|
 |
'...as
one small candle may light a thousand,
so the
light here kindled hath shone unto many...''
William Bradford
|
Retford Hub
11 Churchgate
Retford
DN22 6PA
01777 860414
|
|
|
Private tour from London by
train
Departing London Kings
Cross you will arrive at Retford Station where you will be
met and taken to the Mayflower Pilgrim Centre. Your guide
will show you around the museum before visiting the nearby
Churches where the Separatist movement started. After lunch
we will be able to explore the Nottinghamshire countryside
heading to Robin Hoods new Visitor Centre and the Major Oak
before returning via a number of interesting sights to
Retford train station. Tour Duration 10hrs.
|
Private
Tour including entry fees, guide, transport, lunch and
refreshments.
Price excludes train tickets. Trains depart
07.26 & 09.06, return 14.19 & 16.41. Maximum 5people
on a tour.
The tour is also available from other
stations on the East Coast Line such as York and Doncaster
and from Sheffield and Lincoln. |
|
The Great North Road Stopover Experience
Retford
lies just 5 miles off the A1 between Doncaster & Newark and makes an ideal stop on a
journey. Here you can choose a short talk from our
collection of talks, browse the Art Gallery, visit the
Museum, visit the shop or take high tea in the Gallery.
Our
historic Grade II listed building was built as a Coaching
House on the Great North Road for First Class passengers to
stop and partake of high tea in a grand gallery, an
experience that we are able to offer visitors today.
Afterwards feel free to explore the Mayflower Pilgrim Museum
to discover how this small group of people had such a
radical influence on world history. The shop is a treasure
trove of local goodies with local foods and art & crafts
from over 140 local people. The Centre in near the heart of Retford which is ideal for exploration of this fascinating
Georgian Town with award Winning Park, wealth of local shops
and thrice weekly market. Our Cafe is open daily or you can
book our high tea experience.
|
Museum
entry
£2.50pp. Every 10th ticket free.
|
|
|
Guided
tour of the Museum
Hear our tour guide explain why the
Pilgrims started the 'Separatist' movement. Discover who they were, how the area
became a 'hot bed' of modernist ideas and how they were helped by many others.
Follow the story through to their journeys to Holland and America with the story
of the Mayflower and discover the impact this had on the world. (Guided talk 40
minutes)
£5pp.
Min 10people. to include Museum entry cost
email
chris@retfordhub.org to arrange a date. |
|
|
Guided
tour of Retford by a member of Retford Civic Society.
Our guide will lead you around the
historic market town of Retford regaling stories of the
past as an important town on the Great North Road the
old Roman Road. The tour is full of intrigue of times
past with its tales of the ghosts of times past. (Guided talk 40
minutes)
£5pp.
Min 10people. to include Museum entry cost.
email
chris@retfordhub.org to arrange a date. |
|
|
High tea
experience - Courtesy of the Mayflower WI
Our high
tea is served
on vintage china and consists of a variety of delicacies &
sweet meats using locally milled flour, local eggs, local
jams & chutney. We offer a wide range of tea from Northern
Tea Merchants of Chesterfield and stock over a dozen blends
of coffee. (30min)
£8.50pp. Min 10people. does not include Museum
entry. email
chris@retfordhub.org to arrange a date. |
|
The Mayflower
Pilgrim Tour
1 day. Fully
guided.
We follow in the footsteps of
the Pilgrims and look at the development of the Separatist
movement and the Free Church with a tour of the area where
we have access to enter the sacred churches starting at Babworth where Richard Clyfton preached his Separatist
views, we stop at Scrooby which is recognised as the start
of the Separatist movement before we head on onto Epworth
where some 200 years later the Wesley brothers started the
Methodist Church. On our route we pass through Austerfield, the
home of William Bradford who became the second elected US
leader a position he held for 30 years and Bawtry, scene of
the second pilgrim escape.
We take lunch in
Gainsborough.
