How one of Bolsover's own is doing her bit to pass on the torch

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The ambitious scheme is a two-year cultural and educational initiative

Bolsover resident Tyler Turner is certainly luckier than most of us when it comes to her commute to and from work.

While far too many of us are left tearing our hair out at traffic jams and temporary roadworks, Tyler is taking a gentle stroll towards the stunning castle that she has admired ever since she was a little girl growing up in the town.

At the end of that short and fulfilling walk lies the magnificent 17th century Bolsover Castle, where history-loving Tyler now works hard on bringing the popular attraction’s legendary figures and their stories to life for the modern audience.

“It is quite special and something I have grown up seeing at the top of the hill,” said Tyler, who naturally regards the 400 year old landmark with great fondness. “The majority of people who work here end up doing so because they have a love of history initially.

The Cavendish's Horses are pictured impressing the crowds with their brilliant demonstration of skilled horsemanship.

“That’s the initial draw, but once you are in you do get hooked in other ways as well, particularly for me being a local girl.

“You do end up loving the 17th century because you get to know the characters, they feel like colleagues with the past and present just merging into one.”

Tyler, who selects the coal-mining years as her favourite historical period for family reasons, is currently putting all her energies into leading Bolsover Castle’s Mind Lab project through her role as community engagement co-ordinator.

The ambitious scheme is a two-year cultural and educational initiative funded by a £248,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It aims to re-interpret Bolsover Castle's history through the life, philosophy, and scientific writings of writer and trailblazer Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.

Tyler Turner is pictured next a model who shows how Margaret Cavendish would have dressed.

It’s an intriguing project that Tyler is passionate about and hopeful that it will lead to more and more locals coming to enjoy all that the Derbyshire delight has to offer.

“Being able to play a role that helps people like me engage with the castle in a really meaningful way and take ownership of the castle, that’s really rewarding,” she said.

“I think the first time I ever visited I was 12, so it was quite late on to say how local I am. I find that’s what a lot of local people say. A lot of local people don’t come until later on and then wonder why they didn’t come sooner.

“That is something we are trying to change with the events we have got going on and the community initiatives that we run.

Bolsover's Castle was built in the 17th century on the site of a 12th century medieval castle. It is now part of the English Heritage stable and one of Derbyshire's top attractions.

“Bolsover Castle is a historic monument but not one that is stuck in the past. It is as much a part of the present and future as it is history. We make sure that it is family friendly and that there is lots to do for families when they visit.”

And if the summer just gone is anything to go by then luring families into the heritage hot-spot isn’t going to be problematic going forward. Big numbers pilled into the tiny town over the last couple of months to enjoy a wide-range of fun-filled events, with the Cavendish's Horses: From Manege to Dressage event and the Legendary Joust unsurprisingly proving to be the biggest hits.

“When the Cavendish Horses come in to do their show in the Riding School, not only is it a pull because it is the oldest stables still used in the UK, but they also use William Cavendish’s handbook,” says Tyler. “He wrote the manual on what became modern dressage, so they are still using the things that he designed.

“People do come back for that event. We also have our big joust event in August as well over the Bank Holiday weekend and that one is particularly a massive draw for families. We end up with around 1,200 to 1,300 people per day for that and people know it’s happening and come back year after year.

Bolsover Castle has a wide range of authentic period costumes to help bring their events and stories to life.

“This castle was built as a party palace, it was built for celebration, and we are keeping it going 400 years on. I think William and Margaret Cavendish would be proud of what we are doing.”

For further information on Bolsover Castle, including what’s on and membership, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bolsover-castle/