Attenborough Nature Reserve is a series of gravel pits, which were flooded after gravel extraction and are now a haven for birds and other wildlife.
The main commercial centre of Attenborough is around the junction of Nottingham Road (the A6005) and Attenborough Lane.
Nearer to the nature reserve is a tennis club, along with a private day-nursery,[3] which, in 2005, along with the Attenborough Prep School, was bought by Robert Everist, who then sold the nursery and closed the 100-year-old school. In media coverage, it was claimed that Everist's company had pressured employees into handing in their notice a week before closing the company.[4] The Attenborough Cricket Club (which doubles as the village green) and St. Mary's Church (a Church of England parish church).[5] This southeastern part of Attenborough is bounded to the northwest by the railway line and on the other three sides by the wetlands of the nature reserve. It is the historic part of the village, with two listed buildings and the listed church itself.[6]
In 1944, a plot of land was given on Attenborough Lane by Mr E.V. Brown and Mr J.M. Barnett for a village hall, but it was not until 1955 when funds permitted that construction began. The building was designed by Lionel Thraves of Messrs. Thraves and Son of Nottingham and built by the contractor A.H. Taylor (Nottingham) Ltd. It was named the Lucy Brown Village Hall in memory of the late wife of Mr. E.V. Brown.[7] The cost of construction was £8,200 (equivalent to £217,700 in 2021).[8] The opening on 15 September 1956 was attended by Mr. V.H. Oade (vice-chairman of Beeston and Stapleford Council) and Martin Redmayne, Baron Redmayne (M.P. for Rushcliffe).[9]
In 1966 a hoard of Roman coins were found on the footpath that runs over the railway and onto Barrett Lane.[10]
Conservation areas
There are two conservation areas which Broxtowe Borough Council has designated in Attenborough. These are Attenborough Village and Attenborough Barratt Lane.[11]
Attenborough Village Conservation Area
The conservation are comprises Church Lane, the north side of Shady Lane as far as Field House, The Strand and Sportsground and Attenborough Lane to its junction with Allendale Avenue.[12] The conservation area was established in June 1977.[13] Notable buildings include:
Cloud House, Attenborough LaneThe Orchards, Church LaneThatched Cottage, Church Lane
The Willows, 51 The Strand, Attenborough. Architect John Rigby Poyser
Attenborough Barratt Lane Conservation Area
The conservation area comprises the major part of Barratt Lane from number 23 to Attenborough Lane, Attenborough Lane from the level crossing to house number 201, and 1, 2 and 3 Long Lane.[17] The conservation area was established in November 1980.[13] The first nine houses were built at the end of the nineteenth century along the south side of Barratt Lane and had their fronts facing the railway rather than the lane, offering fine views towards the church and the River Trent beyond. Notable buildings include:
The village was flooded in November 2000. In 2006, plans were drawn up for substantial flood defences for the village. However, the scheme proved controversial because of the impact of a proposed high flood wall along The Strand. After a series of negotiations, planning permission was granted in August 2010, with the defences being moved to behind the village green. The work was completed in summer 2012.[20]
Attenborough is an unparished area and has no parish council. For local government and electoral purposes, Attenborough is within one of the wards of Broxtowe Borough Council, 'Attenborough & Chilwell East' Ward, and returns one Borough Councillor. In the 2007 local elections, the Conservatives won the seat.[21] For elections to Nottinghamshire County Council the village is covered by the electoral division of Beeston South & Attenborough (consisting of the Beeston Central, Beeston Rylands and Attenborough wards). In 2009, the Conservative candidate won the division.[22]
In the graveyard of St Mary's Church, there is a memorial to the 134 people killed on 1 July 1918 in an explosion in the shell factory in nearby Chilwell. This death toll remains the largest number of deaths caused by a single explosion in mainland Britain.[24][25]
A ferry (Barton Ferry) used to cross the River Trent from the mouth of the River Erewash (near Attenborough) to Barton in Fabis. A crossing existed at this point since before 1774.[26]
Transport
Bus
Bus services in the area are operated by Trent Barton and Nottsbus Connect; key routes are:[27]
CrossCountry operate a small number of stopping services, in the early morning and late evening, on the route between Nottingham, Birmingham and Cardiff.[29]
Beeston railway station is approximately 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) away, where additional stopping services are available on these routes; in addition, some inter-city services between Nottingham, Leicester and London St Pancras stop there.
Road
This is the primary method of transport in and out of the area, which is connected to Nottingham by the A6005.
Air
East Midlands Airport is approximately 7+1⁄2 miles (12.1 km) away; the airport serves domestic and international routes, focused mainly within Europe.
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