Derby

Derby, a parliamentary, municipal, and county borough and manufacturing town, the capital of Derbyshire, on the Derwent, 92 miles SE. of Liverpool and 129 NNW. of London. The Roman station of Derventio was at Little Chester, a northern suburb of Derby. It was a royal borough in the time of Edward the Confessor. Many early charters were granted to the bailiffs and burgesses of Derby; but it was not till 1638 that it was placed under the jurisdiction of a mayor. It has sent two members to parliament since 1295. The tower of All Saints (1509-27) is a grand example of Perpendicular architecture, 175 feet high, exclusive of the pinnacles, or 21 feet higher than the celebrated tower of Taunton. The Roman Catholic church of St Mary (1835) is a good specimen of Pugin's work. The ancient chapel of St Mary-on-the-Bridge still exists. The municipal buildings are unattractive. There is a good free library and well-filled local museum, occupying handsome and suitable buildings, the gift of Mr M. T. Bass, for thirty-five years M.P. for Derby. The grammar-school is a modern erection, but was founded in 1162. The choicely-planted arboretum (16 acres), near the central railway station, was the gift (1840) of Mr Joseph Strutt. Derby is the headquarters of the Midland Railway Company; their vast offices, storehouses, workshops, and engineering establishments employ over 5000 men. Derby being the centre of a great railway system, access to all parts of the kingdom is direct, speedy, and frequent. Its manufactures are silk, cotton, elastic web, lace, hosiery, iron, lead, shot, spar, porcelain, marble, colours, and chemicals. Silk, one of its staple manufactures, was begun here first in England by John Lombe in 1719. The mill that he then erected still stands on an island in the Derwent. Porcelain was manufactured here by the Duesbury family from 1756 till 1814; and the Derby Crown Porcelain Company has recently revived this beautiful industry with much success. Richardson, the novelist, 'Wright of Derby,' the painter, and Herbert Spencer, were natives; and Derby is identified with the 'Stoniton' of George Eliot's Adam Bede. Pop. (1841) 32,741; (1881) 81,168; (1891) 94,140.