Blidworth

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.0980
longitude= -1.1165
map_type = Nottinghamshire
official_name= Blidworth
population = 4,355
shire_district= Newark and Sherwood & Mansfield
shire_county = Nottinghamshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster = Mansfield
post_town= Mansfield
postcode_district = NG21
postcode_area= NG
dial_code= 01623
os_grid_reference= SK592560

Blidworth is a small village approximately five miles east of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Its history can be traced back to the 14th century, although many of the current houses were built in the first half of the 20th century to provide housing for workers at Blidworth Colliery (1926-1989).

Robin Hood Links

According to legend, Will Scarlet is buried in the churchyard of the Church of St. Mary of the Purification. An unmarked grave stands near the iron gates of the churchyard, formed from the original apex of the church tower and other assorted stones, and is generally attributed to the outlaw. As outlaws were not generally buried in churchyards, though, it is more likely that, if he existed, Will Scarlet was buried in one of the much older graves to be found on the same hillside within the boundaries of Sherwood Forest.

Other local legends suggest that Blidworth was the birthplace of Maid Marian, although there is little or no evidence to support these claims.

The Druid Stone

On the outskirts of the village of Blidworth lies a stone known locally as the Druid Stone (Grid Reference: SK5787-558), a pillar of cemented glacial gravel standing on a base of the Nottingham Castle rock formation (Bunter Pebble Beds). This monumental object is 14ft high, 84ft around the base and has a hollow centre large enough for a man to pass through.

Though known as the Druid Stone there is no evidence to suggest that it has ever been used by Druids, it is a naturally forming outcrop.

Church of St. Mary of the Purification

See Church of St. Mary of the Purification, Blidworth.

Blidworth Welfare Football Club

Blidworth Welfare were formed in 1926. They have played in the Central Midlands Football League and the Northern Counties East Football League.

In 1982, they changed their name from Folk House Old Boys F.C. to their present name.

Also see, Wikipedia Page on Blidworth Welfare F.C.

Blidworth Mill

This Subscription Mill was built c. 1816 as a three-storey brick tower windmill. With 3 pairs of millstones, it was working in 1892 but was dismantled some time during the First World War. It had 4 double patent sails, an ogee cap and an 8-bladed fantail. Millers listed as working the mill include Foster (1842), Edmund Clark (1864 [Kelly's Directory, 1864.] and Thomas Penford (1904).The tower still stands to a height of 26 feet on the west of the village (gbmapping|SK585557) [Shaw, T. (1995). "Windmills of Nottinghamshire". Page 8.Nottingham: Nottinghamshire County Council. ISBN 0-900986-12-3] .

One of the post windmills from Nottingham Forest clarifyme|date=September 2008 was moved to Blidworth in the 1850s, and was later moved to Hemsworth. A post windmill at Windmill Close, between Mount Pleasant and Belle Vue Lane was recorded in 1842; the owner was John Need and the tenant miller Thomas Blatherwick. A post windmill in Mill Croft, behind the Wesleyan Chapel, was worked by miller William Holloway in 1864. It was demolished c. 1878.

References