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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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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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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The Cavalry Sabre of Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Anthony Hardolph Eyre

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  Possibly the earliest item relating to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry in existence. The sword of the regiment's first commander, and captain of the Retford Troop, Anthony Hardolph Eyre.Previously a time served professional soldier, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the 1st Foot Guards in 1776, made Captain in 1778, and rose to be the regiments    Lieutenant-Colonel in 1787. Retiring from the regular army in 1790. With the Government establishing the Yeomanry cavalry volunteer force in 1794, he became Captain of the newly formed Retford Troop, and  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the whole Corps receiving the Regiments Standard in Nottingham's Market Place in 1795.  It is fair to assume that from his previous military career,  Anthony Hardolph Eyre already owned a number of swords. It may stand as good testament to how seriously he took his new role in 1794 as the  Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the new...
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