After living in Burton Joyce - a Nottinghamshire Trentside Village - since 1971, I do believe I can now take on writing  this Blog with some credibility, even if the content, may from time to time, not reflect my personal view -- so here goes.... An insight into everyday life and characters in this individual and delightful village situated  east of Nottingham City - world renowned for its Lace manufacture and the infamous Robin Hood. However, the primary aim of this BLOG is to chronicle the views of the local community, their preferences, likes and dislikes, activities etc  - to chronicle a little of BJ's social history in the early 21st century   

----------------------------------------------

Current if you Google search the name Burton Joyce, you will see listed endless pages of miscellaneous guff . Alternatively search via "Live Search "- MSN and you will find much more informative and relevant listings of local interests. However there still appears an ON-LINE gap in chat, "tittle-tattle", points of interest, individual opinions on agreement and contention. There appears to be little amusement or exchange of news of a serious nature or a light hearted exchange of banter and amusement. So here goes -   if anyone wants to send me legitimate news, views, opinions, amusing stories, etc relevant to Burton Joyce - with the usual proviso of not being anti-colour, class or creed then I am prepared to give them an serious consideration for including in this Online BLOG send contribution to 

"Click" to e mail comments

***********************************************************************************

For comprehensive upto date chronicles  - Click and visit Burton Joyce Online

PLUS !!  ..  Click here to visit the "B J Interactive Virtual Reality Village Tour" 

***********************************************************************************

Existing and FUTURE TOPICS (plus images) -- BJ's  Old School  --   BJ Allotments & pilfered produce   -- Crime in BJ  --  "Who lives in a house like this?"   --  BJ's ageing population interests/activities  --  BJ's houses with history !  --  Random BJ images  --  St Helens Church and Graveyard  --  BJ Walks  --  The BJ donkeys -- BJ Groups, Societies etc -- I DISLIKE CATS --  Our Safer Roads -- A Tidy Village Centre? -- Disability Car Parking -- HIDE & SEEK -- BJ. Post Office Bus Stop -- Duplicate Bus Stops & Street Lights -- BYE PASS TRAFFIC -- More Aircraft in our Air Space --  B J Post Office Saga -- Parking on Pavements     

"Click" to e mail comments

Online Notice  Board No1

ARMISTICE DAY 2008

Compare these two images with those of the previous blog to see the difference in the public response

REMEMBERING 09/11/08

How long will the present situation continue?      OrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrR!

SPIRES "Up above and down on the ground"  - the TWO existing St Helens Spires

The original church spire is dated as from the 1300’s and is now permanently located at ground level within the churchyard  with a Grade 2 listing

What a MESS  31/10/08

B J Village centre congestion continue 31/10/08

I have learned that the Authority has already considered ands responded to others who have raised a couple of the points I have covered below. The reply appears to be in the normal “Gobbledy Gook” language expected of those in the employment of an official Administration. The language as usual contains text which is pure “legislation speak” . What is wrong with Plain English and reasoned decisions based upon a flexibility and understanding which can be appreciated and understood by us plain mortals

-
We have numerous “peak-time” traffic problems in BJ village, with the intensity of private and commercial vehicles aggravating the existing difficulties and safety of pedestrians going about their everyday shopping and leisure activity

-
Within a few metres in any direction of the small Shopping Parade in Main Street are numerous pedestrian road crossing hazards

-
1)Pedestrians crossing the bottom junction of Padleys Lane in both directions,
2)Pedstrians crossing Main St, to and from the “Cross Keys” / the Co-op,
3)Pedestians crossing the road to and from the “Cross key” to The Charity Shop , Post Office , Chemist etc
4)Pedestrians crossing Main St diagonally to and from the Co-op Car park to the Post Office, Chemist etc
5)Pedestrians crossing the road at the bottom of Willow Wong in both directions
6)Pedestrians crossing to and from Main Street to Meadow Lane.
7)Pedestrians crossing Meadow Lane in both directions
8)Pedestrians crossing Main Street to and from the Post office to the Old School side
9)Pedestrians crossing Chestnut Grove from the Old School side to and from the Coop Food Store
10)Pedestrians crossing midway along Chestnut Grove to and from the Coop Food Store
.. ..
11)Supplement the above dangerous crossings required by the pedestrians with the further need for some of the public to access the one of the two scheduled Bus service Stops on either side of Main street together with the continual mounting and dismounting of the “ to and from Nottingham service”. particularly at school start and finish times

-
Add to all the above facts that a major proportion of the village population is either young and elderly and that there is always a disproportionate number of cars use the above area with routine high peaks at regular daily periods and .. ..

-

------------------------------------------------------

WWW Ethos and Blogs - 30.19.08

As most enthusiastic users of the internet agree and are aware of, the www ethos, is for the FREE, unfettered, transfer and communication of information, opinions, research and knowledge, through-out cyberspace, traversing all boundaries, languages, colours, class and creeds etc. This medium is unique in its instantaneous transfer of the written word, visuals and audios etc. Yes! It does involve “renting” access to cyberspace, but Hey! so does domestic TV, car use, newspapers etc., etc., Even so £ for £ the Internet and www must be extraordinarily good value for money.

Over the last couple of years we have seen an explosion in the creation of the number of BLOGS on the www. Well first of all and for the uninitiated, in particular a BLOG is the abbreviation used for a “WEB LOG.”. It is the writer’s vehicle for airing his or her views/comments, and in my case the “BURTON JOYCE BLOG” is my own chronicle or diary of news, view, faces and places related to Burton Joyce village.

Why do I attempt, at this point of the existence/ethos of the BURTON JOYCE BLOG publications, why do I consider it necessary to bring some sort clarification to the content.

A couple of months ago I commented on certain activities which were taking place in the village on August Bank Holiday. As a direct a result, a long delay and only a couple of days ago I received, a one line e mail - from a villager - chastising me over their interpretation of one of my Blog comments. I should add that this particular comment was not just the opinion of myself, but also that of a couple more villagers . I will admit that I frequently solicit other villagers’ opinions, views and comments on issues and events which occur in BJ before including within my Blogs, but in this instance it had not been necessary, it was freely given in the Co-op Car Park. On the particular issue in question ( which will remain confidential between the email writer and myself).

I stress strongly the “www ethos” in that, information and interests in local/national affairs, current and historical, genealogy results etc., should be freely given , exchanged, investigated and administrated. Yes ! A financial donations may be legitimately given and accepted , even solicited if need be.

Let me give a further and classic example of this ethos . The “Burton Joyce Interactive Tour”. This comprehensive, non-commercial project was created and developed by a villager, on his own initiative, in his own time, at his own expense, and is now freely available to everyone, everywhere via the www. - an enlightened, generous and unselfish contribution to local affairs.. There are many others who also contribute to this ethos with free transfer of information, and free speech in the village, long may it live

I rest my case .. .. .. I have no regrets for going on .. and on .. and on ..and on.

To those “who cannot stand the heat in the kitchen - stay outside and simply eat/digest the food cooked and served” .

Earlier last month I was pointed to a local website buy the Editor of the Parish Magazine -What A Find! - The Interactive Online B J Tour”

Unfortunately at present the Search Engines do not have this particular site listed , which means that a “surfer” can only visit the site by “clicking” a genuine listed link or typing in the following URL address manually into the Explorer Address Bar (at the top of a internet web page) .- http://www.bjtour.org.uk

This particular, unique, local website is the work of a local fellow Burton Joyceon.

It is a splendid piece of dedication and application by someone who has an obvious, genuine affection for this attractive village of ours. The website will be most interesting to all existing villagers and quite invaluable to those from the outside with an interest in possibly visiting or evening relocating here,.. .. Plus.. ..all those others located remote ( worldwide) with an interest in the news, views, faces and places connected with Burton Joyce.

Home loans down 57% - 7! %  ..   .. increase in home repossessions   ..  - petrol prices down again ( oil prices fall from the upper 140’s dollars per barrel to 67 dollars per barrel ). However Brown still bails out the major Banks, who are starving and have starved good business of cash flow and now have the audacity to charge 15% interest on overdrafts loans etc ( with the bank rate down in mid single figures. All this, even after signing up to the "Bail-out deal" with Gordon Brown and agreeing to match 2007 loan levels.

Gordon Brown’s bail out of the Banks could also result in a “winter of discontent” with less than inflation pay increases for public service workers and with the pensioners being hit badly/worst, trying to cope with astronomical fuel price increases.

The main trouble is that Government promise and their administrations regrettably move .. .. oooh, .. .. Sooooo .. .. .., sloooooowly.. ..

When will the help for the needy actually arrive ? Making the best promises in the world is easy, yet creating the accompanying legislation to bring this help to a realisation is like “trying to push your car with the handbrake on - up hill“ 

In the meantime what can the average UK citizen do - NOT A LOT! .

