Derbyshire Record Office

31/10/2026

Have you heard the tale of Padge Barber? This evocative pamphlet tells the story of Padge, a Belper woman who was said to have inhabited a steep sided wooded gorge known locally as 'The Depths of Lumb'. She became the subject of local suspicions suggesting she was a witch, which grew into folk tales of jealousy and hauntings. Her story is a reminder of times when women who fell outside social expectations could face suspicion and persecution from the local community.

31/10/2026

Trent Motor Traction Company, now known as Trent Barton, was founded in October 1913. For their 50th anniversary celebration on this day in 1963, this lovely booklet was produced to commemorate the event.

30/10/2026

Have you got all your sweets ready for trick or treaters on Halloween? If you’d bought them in 1938 from Grandjeans Confectioners in Buxton, you might have even had repeat callers. They look quite delicious.

29/10/2026

On here is Frederick Soresby Ogden with Floss the cat, in around 1900, from the Ogden family of Stanley collection. We can't help wondering if there's a tasty treat in his hand encouraging Floss to sit still for the camera!

29/10/2026

‘Witchery & Wizardry in the Peak’ and ‘Witches and Their Sabbath’. These articles on Peak Advertiser front pages from 2002 and 2006 delve into spooky Derbyshire folklore. Read them in our Local Studies library.

28/10/2026

Our latest blog post explores the story of Robert Laing, a barrister who at the time of his death in London in the 1830s was believed to be Scottish – but was he? Documents in our collections show that he in fact came from Jamaica and that his mother was born into slavery. Read all about Robert’s life in our latest blog post:

In 2024, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries, we were able to purchase a letter that had once been part of the Fitzherbert of Tissington archive. The letter had …

28/10/2026

Our latest New Accession is a collection of cricket ephemera from a member of Clay Cross Miners' Welfare Cricket Club. Including directories, handbooks and fixture lists from various clubs, there is also this shirt badge from the 1980s.

27/10/2026

Are you feeling spooky yet? This might get you in the mood... Set in a bleak and atmospheric landscape, Magpie Mine near Sheldon in the Peak District is one of the UK's best-preserved 19th-century lead mines. It's said to be haunted by the ghost of a former lead miner, and for bonus Halloween creepiness the site has a Widow’s Curse upon it.

27/10/2026

Our Archive Of The Week is this photo of Dr Sidney Barwell (1861-1925), Derbyshire's first Medical Officer of Health. He oversaw the introduction of certified midwives to Derbyshire, isolation hospitals, prevention of river pollution and dental treatment of school children.

26/10/2026

We have lots of interesting books for sale in our Local Studies Bookshop, covering a wide range of Derbyshire subjects and local authors. Do come in for a browse and find that perfect gift you've been looking for…