@industrialfolkways
Public History project exploring customs, superstitions & folk magic in & around Georgian & Victorian Derbyshire; through events, resources & activities, integrating community archaeology, storytelling, art & crafts.
Two animated witches flying over the night skyline of late 1700s Derby (title page of presentation)
Industrial Folkways' presentation at today's DVMWHS Research Workshop is now available to view here:
industrialfolkways.org.uk/picking-up-t...
Industrial Folkways' presentation at today's DVMWHS Research Workshop is now available to view here: industrialfolkways.org.uk/picking-up-t...
Just a quick thanks to the DVMWHS team for the opportunity to present at today's research workshop, & for the audience for listening - also for interesting chats after. As usual, I crammed lots in; but I'll be putting it online ASAP, for anyone who might want more time to look at the content.
A pierced red textile ornament, with six slender petal-like arms radiating from the centre to an outer circle, hanging in a window.
Started experimenting with crafts for project learning / participation. This 'first-draft' decoration is still rough-and-ready (will explain significance / techniques etc. when refined). In the meantime, please let me know if finding this symbol ornamenting old buildings in / around Derbyshire!
Flyer reads: 'Threading research together. Free event for researchers Tuesday 25 Mar 2025, 10am-4pm, Strutts Centre, Derby Rd, Belper Discover more about researching DVMWHS. Hear from others about their reasons for researching in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, how they progressed & what they did with their research once it was compiled. No charge for participants, but please bring your own lunch. To book, email dvmwhs@derbyshire.gov.uk. Places are limited.' 10:00 Intro & objectives for day – Adrian Farmer Threading through Belper 10:10 Belper Market Place in the 19th Century – Belper Market Place Group 10:30 Research to Yarn Bombing – Kim Kerry & Rachael Hodgkinson 10.50 The First 50 years of Strutt Street – Belper u3a Local History Group 3 11:10 Question and answer session 11:30 Refreshment Break Threading in people’s stories 11:45 Reflections on installing & interpreting machinery from Belper North Mill at Cromford Mills – Dr Sophie Campbell 12:05 Swainsley Farm, no ordinary Strutt farm – Alex Gilbert 12:25 Picking Up Threads or Spinning New Yarns? Investigating the Uncanny in Industrial Communities – Dr Kit Leach 12:45 Question and answer session 13:00 Lunch Threading into places 14:00 Piecing together the jigsaw of the Derwent’s ‘Milling Power’ story – Ian Jackson 14:20 Fact & Fabrication: A Creative Research Project & Darley Abbey Strike 1917-18: Stitching together contexts – Jenny Anthony, Maureen Elliot, Hazel Thomson 14:40 Weaving an Exploration of Masson Mills as a Locus of Transformation in the Derwent Valley – Sue Russell 15:00 Question and answer session 15:20 Refreshment Break 15:30 Your research – next steps: • Dr Kathleen McIlvenna – Programme lead MA History & Heritage, Uni Derby • Sarah Chubb – Derbyshire Record Office • Rosemary Annable – Derbyshire Archaeological Society 15:50 Question and answer session 16:00 Close You can stay until 16:30 for networking or viewing the Derbyshire Archaeological Society Library.'
Programme for the upcoming DVMWHS research day (March 25, Belper), at which an IF paper will be delivered. Free to attend, but limited spaces - so book soon!
DVMWHS research workshop schedule poster
IF will be delivering a presentation at the DVMWHS Research Workshop in March (12.25pm - working title): www.facebook.com/DerwentValle...
The updated title is provided on the attached modified schedule.
Decorative early 19th century cartoon characters, with banner 'Dickensian Derbyshire Country Christmas. Interactive Guide Quiz'.
The Interactive Guide Quiz rounds off Christmas-themed activities this year. Are you a Dickensian Derbyshire Country Customs King or Queen?! Find out by having a go!
industrialfolkways.org.uk/dickensian-d...
A 3D greeting card on a table, with a candle, fir cones, orange slices and a coloured glass ball.
The last Pickwick in the Park Christmas craft activity is now available: A cut-out coach card! industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-.... The final activity relating to the Interactive Guide will be out next week, and round off the Christmas-themed content for this year.
Horse-drawn coaches loading at and leaving from an inn.
