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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 13h

This newspaper cutting is part of the archive of the Derby Group of the British Interplanetary Society. They were clearly excited in 1961 that 50 human made objects had made it into space - according to NASA it's more than 45,000 now… #WorldSpaceWeek #1960s #Space

Large double page newspaper cutting, stuck into a minute book. It is from the Daily Express on Tuesday 21 February 1961. The title is '50 UP! Everything that ever made it' underneath which are cartoon like images of fifty human made objects that have been successfully launched into space.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 16h

How well do you know Derbyshire? ‘Derbyshire and the Peak District Quiz book’ contains 583 questions to tease the brain and jog the memory about the counties' people, customs and places. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library. #LocalHistory

Front cover of the book ‘Derbyshire and the Peak District Quiz book. The people, places, customs and culture of Derbyshire in 583 fiendish questions'. It has a pale blue background and features a line drawing of a stone wall with the words 'Peak National Park' written on it.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

We're recruiting a Level 3 Archives Assistant apprentice. It's a great opportunity to get started in a career in libraries or archives so if you or someone you know might be interested, you can find out more here: jobs.derbyshire.gov.uk/apprenticesh... #job

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Thank you to Derbyshire Archaeological Society for donating and cataloguing drawings of some inclines, structures, equipment and other elements of the Cromford & High Peak Railway, which were rescued from High Peak Junction when the line closed in the 1960s. #NewAccession

Collage of 3 photographs showing 1) a collection of rolled and flat drawings on a brown table with document weights in the foreground and a laptop computer in the background; 2) extract of a technical drawing labelled 'Chain Clips Malleable Castings. Full size'; 3) Large view of a drawing labelled 'High Peak Railway No. 6 Incline Aug. 25th 1856' and also featuring a drawing of a 'Vertical Roller'.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a menu book for Hopton Hall near Wirksworth. Dinner on 17 Nov 1868 included soup, fish, chicken, mutton, veal, hare, partridge, lobster, meringues, cabinet pudding and stewed pears. Vegetables aren't mentioned... #Victorian #FoodHist

A page of a book opened at a hand-written menu for Dinner of Nov 17th 1868:
1st Service
Ox Tail soup
Fish
Cod & Oyster Sauce
Vol ou Vent a la Milanaise
Chicken fried in batter
Veal Cutlets
Boiled Mutton [with] Caper Sauce
Roast Hare
2nd Service
Roast Partridges
Mayonnaise of Lobster
Meringes
Cabinet Pudding
Stewed Pears with cream

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

If it helps at all, we posted about this notebook earlier in the year: bsky.app/profile/derb...

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

L. du Garde Peach wrote a series of Children’s Hour radio plays in the 1930s exploring the stories behind Britain’s castles. Our latest find is his script for Hardwick Hall — a short drama blending real history with Derbyshire folklore. #EYAFolklore #1930s #drama #radio

Typed script with handwritten amendments in red ink.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

On #WorldFarmAnimalsDay meet the Misses Robinson. Here they are at Ashover Show Ground in the1950s, with one of their prize-winning cows. By their smiles it looks like they’ve won another rosette to add to their collection. #PhotoFriday #WorldSmileDay #cow

Two smiling ladies in summer dresses and bonnets stand either side of a man wearing a suit and tie. The lady on the left holds the halter of a black cow with a number of rosettes around its neck.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

For #InternationalMusicDay, here's a throwback to June 1978 with the Peak Dale Band performing at the Peak Dale Fete. They look a bit cramped for space, but we're sure they'll have sounded fabulous 🎺🎺🎶 #BrassBand #Music #1970s

Black and white photo of the members of a brass band, all sitting on chairs in what looks like a courtyard, with music stands and music sheets in front of them. Several of the musicians are busy playing. The conductor is standing up and has his back to us.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Our latest donated book to #LocalStudies is 'Pommie Poems. To Invoke Memory and Nostalgia (A Tribute to Youlgrave)' by Elizabeth Ashmore. A poem collection about Youlgrave, its people and events, recording knowledge passed down through village collective memory. #LocalHistory #Poetry

A softback publication, A4 size with ring-bound spine. The front cover features the title "Pommie Poems" To Invoke Memory and Nostalgia (A Tribute to Youlgrave) by Elizabeth Ashmore, showcasing an historical photograph of Old Hall Farm in Youlgrave with a horse and cart in the farmyard and a man holding the horses head. Image dating from late 19th century or early 20th century.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Our latest #NewAccession are papers not only of the Tupton Hall estate, but a network of estates throughout Scarsdale from The Hill at North Wingfield to Pratt Hall, Brampton. Owners from Yorkshire became owners moving to Paris. Tupton Hall became Clay Cross Secondary School in 1936.

