DARLEY ABBEY HISTORICAL GROUP

AGM 2010: SIXTH ANNIVERSARY SUMMARY

By Roy Hartle, Chairman

I intended to celebrate our first five years, but on checking the records I realised we are now six years old! Doesn’t time fly! So we will now celebrate our 6^th birthday.

A preliminary meeting was held on 17^th November 2003 at which the concept of a historical group was discussed and accepted as one that should be perused. The inaugural meeting of the Darley Abbey Historical Group (DAHG) was held on 30^th January 2004, the fist step had been taken.

Six years on we can look back at our challenges and successes:-

1. Thanks

To begin with a big thank you for the support of the people who have taken on specific roles and to the people who have regularly turned out to attend the evening talks. Without this support the DAHG would have failed.

2. Dutch Barn

Probably our biggest success has been with the “Barn Project”. The project to turn a derelict Dutch barn, once part of an Evens farm, into a youth activity centre had been proposed by the City Council but progress had been slow. Then at very short notice a public meeting was called at which it was announced that digging the foundations was due to start the following week. It was pointed out by Group representatives that the land in this area was archeologically sensitive, but the contractors stated that they had not been informed about this. Action taken by the DAHG resulted in the appointment of a professional ob server for a month, during which time, three medieval walls and a medieval pavement were found and recorded. It is hoped that further work will follow, but this depends on getting financial support, which is currently being pursued by Derbyshire Archaeological Society.

3. The Rent Collector’s Book

A long story, still not ended? With longer involvement in the book it should really be called the Land Agent’s Diary, 1866 – 1869. It gives a day by day account of his work, notes about the Evans Family, village “gossip” and national events. All 220 pages of the diary have been scanned and digitised by courtesy of Derby Museum Service and volunteers in the DAHG have transcribed the copperplate script into an easily legible typed copy. The next stage is a last check by a copperplate expert to double check the transcription against the original.

4. Interpretation Boards

This was a project that was started before the DAHG (2004) was formed, before the World Heritage Site (WHS/2001) had been created, but was finally completed in 2006. A joint project between the Darley Abbey Community Association, Darley Abbey Society and Groundwork Erewash it soon got bogged down in the politics of the WHS. It was however well worth the delay when the three boards were officially unveiled by the Major in 2006.

5. A Heritage Walks Leaflet and a DVD “From Monks to Mills”

Both of these were by-products of the Interpretation board project. The walks leaflet was produced to support the installation of the boards and is still available.

The DVD was a bonus and although short (9 mins) is a brief reminder of the history of Darley Abbey from the days of the Abbey to the days of the Mills and Village. It was created by a team from Groundwork Eyrewash and produced for the DAHG by Serco.

6. Research including Advice

From the outset the DAHG has featured involvement with expanding the understanding of the history and development of the village from the creation of the Augustinian Abbey through the Mills era to the present day. There are still many research projects to be undertaken, VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED.

7. WHS Committees, City Council Committees etc

Frequently DAHG is asked to present a local view on factors relating to our historical village. Such involvement ensures that Darley Abbey maintains a high profile, ensuring that the significance of our history is not overlooked.