Edwinstowe Hall

On Wed. 17^th October, members enjoyed an interesting illustrated talk about Edwinstowe Hall (a listed building) which was one of three large houses in the village, the others being Edwinstowe House and Villa Real.  Built about 1702, possibly by the Duke of Newcastle, details of ownership and residents of the Hall during the ensuing years were listed to the present day, when it has once again become a private residence.  While some changes have taken place, it was remarkable to learn that since 1751 the drawing room plaster ceiling in the Rococo style has remained unchanged.  Thanks, were expressed to the Committee members who assembled the information and ensured the afternoon was a success.

The Society’s current display in the Edwinstowe Craft Centre lists some interesting facts about Sherwood Forest, including reference to many of its memorable trees.

At a well-attended meeting in November Edwinstowe Historical Society members and visitors enjoyed an illustrated talk by Kevin Murphy about the Prisoner of War Camp system and the part played by Edwinstowe’s camp. Prisoners of War were detained in camps which reflected their risk to the nation.  Some of the local camps were at Welbeck Abbey, Rufford Abbey, Boughton, Carburton, Norton Cuckney, and Edwinstowe where the camp was sited to the north of the village cricket ground on the edge of the forest.  Prisoners were German, Italian and Ukrainian, based either in the camps or sometimes billeted out.  Edwinstowe‘s camp held Italians. Uniforms had a yellow dot on the back of the jackets and on one of the trouser legs.   Work was mainly agricultural. Two members shared their memories of seeing the POW’s when they were allowed outside the camps.

After hostilities ended some prisoners applied to remain in England and for their families to join them.  In Edwinstowe the camp was used to accommodate Displaced Persons from eastern European countries, most of whom worked down the pit, and others on farms.

On the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th Month of 2018, a ray of sunshine broke through the rain clouds as a crowd of people (with one poppy-bedecked horse) assembled by the War Memorial at Edwinstowe’s crossroads and stood in silence for 2 minutes.  They had listened to the Reverend Ian Webb deliver the Memorial Service, which commenced with the Act of Remembrance and Roll of Honour for the people who gave their lives in two world wars and recent combat.  Edwinstowe mourned 31 men in WW1, 14 in WW2 and 1 in 1999.  The service finished with a blessing.

The Wreath-laying then took place with standards lowered.  After the National Anthem the parade led by the Thoresby Band, marched past the saluting base on High Street.  The Saluting Officer was Sir David Naish, DL.  He was accompanied by the Rev Webb and Councillor Celia Brooks, Chairperson of Edwinstowe Parish Council.

The proceedings commenced earlier in the morning when the Parade, led by CSM Ewan Lees along with the Thoresby Colliery Band,  marched along Mansfield Road arriving at St Mary’s Church in readiness for the 10 a.m. Remembrance Service. The Parade also comprised members of the Royal British Legion, and the Village’s young people’s uniformed organisations, along with a number of individuals who had their own special reason for attending.  These included Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows – in all over 120 children from the village who have attended this event in increasing numbers over the past four years.

The Remembrance Service was led by Edwinstowe’s new Parish Priest, the Reverend Ian Webb, assisted by Lay Reader Pete Edwards.  There were 5 hymns, 3 poems, with prayerful moments.

Street lamp posts were adorned with poppies, and the Shops, too, had honoured the occasion with displays of poppies.  On railings outside the Village Hall, a wreath representing the 1^st Edwinstowe Beaver Scouts was made up from red poppies (to remember all those that died and are still dying to keep us safe) and purple poppies (to remember animals that died for us  in the first  world war).

This year, many of the poppies that were taken by residents and visitors over the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday were made by primary school children at King Edwin School.  These children also made several of the poppy motifs that were placed on the school fencing on Fourth Avenue.

It is estimated that overall, 1,200 residents and visitors attended the Remembrance Service and parade this year, making it a record turnout for this centenary year of remembrance.  Safe road closures and diversions during the service and parade were provided by TMS Retford.

At the meeting of the Edwinstowe Historical Society on 19^th September members heard Dr David Nunn talk about his involvement with the project to gather information relating to  Nottinghamshire’s men and women in the armed services, including civilians, who died during the First World War and whose names had been overlooked.  This was usually because some communities did not keep written records of the 1914-18 losses.   The new monument to be sited at the Victoria Embankment in Nottingham will be a fitting tribute to bring all the county’s fallen into one place.

He showed photos of memorials in town centres, chapels, churches, churchyards, parish halls, factories and other work places, schools and sports clubs.  Some of which were in France as well as England. Members also had the opportunity to view a collection of photos and documents which the Society have relating to WW1.

