Somercotes
Encyclopedia
Somercotes is a village and Parish in the District of Amber Valley
in the English
county of Derbyshire
, close to the border with Nottinghamshire
. It is a former mining village and was once surrounded by more than five pits. It is now one of the fastest developing villages in the Amber Valley
area, with several industrial estates, a retail park, and new housing developments. The village has numerous shops, pubs, food outlets and other businesses. Whilst increasingly urbanised, there is still some agricultural land in the northern and western parts of the Parish, and a small nature reserve at Pennytown Ponds. The population at the 2001 census was 5,745.The band Muckram Wakes
takes its name from a place near Somercotes which was the home of one of the band members.
used to serve the village until it was closed by Beeching in the 1960s.. Clothing manufacture was a significant local employer until quite recently, with English Rose and Aertex
having factories in the area.
.
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...
in the English
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...
county 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...
, close to the border with 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...
. It is a former mining village and was once surrounded by more than five pits. It is now one of the fastest developing villages 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...
area, with several industrial estates, a retail park, and new housing developments. The village has numerous shops, pubs, food outlets and other businesses. Whilst increasingly urbanised, there is still some agricultural land in the northern and western parts of the Parish, and a small nature reserve at Pennytown Ponds. The population at the 2001 census was 5,745.The band Muckram Wakes
Muckram Wakes
Muckram Wakes was a folk band from the north-west midlands of England.The original line up of Muckram Wakes was Roger and Helen Watson and John Tams. Their album Map of Derbyshire, on Trailer Records, contributed greatly to the promotion of folk music from that county...
takes its name from a place near Somercotes which was the home of one of the band members.
History
The earliest known spelling of Somercotes was Sumcot, which was recorded in 1225.This derives from the original use of the area for seasonal grazing, when temporary huts or 'summer cottages' were used by herdsmen. The original settlement was in what is now known as Lower Somercotes, the upper village developing much later after a turnpike road was driven through to Alfreton in the eighteenth century. The area was within the Norman Manor of Alfreton, and later within the Alfreton Urban District. The fortunes of the village were to be based on the coal mining industry, which rapidly expanded in the 19th century. Pye Hill and Somercotes railway stationPye Hill and Somercotes railway station
Pye Hill and Somercotes railway station was a railway station on the Great Northern Railway on its Derbyshire Extension on the branch between Kimberley and Pinxton....
used to serve the village until it was closed by Beeching in the 1960s.. Clothing manufacture was a significant local employer until quite recently, with English Rose and Aertex
Aertex
Aertex is a Manchester based British clothing company, and also the name of the original textile manufactured by that company.The company owns the trademark for Aertex fabric, a lightweight and loosely woven cotton material that is used to make shirts and underwear...
having factories in the area.
Cricketers
Several cricketers from Somercotes played for DerbyshireDerbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
.
- George Beet, Sr.George Beet, Sr.George Beet was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1910 and 1925 and for MCC in 1920. He was later an umpire....
- George Beet, Jr.George Beet, Jr.George Hector Cook Beet was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire in 1928 and in 1932 and for Marylebone Cricket Club in 1928 and between 1933 and 1938....
- Joseph BurtonJoseph Burton (cricketer)Joseph Parkin Burton was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire during the 1901 season....
- William PrinceWilliam Prince (cricketer)William Prince was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire in 1898.Prince was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire, the son of Thomas Prince, a coal miner, and his wife Hannah...
- William RigleyWilliam RigleyWilliam Rigley was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1873 and 1882.Rigley was born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, the son of John Rigley and his wife Ann. His father was a blacksmith and moved to Somercotes, Derbyshire. Rigley also became a blacksmith...
- Fred RootFred RootCharles Frederick Root was an English cricketer who played for England in 1926 and for Derbyshire between 1910 to 1920 and for Worcestershire between 1921 and 1932.- Early career :...
- Denis SmithDenis Smith (cricketer)Denis Smith was a cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1927 and 1952 and in two Test matchs for England in 1935. He scored over 21,000 runs in first class cricket.Smith was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire...
- Albert SteeplesAlbert SteeplesAlbert Steeples was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire in 1899.Steeples was born at Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire, the son of John Steeples, a coal miner....
- Dick SteeplesDick SteeplesDick Steeples , was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire in 1897.Steeples was born at Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire, the son of John Steeples, a coal miner....