About Pinxton
Situated on the east side of the county, with a few acres still in Nottinghamshire, Pinxton was in Anglo Saxon times, a tiny and purely agricultural settlement which it remained for centuries.
Circumstancial evidence points to its having been the unidentified manor of Esnotrewic or Snodeswic belonging in 1086 to William Peveril, five of whose 13 Derbyshire manors lay on the eastern border, including South Normanton and Shirland. Under him the manor was held by Drogo Fitz Ponce, who seems to have changed its name to Ponceston from which it evolved to Penekeston by 1208 and eventually to Pinxton.
Coal has been mined on a small scale on land leased from the the great landowners from Tudor times but with the arrival of a branch of the Cromford Canal in the 1790’s a miniature industrial revolution began. Within a decade or so of the canal’s arrival there sprang up, close to its terminal wharf, several deep coal pits, four lime kilns and a china works. John Coke built the china factory and was joined by William Billingsley, a famous painter from the Derby works and together they produced a much sought after product. At its busiest the workforce totalled 50 but the factory closed altogether in 1812 and the buildings were converted in collier’s dwellings.
The early 19th century saw the building of a railway line from Pinxton Wharf to Mansfield. It was horse drawn until 1849 when it became linked to the Erewash valley railway. The population expanded from 463 in 1801 to 868 in 1831 with new housing being built in the wharf district which became known as New Pinxton.
John King who lived in Pinxton invented the mine cage safety detaching hook which became world famous and his old workshop was converted into a small commemoratve museum. In a single room it displays through photograps, documents, artifacts and models a revealing insite into the economic and social history of Pinxton and it’s neighbourhood. A John King Memorial Headgear still stands opposite the Greyhound Inn in the village.
The Coke family who owned much of the village lived at the Elizabethan Brookhill Hall. The last of the male Cokes was the composer Roger Sacheverill Coke who lived at the hall until his death in 1972. He was a personel friend of Rachmaninov by whose style he was much influenced. The house was in a poor state by the time of his death and its splendid grounds has run wild but both have been restored since its return to private ownership after a period as a home for drug addicts and it forms a charming green oasis between the M1 and the Erewash Valley.
The church of St Helen partly dates from medieval times and possibly on the site of a small castle that once existed here. only the west tower and west end of the old church survived a massive rebuilding in 1750 when a new much larger church was built on to it at right angles, converting them into a south tower and transcept and making the whole building look rather odd. A new porch and north aisle were added in 1939. The village also had several methodist chapels built in the 19th century and a new Wesley church was built around 1900 near to the junction of Wharf road and Victoria road.
The village has had a variety of recreational facilities in it’s time with the Miners Welfare providing all manner of sports facilities. There was a billiards hall intil the 1950’s and numerous clubs and societies once existed. A modern industrial estate now sits on the site of the former Brookhall Colliery and coke ovens. New housing estates have sprang up and though the older terraces of colliers houses have gone along with the headstocks and other detritus of mining, Pinxton still looks like a mining village with a community spirit still fostered by a common interest in the coal industry of old.
Coal has been mined on a small scale on land leased from the the great landowners from Tudor times but with the arrival of a branch of the Cromford Canal in the 1790’s a miniature industrial revolution began. Within a decade or so of the canal’s arrival there sprang up, close to its terminal wharf, several deep coal pits, four lime kilns and a china works. John Coke built the china factory and was joined by William Billingsley, a famous painter from the Derby works and together they produced a much sought after product. At its busiest the workforce totalled 50 but the factory closed altogether in 1812 and the buildings were converted in collier’s dwellings.
The early 19th century saw the building of a railway line from Pinxton Wharf to Mansfield. It was horse drawn until 1849 when it became linked to the Erewash valley railway. The population expanded from 463 in 1801 to 868 in 1831 with new housing being built in the wharf district which became known as New Pinxton.
