Farming in Ringstead
Please click thumb nails to enlarge pictures
Farming
Above is a selection of working farm and private cottages.
Until recently agriculture had played an important part in the lives of the villagers. Agriculture was the main
employment for centuries and is still in evidence. In 1869 it was reported that wheat, barley, turnips and roots were the main crops and that the meadow lands provided good grass for grazing. With the coming of the machine age fewer men have been employed on the farms and instead of agriculture being one of the most important forms of employment it is now one of the least.
The majority of farms in the village were dairy and over the years milk production has ceased and arable farming has gradually replaced the cows. Farms have merged and now there are four main farms producing wheat, barley and oil seed rape. Some of the farmers also keep some cattle and sheep.
Some farms changed their names over the years, for instance,take New Leys farm which stands at the very end of Denford road, this started off as Peach's Lodge,then Ringstead Lodge, then New Lodge and now New Leys farm.
.
A few years ago the government introduced a stewardship scheme encouraging farmers to conserve the countryside, This has resulted in hedges being reinstated so that wildlife can return to their original habitats as well as increasing bird population.
A list of Farms in the 20th century at Ringstead.
SLADE FARM=COTTON FARM=DOLBYS/FOSTERS =TITHE FARM McINNES= WEST FARM TRUSSLOWS =HOME FARM YOEMANS =NORTH FARM WITTERING =YEW TREE FARM BATES =SLADE FARM GILBERTS =NEW LAYS FARM =PEASLAND FARM FARRINGTONS/GILBERTS/BRAYBROOKES =WHITTAKERS= TILLEYS FARM Own family=MIDDLEFIELD FARM=Wymans farm was Also Slade Farm..
It must be mentioned that around the 1940s Yew Tree Farm had a side door in their cottage and supplied ice cream and sweets from Stuart Bates and his wife, but this was fairly short lived just lasting a few years.
The earliest farming story is from 1801 about two farmers, William Roberts & Mathew Teat, who were in some sort of land dispute whilst they were out in the fields cutting hay with there scythes. Roberts struck Teat on his thigh with the scythe and within a few minutes after loosing so much blood died.
The charge of Feloniously Killing and Slaying Mathew Teat, he was imprisoned for 3 months and fined one shilling jailed and Mathew Teat was buried in Ringstead church yard.
George Capron owned most of the land around Ringstead, he gave land to have a school built in 1867.
Capron sold much farming land to Merchant Venturers
They are a charitable organisation based in Bristol and has a board of trustees. They sold all their land in Ringstead in the 70’s. That’s when William Yoemans their farm as they were our landlords too. When Len Wittering died they made Mr Yoemans take most of his land otherwise he would have lost tenancy farm tenancy.
The Merchant Venturers owned Middlefield Farm, Home Farm, Slade Farm, New Leys Farm, Whitterings Farm North Farm,
Until recently agriculture had played an important part in the lives of the villagers. Agriculture was the main
employment for centuries and is still in evidence. In 1869 it was reported that wheat, barley, turnips and roots were the main crops and that the meadow lands provided good grass for grazing. With the coming of the machine age fewer men have been employed on the farms and instead of agriculture being one of the most important forms of employment it is now one of the least.
The majority of farms in the village were dairy and over the years milk production has ceased and arable farming has gradually replaced the cows. Farms have merged and now there are four main farms producing wheat, barley and oil seed rape. Some of the farmers also keep some cattle and sheep.
Some farms changed their names over the years, for instance,take New Leys farm which stands at the very end of Denford road, this started off as Peach's Lodge,then Ringstead Lodge, then New Lodge and now New Leys farm.
.
A few years ago the government introduced a stewardship scheme encouraging farmers to conserve the countryside, This has resulted in hedges being reinstated so that wildlife can return to their original habitats as well as increasing bird population.
A list of Farms in the 20th century at Ringstead.
SLADE FARM=COTTON FARM=DOLBYS/FOSTERS =TITHE FARM McINNES= WEST FARM TRUSSLOWS =HOME FARM YOEMANS =NORTH FARM WITTERING =YEW TREE FARM BATES =SLADE FARM GILBERTS =NEW LAYS FARM =PEASLAND FARM FARRINGTONS/GILBERTS/BRAYBROOKES =WHITTAKERS= TILLEYS FARM Own family=MIDDLEFIELD FARM=Wymans farm was Also Slade Farm..
It must be mentioned that around the 1940s Yew Tree Farm had a side door in their cottage and supplied ice cream and sweets from Stuart Bates and his wife, but this was fairly short lived just lasting a few years.
The earliest farming story is from 1801 about two farmers, William Roberts & Mathew Teat, who were in some sort of land dispute whilst they were out in the fields cutting hay with there scythes. Roberts struck Teat on his thigh with the scythe and within a few minutes after loosing so much blood died.
The charge of Feloniously Killing and Slaying Mathew Teat, he was imprisoned for 3 months and fined one shilling jailed and Mathew Teat was buried in Ringstead church yard.
George Capron owned most of the land around Ringstead, he gave land to have a school built in 1867.
Capron sold much farming land to Merchant Venturers
They are a charitable organisation based in Bristol and has a board of trustees. They sold all their land in Ringstead in the 70’s. That’s when William Yoemans their farm as they were our landlords too. When Len Wittering died they made Mr Yoemans take most of his land otherwise he would have lost tenancy farm tenancy.
The Merchant Venturers owned Middlefield Farm, Home Farm, Slade Farm, New Leys Farm, Whitterings Farm North Farm,
New Leys farm
New Leys Farm Denford Road. A Farm built during the middle of the 19th Century and only just in the parish of Ringstead being yards away from Denford Ash lane- the parish boundary.
The lane ,originally called Mere Lane according to a 15th-century document has had various names, ie- Mere Lane-Oundle Way-Keyston lane -Denford Ash road/lane, the farmhouse name has just as many name changes-The Lodge-Ringstead Lodge-Lodge out Mere lane-Peach's Lodge-New Lodge-and since the 1940s known as New Leys Farm. It seems each farmer had their own name on the board outside.
According to newspaper reports about the disappearance of Lydia Attley in 1850 her skeleton was found in a ditch just yards up Denford Ash lane,but later reports say 3 skeletons were found in that stretch of road and was put down to Travellers bodies as in the 19th Century they were known to put bodies in shallow graves. In this time there was a Travellers community scattered up this lane back in the 19th century so Mr William Weekly Ball was never convicted of Lydia's murder, it didn't help matters much when there were sightings of her were in Bridge Street Northampton so William was let to go about his business a free man.
Back to the farm, It was built by Freemans of Denford according to the Mercury Newspaper ,It was this small builder that built many Ringstead buildings, ie Ringstead Co-op and we see in the 1841 census that a Henry Staines lived in the farmhouse up until Thomas Peach moved in early 1871, Hence then being called Peach's Lodge and farming 188 acres of land and employing 6 men and two boys.He is still there in 1881 but now has 136 acres, perhaps times were tight and he had to sell off land.
Thomas Peach died in 1894 aged 75 years old, then we see a Samuel Dickenson bought the Farm and kept it until the start of WW1, then in steps Frank Woolley and his father Valentine Woolley, these run the farm up until the middle of the 1950's when a Michael Gilbert bought the farm.
After this I lose track of farmers , I know Slade Farm at a similar time is being run by Mr Gilbert so whether he moved from New Leys to Slade farm I'm unsure. Not to long ago the Holmes family owned it but today the Stoute family are currently renting the farmhouse.
Allegedly the actor Rowan Atkinson from Blackadder who lives not that far away owns the property but its very difficult to confirm.
New Leys Farm Denford Road. A Farm built during the middle of the 19th Century and only just in the parish of Ringstead being yards away from Denford Ash lane- the parish boundary.
The lane ,originally called Mere Lane according to a 15th-century document has had various names, ie- Mere Lane-Oundle Way-Keyston lane -Denford Ash road/lane, the farmhouse name has just as many name changes-The Lodge-Ringstead Lodge-Lodge out Mere lane-Peach's Lodge-New Lodge-and since the 1940s known as New Leys Farm. It seems each farmer had their own name on the board outside.
According to newspaper reports about the disappearance of Lydia Attley in 1850 her skeleton was found in a ditch just yards up Denford Ash lane,but later reports say 3 skeletons were found in that stretch of road and was put down to Travellers bodies as in the 19th Century they were known to put bodies in shallow graves. In this time there was a Travellers community scattered up this lane back in the 19th century so Mr William Weekly Ball was never convicted of Lydia's murder, it didn't help matters much when there were sightings of her were in Bridge Street Northampton so William was let to go about his business a free man.
