Retford
Encyclopedia
Retford is a market town
in Nottinghamshire
in the East Midlands
of England
, located 31 miles from the city
of Nottingham
, and 23 miles west of Lincoln
, in the district of Bassetlaw
. The town is situated in a valley
with the River Idle
and the Chesterfield Canal
running through the centre of the town. The village of Ordsall
is attached to the town, divided from Retford by the River Idle and the East Coast Main Line
railway. Retford is twinned with the town of Pfungstadt
, Germany
.
Retford gained its first charter in 1246, when Henry III
granted the right for a fair, this was later extended to holding a Saturday Market by Edward I
in 1275. It was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835
, and then remained a municipal borough
until 1974 when it was merged into Bassetlaw district. Its civic traditions are maintained by Charter Trustees
.
The origins of its 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 the River Idle
. It was originally named Redforde because the river water was tinged red due to the red clay river bed and frequent crossing of people and livestock disturbing the clay river bed. The first land settled was on the western side of the ford – this area being less liable to flooding – but 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 (and, for administrative purposes, still official) name of East Retford. The highly unusual coat of arms for the town consists of two rampant chough
s.
Retford was largely destroyed by a fire in 1528, but prospered after the Great North Road was diverted to run through the town in 1766 and the Chesterfield Canal
(1777) and the direct London to York railway
(1849) were both routed via the borough. The Great North Road was diverted around the town in 1961 and part of the route through the town is now a pedestrian precinct.
The Pilgrim Fathers, a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts originated from villages of Babworth
and Scrooby
on the outskirts of East Retford between 1586 and 1605.
53°19′20.45"N 0°56′20.57"W
On 27 June 2007, a few low-lying parts of the town were affected by the 2007 United Kingdom floods
. The majority of Kings Park was flooded under three feet of water. The Asda
and Morrisons
supermarkets adjacent to the river were also flooded.
2011, was a positive influence on east retford when Lady Elaine Elizabeth Boden, noble lady of the manor of east retford was bestowed active Lady of East Retford, county of Nottinghamshire and resides in the town; the ladyship was once held by Elizabeth 1 and dates back to 1571.
Also in the Market Square is the war memorial unveiled by Sir Frederick Milner in 1921. The memorial is in the form of an Eleanor cross an octagonal structure of late gothic design. The names of the men killed in World War I
are on the lower 8 panels and on bronze plaques are the names of those who were killed in World War II
.
The monument was designed by architect Leonard W. Barnard F.R.I.B.A. of Cheltenham. The memorial is constructed of Stancliffe stone from Darley Dale
, Derbyshire
.
Just across from the Market Square is Cannon Square which has St Swithun's Church and a cannon captured from the Russians during the Siege of Sevastopol at the end of the Crimean War
in 1856.
Nikolaus Pevsner
, architectural historian, was fairly scathing about Retford and its lack of distinguished buildings. "A singularly unattractive town," he wrote.
which links Retford to a number of major towns and cities. Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
is also within driving distance up the A638
towards Doncaster
. The East Retford bypass was built in three stages mostly along what was previously the A57. In 1957, the West Drayton diversion opened up to the B6387 near Elkesley
. Also near Elkesley and Gamston
is the Retford Gamston Airport
. The section from Elkesley bypass to Five Lane Ends (A614
junction) at Apleyhead Wood opened in 1958. And the third section was from Five Lane Ends to north of Checker House at Ranby
(A620 junction).
The town is also served by a number of buses operated by Stagecoach
in Bassetlaw, Stagecoach in Lincolnshire
, Yourbus
as well as smaller local bus operators, to destinations including Worksop, Newark, Robin Hood Airport and Bawtry
. Retford bus station
is also the terminus
of the 450 National Express
coach service between Victoria Coach Station
in London and Retford.
