Nottinghamshire is a county full of history, which makes it a fascinating place for locals to explore.
Many Nottinghamshire towns and villages we know and love today date back hundreds of years, even to the Domesday Book of 1086.
Published a staggering 940 years ago, the book was a detailed survey of landed property in England at the end of the 11th century, recording who held the land and how it was used.
Considering that it was written nearly 1,000 years ago, it’s unsurprising that some settlements have disappeared from the Nottinghamshire map completely.
Others, meanwhile, have changed names over the past nine-and-a-half centuries.
Burton Joyce, for instance, is referred to in the book as Burton, while Cropwell Bishop is included under the name Cropwell.
Some villages are now unrecognisable compared to how they were back in 1086, while others are pretty much the same.
With spring upon us, now is the perfect time to get out there and explore Nottinghamshire’s oldest villages for yourself.
We’ve taken a look at 8 of the oldest villages in Nottinghamshire:
1. Normanton-on-Soar
Referred to as Normanton in the Domesday Book, the small village is located on the border of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Now Normanton-on-Soar, the ancient village had just nine households in 1086. It had 406 residents at the time of the 2021 Census. | Peter Tyers or Francis Tyers/Wikimedia Photo: Peter Tyers or Francis Tyers/Wikimedia
2. Ollerton
Situated on the eastern edge of Sherwood Forest, Ollerton's location gives a nod to its history. The village was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Alretun. In 1086 it had a recorded population of 15 households, having swelled to 11,103 residents by the time of the 2021 Census. | DHJ Photo: DHJ
3. Papplewick
Papplewick is a beautiful village to the north of Nottinghamshire, just outside of Hucknall. The village has a rather quaint charm, which give visitors an insight into its rich history. The village, of Saxon origin, was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday book as Paplleuuic. | David Lally Photo: David Lally
4. Warsop
Like Ollerton, the civil parish of Warsop is located on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Warsop appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a settlement named Wareshope. King John and Edward I are said to have had impromptu parliaments at the Parliament Oak Tree in the far east of the parish during the 13th century. | DHJ Photo: DHJ