John King who lived in Pinxton invented the mine cage safety detaching hook which became world famous and his old workshop was converted into a small commemoratve museum. In a single room it displays through photograps, documents, artifacts and models a revealing insite into the economic and social history of Pinxton and it’s neighbourhood. A John King Memorial Headgear still stands opposite the Greyhound Inn in the village.
The Coke family who owned much of the village lived at the Elizabethan Brookhill Hall. The last of the male Cokes was the composer Roger Sacheverill Coke who lived at the hall until his death in 1972. He was a personel friend of Rachmaninov by whose style he was much influenced. The house was in a poor state by the time of his death and its splendid grounds has run wild but both have been restored since its return to private ownership after a period as a home for drug addicts and it forms a charming green oasis between the M1 and the Erewash Valley.
The church of St Helen partly dates from medieval times and possibly on the site of a small castle that once existed here. only the west tower and west end of the old church survived a massive rebuilding in 1750 when a new much larger church was built on to it at right angles, converting them into a south tower and transcept and making the whole building look rather odd. A new porch and north aisle were added in 1939. The village also had several methodist chapels built in the 19th century and a new Wesley church was built around 1900 near to the junction of Wharf road and Victoria road.
The village has had a variety of recreational facilities in it’s time with the Miners Welfare providing all manner of sports facilities. There was a billiards hall intil the 1950’s and numerous clubs and societies once existed. A modern industrial estate now sits on the site of the former Brookhall Colliery and coke ovens. New housing estates have sprang up and though the older terraces of colliers houses have gone along with the headstocks and other detritus of mining, Pinxton still looks like a mining village with a community spirit still fostered by a common interest in the coal industry of old.
Walks Around Pinxton
By Councilor John Meredith
Start at the church gates; with your back at the gate. Turn right and walk uphill to go to the left of the large house, walking first downhill on old road then past a large stone to go in to a field, continue downhill with a hedge on the right until a wide track is reached. Turn right on this and walk slightly uphill first with hedge either side then with houses on the right until a road is reached.
Turn left on the road and walk uphill to the A.38 Bridge, just before the bridge turn left and walk down a track with hedge either side for 400 yards. Then angle left down track then in to a field; walk with fence on the right to a metal gate. Through this and walk left on wide track to the point where the walk came down from the church. Walk uphill back to the start.
Turn left on the road and walk uphill to the A.38 Bridge, just before the bridge turn left and walk down a track with hedge either side for 400 yards. Then angle left down track then in to a field; walk with fence on the right to a metal gate. Through this and walk left on wide track to the point where the walk came down from the church. Walk uphill back to the start.
Start at the church gates; with your back to the gate. Turn right and walk uphill to the left of the large house, walking first downhill on old road then past a large stone to go in to a field, continue downhill with hedge on the right until a wide track is reached. At this point walk 1 could be done first to extend the walk. If not turn left and walk down wide track with hedge either side to a metal farm gate; 50 years ago this area was called Tommy Binghams but not now. 200 years ago a horse drawn tramway came down here, it carried coal from old pits from the Fullwood area of South Normanton, to go back of the Sun Inn, over where the Motorway Bridge is now, through Fredrick Gents School down here, to the Pinxton Canal. It stopped being used when the railways came.
Go over a stile at the left of the metal gate, through a field with a fence on the left to the left corner, over another stile and go up a track with fence either side to a large open field, walk through this with a fence on the right to a metalled lane.
This lane was the road to No2 and No3 pits now covered up with pit waste from Pye Hill Pit. Cross the lane go on to waste land; this is the site of No6 pit with its wooden headstocks. Walk with a hedge on the right to a facing hedge and railway line, turn left here to go on a path with a hedge either side and railway on the right to houses. Walk with houses on the right to turn right past the last house, through a narrow gap, to go past the British Legion Pub to a road. This is the area where the Pinxton China factory was.
Turn right and then in 20 yards past the last house go left to go along a path along side the railway line for 200 yards. Then at a metalled road turn left, to go up Mill Lane; no sign of the Mill now. At the top of Mill Lane cross the road and go up Park Lane and so, back to the start.
