Spondon
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Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, up until the modern era Spondon was a village separate from the city of Derby. Nowadays the two are very close to each other, although Spondon still has a distinct 'village' feel to it.
The name Spondon is Anglo Saxon and describes a gravelly hill. From the south of the area one has to climb uphill to reach what was the village centre, the most common accesses being via Merchant Avenue, Willowcroft Road and Borrowash Road. There are also roads called Gravel Pit Lane and Stoney Lane.
In Medieval times a fire, starting at the Malt Shovel Inn aided by an easterly wind, swept through the village destroying the church and all but a few houses. The Fire of Spondon is still commemorated as it's 750th anniversary village fair was held in the 1990's.
One of the high speed links with Derby effectively cuts the village into two, the Borrowash By-Pass (A52). The oldest and most interesting sections lie north of this road and include the village itself with the beautiful church of Saint Werburgh and Locko Park, the home of a local land-owning family, the Drury-Lowes. Spondon's secondary schools are also in the north and lie close to the boundary of Chaddesden.
Because of Derby's rail links Spondon is considered by some to be a dormitory village and there are many people who commute to London. Via the main roads, Derby City is no more than 3 minutes away and two hours or so after leaving Derby you can be in London on a fast train. The Derby area is well sited for exploration of and quick access to the Peak District National Park.
In addition to its Church and Methodist Chapel, Spondon still has its own railway station on the Nottingham-Derby line, though with a rather limited service, and its own cricket team who undoubtedly take advantage of the wide range of comfortable and interesting pubs to be found in and around the village.