Printed

A list of books and articles on aspects of Retford's history is available on the Nottinghamshire Bibliography Online.

A selection of key books and articles extracted from the Nottinghamshire Bibliography follows.

Primary

Trade directories

Trade directories are an invaluable resource for 19th/early 20th century town history. Leicester University has recently made the full text of a representative selection of trade directories for Nottinghamshire available online:

• www.historicaldirectories.org

Newspapers

The following newspapers are available to view on microfilm at Retford Library:

Newspaper title	Dates available	Index
Bassetlaw & County Express	Mar-May 1874
East Retford Advertiser	1854-1859
North Notts Guardian	1981-1989
North Notts Herald	Sep 1937-Feb 1938
Retford & Bassetlaw Gazette	Sep 1858- Jun 1859
Retford & Gainsborough Times	Mar 1871 to date	1871-1913
Retford & North Notts Guardian	1990 to date
Retford Dispatch	Nov-Dec 1932; Jan 1933
Retford, Worksop & Gainsborough Herald	1889-1929 (incomplete)
Sisson’s Shopper	Jun 1972- Mar 1974

Source: Nottinghamshire County Council Library Service

Secondary

All periods

• Jackson, A. A history of Retford. The growth of a Nottinghamshire borough. Retford, Eaton Hall College of Education, 1971
• Piercy, J. S. The History of Retford, in the County of Nottingham. Comprising Its Ancient, Progressive, and ModernState, with an Historical and Topographical Account of the Villages of West Retford, Babworth, Ordsall, Grove, and Clarborough. Retford, [privately published], 1828. 246 p., ill. Facsimile reprinted by Nottinghamshire County Council, Leisure Services, West Bridgford, 1994.
• Roffey, J. The Book of Retford. Buckingham, Barracuda, 1991. 128 p., ill. (Revised edition published by Bookworm of Retford in 2005)
• [Worksop Guardian], 2000 memories of Worksop & Retford a nostalgic look at the district's past and present in words and pictures, Worksop Newspapers, 2000

Medieval to seventeenth century

• Bishop, M. W. `The Origins of East Retford', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 82 (1978), [26]-28, ill.
• Dolby, M. ‘1246 and all that! A look at Retford’s historic charters’, Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Society Review, 4, 1997, 13-17
• Marcombe, D. EnglishSmallTown Life: Retford, 1520-1642. Dept of Adult Education, Univ. of Nottingham, 1993. 319 p., ill., bibl.
• Seddon, P. R. `The East Retford Parliamentary Election of 1670', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 88 (1984), 42-46.
• Seddon, P. R. `A Parliamentary Election at East Retford, 1624', Transactions of the Thoroton Society 76 (1972), [26]-34.

Eighteenth - Twentieth Century

• Biggs, B. J. `A Cannon for Retford',  Ret DH&ASN (Sep 1972), [i]-1; repr. 21st Anniversary Newsletter [1988], 13-15, and NC (in NT) (Nov 1972), [115], ill.
• Biggs, B. J. `Two "Battles" in Regency Retford', NH, no. 17 (1976), 10-11.
• Bradley, C.  The parliamentary representation of the boroughs of Pontefract, East Retford and Newark, 1754-68.  M.A., Manchester,
• Fox, J. `The Bassetlaw Medal, 1830', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 98 (1994), [140]-142, ill. Medal commemorating the Bassetlaw Act, 1830, directed against corruption at elections.
• Life in wartime Bassetlaw comp. by Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Society, 2000

