ABOUT THIS PAGE: The following transcription was supplied by Dr. Adams from the typescript of a lecture given by a George WRIGHT in 1913, recounting some personal reminiscences of Spondon dating back to the early 1800's. This wonderful recording was preserved by his late mother, who was born in Spondon, and is quite invaluable in mentioning names and places of residence within the village which are long gone.

I rise almost reluctantly to read my paper, I should have preferred to have given it extempore but probably memory would fail and I might omit several things I meant to say. I know I am speaking to men of learning and men of letters and I am not a scholar to put things grammatically together. I was put down in the Magazine to speak quite unknown to me. I shall give dates as accurately as I can, and also as truthfully as I can.

I shall of course begin with our dear Church where we delight to worship. God be praised for such a Church. As our Church has been so much altered, I should like to say why, and from what my father told me and from what I saw stated on the front of the Gallery it appears that prior to the year 1826, (which I am told was a very hot and dry time, no rain falling from April until September, farmers taking their cattle to the Derwent to drink) there was no Gallery and the walls as now, but it was thought the Church would be or look more comfortable if it had a ceiling and the walls plastered. This was done, the writing saying that the Church was altered and beautified. Such were the ideas then, and, as some of you know, in the year 1892 people thought differently and galleries were pulled down, ceiling done away with and plaster taken off the walls.

To go back to 1826, galleries were built west, south and north of the Church, the organ was placed on the west side and facing the chancel and the choir was the other side of the organ free to all. The north gallery was occupied by the school children, the schoolmaster and schoolmistress sitting with them to keep order, and prevent anyone misbehaving. The accounts were settled on the Monday morning at the school, and if the bad boy or girl did not come to school on the Monday his or her account was kept open until he or she did come. The south gallery was built by private individuals at a price as apportioned best for each pew viz ten guineas, and my mother told me that her father, William Harrison, paid ten guineas for pew No.4, the Rev. St. John who was then Vicar giving him a receipt for that sum; I have the receipt. Mr. Kerry, Mr. Meakin and others also had pews allotted to them in like manner.

The Vestry had a door to the church-yard and also a door opening into the Church. The pews had all of them doors and much annoyance was at times caused by the absolute refusal of the occupier to allow anyone else in, although he or she might be the sole occupant. Many people seemed to claim a right to such and such a pew, it being supposed to belong to such a house. My mother and we boys sat in a south gallery pew and my father in a pew in the body of the Church which was supposed to belong to the Wright family. I may say that the Wright family is an old Spondon family, the burial place being in the corner against the organ chamber, one tombstone has the date 1745 on it.

There was a row of forms with backs up the middle aisle where the old women of the poorer class sat, the Clerk's Desk being at the top before you get to the Chancel.

The Pulpit, from which all service was said before the sermon, except on sacrament days which were then about once a month, was where the present pulpit is but much higher. It had a door which was generally closed when the minister got in. The Preaching Pulpit was where the Reading Desk now is and correspondingly high with the... {Missing}

...{Fragment} The Vicar then was the Rev. Alexander Atkinson Holden. He was brother to Captain Lowe's grandfather of Locko Hall, the Lowe's family name being Holden but the owner of Locko of the time being had to assume the name of Lowe. The minister read Prayers and lessons in a white surplice and, during the singing of the hymn before the sermon, he went to the Vestry to put on a black gown, the Clerk going with him, following him up the Pulpit steps, and closing the door after him. Our Mr. Priestland has preached in that Pulpit.

Mr. Holden was very much opposed to races. The race-course was then open to all, there being no property on that side of the road only the Toll Gate. If any of the Sunday School scholars were known to have been to the Races, they were not allowed to go to Locko Park where, at the invitation of Mr. Lowe, the annual Tea for... {Fragment}

Mr. Holden was the Vicar, I think I have heard say, for over thirty years, and went from here to Hawton, Near Newark, a valuable living in the gift of Colonel Holden of Nuthall Temple, Notts, brother of Mr. Holden.

The ministers following Mr. Holden were the Rev. G. Kingden, who came to Spondon in 1866 staying here I think twenty years, the Rev. V. Fowkes, the Rev. Mr. Paynter, the Rev. Mr. Gamble, the Rev. Mr. Seaver, and now our esteemed minister the Rev. A. L. Browne - long may he stay with us!

