Chair's introduction
Dear Supporter,
Congratulations to Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust for rescuing historic buildings over the last 50 years! As you will see in the newsletter, there is much to celebrate. A platinum award for our joint garden entry at BBC gardeners' world live, and a regional RICS award for the rescue of Wingfield station, with potentially more to come.
But, we do not intend to ‘rest on our laurels’. The work of the Trust is expanding: we are starting a condition survey of all building at risk in Derbyshire and we want you, our friends and supporters to help. Please do volunteer. Thanks to all those who have offered to help so far. Work should be starting later on this summer.
We are also investigating the potential to undertake training people, young and old, in the skills required to maintain and repair our built heritage. If you want to get involved, please let us know.
As you will see, there’s a lot else happening so, one way or the other, we hope to see many of you over the coming months!
Yours ever,
Derek Latham, Chair of DHBT
Cover Photo: The award winning Bonsall Field Barn Show Garden at Gardeners' World Live 2024.
50th anniversary celebration -
fundraising dinner and exhibition at chatsworth
On Friday 21st June over 150 DHBT supporters joined us at The Carriage House, Chatsworth for our 50th anniversary celebration dinner.
Guests enjoyed a truly special evening - spending time, upon arrival, to view our exhibition and relax and reflect in the Chatsworth rose garden.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible - we appreciate your support. Please continue to tag us in your photos, which we’ve loved seeing.
Special mentions to Liz, Globella Events, Mike and Eppie for the months of work and planning behind the scenes!
📸 Ian Daisley Photography
Derek latham, barry joyce & bob hawkins reminisce
We commissioned local film-maker, Gavin Repton, to produce a series of films to help celebrate our 50th year. These include memories and key highlights - as well as paying tribute to the huge support given to the Trust in her lifetime by the late Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire.
Understanding repair & maintenance of traditional pre-1919 buildings
Congratulations to everyone who successfully completed our first ever 2-day pre 1919 buildings repair & maintenance course! Nine learners participated in the Level 3 award in 'Understanding Repair and Maintenance of Traditional pre-1919 Buildings' at Wingfield Station on the 25th and 26th June.
Trainer, Richard Jordan, did a great job catering for the different (perceived) levels of knowledge - as demonstrated in the first photo below! Theory was broken up with practical demonstrations, including hot mix lime and making marking sticks. The course was made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Special mention too, to our Year 10 work experience student from Swanwick Hall School who helped set up for the training and also passed the end of course exam (at age 14!). As the photos below show, we certainly kept him busy (cleaning interpretation boards, painting parts of Wingfield Station 1947's model railway, and cleaning the floor of the Station).
We’re hoping to repeat this pre-1919 buildings course in the future - please drop Tricia a note if you fancy finding out more and/or registering your interest: tricia@derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust.org.uk
GARDENERS' world live 2024 - success for bonsall field barn showgarden!
Many of you will remember the Wingfield Station show garden BBC Gardeners' World Live last year. We teamed up with Derby College once again, this time with the theme of the Bonsall Field Barn Project.
Earlier in June, this brilliant design was recognised with a Platinum Award (the highest recognition possible)!
As you can see from the photos, the garden (designed by Faye Geeson, a student at Derby College) features a restored field barn within a setting inspired by the Peak District village of Bonsall.
The design, created by Faye and her student colleagues, features dry stone walling, a limestone path representing the Limestone Way, planted with predominantly UK natives around a dew pond and a representation of a covered, disused lead mines shaft, featuring 'T'Owd Man of Bonsall'.
The planting is all in keeping with the area, including a wildflower meadow and ornamentals, thriving on limestone sites.
Huge congratulations to Faye and the other students, college horticultural tutor (Mike Baldwin) and Peter and Liz (who have led on things from the DHBT side- indeed, it was Liz's inspiration and involvement with the field barns, that led to this project happening).
heights of abraham visit - 21st july, 2pm
We're not the only Derbyshire organisation celebrating a 50 year milestone this year. 2024 also marks the 50th anniversary of when Andrew and Vanessa Pugh purchased and started developing the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath.
On the 21st July we're running a unique tour of the Heights of Abraham, which cannot be purchased by any other means.
The Heights of Abraham is an extremely early example of pleasure ground (begun in 1787) created for use from day one as a commercial enterprise, exploiting the fashion for picturesque landscapes, manifest here in the Matlock Bath gorge. It is Listed Grade 2 on the National Heritage List for England.
Our host, Andrew Pugh, MBE DL, rescued the site from degradation, investing in the restoration of the cultural landscape and upgrading amenities for the visitor.
The DHBT’s Chairman, Derek Latham, was at that time principal of Derek Latham Architects and in this earlier professional capacity, acted for Mr Pugh, designing the cable car base station top station and restoring the landscape and buildings on the heights.
DHBT 2024 visits: save the dates
Sunday 18th August, 2pm - Goss Hall, Ashover.
Sunday 22nd September, 2pm - Alstonefield Hall.
Sunday 13th October, 2pm - Dronfield Conservation Area.
Sunday 17th November, 2pm - Smedley's Hydro, Matlock.
Sunday 8th December, 2pm - Masson Mill.
guided tours of wingfield station
Come along to a free guided tour of Wingfield Station - spaces still available on the 11am and 2pm tours on the 21st July and 18th August.
Please reserve your spot via Eventbrite.
RICS awards - regional winner, heritage project
We're delighted to announce that on the 13th June DHBT won the 'Heritage Project' category at the RICS Regional Awards (East Midlands) for our project at Wingfield Station.
Pictured at the awards ceremony - Peter Milner (Lead Trustee, DHBT) and Martin Thompson, representing our project Quantity Surveyor, Greenwood Projects.
We now go forward to the October national event - please keep your fingers crossed! Congratulations to all those involved - very well deserved recognition.
parwich hall visit - 23rd june
Many thanks to the owners of Parwich Hall, along with Mark and Oliver, for facilitating a wonderful tour for DHBT supporters (plus some lucky folk who were attending the Parwich Open Gardens event) on Sunday 23rd June.
The Grade II* Hall (c.1740) is just north of Ashbourne and is a very interesting late Queen Anne style house built on the extant foundations of a much earlier Manor House, dating from around 1600.
The house has been adapted almost every century since, with the latest addition of a garden library only a few years ago.
Parwich Hall was one of the first buildings to be listed in the country (in 1952)!
a delightful afternoon in Kings newton
The visit to Kings Newton on the 3rd June was an outstanding success. Tour leader Philip Heath gave a fascinating exposition of the history of the village and of many of its buildings, including (unexpectedly) the interior of Kings Newton Hall.
At the conclusion of the tour the fortunate Trust supporters who had been on it were invited to Philip’s home where a spectacular tea was laid out for them in the heavenly Melbourne garden of Philip and his wife Penny who, together with two friends, had created the magnificent spread laid out for them. Many thanks!
get involved
We are a busy volunteer-led charity, and, as such, always welcome people who want to get involved with our activity.
We have a range of trustee and volunteer opportunities available - please get in touch if you would like to get involved. Thank you to everyone that has already expressed an interest in volunteering with our community-led 'buildings at risk' survey work. We are hoping to start work on this during the summer when our new Heritage Development Officer, Anna, will be starting in post.
We're also looking for a volunteer who would be willing to represent the DHBT at Derbyshire Environmental Trust meetings - https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/lottery-funding/environmental-trust/derbyshire-environmental-trust.aspx
link in with dhbt
We're on LinkedIn - we'd love you to join our network -
You can also follow us on social media @dhbtrust and subscribe to our YouTube channel