Pickwick in the Park Activity Seasonal Soundscapes Activity: There’s a coach fast approaching! Can you work out what the coach horn call means in time?! industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-...
The Finding Festive Feasts series concludes with a related art and crafts activity (industrialfolkways.org.uk/posh-porcela...); and associated creative writing competition (industrialfolkways.org.uk/the-story-of...).
Collection of artefacts from the 'What is it? Find Out! Quiz.
The Finding Festive Feasts Quiz is now concluded - and all the parts available on the activity page: industrialfolkways.org.uk/finding-fest... How did you do? Industrial Folkways would love to know! A related craft activity will follow soon!
To the left is an open pair of metal pincers. To the right is an oval ceramic basket with handles at each end, with a floral design blue transfer-printed decoration on the interior base, and band of decoration around the inside of the rime. The basket sits on top of a matching tray, with a basket-like rim. The text 'What is it?! is superimposed over the objects, which are seen from above.
Family Festivities Quiz: Bonus (and final) Objects 6, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Bonus Part 6 answers tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/bonus-part-6...
A large wide-mouthed bowl, an interior cream and brown glaze, seen from above. The text 'What is it?! is superimposed over the object.
Family Festivities Quiz: Object 5, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Bonus Part 6 later today; and Part 5 & 6 answers tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/part-5-findi...
A round white ceramic plate or shallow dish, decorated with a blue transfer-printed chinoiserie design, incorporating a willow tree on the banks of a river, over which is a bridge by which three people cross; and a fishing boat. On nearby land is a temple; and two birds fly overhead. The text 'What is it?! is superimposed over the plate, which is seen from above.
Family Festivities Quiz: Object 4, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Part 4 answers & Part 5 tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/part-4-findi...
A large oval / rectangular white earthenware object, with a wide rim around a hollow central area. The central area is decorated with a blue transfer-printed design, depicting two men on a boat by a river bank, with a bridge, cottage and trees, in the background. The rim is decorated with a floral design. Seen from above, with the superimposed text 'What is it?!'
Family Festivities Quiz: Object 3, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Part 3 answers & Part 4 tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/part-3-findi...
A fine white porcelain bowl, decorated with a blue transfer-printed chinoiserie design, and gilded, sits on a wider, shallower, bowl with similar decoration. The interior of the top bowl is mostly undecorated, except for a band around the inside of the rim (comparable to that around the inside of the rim of the shallower bowl), and a tree-like motif in the base. Viewed from above, with the superimposed text 'What is it?!
Family Festivities Quiz: Object(s) 2, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Part 2 answers & Part 3 tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/part-2-findi...
A small, dark brown, wide mouthed, ceramic bowl, with a handle, seen from above, with the superimposed text 'What is it?!
Family Festivities Quiz: Object 1, from the Finding Festive Feasting Artefact Activity (Part 1 answers & Part 2 tomorrow): industrialfolkways.org.uk/part-1-findi...
Cartoon of one man holding a wide-mouthed handled bowl that is cracked, and has a large piece missing; the man rolls his eyes upwards. Another looks intently at the bowl.
Now live: Family Festivities Quiz: Finding Festive Feasts Artefact Activity (Part One)! industrialfolkways.org.uk/finding-fest...
Drop in & see the show - & at the activities have a go! Markeaton Park Visitor Centre Family Festivities event. 11 am Sat. 30 Nov. & 2 pm Sun. 1 Dec. https://industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-the-park/.
Come along & say hi!
There'll be a small Dickensian Derbys. Xmas Customs display during the Markeaton Park Family Festivities www.inderby.org.uk/parks/events..., Sat. 30 Nov. - Sun. 1 Dec. in the Visitor Centre; & I'll be there for a hr each day (times to follow) for Q&A w/ Georgian/Victorian artefacts & guide preview.
A woman with her back to the camera, stands in the snow, in front of hedges, leaning on a blackthorn walking stick. She wears old-fashioned clothing, with a short-length light green wool jacket; floor-length, full, dark red, wool skirt; and a low-crown black top hat; a pale brown narrow fur scarf is draped around the back of her neck.
Last time it snowed, late Georgian lady antiquary, Mrs Leach, was spied on the hunt for greenery to decorate her academy. Will she be caught on camera again this year?
