The first World Heritage Site Discovery Day was held on October 29th 2005.
HUNDREDS of people from across the country flocked to Derbyshire’s
first World Heritage Site Discovery Day on Saturday 29 October.
Young and old came to discover more about the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site which runs along fifteen miles of the Derwent Valley, from Masson Mills at Matlock Bath to the Silk Mill at Derby.
Free tours of Cromford Mill and the Silk Mill, the Cromford Canal and the historic industrial communities of Darley Abbey, Belper, Cromford and Milford were at full capacity throughout the day.
At Cromford, one of the most popular attractions was the horse-drawn narrow-boat, the first on the canal for many years. Rope making, history tours, artist installations and exhibitions at the Gothic Warehouse ensured large numbers of visitors throughout the day. Leawood Pumphouse was in steam for the final time this year and Willersley Castle hosted a photography exhibition on children’s performances in the mills last summer.
At Belper’s North Mill visitors tried their hand at a diverse
range of craft workshops involving water wheels, wig making and knitting.
Johnny White’s water wheel sculpture was unveiled to an enthusiastic
audience and textile artist Tarn Draig’s ‘human knitting
machine’ caused a sensation. Visitors of all ages joined a knitting
circle using their hands to do the work.
At Masson Mills and Derby’s Silk Mill steam engines welcomed visitors to their doors for a wide range of activities and entertainments. At Masson there was more working textile machinery on show than ever before. At Derby’s Silk Mill the Wonderful Weaving workshops were a big hit with children. The day drew to a close with the final evening of the Matlock Bath illuminations and the firework display.
Adrian Farmer, Acting Co-ordinator of the Derwent Valley Mills World
Heritage Site said:
“The level of interest on the day reflects on the amount of support given by volunteers across the valley to showcase the Derwent Valley Mills and their communities. People have worked so hard to make the Discovery Day a day to remember, and it was gratifying to see so many visitors turn out and enjoy the many free activities offered on the day.”
Up and down the 15 mile world heritage corridor the day proved to be a resounding success. Crowds exceeded all expectations and the wide range of activities and mild weather ensured that it was a day to remember. Calls have already been made for a second Discovery Day in 2006.