Passionate about Derby and Derbyshire. This blog will mainly feature things relating to my home city such as updates to my websites, My latest videos around Derby and Derbyshire. Reviews of software technology and random stuff. Something of interest to everyone (hopefully)
Welcome to my blog, Whats this about then?
This is a place where I will be posting all sorts of things not just things relating to Derby and Derbyshire. On here you will find details of any videos I’ve made of things in Derby and also Time-lapse, stop motion animation, Tutorials etc. If I find some useful software for PC or iPhone then I will feature it here.I’m sure that there will be something of interest to someone on my many posts.Please leave comments on any posts if you like them. Don’t forget if you are new to my blog and would like to read through the previous posts then see the Blog Archive section on the left side of this page. Also there is a Search box at the top left of the page if you are looking for something but cant remember where it was. I am a trustee member of "Friends of Friar Gate bridge", aiming to get this bridge restored.
I present my latest fading Derby then and now video. This is a view of the Museum of making and I have matched the view exactly with one taken here in 1913 so you can see how it used to look if you were a time traveller.
I bet a lot of people didn't even realise that a very long time ago water used to flow down the side of the Silk Mill building through a mill race under a bridge where the Bakewell gates are sited.
I hope my Then & now has taught you something you didn't know.
► If you enjoyed this then please like, Leave a comment, Share, subscribe.
Feel free to share to Facebook, X (Twitter) or to anyone you think would like to see it. This is one of many in my collection of fading then and now videos, Ive been making high accuracy then and now photographs for 20 years.
The Robert Bakewell gates (made 1725) were reinstated to their original orientation and position in 2020, previously they had were in line with the entrance to the then "Industrial museum" where they were placed in 1984, before that they had been sited next to the old central library in the Wardwick since 1928.
Derby Silk Mill is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first modern factory.
Lombe's Mill was built next to Thomas Cotchett's 1704 mill on the west bank of the River Derwent in Derby. At this point a weir had been constructed across the river, and the mill was built on an island downstream which separated the river from the tail race of three corn mills. The tail race was also called a fleam or a leat.
The museum is located on the former site of Lombe's Mill, a historic silk mill which marks the southern end of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Photo A taken : 1913 Postcard
Photo B taken : 18th February 2024
Time elapsed : 111 years
Derby Past & Present - in fading Photographs.
High quality resolution fading photos showing local scenes as they were and how they are today from exactly the same view point. Then and now, Now and then, Past and Present, Old and New, Before and After. Call it what you want, just try one and see the effect!
See my Google Streetview 360 degree photograph of the Bakewell gates (2.2 Million views) :
The presentations you can see here are the result of many hours of work put in by myself ensuring that the old and new photographs line up precisely, I don't publish any if I'm not 100% happy with the match.
Please note that the Then & now section on my website is currently in need of a revamp as they were all created back in 2005 using Flash and this is no longer supported so I will have to recreate all of my work again using a different method. In the meantime I'm publishing them on my YouTube channel like this one.
Mapping out the original Derby Canal route – Current project
I started this project on 13th April.
Back in 2011 I created a custom Google map of the entire route of the Derby Canal network, I added links to bridges, lock etc and this was very popular but in 2020 I accidentally deleted my Derby canal map. Custom Google maps live in your Google Drive, but I didn’t know that and had emptied the drive out and it was more than 30 days since I had realised this so the option to recover the map from the trash was not possible.
I had a few people contact me to say that links to my map were not working so I decided to recreate the map again, It took 6 hours to get the basic structure in place. This new map is a lot better than my original, better organised, and even more accurate.
Technology has improved so much since 2011, I thought it would be good to go even further with this project, I am a specialist Google Street View contributor, Street View Trusted Photographer and Level 7 Google Local Guide, Keen photographer and Drone flyer so started doing a number of things.
Most of the former Derby Canal route is not on Google Street View, a lot of this is now cycle paths and I thought it would really help if I used my 360 degree camera to survey the entire route for Google Street View, this would mean that people could virtually walk along the old canal route. This would help promote the work that the Canal society have done on the route with regard to restoration and also help visualise where it ran.
Google Street View shows up as a continuous blue line overlaid on Google Maps, it allows you to walk along a route by clicking on the white arrows in 3M jumps, you can also use the cursor keys to do this.
I have been able to accurately mark out the route by using a great website that overlays old maps on Google Maps with a sliding fader so you can work out the precise route the Derby canal took. I used two computers next to each other with two large screen and marked out the custom route on one while moving the other map and fading between the old and new maps so I could transfer my location data onto the other computer.
