Holbrook at the Heart of Derbyshire

Holbrook could be described as the central village in the central county in England and to those lucky enough to live there, it is the prime location.

In shape the village reflects this beautiful county, being two miles from north to south and one mile from west to east. Primarily it is a combination the old village centred around Town Street, and Holbrook Moor which is an amalgum of Bargate Road, Moorside Lane and Chapel Street. In broad terms the village stretches from The White Hart Inn at Bargate to the Bell and Harp Inn at Coxbench. Holbrook retains many of the original charms of its rural setting and its title of Best Kept Village in 1989 and 1995 reflects the pride, care and affection of the residents. The community has a strong social ethic and the many clubs, associations and special interest groups also reflect this spirit. For many, the view of this village nestling along the crest of the  hill is as fine a sight as any, anywhere.

Occupancy of  Holbrook can be traced back to the Roman era and Portway is thought to have been in use in Celtic times as a route for moving lead from the mines at Wirksworth to Nottinghamshire. In Norman times Holbrook was laid waste in retribution for the rebellion of Siward, the local Anglo Saxon theign and became part of the Duffield Frith, which was a royal hunting forest. It remained for centuries as a royal estate under the control of the de Ferrers family and subsequently the Bradshaw family to whom Charles I sold his holdings in 17th Century. Ownership passed out Bradshaw hands in 19th Century and the name now only remains as a  residential road off Mellors Lane.

There are two churches, three public houses, one post office, one garage and one shop. Several businesses operate in the village on a cottage industry basis mainly relating to service provision, ie IT, graphic design etc. A Village Magazine is published bi-monthly. This is a non profit venture run by a small team of residents for the benefit of the community. A regular bus service exists enabling reasonable access to the major towns in the area.