Lace is in our genes - A genealogy story - Part1

An early morning greeting for those in Burton Joyce  - probably witnessed thro the ages 

       

North/East Nottingham - St Mary’s Church and Castle (Right background)

plus the area later to become known as “The Lace Market” - Mid 1600s

We know that several families bearing the Alvey name featured in prominent positions in Nottingham from 1500 onwards into the 1600’s

1500 Richard Alvey became Master of the Temple ( Lowdham NTT)

1519 William Alvie juror at murder trial of Nicholas Webster ( Basford NTT)

1543 Richard Alvye - yeoman Nottingham

Robert Alvye - yeoman Nottingham

1557 Robert Alvye - Chamberlain of Nottingham

1558 Robert Alvye Sheriff of Nottingham

1561 Edward Alvey matriculated from Nottingham to Cambridge University -BA 

in 1567/8 son of Robert Alvye* brother to Richard Alvey

(Master of the Temple in London) they came from Lowdham

1587 Robert Alvye Mayor of Nottingham ( high probability that this was

my 10x Great Grand Father ? Alvey family 19)*

1596 Henry Alvey Mayor of Nottingham

1598 Henry Alvey ( Cordwainer) Sheriff of Nottingham

We are also aware of several intriguing stories around one of the latter Sheriffs bearing the title....a story 

to come later.....

It is said that….In 1500 an employed Nottingham man earned £20 PER YEAR - a house could be built for the princely sum of .. .. £6.! ! ! ! Yes…. Six Pounds SterlingIt should be mentioned that during this early period of time the Nottingham was quite an unruly town to live in and to be caught in alone in after dark, as was much of the surrounding area. The punishment meted out to felons was barbarous, in many cases hanging was common so much so the gallows needed renewing from time to time. There was burning at the stake, branding with hot irons and the stocks. pillory and cock-stool were kept in constant repair. For felons there was the town gaol, a fearsome place with cells below ground level, there was also another lock-up ominously called “the cage”. In 1607 there was the Houses of Correction for the “sturdy beggars” who tried to live on their wits

Our story is based around the family living in the very small rural area to the east of the city and engages with many other families in adjoining villages situated within walking distance of Burton Joyce

1609 map of BJ -copied/hand drawn/highlighted

Shows a very small number of dwellings - however there was a church

This early map of BJ is one of Sherwood Forest dated 1609.

It shows BJ consists of Main St, Lambley Lane, and Meadow lane ( the eventual Old Road to Grimsby).

It does not show any trees, shrub land, coppices or woods, even though there is every possibility that the area was full of such foliage, even more so than it is today. ( the number of local coal mines are witness to the fact that the area has always been well forested)

About 35 houses were scattered around these roads and the population calculated from Baptisms, Hearth Tax and Visitation returns was about 145. Within possibly 35 families ?

In 1567 ”Thoroton” suggested.. Burton Joyce consisted of 15 messuages, 10 cottages, 20 tofts, 1 dovecote, 20 gardens, 500 acres of land, 100 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 40 acres of wood, 100 acres of furze and heath. These figures suggest a population of approx 150 <200 nbsp="nbsp" span="span">

The sketch shows typical housing of the early period

Flemish refugees introduced pillow and bobbin lace to England in the 1500s , founding a major cottage industry

Lace generated romance and almost religious fever. The Rev William Lee resolved to mechanise the hand practise of stocking making- The result in 1589 he invented the Stocking Frame - capable of producing and entire row in the time it took an experienced knitter to form a single loop

Lace had become the infant of the stocking trade

1641 there were less than 100 frames operating n the whole country, it was in this year that the Frame Work Knitting in Nottingham is recorded.

Life in Burton Joyce at the time would be a life without flushing toilets, with unmade roads and paths (becoming quagmires for most of the year), lack of sewage treatment, without schools, no shops as such , just the basics in food and drink , 

Having to fetch water from streams or rivers in all weathers ( winter and summer ) We know there was some running water for a “beck“ has always run off the hillside parallel to Lambley Lane and there was also a small “spring” at the east end of Main street. This spring giving and was the “identifying name” to Abel Alvey’s Main St cottage in the late 1800’s,

No baths or showers, clothes worn day in and day out, very frequently a complete lack of shoes, no tea, coffee or soft drinks, access completely without lighting (gas lights came much later), the heating was probably one fire in the food area of a home, no duvets on the sleeping areas - probably just skins or straw, 

There was a complete lack of food choice- sometimes a complete lack of food? (“You have what you’ve got and that’s it.! “), possibly the occasional milk from a goat or a friends cow, berries, and fish caught in the river or rabbit ( when one was brave or desperate enough to ignore the consequences of being caught red-handed - “poaching?”),

The odd rabbit or bird and eggs from the water fowl nests, etc. etc.. would have been luxury itself. When the winds blow either from the South West or the North East, it can be quite “hairy” in BJ. The wind will find the easiest route and it will “howl” up/down the large gulley with its bridal way which runs from BJ village up and over the escarpment to Lambley village. Tree damage is all too frequent an occurrence

These must have been just some of the downsides of life in the 1600’s , however there must have been one or two upsides also, otherwise the village would never have attracted migrants into the community and it would surely have degenerated and died completely. The Alvey’s and other families would certainly not have prevailed and contributed to the development of the village

More to follow ........