Back to the farm, It was built by Freemans of Denford according to the Mercury Newspaper ,It was this small builder that built many Ringstead buildings, ie Ringstead Co-op and we see in the 1841 census that a Henry Staines lived in the farmhouse up until Thomas Peach moved in early 1871, Hence then being called Peach's Lodge and farming 188 acres of land and employing 6 men and two boys.He is still there in 1881 but now has 136 acres, perhaps times were tight and he had to sell off land.
Thomas Peach died in 1894 aged 75 years old, then we see a Samuel Dickenson bought the Farm and kept it until the start of WW1, then in steps Frank Woolley and his father Valentine Woolley, these run the farm up until the middle of the 1950's when a Michael Gilbert bought the farm.
After this I lose track of farmers , I know Slade Farm at a similar time is being run by Mr Gilbert so whether he moved from New Leys to Slade farm I'm unsure. Not to long ago the Holmes family owned it but today the Stoute family are currently renting the farmhouse.
Allegedly the actor Rowan Atkinson from Blackadder who lives not that far away owns the property but its very difficult to confirm.
Above pictures showing Land Army girls in Ringstead, Ellaline Maynard and Sandie Scalon who was originally from Ireland. They both worked for Stuart Bates who ran Yew Tree Farm opposite the New Inn. Ellaline received her Land Army Medal in 2014. The second photo was taken in Roseberry Street during 1943. Ellaline died in 2015 and in 2014 she received her well deserved land army medal.
The Women's Land Army (WLA) was established in World War One, but was re-founded shortly before the outbreak of World War Two, in June 1939, to provide extra agricultural labour.
The Government feared that if war broke out there would be food shortages. Britain, then as now, relied heavily on imported food, and it was thought that imports would be threatened by anticipated German blockades. In addition, many male farm workers were expected to join up, leaving a shortage of labour. The Government was also keen to increase food production by reclaiming pasture and unused land for growing crops. The Land Girls did a wide range of jobs, including milking cows, lambing, managing poultry, ploughing, gathering crops, digging ditches, catching rats and carrying out farm maintenance work. Some 6,000 women worked in the Timber Corps, chopping down trees and running sawmills.
All of these women worked long hours, especially during the summer, mostly outdoors and often in cold and rain. There was minimal training and most women were expected to learn about agricultural work while they were actually doing it. The Land Girls lived either on the farms where they worked, or in hostels.
Initially, Land Girls earned £1.85 for a minimum of 50 hours work a week. In 1944, wages were increased by £1 to £2.85. However, as the wages were paid by the farmer, rather than directly by the State, it was difficult to ensure that everyone was paid properly
Ringstead windmill
The Ringstead windmill which used to stand about half a mile behind behind Foster's farm down Station Road still has a air of mystery about it., you can see on the old OS map where it stood. First built in 1587
(On Sunday Night the 12th Instant a Wind-Mill near Ringstead, in this County, was entirely burnt down, supposed to be occasioned by the high wind setting the works in motion) were the words the Mercury newspaper described the fire on 20th February 1758.I was re built.
Raunds windmill was roughly about a mile away as the crow flies and strangly enough there windmill burnt down a week later, so it seems both the farmers were quite possibly at loggerheads and possibly arguing over land or rights, We have know way of finding out.
It seems both windmills were rebuilt after the fires. We know this because in the 19th century Raunds windmill was working. We also know of the exact place where Ringstead windmill stood. We also know that in 1840 it was dismantled and the stone and timber was sold off in an auction. The postcard is of Raunds windmill below and Ringstead would had been very similar in construction, if not built just the same as the photo below.
As you can see on the OS map below a track from Raunds by the windmill and onto Ringstead mills.
Pic 1-Shows how if you were to walk up the old railway track to Irthlingborough this is what view you would have had. (photo of Dartford mill)
Pic 2-Ringstead location of the windmill
Pic 3-Raunds windmill postcard, Ringstead mill looked not dissimilar to this.
pic 3-Parchment paper from Northampton records office showing bill of sale of land for Ringstead windmill
The Ringstead windmill which used to stand about half a mile behind behind Foster's farm down Station Road still has a air of mystery about it., you can see on the old OS map where it stood. First built in 1587
(On Sunday Night the 12th Instant a Wind-Mill near Ringstead, in this County, was entirely burnt down, supposed to be occasioned by the high wind setting the works in motion) were the words the Mercury newspaper described the fire on 20th February 1758.I was re built.
Raunds windmill was roughly about a mile away as the crow flies and strangly enough there windmill burnt down a week later, so it seems both the farmers were quite possibly at loggerheads and possibly arguing over land or rights, We have know way of finding out.
It seems both windmills were rebuilt after the fires. We know this because in the 19th century Raunds windmill was working. We also know of the exact place where Ringstead windmill stood. We also know that in 1840 it was dismantled and the stone and timber was sold off in an auction. The postcard is of Raunds windmill below and Ringstead would had been very similar in construction, if not built just the same as the photo below.
As you can see on the OS map below a track from Raunds by the windmill and onto Ringstead mills.
Pic 1-Shows how if you were to walk up the old railway track to Irthlingborough this is what view you would have had. (photo of Dartford mill)
Pic 2-Ringstead location of the windmill
Pic 3-Raunds windmill postcard, Ringstead mill looked not dissimilar to this.
pic 3-Parchment paper from Northampton records office showing bill of sale of land for Ringstead windmill
Image below shows how Ringstead Windmill would had looked like,dismantled in 1844 and sold in bits at an Auction. The Shuttleworth Windmill.
Situated at the Top lodge farm on the side of Cotton lane between Ringstead & Raunds
Situated at the Top lodge farm on the side of Cotton lane between Ringstead & Raunds
Ringstead Paper and Corn Mill and Windmill
This water mill doesn't get as much mention as the Willy Watt mill, but of course that one still exists and this mill was pulled down in 1936, but nevertheless it was just as important. It was on a yearly lease and throughout its time as a mill had many owners. This mill was situated in the Cotton farm area.
The Mills are believed to had stopped working at the time the Railway was Introduced in the area. (1845)
The first mention we see of the Mill is in 1772 where a Mr Moses Hicks who owns the mill at this time is having an auction of all his stock as he is moving to the Angel Inn in the town centre of Oundle
The area of where the Mill house and water mill down station road would be described as if you were walking over the disused railway line then over the first small bridge and was built just a few yards past the bridge on the right. The water mill itself was on a tributary of the Nene river next to the house.One miller who lived there was a John Hall in 1800.
.
The second mention in the Mercury newspaper states on 5th of July 1828 that the paper mill, its farm house and many acres of land including the windmill was up for auction. yet again. Records show that in 1834 a Mr John Sharman and Mr John Bull undertook the lease for one year, but things didn't quite go to plan. Whether it was a bad business year from 1834-1835 but by the year end they were bankrupt and the main shareholder John Sharman was ordered to go to the Green Dragon public house in Higham Ferrers for the proceedings of Bankruptcy.
John Sharman who also rented Ringstead windmill which was just a ten minute walk from the railway station area and as the windmill was part of the land and buildings lease that was to go too. The paper and corn mill along with the windmill and 90 Acres of land with a fine farm house namely Cotton House were up for auction on 12th July 1844. Its stone and its timber were to be auctioned but the water mill was to stay and to be sold.
We do know that by 1890 a shoe maker Mr William Muirhead had rented the 6-bedroomed Cotton Mill House and was also running the site area as a pleasure park up to 1912. Boats could be hired, picnics were available, swings and children's amusement's were in place as well as fishing rods were on hire.
We also see that in May of 1912 the mill and Cotton House are being advertised to let in the local newspaper.
If you visit the area some stones can be seen near the first brook area.
The Mill Itself was taken down in 1936 when a section of the locks on the river Nene were being constructed and the mill was in the way of the new lock.
The very first bridge down the mill meadow was built in 1840, there is a plaque on the left hand side stating this.
The 6 Bedroom mill house was in use up until the 2nd World war when the last family lived there. It was taken down and all is left now (2014) is a tiled floor and a few old bricks.The mill wheel is known to be buried under soil near the side water.
We know that paper from the mill around 1814 was used in Jane Austin letters as the watermark has-John Hall Cotton mill Ringstead mill Northamptonshire.
.
This water mill doesn't get as much mention as the Willy Watt mill, but of course that one still exists and this mill was pulled down in 1936, but nevertheless it was just as important. It was on a yearly lease and throughout its time as a mill had many owners. This mill was situated in the Cotton farm area.
The Mills are believed to had stopped working at the time the Railway was Introduced in the area. (1845)
The first mention we see of the Mill is in 1772 where a Mr Moses Hicks who owns the mill at this time is having an auction of all his stock as he is moving to the Angel Inn in the town centre of Oundle
The area of where the Mill house and water mill down station road would be described as if you were walking over the disused railway line then over the first small bridge and was built just a few yards past the bridge on the right. The water mill itself was on a tributary of the Nene river next to the house.One miller who lived there was a John Hall in 1800.
