New Year's Day

We had been watching the weather closely on New Year's Eve because we knew that we would be venturing out to Nottingham, to have lunch with friends, the next day. Thankfully, as we set out along the A50 the heavy mists of the day before had thinned and by the time we were close to Derby had disappeared completely, although the smoke from the towers of the power station at Radcliffe on Trent was eerily still, cocooned in the dense mist.

Last year I had found out that one of my ancestors, one William Stubbs, had been born at Ruddington in 1754 and as we had set out early we had time for a quick look at the village with the idea of checking it out for a return visit in the summer. We parked in the main car park near the medical centre. It was absolutely freezing so we wrapped up warm to take a short walk around the village. There were quite a few others out, taking in the fresh, crisp air some popping into the local supermarket for their newspapers, bread and milk.

We passed the old bakehouse all locked up for the day but with someone outside peering through the window with the hope that it may soon open.

Our goal was the Framework Knitters' Museum, just to look at the outside and to find out where it was. Ruddington was a centre of stocking making and many of the buildings reflect this.

You can see in the photo below the high windows at the top of the building which would have given extra light to the people working on their frames inside the building. Behind the walls is a complex of frameshops, cottages, outbuildings and a chapel where the knitters lived, worked and worshipped during the 19th century. It all looks really interesting and we vowed to return when it was open again in the spring or summer.

This lucky village has another museum housed in what looks like an old school building. Apparently it has reconstructed Edwardian shops inside. So now there are two reasons for a return visit.

We had a wander around the church yard but by now it was getting very cold. I didn't expect to find any relevant inscriptions in there because my ancestors would have been too poor to afford gravestones and even if there had been one from the mid 18th century it would have been unusual for it to survive. Also, my ancestor moved on, because his children were born in Wymeswold, Leicestershire and their children in Long Clawson, Leicestershire. Not so very far away as the crow flies and a perfectly feasible move for those seeking work.

Ruddington is a lovely village full of historic buildings and with a shopping street full of little shops, like a butchers, ironmongers and wonder of wonders it still has a post office.

Here are some more photos of the interesting buildings....

A row of early 20th century houses

More high windows reflecting the village's history.

By now our toes and fingers were cold, it was time to move on to the warmth and welcome at our friends' home.