Darley Dale Town Council - History

Employment

In the 1760s, just over 2,417 acres of common land were enclosed. When this was added to the 1,600 acres of pre-18th century enclosures it represented 75% of the acreage of the parish.

Until the second half of the 19th century, traditional occupations were land-based with land being largely pasture with some arable. Regular cattle and sheep fairs were held in May and October on the moors at Darley Flash. Other occupations included domestic service, framework knitting, papermaking and lace making. Many worked for the Dakeynes or later as Stancliffe estate and quarry workers. Other important sources of employment in the 19th century were the nurseries strewn along Darley Hillside and the extensive Millclose Mine, the country's main producer of lead until its closure in 1938.

The coming of the railways

In 1801 the population was 1,697 and by 1860 this had risen to only 1,962. However, by 1901 the figure had nearly doubled to 3,500.

This sudden expansion of the population was due to the coming of the railways. In 1867 the line between Derby and Manchester was opened giving Darley access to one of the most important industrial centres in Britain. A railway depot was developed at neighbouring Rowsley and sidings at Darley. Many Darley men left their current occupations to work on the railways and Darley became a railway community.

Next page..