Sir George Beaumont 7th baronet was a prime mover in establishing the National Gallery which first opened its doors in 1824. In particular he donated 16 of his own paintings - by Claude, Canaletto, Rembrandt, Poussin and others - to start off the collection for the nation.
Local film-maker Wendy Freer from Pudding Bag Productions approached Coleorton Heritage Group last year for ideas about a film featuring Coleorton and we suggested the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery. Residents of Coleorton Hall kindly allowed filming in their apartment with actors playing Sir George and his wife Lady Margaret, William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy and in the grounds with Sir George and John Constable, while he was sketching the Reynolds Cenotaph, later to be painted in oils.
Wendy Freer introduced the film and afterwards spoke about the production. Copies of some of the works Sir George donated were also on show. Over 90 people attended.
The film will be shown again along with displays at St Mary's Church, Coleorton, on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May More >>
Members of Newbold Heritage Group celebrate the 100th anniversary by the concrete cap over one of the two shafts.
More about the event on 8 February 1924 >>
Ashby Museum has a "Villages" room with displays of photos, information and artefacts about some of the smaller villages around Ashby like Blackfordby, Packington and of course Coleorton. The permanent display for Coleorton was set up in 2010 with a large poster with general info about Coleorton and its history and in front a glass cabinet for further displays, including artefacts, drawings, maps, which is changed from time to time.
In addition there are free-standing display boards in the centre of the room which we have been invited to use as an exhibition area for 3 months until 31 March 2024 with the title: "Coleorton Past - a Village History".
We do hope you will take some time in the New Year to visit the Coleorton History display.
Opening times: Monday 11.00-16.00, Tuesday 11.00-16.00, Wednesday 11.00-13,30. Friday 11.00-16.00, Saturday 10.00-12.30. Closed Thursday and Sunday. Ashby Museum website >>
These are informal get-togethers to identify places and faces in old photos. No need to book, just come along with your photos if you'd like help identifying people or places in them or finding out about family from Coleorton.
Our next Sleuthing session is on Saturday morning 10.30am 6th April at The New Inn, Peggs Green.
£3 including tea or coffee and biscuits. More about Sleuthing >>
St John’s Chapel, next to the School on Ashby Road, has served the community since it was opened in 1857; however the chapel is now in danger of being lost to the community as it is considered surplus to Church requirements and may be declared redundant. We believe every effort should be made to retain this beautiful and historic chapel as a community building rather than let it lapse into private hands or disrepair. The cemetery will remain open to visitors and new burials.
The Heritage Group is actively engaging with the Diocese regarding options. Our preferred option is to create a community heritage hub:
To be a viable community facility we will need to add a toilet and small kitchenette. The graves come very close to the walls of the chapel so an extension will need to be compact. We are looking at possibilities in the somewhat limited footprint available.
More about St John's Chapel and its history >>
Our active members usually meet every month or so to organise activities and coordinate research.
If you're interested in local history and would like to be involved with our group please contact Sandra - details below - and I'll let you know about the next meeting. These are informal working group meetings.
In the meantime we'd love to hear your stories and together build our knowledge of Coleorton heritage. Call Sandra on 01530 440000 or email enquiries@coleortonheritage.org.uk to let us know you're coming.
The Coleorton 2000 Committee was initiated in 1998 to devise a way of commemorating the new millennium. We developed the Millennium Garden in a plot of land kindly donated by Joan Cull, erected a commemorative sign and organised various associated celebrations and events.
More recently the group has been concerned with researching, recording and making publicly available local heritage, social, industrial and family history. We also support various restoration projects, for example the Bakehouse. So the name was changed to "The Coleorton Heritage Group".
Other projects have included:
Further information from enquiries@coleortonheritage.org.uk or phone Sandra Dillon (Chair) on 01530 440000
We send out a newsletter every month or so with news about our activities and events. If you would like to receive our newsletter please subscribe >>.
Become a member of Coleorton Heritage Group and help to preserve and promote the heritage and social fabric of our community.
We have launched "the Coleorton Blue Plaque" scheme to commemmorate buildings and sites in the village which have historic significance.
We have brought together some sources of information about social, family and economic history of Coleorton.
We publish articles in local press inc. Community Voice, St Mary's Church monthly email magazine and on the Coleorton website.