A table filled with dozens bundles deeds, dating from 1568 to 1892.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is the library of Frederick Strutt (1843-1909) who bequeathed his entire collection of books on local subjects, including this lovely tourist guide published by William Bemrose & Sons of Derby. #LocalStudies #LocalHistory

Front cover of 'Bemroses’ Guide to Buxton, Castleton, High Peak, Eyam, Dovedale', illustrated with engravings showing scenery.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A 1930s photograph of Ashopton Village and the Ashopton Inn, taken just before they were erased by flooding for Ladybower Reservoir. Work on the dam began in 1935 and continued through WWII. The reservoir now supplies water to Sheffield, Derbyshire, Leicester, and Nottingham. #EYAErased #1930s

Black and white photograph, taken on a road junction, with another road coming in from the left. Down the road on the left hand side are a number of houses and a pub.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This lion at Chatsworth House has been on duty since 1823 so he deserves a nap. We hope he is having some sweet dreams. Better not wake him to ask though! #PhotoFriday #WorldDreamDay #lion

A stone carved sleeping male lion. His large head and mane rests on his crossed paws.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Mary Wiltshire and Sue Woore’s ‘Monastic Granges of Derbyshire’ explores how different religious orders utilised gifted land to support their communities, before the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century changed everything. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library. #LocalHistory

Front cover of the book ‘Monastic Granges of Derbyshire. A Gazetteer with maps, illustrations and historical notes’, by Mary Wiltshire and Sue Woore. It features a colourful hand drawn plan from 1528, showing various plots of land and a river.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Woodworm and wood weevils can turn any document into a fine mesh of losses, which is why archives have policies and procedures in place - such as quarantining new accessions - to stop pests getting into the stores. #EYAErased #ArchiveConservation

A stack of small paper documents, held open with a glass weight. The paper is riddled with insect damage and impossible to read.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Did you ever ‘go in luxury and comfort’ on the Blue Buses in and around Willington? This #ModeShift month why not leave the car at home and take the bus? Tailey and George Ltd formed in 1937; they operated their Blue Bus service until the mid-1970s. #Bus

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Lead has been mined in Derbyshire since the Romans were here. Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek, this diary from John Naylor, provides a surprisingly readable glimpse of the life of an 18th century lead miner near Bakewell. #LeadMining #18thCentury

Photograph of John Naylor's diary for 19 Apr to 21 May 1790. The 18th century handwriting is quite familiar to the modern eye. Entries include 19 April: Margaret has Been 3 1/2 shifts this week over work; 28 April: walling for Richard Skidmore at Bleakmore at New mine; 30 April Measurd 24 Load 4 dish Eleven Lots 4 Fyths - 1 mear dish; 13 May: Ascension day No mining; 18 May: at mine by ourselves knocking

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Is balancing on a big balloon an easy way to get from London to Paris?? In this caricature, George Woodward was probably depicting the French dancer Marie-Jean-Augustin Vestris, who danced at the London Opera House in the 1780s. #ModeShift

A coloured drawing on stained paper. It depicts a dancer standing on a balloon; in his right hand he holds a hat with streamers and in his left a moneybag. He stands with his left leg at a right angle. The balloon has a balcony around it upon which are moneybags and a violin.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Apologies - the image had been incorrectly catalogued. Thanks for the correction!

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

When you think of donkeys you often imagine them at the seaside giving rides to children. This one worked in Ripley, belonging to John Wood, landlord of the Albion Inn. Children used to sneak rides on the donkey, which lived in a field behind the pub. #PhotoFriday #ModeShift

A donkey stands with a cart behind. A man with a moustache, dressed in a suit stands by the side. A woman in a white blouse, long dark skirt and large hat stands by the donkey’s head holding the reins, while another lady in a long black silk dress stands by the man’s side.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

If #ModeShift month has made you curious about how transport has developed, then have a delve into this fascinating book in our #LocalStudies collection. ‘Carriers & Coachmasters’ shows us how people travelled before the road networks that we have today. #LocalHistory

The cover of the book 'Carriers and coachmasters: trade and travel before the turnpikes' by Dorian Gerhold. The cover shows an engraving by Hogarth of 1747 of a stage coach in an inn yard. A large lady is being helped inside.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Another #NewAccession from the Women’s Institute collections — this time from Tintwistle! Includes Tintwistle WI Songs, capturing the musical spirit of the group 🎶 Women's Institute

Various typed documents, including one with lyrics of a song.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

If you're looking for a stylish alternative to get about, the archive of Holmes & Co, Royal Carriage Makers, may provide you with inspiration: recordoffice.wordpre... We wouldn't mind going on an office outing in the big carriage! #ModeShift #Victorian #Carriage

Hand painted carriage design for a large open-top horse-drawn carriage that can seat up to seven people. It has two large wheels at the back and two smaller ones at the front and is painted in red and black.

