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Events

The Gallery - Betty Norton

Friday 25th July 2008

A variety of subject matter, both realistic and

contemporary, in watercolours, pastels, oil and acrylics.

On site: The Rhythm Cafe

Sunday 27th July 2008
Time to be announced.
If you can sing, dance, play an instrument or recite poetry come along and join in with the Rhythm Cafe. Alternatively just come and enjoy the atmosphere.

The Gallery - Barbara Smith, Felicity Jackson, Jean Fisher and June Asprey

Friday 1st August 2008

A group of Derbyshire artists working in watercolour, acrylic,

oriental painting and pyrography. Painting workshops will be

available during the exhibition.

The Gallery: The Thursday Painters Group

Friday 8th August 2008
The wonderful paintings, from The Thursday Painter Group, are coming in to the gallery on Friday the 8th of August till friday the 15th of August.

Guided Walks on Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows

Saturday 9th August 2008

9th August and 20^th September 2008.
If you want a walk with a difference why not come on our guided walks in Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows. See the unique ancient woodland, the series of Arkwright Ponds and their wet lands habitat, the new exhibition in the undercroft of Slinter Mill, the restored waterwheel and millpond and for all you nature lovers a blaze of colourful spring flowers, in Dunsley Meadows, particularly in April and May.

Meet outside the Greyhound Hotel, Market Place, Cromford.

Tour charge £3.50 per person, accompanied children free. Stout shoes recommended. Bookings must be made in advance by calling 01629 823256

DARLEY ABBEY INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY

Wednesday 13th August 2008

With David Hool

Wednesday 13^th August 2008: 7.30pm

Of the four industrial textile communities in the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site – Cromford, Belper, Milford and Darley Abbey – Darley Abbey is perhaps the most complete to survive. Dating from the 1780’s the mills, industrial housing and slightly later the school and the church will be visited. The walk will take approximately two hours.

Meet at the Riverside car park (west of the bridge over the River Derwent) in Darley Abbey which is approximately 1.5 miles north of the centre of Derby and east of the A6 road.

There is no charge for this tour but bookings must be made in advance by calling 01629 823256

The Gallery: Inspired

Friday 15th August 2008

From Friday the 15th of August till friday the 22nd of August the paintings from Inspired will be up in the gallery.

On Site, Arkwright spinsters

Sunday 17th August 2008

On sunday the 17th of august and sunday the 21st of september The Arkwright spinsters are at the mill, you can come and see The Spinsters demonstrating the art of hand spinning using traditional spinning wheels.

The Gallery: Andy Stanley

Friday 22nd August 2008
from friday the 22nd of August till friday the 29th of August you can enjoy the art work from andy stanley at Arkwrights Gallery.

On Site, Village Craft Fair

Sunday 24th August 2008
Sunday the 24th and Monday the 25th in the Gothic warehouse. There is a small entrance fee and plenty of crafts to buy.

On Site, Heritage Open Days

Thursday 11th September 2008
From Wednesday the 11th to Sunday the 14th there are Heritage open days at Arkwrights mill

Heritage Open Days, Tour of The Mills

Thursday 11th September 2008
From the 11th of september till the 14th of september there will be tours of Sir Richard Arkwrights Mills. You can discover the early years of Sir Richard Arkwright, his vision, his inventions and why he chose cromford to establish the world's first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill - the birthplace of the factory system. bookings taken from the 4th of August.

HODS, Heritage Talk, 'Richard The Younger' At Old House Museum, Bakewell

Thursday 11th September 2008
Wealthy businessman, pioneer, financial wizard, who lent Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire, money to clear her gambling debts. Fascinating facts and insights into Richard Arkwright's life in Bakewell. 11am and 2pm.

HODs - The Hope Works of Lafarge Cement UK: Its history and people

Thursday 11th September 2008

THe Hope Works of Lafarge Cement UK was founded in 1929. It is one of the UK's largest cement factories, employing over 200 people and has the capacity to make up to 1.3 million tonnes of cement each year. Follow the highly skilled workforce through the cement-making process from raw material to the final product. 11am in the main car park.

HODs - A tour of Joseph Clayton and Sons

Thursday 11th September 2008
Clayton's of Chesterfield have been established over 160 years and are leaders in the business of tanning and high-quality leather manufacture. Using finest quality hides, Claytons produces leather for an extensive range of goods from footwear to saddles, utilising traditional vegetable tannages in additional to modern chroming methods, and a range of combination tannages from sulfur, oil and alum to resin syntans. Witness firsthand the various stages of production, from rawhide to the finished article in the warehouse. 7pm. Meet at the entrance of Joseph Clayton and Sons, opposite the Autofit Garage, Clayton Street , Chesterfield, S41 3DG.

