If you lived in the West End of Derby in the 19th century, you were considered to live in the slums. It is here that the families I’ve researched lived mainly in what was known as court housing (some more information on court housing here).
An article on the Derby Telegraph site mentions that this area was part of an 1849 report to the General Board of Health on “The Sewerage, Drainage and Supply of Water and the Sanitary Conditions of the Inhabitants of Derby”;
In Willow Row, Court 1, 103 inhabitants shared two privies and residents reported that milk would turn to curd when mixed with water from the communal pump…
Observations of Walker Lane, where 75 cases of typhus fever were reported between June 15 and September 14, 1847, were: “The houses are of the most inferior description and the inhabitants of a piece with their houses; to crown all, there are lodging houses, which are the principal headquarters of vagrants, and of those comers and goers who, for reasons best known to themselves, prefer darkness to light.”
It is in these conditions that Hannah Bates, William Lamb and their families lived most of their lives. The slum clearances of the 1930s mean that the court housing is now long gone but it’s important to keep these living conditions in mind when researching the people of the area and trying to understand their lives.
Note: the Derby Telegraph article mentioned above is no longer available online [referred to: area-poverty-abounded-rich-community-spirit-pride/story-11591093-detail]
Hello – I’m interested in learning more about the old West End of Derby and the slum clearances of the 1960s. Do you have any information. In particular, Goodwin Street, Chapel Street and Brook Street. Thanks, Tom
Hi my dad was born in 1935 and lived in Goodwin street as a baby until he came out the army Sept 1955. By then he said half of the area had been demolished. His house was still standing though until the moved to Addison which was about the end of 1955.
Hi mate my family lived in the west end the best end since the 50s. I found out a lot of the area from books from Derbyshire life they published books from derby people who wrote all about the west end
Hi Tom,
I, too, am interested in learning more but unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information available (not online at least). When I was at the Derby Local Studies Library last year, one of the (very helpful) workers there seemed to have knowledge on this subject so if you’re nearby you could ask there.
All I know is in this post (and the links) but I’m particularly interested in Goodwin Street as well so please let me know if you find out anything!
I’ve just written a history talk on the area. The local studies and record office don’t have anything listed in their catalogue and couldn’t help. The newspapers online are amazing. I found a wealth of articles that give you a real feel for the area and its inhabitants. It’s both fascinating and sad.
I was born in little Watson Street in 1941 that was a slum but goodwin st willow row was even worse that is what we were led to believe all of westernd was a slum but still got nice memories
Norman
Bexon
Thanks for your comment, Norman.
I’m glad you have nice memories of living in a difficult place.
Hi, I live on Watson Street, 52 to be exact. (I am leaving soon so I don’t mind who knows) I was born here.
I have always wondered what it was like to live here back then. I think one of the occupants of my house in particular had a decent amount of money and good jobs. They acquired my neighbors house and made it into one large house. My bathroom was also fitted quite early on in the houses history. My house was extended with 2 floors at some point around 1920 (I assume by the better off family) at which point a bathroom was fitted. My house and my neighbors house are 2 separate dwellings again, I am not sure when this occurred.
However, before this, it used to be a shop, but they went bankrupt in the early 1900’s (acquired from the newspaper archives) during the time it was a shop it was a 4 room house (including the shop area + an outhouse) there was a girl living here, she was 25, working in the mill as a tape weaver and looking after her niece and nephew there was also a lodger there may have been someone else here, I can’t recall. In comparison to some of the houses in this area I don’t think it would have been that bad. Obviously, I cant say for sure.
We still have the old gas pipes in the attic which would have lit the house.
When we moved in 26 years ago, the old toilet was in the shed too 🙂 I love my house, it’s history and the area, I will miss it very much.
Nice story
Would love to talk to someone that lived in the westend in the 40and 50s I know it was a slum but I think it was a better place then, I’m 81but still got nice memories
Hi Norman, I used to live in Parkers St. 119 just down a bit from Mrs Owens , Bridges shop was on the corner of Elm St and Parker St, Joe Roome cobble on the opposite corner, I knew your Roy, I remember you but yiu where a few years older im 76, I know where your house was your st lead through to Williams St the Bonsers live there, anyway take care Dave Downing no one knew my full name.
Do you remember the Quarn Tavern, 34 Quarn Street. Sam Storer and Reg Storer. 1930. -1960.
