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Looking back through History

October 30, 2020

by Hertes of England

Looking back through History

In the last decade or so, the Midlands has become a significant reference point in…

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Welcome to the Hertes of England historic building resource. We specialise in exploring the traditional buildings and vernacular architecture of the English Midlands. From timber-frame cottages to Victorian town houses and factories, we investigate a range of historic buildings and the skills, techniques and crafts that were used to create them.

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Anglo Saxon Architecture Birmingham Black Country Derbyshire East Midlands English Midlands Georgian Gothic Henry Issac Stevens History Industrial Revolution Joseph Pickford Kingdom of Mercia Knowledge Leicestershire Lincolnshire Lunar Society Medieval Midlands Nottinghamshire R. W. Brunskill Romantic Staffordshire Vernacular Victorian Warwickshire World Heritage Site

Journal

"Therein groweth a stone softer than Alablaster, but being burnt maketh a Plaister harder than..."
John Speed
"One only has to travel over the mountains and moors of Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire..."
Sidney R. Jones
"Vernacular building tradition is one based upon time-immeriorial building techniques and the use of materials,..."
Carole Ryan

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We have spoken about the rich typology of historic

We have spoken about the rich typology of historic almshouses in Ashbourne on many occasions, however, we haven’t previously shared anything on the first group of almshouses that were built with funds derived from the estate of Nicholas Spalden following his death in 1713. Spalden was a native of the town (his remains were interred at St Oswald’s church) and he donated a substantial part of his estate (he had created a successful leather goods business in London) to both the upkeep of existing almshouses, as well as to the building of new ones.

This scheme is located next to St Oswald’s church and was completed by the early 1720s. Built in a traditional U plan setting (with a central garden courtyard), it consists of 10 dwellings constructed in the late Queen Anne style using brick, stone dressings and mullioned fenestration (partly modernised). The roofs are hipped and at the rear there are substantial allotment gardens that are still used by the residents for growing vegetable crops. In the 300 years since their construction they have remained as was originally intended, providing shelter to those in need. They are currently designated as Grade II.

#heritage #conservation #architecture #queenanne #almshouses #ashbourne #derbyshire

Whilst many of the country houses situated in the

Whilst many of the country houses situated in the English Midlands are well documented (particularly those in Derbyshire and Staffordshire), the ancillary buildings that have supported these great houses have often been overlooked. However, some of them can offer as much architectural interest as their more prominent neighbours.

This is the former stables and servants’ quarters on the Shugborough estate at Milford in Staffordshire. This late 18th Century, two storey, neo-classical structure was designed around a central courtyard, along with a central porte cochère that encompasses a pediment, clock and lantern, as well as a gilded weather vane. The structure also features symmetrical Venetian and Diocletian windows at either end of the facade, providing a subtle sense of Classical grandeur that complements the main hall. From the 1970s it served as the location for the Staffordshire County Museum, but has relinquished that role in the last few years. It is currently managed by the National Trust and is designated as Grade II.

#heritage #conservation #architecture #staffordshire #nationaltrust

The Fabric of Places: The historic built environme

The Fabric of Places: The historic built environment can sometimes appear in the most unusual places. Whilst out walking over the Easter holidays we came across this magnificent herringbone dry stone wall near the Derbyshire Staffordshire border. Constructed of local stone (this area has been quarried extensively for fine ‘Keuper’ sandstone since the 18th Century), it clearly has an element of pride built into its design, along with a unique sense for the fabric of place.

The land is part of a working farm (currently used for grazing), however, the land owner has clearly recognised the value of the structure by providing additional protection (in the form of a fence) from the grazing livestock.

#heritage #conservation #farming #drystonewalling #stone #derbyshire #staffordshire #thefabricofplaces

The Fabric of Places: A rare and unusual sighting

The Fabric of Places: A rare and unusual sighting of beakheads at the door of 12th Century church in Derbyshire. Beakheads are decorative ornaments that are most often associated with the Romanesque or Norman style of church building. These strange grotesque figures are sculpted pieces based on animal and human hybrids and are usually carved directly into the door casings, arches or moulded colonnettes, as here in Derbyshire.

Given their origin (possibly a combination of late Anglo-Saxon and northern European heritage) they are often quite rare, only usually appearing where Norman occupations were both widespread and complete, as in many parts of England. However, they can also be seen in northern France and Spain, perhaps for similar reasons. It is surely no accident that all of these places would, in later years, be dominated, at least architecturally, by gothic sensibilities!

#heritage #conservation #architecture #romanesque #norman #anglosaxon #gothic

The Fabric of Places: Ashlar ‘Keuper’ sandston

The Fabric of Places: Ashlar ‘Keuper’ sandstone (probably quarried in the Staffordshire Moorlands) bedded in lime mortar and located near the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border.
#thefabricofplaces #stone #derbyshire #staffordshire

Earlier this week we were passing through the city

Earlier this week we were passing through the city of Derby and managed to stop and admire the Liversage almshouses on London Road. The Liversage Trust was first established in 1529 by the prominent Derby based businessman Robert Liversage. The Trust built its first collection of almshouses on the edge of St Peter’s churchyard in the centre of the city. Unfortunately, they were demolished in the early 1880s, but the Trust had already built an additional scheme of sixteen almshouses at this London Road site.

These almshouses were designed by John Mason of Derby and constructed in 1836, in the then fashionable Gothic Revival style. This unusually symmetrical, two storey structure (with a central hall) utilises paired, projecting porches with shallow gothic arches, stone dressings and four-light steel casement windows with moulded surrounds and hoods. The almshouses still function as they did over 180 years ago, providing alms and shelter to those in need.

Interestingly, they are also overlooked by the city’s most prominent statue of Florence Nightingale, which given our current circumstances seems extremely apposite! They are currently designated as Grade II.

#heritage #conservation #architecture #gothicrevival #almshouses #florencenightingale #derby

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