66-488: The Bassetlaw Museum is a museum in Retford , Nottinghamshire which documents the history of North Nottinghamshire from the earliest times to the present day. It is situated on Grove Street, Retford. The Bassetlaw Museum was created in 1983 and has a number of collections donated by people in the local area. The collections include local history, archaeology, decorative and fine art, agriculture, costume and textiles. The museum
132-452: A Norman baron who was granted large amounts of land in what had been Anglo-Saxon Mercia. The Domesday Book does not distinguish between East Retford and West Retford, and it is thought that the Retford referred to in the book was West Retford. The Retford described was a relatively small settlement, with no mention of urban trades or burgesses . East Retford was established as a new town on
198-648: A "Street" to the Roman Station of Lindum, or Lincoln, which crossed the River Trent at Agelocum, now Littleborough, and the River Idle by a Ford, still used as a watering place for horses, near West Retford Bridge; hence the place would be known as the Street-Ford, or Streteford." The historical importance of the town as a river crossing is underlined by the fact that one of the main streets is named 'Bridgegate'. The town
264-424: A full valid postcode, locality often prevents ambiguity where there is more than one street with the same name covered by a post town or postcode district, or where post towns in different counties have the same name. Traditionally only, where a place such as a village was served by a post town entirely distinct from its location, the word "Via" or "Near" ("Nr.") was added before the post town. For example: However,
330-450: A history of Nottinghamshire in 1667 entitled The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire . In 1796 a new edition was published by John Throsby (1740–1803), who added an additional volume. Retford is mentioned in Volume 3. pp. 274–280. There are two tiers of local government covering Retford, at district and county level: Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council . There
396-512: A limited number of addresses a "double dependent locality" line is also required, preceding the dependent locality line: some examples include " Churwell , Morley , Leeds " and " Marton , Sinnington , York ". Locality information other than the post town is not always part of the official postal address. In particular, within the London post town, each postcode district name (which can conflict with administrative boundaries, see above) corresponds to
462-407: A numbered postcode district and is therefore not required in the postal address whenever the postcode is used. For example, " Bethnal Green " is the name of the " E2 " postcode district and is optional in the following address: If no valid postcode is provided, or if the sorting machine rejects the letter, the use of optional locality or county information may assist manual sorting. In the absence of
528-453: A site on Carolgate in 1922. The remains of a group of 1st–3rd century buildings were found at Babworth in 1981. A coin hoard was found at Little Morton that was dated to the 3rd century, and Roman artefacts and pottery fragments have been found at Tiln (Stroud, 2001). Evidence of Roman field patterns were identified by Derrick Riley of Sheffield University in the 1970s and 80s. Nottingham University archaeological researchers have said that during
594-511: A very lucky escape as the shrapnel also hit their house. John Hook records that the Zeppelin left Retford at 1.05am, dropping a further bomb just south of Lea. One of the replacement gasometers later exploded on 16 March 1955, injuring 7 men and killing the manager. According to reports in The Retford Times, flames shot 200 feet into the air. The gasometers were finally dismantled when the town
660-415: A village or suburb name is optionally added above the post town, giving a more specific location: the two largest "post town" cities named, for example, have many roads of the same name in different localities and the additional locality information is therefore essential if the postcode is wrongly recorded or unknown. Where this is a disambiguating feature, Royal Mail terms this the "dependent locality". For
726-711: Is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire , England. It lies on the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal . Retford is located 26 miles (42 km) east of Sheffield , 23 miles (37 km) west of Lincoln and 31 miles (50 km) north-east of Nottingham . The population at the 2021 census was 23,740. It is near North Wheatley . The town is bypassed by the A1 road . The borough of East Retford
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#1732854941805792-457: Is generally known as Retford, although the borough was officially called "East Retford" right up until its abolition in 1974, despite West Retford having been absorbed into the borough in 1878. The town's charter trustees still use the name East Retford, but the Ordnance Survey now labels the town Retford on its maps, and the post town is likewise just Retford . The first land settled
