Blue Plaques for Beeston

It is very pleasing to see real progress with the local joint initiative by Beeston Civic Society, Beeston & District Local History Society and Stapleford & District Local History Society, to mark those who have historic links to the local area with a blue plaque. These plaques, already familiar in London and other major centres, link the person with the place with which they were associated very effectively and its good to see the idea being taken up in smaller towns - and in the wider Beeston area in particular. The first was placed in Chilwell earlier this year to commemorate the life of Thomas H Barton, the local bus pioneer and, in Stapleford, a plaque for Arthur Mee, the writer and journalist, has been unveiled - with more, we understand, in the pipeline.

On Saturday afternoon last, there was an excellent gathering to witness the latest placing, this one on Church Street Schools, Beeston - now, of course, converted to apartments - to commemorate the life of teacher and historian, Arthur Cossons and the exceptional contribution he made in Beeston over many years.

We all gathered at the Methodist Church hall, where Alan Clayton, the Chairman of Beeston & District Local History Society welcomed three generations of the Cossons family headed by Arthur Cosson's son, Sir Neil Cossons and his daughter, Hilda Stoddard. Peter Robinson, Chairman of the local blue plaque project, spoke of its objective of linking 'person with place' - and today it was the well deserved 'person', Arthur Cossons, and the 'place', therefore, undoubtedly Church Street Junior Boys' School. For Sir Neil it was a time to remember their father in the context of his own early life in Beeston and his time at his father's school and the family home on Union Street, now lost through redevelopment.

We had also gathered to witness the unveiling of an associated plaque to mark the remains of the Village Cross which had, until about 1860, it is said, stood in the area previously known as 'The Cross, where the War Memorial now stands, until it was taken down and used as part of a nearby wall. It was there, in 1929, that it was rediscovered by Arthur Cossons, who had it erected next to the school. During his lifetime, there is no doubt that he made sure that his pupils and the wider population of Beeston were aware of what it was but now, with memories fading, there was a need to add an explanation of what it was. Professor John Beckett set out the evidence to the audience. While there was no evidence that Beeston had held ancient rights to hold a market, the old name for Middle Street - Market Street - may point to its local use to mark a corn market and its proximity to the Church pointed to its use as a focus for processions at Harvest time.

We all then walked around to Church Street, with plenty of opportunity to compare our experiences of Arthur Cossons time at the school there. We readily agreed that there was no doubt that his enthusiasm and dedication to local history has had a lasting effect on local people and their continuing interest in their town's history.

The unveiling itself was performed by Sir Neil, assisted by Hilda, his sister (left) and the other members of the family. On his right are (left to right) Alan Clayton, Peter Robinson and Professor John Beckett. The plaque is fixed to the side of what was the caretaker's house at the school, as the building which housed the Boys' Junior School - of which Arthur Cossons was Headmaster - which stood to the rear of the site, adjacent to what was Church Lane - as distinct from the fully restored original Board School building on Church Street - was demolished as part of the redevelopment.

Everyone then moved around the corner where Margaret Cooper, a Beeston historian who taught in Beeston schools, was invited to unveil the plaque which now describes the 14th Century cross.

We all then returned to the Methodist hall for light refreshments, to view a small exhibition of the life of Arthur Cossons - and, of course, to continue to chat and swap memories between friends. An excellent occasion to mark one of Beeston's worthy 20th Century figures.

Is this the centre again ?

Middle Street in Beeston used to mean what it said - and so did 'High' Road and 'Nether' Street. Though all of them haven't always had these names - High Road was the Turnpike and Middle Street was Market Street until well into the 19th century - the reason they became so named is because of their position relative to the village core. What is now High Road skirted its northern limits, Nether Street, its southern limits and Middle Street went through the middle - outside that there were open fields until they were encrouched on, progressively through the 19th century - so that today Beeston continues, largely seamlessly, to its boundaries, well beyond the old village centre.

Over those years, the High Road - and The Square in particular - has established itself as the natural centre of the town. It was a natural evolution - that's where the shops developed and that's where the Civic buildings were built so the centre it became. So the original meaning of 'Middle' Street easily became forgotten - it wasn't the centre of anything in particular any more.

Now, it seems to me - rightly or wrongly - the positioning of the new Tesco may well change Beeston's focus with Middle Street back to what it was - Beeston's center ! I agree, its early days and much depends on whether redevelopment continues on Station Road, below Middle Street but its possible. Personally, I would rather the development result in a revitalised High Road and the pedestian links from the new development may well help that outcome - I, for one, hope so.

We will just have to wait to see whether or not history repeats itself !

Election Memories

As I write, we are in the period of a General Election - although, as these things go, this one, so far at least, has been remarkably quite locally.

