Marston on Dove

The village is mentioned the Domesday Book as being in the Hundred of Appletree and the County of Derbyshire, with 18 villagers, meadows, woodlands and a church.[2] At the time of the Domesday survey, the village and surrounding land were held by the monks from the Priory of Tutbury, " a dependency of the Benedictine abbey of St. Pierresur-Dives in Normandy."[3] The name of the village derives from Old English Mersc-tūn - a Marsh farm/settlement (on the River Dove).[4] The village lies on the River Dove and is six miles (9.7 km) north west of Burton on Trent and is close to the Staffordshire border.[5] Historically referred to as Marston upon Dove, the village was the largest in the parish which contained Hilton and Hatton.[6]

The grade I listed Church of St Mary, was built in the 13th century,[7] but previous to this, a church stood on the same site as mentioned in the Domesday Book.[8] It is believed to have the oldest bell in the Diocese of Derby.[9] The churchyard has some Commonwealth War Graves from both the First and Second World Wars.[10]

The River Dove used to run right to the south of the village, but at some time, the meander was cut off and the river is situated further south.[11] The Old River Dove site in the village is now a SSSI.[12]

The village is not served by public transport, despite being close to the Crewe–Derby line.[13] However, Tutbury and Hatton railway station is only 1.2 miles (2 km) to the west.[14] National Cycle Network route number 549 runs through the village between Hurdlow and Waterhouses.[15][16]

The population statistics are included in those for Hilton Parish, which in the 2001 Census had 3,909,[17] and in the 2011 Census had 7,714.[18]

Media related to Marston on Dove at Wikimedia Commons