After lunch we visit
Gainsborough Old Hall, home of the Hickman family and
meeting place for another group of Separatists, where there
is time to explore this grand old building. Afterwards we
make our way to Sturton-Le-Steeple the birthplace of John
Robinson, Separatist leader and founder of the Baptist
movement, before making our way to the Mayflower Pilgrim
Centre in Retford.
|
The Mayflower Pilgrim
Tour
Guided tour to
include all museum & church entry and lunch. 2-8
visitors £50pp. 9+ visitors £40
email
chris@retfordhub.org to arrange a date. |
|
.
Relax in
rural England.
A 3 day
/ 2 night tour. Midweek welcome
This
tour provides the opportunity to explore an area that lies
undiscovered and unknown by many, but will appeal to those
with a wide range of interests. The historical context spans
early medieval history and considers life for ordinary
people and their fight for survival, from Robin Hood’s fight
for the oppressed poor, to the Pilgrim Fathers who’s fight
against State and Church ultimately resulted in ‘Freedom of
the Individual’, the start of Modern Day American History,
and the source of every non-Conformist English speaking
Christian religion in the World. Robin Hood and the Pilgrim
Fathers are the biggest known global brands and this tour
will have National and International interest.
But the
tour also offers the chance to unwind and relax in a
peaceful countryside that remains unchanged by modern
sprawl, a world leading Spa, a convenient market town with
quality shopping and independent shops and a range of
walking and exploring opportunities along canals, through
parks and forests.
Day 1
Travel to Nottinghamshire
Enjoy a relaxing journey to
Nottinghamshire where we stay in an historic Country House.
We have a light hearted introductory talk about the area
(1hr).
Day 2
A walking tour following the
Heritage Trail in Retford, Mayflower Pilgrim Museum, two
course lunch, The Major Oak – hideout of Robin Hood,
Medieval Laxton and Tuxford Windmill.
This morning we take a
90-minute guided walking tour of Retford to discover the
secrets of this delightful market town. Once a major
commercial meeting point on the Great North Road it is a
thriving shopping centre boasting over 35 coffee shops &
eateries. We visit the Mayflower Pilgrim Museum, the Hub Art
Gallery, sample local cheeses and buy souvenirs.
We take lunch in the town.
In the afternoon we take a
gentle drive through the picturesque Nottinghamshire
countryside into the heart of Sherwood Forest where we visit
the new RSPB Visitor Centre near Robin Hood’s Major Oak and
an opportunity to walk in the ancient woodland. On our
return we pass through the historic village of Laxton, the
only village still carrying out medieval strip farming and
owned by the Government. Our final stop is at the award
winning Tuxford Windmill. A tour of this ancient mill
reveals many of the secrets of the process, ending with a
tasting of freshly made scones in the Tea Room. We return to
the hotel with time to relax before dinner.
Day 3
This morning enjoy one of the
country’s leading spa experiences at Ye Olde Bell where you
can enjoy 10 thermal experiences and let your worries drift
away in our relaxation spaces. Replenish with a range of
fresh, healthy and wholesome dishes in the relaxation lounge
(included), Herb Garden Brasserie or enjoy a drink with
friends on the terrace. (Cost dependent on treatments taken)
Return home refreshed.
Please
contact us for prices.
Rebels
or Heroes – you decide?
5 day / 4 night tour.
This 5-day tour provides the
opportunity to explore the stories surrounding Robin Hood
and the Pilgrim Fathers in greater depth in an area of the
country that lies undiscovered and unknown by many. It also
includes much that will appeal to those with a wide range of
interests. The historical context spans early medieval
history and considers life for ordinary people and their
fight for survival, from Robin Hood’s fight for the
oppressed poor, to the Pilgrim Fathers who’s fight against
State and Church ultimately resulted in ‘Freedom of the
Individual’, the start of Modern Day American History, and
the source of every non-Conformist English speaking
Christian religion in the World. Robin Hood and the Pilgrim
Fathers are the biggest known global brands and this tour
will have National and International interest. The tour
visits the home of John Wesley who started the Methodists
and John Robinson who started the Baptists. In addition we
visit The National Holocaust Centre to investigate other
persecuted people.
