Memory Lane - Iron Gate
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Iron Gate winds it's way from the Market Place to the Dolphin Pub, it's hard to believe this was at one time the main London to Carlisle road which went through the centre of the town! The east side of Irongate was redeveloped in the late 1800's when the road was widened and as a consequence the buildings on that side are of a later date

Factoids

• Derby’s Joseph Wright, famous for his oil paintings, was born here in 1734

• The cathedral contains the oldest ring of ten bells in the World

• The cathedral has the second tallest tower in the country

1960's view of the Market Place and Irongate complete with Power Station chimneys and remember those toilets near the red phone boxes? Barlows and Taylor complete with sun screens is on the left. Irongate is on the right, note the Ford Anglia and 'E' Type Jag and old fire engine

This is the junction of Cathedral Road, Irongate and Queen Street, the Dolphin Inn is on the right and in the distance there is a new office block being constructed.

This picture was taken in 1991 when the Dolphin was painted black and white, whereas now it is a cream and brown. The Dolphin Inn is Derby's oldest pub which was built around 1530. An interesting part of the Dolphin Inn is an extension that was added in the 18th century this can be seen on the left hand side of the building on Full Street, which was originally a doctor's house, shown below far right.

Irongate viewed from the top of the cathedral in 1988

In 1991 work began to pedestrianise the area and the picture below left shows the old tram lines that were uncovered during the construction work, the other pictures below show the top of Irongate in 1991 with the work in progress, and were taken in the Market Place looking up Irongate towards the Cathedral.

Irongate 1991

Irongate 1991