Did you know that the Derwent Valley once played in building wooden sailing ships, in particular, the supply of oak and ironware to the shipbuilding ports on the south coast of England and particularly Greenwich on the Thames. It is more than likely oak was provided from Chopwell Wood, as in the case of HMS Sovereign of the Seas, built for Charles I (1625 – 1649) launched in 1637.
You can read more about this here on the Land of Oak and Iron Website.
