Derbyshire Record Office
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derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Derbyshire Record Office
@derbyshiredro.bsky.social
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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
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derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is this impressive A-level project by Trevor Jordan from 1977. It contains many photos, including ones of two limestone blocks which were once set into the Newhaven Tunnel, as well as other industrial archaeology features of the Cromford and High Peak Railway.
Typed page with the title 'The Industrial Archaeology of the Cromford and High Peak Railway'. Two photographs of limestone blocks stuck to a black piece of paper. The south-facing brick depicts a replica of a waggon surrounded by the name Cromford & High Peak Railway and date 1825. The name of the contractor, P.H. & Co., in the four corners of the stone. The north-facing stone bears the name of the engineer Josias Jessop (d.1826), It also bears the coat of arms of the Cromford and High Peak Railway, together with it's motto 'Divina palladis arte. A black piece of paper with three photographs stuck to it. The top one is captioned 'Milepost 22', the middle one 'Black Rocks' and the bottom one 'Wassen company's lead smelter'.
November 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
This little hymn book was created for the Centenary Festival of Denby Pottery Methodist Church's Sunday School in 1880. Most of the songs mentioned are not as familiar today, but certainly the national anthem and 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past' are still recognisable.

#EYAReligion/Spirituality
Small booklet front cover: Sunday School Centenary Festival. Hymns to be sung at Denby Pottery on July 20th 1880. The cover is signed James Horsley, Park Meadows Denby. The Hymn IV of the booklet is 'O God! Our Help in Ages Past' and is published with the lyrics: O God! Our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast And our eternal home.
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
When the Sheffield–Chesterfield line opened, it used the latest technology to run. This Telegraphic Despatch (telegram) form is from 6th January 1871. They were used for traffic related arrangements, problems and discrepancies.
#Railway200
Form that has been filled in by hand using black ink.
November 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
While Derby has the county’s official cathedral, the Parish Church of St John the Baptist stands tall in Tideswell, earning its epithet as the ‘Cathedral in the Peak’. This atmospheric 1960s shot was taken by a Peak Park photographer and captures its majesty and serenity.
#EYAReligion/Spirituality
Black and white photo of the Church of St John the Baptist in Tideswell, taken in winter. Snow blankets the rooftops and ground, while the Gothic-style church stands tall with its pointed arches, stained glass windows, and prominent bell tower. Leafless trees and surrounding stone buildings add to the serene atmosphere of the Peak District village.
November 17, 2025 at 10:40 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The Green Man is a pagan symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth each spring. Here we have a beautiful architectural depiction on one of Derby’s oldest coaching inns, Mr Jorrocks Public House, taken in 1988.
#PhotoFriday #EYAReligion/Spirituality
A carving of The Green Man on the corner of a building. It shows a man’s bearded with leaves and pine cones around his head, and fruit underneath. A bunch of grapes is carved further up the wall. The carving is brightly painted – the foliage bright green, grapes purple and the face has blue eyes, a brown beard and rosy cheeks.
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Best wishes to the King for a very #HappyBirthday.
This address to his late mother was prepared by Derby-born typographer, printer and illustrator John R. Biggs (1909-1988).
A parchment document on which is written in blue, red and black calligraphic text: "TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH C.I. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS We the Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts tender to our President our heartiest and most loyal congratulations on the birth of a son. We pray that he may grow in wisdom and in Christian knowledge to the happiness of your Royal Highness and of Prince Philip..."
November 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
This image shows a Pair of class 31 diesel trains head an 'up' tanker under bridge 21, passing derelict railway station buildings at Weston on Trent in 1987.

