Derbyshire Record Office
LightNews LightNews
banner
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Derbyshire Record Office
@derbyshiredro.bsky.social
6K followers 2.5K following 640 posts
Free access to 900 years of history - Derbyshire, Britain and beyond: books, archives, maps, prints and photographs. Explore online or visit us in Matlock.

Website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/recordoffice
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · Nov 15
Hello Bluesky 😀
We're the record office for Derbyshire, meaning we hold all the historic archives for the county of #Derbyshire and the city of #Derby. We're delighted to join everyone here! Follow us if you're interested in #history, #archives, old #recipes, historic #fashion and lots more...
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The Record Office will close at 3pm today to allow our staff to travel home safely ❄️❄️
January 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The second Friday in January is supposedly when most people give up on their New Year resolutions. If you fear that might be you, then here are the people of Belvoir Street in Ilkeston from 1935, cheering you on. You can do it!
#PhotoFriday #QuittersDay #1930s
A street party with bunting stretched out along the road. A large crowd of people gather filling the street. A man at the front is leading them in a huge cheer.
January 9, 2026 at 12:10 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
We may have a blanket of snow on the hills, but the Record Office is currently open today!
January 9, 2026 at 10:11 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Here's one way to get in your supplies through a snow drift... milk delivery in Matlock, powered by a sledge, in the winter of 1963.

#snowday
A black and white image showing thick snow on ground, as 3 people walk through. One man is pulling a sledge containing milk bottles, with a woman pushing it from behind. They are dressed in winter coats and warm headwear. There is a row of houses in the background
January 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
When you open up a rather ordinary looking rental from 1737 and the first thing you see is a lovely watercolour lying loose between the cover and the first page 😍

#SearchroomSurprise #art
A plain volume, bound with a parchment cover. There is some black lettering on the cover, but it is no longer legible. A small watercolour landscape, featuring a river, cows in a field and a mountain in the background.
January 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
On #WorldTypingDay here are typists busy at work, in Stanton Ironworks typing office in the 1940s. That must have been a noisy place to work, with the click clacks of keys and the dings of those typewriter bells.
#LocalStudies #1940s
An office with rows of wooden desks each with a large typewriter sitting on it. Each desk has a female secretary sitting at it typing. They are all smartly dressed in neat dresses or blouses and cardigans.
January 8, 2026 at 11:05 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The latest 'Re-Discovering Hope' report is our #NewAccession. It features an article on the paintings of Moses and Aaron in the church. These works are usually hidden beneath layers of varnish and dirt, but thanks to digital enhancement, you can now see them in all their glory!
Front cover of the publication 'Re-Discovering Hope', with subtitle 'Research Group Reports 2025'. It features a black and white image of an old map of Hope and has the logo of the Hope Historical Society in the top left corner. Colour photograph of two paintings, possibly painted in oils. Depicts the Biblical figures of Moses and Aaron. They both have beards, long hair and flowing robes. One is wearing a hat and holding an incense burner.
January 7, 2026 at 12:25 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
A bit of cheer in the bleak Midwinter. Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a programme for A Midsummer Night's Dream, performed by Derby School's Dramatic Society in The Big School, 1933. For those who know the play, guess who FW Longbottom was playing?
That's right - Philostrate. Bottom was played by T Lee.
The cover of the programme, which reads: Derby School Dramatic Society / Scenes from The Comedy of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare / given by the boys of the Junior and Preparatory School, in The Big School, on Monday, April the Third, 1933, Preceded by a short entertainment. A cast list entitled Dramatis Personae, including Philostrate, Master of the revels to Theseus, played by F H Longbottom and Bottom, a weaver, played by T Lee.
January 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
This cartoon from May 1916 shows men turning up for early morning military training. It was drawn by Horace J. Rylands during his #FirstWorldWar service. Horace was born in Torquay, but spent most of his life in Sheffield as an engineer with the Tramway Department, before moving to Bakewell.
A cartoon of three men in casual dress stood to attention holding their bayonets. All three look very tired. A caption underneath says "the cheerful countenances with which we greet our bayonet fighting instructor at 6:15am!". There is a dog next to the group with a speech bubble saying "Golly! He's snoring!"
January 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
St. Peter's Church Bell Ringers, Belper, Derbyshire c. 1955, ringing in the New Year! Ringing Bells at midnight on New Year's Eve was said to drive off evil spirits & bring good luck for the coming year.
A black and white photograph of a group of 8 church bell ringers standing holding the church bell ropes, all smiling and wearing 1950s style clothing
January 2, 2026 at 7:20 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
For our #PhotoFriday on #WorldIntrovertDay we give you an introvert’s nightmare. This is the reception line at Chatsworth, for Lord Hartington becoming 10th Duke of Devonshire in 1939. How many people to meet and greet? His poor hand must have ached after all that hand shaking.
#1930s
Outside a grand country house stands a man in a smart suit. Stretching out as far as they eye can see in front of him, is a line of people. All waiting to shake his hand.
January 2, 2026 at 11:05 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
‘The Master of these Marvels’ is a new biography of George Stephenson, which presents a year by year account of the railway pioneer’s activities. It also shows how he garnered a circle of influential people to help progress mechanical engineering. Now in our #LocalStudies library.
Front cover of the book ‘The Master of these Marvels. George Stephenson and his Circle of Genius', by Robert F. Hartley. It features a full colour rendition of the oil painting 'The birthplace of the locomotive - Killingworth Colliery' by John Lindsay Lucas. In the top right is a black and white inset, the portrait of George Stephenson by Henry Perronet Briggs.
January 1, 2026 at 2:35 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at Derbyshire Record Office! 🎉
We hope this calendar from 1903 will still give you luck and joy in 2026...