Economic history

• Biggs, B. J. `Charles Hopkinson, Victorian Millwright and Engineer of Retford', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 97 (1993), [129]-135, ill.
• Biggs, B. J. The Lost Windmills of Retford (Eaton Hall College of Education Monographs, 5). [Eaton], 1978. 34 p., ill., bibl.
• Briggs, P. `Bedfords - The Forgotten Pottery', Ret DH&ASN (1987-8, no.1) p. [1]-[2], no. 2, p. [1]-[2].
• Chaloner, W. H. and Marshall, J. D. `Major John Cartwright and the Revolution Mill, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, 1788-1806', in Harte, N. B. and Ponting, K. G., eds., Textile History and Economic History: Essays in Honour of Miss Julia de Lacy Mann (Manchester Univ. Pr., 1973), [281]-303, ill.
• Clark's Dyeworks Ltd. (Histories of Nottinghamshire Companies, 17), NO, 3, 18 (1957), 36-37, ill.
• Holland, B. `My Favourite Retford Character' Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Soc. Review Miscellany, 1 (1994), 2-3, ill., front cover. Lewis George Wyse, bicycle dealers
• Ibbotson, P. J. `On the Road: Retford Coaches and Carriers, 1822-1844', NH, no. 20 (1977), 10-11.
• Leeds, S. M. and De Ville, E. `Retford Inns', Not Fam Hist SJ, 3, 6 (1980), 13-16; 3, 7 (1981), 3-9, ill.
• ‘Retford Photographers', Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Soc. Review Miscellany, 1 (1994), 4-5, ill.
• Royce, M. D. `The History of Banks in Retford', Ret DH&ASN (Oct 1976), [1]-[2]. Conclusion in "the next issue [probably Dec 1976]" not located.
• Spencer, R. Drama At The Sale: A Saleroom Serenade. Retford, privately published, [1973]. 201 p., ill.
• Thompson, S. `Retford [Railway Station] Remodelled', Fwd, no. 100 (1995), 19-23, ill.
• We Want More Water', Brindley's Triumph, no. 6 (1996), 17-19, 23, ill. Chesterfield Canal.

Local government and services

• Biggs, B. J. ‘Health in Victorian Retford’, Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Society Review, 4, 1997, 1-11
• Biggs, B. J. `Town Criers of Nineteenth Century Retford', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 82 (1978), [63]-65.
• Clark, D. The Early Days of Retford Workhouse (Eaton Hall College of Education Monographs, 3). [Eaton, 1969]. [18] p.
• Denman Public Library, Retford. Official Opening of the Denman Public Library, Retford, 6th October, 1927. [Retford, 1927]. `The Public Library Movement in Retford', [5]-[10].
• Dolby, M. The Retford Civic Place Collection, Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Review, 5, 1998, 14-21
• East Retford Borough Council. Borough of East Retford, 1835-1935: Centenary of Municipal Government. [Retford, 1935]. 12 p.
• East Retford Borough Council. Borough of East Retford: Municipal History. [Retford, 194-?]. [6]p.
• Hope, W. H. St. J. [The Civic Plate and Regalia of Retford], Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 5 (1901), 31-34.
• Jones, E. A. `The Old Plate of the Corporation of Retford', Burlington Mag., 71 (1937), 227-228, ill.
• Nottinghamshire County Council. Leisure Services.  Retford: A Pictorial View, 1889/1989. [West Bridgford, 1989]. 24 pl.
• [Piercy, J. S.] `A Rich Harvest for the Grave: The Slums of Early Victorian Retford', NH, no. 15 (1975), 13-14. Contributed by B. J. Biggs.
• Smith, E. `The Plague in a Market Town', Rural Studies. The Journal of the Nottinghamshire Rural Studies Association., 10, 1 (1965), 10-12, ill.

Schools and Education

• Grounds, A. D.  The History of King Edward VI Grammar School at Retford.  M.A., Sheffield, 1968.
• King Edward VI Grammar School, East Retford. The Grammar School of King Edward VI at East Retford, 1552-1952. [Retford, 1952]. [30] p., ill.
• [Milnes, S. H.] The East Retford `National' Schools, 1813, 1858-1958. [Retford, 1958]. [20] p., ill.
• Williams, D. G. Three Score Years and Ten, 1893-1963: The Chronicle of Retford High School [Retford, The School?, 1963]. 67 p., ill.