.
The second mention in the Mercury newspaper states on 5th of July 1828 that the paper mill, its farm house and many acres of land including the windmill was up for auction. yet again. Records show that in 1834 a Mr John Sharman and Mr John Bull undertook the lease for one year, but things didn't quite go to plan. Whether it was a bad business year from 1834-1835 but by the year end they were bankrupt and the main shareholder John Sharman was ordered to go to the Green Dragon public house in Higham Ferrers for the proceedings of Bankruptcy.
John Sharman who also rented Ringstead windmill which was just a ten minute walk from the railway station area and as the windmill was part of the land and buildings lease that was to go too. The paper and corn mill along with the windmill and 90 Acres of land with a fine farm house namely Cotton House were up for auction on 12th July 1844. Its stone and its timber were to be auctioned but the water mill was to stay and to be sold.
We do know that by 1890 a shoe maker Mr William Muirhead had rented the 6-bedroomed Cotton Mill House and was also running the site area as a pleasure park up to 1912. Boats could be hired, picnics were available, swings and children's amusement's were in place as well as fishing rods were on hire.
We also see that in May of 1912 the mill and Cotton House are being advertised to let in the local newspaper.
If you visit the area some stones can be seen near the first brook area.
The Mill Itself was taken down in 1936 when a section of the locks on the river Nene were being constructed and the mill was in the way of the new lock.
The very first bridge down the mill meadow was built in 1840, there is a plaque on the left hand side stating this.
The 6 Bedroom mill house was in use up until the 2nd World war when the last family lived there. It was taken down and all is left now (2014) is a tiled floor and a few old bricks.The mill wheel is known to be buried under soil near the side water.
We know that paper from the mill around 1814 was used in Jane Austin letters as the watermark has-John Hall Cotton mill Ringstead mill Northamptonshire.
.
Ringstead Lime Kilns
The Ringstead charity in 1887 consisted of 27 acres of land, which lets for £51, and a lime-kiln, which lets for £7, 12s yearly ., making a total of £58, 12s., two-thirds of which go to the support of the school, and the remainder to the aged poor. (Whellans Directory)
Ringstead in 1850 had two Lime kilns, one which was situated at the top end of the Allotments as per drawing and the second was next to Top Lodge farm Windmill area (owned by Fosters)
A Lime Kiln is used to produce quicklime through the calcination of limestone (calcium carbonate)Because it is so readily made by heating limestone, lime must have been known from the earliest times, and all the early civilizations used it in building mortars The heating of limestone to produce marketable material, such as quicklime, involves a process of burning, roasting, or calcining natural limestone cobbles or blocks. Lime production in the 19th Century needed several natural features to facilitate production of such materials. A natural limestone ridge or vein of the appropriate stone type near the surface for quarrying first had to be located, as well as large quantities of local wood for fuel. Later when railroads were developed, coal was introduced to the lime firing process, so access to coal sources also became a necessity.
In total there was three kilns in Ringstead, Denford road Allotments-Top lodge and top of Spencer street.
So as Ringstead was beginning to populate more so the need of building mortar rose,the photo below Isn't Ringstead but shows how it would had looked like.
Ringstead in 1850 had two Lime kilns, one which was situated at the top end of the Allotments as per drawing and the second was next to Top Lodge farm Windmill area (owned by Fosters)
A Lime Kiln is used to produce quicklime through the calcination of limestone (calcium carbonate)Because it is so readily made by heating limestone, lime must have been known from the earliest times, and all the early civilizations used it in building mortars The heating of limestone to produce marketable material, such as quicklime, involves a process of burning, roasting, or calcining natural limestone cobbles or blocks. Lime production in the 19th Century needed several natural features to facilitate production of such materials. A natural limestone ridge or vein of the appropriate stone type near the surface for quarrying first had to be located, as well as large quantities of local wood for fuel. Later when railroads were developed, coal was introduced to the lime firing process, so access to coal sources also became a necessity.
In total there was three kilns in Ringstead, Denford road Allotments-Top lodge and top of Spencer street.
So as Ringstead was beginning to populate more so the need of building mortar rose,the photo below Isn't Ringstead but shows how it would had looked like.
Above are the two locations of the Lime kilns of Ringstead
Jane Austen connection with with Ringstead is with the letters she wrote using paper from John Hall paper mill (Cotton mill) station road. as per expanded view below. This was in 1814
The following articles are extracts from the book "Wooford juxtra Thrapston" on the local mills
Village Shops
In the 19th and 20th Century Ringstead was a self sufficient village, you didn't need to pop to Raunds or Thrapston to go to the barber's or get your bicycle repaired, or indeed you didn't need to visit a tailor's shop as it was all in the village. There were three bakers & four butchers in the early 1900’s But times were tough still, there wasn't a lot of work about as it is so much today.
Soon Ringstead employment was getting better with the new boot & shoe factories in the late 1800’s early 1900's and people were well-off compared to previous years. Electricity was in most houses by 1935 and water was beginning to get piped in to people's houses and the need to fill your bucket up at the four public wells in the village was slowly dying out.
The main shops in the village were the bakeries, the post office and new Co-operative store which opened in 1903.But next door was the Bakers shop which set up in 1884 and the start of the co-op. The building we know of the post office was a general store with part of it used as a barbers run by a Mr Peacock then there was Aston Smith's barber shop .
Below is a list of many 19th century businesses that were in the village at the time and many thanks to Rushden Research for allowing me to show this 1924 shop census.
In the 19th and 20th Century Ringstead was a self sufficient village, you didn't need to pop to Raunds or Thrapston to go to the barber's or get your bicycle repaired, or indeed you didn't need to visit a tailor's shop as it was all in the village. There were three bakers & four butchers in the early 1900’s But times were tough still, there wasn't a lot of work about as it is so much today.
Soon Ringstead employment was getting better with the new boot & shoe factories in the late 1800’s early 1900's and people were well-off compared to previous years. Electricity was in most houses by 1935 and water was beginning to get piped in to people's houses and the need to fill your bucket up at the four public wells in the village was slowly dying out.
The main shops in the village were the bakeries, the post office and new Co-operative store which opened in 1903.But next door was the Bakers shop which set up in 1884 and the start of the co-op. The building we know of the post office was a general store with part of it used as a barbers run by a Mr Peacock then there was Aston Smith's barber shop .
Below is a list of many 19th century businesses that were in the village at the time and many thanks to Rushden Research for allowing me to show this 1924 shop census.
All the pubs were doing quite good business in the early
1900s and as people started to have money in their pockets some of the richer
families could even afford a vehicle, but there still was poverty in the village
and those who could not afford food relied on their families and friends. It
seemed in those days families were much closer.
For the first half of this century the village had a
grocery store and a minimum of three public houses. As late as the Second World
War there was still a forge in the village. Milk, meat, groceries and coal were
often delivered by bike, by van or by horse and cart.
Below is Emily Louise Giddings (my grandmother) who ran the Newsagent's from 1890-1940 and next door was one of four bakers' shops, others being the Co-op and Joey Scholes then Ted Pallet's baker's. These three pictures show how it changed over the years until we come to 2014 where it is a privately owned house and not any resemblance to the shop it once was.
Below is Emily Louise Giddings (my grandmother) who ran the Newsagent's from 1890-1940 and next door was one of four bakers' shops, others being the Co-op and Joey Scholes then Ted Pallet's baker's. These three pictures show how it changed over the years until we come to 2014 where it is a privately owned house and not any resemblance to the shop it once was.
When World War Two arrived so did rationing. The aim was to prevent food shortages. Local people registered with one of the local shops in the village and received their rations weekly, the shops like the Co-op were provided with enough food for registered customers. Purchasers had to take ration books with them when shopping. By April 1945 produce like bacon and ham was rationed to 4oz (113g) a week, sugar, 8oz (227g) and butter 2oz (57g). The above photo is of a Tobbacco Ration book which has stamps inside of it in exchange for your choice of tobbacco at the store.
The shop keeper would take the used coupons and would be allocated credit notes to purchase more goods. By the 4 July 1954 when rationing ended it was shown to have improved the health of British people; infant mortality declined and life expectancy rose, discounting deaths caused by hostilities. This was because it ensured that everyone had access to a varied diet with enough vitamins.
Milk would originally have been delivered from a local source by horse and cart, but by the 1970's the majority of milk delivered in the village was by Bates or the Co-op milk dairies. Both companies had electric vehicles that would deliver milk in glass bottles door to door. Many people will still remember the rattle of the milk bottles being delivered early in the morning and the quiet whir of the electric motor of the milk float. Milk delivery in this form has virtually died out over the past decade, another casualty of the growth of supermarkets
.
The most popular baker in the village in the early 1900s was a Joseph Scholes and when Joseph retired his son John took over up until after WWII.
