Rolleston and its Famous Occupants

 

"Rolleston (also known as Roulston) is an ancient village on a rivulet, about a mile S of the River Dove, and four miles NNW of Burton on Trent, comprising within its parish the two townships of Rolleston and Anslow, the former containing 2020 acres and 519 souls.  And the latter 1920 acres and 278 souls.  Of the land, about 930 acres were allotted from Needwood Forest and include Rolleston Park, which belongs ecclesiastically to Tutbury. 

Sir Oswald Mosley M.P. 2nd Baronet, a British Facist and Part Leader who resides at the Hall, a handsome mansion between the park and the village, is the principal landowner and lord of the manor, which comprises the whole parish, and was anciently held by a family of its own name, from whom it passed to the family of Mosley.

Needwood House, about four miles W of Burton on Trent and SW of Rolleston, is the seat of Captain Tennant, and is in this parish, as also are East Lodge, the seat of the Tonman Mosley, Esq, and Craythorn, the seat of Miss Thornewill of Dovecliff Hall.

We have had famous people living around Needwood Forest.  They are Lady Sophia Des Vieux of Drakelow, Admiral Meynell of Hoar Cross, Major Chetwynd of Brocton Hall, Sir Richard Every of Egginton Hall, Lord Vernon of Sudbury, Lord Burton-Michael Arthur Bass, Mr Hamar Alfred Bass etc.  There are five M.P.s.   A lot of local famous names are Higgott, Holbrook, Hopkins, Robinson, Shelly and Whetton.  There are also countless Aristocrats who used to live locally as well.  A lot of these famous Halls and residences have now been demolished. 

We have had famous visitors staying around Needwood Forest such as Samuel Johnson, Joseph Wright, Francis Noel Clarke Mundy and Anna Seward, Lady Alice Stanley, Hon. Col. Legge, Marquis of Soveral, Duchess of Devonshire, Lord Elcho, H.M. King Edward VII, H.M. Queen Alexandra, Lady Mar, Prince and Princess Henry of Pless, Lady Desborough, Lady de Grey, Mrs Alice Keppel, Lilly Langtry and Edward Milner among many guests.

Anslow township extends into Needwood Forest, and includes the hamlets of Anslow and Stockley Ridding, about three miles SW of Rolleston, part of Callingwood, three and a half miles W of Burton, and many scattered houses, on the eastern side of the now highly cultivated forest".

"Rolleston Church, dedicated to St Mary, is an ancient structure, partly in the Norman style, and was throughly repaired about 25 years ago.  The rectory is in the patronage of Sir Oswald Mosley, and incumbency of the Rev. PP. Mosley, rural dean of Tutbury.  The Wesleyans have a small chapel in the village".

H.M. King Edward was a frequent visitor while hunting at Rangemore Hall, Egginton Hall and possibly Byrkley Lodge with H.M. Queen Alexandra.  The Duchy of Lancaster is in the possession of the Royal Family even to this day, to make income to support the monarchy.  Prince Charles who owns the Duchy of Cornwall, sometimes drink at the Meynell Ingram Arms, a country pub nearby.  The reason for him visiting the area, was probably that, he is acting on behalf of the Queen for the Duchy of Lancaster.

Needwood Forest have attracted a lot of famous visitors who are artists, poets and writers as a favourite haunt.  They find Needwood Forest  peaceful and beautiful to work in.  Their works later did become famous.  Such as Samuel Johnson, Francis Noel Clarke Mundy, Anna Seward, Joseph Wright, Lilly Langtry, Edward Milner and many more.