Pavement parking in BJ 29/10/08

-
Trentside Village life - serious and amusing
“Todays - News, Views, Faces and Places” becomes “Tomorrows History”
Click to e.mail comments

Pavement Parking - a misunderstanding ..Oh yes !If you believe that, you will believe anything

-
Why is it that some car drivers illegally park on pavements? - Oh YES it is ILLEGAL
-
My guess is that this type of driver is somewhat frightened or apprehensive by the situation, for if they parked legally on the road, there is a chance that some other car driver may drive alongside and because of what they consider as a narrow gap in the road, may , in passing by scrape and damage their own parked vehicle.

Wow! What attitude? This is ILLEGAL - do not be misunderstanding of that fact

-
Not only do these individuals choose to park illegally, they completely disregard the "right of the pedestrian". The pedestrian for whom the pavement exists, is entitled to free passage and how about considering those pedestrians who actually need safe passage via the pavement - which they are obstructing and on which they are illegally parking their car

-
Question .. What are the pedestrians supposed to do in these circumstances? - The elderly ,the infirmed, the wheelchair users, the young Mums with her offspring and buggies ( I hate buggies), the individual who has difficulty walking and requires the use of a motorise scooter, which is NOT licensed for road use ( there are more and more of this type of independent, individual using scooters now a days, and good luck to them. Their scooter is more than a vehicle to be inconvenienced on the obstructed pavement, it is their means of bringing some quality and much appreciated independence to their lives).



Answer ..Not a lot really, other than squeezing by ( if possible) or taking a chance and stepping out into the road to get around the obstruction. However, what is the wheelchair and motorised scooters user supposed to do? ( hopefully they will have an umbrella - in case it rains), and they should never leave home WITHOUT a packed lunch and i-pod, to help with passing the time, whilst waiting for the car owner to return

-
I make no apology for rabbiting on , about this subject, it annoys me unbelievably to see the unconcerned, uninterested, inconsiderate law breaking individual, flout the law, showing disrespect to the needs of others, many less fortunate than themselves,. My own patience is pushed even further to the brink, when the illegally parked vehicle is also the fashionable “Chelsea Tractor 4X4”

-
Personally I would like to extend this grumble even more further to that particular inconsiderate individual who not only parks HER car on the pavement outside our home, but also aggravates further with partially parking across OUR drive entrance - really no joke!

-
However for those who transgress in B J, - beware .. .. my “ roving, contributing vigilante” insists that the majority the culprits for this type of illegal car parking are lady drivers - noted by the “jottings” kept in the vigilante’s little black book and digital camera !!!! ( Note! the use of the term .. lady - rather than the alternative, but less respectful .. “female“)

-
"Finally! I am sure that these parking illegal practices are in no way malicious, they are simply the result of the lack of thought by the culprits, who consider it more important to ensure less inconvenience to themselves rather than others" ..

-

7th OCTOBER 2008  "bjblhs" .??..!!

Is there anyone aware what the "bjblhs" represents?

Throughout the world today, information transfer via the www /Internet rules.. is an everyday ocurrance for business, commerce, education, research and everyday personal  issues - across towns, countries, continents, into virtually every country in the world,  24 hours/7 day a week  .. .. .

 The problem for many of the un-initiated appears to be that  this "new, upstart medium" - still relatively young (10 years or so ).has resulted in a huge section of our community who have yet to embrace this new information highway as a way of life. . Yes! I am referring to a section of the more mature individuals amongst us).

Why do I raise this as an issue - because there is a section of the  BJ community ( by nature the more mature) who give a great deal of their time to investigating, selecting, gathering and collating as much  information relative to Burton Joyce and Bulcote, which appears relevant. Yet this group, of dedicated people,  individuals and collectively, still appear hesitant to embrace the www. and Internet, within their group activities. 

I am bringing this subject to print, in return, for the help given to me by the "Tuesday Morning Ladies" at the "Burton Joyce & Bulcote Local History Society ",  some three years ago,  and YES ! That is precisely what the initials.. ..  bjblhs .. . signifies . 

 I want the BJ&B LHS to embrace the fact that the www and Internet. will open up a whole new world and opportunity for the collection and transfer of pertinent, useful and relevant information of our villages, to all and every interested individuals locally and worldwide. Not sometime in the future when all their present information is collated and manually filed, for that is a time which will never come . What it needs is an immediate and  progressive attitude to change ( for most of the BJ&BLHS are by nature "the more mature") 

It does appear to be a fact, that the more mature/older we are, the more interested we become in our history, ancestors and genealogy

Just imagine, how many Internet users there are in this village of ours, PLUS all the other individuals and families (locally, nationally and world wide) WITH, or seeking information relevant to the area. All these people could be contributing and establishing real content to the Society's archives. Just imagine, the ease which which your volunteers could be instantly collecting or distributing materials, files, text and images via e mail, by simply depressing computer keys . Just imagine the benefits and ease in interactive productivity a small interconnecting network of laptops could  provide. None of this is out of the question, or beyond consideration for those with a progressive attitude

The www  and Internet is not a "Black Art"  - it is a economical, straightforward, viable technology, which is now well established, understood, used world wide,  proven  and definitely here to stay

 ..  bjblhs.. .. ..     Please! Please!   embrace this superb "information highway",  as speedily as possible (it does not bite!) - 

------------------------------------------------------------

Preparion...........................................The actual day....................................Car parking........................................Shire Class in action

Burton Joyce is a Trentside village, with much of the adjoining land being the responsibility of “Severn Trent and their Bulcote Farm Estate”. This large concern has many huge/vast fields, generally flat, for its arable activities and grazes their Cattle herds within the numerous enclosures with lush green grazing areas alongside the River Trent, spanning Bulcote, Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph.

The company maintains a vast number of fields together with border margin through-out their estate, providing all walkers, and country life enthusiasts with access to mile upon mile of attractive path-ways, bridal-ways and old road-ways ( ie-the old Grimsby Road, etc.) with many water filled gravel pit areas ( great for fishing and the local wildfowl). It is difficult to imagine a more attractive and expansive riverside area anywhere, a riverside which provides so many combinations of walks of various lengths and difficulty, plus innumerable photographic opportunities, fishing and pick-nicking access etc - it is a fabulous amenity available for us locals.. .. . and others of course !

---------------------------------------------------

Quite frankly it is quite difficult to explain the immense pride, which the hosting of such an Event gives to all of us within the 3 villages. It certainly shows and emphasises that our rural life is not all scarecrows, floppy hats and the chewing of corn stalks, but there is also a sophistication and ingenuity which can /does supplement and enhances the natural beauty of this, our attractive English country side …

---------------------------------------------------

Today most probably saw, the greatest number of visitors, families and their cars ever to visit BJ&B in any one single day ! 

"Click" to e mail comments

------------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008 - "JIMMY SIRREL" -  NOTTS COUNTY  F. C.  LEGENDARY MANGER  - DIES  " 

It is with great sadness and regret to report that the well respected and admired, long-time Burton Joyce resident JIMMY SIRREL  today passed away and left this life - aged  86  

"Jimmy was a quiet, respected, gentleman who chose to live in BJ for over 35 years - He and his "Scottish accent" will be greatly missed" 

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008 - "CONSEQUENCE OF HIGHER VEGETABLE/FRUIT PRICES  - "Low-life" step up  PYO !!!! " 

Burton Joyce Allotments

During  my daily walk yesterday  - I was privy to a chat between a couple of BJ gardeners 

It would appear that the country's economic situation and increase in the weekly food costs, particularly fruit and vegetables, has resulted in certain "low-life individuals" adopting their own  illicit PYO remedy ( PYO = Picking Your Own). - 

This  illicit, unscrupulous, anti-social, practice of PYO  takes place mainly during  late evenings and hours of darkness, and is the action of trespassing and stealing the results of a number of "BJ Allotment Holders".  Results of 100's of hours of individual, dedicated, manual endeavors (throughout all weathers, over many months, during this year and many previous years).  

SHAME ON YOU  - ALL OF YOU, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SELFISH, ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR  

"Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008 - "BJ  PARISH COUNCIL -  2007/2008 ACCOUNTS"

What is the parish precept? 

This is the additional amount Burton Joyce people pay as part of the Council Tax to pay for the extra facilities and services the Parish Council provides for the parish. 

B J  residents pay the highest parish precept in Gedling.

 For 2008/9 the Council Tax payable for Band D homes in BJ is:

• Nottinghamshire County Council £1,158.43
• Gedling Borough Council £ 139.17
• Police Authority £ 145.62
• Fire Authority £ 65.44
• Burton Joyce Parish £ 41.40

Total £1,549.18

Burton Joyce Parish Council increased its charges by 15.4% this year.!!!

