THE BANK.
This respectable establishment under the firm of Messrs. Sir W.L.B. Cooke, Bart., Childers, Foljambe, and Parker, is situate on the south side of the Square, at which, attendance is every day given (sundays excepted) from ten o’clock till one, and from two till four, and on saturdays from nine till five. London Bankers, Messrs. Coutts & Co. It is worthy of remark that this is the only country Bank, in England, which draws upon that eminent firm.
THE WORKHOUSE.
For a long series of years this parish was without a house of accommodation for the residence of the paupers belonging to it, until they were opportunely relieved by the liberal conduct of the Corporation, who, on the 29th of September, 1817, at a public meeting in the Town Hall, proposed, through the medium of the Town Clerk, to build a Workhouse, upon receiving a rent from the parish equal to £6 per cent. per annum, upon the money actually expended in erecting and completing the same, without any other consideration for the ground rent, (which was their property,) or for the materials belonging to the old houses then occupying the situation.
The premises were erected in 1818; they are sufficiently commodious, and the house well adapted to the various purposes to which it is appropriated. Twenty six parishes are joined to this as a head, who pay an annual rent of £3, and 3s. a week each, for every pauper they may have occasion to send thither.
THE BRIDGE.
Which crosses the Idle and connects the parishes of East and West Retford, was partly re-built, and considerably widened, in 1794, under the superintendence of Mr. Simpson, the architect. It now consists of five arches, and although it cannot boast of any peculiar elegancies, it is sufficiently spacious and substantial to answer all the purposes for which it was erected. So insecure and dangerous had the old bridge become, that in 1793 a waggoner, from the shaking of his team, was actually precipitated into the water, owing to the giving way of the sole of the bridge.
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The Broad Stone. |
Nearly in the centre of the Square stands the Broad Stone, around which the market for the sale of corn is held. It is generally supposed (and oral tradition is the only evidence we possess respecting it, that this Stone formerly stood on an eminence to the south east of the town, that place being known in ancient times by the name of "Est-croc-sic," but now by that of "Domine Cross." In all probability, this stone was once the point of attraction, around which our forefathers used to assemble for the purpose of celebrating public worship; since then, however, it has been differently appropriated, and during the time the plague raged so dreadfully in this neighbourhood, the markets were held near the spot, in order that the country people might not be deterred, through fear of taking the infection, from bringing in their different wares for the use of the public. Another stone exactly of the same form and dimensions, is to be observed in the churchyard wall at West Retford, which formerly occupied a place on an elevated piece of ground, near the road leading to Barnby Moor, in West Retford field: here too, it is probable, a market was held, under circumstances similar to those above narrated.
At what period the Broad Stone was removed from "Domine cross," is unknown, but to the extent of the recollection of the oldest inhabitant, it has stood in the Market Place until the year 1818, when it was removed, by order of the bailiffs, to its present station; it is now in an inverted position, having a square hole on the under side, similar to that at West Retford.
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© A P NICHOLSON | PAGE LAST UPDATED: 29 MAY 2003