IN DEPTH
Read how Rowsley Creamery started in the 1930's
Larger scale map of location of Rowsley Creamery, showing its own rail sidings. (Courtesy Matthew Pinto)
1894 Rowsley Station staff. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1900's? Buttermaking at Wye Farm, Rowsley. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Kath Burnett )
1900's? Rowsley railway sheds, later the creamery. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1900's? Rowsley engine sheds, later Express Dairy creamery. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Fred Morton and the Rowsley Association)
1905 Rowsley Station with the engine sheds on the left, later the Express creamery. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by:British Rail and J Duncan)
1908 Rowsley Goods Yard. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: J Duncan)
1908 Rowsley Station with Midland Railway staff. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Julie Beswick)
1930's Park Lane Farm, Rowsley. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by:P Shimwell)
1933 Rowsley-filling milk tankers for transportation to London. Bill Conquest comments "The road tanker was new to Express in 1933 so the dairy would have not long opened". (Courtesy Jim Wilson)
1930's? Shirley and Proctor fleet and drivers at Rowsley (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1930's Rowsley creamery churn bank. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1930's? Rowsley staff. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by:Alan Smith )
1930's, Rowsley Creamery history
1930's Compliments slip (King George V died in January 1936), showing the Express Creameries at that time: Appleby, Billingshurst, Faringdon, Horam, Rowsley, Frome, Seaton Junction, Leyburn and Brailsford. (Courtesy Keith Sweetland)
1930's Express Dairy Rowsley
1930's? Rowsley Churn Plate (Courtesy Bill Conquest)
1930's Express Dairy Rowsley. Map showing rail lines in the village - Express is to the right of the Station - with its own sidings for milk tankers. (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1930's Express Dairy Rowsley, plan of site. Alan comments "Rowsley was well known as a milk processing and distribution centre but they did also make Derby cheese at some time, probably in the area marked Dairy." Andrew Billingham comments "My dad was a signalman at Rowsley North and explained the procedure of hitching milk tanker wagons to the back of London-bound passenger trains."(Courtesy Alan Salt)
1933 Rowsley-farmers visit to the newly opened dairy. (From Alfreton Journal 27 July, Courtesy Alan Salt)
1933 Royal train about the arrive at Rowsley station for a visit to Chatsworth House. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1933 Royal train at Rowsley on 3rd July-the Express Dairy was formally opened on the 20th of the same month.(Courtesy Jim Wilson, photo E.R Morten)
1933 Express Dairy Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "This is when the dairy opened; if you look at the picture of the royal train you can see the rear of the road tanker". (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1933 Rowsley Creamery. Alan Salt comments "All long gone, the new shopping village is just to the left nowadays." Bill Conquest comments "The Royal Family had just visited Chatsworth in July 1933". (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1933 Royal Train leaves Rowsley with Express Dairy Creamery on the right. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: J Duncan)
1933 Rowsley Dairy churn bank, decorated with bunting, with churn truck Co. No: 190, Reg: BGW 868. Bill Conquest suggests "Possible royal visit". (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1933 King George V and Queen Mary pass by Rowsley Creamery. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1933 Rowsley creamery decorated for Royal Visit, churn bank. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1934 July and September appeals for milk for Rowsley Creamery. 1934 saw a significant drought, particularly affecting Southern Britain, following a period of dry weather since late 1932. This drought, part of a larger event spanning from autumn 1932 to autumn 1934, caused severe low river flows and impacted water supplies, with some areas experiencing drought conditions extending into early 1935. (Courtesy Derby Daily Telegraph 17 September and 14 July)
1962 Recent Appointments-Mr George Marsden, Manager-Holywood Creamery, formerly at Rowsley. (Express News Autumn)
1938 Churn collection by 'Shirley and Proctor' hauliers at Bonsall Lane Farm, Rowsley. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Judith Jones )
1948 Park Lane Farm, Rowsley-hand milking.(Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: P Shimwell)
1949 Reapsmoor and Rowsley creameries win awards for Derby and Cheddar. (Courtesy South Notts Echo 06 August)
1949 Rowsley Station, now only used for goods traffic, with churn lorry on the left. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by:J Duncan)
1950s? Rowsley station looking towards Matlock. Peak Rail comments "The late Arthur Dudson made a very significant contribution to the development of Peak Rail with a lot of detailed plans which were used to rebuild the track in various places on the route. Just look at the period atmosphere it contains; a Peak on an up express, coaches with roof boards to show the route of the train and also a couple of milk tank wagons in the dairy siding at the end of the platform." (Courtesy Peak Rail Archive)
The Derbyshire Record Office provided many of the images in this section of the website.
