Derby - Darley Abbey
Part 3
w/e 27 April 2008
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
Our third and final part of the walk around the Darley
Fields/Darley Abbey area of Derby sees us leaving the old village
to cross the river again and pass through its industrial heritage
back to the Rugby Club.
We begin this final leg of our walk at a small landscaped area
at the side of the River Derwent. This pleasant spot situated
off Darley Street opposite The Square where we concluded Part
2 contains a number of seats, paved and grassed areas and numerous
shrubs, small trees and other plants.
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The landscaped area also contains an information board which
gives a wealth of historical information particularly about the
buildings on the other side of the river. If history is not your
thing, the area is still a delightful place to watch the antics
of the waterfowl that frequent this stretch of the water.
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But it is the history of Darley Abbey that has earned its inclusion
in the fifteen mile stretch of the valley that is the Derwent
Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Although there are only a few
remnants of what was the most powerful and richest abbey in Derbyshire,
it is the industrial heritage that is of interest today. It was
in 1778 that Thomas Evans acquired the land on the opposite side
of the river and began the construction of his cotton mills.
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Access to the mills is via a toll bridge but the amount of the
toll (£1.00) has faded and no-one appeared to be collecting
any tolls from the many vehicles that crossed in both directions.
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The mills were originally water-powered with weirs creating the
head of water to drive the machines. Steam power was later employed
to supplement the water power but it was the call on the water
here that deprived the mill at the end of Folly Road that we
passed in Part 1.
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The Evans
family retained an interest in the mills from their inception
until the death in 1903 of Walter Evans II and it was the family
crest which contained a boar's head that gave rise to the complex
becoming known as the Boar's Head Mills. There were five mills
in total plus a number of other buildings housing offices, warehouses
and bobbin shops amongst others. The mills producing a variety
of cottons and yarns, had markets in Europe and North America
and production was run by the Peacock family from 1905 until
1943. The mills were then acquired by the Coats Viyella Group
and stayed in production until the 1960s.
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The
narrow road wends its way through the site but today the buildings
are occupied mainly by engineering and light industrial businesses
although I did also see a sign proclaiming the Darley Mill Pottery
(left). We are now almost at the end of the walk but in a field
(right) nearly opposite the end of Folly Road is a sight not
mentioned in any of the various publications describing walks
in this area. The field is the home of an African or Cape Buffalo
- not a common occurrence in the Derbyshire countryside.
Two to three months after completing
this walk, it was reported both locally and nationally that the
buffalo had suffered a number of attacks by persons unknown who
had thrown stones at him causing damage to his face, set his
hay on fire and put washing up liquid in his drinking water.
It transpired that his name is Oink and he is really a very docile
creature - unless provoked of course. Animal lovers everywhere
were outraged by his treatment and offers of help both financial
and practical came flooding in.
Update Friday December 13th 2013 - It was announced today that
Oink who was 22 years old had died.
See Derby Evening
Telgraph article.
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Our walk ends at the home of the Tigers, the Derby Rugby Football Club where the clubhouse
is open to the general public and members alike so if you time
you walk correctly as we did, you can take advantage of an extensive
menu or choose from a selection of beers, wines and soft drinks
as well as tea and coffee. Whether it's a specially designed
five course meal or just a chip butty or a bacon cob, your meal
and drinks can be enjoyed in the clubhouse "Haslams"
or outside on the terrace.
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