The area known as the Nottinghamshire Wolds is undulating countryside south of the River Trent. It is closely linked to the neighbouring area of similar countryside to the south, known as the Leicestershire Wolds.

 

There are nine Wolds parishes: Clipston, Keyworth, Normanton, Plumtree, Stanton, Thorpe, Widmerpool, Willoughby, and Wysall.

For local government, the parishs are part of the Borough of Rushcliffe. New electoral arrangements for Rushcliffe Borough Council have included seven of the parishes in the Wolds ward. Keyworth itself has two wards. Clipston is included in a ward of Cotgrave.

click to access village information

 

Holy Trinity Church Wysall

 

 

The parochial parishs are grouped to form united benefices:
Plumtree, Normanton and Clipston
Keyworth and Stanton
Widmerpool, Willoughby and Wysall (commonly known as the three W's).
Non-comformity received strong support in the area. Methodism was a dominate feature in the 19th century. Wesleyan chaples survived at Keyworth and Wysall.

Methodist Church, Wysall

 

Soil Map of Nottinghamsire from Robert Lowe's
General view of the agriculture of the county of Nottinghamshire (1798)

 

 

The land on the Notts Wolds consists of glacial drift overlying impermeable clay. The strong boulder clay soil has never been considered desirable for farming.

 

Click to enlarge map

Extract of County Map
T.J.Ellis 1824-5


The names of Wolds villages indicate Saxon and subsequent Danish settlement in the area. They are described in the Domesday Book of 1088. In the case of two villages, Stanton and Thorpe the poor soil contributed to their desertion in medieval times. Following depopulation caused by the Black Death in 1348, the landowners enclosed their land for sheep farming. The other villages were enclosed by Act of Parliament around 1800. The enduring patchwork pattern of hedgerows enclosing small fields has largely determined the history of ownership and occupation during the subsequent centuries. However, this continuity belies the enormous impact of the consequences of the Second World War on farming practices.


 

Published by Sandra Ford August 2001 Email: sandrafordwolds@yahoo.co.uk

Full transcripts and audio recordings of the interviews are available
through the Nottinghamshire County Libraries and the Nottingham City Libraries.
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