Gustav Hamel’s 1911 crash

When renumbering some of the photographs in the archive of Calke Abbey (our collection D2375), I came across some intriguing early aviation images, which roused my curiosity. There are quite a few aviation-related photographs in the collection - Richard Fynderne Harpur Crewe, who took the images, was a keen amateur photographer with a clear interest …

From Matlock to Tasmania

We are delighted that we have been able to loan two items from our collections to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) for their ‘taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country’ exhibition.  This high profile and ground-breaking exhibition brings together Tasmanian cultural objects held in institutions around the world alongside creative work by twenty Tasmanian Aboriginal …

Rescuing a framed photograph

Do you have framed old photographs hanging on your walls? Many of us do, without realising how damaging framing can be. When we give the advice to frame copies of old photographs rather than the original images, we mainly do so because photographs react strongly to light and they will fade considerably over time. But …

Peak District Mummies

The fascinating book ‘Bog Bodies’ by Melanie Giles was added to our Local Studies collection last year because it features Derbyshire’s own contribution to natural mummification, ‘The Hope Couple’. On 14th January 1674 a Mr. Barber, described as a grazier (a person who rears or fattens cattle for market) headed out from Hope with his …

Celebrating 150 years of Buxton’s Own Crystal Palace: The Pavilion

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery

Derbyshire Museums Manager Ros Westwood contributes to the anniversary of a well-known and celebrated part of Buxton. There is currently a display in Buxton Museum and Art Gallery’s foyer to accompany the commemoration.Plan your visit here.

Engraving. Collection of BMAG

In 1870, the 7^th Duke of Devonshire gifted 15 acres of the Old Hall Hotel’s gardens to Buxton, to create the Pavilion Gardens. The gardens were landscaped with well-maintained walks and fountains.

But there was one condition. For years the Duke had paid for the band which entertained the people promenading there. He required the people of Buxton raised the funds to build a ‘Winter Gardens’ where, under cover and throughout the year, people could enjoy a regular programme of musical entertainment, paid for by ticket sales. He reasoned that if the musical entertainment was good, people would return and enjoy the gardens and pavilions as well.

The…

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Our missing nightwatchmen have come home!

Thanks to your incredible generosity our joint crowdfunding project with Belper Historical Society was successful and we’ve been able to buy this amazing nightwatchmen’s report book. Local historian Adrian Farmer visited the Record Office to see it for himself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8NOx7O22WA As we exceeded our target we will be spending the extra money on creating a …

Our Missing Nightwatchmen

A little while ago, we were alerted to the fact that a book of 1830s Belper nightwatchmen’s reports was up for sale. We asked the seller to send it to us so we could see if we wanted to buy the book and the answer was definitely yes! The book details nightly goings-on in Belper …

Colourful Pattern Books

We’ve blogged before about the archive of Edmund Potter & Company, calico printers from Glossop (D1589 in our catalogue). Now the Victorian and Edwardian pattern books are in conservation to be re-packaged and we’re finding it hard not to spend time admiring the sumptuous, vibrant, colourful patterns while we make boxes for them out of …

In conversation with Maggie O’Farrell

Our friends at Derbyshire Libraries are hosting an online conversation with acclaimed author Maggie O'Farrell on Thursday 15 April at 7.00pm. Maggie’s latest award winning novel Hamnet captures a Jacobean England haunted by a plague that tragically kills Hamnet, the only son of William Shakespeare. In reimagining the complex relationship between Hamnet’s parents as the …

Bit Part Players from The Dig — Buxton Museum and Art Gallery

Derbyshire Museums Manager Ros Westwood reveals the connections between Buxton and Sutton Hoo: Have you had a chance to catch the recent film The Dig, which tells the story of the discovery of the Sutton Hoo treasure? Catch the film on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/81167887  – you’ll enjoy it, I am sure, and learn more at the […]Bit …