Eastwood, Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution

(S/E) Facing the front of The Sun Inn (A) take the road to its right (North), Mansfield Road (A608), continue down the hill as it leaves the town. Continue on the right-hand side of the road crossing minor roads to the right until reaching the bridleway sign. Opposite Eastwood Hall.

(1) Turn right off the road onto the bridleway (B). Continue along this until you reach a T-junction; turn right (South-East-East). Walk on until the junction of paths. Here turn left (North-East) continuing along the path and going under the former railway bridge.

Coming to a junction of paths, follow the path to the right. The path becomes a road (Phoenix Road) as it enters the industrial estate. Follow this as it bends to the right. Come out onto a road (Enghine Lane). Here you turn left (North-East) and walk up the hill. Before the brow of the hill cross and turn right into the park at Colliers Wood.

You face a lake. Walk around the lake on the left side and follow the path to the right until you reach a T-junction (do not turn into the car park). Here turn left (North-East) and follow the path around. You come to an information board; continue straight ahead, come out at a road (B600) at Moorgreen.

(2) Turn right (South-East) and walk up the roadside past the Garden Centre. Cross the road to continue on a pavement. Between Moorgreen village and Moorgreen Reservoir is High Park Wood (C). (An extension to the walk can be taken, turning left out of Colliers Wood and walking up to the reservoir. The wood is on its right.)

Continue to walk along the B600, passing the Horse and Groom on your left. Do not turn right towards Eastwood. Cross the road after passing the pub, and continue to Greasley Church ahead.

(3) Turn right into the Church (D) car park and follow the sign to the church, initially right, then to the left to the front of the church. Continue past the front of the church, going through a gate into a field. Walk straight ahead across the next five fields (E), going through the gates, towards a row of housing. The path eventually follows to the right of a row of trees. Walk on to a T-junction and, unable to go ahead further, turn right (North-West).

(4) Follow this path ahead, turning left through a gate behind houses then quickly right onto a footpath between houses to reach a road. Turn left down the road (F), Main Street, continue to the bend on the road to the left.

(5) At this point turn right at the footpath number 202. Follow the path to the end to exit onto Salcombe Close. Cross the road to a footpath a few yards to your right. Follow this path between houses onto Peters Close. Walk ahead to Dunster Road and a playing field facing you. Access to the field is on your right. Follow the path at the side of the playing field to exit into Dovecote Road (F). Turn left (South-West) and follow B6010 up to Nottingham Road.

(6) At the Nottingham Road turn right and follow the road on to Eastwood (G). On your right you will pass the War Memorial on the corner with Edward Road. Continue to the Sun Inn. (S/E)

Take care crossing all roads. Footpaths, pavements, and fields. Gates but no stiles.
Park: Car park behind the Sun Inn
Start: The Sun Inn, Mansfield Road, Eastwood. OS ref. Explorer 260-455 470

More information at Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution group here.

(A) At least 200 rebels reached the Sun Inn early in the morning and stopped for refreshment and shelter from the continuing rain. Local witnesses described them as a “ragged band of men, dressed in tattered clothing.” Morale was low and there was disappointment that others were not waiting to join them. Recognising Isaac Ludlam, a well known and respected preacher, Mrs Goodman, the landlady, pleaded with him to leave the rebels and offered to hide him in her cellar. He refused, saying “Many men are out because I am here. It is too late to return, I must and will, go on.” As they reformed their ranks outside, Henry Hole of Pentrich, who had been pressed to join the march, refused. Jeremiah Brandreth threatened to shoot him but was stopped by Thomas Turner. Hole left towards Langley Mill and the rebels march continued along the Nottingham Road. See the information boards on your right, on Princes Street and in the park before Durban House, on the heritage of Eastwood and the writer D.H. Lawrence.

(B) You are now on the site of Moorgreen Colliery, one of ten pits around Eastwood from1850s. 800 were employed at Moorgreen in the 1890s.

(C) Many from Eastwood hid in these woods when they heard that the ‘insurrectionists’ were coming leaving the village nearly deserted and houses barred and shuttered.

(D) Read the interesting information board in front of the church, about the long history of the church, Beauvale Priory and Greasley Castle.

(E) Crossing these fields look over the lovely view of the Gilt Brook valley to your left. As the march approached Eastwood, Colonel Rolleston, a county magistrate and local landowner had ridden to Nottingham and warned of their approach. He returned with the 18 mounted soldiers coming down Gilt Hill just across the valley to disperse the rebels, who fled.

(F) The school on the opposite side of the road was attended by D.H Lawrence. This group of streets was known historically as Beggarlee and here were the main cluster of buildings at Newthorpe in 1817. Turn left to follow Dovecote Road to the junction with Nottingham Road looking at the dates on some of the houses indicating a period of expansion during the late 19th century.

9. You are now retracing the route of the rebel’s march across Eastwood Common towards Gilt Brook. Still marching through rain and with dwindling numbers they stopped by the tanyard (today behind IKEA). They were to flee across Newthorpe Common pursued by the soldiers. One account states that the soldiers also met a second body of marchers near today’s Edward Road, who were also dispersed. At Hill Top there were a few houses along the road in 1817 but there is no record that the marchers stopped here. As you enter Eastwood watch for the D.H. Lawrence Literary Plaques. Before the Sun Inn you will come to Victoria Street on your right. Here is D.H. Lawrence’s birthplace and museum.