Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, with his children and grandchildren at Chatsworth, Christmas 1925. Andrew Cavendish, the 11th Duke, sitting at his mother's feet on the far right. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, with his children and grandchildren at Chatsworth, Christmas 1925. Andrew Cavendish, the 11th Duke, sitting at his mother's feet on the far right. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, with his children and grandchildren at Chatsworth, Christmas 1925. Andrew Cavendish, the 11th Duke, sitting at his mother's feet on the far right. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Take a look at life in the 19th and 20th century in 25 black and white images from Chesterfield, Ripley, Matlock and Chatsworth

By Julia Rodgerson
Published 16th Jan 2024, 13:52 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2024, 14:36 BST
Historic stately homes, celebrations and factory workers are among the fascinating black and white images in this collection of photos from across Derbyshire over the last 100 years.

Residents are seen marking the end of World War I, in Ripley Market Place, in 1918 and in Matlock neighbours are pictured hosting a Coronation party, for King George V and Queen Mary in John Elses' field on June 22 1911.

Other interesting images include 'Captain' Sidney Spencer's balloon being made ready for its ascent at the Ilkeston Flower Show on Pimlico Recreation Ground in 1909 and a Parade of Barnum and Bailey's Circus elephants, in Chesterfield, in 1899.

Historic buildings include Riber Castle, Haddon Hall, Wingfield Manor and Sutton Scarsdale Hall.

Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, pre-1920. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was originally built in the 17th century, but was remodelled into one of the finest Baroque mansions in the county by Francis Smith of Warwick in 1724. At this time the house was owned by Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. The Earl died whilst heavily in debt due to the lavish rebuilding of the hall he had commissioned. The hall, and all its estates, were purchased by Godfrey Clarke of Somersall whose son Godfrey was lord of the manor until 1786. Between 1820 and 1919, the hall was in the possession of the Arkwright Family, but was sold by William Arkwright to Haslam Construction Ltd. This company stripped the house of all of its furnishings, and took the roof and some masonry for other construction projects. By 1946, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that arrangements were made to demolish it. However, three days before the demolition machinery were due to move in on the hall the shell was saved by Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was persuaded to buy it by a local resident Harold Taylor. The hall was later given over to the Department of the Environment in the late 1960s. In 1971 emergency repairs were started to secure the building from further decay, and it is now possible to walk around the preserved ruins. This photograph shows the front facade of the hall, which has huge fluted pilasters and a Gibbs Surround doorway. The house has now fallen into ruins, though some of it is preserved in Philadelphia Museum. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

21. Sutton Scarsdale Hall

Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, pre-1920. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was originally built in the 17th century, but was remodelled into one of the finest Baroque mansions in the county by Francis Smith of Warwick in 1724. At this time the house was owned by Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. The Earl died whilst heavily in debt due to the lavish rebuilding of the hall he had commissioned. The hall, and all its estates, were purchased by Godfrey Clarke of Somersall whose son Godfrey was lord of the manor until 1786. Between 1820 and 1919, the hall was in the possession of the Arkwright Family, but was sold by William Arkwright to Haslam Construction Ltd. This company stripped the house of all of its furnishings, and took the roof and some masonry for other construction projects. By 1946, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that arrangements were made to demolish it. However, three days before the demolition machinery were due to move in on the hall the shell was saved by Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was persuaded to buy it by a local resident Harold Taylor. The hall was later given over to the Department of the Environment in the late 1960s. In 1971 emergency repairs were started to secure the building from further decay, and it is now possible to walk around the preserved ruins. This photograph shows the front facade of the hall, which has huge fluted pilasters and a Gibbs Surround doorway. The house has now fallen into ruins, though some of it is preserved in Philadelphia Museum. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Photo: Heritage Images

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Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, 1894. The Hall was the home of Bess of Hardwick, one of the wealthiest women in Elizabethan England. It was designed by the architect Robert Smythson in the 1590s to replace her previous house, the Old Hall. It is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. From Beautiful Britain; views of our stately homes. [The Werner Company of Chicago, 1894]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)

22. Hardwick Hall

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, 1894. The Hall was the home of Bess of Hardwick, one of the wealthiest women in Elizabethan England. It was designed by the architect Robert Smythson in the 1590s to replace her previous house, the Old Hall. It is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. From Beautiful Britain; views of our stately homes. [The Werner Company of Chicago, 1894]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images) Photo: Print Collector

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Visit of 200 Belgian volunteers to Haddon Hall, 1867. A legion of about 2000 volunteers was formed in Belgium to help Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg in his attempt to become Emperor of Mexico. His wife, Empress Charlotte, was a daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians. The legion was mainly composed of soldiers with Belgian nationality, but also 79 Germans, 64 French and 27 Luxembourgers. The training of the Legion was in the region of Oudenaarde (East-Flanders). At that time the legion was composed of 2111 persons, included 15 women. 4 ships voyaged in 1864-1865 to transport about 1600 men of the Legion from St Nazaire (France) to Vera Cruz (Mexico). Only 754 survived. 176 Belgians remained in Mexico after their unit was disbanded on 6th December 1866) The rest, presumably, enjoyed rest and recuperation in places such as Derbyshire, and a troop is seen here at Haddon Hall. Haddon Hall is one of the finest example of a medieval manor house currently in existence in England. The hall is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland (Manners Family) and lies alongside the River Wye, just south of Bakewell. The Manners family inherited Haddon after John Manners, brother of the 2nd Earl of Rutland, married Dorothy, one of the co-heiresses of Sir George Vernon 'King of the Peak', the last Vernon of Haddon Hall. The Rutlands used the hall very little in the 18th and 19th centuries, so it was almost unaltered since the end of the 16th century when the 9th Duke realised its importance and began restoration in the 1920s. The Vernons had lived at Haddon for four centuries. The present Duke of Rutland, Edward Manners, still owns the hall. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

23. Haddon Hall

Visit of 200 Belgian volunteers to Haddon Hall, 1867. A legion of about 2000 volunteers was formed in Belgium to help Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg in his attempt to become Emperor of Mexico. His wife, Empress Charlotte, was a daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians. The legion was mainly composed of soldiers with Belgian nationality, but also 79 Germans, 64 French and 27 Luxembourgers. The training of the Legion was in the region of Oudenaarde (East-Flanders). At that time the legion was composed of 2111 persons, included 15 women. 4 ships voyaged in 1864-1865 to transport about 1600 men of the Legion from St Nazaire (France) to Vera Cruz (Mexico). Only 754 survived. 176 Belgians remained in Mexico after their unit was disbanded on 6th December 1866) The rest, presumably, enjoyed rest and recuperation in places such as Derbyshire, and a troop is seen here at Haddon Hall. Haddon Hall is one of the finest example of a medieval manor house currently in existence in England. The hall is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland (Manners Family) and lies alongside the River Wye, just south of Bakewell. The Manners family inherited Haddon after John Manners, brother of the 2nd Earl of Rutland, married Dorothy, one of the co-heiresses of Sir George Vernon 'King of the Peak', the last Vernon of Haddon Hall. The Rutlands used the hall very little in the 18th and 19th centuries, so it was almost unaltered since the end of the 16th century when the 9th Duke realised its importance and began restoration in the 1920s. The Vernons had lived at Haddon for four centuries. The present Duke of Rutland, Edward Manners, still owns the hall. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Photo: Heritage Images

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Derwent Terrace, Matlock Bath, circa 1900. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

24. Derwent Terrace, Matlock Bath

Derwent Terrace, Matlock Bath, circa 1900. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Photo: Hulton Archive

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