Shirebrook

Shirebrook
Shirebrook  Shirebrook shown within Derbyshire
Population	13,300 (civil parish)
OS grid reference	SK522678
District	Bolsover
Shire county	Derbyshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANSFIELD
Postcode district	NG20
Dialling code	01623 (74)
Police	Derbyshire
Fire	Derbyshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Bolsover
List of places UK England Derbyshire

Shirebrook is a town in the Bolsover district of north-east Derbyshire on the border with Nottinghamshire, England. it had a population of 13,300 It is on the B6407, and close to the A632 road, between Mansfield and Bolsover.

The town is served by Shirebrook railway station, on the Robin Hood Line.

Area Summary Shirebrook and Pleasley division in the east of Bolsover covers the parishes of Shirebrook and Pleasley. The towns of the same name make up most of the urban nature of the division, split by the more semi-rural area in the centre. In 2012, Shirebrook and Pleasley had a population of 13,300 and a population density almost three times that of Derbyshire as a whole. Whilst the area has a younger age profile than the county as a whole, with a higher proportion of people aged 16-24 years, it has a higher than average percentage of lone pensioner households. The division is the most deprived areas of the county, with higher than average levels of child poverty and children eligible for free school meals. The division’s unemployment rate has halved in the past year, but it continues to have a higher rate of out-of-work benefit claimants and a lower proportion of economically active residents than elsewhere in the county. Educational attainment levels in the area are low. Although attainment at GCSE level is slightly above the county average, attainment at foundation stage is amongst the lowest in the county and there is a significantly higher proportion of adults without qualifications. Absenteeism at both primary and secondary level is significantly higher than the county averages. Life expectancy in Shirebrook and Pleasley is low and a significantly higher than average proportion of people have their day-to-day activities limited by a health problem or disability. Mortality rates are considerably higher than average, with early deaths from cancer being particularly prevalent. However, the area performs better than Derbyshire overall on the rate of alcohol related hospital admissions for all ages.

The Great Northern former-pub, once a frequent social point in Shirebrook

Education

The local secondary school is Shirebrook Academy on Common Lane is for pupils aged 11–16.

Shirebrook also has many primary schools and nurseries such as:

• Park Infant & Nursery Schools
• Park Junior School
• Stubbin Wood Special School
• Brookfield Primary School
• Model Village Primary School

Railway

Shirebrook once had three railway stations. The last remaining station was on the Midland Railway (later part of the LMS) route from Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield, and was originally known as Shirebrook West, despite being on the eastern edge of the town. The route lost its passenger services in October 1964, leaving Mansfield as one of the largest towns in the UK without a station, but the line remained opened as a goods route. On the site of the goods yard a diesel locomotive fuelling depot was opened in the mid 1960s. The station was re-opened in 1998 for the new Robin Hood Line services from Nottingham to Worksop. A wagon repair and manufacturing business have a rail link with the main line.

Shirebrook North station (originally known as "Langwith Junction", until renamed in June 1924), was opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway (later part of the Great Central Railway and subsequently the LNER) in March 1897 and closed in September 1955. By then only one of the four routes converging on it was left- that to Lincoln: the Great Northern Railway's "Leen Valley Extension" line to Pleasley and Sutton-in-Ashfield had closed in September 1931; the LD&ECR line to Beighton via Clowne in September 1939, and that to Chesterfield via Bolsover in December 1951, due to the unsafe condition of Bolsover Tunnel. The filling in of the tunnel began on 10 October 1966, and used waste from Bolsover Colliery. The mouth of the old tunnel can be found on the southern edge of Scarcliffe, emerging just south of Ridgdale Road, Bolsover.

Shirebrook South station was on the Great Northern Railway's "Leen Valley Extension" line mentioned above, opened in November 1901 and closed in September 1931.

Notable former residents

• Sir John Hurt, born in nearby Chesterfield, lived in Shirebrook until aged five when his father was the vicar of Holy Trinity Parish Church.
• Jason Statham, Hollywood actor.
• Colin Tarrant, actor who played a number of roles including Brian Clough.
• Ray Wilson, a member of the England 1966 World Cup-winning football team.
• Mason Bennett, Derby County footballer from nearby Langwith, Derbyshire.

Sport

The town's football club Shirebrook Town play in the First Division of the Northern Counties East Football League, and are based at Langwith Road. Before the current club was formed, Shirebrook Miners Welfare F.C. was the senior team in the area, competing in the FA Cup on occasion.

External links

• Local information
• Colliery
• Fire Station
• Shirebrook Town Council
• Shirebrook Miners Welfare Unison Band
• Photos of Shirebrook
• Photographs of Shirebrook