I started surveying the Derby Canal on 16th April, the section between Borrowash and Spondon. Then I thought it would be handy to also use my drone to fly the route to make an informative video. It’s a lot clearer from up in the air to see the route of the Derby canal and where it used to flow.
One of my Derby Canal series videos :
So what started out as just recreating my map has now ballooned into a very large project that will take a few months to complete but it’s a great project to work on, helping promote the restoration of the Derby Canal.
As of 25th April I have surveyed the entire route for Google Street View from Sandiacre lock all the way to Station Road, Spondon. That’s 6 Miles worth so far. There is just a small section between Ullickers bridge and Rovings Drive that needs to be redone as its not showing with a blue line yet (most likely poor GPS data due to trees).
As well as Google Street View I have captured lots single 360 degree photographs in certain places, these are known as Google Photo Spheres and show up on Google maps as a single blue dot.
And then I realised I could create high resolution 360 Google Photo Spheres using my drone, I use my drone to take 26 photographs in a sphere and stich them together to make a high-resolution photograph 399 foot in the air above the canal, these really help show off the route of the Derby Canal.
One of my amazing 400 foot high 360 degree views over the canal :
My intention is to carry on with my mapping project until I have completed the entire Derby Canal route including the Little Eaton branch. Obviously, there are large parts in the Centre of Derby that I won’t be able to survey as they are built over. And things have been demolished such as Long Bridge over the river Derwent.
So if your interested in discovering where exactly the Derby Canal used to run then check out my interactive Derby Canal map. I have marked every single lock, bridge etc. I have a large and ever-growing collection of 360 degree photographs along the route allowing you to look in all directions.
To keep up to date with my Derby Canal mapping project, follow me on Twitter and Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Derby Arboretum "A viewpoint" by Andy Savage. Britain's first public park
To celebrate the 180th birthday of Derby Arboretum (park) I have made this little video. For me the this amazing park is all about the trees so I have tried to film some of the trees up close and personal. I have used a mixture of filming techniques to create this, hopefully you will like it.
I have used a 360 degree camera on an extremely long selfie stick allowing me to get shots from 5 Metres up in the air.
If you enjoyed my film then please like and leave a comment.
Music Credits : Breathe by Roary
Equipment used : Insta360 One X, 3M Carbon Fibre Extension pole.
Software used : Insta360 Studio 2020, Sony Vegas Pro 17
Thanks
Andy
https://twitter.com/AndySavage1969#DerbyArbo2020
Are you missing going clubbing at the weekend? Did you know its easy to recreate some of that weekend feeling by getting DJ lighting and smoke machine, these items can be purchased quite cheaply. In this video I had a go at creating a good lighting system as cheap as possible.
I have provided links to the products so YOU can create the same thing in your home.
The video shows you how the different lights look in different amounts of smoke.
You can see that the lights are set out in my Kitchen with footage of before I set the smoke machine off so you can see the difference that makes to the look. Near the end of the video I have demonstrated how each of the lights look when set to sound-activated mode. I have projected them onto my white ceiling.
Here are the direct links to the items you can see in my video, all of these are from Amazon :
The GVOO Laser light was best one by far with some amazing patterns created by the red and green lasers and also the RGB LED in the unit and at only £26.99 a bargain.
The game changer was the introduction of the Smoke machine, that only cost £45 from Amazon. The fogging liquid this uses is a water based liquid rather than Glycol so doesn’t leave an oily residue so its fine to run in your home. It only takes a couple of busts of smoke to fill an average living room. Remember this is not a large nightclub environment so doesn’t need as much.
In my video I have only used a total of 6 lights and yet I’m sure you will agree it looks amazing.
I have used 3 Laser lights. These are sound-activated or can be set to auto-run. The remote controls allow you to adjust the patterns, speed and choose red or green or red and green lasers.
One of the Laser lights has an additional bright RGB LED in it which adds to the effects.
One of the lights had DMX control but also has auto mode so you don’t need to buy a DMX controller.
One point worth mentioning is don’t use the smoke machine in a room which has smoke alarms on the ceiling as they will get set off ! You could alternatively put a plastic bag over them or take them down but you must remember to reinstate them after!
If you have followed my guide and bought some of these lights from Amazon and created your own system post your video in the comments.
While in Stockport I found this street and I had to pass it on the left had side, do you know why? you have to be of a certain age to understand.
I bet only 40% of viewers get this, of course 88.2% of statistics are made up on the spot :)
The monument cost £18,000 to build and was funded by section 106 contributions from the sale of the former Derby College site and the Radbourne Lane development - rather than taxpayer cash
It was designed with the help of local school children in 2015.
