The 20th Century

As mining in the area became more intensive and the influence of the Oakes family increased, the population of Somercotes began to rise. With this sharp growth in the workforce came the need for new housing and all of the attendant infrastructure. As well as the miners and ironworkers, there were, by 1904, eight butchers, four fried fish dealers, seven farmers and one pawnbroker all listed in the various trade directories.

THE EARLY 1900's
THE WAR YEARS, 1914
THE POST-WAR YEARS, 1920
THE PARISH IN THE 1930's
THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 1939
THE SALE OF A VALUABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE, 1942 [BY SLHS & JUDITH FITZHUGH]
THE COTTAGE FARM ESTATE, 1947
THE SOUTH SPIRE ESTATE, 1957
CLOSURE OF THE HEAVY INDUSTRIES, 1960’S

1. THE EARLY 1900’s

By the early 1900s, Somercotes had begun to grow into the village that is seen today, with much of Nottingham Road and the High Street being developed. However, the increase in population and the necessary infrastructure to house everyone began to have serious consequences which were often raised at meetings of the Urban District Council.

To illustrate some of the issues a transcription of an article published in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald on 10 March 1900 follows: “A DISGRACEFUL WATER SUPPLY – Regarding the water question in the district, Mr Beastall rose and complained about the distribution of water in Somercotes, which was constantly short of water. It was on his proposition in committee that the Council decided not to seek any further loans for the more adequate supply of water, and his contention was that the water could be distributed without recourse to such proposals. It was unfair for one part of the district to continually have water while Somercotes had to take their luck, as it were. He advocated the turning off of taps in some portions of the district, so that Somercotes could get a chance. Something must be done”. The meeting continued and it was agreed that all necessary steps should be taken to secure an adequate water supply. Such problems were occurring due to the rapid increase in house building. By this time, the population of Somercotes and Leabrooks was outstripping that of Alfreton. Properties were in great demand as workers travelled from far afield to settle in the area. This was emphasised by many estate agents selling both land and property. An advert dated June 1900 for Messrs. William Watson & Son, a well-known Alfreton auctioneers read “SOMERCOTES – FREEHOLD MESSUAGES… All those seven freehold messuages or dwelling houses with Gardens and Appurtenances thereto belonging, situate and being in Cinder Road, Somercotes… producing an annual rental of £43 17s 6d. The property is in the midst of Collieries and Ironworks where houses are in great demand…”

It was well-known that sanitation and general living conditions were the major players in the fight against disease. The Annual Report for 1903, written by the Chief Medical Officer for the district, Dr. Edward Gaylor was the 31st such report that he had produced. In it he reported that “… the general condition of the Alfreton District is very greatly improved, and will bear comparison, with any district of its area, and population, of any place in Derbyshire.”

During 1903, the main causes of death were bronchitis, pneumonia and premature birth. Diarrhoea, caused almost entirely by insanitary conditions, attributed to the death of many infants, but by the turn of the 20th century the number of cases were declining. Of notifiable infectious diseases there were still a surprising number of cases being recorded, although a downward trend could be seen in the figures:

NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
1894	81
1895	452
1896	314
1897	90
1898	118
1899	147
1900	221
1901	107
1902	45
1903	49

Dr. Gaylor’s report mentions all of the main diseases prevalent at the time, which are almost all unheard of today. During 1903, ten children died of whooping cough, but Dr. Gaylor states his belief that “…this may be looked on as a non-preventable disease.” Although only one death in 1903 was attributed to measles, the previous year saw eleven children die of this disease. Even Small-Pox was recorded, with seven cases during the year, even though vaccination for this disease had long been introduced. Dr. Gaylor reported “It is always puzzling to me, how anybody can make up their minds to risk having small-pox rather than submit to a simple process like vaccination.”

By 1903 the laying of water mains and sewage pipes throughout the district was well under way. Most toilets, however, were not at the time connected to the sewerage system, and although progress would be steadily made, even in the 1960s there were some parts of the urban district that had not been connected to the sewer system. Virtually all toilets in the district were outside pail-closets and the luxury of an indoor bathroom would not be achieved for some of the population of the area until the 1970s. In 1903, however, some progress had been made. Dr. Gaylor reported that “There are at present six separate sewer outfalls, where the sewage is dealt with by chemical precipitation and land irrigation; both these systems are very costly in a large scattered district like Alfreton.” Of public works carried out during 1903, Dr. Gaylor stated that building work “…appears to be going on all over the district and in most of the new roads and streets the sewering has been carried out.” The Annual Report stated that around 75 new houses were built in 1903 and Dr. Gaylor went on to recommend that those houses should be connected to the water supply and “…have water closets.” As land was sold for development the new streets and roads created were initially in private hands, but the Urban District Council began to adopt them as public roads. One example is Victoria Street, Somercotes, established shortly after the sale of the land in 1877. A notice in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 6th April 1901 read “A PRIVATE STREET – It was decided to take steps towards declaring Victoria Street, Somercotes a public road”. It is interesting though that Mansfield Street, which bisects Victoria Street and the High Street, Somercotes was not adopted, and remains a private road.

