Belper

Belper is a town in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England.

Related Topics:
Amber Valley - Derbyshire - England

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It is eight miles north of Derby, on the River Derwent, and has a population of 20,000. As a relatively small town, it contains a small shopping area around King Street, several primary schools and a secondary school. There is a large Morrisons store by the side of the A6. Belper railway station is situated on the Midland Main Line, and is mainly served by local trains on the Derby-Matlock service.

Related Topics:
Derby - River Derwent - Morrisons - A6 - Belper railway station - Midland Main Line - Derby-Matlock service

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During the Industrial Revolution Belper was known for its cotton mills. All that nowadays remains of them is the large East mill and the smaller North mill. The town was developed by industrialist Jedediah Strutt around his Belper North Mill (built in 1786), which forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills. Belper was also famous for the Belper nails which were supplied to American cowboys.

Related Topics:
Industrial Revolution - Cotton - Mills - Industrialist - Jedediah Strutt - 1786 - Derwent Valley Mills - Belper nails - Cowboy

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Since 1983 Belper's MP has been Patrick McLoughlin (Conservative), MP for West Derbyshire – his immediate predecessor being the journalist Matthew Parris. For many years (1945-1970) Belper was the seat of George Brown, the often controversial deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Related Topics:
1983 - Patrick McLoughlin - West Derbyshire - Matthew Parris - George Brown

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Belper School is notable in that it has no uniform and students call their teachers by their first name. It has approximately 1300 pupils, and a sixth form. It used to be named "Belper High School" when it was built in 1973. It is adjacent to the Belper leisure centre.

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The town's name is probably a corruption of the name Beaurepair (beautiful location), the name given by Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III of England, to his country seat in the 13th century. In 1820 Belper was the first place in the UK to get gas lighting. Belper made international news in 2001 after rejecting a gift of a large fibreglass Mr. Potato Head model from its twinned town – Pawtucket, Rhode Island – as residents considered it was "ugly".

Related Topics:
Edmund Crouchback - Henry III of England - 1820 - UK - 2001 - Mr. Potato Head - Twinned town - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

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