St Thomas's Church, Somercotes

St Thomas Church, Nottingham Road, Somercotes was consecrated in 1854, being formerly a chapel of ease for Riddings Church. Prior to this, the residents would have used the Churches at Alfreton or Ironville for worship and baptisms, marriages and burials. Somercotes as we know it today, did not become a settlement until the early 1800's. The now busy main road to Nottingham which cuts through the village replaced the old turnpike road, which ran further north and closer to Alfreton, across Birchwood Lane to Pye Bridge and into Nottinghamshire. One of the Toll Houses was near “The Black Horse” Public House, Lower Somercotes, the oldest part of Somercotes.

(Commentary provided by Janet Kirk)