Duffield is listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086. A few remains have been found of Anglo-Saxon occupation. In Norman times, Duffield Castle was built to protect the hunting grounds of Duffield Frith, awarded to Henry de Ferrers by William I

In Norman times Duffield's importance grow, with its location being the main approach to Duffield Frith, a Royal Forest approx. 30 miles in circumference, which was well stocked with deer, survey of the lands were taken every 3 years and in 1560 there were 12,000 Oak trees in the Frith although 27 years later there were only half as many.

The major activity up to the nineteenth century was agriculture. Ironstone is also associated with coal deposits in Duffield, which attracted the de Ferrars family to the area, a forge used to be near to the present Baptist Chapel. There were also a number of corn mills and quarries. Flax, for linen, was grown in Flaxholme, but silk thread began to be produced in quantity by John Lombe in Derby.  By the nineteenth century, the major occupation in the village itself, was framework knitting, encouraged by Jedediah Strutt's famous 'Derby Rib', while a paper mill opened at Peckwash.

The biggest change came with the coming of the railway.  The village expanded with homes for the Midland Railway workers and management, the former settling in the village around the end of King Street, the managers in larger houses further along the main road and further up King Street and Hazlewood Road.

Factoids

• Oliver Cromwell once visited the Kings Head Hotel

• Duffield was mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1086

• Used to be a Royal Forest 30miles in circumference with over 12,000 oak trees

• A grand Norman Castle was once stood here

• The late LLoyd brothers Kevin & Terry were born here

Above and below is Town Street, which is the main A6 which in turn slices through the centre of the village, above left is a view looking towards Belper, above right we are looking towards Allestree. Below left is the Duffield Art Gallery with connections to Derbyshire's renowned artists Rex Preston and son Mark, Mark's grandmother used to run the gallery and is now managed by Marks cousin James

This block houses the Nat West bank with an inscription above the door, Duffield Club 1897

The Kings Head on Town Street, this Inn was once visited by Oliver Cromwell, and it is believed that the pub is haunted by ghosts.

Formerly the chief hostelry of the village and was the billeting house for soldiers passing through the village. The last billeting there was about 1880 when a small detachment of horse soldiers spent the night there.
 

Ye Olde Thatchers stores situated on King Street, which is now used as a dental practice

Staying on KIngs Street we have above left an interesting building called the Crows Nest, above right is the old water pump and opposite is the old girls school,  below left is a George 5th post box, made around 1914, and below on the right is the door to Jacobs Garden

Above on the left on Hazlewood Road is the old Wheatsheaf public house, it is now a private residence Ivy Lodge, below on the left is another former public house the New Inn which closed it's doors to the public in the 1990's. Outside it are broad flat-topped walls. In the days before Hazelwood had its own cemetery, it is said that funeral parties would stop for refreshment before completing their journey to the church, and would leave the coffin resting on that wall

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