Our last event entitled “Gilmorton from Above” was a little quiet especially on the Tuesday night however what it lacked in numbers it made up for in other things. Several new members signed up which is always good.
In attendance were residents who were interested in the Motte and Bailley and also for the owners of Churchmead in Church Drive who were looking for information about their Marl Barn. We managed to source and print some information from our archives for them.
Another resident who used to live in a tiny cottage attached to Polly Kettel’s old shop many years ago was also present. This little row of cottages was situated next door to what is now The Grey Goose. Our very own, and much missed, Neville Robbins was also born in one of them.
The cottages have long gone and in their place is a bungalow “Caxton House”. The owner of Caxton House was also present and we managed to find an old photograph from our archives of the cottages and shop for both of them.
A new friendship between the old and new residents has been born and this is what Gilmorton History Group is all about - something unexpected always turns up.
We are now in the final run up to our Time Capsule. On Tuesday evening (8th November) we will have on display all the items which will be included in the capsule. The following day (Wednesday 9th November) will see the final closure, hopefully by our own school children with local media in attendance. If you would like something included, you have until the REVISED DEADLINE of Monday 17th October.
Although this will be our last event for 2022 we are already in the throes of preparing for our 2023 events.
A short while ago we were presented with a collection of old newspaper articles all relating to Gilmorton dating from 1700 up to 1980s. They are all categorised and include some fascinating facts. These had been collated by Malcolm Butcher during his own research into family history. He has kindly handed them over to the history group so a huge thankyou to Malcolm.
It is often posted in Spotted Gilmorton how lovely our village is but it does appear that this was not always the case as these newspaper articles show. With suicides, poaching, drunkenness, ferreting, disorderly conduct, assaulting police officers, threats of murder and so the list goes on.
One of our 2023 events will be displaying some of these newspaper articles of which there are over 1,000. As a spicy taster two of the articles follow.
The first appeared in the Leicester Chronicle 5th December 1840.
“Assault. John Wild, of Shearsby, miller, made a complaint against Thomas Ward, of Gilmorton, pig-jobber, for attacking him. Defendant is one of the many characters who have gained a very unenviable degree of notoriety, and in which, unfortunately, Gilmorton so greatly abounds. On the evening of Wednesday, in the feast week, he was at a public-house at Dunton, when complainant came in. Shortly afterwards a quarrel ensued, upon which the latter went to separate the combatants, whereupon Ward struck him with great violence on the face until assistance was rendered, when he was taken away. Convicted in penalty and costs 10s.”
The next article appeared in the Leicester Daily Post 27th July 1894 and perhaps we could learn a lesson from this one.
“William Bloxham, engineer, Gilmorton, was summoned for riding a bicycle without lights at 10:00 PM at Gilmorton on July 21. - Defendant did not appear, and he was fined £2 and 12s costs.”
We are well aware that apart from newsletters and event dates that no archive material has been uploaded to our website since last August. This is mainly due to personal issues within the committee but we are actively trying to rectify the situation. Please bear with us.
It’s that time of year again to be thinking about your membership renewal which includes free entry to all regular events, a monthly newsletter, early notification and first choice of tickets at any special/social event or trips. (Yes, we are still looking at the social aspect for members)
You can renew at the Time Capsule event or at the AGM on 23rd November. We hate to sound boring but we really do need your support at the AGM and it’s your chance to have your say about future events, what you did like or even what you didn’t get right.
And… you will get a free mince pie thrown in!!!