Osmaston Derby History

Osmaston Hall

‘Courtesy of Derby www.picturethepast.org.uk’

City

Council

and

Proceeds from the sale of this booklet will contribute towards other community projects undertaken by the Osmaston Community Association for the benefit of the Osmaston community.

For more information please contact Alan Gill on 01332 601048 or Mick Whitehead on 01332 607097.

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‘A Potted History of Osmaston’ Vol 1 2011

OSMASTON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP CONTENTS Page 3

Introduction

Page 4

Osmaston by Derby

Page 6

Osmaston Hall

Page 9

St James The Lesser

Page 10

Memories of Osmaston by Arthur Shardlow

Page 14

Osmaston Municipal Park

Page 18

Sir John Eardley Wilmot

Page 20

19th Century News articles

Page 22

Osmaston Workhouse

Page 23

Osmaston street names

Page 24

A personal history by Alan Gill

Page 26

The Mystery of White House Farm

Page 28

WWI: The night a lost Zeppelin bombed Derby

Page 30

Various

Page 32

Rolls Royce in Osmaston

Page 36

Skylarks in Osmaston by Mick Whitehead

Page 48

Railway Iron works

Page 49

Abingdon Street Tram Depot

Page 50

Nightingale Road School

Page 52

The Royal Shows

Page 56

Various

Page 59

Acknowledgements

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Acknowledgements Derby City Council Local Studies Library :To find out more about the history of Osmaston and Derby, visit Derby Local Studies Library, 25B Irongate, Derby DE1 3GL www.derby.gov.uk/libraries.

With thanks to Derby Museum and Picture the Past. Copies of photographs are available from www.pictutethepast.org.uk.

Many thanks to Mr Arthur Shardlow for sharing with us all his vast collection of news clippings and years of research into the history of Osmaston.

Mr Shardlow‘s map of Osmaston Parish

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Introduction We hope that you the reader enjoys reading this booklet. It has been produced as part of community engagement activities undertaken in Osmaston by Meden Valley Making Places (MVMP) and the Osmaston Vision team from Derby City Council. We would like to dedicate this booklet to all the people past and present who have lived and worked in Osmaston and contributed to it‘s history.

We would also like to thank everyone for their contributions with articles, stories, photos and memories included in this booklet. Some have come from local historians, some from existing and former residents, and some from newspaper and internet articles with acknowledgements provided.

Many thanks to Derby City Council, Derby Museum and Art Gallery and www.picturethepast.org.uk for the use of their photographs.

We would like to thank The Sinfin & Osmaston Neighbourhood Board for funding this booklet, and the Osmaston Regeneration Team for working together with members of the community in the development of the history group through talks, visits, meetings and slide shows.

To all concerned, grateful thanks.

(Editor).

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Carol Avison, MVMP

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OSMASTON BY DERBY "OSMASTON, a parish in the hundred of Repton, county Derby, 2 miles S.E. of Derby, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the road from London to Ashby-de-laZouch. The river Derwent, the canal, and the Midland railway pass through the parish. The inhabitants are wholly engaged in agriculture.

The soil is sand and loam upon a subsoil of gravel." (Description's) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson Š2003] OSMASTON was a parish, in the union of Shardlow, in the county of Derby, 1Ÿ mile (S. S. E.) from Derby, chiefly occupied as milkfarms; the soil is a sandy and loamy earth, resting upon a deep bed of gravel. The river Derwent skirts the parish on the northeast, the Derby and Birmingham railway on the west, and the Derby canal runs through. The Hall, the seat of Sir Robert Wilmot, Bart., the principal owner in the parish, is a large stone mansion in the Italian style, with wings, and an observatory at the top; it is situated in park-like grounds, and contained many splendid rooms, and good pictures. The village was small and scattered. The church of St James the Lesser was a small ancient structure originally built after the Norman Conquest, much covered with ivy; in the chancel was a handsome painting of Our Saviour in the Manger, and some tablets are erected to the Wilmot and Horton families. After restoration in the late 19th Century it seated 120 people. It was demolished in 1952 and Ascot Drive now occupies the site.

The parish church of St James the Lesser 4

Mitre Island prior to building the Spider Bridge 1970

Osmaston Park Road 57

Various news cuttings Arthur Shardlow

THE HOSPITAL OF ST. LEONARD, DERBY There was a hospital for lepers outside the walls of Derby, above the Osmaston Road, somewhere near the present street of St. Leonard's; for this hospital like so many other leper-houses founded by the Normans was dedicated in honour of the French hermit. It was a house of royal foundation and probably established by Henry II, From: ‗A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp.

486-491‘.

Topographical and Historical Account of Derbyshire (Magna Britannia Vol. 5) Osmaston (by Derby) - by Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 1817 [Included with Lyson's Magna Britannia Vol 5: Derbyshire, page 101: DERBY Osmaston, is situated about three miles from Derby, near the road to Ashby-de-la-Zouch. In the Domesday Survey, it is written Osmundestune, and no doubt it took its name from Osmund, the Saxon possessor, in the reign of Edward the Confessor. The manor was granted to Robert Holland, in 1307, as an appendage of Melbourn, with which manor it has passed ever since, and is now the property of the Marquis of Hastings. The principal estate here belongs to Sir Robert Wilmot, Bart, descended from a younger branch of the Wilmots of Chaddesden. Sir Nicholas Wilmot of Osmaston, Serjeant at law, in the reign of Charles II, was fourth son of Robert Wilmot, Esq. of Chaddesden, by the heiress of Shrigley. The late Sir Robert Wilmot, of Osmaston, was created a Baronet in 1772. Sir John Eardly Wilmot, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, who died in 1792, was of this branch of the family, being a younger son of Sir Nicholas Wilmot. Osmaston-hall, the seat of Sir Robert Wilmot, has been for a few years past unoccupied, during the present baronet's residence at Bath and on the continent. (Source. www.genuki.org.uk)

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During the time of the Black Death in England in 1349 one third of the population of Derby died and because of numbers of corpses, many were piled in carts and taken to the graveyard of St James The Lesser for burial. According to CJ Payne, they were buried in one large grave in Osmaston, which became known as ‗Deadman‘s Lane‘ and the adjacent field ‗Blood Sprinkle Field‘.

Prior to that the church had been used for the burial of only single people, with all others interred at St Peter‘s Church in Derby.

In 1936 the London Midland and Scottish Railway found a use for part of the site and built the Railway School of Transport.

This school over the years attracted many visitors from home and abroad. Unfortunately it has now closed. It spelt the end for the Royal Show at Osmaston.

