DERBY, a borough and market-town, possessing separate
jurisdiction, locally in the hundred of MORLESTON-AND-LITCHURCH, county
of DERBY, of which it is the capital, 15 miles (W.) from
Nottingham, 29 miles (N.W.) from Leicester, and 126
(N.W) from London, on the river Derwent, and on the
Seal and Arms. high road to Manchester,
containing 17,423 inhabitants, and, including parts of
certain parishes which extend beyond the limits of the
borough, 19,648, but the population since the census
of 1821 has greatly increased. The origin of this
town is not known: by the Saxons it was called
Northworthig, and by the Danes Derwenlby, but more
commonly Deoraby, of which Derby is a corruption,
probably referring to its situation on the Derwent.
King Egbert constituted the town a royal burgh,
-and a mint - was established in it. . It was possessed
by the Danes and Saxons alternately during their contests.
In 874 it was occupied by Halfolen, a Danish
chief, whose head-quarters were at Rippanditne, now
Repton. Alfred having defeated the Danes, planted
a colony here in 880, and constituted this the chief
town in the county. The Danes, after a second defeat
by the same monarch, regained possession of the
place, and retained it till 918, when being taken by
surprise, they were completely defeated by the heroic
Ethelfleda, Countess of Mercia, and daughter of King
Alfred, who> obtaining possession of the town, held it
till her death. The Danes, however, retook it soon after
her decease, but were again dispossessed by King Edmund
I. in 942. In 1040, during the reign of Edward
the Confessor, it contained two hundred and forty-three
burgesses, at which time two-thirds of the profits from
tolls, &c. belonged to the king, and the remaining third
to the Earl of Mercia. In 1066, the king of Norway,
at the instigation of Tostig, Harold's brother, invaded
the northern parts of England, on which many of the
inhabitants of Derb), who -were then vassals of Edwin,
Earl-of Mercia, quitted their homes, and joined the forces
of Morcar, Earl of Northumberland, to oppose the
invader: but they were defeated with great slaughter,
only four days before the latter and his army were
destroyed by Harold. On the victor's return to encounter
William, Duke of Normandy, he recruited his
army at Derby, to which is to be ascribed the diminution
of the number of burgesses; for at the time of the Norman
survey, they amounted to only one hundred, and
of these forty-three were minors. The town was given
by the Conqueror to his illegitimate son, William Peverel,
and an augmentation of its privileges ensued, which
was followed by a revival of industry, and an increase
of its population. In the rebellion of 1745, Derby
was occupied by Charles James Stuart, son of- the Pretender;
but, on the approach of the royal army, commanded
by the Duke of Cumberland, he retreated,
after levying a contribution of two or three thousand
pounds on the inhabitants during his short stay of two days.
Derby is pleasantly situated in a valley which is open
to the south, the country in that direction being flat and
low; a small brook runs through it under nine stone
bridges. The town is large and well built; for, notwithstanding
the want of regularity in their appearance,
many of the more modern houses are spacious
and handsome; it is lighted with gas; the streets are
regularly paved, and considerable improvement has recently
taken place. An elegant stone bridge of three
elliptical arches, over the river Derwent, forms a handsome
entrance to the town from Nottingham. The
roads in the neighbourhood have been recently improved
under the superintendence of Mr. MAdam, and
are in a very good state. Water is abundantly supplied
from the Derwent, by means of pipes and machinery.
The Derby Philosophical Society, which has for its
object the promotion of scientific knowledge, by occasional
meetings and conversation, as well as by the
circulation of books, was founded by Dr. Darwin, in
1788; it has a considerable number of members, who
are in possession of an extensive and valuable library.
Another flourishing institution was commenced in 1808,
under the title of the Derby Literary and Philosophical
Society, the objects of which are the pursuit of literary
and scientific enquiries, by the production and discusD
E R 25 D E R
sion of papers or essays, which may be written on any
subject connected with literature or science, excluding
only the practical departments of medicine and surgery,
politics and religion; but this institution has been almost
wholly discontinued. There are eight or ten other
institutions in the town, one of which is devoted exclusively
to the cultivation of French literature. An agricultural
society was established many years ago, which
holds two meetings annually: there are also a mechanics
institution, with a library attached to it; a permanent
subscription library; a theological book society, &c.
The races, which are of considerable repute, are held on a
fine course, called the Siddals, and are much frequented.
The walks in the vicinity of the town present a variety
of scenery, and are very pleasant.
Derby enjoyed, under a license from King John, the
exclusive privilege of dyeing cloth, but this has wholly declined;
it is nevertheless a place of considerable trade.
