Thorpe (St. Lawrence)
THORPE (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the union of Southwell, S. division of the wapentake of Newark and of the county of Nottingham, 3 miles (S. W.) from Newark; containing 108 inhabitants. The parish is situated about half a mile east of the river Trent, and of the old Fosse road from Nottingham to Newark; and comprises by computation 698a. 2r. Building-stone is quarried. A few hands are employed in making lace for the Nottingham houses. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £8, and in the patronage of the Crown: the tithes have been commuted for £209, and the glebe contains 40 acres. The church exhibits portions in the several styles of English architecture; the tower was formerly surmounted with a steeple. A fine tessellated pavement, some coins, and other Roman relics, have been discovered. On a small mound in a field adjoining the turnpike-road Henry VII. is said to have erected his standard, on the 6th of June, 1487, the day upon which he fought the battle of Stoke Field with the Earl of Lincoln.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.