#HappyNewYear
The front of a small calendar, which is meant to be sent as a new year's card. It is generally green in colour, with white and red flowers adorning the edges. The text reads 'Good Luck. A calendar for 1903'. The same calendar, unfolded. It is a long vertical strip, with the same green background and red and white flowers along the edges. The days of every month are printed inside a horseshoe each, giving 12 months of good luck.
January 1, 2026 at 10:35 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Our latest #NewAccession is thanks to Bakewell Town Council: we now have a complete set of minutes for Bakewell Urban District Council 1863-1974, as well as town council minutes 1974-2018. A full list of deposits from BTC can be found on our online catalogue.
Photograph of brown paper packets and volumes on shelves, being the records deposited by Bakewell Town Council ready for processing by the Conservation team after being catalogued.
December 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
As the temperature drops this #NewYearsEve who wishes they'd been gifted a nice new pair of gloves the Christmas? This advertisement for Ladies and Gentlemen's gloves is from the Long Eaton Advertiser December 1923 - we like the sound of lined wool with a fur wrist!

#archives
1920s newspaper advertisement for B. W. Granger, choice selection of Ladies and Gentlemen's Gloves for Xmas wear. Lists various types of winter gloves and their prices in news type lettering
December 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The poems of Thomas Crofts of Belper (1815-1904) are our #ArchiveOfTheWeek. Included are poems for Christmas and the New Year, beautifully printed on card, some in gold lettering. We like to think he gave them to friends and family with good wishes for the year ahead.
Bundle of printed poems printed on cream and pink card. They have titles such as “New Year Wishes”. The last verse of the poem entitled “A New Year’s Greeting” reads “Permit me then to wish for you; A glad and bright New Year; Laden with every needful gift, To comfort, bless and cheer.” Its signed “T.C, The Orchard, Belper, Dec 28th 1899”.
December 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
When documents play hide and seek 😄
We thought this was quite sweet when we were looking for something else in the same box.

#SearchroomSurprise
Photograph of a brown file labelled "Bag C 587-(1) Reports on the Alport mines (printed) 1841-49, 1858; resolution 1843" and with a handmade pocket on the front labelled "Bag C 587 (1) - 1 in this pocket". Photograph of the same file, with a small parchment bound book poking out of the pocket labelled "Alport Reckonings 1806".
December 29, 2025 at 11:25 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
How many of you include going to a pantomime as one of your Christmas traditions? If you fancy some festive #EYASparkle see what’s being performed locally, like this production of Aladdin at The Playhouse Theatre, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton in 1968.

