Barnby in the Willows

A Charming Village with Rich History

Barnby in the Willows is a picturesque village located just east of Newark-on-Trent. It's a lovely spot for a bike ride or a walk, with the added benefit of a pub. Many locals have spent summers around the river at the rear of the church. I've added details and a 6km circular walk to the Newark Map.

Historical Significance

The village is shown in the Domesday Book as belonging to the Bishop of Bayeux. Barnby may have developed around the site of a Roman ford. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as Barnebi

Medieval Period: Bishop Odo of Bayeux owned half the manor, while the Bishop of Lincoln held the other half. There was a mill on the Witham, probably just southwest of the church. During the 13th century, the Knights Templar held Flawford Farm, though they refused to pay tithes to the local church

All Saints Church

The present church was built in the 13th century and is a Grade I listed building. In 1289, the church may have been given to the choristers of Southwell by the Archbishop of York. The sanctuary walls are lined with nicely carved 17th-century panelling. The church is full of memorials to the Sharpe family, who lived at Barnby Hall from the early 17th century

Architectural Features: The building comprises a nave with two aisles, a late 15th-century north porch with a contemporary door, chancel, and west tower. The nave aisle arcades date from the 13th century, and the tower is Perpendicular in style, mid-15th century, and ashlar built

Church Brawl: In 1613, John Cappe was presented for "sowing discord amongst his neighbours and for chiding and brawling in the church." The vicar, William Chaundler, also presented Roberte England and Elizabeth Lamme for saying that he would cut their throats for demanding the tithe of Robert’s mill

Medieval Dovecote

At Dovecot Farm on Front Street is an ancient dovecote, variously dated to the late medieval period or the 17th century. The circular structure was designed with 728 nesting holes, later altered to the current 670 boxes. The dovecote is Grade II listed and constructed of stone rubble surmounted by a row of bricks[

Jubilee School (Now Village Hall)

The Jubilee School, now the village hall, was built in 1850 and serves as a community hub for various events and activities

The Willow Tree Pub

The local pub, The Willow Tree, is a Grade II listed building built in 1738 and has served as a public house since at least the 1870's where it was named in the 1871 census.

Mr and Mrs Handley, who owned the Willow Tree from 2007 - 2022 spent a long time researching:

" It is not clear how long it has been a pub as previous census documents did not provide sufficient detail. It could have been a pub prior to the 1870’s. In 1851 the same owner was listed in the census as a beer house keeper, but the pub was not named, nor was the address obvious. In the 1901 census the landlord was listed as a beerhouse keeper and farmer.

It is possible that it was originally built as a farmhouse and barn. One of the windows to the front elevation was clearly a large door at some point. The brickwork has since been filled. Many farmers would brew beer for their workers in times gone by. Many of those farms evolved into public houses.”

There's an OS benchmark on the exposed brickwork at the end of the building near the entrance to the carpark. It's very old but can still be seen.

The pub, now run by Sarah and Matt, offers fantastic locally sourced food and is dog-friendly. They also host a quiz on Sundays.

1858 Murder of a gamekeeper
The Times, Nov 23, 1858; pg.6; Issue 23158; col F

Full Text: Copyright 1858, The Times

from Kathryn Handley, received Feb 2025:

MURDER OF A GAMEKEEPER. – A farmer named Thomas Brown Birkett, residing on his own freehold at Barnby-on-the-Willows, about five miles from Newark, has been committed to Nottingham Gaol, charged, on the finding of a coroner’s jury, with the wilful murder of a young man named William Watmore, 29 years of age, in the employ of Mr. Henry Gilbert, of the Manor House Farm, near the above village, as one of his watchers. The circumstances of the case as elicited at the inquest, are as follows:-
Mr. Gilbert’s estate, consisting of 900 acres of land, adjoins the freehold of the accused, which is about 95 acres in extent. The latter has been in the habit of shooting and trapping game on his own land, and a
short time ago several steel traps which he had set in one of his fields near a cover belonging to a gentleman named Thorpe were sprung and thrown into the adjoining wood. One of Birkett’s men saw the
traps removed, and in consequence of his information two of Mr. Thorpe’s keepers were prosecuted and sent to trial at the quarter sessions, but the magistrate would not allow the case to go to the jury, and the defendants were discharged. Much sympathy was shown for Birkett at this result of the case, and a public subscription was got up in Newark to defray his expenses. Subsequently, it appears, Birkett suspected that William Watmore, the deceased, had taken his traps, and Birkett had been heard to express vindictive feelings towards him. On Thursday night last the deceased and a labourer named Benjamin
Vessey, who occasionally assists in watching, went out on Mr. Gilbert’s lands, and after taking a few rabbits, they encountered Birkett who was out shooting, the night being moonlight. Birkett accused Watmore of having taken his traps, and on the latter denying the charge, some altercation followed, and the two watchers went up to the gate which separated Mr. Gilbert’s and Birkett’s lands. Watmore leaned his left arm on the top of the gate, when Birkett said, “I want to know where those traps of mine is?” Watmore replied, “I haven’t got the traps.” Birkett rejoined, “That’s all I want to know, “ and raising and cocking a double-barrel gun he had with him, he put it to his shoulder and shot the watcher dead. Vessey said to Birkett, “You’ve killed him!” “Well,” he repled “he was going to strike me with his stick.” But Vessey denied this adding, “What are you going to do?” Birkett told him to go and fetch some assistance, and that he would remain with the deceased. Mr. Gilbert and his household were aroused, and a medical man was sent for, but all assistance was useless, the unfortunate man being quite dead. Mr Gilbert and his son, who assisted to remove the body, were greatly distressed at the event and the former stated at the inquest, with deep emotion, that Watmore had been in his service for many years and was a most respectable man. Birkett was apprehended at his own house by one of the Nottinghamshire police shortly after the murder, when he confessed that he had shot the deceased, and took the policeman to the place to show him how the “accident,” as he called it, had occurred. To prove that the crime was premeditated, witnesses were called to speak to the threats the accused had been heard to make. Thomas Gaby, a boy in Birkett’s service, said, he heard his master say several times that he would give Watmore, and Mr Edward (son of Mr Gilbert), a charge as soon as he had a chance. Witness had also heard his master
offer to lay 10s. that Watmore would not be in Barnby six months. William Hough, a blacksmith, deposed that he had heard Birkett express his belief that Watmore had got his traps, and threaten to shoot him.
John Hill a wheelwright deposed that Birkett had declared to him he would “do” for Watmore the first chance he had. After hearing all the evidence, the jury considered for about three quarters of an hour, and
then returned a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Birkett. The prisoner, who had declined to say anything in his defence, had sat during the inquiry apparently unconscious of what was going on. The only remark
he made was, “Poor fellow, I’d rather have given £20, than it had happened.”

Cultural Impact

Barnby in the Willows' rich history, beautiful architecture, and vibrant community make it a wonderful place to explore. Whether you're interested in its medieval past, unique fossils, or simply enjoying a meal at the local pub, Barnby in the Willows offers a unique blend of past and present.

Further update on village below from Kathryn Handley, received Feb 2025:

Also I have attached the transcript from The Times of the murder in Barnby in 1858. - details added above

We used to enjoy the company of so many people whose ancestry was based in Barnby and we were excited when a descendant of William Watmore actually joined us in the pub one day and we were able to share this sensitive document with him. The home of the Birkett family is on the corner of Cross Lane and Front Street. I am certain it is now split into two homes, but one is called Birkett House.

I have also attached the Wright's directory of 1883 where it shows Thomas and Reuben Grocock at The Willow Tree. Thomas Grocock was a beerhouse keeper in the 1851 census, but the pub isn't named. In 1901 Reuben was landlord and is listed as beerhouse keeper and farmer. Many descendants of the Grococks visited over the years and some still lived in Newark when we were in residence. His son, also Reuben, was called to war in 1914 at the age of 19.

There were actually two pubs in Barnby at one point? The other was called The Nags Head, which is now Wymondley House at the end of Front Street. It was owned by John Vessey in 1841 and 1851.

There is no mention of it in The Wright's directory of 1883 so it may have closed and become a private dwelling prior to that.