Bilsthorpe
| Bilsthorpe | |
| Nottinghamshire | |
|---|---|
 Mickledale Lane | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK652603 |
| Location: | 53°8’10"N, 1°1’28"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,375 (2011) |
| Post town: | Newark |
| Postcode: | NG22 |
| Dialling code: | 01623 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Newark and Sherwood |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Sherwood |
Bilsthorpe is a village in Nottinghamshire, It is located near the junction of the A614 and A617, around five miles south of Ollerton, nine miles east of Mansfield and six miles north-west of Southwell.
The 2011 census recorded a population of 3,375.
About the village
The village has 2 children's play-parks as well as a small-sized duck pond. It has also a members-only fishing lake created from the remains of the old colliery slag heap.
The village is known locally as being two areas, the 'old' and 'new'. The village has two public houses (Copper Beech and Stanton Arms) and a miners' welfare club. The village used to have a village hall with squash and sauna facilities with some gym equipment. However, the district council of Newark decided to close these due mainly to the low usage of both the squash and sauna facilities. The old squash centre site has now been turned into a Miners Museum. The village hall's main part is still in use for coffee mornings, and other community gatherings including a bowls event for local people.
Bilsthorpe Moor is to the south of the village. There was a supported-living home for adults with learning disabilities and autism called LifeWays which closed in 2019.
Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy is the local education facility for children with access to nursery and primary learning. Part of The Flying High Trust, a multi-school organisation based in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, it opened for Autumn term 2015 and was previously known as Crompton View Primary School.
Former colliery and memorials
The village's colliery closed in 1997 after 70 years in use.[1] The colliery was the centre of national media and public attention on 18 August 1993 when a roof collapsed in the colliery, killing 31-year-old under-manager David Shelton and miners Bill McCulloch (aged 26) and Peter Alcock (aged 50).[2] David Shelton was posthumously awarded the George Medal for bravery on 11 October 1995 for aiding the rescue of other miners; survivor Ray Thompson also received the George Medal.
A memorial in the form of an eight-foot miners lamp carved from sandstone having the names of 77 deceased workers dating back to 1927 was established in 2011.[3]
A memorial to dead miners was also erected outside of the colliery site.[4]
Sport
- Football: Bilsthorpe Welfare Youth Football Club
- Nottingham United
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bilsthorpe) |
References
- ↑ Last man out of Bilsthorpe: BBC 13 November 2014
- ↑ Row over mine roof bolts after three die: 'Forum' on safety in wake of Bilsthorpe tragedy: The Independent, 19 August 1993
- ↑ Village's tribute to pit casualties. Chad, 12 October 2011, p.22. Accessed 17 January 2021
- ↑ David Shelton George Medal Collected: ITN