The end of the report for 1903 concluded with a table recording the births and deaths for the district, which is part transcribed below:

ALFRETON URBAN DISTRICT
YEAR	POPULATION*	BIRTHS	DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR	ALL DEATHS
1893	15,704	610	98	290
1894	15,880	583	72	277
1895	16,178	581	99	216
1896	16,385	593	91	286
1897	16,703	594	103	286
1898	16,911	594	110	276
1899	17,181	558	98	286
1900	17,418	576	78	288
1901	17,560	633	97	241
1902	17,560	591	87	233
1903	17,840	635	93	254

*Population figures are estimated to the middle of each year.

NUMBER OF INHABITED HOUSES

3,515

As can be seen from the figures, the birth rate in the Alfreton Urban District far exceeded the rate of death. In fact the birth rate for the area was much higher than the average rate for England and Wales as a whole, which in some places was actually declining at that time.

The increase in the population, together with inadequate basic supplies brought insanitary conditions to the area, allowing disease to spread quickly. An outbreak of diphtheria took hold in 1906, reported by the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald on 10 November that year: “DIPHTHERIA AT SOMERCOTES – Serious Outbreak – The Medical Officer’s report showed that there were no signs of an abatement of diphtheria. There had been three fatal cases. The centre of infection was the Somercotes district where there had been 31 out of 37, and others came from Jacksdale. The disease was now of a malignant type and if it developed the question of the closing of schools must be considered. He recommended that those responsible for keeping a register of attendances at the various schools in the district be requested to send home children who returned to school from infected families before the period of three weeks had elapsed since the commencement of illness in such families as shown on the register…” In December 1906 new cases of diphtheria were less prevalent, but it took much longer for the disease to completely disappear.

By 1908, the Medical Officer for Health was Dr. Sydney Bingham. His report went into greater detail with regard to the infrastructure of the district. For example, in regard to the supply of clean water he stated that “… practically every house in the district is supplied from the mains.”

Despite the obvious privations, the influx of families continued, driven by the need for steady, reasonably paid work. The coal and ironmasters continued their support of the community, and slowly the conditions improved and the villages began to flourish.

PHOTO: Nottingham Road, Somercotes, 1906

2. THE WAR YEARS, 1914

The outbreak of war in August 1914 would eventually bring with it its own misery to the villagers of Somercotes and beyond. In a scenario repeated all over the country, many men left their jobs and enlisted in the army or navy, leaving behind their parents, siblings and spouses. As the war progressed the steady trickle of official telegrams informing the next-of-kin that their loved ones had died slowly increased. The War Memorial at Somercotes, unveiled in 1927 is testimony to the grief felt by the local population. On it are listed several sets of brothers, a father and son, and many close friends. On 1st July 1916 alone, during the first day of the Somme offensive, seven Somercotes Parish soldiers were killed in action. The last soldier to be killed during the war lost his life on 4 November 1918, just seven days before the Armistice, although several more are known to have died after this as a direct consequence of the war.

On 1 January 1916, conscription was introduced for all single men and childless widowers. The Military Service Act imposed conscription on all men aged between 18 and 41, but exemptions were made for the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker. In June 1916 conscription was extended to include all men between these ages. Military Service Tribunals were established by Urban Districts and other local councils to hear applications for exemption from military service and to mediate on behalf of those conscripted and the military representative. The tribunal for the Alfreton Urban District included such local well-known figures at the time as George Beastall and James Oakes. The tribunal could either insist that the individual enlist, defer entry or issue an exemption. They could also order a person to be medically examined. The results of the tribunal were often published in local newspapers, and make for interesting reading. A few have been transcribed below:

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – 16 March 1916

“At the Alfreton Tribunal a Somercotes motor engineer and dealer appealed on the grounds that he was indispensable to the local doctors and traders, while his religious beliefs would not allow him ‘to kill or have revenge against my biggest enemy’”. When asked the question by the Tribunal to what religion he belonged, the motor engineer stated that he was a member of the New and the Latter House of Israel, and had been for 18 years. Total exemption from conscription was granted.
“A Somercotes herbalist (40) pleaded that if called up all his business would be lost – Exemption refused”.

Derbyshire Courier – 22 July 1916

“A Somercotes painter and decorator appealed for one of his men, a painter and plumber. He was the only man he had left out of eight, and he could not carry on without him. Granted total exemption.”
“A Leabrooks coal carter appealed for exemption on the grounds of financial hardship. He stated that he left the mine because of his sight and was now carting for the Cotes Park Colliery. Granted total exemption.”
“Mr F Ball, sub-postmaster at Leabrooks appealed on the grounds of financial hardship. He was also a general dealer and photographer. His wife could not carry on the business. Granted exemption.”

Far from all the appeals presented to the Tribunal ended with an exemption, although many men whose appeal was dismissed were granted time to sort out their affairs before joining the Colours.

Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal – 23 March 1917

“PYE BRIDGE APPEAL DISMISSED – Mr H S Clifford appeared in support of an appeal by a Pye Bridge farmer, licenced victualler and worker at a chemical factory passed in Class A – The appeal was dismissed, but the Tribunal made an order for appellant not to be called up for 14 days.”

Ripley & Heanor News – 4 May 1917

Mr Rogers, wholesale greengrocer, Lower Somercotes, appealed for an employee. Hy. Townsend, aged 25, single, who had been twice rejected [probably on medical grounds] and was now passed C3. Six months, with right of appeal.”
“Hy. Oakley. Aged 23, of Pye Bridge, passed B2, who had been told to obtain work of national importance, was granted exemption so long as he continues his present employment at the Pinxton Coke Works.”

In April 1918 the age limit for conscription was raised from 41 to 51 years, and this change is reflected in the number of men seeking exemption in the newspaper reports.

Ripley & Heanor News – 28 June 1918

“Mr Searsby, solicitor, stated the case for R B Jackson, Grade 2, landlord of the Horse & Jockey, Somercotes. Mr Jackson’s whole savings were invested in the business. He was previously a miner, and was prepared to resume that occupation in order to release a younger fit miner. Six months with leave was granted, the condition being that Jackson work not less than four days weekly on work of national importance.”

Belper News – 2 August 1918

“The Alfreton Tribunal on Monday had before them Albert Joynes (35), a Somercotes hairdresser, whose case created considerable surprise when he was recently before the Tribunal on a medical card Grade 1. It was obvious to most of the Tribunal that he had been incorrectly graded, and a local petition supported a suggestion that he should be re-examined as an act of justice. The Tribunal took that course, and now Joynes has been put in Grade 3. When he received his six month exemption Mr. Beastall informed the members that Joynes had never charged a soldier or sailor for his services… “

At the beginning of the war there was no set list of vocations that were critical to the war effort, and many local workers left their employment in the collieries, ironworks and farms to enlist in the armed services. These vacancies had to be filled by others, and such was the need for skilled and manual workers that many of those that were exempted in the Military Service Tribunals were seconded to the collieries, farms and ironworks.

Women too started to play their part in the war effort. Although it was illegal for women to work underground, many found employment in agriculture and more specifically at the Riddings Ironworks. With this came a new found freedom for women, and although the work was hard, the pay was reasonable and the independence it gave was important. On the census return of 1911, many young women were described as “domestic servants”, but within a few short years, the war would radically change this.

An electoral register was compiled in the spring of 1918, but those people who were serving in the Armed Forces away from home were entered onto an “Absent Voter List”. The number of men recorded on this list for the parish of Somercotes was an astonishing 379, especially when considering many had already returned home having been discharged as no longer fit for duty, mainly due to wounds received during action. The names of 81 servicemen are also listed on the Somercotes War Memorial.

At the wars end, the soldiers began to slowly return. By the end of 1919, most had returned home. Those lucky enough would find their old jobs waiting for them, but for some it was a hard struggle.

[Further information, especially on the servicemen, can be found in the “War Years” tab]

3. THE POST WAR YEARS, 1920

The years after the First World War were anything but stable. Economic depression and unemployment affected all parts of the country, and the Alfreton Urban District did not escape. The Oakes family sold the Ironworks at Pye Bridge in 1920 to the Stanton Ironworks Company Ltd of Ilkeston. With the sale, no doubt, came uncertainty about the future. Many of the collieries by this time had closed, or had been absorbed into larger complexes. In 1920, only the deep mines of Cotes Park, New Birchwood [Shady], Lower Birchwood and the Swanwick Collieries were still open within the parish.

During the early years of the 20th century the population was still growing and families from all over the country came to live and work in the district. At the time of the census taken in 1921, the population for the Alfreton Urban District stood at 20,472, but by 1925 this had grown to an estimated 21,900. The number of inhabited houses, just 3,515 in 1903, had grown to 4,693 in 1925. That year there were a total of 470 births and 246 deaths. Despite being considered as an area of heavy industry with its associated pollution and perceived early death figures the comparison of birth and death rates with the rest of England and Wales was favourable, as can be seen from the following table:

Figures per 1000 of the population, 1925
	Alfreton Urban District	County of Derby	England & Wales
Birth rate	21.46	20.42	18.30
Death rate	11.23	11.45	12.20
Infant Mortality	59.50	78.40	67.00

Dr. Bingham’s report for 1925 showed a marked improvement in the quality of both services and care of the population within the Alfreton Urban District, but the pace of change was slow. By 1925 though, the County Council provided a Maternity and Child Welfare Centre at the Salem School, Somercotes and the Congregational Room at Riddings as well as centres in Alfreton and Ironville. There were, according to the 1925 Annual Report, six District Nurses in the area provided by the Alfreton Nursing Association, the Somercotes Nursing Association, The Blackwell Colliery Company and also a District Nurse at Ironville. There was, however, no co-ordination with the local Health Authorities. Midwives were also practising, with 3 at Alfreton, 2 at Somercotes and one each at Riddings and Ironville, reflecting the birth rate for each area.

