The Bentinck Memorial at Mansfield
The Bentinck Memorial in Mansfield Market Place - with space for the central statue clearly visible
By Tony Clement
I would like to hear comments about the Bentinck memorial on Mansfield Marketplace, a piece of architecture which has had a very chequered history, and perhaps is largely ignored or taken for granted now.
Erected in 1849 as a market cross and was funded by public subscription, and is incomplete as it is missing the statue which should have gone in the space at the top, but they ran out of money and the statue never made it into the memorial.
It came very close to being demolished in the 1960s as it had by this time become unsafe, and two large chunks of masonary were reported to have fallen off.
The Town Council were given quotes of £1,000 to demolish it and £5,000 to restore it in 1967, and demolishing it was seriously considered but for the Old Mansfield Society making strong representations to keep it, claiming it could never be replaced and was unique.
Nevertheless the vote was close and the town council voted 12 to 8 to spend £2,000 to restore it and basically make it safe.
Has anyone got thoughts about the memorial or perhaps parking their car next to it - when you could park your car on the market place.
I was wondering what reaction there would be if money had to be spent on it in the future, surely we would not demolish it now?