Other duties than Spondon Church were formerly taken by the Vicar. I have heard my father say that the Vicar took duty at Stanley and Locko and I believe something {sometimes?} at Chaddesden. However it was so that every fifth Sunday was known as 'Missed' Sunday, there not being service at all at Spondon Church. Mr. Holden held service in White Swan, Moor End, Locko Road, on Hill.

The Clerk of the Church was Mr. Thomas Coxon, grandfather of our present Clerk, Thomas Coxon, whom I was told had been Clerk for fifty years, and, except for a very short period, the Clerkship has been in the Coxon family ever since. The Clerk always gave out the hymns saying “Let us sing to the praise and glory of God” such and such a hymn. The organ then playing it over as now, the Clerk in a loud voice gave the number of the hymn again and in a loud voice read the first line. I think our hymn-books had then 120 hymns. The Clerk at certain times called out “The poor are to wait” and they each received one shilling. I do not know from what fund this came for we had not collections oftener than monthly, but we can imagine a goodly number present if it got wind that it was “Poor are to wait Sunday”. There were working men then who went to Church in smock-frocks and top hats, I do not say silk hats.

Our Church was at that time lighted with candles from brackets on the walls and on the columns in the middle of the Church.

I may mention that from hearsay the road leading to the Balk from Church Street did not go through the church-yard but down Mr. Rose's yard and across the Vicarage front, coming into the Balk at the end of the wall, and I think that would be so, seeing that the two elm trees now cut down in the Vicarage grounds were in a line and seemed the same age as the trees in the church-yard, and I think it is recorded in some old writing which we found when the first Parish Council was elected, when the various documents were sorted over to see what should be retained as church property and what should be the property of the Parish Council. It appears that when it was proposed to alter the road, indignation meetings were called to protest against the alteration and at last the Mr. Lowe of Locko at the time being, gave the piece of ground against the school for a burial ground as a set off - the Parish accepting.

I have heard say that inside the Vicarage grounds there was formerly a well called the Holy Well and that children were baptized with this water which was supposed to have a great charm for good. The water was also fetched to other villages.

But I must leave our Church as it is not my intention to read a paper on the Church only, but we are all so interested in our Church for it is there we are taught the way to Heaven.

I have thought to give the names of some of the then occupiers of certain houses they at that time playing a very prominent part in Spondon. We come first to the house occupied by Mr. E. Thompson, Plumber and Glazier. This house was occupied by Mr. Ashton with whom Mr. Thompson was apprentice.

We will now go to the house occupied by the late Mr. Cooke. This was a large farm house occupied by Mr. John Johnson Meakin for many years Churchwarden. The room at the corner was the barn, and one or two men threshed corn most of the winter as most corn was then threshed by hand with swiple or flail, there being no threshing machines then. This barn had a boarded floor and, being hollow, made a good sound. It was known to us at that time as “Meakin's at Barn Corner”. My Mother visited here, and Mrs Meakin often gave me cake. I may say that there was not any causeway from the Church steps to the top of the hill at that time and I sometimes think what a piece of business it must have been to cut out the road from the Turnpike to the top of Church Hill.

We next get to the house up the steps; I do not know the occupier. Mr. Topham left a year or two ago. The late Mr. Cooke's father lived here and. kept a grocery and drapery business. This was also the post office and Mr. Cooke went to meet the mail-cart which left Derby say about half-past six in the morning, leaving letters at the various villages between Derby and Nottingham. The mail-cart left Nottingham late in the afternoon, calling at the various villages and taking the letters to Derby. There would probably not be more than thirty or forty letters for Spondon, Mr. Cooke's post-bag not being larger than a big satchel.

The next house, now occupied by Mr. Priestland (welcome to him) was occupied by Mr. Holloway, grandfather of Mrs W. Antill, and Mrs T. Thompson, Locko Road. This was a small farm house, Mr. Holloway milking three or four cows his cowshed being on Lystitch Lane.

The next house was occupied by Mr. Maddocks, grandfather of our William and John Maddocks. This house has rather a history. It was a small farmhouse, the farm buildings being down Langley Lane, Locko Road, this afterwards became the post-office and was kept by Mrs Jerram. It afterwards was a coffee house, then a plumber's shop. The next house, where Mr. Daykin lives, was a bake-house, where we used to take our bread to be baked say two or three times a week, penny for half a stone or two for three-halfpence for baking. Most people then made their own bread.

Opposite is the hair-cutting saloon: here the Thomas Coxon Clerk of the Church, kept a school. My father told me he went to school here. When I was a boy it was occupied by the schoolmaster, Mr. Padfield. Mr. Douglass also lived here. To us this house was known as the school-house.

