Mapperley is a Happy Place

Drop-Down Navigation Menu

Friday February 8th 1957

...But Mapperley is a Happy Place

Fresh from its investigations in the Larklands and Nottingham Road areas, ‘Meet Your Neighbour’ went out into the side roads this week to find a most unusual little village on the outskirts of Ilkeston – MAPPERLEY.

Mapperley has no resident policeman, it has to share West Hallam’s vicar and has no resident head teacher, but it has a mystery – a mystery that will never be solved.

It was in 1917 than an under-manager went down the local pit to never be seen again.
More than £2000 was said to have been spent trying to find the man, writes Jean West, but there has never been the slightest clue.

According to the villagers it was this disappearance that lead to the introduction of the rule demanding that miners should carry identification discs whenever they went underground.

But what does Mapperley look like through the eyes of the people who live there? The man who has seen Mapperley for the longest time is Mr Harry Wint of Mapperley village. Harry has lived in Mapperley all his life and come what may, he would not change it for anything. With a faraway look in his eyes he told me about the Mapperley of yesterday. The time when it was a pretty village with thatched cottages and an olde world atmosphere. No coal lorries flashed through then disturbing the quiet lanes and churning them into mud, coal slack and ashes. Woods, and fields surrounded the village, and Squire Mundy, who then owned Mapperley, kept the roads and hedges neat and tidy. The houses were painted regularly and even Mapperley Colliery could not lessen the beauty of the village.

It's All Different

But now, he sighed “it’s all different. Everything is being pulled to pieces. Even the fields and trees are being spoilt by the open-cast mining. Harry was educated in Mapperley and West Hallam. When he left school at the age of ten, he worked for a year on a local farm. It was a grand life and yet he had to leave because of the low wages, after all two shillings a week is not very much, when that is all you have to live on.

Harry went to work down the pit and was full of praise for the high quality of coal that he and his colleagues managed to dig out. They had to hack it out, separate the coal from the dirt and then turn it over to the machine for two shillings and ninepence a ton” he said. “Why we would not even think of sending out some of the stuff they sell us today” he said scornfully. “There was a time when this district mined some of the finest coal in England” he added.

Harry spent 57 years down the pit, yet he still managed to keep his love of the land. On his days off he used to keep his garden in perfect order. Down at the local he used to say “I’ll give anyone a five pound not if they can fill a snuff box with weeds from my garden.

But now he has to watch the weeds grow because his health will not permit him to dig. I wonder how many times a day he thought “if only I could get out with my spade among those weeds I’d show them a thing or two’ passes through his head.

He just consoles himself with the certificates, cups and medals he has won at various horticultural and flower shows in the past. And it is without a doubt that he had some of the ‘greenest fingers in Mapperley.

They Run The Village Shop

His wife Jane, who is now in bed recovering from an illness, has kept the ‘corner shop’ in Mapperley ever since the day she was married in 1901. Now their eldest daughter May manages it.

Mrs Wint was born in Ilkeston and for a time her father kept the Prince of Wales Inn’ and Joe first met her when he called in there for a pint.

When she first came to Mapperley, Jane found it somewhat different from the noise, and bustle of the town, although she soon adapted herself to village life.

Their Own Poet

The next person I visited was Mr Joe Wood of No 2 The Coachways, who has played many roles, including that of miner, rural district councillor, trades union official and believe it or not that of a poet.

For Mr Wood has composed poetry that has been published in the Church of England Newspaper and other magazines.

His style of poetry is simple and unsophisticated. The following lines are taken from ‘The Spirit of Britain’

In 1949 Mr Wood won the Miner’s Poem Competition organised by the Recruitment Branch of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, North Midland Region. There were more than 70 entries, and Mr Wood took for his theme the nationalisation of the industry.

It was Mr Wood who unfolded the history of Mapperley. He has not lived there for very long, but has certainly delved thoroughly into its historical connections.

Feud With West Hallam

Mr Wood went on to explain about the bitter feud which existed between Mapperley and the neighbouring village of West Hallam.

In 1268, the Squire of West Hallam rode to Mapperley with his retainers, and attacked the village, destroying the gallows and pillory, causing damage estimated at 100 shillings, which in those days was a fabulous amount.
Jokingly Mr Wood said “and we have never forgiven them for it”
But even so, some say there is still a feeling of reserve between the two parishes.

