Streets of Mansfield Woodhouse

The streets of Mansfield Woodhouse are so named for a variety of reasons.

Some streets like Mapletoft Avenue, Bullock Close, Wilcox Avenue, Booth Street and Eather Avenue, Mallatratt Place, Brown Avenue and Mayhall Avenue were named after Mansfield Woodhouse Urban District Councillors while Lawrence Avenue was named after Lawrence Walker, a former chief architect of the UDC .

Ferguson Avenue was named after Dr Ferguson, a local doctor.

Streets named after places

Others were named after Australian cities like Melbourne Street, Sydney Close, and Brisbane Close; yet others were called after English places like Worcester Avenue, Hereford Avenue, Durham Close, Lincoln Drive, Canterbury Close, Norwich Close, and Winchester Drive. Then Scottish place names were used like Stranraer Close, Dundee Drive and Brechin Court.

Builders & families

Some streets were so called after the builder that built them like Stainforth Street and Blake Street, while Coke Street (now called Newhaven Avenue) was so named after the Coke family that lived at Debdale Hall in the 19th century and early 20th century.

Vallance Street and Charles Street were so named after the Vallance family who had connections with the Old Hall on the Market Place and when the hall was pulled down in the 1890s the stone was re-used in the building of the houses on those two streets.

Royalty

Was Albert Street named after Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert? It is very probable, because in the 1875 Ordnance Survey Map of Woodhouse, Albert Street was called Taylor Lane. By the time of the 1899 OS Map, it had changed. Maybe it was changed to commemorate his memory.

Trees

There are an abundance of streets named after trees, like Beech Tree Avenue, Cedar Avenue, Pine Avenue, Cherry Tree Close and Laburnum Grove to name but a few.

Street names for obvious reasons

Some street names are obvious why they were called — Debdale Lane led to Debdale Hall; Poplar Street, to The Poplars (a large white house that stood facing the end of the street); Station Street and Station Hill, to the railway station; Leas Road, to the Leas Brook, Church Hill, Church Street and St Edmund’s Avenue, to the church; Northfield Lane and Northfield Park to the North Field; School Lane to the National School and so on. Park Hall Road led up to Park Hall, but on the OS Map of 1875 it was then called Horse Pasture Lane.

Cavendish Street and Newcastle Street, Thoresby Road and Manvers Street, Portland Street, Welbeck Road and Titchfield Avenue all relate to the families that lived in the great houses of the Dukeries.

Roman Road & mediaeval patterns

It is thought that Leeming Lane refers to a Roman Road and that Whinney Hill was the site of an ancient hill fort.

Streets in the centre of Mansfield Woodhouse follow a typical mediaeval pattern with three lanes running parallel, Priory Road, Station Street and Grove Street. They and some other streets have been renamed – Priory Road was once called Back Lane; Grove Street was Back Lane North; and Station Street was Town Street before the advent of the railways.

Castle Street was Needs Lane (Col Need, retired, of the Royal Navy, lived at the nearby Manor House in the 19th century); and Vale Road was Common Lane. There is a row of stone cottages on there called Blenheim Terrace. Parker’s Lane used to be called Sykes Street after the family that lived at the Old Hall in the 19th century.

Yards

There are many, many yards that run at right angles to Station Street, High Street and Albert Street. They were more than likely named after the families that lived there such as Pogmore’s Yard, Marlow’s Yard, Jarman’s Yard, Montague’s Yard, Blackgate Yard, Parmenter’s Yard, Strutt’s Yard, Crookes’ Yard, Watkinson’s Yard etc.

Poets

Poets’ and playwrights’ names have been used such as in Tennyson Avenue, Wordsworth Avenue, Shakespeare Avenue, Shelley Avenue, Burns Avenue and Byron Avenue.

Which came first, Swan Lane or the White Swan Inn?

West Hill Park refers to the name of the large house, called West Hill that used to be there. (Does anyone have a photograph of West Hill, that I could copy please.)

Mills & industry

Old Mill Lane and New Mill Lane refer to the windmills that were in that vicinity.

Sherwood Street was built to house the miners that worked at Sherwood Colliery and Sherwood Rise led to the colliery.

Gladstone Street could refer to the eminent 19th century prime minister, William Ewart Gladstone.

Terraces

Then there are several rows of houses and cottages on streets that have an extra name such as Matlock Terrace, and Hope Terrace, on Leeming Lane South, Blenheim Terrace on Vale Road and Victoria Buildings which was a row of cottages on Castle Street (now demolished.)

MPs, actors & builders,

Marples Avenue was named after Ernest Marples, the then Minister of Transport, when he came to open the avenue in 1959.

Louwil Avenue is probably named after the builder’s or architect’s sons, Lou and Wil.

Baker Road was called after Stanley Baker, the actor, who came to open the road about 1960.

Middleton Road, Henry Avenue and Audrey Crescent, were named after the family builders, Henry and Audrey Middleton.

Christian names

But there are some names that intrigue me as to the origin of why they are called so. For example the use of Christian names as in Dorothy Drive, Catherine Avenue, Alexandra Avenue and George Street, do they refer to someone in particular?

The streets like Fal Paddock, Debden Down, Eden Low, Kennet Paddock, Stort Square, Chess Burrow, Glaven Close, Colne Close, Leam Glen, Lune Meadow, Arun Dale and Heddon Bar are named after British rivers.

Saxon names

Butt as in Butt Lane is a Saxon word meaning the butt end of public land.

Outgang, as in Outgang Lane is a Saxon word meaning the outermost lane going into the fields around a village.

Oxclose Lane would have been used as an enclosure for oxen.

Cox’s Lane derived its name from the Cox family who lived at Grasscroft Cottage there.

Penn Yard was off Station Hill between Grove Street and Station Street. Would Penn Yard have been named after a sheep enclosure there or after a local family?

Still a puzzle

Still a puzzle are the origins of Woodhouse streets such as Albany Drive, Ashby Avenue, Allcroft Street, Beresford Road, Chilton Crescent, Crookes Avenue, Dennor Drive, Dormy Close, Freeby Avenue, Greenwood Avenue, Harby Avenue, Kingsley Avenue, Morven Avenue, Parker’s Lane, Slant Lane, and Welwyn Avenue.

The Peafield Lane Estates feature names like Ludborough Walk, Buttermere Court and Bryony Way. How were those names chosen? Litton Road, Calver Street, Trusley Walk, Brackenfield Avenue and Chelmorton Close there, are  named after small Derbyshire villages.

Lastly — Yorke Street — why is it spelt with an e on the end?

If you can help me with answers to any of these questions please add them in them as a comment.

Comments about this page

  • Around 1952, I was in the Wolf Cub pack organized by John Coates. We met at the church hall on Albert street in Mansfield Woodhouse, and on occasion I wonder what happened to John. Does anyone know?

    By Rob (04/02/2024)
  • I have just looked online for information about Back Lane because my ancestor, John Goodall, a Cotton Stocking Maker, was living there at the time of the 1841 Census.
    John was 50 years old & living with his wife, Elizabeth, and children, Harriet, 10; Abraham, 9; Isaac 9; and Ellen, 5.

    I found the whole article very interesting, thanks.

    By Kay Redmond (26/04/2023)
  • This is an interesting site. My widowed great grandmother and 7 of her children came to live at Matlock Terrace, 33 Leeming Lane, in about 1910. Please can anyone tell me whereabouts on Leeming Lane this terrace was and are there any pictures? Also which school are the children likely to have attended and do the Admissions Registers still exist?
    Thank you

    By Linda Ferguson (07/09/2022)
  • Would like some more information on the “Cox’s Lane Estate” in Woodhouse here. If anyone has any more detail, builders, years houses built etc, any details of what stood around previously, chapels, fields etc. Principally, Beech Tree Ave, Cox’s Lane, Hazel Grove, and Northfield Park. The more the better, thanks everyone.

    By John (28/10/2021)
  • Regarding Rouse & Sons. My father, Alan Sutcliffe served his time there as an apprentice plumber in the 1950’s. He was with his Mum Rose, in Shelley Avenue at the time. Dad died aged only 26 in 1956 and the firm paid for a memorial for him that still marks his grave in Woodhouse Cemetery.
    In 1972 I went for a job there not knowing that my Dad had worked there. During my interview, I was asked if I was ‘Alan Sutcliffe’s lad?’ and on saying ‘Yes’, I was given the job, no questions asked. Rouses at that time were building a new portion of a school somewhere in Derbyshire (forget where) and to get the various trades there, Rouses owned an old touring coach which we all piled into. In summer we would take out the sun lights in the roof and sit on the luggage racks above the seats with our top halves out of the coach and whistle to all the girls as we sped along. The girls seemed to enjoy the bit of attention and often would laugh or wave, it was brilliant at the time, but these days, would be much frowned upon.
    It was a good firm to work for. These days, Woodhouse High Street is a ghost of a place to what it once was.