Parts of Gedling without parish Councils pay £1508.66

Why do villages with parish councils have to pay more than the urban parts of the Borough?.. ....  

Do villages get as good a service as urban areas?.. .. .. 

A simplified summary of the Parish Council's accounts is given below:

Parish precept £52,600

Revenue Grant £29,700
Capital aid £2,500
Agency services £900
Cemetery fees £2,800
Allotment rent £1,500
Sports ground fees £10,600
Play scheme grant/fees £500
Gala £5,200
Other income £2,200

TOTAL INCOME £108,500

Salaries £47,000
Administration £12,200
Equipment and Maintn £4,400
Gala £5,400
Cemetery and other areas £2,300
Allotments £1,700
Sports ground £31,800
Christmas lights £5,500
Play scheme £1,000
Donations £700

TOTAL EXPENDITURE  £112,000

This shows a £3500 EXCESS in Expenditure over Income ( this is a LOSS for the year) 

It shows that the Sports Field required a subsidy of £21,200 .. .. ?? !!

"Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------------------

B J's weather today Cloudy, Bright & occasional sun

SEPTEMBER 2008 - "FLOODING CAN RESULT  IN GAINS - TO OUR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 'S INCOME" !!

The floods of 2007 and 2008 resulted in extensive damage to many local buildings and areas. However, there still appears to be no overall development scheme, plus the remedial work to repair the homes affected across the county is estimated to have generated  a staggering additional £1.2 billion for the Government in VAT and the Tax on profit (the Conservative Party states)  

Why therefore is it the Government is only willing to give Local Authorities  a mere £49 million to rectify the damage ?? ..??

"Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008 - A612 ROAD CLOSURE & BUS PLUGS

Following their much delayed review the County Council declared they would not re-open the old A612 to local traffic, despite pleas from the opposition and a 90% public desire to have the road opened. Pleas backed by a house to house signatured survey in Burton Joyce, Gedling and Netherfield

The Council and Government purport to create policy that will drive down carbon emissions. This road scheme increases local car travel by an extra 4 million miles ( the Conservative party claim )

Apart from the pollution, this is an inconvenience and cost to locals. it creates a barrier between communities, further congestion in Netherfield and Lambley and puts small shops and businesses at risk of closure

This type of action once again creates suspicion and "smacks" of "alternative agendas" behind the closed doors of power !!!!

"Click" to e mail comments

SEPTEMBER 2008  "SILVER SURFERS" Why dont you come on in from the cold? and enjoy chats with your own local charaters/generation  -

Here are a  few relevant facts for Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph estimated for in the year 2004

Population - 3555 with 32% being over 60 years old ( this approximates to  1200)

Life expectancy - Female 83.2 years/ Male 82.2 years

Number of Pensioner households - 289

This is my personal crusade - to attract and interest the many mature internet surfers in our villages, to unite and create our own “social” and in certain circumstance “pressure group“, by participating and exchanging thoughts, views and queries thro online chatting. The “Burton Joyce Blog” website  is the place, where we can all meet without even leaving our own home. 

It is free, informative, amusing and generally can be light hearted, but above all,

This is the easiest and speediest means of (distance) personal contact with other like individuals in Burton Joyce village

So come on you mature, undervalued citizens, join together with others of similar values, attitude and concerns for maintaining your preferred lifestyle and developing further village amenities

The link for the dedicated BURTON JOYCE BLOG is  (http://burtonjoyceblog.blogspot.com/ )

Burton Joyce - 1609

"Click" to e mail comments

SEPTEMBER 2008  "I DISLIKE CATS ! not just a little - a lot....plus THEIR OWNERS INDIFFERENCE TO SOME OTHER PETS "-

As a a child I suffered from asthma and on our GP's advise my parents gave away our family pets - dog and budgie, and began isolating me  from anything "FURRY" ( which included animals of all kinds) thus I developed a phobia and aversion to them. I guess this is the underlying reason for my dislike. However, as we lived in a rural area I became interested in birds and wild fowl ( remotely I should add) - which undoubtedly is my particular stand on this occasion

WHY is it that cat owners generally allow their pets unfettered freedom - to roam around their immediate area exercising their natural wild instincts - doing their Number Twos and  adopting their predatory skills, which invariably means STALKING, ATTACKING & PLAYFULLY KILLING !!,  inferior sized animals, and  other peoples non-predatory  pets .WHY is it, if and when, the cat or kitten does not return "home",  that.... PHASE 1  - a  Search Party - is organised, for the local vicinity. This is  invariably accompanied by the standard and  repetitive  "Cooeee !" call  and calling out of the pets name. If this search and the "Cooee-ing" fails, then.. PHASE 2 immediately swings into operation  -  COMPUTER PRINT OUTS - (together with cat/kitten image),- are now attached  ( frequently with  water-poof coverings). to trees, lamp posts, notice boards in Post Offices and the local Retail Stores , etc , requesting, nay pleading, for any information, sightings or the return of their treasured, home- loving family pet cat or kitten. 

My question. is..... If the pet is happy and content at home, WHY do they choose NOT to return? Unless they in turn have been stalked, attacked and playfully killed  by a larger, more aggressive and accomplished predator than themselves.. ???..!!!!!.

This image shows our recent birthday present, our   PEACEFUL, FRIENDLY, CURIOUS. NON-PREDATORY, WHITE DOVES, Eventually a local pet cat  began cunningly stalking these beautiful creatures - during its morning circuit.. It should be added that the doves are housed within an outdoor/elevated Dovecote, within a 10M circuit netting  (totally secure in their own space and completely safe   ..???  !!! (or so we ..... - naively, stupidly,... thought ) - 

. FOR! after 6 weeks of intimidation and obviously conniving, the local "domesticated" family cat, (allowed to roam and predicate freely) breached our security by chewing a hole in the netting and gaining access through the hole before injuring and laming one of our Doves and KILLING and removing another -

- How do we know?   - security video footage.. ..   

.

Beautiful, peaceful, curious, non-predatory Doves 

"Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "B J.  DONKEYS "- ALIVE & WELL ..Hip! Hip! Hurrah !

Some 18 months or so ago the two donkeys pastured in the land/garden at the Bulcote end of Criftin Road were "Dangerously overweight" re- the local  Vet . The remiey was a  typed Notice attached to a tree overlooking the Allotment Holders/Walkers Car Park. The text of the Notice kindly requested that, as the overfeeding of the donkeys had resulted in them becoming "Dangerously overweight". It would be kinder if the generous feeding by passers by and onlookers was restricted to one apple or two carrots..!!.

As the image shows the remedial feeding requested has been successful......   Hurray !!  but please let it continue

The popular and friendly "B J. Donkeys"

"Click" to e mail comments

-----------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "OUR SAFER ROADS ?? "

Do the Planning and Redevelopment Designers who plan/design/re-route our roads,( providing efficient access to commercial/industrial areas/ Retail parks etc,)- for multi-wheeled and heavy goods traffic-, really understand how their re-routing and traffic densities bear on the safety of local inhabitants - adults, teenagers, mothers and toddlers, walkers with pets, the elderly or infirmed, and the non commercial cars being driven to and from work.

These two images wewre taken within minutes of each other on Monday afternoon - the 15th - during the afternoon School leaving on Monday 15/09 . It illustrate precisely the problem  - Heavy goods vehicles and Emergency Services continually use this road at most time. This was a rare "quiet" interlude, during the daylight summer period not the dark winter day hours !!!!

"What is the problem ?" I can already hear their comment.. .. I suggest THEY stand on the pavements and central reservations whilst these and other vehicles thunder by - for even with vehicles travelling at or around 30 mph  create a "SUCTION on  PEDESTRIANS" which is concerning, threatening and dangerous.

 WILL IT TAKE A FATALITY to DRIVE the message home?  

"Click" to e mail comments 

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "A TIDY & ATTRACTIVE VILLAGE CENTRE? - OH! NO ..NO..NOOOOO!!.."

(This is NOT one of my "HIDDEN and SEEK" challenges)...... If there is any doubt as to why the village did NOT win the Best Village Award this year,, ,, ,,  just peek over this wall in BJ Main St/Village centre! 

"Click" to e mail comments 

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "INCONSIDERATE PARKING - THE SCHOOL RUN "

There are still several "School Run Drivers" who persist in parking on the nearside grass verges adjacent to the tight bend at the  Padley Lane School Entrance.

 Not only does this create the  unnecessary and destructive "churning up" off the attractive grass verge area. but more importantly it obstructs the already restricted view of other motorist travelling in both directions, and creates a  most dangerous situation for children crossing in either direction, to and from the parked vehicles.

