Horsley, Derbyshire

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Horsley is a small village roughly 5 miles north of the City of Derby with a population of circa 500.

Horsley is home to the Church of St Clement and St John, which dates from the 13th century, and is noted for its fine peel of bells. The main street is Church Street which runs East/West through the village.

Horsley has three main focal points: the village green at the West side of the village, the crossroads of the Dovecote, French Lane and Church Street, and the junction of Church Street, Lady Lea Road and Smalley Mill Road (known locally as "the triangle").

Each of these points boasts a fountain, donated to the village in 1824 by Reverand Sitwell. The fountains were named Sophia, Rosamund and Blanche after the Sitwell family's daughters.

The village pub is called the Coach and Horses. Horsley also used to have a second pub called the Ship Inn, but this has been a private house for many years. A recreation ground ("the rec") is situated off French Lane. The rec has a small football pitch and contains the local crown green bowling club. The remains of twelfth century Horsley (Horeston) castle are about a mile away from the village itself. Local legend suggests that there is a tunnel between the village and the castle.

Local characters include Nathan Hodkinson(Hogy), Plumo, Pete Gregory, Mencus Milburn, Jack, Batesy, Sime(Spooner) Calladine, and Bush and Mallet(These two are from Kilburn, but are honorary members due to longevity and being decent lads. They all at one time drank in the Coach and Horses.