Bottesford Village Map

Bottesford

Extract from John Nichols, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, 1795

 In antient deeds Botesford, Bottelesford, Boclesford, Bokillisforde, &c.) and in modern pronunciation Botsworth, is situated on the river Devon, in the vale of Belvoir, and ajoins to the two counties of Nottingham and Lincoln. It has Belvoir castle to the South ; Allington in Lincolnshire, to the East ; Staunton in Nottinghamshire, North ; and Elton in Nottinghamshire, West. The turnpike-road from Grantham to Nottingham leads through it. From the former it is 7 miles ; from the latter 18 ; and from Melton Mowbray, the nearest market-town in the county of Leicester, 14 miles.
In the ecclesiastical division of the county, Bottesford, with its two hamlets of Easthorp and Normanton, is within the deanry of Framland.
This lordship (with 14 others in Leicestershire) was given by the Conqueror to Robert de Todenei, a noble Norman, who accompanied him into England as his standard-bearer ; by whom it was held at the time of the general survey in Domesday-book, where this township is described as consisting either of two manors, or as one manor divided into two distinct portions.
The first of these contained nine ploughlands ; and, in the time of king Edward the Confessor, was valued at twelve pounds a year, and contained twenty-five ploughs. It was worth fifteen pounds at the time of the survey when five ploughs and six bondsmen were retained in the lord's demesne ; fifteen ploughs were occupied by twelve villans, sixty socmen, and five bordars ; the priest had an entire plough ; and there were four mills of forty shillings value¹
To the lordship of Bottesford were also attached four ploughlands in Redmile², with three ploughlands and two oxgangs in Knipton³.
The other manor, or portion of a manor (which consisted of Eastthorp and Normanton), had been in the possession of Leuric, a free tenant, who had power to remove witherfoever he pleased without alienating his land. Under Robert de Todenei, Odard, Robert, and Giflebert, held each one ploughland ; Baldric and Clarebald two each ; Heldwas one and a half ; and four other foreigners (whence the name Norman - ton) held three and a half ; being twelve ploughlands in the whole. The land was equal to the labour of twelve ploughs, nine of which and four bondmen were retained in the lord's demense ; and seven socemen, with two villans and thirteen bordars, had two ploughs amongst them ; whilst four others had no land at all in tillage. The occupier of the twelfth is not described. When these tenants entered into possession, the yearly value was six pounds ; which they had improved to sixteen pounds⁴

Of Robert de Todenei and his family, successively lords of Bottesford, an ample account has been already given under the article of Belvoir. William de Albini, usually styled William de Albini Brito, succeeded ; and had issue William de Albini the second, whose posterity enjoyed this manor till, by an heir general, it came by marriage to the noble family of Ros⁵ ; in which family, and in that of Manners, it has continued (except a few years in the struggle of the houses of York and Lancaster) to the present day.
Under the baronial possessors are found several other considerable owners of property in Bottesford.
In 1122, occurs a lease or grant for a term of years, of a small piece of arable land, from John de Stodham to Alan de Bekeby⁶
William de Albini III. About 1232, gave to the priory of Belvoir one sheaf [garbam] out of every acre of his land at Bottesford ; and five shillings of rent in town to his hospital at Newstead⁷.
In 1235, a lease, or grant for a term of years, occurs, from John de Stodham to Henry de Bokeby, vicar of Bottesford, of a small parcel of arable land⁸

 

 

1 "Robertus tenuit 9 carucatas terræ in Botesford. Tempore regis Edwardi erant ibi 25 carucæ. In dominico sunt 3 carucæ et 6 servi; et 12 villani, et 60 socmanni, cum 5 borda us, habent 15 carucas. Ibi presbyter cum 1 carucâ. Ibi 4 molini de 40 solidis. Valuit 12 libras." Domesday, p. 283. b. 2.
2 "Idem Robertus tenuit 3 carucatas terræ in Redmelde. Hæ pertinent ad Botesford." Ibid.
3 "Eidem manerio Botesford pertinent 3 carucatæ terræ et 2 bovate in Gniptone." Ibid
4 "Odardus tenet de Roberto 1 carucatam terræ in Bothesford, et Baldricus 2 carucatas terræ, et Clarebaldus a carucatas terræ, & Robertus 1 carucatam terræ, Heldinus 1 carucatam terræ et dimidiam, et alii 4 trancigenæ 3 carucatas terræ et dimidiam ; inter tot', 12 carucatas terræ. Terra est 12 carucarum. In dominico sunt 9 caucæ, et 4 servi, et 7 socmanni, cum 2 villanis & bordariis, habentes 2 carucas inter omnes. Aliqui nil habent. Ibi 2 molini et dimidium, de 5 solidis, 6 denariis, Totum valuit 6 libras quando receperunt ; modo 16 libras. Leuric tenuit, et quò voluit ire potuit." Ibid. p. 234. a. 1.
5 MS. Chetwyrid
6 See Cotton MSS. Nero D. X. 7.
7 Appendix, p. 7.
8 Dr. Vernon MS.