 The School Website also clearly explains the danger of cars parking, dropping or picking up children in this manner - clearly requesting parents NOT to park in this manner - PARENTS/DRIVERS PLEASE BE WARNED    

"Click" to e mail comments

----------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "WHO LIVED IN A HOUSE LIKE THIS ? -  (BJ  HOUSE WITH HISTORY)" 

Try testing your knowledge BEFORE you look to the answer

"FERNSIDE" - Criftin Road

Answer - The late benefactor Harry Roberts ( "Roberts Children's Playing field" ) and his wife Sophia ( nee ALVEY) built this, their home. The land was purchased from her Father, his Father-in-law  - JOSEPH ALVEY.   - In fact at that time Joseph ALVEY  owned all the land, now known as Criftin Road  

"Click" to e mail comments 

---------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "DELAYED THANKS & APPRECIATION"

BJ Residents Association and BJ & B Local History Society

As you will see from the dates of the Blog entries my contribution to chronicling the social life of the village and its characters is  relatively new. I must therefore place on record the grateful thanks and appreciation of myself and a great many villagers,  and in particularly those amongst us who regular "Walk the Walks " around Burton Joyce, Bulcote and the Trent. The time, dedication and detailed discussions which must have taken place over the total period of the attempt by the Big Boys to extract gravel from our should not be overlook or forgotten, because some day we may have to "fight the fight" again. So lets us all not forget.

Also I  do consider that BJ villagers at large should be made aware of  the dedication and application ( for 40 years or so) of a few charming and helpful "Tuesday Morning Ladies" who have given their "labour of love" to assembling, collating and archiving some 10,000's +  pieces of information, images and history  attributed to  BJ & B.  Indeed it  was two years ago now, that I made a random visit to the "Tuesday Morning Ladies" (as I gratefully refer to them) at the Carnarvon Rooms in the village centre. A visit which stimulated my own research and creation of a TimeLine website into our Burton Joyce ancestors. - Thank you once again.....( at £1.00p. you should be charging more for your research, even if it only makes more of a contribution towards the coffee and biscuits offered )

The information which these ladies have gathered over the period is quite amazing. However, I do wish they would begin to embrace the digital age, with a website and internet presence, for sooner rather than later, their ongoing tasks will become insurmountable - --------          

"Click" to e mail comments

--------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "WHO LIVES IN A HOUSE/S LIKE THIS ?"

.Evidently there are two quite separate houses located in BJ within 50M/60M of each other, and they appear to intentionally  “mirror” each other - (both reflect several significant and similar personal design features). However, whilst stargazing the other night, one of my “eagle-eyes” spotted a new highlight on the skyline - One of the mirrors had highlighted - (pun?) - and was displaying a “Flood-lit” Flag Pole, flying the England’s Patron Saint Standard. 

However, it was noted that the other one of the pair of “mirrors” is apparently not yet in total reflecting mode, for although it does “mirror” with an identical Flag Pole and has been flying our Patron Saint's Standard in daylight, as of yet it is not taken to highlighting in full  Flood-lit mode - after dark !!

SEPTEMBER 2008  ***BJ's CO-OP DISABLED CAR PARKING SPACES*** 

Why is it that a few individual car drivers in BJ,  find they are unable to accept the fact that a limited number of spaces are allocated for the SOLE USE of officially registered less mobile villagers

 The vast majority of this annoying abuse comes from individuals with the sole intention of extracting their cash from the wall dispenser as quickly as possible - even if it greatly inconveniences others  

Hopefully some day in the future these particular individuals will not have to comment themselves on the lack of consideration and abuse by others

"COME ON GUYS SHOW SOME CONSIDERATION - ESPECIALLY TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOURSELVES"

"Click" to e mail comments

--------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  HIDE & SEEK 

The other day I spotted the following - Can the "eagle-eyed" amongst you name the location ? - spot the clues

In this age of Greens, Conservation, Re-newables, Re-cycling etc. and with locals striving to maintain an "Attractive Village"

SEEK this HIDDEN eyesore (with ongoing growth) stored (on view) within the village centre?.. It is there, Trust me! 

"Click" to e mail comments

------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  COOP CAR PARK ENTRANCE - DOES THIS THWART THE HOOLIGANS/CARELESS DRIVERS

Most of you have will have seen the ongoing/continual damage to the brick wall buttresses at the Main Street entrance to the Co-op car park. Whether is has been deliberate damage or the result of sheer negligence/carelessness by certain car drivers must be "questionable". Well they have now installed more substantial and brightly coloured bollards to mark more clearly the Entrance/Exit. However, if  CCTV cameras had been or were to be installed in the village centre, then the truth behind this or any other deliberate or accidental incident should become clear.  - Let us not have the redundant comment about us as individuals loosing our personal liberty. Many villagers loose some personal liberty daily, with legislation and the action of others 

Note the black and yellow cast iron bollards - protecting the entrance

"Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  "ANY REPEAT OF 2007 BJ 'FLOODING ???

Week Ending 7th  Well this week we have had more than our fair share of rain - similar to those of a year ago when the village was closed off at the Lambley Lane /Main street junction, due to the dumble/beck dramatically overflowing. So how have the recently created flood defenses performed? On my morning walk I was anticipating some dramatic scenes, either in the dumble/beck on Main St, in St Helens Grove or at the dumble/beck outlet into the River Trent 

I'm pleased to report, - so far, so good - which is excellent news particularly for those living in the area of last years outburst - particularly after last nights TORRENT and with the reports and TV images from other parts of the country. The engineers have designed and constructed a comprehensive solution on the embankment. Some may say that the untold months of construction and the amount of steel/concrete used, is similar to taking a sledge hammer to crack a wall nut and AT WHAT COST ?  - (Projects undertaken by the establishment invariably always appear to have an element of overkill - better to be safe than sorry!)

B J 2008 Flood Defenses - solution to village flooding, created by the dumble/beck overflowing thro excessive rainfalls 

  "Click" to e mail comments

-------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  BJ's "POST OFFICE BUS STOP"

Selfish & Inconsiderate ?

There are many villagers who cannot understand why some car drivers persist in parking within the "marked road area  designated for alighting and descending" from the local Bus Service. Villagers who use the local Bus service are in the main - none car users, the elderly , infirmed people, school children, parents with toddlers etc. Not only do many day time bus services have to stop and park away from the designated Stop/ pavement area (resulting in a deep step off/onto the service from the roadway), but it also results in the service having to block and congest the existing carriage way, frequently blocking the roadway into and out of the Cross Keys' Car Park, the Apple Tree Medical Practice plus the small residential development. 

This is a selfish and inconsiderate act, showing little or no regard for the possible safety/inconvenience of many other individuals in the community - many less fortunate than themselves 

INCONSIDERATE PARKING  !! 

 Not only do owners park their cars in the area designated for the local bus service, but on numerous occasions they  park opposing the traffic direction!!

"Click" to e mail comments

---------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2008  UNNECESSARY  EXPENDITURE ?

Who is paying?

Have you ever wondered just why so many new/duplicate signs are appearing alongside our roadsides?.....Duplicate "30mph limit signs" and signs notifying us of "Hidden Dips" etc.  Why, when approaching the end of the financial year, do LA's appear to become obsessed with cramming in "improvements to our roads, and environment".?         Ensuring that the of spending all the existing financial budget, so as not to get a penalty in the forthcoming years financial allocation?

Well here is another example of Authorities & Establishments spending our taxes etc., in a dubious (wasteful manner). - Driving down the Main St of BJ. I now see installed, several duplicate (replacement) BUS  STOP  signage, plus... duplicate (replacement) STREET LIGHTING (Lamp Standards).  Why is it that the establishment find it necessary to replace existing and  "apparent effective" signage etc., with "modern replacement duplicates? - Presumably this makes the existing pieces redundant and to be confined to the Scrap Heaps..... AT  WHAT and WHOSE EXPENSE ????       I will say no more .....  ....

Main St Cottages ( WHY introduce modern signage?)       OLD & NEW Bus Stop/Street Lights installed in the village centre         

   Are there anymore local examples?

"Click" to e mail comments

----------------------------------------- 

AUGUST/SEPT 2008 WEEKEND

Chasing our maternal ancestors- 

 This year after a pretty indifferent month for sunny weather we decided to visit Suffolk to continue our investigation into our STONE ancestors. We combined the journey down with a visit to the Queen's favorite country home in this country - SANDRINGHAM - and I must tell you this was a most exciting and pleasurable experience. We had the standard tour of House/Gardens/Museum/Church - ( £7.00p each ) and saw just how the Royal Family spend some of  their "Off Duty" times. Now don't get me wrong, I am neither a Pro nor Anti-Royalist although I do have strong personal view/opinion as to how and why our country's class system evolved, and just as importantly - how/why it currently continues to exist.

