A Hucknall History

Religious Influences

Society of Friends

Leicestershire born George Fox emerged as the convincing 1647 preacher soon gaining followers forming a Society of Friends.

Since the crown broke away from the Papal Roman Catholic Church to head a Church of England, courts could still legally justify severest punishments for any dissenting beliefs. However, there emerged several Separatist Protestant Puritans, all trying to distance themselves from Christian corruption and perceived use of religion to oppress the poor. Separatists generally dismissed need for clergy or formal types of chapel worship. Preferring private prayers or quiet meetings seeking a purer Inner Light would share widespread popularity becoming collectively known as Seekers. From them George Fox envisaged and began voicing strongest British leadership, soon convincing those to join his named Society of Friends.

Purification of all Christendom was boldest ambition for his Society claiming independent religious status. Bravely refusing to swear the Oath of Allegiance when dismissing any need for Church worship or paying common tithes supporting that nationalised power, only briefly outlines why ruling powers suppressed an alternative Godly following. But he could not be called blasphemous when that carried a death sentence.

Fox travelled around preaching dissenting beliefs that did result in being jailed, firstly 1649 at Nottingham. Next 1650 sentencing at Derby was when Justice Bennet heard his exhortation they should "tremble at the word of the Lord". Its claimed that magistrates mocking reply would thereafter describe all followers to be commonly known as Quakers. Despite serving an extended year long prison term, from which itself many others would later face a sickened death, George actually continued attracting Friends.

Meeting houses sufficed for arranged Quaker gatherings held between Friends homes. Having soon established a religious society widely inspiring some very influential names, Mansfield would later assert a centralised Nottinghamshire base following alternative Farnsfield meetings. Mansfield town can now proudly boast historic recognition to those former Quaker grounds since covered by the new main bus station. A Skegby meeting house had likewise provided burial grounds, plus the first female Quaker preacher. As well as being similarly jailed in Derby, York and Lincoln, Elizabeth Hooton suffered attacks during ageing travels to include a severe beating from the Vicar of Selston when passing through his parish. Sutton offered another locality claiming past Quaker links.

Huthwaite Meeting House

Huthwaite had vaguely acknowledged some long past resident Quakers. Exposing just a few individuals might eventually realise a remoter 17th century rural population could have begun harbouring a significant number of Friends worthy of historic recognition.

A 1608 Deed of feoffement first covered properties accessing farm lands off Little Lane far predates religious changes. Last owners aerial view over final layout of that old Huthwaite Farm, dates to when Blackwell Road School had still stood top on north side.

Significance begins here from year 1665, when owner Thomas Richardson from Sutton-in-Ashfield wrote his dying legacy from prison. Journal entry personally made by George Fox noted how Thomas Richardson ...above Sixty Years of Age, through want of firing and other Necessaries, and lodging upon straw in the Winter Season, was taken sick and died…

Its been further explained how Thomas was attending a Friends meeting in Cambridgeshire when arrested 16th April 1663 and committed to Ely prison. Still refusing to take Oath of Allegiance sent him to Wisbech jail where he died on 13th October 1665.

Thomas had managed writing some visionary papers and letters during confinement. Amongst those were directions for a brother Richard Richardson concerning use of his Hucknall Huthwaite estate. His appointed trustees included an influential John Reckless, George Cockeram, Thomas Sampson and Thomas Hurst. They followed quoted instructions As to ye cottage to be for a meeting house for the people of God called Quakers. And the Land for the reliefe of the poore or necessitous people called Quakers.

Asserting location of a Hucknall Huthwaite meeting house upon farm lands self sufficiently financing Quakers would not escape the attention of Sutton parish clergy, plus law enforcers. Meeting minutes recorded frightening intrusions by blade brandishing bailiffs.

Despite regular fines imposed on those and everyone further attending other raided meeting houses, they kept faithful followers. Above minutes would be typically used when writing letters to the crown listing complaints describing Quaker sufferings. A 1688 Act did finally put end to most of the unjust penalties by liberally tolerating all various Church of England dissenters. But as later dated fines above show, consistent unwillingness to pay common taxes remained illegal to necessitate lawful recovery in goods.

Historian Bill Clay Dove uncovered more about Huthwaite surname connections relating regular fines later taken from William Clay and John Langford. The latters death still realised impressive wealth under given trade blacksmith. Leaving house and goods fully itemised and valued by John Chatwin and John Wright in 1717 at £41-4s-8d, plus Bonds and Bills owing totalled about £350.

