Retford

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Template:Infobox England place with map Retford is a market town in northeastern Nottinghamshire, England in the district of Bassetlaw.

It gets its name from an ancient ford crossing of the River Idle at this point. The first land settled was on the western side of the ford – this area being less liable to flooding – but as the community grew it spread to occupy land on the other bank of the river, and it was this eastern part of the town that eventually became more important; hence Retford's alternative (and, for administrative purposes, still official) name of East Retford.

Retford gained its first charter in 1246, when Henry III granted the right for a fair, this was later extended to holding a Saturday Market by Edward I in 1275. It was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and then remained a municipal borough until 1974 when it was merged into Bassetlaw district. Its civic traditions are maintained by Charter Trustees.

Retford was largely destroyed by a fire in 1528, but prospered after the Great North Road was diverted to run through the town in 1766 and the Chesterfield Canal (1777) and the direct London to York railway (1849) were both routed via the borough.

In the Market Square there is an ornate French-inspired Victorian Town Hall, in front of which is a broad stone. Legend says that this stone had a hollow in it that used to be filled with vinegar during plague times to disinfect coins.

Just across from the Market Square is Cannon Square which has St Swithun's Church and a cannon captured from the Russians during the Battle of Sebastopol at the end of the Crimean War in 1855. The Victoria Cross is made from another cannon captured during the same battle.

Retford also features a skate park.

See also

• Retford railway station
• Retford Exists (unofficial website)
• The Newcastle Arms, a local pub, hotel and live music venue