Ted Pallet who was living at the Axe and Compass with his parents was where he was to meet his wife Ada .
Ted's parents moved to Northampton but that didn't stop Ted from seeing Ada. He biked over to Ringstead many a time and was soon to set up home and marry Ada. Both were to work at the bakery at 6 High Street.
I remember as a child going into Ted's shop to get bread for mother and buying sweets there at the same time and when Ted sadly retired the bakery ceased to be.But before all this Ted was running the Axe & Compass public house. Now like so many shops in the village its a private house.
Below Showing the most well known bakery in the village but in 1957 there was a terrible fire to the thatched roof. Raunds fire brigade attended, as in photo below. Mr Pallet's bakery was out of business for a short time and soon back on its feet once the roof was repaired. Its thought a ember from the chimney was to blame.
Many thanks for Keely & Eddie Pallet.
The shop keeper would take the used coupons and would be allocated credit notes to purchase more goods. By the 4 July 1954 when rationing ended it was shown to have improved the health of British people; infant mortality declined and life expectancy rose, discounting deaths caused by hostilities. This was because it ensured that everyone had access to a varied diet with enough vitamins.
Milk would originally have been delivered from a local source by horse and cart, but by the 1970's the majority of milk delivered in the village was by Bates or the Co-op milk dairies. Both companies had electric vehicles that would deliver milk in glass bottles door to door. Many people will still remember the rattle of the milk bottles being delivered early in the morning and the quiet whir of the electric motor of the milk float. Milk delivery in this form has virtually died out over the past decade, another casualty of the growth of supermarkets
.
The most popular baker in the village in the early 1900s was a Joseph Scholes and when Joseph retired his son John took over up until after WWII.
Ted Pallet who was living at the Axe and Compass with his parents was where he was to meet his wife Ada .
Ted's parents moved to Northampton but that didn't stop Ted from seeing Ada. He biked over to Ringstead many a time and was soon to set up home and marry Ada. Both were to work at the bakery at 6 High Street.
I remember as a child going into Ted's shop to get bread for mother and buying sweets there at the same time and when Ted sadly retired the bakery ceased to be.But before all this Ted was running the Axe & Compass public house. Now like so many shops in the village its a private house.
Below Showing the most well known bakery in the village but in 1957 there was a terrible fire to the thatched roof. Raunds fire brigade attended, as in photo below. Mr Pallet's bakery was out of business for a short time and soon back on its feet once the roof was repaired. Its thought a ember from the chimney was to blame.
Many thanks for Keely & Eddie Pallet.
The Above are three of the main shops in the village in 1905, the post office, the Co-operative and the baker's next door. That same bread delivery cart which belonged to the Gaunt family of Ringstead is also in the slide show above and recently was sold in auction.
Newspaper clips above also describe the opening of the Co-op in November 1903 along with a recent picture of Ringstead stores which took over from the Co-op. Monday 7th December 1903 the co op store opened its doors. On the above picture standing at the doorway is a young Ada Pallet,this was 1931.The bakery of the co op started in 1884 then the new co-op store opened in 1903.
The second doorway in what is now the post office led to Ashton Smith barber's shop, today that entry is built over. A post office started in 1930 but before this it was a general store.
Newspaper clips above also describe the opening of the Co-op in November 1903 along with a recent picture of Ringstead stores which took over from the Co-op. Monday 7th December 1903 the co op store opened its doors. On the above picture standing at the doorway is a young Ada Pallet,this was 1931.The bakery of the co op started in 1884 then the new co-op store opened in 1903.
The second doorway in what is now the post office led to Ashton Smith barber's shop, today that entry is built over. A post office started in 1930 but before this it was a general store.
Below on the left is what used to be in an antiques shop run by the Sumner family; it closed in the mid-1970s. Before this it was general store and run by Mr Ramsden who used to sell sweets and general houshold products . I seem to remember a small hatch near the doorway which was used when I was a child to pass sweets through . Same goes for a Mrs Greavson who sold grocers too, then it was sold to a private householder. But originally in 1905 Miss Lillian Abbott made ice cream and sold it at the shop. These days its a private house.In the 1940s/50s the garage at the side of the house was a carpentry and carpet fitter workshop run by Mr Clayton and Mr Currell, also a upholstery shop. I must mention that In the early 1970s allegedly witchcraft was once practiced here and the Sumner family hit News of the World newspaper stating that witch craft was practiced there.
Again like so many houses in the High Street it had a thatched roof when first constructed and just recently Tracy Walsh and Simon Young the present owners, have had lots of work on the masonory and it is really looking fab and how it should look.
On the picture on the right the shop over time has been used as a off-licence, general store, sweet shop and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, shop in the village. Dating back to 1820 its many owners include a police officer Samuel Figgis who also ran the New Inn public house. As a young lad myself it was my favourite sweet shop. It was under the ownership of a Bill Gerrard and his wife and and many half a pound of bom bom sweets I brought from here.
Past Owners of Chapel Street old sweet shop
. A Mr Ball took it over in 1998. It is now a private house with a Mr Tuckley owning the property.
1820 = Elizabeth Wright
1841 - 1854 = Noah Green - Draper & Grocer
1854 - 1857 = Samuel Figgis / Mary Mosley
1857 - 1860 = Alfred Roberts
1860 - 1881 = Charles Tyrringham
1881 - 1891 = George Warren - Hardware & Groceries
1901 - 1903 = Emma Bull - Grocer / William Samuel Bull - Tin Plate Smith
1903 - 1957= Eliza BUll-Grocer-Off Licence
(Owned by Campbell Praed Brewers)
1959 - 1968 = Mrs Gunn / Joyce Slack (Owned by Phipps Brewers)
1968 - 1976 = William Gerrard
1976 - 1998 = Floreys
Below is the present hairdresser's but over the years its changed hands many times with many a young person going out for the first time trying their hand at running their own business. Phyllis Bridge, Pam Bicknell, Jackie Ferry, Tim.and Jo Cottage all worked here but in the 1930s a Mr John Sidney Bull was the village tailor and within a week he would soon sort you out with a new suit. As in the photo below he is seen peering out of his front door wondering why there is a photographer in the middle of the road, plus here is a receipt below
The scene on the right is such a delightful village photo showing the horse and cart coming up the street and in the distance you can see the thatched cottages and which appears to be one of the bakers walking up the street on the left. Every picture tells a story !
The scene on the right is such a delightful village photo showing the horse and cart coming up the street and in the distance you can see the thatched cottages and which appears to be one of the bakers walking up the street on the left. Every picture tells a story !
Ringstead post office above and below
Above and on the left is Mr John Green and his wife Mary who ran the very first post office and where my very own father and grandfather lived. Then in the early 1930s the service of the post office moved up the street a short distance and this building was demolished.
The post office first went into business in 1854 with a Mr Noah Green. Letters would arrive through Thrapston at 7 am and were dispatched at 4.35 pm at a box outside the New Inn pub. There was no delivery on Sundays. The nearest money order office was at Raunds
In 1880 The post office was taken over by John Green, a nephew of Noah, the first Ringstead Postmaster. Noah’s brother, Thomas, had been an innkeeper in the village. But John isn't just a postmaster he works in the boot and shoe trade too.
We know John died, aged 73, in 1913. The directory of 1914 tells us that John Albert Green is now the sub-postmaster. It also records that there is a wall letter-box near the New Inn which is cleared twice a day.
The post office continued up until 1930 which is where we seem to loose the story of John Green. Did he move up to the new post office building opposite the Co op ? We do know Ruth Roberts and later William Dodson (Billy) ran the post office slightly later, which by the way had also a barber's shop inside the same building ran by a Mr Peacock..
In the early days on some pictures it was a general store-cum- post office-cum-barber's run by Ashton Smith.
And in 2014 here is Ringstead post office and please note that right to the large window was the doorway to the barber's shop which at the time had a dividing wall separating the post office from the barber's shop of Ashton Smith. In later years Ashton was forced from the shop to take his work to his own house at number 3 Gladstone Street, where not only you could have your hair cut but buy cigarettes, crisps and some chocolate. too. Many a Woodbine non-tipped or coffin nails was sold at Ashton Smith's and I should know, as young lad I used to do errands for people up Tilcraft and trips to Ashton's were nearly a daily occurrence
Newsagent/Grocers Owner Thomas Harry and Emily Louise Giddings
This picture above was taken at Back Lane, Ringstead and shows my Grandfather Thomas Harry Giddings with wife Emma Louise in his small plot where he kept pigs and wildfowl and possibly anything else he could rear and sell. The Breiely family have a house on this spot at the present, the well is covered up which is on the photo.
Notice Raunds hill in the back ground, but also see the one of the four water points that was public to the village (if you didn't mind scrambling around the pigs). Harry was born in 1886 and died in 1966. It was Harry who alerted the police of the fire at the Unity Boot and Shoe factory down Cherry Street/High Street. That was in vain as not one fire appliance came out, either because there were busy elsewhere, or didn't have one available. Kettering fire service refused to come out because Ringstead was not in their district.
