PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HISTORIC AREA GOES ON SHOW
An exhibition depicting the past, present and future of an historic part of Derby’s St Peters Quarter will be held at St Peter’s Church on Friday June 23 from 6pm – followed by a tour of premises across the area.
The free exhibition has been organised by Derby City Council under the Townscape Heritage Initiative which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) played a pivotal role in obtaining the grant funding which is available to property owners in the Green Lane area towards building works to sympathetically restore and enhance historic features and bring back vacant floor space.
The THI also provide opportunities for local people and builders to learn more about the area and how to conserve historic buildings.
Art & Design students from Derby College and local people enrolled in Derby City Council’s Adult Learning Services attended workshops earlier this year where they learnt more about the area and gained inspiration to create a collection of paintings, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, music, poetry and writing for the exhibition.
They include Derby College students Lucija Hofstetere and Jayren Cheung who are based at the Joseph Wright Centre.
Lucija (22) has created three dress designs inspired by the history and current disrepair of the Hippodrome Theatre in Green Lane.
The student is originally from Latvia and is going to De Montfort University in Leicester to study fashion design.
She said: “I was really struck by the sad demise of the Hippodrome Theatre so my three designs show the despair of the building now, its history through photographs and its last use as a bingo hall. Having researched into its past, I really hope that this building can be saved.”
James (20), who has secured a place at the same university to study Architecture, has designed a futuristic building to incorporate an ice rink which is amongst the proposals for the regeneration of nearby Duckworth Square.
“It really struck me that this needed to be an iconic building that is accessible to everyone. My design has eternal walkways to the top and cycle paths into the building.”
Councillor Martin Rawson, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy, said: “This part of St Peters Quarter has a rich history and has inspired some outstanding creative work from the Derby College students and people involved with our Adult Learning Services.
“The exhibition is an important part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative in the Green Lane area. It will hopefully encourage more people to engage in what the THI aims to achieve and will be a catalyst for the architectural restoration of more buildings in this area in the future.”
Helen Wathall, Managing Director of independent funeral directors G Wathall & Son in Macklin Street and Board Chair of the St Peters Quarter, added: “The BID has been an active partner in securing grant funding for the Green Lane area which has declined in recent years and desperately needs investment to bring it back to its former glory.
“I hope that the exhibition will encourage more people to take a fresh look at St Peters Quarter and for local businesses and property owners to be inspired to take an active role in the future regeneration of this area”