To be continued 

Extract from White's Leicester and Rutland Directory 1877

BOTTESFORD, a large and well-built village and parish, in Framland Hundred, Grantham Union and County Court District, in 1871 had 1315 inhabitants, living in 300 houses, on 5010 acres of land. The rateable value of the parish is £9285. It is situated on the banks of the small river Deven, in the Vale of Belvoir, and lies in the north-eastern apex of the county, 4 miles N. of Belvoir Castle, W. by N. of Grantham, and 16 E. of Nottingham. having a station on the Granthan, and Nottingham Railway. A railway is now being constructed through the lordship, and touching the west end of the village, from Newark to Leicester and Market Harborough. The parish extends between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, and includes Easthorpe hamlet, on the south-west side of the river, and Normanton hamlet, which reaches three miles north from Bottesford to Normanton Thorns, and the Three Shire Bush, at the junction of the three counties. The Duke of Rutland is lord of the manor and owner of part of the soil, and the rest belongs to Mrs. Norris, Thomas Vincent, Esq., the trustees of the late Richard Kettleborrow, Esq.. Wiggeston's Hospital, in Leicester; the poor of Dorking, Surrey; William Ravell, Francis Vincent, Williarn Stafford, and Richard B. Orton, Esqrs. Mrs. M. A. Goodsou, the Executors of the late Anthony Healey, Esq., and the Rev. Canon Norman. The soil is chiefly a strong clay, with a portion of sand. The manor, anciently called Bottlesford or Bocklesford, has been held by the owners of Belvoir since the time of the Norman Conquest. The CHURCH (St. Mary) is a large and handsome cruciform structure of fourteenth and fifteenth century work, and with alterations made after the Reformation, and consists of a nave, a spacious chancel, having clerestory windows, two aisles, south porch, and north and south transept, with a square tower at the west end, and surmounted by a handsome octagonal crocketed spire, rising to the height of 222 feet, of which the tower measures 87 feet. The tower contains a fine peal of six bells, re-hung in 1869, of which the tenor weighs 27 cwt; and there are in the steeple the remains of chimes, which used to play every three hours. The church was thoroughly Restored, new roofed, and re-seated in 1847, when new windows were inserted and the western arch opened, at a total expenditure of £2300, raised by rate and subscription. An organ, built by Messrs. Forster & Anmdrews of Hull, was placed in the church in 1859, at a cost of £240, and the tower was then repaired and a lightening conductor affixed, at an outlay of £70, raised by rate and subscription. The tower became so dangerous in 1864 that it was resolved to underpin the foundations with much harder stone, and to increase their projection. Eighty new steps were inserted in the tower in place of others which had broken from the newell and severed from the wall, sinking each of them nearly two inches. These works were completed at the cost of about £1900, defrayed by subscription. The only curiosities found during the repairs were a sanctus bell and some woollen-covered balls. Most of the seats are free and open at the ends, and the pulpit is of finely carved oak, dated 1681. The octagonal and rudely sculptured font stands on four heavy balusters. The chancel is 60 feet long and 27 broad, and underwent considerable alterations and repairs in the early part of the 16th century, under the direction of Thomas, the first Earl of Rutland, for the reception of the coffins and monumental remains of his ancestors, which he removed from Belvoir Priory after the Dissolution. The first Earl of Rutland was interred in the vault which he formed under this chancel, in 1543, and it continued to be the burial-place of the Manners family till the completion of the Mausoleum, at Belvoir, in 1828-9, when the remains of the late Duchess of Rutland, the four Dukes, the celebrated Marquis of Granby, and of several other members were removed to that splendid dormitory, as noticed at page 159. A small figure in armour, formerly supposed to have been the effigy of Robert de Todenei, the first Norman lord of Belvoir, who died in 1088, has been shown by Mr. Bloxam to be of the 13th century. On an alabaster tomb, within the communion rails, adjoining the south wall, is an effigy of a man in armour, supposed to be Sir William Ros, who died in 1414. On the north side of the chancel, and within the communion rails, is another high tomb of alabaster, on which is the recumbent effigy of an armed warrior, clad in conical basinet, surrounded by an orle. The effigy is thought by Mr. Bloxam to represent Thomas Lord Ros, who died in 1431. On a large slab, on the floor of