Regular readers will recall me waxing lyrical about Melbourne as part of last year’s Editor’s Journey series. A recent return visit did nothing to diminish that affection. If anything, it deepened it.
Best known for the beautiful Melbourne Hall and its rare, Grade I-listed gardens, the town has long had a reputation for elegance. Spend even a short amount of time here, though, and it becomes clear there’s a down-to-earth charm running through it too.
I was fortunate enough to spend the night in Melbourne, with my accommodation The Boot, on Church Street, just steps from the very heart of the town. It afforded me the opportunity to have a slow wander round after dusk. One aspect of Melbourne in the evening struck me immediately – it felt calm and unhurried. The quiet was punctuated now and then by cars and the distant descent of planes into East Midlands Airport, but there was a distinctly village-like feel to it.
As the natural light faded, the glow from wine bars, eateries and pubs began to take over. Melbourne has no shortage of inviting little establishments, and in the evening they draw you in gently rather than demand your attention. By the time I’d made my way past the softly lit courtyard of Melbourne Hall and the impressive church towards Melbourne Pool, the light had completely faded.
Here, I found myself entirely alone, although not in silence – the calls and movements of the wildlife that inhabit this expansive body of water a lovely, unexpected contrast to the stillness of the streets.
On heading back towards The Boot, I did find myself momentarily confused. Walking up Chapel Street, I could swear the air was filled with the faint sound of the theme tune from Star Wars. The sound grew louder and more distinct and, by the time I reached the street’s end, it became clear a brass band was rehearsing, producing a wonderfully rousing soundtrack to close the evening.
If the evening in Melbourne has a quiet, almost reflective quality to it, the morning brought a gentle sense of renewal.
The skies were heavy and the ground wet underfoot as I ventured out. Nevertheless, there’s something pleasing about Melbourne in the morning light. The town reveals itself differently. Details that had been softened by dusk — such as the variation in brickwork and subtle colours of painted shopfronts — come into sharper focus. It’s here Melbourne’s architectural charm really asserts itself. Grand Georgian buildings sit alongside centuries-old cottages, while former coaching inns and characterful side streets add depth and intrigue.
A slow wander through the centre and the independent shops and cafés now feel like the natural heartbeat of the town.
Making my way back towards Melbourne Pool in daylight offered yet another perspective, not least Melbourne Parish Church. Its silhouette had felt imposing the night before but now it felt welcoming. Inside, the church’s history speaks for itself. I was particularly struck by a model of the church and its surrounding dwellings. The level of detail was extraordinary — so lifelike, in fact, that when I showed a close-up photograph to my eldest daughter, she had no idea it wasn’t real.
Moments like that feel very much in keeping with Melbourne itself — full of small, unexpected details that leave a lasting impression. It’s a quality that extends beyond its streets and buildings and into a quietly thriving creative scene.
During my visit, I spent time at Creative Melbourne, an organisation playing a key role in supporting and showcasing local artistic talent. Set within the heart of the town, the gallery space itself is thoughtfully curated, offering a changing programme of exhibitions that reflect both local voices and wider influences. It doesn’t feel overly formal or imposing, it invites you in, encouraging you to spend time with the work and the stories behind it.
After a lovely chat with one of the resident artists, Patrick Twiss-Prentice, who gave me a fascinating insight into the way he works, I spoke with Kay Maddocks, gallery manager, about Creative Melbourne’s journey to date.
She explained: ‘Sharon, Phil and Frank (the directors) wanted a space for artists to put up their work and help them all year round, not just one weekend of the year during Melbourne Festival. At the time, work was hard for artists. With lockdown, they could only really sell online and there was no space for them. With galleries shutting down left, right and centre, Sharon happened to bump into Clifford, the owner of the building, and they took a leap of faith. Shortly before Christmas of that year they took a lease out and here we are now, nearly five years later.
‘We’re extremely proud of the gallery and we run exhibitions on a month-to-month basis, it’s ever changing. All these exhibitions represent Melbourne Festival artists and it gives them a platform to showcase their work.
‘It really has been a labour of love. We have a small but ever-growing team and are looking forward to the 21st year of Melbourne Festival this September. South Derbyshire has a real presence of artists, and we want to be the home of art in South Derbyshire; I definitely think Melbourne is the place to be.’
By this point, we had been joined by Sharon Brown, responsible for so much of the success Creative Melbourne is currently enjoying – success exemplified by news that, at the time of my visit, was hot off the press.
‘We recently learned we have secured Arts Council funding for humanity, nature and creativity, which is going to be a 12-month project to celebrate creativity in South Derbyshire,’ Sharon told me.
‘We’re going to be working very hard, including a big programme of workshops this summer, leading up to the festival so that we can celebrate our 21st year in style.
‘Having renovated the building and opened it in January 2022 we have had so much support from regional artists.
‘We have a mentoring programme, Space to Create, and we also have the gallery-based, artist-led workshops where people come in for creative workshops once a fortnight. Then there is the programme of community workshops to get locals engaged with art and creativity—there’s a lot going on.’
Time and again as I chat with Patrick, Sharon and Kay, the conversation came back to a proud sense of place. I’d seen how charming Melbourne is but hadn’t fully appreciated what a tight-knit community exists here.
‘At the start of January we launched a project, Melbourne in Stitches, and invited people in the community to do a panel which reflects what they think of as typical of Melbourne,’ continued Sharon.
‘We’ve now topped 80 squares and Michelle, another resident artist, is a fine art embroiderer, and we’re in the process of working out how we’re going to put it together as it’s going to be displayed at Derbyshire Makes at Swadlincote at the end of April.’
This is a place that clearly never stands still; the energy is infectious.
‘We’re going to be having a secret sculpture garden in Melbourne Hall Gardens featuring work by local and regional artists, open from August 1 until the festival on September 20,’ Sharon continued.
‘We also have a Ronald Pope exhibition running from May 8–18 in the gallery. Ronald Pope is the inspiration for the humanity project because he lived around Melbourne for most of his life and his work is quite well known around here.’
After promising to bring my family to the 21st Melbourne Festival on September 20–21, I left feeling invigorated—reassured that the ethos and spirit which define this town are in such good hands.
Melbourne is a place that invites you to slow down, look a little closer and, in doing so, discover something new each time you visit..
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