‘From Smoke to Grass’ is a reminiscence project recording the move in the early 1960’s of Manchester people to the Gamesley area. The project led by Derbyshire County Council Adult Community Education and supported by Derbyshire County Council Libraries and Heritage Department (Local Heritage Initiative is a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and the Countryside Agency), aims to work with local residents to build up a social history of ‘The Manchester Overspills’.

The focus of the project will be firmly on the verbal reminiscences of local people. These will be recorded through tape and pictorial records and will produce art work and lasting memories in the form of:


* Wrought Iron Gates
* Stained Glass Windows
* Fabric Panels (To be placed around the estate)
* A book of the history of ‘The Manchester Overspills’
(To be published December 2004)

We aim to work with local crafts people and artists in a variety of community settings and we want to draw upon the past experience of residents in order to form the basis for our creative designs. We will be asking people to dig out old photographs and memories in order that we can record Gamesley’s local history. The project will be launched on 20th January 2004.

If you live in the area or have lived in Gamesley in the past and would like to contribute with old pictures or stories please contact us, our telephone number is (01457 858035).

The Manchester Overspills Group has a lottery funded project called 'From Smoke To Grass'. Gamesley residents will help to create several themed pieces of work through various medium. These will be used throughout the Gamesley area.