Upper Saxondale - Characteristics

Characteristics

Upper Saxondale was developed on the site of the former Saxondale Hospital by David Wilson Homes from approximately 1995 to 2001. The area includes approximately 350 dwellings, ranging from 3 bedroom converted hospital buildings to newly built 5-6 bedroom detached houses. There is also a restaurant-bar called Sanctuary, a hairdresser, tennis club and bowling green. The estate is surrounded by parkland, much of which is owned by Upper Saxondale Residents' Association.

Upper Saxondale is a designated conservation area of 30 hectares. The boundary of this conservation area contains the entire former Saxondale Hospital site and includes extensive semi-wooded grounds, parkland landscape and many fine trees.

The chapel was built in 1902 to the designs of E.W. Roberts, the then County Architect, for use by hospital staff and patients. The small, gothic revival style building is home to Wellspring CGC (Christian Growth Centre).

Towards the northern end of the site, there are three houses collectively known as "Top Lodges" which mark the original main entrance to the hospital, and were originally occupied by senior staff. Many of the original nurses' houses, which were built in 1930, can also be found to the northern end of the site and along Saxondale Drive (formerly Hospital Drive).

David Wilson Homes originally called the development "St James Park", but the residents voted to change the name to "Upper Saxondale" at a Residents' Association meeting in 1999. Upper Saxondale also includes the original houses on Saxondale Drive, which are not part of the David Wilson Homes development.

Today the site is a blend of old and new. High quality conversions of the Victorian buildings, the mature parkland, its core of community buildings and its public open spaces have resulted in an ususual residential area of special character and quality.

There are several ghost stories relating to the history of the area: most notably a troop of Roman soldiers marching up Henson Lane. The ghosts of Lady Elinor denison and Sir Sam WIlson is said to be haunting some areas of the grounds.

King Henry VII is said to have camped on land to the west of Upper Saxondale during the Battle of Stoke Field.

A RAF bomber crashed close to Upper Saxondale during WW2. The site is marked by 5 mature trees set out in the shape of a cross in the middle of a field close to the main Saxondale Drive. The impact made a slight hollow and piles of earth are still clearly visible. The site was originally marked with a memorial stone, although this has now been removed.