Events - Local History Events at Worksop and Retford Library

Weds 27th February 2013, 7pm at Retford Library
“Segelocum…grains of history”
The modesty of the small hamlet of Littleborough belies its grander Roman past when it was the eminent town of Segelocum. Community Archaeologists draw upon their research and archaeological work in this area to give us a fascinating glimpse of Roman life. They will also be bringing finds from the area including Roman sherds of pottery.
Cost: 50p for refreshments
Early booking essential - call the library on 01777 708724

Weds 27th March 2013, 2 – 3pm at Retford Library
“The History, Stories, and Scenery of the Chesterfield Canal”
Come along and hear more about this important aspect of the area’s history, and experience a virtual tour of the canal from Ranby, running through Retford, to West Stockwith.
Cost: 50p for refreshments
Early booking essential - call the library on 01777 708724

Thurs 11 April 2013, 2 – 4pm in Worksop Library’s Local Studies area
“Family History Scrapbooking”
Bring children to this free craft activity, and help them make a scrapbook about their family and home, using the library’s local history resources including old Worksop photographs, maps, and newspaper archives
Cost: Free
Booking advised - call the library on 01909 535353


28 June - 24 July 2013, library opening hours, in Worksop Library's Gallery
Exhibition: "Artistic Impressions of the Dukeries"
Featuring local scenes by Worksop artists, including paintings by renowned Worksop artist James Baldock (on loan from Bassetlaw Museum)
Cost: Free
No booking required

Thursday 4 July 2013, 2 - 3pm at Worksop Library
"Emma Wilmot's Sketches of the Dukeries" - Talk by Dr Richard Gaunt (University of Nottingham)
A fascinating insight into the life and times of Emma Wilmot, who resided in Worksop in the 1840s as wife of the Duke of Newcastle’s agent. Learn more about this little-known artist of well-known Dukeries scenes
Cost: £3.00 (includes refreshments)
Booking essential: To book your place, call the library on 01909 535353

Summer School Holidays (date TBC) in Retford Library’s Local Studies area
“Family History Scrapbooking”
Bring children to this free craft activity, and help them make a scrapbook about their family and home, using the library’s local history resources including old Retford photographs, maps, and newspaper archives
Cost: Free
Booking advised – for date/time info, call the library on 01777 708724

30 August - 25 September 2013, library opening hours, in Worksop Library's Gallery
Exhibition: "Worksop's Industrial Heritage"
An exhibition of old photographs from the library's Local Studies collection, as well as ephemera and artefacts from Bassetlaw Museum.
Cost: Free
No booking required

In association with Heritage Open Days 12 - 15 September 2013...
“Heritage Walk: Tour of Worksop's Industrial Heritage Sites"
Date and Time TBC
A short guided tour, visiting sites which have played an important role in Worksop's industrial development. Followed by refreshments and a chance to explore hidden treasures of Worksop Library’s Local Studies collection.
Cost: Free
Booking essential - for date and time information, call the library on 01909 535353

Talk - Segelocum (Retford)

Lorraine and Emily from Nottinghamshire County Councils Community Archaeology team will be giving a talk at Retford Library on the Roman town of Segelocum.  It's on the 27th Feb at 7pm and is open to all.

 

To book a place please call Retford Library on 01777 708 724.  There is a 50p charge to cover refreshments.

News - Museums Sheffield Faces 10% Budget Cut

Museums Sheffield is facing cuts of £200,000 a year from April as Sheffield City Council looks to make at total of £50m in savings.

Museums Sheffield currently receives £2m a year from the council. It is finalising its business plan and will make an announcement on how it will deal with any cuts in the next fortnight.

Kim Streets, chief executive at Museums Sheffield, said: “We are aware that Sheffield City Council has been tasked with finding significant savings in the forthcoming year and are currently in negotiation over a reduction to Museums Sheffield’s annual grant.

"Over the coming weeks we’ll be working with the council to finalise plans that address the challenges ahead while continuing to safeguard the city’s museums and galleries for the people of Sheffield."

Isobel Bowler, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said: "We provide significant financial support to Museums Sheffield, which runs the city's three venues: the Millennium Galleries, the Graves Gallery and Weston Park Museum.

"We appreciate all the hard work that Kim Streets and the rest of the team have undertaken to minimise the impact of reduced funding on their programmes. We recognise the challenge for Museums Sheffield and all our cultural partners posed by the current restricted funding environment."

The council will vote on the proposals in March.

Museums Sheffield underwent a restructure last year, which saw 45 redundancies, following the loss of £800,000 Renaissance funding and a £328,000 cut in its 2011/12 budget from Sheffield City Council.

 

From: http://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/16012013-museums-sheffield-faces-10-budget-cut

News - Plans for Firbeck Hall will be revealed soon

The owner of Firbeck Hall has reassured local campaigners that plans for the development of the historic building will be unveiled in the coming months.

In response to questions from the Friends of Firbeck Hall, owner Jason Cooper said that formal plans would be available for the public to view later this year and that he was keen to get the development ‘right first time’.

He also confirmed that, despite ‘economic challenges’, the planning application for the 16th Century building was at an advanced stage and that representatives from the development groups would meet with the Friends of Firbeck to display the facts.

He said: “When I was involved with the refurbishment of Loversall Hall, the cost was far more than it should have been simply because we did a lot of the work on a piecemeal basis. This was a mistake.”

“So with Firbeck, particularly in these much tougher times, we must do it right first time.”

“We have taken the view not to do any work to the hall or it’s grounds, unless it is essential, until we get the relevant planning permissions in place to do so, and this is exactly what we are doing.”

He said that although no major amount has been spent on the hall or the grounds so far, ‘considerable sums’ have been spent to ensure the planning application is at an advanced stage.

