Chair's introduction
Dear Supporter
“Beware: Work in Progress”
This newsletter celebrates the completion of the building fabric restoration of Aqueduct Cottage, led by Ron Common; supported by many volunteers.
It also demonstrates the intensity and quality of work taking place to restore Wingfield Station. The emergency fabric repair, beautifully illustrated below, has been funded by Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Pilgrim Trust Foundation.
But to complete the work, we need to raise further funding. As you read this we are waiting on ‘tenter-hooks’ to discover whether The National Lottery Heritage Fund will accept our application to cover three quarters of the cost. We know that a condition of this will be that the Trust must raise the remaining £250,000 from the general public and business sponsorship.
Every donation of £500, or more, will be recognised and recorded within, or outside, of the project – see the sponsorship section below. For every pound raised we effectively get three more from the Lottery. So, please consider whether you, or someone or a business you may know, can help us to reach our target.”
Yours ever,
Derek Latham, Chair of DHBT
Main cover image of Wingfield Station - Chimney repair and replacement (Jan 2022 - ASBC)
wingfield station - Project update
2022 opened with some excellent progress on site at Wingfield Station following the successful overnight erection (over three weekends) of the trackside scaffolding. During the past two months the contractors, ASBC Heritage & Conservation Specialists, have been working around the weather with effective frost protection measures in place.
Just before Christmas the first order of timber arrived. The roof repairs and the construction of the goods platform wall commenced.
By mid January there was a lot of attention on the chimneys - which were removed for closer inspection to ascertain the degree of damage. The images below capture the infrastructure and care that is required when undertaking such an exercise. The first pot was actually surprisingly easy to remove - and it turned out this was because the iron pin holding the pot down had rusted away to almost nothing!
During January ASBC also focussed on the internal masonry works; installing a new wall plate in the Station building (to replace the ‘hidden’ one exposed before Christmas) and constructing new oak lintels.
Meanwhile, the chimney pots were disassembled and inspected so that a repair strategy could be agreed with the team.
The main outcome of this first phase of urgent repairs is to ensure the Station and Parcel Shed buildings are watertight to limit further damage through water ingress. The photos below show the roof repairs in progress.
The photos below show more work to the chimneys including the new stainless steel pinning, the stone indents to the existing pots and the new stone in-situ. We actually ended up having to replace fewer shafts (three) than we had originally feared. With most of the other chimney components, the fabric at lower level has been able to be re-used and/or repaired. The indent repairs have been made using stone from the stacks that were taken down.
It was great to see the chimneys being put back in situ - shown here before being mortared and cleaned up, but still looking great!
The replacement sandstone chimney shafts were crafted at ASBC's own workshop.
Thankfully the weather at the start of February allowed for further good progress to the roof timber repairs and the installation of the new sarking.
Below is a comparison of the Parcel Shed roof in 2020 (credit: Mel Morris Conservation) with current images showing the installation of the Welsh slate from Penryhn Quarry.
Towards the end of February ASBC had to contend with storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin. The team were extra vigilant, given the proximity of the site to the rail track!
Thankfully, all remained well despite the weather and by the end of February more good progress had been made - including the final chimney works (with the extra scaffolding now removed) and the completion of the internal masonry and lintels. The timber repairs and replacements to the Parcel Shed roof structure are now finished and the timber repairs to the Station building are well underway too.
The photos below illustrate the difference between the iron hip straps before and after repair! ASBC have also done a great job with the decorative soffit rafters - photos of the original and the replacement here.
As well as the new roof covering to the Parcel Shed ASBC have also been undertaking stone repairs/replacement and repointing using lime mortar. When we first had access to the Parcel Shed it was lovely to find some decorative shelf brackets fixed to the south wall. Although the timber shelving looks like a newer addition, we’ll be preserving the brackets as an original feature.
We’re extremely grateful to Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund (and Lottery players) for their support in allowing us to progress this phase of urgent repairs.
can you help us to save wingfield station?
Join as a Friend of Wingfield Station or Consider our Sponsorship Options
Wingfield Station is the sole survivor out of the original sixteen stations built by the North Midland Railway Company in 1840 to link Derby to Leeds.
Although Grade II* Listed, it has been allowed to fall into a ruinous state. But, despite 40 years of total neglect, the remains of the building are amazingly original. As you will have read with the report above, work has already begun to make the building watertight again.
Our plan for you: enter the cavernous Booking Hall and admire the original features of dado panelling, plaster cornice and fireplaces; wander next to the Porter's room to find the glow of the original porter's stove and across to the Ladies' Waiting Room and the reproduced original wallpaper and the fireplace.
