Blyth, Nottinghamshire
Encyclopedia
Blyth is a village in the Bassetlaw
district of the county
of Nottinghamshire
, in the East Midlands
, north west of East Retford, on the River Ryton
.
bypass, which opened in 1961. The Blyth roundabout was replaced in March 2008 by a grade separated junction
(junction 34). The Moto
Blyth Services are also at this junction. The £320,000 (£ as of ),1½ mile A614
Blyth Bypass was built at the same time as the Nottinghamshire section of the Doncaster Bypass and opened in 1960. The A614 became the A1 when the Doncaster bypass opened. Also passing through the town is the A634 from Maltby
to Barnby Moor
. The dual-carriageway £964,000 (£ as of ), five-mile section of the A1 from Checker House (Ranby
) to Blyth opened in August 1966. The former A614 road
through the town is now the A634 and B6045.
Also part of the parish of Blyth is Hodsock, to the south-west along the B6045, home of Hodsock Priory
.
church of St. Mary and St. Martin is one of the oldest examples of Norman architecture
in the country. It was part of a Benedictine
monastery
founded in 1088. This priory was founded by Roger de Builli
of Tickhill Castle, one of William the Conqueror's followers.
The founder and later benefactors endowed Blyth with lands, money and churches. It was staffed at first by monks from the Mother House, Holy Trinity Priory at Rouen
France. In 1286 Thomas Russel had to be returned to Rouen because of his intolerable conduct and also John de Belleville, as the climate did not suit him. There are other records of the unruly conduct of French monks.
During a visitation of the priory in 1536 it was alleged that five of the monks were guilty of grave offences and it was surrendered. George Dalton, the Prior, received a pension of twenty marks, and this seems to have been the only pension awarded. The net annual income at the date of the surrender was £180. (£ as of ),
After the Dissolution the east part of the church was demolished and a tower built at the west end of the nave.
On the village green is the former Leper Hospital of St John the Evangelist, said to have been built by the Knights Hospitaller
of St. John of Jerusalem. It was refounded in 1226, and was being used as a school in 1695.
Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw is the northernmost district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population according to the 2001 UK census of 107,713. The borough is predominantly rural, with two towns: Worksop, site of the borough offices, and Retford...
district of the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
, north west of East Retford, on the River Ryton
River Ryton
The River Ryton is a tributary of the River Idle. It is formed from a series of tributaries but begins at Lindrick Common in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. Most of its course is in Nottinghamshire, flowing through the town of Worksop...
.
Geography
The village is situated on the A1 at the southern end of the fifteen-mile A1(M) DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
bypass, which opened in 1961. The Blyth roundabout was replaced in March 2008 by a grade separated junction
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
(junction 34). The Moto
Moto Hospitality
Moto Hospitality is a company which operates 58 motorway service stations across the UK.Moto is owned by a consortium of shareholders including Australian Pension Funds and European and New Zealand Infrastructure Funds and is asset managed by Macquarie Investment Bank...
Blyth Services are also at this junction. The £320,000 (£ as of ),1½ mile A614
A614 road
The A614 is a main road in England running through the counties of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.Beginning at Redhill, near Calverton in Nottinghamshire at a roundabout with the A60, the road meets the A6097 at a junction which looks like a roundabout but...
Blyth Bypass was built at the same time as the Nottinghamshire section of the Doncaster Bypass and opened in 1960. The A614 became the A1 when the Doncaster bypass opened. Also passing through the town is the A634 from Maltby
Maltby, South Yorkshire
Maltby is a town and civil parish of 17,247 inhabitants in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, situated in a rural area about 7 miles east of Rotherham and 12 miles north-east of Sheffield...
to Barnby Moor
Barnby Moor
Barnby Moor is a village and civil parish in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population of 257 . The village is about three miles north of East Retford....
. The dual-carriageway £964,000 (£ as of ), five-mile section of the A1 from Checker House (Ranby
Ranby, Nottinghamshire
Ranby is a small village in the north of Nottinghamshire, next to the Chesterfield Canal and adjacent to the A1. It is known for its two schools, the prep school Ranby House and the primary school Ranby Primary School, and the nearby church All Saints Babworth.Ranby Prison is located on the A620 to...
) to Blyth opened in August 1966. The former A614 road
A614 road
The A614 is a main road in England running through the counties of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.Beginning at Redhill, near Calverton in Nottinghamshire at a roundabout with the A60, the road meets the A6097 at a junction which looks like a roundabout but...
through the town is now the A634 and B6045.
Also part of the parish of Blyth is Hodsock, to the south-west along the B6045, home of Hodsock Priory
Hodsock Priory
Hodsock Priory is an English country house in Nottinghamshire, north of Worksop, England and south of Blyth. Despite its name, it is not and never has been a priory. Hodsock is renowned for its snowdrops in early spring.-History:...
.
Blyth Priory
The prioryPriory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
church of St. Mary and St. Martin is one of the oldest examples of Norman architecture
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
in the country. It was part of a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
founded in 1088. This priory was founded by Roger de Builli
Roger de Busli
Roger de Busli was a Norman baron who accompanied William the Conqueror on his successful conquest of England in 1066....
of Tickhill Castle, one of William the Conqueror's followers.
The founder and later benefactors endowed Blyth with lands, money and churches. It was staffed at first by monks from the Mother House, Holy Trinity Priory at Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
France. In 1286 Thomas Russel had to be returned to Rouen because of his intolerable conduct and also John de Belleville, as the climate did not suit him. There are other records of the unruly conduct of French monks.
During a visitation of the priory in 1536 it was alleged that five of the monks were guilty of grave offences and it was surrendered. George Dalton, the Prior, received a pension of twenty marks, and this seems to have been the only pension awarded. The net annual income at the date of the surrender was £180. (£ as of ),
After the Dissolution the east part of the church was demolished and a tower built at the west end of the nave.
Blyth Hall
Blyth Hall was built in 1684-85 at the eastern end of the church and was demolished in 1972.On the village green is the former Leper Hospital of St John the Evangelist, said to have been built by the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
of St. John of Jerusalem. It was refounded in 1226, and was being used as a school in 1695.