Towns
Mansfield is located to the East of the M1, 15 miles north of Nottingham and 30 miles south of Sheffield. Within a 2 hour drive from the town lays the bulk of nearly half of Englands consumers and the majority of the Uk's industrial output.
Mansfield
With ancient roots possibly going back as far as Celtic times, Mansfield is named in the Doomsday Book (as Mamesfelde) and was granted its market charter in 1227 and a fair in 1377.
These were commercial advantages guarded jealously by the inhabitants who variously described Mansfield in the 1540's as 'pretty market town' and in 1602 as 'a great market town', when partitioning against the sale of manorial rights against the crown.
The English Civil War left Mansfield largely unscathed, apart from occasional looting, but after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 the town became a haven for non-conformists who built businesses that greatly contributed to the towns wealth.
By the 17th century, Mansfield became known for its cottage industry producing worsted-type cloth but it was the industrialization of the 1780's, which saw Mansfield really take off with the establishment of large textile mills and iron foundries (using fine local sand for mouldings) to produce machinery.
The Dukes of Portland played their part in trying to maintain the prosperity of the town, creating the Kings Mill Reservoir to ensure a steady flow of water to the mills. This prosperity was built upon through the installation of proper rail links, which were established in the 19th century.
The Mansfield to Pinxton line was upgraded and extended to Nottingham (1847 - 1849) and new lines were started in 1869 to join the main lines of Worksop, crossing the magnificent viaduct which can still be seen - industry still thrives beneath its arches and the Modern day Robin hood Line crosses on route to Worksop in the North and Nottingham in the South.
In tandem with this development grew the coal industry which fuelled it and which did so much to shape the face of the modern hi-tech progressive Mansfield of today.
Mansfield Woodhouse
Though remains of a Romano-British settlement have been found, the town is of more recent origin, dating from around 1100 when it was a settlement of smallholders, perhaps moved from land in Sherwood, which was wanted by the king for hunting.
In 1304 the village was almost totally destroyed by fire but a grant of timber from the king led to its swift recovery and rebuilding. Tudor times saw the construction, from local stone, of many fine buildings.
As with Mansfield, a cottage industry in textile production developed until large mechanized mills took over in the late 1700's, leading to a larger population and overcrowding.
In 1875 a station was built on the Mansfield - Worksop line, and in the early 1900's a local colliery was sunk nearby (now closed). Mansfield Woodhouse welcomed back rail transportations with the opening of its own station on the Robin Hood Line in 1996.
Warsop
There are four different 'Warsopes' in the Domesday Book (Church Warsop, Market Warsop, Sookholme and Nettleworth) and two Thorpes or isolated farms. All came under the sway of different lords of the manor and some where in different districts of the county.
Many Roman remains have been found, including a hoard of coins, and a crucial Saxon battle took place near the vicinity in 623. The remains of the loser, King Edwin, were carried from the battlefield at Hatfield, through the forest to Edwinstowe.
Monasteries were in possession of Sookholme and Gleadthorpe during the Middle Ages and the areas farmers and traders grew more prosperous with the right to hold markets and fairs. The area was so peaceful the people of Mansfield sent their horses here in 1745 to keep them from Prince Charlie as he marched south.
The areas rural character has survived, even with the coming of the rail link and the sinking of Warsop Main colliery in 1893 and Welbeck Colliery in 1915. Church Warsop retains its old stone water mill and fine Norman church.
