Hawksworth, Nottinghamshire

Toponomy

The place-name Hawksworth seems to contain an Old English personal name, Hoc, + worð (Old English), an enclosure . .so 'Hoc's enclosure'. Later the first element was altered through the influence of the Old Norse haukr , a 'hawk'. Hawksworth appears in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Hochesuorde and Huchesworde.

Heritage

Historically, Hawksworth lay in Bingham Wapentake or hundred until 1894, when it joined Bingham Rural District under a general reform of local government. A Neolithic axe head was found at Glebe Farm in 1916. The village is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book with a taxable value in total of 1.7 geld units.

The Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Hawksworth, listed Grade II*, is Norman in origin, with an elaborate tympanum, but was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century. There is a Saxon cross shaft. The rebuilding of the church took place in 1812–13 (nave), 1837 (north aisle) and 1851 (chancel). The brick tower dates from the 17th century.

The village has five other Grade II buildings, all in Town Street: walls at Top Farm, Hawksworth Manor House and pigeoncote, Hawksworth Place (the former rectory) and adjoining walls, model farm buildings at Top Farm, and Yew Tree Farm and adjoining wall.

Enclosure took place in 1761. The population in 1870–72 was given as 176 and the number of houses as 40.

The National School built in 1844 is now a private house, as is the Wesleyan chapel of 1883. The old telephone kiosk is used as a free book exchange. Hawksworth village has been a conservation area since February 2010.

Notable person

George Storer MP (1814–1888), a Conservative politician, was born in the village.

Longstanding firm

The predecessor of the firm of W. B. Stubbs (Hawksworth) Ltd was founded in 1835 by a local blacksmith. These days it makes a variety of equipment for stables.

Transport and facilities

Hawksworth lies 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the A46 road between Leicester and Newark on Trent. It has a bus service consisting of two runs each way on Tuesdays and Thursdays, serving Lowdham, Bingham, Orston and Bottesford. The nearest frequent daily bus service is between Bingham (5 miles, 8 km) and Nottingham. The nearest station is at Aslockton (3 miles, 4.8 km), which has roughly two-hourly services to Nottingham, Grantham and beyond.

There is a monthly church service at the Anglican parish church, at 9 a. m. on the fourth Sunday in the month. Scarrington Methodist Church (1.8 miles, 2.9 km) has a service every second Sunday and monthly Bible study.

There are primary schools at Aslockton (3 miles, 4.8 km) and Orston (3.2 miles, 5.1 km), and primary and secondary schools at Bingham (5 miles, 8 km). Bingham also has the nearest shopping and medical facilities. The closest pubs are the Royal Oak at Car Colston (2.7 miles, 4.3 km) and the Cranmer Arms at Aslockton.