South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire

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South Wheatley
Nottinghamshire

Church of St. Helen's ruins
Location
Grid reference: SK764855
Location: 53°21’40"N, -0°51’11"W
Data
Population: 102  (2001)
Post town: Retforrd
Postcode: DN22
Dialling code: 01427
Local Government
Council: Bassetlaw
Parliamentary
constituency:
Bassetlaw
Website: North and South Wheatley Villages

South Wheatley is a village in the north of Nottinghamshire, 30 miles north-east of the county town, the City of Nottingham, and five miles north-east of Retford.

Around the village are such villages as North Wheatley to the north and Clarborough to the south, while to the east are Bole, Saundby, Sturton Le Steeple and West Burton, with Clayworth and Hayton to the west.

The Wheatley Beck separates North and South Wheatley, which otherwise adjoin each other.

Name

Wheatley is recorded in the Domesday Book as Watelaie.[1] The name means 'Wheat Meadow' or 'Woodland clearing growing with wheat'.[2]

History

Roman period and later

The Roman Road from Lincoln crosses the River Trent at Littleborough and uns through South and North Wheatley before reaching Doncaster. Roman coins have been found in the village.[3] There are numerous theories about a Roman settlement in Wheatley, a possible villa on the playing field, but no hard evidence. Roman coins have also been found on Chapel field, situated alongside the road. A Roman fantail bow brooch with pin and catchplate were also found in South Wheatley, as well as coins and a love token in the chapel field. These items are now in the Bassetlaw Museum in Retford.[3]

Around the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Wheatley is recorded of having come under part ownership of the Archbishop of York. The rest came under the tenure of Roger de Busli. Landowners in later centuries became fragmented, they included the Markham family, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Middleton and Marquess of Dorchester.[4]

Many of the dwellings in South Wheatley were primarily farmhouses for housing agricultural workers as the parish was mainly rural, with much of the surrounding land used for that purpose.[5][6]

St Helen's Church

St Helen's Church is thought to have been built in the 11th century. The church was declared redundant in 1883 and subsequently demolished, its walls pulled down by traction engines, with the stone from the church used to repair walls in the village. The Communion Table was taken to St Peter and St Paul church in North Wheatley.

The surviving ruins of St Helen's consist only of an arch and its tower[7]

Community & leisure

The Trent Valley Way long distance path runs through the village.

A village hall is at South Wheatley, which also services North Wheatley.[8]

The Recreation Ground in South Wheatley lends itself to multi-use community events and sport activities, along with a children's playground.[9]

Sport

Several group activities take place primarily in South Wheatley on the multi-use Recreation Ground:

  • Cricket
  • Football pitches
  • Tennis courts

Bowls takes place on its own dedicated field with a local club.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire)

References

  1. Wheatley South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire in the Domesday Book
  2. South Wheatley: Key to English Place-names (University of Nottingham)
  3. 3.0 3.1 {{Cite web|date=2020-11-24 Brief History]: North and South Wheatley Parish Council
  4. Wheatley in Thoroton's history of Nottinghamshire
  5. Information on South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire  from GENUKI
  6. Information on South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire  from GENUKI
  7. National Heritage List 1216694: Remains of Church of St Helen, South Wheatley (Grade I listing)
  8. "North and South Wheatley Village Hall" (in en-GB). 2020-11-24. https://www.northandsouthwheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk/north-and-south-wheatley-village.html. 
  9. "Neighbourhood Plan" (in en-GB). 2020-11-28. https://www.northandsouthwheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan.html.