The REV. ALFRED PADLEY was lord of the manor, patron of the living, and one of the curates, but not rector. On 11th Jan., 1828. there was conveyed to him by Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., the manor and advowson (that is the right to present the rector), together with Hempshill Hall and certain farm lands, forming the Hempshill estate, containing 895a. 2r. 26p for the sum of £19,258 The southern boundary of this land was Alfreton Road, and the eastern boundary the road from the Cinder Hill toll gate to Bulwell. Hempshill hall and farm, and Nether Hempshill, was afterwards re-sold to Mr. Holden. Mr. Padley, on the death of his grandfather (John Newton), and of his uncle, acquired by will and codicil the hall estate, and other lands he purchased, or acquired by exchange from various persons. He was a man of kindly heart and broad sympathies. The New Methodists went to him, about 1885, and asked him to sell them some land for a chapel. He replied, "No, I will not sell you any," and then added, "I will give it you." The Primitives have a similar story. "Measure as much land as you like, and be sure you take enough." In 1833 he made a donation of £200 to the Highway Account, and the thanks of the Easter Vestry were accorded to him. It is thought that the £200 was used for the building of the bridge over the Leen. He had a shell placed in the wall of his entrance hall to serve the uses of a font, where he baptized infants taken to him. This was not regarded as unusual at that time, for the Vicar of Hucknall went round to farm houses, and baptized the children there. He gave £600 towards the re-building of the church. He died May 11th, 1856.
As many people think the Rev A. Padley was Rector, I give a copy of an epitaph from the churchyard of Hickleton, near Doncaster: "Sacred to the memory of the Eev. John Wentworth Armytage, B.A., for 48 years Perpetual Curate of this Parish, and 47 years Rector of Bulwell, in Nottinghamshire. He died the 12th day of April, 1865, in the 72nd year of his age." The Rev. John Dalton, the present vicar of Hickleton, in forwarding the above copy, adds: "Between these dates (1816 and 1864) I think he baptised every child entered in the register." Under an act of parliament perpetual curates and incumbents are now called vicars.
JOHN GARTON was a bleacher, who, in 1805, came to carry on the bleach works at Bagnall, and to reside in the large house then known as Stump Cross Hall, and since divided into two dwellings. At that time Bulwell was described as a "big, scattered, neglected, and God-forsaken village." Being a large employer of labour, Mr. Garton thought he had better start religious work at home, so had his house licensed for preaching, and thus the Baptist cause began in Bulwell, and chiefly at his expense the first chapel was built, and a second one followed. He is described as a man of pure life, self-denying labour, with patience, persistency, and large-hearted generosity. He died in 1838, aged 72.
CHARLES ALLCOCK was a large employer of labour. He resided in the house at the northern end of the village. Adjoining the house was a large corn mill, now pulled down, and he had works at Forge Mill. In 1844 he was described as being a miller, bleacher, bone crusher, and farmer. He died in 1860, and there is in the church a memorial window to him and Mrs. Allcock.
JOSEPH CALLADINE is said to have been Master of the Free School 44 years. He died in 1867. He was Hector's Churchwarden for about 30 years, and gave a bell to the new church. He left £50, the proceeds of which are given to poor widows. His course with regard to the school trust cannot be commended.
J Plowright .JOHN PLOWRIGHT kept the Cinder Hill Toll Bar many years, and was connected with the Bulwell Baptist Chapel, where his portrait may be seen. For fifty-five years he acted as a local preacher, unwearied in his labours. He is said to have preached 5,000 sermons, and to have walked 80,000 miles in doing it Thus he would walk on a Saturday evening, or early on Sunday morning, to Hose, in the Vale of Belvoir, twenty miles, preach two or three times, and walk back on Sunday night, or early on Monday. He was a good speaker, a man of strict fidelity, faithful in all his dealings On his deathbed he exclaimed, "I have declared the whole counsel of God." He died in 1870, aged 75.
EDWARD CHARLES was for many years a bleacher. He took much interest in Wesleyan Mission work, and he gave the Baptists a piece a land adjoining their chapel. He died 1867, aged 53.
There were in Bulwell from 50 to 80 years ago men, who, occupying humble spheres in life, were a power for the good of their fellows, who, to earnest piety added great energy and zeal, self-sacrifice, and benevolence. The following may be named:—
WILLIAM RAWORTH, who was a butcher. He was for 32 years an acceptable Wesleyan preacher, and travelled to all the villages round on his Sunday labours. Each week he went round to poor widows in Bulwell, taking them meat, which they could not afford to buy. He died in 18-17, and his tomb in the churchyard has a sermon in stone:—
"What avails med'cine, honour, kingly grace, Or public fame, when kingly death has place; Based and built up in Christ's true faith alone, Sustains and cheers in death, all else is flown. As therefore Christ was all in life to me Death now is gain, and Christ my life shall be."
