Church Gresley

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Church Gresley
Church Gresley (Derbyshire)
Church Gresley

Church Gresley shown within Derbyshire
Population 4,085
District South Derbyshire
Shire county Derbyshire
Region East Midlands
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SWADLINCOTE
Postcode district DE11
Dialling code 01283
Police Derbyshire
Fire Derbyshire
Ambulance East Midlands
European Parliament East Midlands
UK Parliament South Derbyshire
List of places: UKEnglandDerbyshire

Coordinates: 52°45′N 1°34′W / 52.75, -1.57

Church Gresley is a village and civil parish in the South Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England. The village is very close to the town of Swadlincote, and between Swadlincote and Castle Gresley. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,805.

Church Gresley and Castle Gresley are both parts of the region known as Gresley.

Since 1882, its local football team is Gresley Rovers, who take part in the Northern Premier League First Division, and play at The Moat Ground, one of Church Gresley's landmarks. Their training pitch, however, is the main football pitch of Church Gresley's Maurice Lea Memorial Park, which was named for Maurice Lea, who died at the age of 19 in France, in World War I. The most notable homegrown talent was goaly Ted Clamp who played for the team before he moved to Derby County.

Opposite the Park is Gresley Common, home to annual bonfire nights until 2003 and the local Scouts. There are also many newly-constructed woods nearby as part of the national forest as well as the football pitches near the Swadlincote Ski Centre.

'The church in as drawn by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm in the eighteenth century.
'The church in as drawn by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm in the eighteenth century.

Church Gresley was named from 'Gresele', the original spelling of a grassy clearing atop a hill, surrounded by forest, at the village's creation in 1086. The Church is named for St George and St Mary's Church which is still the same building that was finished being built in the 12th century.

In around 1800 the pottery Mason Cash was established at Church Gresley. Mason Cash has become a well-known English pottery, producing many kinds of ceramic mixing and baking ware.