Some of the housing stock within the district, particularly within Somercotes and Riddings, was, by 1925, relatively old. However, Dr. Bingham stated in his report that “The housing in the District as a whole is fairly satisfactory. Much work has been done in the last five years under the Housing Acts, and generally speaking, all absolutely essential work has been done. In a district that has been industrialised for so many generations it is to be expected that many of the houses are of a type that in few respects satisfy modern ideals…” The report stated that the number of inhabitants per house, of all classes was 4.45, but again Dr, Bingham records that “A large number of houses in the District – I do not know how many – are occupied by more than one family and herein lies overcrowding, but on the other hand the families are smaller.”

The council had already built houses within the district, partly to eliminate the housing shortage but also to upgrade the housing stock, and at the end of 1925 tenders were being invited for the erection of a further sixteen houses on Victoria Street, Somercotes. The report also included the number and type of toilets, as these figures were seen as a strong indicator of the progress being made to the infrastructure of the district and the ongoing battle against disease. Although most of the toilets would remain outdoors, the need to convert all of them to a water-closet type connected to the main sewer was seen as a priority. At the end of 1925 the estimated numbers reported within the district were:

Privy middens	136
Pail Closets	2693
Slop water closets	57
Trough water closets	6
Water-closets	2159

Coal miners had been on strike many times over pay and working conditions, including a major strike in the area in 1912. They went on strike again in 1921, and joined the General Strike of 1926. During the strike of 1926, a large proportion of the population of Somercotes and the surrounding villages found themselves without work. Although the strike was initially solid many employees drifted back to work, and the Dundee Evening Telegraph of 11 May 1926 summed up the mood at the time “LESS ENTHUSIAM FOR STRIKE… Stanton Ironworks, Derbyshire, where four thousand men are employed, resumed work this morning. Alfreton Ironworks, belonging to the same company, are also working, though not at full strength.” The general strike continued officially until 13 May 1926, when it was deemed that support among the workers was not sufficient to carry on.

The Ripley & Heanor News was just one local newspaper that ran reports on the lasting effects of the strike. Their paper, published on Friday 4 June 1926, ran the following article: “FEEDING THE CHILDREN – SOMERCOTES – The ‘Feed the Children’ efforts which are being made in Somercotes and Leabrooks districts have received considerable help from outside. Ripley Co-operative Society has allocated £18 value in goods. Rev. W H Mason, pastor of London Wesleyan Church, and a native of the district has forwarded £5, the result of a collection amongst his congregation. Four meals were provided to nearly 1,000 children last week, seven public buildings being utilised as feeding stations. House to house collections, donations from tradesmen and ‘rings’ have helped to swell the total…”

Although the General Strike had ended, further disputes, however, did persist, especially with the colliery workers, who walked out of the collieries again in September the same year. The hardships caused friction amongst families and friends alike, and the newspapers reported daily occurrences of intimidation and violence. Coal picking too, although illegal, was also prevalent. As late as 30 December 1926, the Derby Daily Telegraph reported: “OUTCROPPING AT ALFRETON – Henry Edward Parker, a joiner of Lower Somercotes, was charged at Alfreton Police Court on Wednesday with doing damage to a property belonging to Miss Wing, of whom he was a tenant. The complaint against the defendant was that he engaged in outcropping during the strike on land near his house without authority. It was stated that much coal had been taken out of the shaft, which was about 30 feet deep… Parker was fined £1. 1s. and he was ordered to pay £5 damages and costs £2 7s. or in default one month’s imprisonment ”

Perhaps the distress caused during this period is best reflected in the following extract from the Somercotes Parish Magazine dated September 1928. “It is with sincere gratitude that we have noted slight improvement in the industrial conditions in the parish. We hope that they will continue to improve and we shall have a season of prosperity in succession to the years of adversity, which we have had for some time”.

The year 1927 saw the 10th anniversary of the Armistice and this event saw celebrations in Somercotes both for servicemen and women. The Ripley & Heanor News, published on 18 November reported: “SOMERCOTES - Armistice celebrations were held in the Parish Church, Somercotes, on Thursday evening last, when a service for women was well attended. The preacher was the Rev. W. P. Stamper, vicar of Stonebroom. The collection was for the Women's Hospital, Derby. This was followed by a service for men on Sunday afternoon when the church was crowded, and many were unable to gain admission. There was a parade of Territorials, British Legion, ex-Service-men, Boys' Brigade, and Boy Scouts, who met at Leabrooks, and headed by Swanwick Colliery Silver Prize Band, marched to the church, via Leabrooks, High Street, and Nottingham Road, Somercotes. Alfreton Urban Council was well represented. The service was very impressive, the preacher being the Rev. J. F. Woreley Boden, rector of North Wingfield. The offertory was for Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.”