Visiting the Sandringham Estate was truly an enlightened experience. It was great to see and realise that the Royal family may just be human after all. Yes they may have all the attachments of the privileged class, but they also do appear to some degree of normality in their "out of the limelight" hours by choosing to have some sort of normality and opting to have a limited reduction in the gloss and glitter. Their lifestyle at Sandringham is quite obviously more down-to-earth in that the living quarters and surroundings are quite tastefully and  "comfortable". Yes, there is the usual displays on the interior walls  with armor, swords , shields, guns of all types  etc., and in a  moderately sized Hall, displays of "indifferent" Irish linen (  No! Not Nottingham Lace ) and a most disheartening room with a multitude of trophies of hunted and slaughtered wild-life, deer, antelope, rhino's, lions, tigers, etc., displayed and filling  all the walls ( Urgh! - obscene, in my opinion). However, it was pleasing to see that the public had access to approx 20% of this Historic House, - which incidentally is not excessively large, but is still impressive, sitting  in really attractively designed and maintained landscape, with an abundance of tree species. The Stable Museum with its multitude of motor cars used by generations of the family and surroundings are well worth a visit and Oh!. I must say that other than, Eating Apples on sale at 50p each, the prices charged thro-out the Estate are reasonable and not as high as anticipated and more reasonable than some of the National Trust Properties . After taking a ride on the " Road Train" (free) around some of the Estate gardens "we walked the walk", down to the familiar small church which we all see on the TV when the Press are covering the Royals "at home" at Sandringham .

In total, we spent approx 3.5 hours at the Estate, but could easily have been there for several hours more without it becoming bored.... .... a first for me.       

Moving on, we were staying at Gunton Hall in Suffolk - our STONE ancestors originated in and around the coastal area of Aldeburgh and Southwold. We have  visited Aldeburg previously, a resort which has associations with Benjamin Britten and Constable- as well as my ancestors - ( and I believe also Jeremy Paxman's ancestors - uh!).  Anyway back to visiting Southwold  - this is a "step back in time" . Southwold is a clean, attractive, and  picture postcard styled, genuine English sea side resort, with quality and  respectability. It is tasteful, clean and apparently classless, with row on row of attractive Victorian styled, multi coloured Beach Huts. Southwold also has a really attractive and well maintained  pier, which is approx 600 feet long - a pier with the appearance of Victorian times, yet in superb pristine condition, after several rebuild, the latest in early 2000's, after many disasters with floating sea mines and much storm damage thro the years . In fact, the pier was originally built over a century ago, to berth the Steam Boats which carried holiday visitors from the Thames in central London - prior to the advent of the early Motor Coaches travel, which eventually took the trade away from the Steam Boats . In its present state the pier is a major attraction. This is a resort which everyone should visit at least once, it is ideal for small children (with a safe sandy beach) - this summer visit/vacation by the Prime Minister and his family is testament to its attraction  - Also we avoided the tropical storms which were forecast and experienced by some in the south, middle and north of England 

Southwold Beach Huts                                                                       Aldeburgh Watch Tower

"Click" to e mail comments

-----------------------------------------

AUGUST 2008 AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD In Our AIRSPACE

This is one of my pet grumbles - Some 2 years ago now I complained to the County Council and East Midlands Airport Authority about the intrusions into airspace not designated for commercial/passenger air traffic ( over BJ). The result of my complaint was.... complete silence from the E M Airport and some minor and ongoing noises (after a appointed meeting in the BJ Library with County Hall councillors).....

  "What is your problem you may say.?" My problem is the possibility of a potential significant Air incident over our area which is not officially designated or accepted as official air corridors for "Low Flying" passenger flights. Looking into the sky from Burton Joyce it appears that many Passenger Jets now frequently take a landing circuit line over and down ( N to S) Shearing Hill, onto a course over the Trent in the vicinity of the Ferry Boat Pub, then over Radcliffe and into air space over Stanton/Keyworth and onto Donnington. The potential problem appears to peak at evening/holiday returns into EMA . Often simultaneous flights appear to be coming into the area from the South and into the airspace/junction which frequently has multiple and simultaneous returns from opposing directions, so much so that many deviations to a normal incoming flight paths are deviated in the final stages of their standard landing approach ...........We have actually had large Passenger Jets  pass really low over our home ( usually in the late Autumn and around 10.00pm <12.00.)   - A couple of times I felt I could have had an "Hand Shake" with the pilot  

Now this is not the only concern, over the last few years air traffic over the village as increase spectacularly. The village appears to be on the path of numerous flights by Private Pilots, Police Helicopters, Air Ambulance flights,  Small Commercial Jets and Helicopters, Hot Air Balloons. Micro-lites, the latest Euro-Fighter Jets ( stationed locally in Lincolnshire), low flying Chanooks, plus other Military Helicopters, and regular circuit flights by small single seater military-style trainers. Yes!! Each year we also see the Red Arrows  use our Trent Valley area and we even have "relatively" low flying AWAC Jets ( returning to RAF Waddington? - from west to east generally). There are  several of our local "friends" over in the Lambley area who use a private landing strip- resulting in many circuits over BJ.  I recall some years ago, a small private aircraft obviously in difficulties over BJ., circuiting and finally crash landing into the  field alongside and to the right/top of the Bridal Way to Lambley, Fortunately it was not fatal for the pilot - the only damage being to a hedge and the plane itself. - Lets all hope nothing like this ever happens again........      

Oh!. To cap it all  I should also add, that, just over a year ago, whilst up on our roof at night star gazing, we saw the brightly lit SPACE CENTRE and the equally lit bright USA SPACE SHUTTLE chasing it - it was appeared over BJ, travelling from NW. to SE.  at approx 10.40pm.  It is no joke I assure you.  However, I will say that a possible sighting had been  publicised earlier in the day on the Local TV News programme  

BJ/Shelford Trent Valley airspace seen from BJ

AUGUST 2008 BANK HOLIDAY

Drove down to the  Bulcote Estate CarPark  on Sunday  to take one of my many enjoyable walks around the area and Trent embankment - This time I managed to persuaded my wife Sandra to join me . It was just before mid-day and the weather was sunny and warm ( no jackets required and sun specs were definitely the order of the day). We always walk with hiking sticks, as we both have two replacement knees and balance on uneven ground can be a bit of a problem occasionally. Anyway today we decided that one stick each would be OK - After just 20 yards ( or should it now be Metres we decided discretion was the better than valor, and we quickly returned to the car to double up with two sticks each - Its just as well because most walkers around Estate and Trent- side only know and recognise me as the guy with "Two Sticks". Anyway, to cut a long story short, on leaving the car park for the second time a sole middle aged lady pulls into the car park and sets about pulling a folding chair and odds and sods from the rear of her small late model estate car and commenced setting up her gear in there and then. We turned right and  walked along the margins of the several fields planted with "Corn-on-the-Cob" which is now some 5<6 feet tall ( or should it be < 2 M), we continued past the glorious Sun-Flower displays and onto the River Trent, turning right into the old Grimsby Road and back to the car park ( approx one hour later). We had seen several acquaintances and  their dogs  before finally returning to the car park where the lady was just packing up her gear, after preparing her late breakfast on her portable cooking stove and using the car park as her dining room. Good for you, I thought - obviously a loner - but still having the "get-up and go" to enjoy  a  simple thing in life such as having and out door breakfast. We have both thought about the situation later and are still full of admiration for her and wondered if we were ever is a similar situation whether we would take what we had at the time and enjoy the simplicity of the occasion.

BJ Sunflowers

On driving back to BJ we passed a couple obviously taking wine out to Dinner somewhere, passed the Crossed Keys in the village centre and spotted an impressive BBQ happening in the pub Car-park and then pass yet another couple getting into their car with the largest of plate stacked high with sandwiches cakes and other goodies. 

I write all this because the next day (the 25th) Bank Holiday Monday when other villages are staging fairs, shows and happenings, my walk around the BJ Sports Field at mid day revealed an enormous, attractive and  immaculate grassed area with several facilities for numerous activities, yet not a sole in sight ( although I did see 3  parked cars) with the attractive Pavilion shuttered and closed. The Groundmans'   lock up area was open, but otherwise nothing was happening ( or appeared planned ?) Is this an unfair comment.?

 I did see advertised ( by the Local Historical Soc.) in the rooms they use in the village centre,  that later  today a conducted tour of the village was scheduled  for 1 .30pm   - with charge of £4.50p .... !!

