DERBY (dar'bi), county town of Derbyshire, England, 6o m. S.E. of Manchester on the L.M.S. and L.N.E.R. Pop. (1931) 142,406. Occupying a position almost in the centre of England, the town is situated on the Derwent, at the southern end of the Pennines. It is the centre of an important network of routes since early times and more especially since the Industrial Revolu tion. A little to the north-east of the town was the Roman site Littlechester which as its name implies was the site of a fort or village. Under the heptarchy Derby was known as Northworthig, receiving its present name from Deoraby as it was known to the Danes after the Treaty of Wedmore. It was reconquered by Aethelflaed in 917, and prospered during the loth century, but much of the land was waste at the time of Domesday. The first charter was granted in 1206 giving it all the privileges which Nottingham had in the time of Henry I. and Henry II. The charter provides that no one shall dye cloth within ten leagues of Derby except in the borough. A second charter, granted in 1229, gives the king the right of veto in electing a provost. Henry III. also granted the burgesses two other charters, one in 1225 con firming their privileges and the other in 126o granting that no Jew should be allowed to live in the town. Edward III. granted the petition of the burgesses for two bailiffs. In 1745 the young Pretender marched as far south as Derby, where it was decided that he should return to Scotland instead of going on to London.
Among the interesting buildings are St. Peter's church, a fine building of Perpendicular date but with earlier portions; St. Alkmund's and St. Andrew's, in the Decorated style; and All Saints' with a beautiful choir-screen and good stained glass. The church tower was built 1509-2 7, and is one of the finest in the midland counties. Derby grammar school was placed in 116o under the administration of the chapter of Darley Abbey. It now occupies St. Helen's House. Derby possesses a municipal technical college, schools of science and art, a public library, museum and art gallery, and the Devonshire almshouses, a re modelled foundation inaugurated by the countess of Shrewsbury, in the i6th century. There is also a recreation ground and an arboretum of 17 acres.
In the 19th century the principal centre of the Midland Rail way was established at Derby. It is still a leading centre under L.M.S. control.
Derby is celebrated for its porcelain. This manufacture was introduced about 175o, and although partially abandoned, it has been revived. The manufacture of silk, hosiery, lace and cotton formerly employed large numbers, and there are still numerous silk mills and elastic web works. Silk "throwing" or spinning was introduced into England from Piedmont in 1717 by John Lombe, who set up machinery in Derby. Other industries include the manufacture of motor cars, especially the Rolls Royce car, as well as of paint, shot, white and red lead and var nish; and there are sawmills and tanneries. The manufacture of hosiery profited greatly by the inventions of Jedediah Strutt about 17 50. In Littlechester there are chemical and steam boiler works. Derby was a suffragan bishopric in the diocese of South well but has recently become a separate bishopric. The parlia mentary borough returns two members.