In 1927 boundary changes to the Somercotes & Riddings wards within the Alfreton Urban District were proposed and passed. The Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal on 13 January reported that: “The order made by the County Council for an alteration in the boundaries of the Somercotes & Riddings Wards of the Alfreton Urban District had been duly confirmed, reported the boundaries committee.” Under the order, a part of the industrial section of Alfreton was transferred to Somercotes and an area of Sleetmoor Lane was transferred to the Alfreton Ward.

By the end of the 1920s stability was returning to the district and improvements were being made in most areas. Even the telephone was making inroads to life in the area. The Ripley & Heanor News, published on 1 March 1929 reported that: “The rural telephone service was also being developed, and seven new exchanges had been established during the year. Riddings and Somercotes exchanges had been combined to form the new Leabrooks exchange.”

PHOTO: The Ironworks in 1923

4. THE PARISH IN THE 1930’s

After the privations of the previous decade the 1930’s were, by contrast, a decade of prosperity and stability. The small hamlets to the south of Alfreton had all grown, but Somercotes had now become the dominant village in terms of its size and population. The hamlets of Birchwood, Pennytown and Muckram had virtually all been absorbed by their bigger neighbour, and due to the expansion in building over the previous years, the boundaries between Somercotes and Leabrooks had become blurred. Pye Bridge, at the time within the parish of Riddings, would have looked essentially as it does today.

For over a century the majority of the working population had found work in the heavy industries of the collieries and the foundry at Pye Bridge, but by the 1930s the textile industry was also beginning to play a small but significant role in the employment of women.

In 1930, the Government made changes to the Housing Act, removing previous grants and subsidies to local councils except for new houses built to replace slum clearance. Despite much of the old housing stock requiring modernisation or clearance, the Alfreton Urban District Council was not able to finance wholesale demolition or replacement dwellings. A few privately funded houses were built in the district, but overall the number of houses constructed was much lower than in the preceding decades.

Religion was still a major part of many people’s lives, and was reflected in the number of churches and chapels within the parish. Kelly’s Trade Directory of 1932 contains a short history of the village and also lists the religious buildings at the time:

The Church of St. Thomas, erected in 1852 and rebuilt (with the exception of the old chancel) in 1902, is an edifice of brick and stone, consisting of chancel and nave: the chancel was built and stained glass window inserted at the sole expense of Thomas Haden Oakes esq. JP of Riddings House: there is also a stained [glass] window, inserted in 1922, by George Beastall esq. JP in memory of Mrs Beastall: in the church is a lead tablet unveiled in 1920 and in the churchyard a marble cross, erected in 1927, both dedicated to the men of the parish who fell in the Great War 1914-18: there are 412 sittings… At Birchwood there is a mission room connected to the church. The Primitive Methodist Chapel, built in 1898, has 250 sittings, and there is also another at Lea Brooks, built in 1905. There is also a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, built in 1860. A United Methodist Chapel at Sleetmoor Lane built in 1867. One at Birchwood, built in 1853 by John Smedley esq. late of Riber Castle and a third at Lea Brooks, erected in 1859 and rebuilt in 1896. The Salvation Army hold their services and meetings in a corrugated iron building, erected in 1894, in Sleet Moor Lane and holding about 300 people. The Christadelphians have a meeting room in Lea Brooks Road.

During the latter half of the 20th century there was a serious decline in the numbers regularly attending church and chapel, and by the end of the century only four places of worship in Somercotes and Leabrooks would survive.

By 1937 the Annual Report, again written by Dr. Bingham, contained further details of the improvements to the housing stock, but also other information relating to roads and highways. The year 1937 saw the introduction of several pedestrian crossings in the district, including the ones on Nottingham Road, Somercotes and across High Street, Somercotes, at the junction with Sleetmoor Lane. That year also saw the completion of the new canal bridges at Pye Bridge and Ironville which replaced the original structures built when the canal was first constructed in 1795.

Despite a slower period of construction the building of council houses continued. A contract for the erection of 44 houses on Wheatley and Smedley Avenue was let in 1938, and the highways were improved by the installation of a small traffic island at Leabrooks Corner (to be replaced many years later by traffic lights). The 1938 Annual Report included an interesting paragraph regarding the efforts made for Air Raid Precautions. A survey of the Alfreton Urban District was carried out, and where required, extra fire hydrants were installed. A First Aid Post, to be established at Marshall Street, Alfreton was entrusted to the Alfreton and Somercotes Divisions of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. Despite the beginning of World War Two being many months away, and no absolute certainty that war was inevitable at the time, efforts were being made to ensure that should war happen, all parts of the country would be prepared. By the end of 1939, the Urban District had one Heavy Rescue Party, three Light Rescue Parties and two Decontamination Squads, mainly recruited from council employees. The Council stables on Somercotes Market Place were converted into a Decontamination Depot by the Derbyshire County Council and into motor garages and ARP stores by the Urban Council. The Urban Council had operated a stable for horses at Somercotes Market Place for many years, and owned acres of land in the district for grazing and haymaking for the horses. By 1939, however, the change to motor transport had long been underway, and the council owned five motor vehicles at this time. Haymaking had become unprofitable for the council, as by the end of 1939 they had considerably fewer horses, so the grazing land was let to farmers. In 1939 the only land used by the council for grazing purposes was at Cotes Park.

