THE HOSPITAL IN A.D. 1908 Completed with Tower and Audit Hall.
THE HOSPITAL IN A.D. 1908 Completed with Tower and Audit Hall.

The Ancient Borough.

1081—Redeford mentioned in "Doomsday Book."

1185—Charter of Incorporation of King Richard I.

1246—A Fair of 8 days granted'by King Henry III. (in October).

1258—The Vicarage ordained  by Sewall, Archbishop of York.

1279—Market on Saturday granted  by King Edward I.

1315—Retford sends Two Members to Parliament.

1319—William de Anne granted the Cars and Commons to "all ye Men of Retforde."

1373—A Fair (in March) granted for 6 days, by King Edward III.

1377—John Atte Vicars endows the Chantries in East Retford Church.

1424—A Court of Record granted by King Henry VI.

1500—Thomas Gunthorpe, Rector of Babworth, founded First Grammar School in Retford, in Bridgegate.

1528—Great Fire destroyed greater parts of both East and West Ret­ford: Records burnt in West Retford Church of St. Michael.

1551—The Royal Free* Grammar School endowed by King Edward VI. from spoil of plundered Chantries.

1552—Population of East  Retford about 700.

1607—New Charter of Incorporation by King James I., of High and Low Bailiffs and Twelve Aldermen, who " wore Gownes of Purple, trimmed with Fur"; also a Steward.

1645—King Charles I., with numerous retinue, during Civil War, marched into Retford from Doncaster; stayed at house of Mr. Lane, a Lawyer, on August 20th, leaving next day for Lord Danecourt's, at Newark.

1657—Great Storm: Steeple and Chantries of East Retford Church destroyed.

1658—Church of S. Swithun Restored, after fall of Tower, at (then) cost of £3,648.

1691—Rd. Brownlow, of St. Andrew's, Holborn, devised £500 for West Retford Free School, which, being insufficient, in

1723—West Retford Parish School was further endowed by Mr. Stephen Johnson, of West Retford.

1745—The Pretender marched to Derby: English and Hessian Troops occupied Retford, and quartered in the Church.

1752—The Wood Foot Bridge over River Idle widened for carts, and had new planks.

1771—The Canal excavated—opened in  1777.

1775—Great Flood: House destroyed in West Retford.

1776—West Retford "Field" enclosed, and Act obtained for Mac-Adams' Great North Road, to pass through Retford: at this date, for 100 yards to the West of Bridge, it was a swamp—no causeway—large stepping stones.

1782—East Retford first lit with Oil Lamps.

1794—West Retford Wooden Bridge re-built, on five stone arches.

1808—East Retford, 421 houses,  1,948 inhabitants; West Retford, 127 houses, 483 inhabitants (Capper's  Diary)          

1830—Borough of East Retford Franchise extended to Hundred of Bassetlaw. 1831—East Retford (only) lit with Gas on December 22nd. 1835—Dec. 26th. The High and Low Bailiffs, and the Twelve Aldermen of East Retford superseded by the Corporation of Councillors, Aldermen, and Mayor. 1844—Bass Fiddle, bought  by Subscription, first  played  in West Retford Church by George Gill: salary £2per annum.

Mr. Pennington played the Clarionet, and there was a Flute. 1848—Population of East and West Retford, with Moorgate and South Retford, 6,500. M.S. & L. Railway completed. 1849—Great Northern Railway completed to Retford. 1857—Great Flood: covered Market Place and most of all Retford ; 3 ft. deep in Blacksmith's Shop in West Retford; 10 ft. on the Carr. 1859—Sebastopol Cannon, 24 Pounder, weight 2 tons 1 cwt. 2 lb.

Erected in Cannon Square, Retford. 1872—Serious Floods on April 4th and two other dates.

to Great Flood: much damage on December 8th. 1886—In consequence of these continuous Floods the Corporation demolished the great Mill, and the narrow 5-arched Bridge, and erected present wide girder Bridge in West Retford. 1908—Population of Extended Municipal Borough, 12,500.

GURGOYLE ON WEST RETFORD CHURCH.

"THE BROTHER WHO LOOKS O'ER RETFORD,"

As does "The Devil who looks o'er Lincoln."

Brother George Parkin in his Gown, Shoemaker of Worksop; born 1788; died in Trinity Hospital, aged 82 — usually called "Daddy" Parkin.

FINIS.

* 1551—"Free" Grammar School, i.e., held its grant of lands by Free Tenure, not by Fee or Feudal service: it does not mean that the Education was gratuitous.