MY MANSFIELD; A Brief History

   Steeped in history, Mansfield lies deep within the heart of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood country, in northwest Nottinghamshire. Its original name was Maunsfield.

   Maunsfield is an ancient town with its main river, The Maun meandering through its center, and is believed to have existed since the Celtic era. It is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and in Saxon times Mercian Kings used it as a temporary residence. 

   Through the occupation years, when Britannia was under the rule of the Roman Empire, many legions passed through and indeed were garrisoned in and around the Mansfield area, as many roman coins and artifacts have over the years been uncovered with one of the largest being unearthed in a farmer’s field near Newstead Abbey. Even today the odd stash of coins brought to light by amateur treasure hunters or the single item, shows the significant presence of Roman culture.

   Throughout medieval history Mansfield played a central roll in the Robin Hood legend and only a few miles away lies the small village of Edwinstowe the reputed burial place of Maid Marion in its parish church graveyard. Also here is one of our areas living legends The Major Oak one of the oldest oak trees in England, which lies at the center of what once was the great forest of Sherwood. Reduced now to a few acres of tourist rich wood and parklands. John Little one of Robin Hoods Merry men is said to have come from the Mansfield area, exactly where is not too certain; he may have come from one of our neighboring villages, which has now been integrated into the wider District of Mansfield.

   Mansfield's status as a market town dates back to 1227 when Henry III granted a Market Charter, followed by a grant of fair in 1337. The famous open-air Mansfield Markets - one of the biggest in the country - still operates to this day. And the reducing but ever popular traveling fairs visit us a few times a year keeping up with age-old traditions. Today the craft markets from our twinned towns across Europe are proving a popular addition to Mansfield’s Tourist attractiveness.

   The Market Place itself boasts an array of historic buildings in and around it, including the Bentinck Memorial, built in 1849 as a tribute to Lord George Bentinck, a local MP and brother of the 5th Duke of Portland. It’s slowly being renovated from the ravages of time and our growing pigeon population

   In 1631 William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle, from whose hands it finally passed to the Portland family of Welbeck Abbey, held Mansfield. The parchment deeds of sale on my old house showed area maps that indeed both the Cavendish and Portland Families once owned the land, and was given permission by the crown to sell the land for housing development in 1899. My terraced house was built in 1901 and once again owned and rented out by the Cavendish family members who had settled in the Mansfield area and who became founders of many of Mansfield’s historic buildings, and developed the Cavendish Law firm one of our oldest surviving business’s

   A Quaker Ministry was set up by founder George Fox in 1643 and dissenting non-conformists moved into the town eventually developing the Unitarian Old Meeting House which still stands today on Stockwell Gate and is home to several William Morris windows.

   Until the middle of the 18th century Mansfield was an isolated rural town. Life in the area during this period is outlined by the writer Robert Dodsley, the author of a play called The King and Miller of Mansfield which is based on an old ballad about local miller John Cockle who shelters King Henry II after he becomes lost in the forest and feeds his royal guest on venison from poached royal deer.
Later King Henry revealed his true identity to the Cockle family and for his hospitality John Cockle was awarded a Knighthood and became Sir John Cockle.

   From that time the old town’s mill has been known as the Kings Mill and history was further carved when the monarch insisted that one of his lords take the daughter for a wife. King Henry II was born in 1133 and died in 1189. He became King in 1154 and reigned until his death. He is remembered as the King who was instrumental in the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas a Becket in 1170. The King later repented and for atonement founded Newstead Abbey now a local tourist attraction. Later to become home to one of England’s best loved writers and poet Lord Byron. His close friend T. H. Lawrence wrote his book “Sons and Lovers” in 1913, and depicted Byron’s Newstead Abbey and grounds as part of his epic novel. Also their close friend Mary Shelly wrote her enigmatic tale of “Frankenstien”

   The growth in farming led to the development of malting and by the mid 1700's the town had 36 malting’s. The town's main reminder of the malting’s industry is Mansfield Brewery that was founded in 1855 and although now closed and derelict is still on the same site today.

   Another main industry in Mansfield was quarrying. Stone was quarried for Southwell Minster as far back as 1337 south of the town and continued at various other sites until late this century. Many of Mansfield’s historic buildings, and indeed the giant viaducts that dominate, and cut their way through Mansfield’s center, were constructed from our own sandstone. All this adds to the picturesque quality, that the golden-yellow stone gives as it glows magnificently in the sunlight. Coal mining, which arrived at the end of the 19th century, saw Mansfield grow significantly. Bringing with it in its wake the giant yarn spinning and hosiery factories that dominated the areas skyline with their billowing tall brick chimneys. Whilst the older traditional local industries have dwindled over recent years, and now mining and knit-ware almost gone, many new and diverse industries have arrived in the district to take their place, ensuring the town's future growth and prosperity.

For more information http://www.old-mansfield.org.uk/home.htm
By
Oaky Woodã2005
Agony Uncle on "The Corner 4 Women"
http://thecorner4women.com
Poet, writer, artist, webmaster and designer.
Also owner of the Oakwood Grafix Group of websites
http://www.oakwoodgrafix.co.uk/

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