Osmaston Hall

Osmaston Hall was built in 1696 in brick and stone for Robert Wilmot, High Sheriff of Derbyshire. In 1689. Robert had the house rebuilt in 1702 and during the eighteenth century there were further additions and changes to not only the house but also its gardens and the extensive grounds which were recorded in the late eighteenth century as 3700 acres.

Before it was purchased in 1890 by the Midland Railway Company. it contained a fine art collection which included numerous paintings. The house and gardens were reportedly sold for £86,000. At the time of the purchase the hall was the home of the Reverend Sir George Lewis Wilmot-Horton, Bart. (who died in 1887).

The Royal Shows brought fame to Osmaston. The name must have been known throughout the length and breadth of the Country. For five times in its history Osmaston must have been on the lips of thousands visiting the Shows and those who read about it in national and local newspapers.

Osmaston can also lay claim that it was visited more times by royalty than any other village in the county if not the country.

There were five lodges on the estate, and it is said that the Lodge keeper and his family lived in one and slept in the other lodge of the pair either side the London Road gates.

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The Royal Show made one final visit to Osmaston in 1933 when King George V and Queen Mary attended. On this occasion they stayed at Chatsworth House at the invitation of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, as the Duke was the president of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. The 1933 Show was a combined industrial and agricultural exhibition. A large section being devoted to industry in an endeavour to stimulate employment in the area. The Show was claimed as a huge success, the sun shone and the attendance was 100,000, well down on previous shows held in Osmaston.

It was the home to William Darwin Fox who was an English clergyman, naturalist, and a second cousin of Charles Robert Darwin who regularly stayed at the hall. The Fox family rented the house from the owner Sir Robert Wilmot, 2nd Baronet. Sir Robert Wilmot Bart was the natural son of Sir Robert Wilmot the first baronet of Osmaston Hall, who was the Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

The grounds were laid out by William Emes, a well-known local landscape gardener. There was a large ornamental fishpond in front, which the occupants of the hall used for private fishing.

The village lay between what is now Longbridge Lane and Cotton Lane, with a road leading to the hall.

In October 1892 the hall was the location of a nine-hole golf course and was the home of the Derbyshire Golf Club. With an annual subscription and entrance fee both being one guinea it would not have been open to the lower classes.

Another aspect of the Royal Show was the prefabricated wooden Royal Pavilion, which was carried around the country and was erected on different sites. In the case of the Osmaston Shows it was erected at the London Road end of the site, by the main entrance. It was characterised by the large clock tower on the roof with its four faces. It fronted the London Road.

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The hall was demolished in 1938, but the grounds were not purchased by Derby City Council until 1946-7. Today the grounds are occupied by the Ascot Drive Industrial estate in Derby, although Osmaston Park still shows a green outlook.

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Osmaston seemed a very fortunate choice for the site of the Royal Show for on its fourth visit in 1921 the sun shone and the summer was the hottest on record. The 1921 Show was considered one of the best and most successful of the Royal Shows. It covered 140 acres of ground and over 2,000 tons of timber was used in the construction of the shedding. It was graced by King George V, and the local breed of cattle, the Blue Albion was exhibited for the first time. This breed rose then declined rapidly, dying out in Derbyshire by 1956.

The Park Lodge and Thatch Cottage

The 1921 Show

(Articles and photographs courtesy of A Shardlow) 8

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The Royal Shows

St James The Lesser

By A Shardlow

By Arthur Shardlow In all, five Royal Shows were held at Derby on the Osmaston Park, part of the Wilmot-Horton estate. The first in 1843, the second 1881, third 1906, the fourth in 1921 and the last in 1933. The show ground encompassed all the land between the London and Osmaston Roads and alongside the canal to the east and Ascot Drive to the west.

The first show was the smallest and made a loss of £3,164, a large amount in 1843. The four others were resounding successes. A total of 127,996 visitors attended the 1881 show and a profit of £4,528 was made.

The Derby Tramways Company and the Midland Railway Company both contributed enormously towards the transportation of visitors, machinery and livestock to the showground. A private siding was provided enabling the Royal Train carrying the Prince of Wales to arrive directly at the showground. Where the B&Q building now stands, docks and raised platforms were built and cranes brought in to unload machinery straight onto large horse drawn carts.

In 1906 the Royal visitors were the King, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

On their way to the show from a reception at the Town Hall, they unveiled a statue to his late mother Queen Victoria.

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The little parish church of Osmaston, St James The Lesser, was a daughter church to St Peter‘s in Derby and the stonework dated back to the 14th Century. The inside consisted of a nave, chancel, organ chamber and a vestry with a bell turret at the west end. Two pointed arches, which were brought out in strong relief on the south wall, formerly separated the nave from the south aisle. In the chancel there used to be a handsome painting of Our Saviour in the manger.

Dr Spencer Hall, in his book, gives a poetical description of the church. ―At this Osmaston by Derby, we will turn and linger a while, glad that the outstretching of the town still leaves the domain so beautiful, and we will seek its little church and the bowery churchyard. One of the most attractive, yet retired of all the sacred nooks we know. What a fitting shade is formed by these firs and yews! What an antiquated little temple smothered in verdure, with its tiny bell turret just peeping out!‖ The church underwent extensive restoration in 1879 when the church was closed for nine months whilst a new highpitched roof, a vestry added to the north side of the nave and the east gable was rebuilt.

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MEMORIES OF OSMASTON

By Arthur Shardlow Osmaston was once an independent village separated from Derby by Litchurch. Now it is classed as a district of Derby, and by many as part of Allenton. All traces of the village, village streets, the manor, three fields, the church, the hall, vicarage and its vast park has vanished.

It is only remembered in name by the main Osmaston and Osmaston Park Roads.

Osmaston parish was of considerable size; it‘s northern boundary was the river Derwent with Chaddesden It extended southwards towards Sinfin Moor and its other boundaries were with Alvaston and Boulton to the east and Litchurch, Pear Tree and Normanton to the west.

In 1893 Payne wrote, ―It may be news to many Derby folk of the present generation that a considerable village existed here and was situated to the middle of the park. It consisted of a cluster of houses, and a main road ran from it to the parish church in one direction and to Osmaston Road in the other, coming out where St Dunstan‘s church now stands‖.

St Dunstans Church

The village well existed within the recollection of the present generation between the hall and Cotton Lane and was surrounded by a rough paling of wood.

The oldest 10

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Nightingale Road School Pictures provided by Arthur Shardlow

inhabitant survives who assisted to pull down some of the cottages northwest of the church. In 1863 there were 125 parishioners living in 24 houses.

