Welcome to Retford

Retford is located on the River Idle, in the county of Nottinghamshire, approximately 148 miles north of London and 8 miles east of Worksop.

The town has a population of around 21,000. Administratively it is within the local government district of Bassetlaw which covers an area of approximately 638 sq kms and which has a population of around 109,000.

It is an ancient market town in the north of the county, with the two parts of the town, East and West Retford, established on opposite banks of the river connected by a bridge. Despite its antiquity much of the architecture dates from the 19th-century, although there are some notable earlier buildings including the 16th-century grammar school. The Dukeries, a popular area of great parks and woodland, lies just to the south-west.

The town received its charter from Henry III in 1246, which included the right to hold a fair. In 1275 Edward I granted a further right to hold a Saturday Market; this continues today. Retford was largely destroyed by fire in 1528. The town played a remarkable part in the story of the Piligrim Fathers who fled to America in 1620 following persecution for their religious beliefs. Retford began to prosper after 1766 when the Great North Road was diverted to run through the town, followed by the Chesterfield Canal in 1777. In 1849 the London to York railway was routed through the town.

Historically the town's economy was based upon manufacturing industry including iron foundries and papermills. Today the service industry is the largest sector of the local economy, employing 60% of all workers.

Retford gets its name from an ancient ford crossing over the River Idle which bisects the town, near to where the current bridge on Bridgegate lies. When in use, the red clay upon which the river flowed would become disturbed, and the passing of livestock coloured the water red. Thus Retford first became known as 'red ford'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is written as 'Redforde'. Later it is referred to as 'Este Reddfurthe' and later still 'Est Redeford'.