Launch of the Bonsall History Trails! Sunday May 19th 2pm, Bonsall Village Hall

The Pig of Lead Pub, Bonsall

Telling our story: Bonsall History Project celebrates £9,300 Heritage Lottery Fund Grant with the launch of 6 history walk leaflets around Bonsall

Bonsall History Project is one of the first groups in the UK to receive a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) ‘All Our Stories’ grant.

After months of research and preparation the 6 walk leaflets are now complete and will be officially launched at Bonsall Village Hall on Sunday May 19^th at 2pm.

To help the village tell its own story and find out more about the heritage of Bonsall the project has included research trips to Ruddington Framework Knitting Museum, the Black Country Living museum, Matlock Mining Museum, a landscape photography workshop, a social media workshop and lots and lots of walking!

On Sunday May 19th at 2pm villagers are invited to come along to a celebration and launch afternoon where they can collect their Bonsall History Trail leaflets.

There will be a display of photos and historic images of Bonsall and refreshments.

Peter Fellows of Bonsall History Group said:

“We will use the event to give a free set of six leaflets to each household in the village. The illustrated leaflets cover the historical development of Shops and Pubs; Lead Mining; Framework Knitting and Other Trades; Schools and Churches; Bonsall’s Landscape and Historic Routes through the village. They each include a walking map to guide users around each route. Everyone is welcome to the launch and we hope to give you the opportunity to find out something of why Bonsall has developed in the way that it has.”

Contact

pfellows@btinternet.com

Bonsall History Blog: A walk through history www.bonsallhistory.wordpress.com

Bonsall History Website www.bonsallhistory.org.uk

Bonsall Village newsletter Mutterings  www.bonsallvillage.org

Heritage Lottery Fund

Emma Sayer, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said:

“Clearly the success of All Our Stories has reinforced the fact that we are indeed a nation of story tellers and that we want to explore and dig deeper into our past and discover more about what really matters to us. This is exactly what the grant will do for the The Bonsall History Trails and Leaflets Project as the Bonsall History Project embark on a real journey of discovery.”

Heritage Lottery Fund All Our Stories funding stream is now replaced by Sharing Heritage

http://www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/programmes/Pages/Allourstories.aspx#.UXJSzr9gP8s

Second Archive Film Night is a hoot!

The second archive film night which was presented as part of the The Bonsall History Trails Project attracted a full house at Bonsall Village Hall. After the relative sobriety of the excellent British Transport Films Unit ‘Peak District’ film, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX86reWvrKk – there were plenty of laughs as we watched films about hen racing in Wirksworth, one man’s struggle to scale High Tor in Matlock Bath and a blast from the seventies – a film about the Janet Reger Underwear Factory. £65-£85 for a night dress! In the 70’s! You’d have to be Joan Collins to afford that!

Mike and Jon ready the DVD projector before showing the films

The footage shown of Matlock in flood was astonishing whereas the images of Matlock in the deep freeze in the 60’s weren’t quite as shocking given the conditions around Bonsall recently! For more information about these films see http://www.macearchive.org

See the current Janet Reger website here http://www.janetreger.co.uk

With refreshments at the end (thank you Brenda!) it was a great night out and a welcome break from the unremitting snow and winter weather.

Framework knitters of the world unite…

Knit your socks off with a Komet Knitter

Machinery silhouetted within the museum

This is what we had in Bonsall

Photo for cover of Bonsall History Project LP

This machine makes socks!

Subliminal message

You have nothing to lose but your 13 hour day and your Komet Knitters (see pic).

The Bonsall History Project set out on another freezing (but sunny) morning having set the controls (and our trusty coach driver Peter Fox) for the heart of Ruddington near Nottingham. Quite a few of our number had already been to the Ruddington Frameknitting Museum – but such is the lure of the characterful buildings, old framework knitting machines and charming museum staff – they couldn’t wait to return.

Parts of Bonsall once rattled to the sound of 143 knitting machines as scarves, smoking caps, ties, shirts, stockings and underwear were produced. But then Arkwright  started the Industrial Revolution and they ended up in factories in Cromford!

It’s a really interesting visit to Ruddington and the combination of a welcoming brew on arrival, a booked guided tour and a demonstration of framework knitting (it’s complicated!) meant that we all came away buzzing in a historical kind of way.

One of the guides mentioned that Ned Ludd (of Luddite fame) was a myth. What next – Santa doesn’t exist?! We’re not sure about Ned – what do you know? Is he a made-up smasher of machinery?

Thanks to the Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum.

Great welcome, excellent tour and demonstration by Andy Bone (see video here) www.frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk.