#Railway200 #train #LocalHistory
A black and white photograph of a train pulled by two diesel engines passing under a bridge. On the right can be seen the roof tops of some houses while the train is about to pass derelict railway station buildings.
November 13, 2025 at 1:05 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
On #WorldKindnessDay and at the start of #TransgenderAwarenessWeek we’ve picked this book from our #LocalStudies shelves. ‘Before we were trans’ gives new insight into the rich history of gender – aspects largely ignored in the past. A fascinating and enjoyable read.
The cover of the book ‘Before we were trans, a new history of gender’ by Kit Heyam. A black and white photograph of a group of cross dressers or trans women, in Edwardian style clothing forms the book cover.
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
On #WorldBalletDay, meet ballerina Mrs Mabel Williams, here photographed in 1933. We don't know anything else about Mabel and would love to find out more, so do tell us if you know more about her life and career.

#1930s #dance
Black and white photograph of young woman wearing an elaborate white ballet tutu and pointe shoes. She is standing in an elegant ballet position, smiling at the camera.
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Last month we collected our latest #NewAccession, over 70 boxes from Shipton Hallewell & Company, Chesterfield solicitors. Established in 1756, the firm’s archive spans centuries of fascinating documents about Chesterfield and its surroundings. Visiting their beautiful office was a real privilege!
Hand drawn and coloured preliminary sketch plans of proposed new building at Chesterfield West Bars for John Dent. Colour photograph of a library. There is a fire place and above that are book shelves filled leather bound books. To the right on the wall are cream coloured box drawers numbered 1 to 24, with cupboard doors below them. It has a sash window. In the centre of the room is a large, heavy set wooden desk, with rolled plans and bankers boxes on top of the desk and stacked on the floor. Colour photograph of a brass name plate fitted to a red brick wall. The brass plate says "Messrs Shipton Hallewell Co Solicitors".
November 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek are records of the Derby Hebrew Congregation, founded on 5 April 1899 and closed in 1986. In June 1949 the Congregation celebrated its Golden Jubilee which included a dinner at the Assembly Rooms at the Market Place in Derby.

#EYAReligion/Spirituality
Programme for a dinner to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Derby Hebrew Congregation on 22nd June 1949. It is printed on cream card with gold lettering.
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
In 1847 railways arrived in Erewash affecting every aspect of local peoples’ lives. Read their story in ‘Railway Tales’. Learn why by 1969, the 7 railway stations a mile or so of Ilkeston’s borough border, had gone. A super mix of history, humour & memories in our #LocalStudies library. #Railway200
A colour photograph makes up the whole front cover showing a steam engine with carriages at a platform in a station. Steam is coming out of the engine. Titled Railway 'Tales Ilkeston and District in the Age of Steam' by Grant Shaw and Paul Miller, with forward by Pete Waterman. Ilkeston and District Local History Society.
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Have you got a bear to show some love to on #HugABearDay? Luckily for these servants at Thornbridge Hall in the #1900s this fine example was stuffed - though we do feel sorry for the poor bear itself.
#PhotoFriday
A group of four people, three men and one woman in the early 1900s standing in a courtyard. They are grouped around a stuffed bear, which towers over them, jaws open wide showing its sharp teeth with paw raised.
November 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
This plan for the Burton and Ashby Light Railway shows just how industrial the area around Swadlincote Station was in 1902.
#Railway200
Scale hand drawn plan of railway line through Swadlincote.
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
On the 20th of October 2023 a small commute from work on a wet day turned into a surreal event. Read Chesterfield resident Joe Curtis’s personal account of Storm Babet and its impact on Chesterfield; find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.

#LocalHistory
Front cover of the book 'Through Water & Ruin. Surviving the Commute & Aftermath of Storm Babet' by Joe Curtis. It features a photo collage of a flooded street with people paddling in a canoe, a car driving through floodwater and people waiting at a bus stop.
November 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Are you going to marvel at a fireworks display this Bonfire Night? If you'd been in Markeaton in 1986, then this is the spectacle you'd have seen 🎆🤩

#BonfireNight #Fireworks #1980s #LocalHistory
Black and white photo of bright fireworks streaming over a lake, with big trees in the background.
November 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
The Cattle Plague outbreak of 1865-1867 killed around 10% of the country's population of cattle. During this time, there was also a large outbreak of cholera. A national day of prayer, or 'humiliation' was called on 7 March 1866 to pray for release from the situation.

