Exploring the changing fortunes of Bolsover

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Product Description

Bolsover is famous for its castles and its colliery, the boldest elements in the rich history of a town that was laid out shortly after the Norman Conquest. For many centuries a quiet market town in a large rural parish, Bolsover was physically dominated by a castle which seems to have been maintained only for use in troubled times until it was rebuilt by the Cavendishes, descendants of Bess of Hardwick. Their mansion, one of the most curious and intriguing buildings of the 17th century, is what visitors now flock to see, although for its owners it was a private house that turned its back on the town. The collieries, which transformed the parish physically and economically in the late 19th century, have gone, but a legacy of new settlements, including the model village of New Bolsover, survives to illustrate the part the town played in the heyday of the British coal industry. 'Bolsover: Castle, Town and Colliery' explores the history of town and parish, and charts the changing fortunes of its communities from rural origins to post-industrial present.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #634898 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-31
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

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Customer Reviews

Tedious & negative
Some interesting but very long winded stuff about the History & the Castle but for me it was negative view of Bolsover, it repeats how Chesterfield was so much more sucessful which I feel misses the point.

With a little investment TLC & good marketing "Bowsa" could be recognised as the beautiful little place it is.

What about the origin of the name ?
What about the main route to London & the rich history of buckle making which is only touched on ? Time Team should pay a visit !!
What about the Sutton Estate?
What about the monestry at Carr Vale ?
What about the railway & the Viaduct at Carr Vale?
What about the Bolsover Colliery Band who won many awards & played at the Albert Hall?
The book covers mining but there is nothing about the people who migrated to the area to mine & nothing positive written about the rich culture & community. As for illustrations ,I have better pictures than the book includes.

I also think Dennis Skinner should have had a chapter, he knows about the heart of the place & people.

Dissappointing book. Bolsover is a lovely little place with lovely friendly funny people & huge potential, the book misses the point completely.