Clock's Ticking Down to a New
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World Heritage newsIssue 13 - 2013 www.derwentvalleymills.org Supported by Rolls-Royce Clock’s ticking down to a new era THE EXTENDED World Heritage Site Board, was there to welcome this step ‘Family’ came together in September for closer to a new era in the development of the celebration of a milestone in its the World Heritage Site as a visitor development as a visitor destination. attraction. With work proceeding well on the Arkwright She said: “This development is a Society’s new Visitor Gateway for the particularly interesting project. Through Derwent Valley Mills, patron the Duke of the building’s history, we are encouraged Devonshire was asked to cut a clock-shaped to imagine the past, with Sir Richard cake to begin the one-year countdown to the Arkwright’s innovatory ideas, realised by opening of the new facility. the people of Derbyshire. The transformation of the largest building on “The business space on the upper floors the mill site will also see the creation of is hoped to attract a similarly managed workspace units on the upper four entrepreneurial spirit, and we hope it will provide a boost to the Derbyshire economy.” watched by Chair of the World Heritage Site floors. Board Ellie Wilcox, Chief Executive of the Councillor Ellie Wilcox, the new Chair of the A SLICE OF THINGS TO COME: The Duke Arkwright Society Sarah McLeod and Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site of Devonshire cuts the celebrationary cake, Chairman of the Society John Rivers. THI Now we’ll all be DerwentWISEr! BACK in 2011 we reported on a bid led forgotten beauty of the valley. In the how the programme would be delivered by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to the woodlands there will be projects to remove over the next few years. Meetings were held, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Landscape rhododendron, plant native tree species and potential projects discussed, partners Partnership Scheme. open up iconic views over the valley. Arts consulted and budgets set out. The decision projects will include creating new access from the HLF came through in mid- The project, now named DerwentWISE, has routes to enjoy the views. There will be September. received its second stage grant which opportunities to learn traditional woodland releases £1.767 million over the next five skills such as coppicing and charcoal making, Work will now start to recruit staff to deliver years. while school groups will be taken on visits the project. These will include a team manager, two community engagement The project focuses on the landscape in and into the woods to explore and discover these magical places. officers and a finance and administration around the Derwent Valley Mills World officer. Heritage Site. DerwentWISE includes 64 The past few months have been a very busy sub-projects across four themes – conserving and tense time for the 14 partner A detailed Landscape Conservation Action or restoring heritage, increasing community organisations and the team co-ordinating the Plan, which formed the main basis of the participation, improving access and learning, DerwentWISE project. The application funding application, is available to download and training and skills. involved a great deal of work to produce the from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s website, www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk Many of the projects are about the hidden or all-important second stage bid, which set out George Hurt Discovery Herbert paintings Days Strutt secured - Page 10 plaque is unveiled - Page 4 - Page 2 02 World Heritage News www.derwentvalleymills.org Planning for the future of our heritage THE DERWENT VALLEY Mills and stakeholders within the valley. and aims which we will endeavour In addition we will continue to World Heritage Site has to achieve in what remains a work closely with our partner submitted a new Management It lays out an analysis of the issues, tough economic environment. organisations and the many Plan to UNESCO for approval. opportunities and challenges that volunteers who support both their face the Site. The plan has been In doing so we will continue to work and ours. This plan lays out how the Site will based on extensive consultation rely on the local authorities within be managed over the next five and discussion with key partners. the Site and bodies such as English We would like to thank all those years and illustrates how this will Heritage, The Heritage Lottery who helped shape the plan, which be done by the many organisations It sets out a range of clear policies Fund and the Arts Council. can be found on our website. Book will revisit the story of Cromford A NEW book is expected to be published along the country’s network of canals. by the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Educational Trust which will Also featured is a later resident, Charles White, shine a light on one of the concealed hand