Whitwell, Derbyshire
| Whitwell | |
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Lawrence, Whitwell | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK528767 |
| Location: | 53°17’6"N, 1°12’32"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,900 |
| Post town: | Worksop |
| Postcode: | S80 |
| Dialling code: | 01909 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bolsover |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Bolsover |
Whitwell is a small village and parish in Derbyshire adjacent to the borders of Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. The population of the civil parish (including Whitwell Common) taken at the 2011 Census was 3,900.[1]
Although Whitwell celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in the 'Whitwell 1000' celebrations of 1989, it is much older than this celebration suggests. The earliest written references to Whitwell are from the Anglo-Saxon charters. However, many of its historical sites predate this period. In and around the parish are several Iron Age burial mounds, an Iron Age fort and settlement, the remains of a Roman villa, mediæval field systems, and both a Norman and Saxon church and the world heritage site of Creswell Crags. Whitwell Old Hall is a mediæval manor house.
Whitwell won the 'Best Kept Village in Derbyshire' Award in 1988.
Whitwell is a thriving village with strong community spirit. The village has many active clubs and societies, including Whitwell Scout and Guide Group, Local History Group, Whitwell Players, Whitwell Brass Band and junior band, C of E, Methodist and Poplar churches, Natural History Group, green bowls club, cricket club, and football club.
Although being quite a small village, Whitwell has six public houses. It previously had as many as 11 and held the record for most number of licensed premises per capita. The current pubs are Holmefield Arms, The Jack Ups (Whitwell Working Men's Club), New Middle Club, The Boot And Shoe, The Half Moon and The Royal Oak. Whitwell also has three take-aways. One called Pizza Time on Station Road opposite the "Jack Ups", a "Chinese", situated on Welbeck Street, called Go-Ming and a Chip Shop called "Chip Inn", on Hanger Hill next to the corner of Fox Road. The biggest employer just outside the village is La Farge Works (formerly Steetley Company), which run a quarry which supplies limestone and other products all around the world.
Whitwell Wood
Whitwell Wood is a large area of ancient woodland covering approximately 420 acres. It forms part of the Welbeck Estate, one of the former mediæval dukeries of Nottinghamshire. The wood is managed on a long term lease by the Forestry Commission. It is a predominantly broad-leaved wood with over 20 species indicating ancient woodland, a number of interesting archaeological features and a freshwater spring known as the Ginny Spring. The spring is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This designation is partly due to the varied flora, but also because of a number of species that are rare in the region. As such, the wood has a very high nature conservation status. A Three Shire Oak stands in a field adjacent to Whitwell Wood, marking the meeting point of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.
Famous Whitwellians
One of Whitwell's most famous sons was Joe Davis, world snooker and billiards champion from the 1920s to the 1940s. His Whitwell home (on Welbeck Street) bears a plaque commemorating him.
Les Jackson, England cricketer and Wisden Cricketer of the Year[2] in 1959, played for Whitwell Cricket Club and came to watch their games on a Saturday afternoon until his death in 2007.
Also from the village are Chris Adams], the Sussex and England cricketer and Ian Bennett, a professional goalkeeper.
The village is the birthplace and childhood home of J. T. Edson the author, whose various escapism-adventure series sold over 27 million copies globally; the Edson family lived in Whitwell from Victorian times.
References
- ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130606&c=Whitwell&d=16&e=62&g=6413200&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1458312682616&enc=1. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ↑ Les Jackson at CricketArchive.com
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Whitwell, Derbyshire) |