Chair's introduction
Dear Supporter
You will see from this newsletter how excited we are that Wingfield station has now commenced the final stage of conversion to a sustainable new use. There continue to be discoveries on the way, and local interest is building with an increasing number of volunteers.
But we also need volunteers to help with the wider work of the Trust from supporting events to community fundraising. Whatever your skills I feel certain we can help harness them to enable you to make a useful contribution; great or small. Please click on the button in Lucy’s appeal for volunteers toward the end of the newsletter to find out some of the roles we urgently need filling – but if you don’t have those skills required, please ask - there are others!
If you can’t volunteer, please do consider Ian’s suggestion for remembering the DHBT in your Will. Legacies and donations - large or small - play a crucial role in helping us continue our work to ensure the architectural gems of Derbyshire survive.
I would also encourage you to think about schemes or people that would be eligible to apply for our 2023 Architecture Awards. There a range of different categories, so please do take a look and share with others.
Meanwhile, I hope to see some of you at one of the many events planned this year.
Yours ever,
Derek Latham, Chair of DHBT
Cover Photo: Wingfield Station, February 2023
Phase two works commence at Wingfield Station
The 13th February 2023 marked another significant milestone on our journey to restore Wingfield station and give it a sustainable end use.
Ackroyd Construction started phase two of the capital works. They are following on from the excellent work by ASBC Heritage & Conservation Specialists who carried out the urgent repairs in 2021/22.
Ackroyd will be on site until the summer, focussing on repairs to the non trackside elevations, interior repairs and decoration, external works and services installation.
We’ll be sharing regular updates as the work progresses and we are planning various engagement activities for both during and after. Please follow us on social media for weekly reports. We can’t wait to see the final transformation!
If you’d like to support the work at Wingfield, remember we have a range of sponsorship opportunities available - or you might wish to join us a Friend of DHBT or Wingfield station from £1.50/month:
We will be offering hard hat tours of the site to Friends at the end of May/early June - please look out for further information on this over the next fortnight.
Wingfield Station - TV Appearance 18th April, 8pm - The Architecture the Railways Built
Last summer we had another top-secret visit from the film crew from ‘The Architecture the Railways Built’.
Wingfield station will have a feature in the first episode of the new (4th) series.
We were delighted when the crew wanted to come back to film some of our recent discoveries found during our Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund urgent repairs phase - and it was particularly lovely to be joined by ASBC and local volunteer, Louis, for this.
Catch us on Yesterday channel (Freeview channel 27) on Tues 18th April at 8pm.
Welcome to our new Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria
Following the appointments of Rachel and Bill as our 'Project Engagement Co-ordinators' for Wingfield station, we're excited to say that we've now got a full team in place, with Victoria Dickerson who started as our 'Volunteer Coordinator' intern on the 6th January 2023.
The Volunteer Coordinator role was advertised as a paid internship via the Student Employment Agency at the University of Derby. Victoria will be working 10 hours/week and will support the team by undertaking admin relating to volunteer recruitment, monitoring and scheduling.
Victoria can be contacted at: wingfieldstationvolunteering@gmail.com or 07774517740 and will be pleased to answer any volunteering related queries.
To get to know Victoria a little better, we asked her to tell us a bit about herself and why she was interested in the role.
About me
I graduated from the University of Derby with a BA (Hons) in History and I'm currently in my final year studying for an MA in Public History and Heritage.
I’ve worked as a volunteer at Kedleston Hall as a room guide and museum host and at the moment I’m involved with the reinterpretation of Derby Museum and Art Gallery’s Egyptian collection. This has been a fascinating opportunity to explore the museum’s collection and research local links to the objects and their provenance.
As part of my MA programme I worked alongside a group of volunteers at Kedleston Hall to help identify resources and training opportunities for the new role of museum host.
My academic areas of interest are India under the East India Company and later the British Government and heritage engagement and interpretation.
In my spare time I play rugby for my local women’s team.
What interested me in the role?
Firstly, the opportunity to be involved with such an interesting project, I find railway history and trains in general fascinating, even if I don’t know much about it. Far too many older and historically significant buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair, becoming lost to their local communities. As both Rachel and Bill highlighted when they became involved with the project, stories and histories of places such as Wingfield station are important both locally and nationally. For local heritage to be sustainable in the long term, its vital that local communities and those with an interest are supported in their volunteer roles. Without the generosity of volunteers who give up their time to share their passion, knowledge and interest, the general public would often be unable to visit or appreciate many of Britain’s heritage sites.