Hand painted carriage design for an enclosed horse-drawn carriage for two people, with the driver sitting at the front, outside. It has been painted in burgundy and black.

Hand painted carriage design for a small open-top horse-drawn carriage for one person, who is also the driver. It has been painted in yellow and black.

Hand painted carriage design for an enclosed horse-drawn carriage which can seat four people inside. It also has three seats on top of the carriage and a seat for the driver. It has been painted in red, green and black.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

If you’re looking for an unusual form of transport how about a hot air balloon? This one is preparing to wow the crowds at Pimlico Recreation Ground, Ilkeston, in 1907, when it takes off into the air. #PhotoFriday #ModeShift #1900s

A large hot air balloon floats in the air with its basket on the ground. People stand in the basket with a small group standing around them. Behind them stand a massive crowd of spectators waiting for it to lift off.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Roy Palmer’s ‘The Demolition of Derby’ provides an overview of a how the city evolved over the 20th century, highlighting lost buildings and streets, and their histories. Find a copy in our #LocalStudies library. #EYAErased #Derby #LocalHistory

Cover of the book 'The Demolition of Derby' by Derek Palmer. It features several sepia tinted photo's of old buildings.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This exquisitely produced account of 'The Guards and Batterys in Gibraltar' was an unexpected find in a #NewAccession to the Turbutt family of Ogston collection. #Gibraltar #18thCentury

Highly decorated yellow, red and black table recording number of Guards, Subbs, Serjeants, Corporalls, Drumms, Men, and other military statistics for the various Guards and Batterys in Gibraltar. The document is undated, but may date to the 1730s or 1740s given the reference to G'l Hargraves Regiment. William Hargrave was Colonel of Hargrave's Regiment of Foot 1731-1739 and Governor of Gibraltar 1740-1749.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

If #ModeShift month has made you reach for your bicycle, you could start a cycling diary, like our #ArchiveOfTheWeek from Ashton E. Mosley in 1884. Probably better not to fall off and break the handlebars though! #bicycle #Victorian

Open double page of a lined copybook. The date for each entry is on the left, with the handwritten text on the right. The entry for Tuesday 15 April reads "Bicycled to Derby in the morning, had lunch at Thornhill, came back at 3.30, had a fall in Etwall smashed the handles. After tea went with Arty round the Common. Took the bicycle to R. Woodward's. Very cold, windy and showery."

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A curious register entry from 3 June 1923 shows an unrecorded amendment: originally written as Leslie Clare, later altered to Carl. A descendant confirmed in 2023 that “Clare” was correct. The change was likely made by Leslie himself, while he was a churchwarden at Twyford. #EYAErased

Photograph of a baptism register entry with the surname Clare changed to Carl.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

On #NationalDoodleDay why not put pen to paper? Don’t worry if its not quite as ambitious a piece of art as these students in their Still Life Class, at the School of Art, Derby, in the 1890s are aiming for. It’s still fun! #PhotoFriday #art #Victorian

A woman sits on a plinth in a room. Two women and a man face her, each standing in front of an easel as they draw her. The ladies are dressed in white blouses and long black skirts. The man is in a smart suit. The lady on the plinth is dressed in flowing robes.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

This photograph shows why all archives are wary of silverfish, which thrive in damp conditions: most of the image has been devoured, leaving only the linked arms of this - presumably - bride and groom. #EYAErased

The remnants of a black and white photograph, stuck to a piece of card. Silverfish have devoured most of the image, leaving small patches throughout and a central larger patch showing the linked arms of a woman in a white dress and a man in a suit.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Lumpy Tums, Thar cake, Bakewell Pudding, Sage Derby and Stilton & Beer are just some of Derbyshire’s regional fare explored in this book by food historian Mark Dawson, which is now in our #LocalStudies library. #FoodHistory #LocalHistory

A softback book. The front cover is a photo of a stone built Derbyshire cottage with a thatched roof which was the former Cock and Pynett Inn in Whittington (also known as Revolution House). This is overlaid by the book title, 'Lumpy Tums Derbyshire's Food and Drink', by Mark Dawson. Inset above the title are three smaller photos showing images of Thor (Thar) cake; Derbyshire oatcakes; the iron hanging 'bakestone' in Bakewell Old House Museum.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This week’s #ArchiveOfTheWeek features the records of John Poyser, Regional Manager for JW Walker Organ Builders. During a long career he tuned, built, repaired, maintained and relocated hundreds of church and chapel organs across Derbyshire.

