Jewel in the countryside as CW Sellors prepares to open centre at Carsington Water

It will be the culmination of a vision created by the late founder Chris Sellors

More than 15 years ago, Derbyshire jeweller Chris Sellors started to formulate a vision to provide a national home for British jewellery manufacturing and design, which would help to develop and showcase talent in the industry. Gradually the dream has become a reality and in the next nine months it is expected that CW Sellors Carsington will open its doors full-time to the public and industry.

Unfortunately, Mr Sellors will not see his vision come completely to reality after he passed away, aged 64, just over 12 months ago. But daughter and son, Rebecca and James, are ensuring that Mr Sellor would have been proud of the Waters Meet three-storey building overlooking Carsington Water. The company is also celebrating 45 years in business this year.

When finally completed, it will have a jewellery boutique retail store, exhibition space and restaurant and cafe. It will also provide training and short courses for jewellery design and manufacturing as well as having sufficient space to host large events and exhibitions.

But before then, the building which has exquisite views of popular Carsington Water will have a soft launch next month, as the company revives its annual festive Christmas Wishes events in the new space and not at Chatsworth, where it was held for many years.

Daughter Rebecca says that everyone from among the staff and suppliers who has been to see the new building is very impressed. It's not hard to see why as from most rooms there are magnificent views of the reservoir and countryside. Rebecca said: "We are a creative industry and feel that by bringing our craftsmen to this setting will help them to be even more creative than they already are.

"They are all keen to move here and I am sure we will have new designs that are inspired by this place."

Rebecca explained that Mr Sellors had been keen on putting the new building near Carsington for many years. She said: "He knew the area well, living at Kniveton and was delighted when he was able to purchase the 17-acre site and planning permission was finally achieved at a second attempt in 2015.

"The place has been built with the natural world and natural stone in mind, with polished limestone and a drystone walling effect. There is more limestone inside with the flooring.

"Although we are close to being finished, we would not want to move ahead of our busiest time of the year at Christmas, and also we have still to confirm the operator for our eating facility, which we want to be a dining experience for visitors."

It has also been built to take into account being environmentally-friendly with 21 boreholes and ground source generated power, underfloor heating with ambitions to have solar panels at some stage.

There are CW Sellors shops in Derbyshire, Shropshire and North Yorkshire - six are in Whitby - in various places, such as the flagship store in Bakewell, Ashbourne, where the current headquarters also is, Chester, Shrewsbury and Ludlow. The company also has a very big online presence, which really took off during the Covid pandemic.

Rebecca added: "This is a purpose-built destination for everyone and we hope that people com and see us in our new home when we are fully open, or register to come along to Christmas Wishes."

Christmas Wishes is open to the public from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10, and there is also an evening showcase from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15. Anyone wishing to attend must register in advance as space will be limited, by clicking here for more information.