Lady Bay
Encyclopedia
Lady Bay is an area of West Bridgford
, in Nottinghamshire
, England
, bounded by the River Trent
to the north and the (now disused) Grantham Canal
to the south. It is within 2 miles of the centre
of Nottingham
, but is more suburban/semi-rural in its character. It enjoys good bus links (route 11/11C) with Nottingham city centre.
Trent Boulevard is the main thoroughfare running through the centre of Lady Bay, with several small shops, Lady Bay Primary School and the Lady Bay public house fronting on to it.
The area takes the form of a wedge of predominantly residential development, with recent increases in residential land values having driven out the last few remaining non-retail business premises. The parallel road layout intersecting the Boulevard dates back to the late 19th century.
Lady Bay is on the flood plain of the River Trent and has benefited over the years from progressively upgraded flood defences. Between these flood defences (to the north of Holme Road) and the River Trent is an area of statutory washlands known as The Hook.
This meadowland provides a habitat for wildlife and a recreational area for local residents; it floods dramatically every 5–10 years, so will never be developed. The Hook was declared a Local Nature Reserve in December 2009. A 'Friends' group has been established and volunteers work to manage and maintain the site.
To the west corner of Lady Bay lies Lady Bay Bridge
, a railway bridge built by the Midland Railway Company circa 1880 serving their line to Melton Mowbray
and beyond to London
. With the closure of this line in 1969 the bridge was converted to road use in 1979.
To the east of Lady Bay is the Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre
.
To the south, beyond the Grantham Canal, lies West Bridgford itself.
In 1941 a German Luftwaffe
bomber
dropped a line of bombs across Lady Bay, leading to new houses being built in the 1950-60's on bomb sites in streets of otherwise pre-war housing. The two 'Pinders Ponds' to the east of Lady Bay are also alleged to be as a result of flooded bomb craters. The remains of a disused public air raid shelter is on the corner of Lady Bay Road & Rutland Road.
Lady Bay has an active Church of England
parish church All Hallows, with the Vicar being shared with the adjacent Holme Pierrepont and Adbolton Parish since 2006. All Hallows church on Pierrepont Road was established in 1898 and the present building dates from 1901. It was made the church of the new Lady Bay parish in 1950.
In Sons and Lovers
, D. H. Lawrence
describes a visit to a house on what must be, by his detailed description, Holme Road.
Lady Bay is also known for its large number of urban fox
es, which are popular with some local residents.
Lady Bay has recently become renowned for its high quality half marathon alongside the picturesque River Trent. In recent years, due to positive publicity, the 'fun run' has attracted some of the best amateur athletes in Britain and this has contributed to the 2008 men's winning time being the current 5th best in Britain at half marathon distance.
West Bridgford
West Bridgford is a town in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of the city of Nottingham, delimited by the River Trent; this proximity means that it forms a continuous urban area with Nottingham, effectively makes West Bridgford a suburb of the city, and...
, in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, 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...
, bounded by the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
to the north and the (now disused) Grantham Canal
Grantham Canal
The Grantham Canal is a canal that runs for 33 miles from Grantham, falling through 18 locks to West Bridgford where it joins the River Trent. It was built primarily to allow for the transportation of coal to Grantham. It opened in 1797, and its profitability steadily increased until 1841...
to the south. It is within 2 miles of the centre
Nottingham City Centre
Nottingham city centre is the cultural, commercial, financial and historical heart of Nottingham, England. Nottingham's city centre represents the central area of the Greater Nottingham conurbation....
of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, but is more suburban/semi-rural in its character. It enjoys good bus links (route 11/11C) with Nottingham city centre.
The area takes the form of a wedge of predominantly residential development, with recent increases in residential land values having driven out the last few remaining non-retail business premises. The parallel road layout intersecting the Boulevard dates back to the late 19th century.
Lady Bay is on the flood plain of the River Trent and has benefited over the years from progressively upgraded flood defences. Between these flood defences (to the north of Holme Road) and the River Trent is an area of statutory washlands known as The Hook.
This meadowland provides a habitat for wildlife and a recreational area for local residents; it floods dramatically every 5–10 years, so will never be developed. The Hook was declared a Local Nature Reserve in December 2009. A 'Friends' group has been established and volunteers work to manage and maintain the site.
To the west corner of Lady Bay lies Lady Bay Bridge
Lady Bay Bridge
Lady Bay Bridge is a road bridge of two lanes that spans the River Trent in West Bridgford, Nottingham. It is the bridge following from Trent Bridge and connects the main thoroughfare of Radcliffe Road with Meadow Lane ..Originally, the bridge was the rail crossing for the Midland Railway from...
, a railway bridge built by the Midland Railway Company circa 1880 serving their line to Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
and beyond to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. With the closure of this line in 1969 the bridge was converted to road use in 1979.
To the east of Lady Bay is the Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre
Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre
The National Watersports Centre, Holme Pierrepont is located in the hamlet of Holme Pierrepont near Nottingham, England and on the River Trent....
.
To the south, beyond the Grantham Canal, lies West Bridgford itself.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
dropped a line of bombs across Lady Bay, leading to new houses being built in the 1950-60's on bomb sites in streets of otherwise pre-war housing. The two 'Pinders Ponds' to the east of Lady Bay are also alleged to be as a result of flooded bomb craters. The remains of a disused public air raid shelter is on the corner of Lady Bay Road & Rutland Road.
Lady Bay has an active Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish church All Hallows, with the Vicar being shared with the adjacent Holme Pierrepont and Adbolton Parish since 2006. All Hallows church on Pierrepont Road was established in 1898 and the present building dates from 1901. It was made the church of the new Lady Bay parish in 1950.
In Sons and Lovers
Sons and Lovers
Sons and Lovers is a 1913 novel by the English writer D. H. Lawrence. The Modern Library placed it ninth on their list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century.-Plot introduction and history:...
, D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
describes a visit to a house on what must be, by his detailed description, Holme Road.
Lady Bay is also known for its large number of urban fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, which are popular with some local residents.
Lady Bay has recently become renowned for its high quality half marathon alongside the picturesque River Trent. In recent years, due to positive publicity, the 'fun run' has attracted some of the best amateur athletes in Britain and this has contributed to the 2008 men's winning time being the current 5th best in Britain at half marathon distance.