Derbyshire Conservation & Heritage Crafts Festival - 13th September 2025

​​A huge thanks to everyone who came along on Saturday 13th September - visitors, makers, and all the brilliant volunteers who helped make our inaugural festival such a success.

 

Special mention to Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT)’s Heritage Training & Skills Coordinator, Tricia, for bringing the day together.

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Despite the “all seasons in one day” weather, the site was buzzing from start to finish. The mix of traditional building crafts and textiles proved a real draw, with hands-on activities, live demonstrations and performances keeping spirits high between sun, showers and rainbows.

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What stood out:

• Craft and conservation together: traditional building skills alongside textiles really resonated with all ages.
• Hands-on making: drop spindle, corn dollies, circular knitting and wet felting sparked constant conversation.
• Live skills in action: blacksmithing, stonemasonry, plastering, signwriting and more drew big crowds.
• Performance energy: Powderkegs Morris and Tuneless Choir (Derby) brought smiles and momentum throughout the day.
• Partnership: collaboration with stakeholders, makers and volunteers made the inaugural event a success.

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Who was there:

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Craftspeople & demonstrations
• Reforged Blacksmiths
• Wooden Attractions
• Gaches Traditional Plasterers
• Allie Paints Signs
• W J Conservation
• Sherwood Wood Firing Society

O&CO Blacksmiths​

• RM Eaton Stonemasons

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​Advisers & stakeholder partners
• Planning & Design Practice Ltd
• Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site team
• Matt Hurford (Archaeology)
• James Boon Architects
• Terrameasurement
• Simon Hollis Surveyors
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)