William Wordsworth - the poet - the local connection - family at Stainborough

William Wordsworth was almost certainly this country's greatest, most loved, and best known poet. Most folks will know that - but a lot less will it seems be aware that his family lived for generations at Stainborough!

The Wordsworths were around these parts for very many years and it is said that it may be possible to trace them back to before the Norman Conquest.

There are countless references to the great man on the internet, and some to his forebears who lived at Falthwaite Grange Farm. That farm still exists - it is on the road that runs from Hood Green to Silkstone Common.

The Wordsworths moved into the farm when the Cutlers left - in the 1600's. The Cutlers who were a very important family in the area at that time moved from Falthwaite to Stainborough where they took over from the Everinghams, another vary important family, and built the house that forms the core of Wentworth Castle to this day, the 'Cutler House'. The Everinghams went towards Sheffield. The Wentworths took possession of the Cutler House in the early 1700's.

That branch of the Wordsworth family sold up and left Falthwaite around 1700, perhaps after a mining investment went wrong. They went to what is now known as The Lake District. William was born there in 1770, and raised there, but he was aware of his Yorkshire roots and visited Yorkshire on a number of occasions. In fact he married a woman from Yorkshire, and his sister was brought up by relatives who lived in Halifax.

A few years before he died William became the nation's then leading poet as the Poet Laureate, and before that he had been in correspondence with at least one source in Yorkshire seeking information about his family history. That source told him about Falthwaite, but he may have known before.

On the day he got married William, visited the spectacular ruins of Rievaulx Abbey near Helmsley in North Yorkshire. It would be nice to think he knew then of the connection between that place and Falthwaite - but perhaps he didn't. English Heritage clearly know today for they show on the display at Rievaulx that the abbey had a 'grange' at Stainborough when the abbey was functioning. That grange was Falthwaite Grange and it belonged to the abbey from about 1100 until the abbey was closed down by Henry V111 in the 1500's. Falthwaite may have been a proper settlement in those early years, something smaller than a village maybe, but it had certainly disappeared before the Wordsworths left the area. What did they know of it? - we'll probably never know.

Other branches of the Wordsworth family continued to live around this area for many years, for instance at Penistone and Swaithe Hall near Worsborough, and in the Rotherham area.

If you have anything to add to this account or any corrections or queries you are most welcome to air them here.

Photographs of Dodworth

Photographs of the village are on sale through the church - to help raise money for the church window fund - the photographs are on a CD, there are 349 of them. The disc can be 'played' on regular DVD players and computers - just pop it in and wait for the pictures to come on the screen, they change every 5 seconds or so. Not all of the photos are old, some are quite new, in the main they show points of interest - to me that is - over the past few years and can be useful as a memory jogger etc. Some folks have sent them to relatives and friends far away. Over Christmas the discs were selling for a minimum donation of £2 each, they are on sale at the church or through the Library on the crossroads.

Sludgy Lane and The Forfeits

What do you know about Sludgy Lane and The Forfeits?
Have you seen the 'B stone' on Sludgy Lane?
Do you know that Sludgy Lane is an ancient road / pack-horse trail / bridleway?
Do you know where the nearest village was to Sludgy Lane?

Can you recall anything about the Forfeits?

House on Dodworth Crossroads - dated 1641

There is a house on Dodworth crossroads, opposite the Library and next to the Budgens shop. Over the front door is a stone marked 1641. Some say it is the oldest house in the village. Do you know if that is correct? Do you know anything else about the house?

Editor

Dodworth Bottom

Dodworth Bottom - the area it describes has been known by that name since at least the first half of the 1600's - when it was given as a wedding present from a wealthy landowner to his daughter. Do you know anything about this?

It is said that; at one time, when the Miners Inn pub closed on an evening 'the men' would gather round the lamp post at the top of Silver Street and jointly sing well known songs. Do you know anything about this?

Editor

Wentworth Chronicle

An associated blog titled Wentworth Chronicle has been started with the same aims as the Dodworth Chronicle. Some material may be of interest so you are recommended to explore it - the address is below.

http://www.wentworthchronicle.blogspot.com/

Editor

The tunnel from Stainborough Castle to Saville Hall Farm

For many years there was talk of a tunnel connecting Stainborough Castle to Saville Hall Farm. That may seem a little far-fetched given today's understanding of mining matters. So what's the truth?...

Was there ever a tunnel?

What evidence exists to say a tunnel did or did not exist?

Where did the idea - and the story - come from?

Is there any explanation at all?

Editor

Local mining sites and related matters

Do you have any information about the Strafford Colliery; the New Sovereign Colliery; the Old Sovereign Colliery; the Levi [Levitt-Hagg] Colliery; Rob Royd Colliery - or about any other colliery or feature of that type - including - the Strafford Colliery Coking Works, the Two Tunnels, the Strafford Colliery Brickworks, Damstead houses, the Bullrushes, the Sunny Hollow...?

If you have anything at all to share - please consider putting it here for others to see.

Photographs can be used - if you have any to share please contact the Editor for a talk about what's involved.

The Editor

Contributions from older people

It's often said that older folk don't use computers, and although there are many exceptions to that view, there are a lot who don't use computers or the internet. That does not mean they cannot contribute - they can for instance get someone else to type in their words and thoughts - remember virtually all children are nowadays able to use computers and the internet - and many of them have access at home - and a lot of children have older family members who may value some assistance with this matter.

It is the case that much valuable information lies in the memories of older people and it is important that those memories are captured and shared - now - before they are lost. Perhaps you know of something told you by an older person - if so please consider sharing it on this blog.

Editor

Dodworth High Street - sawmill

There was a time - not very long ago - when a sawmill was situated on Dodworth High Street. It was located next to the 'Old Post Office' which is now a shop. Houses are built on the site - they are named Park View.

Do you have any information to share about the sawmill? - perhaps a photograph?

Editor