White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

Warsop

Warsop Parish is situated at the south-west corner of Bassetlaw, and is bounded on the west by Derbyshire, on the north by Cuckney, on the east by Budby, and on the south by the parishes of Edwinstowe and Mansfield. It is divided into the two townships of Warsop and Sookholme, which contain together 1,394 inhabitants and 6,956 acres of land, of which upwards of 200 acres are in woods and plantations. The forest land was partly enclosed in 1775, and the remainder by an act passed in 1818, but the award was not signed till 1824, when 713a 3r 13p were allotted to the rector in lieu of all the tithes of the parish.

Warsop township comprises 5,974 acres of land, and 1,318 inhabitants, mostly living in the two villages of Church Warsop and Market Warsop, which are situated on the opposite banks of the River Meden, 5½ miles north-north-east of Mansfield. Sir Richard Henry Fitzherbert, Bart.,is lord of the manor, patron of the rectory, and owner of all the soil, except about 300 acres belonging to Mr Charles Jackson, and Mr Willowes Wright. The market here has long been obsolete, but three fairs are still held annually, viz. on the Monday before White-Monday for cattle, sheep &c.; on November 17th for cattle; and on Michaelmas Day for sheep. The church, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, is a neat gothic edifice, with a handsome tower, in which are four bells. The living is a rectory, valued in the King's books at £22 15s 2d, now at £1,029. The Rev. Samuel Martin B.A. is the incumbent. Near the church is the rectory house, a handsome mansion, which was thoroughly repaired in 1831 at a cost of £600. The Wesleyans and Baptists have each a chapel in the village.

A commodious parish school was erected in 1842, in Market Warsop, by the late Henry Gally Knight Esq., and the rector. It is endowed with 15 guineas a year, from the bequest of Thomas Whiteman, who left £400 to the old parish school, which was invested in the new four percent stock. A parochial library was established in 1842, by the rector and the curate, which has 120 volumes.

Gleadthorpe Grange is a tithe-free estate, 2 miles north-east of Warsop, and contains 714a 3r 29p of land, in the township of Warsop, and was part of that manor, until it was granted to the monks of Welbeck. It is now the property of the Duke of Portland, and in the occupancy of Mr William Bell. Prospect House, on Forest Hill, 2 miles south of Warsop, erected by Mr Charles Jackson in 1844, who owns about 80 acres of land here, commands a prospect for 20 miles round. Near this is Westfield House. Williamwood House is a large farm, 1½ miles west of Warsop.

Nettleworth is a manor in the township of Warsop and Sookholme, and partly in the Hundred of Broxtow, and parish of Mansfield Woodhouse. It was purchased about 30 years ago by the late Henry Gally Knight Esq., except Park Hall, which is the seat and property of Captain Francis Hall Esq., and is distant 2½ miles north-north-east of Mansfield. Nettleworth Hall is occupied by Sir Richard Henry Fitzherbert, Bart. It is a handsome mansion, erected in 1785 on the site of the old one, beautifully situated at the head of a delightful valley, embosomed in woods, and having spacious lakes in front. This hall was built by the Wylde family, who long held the manor, and of who was Gervas Wylde, who, after being some years a factor in Andalusia, returned, and was made captain of a ship in 1588, against the Spanish Armada, in defeating which he made use of arrows with long steel heads, shot out of muskets, some of which he left at Nettleworth, where he died at the advanced age of 93 years.

Sookholme is a small village, township and chapelry, at the western extremity of the parish, 3½ miles north of Mansfield. It cintains 66 inhabitants and 982a 2r 2p of land, abounding in excellent limestone. Sir Richard Henry Fitzherbert, Bart., is owner and lord of the manor, which anciently belonged to Nostel Priory in Yorkshire. The chapel is a small ancient structure, in which the curate of Warsop performs divine service every alternate Sunday afternoon. A quarter of a mile south-west of the village is an excellent spring of water, where formerly was a bath. From it a small stream runs through the village, and joinds the Meden from Pleasley.

Benefactions. John Hall, in 1697, left £61 10s to be bestowed in lands for the use of the Church Town and Market Town of Warsop, together with all his lands at Warsop, and at Newton in Lincolnshire. The property now produces £109 per annum, and Mr Samuel Davy, the trustee, receives the rents, and sends 40 shilling loaves to the church every Sunday, for distribution to as many poor parishioners. In 1763, Francis Peacock left a cottage and garden at Shirebrook, and directed the rents (now £31) to be given half yearly to the poor of Warsop. Sarah Whiteman, widow of the founder of the school, bequeathed in 1818, a copyhold hose and garden, in Warsop, and directed the rents to be divided twice a year amongst eight poor widows and widowers. They now let for £7, and at the enclosure received an allotment, which is let for £3 per annum. The same benefactress also left £50 and ordered the interest to be given in bread on St Thomas' Day. Mr Samuel Davy is the trustee. Ann Wylde gave the interest of £20, now in Mansfield Savings Bank, to six single women. Mrs Richardson gave the interest of £9, also in the Savings Bank, to be distributed in bread on Good Friday.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]