A LITTLE MORE ON THE ROLLESTON'S

A small collection of items, images, Watnall Hall stationary which turn up in auction in recent years. Sadly, I was not the winner. Find it interesting that the phone number of the Hall in 1916 was "80 BULWELL" !






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RAF WATNALL SPINNEY

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  Another place in Watnall close to my heart with fond memories is Watnall Spinney to be found at the end of Trough Lane, along Trough Road. It would have been either 1980 or 1981 that I first visited the area. I went on a play-day to my school friend's house, Richard Johnson who lived on Rolleston Crescent. He told me about the Hall which once stood where his house was now which I was fascinated by. We called for our mutual school friend, Paul Horton. We then went over Richard's back garden onto the fields beyond. They showed me the graves for the first time. They were completely overgrown. Paul seemed to have inside knowledge that there were in fact graves inside. The gate could just be made out and a small tunnel through the overgrowth through which someone had crawled through in the past to make the discovery. I remember the rusty locked gate and some of the fence was visible, but I remember the surrounding fence being much taller than what is there now, - but then again, ...
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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE YEOMANRY MARKED I.C.1. MARTINI-HENRY CAVALRY CARBINE

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  Another Martini-Henry Cavalry carbine has come to light recently marked to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry. The butt stamped, Y over NTT.S over 236. Previously recorded was an identical carbine with identical marking, but with the individual number of 166. It is still unclear as to whether the "S" refers to Sherwood, or South for either of the two respective  Yeomanry regiments of Nottinghamshire. Some swords with similar markings with the "Y", and "NTT" have also had "SN", and presumably, swords issued to the Sherwood Rangers would be marked "SR", but the observed carbines only carry "S". It may be that both units were supplied with firearms from the same armoury somewhere in Nottinghamshire, and therefore firearms were only marked as belonging to the Notts Yeomanry, rather than one, or the other of the two regiments.  Both carbines carry a store's date in the 1880's, one clearly marked 1886, the last digit on the othe...
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THE BARBER FAMILY OF GREASLEY

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  Along with the Rollestons of Watnall Hall, there was another family of the landed gentry in our area, the Barber family of Lamb Close House Greasley. In close proximity to each other, there are close historic ties between the two families and similarities. Both families have memorials placed in St Mary's Church in Greasley. Both families were noted for their charitable donations to the local community. One notable comparison between the two families was the strong tradition amongst the landed gentry to give the new born sons the same name as the father. This led to a succession of Lancelot Rollestons and Thomas Barbers. The strongest tie between the two families can be found in the history of the local regiment, the South Notts Yeomanry. Both families had a long run of officers in the local unit. The Watnall Troop of the South Notts Yeomanry established in 1817, its first two officers were Lancelot Rolleston, and Thomas Barber. Several more officers were supplied through the 19th...
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