Shipley Country Park
- From The Lake To The Pond
w/e 28 September
2003
After last
week's visit to Alton Towers, we thought it only right to give
the theme park on our own doorstep, the American Adventure, a
passing glance. So looking towards Ilkeston - the tower of St
Mary's Church is visible just right of centre on the horizon
- from Shipley Hill, the steelwork of the white knuckle rides
can be seen on both sides of Shipley Lake.
|
The "passing
glance" was enough so turning our backs on the theme park,
we walked through the trees to the site of Shipley Hall. The
hall was demolished in 1943 due to mining subsidence. Much of
the land that now forms the Country Park was owned by the Miller
Mundy family. The family moved out in 1922 and both the hall
and the grounds were neglected for over 20 years.
|
Many well
established trees survived though and the park, now owned by
the Derbyshire County Council is once again well maintained.
It is always a pleasant place to visit throughout the year but
especially at this time of year when the leaves start to take
on their autumn colours.
|
Although the hall was demolished,
two lodges remain. This one called Derby Lodge, also beginning
to show its seasonal colours, now opens its doors as a tea room
to the visiting public.
|
This area of the East
Midlands is on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire coalfield and
much of Shipley Country Park is on land reclaimed from the mining
industry to form a new landscape. Here by the side of Shipley
Lane, about twenty Canada Geese had forsaken Osborne's Pond to
take up squatter's rights on the rolling grassland. The park
is now a peaceful and tranquil place even though urban areas
such as Marlpool seen here above the trees are never very far
away.
|
But once you are down by Osborne's
Pond, perhaps with a fishing rod in hand, urbanity disappears
and you could easily get lost in your own thoughts about the
wonders of creation.
|
