The former railway line through Pilsley is now the Five Pits Trail, a popular route for walking, cycling and horse riding. It brings together a tangible trace of transport history and a recreational route in use today. In Pilsley, the trail crosses Station Road and continues towards Tibshelf. Four circular walking routes for pedestrians also branch off the Five Pits Trail near Pilsley. The distinction is useful when choosing a route: the trail is used for walking, cycling and horse riding, while the four additional routes are circular walks for pedestrians.
Walks and countryside in Pilsley
The River Rother also rises in Pilsley. Its source adds a natural feature to the area's routes: alongside the former railway line, the origin of a river provides another geographical point of interest. The route and the source offer different ways to explore Pilsley.
Mining history and former railway infrastructure
Pilsley Colliery was located north of the village of Pilsley, in the parish of North Wingfield; mining operations began between 1864 and 1866. On the former site, the Pilsley Sidings ran northwest from the Pilsley Branch of the Midland Railway to Green Lane and along the southern side of the colliery. The sidings add a specific element of former railway infrastructure to the history of the colliery. The start of mining operations and the location of the railway tracks thus represent two different aspects of industrial history: its development over time and its geographical layout.
Churches and architectural history
Two different period descriptions are important when it comes to the churches. The building structure of St Mary's Pilsley is Victorian. Bridge Street Methodist Church in Pilsley is a Primitive Methodist chapel dating from the Victorian period, between 1875 and 1900. This date range specifies the period of the chapel more precisely, while the description of St Mary's generally places its building structure in the Victorian era. This makes it possible to distinguish the two buildings by period.
A service is held at St Mary's Pilsley every Sunday at 9:30 am. Check the time in advance if you plan to attend. Parking for St Mary's Pilsley is available on the village green opposite the church.
Listed houses
The farmhouse and cottages also offer insight into the village's architectural history. Morton Road Farmhouse and Attached Outbuildings is a Grade II listed building in Pilsley. The farmhouse dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and was altered in the 20th century. Sitwell Lane Cottages is a pair of Grade II listed cottages in the parish of Pilsley. They date from the 17th century and were altered in the 18th century.
The sequence of periods distinguishes the two examples: the farmhouse dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, with later alterations in the 20th century. The cottages date from the 17th century, with alterations made in the 18th century. Their shared Grade II status thus sits alongside two distinct building histories, making Pilsley's older buildings interesting to compare.
Discover more destinations: Newton Solney, Ilkeston, Risley, Breadsall, Kilburn, Earl Sterndale, Grassmoor, Glossop
For the broader travel overview: Derbyshire.
