Extract from a London newspaper of 1787.

By a correfpondent we are informed, that a felf-taught plough-boy, named Claughton, aged 17, of Winthorpe, near Newark-upon-Trent, has lately been introduced to feveral of the firft painters and engravers in town, who are furprized at his drawings that have been laid before them. The Prefident of the Royal Society has generoufly given the young man apartments in his house in town, where he will be permitted to follow the natural bent of his genius. It was through the means of Roger Pocklington, Efq. of Winthorpe, that the young artift was drawn from obfcurity.


Claughton is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman conquest of 1066. I am unable to find any reference to this name in the Village Scrapbooks.

The use of the letter ‘f’ for the letter ‘s’. You can see an example of this on the memorial stone to Robert Taylor M.D. on the south wall in All Saints’ Church, Winthorpe.

In 1761, Dr. Robert Taylor (1710-1762) started to build Winthorpe Hall but died the following year leaving the building uncompleted.

Roger Pocklington, (1734-1810) the Newark banker, offered £8000 for the Hall Property if a Special Act of Parliament would set aside the will. This was done in 1765. That same year he purchased the partly built Winthorpe Hall and completed the main building, outbuildings and layout of the grounds.

Pat Finn. July 2010.