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This is the third in a trio of reports from Ambergate and my reason for making the trip down here. This place and the wire-works used to get reported on here on a fairly regular basis then the reports stopped circa 2011. This puzzled me a bit so I didn't really know what to expect when me and non-member GazzaM headed down to check the place out. We needn't have worried. We found the place still majestic in its dereliction and not massively more far gone than it appeared in the reports from about 4-5 years ago. We could have had a look in the front bit of the house but were a little pushed for time plus we never checked out the wine cellars either. Anyhow, given it's not been done for a while here's the history bit.
Oakhurst House is a located in the Shining Cliff Woods above the village of Ambergate, Derbyshire. The house was built in 1848 by industrialist Francis Hurt (1801-1854) behind his wirework business (see earlier report). He built it for his three unmarried daughters Emma, Elizabeth and Selina. The idea was to free-up main residence, Alderwasley Hall, for his male heir. However his plans back-fired and all three refused to move to their intended home. Instead it was bought by the Thewlis Johnson, one half of the Johnson and Nephew wire-works business. The house remained in possession of the wireworks during the later 19th and early 20th centuries, with some alterations (including the mock-Tudor extension at the front) being undertaken during the 1890s as indicated by the 1894 date stone.
In the 1970s Oakhurst House was converted into flats. With the bankruptcy of the wire-works in 1985, the condition of Oakhurst also took a turn for the worst. Since then, the house has remained unoccupied and is now derelict and in a very poor way.
Quite bizarrely I can't find a single archived picture of this place. Anyhow....on with my pictures:
You always know there’s something interesting ahead when you see great gate-posts like this:
img9927 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And here it is in all its mock-Tudor glory.
img9900 by HughieDW, on Flickr
At first it doesn’t look in too bad a nick:
img9903 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9919 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But then reality kicks in:
img9905 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Toward the rear half of the house it is trashed:
img9907 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stonework is a tumbling:
img9908 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Roofs and floors fallen into the house:
img9909 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9917 by HughieDW, on Flickr
It’s a sorry sight:
img9912 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The stone mullioned windows stand firm though:
img9914 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The stone work is exquisite to the end:
img9916 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This date stone indicates the time of the mock-tudor extension:
img9921 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some rooms are still in tact at the front:
img9918 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9904 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the roof is still in reasonable condition:
img9922 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9925 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But what fate lies ahead for this once fine house?
img9923 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Thanks for looking…
Oakhurst House is a located in the Shining Cliff Woods above the village of Ambergate, Derbyshire. The house was built in 1848 by industrialist Francis Hurt (1801-1854) behind his wirework business (see earlier report). He built it for his three unmarried daughters Emma, Elizabeth and Selina. The idea was to free-up main residence, Alderwasley Hall, for his male heir. However his plans back-fired and all three refused to move to their intended home. Instead it was bought by the Thewlis Johnson, one half of the Johnson and Nephew wire-works business. The house remained in possession of the wireworks during the later 19th and early 20th centuries, with some alterations (including the mock-Tudor extension at the front) being undertaken during the 1890s as indicated by the 1894 date stone.
In the 1970s Oakhurst House was converted into flats. With the bankruptcy of the wire-works in 1985, the condition of Oakhurst also took a turn for the worst. Since then, the house has remained unoccupied and is now derelict and in a very poor way.
Quite bizarrely I can't find a single archived picture of this place. Anyhow....on with my pictures:
You always know there’s something interesting ahead when you see great gate-posts like this:
img9927 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd here it is in all its mock-Tudor glory.
img9900 by HughieDW, on FlickrAt first it doesn’t look in too bad a nick:
img9903 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9919 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut then reality kicks in:
img9905 by HughieDW, on FlickrToward the rear half of the house it is trashed:
img9907 by HughieDW, on FlickrStonework is a tumbling:
img9908 by HughieDW, on FlickrRoofs and floors fallen into the house:
img9909 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9917 by HughieDW, on FlickrIt’s a sorry sight:
img9912 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe stone mullioned windows stand firm though:
img9914 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe stone work is exquisite to the end:
img9916 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis date stone indicates the time of the mock-tudor extension:
img9921 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome rooms are still in tact at the front:
img9918 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9904 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd the roof is still in reasonable condition:
img9922 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9925 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut what fate lies ahead for this once fine house?
img9923 by HughieDW, on FlickrThanks for looking…
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