858-533: Is no civil parish covering the town, which has been an unparished area since 1974, but all the Bassetlaw councillors who represent the town's wards act as charter trustees . The trustees meet four times a year, usually at Retford Town Hall , and are responsible for looking after the town's civic traditions, including appointing one of their number as mayor each year. East Retford was an ancient borough . When commissioners examined boroughs across England in 1835 it
924-579: Is no existing historical evidence to support this, making the 1259 charter the earliest known to have been granted. The earliest surviving charter dates from 1313 and is now held in the Bassetlaw Museum . Retford was granted a total of 17 Royal Charters (including the Letters Patent of 1225 that granted it the right to levy tolls on travellers in North Nottinghamshire) up to 1607. East Retford
990-457: Is now thought to have been "substantially British". It practised, for example, partible inheritance, had British placenames and there is relatively little Anglo-Saxon material. West and East Markham seem to have been on the boundaries of this territory (maerc means boundary). It is not known if Bernet-seatte extended across the whole of North Nottinghamshire, or whether the Kingdom of Lindsey controlled
1056-587: Is situated in the 18th century Grade II* listed Amcott House on Grove Street, Retford where it moved in 1986. Admission to the museum is free. In July 2020, Bassetlaw Museum was the site of a community art project during the Coronavirus crisis called 'The Retford Positivity Rock Snake'. In September 2021, Bassetlaw Museum hosted an event welcoming members of the Wampanoag Nation for The Wampanoag Perspective Project, led by Bassetlaw District Council and funded by
1122-591: Is situated in was on the border of the territories of the Brigantes and the Corieltauvi during the Iron Age period. It is likely that the existence of Retford is partly owed to its water resources, in the form of both the river Idle (and its crossing) and the wells that are dotted around the area that are either still in existence or can be identified from placename evidence. These include Spa Common, Cobwell Road (named after
1188-407: Is to distinguish between localities or street names in addresses not including a postcode. There are approximately 1,500 post towns which are organised by Royal Mail subject to its policy only to impose changes where it has a proven, economic and practical benefit to the organisation, covering its own cost. Each post town usually corresponds to one or more postal districts (the "outward" part of
1254-731: The 5th century and even into the 6th century, North Nottinghamshire was likely populated by "British communities with a sub-Romano-British culture". Retford has traditionally been placed within the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia because it is situated within Nottinghamshire. More recent historical research suggests that the South of Nottinghamshire and North Nottinghamshire may have had very different cultures. North Nottinghamshire, including Retford, belonged to an area called Bernet-seatte, which later became Bernesedelaue and then Bassetlaw. This territory
1320-463: The Angles). Various battlesites have been suggested including at Retford, Eaton and Bawtry. No evidence of a battlefield has been found in any of these sites, although according to Hunt this led to a saying: "The River Idle was foul with the blood of Englishmen". A variant local tradition says this was the origin of the name "Redforde". Placename evidence in Retford does suggest Viking settlement. Many of
1386-629: The Arts Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. The cultural exchange project was aimed at hearing the Wampanoag perspective during the 400th year anniversary of the Mayflower sailing. The programme enabled primary age pupils to learn about Native American culture, the shared Wampanoag-Bassetlaw history, and to watch the assembly of a Wetu in the grounds of the museum. Retford Retford ( / ˈ r ɛ t f ər d / ), also known as East Retford ,
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#17328549418051452-481: The Bassetlaw parliamentary constituency. Post town A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom and Ireland , and a basic unit of the postal delivery system. Including the correct post town in the address increases the chance of a letter or parcel being delivered on time. Post towns in general originated as the location of delivery offices. As of 2004 , their main function
