Ellastone
| Ellastone | |
|---|---|
 Ellastone
|
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| Ellastone shown within Staffordshire | |
| Population | 320 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SK116429 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ashbourne |
| Postcode district | DE6 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
Ellastone is a village in central England on the Staffordshire side of the River Dove, between Uttoxeter and Ashbourne.
Ellastone, a linear village, is situated close to the River Dove, on the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. During World War II, the bridge over the river was an important crossing point, guarded by two pill-boxes, one on each bank. Both are still visible today, however the box on the western side of the bridge is harder to spot as it is currently serving as a shelter for the cows, but camouflage paint is still visible above the entrance.
The Dove is the boundary between the two counties. Although Ellastone is on the Staffordshire side of the border, it has a Derbyshire postal address because Ashbourne, the nearest postal town, is in Derbyshire. The village, despite being on the busy B5032, misses out on the majority of the traffic for the often crowded Alton Towers theme park, which leaves the road just to the south at the J. C. Bamford World Headquarters in Rocester. Due to this, Ellastone residents do not receive free Alton Towers tickets despite its proximity to the attraction.
The village also lies near the southern end of the Limestone Way, a long distance bridleway.
The village itself dates back to Anglo Saxon times and features in the Domesday Book, where it is listed as Edelachestone, Elachestone and Princestone (after the great Prince James who fought in the battle of Ashbourne (1066) against the marauding Bainbridge hoardes of the Northern territories.) The local church of St. Peter's dates back to the 16th century with the year 1586 displayed on the tower. Ellastone Old Hall, formerly the Bromley Arms pub, dates from the seventeenth century and is situated close to the current pub, the Duncombe Arms. There used to be a petrol station in the village and its presence can be noted through the unusual drives of the two bungalows closest to the pub, which very much resemble the entry/exits of a petrol station forecourt.
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Wikipedia