Notice Raunds hill in the back ground, but also see the one of the four water points that was public to the village (if you didn't mind scrambling around the pigs). Harry was born in 1886 and died in 1966. It was Harry who alerted the police of the fire at the Unity Boot and Shoe factory down Cherry Street/High Street. That was in vain as not one fire appliance came out, either because there were busy elsewhere, or didn't have one available. Kettering fire service refused to come out because Ringstead was not in their district.
Butchers of Ringstead
There were four butchers' shops in the village around in the 20th century, which is the same amount of baker's, with a population of around 900 that was about average for the size of the village. But a little earlier around 1850 Ringstead got quite famous in the Press all over the country but for the wrong reason.
William Weekly Ball a butcher in the village was accused of murdering a village girl (Lydia Attley) and there have been quite a few stories written about this, but I'll be believing the ones which were in the recorded in the Mercury Newspaper. This story certainly got Ringstead on the map at the time. To find out more David Ball has written much about his family and in particular the whole episode of the trial of William Ball.
.
Which brings me on to the butchers' shops and where they were. In fact all but one shop is still standing now but are either private houses or converted premises. The only butcher's shop that has long gone stood next to The Swan public house. If your looking directly at The Swan from the High Street and on the left of the building where there is a gap between the two buildings a narrow driveway set back a little this is where it once stood.Its worth noting that Butchers lane ran from Chapel street to the Swan public house but now of course its all one road of the High treet.
This was run also by the tenant of The Swan. It was described as a outhouse barn converted into a butcher's and probably the least used in the village because of its lack of untidiness and bad hygiene it has been told to me.
The second butcher's and is (pic 2) was in Chapel Street and the last butcher Dennis Bridge who took it over from his dad (Tom) and closed 4th December 1989. Of course like so many shops in these times because of the supermarkets it could not compete and finally closed its doors.
The third butcher's and possibly the most famous was part of the Black Horse public house and is now owned by a Mr Clipston.The Robinson family were until it closed in 1906. It still has the tiled floor as it was when it was built, but now it is used as a living room area. The fourth butcher's shop is just opposite the church and used for much as its life as a chip shop, but presently used as a take food take-away shop. It started life as a butcher's shop and was run by a Mr Arthur Yoemans, who incidently had an abattoir next to the Black Horse public house. His son William was a farmer and his farm house was situated down the far end of shop street. His son David continues to farm whilst his daughter Christine has a cheese making business.
In the butcher's shop photo (2nd pic) below you can see Janet Farr delivering milk on the horse and cart to Mr Bull's shop. The last photo is of what is now a take-away food shop; in its past it started of as a butcher's then it was a wet fish shop, which by the way also sold sweets, then was turned into a fish and chip shop.
There was just one more Butchers which has long gone and was taken down in 1937 and that belonged too William Ball (lydia Attleyfame)
and that was next door to the post office.
There were four butchers' shops in the village around in the 20th century, which is the same amount of baker's, with a population of around 900 that was about average for the size of the village. But a little earlier around 1850 Ringstead got quite famous in the Press all over the country but for the wrong reason.
William Weekly Ball a butcher in the village was accused of murdering a village girl (Lydia Attley) and there have been quite a few stories written about this, but I'll be believing the ones which were in the recorded in the Mercury Newspaper. This story certainly got Ringstead on the map at the time. To find out more David Ball has written much about his family and in particular the whole episode of the trial of William Ball.
.
Which brings me on to the butchers' shops and where they were. In fact all but one shop is still standing now but are either private houses or converted premises. The only butcher's shop that has long gone stood next to The Swan public house. If your looking directly at The Swan from the High Street and on the left of the building where there is a gap between the two buildings a narrow driveway set back a little this is where it once stood.Its worth noting that Butchers lane ran from Chapel street to the Swan public house but now of course its all one road of the High treet.
This was run also by the tenant of The Swan. It was described as a outhouse barn converted into a butcher's and probably the least used in the village because of its lack of untidiness and bad hygiene it has been told to me.
The second butcher's and is (pic 2) was in Chapel Street and the last butcher Dennis Bridge who took it over from his dad (Tom) and closed 4th December 1989. Of course like so many shops in these times because of the supermarkets it could not compete and finally closed its doors.
The third butcher's and possibly the most famous was part of the Black Horse public house and is now owned by a Mr Clipston.The Robinson family were until it closed in 1906. It still has the tiled floor as it was when it was built, but now it is used as a living room area. The fourth butcher's shop is just opposite the church and used for much as its life as a chip shop, but presently used as a take food take-away shop. It started life as a butcher's shop and was run by a Mr Arthur Yoemans, who incidently had an abattoir next to the Black Horse public house. His son William was a farmer and his farm house was situated down the far end of shop street. His son David continues to farm whilst his daughter Christine has a cheese making business.
In the butcher's shop photo (2nd pic) below you can see Janet Farr delivering milk on the horse and cart to Mr Bull's shop. The last photo is of what is now a take-away food shop; in its past it started of as a butcher's then it was a wet fish shop, which by the way also sold sweets, then was turned into a fish and chip shop.
There was just one more Butchers which has long gone and was taken down in 1937 and that belonged too William Ball (lydia Attleyfame)
and that was next door to the post office.
Be Be Dolls, Toy Manufacturer
Built in 1765 Ringstead Manor House situated at Church Street is one of the four listed buildings in the village but hasn't always been known as a manor house. mid 19th century is was called Ringstead house. Land owner George Capron owned this Manor house for a period of time.
Bebe Dolls
The start of Bebe dolls ltd started In Czechoslovakia In the late 19th century with the Jewish family called the "Poppers" It was two brothers who in around 1934 escapped their country with the onslaught of Nazi's killing Jews that both came along with their mother to London.
They were very wealthy family and It wasn't long before they re set up their Toy company "Bebe dolls.
So Ernest & Frank Popper along with their Mother Ida Popper were living in Richmond london and In 1943 their business was bombed and they decided to move up the Ringstead Northamptonshire where they converted Ringstead Manor house after buying it from George Capron a wealthy landowner.
From this point the business grew ever more bigger and by the 1960s over 200 staff were employed at the factory and even home workers local and far afield ,even as far as Wisbech & Guyhirn were involved
The business was doing that well they took on the Ex Unity Boot & shoe factory and the Brittania factory at Denford Road plus Denford chapel as storage as well as the then known area opposite the church called the paddock, and even the Swan public house was used too. The institute in the high street didn't escape the wanted storage room.
Albert Fox was the manager and Freda Pentelow was the designer of the toys and the top floors were used as the design and admin offices.
The Poppers' mother lived on site whilst the boys managed the business and lived at Ringstead during the week and going back to their house in London at weekends.
Sadly in the 1980s the Poppers were to sell their business on to a company called Blossom a American owned company and by 1987 the Bebe dolls were no more.
Its also believed there is a tunnel from the manor house to the church, in the cellar of the manor house you can see the outline of a doorway which is in the direction of the church. Although BeBe dolls were the company name the items that were produced under the registered name of Blue ribbon playthings.
Below is the Staff at Bebe dolls and names in no order are: Albert Fox, Florrie Weekley, Silv Peacock, Gwen Gray, Joyce Hathaway, Jenny Haxley,Evelyn Haxley,Marion Jones, Mollie Cullum, Hazel French, Gladys George ,Isabel Letch, Florrie Green, Gladys Chapman, Jean Abbott, Mrs.Weekley, Joy Gant, Malcolm Mould, Julie Mould.
Below Ida Frank & Ernest Popper from Czechoslovakia
BB Dolls history Interview.
Interview with Käthe Popper, wife of Ernst Popper, February 2016
Kristina: Do you remember the name of the father of Ernst Popper? Käthe Popper: I should know. My father knew him. because they were all in the toy trade. The Poppers they manufactured dolls, BB dolls, and we manufactured railways. My father had a factory. Blechspielwarenfabrik. And it was a railways for children. Kristina: Modelleisenbahn. And they met at the trade? Käthe Popper: That’s right. My father - and he was known as the Popper with the long beard. It’s probably Richard. (It was Bedrich/Friedrich) Kristina: Did you know the mother of Ernst? Käthe Popper: Fritz - I think it was Fritz and Ida. And her sister was called Else. So it was Elsinko and Idinko. They lived together in England. The two sisters. Very close. Kristina: So the sisters came together with Frank also? Käthe Popper: Yes. Frank came first to England. And Ernest came later. Because they were in Italy. Kristina: Yes Milena said that Frank stayed with her. Käthe Popper: Yes, that’s right. And then Ernest was able to come to England. He had a permit. And he only just managed to get in. And Milena could not. She did not have the permit.
