Mentioned by Rooke. The pillar, with a pitched top and c.3ft high, remains - or did so a few years ago - W of Harlowwood on the W side of the road to Mansfield. (2)

The Forest Stone, Lyndhurst was the central pillar of the Old Market House in Mansfield where the court of Swainmote was held before the Verderers of Sherwood Forest. The pillar was placed at the spot on the N side of Harlow Wood where the participants in the Swainmote Court met, before the court, to hear those matters affecting the forest which were to come before the court when it sat in Mansfield. (3)

The pillar, known as The Forest Stone, was placed at its present position in 1752. It had formed part of the Med Market or Moot Hall in Mansfield and was used to mark the site presumably because of that building's historical association with the Swainmote Court. It has been restored and a modern inscription added c.1952 but occupies the original site. (4)

Of local sandstone, 2.5m high and 0.5m square with chamfered edges stopped top and bottom. It is set in a base of mortared rubble and surrounded by iron railings. Modern plate in W face with explanation. At the base of the W face are the marks of a former plate (suggests the stone has been erected upside down). There seems to be some doubt as to whether the stone marks the site of the Swainmote Court or of a preliminary assembly but the existence of a Moot Hall in Mansfield favours the latter. (NB ref (1) probably refers to a different stone). (5)

Named 'White Stone'. (7)

Commemorative monument. Erected 1752 by Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley. Ashlar, some rubble. Square stone over 2m high set into a rubble platform. The corners of the stone being chamfered in the central sections with remains of ogee stops. W side has C20 plaque. Marking the site of the great forest court and swain-moot.(8)

OS, 1966, 6in 1966 (Map). SNT1072.

Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.

<1> Rooke H, 1799, A Sketch of the Ancient and Present State of Sherwood Forest, Mansfield, p 12 (Published document). SNT1211.

<2> Stapleton A, 1903, Notes on the Crosses of Nottingham Past and Present, p 7 (Published document). SNT1326.

<3> Old Mansfield Society, 1952, Anc Court of Swainmote (Published document). SNT979.

<4> Mellors E, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT916.

Other Refs: Local historian

<5> Woodhouse WC, 1959, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1437.

<6> Groves WH, 1894, History of Mansfield, pp 81-2 (Published document). SNT733.

<7> Sanderson G, 1835, 20 miles around Mansfield - 2 in (Map). SNT48.

<8> DOE, Listed Building Description (Published document). SNT228.