Go over a stile at the left of the metal gate, through a field with a fence on the left to the left corner, over another stile and go up a track with fence either side to a large open field, walk through this with a fence on the right to a metalled lane.
This lane was the road to No2 and No3 pits now covered up with pit waste from Pye Hill Pit. Cross the lane go on to waste land; this is the site of No6 pit with its wooden headstocks. Walk with a hedge on the right to a facing hedge and railway line, turn left here to go on a path with a hedge either side and railway on the right to houses. Walk with houses on the right to turn right past the last house, through a narrow gap, to go past the British Legion Pub to a road. This is the area where the Pinxton China factory was.
Turn right and then in 20 yards past the last house go left to go along a path along side the railway line for 200 yards. Then at a metalled road turn left, to go up Mill Lane; no sign of the Mill now. At the top of Mill Lane cross the road and go up Park Lane and so, back to the start.
Start at the side of house no 54 at Woodfield Road. Go down the side of the house, under the motorway bridge on a tarmac track. Then walk through a field by walking 150 yards with hedge on the left, then angle right to walk 100 yards with hedge and brook on the left to a footbridge over Maghole Brook. Looking back the path should angle over the field but there is no path over the crops. Maghole Brook is the main drainage for this area; a feeder to the River Erewash.
Go over the bridge and walk slightly uphill with a hedge on the right to a small wood. To the right can be seen some buildings. Red Hall used to be situated there; older residents stated that there was a tunnel from the Hall which passed under this wood to Brookhill Hall; may have been needed in times past Civil War etc.
Over a stile, through the wood to a metal gate with sort of stile on its left. Go over the stile then immediately go right in front of the metal gate to walk steeply uphill with the metal gate behind and the hedge to the right, the stile is at the top of the hill in the facing hedge 50 yards from the right corner. Looking behind there is an impressive view of Pinxton and Brookhill Hall, spoilt by the motorway. Looking at the geology of Pinxton from here it looks as though the Erewash Valley and surrounding feeders were glacial formed. This area is called the Cliff.
Go through the stile and cross the field with a hedge and farm on the left, through a stile and out in to a farm lane. Turn left on this, then in 30 yards go right, go 60 more yards then go left. Go past a stile on the right, do not take this; it goes on to Kirkby and Boar Hill with its views of Derbyshire and Crich stand. A few more yards on, the farm track goes to a wooden narrow gate with a metal farm gate on its right, go through the wooden one and walk downhill on a narrow track with hedge either side with good views to the left, many flowers adorn this track in spring with a good variety of bird life. At the bottom there is an area of woodland called the Dumbles: in spring this area is a mass of colour with Wild Garlic and Wood Anenomies to name a few. Go through the wood cross a stream; a feeder to Maghole Brook and climb uphill out of the wood to walk a field with a hedge on the left, then an open field, keep going in the same direction onto Brookhill Lane. To the right 50 yards is where the Great Central railway line came through with express trains from London to Sheffield and Manchester. Its main express train was called the Master Cutler: The Flying Scotsman and Mallard has been known to haul it. It was the straightest and fastest route north from London, but Beecham's economics killed it Turn left and walk downhill on the road. The second field on the right has a path, which goes to the Retail Park: also Pinxton and South Normanton Castle; sadly all than now remains is a mote. Carry on past Brookhill Farm on the left. Past Bluebell Wood on the right, on to Brookhill Hall Lodge with its impressive gates; looking through these the half moon lake can be seen to the right.
Carry on the road to the Motorway Bridge, go under then either carry on to Woodfield Road then turn left or immediately go left over a stile to walk through a wood, spoilt I'm afraid by man's waste being deposited, go downhill to a facing fence, turn right and walk by the side of a house to get on to Woodfield Road. Turn left to get to the start.
