White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

Rolleston and Fiskerton

Rolleston Parish contains the two townships of Rolleston and Fiskerton, which contain together 583 inhabitants and 2,583a 3r 23p of rich loamy land, of which 280 inhabitants and 1,585 acres are in Rolleston and 303 inhabitants and 998a 3r 7p are in Fiskerton, which is included in the Southwell division of Thurgarton hundred.

Rolleston is a pleasant village 3 miles east by south of Southwell, bounded on the south and east by the Trent, and intersected by the River Greet. The church is an ancient structure, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, with a tower and four bells. The living, a vicarage, is valued in the King's books at £10 1s 3d, now £246. The Chapter of Southwell are patrons, and the Rev. Robert Fowler incumbent. The vicarage, a neat brick house near the church, was built in 1844. John Henry Manners Sutton Esq. M.P. is lessee of the great tithe, under the Chapter of Southwell, lord of the manor, and principal owner. The poor have the interest of £130, bequeathed by Sir Thomas Lodge, Diana Gibson, Luke Williamson and Nicholas Kirkby.

Fiskerton, three miles south-east of Southwell, is a pleasant village, on the north bank of the Trent, opposite Stoke. It has a ferry, several coal wharfs and warehouses. It had a lace thread factory, which in 1837 was converted into a corn mill, of which Mr John Chambers of Tibshelf is the owner. It was unfortunately burnt down on Sunday night, 7th December 1851, on which occasion a large amount of property was destroyed, and five poor men lost their lives, one of whom was the miller, a married man with five children. A handsome subscription was realised for his widow, from which source she now receives 8s weekly. The mill has since been rebuilt.

Here was anciently an Austin Cell, founded by Ralph D'Ayncourt, and supplied with black canons from Thurgarton Priory, and had a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. John P. Plumptre Esq. is lord of the manor and impropriator, but the Rev. Thomas Coate Cane, Mrs Jowitt, Mr John Tudor and several others are freeholders. The Midland Railway Company's station (for Southwell) on the Nottingham and Lincoln Line, is a neat building situated about half a mile from the village, from whence trains depart several times a day.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]