HODs - The life and work of Thomas Denham (1733-1815)

Thursday 11th September 2008
A talk on the life and work of Thomas Denham (1733-1815) - a major contributor to male midwifery and modern medical practice - including reference to his naval career which has been used as a backdrop to several major novels. His infuence within the history of medicine extends well outside the United Kingdom. 7:30pm. The talk will be held in the Gothic Warehouse, Cromford Wharf, Mill Lane, Cromford.

HODS, A Historical Railway Walk Of Rowsley

Thursday 11th September 2008
Enjoy a fascinating walk of Rowsley taking in the structures or sites associated with the development of the local railway network. An illustrative tour guide will be provided covering the developmentof the network beginning in 1846.

HODs - A tour of Sutton Scarsdale Hall

Friday 12th September 2008

With the very kind permission of English Heritage, we are able to offer a tour of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, built in 1724-29 to the design of the architect Francis Smith of Warwick. It enjoys superb views of the Vale of Scarsdale to Bolsover Castle. 11am. Meet in the entrance area of the Hall.

HODs - A guided walk around Cressbrook Mills and Village

Friday 12th September 2008
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HODs - A guided walk around Cressbrook Mills and Village

Friday 12th September 2008

A guided tour that uses the enduring features of the landscape to illustrate the history of this fascinating place. The tour will start at the mill and finish at the Village Social Club. 6pm.

HODs - Old Meets New: a tour of the Old Magistrates Courts, Derby

Saturday 13th September 2008
A unique opportunity to see buildings from the 1690s, 1800s and 2003, all working in functional harmony. The tour will include entry to all relevant parts, both historical and operational to compare old and new. 9:30am. Meet just inside the main entrance to the Magistrates Courts.

HODs - A guided walk around Darley Abbey Mills and Village

Saturday 13th September 2008
Darley

HODs - A guided walk around Darley Abbey Mills and Village

Saturday 13th September 2008
Darley

HODs - A guided walk around Darley Abbey Mills and Village

Saturday 13th September 2008
Darley Abbey is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Many of the principal elements of late-18th to early-19th century village, developed by Thomas Evans and family, have survivied but this factory community is currently less well-known and less-visited than other historic sites, higher up the Derwent. Enjoy a walk throught the mill complex, along the bridge and over the weir and River Derwent. View the renovated mill workers' cottages, the old village school, St Matthew's Church and the beautiful Darley Park. 10:30am. Meet in the car park at the side of Dean's Field, opposite the Abbey public house in Darley Street, Darley Abbey Village.

HODs - A guided walk of Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows

Saturday 13th September 2008
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HODs - A guided walk of Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows

Saturday 13th September 2008
Join

HODs - A guided walk of Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows

Saturday 13th September 2008
Join

HODs - A guided walk of Slinter Wood and Dunsley Meadows

Saturday 13th September 2008
Join us on a walk throught ancient woodland alongside the Bonsall Brook. Consider the importance of the Brook as a source of power for George Evans and Richard Arkwright in the eighteenth century and our plans to use the power now in the twenty-first. Take a view of the wider landscape of this lovely valley as we loop round Dunsley Meadows Local Nature Reserve before calling into the undercroft of Slinter Cottage, a former water powered mill, where a small exhibition illustrates some aspects of the history, archaeology and ecology of this fascinating area and of the restoration and conservation work being done to safeguard its future. 1:45pm. Meet outside the Greyhound Hotel in Cromford Market Place.

HODs - The Arkwright Spinners - Spinning And Fibrecraft Group

Saturday 13th September 2008

The Arkwright Spinning and Fibrecraft Group was founded in 1989 at Arkwright Town (near Chesterfield, North Derbyshire) and is now much in demand for presenting demonstrations of the ancient craft of hand-spinning and related fibre crafts. Visitors of any age are welcome to come and watch the spinning. If you prefer a ‘hands-on experience’ come and have a go at spinning with a drop spindle. 13th and 14th September, 11am - 4pm in the Gothic Warehouse, Cromford Wharf (opposite Cromford Mills).

HODs - A tour of the University of Derby, Devonshire Campus, Buxton

Saturday 13th September 2008

Visit this stunning example of heritage regeneration and learn something of this Grade II listed landmark. The original building was constructed in 1779 by the 5^th Duke of Devonshire as a stable block to accompany his neo-classical Crescent. During the 19^th Century, the building was converted into the Devonshire Royal Hospital when it acquired the central Dome which is over 150ft in diameter and bigger than that of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. In 2001, The University of Derby took ownership of the building from the NHS and the painstaking renovation project began. The Devonshire Campus was officially opened on 10^th February 2006. Meet outside Bistro 44 (on the right as you enter the Dome). 2pm.

