Retford, West (St. Michael)

RETFORD, WEST (St. Michael), a parish, in the union of East Retford, Hatfield division of the wapentake of Bassetlaw, N. division of the county of Nottingham, ¼ of a mile (W.) from East Retford; containing 618 inhabitants. The parish is separated from East Retford by the river Idle, and intersected by the Chesterfield canal. It comprises 953 acres. The old Hall was the residence of the family of Denman, from which, by intermarriage, descended Anne, consort of James II. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £9. 13. 4.; net income, £364; patron, J. Hood, Esq.: the tithes were commuted for land and a money payment in 1774. The church is a small edifice, with a tower and elegant crocketed spire. An hospital dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was founded in 1664, by Dr. John Darrell, and endowed for a master and sixteen brethren; part of the original building stood, with some modern additions, until 1832, when the whole was taken down, and the first stone of a new edifice laid on July 5th. The income of the hospital is upwards of £1000 a year.