Seventy years ago, when I was a child, all that remained of Osmaston was the hall, vicarage, the ornamental lake, and Osmaston Park Farm at the London Road end of Ascot Drive. Ascot Drive was a cinder track linking London Road with Osmaston Road (A514). Osmaston was linked to Alvaston and Boulton by what was known in 1805 as Osmaston Footway, now named Baker Street. The Footway crossed the Derby canal by the ‗Parson‘s Bridge‘, named in 1805 as ‗Cockerson Bridge‘, as it was the right of way into Cockerson Field, one of Alvaston and Boulton‘s three fields.

The field on the right was where Mr Hicklin kept his horses and on the left of the track were the Swiss Cottage allotments. Past these the road was blocked by a five barred gate near to a house called ‗Swiss Cottage‘, one of the lodges to the hall. Beyond the gate the road passed into fields to Ascot Drive, (called Wren‘s Lane in 1805) to the vicarage, a large pleasant looking red brick house surrounded by lawns and fronted by several large sweet chestnut trees.

(The vicarage, the thatched part dated back to the 15th Centur y) 50

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On the opposite corner to the vicarage was the orchard where the greengrocer, Joe Nadin, kept his horse. The track, now called Longbridge Lane, passed the vicarage, the cemetery, the church of St James the Lesser and the hall, before arriving at the long wooden bridge that spanned the railway property before joining Osmaston Road.

Behind Osmaston Hall was the large ornamental lake where we used to catch newts, small fish and tadpoles in the Spring. I was told by our old schoolmaster Tommy Harris, that the lake was filled and replenished by a small brook.

This was the Cotton Brook that he believed flowed from Findern into the lake. On exiting the lake it passed under Osmaston Footway.

It was open near Nadin‘s field, proceeded under Ascot Drive, crossed the fields and under the canal, flowed alongside Craner‘s garage, under the London Road to the Alvaston Recreation Ground. Here it fed the paddling pool and the large boating lake before joining the river Derwent.

During WWII a large army camp was built in the park at the Osmaston Road end of Ascot Drive. The brick built huts straddled both sides of the drive. On the right hand side it almost reached the vicarage. Here was positioned a firing range, and a large brick built wall with sand embankments.

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ABINGDON STREET TRAM DEPOT Derby Corporation Tram at the Abingdon Street Depot 1914-1918

Showing staff posed in front of a tram in the interior of the Abingdon Street Depot. This view is of 1914-18 date (judging by the chalked inscription in the window: 'Be a sportsman and lend a hand to the lads at the front. They need your help.') The open-topped tram has been fitted with a windscreen to protect the motorman. These began to be fitted from October 1914.

‘Courtesy of Derby www.picturethpast.org.uk’

City

Council

and

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RAILWAY IRON WORKS James Eastwood & Sons Cotton Lane Circa 1850

We used to spend time sifting through the sand looking for the flattened bullets. The perimeter of the camp was almost circular with huts spread at regular intervals around it. The farm on Ascot Drive, which we knew as ‗The Park Farm‘, was knocked down during WWII and extremely large buildings erected on the site. These were known as ‗Air Wings‘. Here the wings for various aircraft used by the RAF were constructed or repaired. The buildings now house the Arriva buses.

The old Parish church of St James the Lesser, which together with its churchyard was, in those days abandoned.

The church was kept locked, but we played in the churchyard around the gravestones. There was a gateway which led to the hall, but there was never anyone present.

To me the hall was a large, imposing and somewhat frightening building, It was very neglected, as was the whole area.

I remember going to the lake during WWII. The hall had been demolished and much of the lake had been filled in with bricks and rubble.

After the war the lake was completely filled and levelled and later became the Carriage and Wagon Works Sports Ground.

A photograph of an engraving showing the Railway Iron Works of James Eastwood and Sons, off Cotton Lane, Osmaston. The foundry was set up in 1852 by James Eastwood, a Chesterfield man of some standing. His foundry was originally built on The Morledge, but the street was already crowded with cement, colour-grinding, copper and silk works, so it was swiftly moved to Cotton Lane. The view is looking south with the Derby-Birmingham railway line in the foreground. The foundry was later known as Eastwood & Swindells.

Elderly friends of mine could remember when animals were driven along London Road to the cattle market. The animals were rested overnight in the fields between the church and Ascot Drive in what was known as ‗The Pinfold‘.

'Courtesy of Derby Museums and Art Gallery and www.picturethepast.org.uk’ 48

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Osmaston Municipal Park Arthur Shardlow It was a vision of Alderman Boam that the citizens of Derby should enjoy a ring of parks situated around the town.

Having secured a recreation ground for Alvaston, on the London Road, he turned his attention to Osmaston. The Town Council debated the idea of a park at Osmaston in 1912. They had three sites on a piece of land off Osmaston Road owned by the Trustees of the Reverend George WilmotHorton. They made an offer of £6,800 for 40 acres of land but the Trustees declined and offered to sell the land with timber on it for £7,300. The Council accepted the terms.

Part of the land fronting Osmaston Park Road was sold for housing.

It was recorded in the minutes that ―there were trees on the centre of the land, which would make an excellent park‖.

Five and a half acres could be used as a children‘s playground, with a portion laid out for cricket and football.

Two and a half acres were set aside for bowls, tennis and other games.

The Osmaston Park is the only remaining area of land of the vast 3,700 acre Wilmot-Horton Park not built on. It was laid out as part of the estate in the 1770‘s by William Emes. At that period anyone standing on that pleasant spot could look towards Osmaston Road and seen Osmaston Hall built in 1696 to the designs of Sir William Wilson.

produced the Merlin engine during the Second World War, in excess of 160,000 Merlins were made. The ceremony took place in 1949 and the window was unveiled by Lord Tedder, Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Following the unveiling the window was blessed by the Bishop of Derby. The list of dignitaries was jaw dropping and many of the visitors had achieved almost godlike status and were household names throughout the war years, so it was not surprising that there were packed crowds of onlookers.

The Marble Hall

There are many other memories that I recall but shortage of space limits them to just a brief mention, digging for bullets on the rifle range, scrumping in Nadens orchard, the Old Pond, tip ratting behind Alvaston lake, Swarkstone Bubble, Calvary wood, The railway level crossing at the end of Moorway Lane that led to Sinfin Moor was just a cart track in those days! The ―Dredger‖ at Swarkstone, Anchor Church at Ingleby, walking along the Derby canal from Ascot Drive to its junction at Swarkstone Bubble, it was a natural nature reserve and it teemed with a vast variety of wildlife and flora. Last but not least, Skylarks nesting in ―Bumper Smiths‖ field. When did you last hear, or see one?

