Street Names of Retford

The stories behind some of Retford's streets

The main source of information are articles written by the Rev. W.P. McFarren, in the Retford Times during 1947

NB This is ongoing research, so if anyone can help with more information, please leave a 'Comment' via the link at the bottom of the page. Thank you

Albert Road

Alma Road - formerly Baulk Field

Artillery Road

Baulk Field - now Alma Road

Bridgegate - Earliest mention found as far back as 1340 (spelt ‘Briggate’).  Scandinavian in origin, suggesting at a very early date a bridge had been erected to span the ford that gives Retford its name.  Piercy tells us that in 1792 the bridge was in such a weakened state that it had to be taken down and the present one built.

Caledonian Road - formerly Pottery lane

Carolgate - the name comes from “Karlagate”, the Karls’ lane or road.  A Karl or Carl was a freeman, a Dane or Scandinavian, most probably a soldier, given land for settlement .  Karlagate probably originally ran through the outlying marshy land on which the Karls had been settled.  In its early days as a town street Carolgate ended near the corner of Exchange Street and became a lane which forked at the  Anchor Inn corner where it bore left down Thrumpton Lane (until the canal was dug), the fork becoming Farmers Lane which ran along the edge of Far Common to Whitehouses. 

Chancery Lane - formerly West Carr Lane

Farmers Lane - see Carolgate

Grove street - formerly Newgate

Hildgeat - now Lidgett Lane

Kynegesgate (Kingsgate) - now lost

Lidgett Lane - One of Retford’s oldest and most interesting street names.  It was originally “Hildgeat”, the “g” being soft, with “geat” meaning gate.  A Hildgeat was a clapgate, and one such gave its name to the lane.  This name has given rise to surnames all over England, and it is interesting to find that an investigation at Retford in 1297, evidence was given by one Richard Atteliddyate (at the clap gate), while in the following year Isabella Atteliddyate gave evidence in court of escheats at west bridgford.

Meeting House Lane - changed to Spa Lane

Moorgate - The name comes from “Mor”, and Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘a marsh’.  The word has narrowed its connotation, but its original meaning survives in the word “morass”.Across Moorgate runs the brook from Grove, commonly called the Beck, which divides the parish of East Retford from Clarborough.  This brook used to flood annually.  The soil here is largely clay, and Moorgate was well called the “morgata” - the miry street.

Newgate - changed to Grove Street

Pottery Lane - now Caledonian Road

Pump Lane (off Albert Road)

Sand Hole Lane

Spa Lane - formerly Meeting House Lane

West Carr Lane - now Chancery lane