What will I be doing?
As the volunteer coordinator I’ll be here to support the project’s volunteers in achieving both theirs and the Trust’s aims. I’m here to make sure all the volunteers receive the support they need allowing them to focus on the important things like research, maintenance and public engagement activities.
Wingfield Station - Project Update via Zoom - Available to View
Many thanks to everyone who joined us earlier this year for our live 'project update' via Zoom.
It was great to share a re-cap on what has been done so far, what we're hoping to achieve during 2023 and details on how people can get involved.
If you'd like to watch this again at your own leisure, or if you weren't able to join us, here is the recording:
Please do get in touch if you have any questions or comments. We'd love to hear from you!
For the National Lottery Heritage Fund #HeritageTreasures day, we shared our small, mid 19th century, cast-iron stove, which is in the Porter's Room. It would have been used for cooking/warming food and heating purposes. Thanks to support from the Association for Industrial Archaeology this stove will be restored during 2023.
We're grateful, as always, to the Midland Railway Society for helping us to understand more about the stove. Following a visit last summer, they shared a drawing of a Midland Railway 'Dreadnought' stove from their own collection. Although there are slight detail differences, it is very likely that it was the antecedent for our surviving stove.
The Tri Junct Crest at the Old Hall, Littleover
We had an snowy visit last week to view a North Midland Railway crest at Old Hall, Littleover.
When Derby Station was rebuilt in 1892 by Charles Trubshaw this crest, which adorned the frontage of Francis Thompson’s masterpiece, was made redundant and was (thankfully) relocated to the Old Hall.
The ‘Tri Junct Crest’ was carved by John Thomas of Birmingham and includes the arms of Derby, Leeds and Sheffield.
A contemporary lithograph of Derby Station, which is in the British Museum collection, confirms that this crest was the one that adorned the central entrance to Thompson’s station building at Derby.
Many thanks to Ivygrove Homes for supporting us in our endeavour to save the crest and hopefully relocate it to Wingfield. Thanks also to ASBC for their expert advice and support. The logistics of moving such a heavy and large (3m x 2.8m), yet vulnerable, object should not be underestimated!
We’re grateful to the Littleover Historical Society for alerting us to its existence and to the Midland Railway Society for their knowledge and research.
Watch this space for more information about the crest and our plans for displaying it at Wingfield.
PS - spot the little winter visitor who was listening intently during the whole hour we were discussing things!
Getting more people on board!
We're keen that as many people as possible get involved with our project at Wingfield. Regular meetings have been held with locally based research volunteers to help guide, mentor and advise their research and interpretive writing.
Volunteers are undertaking important research that will form part of our interpretation (on-site graphics panels, information online etc). Oral history training has also been delivered, thanks to a grant from South Wingfield Parish Council enabling us to purchase a recorder and other equipment.
Over the last few weeks volunteers have also attended visits to the Derbyshire Record Office, the Midland Railway Society Study Centre at the Museum of Making and explored archives Midland Railway - Butterley
Building on from the amazing efforts of the maintenance team, we also had a day of corporate support from the team at Alstom to help maintain the trees around the site boundary, reinforced by dead-hedging using the removed brash.
Ahead of Chesterfield College students starting their placements later this month, we've also started to engage with learning providers in other ways.
Prior to Ackroyd Construction starting on site, sessions were held for students from Nottingham Trent University who have coursework relating to enabling development and the 'conservation deficit'! They completed a site assessment and shared their thoughts with DHBT project lead, Peter Milner, who provided a talk on the station.
22nd March - opening programme - consultation and planning meeting
Now that work is progressing on site, the team have started thinking about a programme of events to mark the completion of the project. A consultation and planning event is being held on Wednesday 22nd March from 6-7:30pm at South Wingfield Social Club . You'll be able to find out more about the plans for opening prior to tenants moving in to the station buildings. From greeting visitors, setting up for events to admin roles and conducting guided tours, there are lots of opportunities to get involved.
Please confirm attendance via email or text to Victoria (wingfieldstationvolunteering@gmail.com or 07774 517740) - refreshments will be available during the evening.
Get involved - DHBT Volunteer and Trustee Opportunities, March 2023
We're dedicated to trying to preserve as many of the county's fabulous historic buildings as possible, whether they are large or small.
