On my first visits to the Peak District many years ago I remember staying for a short time in the village of Ilam (or Eleven am as some wags call it). It is a quintessential ‘chocolate box’ village with pretty cottages, the National Trust as its main neighbour and for many the gateway to Dovedale and the Peak District. I’ve been in the Ilam area a bit recently, not least focusing people’s minds on the future of the toilets at Dovedale.
But one of the best things to have happened in the Peak District has just got some great national recognition. This is a great tale from the national park, and a good example in practice of both excellence in the public sector and also the Big Society.
Ilam Cross was originally erected by benefactor Jesse Watts Russell in 1841 in memory of his wife Mary, and is recognised as a great Gothic achievement. It is also the centre of what is an important part of our tourism economy. And until a few months ago it was crumbling.
In a different era or different, an army of public servants would survey it, add it to lists and prioritise such a folly to the point of neglect. But, fortunately the Ilam cross has a great community and some helpful and wise friends in high places.
Phil Mottram, a Londoner who was evacuated to Ilam in wartime and who has loved the village since, and his colleagues in the community set to work to save their cross:
The Ilam Cross Trust (details of which are at: www.ilam.org.uk) was set up several years ago to save this important structure. First they had to acquire the cross, something we helped with in 2009 by compulsory purchase (something that has to be done when no-one claims ownership and where grants are needed). Funds had to be raised, permissions granted and work commissioned. The experts from both English Heritage and the National Park Authority provided patient, expert and supportive advice throughout.
As the work began on the 13 m structure, an entirely contemporary form of communications told the restoration story, through the Ilam Imp who tweeted progress on the restoration @Ilam_imp
Just a couple of weeks ago the scaffolding came down and the Cross is now restored to its former glory. It was always grand for a small village. It is now just super.
And on Tuesday this week, the broadcaster Clare Balding, the impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and the grandees of English Heritage gathered in London to celebrate 16 community-led heritage conservation projects in their Angel Awards: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/heritage-at-risk/English-Heritage-Angel-Awards/
Our Ilam Cross did not win, but to be shortlisted from over 200 applicants for such a prestigious award and be considered amongst many much larger projects was a fabulous achievement.
The Ilam Cross is another example of the great vision of those like Phil Mottram who put such a value on our heritage, the expertise of those in bodies like the National Park and English Heritage and the wonders communities can achieve when all interests pull together.
I’m not cross at all. I’m very proud of our staff and the communities who have achieved this.
