Background
He married Suzanna Lynam, daughter of William Lynam, of Eakring, on 22 June 1778 in Eakring.
He married Suzanna Lynam, daughter of William Lynam, of Eakring, on 22 June 1778 in Eakring.
He was the eldest child of Samuel Stretton and was baptised at Lenton on April 20, 1755. The marriage produced six children, all of whom were given Christian names starting with “South”. Stella, October 1779 - 5 November 1818
Sempronius, 15 May 1781 - 6 February 1842
Severus, 7 November 1783 - 19 December 1785
Salcia, born December 1784
Sabina, born July 1787
Severus William Lynam Stretton May 1793 - 22 November 1884
He died in his house at Lenton Priory on 12 March 1828.
His death was announced in the Nottingham Journal
“On Wednesday, the 12th Institute, in the 73 rd year of his age, after a long and painful affliction, sustained with true Christian fortitude and resignation, William Stretton, Esq., of Lenton Priory.
Words would but faintly convey the deep grief which his irreparable loss has occasioned to those who knew his worth. In him antiquarians have lost a fund of general and useful knowledge, and the poor a warm and benevolent friend.
He started as an architect and builder in Nottingham in partnership with his father, and took over the business when his father retired. In 1799 he is listed as a builder on the Long Row,
He rebuilt the Nottingham Exchange and restored Street Mary"s Church, Nottingham and Street Peter"s Church, Nottingham.
He built Saint James" Church, Standard Hill in 1808 and three houses between 1810 and 1814 on Standard Hill when this area was first developed.
He acquired a portion of land which had previously been the site of Lenton Priory and built a house there which he called Lenton Priory. This was occupied by the Sisters of Nazareth from 1880 who extended lieutenant lieutenant has now been restored as part of a housing development, following the sale of the site by the Sisters of Nazareth.
He made a series of excavations on the site of Lenton Priory and discovered a magnificent Norman font which is now housed in Holy Trinity Church, Lenton.
The registers of Saint Mary"s Church, Nottingham, show that he was Churchwarden from Easter 1802 to Easter 1806. During his residence at Lenton Mr.
Stretton took an active interest in all public matters, and filled the several parish offices in an efficient manner. He held the two offices of Overseer of the Poor and Surveyor of Highways in 1806 and was Churchwarden in 1810 and 1811.
In 1815 he was appointed one of the Overseers of the Poor for Standard Hill.