Stanton By Dale -
Part 5 - In The Centre Of The Village
w/e 10 August
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.
Having returned
along the length of Dale Road following our last visit, we are
now almost back in the centre of the village. But before we reach
it, there is time to admire the flowers on the wall of this building
opposite the Methodist Chapel.
And the building
in question, to the right of this picture is part of Manor Court.
Previously it formed some of the outbuildings to Manor Farm but
these have now been converted into modern dwellings.
A triangular
oasis where the three main roads through the village meet form
a natural village green. Stanhope Street is to the left, Dale
Road behind and Main Street to the right.
Having already explored the
roads from Ilkeston and towards Dale Abbey our route from the
green will follow Main Street and take us in the direction of
Risley and Sandiacre.
Just off the green where signs
of the recent changes to the road markings are still visible
is the entrance to Stanton Hall Nursing Home. Notice that some
of the trees are already beginning to show autumnal shades even
though we are still enjoying the heights of summer with temperatures
around 30°C (86°F).
Once through the entrance the
grounds open up to reveal a mainly nineteenth century building.
Fund raising events are occasionally held here but the grounds
are not normally open to the public. The Hall holds an important
place in the history of the area as it was home to one Benjamin
Smith who became known as "The Ironmaster". Leasing
mineral rights from Earl Stanhope, he was the instigator of what
in later years became the renowned international company of Stanton
Ironworks. The Crompton family who later owned the ironworks
also lived in Stanton Hall.
Click the links below to see
other pages from this series about Stanton By Dale.