              "Click" to e mail comments

-------------------

- Burton Joyce is quite a pleasant village, amid some really pleasant and adjoining countryside. The social cross section of the population ( in excess of 2000 ) is wide and variable with very little or no extremes at the edges, This makes for a comfortable situation for everyone, however there is still one or two cliques, as you would expect anywhere...............So here is my main grumble. - 

Some 40 years or so ago, a "Bye-pass" to the village was built, which in fact, actually split the village in half. Today, after the relevant Local Authorities decided to develop Industrial Trading and Shopping Estates, "Bus Plugs"  etc., plus... developing the road thro the village into the second major access to and from Nottingham City (from the east). Yes! I will accept progress is necessary, however, to overlook the impact on the population "down-stream" is sheer negligence. At least, it is not unreasonable to assume that the technocrats would have anticipated the effect, difficult  hazards created for the local traffic wanting to cross the traffic flow coming from the City ( the right)  into the opposite lane to travel from the village, school and amenities. It is now necessary to wait and bide time to realise a suitable space from traffic traveling in both directions in order to allow  safe access onto the carriageway, with Juggernauts, Articulated trucks and Multi-Tiered Delivery Trucks transporting new/used vehicles to the Car Auction site and Logistic/storage facility for Fuel and New Car in addition to the normal commuter, business and leisure traffic. The answer is quite simple - Traffic Lights on the  Bye- Pass/Station Road/ Main St. junction at the west (entrance) to the village and again at the east end of the Bypass, where it cuts Shaftsbury Avenue into two quite separate areas.  There are also regular occasions, almost daily, when huge trucks use the Old Main Street into and thro the village to deliver produce direct to the Local Co-operative Store - quite ridiculous - they should be restrictions and who on earth allowed a local bus service to ply their trade via  Padley Lane and Foxhill Road ( roads never designed for commercial bus services)

Map illustrating how Bye-Pass cuts thro the BJ Village 

"Click" to e mail comments

-----------------------------.    

Well the first contributions to the "BJBlog" are now in.-  It would appear the school holidays have brought some short lived peace and privacy for many of you, particularly those living in Willow Wong and Padley's Lane. - Two of you ,( with tongues in cheek, I would suggest) contribute several suggestions for easing the congestion - created four times each weekday by the "School Run Brigade" - 

Suggestion 1..... Alternate "Odd Date /Even Date" parking in Willow Wong and Padleys Lane

Suggestion 2......Establish  compulsory " Small Fee/Short Time" contract parking in the grounds of the ill used "GROVE" area  for all "Off Loading and Collection" of school children -  with the receipts contributing to the School funds  - I like this suggestion!  -  However, no doubt the Establishment and administration will create "un-surmountable" problems and difficulties - probably as many as those created by new "Bus Plug" at Carlton Le Willows School

Suggestion 3.....All day time parking restricted to residents only

Suggestion 4......Introduce "Double Yellow Line" parking on Main Street adjacent to Padleys Lane with compliance supervised by a part-time "Lolly-Pop"/Traffic Warden    

Suggestion 5......School Run - Drop off/Pick up facilties should be organised,and supervised by the School Run parents themselves as a Collective responsibilty rather than the individual Ad Hock systems which no one seems to want to accept responsibility for and invariably lack any consideration and respect for the local residents  

Well no doubt this subject will go on and on..... infinitum - for no one will take the "Bull by the Horns" or will they?  Come on surprise me......

"Click" to e mail comments

 What is the true story behind the on-running saga of the management of Burton Joyce Post Office?. One of my readers asked, and how many more of us living in BJ would also like to know. 

Let me set the scene. Are you sitting comfortably - I will begin  .............. Once upon a time - quite a long time now, there was a BJ Post Office run by a local villager named Michael, who operated what appeared to have been an efficient friendly staffed Post Office business in the Village centre - appreciated by just about everyone. Now after his retirement and the TWO subsequent officially accepted operators, it appears that the ever changing faces of replacement "Stand- in/Locum Managers" persists. In a time when village Post Offices ( with legitimate operators and satisfied customers) all over the country are being shut down because they do not satisfy the Post Office HQ's Management's financial criteria, we in BJ are facing the possibility of having our PO face a similar fate, because of the supposed difficulty in finding a solution to an unknown problem and a supposed ever falling business activity (financial) level.- Who knows what is really going on?  When can we expect our local POST OFFICE to be operated by permanent, efficient,  caring staff? -  Legitimate/genuine information will be gratefully received 

BJ Post Office

"Click" to e mail comments   

Well!, Well!. Well!.       Who on earth will buy a business like this, at this time and at this asking price?????

"Click" to e mail comments 

------------------------------------------------------

AUGUST 2008 FERAL PIGEONS

We are becoming plagued by wild pigeons. They nest in trees alongside our home and continually depositing their detestable/acidic droppings on paths, paintwork, parked cars , roofs etc... What is the answer to overcoming this pest - shouting, clapping, disturbing the trees foliage, hiring a bird of prey etc

We did consider buying a replica  falcon on a flexibly suspended support and positioned in the garden, as the ultimate bird scarer. but this did not appear dramatic enough for our problem. So we took our red, two foot diameter, exercise ball and painted  two huge white and black eyes on it. We then secured it in a large hole flexible net and suspended this by a loop on the top and  onto a support similar in shape to a Shepherd's crook. We then stuck this combination of ball and support into a heavy plant container filled with heavy soil and sand - to provide great stability. Finally we positioned "this devise" on our flat roof, close to the tree used by  the pigeons as a permanent nesting site from which they continually defecate onto the steps and handrails at the side door entrance - 

RESULT the pigeons stopped using our flat roof as access to their nest, however they now use the opposite/other side of the tree as the access. Well!! We no longer have droppings on the steps and handrail and there is a further success. We now no longer have these pigeons and their relations using our roof as a staging post and courting area. However, we do realise that this situation can and will probably change quite quickly, - pigeon are sex maniacs and breed numerous times each year, producing one two off-springs per time. Presumably, these we be an ongoing education process unless a more dramatic solution is devised

Does anyone else have a alternative method of control?  

 "Click" to e mail comments

---------------------------------------

plus BRIAN'S LACE BLOG. 

Blog1) “Genuine or Fake” ? - That is the question !!              Blog2) “Lace in my genes” ! - Championing the cause ..

Blog 5) “The final Solution ?” - genuine Nottingham Lace ..           Blog 6) “The situation today” - genuine Nottingham Lace ..

       Blog 7) “The Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum”                Blog 8) “Unique  Lace dressed  building plus some oft used lace terms 

Blog 9) “ Britain’s First Modern Day Speakers’ Corner” - Nottingham City Centre

Blog 10) “ The undeniable exclusivity of today's  genuine Nottingham Lace

--------------------------------------

It may appear that "DOVES and LACE" are strange bed fellows, but  No!.... They both have such individual beauty, they both sit quite nicely within our lifestyle, so here goes........

LACE is an ornamental open fabric, formed by looping, interlacing, braiding, plaiting or twisting threads to make a series of controlled holes. It has been manufactured in one form or another for over 300 years. The ingenuity of the "sons of Nottingham" ensured Nottingham Lace became the generic term for the exquisite British machine-made Lace 

The expression "Nottingham Lace" was first used in the late 1700's for knitted point net from the stocking frame on which a a pattern was "run-in" by needle and hand and which was marketed by Nottingham Hosiers

Lace machines originating in the Nottingham area generally are divided into two groups - those that knit yarn and those that twist it to make lace. Externally machinery may look similar, either wooden or a metal frame containing an assortment of metal components. Closer examination will however reveal the working parts are arranged in different configurations, so that within the division of knitting and twisting there are numerous sub-divisions 

The first lace machine-made lace was in silk - early cotton yarn was unevenly spun and too thick to be worked on the lace frame. Lacy fabric knitted with a single thread was not however, completely extinguished with the demise of cotton and silk point net, when a fine patterned wool was introduced to the framework knitters. Today located to the west of Nottingham is an impressive and original historic frame shop producing superb examples of delicately styled wool and mohair stoles and shawls. Frames ranging from 150/200 years are still in existence today in these premises, although today's production is accomplished by modern machinery 

Early patterns in lace was "run" by hand ( by women and children) . When patterns are run by hand onto plain net no account had to be made for the machines limitations. Nets were stamped with patterns cut in wood  and the pattern embroidered b lace runners and tambourers - the printing being removed in the subsequent finishing. When patterning by the machine was required attention had to be given to the mechanical restrictions. Initially there were several methods used however it was only with the advent of  the jacquard that a universally accepted system could be adopted. This system was refined over a period before it became the system of choice by most makers of lace   

Blog1) “Genuine or Fake” ? - That is the question !!

Parma Ham is accepted as from Parma - Italy

Champagne is accepted as from the Champagne region - France

Melton Mowbray Pies are accepted as from Melton Mowbray - Leicestershire

Stilton Cheese is accepted as from - Stilton

Bakewell Tarts are from Bakewell

Sheffield Steel is from Sheffield

Aylesbury Duck is from - you have guessed it - Aylesbury

The 1600’s saw the ingenuity and enterprise of the men of Nottingham particularly the Rev William Lee and their developments in Frame Work Knitting ( Stockingers)

As time progressed yet further, refinements and developments in the mechanisation of FWK weaving techniques by Nottingham engineers began to gain pace. Men such as Heathcoat, Rogers, Frost, Lever and Arkwright (harnessing water power).