Perhaps the most significant historical document to be produced at this time was the 1939 Register, which recorded the names, address and occupation of each household in the district. The Register was to be used for the production of identity cards and ration books, but it is not possible to record the many names that appear in the Register here.

5. THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 1939

The declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939 no doubt came as no surprise to most of the population. Such was the resignation of local newspapers that it hardly made a mention in any of the editions published in the following days. Unlike the Great War of 1914-1918, the Second World War did not have the same impact, although for the families and friends of the servicemen who lost their lives during this conflict, the impact would have been much the same. A total of 20 servicemen are listed on the Somercotes War Memorial.

Many of the working men were carrying out work considered as vital to the war effort and would be placed in reserved occupation status. This included the miners who worked underground and the skilled men at Riddings Foundry. As in the previous war, much of the work done by men who did enlist was taken by women, especially in the foundries at Pye Bridge and Codnor Park.

While the collieries continued to produce coal for the nation’s factories and railways, the foundry began to switch production to the manufacture of bomb and shell casings. The government, knowing in 1939 that insufficient capacity was available for the manufacture of ordnance, began to contact companies with a view to constructing new, purpose built factories. The Stanton Ironworks Company was one of several who agreed, and in September 1941, the Stanton Gate Bomb Plant was opened. Skilled workers such as moulders, pattern makers and maintenance fitters from the foundry at Pye Bridge were seconded to the Bomb Plant for the duration of the war, and were not released back until late August 1945.

6. THE SALE OF A VALUABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE, 1942 [BY SLHS & JUDITH FITZHUGH]

In the early 1930’s the Babbington Coal Company sold their Somercotes and Birchwood estate to the Sheepbridge Iron & Coal Company of Chesterfield. The estate included the Birchwood Collieries Complex [New Birchwood and Lower Birchwood] and farms, land and property throughout the parish.

The collieries closed in 1941, and a year later on 12 August 1942 an important sale on behalf of the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company took place. In this sale large areas of Somercotes, Lower Birchwood, New Birchwood and Cotes Park were sold by auction. The auction was widely publicised in local newspapers, including the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 7 August 1942. The notice included a short history of the estate, which reads as follows: “SOMERCOTES ESTATE TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION - A Somercotes estate, formerly belonging to the Seely family, will be offered for sale next Wednesday at the Church Hall, Somercotes, by Mr. Ernest S. Mitchell, of Chesterfield, by order of the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co. This estate was purchased close upon a century ago by the first Sir Chas. Seely who began mining developments in the Birchwood area and extended them to Tibshelf, where the Nos. 1 and 2 Collieries were sunk, and later the Nos. 3 and 4. The former two collieries were closed many years ago, and the family under the style of the Babbington Coal Co. carried on the others, the head of which was Lord Sherwood, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Air Ministry, and the grandson of the first Sir Chas. Seely. A few years ago the family disposed of their Nottinghamshire coal interests to the Bestwood Co., and the Sheepbridge Co. acquired their Derbyshire mining concerns and other properties some years ago. The Company closed the Tibshelf Nos. 3 and 4 collieries, and last December for economic reasons they closed down at Birchwood. A row of houses to be sold, Seely Terrace, will retain memories of the family who built the property. The cricket field, long the home of the local cricket club, and the venue for all kinds of village fetes, sports etc., will come under the hammer. The former residence of the manager of the colliery, Bircholme," now occupied by the Vicar of Somercotes (Rev. C. G. F. Clarke) is among the lots for sale. The gross annual income, excluding fee lots in hand, is £1,758 9s 7d.”

The sale took place at the Church Hall on Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes and was conducted by Mr. Ernest S. Mitchell on behalf of Messrs. Davies Sanders and Co. Solicitors of Nottingham and Chesterfield. The freehold estate was divided into 32 lots consisting of 260 acres, 111 houses, several farms, allotments and cottage gardens as well as extensive woodland, ponds, a cricket field and a colliery site. A booklet of the particulars and sale conditions was available to potential buyers in advance of the sale.

