Creswell

Settlement in Derbyshire Bolsover

England

Creswell

Creswell is a small village located in the county of Derbyshire, England. Situated approximately 15 miles northeast of Derby, it falls within the boundaries of the Bolsover district. With a population of around 5,700 residents, Creswell is a close-knit community known for its picturesque surroundings and rich history.

The village is nestled in the heart of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire coalfield, an area historically renowned for its coal mining industry. Creswell Colliery, once a major employer in the region, closed in 1991, marking the end of an era for the village. Today, the colliery site has been transformed into Creswell Crags, an internationally significant limestone gorge and cave complex that attracts visitors from far and wide.

Creswell offers a range of amenities for its residents, including a primary school, a medical center, and several local shops and businesses. The village is well-connected, with regular bus services providing links to nearby towns and cities.

Nature enthusiasts are drawn to Creswell for its stunning countryside, with the nearby Peak District National Park offering countless opportunities for hiking, cycling, and exploring the great outdoors. In addition to Creswell Crags, attractions such as Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle are within easy reach, adding to the area's appeal for history buffs.

Overall, Creswell is a charming village that combines its industrial heritage with natural beauty, providing a peaceful and welcoming place to live or visit.

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Creswell Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.265408/-1.210889 or Grid Reference SK5274. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View towards Creswell Crags

Taken from gateway next to A616

Stephen Ostler

Robin Hood Line near Creswell

Taken from bridge near Sewage works

Stephen Ostler

Path junction near Frithwood Farm

Just south of Creswell

Stephen Ostler

Farmland near Elmton and Creswell

Crossing field towards Frithwood Lane

Stephen Ostler

West Street in Creswell

Stephen Ostler

Hazelmere Road near Creswell

Neil Theasby

Bus Stop by Peter More Hill

Looking towards Whitwell

Neil Theasby

Legacy of Coal Mining at Whitwell

In this area of North East Derbyshire the underground world is riddled with old coal mine workings that still emit methane which needs to be vented and dealt with by processing stations like this one.

Neil Theasby

Chimney between Whitwell and Creswell

It towers above Steetley Dolomite Works.

Neil Theasby

St Mary Magdalene's Church, Creswell

The foundation stone of this Grade II village church was laid on Tuesday 23 May 1899 by William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland. It was built to designs by the architect Louis Ambler at a cost of £4,500 (equivalent to around £520,000 in 2021)

Neil Theasby

Elmton and Creswell Junction signal box

On what is now known as "The Robin Hood Line"

Neil Theasby

View north from Creswell Station

Neil Theasby

View north along railway path, south of Creswell

It is now possible to walk between Mansfield Woodhouse Station and Creswell Station using a series of good gravel paths suitable for all seasons and crossing landscaped former colliery sites.

Colin Park

Model Village, Creswell

Creswell Model Village is an arts and crafts style model village. The pit village was built in 1895 by the Bolsover Colliery Company to designs by architect Percy B. Houfton for the workers of Creswell Colliery on land leased from the Welbeck Estate. Influenced by garden village principles, it provided the workers with modern facilities; it had a tramway to deliver coal to the houses. Designed around a large oval village green with an access road through the centre, the houses are of varying styles. The Model as it is known, has been refurbished. (source Wikipedia)

Colin Park

Memorial to the 1950 Creswell Pit Disaster

In the early hours of 26 September 1950, a damaged conveyor belt caught in a machine at the colliery, causing the motor to overheat and catch fire trapping 80 men beyond the flames. They all perished as a result of the fumes and smoke. As word of the disaster spread, Creswell residents rushed to the pithead to offer assistance. One miner, who had broken his back several months before, went down the stricken pit, with a back brace on, to rescue his fellow workers. Serious errors prevented the fire from being extinguished quickly and only 57 bodies were initially recovered and 23 remained underground for the best part of a year. The fire was finally put out after the entire colliery had been sealed to starve it of oxygen, and it did not reopen until Easter 1951, when most of the remaining bodies were recovered. The last three victims were recovered on 11 August 1951, nearly eleven months after the fire. The enquiry, presided over by the Minister of Fuel and Power Geoffrey Lloyd, described a number of factors involved in the high death rate, including telephones being too far from the face, repair work being done on the "paddy" (the underground train used to convey the men to and from the lift shaft), inadequate air shafts and low water pressure in the fire hoses. (source Wikipedia)

Colin Park