Historic England: Derbyshire

This illustrated history portrays one of England's finest counties. It provides a nostalgic look at Derbyshire's past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England's archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts. Much of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire, marking the southern end of the Pennine Hills, and the area attracts many visitors to both its moorland scenery, with landmarks such as Kinder Scout, Mam Tor and the scenic River Derwent and Dovedale river valleys. Several large coalfields also lie in Derbyshire and coal mining was an important industry in Derbyshire until recently, as well as mining for other minerals such as lead. The natural resources in the county meant that it was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and the major city Derby became a centre of manufacturing, not least for Rolls-Royce, and other towns such as Chesterfield, Long Eaton and Ilkeston also prospered through industrial development. Many smaller towns such as Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock have an interesting heritage and attract many visitors today, as well as some of the finest large houses in the country such as Chatsworth House and Kedlestone Hall.