White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

Mansfield Woodhouse

Mansfield Woodhouse is a respectable village and parish, nearly one and a half miles north of Mansfield. It is partly inhabited by framework knitters, but contains some good houses which have long been the residence of respectable families. The parish contains 1,972 inhabitants and 4,770 acres of land. The tithes were commuted in 1814 for £680. The Duke of Portland is principal owner, lord of the manor, and impropriator, but Francis Hall Esq., Edmund Sykes Esq., John Clark Esq and Edward Thomas Coke Esq have also estates here. In the reign of Henry VI, Sir Robert Plumpton died possessed of one bovate in this manor called Wolf-hunt land, held by the service of winding a horn and frightening the wolves in Sherwood Forest. The dwelling upon this land was called Wolf House, which is now occupied by Mr Samuel Housley. In an ancient record, written in 1520, it is said "that the town of Mansfield Woodhouse was burned in the year of our Lord MCCCIIII and the Kirk stepull, with the bells of the same, for the stepull was afore of tymbre work." Before this accident the church had three aisles, but it now has only two. It is 98 feet long and 32 broad. The spire is 108 feet high and contains four bells, and a small Saints' bell, which in Catholic times was rung when the priest came to that part of the Latin service which is traslated, "Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Sabaoth!" in order that those who stayed at home might join with the congregation in the most solemn part of worship. The church is dedicated to St Edmund and contains a few ancient mural monuments. The living is a perpetual curacy of the certified value of £94, and has annexed to it that of Skegby. The Duke of Portland is the patron, and the Rev. William Goodacre is the incumbent. The Independents, Wesleyans and primitive Methodists have each a chapel in the village. The inhabitants have a bountiful supply of water from a spring in the village. In the neighbourhood are several prolific quarries of excellent limestone. At the east end of the village are some remains of a Roman exploratory camp. The feast is on the Sunday after the 10th of July. The late Major Rooke F.R.S. lived in a retired mansion between Mansfield and Woodhouse, near a spot enriched with the highest traces of antiquity, and died here in 1806 "after a long period of useful service to his country as a soldier, antiquary and meteorologist; his communication in the Archaeologia are very extensive in vols 8, 9, 10 and 11." The Major's researches in this parish were very productive. In the Northfield he found the site of an extensive Roman villa, which had consisted of seven elegant rooms with richly painted walls, and a beautiful mosaic pavement, composed of red, yellow, white and grey tesserae, about the size of a die. John Knight Esq., on whose estate this discovery was made, erected a building over the tessellated pavement for its better preservation; but Laird, on visiting it in 1811, "found the doors broken open, the pavement ruined and the floor strewn with the cubic pieces, the walls written over with ribaldry, and its only tenants a mare and a foal, who had taken shelter from the noon tide heat." About 100 yards south east of the villa, the Major discovered some remains of two sepulchres, in which were found many fragments of paterae, and pots of Roman manufacture, with several articles of household conveniences.
Desdale House, a beautiful mansion, abut half a mile west of Mansfield Woodhouse, is the seat of Edward Thomas Coke Esq. Woodhouse Grove is the residence of George Robinson Esq. Grassfield Cottage is half a mile north of the village, occupied by Mr Joseph Cox. North Lodge is the residence of Mr James Bailey, and the Park Hall, one mile north, the residence of Francis Hall Esq., besides which there are several neat mansions in the village.

Charities. The Blue Coat School, where 40 boys and girls are clothed and educated gratuitously, was founded and endowed by Mrs Faith Clerkson. Another charity school, where 30 boys and girls are educated, was founded in 1827 by Richard Radford, grocer, who endowed it with £800. The above schools are now united and occupy a new building, erected in 1845, at a cost of £1,000, with a residence for the master and mistress, Mr and Mrs Wood. Seven closes called the Clay Pits, and containing 26a 2r 23p are let out for £80 per annum, and belong to the church for its repairs &c. Rosamond Watson left £100 for apprenticing poor children, but it was expended in building the old workhouse, and £5 is now paid yearly as the interest of it by the trustees of the church land. Mrs Fisher left £100 to the poor, and it is now vested in the Chesterfield Turnpike. The indigent parishoners are also relieved by the yearly distribution of the following small annuities, viz.; 10s left by Roland Daud; 10s by Mr Price, out of land in Mansfield; 10s by John Bingham, out of his two old Mill Closes; 5s by Richard Eyre, out of lands in Mansfield Woodhouse; 2s by William Whelpdale; 6s by Paul Wilson; and £2 10s by Mrs Cross, out of Brackenhurst Closes.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]