CLARBOROUGH: MOORGATE, SPITAL HILL AND LITTLE GREENLEY
MOORGATE AND SPITTAL HILL.
Are also hamlets within the parish of Clarborough, and contain 1920 inhabitants, nevertheless, I find nothing very ancient respecting them, and not even mentioned before the year 1524. They adjoin the borough of East Retford, and to a person unacquainted therewith, they would be supposed to be a part of that place, from which they are divided by a small stream of water. Within the last half century, the number of buildings has increased considerably, which may in a great measure be attributed to their proximity to East Retford. The land (with the exception of the common which was enclosed in 1799) is chiefly grass, the rest is laid out into garden ground, which is very profitable to the occupiers.
Moorgate is wide and spacious, and contains several well-built houses; a portion of which, and the greatest part of Spittal Hill stands on a sand rock similar to that at Bolham.
In consequence of these hamlets having become so thickly populated, and the mother church at Clarborough being at such a great distance, it has been thought necessary to erect a chapel of ease, for the accommodation of those inhabitants who are members of the established church. The ground was given by H. C. Hutchinson, Esq. together with a handsome donation of £500, which, with several other contributions amounting to upwards of £3000, the building is now being erected, in the style of Gothic prevalent in the reign of Henry the eighth, and is likely to be a structure creditable to the establishment.
THE HAMLET OF LITTLE GREENLEY.
I find that the proper name of this place is not "Gringley" as generally pronounced, but "Greenley." When Doomsday-book was compiled, it was chiefly belonging to the soke of Dunham, and paid the tax for two bovats, and a sixth of land. The Archbishop of York also held some land here, which paid the tax for one bovat and a quarter.
It appears that tile ancient family of the Norrays possessed the greatest portion of this hamlet, about the year 1300. On the demise of Henry Norrays, it became the property of Alen de Boleshoure, who, sometime afterwards, conveyed it to his nephew. Henry Norrays, along with other lands in Stretton (Sturton,) Wyston, Fenton, and Leirton (Leverton,) the said Henry agreeing to pay to the said Allen and his heirs, yearly, a pair of gilt spurs at Whitsuntide for ever. Shortly after this, the estate descended to William de’ Anne, a distant relative of the Norrays, who held it along with the cars and commons of East Retford, the last of which, in 1320, he conveyed to "all the men of Rettforthe," and the former, at his decease, was sold to John Clarke, by John de Hercy, who had succeeded to the estate; from him it descended to his son Bryan, and in 1666, it was claimed by Lionel Sherbrooke, along with lands in Grove, East Retford, and Welham, amounting to 100 acres of land, 100 of meadow, 100 of pasture, 100 of wood, and 100 of furze and heath, together with a garden, an orchard, one toft, and a messuage. Subsequently to this, It was sold, and came into a number of hands, of which a considerable part came to the proprietor of Grove, who is lord of the manor, and holds it at the present day.
Greenley formerly possessed a chapel of ease, and a burial ground; but when it was erected, or even when demolished, no records are extant. Several human bones have been dug up within the last few years, and skulls with teeth as perfect as when first interred. Some years back a stone coffin was found, but whether the stone which covered it contained any inscription or not, cannot be ascertained. This coffin was taken from its bed and put into a fold yard, and after being thoroughly washed out, was intended to be used as a drinking trough for cattle; but, strange as it may appear! no cattle would touch the water which it contained, although drawn from a well close by; the water of which they drank from other troughs without hesitation. This account I received from several who were eye witnesses of the fact. In consequence of this, the coffin was again deposited in the earth, but the head end may be seen protruding from the side of the chapel hill, at the present time.
The hamlet is situated in a valley on the declivity of a hill, in a romantic and pleasing situation, and the views to the west and north-west are extensive and picturesque. The houses in general are of an humble description, straggling here and there in different directions, having been built as necessity required, or where the situation was thought to he most convenient and agreeable.
THE END.
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