A number of old citizens, having a good knowledge of the circumstances, to whom I have at times shown this statement respecting little Lark Dale, all deny its accuracy and possibility, and expressed considerable surprise that it was or could ever be made. From what is mentioned in the Records, Larkdale was no doubt known earlier as Wrendale, and at its lower and south-eastern end terminated in the large Bowling Alley Field, probably of about thirty acres (Lyngedalefeld) at its south-west border, now a portion of the General Cemetery, and in immediate contiguity to the site of the lower chapel. There is still a house close to it, and I fully remember that the back wall of the little yard attached to it formed a portion of the fence, both of the cemetery at that time and of Lark Dale on its south-west side, and at its extreme bottom end. This is more or less proved to be the case on two good plans of Nottingham, one dating from 1844 and the official one 1829, when the dales, etc., were practically unaltered.
Respecting Lark Dale, it is proper to say that to commemorate the interesting little dale, a street abutting upon Forest Road has been named after it. It is questionable, little as it is, whether the Council have done so much previously to keep in remembrance an historic title; yet there is an objection connected with it. Undoubtedly the street so named should, when quite feasible, have been as closely as possible to the site where Lark Dale abutted on the Forest Side or Road, but unfortunately that is not the case, for practically it was where Ayr Street is now formed, which is about fifty to sixty yards nearer to Alfreton Road.
There was but one mill near to the top of the Lings, otherwise the Forest, which was erected on private ground, and it was close to the south-west side of Lark Dale, and also near to Forest Road. The twelve remaining windmills were all erected on the Forest under the Corporation. The mill near Lark Dale was also exceptional, from being constructed of brick, otherwise a smock mill, and for a period it had been occupied by the late Mr. Smith, sen., baker, of Albert Street, and driven by machinery for several years after the others had been removed, but it was burned down December 2nd, 1858, and was not rebuilt. I was frequently in it.
In the Records, vol. iii., p. 473, there is an entry as follows: "The Lark Dale, formerly called Lingdale, is the valley represented by Shakespeare Street, and the Valley in the General Cemetery." I have never seen or known of anything to cause me to believe that "Lark Dale" (no definite article used) was ever termed "Lingdale," but if such could possibly be the case the extract, with full particulars, should have been given by the editor. I do, however, know, decidedly and positively, that at the lower end of Lark Dale, Bowling Alley, otherwise Ling-dale, was fully one hundred yards from it, and that at their upper ends, near the Lings or Forest Side, they were nearly a quarter of a mile apart, as may still be perceived in each case.
Undoubtedly they were entirely separate and distinct places, as is well known to some yet alive, not only by distance from each other, but also by dissimilarity, for little Lark Dale was a footroad or path only, between hedges, about two yards wide, and also the shortest, but Bowling Alley, otherwise Lingdale, was a road for vehicles and heavy traffic to the Nottingham Lings, etc., now the Forest. The assertion that "Lark Dale . . . is the Valley represented by Shakespeare Street, and the valley in the General Cemetery," is entirely incorrect, and opposed to what is shown on the large old official plan of Nottingham of 1827-29, and also to other rare and excellent old plans, etc., which I have for reference, and to its natural disposition, as well as to what is known by a number of persons, with myself, who had or have a full remembrance of the circumstances.
Respecting the valley in the General Cemetery it was short but most singular. I have previously, in this paper, referred to a somewhat notable depression in the ground, not far from the gateway in Waverley Street, in which, during rainy seasons, a large pool of water accumulated. This, I believe, would be until about 1852, when, or near then, several acres more were added to the lower part of the General Cemetery. This additional area included the little valley and the depression in it, and was shortly afterwards enclosed and changed into its present state.
I was passing through the cemetery about two years ago, and calling at the office I asked the chief officials if they had any knowledge of what has just been referred to, who, being younger people, informed me that they were fully aware of the great hollow or cavity once in the ground, but had not heard of any pool collecting there, and that it had been raised more than ten feet in the deepest part. The work required hundreds of cartloads of soil, etc., before it was completed, though even now the site is palpably lower than the parts near. Whatever valley there was in Lark Dale, or in the lower part of the ground of the General Cemetery, positively, and as may still plainly be seen, terminated in that depression, hollow, or pool of water, and the valley of Shakespeare Street, as may even yet be observed from near there, had no connection whatever with the much smaller one in the General Cemetery, or with Lark Dale, as regards any direct continuation or running of one into the other.
