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Somercotes

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Archives & Libraries

Prior to 1910, the parish had a Reading Room inside the Working Man's Institute in Seely Terrace.

The Somercotes Library on Bank Street at the Somerlea Park Junior School is normally open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and they have a Local Studies and Family History section to help you in your search.

Alternatively, the Alfreton Library is also an excellent resource with a Local History section and a Family History section.

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Cemeteries

The Leabrooks Cemetery is just west of the parish (and in the Swanwick parish). It opened in 1895 as 4 acres and is under the control of the Amber Valley District Council. If you cannot find your relatives burial in the Somercotes churchyard, look for them here.

Stephen McKAY has a photograph of the Leabrooks Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2006.

David BEVIS has a photograph of the Leabrooks Cemetery gates on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2016.

Michael SPENCER has extracted the parish burials for 1892 and 1893. Your corrections and additions will be appreciated.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Alfreton sub-district of the Belper Registration District.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1861R.G. 9 / 2514
1891R.G. 12 / 2748 & 2749

There is a portion of the Somercotes 1871 census on the Somercotes 1871 web page.

There is a portion of the Somercotes 1881 census on the Somercotes 1881 web page.

There is a portion of the Somercotes 1901 census on the Somercotes 1901 web page.

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Church History

  • Somercotes was originally a Chapel of Ease for Riddings parish.
     
  • The Anglican parish chapel is dedicated to Saint Thomas.
     
  • The chapel was built in 1852.
     
  • The Ecclesiastical parish was established in 1891.
     
  • The chapel was restored in 1878.
     
  • The chapel was rebuilt, except for the chancel, in 1902.
     
  • The chapel seats 500.
     
  • Bill HENDERSON has a photograph of St. Thomas Church on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2006.
     
  • Members of Somercotes Church have produced a booklet about the village containing stories from local people about the Village and St. Thomas's Church. The cost is £3 plus p&p. They have also produced a video, containing pictures of church processions, price £10 plus p&p. All proceeds go to St. Thomas's Church.

    For further information please contact Margaret BROOKSBANK, telephone (+44)(0)1773 604916.
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Church Records

  • One should search the Riddings parish register for entries from this chapel previous to 1898.
     
  • The Family History Library has copies of the Parish Register for St. Thomas Church, 1898-1991.
     
  • The church was in the Alfreton Deanery.
     
  • The Anglican church had a Mission Room in Birchwood prior to 1910.
     
  • The Primitive Methodists built a chapel here in 1839 and replaced it in 1898.
     
  • The Free (or "United") Methodists built a chapel at Birchwood in 1853.
     
  • Stephen McKAY has a photograph of the Methodist Church at Birchwood on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2006.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists built a chapel at Lea Brooks in 1859.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists built a chapel here in 1860.
     
  • The Free Methodists built a chapel on Steelmoor Lane in 1867.
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • The parish was in the Alfreton sub-district of the Belper Registration District.
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Description & Travel

Somercotes is a village and parish in the District of Amber Valley close to the border with Nottinghamshire. It lies 1.5 miles north of Pye Bridge and 130 miles north of the City of London.

Passenger rail service ceased in the 1960s.

"SUMMERCOTES, a hamlet in the parish of Alfreton, county Derby, 2 miles S. of Alfreton, near the Erewash canal.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin HINSON ©2003]

You can see pictures of Somercotes which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

  • John Marius WILSON's "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, 1872" describes Somercotes:

SOMERCOTES, a village in Alfreton parish, Derby; 2 miles SE of Alfreton. It has a post-office under Alfreton, the church of Riddings, and two Methodist chapels.

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History

The Empire Palace, which opened in 1912, had accommodations for 1,200.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK423534 (Lat/Lon: 53.076161, -1.37005), Somercotes which are provided by:

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Military History

  • The parish War Memorial is made of Sicilian marble and stands over 12 feet high. It was erected in 1927 to honour some 81 men from the parish. Additional names were added for World War II.
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Military Records

For a photograph of the Somercotes War Memorial and the names on it, see the Roll of Honour site.

There is a Commonwealth War Grave in the Leabrook Cemetery for RAF Srgt. Frank Ernest COXHEAD, died 23 June 1944, son of Frank Percy and Martha COXHEAD, of Somercotes.

Another Commonwealth War Grave at Leabrook is for guardsman Lewis George ELLIS, 1st Bn. Granadier Guards, died 23 Apr 1944. He was the husband of Elsie ELLIS, of Somercotes.

And shortly after World War 2, pte. Wilfred HARGREAVES of the Royal Scots was buried in Leabrook cemetery in Feb. 1946. He was the son of F. W. HARGREAVES and Agnes HARGREAVES of Somercotes.

