Littleover

Littleover
Derbyshire
The Hollow and Old Littleover Cottage
Location
Grid reference:	SK3334
Location:	52°54’22"N, 1°30’18"W
Data
Population:	23,958
Post town:	Derby
Postcode:	DE23
Dialling code:	01332
Local Government
Council:	Derby
Parliamentary constituency:	Derby North

Littleover is a village in Derbyshire which has become a western suburb of the City of Derby, between Rose Hill, Normanton, Sunny Hill, and Mickleover. It about three miles south-west of Derby city centre.

Littleover is separated from Mickleover to the west most visibly today by the A38, but historically by the deep valley of a minor stream, whose banks give names to both.

History

The Towers and Cottage

Littleover's name is plain Old English: "Little Riverbank": the word ofer menaing riverbank or the slope of a hill. It appears as 'Little Ufre' in the Domesday Book. Neighbouring Mickleover, is likewise from Micel Ofer, menaing "Big Bank".

The Romans were here: the Roman road known in our age as "Icknield Street, and now the A38, runs by the village.

Littleover was in the parish of Mickleover until 1866, when the residents of Littleover formed their own authority.

The White Swan public house

Littleover's main shopping area is situated around Burton Road as the village is entered from the ring road.

The oldest part of the village around St Peter's Church was built in the 14th century.

The village's main public house is called the Half Moon and is notable as being one of two inns in the village in 1577; it still serves as a community hub. The village has another public house, the White Swan which can be found on Shepherd Street near the older part of Littleover.

In the Hollow and Church Street is evidence of old Littleover, in the buildings that can be found there; even today the former contains the beautiful thatched roofed Littleover Cottage (very rare in Derbyshire), whilst on Church Street can be found a detached white house, which in its time has been called the White House and would probably have been there before most of the buildings around it. Residential properties in Littleover are generally attractive, well-maintained and spacious properties which are highly desired within the Derby area. The White House, it is believed, may date in part from the 16th century, whereupon it probably would have stood alone with the thatched cottage and church. In earlier times this area was the centre of activity in the village where the square was used for markets, proclamations and general celebrations on public holidays.

The Crest Hotel, built around the late 19th century on a site previously occupied by a windmill, burnt down in 2002. Today a housing development stands where the hotel used to be.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Littleover)

• Focus on Littleover
• Derby Guide
• Littleover Methodist Church
• St Peter's Church, Littleover
• Littleover news from the Derby Telegraph