Belper, a market and union town a chapelry, and a parish in Derbyshire. The town stands in a pleasant situation on. the river Derwent and on the Midland Railway, 7 1/2 miles N of Derby. It has a post office with money order and telegraph departments, a railway station, two banks, and two hotels, and is a seat of petty sessions and a polling-place. It was an inconsiderable village till 1777, but has risen to importance by means of its manufactures. It comprises several regular streets, and contains some interesting buildings. A handsome bridge of three arches spans the river. The town is well lighted, and governed by a local board. An old chapel, dedicated to St John the Baptist, built about 1250, in the Early English style, was partly restored in 1866, and is used for divine service on week days. The head church, erected in 1824, at a cost of £12,600, is a fine edifice in the Decorated style, with a high tower, surmounted by pinnacles. Clirist Church, in Bridge Street, was erected in 1849. A cemetery, with entrance offices and two chapels in the Late Decorated style, was opened in 1859. There are Congregational, Baptist, Wesleyan Methodist, Primitive, Methodist, United Free Methodist, Friends, and Unitarian chapels. There are also almshouses and a workhouse, the latter in the Tudor style, and erected at a cost of £7580. the town has a public hall, erected in 1882, with subscription library, reading-room, &c. A weekly market is held on Saturday, and fairs on 28 January, 5 May, and 31 October. Cotton works, belonging to the Messrs. Strutt, employ upwards of 1000 persons. Hosiery work and nail-making also are carried on, and an extensive pottery and coal works are in the neighbourhood. Bridge-Hill House and Green Hall are fine mansions. The town gives the title of Baron, created in 1856, to the elder branch of the family of Strutt. It is divided into two districts for ecclesiastical purposes, viz. St Peter's and Christ Church, Bridge-hill. Both are vicarages in the diocese of Southwell, value of the former, £280; of the latter, £350. The parish comprises an area of 3183 acres; population of the civil parish, 10,420 ; of the ecclesiastical, 6941.