Hi David My father in law lived at 126 Parker st, his mother lived on until the houses were demolished, their name was Colley, i remember your sister at Macmillans printers when i was 15 she was in the records dept, im in my 80s name The houses the council built have no character at all, pity they didnt refurbish Parker St although some of the streets were past it.
I have the street sign for Little Watson St which I purchased many years ago. I would have thought this was manufactured in the late 1880’s and heavy too.
What area is classed as Derby’s West End? Is it from Ashbourne Road up to The Five Lamps?
I’m not local so I’m not sure but I found this info on http://www.peakdistrictview.com – “The West End of Derby is an inner city area in the city of Derby, between Kedleston and Ashbourne Roads. It was previously an area of heavy industry, most notably Britannia Mill and Leaper Street Mill.”
Sounds like you might be right! 🙂
I’ve left a memory here
My grandparents ran the public house Quarn Tavern, 34,Quarn Street from the 1930’s to 1960’s. Sam and Lilly Storer, son Reg.
I spent a lot of my infant years there.
The Old West End was considered to be from Walker Lane to Mackworth Road (inc Redshaw Street) and Ashbourne Road to Kedleston Road.
Thank you, Isabella.
What is now considered as the West End? (or New West End)
Although many of the old streets have been demolished I don’t think the boundaries have changed much – although the top end of Walker Lane is now classed as Cathedral Road. And its just called the West End now – not the New West End.
Thanks for this.
(I just used the term ‘New West End’ to distinguish it from the ‘Old West End’ referred to in this comment thread.) 🙂
Do you mean walker Lane went some way up past to how it is today “a short lane with the cottages gone now such as No 38….was the police station” or type court” in walker Lane, 19 & 20c…bars were up, visible window cells I believe in 90s…We had family live at walker Lane but only short stay, passing through 1894/5…any record of Frank Brotherton in Walker Lane, Most helpfull in 1894/5…..he was Clerk or words to that…..
I’ve added a c1899 map to the post to show more clearly. Walker Lane ran from Willow Row to Queen Street.
I’ve not come across a Frank Brotherton yet. Will keep an eye out 🙂
No it was not the west end included St Helens St, Goodwin St, Orchard St. Kedleston Road was not the West End
The area that became known as the West End of Derby was /is situated on what initially King’s Mead, then Nuns Green – an area that stretched from to Kedleston Road. It was known as Nuns Green after the Nunnery of St Mary de Pratis was founded on King’s Mead c 1160. Th area was sold in two phases: 1768 when the north side of Friargate was created, then the remaining part in 1792.
Should have said that the West End of Derby stretched from Friargate to Kedleston Road, and that the row of houses on Friargate on which Pickford,s House stands is the one created in 1768.
Thank you for this information 🙂
My grandparents had a public house in Quarn Street, the Quarn Tavern, near Chadwicks Chip Shop and Mrs Powell’s corner shop. There was another corner shop Bridges and a Betting Shop. A few family names I remember, Castledine, Mosley, Donlon, Goffey, Tassell, Scattergood the Butcher, Billy Upton had a toy shop on Kedleston Road, I remember the West End as an old area with entry ways, deep guttered and blue bricked pavements but not a slum. I remember my grandparents had a TV and most of the neighbours came in to watch the Coronation. There was also a Street party, my grandfather supplying large jugs of beer. There was a modern toilet block in the backyard and two out of use brew houses. The pub formerly owned before my Grandfather by a Johnny Ayres a Melbourne brewer, they use to brew at the Quarn Tavern too. The brewer then was a guy Mr. Mason I met him years later when an old man. My grandmother would walk to Derby market or catch a trolley bus, often go along to Mad Harry a market trader in the Morledge? We often walked her mini- dachshund and spaniels to Markeaton Park eyeing up the Matchbox toy cars in Billy Uptons shop window or calling in to Scattergoods the Butchers to feed the goldfish he kept in large tanks around his shop.
Allan. It was George Upton who owned the hardware store on Kedleston Road. He was my great uncle (my grandmother was Amy Upton before she married my grandad and then became Amy Smith. They lived at 40 Walter Street). My other great uncle was Jim Upton who had a builder’s yard off Leyland Street. I also remember the Scattergoods. I went to school with the stepdaughter of one of them. Sadly, neither my uncle George’s shop, nor Scattergood’s butchers are there any longer.