At this point, I have just realised that I have ―morphed‖ into my Grandfather! My only excuse for this is that increasing years seem to diminish awareness. I think that all that remains is for me to wish future generation‘s good fortune, and good luck, and the hope that you all retain an urge to be independent and that you enjoy your lives as much as I have enjoyed mine.

Mick Whitehead

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09/01/2011 47

steps that you went up to enable you to see into the cockpit and I think it cost 3d to view inside. Funds raised would be put to some wartime scheme such as ―Wings Week‖. Whilst on the subject of enemy machinery, I have a vague memory of a large German car being briefly on display in 1945 outside the Marble Hall in Nightingale Rd. I think it belonged to Reichmarshall Hermann Goering.

When peace was declared street parties, bonfires, flags and bunting were to be seen in most streets, Hawthorn St had marks for years from where the surface had melted.

With peace, the blackout ended, street lights came back on, and children started to play out in the local streets, in 1946 as if by magic, streets would fall silent at 6.45pm, children would disappear for 15 minutes, and reappear just after 7pm and the reason? Dick Barton special agent. They had just spent 15 minutes listening with rapt attention to the radio, in complete silence not wanting to miss a word; imaginations were working overtime, if only school teachers had the same power!

Osmaston Park was often visited. ―The Hollows‖ was always a favourite, and it was a very large excavation, with one side having an extremely steep incline, perfect for sledging! In the bottom lay some dumped, and what seemed to be gigantic tree roots, these made superb dens or defensive positions, it was a natural adventure playground, and undoubtedly it would be shut down immediately by Health & Safety if it existed today.

Where exactly are children expected to work off surplus energy, use and develop their imagination and hone social skills? It seems to me that children do not have a childhood any more.

In 1914 Derby Corporation had submitted their plans for the park, and included an entrance off Osmaston Park Road.

There was a café just inside the entrance, large flower beds and a fountain. In the centre was a large open space with a bandstand. Although the plans were submitted in 1914 the park was not opened until 1922 by the Mayor of Derby.

In the centre of the park was a very deep bell shaped hole surrounded by trees.

The sides were steep making it difficult to descend to the bottom, but nevertheless many children enjoyed sliding down on their bottoms. The hole or crater must have been present when the land was purchased from the Wilmot-Hortons, but how it was formed was a mystery. Some say gravel extraction, others suggest it was a bomb crater from WW1.

No article about Osmaston would be complete without mentioning the dedication of the memorial window in the ―Marble Hall‖ in Nightingale Rd, in celebration of the combined effort of Air crew, and Factory workers who 46

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We had a visit from someone in uniform, police I think, who warned about the danger of touching Butterfly bombs, these were dropped from aircraft and armed themselves on the way down and were practically impossible to defuse, they looked very much like a binocular case that had split down the centre and opened up into 2 wings, they would dangle from telegraph wires, tree‘s fences, and bushes, and the minute you disturbed them they would explode, they were lethal up to 70yards.

Other memories of school are, the nit nurse, inoculations, the school dentist, Iodine, and Gentian Violet, the odd outbreak of Scabies, eczema, and impetigo, - the happiest days of your life! -I don‘t think so!

Barrage balloons, blackout curtains, the stench of paraffin from the smoke screen apparatus, searchlights probing the night sky, travelling on a bus with wartime seating i.e. just wooden strips no upholstery, tape on windows, Policemen on ―point duty‖ sandbags, Identity cards, gas masks, horse troughs, posters telling you to ―be like dad, keep mum‖ or ‗‖careless talk costs lives‖, ‗‖beware the squander bug‘‖ a picture of Chad peering over a wall saying ―what no bread‖ or whatever the current shortage might be. The Bisto Kids and Guinness are good for you advertisements.

Beer, greengrocery, bread, coal, milk all delivered by horse and cart. Frequently collecting a bucket of steaming horse muck for my Granddads garden, pig swill bins digging for victory, people were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to supplement their rations, ―snobs‖, fag cards, catapults, comics such as, Knockout, Film Fun, Radio Fun, Dandy and Beano, and as reading skills improved, graduating on to the Wizard, and Adventure on a Tuesday, and the Rover and Hotspur, on Thursday‘s.

It would be about 1943/4 that I was taken to see a shot down enemy aircraft on display at Normanton Park which I believe it was a Messerschmitt 109. It was displayed just inside a small gateway on Warwick Avenue. There were 16

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Part of a bomb casing, or a piece of wrecked machinery, who knows? But I‘m not surprised the house shook! .If any future occupiers explore the loft space at 498, and are puzzled about the indentations in one of the joists, blame it all on Hitler.

My Father, George Whitehead

Memories of Nightingale Rd School remind me of two teachers. Mr Turner, who did not spare the rod, and appeared to command great respect!

Perhaps a more descriptive word would be fear, if you did not know where the land of green ginger was, or what colour the phone boxes were in Hull then look out!

The other was a Mr Fisher, who had a habit of lifting you out of your seat by your hair if he decided it needed cutting. He would grip the unfortunate victims hair with finger and thumb just in front of their ear, then slowly lift upwards until the ‖victim‖ was on his tiptoes, at which point he would say, ―haircut‖. With the benefit of hindsight, I would not describe either member of staff, as mentally well balanced individuals! But they could certainly control a class of 39 pupils, no problem at all!

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Sir John Eardley Wilmot

Portrait by Benjamin West Sir John Eardley Wilmot was born in Derby in 1709 and died in London in 1792. He was an Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1766 to 1771.

Wilmot was the second son of Robert Wilmot (1669–1738), of Osmaston Hall. His elder brother Robert (c.1708–1772) was another lawyer who went into the service of the crown, was knighted in 1739 and created a baronet (Wilmot of Osmaston) in 1772.

He joined the Midland Circuit and was an advocate at the Derby Assizes. He was appointed as junior counsel to the Treasury, and in 1753 he was offered promotion to King‘s Counsel and to sergeant-at-law, but declined and returned to Derbyshire. However, in February 1755 he accepted the appointment as a judge of the King‘s Bench and sergeant-atlaw, and was knighted. In 1756, he became a Commissioner of the Great Seal. In August 1766, Wilmot became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and in September 1766 joined the Privy Council. In 1770, he again refused appointment as 18

The day that Rolls-Royce was bombed there was no warning, one minute I was eating my breakfast, there was an almighty bang, the whole house shook, and I found myself being hurled into the Morrison shelter, very closely followed by my Mother. We crouched there in fear, and my Mother noticed that the electric fire was still on in the fireplace, I was told ―stay there don‘t move‖ she then scuttled across the floor on her hands and knees, yanked the plug out of the electric socket, and was back in the shelter very rapidly. The object of this exercise was to eliminate any fire hazard if the house collapsed or the ceiling caved in.

After what seemed hours to me, but in reality only minutes, the back gate opened and our next door neighbour Mrs Jefferies came in to check that we were okay. A few minutes later the gate opened again and Granddad Chambers appeared. As soon as he heard the explosions he made his way down to Osmaston Rd on his bike from Rawlinson Ave near Sinfin Lane, and he was closely followed by Grandma Chambers who had caught the bus.

Eventually it was decided that we would go and look at what had happened. We got as far as Hawthorn St and it was barricaded off by the military at Gresham Rd. We then walked up Grosvenor St and into Handel St. I remember seeing a lot of broken windows. On our way back home nearing the junction of Nightingale Rd and Grosvenor St Mrs Jefferies met one of her friends who lived in Grosvenor St. The friend made mention of the damage to Mrs Jefferies roof, and urged her to look up a nearby entry which gave a clear view to the rear of the houses on Osmaston Rd. Midway above the middle bedroom window and the chimney stack was a large hole about a metre square! When Mr Jefferies returned home he went into the loft to investigate. He came around to show us what he had found. Embedded in one of the joists was a piece of jagged steel, it was cradled in both his arms, I would guess it measured about 20 inches long and 12 wide, full of stress marks, and had traces of green paint.

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All the houses between Nightingale Rd and Abingdon St had wrought iron fences and gates. One morning a team of workmen started to remove all the iron work and place it on a lorry. This apparently was part of a drive to help the war effort. I have read recently that it was just a ―moral boosting exercise‖, and that the metal was never used, how true that is I don‘t know, but considering it was a country-wide effort, then, if the metal was not used, it was a criminal waste of manpower and resources! The following day another team of workers built small walls in front of the houses, the tops of the walls were covered in cement, and the edges were chamfered, somehow the houses on Osmaston Rd never looked the same. From Edwardian elegance to blandness in a couple of days, that‘s politics for you!

At about 5.30pm trolley buses started parking on Osmaston Rd from Nightingale Rd to past the post office at Gresham Rd. At 5.45 pm workers would fill the pavement getting in each other‘s way in eagerness to look at destination plates.

In a few short minutes buses would be filled, and on route, at 5.50pm everywhere was deserted, with the exception of a few cyclists and the odd pedestrian. The most amazing sight had to be the ―army‖ of cyclist that travelled on Osmaston Rd towards Allenton, made up of workers from the Carriage and wagon, and other local firms. The entire length of Osmaston Rd from past Abingdon St, to F.&W was taken up by cyclist‘s, riding 4, 5, and 6 abreast all eager to get home.

Out of Nightingale Rd, Gresham Rd, and Davenport Rd poured more but some were travelling towards the town centre. It was certainly a sight to witness.

The long bridge spanned row after row of railway lines, these were filled with rolling stock waiting to be repaired and reenter service, many of them damaged by air raids. They were shunted by a steam engine and on a few occasions sparks from the chimney would ignite the wooden beams that served as the floor of the bridge. A quick visit from the fire brigade solved the problem, and also entertained the local kids.

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Lord Chancellor, and in January 1771 resigned as Chief Justice. In the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War, Wilmot was appointed as a royal commissioner to investigate claims by American Loyalists for compensation for the losses they had suffered as a result of the war.

He died in London in 1792 and was buried at Berkswell, Warwickshire, a country estate which had been inherited by his wife. (Information courtesy of Wikipedia).

ARMS OF THE WILMOT FAMILY OF OSMASTON Wilmot, of Osmaston.— This branch of the family descended from Sir Nicholas, a younger son of Robert Wilmot of Chaddesden above-mentioned, by the heiress of Shrigley. Robert, the elder son of Sir Nicholas, married the heiress of Eardley, and his eldest son, Robert, a co heiress of Sir Samuel Marow, Bart. Robert, the son of the last-mentioned marriage, was created a Baronet in 1772, with remainder to Robert Wilmot, Esq. of Osmaston, who is the second and present baronet. (Courtesy of www.british-history.ac.uk).

Osmaston Hall 19

Nineteenth Century Newspaper Articles Strange event on Osmaston Road In June 1846 reports of a whirlwind carrying away several wagon loads of hay belonging to a Miss Clay were reported in The Times and the Nottingham Mercury. Apparently, the hay fell all over neighbouring fields and gardens after being suspended in the air for over half an hour, but after the event the air was completely still.

each side and I spent time down there on many occasions waiting for the ―all clear‖ siren. Eventually a Morrison indoor shelter was installed. These looked like a dining table, 4 steel girders made up the corners, the top was sheet steel, and the sides had steel netting. If the house collapsed it would probably protect those sheltering from falling masonry or beams. At least it saved going across the road in all weathers.

Mick Whitehead

Population figures published The 1841 population figures for the parish of Osmaston by Derby showed that there were twenty eight inhabited houses, in which eighty one males, ninety six females, totalling one hundred and seventy seven people lived there.

This showed a growth of five people since the previous figures in 1831. Figures for nearby Normanton were a total of three hundred and nine people living in sixty three houses. Figures were published in the Derby Mercury in July 1841.

House to Let, Ready Furnished An advert appeared over several weeks in the Derby Mercury advertising a desirable residential property to let in Osmaston in 1807. Osmaston Hall was described as a ―Capital, Mansion House‖ which was ―delightfully situated‖.

The description noted the stabling for coaches and up to twenty horses, a large garden with fruit trees, orchards and vines, two lawns and a paddock. The prospective tenant was also able to use up to twelve acres of park land.

The description of the house stated that it contained a hall, two large dining rooms, library (31‘6‖ x 17‘), beautiful views 20

On the corner of Gresham Rd, was a butchers shop owned

by Mr Holt, and on the other corner was St Dustan's post office. Directly opposite Gresham Rd was ―Bumper‖ Smiths field, which later became a Roll-Royce car park. Frank Smith, A.K.A. ―Bumper‖ was a butcher who had a shop on the corner of Davenport Rd. He also kept a small herd of cows that used to graze in the field. The field was bordered

by Longbridge Lane which emerged onto Ascot Drive. Also housed in the field was a detachment of soldiers whose job it was to man the gun which was placed on top of a large concrete tower that had been erected in the field. The soldier‘s were billeted in wooden huts behind the 6 foot wooden fence that ran the length of Osmaston Rd from Longbridge Lane to the static water tank at Nightingale Rd. Access to the gun was via a steep steel staircase with steel tubular handrails, -ascent by foot-descent by sitting astride the handrails, and just letting go! Top to bottom in a few brief seconds, they had it down to fine art. Hands would grip the handrail just feet from the end, and the soldier would casually, if not nonchalantly, step down and saunter away.

