After enjoying a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict at the CASA Hotel in Chesterfield it was just a three mile drive to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum at Staveley. This 19th Century Grade II listed building is the last remaining operational railway roundhouse in the United Kingdom.
The Roundhouse was constructed in 1870 by the Midland Railway to service the steam locomotives serving the Staveley Ironworks and Derbyshire coalfields. Here, they were repaired and replenished with coal and water. The roundhouse survived into the diesel era, being used for over a hundred years before finally closing in 1989.
The building, which was threatened with demolition, was saved by a group of passionate volunteers who have transformed it from a redundant artefact into a unique railway heritage museum and visitor centre. The 20-acre site is also a thriving commercial railway business with numerous companies engaged in locomotive and carriage servicing and restoration. Money generated from this activity helps to fund Barrow Hill’s preservation and educational work.
Standard admission to the heritage centre is £8 (open Saturday and Sunday only). Visits begin with a tour of the museum which contains a wealth of information about the depot’s history through memorabilia, videos and photographs of people working in the engine sheds.
The visitor guide lists 24 objects which tell the story of the Roundhouse and which people are invited to find as they tour the site. For a small deposit, children can also borrow backpacks filled with lots of activities to keep them engaged and to learn about science and engineering in the days of steam.
From the museum we moved into the Roundhouse itself which contains a unique collection of steam and diesel engines radiating from the original turntable from which the Roundhouse takes its name. Some of these engines are on loan from the National collection. Demonstrations of the working turntable take place at 12.00 noon, 1.00 and 3.00 p.m. daily.
As well as being able to view the many locomotives on display visitors can also walk a short distance along the track to the signal box where demonstrations of its workings take place at 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. My husband had long wished to view the inside of a signal box and to gain an understanding of its operation so we made sure not to miss the morning demonstration.
Signal boxes are mounted high off the ground to provide staff with a vantage point from which to control nearby trains. After climbing up the steps into the box we learnt how the levers worked; not only controlling the signals telling the driver when it is safe to proceed, but also the associated points.
Across from the Roundhouse is the Deltic Shed, home to the Deltic Preservation Society. Admission to this shed is also included in the Roundhouse entrance fee. Here we viewed numerous diesel locomotives in various states of preservation and a model railway exhibition that was running on the weekend of our visit.
Leaving trains behind our attention then turned to boats and a short drive to the Chesterfield canal. Pleasure boat trips depart from Tapton Lock, located just across the roundabout from the CASA Hotel where we were staying. One and two hour pleasure boat trips are offered at weekends and we had arranged to take a one hour cruise operated by Chesterfield Canal Trust. There’s a visitor centre and outdoor garden with seating beside the lock where visitors can relax before boarding the boat.
We boarded the John Varley II which is licensed to carry 12 passengers and three crew meaning that we had lots of opportunities to chat to the crew. After passing through the lock we enjoyed a pleasant journey on this tranquil stretch of canal. All the crew are trained volunteers and were very friendly and happy to provide information along the way.
They explained that all the money raised from the boat trips goes to maintaining the boat and towards restoration of further stretches of the canal. It is hoped that the waterway will be restored to eventually allow navigation from the River Trent into the centre of Chesterfield.
Along the way we spotted ducks, moorhens and a heron resting on the edge of the canal. With unsettled weather resulting in occasional downpours we didn’t see many people taking a walk or cycling along the towpath but from the comfort of the boat we enjoyed our trip through the Derbyshire countryside.
Tickets for one hour pleasure boat trips are very reasonably priced at only £7 and if time allows 2 hour afternoon tea and fish and chip cruises are also available. Chesterfield Canal Trust.
As we were so close to the hotel we popped back there for a light lunch before setting off again for the six mile journey to Bolsover Castle. Bolsover is a traditional small market town with some attractive buildings. The town is best known for its castle which can be seen from afar, perched on a hilltop high above the town.
Although it looks like a castle and is called one, it’s actually an elegant 17th century mansion that was designed for entertaining. As parts of the castle are in ruins, it is maintained by English Heritage but I was pleasantly surprised to find large parts of it to still be intact.
This fantasy pleasure palace was created as an extravagant retreat by the playboy poet and horse mad courtier Sir William Cavendish. After collecting our tickets we explored the sumptuous rooms which are richly adorned with wall art, marble fireplaces and stunning painted ceilings.
There’s also an impressive indoor riding school which occasionally hosts spectacular dressage displays and a beautifully restored sheltered garden surrounded by a high wall. Visitors can normally take a stroll on the ‘wall walk’ to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area but unfortunately this was inaccessible on the day of our visit due to gusty winds.
Before leaving, we wandered through the atmospheric ruins, pausing to read the information boards to find out more about the castle’s history. I’d recommend a visit to Bolsover Castle as there is much to see and do. Standard admission is £16 and free for English Heritage members. Bolsover Castle.
It was then back to the hotel to relax awhile in our lovely suite before getting ready for dinner.
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