Thank you for this, Ann.
just seen your replt Ann, albeit two years later .I ncidentaaly my father bought George Uptons Ford Consul car from him I think
just seen your reply Ann, albeit two years later.
Incidentally my father bought George Uptons Ford Consul car from him.
Scattergood must have bred Dogs too. Spaniels and dachshunds. My granny buying one or two of both breeds from him.
Thank you for your memory, Allan. From what you’ve written, ‘Clearing the slums’ in the 1930s obviously led to better living conditions for future residents.
Was the ‘modern toilet block’ for the use of the whole street?
I’m also curious about the brew houses as another LAMB ran The Shamrock on Goodwin Street (circa 1870s) which I think was probably brewed at home or on the premises.
I haven’t heard of a Shamrock Pub on Goodwin Street? My family ran The Duke of Devonshire Inn on the corner of Goodwin and Wright Street.
I’ve been meaning to make a post about ‘The Shamrock’ – I guess the time is now!
In which time period did your family run ‘The Duke of Devonshire Inn’?
edit: post is now up
Funnily enough, while writing that post I came across a mention of the Duke of Devonshire in one of the newspapers 🙂
Hello all old west enders my father was born in Goodwin St, I believe my GT/grandad bought the (now closed) shamrock pub and had a coal yard there, my grandad worked for the Gas light & coke company as a gas main layer he was Joe Allsop, my dads name was William ( Bill) he passed away in 2018.
Hi Isabella my dad used to live opposite the Duke of Devonshire. His dad used to go in there quite a lot as did my dad when he became of age. My dad seemed to recall the licensees taking over a pub in Sadler gate?
Hi Isabella
My family also ran the Duke of Devonshire in Goodwin street.
The modern toilet block was in the backyard of the pub. Both Ladies and Gents.
My grandparents had an upstairs bathroom
Pub also had a beer cellar.
I think my grandparents were quite well off as business people. They had a small TV in 1953 and a few customers came into their living room to watch the Coronation, and sometimes to use their phone. Granny also had a tall American style fridge and a single tub hoover washing machine had replaced the “ dolly tub”
I never viewed the pub as a slum pub. Customers were suited, collar and tie smart on a Saturday night wearing wide caps
Md week women came in with jugs at lunch time to collect a quart of beer for their husbands.
Allan interesting you know the name Mosley. My grandparents Thomas (Tucker) and Amy lived on Mundy Street. My grandfather died as a POW during the war in Burma. They had two sons Thomas and Keith (my father). I was born in 1960 and until 1962 lived also on Monday Street I believe number 22 next door to my Gran (not that I can remember). My gran remarried to Fred May and and had two further children (Sandra & Melvyn), when the area was cleared Amy and Fred were moved to Reigate Drive in Mackworth. My dad and mum (Sylvia) went to a new build in Chaddesden on the site of the old Racecourse Stables.
If you have any memories of my family at that time I would be vert interested as I have been trying to research more about the family and especially my grandfather I would be extremely interested?
hi Russell , my names tom games , your granddad tucker was in Burma with my dad Thomas,both working on the Burma railway .I was born in waterhouses leaper st , markeaton brook ran behind our backyard .I spent many hours fishing it when I was there. I never new my uncle tucker, but dad spoke of him with great respect I can remember aunty amy ,fred her second husband, and Melvyn Sandra ,keith and big tucker as we used to call him,
Hi Tom
Mel here had good memories of old west end then blow me you fitted my central heating at Fulham rd mackworth
Mrs Moseley was a little lady with tight permed hair. She lived opposite the pub near Polly Grogan or Donlon who was my Grans brother in laws sister. His game was Donlan.
The modern toilet block was in the backyard of the pub. Both Ladies and Gents.
My grandparents had an upstairs bathroom
Pub also had a beer cellar.
I think my grandparents were quite well off as business people. They had a small TV in 1953 and a few customers came into their living room to watch the Coronation, and sometimes to use their phone. Granny also had a tall American style fridge and a single tub hoover washing machine had replaced the “ dolly tub”
I never viewed the pub as a slum pub. Customers were suited, collar and tie smart on a Saturday night wearing wide caps
Md week women came in with jugs at lunch time to collect a quart of beer for their husbands.
Hi Allan,
My Grandfather was Frank Grogan/Donlan, he lived with his wife Beatty on Watson Street. His mother was Mary Donlan /Grogan his Aunty was Polly Grogan/Donlan.
I am doing a bit of research on my family.
I wonder, could you help?
Sorry for the very late reply. Polly Grogan/Donlan was my grandmothers sister in law. I believe she was the sister of the husband of my great aunt Sarah Donlan who lived in Roe Street, Osmaston. She had a daughter named Florrie. . .
Mrs Moseley was a little lady with tight permed hair. She lived opposite the pub near Polly Grogan or Donlon who was my Grans brother in laws sister. His game was Donlan.
I never viewed the pub as a slum pub. Customers were suited, collar and tie smart on a Saturday night wearing wide caps
Md week women came in with jugs at lunch time to collect a quart of beer for their husbands.
Mad Harry’s was on cockpit hill, Scattergoods had a talking jackdaw, I lived in about the middle of Parker St. There was a cobbler on Elm St Parker St corner opp. Bridges shop and just down Parker St. from Bridges shop was a paper shop Mrs. Smiths, I remember the Quarn tavern well the Ride family live just down from it they had four lads Billy, John, David and Raymond. I live at 119 Parker St.
Did you know my father Reg Storer, Grandfather Sam Storer ex Somme/ boxer/ Quarn landlord
So glad you pointed out your memory of an old area; not a ‘slum’! People often use ‘slum clearance’ to excuse obliterating entire neighbourhoods as if they had no worth, because it’s far cheaper (financially) than modernising the insides. They ignore the overwhelming negatives; the cost to generations of everyday people, loss of our history, social cohesion – and aesthetics. Yes, many buildings fell below our standards health wise but they didn’t all need to be destroyed! Many were better built, and, I believe, way more attractive, relatable, than the cheap glass/steel boxes we now get; they could’ve been repurposed and still in use today, instead of sweeping away every home, Church, school, Pub, streetlamp, life. Dispersing communities as if they meant nothing and their, our, history has no value. It was probably well meaning, from people far removed, but to me it’s what they now call ‘cultural genocide’, and we’re all much the poorer for it.
*I meant, we’re all much poorer aside from health improvement; I’m not ignoring how essential, and long overdue, that benefit was. When I research our 19thC working-poor ancestors, I don’t know how they did it, life was grim and we we have it so much easier now, I wouldn’t want to swap – but the way it was done, the total eradication, was overkill; ‘threw out the baby with the bathwater’. We didn’t need to lose so much to gain what we needed.
Allan, my family lived at 41 Quarn street, next to the bookies, opposite The Quarn as I remember it.
We lived there from 1950 to 1961
My mum used to stand on the step of the pub, with half a pint of beer so she could watch the house. Our house was never a slum, we did have an outside toilet for a while but we then had the loft converted into a bathroom / toilet a few years before we moved. We never had a lot of money though, our clothes were from jumble sales, but my dad worked every hour God sent, having 5 jobs at one time, and we always he’d food on the table. Our name was Windsor, my mum and dad were Walter and Phyllis, my sister was Christine my brothers James and Mark.
I remember Mrs Powell well, never happy. My mum spent a lot of time in hospital, if it hadn’t been for the neighbours we would have had to go into a home.
Hard times I must admit, but no slum on Quarn street. Heather x
Thank you for this, Heather.
I imagine the area was much improved in the 1950s from what is what like before the clearances in the 1930s. Having an indoor toilet must’ve felt so luxurious. 🙂
Hi Heather
My grandparents Sam and Hilda Vidofsky lived on Quarn street,can’t remember what number, they had three daughters,Brenda my mum,Rita and Diana,my greatgrandparents Selvey lived on Parker Street,Sam and Hilda moved to Mackworth around 1974 or just before.
Hi Norman, I used to live in Parkers St. 119 just down a bit from Mrs Owens , Bridges shop was on the corner of Elm St and Parker St, Joe Roome cobble on the opposite corner, I knew your Roy, I remember you but yiu where a few years older im 76, I know where your house was your st lead through to Williams St the Bonsers live there, anyway take care Dave Downing no one knew my full name.
