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1. The History
Oakhurst House is a located in the Shining Cliff Woods above the village of Ambergate, Derbyshire. The house was built at a cost of £1,000 (equivalent to just £118,000 in today's monies) in 1848 by industrialist Francis Hurt (1801-1854) behind his forge and was constructed by Robinson of Belper. 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 backfired and all three refused to move to their intended home. Hence it was initially leased to one of Hurt's blacksmiths, John Mold, who occupied the house until the forge closed in 1859. Both the house and forge remained vacant until Thewlis Johnson, one half of the Manchester-based Johnson and Nephew wire-works business, purchased the forge in 1876. The house itself remained in the possession of Hurt until 1888 when it was bought by the Midland Railway. The company's architect Charles Trubshaw then extended the house for the company's chief engineer. Already owning the nearby forge, Thewlis Johnson then completed the purchase of Oakhurst in 1893 and the following year got his architect, John Douglas, to extend the house in the neo-Jacobean Arts and Crafts style (as indicated by the 1894 date stone). The house remained in possession of Johnson during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
Oakhurst in its prime circa 1900:
In the 1924 Oakhurst became a Retreat House for the Diocese of Southwell. Retreats varied from two to five days and Oakhurst fitted its new use perfectly given "one large and handsome upper room has been converted into a comely chapel." It was retained in the use until the outbreak of the second world war in 1939. Immediately after World War 2 had ended the house was divided into 12 flats in response to the post-war housing crisis.
Oakhurst still resembling something of its former glory in 1950:
In the 1970s the deteriorating condition of the building and an increase in local council housing elsewhere meant the residents were found alternative accommodation. Since then, the house has remained unoccupied. With the bankruptcy of the wireworks in 1985, the condition of Oakhurst also took a turn for the worst. In 1994, permission was granted to demolish the house as the house was deemed beyond repair. That permission expired and in 2000 the wireworks and estate were purchased by the Lichfield Group who used the wireworks as industrial storage. Since then the house has fallen further into disrepair and been subject to fires and vandalism.
2. The Explore
This place has always been pretty easy to explore and over the years has gradually gone downhill. Makes a nice add-on to the wire works down the hill. Had a friend over from HK and she wanted to see some stuff in Derbyshire so this place made good sense. It was a relaxed mooch and parts of the house are really photogenic in decay. Over time it will just fall down so good to photograph it while there is still something worthwhile to see.
3. The Pictures
Here she is:
It still looks pretty imposing from this angle:
Some nice stonework remains:
And still photogenic:
This bit is a bit chaotic!
Old millstone:
And sink:
Nature slowly taking it back:
Remains of the former kitchen range:
Obligatory old bath shot:
Everything is slowly falling down:
That’s all folks:
Oakhurst House is a located in the Shining Cliff Woods above the village of Ambergate, Derbyshire. The house was built at a cost of £1,000 (equivalent to just £118,000 in today's monies) in 1848 by industrialist Francis Hurt (1801-1854) behind his forge and was constructed by Robinson of Belper. 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 backfired and all three refused to move to their intended home. Hence it was initially leased to one of Hurt's blacksmiths, John Mold, who occupied the house until the forge closed in 1859. Both the house and forge remained vacant until Thewlis Johnson, one half of the Manchester-based Johnson and Nephew wire-works business, purchased the forge in 1876. The house itself remained in the possession of Hurt until 1888 when it was bought by the Midland Railway. The company's architect Charles Trubshaw then extended the house for the company's chief engineer. Already owning the nearby forge, Thewlis Johnson then completed the purchase of Oakhurst in 1893 and the following year got his architect, John Douglas, to extend the house in the neo-Jacobean Arts and Crafts style (as indicated by the 1894 date stone). The house remained in possession of Johnson during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
Oakhurst in its prime circa 1900:
In the 1924 Oakhurst became a Retreat House for the Diocese of Southwell. Retreats varied from two to five days and Oakhurst fitted its new use perfectly given "one large and handsome upper room has been converted into a comely chapel." It was retained in the use until the outbreak of the second world war in 1939. Immediately after World War 2 had ended the house was divided into 12 flats in response to the post-war housing crisis.
Oakhurst still resembling something of its former glory in 1950:
In the 1970s the deteriorating condition of the building and an increase in local council housing elsewhere meant the residents were found alternative accommodation. Since then, the house has remained unoccupied. With the bankruptcy of the wireworks in 1985, the condition of Oakhurst also took a turn for the worst. In 1994, permission was granted to demolish the house as the house was deemed beyond repair. That permission expired and in 2000 the wireworks and estate were purchased by the Lichfield Group who used the wireworks as industrial storage. Since then the house has fallen further into disrepair and been subject to fires and vandalism.
2. The Explore
This place has always been pretty easy to explore and over the years has gradually gone downhill. Makes a nice add-on to the wire works down the hill. Had a friend over from HK and she wanted to see some stuff in Derbyshire so this place made good sense. It was a relaxed mooch and parts of the house are really photogenic in decay. Over time it will just fall down so good to photograph it while there is still something worthwhile to see.
3. The Pictures
Here she is:
It still looks pretty imposing from this angle:
Some nice stonework remains:
And still photogenic:
This bit is a bit chaotic!
Old millstone:
And sink:
Nature slowly taking it back:
Remains of the former kitchen range:
Obligatory old bath shot:
Everything is slowly falling down:
That’s all folks:
