Blidworth

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Blidworth is a small but old village approximately five miles east of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.

The church of St. Mary of the Purification is the only church that is known to continue to hold an annual Rockings Ceremony during which the baby boy, born to parents living in Blidworth, nearest to Christmas Day is “rocked” in an ancient cradle on the Feast of the Purification of Mary.

The list of incumbents goes back to the 14th. Century:

Incumbents of St. Mary of the Purification, Blidworth

Hugh 1337

Thomas Clerke 1470

William Talbot 1485—1498

William Aldworth —1530 d

James Alsebrook 1530—

William Helmsley —1566 d

John Sye 1567—1575

Mr. Creasie 1575—1584

Robert Grace 1584—1587

Henry Elwe 1588—1598

John Collinson 1599—1602

Henry Ellyott 1602—1603

John Hains 1603—1636

James Reade 1636¬—1643 d

John Newton 1643—1649

Thomas Rose 1649—1663 Evicted at the English Restoration

Michael Buxton 1663—1705 d See Memorial perhaps 1716 William Thorpe 1716—1721 d

Thomas Allen 1722—1739 d

Robert Stanley 1740—1783

Seth Stevenson 1783—1794 Also Vicar of Oxton

John T. Beecher 1794—1801 Also Vicar of Oxton

John Hall Clay 1801—1822

C. F. Fenwick 1824—1830 Also Vicar of Oxton

John Downall 1830—1842

Martin Roe 1842—1849 d

John Porter 1850—1864 d

Richard Whitworth 1865—1908

Charles Littleholes 1908—1914

John Paddison 1914—1921

John Lowndes 1921—1933

Henry Carline Swingler 1933—1938 d

Robert Rogerson 1938—1939 d

Walter Warr 1940—1956

Jack Busby 1956—1967

Charles Sawyer 1967—1983 (Left 30th. November 1983)

Raymond Beardall 1984—1999(Started 4th. May 1984)

Beryl Allsop 2000— N.B. Technically Associate Priest since the amalgamation of the parishes of Blidworth & Rainworth.

The Druid Stone On the outskirts of the village of Blidworth lies the Druid Stone (Grid Reference: SK5787-558), a pillar of cemented glacial gravel standing on a base of the Nottingham Castle rock formation (Bunter Pebble Beds). This monumental object is 14ft high, 84ft around the base and has a hollow centre large enough for a man to pass through.

The Druid Stone faces sunrise at the time of the summer solstice (21st June) and is said to have been used for sacrifice and fertility rituals around the 3rd Century BC.

Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire
Unitary authorities:	Nottingham
Boroughs/Districts:	Ashfield • Bassetlaw • Broxtowe • Gedling • Mansfield • Newark and Sherwood • Rushcliffe
Cities/Towns:	Arnold • Beeston • Blidworth • Carlton • Cotgrave • Eastwood • Hucknall • Kimberley • Kirkby-in-Ashfield • Mansfield • Mansfield Woodhouse • Newark • Nottingham • Rainworth • Retford • Ruddington • Stapleford • Southwell • Sutton-in-Ashfield • West Bridgford • Worksop See also: List of civil parishes in Nottinghamshire