A poster with text: https://industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-the-park/ Interactive Heritage Guide and Activities Download and Online Free Step Back in Time with Pickwick in the Park Dickensian Derbyshire Country Christmas Industrial Folkways Creative Heritage Project
Here's the PipDDCC poster in another colour ('cos after 35 years of crazy-expensive Photoshop, I can't help revelling in open source GIMP www.gimp.org).
A poster with text: https://industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-the-park/ Interactive Heritage Guide and Activities Download and Online Free Step Back in Time with Pickwick in the Park Dickensian Derbyshire Country Christmas Industrial Folkways Creative Heritage Project
The free Markeaton Interactive Guide - Pickwick in the Park: A Dickensian 🎩 Derbyshire Country 🐂 Christmas 🎄 - is now live 🎉: industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-... - please share!
There'll also be free follow-on activities 🎨 - so watch this space!
Information poster, with text reading: Pickwick in the Park Dickensian Derbyshire Country Christmas. Free Interactive Guide and Activities. Step back to another age, and enjoy Markeaton Park from a different perspective. Join Dickens' Mr Pickwick on a seasonal visit, to uncover hidden histories of the lost Georgian mansion, and surviving parkland remains. Explore local and wider country customs during the Industrial Revolution - when old ways were giving way to new; and discover what late Georgian and early Victorian life was like - for rich, and poor. Free to download or use online, with related free activities. Industrial Folkways Creative Heritage Project. https://industrialfolkways.org.uk/pickwick-in-the-park/ An illustrations depicts a group of people - including a woman wearing an apron and cap, with keys suspended from her waist; a red-faced woman, also wearing an apron and cap; a boy in ragged clothing and no shoes; a frightened young woman, wearing an apron and cap, and carrying a broom; and a group of three men: one holding a brace of pheasants telling-off another whom the third man restrains - stand in front of a snow-covered country house.
Here's what the Markeaton Georgian and Victorian Christmas Interactive Guide's about:
A group of people - including a woman wearing an apron and cap, with keys suspended from her waist; a red-faced woman, also wearing an apron and cap; a boy in ragged clothing and no shoes; a frightened young woman, wearing an apron and cap, and carrying a broom; and a group of three men: one holding a brace of pheasants telling-off another whom the third man restrains - stand in front of a snow-covered country house.
The (Free!) Interactive Markeaton Heritage Guide - Pickwick in the Park Dickensian 🎩 Derbyshire Country 🐂 Christmas🎄- will be released tomorrow! Free related activities will follow. 🥳
Find out more about this resource here: industrialfolkways.org.uk/free-markeat...
Interesting post by Derbyshire Record Office, discussing the appearance of American black actor, Ira Aldrige, on the boards in mid-19th century Derby: recordoffice.wordpress.com/2024/10/09/i...
Lengths of wide white satin ribbon, and narrow cranberry-red velvet ribbon, are piled over velvet high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat, which is placed on a cranberry-red cotton bodice, the seams of which are decorated with piping in the same fabric. This in turn lays on top of a skirt of the same fabric, which has close gathering at the waistband.
An unfinished bodice with leg-of-mutton sleeves, and front hook-and-eye fastening, made of pale green cotton, with a printed all-over design of small dark blue-green flowers and tendrils. A roll of cotton webbing, a pair of scissors, thimble, and wooden cotton reel are on top of the bodice; and a length of cotton webbing is pinned in place along an inside vertical seam.
A doll made of cream-coloured cotton fabric, hair made of strands of black silk thread, and with simple embroidered features for a face, lies on top of various items of clothing of the same size: a white cotton chemise and bloomers; a cream cotton corset, with canvas 'bum-pad'; under-petticoats of white cotton, and quilted red brushed-cotton; a red cotton over-petticoat, and matching bodice with elbow-length leg-of-mutton sleeves; printed cotton neckerchiefs - one large and one small with a black ground and light red and green paisley motifs, and one with thin red and white stripes and white dots; white cotton stockings, with black ribbon garters, and fine knitted black elbow-length fingerless gloves.
It seems fitting to start my Bluesky journey with that bitter-sweet feeling of 'what next?' Several creative projects - on which I seem to have been working forever (read: one year?) - are close to completion: a couple of historical costumes (late 1820s & late 1830s) & an 1830s storytelling figure.