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CONCERNING THE PEOPLE.
POPULATION.
This village has never been a place of importance, or had a large population. The cultivation of the land, and the service of the manor houses demanded a certain number of people, and the surplus had perforce to go where labour was required.
At the time of the Norman Survey, in 1086, there may have been a hundred people here, if we are right in thinking that there were about twenty heads of houses.
In 1316, when the “Names of the towns and lords of the towns of the County of Nottingham” were enrolled, “Torlaston” was so small that it was grouped with Basingfield, Gamelston and Clipston to make “one entire town” for purposes of taxation. There can have been little growth or increase since the eleventh century.
In 1348 and 1349 the Black Death ravaged the whole country. It is too much to hope that this village fared better than, its neighbours, and so we may conclude that after that time the inhabitants were few in number.
Two official Returns of the 17th century give a reliable basis for estimating the population at that time. In 1641 the males above the age of 18 who signed The Protestation were 57. If we add a like number for the females of that age, and 30 for those under 18 years old, we get a total of 144. The Hearth Tax Return for 1662 gives a list of 24 householders; and, taking an average of 5½ persons to a house, we have a population of 132. These figures correspond well with the official figures of later times.
It will be seen from the subjoined census Returns that there has been comparatively little variation in the numbers since 1801.
| Year. | Persons. | Males. | Females. | |
| 1801 | 176 | 88 | 88 | |
| 1811 | 142 | 71 | 71 | |
| 1821 | 153 | 81 | 72 | |
| 1831 | 149 | 74 | 75 | |
| 1841 | 155 | 76 | 79 | |
| 1851 | 157 | 82 | 75 | |
| 1861 | 148 | 78 | 70 | |
| 1871 | 127 | |||
| 1881 | 124 | |||
| 1891 | 123 | |||
| 1901 | 156 | 63 | 78 | |
| 1911 | 169 | 73 | 96 | |
| 1921 | 140 | 66 | 74 |
The most interesting feature of these figures is, that at the two first censuses the males and females were equal in numbers. The unusually large population of 1801 may be accounted for by the building operations of the squire, and the heavy fall of 1811 partly owing to the Enclosure of 1804.
EDUCATION.
The only persons before the Reformation qualified to give even the most elementary education in country parishes were the parsons, chaplains, and clerks in minor orders. This duty was usually assigned to a chaplain or a chantry priest. After the Reformation the work of instructing the young devolved on the parish clerk. We frequently find that the offices of parish clerk and schoolmaster are in the same hands.
This was the case at Tollerton. In the time of James I, in 1613, occurs this interesting note1:—“A licence to teach the alphabet to children was taken out by Robert Storie2 the parish clerk at Tollerton.” It seems passing strange that a licence was required to teach the very elements of knowledge; but it may be that the “privilege of the clergy,” which gave some protection to criminals, had been so much abused in the past that some restriction was placed on education. Otherwise, it may have been a fear of papistry which made a licence requisite.
At Tollerton the village education long continued in the hands of the parish clerk. John Hooley, the parish clerk at the end of the 18th century, was also schoolmaster. His burial is thus recorded in 1777 “John Hooley, Schoolmaster, buried March 20th.”
The education given was evidently very elementary, for some parents sent their children to neighbouring villages. John Duke, in his Recollections, says that “A few years after John Hooley’s time I went to school at Plumtree to an old School House which stood on the site of the present school. The schoolmaster was Mr. Parr, a fairly good scholar and rather severe. My father paid 1s. a week for my brother William and myself. All extras were charged for, such as copy books which were 9d. each, pencils and pens—the latter were quills. We were also charged for fire in winter. My son has one of Mr. Parr’s bills for my schooling; it is over 70 years old.”
It is not said where the teaching was given at Tollerton, but it was probably in the Church, as we know was the case at Keyworth, Wysall, and other parishes in this part of the country.
The old squire, Mr. Pendock Neale, intended building a school, but his extravagant outlay on the Hall led to the postponement of this good intention. His son made some provision for education, for when he built the “town end” cottages he added a room over the archway for the purpose of a school, and set apart the cottage south of this archway for a teacher’s dwelling house.
This little school was closed at the end of the 19th century* since which time the children of the parish have attended Plumtree School, or schools further afield.
