History

Crich Tramway Village - Derbyshire

Founded in 1955 and incorporated in 1962 this Tramway Museum is a chance to go back in time.  For the exchange of one old penny, supplied with the entry ticket, it is possible to ride on any of the many restored trams.

These take the visitor high up over the Derwent Valley.  There are picnic spots near the stations offering stunning panoramic views.

There is also an impressive woodland walk and sculpture trail opened by Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire in July 2004. 

This Green Man was created by Andrew Frost a local chainsaw artist who lives near Crich.  The old ash stump for the sculpture came from Kedlestone Park near Derby.

From the tram there are also stunning views of Crich Stand.  Originally a timber construction built by Francis Hurt in 1785, it has been replaced several times.  The present tower was constructed in 1923 as a memorial to the Sherwood Foresters who lost their lives in the 1st World War.

Returning on the tram, the village street is fascinating, containing old historic buildings from around the country. These contain not only a fully functioning pub, but tea rooms, sweet and gift  shops and a print office.

There is also a comprehensive exhibition area, and a Workshop Viewing Gallery were engineering teams work to keep the trams operational as well as carrying out careful restoration work.

There are also a number of Special Events so it is well worth checking out their web page http://www.tramway.co.uk/.  This is from an Edwardian Weekend

For a more personal account of a visit to Crich Tramway Village click here

You can find other historical articles by clicking here.