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Photos of Smalley, Derbyshire, England
Smalley is located six miles north-east of Derby on the A608 and A609 meet. Heanor
is the nearest town which is about a mile north of Smalley. The name originates
from "Smael leah" which meant narrow clearing a tranquil spot,
surrounded by forest.
As you enter Smalley from the south you will find two old watering troughs
on the left side of the road. These are easily missed as they are lower
than the level of the road. These were once used by cattle being driven
to Derby cattle market by drovers.
In 1610 the Richardson family bought the Smalley farm estate, with coal
workings under the local clay. In the 18th century the brothers founded
a Colliers' Charity, which benefited the village miners, and also endowed
a free school for twelve poor boys which was built in 1721.
The parish church of Saint John the Baptist houses a chime of five bells.
They were given by the rev Charles Kerry, who was born in Smalley, and
whose tomb is in the shade of the ancient yew in the churchyard.
A bell-tower was built to house this gift in 1912. This chime of five
bells is the heaviest in England!
The largest bell weighs over 40cwts. The church was built in the 18th
late century on a much earlier site. In the wall of the porch is inserted
a 7th century Saxon Cross.
The Round House built in the 18th century, once one of Smalley's most
distinguishing features, was a toll house. Toll Houses were erected when
local authorities were made responsible for the upkeep of the roads that
passed through their parish. The Smalley one was demolished in 1956.
To view a photo of it on the picturethepast website click HERE
Stainsby Hall has been the home of the Sitwell family since 1785. The
old house was demolished in 1971-72 and replaced by a Spanish-style ranch.
On Bell lane you will find smalley dam, Bell lane is so-called because
of the bell-pits where once miners dug coal for Abbot of Chester in medieval
times before Henry VIII took away the lands of the monasteries. The house
on the corner of Bell lane stands on the site of the first Bell inn where
miners quench their thirst.
The Smalley Dam was created at the end of the 18th century by John Redford,
of nearby Smalley Hall, the High Sheriff of Derbyshire. During the 20th
century it became silted up after years of neglect. The Smalley Community
Project took on the task of its restoration and removing of silt. Gradually
the area, presented by its owner to the village in 1990.
In the main part of the village lookout for a milepost on the ground,
this is an original cast-iron milepost put in position in 1764 when the
Derby-Mansfield road turnpiked. There are estimated to be 7,000 milestones
in the UK, 250 of which are to be found in Derbyshire.
Smalley has two village pubs, The Bell inn and the Nag's head, both located
on Main road.
Maps
For a local map of the Smalley area click HERE
For a aerial photo with overlayed map click HERE
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