However, we are unable to do this without voluntary help. So, we're now reaching out to people both inside and outside Derbyshire to come and lend an important hand - if they have time - in the diverse ways it takes to run the Trust.
As well as the restoration of Wingfield station, we are engaged in other smaller projects at Eccles House Farm near Hope in the north of the county, Hopkinson's House (the Trust's HQ) in Wirksworth in the middle of the county and Bretby Art Pottery in the far south.
But there are also bigger projects that we are keen to take on like the restoration of the historic Belper Mills, which are seriously at risk and turning the old Hippodrome Theatre in Derby into an all-purpose alternative music venue for the city.
There's now an exciting opportunity for people who love Derbyshire's old buildings to help save them for the future. We are looking for a wide range of skills, but also for people who have some time to devote each month to these projects.
From people capable of leading or co-ordinating volunteer groups, to those with a chartered surveyor background the skills and experience required are wide ranging. We also need experienced people who can join the board as trustees to help guide the organisation. This includes a Portfolio Development Trustee, who can help manage projects from inception through to completion, and a new Vice Chair.
These are big roles but you can assist in small ways too. Volunteers can help by joining working days at different projects - particularly with our current work at Wingfield Station.
Find out more about how you can actively support the Trust here.
A heritage walking tour of the Overton/Ashover area with the Peak District Mines Historical Society, 26th March, 2023
Join us on the 26th March for a heritage walking tour of the Ashover/Overton area, led by Tony Wood from the Peak District Mines Historical Society (PDMHS).
Discover some of the industrial history of the village of Ashover and surrounding area on this guided walk which will include:
Crispin Inn – Job Wall
Ashover Church – Parkin and Babbington Graves
Amber Valley Light Railway
Overton Hall and Mine (Joseph Banks etc)
Gin Lane
Ravens Nest – Parkin Family
Mill Town – Miners Arms and Pinfold
Fall Gates – Station
Fall’s Quarry
Back through the fields to Ashover.
The walk will commence at 11am on the 26th March at Ashover Village Hall and is likely to be at least 2.5hrs long, so bringing a packed lunch and wearing suitable clothing etc. is recommended.
It will be free to join, but donations are very much encouraged and you must book on via Eventbrite. Proceeds will be split between the two charities - DHBT and the PDMHS.
Book your place here.
'The Architecture of the DVMWHS' - now available to view
For those who missed DHBT Vice Chair, Barry Joyce's, presentation 'The Architecture of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site' , it is now available to view.
Barry's presentation is an illustrated talk on some of the most significant buildings in the World Heritage Site. Not just mills, but also workers' houses, schools, chapels, churches and the mill masters' mansion houses.
(Please note that there is a black screen for the first few minutes whilst Barry gives his introduction. Images start following that.)
DHBT Architecture Awards 2023
Applications are now open for the 2023 DHBT Architecture Awards.
There are a number of categories, so many historic building schemes will find they can apply.
We've recently added a 'Conservation Champion' category and, new for 2023, a 'Craftsperson' one to help celebrate the best in craftsmanship across the county.
The deadline for applications is 31st August 2023. Finalists will be invited to the Awards ceremony in November.
To be eligible for the building related categories, the scheme must be in Derbyshire and reached practical completion by 31st August 2023.
For the purpose of the Awards, the term 'historic' is defined as a building that is pre-World War II.
To apply, please complete the short application form - and do share with anyone who might be interested.
Leave dhbt a gift in your will
Leaving a gift in your Will is perhaps the greatest of all gifts. It is your chance to take care of everything that is important to you. After you have thought about loved ones, you can help us to continue to safeguard the Derbyshire buildings we treasure by remembering DHBT with a gift in your Will. Whether it's large or small, your contribution will make a real difference; enabling us to deliver our vision. As a small charity, we simply wouldn't exist without our supporters.
DHBT Trustee and Treasurer, Ian Webster, describes here why he has chosen to include DHBT in his Will:
"I have just revised my Will to leave 10% of my estate to the DHBT. I have also made similar commitments to other organisations. For me, this was an easy way to support these organisations, and at no immediate cost to me!
The process in each case was fairly easy. I talked to each organisation about what I wanted to do. I agreed a form of words with each, and supplied these to my solicitor. They included them in my Will.
If you would like to consider leaving a legacy to DHBT give me a ring on 01629 636 836 or email me on Ian.webster1954@gmail.com - I look forward to hearing from you."
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