Mansfield Woodhouse

The Mansfield Woodhouse Library is normally open 5 days per week, but you should always call ahead to check. The Library is wheelchair friendly and has a Local History Section and keeps some local newspapers and magazines. Parking is available at the Mansfield Woodhouse Railway Station.  Their physical location is:

• Mansfield Woodhouse Library
• Church Street (off Station Road)
• Mansfield
• Nottinghamshire, NG19 8AH
• Tele: 01623 677 200

There is also a good resource at the Mansfield Central Library.

St Edmund's has an overflow graveyard on Welbeck Road.

Ian S. has a photograph of a portion of the Overflow Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2016.

• The parish was in the Warsop sub-district of the Mansfield Registration District.
   
• There are Census Extracts available on the Woodhus site.
   
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
   

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  The Anglican parish church was dedicated to Saint Edmund King and Martyr.
   
• There was a wooden church here before the 1086 Domesday Book, but a part timber, part stone church was raised here in 1190.
   
• The church burned to the ground in the Mansfield Woodhouse Fire of 1304. The church was rebuilt using stone.
   
• The church nave and aisles were rebuilt between 1804 and 1810.
   
• The church chancel was restored in 1878. Most of the rest of the church had been repaired in 1850.
   
• Richard CROFT has a photograph of St. Edmund's Church on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2006.
   
• James HILL also has a photograph of St. Edmund's Church on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2007.
   
• St. Chad at Steffenwood (often spelled: Stiffenwood) was erected in Pleasley Vale  in 1881. It could seat 120 people.
   
• St. Alban's Mission Church was erected in Forest Town  in 1911. It could seat 400 people.
   

• The Anglican parish registers dates from 1653 and is in fair condition.
   
• The church was in the rural deanery of Mansfield.
   
• The Congregationalists built a chapel here in 1802.
   
• The Baptists built a chapel here in 1874.
   
• There were also chapels here for the Primitive Methodists and Wesleyan Methodists in 1881.
   
• A new Baptist chapel was built here in 1905.
   
• A number of the locals were buried in Pleasley, Derbyshire. Be sure to look for your family members there as well.
   

• The parish was in the Warsop sub-district of the Mansfield Registration District.
   
• Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
   

This large village and parish lies on the western border of the old Sherwood Forest, one and a half miles north of Mansfield and 135 miles north of London. The parish covers 4,820 acres.

• Forest Town is a small colliery village in this parish, 1.5 miles south-east of Mansfield Woodhouse.
• Pleasley Vale is a hamlet in this parish, hard up against the Derbyshire border.

If you are planning a visit:

• By rail, the village is served by the Robin Hood Line between Nottingham and Worksop.
   

• Geograph
• Flickr

• We have an extract from White's 1853 Directory relating to this parish.
   

"MANSFIELD-WOODHOUSE, a village and a parish in Mansfield district, Notts. The village stands ¾ of a mile W of the river Maun, and 1½ N of Mansfield r. station; was burnt in 1034; is a large place, with some old houses; and has a post office under Mansfield, and a fair on the third Wednesday of Oct. The parish includes part of Sherwood forest, and comprises 2,860 acres. Real property, £8,314; of which £48 are in quarries Pop. in 1851, 1,972; in 1861 ,2,263. Houses, 492. The property is divided among a few. The manor and much of the land belong to the Duke of Portland. The Priory is the seat of G. Robinson, Esq., and Debdale is the seat of E. T. Coke, Esq. A number of the inhabitants are employed in frame-work knitting. A small ditched-ditched Roman camp is at Winny-Hill; and many Roman coins, pavements, urns, and other Roman relics have been found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lincoln. Value, £300. Patron, the Bishop of Lincoln. The church is early English, in good condition; and has an octagonal spire, 104 feet high. There are chapels for Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists, national and infant schools, two endowed schools, a recently established village hospital, and some small charities."

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Mansfield Woodhouse to another place.

• Roman remains have been discovered here at different periods. There is a site just over a mile north-east of the church that appears to have been a Roman Camp.
   
• The Romans had a fortress and a civilian settlement in the area (remains of a Roman villa were found here by Hayman ROOKE in the 1780s).
   
• On 12 September 1304, fire completely destroyed the village, including the church. The town was rebuilt and the church was rebuilt using stone.
   
• The Village Feast was held on the Sunday following July 10th.
   
• Locally-quarried stone was used to build the Houses of Parliament in London.
   
• David BEVIS has a photograph of the Greyhound Pub on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2011.
   
• See also Our Mansfield for additional history.
   

