Rocester
The village has developed rapidly over the past 40 years. Within the parish is the international J.C. Bamford industrial complex. JCB Rocester has many species of wildfowl on its 42 acres of beautifully landscaped lakes, which earned a Civic Trust Award for ‘an undoubted attraction’ that adds interest to the surrounding countryside, and is visited by thousands of people from overseas and by the local community.
Close to the JCB complex and spanning the River Churnet stands Churnet Bridge, leading into the village. Adjacent to this are the offices of JCB Credit Ltd. This beautifully restored old building was originally a cornmill, and more recently a grinding facility for the Pottery industry. Indeed, the history of the village is intimately bound up with the growth of the milling industry, both corn and cotton. The Cotton Mill, designed by Richard Arkwright, is situated at the opposite end of the village close to the River Dove, which forms the eastern boundary of Rocester.
Many of the terraced cottages built to house the mill workers in the late 19th century can still be seen today at Churnet Row, Dove Lane and West View. Sandstone from Hollington Quarry came to the local stone works situated next to the Corn Mill, where it was worked before going out to be used in the construction of many important buildings, including Coventry Cathedral.
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