VIP guest meets Great Great Great Grandfather to Launch Heights of Abraham's Golden Anniversary
This is a special year of celebration for Derbyshire’s award-winning visitor attraction, The Height of Abraham which is celebrating two milestone anniversaries this year – 50 years since the current owners, Andrew and Vanessa Pugh acquired the attraction and forty years since the installation of the UK’s first alpine-style cable car system upon which visitors traverse the steep incline to the top of Masson Hill.
L to R Rupert, Georgie and Vanessa Pugh with Joanna Brown and Benjamin Bryan
Joanna Brown (from Devon) pushed the “big green button” to re-start the Heights of Abraham cable cars for the 2024 season on Saturday 10th February. She was joined by her ‘great great great grandfather’, the Victorian owner of the Heights, Benjamin Bryan, recreated by living history actor, David Oxley.
Serendipitously Joanna was visiting Derbyshire last year, in search of her ancestor’s gravestone, when she visited the Heights of Abraham, once owned by Benjamin Bryan in the Victorian era.
Joanna explains in her own words: “Last September when I stepped off the cable car at the top, I was shocked to see a sign advertising daily tours by Benjamin Bryan, the very relative I was seeking. It was a wonderful feeling. I couldn’t wait to meet him again today, and to meet the current owners of the Heights too”.
Sheffield Chinese Lion Dancing Team at the Heights
The current custodians, the Pugh family, invited Joanna back to reunite with her famous relative on Saturday 10th February to start the cars again for this very special 2024 season, during which they will be celebrating two milestone anniversaries.
As Saturday also marked the start of the Lunar New Year, Joanna along with hundreds of visitors was entertained by the Sheffield Chinese Dancing Lion Team, who were visiting the Heights to perform their fabulous Lion Dance of good fortune, making this an auspicious start to this special year, and welcoming in the ‘Year of the Dragon’.
Rupert Pugh, Development Director at the Heights, said:
“2024 is a really special year for all of us here at the Heights. We are celebrating both a golden and a ruby anniversary, as it’s 50 years since my parents took over the stewardship of the estate and began their huge restoration project, and 40 years since they installed the cable car system, which transformed this estate into one of England’s leading tourist attractions”.
For more information www.heightsofabraham.com
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Belper care home named among the Top 20 Care Homes in the East Midlands Family-run care provider Milford Care is proud to announce that Spencer Grove Care Home in Belper has been re read more | |
| Storage site in picturesque Little Eaton village to go up for auction A large plot of land, currently used as a caravan storage site, in the village of Little Eaton, near Derby, is read more | |
| Opticians celebrates 20 years in Belper The team at a Belper opticians have celebrated their 20th anniversary with a special event and a fundraising raffle. read more | |
| Nature groups unite to support wildlife and green spaces across Amber Valley Local nature groups, organisations and councillors came together for the latest Amber Valley Nature Netw read more | |
| Dispelling Myths - Count Yourself In To Foster People are being urged to count themselves in to provide a safe and supportive home for Derbyshire children and young people. read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
