NEWS FROM THE EREWASH VALLEY

The Heritage Lottery funded Bennerley Viaduct exhibition at the Erewash Museum is certainly drawing the crowds. The special events are also proving to be very popular, with a full house in the newly converted Hayloft on Wednesday 08 June to hear Dave Gent talk about wrought iron. Sounds boring doesn't it? But this was a fascinating explanation of the versatile precursor to steel and its use in structures like the viaduct. Kieran Lee then reminded everyone of how close we came to losing the Iron Giant. One of the people we have to thank for its salvation is Lord Heseltine!

A number of other events are to be held in connection with the exhibition:

18 June.  A Guided Natural History Walk around the viaduct with Kieran Lee and Jim Steele (Butterfly Conservation Officer for Lowland Derbyshire and all-round authority on the wildlife of the Erewash Valley). 

02 July. Transport artist Paul Atchinson will be teaching and demonstrating in the museum

23 July.  Ilkeston Woodside Model Railway Club will have a model railway in action, including a section of the viaduct. 

Find out more from Erewash Museum, Facebook, Kieran Lee (07823 536941) or by visiting bennerleyviaduct.org.uk

The Friends' next meeting is at the Gate Inn, Awsworth, at 7pm on Monday, 25 July. All welcome.

STOP PRESS The viaduct project has received another boost in the form of a £75k grant from the Railway Heritage Trust. This is in addition to the £40k from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £20k from Broxtowe Borough Council. All of these sums will be used in the preparatory work necessary for the main bid for about £2million which will be submitted in either November 2016 or February 2017. 

Jeff