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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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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...

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 1h

Railway plans can be fantastic sources of capturing a place at a particular moment in time in great detail, such as here with Swanwick in 1901.

#Railway200 #LocalHistory

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 1d

This delightful #NewAccession, including oil paintings, woodcuts and sketchbooks, is an addition to our existing John R Biggs archive. Biggs was an illustrator and printer, born in Derby in 1909, who worked in the UK, Russia and Jamaica.

#Art #ArtHistory

Artwork, framed oil paintings, diaries, prints and sketchbooks laying on a table.

Artwork, prints, open pages of an artists sketch book containing drawings, and other items from an artists collection laying on a table.

Open art box belonging to J R Biggs containing a used pallette, brushes, pallette knives and oil paints, along with a small oil painting. The inside of the lid of the box has old layers of paint on it.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 2d

Blacksmith Herbert Walter Turner, born 1856, was very active in his community in Brimington and Chesterfield until his death in 1919, as recorded in his detailed, thoughtful and quirky diaries. This gem of late Victorian #LocalHistory is our #ArchiveOfTheWeek.

Page from Herbert Turner's diary, headed "List of Tools etc."

Extract from Herbert Turner's diary "Tuesday January 18th… Charley and Thomas began at quarter time. I went to a lottery, for Gold watch put up by George Bunting, it was held at the Crown Inn, Lordsmith St and won by a Mr Gillyalt at Brills' Ironmonger. Weather very mild the last two or three days, like spring."

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 2d

"Quaint" is an over-used word in an archive, but this inside cover for a list of the graves in Hayfield parish church from 1848 probably meets the bar.

#history #19thCentury #LocalHistory

Small page with text in several decorative and plain fonts and two angels with chalices either side of the words "Book of". Reading: Book of reference to the graves and vaults in Hayfield Church and Burial Ground. Revd S. wasse, Minister. Geo. Eyre, Levi Hall, Churchwardens. Hayfield. William Henry Rapier, Surveyor. 1848"

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 3d

Notice of a proposed new railway line affecting a house at Melbourne, sent by the Midland Railway to the trustee of the late Mr Samuel Mills (William Banton) on 2nd December 1863.

#Railway200

Printed black text with title 'Midland Railway (New lines and additonal powers)'.

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 6d

On #PhotoFriday we visit Ripley in 1932 when you might have been surprised to see the Loch Ness monster taking a stroll along Cromford Road. But don’t worry, this magnificent beast was taking part in Ripley Carnival and definitely friendly!

#EYAMonsters #1930s

The Loch Ness Monster made from a long length of fabric and a papier mache head. You can see children’s legs underneath and standing alongside is a man dressed in a kilt and sporran, and a child carrying a sign reading 'Loch Ness Monster Beware Do Not Touch'.
Image courtesy of www.picturethepast.org.uk

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 6d

For #NationalPoetryDay here's a satirical poetic essay from 1681 entitled 'The Wonders of the Peake' by Charles Cotton . Written in heroic couplets, it humorously describes the "seven wonders" of the Peak District, such as Poole's Cavern and Chatsworth House.

Title page of 'The Wonders of the Peake' by Charles Cotton, printed in London in 1681 with classic serif typography

Description of the moorlands and river Dove in printed verse on a page from 'The Wonders of the Peak'

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 6d

This #WorldFarmAnimalsDay we have been enjoying our #LocalStudies library's children’s book 'Farm Animals' by the Duchess of Devonshire. Based on Chatsworth Farmyard and illustrated with specially commissioned paintings and photos, it shows what happens during daily life on a farm today.

Colourful hand drawn and painted watercolour picture of the Chatsworth House parkland showing black and white cows and calves and also sheep in the foreground. The landscape behind the farm animals shows the river, Chatsworth House and tree lined slopes rising up behind the house to a blue sky with clouds.

Open double-page with the title 'Wool'. It features a large watercolour of a colourful woolly jumper, as well as photos of sheep, and diagrams showing the difference between knitting and weaving.

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 7d

This fabulous photograph from 1936 shows a group of men re-laying railway track at Barrow Hill.

#Railway200 #1930s

A black and white photograph of eight men standing on a railway track line using equipment to re-lay railway sleepers onto the track.

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you for letting us know (we don't have a subscription to check service records). He did have siblings, so we'll do some more digging...

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 7d

I'm afraid we don't have any other information about Charles Coupe's military service, other than that he joined the ASC in December 1915 and was killed in action on 9 October 1917.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 8d

Our latest #NewAccession are the regimental badge and dog tag of Charles William Coupe of Higham. Marrying Ann Bunting in June 1915, he enlisted into #WW1 on 8 December 1915. He was killed in action in October 1917.

#MilitaryHistory

Photo of two items. On the left, an oval metal dog tag with a short chain, the engraving reads: C W Coupe; M2/193508; M T A.S.C. C.E. On the right ia a regimental badge; the lettering reads T R E N MIDLAND.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 9d

Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a plan of an extension to Wirksworth Infant National School. Erected in 1851, fees were £4 pa for the upper room, £2 for the lower. Free places limited to 12, but trustees could admit more giving due regard to the character of the school.

#EYAEducation #LocalHistory

The plan shows two images. The top image shows the extension on the left hand side, measuring 17.6 by 16 yards. The extension and the desks on the right hand side, are coloured in yellow. The second image is a sketch of the front of the school. The roof and three windows are coloured blue.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 9d

One of our cataloguing volunteers recently came across this plan of King Street #Belper, produced during a court case in February 1926 after Elsie May Litchfield was knocked down the previous April by a car swerving to avoid a bus.

