Albert Ball is one of the most famous fighter pilots in British History. A World War One hero, aerial ace and winner of the Victoria Cross, Albert had a celebrity-like following across the Nation. But Albert was also local boy, Nottingham born and bred, and educated in Erewash at Long Eaton’s Trent College. Albert’s early life was comfortable. His father, also called Albert, was a successful businessman who started life as a plumber and ended knighted and Lord Mayor of Nottingham. His father indulged his love of engines and machines: Albert had a garden shed where he could tinker away. He...

Bennerley Viaduct is an extremely important local historical monument which the local community hold close to their hearts. In 2016 we hosted an exhibition telling the story about its fascinating history and how it relates closely to the historical development of Ilkeston and the Erewash Valley.  This has been very worthwhile and made many more people aware of the great heritage assets they have on their doorstep. Sustrans’ proposal to restore Bennerley Viaduct and make it publically accessible by building ramps and paths up to it and across is very popular in the local community. By bringing the viaduct into use...

We are pleased to announce that we are working with Long Eaton and District 50+ Forum for their “Toton Sidings Remembered” Project The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have awarded £9,600 to the Forum to work for 18 months with The Erewash Museum and local schools to revive memories of this amazing local heritage, once the largest railway marshalling yard in Europe handling 2 million wagons a year. The project management group includes Pete Wearn and David Farley from the forum, local railway enthusiasts Brian Amos and Phil Burton who some readers will know from their inspiring talks about the yards and Helen Martinez...

The cottages were built around 1779 at Sandiacre Lock on the Erewash Canal. Although each of the 14 locks along the twelve and a half miles length of the Canal had a lock cottage attached, Sandiacre Lock cottages are the only ones that remain today. The cottages at Sandiacre housed the families of the lock and toll house keepers. When the canal first opened Industry along the Erewash Canal was extremely busy and sometimes hectic. The movement of commerce along the canal included coal and iron products as examples and the links with other canals and the River Trent meant goods...

Last month, the museum marked Holocaust Memorial Day. During the week, we shared blogs from our volunteers Susan, Kate and Jessica, all of who felt moved to put their thoughts into writing. In the museum itself, we had a display to mark the day. It presented materials provided by the Holocaust Memorial Trust, to allow our visitors to engage with the history of genocide, to understand the Holocaust and the genocides which have happened since. We also asked them two important questions: How can life go on? And what can we learn from history? In response, staff, volunteers and visitors wrote...