So she went to France. Kristina: Do you know when Ernst came to England? Käthe Popper: Yes it was just before the war. Kristina: So it must have been end of August / beginning of September 1939. Käthe Popper: Yes. My father - they were all in the toy trade - Ernest and Frank they had this firm - BB dolls - and they were bombed out during the war here in London.
So they moved to Northamptonshire. Kristina: And before they were in Ringstead ? Käthe Popper: Ringstead is Northamptonshire. Kristina: Do you know where they have been bombed out? Käthe Popper: No, in East London somewhere. They wanted to start their branch in London. So they employed my father. So that’s how I met Ernest. I met my father’s boss. I met Ernest when I was 19. He was ten years older. Kristina: Did you also work in the factory? Käthe Popper: No I worked in the office. Kristina: According to the father of Ernest… Käthe Popper: It was Fritz. The firm was called Burger and Beutum. My mother in law she was called Beutum. Burger was the partner.
Fritz Popper married into the firm. That’s why the boys called it BB dolls. Kristina: How did you come to England? Käthe Popper: Well, it’s quite a long story. My father came here on business. So it was easy for him to come. My mother stayed back in Prague. Because he came here without money and she was alright in Prague. She said don’t worry. But then the war came and she was killed in Auschwitz. But father was here in England. A cousin who was here in
England - and there was - he had a girl friend who was a Quaker …
I was able to get to the kindertransport…. Kristina: And then your father got a job at BB dolls and Ernst fell in love with you. Käthe Popper: It sounds good, but I think I fell in love earlier before he did. I knew him, we were sort of friends or whatever you call it. It was very difficult for us, because he was in Ringstead, with his mother and his manufactury. I was in London, in Richmond. I looked for my father. So it anyhow eventually we decided to get married. But it took a long time to see how we should do it. We got a house in Richmond. And Ernest came weekends to London, to Richmond and he worked in Ringstead. He lived there during the week
My name is Kristina Forbat, I am a German author and I am writing a family biography about a Czech holocaust survivor and her family.
There were actually two couples living in Ringstead: Milena who married Frank Popper and later Käthe who married Ernst Popper.
The brothers Ernst and Frank Popper emigrated from Prague to England in spring 1939 with their mother Ida Popper.
During WW2 they lived in Ringstead where they owned a factory producing dolls.
The company was actually called BB dolls because of Burger and Beutum (the family names of their ancestors) and has been already created in 1891 in Prague. I send you a picture of a document out of the Prague archive, maybe it is interesting for you.
the company was created already in 1873 in Prague.
The founders were two partners: Burger and Beutum (Beutum is the girls’ name of Ida Popper who came together with her sons Frank and Ernst.) Their father Bedrich / Friedrich Popper passed away already before in 1938 and his sons took over the company.
Yes, they fled from the Nazis as they were Jews. They managed to flee shortly after the occupation of Czechoslovakia (march 1939).
They managed to get a visa to England - as they were businessmen it was probably easier for them to get to England.
Interview with Käthe Popper, wife of Ernst Popper, February 2016
Kristina: Do you remember the name of the father of Ernst Popper? Käthe Popper: I should know. My father knew him. because they were all in the toy trade. The Poppers they manufactured dolls, BB dolls, and we manufactured railways. My father had a factory. Blechspielwarenfabrik. And it was a railways for children. Kristina: Modelleisenbahn. And they met at the trade? Käthe Popper: That’s right. My father - and he was known as the Popper with the long beard. It’s probably Richard. (It was Bedrich/Friedrich) Kristina: Did you know the mother of Ernst? Käthe Popper: Fritz - I think it was Fritz and Ida. And her sister was called Else. So it was Elsinko and Idinko. They lived together in England. The two sisters. Very close. Kristina: So the sisters came together with Frank also? Käthe Popper: Yes. Frank came first to England. And Ernest came later. Because they were in Italy. Kristina: Yes Milena said that Frank stayed with her. Käthe Popper: Yes, that’s right. And then Ernest was able to come to England. He had a permit. And he only just managed to get in. And Milena could not. She did not have the permit.
So she went to France. Kristina: Do you know when Ernst came to England? Käthe Popper: Yes it was just before the war. Kristina: So it must have been end of August / beginning of September 1939. Käthe Popper: Yes. My father - they were all in the toy trade - Ernest and Frank they had this firm - BB dolls - and they were bombed out during the war here in London.
So they moved to Northamptonshire. Kristina: And before they were in Ringstead ? Käthe Popper: Ringstead is Northamptonshire. Kristina: Do you know where they have been bombed out? Käthe Popper: No, in East London somewhere. They wanted to start their branch in London. So they employed my father. So that’s how I met Ernest. I met my father’s boss. I met Ernest when I was 19. He was ten years older. Kristina: Did you also work in the factory? Käthe Popper: No I worked in the office. Kristina: According to the father of Ernest… Käthe Popper: It was Fritz. The firm was called Burger and Beutum. My mother in law she was called Beutum. Burger was the partner.
Fritz Popper married into the firm. That’s why the boys called it BB dolls. Kristina: How did you come to England? Käthe Popper: Well, it’s quite a long story. My father came here on business. So it was easy for him to come. My mother stayed back in Prague. Because he came here without money and she was alright in Prague. She said don’t worry. But then the war came and she was killed in Auschwitz. But father was here in England. A cousin who was here in
England - and there was - he had a girl friend who was a Quaker …
I was able to get to the kindertransport…. Kristina: And then your father got a job at BB dolls and Ernst fell in love with you. Käthe Popper: It sounds good, but I think I fell in love earlier before he did. I knew him, we were sort of friends or whatever you call it. It was very difficult for us, because he was in Ringstead, with his mother and his manufactury. I was in London, in Richmond. I looked for my father. So it anyhow eventually we decided to get married. But it took a long time to see how we should do it. We got a house in Richmond. And Ernest came weekends to London, to Richmond and he worked in Ringstead. He lived there during the week
My name is Kristina Forbat, I am a German author and I am writing a family biography about a Czech holocaust survivor and her family.
There were actually two couples living in Ringstead: Milena who married Frank Popper and later Käthe who married Ernst Popper.
The brothers Ernst and Frank Popper emigrated from Prague to England in spring 1939 with their mother Ida Popper.
During WW2 they lived in Ringstead where they owned a factory producing dolls.
The company was actually called BB dolls because of Burger and Beutum (the family names of their ancestors) and has been already created in 1891 in Prague. I send you a picture of a document out of the Prague archive, maybe it is interesting for you.
the company was created already in 1873 in Prague.
The founders were two partners: Burger and Beutum (Beutum is the girls’ name of Ida Popper who came together with her sons Frank and Ernst.) Their father Bedrich / Friedrich Popper passed away already before in 1938 and his sons took over the company.
Yes, they fled from the Nazis as they were Jews. They managed to flee shortly after the occupation of Czechoslovakia (march 1939).
They managed to get a visa to England - as they were businessmen it was probably easier for them to get to England.
Above in all its splendor the Manor House.
Bebe Workers names.
Back row L-R. Albert fox , N/k , Sylvia peacock, Gwen gray , Mrs Cummings , Jenny Haxley , Evelyn Haxley , don't know , Molly cullam , Hazel French , don't know , Gladys George , Isobel archer , don't know next 2 , Joyce Hathaway , mr & Mrs mould .
Sitting .L-R ... Lynn Evans , Dorothy lamford , may fox , Mrs craddock , Mrs Percival , Mrs gaunt , Jean Abbott (Mother,sitting 5th from Right), Jean lamford , Marie Hardwick
Bebe Workers names.
Back row L-R. Albert fox , N/k , Sylvia peacock, Gwen gray , Mrs Cummings , Jenny Haxley , Evelyn Haxley , don't know , Molly cullam , Hazel French , don't know , Gladys George , Isobel archer , don't know next 2 , Joyce Hathaway , mr & Mrs mould .
Sitting .L-R ... Lynn Evans , Dorothy lamford , may fox , Mrs craddock , Mrs Percival , Mrs gaunt , Jean Abbott (Mother,sitting 5th from Right), Jean lamford , Marie Hardwick
Here above is the designer of the Toys/bears Mrs Freda Pentelow who lived at Carlow Street Ringstead. Whilst on the right with the 6 feet high teddie is Cyril Pentelow.
Hard facts of the Manor house are below...... |
|
The Manor of Ringstead has an interesting history and was originally believed to be part of the Manor of Raunds which was recorded in the Domesday Book. The Manor House built in 1765 of mainly limestone under a tile roof remained in the ownership of the Burton family for almost 100 years when it was sold to the Capon family who sold it in 1979. The current sellers became owners in 1986 making them only the fifth owners in its history. The house retains many original and period features synonymous with the period including large principal rooms with high ceilings and attractive cornices, window shutters, fireplaces with a range of surrounds including marble, large internal doors with some brass lock boxes and attractive staircase.
