Derby’s The Roundhouse in Guinness World Record books

Derby College’s vocational campus, The Roundhouse, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest locomotive roundhouse in the world.
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Derby College’s vocational campus, The Roundhouse, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest locomotive roundhouse in the world.

The world record was recognised by Rail Researcher Martyn Chapman who says: “I saw a documentary about the restoration of The Roundhouse and it claimed to be the oldest in the world. Guinness World Records did not currently hold a record for the oldest locomotive roundhouse and so I contacted the College for some more information, checked some historical publications and made a case for submission.

“I am delighted that it has been approved and that the record is now on the database. The Roundhouse has been beautifully restored by the College and the fact that it is the oldest building of its type in the world is something Derby, a city brimming with railway heritage, should be proud of,” he adds. 

The Roundhouse in Derby’s Pride Park was built in 1839 by North Midlands Railway (NMR). It fell into disrepair in the eighties until it was bought and restored to its former glory as the centre piece of Derby College’s new £48m vocational campus development which opened in September 2009.

The Roundhouse is available for private and public events and is open to the public for tours organised through Derby City Council’s Tourist Information Centre.

“We are extremely proud of Derby’s industrial heritage and were determined that this iconic building should be brought back to its former glory as part of our development plans to create a flagship vocational campus in the city centre,” says Derby College Principal, David Croll. 

“The Roundhouse is now an important social space for staff and students, and we continue to welcome a large number of visitors every year who attend public events organised here or who come on the tours. All this  has ensured that people far and wide and of all ages can still enjoy this wonderful building and that this part of the city’s industrial heritage is preserved for future generations,” he adds.

Do you have a news story for CN? Email: zvernor@mashmedia.net

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