SOMERCOTES: Amber Valley Parish #28 of 35

AMBER VALLEY PARISH #28: SOMERCOTES

Somercotes – “Summer Cottages”

This week in Amber Valley we’re in another mining area, and yes, hearing that you might think its getting a bit repetitious in this part of the world. Well, what can I say, the coal reserves in Derbyshire were big! This is Somercotes, which was once surrounded by no less than five pits. Unlike its neighbours which don’t show many signs of the industrial past they had, Somercotes most definitely does. It is full of them. From the mineworkers houses to the community buildings, this place shows all the classic signs of being a former mining village. Most of it was built after the mines were established, and that’s why this one doesn’t have a lot ancient history.

Having said that, Somercotes does have some. For a start, its name is a big clue. “Summer cottages” is a reference to seasonal grazing when herdsmen would use temporary huts as literal summertime homes. Furthermore, the original Somercotes village was nowhere near its current centre. Instead, it was located along a thin ribbon like road towards Pye Bridge. That settlement still exists today, but its now called Lower Somercotes.

The new village began to take off in the 18th century, when a turnpike road was driven North to Alfreton. And it’s a big place these days.

Let’s dive in and see what we can find

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#Somercotes, #AmberValley, #Derbyshire, #Alfreton, #Derby, #CoalMining, #Collieries, #Churches, #Chapels, #Pubs, #Theatres, #Cinema, #Ironworks, #Railways, #Turnpikes, #Nottingham,

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Greyhound Track:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/h...

Cotes Park:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/m....

Alfreton Works:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/t...
https://her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monumen...

Private Roads:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/2...

Salvation Army Hall:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/c...

Royal Tiger:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/p...

Leabrooks Art Complex:
https://leabrooksartscomplex.com/

Horse and Jockey:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/p...

Recreation Ground/Snooker Club:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/r...

Owen Taylor:
https://www.owentaylor.co.uk/

Somerlea Park:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/s...

Various Bits:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/s...

War Memorial:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/w...

Church:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/c...

Village Hall:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/l....

Peniel Christian Church:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/c...

South Spire Estate:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/2...

Milepost:
https://her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monumen...

Three Horseshoes:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/p...

Premier Electric Theatre:
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/...

Old English Gentleman:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/p...

Devonshire Arms:
https://www.somercoteshistory.co.uk/p...

Birchwood Methodist Church:
https://her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monumen...

Demographics:
https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/e...

Rightmove:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-pri...

Some of the following music tracks may appear in this video:
Brendan Perkins - “Foxsnow” (B. Perkins)
   • Foxsnow  
Brendan Perkins - “Mickey's House” (B. Perkins)
   • Mickey's House  
The Keyhouse - "Voices" (H. Flunder)
   • Voices  
The Keyhouse - "Circles" (H. Flunder)
   • The Keyhouse - Circles (official audio)  
Helen Flunder - "Sun" (H. Flunder)
   • Helen Flunder - 'Sun' (Official Audio)  
Helen Flunder - “Angels” (H. Flunder)
   • Helen Flunder - Angels (Official Audio)  
Helen Flunder - “C Song” (H. Flunder)
   • Caistor and the Lincolnshire Wolds  

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