Events - Lunchtime lectures return (Eastwood)

LUNCHTIME lectures will return to Eastwood this month with a presentation on the history of Annesley at the DH Lawrence Heritage Centre.

Local historian, David Amos will talk about Annesley Hall, the Chaworth and Chaworth-Musters families, as well as the newly renovated ruins at the Grade 1 listed Annesley Old Church.

The talk on May 18 will start at 11am and displays will be on show for the Annesley Old Church Project. The Project Story Group will be doing a story telling session from 1.30pm.

Standard admission costs just £2.50, £2.00 for Broxtowe Leisure Card Holders and £1.50 with a DH Lawrence Annual Membership.

from: http://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/eastwood-kimberley-news/lunchtime-lectures-return-1-4509871?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

News - Historic Annesley church is hit by vandals

MINDLESS vandals have attacked an historic church in Annesley which is being restored.

Annesley Old Church, which has links with Lord Byron and D.H. Lawrence, was targeted earlier this month and large pieces of stone work were ripped from a wall some time between 5th and 9th January.

The damage is going to cost ‘thousands of pounds’ to repair and will delay the project by at least a week.

Site foreman Peter Howes said he believed adults rather than children were responsible because the stones are so heavy and they were fixed securely.

He said: “What I can’t understand is why there is no damage anywhere else - the graves are all right. It’s just constantly on that wall.

“It’s going to cost thousands of pounds to put right and more than likely they will come and do some more damage.”

He also fears that if people who are not authorised to access the site do so, they could also hurt themselves.

The site has previously been targeted by vandals in July 2009 and then again in August last year when vandals destroyed the same stretch of wall.

Ashfield District Council secured £450,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the church which dates back to 1356 and is mentioned in D.H. Lawrence’s 1911 novel The White Peacock.

Local history expert Dick Starr, from the Friends of Annesley Church group, said: “It’s obviously a historic site along with Annesley Hall. If they are caught, they ought to pay for it.”

Meanwhile, deputy leader of Ashfield District Council John Wilmott also criticised those responsible for the damage.

He said: “This is part of Ashfield’s heritage and it is fantastic that organisations and Ashfield District Council officers have worked so hard to get the funding to preserve this building.

“I just pray and hope that these people are caught and brought to account.”

His views were echoed by Annesley ward councillors Helen Smith and Don Davis.

Coun Smith said that the project should be instilling pride in people because it would bring tourists to the area.

She added: “We will be replacing these stones and if the council finds out who has done this, we will be prosecuting them.”

And Coun Davis said: “It just beggars belief that someone could do that. We are trying to do some good work here - I can’t understand why anyone would do this.”

The church held its last service in 1942 and was sold to the council in 1981. Restoration work began on 5th September last year.

Anyone with information can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/alfreton/historic_annesley_church_is_hit_by_vandals_1_4148426

News - Lead pipes and ornate brackets stolen from abbey are 'work of art' (Newstead)

THE theft of lead drainpipes from Newstead Abbey has been described as a "tragedy" by the chairman of its Byron society.

Twelve lead drainpipes and a number of ornate brackets were stolen from the abbey in two separate incidents on November 28 and December 6.

The brackets – which had unique markings featuring hexagons, lions and the Star of David – were installed by Colonel Wildman, who owned the house in the 19th century.

Ken Purslow, chairman of Newstead Abbey Byron Society said: "The drainpipes themselves are very substantial pieces of pipe, they're not just a thin lead pipe, they're a substantial work of art.

"The tiebacks are of historical importance.

"Colonel Wildman, himself also a mason, was the provincial grand master of Nottinghamshire. There's a very important historical link."

Mr Purslow has criticised the city council, which owns the building, claiming it needs to take extra care to protect the abbey.

He said: "I think it's a tragedy, the city council have got to do something about this.

"Look what has happened to Annesley Hall in recent years. If they want an example this is it. Once a splendid 13th century country mansion, far superior in its day to Newstead, it is derelict, stripped of everything valuable and completely vandalised.

"Is this something the city council wants to see? Or will this latest episode shake them out of their complete indifference?"

The abbey, once home to Lord byron, was named in October as one of the world's most threatened cultural heritage sites by the New York-based World Monuments Watch, stating it is in desperate need of long-term maintenance.

Its opening hours were also cut by the council this year.

Ron Inglis, city council service manager for museums, said: "We are very saddened by this loss and the damage to a historic property.

"Unfortunately this is a problem that many stately homes and churches are facing around the country.

"The city council takes the security of its historic buildings very seriously and a variety of security measures are in place at Newstead Abbey including a caretaker on site at all times.

"All accessible lead has been removed from the abbey since these thefts and temporary down pipes put in place to protect the building. We will consult with English Heritage about the most appropriate way to deal with this in the long term."

He added that the council is anxious to have the lead returned. The pipes are about eight feet in length and five inches in diameter. Any metal dealer offered them should call Notts Police on 101 and ask for Ravenshead Police.

 

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Lead-pipes-ornate-brackets-stolen-abbey-work-art/story-14123578-detail/story.html

 

Event - All aboard for Ashfield heritage tour (Ashfield)

HAVE always known that Ashfield is a place that is steeped in history - the countryside inspired both Lord Byron and D. H. Lawrence, while Nuncargate was home to cricketing icon Harold Larwood.

But after taking a trip on the Ashfield Heritage Bus Tour on Friday, I discovered much more about the district, including the fact that Sutton has its very own stone windmill close to the Leamington estate.

The windmill, known as Lindley’s Mill, is one of only two stone mills in Nottinghamshire, the other being in Warsop. It is owned by the council and bosses there are planning to use it as an exhibition space.

The bus route travelled through Kirkby and Annesley, where passengers discovered how the area had grown up in the 1800s when mining had come to the area.

We found out, for example, that the Nag’s Head pub on Station Street was actually built before the colliery was sunk in anticipation of all the thirsty miners.

Sutton resident Linda Hoggard had come on the tour to find out more about the area.

She said: “I was born in Kirkby and my husband was born in Jacksdale. I like going round places like Annesley Hall - it’s got a lot of history to it.”

One of the most interesting parts of the tour was a stop-off at Annesley Hall, where we were greeted by historian Dick Starr.

Mr Starr began working for the powerful Chaworth-Musters family as a teenager and is an expert on the hall, which now stands in ruins.

He said: “Byron used to stop here in the early 1800s. He fell in love with his cousin Mary Chaworth.”

But the young romance soured when Mary took an interest in another man - which caused Byron to fire a pistol at the oak door of a piggery in the grounds, The door has now gone, but the bullet marks around it are still visible.

Across from Annesley Hall is the historic ice house which was used to store ice from the frozen lakes for desserts and to preserve meat. Nearby is the countryside which is said to have inspired Eastwood writer D.H. Lawrence’s novel The White Peacock.

Other places on the tour included old Kirkby, which was the original, pre-mining village close to Kirkby Cross, Selston, Jacksdale, Skegby and Teversal.

The second bus tour will take place on Friday and leaves at 9.30am from Ashfield District Council’s offices in Kirkby. For more details or to book a place call Mansfield 457426 or search for it on www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/alfreton/all_aboard_for_ashfield_heritage_tour_1_3764149