Mapperley Village

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Newspapers - 1905 - Page 1


At The Sign of
YE OLD BLACK HORSE
Mapperley.

Reprinted, by permission
of the Ilkeston Pioneer
of July 14th, 1905


Ye-Olde-Bk-Horse

Kindly Supplied by Mrs. Sheila Parkinson

Within a couple of miles of Ilkeston is an old Hostel which stands in the centre of a village that has a very respectable history, so far as length of year is concerned. Mapperley is situated on an eminence, and the surrounding country is of an undulating character on each side. Picturesquely looming in the landscape is a quartette of windmills that were important factors in days gone by when the wealth of a district was calculated by the ancient assessors of taxes in furnishing material for the army or the maintenance of the State. Professor Jas. E. Thorold Rogers, in his. "Economical Side of History", devotes a chapter to "Self-government in the Village",  and referring to these old mills he writes "The only houses of any pretension in the village were the Lord's the parsons and the miller's, who by prescription took toll of all the inhabitants who were bound to grind at his mill, who is a busy and according to current report not an overscrupulous personage in his dealings with his fellow villagers. Time has made havoc with three of those mills, and they stand as dismantled wrecks of their former glory. The sails of the remaining one may be seen sweeping round any day when the winds blow free. Twenty years ago all the four mills were in full working order.

From the vantage ground of Mapperley Hill there lies stretched around the Shipley estate of 5,550 acres; one of the finest and richest estates in the County of Derby. In the distance stands 'Ilkeston on the Hill', and to the right of Ilkeston is Kirk Hallam, and West Hallam, and nearer to Mapperley lies Stanley Common. Each of the respective districts is rich in material for antiquary, archaeologist, and student of history, and the searchers after common or uncommon objects. Shipley is mentioned in Doomsday Book (compiled about 1080), and an interesting illustration from the famous Chronicle is given in Trueman's "History of Ilkeston", concerning the Shipley estate, now in the possession of Mr. A.E. Miller Mundy, J.P; D.L., who is also the squire of Mapperley, and under his supervision the village has undergone a thorough renovation beneficial to the health and comfort of the residents. A plentiful supply of beautiful fresh water has been provided, a new drainage system has been laid down and the roads have been thoroughly overhauled. Mapperley with its population of 200 souls is considered a very healthful district. It is a pleasant village for the visitors who extensively patronize the modernised ancient township in goodly numbers during the summer season.
Whereas the value of the square mile of 'Halum’ in the time of Edward the Confessor and of William the Confessor was 20 shillings per annum, by Edward, the Ist's time some 120 acres in Kyrkehalam, held by Peter the elder are worth that sum today to the King of England. Kirk Hallam is already a part of a great, mighty country; even its hamlet of Mapperley interests King and Bishop and Judge. Oxford bears its name, and his majesty’s Judges there frown, it may be, one of its timid cottagers.

On the morrow of Ascension Day, 1247, Richard, son of Richard, appears against Robert, son of John Ingtram, re a plough land in Maperly . . . and the said Robert did not come, and Ivo de Maperly and Gilbert de Hoved are ordered to produce him.

At this time Mapperley was worth a whole dog kennel to the King. Richard de Sandiacre is accustomed to hold the town of Mapperley by the service of finding a house for dogs. King Henry seized all the English lands of those Norman nobles who had tried to prevent his succeeding to his father's throne, and did give these lands of rebels to his faithful men, and among them were lands in Mapperley — a maple meadow.

At this day, A.D. 1247, Mapperley could boast of its own chapel — at least its Lord could, as shown by the following document. This is an ordinance made by the Authority of the Rev. Father in Christ, Alexander Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, between the Abbot of Dale and the Rector of the Church of Kirkhalam of the one part and Hugh of Stretley and Matilda his wife on the other. Hugh is to be allowed to have his own chaplain within the walls of his house at Mapperley to celebrate mass there when one or both of them shall be present, but he and his wife are to attend the parish church of Kirk Hallam on High days unless prevented by sickness. The chaplain is to do fealty to the Vicar of Kirk Hallam, and is not to allow anyone else to listen to him except Hugh and Matilda and their household. All the other inhabitants of Mapperley are to attend the parish church, and to take their offerings there. Traces of a chapel, perhaps a successor to the building mentioned above, are still to be found built into a wall of a house near to the church in the village.