#LocalHistory #1920s

Plan on light blue showing King Street between Bridge Street and the route of the railway, listing the shops and traders, with heading reading "Litchfield v Chapman & Grant".

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 10d

In our #LocalStudies library is this fascinating book about the Melbourne Military Railway. This was a training centre used between 1939-1945 by the British Army and Allied engineers to prepare them for the invasion of Europe.

#Railway200 #trains #LocalHistory

Published by The Oakwood Press. Titled 'The Melbourne Military Railway. A History of the Railway Training Centre at Melbourne and King's Newton 1939-1945' by Alan Cooper, Peter Leggott, Cyril Sprenger. On the cover of the book is a black and white photograph of an engine with steam coming out of it on a steel bridge. At the front of the photograph are eleven soldiers in uniform.

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 11d

Happy Anniversary to the Stockton and Darlington Railway which opened 200 years ago today 🥳 It was the world's first public railway to use steam locomotives. This photograph shows the Ashover Light Railway opening ceremony nearly a 100 years later.
#Railway200

Black and white photograph. In the foreground there are the four engine drivers: Miss Turbutt, Mrs John Jackson, Mrs Johnson, Mr W.T.H Jackson. To the right of them is a train with flags on it, pulling a carriage. To the left is a wooden waiting room. Behind them is a crowd of people, two men in uniform in the engine cab and more crowds of people stood on the bank of a hill on the left handside.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 13d

Do you remember acting in a school play? We bet few had such grand costumes and scenery as this by pupils of Derby Grammar School in the #1930s. Can we even see real chainmail?

#PhotoFriday #EYAEducation

A scene from a school play on a stage. Everyone is in very detailed costumes. There is a king on a throne surrounded by courtiers, dignitaries and a bishop. A knight wearing chainmail kneels before the king. The set is dressed with banners with what look like gold coats of arms.
Image courtesy of www.picturethepast.org.uk

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 13d

Now in our #LocalStudies library, ‘Animal Life at No 37 Corve Way’ by Susan María Rodriguez is a collection of illustrated short stories inspired by the wildlife that visited her twin sister’s garden in Chesterfield in the summer of 2023.

#LocalHistory

Front cover of the book ‘Animal Life at No 37 Corve Way’ by Susan María Rodríguez, with illustrations by Eulalia Rodríguez Palomino. It features colour drawings of the various animals involved, such as a squirrel, a fox and a badger.

Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 13d

On #WorldDreamDay, here are pupils from the Bakewell Highfield Girls Secondary School, together with boys from the local Boy's School, performing A Midsommer Night's Dream in the 1950s. We wonder what part the dog played…

#EYAEducation #1950s #theatre

A black and white photograph of two teenagers dressed as Titania and Oberon, posing from a scene in the play.

A black and white photograph of Titania with her fairies, all dressed in white dresses with capes for wings.

A black and white photograph of the entire cast of the school production.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 14d

Our #Railway200 post for today is this plan of the area around Derby Station in 1873, as part of the Litchurch Waggon Branch.

Detailed map showing Midland Railway's Litchurch Waggon Branch in Derby County with Derby Station and surrounding roads.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 14d

The Heanorian started out as a school magazine for Heanor Grammar pupils—then became a way for alumni to reconnect, reminisce & share life updates💬✨ We’ve just added editions up to the final one in 2014 as our latest #NewAccession.

#EYAEducation

Bundles of school magazines. Two are open showing black and white photographs of pupils c1950s and a gathering of ex pupils in c2014. Two copies are closed showing the cover of the magazine of bright orange paper and the title The Heanorian with the school badge underneath - a shield with a crown over the Derbyshire rose.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 14d

Railway lines used to produce helpful guides to places that could be visited by train to encourage people to use the train. Who wouldn't want to visit 'The Switzerland of England' or 'The Most Perfect Specimen of a Medieval Castle'!

#Railway200 #LocalHistory

A printed text for the Midland Railway entitled 'Matlock, The Switzerland of England', with a black and white photograph of Matlock Bath below the text.

A printed text for the Midland Railway entitled 'Haddon Hall, The Most Perfect Specimen of a Medieval Castle'. There is a black and white photographs of Haddon Hall, below the text.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 14d

The records of Netherthorpe School is our #ArchiveOfTheWeek. Founded in 1572 it's still in operation today. Its 350th anniversary in 1922 was a grand celebration with a fete, concert, Punch and Judy shows, fireworks and even an aerial display!

#EYAEducation

Faded green cover of a booklet for the 350th anniversary of Staveley Netherthorpe Grammar School. Underneath the school's name is the school badge, three shields in a slight U-shape with 1572 at the top and a ribbon underneath with the words Staveley Grammar School. The shields have images including 3 lions rampant. 'Exhibition, Bazaar, Fete' is written underneath the badge with the date 1572-1922.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 19d

Quarter Session deposited railway plans can be an excellent source for local history. Here's a short #Railway200 video guide, which explains what they are and how to use them

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 20d

Can you spot the pirate on #TalkLikeAPirateDay? He’s amongst these other children in fancy dress in Matlock Bath in the 1950s. Sensibly he seems to have chosen a soft drink instead of a bottle of grog.

#PhotoFriday #1950s

A group of children in fancy dress stand by a stall handing our glasses of Creamola Foam soft drink. Some of the costumes are a nurse, a ballerina and a boy dressed as a pirate with a spotted headscarf and an eye patch. A small boy with a checked shirt and a cap wears a sign saying First Prize Boys Under Eight.
Image courtesy of www.picturethepast.org.uk.

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