    By Glenn Sutcliffe (04/10/2021)
  • Does anyone have any info on who built the houses Debdale Gate?
    It was built around 1910 and was part of Debdale Hall, then the pit and the Duke of Portland were invited somewhere along the line.

    By Pete Bennett (03/02/2021)
  • Posted on behalf of Ann Smith
    To G Burton re post dated7/1/18
    Re Sticky Jack , my father now in his 90s has told me about this man who appeared to live with his grandmother on Outgang or as he remembers it as pleasant place. He remembers the caravan and some land where she kept chickens also grew veg, possibly allotments. He also remembers some form of shed or outbuilding where a collection of horse brasses were stored. My dad has always believed that his grandmother may have owned her piece of land, and that he aquired it. He knows they were never married and that they were were still there when my dad and his parents moved to Lawrence Avenue when he was about 8 , he thinks his grandmother’s name was Lucy but not exactly sure . So if anyone can offer me any further information would be grateful

    By Liz Weston (18/10/2019)
  • Good to see a couple of contributions already this year. Particularly from Meryl Gregory referring to her childhood at the Poplars. I remember my Grandfather, Bill Pogmore, working in the Rothero family garden there around 1950 when he was quite old. Strangely enough a contribution made in 2014 by Benjamin Houghton reminded me also that my Grandad worked as a Gardener for Sir J.P. Houghton at Park Hall around 1920.
    As an Octogenarian, living in Staffordshire, but raised in Mansfield Woodhouse, with maternal ancestors, the Pogmores, being long standing inhabitants of the Village, I find the ‘Streets of…’ contributions fond memory joggers of my time there, and my family history.
    I am a little surprised that several references, by past contributors, to Building Contractors in Woodhouse do not include H. Rouse and Sons who had a prominent position on the High Street housed in buildings that during Victorian times had been a Brewery. My Father, Harold, worked there as a Joiner from 1920 until his early death in 1967. From the early second world war years he was Joinery Shop Foreman, the ‘Shop’ being in the original first floor Brewery ‘Maltkin’. In those days all house roofing timbers, windows, doors and doorframes were handmade there and I understand pre-war most of the houses on Whinney Hill as well as Titchfield and Birkland Avenues were built by Rouses. They also did much work for Mansfield Brewery both building and renovating Pubs over a widespread area and maintenance work for several Dukeries Estates Properties was also undertaken.
    References in 2014 by ‘John’ and Tom Shead concerning the one time shoe-shop and previous Salvation Army Chapel on Albert street, Number 20, reminded me that aged 6, in 1943, I was a member of a Wolf Cub Pack who met there once a week – I recall there were still religious banners hanging on the walls. The leader and organiser was a young man named John Coates who lived with his parents in a stone farmhouse on Portland Street. The location now occupied by the Company Kaefer Limited!
    Way back in 2012 Amanda Robinson made reference to the Mallatratt family in Woodhouse. I remember a Bakers and Confectioners on High Street , just about opposite Plaice’s Butchers shop, owned in the early 1940’s by a couple with that family name. During my attendance at the National Infants School at that time you had to pay a penny a day for your two one-third pints of milk. My parents gave me a Sixpence on a Monday morning to pay my dues and, joy of joys, after school I was able to call at Mallatratts and, with my penny change, buy a scrumptious ’Slimy Bun’ – a tasty bread roll covered in sticky white icing!
    Around the same time Katherine Oddie and John Carlisle wrote about Warners Factory on Grove Street. I recall it because Johnny Gill who was Organist and Choirmaster at St Edmunds Church in the 40’s and 50’s worked there. He had lost a leg in the First World War but it didn’t stop him being very active even though the prostheses available then creaked a bit! Didn’t stop him running the St. Edmunds Football Club, taking the Choir on an annual outing to Cleethorpes in a Winstanley Coach, and marching us Choirboys up to Debdale Hall to sing Carols to the patients at Christmastime!
    Tom Shead’s observations over the years I find illuminating especially as I was once in the same Class as him at Yorke Street School. I liked in particular his references to M.W.U.D.C using horses up until the late 1940’s. I can remember my Mother describing how the Council’s Horses and Carts used, also during the night, to collect the ‘night-soil’ waste from the outdoor lavatories behind the stone terrace houses on Portland Street where she lived as a girl. I also can remember Council owned Horses and Carts collecting hard packed ice from roads after the 1947 Winter and taking it down New Mill Lane to tip into and by the River Maun. On Hot, dusty Summer days a Horse drawn Bowser often traversed the Village roads spraying water to settle the dust I remember it passing down Portland Street past my Grandma’s house!
    The more contributions appearing on this site in the future will only serve to increase my interest and probably jog my memory more!

    By John White (29/07/2019)
  • I live on Park hall road and at the top of the cul de sac there is a sign saying hospital row. Did it use to be part of a hospital? Get asked alot of times about it.

    By Abbie (19/04/2019)
  • My two sisters and I lived in The Poplars at the end of Poplar Street from 1950 to 1959. It was a beautiful home but very cold. We had the Coronation sports on our front lawn which was also the tennis court for the St Edmund’s youth club. We used to take a short cut through the Greyhound Yard onto the High Street to catch the bus. My middle sister and I attended the National School just round the corner and remember walking up Welbeck Road to the school room attached to the Turner Hall. Our teacher was Peter Crookes. All three of us have many happy memories of living in the village and would be delighted to share all we can.

    By Meryl Gregory ( Rothero) (29/01/2019)
  • Thank you very much John for your comments about “Sticky Jacks Lane”/Outgang Lane very interesting ,just goes to show how far back we can go to solve any surroundings in “Woodus”.Now as someone who lived on Leeming Lane South as a kid ,myself and other kids used to play what then was called “The Top Field” this being a area above our bankings ( back of our houses ) many a game of football / cricket was played on many a hot summers day .Now of course it is called “Roman Bank ” a housing estate of which took away many hours of making your own entertainment,the estate led to further streets being added to the link towards the “Flood Dykes” .Again happy days long gone ,still from the hours played on  ”The Top Field” our generation(s) moved to use “The Rec”across from “Woodus Cemetery ” on Leeming Lane and I think every blade of grass was used in the fifties and sixtes especially when the grass was cut it felt like the “Wembley ” in “Woodus”,and who can’t forget the air raid shelter in the corner of the field now there must be some stories to tell !.” Rec” still there and not built on !! .Find memories of just a part of “Wood Us” of which is in the history books and yet as kids in those days it was part of what you would call being brought up and making the best of what you had .Much appreciate the comments from everyone it’s what makes this site nostalgia at its very best 

    By G.Burton former "Woodus lad" (07/01/2018)
  • Re, Park Hall wood, there are signs in the wood itself which sign themselves “Park Hall Estate” If memory serves me, whether or not this is the true owner I am unsure. However, similar signs have been in existence since me, and many that I went to school with, played in the old Hostel ruins within the wood itself, in the wood as far as the then ruined houses where Nettleworth begins, beyond the shrubbery. Park Hall of course was an estate in days gone by.

    By John (06/01/2018)
  • John! The old buildings were the Poor Houses called Pleasant Place. John!  There were 3 houses, shown in the WEA book of Woodhouse, no 1 was opposite Peafield Lane where Sandgate Rd is now, no 2 opposite Bevan and Barkers Garage where there were Allotments for the poor and Pleasant Place which was in use till the 1930s. They were not Workhouses!

    By Tom Shead (04/01/2018)
  • Regarding ‘Ex Woodhus Lad’G Burton’s post  questioning why Outgang Lane was once called ‘Sticky Jacks’ Lane. Anyone, like myself, living in the area during the 2nd World War and the after War years before housing development escalated in the Village, will remember clearly that ‘Sticky Jack’ was a Gypsy who lived in a Vardo Caravan at the Warsop Rd junction of the lane. So called because he made his living chopping and bundling sticks for fire lighting. Interestingly also at that time, on the right hand side of the lane ascending from Warsop Rd, were the foundations of a row, or possibly two short rows, of Cottages. These, and the surrounding rubble accommodated a wide variety of wildflowers and I remember, as a Boy, it was a great place to catch Grasshoppeers. It would be interesting to know what the Lane was called when those Cottages existed, and before ‘Sticky Jack’ appeared on the scene. Maybe it was just The Outgang?