Huthwaite Quakers

Local beliefs had advocated a past Royal Oak Yard rear side the Shoulder of Mutton public house was once owned by Quakers. No evidence yet found supporting they owned that yard, although housing possibly helped support poorer worker friends. Several old cottages share historic interest adding Wesleyanism before recognising Hopkins estate. Earliest suggestive use seems to be housing poorest hand frame stockingers, when that early cottage industry lent descriptive reference to Workhouse Yard. But it is now possible to locate where named Quakers did claim use of land plots and premises elsewhere among Hucknall Huthwaite.

Through a c1795 Act for Enclosure of Commons came potential use of ancient waste forest lands that had long offered descriptive name for Dirty Hucknall. One allocation of said lands received by Richard Leaver stated in trust for the Society called Quakers. Surveyor J Guantley drew 1892 dated plans covering their Huthwaite estate, holding house, barn, stable, garden and stackyard. An actual copy would be appreciated, but it was simply described incorporated Little Pingle, Croft, plus a detached Timpsons Close.

Pinpointing such archaic addresses proves rather difficult without any mapped reference. After due consideration to other potential areas, other finds can propose reference revolved around this dwelling, which quite recently opened up site for new bungalows addressing The Paddocks.

Quakers were known to have exchanged a plot of land on Commonside, but this location on east side a newly laid 19th century Common Road stands on 1835 map making earliest use of former Dirty Hucknall common lands. Added to which is how this nicely renovated property existed many years before 1876 sinking of the New Hucknall Colliery sited in rear side valley. Founding that coal company was William Muschamp He had purchased mineral rights from Nathan Mellors for £1,450, and a so far unknown Mrs Miller for £1,500. More appropriate purchase from the Society of Friends for £120 could well be for former Dirty Hucknall lands near actual sinking of their huge new colliery.

Industrialisation removed need for a Little Pingle to hold stray farm animals. Reference to a detached Timpson Close though, will finally become relevant identifying longer held land on opposite roadside.

Whereas historical references readily acknowledged local founders of nonconformist Wesleyanism and Methodist chapels, there was little mention naming those continuing far older faith in Quakerism. More prominent Sutton author Dr S T Hall himself offered no further insight through his shy background.

Mrs Mabel Winifred Holland had offered clue revealing an influential family. Seeing that attractive young woman will realise why Miss Wright had previous marriage proposals. Remembered for retelling she'd often turned down one highly respected businessman, is because that extremely disappointed man was landlord of the Peacock Inn, and apparently well known at time being one affluent friend of the society.

Mabel helpfully confirms unexplained reason for 1834 Will of Jeremiah Burrows initially choosing use of a private family burial plot in his nearby Orchard grounds. Burying subsequent family members there is when nonconformists disliked existing parish churchyard interments. But it next begs question which of, and just how many other Peacock landlords had shared religious connections before brewery buy out.

Strictest idealist principles against drinking alcohol, marrying non believing Outsiders and need to pay tax, therefore seems eroded through time to fully achieve social acceptance of current British Quakers.

Surveying 1802 Hucknall plots divided by entry into Little Lane included the Huthwaite Meeting House. That cottage stood beyond two centuries, even though 1856 consideration was given demolishing neglected use, described then fallen into decay. Trustees finally agreed decision on 18th April 1882.

George Adlington of Kings Mill sent these agreed accounts for ..pulling down of the meeting house or cottages…. List reads more like supplies for a new building, but is full receipt totalling cost over four Guineas submitted to and for payment by the Society of Friends Nottinghamshire headquarters.

Quaker interests had thus been lost here before Thomas Robinson claimed 80 acres from 1881 census revealing move to this simply addressed Bottom End Town farm. His 1850 marriage to Miss Ann Burton of Hucknall Huthwaite raised children who introduce other marital interests, having come off a once known Church Street since siting a facing Church school on Blackwell Road

Society of Friends account papers concerning rent from a short row of small cottages supporting poorer workers was last known handed onto to the late Mr Taylor. They'd stood aside driveway to his replacement bungalow. Rest of the site made way for a large c1990s housing estate. Old entry path into Little Lane has since been transformed into a roadway naming Whitegates Way.

Pulling down a disused meeting house suggested closure for all Huthwaite Quakers. Reintroducing the aforementioned location of Timpson Close aside a newly laid Common Road may now quash that naive understanding.

Evidence came through a 1953 NCB letter sent to Quakers regarding possible subsidence damage to an Everest Crisp Factory. Popularity of that product is still very much remembered, as was the previous siting of a WW2 Prisoner of War Camp. Clearance of wooden prison camp huts never readily realised land owners might be a final business connection.

Old crisp factory buildings shown in 2003 had been adopted by JRS Roofing. Expanding those 2013 company premises saw entirely new replacement layout witnessing a further established Tippers.