The Maurice Dobson Heritage & Amenity Centre.
Restoration work on the building that houses the Maurice Dobson Museum & Heritage Centre started on February 21st. 2000. The house had been empty since Maurice Dobson died in 1990. The restoration programme was therefore quite extensive.
Our Architect was Linda Lockett">
The
Maurice Dobson Heritage & Amenity Centre. Restoration work on
the building that houses the Maurice Dobson Museum & Heritage Centre started on February
21st. 2000. The house had been empty since Maurice Dobson died in 1990. The restoration programme
was therefore quite extensive. Our Architect was Linda Lockett,
of Martin Stancliffe Architects, 29
Marygate, YORK. The Contractors were Messrs
Irwins Ltd., Low Hall Road, Horsforth,
LEEDS. The works
carried out included re-roofing, stone repairs and rendering, and inside damp
proofing, rewiring, replacement woodwork etc. Funding for the Project. The Heritage Lottery Fund
granted us £160 000. The European Regional Development
Fund granted us £40 600. Volunteers have in the last few
years, whilst grants have been sought for the restoration of the house, carried
out much work to reflag the patio area, reroof the stables, reconstruct the
covered part of the patio etc. Grants and donations have been given by Trusts
and local organisations. The members of the Amenity Society have worked hard to
raise further monies through coffee mornings, sales etc. Now We Are There! The Museum display rooms are now open to the
public as from Easter 2001. A view in one of the display
rooms. Two upstairs rooms show a mass of domestic
bygones in one room; and in the other, themed displays covering aspects of
Darfield life - Darfield & Education; Trade & Industry in Darfield;
Darfield and Wars; Historical aspects of Darfield; etc. etc. Displays are
constantly being changed as more material is collected and existing displays are
revamped. Opening Times for the MAURICE
DOBSON MUSEUM & HERITAGE CENTRE are: Saturdays.
10.00am to 2.00pm Sundays.
2.00pm to 5.00pm. (From
Easter 2002) Wednesdays.
1.00pm to 4.00pm. The shop filled with the
work of
local
The relaxing cafe-gallery.
craftspeople. The antiques in the Maurice
Dobson
Room.
The History of Darfield Room.
Members of
the Low Valley Arts Workshop make use of the Cafe-gallery on a Monday evening. The above times are for the whole of the
Centre - the Shop with its wide range of beautiful crafts; the Maurice Dobson
Antiques Display; the museum of Darfield`s past; and the cafe with its tempting
drinks and comestibles. We are very happy to open the
Centre for booked
parties at other times by previous arrangement. Contact the Chairman on
Geoffrey@darf.freeserve.co.uk Please contact this address also
if you are interested in having a speaker from the Museum at your society or
club meeting - this can be arranged. We are willing also to travel to schools
with a selection of artefacts from our collections to talk to children about
aspects of history - "washdays of old"; "keeping warm"; etc.
