The best running trails around Alfreton

This is ancient oak woodland. A beautiful place to enjoy a quiet walk and look for wildlife. Shaw Wood is registered as a Local Wildlife site, which means it is a good habitat for a variety of creatures and a great place for us to enjoy them. In the spring the woodland floor is a carpet of bluebells and other wildflowers, which in turn attract insects, birds and small mammals.

The history of the estate goes back to Norman times, but by the 17th century it was owned by the Morewood family, who were linked to local industry, mainly in coal mining. The parklands and gardens date from the mid-18th century onwards. The house itself is now in use as a restaurant, conference and wedding venue.

Alfreton Masonic Temple was originally built as a library in 1938 by an American Philanthropist named Robert Watchorn who was born in Alfreton and emigrated to the USA in his early teens. He made his fortune before returning to England and in the 1930’s he bought up and demolished the row of back to back miner’s houses where he was born. He then built the Watchorn Methodist Church, a substantial number of houses, and the Abraham Lincoln Library as an educational facility for Alfreton.

A parish lockup dating from the mid 18th century. There is a raised plaque above it inscribed 'House of Confinement'. The interior has a central corridor with cells to either side. It is an unusually large example of village lockup. They were used for drunks, petty criminals and people waiting to appear in front of the magistrate.

St Martin's Church, Church Street, Alfreton, originally a 13th century church with significant later alterations. The oldest part appears to be the stilted archway from the nave into tower and may be attributed to the commencement of the Early English period. The Decorated Period is in evidence in some of the arches separating the nave from the south aisle, probably dating to c1320, and the moulding of the arch of the south doorway. The tower is early Perpendicular, probably from the commencement of the 15th century. In 1868, the church was enlarged and altered. The chancel was almost completely rebuilt and extended to retain its former size. The church is first noticed at the endowment of Beauchief Abbey between 1172 and 1176 and it is reasonable to assume that the founder of the Abbey was also the founder of the church. None of the work in the church pre-dates this period.

Frogs, toads and grass snakes are among the many species to be found on this small nature reserve. There is a short circular walk around the reserve, with a pond dipping platform provided for school groups.

St. Andrew's Church. In 1856 the Revd John Wood gave land for a church to be built in Swanwick. With the aid of a donation of £3,230 from Francis Wright the building was completed in 1859 with a nave of five bays, north and south aisles, north porch and bell turret over the west gable. The pointed arches on both sides of the nave and in the chancel imply that the architect, Benjamin Wilson, had Early English architecture in mind when he designed the building. The Church celebrated its 150th Anniversary on Sunday 26 September 2010. The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr. Alastair Redfern, presided at a celebratory service.

The church dates from the 12th century. The aisle and nave windows were redone in 1803 and the chancel was refashioned in 1877. The font dates from the 12th century.