Waltham on the Wolds

Croxton Races: pre 1881

David — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:46:22 +0000

Many thanks to Terry Hibbert for sending this photo, taken some time before 1881 at Croxton Park races. Terry writes: “I know it must be prior to that date as John Hibbert (stout chap at the back in top hat) died in 1881. He was my great-grandfather. The photo may have appeared in the Nottingham Guardian originally – I’ll try to find out.

The Hibberts were a Nottingham family, much into sports such as racing, coursing, even bare fist knuckle fighting. Charlie Hibbert had interests in Nottingham racecourse and, we think, Leicester too. He had several good racehorses and was well known in the racing fraternity.

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

There’s quite a lot of information on this website about Croxton Races. Click here to view.

Croxton Abbey Gatehouse

David — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:27:16 +0000

This wonderful photograph of the gatehouse to Croxton Abbey was taken almost 160 years ago – in 1852. Nothing remains of the Abbey today, beyond a few blocks of carved stone balanced on a stone wall. So the image provides a unique and fascinating record of this once powerful religious house.

The image above shows just part of the photograph. Click on it to expand it further, and click here to see it in full frame.

We think the gatehouse was close to one of the abbey fishponds, on a site now occupied by one of the houses at Croxton Park. We also understand that one of the arches may be still in situ within the house.

The photographer was Delamotte; one of the earliest pioneers of the medium who was also art teacher to the royal family.

There’s a lot of information about Croxton Abbey and Park on this website. Click here for a selection of links.

To follow: illustration of the Abbey and gatehouse.

Re-thatching the Royal Horseshoes

David — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:28:37 +0000

We’ve all watched as the Royal Horseshoes has been re-thatched over recent weeks and months. They’ve only just finished, and it’s wonderful to see the old pub looking so good. Many of us were concerned that it was never going to re-open its doors again.

John Hurton has just sent this photo of a previous re-thatching. (Click on the image to see it in full frame.) Judging by the lorry, it must have been taken in the late ’50s, early ’60s. So it was probably the last time the thatch was completely replaced.

Interesting to see that the roof timbers have completely collapsed in the centre. It also looks as though the roof along Goadby Road may be tiled rather than thatched – which is something I’ve never seen before. (But perhaps it’s just had the thatch removed prior to being replaced.)

Click here to see a similar view taken just a few weeks ago.

Croxton Park House

David — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:42:16 +0000

Many thanks to David Carlton for allowing me to copy this photo of Park House taken in the 1920s. Today, the house is a derelict ruin, standing forlornly within Croxton Park. It’s in a very dangerous state, but in its heyday, it was the Duke of Rutland’s hunting seat where the hunt would meet regularly during the season.

There is quite a lot of information on this site about the house, together with photos of it as it is today, as well as a wonderful line illustration showing it its full glory. The reason for its present state is that a local farmer – a Captain Kyle – removed the lead from the roof sometime in the 1950s.

Captain Kyle is rumoured to have been a German spy, and locals believed he drove up and down Bescaby Lane during the war with his headlights full on, directing German bombers towards the ammunitions factory in Grantham. But that’s another story!

The Bishop family

David — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:08:31 +0000

This family group photo is captioned ‘The Bishop family of 29 Melton Road’. It looks like it was taken in the late ’50s – early ’60s. (Click on the photo to see it in full frame.)

If anyone can put names to the faces, that would be wonderful. Simply leave a comment below, or get in touch using the contact page.

I received the photo along with this one of Melton Road, and this one captioned as 29 Melton Road. So I’m assuming they must have all been taken at the same time.

Melton Road

David — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:56:44 +0000

This photo of Melton Road – with the school gates on the left and grass verges beside the road – looks like it was taken in the late ’50s – early ’60s. I received it at the same time as this photo of a house on Melton Road, which is captioned as no.29. And this one of the Bishop family – also captioned as living at 29 Melton Road. So I’m assuming there must be some connection!

If anyone can shed a little light, please leave a comment below. I’ve also posted the photo of the Bishop family on this page. If anyone can put names to all the people, it would be much appreciated.

The midnight steeplechase

David — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:08:24 +0000

Keen local historians, David Bowles and Gillian Lane, relate the story of one of Melton’s most famous escapades – the ‘Midnight Steeplechase’. Which has connections with both Thorpe Arnold and Waltham.

The article first appeared in the WOTWATA parish newsletter. We’ll reprint the final episode as soon as it’s published.

Click here to read part 1.

Waltham Fair

David — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:08:02 +0000

Our thanks to Wendy Watts for lending us a book which includes this old photo of Waltham Fair. The caption says it was taken c.1890. It was a fairly poor image, and spread across two pages, so I’ve had to do a fair amount of work to hide both the fold and the marks.

Click on the image to expand it into full frame. And click here to view a close up detail, showing the windmill in the background.

I’m not sure where the field is, but I guess a little research on some of our old images of the windmill might shed some light on this. But if anyone knows, please leave a comment below.

Croxton Park earthworks

David — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:05:41 +0000

We’ve discovered a map detailing a wide range of ancient earthworks at Croxton Park. Some of them date back to the time of the abbey, but others may be far earlier – perhaps even neolithic burials.

The path at the end of the farm track from Bescaby towards Croxton Park has long been a favourite walk of mine. But I hadn’t realised that it was flanked by earthwork banks of what are said to be ‘unknown date’. And that the path aligns with two circular mounds – on either side of the abbey fishponds. One of which has the enigmatic name of ‘Punch’s Grave’

Click here to read about the earthworks and view the map.

Melton Road

David — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:35:56 +0000

It took a while to work out the exact position from where this very old photo of Waltham must have been taken. (Click the image to expand it.) Today you’d be looking across the Melton Road towards Regent Services, with the tower of St Mary’s Church in the background.

We’re hoping to get a better quality copy of the photo, but it looks like there’s an entrance through a pair of large gates into a small paddock, with a couple of small farm buildings – one tiled and the other thatched.

We think this lane must be the one that runs beside the garage today – up to the car park at the rear. Alan has taken a photo showing the same scene today. Click here to view it.