#PhotoFriday #1960s
The cast of the pantomime Aladdin pose dressed in sparkly costumes. As is traditional a woman plays Aladdin and is at the front with the lamp, while the rest of the cast look on with expressions of happiness, puzzlement and surprise.
December 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
To finish our #Railway200 extravaganza: a Midland Railway Company ticket issue book from 1870–1871, straight out of Dronfield Station. Imagine the journeys recorded in these pages—Victorian passengers, steam locomotives, and the golden age of rail…
A double page of a volume that has printed columns with titles such as 'Stations', 'Children' and 'Rate'. It has been filled in by hand.
December 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Did you know the “Christmas Pudding King”, Matthew Walker, came from Derbyshire? The business he started in 1899 in Heanor is reputedly the oldest Christmas pudding maker in the world. Find a copy of Derbyshire Life from December 2018 in our #LocalStudies library to find out more.
Image showing page 28 and 29 of the article in the Derbyshire Life magazine entitled 'The Christmas Pudding King. Peter Seddon turns detective in search of Matthew Walker'. It features a photograph of a Christmas pudding on a dining table and a photo of the Christmas Pudding King himself astride a horse.
December 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
To everyone who has visited, contacted us, followed, liked, and commented on our posts this year — Derbyshire Record Office wishes you a #MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year!

#ArchiveAdventCalendar
A Victorian Christmas card showing a painting of four small dogs. The text says: "Blessed are the merciful. Bow! Wow! We have come to say. We wish you a merry Christmasday. S. Herbert".
December 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Our #NewAccession is a diary of William Green, servant to Hugh Seymour Blane of The Pastures, Mickleover, Derby. This entry is from 24th Dec 1868 when Sir Seymour and Lady Blane saw the Christmas decorations at the County Asylum. The housekeeper's gift was sherry, the servants had rum.

#Victorian
Diary entry: 24 [December 1968] Thursday, Wind S.W. thermstat / day 48 rain more or less. Sir / Seymour + Lady Blane went / in waggonette to the County / Asylum to see the Decoration / for Xmas, Capt Blane returns from / London after Been there eight / or nine days, he got here about / ten minutes to Eleven oclock / PM Henry went out untill / Saturday morning. Sir Seymour / and myself put out presents all / Sherry for the Housekeepr[e]s Roam [room] and / Rum for Servant Hall
December 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Watch out! #Santa's on his way, cycling through the snow on his penny-farthing. Luckily Rudolph and the other reindeer are behind him to make sure he gets round the world on time…
#ArchiveAdventCalendar
A Victorian Christmas card showing Santa Claus riding a penny-farthing through a snowy landscape. He is wearing a rucksack full of presents and is holding a branch of holly in his right hand. Several reindeer are running behind him, all with baskets full of presents strapped on their backs.
December 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Who is dreaming of a White Christmas? This serene scene captured by a Peak Park photographer of snow-laden pines in Cressbrook certainly evokes a #WinterWonderland. You can almost hear the sleigh bells ringing! #ArchiveAdventCalendar #snow
A narrow country lane in Cressbrook, Derbyshire, blanketed in snow during winter. Tall evergreen trees on both sides are heavily laden with thick snow, creating an arch-like canopy over the road. A small car is parked on the left side of the lane, partially covered in snow. The scene is serene and peaceful.
December 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Someone who could be a little bit naughty, but was certainly nice and funny, was the comedian Victoria Wood. Here is a note she sent Buxton Fringe Festival to mark the 21st Fringe Festival, remembering a little mishap in a changing room!
#NaughtyOrNice #ArchiveAdventCalendar
One side of a handwritten note which states: “Dear Stephanie, my abiding memory of Buxton is the handle dropping off of the dressing room..." Handwritten note continued: "...door, locking me in, and someone had to hand me a screw driver through the window so I could let myself out! Best wishes Victoria Wood.”
December 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM