Keyworth

Keyworth
Nottinghamshire
The Parade, Keyworth
Location
Grid reference:	SK612309
Location:	52°52’19"N, 1°5’24"W
Data
Population:	6,920  (2001)
Post town:	Nottingham
Postcode:	NG12
Dialling code:	0115
Local Government
Council:	Rushcliffe
Parliamentary constituency:	Rushcliffe
Website:	keyworthparishcouncil.org

Keyworth is a village which has become a mere suburb of Nottingham, in Nottinghamshire, about 6 miles south-east of the city centre. It stands on a small, broad hilltop about 200 feet above sea level which is set in the wider undulating boulder clay that characterises the area south of Nottingham.

The 2011 recorded a population of 6,733.

Keyworth is home to the headquarters of the British Geological Survey, located since 1976 on the site of the former Mary Ward Teacher Training College on Nicker Hill in the north-eastern quadrant of the village.

History

Keyworth first appears in writing in the Domesday Book of 1086, though recent archaeological finds have discovered Roman artefacts in the parish outskirts show older habitation.

Keyworth originally developed as an agricultural community with the great majority of its inhabitants being farmers and field labourers. Later, frame-knitting gave rise to local employment and expansion in the 1880s.

Listed buildings in the village includes two grade II barns dating from the 17th century, one late 18th century house built in the Regency style, two early 19th century cottages on Main Street, and two grade II Former framework knitters' workshops.

In the early 20th century the Midland Railway came through Plumtree from Nottingham Midland station & along the north east of Keyworth, giving the village an accessible rail route throughout the railway network, though this luxury only lasted about 70 years. The station at Plumtree was open for passengers from 1880 to 1949.

Significant expansion took place throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s with Keyworth effectively becoming a commuter town for Nottingham. The population has been falling slightly in recent years.

Churches

Church of St Mary Magdalene

The Church of St Mary Magdalene dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and is listed building|Grade I listed.

The village also has a Methodist church, Baptist church, Roman Catholic church and a United Reformed church.

Society and sport

The Keyworth Show takes place each summer, on the second Saturday of July which includes a horticultural show, fairground and various displays. This all takes place on the playing fields described below.

• Cricket: Keyworth Cricket Club
• Football:Keyworth United Community Football Club

both of which play on Platt Lane playing fields

• Running: The Keyworth Turkey Trot is a half-marathon road race which the 1st Keyworth Scout Group has been holding annually since 1983, normally on the second Sunday in December. It attracts hundreds of runners.

Apart from Platt lane, the Rectory playing field near the parish church used to be where cricket was played, but it is on the site of an ancient mediæval ridge and furrow system. This sometimes made running a rather precarious business for the outfielders

There is a skate park located on Platt Lane which is made up of concrete ramps on a concrete base.

Keyworth Leisure Centre is the areas main swimming pool which is located next to the site of the South Wolds Academy.

Local groups include scouting, amateur dramatics, bridge, choir, conservation, history, archery, photography, a martial arts club, a karate club and also a kickboxing club.

Wolds Wine Estate is an artisan vineyard and glamping lodge site about a mile from the village centre.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Keyworth)

• Keyworth and District Local History Society
• Wolds Wine Estate