Edwinstowe is a large village in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England, with associations to the Robin Hood and Maid Marian legends. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 5,188.
Video Edwinstowe
Heritage
The etymology of the village name, "Edwin's resting place", recalls that King and Saint Edwin of Northumbria's body was hidden in the church after he was killed in the Battle of Hatfield Chase, near Doncaster, probably in AD 633. The battle against King Penda of Mercia occurred near the present-day hamlet of Cuckney, some five miles north-west of modern Edwinstowe.
Edwinstowe is referred to twice in the Domesday Book as having five households, in addition to a priest and his four bordars, living in the hamlet in 1086.
Legend has it that Robin Hood married Maid Marian in St Mary's Church. Edwinstowe's present-day popularity is due mainly to the presence near the village of the Major Oak, a feature in the folk tales of Robin Hood.
Maps Edwinstowe
Economy
Thoresby Colliery served as Edwinstowe's main source of employment until July 2015, when the mine was permanently closed. The loss of one of the last remaining deep coalmines in the country has left tourism as the main branch of the local economy.
Nottinghamshire County Council's nearby Sherwood Forest Visitors' Centre is scheduled for redevelopment and improvement. A contract awarded to RSPB intended for completion by late 2017 had a projected cost of £5.3 million.
Centre Parcs' Sherwood Forest holiday village is a local employer established in 1987, close to the edge of the village.
There was a post windmill south of the Mansfield Road with a small box-style roundhouse. It was driven by two common sails and two double-patent sails.
Amenities
The two schools in the village are St Mary's Primary School and King Edwin Primary School.
The village also has a business services provider, a St John's Ambulance amenity, an antiques centre, workshops, a fun park, a youth hostel, two arts and crafts centres, a village hall, and a community pest-control centre. Leisure facilities include Thoresby Colliery Band and Youth Band, a high-wire forest adventure course, a mountain biking, cyclo cross and forest walks centre, a skate park, a forest fun park, and an outdoor adventure park.
Edwinstowe still has six pubs: the Black Swan, the Dukeries Lodge, Forest Lodge, Hammer and Wedge, the Manvers and the Royal Oak. Other caterers include the Edwinstowe Bistro Restaurant, the Cottage Tea Rooms, and Launay's Restaurant.
Environmental concerns are addressed under the Maun Valley Project Conservation Area.
Transport
Edwinstowe had a railway station between 1897 and 1955. A goods line remains. The nearest railway station today is at Mansfield (6 miles, 10 km).
The village is served by twice-hourly, daytime Monday-Saturday bus services to Mansfield and Ollerton, six buses Monday-Saturday to Worksop, and one bus Monday-Friday to Nottingham. Services run twice a week to Newark and once a week to Lincoln.
Famous people
In order of birth:
- King Edwin of Northumbria gave his name to the village.
- The legendary Robin Hood is said to have married Maid Marian here.
- John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (1662-1711), politician and landowner, was born her.
- E. Cobham Brewer (1810-1897), lexicographer, died at the vicarage, where his son-in-law was the vicar.
- Henry Morley (1852-1924), first-class cricketer, was born and died here.
- Fanny Jean Turing (1864-1934), politician and activist, was probably born in the village, where her father was vicar.
- Fred Kitchen (1890-1969), self-educated writer and autobiographer, was born here.
- Francis Woodhead (1912-1991), first-class cricketer, was born here.
- Philip Brett (1937-2002), musicologist and conductor, was born here.
References
External links
- Edwinstowe Parish Council, residents' and visitors' site
- Edwinstowe Historical Society
- GeoHack Edwinstowe grid reference SK613663
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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