The structure is made from Weathering steel (Core Ten) which is a hard wearing material used in the construction of tanks in WWII, contemporary landscaping and sculptures and memorials such as the “Angel of the North”. Weathering steel (Core-Ten) is low maintenance long lasting and once fully oxidised will colour from golden brown to a deep purple brown over time. The sculpture will also contain a stone carved frieze based on the actual carving workshops from three local schools and their understanding of peace and conflict.
Here is a video tour around the memorial from the Summer 2018 before it was completed.
Here is my mini tour of Tissington Well Dressing for 2018.
I took this footage on the evening of Thursday 10th May 2018.
I have also included a bit of footage of the lovely village pond reflections.
Here is the video, best viewed at 1080p Fullscreen.
Well Dressing is a Derbyshire thing, celebrated in lots of Derbyshire villages every year.
While visiting the Well dressings here in Tissington I also captured 19 different 360 degree views which are now added to Google maps such as. I have captured all of the Well Dressings in Google Streetview photographs.
Here are a few of them....
Here is a real time drive around Derby. We start on Friargate and go through the city centre to Allenton then past the new road layout around Rolls Royce to Sinfin.
In this journey I needed to go to Dunelm in Wilmorton, Heron Foods in Allenton and Asda in Sinfin. This was the first time I had driven around the new road layout near Rolls-Royce. Here is the video : A list of times and street names.
00:03 Friar Gate
00:23 Bridge Street
00:36 Agard Street
01:15 Ford Street (inner ring road clockwise)
01:48 Cathedral Road
02:33 Full Street
03:09 Corporation Street
03:21 Morledge
04:18 The Cock Pitt
04:58 Station Approach
05:28 Railway Terrace
06:09 Midland Road
06:40 London Road
08:47 Ascot Drive
10:42 Osmaston Road
11:11 Spider Bridge
11:50 Heron Foods
12:46 Harvey Road
13:12 Osmaston Road
13:49 Chelaston Road
14:38 Merrill Way
15:41 Can you see the Bird of Prey hovering on the left looking for a mouse?
15:43 Wilmore Road
16:25 New road layout for Rolls-Royce and the new Infinity Park.
18:22 Sinfin Lane
19:45 Grampion Way
21:27 ASDA Sinfin.
End
Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat.
Thanks
Andy
The famous Weeping window Poppies display is in Derby at the moment and here until 23rd July. I have captured the amazing display as seen 10 foot in the air and added it to my Google Streetview collection. Simply drag the view point around with the mouse. All of these photographs show up on Google Maps as small blue spots when you turn on Streetview mode (Click on the orange peg man) Or click this link to view it : 360 degree view of the Poppies Weeping window display in Derby. Here is the same view but captured at 7am : 7am view of the Weeping window. Here is the display as seen from the footbridge : And another 360 view from the area in front of the Silk Mill : thanks Andy
Hi, Sorry for the total lack of posts but my life has completely changed but trying to get back on track with it. Now the weather is getting better I have produced a few new 360 degree Google Streetview photographs.
Here are some of them below. Simply drag the view point around with the mouse.
All of these photographs show up on Google Maps as small blue spots when you turn on Streetview mode (Click on the orange peg man)
I have submitted 596 such photos so far !
The Crocus flower beds on Bradshaw Way, Derby. March 2017
Foundation works for the 244-bed student accommodation block on Agard Street, Derby. April 2017
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This is the decorative stonework on Derby Central Library, Derby. April 2017
Statue of Michael Thomas Bass, MP of Derby. The Wardwick, Derby. This statue was made in 1885 !
Alport Stone, Alport Heights, Derbyshire
Holiday Street Aqueduct, Birmingham. Made by Andrew Handyside of Derby in 1890.
This is County Arcade, Leeds :
This is the view from the balcony of Birmingham Library, Birmingham.
Sheffield Town Hall, Sheffield
St Pauls Place at Night, Sheffield
Manchester Christmas Market, Albert Square, Manchester.
Yesterday (Sunday 28th August 2016) I went to the Flowerpot Potfest Beer festival. Something I would normally do with my Girlfriend but she lost her brave battle with Cancer and passed away on the 4th August so for the first time I went to this festival on my own.
I looked at the Festival poster to see what live music was on and found it was Steel Threads who I had not heard of so had a look on Youtube and the song that I found first was Beautiful Friend and listening to this song made me cry so much, The words meant so much to me and the pain of loosing my girlfriend after 19 years together was summed up in this song perfectly.
