History & Heritage
If history is your thing, then Belper will have plenty to interest you. britishlistedbuildings.co.uk records 256 listed buildings and structures in Belper. And if you take a walk over the Chevin, you really will be stepping back in time. North Lane, the track that runs along this ridge overlooking the town, is one of the best preserved sections of the Derbyshire Portway, a busy Bronze Age road that traversed the county. Part way along is an impressive firing range that was erected in 1860.
You can find more information on the route, including the Belper section, on this site: hiiker.app/trails/england/nottinghamshire/derbyshire-portway/stages.
By the thirteenth century, Belper - or Beaurepaire, as it was then called - was part of the Duffield Frith, owned by the de Ferrers family. Nail making was one of the chief industries of the area, which is why you will frequently see references to nails around the town, and why the "Nailers" is the nickname for Belper Town Football Club.
Dating from this time, St John's Chapel is recognised as the oldest building in Belper. It is currently a heritage centre and home to the town council.
It was the industrial revolution, in which Belper played such a pivotal part, that turned a rural settlement into the busy town you see today. In 1776, Jedediah Strutt built the first of his mills, South Mill, harnessing the River Derwent to drive the machinery for his cotton production. It was the start of a long association between the town and the textile industry.
Today Belper Mills and the adjacent river gardens are a popular destination for visitors. You can find out more about the mills and their history here: www.belpernorthmill.org.uk. You'll also find information about tours and events.
Many of the buildings you see around town today were built by the Strutt family, helping to give the town its distinctive character. For instance, there are the mill worker's houses on long row and the "clusters" in the adjacent streets - so called because they each is a cluster of four houses back-to-back.
If you're interested in finding out more about Belper's history, these websites will be useful:
