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| The front lawn where Sir Lancelot (standing in the doorway) would host the annual Grand Fetes |
A regular summer-time treat at Watnall Hall was the annual August fête laid on for the locals by Lady Maud and Sir Lancelot Rolleston with fancy dress and sports competitions, Punch and Judy and egg and spoon races. The Rolleston's chauffeur used to make special home-made ice-cream but it didn't always go down well. "It was sometimes good, other times horrible" said one local girl²!
Garden party people
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| Garden party people - Sir Lancelot and Lady Maud |
Jubilee Treat at Watnall — Yesterday afternoon Major Rolleston gave a Jubilee treat to the residents of Watnall at Watnall Hall. The Hall and grounds had been tastefully decorated for the occasion by Mr. Wootton. A banner was suspended over the entrance gates bearing the motto “Welcome” and the front of the house was lavishly adorned with flags and banners, a noticeable feature being a vallance of lace hang along the front of the house. The portico was covered with flags and banners, bearing loyal mottoes and flanked by large portraits of the Queen. The proceedings commenced at two o'clock, and were kept up until half-past ten. About 120 children sat down to tea on the lawn, and a meat tea was partaken of by upwards of 300 persons. The Kimberley Brass Band was in attendance, and played selections during the day, and in the evening dancing was indulged in on the lawn. Sports were provided for the children, the prizes being provided by Major and Mrs. Rolleston, and they were regaled with nuts and sweets, and on leaving at night a bun was given to each. Several photographs were taken of the groups, and the proceedings throughout were of a very enjoyable character.
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| c.1910 - Garden party at Watnall Hall. Can you spot the local bobby? |
Ten years later, for Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee the Rollestons were temporarily living away in Edwinstowe but still organised the Grand Fête at Watnall Hall, having to get permission from the tenant Judge Smyly¹. Both men were trustees of the Watnall Victoria Institute so they presumably knew each other already. The Judge was probably going to the fête anyway.
Christmas Parties and Sunday School singalongs
Children were always encouraged to visit the hall and Lady Maud famously held a Sunday School every week where she'd play hymns on her harmonium to be sung along to. Miss Iris Clay, a farmer's daughter, who lived and worked at Hall Farm, the home farm of the estate, left a manuscript written in 1960 and, amongst other village stories, mentions the Sunday school...
"Lady Maud used to hold a Sunday School in the Mission Room against the Hall (part of the stable block). Every Christmas she gave the children a wonderful party with presents for every child. Once she hired a fire-engine to bring these, and on another occasion she had a house built in the rafters out of which emerged Peter Pan to distribute the gifts. After the party it was the practice for Lady Maud to hand a current bun, and Sir Lancelot an orange to take home".
Perhaps because they never had children of their own they were so keen to host the galas. On their own Golden Wedding in 1932 the local paper described them as "Watnall's fairy godparents". As you'd expect their Golden Wedding party was open to all the locals and a good time was had by all. You can read all about the entertaining "goings on" by clicking on this article here.
Even long after the hall was demolished locals still recalled the happy times. This article is from the 1998 Notts Evening Post...
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Watnall Hall's long-time cook, Mrs.Evelyn Clements, interviewed for her Golden Wedding anniversary in 1977, recalled "the grand old days" at the Hall with the "frequent hunt meets, parties, fêtes and galas, which filled the grounds with throngs of people" in the early days of her employment. She'd worked there since 1927.
Scouts and Guides Jamborees
They also ran the local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who used the hall and grounds as their HQ. Mrs Dora Ambrose, aged 90 when interviewed in 2000, recalls the day in 1920 when Lady Maud came to Nuthall and enrolled her in the Guides...
"I was 10 years of age when I joined the Guides. We were enrolled in the coach house that belonged to the Rectory. Miss Boden (the Rector's daughter) was Captain of our Guides. That was all I really knew of her, (Lady Maud) except when we went to various Guide Rallies at the Hall at Watnall. There was a really big show of different companies of Guides - Eastwood, Kimberley, Watnall....(and) Daybrook. These Guides came in a laundry van, and they had a very big company and always used to win all the prizes for the various events that we had, you see. Always the Daybrook Guides took most of the prizes. I think we had some signalling - Morse, it was Morse. You used a silk flag you know, dots and dashes, and there would be games, running and that sort of thing. Tea was provided. We would take our mugs, (and) staff in the Hall made the tea for us.... "
Wartime Fêtes and RAF parties
June 1940 - Not even WW2 stopped the hall from hosting its annual garden fête. I would have paid good money to see Duggie the comedy cyclist!..
