Osmond Wainwright
Osmond Frederick Wainwright (1849-1935)
was a forester on the Belton estate from 1886 to 1924. His obituary, below, provides the salient details of his life. He wrote ten articles for the Grantham Journal in 1923 collected here and transcribed by one of his descendants and Belton Researcher, Dawn Bowskill. They provide a fascinating insight to the Belton landscape, some of which has gone, but much remains.
Osmond published Homely Musings in 1922, a book of prose and poems, available to read via the link.
Grantham Journal 13th July, 1935
Osmond also wrote articles for other newspapers such as the Burton Observer and Chronicle 10 March 1927. Here he recalls a stroll through Belton Park. The newspaper comments that this place was well-known to Burton men as their wartime training camp.
He would lead scientific rambles across Brownlow land for the Grantham Scientific Society the forerunner of the Grantham Museum.
Osmond's precise address at Belton is not given in any of the censuses, but has him living in Belton on the Ancaster Road, now Barkston Heath Lane, likely at Foresters Cottage, left. This Grade II listed cottage was auctioned off as a derelict building in 1982 by the Brownlow estate. It is restored as a private house.
This may have been the Lodge for the northern end of William Emes' 18th century coach road.
