https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-gypsys-encampment-nottingham-from-wilford-hill-22830Sky there is Nottingham about no more than two miles away, just down in the trent valley is the places we talk of, if you look between the gap in the two trees on the right just above that horse you will see a big hill, i live just over there, about a mile from this picture or a bit less is the river Trent and the lands we talk of, its just straight ahead in the picture, the flat low lands, trust me i know all these lands, the wind would carry the water that was evaperated from the sea inland, when it met high ground it gathered into dark clouds, then it rained in little brooks then streams then into the river Trent , then of to the Sea, in the old times there was the ice age, they had what you call claziers, big rivers of ice, they carved out vast highways in low lighing land, look at the picture in the link above, this is the Trent Valley, behond is Nottingham, yeares back the Gipsies stoped in the Farmers fields but the incloser laws and such drove them nearer to the Town, closers to the City, the Gipsies have been round my town for hundreds of yeares, its just, the writer people have been looking for a people who never existed, the Gipsies have always been alive, why did strangers just think they have to talk of them like exstinct dinosaurs
Robert Mellors, Old Nottingham suburbs: then and now [West Bridgford] (1914)extract
When Throsby, about one hundred and twenty years ago, visited the place, he described it as old Inclosure—that is enclosed probably in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. It was well built, and consisted of about thirty dwellings. "Mr. Hornbuckle, a gentleman of considerable property, resides in one, built in a pretty style. A resident, of the name of Easton, is now in good health at the advanced age of ninety. The Clerk informed me that there was not a dissenter in the place!!" It was, however, a favourite haunt for gipsies, being near to the town, but outside the stricter supervision. The Wilford Lane, near to Boots' Pleasaunce Grounds, was a choice spot. Spencer Hall in the "Peak and Plain" sings—
"Wilford whichever way to thee we come
From thy surrounding plains,
Whether by Clifton's wood walks dim,
Or Bridgford's Gipsy haunted lanes."
H. Hampton Copnall, Nottinghamshire County Records: Notes and Extracts from the Nottinghamshire County Records of the 17th Century, Henry B. Saxton, 1915 extract
The Justices had full power at any time to cancel Licences, and they did so on the complaint or at the instance of inhabitants of Parishes:
In 1615, the Justices outside Sessions had made an Order disallowing certain tipulators before allowed and licensed, from keeping alehouses, but a Certificate under the hands of the Inhabitants of Wilford was presented that one of the above Richard Cooke "was so well behaved and modest and governed his house without disorders or bad behaviour." He was allowed by the Court to continue his house.
On 14th July, 1617, a Certificate was read that both the Inhabitants of Lenton and the County near adjacent to it sustain great damage and detriment by the Keepers of Alehouses and tiplers in Lenton, who frequently under colour of harbouring honest travellers receive and harbour thieves, prostitutes, cut-purses and other persons of the worst kind, "And because Nottingham is a market town near adjacent and a place convenient for harboring travellers, there is no need for a superfluity of tipplers nor of any of them to lodge for the night and harbor any wayfarers." The Constables were ordered to prohibit all those who brew or keep alehouses or tippling houses in Lenton whether with or without licence, and from then those with licences were to relinquish same.
On 6th October, 1680, a Complaint was made of a disorderly alehouse to ye great disturbance of neighbours and the Constable of Caunton was ordered to suppress the Keeper thereof from brewing or selling of any more beare or ale.
There were a large number of Indictments and presentments against Brewers and alehouse keepers for offences "contrary to the tenor of license," such as the following:
For harbouring persons or permitting them to tipple in the Alehouse during prohibited hours, such as at night time or on the Sabbath "during time of prayer."
For allowing drinking and playing at cards and other unlawful games in the Alehouse, and bad behaviour.
For disorders and bad behaviour in the Alehouse, and for harboring lewde and uncivil company and gipsies in the house.
For drunkenness.
For receiving stolen goods, &c, &c.
Sky thank you for saying you would let me share your records that you have, you said you would send me a copy of Rebeccas Dad, that was very kind of you, thank you for thinking of me
Sky look at these words below from the above words
" The Wilford Lane, near to Boots' Pleasaunce Grounds, was a choice spot." this place is near to the lands we talk of
