Robert Thoroton
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Thoroton was an English
antiquary
, mainly remembered for his county history
, The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire (1677).
family, which took its name from Thoroton
, near Newark. He resided mainly at another village in the same neighborhood, Car Colston
, where he practised as a physician
and where he lived the life of a country gentleman. He took very little part in the Civil War
, although his sympathies were with the royalists
, but as a magistrate he was very active in taking proceedings against the Quakers.
In 1667 Thoroton, aided by a band of helpers, began to work upon his great county history
, The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire. This was published in London in 1677; it was dedicated to the eminent antiquarian William Dugdale
and was illustrated by engravings by W. Hollar. It was Dugdale who had urged Thoroton to complete the work of history begun by Thoroton's father-in-law.
Preparing for his death, Dr. Robert Thoroton had ordered made, some six years before his death, an elaborate carved stone coffin with the various heraldic shields of his ancestors incised upon it. He was buried in the coffin, but during restoration work on the chancel of St. Mary's Church in Car Colston in 1845, Thoroton's stone coffin was unearthed. The coffin, made of red Mansfield stone, was opened and Dr. Thoroton's skull was removed and placed in a shop in the village as a 'curiosity.' The vandalism was subsequently discovered, and the local vicar ordered the remains to be collected, replaced within the coffin and reinterred.
In 1797 a new edition of the Antiquities was published by John Throsby
(1740–1803), who added an additional volume.
was founded in honour of the antiquarian, its object being to promote the study of the history and antiquities of Nottinghamshire. Under its auspices annual volumes of Transactions and several volumes of Records have been published, and much valuable work has been done.
A brass tablet to the memory of Thoroton has been placed in Car Colston church.
Myles Hildyard Thoroton, a descendant of the family who lived at Flintham Hall, Flintham
, and a descendant of Robert Thoroton's brother and heir, was president of the Thoroton Society for many years until his death in 2005.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
antiquary
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, mainly remembered for his county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
, The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire (1677).
Life
He belonged to an old NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
family, which took its name from Thoroton
Thoroton
Thoroton is a small village located in the parish of Thoroton in Rushcliffe, Nottingham, United Kingdom and lies along the banks of the River Smite. Thoroton has a population of 110 and was granted conservation area status in 1974. It is served by St. Helena's Church, Thoroton.Thoroton is located...
, near Newark. He resided mainly at another village in the same neighborhood, Car Colston
Car Colston
Car Colston is a village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire. It is just off the A46 north of Bingham and west of East Bridgford....
, where he practised as a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and where he lived the life of a country gentleman. He took very little part in the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, although his sympathies were with the royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
, but as a magistrate he was very active in taking proceedings against the Quakers.
In 1667 Thoroton, aided by a band of helpers, began to work upon his great county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
, The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire. This was published in London in 1677; it was dedicated to the eminent antiquarian William Dugdale
William Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
and was illustrated by engravings by W. Hollar. It was Dugdale who had urged Thoroton to complete the work of history begun by Thoroton's father-in-law.
Preparing for his death, Dr. Robert Thoroton had ordered made, some six years before his death, an elaborate carved stone coffin with the various heraldic shields of his ancestors incised upon it. He was buried in the coffin, but during restoration work on the chancel of St. Mary's Church in Car Colston in 1845, Thoroton's stone coffin was unearthed. The coffin, made of red Mansfield stone, was opened and Dr. Thoroton's skull was removed and placed in a shop in the village as a 'curiosity.' The vandalism was subsequently discovered, and the local vicar ordered the remains to be collected, replaced within the coffin and reinterred.
In 1797 a new edition of the Antiquities was published by John Throsby
John Throsby
John Throsby was an English antiquary.The son of Nicholas Throsby, alderman of Leicester and mayor in 1759, by Martha Mason, his second wife, was born at Leicester on 21 Dec. 1740, and baptised at St. Martin's Church there on 13 January following. In 1770 he was appointed parish clerk of St...
(1740–1803), who added an additional volume.
Legacy
In 1897 the Thoroton Society of NottinghamshireThoroton Society of Nottinghamshire
The Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire is Nottinghamshire’s principal historical and archaeological society.It was established in 1897, and takes its name from Dr Robert Thoroton who published the first county history of Nottinghamshire in 1677...
was founded in honour of the antiquarian, its object being to promote the study of the history and antiquities of Nottinghamshire. Under its auspices annual volumes of Transactions and several volumes of Records have been published, and much valuable work has been done.
A brass tablet to the memory of Thoroton has been placed in Car Colston church.
Myles Hildyard Thoroton, a descendant of the family who lived at Flintham Hall, Flintham
Flintham
Flintham is a village in Nottinghamshire within a few miles of Newark, opposite RAF Syerston on the A46. It has a population of circa 650 and a school, village hall, church and cricket pavilion. It has one pub, the on . It also has a community shop run by volunteers called Flintham Community Shop,...
, and a descendant of Robert Thoroton's brother and heir, was president of the Thoroton Society for many years until his death in 2005.
Further reading
- http://books.google.com/books?id=gz4uAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT261&lpg=PT261&dq=%22robert+thoroton%22+screveton&source=web&ots=fmuqwx37uZ&sig=rfbmefTgyylGGU94hWg2wH_lsKo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result#PPR3,M1The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, Extracted out of Records, Original Evidences, Leiger-Books, Other Manuscripts, and Authentic Authorities, Robert Thoroton, Doctor of Physic, printed by Robert White, London, 1677]