News from the Midland Railway Study Centre

Mothballing of the Silk Mill Museum

As we enter Summer 2011, we are at the start of a period of uncertain duration during which the Midland Railway Study Centre continues to operate as normal within the 'mothballed' Silk Mill Museum. Other than a few behind the scenes changes in procedure, it is pretty much "business as usual" for the Study Centre (perhaps a little quieter for our studying visitors, if truth be told!).

It is not for us to speculate what the future holds for the museum - there are plenty of people doing that for us - save to say we are confident we will continue to be an important part of the building's future.

An exciting event which is still on the horizon for us as I write this is the Heritage Open Day planned for the Study Centre on Saturday 10th September 2011. Further details of this event will of course be provided nearer the day, but this will be an opportunity to come and see behind the scenes at the Study Centre. We will be giving guided tours of the storage area and making sure there are plenty of historic items on show - each of which has an interesting story attached. which we will share.

Last update 03MAY2011

Visit of the Mayor of Derby

In October we were honoured to host a visit to the Midland Railway Study Centre by the Mayor of Derby, Councilor Amar Nath, and David Croll, Principal of Derby College. They were given a tour of the Study Centre by Derby City Council's Head of Museums, Stuart Gillis and Roger Shelley, Principle Keeper at the Silk Mill Museum. Also on hand to discuss the work of the Study Centre with our visitors were David Geldard representing the Roy F Burrows Midland Collection Trust, and Dave Harris, Study Centre Co-ordinator.

David Geldard, the Mayor's Companion, Stuart Gillis, Roger Shelley and Councillor Amar Nath

David Geldard, the Mayor's Companion, Stuart Gillis, Roger Shelley and Councilor Amar Nath during the Mayor's visit to the Study Centre

Following a briefing by David about the Trust's aspirations for the future of the Study Centre, Dave conducted the guests on a tour of the storage area, pointing out a few of the more interesting items.

For example, the Mayor was impressed by a Midland Railway Guard's pocket watch, manufactured by G.S.Smith of 20 St. Peter's Street, Derby. It was remarked that the premises have come a long way from a watchmaker's workshop to its current retail guise.

The watch admired by the Mayor (click for a larger view)

We hope that our guests enjoyed their visit to the Study Centre.

St Pancras Station Plaque Unveiling

The Study Centre was honoured to be represented at a ceremony at St Pancras station on Wednesday 11th August 2010, when Sir William McAlpine unveiled a plaque commemorating the building of the station by the Midland Railway. Guests at the event included the Mayor of Derby, Councilor Amar Nath and David Croll, Chief Executive of Derby College.

Roy Burrows welcomed the guests with a speech extolling the importance of the link between St Pancras Station and the railway heritage of the City of Derby, drawing parallels with the achievements of the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line further north on the former MR network.

The plaque, donated by the Roy F Burrows Midland Collection Trust, will be permanently displayed at the entrance to the station.

Sir Willaim McAlpine unviels the plaque commemorating theMidland Railway origin of St Pancras station

Sir William McAlpine unveils the plaque commemorating the Midland Railway origin of St Pancras station

Summer 2010

The Museum have started work on a new display close to the Study Centre which will incorporate artifacts from our collection. A Midland Railway booking office is being constructed which will allow visitors to "look back in time".

Our volunteers continue to work hard behind the scenes cataloguing our collections. The most striking outcome of this work is Andy Boothman's efforts to organise the dozens of rolls of Carriage & Wagon plans, many of which remain in the same condition in which they were rescued from Litchurch Lane in the early 1970s. Once this treasure trove is fully examined it will prove invaluable to the modeller of Midland Railway rolling stock.

Visitors continue to make use of the research facilities, with a wide range of topics being studied. Even so, we usually have capacity during our opening days, so if you are interested in doing some research, please get in touch.

Winter 2009/2010

The Study Centre has been working with Derby Museum's Education Officer, Laura Simpson who is developing several railway themed displays and activities for children in the Silk Mill Museum. Whilst there's not much we can do to help with the activity aimed at under 5's (a scavenger hunt around the museum rewarded by the opportunity to become an "engine driver"), we have added to the Uniform themed display. Whilst various junk shops have been visited for old uniform caps for the children to use, the interpretation will involve facsimile material from the Study Centre's collections.

This postcard from the John Alsop Collection illustrates MR women employee's uniforms during the First World War

Behind the scenes the winter period has seen a minor reshuffle of storage with non-accessioned material being moved out of the main Study Centre store into an annexe - freeing up some much needed space in the main store itself.

The Study Centre continues to work with external organisations to assist in their aims. We hold a drawing of the Whatstandwell station footbridge, for example, which will prove invaluable to Peak Rail in reassembling the Darley Dale footbridge this summer. Topics studied recently range from the effects of the MR abolishing second class travel on wider society, to the study of geomorphology on the decisions of early railway pioneers in building railways. Meanwhile there continues to be a more-than-steady trickle of family history related enquiries with genealogists anxious to learn more of their ancestor's railway careers.

Recent Donations to the Study Centre are now listed on their own page.