Until of late years, silk was the principal article of
manufacture; but to that it has added those of cotton
and porcelain, which are carried on to a great extent. The
first silk-mill erected in England was built here, about
1718, by Mr. John Lombe, who procured in Italy (by
means of bribing two workmen, who accompanied him to
England,) drawings and models of the silk machinery
then in use in that country, for which he took out a patent;
its operations are to wind, double, and twist the silk,
so as to render it fit for weaving. After the death of
Mr. Lombe, about four years afterwards, caused as it
is stated by means of poison, administered to him by an
Italian female, sent over for that purpose, his cousin
Sir Thomas Lombe, relinquished the patent, in consideration
of the sum of £14,000, whereby the manufacture
was thrown open, and the trade rapidly increased.
The factory stands upon an island in the Derwent,
and is built on large piles, over which are turned
thirteen arches of stone; the original machinery has
been replaced by other less cumbrous, and far more
simple in its  construction: it is now worked by a
water-wheel, twenty-three feet in diameter;. and such
has been the progressive increase of this branch of manufacture,
that there are now nine silk-mills, worked
either by water or steam. The weaving of silk was also
introduced here in 1827. The porcelain manufacture
was established in 1793, and has been brought to great
perfection; it gives employment to about two hundred
persons; the beautiful ornaments, called "white biscuit
figures," are the production of this establishment. The
machinery for cutting, polishing, and turning the Derbyshire
marble spar is worked by steam; and a variety
of sculptured articles, which will bear comparison with
those of the best Italian artists, is produced here. In
1756, Mr. Jedediah Strutt invented and introduced " The
Derby ribbed stocking-frame," for which he obtained
a patent; and silk, cotton, and fine worsted stockings,
are still made. The first fire-proof mill for spinning
cotton was erected here in 1793, and there is a considerable
trade carried on in cotton-yarn for making
bobbin, also in net-lace, galloons, ferrets, and tapes, in
red and white lead, tin plates, sheet and bar iron, shot,
and jewellery. Hot and cold air-stoves, upon what is
called " Silvester's principle," by which the most considerable
buildings in the country may be warmed and
ventilated, are exclusively made here; it has now become
an object of importance in its trade.
The navigation of the Derwent was closed on the
completion of the Derby canal; the latter communicating
by branches, each about eight miles in length, with
the Trent and Erwash canal, thus rendering the former
unnecessary. The company entrusted with the management
of the canal were empowered by act of parliament
to raise the sum of £ 90,000, and are required, when the
dividend exceeds eight per cent., to reduce the tolls;
there is a large and convenient wharf for the purpose of
loading and unloading the boats. The market days are
Wednesday and Friday; and on every alternate Tuesday
there is one for fat cattle. The fairs are held on the
Monday after January 6th, January 25th, March 21st
and the two following days, Friday in Easter-week, Friday
after May 1st, Friday in Whitsun-week, July 25th,
September 27th, and the two following days, and on the
Friday before October 4th; those in March and October
are great cheese fairs; the others are principally for cattle.
Henry I. granted the town of Derby to Ralph, Earl
of Chester, and gave the inhabitants a charter of incorporation;
this charter was materially altered, and
their privileges were subsequently enlarged by Henry II.,
Richard I., and John. James I. gave the corporation
authority to hold courts of record, made them independent
of any foreign jurisdiction, and empowered them
to hold " sessions quarterly, two courts leet, and six
fairs yearly." In 1638, mention is first made of a
mayor; the corporation, antecedently to that period,
having been styled " the Bailiffs and Burgesses of the
town of Derby." In 1680, the charter was surrendered
to Charles II., and a new one, now in force, was
obtained in 1683, by which the government of the borough
is vested in a mayor, nine aldermen, fourteen
brethren, and fourteen capital burgesses, who together
constitute the common council; and these appoint a re-
corder, town-clerk (who is also coroner), chamberlain,
four Serjeants at mace (one of whom is keeper of the
gaol), six constables, and other inferior officers, elected
annually on the first Monday after St. Luke's day. The
mayor is chosen from among the aldermen, by the aldermen
and- brethren, and the aldermen from among the
brethren, these last being appointed from the capital
burgesses. The mayor, the late mayor (who is always
deputy mayor, with equal powers), and the four senior
aldermen, are justices of the peace: the mayor, aldermen,
and burgesses, must reside within the borough,
otherwise they can neither locally vote, nor exercise
any official function. The freedom of the borough is
inherited by all the sons of a freeman born within the
borough, or acquired by serving apprenticeship to a resident
freeman, or by gift from the corporation. Sessions
for the borough are held by the mayor quarterly,
on days appointed by himself. A court of record is
held every second Tuesday, before the mayor, his deputy,
the recorder, and the town-clerk, in which pleas to any
amount are cognizable; and a court of requests, for the
recovery of debts under 40s., was established by act of
parliament in the 6th of George HI., which is held every
third Tuesday. Derby has sent two members to parliament
ever since 1294; the right of election is vested
in the free burgesses, of whom there are about two thousand;
the mayor is the returning officer. The Duke
ef Devonshire's influence predominates in parliamentary
elections. The old town-hall, erected on the site of the
ancient guildhall, about the year 1730, though in itself a
good building, was found, from its isolated situation in
the market-place, to be a great obstruction to business,
and has therefore been taken down; a new one, nearly
in a line with the south side of the market-place, has
been erected; it presents a handsome appearance, and,
being built on arches, is connected with a new markethouse
built by the corporation. The assizes and general
quarter sessions were formerly held in the county-hall,
a spacious handsome building of freestone, built in i860;
new courts of a more convenient construction having
been subsequently erected. Adjoining the hall, on the
right, is a handsome brick building, erected in 1811, for
the accommodation of the judges; and on the left an hotel.