Hi We lived Parker St our house was always kept clean & tidy. Windows, step and sill done every sat morning. My dad decorated on a regular basis. I went in and out of many house’s of friends and neighbours who’s home’s were the same. There was 7 children 2 adults and a greyhound in a 3 bedroom no bathroom house. Loo in the yard. My great grandad brewed beer for the Woodlark, Ram & Maypole. Judith x
Hi
Do you remember the Russell’s, They lived on Parker Street and other Russell family members had the shop on the corner of Parker Street and Bridge Street. Trying to source bygone photos of the area for a funeral.
Many thanks
Thank you for this.
I am particularly interested in the beer brewing. Was this in his house/yard? Did he have a large setup to supply beer for three places?
I lived in Parker St. Opp. Parker Place, born 1948 and left in 1960 l remember Mrs. Powell well grumpy lady, our toilet was in Gisborne St. and the bath hung on a nail on the kitchen wall which was separate from the house, there was a cobbler on the corner of Elm St. and Parker St. Opposite Mrs Bridges shop Mrs Smith had a shop a little lower down the street, there was a pub the Napoleon which brewed it’s our beer, we always had hops growing in our garden which blew in from the brewing. I was at the Street Coronation party and receive a spoon.
Hi David I remember you. I was Jean Smith sister to Tony Smith I think you were both about the same age. Your mum’s name Norah.We lived in Parker st corner of Parker place
Hi David
Sorry for this very late reply. I went to the same Coronation Party I presume and received a spoon too.
I lived in Clover Street until 1972 when the houses were demolished and we moved as a family to the cavendish. The houses were fine. Small with outside toilets and no bathroom. But they could have been modernised and brought up to date as has happened to many other houses in different areas of the country. The community was completely destroyed and I think may people never recovered from being made to move house and from the total destruction of their homes and community life. I feel it was a false and short sighted economy which damaged the social fabric and infrastructure of the entire area and many peoples lives and well being.
My mam came from clover st , Irene Foote and dad, Ron Bates came from St Anne’s Cottages.
I agree with the sentiment that wholesale demolition of parts of the West End was too brutal for an area that had an established community. Some of the houses were of poor build quality or lacked modern amenities but could have been refurbished given a more enlightened approach.
Good times though in the West End in particular the Lord Raglan across the street!
I was born in Bridge Street in The West End of Derby in 1930 in a house that used to be called The Northern Star Inn. Built in two sections with a yard in between which had an outside toilet and cold water tap, plus openings (covered with railway sleepers) here the beer barrels were lowered into the cellar.
It never was used as a public house all the time our family lived there. However, it is shown on very early maps and is also listed on a layout showing all the pubs in the West End It, therefore, was approximately 200 years old.
Mother produced 9 children of which one died in childbirth. I considered we had a frugal upbringing but thinking back it was a case of too many children for a man to look after who had to be a postman all his working life, with legs that had been ulcerated during his time in the 1914/18 war of which one eventually had to be amputated before he died.
Mother also died at 41 years of age,- I leave that to the imagination.
The area of the West End had a camaraderie second to none, however, the housing conditions were not good so the demolition in 1962 was a necessity
Good afternoon E.G Redfern,
I am attempting to write a history of Bridge Street as my family lived on the west side at what became no. 109. It is very difficult to imagine what the street looked like, and I wonder if you could give me an idea of the appearance of the area from Brook Street to the Northern Star (a pub thought to be named from the Chartists’ Newspaper “The Northern Star”, and where Chartists meetings were held).
If you are able to help it would be good, but it was interesting to read your post and gain a flavour of life on the street.
Fascinated by all this discussion which I’ve come across whilst looking for photos and an idea where Chapel St (and Peggs Yard, Goodwin St) was. My gt-gt-grandparents (Hufton) lived there in 1891 after moving from a house next door to the Travellers Rest on Ashbourne Rd. I’m off to the Local Studies Library today for a look at maps.
My Great Great Grandmother came to live and work as a young girl in one of Derby silk mills around the late 1840s. She was born Elizabeth Watson one of 9 children from Basingstoke, she came on her own and was lodging with an Isaac King and his family in the 1851 census. She later moved in with a Blacksmith George Bentley who was living in Mundy St having three children with him through the 1850s and a fourth in 1861 under her previous name of Watson in Lodge Lane. Her first child with George Bentley, William Bentley went on to live in Willow row running a shop selling tripe and also a house painter in the 1880s and 1890s. In 1862 Elizabeth along with her youngest child and my Great Grandfather moved out of this small area of Derby when she married John Marbrow from Newton Solney. I would be gratefull of any information regarding the area and people with in this time frame.
