Photo Gallery

Addressing Huthwaite

Chesterfield Road

Covering mid section along Chesterfield Road recognises succulent name given steep south slopes of a distantly visible landmark. Strawberry Bank also presented nearest reference historically recording highest point in Nottinghamshire. Location must therefore acknowledge when Strawberry Bank used to generally reference a remote area furthermore spanning entire meadow lands above.

Strawberry Bank

Harper Lane extended northwest path beyond Back Lane directly edging steep Strawberry Bank drop on left. All roadside housing progressively replaced right side meadows. Initial Factory Yard corner since caused severest busier width restriction for motorists.

Detailed 1884 contour mapping just happened to assert exactly where the counties locally contended record heights had measured 669ft. Date confirms planned purpose behind siting a water reservoir, obviously nearby as updated 1900 map reveals. Piping fresh mains supplies had then finally enabled rapid residential expansion. Oddly, few took early advantage to enjoy magnificent views.

Huthwaite Urban District Councillors began first phase of their Chesterfield Road residential scheme from 1932. Initial 40 houses completed following year quickly realised how desperate demand was. Presenting first ten council properties to chosen tenants handed keys to misters R. Ashmore, J. Birch, H. Clipstone, H. Davies, P.J. Elliott, L. Hague, T. Reddington, H. Sevens, G. Ward and E. Burrows. Addressing Clegg Hill Drive and Pennine Close discovers latter ends nearest the undistinguished highest spot.

Pushing council plans forward for another 40 houses also encouraged private builders. Comparing relatively spacious rooms against typical earlier terraced rows, these council houses ensured future compliance with health standards. Good sized airy gardens along with standard connections to water and gas was bettered by newest introduction of mains electrics and piped sewerage.

Amenities were all a good walk away, but only real concern came when elder pupils were firstly forced to attend a Huthwaite Road senior school in Sutton. School bus services had to be arranged again from 1977, when transferring all junior pupils into an Ashfield Comprehensive school. Photo proves bus drivers used to negotiate Clegg Hill Drive until parked cars congested streets.

Right corner into Clegg Hill Drive had provided one shop front, realising an 1980s Co-operative general store and off license last run by Anne?

Independent and business developers ultimately filled length beyond an outgrown redundant reservoir. Owner buyers personally named their Harper Lane homes, until fully numbering all Chesterfield Road addresses adding sectional postcode NG17 2QF.

Last remnants of an original farmers croft dates times Lord of the Manor owned rear meadows. A titled Duke of Portland granted permission for crofters farming lands before gradually selling off held estates. Redevelopments very often adopt past recognition.

Two unanimously chosen rather obvious addresses finalised Huthwaite Council's Chesterfield Road housing scheme. Crescent of houses above Strawberry Bank was addressed Strawberry Bank later post coded NG17 2QG. Taking loftier NG17 2QH postcode behind them to also gain outward panoramic views is the circular Woodland Avenue. Name was previously favoured by councillors firstly siting here their 1933 prefab isolation hospital. They'd reflected historic placement plus influential owners of the Woodland Farm cottage long remotely situated below. Woodland predated and may have even suggested original Woodend farm, where road enters Whiteborough after slightly easing drop through sharp Z bends passing the currently titled Woodend Farm Complex.

Ashfield District Council prominently placed a roadside stone mounted plaque above natural slopes, where a residential Strawberry Bank crescent branches off Chesterfield Road. Vantage point simply offers panoramic views towards distant southern landmarks. A well applauded reason lay behind acknowledging accepted highest natural location, although it raised a highly contentious subject.

Strawberry Bank always had presented a highly visible natural landmark, Looking up south face of Strawberry Bank from Blackwell Road, and west face from Chesterfield Road in Whiteborough shows housed summit gains distincter skyline helping locate distant position sighted from miles around. And that certainly does include off Crich Stand about eight miles away.