Long Eaton

Coordinates: 52°53′56″N 1°16′12″W / 52.899°N 1.270°W / 52.899; -1.270

Long Eaton
St Laurence Church Long Eaton
Long Eaton  Long Eaton shown within Derbyshire
Population	45,000  [1]
OS grid reference	SK491338
District	Erewash
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NOTTINGHAM
Postcode district	NG10
Dialling code	0115
Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
European Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Erewash
List of places: UK • England • Derbyshire

Long Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just north of the River Trent about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area. Since 1974, Long Eaton has been part of the Borough of Erewash.

History

Long Eaton is referred to as Aitone, in the Domesday Book, and grew up close to the lowest bridging point of the River Erewash.

The town developed around the lace-making and railway wagon industries in the nineteenth century. Long Eaton railway station is on the Midland Main Line and the Erewash Canal passes through the town.

Twin towns

• Romorantin-Lanthenay (France)
• Langen (Germany)

County issues

Long Eaton borders Nottinghamshire but is actually situated in the County of Derbyshire. Most residences however have a Nottingham address with the Nottingham postcode prefix NG, and use the Nottingham telephone area code 0115.

It is a common misconception that Long Eaton is part of Nottinghamshire. The reason for the NG prefix in the postal code is that all mail for Long Eaton first goes to the Royal Mail's Nottingham sorting office in Beeston (hence the NG), and then to Long Eaton's delivery office on Tamworth Road.

The Local Government Commission for England (1958 - 1967) recommended that Long Eaton became part of an enlarged Nottingham City Council. This was not the only time Long Eaton's status in Derbyshire was threatened as the original draft of the Local Government Act 1972 had considered moving Long Eaton into Nottinghamshire. The Redcliffe-Maud Report proposals of 1969 also recommended the town be moved into Nottinghamshire but the incoming Conservative administration rejected the proposal. This issue has rumbled on over many years.

Notable architecture

A notable building in the town is the Palladian Long Eaton Hall, now part of the larger Long Eaton Town Hall complex of the late 1980s.

Another notable building is the Parish Church of St. Laurence. Local tradition dates the church to the 11th century, possibly built under King Cnut. However, it is more likely that it dates to after the Norman Conquest, possibly into the 12th century. It was originally a daughter church of All Saints, Sawley, but gained its independence in the 19th century. Nowadays the church is overlooked by a large Tesco Extra store, but originally it would have been surrounded by small cottages.

'Above the shops is the architecture'^[2].

A glance above the shops on High Street and the Market Place can reveal some surprisingly interesting architecture. There is also some bland and disappointing 1960's and 1970's styling but in general Long Eaton's main shopping streets have retained more character than those of most towns of its size.

Schools

Long Eaton has two state secondary schools, The Long Eaton School and Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College as well as several primary schools. It is also home to the public school Trent College. Part of the Long Eaton school (which operated for years 7, 8 and 9) was demolished in 2006, after a new school was built next door, on the same grounds. Both upper and lower sections of the school are now in one building. Previously, the sections were separated by the Erewash Canal. In 2005 Wilsthorpe School gained specialist status in business and enterprise. The Long Eaton School has also gained specialist status in science and has received the permanent eco-flag. The Long Eaton School was recently rebuilt ^[3], and was opened by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Brass band

Long Eaton's distinctive library^[2].

Long Eaton also has a successful brass band, the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band, which is one of only two brass bands still functioning in Erewash. The band was formed in 1906 as a result of severance from the local Temperance Society. At the height of its success, it reached the Brass Band Second Section. The band still rehearses in the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band Club on Salisbury Street in Long Eaton.

In recent times, the band has regained some of its former glories under its current Musical Director, Sharon Stansfield. In 2006, the band's centenary year, the band won the Midland Area Regional Championships, the band's first contest win since 1966. This secured them promotion back to the Second Section, and an invitation to the National Championships of Great Britain. The band also won this contest, providing their best contest result since 1927, and also making Sharon Stansfield the first female conductor to win the National Finals in the Third Section.

Sport

Speedway racing was staged at the Long Eaton Stadium on Station Road, the first meeting was held on 18 May 1929 ^[4][5][6] However, the Speedway stadium closed in 1997. The former area of the speedway stadium has now received planning permission from the council for a series of new homes.

Long Eaton United F.C. play in the Northern Counties East Football League. The town also has a Rugby club, Long Eaton RUFC.

Long Eaton Rangers F.C. was founded in 1889 but were bankrupt^{[citation needed]} ten years later.

Long Eaton Cricket Club is a cricket club in the town of Long Eaton. The club plays in Division A of the South Notts Cricket League, with a Second XI in Division E and a Third XI in Division P. The club has three adult sides on Saturdays and two on Sundays, in addition to junior sides for all age groups from under-11s Kwik cricket to under-15s. A Veterans' team plays regular matches on Friday evenings. They also have 2 mid-week teams.

Notable Long Eatoners

• Mark Draper - footballer^[7]
• Garry Birtles - footballer, signed for Nottingham Forest from Long Eaton United and won two European Cups with the club
• Saira Khan - TV presenter
• Laura Knight, DBE - impressionist painter (born 1877)
• Lewis McGugan - footballer
• John Walters - broadcaster
• Georgia Groome - actress ^[8]
• Aetherfx - electronic musician, lived and originally from Long Eaton

See also

• List of places in Derbyshire

References

External links

• Erewash Borough Council
• Long Eaton & Sawley Archive
• Long Eaton Chamber of Trade
• Long Eaton Running Club
• Long Eaton news from the Derby Telegraph
• A driving video around Long Eaton in august 2009

Destinations from Long Eaton

		Stapleford, Ilkeston
	Derby		Nottingham, Beeston
		Long Eaton
		Sawley, East Midlands Airport

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