But the tour also offers the
chance to unwind and relax in a peaceful countryside that
remains unchanged by modern sprawl, a world leading Spa, a
convenient market town with quality shopping and independent
shops and a range of walking and exploring opportunities
along canals, through parks and forests.
Day 1
Travel to Nottinghamshire
Enjoy a relaxing journey to
Nottinghamshire where we stay in an historic Country House.
We have a light hearted introductory talk about the area.
Day 2
A walking tour following the
Heritage Trail in Retford, Mayflower Pilgrim Museum, two
course lunch, The Major Oak – hideout of Robin Hood,
Medieval Laxton and Tuxford Windmill.
This morning we take a
90-minute guided walking tour of Retford to discover the
secrets of this delightful market town. Once a major
commercial meeting point on the Great North Road it is a
thriving shopping centre boasting over 35 coffee shops &
eateries. We visit the Mayflower Pilgrim Museum which tells
how the area can lay claim to being the home to democracy
and modern day America and where you can visit the art
gallery, sample local cheeses and other local foods. We take
lunch in the town.
In the afternoon we take a
gentle drive through the picturesque Nottinghamshire
countryside into the heart of Sherwood Forest where we visit
the new Visitor Centre near Robin Hoods Major Oak and an
opportunity to walk in the ancient woodland. On our return
we pass through the historic village of Laxton, the only
village still carrying out medieval strip farming and owned
by the Government. Our final stop is at the award winning
Tuxford Windmill. A tour of this ancient mill reveals many
of the secrets of the process, ending with a tasting of
freshly made scones in the Tea Room. We return to the hotel
with time to relax before dinner.
Day 3
This morning we follow in
the footsteps of the Pilgrims and look at the development of
the Free Church with a tour around the villages, starting at
Babworth where Richard Clyfton preached his Separatist
views, we stop at Scrooby which is recognised as the start
of the Separatist movement before we head on onto Epworth
where some 200 years later the Wesley brothers started the
Methodist Church. On our route we pass through Epworth, the
home of William Bradford who became the second elected US
leader a position he held for 30 years.
We take lunch in
Gainsborough.
After lunch we visit
Gainsborough Old Hall, home of the Hickman family and
meeting place for another group of Separatists, where there
is time to explore this grand old building. Afterwards we
make our way to Sturton-Le-Steeple the birthplace of John
Robinson, Separatist leader and founder of the Baptist
movement.
We return to the hotel with
time to relax before dinner
Day 4
This morning we journey to
Newark where we visit the Civil War Centre. Here we to learn
about the events that followed just 20 years later, in part
as a result of the Pilgrim activities. There is time to
wander around this town and follow the Civil War Trail to
the Castle and river. After lunch we travel to the village
of Ollerton where we visit the National Holocaust Centre
where we consider how groups of ordinary people have been
persecuted for their beliefs and learn some of the true
stories of those who have suffered persecution. This can be
an extremely moving experience.
Rebels or Heroes: Robin
Hood, the Mayflower Pilgrims and many of the holocaust
groups are often considered ‘rebels’ by the established
order – so this is time to decide and add your weight to our
poll.
We return to the hotel with
time to relax before dinner
Day 5
This morning enjoy one of
the country’s leading spa experiences at Ye Olde Bell Hotel
where you can enjoy 10 thermal experiences and let your
worries drift away in their relaxation spaces. Replenish
with a range of fresh, healthy and wholesome dishes in the
relaxation lounge, Herb Garden Brasserie or enjoy a drink
with friends on the terrace.
Return home refreshed.
Please
contact us for prices.
Mayflower
Pilgrims and Pilgrim Fathers Museum
member of the Robin Hood tourism group
Website design
and marketing by Mutex Solutions
|