    John White

    By John White (03/01/2018)
  • Does any one know who owns the wood in and around where Park Hall used to be situated, it says private property but I know people still walk up there?

    By David (27/12/2017)
  • Those who live in, or are passing through Woodhouse via Leeming Lane cannot fail to notice that the long standing builders yard and offices of Rippon’s (EC Rippon Ltd) Has been ground to more or less dust in a short space of time. Peggs that was, Is much the same.The next development is a drive through McDonalds and the Lidl/Aldi I believe on this site??

    By John (23/11/2017)
  • Does anyone have or know of the old booklet that was issued to prospective tenants of Council houses,on taking a property please? This held all the details of what you had to do,and not do,whilst resident in a council property. I once had one but cannot find it anywhere, likewise one or two old rent cards,which also detailed on the back this information. Would date from the UDC days if anything I would have thought. A very happy, safe and healthy new year to all users and contributors of this site.

    By John (31/12/2016)
  • Having visited there for a prescription this past week, I could not help but notice the dilapidation of the former “Parliament Oak” now the Oakwood chemists. The gates to the property are more less off the hinges, beside the door to the former publican’s living accommodation,a large lump of stone quoin is seen to be missing. The bottom three to four courses of brickwork from the tarmac up are also crying out bady for repointing. The sign is drooping also downwards. As one of pleasant old buldings of this area of Mansfield Woodhouse conservation, I really feel someone ought to remedy these issues pertaining to the fabric of this property, before they become worse.

    By John (17/06/2016)
  • Don’t know if anyone else has noticed, work has started on the new housing scheme on the former Park Hall Farm, at the bottom of Park Hall Road here in Woodhouse. Contractors have arrived this week with plant to begin civis and groundwork it appears. Wonder what will happen to the buildings the site already has? The outbuilding with the chimney in the field, immediately visible to the side of the access road, was a blacksmiths forge from when Park Hall was a working estate, I have always been led to believe this, any corrections to the contrary will be welcomed. Either way, another little spot of green yesteryear will soon be gone.

    By John (08/05/2016)
  • There is a reference to C H Hill, the builder, in one contribution.  I was the first treasurer to the Woodhouse Council in 1965 and rented a brand new property built by him in the grounds of what had been a vicarage.  I was only there two years, but it provided a useful stepping stone to a career covering a dozen countries. 

    By Charles Kemp (20/03/2016)
  • Very good interest regarding the street names. Regarding Outgang Lane as a small kid we used to say and call it “Sticky Jacks Lane.” Can any reader recall this name before it became Outgang Lane?

     

    By G.Burton former Woodus lad (04/03/2016)
  • Tom, I recall seeing the sign being removed too, by a chap in work clothes working from a scaffold tower on the pavement on a weekday a few weeks ago now. At risk of repeating myself, I felt sure that the stipulation with the change of use, planning consents or whatever might be, that the sign had to remain in situ. This of course will be checkable as a fact if anyone cares to do so, with the local authority planning section.

    By John (27/02/2016)
  • John! One of our members saw it being taken down and someone called the Police, don’t know the outcome. We the Old Woodhouse Society wanted the sign for the Library and about 3 years ago were going to borrow it but another Landlord came in. The sign was appropriate for us as The Sages Table!

    By Tom Shead (23/02/2016)
  • I have noticed this past week or so that the old pub sign of the “New Inn” which hung in Station street has been taken down, along with it’s hanging bracket. I thought I’d read in the planning consents within the Chad, that the sign had to remain as part of the conservation area?  Either way it has gone, hopefully not into a skip. If anything this ought to have been passed on perhaps to the Old Woodhouse Society or into the Museum. I am hoping it has been saved rather than slung.

    By John (15/02/2016)
  • John! The Pub project is up and running in the Woodhouse Library Heritage Link, this is an ongoing project about Historical Pubs, inquests about inebriated Landlords falling down the cellar steps after consuming the profits.etc.

    By Tom Shead (10/02/2016)
  • Hello Tom, thanks for thinking about me concerning the Woodhus pubs project, I will try at some point to have a look in on this, it will certainly be interesting. Something you may not be aware of in terms of pubs, the closure of “Boothy’s” in Mansfield, which many will remember years ago as the “West Hill Social Club and Institute.” It may benefit the Legion here in Woodhouse, as many folk who enjoy a bit of live entertainment of an evening, could be migrating here as an alternative venue. Giving possibly, much needed custom to the Ex servicemen’s club in return. There was a time in most clubs where if you had not taken your place before 7.00pm or so,you would have had a standing seat. Club land was cheek by jowl with people, most of whom you knew, all ages, cheap beer, meat raffles, prize bingo.Times are far more different now as many people know, but anything positive has, I am sure, got to be a good thing.

    By John (28/01/2016)
  • John! Rachel in the M/W Library is doing a project on the Pubs of Woodhouse for the Heritage Link which will be on display on completion. Included will be stories of Landlords, Customers,famous or infamous, I will let you know when it is displayed.

    By Tom Shead (24/01/2016)
  • Great comments about the street names of “Woodus” how about “Leeming Lane ” being brought up in that area for many years ,and how about ” George Street” ?. 

     

    By G.Burton former Woodus lad (24/01/2016)
  • Many thanks for the information above, I will contact them and see what they have in general on this area I think.Thanks very much once again.

    By John (19/06/2015)
  • Greetings Tom, No,I have not seen this book, but I will at some point try and have a look for it. I have one or two of the local publications from years past, the David J Bradbury books “Woodhus and the wolfhunters” being one.The George Parmenter book and several others. But I have not seen this one. WEA publications seem very hard to get hold of for some reason, do you know if the Nott’s branch is still in existence and possibly where they could be contacted by any chance? Thank you again.

    [Editors Note -  

    East Midlands – Workers’ Educational Association (WEA …

    www.wea.org.uk/eastmidlands/

    Our voluntary branch structure ensures learners can be involved in the courses they attend. … Our WEA office for the East Midlands is based in Nottingham.]

    By John (17/06/2015)
  • John!  Have you read History of Woodhouse, a WEA publication, copy in Woodhouse Library? Dates, early days to 1935 I think, it gives the Pubs on the census from 1841.

    By Tom Shead (15/06/2015)
  • If anyone has not seen the Chad newspaper this past week, it is worth noting that the “New Inn” is to cease function altogether as a pub, one more Woodhus pub gone. It will be turned into a residence, and the car park beside cut down to one or two spaces, and the remaining area made into a garden, to be in keeping with a residence of that size and shape. Come on someone, chronicle the history of the public houses of Mansfield Woodhouse, then and now, a book of this nature is long overdue. [Editors Comment  ‘John why don’t you do it?‘]

    By John (13/06/2015)
  • Hi John, the Nursery School was built as the Congregational Chapel about 1911 I believe.  Woodhouse in the early days had numerous Chapels and Mission Churches. Don’t know who owns the old Labour Hall!

    By Tom Shead (14/05/2015)
  • Does anyone know how HOPE HOUSE (50 Vale Road) got its name?

    By Andrew Snowden (11/05/2015)
  • On passing along Priory Rd this past week, I wondered what if anything had become of the old “Labour Hall” This place never seems to be used any more for any purpose. I remember going to lot’s of wedding receptions and disco’s there during the eighties, it has all petered out it seems now and the place has been disused for some time. Can anyone tell me who actually owns it, and what further uses, if any, are planned for it? Also can anybody with knowledge give me more information on the old school type building across the road-believe it is a children’s nursery of some kind? I assume it has been a primary school at some time or another maybe, can anyone enlighten me further?

    By John (09/05/2015)
  • On passing “The Anvil” several times this week, seeing piles of builders rubble I would think it is safe to say that the old Anvil has ceased trading as a pub. Please contradict if anyone knows different by all means. Yet another old haunt of many  former “Woodhousers” has been consigned to history it would seem.

    By John (09/04/2015)
  • Thank you Richard Clarke for the info you left for me. I remember the old place full of all sorts of wonderful stuff and bygones, never got the chance to go in, but would have loved to as it looked fascinating. Is it true can anyone confirm, that the Anvil pub is closing and will be ceasing to function as a pub any more? I hear the same about the New Inn too from people out and about, just wondered if anyone else knew anything? A section on the public houses of Woodhouse would be a worthwhile endeavour I think,a goodly few have gone, never to return, others hang on awaiting perhaps their own fate-who knows? Either way,a look at the pubs that used to be, and the old characters who used them over the years would provide a good many memories for those of us who can remember them both.The likes of the Parliament Oak, Portland Arms,The Swan, focal points for many people over the years, the seaside trips, raffles and totes people ran for many years. It all seems so very long ago now.