We now get to what is called Post Office Yard. The Post Office was for a short time up this yard. There was also a Basket Maker's Shop up this yard (now pulled down). There was also a large room (which is now made into houses) where I am told Gimp was made, but not in my time though I remember the room very well. The corner shop now occupied by Mr. Hooley, Boot Repairer, was the Post Office some years ago, but before these houses were built, and standing further back, was a Blacksmith's Shop; you went up some steps. This was occupied by Mr. Jerram, and on the front of this shop was fixed a large ring of Gas Jets when the Gas was brought into the village by the Spondon, Ockbrook and Borrowash Gas Company, I think in 1868; great rejoicings that night, the Band playing in the room over Band of Hope. An old thatched cottage stood where part of the houses are facing the church; you went up some steps to it. Mr. Jerram built the new houses. It may seem to some of you that the steps of these houses are on a Parish property but I believe there is a stone shewing the boundary proper. From some cause Mr. Jerram did not put up palisading which he could have done. I think the Parish will not now allow of it, though for my part I think it would improve the appearance of the Hill.

Now for Church Street: at the corner was an open yard occupied by the late Mr. W. Kirkland and his sons (Mr. W. Kirkland, Locko Road, and the late Mr. Jos. Kirkland). My brother William was apprenticed here.

I think I ought to say that my father told me that on one Saturday night Spondon was quite astir the occasion being the holding of a market. The late R. Elson drove some geese from one of the Locko farms for sale. At the second house in the alley lived Enoch Stone who was murdered on the Turnpike beyond the Butter Factory, June 23rd. 1856. The murderer has escaped justice. Enoch Stone was a very quiet man and slightly lame. He was a musician, and I have heard father say that once when there was a difference at Church with the musicians which at that time comprised clarionettes, French horn, bassoe, and violincello, and on Advent Sunday Mr. Peat of Ockbrook came and played Trumpet in the Advent Hymn, - Enoch Stone for a time led the choir on the Flute. I have heard father say that once when at Mr. Cade's, now our esteemed friend Mr. Fowler's house, Christmas singing and playing of carols, they wanted the key note sounding, and in the hurry instead of saying “sound your G., Enoch” they called out “Sound your Enoch” much to the amusement of Mr. Cade, afterwards they were not to begin until they had “Sounded their Enoch”. There were also Ringers with hand bells.

At the back of the house, just left by Mr. Chapman, was a Wheelwright's Shop occupied, by David Needham. Mr. Liewsley's house which was built by H. Longden was for a short time the post-office kept by him. Logden's Row was built by H. Longden except the end house which was not then built. The late Mr. Bostock 's house was occupied by Rev. J. J. Blandford and Inspector of Schools. Miss Blandford was a teacher. What we now call Park Road. was then called Brandy Lane, I do not know why, but I have heard, say that there lived, one in that lane who was driven for some time nearly two miles to a farm house most mornings for a mug of their home-brewed beer, he, not being well, fancied it did him good,

Where Mrs Davies lives, lived, a Mrs Barrow, all honour to her name, for she built the four alms-houses on West Road, and endowed them. Where Mr. Hugh Brown lives, a Miss Medley kept a young gentlemen's School, afterwards Miss Holbrook's, afterwards Mrs Lilly's and Mrs's Brown's. Where our esteemed lady, Mrs Davis lives, Mr. P. Arkwright lived. He left to go to Willersley Castle, near Cromford, a deal of estate there belonging to the Arkwrights. I have heard my father say that he carted a lot of material to build this house and that what we call the Park was in various fields, my grandfather owning two grass and two plough fields. An exchange was made for other lands and the hedges grubbed up and it was made into one large piece, hence its name “Park” - the thorn bushes denote this and shew the boundary of the fields. We now come to Church Street again. Mr. O. M. Lilly's house was a large farm-house occupied by Mr. H. Kerry grandfather to our Mr. Kerry. The yard has been filled up and buildings pulled down and new part built, Mrs Lilly and Mr. Hugh Browne before marriage keeping a young gentlemen's school there. I remember there was a large cart and wagon hovel opposite to Mr. Hayman's doors and carts and wagons backed in from the street, a thing that would not now be allowed. There was a high bank and hedge at the side of the street. A Miss Nixon occupied Mr. Hayman's house, afterwards the Rev. Gascoyne, good preacher, had large school, E. Priestland Esq. afterwards the Rev. E. Priestland being one of his teachers. He was the cause of one of the Miss Gascoynes changing her name to Mrs Priestland.

