Digital Hearing Aids Hucknall – Nottinghamshire Digital Hearing Aids

Digital Hearing Aids Hucknall – Nottinghamshire Digital Hearing Aids 

Just 7 miles north of Nottingham, you’ll find Hucknall a small town which was originally known for framework knitting much like Nottingham and also mining.  For much of its history Hucknall was known as Hucknall Torkard taken from one of the local landowning families, Torcard.  At the beginning of the 20th Century the Torkard was dropped.

Coal mining was a big part of life in Hucknall in the 19th & 20th Centuries though there is no sign of this now.  In fact a Tesco Superstore is built where one of Hucknall’s two collieries once stood.

Full steam ahead
The discovery and mining of coal in the area brought three railway lines to Hucknall.  The first was Midland Railway some of which is now the Robin Hood Line running from Nottingham to Worksop passing through Hucknall.  The Great Northern Railway line was actually closed to passengers back in 1931 although continued as a freight line for another 30 years or so.  The third line was The Great Central Railway which closed in the 1960s.

Church of interest
The Grade II listed Church of St Mary Magdalene is one of Hucknall’s parish churches and probably the most important.  The original church was built in Saxon times and has had bits added right up until the Victorian era.  In addition to its interesting architecture, this church holds interest for many as it is home to the family burial vault of the Byron Family.

This church also proudly boasts 25 stained glass windows by Victorian artist Charles Eamer Kempe.  Famously he has intricate stained glass windows in a number of English cathedrals including Chester, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, Wells, Winchester and York.

Test flights
RAF Hucknall was used regularly by Rolls Royce for test flights including for their Merlin engines.  But it’s perhaps best known for being the site to test the first vertical take-off jet.  This Rolls Royce invention became known as the ‘Flying Bedstead’ due to its shape and was first tested in August 1954.  The Thrust Measuring Rig to give it its original name rose about 50ft in the air and demonstrated its forward and backwards movements to onlookers.

There are pubs in Hucknall named after this event – The Flying Bedstead – and also one named The Harrier.

Despite the closure of the test centre, Rolls Royce continued testing engines here until 2008.  Some engine parts are still manufactured in Hucknall.

The noise from those fighter jets taking off for testing must have been phenomenal.  No wonder you always see ground staff wearing ear mufflers.  If your hearing has been damaged or you fear it has through any of your experiences, get in touch with Digital Hearing Aids to see how they can help you.  You can call them on 01782 698090 or message them via an online form.

Newstead Abbey, family home of the poet Byron
Byron’s family home is just 4 miles north of Hucknall.  It was originally a priory founded by Henry II and is thought to be one of the penances he paid for the death of Thomas Beckett.

It wasn’t until the 18th Century that the Byron family took over the Abbey by then no longer an acting priory.  By the time the poet was Baron, the house was not making enough money to support it and he tried to sell the property on several occasions.  He had hoped to be buried in the grounds where his faithful dog had been buried but as we know his fate was to end in the family vault in St Mary Magdalene’s.

Misk Hills
To the north of Hucknall you will also find the Misk Hills.  These softly rolling hills are recognised locally as the start of the Pennines.  The views southward over Hucknall and Nottingham are legendary.

The Misk Hills inspired two of the local poet’s words for The Dream and The Hills of Annesley.

Famous people with connections to Hucknall
You’d think the first one would be Mick but the Simply Red lead singer actually hails from Denton in Greater Manchester, miles from Hucknall.  Some that can claim connections to Hucknall though are:

·         Lord Byron – poet lived nearby and is buried in the parish church

·         Ada Lovelace – a mathematician and the daughter of Byron, not that they saw ‘eye to eye’

·         Eric Coates – composer who wrote the Dam Busters and the introduction music for Desert Island Discs, ‘Sleepy Lagoon’

·         Architect Thomas Cecil Howitt who designed Nottingham Council House

·         Ben Caunt – 19th Century bare knuckle prize fighter known as the Torkard Giant and in some stories the man that Big Ben was named after

·         Sam Weller Widdowson was a man of all sports.  He played for Nottingham Forest FC and was also an England player and invented football shin pads way back in the 19th Century.  He also showed his prowess at Cricket by playing for Nottinghamshire.

If you’d have trouble hearing a recitation of Hucknall’s most famous poet, take a look to see how Digital Hearing Aids can help you here.  Making hearing easier ensures you lead a life to the full so don’t hesitate to get in contact on 01782 698090.