Eastwood is a coal mining town in the Broxtowe district of Nottinghamshire, England. Eastwood is a small town with the population around 18,000. Eastwood is on the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Eastwood has a rich history involved in the formation of the Midland Railway, as well as the Birth place of DH Lawrence.

The town expanded rapidly during the industrial revolution and in the 18th century, Eastwood experienced the greatest increase of population density of any parish in Nottinghamshire. By 1880 the population had increased to 4,500. Factories were built to accommodate the growth of the population and the industrial revolution.

In 1834 a historic meeting took place at the Sun Inn Public House to disuse the Midland Counties Railway and the construction of the line from Pinxton to Leicester. The industrialisation continued with the opening of the Moorgreen colliery. In 1875 the demand for coal resulted in a railway station in Eastwood with services to Nottingham on the Great Northern Railway.

There were ten coal mines within walking distance of Eastwood for the local people to work. The majority of the people who worked for the coal mines were male. Most women were housewives and looked after the children. Boy’s where desperate to reach the age of 14 so that they could start work in the coal mines. As the coal boom was ending Eastwood continued to expand and more people came to the town. Nottingham Road became the feeder street of Eastwood and this became an established shopping area in 1908.

The local council opened offices but there were still few jobs available outside the coal mines. In the early 20th century trams provided a new meaning of transport between Nottingham, Ripley and Heanor. In the Second World War Eastwood supplied soldiers to the Sherwood Forester’s Regiment. There is a memorial on Nottingham Road at the top of Plumtree Way. It commemorates Eastwood residents who gave their lives in both wars.

In 1946 the coal industry was nationalised and the new national coal board acquired Eastwood Hall as their area offices. This later became their national office and the location for crisis meeting during the miner’s strikes of the 1980s. At its height of production in 1963 Moorgreen colliery alone produced one million tons of coal. However, the last coal mine in the area closed in 1985.

Over the past few years tourism to Eastwood has become increasingly important. There are a number of places to visit and find out information about Eastwood’s past. DH Lawrence’s birthplace museum and Durban House Heritage Centre, now a museum, gallery and tea house. They provide lots of information about Eastwood and life in Victorian times. See the link for more information about DH Lawrence and Durban House http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4700