methodists built their chapel in 1870.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the former Primitive Methodist Chapel on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2010.
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Wilford sub-district of the Basford Registration District.
     
  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

This parish and village lie about 123 miles north of London, 7 miles south-west of Nottingham city centre and 3 miles north-east of Kegworth. The parish covers about 2,740 acres.

The village square retains the hexagonal village pump. If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, take the A453 south out of Nottingham and turn off at Clifton. Proceed due south on the county road to Gotham.
     
  • Railway service ceased in 1965.
     
  • Richard VINCE has a photograph of the Bus from Nottingham City on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2011. This stop is at the southern edge of the village.
     
  • Stephen SWEENEY has a photograph of the Village sign on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016. You should offer your talent and skill to create a replacement sign.
     
  • Ahhh, but Laura ? has a photograph of the Gotham totem pole on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2016. Some may say this is the village sign, but others have a different name for it.
     
You can see pictures of Gotham which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

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History

  • Read about Wheldon Spring on Geo-graph.
     
  • Gotham is famous for its tall tales. The name is often applied to New York City in America where similar tales were written by Washington Irving.
     
  • Chris J. DIXON has a photograph of the Gotham Business Park on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2005. This is located at the south end of the village.
     
  • J. THOMAS has a photograph of the Cuckoo Bush public house on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016. This is only a short walk from the church going to and from the cemetery.
  • Proprietors of the Cuckoo Bush:
 YearProprietor
1885Jph. TALBOT, victualler & farmer
1904Thomas TALBOT, farmer
  • J. THOMAS also has a photograph of The Star Inn on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016. This is another good spot to meet and chat with the locals.
     
  • Andy JAMIESON has a photograph of the Sun Inn on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2009.
     
  • Proprietors of the Sun Inn:
 YearProprietor
1885James WHITBY, victualler
1904George BUTLER
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Maps

  • You'll want an Ordinance Survey "Explorer" map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
     
  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK536301 (Lat/Lon: 52.865721, -1.205244), Gotham which are provided by:

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Military History

  • Gotham dedicated a Recreation Ground and a Memorial Hall to those of the parish who fell in wartime. Inside the Memorial Hall are Rolls of Honour for World War I and WWII. The World War I roll includes the names of women who served.
     
  • Gotham History Society used to have photographs of the Rolls of Honour on their website, but for some reason removed them.
     
  • Gotham St. Lawrence church has two memorials, one for each war.
     
  • Sir Hervey Juckes Lloyd BRUCE, a Colonel in the Coldstream Guards was a landowner in the parish. He served as Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire in the early 1900s.
     
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Military Records

There is a memorial plaque to "Arthur Powys WODEHOUSE" in the parish church. He achieved the rank of Captain in the Army in 1911. He was Deputy Commissioner of Police Calcutta in 1909 and died at Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia, Nov. 22. 1915.

These are the names on the Roll of Honour in St. Lawrence Church. It appears to cover both World Wars:

  1. Charles Bowley
  2. George William Bowley
  3. Harry Brailsford
  4. George William Brown
  5. Charles Henry Chadburn
  6. Frederick William Cooke
  7. John William Dakin
  8. Arthur Dring
  9. Joseph William Dring
  10. Christopher Leonard Freeman
  11. Marshall Gill
  12. Charles Edward Hale
  13. Albert Hallam
  14. Herbert Hallam
  15. Robert Willie Hickling
  16. William Harry Howard
  17. Peter Frederick Hudson
  18. Charles James Ernest Jessop
  19. George William Jessop
  20. George Hinds Maltby
  21. Harold Newell
  22. William Oliver Orridge
  23. Joseph Samuel Powdrill
  24. Raymond Price
  25. Beacham Sharp
  26. Daniel Smith
  27. Henry Strutt
  28. gunner Samuel Towers, RFA
  29. Arthur Powys Wodehouse
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Names, Geographical

  • In the 1086 Domesday Book the name is rendered as Gatham from the Old English "Homestead where goats are kept."
    A. D. MILLS, "A Dictionary of Engish Place Names," Oxford Press, 1999. ISBN: 0-19-869156-4
     
  • David GRETTON tells us that the name is pronounced like "Goat um" by the locals.
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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient parish in Nottingham county and it became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
     
  • The parish was in the ancient Rushcliffe Wapentake in the southern division of the county.
     
  • You may contact the local Gotham Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to help with family history lookups.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Rushcliffe Borough Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Nottingham petty session hearings.
     
  • The Common Land was enclosed here in 1804.
     
  • After the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, this parish became a part of the Basford Poor Law Union.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
1801475
1811549
1821625
1841747
1851792
1871917
18811,026
19011,009
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Schools

  • A School Board was formed here in 1879. Samuel PEPPER was the clerk to the School Board.
     
  • A board School was built here in 1879.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the Gotham Board School on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2014. The new, modern school is across the road.