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Services The Centre houses the North West Derbyshire Urban Studies Centre, administered by an Advisory Teacher for Environmental Education. Many hundreds of school children with their teachers make use of the Centre each year. As
a result of a unique partnership between New Mills Town Council and the
county, an important part of the Centre's work is in environmental education
for schools, particularly the growth and development of the town, and
work in local history and natural history. A classroom is available for
this purpose. The Centre offers information about the local area and a
wide range of resources and work sheets to support projects for school
parties. It can also be used for individual studies and projects at school
and university, and there have been several requests for help with dissertations.
A small reference library is built up as a consequence. The education
officer, Jane Featherstone who also manages the Chesterfield Urban Studies
Centre. Schools’ programmesA
number of one-day programmes of fieldwork are offered to schools for pupils
of all ages. All programmes are based on investigations of the rural or
built or river environment and landscapes. The programmes are planned
around the national curriculum subjects and schemes of work for each key
stage in geography or history, with links to PSNE and Citizenship. Industrial heritageRural
economy and the change from cottage industry to the factory system. The
industrial revolution in New Mills - cotton mills and water power in the
Torrs. Local transport, trade routes and links with the wider world. Conservation
of our industrial heritage. The riverscapeThe
Torrs gorge and the rivers Sett and Goyt - past, present and future. Geological
features of the Torrs sandstone gorge. The use of water power and the
management of the water resource. The 'Park under the town' - the opening
up of the Torrs to public access. The Millennium Walkway. The townscapeThe origins and growth of New Mills. The growth of roads, railways and canal. Conservation of the built environment - listed buildings and the New Mills Conservation Area. Regeneration and the development of tourism. Schools wishing to use the facilities should first of all contact the Advisory Teacher by letter or by telephone (mornings). New Mills Heritage & Information Centre Telephone 01663 746904 |