A guide to our new Names and Places Search options

In April 2022, we introduced two new elements to our online catalogue - a Name and a Place Search. About the Place Search Contains key information about all Derbyshire townships and parishes as well as various other places in the UK and across the world that are mentioned in the archive and local studies collections. …

(Re)-Introducing our online catalogue

Many of you may have noticed that a few weeks ago our online catalogue had rather a face-lift, but that we haven't actually mentioned it very much - until now! Part of the reason for this is that we were still making some final changes to the system (and we still have one slight technical …

Maritime History Research Guide

A guide to archives and published sources relating to maritime history. Although a land-locked county, Derbyshire Record Office does hold maritime records created or collected by Derbyshire people.  Ships and boats Material relating to ships and boats has all been subject indexed in our online catalogue under the term ‘seagoing vessels’.  You can also search …

Trade and telephone directories

A guide to the published directories available for Derbyshire. Trade directories In the 18th century, new publications appeared across the country containing details of trades and industry, as well as other useful information, for example about local government, individual towns and villages, local organisations and activities. Left: extract for Ashbourne from Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, …

Derbyshire Hospitality

A guide to the history of Derbyshire's hospitality and its archives. Derbyshire, including but not limited to the Peak District, has been a popular tourist destination for at least 2000 years. Our local studies library has lots of published tourist guides and histories from the 18th century to the present day. This guide outlines the …

Records of enslaved people

The following guide contains language which you may find offensive. Between the early 16th and mid-19th century, at least 12 million African people were enslaved and taken to the Americas.  These individuals were used as enforced labour in areas of major industry including the cultivation of sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee, on plantations, and in …

Researching Railways

A short guide to the published sources and archives relating to the rail industry in Derbyshire. A very brief history The Stockton-Darlington line, the world’s first public steam railway, opened in 1825. The Livepool-Manchester line, the world’s first public passenger steam railway opened five years later. From this point onwards many railway companies were formed, …

Researching Derbyshire Canals

As long ago as the period of the Roman occupation, the Fosse Dyke from the River Trent to the River Witham had been constructed.  But, the first canal with locks was not cut until 1567 at Exeter.  There were no further major developments until the 18th century, when a series of technical innovations such as …

Transport archives

A short guide to archives available for researching the history of transport routes and methods in Derbyshire, from roads to airports and vehicle manufacturing to hauliers and carriers. More detailed guides, including for roads, canals and railways will follow in the coming month. No particular mention is made below of material in the local studies …

Local and Community History

May is Local and Community History Month so this seemed an appropriate time for a new research guide for anyone embarking on a local or community history project. Giving a definition of local and community history might seem a bit odd as it feels rather self-explanatory, but whether you are looking at the history of …