We now get to West Road, formerly called Saw Pit Lane. I do not know why but I have heard say that there was formerly a large saw-pit there, most timber had then to be sawn by hand there being no steam-saws then. You find here Mrs Barrow's Alms- houses. West House was occupied by Mr. Lloyd Simpson, father of the Mr. Simpson, Derby Savings Bank and grandfather of the Mr. Simpson, Solicitor, Market Place, Derby. It was then occupied by Captain Anderton, then the Rev. E. M. Hall and now Mrs Sims (no Dr. Hunt's or any house where the Lamp is.) The Lamp is better known as Jubilee Lamp put there by the late Mrs O. M. Lilly. There on the fifth of November, except when it happened on Sunday, a very large Bonfire was made, much wood and coal was collected and a merry night it was. A John Hardy generally saw to it. This and Wakes and Statutes were much thought of then as there were no foot-ball matches and trips as now. Plough Monday, nearest to the 10th January, was also observed. Men, dressed in different costumes went round, and had a plough with them borrowed from a farmer, and if nothing was given where they called they chipped up bits of their walks.

We now get to Locko Road - the public house was known as Brickmakers' Arms and was where Mr. G. Thompson lives, afterwards transferred to present place. In the field now used as cricket-field stood a windmill worked by John Twigg. My mother told me that a little brother of hers eight and a half years old thought he could run under the windmill sails while going round to get a bird's nest and that one of the sails struck him on the head and he lived just one week after being struck.

The property down Windmill Lane was not built, nor Mr. Creighton's house (welcome Mr. Creighton) nor any of the other houses. Just at the top of the Hill going for Locko was an old Brickyard not worked in my time, but some of the buildings are still there. Over Lee's brook was a narrow bridge.

Now we come to what is called Chapel Street formerly called “The Hollow”, I do not know why. At the corner house against Locko Road lived Mr. Coxon the Clerk spoken of before. Now we get to the schools. I almost think a stone had the inscription “Church of England Schools erected by subscription - 1857”. These have been much altered, what is now the large room was only a narrow room to cross from the other two. The room nearest Locko Road was the Boys' School, the middle room the Girls' school and the one nearest Miss Cades the Infants' school. My first teacher was Mr. Padfield, then Mr. Diamont, then Mr. Hinkins, who played with us, and when we wanted to catch him and penned him in a corner he jumped over the wall into the burying ground quite easily. I think the wall is now raised three or four bricks higher. After Mr. Hinkins, Mr. Roe, then Mr. Raikes, then Mr. Schofield, then Mr. Price, so you see by the number of teachers I was under I ought to have turned out much better than I have done. I don't scarcely know why so many changes; I believe chiefly poor pay. There was one mistress for the girls' school, Miss Pritchard; Miss Coxon (afterwards Mrs Cartwright, Borrowash) assisted by Miss Richardson were the Infants' Teachers; this was the school staff. The school floors were paved with blue paving bricks.

The Wesleyan Chapel was where it is at present but now enlarged and altered. There were no houses up Chapel Lane, only an old thatched house opposite the chapel. A Post Office was not built at this time, nor the Co-operative Stores , nor Mr. Brighouse's house. On a part of his grounds were Tan Vats, not in use in my time but I saw them. It appears Mr. Holbrook, Mrs Hugh Brown's father, owned and worked them as a Tan Yard.

We now get to the Conservative Club. This was, when I was a boy, a Primitive Chapel, then closed a while, then enlarged and reopened, then closed again, then used as a school and part of it afterwards occupied as Basket Maker's Shop now the Conservative Club. There was then no Oxford Street; a grocer's shop where Robert Elson lives, then it got a licence to sell beer and was then transferred to Oxford Street. There was a little old thatched house at the bottom of Baths Yard, where I got my hair cut, some old thatched houses for the poor, let at sixpence per week rent, and also some allotment pieces on the Eastside of the Gravel Pits, used I believe free by the poor. These somehow got sold and it was said the money went towards mending the roads; the old houses were somehow sold and the property you now see built thereon. There was no Brockley until about 1875. The house occupied by Mr. Pegg was a farm-house and public-house called “The Fox and Hounds”; this was closed when I was still a boy. The small place on the north side of Mr. Pegg's buildings was used as a pound or as we called it “Pinfold” and here were put straying cattle. Such cattle were kept three days and if not claimed and damage paid were sent to Locko to the Lord of the Manor and sold to pay expenses. A William Hall of the Alley was the “Pinder”.