He continued: “Our team are working closely with Rotherham Council to ensure that the project we propose, is a sympathetic and practical restoration of Firbeck Hall, while also acceptable to the people of Firbeck.”

Mr Cooper also confirmed that work on West Lodge would start soon.

He added: “I am meeting the company that I hope will be making the gates to finalise the design and as part of the West Lodge refurbishment.”

“We shall also tidy up the whole entrance and provide a much more presentable gateway to the village of Firbeck.”

Firbeck Hall was built back in 1594 by William West and was formerly the home of 19th Century architect and writer Henry Gally Knight.

In 1935 the hall was opened as a country club. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the hall was used by Sheffield Royal Infirmary and the Royal Air Force, with the adjacent aerodrome becoming RAF Firbeck.

After the war, the building was bought by the Miners’ Welfare Commission for use as a rehabilitation centre for injured miners, which closed in 1984.

It was purchased by Cambridge Construction and the hall fell into a state of disrepair.

Jason Cooper bought the hall and its grounds in July 2010. Mr Cooper has a history of restoring country homes in the Yorkshire area, and led the renovation of Loversall Hall in Doncaster in 1998.

The Friends of Firbeck will hold their next general meeting in the coming weeks.

From: http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-for-firbeck-hall-will-be-revealed-soon-1-5307228

Website - New Historical Website for Wincobank Hill (Sheffield)

A new website has been built to help the public access the most up to date historical and archaeological information about Wincobank Hill Iron Age hill fort and its immediate surroundings.

How it came about
Two years ago, Sheffield City Council commissioned a Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) about Wincobank Hill. They worked with The Friends of Wincobank Hill, ArcHeritage and the University of Sheffield to produce a report summarising all the archaeological and other research that has been carried out on the Hill throughout the years. The report (the DBA) was written to help advise all those who have an involvement in the Hill as to the best way to look after it for generations to come.

The website
We used Heritage Lottery Funds to commission a website from web designer "madewithpixels" to allow the public to access the DBA. The website has a timeline of events that have occurred on the Hill throughout history, and a map showing sites of interest on and around the hill as well as all the information from the DBA. The site can be updated by web editors from the Friends of Wincobank Hill, and the public can add their knowledge about the site through a comments box.

Catherine Nuttgens, Access to Nature Project Officer, said “The website will provide a fantastic resource for students, schools and people with an interest in Wincobank Hill to find out more and share their knowledge.”

To access the website go to http://www.wincobanklivinghistory.co.uk

Web Publishers Needed!
The Friends of Wincobank Hill are currently looking for volunteer web publishers to update the website with new discoveries, help keep news articles up to date and moderate comments. If you would be interested in helping out with this project, and would like gain some experience of web publishing and access training to learn how to become a web publisher, please contact Catherine Nuttgens on Catherine.nuttgens@sheffield.gov.uk

For more information contact:
The Friends of Wincobank Hill
Upper Wincobank Chapel,
Wincobank Avenue,
Sheffield.
S5 6BB
www.wincobankhill.btck.co.uk

www.wincobankchapel.btck.co.uk

or

Catherine Nuttgens
Access to Nature Project Officer
Sheffield City Council
Parks & Countryside
Meersbrook Park
Brook Road
Sheffield S8 9FL
Telephone: 0114 273 6199
Mobile: 07837 300203

News - Chesterfield Canal lock gate relaunch (Worksop)

AN IMPORTANT lock on a canal running south of Sheffield has been reopened after work to correct problems caused by ground movement.

Changes including subsidence are believed to have caused the walls at Stret Lock, on Chesterfield Canal, to narrow slightly, so boats got stuck.

Rod Auton, of Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “The Canal and River Trust, which manages the eastern section of the canal, started a widening scheme last October last year.

“It involved taking down two of the of the outer brick courses on the towpath side and replacing them with one course, increasing the width by 50mm. There was an open day in November at which about 250 people went down inside the lock to inspect the works.

“The final welding was done on the paddle gear last week. The same day, our trust’s historic boat, Python, approached. This boat had previously got stuck every time it tried to get through the lock, in Worksop. This time it went like a dream, slipping in and out perfectly.

“It might only be two inches of extra room, but it will make all the difference for full sized boats.”

 

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/chesterfield-canal-lock-gate-relaunch-1-5284745

Event - Campaign to reuse mill gets kickstart (Millhouses)

A CAMPAIGN to bring a historic mill site back to life kicks off with a traditional event this weekend.

The fight to restore the 1,000-year-old building in Millhouses Park, Millhouses, Sheffield, is being led by the park’s Friends group.

On Saturday campaigners are hosting a Wassail – usually celebrated on the 12th night of Christmas – with a quiz, auction, carols and hot food in nearby pub The Waggon and Horses.

Money raised will help bring the building back into use.

Organiser Jane Bradley said: “The idea behind the Wassail was the fact that the traditional festival dates back to Anglo Saxon times around 1,000 years ago and that a mill has been on the Millhouses site for around the same time, so it seemed quite fitting to tie the two together.”

Millhouses was named after the old corn mill, which was first fuelled by water from the River Sheaf.

The Friends of Millhouses Park are working with Sheffield Council on the project and nearly £130,000 has been secured so far.

Work has already started on the small building to make it secure after a four-year battle to save it from destruction.

But another £9,000 needs to be raised to make it weatherproof and so it can eventually be used by the community.

John Brighton, Friends’ secretary, said: “These buildings have huge historical significance and we have fought tirelessly to save them from being knocked down.

“We hope we can bring these buildings back to life and start the next part of their history in Millhouses.”

Tickets cost £5 each or £15 for a family ticket and are on sale from The Waggon and Horses or Perfectly Dressed on Abbeydale Road.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/campaign-to-reuse-mill-gets-kickstart-1-5268941