Have you looked at newspapers yet, Jim? I’ve just found a few interesting newspaper articles about William from the 1880s.
I have thank you, quite a bit of help.
Hi Norman, I used to live in Parkers St. 119 just down a bit from Mrs Owens , Bridges shop was on the corner of Elm St and Parker St, Joe Roome cobble on the opposite corner, I knew your Roy, I remember you but yiu where a few years older im 76, I know where your house was your st lead through to Williams St the Bonsers live there, anyway take care Dave Downing no one knew my full name.
Hi all, I wondered if anyone had read any books etc on this, as I’m looking to find a bit more info on the Derby from 1830 to 1930. Would the local studies be my best bet? Thanks, Sophie
I’ve not come across any books of this specific time and place (but would love to know if you find one!). I’m not local to Derby but when I visited the Local Studies, the staff were very helpful so I recommend you give it a try.
Please let me know if you find any good resources.
Hi Sophie
I would check out the study library at Matlock they have a lot of info too.
My brother in law took me and we got loads of family info.
Judith
My great grandparents Harry and Elizabeth Margett had a shop on walker lane in about 1900. Their sons had either shops in derby or market stalls in the old open market selling fruit and vegetables.
Hi, I’m Stuart, I understand your g, parents ran a shop,, Walker Lane, Derby @1900. My gran and her mother lived in Walker Lane, mid 1890s,,surname connected, Bebington,, Frank R….. Maybe you can help, aparently Walker Lane had many of the lodgings, rooms to rent.. I believe 38 was the cottage number… Should you come bye a Frank Brotherton,
My relations were called margett. They had a grocers shop, the sons later went on to run greengrocers shops and market stalls all around derby. Some had stalls in the old open market.
Hi Anonymous,
If im correct Harry Margett married Elizabeth Bricknell. Elizabeth is the sister of my great great grandfather William Martin Bricknell.
It would be great to make contact with you as i have some photos that may be of intrest.
Regards Peter
Yes Peter, my great granddad did marry Elizabeth bricknell. They had a lot of children more than 11 as far as I can make out. My grandad was James joseph, he married Edith and they had 3 children joe, Arthur (my dad) and edith. Think my grandad was a bit of a black sheep. Regards Carol.
Hi Carol,
Like Harry and Elizabeth William had 10 children i descend from His daughter Eva Bricknell.
If you would like more information on this family you can contact me directly peter.overton@hotmail.co.uk.
Luckily my Granmother cousin is still with us and she is the granddaughter of William Martin Bricknell . She has a wealth of knowledge of the Bricknell family.
Regards
Peter
Only just seen this better late than never, my dad was Joe Margett his brother Arthur I’m sure used to live on Osmaston Road Derby
Fascinating reading about these streets, which I knew so well as a child. My grandparents, William and Harriet Young lived at 80 Whitecross Street and my great uncle, Percy Marson, at number 76. Uncle Percy was deaf and dumb. My grandparents raised 7 children in a tiny 2 bedroom house, one of whom was my mother Dorothy Young. When my granny died in 1972 she still had no electricity, downstairs rooms lit by gas upstairs by candle. There was no hot water tap and an outside toilet. The elderly gentleman who lived next door was Lol Gaskin.
My father’s mother Annie Waumsley lived at 25 Chapel Street and had a couple of lodgers. She lived with a man called Sam Thorn. That house is still standing I believe. They are all gone now but would like to speak with anyone who has any knowledge of them as I research my family tree.
