Old Village Lock-ups
Tuxford Lockup
Date of construction is somewhat clear
Mansfield Woodhouse lockup in 2011
Ralph Lloyd-Jones
Lock-ups in Nottinghamshire
By Roy Pledger
The long arm of the law stretches back to time immemorial - even in Roman and Saxon times there has always been a police type of law enforcement. Moving on to the 18th and 19th centuries, the law in rural areas was enforced by the village Constable, an upstanding member of the community who was tasked with enforcing it as best he could. If he needed to detain an offender he would have to use his own house or some secure building in the village. Eventually many villages constructed a small 'lock-up', often called a 'roundhouse' as a temporary place of detention. Most of these interesting little buildings fell into disuse following the County Police Act 1839 and have now disappeared. I believe that there are still something like 150 remaining in the country and indeed 3 or 4 of them in Nottinghamshire. There is a good example at Tuxford which dates to 1823. Edwinstowe and Farnsfield also appear on my list (please see below) but I have been unable to find any information about them. I am currently making an effort to collate such information as is available and I would be grateful to receive such, together with any photograph, old or new. Roy.
Please click the places below for links to their lock-ups
Edwinstowe Farnsfield Mansfield Woodhouse Tuxford