10 fascinating facts about Belper How to get there, what to see and where to eat and drink
1. Belper won the 2019 award for the best high street in England. In addition, Belper’s Laura Armstrong also won the High Street Hero award for her achievements in promoting initiatives and projects to improve the high street experience for all.
2. A compassionate man, Jedediah Strutt had strong religious beliefs and showed great concern for the welfare of all his employees. He provided them with houses, education and religious training.
3. Row upon row of good-quality houses was built with three of the streets named after Jedediah’s sons, William, George and Joseph.
4. Model farms were established at Belper and Milford, where food was produced so employees could be supplied at a reasonable cost with credit facilities available.
5. Jedediah Strutt ended his days at Exeter House in Derby, in 1797, and was buried at the Unitarian Chapel in Belper that he had built. He left three very able sons under whose control the cotton mills at Belper grew to become the largest in the country.
LOCATION
■■On the A6 between Derby and Matlock (SK345485). The railway station is to the rear of King Street, the main shopping street.
VISIT
■■Explore the River Gardens, with its pools, shrubbery and flower beds. There is a bandstand and café. Rowing boats may be hired.
■■Also, take a tour of the ancient town and you will be well rewarded. 6. Belper Parks Local Nature Reserve is an award-winning park. It covers 50 acres of parkland and open space of the former deer park and includes a wildflower meadow, grassland and Coppice Brook.
7. Opposite the entrance to the River Gardens is the “Old Nick”, Belper’s former police station, built in 1847. For two years it served as the headquarters of the Derbyshire Constabulary when it was first formed in 1857.
8. The De Bradelei Mill was once the headquarters of George Brettle and Co where stockings were produced for George III and his granddaughter Queen Victoria and the cotton vest worn by Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
9. The War Memorial Gardens in the centre of Belper were founded by George Strutt in 1922 and are a great place to relax.
10. The beautifully restored Ritz Cinema to its art-deco former glory is an independent luxury cinema. It is open all year.
REFRESHMENTS
■■There is a wide range of cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the town to suit all tastes.
EVENT
■■On May 5&6, the 11th Belper Arts Trail will return on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. A full programme of live music will take place from the main stage in the Memorial Gardens with buskers in other selected venues.