Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust

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Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust

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We identify neglected historic buildings in danger of decay/demolition & work for their repair &reuse

01/11/2026

Have you cleaned out your gutters yet this autumn?- An essential annual task to protect your building

01/11/2026

Essential repairs on the former Wirksworth Heritage Centre carried out by the DHBT.

30/10/2026

Our Buildings at Risk team and volunteers recently enjoyed a special visit to the beautiful Melbourne Hall Gardens, with a guided tour from Head Gardener David James.

With plenty of autumn colour to enjoy, we explored some of the gardens’ fascinating historic features, including Robert Bakewell’s iron ‘Birdcage’ arbour and the impressive ‘Four Seasons Urn’, along with a few hidden gems!

As part of our Buildings at Risk project in South Derbyshire, our volunteers also had the chance to put the B@R app to good use, surveying some of the Grade I and II* listed buildings and structures in the gardens.

A big thank you to David for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm, and to Lord Lothian and the Melbourne Hall team for welcoming us outside the usual visitor season.

Interested in getting involved with our Buildings at Risk project? We'd love to hear from you!

📧 [email protected]

28/10/2026

🌿 Fancy doing something a little different tomorrow morning?

We're looking forward to our special guided visit to Melbourne Hall Gardens tomorrow (Thursday 29 October) at 10.30am.

It's a rare opportunity to explore these beautiful historic gardens outside the usual visitor season, in the company of Head Gardener David James.

And the good news? There's still room for a few more people to join us!

If you've been thinking about coming along, we'd love to see you.

🎟️ Book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/br-project-visit-to-melbourne-hall-gardens-tickets-2003074879887?aff=oddtdtcreator

27/10/2026

Still time to book! 🌿

Join us this Thursday at 10.30am for a very special guided visit to Melbourne Hall Gardens - one of England’s most treasured historic gardens.

Usually closed at this time of year, this is a rare chance to explore these magnificent early 18th-century gardens, hear more about their remarkable history, and enjoy highlights including the famous Grade II listed Birdcage arbour by Derbyshire ironsmith Robert Bakewell.

Tour leader, Head Gardener David James, will help bring the story of the gardens to life.

Everyone is welcome - you don’t need to be a Buildings at Risk volunteer or a DHBT Friend to come along.

🎟️ There are still some tickets available, so do book now if you’d like to join us:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/br-project-visit-to-melbourne-hall-gardens-tickets-2003074879887?aff=oddtdtcreator

21/10/2026

MELBOURNE HALL GARDENS

🏛️ Thursday 29th October at 10.30am

Would you love the chance to explore one of England’s most treasured historic gardens on an exclusive guided tour?

Originally arranged to give volunteers from our South Derbyshire Buildings at Risk project the opportunity to survey some of the fascinating listed structures within the grounds, we thought this visit was simply too special not to share.

So we're extending the invitation to everyone!

Melbourne Hall Gardens are considered one of the finest surviving examples of an early 18th-century English garden in the style of André Le Nôtre, with magnificent formal landscaping and extraordinary historic features.

Thanks to the generosity of Lord Lothian and the team at Melbourne Hall, the gardens are being opened especially for us, outside the usual visitor season.

We'll be joined by Head Gardener David James, who will bring the gardens' history to life, including the Grade I listed ‘Birdcage’ arbour, created by celebrated Derbyshire ironsmith Robert Bakewell.

You don't need to be a Buildings at Risk volunteer or a DHBT friend – everyone is welcome!

🎟️ Book your place and find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/br-project-visit-to-melbourne-hall-gardens-tickets-2003074879887?aff=oddtdtcreator

15/10/2026

🎉 Wonderful news for Bretby Art Pottery Showroom!

We're delighted to announce that Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust has secured almost £1 million from Historic England to help rescue this remarkable Grade II listed building in Woodville, South Derbyshire.

The Showroom is the last surviving building of the celebrated Bretby Art Pottery Works, established in 1883 by Henry Tooth and William Ault. Once at the forefront of British ceramic design, Bretby became a name recognised well beyond Derbyshire.

After almost 30 years standing empty, the building urgently needs conservation. This major funding award will enable essential investigations and repairs, helping to safeguard its future.

We also want to use the project to reconnect local people with this important part of South Derbyshire's industrial heritage, creating opportunities for learning, traditional building skills, volunteering and community involvement.

There's still much work ahead, but this is a hugely exciting step forward!

👏 A big thank you to Historic England, everyone who has supported the project, and the trustees and volunteers who have worked so hard to reach this point.

🔗 Read the full story on our website:
https://www.derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust.org.uk/post/new-hope-for-rare-victorian-pottery-showroom-after-decades-of-decline

'Bretby Art Pottery Showroom - Saved for the Future' is being funded by Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Capital Fund grant programme. This new grant programme has been launched to support urgent repairs and regeneration of historic buildings at risk, particularly in deprived areas, aligning with government priorities on community wellbeing, economic growth, and levelling up.

South Derbyshire District Council
Samantha Niblett MP

15/10/2026

The DHBT project to rescue Bretby Art Pottery Showroom in Swadlincote, has been awarded £999,405 for a phased programme of repair, conservation and enabling works to secure its future.

12/10/2026

A spare £100,000 could mean the vacant building is soon in your possession

11/10/2026

CALLING ALL RESIDENTS OF THE MILL COMMUNITIES OF DARLEY ABBEY, BELPER AND CROMFORD! Would you like to take part in the 2026 Living Advent Calendars? A living calendar involves specially decorating a window in your property to be illuminated between 4pm and 10.30pm in the evening. The fist window is....

Address

Websters, 31 St John Street, Wirksworth
Matlock Town
DE44DS

Website

https://www.derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust.org.uk/

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