Edwinstowe War Memorial

View the new proposed War Memorial  here: http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leisure/heritage/remembering-ww1/the-great-war-memorial

The next meeting will be held on Wed. 17^th October, in the Church rooms, Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, NG21 9NJ., commencing at 2.00 p.m. and lasting for approximately 2 hours.  Tea/coffee and biscuits are available.    Annual membership is £12 and visitors are welcome at a charge of £3. Further information is available on our website www.edwinstowehistory.org.uk.

During the Robin Hood Festival week, Monday 27^th August to Sunday 2^nd September, St. Mary’s Church welcomed visitors to their beautiful historic building. According to legend, Robin Hood & Maid Marian were married at St. Mary’s. The church is not just a sacred space, but a building that is alive, loved and used regularly by people who are committed to following the way of Christ. Around the church were many of the old 2D cut-out figures from the old Visitor Centre.

During the week 100s of visitors looked around the church, meeting parishioners and enjoying free refreshments. Many children took part in the ‘Children’s Trail’ as well as making Robin Hood Hats and Maid Marion Headdresses. The Stewards who helped, and many visitors who shared it, had a busy, enjoyable and special week. Their help had been much appreciated.

On Wed. 20^th June members enjoyed an illustrated talk about village history, with particular reference to the Pubs, Inns and the Dukeries Hotel, also about the Fire Brigade and the part played by the firemen when carrying out their duties in the village.

The information was diligently assembled by committee members from our extensive collection of photos, documents and personal anecdotes.

The next meeting will take place on Wed. 19^th September when Dr David Nunn’s illustrated talk “Nottinghamshire Roll of Honour” will be about the new WW1 memorial to be sited in the Memorial Gardens on Nottingham Victoria Embankment.

Our meetings are held on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month and take place in the Church Rooms, Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, NG21 9NJ, commencing at 2.00 p.m. Tea/coffee and biscuits are available.  The annual subscription is £12, and visitors are welcome for a fee of £3.

Further information is available on our website at www.edwinstowehistory.org.uk.

Following a request to the Historical Society from Nadia Archer from the RSPB Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, several potential volunteers met in the former St. John’s Ambulance Brigade hut, Forest Corner, on Saturday, 10th March, to learn about the history of the village with a view to sharing the information with future visitors who come to Edwinstowe. A Power-Point presentation, given by Olwen and Margaret, highlighted important buildings in the village and associated history. Everyone was provided with a booklet, based on the presentation, to enable them to familiarise themselves with the village. Nadia thanked Olwen and Margaret for all the hard work they had put into the Presentation and organisation of the event.

The walk around the village commenced with a visit to the church where Greg Abbott provided a potted history of St. Mary’s. Other visits were made to the Craft Shops (Simpley Natural – where we were introduced to Minty Foot Soak), Calvie’s Gallery, Library, Forest Lodge, and finally Launay’s Restaurant, where we enjoyed welcome refreshments.

Edwinstowe Historical Society were invited by Gareth Broome (Representative of Nottinghamshire County Council) to assemble a display of photographs for the ‘Sparkling Sherwood Event’ (Friday 11th-Sunday 13th of November 2017.

2,000 tickets were sold and the event was very successful. Visitors thoroughly enjoyed the display which traced the forest history through time

Edwinstowe Remembers

Sunday 12th Nov 2017, was a bright but chilly Autumn morning, as over 170 people from groups or residents, gathered in Edwinstowe village for a march to St. Mary’s Church for a fitting and poignant service delivered by Lay Minister Greg Abbott.

At around 10:45, the march re-formed and moved on in column led by the Thoresby Colliery band and made up of Royal British Legion members, the Dukeries Academy Combine Cadet force, Guides, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Rainbows and other groups from the village. At the War Memorial garden, Greg Abbott read the Roll of Honour and Phil Jones delivered the Homage before a two-minute silence at 11am. This was followed by the laying of many wreaths before the march got underway again under the direction of the Parade Marshall Cadet Sgt. Major Ewen Lees, with the Royal British Legion (RBL) Standard borne by Cadet Sgt. Zak Higgins. The parade moved along the High Street where the salute was taken by the RBL  Edwinstowe President Sir David Naish, the Deputy Lieutenant, before arriving back at the start point on Mansfield Road a little after 11:30. This event produced an outstanding presence, from over 300 in the congregation at St. Mary’s where, once again, it was ‘standing room only’ and over 500 gathered at the Memorial Garden, with others viewing along the route of the march. The RBL is grateful to all of those who attended, and especially to the volunteers who positioned along the route to provide road traffic marshalling.

P. Jones