DISCOVER

DERBY

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DERBY HERITAGE WALK 2

VI.   Walk up St Peter’s Street to the rather oddly named area, known as ‘The Spot’. It is something of a mystery as to how it got its name in the first place and although there are several theories, no one seems to know precisely.

16. THE OLD BOOTS BUILDING 

Formerly Boots the Chemists, the Halifax Building Society have been owners since 1975. This Arts-and-Crafts designed building by Albert Bromley is one of the city’s most appealing buildings. What particularly draws attention are the four small statues in niches spaced out above the shop frontage. The statues are of Florence Nightingale, the ‘Lady of the lamp’, John Lombe a member of the family who established the Silk Mill, William Hutton who published a ‘History of Derby’ in 1791 and Jedediah Strutt, the first of a family of mill owner’s and public benefactors. 

17. ST PETER’S CHURCH 

The church recorded in the Domesday Book and rebuilt twice in the 19th century, saw the tower completely reconstructed on the second occasion. In 1349, when one third of the population died because of the Black Death, victims were buried vertically in the churchyard to save space.  

VII.  From The Spot walk in an easterly direction along London Road and enter the Eagle Centre, the city’s main shopping centre.

18. THE SPOT 

A well known landmark from where it is possible to look down St Peter’s Street and follow the line of the ancient north – south trackway that existed long before Derby came into existence.  A bronze statue of Queen Victoria was sited here in 1906, donated by the famous Derby Engineer Sir Alfred Searle Haslam. King Edward VII unveiled it on the 28th June that year, but it was removed 22 years later to a site in front of the Derby Royal Infirmary. For many years The Spot has been the site for an Underground Toilet Block that is well concealed from view and because of the City Council’s; Derby Promenade scheme of the 1990s, is even less conspicuous.

19. ZANZIBAR 

Built in 1934 as the Gaumont Cinema, Derby’s first super-cinema, it opened on the 17th September that year.  It was very popular with young people who apart from watching the films, enjoyed listening to the very distinctive Compton organ before it was sold to St Philip’s Church, Chaddesden. In 1965, it became the Odeon and later the Trocadero and was finally known as the Cannon, when it closed its doors for the last time in December 1988. In recent years, it has been regarded as one of the best nightclubs in the Midlands, with a capacity of 2,820.

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PLACES TO VISIT ON THIS WALK

Derby City Museum and Art Gallery (01332 716659) houses the prestigious Joseph Wright collection of paintings. A programme of special exhibitions supports permanent displays relating to the city’s archaeology, history, wildlife and local regiments. The brand new Ceramics Gallery provides an additional attraction. Open daily apart from during the Christmas and New Year Break.

The Market Hall, the Borough architect and surveyor designed the covered market Hall in 1864. It had a spectacular vaulted roof using iron from a nearby foundry. The Market Hall opened for business on the 29 May 1866, when it was given a rousing welcome with a gala concert and choir who sang the Messiah. The Market Hall closed for a short period in 1989 for a major refurbishment.

Derby City Museum and Art Gallery (01332 716659) houses the prestigious Joseph Wright collection of paintings. A programme of special exhibitions supports permanent displays relating to the city’s archaeology, history, wildlife and local regiments. The brand new Ceramics Gallery provides an additional attraction. Open daily apart from during the Christmas and New Year Break.

REFRESHMENTS

Derby Cathedral Coffee Shop, (tel. 01332 381685) located opposite the Cathedral Centre, offers an award winning cafe  and Gift Shop, selling local produce, a display of the Treasures of the Cathedral, a Biblical Garden and an Education Centre. The Coffee Shop serves light lunches, sandwiches, cakes and a wide range of teas and coffees. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30-4.30pm.

**The Coffee Shop, won Best Tea/Coffee Shop  in the 2004 Derbyshire Food and Drinks Awards.

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