"Nottingham Journal - Monday 24 June 1940 - WATNALL HALL FETE Organised by the Kimberley and Watnall War Services Comforts Committee, a highly successful garden party was held in the grounds of Watnall Hall on Saturday by permission of Sir Lancelot and Lady Maud Rolleston. The fete was opened by Lady Maud, who was supported Sir Lancelot, Dr. Myles (president) and Mr. T. Garner (chairman) There were a number of sideshows and other attractions. Artistes who contributed to very enjoyable programme included pupils at the Valley School Dancing (Principal Miss Joan Giles). Mr. T. Kershaw (conjuror). “Duggie" (comedy cyclist), the Langley Mill Harmonic Choir (conductor, Mr. J. Morton)"
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| August 1949 the last garden party? |
Notes and sources:
Watnall Hall and the Rollestons by T.Horton 2000; Notts Evening Post; Notts Nostalgia forums.
1 - The 1899 Law Directory lists Smyly, QC residing at Watnall Hall, Nottingham
file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/p16445coll4_10062.pdf
SMYLY, His Honour William Cecil KC
Born 2 January 1840 Dublin. Died 4 March 1921 aged
81. 3rd & youngest son of John George Smyly QC., DL of
Dublin. Harrow;Trinity College, Cambridge LLB, 1863.
Captain, Cambridge University Boat Club, 1862-1863;
Captain, First Trinity Boat Club, 1861-1862.AAS. I. 29
May 1861. Call 26 January 1865. 4 St James’s Square,
Manchester, 1876-1879; 5 King’s Bench Walk, 1879-1880;
3 Temple Gardens, 1881-1895. Silk 1891. County Court
Judge, 1895-1915, (Circuit 19, Derbys., 1895-1902) and
(Circuit 40, Bow & Shoreditch, 1902-1915).WW.
2 - Nottstalgia website
https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/7871-watnall-hall/?tab=comments#comment-98156
From tambourine2 A lot to tell. In the fifties I cycled around Nttm as a district nurse. So you see I am an old womane, not that conversant with the iternet, if I make mistakes you will know why. Have only just found this site and very pleased I did. Came to the land of OZ in1961. Enough 'abaht me sen". Susyshoes I am a woman! OK here we go. the two driveways formed a semi circle to meet at the Hall. Main drive way nice red gravel you came to Hall side entrance in front of which was a huge lawn where garden parties were held. In my day called Fete and Gala's. Sir Lancelot,(Rolleston) mainly opened these. There were egg and spoon races if it was easter, punch and Judy and such like. The chauffeur for the Rollestons made ice cream which was sometimes good other times horrible. The Rolleston's had a Rolls Royce about 1930 vintage - they were never driven at more than 20 miles an hour. Lady Maud ran a Sunday School for the village children that I attended for many years. We had to use the tradesman's entrance, this meant a walk of an extra half mile or so. On the left of this were open field and Watnall wood. On the right old stables etc. We entered the hall by the back door up worn sandstone steps - our room held chairs and a harmonium which Lady Maud played the hymns on. The gardens were lovely and the picture on the net must be an early one - When I knew the Hall the main front doors opened onto worn flag stones and went forward to a sunken garden down a dozen or so steps. There was a fish pond surrounded by lawn and shrubs - on the left of this a gate to a rose garden of quite some length with standard roses and trees. All these gardens were walled and behind the wall was a large orchard. At the back of the Hall the ground rose steeply, probably had been leveled for the building. Over this lay fields and quite close to the hall a burial ground enclosed by iron railings -- it was the family grave ground. I woder what happened to that when this gracious place was demolished. I walked the site in 1970 and could not believe my eyes. Not a brick or flower to say what had been there. Vandalism of the first degree. I hope your move to Watnall is a ggood one - my heart is there and I wish I was moviing withyou.
Facebook Eastwood and Kimberley Bygones
Keith Fisher posted
Watnall Hall during demolition by Ken Palethorpe, who was coincidentally my next door neighbour at one time. This would be early 60's
Kevin Palethorpe
Keith, Kenny was my uncle lovely chap he did loads of local demolition with my dad George palethorpe (Brothers)
Ken was a councillor on Kimberley council for a while he sent me in his place to a twinning meeting in Echirolles France brill visit
Janet Chambers
I can remember going to the summer garden party they used to hold every year
Kevin Palethorpe
So did I Janet mum use to take me in my push chair Mum told me lady Maud waved to me once through her window
My dad as a lad use to go beating for sir roleston when he was a lad for there shooting parties
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