Opposite John Aukland's was an old thatched house licensed to sell beer - sign, “The Beehive”; this is now closed. A license to sell beer was granted to the corner house occupied I believe by a Mr. Richardson. This was closed after two or three years, the occupier Mr. Higginbottom dying. Some old thatched houses up Moor End have been pulled down and modern houses built.

At the corner of the garden commencing Dale Road was an Ash tree and we were surprised on morning to find that it was licensed to sell beer by the sign of “The Malt Shovel Inn”. It appears that for fun some clever people had got the sign out of the wall of the “Malt Shovel” and carried it and placed it on the tree! No Dr. Brass' or Mr. Harvey's nor any house up Dale Road. Opposite the poultry farm was the cricket ground; a good piece was leveled for the purpose. As you will have seen, in this field there is a Hovel with a ground floor and chamber over it. A certain person had lost his donkey and someone was startled by hearing the hee-hawing of a donkey and behold! there he was in the chamber. When the matter was talked about as to what a job it must have been to get him out, one who had helped replied; “Eh, Lad, it wasn't art a job when we began on't”.

We now come to Borrowash Road, called Stoney Lane. No Mission Hall or Cemetery then, only two old cottages. Mr. Sinfoil's was an old bakehouse, Mr. Harper's a Basketmaker's shop. I have heard the late Mrs Peat (Miss Butler's mother) say that John Wesley was supposed to have preached in this house, standing on the stairs, which are open to the house, while so doing. Wood's Cash Stores and property adjoining were not built then.

Mrs Major Brown's was a large farm-house occupied by Mr. Joseph Potter. Spondon was quite a farming village, much plough land has been laid down for grass, hence our dependence upon foreign countries for corn. Mr. Staples' house was occupied by a Miss Sitwell, hence Sitwell Street. An old thatched house stood opposite Mr. Lewty's, occupied, as a farm-house by John Clews, father of Joseph Clews who died sixty-nine years of age and his father followed him to the grave. It was said that the old man and his wife lived together for over seventy years. I attended the funeral.

Where Mr. Osborne lives (Mr. Fowler's gardener) was an old butcher's shop and the first part of Mr. Fowler's property (welcome to him) was the slaughter-house. I have helped to pull the rope many a time, to hold the cow while the man inside knocked it down, the rope being passed through a hole in the wall into the street. Miss Down's house was occupied by Mr. Stevenson, Broker, Derby, afterwards as a young gentlemen's school by a Miss Marsden, governess at Mr. Cox's when Mr. A. Cox was a boy. A little distance in the field opposite Mr. Fowler's were three cottages, there was also a road through here to the turnpike and thence to the station. This was stopped up. Opposite Mr. Fowler's front door stood an old cottage and a little further down the hill were two old houses where I used to take clothes to be mangled in an old box mangle turned with a handle. There was not any causeway beyond Mr. Fowler's front gate and where the trough is was open and cattle were often driven through. The farm-yard occupied by Mr. R. Dedman was occupied by Mr. W. T. Cox, father of our Mr. Arthur Cox. He fed many cows and had much land, and was a successful exhibitor at the Birmingham Fat Cattle Show. He fed one very fine cow which took first prize and was, I believe, one ton three hundredweights in weight. This cow was bred by Mr. J. J. Meakin. On bringing the cow from Birmingham,the band played before it into the village. This cow was fed at Chaddesden. Mr. Cox had a splendid herd of long-horn cows. The long room, now by the kindness of Mr. Cowley used by the Orchestra Band to practice in, was the school-room where Mr. Cox and Mr. Cades were at school, a Mr. Biden being the teacher. Where Mr. Dedman's house and buildings are was my grandfather's farm-yard. I was born, I think, in the house occupied by Mr. T. Thompson, and I have seen more than one person handcuffed to the boiler-handle.

There were no policemen then. Each village had constables sworn in. In Spondon there were six, my father being head. He had Enoch Stone's case in hand. The little corner house occupied by Mrs Clapham was built by Miss Welby who lived where Mr. Landor Lowe now lives. This was left to Mrs Crump, Miss Welby's housekeeper, for her life, at one pepper-corn rent per year. Mr Bayliss then lived in Mr. Lowe's house.

