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Heanor & District Local History Society



Displays and Exhibitions

Heanor Heritage Centre

From 1991 to 2005, the Society occupied one of the two chapels in Marlpool Cemetery for use as a town heritage centre, which opened on two afternoons a week.

We were grateful to Amber Valley Borough Council for allowing us to use the building, and for finding us an alternative storage site when the chapel was needed for cemetery purposes.

Whether or not we establish a new heritage centre in the future is dependent on the right accommodation becoming available, and more volunteers to help us open up.

But in the meantime….

Heritage Corner at the Heanor Antiques Centre

Since June 2009, you can now visit a small but permanent exhibition on the heritage of the area on the second floor of the Heanor Antiques Centre, Church Square (at the junction of Ilkeston Road and Church Street). The premises themselves are still best known to many as the former site of Machin and Hartwell’s.

The Heritage Corner occupies around 12 shelving units. There are a number of general displays of photographs and artefacts relating to the district. The displays are changed several times a year, so please visit more than once.

The Heritage Corner is open whenever the Antiques Centre is open, which is from 10.30am to 4.30pm daily (check regarding Bank Holidays).

The nature of the building is such that access for people with disabilities is extremely difficult - if in doubt, please contact us before travelling.

Heanor Antiques Centre is one of the most visited collectors' centres in the country, so is worth a visit in its own right. If you make a trip just to see the Heritage Corner, please spend a little time looking around the antiques as well - there is something for every budget!

There is a small free car park at the rear of the Centre, but please note that the car park at the side of the building is "Pay and Display".

Inside the old Heritage Centre

Our “Heritage Corner”

The Centre also has a cafe, which can provide refreshments and light meals.

If you would like to know more about the Heanor Antiques Centre, or for contact details, etc., please have a look at their own website, www.alscar.co.uk/heanor.

The Heanor Antiques Centre today…

… and in a former guise.

Occasional Displays

The Society regularly puts on small exhibitions around the area at events organised by other groups, such as schools, churches, or local history forums. These can be themed to fit in with the nature of the event. If you are interested in us putting on a display for your group, please Contact us to discuss.

Two of our committee also give talks on various local history topics, not just about the Heanor area. The Society is not involved in the arrangements for these, but we will happily put you in contact in the first instance.

The Society always has a stall at the town’s May Day and Christmas markets - as well as selling our books and calendars, we have a variety of photographs and artefacts on display for these events. We hope to see you at the next one.