From the early /mid 1800 Nottingham became THE hotbed for Machine Made Lace exporting world wide) until the industry’s demise with the onset of the war years.

The finest Nottingham Lace Machines are 14 point and have 17920 threads , they are 8 Metres long and if one thread unfortunately breaks the whole machine is stopped while the damaged thread is located and replaced. ( costly - no other answer though)”

“Nottingham City is the perfect place for the "finishing of" lace as it is built on “bunter sandstone”, from which comes the brightest water, free from all organic matter yet containing Chlorine and Ammonia. These two natural constituents present in the water assist greatly the bleaching and cleaning process and thus "quality finishing"

Many years ago at the same time as John Livesey invented his machine, referred to as the Nottingham Lace Curtain machine, another process, the Madras was also invented -

The Madras is a narrow machine only 4 meters wide ( compared with 8 meters for the Lace Curtain Machine), uniquely the structure of the fabric it produces is a very fine net with the pattern imposed over it. This technique gives the very raised affect of the pattern, however when lace is produced on the Madras machine, the pattern has long threads attached and all these have to be cut off by hand before dyeing and finishing ( very costly, but there is no cheap alternative). The "Madras technique is a very special process, there is only one machine in the whole world which can make this complicated pattern.”

“Hopefully we have helped to make clear an understand producing authentic Nottingham Lace cannot ever be an easy or cheap process . It requires the input of many constituents ( many the result of nature and resources unique to Nottingham) plus other complimentary, human techniques developed over generations contribute in the creation of our own offering of this superb example of ingenuity -"ALL WHITE plus ..!! - EXCLUSIVE, AUTHENTIC NOTTINGHAM LACE

Be assured, it is not only the lace design which is of importance, but also the stability of the colour, the stability of dimension, the quality/consistency of each thread, the overall material quality, culminating in the products beautiful appearance. which is  Exclusive, genuine Nottingham Lace

You will not see many individuals championing the cause of “exclusive genuine Nottingham lace” on the www. . . Why is this ?. . . Well! I guess the Nottingham Lace industry considers itself as such an “elderly and distinguished gentleman” that an attitude of not wanting ( or knowing how ) to use the “young upstart” known as the Internet, may well be one answer. Me !! .. My motivation is much more compelling ..

The “Alvey’s of Burton Joyce” TimeLine 1600<1900AD+ goes a long way to explain. Not only were my ancestors and namesakes steeped in the stockinger, FWK industry and Blacksmithy ( early engineers) within the area I call “The Box“ ( the area which generated much of the local expertise in the early development of the Nottingham lace industry). But because my own development into design engineering has lead me to deep appreciation of the ingenuity and dedication required for engineering and machine design in particular.

Let me explain .. I was fortunate to have a dedicated education/schooling and training in engineering from the age of 13 to 16, progressing into a 5 years indentured apprenticeship in “New Developments and Processes” with a local engineering company. This induction and training was followed by extensive experience with major engineering concerns thro-out the UK, Europe and the USA, culminating in the success of my own new start business specialising in mechanisation and automation of production processes. So not only do I have empathy with the early “engineers who designed and developed the machine made lace machines, thro my ancestry and the generations of deep rooted involvement as stockingers, FWK’s and HandFrames I have “lace in my genes” .

These are the two motivating reason for my compelling need to champion the cause of

EXCLUSIVE, GENUINE NOTTINGHAM LACE.. .. ( sourced from Nottingham )

It is the Rev Willam Lee of Calverton who is accredited with the inventing the stocking Frame (accepted as the first mechanised “lace” making machine) in 1589. This was some 500 years after stockings were first made by knitting by hand or cut out of woven fabric. Stockings were made in the flat and seamed into the shape now accepted as a conventional stocking shape.

The Rev William Lee’s parish was at the far south eastern edge of Sherwood Forest within the area referred to as “The Box“. It is also claimed by some that the Rev. Lee actually originally lived in the nearby village of Woodborough - Records show that if this was so, an Alvey namesake worked in a Cobblers Shop on the main road which ran thro that village during the same time frame. Other record show that many Alvey families originated from Woodborough and were very active in the Stockinger industry for numerous generations

Eventually it took the Rev William a further 8 years to achieve the seemingly impossible and present the Queen with a pair of delicate silk stockings made on his machine - he still did not succeed in his patent application -. demoralised and thoroughly dejected he decided to emigrate to France taking his design with him, where he died sometime between 1610 /1614 - a poor man. ( even though he is reputed to have taken 9 of his 10 Hand Frames over to the continent ) Fortunately his brother James brought at least one of his machines back to this country, but not before the French with the Rev William’s cooperation had copied and used his technology for there own industry

 I find it compelling to champion the cause of

After the Rev William Lee’s saga the FWK’s industry was really slow to develop. 1641 saw the arrival of Framework knitting in Nottingham. By 1750 there were 50 manufacturers in the Nottingham area with 1200 Frames. The first pair of machine made cotton stockings was made in Nottingham by “Draper of Bellargate” in 1730, this achievement was the flux which created and stimulated the beginning of the numerous developments of the FWK Hand Frame to produce machine made Nottingham Lace. Many individual Hand Frame knitters began adapting and developing their own Frames to produce lace ( it should be clear here that during that time period, the term “lace” was understood to be the “net background fabric” - late 1700<early 1800).

In 1781 Morris patented his system of Point Net production - although his net could not be cut without some fraying. It was later in 1786 that John Rogers perfected his Fast Point Net production on Hand Frames - This finished product did not fray when cut

To gauge the impact and scale of stocking making in the Nottingham area during the early 1800 it should be realised that the numbers involve is estimated at 25,000.. ..

The natural communications of the area, the Rivers Trent and Leen, well supplemented by canals, turnpikes and later the Railways served Nottingham well. However it was the obvious abundant skills of the local mechanics and framesmiths which contributed greatly to the development of the “new” machine made Lace industry

John Heathcoat perfected the Bobbin Net machine in 1808 - his first machine produced net of 1” wide. Having proved his mechanisation principle, his second machine patented in 1809 produced net ( termed lace) of any width? - hand made lace was restricted to 5” wide. Incidentally Heathcoat’s net also withstood the riguors of a wash tub and did no run when a thread broke - it was called Nottingham Net, subsequently English Net . The Nottingham/English net has hole configuration which is a hexagon shape, this has great strength and stability - much more so than the inferior diamond shaped holes. Also, the machine could create a remarkable 1000 meshes/minute compared with Hand lace makers production of 5 meshes/minute

Hopefully it is now easier to understand why I am championing the cause of

"Click" to link to the above product information

Blog 7) “The Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum” 

There is nothing I can add to this blog , for this Museum is a real treat unique experience for visitors - 

A definite must see.. .. ..         Visitors to Nottingham must really visit this piece of Victorian heritage

Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum
Company Name:	Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum
Description:	At Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum you will gain a fascinating insight into the life and labour of a 19th century framework knitting community. Watch the knitting demonstrations and discover the process of making delicate lace shawls as well as sturdy socks. See for yourself the Victorian cottages and traditional workshops. Enjoy the sight, sound and smell of working machinery. Find out all about griswolds, trick bars, jacks, sinkers and slurcocks. Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum has been preserved as the best surviving example of Victorian knitting workshops and cottages. Grouped around a garden courtyard, the wash house, pump, privies and pigsty complete the picture. You will find staff always on hand to answer questions and help make your visit as enjoyable as possible.   Demonstrations every day in the season - Check out the times  Working machinery Special events and activities throughout the year see Queen Victoria's stocking Introductory video Shop with wide range of gifts, including traditional items made in the museum's own workshops Group visits welcome
Address:	Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum Chapel Street Ruddington Nottingham NG11 6HE
Phone:	+44 (0)115 984 6914

---

NOTTINGHAM -- The City of LACE

 

Blog 8) “Unique Lace dressed building - plus some oft used lace terms

We have learned today (22/02/08-local TV) that close by Weekday Cross - on the edge of the Lace Market - a new development is under construction which has a least one frontage clad with huge decorative concrete panels (  approx 1M wide x 8M ) interlocked together. However the most interesting aspect of this, is that each of these concrete panel has a large area of vertical detail relief, which a is an enlarged version of a quite small piece of "BIRKIN" lace edging recently found in a "Time Capsule" - discovered whilst redeveloping the area. The lace feature relief in the concrete panels was  achieved by using laser technology to duplicate and produce the enlarged lace detail a large timber former - this was used to cast each one of the feature panels.

