Photographs of the West End
of Derby in England

This page features pictures and historical information about the following:
West End, This is located in Derbyshire.


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• Photos of West End, Derby, Derbyshire, England
For hundreds of years, Derby's development was centred around Markeaton Brook which provided a valuable source of power for the expanding industries of the town (silk and tape).
In the 1820's the area was heavily built-up with mills and workers' housing and formed the heart of what came to be known to generations as the West End. Living conditions were not the best. The area was improved and cleared between 1936 and 1977.
The brook forms an important wildlife zone with lots of birds, invertebrates, fish and plants.
This is now designated a conservation area.
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Photo Description : Parish church of St. John the Evangelist
Exact map location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 25th June 2001
Other Information : This nice looking church was built in 1826-7 at a cost of £7,500 and is sited on the corner of Bridge street and Mill street. It was built by Messrs Bridgart to the designs of Francis Goodwin.
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Photo Description : Markeaton brook next to St Johns church
Date photo taken : 25th June 2001
Other Information : This is Markeaton Brook which runs just to the right side of the above church. Along side the brook here runs St John's Terrace (private road). Markeaton brook flows from the direction of Markeaton Park and navigates under Bridge Street here.
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Photo Description : The old cinema & "Talk of the Midlands" club building
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : This building on Mill Street was originally a cinema which opened in August 1928. Later it became the Talk of the Midlands Club where you could see top acts like Bill Haley and the Comets perform. The grand entrance was the bricked-up area in the middle of the photo. In 1981 it was converted to Gossips nightclub and now this building is owned by the Derby Students Union and is called The Riverside Health Club.
Update : This building was Demolished in Feb 2003 and replaced with modern housing.

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Photo Description : Markeaton Brook walkway
Date photo taken : 25th June 2001
Other Information : This is Markeaton Brook walkway. In the distance you can see Derby cathedral.
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Photo Description : The bridge
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : This is a photo of the bridge going over the brook to Searl Street, The mill buildings can be seen in the background, now demolished.
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Photo Description : The bridge
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : This is a closer photo of the bridge going over the brook to Searl Street. The student accommodation buildings on Agard Street can be seen to the right. This area is a nature reserve-that's why it is overgrown!

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Photo Description : A Robin next to the brook
Date photo taken : 20th July 2001
Other Information : At 6:50am while taking photographs here I found this very tame Robin which I managed to photograph. It looks a bit bedraggled but it was good being able to photograph it as close as this!

This photo earned me 2nd place in a wildlife competition at the Derby Photographic Society in October 2001.

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Photo Description : Markeaton brook behind Agard street
Date photo taken : 25th June 2001
Other Information : This is Markeaton Brook as it winds its way behind the new Student accommodation buildings on Agard street.
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Photo Description : Agard street
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : This is Agard street, The large four storey buildings on the left are Student accommodation which Markeaton Brook runs behind. The pub here is the Captain Blake.
As of August 23rd 2003, this pub changed its name to Union Blue.
On the right side is Derby's Tax office.
Update : Feb 18th 2010 this pub reopened as Einstein's bar.
Update : September 2011 this pub reopened as The Oxygen Bar.

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Photo Description : The mill buildings from Agard street
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : These are the remains of the mill buildings, this photo taken from Agard street.
These have since been demoilshed.
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Photo Description : The mill buildings
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : These are the remains of the mill buildings.
These have since been demoilshed.
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Photo Description : Markeaton brook and the old mills
Date photo taken : 25th June 2001
Other Information : These old mill buildings on the left side of the brook are from the days of the millwrights.
These have since been demoilshed.

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Photo Description : Inside the Mill building
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This is an interior shot of the above mill building.
This have since been demoilshed.
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Photo Description : Markeaton brook just before it vanishes under Derby.
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : This weir is the last one before Markeaton brook vanishes under the town centre.
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Photo Description : The last view of Markeaton brook at Ford Street
Date photo taken : 8th July 2001
Other Information : At the edge of Ford street, This culvert is the last time that Markeaton brook can be seen until it re-appears into the river Derwent by Station Approach. It travels underground to Bold lane, the strand, Victoria street and then emerges into the Derwent at Station Approach. It used to emerge into the Derwent at the River Gardens but in the 1970's it was diverted to Station Approach.

