Dore to Door internet edition

Local organisations - Autumn 2004

Oral history group - Barn rescue team - Home Farm Trust - Women's Fellowship

Oral history group

Dore oral history group was formed in October 2001 as a branch of the Dore Millennium Play committee. The initial aim was to collect and record the memories of elderly residents who had attended Dore School as material for the play. From this small beginning a major oral history project has developed with over forty interviews now recorded.

Recollections of family and village life, childhood and work have given us a surprising insight into an almost forgotten past. The stories and reminiscences of the people of Dore throughout the 20th century were brought together for our exhibition ‘The Time of Our Lives' in July 2003. Similarly, memories of well dressing were recorded for the exhibition Petal Pushers.

Apart from recording, editing and transcribing interviews, we collect, copy, and catalogue old photographs and postcards of Dore. We like to keep in contact with our interviewees, especially the very elderly who have such wonderful tales to tell and to whom we are indebted.

We belong to the Oral History Society, take part in local and national meetings and contribute to their journal. In June 2004 two of the group attended the annual conference, ‘Oral History on Display' and were pleased to discover that our community project is developing along the right lines. We also write articles for local publications such as Dore to Door and give talks to interested groups.

We are applying for a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative which, if successful, would give us funding for three years. There is still so much to do and to learn. We would like to create our own website, improve our knowledge of audio and transcribing equipment and create a proper and accessible archive in Dore. We would like to produce a publication which combines personal stories, pictures and voices in a new and exciting way.

So, if you are interested in people and the latest technology, if you like talking, typing or web designing or you are just enthusiastic about living history do get in touch. We are a very friendly group and always welcome new members of any age.

You can contact, Maureen Cope Tel: 235 0392 or Barbara Jackson Tel: 236 0332.

Barn rescue team

In 1935 Frank Crawshaw gave the people and city of Sheffield the amazing gift of Beauchief Abbey and its surrounding buildings. At the same time he sold them the land which is now Beauchief golf course. The Abbey has been well looked after by the City, and is still in weekly use for services, but some of the surrounding buildings have not fared so well.

About 100 yards south of the Abbey is a group of stone barns which have had little maintenance and are used to store golf course equipment. Yet as they are Grade Two Listed Buildings, the Council has a duty to maintain them. Recently the Council applied for planning permission to convert these barns into 2 houses. After planning permission was granted, the barns and land would be sold to a developer.

This seemed wrong and regrettable to a number of people and organisations connected with the area, and in October 2003 the Beauchief Abbey Barns Association BABA was set up to look for an alternative future for the barns. This involves making an second planning application with a view to restoring the barns and converting them for the benefit of the community.

This alternative plan proposes to repair the barns with minimal alteration. An experienced stone mason has advised us that the barns are not in such a bad state as they look; they need repairing, but not wholesale pulling down and rebuilding. From its roof timbers, the largest barn (south end) seems to have been a cruck barn and it could be used for lectures, parties, and exhibitions. Other bays are smaller and lend themselves to a variety of purposes.

The woods and open spaces near the barns are already an important resource for schools and university departments. There would be good use for a seminar room and a utility room for work on archaeological finds. Beauchief Environment Group (BEG) and the Golf Course both need space to store machinery and tools. BEG contributes a substantial effort in maintaining and improving the environment (repairing walls, hedging, interpretation) and deserves the support of the wider community. There are many other possibilities, not least the provision of a toilet for golfers and people undertaking the Round Walk.

Preliminary enquiries suggest that the project fits the requirements of a number of grants, such as the Heritage Lottery Fund. It would therefore he BABA's task to raise guarantees for matching funding to qualify for such grants. Detailed costings are in progress, but in round numbers it may be that BABA might need to raise £25,000.

If you care for this remarkable unspoiled and beautiful area please join BABA. It is historically important - there is the whole mediaeval landscape of the Abbey lying beneath our feet, stretching across to the Abbeydale Hamlet. A cynic might add that turning the barns into housing would be the thin end of the wedge: the area round the Barns becoming a developers paradise. But, more positively, BABA sees a way of turning the Barns into a great community resource without spoiling them or cutting them out of the common heritage.

If you would like more information or wish to join BABA now (£5 pa), please contact Francis Evans on 258 5346.

Home Farm Trust

It's a new beginning for HFT - The Home Farm Trust and the residents and staff at HFT Sheffield.

After thirty two years primarily based at Fairthorn, the nine remaining people with learning disabilities currently living there, will be moving into houses in South-West Sheffield and the Matlock area of Derbyshire by the end of the year. This is the final relocation of residents from the Fairthorn site, to community based housing in and around Sheffield and Derbyshire. These changes will give the people using HFT services the chance to live where they have easy access to local amenities & work opportunities.

HFT will continue to have a presence in Dore at its other house, closer to the village centre and is grateful for the support it receives from the community in Dore. A new office and 'drop-in centre' is currently being sought in the SW area of Sheffield.

HFT is a national charity established in 1962 by parents of people with learning disabilities, including Down's syndrome and autism. It's key purpose is to meet the needs and hopes of adults with learning disabilities. This is achieved by supporting people to develop their potential and live independently in their local community, no matter how complex or profound their disability.

Today, HFT offers a wide range of services including; supported living and registered care homes, advocacy, supported employment, short breaks and day services. They also provide a national support service for carers of people with learning disabilities

HFT has recently launched a £77,000 appeal to expand and improve its services in Sheffield & Derbyshire. One forthcoming fund raising event will be a sponsored walk, 5 or 15 miles in length around the Chatsworth House Estates and beyond on Sunday 3rd October 2004.

If you would like to know more about working for HFT or would like to help fundraise for their local appeal please contact Anne-Marie Wilson - tel 236 9105 or email annemarie.wilson@hft.org.uk

Women's Fellowship

The Methodist Women's Fellowship group meets fortnightly on Mondays between September and July, from 2.30pm to about 3.45pm, in the Methodist Church Hall, and is open to any women in the village, who would like to come along.

A short devotional opening session is followed by speakers on a variety of topics, (some with slides) ending with tea and biscuits and time for friendly conversation.

The autumn programme starts on September 6th. Why not give it a try? A warm welcome awaits you. For any further information, contact Doris Simpson, President (Tel. 236 6668) or Doreen Cobain, secretary (Tel. 235 1754).