Holmewood

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=Williamthorpe Ponds Nature Reserve. Middle pond view, with Holmewood Industrial Park Unit in the background.
latitude= 53.18934
longitude= -1.3549
official_name= Holmewood
population= 2,909 in Heath and Holmewood
civil_parish= Heath and Holmewood
shire_district= North East Derbyshire
region= East Midlands
shire_county= Derbyshire
constituency_westminster= North East Derbyshire
post_town= CHESTERFIELD
postcode_district = S42 5xx
postcode_area= S
dial_code= 01246
os_grid_reference= SK432660

Holmewood is a village in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, being a former coal mining village with close links to the villages of Heath, North Wingfield and Temple Normanton.

The village of Holmewood was formed as a residence by The Williamthorpe Colliery Company from 1905 until 1970, when it closed due to the high cost of deep seam mining. The colliery was the main employer of the village and upon its closure, caused much unemployment within the area. As a consequence of the Margaret Thatcher Government in the late 1980's, plans were put in place to construct two large industrial estates to limit the high unemployment levels within the ex-colliery communities in the North Derbyshire Area. This industrial estate has now expanded to cover a much larger area and is known as the 'Holmewood Enterprise Zone'. [ [http://www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/business/regeneration/holmewood-ez Holmewood Enterprise Zone information] ] Due to EU Government incentives, the site attracts high levels of investment from national-level companies.

There is also a countryside park on the site, which is known as the Five Pits Trail, which links the five villages around Holmewood. The area contains several ponds that, once heavily polluted, are now havens for wildlife and are popular with anglers and birdwatchers.

The village has many small shops, public houses, churches and a public library. The closest ally to the village of Holmewood are in the nearest village of Heath.

References

External links

* [http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/find_local_library/holmewood/ Derbyshire County Council - Holmewood Library information]
* [http://www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/business/regeneration/holmewood-ez Holmewood Enterprise Zone information]
* [http://www.terryblythe.co.uk/page138.html Photographs of Williamthorpe Colliery]