The History of Sherwood
by Terry Fry
68pp A4 £6-50
ISBN 0 9514938 2 5

Terry Fry's The History of Sherwood, in a second revised and enlarged edition is now available. This is welcome news especially for those in Sherwood who missed out last time. Here Terry is essentially a local historian who relates directly to his subject.

In nine sections plus a full reference bibliography Terry's easy flowing style takes the reader from the Basford enclosure of 1792, an area which included our Sherwood, to the end of the twentieth century.

The book is well illustrated with maps, photographs and a scattering of period advertisements. Terry's chosen maps all tell a good story. In particular the pairing on facing pages of the Ordnance Survey maps of 1900 and 1915 of the "box" formed by Haydn Road, Mansfield Road, the later Perry Road, and Hucknall Road is most revealing, pinpointing the area's development. For a glimpse of the early days of the area on the other side of Mansfield Road, part of M. O. Tarbotton's map of 1877 is reproduced.

There is plenty of human interest in the photographs selected. Some raise a smile, the landlord and a group of regulars outside the Sherwood Inn (1905) is a good example. Others, including George Brough talking to T. E. Lawrence, who has just taken delivery of his sixth Brough Superior, are more thought provoking.

Terry's text has the broad sweep and the fine detail. In 1911 the Mayor of Nottingham, Sir Edward Fraser, told the 364 children at the newly opened Haydn Road Council School, "to be worthy of their beautiful school." In the following year most of them found themselves in classes of over 60 pupils.

So Terry's book is well worth a place on your shelves. It is obtainable at the Post Office and the Library in Sherwood. In the City Centre it is on sale at the Information Bureau on Smithy Row and at Jermy and Westerman's bookshop on Mansfield Road.

Ken Brand