This was the sight of England's first factory, built in 1717 on the banks of the River Derwent, it was the first true factory in England, having five floors of working machinery, thus creating the first completely 'in house' production process. It could manufacture thousands of yards of silk per day.

The Mill itself was burnt down in 1910 and only the bell tower survived. It is this tower which is said to be haunted by a little boy who was kicked down the stairs by one of the overseers for not working hard enough. Children as young as seven were employed in the mill, working from 5am until 7pm.

This is a view from the top of Derby Cathedral, taken in 1989, the whole industrial museum and silk mill are clearly visible, the surrounding area has changed quite dramatically since then too, notable absences are the residential care accommodation at the bottom of St Michaels Lane, Landau Forte College in the foreground, and the whole of St Mary's Wharf on Mansfield Road

Above picture taken in 1990 with the same view below in 2005

This is the full sized bronze statue of Bonny Prince Charlie. Which recognises the part played by Derby at a defining moment in British History, the statue was presented as a gift to the city by Lionel Pickering, and was the first equestrian statue to be created anywhere in Britain since the war. 
It marks the turning point of the march on London and is on the site of the house where, in December 1745, he spent two nights before being persuaded to turn back to Scotland and eventual defeat at Culloden.

Above left the Silk Mill viewed from the opposite side of the River and above right this is the new £14 million apartment block being built on the former site of Eggleston Steel, the picture to the left is from the Silk Mill looking down the river bank towards the boarded up Police Station and Council House beyond

The Old Silk Mill Inn on Full Street, which was built in 1928, the mural on the side illustrates the famous 1833 Silk trades lock out, a conflict that lasted for around eight months.

The two pictures below show the old Squash club on the corner of Sowter Road and St Michaels Lane, which was demolished in the early 1990's and the land is now used for car parking

Car park on the former squash club, St Michaels Church can be seen in the distance