• See our Maps page for additional resources.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK540632 (Lat/Lon: 53.163192, -1.193778), Mansfield Woodhouse which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

• The Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse District Hospital was started in this parish in 1867, but construction didn't take place until 1877.
   
• This small hospital was replaced in 1889 and a new one opened the following year on West Hill Drive.
   
• Miss Florence RANSFORD was the matron in 1904.
   
• Mansfield General Hospital closed in 1992.
   
• Hospitals were exempt from archiving laws relating to patient records.
   

The First World War memorial is in the Yeoman Hill Park across the street from the church. It has five plaques on it.

On the front of the memorial is this inscription:

"IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR - 1914-18"

• Ian S. has a photograph of the War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2016.
   
• The Second World War memorial is a wooden plaque inside the church.
   
• There is a memorial to Mark Royston STEPHENS lost in the Falklands Campaign just below the wooden plaque mentioned above.
   
• All those memorials are described and photographs provided at the Southwell Churches History Project site.
   
• One of the names listed is: Leonard BOCKIN (or BOCKING). 9th Sherwood Foresters.

Arthur SHEPPARD was born in Mansfield Woodhouse circa 1856. He had a son born here circa 1890, also named Arthur. This son, after moving to Southwell, would go on to win a Distinguished Service Medal and to die in combat in 1915.

The WWI War Memorial cross has 225 names associated with it, all lost in WWI. This list is provided by the Nottinghamshire County Council:

1. Walter Adlington
2. William Thomas Ainsworth
3. George Edward Andrews
4. Ernest Antcliffe
5. Albert Anthoney
6. James Andrew Ashley
7. William Ashpool
8. James Bacon
9. Charles T. Ball
10. Ernest Ball
11. George Thomas Barnes
12. Walter Bennett
13. George Bennison
14. James Bennison
15. George William Beresford
16. Harold Betts
17. George Bilbie
18. Harold Blackwell
19. George Blythe
20. Francis Harold Boam
21. Leonard Bockin
22. William Henry Bonser
23. Albert Booth
24. Harry Bottom
25. John Edward Bownes
26. Godfrey Bradshaw
27. A. W. Bray
28. Jesse Brierley
29. Frank Ewart Brindley
30. Herbert Brocklehurst Jnr.
31. Herbert Brocklehurst Snr.
32. William Broughton
33. C. Brown
34. Ernest Brown
35. H. Brown
36. George Henry Bullock
37. Thomas Bullock
38. John Edward Burbridge
39. William Henry Burden
40. George Burgin
41. Cornelius Burton
42. John Edward Burton
43. Frederick H. Caldwell
44. Thomas Carrington
45. Frederick H. Carter
46. Nathan Chadbourne
47. Walter Chantry
48. William Arthur Chapman
49. James Clarey
50. George Clarke
51. Thomas Clarke
52. Willis Clarke
53. A. E. Coles
54. Arthur Edwin Cooke
55. George Cooper
56. Walter Cooper
57. Harry Cope
58. Wilfred Copestake
59. Gideon Corbett
60. Harvey Coupe
61. Claude Cowpe
62. William Creary
63. Frank Ewart Crooks
64. Hugh Corbett Dainty
65. John Ernest Davies
66. Arthur Dawes
67. George Dennis
68. James Driver
69. John Dunn
70. Frederick Austin Wright Fensom
71. Lionel Herbert Flint
72. William Maddox Flint
73. George William Frost
74. William Garton
75. Fred Ghilks
76. John G. Gilman