When I got to the Beer Festival I spotted Neil Wardleworth setting up and he came towards me and I told him how I lost her after 19 years and the funeral was only 5 days ago and his song had really moved me, he said "Wow, here's me worrying about doing this gig and here you are on your own, such a brave thing to do. I wasn't going to play that song but now you have told me that I am going to play it."
Well I really can't thank Neil enough for playing it and dedicating the song to my girlfriend, It was such a lovely gesture, it was strange hearing this song played live in front of me only an hour after finding it on YouTube.
Here is that song that he played for my girlfriend :
What I also found upsetting is that my girlfriend was not around to enjoy this festival as she loved Northern Soul music. Life is very fragile and cruel. Live it !
Well here it is my 576th video on YouTube and Its also exactly the tenth anniversary of me being on Youtube ! Yes its true at this exact time on 24th July 2006 I uploaded a video similar to this one so this is a tribute to my original video from 10 years ago.
My whole collections of videos have had 3,517,245 views and I currently have 1,464 subscribers, are you one of them?
I would like to thank everyone that has left comments on my videos over the last ten years, I really appreciate the comments.
This video is made from 829 long exposure photographs of me driving around Derby at night. I have then layered the sequence on different layers to create a dazzling colorful effect. Best viewed at 1080p fullscreen with the speaker volume turned up !
Regular followers of my work will know that I have always liked to create 360 degree photographs, I have been doing this for over 12 years now and as technology has moved on I have embraced it. I now contribute my work to Google Streetview for future generations to look at.
As of today I have 438 streetview 360's live on Google Maps, and they have now had over one Million views, helping people around the world see my world as though they were there !
Here is my most popular of contribution to Google Streetview with over 96,973 views so far !
The 2016 Derby Summer Beer Festival is here! Wednesday the 6th July to Sunday the 10th July 2016. the grand opening is at 6:30pm today.
For the first time you can now have a look around the festival marquee using my Google Streetview 360's !
Derby Summer Beer Festival poster 2016.
The entrance to this festival is opposite the Quad. The right queue is for Camra members, Left for paying public. You will be given a wristband to put on so you can leave and come back in (current session only).
Glass rental is £2.50, you can either get a 2016 festival glass or rent a previous years festival glass.
The stage is at one end and the bars along the sides. The cider bar is at the opposite end to the stage. The food and other stuff is outside the marquee in front of the Darwin Suite.
This year as with the previous 3 years there is a free Derby Beer Festival App, allowing you to rate and keep notes on your selected drinks. Beer Festival app.
Here are my Google Streetview 360's around the Marquee before the festival opened to the public, click on the arrows to wander around. Best viewed full screen. simply drag the viewpoint around. There are thirteen 360 views in and around the festival so why not have a wander around
Cider and Perry bar :
Some of the beers :
Some more of the beers :
The entrance to the Beer festival :
The stage:
The Mead bar, glass hire, exit and Food areas :
Overall view from the middle of the marquee :
The location of the Derby Summer Beer Festival. Here you can see its location relative to the Council house :
Getting to the festival
Derby Beer and Cider festival is located on the Market Place, Follow signs for Derby Assembly rooms or The Quad or just look for the large marquee. There are normally yellow or green "beer festival this way" signs around the city, keep an eye out for those. Or use my smartphone map link to get walking route directions from your current location.
By Train
Derby Railway Station is about a 15 minute walk away from this beer festival. Use my smartphone link to get your walking route. Upon leaving the railway station you will need to turn right onto Railway Terrace, you will see the Waterfall pub in front of you (old Railway Institute building).
From outside The Waterfall you can catch one of many different bus services into Derby Bus Station such as 45, 40, 44, 73, 109, 702, Skylink, X52 These all stop at the bus station so plenty of choice.
There is also a new Derby Railway Station Shuttle Bus RL1 which operates between the front of Derby Rail Station on Railway Terrace (stop S1), and Derby Bus Station, from 6am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday. It runs every 15 minutes and it’s just £1 for a trip.
When you are coming back from the beer festival these same buses can be caught from the bus station and will drop you off at the new frontage at Derby Railway Station. So perfect if you are planning on using the train to get here.
By Bus
Derby Bus Station is conveniently located right in the centre of Derby and is just a couple of minutes walk to the beer festival. You can pretty much get a bus from here to anywhere as it's a major bus hub. The 40,44,45 and Skylink buses pick up and drop off between the Railway Station and the Bus Station.
