Programme
All talks take place in Strutt’s Community Centre, Room 107 unless otherwise noted, and start at 7.30pm. The room is open from 7pm. Parking is available on site. A lift is available.
The Programme of talks for 2025.
Thursday 16th January
Historic Buildings Myth Busting
Dr James Wright
For several years, James Wright of Triskele Heritage a buildings archaeologist specialist based in Nottingham has been engaged in a project which seeks to investigate and debunk commonly believed and repeated tales about ancient buildings.
Stories which claim secret passages beneath the landscape, ship timbers in old buildings, spiral staircases twisting clockwise, stones in churches used to sharpen arrows, oldest pub in the country etc.
The project is the basis of the book – Historic Building Mythbusting – Uncovering Folklore, History and Archaeology which was released via The History Press in June 2024. His book will be on sale after the meeting.
Thursday 20th February
Frank Beresford: Artist of Royalty, History, Landscapes – and My Grannies
Robert Reid
Robert is a member of the Society and has been studying the life and work of local artist, Frank Beresford (1881 – 1967), for some while.
Beresford was born in Derby, studied at Derby School of Art, exhibited at the Royal Academy and was recognised for his war paintings and his portrait of George Herbert Strutt which hangs in the Belper Town Council Offices at St John’s Chapel.
Thursday 20th March
John Flamsteed – First Astronomer Royal
Michael Lancaster
We follow the life and work of local born astronomer John Flamsteed, who under the patronage of King Charles II became the first Astronomer Royal at Greenwich.
We examine his Derbyshire beginnings, and his meteoric rise in the scientific community, culminating in his Royal appointment.
From his post at the newly established Royal Observatory in Greenwich his life’s work was the compilation of a catalogue of the positions of nearly 3000 stars. His tireless and stubborn quest for perfection would later lead him into conflict with Isaac Newton and Edmund Halley. Finally, we learn how his widow ensured the posthumous publication of his scientific works.
Thursday 17th April
The Fibres Spun in our Valley
Kim Kerry
Some years ago Kim began to think about Belper before the Strutts built their mills. “Belper is ONLY cotton ” was a phrase used in a conversation with a group of local historians.
And so her textile research began ….. and rolls on !
Thursday 15th May
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Eric Boultbee
The story of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (The Milk and Honey Line) which operated with both passenger and freight services. Although passenger services were suspended after the war in 1947, freight lasted until 1989.
In the 1990s a small group in Wirksworth planned to reopen the railway, by which time it had become overgrown and derelict. By 2010 almost 10 miles of railway had been restored and the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway officially reopened in April 2011 and now numbers amongst the top heritage railways in the country having won numerous awards, creating employment and training, adding to the local economy and providing healthy activity for volunteers.
The talk relates to the background and development of the railway into the enterprise it is today.
Thursday 19th June
The Dark Side of Milford (walk)
Jane Whitaker
Meet 6:30pm at the Triangle, Chevin Road, Milford (opposite the Strutt Arms /Elephant & Peacock). Strong footwear needed, some steep up and downhill, and rough terrain.
This walk covers Milford’s west side (or the “dark side”, where the sun doesn’t shine over the Chevin in the winter months) looking at the development of the housing, community buildings and the railway. Find out what it was like to have the Strutts as your landlord, why the community of Swainsley Court no longer exists, and where the people of Milford wanted their own railway station.
The route takes us up Sunnyhill to Stephenson’s tower and a short distance across the Chevin before descending down a steep and uneven footpath.
July (TBA – awaiting opening of booking for 2025)
A Visit to Wingfield Railway Station
Derbyshire Historic Building Trust
Wingfield Station is the only surviving original station remaining on the North Midland Railway, designed by Francis Thompson, the architect employed by George Stephenson. After falling into a dilapidated state, it was rescued and very sympathetically repaired by DHBT.
There will be a charge for this visit.
Thursday 21st August
The Church at the Triangle
Sue Peach
A tour around Christ Church, Belper. A little “Victorian gem”, Christ Church was built to serve the Bridge Hill area of Belper, and was consecrated in 1850.
Meet outside Christ Church at the Triangle at 7pm.
Thursday 18th September
The Strutt Building Campaign c1890 – 1930
George Henshaw
George Henshaw discusses the extensive scheme of construction carried out by George Herbert Strutt at the turn of the 20th century – his motivations, the characters involved and its lasting impact.
Thursday 16th October
Anthony Woodville: Sophisticate or Schemer?
Danielle Burton
Was Anthony Woodville, brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, really as bad as some have portrayed him, or was he really a man of many talents?
Local historian, Danielle has put together the story of the life and
untimely death of Anthony Woodville, the other uncle of “The Princes in the Tower”.
Thursday 20th November
The Cromford Canal in Old Photographs
Hugh Potter
Hugh has been collecting historic images of the canal for many years and has amassed over 4000 from which he has selected the best to show how the canal used to look before its more recent decline and, in places, destruction. Some of the photographs come from his fully illustrated book The Cromford Canal, copies of which will be available to purchase at a special discount price at the meeting.
As a special bonus Hugh will show a unique series of colour photographs taken inside the mysterious and almost 2-mile-long Butterley Tunnel during a canoe trip in the 1970s. These include the Butterley Company’s ‘Wide Hole’ where goods were loaded and unloaded by vertical shafts directly to the works yard above. This feature is unique and has recently been Scheduled by Historic England as an Ancient Monument.
Thursday 18th December
Transported: The Story of a Belper Convict
Viv Scott
The story of a Belper man severely punished for minor crimes with a
surprising outcome.