The present church was erected in 1851, but it was not till 1870 that Mapperley became a separate parish, instead of being a chapel of ease to Kirk Hallam Church, where baptisms, marriages and funerals had to be conducted. The font out of the old private chapel of Hugh and Matilda, is in the garden adjoining "Ye Old Black Horse," Mapperley. Many demands and requests have been made by antiquarians and archaeologists for possession of the old relic. Probably the font will become the property of Mr. E.M. Mundy, of Shipley Hall, who had the old chapel restored, and he will have the font surmounted on a suitable pedestal resting near its original home. There is the hope expressed that Mr. E.M. Mundy may by mutual arrangement with Mr. F.  Newdegate-Newdegate M.P. (the present patron of the Church) becomes the patron of Mapperley Church, in which he, the squire of Shipley, takes a keen interest, in the form of supporting the financial maintenance and upkeep. Such a transference of the patronage would be received with favour by the villagers.

The old villagers speak of Mapperley as having been an old market town, even before Ilkeston possessed the privilege of holding a market. Old ruins in the wood are alluded to as the remnants of castle, with distinct traces of an old moat. Referred again to Trueman's "History of Ilkeston," The ancient records of burglaries and murders provide the information that the townships of Mapperley, Shipley, Smalley and West Hallam are in mercy because they did not tell the coroner about the foresaid John, who had killed a man. Ralph the son of Robert of Chaddesdan, killed Richard son of William of Mapperley at night and immediately after the deed he placed himself in the Church at Spondon, and there before the coroner he abjured the Kingdom. His goods are worth 3s. 4d.

In 1650, Kirk Hallam is a "Viccaridge" worth £8 per annum. Mapperley is a member and lies remote, and may be united to West Hallam. The tithes of Mapperley were squabbled over. Previous to 1596 the tithes had not been paid for many years. In 1779 a lawsuit respecting them was settled by arbitration. In 1735 the burial fees were one shilling and a wedding cost 2s. 6d. A tythe pig was valued at I/-. Payments were made for a mare and foal 2d for a borrowing cow, Id. for a garding, Id. for a chimney and smooke Id. a penny apiece for offerings, for each house 2d. for eggs 2d. Park Hall pays 16s. Of course such sums of money would be worth considerably more in the modern coinage".

To Nonconformists Mapperley is interesting as the place where the Rev. John Crompton, M.A., died (the ejected Vicar of Arnold in 1669). The record is extant that so far back as 1342, Richard, son of Ivo de Maperly, granted lands in Mapperley to Geoffrey de Herdeby. The Venerable Father, the Abbot of Dale, once found it necessary to summon the Lord of West Hallam for making a park there and thus depriving the oxen and sheep of their wonted sustenance.

Henry the Tanner of Stanley, Adam the joiner of Stanley, and Henry Gaugy had unjustly and by force dispossessed the Abbot of the Dale of his common pasture in West Hallam, which belongs to his freehold in Stanley. As a result of that inquiry, Ralph and all the others are in mercy and are fined.

