For nearly five centuries the bells of St. John the Baptist Church have marked the rhythm of village life. From the two bells recorded in 1553 to the six-bell ring heard today, their story reflects changing technology, war, restoration and the determination of local people to preserve a cherished tradition. This article traces the history of the church bells and the people who kept them ringing.
Category: Miscellaneous
Discovery of a vault under the chancel of Armitage Church
In 2009, the accidental rediscovery of a hidden vault beneath the chancel of St. John the Baptist Church prompted an investigation into its origins. In this guest article, the late Harry Thornton traces the evidence behind the discovery and explains why the vault is thought to belong to the Lister family of Hawkesyard.
Armitage Lodge
Once one of the finest houses in Armitage, Armitage Lodge stood for centuries as the home of some of the parish’s most influential families. This article traces its evolution from its Tudor origins through its Georgian transformation and later ownership by figures such as Thomas Birch and Royal Doulton’s Cuthbert Bailey, before recounting its tragic destruction by mining subsidence in 1975. It is the story of a remarkable house that should still stand today.
The Towers
Evidence challenges the widely held belief that Rev. Francis Wilson built The Towers in the 1830s. Clues include architectural features, earlier property records, and stylistic differences from Wilson’s confirmed constructions. Historical auctions and renovations highlight the estate’s complex evolution, from a prominent residence to its varied uses in the 20th century.
Thomas William White
Thomas William White devoted much of his long life to serving Armitage and Handsacre. Methodist preacher, parish councillor, school manager and community leader, he became one of the village’s most respected public figures during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This article explores his commitment to faith, education and local government, revealing how quiet service and civic responsibility helped shape the life of the parish for more than half a century.
Problems for a Rector
In 1662 the Rector of Armitage faced an impossible choice. To remain in office he had to publicly accept the restored Church of England, but to do so meant abandoning beliefs he held deeply. This article tells the story of Nathaniel Mansfield, the local minister who sacrificed his home, income and position rather than compromise his conscience.
Thomas Bond Part 3 – brickmaker
Bankruptcy did not bring Thomas Bond’s story to an end. Beginning again in 1819, he rebuilt his life as a brickmaker, establishing a successful business in Handsacre that supported his growing family for many years. This concluding article follows Bond’s remarkable recovery after financial ruin, revealing how determination and enterprise enabled one of Armitage’s earliest industrial pioneers to secure a lasting place in the parish’s history.
Thomas Bond Part 2 – maltster, brickmaker, potter and bankrupt
Imprisonment for debt might have ended Thomas Bond’s ambitions, but instead it marked the beginning of a determined attempt to rebuild his fortunes. Returning to Armitage, he revived his malting and brickmaking businesses while expanding into pottery manufacture. Despite energy and enterprise, financial pressures continued to mount, culminating in bankruptcy. This second part of Bond’s story reveals both the risks of early nineteenth-century business and the uncertain beginnings of Armitage’s pottery industry.
The founding of Armitage potbank
For decades the origins of Armitage Pottery appeared well understood. Yet newly available documents, forgotten newspaper reports and surviving estate records reveal a more complicated picture. By piecing together the evidence, this article explores who established the pottery, how it developed and why its earliest history has been misunderstood.
Thomas Bond Part 1 – maltster, brickmaker, potter and gaolbird
Thomas Bond is generally credited with founding Armitage’s first pottery, but his story began long before pottery became his livelihood. Maltster, brickmaker, canal carrier and entrepreneur, he pursued a succession of ambitious ventures while navigating debt, failed partnerships and imprisonment. Drawing on newly available documentary evidence, this article explores the remarkable life of the man whose enterprise marked the beginning of Armitage’s pottery industry.