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Ollerton

During the eighteenth and the early part of the nineteenth centuries, when travelling about the country was almost exclusively done by means of post-horses or mail-coaches, Ollerton, lying on one of the main roads, had a share in the prosperous business, as the two important houses of entertainment still bear witness. But with the institution of railways all this was changed, although within about fifty years " The Hop Pole " still retained many of its characteristics as a roadside coaching-house.

Just a few yards from the very busy intersection of roads to and from Sheffield, Nottingham, Newark, Worksop and Doncaster lies the pretty village of Ollerton. The presence of two substantial coaching inns for so small a place indicates that it was at one time an important stage for mail and passenger coaches. With the coming of the railways, the importance of these inns declined though they have now come into their own again.

The Parish Church of St. Giles dates only from 1813 and contains stained glass windows designed by C. G. Savile Foljambe, a local Victorian country gentleman who was a talented amateur. The Markhams were the squires here until 1743 when this branch became extinct in the male line. They were chronicled by one of their own, Canon David Markham, in his History of the Markhams and they lived at Ollerton House which later became the property of the Savile-Foljambes, afterwards Barons and Viscounts Hawkesbury and Earls of Liverpool.

The Dukeries and Sherwood Forest

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