Spondon
| Spondon | |
|---|---|
 St Werburgh's Church |
|
 Spondon
|
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| Spondon shown within Derbyshire | |
| Area | 7.97 km2 (3.08 sq mi) |
| Population | 12,377 (2011) |
| • Density | 1,553/km2 (4,020/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SK403360 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DERBY |
| Postcode district | DE21 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Spondon is a village in the east of the city of Derby. The original village dates back to the Domesday Book but the area became heavily industrialised in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with companies such as British Celanese (now Celanese Corporation, the site of which has now closed) who made cellulose acetate in World War I and later artificial fibres.
The name Spondon is Anglo-Saxon and describes a gravelly hill. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In about 1333, a great fire, starting at The Malt Shovel, a local pub, and aided by an easterly wind, swept through the village destroying the church and all but a few houses, with just one casualty, the mayor. The damage was so great that a judge, Roger de Bankwell, was sent to hear pleas for relief from taxes. The Great Fire of Spondon is still commemorated and taught as part of the curriculum in local schools. A village fair was held on its 650th anniversary (circa.1990).
Spondon is part of the Mid Derbyshire constituency for Westminster elections.
The community lies on the north slope of the valley of the River Derwent east of Derby and is divided by the A52, which separates the residential Spondon village area at the top of the hill from the heavily industrialised area at the bottom.
At the census in 2011 Spondon had a population of 12,377 of which 94.6% were White British, compared to 75.3% for Derby as a whole.
The industrial belt lies to the south of Nottingham Road/Derby Road (an old Roman road) as does the disused canal and the railway. These barriers separate the residential three quarters of the village from its industrial quarter. The various industries have included a dye works, electricity generating station, two scrapyards, sewage works, British Celanese synthetic fibres works and a tannery.
Spondon holds a small number of chain shops but continues to support the business of many independent tradespeople too, including a men's barbers, a gift shop and a bakery. Chapel Street and Sitwell Street (in the centre) are the main areas of this retail activity. Dale Road (north-east) and Nottingham Road/Derby Road (south) also have a row of shops. Superstores (Asda off Derby Road (south-west) are also in Spondon.
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Wikipedia