As well as those mentioned in our mini-guides, there are many more quaint villages surrounding Ollerton, all with an interesting tale to tell. Here is a selection of some of the lesser-known facts...

Mediaeval mottes and duck decoys
On the western side of the peaceful village of Bothamsall, you will find an impressive motte (mound), 'Castle Hill', thought to have been constructed after the Norman Conquest. There is another, inaccessible to the public, at Haughton, which is also famous for its 'Duck Decoy'; a peculiar construction formerly used by the Dukes of Newcastle to trap ducks - decoys were once a common feature of the English countryside. A third motte and bailey can be found next to the parish church at Egmanton and a fourth at Laxton.

A place of pilgrimage
Egmanton Church is home to the ‘Shrine of Our Lady’. It is said that following the appearance of a ghostly apparition in mediaeval times, the church became a place of pilgrimage. In 1896 the 7th Duke of Newcastle refurbished the church and revived this custom, and the pilgrimages continue to this day. Egmanton has a website - www.egmanton.org.uk.

Marvellous minatures
While Maplebeck boasts one of the smallest pubs in the country, Ompton is home to one of the smallest chapels at only 25m2.

The most comfortable phone box in England?
In Kersall you will find a phone box that is equipped with carpet and filled with fresh flowers by local residents. Recently faced with the threat of being taken away, the locals’ protests ensured that it remained.

Reminders of Robin Hood
In addition to Edwinstowe, King’s Clipstone and Warsop also have connections with Robin Hood – go to the Robin Hood page to find out more.

Estate Villages
Perlethorpe and Budby no longer exist as large village communities; they were certainly sizeable at the time of Domesday, but there is evidence to show that they were even older and part of an Estate system during the Anglo-Saxon period.