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 Woodhouse is 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. One thing not commonly known about Mansfield Woodhouse is that locally quarried stone was used to build the Houses of Parliament. On the road to Edwinstowe stands the Parliament Oak, which legend says that a king once held a session of Parliament there a long time ago. There is a plaque commemorating this.
Natives of include Mansfield Woodhouse D'Ewes Coke (1747-1811), an unusual combination of clergyman and colliery master.
Sport
Speedway racing, then known as Dirt Track racing took place at Mansfield Woodhouse in the pioneer days of 1928.
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, Northfield Primary and Nursery School, Peafield Lane Primary and Nursery School, Leas Park Junior School and Nettleworth 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.
The town also has a volunteer run newsletter called The Woodhouse Warbler with a circulation in the thousands. They release a new issue every 3-4 months. They also produced a magazine collecting locals World War II memories. It was funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Mansfield Woodhouse is known around Nottinghamshire for its juniour football clubs; Woodhouse Colts JFC and Manor 4th FC. Both of which offer football to youngsters from the age of 6-16.