Easy hikes and walks around Alfreton

The history of the estate goes back to Norman times, but by the 17th century it was owned by the Morewood family, who were linked to local industry, mainly in coal mining. The parklands and gardens date from the mid-18th century onwards. The house itself is now in use as a restaurant, conference and wedding venue.

A park donated by Robert Watchorn, in tribute to his wife. There is much more information about the whole Watchorn complex & development and about Watchorn himself on the English Heritage Pastscape website. His story takes him from a cottage on the site where the church was later built and working in Shirland pit to America where he became Secretary of the National Miners Union of America, with a gold medal for his bravery during one mining disaster. He was instrumental in passing the Factory Act, which prohibited children under 14 years of age from working 12 hour shifts in the factories. In 1905 President Roosevelt appointed him Commissioner of Immigration on Ellis Island, New York. By 1916 he was President of his own Watchorn Gas and Oil Company in Oklahoma City, which gave him the wealth to endow various churches, colleges and libraries – including in his home town of Alfreton.

Alfreton’s Watchorn Methodist Church is part of the Watchorn Estate, built by local benefactor Robert Watchorn (1858-1944) in memory of his mother, his son Ewart and Abraham Lincoln, whom he considered the greatest man ever born.

A parish lockup dating from the mid 18th century. There is a raised plaque above it inscribed 'House of Confinement'. The interior has a central corridor with cells to either side. It is an unusually large example of village lockup. They were used for drunks, petty criminals and people waiting to appear in front of the magistrate.

St Martin's Church, Church Street, Alfreton, originally a 13th century church with significant later alterations. The oldest part appears to be the stilted archway from the nave into tower and may be attributed to the commencement of the Early English period. The Decorated Period is in evidence in some of the arches separating the nave from the south aisle, probably dating to c1320, and the moulding of the arch of the south doorway. The tower is early Perpendicular, probably from the commencement of the 15th century. In 1868, the church was enlarged and altered. The chancel was almost completely rebuilt and extended to retain its former size. The church is first noticed at the endowment of Beauchief Abbey between 1172 and 1176 and it is reasonable to assume that the founder of the Abbey was also the founder of the church. None of the work in the church pre-dates this period.

Oakerthorpe Brook runs through the middle of Oakerthorpe NR and feeds a large pond where frogs and toads breed each spring.

Frogs, toads and grass snakes are among the many species to be found on this small nature reserve. There is a short circular walk around the reserve, with a pond dipping platform provided for school groups.

The Cotes Parkland was sold off in small plots during the nineteenth century when the area was being mined for coal and ironstone. Three of the ponds were constructed during the nineteenth century as a result of mining operations, but it is thought that pond 3 is considerably older. In 1942 the area was re-landscaped for public use by Italian prisoners of war and subsequently became very popular for walking and picnicking. The creation of Cotes Park Industrial Estate in the 1970s has isolated the ponds within an industrial and residential landscape. They fell into disuse and decay and suffered from pollution. In the late 1980’s the borough council improved the ponds, which encouraged angling, walking and horse riding, there is an active friends group who have raised funds in partnership with Palmer Morewood Angling Club to install new paths and fishing pegs, the Borough Council have also improved the infrastructure and work with the Environment Agency to combat pollution.