    By John (29/03/2015)
  • After looking into the history of Marples Avenue we have found the street was referred to as Marple Avenue way before it was ever built we have a reference to it in our land deeds dated 1934 being a proposed Road the reason it was Called Marple was the land owners Percy Lee Sheard and Agnes Ellen Sheard were from Marple in Cheshire they purchased the land in 1926. They had added the S to the end making it Marples Avenue by a 1958 reference, the transport minister Ernest Marples didn’t come to his position until 1959 so it seems it was more of a coincidence he had the right name or he may have been chosen to open the street because of the name.

    By Debbie S (05/03/2015)
  • This is for John (re comment 19/03/14)

    The area that is now Edge hill motors used to be called Groves yard when I was a kid Mr Groves who owned the place used to dismantle cars and sell second hand goods his wife was a teacher at St Edmunds school just up Welbeck Rd and they both lived in a bungalow on the right hand side of New Mill Lane just over the traffic lights on the way to the dykes.

    His wife was also my teacher at the school

    By Richard Clarke (03/03/2015)
  • Once again Tom you have rode to the rescue, cheers for that. I have not heard of these contractors but will look into them a bit more closely if possible. I know in later more recent build’s Greenwood’s, Baggaley and Jenkins were involved along with directly employed tradesmen of the council. Some of the housing too is pre-war according to the old UDC minutes Woodhouse library has. I did not know this, built prior to 1939. Supposing anything else crops up or you happen to come across anyone who can add their info to yours, please encourage them to do so. Thanks again. Incidentally,work on the old Savages/Townroe’s butchers site, seems to have begun in earnest.

    By John (21/02/2015)
  • Hi John!! I left School in 1952 and as an Apprentice Electrician I worked on Oak Tree Crescent area and houses around the Green. The Contractors were Sweeny and Palmer [Green area] and C H Hill [Woodhouse Place] the other areas. The bungalows on Slant Lane were MWUDC Direct Labour but there were other sites in Woodhouse that I didn’t work on!!

    By Tom Shead (18/02/2015)
  • I am after any photos, maps etc regarding the jug & glass public house or any information about the history of the building to make a display within the pub.

    By Paul Fox (13/02/2015)
  • I would still be very grateful if anyone with any information on who the principal building contractors were, who built the Mansfield District Council post war housing stock, would drop a comment or two here please. I would be most interested to learn who they were. Even those perhaps who did any earlier building for the UDC’s before all the surrounding smaller areas joined up with the corporation of Mansfield in the early 1970’s. And if anyone had any details of those who built in Mansfield Woodhouse, that would be very welcome indeed.

    By John (13/02/2015)
  • Ref: To terrace’s, there was also a “Robin Hood Terrace ” on Leeming Lane

    By Clifford Burton (03/02/2015)
  • Last year I was walking on the old Sherwood Colliery tip that’s now a nature reserve and saw seven or eight female fallow deer, they jumped over a fence that surrounded one of the plantations of pine trees ran across the the track we were on and over the fence into the trees  on the other side. I was quite surprised to see them there.

    By Peter Bowler (31/01/2015)
  • I worked in Wood house for 27 years, travelling up and down Debdale Lane many many times. A workmate once told me about the deer but having never seen one in all that time I thought he was having me on. Six months before I retired I actually spotted one in the trees near the pit wheel, then unbelievably about a month later I saw another one,almost in the same place. All those years without seeing one and then spotting two within a month of each other. So they definitely do exist.

    By Pete Higgins (31/01/2015)
  • Yes John, I saw a deer, just the one, about 6 months ago. I was driving towards Woodhouse, and on the right, opposite the entrance up to Debdale Hall, just after the field where the horses are, it was at the top of the slope near the fencing.

    By Dave Marsh (29/01/2015)
  • Can I ask if like me,anyone else has seen Deer-yes Deer,in the vicinity of Debdale lane at any point? Whilst driving in slow traffic this week at the Rufford Arms end of Debdale lane,heading down towards the bridge,on looking to my left I clearly saw a young stag (his antlers still in their velvet covering and small) and another small Deer,presumably the hind,with him.I had a witness in the cab with me who saw this also in the fields to our left,near the electricity pylon-we thought we were seeing things.I have seen one also on the opposite side also,a year or so ago,on the higher ground behind the metal railings,near the pit wheel.Have any other travellers along this road seen anything at any point?

    By John (01/01/2015)
  • Very interesting to see the opening out of the former Smedley & Mason builders yard, beside the Greyhound pub. Cottages are planned I believe and the old stone ruin which sat within, and fascinated me for years is now gone. Very quickly nowadays all the small landlocked areas of Woodhouse and small pockets of land round and about are going to building of new property at last. As for the former Fourways Tom, yes-it looks good! Much money has been spent there by the looks to convert this former hospital and public house to a merged dental practice. Good work has been done there to bring this scene of previous dilapidation back into use, it is nice to see.

    By John (23/10/2014)
  • Just for interest, the area around the Hospital [Fourways] was called Wake Hill according to plans of the Hospital built in 1877!! Pop down and take a look at the old Hospital recently refurbished by a local Dentist!! To think they wanted to demolish the building!!

    By Tom Shead (17/10/2014)
  • Butt Lane:
    I suggest that Butt Lane is named after the landscape nearby. The old word butte applies. A pass of valley between two hills (hence the name butt for a backside). Butt Lane runs in a shallow depression between two small hills.

    By Colin Avison (15/10/2014)
  • Re, the old shoe shop at the bottom of Albert street, thank you once again for your response Tom, the place was a shoe shop some 30yrs plus ago I would have thought, but somewhere in the back of my mind I can still remember my mother having my feet measured in there.

    By John (31/07/2014)
  • Hi John,The building was formerly the Trinity Methodist Chapel till 1883, and then the Salvation Army, then they had Auctions there, not sure whether the Shoe Shop came first or the Fireplace makers. This subject was discussed on the Woodhouse Living History site a while back, I’ll try and find the article!!

    By Tom Shead (26/07/2014)
  • Albert Street, Mansfield Woodhouse-can anyone remember the shoe shop that used to be beside the bungalow where the sign “Evocia” Great danes is displayed, I presume the residents incumbent breed or have red dogs at some point. This stone property beside, was where my mother took me for shoes all those years ago,whether this was a proper shop or not, memory fades slightly, but both my mother and I had our shoes from there. It was pretty big inside, possibly two properties used as one?? I do not know. I do recall however that this was one of the few places,and never since in my experience, that measured your feet before selling you shoes, esp., if you were a child as I was then. Can anyone shed any more light on the matter of this shop, who owned it, when it went back to residential use etc.

    By John (21/07/2014)
  • Nice to receive June edition of the warbler and see the answer to my question about the former stonemason’s business at the bottom of Welbeck Rd an New Mill lane,and the inscription,and the later motor spring business it housed.Now all gone of course and the motor home business occupies the site.Well done WW.

    By John (07/06/2014)
  • 1.In 1920, my Great Uncle, Sir John Plowright Houfton, was High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His address was given as Park Hall, Mansfield Woodhouse. Is this the same building now partly used as a Vetinary Clinic? Any other information would be welcomed.

     

    By Benjamin Houfton (22/05/2014)
  • Hi John!! The business was Abbotts, Monumental Masons, I remember it well, it closed down in the early 50s!! Read the June Woodhouse Warbler, some of my friends have written in with the answer!!

    By Tom Shead (19/04/2014)
  • Thanks again Tom, I only ever saw a lump of rubble from where something had stood, then of course the land was cleared and the bungalows built, so thanks for the latest piece of info. Now what about the plaque that was on the old junk shop, cum motor dismantlers which once occupied the site of the now Edge Hill motorhome dealership? I bet you will know someone who has an idea if you yourself do not.

    By John (18/04/2014)
  • Hello Tom,you seem to have done some good further research there,the memories people seem to have are very valuable and it just goes to show how important it is that these are got down in words whilst those concerned are around to give them. I was also led to believe that before they built the cul de sac of bungalows at the top of Albert St., opposite the allotment gate, and at the junction of Park Avenue/Park Rd, Park Hall Rd. There is a stone house, beside which there was a hump of what always looked like demolition material to me, I was told years ago this was where “Savidges house” had stood.