The town gaol, which until lately was the county prison,
is a plain, solid, brick building, erected about 1756; but
not admitting of the arrangements required by a late act
of parliament, a new county gaol and house of correction,
affording ample means of classification, has been erected
upon the radiating principle, at an expense of £ 63,000;
it comprises one hundred and sixty-four cells, and twentyone
courts, a chapel and a house for the governor.
Derby is divided into five parishes, viz., All Saints,
St. Werburgh's, St. Alkmund's, St. Peter's, and St. Michael's,
of which the last three extend into the hundred
of Morleston and Litchurch; they are all in the
archdeaconry of Derby, and diocese of Lichfield and
Coventry. The living of All Saints is a perpetual curacy,
in the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation.
The church, which, prior to the dissolution, was collegiate,
is considered the principal architectural ornament
of the town; the body, erected in 1725, from a design
by Gibbs, at an expense of £ 4000, is in the Roman
Doric style, and the interior particularly light, elegant,
and spacious; the tower, one hundred and eighty feet
high, erected in the reign of Henry VII., is in the later
English style, the upper part being richly ornamented
with buttresses, pinnacles, battlements, and tracery.
Rich open screen-work of iron, said to have cost £500,
separates the east end of the church from the place allotted
for divine worship, in the centre of which is
an elegant chancel. Over an altar-piece of Derbyshire
marble is a fine painting by Rawlinson; and on the
southern side of the chancel a monument to the memory
of William, Earl of Devonshire, who died in 1628, and
his countess, whose figures stand under a dome, nearly
twelve feet in height: there is also a splendid mural
monument to the memory of the celebrated Countess
of Shrewsbury, executed under her own inspection. The
living of St. Alkmund's is a vicarage, not in charge, in
the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation. The
church is supposed to have been originally founded early
in the ninth century,in honour 6 Alkmund, son of Alured,
the deposed King of Northumberland, who being slain
in battle, while endeavouring to reinstate his father, was
first interred at Lilleshall, in Shropshire, but removed
thence and deposited in this church. Many pilgrimages
were formerly made to his tomb, which, in point of miracles,
was exceeded in renown only by that of Thomas
a Becket, at Canterbury. The chapelries of Little Eaton
and Darley are in this parish, though without the limits
of the borough. The living of St. Peter's is a discharged
vicarage, rated in the king's books at £8, and in the
patronage of the Rev. T. Wright's family, of Market-,
Bosworth. The church is ancient, but of uncertain date.
The living of St. Werburgh's is a discharged vicarage,
rated in the king's books at £5. 12. 8., and in the patronage
of the Crown. The original church of St. Werburgh
is supposed to have been built prior to the Conquest.
From being situated near Markeatoii-brook, its
foundation was injured by occasional floods; so that
in 1601 the tower fell, and within a century afterwards,
the church having become ruinous, the present edifice
was erected. A chapel of ease, dedicated to St. John,
capable of accommodating one thousand four hundred
persons, has recently been erected in the later English
style, at an expense of about £8000, one half of which
was defrayed by the parliamentary commissioners, and
the other by subscription among the inhabitants. The
living of St. Michael's is a discharged vicarage, rated
in the king's books at £4. 15., endowed with £400
private benefaction, £400 royal bounty, and £2000
parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Crown.
The church is very ancient, and of uncertain date. An
episcopal chapel, dedicated to St. George, has recently
been erected in this parish, capable of seating one thousand
persons. There are places of worship for General
and Particular Baptists, the Society of Friends, Inde
pendents, Wesleyan Methodists (New and Old connexion),
Swedenborgians, and Unitarians, and a Roman Catholic chapel.
The free grammar school is said to have been founded
in the reign of Henry II., soon after the removal of the
canons of the priory of St. Helen's, at Derby, to Darley.
