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Photos of Milton, Derbyshire
Milton is a hamlet established well over
1000 years ago. It lies 6 miles South West of the city of Derby and 1½
miles East of Repton on the way to Foremark Reservoir which marks part
of the boundary between Foremark and Milton.
If you have broadband then you can watch a video of a drive through Milton, Derbyshire.
The
population is around 200 with 80 houses of which 60 are within the village
envelope.
Its
origins are not certain but it is reasonable to presume that Milton was
founded by the Saxons at a similar time to Repton between 500 and 550
AD. The Domesday Book (1086) mentions the Berewite of Middletune (Hamlet
of Milton). Middletune is Old English meaning Middle Farmstead or Estate.
The name changed several times before becoming the present Milton.
From
the late 14th century onwards there are records of various land/property
transactions, including the purchase of the Foremark estate by the Franceys
family in 1387 of which Milton was a small part. This part passed to the
Burdett family when Jane Franceys married Thomas Burdett (1st Baronet)
in 1607. After this there were exchanges of land between the Burdett and
Harpur Crewe families and the purchase by the Burdetts of other lands
in Milton between 1821 and 1826, Milton remained in the possession of
the Burdetts until the death of Sir Francis when the estate was sold to
the Prudential Insurance Company who in turn sold it in 1943 to the present
owners the Church Commissioners for England.
Two
words feature prominently throughout the history of Milton, Hamlet and
Farming. Alongside the farms were the associated activities such as butchery,
tanning and in the 1850s there were still 2 cornmills. A slaughterhouse
was in business at what is now Old Post Office Farm from the 1850s until
the early 1900s and there was also a bakehouse. The post office closed
in the mid 1960s but the village has retained the red telephone kiosk.
The 3-storey brick farmhouses and accompanying farm buildings that dominate
the conservation area of the village today were built in the late 18th
century. In 1890 a timber-framed Mission Room was built for religious
services and is still used as the Village Hall. At the end of the 19th
century Milton Old Waterworks were built and a fishery established to
the South of Mill Farm. The waterworks have since been replaced and the
fishery no longer exists.
Many
changes to buildings took place in the 20th century and life was greatly
improved with the arrival of electricity in 1931 and the provision of
mains water supply to dwellings that was completed in 1950, water previously
being provided by 2 public taps. The final installation of mains sewerage
to all households took place in 1970 doing away with the weekly collection
of sewerage by the Council.
New
properties have been built and conversions made of redundant farms and
buildings. Today there are 2 working farms, both belonging to the estate.
There are 5 Grade II listed buildings, including a dovecote which was
one of only 16 in Derbyshire when it was built in 1766. The Swan public
house still provides a warm welcome to local people and visitors.
Although
the village has seen many changes in the last century, it still has a
very rural character with its one main street and the many paths initially
used for the movement of cattle and sheep have become public footpaths
and bridle paths to provide pleasant walks for residents and visitors.
The Coach House was turned into a Restaurant/Pub around about 1969/70
and renamed. It was reverted back to private ownership in 2000. It also
went back to its original name "Bramcote Lodge" which is the
name it
had when it was built as part of the Burdett estate.
The village has an original classic red phone box on Main street which
was given a grade II listing in January 2005.
Maps
For a local map of the Milton area click HERE.
For a aerial photo with overlayed map click HERE
Google Streetview has captured Milton as you can see here.
I would like to thank Polly Faulkner and Avril Skipper of Milton
for their help in providing historical information about Milton.
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