a brief village history

As you walk through the lovely village of Coleorton, its mining heritage is not immediately obvious.  One clue is the name – Coleorton, or ColeOrton.  Probably as far back as the 13th-century coal has been mined in the village and certainly, there is much history in the surrounding area.  Evidence of deep shaft mining dating back to the Tudor era was uncovered at the end of the last century.  The last mine – New Lount Colliery (now the site of the New Lount Nature Reserve) – ceased production in 1968.  The former “Bug and Wink” colliery is now the site of Coleorton Wood.

Head over to www.coleortonheritage.org.uk to learn more about the history of this unique village; find out about the Beaumonts whose family seat was Coleorton Hall (now private residences but still a significant feature on the Coleorton skyline) and their influence on the village; the many famous names they entertained at the Hall including William Wordsworth, John Constable, Sir Walter Scott and Samuel Coleridge.  Visit the growing number of “blue plaque” sites that tell a tale of the amazing history of Coleorton.