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"The Parish of Sutton-in-Ashfield lies to the extreme west of Nottinghamshire, on the most elevated portion of the county, about 600 feet above the level of the sea, a little to the east of the rich valley of Erewash. It is in the Broxtow Hundred of North Notts., 3 ½ miles south-west from Mansfield, 14 miles from Nottingham and 140 from London, on the Midland and Great Northern Railways.
To distinguish it from the numerous other Suttons in the Kingdom (about 70 in all), it has the addition of Ashfield, from the great number of ash trees which grew here, when this formed a part of the famous Forest of Sherwood."
[From History of Sutton-in-Ashfield, published by L. Lindley, 1907)
There has been a settlement at Sutton-in-Ashfield since Saxon times; the Saxon suffix 'ton' meaning 'an enclosure or fenced in clearing'. Some say that Sutton means 'Sweet Town' while others believe it comes from 'South Town'. There is little disagreement on where the 'Ashfield' part originates though, as the geological area favours trees - such as the ash tree - which are able to spread their roots well.
Sutton-in-Ashfield appears as 'Sutone' in the Domesday Book and is noted, with Skegby, as being a Berue or Hamlet near to Mansfield. In 1189 Gerard, son of Walter de Sutton, gave two bovats of land and the church at Sutton to Thurgaton Priory. The family of De Sutton passed the Manor to Roger Greenhalgh of Teversal. The Manor was also owned by the Molyneux family of Teversal; The Hardwick family (of Hardwick Hall) and the Cavendish family, who exchanged it for other estates with the Duke of Portland.
A list of Tenants in Sutton dating from c1295 suggests that the population of the town at the time was around 400 people. The earliest Subsidy Roll relating to Sutton dates from 1524, and shows the names of Thomas Mottram, John Bennett, Harre Daye, John Hardie, William Newton and John Street.
In 1530, Cardinal Wolsey passed through Sutton when, after his disgrace, he was called back to London by Henry VIII. He was a sick man when he stopped for the night at the Manor House at Kirkby Hardwick before moving on southwards. He died at Leicester Abbey several days later.
In 1651, following Charles II defeat at the Battle of Worcester, a party of his soldiers passed through Sutton on their way home to Scotland. They were ambushed in Church Street by a Cromwellian Captain and several Troopers, who were staying at the home of local farmer, John Clarke, and twelve of the Royalist Soldiers were killed. In 1774, when a vault at the rear of the church was being made for the funeral of William Unwin of Sutton Hall, twelve skeletons were found, and it is assumed that these were the remains of the unfortunate soldiers.
In 1700, there were ninety-five families living in Sutton-in-Ashfield, while in 1801 the population of the town was 2801. The increase in population around the turn of the 19th century was largely due to the Unwin family, who built a factory at Eastfield Side at a cost of £6,000. It is said that they "procured from London and elsewhere a great number of young people as apprentices, the parents of many now residing in the town" [From A History of Sutton-in-Ashfield, by Rev. Charles Bellairs, pub 1873]
It has been recorded that the first hand-frames for making Stockings were brought into the area around 1770. This was the beginning of a long standing connection between Sutton-in-Ashfield and the hosiery industry, which continues to this day. The occupation of Frame-work Knitter (abbreviated to FWK) or Stockinger is a common sight in the early census returns and in the parish registers of the 19th century.
The first Cotton Mill was built in Sutton by the Unwin Family c1770. It originally worked using Oxen and Horses to turn the machines, but was later water powered, and then steam powered. It changed hands in 1851, and became a Silk Mill, before being heavily damaged by fire in 1875. After some years of standing empty, the factory re-opened and continued in use until the early 1970's, when it was again ravaged by fire.
It appears that there was a Workhouse at Sutton before 1777, although little record remains relating to it. A meeting was held in 1791 to discuss replacing it with a new one. This new Workhouse, located on or near Hardwick Street, was in use until 1846 when the building was sold. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 had meant Sutton parish came under the Mansfield Poor Law Union, and Sutton's poor was sent to the more central Workhouse at Mansfield. Sutton's old workhouse was demolished in 1938.
Around 1870, a recreation ground of about four acres was given by the Duke of Portland for the use of the parishioners. It was located next to the church, and is still in use by the local community. Travelling fairs and Circus entertainers still set up on the Lammas ground when they visit the town.