    By John (16/04/2014)
  • Does anyone know of the progress of the golf course set to take over the parkland and woods of my childhood and so many other people’s,at Park Hall, the shrubbery etc? The plans are still there to view via the internet, work still seems to be going on in the fields,.

    By John (16/04/2014)
  • Hi John! I think the Stone house you relate to was Old Mrs Place, Mother of the Places, Butchers family, they had 2 shops in Woodhouse, no1 between Marlow’s Yard and Blacksmith’s Yard and I think the other one was on Station St opposite Castle St. The last Mr Place worked at Dewhursts on the corner of the Mansfield Market and Westgate. Constance Seager was a hardworking Historian and has left some valuable research notes for the Old Woodhouse Society, it’s hard work transcribing them. it’s a pity she hadn’t got the use of the internet, everything is copied longhand from Census, Wright’s Directory, Whites, Kellys etc.

    By Tom Shead (16/04/2014)
  • Does any one remember what stood on the site of the Edge Hill motor home business years ago? I recall a really dilapidated shop front,which to all intents and purposes looked like an indoor scrapyard, it had old vehicles at the rear,and was full of what looked like motor spares, bric a brac of all kinds. I used to pass here with my late father as a child and was fascinated by this seemingly Aladdin style cave of apparent rubbish, but as we all now know-such stuff is far from it, and commands high prices In between the two parts of this shop front, a plaque bearing some kind of inscription/dedication was set-what did it say or to whom/what did it refer can anyone tell me? I do not use facebook but I am informed that a photo of these old premises,courtesy of a Mansfield Woodhouse History group,has been uploaded,showing these old premises,and plaque.Sadly the writing is not visible.Does anyone have any input here?

    By John (16/04/2014)
  • I have recently found the comment  written on your page by a lady called Judith Bonser who wants to get in touch with her husbands relatives. I can certainly answer a lot of her  questions as my Mums family were born at 22 Station Road who were named Daws.

    Ann Cattermole

    By Ann Cattermole (12/04/2014)
  • Hi John!! ref. Savidges Abattoir, we have been transcribing hand written notes for the Old Woodhouse Society by Constance Seager in the 80s where she converses with people on the High St about their memories. One of the Betts Family ,[she is 93 now] mentioned that Matthews the Butchers had their own Slaughter House, [where Morrisons is now] and rented it to Savidges. The shop building is on the 1897 map but not a building big enough for a Slaughter house. In Turning back the Pages, Savidges address is Portland Square! Townroes farm at Westfield, Joels are at Sookholme, Hall Farm, previously at Bath Farm.

    By Tom Shead (12/04/2014)
  • There’s two houses on the back on Yorke Street on Blake Street called Ivy Villas. It has an old stamp on the houses too. I’m wondering why are they called Ivy Villas, can anyone help? Who and why Ivy? Is it a name of a person or the plant Ivy? Also why are they named Villas? They are clearly used as two houses not villas. Has it anything to do with what Hayman Rooke found? When we they first built and what were they used primarily for? Any history of this would be great.

    Also has anyone got any pictures of Yorke Street School?

    Lastly why is Yorke Street spelt this way? It it too do with Hayman Rooke’s name having the letter E at the end?

    By Rachael (11/04/2014)
  • Your questions suggest you are doing a project on this area, if so  a visit to Mansfield Woodhouse Library who have a very good local history section could be of value.

    By Editors (11/04/2014)
  • Rachael!! Yorke St was so named after Winifred Dallas Yorke the Duchess of Portland. I think the word Villas are a fancy name for Victorian Houses, a row of houses etc.

    By Tom Shead (11/04/2014)
  • I am a member of the Old Woodhouse Society and one of my briefs is Planning, [Old Buildings changes] The old butchers shop, Savidges has come up for inclusion by English Heritage on their register and the MDC Conservation officer wants any info from people with memories of the Shop and Abbatoir. Any info would be welcome, have you a 90 year old relation who remembers it before Savidges?

    By Tom Shead (18/01/2014)
  • I am glad to see someone else taking up the gauntlet here regarding Savidges/Townroe’s on the corner of Welbeck Rd. My mother,who is almost 80yrs of age, and lived on the former Coke street years ago, said she could never remember anyone else being involved with the butchery and slaughter of cattle down there Tom. I can remember the light blue lorry which I believe was operated by Dave Townroe through the eighties, and the shop selling into the early nineties, ie 1991 onwards,but not much longer after that, then closure. Whilst working for Ridge Construction at Kirkby in Ashfield, who were involved in the re fit of a larger slaughterhouse at Daybrook (S Hackett and Son’s) Dave used to give my dad a lift back home in the lorry from Nottingham to Woodhouse. On Welbeck Rd it was a common sight to see the guys who worked there, nipping out in their whites and wellies to the cob shop next door to the Anvil pub, and beside the Star for a lunchtime cob etc, in the not too distant past. It would be interesting to know just how long back the premises had held its original use, and more so to know what is planned for the site as it stands now, with the outbuildings etc gone. I await your findings with eager interest Tom.

    By John. (18/01/2014)
  • Julie!!! re Muschamps in Woodhouse. There is an exhibition of Muschamps Works in Woodhouse Library showing photos etc.

    By Tom Shead (17/01/2014)
  • Finally it seems work has started across the road from the Anvil pub re: the former Savage’s butchers, with the old abbatoir and other associated brick buildings being demolished and carted from site.The actual shop and house roof has had the holes re-slated, presumably to keep pigeons and the elements out prior to work starting in there.We shopped at this butchers a lot in years gone by, and prior to closure, I believe they had ovens at the rear also? As far as I am aware Townroes were the last to actually slaughter there, the size of the premises meaning that only one or two beasts at a time could be processed there. It would be interesting if anyone with any knowledge of what went on there to put down a few words. Townroes also farmed at Sookholme I believe. Do they still? Conversely, does anyone realise how fortunate we are, to have on our doorstep so much of both antiquarian interest, civic importance and the like, ie “old buildings” On one of our recent visits to Shirebrook, I use this purely as an example,the old buildings there,whilst perhaps of no “Pevsneresque” notable achitectural value,have all but gone. In short, I am really glad we in Woodhouse have so much to look at and talk about.We must ensure this continues for the benefit of everyone.

    By John. (22/12/2013)
  • Simon!! Have another look at the top cottages if you can, you will find built into the wall a stone tablet telling when they were built, 1900. One Terrace is Ladysmith and the other Mafeking.[Boer War] I did an article on all the Terraces in the area on 04/03/2010 and I missed the tablets first time, they blend in well with the stonework. I presume the rest of the street was after 1903 when Sherwood Colliery opened.

    By Tom Shead (23/11/2013)
  • Oh yes Tom, blimey…you do have to look hard to see the stone tablets don’t you ?. So thats your answer then RL 1900 for the stone built Mafeking and Ladysmith terraces and 1903 for the rest of the street. Thanks for this Tom, at least I know my great grandparents John & Hannah Leivers must have lived in one of those stone terraces then. They were born and married in Eastwood, but moved and lived at many places in Mansfield,Shirebrook and Woodhouse. I’m told they could never settle down anywhere for very long. They finally died in Lincoln ,North Hykem. My grandad was born on Bradder street (another place they once lived at) and Alan Curtis presented a great photo showing the house where my grandad Leivers was born in 1915. My G Grandad and grandad were lifelong coal miners. I left school to go into the pits until they all closed in the 90’s otherwise I would have probably been a lifelong coal miner too !. Thanks Tom and Alan.

    By Simon Leivers (23/11/2013)
  • In the census Simon, at one of the stone houses on the bottom left. Is there a family by the name of Witham ? alan

    By alan curtis (22/11/2013)
  • Hi Alan, no I cannot see any one by the name of Witham living on Park Street Woodhouse in the 1901 census. However there is a Ellen Jane Witham living at 19 “The Park” (off Woodhouse Rd). She is a widow aged 63 and is living with her daughters Emily Morton-Witham, Louisa Witham and son Thomas Witham. Then in the 1911 census she is at Park Ave (presumably “the Park”) the same place with daughter Ellen. Hope this helps Alan

    By Simon Leivers (22/11/2013)
  • You have me thinking too now RL. According to the 1901 census my great grandfather and his brother were living at Park Street. In the census return there are only 10 seperate household entries for this street . Looking today at the street there are 11 old stone built terraced houses at the top on the left hand side going up and the rest are brick built terraced houses from the stone houses to the bottom on both sides. So I am presuming the stone houses were build pre 1901 and the brick houses post 1901 otherwise there would be far more entries in this census year. I’m sure someone will have an old map though and may be able to confirm this

    By Simon Leivers (21/11/2013)
  • Hi, can any help me? I’m trying to find out how old the houses are on Park Street in Woodhouse, any ways to find this information out? Thanks R

    By RL (19/11/2013)
  • I see by the impromptu signs on the lamp post’s along Park Hall Rd, that building is planned on the former Park Hall Farm, which has just sold for £280.0000 according to my internet search.150 houses are planned?  Also the land at the bottom of PH has been ploughed once more this year,does this have any bearing on the planned golf resort? 

