NEWS Archives - Dronfield Heritage Trust

Posted on 29 June, 202626 August, 2026

Dronfield Heritage Trust, the organisation which runs Dronfield Hall Barn on the town’s High Street, has been awarded a grant of £247,239 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to continue to preserve the Barn and gardens “for everyone’s enjoyment” for years to come.

Announcing the grant, the Heritage Fund said the award is “to continue the work started in 2025 in building a sustainable business model for the future of Dronfield Hall Barn.”

This is the second resilience grant awarded to Dronfield Heritage Trust and reflects the significant progress made by the new Board of Trustees to review its organisational processes, business planning and fundraising strategies.

Between 2012 – 2015 Dronfield Heritage Trust rescued and restored the Grade II* listed medieval building which dates back to 1430. The Dronfield Hall Barn project, regarded as one of the finest examples of restorative work in the East Midlands, included an archaeological site survey and was supported by the Heritage Fund alongside generous donations from the community.

Ten years on, the Dronfield Heritage Trust continues to raise income through the hire of its historic Gallery and modern meeting room, private functions, catering, and community events. The recent Medieval Festival drew over 400 visitors from across a wide area and raised around £3000.

Chair of Trustees Louise Third MBE said: “We are extremely grateful to have received further support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is thanks to National Lottery players that this grant will allow us more time to embed the management changes we have begun and employ a full-time fundraiser and partnerships manager.

“In today’s tough economic conditions, the challenge for us now is to identify the best business model for such a valued and popular site.”

ENDS

The announcement of The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s award to Dronfield Heritage Trust can be found here: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/about/decisions/england-midlands-east-delegated-decisions-april-2026

Notes

About Dronfield Heritage Trust

Dronfield Heritage Trust is the custodian of the Dronfield Hall Barn, a historic Grade II* listed building dating back to 1430. The Barn was restored and extended with the support of a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and generous public donations. The work was completed in 2015 and the building opened to the public in 2016. In addition to the Barn Coffee Shop, the venue runs a varied events programme covering artisan markets, exhibitions, festivals, weddings, wakes, parties, and corporate gatherings.

Local community groups regularly use the space and the surrounding grounds provide a beautiful setting for special events and casual visitors. A team of volunteers and partners works year round to create a vibrant historic community hub for Dronfield and district.

Dronfield Heritage Trust is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The Board of Trustees has overall strategic responsibility for the project.

www.dronfieldhallbarn.org.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

www.heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Posted on 26 March, 202614 April, 2026

Dronfield Heritage Trust, the charity behind the management of award-winning Dronfield Hall Barn has attracted its first corporate sponsor – Helen J Wright Wealth Management. The opportunity for companies to work with the trust reflects its ambition to develop the heritage site into a destination venue.

Helen Wright, a wealth manager under the St James’ Place Partnership is based in Chesterfield and familiar with Dronfield Hall Barn. She learned of the charity’s search for sponsorship and wanted to explore how she could help.

Helen commented: “I am proud to have worked in the Financial Services sector for over 30 years, looking after the financial wellbeing of my clients.

As a client, you have access to a comprehensive range of wealth management advice and extremely high standards of personal service. Our philosophy is simple: to provide financial peace of mind for you and your family, both now and in the future.

Over the years, I like to ‘earn the right’ to become your trusted financial adviser, helping you to make informed financial decisions throughout your life.”

Helen started her company Helen J Wright Wealth Management in December 2014 and her advice covers the financial management issues which affect individuals as well as families.

“Many people want to find ways to protect their financial future so we explore the various options. Where they have funds to invest we look into building a portfolio which makes the most of those funds and tax implications. Clients often want to support the family and the next generation so estate planning, leaving a legacy and later life planning as well as wealth distribution all come within my expertise.”

Chair of Trustees Louise Third says: “Helen’s contribution to our work is very welcome and allows us to fund some smaller projects. She also becomes part of our wider charity community, and we look forward to seeing her at several events in the coming months.

“Helen has also led the way for other companies to work with us. We can provide sponsorship opportunities for community events, heritage exhibitions, and gardens’ development. We are happy to explore the best promotional fit for any corporate partner.”