And from WW One there is a Commonwealth War Grave for lance corporal C. PICCOCK of the Military Police who died on 21 Nov. 1918.

And a grave for Leading Aircraftman Norman WOOTTON, RAF Sqdn 2823. died 24 July 1944 and buried in Leabrooks Cemetery. Son of Frank and Edith WOOTTON, of Leabrooks; husband of Annie WOOTTON, of Leabrooks.

And, not on the War Memorial, there is the grave of pte. Robert HEY, 3rd Bn. Sherwood Foresters, who died on 17 Oct 1918. Son of J. W. and Sarah Jane HEY, of 101A, Hunger Hill Rd., Nottingham.

There is also a Commonwealth War Grave for 2nd Lieut. Henry MARTIN, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on 22 Nov 1918. He was the son of Emily MARTIN, of Somercotes and the late Henry MARTIN.

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Names, Geographical

According to A. D. MILLS, "A Dictionary of English Place-Names", 1991, Oxford Univ. Press, "Somercotes" is Old English "Sumor Cot" or Cottages used in the Summer. The current use of the name is first noted in 1276.

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Politics & Government

  • This place appears to have been constituted as a Civil Parish in October, 1898.
     
  • This place was partly in the ancient Scarsdale Hundred (or Wapentake).
     
  • You can contact the local Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they are NOT staffed to assist you with family history searches.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Amber Valley Borough Council.
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Alfreton petty session hearings.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poorlaw Amendment Act reforms, this place became a member of the Belper Poorlaw Union.
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Probate Records

In an 1861 Will (made in 1850), George NAYLOR labourer, Somercotes, mentions:

  1. Joseph DOUGLASS and his wife Hannah whom I now live with
  2. Thomas COLLEDGE witness Riddings Dissenting Minister
  3. James TAYLOR witness
  4. Charles A. WELBY Commissioner
     

In an 1863 Will, John HARDSTAFF innkeeper, Somercotes, mentions:

  1. son John HARDSTAFF
  2. John GEE
  3. wife Frances HARDSTAFF
  4. Tho. J. CUTLER, Alfreton, witness
  5. Geo. RADFORD, Alfreton, witness
     

In 1861, Rebecca SLACK of Somercotes left a Will.

An 1862 Will by Edward BARDILL was proved, as was one by Jonathan STORER.

An 1866 Will by Sarah RILEY Somercotes, mentions John RILEY.

An 1869 Administration of William ROOTH of Somercotes, who died in 1860, mentions Maria ROOTH of Woolley Moor.

In 1870, Joseph DOUGLASS (mentioned above) left a Will.

An 1872 Will by Ann PALMER Somercotes, mentions William PALMER of Ibstock.

An 1874 Will by Mary MOAKES, Somercotes, mentions Samuel MOAKES.

In 1876, Jonathan DOBB left a Will.

In 1878, Lydia STORER left a Will.

In 1888, Thomas ROGERS left a Will.

An 1895 Will by Sarah McINTYRE of Somercotes was proved.

In 1896, the Will of Richard ORME, Somercotes, was proved.

In 1897, the Will of Ann BRIDDON, Somercotes, was proved.

In 1900, the Will of Mira SPENCER, Somercotes, was proved.

In 1904, the Will of John SIMPSON, Somercotes, was proved.

In 1906, the Will of Joseph BRIGGS of Somercotes was proved.

In 1913, George JEPSON of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1915, Fred BROWN of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1916, John COPE of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1917, William Slack HUDSON of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1918, Francis LOWE left a Will.

In 1920, Lucy Ann BULLOCK of Somercotes left a Will. So did Richard William TAYLOR.

In 1921, William BAILEY of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1923, Frederick WADDOUPS of Somercotes left a Will.

In 1924, the Will of George William SPENCER, Somercotes, was proved.

In 1925, the Will of Henry STOPPARD was proved.

In 1926, the Will of Mary SMITH of Somercotes was proved.

In 1927, the Will of James DAYKIN of Somercotes was proved.

In 1928, the Will of John ELLIS of Somercotes was proved.

There is a list of Wills and Administrations at Yesterday's Journey website. Scroll down to Somercotes.

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Schools

A National (boys & girls) School was built here in 1874 and enlarged in 1880, for 201 boys & 201 girls.

Eventually the Girls were moved to a new School built in 1893 for 344 girls.

An Infants' School was erected 1867 for 277 children.

The COLLIER sisters, Kate & Sarah, had a young ladies' school at Lea brooks in 1891.