The Stones of the Monks Way in Strelley, Cossall, and Ilkeston
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Circular Walking Routes Further Information/Useful Contacts The plan overleaf suggests a possible return For information on Strelley and Cossall route making the circular walk about 7 miles. Conservation Areas, circular walks, cycling and THE STONES OF Many other routes are available and for full the Nottingham Canal Local Nature Reserve details of paths in the area please refer to please telephone Broxtowe Borough Council on Ordnance Survey Path Finder Sheet 812. (0115) 9177777. Path surfaces generally are in good condition For similar information relating to Ilkeston and THE and have gentle gradients. Walkers need the Borough of Erewash please telephone waterproof footwear and should expect to share Erewash Borough Council on (0115) 9072244. sections of the route with cyclists and horse The Broxtowe Borough Council wishes to MONKS riders. The route is not suitable for wheelchair express its thanks to the following for their users. help in providing information, or funding the Details of Public Transport links to the area can production of this leaflet: WAY be obtained by calling the Nottingham Hotline British Trust for lllccston Library on 0115 924 0000 or the Derby Bus Line on Conservation Volunteers (Derbyshire County Library IN STRELLEY, COSSALL 01332 292200. The Blant family, Cossall Services) AND ILKESTON The Future Cossall Parish Council Mr H Morton Cossall Wildlife Watch The Monks Way lies within the Greenwood PafecLtd Community Forest and much of the tree planting Derby Evening Telegraph and improvements to rights of way in the area are Erewash Museum Service The Ramblers AssociatiO)l in some way due to the forest initiative. MrHGrayson Trowell Pari~h Council More information on the Greenwood is Ivan Henshell available on MrMWhyld llkcston and District uxal 01623 758231. History Society The Woodland Trust The Monks Way stones remain as an interesting link with the past, and it is hoped that raising Nottinghamshi"' awareness of their County Council significance will help Cossall Church to secure their future. 1he The vigilance of local residents has prevented the Counhyside destruction of the stones in the past and it is hoped Agency that this will continue. Good records of the location and history of the Produced by stones will help to preserve their future so please BROXTOWEBOROUGHCOUNCa DIRECfORATE OF TECHNICAL & WORKS SERVICES, BROXTOWE BOROUGH COUNCIL contact Broxtowe Borough Council at the address COUNCIL OFFICES, FOSTER AVENUE, BEESTON, NOTilNGHAM NG9 lAB overleaf if you have any information. TELEPHONE; (0115) 917 7777 TECHNICAL AND WORKS SERVICES www.broxtowe.gov.uk Ancient Routeways is known that the monks of Dale Abbey, Where can the stones be seen? Newstead Priory, Lenton Abbey, Pelley Priory As long as man has needed to trade there have The plan overleaf shows where the stones and Beauvale Priory had land and mining been transport routes from the place of produc can be found. They are most obvious at Main interests in the areas around the Erewash Valley tion to the point of sale. Many roads and paths Street, Strelley where they are incorporated as early as the 14th century. It is therefore originate from medieval times or even earlier into the footpath from the Broad Oak Public possible that the stones are all that is left of when packhorses or mules were often the main House up to the church. Traces can be found routeways that perhaps linked the monasteries method of transport for goods. These early on the paths and bridleways linking with and provided access to Nottingham and the tracks often linked to rivers where goods could Cossall village and several sections have been River Trent. be transported in bulk. uncovered on Mill Lane at Cossall between Canals and railways were a further development the Nottingham Canal and the railway (see photograph). requiring new or adapted transport links to feed Mtll Lane, (formerly krw11m as Cossall Lane and l/J..e.!ton the barges or trains. Man's activities, including Lane) m the late 1800'! lookmgfrom the rmlway toward$ It is known that stones were removed from mining and road construction, have obliterated the Nottingham Canal Swmgbndge Thrs photograph ~~<a.! Park Road at Ilkeston when the ro~d was many ancient tracks, but it is still possible to ongmall} publrslred m the • Hrston of IIJ..eston" b; constructed. A number of stones Trueman and Marston ( 1899) discover the signs of old pathways if you know salvaged from this area where to look! can be found at the Erewash Museum, High Street, llkeston. There is little doubt that other stones remain intact - buried under grass or road surfaces, however sections were also Artisfs impression of Strelley Hall