Victoria County History
The Victoria County History is the basic starting point for Derbyshire's history although it was published a hundred years ago.In Derbyshire we lack the major early county histories that many other counties are fortunate to have. Even that vital source of information for the study of any county in England: the Victoria County History, is incomplete for Derbyshire. Only the first two general volumes covering flora and fauna, archaeology, geology, social, economic, religious and political history have been produced.
These still provide a good starting point although a whole century of change has taken place. They include brief census statistics, 1801-1901, sites of castles and defensive earthworks and histories of grammar and elementary schools founded before 1800. They also provide general accounts of agriculture and industries and brief details of the main sporting activities in the county.
At last, after almost a century, work towards the individual parish volumes is in progress again and can be seen on http://www.englandspastforeveryone.org.uk/Counties/Derbyshire (opens in a new window).