Long Eaton offers two distinct themes for planning a trip: trails and parkland for time outdoors, and tangible traces of its architectural and industrial history. These include the town’s development into a centre of the Leavers lace trade in the East Midlands, The Hall from 1778 and the Bridge Mills chimney from 1902. When choosing a destination, you can first consider whether outdoor activities, a visit to a park or the history of the place should be your focus.
Choosing trails and routes
The Nutbrook Trail is intended for both pedestrians and cyclists. The Erewash Valley Trail has different features to bear in mind: most of it offers easy, level access, but some short sections are steep, and there are stiles in some places. The two trails can therefore be assessed on different grounds: the Nutbrook Trail is described as suitable for walking and cycling, while the Erewash Valley Trail is described mainly in terms of its mostly easy, level access and its exceptions.
The Derwent Valley Heritage Way adds a section of a longer trail to the options. In Long Eaton, there is a starting point for a short section of the 55-mile route from Shardlow to Belper. The 55 miles refers to the whole route, not the section starting from Long Eaton. If you plan to take this trail, bear in mind the distinction between the local starting point and the length of the entire route.
West Park as a focus in its own right
West Park offers a different experience from a trail. The park has open lawns, play areas and well-maintained paths. If you do not want to plan your time outdoors solely around a route, you can treat West Park as a destination in its own right. The open spaces, play areas and paths offer different ways to enjoy the park, making it a separate option alongside the choice between walking and cycling trails.
Architecture and the history of the lace trade
The Hall is a Grade II listed Georgian building dating from 1778, built by Joseph Pickford for Henry Howitt. Its year of construction, architect and patron bring the building’s history into focus. Its Georgian classification and listed status add two further features that help place the building in its historical context.
At Bridge Mills, the focus is on an industrial detail: the chimney is 33 metres high, dates from 1902 and has a cast-iron cap. Its height, date and material make a single structure a tangible point of reference for the industrial history. Compared with The Hall, the period shifts from a Georgian building of 1778 to a structure from the early 20th century.
The history of lace adds trade and production to these architectural examples. Long Eaton developed into a centre of the Leavers lace trade in the East Midlands; lace-making is an important part of the town’s history. Trade and production represent different aspects of the same subject: the history of trade places Long Eaton’s role in the East Midlands in context, while production shows the importance of lace to the town’s history. This gives the local industrial history an economic and cultural dimension alongside its buildings.
An older building is also among the town’s historical points of reference: a church in Long Eaton is of late Norman origin and is considered the town’s oldest building. Its origins offer a different point in time from The Hall of 1778 and the Bridge Mills chimney of 1902. The town’s history can therefore be viewed through a late Norman origin, a Georgian building and an industrial detail from the early 20th century.
Discover more destinations: Edale, Birch Vale, Eckington, Codnor, Hathersage, Clowne, Sutton On The Hill, Walton
For the regional travel overview: Derbyshire.