the chancel, is a large and fine brass, 'the richest, perhaps, in the county of Leicester,' commemorative of Henry de Codyngton, rector of Bottesford, and prebendary of the Collegiate Church at Southwell, who died in 1404, and represents him clad in his canonical or prebendal habit. In the middle of the chancel floor, near the altar rails, is a beautiful alabaster altar-tomb, upon which are recumbent effigies of the first Earl of Rutland and his Countess, the former dressed in the appropriate robes of the Garter, with his head resting on a helmet, and his feet against a unicorn ; and the latter resting her head on two embroidered pillows. On the north side of the tomb are figures of their six daughters, and on the south side those of their five sons and another daughter. At the west end of the tomb is a statue of a sixth son; and at the east end are figures of two other daughters. Near this is another alabaster monument, in memory of Henry, the second Earl of Rutland and his Countess, the former of whom is represented in that scarce description of armour called a suit-of splints, and from a collar round his neck a 'George' hangs down almost to his waistband. On his head is placed a coronet, and beneath it lies the tilting helmet. The countess is represented in her robes, with her head resting on a scroll. Effigies of their daughter and two sons kneel upon the tomb, and above it is a canopy on heavy-wrought pillars. On the south side of the chancel is a large monument with the figures of Edward, the third Earl of Rutland, and his Countess, he bareheaded, in his robes, ruff, and armour; and she in ermine robes, high toupee, ruff, embroidered sleeves, &c.; with their only child and daughter kneeling at her feet. A long inscription records the Earl's titles and the various offices of state which he held. Against the north wall is the monument of John, the fourth Earl, whose effigy is in armour, with a coronet and a ruff, a mat under his head, and a bull at his feet. Be his side is his lady, in ermine mantle, with a lion at her feet. At thier head is a lady kneeling; at their feet the eldest son, bareheaded, in plate armour; and in front of the tomb are three sons and two daughters, all kneeling. On the same side of the chancel is the monument of Roger, the fifth Earl, and his Countess, the former represented in plate armour, with a peacock at his feet; and the latter with her feet on a porcupine. The last of this series of monuments is against the south wall of the chancel, and commemorates Francis, the sixth Earl of Rutland, his two wives, and the two children, who died by 'wicked practices and sorcery.' (See page 156.) All that a combination of various coloured marbles, painting, gilding, and sculpture can effect is here displayed. The Earl rests between his two wives on a marble sarcophagus, with his head on an embroidered pillow, and his feet resting against a peacock. At their head is a female kneeling in the attitude of prayer, and above the entablature of the lower arcade are two black horses, and a smaller arcade of similar character. The other more modern monuments are of a wholly different character from any of the preceding. One consists of a beautiful pedestal, on which stands a colossal figure of statuary marble in Roman costume, representing George, the seventh Earl of Rutland, who died in 1641. Another is in memory of John, the eighth Earl, and his Countess, who are both represented in a standing posture, with Roman drapery, an urn between them, and two cherubs above. Only the remains of two of the funeral achievements which were formerly suspended from the walls now exist, and these are not perfect, while not a single banner, banner-roll, or pennon is left. The door of entrance into the family vault is of cedar, in the Gothic style. The coffins which remain in the vault are numerous, and are distinguished by inscriptions on brass plates. In the church were formerly chantries dedicated to St. Peter, St. Mary, and St. John. The register dates from 1563. The benefice is a rectory, valued in K.B. at £51 4s. 114d, and now at £1000, in the patronage of the Duke of Rutland, and incumbency of the Rev. Frederic Jno. Norman, M.A., hon. canon of Peterborough, who in 1848 married Lady Adeliza Gertrude Elizabeth Manners daughter of the fifth Duke of Rutland. The rector has a handsome residence, and 750 acres of glebe land, awarded at the enclosure in 1772, in lieu of tithes. The Rev. Sir John Thoroton, M. A., the rector of Bottesford from 1782 to 1820, and for twenty-three years the domestic chaplain, the valued friend, and the faithful companion of the late Duke and Duchess of Rutland, was knighted by George IV. when Prince Regent, and it is to him that Belvoir Castle owes much of its beauty.

