My Work Experience with Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust- By Megan Giroux

I'm a student from Anthony Gell School who decided that a placement at Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust would be valuable for my work experience as it links to history, which is one of the subjects I am taking for A-Levels. 

I spent three days there and during those days I started off with a tour with Anna and Barry who went over the first projects that the trust did in Wirksworth as well as the history with gentry violence and lead mining as well as the buildings architecture.

Following that I completed the 'Buildings at Risk' volunteer training module, which taught me the basics of how to assess the conditions of buildings and then I went around Wirksworth to use their B@R app and asses them myself with Anna. I then inputted some of the surveys from past events and then, to finish off my first day, I researched past heritage conservation craft training events over the past year.

On my second day here, I began to design a poster to advertise the DHBT which they could put up on their website and also gave advice on how to reach a younger audience. Then I went to the church and drew some of the architectural details like designs in the stone. After that, I walked up to a local field to look at one of the old stone barns and the restoration that was being done to it with Tricia. 

To conclude my work experience, I went through DHBTs history and researched their past projects so they could put them on a map on their website. I then joined a meeting with two university students who are working with the Trust and Derbyshire County Council on correcting and updating the database of historic building in the county, specifically listed buildings, so that there is a home for the B@R survey data. 

Over the past three days I've found out a lot about the history of Wirksworth with Barry and Tricia, how buildings around Derbyshire are restored, how to use the DHBT B@R app, and the right way to restore a building.

The highlights of my placement would be going to the church to draw as art is one of my favourite hobbies and it made me appreciate the building more as well as designing the poster for the same reasons.

Overall, I've thoroughly enjoyed the past three days here and I thank Anna and Tricia for giving me a placement and giving me lots to do, as well as Barry for coming over and giving me a run down of the history.