Chair's introduction
Dear Supporter
As we enter the summer holidays, we have plenty to look forward to including tours of Wingfield Station following the completion of the first phase of works, visits to Barlborough Hall, Alstonfield Hall and the Cromford Canal and an exciting 90 mile 'resurrection' cycle ride.
On the 19th and 20th August I will be donning my cycling helmet and taking part in a cycle ride from Leeds to Derby to help raise both awareness and funds for the next phase of work at Wingfield Station. Having recently turned 76 I am expecting this to be a very worthwhile challenge! Please consider either joining me or sponsoring me (links below).
Many thanks to James Roberson for featuring in our latest film explaining the current situation with our project at Wingfield. You'll also see we are recruiting for a consultant to lead on the volunteering and public engagement activities for the next year or so. Exciting times!
Thank you for your continued support of DHBT - it is appreciated.
Yours ever,
Derek Latham, Chair of DHBT
Cover Photo: Wingfield Station (June 2022 - Lucy Godfrey)
another milestone for wingfield station
The 14th June saw another project milestone for the restoration of Wingfield Station - the handover meeting with ASBC Heritage and Conservation Specialists, marking the end of our first phase of capital works. As the photos below demonstrate, ASBC have done an outstanding job. Their hard work, patience and attention to detail over the 9 month construction period has been exemplary.
The works that have been completed to date were primarily funded by Historic England and focused on urgent repairs and anything that had an impact on the Network Rail infrastructure.
Expressions of Interest have now been invited from conservation/heritage building contractors for the next phase of works, which will be mainly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (although the remaining £250,000 still has to be raised by us!). For the next phase, the contract will cover masonry works to the non-trackside elevations of the buildings (the main Station building and the adjacent Parcel Shed), repairs to windows and doors, works to the internal floors, walls and ceilings, internal decoration and joinery, supplying fixtures and fittings, installing new statutory services and external works (including surface finishes, providing gates and bollards, drainage installation and external lighting). Contractor mobilisation is expected by January 2023. This phase will also see the creation of engaging and informative interpretation.
Our latest Wingfield Station Film
DHBT supporter and ex-BBC reporter, James Roberson, has kindly featured in our latest film produced by Gavin Repton, which explains the current status of our project at Wingfield Station.
freelance heritage opportunity
Are you someone who has experience of working with volunteers and/or community groups?
Do you have experience of working with or in the heritage sector and have a track record of delivering successful and engaging public events and activities?
We are seeking a contractor to provide professional services to support the delivery of our National Lottery Heritage Fund project at Wingfield Station.
As the Project Engagement Co-ordinator, which will be a freelance temporary contract running from September 2022 until November 2023, you will be responsible for delivering the public learning and engagement activity; developing resources where appropriate.
Sounds like this could be for you or someone you know? Find out more here.
recent events
Bonsall Village Tour, 22nd May
On the 22nd May, DHBT Trustee, Liz, led a wonderful visit around the historic former lead-mining village of Bonsall. The walk included stops at the Church (with thanks to Pam), Herbert Lodge gardens (with thanks to Olivia), the 17th century Bonsall cross, the field barns, framework knitters' cottages and Bonsall Manor House.
For those who have never been to Bonsall, it really is worth a visit - it has a charming atmosphere all of its own!
The Historic Almshouses of Ashbourne, 12th June 2022
Many thanks to Mark Somerfield for his tour of the historic almshouses of Asbourne on the 12th June. It was lovely to find that two of those on the tour had family connections to Christopher Pegg, who founded one of the almshouses in the 17th century.
Members of the party were interested to hear how some of the founders gained considerable wealth in London. One was Nicholas Spalden, who made provision for the almshouse specifically for the 'widows of the four clergymen of the Church of England' under the 1710 will of this Ashbourne-born London businessman.
Thornbridge Hall, 17th July 2022
Emma and Jim Harrison kindly gave permission for DHBT to host a tour at Thornbridge Hall on the 17th July. Despite the heat, it was the perfect opportunity for guests to see the house and gardens in the company of like-minded people.
The house was in single occupation for 600 years until 1790.. Since then, each new owner has made their mark with improvements and extensions appropriate to the period; not least the current owners, who have applied their flair to provide 21st century facilities.
