Elmton and Creswell Community Profile
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ELMTON AND CRESWELL COMMUNITY PROFILE Elmton and Creswell Big Local Approved by Big Local Action Group May 2014 Written by Community Voluntary Partners 1 Big Local is lottery money coming into the community in areas that need investment. A percentage of each lottery ticket bought is given to a charitable trust and it is this money that is being used to fund the Big Local Programme. Up to 200 communities will each receive £1 million, communities have up to ten years to spend the money and Creswell is one of these communities. The aim is for local people to make their communities better places to live in, now and in the future. Individual members within the Big Local Action Group have been asking people their views about the area, what they like and what they would like to improve about the area. The group has done this informally as well as formally. The people who live in Elmton and Creswell decide via the Elmton and Creswell Big Local Action Group. They will write a local plan which will be based on the ideas of local people. Once the plan is agreed with the Big Local Trust, the Partnership can start to spend the money on the plans priorities. If you would like to know more or get involved please contact: Alister Shaw, Big Local Rep on 07768008527 or email [email protected] 2 An aerial view of Creswell Creswell is one of the largest villages in the district with a population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. It shares it's parish with a smaller but much older village called Elmton which was recorded in the Domesday Book. In 1854 The Duke of Portland acquired the Rodes Estate in the area; this led to the significant development of Creswell, especially in 1875 when the Midland Railway was constructed and 1897 when coal mining began. The miners needed somewhere to live, so the Model Village was built with these houses in an elongated octagon plan around the central green. In addition to houses the Model Village included a Co-operative Store, the Miners Institute and recreational facilities which included a Cricket Pitch Tennis Courts and Garden allotments. There were many shops all around the village but the main ones were on Elmton Rd and Sheffield Rd. You could buy all day to day living items from shops like fish from the fishmongers, bread from the bakers and meat from the butchers. There were also many specialist shops where you could buy things, such as furniture, children’s toys, Haberdashery and men and women's outfitters. All the shops on Sheffield Rd are now houses, and though most of the shops on Elmton Rd are now closed, a lot of the buildings still retain most of their original features. 3 The Social Centre was built on land given by the Duke of Portland; it was built by the Bolsover Colliery Company as a Village Hall in 1907. During the First World War (1914-18) it served as a hospital for the forces. Creswell Church was erected by the 6th Duke of Portland. Work began in 1899 and was opened in 1900. The side aisles were added in 1913 and in 1927 the Tower was built by public subscription. In 1924 the swimming pool was built, followed by the Social Centre for the Boy’s Brigade. At Elmton a church has stood in the grounds for approximately 1,000 years and was first mentioned in 1086. Another church was built in 1550 but this fell into disrepair and the existing church was built in 1771. This is only a brief history; there is a lot more that can be said about these and many more buildings in the village. Did you know? Creswell used to be spelled with two ‘Ss’. When it was first built the post was going to another Cresswell so the name had to change! 4 A photo of Creswell Crags on the river Poulter Creswell Crags is one of Britain's most important archaeological and geological sites. It has been put forward as a potential World Heritage Site because of its significance as one of the most northerly places on earth to have been visited by humans during the last Ice Age and because of the richness, quality and quantity of the paleontological and archaeological collections. The collections illustrate human occupation from around 50,000 years ago when Neanderthals visited the gorge through to the arrival of modern humans 30,000 years ago. Evidence shows woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, hyena and reindeer all roamed the gorge. It also has Ice Age Rock Art, essentially the oldest art in Britain. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, forming part of the Grade II listed landscape park of Welbeck Abbey and is being considered by English Nature for designation as a National Nature Reserve. In addition to its scientific importance, the site is of national and international importance as an educational and interpretative resource. 5 The pit opened in 1895 and this is when the village was created. People came from all across the county to work at the pit, but prior to this Elmton with Creswell was a farming hamlet. The Schools were built in 1874 and the church followed soon after in 1900. The model village was built to meet housing demands because of the increase in population from mining families and was given a 99 year lease. Some of the houses on Elmton Road were built in 1910. The pit closed in 1991. Did you know? Elmton was so named because of the many elm trees in the village. Bandstand on Creswell Model Village Green 6 Elmton and Creswell Village Company (ECVC) is a Charitable Company working for the regeneration of this former mining community and locality. The village company owns two buildings on Elmton Road, Creswell Limestone Studio and Limestone House. Limestone Studio was purchased through funding in 2001 having formerly been the Westminster Bank. The building was initially named the Creswell Resource Point. In 2009 it was developed into a Computer and Media Centre and became the Limestone Studio. It can be booked out for rehearsal space and recordings. Elmton Rd is the Main Road in Creswell and for many years this road was blighted by two burnt out shops. The fish and chip shop at 52 Elmton Rd had caught fire and both 52 and 50 Elmton Rd were burnt out. Number 54 was Karen’s clothes shop which had been subjected to 2 robberies. Elmton & Creswell Village Company purchased these 3 buildings in 2004, through funding, and had them restored into the Limestone House Community Centre, which is also the headquarters of the Elmton & Creswell Village Company. 50-54 Elmton Road before restoration in 2004 7 Limestone House is a Community Centre, Heritage Centre, Charity shop and Café all under one roof. The Heritage Centre depicts the ages from the Ice Age to the Mining era. Elmton with Creswell Local History group provides displays of the past and their books are for sale within the centre. A variety of community activity operates from Limestone House - including a luncheon club, drop in job club and advice sessions from Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre. The charity shop provides low cost second hand clothing and a huge variety of books. This raises income for the sustainability of the Centre enabling the community work to continue. The "Reach out and Bring In" luncheon club which meets at Limestone House 8 Parish Council The Parish Council employ 6 members of staff to maintain the appearance of the village. They also employ 3 members of staff in their office. Creswell Social Club is managed by the Council and has a wide variety of user groups throughout the week. When it is not being booked out for regular users it can be hired for discos and occasions and is a popular venue of choice both locally and further afield. Creswell social centre Elmton with Creswell is based in the Bolsover North Electoral division. The area is one of the most deprived areas within the County and is the fifth highest ranking within Bolsover District. Bolsover North has higher levels of crime, unemployment, child poverty and those who are eligible and claiming free school meals than the Derbyshire average. At present there is no food bank in Elmton with Creswell however we know that the local Childrens Centre are supporting local families by providing food parcels for those most in need. 9 The population of Elmton-with-Creswell at the 2001 Census was 5,447. This rose to 6,213 in the 2011 Census – which was the second largest increase across the district. Of the total population 61.3% are of working age. 12.0% of residents are pensioners living alone. 37.6% of households were deemed to be deprived – the sixth highest across the district. 26.1% of households are without a car, which is an improvement from 31.6% in 2001. The ward has received £7,794,573 in funding in recent years from a number of sources. Of the total ward population, 61.5% are economically active and in employment. Employment within the “Elementary Occupations” category is highest at 11.8 %,- the highest across the district in this sector, and the lowest at 6.8% are employed within the “Professionals” category. As at December 2013, Elmton-with-Creswell’s number of total benefit claimants stood at 4.2%, the district average is 2.6%. Youth unemployment is 9.0% compared to the derbyshire figure of 6.0% and nationally 5.6% The percentage of residents with no qualifications in the ward is 29.1%, whilst the number with higher level qualifications is 11.8%.