Just turn right out of the bus station front entrance and walk into the city centre towards the roundabout with three small fountains in it then over that one towards the next roundabout with the large fountain in the centre, you will now be next to the Quad building and should see the large beer festival Marquee on the market place,
Accommodation
If you plan to make the most of the five day beer festival then you may want to stay in a hotel in Derby. Derby has lots of choice for hotels.
The nearest hotel to the festival is the Premier Inn Hotel, Derby City Centre (Cathedral Quarter) which is less than a minute walk away ! See my 360 degree Google Streetview of this hotel as seen from Full Street - 360 view Premier Inn Hotel, Derby City Centre (Cathedral Quarter).
If you are arriving in Derby by Train then Midland Road has several hotels to choose from, all literally less than 2 minutes walk from Derby Railway Station such as Hallmark Hotel (formerly known as the Midland Hotel)
Also just around the corner (On London Road) is The Stuart Hotel.
Just down Railway terrace past The Brunswick Ale house is The Alexandra Hotel which is a B&B and real ale house too.
From Derby railway station, walk across the footbridge to the Pride Park side of the station and you will find the Ramada Encore Derby on Locomotive Way and Express by Holiday Inn on Pride Parkway both just a few minutes stroll away.
If you prefer a hotel that is conveniently located in the City Centre so you can easily walk to the beer festival then you have a choice of hotels such as The Holiday Inn or Hilton Derby which are both located within the Riverlights Bus Station complex. The beer festival is just a 3 minute walk from here, You can't get any closer than that!
There is the Cathedral Quarter Hotel on St Mary's Gate if you want something a bit posh. A Jurys Inn hotel at the very top of Iron Gate which is about 5 minute walk to the beer festival.
If you are arriving by car and are not familiar with the layout of Derby then you may prefer a hotel that is located off a main road that is easy to find.
For example hotels located on Pride Park such as Travelodge Derby on Derwent Parade, Express by Holiday Inn on Pride Parkway or Premier Inn Derby East on Stanier way at The Wyvern. These hotels are all easy to find from the A52 and the Jurys Inns Derby Hotel on King Street.
Smartphone Map Location Tap here for a Smartphone Drop Pin -- Tap this link on your iPhone.
View this webpage on your smartphone, When you tap the link above, it will launch Google Maps app and
place a "push pin" onto the map with the exact location of the entrance to Derby summer beer festival. You can then use this marker to get driving, walking or
bus directions from your current location.
For example on an iPhone 6 you tap the blue button at the bottom right and
this will pre-fill in the start and end locations so just tap the
Route button at the bottom and it will show you either the driving
route or the walking route.
Its best to arrive by foot, there is plenty of parking outside for your Beer Scooter :)
Here is a video of the opening night of the 2012 Derby Summer Beer Festival :
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By the way if you are a cider lover and don't get a chance to goto Derby Beer and cider Festival then goto the JD Wetherspoons Cider Festival that runs at the same time as this festival and carries on for two weeks after !
The Summer Cider Festival at the Babington Arms and the Standing Order in Derby runs from Friday 8th - 24th July 2016. And all JD Wetherspoon pubs across the UK !
Wetherspoons Cider Festival 2016
This festival is always popular and its so good to see this pub chain promoting Ciders and Perries. This year they are offering the biggest selection ever so plenty of choice for those new to cider.
This dedicated Cider festival starts during Derby's CAMRA summer Beer Festival.
If you want to know where your local Wetherspoons pub is then I recommend their free App for iPhone. It locates your nearest pub and shows you on a map, complete with opening times and pub info. Get it here : Wetherspoons Pub Finder app for iPhone.
This Cider Festival will take place at all JD Wetherspoon pubs not just the Derby pubs.
If you are a fan of real ciders and live in Derby then its worth paying a
visit to the New Zealand Arms pub as they have a dedicated cider bar!
The great thing about the Summer is you can go out and take photographs very early as its so light so I seized the opportunity to go and capture some 360 degree Google Streetviews at Mundy Play Centre, Markeaton Park, Derby. Normally it would be impossible to take photographs here as its would be full of people, but I've managed to capture it with nobody here a couple of hours before the Race for Life event.
Also because it was early everywhere was clean and tidy without rubbish.
These views are best in full screen mode, drag the viewpoint around just like any other Google Streetview. Feel free to share the link and 360's if you wish.
Make the most of the hot sunny weather and enjoy Markeaton Park !
Hi, I am the webmaster of www.derbyphotos.co.uk
Local photographer and film maker promoting Derby and Derbyshire. Hope you enjoy my blog bringing you the latest stuff for this area.