My granny was born 38 walker Lane in what may have been lodging house at that time?.. We know her mother was from Surrey. She had mett a Frank Brotherton who apparently was from a fairly well to do. Another name maybe born around Derby was a Frank r Bebington? My great gran was born from gypsy parents but fallen pregnant, travelled away for the birth at a guess? Elizabeth Smith… 0
Does anyone know if thier was a settlement in Derby connected to gypsies, travellers around late 19c….Seems many may have used lodgings in winter time and Walker Lane appears to have been partly that at some time late 19c…
I am unaware of this. You could try asking on facebook groups such as Romany Ancestry UK
I’m not sure about the gypsy element. My father Jack Brown was born in Lodge Lane 1914, he was 1 of 7 children. He always spoke fondly of living in the West End, life was tough, but friendships were formed for life. His grandparents surname was Slater and lived in Walker Lane. My dad always said his best friend was “Gypo” I always understood that to mean he was a gypsy who was only there there for short periods. Dad went to Orchard Street School, and his teacher was a Mr Mosley, who only had one eye. My father said life was hard, saying they had nothing but they did have lots of love. Every body helped every one and doors were never locked. I remember walking every Sunday from Breadsall Village to visit dads Aunty who still lived in Brook Street, I also remember they only had a cold tap in the kitchen and an outside toilet, then we’d walk on to my Aunties in Redshaw Street, which I was told was really posh when my dad was growing up. My father joined the Royal Navy in 1934 and never lived in the West End again, but he said it made him the man he was.
Hi,
Asking for my 97 year old Father in Law but does anyone remember a pub called Elm Tree Inn or similar, on Elm Street. Believe it was in what you are referring to as the West End area of Derby? He used to work in Derby in the war years before going back to Smalley. He recalls going in there and hearing a man called Jim Storer singing in there? He thinks it was around same time as Dunkirk was happening as he said he could remember hearing about the soldiers coming home…
Hi Graham. There was an Elm Tree Inn on Watson Street from at least 1927 and demolished in the 60s. Would that be the one?
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/derbyshire/derby_elmtree2.html
Not sure if related to the singer you mention, but one of the previous landlords was a Frank Storer who died in 1927 (seen in newspaper article).
I grew up in Stepping lane. I recall many houses around us were empty and waiting to be demolished. Some on uttoxter old road where still inhabited, didn’t have gardens and had to share toilet facilities, washing was hung out in communal areas across the back yards similar to what is seen in call the midwife.
I am looking into my family tree for a Thomas Adams and Sylvia that lived in 58 Goodwin street there son Ian was ran over by a lorry in 1957 they also had another son called Keith any information is helpful
Does anyone have any info on the Kennedy’s in Goodwin St from 1874 onwards,then moved to Walker Lane..
Hi Everyone,
Would anyone know where i could find a picture of Orchard Street? And does anyone remember the licence family who love at 113 bridge street.
Kind regards
Peter
What a great blog!
I have been looking for information on the housing of West End, and also Borough’s Walk and Eagle Street, both of which are considered slum housing and were where the M&S in the Intu now stands.
There was a lot of friction and fighting, my family that I never knew were always in the newspaper for some form of public disorder!
Do you know where I could get access to plans and maps of the area circa 1850?
Thanks
Thank you!
I haven’t been able to locate any online maps c1850 but Derbyshire Record Office has a lot of info on the maps they hold on their blog – https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/tag/maps/
My Great Great Grandmother was baptised in November 1839 and the ‘abode’ looks like it was Willow Row. Her father was a ‘smith’. I guess thats a blacksmith. Surname Lythall
Hello everyone—Terry from far-off San Francisco. My great great grandmother Honora [Hannah] Goodhead, originally Irish (named Dwan), married a British soldier posted in Ireland, Henry Edward Goodhead, who was originally from Derby. They returned there to live. He died young and she married her second husband in the late 1840s, a Derby widower named James William Peet. He had been living on Mundy Street with his first wife till she died—-both had worked in one of the mills. (Nearby? What mill would it have been? Just about everyone living on Mundy St. in 1841 Census, male and female, appears to have been a textile worker of some sort.) James Peet was a ribbon weaver then. He and Honora {Hannah] subsequently moved to 55 Parker Street. He afterwards became a publican and his later years managed the Melanchthon’s Head pub on Park Street.
I am trying to imagine what Mundy Street was like in the mid-19th c. and later—hard to find photos. I’m imagining it was a pretty poor, working-class area—am I right? Perhaps Geneageek knows if “court housing” was the norm? Was Mundy St a street in which bldgs were later demolished in 20thc. ‘slum’ clearances? Any info much appreciated. Goodheads and Peets were all over the place in working-class Victorian Derby; I also have Storers in my family—next generation after Honora.
