Sandiacre

Seven miles west of Nottingham and nine miles east of Derby, Sandiacre is part of the Greater Nottingham urban area. Being on the western side of the River Erewash from Stapleford in Nottinghamshire, it is part of the county Derbyshire. Sandiacre is adjoined by Long Eaton to the south and Risley to the west. Junction 25 of the M1 motorway lies in Sandiacre, where it crosses the A52 Brian Clough Way.

The Erewash Canal passes through the centre of Sandiacre, and the small basin immediately above Sandiacre Lock (No. 11 on the canal) was once the terminal link of the now-defunct Derby Canal. Situated next to the canal in the town centre is the Springfield Mill, built in 1888 as a lace mill and a reminder of Sandiacre's industrial heritage, now converted into a modern apartment complex. The building suffered a large fire in April 2020 which caused extensive damage.[3] Examples of lace making and furniture making can still be found today.[4] The discovery of local ironstone led to the development of Stanton Ironworks in 1787.[5] DB Cargo UK's Toton depot, which lies on the edge of Sandiacre, was a main employer in the town a number of years ago.

Although there is currently no railway station, the town was once home to a terminal on the Midland Railway,[6] and passenger trains travelling on the London St Pancras - Manchester Piccadilly line still passed along the border with Stapleford during 2003-2004. Transport links to Nottingham, Derby and the surrounding area are currently provided by Trentbarton.

St Giles' Church, Sandiacre dates from the 10th century

The parish church is Saint Giles' Church, which dates back to the 10th century. There is also a Methodist church in the town.

The old village lock-up still exists, situated near to St. Giles.

The 1801 census recorded Sandiacre's population as 405. By 1901, this had risen to 2,954, with the 1971 census reporting a population of 7,792.[7] The current population is now hovering at an estimated 9,000.[8]

The schools in Sandiacre are Ladycross Infants School, Cloudside Academy junior school and Friesland School – a secondary school with sixth form.

The town football club, Sandiacre Town F.C. play at St. Giles' Park. The local cricket team, Sandiacre Town Cricket Club, play at the ground on Longmoor Lane and were the winners of the Club Cricket Championship in 2003[9] and 2014.

• Sir John de Benstede was Prebendary of Sandiacre from 3 February 1297 until, presumably, 1308, when he married.[10]
• John Barret, the Presbyterian minister, moved to Sandiacre in 1665 after losing the living of St Peter's Church, Nottingham in the Great Ejection.[11]
• Enoch Cook, the Derbyshire county cricketer, was born in Sandiacre in 1845.[12]
• Sławomir Rawicz, who claimed to be a Gulag escapee, was a resident of Sandiacre until his death in 2004, and is buried in the local cemetery.
• Charlie Thomson, Clyde, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest goalkeeper (1949-61), retired to Sandiacre.

• Crossley-Premier, manufacturer of heavy oil engines

• Sandiacre History & Heritage site
• A tour of Sandiacre's heritage
• Sandiacre Community Hub