Sunnyside Cottages, Westhorpe

Image: © Chris Taken: 29 Dec 2013

Grade II listed: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-242522-sunnyside-southwell-nottinghamshire Terrace of 5 cottages, now 4 dwellings. Early C19, with mid C19 alterations. This fine terrace originally was 16 back to back cottages but conversions and road widening have reduced its number. Some of these cottages would have been used by Framework Knitters, Stockingers. The stocking frame was invented in Calverton in the 1580’s. Only effective local action in the 1970’s stopped some of these cottages from being demolished. Richard Fisher, who grew up in Westhorpe in the late 19th century noted in his ‘Memories’ ‘that a parson complained that the stockingers of Westhorpe got more money per week than he did and it caused much drunkenness there’. Fisher continues ‘Before the coming of steam power men used to work the machines and the women seamed by hand. The stockings were carried to Nottingham to be worsted……in summer when there was little trade they worked on the land labouring’ Some cottages had an extra window light added so they could work longer hours. See: http://web.archive.org/web/20150714070650/http://www.southwellcouncil.com/files/Heritage%20Trails/Westhorpe3.pdf. I have been sent the following information about one of the cottages: "...my grandfather's name was William Hall, my grandmother's name Mary Hall born 1844. According to the 1891 census lived at No 14 Post Office which I was told was the end cottage. They had eight children including my mother Alice. I can't imagine where they would sleep that lot if it was a back to back cottage! how things have changed". He adds that Alice Hall's mother is believed to have been the sub-postmistress. Any further information would be welcomed. Image shows the building which was used as the sub-postoffice, though it states this was in the early 20th Century.

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