77. Henry Arthur Glasby
78. John George Glidewell
79. William Herbert Greaves
80. Horace Green
81. Arthur Grummitt
82. Joseph Hague
83. Samuel Harry Hampshire
84. Leonard H. Hardy
85. Samuel Harris
86. Albert Ernest Hart
87. Thomas Alfred Hawley
88. Howard Hayward
89. William Heald
90. William Hett
91. Charles Morley Houfton
92. William E Housley
93. W. Howell
94. Robert William Hunt
95. James Frederick Huskisson
96. George Hutchinson
97. Frederick Thomas Mott Hyde
98. Joseph Kelk
99. Lewis Herbert Kerry
100. John William Key
101. John King
102. Bennett Coyler Knight
103. Simeon Lancashire
104. John Leatherland
105. Albert Lee
106. Thomas Lees
107. Charles Leeson
108. Joseph Lilliman
109. Robert William Lilliman
110. William Henry Lilliman
111. John Lloyd
112. James Major
113. Robert William Mapletoft
114. Alick (Alexander) Marchant
115. George Marchant
116. George Edwin Marples
117. George William Marriott
118. Harry Oscar Marsh
119. A. Mayers
120. Harry Mee
121. Henry Mellors
122. Alfred Merrin
123. Ernest Millband
124. Sidney Miller
125. Joseph Moody
126. George Edward Moore
127. Frederick Thomas Mott Hyde
128. Jonathon Mould
129. Walter Moxon
130. Fred Munks
131. Frederick James Munnings
132. David Murden
133. John Thomas Murden
134. Walter John Murrell
135. William Naylor
136. Harry Neale
137. Louis Bernard Neale
138. Arthur Newton
139. Ernest Alfred Newton
140. Frank Newton
141. John William Newton
142. Thomas Newton
143. Charles Northwood
144. Joseph Thomas Odam
145. Thomas Ignatius Joseph O'Gorman
146. Robert Osborne
147. William Parkes
148. Thomas Pearson
149. Alfred Peat
150. William Peat
151. Arthur Peatman
152. John Clarence Percival
153. Albert Phillips-Taylor
154. Henry Herbert Phillips
155. Francis Sydney Pickering
156. Alfred Pinnick
157. John Plant
158. F. Platt
159. George Playfoot
160. James William Powell
161. Thomas Cyril Powner
162. Joseph Pursglove
163. George Henry Radford
164. Alfred George Raven
165. Ernest Richardson
166. John Edward Roberts
167. Samuel Robert Robertson
168. Ernest Robinson
169. H. Robinson
170. George Taylor Roe
171. Bernard Sanderson
172. Edgar Sanderson
173. A. Sansom
174. Oswald Sansom
175. Charles Sargison
176. Frederick Savage
177. John Savage
178. George William Saxelby
179. Joseph Shaw
180. Frederick Carey Shawcroft
181. William Sheldon
182. Bruce Sherratt
183. James Thomas Sirdifield
184. Harold Archibald Sissons
185. Herbert Slater
186. Ernest Smith
187. Frederick Smith
188. Horace Bernard Smith
189. James William Smith
190. Walter Smith
191. Joseph Henry Stacey
192. Joseph Starbuck
193. George Henry Strauther
194. Frank Taylor
195. Isaac Taylor
196. William Hurst Taylor
197. Frank Thompson
198. John William Thorpe
199. John Samuel Titley
200. Arthur Townroe
201. Frederick Herbert Tudge
202. Kenneth Legh Turner
203. Francis William Tyler
204. John William Walker
205. Albert Henry Wardle
206. Charles Wharmby
207. Herbert Wharton
208. Frank Wheatman
209. Albert John White
210. Arthur Whitlam
211. Herbert Whysall
212. David Wightman
213. Frederick Henry Wilkinson
214. Seth Williams
215. Arthur Charles Willies
216. Harry Wilson
217. Thomas Burrows Wilson
218. John William Wint
219. Alfred Winterbottom
220. Arthur Wood
221. John Arthur Wood
222. Reginald Sydney Wood
223. Arthur Graham Woodcock
224. Clarence Woodhead
225. Richard Bertie Yates

