Secret Derby

Derby’s history goes back almost 2,000 years, despite a re-foundation on a revised site in the tenth century. For most of its subsequent history it was a County Town, but in the later seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was home to a number of people who were scientific and entrepreneurial innovators and their efforts led to a radical transformation of the Borough in the Regency period followed by the introduction of heavy industry: iron founding, railways, and textiles. This led to a renewal, expansion and the expression of increasing prosperity through the built environment. In the 20th century some of the older industries went into eclipse, to be succeeded by new high-tech ones. Derby became the focus of a new Diocese in 1927, a City in 1977 and entered the present century much expanded and forward-looking.

Yet, despite this, Derby retains much of its historic core, and is full of neglected corners, lost elements and little-known aspects, some of which were once crucial components of its long history: Queen Aethelflaeda, missing medieval churches, impressive ancient houses, unexpected survivals and partly unrealised 1930s urban renewals among therm. If you think you know your Derby – think again!