Over the past eighteen months, Derby Homes secured £24,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to help fund the regeneration of Marble Hall, a former Rolls-Royce site and Grade II listed building. The aim of the project has been to connect the Osmaston community with their local heritage, and to share the rich history of Osmaston.
The idea originated from the local community, and we have been helping to deliver it along with a variety of partners. The working group includes representatives from the local community: OSCAR, Enthusiasm, Derby Homes, Derby City Council, Connect Derby, Rolls Royce Heritage Centre and Osmaston Primary School.
The project encompasses the following key elements:
- Memorial stone to remember the people who lost their lives at Marble Hall in a bombing during World War II
- Interpretation panels included at the refurbished Marble Hall
- School workshops
- Heritage training in archiving and research skills
- An Osmaston guide: Our Proud Heritage
- A creative performance designed and performed by local children
Heritage expressed through Hip-Hop and dance
A group of young people and children have worked with Enthusiasm and Culture Train to research the heritage of Osmaston, Marble Hall and the iconic Hugh Easton window. The children interviewed local residents to find out their stories and all this research got written up by the children into lyrics for a hip-hop track and music video.
The young people and children then worked with Enthusiasm and Trinity Warriors Dance Academy to put dance moves to this hip-hop track.
Councillor Joanna West formally opened the event by welcoming everyone to Marble Hall and thanking all those involved in the working group:
“There’s some fantastic work gone into this and it’s something we can all be proud of.”
The children then showcased their dance performance at Marble Hall.
Amanda Turner, Grants Officer at the Heritage Lottery Fund highlighted the significance of the project and the role of Lottery Funding:
“I’m proud to be supporting a project that has shown such enthusiasm. I had to see it for myself. It’s a fitting commemoration for those who sadly lost their lives in 1942 and will make sure that they are remembered for years to come. It also highlights the significance of this wonderful Grade II listed building and its association with the world renowned Rolls Royce.
This is just one example of grants as part of over £438M that the Heritage Lottery Fund has put into the east midlands alone. Its transforming heritage, making a positive difference to people’s lives, from peregrines at Derby Cathedral, to parks like Markeaton, the landscape of the lower Derwent Valley and the Silk Mill, which also connects to Rolls Royce’s History and strong heritage, innovation and invention in Derby.”
View the full photo album on Flickr.
You can hear the full track below.
As part of the project, a booklet, Our Proud Heritage: A short Guide to Osmaston has been produced. The guide looks back on the area before and after the arrival of Rolls-Royce, and describes the hard-working community that has populated its changing landscape. The content is based on historical records and the memories and recollections of local residents. It tells the stories that say: this is our history; this is our community; this is Osmaston.
This booklet has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the project is supported by the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, Osmaston Community Association of Residents (OSCAR), Derby City Council, Derby Homes, the Enthusiasm Trust, and Osmaston Primary School.
