Bassetlaw

Bassetlaw sits at the crossroads of England with Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire on its borders and is just three miles from Robin Hood Airport.   The excellent road, rail and air links make it easy to visit and an excellent base from which to tour the wider area.  But be warned – once you have sampled the renowned hospitality, you may find it very hard to leave!

Retford
One of the oldest boroughs in England, the first documentary evidence of Retford is found in the Domesday Survey of 1086.  The borough of East Retford was established by King Henry I in 1105 and was granted a Royal Charter by Henry III in 1246.  The town continues to celebrate Charter Day each May Day Bank Holiday.  During the 18th and 19th centuries East and West Retford prospered with the coming of the Great North Road (1766), the Chesterfield Canal (1777) and the railways (1849).  A stroll around the town reveals fine Georgian and Victorian frontages and a large number of former coaching inns that bear witness to this prosperity.

Worksop
The town’s history dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and was granted a royal charter in 1296. Its architecture is dominated by Worksop's Augustinian Priory of St Cuthbert and St Mary which was founded in 1103.  Today, the surviving part of the Priory consists of the nave, western front and twin towers which date from the second half of the 12th century.

Worksop development was influenced first by agriculture and later by industries, particularly mining. The town was boosted by the building of the Chesterfield Canal (completed in 1777) and the arrival of the Great Central Railway in 1849, which attracted trade, commerce and people into the area.

Bassetlaw’s rich heritage
The origins of the name 'Bassetlaw' are believed to come the old English boernet (burnt place), soete (dwellers), and hlaw (hill), literally 'hill of the dwellers at the burnt place'.  Bassetlaw is mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'Bernedslaue' but even older are its historic sites where evidence of Roman, Bronze Age and Stone Age artefacts have been discovered.   And Britain’s only known Ice Age rock art is to found at Creswell Crags near Worksop.  It is therefore not surprising to discover that the district has a wealth of heritage and history. 
 
Bassetlaw prides itself on being the birthplace of the United States of America as it was here that the beginnings of religious Separartism are to be found.   Vist the Pilgrim Fathers section of this site to find out more about this fascinating story.   For those interested in following in the footsteps of the Pilgrims, local tour opertor, Russell Hocking of Pilgrim Tours, will arrange a bespoke and memorable visit for a party of two or eighty people.

W: www.pilgrimtours.co.uk

Bassetlaw: a delight for walkers, cyclists and nature lovers
Bassetlaw boasts a number of delightful villages with traditional values.  Many of these picturesque places feature in the county’s competition for Best Kept Village.  A leisurely walk around these villages, incorporating a visit to the local pub is the best way to appreciate this more tranquil pace of life.  Be sure to visit Retford or Worksop Tourist Information Centres for details.

Country lanes, towpaths, bridleways and cycle routes are abundant in Bassetlaw.  The main off-road cycling route is the Millennium Cycle Way Route 6 (York to Derby) which enters Bassetlaw via the Chesterfield Canal before entering Clumber Park and then passing through the heart of Sherwood Forest before reaching Nottingham.  For shorter cycling routes visit Clumber Park (cycles available to hire) for its way marked routes and cycle orienteering. 

Arguably the jewel in Bassetlaw’s tourism crown is Clumber Park which comprises over 3,800 acres, including peaceful woods, open heath and rolling farmland, with a superb serpentine lake at its heart and the longest avenue of lime trees in Europe. A recently opened interpretation centre provides a fascinating insight into the park’s history. In addition to walking, cycling and fishing, visitors can also explore the Kitchen Garden and Chapel.

Retford Tourist Information Centre
40 Grove Street
Retford
Notts DN22 6LD
T: 01777 860780
E: retford.tourist@bassetlaw.gov.uk
W: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk

Worksop Tourist Information Centre
Memorial Avenue
Worksop
Notts S80 2BP
T:  0 1909 501148
E: worksop.tourist@bassetlaw.gov.uk
W: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk

For more information on attractions and accommmodation in the Bassetlaw area, visit the site of the local North Nottinghamshire tourism association:

W: www.robinhoodtourism.co.uk

Nottinghamshire