The current bus station was built and opened on 30 July 2007 at a cost of £1.4 million, and was given a highly commended accolade in the infrastructure category of the UK Bus Awards 2008. The previous bus station on the same site was a collection of bus shelters, but also allowed vehicles to drive illegally through the bus station. The new bus station has new traffic controls in to prevent this.
which runs between London
and Aberdeen
and the Sheffield to Lincoln Line
which has links to Sheffield
, Lincoln
, Gainsborough
, Worksop
, Grimsby
and Cleethorpes
.
. Indeed, up to Retford, the canal is accessible by broad-beam boats rather than the more usual narrowboat
s, Retford Town Lock being the first narrow lock on the canal from its junction with the River Trent
at West Stockwith
.
Based in Retford on the lower side of the Town Lock is a boat club called Retford Mariners Boat Club (R.M.B.C), it was formed in November 1978 by a group of canal enthusiasts.
) which offers regular flights to other European countries. A regular bus service is available from Retford bus station to the airport. Due to its military past, Robin Hood airport has a long (2,580m) runway and so is capable of landing wide body jets such as Boeing 747s and has plans of extending its destinations to include the USA. The popular discount airline easyjet
, commenced flying to many European destinations out of Robin Hood Airport in March 2010 but withdrew by the end of the year citing commercial factors as a reason. The Hungarian airline WizzAir continues to serve several Eastern-European cities from there and Thomson Holidays
regularly runs charter services from there as part of their package holiday
business.
Retford (Gamston) Airport is a private airport located a few miles south of Retford in the village of Gamston, operated by Gamston Aviation Ltd. Retford (Gamston) Airport is also the UK headquarters of Diamond Aircraft and offers used aircraft sales as well as flight training. Retford (Gamston) Airport is also said to be the busiest private airport in the UK and has just applied for permission to expand its services.
status. It is the largest wetland area in Nottinghamshire and over 250 species of birds have been recorded there making it one of the top birding sites in the UK. NWT has a program of activities and events for the benefit of schools, community groups and individuals and is becoming increasingly popular with established walking groups in the area and also neighbouring counties.
which plays at Cannon Park on the outskirts of Retford. Retford is also home to Retford Town F.C., a smaller football club, and East Retford R.U.F.C., who play Rugby Union
.
East Retford RUFC have a very successful junior section who compete in numerous competitions. The seniors are also very successful, competing in the Midlands League Division 5.
Details of the rugby club can be found at www.retfordrugby.com
Retford is under the control of Bassetlaw District Council, with their base being located at neighbouring Worksop.
The town is home to Retford Judo Club
The long established Retford Town Cricket and Sports Club was established in 1850 and moved to its present ground in 1858. The club was a founder member of the Bassetlaw Cricket league in 1904, their inaugural match was against Whitwell Colliery, they had to wait until 1984 before they won the League Division 1A Championship under the captaincy of George Jones, who shortly after emigrated to Australia. During this successful season the club chairman was Colin Loates.
Retford also has a long running Snooker League consisting of 2 Divisions the current Division 1 League Champions of 2007/08 are Liberal 'C' captained by Steve Norris
Retford has two theatres in the town. The Majestic Theatre, which hosts famous entertainers, music concerts from local performers and plays, and was a former cinema. Retford Little Theatre is a smaller theatre which hosts the Retford Little Theatre amateur drama group.
Retford also features a skate park within the grounds of Kings Park in the centre of Retford, A small but fun Skatepark for the young to 'Hang out'.
The new Retford Leisure Centre offers aquatic activities such as lane swimming, fun swims, and water aerobics; along with a state of the art gym facilities.
and the local commercial radio station Trax FM
. Hallam FM
's coverage area also includes Retford. The majority of the town receives its terrestrial television from the Emley Moor transmitting station
, which broadcasts local news from BBC Look North
and Calendar News
. A minority of residents receive programming from Belmont
serving Lincolnshire
and East Yorkshire
, Waltham
serving the East Midlands
or Bilsdale serving North Yorkshire
and the Tees Valley
.
Retford also has two newspapers serving the town, the paid-for Retford Times
which is published in Retford and the Guardian and Trader newspaper, a free
weekly newspaper published in Worksop. The Worksop Guardian, another paid-for newspaper, although predominately a newspaper serving Worksop and its area, also covers stories in Retford.