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practical. Total bills were calculated usually by mental arithmetic. You were then asked your check number, which was your individual number that gave you a dividend once a year from the Co-op building in Albion St. You also had to hand over your ration book, and the appropriate stamps would be removed. Your money, stamps and receipt were placed in a small cylinder which was attached to an overhead wire; a quick downward pull on the handle sent the container and contents flying up the wire to the cashier‘s kiosk, which was situated at the end of the store in an elevated position. Upon arrival, the contents of the cylinder would be removed, change and counterfoil replaced a pull down on the handle, and your change and receipt was on its way back to you.

On the opposite corner to Mrs Leadbetter‘s off-licence stood Aldred‘s garage. The main frontage was on Osmaston Rd and above the garage was a dance hall called the ―Rialto‖.

The entrance was in Nightingale Rd, and it was a very popular venue during the war years but in the early fifties it was also used as a roller skating rink.

Next to Joe Aldred‘s garage was a well known building firm called Ford and Weston‘s who did a great deal of work for Rolls-Royce. One of their vehicles was a van body mounted on a R.R. chassis. It was painted green and could often be seen travelling down Osmaston Rd. It appeared to glide by, silent, sleek, and sophisticated, the ultimate in delivery vehicles.

On the other side of Osmaston Rd opposite F&W was a bus terminus, which allowed trolley buses to turn around and head back towards town. Next to this was a static water tank. These were placed around the area as an emergency water supply in the event that air raids disrupted the mains supply.

The water was packed with frogs and newts.

Directly opposite our house was an underground air raid shelter. The entrance was down some steps, and to me, it seemed like a very long tunnel. There were benches down 40

over the grounds, several drawing rooms, tapestry room, several offices, large breakfast room, sixteen bedrooms and attics. The house also boasted extensive servants quarters, a large brew house and laundry. One added bonus was the use of a large pack of hounds!

Will Notification Derby Mercury, November 1834: Notification in the press of the proving of the will of the late Sir Robert Wilmot, Baronet.

The present Baronet, Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, Governor of Ceylon, inherited the Osmaston and Weston estates and a collection of valuable paintings. The sum of £100,000 and considerable foreign investments was divided amongst the late baronet‘s four younger children.

Inspection of the Derbyshire Militia Derby Mercury, June 1887 reported that the 5th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Militia) was encamped on Osmaston Park, and was inspected by Col. Kingsley commander of the 45th regimental district. Men were also put through a firing exercise and field movements. Many spectators were said to have witnessed the events and Sunday afternoon military band concerts held there.

More information– Derby Local Studies Library holds copies of past editions of The Derby Mercury which are available to view.

Editions can also be viewed online through your library service. Please call in at the library to find out more or look on www.derby.gov.uk/libraries .

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The Osmaston Road Workhouse

The first Derby Union workhouse was built in 1837-8 on the south side of Osmaston Road. It was designed by John Mason. In 1838, the Poor Law Commissioners authorised the sum of £5,360 to be expended on the building which was to accommodate 350 inmates. The building did not follow any of the Poor Law Commissioners standard plans. It adopted a broadly square design but had only two courtyard areas. The location and layout of the workhouse can be seen on the 1852 map below.

With the erection of the new Uttoxeter Road workhouse, later known as the Manor House Hospital, the Osmaston Road site was put up for sale. On December 15th, 1876, it was sold by auction for £9,150 to the Royal Crown Derby company for a new factory. Most of the old workhouse buildings were retained and reused including the present entrance block which now has a brick facade added to its centre. (information courtesy on www.workhouse.org) 22

acted as a catalyst that bonded people together, irrespective of cultural or religious difference. On the corner of Nightingale Rd and Grovesnor St was Mr and Mrs Murphy‘s fish and chip shop. They did a roaring trade with workers from Rolls Royce. The trick was to try and get to the shop early before the workers started streaming down Nightingale Rd, otherwise you were in for a lengthy wait, as the queue used to spill out of the shop and across the pavement. Mrs Murphy was always pleased to receive any old newspapers to wrap the fish and chips in and I‘ll swear they tasted better for it! The cost of fish and chips amounted to 1 shilling, or 12 old pence, 3d for the chips and 9d for the fish, in today's coinage 5p. You could order a 6d bag of chips (2 ½p) but you would have to be very hungry indeed if you managed to finish them all.

Osmaston street scene today

On the opposite side of Nightingale Rd stood the Co-op store, a large building which housed both the general grocery, and butchery department. Above the shops was a large function room. Access to it was by an outside staircase at the rear.

Shopping at the Co-op meant seemingly endless queues, and items such as butter, lard, or cheese, were wrapped in greaseproof paper, sugar was weighed on scales and poured into a blue bag, smaller items were placed into a paper bag by a sales assistant who then held the bag by the corners and gave it a quick ―twirl‖. All the shopping was then placed in a paper carrier bag which was okay in dry weather, but a complete waste of time in rain! I remember a great many people using crocheted string bags which were much more 39

either as a hobby or for pin money, so you can imagine my joy when exploring an outbuilding, to discover not just lead soldiers, in both British and German WW1 uniforms, but cowboys, Indians, horse guards, and farm animals, who gave a damn about carpets or war when faced with a find like that? Other toys that I recall were Dinky cars, a Hornby clockwork train set, Minibrix, which are probably best described as an early form of Lego! They consisted of rubberised bricks, lintels, doors and windows, the roofing was constructed from moulded green rubber complete with overlapping tiles, my favourite was defiantly the wooden fort, which consisted of battlements, and a tower on each corner, ramparts, and a drawbridge. That fort saw many a battle!

With reinforcements being bought in by train and dinky car, additional fortifications such as bunkers were constructed from Minibrix, and the Cowboys and Indians instantly became anything you wanted, such is the power of a child‘s imagination On the corner of Osmaston Rd and Nightingale Rd stood an off-license owned by a Mr and Mrs Leadbetter. At the rear of the property was a cinder covered car park. Eventually the off-license was demolished and the Nightingale Hotel was built, which has also now vanished, and a large apartment block stands in its place. Such is progress. I suspect that we will never ever see a return to the same community spirit and solidarity that existed in the war years and the early fifties. One of the reasons being that people communicated more, both at the local church or the local pub, mothers passed on items of footwear, or clothing that their own children had outgrown to family/friends/or neighbours and it was defiantly well received. Such was the deprivation due to national shortages of just about everything, rationing, plus the country being on the verge of bankruptcy. In this day and age, unfortunately, meeting places to socialise such as church and public house seem have become casualties of ―progress‖. Communication is now by keyboard or mobile phone. In short, ―we have lost the personal touch!‖ It seemed as if extreme hardship plus the fear of invasion 38

Osmaston Street Names Did you know that Addison Road was probably named after Christopher Addison, a Liberal MP, and later Viscount Addison for Labour until 1921? He was a long serving minister of Munitions and Reconstruction under Lloyd George, and from 1930, Labour Minister of Agriculture.