Restoration of the Dronfield Hall Barn was completed in late 2015 with grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and community donations. Thanks to the continuing generosity of National Lottery players, the Dronfield Heritage Trust received a new grant in 2025 to review its operations and develop future plans.

Now, the Grade II* listed building offers venue hire, catered celebrations, heritage events and a popular Coffee Shop. An estimated 60,000 visitors enjoy the charity’s events and public access to the gardens during open hours.

Posted on 4 October, 202521 March, 2026

‘What makes a remarkable woman?’ was the evening’s discussion in Dronfield Hall Barn on Thursday 25th September when the audience was treated to entertaining and thoughtful contributions from a panel of three guests. Award-winning Derbyshire Scounting leader and maths teacher Morgause Lomas, architect and businesswoman Jillian Mitchell, and veteran volunteer Sybil Naylor BEM were joined in conversation by Dronfield Heritage Trust chair of trustees Louise Third MBE to uncover their life stories, who or what influenced their careers, and how we can inspire a new generation of women to be remarkable in their own ways.

The audience was made up of students from local schools, a few teachers and parents, as well as charity volunteers. During the discussion they were asked to define ‘remarkable’ and the responses included ‘forward-looking, brave, resilient, having respect for yourself, and not having your goals set by others. One student has subsequently felt inspired to run a similar style of debate at her school, and several are intersted in finding out how they might volunteer at Dronfield Hall Barn.

The evening ran in conjunction with an exhibition and publication led by the Dronfield Heritage Trust Research and Archive group. Andrew Turner, researcher and author, has spent over a year gathering the life stories of four remarkable Dronfield woman born in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Over 100 visitos to the exhibition commended the quality of Andy’s work, and book sales have been boyant.

Thanks to the Drone Valley Brewery for sponsoring the exhibition, and to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for underpinning this work through its grant support.

Morgause Lomas, Louise Third, Sybil Naylor, and Jillian Mitchell.

Posted on 29 August, 202521 March, 2026

Our ‘Colour the Barn’ competition on 20th August gave Dronfield’s budding junior artists a summer holiday treat with a difference. Entrants were given an outline of the Dronfield Hall Barn and a multitude of colouring pens to use as they felt inspired.

There were National Book Token prizes for two age groups; 4-7 years and 8-12 years, as well as a fabulously-fun selection of giveaways provide by the visiting Derbyshire Police team.

The winners were:

4-7 years: 1^st Pippa Thorne; 2^nd Evelyn Bryson; 3^rd Mazie Morgan

8-12 years: 1^st Benjaman Wilde; 2^nd Isabella Jones; 3^rd Sophia Wilde

>Dronfield Heritage Trust volunteer organiser was Margaret Randles and several other volunteers helped during the day.

Generous donations from Apollo Appliances and Family Shopper (Barnes Lane) allowed the event to continue the charity’s commitment to community and family engagement.

Photo caption: PCSO Flower, Margaret Randles, NIO Mills, PC Gilburn with Imogen and Pippa Thorne.

Posted on 22 May, 202514 April, 2026

Dronfield Heritage Trust, the organisation which runs Dronfield Hall Barn on the town’s High Street, has a new Chair of Trustees.

Louise Third MBE has been a trustee of the charity for two years and takes over from Alan Powell, a former newspaper editor and very active in Dronfield civic life. Louise steps in as the Trust celebrates the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the Grade II* listed building and the development of its stunning gardens. With the support of a further grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, the charity is planning ahead for the next ten years.

“It is a real privilege to have been asked to serve the Dronfield Heritage Trust and everyone associated with the charity in this very practical way. I recall the day well in 2004 when I hesitantly ventured up a long ladder to explore the vast oak beams of the derelict Old Hall Barn on High Street. One of the trustees had asked me to do some voluntary press work for them. It was a news-worthy story, so I said yes.

“Never did I imagine that 21 years later, and ten years since the £1.5 million restoration was completed, I would be taking over as chair to continue the work and help shape the charity for the next ten years.”

Louise and the Board of Trustees have already started work on a review of how the organization runs and what more can be achieved. With around 60 volunteers, over 1200 Friends of the Barn, and a hardworking staff team, the charity is well-placed to build on its community and commercial success.