As part of a major overhaul of secondary schools in the Bassetlaw area, all schools have now been moved to new facilities built around the town as part of the Transform Schools scheme. Retford is home to a Post-16 centre which has united all Sixth Form students from each of the above schools in one site (former Ordsall Hall School
) and provide other courses available through North Nottinghamshire College (based at Worksop).
, Girlguiding UK
, St. John Ambulance
and Young Farmers, Meeting within the town.
There is also a well established Karate
and Kung Fu School "The Golden Dragon Martial Arts Academy" at the Albert road business centre and a Judo
club in Hallcroft, the estate running parallel to North road.
Retford is also home to 1403 ATC
Retford Squadron and Army Cadets
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in 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...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, located 31 miles from the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, and 23 miles west of Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, in the district of Bassetlaw
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...
. The town is situated in a valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
with the River Idle
River Idle
The River Idle is a river in Nottinghamshire, England. Its source is the confluence of the River Maun and River Meden, near Markham Moor. From there, it flows north through Retford and Bawtry before entering the River Trent at Stockwith near Misterton...
and the Chesterfield Canal
Chesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield Canal is in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire...
running through the centre of the town. The village of Ordsall
Ordsall, Nottinghamshire
The area of Ordsall is attached to the township of Retford, Nottinghamshire, England.All Hallow's Church serves the village and is situated beside the River Idle at the south side of Ordsall, an area commonly referred to as "Old Ordsall"....
is attached to the town, divided from Retford by the River Idle and the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
railway. Retford is twinned with the town of Pfungstadt
Pfungstadt
Pfungstadt is a German town of 25,117 inhabitants, in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg in the state of Hesse.The town was first mentioned in 785 as property of the Monastery of Lorsch and got its town rights in 1886 due to its railway station...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
History
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted the right for a fair, this was later extended to holding a Saturday Market by Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1275. It was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835
Municipal Corporations Act 1835
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...
, and then remained a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
until 1974 when it was merged into Bassetlaw district. Its civic traditions are maintained by Charter Trustees
Charter Trustees
In England and Wales, charter trustees are set up to maintain the continuity of a town charter or city charter after a district with the status of a borough or city has been abolished, until such time as a parish council is established...
.
The origins of its 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 the River Idle
River Idle
The River Idle is a river in Nottinghamshire, England. Its source is the confluence of the River Maun and River Meden, near Markham Moor. From there, it flows north through Retford and Bawtry before entering the River Trent at Stockwith near Misterton...
. It was originally named Redforde because the river water was tinged red due to the red clay river bed and frequent crossing of people and livestock disturbing the clay river bed. The first land settled was on the western side of the ford – this area being less liable to flooding – but 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 (and, for administrative purposes, still official) name of East Retford. The highly unusual coat of arms for the town consists of two rampant chough
Chough
The Red-billed Chough or Chough , Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, is a bird in the crow family; it is one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax...
s.
Retford was largely destroyed by a fire in 1528, but prospered after the Great North Road was diverted to run through the town in 1766 and the Chesterfield Canal
Chesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield Canal is in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire...
(1777) and the direct London to York railway
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
(1849) were both routed via the borough. The Great North Road was diverted around the town in 1961 and part of the route through the town is now a pedestrian precinct.
The Pilgrim Fathers, a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts originated from villages of Babworth
Babworth
Babworth is a village and civil parish in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England, about 1½ miles west of Retford. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,329...
and Scrooby
Scrooby
Scrooby is a small village, on the River Ryton and near Bawtry, in the northern part of the English county of Nottinghamshire. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 329. Until 1766, it was on the Great North Road so became a stopping-off point for numerous important figures...
on the outskirts of East Retford between 1586 and 1605.
53°19′20.45"N 0°56′20.57"W
On 27 June 2007, a few low-lying parts of the town were affected by the 2007 United Kingdom floods
2007 United Kingdom floods
The 2007 United Kingdom floods were a series of destructive floods that occurred in various areas across the country during the summer of 2007. The most severe floods occurred across Northern Ireland on 12 June; East Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire,...