1518-513: The Borough. The crest is based on the design on a Mace presented to the Borough in 1679 by Sir Edward Neville , with few changes. A small shield replaces the original rose, upon which the lion rests its paw. The shield features a deed which references the Boroughs ancient Royal Charters. The unicorns are from the heraldry of Lord Galway, whose ancestors were High Stewards of the Borough. The shells are from
1584-656: The Cob Well) and the ancient well at Welham (called 'Wellun' in the Domesday Book). Between Retford and Grove there are a range of earthworks of unknown date. They may be pre-historic and/or Roman. There is evidence of a medieval moated site or possible motte & bailey construction. This site was later reinforced during the English Civil War . The wood here is known as Castle Hill Wood. Roman-era artefacts are rare in Retford, although 1st–2nd century items were found at
1650-488: The East of this area (Retford and Retford rural district). What is known is that this corridor of land was seen as strategic, which is why several notable battles were fought in the area between the kings of Northumbria and Mercia. The strategic Battle of the River Idle (617) was fought in or near Retford. The Battle of the River Idle was significant in establishing Rædwald 's power, such that Bede called him "Rex Anglorum" (King of
1716-623: The House of Lords debates on the Disfranchisement Bill, the town had an active committee, led by a couple of attorneys and meeting at the Turk's Head Inn, who were trying to make the borough seem even more corrupt than it was to ensure its extinction. One of the committee members was later seen wearing a gold watch, apparently presented in gratitude by well-wishers in Birmingham. Viscount Howick objected to
1782-567: The Mesolithic period, with archaeological evidence of human activity in the area including a Mesolithic flint tool found in Ordsall, an axe from the Neolithic era (New Stone Age) from Little Morton, and a Neolithic polished flint axe discovered near the River Idle at Tiln. A Bronze Age spearhead was found near Whinney Moor Lane, and Romano-British crop marks are visible around Babworth . The area Retford
1848-604: The National School (a school that traditionally had strong links with St Swithun's church) on Grove Street. While living in Retford, Piercy wrote The History of Retford in the County of Nottingham (1828). This is an important work because it contains references to material that has subsequently been lost. Jones & Co Solicitors hold the Piercy Manuscript. Robert Thoroton was a physician and country gentleman who published
1914-399: The River Idle. There is considerable variation in how its name has been spelt historically, although in early usage it is usually styled as Redeforde or Redforde . A common explanation of the name is that the river water was tinged red due to the frequent crossing of people and livestock disturbing the clay river bed. Other traditions include that it refers to the reeds that are plentiful in
1980-757: The aegis of the Duke of Devonshire, but which retreated 50 miles to Retford when reports reached Derby that the Jacobites had a 9,000 strong army. On 23 August 1750, an earthquake struck Retford. In 1757 the Town Clerk successfully petitioned for the Great North Road to be diverted to run through the town, which led to an Act of Parliament (1760) authorising the re-routing of the Great North Road between Barnby Moor and Markham Moor to pass through Retford. The new turnpike
2046-451: The arms of Rt Hon FJ Savile Foljambe, appointed High Steward 1880. From 1316 Retford was a parliamentary borough (a constituency), entitled to two Members of Parliament , although by 1330 it was begging to be excused the privilege on the grounds of poverty, inability to afford the cost of paying the heavy expenses of the MPs' long journeys to and from the capital. The petition was granted and it
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2112-461: The besiegers compelled to retreat as a party of Cavalier troops from Newark approached rapidly". Charles I was also said to have stayed in the house of Mr Lane, a lawyer, on 20 August 1645. He was on his way from Doncaster and set off the following day to Lord Danecourt's in Newark .(Wilmshurst 1908) In 1657 there was a Great Storm, which destroyed the steeple and Chantries of St Swithun's Church. This
2178-507: The bridge was "widened for carts" and was replanked, suggesting that at least part of the construction was still wooden. In 1794 it was rebuilt on stone arches, according to Wilmshurst, with Moss adding that it was thirty-one feet wide at this time. Moss notes that before 1776 a toll was charged to cross the river and that to the north side were the corn mills mentioned in the Domesday Book that were once owned by Hubert de Burgh. The 1794 bridge
2244-475: The collection of 'river tolls' from Blyth Priory. The first town hall or 'moot hall' was built in 1388 and demolished in 1754. It is believed that this may have been situated in what is now known as Cannon Square. The hall was built of timber and faced east. On the ground floor of this building was the Shambles. At that time, the present Market Square was possibly used for cattle/horses, with Marcombe suggesting this