The ancient lineage of Mapperley thus briefly indicated show the importance of the village in the spacious days when agriculture was the dominating factor in English industry. In harmony with the venerable history of the township, the hostelry of "Ye Old Black Horse" furnishes a modern specimen of the old English type of stucco buildings, for the front of the Inn has been recently renovated by Mr. John Durow, of Marlpool, and now presents an interesting facade with its wooden lines and angles which set off the stucco. A sick club has been, held at the "Black Horse'' for 110 years, a sign of the thrifty character of the villagers. Inside the house are numerous curios. There is a fine old oil painting which came from Ruddington Hall, the subject portrayed by the artist being "Neptune and the Nymphs” There is an interesting "Scene before Gilraltaer on the morning of the 14th September, 1785". Monster tooth found at the bottom of the sea of a giant Mastodon, rests cheek by jowl with a glutton perch caught in the act of swallowing the small perch. Bead work from New Zealand, curios from Africa, old engravings of Nottingham, 1831, or district, and many other interesting objects are open to inspection. Mr. John Beer, who has lived in Mapperley 55 years, and has been the tenant of "Ye Old Black Horse" for eight years, and has the happy qualification of collecting. His friends and acquaintances appreciating his hobby or fad, as some uninterested individuals would term such a gathering of valuable odds and ends. Prior to becoming a licensed victualler, he was engaged for 13 years on the Shipley estate. Now he has greater facilities for cultivating another hobby, that is gardening. He has several glass houses, in which may be found many varieties of blooms. Maidenhair ferns are a speciality and of fine quality. Japanese ferns assume quaint and fantastic designs — here a swan, there a cross. Mr. Beer's fernery is supposed to contain the best collection of ferns in Derbyshire and Nottingham. Tomato houses, Vinery,' etc., provide an abundance of work for his spare hours. An aviary has also been started, and Mrs. E. Miller Mundy has promised a Continental contribution, to the anticipated collection. Gardens with daintily laid out beds are in close proximity to the conservatories. Permission is willingly given to visitors who desire to inspect the "floral" departments, for "mine host" does not believe in cultivating personal selfishness. The Squire and Mrs. Mundy often pay a visit to the glass houses and John frequently receives a pretty compliment on his vieing with the glass houses in the Hall grounds.

Then turning to the social side of entertainment, no sing-song is permitted to take place at "Ye Old Black Horse,' but a polyphon will play the latest Operatic melody, Coon Song, or Cake Walk, and for picnicking parties with musical members there is the piano at their services.  Cricket is an important feature in the characteristics of the villagers. The Squire is a keen lover of sport, and he has supported the Mapperley Club in a handsome spirit. Thanks to Mr. Mundy, the village has a splendid Cricket ground and Pavilion, picturesquely situated. He gave £100, the ground and other incidentals. The total cost of erecting the Pavilion has now been cleared off with the exception of a dozen pounds. The Vicar, the Rev. C.H. Lane is also keen on Cricket and generally takes his part in the village matches. Mr. John Beer displayed no small degree of energy in bringing the pavilion ground scheme to a successful issue. His cogent appeals for the sport fell on sympathetic ears, and he feels, in conjunction with his colleagues, just proud of the results of the solicitations on behalf of the M.C.C. "Ye Old Black Horse" is within a stones throw of the Cricket Ground. Visitors do find and will find that host and hostess can cater in every branch and form. The ancient inn property, with about half a dozen cottages is the only part of this model village which does not belong to Squire Mundy.

It is a common phase in the village that Mapperley had the Electric Light before Ilkeston laid down its installation. The foreman of Messrs. Dick, Kerr, in the course of constructing Ilkeston Tramways, casually visited "YE Old Black Horse", where he was surprised to find a five-candle power Electric Light, and would not at first believe that Mr. Beer made the current on the premises, the foreman imagining that the power either came from the Hall or from the Colliery. When he discovered the facts he jocosely remarked "I'll have my letters addressed here, to Mapperley, near Ilkeston.

In 1896  old lady Harvey died at the age of 100 years, she had often complained that she was sadly afraid she would not be able to rear her youngest son, who lived to be 30 years of age.  She used to drive a pair of grey donkeys. Her husband was in the habit of telling his customers not to stop the donkeys, otherwise they would not start again. Ilkeston residents as well as the surrounding villagers, will no doubt call to mind the itinerant vendors of sandstones, crockery, and miscellaneous commodities.

With regard to the ancient structure once utilised as a church, and now used as dwellings, the present Sexton (Mr. W. Thornley) of the Parish Church of Mapperley, for many years lived in the ancient consecrated building in which the chancel rails may still be seen. The walls of the old Church are two foot six inches in thickness, and massive oak beams are conspicuous. When the present occupant of the house Luke Burrows (a son in law of the old lady just referred to) terminates his tenancy it is expected that the old Church will be "thoroughly restored.    

The Rev. L. Mellor (formerly Vicar of Mapperley) and Mrs. Mellor still manifest interest in the scenes, of their former labours, and any good object always receives a sympathetic response.

