Findern

Infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=All Saints Church, Findern
latitude = 52.871
longitude = -1.547
map_type = Derbyshire
official_name = Findern
population =
shire_district = South Derbyshire
shire_county = Derbyshire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster =
post_town = DERBY
postcode_district = DE65
postcode_area =DE
dial_code =
os_grid_reference = SK305304

Findern is a village in south Derbyshire. (Grid reference: gbmaprim|SK309307|SK309307) Although a railway runs through it, there is no station, the nearest stations are Willington, Pear Tree and Derby. There are two level crossings, one that is to the South East of the village down Commonpiece Lane, which is one of the few remaining push open ones, and an automatic one on the parish border with Willington - there has been at least one fatality there.

The village

Points of interest in the village are the Green, church, public house, village hall and parish rooms. The village was named after the lord who resided in the area, Sir Geoffrey de Fynderne, who was present in the Crusades and brought back the Findern Flower, which only grows in the village and only in particular areas. The flower has become an emblem of the village and is represented in many guises, including the emblem of Findern Primary School on Heath Lane. An early school was started here by Rev. Benjamin Robinson, the local presbyterian minister in 1694 (for which he was summoned to explain why to the bishop).Benjamin Robinson in Dictionary of National Biography now in the public domain] Secondary education is provided for many at John Port, the secondary school in the nearby village of Etwall.

The parish church of All Saints was built in 1863-64 after a fire destroyed the original building. Built of sandstone, it stands adjacent to the Green. The church contains a monument to Isabella de Fynderne dated 1444, and also boasts the oldest communion plate in the UK.

There is a Neolithic cursus 1 ½ miles south of the village. [Pevsner, Nikolaus. 1986. "The Buildings of England:Derbyshire". pp 215-216. Harmondsworth, Middx. Penguin.] . .

Pubs and communication

'The Wheel Inn' is the only pub in Findern, located on Main Street just off Longlands Lane. [ [http://www.thefindernwheel.co.uk Local history at Findernwheel.co.uk] ] The Trent and Mersey Canal passes close to Findern a building, formerly the 'Canal Turn' pub, which was previously named 'the Greyhound'. In addition to this a house is located on the far-side of the canal, this was previously the oldest pub in the village.

The A50 passes through the lower end of Findern and runs parallel to the Trent and Mersey Canal, the road was laid there in approximately 1997 and many villagers were unhappy about the loss of fields and pleasant walks as a result.

On the banks of the Trent and Mersey Canal there has been a recent development, creating the UK's largest inland marina. With berths for several hundred narrow boats it is expected to have a great impact on the village and nearby Willington. Willington Road, connecting the two villages, has been closed to traffic until the completion of the marina and a new bridge to take the road over the new canal cutting.

References