The House of the Damned, Belper, Derbyshire

History

A residential farm cottage.

Esoteric Eric



Milford Mill, Milford, Derbyshire

History

Milford was named for its river-crossing, on an ancient route from Derby to the Peak district. The power of the Derwent was used from medieval times to run a corn-mill, dying and fulling mills, and iron and scythe forges. Jedediah Strutt, a farmer turned hosier, recognised the potential of the site. Inventor of the Derby rib machine, Strutt owned a Derby silk mill, and had set up cotton mills in Belper.

In 1781, he bought land in Milford to build a cotton spinning mill. It was one of a series of textile milles constructed on the Derwent between Matlock and Derby during the Industrial Revolution.
These pioneering developments, which included the creation of new communities to house and cater for the workforce they required, are now recognises as being of international importance.

The Milford Mill complex eventually included spinning, bleaching and dying mills, as well as foundries, joiners’ workshops, a gas-works and a corn-mill. The Warehouse, constructed in 1793, was an early attempt by William Strutt, Jedediah’s eldest son. To design a fire-proof multi-storey structure. Later, and more successful, attempts at fire-proofing are embodies in the Dyehouse building, near the bridge. Whilst almost all the early mill buildings were demolished in the 1950s and ‘60s, much of the associated industrial housing has survived. Many of these houses were built by the Strutts, from the late 18th century onwards, transforming Milford from a riverside hamlet into a company village. The Strutts also built the school, created several farms to supply produce for their workers, helped establish the village’s various religious and social buildings.

The road bridge, with its two elegant segmental arches was opened in 1793 was principally funded by Jedediah Strutt, it was widened in 1906. The bridge carries the A6 through the village.

Source:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/millford-mill-belper-may-2016.t103440#post-1141664

Esoteric Eric

Rutland Works, Sheffield

History

Another of Sheffield's derelict steel works.

Esoteric Eric

Robert Neill & Co., Sheffield

History

Robert Neill & Co. was an electrical wholesaler that appeared to close around the 1990's and relocate to another area of Sheffield.

Esoteric Eric

B29-Superfortress 'Over Exposed', Bleaklow, Derbyshire

History

On 3 November 1948, USAF Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999, of the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 91st Reconnaissance Group, 311th Air Division, Strategic Air Command; crashed at Higher Shelf Stones, Bleaklow, whilst en route from Scampton to Burtonwood. All 13 crew members were killed. A large amount of wreckage is still visible, as a memorial to the crash. Also, a proper memorial was erected at the site in 1988.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleaklow#Aircraft_crash

Esoteric Eric

Grand Theatre, Doncaster

History

The Grand Theatre, Doncaster was built by local builders, Arnold & Sons, to the designs of the architect J. P. Briggs and Chapman and opened on Monday the 27th of March 1899 with a production of "La Poupee," which was a transfer from the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

As with many Theatres of the time the Grand only survives because of having been converted for Bingo in the late 1960's and the tireless efforts of local campaigners to save the Theatre from eventual demolition. The Grand was granted a Grade II Listing in 1994 but has been under the developer's radar ever since.

Source:

http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/DoncasterTheatresSouthYorkshire.htm

Esoteric Eric

Salvation Army Citadel, Sheffield

History

The citadel is a Grade II listed building which has been empty since around 2002 when The Salvation Army moved to their Psalter Lane site.

The citadel is owned by a Durham based property developer and was earmarked to become a bar but planning permission was refused. Since then permission has been granted for retail units but no work has commenced.

The citadel become the location of protests in 2012 when 'Occupy Sheffield' took possession and renamed it 'The Citadel of Hope'.

Source:

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/business/now-citadel-is-occupied-1-4115887

Esoteric Eric