1950's Rowsley Dairy frontage.(Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy loading bank, with rigid tanker Co. No: 702, Reg:GXY 434 (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy loading bank, with rigid tanker Co. No: 702, Reg:GXY 434 (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy front entrance and churn bank. Co Nos: 981, 960. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy churn bank/ tanker bay, with tanker 1027, Reg: KXU 845. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy filter plant (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy milk storage tanks. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy milk storage tanks and pasteurising/ cooling plant. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy cheese vats (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Vat Room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Press room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Store. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy Cheese Store, cheeses dated January 1952. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor room. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy compressor? (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy chimney prior to demoliton. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy chimney demolition. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's Rowsley Dairy aerial view, showing adjacent station and dairy rail sidings. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's? Rowsley Creamery from the air. John Irish comments"... Note the railway behind the dairy going through the bridge to the milk depot where the Peak shopping village is now located. Good view of the station as well." (Courtesy Alan Salt)
1950's, Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father collecting in early 50's at Aldwark (Hambleton District, near BoroughBridge, North Yorkshire) ". Roger Broughton adds "London registration, Bedford O Series truck" (Courtesy Bill Conquest)
1950's? Rowsley. William Gee's churn lorry, used to take milk to Express Dairy at Rowsley (Courtesy Alan Salt, Cheese making villages in Derbyshire and Staffordshire)
Express Seddon Churn Truck Reg: GXY 450 Fleet No 708 at Rowsley (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1950's Express Tanker Reg: JXN 569, Fleet No 969. Bill Conquest identifies this image taken at Rowsley, heading on the A6 toward Matlock. (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1950's Rowsley stand at the June Dairy Festival, London. (Courtesy Derbyshire Record Office, donated in March 1985; they had previously belonged to the donor's father, who was an electrical engineer with the dairy.)
1950's-farm at the "Back of Ecton"-a small hamlet near to Hulme End in Staffordshire, which supplied milk to Rowsley. Alan Salt comments "Courtesy of a mate of mine-John Irish-picture shows his grandad John George Wood-he only milked four cows but many people did this in those days and still had another day job."
1951 Rowsley advertise for laboratory assistant. (Courtesy Buxton Advertiser 12 October)
1953 Rowsley Goods Yard, with Express churn lorries parked up. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: J Duncan)
1953 Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father, Leonard Conquest receiving his 20 year award, he was a driver at Rowsley. Rowsley opened in 1933." (Courtesy Bill Conquest)
1956 Rowlsey and Reapsmoor memories from Jock Shepherd, Express boiler engineer. (Express News July)
1957 Matlock Dinner for Dutton Bridge, Rowsley, Brailsford and Reapsmoor creameries. (Courtesy Belper News 27 December)
1960's Rowsley Station and Express Creamery from above. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by:Alan Smith)
1960 item in the Matlock Mercury announces Mr Robert Carline's transfer from Rowsley to manager of Whittington Creamery. (Courtesy Matlock Mercury)
1961 Mr H.G. Laverick is appointed Director of Creamery Operations, having previously been Assistant Manager at Faringdon, Manager at Rowsley and Area Manager for Midland and Southern Creameries. (Express News Autumn)
1961 Photo competition winners-Mr Ernest Chadbourne from Rowsley. (Express News Autumn)
1962 Joe Dakin, Company Driver of the Year, marries Miss Gillian Trill, both working at Rowsley Depot. (Express News Autumn)
1963 Rowsley. Bill Conquest comments "My father, Leonard Conquest receiving his 30 year award, he was a driver at Rowsley. Rowsley opened in 1933." (Courtesy Bill Conquest)
1963 Rowsley station. Dave Winter comments "4F 44110 forges north with a freight through Rowsley station after a heavy shower on 5th October. A milk tanker is just visible peeping out of the Express Dairy building. 44110 was built at Crewe in 1925 with right hand drive, and was withdrawn six months after my photo was taken, being cut up in Rotherham. Five years later the line itself was scrapped. My original black and white photo has been 'colorised'. (Courtesy Dave Winter)
1963 Joe Dakin with churn collection lorry at Rowsley in the harsh winter of 1963/64
1964c A distant view of Rowsley station with a local service to Derby at the platform. Dave Walker-Smith comments "The Express dairy and lines to the former station building (now in Peak Village) much in evidence. The dairy was thought to have closed in 1968." (Courtesy Dave Walker-Smith)
1964 Sheffield Long Service Dinner, with staff from Sheffield area, Rowsley and Brailsford Creameries. From August 'Express Extra' newsletter (Courtesy Paul Luke)
1966 Mr H. G. Laverick appointed to the Express Group Executive Committee. (Express News Autumn & Christmas)
1967c Rowsley North Junction. Dave Walker-Smith comments "Photo taken from the former A6 bridge over the line to the original station-probably during the last year of operation. This view is obscured by trees and unrecognisable now, although the railway houses survive. A corner of one of the cooling tanks of the former Express dairy is just visible to the extreme right." (Courtesy Dave Walker-Smith, from Courtenay Haydon)
1967 Last train from Rowsley Station. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Alan Smith)
1968 Rowsley Creamery closure announced in March, to take place in June 1968, with the loss of 34 jobs. (Courtesy Matlock Mercury 16 March)
1968 E.K. Robarts announces the closure of Rowsley, and floods at Appleby. (Express News Summer)
1969 Rowsley Creamery at closure. (Courtesy 'Dales Life in the Devonshire and Rutland Villages' by Keith Taylor, County Books, image by: Kath Burnett)
1977 Sheffield Internal Auditor David Lockwood with Helen Trickett, North Derbyshire Dairymaid. Bill Conquest comments "Helen was a Rowsley girl". (Express News Autumn)
1986 Rowsley obituary notice for Mrs D Wells, who helped set up Well's Dairy which eventually became Express Rowsley Creamery. (Courtesy Derbyshire Times)