Hall Dyke was so called no doubt on account of Mr. Staple's “The Old Hall” property extending to here. There was a large hedge and ditch where Mr. Hayman's wall is and we used to hide our hockey and shinney sticks in this hedge while we went to school. Most of us wore blue smock frocks and if pretty well squatted with dirt we turned back to front before we went in school, thinking no one looked behind. Of course my brother's two houses were not built nor Mr. Chawner's & Co. Where the rifle gallery is were Malt Rooms occupied by my grandfather Harrison (Holbrook and Grundy, Carriers). Dr. Barren's was a young Ladies' School kept by the Misses Shelton, and Mr. Dyche's, green grocery was Mr. Isaac Potter's Joinery business. Mr. Potter was for many years church-warden.

Now for Lodge Lane or Station Lane. There was no causeway below Mr. Cox's iron gate, you crossed over to the other side by Miss Cox' s. This path would not be more than four feet wide and raised perhaps a foot higher than the horse-road, and when dark it was awkward to keep on, but if you did not keep on you came off! There was not any material to mend roads except gravel from the gravel pits and stones gathered off the land and broken up by the old men. The property on the left-hand side of Nottingham Road was not built and there was no Cambridge Street. There was a large brick-yard against the Anglers' Arms and another brick-yard at Stoney Cross where Mr. W. Peat lived. Only two of the houses now there were built then. There were no Gas Works then and the Station Inn was a large coal-wharf occupied by Mr. Henry Gaskin's father. No public house was licensed then. There was a boat we called “Market Boat” called here. It came from Derby on Friday mornings, going to Borrowash, picking up passengers there, then at Spondon, taking them to Derby for three-pence and bringing them back in the afternoon for three-pence, I have met my mother on her return from Derby. Very few people went by train and very few trains ran. I think I have heard say the Canal was made in 1779, the same year as the Spondon Common was enclosed.

We now get to the station, and I may say there are still people living in Spondon who remember the line being made, and riding to Derby the second day the line was opened in open carriages or trucks (no roof); this was June 1839. There was only the Station-master then, no assistant, and of course no signal-box, and when the last train had gone whether to or from Derby, his duties were at an end until the next morning. The signalling was worked by what is called the arm signal, and pegged up by a cotter. One foggy November morning, Joseph Radford, waggoner to Mr. Meakin , went to fetch the horses from a field below the railway, and coming over the line, did not notice a train approaching, was killed, and one of the horses badly injured. After this there was a man on duty at night to see to the gates. What we call the branch line was from against the Colour Works to Derby and was not made until 1867. There were no Chaddesden Sidings then. What is now the Colour Works, was opened as Wagon Works in 1875 and of course there were no Sewage Works. There was no Butter Factory or any other houses near the factory. The Poplars, recently left by Mr. Osborne who was one of the church wardens, was not built when I was a boy. It was built and occupied for a time by Mr. Hutchinson, Magistrate's Clerk, Derby.

I think my story is now ended and I sincerely apologise for its length and dryness, but it is not all pleasure when one has to speak and think of so many who have passed away. May we all try to leave the world better for having lived in it, for oh! the difference. As the first verses in the history of the King of Israel say: “He did that which was right”. Brothers, I thank you all for your patience.

GEORGE WRIGHT.

Since having read the foregoing paper before the monthly meeting of the C.E.M.S. on January 13th. 1913. I have thought of one or two other things I might have mentioned.

One is that when I was a boy, a Mr. Carrington of Chaddesden had come from there one dark night, and when he got to the top of the Baulk Foot Path he lost his way and got into the church-yard, and not knowing where he was walked off, falling into the road opposite what I before described as “Meakin's Barn” he was taken into the Barn and I believe lay there two days before it was safe to remove him. It was not of course expected that he could live, but he did recover and lived for several years after.

I might also have said that in Potter Street the “Statutes” was then, as now, held, and was a very large affair, many hundreds of people coming. You could scarcely get about from the Twitchel against the Union Inn to the Church gates. There were many shows and stalls and a very great deal of hiring of servants took place, the time of service being for the next twelve months, one shilling per week say for boys, twelve or fourteen years old, i.e. £2/12/- for the year and £10 or £12 for waggoners or cow-men of eighteen to twenty. When a lad got hired he bought some red, white and blue ribbons and pinned them on his cap. The “Statutes” is held the Thursday before the 11th. October and if the Thursday happens on the 11th. the “Statutes” is held on the Thursday before, that is the 4th.

I don't know whether it was at this “Statutes” but I have heard that a farmer wanted to hire a lad and asked him if he had got his character, and the lad said “No”, but he could find his old master and got it. They were to meet again in half-an-hour. They did meet and when the farmer asked the lad if he had got his character the lad replied “Yes, and I've got yours, and I'm not coming”.

