A special celebration
Join Over The Wall Camp on Saturday 20 June for a special celebration event, marking the culmination of our ‘Saving Ockbrook’s Heritage’ Project.
The ‘Heritage Celebration’ will showcase our work capturing and preserving the history of the former Ockbrook School.
In 2024, we secured a 40-year lease of the former private school. We are currently developing the site, located near Derby, ready to welcome children with serious illnesses and disabilities, and their families, for free residential camps this summer!
School memories and artefacts
Over The Wall Camp’s Heritage Officer, Gordon Collins (pictured right), has been leading a team of Heritage Collections Volunteers. Together they have been recording the memories of former pupils and staff, as well as cataloguing and preserving school records and artefacts.
These displays will be available to view on Saturday 20 June, from 10am to 2pm. You can also hear about the current site developments.
A long history of education
Ockbrook School has a long history of education dating back to 1799. The site is considered rare and of high historical value, as one of only four such settlements nationwide. Sadly, the school closed in 2021.
Gordon said:
“The ‘Saving Ockbrook’s Heritage’ has been a really important project. We’ve made contact with over 100 former pupils and staff who are keen to share their school-day memories, photos, and school memorabilia.
“We’d love to hear from other alumni, and we welcome donations of anything associated with the school, such as trophies, awards, and items of school uniform to add to the collection here.”
The ‘Saving Ockbrook’s Heritage’ Project was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