Sir John DIGBY lived in the 15th century building adjacent to the church, known as the Manor House. During the English Civil War he was a supporter of the Royalists and King Charles I. He became High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1641 and received a knighthood in 1642. On the north wall of the Lady Chapel is a memorial to John DIGBY. The translation from Latin is:

"Sacred to the Almighty and the most great God, and to the memory of John Digby, knight and Lucy his wife. This Of famed birth and of greater ...... allow none equal in dignity in any way, nevertheless by virtue more famed than any other knight; at the same time a man born into the example of goodness, notable by virtue as much in private life as in public in the instruction of sinners as much in prudence as in principal for his native country; of singular faith, advanced to the ordering of the most powerful and honourable office in the counties of York, Notts and Lincs and by his office thus discharged ..... by his memory..... of wishes, and at length sitting in the place granted by fate to his descendants .... from the most ancient and splendid family of Trygotts in the county of York came his wife, faithful in public life and in things domestic, mother of the family and most careful in the pious education of children able in all things. He died in the 82nd year of his life and was survived five months by his wife in the 92nd year of her life."

There is a discrepancy in the historical notes relating to their ages and length of time she survived him.

The inscription on the plaque on the south wall reads:

"That it may be known where the Remains of the worthy Persons deceased are deposited, IOHN DIGBY Esquire, Son and Heir of Sir IOHN DIGBY of Mansfield Woodhouse, Kn[ight] married Frances, sole Daughter of Leonard Pinkney of Westminster, Esquire; By whom he had Issue Kenelm, Iohn, George, Lucy, Elizabeth and Frances; who all, except Iohn, died young. The first named Iohn died in the 58th Year of his Age, leaving Frances his Widow, who afterwards married Charles Osborne Esquire, sole Brother to Thomas Duke of Leeds and died in the 80th year of her Age, 1725. IOHN the surviving Son and Heir of Iohn Digby, Iuly 2, 1696, married Anne, eldest Daughter and Coheiress of Sir Edward Ayscough of South Kelsey in the County of Lincoln, Knt, who died the 14th of October following (as appears by the adjoining Monument) He afterwards married Iane, the youngest Daughter to Sir Thomas Wharton of Edlington in the County of York, Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of King Charles I. which Sir Thomas was Grandson of Philip by Sir Thomas Wharton his Son and Heir, the sole Brother to another Philip, both Lords Whartons. By her he had Issue Frances, married to Sir Thomas Legard of Ganton in the County of York Baronet; Iane, married to Francis Fysher of the Grange, near Grantham in the County of Lincoln Esquire; Lucy, Anne, Elizabeth, who all died young; Iohn who died August 11, 1728, in the 23d year of his Age, Philadelphia, married to Sir George Cayley of Brompton in the County of York, Bart, Rosamond and Thomas, who both died young; Mary, married to George Cartwright, of Ossington in the County of Nottingham Esquire; Priscilla, Henrietta and Lucy. IOHN DIGBY the Father died August 16, 1722, To whose Memory, and of his Ancestors here named, and of his eldest Son, His widow IANE DIGBY, and his Daughter LEGARD, in Testimony of their Duty and Affection have erected this Monument. MDCCXLVII."

Two plaques on the south wall, next to the screen:

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF FRANCIS NEWMAN ELLIS KNIGHT OF GRACE OF THE ORDER OF ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM IN THE BRITISH REALM BORN AT LEICESTER 19TH NOVEMBER 1855 DIED AT DEBDALE HALL IN THIS PARISH 9TH OCTOBER 1934
In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

"IN THE FAMILY VAULT BELOW THIS PLACE LIE THE EARTHLY REMAINS OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN HALL OF PARK HALL IN THE PARISH OF WOODHOUSE BORN APRIL 10TH 1770 DIED JULY 26TH 1823 AND OF LETITIA HIS WIFE ONLY CHILD OF JEFFRY BROCK ESQRE OF BASFORD IN THE COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM BORN SEPT 10TH 1783 DIED MAY 19TH 1870. “BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN MY HELPER THEREFORE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS WILL I REJOICE.” PSALM 63 V.8. TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF HER PARENTS THIS TABLET IS PLACED BY THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER LETITITA MARY WELFITT."

In the South Aisle at the east end of the south wall is a marble tablet in memory of Captain Walter NEED (died 1901) and his wife, Emily (died 1910):

"TO THE REVERED MEMORY OF WALTER NEED, CAPTAIN R. N. (YOUNGEST SON OF COLONEL JOHN NEED, OF MANSFIELD-WOODHOUSE AND BLIDWORTH) BORN SEP: 19, 1809; DIED APRIL 5, 1901. AND EMILY MCMAHON NEED, HIS WIFE BORN MARCH 11, 1831; DIED MARCH 29, 1910. DEVOTED WORSHIPPERS IN THIS CHURCH. THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY THEIR CHILDREN.
“IN THY PRESENCE IS THE FULLNESS OF JOY.”"

The town also has a volunteer-run newsletter called The Woodhouse Warbler, produced quarterly since late 2000.

• This place was an ancient Chapelry in a parish in Nottingham county, and became a modern Civil Parish around 1800.
   
• This parish was in the northern division of the Broxtowe Hundred or Wapentake in the northern division of the county.
   
• Under the 1894 Local Government Act the parish formed an Urban District Council.
   
• In 1974, Mansfield Woodhouse and Warsop Urban District Councils merged with the Municipal Borough of Mansfield to form a new local government area known as Mansfield District Council.
   

• Bastardy cases would be heard in the Mansfield petty session hearings held every Thursday at the Police Court on Station Street,.
   
• After the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, this parish became part of the Mansfield Poor Law Union.
   

Year	Population
1801	1,112
1821	1,598
1841	1,871
1851	1,972
1871	2,474
1881	2,618
1891	2,819

• A Public Elementary School (mixed) was built here in 1845. It was enlarged in 1865 and once again in 1883 to hold 380 children.
   
• Another Public Elementary School (mixed) was built here in 1903 to hold 300 boys, 300 girls and 350 infants.
   
• David BEVIS has a photograph of the National School in Welbeck Road on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2011.