Latest news with #DerbyshireHistoricBuildingsTrust
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic city centre venue where BBC legends once starred ‘to be demolished' after 110 years
The building was set to be refurbished STAGE EXIT Iconic city centre venue where BBC legends once starred 'to be demolished' after 110 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC city centre theatre is being demolished after a series of arson attacks. The venue has hosted Morecambe and Wise along with some of Britain's all-time greats of the stage. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The venue is in the centre of Derby Credit: BPM 7 The hippodrome has suffered three fires in just 32 days Credit: Spotted Alvaston-Original 7 The venue was used as a bingo hall until 2007. when it closed Credit: Theatres Trust/David Marsden The Derby Hippodrome is being demolished, despite the historic building's Grade II protected status. Derby City Council said it had to use emergency powers to make the site safe after damage from a series of arson attacks. The building was set ablaze on Friday last week, with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service confirming on Monday that this was done deliberately. This was the third fire the theatre has suffered in just over a month, with incidents in mid-April and early May causing significant damage to its structural integrity. On Sunday, contractors began the process of demolishing the Hippodrome. The theatre is over a hundred years old, having been erected in 1914, and seats over 2,000 spectators. It spent the first 20 years of its life as a cinema, before Morecambe and Wise appeared in the panto classic Babes in the Wood in the 1950s, when it reopened. The venue played host to other national treasures, such as singer George Formby and comic Frankie Howerd. Until as late as 2007, the structure was still being used as a bingo hall, before closing its doors to the public. In February, the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust announced its ambition to compulsory purchase the site and renovate it as an alternative music venue. Wrecking machines move in to demolish 'ghost town' Scots estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' These hopes were boosted by The Theatres Trust (TTT) recently awarding a grant to the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust to advance this work. But tragically, these hopes seem to be in vain, as the council has said it does not yet know if any of the red brick theatre can be saved. Its Public Safety chairman, Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, said: "At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to keep residents safe. "I understand there are people upset because it is a Grade Two listed building but ultimately you must compare that with the possible loss of life if it comes to collapse." The council said the roof of the building, next to Macklin Street, was destroyed on Sunday, and one of the Hippodrome's walls was demolished. This work was done to "level the basement" so that machines can move further into the site and destroy other parts of the structure. While necessary for public safety, the demolition has caused a great deal of upset among local bodies and residents. TTT Chief executive Joshua McTaggart said: "Derby Hippodrome had an irreplaceable social and cultural heritage, much of which is now likely to be sadly lost. "But this is about more than just heritage. 'Until this recent series of fires, there was still a realistic opportunity to save parts of the building and bring it back into use as an independent music venue." Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust added: "This marks the final chapter in a long and troubled history that has ultimately led to the loss of a building of significant historic and architectural value." Derby Hippodrome is owned by a foreign finance firm. The public have been asked to stay away from the demolition site to enable works to take place. 7 The hippodrome is more than 100 years old Credit: Alamy 7 The Hippodrome wears the scars of its recent fires Credit: Alamy 7 The demolition site is closed off from the public Credit: BPM
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crews called to fire at derelict theatre
Emergency services were called to a fire in the basement of a derelict theatre in Derby. Crews from the Kingsway and Nottingham Road stations were sent to the Hippodrome in Green Lane at 18:55 BST on Thursday. A "small fire" was discovered in the cellar of the Grade II listed theatre, which dates back 1914 but was last used as a bingo hall before it shut in 2007. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said the fire, which was extinguished using a single hose reel jet, was being treated as "suspected arson". No injuries were reported and nobody was found inside the property, DFRS added. The fire service said crews spent longer than usual for a fire of this scale due to the condition of the site. While currently disused, in February the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust said it hoped to compulsory purchase the site with ambitions to bring it back into use as a music venue. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Derby vision for 'Rock City-style' music venue Derelict theatre fire treated as arson Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crews called to fire at derelict theatre
Emergency services were called to a fire in the basement of a derelict theatre in Derby. Crews from the Kingsway and Nottingham Road stations were sent to the Hippodrome in Green Lane at 18:55 BST on Thursday. A "small fire" was discovered in the cellar of the Grade II listed theatre, which dates back 1914 but was last used as a bingo hall before it shut in 2007. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said the fire, which was extinguished using a single hose reel jet, was being treated as "suspected arson". No injuries were reported and nobody was found inside the property, DFRS added. The fire service said crews spent longer than usual for a fire of this scale due to the condition of the site. While currently disused, in February the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust said it hoped to compulsory purchase the site with ambitions to bring it back into use as a music venue. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Derby vision for 'Rock City-style' music venue Derelict theatre fire treated as arson Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
21-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wingfield Manor in Derbyshire 'helped shape modern England'
