History of Belper

The history of Belper is thought to have started in approx 1225 and known at that time as being part of Duffield Frith, at the time the Domesday Survey records a manor called “Bradley” standing approximately where the Coppice is in the town.

Beaurepaire (meaning beautiful retreat) is said to hve become the main idea for the town’s name. This name was given to a hunting lodge first recorded in a charter in the year 1231 probably owned by Edmund Crouchback the 1st Earl of Lancaster. The chapel that was part of this mansion, still exists today and is known as St John’s Chapel. Its still in use to this very day and is probably the oldest known building in Belper.

In the 13th century the major source of income in the area came from iron working. In particular nail making. There were approximately 500 workshops at the end of the 18th centruy supplying the newly build textile mills. As time went on machinery processes superceeded these workshops, however some of the nail makers houses are still standing in Belper to this day.

In the late 18th century, Jedediah Strutt built a water powered cotton mill in Belper. As the textile industry took off, so did Belper, as such the town became one of the first mill towns. In 1784 Jedediah Strutt built the North Mill and then the West Mill, just across the road. A fire burnt down the North Mill in 1803 which was then replaced by a new fireproof structure. The East Mill was built in 1913 and is the most memorable of all of Belper landmarks. Although the mill is no longer used and is mainly offices, the turbines still create electricity using water from the River Derwent.

The railway came to Belper in 1840 by the North Midland Railway company. The original station was situated where goods road is and the Royal Mail sorting office, this later moved to its current location in 1878 by popular demand. The cutting through Belper was built with no less than 11 bridges in the space of a mile and is actually Grade 2 listed.

Belper was the first place in the UK to get gas lighting, initiated and built by the Strutts it became so in demand that the Belper Gas & Coke company was incorporated and had its base in Goods Road. Electricitry came to Belper in 1922 and the first telephones came to town in 1895.

Even in the 20th century, textile and hosiery centred around its main source of exports around the UK and the World. Courtalds up until recently still manufacturered hosiery in its local factory near the mills.

More information on Belper

Should you have any further information on the history of Belper, please do get in touch. We except articles from local writers and photographers and give credits and links to relevant work where needed.