Scarcliffe

Scarcliffe, recorded as Scardeclif in the Domesday Book, takes its name from the escarpment of magnesium limestone on which the village stands. It was settled in Roman times, evidenced by the collection of Roman coins found near the village in 1876. The skyline of this tiny village is dominated by the Parish Church of St Leonard. This Norman church contains a magnificent monument of a woman holding a child in her arms, which roughly dates from the 12th or 13th century. The effigy is probably that of Constantia de Frecheville, who died in 1175 and is known in Scarcliffe as Lady Constantia. A bell is tolled here in her memory around Christmas time. During the industrial revolution, coal mining was the main industry and the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway cut through the previously agricultural land. It included a tunnel between Scarcliffe and Bolsover. The Langwith Colliery closed in 1978 and the railway has long gone.

Poulter Country Park, created from the old colliery spoil heaps, provides scenic walks with excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Also to the east of the village are two large wooded areas, Langwith Wood and Roseland Wood.