The charming South Derbyshire village of Etwall dates from the 7th Century AD, with ‘Etewell’ recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Due to its location, it was easy to dig wells here and there are, in fact, over 60 wells to be found in the village, although many are now disused.
Since 1970 the annual Well Dressing Festival has taken place on the third weekend in May, attracting visitors from far and wide in what is a major and highly popular community event.
The well dressings are designed, produced and mounted by societies, clubs and groups of residents and celebrate a variety of themes, which change year on year.
The event raises money for prominent local charities and contributes substantially to the local sense of community and identity that is clearly in evidence in Etwall.
The village developed as a major stopping point on the Derby-Uttoxeter turnpike and had a station on the old Great Northern Line.
The former railway track that ran through the village is now part of the National Cycle Network.
Etwall today is a peaceful village with some great traditional pubs and a number of historically notable buildings.
If you find yourself in the village, it’s well worth making an effort to take a look at the famous Alms Houses, which are located adjacent to the beautiful St Helens Church and behind the ornamental ‘Robert Bakewell’ Gates, which originally belonged to the old Etwall Hall (now the site of John Port School).
The De Ferrers family and Sir John Port were well known families connected to the village and their names will be found related to much of the area’s fascinating history.
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According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), properties in Etwall had an overall average price of £296,095 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Ashover during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £356,028.
Overall, sold prices in Ashover over the last year were two per cent up on the previous year and similar to the 2020 peak of £297,608.
In the past 12 months, 60 properties have been sold in Etwall, over 50 per cent of which were detached.
Etwall has 16 listed buildings, including the late 12th century St Helen’s Church, which is Grade I listed.
Education provision in the village comes in the form of Etwall Primary School on Eggington Road, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in its most recent visit (February 2023).
Longdon Park School, on Park Hill in nearby Eggington, offers specialist provision for autistic pupils and is also rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Also to be found in Etwall is the John Port Spencer Academy, a large secondary academy with almost 2,000 students, making it one of the biggest secondary academies in the country. It, too, is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Many of Etwall’s Georgian houses and its wide variety of amenities are clustered around the village’s beautiful parish church.
Among other amenities, the village boasts three popular pubs – the Hawk & Buckle, Spread Eagle and Seven Wells – two convenience stores, a Post Office, pharmacy, dentist, veterinary cardiologist, hair salon, health and beauty salon, barber and a chip, as well as Blenheim House Hotel restaurant, a Chinese takeaway and a Balti/pizza outlet.
Activities are numerous with cricket, bowls and tennis clubs, art and dance groups, a Scout group, knitting circles, an allotment association, a local history society that has twice hosted lectures by Melvyn Bragg, and a thriving Well Dressing Association.
Etwall also benefits from its sizeable King George V playing field and Etwall Leisure Centre, on Hilton Road, which was opened in 2009 and includes a sports hall complete with a 3G artificial football pitch.
The village lies just seven miles south west of Derby city centre, meaning the vast amenities and attractions of the city are within easy reach, with a regular bus service (The Villager) running a regular service to and from Etwall, also stopping at Hilton, Hatton, Tutbury, Rolleston, Stretton and Burton upon Trent.
Etwall’s history is dominated by the man whose name adorns the school he bequeathed to the village: John Port.
Appropriately, it was children that brought Sir John’s grandfather to establish an estate here - it’s thought Etwall Hall was the only house available in a wide radius big enough to accommodate his 17 offspring.
Although Etwall Hall was demolished to make way for the school, its legacy lives on: Its wrought-iron gates were recovered and restored at the entrance to the courtyard.
