Wonders of the Peak

Buxton Museum & Art Gallery

Buildings & Architecture

DWWIPP-8: THE SEVEN STARS

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The Seven Stars. Image reproduced with permission, Julian Tubbs.

The Seven Stars is one of Derby’s oldest public houses with a long history of brewing on the premises. Brewing continued during World War I only ending when the brewing licence and brewer transferred to The Friary Hotel in 1962.

As was the case for many businesses, the shortage of fit young men was one of the problems produced by the war. In 1916 and again in 1918 George Bates, licensee and brewer, advertised for an Ostler (man to look after horses) also willing to help with brewing. Presumably his 1916 recruit was called up because the later advertisement stressed that only men who were ineligible for military service should apply. As brewing continued it can be concluded that such a man was found.

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DWWIPP-7: THE WOODLARK

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The Woodlark. Image reproduced with permission, Tim Williams.

Before the war there were few pubs run by women. However, the authorities, with some reservations, now allowed transfers to wives of servicemen. When Walter Bednall, the landlord of the Woodlark, joined the army, most likely conscripted, in late 1916 or early 1917, the licence was transferred to his wife Frances.

When the husband returned after the war, the licence was normally transferred back to him. Sadly, Walter was one of the Derby landlords who never returned.

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Long John’s Jay Bird

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John Smedley’s trademark Jay references the founder’s name ‘John’. It sits on an S shaped branch representing ‘Smedley’. Today you’ll still see the distinctive colours of John Smedley’s Jay insignia on the factory’s footbridge over Lea Road.

The Smedley family joined the move in the Derwent Valley towards the production of finished garments, rather than just fabric and thread. The Jay became a reliable symbol of luxury underwear, and ‘Long John’s’ undoubtedly originate from these factories. The industrial revolution marked the start of the growth of branding. Think about the brands you wear today- they are often more than just a mark of ownership and quality: what do they say about your identity?

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Trains through the town centre

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The first time a railway was built through the middle of a town. George Stephenson, the pioneer of railways and steam trains, engineered this route through Belper. In the 1840s this was the only route for trains to York and the North-East from London.

Belper developed rapidly as an industrial town from the 1770s and blocked the planned route for the railway along the valley. George Benson Strutt did not want the line to wreck his mills or upset the flow of water in the river that powered them. Stephenson’s solution still has the eleven original bridges that he built to carry the roads that crossed the route at the time. [Read more…] about Trains through the town centre

Masson Mill. Wheels of power

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Extract of George Robertson’s watercolour of Masson Mill (c.1790) looking upstream. Shows the waterwheel.
Copyright Derby Museums

Masson Mill was built in 1783 next to the River Derwent to take advantage of a greater water flow.  It was the first of Arkwright’s mills to use the power of the river.

Initially the mill was powered by a single waterwheel until 1801. It was then replaced by two waterwheels which continued to generate power to keep the machines working throughout the 19th century. Turbines were installed in 1928.

The mill’s overall layout is very different to Arkwright’s mills at Cromford.  The entrance and staircase are centrally located leaving production floors clear for the huge cotton spinning machines.

Today, engineering and technology advances are still relevant to Masson Mill.  There are now turbines using the fast flowing river Derwent to make hydroelectric power for the Valley.

Cromford Wharf. A hive of industrial activity where goods came into and went out of Cromford

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Crane on the end of Cafe building

Over 200 years ago the canal was the main transport route connecting Cromford with the outside world.  Not only did it carry goods but it was vital for communication – the broadband of its day. And we thought dial-up slow!

Within the wharf area there was a warehouse, a weighing machine, saw pit, counting houses, stables and a smithy. What other evidence of industry can you spot here?  Look out for the crane on the end of the cafe building, used for loading goods.

Notice in the wide canal area where the canal splits for the two wharf sheds, there is an arched stone boat house. This was Arkwright’s private boathouse, at the bottom of his garden.