Council: Bassetlaw
Population: 39,072
Phone Code: 01909
Postcode Area: S80/S81
County: Nottinghamshire
Twin Towns: Garbsen, Germany
Worksop is a thriving market town located at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Believed to have been in existence since Anglo Saxon times, the town is aptly dubbed the ‘gateway to the Dukeries’ referring to the great number of ducal country estates which lie close by.
This influence is even reflected in the town centre where coloured stone is set into the paving on the pedestrian streets, depicting the local heraldic crests. There is also a paved maze featuring a heraldic lion and unicorn, giving the town a sense of real historical character.
Today Worksop is home to over 40,000 people and the town, whilst retaining its historic charm has developed to serve the needs of the local community and the many visitors to its picturesque surroundings. Worksop is a bustling market town, which hosts regular open-air markets including a monthly farmers’ market and other popular events such Continental Markets. The town’s retail offers an exciting mixture of both high street names such as Boots, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, New Look, Claire’s Accessories and Matalan, together with numerous small niche and specialist shops. The Priory Shopping centre, located at the northern end of Bridge Street is for many the main focus of retail activity with key names such as WH Smiths, Woolworths, Wilkinson’s, Peacocks and Evans. It is also at the centre of the future development of the town, and through the work being undertaken by the Worksop Renaissance Partnership will play an important role in attracting new business and retail to the town centre.
However there is much more to Worksop than shopping. Whether you are an occasional visitor or a local resident, Worksop and its nearby surroundings have variety of interesting attractions to satisfy everyone’s taste. These include the Worksop Priory Church founded in 1103 and the Chesterfield Canal which, completed in 1777, cuts through the heart of the town centre connecting it to the east with the River Trent. If nostalgia is your thing, Mr Straw’s House, a National Trust property which unchanged for the past 60 years offers a true glimpse into the past. There is also the award winning Harley Gallery situated in the Welbeck Estate on the outskirts of Worksop that has earned national recognition for excellence and innovation with its unique mix of contemporary exhibitions, craft shop and museum. If it’s the great outdoors that you are after the limestone gorge honeycombed with caves at Cresswell Crags tells a fascinating story of life 50,000 years ago during the last Ice Age and the 3,800 acres of parkland, farmland and woods of the National Trust’s Clumber Park are both only a stones throw away.
Today Worksop is home to over 40,000 people and the town, whilst retaining its historic charm has developed to serve the needs of the local community and the many visitors to its picturesque surroundings. Worksop is a bustling market town, which hosts regular open-air markets including a monthly farmers’ market and other popular events such Continental Markets. The town’s retail offers an exciting mixture of both high street names such as Boots, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, New Look, Claire’s Accessories and Matalan, together with numerous small niche and specialist shops. The Priory Shopping centre, located at the northern end of Bridge Street is for many the main focus of retail activity with key names such as WH Smiths, Woolworths, Wilkinson’s, Peacocks and Evans. It is also at the centre of the future development of the town, and through the work being undertaken by the Worksop Renaissance Partnership will play an important role in attracting new business and retail to the town centre.
However there is much more to Worksop than shopping. Whether you are an occasional visitor or a local resident, Worksop and its nearby surroundings have variety of interesting attractions to satisfy everyone’s taste. These include the Worksop Priory Church founded in 1103 and the Chesterfield Canal which, completed in 1777, cuts through the heart of the town centre connecting it to the east with the River Trent. If nostalgia is your thing, Mr Straw’s House, a National Trust property which unchanged for the past 60 years offers a true glimpse into the past. There is also the award winning Harley Gallery situated in the Welbeck Estate on the outskirts of Worksop that has earned national recognition for excellence and innovation with its unique mix of contemporary exhibitions, craft shop and museum. If it’s the great outdoors that you are after the limestone gorge honeycombed with caves at Cresswell Crags tells a fascinating story of life 50,000 years ago during the last Ice Age and the 3,800 acres of parkland, farmland and woods of the National Trust’s Clumber Park are both only a stones throw away.
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in Bassetlaw and it is situated on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about 19 miles [31 km] east-south-east of Sheffield and its population is estimated (mid-2004) to be 39,800. It is twinned with the German towns of Garbsen and Pfunstadt, Aurillac in France and Farmers Branch in the USA
Worksop is known as the "Gateway to the Dukeries", because what used to be four ducal seats are located close to one another south of the town. These ducal seats were:
- Clumber House: principal seat of the dukes of Newcastle (demolished in the 1930s, but the large Victorian Chapel survives)
- Thoresby Hall: principal seat of the dukes of Kingston and later of the Earls Manvers of the same family (now a country house hotel)
- Welbeck Abbey: principal seat of the dukes of Portland (still owned by the family)
- Worksop Manor: a seat of the dukes of Norfolk (sold to the Duke of Newcastle in 1839)
The Domesday Book of 1086 provides evidence that Worksop existed before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
After the conquest, at around 1103, a castle and priory were established in Worksop. Today, the surviving part of the Priory consists of the nave, western front and twin towers, which date from the second half of the 12th century. Worksop eventually grew into a market town and it was granted a Royal Charter in 1296.
The development of Worksop from an agricultural centre was boosted by the building of the Chesterfield Canal (completed in 1777), which attracted trade, commerce and people into the area. This was further enhanced by the arrival of the Great Central Railway in 1849, and by industries, particularly coal mining
The Worksop area is becoming increasingly popular with commuters owing to its relative proximity to Sheffield, Lincoln and Nottingham.
Welbeck Estate launched the School of Artisan Food who are an independent not-for-profit organisation and they exist to teach all aspects of artisan food production. It offers a unique opportunity for people of all skill levels to expand their knowledge through demonstrations, short courses, and a Degree in Artisan Food.
Last Updated - 25/07/2011
I also went to the library and took out some books about Worksop and the local area.
Ninety Years of Cinema in Worksop
Amateur Theatre in Nottinghamshire
Worksop Woman at Work Rest and Play
Some more books I have got from family members are:
Mr Straw's House
The Worksop Archaeological and Local and Local Historical Society
I found these tucked inside the Mr Straw's book
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