In fact Mapperley has stronger connections with Kirk Hallam, and there are a surprising number of Mapperley villagers buried there. The only connection with West Hallam is with the church. The Rev. G. C. C. Spencer is the minister for both parishes.

Social Life Is Difficult

Social organisations in the village include the Women’s Bright Hour, held every Wednesday afternoon, the football club, and the Women’s’ Guild. Little is done for the teenagers, or old age pensioners.

Many villagers sympathise with the lack of facilities for these people but nobody seems able to do anything about it.

If the teenagers want any sort of entertainment beyond watching television or listening to the wireless then they have to go into Ilkeston. That’s all very well but the bus service to Mapperley is some distance from perfection and what mother is going to let her young daughter walk unaccompanied down the long, lonely winding lane that leads to Mapperley, late at night.

One mother told me “My young daughter is continually begging me to let her go to the pictures on Saturday night. She stays in during the week, and though it breaks my heart to do so I have to refuse her permission even to go to the first house because she has to walk home alone”
There used to be a church youth club until the church institute had to be sold, now there is nowhere for them to hold their meetings, except of course the school, which would prove to be too expensive to hire.

It is almost impossible for any definite sort of social life to be maintained when most of the male population either work at the colliery or on a farm. In both cases they are at work all hours of the day.

Yet, in spite of this, Mapperley is a friendly village. Everybody knows everybody else, but everybody is an individual, and not just one of a crowd.

A Place To Rest A While

In summer hundreds of people walk through Mapperley on Sunday afternoons and many of them call in at the Old Black Horse, which is almost in the centre of the village. The Old Black Horse is run by Mr and Mrs Ronald Richardson. No matter how cold or dismal the weather may be their customers are always sure of a warm welcome and a cheery “Hello” and they have the added attraction of being served by a man who may well be a celebrity in a few months time.

For Ron has won the first qualifying round of the News of the World Darts Championship held at the Travellers’ Rest last Monday night. He will represent Ilkeston in the next round, which is to be held at Chesterfield.

As for his chances of winning, his attractive wife, Joyce, thinks they are very slender because Ron seldom darts, but nevertheless she is keeping her fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

Ron and Joyce have been married for 16 years and have four children, Janet 12, Elaine 9, Robert 5 and Joyce 2. They all have fair hair, beautiful blue eyes and are very full of life; even while we are drinking tea with Mrs Richardson, Joyce (junior) poured nearly half a jar of hair cream over her newly washed hair.

Ron and Joyce Richardson, with 3 of their 4 children, Janet, Elaine and Robert

While Ron is at work at Shipley Colliery, Joyce serves behind the bar. She has had plenty of experience, for her mother, Mrs Renshaw, was the licensee of the Jolly Colliers Inn at Awsworth.

Joyce explained that they had only lived in Mapperley for nine years, and yet they felt very much a part of it.
“The people are so kind and friendly, that we never had any trouble in settling down” she added.

Some time in the not too distant future the Old Black Horse will take on a modern look. Joyce says she looks forward to the time when she will be able to cook in a gleaming kitchen, with all the latest cooking devices.

Hanging up in the larder are some white enamelled saucepans with bright red lids that are crying out to be used, but Joyce has firmly resolved not to use them until the rest of the kitchen matches their appearance.

Panto Trip For Ninety

Last Saturday strangers to Mapperley passing by the Inn would have been surprised to see about 90 small excited children
waiting outside the doors. But they were not waiting for opening time, just for a bus to come and take them to Nottingham to see ‘Babes in the Wood’ at the Ice Stadium and afterwards for a really hearty tea.

The trip was arranged by Mrs L Harper, Mr J Wood and Mr T Martin and paid for by the patrons of the inn.

It was the first of its kind, but it is hoped there will be many other such trips

The children of Mapperley Village
on their way to ‘Babes in the Wood’
(Names)

Looking after all those children, even if it is only for a few hours is a big responsibility, but Joyce and her small band of helpers still managed to look calm, collected and happy as they boarded their bus home.

“We have had a wonderful time, and it’s been worth every minute we spent in planning it” said Joyce still smiling happily.

Disclaimer - Copyright - Is this page correct? Something wrong or missing? Please let me know. Also contributions very welcome