This is interesting to me, I wonder if James could be related to my Grandad Raymond Peet who I believe lived in this part of Derby before later moving to the other side of the city. He was married to Mary Homans but they later divorced. Ray was born in 1919 and I can’t find any ‘Peet’ relation prior to him.
Hi Terry, i’m currently researching my family tree, and have discovered my great great grandmother lived and worked on Nuns street. Her fathers occupation was a silk ribbon maker, her occupation was a soft silk winder. there appears to be a small silk mill on Markeaton brook at that time at the back of Nun street towards Markeaton Street. Her address was 117 Back of Nun street which was very close to where the Mill was. Her married address was 4 Nun street, Walkerdines yard. and her Husband was Irish ( Labourer ). That area was a very busy industrial area at that time, most of my family on my mothers side lived around the Old West end, some of those were publicans too.
Hi, I was born and raised in the West End. For those asking about its boundaries, these are difficult to define as rarely does the area appear on an OS map or similar (having said that, West End now showing on Google Maps – at long last).
Often the perimeter of the area varies depending on who you speak to but for me (and pretty much everyone I know in the area) the West End today is the area between Five Lamps, Ashbourne Road (Friargate end) and Queensway A38. It’s easternmost boundary would most likely be Bridge Street (home of The Woodlark) and westernmost would be the former Woodlands ‘annex’ or Sturgess site at the back of the Jonty Farmer, half of which now owned by the university.
When we were kids we rarely ventured as far as Ashbourne Road, Markeaton Street or the adjacent brook a more realistic boundary. In fact, Ashbourne Road was considered a demarcation line between youths from the West End and the nearby Morley Estate (New Zealand) and yes, there were battles over the years.
CARI L
1871 Census record Tyrrell and Cokayne relatives in St. Alkmunds at no.9 Court, Gisborne Street, Derby. Household of 4 adults and two children.
Hi…has anyone any information on Brook Street around 1913..or photos . Particularly interested in a man called Charlie Hudson who bred the racing pidgeon..the King of Rome. Thanks
My great aunt Joyce lived in Watson Street in the 1960’s until she died there. I remember visiting from Somerset (where I still live), and the size of Derby being overwhelming to a country child like myself. (My grandparents lived in Ripley where my mother was from.) I also remember Nuns Street, in Derby, and surrounding area being knocked down in the 1960’s. Lovely to hear from people who knew the area and still have an interest in it. I must say. Coming from the rural South. Watson Street and Nuns Street seemed slumming to me, but this may be due to my upbringing/home environment.
All best wishes,
Jonathan
My Grandmother Rose Patricia Talyor was living in Court 11 House 6 Walker Lane
Her Father was Patrick Taylor and he was an Electrician at the power works. One of her siblings made Tape( ribbon I think) there were 8 living children in 4 rooms. Rose married John Hook an Electrician at the power station. My Grandmother Rose was a great singer and also a swimmer. We never knew her as my parents moved to America in 1957. Reading all of your stories of this area really fleshed out her early life. I do know my Grandparents moved into Council housing at sometime where they raised my Uncle John and my mother Jean Mary Hook, whom worked at the Derby Library.
My Fathers parents were Edith and Edward Fowler. Edward Fowler was a Reverend in AllSaints Parish.
After my Mother married Peter Fowler in Oct of 1952 they moved to London.
I’m looking for any one that might have known our family.
My great great grandparents Donald & Irene Anderson loved I believe at 53 Gisborne Street. They had a coal business and Irene (aka Reene) descended from a Romany traveller background. Her maiden name was Beckett. She had a brother called Jack and a sister called Dorothy.
I’d love to hear if anyone knew of them…….
My great great grandparents Donald & Irene Anderson lived I believe at 53 Gisborne Street. They had a coal business and Irene (aka Reene) descended from a Romany traveller background. Her maiden name was Beckett. She had a brother called Jack and a sister called Dorothy.
I’d love to hear if anyone knew of them…….
I was born in redshaw street in 1958,our surname then was Ivaskevicius then and we lived next door to a lovely old couple by the name of Tolsen and we’re friends with the O’Brien family on the opposite side and further up. I remember Powell’s and Smith’s, both nice people happy to supply on tick, I used to get my hair cut at Dakins, he only had one style and that was short back and sides, my dad worked at McMillan’s printers and had an allotment next to the reck. I know now it was considered a slum but us kids never thought of it as one. Happy day’s.