A manor that imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots was also home to an advisor to Henry VI and a scientist who had a major influence on modern astronomy during its near 600 years of existence. campaigners are calling for English Heritage to carry out urgent repairs to the palatial ruins of Derbyshire's Wingfield Manor so people can visit the home once again and learn about its "fascinating history".Dr Nigel Hunt, who is writing a book about the manor, said its inhabitants included nationally important one of the home's most interesting tales involves owner George, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, who found himself as the reluctant jailer of Mary Queen of Scots. "He had a really rotten time," said Dr Hunt."George was torn between three powerful women. He had a lot of hassle from Queen Elizabeth I, who was worried about his loyalty to her over Mary Queen of Scots."Mary also constantly complained about her treatment at Wingfield Manor and said it was dirty. "Then his wife, Bess of Hardwick, was jealous of Mary as she thought he was having an affair with her, which I don't think was true." Knights of the Garter However, Dr Hunt believes the Mary Queen of Scots era was not the most important time in the manor's is estimated the grand house was built during the 1440s for Ralph, Lord Cromwell, Treasurer of England, although the site is thought to have been occupied from the 12th Cromwell, from Lambley in Nottinghamshire, fought at Agincourt - a significant battle in the Hundred Years' War - and held a number of government roles, which included being a member of the council which advised Henry VI before he came of his death the manor passed to the 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, who fought in the bloody War of the Roses, where he eventually died during the Battle of Northampton in 1460. "Some of the manor's inhabitants were nationally important figures... they helped shape modern England," Dr Hunt said."The earls of Shrewsbury were Knights of the Garter, they fought in France and Scotland and demonstrate the importance of the manor."He said the manor also played an important part in the English Civil War."It was besieged by Royalists in 1642 and then Parliamentarians in 1644 and you can still see damage caused by cannonballs on the manor today," he said."Some of the trenches have never been dug out, so there's still potentially a lot to discover there." Influence on astronomy Dr Hunt said another of the manor's inhabitants, Immanuel Halton, had a major influence on modern astronomy and mathematics."He discovered John Flamsteed, who became Astronomer Royal and wrote a scientific paper on a partial solar eclipse he witnessed from the manor in the 1670s," he said."Then two of the daughters who inherited the manor from their father Gilbert, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, both wrote books on how food could be used to cure diseases and were scientists in their own right."Barry Joyce, vice chair of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust said the manor needed to be open to the public once more. "My concern now is to try to encourage English Heritage... to put it back into a decent state, so that the public can enjoy it again and learn about its fascinating history," he Joyce said the manor had even been mentioned in books including DH Lawrence's Sons and Lovers and Alison Utley's A Traveller in Time."It really is a magnificent building and was up there with Haddon Hall, Chatsworth and Hardwick Hall."People could visit it easily because of the nearby railway." Full conservation project In a statement, English Heritage said Wingfield Manor has "long been largely ruined and roofless and modern agricultural use has concealed parts of the historic complex".It added: "The two edges of the site are in the guardianship of the state and managed by English Heritage while the central section remains in private ownership."With it being originally conceived and built as a whole, this makes it a relatively complicated site on a number of levels, not least in terms of maintenance and conservation."We have previously discussed options for reuniting the site as a whole with the owner, but unfortunately we were not able to arrive at a consensus."Since English Heritage became a charity, we have spent more than £100,000 on repairs and maintenance work and we are developing a full conservation project for those elements of the site in our care."However, there are major challenges and costs involved with securing its future," a spokesperson said.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Project to survey at-risk buildings to be extended to Derby
A pilot project where volunteers survey Grade II listed buildings using an app will be extended. The Derbyshire "Buildings at Risk" initiative, which aims to protect endangered heritage buildings, was launched in the Amber Valley in Derbyshire in October. Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) said thanks to a £207,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, the project will now be launched in Cluley, from DHBT, said: "Derby has got such a rich history and it is a great way for local volunteers to take ownership of the unique heritage of the city." Volunteers will be able to record and monitor the condition of Derby's Grade II listed buildings on an app called B@R. A colour coding system will be used to categorise structures by their state of repair which will create "an invaluable resource for conservation efforts," said Cluley, DHBT's heritage development officer, said with its expansion to Derby the project aimed to recruit more people who shared a passion for heritage and wanted to help protect the region's architectural history."We are wanting people to get involved by downloading the app and it can be used to complete a basic condition survey of any Grade II listed buildings in the area," she added."You can then say what state of repair these buildings are in then that gets reported back to us so we can follow that up in case any of these buildings could possibly be vulnerable or at risk." She said people were asked to look at the roof condition, windows, doors, and architectural features of properties from a pavement or public footpath, record their findings and upload photos. DHBT said it will provide the city council with the data. Ms Cluley said since launching in Amber Valley more than 80 volunteers have signed up and surveyed 550 Grade II listed buildings. She added: "We have been really thrilled by the response and how much data they have been able to provide, and flag up some buildings which we might not have been aware were at risk."Now we can take steps to protect them."Events to launch the project in Derby will take place at The Old Bell on Wednesday from 15:00 BST to 17:00 and University of Derby's Enterprise Centre on Thursday from 18:30 to 20:30.
