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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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