The two were entirely separate and distinct in character, naturally, and in usage, one was for ordinary vehicular traffic, while little Lark Dale was a mere narrow footroad or path only, and ended at what is now termed Forest Road, close to the site of Ayr Street, as since formed. At various times the editor of the Borough Records mentions " The Lark Dale," as in vol. iii., p. 473. This is quite contrary to the old and generally accepted rule, for the definite article in my experience was practically never used with either Dale, and if passing that way I should have said I am going to or through Lark Dale or, as the case might be, Bowling Alley. In my young days I walked through Lark Dale and Bowling Alley on many occasions each year, and as regards Lark Dale, the last of my visits shortly before its transformation would probably be about fifty-nine years since, or near 1852.
Before concluding this, my fifth and last paper, on "The Old Streets of Nottingham," I have considered that it would be appropriate and interesting to many antiquaries and others that I should endeavour, as nearly as possible, to record the old names of Nottingham streets, together with numerous dates relating thereto, and also of other avenues, etc., accompanied, in numerous instances, by their modern equivalents, where changes have been carried out, yet these alterations in some cases are most wantonly and rashly made, and excellent appellations, which in various ways had been connected with the old town and its history, even for a number of centuries, are thoughtlessly and absurdly rejected.
By way of illustration I will specially refer to one case, namely, that of Butcher Street, which was formed about A.D. 1800, and near to 1905, or 105 years afterwards, when, heedless of all old associations going back for nearly four centuries with Butcher's Close, and indefinitely as town property, the Corporation recklessly and culpably allowed the name to be changed to Poplar Street, which, as will be seen, was a gross error and lack of discretion. I have previously given some account of Butcher's Close and Butcher Street in vol. xi., pp. 71-74, also of "Poplar;" and of a law-suit in March, 1779, when by an accident only (see Date Book) the Corporation was able to retain full power or control over the field.
My unique and very large scale plan of Nottingham is eminently useful here, for it shows that in the year 1800 no buildings had been erected in any way connected with Butcher Street except at or close to the eastern end, and verge of the town boundary, which was the Beck rivulet; and the avenue ended there at that date. For about fifty-five years it was not passable direct, and the street formed a cul-de-sac during that time, as well known to me from 1837. Those erecting these buildings entitled the moderate area enclosed, "Poplar Place," and probably they were influenced in their decision by the name of " Poplar," a London district.
The arrangement by the Corporation respecting the field was made with the Butchers, A.D. 1535-36, and it appears to have continued 243 years reckoning to the date of the trial, or 375 years up to the present time (1911), and being meadow land, it had long been town property, as part of the Eastcroft, even when first let to the Butchers. Yet what do some wiseacres of the Council care about good old names with their time-honoured associations, when they will even go to ''Poplar Place," which comparatively is a modern-built part of Nottingham (1799, Stretton), for a title, and reject the old appropriate one, which in a degree explained itself.
To be well-known in business as regards name and place is a valuable asset, and generally desired by business men. Messrs. W. Allen & Co., Ltd., have occupied large premises in the old roadway named for many years, and properly entitled them "Butcher Street Works." The name of the thoroughfare, however, did not suit some heedless people on the Council, and it was altered to "Poplar Street," when, with gross inconsistency, the unthinking ones, in spite of the incongruity, caused Butcher Street Works to be in Poplar Street, but many hope that the old name may yet prevail, for it is said to be still much used. Nottingham is rich in notable old names to choose from when required, but the "innocents" of the Council appear to have no knowledge of the fact, and have blundered into this change. I now propose to put before the reader a roll, or synopsis, comprising a large number of the ancient and interesting place-names, including streets, roads, &c., &c., and various other matters connected with Nottingham and its highways.