2310-568: The direct London to York railway being routed via the borough in 1849. In 1831, the Gas Works was built by James Malam and gaslights were lit in the town for the first time on 22 December 1831. The Square was lit by a cast iron light bearing five gas lamps at that time. The Gas Works became a target on 2 September 1916 when a German Zeppelin dropped 14 bombs on Retford. The Retford Times (8 September 1916) noted that bombs were dropped from Zeppelin L-13 into
2376-416: The disenfranchisement of Retford not on the basis that the accusations of corruption were not true, but that it punished the innocent as well as the guilty and ignored the fact that many boroughs were equally corrupt. They thought that East Retford ought to be partially sacrificed, in order to prevent the whole system of corruption from being overturned. Just as in a bullfight a cloak is dropped to turn aside
2442-562: The east side of the Idle in the early twelfth century; the town's charter trustees and Bassetlaw District Council say it was founded as a borough in 1105, although the earliest charter referring to it as a borough dates from the thirteenth century. There is some debate over when exactly it was granted its first charter, with Piercy (1828) suggesting it was granted in 1246 by Henry III , which allowed an eight-day annual fair to be held. However, Ballard & Tait (1923) and Dolby (1997) say that there
2508-483: The extended boundaries meant Retford could retain its seats until in 1885 the Municipal Borough of East Retford was reformed and the constituency replaced by an identically delineated single-member county constituency - Bassetlaw . Retford and its rural district was removed from Bassetlaw in 1983 and transferred to the redrawn Newark constituency . The boundaries were redrawn again in 2010, with Retford returning to
2574-433: The historic cores of both West and East Retford, which sit either side of the River Idle. The Conservation Area also extends southwards up to and including the 18th century Chesterfield Canal . The town also includes the small villages and hamlets that are adjacent to it, which have effectively become suburbs of the town. These include Ordsall and Babworth . Evidence of early human activity around Retford stretches back to
2640-589: The late burned town of Retford'. Yet another fire struck in 1631 and caused £1,300 worth of damage. 17th century The Civil War seems to have largely bypassed Retford, although W.E. Doubleday wrote in the Nottinghamshire Guardian (1947) that "During the Civil War a Roundhead force from Retford attempted to capture the mansion occupied by the Royalist Gervase Lee, but the attack was beaten off and
2706-526: The official name of the borough remained East Retford until its abolition in 1974. The borough was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 to become part of the wider district of Bassetlaw, named after the historic Anglo-Saxon Bassetlaw Wapentake . Charter trustees were established on the abolition of the borough to maintain Retford's civic traditions. The town's coat of arms consists of two rampant choughs , which were taken from an old seal of
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2772-526: The orchard that surrounded the Gas Works, and although there wasn't a direct hit, shrapnel hit the sides of the gasometers setting them on fire. This fire was said to be so intense that according to the Retford Times "apples [were] baked on the trees, and roosting wild birds roasted alive". The Nottingham Daily Express (8 September 1916) reported that the Zeppelin then departed "at great altitude and terrific speed". The manager and his family were said to have had
2838-533: The parliamentary borough's boundaries (which had previously matched the borough's municipal boundaries) to encompass the Wapentake of Bassetlaw, which included the whole of the northern end of Nottinghamshire, including the town of Worksop. All those within this area who were qualified to vote in the county elections were given votes for East Retford. Within a year, Parliament was debating the Great Reform Bill , but
2904-483: The part of Clarborough within the borough was made a new parish of North Retford. The four parishes in the borough were then East Retford, North Retford, Ordsall and West Retford; as urban parishes they did not have parish councils but were directly administered by the borough council. The four parishes within the borough were merged into a single parish called East Retford covering the whole borough in 1921. Despite including both East Retford and West Retford from 1878,
2970-440: The post town must be included on all items and should be clearly written in capitals. The use of postcodes means that it is no longer necessary to include the former postal county in a postal address. Some post towns, known as special post towns , never required the inclusion of a postal county, either because the town was large or because it gave its name to the county. In most places, additional locality information such as
