Coal Aston
Looking east along Eckington Road in the direction of Eckington
Coal Aston is located in Derbyshire
Coal Aston
Coal Aston
Location within Derbyshire
OS grid referenceSK362795
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDRONFIELD
Postcode districtS18
Dialling code01246
PoliceDerbyshire
FireDerbyshire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Derbyshire
53°18′43″N 1°27′29″W / 53.312°N 1.458°W / 53.312; -1.458

Coal Aston is a village in the county of Derbyshire, in England. It is by the town of Dronfield.[1][2][3]

Geography

Coal Aston sits on a ridge overlooking Sheffield and Dronfield. To the south there is Frith Wood, which is made up of mixed woodland rich in many species of fauna and flora and is thought to be an ancient wood. The wood is now a conservation area and although it is spelt Frith Wood on, for example, Ordnance Survey maps, many locals call it Firth wood as in the neighbouring Firthwood Road. The wood is now popular for the William Hale trail. [4] The name Coal Aston is due to the number of walk-in coal mines in the area, finally closing in 1938. There are many stone-built houses and terraces dating back to the mining era during the 19th century. The last mine, Sicklebrook Colliery on Sicklebrook Lane (off Eckington Road), closed in 1938.[5] There is still an Aston Hall in the centre of the village. The large Victorian village school has now been converted into a private house. During World War II the village was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp.[6]

Southern entrance to Firth Wood, late Winter

References

  1. ^ Coal Aston Conservation Area: Character Statement. Department of Development & Leisure. 2003.
  2. ^ Messer, E. (1998). Wesleyan Reform Church Coal Aston 1848-1998: The Story of the Wesleyan Reform Chapel. Accent Print & Design.
  3. ^ Kelly's Directories, ltd (1854). Post office directory of Sheffield with the neighbouring towns and villages [afterw.] Kelly's directory of Sheffield & Rotherham and neighbourhood.
  4. ^ Google maps, see firth woods
  5. ^ Office, Great Britain Home (1889). List of Plans of the Abandoned Mines: Deposited in the Home Office under the Coal and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Acts. H.M. Stationery Office.
  6. ^ Warr, Peter (30 August 2015). Sheffield's Great War and Beyond, 1916–1918. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-6925-7.