#EYAReligion/Spirituality
A black and white poster written in various different size font. Poster begins as follows: THE CATTLE PLAGUE. My Dear Friends, I send to you an extract from a circular I have received from the Bishop: "The Cattle Plague still prevails among us with unabated severity; and we know not how far its ravages may extend, or what may be its consequences. I beg, therefore, to appoint WEDNESDAY, the 7th of MARCH, as a Day of Humiliation for the whole Diocese.
November 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
It 's not quite winter yet, but the cold weather is heading our way. Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a recording of Brian Gill remembering being inspired to travel from Sheffield into the Hope Valley to walk during the famous heavy snow of 1947.

#1940s #weather
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
On 1 Feb 1870, the Sheffield–Chesterfield line opened. That same year, Edward Lucas & Son shipped goods from Dronfield Station to Dronfield Foundry. This consignment note offers a glimpse into the town’s industrial past: what was made and where it went.
#Railway200
Printed form with heading 'Dronfield Foundry, March 29th 1870. Per Midland Railway Co from Edward Lucas & Son'. It has been filled in by hand using black ink.
November 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
We have lots of interesting books for sale in our #LocalStudies bookshop, covering a wide range of Derbyshire subjects and local authors. Do come in for a browse and find that perfect gift you've been looking for…

#LocalHistory
Large colourful sign depicting the spines of a row of books over which are laid the words Book Shop in bold black lettering.
November 1, 2025 at 2:10 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
If you fancy a special Derbyshire treat this #Halloween, the book 'Traditional Derbyshire Fare' has recipes for Thor cakes, which are traditionally eaten around this time of year, as well as lots of anecdotes about all the recipes. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library.
The front cover of the book 'Traditional Derbyshire Fare. 300 recipes plus the stories and anecdotes behind them' by Jill Armitage. It features a photograph of a display at Bakewell Old House Museum: a mannequin dressed like a Victorian cook, baking in the kitchen. Excerpt from one of the pages in the book with title: Thor Cakes.
October 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
If you were in Bolehill at #Halloween 2003, then you may have opened your door to this scary bunch of trick or treaters. The stuff of nightmares!
#PhotoFriday #EYAMonsters
A dimly lit room with a crowd of children, dressed as monsters with scary masks, all peering at the camera.
October 31, 2025 at 10:05 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Looking for spooky thrills this Halloween? Our #LocalStudies library has you covered. Snuggle up and read a Derbyshire ghost story or get out and about this autumn for a spine-tingling ghost tour visiting historic places, planned using our Derbyshire haunted places books 👻
Image shows a selection of books on the theme of haunted Derbyshire with colourful front cover illustrations of graveyards, skulls and haunted buildings. Haunted Derbyshire by Wayne Anthony; Haunted Pubs, Inns and Hotels of Derbyshire by Jill Armitage; The Ghost Tour of Great Britain Derbyshire by Richard Felix; A Ghost Hunters Game Book by James Wentworth Day.
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
These groups of excited onlookers are catching a glimpse of the world famous 'Flying Scotsman' as it passed by Shirebrook North Station Signal Box on the 18th April 1964.

#Railway200 #train #1960s
A black and white photograph in the centre of the photograph with groups of people standing either side of the railway line watching. To the left can be seen a signal box, and behind that the platform train canopy. Going over the railway line is a footbridge.
October 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
derbyshiredro.bsky.social
Our latest #NewAccession are photos of the Enthoven and Sons factory, Darley Dale, in the #1980s. Acquired from a London-based firm in 1941 parent company Billiton UK Ltd redeveloped the site to provide melting, smelting and refining facilities for recycling lead.
Four black and white photographs, two showing the exterior of the plant, another showing the factory floor, the last an office space showing a control bank containing three monitors.
October 29, 2025 at 11:40 AM