Ravenshead
Encyclopedia
Ravenshead is a village and civil parish
in the Gedling
district of Nottinghamshire
, England. It borders Papplewick, Newstead Abbey and Blidworth
, and is part of Nottinghamshire's Hidden Valleys
area, according to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,636.
, 12th century grade 1 listed building and ancestral home of Lord Byron, is accessed from the village. After the death of Thomas a Becket, King Henry II supposedly to make up for this terrible deed gave the Canons of the Order of St Augustine the land at Ravenshead where they set up a priory, the walls of which can still be seen today. It is here that the name Ravenshead is first encountered.
"Ravenshede begins at the aforesaidway which lies from Papilwyke [Papplewick] to Blydeworthe, along the hollowroad eastward which is called Thefestyghe: and this leads to the King's highway which is called Nottinghamgate."
In the Middle Ages
the priory
was a stopping place for pilgrims.
In 1349 the prior died of plague.
The soil in the area is very sandy and unsuitable for growing crops. There is no evidence of a settlement in the area until the 15th century when there was a hunting lodge called Langton Arbor, near present-day Blidworth Dale.
The legend of Robin Hood centres around the area of Sherwood Forest in which Ravenshead is located. Although a later addition to the legend it is possible that one of Robin Hood's followers, Friar Tuck
, was inspired by the priory.
Will Scarlet
is also supposed to be buried at nearby Blidworth Church.
In 1966 a hoard of gold coins and jewellery was discovered by workmen on a building site near present day Cambourne Gardens. The coins were probably buried by someone fleeing south after the Battle of Hexham
in May 1464. The "Fishpool Hoard
", as it is known, is on display in at The British Museum, London
. Fishpool, Notts is the name of the area where they were found as the building site did not have the name Ravenshead then (see below).
On July 17, 1817, a young girl from Papplewick named Elizabeth Sheppard travelled to Mansfield in search of work. Early next morning her body was found in a ditch. The "Sheppard Stone" stands next to the A60
marking the spot on the roadside below Portland College and is still regularly maintained. Her ghost is said to appear if the stone is disturbed. Her killer was identified as Charles Rotherham, from Sheffield, who had tried to sell her newly bought shoes and an umbrella.
In nearby Thieves Wood, on 23 June 1883, gamekeeper Albert Spinks shot the first example of an Egyptian Nightjar
in England. He mentioned it to Joseph Whitaker
, a naturalist, who recognised it as a rare bird species in Britain. He had the bird stuffed and this is now kept in a museum in nearby Mansfield. The species wasn't seen alive in Britain again until 1984.
100 years ago Ravenshead was centred on an area called Fishpool, this name appeared on a 15th century map.
Most of Ravenshead parish was in the parish of Blidworth in the Newark and Sherwood
district of Nottinghamshire prior to 1987, with part coming from the parish of Newstead
, already in Gedling.
More history can be found by following the link to the newsletter.
/primary schools and the secondary school most commonly attended in Ravenshead is Joseph Whitaker in the neighbouring village of Rainworth
.
since January, 2006.
The number of pupils claiming a free school meal is below average, as is the proportion with learning difficulties or disabilities. An average number have a statement of Special Educational Needs. Fewer pupils than average come from minority ethnic groups.
The attainment of pupils on entry to the school is in line with that expected nationally for children of this age. The Foundation Unit is recognised as a centre of excellence. (Ofsted
, 2006)
In 2006, Darren Powell, a teacher at Abbey Gates, produced a short film featuring members of his class titled, "Body Image for Beginners," which was shown on Teacher's TV.
. In the Ofsted
report of 2006, the school was categorised as "outstanding".
School Web Site: http://www.ravensheadprimary.co.uk
There is one petrol station in the village (Murco), which is on Longdale Lane and the it also has a convenience store.There are four pubs in the village: The Hutt, Little John, Sherwood Ranger,Larch Farm,and newly opened Indian restaurant Ve Raj.
The village also has a large leisure centre surrounded by several tennis courts and football pitches.
Farming was the main occupation in the area until the arrival of the local shops and schools. The only other industry in Ravenshead was sand quarrying. The first quarry was opened in 1919 to provide building sand for Nottingham and Hucknall.
, the Children's author and illustrator attended Abbey Gates School.
Barclay Littlewood
, a plagiarism entrepreneur
and millionaire based in Ravenshead. He is also number 71 on The Sunday Times Rich List.
Lawnmower Deth
, a previously disbanded UK thrashcore
band, originated from Ravenshead. They reformed to support Bullet for my Valentine at Alexander Palace in 2008, and in 2009 they appeared at Download, as they are scheduled to do in 2010.