    By John. (17/11/2013)
  • Hi Maureen Brewin are you the Maureen who I used to play with and lived on Brown Avenue, I lived on Elm Tree Avenue love to hear from you Pat.

    By patricia booth nee green (11/11/2013)
  • Hello Tom, apologies not neccessary mate, we obviously take a great interest in the place in which we live. I will contact Park Rd or the lady you mention and see. I enjoy the Warbler and the historical articles about Woodhouse. I was looking today at the “Turning back the pages in Woodhouse” book, and the old place which stood behind the modern Morrisons/former Co-op.The abode of the Duke of Portland’s land drainer at one time apparently? Regarding the proposed development at Park Hall golf resort, sadly I believe it got passed, and a judicial review was sought retrospectively.

    By John. (12/10/2013)
  • Tom, Like yourself I look forward to the completion of the forthcoming Heritage Centre within the Woodhouse Library and intend to spend a little time there as and when opportunity arises. My feeling is that it will give many the golden opportunity to discover for themselves what a historic, architecturally, archaeologically interesting, surprisingly urban, yet still verging on rural, place Woodhouse really is. Such a thing will further validate keeping open our library and safeguarding it for all the people of Woodhouse.

    By John. (12/10/2013)
  • Hi John!! first, sorry I doubted your account re the Nurseries. A Maureen Watson has asked for a photo of a cottage which was situated where the Greyhound carpark is now. Her script is on this site. She has said that where Smedley and Masons, formerly Hansons builder was the property was a pig farm. These properties are on the 1879 map in the Turning back the Pages of Mansfield Woodhouse book. I understand there is a photo of that area in the Woodhouse archives but the Library is closed for repairs and the installation of the Heritage Centre which is due to be opened on 19th October.

    By Tom Shead (08/10/2013)
  • Hi John!! ref. The Poplars! Ann Edgecombe of the Old Woodhouse Society did a comprensive article on the Poplars about 5 years ago in the Warbler. You are aware you can download the Warblers, unless you have kept all the issues and I would think it’s no more than 5 years ago.

    By Tom Shead (08/10/2013)
  • Like myself,a lifelong Woodhus resident,I wonder if anyone else wonders what the ancient looking stone ruin is,in the corner of the former Smedley and Mason’s yard,beside the Greyhound pub carpark,and the former Chamberlain’s bakery.I believe the small joinery shop that was situated behind the stone gable,visible from the road,burnt down some years ago.Whilst at the Manor school on Park Hall rd years ago,I remember being sent here to collect woodshavings and sawdust for the small animals in Mr Warner’s animal unit.In here were several blokes planing up wood and cutting on machinery,the floor was of the old blue wash house type “grooved” floor bricks.Does anyone remember also the house which sat immediately behind the Greyhound car park? I remember “The Poplars” at the very end of Poplar street,but this seemed to be another house?? The poplars was derelict for many years and was used by the former Manpower services commission,Mansfield community programme/Nottinghamshire chamber of commerce for hands on skill’s training for the unemployed.The building in Smedley’s old yard intrigues somewhat,and it would be a shame to see another old building gone without trace or any form of recognition of it just having been there alone.Anyone out there know anything about matters?.

    By John. (05/10/2013)
  • Hi there, I wonder if anyone can help me, I lived at Wolf Hunt Cottage, for a year, it was owned by Challenge Housing, it is just off High Street behind Wolf Hunt house, I always wondered about the history of this house, I wondered if anyone knows?

    By Linda (01/10/2013)
  • Tom,no mate,Park hall walled garden still exists,with a cottage still in situ and lived in.The one I mean is at the end of the shrubbery at Nettleworth.The stud groom’s cottage can be seen up the drive from it,along with the new developments which are resident there now.This is an old garden which is walled,and clearly pre-dates all around it, and has what is left of the coal fired heating for the old forcing house still on site. I do not feel these will be here much longer and have pictured these, as well as all the other old ruins I pictured 25yrs+ ago. I will make these public one day when time allows,they make very interesting comparison.

    By John. (01/10/2013)
  • Tom, if you take the route through Park Hall wood,”The Shrubbery” right to the bottom, over the style, take the left hand path toward the garden, new buildings on your left,in the footprint of one of the wings of the old hall, once dated in the 1600,s on a commemorative stone.The garden is there,with a garage type building on your right, once used to prepare/bunch/tie up flowers presumably for sale.The Beard/Laughton family were active in floral horticulture as I remember.

    By John. (01/10/2013)
  • Re,Sherwood Rise,Yes.As is demonstrated nicely at the outskirts of Edwinstowe “Colliery Villas” and the superb,but hidden,stone built “Rhein o Thorns” at Warsop Vale.These housed surveyors,mineral agents,the manager and so forth.

    By John. (01/10/2013)
  • Sherwod Rise was originally built by the colliery to house ‘essential staff’ close by. My step father Len Fisher was a winder. We lived in 3A the house on the corner closest to the pit.

    By Glenn Sutcliffe (28/09/2013)
  • John, I think you mean Park Hall walled gardens not Nettleworth. Nettleworth Manor was demolished during WW2, the owner didn’t want the Army to move in, so the story goes.

    By Tom Shead (23/09/2013)
  • My dad John Neale was born at 2 Coke St, then I think the family moved to Wordsworth Rd, then to Windsor Rd Mansfield. He attended Yorke St School, I believe, until 1935,and left age 14. I have a 1935 diary which makes fascinating reading. .His dad was John, mother Hilda, sisters, Sybil and Jessie. His grand-father had been landlord of the Greyhound on Stockwell Gate.

    By Michelle Toft (nee Neale) (22/09/2013)
  • Re,Laughtons nurseries once more,I was aware there was a shop in Woodhouse selling their produce at some point.They used the old gardens that belonged to Nettleworth Manor to grow their wares.Nothing much now remains except for a portion of the old kitchen type walled garden situated behind the new developments down there,a couple of greenhouses and the heating system,once coal fired for the forcing etc of plants.All the ruins are gone that were there 25yrs or so ago,there was so much stuff left in these ruins as I remember,it was as though time itself had stood still beyond the shrubbery,down Park Hall.

    By John. (17/09/2013)
  • Ref: Laughton’s Nurseries. Just a quick snippet. As a schoolboy in the late 50’s I had a Saturday job with Mary Laughton (I think it was Mary) at her florists shop on Station Street, Mansfield, just below the old police station. If she needed flowers delivering then I used to catch the bus to deliver them, and then I would just help her generally in the shop.

    By Derek Brewer (11/09/2013)
  •  I have just found this page while looking for some information on one of the yards in Woodhouse. I was born at 77 High Street also known as the farm yard in 1946. My paternal grandparents rented this house Mr Walter and Edith Brewin and also before them my maternal great grandparent Mr Albert and Sarah Brandham, it was demolished in the 1960’s and is now a car park. I would be grateful if any one knows of any photographs or information. My father who is 89 was a lad in Woodhouse has a very good memory of it but no photographs get him talking on Woodhouse from him being 10 and you can-not shut him up.

    By maureen watson (16/08/2013)
  • My dad was born on Coke Street in 1924 his father was William Clarke and his mother was Ivy Clarke nee Beresford. I have been trying to trace my grandfather William but I can find no record of him, does anyone recall this family?

    By angie (02/08/2013)
  • I don,t know about anyone else, but I still cannot get used to looking at the old Parliament Oak pub, and seeing a chemists shop.This was my later father’s favourite pub in Woodhouse, and we used to sit on the buttercross over the road on nice days when I was young. Loved this old pub, old time and unchanged, sadly gone for good,a proper public house.

    By John. (28/06/2013)
  • I believe that “Muscamps” was later known by the name of “Flowline Hydraulics” in its latter years,prior to closure?? It was situated on Station Street beside the New Inn and the Dance studio/Chinese restaurant as is nowadays. Farrands shop occupied one of these buildings years ago, I well remember the trepidation of the last primary school summer holiday, being kitted out here to go up to York Street after the 6weeks were up.

