BELPER, urban district, Derbyshire, England, on the river Derwent, seven miles N. of Derby on the L.M.S. railway. Pop. (1931) 13,023. Until 1846 Belper (Beaurepaire) formed part of the parish of Duffield, granted by William I. to Henry de Ferres, earl of Derby. There is no distinct mention of Belper till 1296 when the manor was held by Edmund Crouchback, earl of Lan caster, who had a hunting seat here named Beaurepaire and founded the chapel of St. John. The manor thus became parcel of the duchy of Lancaster and is supposed to have been the resi dence of John of Gaunt. It afterwards passed to the Jodrell family. The neighbourhood was severely scourged by the plague of 1609. Coal mining is the most important industry, with metal working, especially the manufacture of all forms of wire, coming second. Hosiery and lace making are also of importance.