Description: The text beneath the image reads:
"Derby is a rich and populous town, delightfully situate on the brink of the River Derwent, which is lately made navigable into the front. Besides many other stately buildings, the noble and lofty tower of All Saints Church is a grand ornament to this town, the body of which hath in a very beautiful manner lately been rebuilt. Likewise the Silk Mills so famous for their works, and wherein a great number of people are employ'd are great additions to the beauty of this prospect. This was a Royal Borough in the time of Edward the Confessor. It hath received divers great privileges (viz.) to keep a Court of Record on Tuesday every fortnight; a quarterly session; and two Court Leets annually: Taketh Tole & payeth none throughout England, on remitting one half to the Dutchy of Lancaster, by Charter from King Henry 1st and 2nd. This Corporation consists of a Mayor, Recorder, High Steward, Aldermen & c. And sendeth two members to Parliament."
This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.