Go over the bridge and walk slightly uphill with a hedge on the right to a small wood. To the right can be seen some buildings. Red Hall used to be situated there; older residents stated that there was a tunnel from the Hall which passed under this wood to Brookhill Hall; may have been needed in times past Civil War etc.
Over a stile, through the wood to a metal gate with sort of stile on its left. Go over the stile then immediately go right in front of the metal gate to walk steeply uphill with the metal gate behind and the hedge to the right, the stile is at the top of the hill in the facing hedge 50 yards from the right corner. Looking behind there is an impressive view of Pinxton and Brookhill Hall, spoilt by the motorway. Looking at the geology of Pinxton from here it looks as though the Erewash Valley and surrounding feeders were glacial formed. This area is called the Cliff.
Go through the stile and cross the field with a hedge and farm on the left, through a stile and out in to a farm lane. Turn left on this, then in 30 yards go right, go 60 more yards then go left. Go past a stile on the right, do not take this; it goes on to Kirkby and Boar Hill with its views of Derbyshire and Crich stand. A few more yards on, the farm track goes to a wooden narrow gate with a metal farm gate on its right, go through the wooden one and walk downhill on a narrow track with hedge either side with good views to the left, many flowers adorn this track in spring with a good variety of bird life. At the bottom there is an area of woodland called the Dumbles: in spring this area is a mass of colour with Wild Garlic and Wood Anenomies to name a few. Go through the wood cross a stream; a feeder to Maghole Brook and climb uphill out of the wood to walk a field with a hedge on the left, then an open field, keep going in the same direction onto Brookhill Lane. To the right 50 yards is where the Great Central railway line came through with express trains from London to Sheffield and Manchester. Its main express train was called the Master Cutler: The Flying Scotsman and Mallard has been known to haul it. It was the straightest and fastest route north from London, but Beecham's economics killed it Turn left and walk downhill on the road. The second field on the right has a path, which goes to the Retail Park: also Pinxton and South Normanton Castle; sadly all than now remains is a mote. Carry on past Brookhill Farm on the left. Past Bluebell Wood on the right, on to Brookhill Hall Lodge with its impressive gates; looking through these the half moon lake can be seen to the right.
Carry on the road to the Motorway Bridge, go under then either carry on to Woodfield Road then turn left or immediately go left over a stile to walk through a wood, spoilt I'm afraid by man's waste being deposited, go downhill to a facing fence, turn right and walk by the side of a house to get on to Woodfield Road. Turn left to get to the start.
Start at Pinxton Church gates, with your back to he gates, look to the wood in the distance, the walk goes through there, walk uphill right to the top of Park Lane, then go to the left of the large house, and walk downhill on a track that gets narrower then past a large stone to enter a field, carry on downhill with the hedge on the right to the bottom and enter a wide track.
Turn left for 10 yards, then angle right on the wide farm track with a hedge either side. Carry on the track angle left and pass a metal gate on the right; which is a path to the A.38. This is the area where a tramway came from the Fullwood area of South Normanton, behind the Swan Pub, over where the motorway bridge is now, over this area and down to the canal. It brought coal from the small pits in the area, coal tubs hauled by horses: 200 years ago. But when the railways came it became uneconomic and was closed. Carry on the track until a gate in front is reached. Go over a stile on the left, an impressive glacial valley ahead, go steeply downhill with a fence on the left to a facing hedge and brook. Cross the brook by a footbridge and go through the hedge.
Go uphill towards the farm, go along side the farm to get out on a road Birchwood Lane. Turn left on the road and walk downhill until a drive is reached on the right, turn left and walk on the left hand side of the drive, to eventually come to a stile on the left and one on the right.
The stile on the right leads to Somercoates, the one on the left leads downhill to the bottom of the valley but is now closed at the bottom; it used to lead to Pinxton Church, the path then carries on downhill with Long Wood on the left and a fence on the right. Carry on past a metal gate on the right and walk downhill on a narrow track with hedge either side; Longwood Hall used to be on the right. At the bottom of the hill, angle right with fence on the left and hill behind it on a wide track which leads on to a wide concrete track; which must be the spot where the Plymouth Pit was.
