This page contains additional information relating to Samuel Richards, son of Mathew and his wife Mary Richards nee Sore.  I have given him the title "Strelley Sam", because from my research he appears to have lived all his life in Strelley, in an area known as Strelley Park.

I have chosen to record this additional information on a separate page, so that the text on his two main pages flows more freely.  Furthermore there is some census information herein relating to his children and grandson, after his death.  It is not my intention to research his children in depth.

The footpath in the above image would have been used regularly by Samuel Richards and his family.  Likewise, other members of the Richards clan, his relatives, would have used the path because they too had lived in Strelley from at least 1761 and probably before that date.

This footpath met another footpath at a "T" junction.  This second footpath led from Strelley Park up to Kimberley.  It cannot be seen in the above image, but it was by the side of the hedgerow that can be seen growing left to right (adjoining sky!) towards the top of the image.

John Richards, the Head of the household in the census table below (next entry) was the grandson of Samuel Richards - "Strelley Sam" and his wife Mary Richards nee Robinson.

1871.  Babbington, Hamlet of Kimberley, parish of Greasley.
Census Reference: RG10/3477.  Page 76.

John Richards, the Head of the household in the census table below (next entry) was the grandson of Samuel Richards - "Strelley Sam" and his wife Mary Richards nee Robinson.

From 1871 to 1873, they were in Babbington and from 1875 to 1881 at least, they were living in Awsworth.  The villages of Awsworth, Babbington and Strelley are about 1500 metres apart.

1881.  Census for Kimberley in the parish of Greasley.

Since the last census, John Richards, grandson of Samuel Richards - "Strelley Sam" and his wife Mary Richards nee Robinson and their children, returned to Babbington and latterly back to Kimberley, where the 1891 census reveals they were living in Chapel Street.

1891.  Census.  Chapel Street, Kimberley parish of Greasley. Ref:  RG.12/2659.  Page 112.

Strelley Park pit was about 200 metres in front of the farm, whilst the miners houses were located to the left of the farm, as seen in our image.

Mention is made on this page of the hamlet of Babbington.

1830s.  The Babbington Estate dates from these years.  Thomas North lived at Babbington in Babbington House prior to moving to Basford Hall.

1840s.  He built houses (late 1840s) for his employees, in pairs, at a cost of £50 each.  All these houses are still here today, but drastically altered, which is a shame!

1845.  Thomas North built a chapel for his workforce at Babbington.

1930.  By this year, the roof was falling in and the chapel was subsequently demolished.  The Edge family bought it from North, I believe.

The 'tips' in the fields today can be seen - Stanton Ironwork took the shafts over, which were in every field, from Thomas North for 'ironstone mining'.

At the hamlet of Babbington there is an historical map of the area, which is well worth studying, showing the sites of all the mines, houses, farms, chapel etc.

This page is on going as at March 2006.