. The majority of Kings Park was flooded under three feet of water. The Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
and Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
supermarkets adjacent to the river were also flooded.
2011, was a positive influence on east retford when Lady Elaine Elizabeth Boden, noble lady of the manor of east retford was bestowed active Lady of East Retford, county of Nottinghamshire and resides in the town; the ladyship was once held by Elizabeth 1 and dates back to 1571.
Landmarks
In the Market Square there is an ornate French-inspired Victorian Town Hall, in front of which is The Broad Stone. Legend says that this stone had a hollow in it that used to be filled with vinegar during plague times to disinfect coins. However, it is thought to be the upturned base of a boundary marker - perhaps the 'Dominie Cross'.Also in the Market Square is the war memorial unveiled by Sir Frederick Milner in 1921. The memorial is in the form of an Eleanor cross an octagonal structure of late gothic design. The names of the men killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
are on the lower 8 panels and on bronze plaques are the names of those who were killed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The monument was designed by architect Leonard W. Barnard F.R.I.B.A. of Cheltenham. The memorial is constructed of Stancliffe stone from Darley Dale
Darley Dale
Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 6,000 people. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road.- History :...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
Just across from the Market Square is Cannon Square which has St Swithun's Church and a cannon captured from the Russians during the Siege of Sevastopol at the end of the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
in 1856.
Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
, architectural historian, was fairly scathing about Retford and its lack of distinguished buildings. "A singularly unattractive town," he wrote.
Road
Retford is bypassed by the A1 trunk road and the A57A57 road
The A57 is a major road in England. It runs east from Liverpool to Lincoln, via Warrington, Cadishead, Irlam, Patricroft, Eccles, Salford and Manchester, then through the Pennines over the Snake Pass , around the Ladybower Reservoir, through Sheffield and past Worksop...
which links Retford to a number of major towns and cities. Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield is an international airport located at the former RAF Finningley airbase at Finningley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster within South Yorkshire, England. The airport lies southeast of Doncaster and east of Sheffield.The airport is operated by Peel...
is also within driving distance up the A638
A638 road
The A638 is a main road in England that runs between the A1 at Markham Moor in Nottinghamshire and Chain Bar Junction 26 of the M62 motorway south of Bradford in West Yorkshire....
towards Doncaster
Doncaster
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"...
. The East Retford bypass was built in three stages mostly along what was previously the A57. In 1957, the West Drayton diversion opened up to the B6387 near Elkesley
Elkesley
Elkesley is a village in Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 805. It is located 6 miles south of Retford.The parish church of St Giles was built c. 1300 in Decorated style, and was partially reconstructed in 1845...
. Also near Elkesley and Gamston
Gamston, Bassetlaw
Gamston is a village four miles south of Retford in the county of Nottinghamshire. The village lies on the A638 road between Retford and the Markham Moor junction with the A1 and the A57 roads...
is the Retford Gamston Airport
Retford Gamston Airport
Retford Gamston Airport is a small English airport, located south of Retford and close to Gamston, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire. It is used mainly for small private aircraft as well as a base for several private flying schools....
. The section from Elkesley bypass to Five Lane Ends (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...
junction) at Apleyhead Wood opened in 1958. And the third section was from Five Lane Ends to north of Checker House at 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...
(A620 junction).
The town is also served by a number of buses operated by Stagecoach
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
in Bassetlaw, Stagecoach in Lincolnshire
Stagecoach in Lincolnshire
Stagecoach Lincolnshire is a bus company, formerly known as Lincolnshire RoadCar, which runs services throughout Lincolnshire.Stagecoach in Lincolnshire is the trading name of the Lincolnshire RoadCar Company Limited, which is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, and part of its East Midlands...
