| Administrative History | The Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust was established in 1974 to identify and restore at risk buildings of historic value in the county. The Trust was incorporated as a limited company under the 1948-1967 Companies Act and was granted the Secretary of State's licence to omit the word "limited" from their name under Section 19(2) of the Companies Act 1948. It was entered on the Charity Commission register as a registered charity according to the Charities Act 1960 soon afterwards.
Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s the Trust used its "rolling fund" to acquire properties for renovation and re-sale. It engaged in large-scale projects, such as the renovation of the the Railway Cottages, Derby (see D6657/2/4, D6657/3/2/1-68, D6657/4/2 and D6657/5/4) and also smaller-scale, single-property projects, such as 17 Long Row, Belper (see D6657/3/13/1-2). In the 1970s and 1980s much of the Trust's work concentrated on Wirksworth as they worked in partnership with the Civic Trust on the regeneration of the town. This effort contributed to the town being awarded the Europa Nostra Silver Medal in 1983. The Trust subsequently used one of the properties that it renovated in Wirksworth as its offices (see 1-3 Greenhill D6657/3/5/1-11 and D6657/5/8). The Trust has now changed its focus and concentrates on awareness raising, education and advising the public.
Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) is a limited company with charitable status which seeks to identify neglected or abandoned historic buildings in danger of decay or demolition, and to work for their preservation and modernisation. The Trust works principally to acquire and restore historic buildings at risk. The Trust provides representatives to various local authority and other committees concerned with the preservation of Derbyshire's built heritage. |
| Custodial History | This archive was deposited in Derbyshire Record Office by the Legal Advisor to the Trust in August 2006. |