Langley Mill: Historic village stars in film

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THE BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine has seen a myriad different characters over the years, but never anyone who hailed from Langley Mill.

However, Langley Mill Heritage Group is putting that right by using the format of the long-running TV classic as the basis for its recently released video, Walking Through the Mill.

The film – based on the group’s successful book of the same name – records local residents’ memories of what they believe is the most industrialised village in the UK.

Until the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, the area which was to become Langley Mill was simply a crossing place on the River Erewash, with links to Derby, Heanor, Eastwood, Mansfield and Nottingham.

A road to Codnor Castle had used the old wooden bridge since the 12th century, but there were very few houses in the area and the majority of those were farmsteads.

Although there had been a water mill there since Domesday, it was the canals – the Erewash, Cromford and Nottingham all converged in the area – which led to the industrial development of the village, initially known as Langley Bridge.

When the Midland Railway arrived in 1847, more large industries followed.

The growth and development of Langley Mill over the past 200 years is regarded by many as a perfect example of the rise and fall of an industrial village through its geography, economics and aspirations of its inhabitants. Which is why it made perfect material for local author Derek Fox, who penned Walking Through the Mill in 2002 and has written the script for the film.

“The book is about the life and times of the Langley Mill community,” said Derek. “It was extremely successful, so we decided to apply for a lottery grant for further research.

“When we got it, we wondered if we could use the funds to make a film. Everyone was really up for the idea and so we set about pulling it together. But we didn’t want it to be a dry documentary, so we came up with the idea of doing it in a Last of the Summer Wine style.

“A group of local characters, speaking in dialect, walk through the village telling tales about the history of the place as they meander along.

“The film runs for 50 minutes. Some people queried if we would have enough material but, to be honest, it could have been treble that. There was an awful lot of information we had to leave out.”

Derek and the group went through six different scripts before they finalised the storyboard. The filming took four-and-a-half days, which, according to the three local men who star in it, was exceptionally gruelling.

Brian Gration (65), Jim Trueman (64) and Alf Hursthouse (69) stepped into the breach and took the main parts.

“It was very tiring, but very enjoyable,” said Brian, of Lower Dunstead Road, Langley Mill. “The film starts and finishes at the canal as this is the focal point of the village. It is the only place in Britain where three canals meet.

“This was a major source of industry for the village. The last commercial boat to use the area was as late as 1952. But this, combined with two main line Railways, made Langley Mill what it is today.”

It seems that even today Langley Mill is an important place for canal users, with the marina having a two-year waiting list for moorings.

“It’s because we are so central,” said Jim, of Station Road, Langley Mill. “Although we are very much a commuter village now, Langley Mill was a major force in the Industrial Revolution. The transportation of coal was the main reason for the canals coming here.

“The village was known as Langley Bridge until 1847. It was only when Midland Railway came through that the name was changed. The employers built cottages and renamed the place Langley Mill.”

Another big employer arrived in the village in 1875 when the Co-op set up. Every member of the group agreed this was a major landmark for the village. It meant there was no need to go into either Derby or Nottingham for anything.

Mari Fowler (66), of Cromford Road, Langley Mill, said many residents were annoyed by the village always being associated with Nottingham.

“Langley Mill in Derbyshire doesn’t exist on the maps,” said Mari. “The river used to be the border between the counties; now it’s the A610.”

This living on the border reminded Brian and Jim of the pub that once straddled the two counties.

“The New Inn used to have one room in Nottinghamshire and one in Derbyshire,” said Brian, recalling the hostelry that was pulled down to make way for Vic Hallam’s yard in the 1950s. “Because the counties operated different licensing laws it made for an amusing sight every day at closing time.

“The Nottinghamshire opening times were from 10.30am-2.30pm, while on the Derbyshire side they were from 11am-3pm. So, at last orders on the Notts side, everyone would get up and move rooms, so they could drink for another half hour.”

The film, which is available in both DVD and video formats, has proved extremely popular among the locals. And it has encouraged more people to come forward with anecdotes and stories to help protect the village’s heritage for future generations.

Langley Mill has suffered, the group feel, because it was a village dependent on the mines for employment, but isn’t recognised as a mining blackspot by the government.

“We had a lot of working miners live here,” said Mari. “But they travelled to all the pits in the surrounding areas. Langley Mill became a very deprived area.

“There are still a few parts that fall in the low income bracket, but there are more than 300 businesses registered in the area now.”

With the future looking brighter for Langley Mill, it means that the village’s rich history can be focused on with pride. And the group has so much material that it is even thinking about a sequel.

The DVD will be officially launched on March 10 with a talk by local author Brian Wright at the Langley Mill Bridge Centre from 2-5pm. It is available from the centre, priced £12.99.

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