CHARITIES.
In the reign of Elizabeth the misappropriation of charitable endowments by individuals had grown to the dimensions of a national scandal, and an Act of Parliament was passed in the 43rd year of her reign to amend this evil. It was entitled, “An Act to redress the misemployment of landes tenements rentes annuities etc. heretofore given to charitable uses.”
A Commission3 was appointed under this Act on June 22nd, 1605, in the 3rd year of James I, to enquire into the charities of this county; and “the churchwardens and most auncient men of everie severall parish,” with “the parties interessed in any of the said Iandes.”
The jury of the Bingham Wapontake reported as follows on the Tollerton charities.
“Whereas there are divers parcells of Land and Meadows in Torlaston within the Countie of Nottingham which belong unto the inhabitants of Torlaston and have bene usually heretofore to the benefitt and behoofe of the said inhabitants which said parcells are hereunder specified viz.,
In primis one close called Richard Holme of the yearly value of xxviii s. iiii d.
Item. One peece of ground called The Geve of the yearly valeu of vi s. viiid.4
Item. Three Meeres within Crockwell feild of the yearely valewe of ii s.
Item, fower common Landes which time out of mynde have bene layde to the Common howse of the Neatheard (being a poore man) for the ease of the charges of the same towne of the yearely valewe of xii d.
Item, a house builded upon the Common and one cowgate belonging thereunto in respect that the poore man’s wife which was to dwell therein was a lame woman and borne within Torlaston. And her husband in regarde of the premisses undertooke the killing of certaine moles and is of the yearely valewe of ii s.
Item. One other little house built upon the common ground by the consent of all the inhabitants of the said towne for the necessarie harbour of some common servant; being of the yearely valew of xii d.
Wee doe order and decree that all and singular the said parcells of Land and Meadow above specified and lying in Torlaston aforesaid, with their appurtenances shall forever hereafter remaine continue and bee unto the Churchwardens of. Torlaston for the tyme being; to bee by them from tyme to tyme used letten and imployed to the use benefitt ease and behoofe of the inhabitants of Torlaston in manner above written.”
In spite of this decree the charities were endangered before the 17th century closed. They were rescued by resolute churchwardens, who appealed successfully to the Crown for a further Commission of Enquiry.
“An Inquisition Indented taken att the Kings Hall als (i.e., otherwise) Shire Hall in Nottingham the Two and Twentieth Day of May in the yeare of our Lord one Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Nine, Before George Gregory Esqre. Daniel Chadwicke5 John Gee6 Henry Brunsell7 and Humphrey Perkins8 Clerks.
“By virtue of a Commission under the Greate Seale of England to them and others directed for the due executing of a statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the 27th day of October in the 43rd yeare of the Reigne of the late Queen Elizabeth entituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of money heretofore given to Charitable uses By the Oathes of John Peake, James Huthwaite, Wm. Barke, Wm. Smalley, John Lewis, Daniel Tibson, John Kitchen, George Greaves, John Sheppard, Richard Wells, Wm. Robinson, John Collingson, Thomas Patman, John Hornebuckle, Honest and Lawfull men of the County. . . Who say upon their Oathes That a certaine parcell of ground containing 3 Roodes called the Meers being within the Townfields. . . or Territoryes of Tollerton . . .in a certaine ffield called [Crockfield] lyeinge near Richard holme now or late in the tenure or occupation of [blank] next the Lands of George Moult Esq. of the yearly vallue of 6s. 8d. was heretofore jiven to the use of the poore of Tollerton by [blank] deceased and that it hath been detained from the said poore for flour yeares by George Moult who hath received the proffits thereof for 4 years and hath not paid them to the poore of Tollerton.
“They further say that another parcell of Land containing 3 acres within the parish of Tollerton in a certaine ffield called the [blank] called the Gift peice in the Tenure of [blank] lyeing next the Lands of Pendock Prise Gent, of the yearly vallue of Twenty shillings which alsoe was heretofore given to the poore of Tollerton by the said [blank] deceased, and that it hath been detained from the said poore by Thomas Bethell Gent Guardian or Trustee for the said Pendock Prise for five yeares and that the said Thomas Bethell or his assignes hath received the rents and proffits thereof for the said ffive yeares and hath not paid the same to the said poore, but hath misconverted and misimployed the same contrary to the true Intent and meaning of the said Donor In Witnesse whereof as well the said Commissioners as the said Jurors have hereunto sett their Handes and Seales.
