Belper is a town in the centre of Derbyshire, on the Derwent valley. Belper's origins was in land owned by the Norman Henry de Ferrers, at the time part of a forest. Belper's name may be derived from the hunting lodge name Beaurepaire which was first mentioned in 1231. The chapel of St Thomas (later St John) dates from 1250 and remains intact as Belper's oldest building. The parish church of the town, St Peter is a much more recent addition.
For a long time Belper remained a rather minor place, listed as a hamlet of Duffield as late as the 17th century. However, the town grew thanks to industry including nail making and later water powered cotton mills. Belper was indeed one of the first mill towns, being close to Cromford and Arkwright's first cotton mill in 1771.
Belper continued to grow after the arrival of the railways in 1840. Belper was the first place in the country to get gas lighting. Textiles and hosiery remained important trades in the town until well into the 20th century.