Its time though to recall what, for some reason, is one of my strongest memories. It is from February 1950 (I was 11) when I found myself standing in the yard of the old National Schools on Station Road - then the headquarters of 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts, now the site of the recently closed Fire Station - looking over the wall to watch the excited crowd around the door of the Station Road Sunday School hall opposite. In the centre of the excitement was Martin Redmayne, the Conservative candidate who was emerging from his eve-of-poll meeting. The next day, the 23rd February, he was elected as the member for Rushcliffe Parliamentary Constituency.

In those days - and continuing up the major boundary changes in 1983 - Beeston was part of Rushcliffe Constituency which then, as now, also included West Bridgford and a large area of rural Nottinghamshire south of the Trent. It had been that way since 1885 and, for over 30 years, up to 1918, returned a Liberal member - first John Ellis who died during the election of December 1910, followed by Leifchild (known as Leif) Jones. During the inter-war period, and continuing up the Labour landslide of 1945, Rushcliffe returned Conservative representatives - Henry Betteton up to 1934, followed by Ralph Assheton. In 1945, following the national trend, Florence Paton was elected for the Labour Party.

When he was selected to contest the Constituency for the Conservatives, Martin Redmayne, born in 1910, was seen as an ideal candidate. He had served in the Sherwood Foresters during the war, commanding the 14th Battalion in Italy in 1943 and the 66th Infantry Brigade in 1944/5. After the war he had returned to continue to run the Redmayne & Todd sports outfitters business in Nottingham and was therefore quite well known locally. When I was taken to the shop , before Christmas, probably of 1948 or 1949, to choose a present, he was serving in the shop and I remember my father speaking to him about his selection.

He was to serve as the local MP for 16 years until, in 1966, he was narrowly defeated by Anthony Gardner for Labour - who, in turn, was overturned by Kenneth Clarke who holds the Rushcliffe seat to this day. Redmayne was created a baronet in 1964 and made a life peer in 1966. He died in 1983.

So - as I look back on that moment in 1950 as the candidate emerged amongst the cheering crowd of local supporters, it seems that much of the truly local atmosphere - something that was enough to capture the interest of an 11 year-old - has been lost in the last 60 years. It is certainly in sharp contrast with today's largely national campaigns, fought on TV, on Twitter and in blogs !

Welcome Changes

With a hint of better weather in the air, it was time to take a look at what has been going on in Beeston in heritage terms. And, I found it encouraging.

First of all, the churchyard has received a welcome tidy-up following the changes made to the church itself and the development on the previous Parish Hall site. The ivy that had badly encroached on the memorial stones in that corner - so bad it was difficult if not impossible to photograph some of them - has been cleared back and the gateway has been rebuilt with new ornamental ironwork - "to its former glory" as the old cliche goes.

In that corner too, stands the Crimean War memorial and I was very pleased to see it has had a partial refurbishment. Although the last one was carried out by the Council about 30 years ago after representations by me, I can claim no credit this time - but its good to have it in better shape again. As an external memorial to the Crimean War, its almost unique and it deserves all the respect and care it gets.

Further down Church Street, its nice to see the old Crown pub has undergone a very tasteful refurbishment which retains its position in the street scene very well indeed. Nice too, to see that it has opened as a more traditional pub - a small but welcome movement against the modern trend. Again, its probably about 30 years since the last changes there and, again, I recall being involved then in trying to retain the old archway entrance. At that time it soon became clear that it was impossible to remodel the pub as a viable unit if it was retained fully and the compromise we see today was made - a shallow remainder of the arch was left in the front showing the outline of its position. I have often wondered since whether it was worth doing.


I found welcome changes at Dovecote Lane Recreation Ground too, where the bandstand has received a welcome facelift. This is another feature that was last renovated about thirty years ago - that's when a group of us got together to form the Beeston Bandstand Project and campaigned to move it to Beeston Square where it would have had a more practical modern use. Again, a compromise was reached and the Council agreed to renovate it on its present site. Over recent years, sadly, it seems it has had little use but, nevertheless, it is a fine feature and the present splendid refurbishment is very welcome. As the only surviving bandstand it the County (as distinct from the City - where, of course, there is one in the Castle grounds) it deserves this attention and it is pleasing that it is getting it.

This recreation ground, and the one at Broadgate, came about largely as a result of the benevolence of the Pearson family. Each originally had a bandstand, though the one at Broadgate was removed a little while after the Second World War and even the one at Broadgate seems to have been moved before my memory from a more central point in the park to its present position. (see the photograph on the left - and another below showing the local population enjoying a day in the park listening to the band). The Pearson benevolence also provided goes the land on the other side of Queens Road which was, until recently, the Boys Brigade Sports Ground. When part of it was sold for housing, many worried that the sports facility would be lost, but the establishment of excellent facilities in a part of the land seems to me to be an excellent compromise. And, it has been named the Hetley Pearson Recreation Ground - a very fitting tribute to a man who established the Lads' Club and a reformed Boys Brigade about 100 years ago and who paid the Supreme Sacrifice, along with so many others, in the service of his country in the Great War.



