Overseal
Encyclopedia
Overseal is a village situated 3 miles south of Swadlincote
, in South Derbyshire
. It is sometimes locally pronounced as "Ovversale" and is the southernmost settlement in Derbyshire
, on the border with Leicestershire
.
and Overseal in modern times. The Seal suggests the area was once heavily forested and Nether means lower and Over means upper. The busy A444 (M42
- Burton upon Trent
) passes straight through it.
Overseal is in the heart of the National Forest
. To the south-east is Donisthorpe (in Leicestershire
). Halfway between the village and Moira
, half a mile to the east, is the Conkers activity park
, the National Forest youth hostel
and a Camping and Caravanning Club
site (all in Leicestershire), close by also to Short Heath
(in Derbyshire). The village has been in Leicestershire in the past.
The village church is dedicated to St Matthew. Woodville Road, leading to the north-east from the A444 was formerly the B5004, but has now been downgraded to a minor road. Close by is the former Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway
(became the Leicester to Burton line
), with a station for .
Village pubs are the Robin Hood Inn on the junction of Main Street and Burton Road (A444), and the Navigation Inn on Spring Cottage Road. There is a large Co-op
on the main road, next to a chip shop
.
in north-west Leicestershire.
Swadlincote
Swadlincote is a town and unparished area in South Derbyshire, about southeast of Burton-upon-Trent and about south of Derby. It is the main town of South Derbyshire and the seat of South Derbyshire District Council....
, in South Derbyshire
South Derbyshire
South Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. It contains a third of the National Forest, and the council offices are in Swadlincote....
. It is sometimes locally pronounced as "Ovversale" and is the southernmost settlement in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, on the border with Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
.
Geography
The village was once part of the district of Seal, which included quite a few settlements, many of which form NethersealNetherseal
Netherseal is the southernmost village of the English county of Derbyshire, less than 2 miles from the neighbouring county of Leicestershire, and is close to the A444 and the important M42 motorway, on the banks of the River Mease.It is the final resting place of Sir Nigel Gresley and the...
and Overseal in modern times. The Seal suggests the area was once heavily forested and Nether means lower and Over means upper. The busy A444 (M42
M42 motorway
The M42 motorway is a major road in England. The motorway runs north east from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to just south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, passing Redditch, Solihull, the National Exhibition Centre and Tamworth on the way. The section between the M40 and M6 road forms...
- Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
) passes straight through it.
Overseal is in the heart of the National Forest
National Forest, England
The National Forest is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects. Across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, are being transformed, blending ancient woodland with new planting to create a new national forest...
. To the south-east is Donisthorpe (in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
). Halfway between the village and Moira
Moira, Leicestershire
Moira is a former mining village about west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in North West Leicestershire, England. The village is about miles south of the Derbyshire town of Swadlincote and is close to the county boundary....
, half a mile to the east, is the Conkers activity park
Nature center
A nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...
, the National Forest youth hostel
YHA
YHA may refer to:* YHA Australia, a youth hostel association in Australia* Youth Hostels Association , a youth hostel charity in the United Kingdom* Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, a youth hostel association in New Zealand...
and a Camping and Caravanning Club
Camping and Caravanning Club
The Camping and Caravanning Club is a United Kingdom not-for-profit organisation involved with all aspects of camping.-History:The Camping and Caravanning Club started in 1901 as the Association of Cycle Campers. Thomas Hiram Holding was one of the founders and is considered by many to be the...
site (all in Leicestershire), close by also to Short Heath
Short Heath, Derbyshire
Short Heath is a hamlet near Overseal, in South Derbyshire.It is on the border with Leicestershire. It has a sign where it claims to be the centre of England.-History:...
(in Derbyshire). The village has been in Leicestershire in the past.
Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway
The Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway was a pre-grouping railway company in the English Midlands. It was jointly owned by the Midland Railway and the London and North Western Railway and linked Nuneaton and Coalville....
(became the Leicester to Burton line
Leicester and Swannington Railway
The Leicester and Swannington Railway was one of England's first railways, being opened on 17 July 1832 to bring coal from collieries in west Leicestershire to Leicester.-Overview:...
), with a station for .
Village pubs are the Robin Hood Inn on the junction of Main Street and Burton Road (A444), and the Navigation Inn on Spring Cottage Road. There is a large Co-op
Midlands Co-operative Society
The Midlands Co-operative Society Limited is a regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom. It is a registered Industrial and Provident Society, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd., the Co-operative Retail Trading Group, the Co-operative Travel Trading Group and a corporate member of...
on the main road, next to a chip shop
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
.
History
Overseal was said to be the population centre of Britain in 1971 with an equal number of people living south as north of it and similarly for east and west.However,this centre has slowly been moving southwards and is now claimed by Appleby ParvaAppleby Parva
Appleby Parva, or Little Appleby , part of the parish of Appleby Magna in Leicestershire, is a hamlet about a mile south of Appleby church at the crossroads of the highways from Ashby de la Zouch to Tamworth and from Atherstone to Burton upon Trent.The village was also calculated to be the centre...
in north-west Leicestershire.
Annual Gala
- Every year sees a gala one afternoon in July. This includes a parade of floats which is led by the Gala King and Queen and their attendants.
Notable residents
- Joseph WilkesJoseph WilkesJoseph Wilkes was an 18th-century English industrialist and agricultural improver born in the village of Overseal in Derbyshire but more commonly associated with the village of Measham in Leicestershire....
, industrialist, was born here in 1733 - Charlie FreemanCharlie FreemanCharles Redfearn "Charlie" Freeman was an English professional football player. His clubs included Chelsea and Gillingham.-References:...
, footballer - Ernest HartErnest HartErnest Arthur "Ernie" Hart was a long-serving British football player for Leeds United, Mansfield Town, Tunbridge Wells Rangers and the England national team in the 1930s.-Football career:...
, footballer - Dean Taylor, Musician and Songwriter in the 1990's Band Homelands