Littleover

The history of the name of Littleover is simple. It is derived from 'Little Ufre' (Domesday book) and in Old English "Ofer" which meant a slope or little hill, whilst its neighbouring Mickleover is known to be from 'Mickle Ufre' meaning large hill. Littleover was also formerly known as Parver Over.

The village, like many settlements in England, is partially of Saxon and partially of Roman origin; the Burton Road is a Roman road linking the A38 to the City Centre. Its Roman origin is easily confirmed due to its direct route. Burton Road, the A5250, leaves the A38 as Rykneld Road and becomes Pastures Hill just past Heatherton Village. At the top of Pastures Hill it crosses a junction with Hillsway and Chain Lane, whereupon it becomes Burton Road and remains so up to its junction with Babington Lane in Derby city centre. Despite the attraction of the Burton Road Babington lane route, it is possible that the course of the original Rykneld Way did not deviate but continued in a straight line through the rear of what was the Crest Motel, across Chain Lane, then following Owlers Lane and Constable Lane,across what is now the Bemrose School fields, eventually joining what we now call Uttoxeter Old road and further to the recorded camp around Belper Road. This would seem more logical a Roman Route.^[

Littleover was in the parish of Mickleover until 1866

Littleover village is situated around the shopping area on Burton Road. The village's public house is called the Half Moon and is noted as being one of two inns in 1577. The older part of the village around St Peter's church was built in the 14th century. The Village has another public house, the White Swan which can be found on Shepherd Street also near the older part of Littleover. Directly opposite the White Swan is Church Street which takes its name from the aforementioned St Peter's and links up with the Hollow which is believed to be of Medieval origin. The age of the Hollow and Church Street are evidenced by the buildings that can be found there; even today the former contains the thatched roofed Littleover Cottage, (very rare in Derbyshire) whilst on Church Street can be found a detached white house, which in its time has been called the White House and would probably have been there before most of the buildings around it. The White House it is believed may date in part to the 16th Century, whereupon it probably would have stood alone with the thatched cottage and church. In earlier times this area was the centre of activity in the village where the square was used for markets, proclamations and general celebrations on public holidays.

The Historical Society and other groups have published a leaflet giving an outline of a Heritage Walk through the centre of the village.

Local historian Roy Christian published a more detailed history of Littleover in the Derbyshire Life Magazine during 1999. An illustrated copy of the article is attached (with kind permission of Derbyshire Life).