Notes
Category
Ephemera
Date
Feb 1957
Materials
Paper
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 3131335.3.2
Summary
The second of two pages of handwritten notes, on both sides, signed and dated 'W Straw Feb 1957' at the end. Side one: 'Leake inscription in Blidworth Ch....' Side two: 'White Directory 1832 and Blidworth calls Leake "a noted outlaw '. The notes are kept in the book 'Some historical memorials of t.... datehe ancient parish and parish church of Blidworth St. Mary, . of the King's Manor of Lindhurst, and of the Manor of Heywood Oaks, all in the Diocese of Lincoln and County of Nottingham.' (record 3131335) wrapped in newspaper (record 748356). The Church of St. Mary of the Purification, Blidworth is Grade II* listed as it is of more than local significant interest. Only the west tower from the medieval (15th Century) church survives. The rest was built in 1739 by Rhodes of Barlborough and 1839 by Colvin. The church and village have several links to the legends of Robin Hood. However one interesting comparison to Robin’s legendary fights is in 1580 Thomas Leake (or Leek) of Halam was appointed to the important position of Head Ranger of Blidworth Forest. For eighteen years he ranged the Forest, when on the feast day of the village (Candlemas) he met his sudden end. Drinking at a roadside alehouse at Salterford (an outpost hamlet on the edge of the Forest) he quarreled with a ‘Captain Salmon’. A duel was fought and Leake was run through by the younger man, who ran away leaving poor Tom dead. As was the custom for sudden death, a cross was erected to mark the unlucky spot. Later moved to the churchyard; this same cross is now situated at the side of the gates leading to the main churchyard. A curious second memorial to Thomas’ death remains inside the church, Leake's bones lie in a vault beneath the church floor near the door. The unique memorial consists of a beautifully lettered marble plaque surrounded by an alabaster frame depicting stags, dogs, belt, horn, fleshing knives, long bows and arrows, cross bows and bolts all authentically carved in low relief. Above this a coat of arms, badly worn.