Ticknall: Local History and Walking Trails

Ticknall: Village Character and Local History

Ticknall retains the character of an estate village and lies in an unspoilt rural setting. This gives the place a clear focus for choosing a destination: local history, architectural heritage and routes through varied landscapes take centre stage. Ticknall Ware pottery was known in the Midlands. The church’s history and traces of the former horse tramway also offer distinct points of reference for understanding Ticknall’s cultural heritage.

Church, Churchyard and the Village’s Earlier History

Ticknall’s parish church was completed in 1842 and is the work of Derby architect H. I. Stevens. The churchyard contains remains of the earlier church as well as a simple medieval cross. The contrast between its 19th-century completion and the medieval cross makes the different layers of the village’s history tangible.

The polygonal lock-up on the main street reveals another aspect of village life. It was once used to house vagrants and drunkards. Alongside religious buildings, this brings the former social function of a local building and its location on the main street into focus.

Ticknall Ware pottery was known in the Midlands. Ticknall Arch points to another part of the past: the former horse tramway crossed the A514 at this landmark. Craft and transport history thus offer two distinct, tangible ways to explore the village’s past.

Walking Trails and Starting Points

When choosing a route, it helps to start by considering your starting point. The Ticknall Village Trail Walk begins in the village on the A514 between Swadlincote and Derby. Free parking for this trail is available at the Ticknall Village Hall car park. The Tramway Trail, by contrast, starts at Calke Explore and passes through woodland, farmland and pasture. Along the way, you can see sections of the old horse tramway that connected Ticknall with Ashby. The Tramway Trail is also relatively flat and suitable for families and beginners; it is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs too.

You can make your choice based on two practical questions: Is starting in the village, with parking at Ticknall Village Hall, important to you, or are you looking for the relatively flat Tramway Trail through woodland, farmland and pasture? On this second route, you can also see sections of the old horse tramway, and it is specifically described as suitable for families, beginners, pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Ticknall Limeyards and Seasonal Nature

Another walking option is the Calke Park to Ticknall Limeyards Walk. It leads to the Ticknall Limeyards, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Limeyards are managed to allow calcicolous grassland flora to thrive. This adds a natural-history perspective to the local history and horse tramway.

At the Ticknall Limeyards, common spotted orchids reach their peak flowering period from late June to early July; the timing can vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around the flowers, this period is therefore a seasonal guide, not a fixed prediction. This lets you take the botanical attraction and the different themes of the walking trails into account when deciding to visit Ticknall.

Discover more destinations: Sandiacre, Birch Vale, Matlock, Bakewell, Duffield, Eyam, Clay Cross, Hope Valley

For the main travel overview: Derbyshire.