The garden was designed at the end of the 19th century to create a vision of '1000 shades of green', which the owner wanted to be able to see from his bedroom window. The startling, calming and gracious gardens are a perfect example of Victorian drive, determination and engineering to manipulate the landscape into a series of garden rooms, three temples, numerous statues, 46 urns and two grottos!
'resurrection ride' - leeds to derby Cycle Ride - 19th- 20th August 2022
We're looking for cyclists to join an exciting ride on the 19th and 20th August to promote our Wingfield Station project.
We're using the ride to raise public awareness of the project and to encourage public donations towards the £250,000 match funding that we need to raise for Wingfield's restoration. The two day cycle ride, which will cover approx. 55 miles on day one and approx. 35 miles on day two, will start at 9:30am at Leeds train station on the Friday and will finish at Derby train station the following afternoon.
Along the way, there will be stops at a former station site; at Wentworth Woodhouse stately home near Rotherham; an overnight hotel stay and meals at Barlborough; Renishaw Hall in north Derbyshire; Wingfield Station itself and finishing at Derby Station and nearby Brunswick Inn around 3:30pm on the Saturday.
Because this is a promotional exercise, there is a charge for all the costs, but this is flexible. The total charge - should riders want the entire package - starts at £185/person (excluding train fare or other transport to Leeds), but does include bike transport to Leeds station by van; hotel and food; lunches and tea stops; van support throughout and a £50 donation to the restoration fund.
But costs are flexible - please contact Lucy if you'd like to discuss options. This is set to be an enjoyable, historic ride - a real one-off - all in aid of a good cause. Please book as soon as possible here to secure a place and to find out more via our website or our Eventbrite page.
If cycling isn't for you, but you'd still like to support the ride, you can sponsor the Chair of DHBT, Derek Latham, who will be participating on both days of the ride: https://www.kindlink.com/fundraising/derbyshire-historic-buildings-trust/dereklatham
forthcoming events
Tours of Wingfield Station
We're running a series of tours of Wingfield Station so people can see the impact of the works to date and find out more about the next phase and what we are currently raising money towards. More dates will be added in coming weeks, but for now, the following occasions are available to book onto for FREE via our Eventbrite page - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-tours-of-wingfield-station-following-urgent-repair-works-tickets-387620682897 - 14th August (2pm); 24th August (2pm); 18th September (10am/12 noon/2pm and 4pm) and 12th October at 11am and 2pm.
Please keep the following dates in your diary if any of our forthcoming visits are of interest to you. Booking details will go live soon.
21st August - Barlborough Hall
25th September - Alstonefield Hall
23rd October - Cromford Canal
From where did the stone to build Wingfield Station come? It is believed the answer is Birchover
With the kind permission of Birchover Stone Ltd, our volunteer Paul Thompson, who is a geologist by background, was able to visit Birchover Quarry to see for himself from where it is believed, by expert stonemasons, that the stone to build Wingfield station came. Furthermore, it was possible to see all the steps in the process from quarrying of the rock to the production of stones similar in size to those used in the building of Wingfield Station more than 180 years ago.
The equipment used in the process may have changed significantly but the process itself remains largely the same. Geological note: The sandstone found in Birchover Quarry is of the millstone grit series which is younger than the coal measures and older than the limestones for which the Peak District is famous. All these rocks are of Carboniferous age which is 300-350 million years old. Birchover Quarry is located just east of Birchover and the site includes not only the quarry but also the office and processing facilities.
Derbyshire historic buildings trust - architecture awards 2022
Applications are now welcome for our fourth annual Architecture Awards.
There are a number of categories to enter under, so many historic building schemes will find they can apply.
We've recently added a 'Conservation Champion' category and, new for 2022, a 'Craftsperson' one to celebrate the best in craftsmanship across the county.
Our aim is to promote all that is best in the preservation of Derbyshire's built heritage.
The deadline for applications is the 31st August 2022 and finalists will be invited to the Awards ceremony at Elvaston Castle (pictured opposite) in November.
To be eligible for the building related categories, the scheme must be in Derbyshire and reached practical completion by 31st August 2022. For the purpose of the Awards, the term 'historic' is defined as a building that is pre World War II.
gentry violence in wirksworth
'Architectural Oddities' have published their third film - 'Gentry Violence in Wirksworth'. This short film tells of the goings-on of William Hopkinson, the man who built the house at the bottom of Greenhill in Wirksworth, which the Trust restored in the 1980s (and which is now our HQ), and of the turbulent times in which he lived.
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