Talk:Ruddington

history of ruddington

It is likely that the current location of Ruddington was first settled by the Saxons in around 550 AD. The name Ruddington comes from the Saxon for homestead (ton) of Ruddingas (Rudda’s people). Prior to the Saxon settlement at Ruddington there is evidence to suggest Bronze and Iron Age occupation at the Flawford Churchyard located about 1½ miles to the East of Ruddington, this site then became a Roman Villa and eventually the site of a Saxon church. At the time of the Domesday Book it is estimated the village would have had a population of around 250 and during the Middle Ages would have been farmed on the open field system. This continued into the 17th Century and by 1600 the population was around 320. There were 4 large fields: Micklebarrow field, Mill field, Collicross field and Thornditch field, each would have been divided into narrow strips which would have been divided amongst the village. In 1698 there was a partial enclosure of the Thornditch field which became pasture land. In 1767 there was a Parliamentary enclosure which resulted in the large fields being split into smaller fields and enclosed with hedgerows. In 1773 the Church at Flawford was demolished and the chapel in Ruddington became the parish church of St. Peter. From this point onwards the village moved away from agriculture towards framework knitting and eventually other trades as the main source of income and employment, this resulted in a dramatic rise in population. By 1801 the population was 868 and over the next Century the population grew to 2500. This period of growth resulted in many of the small terraces which characterise the centre of Ruddington and resulted in a number of Schools and Methodist chapels being built. The Great Central Railway began running goods in July 1898 and the line was officially opened in March 1899. This attracted the building of a number of textile factories, predominantly for lace and a number of large commuter properties such as those on Manor Park and Clifton Road. During World War II an Ordnance Supply and Disposal Depot was opened in Ruddington and persisted until the 1980’s. This area was reclaimed and is now the site of the Business and Country Park. Following the Second World War the village again expanded rapidly with the building of a number of Housing Estates. This has continued to this day with further development taking place beyond the railway line —Preceding unsigned comment added by Darren0108 (talk • contribs) 20:30, 10 August 2010 (UTC)