All-in-all, although the winter - in particular the recent snowfall - naturally results in a down-turn in activity in the Study Centre, it continues to see regular and productive use.

NEWS FROM THE MIDLAND RAILWAY STUDY CENTRE
Mothballing of the Silk Mill Museum As we enter Summer 2011, we are at the start of a period of uncertain duration during which the Midland Railway Study Centre continues to operate as normal within the 'mothballed' Silk Mill Museum. Other than a few behind the scenes changes in procedure, it is pretty much "business as usual" for the Study Centre (perhaps a little quieter for our studying visitors, if truth be told!). It is not for us to speculate what the future holds for the museum - there are plenty of people doing that for us - save to say we are confident we will continue to be an important part of the building's future. An exciting event which is still on the horizon for us as I write this is the Heritage Open Day planned for the Study Centre on Saturday 10th September 2011. Further details of this event will of course be provided nearer the day, but this will be an opportunity to come and see behind the scenes at the Study Centre. We will be giving guided tours of the storage area and making sure there are plenty of historic items on show - each of which has an interesting story attached. which we will share. Last update 03MAY2011 Visit of the Mayor of Derby In October we were honoured to host a visit to the Midland Railway Study Centre by the Mayor of Derby, Councilor Amar Nath, and David Croll, Principal of Derby College. They were given a tour of the Study Centre by Derby City Council's Head of Museums, Stuart Gillis and Roger Shelley, Principle Keeper at the Silk Mill Museum. Also on hand to discuss the work of the Study Centre with our visitors were David Geldard representing the Roy F Burrows Midland Collection Trust, and Dave Harris, Study Centre Co-ordinator. David Geldard, the Mayor's Companion, Stuart Gillis, Roger Shelley and Councilor Amar Nath during the Mayor's visit to the Study Centre Following a briefing by David about the Trust's aspirations for the future of the Study Centre, Dave conducted the guests on a tour of the storage area, pointing out a few of the more interesting items. For example, the Mayor was impressed by a Midland Railway Guard's pocket watch, manufactured by G.S.Smith of 20 St. Peter's Street, Derby. It was remarked that the premises have come a long way from a watchmaker's workshop to its current retail guise. The watch admired by the Mayor (click for a larger view) We hope that our guests enjoyed their visit to the Study Centre. St Pancras Station Plaque Unveiling The Study Centre was honoured to be represented at a ceremony at St Pancras station on Wednesday 11th August 2010, when Sir William McAlpine unveiled a plaque commemorating the building of the station by the Midland Railway. Guests at the event included the Mayor of Derby, Councilor Amar Nath and David Croll, Chief Executive of Derby College. Roy Burrows welcomed the guests with a speech extolling the importance of the link between St Pancras Station and the railway heritage of the City of Derby, drawing parallels with the achievements of the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line further north on the former MR network. The plaque, donated by the Roy F Burrows Midland Collection Trust, will be permanently displayed at the entrance to the station. Sir William McAlpine unveils the plaque commemorating the Midland Railway origin of St Pancras station Summer 2010 The Museum have started work on a new display close to the Study Centre which will incorporate artifacts from our collection. A Midland Railway booking office is being constructed which will allow visitors to "look back in time". Our volunteers continue to work hard behind the scenes cataloguing our collections. The most striking outcome of this work is Andy Boothman's efforts to organise the dozens of rolls of Carriage & Wagon plans, many of which remain in the same condition in which they were rescued from Litchurch Lane in the early 1970s. Once this treasure trove is fully examined it will prove invaluable to the modeller of Midland Railway rolling stock. Visitors continue to make use of the research facilities, with a wide range of topics being studied. Even so, we usually have capacity during our opening days, so if you are interested in doing some research, please get in touch. Winter 2009/2010 The Study Centre has been working with Derby Museum's Education Officer, Laura Simpson who is developing several railway themed displays and activities for children in the Silk Mill Museum. Whilst there's not much we can do to help with the activity aimed at under 5's (a scavenger hunt around the museum rewarded by the opportunity to become an "engine driver"), we have added to the Uniform themed display. Whilst various junk shops have been visited for old uniform caps for the children to use, the interpretation will involve facsimile material from the Study Centre's collections. This postcard from the John Alsop Collection illustrates MR women employee's uniforms during the First World War Behind the scenes the winter period has seen a minor reshuffle of storage with non-accessioned material being moved out of the main Study Centre store into an annexe - freeing up some much needed space in the main store itself. The Study Centre continues to work with external organisations to assist in their aims. We hold a drawing of the Whatstandwell station footbridge, for example, which will prove invaluable to Peak Rail in reassembling the Darley Dale footbridge this summer. Topics studied recently range from the effects of the MR abolishing second class travel on wider society, to the study of geomorphology on the decisions of early railway pioneers in building railways. Meanwhile there continues to be a more-than-steady trickle of family history related enquiries with genealogists anxious to learn more of their ancestor's railway careers. Recent Donations to the Study Centre are now listed on their own page. All-in-all, although the winter - in particular the recent snowfall - naturally results in a down-turn in activity in the Study Centre, it continues to see regular and productive use.