Hucknall

Hucknall is situated seven miles (11.26 kilometres) north-west of Nottingham on the west bank of the Leen Valley, on land which rises from the Trent Valley in the south to the hills of the county north of Kirkby-in-Ashfield. The Whyburn or 'Town Brook' flows through the town centre, and Farleys Brook marks its southern boundary. The town's highest point is Long Hill which is 460 feet (140 metres) above sea-level.

Apart from the southern link to Nottingham, the town is surrounded by farmland. To the north-west lie Misk Hills and Annesley. To the north-east town are the villages of Linby and Papplewick. Beyond them is Newstead Abbey, once the residence of Lord Byron. To the west lies Eastwood, birthplace of D. H. Lawrence, and the inspiration for many of his novels. To the east of the town is Bestwood Country Park. The areas of Butler's Hill and Westville often appear as distinct entities on maps, but are generally considered as part of Hucknall.

[edit] History

Hucknall was once a thriving market town. Its focal point is the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, next to the town's market square. The church was built by the Saxons and completed after the Norman Conquest, though much of it has been restored during the Victorian era.

From 1295 until 1915, the town was known as Hucknall Torkard, taken from the name Torcard. Signs of the old name can still be seen on some of the older buildings in the town.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, coal was discovered and mined heavily throughout the Leen Valley, which includes Hucknall. This brought increased wealth to the town along with the construction of three railway lines.

[edit] Place-name meaning

Hucknall was recorded as Hokeuhale (n.d.) and Hokenale (n.d.), suggesting "nook of land of Hōcanere (a tribe", from Old English halh (haugh). This same tribe's name occurs in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

In the Domesday Book (A.D. 1086) the name appears as Hochenale (volume 1, pages 288-290).

[edit] Transport

The town is the northern terminus for the Nottingham Express Transit tram system as well as sharing a station on the Robin Hood Line. There is also a stop at Butler's Hill/Broomhill. The town used to be on the A611 but now this has bypassed the town to the west with a very wide single-carriageway road with roundabouts, with access to junction 27 of the M1.

[edit] Education

The National School Technology College is on Annesley Road at the north end of the town, near the roundabout of the B6011. The Holgate Comprehensive School is on Hillcrest Drive in Beauvale, to the west of the bypass. It has an athletics track. The National School achieves good results in relation to other schools in Nottinghamshire. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Industry

[edit] Mining

It was a major coal mining town at one time. The Hucknall Colliery Company, formed in 1861 sank two shafts, Hucknall No. 1 colliery (known as "Top Pit") in 1861 (off Watnall Road) and Hucknall No. 2 colliery (known as "Bottom Pit") in 1866 (off Portland Road). No. 1 closed by 1943, and No. 2 closed in 1986.

[edit] Rolls-Royce

Hucknall Airfield was built in 1916, which became RAF Hucknall. From 1927, Rolls-Royce began using the airfield for flight tests. During World War II, the aerodrome at Hucknall was the location of the first flight of a P-51 Mustang fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine. The fitting of the Merlin, replacing the existing Allison V-1710 engine allowed the Mustang airframe to reach its full potential and achieve spectacular high altitude performance, something the Allison engine could not provide. In the early 1950s, the Rolls-Royce site at Hucknall developed the world's first vertical-takeoff jet 'aircraft' - actually, a test rig, officially called the Thrust Measuring Rig, but soon nicknamed the "Flying Bedstead" because of its shape. The first untethered flight, piloted by Capt. Ron Shepherd, took place on 3 August 1954 before a distinguished audience. The rig rose slowly into the air and hovered steadily. It then moved forward, made a circuit of the area, then demonstrated sideways and backwards movements before making a successful landing. The flight was a tremendous success and during the next four months a number of free flights were made, up to a height of 50 ft. There are pubs in Hucknall called The Flying Bedstead and The Harrier. Rolls-Royce's flight test centre closed in 1971, but engines are still tested and manufactured at the site in Westville.

During World War 2, a German prisoner-of-war, Franz von Werra, attempted to escape by posing as a Dutch pilot and flying off in a Hurricane fighter. He was the only German to succeed in returning to the Reich. His exploits can be seen in the film 'The One That Got Away'.

[edit] Textiles

Framework knitting was once the predominant industry in Hucknall.

[edit] Garden Products

One of the most important local firms in Hucknall is Doff Portland. The company has grown to become the UK's largest independent manufacturer of insecticides, weedkillers, other pesticides, fertilisers and garden products sold nationally through garden centres, independent DIY retailers and large retail multiples. Doff is one of Europe's largest producer of premium slug killer pellets. In addition, Doff provides extensive contract formulating and packing opportunities for third parties. [1]

[edit] People

Lord Byron (poet, philosopher and revolutionary) is buried in the parish church (on 16 July 1824).
Countess Ada Lovelace (1815 - 1852), Daughter of the Poet Lord Byron, is buried in the church. She is credited as being the first programmer, having assisted in realising the potential of Babbage's analytical engine.
A native of Hucknall was Eric Coates, whose compositions include the theme music for The Dam Busters movie, and the "Sleepy Lagoon" introduction for Desert Island Discs.
Ben Caunt (1815-1861), a bare-knuckle fighter, known as "The Torkard Giant", who became 'Champion of England'. more information about his life by one of his descendents
Enoch 'Knocker' West (1886-1965), a footballer who played for Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. In 1915 he was banned from playing football for 30 years for allegedly fixing a match. He protested his innocence until his death.
Philanthropist Zachariah Green (1817-1897). Buried in the local Parish church. Has a monument to his memory in Titchfield Park.
Robin Bailey (1919-1999), actor.
Dave "Watto" Watkins. Local town jester and stamp collector.

[edit] Sport

The town's football team is Hucknall Town F.C.. Founded in 1945, originally as a colliery team (Hucknall Colliery Welfare FC), changing its name to Hucknall Town in 1987 after closure of the pit. Over the seasons they have risen steadily through the non-league pyramid and have won many honours. They currently (2006) play in the Conference North, and in 2005 reached the final of the FA Trophy. Rolls Royce Leisure F.C. are based near the fire station at the Rolls Royce Leisure Sports Ground on Watnall Road.

Hucknall Cricket Club, founded 1890. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs currently play in various leagues of the South Notts. Cricket League.

[edit] Government

The local council is Ashfield District Council.

[edit] External links

Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire
Unitary authorities:	Nottingham
Boroughs/Districts:	Ashfield • Bassetlaw • Broxtowe • Gedling • Mansfield • Newark and Sherwood • Rushcliffe
Cities/Towns:	Arnold • Beeston • Blidworth • Carlton • Cotgrave • Eastwood • Hucknall • Kimberley • Kirkby-in-Ashfield • Mansfield • Mansfield Woodhouse • Newark • Nottingham • Rainworth • Retford • Ruddington • Stapleford • Southwell • Sutton-in-Ashfield • West Bridgford • Worksop See also: List of civil parishes in Nottinghamshire