before the major addition borrowed to find new in 1780-1800. Courtesy of Ivan Henshell. purpose as barn floors or walling in nearby The Legendary "Monks Way" farms and cottages. Small areas of sandstone paving exist away Monks Way, Monks Path, Monks Steps and Who laid the stones? from the route shown on the plan, one Pilgrims Path are all terms used locally to Legend has it that the stones were laid by monks example being the path which links the describe the traces of stone paving or causeway who brought a slab on the back of a mule each Nottingham Canal with Nottingham Road which can be found in Cossall, Strelley, Ilkeston time they used the path. This may be true but near to Furnace Road on the IlkestonfTrowell and beyond. equally there are theories that the stones are border. This seems to be an isolated path and The term 'Monks Way' is a general term more recent having been laid for the transport is believed to be a remnant of the original frequently used to describe the network of of coal by packhorses during the 18th century. Nottingham to llkeston Turnpike which was ancient tracks which often linked monasteries No-one knows for sure the origins of the realigned in 1874. and settlements to facilitate trade and Monks Way although the stone paths almost The Route of The Monks Way has been communication. certainly pre-date the canal era (the marked on the ground with way-mark signs The monastic connection for the paths around Nottingham Canal was built in 1796) and may as shown above. Cossall, Strelley and Ilkeston is not clear but it well be laid over an ancient route. The Broad Oak Public House makes a good starting,and finishing point for your walk. The pub offers parking and a wide variety of food and drink in Nottingham Canal Local Nature Reserve 0 pl~as ant surroundings. The canal was constructed in 1796 to supply Nottingham with coal in THE STC)NES OF competition with the Erewash Canal wlnch was opened in 1779. The Nottingham Canal was a profitable enterprise for many years but was eventually abandoned in 1937. Strelley Village Conservation Area Broxtowe Borough Council acquired most of the canal in 1977 and the site was declared The stones are easily seen here as they are incorporated into the footpath a Local Nature Reserve in 1993. An information pack containing details of circular walks THE MONKS WAY between the Broad Oak public house and All Saints Church. The churchyard and the Nottingham Canal Trail can be obtained from the Council Offices. provides a good view of Strelley Hall which was originally constructed on the site of a mansion house by Sir Sampson de Strelley in 1356. The illustration overleaf shows Mill Lane and Dkeston Com Mill, IN STRELLEY, COSSALL AND ILKESTON an artist's impression of the site in about 1780. The stones are clearly visible on the upper end of Mill Lane by the canal. Local The Edge family and particularly Thomas Webb Edge carried out major • legend has it that a special stone exists by the Nottingham Canal crossing which was improvements to both the Hall and village in the late 1700's. Extensive farm once a swing bridge. It is said that this stone became very hot in certain conditions to such an extent that an egg could be fried upon it! Short sections of paving at the lower buildings were constructed at the comer where the Monks Way leaves Main Street. end of Mill Lane near the railway have been exposed by the British Trust for Although these buildings were demolished in 1969, a stone stile remains close to the Conservation Volunteers. path and on the reverse of this the following words appear: "T.W. Edge Armiger MDCCCill completed this After crossing the railway, the bridleway crosses the River Erewash over an old bridge, which may have ® cow-hovel farm yard and pump with sough been constructed for packhorses. The river at this from the quarry to supply the same and sough point was once used to drive llke.ston's Com to carry all the overplus and moisture of farm Mill which would no doubt have been well yard into Smiths wheat-mill and Minnow New River Pond and in the same year 1803 planted served by the adjacent Monks Way. Cossall Broadoak Plantation this and the two plantations round those Marsh buildings," A sough is a drain and an Armiger is a person • entitled to Heraldic Arms. · • Strelley Hall is now the headquarters of • ••• Pafec Ltd, Computer Software Specialists. r . ij • S tonepot , ; • Plantation · j "' ~ ~ likeston • f 0 ~ .. •• JJ ___-_.Uft»~ J_ l I~ ~ Strel]ey J 1~ Broad 1 • 8 . J 0 Oak l [ ;§ Farm r r ~ Holly Copse The bridleway at this point passes alongside Holly Copse - a delightful mixed broadleaved woodland owned and managed by the Woodland Trust. Access is permitted and a path runs parallel to • Shortwood the bridleway providing walkers with an interesting • detour.