Image ID: 26939

Mansfield Market Place

Market Place
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
England

View of the market place with Church St and railway viaduct on the left hand side of the square. The image is taken from a photograph album which was presented to Mr. and Mrs. White of the Swan Hotel, Mansfield by John Bayliss of Westminster; 'in testimony of their great kindness and attention to him, during the construction of the Mansfield Southwell railway. November 1871' At the centre of the Market Place is the Bentinck Memorial which was built in 1849 in memory of Lord George Bentinck, the younger son of the fourth Duke of Portland. He was an MP for many years and well known for his friendship with Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. White sandstone was extracted locally to build Mansfield Town Hall in 1835. It was built by the Town Hall Company and the foundation stone was laid on 21st july before a crowd of 5,000. It served as a corn exchange in the portico, a reading room and library, Improvement Commissioners offices and an assembly Room. Behind the main building were caretaker's and town constables homes and a lock up with 10 cells. A market hall also extended to Queen Street. It had a gas illuminated clock fitted in 1837. One of Mansfield's shopping attractions is the market, which carries on a 700 year old tradition. Mansfield's market charter was first granted by King Henry III in 1227. It was originally held on Mondays, but from 1329 it was held on Thursdays. Prior to 1823 it was located at the bottom of Leeming Street near St Peter's Church. Under the Mansfield Improvement Act of 1823, the present Market Place was constructed between 1823-39 and the Market opened at its present site in 1840.

Date: c 1871

Organisation Reference: NCCW001345

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