PARWICH.ORG

Parwich and District History Society is keen to undertake a project about Parwich in the period of the First World War. We are hoping that this will be a community project with as many people involved as possible. We are also hoping to link in with other groups in the village which are interested in a particular aspect. Maybe other groups might want to pick up an idea to work on or maybe individuals would like to be involved in some of the ideas we have thought about.

• The two main areas of work are firstly to speak to elderly people in the village to find out what stories they may have heard about Parwich during the war years. Not just about those who went to war but also about those left behind. Maybe they have some items of memorabilia from the period and possibly photographs?
• The second area of work is to read the local papers from the period and pick up all references to Parwich. This can be done at Ashbourne Library where the Ashbourne News is on microfilm. This isn’t particularly easy to read and the History Society is contemplating trips to Swadlincote where original newspapers can be accessed. This is going to be labour intensive so as many volunteers as readers would be welcome and we could car share.

We have come up with a list of possible areas for inclusion in the project. This is by no means prescriptive nor exhaustive. All ideas are welcome! These are our thoughts:

• The Rathbone Convalescent Home – what role did it play?
• Farms –how many horses went, what were the reserved occupations on the farms?
• Were there other reserved occupations?
• School- records – can they shed light on life for the children in this period?
• Were people knitting and organising local collections for the war effort?
• What celebrations were there at the end?
• Erection of war memorial – who isn’t on it? What % is this is the total?
• What was the impact of deaths on the community, especially if all at the same time (most seem to have been in same regiment)?
• Who came back?
• Those that came back – how did they adapt?
• Food – did diets change, were there restrictions?
• Fashion – any implications?
• Who did the jobs of those who went?
• Did they sign up or were they conscripted?

If you have any thoughts about the project, would like to be involved or your group/society are planning to commemorate WW1, please either make a comment or contact Fiona on 191, Peter T on 287 or Ian P on 362.

Read Full Post »

Lottery cash will help commemorate First World War

Derbyshire County Council has been awarded £84,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project to commemorate the First World War across the county.

Led by Derbyshire Record Office, the Derbyshire Lives in the First World War project will help groups learn about and commemorate the impact of the war on their community.

Support could be anything from advice on getting funding to learning how to research and record the First World War history of their town or village.  At the end, stories collected by communities across Derbyshire will be brought together in a travelling exhibition.

The project will begin in January and runs until December 2015.

Councillor Ellie Wilcox, our Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said:

“The record office has already begun digitising its First World War records to make it easier for people to find out information.”This grant will help us provide the practical support to help people with their own projects.

“Many know about the experiences of soldiers in the trenches, but we also want to remember what life was like for the people left behind in Derbyshire.

“There are many fascinating topics to explore − from the treatment of wounded soldiers in the spas of Matlock and Buxton, to what happened in local farming communities when the men and horses left for war.”

Vanessa Harbar, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said:

“The First World War changed the face of global history, and within its history are countless stories to uncover and remember.

“This is a fantastic project that allows communities within Derbyshire to share their experiences and contribute to the national commemoration of First World War centenary.”

A website will be set up in the coming months where people can find out more about the project and how to get involved.

In the meantime call the record office, in New Street, Matlock, on 01629 538347 or email record.office@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.

Read Full Post »

Volunteers are needed to help develop a digital media project at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.

Derbyshire County Council are looking for pioneering individuals, groups and organisations to test out a new approach to sharing access to the museum’s exhibits and artefacts.

The project, called ‘Collections in the Landscape’, is being funded with an £81,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will enable visitors to walk in the footsteps of archaeologists and geologists to view artefacts in places where they were either made or found.

As visitors stand next to archaeological sites and famous landmarks they will be prompted to use their smart phones or tablets to download extra information such as images of what people in previous centuries would have seen when they visited.

Pilot projects will focus on three areas − Dovedale, Arbor Low stone circle and the town of Buxton itself. Users will be able to interact with these landscapes in exciting new ways such as exploring Arbor Low to see what ancient stone tools were buried below the earth, strolling through Dovedale using the museum’s fossils to reconstruct a shallow sea floor from 350 million years ago or standing in the centre of Buxton to see what traces generations of visitors have left behind – from the Romans to the Beatles.

Now ‘collections ambassadors’ are needed to help the museum test and develop the technology as well as share news in their local communities.

Councillor Ellie Wilcox, our Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:

“We need local volunteers to help make this exciting project happen. This is a truly unique opportunity to be part of something that will transform the way collections at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery are displayed and experienced.”

Volunteers will be involved in the pilot stage 1 of the project. The results will form part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund in May 2014 for an additional £449,000 to fund the project for another three years.

Ellie Wilcox added:

“Although we’re exploring the potential of digital technology, this project will still be rooted in people power. The knowledge and support of the local community will be a key factor in taking the concept of Collections in the Landscape forward.”

As part of the project the museum is also conducting an online visitor survey.

To take part in the survey or to volunteer as a collections ambassador visit http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum (opens in a new window) email citl@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 533540.

Read Full Post »

Thanks to Jill L for the following information:

There is a talk at Bradbourne Church Hall on Sat 15th June at 2.30 by Jean Yates from Dunstable on ‘ How Bradbourne and surrounding villages where connected to Dunstable Priory in Medieval times’

All Welcome £2 each including refreshments.

Read Full Post »