Littleover

Littleover
The Hollow and Old Littleover Cottage
Littleover  Littleover shown within Derbyshire
OS grid reference	SK3334
Unitary authority	Derby
Ceremonial county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DERBY
Postcode district	DE23
Dialling code	01332
Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Derby South
List of places UK England Derbyshire

Littleover is a large, attractive and affluent village in Derbyshire, England, situated between Rose Hill, Normanton, Sunny Hill, South Derbyshire and Mickleover, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of Derby city centre.

History

The Towers and Cottage

The history of Littleover's name is simple. It is derived from 'Little Ufre' (Domesday book) and in Old English "Ofer" which meant a slope or little hill, whilst neighbouring Mickleover, is known to be from 'Mickle Ufre' meaning large hill. Littleover was also formerly known as Parver Over.

The village, like many settlements in England, is partially of Saxon and partially of Roman origin; the Burton Road is a Roman road linking the A38 to the city centre. Its Roman origin is easily confirmed due to its direct route. Burton Road, the A5250, leaves the A38 as Rykneld Road and becomes Pastures Hill just past Heatherton Village. At the top of Pastures Hill it crosses a junction with Hillsway and Chain Lane, whereupon it becomes Burton Road and remains so up to its junction with Babington Lane in Derby city centre. Despite the attraction of the Burton Road-Babington Lane route, it is possible that the course of the original Rykneld Way did not deviate but continued in a straight line through the rear of what was the Crest Motel, across Chain Lane, then following Owlers Lane and Constable Lane, across what is now the Bemrose School fields, eventually joining what is now called Uttoxeter Old Road and further to the recorded camp around Belper Road. This would seem more logical a Roman route.^{[citation needed]}

Littleover was in the parish of Mickleover until 1866, when the residents of Littleover rebelled against their superiors.

White Swan public house

The pictureque, attractive Littleover village is situated around the shopping area on Burton Road and offers a comprehensive shopping experience. The village's public house is called the Half Moon and is noted as being one of two inns in 1577, still serving as a community hub where residents gather and socialise. The older part of the village around St Peter's Church was built in the 14th century. The village has another public house, the White Swan which can be found on Shepherd Street also near the older part of Littleover. Directly opposite the White Swan is Church Street which takes its name from the aforementioned St Peter's Church and links up with the Hollow which is believed to be of medieval origin. The age of the Hollow and Church Street are evidenced by the buildings that can be found there; even today the former contains the beautiful thatched roofed Littleover Cottage, (very rare in Derbyshire) whilst on Church Street can be found a detached white house, which in its time has been called the White House and would probably have been there before most of the buildings around it. Residential properties in Littleover are generally attractive, well-maintained and spacious properties which are highly desired within the Derby area. The White House, it is believed, may date in part from the 16th century, whereupon it probably would have stood alone with the thatched cottage and church. In earlier times this area was the centre of activity in the village where the square was used for markets, proclamations and general celebrations on public holidays. This friendly community spirit, unlike other areas, is still strong in Littleover.

The Crest Hotel, built around the late 19th century on a site previously occupied by a windmill, burnt down in 2002 under suspicious circumstances. Today a housing development stands where the hotel used to be.

Education

Gayton Avenue School

The final location of Derby School was in Littleover on Moorway Lane, the site is now occupied by Derby Moor Community Sports College.

Infant, Junior and Primary Schools:

• Gayton Junior School

Ridgeway Infant School

• Griffe Field Primary School built as part of the Heatherton Village estate in 1999
• St Peter's CofE Junior School

Derby Moor Community Sports College and the Millennium Centre

Secondary and Sixth Form Schools:

• Derby Grammar School
• Derby High School
• Derby Moor Community Sports College Trust
• Littleover Community School
• The Millennium Centre

Notable residents

• Lee Camp, goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest F.C.
• Judith Hann, TV presenter (Tomorrow's World) was born here
• Fiona May, athlete.
• Michael Socha, actor
• Lucy Ward, folk musician
• Kelli Young, member of British pop group, Liberty X
• William Alexander Onslow Martin, Deputy Chief Designer Rolls Royce Rocket Division Derby, particularly Rolls-Royce_RZ2 engine for Blue Streak. 1914-1963, buried St Peter’s Littleover

External links

• BBC Guide
• Focus on Littleover
• Derby Guide
• Littleover Methodist Church
• St Peter's Church, Littleover
• Littleover news from the Derby Telegraph