Horsley Woodhouse
Encyclopedia
Horsley Woodhouse is a village and civil parish
in the Amber Valley
district of Derbyshire
, in the East Midlands
of England
. It is situated on the A609 road between the neighbouring villages of Kilburn
and Smalley
. The nearest towns are Heanor
, situated 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northeast, and Belper
, 3.2 miles (5.1 km) northwest, while the city of Derby
is located about 6 miles (9.6 km) south-southwest.
The name is said to mean "houses in the wood belonging to Horsley", and is often known by its dialect pronunciation "Ossley Woodhus".
float, and the Pre-School's Royal Wedding
float. The carnival showground features rides and sideshows and is also the venue for the Amber Valley
Marching Bands Contest. The winning band at the 2010 competition was the Derby Midshipmen.
Also in the village is the Ex-servicemen's and Working Men's Club, a private club which holds entertainment such as live bands, discos, quiz nights and bingo.
but still within Horsley Woodhouse parish, was Stainsby House. Built in the 1780s, by the end of the 18th Century it had been acquired by the Wilmot-Sitwell family, relatives of the Sitwells of Renishaw Hall
through George Sitwell
. The Wilmot-Sitwells were great benefactors to the villages of Horsley Woodhouse, Horsley, Smalley and Morley. The present Church Hall in Horsley Woodhouse was originally built as a school in 1869 by the Wilmot-Sitwells. Once the Wilmot-Sitwell line had died out the house was sold and eventually demolished in 1972. A new, futuristic-looking house was then built, also called Stainsby House. This new house was used as a location in the BBC
television production of Life and Loves of a She Devil.
Hollies Farm in the centre of the village was built in the late 17th Century and was used as a tannery for many years by the Richardson family. This family later moved the business to Derby
and eventually to the Eagle Tannery in Sinfin
. Hollies Farm has been the subject of a planning application to demolish it in order to build houses.
St Susanna's church was erected in 1882. A Stained glass window was given by the Wilmot-Sitwells.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Amber Valley
Amber Valley
Amber Valley is a local government district and borough in Derbyshire, England. It takes its name from the River Amber and covers a semi-rural area with a number of small towns formerly based around coal mining and engineering...
district of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the A609 road between the neighbouring villages of Kilburn
Kilburn, Derbyshire
Kilburn is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire.Forming part of the district of Amber Valley, Kilburn has small amenities for the people who live there including a local police station, community officer and several parks for young children...
and Smalley
Smalley, Derbyshire
Smalley is a village on the main A608 Heanor to Derby road in Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England.Its name came from Anglo-Saxon Smæl-lēah = "narrow woodland clearing"...
. The nearest towns are Heanor
Heanor
Heanor is a town in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England. It is northeast of Derby. According to the census of 2001 the town's population was 22,620.-History:...
, situated 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northeast, and Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
, 3.2 miles (5.1 km) northwest, while the city of Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
is located about 6 miles (9.6 km) south-southwest.
The name is said to mean "houses in the wood belonging to Horsley", and is often known by its dialect pronunciation "Ossley Woodhus".
Carnival
Each year in July the village hosts a carnival with a parade of floats from the Medical Centre to the showground at the Sitwell Recreation Ground. A prize, the Twins Cup, is awarded to the best float each year. The winner in 2010 was the Pirate Ship created by the Stainsby Avenue residents. The prize was split in 2011 between the Stainsby Avenue residents' CircusCircus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
float, and the Pre-School's Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding is a 1951 Hollywood musical comedy film known for Fred Astaire's dance performance on a ceiling and another with a coat rack. The story is set in London in 1947 at the time of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and stars Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Sarah...
float. The carnival showground features rides and sideshows and is also the venue for the Amber Valley
Amber Valley
Amber Valley is a local government district and borough in Derbyshire, England. It takes its name from the River Amber and covers a semi-rural area with a number of small towns formerly based around coal mining and engineering...
Marching Bands Contest. The winning band at the 2010 competition was the Derby Midshipmen.
Pubs
The village currently has two pubs: The Old Oak Inn on the main village street, and the Sitwell Arms in the hamlet of Woodside. The Old Oak is owned by the Denby-based Leadmill Brewery, selling their ales along with those from other small brewers. The pub has won CAMRA pub of the year on a number of occasions. A third pub, The Jolly Colliers, is now closed and in the progress of being converted into private houses.Also in the village is the Ex-servicemen's and Working Men's Club, a private club which holds entertainment such as live bands, discos, quiz nights and bingo.
Notable Buildings
To the South-East of the village, almost in SmalleySmalley, Derbyshire
Smalley is a village on the main A608 Heanor to Derby road in Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England.Its name came from Anglo-Saxon Smæl-lēah = "narrow woodland clearing"...
but still within Horsley Woodhouse parish, was Stainsby House. Built in the 1780s, by the end of the 18th Century it had been acquired by the Wilmot-Sitwell family, relatives of the Sitwells of Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall
Renishaw Hall is a stately home in Derbyshire, England which dates from the 17th century. It is a Grade I listed building. It has been the home of the Sitwell family for over 350 years....
through George Sitwell
George Sitwell (Sheriff)
George Sitwell was the leading ironmaster in North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire in the seventeenth century.. He built Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire in 1626. He mined, forged, and rolled iron for use in Britain and overseas...
. The Wilmot-Sitwells were great benefactors to the villages of Horsley Woodhouse, Horsley, Smalley and Morley. The present Church Hall in Horsley Woodhouse was originally built as a school in 1869 by the Wilmot-Sitwells. Once the Wilmot-Sitwell line had died out the house was sold and eventually demolished in 1972. A new, futuristic-looking house was then built, also called Stainsby House. This new house was used as a location in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television production of Life and Loves of a She Devil.
Hollies Farm in the centre of the village was built in the late 17th Century and was used as a tannery for many years by the Richardson family. This family later moved the business to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and eventually to the Eagle Tannery in Sinfin
Sinfin
Sinfin is a southern suburb of Derby, England, historically it was a separate village. It contained the main centre of Rolls-Royce, on Nightingale Road...
. Hollies Farm has been the subject of a planning application to demolish it in order to build houses.
St Susanna's church was erected in 1882. A Stained glass window was given by the Wilmot-Sitwells.