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Ruddington

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"Ruddington, 5 miles south of Nottingham, is a large and well built village and parish, containing a population of 2,182 souls, many of whom are employed in the lace and hosiery manufactures. Its parish comprised 2,900 acres of fertile land, chiefly of a gravelly loam, with a marl sub-soil, the rateable value of which is £5,659 5s 8d. Sir Thomas George Augustus Parkyns, Bart is the principal owner, and lord of the manor, but Charles Paget, R.B. Barker, Thomas Moor and W.G. Boden Esqrs have estates here, the former of whom in 1832 erected Ruddington Grange, a commodious mansion situated on a gentle eminence about a mile north of the village. At the enclosure in 1768, the vicar received 52 acres, and Sir Charles Cavendish 466 in lieu of tithes. Of the latter 400 acres has been bought by Charles Paget Esq, the impropriator.
The church was repaired in 1718, and was rebuilt upon a large scale in 1824 at a cost of £1,100, except the chancel and steeple, which are the only remaining parts of the ancient fabric. It was, however, a chapel of ease until 1773, when its burial ground was consecrated, and enclosed with part of the materials of the original mother church that stood in an open field, one mile east of Ruddington, where there had formerly been a village called Flawford. This church of Flawford was a Saxon edifice, dedicated to St. Peter, and had a lofty spire steeple, and many curious monuments with cross-legged figures; but having been deserted by the parishioners it became ruinous, and a licence was obtained from the archbishop in 1773 to take it down. Its ancient tombs and other ornaments were all destroyed or mutilated by "colliers" employed in the work of demolition, and Throsby says, many of them were taken to build bridges, and to mend the roads. The chancel belonged to the Devonshire family, and was not destroyed till 1799, when the workmen employed in taking up the floor discovered three marble statues of the most exquisite workmanship."
[WHITE's "Directory of Nottinghamshire," 1853]

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Archives & Libraries

The Ruddington Library is on Church Street near the Methodist Church. It is normally closed on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, but check the website for times/dates of operation. This library dates back to before 1904.

The Library at Nottingham will prove useful in your research.

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Cemeteries

  • The Shaw Street cemetery was just over 1 acre, opened in 1882 and placed under the control of Basford Burial Board.
     
  • The cemetery is owned and managed by the Rushcliffe Borough Council (who hold the records).
     
  • The adjoining Vicarage Lane Cemetery, donated by the Misses PAGET in 1919, is owned and managed by the Ruddington Parish Council.
     
  • Peter WHATLEY has a photograph of the Vicarage Lane Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2009.
     
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Census

  • The parish was in the Wilford sub-district of the Basford Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1851H.O. 107 / 2128
1861R.G. 9 / 2446
1871R.G. 10 / 3498
1881R.G. 11 / 3339
1891R.G. 12 / 2680
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church was dedicated to Saint Peter.
     
  • The church was built around 1600 in the Decorated Style.
     
  • The church was considered a chapel-of-ease to Flawford until 1773, when the burial ground was consecrated. No traces of Flawford now remain.
     
  • Portions of the structure were rebuilt in 1824.
     
  • The church was rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1887-1888.
     
  • This is a large church, seating 750.
     
  • Howard GEES has a night-time photograph of St. Peter's Church on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2006.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1633 for baptisms, 1653 for burials and 1655 for marriages. The early registers are in very good condition.
     
  • The IGI covers baptisms & marriages in Ruddington for 1628 - 1822 & 1838 - 1862.
     
  • The Nottingham FHS marriages CD covers Ruddington for 1628 - 1901.
     
  • The church was in the West Bingham rural deanery.
     
  • The General Baptists had a chapels here built in 1823.
     
  • The Primitive Methodists had a chapel here before 1853.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists built a chapel here in 1835, using their old meeting hall as a school after that.
     
  • The New Testament Disciples had a chapel here before 1869 but seem to have "moved on" by 1881.
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Wilford sub-district of the Basford Registration District.
     
  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

Ruddington is a large village and a parish which lies 5 miles south of Nottingham city and 10 miles north of Loughborough. The parish covers 2,990 acres and includes the wooded hill of Micklebarrow one mile north of the village.

If you are planning a visit:

  • Ruddington is astride the A60 arterial road coming south out of Nottingham city.
     
  • You should be able to catch the #10 bus out of Nottingham city, which ends at the Green in this village.
     
