At our last meeting David Skillen came to talk to us about the history of Belper the title was Nailers, Knitters and Traitors.
From his images we understood about nailers their buildings and work. He talked about knitters telling us about the textile industry in Belper and that the wonderful museum had closed. Jedediah Strutt’s Mill has survived though and can still be seen as you use the car park by the River Gardens where there is a tea room. Strutt is quite famous for inventing a new way to knit the beginnings for garments called the Derby Rib. Traitors were those who went over to America to explain how the knitting was done which took some of the work from Belper.
David told us he is retiring from presenting the talks this year: it is such a shame that we won’t see him again.
Our next meeting on the 15th October is a visit to the National Justice Museum. We are meeting at Weekday Cross at 1.45pm having walked down from the Lace Market tram stop.
At the November meeting we are back at Central Methodist Church 2 – 4pm when Trevor Lee is coming back as our speaker.
Maureen Newton
