Whaley Thorns
Encyclopedia
Whaley Thorns is a former colliery village in Bolsover (district)
, Derbyshire
, close to the Nottinghamshire
border. Whaley Thorns lies just north of Nether Langwith
and Langwith
, 1.5 miles south-east of Creswell
, and west of Cuckney
.
The village takes its name from a dense wood, recorded on the first Ordnance Survey
Maps. "Whaley" being Celtic
for water/spring, referring to both the local springs
, just to the north, and the river Poulter
which lies only 200 yards to the south. And "Thorn" a Anglo-Saxon
word, for wood. So the original meaning, may have been either "Wood of the Springs", or "Wood above/between the water(s)".
In the Mid-nineteenth century, much of the wood was cut down, following the discovery of coal beneath it. Thanks to the nearby railway, the site soon grew into a colliery village. The village acquired both a fine Anglican Chapel, and a Methodist Chapel; both still hold regular services. It also acquired a large primary school, and later on in the 1940s, a fine Frank Lloyd Wright
style school too.
In the late 1970s the chief employer, the colliery, closed. Since the colliery closures, the first school has closed and re-opened as a heritage centre, as well as re-education centre for ex-miners. The Second has remained open as a primary school.
Following the Pit (Colliery) closure, the villages' population has greatly reduced, due to the, lack of local employment, and the deprivation that happened as a result. Since 1990, many rows of terraced house
s, have been demolished, due to their run-down, or in some cases derelict, nature.
There are now just two shops, and one Pub.
Bolsover (district)
Bolsover is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. Its main town is Bolsover.There are fourteen town and parish councils within the district.In addition to the town councils of Old Bolsover and Shirebrook, there are the parish councils 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 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...
border. Whaley Thorns lies just north of Nether Langwith
Nether Langwith
Nether Langwith is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire bordering Langwith in Derbyshire, England. Lying on the banks of the River Poulter. It is located 2 miles north of Shirebrook. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 493....
and Langwith
Langwith, Derbyshire
Langwith is a close group of four villages crossing the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border, on the river Poulter only about two miles from Warsop, and about four miles from Bolsover, on the A632 road, south of Whaley Thorns....
, 1.5 miles south-east of Creswell
Creswell
-Places:* In the United Kingdom:** Creswell, Derbyshire*** Creswell Crags*** Creswell Model Village** Creswell, Staffordshire* In the United States:** Creswell, Maryland** Creswell, North Carolina** Creswell, Oregon* In Australia:...
, and west of Cuckney
Cuckney
Cuckney is a small village in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, between Worksop and Market Warsop.The A60 road connects Market Warsop and Cuckney via Cuckney Hill.-History:...
.
The village takes its name from a dense wood, recorded on the first Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
Maps. "Whaley" being Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
for water/spring, referring to both the local springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
, just to the north, and the river Poulter
River Poulter
The River Poulter is a tributary river of the River Idle in Nottinghamshire, England, which rises near Scarcliffe in Derbyshire. It has supplied power for a number of mills along its route, most of which are now gone, although the mill ponds remain, and Cuckney mill building is still used as a...
which lies only 200 yards to the south. And "Thorn" a Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
word, for wood. So the original meaning, may have been either "Wood of the Springs", or "Wood above/between the water(s)".
In the Mid-nineteenth century, much of the wood was cut down, following the discovery of coal beneath it. Thanks to the nearby railway, the site soon grew into a colliery village. The village acquired both a fine Anglican Chapel, and a Methodist Chapel; both still hold regular services. It also acquired a large primary school, and later on in the 1940s, a fine Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
style school too.
In the late 1970s the chief employer, the colliery, closed. Since the colliery closures, the first school has closed and re-opened as a heritage centre, as well as re-education centre for ex-miners. The Second has remained open as a primary school.
Following the Pit (Colliery) closure, the villages' population has greatly reduced, due to the, lack of local employment, and the deprivation that happened as a result. Since 1990, many rows of terraced house
Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
s, have been demolished, due to their run-down, or in some cases derelict, nature.
There are now just two shops, and one Pub.