The house and grounds have been meticulously cared for and the house retains an elegance coupled with modern conveniences including central heating and replaced kitchen and bathrooms. Manor House Imposing reception hall with central Georgian archway leading to a classic staircase with low risers, part panel walls and cornice. Well balanced square drawing room comprising open fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece, part panel walls to dado height and two full height sash windows with shutters. Large dining room comprising fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece, dado rail, display alcove, cornice, moulded plaster ceiling centrepiece and two full height sash windows with shutters. Light and airy sitting room/library with full height windows with french doors and shutters overlooking and opening onto a private entertaining terrace. Large bookcase and open fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece. Large kitchen breakfast room with space for kitchen table.
Chimney breast encasing AGA with display mantle over. Range of oak fronted cabinets with tiled tops, integrated double oven, hob and extractor. Housing for white goods. Two sinks, walk in pantry, drinks cabinet and wine rack. Two windows with shutters and door opening onto rear terrace. Cloakroom and coats cupboard. Cellar with stairs from reception hall leading to one large room with power and light, wood store and workshop area. First floor landing with window overlooking gardens, walk-in linen cupboard, staircase to second floor and twin archways into both bedroom wings. Master suite comprising large bedroom with central fire place with cast iron grate, stone surround and mantelpiece, two windows with seats and shutters. Dressing room with range of wardrobes, window seat and shutters.
Bedroom two comprising fireplace with cast iron grate, stone surround and mantle. Panelled wall. Two windows with seats and shutters overlooking gardens. Jack and Jill en suite shared with master bedroom. Bedroom three with views of gardens, fireplace with mantle, vanity unit with basin, decorative moulded arch to one wall, two windows with seats and shutters. Bedroom four/guest bedroom with en suite and two windows with seats and shutters. Door to master dressing room. Bathroom comprising four piece white suite with large bath and decorative moulded wall arch. Second floor landing with doors to all rooms. Office/playroom with fireplace and a study/playroom comprising fireplace, store cupboard and views over gardens.
At present the second floor has an independent flat, but could be utilised as main accommodation. Flat The flat comprises a sitting room with fireplace and gas fire. Kitchen diner with recently fitted range of cabinets, integrated oven, gas hob, extractor and fridge. Sink and space for breakfast table. Double bedroom with a range of wardrobes and en suite. Coach House The coach house has the benefit of planning consent to convert the whole first floor to offer a spacious fully self contained property planned to comprise; hall, sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom. In addition the coach house would still retain a substantial barn and a garage which could subject to consents make an ideal gym, office or an entertainment complex. Off the main house is a small utility room and gardeners loo.
A main feature of the property are the immaculate house grounds which comprise a beautifully tended front garden with double gates open into a gravel courtyard with ample parking. The main house grounds have three distinct areas with two private entertaining patios with views of both the village church steeple and grounds. The house overlooks the formal gardens with manicured lawns, raised terraces, central pathway with a variety of mature trees including a holm oak, yew trees, limes, scots pine, sweet chestnut, beech, walnut and acacia. There are various secret pathways with yew balls, box hedging, laurels and numerous herbaceous, shrub and flower boarders. Stone summer house with light and power and verandah. Full size lawn tennis court with small tennis pavilion and terrace. The court overlooks the second parkland garden area with mature trees and shrubs. The final informal gardens comprises a paddock with a range of trees and shrubs to include apple, walnut, beech, chestnut, plum, crab apple, pear, flowering cherry and mulberry. This area has a tree lined central avenue. Vegetable garden with mature beech hedge, vegetable and fruit bays and green house. The main house grounds extend to the rear and overlook countryside to the rear. The grounds extend to around 2.4 acre.
Incidentally, the Manor house cellar was used as a cell or jail by the sheriff of Denford Ringstead Thomas Burton. On apprehension William Weekley Ball was held in here until his trial at Thrapston court on his trial.
The house and grounds have been meticulously cared for and the house retains an elegance coupled with modern conveniences including central heating and replaced kitchen and bathrooms. Manor House Imposing reception hall with central Georgian archway leading to a classic staircase with low risers, part panel walls and cornice. Well balanced square drawing room comprising open fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece, part panel walls to dado height and two full height sash windows with shutters. Large dining room comprising fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece, dado rail, display alcove, cornice, moulded plaster ceiling centrepiece and two full height sash windows with shutters. Light and airy sitting room/library with full height windows with french doors and shutters overlooking and opening onto a private entertaining terrace. Large bookcase and open fireplace with marble surround and mantelpiece. Large kitchen breakfast room with space for kitchen table.
Chimney breast encasing AGA with display mantle over. Range of oak fronted cabinets with tiled tops, integrated double oven, hob and extractor. Housing for white goods. Two sinks, walk in pantry, drinks cabinet and wine rack. Two windows with shutters and door opening onto rear terrace. Cloakroom and coats cupboard. Cellar with stairs from reception hall leading to one large room with power and light, wood store and workshop area. First floor landing with window overlooking gardens, walk-in linen cupboard, staircase to second floor and twin archways into both bedroom wings. Master suite comprising large bedroom with central fire place with cast iron grate, stone surround and mantelpiece, two windows with seats and shutters. Dressing room with range of wardrobes, window seat and shutters.
Bedroom two comprising fireplace with cast iron grate, stone surround and mantle. Panelled wall. Two windows with seats and shutters overlooking gardens. Jack and Jill en suite shared with master bedroom. Bedroom three with views of gardens, fireplace with mantle, vanity unit with basin, decorative moulded arch to one wall, two windows with seats and shutters. Bedroom four/guest bedroom with en suite and two windows with seats and shutters. Door to master dressing room. Bathroom comprising four piece white suite with large bath and decorative moulded wall arch. Second floor landing with doors to all rooms. Office/playroom with fireplace and a study/playroom comprising fireplace, store cupboard and views over gardens.
At present the second floor has an independent flat, but could be utilised as main accommodation. Flat The flat comprises a sitting room with fireplace and gas fire. Kitchen diner with recently fitted range of cabinets, integrated oven, gas hob, extractor and fridge. Sink and space for breakfast table. Double bedroom with a range of wardrobes and en suite. Coach House The coach house has the benefit of planning consent to convert the whole first floor to offer a spacious fully self contained property planned to comprise; hall, sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom. In addition the coach house would still retain a substantial barn and a garage which could subject to consents make an ideal gym, office or an entertainment complex. Off the main house is a small utility room and gardeners loo.
A main feature of the property are the immaculate house grounds which comprise a beautifully tended front garden with double gates open into a gravel courtyard with ample parking. The main house grounds have three distinct areas with two private entertaining patios with views of both the village church steeple and grounds. The house overlooks the formal gardens with manicured lawns, raised terraces, central pathway with a variety of mature trees including a holm oak, yew trees, limes, scots pine, sweet chestnut, beech, walnut and acacia. There are various secret pathways with yew balls, box hedging, laurels and numerous herbaceous, shrub and flower boarders. Stone summer house with light and power and verandah. Full size lawn tennis court with small tennis pavilion and terrace. The court overlooks the second parkland garden area with mature trees and shrubs. The final informal gardens comprises a paddock with a range of trees and shrubs to include apple, walnut, beech, chestnut, plum, crab apple, pear, flowering cherry and mulberry. This area has a tree lined central avenue. Vegetable garden with mature beech hedge, vegetable and fruit bays and green house. The main house grounds extend to the rear and overlook countryside to the rear. The grounds extend to around 2.4 acre.
Incidentally, the Manor house cellar was used as a cell or jail by the sheriff of Denford Ringstead Thomas Burton. On apprehension William Weekley Ball was held in here until his trial at Thrapston court on his trial.
A E Fox & Co Ltd Fox Brothers (Edward & Albert )made heels for shoes at their premises at the end of Spencer Street, Burton Latimer. Throughout the town, outdoor closing was very popular. Even until recent years, women would be provided with machines so they could work from home.
During both World Wars the factories were busy, many of them making boots for the armed forces but their decline started in the 1960s. This was when cheap shoes, made abroad, started coming into the country making competition in the home market very fierce.
Their other factory in Ringstead made heels for the boots and situated where Dodson & Horrell is at the moment..
The poster below is of the Fox brothers boots in the early days around 1905.This was the first company that started in these buildings where D & H is now.
There was 3 men and 8 women that worked here until it shut in 1928, some of the names were
Albert Fox (Burton Latimer) plus Ernest Fox in charge of the Burton latimer factory.
Albert Fox (Ringstead)
Edward Roberts (Nephew of Margaret Thatcher)
Margaret Lillian Bull
Evelyn May Bull
Gertrude Abbott
Ellan Shaw
Edna Ball
Pollie Major
Elsie Smith
Margery Hackney nee Wilson.