A singular coincidence in connection with the "New Church" is that Samuel Mee, who got the first stone out of the district for the Church, was the first person to be interred in the new Church Yard, Mee having met with an accident which proved fatal.

The Hawleys and the Harvey's are the oldest families in the village.

Mr. Beer's parents were of Ilkestonian origin. His grandfather was born at the Manor House, and his father who died recently at the age of 78 years was born in Beer's Lane, now known, as Ash Street, Cotmanhay.

He was a keen sportsman, fishing, hunting, and with dogs. The host of "Ye Old Black Horse" has a fine replica of a daguerreotype of his great grandmother, taken with her distaff and spinning wheel. Lord Harrington has offered 100 guineas for the original daguerreotype, but the son declines to part with the doubly valuable photograph. The great grandmother spun sheets until she was ninety years of age. Many years after her death some of those were sold for a big price.

In connection with the history of Mapperley, the Sexton, Mr. W Wheatley has supplied the contributor of this sketch, with the following—

"At the Doomsday Survey, William Conqueror was King of England. William de Peverel held Mapperley for the King in 1084. Peverel lived at a mansion in a wood at Mapperley. There was a moat all round the house, and traces of the moat may be observed today, The mansion was destroyed, and a park, stocked with deer, was provided for the King. Richard de Sandiacre held the Manor at Mapperley in 1235, the village at that time being in a flourishing condition. A market was held every Monday, and at the festival of Holy Trinity there was a Fair, which continued to be held up to forty years ago, the pool where the cattle were watered being still in existence.

The old Church on which may be observed remnants of carved figures was utilised for a dwelling house after Richard's death. His successors to the Manor were Simon de Arden, Thomas de Lucke, and Sir Richard Willouhby, the latter securing the estate by his marriage with the heiress of the Morteyne family. Then the Gilberts held Mapperley Park of Locko. The Coopers succeeded and finally the Manor came into the hands of its present owner, Mr. E.M. Mundy. In 1691, Sir Anthony of Strelley seized part of Mapperley, where he lived in a hamlet Park Hall, situate about half a mile west of the village. In 1446, Robert Mundy represented Derby in Parliament. One of his ancestors purchased Shipley and part of Mapperley from the Strelley family. In 1538 the Powtrells were of Catholic Faith, and they underwent persecution. In times of stress they fled to Mapperley Church, where they sought refuge. Abbot John Scardsgill in 1662 gave an endowment of £540 for the education of twelve poor children in various parishes, including Mapperley. The Trustees purchased land and property at Gresley, and the income now provides education and clothing for thirteen children. The Vicar and Churchwarden J. Fletcher, are the trustees of Mapperley."

Part of this extract is taken from "The Remote Ages of Antiquity to the year of our Lord, MDCCXDCI," illustrated by W. Button, F.A.S.S.


Nottingham Evening Post
Friday 2 April 1909

22 YEARS IN DARKNESS.
THE DERBYSHIRE “MIRACLE."

Particulars of the remarkable experience of Miss M. A. Moon, of Mapperley, Derbyshire, whose sight has been restored after being blind for 22 years, were published in the Evening Post yesterday, and that lady has now written to us giving further particulars.

She states that after an operation last Saturday she was able to see the oculist’s face—the first face she had seen for 22 years.

Since then she had undergone another operation, and she can now distinguish the difference in faces, can see pictures on the walls, and distinguish different colours. She is quite hopeful, too, that her sight will be fully restored in the near future. “Surely this is truly a miracle,” she writes. I can see all there is to see, but having been in absolute darkness for so many years the world seems entirely new and strange me, and therefore I am not able to grasp things quickly.”

Note- See also article about Miss Moon - Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 20 October 1937


Dartmouth and South Hams Chronicle
Friday 09 April 1909

BLIND GIRL CURED
 SIGHT AFTER TWENTY-ONE YEARS.

Blind for twenty-one of the twenty-eight years of her life. Miss Mary Moon, of the little Derbyshire village of Mapperley, has had her sight restored. The last thing she can remember seeing before going blind, she told a correspondent, was the village procession at Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in1887. Soon after she lost her sight through sunstroke and congestion of the brain.