Turn right here over some more concrete, over a stream; notice the old pit water reservoir on the right, then at the end of the concrete section go left through a gap in the hedge to walk 60 yards with hedge on the left to a gap on the left; the road on the right goes to the Erewash Canal.
Go through the hedge gap, and go steeply uphill with fence on the left, then curve to the right. Then just before the railway bridge go left downhill at the side of a telegraph pole. At the bottom of the hill carry on, on a wide track with the hill on the left and railway on the right, where the hill finishes and there is some waste ground turn left to follow the fence on the left; this is the spot where there was a tunnel to No 6 Pit under the railway. Come to a metalled lane; which was the road to Longwood Hall, No 2 Pit and the Plymouth Pit; but now ended here by the spoil from Pye Hill Pit.
Cross the road and enter a large field, walk with the fence on the left; notice the impressive view of Pinxton Church on the hill to the right, this must be its best aspect. Come to the left corner of the field and go down a narrow track fence either side to two stiles, this is the spot where the missing path No 11 should go to the left. Take the one on the right to go downhill to a hedge and bridge go through this and walk uphill through a track with fence either side, then through new housing back to the church. Stout boots are needed on this walk in winter.
Turn left for 10 yards, then angle right on the wide farm track with a hedge either side. Carry on the track angle left and pass a metal gate on the right; which is a path to the A.38. This is the area where a tramway came from the Fullwood area of South Normanton, behind the Swan Pub, over where the motorway bridge is now, over this area and down to the canal. It brought coal from the small pits in the area, coal tubs hauled by horses: 200 years ago. But when the railways came it became uneconomic and was closed. Carry on the track until a gate in front is reached. Go over a stile on the left, an impressive glacial valley ahead, go steeply downhill with a fence on the left to a facing hedge and brook. Cross the brook by a footbridge and go through the hedge.
Go uphill towards the farm, go along side the farm to get out on a road Birchwood Lane. Turn left on the road and walk downhill until a drive is reached on the right, turn left and walk on the left hand side of the drive, to eventually come to a stile on the left and one on the right.
The stile on the right leads to Somercoates, the one on the left leads downhill to the bottom of the valley but is now closed at the bottom; it used to lead to Pinxton Church, the path then carries on downhill with Long Wood on the left and a fence on the right. Carry on past a metal gate on the right and walk downhill on a narrow track with hedge either side; Longwood Hall used to be on the right. At the bottom of the hill, angle right with fence on the left and hill behind it on a wide track which leads on to a wide concrete track; which must be the spot where the Plymouth Pit was.
Turn right here over some more concrete, over a stream; notice the old pit water reservoir on the right, then at the end of the concrete section go left through a gap in the hedge to walk 60 yards with hedge on the left to a gap on the left; the road on the right goes to the Erewash Canal.
Go through the hedge gap, and go steeply uphill with fence on the left, then curve to the right. Then just before the railway bridge go left downhill at the side of a telegraph pole. At the bottom of the hill carry on, on a wide track with the hill on the left and railway on the right, where the hill finishes and there is some waste ground turn left to follow the fence on the left; this is the spot where there was a tunnel to No 6 Pit under the railway. Come to a metalled lane; which was the road to Longwood Hall, No 2 Pit and the Plymouth Pit; but now ended here by the spoil from Pye Hill Pit.
Cross the road and enter a large field, walk with the fence on the left; notice the impressive view of Pinxton Church on the hill to the right, this must be its best aspect. Come to the left corner of the field and go down a narrow track fence either side to two stiles, this is the spot where the missing path No 11 should go to the left. Take the one on the right to go downhill to a hedge and bridge go through this and walk uphill through a track with fence either side, then through new housing back to the church. Stout boots are needed on this walk in winter.
Parish Rights of Way
