Mattersey, Maresay or Mattersea as it was once known, is a small village situated on the west bank of the River Idle, approximately 6 miles from Retford. Before the Norman Conquest in 1066AD Mattersey was the manor of Earl Tosti Godwinson who sided with the Viking King Harald (Hardradi) Sigurdsson against his brother King Harold Godwinson in the battle of Stamford Bridge, the Vikings were defeated and both Earl Tosti and the Viking King lost their lives.  After Stamford Bridge and the historic battle of Hastings where Harold was defeated and killed, Mattersey was given to a Norman family who took the name of De Mattersey or Maresay.  

Mattersey has several large houses, which would once have been considered small mansions. These comprise of Mattersey Hall, Mattersey House, The Vicarage, Stone House, the farm on Blaco Hill, the farm at Mattersey Priory, the farm at Mattersey Grange and Mattersey Thorpe  which is half a mile west of the village. The parish is about 1½ miles in length, and contains 2,561 acres of land, which was enclosed by an Act passed in 1770.

The church is dedicated to All Saints, it is a gothic building in excellent preservation and is a focal point of the village. It has 2 unusual stone carvings, which were discovered under the old pavement of the chancel, one of which is believed to represent the benevolent action of St Martin dividing his cloak. It is thought that during the dissolution of the Monasteries the carvings were possibly taken from Mattersey Priory and hidden. 

The church along with other properties were appropriated by Isabel De Chauncy to the Gilbertine Monks at Mattersey Abbey, to make amends for losses the monks had sustained by fire.  The vicarage is a handsome house close to the church along the Priory lane, close by is a small Methodist chapel erected in 1792.

The village was awarded by the King a market and a fair, the market most probably was held on the ground in front of the church as just inside the church wall is the remains of what may well have been a market cross. 

The Priory was founded before 1192, by Roger Fitz Ranulph De Maresay, for six canons. At the dissolution of monasteries and Priories it was valued at £60. The remains of the Priory stand a mile east of the village, and adjacent to its site is now occupied by a farmhouse.

Text courtesy of Mr A Follows
Photographs from the Parish Plan

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Last modified: 06-Mar-2008

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