Lucy Wood reports…
A PLAQUE marking the site of a hostelry that played a part in the origins of the Chesterfield Canal has been unveiled.
The canal has been central to the town’s life for 250 years since it opened in the 1700s – but it almost was not to be. The original route of the canal was to go from Chesterfield to Bawtry, then a major port on the River Idle. However, strong lobbying by the people of Retford, led by the Rev Seth Ellis Stevenson, promoted a change to bypass Bawtry and instead go through Retford and from there to the River Trent.
On January 25, 1770, James Brindley, the canal’s engineer, announced at a meeting in the Crown Inn that he was now recommending the Retford route. It is this meeting that is celebrated on the blue plaque, which was formally unveiled by the Mayor of Retford, Coun David Naylor, as part of the town’s Heritage Day events.
The canal opened fully in 1777, but it got as far as Retford in November 1774. The first boat to arrive was the cause of much celebration and a hogshead (54 gallons) of ale was given to the residents.
During the 1770s, the Crown was the town’s principal inn and was used for a wide range of business and administrative purposes. The Chesterfield Canal Company frequently met there.
Over the years it has seen many changes, including becoming a building society. As a drinking establishment it has had many names including the Crown, the Crown Hotel, the Litten Tree and most recently Yates’s. Yates’s closed in January 2017 and the building sat empty until recently being turned into flats, the developer of which was pleased to host the plaque.
Retford Civic Society and the Chesterfield Canal Trust worked together to have the plaque made and installed, while Couns Dan Henderson and John Manners covered the cost from their respective Community Funds.
Rod Auton, secretary of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We are delighted to be unveiling this blue plaque. It is very fitting that this happened on Retford Heritage Day because the canal has been a feature of life in Retford for 250 years.
“We are very grateful to Retford Civic Society for arranging everything, to Garnet Harrison for allowing the plaque to be placed on his building, and to Couns Henderson and Manners for covering the cost.”
