Sutton Bonington
VILLAGE POST OFFICE. Progress is being made in plans to have a community takeover of the village post office at Sutton Bonington where the postmistress, Lesley Close is set to retire.
It was feared it was a possibility the essential service given to the village might close altogether but a brave and determined effort by the village looks to have been successful and there will continue to be a post office service in Sutton Bonington.
The existing post office offers a wide variety of services including everyday personal and business banking. Cash withdrawals, cash and cheque deposits, Post Office Card account withdrawals, Parcelforce Express services, Pay Bills and Top Up, Foreign currency with Euros available, Travel Money Card and
To make the future secure for the service given to the village by the post office, a Community Business Society has been successfully formed and now registered to operate the business which will be known under the tag Sutton Bonington Community Shop.
It is understood any profits from the business being run will be reinvested into the running of the shop or could be returned to the community.
It is understood it is hoped to have the new arrangement in place either next month or in June.
The initiative taken in Sutton Bonington has been praised and it is known is being looked at by another village elsewhere in Nottinghamshire.
DUG OUT PROPOSAL. A proposed dug out facility for the football ground at Sutton Bonington could become an area of nuisance if fears expressed at last week’s meeting of the parish council materialise.
The football pitch on the parish council owned village playing field is to have the brick built dug outs provided but because they will be ‘open fronted’” with no shutters on they could become a meeting point, it was suggested, for young people a when nothing else was taking place on the ground.
Parish councillor Patrick Hood said the council have been discussing the arrangements for the dug outs for some months and various suggestions had been put froward for their design, with members having been given the opportunity to make their comments on what should be provided.
Brick constructed units had been chosen because they were cheaper than others such as metal framed glass ones. They would include a lockable storage facility for such as goal nets and corner flags.
A suggestion of a need to have shutters to keep out users of the units when football was not being played was not followed up, one reason being a possible need for electricity to work them and that would not be available on that area of the ground.
The question of litter that could be expected to be left around, the possibility of misuse of the dug outs and vandalism were raised at the meeting as was a suggestion that if shutters were fitted it might give an impression valuable goods were stored there.
The units will need planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council and the meeting agreed the application could be made in the name of the parish council, a move that would, said Coun. Hood, save the football club £100 in fees.
FAMILY PLEA. A plea has gone out in Sutton Bonington for help from anyone in the village who might have knowledge on the Roadley family who are known to have connections with the village as far back as 1747.
The plea for help comes from, a member of the family, John Roadley who can be contacted on 07875 629713.
Mr Roadley says his sixth great-grandfather was Samuel Roadley and it is known that he married Ann Gadd in Sutton Bonington just before the Christmas of 1747. They had four children, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary and George, and it is known they were all born in the village.
Records also indicate that a Samuel Roadley, listed as being a Sutton Bonington resident, was deported down under to Australia in 1765.
Mr Roadley says he has not been able to face further back than Samuel and would be very pleased if there is anyone who might be able to help him with any information about his family, or from Ann Gadds family line.
CHURCH HISTORY DISPLAY. The history of the two parish churches in Sutton Bonington -- St Michael’s and St Anne’s – is being displayed in the Southwell Diocesan Church History Project which can be seen at http:// southwellchurches.history. nottingham.ac.uk/main/ index.php.
This small stone church serving Sutton is set back from the road on a hillside. It is Early English and consists of a chancel, a nave of three bays, north aisle, north vestry, south porch and west bellcote with two bells.
The earliest parts are 13th century. These are the north arcade with circular and octagonal piers and moulded capitals, and the aisle belonging to it. The chancel cannot be much later judging by one of its windows.
The nave must be early 14th century. There is a squareheaded piscina niche in the chancel. The 14th century octagonal font with quatrefoil panels is similar to the one at St Michael’s, but without the three projections.
The church has a fine carved reredos of stone and alabaster. Three of the stained glass windows are by Kempe, dating from 1897 and 1901. In a recess in the chancel is an alabaster effigy of a knight in armour, c1475 with Yorkist collar of suns and roses, feet resting on a lion. Thoroton suggests it was of a member of the Staunton family.
The entry makes mention of the fact that Sutton Bonington has two parish churches, with St Michael’s being the other. Originally Sutton and Bonington were two separate villages, Bonitone (St Michael’s) and Sudtone (St Anne’s) according to the Domesday Survey of 1086. The survey does not mention a church in either village. The two parishes gradually grew together but remained officially separate until 1829 when local government reforms were introduced. Ecclesiastically they remained separate until the two parishes agreed to unite in 1923 by order of the Privy Council.
However, this could not take place until both parishes were in interregnum: this eventually happened in 1950. Both churches continue to be used.
The church consists of a nave of four bays with clerestory, chancel, aisles, south porch and an embattled, Perpendicular west tower with a lofty spire 135 feet high, and a clock and six bells (one named Queen Elizabeth, 1602). The 13th century south arcade has circular piers with moulded capitals, the north arcade octagonal piers with leaf capitals. The arches are identical each side. Round the base of the piers are stone seats, a foot high. Aisle windows are 14th century with ogee reticulation. The clerestory is 15th century.
The chancel was re-built entirely in 1878 when a new organ was installed. Nave and aisle roofs were replaced in the 19th century and the pitch of the older roof is visible on the east wall of the nave.
A further restoration took place in 1895 led by W S Weatherley, formerly assistant to G Scott Junior. The oak rood screen and pulpit were added at this time.
The church has four stained glass windows by C E Kempe.
The 14th century stone font is interesting; it is octagonal, with quatrefoil panels and three projections for book, salt and candle.
The informant shown on the Southwell Diocese site acknowledges the input of the history provided by Beth Clarke, John Allen and Geoff Buxton.