Derwent Valley mill workers needed to tell their tales of yesteryear

FORMER mill workers in the Derwent Valley are being urged to share their memories for a heritage project.

The Threads history project, which is being supported by Derbyshire County Council, is an attempt to preserve stories of life in the mills, most of which were closed by the 1980s.

A series of workshops will be held, allowing former workers to talk to young people about their experiences.

The oral accounts, along with written work and pictures, will eventually be made available on the internet.

The project has received £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Derbyshire County Council has also provided £2,000.

Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Partnership has given another £2,000 towards Threads, with £1,000 also coming from Derby City Council.

There are five mills in the world heritage site – Masson Mills, in Matlock Bath; Cromford Mill; John Smedley's Mill, in Ambergate; Strutt's North Mill, in Belper; and the Silk Mill, in Derby.

Strutt's North Mill and Masson Mills are open throughout the year and attract visitors from across the world.

Gladys Nugent, 78, of Chesterfield Road, Matlock, worked at John Smedley's Mill, which has been in continuous production for more than 200 years, when she was a girl.

She said: "I'm sure there are plenty of former workers who would have tales to tell about their time in the mills.

"It was noisy and hard work but we also knew how to have a good time and had good friends."

Councillor Bob Janes, the county council's cabinet member for cultural services, said it was important to record the history of the mills.

He said: "Hardly any work has been carried out in preserving this slice of Derbyshire's history.

"This important project will ensure that future generations can enjoy and learn from the tales of real people working in the county's mills."

The project got lottery funding because of its importance in preserving history that might otherwise be lost.

Mr Janes said: "We wanted to tackle this project in an innovative way by developing inter-generational work. This will enable young people to work with older people.

"They will be helped to capture the workers' stories and then develop web pages for them to be displayed on."

Threads is also being supported by Amber Valley Borough Council and the Derbyshire Dales District Council.

The project coordinators want to hear from people who worked in the Derwent Valley mills and who are willing to take part in the project.

Some of the money will be used to employ people who are experts in oral history, website design and development and photography to work with the local communities in order to capture their stories in written and spoken words and in pictures.

Once completed, the stories will be available to view on www.artsderbyshire.org.uk and on www.derwentvalley mills.org.

Anyone wanting to share their memories is urged to call Ann Wright on 01773 831359.