An Exploration of Mansfield - Part 2

The Mansfield coat of arms

Continuing my exploration of Mansfield, at the end of West Gate I was very surprised to see its very large market square – bigger than any that I can recall seeing in Britain – which is lined with numerous historic buildings constructed in White Mansfield stone. 

A general view of Market Place

On market day, the numerous canopies and marquees tend to detract from the architectural quality and the magnificent Bentinck Memorial at its centre; however, there is still a distinct feel of a once very prosperous town, although coal mining and other manufacturing industries upon which Mansfield relied have now disappeared, leaving a high unemployment rate. 

The pediment frieze on the Moot Hall

The old Moot Hall, dated 1752, occupies the north corner and although parts have been remodelled in the C20, including the replacement of the columns on which it was once set, it still retains its ornate pediment frieze. 

A general view of 1 Market Place

On the corner of Market Place and Church Street stands a late C19 former bank, now a public house, which is in the Baroque Revival style. Rising from a dark grey Rubislaw granite plinth, there are Doric half columns and rusticated masonry is extensively used on the ground and first floors with a copper roofed dome on the corner. 

23A Market Place

Although not listed, the HSBC bank on the corner with Leeming Street has the Mansfield coat of arms on its Market Place elevation and another old bank at 23A Market Place has windows on the first floor that have alternating voussoirs in red and white Mansfield stone. 

Views of the Bentinck Memorial

The Bentinck Memorial seemed to be a meeting place for various undesirable characters, as I had encountered at the monuments in Manchester and, stopping only to take a few quick photos, I carried on to the south-west side of Market Place, where I encountered the old Court House, now also converted into a public house. 

The Court House

Next to this is the Old Town Hall, built in 1836 in the Greek Revival style with a portico that contains distinctly tapering columns and triglyphs on the frieze above. The ground floor is rusticated and there is a raised parapet with a clock face on scrolls.

The Old Town Hall

Leaving Market Place, I then headed off towards Mansfield Bus Station, where I encountered yet another pub that was formerly a bank, c.1900, which was scaffolded and I then got my first close up view of the railway viaduct that crosses the eastern part of the old town.

A view of the railway viaduct from Albert Street