    By John. (23/06/2013)
  • Love reading all the comments about Mansfield Woodhouse & its history. My Husbands grandfather was a builder & I believe built and owned some terrace houses on Leeming Lane South. Apparently a comical chap & worked with a good friend Stainforth. He came to a sad end when he got run over by a car in 1945. If anyone has any knowledge about the above, would love to hear. Thanks

    By julia (23/06/2013)
  • Hi, Does anyone know the approximate date that the cottages in the Woodhouse Yards were built? I am interested particularly in Crookes’ Yard, where my Grandparents lived when they were first married in the 1920’s. They told tales of no gas or electricity, just parrafin lamps. There was a communal toilet at the end of the yard, which was emptied once a week and a communal ash bin, which also got emptied weekly. I have an elderley Aunt, who spent her first few years living there with my Grandparents and she would love to know when the cottages were built. Any help would be greatly appreciated. P.S love the website!!!

    By Julia (22/06/2013)
  • Ref. Churchmans!! Someone has posted an advert for J W Churchmans & Sons Ltd. 151 Leeming Lane North, MW. The Cacti Specialist. tel Mansfield 335& 3358 this advert is on the Mansfield Woodhouse Living History site. No date given, looks as it may be out of a newspaper or magazine? No mention of Hide and Skin business.

    By Tom Shead (19/06/2013)
  • Can anyone tell me why Sykes Street became known as Parker’s Lane? I think it changed towards the end of the 19th century. My ancestors moved into the area around that time, and i wondered if there was any connection.

    By Brian Parker (19/06/2013)
  • Hi Lesley, I remember your Mother, I believe she was known as Addie???? I used to chat to her gardener a Mr Pearson when I called at the newsagent across the road. I have looked thro the Kellys Business Directories as early as 1931 and can find no reference of Churchmans being in Woodhouse. I am 76 years of age and they were established as far back as I can remember, so when was the Factory started?

    By Tom Shead (23/05/2013)
  • Muschamps!!! the original site was next door but one to the New Inn towards the Post Office on Station St. and stretched to Grove St.The original building is now a Dance Studio. In the Late 40s they built a larger factory across the road from the original factory on what was locally called the Orchard. This site extended to Oxclose Lane and access to the site was opposite Oxclose Lane school. Muschamps were Mining Engineers and employed a large workforce in it’s heyday.

    By Tom Shead (13/05/2013)
  • My grandparents were the Churchmans who lived at the 2 storey red brick house along the Warsop Road. They had 5 sons all of whom worked at the factory and farm. My father, the eldest Cyril had collected cati and succulents since the ’20’s and this had also evolved into a business. Kew Gardens used to ring him up for advice about various plants. There was also a field full of bulbs. The factory processed bonemeal, dried blood, tallow and cleaned sausage casings – the correct name for sausage skins. I could give more information if anyone is interested. I lived with my parents and sister on the corner of Ashwell Avenue about 7 minutes walk away and spent large chunks of my childhood down at my grandparents. The whole place was demolished at the end of the 1960’s.

    By Lesley Watters nee Churchman (12/05/2013)
  • Would anyone know about Musc(h)amps factory believed to be on Grove Street, my dad worked there in 1958 but that’s all we know, thanks to all who reply.

    By Julie (09/05/2013)
  • Re Churchmans! where the Coopers Public House is now there was a large greenhouse, Churchmans were into Market Gardening for a while. The road into the Paddocks, Pastures estate about 30 yards further, on the right of the entrance road stood a 3 storey red brick farmhouse which was occupied by the last Mrs Churchman.The house I believe was called Oakwood Farm?? The Hide and Skin works were further back and occupied a large area. I don’t know when the business started there but it was a Laundry in 1918. Churchmans had a business in Retford and Lowestoft, Suffolk. Our school sports were held on Leeming Lane sports field and we were subjected to the smell of Churchmans as the prevailing wind was South West.

    By Tom Shead (24/04/2013)
  • Re, Churchman’s, I believe their works stood where the Coopers pub, on Leeming lane in Mansfield woodhouse now is situated,or thereabouts,and was either a knackers yard/hide and skin business from animals.The smell apparently when the wind was in the wrong direction was something to behold I’m led to believe.

    By John. (01/04/2013)
  • My dad was born in Coke Street in 1930 – Harry Taylor. He later worked at Chuchmans as a lorry driver. I would like to find out more about Churchmans and where it was situated.

    By Alan Taylor (27/03/2013)
  • John, It would be great if you could add a page to the website with some of the photos you took of the buildings which no longer exist.

    By Editors (25/02/2013)
  • Would any older readers know when the Hazel Grove, Chestnut Grove, Cedar Ave part of Woodhouse was built, and perhaps the contractor? or were these houses built by the council’s own direct labour in the UDC days, like the early DC ones? I believe Adkin, or Adkin and White were prominent back then.

    By John. (24/02/2013)
  • Re, Laughton’s nurseries. I remember very well walking through the shrubbery and the bottoms, leading down to the old market gardens. These were once gardens for the old hall which stood there in the years previous. They fell into ruin around the time of the second world war, the remnants being demolished fairly recently to make way for the new properties there now. I would love to know what became of the old stone bearing the initials “WW” for William Wylde of the Wylde family, prominent there at one time. The stone was stolen, found and reinstated by the late Mr Ron Payne, of Park Hall Road, the scratched inscription beside the stone, bearing a date from the 1600/1700’s said so. I photographed all these old buildings and ruins over 20+ yrs ago, and glad I did so, as no trace of their former existence can now been seen. The footpath led through Nettleworth farm, out onto Sookholme Rd, and onto another track leading through, past the old chapel, through to Warsop, a regular route down to the “hill’s and holes” where we used to paddle. The fields beside the river down Park Hall were great fun to play in during a warm summer, the wheat being high etc,. Great memories.

    By John. (23/02/2013)
  • I worked in Grove Street at the factory called Warners factory and it was built around 1830. Must be the Warner family mentioned

    By john carlisle (04/02/2013)
  • Just found this page as we are also researching our family tree. William Warner was also my Great Grandfather. My Mum and sister are alive, both named Warner, and they may know all about West Hill House

    By Kathryn Oddie (13/09/2012)
  • Hi, I’m researching my family tree, and stumbled across this page by accident and found it very interesting. Many family members have lived in Mansfield Woodhouse, my Gt Gt Grandparents Eliza and Joseph Malatratt lived on Park Road, Joseph Malatratt I believe was the councillor that Mallatratt place was named after, my grandma worked at the old Tivoli Cinema on Station Street. Many of the street names have been mentioned in my family history and it’s brilliant to have a little bit of added information about them. Thank you

    By Amanda Robinson (20/08/2012)
  • Ref. David Bradburys book, mention is made of the Architect who designed Carr Bank House, it was William Wilkinson who lived at the Priory Mansfield Woodhouse in the early 1800s. Ref Dorothy Coultans book, Methodism in Mansfield Woodhouse, 1883 to 1983, states there was Typhoid epidemic in 1907, Dr. Houfton rented the Priory as an Isolation Hospital

    By Tom Shead (10/06/2012)
  • Re Mrs Watkinson the Blacksmith, there is a reference to employment of Horsemen promoted in the Mansfield Woodhouse UDC minutes. Mrs Watkinson would be required to shoe horses and put the steel rings on the wooden wagon wheels. The Councils in Notts were still using Horse powered transport upto the late 1940s

    By Tom Shead (21/05/2012)
  • Snippet from Mansfield Woodhouse UDC minutes 1921. p.370 For a period of 6 months Mrs Watkinson is to carry out Smithy work for the Council. I assume this is the Watkinsons of Blacksmiths Yard, High St.

    By Tom Shead (19/05/2012)
  • Thank you Thomas Shead for leading me to this site. Mapletoft Avenue was named after my Father-in-law, Edward Mapletoft. He was a local and county councillor. I married his son, Alan in 1955 and we went to live on Ashwell Avenue. We left Mansfield Woodhouse in 1961 and it is wonderful to read the history of it as it will always be my home. I grew up on Manvers Street and well remember the Duchess of Portland paying regular visits to a family on our street. Lovely lady who always had time to talk to us children. Wonderful site, keep up the good work. Shelagh Mapletoft (nee Bedford) Leamington Spa

    By Shelagh Mapletoft (31/12/2011)
  • My great grandfather was William Warner who lived in West Hill house. We are filling in the family tree and are trying to find who the house passed to after his death and also when the house was demolished. An entry on here from Tom Shead says that Nurse Shawcoft and family lived there but not sure if they bought house from William. Any info would be great.

