"Bonsall where Kings and Prices are buried, and each man has his own marble bridge over the river. So the
old jest ran, followed by the explanation that several families of the name King and Prince lived in the village,
and that a tiny stream runs down the gutter of the principal street"[1].
Nether Green is on the Clatterway, the road leading up from
the Via Gellia and the Pig of Lead into the centre of the
village of Bonsall. The former Coach House of Nether Green
House is the building behind the street lamp (centre of picture).
You can also see the side of Nether Green House, which is
the property with the double bay window. This house was built
by and lived in by the web mistress's Clay relatives from
the end of the eighteenth century until the 1870s; they were
millers by trade and the original mill stone is still in
the garden. On the 1899 OS map a fountain is shown within
the grounds of Nether Green House; this fountain is still fed
by a natural water supply[2].
Robert Clay (1799-1874) was born and died at the house.
He was almost certainly the Robert who repaired Nether
Green well in 1860 although, unfortunately, the surname of
the restorer is no longer readable so it cannot be proved.
Nevertheless, there were few Roberts in Bonsall at that time
with sufficient means to pay for the work[2].
Below Nether Green House are some stone built cottages and
my great aunt, Mrs. Chamberlain, lived in one of them - Nether
Green Cottage - in the 1920's and 1930's. It was always described as being
"opposite the bottom end of Slaley Lane"'; the signpost
is pointing towards Slaley. As for the stream mentioned in
the quotation above, it is possible the author was referring
to the roadside in front of Nether Green House and The Cascades,
as there are still cobbles in the gutter and little "bridges"
over it to get to the houses. There is also a stream to the
rear of the properties, between the houses and the wooded rock
face.
Opposite Nether Green House is the lodge of a
former large mansion called The Study, the home of Mrs. Prince
for many years. Mrs. Prince was a philanthropist and every
local society or body had received money and support from her.
Almost the last thing she did before her death in 1900 was
to arrange an extension to Bonsall's burial ground. She was
laid to rest in the family vault at St. James' church and the
words "Margaret
Prince, died January 10th, aged 77 years" were inscribed
on her coffin[3].
Following the death of Miss Prince in 1927 The Study was offered
for sale, but the Lot was withdrawn[4].
The property was then empty and reportedly
"went to rack and ruin" though it was subsequently
deemed to be the best of a number of houses in the village
that were eventually demolished[5].
The very distinctive Study Lodge, with its crenellations
around the roof and its Gothic windows, is a family home today.
The postcard probably dates from around 1930, though could
be a little later as the entrance to The Study and the area
round the Lodge looks somewhat neglected.
Elsewhere on this web site:
 Bonsall
in Kelly's 1891 Directory
Pigot's
1828-9 Directory, with Matlock, Matlock Bath and Darley includes
Bonsall names.
Pigot's
1831 Directory, with Matlock and Matlock Bath, includes Bonsall
names.
Pigot's
Directory, 1842, also with Matlock and Matlock Bath, includes
Bonsall names.
Matlock
Charities
 
Our Genealogy includes a photo of Robert Clay's memorial
and an image of the family crest.
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