Sitting roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Derby city centre, Littleover occupies a position between Rose Hill, Normanton, Sunny Hill, and Mickleover in Derbyshire, England. Its name traces back to the Domesday Book entry “Little Ufre”, where the Old English word ofer referred to a slope or small hill. Its larger neighbour, Mickleover, shares the same root but takes its name from “Mickle Ufre”, meaning large hill. Littleover was also known at various points as Parver Over.
Roman Roads and Saxon Roots
The village has both Saxon and Roman origins. Burton Road, designated the A5250, follows the line of a Roman road that once connected the A38 to Derby city centre. The road leaves the A38 as Rykneld Road, becomes Pastures Hill beyond Heatherton Village, and eventually runs through to Babington Lane in the city centre. Its remarkably direct course is what confirms its Roman origins. Historians have suggested the original Rykneld Way may have continued in an even straighter line through what later became the site of the Crest Motel, rather than following the Burton Road route. The main shopping area along Burton Road sits at the point where the village meets the ring road.
History and Administration
Littleover was once a township and chapelry within the parish of Mickleover. In 1866 it became a separate civil parish, and by 1961 its population had reached 11,867. On 1 April 1968, the parish was abolished and merged with Derby and Findern. Littleover now falls within the unparished area of Derby, in the Derby district.
Older Parts of the Village
Around St Peter’s Church, which dates to the 14th century, lies the oldest part of Littleover. Nearby, the Hollow and Church Street are both believed to be of medieval origin, with the Hollow containing Littleover Cottage, a thatched-roof property that is considered rare in Derbyshire. On Church Street stands a detached white house, sometimes called the White House, which may partly date from the 16th century and is thought to predate most surrounding buildings. Two public houses serve the older part of the village: the Half Moon, one of just two inns recorded here in 1577, and the White Swan on Shepherd Street, directly opposite the entrance to Church Street.