Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire
Encyclopedia
Woodthorpe is a suburban area of Arnold, Nottinghamshire
. It is part of the Borough of Gedling
and lies just next to the city boundary. It is next to the areas of Mapperley
, Daybrook
, Sherwood
and the main Arnold area.
Woodthorpe is a desirable place to live, with lots of different buildings from different eras. Shops are limited and most residents travel to nearby areas of Mapperley
, Daybrook
or Sherwood
for local shopping.
and is nominated for the next year.
It was originally forested grazing land, mainly used for pig farming. Woodthorpe Grange was built in 1874 as the family home of Henry Ashwell. In 1889, the Nottingham Suburban Railway was built running north to south across and under the estate. Although he was compensated, Ashwell didn't like this and sold the grange to Edward Parry, who coincidentally designed the railway that split the estate. The NSR was built mainly for the brickworks of Mapperley
and Thornywood, however, there were passenger services to Daybrook
and Sherwood Station
. In 1905, Parry sold the estate to Godfrey Small a Nottingham City Councillor
. Meanwhile, the railway was struggling with the opening of the electric tram
from Nottingham City Centre
to Sherwood. During World War I services were severely curtailed and Sherwood Station closed.
In 1921, Small sold the house to Nottingham City Council
for £15,000 (funded by a donation from Sir Jesse Boot. It opened to the public as Woodthorpe Grange Park in 1922. On 10 July 1928 King George V
and Queen Mary
visited the park and 17,000 school children travelled to the event on the NSR to Sherwood Station (which had been re-opened for the event). Passenger services were completely stopped in 1931.
The line opened once more for an enthusiasts special in 1951, a little while after the good services ended and the track was lifted. The house is now the location of the cities Department of Leisure and Community Services and a Grade II listed building.
Arnold, Nottinghamshire
Arnold is a suburb of Nottingham, England. It is to the north-east of the city boundary, and is in the local government district of Gedling. It has only had a market since 1968, and had a number of factories associated with the hosiery industry...
. It is part of the Borough of Gedling
Gedling
Gedling is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in Arnold. It is part of the Greater Nottingham metropolitan area lying to the North and East of the City of Nottingham....
and lies just next to the city boundary. It is next to the areas of Mapperley
Mapperley
Mapperley is a residential and commercial area of north-eastern Nottingham, England. The area is bounded by Sherwood to the north-west, Thorneywood to the south and Gedling to the east.-History:...
, Daybrook
Daybrook
Daybrook is a suburb of Arnold, Nottinghamshire. The area is located just outside the city of Nottingham but inside the conurbation of Greater Nottingham. It lies next to the areas of Arnold town centre, Sherwood, Woodthorpe, Redhill and Bestwood....
, Sherwood
Sherwood, Nottingham
Sherwood is a largely residential area in the north east of Nottingham, England. It is approximately 1.5 miles North of Nottingham City Centre...
and the main Arnold area.
Woodthorpe is a desirable place to live, with lots of different buildings from different eras. Shops are limited and most residents travel to nearby areas of Mapperley
Mapperley
Mapperley is a residential and commercial area of north-eastern Nottingham, England. The area is bounded by Sherwood to the north-west, Thorneywood to the south and Gedling to the east.-History:...
, Daybrook
Daybrook
Daybrook is a suburb of Arnold, Nottinghamshire. The area is located just outside the city of Nottingham but inside the conurbation of Greater Nottingham. It lies next to the areas of Arnold town centre, Sherwood, Woodthorpe, Redhill and Bestwood....
or Sherwood
Sherwood, Nottingham
Sherwood is a largely residential area in the north east of Nottingham, England. It is approximately 1.5 miles North of Nottingham City Centre...
for local shopping.
Woodthorpe Grange Park
The park is inside the city boundary (which is the southern edge of Woodthorpe Drive at this point). It is one of the largest suburban parks in Nottingham and facilities include a tropical plant house, plant nursery, landscaped gardens with water features, several football pitches, a children's play area and an 18 hole 'pitch and putt' course. The park has a Green Flag AwardGreen Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
and is nominated for the next year.
It was originally forested grazing land, mainly used for pig farming. Woodthorpe Grange was built in 1874 as the family home of Henry Ashwell. In 1889, the Nottingham Suburban Railway was built running north to south across and under the estate. Although he was compensated, Ashwell didn't like this and sold the grange to Edward Parry, who coincidentally designed the railway that split the estate. The NSR was built mainly for the brickworks of Mapperley
Mapperley
Mapperley is a residential and commercial area of north-eastern Nottingham, England. The area is bounded by Sherwood to the north-west, Thorneywood to the south and Gedling to the east.-History:...
and Thornywood, however, there were passenger services to Daybrook
Daybrook
Daybrook is a suburb of Arnold, Nottinghamshire. The area is located just outside the city of Nottingham but inside the conurbation of Greater Nottingham. It lies next to the areas of Arnold town centre, Sherwood, Woodthorpe, Redhill and Bestwood....
and Sherwood Station
Sherwood railway station
Sherwood railway station was a station on the former Great Northern Railway Nottingham Suburban railway in Nottingham. The station lies within Woodthorpe Grange Park in Woodthorpe....
. In 1905, Parry sold the estate to Godfrey Small a Nottingham City Councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
. Meanwhile, the railway was struggling with the opening of the electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
from Nottingham City 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....
to Sherwood. During World War I services were severely curtailed and Sherwood Station closed.
In 1921, Small sold the house to Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is the non-metropolitan district council for the unitary authority of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire. It consists of 55 councillors, representing a total of 20 wards, elected every four years. It is led by Jon Collins, of the majority Labour Party. The deputy leader of the...
for £15,000 (funded by a donation from Sir Jesse Boot. It opened to the public as Woodthorpe Grange Park in 1922. On 10 July 1928 King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
visited the park and 17,000 school children travelled to the event on the NSR to Sherwood Station (which had been re-opened for the event). Passenger services were completely stopped in 1931.
The line opened once more for an enthusiasts special in 1951, a little while after the good services ended and the track was lifted. The house is now the location of the cities Department of Leisure and Community Services and a Grade II listed building.