Elton Road used to be called Gypsy Lane, and was renamed after Godfrey Elton, a close friend of former Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald. In 1928 Godfrey became the first Lord Elton. Osmaston Road originally ran from Bradshaw Street to the borough boundary at Osmaston, which was part of an ancient route to Swarkestone Bridge and then on to London.

It was turnpiked in 1856.

Did you also know that Charles Darwin, the celebrated naturalist, was a frequent visitor to Osmaston Hall due to family connections? Charles was the grandson of the famous local physician, philosopher, poet and inventor Erasmus Darwin.

He was also the grandson of the equally famous Josiah Wedgewood who founded the Wedgewood pottery company.

Extracts from his letters show that he had a fondness for the place and visiting his relations, the Fox family, who lived at Osmaston Hall which they rented from the Wilmot family. ―Before I tell you of my plans for the next two or three months, I most cordially thank you for your kind invitation to Osmaston,. You used accused me of making speeches about Osmaston. This accusation although proved to be most palpably absurd by the length of my former visit, shall be made doubly so, by the pleasure with which I accept your invitation.” (letter to WD Fox, 18 May 1829, from the Darwin Letters Project).

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A Personal History

By Alan Gill 2010

engines in Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster‘s.

Any aircraft powered by a Merlin engine would be subject to engine servicing, local repair, (where feasible) and any modification that was recommended by R.R. It was not all work though. There were occasional visits to the beach, and I remember being with a group of people who had gone rabbiting, nets were placed over holes, and a ferret sent down a burrow. I recall rabbits emerging from various holes like furry torpedo‘s to become entangled in the nets and to be quickly despatched. I enjoy an occasional rabbit stew to this day!

My grandparents Harold & Kate Chambers who were married in 1912.

Mum & Dad‘s wedding photo 1940 L-R Front Gladys Smith (my Gran), Betty Smith (my Mum), Connie McWilliams, Maisie Smith (my aunt) Back, Ernest Gill (my dad), Eddie McWilliams, Walter Smith (grandfather) Me and my Mum, Betty

I was born in1944 and lived at 29 Hawthorn Street next to the Rolls Royce factory. This was the family home my father Ernie and mother Betty moved into when they married, in May 1940 (wedding photo pictured above).

My father worked for Rolls Royce from 1945 until 1976 and my mother worked for them during World War II inspecting aero engine parts from 1941 until I was born in 1944.

I first went to Nightingale Road School in 1949, and then transferred to Allenton School in 1956 until I stated work as an engineering apprentice for Rolls Royce in1959 with wages of £2.9s. 5 pence. During my school time I loved sports and captained the cricket team in 1958. I also enjoyed fishing in Alvaston Lake and from the age of 10 to 15 yrs I took up crown green bowls. When I left school I played for RR Bowls Club. At the age of 25 yrs I played for Derbyshire British 24

Harold Chambers

We returned to Derby in late 1941, and a house was rented near the corner of Nightingale Rd. Furniture and carpets were delivered from where they had been in storage, and it was the first time I had seen my mother in tears. Apparently the storage company had not kept to their agreement to protect the carpets from moths and they had dined royally over the previous 2 years. This was a bitter blow as it was wartime and it was impossible to obtain replacements, but stained floorboards and lino were better than nothing. It would appear that the previous tenant made lead soldiers, 37

Skylarks in Osmaston

By Mick Whitehead Memory is a strange thing- events that had happened in the distant past and presumably erased forever, or alternatively buried deep in the sub-conscious came flooding back in abundance recently, and the reason? I had attended a talk and slide show at St Bartholomew‘s church hall given by Mr Shardlow, and the subject,- the History of Osmaston. I returned home that evening, my mind reeling from a combination of information that I had acquired, plus long forgotten memories recalled, and all because of a few innocent words such as the Long Bridge, Nadens Orchard, the old pond, and, The Hollows, As I sat drinking my tea my thoughts turned to my childhood in Osmaston, It was wartime, and with war comes rationing, queuing, and deprivation, all this of course passes over the heads of younger children, and to them, and me, it was probably just an adventure, not so to parents and grandparents who had to cope with shortages of just about everything, combined with the horrors of war, the dreaded telegram telling you that your husband or son was ―missing‖, or the, ―I regret to announce‖ and that there were no survivors. How they managed I do not know! But manage they did, and complete with a community spirit that in this day and age, younger generations would not believe or understand.

My earliest memory is of Walnut St, more a snapshot than a memory, - snow, a Scotch terrier, and a red pressed tin trike, with pedals attached to the front wheel.

My father worked at R.R. as a service engineer maintaining Merlin engines and on the outbreak of war the job took him to various places in the UK. We accompanied him for about 2 ½ years, living in ―digs‖ in Manchester, Wolverhampton, and Abingdon and a long spell in Ayr in Scotland. I have memories of sitting in a car watching him ―ground test‖, 36

Crown Green Bowls for 15 years. In that time I qualified for the All England Finals but got beaten by the winner.

Work began with two years at the Rolls Royce training school on Sandown Road, off Ascot Drive until I moved into No 1 shop, Nightingale Road making turbine blades in the milling department. In 1962 a decline in workload meant I was transferred to the tool room in Mowbray Street, off Nightingale Road. In 1993 I bought my home on Addison Road next to RR works.

At the age of 20, I was selected for competitions to find the world‘s best engineer and I won the Midland competition, progressing to Strathclyde University, Glasgow for the Great Britain finals where I came second after spending a week there. The winner went on to the world finals in Australia.

During my time at RR I made special nuts for USA fighter planes in the Vietnamese war against Communism, I saw the financial crash as it went bankrupt financing the development of the RB211 engine when the Government stepped in and took over the company, and I came close to losing my job along with many other workers. I was later lucky to be picked out by a raffle to go on the first flight of the Tri-Star aircraft, with RR engines in it (RB211).

In the 1980‘s I was involved in teaching Chinese people how to make tooling so they could make their own aero engines.

By 1992 the demolition of RR tool room in Mowbray Street meant I moved into main works on Nightingale Road and with the impact of terrorist attacks in 2001, a decline in orders meant that voluntary redundancies were available, so I decided to take advantage, finishing my career with RR in 2003.