MAP: Map showing auction lot nos: 1, 2, 15, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32

The lots were as follows:

LOT No	DESCRIPTION	REALISATION AT AUCTION
1	Eight houses with frontage to Somercotes Hill, 1-8 George Street or Naylor’s Yard and a plot of garden ground near to No. 1	£1,210 Mr L Jepson
2	Dwelling house, outbuildings and gardens known as Rachel Cottage, Birchwood Lane	£115 Mr T Cook
3	Nether Farm, Birchwood Lane (43 acres)	£1,125 Mr E Watson
4	Three houses, 1,2,3 Birchwood Lane	£260 Mr F Lee^[1]
5	Shady Farm, Lower Birchwood (54 acres) also two cottages, 4 and 5 Birchwood Lane	£1,750 Mr H Simpson
6	Two dwelling houses, 8 and 9, Smotherfly	£120 Mr F Lee^[1]
7	A block of six dwelling houses known as Bonsall’s Row and a close of old grassland	£470 Mr E H Hunt
8	Detached dwelling No. 41 Birchwood Lane	£210 Mr J Varley
9	Detached dwelling No. 40 Birchwood Lane	£335 Mr W Topham
10	A pair of dwelling houses 39 and 38 Birchwood Lane	£250 Mr Todkill
11	Two houses 37 and 36 Birchwood Lane	£160 Mr A E Prince
12	“Bircholme” a detached residence situated off Birchwood Lane^[8]	£1,100 Mr Mountain^[2]
13	Gin Cottage, 30 Birchwood Lane	£110 Mrs Burt
14	Allotment Gardens	£500 Mr F Lee^[1]
15	Piece of land on Birchwood Lane	£120 Mr F Lee^[1]
16	Penny Town Farm (35 acres) and small holding, including three dwelling houses	£2,000 Lee Son & Coupe^[4]
17	Piece of old grassland off Birchwood Lane	£50 Mr H Gadsby
18	Swiss Cottage, just off Birchwood Lane	£275 Mr W Marriott
19	Twenty-six houses, land forming site of Lower Birchwood Colliery and access to the railway main line (30 acres) ^[4]	£775 W Bush & Sons
20	Pair of brick dwelling houses 3 and 4 Victoria Cottages, New Birchwood	£200 Mr F Lee^[1]
21	Pair of brick dwelling houses 1 and 2 Victoria Cottages, New Birchwood	£310 Mr H Gadsby
22	Closes of land, reservoir and ponds, including part of Pennytown Wood	£500 Mr F Lee^[1]
23	Pair of dwelling houses 11 and 12 Cotes Park	£405 Mr Mountain^[2]
24	Three houses 6,7,8 Cotes Park	£235 Mr Mountain^[2]
25	Land frontage to Nottingham Road^[5]	£360 Mr F Lee^[1]
26	Somercotes Cricket Ground^[6]	£950 Mr F Lee^[1]
27	Old Farm (41 acres) and two cottages	£2,100 Mr W Hunt
28	Ten houses Seely Terrace 5-14	£720 Mr G Piccaver
29	Ten houses Seely Terrace 15-24	£660 Mr F Lee^[1]
30	Ten houses Seely Terrace 25-34	£620 Mr Doar
31	Eight house Seely Terrace 35-42^[7]	£630 J G Severn & Co
32	A block of gardens known as Belle Vue, Seely Terrace.	£700 Mr G A Beasta

Notes:

[1] Purchased on behalf of Alfreton Urban District Council

[2] Purchased on behalf of an unknown client

[3] Mrs Burt was the tenant

[4] Lot 19 consisted of the old Birchwood Collieries site of just over 20 acres, and almost the entire hamlet of Muckram. The area became a scrap and recycling yard run by W Bush & Sons (now Sims Metals)

[5] Lot 25 is now the site of the Pilkington Glass factory. The land was just over 10 acre in size.

[6] The Cricket Ground was converted to a Greyhound Stadium and Football pitch which opened in 1955. It is now the site of the NHS Distribution Centre

[7] Lot 31 included the former premises used as the Somercotes Institute & Club, founded by Sir Charles Seely. In 1942 it was under a lease of ten years (expiring in 1945) held by Mr J G Severn of Alfreton, who purchased the entire Lot.

[8] “Bircholme” was the former residence of the manager of Birchwood Colliery. At the time of the auction it was occupied by the vicar of Somercotes, the Reverend C G F Clarke. In the auction catalogue it states that the house is leased to “…Mr C A M Oakes for the period of the War and six months thereafter at the annual rent of £60, the tenant paying the rates”

The sale of the Sheepbridge estate in Somercotes would have a great effect on parts of the village over the following years, particularly in respect of the hamlet of Muckram and the old Birchwood Collieries site.

7. COTTAGE FARM ESTATE, 1947

The history of the Cottage Farm Estate starts in 1934, when the Alfreton Urban District Council purchased land from the Cottage Farm at Lower Somercotes. The Belper News, published on 11 May 1934, reported on a council meeting as follows: “… They had also purchased the Cottage Farm at Lower Somercotes for £1,175 for the purpose of their horses, while 3½ acres would be used for a tip.”

The land seems to have continued to be used for grazing and farming for many years after the purchase. On 10 November 1939, the Council advertised land to let in the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald: “Farmers and Graziers are invited to submit tenders for renting land situate at Lower Somercotes and known as Cottage Farm, and containing 16½ acres or thereabouts. The house and buildings and croft adjoining are excluded…”

By 1947, a decision had been taken to build on the land. Tenders were invited for the “construction of roads and sewers, Cottage Farm Housing Site, Somercotes” as published in the Derby Daily Telegraph of 28 March that year.

