Also known as “I didn’t know that” page
A detailed history of the area can be found in the Community Plan on the left hand side of this page.
There are many theories about the origins of the village’s name. In Old English, ‘Wicres’ is a dwelling or abode, ‘leia’, ‘leah’ or ‘ley’ is a glade or wood, ‘Wicca’ was a personal name and ‘Hwicca’ meant ‘stranger’ to the Saxons. Was it ‘the dwelling in the glade’, ‘Wicca’s Wood’, or ‘strangers on the hill’? Some Historians think that, as the old Norse name for a Steward was ‘Vikar, it was an early Viking settlement in a clearing.
What is known, is that Wickersley, or ‘Wicresleia’ appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086. William the Conqueror granted the land to his niece Judith, who in turn granted it to Richard de Buesli. It was described as ‘waste, with no value assigned to it’ and was of little interest to him. The land was subsequently held by Richard Fitz-Turgis, who co-founded Roche Abbey with de Buesli, who became known as Richard de Wickersley and was the ancestor of Roger de Wickersley, whose tombstone, dated 1472, lies in the aisle of Saint Alban’s Church.
Saint Alban’s Church has been at the centre of the community since earliest times, and stands amongst some of the oldest buildings remaining in the village. The route of the original road from Bawtry, on the River Idle, which for 500 years was the main port for trade into Rotherham, Sheffield and beyond, lay south of the church. When the road was turnpiked in 1759 it was diverted to its present location on the north side, along the A631, Bawtry Road. From 1490 the "lamp of Saint Nicholas" shone from the church to guide travellers.
Along Morthen Road is a building of particular interest, the former Christian Institute (the round building with the conical roof, next to the bowling green). It was built as an alternative place of worship to Saint Alban’s Parish Church, but never consecrated, as the Bishop considered one parish church was enough. It contained a library, lecture hall, reading room and secretary’s residence; it has been converted into apartments.