, Yourbus
Yourbus
Dunn Motor Traction Ltd., trading as Yourbus, is a bus company based in Heanor, Derbyshire. It was formed by Scott Dunn in June 2009...
as well as smaller local bus operators, to destinations including Worksop, Newark, Robin Hood Airport and Bawtry
Bawtry
Bawtry is a small market town and civil parish which lies at the point where the Great North Road crosses the River Idle in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. Nearby towns include Gainsborough to the east, Retford south southeast, Worksop to the southwest and...
. Retford bus station
Retford bus station
Retford bus station serves the town of Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. It is managed by Nottinghamshire County Council.The bus station, of eight stands, is situated on Beardsall Row, between Arlington Way and Spa Road in the town centre....
is also the terminus
Bus terminus
A bus terminus is a designated place where a bus or coach starts or ends its scheduled route. The terminus is the designated place that a timetable is timed from. Termini can be located at bus stations, interchanges, bus garages or simple bus stops. Termini can both start and stop at the same...
of the 450 National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
coach service between Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station is the largest and most significant coach station in London. It serves long distance coach services and is also the departure point for many countryside coach tours originating from London. It should not be confused with the nearby Green Line Coach Station serving Green Line...
in London and Retford.
Rail
Retford is served by two railway lines,. the East Coast Main LineEast Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
which runs between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and the Sheffield to Lincoln Line
Sheffield to Lincoln Line
The Sheffield to Lincoln line is a railway line in England. It runs from Sheffield east to Lincoln via Worksop, Retford and Gainsborough Lea Road. The route comprises the main line of the former Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, to Gainsborough, Trent Junction, where it then follows...
which has links to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
and Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
.
Canal
Retford is connected to the UK Inland Waterways network by the Chesterfield CanalChesterfield Canal
The Chesterfield Canal is in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire...
. Indeed, up to Retford, the canal is accessible by broad-beam boats rather than the more usual narrowboat
Narrowboat
A narrowboat or narrow boat is a boat of a distinctive design, made to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain.In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals...
s, Retford Town Lock being the first narrow lock on the canal from its junction with the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
at West Stockwith
West Stockwith
West Stockwith is a village within the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England.East Stockwith is a settlement close by, but within the county boundaries of Lincolnshire.-Etymology:...
.
Based in Retford on the lower side of the Town Lock is a boat club called Retford Mariners Boat Club (R.M.B.C), it was formed in November 1978 by a group of canal enthusiasts.
Air
Retford is located close to Robin Hood Airport (formerly RAF FinningleyRAF Finningley
RAF Finningley is a former Royal Air Force station at Finningley, South Yorkshire, partly within the traditional county boundaries of Nottinghamshire and partly in the West Riding of Yorkshire, now wholly within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster....
) which offers regular flights to other European countries. A regular bus service is available from Retford bus station to the airport. Due to its military past, Robin Hood airport has a long (2,580m) runway and so is capable of landing wide body jets such as Boeing 747s and has plans of extending its destinations to include the USA. The popular discount airline easyjet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
, commenced flying to many European destinations out of Robin Hood Airport in March 2010 but withdrew by the end of the year citing commercial factors as a reason. The Hungarian airline WizzAir continues to serve several Eastern-European cities from there and Thomson Holidays
Thomson Holidays
Thomson Holidays is a UK based travel operator and part of TUI Travel PLC. The company was founded as part of the Thomson Travel Group in 1965 following the acquisition of three package holiday travel agencies and the airline Britannia Airways by Roy Thomson...
regularly runs charter services from there as part of their package holiday
Package holiday
A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...
business.
Retford (Gamston) Airport is a private airport located a few miles south of Retford in the village of Gamston, operated by Gamston Aviation Ltd. Retford (Gamston) Airport is also the UK headquarters of Diamond Aircraft and offers used aircraft sales as well as flight training. Retford (Gamston) Airport is also said to be the busiest private airport in the UK and has just applied for permission to expand its services.
