Bidwell Crescent

The Reverend Reginald Alfred Bidwell was born during 1885, the youngest son of the late Charles Bidwell of Ely. The rector was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge where he gained an MA. He was ordained deacon in 1908 and priest in 1910 and his earlier positions were at the Parish of Tottenham and at St George’s, Camberwell in London. He accepted the living of Gotham Church in 1915 and stayed as rector until 1925. After ten years in Gotham he was appointed vicar of Gainsford in the diocese of Durham, returning to Nottinghamshire in 1942 taking a living at Barton and Thrumpton.
He died at Barton Rectory in February, 1947. He had never married but undertook the role of Godfather to a number of village children.

Bidwell Crescent was part of the first major council building programme after the Second World War and was substantially completed during 1948-9 with the construction of 24 two-storey council houses shortly after the former rector died.