History and archaeology

• Ableson, E. L. Retford In Times Past. Retford and District Historical and Archaeological Society, 1983. 71 pp. Mainly pictorial.
• Barber, A. J. `Change in the Town of Retford, 1801-1901'. M.A., Nottingham, 1993. 159 p., ill., bibl.
• Cox, C. and Hurcombe, L.  `Bellmoor Quarry', in Kennedy, D., ed., Into the Sun: Essays in Air Photography in Archaeology, in Honour of Derrick Riley (Sheffield, J. R. Collis Publications, 1989), 167-172, ill.
• [Cu] `A Diary of Unknown Origin', Ret DH&ASN (Dec 1983), [2]; (Apr 1984), [1]-[2]; (Oct 1984), [1]-[2]; (Feb 1985), [2]; (Apr 1985), [1]-[2]. Contributed by P. J. Ibbotson.
• Minnitt, B. A. A Soldier's Memoirs, 1916-1920. Laneham, [privately published], 1978. 147 p., ill.
• Preston, R. A. `East Retford: The Last Days of a Rotten Borough', Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 78 (1974), [94]-103.
• Williams, D. G. `Fifty Years of Royal Occasions (1887-1937)', Ret DH&ASN. Silver Jubilee Year Newsletter (1977), [1]-[8].
• Williams, D. G. `Two Royal Occasions in Retford', NH no. 21 (1978), 7-8.

Biography and family history

• Ableson, E. L. `Local Girl Makes Good', Ret DH&ASN (Oct 1982), [1]-3; repr. in 21st Anniversary Newsletter [1988], 4-5. Anne Denman, later Darrell, later Aylesbury.
• Biggs, B. J. ed. `Retford Emigrants in South Carolina, 1847-57', NH , no. 28 (1982), 3-6, ill.
• Bradley, C. `More Blagg Family', Not Fam Hist SJ, 6, 9 (1990), 25-29. Emigrants to USA.
• Fussell, G. E. `The Rev. Henry Stevenson of East Retford: Parson, Schoolmaster and Gardener', NC, 25, 1 (1964), 26-28.

Religion and churches

• Atton, F. C. `History of the Baptists at Retford and Gamston', East Midland Baptist Mag., 11 (1901), [129]-131, [145]-147, ill.
• Atton, F. C. `Retford Baptist Church', Baptist Q.. n.s., 11 (1942), 114-120.
• [Biggs, B. J.] `The First Methodist of Retford', NC, 28, 2 (1967), 27-30, ill. John Macfarlane. Author's surname printed as Briggs. Repr. in Proc. of the Wesley Historical Soc., 36 (1968), 149-152.
• [Biggs, B. J.] Grove Street Methodist Church, Retford, NoTransactions of the Thoroton Society.: Centenary, 1980. [Retford, privately published, 1980]. [19] p., ill.
• Biggs, B. J. `Uriah Longbottom and John Tudsbury (Two Nineteenth Century Retford Primitive Methodists)', Retford & District Historical & Archaeological Soc. Review Miscellany, 2 (1995), 1-2.
• Chamberlin, T. C. B. [Retford Church], TRANSACTIONS OF THE THOROTON SOCIETY, 5 (1902), 34-39, ill.
• Collett, E. `Notes on the Old Registers of the Parish of St. Swithun, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, with Extracts', Reliquary, 16 (1876), 217-219; 17 (1876), 41-44, 109-111.
• [Cornell, G. W.] "These Hundred Years", 1851-1951: A Brochure Issued to Commemorate the Centenary Celebrations of the Independent Chapel. [Retford, privately published, 1951]. 15 p., ill.
• Hall, H. `On The Churches of East and West Retford, with a Brief Notice of Some of the Historical Events Connected with the Town', Reports and Papers, 3 (1854), 74-82.
• Harvey, F. A History of Catholicism in the Retford Area. [n.p., privately published, 198-?]. 13 p., ill., bibl.
• Helman, H. `East Retford Parish Church and its Organs', Organ, 23 (1944), 176-180, ill.
• Hill, J. The Story of the Baptists in Retford and Gamston, 1691-1853. Retford Baptist Church, 1969. 32 p., ill., bibl.
• ‘Methodism in Retford', [7] p., ill., article on the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, from locally published "Bazaar gazette", 1897. 2 preceding p. also contain historical information.  These (un-numbered) p. only survive, the exact title of the publication being unknown.
• Retford Congregational Church Sunday School. Retford Congregational Sunday School Centenary. [Retford, 1909]. History, by T. Morgan, [1]-[3], ill.
• St Saviour's Church, Retford. Centenary Souvenir, 1829-1929. [Retford, privately published, 1929]. `Historical notes', by R. E. Clowes, 11, 15, 19, 23, [27?], 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, ill. Described from an incomplete copy. Complete copy not located.
• St Swithun's Church, East Retford. East Retford Parish Church: Historical Notes. [Retford, 194-?]. [4]p.
• St Swithun's Church, Retford. A Guide to East Retford Church. 4th ed. Gloucester, British, [1969?]. 18 p., ill. 1st ed., [1938], as The Story of East Retford Parish Church.
• Smith, C. B. James Parnell, Died in Colchester Castle, 4th May, 1656, aetat. 18. Headley, 1906. 111 p., ill. Repr., called 2nd ed. Experiences as a Quaker.
• White, J. P. `Retford and Its Methodism', Methodist Recorder (6 Jun 1901), 540-541, ill.