After spending nine years in a blind institution at Nottingham, where she learnt to knit and do chair work, she returned to her native village. Many doctors failed to cure her, and she was resigned to permanent blindness. Last September, however, she was taken to a specialist at Manchester, who treated her, with the result that just before Christmas she began to see glimpses of light. Gradually they increased, and now she can walk without assistance, and tell whether paper is blank or printed. She cannot read, she has yet to learn the ordinary alphabet.


Sheffield Independent
Monday 05 April 1909

SIGHT RESTORED

Story from Mapperley

After twenty-two years of total blindness a young woman named Moon, who lives with her parents in the little colliery village of Mapperley is recovering her sight, under extraordinary circumstances. “In 1887 I had a prolonged illness following sun stroke and was kept in a dark room for three months"   She told an ‘Express’ representative yesterday “ The first occasion I went out of doors afterward was to witness a procession formed in Commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.

I was only eight but the whole scene is indelibly impressed on my mind, because it was the last thing I ever witnessed.  Shadows seemed to creep over my eyes, small objects were indiscernible and later larger ones faded from view, until at last I was plunged into total blackness. I was sent to the Midland Institution for the blind in Notting ham, where I stayed nine years.

Nearly eight months ago my father told me that a companion who had been at the Institution with me had partially recovered his sight, and I decided to take the same treatment from a Manchester specialist.  Just the reverse of what happened 22 years ago now appears to be happening.

At first I perceived the difference from day and night. Now with my left eye I can distinguish large objects, and I am full of hope that before long I shall be able to see as well as I did 22 long years ago.

Note- See also article about Miss Moon - Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 20 October 1937


Nottingham Evening Post
Thursday 02 June 1910

TROUBLE BETWEEN RELATIVES.
ILKESTON WOMAN BOUND OVER FOR USING THREATS

Before the Ilkeston Bench, to-day, an interesting case of trouble between relatives was heard. Izetta Meakin, the wife of Thomas Meakin, sen., now residing at Wharf Cottages, Mapperley Brook, summoned Georgina Meakin, the wife of Thomas Meakin, jun., of 26, Burr-lane, Ilkeston, for using threats on May 26th, the threats consisting of "a good shaking" and "would wait her opportunity!"

The defendant denied the charge.

Izetta Meakin came from Sheffield six years ago as housekeeper to Mr. Meakin, senr., and after two years they were married. This did not seem to suit Mrs. Thomas Meakin, junr., and thenceforward there was trouble, which culminated May 26th with the scene in which the threats mentioned were alleged to have been used.

The defendant said she married the eldest son and the complainant married her husband's father, and there had been jealousy ever since.

The defendant was bound over in the sum of £5 for six months and ordered to pay 8s. 9d. costs; in default 14 days' imprisonment.

Mr. J. Ormond appeared for the complainant.


Belper News - Friday 08 September 1911

FINE SHOW AT WEST HALLAM.

Favoured with glorious summer weather, the annual show of West Hallam Floral and Horticultural Society, which was held in the spacious recreation ground, on Saturday, was every way a success. Like the majority of shows this year, flowers had to take a back seat, for on the whole the vegetables had made better recovery from the recent drought and were certainly quite up to the average. Potatoes were, perhaps, the best class in the show, but the apples were by no means out of the picture, a plate exhibited by A. Daykin being especially fine. Cucumbers were good, and so were marrows. Two collections of vegetables sent by the cultivators of cottage gardens were of remarkably good quality.  Mr J. Herring, of Mapperley, offered a silver medal for the best cultivated allotment the boys of the Scargill Boys’ School, and this won by Arthur Durow. Sweet peas came out best in the flower section, but the stove and window plants made a bold show.

The judges were the Rev. and Mrs A. E. R. Bedford, Messrs J. Walker (Manor House), —. Burrows (West Hallam Hall), and Reeves (Kirk Hallam), while the committee responsible for the success of the show consisted the following: Rev. A. E. R. Bedford, Dr. Adams, Messrs W. Bramley (chairman). S. Hart. W. Wathey, E. E. Raby. S Hunt, W. Barber. G. Toplis, H. Rigley. A. Daykin. W Bramley, G. Flint, J. W. Hart, F Flint, J. Derbyshire. T. Hawley, W. Toplis, and H Preece, with Mr H. Wheatley as hon. secretary and treasurer, and Mrs H Rigley as assistant secretary.