behind the Lea Mills strike our key historic of 1911-12 and a communities. colourful local politician who was to become Cromford Revisited by West Derbyshire’s Doreen Buxton and Member of Parliament. Christopher Charlton is a richly illustrated book In the austere conditions examining aspects of the of the 1920s and 30s, with development of the Arkwright family gone Strutt plaque and a squire’s paternalistic Cromford and Scarthin hand no longer directing BELPER’S greatest benefactor George from the mid eighteenth century. affairs, the village learned Herbert Strutt has been honoured this year to manage for itself. with a blue plaque, unveiled at his former It recognises, as it must, home, Makeney Hall (now a hotel). a village largely shaped Then in 1971 when the Arkwright Festival was held A descendent of Jedidiah Strutt, who built the by several generations of the Arkwright family to celebrate the bicentenary first water-powered cotton mills at Belper of Richard Arkwright’s from 1776, George Herbert provided a but introduces a wider cast of local characters arrival in Cromford, it found grammar school, swimming baths, the River itself in the spotlight of Gardens and much more for the town. - the mill-building George Evans of heritage celebrity, From their arrival, the Strutts transformed Bonsall and recognition which in 2001 led Belper from a small village of nail-makers in Cromford; the to its achieving a central to a major industrial centre with every neighbouring gentry, the Gells of Hopton; the position in the Derwent Valley possible facility provided for the workers - financier Peter Nightingale of Lea and several Mills World Heritage Site. the world’s first mill town. generations of the Wheatcroft family who Expect to see Cromford Revisited in shops along They were key players in the creation of the spread the name of Cromford nationwide the valley in the new year. factory system which transformed the world we live in and ushered in the modern industrial age. It is in part due to their innovations and ingenuity the Derwent Valley Research Framework develops Mills are now celebrated as a UNESCO AN IMPORTANT aim for any World Heritage Archaeology/York Archaeological Trust a World Heritage Site. Site is to enable and promote new research steering group has been established, supported The nomination was put forward by Adrian into its history. by a broader panel of specialists from all over the country. Farmer, who said: “Strutt made such an A long standing ambition within the Derwent LPSDFWRQ%HOSHUDQGLWVSHRSOHïKH Valley has been to produce a research A list of research themes and topics has been provided so much during his lifetime. He framework which highlights the work that has produced and were further discussed at a thoroughly deserves this recognition of his been done and promote new areas of enquiry. workshop in July which was attended by over work.” 60 people. This information will be used to Thanks to a grant from English Heritage of HONOURED: George Herbert Strutt’s develop the framework further. Once £33,000 we are now well on the way to produced it will be a valuable guide to research grand-daughter Lin Ryan came over from realising this goal. Ireland to attend the unveiling. for universities, independent researchers and Led by Dr David Knight of Trent & Peak community history projects. World Heritage News 03 We’re all working together ALL FOR ONE: Some of the volunteers from across the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site who have teamed up together to explore their own sites and look at ideas from elsewhere in the country to make the Derwent Valley the best possible experience for visitors. Group visits prove a big hit for our hard-working volunteers THE WORLD Heritage Site has secured To support these aims there £7,300 of Heritage Lottery Fund grant were three whole-day trips in money for a project to bring our many March held over three weeks volunteers closer together. for the volunteers. The one-year project is using the ‘All Our The first took 65 volunteers Stories ‘ funding to help volunteers: to Ironbridge Gorge to meet their Volunteer Coordinator :RUNWRJHWKHUDQGVKDUHWKHLUNQRZOHGJH and find out about their uses to tell a more cohesive story; of digital technology. ,PSURYHWKHLUNQRZOHGJHDERXWRWKHUSDUWV There were then two days Since then, the volunteers have been meeting of the DVMWHS which are unfamiliar to spent exploring the Derwent Valley Mills, regularly to find out more about the World them; covering first the southern and central parts Heritage Site, and appreciate all the hard work and then the northern area a week later. /HDUQDERXW¶VWDWHRIWKHDUW·GLJLWDO they carry out at their individual sites. technology from other heritage sites that There were around 60 volunteers for both of have developed a high quality experience so these days, which were led by our own World ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP: A visit to that they can rethink the interpretation Heritage Site advocates, giving guided tours.