Stapleford, Nottinghamshire

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Stapleford
Population	16,910
District	Broxtowe
Shire county	Nottinghamshire
Region	East Midlands
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NOTTINGHAM
Postcode district	NG9
Dial code	0115
Police	Nottinghamshire
Fire	Nottinghamshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Broxtowe
European Parliament	East Midlands
List of places: UK • England • Nottinghamshire

Stapleford is a town in the county of Nottinghamshire, England some 6 miles (10km) west of the centre of Nottingham.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Politics 3 Brief history 4 Famous people 5 Future 6 Trivia 7 External link

[edit] Geography

Stapleford lies on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. To the north of Stapleford is Ilkeston and to the south is Beeston. To the west across the River Erewash is Sandiacre. Stapleford is connected to Nottingham, Derby and the M1 motorway by the A52.

	North: Ilkeston
West: Sandiacre, Derby	Stapleford	East: Beeston, Nottingham
	South: Toton, Long Eaton

[edit] Politics

Stapleford is part of Broxtowe Borough and the Broxtowe Parliamentry Constituency. From 1935 until 1974 Stapleford was paired with the town of Beeston in the Beeston and Stapleford Urban District, having previously been part of the Stapleford Rural District. [1]

The local MP is Nick Palmer of the Labour Party, but the town is represented on both Nottinghamshire County Council and the borough council by the Liberal Democrats. The town council is also Liberal Democrat. This is a rare situation in the East Midlands.

[edit] Brief history

Stapleford's origins can be traced to before Norman times. In the churchyard of St Helen's church is the Stone Cross which dates back to Saxon times and is said to be the oldest Christian memorial in the Midlands. Stapleford owed its development in part to its closeness to the River Trent and the River Erewash as the town became a central point for trade. The area also expanded during the late 18th century when the stocking hose trade thrived in the Midlands. Evidence of this history can be found today with the original Stocking Knitters Houses still standing alongside more modern properties and shops such as on Nottingham Road. The main crossroads in Stapleford at the junction of Nottingham Road, Derby Road, Toton Lane and Church Street is called The Roach. The name is from the time when French prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars were set the task of cutting through rock to create roads and this was referred to as the 'La Roche'.

In recent times, Stapleford has become home to many charity shops and fast-food takeaways. During March 2006, a new NHS Health Centre and 'Walk-In Centre' was opened in the town. There are also plans for a Sainbury's supermarket to be constructed on the former site of the Total petrol station in 2007.

[edit] Famous people

• Actress Hayley Bishop was born in Stapleford in 1982.
• Well travelled Scottish footballer Tom Johnston, football manager and player.[2].
• Arthur Mee, the writer, journalist and educator, was born in Stapleford in 1875.
• Gallipoli hero Walter Richard Parker, VC, lived in Stapleford and is buried in the town cemetery.
• Dave Watson, who was a defender in the Sunderland team that won the FA Cup in 1973, was born in Stapleford in 1946.
• Sir John Borlase Warren, an 18th century MP for Nottingham and an admiral, lived in Stapleford. The Happy Man and Warren Arms pubs are named after him and his family.

[edit] Future

Proposals have been made to build a tram line towards the town as part of the new Nottingham Express Transit system. A park and ride scheme is planned near to the A52.

[edit] Trivia

The town is often to referred to informally as "Stabbo". [3]

[edit] External link

• Stapleford Website
• Broxtowe Borough Council