Modern Derby

The name Derby is derived from the Danish words “deor by” meaning deer settlement

The Romans were the first to put down settlements in Derby when they built a fort on the high ground around Belper Road which overlooks the river Derwent. They were one of the lines of forts that were built to aid in seeking to protect the first boundary of their newly conquered province. Realising the importance of the area the quickly moved across the Derwent around 80AD and built a new fort on the east side which they called Derventio.

The Romans remained in Derby for around three centuries before they withdrew in an attempt to save Rome from the barbarians.

The Saxons took over from the Romans and many of the suburbs surrounding Derby owe their present names to the Saxons. They remained in Derby for 300 years until it was taken from them by the Danes.
In the Domesday book it is recorded that ‘Derby was a self contained agricultural community grinding it's own corn, fattening it's own livestock, shaping its own crude farm implements, weaving it's own cloth and even catching it's own fish from the Derwent and eels from Sinfin'.
874 Derby town expanded and the population at this time was around 1200
917 The Anglo Saxons, under Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians and King Alfred’s daughter won back the town. Following this it became part of the Kingdom of England
1086 At the publication of the Domesday Book Derby had an approximate population of 2000
1140 St James Priory – a small monastery was founded
1154 Derby was given a charter
1190 The first street names appear with one of the first being Newland Street.
1204 A new charter was given to the people of Derby that gave them the right to rule themselves

1300 Bridge Chapel was built on the bridge over the river Derwent. The chapel still survives today and is one of only six in the country. It was restored in the 1930’s by the Derby Archaeological Society.
1536-39 Henry VIII closed the priory

1554 Derby school was founded by Queen Mary Tudor. It was built in St Peter’s Churchyard and still survives today and is used by the Derby Heritage Centre.
1580 The license of the Dolphin Pub can be traced this far back
1636+65 Severe outbreaks of the plague hit the town
1637 A new charter was granted and a Mayor appointed.
1642-46 The town was garrisoned by Parliamentary troops who were commanded by Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet who was appointed the Governor of Derby in 1643
1660 County hall was built in St Mary’s Gate and then later became the Derby Assizes
1680 Seven Stars pub was opened
1695 A piped water supply was installed in the town
1702 George Sorocold built his first silk mill and was the first one in England

1736 All Saints Church was rebuilt
1745 Charles Edward Stuart arrived in Derby on his route for his march on London
1750 A porceline factory was opened on Nottingham Road by William Duesbury
1770 Joseph Pickford, the Derby architect built his family house in Friar Gate and it is now known as Pickford’s House Museum
1775 A Royal warrant was granted which allowed the company to use the term Crown Derby
1759 Jedediah Strutt patented and built a machine called the Derby Rib attachment that revolutionised the manufacture of Hose

1801 The first census shows that around this time the town population was just fewer than 11,000
1804 The Belper North Mill was built by William Strutt,

1810 Derbyshire Royal Infirmary opened its doors for the first time
1821 Gas street lighting was introduced A new County Gaol was built
1825 The Uttoxeter New Road Turnpike was opened

1828 New Guildhall was built by Matthew Habershon

1840 Derby Railway station opened

1842 The town centre was hit by flooding
1848 The first race meeting was held at Derby Race Course
1862 The last public execution took place
1873 The first public swimming pool was built

1877 A hospital for sick children was built
The boundaries of the town were extended to include – New Normanton and Little Chester
1878 Derby School of Art opened its doors for the first time
1879 The public library and museum were opened
1880 Horse drawn trams ran through the streets of Derby.

1884 Derby County Football Club was formed
1894 The first electric lights in Derby were switched on.

1904 The first electric trams ran in Derby and were then stopped in 1930 and were replaced by buses

1910 The first cinema opened
Most of the Silk Mill is destroyed following a fire
1916 Derby was hit by a Zeppelin airship killing 5 people
1929 Derby City Hospital opens
1932 Derby has its first Newspaper known as the Derby Evening Telegraph
1975 Derby Eagle Centre opened despite local opposition. Within the centre was the Derby Playhouse which also opened its doors for the first time this year
1977 Derby changes from being a town to becoming a City
1992 Derby University was founded

1994 Most of the City became pedestrianised

2005 The bus station closes in preparation for many changes that were to take place around the City which included the building of a new shopping mall

Today the population of Derby is around 222,000

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.