- This article is about the city of Derby in England. For other meanings, see Derby (disambiguation)
Derby (pronounced 'Darby') is a city in the East Midlands of England. It lies on
the banks of the River Derwent and is
surrounded by the county of Derbyshire. Its population in 2000 was 234,905.
Traditionally, Derby is the county town of Derbyshire, although the Derbyshire's
administrative centre has in recent years been Matlock. On 1
April 1997 Derby City Council became an unitary authority, with
the rest of Derbyshire administered from Matlock.
The popular belief is that the name 'Derby' is a corruption of the Danish Deor-a-by (Village of the Deer), however some assert
that it is a corruption of the original Roman name 'Derventio'. The town was also named 'Darby' or 'Darbye' on some of the oldest
maps, e.g Speed's 1610 map. The city is one of the few cities that have retained a name with a Viking origin, like York, which had the Viking name of Jorvik. The city recently celebrated its 2000 years of history.
The pre Viking, Anglo-Saxon name for Derby was "Northworthy".
Derby was awarded city status in 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II to mark the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Prior to
that, Derby was one of the very few towns in England that remained a town but boasted a cathedral.
Derby and Derbyshire were centres of Britain's industrial revolution. In 1717 Derby was the site of the first Derby Industrial Museum water powered silk mill in Britain,
built by John Lombe and George Sorocold after Lombe had reputedly stolen the secrets of silk-throwing from Piedmont in what is now Italy (he is alleged to
have been poisoned by Piedmontese in revenge in 1722). In 1759 Jedediah
Strutt patented and built a machine called the Derby Rib attachment that revolutionised the manufacture of Hose. This
attachment was used on the Rev. Lee's Framework knitting machine it was placed in front of and worked in unison with Lee's Frame,
to produced ribed hose (stockings).The partners were Jedediah Strutt, William Woollatt had been joined in 1758 by John Bloodworth
& Thomas Stafford, leading hosiers in Derby. The Patent was obtained January 1759, after 3 years Bloodworth & Stafford
were paid off and Samuel Need, hosier of Nottingham joined the partnership the firm was known as Need,Strutt & Woollatt. The
Patent expired in 1773 the partnership continued until 1781 when Need died.
Messrs Wright the bankers of Nottingham recommended that Richard Arkwright apply to Strutt & Need for finance for his
Cotton Spinning Mill.The first Mill opened in Nottingham in 1770 this was driven by horses. In 1771 Richard Arkwright, Samuel Need and Jedediah Strutt built the world's
first water-powered Cotton Spinning mill at Cromford, Derbyshire, developing a form of power that was the
catalyst for the industrial revolution.
This was followed in Derbyshire by Jedediah Strutt's Cotton Spinning Mills at Belper. The first, South Mill 1775, North Mill
1784 the latter destroyed by fire 12th January 1803 was rebuilt and started work again at the end of 1804,West Mill 1792
commenced working 1796, Reeling Mill 1897, Round Mill took 10 years to build 1803-1813 commenced working 1816 and Milford Mills
1778. The Belper and Milford Mills were NOT built in partnership with Arkwright. These mills were all Strutt owned and financed.
The Belper North Mill of 1804 built by William Strutt, Jedediah's son,is the only original Strutt Mill still standing today. It
is an Iron Framed - Fire Poof Building. (Now a Visitor Centre open Wed-Sun 1pm. to 5pm.)
Thomas Evans' mill at Darley Abbey (1783). Other famous 18th century
figures with connections to Derby include Dr Johnson, the creator of
the English dictionary, who married Elizabeth Porter at St.
Werburgh's Church, Derby in 1735; the painter Joseph Wright, known as
Wright of Derby, who was famous for his revolutionary use of light in his paintings and was an associate of the Royal Academy; and John Whitehurst, a famous clockmaker and philosopher. Erasmus Darwin, doctor, scientist, philospher and grandfather of Charles Darwin was also to be found in Derby and Derbyshire at much the same
time, though his practice was based in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Bonnie Prince Charlie's arrival in Derby re-enacted in front of his statue on Cathedral Green, on the anniversary of his visit in
December 1745
Bonnie Prince Charlie held camp at Derby on December
4th 1745, whilst on his way south to seize the English crown. The Prince called at The George Inn on Irongate, where the Duke of Devonshire had set up his headquarters, and
demanded billetts for his 9000 troops. He stayed at Exeter House, Exeter
Street where he held his "Council of War". He had received misleading information about an army coming to meet him south of
Derby. although he wished to continue with his quest, he was overruled by his fellow officers. He abandoned his invasion at
Swarkestone Bridge, just a few miles south of Derby.
Derby Heritage Centre, formerly the Tudor Grammar
School, tells the story of Derby from Roman times till today. Derby Gaol is a visitor attraction based in the dungeons of the
Derbyshire County Gaol which dates back to 1756.
Derby Industrial Museum is situated in Derby
Silk Mill and shows the industrial heritage and
technological achievement of Derby, including Rolls Royce aero engine,
railways, mining, quarrying, foundries etc.
Pickfords House Museum was built by architect Joseph Pickford in 1770. It was his home and business headquarters. Derby Museum and Art Gallery shows paintings by
Joseph Wright, as well as fine Royal Crown Derby porcelain,
local regiments and archaeology.
Other famous Derby institutions include Derby
County Football Club, currently playing in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship. Derby County won the First Division
title (then the highest achievement in English football) in 1972 and 1975. The Rams, as Derby County are known, also won the FA
Cup in 1946.
Towns and villages
- Allenton, Allestree, Alvaston
- Belper
- Chaddesden, Chellaston, Crewton
- Duffield
- Littleover
- Markeaton, Mickleover
- Normanton
- Oakwood, Osmaston
- Peartree
- Spondon
Places of interest
|