Edwinstowe

Edwinstowe is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England, on the edge of Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries. It is associated with the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, and to a lesser extent Edwin of Northumbria, from where the village gets its name. The parish population at the 2021 census was 5,320.

Etymology The etymology of the village name, "Edwin's resting place". Edwin of Northumbria, King and Saint, was killed in the Battle of Hatfield Chase against his rival King Penda of Mercia. His body was buried in the forest, by the time his friends came to collect him to take him to be buried in York in 633AD, a small wooden chapel had been erected. This chapel became St Mary's Church which exists today.

History Like Thoresby, Budby and Mansfield, Edwinstowe was part of crown land. Edwinstowe belonged to Edward the Confessor and afterwards became the property of William the Conqueror.White, Robert. Worksop, "The Dukery" and Sherwood Forest, (1875). Retrieved 9 April 2023

Edwinstowe is referred to twice in Domesday Book as having five households, in addition to a priest and his four bordars, in 1086. The village resided in the hundred of Bassetlaw.

Edwinstowe in 1334 being close to Sherwood Forest was subjected to Forest Laws. Vicar John de Ryston of St Mary's Church was convicted of Venison trespass and in 1340 Thomas Fox, vicar, was imprisoned in Nottingham for trespassing in Sherwood Forest.

Legend has it that Robin Hood married Maid Marian in St Mary's Church. A sculpture themed on the pair by Neale Andrew is sited on the High Street close to the library.

Edwinstowe is known for the presence near the village of the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, a feature in the folk tales of Robin Hood, and Robin Hood's Larder. The Major Oak was declared dead in June 2026 by managing authority RSPB.Ancient 'Robin Hood' tree is dead, experts say BBC News, 17 June 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026

By the turn of the 20th century Edwinstowe consisted of a cluster of houses along Town Street, East Lane, Church Street and High Street. A hamlet called Hazel Grove was bordered by Mill Lane and the railway line and a cluster of houses at the top of Rufford Road was another hamlet called Lidgett. Lidgett was the site of a fireworks factory owned by F. Tudsbury and Co. before George Pinder, a local wine, spirit and porter merchant who resided at Lidgett House, took over ownership by 1886. These settlements eventually merged as the result of infills from World War I, much of it housing for colliers and named after the largest area.

Economy

Nottinghamshire County Council's Sherwood Forest Visitors' Centre is located near the village and was redeveloped and improved in 2017 at a cost of £5.3 million. This centre is operated in partnership by the Council and the RSPB.Sherwood Forest Country Park Nottinghamshire County Council, Retrieved 30 December 2015RSPB chosen to build Nottinghamshire's Sherwood Forest visitor centre, BBC News (Nottingham) 12 August 2015, Retrieved 30 December 2015.

Center Parcs' Sherwood Forest holiday village is a local employer established in 1987, close to the edge of the village.Centre Parcs Sherwood Forest Village Retrieved 30 December 2015Centre Parcs history Retrieved 30 December 2015

There was a post windmill south of the Mansfield Road with a small box-style roundhouse. It was driven by two common and two double-patent windmill sails.Earlier photograph. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

Former Industry Thoresby Colliery served as Edwinstowe's main source of employment until July 2015, when the mine was permanently closed and has been demolished. The loss of one of the last remaining deep coal mines in the country has left tourism as the main factor in the local economy. The colliery has now become a large housing development for 800 homes, to make use of the brownfield site.Thoresby Vale The Harworth Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023

Amenities

The two schools in the village are St Mary's Primary School and King Edwin Primary School. The former Rufford School on the north side of the village closed in 2003 and has become residential housing by Barratt Developments, known as Friars Park.Edwinstowe Village News edwinstowe.co.uk, July 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2020151 new homes (Friars Park) southkesteven.gov.uk, July/August 2004. Retrieved 19 January 2020 A skate park on the development proved controversial with concerns over noise and anti-social behaviour.Our concern still remains over skate park Chad, local newspaper, 22 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2020Noise pollution from a controversial village skate park may have to be tackled, a parish council has admitted Chad, local newspaper, 3 June 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2020Edwinstowe Skate Park edwinstowe.co.uk, 16 September 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2020

The village has a business services provider, a St John's Ambulance amenity, an antiques centre, workshops, a fun park, a youth hostel, two arts and crafts centres, a village hall, and a community pest-control centre. Leisure facilities include Thoresby Colliery Band and Youth Band, a high-wire forest adventure course, a mountain biking, cyclo cross and forest walks centre, a forest fun park, and an outdoor adventure park.

Environmental concerns are addressed under the Maun Valley Project Conservation Area.

The old library was re-purposed into a cafe."Coffee shop plans for old library". Chad, 20 July 2016, p.24. Accessed 8 February 2026

Sherwood Pines Forest Park, near to Kings Clipstone has activity walking/cycling trails, play areas and bike hire for the general public. Sherwood Pines is managed by the Forestry Commission. A Go Ape adventure area is on-site too.

Transport Edwinstowe railway station functioned between 1897 and 1955. A goods line remains. The nearest passenger railway stations are at Mansfield Woodhouse and Mansfield, both about from Edwinstowe.Distance calculator Retrieved 26 June 2016.

The village is served by half-hourly daytime Monday–Saturday bus services to Mansfield and Ollerton, six buses a day Monday–Saturday to Worksop, and one bus a day Monday–Friday to Nottingham. Services run twice a week to Newark and once a week to Lincoln.Notts bus times Retrieved 26 June 2016.

Demography + Census population of Edwinstowe parish Census Population Households 2001 4,959 2,118 2011 5,188 2,268 2021 5,320 2,386

Notable people In order of birth: King Edwin of Northumbria (c. 586 – 632/633) gave his name to the village. The legendary Robin Hood is said to have married Maid Marian here. John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (1662–1711), politician and landowner, was born here. Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer (1694–1755), noblewoman and heiress was born here. E. Cobham Brewer (1810–1897), lexicographer, died at the vicarage, where his son-in-law was the vicar. Henry Morley (1852–1924), first-class cricketer, was born and died here. Fred Kitchen (1890–1969), countryside writer and autobiographer, was born here. Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–1972), Poet Laureate and father of Daniel Day-Lewis and Lydia Tamasin Day-Lewis, lived in Edwinstowe when his father, Frank Cecil Day-Lewis, was appointed vicar of St Mary's Church in 1918. Francis Woodhead (1912–1991), first-class cricketer, was born here. Philip Brett (1937–2002), musicologist and conductor, was born here. Brendan Clarke-Smith (born 1980), Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw, was living in the village in December 2019, but now resides in nearby Retford.

Edwinstowe

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