Letwell

It is one of four townships (the others being Firbeck, Gildingwells and Woodsetts) that appear to have been formed out of the manor of Laughton in the early Middle Ages.

The manor of Letwell came to belong to a family called de Laughton by whom it was transferred to the Mauleverers in the 15th century. In 1662 the manor was sold to Sir Ralph Knight who had purchased an estate at Langold. Knight’s daughter married Richard Taylor of Wallingwells and their daughter and heiress, Bridget, married Thomas White of Tuxford in 1698. Letwell remained part of the White’s estates until they were sold in 1926.

By 1379 the population was around 100, of whom 44 were assessed for payment of the Poll Tax. Top of the local social pyramid was John de Sutton, merchant, and Dionisia his wife,who paid 12d. Everyone else paid the standard 4d.

The church of St Peter was built c1375 by John Mauleverer. The church was later rebuilt in 1820 at the expense of Henry Gally Knight but in 1867 the church and church records were destroyed by fire. Only the tower remained to be incorporated into the new church that was provided by Sir Thomas Wollaston White.The Church Hall started life as a malthouse to South Farm. In 1870 Mrs Gally Knight had the building converted into a school for the village children.

The village has never been large and there was only 107 in 1811. A 19th century peak population of 139 was reached in 1861 and 1871. Thereafter the population declined to a low of 68 in 1931 before it started to climb again. A total of 131 inhabitants were recorded in both 1981 and 1991.

(Extracted from:- R.M.B.C, Patchwork of parishes, 1997)

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