Origins of the “Watnall Troop” of the South Notts Yeomanry

Today’s tale from Watnall Hall concerns the origins of the “Watnall Troop” of the South Notts Yeomanry. The local Yeomanry were volunteer troops and the precursor to today’s Territorial Army. In the days before an organised police force, the local yeomanry were responsible for enforcing law and order around the counties. It was often the local landowners and squires with their hunting and horsemanship skills that ran them.

The “Watnall Troop” was formed as a direct result of the ill-fated Pentrich Revolt of 1817. The revolutionaries had marched as far as Gilt Hill where they were confronted and hunted down in the surrounding fields by a hastily formed posse lead by Mr. Lancelot Rolleston, the 31-year-old squire of Watnall Hall, who was the local magistrate at the time. His actions that day so impressed the authorities that he was from then on allowed to run his own troop of Yeomanry cavalry, the Watnall Troop. The undersheriff of Nottingham, Robert Leeson, reported the events to the Duke of Newcastle in a letter now in the University of Nottingham archive and in beautifully clear copperplate writing...

“the body of men armed with pikes, forks, firelocks, pistols and hatchets, after having committed depredations in Derbyshire have entered this County compelling such as have not voluntarily joined to march with them. Their body is not very numerous and having been encountered near Eastwood by Mr. Mundy and Mr Rolleston, two of the County Magistrates, at the head of a few Dragoons, instantly fled and many threw down their arms. I do not find that many of the County have as yet joined these deluded wretches who I apprehend are principally Derbyshire men. The amount of military force in the neighbourhood, Your Grace is no doubt aware, The Holme & Bunny Troop is called out and the Commander of the Newark Troop is written to. The few County Magistrates in this neighbourhood are assembled and taking measures for preservation of the Peace, and I trust their care will prevent further risings, which however there appears great reason to apprehend.” 

Rolleston added a quickly penned addendum on the back of the report... 

“Six O Clock. My Lord Duke, We have just returned to Nottm after a most successful chase bringing 28 men prisoners and 17 stand of small arms and about 15 pikes; those taken are Derbyshire but say they were led on by the Nottm. The country people were violent against them. I hope your grace will excuse this postscript as I am in a great hurry and rather tired. Believe me to be, Your Grace’s most obedt. Serv., Lanct Rolleston.”

One cannot help but notice that the language of the hunting field is employed, and one suspects that Lancelot Rolleston thoroughly enjoyed his day of glory; but it should be remembered that the gentry and the government too were genuinely worried that this might have been the beginning of a general rebellion. The French Revolution had spooked the aristocracy and it was only 5 years since the Prime Minister himself had been assassinated. Revolution was in the air. Mr. Leonard Jacks visiting Watnall Hall 64 years later noted that...

"Higher up in the house there is a lumber room, but what might rightly be described as a disused armoury. It is a grim-looking apartment. Reared up in one of the corners is a rusty collection of musketry, a pile of ancient flintlocks which were originally procured for the defence of the house when the neighbourhood was disturbed by the Luddite riots. Scattered about, are the ammunition cases, also much the worse for age, but still preserved to give an idea how warm was the reception that awaited any invasion of the Watnall domain." The ruling classes and the Rollestons were obviously well informed and prepared for trouble.

For Lancelot Rolleston, the events of 9th June 1817 and the way he had dealt with them impressed the authorities a great deal and in due course he got his reward. Both he and Lord Middleton of Wollaton Hall were allowed to raise and command a Troop of Hussars each, with the full approval of the Prince Regent himself. The Home Secretary Lord Sidmouth also wrote praising the "Prompt and decisive conduct of Mr Mundy and Mr Rolleston in putting down recent disturbances".

Consequently, Mr. Rolleston formed "The Watnall Troop" and Lord Middleton "The Wollaton Troop". 

These part-time, independent Cavalry troops of "Yeomanry" came into existence in 1798 under Pitt's scheme for the defence of the realm. With much of the regular army away, this was a plan to create a home front "Dad's Army" to counter the imminent threat of invasion from Napoleonic France. Among other measures advocated was the raising of local Cavalry of gentlemen, yeomen, farmers and substantial tradesmen to serve locally for home defence and to keep down disorders. Troops were organised locally at Retford, Mansfield, Newark, and Nottingham and later in the Holme Pierrepont and Bingham area and at Bunny (Sir Thomas Parkin's Troop). 

In 1826 the 5 southern Troops were combined to form the “Southern Regiment of Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry” commonly known as "The South Notts. Hussars". The 5 Troops were 1st Holme (70 men), Watnall (70 men), Nottingham (52 men) Bingham (52 men) and Wollaton (70 men). This made a total of 314 privates to which total were added the NCOs and officers. Lord Sidmouth stated that Mr. Rolleston should be allowed two lieutenants in his Troop, so he was prompted to Captain with Lieutenants Thomas Barber and George Robinson, and Cornet Henry Slight under him. The new Nortthern Regiment subsequently became "The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry Cavalry," adding the Troops of Clumber, Newark and Mansfield. Captain Rolleston of Watnall Hall is a rising star.

However, on 20th March 1826 tragedy hits the Rollestons and the future of Capt. Rolleston’s family and the Watnall Troop takes a mortal blow. That’s a story for next time…

Sources: Watnall Hall and the Rolleston Family 2000 RA Horton; The County Regiments By Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston, K.C.B., D.S.O., D.L., T.D.; 152M/C - Political and personal papers of Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth Reference:152M/C1817/OH11 H.A. to Sir J B Warren Date:13 June 1817;