Daily archives: November 1, 2025

Adapted from an article by Judy Kingscott in the Sawley and District Historical Society Newsletter, March 2008 By the start of the 20th century, New Sawley was growing quickly, with much of Victoria Street and Harrington Street being completed in the 1890s.  And over 1,100 people were living in Sawley parish, but beyond the railway line.  Money was raised to buy two substantial plots of land in New Sawley and set up two chapels made from corrugated iron sheets. The building erected in Wilsthorpe Lane – opposite Hill’s lace factory (later Concordia) – St Mary’s, was consecrated as a church in 1909 and services are still held there. A fund has been in existence for many years to raise money to improve the building; garden parties, Christmas bazars, and other events are regularly held to this end. Marjorie Bennet (1914-1995), who featured in last month’s blog ‘A Bridge Too Far’, grew up on Wilsthorpe Road, and remained faithful to St Marys, even after she’d moved to Long Eaton.  Other people have long and fond associations with St Mary’s and still worship there. St Marys is one of only six ‘tin tabernacles’ left in Derbyshire.  Three of these are in Long […]