Now, thanks to National Lottery funding, The Model Village is set to become a model of how to get the best out of historic properties in the 21st century.

We’ve awarded a £1.9million grant to Bolsover District Council towards a £10m project to repair and restore the 194 Grade II listed homes that make-up the Model Village.

Original architectural features will be repaired and restored and some of the houses will be upgraded with new windows and thermal insulation.

It’s a highly ambitious project that will benefit all the current residents and help increase understanding of how historic buildings function and ways of improving their thermal performance.

New Bolsover resident, Craig Gulliver, said: “This investment represents real hope for the area and the future is looking bright for the community.”

The village was built by the Bolsover Colliery Company to house its coal mining workforce. To accompany the colliery workers' houses, a school, cooperative store, Miners’ Welfare, Methodist Church and orphanage were built and residents were given space for allotments and to play cricket, bowls, tennis and football.

Alongside the building work a programme of activities, including work with local schools and heritage open days, will promote the heritage of the village.

Head of HLF East Midlands, Jonathan Platt, said: This is a highly visionary project that will preserve an important part of the UK's coal mining heritage whilst strengthening local pride and identity within the Model Village and connecting residents to the heritage on their doorsteps.”