Langley Mill 1840

by courtesy of Heanor & District Local History Society www.heanorhistory.org.uk

This item, from the Ripley and Heanor News in 1976, gives details about Langley Mill just before the main period of its expansion.

"We are indebted to Mr P. Eggleshaw for certain information about Langley Mill in 1840 when it was in two districts, one being Langley , and the other Langley Bridge.

The item on Langley Bridge is as follows: 'Langley Bridge is a considerable village with a bridge over the Erewash, principally situated in the parish of Eastwood, Notts. It is one mile east of Heanor. The present bridge was built in 1830 and William West is the tollkeeper here. The Erewash is navigable from here to the Trent and here is a junction with the Cromford, Derby and Nottingham canals.

'There are several large coal wharfs a steam corn mill and extensive lime kilns. George Whysall, of Heanor, the Butterley Co, Aldred and Co. and Gervaise Cressy Hall of Alfreton have wharfs here. Joseph Garton is a coal agent there. William Fletcher is a lime-burner. Mrs Elizabeth Bowes is Licencee of the Navigation Inn, and is also a corn miller and baker.

'Of the other portion of what is now Langley Mill, there is not much information excepting the following: The General Baptists have a chapel here built in 1839 with a Sunday school at a cost of £300 to seat 260 persons. The Rev. John Felkin, of Smalley, is the pastor.'

The Navigation Inn stood in what is now the entrance to Vic Hallam’s works [this is not actually correct] and Mrs Elizabeth Bowes had a reputation as a strict martinet, and quite capable of dealing with the numerous bargees and wharf workers who frequented the Inn.

The Baptist chapel mentioned is on what is now Station Road, but at that time, 1840, it was Heanor lane."