3036-526: The postcode, before the space); therefore, each post town can cover an area comprising many towns, urban districts and villages. Post towns rarely correspond exactly to administrative boundaries and their associated physical features. As such they often group a small minority of neighbourhoods, streets or houses together with a main settlement in a different county , area of local government or administration (including healthcare trust), constituency , European statistical region and/or traditional parish . This
3102-530: The rage of the mad animal, while his assailant prepares more securely to destroy him. If the public were ignorant of the undue means by which a large majority of the Members of that House obtained their seats in it, they might declaim against the venality of the voters of East Retford; but, notorious as these circumstances were, he thought it better to pass over the present case in silence till they were prepared to deal with others equally flagitious. The 1830 Act extended
3168-479: The river had a bridge from a very early date. Moorgate contains both Anglo-Saxon (AS) and Old Norse (ON) elements, deriving from AS mor and ON gate . Its literal meaning is 'miry street'. This is a reference to the beck that used to cross it. (This beck was progressively contained within a culvert and is no longer visible for most of its course into the Idle.) Carolgate is derived from the ON karla (karl) + ON gate . A karl
3234-525: The river, or that the name references the Battle of the River Idle which was said to tinge the Idle red with blood. Wilmshurst proposes another theory as to the origin of the name: "In the days of the Roman occupation of Britain, a great Roman Road, or "Strada"— Street— ran from Southampton to Derby, Little Chester, Chesterfield, Castleford, Pontefract, to Eboracum, or York: and from it, at Chesterfield, branched out
3300-466: The streets in the centre of town are -gates, deriving from the Old Norse gata , which means street. In Retford there are streets named Moorgate , Bridgegate , Chapelgate , Churchgate and Carolgate . Grove Street was previously known as Newgate and Lidgett Lane was originally Hildgeat or Hildgate. The Reverend WP McFarren (1947) wrote that Bridgegate was previously spelt Briggate (1340) suggesting
3366-468: The urban area was growing beyond the historic borough and parish boundary of East Retford, but they were not implemented. Instead, both the parishes of Ordsall and West Retford were made local board districts in 1850. The borough was finally enlarged in 1878 to take in all of the parishes of Ordsall and West Retford and parts of the parish of Clarborough. The Local Government Act 1894 said that parishes could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so
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#17328549418053432-533: The war virtually unscathed. The Great North Road was diverted around the town in 1961 and part of the old route through the town is now pedestrianised. The 1971 census showed the population to be 18,407. By 2001 the population had grown to 22,000 (Nicholson, 2008), with a large proportion living on housing estates in Ordsall, Hallcroft and Spital Hill. John Shadrach Piercy was born in Rillington, near Malton, North Yorkshire , and moved to Retford in 1822 to teach at
3498-542: Was a freeman. WP McFarren (1947) also mentions a 'Kynegesgate' (Kingsgate), which is now lost. Piercy mentions Carhillgate (p. 146). Timber piles were found in Retford in 1995 on the western bank of the Idle at Bridgegate, which were dated to 947-1030 AD. In the Domesday Book of 1086, Retford was recorded as Redforde, and joined to Odesthorpe (now unknown). It was held by the Archbishop of York and Roger de Busli ,
3564-526: Was a main reason why postal counties were abolished (but not prohibited) in 1996. In some places several post towns cover a single postal district (with each post town corresponding to one or more of its postcode sectors). There are anomalies where post towns and postcode sectors have a more unusual co-relation. For example, the postcode sector EH14 5 is split between three post towns: Juniper Green , Currie and Balerno . Its other postcode sectors are generally limited to one of these. Royal Mail states that
3630-460: Was bombed six times during the Second World War – on 26 September 1940, 30 October 1940, 16 December 1940, 15 March 1941 (2 injuries), 15 August 1941 and 25 August 1941. Although it was on the bombing route to larger targets such as Sheffield and Rotherham , was surrounded by airforce bases, and had the intersection between two railway lines, no-one was killed in the raids and the town escaped