Spondon in my boyhood days was quite renowned for the making of Silk Gloves - a few people making stockings. Many were employed doing this work, various shops up and down the village having the frames in them. These were worked by hands and feet and made much noise. Most of the people worked for Nottingham firms, fetching the silk on Saturdays and taking back the gloves and stockings the next Saturday. I believe it was their custom to walk one way and ride by train the other way, it being thought too expensive to ride both ways. The wives and children used to sew up the fingers and thumbs and so help to maintain the family. Wages at this time were generally very low, labourers getting fifteen shillings per week, and some farm labourers getting only eight shillings per week and victuals having a little more during harvest. Sugar was five-pence per pound and I have known bread four shillings per stone and flour four shillings and sixpence. As I have before said, most people made their own bread. Beef was eightpence and ninepence per pound, The Derby Mercury Newspaper was threepence,

There was a cart came from Barley Cotton Mills once a week bringing cotton to be wound on to Bobbins. Many women were engaged on this work and had small machines worked by hand with quite a large wheel. I have seen many of them at work. The putting-up place for the cart was the White Swan Inn. I can fancy I see the cart standing outside even now, and this is more than fifty years ago.

When speaking about our Church and old customs, I should have mentioned that on Shrove Tuesday, which we called “Pancake Day” the oldest apprentice in the parish was expected to ring the fourth Bell which we lads called the “Pancake Bell” and we were told that when the Bell rang, Pancakes flew out of the Church window! I never could see any nor ever heard of anyone else ever doing so, but this is one of the many old queer sayings.

There was also a Well, which I mentioned before, called the Holy Well, about half way down the drive from the Vicarage door to the Vicarage. I never remember it but the Rev. A. L. Browne tells me this. Many fetched water from the well to have their children christened, hoping they would then be saved.

As I am a great believer in prayer, being told in the Bible “In all things by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God”, I wish to say that there lived, in the house adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel a John Chambers, a good man and much given to prayer, and my brother William has told me that once when John was very hard put to find something to eat for his children when they came in from play, he prayed, to God that his children might not ask for any bread, for there was none in the house. When the children came in they did not ask for anything to eat but went off to bed at once, and the next day this good old man got work. Will anyone dare to say this was not an answer to prayer?

As old sayings were so much appreciated at the reading of my paper, I will mention that there lived up Moor End an old couple, Joseph Bloor and his wife, and once when the Rev Mr. Fowkes visited Spondon,which (I am glad to say is now his custom) after having been left a short time, was greeted by old Joseph with “Well, my lad, how arter?” and Mrs Bloor greeted Mrs Fowkes with “Well, my wench!” This, Mr. & Mrs Fowkes were most delighted with as Mrs Fowkes said it seemed so homely and came out so easily, far more pleasing than learned phrases. I knew both these people very well.

One very important personage who lived in Sitwell Street I did not mention, all honour to such noble people. The one I wish to speak about was Mrs Elizabeth Spencer. She lived in an old house on the site of which stands the house now owned and occupied by Mr. J. A. Lewty. She was a venerable old lady, a christian-hearted person, a great sick visitor and a very earnest church worker. Her place at Church was seldom empty, I knew her very well. She generally went to London and spent the winter with her daughter who had married a Mr. Robson who lived there. Generally before she went to London she asked my mother and myself to tea one afternoon, and once I must say a most extraordinary meeting it was. There were four with ages as follows:- Mrs.Spencer ninety-one, her companion Mrs Bulllvant, seventy, a friend, Mrs Hancock seventy-four, my mother seventy-two, and to hear those old people talk about ancient things was to me astonishing, and at last the dear old Mrs Spencer mentioned a thing that took place eighty years ago. Well, do you know, that settled them all. Mrs Spencer was one of the best people I ever knew. I used to see her going to church years after she was ninety, no stick to help her, and she walked up the church steps by step not using the hand-rail. Mr. Ward, Church Hill, has supplied me with useful information about Mrs Spencer and I thank him, and will shew my appreciation by quoting his letter in full. I may say that Mr. Ward married a grand-daughter of Mrs Spencer, and a daughter of Mr. H. J. Spencer, Derby. “On the site of the house now owned and occupied by Mr. J. A. Lewty in Sitwell Street stood an excellent specimen of a seventeenth century house built by Mr. John Antill. This house descended from father to son until, male heirs failing a Mr. William Antill, it came into the possession of his daughter Elizabeth who had married Mr. Henry Spencer the youngest son of Mr. Matthew Spencer a noted schoolmaster in Derby. Mrs Spencer was left a widow with five children in 1834 and lived in the house named (except that she spent the winter of her later years with her daughter Mrs Robson in London) until she died in London on May 2nd. 1887 at the advanced age of 97 years, the oldest inhabitant and parishioner of Spondon. She was buried amongst her ancestors in Spondon Church-yard. To the above-named old house came as often as circumstances permitted to pay his respects to his aunt, Mr. Herbert Spencer the Philosopher, who died at Brighton in December 1903”. I was one of the bearers at the funeral of this greatly respected and pious lady. She departed from the stiffness shown by so many in our church at the present day. The rule of etiquette is too strictly adhered to, - if you would like, you must not speak to some people in church. I think it is possible we lose many friends by this, for a kindly word should be said anywhere, who knows but that a word spoken was getting you a dear friend and good helper, but you have to remain strangers because you have not been “introduced”. I, also, shall depart from this rule, for we are all brothers and sisters of one great family, our Father being God.