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Photo Description : Banks Mill
Date photo taken : 20th July 2001
Other Information : This is one of many old mill buildings on Bridge street. This one is Banks Mill which has been converted into a small business centre.
For more information click HERE
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Photo Description : Old Rykneld Mill building
Date photo taken : 20th July 2001
Other Information : This old steam powered cotton mill on Bridge street dates from the late 1700's. The building has been left to get into the state we see it in here.
Update : In 2002/2003 this mill was converted to apartments known as Brookbridge.
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Photo Description : The Ram Pub
Image Reference No. : DP-290701CITYWESTEND-18
Date photo taken : 20th July 2001
Other Information : This pub is located on the corner of Bridge street and Brook street.

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Photo Description : The Woodlark Pub
Image Reference No. : DP-290701CITYWESTEND-19
Date photo taken : 20th July 2001
Other Information : This pub is located at 76-80 Bridge street.
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Photo Description : Seven Stars Pub
Image Reference No. : DP-210601CITYWESTEND-20
Exact map location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This was built in 1680 and was named the Seven Stars in 1749. This pub is located on King Street. Back in 1849, customers would drink from porcelain tankards made by Crown Derby which had their factory next to the pub.
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Photo Description : The Flower pot pub
Image Reference No. : DP-210601CITYWESTEND-21
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This is a pub which hosts gigs and concerts.
It is located on King street next to Chapel street.

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Photo Description : St Mary's church from King Street
Image Reference No. : DP-210601CITYWESTEND-22
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This is a shot of the church taken from King street bridge. the busy road below is St Alkmunds way.
This road is part of the inner ring road and up until 1967 this was the site of St Alkmund's church and Bridge gate.
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Photo Description : St Alkmund's way
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This is a shot of Saint Alkmund's way, Taken from the foot bridge over it. The traffic on the bridge in front is on King Street.
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Photo Description : St Mary's church from Bridgegate
Exact Map Location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This is a shot of the church taken from the old foot bridge which goes over Saint Alkmund's way. This bridge was replaced in 2007.

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Photo Description : St Helens House
Exact Map Location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : St Helen's House in Kings Street was built in the mid 18th century, designed by Joseph Pickfordby and built by Jon Gisbourne. The front to King Street was originally closed off with pedimented, arched gateway piers joined by a wrought iron fence.
This was taken down when when the road was widened in the 1870's.

There is no wall between the entrance hall and the staircase so that the magnificent wrought iron balustrade to the starcase can clearly be seen as one enters the house. The Balustrade was probaby the work of Benjamin Yates, a former apprentice to the celebrated Derby smith, Robert Bakewell who died in 1752.

The house was lived in by John Gisbourne, William Strutt and Joseph Wright and in 1867 it became the home of the Derby Grammer School which had moved from St Peter's Churchyard.

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Photo Description : War Memorial
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This war memorial is located in the front of Saint Helens House on King Street.

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Photo Description : BBC Radio Derby
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This is BBC Radio Derby on Saint Helens street.
This photo was taken one week after their Money Mountain 2001 appeal.
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Photo Description : Friends meeting place - 'Quakers house'
Date photo taken : 24th October 2001
Other Information : This building on Saint Helens street is the Friend's meeting house and was erected in 1808 by subscription. It was in Derby that the Term 'Quakers' was first used of the society of friends. George Fox, one of the founders was arraigned before Mr Justice Bennet at Derby in 1650, and bid that the judge "Tremble at the word of the Lord"


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Photo Description : Five Lamps
Exact Map Location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This area is known as the five lamps because it used to have a large standard lamp with 5 arms on it here. At this junction Duffield road, Kedleston road and West Avenue all meet.
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Photo Description : Tudor style house at Five lamps
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This house is located at the bottom of Duffield road and is a nursing home
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Photo Description : St Helens pub
Image Reference No. : DP-210601CITYWESTEND-31
Exact map location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 21st June 2001
Other Information : This pub is located on the corner of St Helens street and King street.
UPDATE : This pub is now called the Five Lamps



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