  • Richard VINCE also has a photograph of the #10 Bus at Ruddington Green at Geo-graph, taken in September, 2011.
     
  • Visit the Little Ruddington miniature railway in Rushcliffe Country Park. Christine JOHNSTONE has a photograph of one of the stations for this railway at Geo-graph, taken in April, 2017.
     
  • Rushciffe County Park contains a lake and other recreational resources. Chris MORGAN has a photograph of the Lake in Rushcliffe Country Park on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2018.
     
  • Christine JOHNSTONE also has a photograph of part of the Framework Knitters Museum at Geo-graph, taken in April, 2017.
     
You can see pictures of Ruddington which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

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History

David LALLY has a photograph of the Red Lion Inn on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2017.

David LALLY also has a photograph of the White Horse Inn on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2010.

J. THOMAS has a photograph of the White Horse Inn on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016.

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Manors

  • Ruddington Hall was built in 1860.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the Entrance to Ruddington Hall on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2008.
     
  • Ruddington Hall was the residence of Philo-Laos MILLS in 1881. He was there in 1904 as well.
     
  • Ruddington Hall was purchased by Major John Ashworth in 1907.
     
  • Ruddington Manor was the residence of Henry Valentine STORY in 1881.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK573330 (Lat/Lon: 52.891407, -1.149779), Ruddington which are provided by:

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Military History

Army records indicate that there was a service held here for two ‘Zulu War’ soldiers. Their names were not provided.

The Southwell & Nottingham Church History Project records that there are two brass plaques inside the church as well as a "Community War Memorial" standing in its own grounds and fronting Church Street.

The Royal British Legion holds a Memorial service each year at the Church Street monument that was dedicated in May, 1923. The memorial was unveiled by the Duke of Portland and dedicated by the Reverend H. T. HAYMAN on the 19th of May 1923.

Peter WHATLEY includes the War Memorial in his photograph of Ruddington Church on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2009.

The Ruddington Ordnance and Supply Depot, built from 1940-2, had a spur line near Asher Lane for unloading ammunition. The facility was fully shut down in 1983.

There is a Lieut.-General John GREY noted on a plaque in St. Peter's church, died in January, 1837, but the web page author does not have a history on him other than service in the East Indies.

In 1912, Major John ASHWORTH resided in Ruddington Hall. He had joined the Robin Hood Rifle Volunteers as a private in 1870, but was a "crack shot" markesman and rose through the ranks quite quickly.

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Military Records

These are the men from the parish who are recorded by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission:

  1. pte. Leonard BOSWORTH
  2. airman Dennis BUTTERY
  3. Flt. Srgt., Joseph Samuel FOX
  4. Pilot Ofr., Ronald HARWOOD
  5. Staff srgt. Frederick George HEWARD
  1. warrant officer Arthur Frederick MEADER
  2. lance cprl. Joseph Robert ROBERTS
  3. gunner Phillip SADLER
  4. pte. Herbert WHITE
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Names, Geographical

Many of the locals refer to this place as "Rudd".

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient parish in Nottingham county and became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
     
  • The parish is in the ancient Rushcliffe Wapentake (Hundred) in the southern division of the county.
     
  • You may contact the local Ruddington Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to help with family history lookups.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Rushcliffe Borough Council.
     
  • J. THOMAS has a photograph of the Village Hall on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2016. Stop by when they are open and ask to see a schedule of forth-coming events.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Nottingham petty session hearings.
     
  • The Common Lands were enclosed here in 1768.
     
  • After the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, this parish became a part of the Basford Poor Law Union.
     
  • James PEACOCK left a charity of £76 yearly for bread.
     
  • Miss RADFORD left a charity of £7 16s yearly for coal.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of the The Widows Almshouses on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2010.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
1801868
18111,017
18311,428
18512,181
18612,283
18712,436
18812,638
18912,370
19012,493
19112,771
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Schools

  • A Free School, founded in 1641 by James PEACOCK, was rebuilt in 1827 and again in 1875.
     
  • Alan MURRAY-RUST has a photograph of Ruddington Free School on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2010.
     
  • An infants school was erected in 1852 by Sir Thomas G. A. PARKYNS. This was enlarged in 1894 for up to 168 children.
     
  • In 1881, the parish included two National Schools. One was for infants and the other for girls.