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On the morning of Wednesday September 16th 1840 one of Derby's Mill Owners, and the first Mayor of the Reformed Borough of Derby, 75 year old Joseph Strutt, presented the Town Council with the deeds to  the Arboretum.

Thursday 17^th, the whole town took the afternoon off work, and a procession, the like of which had never been witnessed in Derby, as 1500 people set out from Friargate for the Arboretum, that afternoon the Arboretum opened its gates to the public for the first time.

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Pettition for the Restoration of FriarGate Bridge

"I will only add that, as the sun has shone brightly on me through life, it would be ungrateful in me not to employ a portion of the fortune which I possess in promoting the welfare of those amongst whom I live, and by whose industry I have become aided in its acquisition. 

 I now therefore present to the Council the Deed of Settlement and all the writings relating to the Arboretum.”

Joseph Strutt  in his emotional and passionate address to Derby Town Council on Wednesday September 16th 1840.

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YouTube Video Tour of Derby Arboretum

Having thus prepared this piece of land for the intended purpose, I have given it the name of 

The ARBORETUM

Joseph Strutt, Wednesday September 16th 1840.

SPECIAL FEATURE

With the recent national floods it is interesting to see first hand reports of the Great Flood of 1932 which devastated much of Derby

This is a souvenir booklet published at the time to raise funds for the victims of that flood.

Many thanks to Derek Palmer for the loan of this booklet.

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Updated: April 16, 2008

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© Christopher Harris June 2002