The BAPTISTS have a chapel here, built in 1789; the WESLEYANS one built in 1845; and the PRIMITIVE METHODISTS erected one in 1820.
A POLICE STATION was built in 1842 and enlarged in 1872. There is an ancient cross, probably erected by Lord de Roos about the year 1400; and a 'water-mill on the river Deven. The annual feast is held on the second Sunday after September 29.
BOTTESFORD CHARITIES.-A SCHOOL was erected on land given to the parish by the Duke of Rutland in 1855, at a cost of £900, and the whole of the rent of the school-lands is paid to the master and mistress to enable the children of the poor to receive their education at a reduced rate of pay. it is endowed with 31 A. 3R. 29P. awarded at the enclosure, April 18, 1772, in lieu of the two oxgangs of land, and several 'odd lands,' in the Normanton fields, purchased in May 1730 for £245, of which £100 was left by Abel Ligonier in 1711, and £140 by Anthony Ravell, in 1726. The land is tithe and land-tax free, but is subject to a quit-rent of 8s. 2d. yearly, paid to the heirs of Arthur Barnardiston, and is let at a rent of £36 per annum. THE EARL OF RUTLAND'S HOSPITAL is a stone building, containing 14 bedrooms, with a pantry to each, one common room, and a kitchen, which are in good repair. A small orchard is attached to the building, produce of which is divided among the residents. They also let the herbage at a yearly average rent of £1 10s. By an inquisition of charitable uses in 1662 it was ascertained that Roger, 5th Earl of Rutland, by his will, dated 18th May, 1612, directed his brother Francis and his executor, who succeeded him as 6th Earl, to finish a hospital in Bottesford (which had been begun by his mother, Elizabeth, countess of the 4th Earl), for six persons, to be chosen out of the servants at Belvoir, and endowed it with land at Muston. He also provided that whenever 'the said number of six poor persons should not he supplied out of the servants at Belvoir Castle, it should be made up out of the poorest and best deserving inhabitants of Belvoir, or other places, being tenants of and nominated by the owners of the said Castle and Honor of Belvoir. The charity has been augmented by successive Earls and Dukes of Rutland, and the number of almsmen from time time increased.' The estate now consists of 62A. lR. 8P. in Bottesford, let for £82 10s.; 317A. 2R. 36P. in Muston, let for £498 3s.; 3A. 0R. l0P, in Clawson, let for £7; 78A. 1R. 38P. in Abkettleby, let for £127 ; and 12A. 3R. 25P. in Sproxton, let for £33. All these rents are subject to the payment of land-tax, and that of Muston also to the payment of tithe. By a trust-deed dated May 20, 1762, certain trustees were appointed, the heir of the survivor of whom was Sir William Earle Welby. The trusts declared therein are as follows : To permit the Rector of Bottesford and the Vicar of Harby, and their successors, to receive the rents, out which they were to pay l0s. 8d. monthly to each of the 14 poor men; 6d. at Easter, Whitsuntide, Bottesford Feast, and Christmas, for fire money; l0d. in December in lieu of capon money; 6d. in February and in August, for salt; l0d. in September, for candles; 30s. in April, for a suit of clothes; and to provide for each a good cloth gown and making every other Easter, 20 cwt. of hard coals to be laid in in May, and to provide bed and bedding, household goods, and all necessary utensils for their use; and physic and attendance for such as should be sick; to pay 1s. 6d. every month to a person for making the poor men's fires, and 6s. 8d. at Lady Day and Michaelmas to a laundress for washing for each poor man; and to keep the hospital in repair. By an indenture dated September 24, 1846, new trustees were appointed, viz., Lord John Manners,Lord George Manners, Earl Jermyn, A. R. Drummond, Esq., Glynne Earle Welby, Esq., and Ge Norman, Esq., on the survivors of whom the trust now devolves. The terms of the trust are substantially the same; the amount of the coal laid in is increased, and the matron's pay is now £20 l6s. The 13 monthly payments to each inmate vary from £1 4s. to £3 4s. The out-pensioners receive two-thirds of the above sums. Every alternate Easter each inmate receives a blue cloth gown, on the left sleeve of which is affixed a silver badge, with a peacock and duke's coronet. There are at present 4 resident and 9 out-patients. The REV. DR. SAMUEL FLEMING, rector of Bottesford from 11581 to 1620, devised certain lands and tenements (after the death of his sister, Hester Davenport), to found a HOSPITAL for widows belonging to the parish of Bottesford. This trust was augmented in 1620 or 1621 by the said Hester Davenport. The two cottages which she left were originally the property and site of the chantreys of St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, which were dissolved in the reign of King Henry VIII. The widows were to he nominated to inhabit the said houses or tenements during their widowhood, a second marriage causing their forfeiture of all interest in the charity. This charity was increased by a legacy of £50, left in November 1763, by Mrs. Mary