About Belper

Belper,  Derbyshire,  England.

Belper , situated in the Derwent Valley,  eight miles to the north of Derby,  is home to some 22,000 people.

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Whilst being a thriving modern town, Belper is at the heart of the Derwent Valley National  Heritage Corridor. It is recognised as being of major historical importance having  played a key role in the early Industrial Revolution.

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The town was mentioned in the Doomsday Book under the name of Bradelei as a hamlet with a Church and two mills, Later in the 13th Century it became Known as Beaurepaire ( beautiful retreat ), a name that still holds true today.

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St John's Chapel, the oldest building remaining in the town, was built in 1250 to serve the foresters and their families.

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Belper`s industrial heritage started with nail making in early medieval time,

This expanded from shoeing the horses of hunters in the Royal Forest of  Duffield Frith to a thriving industry making all kind of nails in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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The cotton spinning and hosiery industries came to Belper at the end of the 18th century and Belper  grew from a small village to a thriving mill town almost overnight  and is now recognised as the cradle of modern industry.

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Today  visitors to the town can experience a wide range of quality shopping on King Street and Bridge Street, including De Bradelei Mill shops on Chapel Street, The town's open - air farmers market held on the second Saturday of each month adds to the bustle of the town centre. This is held on the Market Place, which has free car parking in the adjoining Coppice car park.

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Whilst in Belper take time to visit the Derwent Valley Visitor Centre located in the North Mill on the banks of the River Derwent. Exhibits record the development of the cotton industry and provide fine examples of hosiery for which Belper is renowned. Nearby are the delightful River Gardens which attract visitors from the surrounding area for the summer programme of concerts and events. Also stroll up and down Long Row and streets that make up the Clusters which were built by Jedediah Strutt for his mill workers.

Another place of interest is St John's Chapel, built in 1250 this now houses the Belper Heritage Centre and Belper Town Councils office and Council Chamber.

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