PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTS &c. (part 2)
1500. At the beginning of this century, and for some time subsequent, this town appears to have made considerable progress in the improvement and extension of its buildings, so much so, as to place it more on a level with the rest of the kingdom. During the reign of Henry the seventh, the civil wars which had distracted the country for a long time, were put an end to, and the prosperity of the country soon began to develope itself. On the accession of Henry the eighth, the value of property became considerably augmented,—at least it rose from a value which in reality was but nominal before, to a certain ratebearing an equality to the increase in the value of the currency of the country. In Retford and its vicinage, many buildings were erected to accommodate the wants of an increasing population, and the numerous transfers of property which were effected, gives ample proof of the growing importance which this part of the country was at that time acquiring.
1518. This year, Thomas Gunthorpe, parson of Babworth, "of his good, charitable, and virtuous disposition," agreed with the bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, that they should at his own proper costs and expences, build, and set up in timber, workmanship, and all other things necessary to a school-house in East Retford, upon such a convenient ground in the same town as could be devised between the said parties.
1521. William Underwoode, this year, granted two tofts, lying in Newgate street, to Richard Kytteson, and William Rossell, burgesses of East Retford.
1537. By letters patent, dated October 6th, Henry the eighth, granted the manor and lordship of East Retford, to George, Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford. He also further granted to Sir John Markham, Kt. all the lands lying within this borough, which formerly belonged to the Abbey of Rufford, as well as the grange standing within the precincts of the town.
1539. Henry the eighth, by letters patent, dated February 26th, granted all the lands belonging to the Abbey of Welbeck, lying in East Retford, which were then rented at £2. 17s. 4d. a year, to Richard Whalley and his heirs, for ever.
1540. This year the priory of Mattersea possessed lands here of the annual value of 13s. 44., which by letters patent, dated November 4th, were granted to Anthony Nevile, Esq.
1542. The priory of Radford, near Worksop, had rents of assize here, valued at 7s. 6d., and lands valued at £3. 11s, which on the 22nd November, were granted to Francis, the fifth Earl of Shrewsbury.
Whatever the motives might be which induced Henry to suppress the various monastic institutions, does not furnish the subject of our present enquiry; but the beneficial effects resulting from them will be felt and acknowledged to the remotest generations. During the dark ages of superstition and bigotry, the demon of persecution and intolerance stalked through the land with impunity,—scattering the seeds of persecution and disloyalty, when, and wherever, she thought proper. Now, however, the dawn of reason, assisted by the light of divine truth, began to diverge its luminous rays in every direction; the phantom of superstition, which had been nursed and reared in the various religious houses which every where abounded, finding "the schoolmaster was abroad" in England, took her hideous flight to the continent, where, in order to reconcile herself to the fate, to which she had in the first instance subjected herself, she has continued to wage war against the spread of that light which infringed upon her dominions, and. assisted in chasing her away.
Nevertheless, in spite of her utmost efforts, the Protestant religion has continued to spread far and wide, —not only in this country, but has been carried by British sons,—and through their exertions been propagated, through almost every part of the civilized world.
1548. Thomas Wright, freemason and Vicus Weston, both of East Retford, granted to John Hercy, Esq. of Grove, Nicholas Denman, Esq., Charles Denman, Gent., Humphrey Denney, Gent., Robert Golland, John Wadsone, Nicholas Wilson, and John Thackerow, vicar, such property as they were possessed of in East Retford.
1551. The benefits resulting from the suppression of the greater and lesser monasteries, soon made themselves felt throughout the country, and learning began to be esteemed and much sought after. Accordingly after the death of Henry, his successor, (Edward VI.) on ascending the throne, seeing the bent of the people’s disposition to be in favour of an extension in the means of acquiring knowledge, established schools in different parts of the country, amongst which was the Free Grammar School at this place. The patent is dated December 9th, 1551.
1554. On the 2nd October, Sir John Hercy of Grove, granted to the bailiffs and burgesses a quantity of land in the Hamlet of Greenley, and also two tofts in Chapelgate.
1600. From the records belonging to the Corporation, it appears during the latter part of the 16th century, that a very considerable increase had taken place in the population of the town, and persons of wealth and importance had taken up their residence therein; but that in consequence of the antiquity of some of the charters under which the town was governed, (which were in a great measure obsolete,) it was thought necessary to apply to government for such a charter as would effectually govern the town, and be more in unison with the intellectual enlightenment of the age; this was done, and a new charter obtained in 1607 ; which, as it is the only one under which the Corporation act, the reader will find at length in a subsequent part of the work.
1627. Since the time of obtaining the charter, the annual payment of £10. to the crown, (the fee farm of the town,) had been discontinued, as, from the tenor of the said charter it was considered to have been finally adjusted. On the 10th July, however, tile bailiffs received notice to appear before his Majesty’s receiver of the counties of Nottingham and Derby, to pay the said rental, and also the fee-farm of the mills of the town.
1645. During the unfortunate dissentions which sprung up between Charles and the parliament, and the still more unfortunate events which followed, this county appears to have been one of the chief places where the ill-fated monarch took up his quarters. I do not however find that this town was ever honoured with the presence of Royalty, except on the 20th of August in this year, when Charles passed through on his route from Doncaster to Newmarket.
From this period little mention is made of Retford in any public documents for several years; nevertheless we may naturally conclude, that this town progressively improved in its internal appearances, and the inhabitants participated in those refinements, along with the rest of the kingdom during the subsequent reigns of the members of the illustrious house of Hanover, which have so far characterized this country above all others.
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