For many years Derby was primarily a small market town and a market has been held in central Derby for many centuries (a charter has in fact existed since about 1155). By 1204, the main market day was a Friday and in the same year, King John presented the town with a charter to form a guild merchant. Stalls were then seen in the Market Place until 1933 when they were relocated to the nearby Morledge. Then in 1977 the market traders were moved to the new Eagle Centre that was built opposite, and an ironic twist some years later meant they returned to a temporary market called the Riverside Market that was hastily set up behind the bus station when essential works had to be carried out at the Eagle Centre

1960's view of the Market Place, complete with Power Station chimneys and remember those toilets near the red phone boxes?

The premises of Barlows and Taylor complete with sun screens is on the left

Not quite in the Market Place, the council house stands opposite and was started in July 1938 being finally opened officially by the then  Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh on 27th June 1949

The Guildhall overlooking the Market Place is one of four built on or near the present site, the earliest on record being 1530-1730. The present-day building was designed by Matthew Habershon but in 1840 after a fire, the building was much altered by locally born Henry Duesbury who also added the 103 ft high clock tower. The stone relief's are by John Bell of London

The present-day Assembly Rooms were the result of an architectural competition and were designed by Casson and Conder. The previous building to occupy this site however was built under the supervision of Joseph Pickford during 1762-65 to the designs of Lord Ferrers, while the interior was completed in 1774 by local craftsmen Abraham Denstone to designs of Robert Adam. This fine building was gutted by fire in 1963 and the frontage subsequently removed and rebuilt at Crich Tramway Museum. Below right is the war memorial erected November 11th 1924

The former Royal Oak Public House, built in 1890. a three storey brick building with a decorated stone ground floor, and half timbered first and second floors, it closed as a public house in 1916 and is now used as offices.

A lovely summers day with glorious hanging baskets lining the paths, and below we have the very controversial waterfall, you either adore it or loathe it, and it has even been described as a urinal!

Looking up Irongate with the majestic Cathedral, a focal point in the distance, the large curved building was built for Barlows and Taylor and is now occupied by the Derbyshire Building Society

On the right is a view looking down the Cornmarket towards Victoria Street,  with the pictures below illustrating the different architectural styles, Victorian and Georgian/Regency, below we have Francey's house being built for Alderman William Francey in 1695 which replaced an earlier building dating from 1640

The Bow fronted Regency above right was the former Cross Keys Inn whilst next door, is a 20^th Century building built in the 18^th Century Dutch vernacular style, consisting of three storeys complete with an oriel window in the shaped gable.

Below is the Corporation Street Garden, a memorial garden designed in co-operation with the Derbyshire Association for the Blind. Raised flowerbeds and ramped access ways are practical features included within the formal design approach.