Sitwell Street seems to have been and still is an important street. Here we have the village Smithy; no village seems complete without it. This has been in possession of the Coxon family for generations. The present occupier is Charles Coxon, chairman of the Parish Council. His father, the late Peter Coxon, was Clerk of the Church for many years. His brother Peter succeeded his father and now his brother Thomas is Clerk.

Attached to the Smithy was a pump called the Parish Pump, not now in use. This pump had a wonderful supply of pure spring water and never went dry. It was most useful to many, and especially to farmers in dry weather. The interest in it has waned now that Derby town water is brought into the village for all who think well to have it.

A very sad affair seemed likely to happen to a Joseph Barlow, I think that was his name, who lived where E. Thompson Junr. lives. (This my father told me.) It appears Joseph had gone to Mr. Cades on an errand, and it seems Mr. Cade kept a monkey and this monkey ran after Joseph down Mr. Cade's yard. Of course Joseph ran as fast as he could and cried out to his wife. “Mary let me in, Satan's after me”. But the rather unkind wife said: “I'll have neither of you in”. However with a bit of persuading she opened the door and in he went and shouted: “I'm a righteous man and a psalm-singer, now I defy you Satan”. So you see what belief he put in his creed.

And while we are speaking on the humorous side I would also say (my authority being my father) that at the Lodge against the turnpike lived a Mary Brown called Polly Pig because she was often asked to attend pigs in their confinement. Well, it appears that the Rev. St. John, then Vicar of Spondon, fell off his horse at the bottom of Lodge Lane and the old lady ran out shouting: “Are you killed St. Jack”, as though if he were killed he could tell her so. This greatly amused the Reverend gentleman who, we shall all rejoice to know, was not much hurt.

When speaking about our Church, I do not think I mentioned the singular incident that occurred on January 16th. 1907. It seems the South Notts Fox Hounds had met at Breadsall and ran a fox from there through a portion of Chaddesden, the fox coming through Mrs Devas' park and through the Vicarage garden, taking refuge in the Church- yard. The hounds coming up presently were put on scent and killed the fox against the organ chamber. I mention this hoping such a thing will never occur again, and now I wish to lift up my voice against fox-hunting, stag-hunting, badger, or any other kind of hunting. What is it but the most cruel thing to set dogs after a dumb animal? We have no more right to set dogs after a fox than to set them to worry a cat or another animal, and this is called Sport! If it is said that foxes are no good, then when possible kill them off, but I believe verily that if some landlords knew their tenants to kill a fox they would give them notice to leave the farm. If it is said a deal of money is spent in hunting, then spend it in a better way. We know a many go hunting who cannot rightly afford to do so, I only wish to speak of hunting as cruelty to animals.

You all know that in our youthful days things occur that fasten themselves on our mind. I remember a Miss Welby who lived where Mr. Landor Lowe lives against the church. She had a beautiful grey horse, and one day it was brought past our house, 29, Sitwell Street, several people being about, and someone said “Mr. Aulton, Veterinary Surgeon (who then lived at Spondon) is going to poison it”. I thought what a shame, for it pranced about the road beautifully. So curiosity drew me to see. And so it was: it was poisoned and buried in an orchard where the Conservative Club now is. I was told it had fits, hence not safe to take out with the carriage.

Contributed by Dr Neil Adams, on 12th April 2003.