The Wesleyans desire to have the following workers named as men who have held important offices in their church, or in the Sunday School; ardent, generous, and regarded with high esteem:—Wm. Baworth (before named), Saml. Oldham, Wm. Oldham, Wm. Glover, Geo. Smedley, John Thorpe, Wm Porter, Thos. Knight, Cornelius Glover, Joseph Terry, Joseph Tilley, Samuel Sheldon, Samuel Stanley, Geo. Allen, Joseph Allen, Samuel Gaunt.
The Primitives had an interesting band of earnest devoted men:—THOMAS FAULCONBRIDGE was a shoemaker, and earnest local preacher. He was lame GEORGE GENT was a framework knitter. He had a wooden leg. THOMAS THORPE was a bag hosier. He was tall and straight as a dart He died in 1888. aged 88 The three were earnest hardworkers for spreading religion among the people, and the two former, notwithstanding their infirmity, walked long distances on Sunday work; and JOSEPH WILSON was a mainstay of the cause.
The Baptists had also a number of workers: GEORGE FINCH was a shoemaker, and active deacon, and local preacher. JOHN CHAMBERS was a plumber, and superintendent of the Sunday School 42 years, and never absent or late (1803). JAMES SMEDLEY was a framework knitter, and as a class leader and local preacher was a zealous worker. SAMUEL Cox completed in 1892 a long and honourable record of 53 years' work for God. JOHN STIRLAND was superintendent of the Sunday School, and leader of the choir, and a man of great grit and grace. He was killed at Cinder Hill colliery, in 1878. JOSEPH BURTON, THOMAS HOLMES, and Louis SPENCER were active workers.
SAMUEL WEBSTER deserves notice. He served 18 years in the 32nd foot regiment, L.I. His conduct was good. In 1846 he went to India, and obtained a medal for the Punjaub, with Mooltan, and Googeratt clasps, and in 1857 he received a medal with clasp for the defence of Lucknow. He distinguished himself in a sortee, and the taking of six guns. He was severely wounded in Lucknow, and the last few years of his life was passed in extreme suffering from the effects of the wounds. Poor fellow, he died in 1875.
JOSIAH and DINAH MITCHELL (1813 and 1811). Very pleasing is the inscription—"They lived together in wedlock sixty-six years, and came to their grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in its season."
JOHN DEVERILL WALKER and THOMAS WALKER carried on the bone crushing business at Forge Mill in 1866, and afterwards. The mill is in Papplewick parish, but is called the "Bulwell Bone Mill." J. D. Walker was a member of the Board of Guardians, and for several years its chairman. He was highly esteemed for his business-like ability, and kindness. He died 1878, aged 70. Thomas Walker was youngest brother of the above, and carried on the business at his decease, until he died in 1893, aged 73.
JOHN ALLIOTT WOODWARD was a bleacher at Bagnall. He was for many years a deacon at the Baptist chapel, and was earnest, and devoted to religious and social labours. He gave largely towards the erection of the building, and by his will bequeathed £500 to be paid off the mortgage. He and his wife (who was a daughter of good old William Mozley, the postmaster, of Basford) built the schoolroom at the back, in memory of their daughter, who died He died in 1877, aged 62, and his widow continued to act as treasurer of the church as long as she lived. She died in 1888, £50a year having been given towards the minister's salary. A tablet testifies to their Christian living, long, laborious service, and large-hearted generosity.
Rev. H T Fountaine.
The REV. HENRY THOMAS FOUNTAINE was curate, and had the reputation of being a good preacher, and an excellent shepherd of the people, always giving them a welcome to the church services and bible class, and exercising a power for good over young men, which many retain to this day. The choir stalls in St. John's were, in 1902, put up to his memory. There is a tablet in St. John's Church recording that his faithful work for the church of God can never be forgotten. "He being dead yet speaketh "
In 1880 he left Bulwell, and became Vicar of Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, a parish with 2000 population. He was then a strong and active man. but in the course of a year or two he was stricken with paralysis, and lost the use of his legs, and in the last two years of his life there was added total blindness. "In spite of all this (says the Rev. W. H. Whiting, the present Vicar of Sutton Bridge) with the help of good curates, and an excellent wife, and by his own faith and devotion, he greatly increased both the activity, and the spirituality of life in this parish, and also kept up his interest in literature— theological and general. He was an eloquent and instructive preacher Almost to the last he took part in the church services, officiating and preaching in his wheeled chair. His career here was a striking instance of the power of Christian faith, and devotion to duty in triumphing over the greatest difficulties. He died April 8th, 1901, aged 60."
Rev. W H Cantrell.
The REV W. H. CANTRELL, M.A., was rector from 1865 to 1890. He co-operated with Mr. Cooper in the building of the National School, and actively promoted the building of St. John's Church. He had a kindly manner, and when he heard people tell of the faults of others, he would say, "Now cannot you say some good of him." He was very generous, and it is said that he gave away more than the income from the benefice brought him in.