Overseal.html |
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| Overseal | |
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  Overseal shown within Derbyshire |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | South Derbyshire |
| Shire county | Derbyshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SWADLINCOTE |
| Postcode district | DE12 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| European Parliament | East Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • Derbyshire | |
Overseal is situated three miles south of Swadlincote, in South Derbyshire.It is sometimes locally pronounced as"Ovversale".
Contents |
Geography
The village was once part of the district of Seal, which included quite a few settlements, many of which form Netherseal and Overseal in modern times. The Seal suggests the area was once heavily forested and Nether means lower and Over means upper. The busy A444 (M42 - Burton upon Trent) passes straight through it.
Overseal is in the heart of the National Forest. To the south-east is Donisthorpe (in Leicestershire). Halfway between the village and Moira), half a mile to the east, is the Conkers activity park, the National Forest youth hostel and a Camping and Caravanning Club site (all in Leicestershire), close by also to Short Heath (in Derbyshire). The village has been in Leicestershire in the past.
The village church is dedicated to St Matthew. Woodville Road, leading to the north-east from the A444 was formerly the B5004, but has now been downgraded to a minor road. Close by is the former Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway (became the Leicester to Burton line), with a station for Overseal and Moira.
Village pubs are the Robin Hood Inn on the junction of Main Street and Burton Road (A444), and the Navigation Inn on Spring Cottage Road. There is a large Co-op on the main road, next to a chip shop.
History
Overseal was said to be the population centre of Britain in 1971 with an equal number of people living south as north of it and similarly for east and west.However,this centre has slowly been moving southwards and is now claimed by Appleby Parva in north-west Leicestershire.1
Annual Gala
- Every year sees a gala one afternoon in July. This includes a parade of floats which is led by the Gala King and Queen and their attendants.2
Notable residents
- Joseph Wilkes, industrialist, was born here in 17333
- Charlie Freeman, footballer
- Ernest Hart, footballer