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Town and civil parish in Derbyshire, UK
Photo: chevin, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Belper is a town in the Amber Valley of Derbyshire, 7 miles north of Derby, with a population in 2011 of 21,823. It's been industrial since medieval times, thanks to nearby deposits of ironstone, made into nails and other ironware. It also became a textile town and its mills are part of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. It's by no means picturesque but it's close to attractive countryside in the Peak District west and north.
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This is one of the oldest surviving cotton mills in the world, a world heritage site and well worth a visit. A walking tour round Belper is sometimes available from here taking you through the Cluster housing, past a nailmaker's workshop, along the jittys (aka gennels, channels, alleys, snickets, passageways) up to St John's Chapel (13th century) and finishing in one of the 30 or so pubs within a short walk. The North Mill website has a printable guide to the walk.
Installations of poems throughout the town and is a memorial to Beth Fender, the founder of Belper's two poetry groups.
Pleasant, especially on Sunday afternoons in summer when free concerts are on.
An independent one-screen cinema opened in late 2006.
A fantastic deli for breakfast and lunch.
Good Indian food.
Good Indian food.
Good Indian food.
Good for Chinese.
Good for Chinese.
Excellent fish and chips.
22 rooms
40 room
Upscale B&B with 8 rooms on a farm in the Derbyshire Dales.
By bus
There are regular bus services to Derby, Nottingham, Manchester (a long but beautiful journey on TransPeak) and other local towns.
By car or cycle
Belper is on the A6 and close to the A38. Major roads lead to Chesterfield, Nottingham, Derby, Matlock and Ashbourne.
Shanksie's pony is fine for the main part of town, but pack an extra bottle of pop if you're pushing a buggy or wheelchair from the river to St John's Chapel (especially if you go up Long Row - it's steep and cobbled).
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