The city of Derby has a rich and varied history with many reminders still being visible today.
Derby is now known as the city of Planes, Trains and Automobiles thanks to the skilled work forces at three of the largest employers, Rolls Royce, Bombardier and Toyota.
The Romans were the first settlers in 80AD and remained here for 300 years until returning to defend Rome. The Saxons were the next occupants who renamed the Roman Fort ‘Little Chester’ or Chester Green as it is called today. Another 300 years passed under Saxon rule until the Danes arrived capturing Nottingham in 868AD and latterly the entire region including Derby.
When the Domesday book was written in 1086 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.
Throughout the next century there is a great deal of development with a town starting to take shape including the construction of Churches, Chapels, public houses and Silk Mill.
Within the last 200 years, a great deal of development took place including the construction of Derby Royal Infirmary, County Gaol, Train Station, Market Hall, Library, formation of Derby County Football Club, the amalgamation of two newspapers to create The Derby Evening Telegraph and the original Council House.
In 1977 Derby was given City status and from this point onwards a great deal of re-development and construction has taken place to shape Derby into the great city it is today.
The full version of the history of Derby can be read here.