The Dale Abbey Brass Band played on the ground, and the other attractions included sports and a football match between Stanley Common and Stanley Common Rangers. Mr J. Holt acting was referee. The girls attending the West Hallam School gave two pretty exhibitions of the maypole dance. They were trained by Miss Piggin the headmistress.  The following were the awards:

Plants and Out Flowers — J. W. Hart. 9 firsts, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds; T. Flint, 2 firsts, 5 seconds and 1 third; A. Daykin. 1 first. 3 seconds, and 3 thirds; H. Bailey. 1 second; T. Hawley. 2 firsts. 2 seconds, and 4 thirds; F. Flint, 1 second; H. Wheatley. 1 first.

Fruit — T. Flint. 3 firsts and 1 third; T. Hawley. 1 second; J. W. Hart. 1 second and 1 third; G. Flint. 2 seconds; H. Rigley. 1 second and 2 thirds: A. Daykin. 3 firsts; T. Rigley, 1 third.

Vegetables — J W. Hart. 14 firsts, 7 seconds, and 1 third: T Flint. 6 firsts. 12 seconds, and 2 thirds; T. Hawley. 4 firsts. 5 seconds, and 10 thirds; H. Wheatley, 1 first. 1 second and 1 third; H. Bailey, 3 firsts. 1 second, and 3 thirds: A Daykin, 3 firsts, 2 seconds, and 5 thirds. G. Flint. I first and 2 thirds.

Poultry. Eggs. Rabbits, etc. — G. Flint. 2 firsts and 1 second; H. Wheatley. 2 seconds and 1 third; W. Everton. 1 first; A. Daykin, 1 third; Arthur Upton. 1 first; Walter Flint, 1 second; Fred Upton. 1 third.

In the classes for school children the prizes were won by Wm. Keeling. Hector Martin. Arthur Durow. Cyril Toplis. Jack Toplis, George Keeling. Clement Carter. Stephen Bacon, Fred Upton. Leslie Carter. Myra Bacon. Gladys Luckman, Annie Flint. Ada Gregory. Lacy Flint. Clarice Toplis and Evelyn Burrows.

Special prize winners were Hart (7), T. Flint (5?), H. Wheatley, H. Bailey, and T. Hawley.

The results of the sports were as follows: Boys. 10 to 14: 1. Willis Hart; 2. J. T. Gregory: 3. David Bloor.   8 to 10: 1, Fred Upton: 2, Jack Eaton; 3. Edward Bedford. Six to eight: 1, Willie Hunt 2. Harold Painter: 3, Arthur Smith. Six and under: 1. Leslie Upton: 2, Peter Bedford; 3. Wilfred Hartshorn.

Girls, ten to 14; 1. Hilda Hartshorn; 2. Eva Disney’: 3, Sissie.  Eight to ten; 1, Ada Gregory; 2, Elsie Durow; 3. Hilda Peacock. Six to eight; 1. Ruth Elliott: 2, Phyllis Bancroft 3. Phoebe Gregory.

Bowling at wicket; 1, John Toplis; 2, E. Burrows


Derby Daily Telegraph
Wednesday 06 August 1919

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MAPPERLEY COLLIERY

An inquest was conducted Mr. B W. Sale (coroner) on Tuesday at the Institute, touching the death John Morley (66), 6, Dorothy Cottages, Pimlico, Ilkeston, who died on Saturday. Gertrude, wife of the deceased, said she last saw him alive on the night of Friday, Aug. 1 about 8.30, when he left for his work at Mapperley Colliery. About 8.30 following morning she was informed that he was seriously injured, and later that he was dead.—Arthur Hardy, deputy the Colliery, said that on the morning of Aug. 2 he was told that there had been fall of bind. On going to the spot he found Morley underneath, and when he was extricated about an hour and a half later he was dead.—Thomas Hall, who was working near the deceased at the time, also gave evidence. —Dr. A. C. Adams, of West Hallam who was called, found deceased dead on arrival, and said death was due to suffocation.—A verdict was returned to that effect.
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