DERBYSHIRE, an inland co. of England, lying between Yorkshire on the n. and Leicestershire on the south. Its shape is triangular; the greatest length from n. to s. being 56 m.; greatest breadth, 34; area, 1030 sq. miles. The north-west is occupied by the s. end of the Pennine chain, called the High peak or Derbyshire highlands. This tract forms the water-shed between the Trent and Mersey, and is not surpassed for rugged and romantic scenery by anything in England; abounding in precipices, faults, rocking-stones, caverns—one of which is 2,700 ft. long—and streams that often lose themselves for a time among the fissures of the limestone hills. The peak, the loftiest hill in D., is 2,000 ft. high. From the peak tract, a range runs s.: another runs GO m. s.s.e. Other ranges intersect parts of the co. To the s., I). sinks into a flat or gently undulating tract of new red sandstone, with some spots of magnesian limestone and coal, and beds of red marl and gypsum. The chief rivers are the Trent—dividing_D. from Staffordshire for 10 m., and then crossing the s. of the co. and passing into Not tingham—and its tributaries, the Derwent and the Dove, both of which rise in the region of the peak, and flow in a south-easterly direction. Warm mineral springs exist at Buxton and Matlock, and intermitting springs at Barmoor and Tideswell. D. is cele brated for metals and lead, zinc, manganese, copper, coal, fuller's-earth, mineral caoutchouc and mineral oil, gypsum, pipe-clay and chert for potteries, marble, fluor-spar, and alabaster for ornaments, etc. D. has six canals, and is Intersected by many branches of the Midland railway. In the n., the climate is cool and moist, with
fogs, and often frosts in summer. D. is more a manufacturing and mining than an agricultural county. The best soils in the s. are red, manly, fertile loams. 'There are many woods and coppices. The chief crops are wheat, barley, and oats. The total acre age under crops of all kinds, bare fallow, and grass was 502,791 in 1876. D. has much permanent pasture, large dairies, and sheep-pasturage in the peak district. There are manufactures of cotton, silk, worsted, metallic goods, porcelain, and marble and spar ornaments. D. is divided into six hundreds, nine poor-law unions, and 140 parishes in the diocese of Lichfield. The chief towns are Derby, Ashbourne, Bakesvell, Buxton, Chapel-le-Frith, Chesterfield, Belper, and Wirksworth. In 1871, the pop. was 379.394. D. returns eight members to parliament—six for the co., and two for Derby. There are in the co. remains of so-called Druid circles, barrows, cromlechs, British and Roman roads, Roman baths, and a Roman altar at Haddon hall. There are also ecclesiastical and monastic remains. church crypt is older than 874. Hardwick hall contains some furniture of Elizabeth's time, and some, embroidery said to have been done by Mary queen of Scots. Near Bakewell is Chatsworth, the magnificent seat of the duke of Devonshire. Arkwright built his first mill at Crumford, in 1771. Brindley was born at Turnstead; and Strutt, the inventor of ribbed stockings, at Normanton.