ORDSALL.
CHAP. XIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION, ETC.
THE first mention which I have found of this place is in the reign of Edward the Confessor, about the year 1037, when it contained four manors, held by Osward, Turstaun, Oderic, and Thurstan, and they paid to the geld or public tax for four bovats (60 acres) of land.
The following is the entry in Doomsday book respecting Ordsall.
After the conquest, it became the property of Roger de Busli, and was acknowledged to have soke to the king’s manor of Dunham, of one bovat to be taxed. The land one caracute. There was also soke to Grove, of one bovat and a half to be taxed. The land one caracute. Of the Tayn land, held by Erwin, there was one bovat to be taxed, which was for four oxen. According to the above survey, the land here was chiefly waste, but afterwards, the tenants of Roger, had three caracutes (360 acres) of land, and five villains;—and two borders having two caracutes. There was also sixteen acres of meadow land; and pasture and wood land one mile long, and half a mile broad, which, in Edward the Confessor’s time, was valued at 28s. but in the Conqueror’s time, only at 24s.
Early in the thirteenth century, the greatest portion of Ordsall became the property of the Hercys of Grove, part of which had previously been held by Mauvesinus de Hercy, of Robert de St. George, of Bodmesehell (Bothamsall,) to the amount of 30 acres, for which he paid the sum of 5s. 4d. annually. After the disposition of Sir John Hercy’s property, this part of the estate came to Francis Mackworth, Esq. who had married Ellen, his seventh sister, whose son on coming to the property, disposed of it to —— Bevercotes, Esq. a barrister at law, in York, at whose decease it descended to Thomas Cornwallis, Esq. who had married his daughter; Mr. Cornwallis shortly after sold it to the Countess of Devonshire, who settled it upon Sir Edward Wortley, her eldest son; it is now, for the most part, the property of the Hon. J. B. Simpson, and of the Messrs. Kippax.
In the year 1290, Robert de Bakere of Retford, brought an action against Hugh de Hercy, Esq. of Grove, because he had prevented him from fishing in the Iddell of Ordsall; when the jury found that "all who hold lands abutting on that water have a right to fish in it at their pleasure unto the threed of the water." Verdict for the plaintiff.
The village of Ordsall is situate in the Hatfield division, of the hundred of Bassetlaw, about a mile to the south-west of Retford, and half a mile from the line of the North Road. The north-west approach to it may boast a considerable share of rural beauty on this side, the church may be seen, slightly shaded by the trees and shrubs, from which, at a distance, it appears to rise. The village itself, however, cannot be called pleasant, the houses being generally old and extremely irregular, and the road through it hollow, and in some places dangerous; but the parish, which comprehends the hamlets of Thrumpton and Whitehouses, has been very considerably improved by the erection of several respectable houses,—the gardens too, being pleasantly situated and tastefully laid out, give a very pleasing appearance to the neighbourhood.
The rectory house is very spacious, and from its choice situation, is calculated to afford a comfortable residence for those appointed to minister to the spiritual wants of the parishioners. Amongst others, may be mentioned. the mansion of John Kippax, Esq. at the Elms, to the west of the North Road; this is pleasantly situated, and although the views cannot boast of being extensive, yet they are far from being devoid of interest. Nearer the precincts of the town of Retford, on a slight declivity, stands a neat house, built by the late Mr. Alderman Ginnever; the ground in front is tastefully decorated with shrubs and evergreens. The next deserving of notice, is the house recently erected by George Kippax, Esq. its bold and commanding situation renders it a very prominent object, and the picturesque scenery which displays itself in every direction, may be said to make it a very desirable residence. The hamlet of THRUMPTON has undergone several improvements within the last few years, and to a person unacquainted with its limits, it would be supposed to form part of East Retford. Mr. Roberts possessed a snug and comfortable cottage here, which has a cheerful, light, and airy appearance, but the lowness of the site on which it is erected, prevents its appearing to advantage, WHITEHOUSES, which takes its name from two very ancient white cottages which time is rapidly devouring, is situate on the North Road, one mile south of Retford, and contains besides an inn, two or three tolerably good houses,
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