A to Z - HIGHLIGHTS OF DERBY AND DISTRICT - PART 2
The A to Z – highlights of Derby and District is a 19-part series and will be published weekly
Alvaston to The Bell Inn
ALVASTON
Alvaston existed well before 1086 when the Domesday Book was published. There was a church there in Saxon times as the discovery of a Saxon coffin lid embedded in the medieval church building proved. It remained a small village until the end of the 19th century when it started to expand.
ALVASTON – ST MICHAEL’S AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH
St Michael’s and All Angels Church has been in existence at least since the Domesday Book. Disaster struck the church on 17 August 1856, when just as the morning service was ending, the gable end of the church gave way. This caused a premature end to the service but, fortunately, no one was hurt.
ALVASTON PARK
Alvaston Park is a picturesque, riverside park and open space, covering around 85 acres. It backs onto the River Derwent and offers a wealth of amenities. From a peaceful stroll around the lake and a cup of tea and a bite to eat in the Waterside Café to an exhilarating ride on the BMX track. Alternatively, you can explore the science garden, have a game of football or just find a lakeside seat and sit and relax.
AMBASTON
Ambaston is a very peaceful little village and must rank as one of the quietest in the county. It can only be reached by road via two rather narrow and meandering lanes from Elvaston and Shardlow. There is no church, shop or pub and the houses are ribbon built along Main Street.
ARLESTON
Arleston is a tiny settlement to the south of Stenson Fields surrounded by farmland. The cottages cluster around Arleston Farm in the north and Merrybower Farm in the south. A narrow single-track lane from Stenson Fields approaches the settlement across a bridge over the A50.
ARBORETUM
The Arboretum was opened in September 1840 and became England’s first public park. It was Joseph Strutt, the third son of the famous industrialist Jedidiah, who donated the Arboretum to the people of Derby. Loudon laid the park out with mounds planted with trees and shrubs to disguise the paths and park boundaries to give the illusion of space.
ASSEMBLY ROOMS
The Assembly Rooms were opened on 9 November 1997, by the Queen Mother. The opening concert was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Although unaffected by the fire in the adjacent car park plant room on 14 March 2014, the Assembly Rooms were forced to close. The building is now scheduled to be demolished when a suitable plan for its replacement has been drawn up.
ASTON-ON-TRENT
Aston lies on Derbyshire’s side of the River Trent that divides the county from Leicestershire. It remained very much of an agricultural village until the 1960s when modern developments began to take over and farmhouses became private dwellings. The land in the area is very fertile and in the 17th century was described by historian Philip Kinder as ‘the granary of Derbyshire’.
On the north side of the village, the brickyard and plaster pits for many years represented the most important industry other than farming. Most of the older houses in Aston have been built using bricks from the works, which remained in operation until the early 20th century. Production at the plaster pits, situated behind the brickworks, lasted for approximately 150 years before coming to an end between the two World Wars.
In 1940, when German planes were attempting to bomb Rolls-Royce, a decoy set up a short distance from the village by three old-age pensioners produced first-rate results. From a small dug-out, the men operated a light visible from the air, which the German pilots mistook for their target and released 200 high explosives and incendiary bombs which fell on open land. The pensioners returned elated and unharmed, the only damage being to some greenhouse windows at Shardlow.
BARROW-ON-TRENT
Is a well-kept village, with its 18th-century parish cottages and a pretty lane leading down to the River Trent. Most of the village lies within a conservation area, which includes several attractive buildings. The appealing Lodge Cottage, standing by the former main gate to Barrow Hall catches the eye. St Wilfred’s Church, a Grade I listed building dates from the 12th century. The war memorial is of considerable interest as the village sent more men than any other of its size to the frontline in the First World War.
Another interesting feature in Barrow is the string of parish cottages, known as ‘The Row’ that was built as a result of a parish levy. They were first to let at a rent of 30 shillings (£1.50) a year. The parish council still keeps them in a good state of repair.
BASS RECREATION GROUND
Michael Thomas Bass, MP for Derby from 1847 to 1883 was a generous local benefactor. He gave the land to the town in 1867, on which the Bass Recreation Ground now stands. The open-air swimming baths comprised two baths, which were 100ft x50ft and had a total of 129 dressing cubicles between them.
BASS STATUE
The Library and Museum were built in 1876-1879. The foundation stone was laid by Michael Thomas Bass, who paid for the building. His statue stands in Museum Square. The Museum and Art Gallery was expanded in 1915, and again in 1965, when the Modernist-style building facing the Strand was added.
THE BELL INN
In earlier days Sadler Gate had several busy coaching inns. The Bell still survives from that era. A new front was added in 1929, by Ford and Weston as part of a decorative refurbishment. Black and white mock Tudor timbering rescued from other local sites was used.
