Guy Brighouse wrote in 1987:

John Holbrook, in his will of 1889, left £200 each to his nephews Henry, John, William, Peter, sons of his late brother, also Townend Cottage (Sawpit Lane/ West Road) to Emma Elson and M.A. Elson and to Fanny Barton, 5 cottages, no’s 30,32,34,36 and 38 Moor St – area 1 acre 13 poles. (Mr Holmes, builder, now occupies all this area – the cottages converted to workshops).   Fanny Barton was the Great Grandmother to the present “young” Billy, I think he is the 4^th generation “Billy Barton” to occupy the Butchers shop on the corner of Sitwell Street/Chapel Street (The Hollow).  J Holbrook also left a parcel of land on Dale Rd (Spondon Common/Spondon Moor) 1 acre 1 rood 30 poles then in the occupation of Thomas Elson (later “Snelson” ) Barton – (no relation of Mr B Barton, above).  In July 1932 this land was bought by Mr Dolman, who built the 5 bungalows and 4 houses, 29/41 Dale Rd.

The Holbrooks were a very old Spondon family of farmers.  In mid 1400 Johanne Spondune repaired the roofs of Dale Abbey Church and Chapel.  On a walk along  Sandy Lane (from Locko Park to Dale Road) notice a farm on your left (Grange Farm) it was once a monastic farm worked by the lay brothers from the Abbey of Dale.  In the 17^th century the farm became a Jesuit centre and was raided several times during the Civil War.  In 1903 a Roman Coffin & skeleton was dug up.  In 1950/60 during opencast mining, some handmade tools were found and also tree branches for pit props, and hollow tree trunks which had been used as water pipes; there were also ventilation shafts from very early workings.

When strip farming was practised, before the Enclosures were enforced in late 1700s, there was very little haymaking, so most of the cattle were slaughtered and salted down for winter meat.