HODs - A tour of Cromford Church, Willersley Castle Gardens and Willersley Castle

Saturday 13th September 2008

This tour begins at St Mary’s Church, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in the grounds of his intended home, Willersley Castle. Arkwright purchased the manor of Willersley from Thomas Hallet Hodges in 1782. At that time there was no ‘big house’ and so Sir Richard set about building his castle. By 1797, it was completed and the Church opened for worship. Richard Arkwright Jnr. was a great gardener and by 1802 over 350,000 new trees had been planted. The grounds of Willersley were, and are, beautifully laid out with ornamental gardens, shaded walls and horticultural areas. Although the rooms of the castle have lost their original functions, the surviving fireplaces, cornices and mahogany doors provide visitors with an insight into the rich splendour of the Arkwright family mansion. Meet in the yard at Cromford Mills at 2.45pm.

On site: The Rhythm Cafe

Sunday 14th September 2008
If you can dance, sing, play an instrument or recite poetry, come along and have a go at entertaining the crowd!

Lumsdale valley tours

Sunday 14th September 2008
Sunday 14^th September and Sunday 5^th October 2008. All at 3pm.

Join us as we explore the ruins of this unique industrial valley site. Lumsdale’s dramatic waterfalls provide a stunning backdrop for what ranks as one of the top five water powered industrial archaeological sites in the UK. The site has a number of old mill buildings, which have housed various industries since the 17^th century, including at least two lead smelting mills. In the 1780’s, Watts Lowe and Co began redevelopment of the Upper Valley and it is this area that is now in the Arkwright Society’s ownership.

Meet in the lay by opposite Highfields School, Upper Lumsdale, Matlock

Tour charge £2.50 per person, accompanied children free. Stout shoes recommended. Bookings must be made in advance by calling 01629 823256

HODs - A tour of Bonsall Village: Its history and geology

Sunday 14th September 2008

This fascinating tour of Bonsall village will explore its geology and its industrial, religious and educational heritage. Meet at the fountain in Bonsall village.

HODs - A walk along the Cromford Canal to Leawood

Sunday 14th September 2008

Five miles of the Cromford Canal are within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. This walk will explore just a quarter of this, starting at the Cromford terminus opposite Arkwright’s historic mills. Here the water supply, terminal basins and warehouses will be seen before setting off along the well-surfaced towpath. Features along the way include an original stone arched bridge, the later encroachment by the railway and the massive building housing Leawood Pump before crossing the River Derwent via William Jessop’s impressive aqueduct. . At the mouth of the Leawood or Nightingale Arm stands the former lengthman’s cottage. This marks the terminus of the walk, which will return to Cromford along the opposite bank of the canal to recross the aqueduct and reach High Peak Junction. Here the Cromford & High Peak Railway interchanged traffic with the canal at the bottom of Sheep Pastures Incline. The walk will end here offering participants an opportunity to visit the railway workshops (the second oldest in the world) or take refreshment before making their own way back along the canal. Meet at the Cromford Wharf buildings opposite Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills.

HODs - A tour of Edensor Village

Sunday 14th September 2008

Even Pevsner (Derbyshire, the Buildings of England series, second edition corrected and revised) thinks the village of Edensor was moved in the 19^th century but was it? How did it acquire its present appearance? Angus Watson will try to answer these and other questions on this tour. Meet at the church. Parking is available in the wooded area to the right of the Institute. Parking is limited so we ask that those booked on the tour to share transport, if at all possible. 3pm. Bookings available after 4th of August.

HODs - A tour of Lumsdale Valley

Sunday 14th September 2008

Join us as we explore the ruins of this unique industrial valley site. Lumsdale’s dramatic waterfalls provide a stunning backdrop for what ranks as one of the top five water-powered industrial archaeological sites in the UK. The site has a number of old mill buildings, which have housed various industries since the 17^th Century, including at least two lead smelting mills. In the 1780s Watts Lowe and Co began redevelopment of the upper part of the valley and it is this area that is now in the Arkwright Society’s ownership. Meet in the lay-by opposite Highfields School, Upper Lumsdale, Matlock. 3pm. Bookings available after 4th August.

On site: Mansfield Woodcarvers

Sunday 21st September 2008

A display of woodcarving, turning and pyrography. Come and meet Gordon and his fellow carvers to learn more about this wonderful craft. Opportunies to buy some items.

Places are limited and must be booked in advance through the Visitor Services Department at the Shop in the Yard. Please call 01629 823256.

News:

Contact Us:

The Arkwright Society,
Cromford Mill, Mill Lane,
Cromford, Matlock,
Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ
tel: 01629 823256
fax: 01629 823256 info@arkwrightsociety.org.uk