Nina Hackney nee Fox
During both World Wars the factories were busy, many of them making boots for the armed forces but their decline started in the 1960s. This was when cheap shoes, made abroad, started coming into the country making competition in the home market very fierce.
Their other factory in Ringstead made heels for the boots and situated where Dodson & Horrell is at the moment..
The poster below is of the Fox brothers boots in the early days around 1905.This was the first company that started in these buildings where D & H is now.
There was 3 men and 8 women that worked here until it shut in 1928, some of the names were
Albert Fox (Burton Latimer) plus Ernest Fox in charge of the Burton latimer factory.
Albert Fox (Ringstead)
Edward Roberts (Nephew of Margaret Thatcher)
Margaret Lillian Bull
Evelyn May Bull
Gertrude Abbott
Ellan Shaw
Edna Ball
Pollie Major
Elsie Smith
Margery Hackney nee Wilson.
Nina Hackney nee Fox
Edward and Albert Fox at the Boot factory in Burton Latimer
Dodson & Horrell
AE Fox 1901--1927-8
To begin with the factory was a upper heel shoe factory belonging to A E Fox of Burton Latimer started in 1901,Edward and Albert Fox needed another building to expand their business but land in Burton Latimer was short to build another factory so they found land at Ringstead.
It was just coincidental that a young Albert Fox of Carlow Street not only had the same name as his boss but was foreman at the factory.
In 1925 there was a court case at Thrapston court regarding a claim for unfair dismissal of a young girl Margaret Lillian Bull.
Other names who worked here at this time were Gertrude Abbott-Ellen Shaw-Edna Ball-Elsie Smith-Everlyn May Bull & Mrs Fox & three more not mentioned in the Newspaper article.It was Miss Abbott who had been laid of and not paid who then complained and took the company to court.
Samuel Dodson
Samuel Warren Dodson was founder of S.W Dodson Ltd which later became Dodson & Horrell, Samuel Warren Dodson who had a Corn Merchant’s business in Thrapston at The Wharf near the river. Samuel borrowed £500 from Mr Fairey, a Corn Merchant of Godmanchester, who then in turn bought the business and moved it to Ringstead as S.W.Dodson Ltd, employing two cousins Bill and Arthur Chapman who also lived in Ringstead and Harold Chapman of Ringstead.It was 1931 that Mr Dodson started working the corn mill.
When Samuel died suddenly in 1939, aged 36, Dudley Jones, Samuel’s friend ran the business for a few months. (He used to get up at 5.30 am, drive to Ringstead, start the men at work, drive to Thrapston to do his full day’s work as Rates Officer in the Council Offices, drive back to Ringstead to end the day’s work and do the accounts, then go home.
In 1931-2 on the retirement of W. Bolton of The Wharf at Thrapston the goodwill for his Corn Merchants’ business was bought by one of his employees, Samuel Warren Dodson of Thrapston who then (1931-32) bought the Fox factory building for use as a mill and store for his business S. W. Dodson Ltd, Corn, Seed & Fertilizer Merchants, and at one time it was known as “Tilcraft Corn Stores” The building housed electrically powered mills, run from a common axle with pulleys and belts, and animal feed stuffs were an important part of the business; later was added a machine for making cubes and pellets of animal feed.
In 1940 an extra building was built and used to store corn and built high enough so pallets and sacks could be and loaded into lorrys on the side of the building known as the bay.
After the death of S.W.Dodson in 1939, Claude H. Horrell of Islip became manager, later partner, and in 1960 the firm became Dodson & Horrell. In late 1960s the firm expanded the site on the opposite side of the road and a large warehouse was built and used as a store and site of a large machine making pellets and cubes for animal feed. At the same time or later in the 1960s the 2 houses adjoining the east side of the original building were purchased for use as offices.
In 1997 Dodson & Horrell expanded again buying a site on the old Islip Iron Works and in 2005 that became the head office and main distribution centre, where the firm flourishes to the present time.
Its to be noted too that in the early days Ringstead had three Mills, Cotton mill, Willy Watt and Ringstead corn mill-ie Dodson & Horrell.
Above Mr & Mrs Baxter who first lived in the tin house behind Dodson & Horrell, seen here not long after loosing their son in Ww1
2014 picture of the tin house.
Ringstead Wheelwright
Ringstead wheelwright Elijah Clark had his work shop opposite the Black Horse pub, but long gone now and there are new houses built on this land. There are still remnants of his wall and driveway but you need to look hard.
Around the middle of the 19th century, iron strakes were replaced by a solid iron tyre custom made by a blacksmith, who first measured each wheel to ensure proper fit. Strakes were replaced around the mid-19th century by more dependable iron tyres that were always made smaller than the wheel in circumference, expanded by heating in a fire then placed on the wooden wheel and quenched quickly with water to shrink it onto the wood, then fastened to the wooden wheel by nails or tyre bolts. Tyre-bolts were less likely than tyre-nails to break off because they were flush finished and countersunk into the wheel's outer surface also allowing for wear without wearing the bolt head away.
Like any trade whether it be wheelwright, blacksmith, or even village blade sharpener these tradesmen were very busy and where you have a small village of around 600/800 living there they were kept on their toes.
Around the middle of the 19th century, iron strakes were replaced by a solid iron tyre custom made by a blacksmith, who first measured each wheel to ensure proper fit. Strakes were replaced around the mid-19th century by more dependable iron tyres that were always made smaller than the wheel in circumference, expanded by heating in a fire then placed on the wooden wheel and quenched quickly with water to shrink it onto the wood, then fastened to the wooden wheel by nails or tyre bolts. Tyre-bolts were less likely than tyre-nails to break off because they were flush finished and countersunk into the wheel's outer surface also allowing for wear without wearing the bolt head away.
Like any trade whether it be wheelwright, blacksmith, or even village blade sharpener these tradesmen were very busy and where you have a small village of around 600/800 living there they were kept on their toes.
Ringstead & Addington Quarries
There were three areas where stone were Quarried around Ringstead
1.Behind Fosters farm (Station road)
2 Ham lane (near rail bridge on right)
3.Just above Willywatt mill & along Addingston rd
There were three areas where stone were Quarried around Ringstead
1.Behind Fosters farm (Station road)
2 Ham lane (near rail bridge on right)
3.Just above Willywatt mill & along Addingston rd
Below shows the areas where mining took place in all three parishes of Woodford,Grt & Ltl Addington and Ringstead, below shows also the level crossing in Grt Addington and the rail track meeting up to the point on the main railway line near Willywatt mill.
There was always accidents working in the quarries and here is just one which was recorded in the Mercury newspaper from March 1982
Quarry deaths 1877
In February 1977 three young quarry workers of 14 15 and 16 yrs old who were sheltering from a great hurricane were killed by falling masonry from a barn at cotton farm.Mr Dearlove the farmer was said to be in deep shock of the deaths of Albert Fensom William Clayton and Benjamin Scraxton. There graves are visible at Ringstead churchyard.
In February 1977 three young quarry workers of 14 15 and 16 yrs old who were sheltering from a great hurricane were killed by falling masonry from a barn at cotton farm.Mr Dearlove the farmer was said to be in deep shock of the deaths of Albert Fensom William Clayton and Benjamin Scraxton. There graves are visible at Ringstead churchyard.
Cornaways Garage
In 1949 William Hawes of Willy Watt mill started repairing cars on a piece of close to the the mill, this didn't go down well with his father James,better known as Jimmy) as he didn't want cars close to his house waiting to be fixed.
So to help Bill (William) his Father sold some pasture land close to the mill to finance a new Garage to be built on the corner of Carlow leys road and Station road.
Bill's Father already owned this plot of land and late 1949 the construction of Cornaways Garage went ahead.
The name "Corn-aways" derived from being on the corner of the two roads, many thought the name came from his Father's milling business with milling corn.... corn-away! But alas no.
Including in the construction a Bungalow was also built, this wasn't so much living quarters but more an office for the new business although later on it was lived in by Bill's family.
Soon Bill passed his "Car MOT" exams and began dealing with car repair-car re-spray’s and almost anything to do with repairing cars, petrol pumps were soon installed and the business took off extremely well-receiving lots of work.
In 1978 Bill applied for an extension, this would include a large workshop with car lifts and other car-related machines.
The business was doing so well he began selling vehicles too but 20 years down the line Bill had very bad news.
A Reason unknown to the public, Bill lost his "MOT" License which was his main income to the business thus ending an era.
So in 1997 Bill sold everything on the site plus the land it was sold on to house developers and a small housing site was built.
When Bill's Grandfather William Dodson died in 1953 all land including the Mill, Tithe Cottage and the post office went to Jimmy (Bills father). All these apart from the mill and some land was sold.
Now in 2019 Bill at the age of 94 lives in converted stables building next to the mill.
