Grants for Research, Conservation and Publications

Pilling Grants

The bequest made to the Society by the late Monica Pilling enables the Society to award grants towards conservation and research projects being undertaken by members. The project should be substantially related to Derbyshire and be classifiable under one any of the following groups: Archaeology, Architectural Study, Local History or Industrial Archaeology.

If you are a member of the Society please visit the Members Area for more information.

Some of the topics for which grants have been awarded are:

  • Investigations to find evidence of Roman activities in Belper – grant to fund dating and recording of pottery and ferrous material.
  • Historic railway track exhibit at the Golden Valley Light Railway, Butterley – grant to cast replica Cromford and High Peak Railway fish bellied rails.
  • Bassoon from a 19th century church band at Church Broughton – grant to fund conservation of instrument and glazed case for future protection and display.
  • Saint Anne’s Church, Derby – grant to fund a photographic record to illustrate a history of the church.
  • Medieval and post-medieval archaeology in Castleton – grant to fund analysis of pottery finds

The Ashbourne History Fund 

This fund was transferred to the Society in 2020 from the now defunct Ashbourne Local History Group – a research body which developed out of a WEA/University of Nottingham adult education class between the 1970s and 1990s. During this period three books were published on the town’s history in the Early Victorian and Georgian periods. Since the closure of the Group the residual accumulated profits have not been used.

The fund is dedicated to helping subsidise substantial publications relating to the history and archaeology of Ashbourne and the Peak District within an approximate eight-mile radius (including the whole of Dovedale and the Manifold Valley). Applications are invited for grants up to £250 for small publications but larger ones will be considered.

To apply for a grant please fill in the online application form here.

CHPR Rails