Information on Barnby during this period is limited. George Sharpe of Barnby was the High Sheriff of Nottingham in 1714 and the Willow Tree public house was built in 1738.
The Willow Tree
V R Webster visited Barnby in 1967 and made the following comments:
The buildings on front street seem to indicate a surge of activity in the mid 18th century, plus or minus 30 years. Yellow and red speckled brickwork, bow headed windows (1750-1820), 1 or 2 sash windows and the chimneys are typical features. The Old School House was probably a landless labourers cottage and dates from approximately 1770.
The Old School House
Wymondley House on Front Street is thought to have been built in 1753. When auctioned in 1838 it was known as ‘The Nag’s Head’ and was described as a ‘beer house’.
Wymondley House
The Leadenham Turnpike (the current A17) was built in 1758 by an Act of Parliament. The route through Coddington meant climbing Beacon Hill, a hard route for heavily laden carts. The hill was ‘lowered’ in 1850 but would still need extra horse teams to get the wagons up the hill. Financing the roads would have been through tolls and there was a tollhouse opposite the current Barnby Manor. Prior to construction of the Turnpike it is believed that the Sleaford Road was through Barnby-in-the-Willows, Sutton, Stragglethorpe and onto Leadenham. A probable route can still be made out on the current Ordnance Survey maps using minor roads and footpaths.
Nottinghamshire Archives holds the Parish Accounts from 1726 to 1759. They cover detailed disbursements for this period. There was an annual parish officer in Barnby, described as the 'Constable', whose accounts relate to the duties of churchwarden, overseers of the poor, constables and surveyors of highways. Of note is an entry for 22nd December 1728 for John Main, Constable, 'to a man in Clapool (sic) for one otter - 1 shilling. Also in 1752 Gervas Vessy was paid 1 shilling for 'my oath'. There are also references to 'clandestine marriages' with payments of 1 shilling.
Last updated: 10 February 2001