Staveley: Restoring a local piece of railway heritage for future generations
Mervyn Allcock at the Barrow Hill Round House, 2020 © Courtesy of Mervyn Allcock
From near demolition to DRIIVe innovation centre
Mervyn Allcock has lived in the Staveley area all his life. Like many of the working families in the area in the 1960s and 70s, his father and brother were coal miners. Mervyn grew up in Inkersall, less than a mile away from the railway roundhouse at Barrow Hill, a large building with a turntable and 24 tracks, resembling a clock face.
“I remember coming here many times with friends, sneaking around and taking down the train numbers. I was very fond of the building.”
The Barrow Hill Railway Depot was built in 1870 by the Midland Railway Company for the maintenance of steam locomotives and is a unique example of Victorian railway architecture. The roundhouse operated as a steam depot until 1965 when diesel took over the movement of coal trains, continuing as a diesel depot until 1991.
With an ambition for the future of Staveley and the surrounding area, Mervyn now wants to restore the energy and bustle of activity he knew as a child. And he’s once again looking to the railway for inspiration.
Mervyn has plans for an innovation centre on the site of the Barrow Hill Roundhouse and is working with members of the Town Deal Board to develop Staveley’s Town Investment Plan to outline the potential project.
The preservation of railway history
In his early 20s, Mervyn read a story in the paper that stated plans to demolish the last operational railway roundhouse in Great Britain. He knew instantly it was the roundhouse at Barrow Hill, his childhood playground. And so began a pursuit to save this local historic building.
“It’s very difficult to explain why a 22-year-old had such a wild idea. I wanted to do something with the building, making my mark on railway heritage and our local history. So I decided to try and save the building from demolition.”
The first challenge was to stop the building being razed to the ground. Mervyn dedicated the next two years to raising awareness of the roundhouse with Chesterfield Council while striving to get a preservation order placed on it.
One early breakthrough came in 1996 when Mervyn secured £350,000 to restore the buildings that had been heavily vandalised. The funding was a joint effort from European funding, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and the community arm of what was then British Rail.
By 1998 the rebuilding works were complete, and Mervyn and his team celebrated saving the country’s last operational roundhouse with a steam open day, attracting hundreds of people. Since then the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre has grown into a multiuse visitor attraction, known around the world.
A piece of history at the heart of the community
Today, iconic trains from the original roundhouse depot remain at the heart of the project. Mervyn has also opened this historic railway building to live music and beer festivals. With performing stars such as Jools Holland and Rick Wakeman, the centre has had a significant impact on the Staveley economy, with visitors staying and spending locally.
“I think I’ve just learned lots about how valuable the community and the people locally can be if they’re given an opportunity, I haven’t done it all on my own. There’s been lots of individuals who have made a massive contribution alongside me.”
The future of rail innovation through DRIIVe
The proposed Rail Sector Innovation, Research and Training Centre at Barrow Hill, or DRIIVe centre as it’s known locally, would provide training for the next generation in the skills and knowledge for future railway industries, whilst innovating with materials, track and vehicle usage.
The DRIIVe project brings together partner organisations across the Staveley region including the University of Derby, Chesterfield College, Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, Chesterfield Borough Council and Talgo, a large Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of railway rolling stock.
Pride in the community
Ivan Fomin, chair of Staveley’s Town Deal Board recognises that the town is constantly changing and needs to evolve over time.
Both Ivan and Mervyn are committed to bringing back a sense of pride within the community, and hope the Staveley Town Deal will bring prosperity to the town and its residents.
While accepting an honorary master’s from the University of Derby, Mervyn’s message to anyone who wants to make a difference to their local place is clear.
“You must never, ever give up. If you have a dream or a vision of something you think will make a difference. Then, first of all, you must never give up.”
This story was written from a conversation with Mervyn Allcock, General Manager of the Barrow Hill Roundhouse.
Staveley is one of 101 places invited by the Government to develop proposals for a Town Deal to deliver long-term economic recovery, clean growth, jobs and prosperity as part of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund. Staveley has submitted their Town Investment Plan and the Government is in the process of assessing their Town Deal proposals. The outcome of this assessment will be confirmed in due course.