“We’d really like to develop our connections, especially with potential donors and corporate partners. We are custodians of a unique venue which attracts well over 50,000 visitors a year,” continues Louise. “So whether it’s getting involved with our major community events, becoming professional advisers, or even Patrons makes commercial sense as well as being great for giving back to the area. There’s no limit to the creative ways anyone can get involved.”

Former chair Alan Powell, who will support Louise in the role of deputy chair, said: “As the Trust enters a new phase it is good to know that someone who is absolutely committed to continuing the success of The Trust and Barn is taking up this position.”

Louise is originally from Holmesfield in Derbyshire and has kept close links with Dronfield. She has blended her career in marketing and media work with charity volunteering. She was a director of Nottingham-based public relations agency Integra Communications Limited for nearly 20 years and was awarded an MBE for services to enterprise and charity in 2016.

Posted on 13 March, 202521 March, 2026

Dronfield’s Historic Buildings

Free public exhibition in The Gallery, Dronfield Hall Barn

Thursday 6- 28 March 2025

9-3pm

Who lived at that interesting-looking old house on Dronfield’s High Street? The one we always wonder about when we pass by. What did the owner who lived there leave in his will? Did they have children?

If you have ever been curious about some of the town’s oldest buildings, along with the people who lived in them, look in at a major new free exhibition coming soon to Dronfield Hall Barn. ‘Dronfield’s Historic Buildings’ is open from 6 March 9am – 3pm on Thursdays – Sundays until 28 March.

The town’s rich legacy of historic buildings owes much to its location on the edge of the Peak District’s lead-ore geology, the local mineral wealth of coal and iron, and particularly to the entrepreneurship of individuals such as Ralph Burton and John Rotheram in the 18^th century and later of the Lucas family in the 19^th and 20^th century.

This exhibition is being curated by the volunteer historians for the charity The Dronfield Heritage Trust (DHT) and looks at the buildings left behind and the people who lived, worked and used them.

Local historian John Harvey is the project lead: “Walk round Dronfield and you can see how each decade, and century, has changed the built environment from a small 16^th century village to an expanding 20^th century town. As local historians we have a fascinating time going through residents’ wills and home ownership records to forensically uncover who lived where and why. I hope visitors will be as excited as we are at discovering the stories behind the front doors of the old houses we still see today.”

Cllr Steve Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place at North East Derbyshire District Council said: “The depth of this work by the DHT Archives team demonstrates how listed buildings are a repository of cultural, economic and social history as well as a fragile resource. Research of this kind enables us to make informed decisions when managing change to Dronfield’s historic environment. It is also hoped that it will lead to a greater awareness of the town’s listed buildings, encouraging appropriate stewardship and safeguarding the associated traditional building craft skills.”

DHT Chair of Trustees Alan Powell says: “It is most appropriate that this exhibition is being held in one of Dronfield’s oldest buildings. Dronfield Hall Barn dates back to 1430 and was brought back to life for the community in 2015. I am very grateful to the team of archivists who give their time to research and present fascinating findings to the public.”

The exhibition is staged with the kind support of North East Derbyshire District Council, Dronfield Civic Society and Drone Valley Brewery.

Details of the Exhibition and associated talk by John Harvey can be found on the website www.dronfieldhallbarn.org.

Dronfield Hall Barn, High Street, Dronfield S18 1PX

Media contact: Louise Third MBE, Trustee
07773 288342 / louise@louisethird.com

North East Derbyshire District Council and Dronfield Heritage Trust have collaborated on this project but they are independent organisations with differing roles and responsibilities in the management of the historic environment.

About Dronfield Heritage Trust

Dronfield Heritage Trust is the custodian of the Dronfield Hall Barn, a historic Grade II* listed building dating back to 1430. The Barn was restored and extended with the support of a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and generous public donations. The work was completed in 2015 and the building opened to the public in 2016. In addition to the Barn Coffee Shop, the venue runs a varied events programme covering artisan markets, exhibitions, festivals, weddings, wakes, parties, and corporate gatherings.

Local community groups regularly use the space and the surrounding grounds provide a beautiful setting for special events and casual visitors. A team of volunteers and partners works year round to create a vibrant historic community hub for Dronfield and district.

Dronfield Heritage Trust is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The Board of Trustees has overall strategic responsibility for the project.

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