Stanton By Dale - Part 3 - Stanhope Street & Dale Road
w/e 08 June 2003
For the information about
Stanton By Dale I am indebted to my wife Sandra who conducted
much of the research, the staff at Ilkeston Library for help
with archived material and the Erewash Groundwork Trust who provided
an excellent leaflet packed with information.
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As far as I know there is nothing remarkable
about this view of Stanhope Street and the bright red of the
post box is possibly what attracts the eye most.
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But just a few paces from the post box stands this cast iron
pump. It carries the inscription "Erected in loyal commemoration
of the beneficent reign of Queen Victoria, June 22nd 1897. The
gift of the women of Stanton". Marking the Queen's Diamond
Jubilee, it was made at the Coalbrookdale Foundry, Ironbridge,
Shropshire. Methinks this probably caused some consternation
to the men of Stanton - at least those working at the nearby
Stanton Ironworks!
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There are two pubs in the village and this one, The Stanhope
Arms, takes its name from the Earl Stanhope of Chevening, Kent.
The Earl was a local landowner and in earlier times, the "lay
bishop" of Dale Abbey. When the last Earl died the title
became extinct. The Prince of Wales declined the offer of Chevening
House in Kent which is now used by the Foreign Secretary and
the estate is managed by the Chevening Trust.
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Behind the village cross, a sealed letter box with the insignia
"GR" that was in use until 1990 can be seen in the
wall of the cottage next door to the Stanhope Arms. The octagonal
shaft of the cross and parts of the church are all that remain
in the village from mediaeval times. The fleur-de-lys at the
head the cross dates from 1632.
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We are now moving off Stanhope Street into the mouth of Dale
Road but a look back reveals not only the Village Hall but also
No 4 Stanhope Street directly opposite the Village Cross. This
was the village's first Post Office and the white painted letter
box is still prominent in the wall. We shall see the current
Post Office (at the time of writing - it was closed in 2008)
later in the series.
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We now move around the corner and into Dale Road proper where
the Wesleyan Chapel of 1860 overlooks an interesting variation
on a bird table in the shape of a dovecote. Doves would have
to be pretty small though to get in there.
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