A new book on the village, Turning Back the Pages in Ravenshead, was compiled by local historian Philip Jones in 2009 and published by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Gedling
Gedling
Gedling is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in Arnold. It is part of the Greater Nottingham metropolitan area lying to the North and East of the City of Nottingham....
district of Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England. It borders Papplewick, Newstead Abbey and Blidworth
Blidworth
Blidworth is a small village approximately five miles east of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Its history can be traced back to the 14th century, although many of the current houses were built in the first half of the 20th century to provide housing for workers at Blidworth Colliery .-Robin...
, and is part of Nottinghamshire's Hidden Valleys
Hidden Valleys
Hidden Valleys was a name coined in 2004 to describe an area of interesting historical and scenic value between Nottingham and Mansfield in the county of Nottinghamshire. Promotional Literature and tourist information for the Hidden Valleys were created to encourage tourism in an area which had...
area, according to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,636.
History
Newstead AbbeyNewstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron.-Monastic foundation:The priory of St...
, 12th century grade 1 listed building and ancestral home of Lord Byron, is accessed from the village. After the death of Thomas a Becket, King Henry II supposedly to make up for this terrible deed gave the Canons of the Order of St Augustine the land at Ravenshead where they set up a priory, the walls of which can still be seen today. It is here that the name Ravenshead is first encountered.
"Ravenshede begins at the aforesaidway which lies from Papilwyke [Papplewick] to Blydeworthe, along the hollowroad eastward which is called Thefestyghe: and this leads to the King's highway which is called Nottinghamgate."
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
was a stopping place for pilgrims.
In 1349 the prior died of plague.
The soil in the area is very sandy and unsuitable for growing crops. There is no evidence of a settlement in the area until the 15th century when there was a hunting lodge called Langton Arbor, near present-day Blidworth Dale.
The legend of Robin Hood centres around the area of Sherwood Forest in which Ravenshead is located. Although a later addition to the legend it is possible that one of Robin Hood's followers, Friar Tuck
Friar Tuck
Friar Tuck is a companion to Robin Hood in the legends about that character. He is a common character in modern Robin Hood stories, which depict him as a jovial friar and one of Robin's Merry Men. The figure of Tuck was common in the May Games festivals of England and Scotland during the 15th...
, was inspired by the priory.
Will Scarlet
Will Scarlet
Will Scarlet was a prominent member of Robin Hood's Merry Men. He was present in the earliest ballads along with Little John and Much the Miller's Son....
is also supposed to be buried at nearby Blidworth Church.
In 1966 a hoard of gold coins and jewellery was discovered by workmen on a building site near present day Cambourne Gardens. The coins were probably buried by someone fleeing south after the Battle of Hexham
Battle of Hexham
The Battle of Hexham marked the end of significant Lancastrian resistance in the north of England during the early part of the reign of Edward IV....
in May 1464. The "Fishpool Hoard
Fishpool Hoard
In 1966 the Fishpool Hoard of 1,237 15th century gold coins, four rings and four other pieces of jewellery, and two lengths of gold chain was discovered by workmen on a building site near present day Cambourne Gardens, in Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, England, an area that was then known as...
", as it is known, is on display in at The British Museum, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Fishpool, Notts is the name of the area where they were found as the building site did not have the name Ravenshead then (see below).
On July 17, 1817, a young girl from Papplewick named Elizabeth Sheppard travelled to Mansfield in search of work. Early next morning her body was found in a ditch. The "Sheppard Stone" stands next to the A60
A60 road
The A60 is a road linking Loughborough in Leicestershire, England, with Doncaster in South Yorkshire, via Nottingham.It takes the following route:*Loughborough**Rempstone**Costock**Bunny**Ruddington*West Bridgford*Nottingham**Sherwood**Arnold...
marking the spot on the roadside below Portland College and is still regularly maintained. Her ghost is said to appear if the stone is disturbed. Her killer was identified as Charles Rotherham, from Sheffield, who had tried to sell her newly bought shoes and an umbrella.
In nearby Thieves Wood, on 23 June 1883, gamekeeper Albert Spinks shot the first example of an Egyptian Nightjar
Egyptian Nightjar
The Egyptian Nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius, is a medium-small nightjar which occurs in south west Asia and north Africa, and winters in tropical Africa. It is a late migrant, seldom appearing before the end of April or beginning of May...
in England. He mentioned it to Joseph Whitaker
Joseph Whitaker (ornithologist)
Joseph Isaac Spadafora Whitaker was a Sicilan-English ornithologist, archaeologist and sportsman. He is mainly known for his work on the birds of Tunisia, and for being involved in the foundation of the Sicilian football club U.S. Città di Palermo.-Biography :Whitaker's family came from prominent...
