Stanton By Dale -
Part 3 - Stanhope Street & Dale Road
w/e 08 June
2003
For the information about
Stanton By Dale I am indebted to my wife Sandra who conducted
much of the research, the staff at Ilkeston Library for help
with archived material and the Erewash Groundwork Trust who provided
an excellent leaflet packed with information.
|
|
As far as I
know there is nothing remarkable about this view of Stanhope
Street and the bright red of the post box is possibly what attracts
the eye most.
|
But just a few
paces from the post box stands this cast iron pump. It carries
the inscription "Erected in loyal commemoration of the beneficent
reign of Queen Victoria, June 22nd 1897. The gift of the women
of Stanton". Marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it was
made at the Coalbrookdale Foundry, Ironbridge, Shropshire. Methinks
this probably caused some consternation to the men of Stanton
- at least those working at the nearby Stanton Ironworks!
|
There are two
pubs in the village and this one, The Stanhope Arms, takes its
name from the Earl Stanhope of Chevening, Kent. The Earl was
a local landowner and in earlier times, the "lay bishop"
of Dale Abbey. When the last Earl died the title became extinct.
The Prince of Wales declined the offer of Chevening House in
Kent which is now used by the Foreign Secretary and the estate
is managed by the Chevening Trust.
|
Behind the village cross, a sealed letter box with the insignia
"GR" that was in use until 1990 can be seen in the
wall of the cottage next door to the Stanhope Arms. The octagonal
shaft of the cross and parts of the church are all that remain
in the village from mediaeval times. The fleur-de-lys at the
head the cross dates from 1632.
|
We are now moving off Stanhope
Street into the mouth of Dale Road but a look back reveals not
only the Village Hall but also No 4 Stanhope Street directly
opposite the Village Cross. This was the village's first Post
Office and the white painted letter box is still prominent in
the wall. We shall see the current Post Office later in the series.
|
We now move around the corner
and into Dale Road proper where the Wesleyan Chapel of 1860 overlooks
an interesting variation on a bird table in the shape of a dovecote.
Doves would have to be pretty small though to get in there.
|