3696-458: Was completed in 1765–66 and after this the town prospered. (Piercy 1828) Then in 1777 the Chesterfield Canal was built by James Brindley through the town. During the 18th century improvements were made to West Retford Bridge - the main bridge over the Idle which is where the original ford was situated. Moss says that the first stone bridge was erected in 1659 and that it was thirteen feet wide and had five arches. Wilmshurst records that in 1752
3762-434: Was connected to North Sea gas in the 1970s. 20th century One of the main changes in Retford during the 20th century was the opening of King's Park in 1938. The park commemorated the reign of George V and the coronation of George VI . The site was presented to the Borough by Mrs M J Huntsman of West Retford Hall, with £2000 towards the cost of the park layout raised by public subscription. According to war records, Retford
3828-581: Was enlarged in 1878 to include Ordsall , West Retford and part of the parish of Clarborough . The East Retford constituency was a noted example of a rotten borough , being effectively controlled by local landowners the Dukes of Newcastle until reformed in the early nineteenth century. Retford and the surrounding area was also a centre of Nonconformism . The origins of the town's name are unknown and have been subject to much debate, but consensus seems to conclude that it gets its name from an ancient ford crossing
3894-527: Was later to be replaced in 1886 with the current bridge, which Wilmshurst says was because of floods: "In consequence of these continuous Floods the Corporation demolished the great Mill, and the narrow 5-arched Bridge, and erected present wide girder Bridge in West Retford". Moss (1908) says this bridge (which he dates as 1868) cost £1,500 to construct. Moss (1908) tells us that in 1760 Retford's ducking stool
3960-444: Was on the western side of the ford, this area being less liable to flooding. However, as the community grew it spread to occupy land on the other bank of the river, and it was this eastern part of the town that eventually became more important; hence Retford's alternative name of East Retford . The centre of Retford is characterised by a large Market Square surrounded by Georgian period architecture. The Retford Conservation Area contains
4026-405: Was only the second place to become a borough in the county after Nottingham itself; the next borough to be created in the county was Newark in 1549. According to Marcombe (1993), the intention was for East Retford "to compete with the trading privileges of Blyth Priory and to exploit the market opportunities of north Nottinghamshire". In 1225, the burgesses of Retford are said to have taken over
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#17328549418054092-458: Was reported that the town was a "borough by prescription", indicating that an exact date of it being made a borough was not known. The borough corresponded to the parish of East Retford. The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836, giving it the right to appoint a mayor. In 1837 proposals were considered to enlarge the municipal borough to take in parts of the neighbouring parishes of Clarborough, Ordsall and West Retford, where
4158-457: Was restored in 1658 at a cost of £3,648. 18th century Retford was more troubled during the Jacobite rising of 1745 . Cornelius Brown records that in 1745 an army of 6,000 English and Hessian troops camped on Wheatley Hills and the soldiers marched through Retford and used East Retford (St Swithun's) church as a stable. This was The Derbyshire Blues , which had been formed to protect Derby under
4224-529: Was the site of the ‘beast market’ in the Tudor period. 16th century In 1528 a fire destroyed more than three-quarters of the buildings in East Retford. By 1552 Retford's population had dropped to 700. In 1558 there was an outbreak of plague , which caused 300 deaths in East Retford and killed half the people of West Retford. A fire in 1585 was so profound that the people of Worksop raised money for 'the poor men of
4290-526: Was to be several generations (1571) before Retford was represented again. The East Retford constituency gained a reputation as one of the most corrupt rotten boroughs , being effectively controlled by the Duke of Newcastle . There were vigorous debates in Parliament over whether to transfer Retford's franchise to one of the larger unrepresented towns such as Manchester or Birmingham . Hansard records that during
4356-599: Was used for the last time. He says it was situated at the end of a narrow street opposite the Post Office that led down the River Idle. The use of the ducking stool was granted in 1279 by Edward I and was used for the last time to punish a "Scotswoman of violent temperament" called "Dame Barr", who was ducked for offending John White by "throwing the contents of her snuff-box in his face, and uttering opprobrious terms". 19th century In 1801 there were 5,999 people, which rose to 12,340 by 1901. Many improvements were made including
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