Funding from our Community Engagement Fund to the Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (DVLCRP) has helped open up the Grade II listed Whistlestop building at Matlock Bath station.
The Whistlestop, which has been closed for 11 years, has finally opened its doors housing an exciting visitor centre and vibrant café for the community and customers. CrossCountry contributed £16,250 towards the project which was used to improve access and provide disabled toilet facilities so everyone could enjoy the building.
They officially opened the building with a small gathering of partners on 11 April 2019. The sun shone with special guest Bertie the Badger cutting the ribbon.
The project was delivered in partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, which has a long term lease on the building. Network Rail, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) were also chief funders.
Ellen Fineran, Head of Commercial Development at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “A massive thanks to our lovely funders. We are so honoured to be the custodians of this beautiful, historic building and to be bringing it back to life in this way is just wonderful. A big, big thank you to them all for making it possible!”
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has worked with Network Rail to make use of the Derby-Matlock line closure at the end of last year, which was part of the Derby re-signalling project, to carry out the Whistlestop’s roof work, a key element of the overall project. Scaffolding was erected around the entire building during September and the roof work on the platform side completed by 5 October. As part of this, chimney linings were fitted for two wood burners and central heating installed.
Alastair Morley, Project Officer for DVLCRP, said: “Our aim was to revitalise the Grade II listed building to provide a much-needed year round gateway for visitors to the town, and we did just that. Hopefully it will become a space for the public to enjoy, where volunteers and groups of all ages can learn new skills and celebrate the heritage of the building, the railway and the surrounding area.”
The café is open from 09.30-16.30 Monday to Sunday between April and October with all profits going to The Wildlife Trust. The education centre is great for little ones to learn about the world around them with plenty of events coming up over the summer.
Funding from our Community Engagement Fund to the Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (DVLCRP) has helped open up the Grade II listed Whistelstop building at Matlock Bath station.
The Whistlestop, which has been closed for 11 years, has finally opened its doors housing an exciting visitor centre and vibrant café for the community and customers. CrossCountry contributed £16,250 towards the project which was used to improve access and provide disabled toilet facilities so everyone could enjoy the building.
They officially opened the building with a small gathering of partners on 11 April 2019. The sun shone with special guest Bertie the Badger cutting the ribbon.
The project was delivered in partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, which has a long term lease on the building. Network Rail, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) were also chief funders.
Ellen Fineran, Head of Commercial Development at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “A massive thanks to our lovely funders. We are so honoured to be the custodians of this beautiful, historic building and to be bringing it back to life in this way is just wonderful. A big, big thank you to them all for making it possible!”
Left to right:
Ellen Fineran – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Jennifer Lear – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Alastair Morley – Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, Councillor Trevor Ainsworth – Chair of Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, Jody Ball – CrossCountry, Paul Webster – Association of Community Rail Partnerships, Rob Goulding – Network Rail, Sarah Webster – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Bertie the Badger
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has worked with Network Rail to make use of the Derby-Matlock line closure at the end of last year, which was part of the Derby re-signalling project, to carry out the Whistlestop’s roof work, a key element of the overall project. Scaffolding was erected around the entire building during September and the roof work on the platform side completed by 5 October. As part of this, chimney linings were fitted for two wood burners and central heating installed.
Alastair Morley, Project Officer for DVLCRP, said: “Our aim was to revitalise the Grade II listed building to provide a much-needed year round gateway for visitors to the town, and we did just that. Hopefully it will become a space for the public to enjoy, where volunteers and groups of all ages can learn new skills and celebrate the heritage of the building, the railway and the surrounding area.”
The café is open from 09.30-16.30 Monday to Sunday between April and October with all profits going to wildlife. The education centre is great for little ones to learn about the world around them with plenty of events coming up over the summer.