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The Mystery of White House Farm

By Susan Stone

The two photographs are of my late Great Grandfather, John Tomlinson. One of these shows him on horseback and on the back reads ―photographed at the corner of Addison Road and Abingdon Street (known as The Spinney) and part of White House Farm, Cotton Lane.‖ The other shows him and his daughter Mabel with an unidentified boy, is inscribed ―Mrs Tomlinson, 21 Cotton Lane, Derby‖. Sadly, neither photograph contains any identifiable landmarks or buildings. The two locations are a good way apart.

The mystery deepened with a letter written by my Great Aunt Mabel in 1979. She recalls that ―we moved to the farm top of Cotton Lane for some time, then moved to Gilman St. to a little shop. After a time we moved to a shop in Grosvenor St. and Uncle Jim had Cotton Lane Farm. Some time later we moved to a smaller shop across the street where I was married from in 1921. In the meantime I wasn‘t around for a bit but never knew why they left the shop and lived over the garage and stables.‖ Could the garage and stables she refers to be 21 Cotton Lane?

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The Marble Hall

The Battle of Britain memorial window, a replica of which still stands inside the Marble Hall. The window was unveiled on 11th January 1949

by The Chief of Staff Lord Tedder in front of 276 prestigious guests, including celebrated fighter ace Group Capt Douglas Bader and Group Capt Leonard Cheshire.

Aerial view of the main works site 1919.

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The Main Works, Nightingale Road Further information came from my late Grandfather, Percy Tomlinson, in the 1960‘s. The relevant section is reproduced in full (apologies for the punctuation) which may prompt some memories: ―Moved to 98 Sutherland Rd. – left when 12 yrs old [1902] to The White House Farm, Cotton Lane – attended St. Dunstan‘s school – Mr. Walker headmaster – Wm. Tomlinson there before them – wood – hse – Osm. Pk. Rd. Municipal – gamekeeper – Coroner Close lived there after Wm Tomlinson. Granddad‘s sister married Daniel Archer (Aunty Amy Tomlinson) had daughters Kate & Alice son Daniel. Daniel Archer Junior had farm opposite St Dunstan‘s – part of No 21 – part of farm demolished to build tram sheds in 1906-7?

Uncle Jim from Littleover moved to Cotton Lane into the farm after Daniel Archer Junior. Aunty Mary (Polly) Tomlinson lived with her brother – Uncle Jim – neither married. The farm was demolished (Estate divided?).

Dad‘s family moved to a greengrocer‘s shop on 11 Gilman St, where they lived for 2 yrs. Granddad going to buy a house and shop that was being built at the corner of Grosvenor St. and Davenport Rd. He had a stable and loft built attached to the house – someone ―bought property over Granddad‘s head‖.

50/52 Grosvenor St. a grocer‘s shop where they bred pigs in the garden sold pork and home-made brawn at the shop – Dad lived here until he was 20 yrs old [1910].

Uncle Jim still lived at White House Farm. Dad left school whilst living at White House Farm and visited his mother‘s brother Herbert Beardsley who had a green-grocer‘s shop in Church St. This inspired Dad to set up his own grocery round and he hired a dray from Avery‘s of Hill St and Osmaston Rd. for 1/- a day.

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WWI: THE NIGHT A LOST ZEPPELIN BOMBED DERBY On February 1, 1916, a German Zeppelin, lost en route to Liverpool, mistakenly dropped its load of bombs on Derby resulting in five deaths damage.

The raid occurred just after midnight in the early hours of February 1, claiming five lives along the way. One victim was a woman who died of a heart attack due to the shock.

Zeppelins, products of the company set up by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, were mainly under the control of the Imperial German Navy during the First World War. The rigid, fabriccovered crafts were filled with expandable bags of 1.126m cubic feet of hydrogen gas and powered by four Maybach engines. These gave a maximum speed of 60mph, a ceiling of 10,500ft and a range of 2,600 miles. A crew of about 20 men manned the airships.

The raid on Derby was carried out by an L14 type of Zeppelin, of the L10 class of 12, under the command of Captain Alois Boeker, who was shot down over the Thames Estuary and was held as a POW in Donnington Hall Camp.

Just after midnight on February 1, L14 was over Derby, where it dropped its remaining 21 high explosive bombs and four incendiaries at nine locations on the south side of the city. No one knows the exact order of the raid, but from the spread of the targets – Royce‘s in the south to the Locomotive Works of the Midland Railway in the north and the Etches Park gas works in the east. This suggests that L14 approached from the south, working roughly north along the Osmaston Road at about 8,000ft before bombing the Loco Works and then ending up at the gas works.

Derby received a warning about an impending raid just after 7pm and the authorities had taken steps to douse street lighting, halt tramcars and close businesses. Three airships did pass close by within half an hour, so the precautions may have been effective.

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ROLLS ROYCE IN OSMASTON In 1907 Charles Rolls and Henry Royce relocated their Manchester motor vehicle and aircraft manufacturing company to Osmaston in Derby,. The official opening took place on 19th July 1908 with a ceremony performed by Lord Montague of Beaulieu. Below are a series of images charting the history of the site, which apart from the Marble Hall Grade II listed building, in 2011 is now demolished.

(Photographs courtesy of Alan Gill).

But just before midnight, the measures were relaxed enough to make Captain Boeker believe he had reached Liverpool. He released his bombs.

The Rolls Royce bombs fell harmlessly, while three more fell on the Metalite lamp works on Graham Road.

Five more bombs landed on the Carriage and Wagon Works, three incendiaries hit Fletcher‘s lace mill on Osmaston Road and four, possibly five, more incendiaries missed and landed, mostly harmlessly, in the road at Horton Street, one setting a house on fire.

On the corner of Bateman Street, in the garden of Litchurch Villa, another bomb landed harmlessly. Nine more hit the Loco Works and two more, plus an incendiary, hit the gas works, the latter without serious damage, having landed in an open area.

Quite a bit of damage was done at Metalite and the Carriage and Wagon works, but none at Fletcher‘s, where the bombs landed in a courtyard. The worst damage was inflicted at the Loco Works, where three men were killed and two injured in the work‘s yard, one of the latter subsequently dying. A Mrs Constantine, living nearby, also died of a heart attack during the raid.

Article from Derby Evening Telegraph, Bygones section. For more information please refer www.youandyesterday.com).

NB: One of the bombs landed just inside the car testing track on Nightingale Road, which resulted in the track being dug up and the area redeveloped (Courtesy of Trent & Peak Archaeology, 2010).

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VARIOUS COLLECTD NEWS CUTTINGS Courtesy of Arthur Shardlow

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