Bonsall Wildlife Talk starts at 7pm 16th February

Talk on Bonsall’s wildlife – talk starts at 7pm

Sorry! the talk by  Dan Abrahams starts at 7pm and not 7.30pm – don’t be late (if you are it’s my fault!).

Bonsall Village Hall, 7pm Saturday February 16th

Kay

Saturday 2nd February visit to the Black Country Museum

Help us explore and understand Bonsall’s history by joining us on this outing to the famous Black Country Open-Air Museum, Dudley, Birmingham. You’ll not only learn more about the trades and businesses that once thrived in Bonsall but also discover the history of the Midlands area. http://www.bclm.co.uk/ The coach will be leaving from Bonsall for a whole day out there.

Black Country Museum of Living

Black Country Living Museum is a remarkable place to explore .Set in a landscape of 26 acres, it is one of the most extraordinary open-air museums in the UK; offering a glimpse into 200 years of history.

Over fifty authentic shops, houses and workshops have been carefully reconstructed to preserve the character of the region when its manufacturers bought worldwide fame to Black Country Towns.

Take a trip on the tram to explore the canalside village, where you can meet and chat to the costumed characters. Explore the underground mine and experience the authentic sights, sounds, smells and tastes from the past.

There is a changing programme of demonstrations and events from metal working and glass cutting to sweetmaking ensures something to suit all tastes. Watch the silver screen flicker to life in the Limelight Cinema with silent films from the 1920s. Marvel over vehicles from the golden age of motoring and experience a real spit and sawdust Inn.

 

 

Old Shops and Pubs in Bonsall: History Walking Trail No 1

Thought you might like to see some photos of Bonsall, showing the old Fountain Inn then and now. This is just one of the pubs that features on the ‘Old Shops and Pubs in Bonsall’ history trail.

The Fountain Cafe 2013, formerly a pub called The Fountain

Bonsall Landscape Photography Course: Sunday 27th January

Stepping Lane, Bonsall, Derbyshire

There are just 2 places left on the Landscape Photography Course! If you are a resident of Bonsall then you are eligible to come along. Contact Jon to book your place aj.ogilvie@tiscali.co.uk

The course will be given by local professional photographers Ian Daisley http://www.iandaisleyphotography.com http://www.highstonegallery.co.uk and Alex Hyde http://alexhyde.photoshelter.com

All you’ll need is a digital SLR or high end compact camera. The emphasis is on a relaxed day with your camera in one of the most beautiful parts of Britain. Under the guidance of Ian and Alex, professional photographers, you will learn composition techniques, the importance of managing light and various camera controls so that you can make the camera do what you want it to at whatever level you are.

Researching for Bonsall History Trails in the snow

Bonsall covered in a mantle of snow, researching the ‘Historic Routes of Bonsall Trail‘, view of Bonsall from Stepping Lane, this path was rebuilt by German POWs.

Extract from ‘Bonsall  – A Village and its History’ published by The Bonsall History Project

“Because it was such a hot summer Evelyn Gration would often leave her newly-born daughter outside in  her pram to enjoy the fresh air. The German POWs, who had been separated from ordinary family life for so long, were enamoured of the little girl, and made a fuss of her, in German, of course. One of the POWs however spoke good English and Evelyn and her husband struck up a friendship with him, inviting him to their house for lunch on a number of occasions he was working in Bonsall. Wili Eberweuer had served in the Luftwaffe, and had been shot down over the English Channel. To begin with he had been sent to the United States to work in the cotton fields, but now, in 1947, he found  himself in Bonsall.”

Bonsall Trails Geology and Landscape Walking leaflet

Working on the first Bonsall Trails walking leaflet

Designer/Illustrator Jonathan hard at work on the Geology and Leadmining trail. Jonathan said “In years gone by the Lead Miners of Bonsall Moor would dig deep and follow rakes of lead – we’re going to do the same thing with Bonsall’s Heritage”.

In the Bleak Midwinter on Bonsall Moor

Part of the route of the Geology and Leadmining walking trail

Bonsall Moor is looking beautiful and wintry today – lots of snow and lots of prints of hare, rabbit and fox.  There is a large white barn owl flying around at dusk too. The photo above leading up to Bonsall Moor, is part of one of the walking routes about Geology and Leadmining being devised as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Bonsall Trails project. Highlights of this walk will be the numerous leadmines on Bonsall Moor and the rare flora that has evolved because of the geology and leadmining. The Bonsall Trails will be 6 walking routes with 6 themed leaflets to go with each route which will explore different aspects of the history of Bonsall. There are lots of activities and events planned as part of this project – have a look at the Programme of Events page on this blog to find out what’s happening.