Long Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England, effectively a suburb of Nottingham. The town grew around the lace-making and railway wagon industries in the nineteenth century (the town lying on the Midland Main Line). A notable building in the town is the Palladian architecture/Palladian Long Eaton Hall. It lies just north of the River Trent about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area. Since 1974, Long Eaton has been part of the Borough of Erewash.
History
Long Eaton is referred to as Aitone, in the Domesday Book, and grew up close to the lowest bridging point of the River Erewash.
The town developed around the lace-making and railway wagon industries in the nineteenth century. Long Eaton railway station is on the Midland Main Line and the Erewash Canal passes through the town.
County issues
Long Eaton borders Nottinghamshire but is actually situated in the County of Derbyshire. Most residences however have a Nottingham address with the Nottingham postcode prefix NG, and use the Nottingham telephone area code 0115.
It is a common misconception that Long Eaton is part of Nottinghamshire. The reason for the NG prefix in the postal code is that all mail for Long Eaton first goes to the Royal Mail's Nottingham sorting office in Beeston (hence the NG), and then to Long Eaton's delivery office on Tamworth Road.
The Local Government Commission for England (1958 - 1967) recommended that Long Eaton became part of an enlarged Nottingham City Council. This was not the only time Long Eaton's status in Derbyshire was threatened as the original draft of the Local Government Act 1972 had considered moving Long Eaton into Nottinghamshire. The Redcliffe-Maud Report proposals of 1969 also recommended the town be moved into Nottinghamshire but the incoming Conservative administration rejected the proposal. This issue has rumbled on over many years
Schools
Long Eaton has two state secondary schools, The Long Eaton School and Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College as well as several primary schools. It is also home to the public school Trent College. Part of the Long Eaton school (which operated for years 7, 8 and 9) was demolished in 2006, after a new school was built next door, on the same grounds. Both upper and lower sections of the school are now in one building. Previously, the sections were separated by the Erewash Canal. In 2005 Wilsthorpe School gained specialist status in business and enterprise. The Long Eaton School has also gained specialist status in science and has received the permanent eco-flag. The Long Eaton School was recently rebuilt and was opened by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Sport
Speedway racing was staged at the Long Eaton Stadium on Station Road, the first meeting was held on 18 May 1929 However, the Speedway stadium closed in 1997. The former area of the speedway stadium has now received planning permission from the council for a series of new homes.
Long Eaton United F.C. play in the Northern Counties East Football League. The town also has a Rugby club, Long Eaton RUFC.
Long Eaton Rangers F.C. was founded in 1889 but were bankrupt[citation needed] ten years later.
Long Eaton Cricket Club is a cricket club in the town of Long Eaton. The club plays in Division A of the South Notts Cricket League, with a Second XI in Division E and a Third XI in Division P. The club has three adult sides on Saturdays and two on Sundays, in addition to junior sides for all age groups from under-11s Kwik cricket to under-15s. A Veterans' team plays regular matches on Friday evenings. They also have 2 mid-week teams.