Film commissions

Six short films celebrating Derbyshire's industrial heritage

Telling stories of Derbyshire's makers

Using collections and artefacts along with visitor, volunteer and practitioner recollections to tell the stories of Derbyshire’s industrial heritage of makers, their materials and skills. The films will creatively document and capture stories of the places, people, processes and skills involved in some of Derbyshire's key historical and industrial products, the passing on of skills from generation to generation, changing and loss of skills, and more.

Six short films were commissioned in 2025 with heritage partners to research, capture and share their story on site or via digital channels over the next two years.

Black and white photo of a bare-chested quarryman stood on top of a large slab of stone drilling — Derbyshire Record Office Local Studies Collection

Man wearing a cloth cap, waistcoat, jeans and apron leans over a large textile machine — Masson Mill. Photo Richard Tymon

Bridge over a river with a large red brick mill in the background — Belper

Woman in Victorian servant's clothing is surrounded by a group of children in Victorian clothing in front of a stone brick mill — Cromford Mills

Watercolour painting of a coal mine pit head and surrounding buildings with smoking chimneys — Maude Verney Pleasley Pit 2 Derbyshire Record Office

Large red-brick mill with a tower and chimney surrounded by countryside — Masson Mills. Photo Stephen Elliott

Photograph of an old illustrated image of a factory perched on an old piece of machinery — Photo Richard Tymon

Derbyshire Makes History is set up to compliment the wider 3-year Derbyshire Makes programme, with an exclusive heritage focus, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's heritage.

Film commissions

Telling stories of Derbyshire's makers

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