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Village History |
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Finningley is a traditional village with reminders of the 19th century around the village green, pond and church. The name Finiglei or Finningley, as it is now known, means clearing in the fen. In the Doomsday Book it appears that Gilbert Tison held the manor of Finglei, and had "there half a plough and fifteen villanes and four bordars, having five ploughs and a half, wood pasture two miles long and two broad...". Sir Martin Frobisher, one of Queen Elizabeth's most noted admirals, drew his first breath in Finningley Grange, later known as Finningley Hall. In the 17th century, the Harvey family of lckwell, Bury, Bedfordshire took over the Finningley Manor and resided at the Hall until the late 19th century. At one time this residence was occupied by the Parker Rhodes family. The village school (now the village hall) opened in 1855, transferring to the Silver Birch Grove premises in 1965. Housing in the village formerly consisted mainly of old farm cottages and Council houses, built just after the Second World War, on Chapel Lane and Wroot Road. During the late 1950s Council houses were erected on Lindley Road. There was very little private housing development until the early 1960s, since when several small private estates have been built. Finningley R.A.F. base opened before the second world war, and the annual open days of the sixties onwards were always characterised by massive crowds, bringing the village to a standstill. Possibly the most remembered aircraft which flew from this station were the noisy Vulcan bombers. Local employment was formerly on the farms, in the building trade, the sand and gravel quarries, or as Civil Servants at the R.A.F. base. The latter also provided a number of village women with cleaning jobs. The R.A.F. base has now closed and the other industries have declined, such that Finningley is now mainly a dormitory village, residents commuting varying distances to their places of work. However, the former R.A.F. base is now being developed as an international airport, which will bring further job prospects back to the area, although many residents are concerned at the prospect of increased noise pollution and associated road traffic. |
From the Archives - Thanks to Cynthia Scully
FINNINGLEY BLAZE.
Church Institute and Contents Destroyed.
WORKER BURNED IN ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT FLAMES.
Finningley Church Institute was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday, and damage done to the extent of over £400. A band of voluntary workers were decorating the building to represent a Swiss Cottage, when some boiling tar spilled on to the stove, ignited, and set the wooden framework of the building on fire. One of the workers, R. Brown attempted to throw the bucket through the door, but the tar flowed on to the floor and all attempts to check the blaze were unsuccessful. Mr. Brown was badly burned about the face and hands and suffered from shock.
Realising that it was impossible to check the flames, the villagers left the building to burn itself out.
Valuable furniture was destroyed as also was a billiard table, valued at £150, presented by a former Rector.
When interviewed by a “Gazette” representative, the Rector (the Rev. M.J Eland) said that the fire was more serious in view of the fact that the insurance company would not issue a policy because the building was surrounded by a wooden panelling and contained a stove.
“I shall not be content till we have another institute- a stone one which can be insured”, he continued” I don’t know where we shall get the money, but we must do so somehow. It is a sad occurrence, because we are now getting the young people of the village to take an interest in the gatherings which we have. I went to Retford at midday. The young men were then turning the building into a ‘Swiss’ cottage. When I returned all that was left of the ‘Swiss’ cottage was a quantity of corrugated iron sheets”.
Doncaster Gazette Friday November 8, 1929
Quotes from Finningley and Blaxton 1900-1974 by John New
Village Institute (Chronicle 15/9/1932)
Finningley is again without a village Institute for the coming winter, owing to the previous building being burned down some two or three years ago, but the fund is rising gradually and now stands at between £30 and £40. Arrangements are being made in the villages for more functions to be held this winter to augment the sum.
Church Hall (Chronicle 19/10/1939)
The Church Hall Committee has decided the need for a hall is greater than ever, and a whist drive is to be held at the Rectory every Friday to raise funds.
