The Heanor and District Local History Society has been publishing books on the area since 1977.

Our earlier publications are pictured on the right, though not all are still available – you can normally find them on second-hand book sites though.

This page lists all the publications the Society has issued. Where a book is still available, there is a link to a separate page where you can obtain further details and order direct from us (usually at a lower price than buying from a dealer!)

If you would prefer to pay by cheque, then please use the Contact page, and we will forward details of where to send your payment

Main Publications

Publication No. 1, “The Origin of Heanor and District Street Names”, was published in 1977, and with an enlarged reprint in 1992. An invaluable guide to the naming of streets in the area covered by the old Heanor Urban District Council, many of which have a historical background. (The first and second editions are no longer available, but see below for the current edition.)

“Two Centuries of Transport in the Heanor Area,” published in 1978 and reprinted with additions in 1984 and 2006, covers the local canals, railways and public transport. (Few remaining – available from the Society, priced £3 plus postage.)

“Around Old Heanor,” (1982), gives a photographic record of a number of historical features of our area – chapter titles include, “Street Scenes,” “Public Houses,” and “Vanished Buildings.” (No longer available.)
“Life in Old Heanor,” first published in 1983, gives a cradle to grave view of what life was like for the local people in Victorian and Edwardian times, with chapters entitled “Childhood,” “Marriage and the Home,” and “Funerals.” (No longer available.)

For those with a memory of the area, “Heanor – Then and Now,” published in 1987, shows a fascinating comparison of old and new (well, they were new then!) photos taken from the same vantage point, revealing just how much things have changed. (No longer available.)

“A History of Mining in the Heanor Area” (1993, reprinted 2006) concentrates on the major industry of the area, from the development of the local coalfield to the final closure of the last pit in 1970 – there are chapters on working conditions, children miners, and an explosion at Shipley Coppice Colliery in 1943. (Few remaining – available from the Society, priced £6.00 plus postage.)

“A Portrait of Heanor and District 1900 – 2004″ (2004) has 144 pages of photographs of the area. See the separate page for details and information about ordering. (No longer available.)

“Follow the Master: A History of Heanor Grammar School, 1893 – 1976” (2008) details the history of the town’s most prestigious school, from start to finish. See the separate page for details and information about ordering. (Available from the Society, priced £8.50 plus postage.)

“The Heanor and District Omnibus Company” (2009) is a 30 page booklet dealing with the history of this little-known company, which lasted from 1934 to 1938. See the separate page for details and information about ordering. (Available from the Society, priced £2.50 plus postage.)

A third edition of “The Origin of Heanor and District Street Names” (2011) enlarged the scope of the previous editions, to cover Smalley and Shipley, and was totally revised. (Available from the Society, priced £6.00 plus postage.)

“Then and Now (Part One): The Changing Face of Heanor Town Centre” (2014) is an A4 book showing photographs from the past along with modern shots taken from the same position. (Available from the Society, priced £6.00 plus postage.)

“Then and Now (Part Two): The Changing Face of Langley Mill and Aldercar” (2016) is the second in the series of A4 books with old and new photographs taken from the same location. (Available from the Society, priced £6.00 plus postage.)

Occasional Papers

Although none have been published for many years, there were two early papers, not large enough for a full publication, but too big to fit in a newsletter, and we haven’t ruled out doing this again.

No. 1 (1978) Heanor – its Coal Seams and the Industrial Revolution.

No. 2 (1979) Dispute between Sir John Zouch & Sir Henry Sacheveral 1580.

(Neither publication is now available.)

Video/DVD

In 2000, the Society produced a video, “Heanor’s Past in Pictures“, in association with Past in Pictures Videos. The video was narrated by Simon Groome, and it was later also released in DVD format. It is currently unavailable, but we are trying to source a future supply.