Wildlife Conservation at Idle Valley Nature Reserve
The Idle Valley nature reserve is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT) and is the largest of the trust's reserves in Nottinghamshire. The eastern boundary is created by the natural path of the River Idle; redundant gravel quarries to the west of the river have created wetland areas which comprise the majority of the site. The reserve is a mosaic of different habitats over an area of 450 hectares, over 300 of which are designated with SSSISite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
status. It is the largest wetland area in Nottinghamshire and over 250 species of birds have been recorded there making it one of the top birding sites in the UK. NWT has a program of activities and events for the benefit of schools, community groups and individuals and is becoming increasingly popular with established walking groups in the area and also neighbouring counties.
Sport
Retford has an established football team called Retford United F.C.Retford United F.C.
Retford United Football Club are an English football club based at Cannon Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.-History:...
which plays at Cannon Park on the outskirts of Retford. Retford is also home to Retford Town F.C., a smaller football club, and East Retford R.U.F.C., who play Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
East Retford RUFC have a very successful junior section who compete in numerous competitions. The seniors are also very successful, competing in the Midlands League Division 5.
Details of the rugby club can be found at www.retfordrugby.com
Retford is under the control of Bassetlaw District Council, with their base being located at neighbouring Worksop.
The town is home to Retford Judo Club
The long established Retford Town Cricket and Sports Club was established in 1850 and moved to its present ground in 1858. The club was a founder member of the Bassetlaw Cricket league in 1904, their inaugural match was against Whitwell Colliery, they had to wait until 1984 before they won the League Division 1A Championship under the captaincy of George Jones, who shortly after emigrated to Australia. During this successful season the club chairman was Colin Loates.
Retford also has a long running Snooker League consisting of 2 Divisions the current Division 1 League Champions of 2007/08 are Liberal 'C' captained by Steve Norris
Leisure and entertainment
Retford is home to the Bassetlaw Museum, which was created in 1983 and has a number of collections donated by people in the local area.Retford has two theatres in the town. The Majestic Theatre, which hosts famous entertainers, music concerts from local performers and plays, and was a former cinema. Retford Little Theatre is a smaller theatre which hosts the Retford Little Theatre amateur drama group.
Retford also features a skate park within the grounds of Kings Park in the centre of Retford, A small but fun Skatepark for the young to 'Hang out'.
The new Retford Leisure Centre offers aquatic activities such as lane swimming, fun swims, and water aerobics; along with a state of the art gym facilities.
Media
Retford is primarily served by two local radio stations, BBC Radio SheffieldBBC Radio Sheffield
BBC Radio Sheffield is the BBC Local Radio service for English metropolitan county of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. This includes the city of Sheffield, plus Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham, Chesterfield and surrounding areas. It was the BBC local radio station, beginning on 15 November 1967...
and the local commercial radio station Trax FM
Trax FM
Trax FM is an Independent Local Radio station that broadcasts to Doncaster and Bassetlaw.-History:The station is owned by the Lincs FM Group...
. Hallam FM
Hallam FM
Hallam FM is an independent local radio station serving South Yorkshire and the North Midlands from studios in Sheffield. The station is owned and operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer's Place Network of stations.-History:...
's coverage area also includes Retford. The majority of the town receives its terrestrial television from the Emley Moor transmitting station
Emley Moor transmitting station
The Emley Moor transmitting station is a telecommunications and broadcasting facility on 'Emley Moor' to the west of the village of Emley, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England . The station's most visible feature is its concrete tower, which is a Grade II listed building...
, which broadcasts local news from BBC Look North
BBC Look North (Yorkshire and North Midlands)
BBC Look North is the BBC's regional television news service for West & South Yorkshire, parts of North Yorkshire and the North Midlands. The programmes as produced and broadcast from the BBC Broadcasting Centre at St...
and Calendar News
Calendar (News)
Calendar is a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ITV Yorkshire at its studios in Leeds, serving Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and parts of the North Midlands and North West Norfolk...
. A minority of residents receive programming from Belmont
Belmont transmitting station
The Belmont transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated next to the B1225, one mile west of the village of Donington on Bain in the civil parish of South Willingham, near Market Rasen and Louth in Lincolnshire, England . It is owned and operated by Arqiva.It has...
serving Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire could be:*East Yorkshire Motor Services*An alternative name for the East Riding of Yorkshire*East Yorkshire , a former district of Humberside*East Yorkshire...