The estate was quickly developed within a couple of years. Although officially known as the “Cottage Farm” estate, it was also widely referred to as the “Windmill” estate, due to the proximity on its south eastern boundary with the site of the Riddings Windmills, which still existed at the time. The main access to the estate off Nottingham Road was named Windmill Rise.

Additional land acquisition with the purchase of the Springfield Poultry Farm off Quarry Road in the mid-1950’s expanded the estate further, which is how Springfield Crescent came to be named.

PHOTO: Baker Close, Cottage Farm Estate, c.1955

The building of the Cottage Farm estate coincided with an increase in the workforce required for the textile industry. The Cellular Clothing Company opened a factory on Nottingham Road, known for many years as the “Aertex Factory”, in the late 1940’s and expansion of the premises continued into the early 1950’s and beyond. Everlastic Ltd had also opened their factory off Somercotes Hill around the same time, increasing the need for a predominately female workforce.

As some of the older housing stock throughout the Alfreton Urban District was demolished, families were moved to the newer housing estates [the Firs Estate at Alfreton was built at around the same time]. The population of Somercotes continued to grow with this increase in house building, and unemployment in the district was relatively low.

8. SOUTH SPIRE ESTATE, 1957

With the development of the Cottage Farm Estate, the Urban District Council began to look further at replacing some of the housing stock that was considered unfit for purpose. In the 1950’s, the policy of local government was not to improve existing housing stock, but to demolish and replace structures that were condemned as being unfit for habitation. The Belper News published on 16 December 1955 reported on a meeting held by the Housing Committee: “SLUM CLEARANCE PROCEEDING – The report showed the probable effect on the housing revenue account with the decision of the Housing Committee to proceed with the erection of houses on the Somercotes South Spire site, and also to provide for slum clearance for which a subsidy will still be granted… the Council decided to go ahead with plans to build 60 houses next year on the Somercotes South Spire Site. It is intended to erect 12 three bedroomed houses, 36 two bedroomed houses and 12 bungalows”.

The following year, tenders were invited for the construction of roads and sewers at the proposed estate, and in June 1957, tenders were requested for the erection of houses and bungalows, although by then, 68 dwellings were proposed.

Despite the early building activity, the South Spire Estate was slow to develop. The main building programme did not take place until the late 1960’s. A report by the Housing Committee was published in 1970, part of which read: “HOUSING – With the increased availability of new houses on the South Spire Estate at Somercotes, a fresh impetus has been given to the slum clearance programme. Most noticeable of the clearance schemes have been those relating to Fletchers Row, Ironville, Brailsford Row, Swanwick and Lawton Terrace, Alfreton”.

During 1970, the erection of 78 council houses and four bungalows were started, as an extension to the estate. The estate would continue to develop, with many of the houses being built in the mid-1970’s. Many of the last streets to be constructed were named after the members of the famous 1975 Everest Expedition, led by Sir Chris Bonnington.

During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, demolition of the condemned houses began. In Somercotes, several were demolished on Birchwood Lane, a complete row of back-to-back houses on Mill Street were razed, and perhaps the best known, Coupland Place was completely re-developed. Many of the families living on Coupland Place were rehoused on the South Spire Estate.

9. CLOSURE OF THE HEAVY INDUSTRIES, 1960’S

The 1960’s saw the greatest changes in the parish since the beginning of the area’s industrialisation. During this decade, both the Cotes Park and Swanwick Collieries closed, and the Riddings Foundry at Pye Bridge, owned at the time by the British Steel Corporation, closed on Friday 13th June 1969.

Whilst the textile industry may have been considered to be flourishing, this business sector predominately employed women, whom, it must be said, did not enjoy the same pay rates as those working in the collieries or the foundry. With some forethought, the Alfreton Urban District Council had already made plans to establish an industrial estate in the district, and had also purchased land for development. As the collieries and foundry closed, the industrial estates took their place. With the additional advantage of the proximity of the M1 Motorway and the construction of the A38 [known locally at the time as the Alfreton By-Pass and which opened in 1969 as the A615] relatively large companies began to move or expand into the district. The Cotes Park Industrial Estate was the first to be developed.

Some of the first companies to move onto the Cotes Park Industrial Estate were Jersey Kapwood, Plyglass, Griffiths Laboratories and the Milk Marketing Board [as they were then all known], followed over the years by many more. Even with the additional land created by the closure of the Swanwick Collieries [now Nix’s Hill Trading Estate] and the Foundry at Pye Bridge [now Pye Bridge Industrial Estate] more was deemed necessary, and the estates were expanded. The hamlets of Pennytown and Muckram, long scheduled for slum clearance, were razed and have all but disappeared. In the latter part of the 20th century much of the ancient parish of woodland and pasture has been swallowed by the industrial estates and housing developments, but these necessary changes have helped to keep the local community, including the parishes of Alfreton and Riddings, viable.