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Retford is a market town that is in the county of Nottingham and about 30 miles from the city of Nottingham. The Chesterfield canal cuts right through the center of town and the town is in the valley created by the Idle River. Retford received its right to hold a market in 1246. The town most likely developed at Retford because it was an ancient ford crossing for the river.

Almost the entire town was destroyed in a fire in 1528 but the town was built up again when the Great North Road was changed to run through the town in 1766 and the Chesterfield canal cut through the center of town. The individuals that were called the pilgrims and settled in Massachusetts came from villages just outside of Retford.

Retford has some lovely landmarks and attractions in the town. The town hall was designed in a French-style Victorian architecture and is found in the market square. In front of the town hall is the Broad Stone. It was thought that there was a hollow in the stone that was filled with vinegar. Then during times of plague coins were disinfected in the vinegar before being used to purchase items in the market.

In 1821 a war memorial was built. This memorial is an octagonal structure much like and Eleanor cross. It was designed in the lat gothic style and contains the names of the men killed in World War I and World War II. St Swithuns church is just across the street from the market square in Cannon square. As suits it name the square contains a cannon captured form the Russians at the end of the Crimean War in the Siege of Sevastopol.

There are several ways to reach Retford as it is on the main motorway. There are several buses that link it to the surrounding towns. There are two railway lines that run through Retford, the East Coast Main Line and the Sheffield to Lincoln Line. It is also possible to travel on the canal using the UK Inland Waterways network.