Griffin, widow of the Rev. Lewis Griffin, late rector of the parish, and by £10 left by Mrs. Clifford. In the year 1753 John Howett charged his lands in Muston with an annual rent-charge of £1 15s., now paid by the Duke of Rutland. By the award on the enclosure of Bottesford parish 75A. 3R. 28P. were allotted to the trustees of the Hospital. In the year 1827 the sum of £200, which had accumulated from yearly saving and from Mrs. Mary Griffin's legacy, was laid out in the purchase of £252 15s. 3d. three per cent. Console and in the same year the number of widows was increased from four to six. The invested capital amounts in 1874 to £723 15s. 4d., producing an annual income of £21 12s. 1d., which was farther augmented in that year by a legacy of £500, less duty, bequeathed by the late Miss Mary Brown. There are at resent four annuitants, one being added recently in consideration of the interest accruing from Miss Brown's legacy, who receive out-pensions of the same amount as the inmates. The Hospital contains six bedrooms, one sitting-room, and a kitchen, besides offices, and is kept in good repair. Each annuitant receives £1 5s. every calendar month. Coals and gas are also provided. By the ancient deed all the members of the foundation are required to attend the services of the church; the Weduesday and Friday morning services being most probably the remains of the services of the dissolved chantreys upon which the present tenements of the Hospital are founded and built. The present trustees are Sir G. E. W. Gregory, Bart., Lord Jno. Manners, M.P. the Rev. F. J. Norman, and the Rev. G. S. Stanley. THOMAS WHITE, rector of this parish, and afterwards Bishop of Peterborough, or (as he signed himself) Petriburgh, by his will, dated 1690, gave to the poor Bottesford £240, to be laid out in land, £10 of the rent of which he willed should be distributed on the 14th of December, by the rector, in the church porch, in the presence of the churchwardens or overseers, to 20 poor families or persons of 40 years of age, reckoning husband and wife for one person, who could repeat the Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed, and Ten Commandments. By the award on the enclosure of Bottesford 36A. 1R. 34P. were, in the hill field and dale field, allotted to this charity, in lieu of land in the Normanton fields, purchased in July 1703, for £260. The present rent of the land is £47 .5.s., which is given according to the directions of the will, the number of the recipients being, however, increased by the present rector. Thomas White was one of the seven Bishops who were committed to the Tower by James II. THOMAS BEAN of this parish, by will, dated September 26, 1734, charged an oxgang of land in Bottesford with the yearly payment of 20s., to be distributed in sums of 2s. each, on every 26th December, among such poor persons as the owner of the said land and the rector and churchwardens should think fit, who now pay the sum of 20s. out of a close called Acrelands. ANN BEND, by will dated March 19, 1822, gave to the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of Bottesford, and their successors, all such principal moneys as should be due to her at the time of her death on the security of the tolls of the road leading from Grantham to Nottingham, upon trust, to distribute the interest arising therefrom in bread among widows and single women of the age of 60 years and upwards, such distribution to be made in the first of the year. The share in the turnpike-road was paid off in December 1873, and produced £59 5s., which was invested in the names of the Rev. Frederic J. Norman, Francis Vincent, and Richard Bartram Orton, in the New three per cent. Stock, and produced £63 3s. 6d. Stock. The charity is regularly distributed according to the provisions of the will. ELEANOR Hough, by will dated 4, 1848, left to the rector and church wardens of Bottesford the sum of £100, which, less legacy duty, was invested and produced £100 Stock, the dividends of which are distributed in coals by the rector, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor.

WILLIAM TWINBERY, by will, dated August 25, 1851, bequeathed to the rector, churchwardens, and the overseers of the poor the sum of £200, to be invested in Stock, the dividends arising therefrom to be distributed among eight poor widows of good character, and of the age of 50 years or upwards. The number of annuitants is at present six. Nineteen loaves of bread, each weighing 23/4 lbs., are distributed weekly throughout the year to nineteen families, widows and aged persons having the preference. The poor of Dorking, in Surrey, have the rent arising out of 155 acres in this parish; and there is also a considerable estate belonging to Wigston Hospital, Leicester. Here are also a Clothing Club, a Medical Club, a Penny Bank, and a Lending Library, containing nearly 300 volumes.

POST, MONEY ORDER and TELEGRAPH OFFICE, and SAVINGS' BANK, at Miss Pickering's, High street. Letters are received at 7.20 a.m. from, and are despatched at 6 p.m. to Nottingham.

 

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