Traversed by the Chesterfield Canal, Retford was chartered in 1105, making it one of the oldest market towns in England. It has long been known as a centre for Nonconformism and once was considered a “rotten” borough due to the rife political corruption reported here before the 1832 Reform Act.
Things to do in Retford
While exploring Retford, keep an eye out for St. Swithun’s Church, a Grade II-listed building that was originally founded in 1258 and has been rebuilt several times since. It’s renowned for its magnificent organ, Victorian stained-glass windows and bells cast by John Taylor & Co., which occupy the church’s battlemented tower.
Occupying Amcott House is the Bassetlaw Museum, which explores the fascinating history of North Nottinghamshire. Admire negatives captured by photographer Edgar Welchman and see a traditional Anglo-Saxon log boat, as well as costumes and textiles produced in the region. In the Pilgrims Gallery is a recreation of William Brewster’s Study, which was opened to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage.
A short drive north of Retford is the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, a protected wetland that has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Its lakes were created over 70 years of gravel extraction and now provide a habitat for waterfowl and beavers. At the visitor’s centre, you can learn about the wintering gadwalls, shovelers and tufted ducks that can be observed in the reserve, alongside wigeons and pochards.
Getting around Retford
Retford is around 45 minutes’ drive from Sheffield and an hour from Leeds. Leeds Bradford Airport is 1.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across Europe while Doncaster Sheffield Airport is 25 minutes away. Regular trains connect to the Retford railway station and the town is small enough to explore on foot.