Mrs. Saxton was interviewed aged 91 in the year 2000 and is the source of some excellent tales about life in the village and up at Watnall Hall. She is pictured here planting a Millennium tree aged 90.
Her father was Joe Haywood, who saved the life of Colonel Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall during the Boer War in 1900. So grateful was the Colonel that Joe was awarded life tenancy as landlord of the Queen's Head. Mrs. Saxton says of her father... "he was very fond of the miners, he said they were the ‘salt of the earth’. There were none of the amenities for them which miners enjoy today. They would walk to Watnall Pit for their money on Friday's, calling at the "Queen's Head" for a drink ‘en strap' and calling on their way back to pay their debts.” It is no wonder then his pub became famous for miles around with such a landlord in charge.
Mrs. Saxton also talks about Lady Maud Rolleston of Watnall Hall, the Colonel's wife, who founded the Watnall WI and became founder president in 1927. The Rolleston's liked spending time in Sledder Woods... "about half a mile from the Hall were three ponds known as "The Fish Ponds". These were beautifully kept and were stocked with trout. There was a summer house, loggia, duck hut and boat there, and to these nearly every fine summer afternoon went Lady Maud and Sir Lancelot— the former to sit and do her intricate embroidery, and Sir Lancelot to fish. These are now wild and derelict, although one can still see the pampas grass, the red current trees, water lilies and daffodils amongst the undergrowth, but the ponds have been claimed by hordes of frogs which make their appearance every Spring. It was full of daffodils and Lady Maud used to go and paint quietly there."
Two paintings, one of this area and 10 sketches of her husband, servants and domestic animals, dated 1900 still exist.
"The woods at Bogend were full of violets in their season, and she was very protective of them, making sure the village children did not take too many (a popular pastime). Mrs Saxton recalls that when she was a child she and a friend had gone there and filled a straw hat with the prohibited blooms. Met Lady Maud on the way back she said "I hope you haven't been picking violets Alice". to which I replied "No my Lady", pinching the brim of the straw hat together so Lady Maud could not see the contents. "I got away with it on that occasion."
You can read more about Joe Hayward, his pet fox, wartime adventures, the Polly Redcap legend of Sledder Woods and plenty more on the main Tales From Watnall Hall blog here...
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