Willington is situated to the north of Repton between the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal, with its own village green, and boasting plenty of great places for eating out.
The bridge over the river was built in 1836 and was one of the last main road toll bridges in England. It was not made free of charge until 1898.
The canal had a dramatic impact on the growth of the village and this led to the development of a small inland port.
The arrival of the railways in the 1800s meant a gradual decline in the use of canals for transport and industry and today the canal is now a valuable habitat for wildlife and attracts visitors with leisure moorings for canal boats and a well used towpath.
A settlement from the Beaker period was excavated in gravel beds by the River Trent and St Michael’s Church dates from the 12th century.
The church was heavily restored in the early part of the 19th Century, when a north transept was added. It contains a richly decorative 18th Century font. The church tower was added in 1824.
Today the church is a Grade II listed building with Historic England.
Nearby, Mercia Marina was created from the pre-existing Willington Lake and is accessed by boaters from the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Set within 74 acres of landscaped grounds it is the largest inland marina in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, with a thriving community of resident and visiting boaters.
The marina is home to a number of excellent restaurants and tea rooms, bespoke shops and a chandlery, with a regular calendar of events.
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According to Rightmove, the UK’s largest online real estate property portal (rightmove.co.uk), properties in Willington had an overall average price of £298,077 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Willington during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £292,375.
Detached properties sold for an average of £390,000, with terrace properties fetching £186,916.
Overall, sold prices in Willington over the last year were ten per cent up on the previous year and one per cent up on the 2021 peak of £295,059.
In the past 12 months, 26 properties have been sold in Willington, including eight detached houses, ranging from £250,000 to £575,000.
Willington has eight listed buildings, all of which are Grade II listed, meaning they represent buildings of national importance and special interest.
Willington Primary School caters for children aged four to 11 and was given a rating of ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted on its last visit.
Repton School, a leading UK boarding school, is just a ten minute drive from Willington and caters for students up to and including A-Levels.
John Port Spencer Academy is a large secondary academy in Etwall and one of the biggest secondary academies in the country, is just 3.5 miles from the village.
As mentioned, Willington is home to Mercia Marina, Derbyshire's largest waterside marina attraction. With a 24-acre lake surrounded by 50 acres of open countryside, Mercia Marina caters for boaters, lodge owners, shoppers, diners and sightseers.
Indeed, Mercia Marina’s Boardwalk of quirky independent shops, cafés and restaurant is enough to keep you entertained for hours on end.
Nearby Wellington Wetlands Nature Reserve is also a fine way to spend leisure time, with beautiful scenery as well as abundant and rare wildlife.
The village itself serves its circa 3,000 residents well, with a surgery, village store, a local Co-Op store, a village hall and numerous public houses – including The Green Man; The Dragon; and The Rising Sun.
For shopping with a difference, why not try Betty’s Farm, a working farm which offers an automated vending shop!
Eateries include the Boat Street Café, which makes use of Willington’s lovely waterside location, with the café permanently moored beside the road bridge by the marina entrance.
Transport-wise, the village is served by Willington Railway Station, which has two platforms and is run by East Midlands Railway.
Operated by Trent Barton, the V3 bus service connects Derby; Littleover; Findern; Willington; Repton; Newton Solney; and Burton upon Trent.
Despite being decommissioned between 1995 – 1999, the cooling towers of Willington Power Station continue to dominate the area’s skyline for miles around. In recent times, they have become the unlikely home to rare Peregrine falcons.