    By Sam Burden (28/12/2011)
  • Old maps and directories are a good source for discovering where places were, these can be found in the Local Studies sections of Mansfield, and Mansfield Woodhouse Libraries. Nottinghamshire Archives Office also has some maps, and additionally try looking for old maps on the internet.

    By Editorial Team (05/12/2011)
  • I am interested to know where Jaylots Buildings were, I think it’s Coke St Mansfield WoodHouse, can anyone confirm this please?

    By Adrian Clarke (04/12/2011)
  • Would love to see old photographs of the Sherwood, Coke, Fletcher and Newcastle Street during the mid 1960’s and 1970’s prior to the first generation

    By Paul Mason (12/11/2011)
  • re Judith Bonser’s entry about the Daws family! On http://www.picturethepast/org.uk there is a photo of the Daws family standing at the front door. The houses look like the terraced houses opposite the old Tivoli Cinema on Station St. You will have to wade through the pages and find . NCCW001310 The person who put the snap on the site is a local Lady and may be able to give you more info if that is the family you are looking for.

    By Tom Shead (23/08/2011)
  • I have just found your page – I am researching my husbands relatives who came from Manfield Woodhouse. His paternal grandmother’s family lived at 22 Station Street family name was Daws (1911 census). His parternal grandfather’s family lived in two places Common Lane (1901 census) and 1 Kersham Terrace (1911 census). If anyone has any information about either of these families or photo’s of the streets I would be most grateful to receive them. Judith Bonser 2/8/2011

    By judith bonser (02/08/2011)
  • Brown Avenue was named after my grandfather, John Henry Brown who was Chairman of Mansfield Woodhouse UDC at the time the estate was built.

    By Stuart Brown (29/04/2011)
  • ref. enquiry of Phil Cox, dated 11/10/2010. Nookend, this is the area at the bottom of High St. now called Albert Square, MW The street now called Albert St. was Taylors Lane, the reason it being named after Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert. There is a DVD of Mansfield Woodhouse and mentions Nookend. Old Street maps of about pre 1870 also show the area as Nookend. Hope this is useful. Tom Shead.

    By Tom Shead (24/04/2011)
  • My Uncle – William Laughton – who is still hale and hearty, was born and brought up at Laughtons Nurseries, Mansfield Woodhouse, with his parents and 6 sisters. He is now the only living sibling. He worked well into his seventies before he retired from his horticultural business. Anybody remember him or his sisters? Mary had a flower shop in the town.

    By Carole Clark (13/04/2011)
  • Does anyone know why 50 Vale Road (18 Common Lane) is called Hope House?

    By andrew snowden (01/04/2011)
  • Looking for the Neale family John Neale owned the mill? Charles lived at Cross Hill 1841 and was steward to Duke of Portland ? any details please

    By delphine brown nee neale (23/02/2011)
  • At last! some proof that Cox’s Lane was indeed named after my Great x 3 Grandfather Joseph Cox. Thank you SO much! I have been asking this question for a number of years, as senior family members had always rumoured that this was the case. Does ayone have any images of Grasscroft Cottage or the area that I could borrow please? I am also looking for details regarding Nookend. This is where Josph’s son (also called Joseph) moved to after some years as a tennant of Grasscroft Cottage. Thankyou once again.

    By Phil Cox (10/10/2010)
  • As a baby I lived in Tollbar House, Chesterfield Road but despite trying for a very long time I can find no picture of it. It figures on the 1911 Census and one of the Hinchcliffe Family living there was killed in WWI. Can anyone help with anything on this house which, if memory serves me correctly, was very close to a quarry.

    By Tony Lyons (03/10/2010)
  • ref. Quarry Houses!! I have discovered an 1899 Ordnance Map of Woodhouse, which is in the MW Local History Group book compiled in the 1980s and published by the WEA. The group was led by Syd Mintey and mentions Con Seager, local historian, George Parmenter etc. The houses are inside the Parliament Quarry perimeter behind where Limestone Terrace is now built so presumably were provided for the Quarry Staff. There are more interesting maps of various date but the one I find interesting is the location of the 3 poor houses in the Whinney Hill area. One on Outgang Lane, another opposite Leas Rd. junction and 3 buildings on Leeming Lane opposite Peafield Lane junction. I presume these could now be under the A60 road after 100 years of Road widening. There was to be a second book published in 1989 to take the History upto 1935 but I have asked the Library and they cannot find any reference. Tom Shead

    By Tom Shead (13/09/2010)
  • My Comment is not about this page, but I am hoping someone out there can help me. I am tring to obtain any photos of Thoresby Road, and Yorke Street school both in Mansfield Woodhouse. Can anyone help?

    Many thanks, David

    By David (06/04/2010)
  • Following on the subject of Woodhouse Streets I checked the 1841 transcription census and made the following observations. The village consisted of 3 main roads, East/West, the arteries of transport. Town Street, where the majority of the population lived in the village was an eye opener. Starting from Priory Square and finishing at Albert Square [Nook End] I have found that the bulk of the people lived on the North Side of Village, on the left side of Town Street. This is the list, OLIVER’S YARD, BOOTH’S BUILDING,BENTLEY’S BUILDING,MARRIOTS YARD,SHIPPAMS YARD,BOOTHS ROW,WEBSTER’S BUILDINGS,CLARKE’S YARD, DOG LANE,HARRISON’S YARD,TATLEY’S BUILDING,PASHLEY’S YARD,BURGOINE ROW, HORNBY’S YARD, EYRES BUILDING, SCOTLAND SQUARE,PLEASANT PLACE, MEADOW HOUSES, CROSSHILL YARD,PORTLAND ROW, POGMORE’S YARD, STEAM MILL HOUSES ,WOODS ROW, BROOKE YARD, CROOK YARD, HARVEY’S YARD, SLATER’S YARD, BROTHHURLS YARD, HOUSLEY’S YARD, BRIGHTMORE’S YARD, BLATHERWICK’S YARD, HEATH YARD,BROOKES YARD, HARRISON’S COURT, COKES ROW. The land between Priory Square and the present Portland Street length and Priory/Welbeck Road appears to be for the well off residents of Priory, Grange, Manor House and Bush House enjoying space while the residents of the Yards and Courts of the remaining population are living in cramped conditions. Does this tell you something? Away from the disease areas. John Wilkinson, Architect is living at the Old Hall. Walker, Head of Rural Polce is living at Woodhouse Place The Stanleys at the Bluecoat School. Peter Richard, Constable living at Quarry House. Peafield Toll Bar, Thomas Clayton. The White Swan was on the census and the publican was Thos Mason. There was an article in the Warbler a few years ago about a House on the corner of Grove St and Swan Lane which had an inscription above the doorway stating it was the Police Station, could this be Quarry House? The route of the census taker appears to be very spasmodic and I thought it was on Common Lane but there were few houses in that area in 1841. The above are from the 1841 census. West Hill House on the 1891 and 1901 census was the home of William Warner, factory owner of Warners Factory on Grove St. Nurse Shawcoft and family lived there until it’s demolition to build the bungalows on the present site. On the Sanderson 1835 map there is Rough Lane, an extension of the now Grove St. and Station Hill which led to Debdale Hall Farm and the Hall, but closed when the Pit Tip commenced. Roy Waggot told me there was the remains of a level crossing gate for access to Hall Farm untill the tip closed it off. Hope it is of interest. Tom Shead

    By Tom Shead (10/03/2010)
  • Street Names!! I was led to believe Yorke St. was named after the Duchess of Portland, nee Winifred Ann Dallas-Yorke. I remember her coming to Yorke St. School on the odd occasion, I have read she was the first President of the RSPB. When surfing thro the Woodhus census transcriptions I have found the following , Limestone Terrace, built 1899, between Vale Road and Park St. Mafeking Terrace, built 1900 Ladysmith Terrace, built 1900, last 2 at the top of Park St. Bennett Terrace, no date LH side of Vale Road. Scarcliffe Terrace, built 1896, RH side of Vale Road. Kilburn Terrace, built 1888, Glenleigh Terrace, built 1896, Blenheim Terrace, we all know that one. Argyll Terrace, built 1895, note spelling, Vallance St. Sherwood Terrace, built 1894 Lindon Terrace 1891. These names are obviously on the 1901 Woodhus census. I mentioned in an earlier submission about Quarry House, I have not found its location but the Village Policeman was living there. May have been knocked down during the clearance of 1920+. Tom Shead. ,

    By Tom Shead (03/03/2010)

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