GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension - History of The Line

History of The Line

Businessmen and councillors alike (which at the time often amounted to one and the same thing), wanted to exploit the coal seams around northern Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, the rail transport of which was controlled by the Midland Railway company which dictated prices; this increased the price of coal dramatically and it was agreed diminished Derby's competitive position as a Midlands industrial town. So eager were Councillors and the general powers that be, to have a second railway line serve Derby, that when the Act ((the Great Northern (Derbyshire and Staffordshire) Act of 1872)), authorising its creation was passed by Parliament, it contained very little protection for local residents. A route had been agreed that practically sliced through the city from East to West and it was not until construction began that the people of Derby belatedly realised what had been signed up to. The Great Northern Railway had carte blanche authority to do practically whatever it needed to complete the route as economically as possible. In fact, looking at an aerial view of the city today, the route of the line can still be made out, almost 50 years after it was closed.

In particular the residential areas around Friargate and South Street were affected, with South Street actually losing almost half its length and truncated by the embankment carrying the line. A worse fate was in store for what was Baxter Street which vanished completely beneath the Great Northern Railway's yard and warehouse. Similarly, Short Street and Cherry Street were demolished to make way for the line. In the case of South Street, the railway company sought to appease the dissatisfaction of residents by building a cast iron footbridge connecting Ponsonby Terrace and Dog Kennel Lane (Great Northern Road). However this was not a particularly satisfactory solution; the problem for Derby Council was that as the railway company had signed up to nothing legally binding to protect the integrity of the area or interests of the residents, any requirements covering such factors had to be done by consent of the Great Northern via mutual agreement with the Council. The result was not a particularly happy relationship!

In addition Uttoxeter Old Road had to be raised above the railway at the point where it was eight tracks wide, creating an awkwardly steeped road and a difficult junction with Parcel Terrace as well as resulting in the demolition of more of the original Victorian terraced housing.