Mansfield Woodhouse
Mansfield Woodhouse is a small town about 2 km north of Mansfield itself, in Nottinghamshire, England. With a history dating back before the Romans, it is still noteworthy for its stone built town centre. Mansfield Woodhouse's wealth has been based mainly on its local quarrying, mining and textile industries.
Mansfield Woodhouseis a part of the Mansfield Urban Area.
History
The Romans had a fortress and a civilian settlement in the area (remains of a Roman villa were famously found here by Hayman Rooke in the 1780s). The area declined after the Romans left, but by the 13th century there was a growing settlement of smallholders.
On 12 September 1304, fire completely destroyed Mansfield Woodhouse, including its timber-framed church. The town was rebuilt, using local materials - the new stone-built church, dedicated to St. Edmund, still stands today.
The town recovered, and by Tudor times was home to a number of wealthy families. Farming and quarrying were the main livelihoods, and Mansfield Woodhouse also prospered with the growth of the textile and hosiery trades into the 19th century.
Mansfield Woodhouse today
The town now has a population of over 25,000.
It has a number of schools; the larger primary schools are St. Edmund's Church of England Primary School and Northfield Primary and Nursery School. The largest school is The Manor School, a comprehensive school opened in September 1973, and this is also the location of The Manor Sport and Recreation Centre, a new £1.9 million indoor sports facility opened on 11 May 2002.
The town is served by Mansfield Woodhouse railway station, on the Robin Hood Line.