Hucknall
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Template:GBdot Hucknall, formerly known as Hucknall Torkard, is a town in Nottinghamshire, England, in the district of Ashfield. It was a major coal mining town at one time. The mine opened in 1865 and there were 2 shafts, but only one was in use by 1943 and in 1986 the mine finally closed. The town is the northern terminus for the Nottingham Express Transit.
Lord Byron is buried in the Mary Magdalene church, which is next to the town's market square.
Another native of Hucknall was Eric Coates, whose compositions include the theme music for The Dam Busters (movie), and the "Sleepy Lagoon" introduction for Desert Island Discs.
In the early 1950's, the Rolls Royce site at Hucknall developed the world's first vertical-takeoff jet 'aircraft' - actually, a test rig, officially called the Thrust Measuring Rig, but soon nicknamed the "Flying Bedstead" because of its shape. The first untethered flight, piloted by Capt. Ron Shepherd, took place on the 3rd August 1954 before a distinguished audience. The rig rose slowly into the air and hovered steadily. It then moved forward, made a circuit of the area, then demonstrated sideways and backwards movements before making a successful landing. The flight was a tremendous success and during the next four months a number of free flights were made, up to a height of 50ft.
The local council is Ashfield District Council at www.ashfield-dc.gov.ukTemplate:UK-geo-stub