(18 signatures and 18 seals. Only two seals are distinct, one a horse, the other a stag).
The Commission issued the following order : —
“Att The King’s Hall als Shire Hall in the said County of Nottingham June 12th 1699. Whereas by an Inquisition . . . it was found that a certaine parcell of Ground containing 3 roodes . . . was given to the poore of Tollerton and . . . hath been detained . . . and that another parcel of land . . . hath been detained from the said poore . . Now wee . . being of opinion that the Gift is a good Gift . . . within the Intent of the statute . . . Doe decree that George Moult shall within one month pay into the Churchwardens of Tollerton £1 6. 8. for the use of the poore of Tollerton being the arrears of the said Rents and payments soe by him withheld and we do further order that Thomas Bethell shall pay to the Churchwardens of Tollerton £5 for the use of the poore of Tollerton being the Arreares of the said yearly rents by him withheld and that George Moult and Thos. Bethell shall pay to the Churchwardens £10 for their expenses in obtaining the Inquisition and this Decree, and that they shall yield up within one month the possession of the said Parcels of land unto the Churchwardens of Tollerton to be by them and their successors sett or lett or disposed of for the use of the poore of Tollerton. In witness whereof the said Commissioners have hereunto sett their Hands and Seales.9
Five signatures and seals are attached.
It is evident that the Richardholme charity land had been alienated before this time, for it is not mentioned. In the tripartite division of Philip Pendock’s estate among his three daughters, in 1685, this land is mentioned as part of the estate. We do not know how the Pendocks acquired the land, nor of any equivalent in the possession of the parish officials.
Another enquiry into the state of parish charities was made in 1786, and the answer of the churchwardens and constable led to this brief report: —
“Name of Donor : Agnes Cross. When given : Unknown. Land for poor.”
This was a comparatively recent charity, having been given by will in 1722, within the lifetime of some living. Little trouble can have been taken to give a full answer to the enquiry. It is known that at this time the Kirk Close, and a cottage were held by the churchwardens of the parish; but this property was not mentioned. It is evident that by this time Tollerton had lost the charities enumerated in 1699, in spite of Commissions and Enquiries. The only one of these lost properties traceable is that of Richardholme, now known under the nickname Dickholme; but the uncoloured plots in the old estate map, elsewhere alluded to, such as Sandy Croft, may point to some of the lost charity lands.
The Agnes Crosse Charity, so perfunctorily mentioned, was the gift of the sister of Latimer Crosse, rector of Tollerton. This consisted of the sum of “50s. a year for ever to be paid on St. Peter’s Day, 20s. thereof to be given the same day in Bread to such poore children as have learned the Creed Lord’s Prayer and the Commandments whose parents receive no collection.” The capital sum was invested by the trustees in Brackenhurst Farm at Southwell.
White's Directory for 1832 says “the poor have 50s. yearly from the bequest of Agnes Crosse, in 1722”; and the Directory for 1844 repeats this. When Bailey concluded his Annals of Nottinghamshire in 1855 he remarks that the other parishes, Lowdham, Cotgrave and Mansfield Woodhouse still received their interest from this charity land, but “owing to the negligence, many years ago of the parish authorities of Tollerton” this charity had been “long lost to the poor of that place.” If White was accurate in his report for 1844, the charity was lost soon after that year, but it is possible that the entry of 1832 was repeated in later issues without verification. It is certainly discreditable that the parish officials should have proved such poor guardians of their charitable endowments.
1. Thor. Soc. “Transactions” xxix 64.
2. George Story witnessed Wm. Pendock’s will in 1619.
3. Petty Bag Charity Inquisitions bundle 3 No. 21.
4. The Gift Piece of Charity Inq. of 1799. Described as containing three acres lyinge near Richard Holme.
5. Formerly R. of Tollerton.
6. R. of Plumtree.
7. R. of Bingham.
8. R. of Holme Pierpont.
9. Charity Inquisition, bdle 46, No. 6.