Culture and recreation

• Bassetlaw District Council. Retford Heritage Trail. [Worksop, 1982]. [7] p., ill.
• Biggs, B. J. `Anthony Metcalfe', Ret H&ASN (Oct 1969) 3-4. Printer, bookseller & publisher.
• Biggs, B. J. 'Francis Clater, Farrier', NC (in NT) (Mar 1972), [104], ill.
• Biggs, B. J. Looking at Old Retford (Eaton Hall College of Education, Monographs, 2). [Eaton], 1968. 48 p., ill., bibl. `The Town Hall, Market Square', 18-20, and `The White Hart, Bridgegate', 35-37, repr. (with an omission), NC (in NT), (Jan 1972), p.[15], [17], ill.
• Biggs, B. J. Walking in Old Retford: Route 1, Cannon Square to Town Hall Yard. Eaton Hall College, 1976. Folded sheet. No more publ.
• Clarke, G.  Cinemas of Retford.  [n.p., privately published], 1993.  12 p., ill.
• Dolby, M. `Amcott House', Ret DH&ASN (1986-7 no. 3), [1]-[2].
• Dolby, M. and Sluman, R. Views of Old Retford. Retford & District Historical and Archaeological Soc., 1990. 74 p.
• [Hopkinson, C. W. and Birkett, H. J.] Retford Cricket and Cricketers, 1850-1950: Centenary Handbook of the Retford Cricket and Sports Club. [Retford, The Club, 1950]. [30] p. Described from xerographic copy; original not located.
• [Nottinghamshire County Planning Department].  Designation of Conservation Area no. 24, Retford: Accompanying Statement and Description of Boundaries.  [West Bridgford, 197-?].  3 p., ill.  Cover title: East Retford no. 24.
• ‘Retford Theatre Club and the Cannon Theatre', Ret DH&ASN (1994-95) no. 3, [1]-2.
• Sutton, E. `Dominie Cross and the Old Broad Stone at East Retford', N&DN&Q, 1 (1892-3), 13-14.

Bolham

• [Henstock, A.] `John Cockshutt, The Miller of Bolham, near Retford (How They Lived, 1)', Nottinghamshire Local History Council Newsletter, no. 10 (1972), 4-5. Pub. anonymously; repr., with author's name, as `The Miller of Bolham', NC (in NT) (Mar 1973), [111].

West Retford

• Ableson, E. L. `West Retford Hall: A Bargain for the Borough', RetDH&ASN (Feb 1980), [1]-[2]; repr., 21st Anniversary Newsletter [1988], 10-11.
• Fenwick, A. `Country House Into Flats', Country Life, 130 (1961), 1215-1216, ill. West Retford Hall.
• Ibbotson, P. J. `West Retford from the Vicar's Books: 1790-1812', RetDH&ASN (Oct 1983), [2]; (Dec 1983), [1].
• St Michael the Archangel's Church, West Retford.  A History of St Michael the Archangel, West Retford, Nottinghamshire. Ramsgate, Church Publishers, [1961]. 17 p., ill.
• ‘West Retford - 1794 Census', transcribed by J. B. Bailey, Nottinghamshire Family History Soc., Miscellany, 4 (RS, 105) (Nottingham, The Soc., 1996), 22-23.

 

Copyright: Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire and contributors | Created: 20 July 2008