Thoroton Society publications

New publications

Thoroton Society Record Series, 44 (2006). ‘Ducal Estate Management in Georgian Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire: The Diary of William Gould, 1783-1788’, edited by Michael Hanson.

The diarist, William Gould (pronounced ‘gold’) was a tenant farmer of the Duke of Devonshire in the remote hamlet of Pilsbury near Hartington, which is in the upper Dovedale area of the Peak District on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. Although moving to Welbeck, Gould retained the tenancy of Pilsbury, and also carried out some agency duties for the Devonshires’ Chatsworth estate. Approximately two-thirds of the contents of the diary relate to Nottinghamshire affairs and the remainder to Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The editor Michael Hanson has the original diaries in his possession, and contributed an introduction and a biographical index of the people mentioned.

Most of Gould’s entries describe his duties as agent at Welbeck; these included letting farms, collecting rents and planting woodlands. He refers to visits by the architect John Carr of York, and voices his evident disapproval of the extravagant proposals to extend and alter Welbeck Abbey. Such features as the estate ice house and fire engine, and the trial of a new patent washing machine are mentioned! Gould had a low opinion of the household servants at Welbeck, describing them on one occasion as ‘a parcel of thieves and designing persons’! He also appears to have had an uneasy relationship with the Welbeck gardener, William Speechly, who had achieved some fame for his publications on growing trees and pineapples.

As this was the period of the agricultural and industrial revolutions, Gould gives details of the establishment of the new cotton mills on the Arkwright model, and he highlights partnership disputes over the Town and Field Mills at Mansfield. He also makes reference to the dispute over the water supply between Lord Byron and the owners of Papplewick mills, and problems with poaching by workers from the Cuckney mill. He describes the protracted negotiations over the Parliamentary enclosure of Arnold commons, and his opposition to the proposed turnpike road from Nottingham to Mansfield.

Visits to theatres in Mansfield, Nottingham and Buxton are mentioned, and he writes a detailed description of the riotous events of the county election at Nottingham in 1784. There are extensive references to his travels by horse, coach or chaise – during the years 1783-87 he describes journeys totalling nearly 10,000 miles made in all weathers, often encountering problems with Peak District roads covered in snow.

The book consists of 282 pages, including twenty illustrations and maps, and retails at £14.95. Existing subscribers to the Record Section will receive their copies by post, but the volume may be purchased by personal subscribers to the main Thoroton Society at the discount price of £11.95, or £13.50 post free (in UK) if ordered before 31 March 2007. Please send your name and address together with a cheque for £13.50 payable to ‘The Thoroton Society’ to Adrian Henstock, 24 Long Acre, Bingham, Nottingham, NG13 8BG; my email address is adrian@henstock1642.fsworld.co.uk .                                            Adrian Henstock

Unhappy Reactionary: The Diaries of the Fourth Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, 1822-50

The latest volume to be published in the Society's Record Series is edited by Dr Richard Gaunt of the University of Nottingham. The edition comprises a selection of entries from the original eight diaries (which resurfaced only in 1966, having been lost for some 50 years) arranged in three main sections, dealing with the Duke's political affairs, and especially his electioneering in the constituencies in which he had influence, with his family and social life in Nottinghamshire, and with his estates and houses in and outside the county.

A Nottinghamshire bibliography: publications on Nottinghamshire history before 1998 by Michael Brook

This publication by the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire in association with the Nottingham Civic Society is a monumental work which is the result of some 12 years of research and editing. It is a catalogue of virtually everything published on Nottinghamshire history between the 17th century and 1998, whether in book, pamphlet or article form. There have been various attempts to compile such a bibliography over the past 150 years, but this is the only one to appear in print. It has been compiled by Michael Brook, a retired local studies librarian formerly in charge of the East Midland Collection at the University of Nottingham.

It lists over 8,700 publications and runs to 430 pages, arranged in subject or place order under three major headings: Nottingham Subjects, Nottinghamshire Subjects, and Nottinghamshire Places. In addition there is an index of authors and a select index of places and subjects.

It will be an essential reference tool for every major academic or public library and for all serious historians of the County. The detailed bibliographical information will also be invaluable to book collectors and dealers.

Price:

Obtainable from major booksellers in the County, at meetings of the two societies, or by post from the Hon Editor, Thoroton Society, (e-mail: adrian@henstock1642.fsworld.co.uk ) – cheques should be made payable to the Thoroton Society.

Transactions

The Transactions of the Thoroton Society appear annually in April to coincide with the Society's Annual General Meeting.

Record Series

The Society publishes an occasional Record Series, printing major documentary sources of Nottinghamshire history held by local and national archive repositories. Forty-one volumes have been published since 1903.

Centenary publications

The Centenary Commemorative Booklet

Edited by Professor John Beckett, the booklet outlines the development of local history in Nottinghamshire since the days of Dr. Thoroton in the seventeenth century.

Centenary Index, 1897-1997, to Thoroton Society publications

The index was compiled by Laurence Craik, it is a revised and extended version of his previous index published in 1977. Its main features are:

• Over 10,000 entries in 64 pages
• Relates to Transactions, vols l-100, Record Series, vols l-40, and Annual Reports of former Excavation Section, 1936-40.
• Index to pre-1997 volumes extended and revised
• Separate author/editor and place/subject indexes
• 'Period' groupings for subjects, e.g. 'Bronze Age', 'Mediaeval', 'Civil War'.

Notes for the guidance of contributors

The detailed Notes for the guidance of contributors document, which sets out the desired format and conventions for articles intended for the Transactions, is now available for downloading from this website.

Other publications on Nottinghamshire

Publications on Nottinghamshire local history and archaeology are reviewed by members of the Society on an occasional basis.

Thoroton publications backstock

Some volumes of the Transactions since 1950 are available for purchase, as are the majority of the most recent volumes of the Record Series. Further details may be obtained from Adrian Henstock ( e-mail: adrian@henstock1642.fsworld.co.uk ).

Ordering online

A selection of Thoroton Society publications can now be purchased online on the Nottinghamshire Family History Society Bookshop website.