Whitwell, Derbyshire
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  Map sources for Whitwell, Derbyshire at grid reference SK528767
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Whitwell is a small village located in Derbyshire, England. Whitwell is approximately 2km from the Creswell Crags, a world-famous heritage site renowned for its prehistoric cave art.
Whitwell won the 'Best Kept Village in Derbyshire' Award in 1986, and celebrated its 1000th Anniversary in the 'Whitwell 1000' Celebrations of 1989 (hence Whitwell was 97 years old by the time the Domesday Book was completed).
[edit] Whitwell Wood
Whitwell is also famous for its wood, the largest in Europe, and the freshwater Ginny Spring (which is located in the northern section of the wood), a source of fresh, springwater. Whitwell Wood is reputed to be the largest wood in Europe; it is believed that more trees were due to be planted in Whitwell Wood in approximately 1990 until those responsible realized that this would cause the wood to be a forest, and thus the decision was taken not to plant the extra trees, the consequence being that the wood keeps its status to this day. Whitwell is within 3km of Creswell Crags, the world-famous heritage site renowned for its prehistoric/ice-age cave drawings.
In a field bordering the eastern edge of Whitwell Wood is the Three Shires Oak, a tree where the county borders of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire meet. Whitwell Wood's southern fence borders the A619 (Chesterfield-Worksop road), and is approximately 5km from Junction 30 of the M1.
[edit] Famous Whitwellians
One of Whitwell's most famous sons was Joe Davis, world snooker champion from the 1920s to the 1940s. His Whitwell home (on Welbeck Street) still bears a plaque commemorating him.
Les Jackson, England cricketer and Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1959, played for Whitwell Cricket Club and still comes to watch their games on a Saturday afternoon.
Also from the village are Chris Adams, the Sussex and England cricketer, and Ian Bennett, currently goalkeeper for Leeds United F.C., whose family still lives in the village.
An infamous son of Whitwell is Robert Hendy-Freegard, the conman and imposter who posed as a MI5 agent. He hails from Hodthorpe, a village forming the eastern part of Whitwell.