, Waltham
Waltham transmitting station
The Waltham transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facilityat Waltham-on-the-Wolds, 5 miles north-east of Melton Mowbray. It sits inside the Waltham civil parish near Stonesby, in the district of Melton, Leicestershire, UK. It has a guyed steel tubular mast...
serving 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...
or Bilsdale serving North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and the Tees Valley
Tees Valley
The Tees Valley is an area in the North East of England. It can be described as "greater Teesside" and consists of the four unitary authorities created by the breakup of the County of Cleveland in 1996: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-On-Tees along with the borough of...
.
Retford also has two newspapers serving the town, the paid-for Retford Times
Retford Times
The Retford Times is a weekly local newspaper founded in 1869. It is distributed in and around the area of the North Nottinghamshire market town of Retford. The newspaper contains local news and views from resident people as well as a property section for Retford and the surrounding villages. The...
which is published in Retford and the Guardian and Trader newspaper, a free
Gratis
Gratis is the process of providing goods or services without compensation. It is often referred to in English as "free of charge" or "complimentary"...
weekly newspaper published in Worksop. The Worksop Guardian, another paid-for newspaper, although predominately a newspaper serving Worksop and its area, also covers stories in Retford.
Retford's Primary Schools
- St Swithun's C of E Primary & Nursery School
- St Josephs Catholic Primary school
- Bracken Lane Primairy School
- Thrumpton Primary School
- Carr Hill Primary School
Retford's senior schools
- The Elizabethan High SchoolThe Elizabethan High SchoolThe Elizabethan High School, alongside Retford Oaks High School and St Giles Special School, is one of three secondary schools in the Nottinghamshire market town of Retford...
- Retford Oaks High SchoolRetford Oaks High SchoolRetford Oaks High School is a comprehensive school in the market town of Retford, Nottinghamshire, England, situated in the coal-mining district of Bassetlaw.-Admissions:...
- St. Giles
As part of a major overhaul of secondary schools in the Bassetlaw area, all schools have now been moved to new facilities built around the town as part of the Transform Schools scheme. Retford is home to a Post-16 centre which has united all Sixth Form students from each of the above schools in one site (former Ordsall Hall School
Ordsall Hall School
Ordsall Hall Comprehensive School was a comprehensive school situated on Ordsall Road in the market town of East Retford in the district of Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire.-History:...
) and provide other courses available through North Nottinghamshire College (based at Worksop).
Famous Retfordians
- Anthony Perrinott Lysberg BarberAnthony Barber, Baron BarberAnthony Perrinott Lysberg Barber, Baron Barber, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician who served as a member of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords....
, Baron Barber, PC (4 July 1920 – 16 December 2005), was a British Conservative politician who served as a member of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1970-4. - Frank BranstonFrank BranstonFrank Branston was a journalist, novelist and newspaper proprietor, and the first directly elected mayor of the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England.-Early life and career:...
, (9 May 1939 – 14 August 2009), award-winning journalist and newspaper owner, also the first directly-elected mayorElected mayors in the United KingdomDirectly elected mayors are council leaders elected by the general electorate of a council area for local government, instead of being appointed by members of a local authority, which is common in the United Kingdom. The Elected Mayor is elected from a number of candidates who put themselves up for...
of BedfordBedford (borough)Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and... - Doc CoxDoc CoxRobert "Doc" Cox , also known as Ivor Biggun, is a British musician and former television journalist...
, went to the King Edward VI School. - Robert CraufurdRobert CraufurdMajor-General Robert Craufurd was a Scottish soldier and Member of Parliament . After a military career which took him from India to the Netherlands, he was given command of the Light Division in the Napoleonic Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington...
. Major General during Peninsular WarPeninsular WarThe Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
and Member of Parliament for East Retford between 1802-06. - Philip JacksonPhilip Jackson (actor)Philip Jackson is an English actor, known for his many television and film roles, most notably as Chief Inspector Japp in the television series Poirot and as Abbot Hugo, one of the recurring adversaries in the cult 1980s series Robin of Sherwood. Jackson was born in Retford, Nottinghamshire...