Features a colour photograph of a man sat in a dinner jacket and a woman in a dress sat at a table and pages of various reports.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Are you doing something fun this Bank Holiday? You could have gone to the Wirksworth Hospital Carnival on the August Bank Holiday in 1936: a whole day of entertainment laid on! #BankHoliday #1930s #Wirksworth

Cover of the programme for Wirksworth Hospital Carnival of Bank Holiday Monday, August 3rd, 1936. It features a black and white image of a court jester.

Typed page from the programme, with the title 'Carnival Day Attractions'. It gives an overview of times and events from 8am to 1.45pm, including the 'Annual Sports Meeting'.

Typed double page of the programme, continuing with events from 2.30pm 9.30pm. The day ends with the 'Carnival Ball in the Town Hall'.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Would it surprise you to find a lion in the Derbyshire village of Bonsall? Well if you were there in 1987 you could - at least as part of this colourful well dressing! #PhotoFriday #EYASurprise #WellDressing #1980s

A colourful well dressing - a picture made out of flowers. It shows a jungle scene with lion, flamingo and giraffe.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

You can find this delightful guide to Castleton from 1948 in our #LocalStudies library. It has been beautifully illustrated with pen sketches by the Rev. S. J. Heald. #LocalHistory #1940s

Front cover of a pamphlet called 'About Castleton' by Eric S. Evans. It was published by The Kinder Press. The cover is illustrated with pen and ink drawings of various people throughout the ages, such as a knight on horseback, a woman in a Victorian pink dress and a man wearing a 1940s suit, sitting in a armchair, reading a book.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Before smartphones and social media, there were postcards and souvenir pamphlets! Booklets like these 19th-century photographic views of Chatsworth House and Buxton Crescent helped Victorian holidaymakers share memories of their Derbyshire #summer adventures. #DerbyshireHistory

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is this little pattern book made by Elizabeth Clark in 1826 with these delightful designs. We can't make up our mind if these are for #lace or #embroidery - what do you think? #textiles #crafts

A small home-made paper-bound book, open, with drawings in pen and ink displayed. The drawings are of floral designs and look like either lace or embroidery patterns for edgings.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Anyone fancy an ice cream? Then why not try making a 1980s recipe from Hayfield Primary School for Lemon Ice Cream Surprise. An ice cream cake with lemon and chocolate? Yes please! 😋 #EYASurprise #HistFood #1980s #IceCream

Cover of the booklet 'Hayfield School Recipe Book'. It features images of various sweet and savoury dishes, drawn in black pen.

Typed recipe with heading 'Lemon Ice Cream Surprise'. It lists ingredients such as egg whites, lemons, sugar and chocolate, as well as instructions for how to make the ice cream.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

This ginnel between High Street and Back Hills, Bolsover is locally called Surprise View. You can see it suddenly steeply drops away and was a popular spot for sledging in the early 1900s. Good fun as long as someone wasn’t walking up at the same time! #EYASurprise #PhotoFriday

A very narrow passage between stone walls and buildings which suddenly drops away steeply downhill in front of us.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Summer in Derbyshire means one thing: Wakes weeks and carnivals! Eyam has a long tradition of letting its hair down — and these clips from the 1965 Eyam Carnival prove it! From colourful costumes to community spirit, it’s a brilliant snapshot of village life in full celebration mode. #LocalHistory

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Would it surprise you to know we have a collection of Western novels in our #LocalStudies library? Derbyshire is not known for its cowboys, but librarian Geoff Sadler was a fan. Writing under the name Jeff Sadler, we have his novels, drafts and typescripts. Yeehaw! 🤠 #EYASurprise

The cover of the book' Return of Amarillo' by Jeff Sadler. A black horse rears on its hind legs with a cowboy sitting astride being thrown backwards, hat falling off. Another cowboy is in the background having just shot his pistol. The sky and ground are orange.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

This week’s #NewAccession comes from the West Leys Group of Women’s Institutes — a fantastic set of meeting minutes, financial statements, and newsletters charting their community activities over the years.

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Derbyshire Record Office @derbyshiredro.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The playing card measures 94mm by 64mm and is 0,5mm thick. It looks like it consists of a thicker core with thinner paper pasted on on both sides.

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