Cotgrave

Coordinates: 52°54′N 1°02′W / 52.90°N 1.04°W / 52.90; -1.04

Cotgrave
Cotgrave  Cotgrave shown within Nottinghamshire
Population	7 .373
OS grid reference	SK6435
District	Rushcliffe
Shire county	Nottinghamshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NOTTINGHAM
Postcode district	NG12
Dialling code	0115
Police	Nottinghamshire
Fire	Nottinghamshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Rushcliffe
List of places: UK • England • Nottinghamshire

For the lexicographer, see Randle Cotgrave

Cotgrave is a village in the borough of Rushcliffe, in Nottinghamshire, England, lying south east of Nottingham. With a relatively small population of just over 7,000 and a heart that has largely escaped development Cotgrave has a village atmosphere. This is accented by its amenities and infrastructure that have remained comparatively underdeveloped even when the large estates were built around the hamlet in the 1960s to house the population of workforce for the mine.

Its origins may be in the Iron Age but a 6th century Anglo Saxon burial ground has been excavated at Mill Hill. There was certainly a Saxon church a century before the Norman invasion. The Roman road Fosse Way passes a mile to the East where it changes direction slightly. Cotgrave is possible derived from "Cotta" (anglo Saxon name) and "Grave", (grove or thicket). The present substantial church, All Saints, dates from the twelfth century with several alterations and additions. An arson attack in 1996 caused considerable damage but the church was since fully restored at great expense. The church enjoys a ring of eight bells, most made by Taylor’s.^[1] An experienced and competent team of ringers practice regularly (Fridays and Sundays) to great local disgust. The plague visited the village in 1637 killing 93 of the 500 population. This horrendous loss to the village included 46 children. All Saints was used as a food store for the village during the outbreak. Money for the goods was disinfected as it was passed through a hollowed out stone filled with vinegar to the men who had locked themselves away in the church. The stone is still in the church.^[2] On Scrimshire Lane, near the church, can be found an old wall, dubbed the "Thousand Year Wall". It is riddled with small holes and provides a home for a large colony of stingless bees. Nearby, through a Lynch Gate, is a graveyard that is, unusually, separated from the church by a road. There can be found a war memorial.

The village lies on the Grantham Canal, opened in 1797, but it did not grow until the discovery of coal in the area in about 1950. A colliery was established in 1960 with large numbers of miners & their families being relocated from other mining areas in England, especially the North East, to live on a large purpose built housing estate. The local economy was devastated with its closure in 1993/4 a move that left many former miners bitter as to their fate. Like most Nottinghamshire mines Cotgrave continued working through the NUM declared UK miners' strike (1984-1985) however the view by many was that this allegiance to the then Conservative government was betrayed.

The extensive former mining area has been landscaped to form a country park. Here a long section of the canal has been partially restored including at least two locks. The canal is not navigable, however, as nearby road bridges have been removed. The country park is gradually acquiring a diverse population of wildlife. Wildfowl abound along with reports of cuckoos, warblers, swallows, little ringed plover, yellow wagtail, ring ouzel, wheatear, chiffchaff, dabchicks. Great crested newts are established in the lake and hares, rabbits, foxes, bats and owls have been reported. The actual pit head area is cordoned off from public and there are plans for redevelopment.

Fortunately the local economy has improved considerably as Cotgrave is surrounded by an affluent area with low unemployment. Cotgrave now has a population of 7,373 people. It's sandwiched between the A52, A606 road, and A46. Nearby to the west is Tollerton and Nottingham Airport.

There is a small shopping parade called the precinct, with a Co-op, library, Fish and Chips shop, Chinese and Kebab take aways as well as other retailers and a medical centre. The Cof E church is All Saints,^[3] on Plumtree Road and the village also has a Roman Catholic Church, (Our Lady of Grace^[4]) and a Methodist Chapel,^[5] dating from 1802. Near the parish church (All Saints) is a small Sainsbury's Local. Opposite the Cotgrave Welfare Club is the leisure centre. The centre has a large swimming pool, gymnasium and sports hall with playing fields. Cotgrave Welfare have a cricket and football team. There are two primary schools. The Cotgrave Candleby Lane School and the Cotgrave Church of England (Aided) Primary School. Nearby too is Cotgrave Futures with Sure Start facilities. There are two pubs; The Manvers, named for the Manvers Family that owned much land in the area, and the Rose and Crown.

Past notable residents

Ernest Hayes (British Army soldier) , born 1898 in Gripps Cottage,Cotgrave. He went on to join the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1916, & was awarded the Military Medal 3 times for bravery at the Weston Front (France) in 1918. He died in Nottingham in 1938.

Frank Robinson (Xylophone Man) (1932-July 4, 2004) lived in Cotgrave and travelled to Nottingham daily where, around Lister Gate, he entertained passersby on a child's 5 note glockenspiel. On his death hundreds of tributes were received from Nottingham’s citizens.^[6]

References

External links

• Photographs of Cotgrave
• Cotgrave Town Council
• Local information
• Cotgrave Colts YFC
• Cotgrave Welfare Diamond Angling Club
• All Saints church

Risegate, Cotgrave	Rose and Crown	The Manvers Pub	The "Thousand Year Wall"
The Keepers Cottage on Notts/Grantham Canal near Cotgrave"	All Saints Cotgrave at Night	Near the canal Cotgrave Country Park	Plumtree Road Cottages in Autumn
Cotgrave Methodist Church	Cottages on Bingham Rd, Cotgrave	Ancient Way, Risegate, Cotgrave	Cotgrave Post Office
Pithead Tableux	Cotgrave Futures	Candleby Lane School	Lady of Grace RC church