All you ever wanted to know about The Beetroot Tree Gallery |

| our setting | our building | our development |

Who | The plans and schemes of Alysn & Brian Midgelow-Marsden to create a space for the contemplation and enjoyment of art devoting itself to creativity in all of its guises took shape in 1999 in the form of 'The Beetroot Tree'.
We have developed in both scope and reputation since then, so that we now boast of 5 separate exhibition spaces showing work by many artists and designer makers, with a full programme of changing exhibitions, featured solo exhibitions, long term displays of unique art work.

What | The building in which we are found is one of the oldest remaining in the village, dating back (as far as we can find out) to the late 1600s. The main beams in the gallery and stable studio give a fascinating insight into the building. You can even find sections where the bark is still clinging on!
One of the interesting results of opening a building to public visitors is that we have been told many stories about the building and the uses to which it has been put in living memory.
We know for instance, that it has been a farm shop and a coffin builders workshop, and more exotically, the barn was used to house the elephants from the travelling circus when it came to visit.
Keep the stories coming, we love the memories adding a completeness to our time in the building.

Where | Draycott itself has a long history dating from pre-Roman times (local hearsay has Saxon gravesites, and we have occasional finds of roman artefacts, the local church has what seems to be a celtic cross upended as a font. There have been populations in the area for many years as an agricultural setting and later with good access to river transport. The road on which the Beetroot Tree is found was the main road through the village for many years until the industrialization of the area in Victorian days, and the building of the mills and houses to support them.

Why | The unanswerable question! Why start a gallery in a quiet southern Derbyshire village and in a recession? Therapists please give us your thoughts! There have been ups and downs, but generally a steady progression towards the realisation of a dream.
And why 'The Beetroot Tree'? Come and find out for yourself!

The main road in Draycott

Nurses at the old Hospital on Hopewell Road

Do you have any more images or stories of old Draycott?

We would love to add to this page with your memories and images.