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Author	Message / Information
RMMee Moderator	The Croft replied on: 1/26/2006 11:59:56 AM Further information on these houses. They faced the river, and were accessed by the track at the other side of the Midland Hotel, i.e. not off Cromford Road. They were, at one time or another, called Ripley Row.
RMMee Moderator	The Croft replied on: 10/14/2005 4:09:37 PM Directly opposite the bottom of Bridge Street is Parliament Square, which was part of the Croft. However, there used to be a terrace of houses, set well back away from Cromford Road (I'd say pretty close to the river). These houses were still there in May 1932. (See one of the photos on the Langley Mill Floods page of the main web site), but a couple of sources tell me that they were definitely not there by the end of the war. Can anyone give a more precise date for their disappearance?
Jennypeg Researcher	The Croft replied on: 4/29/2005 5:55:10 AM I found this in one of the local papers, Langley Mill October 27th 1899 Serious accident on Wednesday afternoon, during the street parade of Messrs, Sangers Circus, which was paying a visit to Langley Mill a serious accident, happened to a little boy named Harold Swan. He was crossing the road, and in trying to evade one of the cars was knocked down and trampled upon, receiving severe injuries to his head, he was attended by Dr Roe. Jenny
ginner	The Croft replied on: 4/28/2005 9:58:22 PM I recall in the early 60's,a circus visiting the croft.One young boy that was with the circus came to our infants school on Elnor St.Apparently that was the usual thing for circus families to do.(register their children for teaching at the nearest school). I clearly remember the lads name as being Philip Brick,and he was quite a celebrity at the time! I can't recall whether that particular circus was the one that arrived by train and paraded through Langley Mill. Philip was a side kick of the strong man and clowns in the circus. Fond memories!
suzard Researcher	The Croft replied on: 4/28/2005 4:12:21 PM The circus came a few times in 1950's-I remember attending and being terrified-not by the animals, but by the seating-the usual forms graduating higher and higher-of course we had to climb to sit at the top and when you looked down between the seating you realised you were over the river-I was frightened of my best shoes falling off and floating off down river!!!
RMMee Moderator	The Croft replied on: 4/26/2005 11:57:09 PM I'm sure you're right re that. Yhough I had never heard it called The Croft till a couple of years aho, despite living quite close to it between the age of 6 to 15. I certainly can;t remember any circuses there, but I am well aware that it hass been used for several events
suzard Researcher	The Croft replied on: 4/26/2005 11:50:37 PM Thanks Robert So maybe the Croft was its original name and then it changed to Parliament Square and the locals stuck to the old name??? Just a theory!
RMMee Moderator	The Croft replied on: 4/26/2005 11:28:34 PM Sue The Croft is certainly a very old name, and I have seen it mentioned in an old census (1851?). It was the site of the Navigation Inn (run by the same family as the flour mill, before the Smiths).
suzard Researcher This message was updated on 4/26/2005 11:48:21 PM by suzard	The Croft replied on: 4/26/2005 9:14:02 PM The piece of land I refer to is on Cromford Road -opposite the shops and between the Flour Mill and Pearsons Blacksmiths(now closed)It is now a car park.I believe the official name is/was Parliament Square ? I know our family have called it the Croft since (at least) early 1900's. I wondered if this was a local name for it, and if so how was it given that name.For many years it was a focal point in Langley Mill-in 1920's and possibly earlier, Circus and travelling theatre companies held their shows on there.I remember in 1950's the Circus being held on there and for quite a few years a travelling fair visited annually-Dodgems, waltzer, Noah's Ark, Cake Walk and a few side shows.There was also a wooden hut which housed Teather's chip shop and for a time Billy Phillips bike shop. In the 50's a seat was placed on there and many youngsters used to gather on there of an evening. We used to make a rope swing across the river. I also remember for a time quite a few caravans being on there-at a time when travellers were welcomed! Anyone any more recollections about the Croft-and how it got its name?

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