Chair's introduction
Dear Supporter
As Christmas comes closer, we are celebrating with a Dickens inspired 'Christmas Carol' evening in Hopkinson's House.
There is just 1 ticket left for Friday and 5 for Saturday, so take the opportunity to book now, as this is the last time we will use this space for a public event. From the New Year it will be full of tenants, although we will retain a couple of small rooms on the upper floors for our HQ and Wingfield Station operations.
Activity on Wingfield Station is increasing, and you can learn more about it by registering for our 'Project Update' via Zoom on the 8th January 2023. There are new roles available for volunteers, so please consider how and whether you can help us with any aspect of our work.
Congratulations to Ron Common and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Volunteers on bringing Aqueduct Cottage back to its original beauty. It will be formally opened in the Spring, when the exhibitions are complete.
There is much more going on behind the scenes, but more of that in a future newsletter. It just remains for me, on behalf of the DHBT Trustees, to thank all our Friends and Volunteers and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year
Yours ever,
Derek Latham, Chair of DHBT
Cover Photo: Aqueduct Cottage (Ron Common)
wingfield station Project building up steam
On Sunday 11th December Rachel, one half of our Lottery funded Project Engagement Coordinator role, organised a great team of volunteers to meet at Wingfield Station.
As you can see from these before and after photos, they all worked so hard to clear the brambles and other undergrowth around the historic stone setts. It has made such a difference - thanks to all for attending and volunteering your time.
It takes a big team of passionate people to make a project like this happen. From the moment DHBT received the keys to Wingfield Station in December 2019, we have had amazing support from a wide range of people.
As we progress to the next phase of restoration, we are keen to make sure everyone who cares about the Station has the opportunity to get involved. We’ve got three main areas where we’d apprecaite your help: research and oral histories, site maintenance and events.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering with the project, or if you think you have information that will be useful, please get in touch with us: wingfieldstation@gmail.com
With our wider project team nearly complete, we’re now starting to build up steam on the activities that we set out in our funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We’ve got one more member of the office team to recruit - a Volunteer Co-ordinator Intern from the University of Derby.
The intern will support our Project Engagement Co-ordinators, Bill and Rachel, to help us improve our volunteering processes.
Another side to our work is outreach to pupils and students from local schools and colleges. We're hoping to partner with South Wingfield Primary School , the David Nieper Academy, Chesterfield College, the University of Derby, Broomfield College and Nottingham Trent University on various projects and activities. The capital work in 2023 will allow young people to develop their skills and experience through linked activities and placements.
The more we talk to people, the more ideas for our launch events in Autumn 2023 keep emerging! We’ll start to put a schedule in place in the Spring, once the repair works are underway. We’re expecting to be able to finalise a contract with a conservation building contractor in the New Year, with work commencing in February.
join us via zoom for a project update -
8th January 2023, 2pm
Learn more about the project from the comfort of your own home - wherever that may be - on the 8th January at 2pm. Places are free, but please book on via Eventbrite to access the Zoom link.
We were thrilled to welcome so many guests to our in-person update meeting on the 7th November. Many thanks to South Wingfield Social Club for hosting the event and providing excellent refreshments. Also South Wingfield Local History Group who gave a presentation about their work in the parish and the impact of their lobbying to increase the listing of the Station from Grade II to Grade II*.
recent events
Walking tour of John Smedley, Lea Mills - 20th November 2022
Many thanks to John Smedley Archivist, Jane, for leading a walk tour of the mill complex at Lea Mills earlier in November. Jane highlighted many of the architectural features of the oldest operating textile mill in the world, which is an important part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Peter Nightingale and his associate, John Smedley, founded the company in 1784. Lea Bridge provided an ideal setting for the mill, as the brook that ran through the village provided motive power and a constant source of running water.
Cromford Canal, 6th November 2022
Mark Somerfield led a most informative tour of a stretch of the canal from the Cromford Wharf to Aqueduct Cottage on the 6th November. As a surveyor for the national Canal and River Trust, Mark was able to put the Cromford Canal into its part in the bigger canal enterprise picture.
Attendees marvelled at the magnificence of the building that houses the steam powered beam engine, which pumps water from the River Derwent into the canal.
At the end of the walk, everyone was able to witness the wonderful achievements of the volunteers, led by Ron Common, who have transformed the lock keeper's cottage from a roofless ruin, to a perfectly sound structure. The beauty of the stone slate roof was particularly admired.
Mark pointed out the small arm of the canal beside the cottage, which was created to link with Peter Nightingale's cotton mill at Lea.
Mercifully the Met Office forecast for heavy rain did not materialise!
'Gentry Violence in Wirksworth' - Now available to watch via our YouTube channel
On the 11th December Barry Joyce MBE, one half of the 'Architectural Oddities' presented Episode 3: 'Gentry Violence in Wirksworth', which is a short pre-recorded film and took questions afterwards.
The film tells of the goings-on of the man who built the 1631 house at the bottom of Greenhill in Wirksworth, restored by the DHBT in the 1980s, and of the turbulent times in which he lived. A particularly scandalous part of the story is his unholy relationship with the rapacious Vicar of St.Mary's Wirksworth.
You can watch the Zoom recording at your own leisure here.
A dhbt 'christmas carol'
DHBT presents 'A Christmas Carol' - a recitation for two voices - 16th and 17th December, 7pm at Hopkinson's House, Wirksworth
At the time of writing there is just 1 tickets available for Friday 16th December and five for Saturday 17th. Please book your place via Eventbrite.
The event will be a Dickensian inspired evening at the DHBT HQ in Wirksworth and should get everyone nicely warmed up for Christmas!
2023 dhbt Visits programme
We are in the process of finalising our programme of visits and events for 2023 - look out for communications early next year with more details.
partnership heritage skills training success
Earlier this year we partnered with Sudbury Gasworks Restoration Trust (SGRT - the charity behind the conservation and development of the Grade II listed c.1874 Sudbury Gasworks) and local conservation contractor, H.A.Briddon Ltd, to offer people the chance to learn the traditional skill of roof torching.
Participants were able to work alongside heritage roofer, Richard Jordan - technical trainer/assessor and consultant to Sudbury Gasworks.
Torching is used on the underside of tiles or slates to keep them in place and to prevent strong winds from getting under the tiles and lifting them (as well as holding condensation). A mix of lime mortar mixed with horse hair is often used for torching.
Sudbury Gasworks opened in 1875. Attributed to George Dewey, architect of London, Sudbury Gasworks generated gas from coal to supply power to Sudbury Hall and the village. It is Grade II listed and is currently on the Derbyshire Dales District Council's 'Buildings at Risk Register'.
The building is currently undergoing restoration works following successful fundraising by SGRT. Thanks primarily to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the building is set to open as a contemporary community facility in Spring 2023.
The photos below show the completed roof. The iron work was repaired and restored by Cast Iron Welding Services. We think it looks stunning! We are hoping to arrange a DHBT to visit to the Gasworks next year.
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