Sinfin - Wilmore Road - The Merry Man in Black

(Written By Milly Wong)

Sinfin Moor, in the south of Derby is neighbour to Stenson, Chellaston, Normanton, Allenton and Swarkestone and was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Sedenefeld.

It was shown as belonging to Henry of Ferrers, (commemorated today by the Ferrers Arms pub).

According to later documents, Sinfin became known as Sidenfen and then Synfold. The road from Derby to Swarkestone was shown in 1675 Ogilby's Road Maps as crossing 'Synfold Moore'.

At the time of the Domesday Book, there was some farming taking place in Sinfin but the area was probably not drained until much later.

By the mid 19th century most of the Moor had been turned over to arable farming.

During preparations for the Second World War, the Rolls-Royce aero engine factory was greatly extended onto the large site between Sinfin Lane and the main Derby to Birmingham railway line but some small farms continued to operate. Poplars Farm in particular was responsible for controlling the railway level crossing on the site. It was on this particular farm that a spine-chilling event took place many years ago. The story was recalled by a gentleman that used to help out at the farm as a lad.....

One dark winter's evening in 1959, an insurance rep and his wife were carrying out their round of visits to clients. Their final visit that evening was to the Poplars Farm on Sinfin Moor. As it was getting late, the insurance rep's wife decided to skip this visit and she waited in the car while her husband completed the last job for the evening.

As the insurance rep was about to bid goodnight to the family that resided at the Poplars Farmhouse, petrified screams were heard and his wife came running into the house, her face 'ghostly white' and full of fear. When asked what had happened, the woman told of how a man in black 'old fashioned' clothing floated past her, looked her straight in the eye and called out "A Merry Christmas to ya, M'aam!" She reported that he had then jumped over the gates over the level crossing and disappeared into thin air.

Upon relaying the eerie experience the woman became faint and the family had to make a huge effort to help her regain consiousness.

The Sinfin Moors area (Cottons Farm in particular) has also been said to be connected with plague burials.

To this day, the remains of the old level crossing that was operated by the Poplars Farmhouse are still visible on Wilmore Road near the Sinfin site of Rolls Royce, so beware if you are in the vicinity on a cold dark Winter's evening because you might bump into the 'Merry Man in Black'.

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