At a time when much of the centre of Beeston has been laid bare and so many of what was familiar has been lost, it is very pleasing to see some welcome changes, attention to detail and a feeling for Beeston's heritage.

Did everyone know this except me ?

Until it's attempts to resist the developers ran out, the pet shop on Station Road was a well-known and popular landmark on Beeston's Station Road. Now, Simon Rowley has got in touch to draw my attention to a claim on the Notts Fire & Rescue Service website that it once served as Beeston's first fire station - that's before it was replaced, in 1902, by another building at the top of Stoney Street (where Sainsburys now stands).

Its not easy to find on the Fire & Rescue site but click here to open the page in a new window.



It certainly looks likely! Take a look at my picture of Station Road (above) taken from the forecourt of the then fire station (now vacated and moved to Hassocks Lane). The pet shop building - along with almost everything else in the photograph - has now, of course, been demolished, but, then painted blue, it can be glimpsed between the Lads' Club and the Shaw & Marven building. It's probably a little further away than the 100 metres claimed but the location of the building, close to the centre and its size - it would have accommodated the then horse-drawn, hand-pumped engine (shown below later at the Stoney Street location) - makes it all very plausible.



Although I thought I had heard most of the tales of old Beeston and thought I knew pretty well "every brick", I had never heard that it had been used for this purpose. But, of course, the reality is there is always something to learn.

Can anyone confirm the story - perhaps, as I say, everyone can except me !

Waterloo Man

Sharing the information that I have in my Beeston database with those who get in touch about their own families often brings unexpected rewards - and surprises.



When Mike Sheldon got in touch early last year, he already had the outline of his family sketched out and I was able to offer what I had, adding some detail and family connections that were new. The family lived in Beeston throughout the 19th century and, like many of that time, contributed to the way it worked then - as framework knitters, silk mill workers and lace makers.



When Mike got back to me the other day, his story showed why it is important to look at all branches of the family and all the associated detail - not just the bare facts of dates and places.



It was when he decided to take a look in detail at the burial details recorded for the family that one entry stood out. Alongside the entry for the burial in Arnold, Notts of Thomas Sheldon, Mike's Great, Great, Great Uncle, was the fascinating note, "Waterloo Man". Clearly, as now and following most wars, local communities were careful to honour and respect their fighting men.



Thomas had clearly broken away from the life in Beeston that was continued by most of his family and become a soldier and had seen the wider world. And, significantly, it meant that there was a good chance that the Army had kept a full record of his life.



Sure enough, at the National Archives at Kew, Mike discovered his discharge papers, dated 1840. They told him that Thomas had joined the Royal Horse Artillery in 1811, aged 16 years old, was a Driver and Gunner at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and had stayed in France for 3 years 6 months. Later he served in Ireland - which is probably where he met Margaret, his Irish wife - and then in England.

Afterwards, as the census had already indicated. he worked at the Royal Hospital at Woolwich as a Coachman to the Director General of the Hospital. Later listed as a Chelsea Pensioner, he moved back to Nottinghamshire and settled in Arnold where he died in 1875, aged 80. It was the record of his burial at St Marys Church, Arnold that provided the clue to the story of his life.

The lesson is clear - follow every detail as lives are not always as straightforward as they first appear.

Connecting Beeston with Shipley

Isn't it great that the Internet is linking together, not just people, but events from the past.

John Cooper is amongst my regular correspondents and we often swap snippets of information about his Beeston-related family and Beeston itself. This week he writes to point out a connection between Beeston and a fatal colliery explosion at Shipley in 1857 - and he was able to make that connection when reading a topic on my site.

The connection is based around Mary Cox - John's 3 x Grt-Grandmother - who was born in Beeston in 1814. She married Abraham Starbuck and moved to Cotmanhay, Derbyshire where they raised a family, with Abraham working as a miner in the Shipley collieries nearby. By 1857, their eldest son - also Abraham - was only 12 but was already working in the pit alongside his father. And it was there on 4th March 1857 that father and son, together with Abraham senior's brother John and two others were killed by an explosion while working underground; others died later of the injuries they sustained. Mary was left to try to bring up the family alone - with at least five of her children still under 10 - but, by 1861 it had proved too much. Then, she and her four youngest were in the Shardlow Union Workhouse - although, more happily, she was eventually able to establish herself as a laundress in Bramcote, living there until her death in 1892.

But the tragedy would have been felt personally in Beeston too. Hannah Starbuck, the sister of Abraham and therefore Mary's sister-in-law, had married John Oldham, a Beeston framework knitter. It was one of their sons, Robert Oldham, who became a Beeston local hero following his service in the Crimean War - see my account of his life here.



So - seemingly separate lives each playing their part in events long ago, then felt strongly within the family and local communities, now pieced together by the power of the Internet and the interest of their ancestors. They would probably have been both pleased and surprised !