JOHN BROWN [1815 - 1882]
BUILDER OF THE NEW CUTTHORPE
by Judith Stubbs
At the age of 25 years in 1840, he came to work as assistant agent on the Duke of Devonshire's Hardwick Estates and after a few years there, moved on to become chief agent to Sir Henry Hunloke on his Wingerworth Estate taking up residence in this Parish.
Soon after this appointment, he was appointed agent for several other estates including that of Mr. W.H., de Rodes of Barlborough and by perseverance he gradually formed a large and very extensive Land Agency business.
He went to live at Elmton Hill for a short while but purchased a large house at Rose Hill, Chesterfield in 1851, where he lived until his death in 1882. He had a wife, Catherine Thompson whom he married in 1850. They had one daughter Mary Kathleen, born in 1852.
It is possible that his connection with the Rodes family of Barlborough [connected by marriage to the Heathcotes of Cutthorpe] led to his purchase of the Cutthorpe Estates including Cutthorpe Hall and several other properties in 1846.
This estate covered about 350 acres plus large sections of the village. It stretched from Woodnook lane at Old Brampton across the Linacre Valley to Four Lane Ends at Upper Newbold. He purchased a farm at Upper Newbold which he leased to Mr/ Isaac Fisher, a basket maker, for £30 a year. A lease was granted in 1882 stating that Mr. Fisher had it from his father also called Isaac Fisher and another lease granted in 1915 between Mr. Samuel Fisher and Mrs. Kathleen Mary Turner, John's daughter. This house had been bought in April 1869, by John Brown from Mr. Thomas Webster [Cutthorpe Diary]
In 1860, when the Volunteer movement was in its infancy, John Brown was the principal mover in the establishment in Chesterfield, of a mounted Volunteer Corps. Of which he became Captain for several years and playing an important part in the Baron de Cumin riots in 1862.
These riots were caused by the Baron who entered Chesterfield on the 30th June 1862, preaching against Popery, which deeply offended the Irish population of Chesterfield. The Baron, who was lodging in the Elder Yard, came out of his lodgings and made his way towards the Market Hall with the intention of preaching. The Irish were waiting for him, booing and shouting at him and brandishing their shillelaghs, forcing him to take refuge in the offices of the 'Courier' in High Street.
It was only after the reassurance of Superintendent Radford, in whom the people had great faith, that the Baron, a small but sturdy man, was conducted to safety down South Street to the Municipal Offices and returned to his lodgings at midnight, heavily disguised.
After a second night's fighting, the Baron was persuaded to leave Chesterfield, but no before a dangerous situation had arisen. The Mayor, William Drabble, stood on the town pump pleading for peace and the Riot Act was read but as the fury increased, it was agree that more force was needed to control them.
At this time, the Chesterfield Yeomanry were drilling and their help was called for to quell the riot. John Brown was Captain at this time and led the mounted volunteers backed up by the Foot Soldiers with bayonets. The riot was described by Pendleton as a 'wild disorder' with soldiers being showered with stones and shillelaghs brandished, the men being urged to violence by loud voiced women. Finally the mob was dispersed in to the many years around 'Wood's Wine Vaults' which surrounded the Square.
John Brown was responsible for the re-building of much of Cutthorpe Village and in many ways it could be described as 'John Brown's Model Village'. He swept away the old, dirty cluttered housing of two or three hundred years which surrounded the square and built three distinctive stone houses the last being finished in the early 1880's. He also built two brick semi-detached cottages on the south side of the square and a row of houses now referred to as 'The Block' but once rejoicing in the name of 'The Poplars' with a tree at every gate. Every house had a polar tree at the garden gate which was still there until the beginning of the twentieth century.
John Brown was also responsible for the building of the stone school which is now referred to as the Village Institute. This was put up and opened with great ceremony by his Daughter Kathleen Mary in 1865. Kathleen, who was thirteen at the time, was surrounded by flower girls and led by a military band. In attendance was the Architect with the plans and bearing mallet, square and plumb rule. There were the first Derbyshire Mounted Corps in Uniform and the Cutthorpe Lodges; England's Glory and John Brown's own. The procession began at quarter to three o'clock p.m. and arrived at the site at 3.0 p.m. precisely. It began at Hancock's Corner, being the bottom of the Village now the top of Brockwell Lane by Abbey Farm and upon reaching the site, the 100th psalm, 'all people that on earth do dwell' was sung. It was then started that 'Miss Brown made appropriate remarks' after touching the stone with the trowel and Mr. Brown responded. A plaque to this effect is to be found on the side of the building.
After the this ceremonial the children of the Village were treated to a tea in the Refreshment Rooms whilst the ban played 'Rule Britannia'. After this a sumptuous tea was provided at 5.0 o'clock at Botham's Hotel at a cost of one shilling.
John Brown cared a great deal for the welfare of the people of Cutthorpe and did much to improve their lot with his new houses. Many of the people living in them, worked on his Cutthorpe Estate and in return, when times were hard, received a reduction in rents for a short while. Despite some changes to windows and doors, John Brown's houses have retained their distinctive design and many bear his crest high on the walls at the end of the gable as do the additions he made to Cutthorpe Hall on the south side. This crest carrying the words 'with prudence' has two shamrocks in the top right corner whilst the centre is crossed with three running lions from lower right to upper left and a further single shamrock on the bottom left corner.
In 1863 he first entered the Chesterfield Town Council and was re-elected in 1866 being defeated in 1869. By 1875 he had regained his seat and was finally elected Mayor of Chesterfield in November 1879 and then again in 1880 and 1881. He was chairman of the Sheffield Union Banking Company for several years before his death and also a chairman if the Dronfield Gas Company. He did a great deal of Social work with the Chesterfield Union Workhouse [became Scarsdale Hospital] where he did much to care for and amuse the inmates. He also donated a fountain to Chesterfield and helped erect a cabman's shelter.
In 1881, Mrs. Catherine Brown, his wife, died after a long illness and her husband followed her after a short illness in 1882. Whilst serving in his capacity of Mayor of Chesterfield, he suffered a stroke from which he never recovered, dying only a few days later. His funeral took place at Old Brampton Church on Saturday, 27th May and was attended by the members of the Council in force.
His daughter, Kathleen Mary, married Mr. Frederick Butcher, a Sheffield manufacturer and during her father's lifetime they lived at Norton Leys Hall, Sheffield. After John Brown's death, she moved back to her old home at Rose Hill and when her husband died she re-married a Major Turner, one time headmaster of Staveley Grammar School. She remained at Rose Hill until her own death on 6th June 1930 aged 78 years. At her death she had one son, Mr. Frederick John Butcher, living at Cutthorpe Hall and the house on Rose Hill was sold to Chesterfield Corporation, demolished and became the site of the present Chesterfield Town Hall.
Her funeral was attended by her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Butcher, Miss Butcher, her granddaughter and Mr. Frank Nesfield Butcher her grandson accompanied by a cousin, Miss Richardson from Woking.
[Sources of Information: Derbyshire Times
Modern Chesterfield by J. Pendleton - published 1903
Memoirs of a deceased member of Chesterfield Council
A Cutthorpe Diary kept by W. Barnes 1865-1869
The private papers of the Botham Family.]
Extract taken from The History of Cutthorpe Village part III (c) Judith Stubbs