Alvaston

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.89754
longitude= -1.42319
official_name= Alvaston
map_type= Derbyshire
population = 13,686 (2001 Census)
shire_district= Derby
shire_county = Derbyshire
region= East Midlands

constituency_westminster= Mid Derbyshire
post_town= DERBY
postcode_district = DE24
postcode_area= DE
dial_code= 01332
os_grid_reference= SK345395

Alvaston is a suburb and ward of Derby, England. Alvaston is situated on the A6, three miles south-east of Derby city centre. It is bordered to the north by the wards of Derwent, Chaddesden and Spondon, to the east is the City Centre, to the south are Sinfin and Chellaston and to the west the district of South Derbyshire.

The village of Alvaston has existed since at least the eleventh century"Domesday Book: A Complete Translation". London: Penguin, 2003. ISBN 0-14-143994-7 p.750-2] . It became part of Derby in the late twentieth century.

The smaller, neighbouring village of Boulton has been swallowed up by Alvaston, and Boulton is rarely referred to by name.

Alvaston's population is around 25,000.

Housing

The village expanded rapidly with the coming of improved public transport to Derby, and the arrival of the railways and associated employment in the mid nineteenth century. Alvaston was the terminus of a tram route which ran along London Road.

Few of the buildings in Alvaston date from before this era. There are several parallel streets of terraced Victorian housing in the Crewton district, large Edwardian detached villas stringing out away from the village centre, 1930s semi-detached homes, and a large expanse of post-Second World War council housing.

Perched on the edge of the settlement, on Stocker Flat and overlooking Boulton Moor may be found a maze of 1970s-1980s built culs-de-sac and footpaths, leading to council and privately-built homes.

Location

The River Derwent flows to the north of Alvaston, and runs alongside Alvaston Park, which features a playground, lake and skate park.

Two miles to the west lies the site of the Derby Canal, the nineteenth century township of Allenton, and the Osmaston Park Industrial Estate. To the north-west on the A6 towards Derby, a small settlement of Victorian terraced homes forms Wilmorton. The Pride Park development, which includes the Derby County football stadium, is a short walk away. To the north, the River Derwent flows from Derby towards its confluence with the River Trent. The long-established chemical works of [http://www.acetateproducts.com/ Acordis] are the northern bank, towards Spondon. To the east lies the open countryside of South Derbyshire and Elvaston Castle Country Park, a favourite place for picnics and lakeside walks. To the south, Boulton Moor stretches towards Chellaston and Aston-on-Trent.

chools, Churches and Shops

chools

Alvaston has two secondary schools: Noel-Baker Community School and Merrill Community School. The suburb has several primary schools.

Churches

There are several churches, of Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and Roman Catholic denominations.

There are two Anglican churches:

* [http://www.st-michael-and-all-angels.co.uk St Michael and All Angels Church] is at the heart of the old village of Alvaston. The current building dates from 1856.

* [http://home.clara.net/boultonchurch/index.html The church of St Mary the Virgin] in Boulton, locally known as Boulton St Mary's, is thought to be of Norman origin.

hops

The main shopping centre of Alvaston may be found at the junction of the A6 London Road and the A5111 Derby Ring Road.

References