Walter Durdant, Bishop of Lichfield, in his charter,
makes mention of the school of Derby, as the gift of himself
and William de Barba Aprilis. Queen Mary, in the
first year of her reign, granted a charter to the corporation,
in which provision is made for the support of this
school, by the payment of £ 13. 6. 8. per annum; the
queen's grant was also accompanied by the patronage
of two of the churches. The sum of £25 is annually paid
to the master, by the Master and Fellows of Emanuel
College, Cambridge, under the will of Mr. Ash, who also
founded ten exhibitions at the same college, for boys
educated at this school and at that of Ashby de la Zouch.
Mrs. Jane Walton, who died in 1603, also bequeathed the
sum of £40 for the benefit of the master and usher, and
£ 100 to the master of St. John's College, Cambridge,
towards the maintenance of such of the young men
educated here as should be admitted into that college.
Flamsteed, the celebrated astronomer, received the elementary
part of his education at this institution. In
1812, National schools were established in the parish of
St. Werburgh, in which about ninety boys and one
hundred girls are instructed; and in 1829, schools upon
the same system were opened in the parish of St. Peter,
which afford instruction to one hundred boys and
seventy girls. There is also a school upon the Lancasterian
plan, in which about one hundred and forty boys
are taught; also several infant schools.
The Devonshire almshouse was founded by the
Countess of Shrewsbury, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
and endowed with a bequest of £100 a year. In
1777, it was rebuilt in a handsome style, at the expense
of the then Duke of Devonshire, who, before his death,
added a farther endowment of £ 50 a year: eight men
and four women are now supported in it. About 1716,
Edward Large, Esq. endowed an almshouse near the top
of Friargate, for five widows of clergymen, each of whom
receives about £ 26 per annum. Robert Willymott, Esq.,
of Chaddesden, by will dated September 1st, 1629, founded
and endowed ten almshouses, for six men and four
women, to be supported by his heirs in perpetuity}
these were rebuilt by Sir Robert Wilmot, in 1814. A munificent
bequest was also made by Richard Crawshaw,
Esq., who died in 1631, of upwards of £4000, for the
benefit of the poor of Derby, including the maintenance
of lectures, and other laudable purposes: additional
bequests have lately been made to this charity,
which has now a revenue of £750 per annum. There is
an asylum for discharged female prisoners, the object
of which is, by the inculcation of moral principles, to
restore them to society and to useful employment.
Robert Lyversege, dyer, of the parish of St. Peter's, bequeathed
various lands and tenements " for good and
godly purposes," the present rental of "which, about
£700, is from the renewal of leases, continually increasing;
the poor have also the benefit of numerous small bequests.
The general infirmary is situated near the London
road, on a healthful, airy, and dry plot of ground; the
building is constructed of hard white stone, of a handsome,
yet simple elevation of three stories, containing a
light central hall, with a double staircase: there are two
light and spacious rooms, one for each sex, called day or
convalescent rooms; a statue of Esculapius, indicating
its useful design, is placed upon the centre of the dome,
which is of iron. The building is calculated to accommodate
more than one hundred patients: three physicians,
four surgeons, and a house apothecary, are appointed
to the institution. It is surrounded by fourteen
acres of land, purchased to prevent the near approach
of buildings, and cost nearly £18,000. The ordnance
dep6t, situated near the infirmary, erected according
to a design by Mr. Wyatt, in 1805, has been purchased
of government, and converted into a silk-mill.
About half a century ago there were vestiges of an
ancient castle, but the site is now completely covered
with buildings. Remains of St. Mary's chapel, supposed
to have been the church of St. Mary given by
William the Conqueror to the abbey of Burton, still
exist: the chapel, in the time of Charles II., was used
by the Presbyterians, but was subsequently converted
into small tenements. Of several religious houses which
once had existence here there are no traces. Among
the eminent native's of Derby may be mentioned Dr.
Thomas Linacre, the founder of the College of Physicians
in London, of which he was president till his death, in
1524; Samuel Richardson, the novelist, in 1689 5
William Hutton, in 1723; and Joseph Wright, the celebrated
painter, in 1734; this distinguished artist resided
here during the greater part of his life, and died in
1797; his view of Ulswater, which is considered to be
one of the finest efforts of British genius, in landscape,
was purchased by Sir Richard Arkwright, for £315, and
is now at Willersley castle, in this county. Thomas
Parker, Earl of Macclesfield, and Lord High Chancellor,
resided here during the early part of his life; and while
practising in this town as an attorney, laid the foundation
of his future fame. John Whitehurst, an ingenious
mechanist and philosopher, also resided here about the
middle of the last century; and Dr. Erasmus Darwin here
spent the last twenty years of his life, and died in 1802.
Derby gives the title of earl to the family of Stanley.