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Marnham

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"Marnham contains 2,800 acres of land, including the Holme, which is divided into Cowgates. It comprises the hamlets of Ferry Marnham, Church Marnham, distant 5 miles east by south of Tuxford, and 256 inhabitants. Earl Brownlow is the principal owner and lord of the manor of Marnham, which was of the fee of Roger de Busli at the time of the Domesday. Afterwards, William de Kewles became lord of these manors, from whom they passed to the Chaworths. Thomas de Chaworth obtained, 34 Henry III, a market and fair on the decolation of St John the Baptist. Afterwards Elizabeth, the daughter and heiress of Sir George Chaworth, carried them by marriage to Sir Anthony Cope, knight.
The Hall, which stood betwixt the two villages, was the property of the Cartwrights, but sold and taken down about 60 years ago, before the death of the late patriotic Major Cartwright, who was born in it, and had many very extensive estates in this neighbourhood. A large fair is held here on September 12th, for horses, horned cattle and merchandise. One of the Chaworths, in the reign of John, granted to the monks of Radford, "free passage for themselves, their servants, and their carriages, in his ferry-boat here". The ferry is at the north village, and crosses the Trent to South Clifton.
The church is a small fabric, with a tower and three bells, dedicated to St. Wilfred."
[WHITE's "Directory of Nottinghamshire," 1853]

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Archives & Libraries

The Library at East Retford will prove useful in your research.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Tuxford sub-district of the East Retford Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 866
1861R.G. 9 / 2417
1871R.G. 10 / 3456
1881R.G. 11 / 3304
1891R.G. 12 / 2642
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Wilfred (spelling variations abound!).
     
  • The church has been roughly dated to the 13th century.
     
  • The church nave was restored in 1848.
     
  • The church is no longer in use for regular services. It closed around 1986.
     
  • The church is a Grade I listed building with British Heritage and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of St. Wilfrid's Church on Geo-graph, taken in December 2005.
     
  • J. HANNAN-BRIGGS has a photograph of the Church Chancel on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2016.
     
  • Brian WESTLAKE has a photograph of the Church tower on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2016.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1601, as does the Bishop's Transcript.
     
  • The parish was in the rural deanery of Collingham.
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Tuxford sub-district of the East Retford Registration District.
     
  • Civil Registration started in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

Marnham is a village and a parish containing three townships: Ferry Marnham, Church Marnham, Skegby and Grassthorpe. The parish lies just west of the River Trent, 5 miles north of Carlton-on-Trent, 12 miles south-east of East Retford and 130 miles north of the city of London. The parish covers 2,970 acres.

If you are planning a visit:

  • The A1 motorway used to run through the village but a modern bypass now skirts the place. The A57 passes just north of the parish.
     
  • Steven FAREHAM has a photograph of the Village sign entering Marnham on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2009. They could use your artistic talents to create a new, more expressive, sign.
     
  • Steven FAREHAM also has a photograph of Marnham Lake, which stands between Low and High Marnham, on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2009. The lake is somewhat seasonal.
     
You can see pictures of Marnham which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK806694 (Lat/Lon: 53.215555, -0.794441), Marnham which are provided by:

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Military History

The Great War Bulletin for November 30th, 1914 tells us that Grassthorpe’s hero Charles WHATE arrived home on furlough last Tuesday – after playing a hand in the first capture of Germany guns in the war. The guns were exhibited in the War Office in London as the first "trophies" of World War One.

The Great War Bulletin for December 7, 1914 tells us that two men of Grassthorpe township, John and George SEELS, farmers, had been appointed as "Special Constables" to assist the police force in the event of a German invasion.

The war memorial is on the south wall beside the entrance to the church and is a marble tablet. The dedication reads: 'To the Glory of God and in sacred and grateful memory of (names). Made the supreme sacrifice for their King & country in the Great War 1914-1918.'

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Military Records

The names listed on the War Memorial are:

  • private Ernest WALSHAM, 2/8 Btln., Sherwood Foresters
  • midshipman Charles Archibald Rees WILLIAMS, HMS King George V
  • private Horatio William WOOLLEY, Royal Marine Light Infantry
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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient parish of Nottinghamshire and became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
     
  • The parish was in the North Clay division of the ancient Thurgarton Wapentake in the southern division of the county.
     
  • In March, 1885, this Civil Parish was reduced in size to enlarge South Clifton Civil Parish.
     
  • In April, 1935, this Civil Parish was enlarged by 137 acres from Normanton on Trent Civil Parish.
     
  • The parish has joined with Normanton-on-Trent to have a joint Parish Council.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Bassetlaw District Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Newark petty session hearings.
     
  • After the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, this parish became a part of the East Retford Poor Law Union.
     
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Population

 YearMarnhamGrassthorpe
1801192-
181122993
185124083
187123169
188119675
190115850
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Schools

  • A National School was built here in 1842 by Earl Brownlow.