Archival/written
Extract from the 1372 charter.The most useful reference book on using town archives is:
- John West, Town records, Chichester: Phillimore, 1983
British Library
- Extracts relating to lands there 6 John-4 Jac. 1. Add. 11756
- Letter to the Mayor, from W. E. Gladstone 1865. Copy. Add. 44408 f. 49
- Address to the Protestant inhabitants 1825. Printed. Add. 40382 f. 162
- Theatrical notes of T. H. W. Manly in 1821-1829. Add. 41073 Add. 41074 passim
- Deed relating to 1553. Add.Ch. 54383
- Letter from the Bailiffs and Aldermen to the Duke of Newcastle 1740. Add. 32695 f. 279
- Design for hospital, by E. Blore circ. 1832. Add. 42028 f.34
- Drawing of the church 19th cent. (Blore Drawings) Add. 42003 f. 34
- Bill for the disfranchisement of 1827. Printed. Add. 35148 f. 16
- Deed rel. to Bolham in 1601. Eg.Ch. 2704
- Deed rel. to, and to Moorgate House in 1628. Eg.Ch. 2757
- Memorandum rel. to debate on disfranchisement of 1828. Add. 38762, f 185
- Memorial to the Postmaster General 1852. Add. 35807 f. 172
- Deeds relating to 1718, 1734. Add.Ch. 53489 Add.Ch. 53490
- Drawings of the churches 1814, n.d. (Add. 36372 ff. 67-71; Add. 36396 f. 116 b; Add. 37121 no. 17)
Use the British Library’s online catalogue for further details:
Bassetlaw Museums Service
The Museum holds a variety of archival material, including:
- The Joshua Walker Collection of Valuation Books, 1878-1946 (see Malcolm Dolby’s article in the Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Review 5 1998 pp 22-24)
- Royal charters - Charter relating to the Royal Borough of East Retford (1378 inspeximus is illustrated on the Bassetlaw Museum website)
- East Retford Corporation Minute Books
- East Retford Rural District Council Minutes and general ledgers
- Deeds
- Election material
- Henry Spencer and Sons Auctioneers Archive
- Burial Records
Jones & Co., Solicitors, Retford
Hold the Piercy MSS, containing transcriptions by J S Piercy of Retford records many of which are now lost:
- Red Books
- Black Book
National Archives
- Exchequer records (Lay Subsidies, Poll Taxes, Hearth Tax returns etc)
- Census enumerators’ books (also available on microfilm at Nottinghamshire Archives and Local Studies Libraries, and online at a variety of geneaological websites such as www.ancestry.co.uk
- Patent Rolls, Close Rolls, Pipe Rolls, Assize Rolls, Coroners’ Rolls
- Chancery and Star Chamber proceedings
- Court of Augmentations records
- Inquisitions
- Home Office
The National Archives catalogue is available online:
Nottinghamshire Archives
Collections at Nottinghamshire Archives containing material on Retford include:
- Parish registers for East Retford, Clarborough and Ordsall
- Quarter Sessions [C/Q]
- Nottinghamshire Petty Sessions, County and Boroughs (licensing of public houses) [C/PS]
- Hodgkinson and Beevor of Newark, solicitors (wills for inhabitants of East Retford, West Retford, Clarborough and Ordsall) DD/H/149 []
- Williamson and Company of Retford, Solicitors (property records etc) [DD/WM]
- Foljambe of Osberton (correspondence relating to elections etc) [DD/FJ]
- Wilkinson Papers (miscellaneous material on Retford) [DD/W]
- East Retford Corporation, minutes, burgess rolls and papers (1818-1903) [DD/HO/4/8-20]
- East Retford Corporation, ledger of property rentals, charity accounts, offices' expenses (1824-36) [DD/ME addn]
- East Retford Petty Sessions, court minute book (1856-58) [DD/ME/3/52]
- Trinity Hospital, West Retford, deeds, correspondence, papers (1305-1853) [DD/ME]
- Worksop & Retford Brewery Co Ltd, brewers, wine, spirit and cigar merchants and maltsters, minutes, registers, share records, accounts, ledgers, journal, cash books, staff and property records (1899-1970) [DD/WG]
Use the Access to Archives website to search the catalogues for these collections:
Nottinghamshire Archives' online catalogue, 'Nottinghamshire Archives Worldwide', has been made available. The catalogues of a growing number of archival holdings can be searched here:
Nottingham University, Manuscripts and Special Collections
The Newcastle Collection at Nottingham University contains a considerable amount of material on the town, particularly relating to parliamentary elections. The online catalogue is available:
See also:
- MS 666 — Church books of Retford Congregational Church, Retford, Nottinghamshire, 1842-1908
- Fr 73 — Memoranda and expenses book of Reverend Seth Ellis Stevenson, rector and headmaster of Retford, Nottinghamshire, 1760-1777
Sheffield Archives
- Estate Papers of the Copley Family, Baronets of Sprotborough (medieval charters relating to properties in East Retford) [CD]
Use the Access to Archives website to search the catalogues for these collections: