Street Tales: Kaye's Walk Shooting

illustration: Mike Driver

Today, perhaps one of the quieter – and lesser known – pathways in the city, Kaye’s Walk runs along the north side of St Mary's Churchyard. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century as a way to ‘neatly’ enclose the churchyard on the north side. Prior to its construction, St Mary’s churchyard was a lot larger, reaching the mansions opposite. The street also gave pedestrians a path, which saved the churchyard from being used as a shortcut. It was named in honour of Reverend Sir Richard Kaye, who was Rector of Marylebone, Prebend of Southwell, Archdeacon of Nottingham and Prebend and Dean of Lincoln. He passed away in 1809 and was buried at Lincoln.

Today, Kaye's Walk is mainly occupied by businesses, but in the nineteenth century it was the home to many of Nottingham's rich and famous. William Trentham occupied the mansion at the corner of Kaye's Walk and St Mary's Gate around 1812. A hosier, he was a partner in the firm of Trentham, Tierney and Morton. He was already a notorious and hated character among the framework knitters of Nottingham.

The Luddite rebellions of the early nineteenth century saw disgruntled framework knitters smash up their machines and protest over low pay, poor working conditions and a lack of voting rights. At the height of the movement, it was William Trentham who they turned their protesting attention to. On the 27 April 1812,  while returning to his home on Kaye's Walk at about 9.45pm, he was shot while opening his front door. The Nottingham Date Book (published 1880) gives a full account of the incident:

“At about a quarter to ten o'clock at night, an attempt was made to murder Mr William Trentham, an extensive hosier in the town. The unfortunate gentleman had been at a convivial party at Mr Timm's, in Market Street, and was returning home to his residence, a very ancient mansion at the south-west corner of Kaye's Walk. He had knocked at the door for admittance, and while inside the porch waiting for the door being opened, two men stepped up to him from among the tombstones (Mr Trentham's house door facing the churchyard), and one of them instantly, without uttering a word, discharged at him the contents of a large horse-pistol. The ball entered his right breast, and passing obliquely, lodged near the shoulder.

The assassins, who were described by the sufferer, as 'very small men', instantly fled in different directions. Mr Trentham was assisted into his house, and Mr Wright, surgeon, of Pelham Street, succeeded in extracting the ball and ultimately restoring his patient to his former strength, though from the nature of the wound life for several days hung as it were in the balance. The Mayor issued a printed notice the next morning, offering a reward of 100 guineas to anyone giving information that might lead to the apprehension of either or both of the assassins; and a further reward of 500 guineas upon conviction. The reward, large as it was, was never claimed.”

After William Trentham's death in 1820, the house was taken by Mr Daft Smith Churchill, who, among other things, was one of the original directors of the General Cemetery. He lost his life in the wreck of the ship Forfarshire, off Fame Lighthouse in 1838, despite the gallant efforts of Grace Darling and her father to rescue the crew. His co-directors set up a great monument to him in the General Cemetery which can still be seen near the entrance from Derby Road. Upon his death, the house came into the hands of his son, who had the house demolished.

For more on Nottingham history, check out the Nottingham Hidden History website.

Nottingham Hidden History website