Our plan for the building: to bring it back into sustainable use as rentable office/business space.
Wingfield Station will be preserved as a time capsule, going back to the very beginning of the technological innovations that became one of the hallmarks of the Victorian era. But, this transformation from near dereliction to full restoration can only be achieved if the DHBT - charged with saving this unique piece of railway history - can raise the funds needed to complete the project.
We're delighted that work has started, but to complete our £1.7m project, we need your help to raise £250,000.
You can either become a Friend of Wingfield Station, from as little as £1.50 per month. For those that feel able to, larger donations of £50 to £500 would be very welcome to support us in achieving our ambition.
Alternatively, we are also seeking businesses and individuals who wish to sponsor our project. There are different levels of sponsorship available, all of which provide an opportunity for you to give something back to the community/area/industry in which your company operates. Each level gives access to exciting benefits .
For more information on supporting Wingfield Station by becoming a Friend or through sponsorship, please visit our website or contact Lucy - lucy@derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust.org.uk.
Thank you to EVERYONE who has already supported us - it really is appreciated.
Wingfield Station - Short Progress Film
Here's our latest short film documenting the current phase of work at Wingfield Station. Many thanks to Gavin Repton for creating it!
If we are successful with our second application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project delivery will start in May 2022 and the next phase of capital works should commence in November 2022.
'saving Aqueduct Cottage - an extraordinary journey'
On the 20th February Ron Common presented a brilliant online talk detailing the extraordinary journey to save Aqueduct Cottage, which was built in 1802 by Peter Nightingale (Florence's great uncle) to maintain the Lea Wood arm of the Cromford Canal. The DHBT are proud to be partnering with the Derbyshire Wildlife trust on the project, which has been recognised as an inspiring example of what can be achieved when the community pulls together.
We were thrilled to host the first ever talk Ron has given on the subject and we certainly weren't disappointed! The talk was full of amazing images and tales about the project from its inception to the present day.
Many thanks to Ron for putting together a brilliant presentation, which is now available to view via our YouTube channel. Apologies for the sound issues right at the start - these do soon improve as the talk progresses.
Ron was recently awarded the title of 'Conservation Champion' at the 2021 DHBT Architecture Awards for his invaluable role in making the restoration of Aqueduct Cottage project possible.
'vienna in long eaton'
For those who missed Barry's intriguing presentation and Q&A session - 'Vienna in Long Eaton' (as part of the 'Architectural Oddities' series) then the recording for this is also now available to view.
DHBT Vice Chair, Barry Joyce, has teamed up with historian, Toby Ebbs, to produce 'Architectural Oddities' - a series of short films investigating some interesting quirks of architectural and social history in and around Derbyshire.
'Vienna in Long Eaton' is their first film and it tells the story of a very short lived architectural practice, Gorman and Ross, which produced three extraordinary buildings in Long Eaton, inspired by the Viennese Successionist movement.
DHBT ❤️ derbyshire's historic buildings! presentation to marketing derby bondholders
On the 15th February we were delighted to host the Marketing Derby Bondholder breakfast meeting at The Shed, Darley Abbey.
It was a great opportunity for us to share our current activity, network with some new people and to launch our fundraising campaign for Wingfield Station.
We've already linked up with many of those we chatted to - lots of offers of support and connections made. Many thanks to the team at the The Shed for helping us to make the morning a success.
PS - we know we were a day late with the Valentine’s theme - but we really wanted to get across the message that DHBT ❤️ Derbyshire’s historic buildings!
programme of events - 2022
'Sunflowers in the Park' - 20th March, 2pm via ZOOM
'Sunflowers in the Park' is the second in the ‘Architectural Oddities’ series presented by DHBT Vice Chair Barry Joyce and Toby Ebbs, Senior Tutor at Nottingham Trent University.
It is an investigation into the reason behind why a number of houses in the Duke of Newcastle’s Park Estate in Nottingham display, in plaster and terra cotta, the sunflower emblem.
If you’re not already familiar with this extraordinary estate at the foot of Nottingham Castle, it is likely to lure you into a visit. Barry will introduce the film and answer any questions afterwards. It is free to watch this online presentation, which will be delivered via ZOOM, but you will need to book via Eventbrite to receive the link (details below). Please make sure you've joined the ZOOM just before 2pm.
The film is just under half an hour, with Q&A expected to be a further 20-30 minutes.