Possibly this is a good point to explain a few terms associated with lace - so here goes

Applique : Lace with springs , leaves and other designs sewn to the net .      Bobbins : Small elongated wooden or bone reels on which the tread is wound

Cutwork : Embroidery with part of the base fabric cut away.                          Darned Net : Embroidery on machined Net

Dressing : The cleaning, drying, stretching etc. of the brown net to produce the required finished dimensions

Duchesse : A mixture of bobbin and needlepoint laces.                                 Fillings : Different types of stitches

Furnishing Lace : Includes tableclothes, napery and bed linen.Curtains are made on huge curtain machines and some tableclothes and napery are also made on Leavers machines.           But the Raschel machine, increasingly dominant in the curtain trade is also capable of producing quite elaborate tablecloths 

Gauge : The fineness of the net. The larger the number of points the finer the lace    Guipure : Lace of a bold design with jointing bars open ground

Jacquard : The mechanism controlling the pattern by a system of differential thread selection 

Leavers : Named after John Leavers who invented a machine in 11813 still widely used. A modern machine has also more than 40,000 moving parts which twist thousands of individual threads to produce lace very similar in construction to the pillow laces of the past

Needlepoint :  Lace made with a needle and thread using  buttonhole stitches    Point : Term loosely  applied to fine quality lace

Pillow or Bobbin Lace : Lace made on pillows or cushion by twisting and plaiting threads attached to bobbins. To distinguish to needlepoint from bobbin lace use a magnifying glass. if the solid part of the pattern - that is the clothwork - is made up of looped threads the lace is needlepoint; if it plaited it is bobbin lace

Pricker : Short instrument used in bobbin lace making for putting holes in the parchment that in the required position to receive the pins

Pusher : Lace made on the Pusher machine , principally used for copying Chantilly lace in the 1800's

Raschel : The Raschel machine has been developed to produce at high speed a wide range of delicate, knitted laces in large quantities

Torchon : Bobbon lace of loose texture and geometrical pattern copied by machine      Warp  : The yarn around which the bobbin thread is twisted

Other lace terms  - Maltese, Mechlin, Chantilly, Lille, Cluny, Eidelweiss ( chemical lace), Valenciennes, Sandfly, Blond, Runner, Patterned,Pillow, Plain net, Point net, Comb, Runner, Scalloper, Slip winder, Stamper, Stripper, Threader, Warper,Winder, Spotted silk, Blond, Black, Quilling, Irish guipure,Ecru, Hexagon net, English net, Nottingham net, Buckingham lace,  Brussels net, Barmen lace etc etc.. .. 

 The initial view of this new development certainly appears very impressive, and most welcome and acceptable as a tangible recognition of the heritage and impact  the "Nottingham machine -made Lace "  industry has had on this area in particular and the City at large   

 

NOTTINGHAM -- The City of LACE

 

 

Blog 9) “ Britain’s First Modern Day Speakers’ Corner” - Nottingham City Centre

Well ! Well! Well!.. how about this …. I know this topic is not directly relevant to Lace but so what Nottingham City certainly is an you cannot get much closer to the city than the HUGE Market Square fronted by the impressive council House and the majestic lion scuptures

 

 

The Launch of Britain’s First Modern Day Speakers’ Corner

On Friday 22 February at 12.30pm, Nottingham adopted the first Speakers’ Corner in the UK since an Act of Parliament paved the way for the original in London’s Hyde Park almost 150 years ago It is to be located in the heart of the city centre as a powerful symbol of citizens’ rights, a focus for civic pride and a platform for free public exchange in the midst of Nottingham's daily hustle and bustle.

Nottingham’s Speakers’ Corner

The site for Nottingham’s Speakers’ Corner is on King Street close to the historic Market Square. The space will also feature a new statue of the incomparable, the world renowned Brian Clough - Nottingham Forest Manager revered both for his achievements in football and for his forthright opinions.

King Street will be designed, pedestrianised and landscaped over the summer months. Britain’s first modern day Speakers’ Corner will then be inaugurated in the autumn.

The ceremony on 22 February was led by the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Leader of Nottingham City Council which has been an enthusiastic and active supporter of the project.

The NSC Committee chair Tim Desmond - "we considered the options very carefully and are confident that King Street is the right site for Nottingham’s Speakers’ Corner. There are larger and perhaps more flexible spaces elsewhere but they’re outside the city centre and that reduces their value. The whole point of our Speakers’ Corner is that it should be accessible to all and that if something interesting or important is happening there it can attract and engage people as they go about their daily business. That’s what makes it different from Hyde Park and, we believe, it’s what will make our Speakers’ Corner such an important feature of Nottingham life.. 

 .. and I agree entirely .. Us "Brits" value/believe free speech as every-ones by right, what ever their colour, class or creed.

 However we also trust our fellow citizens to also respect the individual rights and freedoms which we as a nation  provide to each and everyone  

NOTTINGHAM -- The City of LACE

 

Blog 10) The undeniable exclusivity of genuine Nottingham Lace today

The 1800's saw the dramatic development and increase in the world-wide popularity of genuine Nottingham Lace. Nottingham was the hot bed of development and production. I challenge anyone to provide facts which challenge this. In today's environment this really does require a clearer explanation and comment which follows and hopefully will clearly substantiate my opinion that there is considerable and unjustifiable overseas claims as to the "blanket" authenticity of many "Nottingham Lace ?" providers.

Lace Manufacturers and Commission Agents listed in Nottingham Directories  plus influencing fashion trends

1793 - 148 Hosiers  + 8 Lace Merchants 

         - 1 Silk Dyer + 1 Bleacher + 1 Bleacher & Trimmer + 0 Dressers 

1760<1800's - plain mesh grounds increasingly significant in women's dress

1800<1820 - neo-classical styles of female dress- net like fabric - light laces

1830s - wider skirts and large sleeves- decorative flounces - lace caps, aprons and mantles - larger patterns - blond and black silk laces

1840s - more ornate styles - crinoline coming into fashion,lace shawls popular - lace flounces lace berthas

1850s - lace trimmings on everything including furniture 

This sketch is modified but based on the original from

“Nottingham Lace 1760s <1950s”

- Sheila A Mason 

1851 - Numbers employed in the lace trade 7,931 Males  + 14,095 Females           

1862 - 37 Dyers + 13 Bleachers +29 Lace Dressers +1 Lace Gasser

1876 - 12 Lace Merchants + 358 Lace Manufacturers

1907 - Numbers employed in the lace trade 12,030 Males  + 15,620 Females

1913/14 - 23 Lace Merchants +336 Lace Manufacturers + 44 Curtain Manufacturers

1915 -  26 Lace Dressers and Dyers + 17 Lace & Muslin Curtain Dressers + 19 Bleachers + 14 Lace Finishers

             This was the period of the First and Second World Wars where production and exports were severely restricted  .. .. .. 

1920s - straight short styles requiring little lace

1940 - cloths rationing introduced - lace was a luxury dispensed with during the war years

1948 - Numbers employed in the lace trade 3,900  + 6309 Females + 1690 Outworkers

1950 - 2 Lace Dyers + 1 Lace Bleacher + 11 Bleachers + 6 Lace Dressers + 6 Lace Finishers  

1950 - 92 Lace Manufacturers + 32 Lace furnishing manufacturers +5 Lace Merchants + 4 Hair Net Manufacturers

             Export of Lace restrictions lifted    .. .. .. 

Other recommended reading which I believe endorses my "championing cause" is the classic work on the 19th century industrial history -

William Felkin's  - History of the Machine-Wrought Hosiery and Lace Manufactures

 

During the late 1800s Lace Machine building became a significant industry and  machines were exported far and wide in an attempt to satisfy the insatiable demand for Nottingham's product. This to a large degree/extent  is responsible for today's demise for the consumer, when confronted with the offer of  "Nottingham Lace" supplied a source other than direct from the "Lace Capital" -Nottingham, England. My advise is, TO ENSURE 100% SATISFACTION with the heritage and quality of the product- challenge the supply source - and ,insist on your Nottingham Lace being supplied direct from Nottingham, England  - and you will not go far wrong  

As I have previously stated today's Nottingham Lace industry is much more compact and specialised - the quality of product and designs provided by today's specialists around the city has never been better. The service and attention to customers requirements is also of paramount importance, as is the preservation of the heritage of the product known as, exclusive , genuine Nottingham Lace direct from Nottingham  England

 

Further enforcement of why I chose to champion the cause of

EXCLUSIVE, GENUINE NOTTINGHAM LACE.. .. ( sourced from Nottingham )

 

                                                           More to follow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 

mail:wetwo@brianalvey.co.uk

Back to Home-Index-Contents