The company that became Butterley Engineering was founded in 1790 by Benjamin Outram and in its long history manufactured iconic buildings and structures, from St Pancras Station to the Falkirk Wheel. The company was not just ‘at the cutting edge’ of engineering, it was a pioneer of mechanised heavy engineering processes and at the forefront of the industrial revolution.
The Butterley Co. closed in 2008 and the site will be redeveloped as housing. Two structures at the site – the Blast Wall and the underground Canal and Wharves – are Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and there are two Grade II Listed buildings amongst the remaining structures, all of which have some historical significance.
Butterley Ironworks Trust (BIT) is a Registered Charity (No. 1173670). Its aims are:
- To secure the nationally – and internationally - important heritage features of the former Butterley Works, including the unique underground wharves of the Cromford Canal, in Ripley, Derbyshire.
- The advancement of heritage by the protection, preservation and maintenance of the historic buildings and monuments for the public benefit;
- The advancement of education for all by increasing and inspiring the public’s understanding and appreciation of their industrial heritage, with reference to the Butterley Works (and the roles of Cromford Canal and the Midland Railway) from the foundation in the 18th century to their closure in the 21st century; and
- The provision of a living museum to demonstrate the historic engineering and archaeological importance of the site, as a means of recording and exemplifying the contribution of the area since the 18th Century to the development of the modern industrialised world, for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
The aim of this first project is to develop an overview of the journey to realizing our objectives, and develop firm plans for the upcoming phases and associated business plan.
BIT needs to engage a Business Development and Strategy Consultant to work with BIT and its volunteers to identify all the possibilities and other organisations that might form a part of the heritage offer’ on the site. We see this being done through ‘facilitating’ inter-active discussions – ‘virtual’ if still necessary - with the volunteers and interested parties.
The adviser would then lead discussion with BIT, providing advice and guidance to help consider the relevance of the activities to the deliverability of the long-term financially self-sustaining future of the heritage features.
The process must include advice on the income generation potential, using data from other attractions, locally, regionally and nationally. The assumptions ‘behind’ the cost estimates must be cautious.
It is expected that the Consultants work shall be concluded with leading the preparation of an Options Appraisal report in a format specified by HLF (and / or other funding agencies).