Derby Leasing

Did You Know?

Derby is an English city on the banks of the River Derwent in Derbyshire. The Derby Silk Mill museum of industry lies in the Derwent Valley. West of the river are the Derby Museum and Art Gallery, home to Joseph Wright paintings, and Gothic Derby Cathedral. Southeast along the river, Derby County Football Club plays at the iPro Stadium.

Derby began as a Roman fort. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD. Around 50 AD they built a fort west of the river Derwent on the site of Belper Road. Then, about 80 AD, they built a new fort on the east bank of the river. The Romans called the fort Derventio.

There may have been a Saxon village on the site of Derby after the Romans left. However, the Danes founded the town of Derby about 873 AD after they invaded England.

By the time of the Domesday Book (1086) The city had a population of about 2,000. That might seem very small to us but by the standards of the time, it was a fair sized town.

Derby was founded in the 9th century by the Danes as Deoraby, from which the present name is derived. Early royal charters were granted in 1154–56 and 1204. All Saints Church (cathedral from 1927) has a tower 210 feet (64 metres) high that was built in 1509–27.

Derby’s Silk Mill is thought to have been the first factory in the world – and it was the first silk mill in England.

Derby is famous for setting in motion Britain's Industrial Revolution with some of the country first factories and spinning mills. It is equally famous for later factories of Rolls Royce, Royal Crown Derby and Railway engineering. In 2015 the population of the city was 252,500.

Scientist, philosopher and grandfather of Charles Darwin, founded the Derby Philosophical Society in 1783.

During its turbulent early history, Derby was also settled by the Saxons, Vikings and Normans, all of whom had a lasting impact on the area. These early settlers were likely responsible for Derby's name, with the Romans naming it Derventio and the Vikings Djúra-bý meaning 'Village of the Deer'.

Derby Arboretum, also known as Arboretum Park and The Arboretum, is famous for being England’s first public park.