, a naturalist, who recognised it as a rare bird species in Britain. He had the bird stuffed and this is now kept in a museum in nearby Mansfield. The species wasn't seen alive in Britain again until 1984.
100 years ago Ravenshead was centred on an area called Fishpool, this name appeared on a 15th century map.
Most of Ravenshead parish was in the parish of Blidworth in the Newark and Sherwood
Newark and Sherwood
Newark and Sherwood is a local government district of eastern Nottinghamshire, England. The district is predominantly rural, with some large forestry plantations, and the towns of Newark-on-Trent, Southwell and Ollerton....
district of Nottinghamshire prior to 1987, with part coming from the parish of Newstead
Newstead
Newstead is a name related to several places:*Newstead, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada*Newstead, New York, a town in the USA*Newstead, Victoria, a town in Australia*Newstead, Queensland, a suburb in the city of Brisbane...
, already in Gedling.
More history can be found by following the link to the newsletter.
Schools
The village has two infantInfant school
An Infant school is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom for school for children between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality....
/primary schools and the secondary school most commonly attended in Ravenshead is Joseph Whitaker in the neighbouring village of Rainworth
Rainworth
Rainworth is a village which is split between the Newark and Sherwood and the Mansfield districts of Nottinghamshire, England.To the north of Rainworth is the village of Clipstone and to the east are the villages of Bilsthorpe and Farnsfield. Mansfield lies two miles to the west. The village of...
.
Abbey Gates Primary School
Abbey Gates Primary School, founded in 1967, is a mixed primary school in Ravenshead, which serves mainly the local village community, with about a third of pupils coming from farther away. Mrs Kate Cumberpatch has been headteacherHead teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
since January, 2006.
The number of pupils claiming a free school meal is below average, as is the proportion with learning difficulties or disabilities. An average number have a statement of Special Educational Needs. Fewer pupils than average come from minority ethnic groups.
The attainment of pupils on entry to the school is in line with that expected nationally for children of this age. The Foundation Unit is recognised as a centre of excellence. (Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
, 2006)
In 2006, Darren Powell, a teacher at Abbey Gates, produced a short film featuring members of his class titled, "Body Image for Beginners," which was shown on Teacher's TV.
Ravenshead C of E Primary School
Ravenshead C of E Primary School school was formed in September 1999 from an amalgamation of Pilgrim Oak County Infants' School and Martin Roe C of E (Controlled) Junior School. It is located on Swinton Rise, in Ravenshead, NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. In the Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report of 2006, the school was categorised as "outstanding".
School Web Site: http://www.ravensheadprimary.co.uk
Amenities
Ravenshead is home to the Longdale Lane Craft Centre. In the centre of the village there is also several shops including a newsagent, chemist and take aways.There is one petrol station in the village (Murco), which is on Longdale Lane and the it also has a convenience store.There are four pubs in the village: The Hutt, Little John, Sherwood Ranger,Larch Farm,and newly opened Indian restaurant Ve Raj.
The village also has a large leisure centre surrounded by several tennis courts and football pitches.
Residents
Ravenshead is an affluent area of the East Midlands with higher than average property prices and a diverse population of professional people, elderly people and skilled workers.It also serves as a commuter village to Nottingham.Farming was the main occupation in the area until the arrival of the local shops and schools. The only other industry in Ravenshead was sand quarrying. The first quarry was opened in 1919 to provide building sand for Nottingham and Hucknall.
Famous inhabitants
Nick SharrattNick Sharratt
Nick Sharratt is a British illustrator and author of children's books, and was chosen to be the Official Illustrator for World Book Day 2006...
, the Children's author and illustrator attended Abbey Gates School.
Barclay Littlewood
Barclay Littlewood
Barclay James Littlewood is a British entrepreneur who sells essays and other academic work over the internet to students in the UK, US and Western Europe....
, a plagiarism entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and millionaire based in Ravenshead. He is also number 71 on The Sunday Times Rich List.
Lawnmower Deth
Lawnmower Deth
Lawnmower Deth are an English thrash metal band who parodied the genre and recorded three-and-a-half albums. Initially active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they reformed in 2008.-Main career :...
, a previously disbanded UK thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
band, originated from Ravenshead. They reformed to support Bullet for my Valentine at Alexander Palace in 2008, and in 2009 they appeared at Download, as they are scheduled to do in 2010.
External links
- Ravenshead Community Newsletter
- Ravenshead history
- ViVo Magazine - distributed exclusively to Ravenshead residents
A new book on the village, Turning Back the Pages in Ravenshead, was compiled by local historian Philip Jones in 2009 and published by Nottinghamshire County Council.