Woodville, Derbyshire

Infobox UK place
official_name= Woodville
map_type= Derbyshire
country= England
region= East Midlands
population=
static_

static_image_caption=A kiln at Woodville
os_grid_reference= SK316191
latitude= 52.769
longitude= -1.533
map_type= Derbyshire
post_town= SWADLINCOTE
postcode_area= DE
postcode_district= DE11
dial_code= 01283
constituency_westminster= South Derbyshire
civil_parish=Woodville
shire_district=South Derbyshire
shire_county=Derbyshire

Woodville is a busy South Derbyshire village just outside Swadlincote in Derbyshire, England. The centre of the village, known as the Tollgate, is a busy traffic island on the A511.

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History

Formerly known as Wooden Box, named after the wooden toll booth on the toll road from Ashby de la Zouch to Burton-upon-Trent. The area around the roundabout, which is the modern equivalent of the toll booth, is still known as 'Tollgate'. The name Woodville first appeared in a leaflet issued when the foundation stone of St Stephen's church was laid on 7 November 1845. [ "A Brief History of Knowles" [John Knowles & Co (Wooden Box) Ltd] , no date, page 3]

The Woodville area is rich in heritage with a wide variety of industries such as potteries, crate-making, pipe works, breweries, rope-making and railways all having had a presence in the area which is now either totally gone or extremely diminished. ["Local Heritage Initiative Website" http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_midlands/derbyshire/woodville_heritage_project/woodvilles.html ]

Notable Residents

* John Hurt,the actor, lived in Woodville from the ages of five to thirteen. His father was the vicar of St Stephen's church.

Public Amenities

Woodville High Street (which forms part of the A511) has a small shopping area incorporating a Tesco Express (a convenience store), Dean and Smedley pharmacy and a fish and chip shop. Also located on the High Street side of the road are additional food outlets, including a Chinese takeaway, a further fish and chip shop, and Indian and Chinese restaurants.

There is a village post office together with further shops and light industrial and commercial units.

Woodville has a 24 hour Total petrol station, incorporating a Spar convenience store, and a Kwik-Fit tyre and exhaust centre which is located on the Tollgate roundabout.

Local Geography

On some approaches it is difficult to tell where the village starts and ends as it is well incorporated into the urban sprawl of the surrounding towns and villages, including Midway and Swadlincote.

On the northern edge of Woodville is the Goseley Estate, which was constructed during the 1950s. There has been much development of the surrounding area with large private estates of new homes having been constructed.

To the south of Woodville, along the county border with Leicestershire, a large community of new houses is being developed (unofficially referred to as 'Woodville Woodlands') by the developers Bloor Homes ["Developers Website" http://www.bloorhomes.com/developments/derbyshire/the-hollies/summary/120869.aspx ] and Bryant Homes ["Developers Website" http://www.bryant.co.uk/Midlands/TheCoppice ] (formerly George Wimpey). This development is constructed on the former land of the Woodville Pipe Works and incorporates the planting of new trees on the former fire clay pit as part of the National Forest scheme. ["The National Forest" http://www.nationalforest.org/grow_for/index.html ]

Local Sports

Woodville is home to Woodville Rangers Football Club which was founded in 2005 and caters for all age groups from 4 up to adult. Their nickname is 'The Tollers' after the famous toll gate which was situated in Woodville for many years. The club badge depicts the toll house.

Woodville Rangers gained FA Charter Standard status early in 2008. The club details can be found at their website, www.woodvillerangers.co.uk

References