, actor best known for his role as Chief Inspector JappChief Inspector JappDetective Chief Inspector James Japp is a fictional character who appears in several of Agatha Christie's novels featuring Hercule Poirot.-Japp in Christie's work:...
in the television series Agatha Christie's PoirotAgatha Christie's PoirotAgatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
. - John KelsallJohn KelsallJohn Lawrence Kelsall was a British composer, conductor and lecturer.-Studies:...
, (31 July 1947 - 4 November 1986), British composer, conductor and lecturer. - Liam LawrenceLiam LawrenceLiam Lawrence is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Football League Championship side Portsmouth and the Republic of Ireland....
, football player for Portsmouth FC and the Republic of Ireland national football teamRepublic of Ireland national football teamThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. - Samuel MilnerSamuel MilnerSamuel Roslington Milner was a British physicist and a Fellow of the Royal Society.Education: King Edward VI School, Retford; University College, Bristol; University of Göttingen.-Career:* 1851 Exhibition Scholar, 1895-1898...
, physicist - Derek RandallDerek RandallDerek William Randall is an English former cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire, and Tests and ODIs for England in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
, cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played first-class cricketFirst-class cricketFirst-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Nottinghamshire County Cricket ClubNottinghamshire County Cricket ClubNottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
and the English cricket teamEnglish cricket teamThe England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
in the late 1970s and early 1980s. - John WarhamJohn WarhamDr John Warham was an Australian and New Zealand photographer and ornithologist notable for his research on seabirds, especially petrels....
, photographer.
Youth groups
Retford is served by many youth groups including The Scout AssociationThe Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
, Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
, St. John Ambulance
St. John Ambulance
St John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John...
and Young Farmers, Meeting within the town.
There is also a well established Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
and Kung Fu School "The Golden Dragon Martial Arts Academy" at the Albert road business centre and a Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
club in Hallcroft, the estate running parallel to North road.
Retford is also home to 1403 ATC
ATC
- Military :* Air Training Command, the predecessor to Air Education and Training Command in the United States Air Force* New Zealand Air Training Corps* Air Training Corps, United Kingdom...
Retford Squadron and Army Cadets
Army Cadets
Army Cadets may refer to:* Members of the Army Cadet Force * Members of the Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Forces* Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets* Members of the American Cadet Alliance Army Brigade* Members of the Australian Army Cadets...
.
See also
- Municipal Borough of East RetfordMunicipal Borough of East RetfordEast Retford was a Municipal borough in Nottinghamshire, England from 1835 to 1974. It was formed under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 from the Ancient Borough of East Retford....
- Ordsall, NottinghamshireOrdsall, NottinghamshireThe area of Ordsall is attached to the township of Retford, Nottinghamshire, England.All Hallow's Church serves the village and is situated beside the River Idle at the south side of Ordsall, an area commonly referred to as "Old Ordsall"....
- Retford railway stationRetford railway stationRetford railway station serves the town of Retford in Nottinghamshire, England. and is 223 km north of London Kings Cross and 28 km south of Doncaster on the East Coast Main Line...
- Retford United F.C.Retford United F.C.Retford United Football Club are an English football club based at Cannon Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.-History:...
- Sloswicke's HospitalSloswicke's HospitalSloswicke's Hospital was erected in 1657 in East Retford, Nottingham.Richard Sloswicke’s will left money to found almshouses “for the maintenance of six poore old men of good carriage and behaviour to the end of the world.” The present building dates from 1806; an additional pair of houses was...
External links
- The old Retford pottery
- thisisretford.co.uk
- The History of Retford, written by John Shadrach Piercy published in 1828
- History of the Great North Road through Retford
- Retford Exists
- Elizabethan High School
- Retford Oaks High School
- Retford & District Lifesavers
- Seth Ellis Canal Trip Boat - trips along the Chesterfield Canal in Retford
- Retford Mariners Boat Club
- St Joseph's Church, Retford