Melbourne, Derbyshire

Melbourne
The Market Place
Melbourne  Melbourne shown within Derbyshire
Population	4,843 (2011)
OS grid reference	SK385255
District	South Derbyshire
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DERBY
Postcode district	DE73
Dialling code	01332
Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	South Derbyshire
List of places UK England Derbyshire

Coordinates: 52°49′23″N 1°25′44″W / 52.823°N 1.429°W / 52.823; -1.429

Melbourne is a former market town and civil parish in South Derbyshire, England.^[1] It is about 8 miles (13 km) south of Derby, 8 miles (13 km) north of Swadlincote and 2 miles (3 km) from the River Trent. The population of the civil parish (including Kings Newton) at the 2011 Census was 4,843.^[2] In 1837 a then tiny settlement in Australia was named after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister, and thus indirectly takes its name from the village.

History

The name Melbourne means "mill stream", i.e. the mill by the stream. It was first recorded in Domesday Book (DB 1086 Mileburne = mill stream) as a royal manor.

A parish church building dates from around 1120.

In 1311 Robert de Holand fortified the existing royal manor house to form Melbourne Castle, though the fortification was never completed. Jean, duc de Bourbon, the most important French prisoner taken at the Battle of Agincourt (1415), was detained at the castle for 19 years.

Plans envisaged imprisoning Mary, Queen of Scots at Melbourne Castle in the 16th century, but it had deteriorated into a poor state of repair. By the early 17th century it had fallen into decay and was demolished, although some remains can still be seen.^[3]

Melbourne Hall, originally owned by the church, was constructed in stages - mainly in the 17th and 18th centuries.

During the Second World War of 1939-1945 a military training railway was operated to the north of the now defunct Melbourne railway station.

Since 2005 Melbourne has run an arts festival every September.^[4]

Notable residents

Edward Martin photographer 1881-1917 Studios at Potters street & Ashby road

• Robert Bakewell, ironsmith, started his career here in 1706.
• John Joseph Briggs, naturalist lived in Kings Newton and published a History of Melbourne.^[5]
• Thomas Cook, travel agent, was born here in 1808.
• William Dexter, painter was born here in 1808.^[6]
• Viscount Melbourne, British prime minister, 1834 and 1835-1841.
• Rowland Ordish, civil engineer was born here in 1824.
• John Young, cricketer was born here in 1876.^[7]
• Ronald Pope, sculptor and artist
• Andrew Cope, English children's author still lives here today.

Places of interest

Melbourne Church

Melbourne parish church has been described as a "cathedral in miniature" and is one of five churches in Melbourne. The Domesday Book records a church and priest here in 1086. The present church was built about 1120, and most of the original masonry is intact, except for the eastern end which has been refurbished. The roofs, naves, aisles and the aisle windows date from the restoration of the 1630s. There was also a restoration done by Gilbert Scott in 1859-62.^[8]

Melbourne Hall was originally the rectory house for the Bishop of Carlisle, but was substantially rebuilt by Thomas and George Coke in the early 18th century. The hall's gardens were laid out with the assistance of royal gardeners in 1704. They contain examples of the work of Derby ironsmith Robert Bakewell. Melbourne Pool was originally used by the nearby mill. The hall is open to the public in August.

The Thomas Cook Memorial Cottages in High Street were built by Thomas Cook who started popular travel in England. Cook was born in Melbourne in 1808 though his birthplace was demolished in 1968. The buildings built in 1890-91 include fourteen cottages, a bakehouse, a laundry and mission hall. They still provide accommodation for some of Melbourne's senior citizens.

Melbourne Market Place is the location of Melbourne's main shops, including the Co-op building and monument which was refurbished in 1998.

Education

Melbourne has two schools: an infant school and a junior school,^[9] sharing a site.

Sport

The town plays host to Melbourne Rugby Football Club,^[10] Melbourne United Football Club,^[11] Melbourne Town Cricket Club,^[12] Melbourne Royal British Legion Tug of War Club, Melbourne Bowls Club and RAMcc (Ride Around Melbourne Cycling Club).^[13] There is also a popular, free entry recreation ground, which holds MTCC, MRFC and MUFC fixtures on a regular basis. There is also a modern sports pavilion, designed by Heath Avery Architects,^[14] which will contain changing rooms and toilets, and a desk where people interested in booking out the newly developed astro-turf pitches can book.

Culture, industry and transport

The town contains many Georgian buildings and in the 19th century was a centre for framework knitting and footwear manufacture, e.g. Fairystep Shoes. Market gardens have always been a major part of the economy, though now only a handful remain. East Midlands Airport, 5 miles (8 km) to the east of the town, was opened in the 1960s and has now become a significant regional transport hub. The town's bus service is run by Arriva Midlands. Previously, Trent Barton maintained a small garage in Melbourne, the site going on to become a supermarket. It maintained routes to Swadlincote, Derby, Aston-on-Trent and Weston-on-Trent. Bus services for pupils run to Chellaston School every morning and afternoon. There have been links to East Midlands Airport which were recently axed.

There is a wide range of shops and services including a Sainsburys supermarket

Services in Melbourne include: Three ATMs, a post office, a pharmacy, a library, the Melbourne Assembly Rooms (formerly the Bill Shone Leisure Centre) and a youth club. There are also several pubs and restaurants.

In March 2013 Melbourne was ranked as the 15th best town in Britain to live in by The Times newspaper, Melbourne Festival was also named as one of the Top 10 British Craft Events by Country Living. In April 2013 Melbourne became the first town in Derbyshire to receive Walkers are Welcome Town status.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melbourne, Derbyshire.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Melbourne (Derbyshire).

• About Melbourne
• Melbourne news from the Derby Telegraph
• derbyphotos.co.uk: Photo Gallery of Melbourne
• Melbourne Town Band website and Facebook page

Ceremonial county of Derbyshire
Unitary authorities	Derby
Boroughs or districts	Amber Valley Bolsover Chesterfield Derbyshire Dales Erewash High Peak North East Derbyshire South Derbyshire
Major settlements	Alfreton Ashbourne Bakewell Belper Bolsover Buxton Chapel-en-le-Frith Chesterfield Clay Cross Darley Dale Derby Dronfield Eckington Glossop Hadfield Heanor Ilkeston Killamarsh Langley Mill Long Eaton Matlock Melbourne New Mills Newhall Ripley Sandiacre Shirebrook Staveley Swadlincote Whaley Bridge Wirksworth See also: List of civil parishes in Derbyshire
Rivers	Alport Amber Ashop Bradford Dane Derwent Doe Lea Dove Drone Erewash Etherow Goyt Hipper Kinder Lathkill Manifold Mease Noe Rother Sett Trent Westend Wye
Topics	High Sheriffs Museums Parliamentary constituencies Places Population of major settlements SSSIs Schools Country Houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings