A to Z - HIGHLIGHTS OF DERBY AND DISTRICT - PART 1
The A to Z – highlights of Derby and District is a 19-part series and will be published weekly.
Albert Street to Allestree Park
ALBERT STREET
The street is named after HRH Prince Albert and came into existence when Markeaton Brook was culverted. The brook regularly overflowed causing considerable destruction before the decision was made to cover it.
ALBERT STREET – CORN EXCHANGE
Following long-standing complaints that corn dealers were obstructing the footpaths in the Corn Market. The Corn Exchange was built in 1861. It became the Palace Theatre of Varieties in 1897 and 22 years later the Palais de Danse. It contained luxurious lounges, tea and supper rooms until the Derby Evening Telegraph took it over for offices in 1929.
ALBERT STREET – FORMER THORNTREE HOUSE
Before the realignment of St Peter’s Street in the 1880s, Thorntree House stood on the corner of St Peter’s Street and Albert Street. It was the home of Joseph Strutt in the 1820s. The narrow lane running alongside the building is Thorntree Lane, one of Derby’s cobbled medieval thoroughfares that still survive. HSBC Bank is now sited on the corner of the two streets.
ALEXANDRA HOTEL
In 1841/2 Siddals Road was extended to connect with Railway Terrace to improve access to the Railway Station. The Alexandra Hotel, near the new Pride Park flyover, was built around 1890. The award-winning pub is named after HRH Princess Alexandra, the Danish princess who married the future Edward VII on 10 March 1863.
ALLENTON
Allenton, originally a small village sprang up as a speculative building venture. When a man named Isaac Allen purchased several acres of land. By 1903, 150 houses had been erected as well as the Crown Hotel. The area at the time was known as Allentown, before losing the letter ’w’ at a later date. Read More
ALLENTON HIPPO
In 1895 when work was being undertaken, during the building of the Crown Hotel. The bones of a hippopotamus, with a few other bones belonging to rhinoceros and elephant, were found. A sculpture of the Hippo is displayed in the shopping centre. The hippo is also depicted on a road sign. Derby Museum and Art Gallery exhibit the skeleton.
ALLENTON SPIDER ISLAND
An important landmark in Allenton seen by users of Derby Outer Ring Road and the Derby to Melbourne road is ‘Spider Bridge’ or as it is more commonly called ‘Spider-Island.’ Erected in 1971, it has ‘eight legs’ in four directions to enable pedestrians to cross the Ring Road safely.
ALLENTON WAR MEMORIAL VILLAGE
On the southern outskirts of Allenton, in an attractive, open setting is the War Memorial Village. Built with the special needs of its disabled occupants in mind. There are over 30 houses, the first being occupied in May 1950. The foundation stone for the village was laid by Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
ALLESTREE
Allestree is a pleasant residential suburb on the northern outskirts of Derby. It has a shopping centre at Park Farm and is the home of Derby University. It is almost surrounded by agricultural land and attractive parks. Markeaton Park is to the south, Allestree Park is to the north and Darley Abbey Park is on the eastern side. Kedleston Hall is a short distance to the southwest, set in beautiful parkland.
The Anglo-Saxons settled at Allestree, no doubt attracted by its good southerly facing location, the quality of the soil and most of all the plentiful supply of water. However, it is unlikely that they were the first people to settle, at least temporarily in the area, as a barbed and tanged arrowhead, dating back to the Bronze Age, was found in a garden at Allestree in the 1970s. For years the village was almost completely self-sufficient with the villagers having to rely on their own efforts to feed clothe and shelter themselves and their children. Read More
ALLESTREE CONSERVATION AREA
The older part of the village was designated a Conservation Area, in September 1991and extended five years later. Cottages behind the pump date from the late 18th century, where the centre of the village once stood. An interesting group of Victorian cottages, built in 1893, is found at The Poplars off Park Lane. Further, along Cornhill, thatched Yew Tree Cottage is thought to date back to the 17th century. The Red Cow was probably in existence in the early 17th century, but the present building is somewhat later, the oldest part being from the late 17th century.
It was not until 1868 that St Edmund’s became a parish church. Previously it had been a chapel of the mother church of Mackworth. Despite only holding the status of a chapel, it had a fine 12th-century doorway. When the church was rebuilt in 1866/7, a south aisle was added and the doorway was rebuilt. The yew tree in the churchyard is 1,000 years old, and to its rear by the lamppost is reputed to be the haunt of Allestree’s ghost.
ALLESTREE HALL
Allestree Park is situated just inside the City boundary. Bache Thornhill of Stanton-in-Peak bought and enclosed the park and commenced building a hall in the early 1800s but died before it was complete. It was eventually finished and occupied by John Giradot, a man who had acquired great wealth from his time with the East India Company.
ALLESTREE PARK
Allestree Park sits on the northern side of Derby and is easily accessed from the A6 road. It is the wildest and most scenic of Derby’s parks and is a great place for a family walk. A nine-hole golf course was constructed in 1948 and seven years later extended to eighteen holes. In 1920 the course closed and there are plans to rewild it. Making it the first large-scale urban rewilding project in the UK. The hall is expected to be saved.
