Unstone
| Unstone | |
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
 Unstone St Mary's Infant School | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK373772 |
| Location: | 53°17’28"N, 1°26’28"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,876 (2011) |
| Post town: | Dronfield |
| Postcode: | S18 |
| Dialling code: | 01246 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | North East Derbyshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North East Derbyshire |
Unstone is a former coal-mining village in Derbyshire, in the north-east of the county a mile south-east of Dronfield, and close to Chesterfield, the major town of this corner of Derbyshire. The River Drone and the Midland Main Line railway run through.
The village together with Apperknowle had a population of 1,876 at the 2011 Census.
There is one public house, the Horse and Jockey. The village Post Office closed in 2019. Landmarks include a television transmitter mast and a railway viaduct.
History
Originally, Unstone Main Colliery was the primary employment for the village it was the largest colliery of the group around Unstone. it was severed by a midland railway branch land which connected it to the main line in Dronfield and sheepbridge, although it ceased working around 1900 there are significant remains in the woodland area of both the railway and mine coal mines.[1][2]
The village used to be served by the now-closed Unstone railway station.
About the village
Unstone community centre is built on the former track bed of the Midland Branch next to the former over bridge on crow lane.[3]
Unstone Grange was once a grand private house in the village. It is now “a centre for personal creative growth”.[4]
The village has more than doubled in size over the past century. A modern housing estate, Unstone Green, was built at the other side of the railway line from the original village. The majority of the estate, which was built in the 1940s, was initially intended to be temporary housing for the many coal miners in the area, but it is still intact today.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Unstone) |