Sunday 10th April, 2pm - Visit to Oakhill and the Vicarage, Cromford - houses of c.1840 built by the Arkwrights - led by Barry Joyce
Invitations to book onto this visit will be sent via email to all Friends of DHBT/Wingfield Station on Thursday 10th March. If there are spaces remaining, these will be available to book via our website/social media channels from the 14th March. Tickets will be £6pp for Friends and £10pp for non-Friends.
An opportunity to visit two little known houses of architectural interest, built in 1841 by Richard Arkwright II, son of the famous Sir Richard Arkwright.
Oakhill was built for the man the Arkwrights employed to run the Cromford and Masson cotton spinning mills. Following him there were several occupants of note.
At the same time Oakhill was being built opposite it another house was built for the clergyman who became vicar of what had been built as a private chapel, in the grounds of Willersley Castle, but later became Cromford Parish Church. It is now a luxurious private house.
Oakhill has recently been refurbished as a boutique hotel.
Access to Oakhill is via a longish drive off Intake Lane, which comes off the A6 just south of the Cromford traffic lights. Post code DE4 3RH.
Please park in the furthest end of the hotel car park, past the hotel itself.
The visit will begin at 2.00pm in the hotel car park from where you will walk down to North Street to briefly see the very first houses in the world built for industrial workers.
Your guide will be Barry Joyce MBE who led the team which put together the nomination for the Derwent Valley Mills to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
Returning you will see the village school also built by Richard Arkwright II and some of the allotments linked to the industrial housing.
You will then come up to the two houses and see the large garden to Oakhill. Following this you be given a tour of the newly refurbished house, now run as a boutique hotel.
There will be an opportunity to stay and treat yourself to a luxurious afternoon tea in the hotel at 3pm.
The tea will be a variety of savoury and sweet items; quiche, sandwiches, home made scones and cakes together with tea and coffee at £17-00 per head. Please provide any special dietary requirements.
Non refundable bookings for the tea will need to be made direct to the hotel (telephone 01629 822211) by Monday 4th April.
Sunday 22nd May, 2pm - Bonsall Manor House and other houses in Bonsall, Led by Liz Stoppard
Please hold the date for our May visit to Bonsall - further details will be published soon.
full steam ahead - 'Revealing railways revealed' event
We had a great day at the Museum of Making in Derby on the 22nd January when we attended their 'Full Steam Ahead - Revealing Railways Revealed' event.
It was lovely to talk to so many people about our ambition for Wingfield Station and explain how people can help support the project by becoming a Friend of Wingfield Station.
Thanks to members from the South Wingfield Local History Group for joining us - alongside George & Robert Stephenson of course!
Left: George Stephenson even found time to visit the Midland Railway Study Centre to view his biography!
robert Stephenson's speech
"My father, George, was self-taught and, after trying several jobs was asked to help maintain the pumping engines at Killingworth Mine. But, always inquisitive, dad wondered what would happen if he used steam engines to pull wagons instead of horses. He tried this and proved steam engines could haul coal wagons more efficiently than horses could,; pulling eight wagons, instead of just one and at 4 miles per hour - faster than a horse.
I watched all of this whilst I was growing up. Dad used his earnings to send me to school and university, so I could have the education that he had missed.
When I was old enough, he asked me to join him at Killingworth as an apprentice. But then, together with Edward Pease, dad formed a company in my name, “Robert Stephenson and Company” to build a railway all the way from Darlington to Stockton linking the collieries. Dad was really the brains behind the company, at least at first, but he said it should be in my name because I was educated and he was not. I started by surveying the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, but I thought what if we use a ‘travelling’ engine on wheels, like Richard Trevithick, rather than fixed engines along the line, which we did with ‘The Rocket’ at Stockton. The rest, as they say, is history......
fundraising cycle ride - 19th/20th august 2022
Please let us now if you are interested in taking part
We're planning a cycle ride from Leeds to Derby on the 19th-20th August to help us to raise funds towards our project at Wingfield Station. This will be an event for DHBT Friends and supporters who would like to cycle together for a good cause.
The route we are planning is based on the Trans Pennine Trail to Chesterfield plus a route to be arranged from Chesterfield to Derby. The route will follow as closely as possible the 1840 Leeds to Derby North Midland Railway line, and the plan is to call in at as many of the 16 former station sites as possible.
It is a two day event with a total of 90 miles (19th August will be approx 50 miles).
At this point in time, whilst we are still looking at the planning, we are keen to hear from those who might be interested in participating, so that we can get an idea of numbers. Please let Lucy know - lucy@derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust.org.uk
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